ANZU

[Mesopotamian] The Babylonian version of the Sumero-Akkadian Zu. He was the valet of Ellil, the supreme god. One day, when Ellil was bathing, Anzu stole the Tablets of Destiny and escaped to the desert. Whoever possessed those tablets was ruler of the universe. Ea persuaded the mother-goddess Belet-Ili to give birth to a divine hero who would be able to defeat Anzu. Belet-Ili brought forth Ninurta and sent him off into battle. After a long and terrible battle, Ninurta pierced Anzu's lung with an arrow, and recaptured the tablets.