The serpent Tiamat plays a significant role in Babylonian mythology. She represents chaos and primordial creation, embodying the saltwater ocean. In the "Enuma Elish," Tiamat is depicted as a fierce adversary to the younger gods, leading to the creation of the universe through her defeat. This mythical narrative illustrates the conflict between chaos and order in the cosmos and Tiamat's dual role as both a creator and destroyer, highlighting the complexities of existence in early mythological thought.