EA-ENKI - EARTH GOD & LORD OF MAGIC - ($25 USD)
Early Sumerian Votive Plaque replica.
2300 BC
Stone-cast, raw terracotta plaque, 110 x 60 mm (4.25 x 2.25"), with parchment description.
Museum quality casting of ancient Sumerian-Akkadian Votive plaque.
Wearing characteristic Sumerian fringed robe and royal turban with the tiered crown of a king, the plaque is an Early Dynastic representation of the ancient Earth God Enki, which literally means "Lord Earth." He was called Ea in Akkadian and also known under the names Ninäiku or Nudimmud.
Enki's emblem is two docile serpents representing the forces of nature. Often entwined on a staff, the serpents are also associated with the practice of magic and healing. Similar to Thoth in Egypt, Enki was also venerated as the Lord of Magic.
Enki was universally acknowledged across the farms and villages of ancient Mesopotamia as the deity responsible for crop fertility and weather. Votive effigies like this one could be found in nearly every farm house and village.
In the mythic tales, Enki achieves heroic status by taking sides with humankind and saving them from the complete destruction of the Great Flood. Defying the star gods, Enki informs the Sumerian equivalent of Noah, Ziusudra-Utnapishtim, about the coming flood and instructs him to build a boat to survive the cataclysm.
In emulation of Enki's pet serpents, snake-charming magicians became a phenomenon unique to Babylon. Healing spells and methods of divination involving snakes appear on many of their tablets.
(NOTE: Ea's earth-serpents are not to be confused with the celestial Dragon-Serpent Tiamet, the notorious "bad guy" of ancient mythology.)
Postage:
Ground: $5 Australian dollars - Australia New Zealand
Air: $5 USD - Asia, India, Pacific, Japan
Air: $6 USD - USA & Canada
Air: $7 USD - Europe, Scandinavia, Britain, Germany, Italy, Greece, Spain, Mediterranean, Africa, South America & most other locations
