A triad is an association of three kindred or correlated deities. In ancient Egypt, cycles of this type usually arose out of the association with the chief local god of other deities; in some instances the members were deemed to stand in the relationship of father, mother and child. Such were the Theban triad of Amen, Nut and Khons; the Memphite of Ptah, Sekhet and Nefertum; and the Osiris-Isis-Horus triad, which, n the Alexandrian form, comprised Serapis, Isis and Harpocrates.
In Babylonia, triads were derived from early conceptions of a cosmic trinity, such as Anu, Enlil and Ea representing sky, earth and water: and shin, Shamash and Ishtar, representing sun, moon and star. Early Aryan thought moved in the same direction in the Vedic triad of Agni, Indra and Surya, representing fire, wind and sun. out of this emerged the Brahman Trimurti, or three aspects, portrayed as a three-headed image in a famous sculpture at Elephanta, and comprising Brahma, the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Siva the destroyer.
Buddhism adopted the principle in the Triratna, or three jewels, which were at first the Sangha or monastic order, portrayed as a man holding a lotus, the Buddha, and the Dharma, or sacred law.
The Triad Society of China, denoting the union of heaven, earth and man arose in the 18th century and became a powerful anti-dynastic movement. Research Triad
In Sumerian mythology, An was the personification of heaven. An relates to the Babylonian god Anu. In the early days he carried off heaven, while Enlil carried away the earth.
In Sumerian mythology, Enlil (Ellil) was the son of Ki and An. He was the god of the sky and separated the earth from the heaven. He guards the tablets of destiny, which allow him to determines the fate of all things animate or inanimate. Research Enlil
In Sumerian mythology, Ninlil was the intended bride of Enlil and the daughter of Nunbarshegunu, the old woman of Nippur. Enlil raped her and was then banished to the nether world (kur). Research Ninlil
In Sumerian mythology, Ninurta was originally an agricultural and rain god, he later became the god of the south wind, chamberlain of the Anunnaki. He is the child of Enlil and Mami. He is a messenger between Ninurta and other beings. At the beginning of time, when there was no agriculture to feed the people, Ninurta defeated a demon and on his body built a giant stone dyke to stop the waters of the Tigris from flowing. Research Ninurta
In Babylonian mythology, Zu is an evil lesser-god who steals the tablets of destiny from Enlil while he was washing, and flies away to his mountain. He was killed by Lugalbanda who was sent by the gods to retrieve the tables of destiny. Research Zu
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Triad
