The Anunnaki: Ancient Gods or Powerful Manipulators? | Gaia Skip Navigation Log In Sign Up HomeYoga Yoga Home Yoga Practices Yoga Series Yoga Lifestyle Yoga Teachers Yoga Pose Library Fitness & Pilates MeditationSeries Gaia Originals All Other Series Docs & FilmsTopicsNew VideosEvents+ Events+ Home Watch On Demand Watch Live Articles ... RecipesAlternative HealingFood & NutritionEnergy HealingLongevity & WellnessTransformationSpiritual GrowthPersonal DevelopmentExpanded ConsciousnessSeeking TruthMetaphysicsSecrets & Cover UpsAncient OriginsParanormal & Unexplained Anunnaki 101: The Ancient Gods of Sumer 4 min read By Gaia Staff | January 11, 2021 | Seeking Truth , Paranormal & Unexplained , Aliens AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to RedditRedditShare to MoreAddThis276 AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to RedditRedditShare to MoreAddThis276 Who were the Anunnaki and why do we care? The short answer is: The Anunnaki were the deity pantheon of the ancient Sumerians. And interest in the Sumerian culture has been active and persistent since it was discovered in the 19th century — for several reasons. Who were the Sumerians? The Sumerians appear on the archaeological record beginning around 4,500 BCE. Located in present-day Iraq, the region, a.k.a. Mesopotamia has long been referred to as “the cradle of civilization.” Sumer was a handful of city-states initially ruled by priests, each organized around a city and temple now called a “ziggurat.” The ziggurats, dedicated to Anunnaki worship, were layered pyramids with flat tops. These communities were considered to be “servant-slave” populations dedicated to serving the temple gods, the Anunnaki. Over time, priesthood rulership gave way to kings. The Sumerians were skilled trade merchants and acquired lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, cedar from Lebanon, and gold from the Indus Valley. Their agrarian culture gave us the plow as well as “time” — the 24-hour day and 60-minute hour. Sumerian Kings List and Anunnaki Oaths Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently behind liveLIVERemaining Time -0:00 1xPlayback RateChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedCzechAudio TrackQuality LevelsPicture-in-PictureFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Sumerian history is gleaned from archaeological and geologic evidence — written records are in the form of cuneiform tablets. Reportedly, some half-million tablets have been recovered, but only a small number have been translated. Much was also learned from translations of Babylonian records; Sumer was considered “ancient” in Babylonian times. Sumerians worshiped the Anunnaki, said to be the children of earth and sky; An, the sky god, and Ki, the earth goddess. Chief among them was Enlil, the god of air. This pantheon was passed to the Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian cultures. The Epic of Gilgamesh, the story of the historical king of Sumerian city-state Urek, is an ancient literary relic of Sumerian culture. Above is the mainstream “narrative” regarding the Anunnaki — others have drawn different conclusions based on archaeological evidence, analysis of Sumerian mythology, and translations of cuneiform tablets. The Flipside of the Annunaki Story Author Michael Cremo (“Forbidden Archaeology”) has researched the history of archaeology for 40-plus years, documenting findings that have been excluded from mainstream, academic archaeology; findings that would disrupt the widely accepted story of human origins. Cremo, along with author Zecharia Sitchin, Erich von Däniken (author, “Chariots of the Gods”), author and researcher Michael Tellinger, and several others, makes compelling arguments that the Anunnaki were, in fact, off-world beings posing as “gods.” This theory also asserts that these “sky” gods genetically engineered the human race a slave species, which may account for weak links in the evolutionary story. These theories gave birth to the “ancient astronaut” hypothesis asserting that off-world beings have been posing as gods to influence human affairs for millennia. Many believe that the Annunaki extracted massive amounts of gold using human labor — this is derived from multiple discoveries of ancient mining tunnels in South Africa, as well as relics and links to the Sumerians. “No one knows why they wanted gold, no one knows how much was taken,” said Tellinger. He added that the Annunaki introduced the concepts of money, finance, and debt to human societies. A theory that these beings originated from “Nibiru,” a.k.a. “Planet X” has been added to alternate Anunnaki narratives, as well as the likelihood of the off-world gods bringing advanced technologies that account for sophisticated megastructures such as the pyramids or Stonehenge. Out-of-place artifacts and tool discoveries contribute to these premises. The Sumerians are also known for sophisticated astronomical and mathematical knowledge, speculated to have passed from the Annunaki. Annunaki god Enki While no lists of the Annunaki pantheon exist, it is known that each Sumerian city-state had its own Annunaki god/overseer assigned by senior Annunaki Marduk. Some, perhaps inspired by Theosophical Society founder Helena Blavatsky’s book “The Secret Doctrine,” assert that the Annunaki are/were a reptilian race that survives to this day, deeply entrenched in human affairs. In her book, Blavatsky wrote of “dragon men” who influenced the lost Lemurian civilization. David Icke has been on the disclosure/conspiracy lecture circuit since 1999 — he accurately reported that U.K. TV and radio star Jimmy Savile was a rampant pedophile, proven true after Savile’s death in 2011. Icke believes the imposter Anunnaki gods continue to manipulate humanity from seats of political, corporate, and financial power worldwide. He explains that these beings not only exploit humans but feed off collective fear; Icke calls for a disconnect from mainstream media and Orwellian entrainment that triggers fear and anxiety — an aggregate hypnotic state. Many share Icke’s view. On the surface, the Anunnaki/Reptilian narrative appears to be a completely unbelievable hypothesis. But follow the breadcrumbs for a fascinating story reaching from ancient times to modern, and draw your own conclusions. About the Author Gaia guides people on their personal transformational paths with the world’s largest library of exclusive and original conscious media. Like our members, Gaia staff are driven by curiosity, passion and the desire to grow, as we continue on our own spiritual journeys and quests. Our members inspire our own authenticity: the quest for transformation never ends. If there is a topic you’d like to learn more about, please let us know. You can also join Gaia as a contributing author and help us connect readers to people and ideas that fuel a conscious life. Read More Next Article Harvard Professor Starts Independent Investigation to Find Aliens 4 min read By Gaia Staff | August 6, 2021 | Seeking Truth , Paranormal & Unexplained , Aliens AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to RedditRedditShare to MoreAddThis4 AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to RedditRedditShare to MoreAddThis4 The search for signs of extraterrestrial life is getting a boost from scientists. Could this grassroots transparent effort answer the biggest question in the universe: are we alone? The quest to find evidence of higher lifeforms is getting a boost from higher education. Harvard Professor of Science Avi Loeb, has just launched the Galileo Project, the goal of which is to bring the search for “Extraterrestrial Technological Civilizations (ETCs) from accidental or anecdotal observations and legends to the mainstream of transparent, validated, and systematic scientific research.” Professor Loeb, who published his book “extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth,” which claims Oumuamua, the first known interstellar object to pass through our solar system, could be an extraterrestrial artifact. His research, coupled with the US government’s recent report on unidentified aerial phenomena, spurred him to action. Watch more: Read Article Related Articles Previous Harvard Professor Starts Independent Investigation to Find Aliens Gaia Staff | 1 min read Who are the Pleiadians? Gaia Staff | 10 min read David Icke's Famous Reptilians Conspiracy: Do They Walk Among Us? Gaia Staff | 4 min read Are Humans Actually Aliens on Earth? Raenae Wann | 5 min read Next More In Paranormal & Unexplained Previous The Government's UFO Hearings Are Just a Distraction Michael Chary | 6 min read Avi Loeb's Galileo Project to Use Satellites to Scan Earth for UFOs Hunter Parsons | 3 min read Billionaire Offers $1 Million for Proof of Afterlife Hunter Parsons | 4 min read John Warner IV Discusses the State of UFO Disclosure Michael Chary | 4 min read Contacting the Dead Through Psychomanteum Mirror Gazing Gaia Staff | 5 min read This Theory on UFO Spheres Explains Paranormal Phenomena Gaia Staff | 1 min read Oklahoma Lawmaker Proposes Official Bigfoot Hunting Season Gaia Staff | 1 min read Avi Loeb on How We Should Prepare For UFOs and Alien Contact Gaia Staff | 1 min read Achieving Modern Enlightenment With Gurdjieff's Fourth Way Gaia Staff | 6 min read 4 Ways Your Loved Ones in Spirit are Trying to Contact You Melanie Jade Rummel | 7 min read Missing 411 Maria Thomas | 4 min read The Many Faces of Wicca and Witchcraft Gaia Staff | 5 min read The Fascinating History Behind the Ouija Board Tasha Shayne | 7 min read Cryptids Proven to be Real Give Us Hope For These 5 Others Gaia Staff | 10 min read The 1952 Washington, D.C., UFO Incident, Explained Gaia Staff | 6 min read Evidence Of The Orang Pendek, Sumatra's Apeman Cryptid Gaia Staff | 5 min read Dan Aykroyd's Unplugged on UFOs Shows Actors Belief in Phenomenon Gaia Staff | 5 min read Woman Says She Was Visited by Yowies, The Bigfoot of the Outback Tasha Shayne | 5 min read US Navy Announces New Rules for Pilots to Report UFO Encounters Gaia Staff | 4 min read FAA Releases Recordings of Oregon UFO Event That Scrambled F-15s Gaia Staff | 4 min read Senior Ops Officer Aboard USS Nimitz Discusses UFO Encounter Gaia Staff | 4 min read 3 New Sightings Confirm Ogopogo Lake Monster in British Columbia Gaia Staff | 3 min read Peruvian School Closes After Ouija Board Session Summons Spirits Gaia Staff | 3 min read Virginia Town Challenges Free Tarot Reading at New Age Store Gaia Staff | 7 min read Former Senator Harry Reid Discusses Secret Pentagon UFO Program Gaia Staff | 3 min read Alien Alloys From Pentagon UFO Program Raise Questions Gaia Staff | 7 min read Pentagon UFO Program Shows Clandestine Government Investigation Gaia Staff | 6 min read Six Skills to Hone if You Want to Be Sorcerer Supreme Gaia Staff | 3 min read Are You Blocking Spirit? Tips from James Van Praagh Maria Thomas | 5 min read Want more specifics on your past lives? Gaia Staff | 6 min read Next Body. Mind. Spirit. Every decision we make is inspired by our vision to empower a community of individuals to come together to build a more conscious world. Our unique blend of yoga, meditation, personal transformation, and alternative healing content is designed for those seeking to not just enhance their physical, spiritual, and intellectual capabilities, but to fuse them in the knowledge that the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. Start Your Trial Watch On Any Device Use the same account and membership for TV, desktop, and all mobile devices. Plus you can download videos to your device to watch offline later. Discover what Gaia has to offer. Get instant access to free videos, helpful articles, and exclusive offers. Email Address yes! sign me up. I would like to receive emails from Gaia. Testing message will be here GaiaAbout GaiaDevicesCommunity GuidelinesTerms of Use and PrivacySpam Policy CommunityHelp CenterCareersWrite for Gaia More from GaiaInvestor RelationsGaia Store Connect With Us Gaia Apps ✕ Log In Username or Email Password Show Log In Forgot Password New To Gaia? View Options & Sign Up. Contact Customer Service Forgot Password Enter your email address and we'll send you a link to reset your password. Email Send Reset Link Link Sent! A link to reset your password has been sent to you. Done We use cookies and similar technologies to run this website and help us make recommendations for you. See our Privacy Policy here. Accept CloseAddThis