Whispered in the darkness from one generation to another, myths and legends offer a glimpse into the deepest fears, dreams, and values of a culture. In Iraq, the mysterious Marshes are filled with tales of the Tantal, a creature that can transform from man to beast to inanimate object.
The Tantal is mischievous by nature, finding joy in its trickery. Picture yourself wandering through the Marshes and encountering a stranger dressed in ostentatious and tasteless attire. This stranger, possibly a disguised Tantal, might pose a strange question: “Do you think these clothes suit you?” Your response carries weight. If you admire the choice, the Tantal may not only befriend you but also shower you with wealth. However, disapproval risks invoking the creature’s wrath, which could drive you to madness.
Those who dwell in the Marshes will warn you that the Tantal is a creature of the night, a guardian of hidden treasures and a malevolent spirit eager to ensnare the unwary, especially children. Its appearance is unsettling – with eyes oriented vertically like a cat’s and long, sharp canine teeth. This ambiguous “face” hovers over a giant’s body, moving in a terrifying manner.
In reality, the Tantal often disguises itself as another creature, such as a man, woman, child, cat, or dog, in order to deceive and ensnare its targets. Tales of the Tantal serve as cautionary stories, told by adults to children, warning them of the creature’s wrath and its ability to drag the defiant into watery graves.
These creatures derive their names from the names of the Marshes themselves. Famous names in Iraqi folklore include Tantal Abu Ghraib, Tantal Umm al-Ubaid, Tantal Abu Asmej, Tantal Dawar, Tantal Salin, and Tantal Hafiz, who is regarded as the ruler of many Tantals in the Marshes.
The origin of the Tantals can be traced back to the legend of Hafiz, which has been passed down through generations in the clans of southern Iraq. According to the legend, there were two powerful kingdoms in southern Mesopotamia ruled by two kings, Al-Akr and Abu Shadhar, who had a brother named Hafiz. These kingdoms thrived, with the kings constructing magnificent cities and temples surrounded by lush palm and fruit orchards they had ordered to be planted. They even built colossal fences to protect their kingdoms from the Marshes’ floods, believing they had done everything necessary to ensure safety and happiness for their people.
However, the abundance and luxury led them astray from the righteous path. They forgot about God, neglected their obedience to the divine, and faltered in their worship. God’s anger was swift, and he sent an earthquake that devastated the kingdoms, destroying the fences, followed by a flood that drowned what remained, reducing everything to ruins.
In the aftermath, God sent Tantals and Jinn to guard the remains of these once-mighty kingdoms, buried entirely with their treasures and delights. The Tantals have tirelessly used fear and trickery over the centuries to keep people away from the buried treasures hidden within the Marshes.
Yet, if one were to get close to a Tantal, they would discover a unique gift possessed by these creatures – the power of foresight. Befriending a Tantal may grant access to prophecies of the future.
In an interview with an elderly Marsh dweller, Iraqi filmmaker Yassir Kareem captured a man who firmly believed a Tantal had visited him in a dream, prophesying a future where the land would dry out, and outsiders would claim it. This prophecy foresaw the climate change that would parch the Marshes and the arrival of foreign oil companies, forcing the native inhabitants to leave.