Zababa is patron deity of the city of Kish, Mesopotamia, in today's Iraq. Gods are often attributed multiple aspects and he's no exception.
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Zababa is mentioned as an akitu agriculture festival deity, as patron God of Kish and consort of healing and fertility Goddess Bau. His primary focus is as a war god and protector of Kings.
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In the ancient near East times are turbulent but progressive. Zababa's popularity grows in Mesopotamia as the Old Kingdom Babylon rulers (c. 1894 - 1595) develop a fondness for his warrior aspect. Overall his tenure of worship is a long one, from c. 2900 - 550 BCE.
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The Eagle is the symbol of Zababa. The god is often shown as a standard with the eagle on top. Beyond Kish, temples to Zababa and Bau exist in Ur, Assur, Lagash and other Babylonian sites.
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A boundary stone (kudurru) of Nebuchadnezzar I mentions Zababa in a sequence of primary gods. The seventh king of the Amorites, Samsu-Iluna credits Zababa and Ishtar (Inanna) with helping rebuild the city walls. He's named in other hymns of praise or kingship.
The principle warrior god of the Meso-Babylonians, Ninurta, is displaced in Kish by Zababa. In some areas worship of Ninurta and Zababa exist together. With his wife Bau, Zababa enjoys regional popularity.
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Bau is a live-giving entity, possibly associated with ancient creation myths. She's best known as a healer goddess, described at times as a divine midwife. Artistic depictions show her with scorpions or water birds.
The scorpion symbolizes medicine, poison and defense (against disease). Water relates to healing and spiritual harmony. Bau's sukkal is the Goddess Lammašaga, an entity of the lamma, or female protector deities. Later, Bau is equated with healing goddess Gula.
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The father of War God Zababa is primal God Enlil, a chief deity of the Sumerian pantheon. Enlil is a sky and storm god based in Nippur, whose worship becomes cross-cultural. He's considered one of the oldest gods, son of Anu (An) the first God.
Zababa has a long-lived and praiseworthy family heritage. He's originally married to Goddess Inanna, Queen of Heaven. Bau becomes his wife after the Old Babylonian Period but Inanna continues her cult in Kish.
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Always ready for battle, Zababa is also a god of warrior wisdom. The sukkal of Zababa is Papsukkal. Papsukkal has a quiet existence in the background, efficiently performing his duties as helper deity. He rises to prominence in the 1st millennium BCE.
Two minor goddesses are associated with the entourage of Zababa as well, especially his temple Edubba. A divine duo, they're known as Daughters of Edubba: Iqbi-damiq, meaning "she said 'it is fine!'" and Hussinni, meaning "Remember me!"
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Pairs of Divine Daughters are mentioned throughout the land. Other deific duos include the Divine Twins of Creation, primordial gods Duri and Dari, and the Hurrian fate goddesses Hutena and Hutellura.
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