
Memory Game Mesopotamian ReligionOnline version Learn about some of the hundreds of gods Mesopotamia worshipped in this memory game. Please take time to read each card, as we will be sharing out what you have learned. by Louis Reicks Dumuzi is a shepherd god who represents the harvest season but also became a god of the underworld thanks to the goddess Ishtar. Dumuzi was the husband of Ishtar. She decided to visit her sister Ereshkigal, queen of the underworld. Anybody who went to the underworld could not leave. Even gods had to stay there. Ishtar went through the seven gates leading to the underworld and found that she couldn't escape. The other gods became worried when Ishtar didn't return. The god of wisdom Ea tricked Ereshkigal into returning Ishtar to life but someone had to take her place in the underworld. Ishtar chose her husband, the shepherd Dumuzi. Demons carried him off to the underworld. However, he was allowed to spend half of the year on earth. That is why he represents the yearly cycle of death and rebirth of the crops on earth. Nabu was the god of scribes and the patron of writing and wisdom. In Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian times, Nabu was sometimes associated with irrigation and agriculture. Nabu rides on the back of a Mushhushshu snake-dragon. Nabu's most important temple was at Borsippa, near Babylon. The symbol of Nabu is a wedge, which stands for either a cuneiform sign or a stylus. Anu is the sky god. He is the supreme ruler of all the gods. His symbol is the horned cap. Mesopotamian myths tell the story of how the earth was separated from heaven at the beginning of time. In these myths, heaven becomes Anu's home. Anu controls shooting stars, called 'kishru'. Anu is also in charge of the Bull of Heaven who can be sent to earth to avenge the gods. Adad is the god of storms. He is usually shown carrying a lighting fork, symbolizing his power over the storm forces of nature. The Babylonian and Assyrian god Adad was known to the Sumerians as Ishkur, and is often shown with a lion-dragon or bull. Adad's wife was the goddess Shala. Adad is the god of storms. He is usually shown carrying a lighting fork, symbolizing his power over the storm forces of nature. The Babylonian and Assyrian god Adad was known to the Sumerians as Ishkur, and is often shown with a lion-dragon or bull. Adad's wife was the goddess Shala. Lama is a goddess people prayed to for their own personal protection. She appears as a woman in a long, tiered skirt. Lama is often shown on cylinder seals leading people into the presence of important gods and goddesses. Gula was a goddess of healing, a patroness of doctors and a constellation. She often appears as a woman with stars and her dog. People dedicated small statues of dogs to Gula because they believed it would help them avoid, or recover from, illness. Ashur is the principal Assyrian god. He appears as a man wearing a horned cap. Ashur is the main god of the first Assyrian capital city, also called Ashur. He became more important when the Assyrians conquered Mesopotamia. Ashur is sometimes shown riding on a snake-dragon. He is pictured on Assyrian monuments, cliff reliefs and cylinder seals. Sin is the moon god. His symbols are the crescent moon, the bull, and a tripod (which may be a lamp-stand). Sin had a beard made of lapis lazuli and he rides on a winged bull. The lunar month usually has 30 days, so Sin's sacred number is 30. Nabu was the god of scribes and the patron of writing and wisdom. In Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian times, Nabu was sometimes associated with irrigation and agriculture. Nabu rides on the back of a Mushhushshu snake-dragon. Nabu's most important temple was at Borsippa, near Babylon. The symbol of Nabu is a wedge, which stands for either a cuneiform sign or a stylus. Amurru is the god of nomadic peoples and their flocks. His symbols are a gazelle and a shepherd's crook. He became important when nomadic people called the Amorites moved into Babylonia from around 2100 B.C. Anu is the sky god. He is the supreme ruler of all the gods. His symbol is the horned cap. Mesopotamian myths tell the story of how the earth was separated from heaven at the beginning of time. In these myths, heaven becomes Anu's home. Anu controls shooting stars, called 'kishru'. Anu is also in charge of the Bull of Heaven who can be sent to earth to avenge the gods. Lama is a goddess people prayed to for their own personal protection. She appears as a woman in a long, tiered skirt. Lama is often shown on cylinder seals leading people into the presence of important gods and goddesses. Dumuzi is a shepherd god who represents the harvest season but also became a god of the underworld thanks to the goddess Ishtar. Dumuzi was the husband of Ishtar. She decided to visit her sister Ereshkigal, queen of the underworld. Anybody who went to the underworld could not leave. Even gods had to stay there. Ishtar went through the seven gates leading to the underworld and found that she couldn't escape. The other gods became worried when Ishtar didn't return. The god of wisdom Ea tricked Ereshkigal into returning Ishtar to life but someone had to take her place in the underworld. Ishtar chose her husband, the shepherd Dumuzi. Demons carried him off to the underworld. However, he was allowed to spend half of the year on earth. That is why he represents the yearly cycle of death and rebirth of the crops on earth. Sin is the moon god. His symbols are the crescent moon, the bull, and a tripod (which may be a lamp-stand). Sin had a beard made of lapis lazuli and he rides on a winged bull. The lunar month usually has 30 days, so Sin's sacred number is 30. Ashur is the principal Assyrian god. He appears as a man wearing a horned cap. Ashur is the main god of the first Assyrian capital city, also called Ashur. He became more important when the Assyrians conquered Mesopotamia. Ashur is sometimes shown riding on a snake-dragon. He is pictured on Assyrian monuments, cliff reliefs and cylinder seals. Pazuzu is a demon who protected humans against plague and evil forces. He has a human body with the feet and claws of an eagle, and the head of a monster. Pazuzu is especially strong at fighting against the powers of the malicious goddess Lamashtu. Gula was a goddess of healing, a patroness of doctors and a constellation. She often appears as a woman with stars and her dog. People dedicated small statues of dogs to Gula because they believed it would help them avoid, or recover from, illness. Pazuzu is a demon who protected humans against plague and evil forces. He has a human body with the feet and claws of an eagle, and the head of a monster. Pazuzu is especially strong at fighting against the powers of the malicious goddess Lamashtu. Amurru is the god of nomadic peoples and their flocks. His symbols are a gazelle and a shepherd's crook. He became important when nomadic people called the Amorites moved into Babylonia from around 2100 B.C.

Memory Game

Mesopotamian ReligionOnline version

Learn about some of the hundreds of gods Mesopotamia worshipped in this memory game. Please take time to read each card, as we will be sharing out what you have learned.

by Louis Reicks

Dumuzi is a shepherd god who represents the harvest season but also became a god of the underworld thanks to the goddess Ishtar. Dumuzi was the husband of Ishtar. She decided to visit her sister Ereshkigal, queen of the underworld. Anybody who went to the underworld could not leave. Even gods had to stay there. Ishtar went through the seven gates leading to the underworld and found that she couldn't escape. The other gods became worried when Ishtar didn't return. The god of wisdom Ea tricked Ereshkigal into returning Ishtar to life but someone had to take her place in the underworld. Ishtar chose her husband, the shepherd Dumuzi. Demons carried him off to the underworld. However, he was allowed to spend half of the year on earth. That is why he represents the yearly cycle of death and rebirth of the crops on earth.

Nabu was the god of scribes and the patron of writing and wisdom. In Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian times, Nabu was sometimes associated with irrigation and agriculture. Nabu rides on the back of a Mushhushshu snake-dragon. Nabu's most important temple was at Borsippa, near Babylon. The symbol of Nabu is a wedge, which stands for either a cuneiform sign or a stylus.

Anu is the sky god. He is the supreme ruler of all the gods. His symbol is the horned cap. Mesopotamian myths tell the story of how the earth was separated from heaven at the beginning of time. In these myths, heaven becomes Anu's home. Anu controls shooting stars, called 'kishru'. Anu is also in charge of the Bull of Heaven who can be sent to earth to avenge the gods.

Adad is the god of storms. He is usually shown carrying a lighting fork, symbolizing his power over the storm forces of nature. The Babylonian and Assyrian god Adad was known to the Sumerians as Ishkur, and is often shown with a lion-dragon or bull. Adad's wife was the goddess Shala.

Lama is a goddess people prayed to for their own personal protection. She appears as a woman in a long, tiered skirt. Lama is often shown on cylinder seals leading people into the presence of important gods and goddesses.

Gula was a goddess of healing, a patroness of doctors and a constellation. She often appears as a woman with stars and her dog. People dedicated small statues of dogs to Gula because they believed it would help them avoid, or recover from, illness.

Ashur is the principal Assyrian god. He appears as a man wearing a horned cap. Ashur is the main god of the first Assyrian capital city, also called Ashur. He became more important when the Assyrians conquered Mesopotamia. Ashur is sometimes shown riding on a snake-dragon. He is pictured on Assyrian monuments, cliff reliefs and cylinder seals.

Sin is the moon god. His symbols are the crescent moon, the bull, and a tripod (which may be a lamp-stand). Sin had a beard made of lapis lazuli and he rides on a winged bull. The lunar month usually has 30 days, so Sin's sacred number is 30.

Amurru is the god of nomadic peoples and their flocks. His symbols are a gazelle and a shepherd's crook. He became important when nomadic people called the Amorites moved into Babylonia from around 2100 B.C.

Pazuzu is a demon who protected humans against plague and evil forces. He has a human body with the feet and claws of an eagle, and the head of a monster. Pazuzu is especially strong at fighting against the powers of the malicious goddess Lamashtu.