Editing Dragon (section)

===Mesopotamia===
[[File:Sirrush.jpg|thumb|left|The ''[[mušḫuššu]]'' is a serpentine, draconic monster from [[Ancient Mesopotamian religion|ancient Mesopotamian mythology]] with the body and neck of a snake, the forelegs of a lion, and the hind-legs of a bird.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=166}} Here it is shown as it appears in the [[Ishtar Gate]] from the city of [[Babylon]].{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=166}}]]
Ancient people across the [[Near East]] believed in creatures similar to what modern people call "dragons".{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=71}} These ancient people were unaware of the existence of [[dinosaur]]s or similar creatures in the distant past.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=71}} References to dragons of both benevolent and malevolent characters occur throughout ancient [[Mesopotamia]]n literature.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=71}} In [[Sumerian poetry]], great kings are often compared to the ''[[Ušumgallu|ušumgal]]'', a gigantic, serpentine monster.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=71}} A draconic creature with the foreparts of a lion and the hind-legs, tail, and wings of a bird appears in [[Art of Mesopotamia|Mesopotamian artwork]] from the [[Akkadian Empire|Akkadian Period]] ({{circa}} 2334 – 2154 BC) until the [[Neo-Babylonian Empire|Neo-Babylonian Period]] (626 BC–539 BC).{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=121}} The dragon is usually shown with its mouth open.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=121}} It may have been known as the ''(ūmu) nā’iru'', which means "roaring weather beast",{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=121}} and may have been associated with the god [[Hadad|Ishkur]] (Hadad).{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=121}} A slightly different lion-dragon with two horns and the tail of a scorpion appears in art from the [[Neo-Assyrian Empire|Neo-Assyrian Period]] (911 BC–609 BC).{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=121}} A relief probably commissioned by [[Sennacherib]] shows the gods [[Ashur (god)|Ashur]], [[Sin (mythology)|Sin]], and Adad standing on its back.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=121}}

Another draconic creature with horns, the body and neck of a snake, the forelegs of a lion, and the hind-legs of a bird appears in Mesopotamian art from the Akkadian Period until the [[Hellenistic Period]] (323 BC–31 BC).{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=166}} This creature, known in [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] as the ''[[mušḫuššu]]'', meaning "furious serpent", was used as a symbol for particular deities and also as a general protective emblem.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=166}} It seems to have originally been the attendant of the Underworld god [[Ninazu]],{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=166}} but later became the attendant to the [[Hurrian religion|Hurrian]] storm-god [[Tishpak]], as well as, later, Ninazu's son [[Ningishzida]], the Babylonian [[national god]] [[Marduk]], the scribal god [[Nabu]], and the Assyrian national god Ashur.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=166}}

Scholars disagree regarding the appearance of [[Tiamat]], the Babylonian goddess personifying primeval chaos, slain by Marduk in the Babylonian creation epic ''[[Enûma Eliš]]''.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=177}}{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=153}} She was traditionally regarded by scholars as having had the form of a giant serpent,{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=153}} but several scholars have pointed out that this shape "cannot be imputed to Tiamat with certainty"{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=153}} and she seems to have at least sometimes been regarded as anthropomorphic.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=177}}{{sfn|Fontenrose|1980|page=153}} Nonetheless, in some texts, she seems to be described with horns, a tail, and a hide that no weapon can penetrate,{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=177}} all features which suggest she was conceived as some form of dragoness.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=177}}