Anu: Mesopotamian Father of the Gods

Q: Who is the god Anu?

Anu was the Mesopotamian sky god originally known as An by the Sumerians. He was the power behind the power of the other Mesopotamian gods, residing high in the heavens above the sky.

Q: What is Anu famous for?

Anu plays a secondary role in many Mesopotamian myths but is central to the Myth of Adapa, in which he offers humanity eternal life, and it is refused. He also plays a pivotal role in the Babylonian creation myth, Enuma Elish.

Q: Was Anu one of the Seven Divine Powers of Mesopotamian religion?

Yes. The Seven Divine Powers were Anu, Enki, Enlil, Inanna, Nanna, Ninhursag, and Utu-Shamash.

Q: How long was Anu worshipped in Mesopotamia?

Anu was worshipped from at least 2900 BCE up through circa 141 BCE.

Joshua J. Mark

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Definition

Anu (also known as An) is an early Mesopotamian sky god who was later viewed as the Father of the Gods and ruler of the heavens, a position which then passed to his son Enlil. He is the son of the couple Anshar and Kishar (heaven and earth, respectively), the secondborn of the primordial couple Apsu and Tiamat.

More about: Anu

Timeline

2735 BCE
Anu is adopted by the Akkadians as sky god.
2334 BCE - 2279 BCE
Anu frequently invoked with Inanna as powerful deities by Sargon of Akkad.
c. 2000 BCE - c. 150 BCE
Temple of Anu in Uruk in constant use.
c. 1500 BCE
Anu featured in the Myth of Adapa.
c. 1200 BCE
Anu appears in Babylonian work the Enuma Elish.