Kingu- Mesopotamian GodDeity

Tiamat's Champion

Before Tiamat's rebellion against the younger gods, Kingu was undistinguished among the elder deities. But when Tiamat resolved to avenge Apsû's death and destroy the gods who had disturbed the primordial silence, she chose Kingu to lead her war. She elevated him to supreme command, made him her new consort in place of the slain Apsû, and placed the Tablet of Destinies upon his chest. "Your command is unchangeable, your word is established!" she proclaimed, as the Enuma Elish records.

The Army of Monsters

Under Kingu's command marched an army Tiamat had fashioned for war: eleven species of monsters, serpents with venom for blood and fierce dragons wrapped in radiance among them. All bore weapons that spared not and feared no battle. Kingu rode at their head, the Tablet of Destinies fastened to his breast, the authority of fate itself marshaled behind Tiamat's rage.

Defeat and Capture

When Marduk advanced to meet the chaos host, the battle turned on his confrontation with Tiamat directly. He trapped her in his net, drove the evil wind into her belly, and split her body with his arrow. At her fall, Kingu's army shattered. The monsters broke ranks and fled. Marduk bound Kingu, took the Tablet of Destinies from his chest, sealed it, and fastened it upon his own breast.

Blood of Humanity

After the victory, Marduk proposed creating humankind to bear the labor the gods found tedious. The divine assembly was asked who should pay the blood-price for this creation. Their verdict was unanimous: "It was Kingu who contrived the uprising, and made Tiamat rebel, and joined battle." Kingu was brought before Ea and executed. From his blood, mixed with clay, humanity was shaped. Mortals made from the substance of a rebel god, put to work in the service of heaven.