Nabu is the inventor of writing in Mesopotamian mythology. Patron of scribes, wisdom and literacy, the God Nabu dates back to early Sumer in the 3rd millennium BCE, when he replaces Goddess Nisaba as Scribe Deity.
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Prayers praising Nisaba substitute Nabu. His reign as God King is short-lived however. As Akkadian slowly takes over the lands of Mesopotamia, from c. 2500 BCE, Nabu becomes a son of the mighty hero god Marduk and goddess queen Sarpanitum.
Nabu is the God of literacy, the rational arts (science), scribes, and wisdom. As an oracle deity he's linked to the Moon God Sin. Considered a Divine Scribe, he's also the God of Vegetation.
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As the inventor of writing, Nabu relates to communication, inspiration and the planet Mercury. His divine symbols are the clay tablet and reed stylus, a wedge-shaped instrument. In pictures Nabu wears a traditional horned helmet or crown of rulers. He's usually shown standing, with clasped hands, symbolic of priesthood.
Deific equivalents of Nabu include
Greek - Hermes
Roman - Mercury
Egyptian - Thoth
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The first written language dates back to c. 3400 in Sumer, Mesopotamia. Sumerian develops as a cuneiform language of wedge-shaped symbols made with a stylus. The inscribed clay tablets sit in the sunshine to dry.
In c. 2290 BCE, the enemies of Ebla, North Syria, raze and burn the town. Later archaeologists are delighted to discover over 20,000 inscribed clay tablets, baked hard by the flames of destruction to remain in top condition through the centuries.
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Nabu and his wife Tashmet (Tashmetum), are tutelary Gods of Borsippa, the sister city of Babylon. Borsippa is famous for the legendary Tower of Babel, later identified as the Ziggurat temple of Nabu and Tashmet.
At the Ziggurat, priests made offerings and said ritual prayers to Nabu and Tashmet. Usually members of the public were not permitted in the Ziggurat as it was the divine home of the Gods. Only priests, workers and initiates have access to the great temple.
Below is the view from the top. Part of the Ziggurat is built underground.
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Also an Akkadian deity, Tashmet is known as the Goddess of Supplication. She's invoked to hear prayers and grant requests. Her name means the lady who listens. Her epithets include Lady of Hearing and Lady of Favor. She acts as a scribe and keeper of libraries.
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As the god of writing, Nabu becomes a fate deity. Upon his clay tablets Nabu inscribes the fates decreed to members of the human race.
Offerings at his temple include clay tablets aspiring to calligraphic excellence. In this respect he's a teacher and inspiration for students and master scribes.
Nabu is equated with the Sumerian scribe god Ninurta who is also God of agriculture, farming, hunting healing, law and war. A god invoked during exorcisms, Ninurta has the power to drive out demons causing sickness.
During the Assyrian Empire, the worship of Nabu continues as he's adopted into the dominant pantheon. He becomes the son of Assyrian deities rather than Akkadian but otherwise he's retained as an important god. He's featured in the twelve days of the Akitu harvest festival on the Spring Equinox, which is also the first day of the Mesopotamian new year.
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