Anzû

Anzû is a mythological creature from ancient Mesopotamian lore, often depicted as a large bird with the head of a lion and the body of a man or a lion. Its name derives from Sumerian and Akkadian terms that roughly translate to “the wind bird” or “the storm-wing”. The creature first appears in Sumerian texts as a servant of the gods, frequently used as a symbol of divine power and agency.

In the Zigram and Ninurta epics, Anzû steals the Tablet of Destinies from the god Enlil, an act that threatens cosmic order. The hero god Ninurta is sent to recover the tablet and defeat Anzû. The narratives highlight themes of authority, prophecy, and the struggle between divine and natural forces, showcasing the sophistication of early Mesopotamian storytelling.

Iconographic evidence shows Anzû as a stylized beast with a lion’s head, wings, and a prominent beak, carved in clay seal impressions and cylinder seals. These images suggest that Anzû’s symbol was used as protective amulet or royal insignia, signaling themes of control over natural disasters and ensuring the stability of the king’s reign.

Later Akkadian literature references Anzû primarily as a wind spirit or storm god, indicating an evolution of the creature’s characterization over time. Scholars view Anzû as a composite of earlier mythic elements that were adapted for different theological and political agendas across Mesopotamian city-states.

Anzû’s myth continues to appear in modern comparative myth studies; it has been compared with similar emblems such as the Egyptian god Horus and the Greek phönix. Modern archaeological work, particularly at Nineveh and Babylon, has yielded new seal impressions that further illuminate the symbolic and religious significance of Anzû in ancient Mesopotamian civilization.