The Palm Tree King was one of the monsters later known as the "Slain Heroes" in the Sumerian epic, Lugale, which centred on the quest of Ninurta (a.k.a. Lugalbanda) to recover the Tablets of Destiny, which were stolen by the Slain Heroes, from Ninurta's father, Enlil, the angry, jealous God of Air, and early head of the Sumerian pantheon (though replaced as other gods came into favour). The Palm Tree King, in the Lugale epic, was subservient to Imdugud (Assyrian Anzu), who held the Tablets until his defeat in combat with Ninurta.
Very little is known about the Palm Tree King, but he seems to be the only one of the "Slain Heroes" to have escaped from Ninurta, and remains free to continue his mischief in the world.
References
- Black, Jeremy; Green, Anthony; Rickards, Tessa (1992). Gods, demons, and symbols of ancient Mesopotamia: an illustrated dictionary. University of Texas Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-292-70794-8.