Duranki (the bond that unites heaven and earth) Ancient name for Nippur, a Sumerian city sacred to the god Enlil. According to myth, Enlil split the earth’s crust with his pickax at Nippur so that the first man could break through to the upper earth.

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.