An Analysis of the Enuma Elish (The Epic of Creation) or The Seven Tablets of Creation, A Babylonian Creation Myth

*Note: This was a term paper for a class. Since I don't know what grade the professor gave me (or of she even read the paper at all), I decided to post it here.

The Enuma Elish is also called The Seven Tablets of Creation. It documents the Babylonian creation epic. It was recorded in seven clay tablets found at various locations including the infamous library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh, discovered by Austen Henry Layard. The name of the hero of the epic varies depending on where the tablet is found. The most common version tells of Marduk as the hero. In other versions, the god of the city is considered the hero.

Introduction
The title of the epic is taken from its opening line “When in the height, heaven was not named...” The epic chronicles Marduk’s war against Tiamat. He leads the other gods against the old divinity who had turned against her children.
Besides Marduk’s exploits, the epic also tells about the birth of the gods and goddesses and the creation of the universe.
The epic is generally divided into three sections. These are: the creation myth, the conflict between Marduk and Tiamat, and the invocation to Marduk.
According to the researchers, the purpose of the epic was not to explain the ancient Mesopotamian theology but to glorify Marduk as the chief god, as evidenced by the list of his fifty names. The epic was also used during rituals and celebrations especially on the Babylonian New Year or Akitu.
This paper examines the contents of the epic and how the hero Marduk replaced an old tradition in the form of a battle against Tiamat.

Questions
To understand the significance of the epic, the paper will discuss the important parts such as the creation of the universe and analyze the two characters Tiamat and Marduk. In particular this paper will answer the following questions:
1.What is the type of creation found in the epic?
2.How does this story differ from other creation myths?
3.What are the qualities of the mother Tiamat? What does she represent?
4.What are the qualities of the hero Marduk? What does he represent?
5.How does Marduk differ from other epic heroes?
6.Why is the protagonist a mother instead of a father like in the Kronos myth of the Greeks?

Summary of Enuma Elish
When the heavens and earth did not yet exist, the primeval Apsu came. The chaos Tiamat was next to appear and became the mother of everything. Apsu also symbolized fresh water and Tiamat represented the ocean. When Apsu and Tiamat mingled, Lahmu and Lahamu were formed. They were followed by Ansar and Kisar, who bore Anu. Anu in turn gave birth to Nudimmud, also called Ea, who equaled his strength. It is said that Anu became more powerful than all his forbears.
When Tiamat’s offspring became too loud and obnoxious, she and Apsu became displeased. Apsu decided to kill the young gods even if Tiamat tried to protest. The vizier Mummu, “the fog floating above water,” was summoned and he agreed with Apsu’s plan. Tiamat told Ea about Apsu’s plan. Ea placed Apsu in deep sleep then split Apsu’s sinews and took his crown. Then he bound Apsu and killed him. Mummu was imprisoned.
Ea built his home on Apsu and married Damkina. They had a son named Marduk, sometimes replaced with the name Bel, who was nursed by goddesses and clothed with the aura of the ten gods. He was described as a mighty warrior with dazzling eyes. He had four eyes, four ears and flame shot forth from his mouth. Ea, greatly delighted formed four winds and gave them to his son. While Marduk played with the winds, a hurricane was formed and this angered Tiamat. The other gods were also disturbed so they urged Tiamat to take revenge upon the death of her husband.
These gods conspired with Tiamat to create demons, also called the eleven monsters. These are Basmu, a venomous snake, Usumgallu, a dragon, Musmahhu, an exalted serpent, Mushussu, a furious snake, Lahmu, the Hairy One, Ugallu, Big Weather-Beast, Uridimmu, mad lion, Gitablullu, scorpion-man, Umu dabrutu, violent storms, Kulullu, fish-man, Kusarikku and bull-man. Some versions have different translations of the names.
Tiamat then took Kingu as her husband and was given control of everything including the Tablet of Destinies or Dup Shimati. The other gods, the Igigi and Anunnaki, who were not on Tiamat’s side could not defeat the demons. Soon after, Marduk was summoned when Ea discussed the threat with Ansar. Marduk said that he would deal with the monsters if he becomes their leader. The vizier Kaka was sent to talk to Lahmu and Lahamu. Marduk was finally designated their champion.
Marduk took a bow and arrows, a club, lightning, tongues of flame, a net to trap the entrails of Tiamat, and the four winds. He also fashioned Seven Winds which were placed behind him. He also took his weapon Storm-Flood and rode his chariot of irresistible storm which had four venom-filled horses yoked to it. Beside his chariot were placed raging battle, strife and conflict. He wore a tunic and mail and an aura of terror.
When he came near Tiamat, he used a plant to counter the poison. The other gods milled around Marduk. Kingu fled but was later destroyed by Marduk. His blood was used to create humans who serve the gods.
Tiamat was defeated when Marduk shot her with an arrow. Marduk split her corpse into two, one half became the earth and the other made up the skies. Next, he created the planets, stars, moon, sun and the weather. He also created the calendar. From Tiamat’s eyes flowed the Tigris and Euphrates. He takes the Tablets of Destiny from Kingu as well.
Ea created the first man Lullu from Kingu’s blood.
Marduk became the king of the gods. He divided the gods into upper and lower groups. The gods and goddesses praised him, created Esagil for him, and exalted Marduk by invoking his names.

Analysis of the Myth
To examine Enuma Elish, this paper has divided the epic into three major sections. One will look more closely at the creation of the universe and the next two sections will profile two major characters, Tiamat and Marduk.
I. The Creation of the Universe
This version of the epic is the Babylonian version. Babylon is one of the major cities in the area known as Mesopotamia. It is situated nearest the Euphrates and divided into two along its banks. The land was created through siltation, where the fresh water meet the salt water. The myth takes this inspiration when describing the primary creators Apsu and Tiamat. Apsu was the fresh water, Tiamat the salt water. For the ancients of this region, the mixing of the fresh and salt water symbolized creation. It also places Babylon on the spotlight as the city created by the gods where Marduk reigned supreme.
The cosmic order in the epic reflects the social reality of Mesopotamia. The hierarchy of the gods was very important, especially after Marduk defeated Tiamat. He divided the roles of the gods and even grouped them according to tasks such as the supervision of the netherworld for example. This cosmic hierarchy reflects the need of the ancients in Mesopotamia for a clear political structure because they are made up of different ethnic groups often at conflict with one another. The history of that part of the world is evidence of its chaotic ethnic and political struggles. Marduk’s victory and reorganization of the universe symbolizes a return to order after defeating a threat in the form of Tiamat and her allies.
The conflict between Tiamat and Marduk is considered part of the creation process. It was not until Kingu died that humans were created after all. The conflict between an old deity and a new hero signifies the annual flooding of the rivers. The elements of the wind and water added to the event that the ancients witnessed. For them, it was like the battle of the gods. The water symbolized Tiamat, the chaos, while the wind represented Marduk. In the epic, Marduk was said to have played with the four winds. There was also a passage indicating he created seven winds to guard his back.
The Enuma Elish also explains the purpose of the creation of humans. It was stated clearly that the humans were made to take over the tasks previously done by the gods and goddesses. Humans were the servants of the gods.
II. Tiamat as the Mother and the Enemy
Tiamat represented the primordial ocean in the time of creation as opposed to Apsu who symbolized fresh water. She is described as a glistening, beautiful woman typical of a mother goddess. Sometimes she is referred to as a dragon or a serpent or a body of water.
Tiamat has two aspects in her personality. She is both a creator but she also symbolizes chaos. Without her, creation would not begin. She is even considered more powerful than her first husband and was even the one who designated Kingu as the ruler of the universe and the dispenser of fates to the gods. One of her names was Ummu-Hubur meaning “she who formed all things” which points to her as the primary agent of creation. She was also able to create monsters even after her husband Apsu’s death.
Perhaps Tiamat’s death heralded the shift from a matriarchal society to patriarchal. There are other great goddesses like her in parallel myths who were powerful but were also the agents of violence and destruction.
Tiamat’s name also point out her association with other gods in the region. Perhaps she is a syncretized form of all these deities. Outside the Enuma Elish however, Tiamat is no longer mentioned in other stories. She is similar for example to the Leviathan or Yamm and Tannin of the Hebrew legends.
The eleven monsters she created symbolized different elements. The dragon and serpents represented fire and water. Lahamu was the lightning. The hurricanes symbolized the storm, water, and air. These monsters oppose cosmic order but were later transformed into beneficial forces after Tiamat’s defeat.
When Tiamat gave the Tablets of Destiny to Kingu, she gave up the emblem of supreme authority of the universe. The act symbolized Tiamat giving up her power over the foundations of civilization such as technology, social and religious institutions, and moral and human institutions.
III. Marduk as A Hero
Marduk has the qualities of a creator god. He was the son of Ea the “image fashioner.” Ea was supposedly stronger than his father Anu but Marduk was the strongest of them all. When the gods convened to plan to stop Tiamat, it was Marduk who was confident enough to face her.
Marduk was not a chief god at first, but when the Babylonians became the rulers, his status was elevated. It was therefore necessary to connect him with the other deities. The purpose of the epic after all was to exalt Marduk as the king of the gods.
Marduk is considered a solar deity. His name means “son of the sun.” His physical appearance recalls to mind a dragon. But he also represented the wind.
Even though Marduk officially became part of the Babylonian pantheon, his various attributes point out to his recent origin. He has acquired qualities already present in other gods. His numerous weapons also point to qualities absorbed from other heroes. Perhaps this was needed to make his rule unchallenged. He was even said to have been the one who created and designated Babylon as the “gate of god.” The last part of the epic show the gods giving fealty to Marduk, probably also symbolizing the people’s submission to the Babylonians.
One important aspect of Marduk is how specific he was when he continued the creation of the universe, especially by designating roles to the gods. This is reminiscent of a ruler who has just gained new territory and needed an established network of administrators.
Unlike other epic heroes, Marduk is special because (1) he did not need convincing to face Tiamat; (2) he only had to undergo one test when the gods asked him to make a constellation disappear; (3) he easily defeated Tiamat and encountered very few challenges; (4) and he did not have to die and resurrect. When examined using Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Marduk fulfills only a few points.

Conclusion
The Enuma Elish offers us an insight into the beliefs of the Babylonians. The epic is an important contribution to the plethora of ancient Asian literature. It offers a point of comparison for other myths and creation stories including those of the Judeo-Christian beliefs.
To answer the questions stated above, here are the insights gleaned from the text.
(1)What is the type of creation found in the epic? (2) and how does this story differ from other creation myths?
The Babylonian creation myth is similar to other myths that begin with a formless state or void. One example is the Greek creation story in Hesiod’s Theogony and the Egyptian version where nothing existed at first.
Like the Greek version, the Babylonian myth began the process of creation when a female and a male deity appeared. Tiamat and Apsu’s offspring came in pairs of one female and one male as well. Lahmu and Lahamu meant the mud and the silt, respectively. Anshar was the sky while Kishar was the earth. Their son Anu was the sky. Anu in turn created Nudimmud or Ea or Enki in other dialects.
One major difference of the Babylonian creation myth from others is that there are at least two more pairs of gods and goddesses before the appearance of the hero Marduk, the deity who will eventually replace Tiamat. Although Tiamat was not explicitly given the title the ruler of the universe, it was she who gave the Tablets of Destiny to her second husband Kingu who became the ruler of the universe for a time.
Tiamat was also a mother goddess, quite different from Kronos in the Greek myths who was the king and the father of the gods.

(3)What are the qualities of the mother Tiamat? What does she represent?
Tiamat represented both creation and chaos. Her nature however as the salt water as opposed to Apsu the fresh water already foreshadows her role in the battle with other gods for power.
Her surrender of the Tablets of Destiny to her second husband Kingu may have represented the transition from a matriarchal society to patriarchal.

(4)What are the qualities of the hero Marduk? What does he represent? (5) and how does Marduk differ from other epic heroes?
Marduk is a solar deity who has the qualities of a culture hero. Unlike other heroes however, he does not fulfill all the qualities in Campbell’s definition. Marduk (1) did not need convincing to face Tiamat, (2) only had to undergo one test when the gods asked him to make a constellation disappear, (3) easily defeated Tiamat and encountered very few challenges, (4) and did not have to die and resurrect.

(6)Why is the protagonist a mother instead of a father like in the Kronos myth of the Greeks?
This perhaps reflects the religious and political climate of the region. Mesopotamia and most of the ancient world had various other powerful goddesses besides Tiamat like Ishtar or Inanna and Cybele, all part of the mother goddess cults that probably existed then. These goddesses embodied the Mother Earth.
Tiamat probably represented the matriarchal society that revered a mother goddess. Ths shift to a patriarchal society was perhaps symbolized by Marduk taking over the kingship of the gods and taking the Tablets of Destiny.

References
King, L.W. Enûma Eliš: The Seven Tablets of Creation. London: Fq Classics, 1902.
Wallis Budge, E.A. The Babylonian Legends of Creation. 1921.