Enuma Elish Character Analysis

Marduk

Sometimes called Bel, Marduk is begotten by his father, Ea, and borne by his mother, Damkina, inside the dwelling Apsu. From his birth, Marduk is superior to all other gods. He has… read analysis of Marduk

Tiamat

Tiamat, one of the two primordial Mesopotamian gods, is known as the maker. As a deity, she is associated with water and with chaos. She dwells with her consort, Apsu, before anything else exists… read analysis of Tiamat

Nudimmud / Ea

Nudimmud, more often called Ea in the epic, is begotten of Anu. Originally a Sumerian deity, he is also sometimes known as Enki or Enlil. Nudimmud is “superior to his forefathers: / Profound of… read analysis of Nudimmud / Ea

Apsu

Apsu, one of the two primordial Mesopotamian gods, is known as the begetter. He dwells with his consort, Tiamat, before anything else exists. When their offspring cause lots of noise, Apsu proposes to destroy… read analysis of Apsu

Qingu

Qingu is Tiamat’s consort after Apsu’s slaying. Tiamat appoints him commander of her army and grants him the Tablet of Destinies. After Marduk defeats Tiamat in battle, however, he quickly wrests the Tablet… read analysis of Qingu

Anshar

Anshar is the offspring of Apsu and Tiamat. He begets Anu, who begets Ea. Anshar initially sends Ea to confront the raging Tiamat, but after Ea fails, he convenes a council to… read analysis of Anshar

Minor Characters

Lahmu

Lahmu is an early Babylonian god—with Lahamu, the firstborn of Apsu and Tiamat. He and Lahamu lead the Igigi (the older gods) in recognizing Marduk as their king.

Lahamu

Lahamu is an early Babylonian god—with Lahmu, the firstborn of Apsu and Tiamat. He and Lahmu lead the Igigi (the older gods) in recognizing Marduk as their king.

Kishar

Kishar is the offspring of Apsu and Tiamat. Anshar is her consort.

Anu

Anu is Anshar’s son, and he begets Nudimmud/Ea. Associated with thunderstorms, he gives Marduk the four winds to play with.

Mummu

Mummu is Apsu’s vizier (adviser). He advises Apsu to destroy his and Tiamat’s offspring even after Tiamat angrily rejects this idea. Consequently, Ea lulls Mummu into a daze and vanquishes him.

Damkina

Damkina is the lover of Ea, with whom she lives within the dwelling Apsu, and the bearer of Marduk.

Igigi

In the epic, the Igigi is the collective name used for the gods of the younger generation.

Anukki / Anunnaki

In the epic, Anukki or Anunnaki is often used to refer collectively to the older generation of gods.

Ellil

In the Babylonian pantheon, Ellil is considered to be the head of the younger generation of gods. In Tablet VI, the gods take special care in constructing a shrine for him, as well as for Anu and Ea, but he doesn’t otherwise feature prominently in the Enuma Elish.

Kakka

Kakka is Anshar’s vizier (adviser). Anshar dispatches him to Lahmu and Lahamu to tell them the news of Tiamat’s rejection of her children and Marduk’s readiness for battle.

Enuma Elish

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