Ningishzida’s Family Tree

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Family

• Ninazu(parent),Ningirida(parent)— Marriage

  Ninazu, the underworld healer, and his consort Ningirida begot Ningishzida, the lord of the good tree, who inherited his father's chthonic nature and became a guardian of the gates of heaven.

Associated with

• Adapa,Anu,Dumuzi

  Dumuzi and Ningishzida stood guard at the gates of Anu's celestial palace, and when the sage Adapa was summoned to heaven for breaking the South Wind's wing, the two gods interceded on his behalf, securing Anu's mercy.

• Ereshkigal

  Ningishzida was seized and carried down to the netherworld, where Ereshkigal received him among the dead — a journey of lamentation in which his family mourned his descent into the land of no return.

• Gudea

  Ningishzida served as Gudea's personal deity, his divine intercessor who appeared at his side in the temple-building dream and accompanied him before the great gods.