Mythology of Mesopotamia: Gods, Spirits, Legends

Ekaterina Mikhailovna Berzon – candidate of historical sciences, research fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Assyriologist. Her research interests include the history and culture of Mesopotamia during the Hellenistic period. Olga Vitalievna Popova – candidate of philological sciences, PhD in Ancient History, Assyriologist, senior research fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Her research interests focus on the Akkadian language and the history of Babylonia in the 2nd and 1st millennium BC. This book is dedicated to the mythology of ancient Mesopotamia. The reader will become acquainted with the main gods of the Sumero-Akkadian pantheon, as well as with the good and evil spirits believed in by the people of Mesopotamia: from the supreme deities An, Enlil, and Enki, the goddess of love and war Inanna, and the god of the underworld Nergal, to winged protective spirits, mysterious mythical beings, and dangerous night demons. Furthermore, the authors address Mesopotamian myths, including the epic of creation "Enuma Elish," the "Tale of Atrahasis," which recounts the Great Flood, and the "Epic of Gilgamesh" – one of the oldest literary works, among others. The edition contains color illustrations drawn from ancient bas-reliefs, statues, seals, and plaques. The book is aimed at researchers, students, and a wide range of readers interested in ancient history.