ENUMA ELISH

Mesopotamian Creation Story

THE EPIC OF CREATION- ENUMA ELISH

Surviving tablets from the 1 st millineum Origins in Babylon

THE EPIC OF CREATION- SUMMARY

In the beginning, there was only Apsu (fresh water) and Tiamat (Salt water) They gave birth to a line of deities ending in Ea.

THE EPIC OF CREATION- SUMMARY

The younger deities make too much noise. Apsu gets angry, and plots to kill them. Ea kills Apsu, and imprisons his vizier (advisor) Mummu

THE EPIC OF CREATION- SUMMARY

Ea has a son named Marduk Marduk has power over the winds, and his playing with the wind disturbs Tiamat.

THE EPIC OF CREATION- SUMMARY

The elder deities persuade Tiamat to attack the younger deities. Tiamat remarries, giving her new husband the supreme being title. Quingu, her new husband, is given the Tablet of Destinies by Tiamet

THE EPIC OF CREATION- SUMMARY

Many try to face Tiamat, but she defeats them all. Ea calls on Marduk to face Tiamat Marduk accepts on the condition that the deities make him their ruler.

THE EPIC OF CREATION- SUMMARY

Marduk faces Tiamat, and kills her with imhullu wind. He takes the Tablet of Destinies Marduk uses Tiamats body to create the world.

THE EPIC OF CREATION- SUMMARY

Marduk kills Tiamats second husband, Quingu, and uses his blood to create humans. These humans are to be servants of the deities.

THE EPIC OF CREATION- SUMMARY

Deities build Babylon as a shrine to Marduk and acclaim him with 50 names