The ''mušḫuššu'' (; formerly also read as or ) or mushkhushshu ( or ) is a creature from ancient Mesopotamian mythology. A

mythological hybrid Hybrid beasts are creatures composed of parts from different animals, including humans, appearing in the folklore of a variety of cultures as legendary creatures. In burial sites Remains similar to those of mythological hybrids have been found ...

, it is a scaly animal with hind legs resembling the talons of an

eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just ...

lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...

-like forelimbs, a long neck and tail, two horns on its head, a snake-like tongue, and a crest. The most famously appears on the Ishtar Gate of the city of

Babylon ''Bābili(m)'' * sux, 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 * arc, 𐡁𐡁𐡋 ''Bāḇel'' * syc, ܒܒܠ ''Bāḇel'' * grc-gre, Βαβυλών ''Babylṓn'' * he, בָּבֶל ''Bāvel'' * peo, 𐎲𐎠𐎲𐎡𐎽𐎢 ''Bābiru'' * elx, 𒀸𒁀𒉿𒇷 ''Babi ...

, dating to the sixth century BCE. The form is the

Akkadian Akkadian or Accadian may refer to: * Akkadians, inhabitants of the Akkadian Empire * Akkadian language, an extinct Eastern Semitic language * Akkadian literature, literature in this language * Akkadian cuneiform Cuneiform is a logo- syllabi ...

nominative of sux, MUŠ.ḪUŠ, 'reddish snake', sometimes also translated as 'fierce snake'. One author, possibly following others, translates it as 'splendour serpent' ( is the Sumerian term for 'serpent'). The older reading is due to a mistransliteration of the cuneiform in early

Assyriology Assyriology (from Greek , ''Assyriā''; and , '' -logia'') is the archaeological, anthropological, and linguistic study of Assyria and the rest of ancient Mesopotamia (a region that encompassed what is now modern Iraq, northeastern Syria, southea ...

and was often used as a placeholder before the actual reading was discovered.

History

Mušḫuššu already appears in Sumerian religion and art, as in the " Libation vase of Gudea", dedicated to Ningishzida by the Sumerian ruler

Gudea Gudea ( Sumerian: , ''Gu3-de2-a'') was a ruler ('' ensi'') of the state of Lagash in Southern Mesopotamia, who ruled circa 2080–2060 BC ( short chronology) or 2144-2124 BC (middle chronology). He probably did not come from the city, but had marr ...

(21st century BCE

short chronology The chronology of the ancient Near East is a framework of dates for various events, rulers and dynasties. Historical inscriptions and texts customarily record events in terms of a succession of officials or rulers: "in the year X of king Y". Com ...

). The was the

sacred animal The term Animal worship (or zoolatry) is an umbrella term designating religious or ritual practices involving animals. This includes the worship of animal deities or animal sacrifice. An animal 'cult' is formed when a species is taken to represe ...

Marduk Marduk (Cuneiform: dAMAR.UTU; Sumerian: ''amar utu.k'' "calf of the sun; solar calf"; ) was a god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon. When Babylon became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of ...

and his son Nabu during the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The dragon Mušḫuššu, whom Marduk once vanquished, became his symbolic animal and servant. It was taken over by Marduk from Tishpak, the local god of Eshnunna. The

constellation Hydra Hydra is the largest of the 88 modern constellations, measuring 1303 square degrees, and also the longest at over 100 degrees. Its southern end borders Libra and Centaurus and its northern end borders Cancer. It was included among the 48 conste ...

was known in Babylonian astronomical texts as Bašmu, 'the Serpent' (, ^MUL.dMUŠ). It was depicted as having the torso of a fish, the tail of a snake, the forepaws of a lion, the hind legs of an eagle, wings, and a head comparable to the .E. Weidner, Gestirn-Darstellungen auf Babylonischen Tontafeln (1967) Plates IX–X. Marduk and pet.jpg, 9th century BCE depiction of the Statue of Marduk, with his servant dragon Mušḫuššu at his feet. This was Marduk's main

cult image In the practice of religion, a cult image is a human-made object that is venerated or worshipped for the deity, spirit or daemon that it embodies or represents. In several traditions, including the ancient religions of Egypt, Greece and Rome ...

in Babylon. File:Image from page 39 of "Ancient seals of the Near East" (1940).jpg, Late Assyrian seal from the 8th century BCE showing a worshipper between Nabu and

, standing on their servant dragon Mušḫuššu. File:Head of dragon-AO 4106-IMG 8988-gradient.jpg, Head of dragon dating from the Neo-Babylonian Empire (626 BCE539 BCE) from the Louvre Museum's collection

References

Notes

:1. Similar to the Set animal in Egyptian mythology and the Qilin in Chinese mythology.

External links

The Excavations at Babylon
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mushussu Archaeological artifacts Babylonian art and architecture Dragons Mesopotamian legendary creatures Mythological hybrids Offspring of Tiamat

History

See also

References

Notes

External links