Sumerian
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Tiamat
Tiamat is a primordial goddess from Sumerian, Babylonian, Akkadian, and Mesopotamian mythology. She is a creator goddess who is thought to embody the water of the ocean. She is thought to have combined with Apsu, who embodies freshwater, and birthed eleven monstrous creatures. She became incredibly angry at Enki and Marduk for leading the deities who later killed Apsu. She created and then married the god Kingu to fight Marduk. Marduk eventually split her in half, using half of her body to make the vault of heaven, and using her eyes as the water sources for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Citations: Jordan, Michael. Encyclopedia of Gods: Over 2,500 Deities…
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Rabisu/Rōbēs
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Lamashtu
Lamashtu is a figure from Sumerian and Mesopotamian myth. She is depicted as a woman with a hairy body, the head of a lion or bird, the ears and teeth of a donkey, large wings, and eagle talons for fingers. She was often shown riding a donkey carrying a two headed snake in each hand. At one time, she was seen as a vampiric and demonic goddess. She was believed to nurse dogs and pigs, cause crops to fail, dry up rivers, cause miscarriages, and steal children to nurse them with poison. She would also strike down men at random, cause fatal diseases, and inflict nightmares. People could be defended…
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Kur
Kur is a Sumerian dragon from the underworld living in the primordial waters. His name means “land” or “mountain.” He angered the gods by kidnapping Ereshkigal to be his underworld queen. Ninurta is said to have killed Kur with his mystical weapon, Sharur. Ninurta killed Kur which allowed the primordial waters to flood the earth and he had to lead people to the Tigris and Euphrates to rebuild civilization. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Humababa/Huwawa/Kumbaba
Humbaba is from Sumerian, Mesopotamian, Assyrian, and Babylonian mythology. He was appointed by the god Enlil to guard the cedar trees in the world of the living. He was dangerous to any who entered his forest. He was a large humanoid with a lion head and dragon teeth whose roar was like a storm. His breathe was like death and he could breathe fire. Covered in plate-like scales, he had talons like a vulture and a tail that had a snake head at the end of it. He personified natural elements and was protected by seven mystical auras. No one ever escaped his wrath. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, which…
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Asag
Asag is a demonic dragon of Sumerian myth. He was thought to embody plague and sickness, and his name even means “demon that causes sickness.” He was also believed to embody the cold of winter and could cause drought, head fever, and migraines. He lives in the underworld, Kur, and holds back the primordial waters to keep them from flooding the earth. He is the son of the gods An and Ki, and was fought by Ninurta with the conclusion of that conflict being unknown. He is thought to be so hideous, that his presence causes water to boil. He is father to an army of rock demons born from…
