The Chaoskampf motif depicts a hero-god slaying a serpent to release the world's waters
The Chaoskampf is a cross-cultural mythological motif featuring a battle between a storm god and a sea serpent to establish cosmic order.
This recurring narrative, known as the 'struggle against chaos', typically depicts a hero-god slaying a multi-headed monster to release the world's life-giving waters. In the Vedic 'Rigveda', the god Indra uses a lightning bolt to slay the drought-serpent Vritra, who had imprisoned the seven rivers. Similar battles appear in the Norse struggle between Thor and Jörmungandr, the Greek fight between Zeus and Typhon, and the Canaanite myth of Baal defeating the sea god Yam.
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