Zu (mythology)

Zu, or Anzu in Persian and Sumerian, (from "An" "heaven" and "Zu" "far", in the Sumerian language) is a lesser divinity of Akkadian mythology, and the son of the bird goddess Siris. Both Zu and Siris are seen as massive birds who can breathe fire and water, although Zu is alternately seen as a lion-headed eagle ("cf": The Griffin).

The Anzu was a servant of the chief sky god Enlil, (possibly previously a symbol of Anu), from whom Anzu stole the Tablet of Destinies, so hoping to determine the fate of all things. In one version of the legend, the gods sent Lugalbanda to retrieve the tablets, who in turn, killed Anzu. In another, Ea and Belet-Ili conceived Ninurta for the purpose of retrieving the tablets. In a third legend, found in "The Hymn of Ashurbanipal", Marduk is said to have killed Anzu.