A Rhetorical and Semantic Study of the Epithets and Attributes of Marduk in the “Creation Epic”
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67278/sjas.v1i1.37Keywords:
Marduk, Creation, Gods, Linguistic, Cuneiform TextsAbstract
Cuneiform texts, in their various genres, constitute a valuable treasure due to the rich and significant information they preserve within their lines about the civilization of ancient Iraq in all its aspects. These texts encompass a wide range of types, including literary, religious, royal, and other categories of cuneiform compositions. Among the most important literary texts of ancient Mesopotamian civilization is the Creation Epic, which consists of seven tablets addressing the theme of creation and presenting the gods’ perspectives on humanity as well as on themselves. In addition, it provides valuable information concerning the names of the gods, their attributes, and the relationships among them.
One of the most significant elements presented in the Creation Epic—particularly in its seventh tablet—is the fifty names of the god Marduk, the protagonist of the narrative and the chief of the Babylonian pantheon. The god Marduk is distinguished by the multiplicity of his names and attributes, which reach the number of fifty. This feature sets him apart from other Mesopotamian deities and has necessitated the present study in order to examine the meanings and implications of these names.
Keywords: Marduk; Creation; Gods; Linguistic; Cuneiform Texts.
Downloads
References
- Bibliography of Arabic References:
1. Baqir, Taha & Francis, Bashir (1949), Creation and the Origin of Existence, Sumer Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1, Baghdad.
2. Baqir, Taha (1955), An Introduction to the History of Ancient Civilizations, 1st ed., Vol. 1, Baghdad.
3. Baqir, Taha (2010), An Introduction to the Literature of Ancient Iraq, Baghdad.
4. Bottéro, Jean (1990), Mesopotamia: Writing, Reason, and the Gods, Baghdad.
5. Al-Janabi, Shaimaa Salah Ahmed (2007), The God Enki in Mesopotamian Civilization in the Light of Cuneiform Texts, Unpublished M.A. Thesis, University of Baghdad.
6. Al-Haboubi, Shaimaa Majid (2017), The Myth of the Anzû Bird in the Light of Cuneiform Sources, Journal of Arab Scientific Heritage, No. 3, Baghdad.
7. Al-Khouri, Lutfi (1990), Dictionary of Myths, Vol. 2, Baghdad.
8. Delaporte (1997), Mesopotamia: The Babylonian and Assyrian Civilizations, trans. Muharram Kamal, 2nd ed., Cairo.
9. Rashid, Fawzi (1985), “Religious Beliefs,” in The Civilization of Iraq, Vol. 1, Baghdad.
10. Roux, Marguerite (1984), A History of Babylon, 2nd ed., Beirut.
11. Saggs, H. W. F. (1979), The Greatness of Babylon, trans. Dr. Amer Suleiman, Mosul.
12. Al-Shakir, Fatin Muwaffaq (2002), Symbols of the Major Deities in Ancient Iraq: A Historical-Semantic Study, Unpublished M.A. Thesis, University of Mosul.
13. Al-Shawwaf, Qasim (1997), The Compendium of Myths, Beirut.
14. Al-Ta‘an, Abd al-Ridha (1981), Political Thought in Ancient Iraq, Baghdad.
15. Ali, Fadhil Abd al-Wahid (2000), Sumer: Myth and Epic, 2nd ed., Baghdad.
16. Al-Karimawi, Khalid Naji (2006), The God Marduk: Chief of the Babylonian Gods – A Study in Religious Beliefs, Baghdad.
17. Kramer, Samuel Noah (1971), Sumerian Mythology, Baghdad.
18. Labat, René (1988), Religious Beliefs in Mesopotamia, trans. Albert Abouna, Baghdad.
19. Na’il, Hannon (2006), When on High: The Babylonian Creation Story – The Complete Translation of the Cuneiform Text, Damascus.
20. Al-Najm, Muhammad Hussein (1993), “The Babylonian Creation Epic,” Afaq ‘Arabiyya Journal, No. 11, Baghdad.
21. Al-Hashimi, رضا Jawad (1978), “Marduk, the Great God of Babylon,” Al-Mawrid Journal, No. 3, Vol. 16.
22. Heidel, Alexander (2007), The Babylonian Genesis, Germany.
23. Hooke, S. H. (1987), Babylonian and Assyrian Religion, trans. Nihad Khayyata, Damascus.
24. Yahya, Osama Adnan (2007), The Gods in the Perception of Ancient Iraqi Man: A Study in Mythology, Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Baghdad.
25. Yahya, Osama Adnan (2007), The Gods in the Perception of Ancient Iraqi Man: A Study in Mythology, Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Baghdad.
Other References:
26- Driver, G, R., & Miles, J, G., (1960), The Babylonian Laws, Vol. II, London.
27- Haubold, J., & others, (2025), ENUMA ELISH, Irland.
28- Jack, N., (1999),” Mythology and Mythologies”, France.
29- King, L, W., (1902), The Seven Tablets of Creation, Vol.1.
30- Lambert, W, G., (2013), Babylonian Creation Myths, Indiana.
31- Oshima, T., (2001), “Babylonian Prayers to Marduk”, Tübingen.
Additional Files
Published
Views
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 حسنين عبدالواحد
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
