Skip to content
Sin, a MythSource painting
Mesopotamian

Sin

Father of the Gods · Lord of Wisdom · Lord of the Month

01Identity

Sin in Mesopotamian tradition

Sin is the Mesopotamian moon deity, also called Nanna, Su’en, Nannar, and En-zu. He governs the night, lunar cycles, the calendar, divination, and wisdom, and is associated with the crescent moon, the bull, and the number thirty. In the story of Nanna-Suen’s journey, he travels from Ur to Nippur in a pure boat, presents gifts to Enlil and the gods, and receives their blessing for himself and Ur.

Top questions

The quick answers

  • Who is Sin?

    Sin is a Mesopotamian deity associated with the moon and night; lunar cycles and the calendar; divination; and wisdom.
    Source

    Source

    • Babylonian Creation Myths
    • San Kuo or Romance of the Three Kingdoms
    • for a falcon

  • What is Sin the god of?

    Sin is associated with the moon and night; lunar cycles and the calendar; divination; and wisdom.
    Source

    Source

    • Babylonian Creation Myths

  • What family links are recorded for Sin?

    Father: Enlil, Mother: Ninlil, Spouse: Ningal, 5 children.
02Family

Sin’s family, at a glance

EnlilNinlil
Sin

with Ningal

InannaNingublagaNumushdaNuskuShamash
03The names

The names Sin answers to

Nanna

Sumerian name of the moon god

SourceBabylonian Creation Myths

Su'en

Sumerian form of the name Sin

SourceSan Kuo or Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Nannar

Variant name meaning the illuminator

Sourcefor a falcon

En-zu

Lord of wisdom

SourceBabylonian Creation Myths

04The myths

The myths of Sin

1 myth, with sources recorded for each.

Nanna-Suen’s Journey to Nippur

Nanna-Suen left Ur and travelled towards Nippur in Maiddaḫedu, his pure boat. The boat was elegant, as its name declared. He took with him the shining ladies, who wore rays of light and were adorned with vigour. He travelled as Nannar, whose divinity was very great. He made his way upstream along the Araḫtu, the channel that brought prosperity.

When he drew near to the quay of the Red Gate, he spent the night at the city gate of Uraš. Bulls were slaughtered, and sheep were butchered. Apricots were dedicated, and other offerings were scattered. Incense was burned, and the scent of sweet resin covered the sky like a thick mist. Torches were raised, and the night shone with light. The district blazed for a distance of one league.

The king summoned those who would address prayers to the son of Bel. The vast peoples bowed in humility and kissed the ground. Nanna-Suen then reached Nippur and presented gifts to Enlil and the gods. Enlil and the gods granted blessings to Nanna-Suen and to Ur. The journey ended with the god and his city placed under their blessing.

Nanna-Suen’s Journey to Nippur, a MythSource painting of the scene

3 sources· checked 2026-08-19

  1. 1Babylonian Creation MythsT1
  2. 2the ancient sourcesT1

    Quote

    “Nanna-Suen travels from Ur to Nippur, presents gifts to Enlil and the gods, and receives blessings for himself and his city.”

    the ancient sources

  3. 3Babylonian Creation MythsT1

Also mentioned in

Stories elsewhere on MythSource that mention Sin, each on that figure’s page.