Marduk

   Babylonian god of the spring sun, the Bel of the Old Testament, and head of the Babylonian pantheon. He was the son of El and Damkina and was the champion of the gods in their fight against Tiamat. To this end he was made king of the gods, and given the power that his commands, whatever they might be, would be effected immediately. After the great battle he defeated Tiamat and her husband, Kingu, and cut her body into two parts, one of which he made into the dome of heaven and the other into the abode of his father El. This victory was celebrated at the new year’s feast. After arranging heaven and earth he caused Kingu to be sacrificed, and from his blood El created man. Another version says that he decapitated himself and from his own blood man was formed. Marduk had fifty ceremonial names, in a similar manner to the seventy-five praises of Ra and the ninety-nine names of God mentioned in the Koran. He appears to have been originally a vegetation god, similar to Baal and Tammuz. The battle with Tiamat was one stage in the ousting of the mother goddesses. He is equated with Tagtug and with Merodach.