Tashmetum is the Akkadian Goddess of supplication. She is called upon to listen to prayers and to grant requests. Her husband, Nabu, is the God of writing and wisdom; where Nabu speaks, Tashmetum listens. The couple shared a temple in the city of Borsippa, where they were the patron deities. Tashmetum’s name, which means “the lady who listens,” is also seen as Tashmitum, Tashmit, or Tashmetu, and she was known by the epithets Lady of Hearing and Lady of Favor.

I’ve been trying to work my way through some of the Sumerian and Babylonian Goddesses and their family trees, sorting out which ones are original to Sumer, what their names changed to (if they did) when Sumer was conquered first by the Akkadians and then by the Babylonians, etc. I’m still fairly confused, but I found a relatively straightforward one for today.

Tiamat is the Babylonian Goddess of the primeval saltwater sea. In the beginning there was only Tiamat and Apsu, God of the freshwater. Tiamat surrounded Apsu, and their waters mingled to produce Lahmu and Lahamu, who in turn produced Anshar and Kishar. Anshar and Kishar mated to produce the God Anu, who was the father of the Gods Enlil and Ea (known as Enki in Sumerian).

The noise of all of her descendants bothered Tiamat, and Apsu wanted to kill them but Tiamat said no. However, Ea had overheard their plans, and he plotted to kill Apsu. In vengeance, Tiamat created an army of giant snakes and dragons to attack the younger Gods. Ea’s son, Marduk, engaged in combat with Tiamat, and he used the four winds against her. When Tiamat swallowed the winds, her belly became very distended, and Marduk shot her with an arrow, slicing her in two. Marduk used Tiamat’s body to form the sky and the earth. Her eyes were placed as the sources of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and her breasts became great mountains. Her last breath was transformed into the clouds.

Tiamat is usually depicted as a sea monster or great dragon. She is the Babylonian equivalent of the Sumerian Goddess Nammu. Her name, which means “sea,” is also seen as Tiamet, and she was also known as Ummu-Hubur or Mother Hubur, which means “mother of noise.”

Lama is the Sumerian Goddess of intercession and protection. Also known as Lamassu by the Akkadians, she acted as an intermediary between people and the Gods. Lama was usually depicted in human form, often appearing on seals introducing a king to a God or Goddess. In this form, she wore a long tiered robe and sometimes a horned tiara. As Lamassu, she was more often portrayed as a winged bull or lion with a woman’s face, and served to protect temples and palaces. Lamassu is often confused with Lamaštu, an Akkadian demon Goddess. Lama’s name means “protective spirit.”

Kamrusepas is the Hittite Goddess of healing and magic. She was able to cure paralysis and other illnesses, by unbinding the illness from the worshipper. When the fertility God Telepinu had left the world in a rage, resulting in widespread famine, it was Kamrusepas who was finally able to subdue his anger with her rituals. After calming him with honey and fruit, her magic captured and banished his anger to the underworld. Kamrusepas is also known as Kamrushepash, Kammarushepash, Katahzippuri, Katahzipuri, and Katahziwuri.

Nisaba is the Sumerian Goddess of writing, accounting, and grain. She is the daughter of An and Urash, and sister of Ninsun. With her husband Haya, God of storehouses, she is the mother of the Goddess Sud, whose name was changed to Ninlil when she married Enlil, God of the air. Nisaba keeps the records of the Gods, and as the divine scribe she was especially worshipped by Sumerian scribes. She is depicted with long flowing hair, and her tiara features a crescent moon and ears of corn, since she was also associated with the harvest. Nisaba’s name means “lady of the grain rations,” which explains her combined roles as Goddess of grain and of accounting, and is also seen as Nissaba, Nidaba, Nanibgal, and Nunbarshegunu (lady whose body is dappled barley).

Zaltu is the Babylonian Goddess of strife. She was created by Ea, the King of the Gods, to personify the destructive side of the Goddess Ishtar. She is commemorated, as so many world Goddesses are, by having a mountain on Venus named for her, Zaltu Mons.

Pidray is the Canaanite Goddess of mist. She is one of the daughters of Baal, the great God of rain. As such, she is also called Daughter of the Mist, Daughter of Lightning, or the Maiden of Light. She is romantically involved with Athtar, son of Athirat, who is identified with the Semitic Asherah. Along with her sisters Tallay and Arsay, she is one of the Perfect Brides, as they are referred to in the Epic of Baal. Her name, which means “mist,” is also seen as Pidraya, Pidraya bat ‘Ar, Pidrai, Padriya, or Pdry.

Geshtinanna is the Sumerian Goddess of autumn vines. She is the daughter of Enki and Ninsun, and the sister of Dumuzi, husband of Inanna. When Inanna returned from the underworld and chose Dumuzi to take her place, Geshtinanna’s mourning was so pitiful that Inanna took her to see Dumuzi. She pleaded that she be allowed to take her brother’s place for half of the year. Inanna allowed this, and decided that Geshtinanna would spend the fall and winter months in the underworld and Dumuzi would be there for the spring and summer. Geshtinanna’s name means “the heavenly grape-vine” and is also seen as Gestinanna, Ngeshtin-ana, and Jectin-ana.

Ashnan is the Sumerian Goddess of grain. She and her brother Lahar, God of cattle, were created by Enlil to provide food for the Gods. One day they had too much to drink and could not serve as they should, so Enlil decided to create humans to serve the Gods instead. Ashnan was often shown with ears of corn sprouting from her shoulders.

Ninkasi is the Sumerian Goddess of beer. The daughter of Enki and Ninhursag, she was one of the eight children born to heal Enki’s wounds. A clay tablet from 1800 BCE bears a Hymn to Ninkasi, which includes an ancient recipe for beer. Ninkasi brews beer each day for the Gods. Her name means “the lady who fills the mouth.”