Engendered Cosmic Regions in Ancient Mesopotamian Mythologies

This article introduces a number of critical features of the engendered cosmic entities with particular reference to three female beings: Earth, Sea, and Mountain. The article presents their male counterparts (Sky, Sweet Waters, etc.), discusses their relationship in cosmogonic acts, and analyses creation by separation or union (fecundation) of the male and female entities. The article shows how these female entities have a passive, inert, and unproductive state and only a male agent leads to a positive (successful) creation, while a negative (monstrous / chaotic) result is produced when Earth, Sea, and Mountain create improperly or by themselves. In addition, it also analyses the cult and the relationship of these entities with the domain of death. Lastly, it addresses the matter of the relationship between female engendering and alterity in ancient Mesopotamia.