The Dragon Stone

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Location:
Babylon, Near East

Images:

Description:
This dragon is the personal symbol of Marduk, high god of Babylon. Musrussu were a type of dragon rather than a specific individual. They appear in many places, but the most famous are those from the Ishtar gate in Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar ordered the decoration of the gates and the street leading to the gate. Glazed brick lions, bulls and dragons made an impressive decoration. This street was used for a procession during the New Year's Festival.

Musrussu was originally translated as sirrussu, sirush or sirrush. This is now believed to be an error. Accepted versions of the name include musrussu, mushussu, mushrushu and mushhushshu.

Some researchers have suggested that the snake/dragon mentioned in the Apocrypha may have been a musrussu dragon.

Other Dragon Stone Pages:

• Dragon and Serpent Apocrypha Quotations - Daniel, Bel and the Snake

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