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The first dragon story on record
is found in the Babylonian creation
epic, Enuma Elish. First called
Labbu by the Sumerians in 3000 BC,
this dragon came to be known as Tiamat
when that civilization gave way to
the Babylonians and their mythologies
blended. Broken down, Tiamat’s name
means “life-mother,” and this she-dragon
was indeed the creator of all. Part
animal, part serpent, and part bird,
Tiamat was revolting in appearance
and certainly did not possess the
nurturing qualities we now regard
as motherly; for she, along with her
husband Apsu, was terrible, vengeful,
and full of malice toward the gods,
which were her and Apsu’s descendants.
Tiamat was the very spirit of chaos,
and the she reigned with Apsu in troubled
confusion and disorder.
The conflict began when their children
began to put things into order. This
upset Apsu, who first consulted with
his minister Mummu. Together they
devised a plan to stop their children's,
the gods, activities and destroy them.
As they made their way to Tiamat to
share the evil plot, they were overheard
by Ea, who captured and slew Apsu
and Mummd using an incantation. Ea
then returned to the other gods to
inform them of the terrible news,
without knowing that his actions had
been seen by his evil brother, Kingu,
who had his own plans.
Kingu made his way to Tiamat with
the tidings. Instantly she became
enraged, just as he'd schemed. Fuming
and full of wrath, she spawned an
army made up of eleven kinds of monsters,
each worse than the others. Among
them were snarling dragons, vipers
and pythons, hurricane monsters, hounds,
scorpion-men, tempest furies, fishmen,
and mountain rams. Colossal in size,
with razor-sharp teeth, and poison
in place of blood, these monsters
were unafraid of battle. Finally,
Tiamat stationed Kingu at the head
of the army, honoring him by placing
the tablets of destiny in his breast,
for whoever was in possession of the
tablets was given authority to lead.
Meanwhile, Ea had enlisted the aid
of his father, Anshar. First, Anshar
commanded Ea to visit Tiamat and beg
for mercy. Ea mustered up the courage
to face the great mother-dragon, but
when he saw Kingu at the head of the
dreadful army followed by the fuming
Tiamat, he recoiled with fear and
returned to tell the rest of the gods.
One after one, the gods attempted
reconciliation, only to be gripped
with terror and sent back. Finally
Anshar called on Ea’s son Marduck,
exalting him to the status of hero,
the highest of all the gods.
Cleverly, Marduck prepared terrible
weapons of his own, including a net
and seven winds from every direction.
Thus arrayed for combat, Marduck led
his army forward. As Marduck boldly
approached the battlefield, Kingu
lost his nerve and began muttering
to himself, causing confusion among
the ranks of monsters. Without flinching,
Marduck called for Tiamat. Glistening
and horrible, the wicked dragon came
to the front of her army.
Angrily Marduck charged Tiamat with
her crimes. Like one possessed, Tiamat
screeched wildly in retaliation. The
battle began. In the commotion, the
gods trapped Tiamat in the net. Enraged,
Tiamat opened her mouth seven miles
wide in protest. Without fear or hesitation,
Marduck commanded the seven winds
to fill her belly. Then, as her courage
fled her, Marduck used his spear to
burst her belly and sever her inward
parts. In one final stroke he pierced
her heart. Without their creator and
leader, the fierce monster army scattered,
and Marduck claimed victory. The tablets
of destiny were captured and bestowed
upon the conqueror.
But the story of Tiamat did not end
there, nor did her creations cease.
Cleaving the great carcass of the
dragon in two, Marduck used the upper
half to create the heavens, and the
lower part to make the earth. The
waters gushing out of her became the
clouds, and her eyes became the source
of the Tigris and the Euphrates. Kingu
was also slain, and his blood was
used to create the first humans. And
thus, chaos was conquered, and the
world was forever secure.
About the Author:
Emma Snow has long been interested
in the history of dragon and lore
http://www.dragon-gifts.com
and http://www.mystical-creatures.com
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