but presumably endangered by the eastern kingdom's forces. While the text recognizes Tishpak as a high ranking god, it ultimately considers Dagan a higher authority. In the prologue of Laws of Hammurabi, the eponymous king is addressed as "the one who brightens Tishpak's face." This section additionally mentions Ninazu, indicating it refers to Eshnunna, most likely showing that Hammurabi after his conquest of said city presented himself as fulfilling obligations associated with local gods to legitimize his rule. A reference to Esikil occurs on a boundary stone (kudurru) of Nazi-Maruttash. Another Kassite period reference to Tishpak can be found in a curse formula from an inscription of either Kurigalzu I or Kurigalzu II from Der. Tishpak appears in a ritual from the Utukku Lemnutu incantation series as one of the deities meant to protect a doorway, alongside the Sebitti, Lulal, Latarak, Mashtabba and Ishtar. Two Neo-Assyrian ritual texts mention Tishpak: a takultu from the reign of Ashurbanipal (alongside Ashur and Shakkan) and a list of deities worshiped in Assur (alongside Kittum). Mythology One of the tablets from the library of Ashurbanipal narrates Tishpak's triumph over the monster Labbu, described as created by the sea, but designed by Enlil, seemingly to serve as punishment similar to the flood in the Atrahasis myth. Frans Wiggermann argues that the narrative shows a number of similarities to the myth of Anzu and to Enuma Elish. As pointed out by Wilfred G. Lambert, the most similar composition is however a fragmentary myth which seemingly casts Nergal as the hero, in which he confronts a sea monster on the behalf of Enlil. Frans Wiggermann proposes that the Labbu myth served as an explanation for Tishpak's associations with serpentine creatures such as mushussu, and as a justification for his installation as the tutelary god of Eshnunna. Lambert regards Wiggermann's theories about the myth as speculations due to the poor state of preservation of its only source making it impossible to interpret fully. References Bibliography Mesopotamian gods Snake gods War gods