Creation from Destruction

The Epic of Creation tells the Babylonian take on the creation of our world. This story is filled fighting and hatred as the gods display a human like emotions towards one another. Through such emotions, gods are murdered and power is altered, but it all eventually leads to the creation of many worldly things. It’s a shame that such amount of destruction was the only cause for creation of the Babylonian world.

The Epic begins with Apsu and Tiamat, the first two gods, debating over what should happen to all their children (also gods) that were constantly quarreling inside of Tiamat’s body. Apsu wants the children destroyed, but unfortunately for Apsu, he is murdered by the son, Ea. Thus begins the battle between Tiamat and Ea as revenge and power overcome the relationship of mother and son (this is a major theme throughout the story; despite family relations, the gods are still willing to kill one another).

The epic mainly concerns Marduk and his task of defeating Tiamat for Ea. In preparations for the ensuing battle, both sides create things that we know today as storms, winds, tornadoes, weapons (such as the bow) and even creatures such as snakes. Tiamat is eventually defeated and her followers are captured. Marduk mercilessly rips Tiamat’s carcuss to pieces and creates the sky. The story continues with Marduk and his crowning of god of all the universe.

This tale is filled with murder and blood shed. According to the tablets, humans themselves were created from the execution of Kingu, the most important servant of the defeated Tiatmat. The gods seem to be barbaric in nature and only create things out of violence (monsters, storms, etc) and the want for more power (humans were created to serve the gods). It seems as though everything these gods have created was done only out of impulse and without much thought. This would eventually lead to the extreme rearrangement of power as unwanted gods were destroyed. However its outcome, it's still disturbing that so much was created merely out of hate and destruction.