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God lists

A reference page linking a name, group, or concept to the materials that discuss it.

Texts collecting divine names for preservation, teaching and classification, with varying theological organization.

First six names in SF 1 according to CDLI’s current reading. Modern transliterated-name diagram, not a photograph or copy of the tablet’s signs; order applies to this witness
First six names in SF 1 according to CDLI’s current reading. Modern transliterated-name diagram, not a photograph or copy of the tablet’s signs; order applies to this witnessTeaching diagram by IL Archive · CC BY 4.0 · CC BYLicense · Image source

Text

What a list establishes

Early examples include Fara and Abu Salabikh, ca. 2600–2500 BCE. CDLI reads SF 1’s opening as An, EnlilEnlilProminent Mesopotamian god associated with Nippur and Ekur, highly ranked in Early Dynastic texts before the earliest known Anunna attestation.Glossary · Click to read the explanation, InannaInanna / IshtarProminent Mesopotamian goddess with a major centre at Uruk, whose parentage and cult traditions vary rather than forming one fixed genealogy.Glossary · Click to read the explanation, EnkiEnkiMesopotamian deity associated with deep fresh water, wisdom and Eridu, known as Ea in Akkadian tradition. The earliest preserved written mention does not date his cult’s origin or identify Ubaid Eridu’s deity.Glossary · Click to read the explanation, NannaNanna / Su’en / SinMoon god associated with Ur, with early name evidence that does not date every later myth.Glossary · Click to read the explanation, Utu. Organization may reflect rank or shared written forms. A list is not automatically a genealogy, council or individual belief inventory; a composite text is distinct from a physical tablet. [1][2][3]

References and notes

  1. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. SF 001 (P010566), VAT 12760+, Shuruppak/Fara. Tablet metadata and opening transliteration, obverse column i, lines 1–6. Early Dynastic IIIa, ca. 2600–2500 BCE. Entire list not read. Return to the text ↑
  2. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. CDLI Lexical 000036 (Abu Salabikh God List) composite, P499260 / Q000036. Composite-text metadata and period; not a record of one physical tablet. Return to the text ↑
  3. W. G. Lambert & Ryan D. Winters (2023). An = Anum and Related Lists: God Lists of Ancient Mesopotamia, Vol. I. Edited by A. R. George & M. Krebernik. Mohr Siebeck. doi:10.1628/978-3-16-161383-8. Preview introduction pp. 3–4, especially §1.2; p. 4 visually inspected. Scribal/pedagogical organization and pockets of theology. Full book not read. Return to the text ↑

Research history

Substantive changes are retained here. Minor copy edits remain in the internal operational log.

  1. Edition 2 · 11 October 2026 · editor:aladmin

    Substantive record update

    Read this revision in its original language (Arabic)

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Cite this record

IL Archive, «God lists», Edition 2, https://ilarchive.com/en/entities/god-list