Original 1915 caption: "Worship of the Moon God. Cylinder-seal of Khashkhamer, patesi of Ishkun-Sin (in North Babylonia), and vassal of Ur-Engur, king of Ur (c. 2400 BCE) (British Museum). Photo: Mansell".

Your greatness covers all countries. Your fearsome radiance overwhelms the holy sky.

You brighten the night sky in the broad firmament, and illuminate the darkness. The Anuna gods stand by with prayers and supplications at your rising. The sweet sight of your resplendent crescent, full of loveliness, brings joy to the great lady of the Ki-ur, mother Ninli. ~ Ishme-Dagan

Sīn (/ˈsiːn/) or Suen (Akkadian: 𒂗𒍪 EN.ZU, pronounced Su'en, Sîn) or Nanna (Sumerian: 𒀭𒋀𒆠 DŠEŠ.KI, DNANNA) was the god of the moon in the Mesopotamian religions of Sumer, Akkad, Assyria and Babylonia. Sin was the patron deity of Ur.

Quotes about Sīn

• Say to Nanna, the firstborn son of Enlil, who loves prayers; repeat to the lord whose light spreads widely, the crown of heaven and earth, the great lord who loves to revive man; the father of the black-headed; the merciful king, who can untie and release; the merciful, compassionate god who listens to appeals:
  You, who are perfect in lordship and wear the legitimate headdress, the one with gleaming appearance and noble countenance, holy form endowed lavishly with beauty: your greatness covers all countries. Your fearsome radiance overwhelms the holy sky. [...] You are indeed glorious from east to west. [...] You are the king of heaven and earth; it is you who decide their fate.
  • Anonymous, 3rd millennium BCE, text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.

• What he orders is faithfully executed. [...] Endowed with beauty in the E-kur, [...] among the great gods, the great and august lord.
  • Ishme-Dagan in a tablet (𒁾) to Nanna, Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, early 2nd millennium BCE.

• Lord whose abode is the mountains, father Nanna, [...] fixes the months and the new moon according to a cord, establishes the year. [...] Who puts all the lands in order, [...] who makes the Tigris and the Euphrates bring flowing water.
  • Ishme-Dagan in a tablet (𒁾) to Nanna, Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, early 2nd millennium BCE.

• Life for the multitude.
  • Ishme-Dagan in a tablet (𒁾) to Nanna, Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, early 2nd millennium BCE.

• [O]n earth, on the day of the disappearance of the moon, as you have completed the month, you summon the people, lord; and then in the netherworld you decree great judgments, you decide sublime verdicts. Enki and Ninki, the great lords, the great princes, the lords who determine fates, await your utterances, father.
  • Ishme-Dagan in a tablet (𒁾) to Nanna, Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, early 2nd millennium BCE.

• Prince, you place justice in every mouth, and make propriety resplendent. Daily you make hearts content, daily you determine fates appropriately. [...] You brighten the night sky in the broad firmament, and illuminate the darkness. The Anuna gods stand by with prayers and supplications at your rising. The sweet sight of your resplendent crescent, full of loveliness, brings joy to the great lady of the Ki-ur, mother Ninli.
  • Ishme-Dagan in a tablet (𒁾) to Nanna, Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, early 2nd millennium BCE.

• King whom one cannot reach in the distant sky! Suen whom one cannot reach in the distant sky! King who loves justice, who hates evil! Suen who loves justice, who hates evil! Justice brings joy justly to your heart.
  • Lugalbanda, in Lugalbanda in the Mountain Cave, Ur III Period (21st century BCE).

• Suen, the lord born to command.
  • Shulgi in a tablet (𒁾) to Utu, text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, early 2nd millennium BCE.

• When a man comes forward as a witness, saying: "Let me tell you what I know about him", but does not know the relevant information, it is an abomination to Suen.
  • Sumerian proverb, Collection III at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, 3rd millennium BCE.

• My king, lord Acimbabbar, you are on your throne because of Enlil. Youthful Suen, lord Acimbabbar, you are on your throne because of Enlil.
  • Ur-Nammu, Ur-Namma the canal-digger (late 3rd millennium BCE to early 2nd millennium BCE), at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.

See also

• Moon

External links

• Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses: Nanna/Suen/Sin (god)
• Tamara M. Green, The City of the Moon God: Religious Traditions of Harran. E.J. Brill, Leiden, 1992, 232 pages. ISBN 90-04-09513-6
• The Ur and Harran Latitudes, and Göbekli Tepe