Namtar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the Mesopotamian mythological deity. For Tibetan spiritual biographies, see Namtar (biography).
In Mesopotamian mythology Namtar was a hellish deity, god of death, and the messenger of An, Ereshkigal and Nergal.
Namtar was considered responsible for diseases and pests, because it was said that he commanded sixty diseases in the form of demons that could penetrate different parts of the human body, and offerings to him were made with the purpose of preventing those illnesses. It is thought that Assyrians and Babylonians took this belief from the Sumerians after conquering them. To some the they were the spirit of fate, and therefore of great importance. This being was regarded as the beloved sons of Bêl. Apparently they executed the instructions given him concerning the fate of men, and could also have power over certain of the gods. In other writings they were regarded the personification of death, much like the modern concept of the Grim Reaper.
Other spellings: Namtara, Namtaru.
