Tiamat’s family tree begins with the primordial freshwater ocean, Apsu, and the saltwater ocean, Tiamat, whose union produced the first generations of Mesopotamian gods. In the Babylonian creation epic Enūma Eliš, Tiamat is the mother of all gods, but later becomes their adversary and is slain by the storm god Marduk. The exact list of her children and grandchildren varies across surviving tablets, but the core lineage is consistent: Tiamat + Apsu → Lahmu and Lahamu → Anshar and Kishar → Anu → Ea (Enki) → Marduk.
The Primordial Parents: Tiamat and Apsu
In the Enūma Eliš (composed around the 12th–11th century BCE), the universe begins as two mingled waters: Tiamat, the saltwater ocean, and Apsu, the freshwater ocean. They are not depicted as human-shaped deities but as cosmic bodies of water. Their union is the first act of creation, and from it emerge the first pair of gods.
- Tiamat – the personified saltwater ocean, often described as a dragon or serpent in later art and commentary.
- Apsu – the personified freshwater ocean, sometimes called the “begetter” of the gods.
Some later texts, such as the Babylonian Epic of Creation, refer to Tiamat as “the mother of all” and Apsu as her consort. However, in other Mesopotamian traditions (like the Enuma Elish itself), Tiamat is also called the “creator of everything” without always naming Apsu as her husband. The most widely cited version, however, is the one in which they are a couple.
The First Generation: Lahmu and Lahamu
From Tiamat and Apsu are born the twin deities Lahmu and Lahamu. Their names are often translated as “the hairy ones” or “the muddy ones,” possibly reflecting the silt at the meeting of fresh and salt water. They are not major figures in later myths, but they serve as the genealogical bridge between the primordial waters and the sky gods.
In some texts, Lahmu and Lahamu are depicted as giant serpents or dragons, which may have influenced later images of Tiamat herself. They are sometimes said to be the parents of Anshar and Kishar, the next pair in the lineage.
The Second Generation: Anshar and Kishar
Lahmu and Lahamu give birth to Anshar (the upper sky) and Kishar (the lower earth). Their names literally mean “whole sky” and “whole earth,” and they represent the horizon where the sky meets the ground. In the Enūma Eliš, Anshar is the one who eventually sends Marduk to fight Tiamat, making him a key figure in the succession of power.
Anshar and Kishar are the parents of Anu, the sky god, who becomes the king of the gods in many Mesopotamian pantheons. Anu is often described as the supreme deity in Sumerian and Akkadian texts, though his role in the Enūma Eliš is more passive.
The Third Generation: Anu and Ea
Anu, the son of Anshar and Kishar, is the father of Ea (also called Enki in Sumerian). Ea is the god of wisdom, magic, and fresh water, and he plays a crucial role in the Enūma Eliš by defeating Apsu and later advising the gods against Tiamat’s wrath. Ea’s wife is Damkina, and together they have a son, Marduk.
Marduk is the hero of the Enūma Eliš. He is the storm god who volunteers to fight Tiamat after she creates an army of monsters to destroy the younger gods. Marduk kills Tiamat, splits her body to create the sky and the earth, and then becomes the chief god of the Babylonian pantheon. His rise to supremacy is a central theme of the epic.
Tiamat’s Other Offspring: The Monster Brood
In the Enūma Eliš, after the younger gods disturb Apsu’s rest, Apsu plans to destroy them. Ea, however, kills Apsu and takes his halo, and then Tiamat is persuaded by the god Qingu to avenge Apsu. Tiamat then creates an army of monsters, which are often described as her children:
- Qingu – her second consort, whom she elevates to leader of her forces.
- Serpents, dragons, and vipers – she gives them venom for blood.
- Lion-men, scorpion-men, and other hybrids – these are described as “fierce” and “merciless.”
These monsters are not part of the earlier lineage but are born specifically for the war against the younger gods. After Marduk defeats Tiamat, he captures Qingu and from his blood creates humans, who are meant to serve the gods.
Variations in Other Texts
The family tree described above comes from the Enūma Eliš, which is the most complete and widely cited source. However, Mesopotamian mythology was not uniform, and other texts offer different genealogies:
- In some Sumerian sources, Tiamat is not mentioned at all; instead, the primordial sea is called Nammu, who is the mother of An and Ki (heaven and earth).
- In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Tiamat is referred to as a dragon-like creature, but no detailed family tree is given.
- In later Babylonian commentaries, Tiamat is sometimes equated with the sea goddess Thalassa in Greek mythology, but this is a later Hellenistic interpretation.
Scholars generally agree that the Enūma Eliš is the primary source for Tiamat’s family tree, and that other traditions either ignore her or give her a different role.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Tiamat’s parents?
In the Enūma Eliš, Tiamat has no parents; she is one of the two primordial beings (the other being Apsu) that exist before creation. She is not born from anything else, but is a self-existent cosmic force.
Is Tiamat the mother of all gods?
Yes, in the Enūma Eliš she is called “the mother of all,” and her union with Apsu produces the first pair of gods. However, after she creates the monster army, she is also the mother of those creatures, so her motherhood is both creative and destructive.
Who killed Tiamat?
Marduk, the storm god and son of Ea, kills Tiamat in the Enūma Eliš. He uses a net and a wind to fill her mouth, then shoots an arrow that splits her body. He then uses her corpse to form the sky and the earth.
Is Tiamat a dragon?
In the Enūma Eliš, Tiamat is described as a sea or ocean, but later art and commentary depict her as a dragon or serpent. The Greek historian Berossus (3rd century BCE) described her as a woman with a dragon’s head, which influenced later Western images.
Does Tiamat appear in the Bible?
Some scholars see parallels between Tiamat and the Hebrew word tehom (“deep”) in Genesis 1:2, but there is no direct mention of Tiamat in the Bible. The connection is linguistic and thematic, not a direct reference.
Why did Tiamat create monsters?
After Apsu is killed by Ea, Tiamat is persuaded by Qingu to take revenge. She creates an army of monsters to fight the younger gods, but she is ultimately defeated by Marduk. Her creation of monsters is a response to the murder of her consort, not an act of pure evil.
Related
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