Nisaba was the Sumerian goddess of writing, accounts, and was the scribe of the gods.

What did Nisaba look like?

In the story "Dream of Gudea" Nisaba is depicted as a beautiful woman holding a gold stylus and studying a tablet of the heavens.

Was Nisaba widely worshipped in Mesopotamia?

There are no known temples to Nisaba identified in ancient Mesopotamia. She was highly venerated by scribes who praised her at the beginning and conclusion of their works.

What happened to Nisaba?

Nisaba was replaced as goddess of writing and scribe of the gods by the male deity Nabu during the reign of Hammurabi of Babylon when male gods became prominent and females lost status.

Nisaba

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Definition

Nisaba (also Naga, Se-Naga, Nissaba, Nidaba, and associated with Nanibgal) is the Sumerian goddess of writing, accounts, and scribe of the gods. Although her name is commonly given as Nidaba, noted scholar Jeremy Black points out that "the name Nisaba (or Nissaba) seems more correct than Nidaba" (Gods, 143).

More about: Nisaba

Timeline

c. 2900 BCE - 2700 BCE
Nisaba first attested to as a grain goddess during the Early Dynastic Period I.
c. 2600 BCE - 2550 BCE
Nisaba listed among the most prestigious deities of Sumerian Pantheon.
2047 BCE - 1750 BCE
Last mentioned as goddess associated with city of Eresh during Ur III Period.
1792 BCE - 1750 BCE
Nisaba's worship declines during reign of Hammurabi as Nabu becomes the god of writing.
912 BCE - 612 BCE
Nisaba listed in pantheon of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
304 BCE - 64 BCE
Nisaba continues to be worshiped in Mesopotamia during the Seleucid Period.