Semiramis

Semiramis

The Gift of the Sea

Sammuramat (Assyrian); Shamiram (Armenian)

Semiramis, daughter of the mermaid goddess Atargatis, survived abandonment by her mother and thrived, eventually marrying King Nimrod and ruling the city of Nineveh (present day Iraq) as a kind of living goddess. She is credited with founding the city of Babylon. Some legends also give her credit for building the famous Hanging Gardens, one of the ancient world’s Seven Wonders. Although Semiramis lived as a human, she never died. Instead she left Earth in the form of a dove after assuring her devotees that she will listen and respond to their petitions.

Semiramis is invoked for prosperity, safety, and fertility.

Semiramis is depicted with a golden dove on her head. A coin minted in Roman-era Ashkelon, now modern Israel, depicts Semiramis holding a lance and a dove (phallic and vulvic symbols, respectively) and standing on a mermaid: her mother, Atargatis.

Bird:

Doves raised her and serve as her messengers.

Sacred site:

Babylon

• Atargatis
• Mermaid

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.

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.