Sumerian god of war, agriculture and fishing. Ninurta was the son of Enlil, and like him, a local deity of Nippur. He became identified with the city god of Lagash, Ningirsu, taking over Ningirsu's mythology. However, unlike Ningirsu, Ninurta was later incorporated into the Babylonian pantheon. His most important divine rôle is as warlike defender of the Sumerians from enemies and rebellion.