Editing Nammu (section)

==Name and epithets==
Nammu's name was represented in [[cuneiform]] by the [[Sumerogram]] ENGUR (LAGAB×ḪAL).{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=136}} [[Lexical lists]] provide evidence for multiple readings, including Nammu, Namma and longer, [[reduplicated]] variants such as Namnamu and Nannama.{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|pp=135-136}} A bilingual text from [[Shaduppum|Tell Harmal]] treats the short and long forms of the name as if they were respectively the [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] and [[Sumerian language|Sumerian]] versions of the same word.{{sfn|Lambert|2013|pp=433-434}} The name is conventionally translated as "creatrix."{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=136}}{{sfn|Asher-Greve|Westenholz|2013|p=53}} This interpretation depends on the theory that it is etymologically related to the element ''imma'' (SIG<sub>7</sub>) in the name of the goddess [[Ninimma]], which could be explained in Akkadian as ''nabnītu'' or ''bunnannû'',{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=137}} two terms pertaining to creation.{{sfn|Lambert|2013|p=435}} However, this proposal is not universally accepted.{{sfn|Ceccarelli|2017|pp=6-7}} Another related possibility is to interpret it as a [[Genitive construction|genitive compound]], ''(e)n + amma(k)'', "lady of the cosmic river,"{{sfn|Lambert|2013|p=503}} but it is similarly not free of criticism, and it has been argued no clear evidence for the etymology for Nammu's name exists.{{sfn|Ceccarelli|2017|p=6}} Ancient authors secondarily etymologized it as ''nig<sub>2</sub>-nam-ma'', "creativity", "totality" or "everything".{{sfn|Asher-Greve|Westenholz|2013|p=53}} 

The sign ENGUR could also be read as ''engur'', a synonym of ''[[apsu]]'', but when used in this context, it was not identical with the name of the goddess, and Nammu could be referred to as the creator of ''engur'', which according to Frans Wiggermann confirms she and the mythical body of water were not identical.{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=139}} 

Nammu could be referred to with epithets such as "lady who is great and high in the sea" (''nin-ab-gal-an-na-u<sub>5</sub>-a''),{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=137}} "mother who gave birth to heaven and earth" (''<sup>[[dingir|d]]</sup>ama-tu-an-ki'') or "first mother who gave birth to all (or senior) gods" (''ama-palil-u<sub>3</sub>-tu-diĝir-šar-šar-ra-ke<sub>4</sub>-ne'').{{sfn|Asher-Greve|Westenholz|2013|p=17}} The motherhood of Nammu to heaven and earth is attested in texts like the god-list TCL XV 10 and is related to the status attained from the [[Old Babylonian period]] onwards as the mother of [[Anu|An]] (Heaven) and [[Ki (goddess)|Ki]] (Earth).{{Sfn|Lisman|2013|p=84, 108–109, 122–125}}