About this deity
In the Babylonian tradition, Apsu (Sumerian: 𒍪 𒀊) was a primordial creature and the lover of Tiamat; and, he was killed by Ea. Most other traditions depict Apsu as water.
Also known as
Parent belief system
Sumerian Religion · Polytheistic · 7 mythsSumerian religion refers to spiritual beliefs practiced from ca. 4500-1900 BCE in Mesopotamia, or modern-day southern Iraq. Many deities were diffused into other Mesopotamian cultures.
Top myths
 |  | |
| Epic of Anzu | Enuma Elish | |
| Prestige myth | Creation myth | |
| Unknown author | Unknown author | |
| Read myth | Read myth | |
Role in Mesopotamia
According to Jeremy Black:
"Enki was thought to have occupied the abzu
since before the creation of mankind. According
to the Babylonian Epic of Creation, Apsû
was the name of a primal creature, the lover of
Tiämat, and when Ea killed Apsu, he set up his
home on the dead creature's body, whose name
was henceforth transferred to Ea's residence.
Marduk, as Ea's son, was called 'firstborn son
of the apsû'. Enki's temple at Eridu was known
as E-abzu, `Abzu temple'." [1]
Mythological stories including Apsu
- Epic of Anzu Prestige myth
Nuthsell
The winged eagle-lion monster named Anzu steals the Tablet of Destinies. No other deity wants to chase him down other than Ninurta, a warrior deity known for hunting. After a failed attempt, Ninurta captures Anzu, ends his life, and recovers the Tablet of Destinies.
- Enuma Elish Creation myth
Nuthsell
The universe was created according to the Babylonian timeline.
Cite this page
OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Apsu." OMNIKA – World Mythology Index, OMNIKA Foundation, 21 Jun. 2020, omnika.org/stable/688. Accessed 8 May. 2024.
OMNIKA (2020, June 21). Apsu. Retrieved from https://omnika.org/stable/688
OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Apsu." Las Vegas, NV: OMNIKA Foundation. Created June 21, 2020. Accessed May 8, 2024. https://omnika.org/stable/688.
