About this deity
Anzû (Sumerian: 𒀭𒅎𒂂) was a lesser divinity in Mesopotamia, commonly depicted as a lion-headed eagle that can breathe fire and water.
Also known as
Parent belief system
Sumerian Religion · Polytheistic · 7 mythsSumerian religion refers to spiritual beliefs practiced from ca. 4500-1900 BCE in Mesopotamia, or modern-day southern Iraq. Many deities were diffused into other Mesopotamian cultures.
Top myths
 |  | |
| Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld | Epic of Anzu | |
| Afterlife myth | Prestige myth | |
| Unknown author | Unknown author | |
| Read myth | Read myth | |
The iconic image of Ninurta chasing the Anzu bird comes from an artifact at the British Museum: BM 124571. It was first discovered between 1851-1853 by Austen Henry Layard while he was doing excavation work at Nineveh; and, it was published as plate no. 5 in Layard's 1853 publication.[1]
Notes
Mythological stories including Anzu
- Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Netherworld Afterlife myth
Nuthsell
While Enki was saling, the south wind uprooted a single ḫalub tree on the bank of the Euphrates river. A woman found it, planted it in Inanna's garden, and watered it by only using her feet; it grew massive after ten years. Inanna wanted to use it for a chair, but its bark would not break. Inanna cried and asked her brother, Gilgameš, to do it. Gilgameš cut the tree with his strength and also made a powerful mallet from its branches. During a game, both the ball and the mallet fell down into the netherworld. When Gilgameš could not recover items, his servant Enkidu offered to retrieve it. Enkidu became trapped there. Gilgameš asked Enki and Enlil to rescue Enkidu, but without success. Utu, however, obliged and made a hole for Enkidu to return. Gilgameš rejoiced and asked Enkidu how different kinds of people fare in the netherworld, ending the poem.
- Epic of Anzu Prestige myth
Nuthsell
The winged eagle-lion monster named Anzu steals the Tablet of Destinies. No other deity wants to chase him down other than Ninurta, a warrior deity known for hunting. After a failed attempt, Ninurta captures Anzu, ends his life, and recovers the Tablet of Destinies.
Cite this page
OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Anzu." OMNIKA – World Mythology Index, OMNIKA Foundation, 09 Aug. 2019, omnika.org/stable/268. Accessed 11 May. 2024.
OMNIKA (2019, August 09). Anzu. Retrieved from https://omnika.org/stable/268
OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Anzu." Las Vegas, NV: OMNIKA Foundation. Created August 09, 2019. Accessed May 11, 2024. https://omnika.org/stable/268.
