From Drought to Deity: Borrowing Freshwater Worship in Third Millennium BCE Shahdad

Abstract

Despite its severe climate, Shahdad, an ancient civilisation on the edge of the Lut Desert, thrived in the third millennium BCE. This article examines the worship of Enki, the Mesopotamian god of fresh water, in this area. An abundance of archaeological data found at Shahdad suggests that there were contacts with Mesopotamia in the third millennium BCE. This may be related to Shahdad’s adoration of a water and fertility deity because it involves the presence of expert stoneworkers versed in Mesopotamian temple construction methods, the iconography of a water deity on the city seal and flag, and unique stone building elements. Although there is evidence of Mesopotamian influence in the freshwater deity worshipped in Shahdad, it is more likely that this interaction contributed to the emergence of a distinct freshwater deity. Archaeological excavations have unearthed unique artefacts that lend credence to this theory. These include pottery depicting water conservation practices, stone objects used in water rituals, and clay statues portraying figures praying for water.