Babylon and Sumeria |
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The Circle of the Dragon > Dragons of Fame > Babylon and Sumeria
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Babylonian and Sumerian dragons were, like most, evil. Some were gaurdians of the god's treasures and of nature, but most angered the gods. Many of them, too, were a mix of creatures that had serpent-like qualities to them. In the beginning, a dragon was said to have aided in the creation of the world and the gods.
Type/Species: Dragon/Lion Beast Origin: Babylonian and Sumerian Mythology History: Humbaba appears in the Epic of Gilgamesh. The dragon, as it seems, was a threat to a nearby town, so Gilgamesh and his companion Enkidu set out to slay the dragon. It was not enough, however, for Gilgamesh to slay the dragon. For him, he had to be remembered for it, so, at first, he put off killing the dragon. Humbaba, however, was a guardian of the forests. He had the body of a lion, and he also had horned scales all over his body. He also possesed two bulls horns, as well as a tail that ended in a snake's head. He also possesed vulture traits: that is, his feet and his claws. Shamash aided Gilgamesh in his quest. Furthermore, he continued to sent dreams to him so that he may attack the creature. Humbaba was favored by Enlil, who was not happy to find that Gilgamesh had slain his guardian. Symbolism: Humbaba was a guardian and protect of the forest. The symbolism in the story (in the overall Epic of Gilgamesh) is that their is no such thing as immortal life. Physical Description: Humbaba had a human-like body with the legs of a lion which ended with the talons of a vulture. There were scale plates all over him. He had the horns of a bull, and his tail was long and had the head of a snake at the end of it. Zu2Alternative Names: Anzu Type/Species: Sumerian Dragon Origin: Sumerian Mythology History: Zu was a clever and sneaky dragon that stole the Tablets of Law, the Tupsimati, from the god Enlil, who was once the river god but now also the god of dry land. Enlil wore this tablets on him, and they held the universal laws upon them. Zu took them up to the top of the Sabu Mountains where she kept them in her nest. Enlil sent Ninurta after Zu to retrieve the tablets. Ninurta was the sun god and did as Enlil asked. With that, Ninurta killed Zu and returned to Enlil the Tablets of Law. Symbolism: Zu is a symbol against theivery and shows how the Sumerians believed the gods dealt with such things - just like man. Physical Description: Zu has more than one description. The first is that she had a lion's body with the head of an eagle. The second is the torso of a man with the body of an eagle. This is a Mesopotamian stormbird or dragon. Gandareva3Alternative Names: Kundrav Type/Species: Undefined Origin: Sumerian Mythology (Mesopotamia) History: This dragon was immense, and he was said to be the gaurdian of another dragon. Gandareva preyed upon humans for food, and he was finally defied by Keresapa. The battles between Gandareva were many, and in the beginning it seemed as if Keresapa would lose. The hero lost fifteen horses and his sight, and then Gandareva through him into the Scrublands and later abducted his family. However, the hero did slay Gandareva and did rescue his family. Symbolism: Unknown/Undefined Physical Description: It is described as being a massive creature; while half of it was in the air, the other half would still be in the ocean. Kur4Type/Species: Sumerian Dragon Origin: Sumerian Mythology History: Kur obtained his name because the word "kur" means "mountain" and "land". Though it is unknown exactly what he did, somehow Kur angered one of the gods and they ordered him to be eliminated. Thus, Ninurta, the son of Ehlil, was sent to destroy him. When this creature was slain, the waters of Adzu were released, and they flooded the lands with dirty (unclean) water. In order to stop the flooding, Ninurta piled rock on top of Kur's body. This allowed the waters to be damed up. After the flooding, Ninurta led the people to the Tigris River, and this is where the new fields were cultivated. Symbolism: No real symbolism is offered from Kur, as no one really knows what he did. However, it does show how people's responsed to the gods. Physical Description: Unknown. It is said, however, that Kur was dragon-ish, much like a mix of some sort. Tiamat and ApsuType/Species: Sea Serpent Origin: Babylonian Mythology History: In the beginning, their was only Apsu and Tiamat. Apsu was the sweet waters, and Tiamat was the salt waters, and they were one body, one soul. Together they created the gods; first Lahmu, then Anshar and Kishar. Their son was Anu.5 Anu brought forth Ea. The gods grew and grew and more and more appeared. After time, they began to fill the sweet and salt waters, and their loud behavoir began to irk Tiamat and Apsu alike.6 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 Brother 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.7 Apsu, however, chose not to listen to Tiamat and continued to plot against the gods. The gods overhear 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, and he then took Apsu's waters for his own.8 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.9 The god Anu then made the four winds. These winds began to disturb Tiamat's waters. The other gods blamed Tiamat for not protecting Apsu and for not remaining by his side. They blamed her for Anu's four winds, and they asked her to take care of the problem.10 It was then that Tiamat created monsters. She called forth poisonus dragons so terrible that if one should look upon them it might bring death itself. She also gave them halos in order to make them look like gods. She also created Sphinxes, Manticores, Vipers, the great Lion, Centaurs, Demons, and the Dragon-Fly. Among all of these was the supreme moster, a battalion called Kingu who was created to avenge Apsu's death.11 Anu, knowing he was no match, retreated and asked Marduk for help. Marduk agree to help only if he could become the King of the gods. The gods agreed to this, and he faced Tiamat.12 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 man so that man could serve the gods.13 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.14 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.15 Nebuchadnezzar's Dragon16Alternative Names: Bel Type/Species: Drake Origin: Babylonian History History: As the Book of Bel and the Dragon says, Nebuchadnezzar, a ruler, kept a dragon in the temple of the god Bel. The dragon was worshipped there. Daniel, the Hebrew prophet, began denouncing idols, and Nebuchadnezzar told him of the dragon. The ruler argued that the dragon was real and that, since the dragon was real, Daniel must worship the dragon. Sadly for the dragon, Daniel killed it. He then asked the people why the worshipped such a being. Never the less, the way the dragon is described, like a wurm or a drake, makes it sound very, very real. Symbolism: To Jews, the dragon was a symbol of an idol which was destroyed by Yahweh through Daniel. On the other hand, one may look at this dragon and see the dying of the "old ways" of Babylon. Physical Description: Babylonian dragons are described with long, slender bodies and tails that are covered in scales. Their heads are serpent-liked, and they have a forked tounge. Around their heads, there are flaps of skin, and they have horns on top of their heads.
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