Mesopotamian Mythology · deity

Marduk

also: Marduk

deitythe 'storm' (in the Babylonian period)king of the gods (Babylonian period)creationthe 'flood' (in the Enuma Elish)attested

The Babylonian supreme god, the 'storm' god, the king of the gods in the Babylonian period; in the Enuma Elish he slays Tiamat and creates the world from her body. His great temple was at Babylon (the Esagila).

Marduk's battle with Tiamat · TYalaA · undated · Wikimedia Commons (institution in source file) · CC BY-SA 4.0

The account

Who they are

'Marduk' is the Babylonian supreme god, the 'storm' god, the king of the gods in the Babylonian period [S1][S6]. In the Enuma Elish, Marduk is chosen by the gods to fight Tiamat; he slays her with his bow, net, and 'rakasu' winds, and splits her body in two to make the sky (the upper half) and the earth (the lower half) [S1]. From Kingu's blood (Tiamat's general), Marduk creates humanity [S1]. Marduk takes the 'Tablet of Destinies' (the symbol of cosmic authority) from Kingu [S1]. Marduk's great temple was at Babylon (the Esagila) [S6]. Marduk's 'supremacy' is a political/theological development: as Babylon rose to power (Old Babylonian period, c. 2000-1600 BCE), Marduk rose to be the king of the gods [S1][S6]. The Enuma Elish (the 'New Year' festival text) is the great myth of Marduk's supremacy [S1].

Worth knowing

The Babylonian supreme god, the 'storm' god [S1][S6].
In the Enuma Elish, he slays Tiamat and creates the world [S1].
Takes the 'Tablet of Destinies' from Kingu [S1].
His great temple was at Babylon (the Esagila) [S6].
His 'supremacy' is a political/theological development (Babylonian rise) [S1][S6].

Uncertainties & variants

Marduk's 'supremacy' is period-specific: Old Babylonian (rises) → Neo-Babylonian (supreme) → Achaemenid/Persian (declines) [S1][S6].

Relationships (6)

Connections

Family & kinship

PARENT_OFEnki (Ea) — Enki (Ea) is the father of Marduk (in the Enuma Elish).[S1]

Creation

CREATEDTiamat — Marduk splits Tiamat's body in two to make the sky (upper half) and the earth (lower half).[S1]

Conflict & enmity

KILLEDTiamat — Marduk slays Tiamat (in the Enuma Elish).[S1]

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

Alliances & rule

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

Artifacts

INHERITEDTablets of Destiny — Marduk takes the Tablets when he is set over the gods.[[S1]]

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Their corner of the divine world

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Myths featuring Marduk

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].

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Artifacts of Marduk

Objects they wielded, forged, or were bound to

INTERPRETIVE CLASSIFICATION · FULL PROFILE IN THE DIVINE VAULT

Tablets of Destiny

SS · CosmicAssociated

Artworks

Depictions

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