Nanshe / Nanse / Nazi = Enki’s & Ninhursag‘s Daughter, via Uttu

Spouse to Nindara, Goddess of Fish & Fowl of the Persian Gulf

 

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue …mixed-breed demigods in teal…)

 

Nanshe has two major symbols, both of which are also seen in Christian folklore. The fish represents her original role as a water and fishing goddess. The pelican, said in folklore to rip open its own chest to feed its young, represents her role as a protector and caregiver.

The Guarantor of Boundaries – the lady of the storerooms

In the Nanše Hymn she is described as having a role seeing that weights and measures are correct.

As Nanshe:

        “as she escaped from Isin. Nanshe cried, ‘O my devastated city…’

        her beloved dwelling place was given over to misfortune….”

 

       “Who . . s the izi-bird and the lil-fish, who . . . . ,

        Who comes out from the zipag, who . . . . ,

        The Lady of Sirar[a, Mother Nansh]e,

        Of the sea, of its . . . . places, Enki placed in charge…”

 

        “Nanshe, the lady, the lord – the holy . . . fell at her feet,

        She has become the fishery inspector of the se[a] (?),

        Fish, tasty, (and) . . . . ,

        She presents to her [father] (uncle) Enlil…”

 

       “the child of Enki, acting as a good woman for a good household,…”

 

As Nance:

       “Nance, the noble daughter, was settled outside the city…”

 

         “Father Enki determined a fate for you.

       Nance, child born in Eridug (Eridu, Enki’s city), sweet is your praise…”

      

       “He who confirms or contradicts what is uttered,

       who enters Nance’s house from outside (?), and does not leave it,

        the caretaker of Nance’s house, the child born to Utu, lord Hendursaja …….”

      

       “He who extends his staff of office, the one respected within the Abzu,

       the lord who has no opposition in the terraced tower (?) of Nance’s house,

        the king, lord Hendursaja, promulgates the decrees of Nance’s house…”

 

       “The lady of precious rites, Nance, versed in singing holy songs, sang songs for the house…”

      

       “Nance, the queen of the fishermen, will be delighted with you…”

 

       “The city of Nance, Nijin, was delivered to the foreigners.

        Sirara, her beloved dwelling, was handed over to the evil ones.

        ‘Alas, the destroyed city, my destroyed house,’ she cried bitterly… “

 

       “Nance, what you say is trustworthy and takes precedence.

       You are the interpreter of dreams among the gods,…”

 

        “You have taken your place upon the throne-dais of Lagac (Lagash).

        Speak to holy mother Nance,…”

 

       “Nance answered the ruler: ‘My shepherd, I will explain your dream for you in every detail.

        The person who, as you said, was as enormous as the skies, who was as enormous as the earth,

        whose head was like that of gods, whose wings, as you said, were like those of the Anzud bird,

        and whose lower body was, as you said, like a flood storm,

        at whose right and left lions were lying, was in fact my brother Nin-jirsu (Ninurta)…

       ´The young woman …… sheaves, who held a stylus of refined silver in her hand,

        who had placed it on a tablet with propitious stars and was consulting it, she was in fact my sister Nisaba‘….”

 

       “’Nin-jirsu, I want to build up your house for you,

       I want to make it perfect for you, so I will ask your sister, the child born of Eridu,

        an authority on her own, the lady, the dream-interpreter among the gods,

        my divine sister from Sirara, Nance, to show me the way.’

       His call was heard; his master, Lord Nin-jirsu accepted from (2/3rds divine King) Gudea…“

 

       “Now the ruler imposed a levy on his land.

       He imposed a levy on his realm of abundant ……, on Nin-jirsu´s Gu-edina.

       He imposed levy on his built-up cities and settlements, on Nance´s Gu-jicbara…”

 

       “There was a levy for him on the clan of Nance

        Both river banks and shores rising out of the waters,

        the huger river, full of water, which spreads its abundance everywhere,

        and he placed the holy pelican (?), the standard of Nance, in front of them…”

 

As Nanse:

        “When the mistress, Mother Nanše, floats her holy barge to visit you,

        sweet and noble singers perform for her on board…”

 

        “Nanše (Nanshe) has placed a mighty symbol in your hand, Ḫendursaĝa (Utu’s son).

        The mistress, Mother Nanše, speaks confidentially with you…”

 

        “Nindara, the king of Lagaš (Lagash).

        Also with her help, monthly and at the New Year on the days of regular offerings,

        in your house Nindara makes the wedding-gifts on your behalf

        for the mistress, Mother Nanše…”

 

        “The one who sets sail…in the holy shrine, the innin who induces copulation…

        great flood-wave of the sea, turbulent flood-wave, the inundation of the sea…

        who springs forth out of the sea-foam…the innin of Sirara,

        mother Nanse, the sea in all its breadth, Enki placed in charge of it…”

 

          (Nanshe, powerful daughter to Enki)

       “Nanse, the noble nin/en, at whose feet the holy u-bird stands,

        is now the customs inspector of the sea.

        Good fish, tasty birds, she grants her father (uncle) Enlil in Nippur…”

 

As Nazi:

       “Let Nazi marry Nindara;…”

 

       “Nazi shall marry Nindara,…”

 

       “’My brother (Enki), what part of you hurts you?’

        ‘My throat (zi) hurts me.’

        She (Ninhursag) gave birth to Nazi out of it…”

 

       “My husband is the tax collector of the sea,

       Nindara is the tax collector of the sea.”

       2 lines unclear

       A balbale of Nanše….”