A god for each city : Unlocking the Secrets of Ancient Cities

A god for each city. Each city had its own god. At the center of the city was a large temple, or ziggurat, built to that god. This was where the priests would live and make sacrifices. Some of the ziggurats were huge and reached great heights. They looked like step pyramids with a flat top. Some of the Sumerian gods and goddesses included Anu, sometimes called An. Anu was the god of the heavens and the king of the gods. The city associated with Anu was Uruk. Anlil, the god of air, wind, and storms. Anlil held the tablets of destiny. These tablets gave him control over the fate of man and made him very powerful. He wore a crown with horns. He was associated with the city of Nippur. Anki. Anki was the shaper of the world as well as god of wisdom, intellect, and magic. He invented the plow and was responsible for making plants grow. He is drawn holding Zu, the storm bird. He was the god of the city of Iridu. Utu. The god of the sun as well as justice and the law. Utu is drawn holding a saw-like instrument. Mythology says that Utu travels across the world each day in a chariot. Inanna. Inanna was the goddess of love and war. Her symbol is a star with eight points. Her primary city was Uruk. But she was also prominent in the city of Babylon. Nanna. Nanna was also called Sin. He was god of the moon. His home was the city of Ur.