Mušḫuššu

Mušḫuššu or Mušḫušḫu (Mus -Hus -su, mus - Rusu, Sirrus, pronunciation probably Musch - chusch -shu; Babylonian terrible snake) is a " snake dragon " a mixed nature of Sumerian mythology and was the companion animal of Enlil and Tišpak. Later it was transferred to the Babylonian god Marduk. After Nergal - sar usur Mušḫušḫu are good gatekeepers, as they can spray an enemy with deadly poison.

Appearance

In connection with Tišpak, which is often depicted riding on the Mušḫušḫu, seven heads are often attributed to him. He is described as a serpent ( MUS ) and a lion ( labbu ).

Myths

The fight against the Tišpak Mušḫušḫu is described in an incomplete text from the library of Ashurbanipal (CT 13.33-34 ), wants to date the Wiggerman in the altakkadische period. The dragon was born from the sea ( tâmtu ). The myth describes his impressive size: the animal is 50 miles long, a mile wide. Its mouth is six cubits long, the scope of his ears shall be twelve cubits. Accordingly, great are his abilities: he can catch birds that are 24 yards away, and pull it out from deep water nine cubits something. If he lifts his tail, touched this heaven. All the gods are fearful. Tišpak he finally succeeds, with an arrow to kill the dragon in a terrible storm, his blood flows three years and three months, day and night.

Iconography

Iconographically Mušḫuššu is known as " red serpent hybrids " first as a double horned snake head presented with a scaly body. The front legs are those of a lion, the hind legs of an eagle. At the end of the long and erect tail is a scorpion sting.

The oldest relief comes from Nippur and refers to a connection to Enlil. The most well-known figure of Mušḫuššu found on the brick reliefs of the Ishtar Gate, which Nebuchadnezzar II had attach there and that is to see in the Ancient Near East Museum in Berlin.