Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation

The text opens before heaven and earth are named: the primeval Apsu, begetter of the gods, and Tiamat, mother of them all, mingle their waters. Gods come into being — Lahmu and Lahamu, then Ansar and Kisar, then Anu, and Nudimmud, exceeding in wisdom. Troubled by the ways of the gods, Apsu summons Mummu, his minister, and proposes to destroy them; Tiamat rages at the plan, but Mummu counsels destruction. Ea, who knows all, perceives the plot; the text is fragmentary here, with about thirty lines illegible. Tiamat then prepares for war: she creates eleven monsters — monster-serpents filled with poison instead of blood, vipers, dragons, the monster Lahamu, hurricanes, raging hounds, scorpion-men, tempests, fish-men, and rams — and exalts Kingu among her sons, making him leader of the host, her chosen spouse, and laying the Tablets of Destiny on his breast. Ansar learns of these preparations: Anu is sent against Tiamat but cannot withstand her, and Nudimmud turns back afraid. Marduk, called the director of the gods, agrees to face Tiamat on the condition that the assembled gods proclaim his fate preeminent, so that his word decrees fate and remains unaltered. Ansar dispatches Gaga, his minister, to Lahmu and Lahamu, repeating the account of Tiamat's host and Marduk's condition. The gods assemble, decree the lord's fate, and do him homage, crying "Marduk is king!" They bestow scepter, throne, ring, and an invincible weapon, and command him to cut off the life of Tiamat. Marduk arms himself with bow, spear, club, lightning, and flame, makes a net to enclose Tiamat, and stations the four winds, the gift of his father Anu, so that nothing of her may escape.

Tiamat recites an incantation and the gods cry for weapons. Tiamat and Marduk advance to battle. Marduk spreads his net, looses the evil wind into Tiamat's face, drives the wind into her belly, seizes the spear, bursts her belly, pierces her heart, and slays her. Her helpers flee but are captured and bound. Marduk conquers the eleven creatures and Kingu, and takes from Kingu the Tablets of Destiny, laying them in his breast. He smashes Tiamat's skull, cuts her blood-channels, splits her into two halves, and makes one half a covering for heaven. He founds E-sara and settles Anu, Bel, and Ea. In the Fifth Tablet Marduk fixes the stars, the year, months, and stations, and appoints the Moon-god to rule the night, instructing him. The text is fragmentary here; the gods praise his net and bow, and Anu names the bow. In the Sixth Tablet Marduk tells Ea he will fashion man from blood and bone; the gods exalt him in Upsukkinnaku. The Seventh Tablet lists Marduk's names and praises—Asari, Tutu, Zi-ukkina, Aga-azag, and others—culminating in Nibiru and the fifty names proclaimed by the great gods. The Epilogue urges remembrance of Marduk's names. A separate version, "The Fight with Tiamat," places the dragon-fight after men and cities exist; the gods bow before the Moon-god, who bids Tishu slay the dragon. The god stirs up storm, grasps the seal, and slays the dragon, whose blood flows for years.