Muhussu is a dragon in Babylonian and Akkadian mythology which guards the Ishtar Gate of Babylon .
Etymology
Mushussu is an Akkadian name that means "Furious snake'. It is also known as the Babylon dragon of Chaos.
Description
Muhussu is a huge creature, often depicted with the fore feet of a cat, the back legs of a clawed bird, a serpent's body, and a scaled head. Its tail ends with a poisonous sting.
Beliefs
The mushussu was originally an attendant on Ninazu, the city god of Esnunna. It was 'inherited' by the god Tispak when he replaced Ninazu as city god in the Akkadian or early Old Babylonian Period, and in Lagas became associated with Ninazu's son Ningiszida. Possibly after Hammurabi's conquest of Esnunna, the creature was transferred to the new Babylonian national god, Marduk, and later to Nabu. The conquest of Babylon by the Assyrian king Sennacherib (reigned 704-681 BC) brought the motif to Assyria, normally as the beast of the state god Assur. On Sennacherib's rock reliefs at Maltai, however, the creature accompanies three different gods, Assur, Ellil (Enlil) and another god, most likely Nabu.
Theory
Some believe that it was an actual dinosaur that lived around that time in the swamps since it looks so much like the Apatosaurus or sauropod and didn't change from drawing to drawing.
Sources
- Book of Fabulous Beasts, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons pg 260, Waterdragon, Dict, Illiana, Morgeu, Shadowlands