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
The other gods create a “princely shrine” for Marduk, and he “[takes] up residence as ruler before his fathers.” The other gods proclaim that Marduk is honored among them and that his “destiny is unequaled.” From now on, they say, his command can’t be altered, and no gods can surpass the limits set by Marduk. Marduk is their champion, with “sovereignty over all of the whole universe.”
The gods come to the purpose of their banquet, which is to proclaim Marduk’s sovereignty among—and above—them. By having the elder gods—his “fathers”—declare these attributes of Marduk, the epic’s author unequivocally champions Marduk’s status as the preeminent Babylonian god, the one that all readers/hearers of the epic should worship in their turn.
Themes
The gods then set up a constellation in their midst and request Marduk to destroy and recreate it, through the power of his word. Marduk does—he speaks, and it vanishes; he speaks again, and it reappears. Seeing this, the gods rejoice, saying, “Marduk is King!” They give him a scepter, a throne, and a staff.
So far, Marduk has only made impressive utterances; he hasn’t actually performed anything in keeping with his self-proclaimed status. But now, at the other gods’ behest, he controls the stars by the power of his word. This power to create and destroy offers a tangible demonstration of Marduk’s unrivaled deity, which the gods quickly reward by investing him with the symbols of kingly office.
Themes
Having done this, the gods now grant Marduk weapons with which to confront Tiamat. They give him a bow and arrow, a mace, lightning, and an “ever-blazing flame” that fills his body. They also give him a net and harness seven winds to cause turmoil within Tiamat. He is also armed with a spell and a poison antidote. Marduk mounts his storm-chariot and sets off toward Tiamat, “who raged out of control.”
The gods equip Marduk with an array of menacing weapons with which to face down Tiamat. Tiamat is characterized as “out of control,” while Marduk is imagined as coming to bring order out of chaos by subduing her.
Themes
When Marduk draws near and tries to discern Tiamat’s strategy, he’s momentarily confused; his will and actions becoming “muddled.” Tiamat effortlessly casts a spell of falsehood that transfixes all who approach her. But Marduk isn’t hindered for long—he soon raises his “flood-weapon” and speaks to Tiamat “who feigned goodwill,” asking, “Why are you so friendly on the surface / When your depths conspire to muster a battle force?” He further accuses her of neglecting to show compassion to her own children, wrongfully granting power to Qingu, and scheming against the gods. He challenges her to single combat.
Marduk is briefly overpowered by Tiamat as well, but unlike the other gods, he is able to resist her spell and confront her. Because he can see through her spell, he’s able to not only characterize Tiamat’s threat as chaotic and terrifying, but also see that the outward face she presents is different from what’s on the inside—fitting for a goddess who’s associated with the deceptive potential of the sea. Marduk’s accusation finally brings the confrontation to a head.
Themes
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When Tiamat hears Marduk’s accusations, “she went wild” and “lost her temper.” She continues casting her spell. Finally she and Marduk come face to face in battle. Marduk encircles Tiamat with his net and blows his fierce winds at her; when she tries to swallow them, Marduk forces a more fearsome whirlwind down her throat, causing her belly to become distended. This gives him the opportunity to shoot her with an arrow, which splits her down the middle and kills her. Marduk stands atop her corpse, and Tiamat’s forces scatter in panic.
As earlier in the epic, Tiamat reacts with fury to accusations hurled at her. She is so enraged that she doesn’t recover effectively so as to counter Marduk’s weapons, and he quickly gains the advantage, slaying her through a combination of cunning and strength. He’s so resourceful in battle that he doesn’t even need to resort to most of his weapons. With that, the ancient goddess—and the forces of chaos—are permanently vanquished.
Themes
Marduk imprisons Tiamat’s allied gods and restrains the dozens of creatures who’d marched at her side. He also defeats Qingu and “wrested from him the Tablet of Destinies, wrongfully his,” which he seals with his own seal. After that, Marduk smashes Tiamat’s skull with his mace, causing the North Wind to “carry […] off [her blood] as good news.” Marduk’s fathers rejoice and greet him with gifts.
Marduk mops up what remains of the opposition and takes from Qingu—who, despite the command granted to him by Tiamat, didn’t even figure in the battle itself—the Tablet of Destinies. When Marduk seals the Tablet with his seal, he’s symbolically legitimizing his reign as the preeminent god and overseer of fates, restoring things to their rightful order.
Themes
Marduk then “[creates] marvels” from Tiamat’s corpse, placing half of it up “to roof the sky” and making sure her waters are securely contained. He then constructs a greater shrine in the pattern of Apsu, his birthplace, and creates cult centers in the sky for lesser gods, including Ea.
Marduk continues the work of setting creation in order and containing chaos by making sure that Tiamat’s waters cannot stir up conflict anymore. As the chief of gods, he also appoints places for the worship of lesser deities, including Ea, the one he’s particularly displacing. There’s continuity with former religious patterns, then, but there’s also no question about who now dominates.
Themes
