#girtablullu

[petrvyhlidka]

Štíří lid stvořila Tiamat, když se chtěla vypořádat s hlučnou mladou božskou generací. Obvykle se, jak dobře známe z Egypta i jiných světových končin, nasazovaly z logických důvodů – totemová maska, reprezentující praotce/ochránce rodu – zvířecí doplňky na lidské tělo, v tomto případě byl ale postup opačný. Trup obávaného členovce s člověčí hlavou a končetinami.

[dwollsadventures]

Bug-men, while a popular motif in modern media (mostly due to Japanese influence), are not as represented in ancient art and folklore. Even the common image of the insectile fairy is derived from Victorian sources. Which makes the Girtablullû*, or "Scorpion Man" an old, odd exception. It is the only demon in the Mesopotamian sphere which has the features of an invertebrate. All other demons take from desert animals, considered the epitome of wild and dangerous by their standards: lions, snakes, bulls, eagles, and even onagers. The idea that scorpions were viewed as equally dangerous is interesting. 

The earliest representations of girtablullû are simple, like stick-figures. Each has a scorpion's tail, the only thing found in every depiction, and what looks like stylized scorpion claws in the place of hands. As time went on they developed into purely human hands and were never seen again. Wiggermann believes that the claws were a cosmic tools, that the anthropomorphized scorpion was a being who manipulated the celestial bodies with its claws, moving the sun and moon and stars. Despite its change in appearance girtablullû never lost its solar connections. Within time the scorpion demon became very similar to others, like ugallu and Pazuzu; a human with bird-like legs and a scorpion tail. One shows girtablullû with what looks like ass ears, a common motif in demon artwork meant to denote that they come from the desert, a place of evil. 

Then, something odd happens. Girtablullû begins to be depicted with a large, circular lower body (covered in scales?), with two bird or lion legs and a scorpion's tail behind. Even stranger is when they're depicted with this odd body arrangement, but with only a human head. From here they also receive the horned cap of the gods. Why the shift in appearance? It's possible that this was their attempt to draw a "scorpion-centaur", but if that was the case two ostensibly vertebrate legs doesn't make much sense. Scorpions are everywhere in the region, even today, so they don't have a lack of references to draw from. Pushing that question to the side, their last appearance in mythology, except when they're shown with all the other demon offspring of Tiamat, is in the Epic of Gilgamesh. Two, a husband and wife, stand at the gates of Kurnugi beneath the cedar mountain of Mashu. Here the god exits from Kurnugi every morning and when he returns at night the girtablullû close the door behind him. They are sky-scraping, terrible monsters beyond the power of mortals. Two memorable lines declare, "terror is awesome and their glance is death". Interestingly, the movement of the sun god Shamash (to the Akkadians and Babylonians) is awfully similar to the Journey of Ra, where every night Ra enters into the Underworld to die, become reborn, and exit from every morning. Though they are monsters of Biblical (Gilgamesh-ical??) proportions, they still work for the sun god. Despite being so terrible they were defeated by Marduk and now serve the gods. 

*the actual name of the being is what I use, with -lullû being a suffix used to denote a creature who is human above the waist, as seen in Kulullû and Urmahlullû. The name has been corrupted over the years into girtablilu, which is far more common on the internet. As well as another name for them, aqrabuamelu. I'll use the older version to remain consistent with all the other demons.

-- I wanted to avoid the incredibly realistic scorpion centaur a lot of other artists have gone with. Interpreting it literally probably isn't the right idea, but it also produces a really strange creature in the process, something that looks mythical and wholly un-naturalistic. Which is what I'm going for. For some reason I keep seeing people put my monster artwork in folders like "Spec Evo" and stuff, which is like. How. How did you think that. 

Girtablullû is positioned in a way that obscures everything but one of his legs. As well, the scaly? body is extended and there's a deliberate ambiguity as to whether or not that's his actual skin or clothing or what else. Next time, we go unda da sea.

[mykectown]

#MailDay I’m a little behind on a couple of these. But all super solid releases that I’m stoked to have. #JeanGrae #QuelleChris #ShirleyCollins #DollyCollins #Fless #Girtablullu #TriumphGenus #ManiacButcher

[coinandcandle]

Tiamat Deity Guide

We’re digging into the Old Gods today, folks. Buckle up!

Who is Tiamat?

Tiamat is a Goddess from Babylon. She is the Goddess of the sea, magic and primordial chaos. Together, Tiamat and Abzu (the Sweet Sea, or fresh water) mingled and made the Gods. Tiamat is often depicted as a giant serpent or snake, though no true representation from Mesopotamia exists as far as we know. The Hellenistic version of Tiamat shows her as having the upper body of a woman but has legs made of snakes. Other interpretations of her are of a woman with a human upper body and the body of a snake, a dragon, as well as a half reptilian woman.

Parents and Siblings

No Parents or Siblings

Lovers or Partners

Abzu/Apsu

Children

All the Sumerian Gods

as well as monsters known as Tiamat’s Creatures:

Musmahhu, Usumgallu, Basmu – three horned snakes, Furious, Exalted, and Venomous

Umu-dabrutu – a raging storm

Mushussu – a snake-dragon

Lahamu – a hairy beast-man

Ugallu – a lion-demon

Uridimmu – a lion-human hybrid

Girtablullu – a scorpion-man

Kulullu – a fish-man (merman)

Kusarikku – a bull-man

Epithets

Thalatta (Greek)

The Glistening One

She who bore them all

Notes

Though there weren’t any cults dedicated to Tiamat, her fight with Marduk was important during the Akītu festival and some believe that a performance of this battle was held during the festival.

Tiamat was known as a Mother of the Gods first in the Enuma Elish, but later became the story’s antagonist after her husband was murdered by the younger gods. In this latter half she embodied primordial chaos. It is in this myth that she takes on the form of a sea serpent or dragon.

The younger gods killed Abzu because he had planned on killing them in some stories, in others they overheard a conversation between him and Tiamat where he suggests she do away with them since she was the one who created them. Tiamat says no to this and urges her husband to not fight with the younger gods.

She set dragons who’s bodies where filled with poison against her opponents.

Tiamat and Nammu/Namma aren’t really the same deity, Tiamat took on the role of Nammu/Namma later. The two are very different in literature, however.

It was said that after her defeat, Marduk tore Tiamat’s body in half to create heaven and earth.

Her crying eyes became the Tigris and Euphretes rivers and her tail became the Milky Way

Her name may come from the word tiamtum meaning “sea”.

Modern Deity Work

Since there were no cults specifically dedicated to Tiamat, and there aren’t too many resources on modern day worship/deity work with her, here are a few things I found while researching her.

Correspondences

Rocks/Stone/Crystals

Sea glass

Onyx

Herbs/Plants

Dragon’s Blood

Animals

Snake

Dragon

Symbols

Dragon

Offerings

Sea water and sea related things

Fresh water

Candles

Wine

Sea salt

Fruits

Meat

Music

Acts of Devotion

Dance for her

Sing for her

Research her culture and stories

Swim in the ocean

References and Further Reading

Tiamat - World History Encyclopedia

Tiamat - Wikipedia

Tiamat - Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses

The Seven Tablets of Creation by Leonard William King (via Sacred-Texts)

Alster 1999, "Tiamat"

Katz 2011, "Reconstructing Babylon"

Lambert 2013 Babylonian Creation Myths

Vanstiphout 1992, "Enuma Elish as a Systematic Creed"

Namma - Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses

[dwollsadventures]

There's two different types of fish-related beings in ancient Mesopotamian religion. The first is the far more recognizable apkallu, or abgal, semi-divine beings that are recounted as sages and wise men responsible for giving humanity all of its arts. Much like the Muses of Greek mythology, as poets and historians would thank them for their inspiration, or claim all they know came from the apkallu. These beings show up in two different forms: eagle-headed genies or fish-cloaked men. The latter is a man wearing a cloak that makes it look like he's wearing a fish with a fish's head acting as a hood ending in a tail. Some deities, like Dagon, were equated with these apkallu, and erroneously called fish-gods that would one day make their way into H. P. Lovecraft's Shadow Over Innsmouth.

Kulullû is not this type of fish-man. The different depictions of him range between the average "merman" type body, with everything below the waist resembling a carp, or even a carp with only a human head. It was sometimes found in conjunction with suhurmāšu or the capricorn. Another common motif is the kulullû holding a stream of water or implement meant to convey water in some way. Though it does not feature much in mythology the kullulû (which is also one of the few demons to have both male and female variants) is a popular inscription. He's shown on tons of palaces and kudurrus, meant to bring about abundance and prosperity, whether it be monetary or agricultural. Fresh water is the staple of life, especially in societies so close to the invention of agriculture. Rather than being associated with the sea like other merman-type figures, kullulû is named and called upon to bring water down from the heavens and mountains, "come down produce of the mountains, enter intercession and compliance,". A marine scene also depicts kullulû in Dur-Sharrukin, far away from the sea but close to the mountain runoff.

-- Pretty similar looking to the girtablullu in retrospect. The combo of beard, that hair, and horned cap is very common. To make him more distinct his hair is looser and his cap has more horns. For more fertility! Instead of a marine scene kulullû is next to a flowing waterfall holding a lotus, with flowing vegetation all around the base. I always find it hard to make all the different fish people different.

Next time, the last of our human-headed demons.