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Comparing Marduk and Zeus through the Titanomachy

Categories: Greek Mythology

  • Words: 2035

Published: Jul 09, 2024

In Greek mythology, Zeus is known as the king of gods and is the god of thunder and ruler of the skies. Marduk and his origin story parallel the story of Zeus and his brothers. Marduk is a Mesopotamian god who holds a similar position as a ruling god. In this essay, I will compare their origins and subsequently their two myths. The Greek origin story where ultimately Zeus comes to power is told in Theogony and Works and Days by Hesiod. Marduk's story came from Enuma Elish which was written and found on clay tablets. Zeus and Marduk are the principal figures that come to power after the Titanomachy.

Titanomachy is a common theme in varying myths where the younger generation of gods overthrows the older form of a more primordial god and creates new generations and rules over the world. Marduk is the child of Ea and Damkina. Ea is known as an older creator god in Babylonian myth and is known as a freshwater god and a benefactor of man. In the eventual Titanomachy Marduk is chosen to battle Tiamat. Tiamat is one of the first gods, she is depicted as a giant monster sometimes a dragon and in non-corporeal form is a water god. Tiamat wishes to seek revenge against the Igigi, the second generation of gods, for killing her husband Apsu. The Igigi appoint Marduk to be their champion against Tiamat and her army. In comparison, Zeus led an army with his brother against their father. Kronos was a titan and the father of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Kronos feared his sons overthrowing him because he killed his father Kronos, the primordial god, and ate his two firstborn Poseidon and Hades. Before he ate Zeus his mother and wife of Kronos, Rhea, fed Kronos a rock instead. This brings up an initial diff erence in motivation and relation. Kronos feared losing power and had no love for his children. Tiamat was more of a grandmother or great-grandmother to Marduk and only became violent after Ea killer her husband Apsu. Tiamat originally didn't mind the younger gods and disagreed with Apsu in destroying them. Once Ea took her husband, Tiamat acted out of revenge and wanted to punish those who took her love.

While preparing for battle the Babylonian myth gives more emphasis to preparations to the physical self. Marduk's form is human but far more alien than Zeus is depicted, he has four eyes and ears, and fire comes from his mouth. Marduk is described as much fiercer in appearance as compared to Zeus. Additionally, Marduk is given the tablet of destines along with power over the four winds before the battle. The tablet of destinies gives the wearer the power to materialize their will and is known as me power. Me powers are physical items that heroes in Babylonian myth adorn themselves with to boost their strength and power. Marduk is also known as a storm god and harnesses the power of lightning against Tiamat, he is also depicted riding in a chariot.

Alternatively, Zeus was hidden from his father then actively led and sought rebellion against Kronos and the Titans. Zeus made himself the leader while Marduk was appointed. After Kronos was tricked into throwing up all his siblings now fully-grown Zeus and his brothers led the overthrow of the titans. Zeus and his brothers are depicted fighting as a team in a ten-year war where they also make allies with the Cyclopes from the earth. This Titanomachy is portrayed as a more western war with battles and victory ending up in the eventual capturing and imprisonment of the titans in Tartarus. Zeus was armed with his lightning bolts and not much detail is given to additional measures he took to prepare himself for battle. It can be noted that the battle of Tiamat and Marduk is relatively swift. Marduk doesn't take a lot of damage and ultimately sends the four winds into her open dragon mouth and blows her up. He then shoots her bloated body with an arrow and she basically explodes. This battle and defeat are much more succinct and singular with one enemy vs one hero while even though Zeus is known as a leader, he is joined in battle by many.

There is a very famous moment of weakness that is described in Enurna Elish when Marduk doubts his ability to defeat Tiarnat and her army but eventually perseveres. This was later culturally used as a moral lesson speaking to perseverance in the face of a challenge.

Though the Titanornachy in Greek mythology represents a crucial theme in the succession myth it doesn't necessarily serve the same moral purpose. Also, with the destruction of Tiarnat came the origin of the world featuring the dismemberment theme. Tiarnat was torn apart and the earth was made from her parts and humans were made from the blood of her consort and champion. A new world is created and the new gods rule over these humans. In the Greek story, the earth and generations of man have already been created. Kronos created the golden race of man, known as the best race of man, to ever be, and then later races were made by Zeus and the Olympians.

Both myths share the theme that order comes from chaos. The Babylonian myth order comes in the creation of the earth and humans for the gods to rule over. The war itself is part of the creation myth meaning it's the beginning, in Greek myth creation in some form comes first then the order is disturbed in a cyclical fashion making a new order with the next generation of titans to gods, war comes after creation. The Greek myth doesn't include as much of a moral claim or a crossroads moment. Zeus was told it was his destiny to kill his father and did everything in his power to raise and lead an army. Marduk was created and chosen in a different way which leads him to be motivated differently and experience doubt. Zeus once again has a real hatred for his father for eating his siblings and being a monster and horrible ruler. Marduk and the Igigi have essentially been acting out of self-defense since Apsu was killed before he could kill the Igigi then Tiarnat was killed before she could kill the Igigi. Marduk served as a chosen protector against the corning evil.

Marduk is also initially credited with more power of creation. Meaning nature and items, he has practically limitless imaginative creation powers. Outside of the Titanomachy specifically Marduk was said to have created many things and gave some of his powers and responsibilities to other gods. He was gifted with many more powers like the ability to hear and see everything.

He became the undisputed ruler of the gods and was made to be that way. Zeus though extremely powerful has domain over the sky but limited creation power. Many natural phenomena are explained by other gods and the powers he has are the powers he's always had. Zeus became the king of all gods after the battle like Marduk who only became undisputed after the battle. Zeus pulled straws with his brothers to split up the realms and got the heavens even though he's the youngest amongst them. In the battles, Marduk is heavily armored with physical things to increase his already great power and he ultimately defeats Tiamat with a physical arrow. Zeus harnesses lightning bolts and storm as his powers and there is less emphasis on weapons. So ultimately even though the Babylonian myth emphasizes physical power in items while Greek describes their gods as innately powerful entirely, Marduk is far more powerful than Zeus and wins his position as supreme by a matter of ability.

Marduk and Zeus are the chief gods in their culture's myth. They both came to power after the battle of the younger god's vs the older generation known as Titanomachy. Throughout these battles Zeus and Marduk take varying approaches and are motivated differently speaking to the purpose these myths hold in their cultures, The Babylonian Titanomachy serves also as a creation myth and includes moral lessons that present values to the listeners. Additionally, the Titanomachy in the Babylonian myth takes place in essentially one battle where the outcome is Marduk being recognized undeniably as the chief god. The Greek battle was a foreshadowed destined one that was fought over ten years. The Titanomachy had less to do with legitimizing. The power of one specific hero rather than asserting the claim to leadership by overthrowing an older generation. The new generation of the Olympians rules over the already created earth. Zeus is the king but isn't necessarily more powerful and the battle was fought by all the gods, not just a chosen one. Both myths effectively show the theme of Titanomachy and within that order from chaos. Both myths speak to an ongoing cycle of creating a new vision of reality from the chaos or evil of before.

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