Anzu, Inanna and the Huluppu Tree

The years passed; five years, then ten years.
The tree grew thick,
But its bark did not split.

Then a serpent who could not be charmed
Made its nest in the roots of the Huluppu-tree.
The Anzu-bird set his young in the branches of the tree.
And the dark maid Lilith built her home in the trunk...

The serpent, who could not be charmed, loosened the roots,
The serpent, who could not be charmed, from the Huluppu-tree, went forth;
The Anzu-bird cut off the branches,
The Anzu-bird flew with his young to the mountains;
And Lilith smashed her home and bore the tree into the city,
Into the sacred city of Uruk, she carried it.
From the trunk of the tree the sons of Uruk carved a shining throne for Inanna,..

(from the myth of Inanna and the Huluppu Tree)

http://echoes.devin.com/watchers/anzu.html

http://www.piney.com/BabHulTree.html

Anzu (from An "heaven" and Zu "far", in the Sumerian language)


Both Zu and Siris are seen as massive birds who can breathe fire and water, although Zu is alternately seen as a lion-headed eagle (cf: The Griffin, with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.).