Sumerian God Enki

Enki was one of the most important gods in the ancient Mesopotamian pantheon, especially among the Sumerians, and later worshipped by the Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. His name means "Lord of the Earth" (en = lord, ki = earth), and he was the god of water, wisdom, magic, creation, fertility, and craftsmanship. Enki was associated with life-giving freshwater and was believed to dwell in the Abzu, the underground freshwater ocean.

In Sumerian mythology, Enki is depicted as a wise and benevolent deity who uses his intelligence and cunning to help both gods and humans. He often plays the role of a trickster or a mediator, solving problems that other gods have created. He is one of the Anunnaki, the high gods of Mesopotamian mythology, and is usually portrayed as the son of An (Anu), the sky god, and the brother of Enlil, the god of air and authority.

Enki was central to several important myths:

1. Creation of Humans: In some myths, Enki plays a major role in the creation of humanity, often in collaboration with the mother goddess Ninhursag or Nintu. He creates humans out of clay to relieve the gods of hard labor.

2. The Great Flood: In the Mesopotamian flood myth (a precursor to the Biblical Noah story), the gods decide to wipe out humanity with a flood. But Enki, sympathetic to human beings, warns a man named Ziusudra (or Atrahasis/Utnapishtim in later versions), telling him to build a boat and save himself, his family, and animals—thus preserving life on earth.

3. The Myth of Enki and Ninhursag: In this story, Enki becomes sick after eating sacred plants and impregnating several goddesses. Ninhursag cures him by giving birth to healing deities, each associated with the specific parts of Enki’s body that are ailing. This myth is both humorous and symbolic, representing the cyclical balance of creation, fertility, and healing.

4. Dispenser of Me (Divine Powers): Enki is said to have possessed the Me, the fundamental principles of civilization—such as kingship, law, music, crafts, and even emotions. He distributes them to humanity or other gods, helping to spread order and culture across Mesopotamia.

Enki was worshipped particularly in the city of Eridu, one of the oldest cities in Mesopotamia, where his temple, called the E-abzu (“House of the Abzu”), was located. His symbols include the goat-fish and streams of water flowing from his shoulders, often carrying fish, representing life-giving waters and abundance.

In essence, Enki represents intelligence, creation, compassion, and transformation. While other gods like Enlil often acted with stern authority, Enki stood out as a clever, helpful, and wise figure who often intervened to protect humanity and maintain balance in the cosmos.

Sumeria: Gilgamesh. Half man, half god.

Gilgamesh was an ancient Sumerian king of Uruk, a powerful city-state in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), and the central character of The Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest known piece of epic literature in human history. The earliest versions of the story date back to around 2100 BCE, although the final, most complete version was recorded in Akkadian on clay tablets around the 12th century BCE. While there is evidence suggesting Gilgamesh may have been a real king who ruled sometime around 2700 BCE, his legend became deeply mythologized, blending historical elements with divine and fantastical themes.

In the epic, Gilgamesh is described as two-thirds god and one-third human, a giant in strength and stature, unmatched in power. He begins as a proud and oppressive ruler, abusing his people and invoking their cries to the gods for intervention. In response, the gods create Enkidu, a wild man of the steppes, to challenge Gilgamesh. After a fierce fight, the two become close companions, symbolizing the taming of nature and the power of human friendship. Together, they undertake dangerous adventures, including slaying the monster Humbaba in the Cedar Forest and killing the Bull of Heaven sent by the goddess Ishtar after Gilgamesh rejects her advances.

The death of Enkidu marks a turning point in the story. Gilgamesh, devastated by the loss, becomes obsessed with the question of mortality. For the first time, he understands that even someone as powerful as he must eventually die. This fear drives him to seek out Utnapishtim, a man granted immortality by the gods after surviving a great flood—a tale that bears a striking resemblance to the Biblical story of Noah. Gilgamesh travels through mountains, deserts, and dangerous realms, facing scorpion men, sleep tests, and hopeless tasks, only to find that the secret of eternal life is out of reach. Even when he obtains a plant that can restore youth, it is stolen by a snake while he bathes.

In the end, Gilgamesh returns to Uruk with a deeper understanding of life. He accepts his human fate and takes pride in the great walls of his city, a symbol of civilization and his lasting legacy. The epic concludes not with immortality of the body, but with immortality of memory and achievement.

The story of Gilgamesh explores timeless human concerns: the meaning of life, the inevitability of death, the power of friendship, and the search for wisdom. It reflects the values and beliefs of early Mesopotamian society, where gods intervened in human affairs, nature posed constant threats, and rulers struggled with their responsibilities. Gilgamesh’s transformation from a tyrant to a wise and humble leader makes him not only one of the first literary heroes in recorded history, but also one of the most enduring. Through his journey, the epic expresses a fundamental truth: though we cannot escape death, we can live meaningfully, love deeply, and be remembered for what we build and who we become.

Whistleblower Dr David Kelly

Dr David Kelly was a British weapons expert whose mysterious death in 2003 sparked one of the most controversial political scandals in modern UK history. A highly respected scientist, Kelly had worked with the Ministry of Defence and the United Nations as a leading authority on biological warfare, and he played a key role in inspections of Iraq’s alleged weapons of mass destruction during the 1990s.

His name entered the public spotlight after the Iraq War began in 2003. At the time, the UK government released a dossier claiming that Saddam Hussein’s regime could launch weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes. This claim was one of the key justifications for Britain's involvement in the war. Kelly, however, believed that this intelligence had been exaggerated or "sexed up."

He privately voiced his concerns to BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan. When the BBC reported that the dossier had been manipulated to strengthen the case for war, a political storm erupted. Under pressure, the government named Kelly as the source. He was forced to testify before a parliamentary committee in a televised hearing that many considered deeply humiliating.

Just days later, on 17 July 2003, Kelly was found dead in a wooded area near his home, having apparently taken his own life. The official inquiry into his death, led by Lord Hutton, concluded that he died from self-inflicted injuries after cutting his wrist and taking painkillers. However, the inquiry was criticised for being unusually swift and for bypassing a full coroner’s inquest.

Many of Kelly’s colleagues, doctors, and members of the public raised serious doubts about the suicide verdict. They pointed out that the medical evidence didn’t add up: the wound was reportedly too minor to be fatal, few pills were found in his system, and no fingerprints were discovered on the knife or pill packet. Suspicion grew that Kelly’s death may not have been entirely voluntary—or at least that something had been covered up.

Since then, numerous journalists, MPs, and campaigners have called for a new and independent investigation. Books such as The Strange Death of David Kelly by Norman Baker and An Inconvenient Death by Miles Goslett argue that the official version of events is flawed, and that the political establishment may have been eager to close the case before uncomfortable truths came to light.

Dr Kelly’s death remains a powerful symbol of the risks faced by whistleblowers, and it continues to fuel public distrust in how governments manage truth and dissent—especially in times of war. Whether he was silenced, sacrificed, or simply overwhelmed by pressure, the unanswered questions surrounding his final days still cast a long shadow over British politics.