Sumerian - Journey of nanna to Nippur

In the heart of ancient Sumer, Nippur stood as the spiritual epicenter, home to Enlil, the foremost god whose temple, Ekur, was the pinnacle of Sumerian religious life. The myth we explore today tells of a divine pilgrimage, where Nanna, the moon-god and guardian of Ur, journeys to Nippur to seek the blessings of his father, Enlil, for his city.
The Decision to Journey:
Nanna, also known as Sin or Ashgirbabbar, resolves to visit Nippur, driven by a desire to stand before his father and mother, Enlil and Ninlil:

• "To go to his city, to stand before his father, Ashgirbabbar set his mind: 'I, the hero, to my city I would go, before my father I would stand; I, Sin, to my city I would go, before my father I would stand, Before my father Enlil I would stand; I, to my city I would go, before my mother Ninlil I would stand.'"

The Voyage:
Nanna loads his gufa (a type of boat) with an abundance of trees, plants, and animals, embarking from Ur towards Nippur. His journey includes stops at five cities, where he is warmly welcomed by their tutelary deities, although the names of two cities are lost to us.
Arrival at Nippur:
Upon reaching Nippur, Nanna moors his boat at the sacred quays:

• "At the lapis lazuli quay, the quay of Enlil, Nanna-Sin drew up his boat, At the white quay, the quay of Enlil, Ashgirbabbar drew up his boat,"

He then announces his arrival to the gatekeeper of Enlil's temple, requesting entry:

• "Open the house, gatekeeper, open the house, Open the house, O protecting genie, open the house, Open the house, thou who makest the trees come forth, open the house..."

The gatekeeper, filled with joy, opens the doors, and Nanna is welcomed into the presence of Enlil.
The Divine Feast and Blessings:
After a feast with Enlil, Nanna makes his requests:

• "In the river give me overflow, In the field give me much grain, In the swampland give me grass and reeds, In the forests give me . . . In the plain give me . . . In the palm-grove and vineyard give me honey and wine, In the palace give me long life, To Ur I shall go."

Enlil, pleased by his son's visit and the offerings, grants Nanna's wishes:

• "He gave him, Enlil gave him, To Ur he went. In the river he gave him overflow, In the field he gave him much grain, In the swampland he gave him grass and reeds, In the forests he gave him . . ., In the plain he gave him . . . . In the palm-grove and vineyard he gave him honey and wine, In the palace he gave him long life."

This myth not only illustrates the divine relationships among the Sumerian gods but also reflects the importance of securing the favor of Enlil for the prosperity of one's city. Through Nanna's journey, we see a blend of divine travel, ritualistic homage, and the reciprocal nature of divine and earthly blessings in Sumerian mythology.