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Myths and Legends

The Legend of Tiamat

Tiamat the Babylonian goddess of salt water and chaos

Babylon. Better known, as the cradle of civilization by historians, is also one of the early birthplaces of  mermaid’s.

Map of Ancient Mesopotamia

For the ancient Babylonians, Tiamat was the salt-water goddess of water and the personification of chaos. 

According to legend, Tiamat (salt-water goddess) and Aspu (freshwater god) had a sacred union, that  produced many other gods and goddess. 

During this time, the world was nothingness and dark. As Aspu and Tiamat slept, the other gods and goddesses, were busy creating the universe. Aspu awoke to the commotion and became enraged. The other gods, murdered Aspu, in an intense battle. 

When Tiamat woke up and was enraged, that the other gods and goddess, had killed her beloved husband. Out of anger, she spawned many monsters and dragons. 

One of the dragons, Marduk went to battle against Tiamat. He cut her in half, and the two rivers, flowed from her eyes, creating the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.