Enki’s Temptations
Despite Enki’s portrayal as deity of wisdom and creation, Enki was also pursuant of incestuous affairs, and prone to temptation. In one aspect, this sheds light on the humanity of ancient deities so long ago, as opposed to the modern Christian god who is faultless. More light is shed on the fact that even as far back as the Sumerian society dates, they were civilized as a culture and although it can be surmised that incest did take place in that era, as it does now, it was still frowned upon. The mythology establishes the culture’s morality, showing man a priceless lesson in the process; no one is perfect.
Enki had many incestuous affairs, which are featured in the epic “Enki and Ninhursag”, whose title characters are Enki and his consort, Ninhursag. In the text, Enki and she bore a child named Ninsar, or “Lady Greenery”. When Ninhursag left, Enki had intercourse with his daughter, and conceived another daughter who was named Ninkurra, or “Lady Pasture/Fruitfulness”. A third encounter took place with Ninkurra, Enki’s granddaughter/daughter, in which they conceived Uttu. After a time, Enki again bows to temptation and tries to seduce Uttu. Uttu then complains to Ninhursag, expressing worry over Enki’s reputation, and Ninhursag in her outrage against her husband’s actions, tells Uttu to avoid riverbanks.
However, there is a second version of the myth in which Ninhursag’s actions are more thorough. Instead of allowing Uttu to become pregnant, Ninhursag takes the semen out of Uttu, and instead she plants it in the ground. Plants are produced from the soil, that bear fruit. Enki finds them, and angry, he eats the fruit voraciously. Afterwards, he becomes pregnant; sick with swellings all over his legs, ribs and face. The other gods don’t know what to do, so the sacred fox fetches Ninhursag. She relents then, in order to cure her husband who obviously has no way to give birth, and places the semen of Enki back into Uttu. Uttu gives birth to seven gods and goddesses of healing for each part of the body they were in while Enki was impregnated with them.
