08 Demigods, heroes, and monsters (gods and the heroes of the Babylonians)
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This article is from the Assyro-Babylonian Mythology FAQ, by Christopher B. Siren cbsiren@hopper.unh.edu with numerous contributions by others.
08 Demigods, heroes, and monsters (gods and the heroes of the Babylonians)
Adapa (Uan) - the first of the seven antediluvian sages who were
sent by Ea to deliver the arts of civilization to mankind. He was from
Eridu. He offered food an water to the gods in Eridu. He went out to
catch fish for the temple of Ea and was caught in a storm. He broke the
South Wind's wing and was called to be punished. Ea advised him to say
that he behaved that way on account of Dumuzi's and Gizzida's absence
from the country. Those gods, who tended Anu's gate, spoke in his favor
to Anu. He was offered the bread and water of eternal life, but Ea
advised against his taking it, lest he end his life on earth.
Atrahasis and Ut-napishtim, like the Sumerian Ziusudra (the
Xisuthros of Berossus) or Noah from the Pentateuch, were the long-lived
survivors of the great flood which wiped out the rest of humanity. In
Atrahasis' case, Ellil had grown tired of the noise that the mass of
humanity was making, and after a series of disasters failed to eliminate
the problem, he had Enki release the floodgates to drown them out.
Since Enki had a hand in creating man, he wanted to preserve his
creation, warned Atrahasis, and had him build a boat, with which he
weathered the flood. He also had kept his ear open to Enki during the
previous disasters and had been able to listen to Enki's advice on how
to avoid their full effects by making the appropriate offerings to the
appropriate deities. He lived hundreds of years prior to the flood,
while Utnapishtim lives forever after the flood.
Utnapishtim of Shuruppak was the son of Ubaratutu. His flood has no
reason behind it save the stirrings of the hearts of the Gods. As with
Atrahasis, Utnapishtim is warned to build an ark by Ea. He is also told
to abandon riches and possessions and seek life and to tell the city
elders that he is hated by Enlil and would go to the watery Abyss to
live with Ea via the ark. He loads gold, silver, and the seed of all
living creatures into the ark and all of his craftsmen's children as
well. After Ea advises Enlil on better means to control the human
population, (predators, famine, and plague), Enlil makes Utnapishtim and
his wife immortal, like the gods.
Lugalbanda - a warrior-king and, with Ninsun, the progenitor of
Gilgamesh. He is worshipped, being Gilgamesh's ancestor, by Gilgamesh
as a god.
Gilgamesh (possibly Bilgamesh) and Enkidu
The son of the warrior-king Lugalbanda and the wise goddess
Ninsun, Gilgamesh built the walls of the city Uruk, and the Eanna (house
of An) temple complex there, dedicated to Ishtar. He is two-thirds
divine and one-third human. He is tall and a peerless warrior. He is
the king and shepherd of the people of Uruk, but he was very wild, which
upset his people, so they called out to Anu. Anu told Aruru to make a
peer for Gilgamesh, so that they could fight and be kept occupied, so
she created the wild-man Enkidu. Enkidu terrorizes the countryside, and
a Stalker, advised by his father, informs Gilgamesh. They bring a love-
priestess to bait Enkidu. She sleeps with him, and educates him about
civilization, Gilgamesh and the city. Gilgamesh dreams about Enkidu and
is anxious to meet him. Enkidu comes into the city Gilgamesh is on his
way to deflower the brides in the city's "bride-house" and the two
fight. They are evenly matched and become friends.
Gilgamesh decides to strengthen his reputation by taking on
Humbaba, Enlil's guardian of the forest. Enkidu accompanies Gilgamesh
and they spend much time in preparation. Eventually they find the
monster and defeat him.
Ishtar offers to become Gilgamesh's lover, but Gilgamesh insults
her, saying that she has had many lovers and has not been faithful to
them. Ishtar asks Anu to send the Bull of Heaven to punish Gilgamesh,
and he does. Gilgamesh and Enkidu defeat the creature, but Enkidu falls
ill and dies, presumably because the gods are unhappy that he helped
kill Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven.
Gilgamesh morns Enkidu and decides to visit Utnapishtim, the only
human who does not die. He goes to the mountains of Mashu and passes by
the guardian scorpion-demons into the darkness. It becomes light as he
enters the Garden of the Gods and he finds Siduri the Barmaid, to whom
he relates his quest. She sends him to cross the waters of death and he
confronts the boatman, Urshanabi. They cross and Gilgamesh speaks with
Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim recounts the tale of the flood and challenges
Gilgamesh to remain awake for six days and seven nights. He fails, but
Utnapishtim's wife urges him to reveal to Gilgamesh a rejuvinative
plant. Gilgamesh takes it, but looses it to a serpent before returning
to Uruk.
Another tablet of the Babylonian Gilgamesh story exists, which is
similar to the Sumerian version of the tale. Enkidu volunteers to enter
the underworld to recover Gilgamesh's pukku and mikku (drum and throwing
stick). Gilgamesh warns him of the proper etiquette for the underworld,
lest Enkidu be kept there. Enkidu prepares to enter the underworld, and
is dressed, scented and bade good-bye. The Earth seizes him and
Gilgamesh weeps. He pleads for Enkidu's sake to Enlil, Sin, and finally
to Ea. Ea tells Nergal to let Enkidu's ghost escape the underworld and
tell Gilgamesh about it. He tells Gilgamesh of the dead which he has
seen there, of those who are cared for and those who aren't, indicating
the sort of judgment and ritual associated with the afterlife and death.
Etana - the human taken to the sky by an eagle. He was the king
of Kish. Ishtar and the Igigi searched for a king for Kish. Ellil found
a throne for Etana and they declared him the king. He was pious an
continued to pray to Shamash, yet he had no son. Shamash told him to
where to find the eagle with the cut wings, who would find for him the
plant of birth. He found the eagle, fed it, and taught it to fly again.
Not being able to find the plant, the eagle had Etana mount on his back
and they journeyed to Ishtar, mistress of birth. On flying up to
heaven, Etana grew scared at the height and went down. Then after some
encouraging dreams tried to ascend to heaven on the eagle again. They
succeeded. Etana had a son, Balih.
Humbaba (Huwawa) - this monster was appointed by Ellil to guard
the cedar forest, which is in fact one large tree, the home of the gods,
and terrify mankind. 'His shout is the storm-flood, his mouth, fire,
his breath is death.' (Gardner & Maier p. 105) He has seven cloaks with
which to arm himself. There is a gate and a path in the cedar mountain
for Humbaba to walk on. Gilgamesh and Enkidu attack. Humbaba pleads
for mercy, Enkidu argues against mercy, and Enkidu and Gilgamesh
decapitate him.
The Bull of Heaven - this creature was created by Anu to kill
Gilgamesh at Ishtar's behest. At its snorting, a hole opened up and 200
men fell into it. When it fights Enkidu and Gilgamesh, it throws
spittle and excrement at them. It is killed and set as an offering to
Shamash.
Anzu - a demonic being with lion paws and face and eagle talons
and wings. It was born on the mountain Hehe. It's beak is like a saw,
its hide as eleven coats of mail. It was very powerful. Ellil
appointed him to guard his bath chamber. He envied the Ellil-power
inherent in Ellil's Tablet of Destinies and stole it while Ellil was
bathing. With the Tablet of Destinies, anything he puts into words
becomes reality. He takes advandtage of this by causing Ninurta's
arrows to never reach their target. However, once Ea's advice reached
Ninurta, Anzu was slain by the hero's onslaught.
aqrabuamelu (girtablilu) - scorpion-man, the guardians of the
gates of the underworld. Their "terror is awesome" and their "glance is
death". They guard the passage of Shamash. They appraise Gilgamesh and
speak with him.
Definitions:
Anunnaki - gods (mostly of the earth). The sky Anunnaki set the
Igigi to digging out the rivers
Igigi - gods (mostly of the heavens) They are given the task of
digging riverbeds by the Anunnaki. They rebelled against Ellil.
Sebitti - the seven warrior gods led by Erra; in the sky they are
the Pleadies. They were children of Anu and the Earth-mother. Anu gave
them fearsome and lethal destinies and put them under Erra's command.
They prefer to exercise there skills instead of letting Erra stay in the
cities with his diseases.
Utukki - demons
Muttabriqu - Flashes of Lightning
Sarabda - Bailiff
Rabishu - Croucher
Tirid - Expulsion
Idiptu - Wind
Bennu - Fits
Sidana - Staggers
Miqit - Stroke
Bel Uri - Lord of the Roof
Umma - Feverhot
Libu - Scab
gallu-demons - can frequently alter their form.
umu-demons - fiercely bare their teeth.
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