In the Sumerian myth of Anzu, Ninurta defeats the storm bird and recovers the Tablet of Destinies.
Anzu is a powerful bird-like supernatural creature who steals the Tablet of Destinies from the god Enlil. Possession of the tablet gives its holder control over the fates or decrees that govern the cosmos. Anzu hides in the mountains after the theft, creating a crisis among the gods.
Several divine figures are considered for the mission, but Ninurta accepts the challenge. He pursues Anzu, defeats him, and returns the tablet to Enlil. The myth celebrates Ninurta as a warrior and defender of divine order.
The story survives in Akkadian versions as well as related Mesopotamian traditions. Anzu is sometimes called Imdugud in Sumerian contexts, but that name and the Akkadian form should not be treated as separate unrelated creatures.