Nisaba
Nisaba was the goddess of writing, learning and astrology.
She appeared with dense, flowing hair, wearing a horned crown and bearing ears of corn and a crescent moon; her symbol was the gold stylus and her byword was “What’s your sign?” Nisaba (”The Smart One”) kept a record of all who entered the temple of her sister Nanshe (”The Hot One”) for aid and decided whether they would be admitted to her sister’s presence, thus making her the earliest goddess of receptionists. She also sat with Nanshe at the judgment of mankind every year and wrote down what happened, which is why she was also the goddess of the palace archives (thus the nickname “Stacks”). Scribes often gave praise to her at the end of their cuneiform tablets; a frequent closing was “Thank Nisaba, I didn’t think I’d ever get to the end of this book.” This also led to her name being used as slang for “finish,” as when a great king would look at a battle going badly and say, “We’re nisabaed now.” Her hymns were many–
“O Nisaba, good woman, fair woman, woman born in the mountains! Nisaba, may you be the butter in the cattle-pen, may you be the cream in the sheepfold, may you be keeper of the seal in the treasury, may you be a good steward in the palace, may you be a heaper up of grain among the grain piles and in the grain stores!”
–but they weren’t big hits. However, Nisaba was known to be very wise and kind to humans, often speaking slowly to them in words of one syllable. She was also tutor to the Babylonian Nabu, the son of Marduk.
There were rumors of dissension between her and Milki-la-el, her high priest, now generally regarded as the father of mathematics, but these appear to have stemmed from mistranslations of cuneiform from Milki-la-el’s workroom that read, “Enki plague her, that hair goes everywhere” and “I don’t want to hear about any damn Mercury retrograde.” However, since Nisaba entrusted Milki with the tutoring of her nephew, the demigod Sumu-la-el, we can assume she held him in high esteem.
She was replaced around 1500 BC by Nabu, her former student. A fragment from one of her tablets dating from that time was found recently in an excavation in Turkey. It read, “Ungrateful little bastard.”
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Gosh, history is much more interesting when I read it on blogs than in those dull textbooks.
“Nisaba (â€The Smart Oneâ€) kept a record of all who entered the temple of her sister Nanshe (â€The Hot Oneâ€) for aid and decided whether they would be admitted to her sister’s presence, thus making her the earliest goddess of receptionists.”
Oooooh, I’ll bet she could lie to salesmen like a hot damn. “Of course, I’ll make sure my sister gets the small clay tablet with your name on it. *crash* Oops, I’m just a butter fingers today, do you have another one?” “She’s not in at all this week.” “Her calendar is pretty full, why don’t I have her get back to you instead.”
Being replaced by someone she trained. That had to hurt.
That’s one of the true things in there. Of course, the myth probably says that she trained him because redactors were setting it up that he’d take over. But I loved it when I found the two things in two different sources. The hymn is real, too. And she really did keep a record of the people who came to her sister’s temple and decide who would be admitted. And she really was the goddess of the palace archives, which makes her a Back-Up Goddess. Pretty much the Jan Brady of Mesopotamia.
Is it just me, or does the woman in that picture bear a strong resemblance to Ugly Betty?
Who is a very lovable character, no disparagement intended!
I’ve always had a fondness for Nisaba. Susan Lee Solar made some beautiful Goddess art. Her Nisaba bears little resemblance to Ugly Betty.
So what sacrifices does Nisaba require? ‘Cuz I’m sitting here at my reception desk, thinking about the day I’m facing, and frankly, I could use some help.
Do I burn erasers in her name? Present an offering of india ink?
Good question, Cary.
Maybe you just print out her picture and sacrifice to it anybody who gives you any lip.
You would get along great with my Ancient History prof - he summed it all up in much the same way. Great minds, great teachers the both of youse.
Cary, I found this curse for those who cross Nisaba:
Maybe you can use it for those who try to get past you without permission?
And there’s a feast day:
Ooooh! Thanks Jenny; I’ll use that first bit to curse the next “Israeli Art Student” trying to sell bad paintings in our building. Or for the next vendor who tries to sneak on to the boss’ book for a luncheon. “Hah! Take that oh thine who has broken the barrier! I curse you in ancient Mesopotamian verse! May corn and crescents grow out of your ears. May you strangle on the dense flowing hair of Nisaba and her golden stylus pierce thine heart!”
Bloodthirsty little thing, aren’t I? Don’t cross me after 8 hours at this desk. I am Mare, Queen of the XXX Universe, Keeper of the Book of Time, Guardian of the Client List!
Uh, maybe putting in the triple X as a placeholder wasn’t such a good thing. Really. We’re not that kind of business. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)
Really, I think Nisaba deserves her own book….
How ya doin today Cary? *snort*
You leave Cary alone. She’s discovering the goddess within.
Hmmmn…. so Clarke and Fred are acolytes? That explains a lot. (Mental note: avoid the kool-aid when at Cary’s house
yeah, just imagine what kammi would have to say about “safest sex Clarke” and “ecstatic to meet you Fred” …
Actually, um could you pass some electric blue kool-aid my way?