Mythologis
The Sumerian Mythology Book: Gilgamesh, Inanna, Enki, and the World's Oldest Sacred Stories

Sumerian Mythology

The Sumerian Mythology Book: Gilgamesh, Inanna, Enki, and the World's Oldest Sacred Stories

Gilgamesh, Inanna, and the world's oldest written myths

The earliest written myths on earth, preserved on clay tablets four thousand years ago. Gilgamesh seeking immortality, Inanna descending to the underworld, Enki shaping the cosmos. Here is what survived.

150 pagesPDFEnglishMythologis Library

$14.99

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Inside this book

What you will read

  • 11 chapters, primary sources
  • Instant PDF download
  • Original ink illustrations
  • Inline citations to cuneiform sources
  • Designed for print quality
See all chapters  +
  1. 01The Land Between the Rivers
  2. 02Anu, Enlil, Enki: The Three Great Gods
  3. 03Inanna of Uruk, Queen of Heaven
  4. 04Enki and the Wisdom of the Apsu
  5. 05Gilgamesh, Two-Thirds God
  6. 06Enkidu and the Bull of Heaven
  7. 07The Underworld and Ereshkigal
  8. 08The Sumerian Flood: Ziusudra and the Boat
  9. 09Hymns and Temple Time
  10. 10The Fall of Sumer, The Rise of Akkad
  11. 11What Survives: Sumer Today

About this book

About this Sumerian mythology guide

The oldest written mythology on earth. 4,000 years before the Bible, Sumerian scribes carved gods, heroes, the flood, and the search for eternal life into clay tablets. This is what survived.

Four thousand years ago, in the temple cities of Sumer, scribes pressed reeds into wet clay and recorded the oldest stories humanity ever wrote down: how the gods made the world, why kings ruled, where the dead went, what happens when a mortal asks for immortality. Most of those tablets were lost. What survived is extraordinary, and most modern readers have never seen it whole.

This book is the complete guide. Eleven chapters cover the three great gods (Anu, Enlil, Enki), the temple cities and their cult statues, the descent of Inanna into the underworld, the flood story that predates Noah by 1,500 years, and the Epic of Gilgamesh in full. Every chapter cites the original cuneiform text and the standard translation, so you can read further if you want.

Written in clean modern English, delivered as a print-quality PDF.

What you will discover inside

  • How Gilgamesh's quest for immortality became the template for every hero's journey
  • Why Inanna's descent to the underworld is the oldest goddess myth ever recorded
  • The Sumerian flood story that predates the Genesis flood by 1,500 years
  • How Enki and the seven apkallu sages shaped the first cities with wisdom
  • The horned crown of divinity, the bull-headed lyre of Ur, and the iconography of Sumer
  • Why the gods of Sumer became the gods of Babylon, and what that tells us about civilization

Sumerian mythology book at a glance

TraditionSumerian mythology
Chapters11 chapters
Length150 pages
SourcesDrawn from the primary sources, cited inline
Reading levelBeginner-friendly. Every name and place is explained from scratch
FormatPrint-quality PDF
DeliveryPDF within 24 hours

Formats and editions

EditionWhat you getPrice
Instant PDFPrint-quality download, readable on any device. PDF within 24 hours.$7.99
PaperbackA paperback edition is on the way. Sign up on this page to hear when it lands on Amazon.Coming soon

About the author

Guillaume Henry, founder of Mythologis

Guillaume Henry

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mythologis

Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every Mythologis book draws on the primary sources first, cross-references multiple translations, and avoids inventing details that aren't in the originals.

More about the author

Keep exploring Sumerian mythology

Prefer to read before you buy? These free, fully sourced guides cover the same gods, myths and sources you will meet in the book.

Read the complete Sumerian mythology guide

Questions about the Sumerian mythology book

When will I receive my PDF?

Within 24 hours of purchase. Your download link arrives in your inbox automatically.

What is the difference between Sumerian and Mesopotamian mythology?

Sumerian is the oldest layer (roughly 3500-2000 BCE). Mesopotamian includes Sumerian plus the later Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian traditions that built on it. This book focuses on the Sumerian foundation: the original gods, the original Gilgamesh story, the original flood.

Is this book based on primary sources?

Yes. Every chapter cites the original cuneiform text (the Standard Babylonian Gilgamesh, Inanna's Descent, the Eridu Genesis, the Sumerian King List, the temple hymns of Enheduanna) with references to the standard published translations so you can read further.

How long is the book?

Eleven chapters, around 150 pages depending on the final layout. Designed to be read in evenings or in one long sitting.

Is this book for beginners or specialists?

Beginners welcome. The book explains every name, place, and concept from scratch. Specialists will find the source citations and translation notes useful for further reading.

Will there be a paperback on Amazon?

The PDF is available immediately. A KDP paperback edition follows once the book has been validated by readers.

What formats is this book available in?

Every title is available as an instant PDF, downloaded the moment you buy it: the link appears on the confirmation page and lands in your inbox. Selected titles also have a paperback edition on Amazon. Where the paperback is not out yet, you can sign up to be notified the day it does.

What is the return policy?

The PDF is delivered instantly by Mythologis. If a download ever fails or a file looks wrong, get in touch and we will make it right. Paperbacks bought on Amazon are handled under Amazon's own returns and refund policy.

Can I order from outside the United States?

Yes. The PDF is a digital download, so it works instantly anywhere in the world, with nothing to ship. Where a paperback edition exists, it is sold across Amazon's international marketplaces, with shipping rates and delivery times depending on your country.

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