CODEX Entry 1530: Marduk’s Provider
The most beautiful virgin in the city, selected to entertain the god¹, inducted into the naditu², or virgin serpent priestesses. This role was coveted in the community, with her elevated status as one of the naditu giving her luxurious accommodation within the temple complex. Should she fall pregnant she would rise, in Middle Kingdom Egypt, to the title of Divine Adoratrice of Amun³; in Babylon, Entu, wife of Marduk4; in Greece, Putiadulai or Hierodulai, Most Adored Priestess. Other titles included, God’s Hand, based on the Heliopolitan creation myth that God masturbated to set creation in motion, emphasizing its bearer’s sexual role5. Her daughters, particularly coveted, as wives for the King or Pharaoh, giving divine legitimacy to their rule, as arbiter between the gods and their subjects6. The Divine Adoratrice ruled over the extensive temple duties and domains, controlling a significant part of the economy7. After the age of the gods, this role was usually given to the King’s sister, for the ruling family to maintain its influence. Parentage was further confused as the child would be given both a divine and earthly father8, with the process of legitimacy and deification inflected by these titles9. Later as the temple rituals were defiled, and Christianity sought to heap further slander upon them, the Greek words for priestess became puta or putain meaning prostitute in many languages, as well as hiero or hor becoming whore in English and High German.
References:
¹ Troy, Patterns of Queenship
² Elizabeth C. Stone, The Social Role of the Nadītu Women in Old Babylonian Nippur
³ Pascal Vernus, The Book of the Pharaohs
4 Lloyd D. Graham, King’s Daughter, God’s Wife: The Princess as High Priestess in Mesopotamia
5 M. Gitton, Les divines épouses de la 18 ͤ dynastie
6 M.-A. Bonhême, Pharoan. Les secrets de pouvoir
7 Mariam F. Ayad, God’s Wife, God’s Servant: The God’s Wife of Amun (ca.740-525 BC)
8 Hatshepsut’s Relief Cycle, Luxor
9 von Lieven, Deified Humans