About this deity
Enlil (Sumerian: ð’€ð’‚—𒆤) was a member of the Anunnaki, the core seven Sumerian deities.
Also known as
Parent belief system
Sumerian Religion · Polytheistic · 7 mythsSumerian religion refers to spiritual beliefs practiced from ca. 4500-1900 BCE in Mesopotamia, or modern-day southern Iraq. Many deities were diffused into other Mesopotamian cultures.
Top myths
 |  |  |  | |
| Epic of Gilgamesh (OBV) | Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld | Epic of Ziusudra | Epic of Tukulti-Ninurta I | |
| Hero myth | Afterlife myth | Creation, Flood myth | Prestige myth | |
| Unknown author | Unknown author | Unknown author | Unknown author | |
| Read myth | Read myth | Read myth | Read myth | |
| More myths | ||||
Cult city at Nippur
Enlil was known to have a cult following at Nippur. In many Sumerian texts, Enlil's temple was known as E-Kur, or the "Mountain House."
"The E-kur (Mountain House': see kur) was
the name of Enlil's temple at Nippur, also incorporating
the E-ki-ur, the shrine of Ninlil.
According to a Sumerian poem, it was founded
and built by the god Enlil himself. The E-kur
was sometimes described as having a cosmological
role as the 'mooring-rope' of heaven
and earth. Adjacent to it stood the ziggurat
Dur-an-ki (Bond of heaven and earth': see
cosmology), which was originally built by Ur-
Nammu (reigned 2168-2151 sc), founder of
the Third Dynasty of Ur. It is described in
some detail in a hymn from the reign of Ur-
Nammu, in which the mythological scenes on
its gates are enumerated: Imdugud kills a lion,
while an eagle seizes a wrongdoer." [1]
Nippur is also a prominent location with respect to artifact findings in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Mythological stories including Enlil
- Epic of Gilgamesh (OBV) Hero myth
Nuthsell
Sit tight. More information about this is coming soon.
- Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld Afterlife myth
Nuthsell
While Enki was saling, the south wind uprooted a single ḫalub tree on the bank of the Euphrates river. A woman found it, planted it in Inanna's garden, and watered it by only using her feet; it grew massive after ten years. Inanna wanted to use it for a chair, but its bark would not break. Inanna cried and asked her brother, Gilgameš, to do it. Gilgameš cut the tree with his strength and also made a powerful mallet from its branches. During a game, both the ball and the mallet fell down into the netherworld. When Gilgameš could not recover items, his servant Enkidu offered to retrieve it. Enkidu became trapped there. Gilgameš asked Enki and Enlil to rescue Enkidu, but without success. Utu, however, obliged and made a hole for Enkidu to return. Gilgameš rejoiced and asked Enkidu how different kinds of people fare in the netherworld, ending the poem.
- Epic of Ziusudra Creation, Flood myth
Nuthsell
The Sumerian deities An, Enlil, and Enki created the "black headed people," the animals, and assigned the cities among the deities. Eridug was given to Nudimmud, the leader. Ziusudra, a Sumerian king, is told that a flood will sweep over the land: "A decision that the seed of mankind is to be destroyed has been made." This was announced by An and Enlil. A huge boat is constructed and it withstands the rain and wind for seven days and seven nights. When the chaos ended, Utu, the sun deity, showed himself and entered the boat, whereby Ziusudra sacrified oxen and offered sheep to him. As the animals disembarked off of Ziusudra's boat, An and Enlil treated Ziusudra kindly and granted him eternal life in "the land Dilmun" because he preserved the seed of mankind.
- Epic of Tukulti-Ninurta I Prestige myth
Nuthsell
Tukulti-Ninurta I, the Assyrian leader, describes his military campaigns against the Babylonians. The poetic narrative embellishes the might and power of Tukulti-Ninurta I and his army, resulting in an Assyrian victory. A statue of the chief Babylonian deity, Marduk, was stolen and taken to the Assyrian capital.
Debate Between Sheep and Grain Creation mythNuthsell
Sit tight. More information about this is coming soon.
The Song of the Hoe Creation mythNuthsell
Sit tight. More information about this is coming soon.
Epic of Anzu Prestige mythNuthsell
The winged eagle-lion monster named Anzu steals the Tablet of Destinies. No other deity wants to chase him down other than Ninurta, a warrior deity known for hunting. After a failed attempt, Ninurta captures Anzu, ends his life, and recovers the Tablet of Destinies.
Epic of Gilgamesh (SBV) Prestige, Hero mythNuthsell
Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk and has a track record of terrorizing his own people. The people cry out to the supreme deity Anu, who creates a twin of Gilgamesh named Enkidu. Enkidu sets out for Gilgamesh, finds him, and they become friends after a brawl. The two journey together, whereby Enkidu dies. Gilgamesh tries to become an immortal with the help of a plant, but fails. The story ends with Gilgamesh realizing that his destiny is to be a good king to his people.
Epic of Atrahasis Creation, Flood mythNuthsell
Sit tight. More information about this is coming soon.
Inanna's Descent to the Netherworld Afterlife mythNuthsell
Inanna descends from the great above to the great below. She abandons several temples and heads for open country. She gives precise instructions to her companion—Ninsubur: Inanna says "if I don't return in three days, go to the temples and plead on my behalf." At the netherworld she enters and goes through seven gates before she is turned into a corpse. Ninsubur follows the instructions and tells Inanna's father Enkil what happened. He helps her by sending two a-sexual creatures to sneak in and bring her back to life. Once Inanna is alive she ascends while being escorted by demons from the netherworld. The demons allow her to trade her husband Dumuzi in her place.
Eridu Genesis Creation, Flood mythNuthsell
The Sumerian deities An, Enlil, and Enki created the "black headed people," the animals, and assigned the cities among the deities. Eridug was given to Nudimmud, the leader. Ziusudra, a Sumerian king, is told that a flood will sweep over the land: "A decision that the seed of mankind is to be destroyed has been made." This was announced by An and Enlil. A huge boat is constructed and it withstands the rain and wind for seven days and seven nights. When the chaos ended, Utu, the sun deity, showed himself and entered the boat, whereby Ziusudra sacrified oxen and offered sheep to him. As the animals disembarked off of Ziusudra's boat, An and Enlil treated Ziusudra kindly and granted him eternal life in "the land Dilmun" because he preserved the seed of mankind.
Cite this page
OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Enlil." OMNIKA – World Mythology Index, OMNIKA Foundation, 23 Jul. 2019, omnika.org/stable/227. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
OMNIKA (2019, July 23). Enlil. Retrieved from https://omnika.org/stable/227
OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Enlil." Las Vegas, NV: OMNIKA Foundation. Created July 23, 2019. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://omnika.org/stable/227.
