Epic of Anzu

Prestige Myth

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About this myth

Epic of Anzu is a Prestige myth originating from the Babylonian belief system. The oldest attested artifact in our index that contains this myth was likely created around 865 BCE. The main deity depicted in this myth is likely Ninurta. Others include An, Anzû, Apsu, Enlil, and Ninḫursaĝ.

layard-plate-5-ninurta-chasing-anzu
Sourceomnika.conscious.aiRetrieval date06/22/2020
Source record No.BM 124571MediumPrint sketchOrientationFrontImage date1851CreatorAusten Henry LayardSource notesLayard, Monuments From Nineveh, 19 [plate no. 5].

In a nutshell

Myth summary

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.

Attested: 865—860 BCE
Created: Unknown
Myth type: Prestige
Main deity: Ninurta
Belief system: Babylonian
Origin: Asia › Middle East › Iraq

Belief system

Babylonian Religion

Polytheistic

The Babylonian religion was practiced throughout modern-day Iraq and the general near east (Mesopotamia) during antiquity. Its chief deity was Marduk.

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Belief system

Ninurta

Main deity

Ninurta (Sumerian: 𒀭𒊩𒌆𒅁) was a major Sumerian deity associated with agriculture and harvest. In the Assyrian period, he was more closely associated with war and fighting.

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Main deity

Other deities mentioned

An
Anzû
Apsu
Enlil
Ninḫursaĝ

Artifact

BM 124571

The British Museum

The artifact named BM 124571 has contents related to this mythological story.

Condition: Excellent
Type: Wall Panel
Material: Alabaster stone
Date: c. 865 BCE
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Main artifact
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More information

Background

The Epic of Anzu is a prestige myth of the Sumerian deity named Ninurta. Anzu is spelled 𒀭𒉎𒈪𒄷 (AN.IM.MIMUŠEN) in Sumerian and represents the ideogram for a bird. It is also seen as AN.IM.DUGUDMUŠEN in Babylonian texts.

Discovery

This myth was discovered through artifacts from the near east. Bendt Alster, an expert in Sumerian translations, noted Anzu as the correct translation of the symbols associated with the winged creature.[1]

Notes

1.
🡩Bendt Alster, "Contributions to the Sumerian Lexicon." Revue d'Assyriologie et d'archéologie orientale 85, no. 1 (1991): 1-11. [See p. 11]
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Artifacts related to this myth

BM 124571

Alabaster stone Wall Panel

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Texts related to this myth

See full texts of this myth via related artifacts. Where available, a translation is included.

All texts

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How did we get this date?

865—860 BCE

The attested date for the myth named 'Epic of Anzu' is derived from the oldest artifact we have: BM 124571. The creation date for this artifact is a range because the exact date is unknown. We derived this from the source(s) listed below:

Notes (see bottom of page for full bibliography)

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    How did we get this date?

    We're not quite sure about the creation date for this myth.

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    Cite this page

    MLA Modern Language Association (8th ed.)

    OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Epic of Anzu." OMNIKA – World Mythology Index, OMNIKA Foundation, 09 Jun. 2019, omnika.org/stable/162. Accessed 16 May. 2024.

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    APA American Psychological Association (6th ed.)

    OMNIKA (2019, June 09). Epic of Anzu. Retrieved from https://omnika.org/stable/162

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    CMS Chicago Manual of Style (16th ed.)

    OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Epic of Anzu." Las Vegas, NV: OMNIKA Foundation. Created June 09, 2019. Accessed May 16, 2024. https://omnika.org/stable/162.

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    Bibliography

    Black, Jeremy, and Anthony Green. Gods, Demons, and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia: An Illustrated Dictionary. Illustrations by Tessa Rickards. London, United Kingdom: The British Museum Press, 1992.
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    Dalley, Stephanie M. Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, The Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1989.
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    Layard, Austen H. A Second Series of the Monuments of Nineveh; Including Bas-Reliefs From the Palace of Sennacherib and Bronzes From the Ruins of Nimroud. Vol II., The Monuments of Nineveh. London, England: John Murray, 1853.
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    Layard, Austen H. The Monuments of Nineveh: From Drawings Made on the Spot. Vol I., First Series of the Monuments of Nineveh. London, England: John Murray, 1853. [First published in 1849]
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    Fast facts

    Myth
    Sumerian Belief system
    Inanna Main deity
    Origin
    location_city Iraq Middle East
    event_note c. 2000 BCE Attested

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