The Babylonian Creation Myth
The Babylonian creation epic presents a coherent whole. Focussing on Marduk, god of Babylon, it reworks and transfers to him older myths originally concerning other deities. Its purpose was to justify Marduk's position as the greatest of all gods and the pre-eminence of his own city. The text is a liturgical poem of magical potency, the recitation of which was an intergral part of the Spring New Year Festival, the principal religious celebration of Babylon, thought to effect the renewal of the creation.
In the beginning, nothing existed except Apsu, the sweet-water ocean, and Tiamat, the salt-water ocean. From their union springs a succession of gods, culminating in the great gods Anu and Ea, who begets Marduk. But conflict arises between the younger gods and the primeval deities. Ea kills Apsu and Tiamat determines on revenge. She assembles a horde of ferocious monsters, such as the scorpion-man, with her son Kingu at its head, whom she invests with the "Tablet of Destiny", corresponding to the Sumerian me.
Various gods attempt to subdue Tiamat, but they fail and finally the pantheon choose Marduk as their champion. Marduk accepts on condition that he is recognized as king of the gods. He defeats and kills Tiamat: he divides her body in two, one half forming the sky, the other half the earth. From Kingu he takes the Tablet of Destiny. Next, Marduk kills Kingu and from his blood, mixed with earth, creates mankind. The gods build for Marduk in Babylon his own temple, Esagila, with its ziggurat.
World Mythology
ISBN 0-8050-4913-4
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