The Seven Tablets of Creation: The Enuma Elish

The Enuma Elish lists the battle plans of the god Tiamat four times, each time in great detail. No other text in the Creation Series comes close to the intensity or number of repetitions of this passage. Tiamat’s plans become a symbolic representation of the gravity of the imminent danger faced by the gods. The repeated description of Tiamat’s rage, demonic henchmen, and evil intentions create paralyzing fear among all the gods who hear her words. The only god who does not quake upon hearing Tiamat’s plans is Marduk, whose courage ends up being the only hope of the gods in the pantheon.

Sacred texts often use repetitive passages as motifs for emphasis, particularly when a significant truth is being presented. Repeatedly stating Tiamat’s battleplan and describing the horrific legion of warriors she gathered and trained is meant to emphasize the desperate situation faced by the rather helpless gods. Underlying the physical conflict about to happen is the symbolic battle between the forces of chaos and of order. Those who listen to the desolation threatened by Tiamat become more than willing to accept the stability and security promised by the gods of order.