Tiamat equips a monstrous army after Apsu’s death, appointing Kingu as its commander and giving him the Tablet of Destinies. When Ea learns of her preparations, he calls on Marduk, who agrees to confront the host and its terrifying creatures.
Tiamat Raises Her War Host
Tiamat took Kingu as her consort after the death of Apsu. She brought forth monstrous beings and gave each one an imposing form. Whoever saw them was overcome with fear. Their bodies rose above their enemies, and none could withstand their assault. She placed vipers and dragons among them, along with hurricanes, raging hounds, scorpion-men, mighty tempests, fish-men, and rams. They carried cruel weapons and showed no fear of battle.
Tiamat placed Kingu at the head of this host and appointed him its commander. She gave him the Tablet of Destinies as the sign of his new authority. The tablet revealed the future fates of gods and humans. Its holder alone could decree those destinies. Kingu used this authority to organise the troops and assign the destinies of Tiamat’s sons, the gods. Ea discovered what Tiamat was preparing. He understood that he could not resist the monsters by himself, so he called upon his son Marduk. Marduk was fearless and forceful. He would face Tiamat and her host, while Kingu held the tablet that gave its possessor power over the fates of gods and humans.
Tiamat and Apsu Generate the Gods
The divine brothers came together, and their clamour grew loud. Their dancing jarred Tiamat’s nerves, throwing her into turmoil and spreading alarm through Anduruna. They continued to make this disturbance around her. Apsu did not diminish their clamour. Tiamat remained silent when confronted by them. She did not answer their noise or speak against their movement.
Before these generations had appeared, nothing else existed. Apsu embodied fresh water, while Tiamat was the primeval Sea. Their waters mingled, and the gods were created within them. Lahmu and Lahamu were formed first. As they grew and increased in stature, Anšar and Kišar were created. They excelled their predecessors, prolonged their days, and multiplied their years.
Anu came after them. He could rival his fathers and equalled Anšar. Anu then begat Nudimmud, his own equal. Nudimmud became the champion among his fathers. He was discerning and wise, with robust strength. He was much stronger than Anšar, his father’s begetter. Among the gods, his brothers, he had no rival.
As the generations multiplied, the company of the gods became larger. They gathered in their assembly, and the divine family continued to increase. No destinies had yet been decreed. The gods had been formed within the ancient waters, but their growing company now filled the divine realm with noise. Their clamour did not lessen. Their dancing unsettled Tiamat, while Apsu allowed the disturbance to continue. Nudimmud remained foremost among his fathers, stronger than Anšar and without an equal among his divine brothers.
Tiamat’s Battle with Marduk
Tiāmat cried aloud and fiercely. Her lower members trembled as she recited an incantation and repeated her spell. Around her, the battle-gods sharpened their weapons. She had taken Qingu as her spouse and appointed him to the rank of Anuship. She had also stirred up trouble against Anšar, king of the gods, and against the older gods.
The conflict followed the death of Apsû, Tiāmat’s spouse. Ea had struck the first blow by killing Apsû and binding Mummu. Tiāmat then released all her anger. She gathered a divine and monstrous army and prepared to fight the gods. Marduk, the sage of the gods, came against her and challenged her to battle.
Tiāmat and Marduk drew near and joined in strife. Marduk spread out his net and caught her in it. He then released the Evil Wind, the rear guard, into her face. Tiāmat opened her mouth to swallow the wind. It entered her, leaving her unable to close her lips. Marduk defeated her in single combat and killed her.
Tiāmat is described as the primaeval sea and as the monster of monsters. After her defeat, her body was split to form heaven and earth. The battle between Tiāmat and Marduk is the main conflict of the Epic. It follows the earlier fight between Ea and Apsû.
