Tablet of Destinies (mythic item)

In Mesopotamian mythology, the Tablet of Destinies ( dub namtarra; ṭup šīmātu, ṭuppi šīmāti) was envisaged as a clay tablet inscribed with cuneiform writing, also impressed with cylinder seals, which, as a permanent legal document, conferred upon the god Enlil his supreme authority as ruler of the universe. It is a major literary motif in ancient Sumerian myths including Ninurta and the Turtle, and in Akkadian myths including Enuma Elish.

Other mentions
In the Sumerian poem Ninurta and the Turtle it is the god Enki, rather than Enlil, who holds the Tablet; it therefore resides with Enki in the Abzu (the primeval sea below the void space of the underworld (Kur) and the earth (Ma) above). Both this poem and the Akkadian Anzû poem concern the theft of the tablet by the bird Imdugud (Sumerian) or Anzû (Akkadian) from its original owner (Enki or Enlil). In the end, the Tablet is recovered by the god Ninurta and returned to Enlil.

The Tablet of Destinies is an important device in the Babylonian epic Enuma Elish, in which Tiamat bestows this tablet on Qingu (previously written as Kingu) when she takes him as her consort and gives him command of her army. The tablet is seized by the god Marduk after his defeat of Qingu.

The Tablet of Destinies is referenced in Text B (a copy of an inscription of Sennacherib in Neo-Babylonian script) on the tablet K 6177 + 8869, now in the British Museum.

In popular culture

 * In the novel Fury of the Dragon Goddess under the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, Qingu attempts to reclaim the tablet in modern times in order to resurrect Tiamat and bring an end to all of existence.
 * Rashieme and the Tablet of Destinies A journal written by A.I. in July-August of 2005 in a Jail in Hagerstown Maryland explaining what happens when you come to the edge of ones own mind through the fasting of food and sleep for 14+ days. Based on a true story of someone who held the Tablet of Destinies (TD)! Written in English, Chinese, and Hebrew. Warning: Don't try this at Home Pistis Sophia𒁾𒉆𒋻𒊏.
 * The Tablet of Destinies is an offensive, defensive, and utility item in Smite, a third player multiplayer online battle arena game first released in 2014.