Namtar

God of Death

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Namtar God: Unveiling the Mysterious Deity of Death in Ancient Sumerian Mythology

Source: https://oldworldgods.com/mesopotamian/namtar-god/

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Namtar god, a prominent deity of death in ancient Sumerian mythology, holds a significant role within the pantheon of gods. As the offspring of Enlil and Asherah, Namtar possesses extraordinary abilities, including the foresight of death and interdimensional travel.

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Connected to the underworld through his servitude to Ereshkigal, Namtar is also attributed with the power to send diseases and epidemics. His interactions with other gods and deities, such as Inanna, Eriskegal, Baal, and Anath, further establish his importance within Sumerian mythology.

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Origins and Family of Namtar

Namtar, a significant figure in Sumerian mythology, is deeply rooted in the ancient traditions surrounding death. As the son of Enlil and Asherah, Namtar possesses a lineage that connects him to prestigious divine heritage.

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His celestial family includes numerous siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins, solidifying his status among the formidable Anunnaki gods worshipped by the ancient Sumerians. With his birth traced to Nippur in Sumeria, Namtar’s origins provide a glimpse into his intriguing existence.

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Namtar’s Role in Sumerian Mythology

Within the elaborate tapestry of Sumerian mythology, Namtar plays a vital role as the visier and advisor to Ereshkigal – the goddess of the dead and the ruler of Allatum, the extradimensional realm designated for worshippers’ spirits.

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Engaging in an array of events involving other deities such as Inanna, Ereshkigal, Baal, and Anath, Namtar’s actions and interactions contribute to the complex dynamics of the Sumerian pantheon. His abilities to perceive impending death, traverse dimensions, and assume different forms set him apart as a formidable being with tremendous power.

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Namtar and the Underworld: His Connection with Ereshkigal

Namtar, the deity closely associated with death in Sumerian mythology, has a significant connection to the underworld through his service to Ereshkigal. Ereshkigal, herself a powerful goddess of the underworld, relies on Namtar as her loyal servant and advisor.

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In their symbiotic relationship, Namtar acts as Ereshkigal’s conduit, bridging the gap between the mortal realm and the realm of the dead. His role involves facilitating the transition of souls and overseeing the administration of Allatum, the extradimensional realm reserved for the spirits of the worshippers.

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Namtar’s association with Ereshkigal grants him immense authority within the realm of death. Ereshkigal holds the power to release the souls of the possessed from their suffering on Earth through a ceremonial magic.

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Namtar, as her son and servant, carries out these rituals, ensuring the spiritual liberation of the afflicted. This particular connection between Namtar and Ereshkigal highlights his role as a conduit for both the living and the dead.

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While Ereshkigal commands the underworld, Namtar’s role as her loyal servant solidifies his involvement in the intricate workings of the afterlife. Together, they play a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance between the realms of life and death.

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Namtar’s Powers and Abilities: Perception of Death and Interdimensional Travel

Namtar, the fascinating deity of death in Sumerian mythology, possesses a range of extraordinary powers and abilities. One of his most notable capabilities is his uncanny perception of death, allowing him to foretell its arrival before it occurs.

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This unique perception grants Namtar a profound understanding of the existential boundary that humanity faces, making him a revered figure within Sumerian culture. Furthermore, Namtar possesses the exceptional ability to traverse between dimensions, easily moving between the earthly realm and various extradimensional planes.

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His interdimensional travel hints at his divine origins as a member of the Anunnaki, a pantheon of extradimensional beings revered as gods by the ancient Sumerians. Namtar’s capacity to navigate different realms reinforces his powerful status and highlights the depth of his influence.

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It is said that Namtar can assume different forms during his interdimensional journeys, adapting to the diverse realms he encounters. This shape-shifting ability enables him to interact with other deities and entities, fostering alliances or carrying out tasks as needed.

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The vast range of forms that Namtar can assume adds to the enigmatic nature of his character and exemplifies the depth of his power. Moreover, Namtar’s dominion extends beyond mere perception and interdimensional travel.

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He is also believed to possess control over certain demonic forces, further enhancing his capability to influence and shape the realm of death and disease. Though the specifics of this control remain shrouded in mystery, it is clear that Namtar wields considerable power over these dark entities.

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The Role of Namtar in Sending Diseases and Epidemics

Namtar, the formidable deity of death in Sumerian mythology, possesses a significant role as the purveyor of diseases and epidemics. According to ancient beliefs, Namtar is responsible for inflicting sixty different diseases upon humans, each in the form of malevolent demons targeting various parts of the body.

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These diseases are considered to be a consequence of Namtar’s influence, as he wields the power to spread illness and suffering among mortals. The belief in his ability to enforce such afflictions underscores his immense authority within the pantheon of gods.

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Legends describe how humans resorted to making sacrifices and offerings to appease Namtar and avoid his detrimental influence. These acts of worship and offerings were seen as a way to prevent or mitigate the onslaught of diseases and epidemics that Namtar unleashed upon humanity.

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However, an intriguing twist manifests as Atrahasis, a wise sage guided by Enki, manages to convince humans to revere and make offerings to Namtar. This unexpected display of love and devotion from mankind causes Namtar to feel a deep sense of shame, leading to a change in his behavior towards those who demonstrate utmost affection for him.

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The intricate relationship between Namtar and diseases highlights the intertwined nature of life and death. His capacity to unleash diseases and inflict suffering underscores the fragility of human existence and the vulnerability to forces beyond mortal control.

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In the ancient Sumerian worldview, Namtar’s role in sending diseases and epidemics serves as a reminder of the transient nature of life, the need to appreciate good health, and the necessity to honor the divine forces that govern the balance between life and death.

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Worship and Offerings to Namtar

Worship of Namtar was a crucial aspect of ancient Sumerian culture, as he held immense power over life and death. The Sumerians believed that by appeasing Namtar, they could avoid the infliction of diseases and epidemics that he was known to unleash.

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Devotees would gather in temples dedicated to Namtar, offering various rituals and sacrifices to gain his favor. These offerings ranged from simple prayers and incense to more elaborate ceremonies involving animal sacrifices.

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To demonstrate their reverence, worshippers would present flowers, fruits, and other symbolic items at the altars of Namtar. Animals such as goats, sheep, and cattle were sacrificed to appease Namtar and ward off his malevolent influence.

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Additionally, devotees would perform intricate rituals, including chanting hymns and performing dances, as a way to honor Namtar’s divine presence. It was believed that by displaying unwavering devotion and offering sacrifices, individuals could gain Namtar’s protection and safeguard themselves and their communities from the devastating effects of his diseases.

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The rituals and offerings made to Namtar were not only acts of worship but also a form of seeking redemption. By offering their devotion, the Sumerians hoped to show Namtar their love and affection, thus eliciting his mercy and sparing them from his destructive influence.

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Throughout the year, specific festivals and ceremonies were dedicated to Namtar. These events brought people together to engage in collective worship, reinforcing the belief that communal devotion was essential in combating the potential wrath of the god of death.

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As time passed, the rituals and practices surrounding Namtar’s worship evolved, reflecting the changing beliefs and cultural dynamics of the ancient Sumerians. Nevertheless, the reverence for Namtar persisted, as his role as a harbinger of death continued to shape the worldview of those who sought his benevolence.

ARKAN - Groans of the Abyss

Lyrics:

Here the cold winds bring the plague

Slow anguish as a fate

Namtar saving us this painful curse

Surrupu disease is being broken out

When the looks changed by starvation

Our despair bearing bowed

Clogging the river like dragonflies

Our well-set shoulders slouched

Let the heralds proclaim

Let them make some noise in the land

Let's search out the door of Namtar

And stop praying

The story scrolls before my eyes

Salvation

Have I begun to understand

Thunder god holds back the rains

A flood to wipe us out

The darkness gains ground there is no sun

The winds howl

Let the heralds proclaim

Let them make some noise in the land

Let's search out the door of Namtar

And stop praying

The story scrolls before my eyes

Unrelenting

Images of what life could be

And this story reveals me what I am

Deception

Through violence my time I will spend

All was born from bedlam

All will become dust

Such is the will of the gods

All was born from bedlam

All will become dust

Such is the doom of mankind

One World, One Cycle, One Pain

One World, One Cycle, One Slave

All cycles make slaves

Here the cold winds bring the plague

Slow anguish as a fate

Namtar saving us this painful curse

Surrupu disease

Let the heralds proclaim

Let them make some noise in the land

Let's search out the door of Namtar

And stop praying

Story scrolls before my eyes

Unrelenting

Images of what life could be

Story scrolls before my eyes

Unrelenting

Images of what life could be

When the looks changed by starvation

Our despair bearing bowed

Clogging the river like dragonflies

Dragonflies

Vampire - Skull Prayer

Lyrics

With tears from the well in the mountain

and the gaze from the pestilence hearse

with a voice both whispering and shouting

come the words that were dug from the Earth

Ashem - Dava !

Ashem - Deva !

By the flowers that bloom on the grave hill

and the acid that frets in the snake

By the hue in the eye of the road kill

comes a witness between sleep and wake

Namtar ! Allatu !

chill my bones with liquid sooth

Fill my mouth with budding youth

By thee smoke wreaths that dance in the darkness

with the scent of the desert night

By the grin of the disinterred carcass

here's to demons that dwell out of sight

Ashem - Deva !

Namtar ! Allatu !

Pictures, Videos, Music and Additional Reading

Namtar (Namtaru or Namtara)

By Margaux Carpio

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Namtar is a minor chthonian god from Mesopotamian mythology. He is the god of death and the minister and messenger of the deities An, Ereshkigal and Nergal.
Namtar is considered responsible for diseases and pests. Mythology indicates that he commands sixty demons, each corresponding to a disease and entering a part of the human body.

Offerings are made to him to prevent these diseases.
For some, Namtar is the spirit of fate, and his demons carry out his instructions regarding the fate of humans but also of certain gods. In other writings he is related to the Grim Reaper as the personification of death.

Source: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/3q8PLJ

Anunnaki Ambience - Deep Focus & Relaxation Through Dark Atmospheric Ambient Soundscapes

Namtar

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namtar

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Namtar (Sumerian: 𒉆𒋻, lit. 'fate') was a figure in ancient Mesopotamian religion who, depending on the context, could be regarded both as a minor god and as a demon of disease. He is best attested as the sukkal (attendant deity) of Ereshkigal, the goddess of the underworld. Like her, he was not the object of active worship, though references to it are made in literary texts, and additionally some incantations entrust him with keeping various other malevolent forces in the underworld.

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Namtar's name means "fate" in Sumerian. It can be differentiated from the ordinary word "fate" in Sumerian texts due to being preceded by the dingir sign, so-called divine determinative, used to identify the names of deities. The same name was used in Akkadian, written as dnam-ta-ru.

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Jacob Klein notes that true to his name, Namtar was most likely understood as the personification of unavoidable fate, implicitly understood as death. Aicha Rahmouni compares the role of Namtar in Mesopotamian beliefs to that played by Mot, the personified death, in Ugaritic texts.

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The primary roles of Namtar in the Mesopotamian pantheon were those of a minor god of the underworld and of a disease demon,especially strongly associated with headaches and heart pain. While his two roles were interconnected, according to Jacob Klein the precise development of his character is presently impossible to discern. Barbara Böck proposes that he was initially only a disease demon, and developed into Ereshkigal's sukkal at some point in the second millennium BCE.

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His appearance was typically described as fearsome, with references to such traits as "twisted hands" or "mouth filled with venom." The Underworld Vision of an Assyrian Prince states that he could be depicted slaying a man with a sword

Source: https://global-mythology.fandom.com/wiki/Namtar

Absu - Sceptre Command

Lyrics:

Namtar, you're the Hyle of plague-ness

A watchman: bound and bound

My staff is the answer (for elucidation)

We shall not climb to the origin of elements

We must examine the base of Gudua

In order to harvest a benthos existence

I call upon the backing of Gugalanna

I point the bow at the gold crown

Three arrows spear the heart of the staff

The placement of Mars must be equal

Enrapture within Sceptre Command!

The Cylinder seal projects the spell of triangular silhouettes of Irra

Hear me, Namtar

Descending by the stages

Gugalanna

Circules of this great dwelling

Gugalanna

O' breathing, flowing orb - you're in place

O' formless, lifeless mock - your gray place

The Cylinder seal projects the spell of triangular silhouettes of Irra

Hear me, Namtar

Descending by the stages

Gugalanna

Those above...

Those below...

First order!

I point the bow at the gold crown

Three arrows spear the heart of the staff

The placement of Mars must be equal

Enrapture within Sceptre Command!

The Cylinder seal projects the spell of triangular silhouettes of Irra

Hear me, Namtar

Thank you, O' Great Ones

Now, Kuta's repressed

My solar cantrip...

My fourteen afreets...

Anon, Gudua's placed

[Narrator:]

Three embraced each other

Namtar, Nergal and Mars

The truncheon gripped the light

Command - the bolts were shot

Decimation - Peripheral Profligacy of Transcendental Lower World

Lyrics

Peripheral profligacy of transcendental lower world

The mistress of the netherworld

While Namtar is the God of Pestilence

Torrents of blood gushing down

From the stairs of goblin chapel

Principles of lust, whispering solitude

Exhumation circle of chaos

Dismayed obedients coma execution

Discriminated bodies, isolated putrefaction

Vermins of Babylon prone to quarrel

All by inheritance, refused by gods

Selfish, suspicious, incredibly vigorous

Physically and mentally predominated by patience

Odour of torture, mutual interaction of an offensive fiction

Potential abhorrence of ancestors

Who had already reduced to ashes

Recall the messenger Ilabrat

Mourning angels crying vandals

"Who are the two gods, who have vanished from the land?"

Lord, Adapa, the son of Ea, the wing of the South Wind

Has broken which made Anu ascended his throne

Let him be handed over who contrived the uprising.

His guilt which make him bear that he may dwell in peace!"

The Igigi, the great gods, replied to him,

To Lugaldimmerankia, counsellor of the gods, their lord:

`It was Kingu who contrived the uprising,

And made Tiamat rebel, and joined battle.`

The bound him holding him before Ea

They imposed on him his guilt and severed his blood vessels

Out of his blood they fashioned mankind.

He imposed the service and let free the gods

The Namtar once used their mastery of death to determine which creatures needed to be extirpated from the Earth by simply touching them gently and returning their bodies to the ground. The Angels of Death were created to recycle the material left by the passage of the spirit (while the disposition of the spirit itself was left to their brothers, the Nergal).

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Their powers were not designed to be used on humans, and the curse placed on the Halaku was worse than any of the gentle Namtar could have conceived.

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Their beloved humans would now fall victim to their proverbial scythes, a small wonder, so some of the Halaku immediately began building kingdoms where loyal Nergal could not find human souls. As agents of decay and physical death, the Namtar tried to devise ways to make death acceptable, if not enjoyable.

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From his work during the war emerged notions such as martyrdom, mourning, funerals, and many forms of medicine. However, suicide and despair also occurred, as the Namtar sought to make each human's final fate a little less uncomfortable.

Source: http://www.vampiro.cl/2019/09/namtar-la-faz-de-la-muerte.html

Source: https://hellfire.fandom.com/wiki/Lich_King_Namtar_S4