Nammu

Nammu is the water there was before anything. The Sumerian material makes her the mother of Enki and, behind him, of the ordered world; she is not much worshipped and not much described, which is usual for figures at this depth. Her one memorable scene is in Enki and Ninmah, where the gods are complaining about the labour of digging canals and she goes and wakes her sleeping son, tells him the gods are in distress, and sets in motion the making of human beings out of clay to do the work instead.

Domains

• primordial waters
• motherhood

Relations

• mother of: EnkiMother of Enki. In Enki and Ninmah she wakes him from sleep to make a substitute worker for the gods, and humanity is the result.Reference treatment of Nammu as the mother of Enki, whom she rouses to create humanity in Enki and Ninmah. (secondary)

Sources

• Nammu is the primordial Sumerian mother goddess, the primeval sea, mother of Enki, who in Enki and Ninmah prompts the creation of humanity.: Reference treatment of Nammu as primordial mother goddess and mother of Enki. (secondary)