The Akkadian name used for the Sumerian god Enki in ancient Mesopotamia was Ea.
Enki was one of the most important Sumerian gods and was associated with fresh subterranean water, wisdom, magic, crafts, and creation. His major cult center was Eridu, traditionally regarded as one of Mesopotamia’s oldest cities.
When Akkadian-speaking peoples adopted Sumerian religious traditions, Enki’s name was rendered as Ea. The two names refer to the same deity, although the traditions surrounding each name developed across different languages and periods. Ea remained important in Babylonian and Assyrian religious texts.
Ea is often confused with Enlil, another major Mesopotamian god. Enlil was strongly connected with air, authority, and kingship, while Ea was celebrated for intelligence, technical skill, and benevolent intervention. In the flood story of Atrahasis, Ea warns the human hero about the coming disaster.