Nanna / Sîn, the Moon-God
The moon that measures the months — wise elder of the gods, and the cause of a king's downfall.
The moon-god Nanna — Sin in Akkadian — was the great deity of the city of Ur and a god of the first rank. As the moon, he measured out the months and regulated the calendar, and he was honored as the wise elder who fathered the sun-god and the goddess Inana/Ishtar. His crescent was his emblem. Centuries later the last king of Babylon, Nabonidus, controversially elevated Sin's cult above Marduk's, a move that estranged Babylon's priesthood. The moon-god's long prominence shows how a city's patron could shape the religion of an empire.
Key passages(20)
Princely lord ……, great lord of heaven ……! In the city which like the sea inspires awe! Far-seeing Suen, ruler of Urim! O Suen, princely lord ……, great lord of heaven ……! In the city which like the se
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…… that fills the holy heavens, an adept (?) exuding radiance (?), Nanna, your crown is holy! Unique lord, …… lord who …… the heavens, shining in the high heavens, ……, spreading advice throughout heav
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Princely son, respected one in heaven spreading amply over the high mountains, rising high as he casts a glowing radiance, majestic ……, his head reaching the sky, fixing the new moon and the months, s
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Princely lord, foremost in the E-kur, …… fearsomeness! Suen, beneficent one of Enlil, …… the living! Cornelian calf, adorned with beauty, …… brilliance! …… prince whose forehead flourishes and whose c
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You possess ……! An, Enlil, Enki and Ninḫursaĝa treat you with deserved affection in your place of creation. Exalted Nanna ……, adviser in heaven and on earth ……! An, Enlil, Enki and Ninḫursaĝa treat yo
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A prayer to Nanna for Rīm-Sîn (Rīm-Sîn E)
……, who is fitted for holy lustration rites, Rīm-Sîn, purification priest of An, who is fitted for pure prayers rites, whom you summoned from the holy womb ……, has been elevated to lordship over the L
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My king …… in his reed marshes. He …… in the silent (?) reed marshes. He extended his house over a huge reed marsh, over a …… reed marsh. Its …… is green (?); he has built …… by the water. He called h
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As remote as heaven, …… as the earth! Lord Nanna, as remote as heaven, …… as the earth! Lord Ašimbabbar, as remote as heaven, …… as the earth! A cowherd with his numerous cows, Suen …… the men in (?)
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Righteous lord who determines destiny! Born to Ninlil, Suen, beloved son of Ninlil, Suen, having no rival in the E-kur, the house of Enlil: your divine powers are majestic divine powers granted by An!
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Lord, glory of heaven, suited to ……, Nanna, whose appearance in the high heavens is adorned with radiance! King, glittering light, crown of Urim, Nanna, glittering light, crown of Urim! Great lion of
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A prayer to Nanna for Rīm-Sîn (Rīm-Sîn G)
May Lord Nanna, king of heaven and earth, your good protective deity, accept the holy food offerings that you prepare, and the holy pure drink offerings that you proffer with holy hands; the sacrifice
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An adab to Nanna for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan M)
…… what he orders is faithfully executed, …… endowed with beauty in the E-kur, …… among the great gods, the great and august lord …… in the heavens, …… whose seat (?) no other god ……! August ……, lord
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An adab to Nanna for Gungunum (Gungunum A)
…… of the gods, …… light! Attractive great ……, …… radiance! Barsud. …… in princeship. Ruler, leader of the Anuna deities, prince of the just decision, Lord Ašimbabbar, An and Enlil have made you per
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For the god Sîn, the light of heaven [ and netherworld,... ], who is crowned with the crown of the highest rank, wh [ o..., w ] ho marks the day, month, and y [ ear..., w ] ho reveals the signs of the
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The heroic Nanna-Suen fixed his mind on the city of his mother. Suen Ašimbabbar fixed his mind on the city of his mother. Nanna-Suen fixed his mind on the city of his mother and his father. Ašimbabbar
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The lord has burnished (?) the heavens; he has embellished the night the earth . Nanna has burnished the heavens; he has embellished the night the earth . When he comes forth from the turbulent mounta
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How many there are! How many cows there are! How many cattle of Suen there are! The dark ones are translucent lapis lazuli; the pale cows are the light of the risen moon. The little ones trickle down
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Princely son, you are radiant as you come forth from the sacred bathing chamber (?), ……. …… the mountain of pure divine powers, the abzu shrine, ……. …… the majestic foundation platform, ……. Bringing t
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A hymn to Nanna for Gungunum (Gungunum B)
In the whole heaven and on the whole earth Ašimbabbar has made …… great (?). The respected one, the singular dragon, the god made manifest, ……, the flourishing one, the lord who …… the moonlight -- su
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God who …… among the gods, coming forth on high, perfecting the divine powers of heaven! Outstanding crown, radiance, ……, prince, …… of heaven, justly cherished by An and Uraš! Born in Dur-an-ki! Ligh
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