Sumerian religionSumerian religion was the religion practiced by the people of Sumer, the first literate civilization of ancient Mesopotamia. The Sumerians regarded their divinities as responsible for all matters pertaining to the natural and social orders. Before the beginning of kingship in Sumer, the city-states were effectively ruled by theocratic priests and religious officials. Later, this role was supplanted by kings, but priests continued to exert great influence on Sumerian society.
ṢarpanituṢarpanitu (Ṣarpānītu(m)) est une déesse babylonienne, parèdre du grand dieu de cette ville, Marduk, et mère de Nabû, dieu de la sagesse. Son nom signifie peut-être « (déesse) de Ṣarpān », un village des alentours de Babylone non attesté. Il peut aussi dériver des termes « argent » (ṣarpu) ou « peuplier » (ṣarbat). On la trouve également sous les noms de Bēltiya, pendant féminin de Bēl (le « Seigneur »), autre nom de Marduk, ou sous celui d'Erua.
GulaGula est la principale des déesses de la guérison en Mésopotamie antique. C'est donc la déesse des médecins. Elle est également appelée Ninkarrak et Ninisinna. Gula passe pour connaître les remèdes les plus appropriés pour les malades, les herbes médicinales, et les incantations servant à guérir. C'est notamment la patronne des spécialistes appelés asû (« médecin », « physicien » au sens vieilli), versés dans l'art de la confection des remèdes médicaux.
YazılıkayaYazılıkaya est un site archéologique hittite situé en Turquie, dans la région d'Ankara. En turc, son nom signifie « rocher inscrit ». Il se trouve à deux kilomètres au nord-est de Hattusha, la capitale du royaume hittite. Il a été fouillé en même temps que la capitale. Lieu de culte très ancien, il a été réaménagé au sous les règnes de Hattushili III et de son fils Tudhaliya IV. Le site de Yazılıkaya est un centre cultuel rupestre à ciel ouvert, aménagé dans un espace constitué de gorges creusées naturellement dans une colline, constituant des galeries naturelles.
EkurEkur ( ), also known as Duranki, is a Sumerian term meaning "mountain house". It is the assembly of the gods in the Garden of the gods, parallel in Greek mythology to Mount Olympus and was the most revered and sacred building of ancient Sumer. There is a clear association of Ziggurats with mountain houses. Mountain houses play a certain role in Mesopotamian mythology and Assyro-Babylonian religion, associated with deities such as Anu, Enlil, Enki and Ninhursag.
Mandaean cosmologyMandaean cosmology is the Gnostic conception of the universe in the religion of Mandaeism. Mandaean cosmology is strongly influenced by Jewish, Babylonian, Persian, Egyptian, Greek, Manichaean and other Near Eastern religions and philosophies. The three major Emanations or "Lives" (Hayyi) in Mandaeism are: The Second Life: Yushamin, the primal uthra The Third Life: Abatur, the weigher of souls, and also the father of the uthri (plural of uthra) The Fourth Life: Ptahil, the creator of the material world The Second Life, Third Life, and Fourth Life are emanations of the First Life, Hayyi Rabbi (the Supreme God).
NintinuggaNintinugga (also transcribed Nintinuga) was a Mesopotamian goddess associated with medicine and cleansing. She belonged to the local pantheon of Nippur. While she has been compared to other similar goddesses, such as Ninisina and Gula, and in a number of ancient texts they appear to be syncretised with each other or are treated as interchangeable, she was nonetheless a distinct deity in her own right. She was associated with Enlil and Ninlil, and was worshiped in their temples, though houses of worship dedicated only to her are also attested.
Manzat (goddess)Manzat (Manzât), also spelled Mazzi'at, Manzi'at and Mazzêt, sometimes known by the Sumerian name Tiranna (dTIR.AN.NA) was a Mesopotamian and Elamite goddess representing the rainbow. She was also believed to be responsible for the prosperity of cities. In Elam Manzat was worshiped in the lowlands in the proximity of Susa, especially in the area known as Hubshen, associated with the archaeological sites Deh-e Now and Tappeh Horreeye, while in Mesopotamia she was associated with Der, though there is also evidence that she was venerated in Nippur, Larsa and other cities.
Babylonian astrologyBabylonian astrology was the first known organized system of astrology, arising in the second millennium BC. In Babylon as well as in Assyria as a direct offshoot of Babylonian culture, astrology takes its place as one of the two chief means at the disposal of the priests (who were called bare or "inspectors") for ascertaining the will and intention of the gods, the other being through the inspection of the livers of sacrificial animals (see omen).
Nabûthumb|right|426x426px|Dessin d'une statue d'un acolyte de Nabû provenant du temple du dieu à Nimroud. British Museum.Nabû est le dieu mésopotamien du savoir et de l'écriture. Selon la mythologie babylonienne, c'est le fils de Mardouk et de Sarpanitu. Sa parèdre est Tashmetu. Ce dieu est en fait attesté depuis longtemps en Syrie, à Ebla (). Il apparaît en Mésopotamie du Sud au début du millénaire av. J.-C. Son temple principal se trouvait à Borsippa, près de Babylone. Il était nommé Ezida, ce qui veut dire « Temple pur » en sumérien.
