Nanshe
Nanshe
Our Lady of Dreams; Lady of Abundance; The Queen Mother
ORIGIN:
Sumeria, Babylonia
Nanshe, the daughter of Sumerian deities Enki and Ninhursag, is a divine prophetess and an oracle. Her temple priests served as dream interpreters. Nanshe, herself, communicates via dreams. She is a goddess of personal and creative fertility who possesses the power to increase abundance. The Sumerian Hymn to Nanshe describes her as the benefactress of the cities she sponsors and the protectress of the weakest members of society.
Nanshe guards widows, orphans and refugees. She will not assist ingrates or the arrogant. Nanshe punishes those who offend her by afflicting them with mental illness, insanity and/ or torturous dreams. Nanshe determines fate. She has dominion over fishing, literal and metaphoric. Accord ing to the Sumerian Hymn to Nanshe, no other divine powers match hers.
FAVOURED PEOPLE:
Dream workers; dream interpreters; sleep therapists; Pisceans
ATTRIBUTES:
A fish within a water-filled vessel (intended as a uterine symbol); containers made of reeds that are never empty
Consort: Nindara
Spirit allies:
Enki, Nisaba
Creatures: Fish
ELEMENT
Water
Metal: Silver
Day: New Year’s Day
Sacred site:
The Sumerian city Nina, now modern Sorghul, Iraq
OFFERINGS:
Fresh water; wine; fruit; hot and cold prepared meals
SEE ALSO:
Enki; Nisaba
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.
