About this deity
Utu (Sumerian: ð’€ð’Œ“) was an important Sumerian deity often represented by the sun. In the Akkadian traditions, Utu's name was Å amaÅ¡.
Also known as
Parent belief system
Sumerian Religion · Polytheistic · 7 mythsSumerian religion refers to spiritual beliefs practiced from ca. 4500-1900 BCE in Mesopotamia, or modern-day southern Iraq. Many deities were diffused into other Mesopotamian cultures.
Top myths
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| Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld | Epic of Ziusudra | Debate Between Sheep and Grain | The Song of the Hoe | |
| Afterlife myth | Creation, Flood myth | Creation myth | Creation myth | |
| Unknown author | Unknown author | Unknown author | Unknown author | |
| Read myth | Read myth | Read myth | Read myth | |
| More myths | ||||
Mythological stories including Utu
- Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld Afterlife myth
Nuthsell
While Enki was saling, the south wind uprooted a single ḫalub tree on the bank of the Euphrates river. A woman found it, planted it in Inanna's garden, and watered it by only using her feet; it grew massive after ten years. Inanna wanted to use it for a chair, but its bark would not break. Inanna cried and asked her brother, Gilgameš, to do it. Gilgameš cut the tree with his strength and also made a powerful mallet from its branches. During a game, both the ball and the mallet fell down into the netherworld. When Gilgameš could not recover items, his servant Enkidu offered to retrieve it. Enkidu became trapped there. Gilgameš asked Enki and Enlil to rescue Enkidu, but without success. Utu, however, obliged and made a hole for Enkidu to return. Gilgameš rejoiced and asked Enkidu how different kinds of people fare in the netherworld, ending the poem.
- Epic of Ziusudra Creation, Flood myth
Nuthsell
The Sumerian deities An, Enlil, and Enki created the "black headed people," the animals, and assigned the cities among the deities. Eridug was given to Nudimmud, the leader. Ziusudra, a Sumerian king, is told that a flood will sweep over the land: "A decision that the seed of mankind is to be destroyed has been made." This was announced by An and Enlil. A huge boat is constructed and it withstands the rain and wind for seven days and seven nights. When the chaos ended, Utu, the sun deity, showed himself and entered the boat, whereby Ziusudra sacrified oxen and offered sheep to him. As the animals disembarked off of Ziusudra's boat, An and Enlil treated Ziusudra kindly and granted him eternal life in "the land Dilmun" because he preserved the seed of mankind.
- Debate Between Sheep and Grain Creation myth
Nuthsell
Sit tight. More information about this is coming soon.
- The Song of the Hoe Creation myth
Nuthsell
Sit tight. More information about this is coming soon.
Eridu Genesis Creation, Flood mythNuthsell
The Sumerian deities An, Enlil, and Enki created the "black headed people," the animals, and assigned the cities among the deities. Eridug was given to Nudimmud, the leader. Ziusudra, a Sumerian king, is told that a flood will sweep over the land: "A decision that the seed of mankind is to be destroyed has been made." This was announced by An and Enlil. A huge boat is constructed and it withstands the rain and wind for seven days and seven nights. When the chaos ended, Utu, the sun deity, showed himself and entered the boat, whereby Ziusudra sacrified oxen and offered sheep to him. As the animals disembarked off of Ziusudra's boat, An and Enlil treated Ziusudra kindly and granted him eternal life in "the land Dilmun" because he preserved the seed of mankind.
Cite this page
OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Utu." OMNIKA – World Mythology Index, OMNIKA Foundation, 06 Jun. 2020, omnika.org/stable/583. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
OMNIKA (2020, June 06). Utu. Retrieved from https://omnika.org/stable/583
OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Utu." Las Vegas, NV: OMNIKA Foundation. Created June 06, 2020. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://omnika.org/stable/583.
