the anuma Elish also known as The Seven Tablets of Creation is one of the most famous ancient Mesopotamian myths written on seven clay tablets and kunai form script it tells the Babylonian story of how the universe was formed as learned by the Babylonians from older Mesopotamian creation texts it tells how the gods came to power and how Humanity was created the title itself enuma Elish comes from the first phrase of the text meaning when on high this phrase sets the stage for a tale of cosmic struggle between Chaos and Order a story that has fascinated and inspired both Babylonians and Scholars alike so sit back and relax as we take you on a journey to a time before time [Music] itself in the beginning there was only chaos an endless Mingle of saltwater and freshwater Tiamat the goddess of saltwater embodied the nurturing potential of Life absu the god of freshwater represented order and Tranquility together they created the balance from which all existence would emerge from their Union came the first generation of gods lamu and lahamu shapeless forms of silt then there was anshar and kishar the horizons that defined Heaven and Earth and finally eia the clever god of wisdom and Magic the younger gods were vibrant and full of energy but with their creation came sound a ceaseless noise that echoed across the cosmos their clamor disrupts my peace Tiamat we must act to silence them before they destroy us they are our children upsu their voices bring life to the void must we destroy them so soon absu unwilling to endure the endless clamor any longer confided in his vizer Mumu you are right my Lord silence them and the waters will again be still but eia the clever God discovered their plot acting swiftly he used his magic to lull absu into a deep Slumber then in an act of calculated betrayal IIA struck absu down casting his remains Into the Depths what have you done you have brought chaos into our Waters this treachery will not go unanswered grieving absu death and enraged by the Betrayal Tiamat transformed no longer a nurturing mother she became chaos incarnate a colossal Serpentine Dragon whose fiery gaze and thunderous voice shook the heavens from her Fury she gave birth to an army of monstrous beings serpents with venomous fangs fire breathing dragons and storm demons capable of unmaking the universe each creature was an embodiment of chaos designed to tear down the order imposed by the younger Gods Tiamat chose kingu her new consort to lead this Army she bestowed upon him the tablet of Destinies a powerful artifact granting absolute control over the cosmos take this tablet kingu and Lead my Vengeance restore balance to the waters they have Disturbed with this power the gods will tremble before us TI the younger Gods Paralyzed by fear turned to anshar the elder god of the Horizon deat Roth cannot be C only a champion of unparalleled strength can face her then from the ranks of the younger Gods mardu emerged the storm god with Mastery over winds and thunder offered his aid but only on one condition if I defeat Tiamat I will rule the cosmos supreme authority over the Gods Must Be Mine the gods desperate agreed armed with his bow net and the Winds of the world Marduk prepared for battle the battle was Cosmic in scale tiamat's Serpentine form Rose from the waters her Roar echoing across the heavens you dare challenge me child I will devour you and all your kin chaos ends today Tiamat order shall rise from your destruction Marduk summoned the winds surrounding Tiamat in a Vortex she could not Escape as she thrashed he cast his net binding her monstrous form then with a single shot from his bow he pierced her heart from tiamat's remains Marta crafted the heavens and earth he split her body in two separating the waters above from the waters below her upper half became the Vault of the sky holding back the celestial Waters while her lower half formed the Earth her ribs became the frame of the heavens her eyes the rivers and her tail the foundation of mountains chaos was transformed into the ordered Cosmos the cosmos is born a new order shall reign under my rule with Tiamat defeated and the cosmos shaped the gods turned to Marduk with one final request the creation of mankind the gods weary from their labor wished for beings who could serve them and take on the burdens of maintaining the world Marduk ever resourceful devised a plan he declared that Humanity would be formed from the blood of kingu tiamat's defeated General mixed with Clay kingu who had carried the tablet of Destinies and led tiamat's monstrous Army now symbolized rebellion and Chaos from kingo's blood I shall create Humanity they will toil for us and uphold the order we have forged the gods agreed and kingu was executed his Divine blood was mingled with Clay forming the first humans these beings born born of chaos and Earth were bound to their creators as servants their role was clear to labor for the gods build their temples and offer sacrifices in their [Music] honor in contrast to the harmonious and purposeful creation described in Genesis the anuma Elish paints a starkly different picture humanity is not cherished or made in the image of the Divine but fashioned as tools to sustain the God's comfort their very essence is tied to chaos a stark reminder of the rebellion and conflict that defined their Origins while Genesis speaks of deliberate and orderly creation by a single all powerful God the enuma Elish depicts a world born of violence and Cosmic struggle the enuma Alish was more than a story it was a declaration of Babylonian Supremacy and a justification for marduk's place as the head of the pantheon through this Epic the Babylonians affirmed their worldview that chaos must always bow to order but it is important to recognize that this is not the same story as Genesis 1 if anything the enuma Elish would function more as a mythological prequel to Genesis rather than the original Source material Creation in the enuma Elish is almost an afterthought an outcome of divine conflict whereas in Genesis creation itself self is the central narrative emphasizing purpose order and Humanity's unique relationship with the Creator what do you think are myths like these Echoes of deeper truths or simply reflections of their cultures share your thoughts below and subscribe for more mythological Journeys