Apsu¶

In Mesopotamian mythology, Apsu (also spelled Abzu or Engur) refers to the primordial freshwater ocean that existed before creation. In Zecharia Sitchin's cosmological reading, Apsu is reinterpreted as a celestial body — specifically, the Sun.

Apsu in the Enuma Elíš¶

In the Enuma Elish, the creation epic, Apsu and Tiamat (the saltwater ocean) are the original parental entities. Apsu represents the freshwater underground ocean that mingles with Tiamat's saltwaters to create the first generation of gods.

"When on high the heaven had not been named, / Firm ground below had not been called by name, / Naught but primordial Apsu, their begetter..."

Sitchin's Interpretation¶

Sitchin rejected the traditional mythological reading and proposed that Apsu represents the Sun — the central body around which the solar system formed. In his reading:

Apsu = the Sun (the "begetter" of the solar system)
Tiamat = a primordial planet between Mars and Jupiter
Mummu = Mercury (the "messenger" or "servant" of Apsu)

Sitchin argued that Apsu's description as "the begetter" who "made the first gods" reflects the astronomical understanding that the Sun's gravitational field and radiation provided the conditions for planetary formation.

Apsu in Sumerian Temple Architecture¶

Historically, the Abzu in Sumerian temples was a sacred pool or water basin symbolizing the primordial freshwater ocean. The most famous was at the Ea/Enki temple in Eridu, where the Abzu was the source of wisdom and life-giving waters. Enki was the god of the Abzu — the god of wisdom, fresh water, and creation.

Parallels in Other Cultures¶

Sitchin drew parallels between Apsu and: - Abyss (Greek abyssos) — the "bottomless deep" - Tehom (Hebrew) — the "deep" in Genesis 1:2 - Nu (Egyptian) — the primordial watery chaos

Sources¶

Sitchin, Z. (1976). The 12^th Planet. Chapters 4-6.
Sitchin, Z. (1990). Genesis Revisited. Chapter 1.
Heidel, A. (1942). The Babylonian Genesis. University of Chicago Press.