The Power of Names

The Power of Names

Throughout history, names and titles have always borne incredible significance. The mythos of the vast majority of ancient cultures have pantheons complete with hundreds of lesser and greater gods, each with their own appellations, and some with more than others. As a rule of thumb, the gods with the most names were as a matter of course also the most powerful.
Many of the greater gods in this tale had multiple names, for example, “Nudimmud was he who dominated his forebears: profound in wisdom, acute of sense, he was massively strong…” (11), he also held the title “Ea.” His son Marduk, the most powerful, and newly crowned king of the gods as far as recently after the events of The Epic of Creation had come to pass, had by far the most names of the gods, with fifty. Each name described an aspect of his personality, or told of his great accomplishments or prowess. Some examples of his titles and their descriptions include, “Marduk… establisher of pasture and watering place… who saved the gods his forefathers from danger… Maruka shall he be, the god who created them (mankind)… Mershakushu, angry but deliberative, furious but relenting…” etc (43). The list goes on, and clearly these many names indicate, or perhaps even grant him this great power.
Throughout history, humans have used the power of names to grant themselves authority as well. Kings have changed their names upon taking the throne to the titles of those who had come before them, perhaps in an effort to channel or receive some of their forbearers’ powers, or to honor them. Parents name their children after influential people to confer them greater ability or significance as well. Even the gods in the tale take part in this practice, “They said to the gods their sons, “We have named three each of his names, do you, as we have, invoke his names… our provider, we will exalt his name!... In all their rites they invoked of him a name” (44). A name or a title is not just a word, it is an idea bearing much significance and worthy of thought. As this is so, one worthy of many names was likely seen to be quite important.