Functions
A dog statuette dedicated to Ninisinna for the life of Sumu-El, king of Larsa (1894-1866 BCE). Louvre Museum, AO 4349, image The Louvre Museum.See this object in the Louvre's catalogue. Ninisinna's primary role was as a healing goddess. She is called "great physician of the blackheaded ones", and her medical activities include incantations and more invasive methods - in one hymn she is depicted sharpening her scalpel (ETCSL 4.22.1, line 11). During the Old Babylonian period she acquired some warlike functions, perhaps due to her association with Inana. Here her scalpel becomes a weapon to tear flesh, and she is described as a storm "whose mouth drips blood...from whose mouth spittle spews constantly, pouring venom on the enemy" (ETCSL 2.5.3.4, lines 13-14).
ascribes high status to Ninisinna: "She is to be the mistress of heaven. She is to stand beside An and speak to him whenever she desires" (ETCSL 1.1.3, lines 404-5).
Cult Places
The -gal-mah temple in Isin was the heart of Ninisinna's cult. Probably within the complex was -ur-gi7-ra ("dog house"), built by Enlil-bani (1860-1837 BCE). Ninisinna, like Gula, was associated with dogs, and 33 dog skeletons were excavated in -gal-mah. Many of the animals were sick or injured, and it is possible that they were cared for by the temple (Avalos 1995). Ninisinna was also worshipped at temples in Larsa, Babylon, Ur, Uruk, and Larak (George 1993: index s.v. "Ninisinna").
Iconography
Apart from her connection with dogs, Ninisinna's iconography is unclear.
For more spellings see Rmer 1969. Normalised forms: Ninisinna, Ninisina, Nin-Isina