In Sumerian mythology, Nisaba is the goddess associated with writing, grain and scribal knowledge.
Nisaba began as a grain goddess and later became strongly associated with writing, accounting and scholarship. This combination reflects the practical importance of writing in Mesopotamia, where early cuneiform records often tracked grain, livestock and labor.
Her name is also written Nidaba in some transliterations. Nisaba was especially important to scribes, who invoked her as a divine patron of learning and record-keeping. She is sometimes described as the goddess who keeps divine accounts or writes down important matters.
Nisaba is sometimes confused with Nabu, the later Babylonian god of writing. Nabu played a similar role in first-millennium Mesopotamia, but Nisaba is the earlier Sumerian figure. Her worship and literary importance demonstrate how closely agriculture, administration and literacy were connected in ancient Sumer.