Mesopotamian Mythology · deity

Kingu

Kingu
also: Kingu
deitythe 'crown' (his title: he holds the 'Tablet of Destinies')the general of Tiamat's armyattested

The general of Tiamat's army in the Enuma Elish; he holds the 'Tablet of Destinies' (the symbol of cosmic authority); he is slain by Marduk.

KI
The account

Who they are

Kingu is the general of Tiamat's army in the Enuma Elish [S1]S1 · Enuma Elish (Babylonian Creation Epic)Old Babylonian version c. 18th c. BCE; standard form c. 1100-1000 BCEtextOpen source ↗. He holds the 'Tablet of Destinies' (the 'me' of kingship, the symbol of cosmic authority) on Tiamat's behalf [S1]S1 · Enuma Elish (Babylonian Creation Epic)Old Babylonian version c. 18th c. BCE; standard form c. 1100-1000 BCEtextOpen source ↗. Marduk slays Kingu and takes the Tablet of Destinies; from Kingu's blood, Marduk creates humanity (in the Enuma Elish) [S1]S1 · Enuma Elish (Babylonian Creation Epic)Old Babylonian version c. 18th c. BCE; standard form c. 1100-1000 BCEtextOpen source ↗. Kingu is the 'crown' (his title: he holds the 'Tablet of Destinies') [S1]S1 · Enuma Elish (Babylonian Creation Epic)Old Babylonian version c. 18th c. BCE; standard form c. 1100-1000 BCEtextOpen source ↗.
Worth knowing
  • The general of Tiamat's army in the Enuma Elish [S1]S1 · Enuma Elish (Babylonian Creation Epic)Old Babylonian version c. 18th c. BCE; standard form c. 1100-1000 BCEtextOpen source ↗.
  • Holds the 'Tablet of Destinies' [S1]S1 · Enuma Elish (Babylonian Creation Epic)Old Babylonian version c. 18th c. BCE; standard form c. 1100-1000 BCEtextOpen source ↗.
  • Slain by Marduk; his blood is used to create humanity [S1]S1 · Enuma Elish (Babylonian Creation Epic)Old Babylonian version c. 18th c. BCE; standard form c. 1100-1000 BCEtextOpen source ↗.
Relationships (3)

Connections

Partners

PARTNER_OFTiamat — Tiamat and Kingu are a 'pair' (Kingu is her general and consort).[S1]

Conflict & enmity

KILLEDMarduk — Marduk slays Kingu (in the Enuma Elish).[S1]

Alliances & rule

SUCCESSOR_OFMarduk — Marduk takes the 'Tablet of Destinies' from Kingu (the symbol of cosmic authority).[S1]
Local graph

Their corner of the divine world

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hierarchical — generations top → bottom, partners side by side
Overlays
FocusKinguMesopotamian
MESOPOTAMIAN · 19♥♥♥♥♥Tablets of Dest…Apsu (the primeval …Antu (Anatum)An (the heavens)EreshkigalNergal (Ereshkigal'…Ki (the earth)KinguNergalNingalNinhursagNinlilTiamatEnki (Ea)EnlilMardukNabuNanna (Sin)Inanna (Ishtar)Utu (Shamash)
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Myths featuring Kingu

1 story

The Enuma Elish (the Babylonian Creation Epic)

The Enuma Elish is the great Babylonian creation epic, the 'New Year' (Akitu) festival text. In it, the gods (the 'Apsu' and the 'Tiamat' generations) are in conflict; the young gods (led by Marduk) are chosen to fight Tiamat. Marduk slays Tiamat with his bow, net, and 'rakasu' winds, splits her body in two to make the sky (upper half) and the earth (lower half), and from Kingu's blood (Tiamat's general) creates humanity. Marduk takes the 'Tablet of Destinies' and becomes the king of the gods [S1]S1 · Enuma Elish (Babylonian Creation Epic)Old Babylonian version c. 18th c. BCE; standard form c. 1100-1000 BCEtextOpen source ↗.

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