Isimud

Akkadian cylinder seal from sometime around 2300 BC or thereabouts depicting the deities Inanna, Utu, Enki, and Isimud, who is characteristically shown with two faces

Isimud (also Isinu; Usmû;[1] Usumu (Akkadian)) is a minor god, the messenger of the god Enki, in Sumerian mythology.[2]

In ancient Sumerian artwork, Isimud is easily identifiable because he is always depicted with two faces facing in opposite directions in a way that is similar to the ancient Roman god Janus.[3]

Mythology

Isimud appears in the legend of Inanna and Enki, in which he is the one who greets Inanna upon her arrival to the E-Abzu temple in Eridu. He also is the one who informs Enki that the mes have been stolen.[4] In the myth, Isimud also serves as a messenger, telling Inanna to return the mes to Enki or face the consequences.[5] Isimud plays a similar role to Ninshubur, Inanna's sukkal. Isimud also appears in the myth of Enki and Ninhursag, in which he acts as Enki's messenger and emissary.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Black & Green 1992, p. 75.
  2. ↑ Ali Jairazbhoy 1965, p. 227.
  3. ↑ Golan 2003, p. 333.
  4. ↑ "Inana and Enki: translation". etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk.
  5. 1 2 Black & Green 1992, p. 110.

Bibliography

  • Ali Jairazbhoy, Rafique (1965), Oriental influences in Western art, p. 227
  • Black, Jeremy; Green, Anthony (1992), Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia: An Illustrated Dictionary, The British Museum Press, ISBN 0-7141-1705-6
  • Golan, Ariel (2003), Prehistoric Religion: Mythology, Symbolism, p. 333
  • Jordan, Michael (2002), Encyclopedia of Gods, Kyle Cathie Limited
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