Enûma

Enûma is a Babylonian creation epic, likely composed in the second millennium BCE. Its title comes from its opening words, "When on high," which refer to the state of chaos before creation. The poem recounts the violent birth of the gods and the subsequent creation of the world and humanity. The narrative centers on the god Marduk, who rises to prominence by defeating the primordial sea goddess Tiamat. Marduk splits Tiamat's corpse to form the heavens and the earth. He then creates humans from the blood of Tiamat's rebellious consort, Kingu, to serve the gods. The epic was recited during the Babylonian New Year festival, Akitu, and served to legitimize the authority of Babylon and its king. It provides a complex theological framework for understanding the cosmos and humanity's place within it, reflecting Mesopotamian views on order, chaos, and divine power.