The Goddess Ninsumun: Mother of Sumerian Kingship
Résumé
The goddess Ninsun is, among other things, known for being Gilgameš’s mother as well as the divine mother of the Ur III kings. Some kings from the 2nd dynasty of Lagaš have also claimed her as their divine mother.
The aim of this paper will be to explore how, when and why do the kings of the neo-sumerian period relate to the goddess Ninsun. This entails a philological analysis of two different types of texts: royal inscriptions and royal praise poetry. In both cases, these sources relay royal propaganda and, as such, shed light on the symbols and literary motifs used by royal authorities to describe themselves.
In addition to these texts, a few neo-sumerian administrative tablets point to a symbolic filial link between the goddess Ninsun and the en-priests and priestesses. This could argue in favour of the theory that the en-priesthood stems from archaic Sumerian kingship.
By cross-examining the evidence, the aim of this study will be to highlight how the goddess Ninsun, and by extension her divine family, have become a staple of neo-sumerian kingship and en-ship by being symbols of archaic Sumerian kingship.