A further adaptation of the story told in script and using a life-sized dragon puppet
has been created ... They noticed its tears and the jewels that had fallen from.
TIAMAT’S TEARS A story for all ages that can be used for a Climate Change Service or an Earth Day Service The story has been adapted by Joy Silver with permission by Reverend Rebecca Parker who wrote about a personal dream that elements of this story in her co-authored book, Proverbs to Ashes, 2001 A further adaptation of the story told in script and using a life-sized dragon puppet has been created by Joy Silver and Reverend Frances Deverell for a complete worship service and can be made available to your congregation by contacting Joy Silver at
[email protected]. Also, this story has been created for a Spirit Play story complete with basket of story objects, also available from Joy Silver at
[email protected].
Historical Background There are several versions of a Babylonian myth about the Dragon-shaped Goddess, meaning earth mother. She was the great mother dragon. From her body was born all the stars in the heavens. Her son, Marduk, becomes enraged at her great creative powers and decides to kill her. He arms himself for battle and advances upon her with his great sword. She opens her mouth to bellow her rage. Marduk seizes the moment and plunges the sword into Tiamat’s mouth. He kills her and slices her body in two. One half he casts into the heavens. The other half becomes the foundation of the earth. Tiamat lives forever with her body divided between the heaven and the earth. This story may have been told as an explanation of lightning or auroras (gaseous magnetic lights) in their night sky in the shape of what might have perceived as dragons. Story Once, a very long time ago people used to think that the lightning in the sky was about God getting angry for something they had done. The lightning came in many fiery dragon-like shapes, so the people made up stories about what these fiery gods were saying. One story was about the goddess, Tiamat. Tiamat was the creator of the Earth and Oceans. Her body was be-sparkled with multi-coloured jewels - sapphire blue, emerald green, ruby red and molten yellow. All living things were born of the oceans and the earth and the sky above. When the people were born of the Earth, Tiamat said to them, “Behold! All people of the Earth I bid you to take good care of my creation, and may all flourish under your care. Many, many years went by and Tiamat was sometimes pleased with how beautiful things grew from the good Earth and oceans, but there were days when the creator, Tiamat grew very sad with some of the things that she saw happening to her Earth planet. These are some children who had come to play ball at Kite Hill Park, all except Rebecca. She preferred to sit and read books. Emma was reading a book about myths, when all of a sudden
she noticed some strange movement in the sky. It’s was a spinning swirl of light. It grew larger, coming nearer. She wondered if it was a flying saucer. Rebecca watched fascinated. It circled downward, speeding towards earth. Now she can see that the object had multi-coloured lights—sapphire blue, emerald green, ruby red, molten yellow. It isn’t a flying saucer. It’s was great dragon, falling! Its jewel-encrusted body is in pain as it plummets towards the earth. Wisps of smoke trailed from its nostrils. Its fire has gone out. Rebecca could why it was falling. It couldn’t remain in the sky without its fire. Diamond tears were spilling from its eyes. Alarmed, Rebecca scurried down the hill to tell her friends. “Nicolas, Danae, Teddy, come and look. A dragon is falling out of the sky!” Shouted Rebecca excitedly. Her friends look at her as if she is crazy. “No, really, I mean it. Come and look!” she urged and she dashed back to the top of the hill. The other children followed her with curiosity. The children are astounded by the vision of this dazzling creature falling towards them. When the dragon landed, the children carefully approached the dragon to see if it was alright. She was breathing, but unresponsive. They noticed its tears and the jewels that had fallen from her body. Rebecca touched the tears with her finger. The children touched the creature gently. “What is the matter, dragon?” I see your fire has gone out. You look very, very sad. Are you in trouble?” asked Nicholas “Maybe she’s ill. Are you ill dragon? I know what to do when someone is ill,” said Rebecca. “What, Rebecca, what do you do?” asked Danae “Don’t you remember? replied Rebecca. “When you’re ill, your mum always feeds you chicken noodle soup.” “That’s right! beamed Teddy, “I love chicken noodle soup!.” “Well let’s get her some then,” urged Danae. Teddy remembered, “My mom just made some out of the barbequed chicken we had last night. I’ll go home and get some.” “I’ll go with you,” chimed in Danae.
They try to make the dragon feel better by feeding it the soup. The dragon takes a bit of soup and rallies somewhat, but not enough. “I don’t think it’s doing much help,” sighed Teddy. “What is your name, dragon?” asked Rebecca/ T-i-a-m-a-t. managed the dragon with great effort. “Tiamat. I wonder what that name means. Let’s look it up,” urged Rebecca. Rebecca read out loud, “It says, Ti means life and ama means mother. Hmm, life mother or mother of life. “Maybe if we pray it will help,” suggested Danae The children prayed together, “Dear Spirit of Life, please help us make Tiamat feel better. “I wonder what her story is?” said Nicholas. Rebecca thought, “Maybe her heart must be broken. Look at her tears.” Teddy stated, “We must ask her to tell us her story, and we must listen.” The children cuddled up to Tiamat and slowly she began to talk about how her wonderful creation, the world was being poisoned by pollution and people were dying from not enough food and from wars. The children shook their heads in sympathy. They touched their cheeks and hers in sadness and suddenly, each one them in turn had an idea to make the world well again. They told their ideas to each other and to Tiamat and promised to tell their friends and family what they all had to do to make the world well again. Tiamat was so moved by the kindness and courage of the children that she began to move and roll over. She brushed herself against the sides of Rebecca, Danae, Teddy and Nicholas as if to hug them. Then, as quickly as Tiamat had fallen to the Earth in despair, she picked herself up and began to fly around with joy. Soon, Tiamat waved good-bye and wished the children good luck in their important mission and off she flew to watch lovingly and hopefully over her world again. Wondering Together I wonder if you have ever seen lighting in the sky.
I wonder what you thought the lightning could be. I wonder if Tiamat really made our Earth. I wonder if you have ever had chicken noodle soup when you were sick. I wonder why chicken noodle soup helps you to feel better. I wonder what the children will do with Tiamat’s fallen jewel-covered scales. I wonder what Rebecca, Danae, Teddy and Nicholas will do to help make the world healthy again. I wonder if you will do something to help the world be healthy. I wonder what the best part of this story is. I wonder why Rebecca liked to read books more than to play ball. I wonder what promise this story is about.
