Asag is a demon in Mesopotamian mythology, the son of the sky god Anu and the earth goddess Ki. He is mentioned in the Sumerian Lugal-e poem. It is said that he had an extremely frightening appearance and the power to cause fish to boil alive in rivers.
Definition
Asag (“the one who strikes the arm”) is a Sumerian demon. He is one of the Šebettu created by Anu, the city god of Uruk. It is said to cause disease, dry up wells and cover the earth with wounds, which are then splashed with its poison. He is often equated with the Akkadian Asakku. His name also means “the one who breaks the force.”
Role
Asag fertilized the mountains, giving birth to stone beings that accompanied him in battles. The god Ninurta (Ningirsu) defeated Asag’s army, or according to another version, Adad (Ishkur) did. This myth reflects the fear felt by the inhabitants of the Mesopotamian lowlands towards the inhabitants of the Zagros Mountains.
Among the seven demons of the genus Utukku, Asag is considered to be the carrier of epidemic diseases, such as malaria. Its range of action is not limited only to humans, where it mainly affects the head with severe fevers; but it spreads to spread the disease in the animal kingdom as well.
In the mythological tale “The Exploits of Ninurta,” (or Lugal-e) Asag is a monster born from the union of Anu and Ki. He will be destroyed by the god Ninurta, but his death will cause the waters of the Kur to rise, flooding Sumer and causing famine.
Origin
The exact dwelling of Asag in the Lugal-e poem is not entirely clear. He was believed to have lived in the underworld or in the mountains. According to the Lugal-e poem, Ninurta attacked Asag with his weapon (Sharur), but it is not stated whether Asag was killed.
In the Sumerian mythological poem Lugale, Asag is described as horrific:
“A large, round creature, with three legs and three arms, without a neck and several eyes covering its entire mass. She has dark, hardened skin that looks like rock when touched. Almost indestructible.”
Asag’s appearance in myths is not described in detail, but some archaeological findings are believed to depict Ninurta’s victory over Asag.
In relief panels erected during the reign of King Ashurnasirpal II on either side of the entrance to the temple of Ninurta in the city of Kalhu (Nimrud), a lion-demon struck by lightning is depicted. Additionally, seals dating from the Assyrian Empire period have been found, depicting a similar scene.