| Ninegal | |
|---|---|
Goddess of palaces | |
| Other names | Belet Ekalli, Pentikalli |
| Major cult center | Ur, Dilbat, Mari, Qatna |
| Genealogy | |
| Consort | |
| Children | possibly Nanaya and Lagamal |
| Equivalents | |
| Hittite | possibly Tešimi |
Ninegal (also spelled Ninegalla[1]) or Belat Ekalli (Belet-ekalli) was a Mesopotamian goddess associated with palaces. Both her Sumerian and Akkadian name mean "lady of the palace."[2]
From Mesopotamia the worship of Ninegal spread to Elam in the east and to Syria and the Hittite Empire in the west. She was particularly venerated in Mari and Qatna, and due to her presence in the pantheon of ancient Syria she was also incorporated into Hurrian religion. The Hurrians transcribed her name as Pentikalli (Pendigalli).
Especially in literary works, Ninegal could function as an epithet of Inanna, and they could be also associated with each other in other contexts. However, it is now generally assumed that they were distinct deities in origin. Additionally, Ninegal could be associated with the goddess of prisons, Nungal.