Origin: Babylonian Mythology
History: In the beginning, there was only Apsu and Tiamat. Apsu was the sweet waters, and Tiamat was the salt waters. They were one body, one soul. Together they created the gods; first Lahmu then Anshar and Kishar. Their son was Anu.1
Anu brought forth Ea. The gods grew and grew in number. After time, they began to fill the sweet waters and the salt waters, and the new gods's behavoir began to irk Tiamat and Apsu alike.2
Apsu began a plot to rid themselves of the gods so that they [Tiamat and Apsu] could have some peace once again. Tiamat could not talk to the other gods, and Apsu could not control them. Tiamat, however, looked upon the gods as their creations, and she told Apsu that she did not wish to harm them. She asked him to act kindly.3
Apsu, however, chose not to listen to Tiamat and continued to plot against the other gods. The gods overheard him, however, and Ea made a spell and placed it in the deep waters of Apsu. When he was in these waters, Apsu fell asleep, and Ea slew him. Eathen took Apsu's waters for his own.4
Ea and his wife, Damkina, then brought forth the mightiest of the gods: Marduk. Marduk had four eyes and four ears, and he saw everything and heard everything.5
The god Anu, Ea's parent, then made the four winds. These winds began to disturb Tiamat's waters. The other gods blamed Tiamat for not protecting Apsu, for not remaining by his side. They blamed her for Anu's four winds, and they asked her to take care of the problem.6
It was then that Tiamat created monsters. She called forth poisonus dragons so terrible that if anyone looked at them, death would come. She gave them halos to make them look like gods. She created Sphinxes, Manticores, Vipers, the great Lion, Centaurs, Demons, and the Dragon-Fly. Among all of these was the supreme monster, a battalion called Kingu who was created to avenge Apsu's death.7
Anu, knowing he was no match, retreated and asked Marduk for help. Marduk agreed to help only if he could become the King of the gods. The gods agreed to this, and he faced Tiamat and her legions of monsters in battle.8
In the end, Marduk slew Tiamat and sliced her body in half. One half of her he made the heavens, and the other half became the earth. After this, Marduk created humans so that humans to serve the gods.9
Symbolism: Apsu and Tiamat were both destroyed by their own creations. Apsu grew too greedy and did not wish to step aside, and Tiamat was killed in attempt to revenge her husband's death. The moral? Perhaps there is a time for everyone when they simply must step aside.10
Physical Description: Both Apsu and Tiamat were considered "The Ocean." They were sea serpents. Tiamat is described as having a huge, serptine body that weapons could not harm. In addition, she had two forelegs, a huge tail, and horns.11
- Dragon Legends
- Dragon Legends
- Dragon Legends
- Dragon Legends
- Dragon Legends
- Dragon Legends
- Dragon Legends
- Dragon Legends
- Dragon Legends
- Dragon Legends
- Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
For more information about these footnotes, please see the bibliography.
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© Kylie 'drago' McCormick.
Last updated: 1 October 2009