Enuma Elish (The Babylonian Epic of Creation) - A Summary of the Creation of Dragons
The Enuma Elish is one of the oldest things ever written, that we have discovered. In it, the creation of the universe and of man is described, alongside the creation of creatures that include dragons. Below I have written a summary of the tablets in story form to depict that part of the epic.
Before there was heaven and earth, the first creatures that did exist were Apsû and Tiamat, male and female entities born of cosmic waters. From those cosmic waters, their god offspring were formed. They grew in strength, these brothers, and their vehement and tumultuous nature became quite the annoyance to Tiamet, who found their conduct unappealing. Apsû called in his vizier, Mummu and together they went to Tiamet to discuss their son's behavior. He complained that he was unable to rest or sleep with the noise and that he was going to destroy his children to regain peace. Tiamet was unhappy with this news, and grieved and cried out in distressed rage and suggested that instead of death, they choose discipline. Mummu, however, was insistent that Apsû destroy his children and Apsû agreed. Their plot had made its way to the sons, the gods, who became frantic and developed their own plot to avoid their fate. One of the sons, Ea, brewed a sleeping potion and used it on his father, Apsû. He then killed his father, along with his vizier Mummu, and removed his crown, placing it upon his own head. From Apsû's remains, Ea's quarters were established and he would have children, who were also gods.
Upon hearing the news that her sons have killed her mate, Tiamet is distraught and wages war upon them. In preparation, she gives birth to giant serpents with poison for blood with the sharpest of teeth. She made them merciless and relentless and dreadful. Of her creations was the Hydra, the Dragon, the Great Demon...Eleven creatures in total. Together, with her creations, she organized the battle against her sons, the gods.
Of the gods' children, it is the one called Marduk who would become their avenger. With bow, arrow, club, lightning, and flame, he went into battle. He fashioned a net and stationed the four winds, and seven other winds of his creation. He rode a chariot pulled by four steeds of war. He went forward into battle whereupon he met with the raging Tiamet. He ensnared her in his net, let lose his winds upon her. The winds weighed her down from the inside, and Marduk pierced her belly with an arrow. Bounding her, he killed her and imprisoned her creations. Of Tiamet's body, Marduk fashioned the universe. Of her belly, he placed heaven. He made mist from her spittle, from her eyes flowed two rivers. From her breasts, mountains. Her tail was twisted and woven into the Durmah. Half of her body he stretched out to form the earth.
The eleven creatures Tiamet had created that were imprisoned by Marduk were bound to his feet. Of these creatures is the lion-dragon Mushussu, depicted on the Ishtar gate. Babylon is built, Ea creates mankind, and Marduk becomes the head of the Babylonian pantheon.
Photo: Marduk and Tiamet
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