É (Cuneiform: ) is the Sumerian word or symbol for house or

temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

. The Sumerian term É.GAL (𒂍𒃲,"palace", literally "big house") denoted a city's main building. É.LUGAL (𒂍𒈗,"king's house") was used synonymously. In the texts of Lagash, the É.GAL is the center of the ensi's administration of the city, and the site of the city archives. Sumerian É.GAL is the probable etymology of Semitic words for "palace, temple", such as Hebrew היכל ''heikhal'',''The New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon'' by Francis Brown et al. (), p. 228 and Arabic هيكل ''haykal''. It has thus been speculated that the word É originated from something akin to *hai or *ˀai, especially since the cuneiform sign È is used for /a/ in Eblaite. The term TEMEN (𒋼) appearing frequently after É in names of ziggurats is translated as "foundation pegs", apparently the first step in the construction process of a house; compare, for example, verses 551–561 of the account of the construction of E-ninnu: ''Temen'' has been occasionally compared to Greek '' temenos'' "holy precinct", but since the latter has a well established Indo-European etymology (see

), the comparison is either mistaken, or at best describes a case of popular etymology or convergence. In ''E-temen-an-ki'', "the temple of the foundation (pegs) of

heaven Heaven or the heavens, is a common religious cosmological or transcendent supernatural place where beings such as deities, angels, souls, saints, or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or reside. According to the belie ...

and

earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's sur ...

", ''temen'' has been taken to refer to an axis mundi connecting earth to heaven (thus re-enforcing the

Tower of Babel The Tower of Babel ( he, , ''Mīgdal Bāḇel'') narrative in Genesis 11:1–9 is an origin myth meant to explain why the world's peoples speak different languages. According to the story, a united human race speaking a single language and mi ...

connection), but the term re-appears in several other temple names, referring to their physical stability rather than, or as well as, to a mythological world axis; compare the Egyptian notion of

Djed The ''djed,'' also ''djt'' ( egy, ḏd 𓊽, Coptic ''jōt'' "pillar", anglicized /dʒɛd/) is one of the more ancient and commonly found symbols in ancient Egyptian religion. It is a pillar-like symbol in Egyptian hieroglyphs representing stab ...

List of specific temples

*E-ab-lu-a - 𒂍𒀖𒇻𒀀, (House with teeming cattle) temple to

Suen Nanna, Sīn or Suen ( akk, ), and in Aramaic ''syn'', ''syn’'', or even ''shr'' 'moon', or Nannar ( sux, ) was the god of the moon in the Mesopotamian religions of Sumer, Akkad, Assyria, Babylonia and Aram. He was also associated ...

in Urum *E-ab-šag-a-la - 𒂍𒀊𒊮𒀀𒇲, (House which stretches over the midst of the sea) temple to Ninmarki in Gu-aba *E-abzu - 𒂍𒍪𒀊 , "temple of the

abzu The Abzu or Apsu ( Sumerian: ; Akkadian: ), also called (Cuneiform:, ; Sumerian: ; Akkadian: — ='water' ='deep', recorded in Greek as ), is the name for fresh water from underground aquifers which was given a religious fertilising qualit ...

" (also E-engura "House of the subterranean waters") temple to Enki in Eridu. *E-ad-da - 𒂍𒀜𒁕, temple to

Enlil Enlil, , "Lord f theWind" later known as Elil, is an ancient Mesopotamian god associated with wind, air, earth, and storms. He is first attested as the chief deity of the Sumerian pantheon, but he was later worshipped by the Akkadians, Ba ...

*E-akkil - 𒂍𒃰𒋺𒋛, (House of lamentation) temple to Ninshubur in Akkil *E-am-kur-kurra - 𒂍𒆳, "temple of the lord of lands" to

Bēl Bêl (; from akk, bēlu) is a title signifying "lord" or "master" applied to various gods in the Mesopotamian religion of Akkad, Assyria, and Babylonia. The feminine form is ''Bêlit'' ('Lady, Mistress') in Akkadian. ''Bel'' is represented i ...

Assur Aššur (; Sumerian: AN.ŠAR2KI, Assyrian cuneiform: ''Aš-šurKI'', "City of God Aššur"; syr, ܐܫܘܪ ''Āšūr''; Old Persian ''Aθur'', fa, آشور: ''Āšūr''; he, אַשּׁוּר, ', ar, اشور), also known as Ashur and Qal'a ...

*E-^d

ama Ama or AMA may refer to: Ama Languages * Ama language (New Guinea) * Ama language (Sudan) People * Ama (Ama Kōhei), former ring name for sumo wrestler Harumafuji Kōhei * Mary Ama, a New Zealand artist * Shola Ama, a British singer * Ām ...

-geštin "mother of wine" *E-ama-lamma *E-^da-mal, temple in

Babylon ''Bābili(m)'' * sux, 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 * arc, 𐡁𐡁𐡋 ''Bāḇel'' * syc, ܒܒܠ ''Bāḇel'' * grc-gre, Βαβυλών ''Babylṓn'' * he, בָּבֶל ''Bāvel'' * peo, 𐎲𐎠𐎲𐎡𐎽𐎢 ''Bābiru'' * elx, 𒀸𒁀𒉿𒇷 ''Babi ...

*E-amaš-azag, "temple of the bright fold" in Dur-ilu * E-ana (House of heaven) temple to Inanna in

Uruk Uruk, also known as Warka or Warkah, was an ancient city of Sumer (and later of Babylonia) situated east of the present bed of the Euphrates River on the dried-up ancient channel of the Euphrates east of modern Samawah, Muthanna Governorate, Al ...

*E-an-da-di-a, the ziggurat of Akkad *E-an-ki, "temple of heaven and earth" *E-a-nun, temple of Lugal-girra *E-an-za-kar "temple of the pillar" *E-a-ra-li "temple of the underworld" *E-a-ra-zu-giš-tug "temple of the hearing of prayers" *E-^das-^dmaḫ "temple of the supreme god" *E-^das-ra-tum "temple to the goddess Ashratum" *E-babbar (Shining house) temple to Utu in Larsa *E-bara-igi-e-di "temple of wonders", ziggurat to Dumuzi in Akkad *E-bagara *E-^dbau, temple to the goddess Bau in Lagash *E-belit-mati "temple to the mother of the world" *E-bur-sigsig (House with beautiful bowls) temple to Shara in Umma *E-^dbur-^dsin, temple to the deified king Bur-Sin in Ur *E-dam, built by Ur-Nanshe in Lagash *E-dara-an-na "temple of the darkness of heaven" *E-di-kud-kalam-ma "temple of the judge of the world" *E-Dilmuna "temple of

Dilmun Dilmun, or Telmun, ( Sumerian: , later 𒉌𒌇(𒆠), ni.tukki = DILMUNki; ar, دلمون) was an ancient East Semitic-speaking civilization in Eastern Arabia mentioned from the 3rd millennium BC onwards. Based on contextual evidence, it was ...

" in Ur *E-dim-an-na "temple of the bond of heaven", built by Nebuchadnezzar for Sin *E-dim-gal-abzu in Lagash *E-dim-gal-kalama (House which is the great pole of the Land) temple to Ishtaran in Der *E-du-azaga "temple of the brilliant shrine", to

Marduk Marduk (Cuneiform: dAMAR.UTU; Sumerian: ''amar utu.k'' "calf of the sun; solar calf"; ) was a god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon. When Babylon became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of ...

*E-du-kug (House of the sheer heap) in Eridu,

Nippur Nippur ( Sumerian: ''Nibru'', often logographically recorded as , EN.LÍLKI, "Enlil City;"The Cambridge Ancient History: Prolegomena & Prehistory': Vol. 1, Part 1. Accessed 15 Dec 2010. Akkadian: ''Nibbur'') was an ancient Sumerian city. It was ...

*E-dub (Storage house) temple to

Zababa Zababa (Sumerian: 𒀭𒍝𒂷𒂷 dza-ba4-ba4) was the tutelary deity of the city of Kish in ancient Mesopotamia. He was a war god. While he was regarded as similar to Ninurta and Nergal, he was never fully conflated with them. His worship is at ...

in Kish (Sumer) * E-dubba, scribal schools *E-duga *E-dumi-zi-abzu, to

Dumuzi-abzu Dumuzi-abzu ( sux, 𒀭𒌉𒍣𒍪𒀊, lit=good child of the Abzu), sometimes spelled Dumuziabzu, was a Mesopotamian goddess worshiped in the state of Lagash. She was the tutelary deity of Kinunir. In modern scholarship it is assumed that in mo ...

, destroyed in the time of Urukagina *E-^ddun-gi, temple to the deified king Dungi *E-dur-gi-na "temple of the lasting abode", built by Nebuchadnezzar *E-^de-a, shrine to Ea ( Enki) at Khorsabad built by Sargon. *E-engura (House of the subterranean waters, also "E-abzu") temple to Enki in Eridu *E-ešdam-kug in

Girsu Girsu ( Sumerian ; cuneiform ) was a city of ancient Sumer, situated some northwest of Lagash, at the site of modern Tell Telloh, Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq. History Girsu was possibly inhabited in the Ubaid period (5300-4800 BC), but ...

*E-gida (Long house) temple to

Ninazu Ninazu ( sux, ) was a Mesopotamian god of the underworld of Sumerian origin. He was also associated with snakes and vegetation, and with time acquired the character of a warrior god. He was frequently associated with Ereshkigal, either as a ...

in Enegir *E-gud-du-shar (House with numerous perfect oxen) temple of

Ningublaga Ningublaga (, less commonly Ningublag) was a Mesopotamian god associated with cattle. His cult center was Kiabrig, a little known city located in the proximity of Ur. He belonged to the circle of deities related to the moon god, Nanna, and somet ...

in Ki-abrig *E-ĝa-duda (House, chamber of the mound) temple to Shu-zi-ana in Nga-gi-mah *E-ĝa-ĝiš-šua *E-ĝalga-sud (House which spreads counsel far and wide) temple to Bau (goddess) in Iri-kug *E-ĝeštug-Nisaba (House of the Wisdom of

Nisaba Nisaba was the Mesopotamian goddess of writing and grain. She is one of the oldest Sumerian deities attested in writing, and remained prominent through many periods of Mesopotamian history. She was commonly worshiped by scribes, and numerous Su ...

) in Ur *E-ĝipar in

*E-ĝiškešda-kalama (The House which is the bond of the Land) temple to Nergal in Kutha *E-ḫamun (The House of Harmony) *E-ḫursaĝ (The House which is a hill) of Shulgi in Ur *E-ḫuš *E-ibe-Anu, temple to Urash in Dilbat *E-igi-kalama (House which is the eye of the Land) of Lugal-Marada/

Ninurta , image= Cropped Image of Carving Showing the Mesopotamian God Ninurta.png , caption= Assyrian stone relief from the temple of Ninurta at Kalhu, showing the god with his thunderbolts pursuing Anzû, who has stolen the Tablet of Destinies from ...

Marad Marad (Sumerian: Marda, modern Tell Wannat es-Sadum or Tell as-Sadoum, Iraq) was an ancient Near Eastern city. Marad was situated on the west bank of the then western branch of the Upper Euphrates River west of Nippur in modern-day Iraq and ro ...

*E-igi-šu-galam *E-igi-zi(d)-bar-ra, temple to Ningirsu, built by Entemena *E-igizu-uru (House, your face is mighty) temple to Ninshubur in Akkil *E-Iri-kug *E-itida-buru *E-kiš-nu-ĝal (House sending light to the earth (?)) temple to Nanna in Ur *E-kug-nuna temple to Inanna in

* E-kur "mountain temple" to

*E-ku-nin-azag "temple of the brilliant goddess" in

*E-maḫ (Great house) temple to Shara in Umma *E-maḫ (Great house) temple to

Ninhursanga , deity_of=Mother goddess, goddess of fertility, mountains, and rulers , image= Mesopotamian - Cylinder Seal - Walters 42564 - Impression.jpg , caption= Akkadian cylinder seal impression depicting a vegetation goddess, possibly Ninhursag, sitt ...

in Adab. *E-me-ur-ana (House which gathers the divine powers of heaven) temple to

*E-me-urur *E-melem-ḫuš (House of terrifying radiance) temple to

Nuska Nuska or Nusku, possibly also known as Našuḫ, was a Mesopotamian god best attested as the sukkal (divine vizier) of Enlil. He was also associated with fire and light, and could be invoked as a protective deity against various demons, such as ...

*E-mešlam, temple of Nergal *E-mu-maḫ (House with a great name) *E-mud-kura, in Ur *E-muš (House which is the precinct) or E-mush-kalama, temple to Lulal in Bad-tibira *E-namtila *E-ni-guru *E-nin.gara * E-ninnu (House of 50), temple to Ningirsu in Lagash *E-a-mer, the ziggurat of E-ninnu *E-nun, the ''

'' in Eridu *E-nun-ana (House of the prince of heaven), temple to Utu in Sippar *E-nutura *E-puḫruma * E-sag-il "temple that raises its head", the temple of

, according to the Enuma elish home to all the gods under the patronage of Marduk. * E-sara (Cuneiform: E₂SAR.A) "House of the Universe" dedicated to Inanna in

by Ur-Nammu *E-sikil (pure house) temple to

Eshnunna Eshnunna (modern Tell Asmar in Diyala Governorate, Iraq) was an ancient Sumerian (and later Akkadian) city and city-state in central Mesopotamia 12.6 miles northwest of Tell Agrab and 15 miles northwest of Tell Ishchali. Although situated in the ...

*E-sila *E-Sirara *E-šag-ḫula, in

Kazallu Kazalla or Kazallu is the name given in Akkadian sources to a city in the ancient Near East whose locations is unknown. Its god is Numushda. History Under its king Kashtubila, Kazalla warred against Sargon of Akkad in the 24th or 23rd century BC. ...

*E-šara, in Adab *E-šeg-meše-du, in

Isin Isin (, modern Arabic: Ishan al-Bahriyat) is an archaeological site in Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate, Iraq. Excavations have shown that it was an important city-state in the past. History of archaeological research Ishan al-Bahriyat was visited ...

*E-šenšena, to Ninlil *E-šerzid-guru (House clad in splendour) temple to Inanna in Zabala *E-šu-me-ša (House which deals being rouge) *E-suga (Merry house) *E-tar-sirsir * E-temen-anki "temple of the foundation of heaven and earth", the ziggurat to

*E-temen-ni-guru, main ziggurat of Ur *E-tilla-maḫ *E-Tummal (Tummal House), temple to Ninlil in

*E-tur-kalama *E-uduna, built by Amar-Suena *E-Ulmaš, in Akkad *E-unir (House of gaze reach) temple to Enki in Eridu *E-uru-ga *E-zagin (Lapis lazuli house), temple to

* E-zida-temple to

Nabu Nabu ( akk, cuneiform: 𒀭𒀝 Nabû syr, ܢܵܒܼܘܼ\ܢܒܼܘܿ\ܢܵܒܼܘܿ Nāvū or Nvō or Nāvō) is the ancient Mesopotamian patron god of literacy, the rational arts, scribes, and wisdom. Etymology and meaning The Akkadian "n ...

*E-zi-Kalam-ma, to Inanna in Zabala, built by Hammurabi

Notes

References

The building of Ningirsu's temple: composite text
, The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

The Book of the Cave of Treasures (1927) * {{DEFAULTSORT:E (Temple)

Temple A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...

E2 Cuneiform determinatives

List of specific temples

See also

Notes

References