Divine Combat Myths represent epic struggles between gods and primordial forces of chaos, establishing cosmic order through violent conflict. These narratives dramatize the fundamental tension between civilization and chaos, structure and entropy, cosmos and void.
The pattern appears across cultures: Marduk battling the chaos dragon Tiamat in Mesopotamian myth; Zeus and the Olympians overthrowing the Titans in Greek mythology; Thor's eternal struggle against the World Serpent Jormungandr; the Hindu gods churning the cosmic ocean; Baal's combat with Yam and Mot; Ra's nightly battle with the serpent Apophis. These myths serve multiple purposes: they legitimize divine kingship, explain the origin of cosmic order, justify the necessity of violence in maintaining civilization, and provide templates for earthly rulers. The combat myth transforms raw force into divine right and chaos into cosmos.