In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Ninsun is Gilgamesh’s divine mother.
Ninsun is a goddess associated with wisdom, cattle, and interpretation of dreams. In the epic, she is also called the “Great Cow,” a title reflecting her connection with pastoral imagery. Gilgamesh’s father is usually identified as Lugalbanda, a legendary king who was later worshipped as a god.
Ninsun plays an important personal role in the story. She interprets Gilgamesh’s dreams before his journey with Enkidu and symbolically adopts Enkidu as another son. Her prayers to the sun god Shamash also help protect the two heroes during their expedition to the Cedar Forest.
Ninsun is sometimes confused with Ninhursag, another major Mesopotamian mother goddess. They are distinct figures, although ancient Mesopotamian traditions could give goddesses overlapping maternal and creative roles.