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NANEA

(Gk. Nanaía)

A Mesopotamian goddess whose temple Antiochus IV Epiphanes attempted to plunder, resulting in his death (2 Macc. 1:13-17). The temple of Nanea, located in Elymais (Elam), probably in the city of Susa, was famous for its wealth, including the golden shields, breastplates, and weapons deposited by Alexander (1 Macc. 6:1-2). In order to plunder the temple, Antiochus deceptively entered into a sacred marriage ritual with Nanea, hoping to claim the temple treasures as her dowry. However, the priests of Nanea trapped him and his men in the temple precinct, then stoned them through a secret opening in the ceiling.

Nanea, known as Nanâ and Nanay(a) in Mesopotamian sources, was primarily a goddess of erotic love. Originally at home in Uruk, in the 1st millennium b.c.e. she was associated with Borsippa and Babylon, where sacred marriage rituals were performed between her and Nabû. The Persians identified her with Anahita, and her cult was widely promoted by Artaxerxes II. She was a prominent member of the Aramean pantheon until the 5th century c.e. In addition to Susa, she had prominent temples at Assur, Palmyra, and Dura-Europos. The Greeks later identified her with Artemis, Aphrodite, and Isis.

The tradition of the death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes recorded in 2 Maccabees certainly reflects Antiochus’ reputation for plundering temples (cf. 2 Macc. 9:1-2). However, the depiction of his death is probably confused with that of his predecessor Antiochus III, who according to other sources was similarly killed in an attempt to plunder a temple of Belus in Elymais.

Ronald A. Simkins

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

NANEA

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)