Nippur (Sumerian: EN.LÍL.KI — "Place of the Lord Wind")

Sumerian name: EN.LÍL.KI (𒂍𒇉𒆠) — "Place of the Lord Wind"

Nippur (Sumerian: Nibru; Akkadian: Nippur) was one of the most sacred cities of ancient Sumer, located approximately 100 kilometers southeast of modern Baghdad in central Iraq. For Zecharia Sitchin, Nippur was the Mission Control Center of the Anunnaki — the central command post for their operations on Earth.

Historical Significance

Nippur was never a political capital in the conventional sense. Instead, it served as the religious and ceremonial heart of Sumer. The city was dedicated to Enlil, the supreme commander of the Anunnaki, and housed his great temple — the Ekur ("House of the Mountain").

Sitchin's Interpretation

"Nippur was the command center of the Anunnaki. Here, in the Ekur, Enlil sat in judgment over the affairs of gods and men, and from here the signals were sent to the spaceport at Sippar."

Key points of Sitchin's reading:

1. Ekur as Mission Control — The Ekur temple was not merely a place of worship but a communications facility, possibly housing the DUR.AN.KI — the "Bond Heaven-Earth" — a device for communicating with Nibiru
2. The Sacred Precinct — Nippur was off-limits to ordinary humans; only the priesthood (Anunnaki-appointed) could enter
3. Enlil's Seat — Enlil's authority was absolute here; he was the ultimate decision-maker for Earth operations
4. Kingship from Nippur — The Sumerian King List states that kingship first descended from heaven at Eridu, but the right to rule was confirmed at Nippur

The Ekur Temple

The Ekur ("Mountain House") was a massive ziggurat complex. Its Sumerian name suggests an artificial mountain, and Sitchin noted the parallels with the biblical "Mount of the Congregation" and the "Mountain of God" traditions.

The temple complex included: - The Duranki — A central chamber or platform where heaven and Earth were "bonded" - The Gigun — A sacred women's quarter (perhaps for Anunnaki priestesses) - The Kiur — The "great place" where Enlil's decisions were announced

Archaeological Evidence

Excavations at Nippur (primarily by the University of Pennsylvania, 1889–1900) revealed: - The remains of the great Ekur ziggurat - Thousands of cuneiform tablets, including the Sumerian King List and creation texts - Evidence of continuous occupation from the 5^th millennium BCE to the 8^th century CE - Destruction layers corresponding to the Elamite invasion and later the nuclear destruction of 2024 BCE

See Also

• Enlil — The god of Nippur
• DUR.AN.KI — The "Bond Heaven-Earth"
• Eridu — The first settlement
• Sippar — The spaceport
• ME — The divine decrees kept at Nippur
• Tablet Of Destinies — The Tablet of Destinies

Sources

• Sitchin, Z. (1976). The 12^th Planet. Chapter 9.
• Sitchin, Z. (1985). The Wars of Gods and Men.
• Kramer, S. N. (1963). The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character.
• McCown, D. E. & Haines, R. C. (1967). Nippur I: Temple of Enlil.