TYPE: Storm God
ORIGIN: Mesopotamian - Sumerian [Iraq]
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP: Circa 3500 BCE, and probably earlier, until circa 1750 BCE.
SYNONYMS: Adad (Akkadian)
CENTER(S) OF CULT: Karkara
ART REFERENCES: plaques; votive stelae; glyptics, etc.
LITERARY SOURCES: Cuneiform texts.
INFORMATION: The chief rain and thunder god of herdsmen, Iskur is described as the brother of the sun god Utu. In creation mythology Iskur is given charge over the winds, the so-called "silver lock of the heart of heaven", by the god Enki. According to some authors, in prehistoric times he was perceived as a bull or as a lion whose roar is the thunder. He may be depicted as a warrior riding across the skies in a chariot, dispensing raindrops and hailstones. In one text he is identified as the son of An and twin brother of Enki. He is to be compared with Ninurta who was primarily a god of farmers. He was also adopted by the Hittites as a storm god.