Ninsun

History

The goddess Ninsun was called Gula in Sumerian Mythology until the name was later changed to Ninisina. Gula in the latter became a Babylonian goddess. While Ninsun appears not to have been associated with other goddesses of the Middle East, she was also close to the goddesses Baba and Gatumdu, and through this connection also became associated with the healing goddess Gula.

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the goddess Ninsun is depicted as a human queen who lives in Uruk with her son as king of the land. Since the father of Gilgamesh was former king Lugalbanda, it stands to reason that Ninsun procreated with Lugalbanda to give birth. Also in the Epic of Gilgamesh, Ninsun is summoned by Gilgamesh and Enkidu to help pray to the god Utu to help the two on their journey to the Country of the Living to battle Humbaba.

Ninsun In Comics

Essential Story-lines

Ninsun is represented as a divinity and mother to the main hero in Gilgamesh by Andrew Winegarner and April F.M. Rasmussen, and it was published by Soft Skull Press in 2011. Ninsun is brought up in the course of the story. We learn that Gilgamesh is the son of a mortal king and the cow goddess, Ninsun, and he brought humanity back to greatness after the flood that almost wiped out mortal man.