fathan

Fathan is an ancient Mesopotamian deity worshipped in the region of Sumer, present-day Iraq. The name Fathan is derived from the ancient Sumerian language, with the meaning unknown. The limited information available suggests Fathan was associated with the city of Uruk, one of the major Sumerian cities.

The earliest attestation of Fathan is found in a Sumerian hymn, the "Exaltation of Inanna," which dates back to the Neo-Sumerian period (21st-19th centuries BC). In this hymn, Fathan is mentioned alongside other gods and goddesses of the Sumerian pantheon, but its role and significance are unclear.

Some researchers associate Fathan with the Mesopotamian god of fertility, Nisaba, while others believe it may be a variant of the goddess Ninhursag. However, these interpretations lack concrete evidence and remain speculative. The worship of Fathan seems to have declined or been replaced by other deities over time, with little to no mention of it in later Mesopotamian texts.

The knowledge about Fathan is largely dependent on incomplete and fragmented records from ancient cuneiform tablets and inscriptions discovered in the region. Further research is necessary to better understand the role of Fathan in Mesopotamian mythology and its significance in the Sumerian pantheon. The currently limited information suggests Fathan may have been a minor deity or a local variant of a more prominent god/goddess.