Sumerian Mythology

Visit the links to learn about Sumerian myths related to objects in the sky, the Earth, and aspects of their world.

Back to the World Map
Shamash was the <a href="/sun/sun.html&dev=1">Sun</a> god of Sumerian mythology. Since he could see everything on <a href="/earth/earth.html&dev=1">Earth</a>, he represented also the god of justice, truth and right. Sumerians lived more than three thousand years ago in Mesopotamia. This image shows a Sumerian seal from about 1400-1300 BC, during the Kassite dynasty. Shamash is seen seated, sitting in front of a Sun disk and a cross, his symbols.<p><small><em>Image &copy; Trustees of the British Museum.</em></small></p>

Explore Sumerian Mythology

The Earth: Enlil

Enlil was the Sumerian god of Earth and air. Sumerians were living more than three thousand ...Read more

The Moon: Sin

Sin was the Sumerian Moon god. Sumerians were living more than three thousand years ago in ...Read more

The Sky: An

An was the Sumerian sky god and symbolized heaven. In fact his name means "sky". Sumerians ...Read more

The Sun: Shamash

Shamash was a Sun god according to the Sumerian mythology. Sumerians were living more than ...Read more

Historical Events

Full Earth and Space Science    History Calendar (Members only)

Teacher Opportunities

Full Teacher Events Calendar (Educator Members only)

Did you know?

Do you know why and where earthquakes happen? Check our our expanded content on earthquakes!

Did you know that the Earth’s crust is thinner under the oceans than it is on the continents?

 

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Aa
xAa : Hawaiian name for a type of lava flow with a surface that is broken into rough angular fragments which develop during cooling and loss of gas from pahoehoe flows.

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

Mysterious Clouds Produced by Aircraft

Without meaning to, airplanes can cause certain types of clouds to produce snow or rain. When the aircraft climb or descend through mid-level clouds, if the atmospheric conditions are right then the planes...Read more


Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA