What is "mushussu"

The mušḫuššu (; formerly also read as sirrušu, sirrush) is a creature depicted on the reconstructed Ishtar Gate of the city of Babylon, dating to the 6th century B.C. As depicted, it is a mythological hybrid: a scaly dragon with hind legs resembling the talons of an eagle, feline forelegs, a long neck and tail, a horned head, a snake-like tongue, and a crest.

The form is the Akkadian nominative of the Sumerian , lit. "reddish snake" sometimes also translated as "fierce snake". One author, possibly following others, translates it as "splendor serpent" ( is the Sumerian term for "serpent". The reading sir-ruššu is due to a mistransliteration in early Assyriology.).