(Primarily Assyro-Babylonian terms –no, don’t ask me where I got this list, I don’t remember the name of the book. Something from the local university.)
Remember that these gender designations were so many centuries ago that I refuse to believe that they wouldn't have changed if this religion had survived. Boys and girls play nice, and do as you will.
Priests and priestesses may have entered the clergy through dedication. They were probably distinguished by their priestly dress, especially by their hats or (in some cases) by being shaven-headed, or by their nudity. The titles and functions of the priests varied, of course, from time to time and place to place.
In almost the earliest written documents are found lists of the titles of officials, including various classes of priest. Some of these are administrative functionaries of the temple bureaucracy and others are religious specialists dealing with particular areas of the cult. Later records make it clear that a complex hierarchy of clergy was attached to temples, ranging from ‘high priests’ or ‘high priestesses’ down to courtyard sweepers. It is not clear whether there were fixed distinctions between sacerdotal clergy and administrative clergy: one particular type of priests is called ‘anointed’; others are ‘enterers of the temple’, suggesting that certain areas of the shrines were restricted of access. Generally speaking female clergy were more common in the service of female deities, but a notable exception was the en (Akkadian entu), the chaste high priestess in the temples of some gods in the Sumerian and Old Babylonian Periods, notably that of the moon god Nanna-Suen at Ur -where the office was revived by Nebonidus in neo-Babylonian times - and in temples at Larsa, Isin, Sippur, Nippur and Kish. Sometimes the office was held by a daughter of the king. Other priestesses were:
Ashipu - carried out purification by incantation and ceremony in the home of individuals. Protection from demons, disease and sorcery
Assinu - castrated priest, cult of Ishtar Baru - type of diviner, observer [of animal entrails etc?]
Egisitu - type of cloistered priestess under cultic restrictions from normal marriage and childbirth
En or Enu or Entu - title applied to priest king or king, but in later times also borne by high priestly dignitaries. There is some thought this priest was involved with the running the interaction of the temple with other temples. Entu were female [?] high priestess and considered 'chaste', and some were the daughter of the king. i.e. Enheduanna was an Entu in Ur. En were the male equivalent.[?]
Ensi - female dream interpreters. Later came to mean the local governor or council representative of either gender, although usually male.
Erib biti - general description for priest, meaning literally 'one who may enter into the temple.'
Gala - musicians specializing in performance of balag and other cult songs, probably in choirs accompanied by drums Guda or Gudapsu - unknown. The gala have been referred to as homosexuals.
Harimtu - consecrated priestess, cult of Ishtar.
Ishib or Ishippu - priests specializing in purification rituals.
Ishtaritu - one belonging to Ishtar, cult of Ishtar.
Kalu - task was to appease the wrath of the gods with song and music. See Gala.
Kulmashitu - consecrated priestess [dancer?] cult of Ishtar. May have been cult prostitute. Type of cloistered priestess under cultic restrictions from normal marriage and childbirth.
Kuragru - castrated priest, cult of Ishtar.
Lumahhu - purification priest.
Mahhu - high priest, function unclear.
Mare ummani - temple craftsman.
Mashmashu - carried out purification by incantation and ceremony on public buildings, ie consecration of temples. Protection from demons, disease and sorcery.
Muhhu - diviners , ecstatic prophets [?]
Naditu - infertile priestess, cult of Ishtar. Lived secluded life in temple, though could own property and conduct business. Estate returned to the family on death.
Nas-patri - sword bearers.
Pashishu - anointing priest
Quadishtu - temple prostitute, cult of Ishtar. Type of cloistered priestess under cultic restrictions from normal marriage and childbirth.
Sailu - diviner, askers of questions [prophetic divination?]
Sanga - title originally applied to priest king or king, but in later times also applied to high priestly dignitaries. There is some thought this priest was involved with looking after the internal running of the temple. Or generally temple priest and administrator
Sha-ilu or sha-iltu - male/female dream interpreters
Shakkanakku - city governor with priestly functions.
Shamhatu - prostitute [refer Gilgamesh Epic] cult of Ishtar.
Shatam - temple administrator.
Sheshgallu - well placed priest who may have acted as a supervisor or watchman. Marduk's Sheshgallu even had the power to strip away and restore the king’s power (in ceremony only)
Ugbabtu - same as Naditu.
Zammeru - male cult singer?