| Gatumdug | |
|---|---|
Tutelary goddess ofLagash | |
| Major cult center | Lagash,NINA,Girsu |
Gatumdug (Sumerian:𒀭𒂷𒉐𒄭;dĜa2-tum3-dug3;[1] alsoromanized asGatumdu[2]) was aMesopotamian goddess regarded as thetutelary deity ofLagash and closely associated with its kings. She was initially worshiped only in this city and inNINA, but during the reign ofGudea atemple was built for her inGirsu. She appears in a number of literary compositions, including the hymn inscribed on theGudea cylinders andLament for Sumer and Ur.
The meaning of Gatumdug's name is unknown,[1] though it is presumed that it can be classified as linguisticallySumerian.[3] Itsemesal form wasma-ze2-ze2-be.[4] She was thetutelary goddess ofLagash, and could be metaphorically described as its mother inEarly Dynastic sources.[1] In the hymn inscribed on theGudea cylinders she is addressed as its divine founder as well.[5]
Some of the early Lagashite kings, includingEnanatum I andEnmetena, designated her as their divine mother, though for other rulers of this state role was fulfilled by a different local goddess,Bau, as attested as in the case ofEanatum,Lugalanda andUrukagina).[6] Gatumdug could be described with the termku3, variously translated as "holy", "sacred", "lustrous" or "shining".[7]
It has been suggested in past scholarship that Gatumdug andBau were initially two names of the same deity, butGebhard J. Selz [de] considers this implausible.[8] However, they could besyncretised in later sources.[9] A direct equation between them is attested in the god listAn = Anum (tablet V, line 62).[10] In an early example of a syncretic hymn, the Old Babylonian compositionNinisina and the gods (Ninisina F in theETCSL), Gatumdug is instead equated with the eponymous goddess.[11]
On theGudea cylinders Gatumdug is addressed as a child ofAn.[12]
Gatumdug was already worshiped inLagash in theEarly Dynastic period.[3] She appears in one of theZame Hymns discovered inAbu Salabikh, where she is described as its tutelary goddess.[1]Gebhard J. Selz [de] points out that in Early Dynastic sources from the state of Lagash, she received offerings in the city of Lagash itself as well as inNINA (during festivals of its city goddessNanshe), but not inGirsu, the city associated withBau, who in turn did not receive offerings in the former two of these three cities.[13] The construction of atemple dedicated to Gatumdug is mentioned in the inscriptions ofUr-Nanshe,Eannatum andEntemena.[3] The first of these rulers also erected a statue representing her.[13] Bendt Alster pointed out that the inscription commemorating this event, which also mentions statues of Nanshe andShulsaga, is the oldest known text to directly mention anthropomorphic statues of deities.[2] Sources from Lagash state that the temple was set on fire byLugalzagesi, who also stole precious metals and lapis lazuli from it and destroyed statues displayed in it.[13] Despite her apparent importance in Lagash, Gatumdug is ultimately relatively sparsely attested in Early Dynastic sources.[14] She was also not invoked intheophoric names in this period.[15] Attested members of her clergy include asanga (temple administrator) and anin-dingir priestess.[13]
Gatumdug retained her importance under the reign ofGudea.[16] He referred to himself as her child.[17] One of his year names refers to the construction of a temple dedicated to her.[18] It was located inGirsu.[19] He also dedicated a statue representing him as an architect to her in the same city.[20] According to another of his inscriptions she assigned alamma (tutelary protective deity) to him.[21] Passages alluding to this event are considered evidence oflamma being regarded as separate from a personal deity, as it is well attested thatNingishzida played this role for said ruler.[22]
Gatumdug continued to be worshiped in theUr III period.[23] A temple dedicated to her continued to operate.[24] Various offerings were made to her, including butter, cheese, flour and dates.[23] A bead dedicated to her for the life of kingIbbi-Sin by a certain E-ḫegal is also known.[25]
Gatumdug is mentioned in the text inscribed on theGudea cylinders,[26] a hymn commemorating the rebuilding ofNingirsu'stempleE-ninnu.[27] She is the first of the deities the eponymous ruler consults regarding the meaning of his dreams.[28] In his inquiry he refers to her as his mother and father.[9] She subsequently provides the bricks needed for his construction project.[29]
In theLament for Sumer and Ur, composed after the fall of theThird Dynasty of Ur,[30] Gatumdug is one of the goddesses who abandon their cult centers during the described disaster.[31]
An indirect late reference to Gatumdug occurs in abilingual (Sumero-Akkadian) hymn toShulgi.[32] It was discovered inNippur and dates to theOld Babylonian period.[33] It is attributed to an individual bearing thetheophoric name Ur-Gatumdug, addressed as anapkallu.[34]