Anzu

𒀭𒀭𒍪

Anzu

Ancientwell-documentedSumerianAkkadianMesopotamia
Origin

Anzu (formerly read as Zu) was a divine being, sometimes called a bird, sometimes a lion-headed eagle. He was given care of the entrance to Enlil's throne room and used this position to steal the Tablet of Destinies — the document on which all fates were written and which conferred supreme power on its holder. When Anzu flew away with it, all divine functions ceased. The young hero god Ninurta was sent to recover the Tablet and battled Anzu in an epic combat.

Appearance

A monstrous bird of vast size with the head of a lion, wings spanning mountains, and eyes like the sun. His cry was like thunder. He nested in the mountains. When he flew, he created storms.

Abilities

By possessing the Tablet of Destinies he could negate any weapon directed at him (arrows turned back in midair). Created storms through his flight. Divine in origin and so immune to ordinary harm.

Weaknesses & Wards

Weaknesses

  • condition
    When the Tablet of Destinies is recovered his powers are stripped

Wards

  • ritual
    Invocation of Ninurta
Sources
  1. [1]
    Anzu Epic. Dalley, Stephanie. 1989. Myths from Mesopotamia. Oxford University Press.literary
  2. [2]
    Anzu. Vogelzang, M.E. 1988. Bin šar dadmē: Edition and Analysis of the Akkadian Anzu Poem. Groningen.academic
well-documented