Babylonian Deities—­Varuna and Shamash Hymns compared—­The Female Origin of Life—­Goddesses of Maternity—­The Babylonian Thor—­Deities of Good and Evil.

In dealing with the city cults of Sumer and Akkad, consideration must be given to the problems involved by the rival mythological systems.  Pantheons not only varied in detail, but were presided over by different supreme gods.  One city’s chief deity might be regarded as a secondary deity at another centre.  Although Ea, for instance, was given first place at Eridu, and was so pronouncedly Sumerian in character, the moon god Nannar remained supreme at Ur, while the sun god, whose Semitic name was Shamash, presided at Larsa and Sippar.  Other deities were similarly exalted in other states.

As has been indicated, a mythological system must have been strongly influenced by city politics.  To hold a community in sway, it was necessary to recognize officially the various gods worshipped by different sections, so as to secure the constant allegiance of all classes to their rulers.  Alien deities were therefore associated with local and tribal deities, those of the nomads with those of the agriculturists, those of the unlettered folks with those of the learned people.  Reference has been made to the introduction of strange deities by conquerors.  But these were not always imposed upon a community by violent means.  Indications are not awanting that the worshippers of alien gods were sometimes welcomed and encouraged to settle in certain states.  When they came as military allies to assist a city folk against a fierce enemy, they were naturally much admired and praised, honoured by the women and the bards, and rewarded by the rulers.

In the epic of Gilgamesh, the Babylonian Hercules, we meet with Ea-bani, a Goliath of the wilds, who is entreated to come to the aid of the besieged city of Erech when it seemed that its deities were unable to help the people against their enemies.

    The gods of walled-round Erech
    To flies had turned and buzzed in the streets;
    The winged bulls of walled-round Erech
    Were turned to mice and departed through the holes.

Ea-bani was attracted to Erech by the gift of a fair woman for wife.  The poet who lauded him no doubt mirrored public opinion.  We can see the slim, shaven Sumerians gazing with wonder and admiration on their rough heroic ally.

    All his body was covered with hair,
    His locks were like a woman’s,
    Thick as corn grew his abundant hair. 
    He was a stranger to the people and in that land. 
    Clad in a garment like Gira, the god,
    He had eaten grass with the gazelles,
    He had drunk water with savage beasts. 
    His delight was to be among water dwellers.