The story of Ti’amat has undergone many changes over time. In the Babylonian creation story, Ti’amat - like Illuyankas, from last week - is chaos personified in dragon form. A brave warrior named Marduk eventually defeats her and restores order to the land. However, in earlier Sumerian versions of the story, Ti’amat is the goddess of salt waters and creates the land along with her partner Apsu, god of the fresh waters.
In addition to creating the land, Ti’amat and Apsu also have many children who are gods and goddesses themselves. Because their children constantly kept them up at night, Apsu planned to spread them across the world, but one child - Ea - dissented. He killed Apsu and tried to kill his mother Ti’amat, but she fought off his attack. She then organized a war against Ea, with many of her children by her side, including her son Kingu as commander. Ea chose his son Marduk to lead the rebel forces, and Marduk used not only spears and a club and a bow and arrow, but also his powers of wind and lightning. Ultimately, Marduk triumphs and the story morphs from one of a rebellious grandson to a marvelous hero defeating the evil dragon.
Ti’amat, after creating the lands, then literally became them - all of the features of the earth are said to rest upon her back. In Rachel’s illustration of Ti’amat, you can see the mountains along her back. Her design is based loosely on the sturgeon, as seen in the two rows of bony scutes running down her sides. Rachel chose the sturgeon because they are a primitive group of fishes, much like how Ti’amat is one of the first recorded dragon myths.
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