Mushussu (Mušḫuššu) is a Babylonian hybrid animal companion and helper to the god Marduk, from c 626 BCE. Since Marduk vanquished him, the mushussu now obeys him. Mušḫuššu is known as one of the three mythic horned snakes, a hybrid of several creatures.
READ: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
See also:
A scaly animal with leonine forelegs, the mushussu also relates to Nabu, considered the son of Marduk. Nabu is a god of literacy and scribes, replacing the Goddess Nisaba. He's popular during the Middle Babylonian Kingdom under the Kassites (c. 1595 - 1155 BCE).
READ: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
In 575 BCE the mušḫuššu appears on the glamorous Ishtar Gate of Babylon. The bold blue edifice is the eighth gate through which a person passes on entering the ancient city. Today the Ishtar Gate is on partial display at the Berlin Museum (below), with the rest in storage.
See also:
Mušḫuššu translates to reddish snake, fierce snake or splendor serpent. It's one of the three horned snakes of Mesopotamian legend. The others are Bašmu (Bashmu) and Ušumgallu (Ushumgallu). They're among 11 monsters birthed by Chaos Goddess Tiamat.
Hero god Marduk battles the creatures of destruction and defeats them one by one. In some versions Marduk takes the mushussu from the warrior god of snakes, Tishpak, who's also associated with Bašmu.
See also:
Tishpak is the patron deity of Eshnunna (Tell Asmar) in east central Iraq. Acquisition of the animal by Marduk, god of Babylon, symbolizes the conquest of Eshnunna by Hammurabi of Babylon in 1762 BCE.
READ: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
Once Marduk subdues the mušḫuššu it is friendly, loyal and helpful. It accompanies Marduk on his travels. The serpent dragon soon has its own cult. Its hind legs are talons of an eagle. Two horns curl from its head. It has a long neck and tail, and the tongue of a snake.
See also:
The Lion part of the mušḫuššu symbolizes royal and divine power. Lions represent courage, dominion, gold, the Sun, ferocity and Kingship. In the wild, the lion is an apex predator whose qualities are much desired.
Lions appear in Chinese, Hittite, Greek and other cultures as guardians or gate protectors. They're often part of hybrid creatures such as the griffin and sphinx.
See also:
Eagle talons of the mušḫuššu represent a visionary bird with swift and lethal attack, also relating to the Sun and the divine. Like the Lion the Eagle is an apex predator, sometimes called King of the Birds.
The Eagle reaches great heights as a powerful force of ambition and conquest. Its lands stretch to the horizons. As an animal spirit or totem the Eagle embodies success and innovative ideas.
See also:
Snakes are held in high esteem in ancient Mesopotamia. The region is home to over forty types of snake, ten of them venomous. In pagan animal spirit lore the snake is a symbol of healing, wisdom and primal fears. Snake venom is an element in folk medicine.
Shedding its skin the snake relates to renewal or rebirth. The snake is an earthly representation of the mystic dragon. Like dragons, snakes are associated with wealth. In German folklore the dragon snake is a Lindwyrm, who increases treasure by lying on it.
See also:
In Babylonian astronomical texts the constellation Hydra resembles the mušḫuššu. The constellation in earlier records is Bašmu, 'the Serpent'. The snake appears in world myth and culture from prehistory.
Below, the Gods Maruk and Nabu each stand on mušḫuššu. The person at center is a worshipper. He's surrounded by heavenly references such as the Star of Ishtar and her symbol, a stylized sacred dove.
See also:
The mythical horned dragon is a familiar figure in China and the East. The dragon is over 500 years old, for at that age it grows horns. It's synonymous with wisdom and longevity. However it can also cause misfortune and floods.
The Dragon is the only mythological animal in the Chinese zodiac. Dragons often relate to an element, fire, water, earth, wood or metal, each with different qualities. Overall the dragon is a sign of luck, power, charisma and longevity.
See also:
The Dragon is associated with wealth in the West too, as in the tale of Germanic warrior Siegfried who slays dragon Fafnir for its hoard of treasure. In China and other Eastern countries the dragon is part of mythology by c. 6200 BCE.
See also: