Chapters 15 and 16 Summary and Analysis

In the beginning there was Apsu the begetter, the fresh and sweet-water sea and Tiamat, the salt-sea waters. They mingled as a single body and soul. Apsu and Tiamat created the gods Lahmu and Lahamu and next the gods Anshar and Kishar. More gods were created whose noise and laughter bothered Tiamat who some said was a dragon. Apsu offered to kill the noisy gods but Tiamat did not want to destroy what they had created. One of the gods, Ea, knew that Apsu was plotting to destroy them. Ea cast a spell on Apsu that put him in a deep sleep. While he slept, Ea killed him.

Ea and his wife, Damkina had a son, Marduk, known as the majestic god. Marduk had four eyes and four ears. Fire blazed from his lips. He was fearless and radiant...