Nudimmud / Ea Character Analysis in Enuma Elish

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 understanding,” and strong at arms. However, when Anshar sends him to confront Tiamat in her rage, he shrinks from the task and encourages Marduk to go instead, setting the stage for Marduk’s ascendancy among the gods. This element of the story thereby dramatizes the emergence of Marduk as the preeminent deity in ancient Babylon and the decline of Ea. Ea continues to have an important role within the pantheon, however; for example, with Marduk, he fashions humanity from the blood of Qingu.

Nudimmud / Ea Quotes in Enuma Elish

The Enuma Elish quotes below are all either spoken by Nudimmud / Ea or refer to Nudimmud / Ea. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Order, Civilization, and Religion Theme Icon

Inside pure Apsu, Marduk was born.
Ea his father created him,
Damkina his mother bore him.
He suckled the teats of goddesses;
The nurse who reared him filled him with awesomeness;
Proud was his form, piercing his stare.
Mature his emergence, he was powerful from the start.
Anu his father's begetter beheld him,
And rejoiced, beamed; his heart was filled with joy.
He made him so perfect that his godhead was doubled.
Elevated far above them, he was superior in every way.

Related Characters: Marduk, Nudimmud / Ea, Apsu, Anu, Damkina

Page Number and Citation: 235

Explanation and Analysis:

'Will no (other) god come forward? Is [fate] fixed?
Will no one go out to face Tiamat […] ?'
Then Ea from his secret dwelling called
[The perfect] one of Anshar, father of the great gods,
Whose heart is perfect like a fellow-citizen or countryman,
The mighty heir who was to be his father's champion,
Who rushes (fearlessly) into battle: Marduk the Hero!
He told him his innermost design, saying,
'O Marduk, take my advice, listen to your father!
You are the son who sets his heart at rest!
Approach Anshar, drawing near to him,
And make your voice heard, stand your ground:
he will be calmed by the sight of you.'

Related Characters: Nudimmud / Ea (speaker), Marduk, Tiamat, Anshar

Page Number and Citation: 242

Explanation and Analysis:

When Marduk heard the speech of the gods,
He made up his mind to perform miracles.
He spoke his utterance to Ea,
And communicated to him the plan that he was considering.
‘Let me put blood together, and make bones too.
Let me set up primeval man: Man shall be his name.
Let me create a primeval man.
The work of the gods shall be imposed (on him), and so they shall be at leisure.’

Related Characters: Marduk (speaker), Nudimmud / Ea

Page Number and Citation: 260

Explanation and Analysis:

Nudimmud / Ea Character Timeline in Enuma Elish

The timeline below shows where the character Nudimmud / Ea appears in Enuma Elish. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Lahmu and Lahamu, Anshar and Kishar. Anshar has a son named Anu, and Anu begets Nudimmud, also called Ea. Each successive generation of gods surpasses the previous one. Nudimmud is “profound... (full context)

When the gods hear of Apsu’s plan to destroy them, they fall silent. Ea, “superior in understanding,” finds out everything about the plot, then concocts a spell of his... (full context)

After Ea’s triumph over Apsu, he builds his dwelling atop Apsu’s remains and gives a “triumphal cry.”... (full context)

Feminine Power and Subjugation Theme Icon

...response, the weary gods “[plot] evil” and tell Tiamat that because she did not stop Ea from slaying Apsu, they are now suffering. They ask her, “Are you not a mother?... (full context)

...assembles the army of fearsome creatures, doing “even more evil for posterity than Apsu.” Meanwhile, Ea hears about what’s going on and is “dumbfounded.” After thinking for a while, Ea approaches... (full context)

Ea recites the precise words and sequence of events that took place in the previous tablet,... (full context)

In reply, Ea speaks “soothing […] words of appeasement” to his father Anshar, reasoning with him that, given... (full context)

...then wonder aloud, “Is fate fixed? Will no one go out to face Tiamat?” Then Ea encourages Marduk the Hero to approach Anshar. Marduk does, and Anshar’s mood immediately changes from... (full context)

...of Apsu, his birthplace, and creates cult centers in the sky for lesser gods, including Ea. (full context)

After Marduk finishes his work, Anu, Ea, and other gods present him with gifts. The Igigi assemble and do obeisance to Marduk,... (full context)

...the gods shall be imposed” on man, allowing the gods to rest. When Marduk tells Ea this plan, Ea recommends that people be created from “one who is hostile” to the... (full context)

...his actions. The gods reply that the war was Qingu’s fault. They bind Qingu, and Ea creates humanity from his blood. The work of the gods is then imposed on humanity. (full context)

...the second year, they build high dwellings for themselves and especially for Anu, Ellil, and Ea. (full context)