Outer Heaven Trivia Quiz

Answer: Equatorial Sky

In Mesopotamian mythology, An (also several spellings including Anu) was the supreme god and ancestor of all of the other gods. While he appeared in a number of myths, he was not usually an object of worship. He is mentioned in several sources including "The Epic of Gilgamesh".


In Greco-Roman mythology, Uranus (Caelus) was god of the sky and father of Cronus. A connection between Uranus and An is that both gods are connected with the sky and ancestor of many other gods.

Answer: Northern sky

Enlil is one of the sons of An, and god of wind, earth, and storms. He is associated with the northern portions of the sky. He was more directly than his father the leader of the gods, and more a focus of worship by the ancient Sumerians. In the myths, he separated his parents An (the sky) and Ki (the earth), creating a world that humans could inhabit.

Though the sky is divided in Mesopotamian mythology unlike in Greco-Roman mythology, Enlil seems a bit closer to Zeus (Jupiter) who also controls winds and storms.

Answer: Southern sky

Enki is another son of An and the god of freshwater oceans, as well as knowledge and crafts. He was associated with the southern portions of the sky. He was also the patron god of the city of Eridu. Images of him sometimes show two streams (representing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers) flowing into him.

As previously stated, Mesopotamian mythology divides control of the skies unlike Greco-Roman mythology where it is united. Enki seems a bit closer to Poseidon (Neptune) who also rules over water.

Answer: Venus

Inanna was also known as Ishtar and the "Queen of Heaven". Interestingly, she was the goddess of both love and war. She frequently appeared in Sumerian myths. Worship of her occurred regularly in ancient Mesopotamia and may have involved sexual rites. She was associated with the planet Venus.

In later Egyptian mythology, Horus, god of kingship and the sky, would be associated with Venus (seemingly replacing his earlier connection with Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn). Earlier, Venus was associated with Osiris, god of the Underworld. In Greco-Roman mythology, Aphrodite (Venus) was the goddess of love and beauty. Inanna and Aphrodite are connected through patronage of love.

Answer: Jupiter

Marduk was the patron god of Babylon. In periods where Babylon was the political center of Mesopotamia, Marduk's relative importance in the pantheon rose. He was associated with the planet Jupiter. He was also associated with water and vegetation.

By comparison, in earlier Egyptian mythology, the planet Jupiter (as well as Saturn and Mars) was associated with Horus, god of the sky and kingship. Later it would be associated with Amun, patron god of Thebes (and fused with Ra, god of the sun). In Greco-Roman mythology, Zeus (Jupiter) was king of the gods. Marduk, while not a king of gods like Zeus, did grow more important over time.

Answer: Mercury

Nabu was the gods of scribes and writing and the son of Marduk. He also used his writing ability to assign fates to people. He was associated with the planet Mercury. The frequency of his worship in ancient Mesopotamia rose in later times.

In earlier Egyptian mythology, Seth, god of desert, disorder, and violence, was associated with Mercury. Later, Thoth, god of wisdom, writing, and magic, would have this connection. In Greco-Roman mythology, Hermes (Mercury) was messenger of the gods and god of those who live by their wits (including merchants and thieves). Nabu and Hermes have a connection if one considers writing to indicate wits in a world that was mostly illiterate.

Answer: Moon

Suen was the god the moon and (rather logically) was associated with the moon. He was the son of Enlil. His worship occurred at several locations throughout Mesopotamia. In ancient times there were also associations between him and astronomy and astrology (not yet fully distinct).

In Greco-Roman mythology, Artemis (Selene) was the goddess of the moon. Suen and Artemis are both connected with the moon, although one was male and one was female.

Answer: Mars

Nergal was the god of the underworld, along with disease and war. He was also connected with sunset (since ancient Mesopotamians felt that the sun travelled through the underworld at night). He was associated with the planet Mars. He was a son of Enlil.

In later Egyptian mythology, Mars was connected with Miysis, god of war. Earlier, Horus, god of kingship and the sky, had a connection with Mars (as well as Jupiter and Saturn). In Greco-Roman mythology, Hades (Pluto) was the god of the underworld and Ares (Mars) was the god of war. Nergal and Ares have a connection through war and Nergal and Hades through the underworld. One might even connect all three if you consider that war will lead to many being sent to the underworld.

Answer: Saturn

Ninurta was the god of farming, along with healing and hunting. He was also a son of Enlil. He was associated with the planet Saturn. Some suggest that there is a connection between Ninurta and the hunter Nimrod mentioned in the Book of Genesis.

In early Egyptian mythology, Saturn was associated with Horus, god of kingship and the sky. Later, Saturn would be connected with the Ra, god of the sun. In Greco-Roman mythology, Cronus (Saturn) was the father of Zeus and god of agriculture. Ninurta and Cronus both have a connection through agriculture.

Answer: Sun

Utu, also known as Shamash, was the sun god, along with being in charge of truth, justice, and morality. Since he rode through the sky every day he would see what was happening anywhere in the world. Records of the worship of Utu can be found that are over than 5,000 years old. He was the twin brother of Inanna.

In Greco-Roman mythology, Apollo (Helios) was god of the sun. Utu and Apollo have a connection through the sun. They also have a connection through truth if you consider the Oracle at Delphi (connected to Apollo) to be associated with truth.