Nanaya

Nanaya (Sumerian , DNA.NA.A; also transcribed as "Nanāy", "Nanaja", "Nanāja", '"Nanāya", or "Nanai"; antiquated transcription: "Nanâ"; in Greek: Ναναια or Νανα; , ) was a Mesopotamian goddess of love closely associated with Inanna.

Key facts

Deity.type: Mesopotamian
Deity.name: Nanaya
Deity.image: Kudurru Melishipak Louvre Sb23.jpg
Deity.caption: The Land grant to Ḫunnubat-Nanaya kudurru, a stele of King Meli-Shipak II (1186–1172 BCE). Nanaya, seated on a throne, is being presented the daughter of the king, Ḫunnubat-Nanaya. Kassite period limestone stele, Louvre.
Deity.god_of: Goddess of love
Deity.abode: Eanna
Deity.consort: sometimes Nabu or Muati
Deity.children: possibly Kanisurra and Gazbaba
Deity.cult_center: Uruk, Larsa, Borsippa
Deity.equivalent1_type: Amorite
Deity.equivalent1: Pidray
Deity.equivalent2_type: Assyrian
Deity.equivalent2: Tashmetum (as Nabu's spouse)

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image: Terracotta plaque of a seated goddess, from Southern Mesopotamia, Iraq. Kassite period. Ancient Orient Museum.jpg

Sources (2)

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~32 min read

Article

17 sections

Contents

Name and origin
Functions and iconography
Astral associations
Nanaya in art
Associations with other deities
Deities from the circle of Inanna
Kanisurra and Gazbaba
Marital status
Parentage
Other attested connections
Worship
Outside Mesopotamia
Literature
Later relevance
References
Bibliography
External links

While she is well attested in Mesopotamian textual sources from many periods, from the times of the Third Dynasty of Ur to the Fall of Babylon and beyond, and was among the most commonly-worshipped goddesses through much of Mesopotamian history, both her origin and the meaning of her name are unknown. It has been proposed that she originated either as a minor Akkadian goddess or as a hypostasis of Sumerian Inanna, but the evidence is inconclusive.