All the gods rejoiced, and they prostrated themselves and cried out, “Merodach is King!”

Thereafter they gave him the sceptre and the throne and the insignia of royalty, and also an irresistible weapon[158] with which to overcome his enemies, saying:  “Now, O Merodach, hasten and slay Tiamat.  Let the winds carry her blood to hidden places.”

So was the fate of Merodach decreed by the gods; so was a path of prosperity and peace prepared for him.  He made ready for battle; he strung his bow and hung his quiver; he slung a dart over his shoulder, and he grasped a club in his right hand; before him he set lightning, and with flaming fire he filled his body.  Anu gave unto him a great net with which to snare his enemies and prevent their escape.  Then Merodach created seven winds—­the wind of evil, the uncontrollable wind, the sandstorm, and the whirlwind, the fourfold wind, the sevenfold wind, and the wind that has no equal—­and they went after him.  Next he seized his mighty weapon, the thunderstone, and leapt into his storm chariot, to which were yoked four rushing and destructive steeds of rapid flight, with foam-flecked mouths and teeth full of venom, trained for battle, to overthrow enemies and trample them underfoot.  A light burned on the head of Merodach, and he was clad in a robe of terror.  He drove forth, and the gods, his fathers, followed after him:  the high gods clustered around and followed him, hastening to battle.

Merodach drove on, and at length he drew nigh to the secret lair of Tiamat, and he beheld her muttering with Kingu, her consort.  For a moment he faltered, and when the gods who followed him beheld this, their eyes were troubled.

Tiamat snarled nor turned her head.  She uttered curses, and said:  “O Merodach, I fear not thy advance as chief of the gods.  My allies are assembled here, and are more powerful than thou art.”

Merodach uplifted his arm, grasping the dreaded thunderstone, and spake unto Tiamat, the rebellious one, saying:  “Thou hast exalted thyself, and with wrathful heart hath prepared for war against the high gods and their fathers, whom thou dost hate in thy heart of evil.  Unto Kingu thou hast given the power of Anu to decree fate, because thou art hostile to what is good and loveth what is sinful.  Gather thy forces together, and arm thyself and come forth to battle.”

When Tiamat heard these mighty words she raved and cried aloud like one who is possessed; all her limbs shook, and she muttered a spell.  The gods seized their weapons.

Tiamat and Merodach advanced to combat against one another.  They made ready for battle.  The lord of the high gods spread out the net which Anu had given him.  He snared the dragon and she could not escape.  Tiamat opened her mouth which was seven miles wide, and Merodach called upon the evil wind to smite her; he caused the wind to keep her mouth agape so that she could not close it.  All the tempests and the hurricanes entered in, filling her body, and her heart grew weak; she gasped, overpowered.  Then the lord of the high gods seized his dart and cast it through the lower part of her body; it tore her inward parts and severed her heart.  So was Tiamat slain.