Gods, Demons & Immortals
whose Names Start with 'B'
The immortals of ancient Sumer.
by James W. Bell © 2002-3
Bau (sometimes called Baba)
Bau, a local Sumerian deity and the wife of Ningirsu, was tutelary goddess of the city of Lagash. By her own direction, her only temple, the E.urukuga, was at Lagash where she was worshipped exclusively so she could remain near her sister, Nisaba. Bau was a daughter of Anu. She produced two sons by Ningirsu, Igalima and Shulshagana.
With Ningirsu, she also had seven daughters who served in her temple known as the Lukur maidens. Their names were Zazaru, Nipae, Urnuntaea, Hegirnuna, Heshaga, Zargu and Zurgu.
In one tradition, Bau is identified with Gula, the goddess of healing.
*[ In my stories, Bau had control of the Udugs, amphibians akin to frogs, keeping them secreted in the marshlands along the Ninagina Canal. They patrolled the canal unless summoned for other tasks. It was Bau who held the reins of power in the Sealands and Bau's Temple at Lagash was a primary source of mercenaries for the city states of Sumer. ]*
*[ Bau was a stern goddess, wearing a cap with three pairs of horns that covered her straight black hair. Her stout body was usually clothed in a tunic woven of natural wool. Her disposition was blunt and commanding. ]*
For the picture of a statue of Bau from the city of Ur, click here. To read a Sumerian hymn dedicated to Bau, click here.
Bau is also mentioned in a Sumerain poem, 'The Lament of Urim.' (Urim is the city of Ur.) Click here to read the lament.
Bel (see Marduk)
Belet-ili (also Belet-seri)
Belet-ili means 'Mistress of the Gods.' In one tradition, Belet-ili and Enlil are the parents of Ninurta.
There is another tradition that Belet-ili created mankind to assume the chores of the gods. For a summary of that tradition, click here.
*[ Belet-ili was the patron goddess of prostitutes, a promiscuous older goddess who seemed to have had no permanent place of residence. Her gray hair was dyed black and her eyes were heavily lined with kohl and colored with antimony. She wore a long-sleeved, full-length red wool gown with fringe, loosely belted, so that it could be opened easily. Belet-ili is possibly one of the sources of Lilith of Biblical fame. ]*
Belet-ili had a temple at Adab, the E.namzu, 'House of Carnal Knowledge.'
Bes
Bes was a household god, originally from Ægypt, a dwarf with impish ways who delighted in doing the unexpected. *[ In my stories, the only use made of this god is in exclamations of surprise, such as "Bless Bes!" ]*
Bes had no temples, shrines or sanctuaries in Sumer.
Bull of Heaven (see Gugalanna)
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