Excerpts from the Enuma Elish


Based on various Mesopotamian traditions dating back to 2000 BCE, the Enuma Elish was compiled around 1200 BCE.  The heart of the narrative is the cosmic struggle between the mother goddess, Tiamat, and Marduk, who is the son of Tiamat's former lover and now foe, Apsu. 


When on high the heaven had not been named,
Firm ground below had not been called by name,
Naught but primordial Apsu, their begetter,
and 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.

The divine brothers (their first-born) banded together.
They disturbed Tiamat as they surged back and forth
Yes, 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 unto her.
Then Apsu, begetter of the great gods,
cried out, addressing Mummu, his assistant.
"Oh Mummu, my assistant, who rejoices my spirit,
Come hither and let us go to Tiamat!"
They went and sat down before Tiamat,
exchanging counsel about the gods, their first-born.
Apsu, opening his mouth, said unto resplendent Tiamat:
"Their ways are verily loathsome unto me.
By day I find no relief, nor repose by night.
I will destroy, I will wreck their ways,
that quiet may be restored. Let us have rest!"

But that which they had plotted together
was repeated to the gods, their first-born.

When the gods heard this, they were astir,
then lapsed into silence and remained speechless.
Ea, the all-wise, saw through the scheme
He poured sleep upon [Apsu]
When Apsu had made prone, drenched with sleep,
and Mummu, the advisor, was powerless to stir,
Ea fettered Apsu and slew him.
Mummu he bound and left him locked.

In the chamber of gods, the abode of destinies,
A god was created, the most able and wisest of gods.
From the heart of Apsu was Marduk created.
He who begot him was Ea, his father;
She who bore him was Damkina, his mother.
The breast of goddesses he did suck.
Alluring was his figure, sparkling the lift of his eyes.
Lordly was his gait, commanding from of old.
Greatly exalted was he above them all.
He was the loftiest of the gods, surpassing was his stature;
Clothed with the halo of ten gods, he was strong to the utmost.
He fashioned the whirlwind.
He produced storms to disturb Tiamat.
The gods, given no rest, suffer in the storm.
Their hearts, having plotted evil,
to Tiamat their mother, they said:
"When they slew Apsu, thy lover,
Thou didst not aid him, but remained still.
And Mummu, who has been vanquished
Thou art left alone!"

(At this point the gods begin to prepare for a civil war. They choose sides between Tiamat and Marduk.)

When Tiamat heard these words she was pleased.
Her children thronged and marched at her side.
Enraged, they are set for combat, growling, raging
They form a council to prepare for the fight.

Lord Anshar, father of gods, rose up and said:
"He whose strength is potent shall be our champion:
He who is keen in battle- Marduk the hero!
What male is it who has pressed his fight against thee?
It is but Tiamat, a woman, that flies at you with weapons!
O my [lord] be glad and rejoice-
The neck of Tiamat shalt thou soon tread upon!"

Marduk said: "If I am indeed to be your avenger,
To vanquish Tiamat and save your lives,
Then set up the Assembly [of the gods] and proclaim me supreme!"
They erected for him a princely throne.
Facing his forefathers, he sat down, presiding.
"Thou art most honored of the great gods,
Thy decree is unrivalled - thou, Marduk, are the most honored.
Thy weapons shall not fail; they shall smash your foes!"
Having placed in their midst the images,
they addressed themselves to Marduk:
"Lord, truly thy decree is first among gods
Say but to wreck or create; it shall be."
Joyfully did they proclaim: "Marduk is king!"
They gave him matchless weapons that ward off the foes:
"Go and cut off the life of Tiamat.
May the winds bear her blood to places undiscovered."

When Tiamat heard this, she was like one possessed.
She took leave of her senses. In fury Tiamat cried out aloud.
Then joined issue between Tiamat and Marduk, the wisest of gods.
They strove in single combat, locked in battle.
The lord spread out his net to ensnare her.
The Evil Wind, which followed behind, he let loose in her face.
When Tiamat opened her mouth to devour him,
He drove in the Evil Wind that she could not close her lips.
As the fierce winds charged to her belly,
Her body was distended and her mouth was wide open.
He released his arrow, it tore her belly.
It cut through her insides, splitting her heart.
Having thus subdued her, he extinguished her life.
He cast down her carcass to stand upon it.
And the gods who had marched beside her,
He made them captives and he smashed their weapons.
Placed in cells, they were full of wailing.
Bearing his wrath, they were held imprisoned.

Then the lord paused to view Tiamat's dead body.
That he might divide the monster and do artful works.
He split her like a shellfish into two parts.
Half of her he used to create the sky.
He made her waters not escape, and crossed the heavens to survey the regions.

He created stations for the great gods,
fixing their stations in the sky as stars.
He determined the year by designating the zones.
He set up constellations for each of the twelve months.
The moon he caused to shine,
at the month's very start, rising over the land.
Thou shall have luminous horns to signify six days,
and on the seventh day, a special crown.

Marduk prompted Ea to fashion artful works:
"Blood I will amass, and cause bones to be.
I will establish a savage: "Man" shall be his name.
Verily, savage-man I shall create.
He shall be charged with the service of the gods, that they might be at ease."


From: Philip Riley, ed., The Global Experience, 2nd ed. (New York: Prentice-Hall, 1992), 4-10.