Between the Rivers and Stars: A Modern Look at Gods of Mesopotamia

Between the Tigris and Euphrates, humanity built some of its earliest cities, pressed words into clay, and told stories of gods whose names would endure for thousands of years.Between the Rivers and the Stars is a modern devotional guide to the gods, spirits, and sacred traditions of ancient Mesopotamia, rooted in the surviving literature and religious cultures of Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, and Assyria.Meet Inanna, fierce Queen of Heaven; Enki, lord of wisdom and the freshwater deep; Ereshkigal, queen of the netherworld; Nanna, the moon god of Ur; Utu-Shamash, god of the sun and justice; Nisaba, patron of scribes; Nabu, divine master of writing; Marduk, champion of Babylon; and many more.This extensively revised Second Edition examines twenty-nine divine and supernatural figures, including major gods, local deities, protective beings, and feared demons such as Pazuzu and Lamashtu.Each entry explores the figure's historical identity, mythology, relationships, symbols, cult, and place within Mesopotamian religion before turning to clearly identified modern devotional practice. Poems, prayers, rituals, offerings, and reflective practices offer contemporary ways to engage with these ancient traditions while keeping modern spiritual interpretation distinct from the historical record.Inside you'll explore: - The gods of Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, and Assyria - Ancient myths and divine relationships - Temples, cult centers, symbols, and sacred roles - Protective spirits, demons, and supernatural beings - The historical development of Mesopotamian deities across different cities and periods - Modern devotional poems, prayers, rituals, and reflections - A clear distinction between ancient evidence, historically inspired reconstruction, and modern DINGIR practiceWhether you are encountering Mesopotamian religion for the first time or seeking a stronger historical foundation for personal practice, Between the Rivers and the Stars offers a path into a divine world preserved in clay tablets, temples, hymns, myths, prayers, and names remembered across millennia.