The Enuma Elish

1. The EnumaElish Review

2. Tablet 1 • Apsu and Mummu-Tiamat are the high gods who create all of the gods. • The first two gods created were Anshar and Kishar. • Anshar is the father of Anu • Anu is the father of Nudimmud (perhaps not a particular god, but a variety of lower gods). • The lower gods disturb Tiamat and Apsu. • Apsu seeks the advice of his vizier, Mummu, and begins to plot to destroy the lower gods.

3. Tiamat objects, Mummu insists, and Apsu is determined to destroy the lower gods. • Ea, the son of Anu, saw their scheme. • Ea binds Mummuand Apsuand kills them both. • He takes Apsu’s abode – the high heavens – and makes it his own. • Marduk is born to Ea and Damikina, Ea’s wife. • Tiamat gathers several of the lower gods to fight against Ea. • Mother Hubur creates weapons and monsters; 11 in total. • Kingu is made king of the gods and he becomes head of the assembly of the high gods.

4. Tablet 2 • Tiamat’s plot is revealed to Ea; Ea tells Anshar, his grandfather, about the plot against him. • Ea recounts the events that unfold. • Ea is commissioned to fight against Tiamat, but the battle appears to have ended inconclusively. • Anu is sent to speak peace to Tiamat, but his courage fails him when he sees the terrible beasts. • It appears that Anshar and his army are without an answer to Tiamat’s plot.

5. Tablet 3 • Anshar tells Gaga, his minister, to tell the other gods that Marduk will fight Tiamat for him. • Gaga explains Tiamat’s actions to Lahmu and Lahamu. • The Igigi, apparently the high gods who compose the Assembly of the high gods, are alarmed by Tiamat’s plans. • Marduk is praised for being willing to fight Tiamat and her army.

6. Tablet 4 • Marduk is tested by the high gods. He is asked to make a garment disappear and reappear at the mere utterance of his word. • Marduk is successful in this test. • The gods commission him to destroy Tiamat. • Marduk sets out to fight Tiamat; an epic battle ensues. • Marduk accuses Tiamat of plotting evil against her children and being arrogant. • Tiamat becomes furious upon hearing Marduk’saccussations and are locked in battle.

7. Marduk uses the Evil Wind to bind Tiamat and destroys her in a pretty decisive and graphic way. • The gods and beasts who had joined Tiamat, once they see that Tiamat is destroyed, run for their lives. • Marduk chases them and captures them. • Marduk claims his victory for Anshar. • Marduk uses half of Tiamat’s dead body to establish the heavens and sets Anu, Enlil, and Ea as lords over the heavens.

8. Tablet 5 • Marduk uses Tiamat’s body to design the heavens. • He establishes the Zodiac signs for the great gods. • He uses the constellations to set up the 12 months of the year. • The Moon and Sun are established as lights of the heavens to signify days and nights. • Marduk uses the spit of Tiamat to create the clouds. • He uses Tiamat’s head to form the northern mountains; he uses water from her eyes to form the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

9. Marduk uses her breasts to form the eastern mountains. • The creation of the heavens and earth are completed. • He gives to Ea the shrines; the Tablet of Destinies is given to Anu. • Marduk takes the Eleven Beasts and makes from them statues that decorate the Gate of Apsu. • The high gods – Ea, Anu, Enlil, Lahmu, Lahamu, and Anshar– give gifts to Marduk for his work. • The gods promise to serve Marduk and inquire what Marduk will do next. • Marduk plans to build temples and a city, Babylon, in which the great gods may assemble.

10. Tablet 6 • Marduk plans to make a ‘savage’ – his name being man – to serve the gods so the gods may be at rest. • Ea tells Marduk that only one of the captured gods should be used to make man. • Marduk asks who it was who encouraged the rebellion of Tiamat. • The gods blame Kingu for Tiamat’s rebellion. • Kingu is killed and Ea creates man out of Kingu’s spilled blood. • Marduk sets 300 gods over the heavens and 300 over the earth

11. The plans of Marduk are put into effect. • The temples are built, Babylon is established, and other places of worship. • The gods are given stewardship over the heavens and the earth, and swear allegiance to Marduk. • The gods are commissioned as servants. • Marduk is given 50 names.

12. Tablet 7 • Marduk’s titles and names are listed. They range from things like the movements of the stars, planets, and other heavenly beings to success, prosperity, safety, and other matters of life on Earth. • The Epilogue serves as a reminder to the Babylonians of what is the importance of the story.