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abzu

Abzu, also known as Apsu in Akkadian, refers to the primordial freshwater ocean in Mesopotamian mythology. The term denotes both the subterranean source of fresh water and the god personifying that element. In broader mythic texts, Abzu stands beside Tiamat, the saltwater ocean, as part of the primeval world from which the gods arise.

In the myths, Abzu is a male god associated with fresh water beneath the earth. He is

Cultural and scholarly use of the term emphasizes Abzu as a symbol of the primal, life-sustaining waters

In modern popular culture, Abzu has been adopted as the title or thematic inspiration for works that

part
of
the
initial,
chaotic
waters
that
precede
creation.
In
the
Enuma
Elish,
the
younger
gods
upset
Abzu,
and
the
god
Ea
(Enki)
defeats
him,
after
which
Abzu’s
waters
are
subsumed
into
the
foundation
of
the
world.
Ea
is
said
to
reside
in
the
Abzu,
reflecting
the
association
between
divine
wisdom
and
the
life-giving
depths
of
the
earth.
beneath
the
surface
of
the
world.
The
concept
appears
in
various
Mesopotamian
religious
and
literary
contexts
and
is
often
discussed
in
relation
to
Tiamat
and
the
creation
of
the
world.
explore
water
and
underwater
realms.
Notably,
the
video
game
Abzû
(stylized
with
a
macron)
by
Giant
Sparrow,
released
in
2016,
presents
a
serene
underwater
world
and
draws
on
the
name’s
ancient
associations
with
the
ocean
of
life.