Tradition: Mesopotamian Mythology, Iraqi Mythology
Alternative Names: Imdugud, Anzu, Zû, Anzud
Category: Lion
The Myth
Anzû was a monstrous divine storm-bird in Mesopotamian mythology, depicted as an enormous bird or as an eagle with the head of a lion. Some traditions portrayed him as a half-human, half-bird creature capable of breathing both fire and water. He was associated with the southern wind and thunderclouds and was regarded as a powerful supernatural being. His origins vary between traditions: he was described as the offspring of the cosmic freshwater ocean Abzu and Mother Earth Mami, while other accounts named Siris as his parent.
Anzû is best known for stealing the Tablet of Destinies from Enlil, the god who held authority over the divine order. By taking the tablet, Anzû challenged Enlil’s power and threatened the organization of the gods and the world they governed. The other gods feared the formidable storm-bird, and Anu ordered them to recover the stolen object. Anzû concealed the tablet on a mountaintop, making its retrieval a dangerous undertaking.
Different versions of the myth describe Anzû’s defeat in different ways. In one account, the god Marduk killed the monstrous bird, while another tells how Ninurta pursued and slew him with arrows. His story reflects the struggle to preserve divine authority against a powerful creature capable of challenging the established cosmic order. Anzû also appears in the Sumerian tale of Lugalbanda and the Anzud Bird, as well as in the story of Inanna and the Huluppu Tree.
Sources
“Anzû.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 21, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anz%C3%BB