Zecharia Sitchin, author of a series of books beginning with the 12th Planet in 1977, claims that Anu was a fertility goddess and the mother of the gods; her cult was centered in Munster. However, Anu was one of the Anunnaki who came from the planet Nibiru (Marduk). Nibiru circles our sun but in a very elongated orbit which brings us to the vicinity of Earth only once in 3600 years. According to Sumerian legend and lore, the Anunnaki arrived first on Earth probably 400,000 years ago, looking for minerals, especially gold. They found gold in Africa and mined it extensively.