A Mesopotamian Creation Myth

The Battle Between Marduk and Tiamat (ca. 2000–1000 B.C.E.)

Creation myths offer supernatural explanations for the origins of the earth, heavens, and life in the natural world. This Mesopotamian creation myth, known as the Enuma Elish, portrays the struggle of the sun-god Marduk, the patron god of Babylon, with Tiamat the sea-goddess, mother of all gods. As Babylon came to dominate the other cities of the Euphrates Valley, Marduk defeated Tiamat to become the chief of all the gods.

Naught but primordial Apsu, their begetter,

[And] Mummu-Tiamat, she who bore them all,

Their waters commingling as a single body;

No reed hut had been matted, no marsh land had appeared,

When no gods whatever had been brought into being,

Uncalled by name, their destinies undetermined —

Then it was that the gods were formed within them. . . .

[Several generations of gods were descendants of Tiamat and Apsu, some of whom, particularly the gods Anu and Nudimmud, surpassed the other gods in strength.]

The divine brothers [Anu and Nudimmud] banded together.

They disturbed Tiamat as they surged back and forth,

Yea, they troubled the mood of Tiamat

By their hilarity in the Abode of Heaven.

Apsu could not lessen their clamor

And Tiamat was speechless at their [ways].

Their doings were loathsome . . .

Unsavory were their ways; they were overbearing.

[And so begins a war among the gods. Apsu was killed during the war, so Tiamat created monsters to help her destroy her rivals. Ea, a leading god among Tiamat’s opponents, asked his son Marduk to join the war.]

“My son, thou who knowest all wisdom,

Calm [Tiamat] with thy holy spell. . . .”

The lord [rejoiced] at the word of his father.

His heart exulting, he said to his father:

“Creator of the gods, destiny of the great gods,

“If I indeed, as your avenger,

Am to vanquish Tiamat and save your lives,

Set up the Assembly [of gods], proclaim supreme my destiny!

When jointly in Ubshukinna1 you have sat down rejoicing,

Let my word, instead of you, determine the fates.

Unalterable shall be what I may bring into being;

Neither recalled not changed shall be the command of my lips!” . . .

[Marduk defeats Tiamat’s army, and then finally battles the goddess herself.]

They strove in single combat, locked in battle. . . .

He released the arrow, it tore her belly,

It cut through her insides, splitting the heart.

Having thus subdued her, he extinguished her life.

He cast down her carcass to stand upon it. . . .

He split her like a shellfish into two parts:

Half of her he set up and ceiled it as sky,

Pulled down the bar and posted guards.

He bade them to allow not her waters to escape.

He crossed the heavens and surveyed the regions. . . .

Opening his mouth, he addresses Ea

To impart the plan he had conceived in his heart:

“Blood I will mass and cause bones to be.

I will establish a savage, man shall be his name.

Truly, savage-man I will create.

He shall be charged with the service of the gods

That they might be at ease!”

From James B. Pritchard, ed., Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, 2d ed. (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1955), pp. 61, 64, 67–68.