Enlil

Artist's depiction of two winged deities that represented Enlil. They are kneeling in front of a sacred tree, often associated with the worship of the Earth god. Click on image for full size (222K JPG ) Windows Original

Enlil was generated by the union of An, that personifies heaven, and Ki who represents the Earth. Even though Enlil was considered "the Father of the Gods", he was banished to the world of the dead by the assembly of the gods for having raped the grain goddess, Ninlil. With his misdeed, Enlil had impregnated the grain goddess. To let him witness the birth of his own child, Ninlil decided to follow him to the underworld.

This thoughtless decision could have forced the newborn Moon god Sin to stay imprisoned forever in the world of the dead. Thus, Enlil and Ninlil copulated again and offered their three future children to the infernal deities. Thus, their child could finally ascend the heavens in order to light the night sky.