Anunnaki

Anunnaki (Anunna, Anunnake, Ennuki) : In Near Eastern mythology (Babylonian), gods or spirits of the underworld, opposed to the Igigi, the heavenly gods. In the ancient narrative poem Inanna’s Journey to the Underworld the Anunnaki are the seven judges of the underworld. Sometimes, however, they are listed as gods. In the Enuma Elish, the epic of creation, they are the defeated rebel gods who build the city of Babylon for the hero god Marduk.

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.