Page 185 - DILMUN 24

Was an Aslepieion founded lpy the Seleuids

ln the myth of Eni and Ninhursag, Some of them are associated with

Ninsiil, the deity Eni appointed fresh wate.r One is found in Umm

in charge of Dilmun, informs him es-Sejour made of an underground

that there is no water at Dilmun. staircase containing a ifnely made

In response to her pleas to bring well and well head. The sacred

water to Dilmun, he instructs the nature of the well was revealed

sun-God Utu to bring water to by the decapitated statues of two

Dilmun from underneath the earth. rams found on the stairs. Another

This is done and Dilmun drins example is the Barbar temple

the water of abundance. Her wells complex, which points to three

of bitter water, behold they are deities being important to this cult­

become wells of good water'. centre in Dilmun, Eni and his

When Eni fell sic with eight consort Ninhursag and their son

ailments, Ninhursag too Eni's lnza, who appeared later as the

Ab (water or semen) into her body indigenous patron-deityofDilmun.

and gave birth to eight deities of In spite of the fact that by the time

healing, each specializing for one the Grees had reached Tylos the

patricular patr of the body. They temple was not operational, its cult

were thus able to heal Eni's might have been moved elsewhere

eight ailments. Among them, was on the island. The temple complex

Eshag (for the limbs), who was included a rfesh water spring and

appointed by Eni as the Lord of it is nown that a water cult too

Dilmun.() Enshag is identined place there.(6) A pool chamber

with the primary god of Dilmun, was discovered which consisted

Ina.(5) These mythical of a four by two metre sunen

connections of Dilmun with in chamber encased in ashlar walls

and with fresh water and deities of and enclosing the fresh water

healing might have created a myth spring. At the time of excavation,

around the place of being a holy the water level was one metre high.

place, thereby attracting patients Three large subterranean channels

and pilgrims. In the northwest led the water out to the surrounding

comrer of Bahrain wherever you gardens. A staircase led from the

dig, you might ind a temple. basin to an upper platform, where