Qingu

Qingu, also rendered Kingu, is a figure in Mesopotamian mythology best known from the Babylonian creation epic Enuma Elish. The name appears in Akkadian sources with several transliterations, leading to the alternative spellings Qingu or Kingu in English-language retellings.

In the myth, Qingu is the consort of Tiamat and serves as the commander of her army in the conflict between the older, primal forces and the younger gods who rise to prominence. After Tiamat creates a host to oppose the younger gods, she entrusts Qingu with leadership and with the Tablet of Destinies, a symbol of cosmic authority over the order of the gods and the world.

The decisive clash ends with the god Marduk defeating Tiamat and killing Qingu. The narrative asserts that the blood and bones of Qingu are used by the council of gods to fashion humanity, a laboring race meant to serve the gods and sustain divine order.

Scholars view Qingu as a symbolic figure associated with primordial rebellion and the legitimization of human servitude within Mesopotamian cosmogony. The tale positions the gods’ rule as established through victory over chaos, with Qingu’s defeat marking the transfer of authority to Marduk and the establishment of an ordered world.

References to the character appear primarily in Enuma Elish, with various spellings reflecting transliteration differences. The story of Qingu and the Tablet of Destinies remains a central element in discussions of Mesopotamian myth and kingship.