Tiamat

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Tiamat was a primordial sea goddess in ancient Mesopotamian mythology, worshipped by the Sumerians and Akkadians. She was depicted as a massive serpent or dragon, often associated with the chaos of the ocean. According to legend, Tiamat was born from the void of nothingness at the beginning of creation. She was said to be the mother of all monsters and sea creatures, including the great dragon Mušḫuššu. Her husband, Apsu, was also a primordial deity who personified the fresh waters of the earth. Tiamat's role in mythology varied depending on the region. In some stories, she was seen as a powerful and benevolent goddess, while in others she was portrayed as a malevolent force who threatened the gods themselves. One famous myth tells of how Tiamat and her allies, including the dragon Anzû, rebelled against the gods led by Enlil. The story goes that Marduk, the patron god of Babylon, defeated Tiamat in battle using a magical storm created from the blood of his mother, Tia. The epic poem Enuma Elish describes how Marduk split Tiamat's body into two halves, creating the heavens and the earth from her flesh. Tiamat remained an important figure in Mesopotamian mythology for centuries, with many cultures adopting and adapting her mythological significance. Her legend has endured as a symbol of feminine power and the primordial forces of nature. Sources: * Enuma Elish (Tablet VII) * The Epic of Gilgamesh * The Sumerians by Samuel Noah Kramer