Nergal: The Mesopotamian God of Death, War, and Destruction

Q: Who is Nergal?

Nergal is the best-known Mesopotamian god of war, death, pestilence, and destruction. Because of his association with the darker aspects of life, he was also invoked for protection against them.

Q: When was Nergal worshipped?

Nergal was worshipped from at least the Early Dynastic I period (circa 2900-2750/2700 BCE) through the Neo-Babylonian period (626-539 BCE).

Q: Why did Nergal go to the underworld?

In the poem Ereshkigal and Nergal, Nergal is sent to the underworld for failing to respect Ereshkigal's son. The myth explained why wars were only fought in season since the god of war had to remain in the underworld for six months of the year.

Q: Is Nergal mentioned in the Bible?

Yes. Nergal is referenced in the Bible in II Kings 17:30. He is also thought to have influenced the character of Satan, God's adversary.

Joshua J. Mark

Definition

Nergal (also known as Erra and Irra) is the Mesopotamian god of death, war, and destruction. He began as a regional, probably agricultural, god of the Babylonian city of Kutha in the Sumerian Early Dynastic I period (circa 2900-2750/2700 BCE) and was venerated through the Neo-Babylonian period (626-539 BCE). As his temple was known as E-meslam, he was also known as Meslamtaea ("He Who Comes Forth from Meslam").

More about: Nergal

Timeline

c. 2900 BCE - 2700 BCE
Nergal first appears in Mesopotamian religion as a regional god of Kutha known as Meslamtaea.
c. 2112 BCE - c. 2004 BCE
Meslamtaea becomes Nergal/Erra during the Ur III period of Mesopotamian history.
1344 BCE - 1322 BCE
Nergal as Aplu the Plague God cited for bringing the plague during the reign of Hittite King Suppiluliuma I.
c. 800 BCE
Probable date of composition of The Wrath of Erra, describing Nergal's destruction of Babylon.
c. 626 BCE - 539 BCE
Best-known copy of The Marriage of Ereshkigal and Nergal written during the Neo-Babylonian period of Mesopotamian history.