Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Enuma Elish, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Order, Civilization, and Religion
The Sovereignty of Marduk
Chaos vs. Council
Feminine Power and Subjugation
Summary
Analysis
Anshar has all the gods summoned to a “conversation” and “banquet,” where they will eat grain, drink wine, and “then decree a destiny for Marduk their champion.” He sends his vizier, Kakka, to Lahmu and Lahamu to warn them about Tiamat’s rejection of her children.
The gathering to which Anshar summons the gods has the air of a celebration as much as a deliberative council. This is in keeping with Marduk’s earlier declaration that his “own utterance shall fix fate.” He doesn’t need other gods to do that for him, but merely to ratify what he has already decreed. The variety of gods referenced in the text can be confusing, but it’s helpful to envision them as essentially two factions—the older gods (Tiamat and those allied with her) and the younger gods (Marduk and other offspring of Tiamat’s allied with him).
Themes
Anshar instructs Kakka to recite the same lines which originated in Tablet I, regarding Tiamat’s conflict-stirring council, her “unfaceable weapon,” the gathering of other fierce creatures, and Qingu’s battle command. He also has him relay the glad news of Marduk’s desire “of his own free will” to face Tiamat. Kakka accordingly presents himself to Lahmu and Lahamu and proclaims the message word for word.
The repetition of this long passage is further evidence of the text’s use in a ritual context—its repeated recital (now for the third and fourth times) reinforces the key dramatic elements in the story and heightens tension.
Themes
Lahmu and Lahamu, as well as the Igigi (the company of younger gods allied with them), are dismayed to hear this news, having been ignorant of Tiamat’s plans. They duly attend Anshar’s banquet, which is a joyful event: besides conversation, there’s “choice wine” and “sweet beer.” As the gods drink, they become “carefree” and “merry,” and they “[decree] destiny for Marduk their champion.”
