Our traditional image of the horned, winged demon comes from the Sumerian Myth of Zu and focuses on the two brother-gods, Enki, who seems to have sympathy for the humans, and Enlil, who is a strict adherent to Anu's orders. The Nefilim were again presented with a potential mutiny when the Igigi, a form or Nefilim that worked in "the firmament," or space, complained that they had no place to rest. They noted that other Nefilim who mined, and certain deities assigned to land duty, were provided with a retreat. But they feared a confrontation with both Enki and Enlil and persuaded Zu to make their request known to the godhead. Zu was an orphan. The stories about Zu mention that his ancestors were enemies of Anu and his clan (from events on their home planet), but only Enki was aware of this and he chose to keep the matter secret. Zu was adopted by the space workers, the Igigi, and lived as one of them. And it was with pleasure that he took their request for help to a meeting with Enki and Enlil. He was not their equal, but he was their kind. Enlil was not easily convinced that a rest-stop for Igigi was necessary. He hesitated. His god-brother Enki, for some reason, suggested that the whole matter could be delayed indefinitely if Enlil would re-assign Zu to his own personal service. Service to either brother would supercede any other committments. The suggestion was made to have Zu guard the most sensitive area, atop the ziggurat pyramid, in the secret chamber where "the tablets of destinies" were kept. This position was considered important enough to delay the Igigi request. Enlil agreed and made it so. To the words that Enki spoke to him the god Enlil consented. At the sanctuary Zu took up his position At the entrance to the chamber Enlil had assigned him. Zu envies the "tablets of destiny" and the power that they could bring. He perhaps even realized the tactics of Enlil. He finally steals the tablets of destiny and escapes back to "the heavens," from where he begins to utilize the power of the tablets. Anu and the godhead are shocked. The entire planet is in a state of crisis over this violation of trust. Anu orders that the tablets be restored to Enlil -- but, the godhead moaned, "who will be able to fight Zu now that he has the tablets?" It is decided that Enlil's first born son (and heir to his authority), Ninurta, will do battle with Zu. Ultimately, the battle is won and Ninurta restores the tablets to their sacred chamber. There is a dramatic trial in which all of the godhead sits in judgement and condemnation of Zu. He is handed over to Ninurta who cuts his throat. This epic was so meaningful to the Sumerians that it was depicted on countless clay seals and artistic impressions. Zu is often depicted as a bird, with feathers and wings, to represent his allegiance to the Igigi, the ones "who fly." The epic was remembered in Babylonian and Assyrian rituals where a bull, representing the evil Zu, was sacrificed in the presence of the godhead. To Sumerians, Zu represented the ultimate personification of betrayal and he served as a metaphor of deception and affliction. The "horned one" also has his links to Sumeria. Anu, Enlil and Enki were almost always depicted with horns, a beard and occasionally a tiarra or widely brimmed hat. The horns were a way of signifying their godhead identity, much the same as Christian art shows a halo to signify being "holy." Did they have real horns? Probably not. The addition of horns to the winged, bird-like feet of Zu completes the archetype of the devil. But the existence of real evil in the world attests to something more substantial than a myth or even an historical being in the past. What is the basis of evil today? To the Sumerian godhead, evil was a reversion to the weakest impulses and drives of the being. Humans, being part animal (homo erectus) and part god (Anunaki) were prone to give in to their animal desires. This was the evil in men -- the residual primitive drives for self-preservation and procreation. Evil would always prevent man's movement to become more Nefilim-like, by developing his Nefilim abilities. His lack of self control would naturally inhibit this process. True, personified evil would result in the use of Nefilim powers for the attainment of self-interest. There have always been those rare individuals who have, perhaps by accident, developed some Nefilim abilities and then used them incorrectly. Like the betrayal of Zu, the misuse of power is at the very core of our concept of evil. Where is the devil? He is inside every human, waiting to impose self-interests and attend to our animal psyche. He is, I'm afraid, part of each and every one of us. As I said before, this story is true. Rather than list each reference and translation, being caught up in the many arguments over syntax and convention, I have given you the plot. A quick review of history will readily prove the plot, without getting further into the details. You will then have to ask yourself whether you choose to believe that this is true, or that the Sumerians had an extremely lively and creative imagination. The deeper you dig, the more you will recognize the history that has been kept from you. But you have a right to know. Please view reader's comments below. back || Viewzone || more later... SELECTED READER'S COMMENTS Editor: The following is what I've discovered about the Devil. The first part is taken from Chapter III of my book India Is the Real Jewish and Christian Holy Land: "Satan Was Really a Saintly Indian King. In Chapter II, I explained that Satana was in reality a Gujarati city-state that lost a war to the Seunas or Zionists. The name of this city was probably derived from that of a Jaina king and founder of a small Jaina sect. We are wrongly taught that a holy man named Mahavira founded Jainism. He was in reality a later reformer. Jainism itself existed millenniums before Mahavira was born. No one really knows exactly when Mahavira lived. I believe that he achieved his enlightenment around 1000 B.C. Some years after his death, a pious Jaina king named Satan-ikas (Satan of Kasi?) began expounding his own version of Jainism. He succeeded in getting only 11 converts. They distinguished themselves from other Jainists by wearing blood-red robes and occasionally bull-horn headresses. Because the sect was (and still is) so very small, it was probably rejected by Jainists as demoniacal and heretical. In those days, the different Indian sects often fought one another, as, indeed, their non-Indian descendants do even today. Over the centuries, this saint and his red clothing evolved to the red-colored monster that the TV preachers use to scare fanatical Christian fundamentalists and convince them to unload their bank accounts and wallets. The following are the "evil" teachings that this "Satan" used to ensnare innocent victims: 1. The senses are not the seat of wisdom. 2. The Law of Karma (the effect of our past deeds, whether good or bad) is a reality. 3. The world and the beings in it are realities; not illusions. 4. The spiritual dimension is also real. 5. No one should kill animals. 6. We must endure patiently the life conditons that we cannot change. 7. Do not mortify the body. 8. Always be truthful, sincere, and pure of conduct. 9. Do not steal. 10. Do not be unfaithful to your spouse. Control all earthly desires. If Satan-ikas were to return to see what he has become in the minds of Baptist preachers and Jehovah's Witnesses, he'd truly be saddened to learn that he is remembered as The Great Tempter - the man that everyone loves to hate. The preachers need not worry overmuch. Very few people have ever fallen into the clutches of Satan-ikas. "The Sanskrit/Kashmiri word for "devil" is exactly as in English: dev-il (condition of being a devil). The amazing similarities between English and Sanskrit prompted Indian historian A. K. Mazumdar to write, ".English is essentially Rig-Vedic Sanskrit in disguise." (The Hindu History; p. 349.) For more information about this anomaly, see my book India Once Ruled the World." Comment: My guess is that the orthodox Jains regarded Satan-ikas as a heretic and demonized him and his followers. Somehow, he became the Devil for the rest of the world. Gene D. Matlock COMMENTS ON ZUaB: In retrospect, I am not so certain Zu deserves the diabolical reputation the Babylonian chronicles tried to heap upon him. The myth mentions that the god 'Shara', the son of Inanna and Shu-Sin, plays a pivotal role in the events that take place, and since Shara was not born until circa 2030 BC, we can reasonably determine that the Myth of Anzu takes place during one of the most violent times ever recorded in history. Anzu does not take the tablets of destiny from Enlil until after Inanna/Ishtar has attempted to gain supremacy in Sumer, and she goads Naram Sin into defiling Enlil's temple in Nippur. During this sam e time, Ra/Marduk and his son Nebo are attacking the Sinai Peninsula with their Egyptian and African troops. In retribution, Naram Sin attacks Egypt and according to a text titled "The Admonitions of Ipu-wer", he removes something essential from the Great Pyramid that results in famine and a general breakdown of society in Egypt. Enlil is on a rampage throughout Sumer and Mesopotamia. He orders the "Gutian hordes" and the Elamites under Chedorlaomer to savage the land. The records report disease, famine and starvation occurring among the human populations throughout the Near and Middle East during this fateful century. Though the Babylonian priesthood attempts to convince us that Anzu 'úwanted to be God most high' or that he was elected to bring the Igigi's complaints before Enki and Enlil, such reasons seem ambiguous at best and appear to be a far cry from what the texts tell us really happened. When Anzu steals the Tablets of Destiny from Enlil, all the Anunnaki gods fear him for they know now he has the power "to turn them into clay." But does Anzu do that? No! Anzu does something quite unexpected when the tablets are in his possession. The Old Babylonian version reports: "He stole the Ellil-power; rites were abandoned. Father Ellil, their counselor, was dumbstruck. Radiance faded, silence reigned, Every one of the Igigi was thrown into confusion, For he had stripped the chamber of its radiance." Anzu apparently shut the Pyramid-Leyline-Temple system down. For one brief, glorious moment, from the Igigi "in heaven" to Enlil's temple of doom in Sumer, Anzu shut the entire Anunnaki power system down. I suppose if one happened to be one of the Anunnaki fallen angels masquerading around on earth as gods, then this event may well have qualified as "demonic." However, if you were one of the poor human beings sick and dying because of the tyranny of the Anunnaki gods, then I rather suspect that Anzu would have been hailed a hero among the people. K. A. Kelly Back to Viewzone || Comments?