#ninazu

[iamythology]

Ninazu

[ace-of-anunnaki]

Transtigridian Snake Gods

In his publication “Transtigridian Snake Gods”, Franz Wiggermann discusses the similar traits and roles of various gods that he categorizes as Transtigridian, or having residency outside of southern Sumer proper. In the god list An-Anum, these five gods follow Ereshkigal, denoting them as Chthonic gods, and each had some association with snakes. A little more about each below:

Ninazu (Right): I have drawn him before. Patron god of Eshnunna and Enegi, he also was a warrior god, and has some connections to vegetation, such as in his role in “How Grain Came to Sumer”. He is associated with Ereshkigal as a son or husband. (Though sometimes he is the son of Enlil and Ninlil) My design of him has horned viper pointed scales (and he’s also trans, there isn’t a basis for this in the myths I just thought it was cool)

Tishpak (Center Left): Replaced Ninazu in Eshnunna, also a warrior god. His connection to the underworld is not as solid as his predecessor. He could have had snakelike green skin, possibly snake feet(?) Here I only drew the skin. A pet green Mushussu is here with him as well. (sometimes he is thought to be sitting or riding on Mushussu on cylinder seals)

Ningishzida (Bottom left corner): Son of Ninazu, also a vegetation god - “Lord of the Good Tree” is the agreed upon meaning of his name. His journey to the underworld each year would cause greenery to die. I enjoy that in iconography he has snake shoulders, in my version of him the snakes just do whatever he does.

Ishtaran (Behind the trees on the right) He was a god of justice, and a dying and returning god like Ninazu and Ningishzida. Patron of the city of Der. Not much of him pictured here, because I couldn’t decide if I wanted his lower body to be serpentine so I hid it behind the trees. He has the mythical serpent Nirah curled around him, Nirah is his messenger (and also his son in at least one source).

Inshushinak (Behind the trees, left): The “Lord of Susa” was possibly an underworld judge who received the dead. According to the Wiggermann article, not much about his character is known. There is a theory that based on An-Anum, he and Ishtaran were sons of Tishpak, but my interpretation does not have a familial connection between them. My version of him is a friendly guy but nobody really knows what his deal is. Also he has a prosthetic gold hand.

Sorry for those who can also be included in this category that I didn’t draw… Ninmada… Boat god… I don’t have designs for you yet…

Transtigridian Snake Gods

Transtigridian Snake Gods

[ace-of-anunnaki]

Day 14: Chthonic Ninazu

Ninazu is a god associated with snakes, the underworld, fertility, and sometimes warfare. For a time he was the patron deity of Eshnunna, before he was replaced by Tishpak. I haven’t been able to find too many sources about him, besides some hymns and vague references in other works (perhaps he is the deity who prevents Damu from entering the underworld in ‘In the Desert in the Early Grass’ )

His two attested origins are that of him being a son of Enlil and Ninlil, or him being the son of Ereshkigal, the latter being the version I sourced from. As a ‘dying and returning god’, he represented growth and healing. My design of him is meant to resemble a child of Ereshkigal and Nergal, though there is no direct evidence suggesting Nergal is his father. Also my version of him is trans (no mythological basis really) but I like interpreting him that way.

[konacoffeecream]

Ninazu loves her Namekian boyfriend she would do anything for Dende

and they’re the Healing Team so you know they gotta show up where the idiots go 

[konacoffeecream]

Ninazu concepts 

she’s cute i just like doodling her

[limey-blue-arty-do]

Inktober Day 8: Crooked

yes it’s late, and it’s here, with our crooked lanky boi Zip

(I’m strongly considering skipping Day 9 and going on to Day 10 tomorrow because my work day now means I have significantly less time to do these)