Who were the annunnki?

The Anunnaki are a group of deities in ancient Mesopotamian mythology, primarily associated with the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Their name translates to "those who came from the heavens" and they were believed to govern various aspects of the cosmos and human affairs. In modern interpretations, particularly in pseudoarchaeological theories, the Anunnaki are often depicted as ancient extraterrestrial beings who influenced early human civilization, although these claims lack credible historical evidence.