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Gods in Real Places: Sumer and Akkad

Exploring how Sumerian and Akkadian deities were tied to actual mountains, rivers, springs and temples, showing the overlap of the spirit world with the physical landscape.

Chapters

• 0:07 The Landscape of the Gods
• 1:34 Rivers as Sacred Bloodlines
• 3:01 Mountains and the Sky
• 4:28 Temples Bridging Worlds

On-screen text

• 0:07 The Landscape of the Gods
• 0:14 The Landscape of the Gods
• 0:31 Nammu: primeval sea, source of all rivers Historical record · Hymn to Nammu, tablet K 1150, Nippur, ca. 2100 BCE
• 0:49 Eridu's temple complex sits over a natural spring Historical record · Excavation report, Eridu (Tell Abu Shahrain), 1930s, by Fuad Safar
• 1:07 Inanna, Lady of the sacred spring at Eanna Historical record · Temple hymn to Inanna, tablet CBS 1155, Uruk, ca. 2100 BCE
• 1:25 Hymn praises mountain as throne of the heavens Historical record · Temple hymn to Enlil, tablet K 2100, Nippur, ca. 1900 BCE
• 1:34 Rivers as Sacred Bloodlines
• 1:41 Rivers as Sacred Bloodlines
• 1:58 Gudea's temple built by the holy well of Ningirsu Historical record · Gudea Cylinder A, Louvre AO 6455, ca. 2125 BCE
• 2:16 Ritual pours Euphrates water on Enlil's altar Historical record · Ritual tablet K 1234, Nippur, ca. 2000 BCE
• 2:34 Ur's moon temple aligns with Euphrates full moon The Institute's interpretation · Excavation report, Ur, Ziggurat of Ur, Leonard Woolley, 1922‑1934
• 2:52 Akkadian kudurru dedicates to Adad near Tigris Historical record · Kudurru of King Naram‑Sin, British Museum BM 90845, ca. 2250 BCE
• 3:01 Mountains and the Sky
• 3:08 Mountains and the Sky
• 3:25 Stele shows Ningirsu atop a stylized mountain The Institute's interpretation · Stele of the Vultures, Louvre AO 5715, Lagash, ca. 2500 BCE
• 3:43 Enuma Anu Enlil links eclipses to mountain god Kur Tradition / scripture · Enuma Anu Enlil, tablet BM 11079, British Museum, 7th century BCE compilation
• 4:01 King List says Enlil gave kingship from mountain of heaven Historical record · Sumerian King List, tablet IM 1, Nippur, ca. 2100 BCE
• 4:19 Gudea statue placed beside a sacred spring The Institute's interpretation · Statue of Gudea, Louvre AO 6455, ca. 2120 BCE
• 4:28 Temples Bridging Worlds
• 4:43 Ebla tablet records spring dedication to Ishtar Historical record · Ebla tablets, Archive IV, tablet 45, ca. 2500 BCE
• 5:05 Lament calls river the tears of Enki Tradition / scripture · Lament for Sumer and Ur, tablet CBS 1380, ca. 2100 BCE
• 5:39 Temple hymn calls Inanna Lady of sacred spring Historical record · Temple hymn to Inanna, tablet CBS 1155, Uruk, ca. 2100 BCE

Sources

Historical record: Hymn to Nammu, tablet K 1150, Nippur, ca. 2100 BCE · Excavation report, Eridu (Tell Abu Shahrain), 1930s, by Fuad Safar · Temple hymn to Inanna, tablet CBS 1155, Uruk, ca. 2100 BCE · Temple hymn to Enlil, tablet K 2100, Nippur, ca. 1900 BCE · Gudea Cylinder A, Louvre AO 6455, ca. 2125 BCE · Ritual tablet K 1234, Nippur, ca. 2000 BCE · Kudurru of King Naram‑Sin, British Museum BM 90845, ca. 2250 BCE · Sumerian King List, tablet IM 1, Nippur, ca. 2100 BCE · Ebla tablets, Archive IV, tablet 45, ca. 2500 BCE

Tradition / scripture: Enuma Anu Enlil, tablet BM 11079, British Museum, 7th century BCE compilation · Lament for Sumer and Ur, tablet CBS 1380, ca. 2100 BCE

The Institute's interpretation: Excavation report, Ur, Ziggurat of Ur, Leonard Woolley, 1922‑1934 · Stele of the Vultures, Louvre AO 5715, Lagash, ca. 2500 BCE · Statue of Gudea, Louvre AO 6455, ca. 2120 BCE

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 183 s of CPU.