Place of Origin: Sumer (Mesopotamia)
Origin Date: ~3000 BCE
Domain: Wind, storm, royal authority.
Symbols: Horned crown, scepter.
Attributes: Storms, kingship.
Religion: Mesopotamian Mythology
Description
Enlil wielded control over storms, weather, and agriculture, playing a key role in both creation and destruction. Revered as a lawgiver, he granted kingship and divine authority to rulers.
Relations: Son of Anu, father of Ninurta and Nanna.
Epithets: “Great Mountain,” “Father of the Gods.”
Equivalents: Greek: Zeus (in authority), Norse: Thor (in storms).
Iconography: Depicted as a regal figure with storm motifs.
Worship Beliefs and Practices
Temples like the Ekur in Nippur were major centers of Enlil worship.
Narratives
Enuma Elish (c. 1100 BCE)
In this Babylonian creation epic, Enlil plays a role in the divine hierarchy as the god of wind and storms. He is part of the triad of Anu, Enki, and himself, governing the heavens, earth, and atmosphere. The story highlights his authority and influence over cosmic order.
Epic of Gilgamesh (c. 2100 BCE)
Enlil appears in the flood narrative, where he decides to cleanse the earth of humanity due to their sins. His decree leads to the great flood, but he later shows mercy by allowing Utnapishtim and his family to survive, granting them immortality.
Atrahasis (c. 1800 BCE)
This flood myth centers on Enlil’s frustration with humanity’s noise and disobedience. He sends a series of disasters, including famine and drought, before ultimately unleashing a flood to wipe out humanity. Enki intervenes to save Atrahasis, ensuring the survival of life.
Myth of the Creation of the Hoe (c. 2000 BCE)
Enlil is credited with creating the hoe, a tool essential for agriculture. The myth describes how Enlil cultivated the earth and brought forth humanity from the soil, emphasizing his role in creation and sustenance.
Enlil and Ninlil (c. 2100 BCE)
This tale explores Enlil’s relationship with Ninlil, the goddess of grain. It recounts how Enlil seduces Ninlil and is subsequently banished to the underworld. Ninlil follows him, and together they conceive several deities, including Nanna, the moon god.
Sacred Texts: "Atrahasis," c. 1800 BCE.