Ningishzida
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ningishzida (sum: dnin-ǧiš-zi-da)is an underworld Mesopotamian deity. He is the patron of medicine, and may also be considered a God of nature, as his name in Sumerian means "lord of the good tree". In Sumerian mythology, he appears in Adapa's myth as one of the two guardians of Anu's celestial palace alongside Dumuzi. Sometimes he was depicted as a serpent with a human head. Ningishzida is the son of Ninazu, and is related to Geshtinanna. His wife is either Ninazimua or Dazimua[1]. He was one of the ancestors of Gilgamesh. His symbolic animal is the bashmu dragon, a type of snake with horns. He is also associated with the Hydra constellation. It is not established whether the Ningishida was male or female, although "nin" referred to a female entity in Sumerian.
Ningishzida is the earliest known symbol of snakes twining (some say in copulation) around an axial rod. It predates the Caduceus of Hermes, the Rod of Asclepius and the staff of Moses by more than a thousand years.
In the Louvre, there is a famous green steatite vase carved for king Gudea of Lagash (dated variously 2200–2025 BCE), dedicated by its inscription: "To the god Ningiszida, his god Gudea, patesi of Lagash, for the prolongation of his life, has dedicated this".
[edit] References
Michael Jordon, Encyclopedia of Gods, Kyle Cathie Limited, 2002
[edit] External links
- TheFreeDictionary
- Ningishzida's journey to the nether world
- His marriage to Dazimua is mentioned here
nl:Ningishzida
