Mesopotamian mythology has been influenced by a host of other religions, such as Sumerian and Babylonian belief systems. Since so many different point of views are involved in the shaping of these myths, there are numerous variations that exist, making Mesopotamian myths seem a bit erratic. In turn, it is this mythological set of beliefs that has affected other cultures, including the Phoenicians. This article will touch upon prominent figures, such as Ea and his son, Marduk.
Abgal
The god, Enki had caretakers who looked after him. One of them was called Abgal, who was part of a group that consisted of seven Sumerians, who bore the similarities of “fishlike” men. These seven wise deities have been part of numerous tales within Sumerian mythology.
Enki
In Mesopotamia, there were chief Gods who looked after cities during this time. It was Enki that was originally in charge of seeing that the city of Eridu was safe and running smoothly. Eridu was an ancient city that was situated about seven miles from Ur. Out of all the cities that made up a chunk of grouped temples, Eridu was one of the southernmost out of the group.
Ea
Under the word of Sumerians and Babylonians, Ea served as the god of the sweet waters. It was this son of Ansar and Kisar, who was regarded as one of the smartest of all the gods. When it comes to knowledge, it was said that his was never-ending. The humans benefited from his wisdom and kindness, as he was responsible for introducing them to the ins and outs of medicine, as well as the arts.
It is Ea who is depicted as part of the Babylonian version pertaining to the tale of Noah and the Ark. He is said to have spread the word of how Enlil planned on destroying the earth by flooding those who lived there. Ea is also known as Enki, who was attached to the concepts of crafts, water, creation, and intelligence. His son, Marduk would play an influential role in how the gods interacted with one another.
Marduk
In early times, it seems that Marduk enjoyed popularity only with the Babylonians until he made quite a name for himself through future actions. Soon, he was known all over as his name spread across the masses as the fertility god. He was also known as the god of thunderstorms. So, what is his claim to fame? Marduk is known as the god who led the younger, newer gods into battle against the older gods, who were responsible for bringing the dragons, Kingu and Tiamat into the picture.
In the end, Marduk did eventually take down the god of Chaos and established his reputation as being the power of supreme god. He gathered the remains of Tiamet to create the sky and the earth, while the blood from Kingu served as the means to shape man. Marduk is also regarded as the sun god. In astrological terms, he served the same position as Ra in Egyptian belief. Marduk also produced a well-known son, who was known by the humans as the god of wisdom (Nebu).