Anu



ANU The God of Kings 

Pantheon

 * Shemite Pantheon

Regions of Worship

 * Shem

Divine Relationships

 * Ishtar (consort/daughter)

Representation
Anu is often given the form of a bull, a symbol of male power and virility. Anu is worshipped throughout Shem as a god of kings and heavens above the winds, whose domain is best seen at night. He created demons with his first consort, Antu. Later Anu replaced Antu with their daughter, Ishtar, making her his new consort.

Gender representation: male

Symbolism

 * Night sky
 * Horns
 * Bull
 * Oxen
 * The number 60

Anu’s symbol is a shrine surmounted by horns. His number is 60 and his sacred place in the heavens is the “heavenly equator.”

Spheres of Power

 * Fertility
 * Strength
 * Might
 * Protection
 * Intimidation
 * Cattle

Rituals & Beliefs
Anu is a fearsome and distant god who does not want to be troubled with day-to-day concerns and will send forth his wrath and fury upon those who bother him. He is prayed in order to bring forth the rains, for his roars frighten the heavens into releasing water. In the east, Anu is prayed to by the desert tribes to lessen the harshness of the sun, for the rising of his horns in the night sky brings coolness to the hot lands.

Cattle is sacrificed to Anu regularly. In some regions, Ishtar, his second consort and his daughter, is called upon to bring forth Anu’s seed in the form of rain to fertilise the earth. This is often done with a public sexual ritual between the high priest of Anu and the high priestess of Ishtar.

Implementation IC & In-Game
Vanilla Derketo religion as placeholder for all pantheon of Shem. A ziggurat is a usual form of temple in Shem. Horned helmets are often used by priests of Anu and its followers as sign of the bull.

More Information

 * hyboria.xoth.net
 * Faith and Fervour (Conan RPG Book)
 * Shem-Gateway to the South (Conan RPG book)