Anu (An, Ana, Anos, Dana, Danu, Nanu) (lofty, sky) In Near Eastern mythology (Sumero-Akkadian), sky god, head of a triad of gods made up of Anu, Enlil, and Ea. Anu’s wife was Antum; his daughter the goddess Bau. In the Babylonian creation epic poem Enuma Elish, Anu is the son of the primeval god Anshar. In Hittite mythology Anu is called Anus. In one myth he ousted his father, Alalus, from the throne. He was in turn dethroned by his son Kumarbi, who emasculated Anus by a single bite of his penis. Kumarbi then spit out the penis and three gods: Teshub, the storm god; Tasmisus, the god’s attendant; and a river god. Teshub in turn dethroned Kumarbi and was father of the giant Ullikummi, who was destroyed by the god Ea. Anu’s symbols are a horned cap and star.

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow
– Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante

NOTE:

Since the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians and others all shared essentially the same pantheon and belief systems, these articles are all combined under the Mesopotamian mythology / deities / legendary creatures category.