Different from Nin-ib, who is also a god of war, Nergal symbolizes more particularly the _destruction_ which accompanies war, and not the strong champion who aids his subjects in the fight.

Nergal is essentially a destroyer, and the various epithets applied to him in the religious texts, show that he was viewed in this light.

He is at times the 'god of fire,' again 'the raging king,' 'the violent one' 'the one who burns'; and finally identified with the glowing heat of flame.

Often, he is described by these attributes, instead of being called by his real name.[51] Dr.Jensen has recently shown in a satisfactory manner, that this phase of his character must be the starting-point in tracing the order of his development.

As the 'glowing flame,' Nergal is evidently a phase of the sun, and Jensen proves that the functions and aspects of the sun at different periods being differentiated among the Babylonians, Nergal is more especially the hot sun of midsummer or midday, the destructive force of which was the chief feature that distinguished it.