Sin (Suen), also called Nanna or Dilimbabbar, is the ancient Mesopotamian God of the Moon. He fathers several deities including Inanna, Queen of Heaven, and Utu/Shamash, the Sun God.
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His main worship center and home to his sacred priestesses is Ur, in the fertile Persian Gulf delta. Ur was once a coastal city.
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His wife is the goddess Ningal (Akkadian: Nikkal), or Great Queen. She's held in high esteem especially during the Third Dynasty of Ur (22 - 21st century BCE) and later, by kings of Larsa in the south of today's Iraq.
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Sin's sukkal is the god Alammuš (Alammush), a divine twin of cattle god Ningublaga. The main worship sites of Sin include the cities of Ur (below) near the Persian Gulf Coast; Harran at the border of today's Turkey and Syria; and Tutub, central east Iraq. He's considered one of the Old Gods and revered throughout the Mesopotamian lands.
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His greatest center of worship is Ur. At its founding in 3800 BCE Ur is on the coast of the Persian Gulf, a vibrant port jutting out into the sea. Due to the fertile silting of the delta, by the time of Hammurabi Ur has moved inland since its early days. It's even farther from the coast today.
Sin guarantees the safety and abundance of his tutelary cities, and is seen as a benevolent entity who can intercede with other gods on behalf of the petitioner. He can grant requests or fulfill wishes. Childless couples pray to him for fertility and pregnancy.
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A less benign aspect of his character is his potential to call up disease demons, in particular Shulpae (Šulpae), the consort of mountain mother Ninhursag. Shulpae is the Mesopotamian entity thought responsible for inflicting bennu (benu) or epilepsy. In medical texts, the benu demon is described as the "deputy" (šanê) of Sin.
The affliction is greatly feared in the ancient world. It causes such symptoms as seizures, derangement or insanity, muscle spasms and uncontrolled shouting or bleating.
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The disease demon is thought to act under the direction of the Moon God. Thus, the moon is associated with madness. Sin connects to powers of the night, mysteries of magic and Underworld.
Like the Sun, the moon disappears into the earth to be reborn into the sky. Disease demons and other primal entities call the Underworld home. Sin knows them well.
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Especially linked to epilepsy demon Šulpa (Shulpa) he can influence malevolent entities to inflict disease if he wants. Even benign Gods punish people they consider disrespectful.
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For example Enlil, one of the oldest gods, is seen as a benevolent deity, but in a popular myth he asks disease demon Namtar to send plague and sickness into the human population.
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This is because the mortals make so much noise he can't sleep. He tries drought and disease and finally sends a flood. The latter works and at last Enlil gets some sleep. Enlil nonetheless is known as a father figure and benevolent god in the Mesopotamian pantheon.
Apart from his role as an astral deity, Sin the Moon God is a pastoral deity, guardian of flocks and herds. Cattle, milk and dairy products are sacred to him. In the Underworld Kur he serves as divine judge.
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Since there's no judgment in the Mesopotamian Underworld, it's likely a role connected to human fate. The moon is often seen as an oracle, accessible even to ordinary people.
His symbol is the crescent. In Mesopotamian artwork the crescent moon represents Sin or his lunar barque. In accordance with the appearance of the new moon in the latitude of Mesopotamia, it's represented as recumbent. The crescent is often likened to bull horns or a boat.
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As a patron of cattle, Sin has the Bull as his sacred animal. Secondary names given him include Abkar or Shining Cow, and Ablulu, One Who Makes the Cows Abundant.
He's associated with the number 30, the number of days in a lunar cycle, and with boats. He appears on kudurru, or boundary stones, wearing a crescent on his hat or staff, or depicted as only as his symbol the crescent.
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He has the power to help pregnant women during pregnancy and in childbirth. This aspect of his character appears in the incantation "Cow of Sîn". According to the incantation he will send a pair of lamassu (protector) goddesses to assist with difficult births.
In the Old Babylonian god lists (2900 - 2350 BCE), the entourage of Sin includes Nindara. A god of Lagash, he's husband of nature goddess Nanshe, the sister of Ninurta and significant deity of the ancient Babylonian delta.
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His temple at Ur, called Ekišnugal, is rebuilt several times by different rulers. Sin enjoys great popularity and esteem for many centuries in Mesopotamia.
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