Apsu (the primeval freshwater)
Apsu
9
PRIMORDIAL · Water
AP
PWR10
Mythic
GRD8
The primeval freshwater, the 'deep' beneath the earth; in the Atrahasis and Enuma Elish, Apsu is the god of the fresh water who is slain (in Atrahasis) or overthrown (in Enuma Elish).[S1] [S3] [S5]
The Divine Atlas
Water · mesopotamian pantheon
DA-MES-003
PRINT SHEET · DA-MES-003 · Apsu (the primeval freshwater) (Water, Mythic)
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About this card
'Apsu' (also 'Abzu') is the primeval freshwater, the 'deep' beneath the earth — the sweet water that underlies the world [S3][S5]. In Sumerian cosmology, Apsu (the fresh water) and Tiamat (the salt water) are the two primeval waters [S3][S5]. In the Atrahasis, Apsu (the god of the fresh water) is slain by Enki (and the gods) because his noise (the noise of humanity) disturbs his rest [S3]. In the Enuma Elish, Apsu's role is taken by Apsu (the fresh water) who is slain by Ea (Enki's Akkadian name) [S1]. Apsu is the 'deep', the primeval fresh water, the source of life [S3][S5].