The Sumerian god Ningizzida accompanied by two gryphons. It is the oldest known image of snakes coiling around an axial rod, dating from before 2000 BCE.

Ningishzida (sum: ^dnin-ǧiš-zi-da) is a Mesopotamian deity of the underworld. He is the patron of medicine^{[citation needed]}, and may also be considered a god of nature and fertility. His name in Sumerian means "lord of the good tree".^[1] In Sumerian mythology, he appears in Adapa's myth as one of the two guardians of Anu's celestial palace, alongside Dumuzi. He was sometimes depicted as a serpent with a human head.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Lineage and gender

Ningishzida is the son of Ninazu, and is related to Ngeshtin-ana. His wife is either Ninazimua or Dazimua.^[2] 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 Ningishzida was male or female.^{[dubious – discuss]} NIN is usually a prefix for goddesses, but there are exceptions, as in Ninurta.

[edit] Serpent symbolism

Ningishzida is the earliest known symbol of snakes twining (some say in copulation^[who?]) around an axial rod. It predates the Caduceus of Hermes, the Rod of Asclepius and the staff of Moses by more than a millennium.^[3]

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, Ensi^{[citation needed]} (governor) of Lagash, for the prolongation of his life, has dedicated this".

The Adapa myth mentions Ningizzida and Tammuz (or Dumuzi) and refers to the serpent god as male.

[edit] In popular culture

• The Simon Necronomicon has a version of the myth of the descent of Ishtar, where Ningishzida (here spelled "Ninnghizhidda") appears.
• The song Defiling the Gates of Ishtar by the death metal band Nile references the myth of the descent of Ishtar and includes quotes from the Simon Necronomicon, including an invocation of "Ninnghizhidda".
• In the song Lord of All Fever & Plague by death metal band Morbid Angel is a reference to Ningishzida.
• A German black metal band named Ninnghizhidda existed between 1997 and 2003.
• In the movie "The Frighteners", Ninnghizhidda carries the soul of Jake Busey's character down to Hell.

[edit] References

1. ^ Sumerian.org Q&A#20 (Ningishzida)
2. ^ Sumerian Mythology: Chapter II. Myths of Origins
3. ^ Turner, Frederick. Natural Religion. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 0765803321. 

• Michael Jordan, Encyclopedia of Gods, Kyle Cathie Limited, 2002

[edit] See also

• Nehushtan
• Apophis
• Nāga
• Quetzalcoatl
• Serpent (symbolism)

[edit] External links

• TheFreeDictionary
• Piney.com: Ningishzida's journey to the nether world
• Earth-History.com: Ningishzida's journey to the nether world
• His marriage to Dazimua is mentioned here
• ETCSLsubcorpus: balbales and hymns to Ninĝišzida