Tiamat

Tiamat was the great-great mother of the gods; she bore all her offspring inside her body. Everything was fine until the children created such a racket that the ancient gods demanded the new gods' annihilation. Tiamat cautioned her children the very first time this occurred. When this occurred a second time, Tiamat sent her consort to annihilate the new gods.

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The new gods united behind Marduk, who vanquished Tiamat and her consort, as well as all the ancient gods that stood with them, after a bloody battle. Marduk formed the earth underneath and the heavens above from Tiamat's body. Tiamat's tears formed the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

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Humankind was born when her consort's blood was combined with the crimson soil. As the offspring of the ancient gods, mankind was compelled to serve the heavenly beings in perpetuity. Inaction toward the new gods resulted in floods and storms. The Enuma Elish recounts this story.

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Origin: Mythology of Babylonia

Other name of the tale: Marduk of Babylon