Symbols City of the Plague God Sarwat Chadda

Kasusu: The Living Sword of Ishtar

What Is Kasusu?

Kasusu is a legendary scimitar belonging to the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar. Unlike ordinary weapons, Kasusu is sentient—it speaks, boasts, and holds centuries of memory. The blade is so sharp it can “cut light” and slice through solid marble with barely any effort. In City of the Plague God, Kasusu first appears when Belet, Ishtar’s daughter, uses it to rescue Sikander from Nergal’s demons. The sword’s personality is proud and dismissive; it has trained legendary heroes such as Beowulf, Alexander, and the Rani of Jhansi, and it considers itself superior to every warrior except Gilgamesh.

Where Kasusu Appears

Kasusu recurs throughout the novel as a physical weapon, a plot device, and a character in its own right:

  • Chapter Two (Chapter Three in outline): Belet, disguised as a ninja, wields Kasusu against Nergal’s demons in the Aziz family deli. The sword’s name is first spoken by the giant demon (Nergal) when he recognizes it.
  • Chapter Seven (flashback): Ishtar carries Kasusu during World War II. She uses it to slice the wings off German bombers and kill pilots, demonstrating the sword’s destructive power in defense of innocents.
  • Chapter Thirteen: Belet trains Sikander in the armory. She cuts a marble column in half with a casual swing, showcasing Kasusu’s lethal edge. The sword then speaks to Sikander, mocking his lack of fighting skill and revealing its history with Gilgamesh.
  • Chapter Twenty-One: After Sikander’s apparent death and resurrection, Belet retrieves Kasusu from where it was stuck in a wall. She and Sikander use the sword as a symbol of resolve to fight Nergal.
  • Chapter Thirty-One (underwater sequence): Sikander uses a magical net that emerges from Kasusu to trap the Basmu serpent, allowing him and Mo to escape with the flower of immortality.
  • Chapter Thirty-Three: Belet still carries Kasusu when Sikander returns from Kurnugi. The sword is tucked into her scarlet sash, ready for battle.

How Its Meaning Changes

Kasusu begins as an emblem of divine authority and overwhelming power. In Ishtar’s hands during the WWII flashback, it represents the goddess’s willingness to intervene directly and violently against evil. The sword hums with eagerness to kill, and Ishtar wields it with joy—a reminder that she is also the goddess of war.

When Belet inherits the sword, Kasusu becomes a symbol of legacy and duty. Belet treats it with reverence and confidence, and the sword responds with warmth (“That’s my girl”). For her, Kasusu is a tool of vengeance and protection, but also a connection to her mother’s fighting spirit.

For Sikander, Kasusu initially embodies a world of heroism he feels unworthy of. The sword taunts him, calling him hopeless and refusing to teach him. Later, after Sikander survives the train wreck, he uses Kasusu indirectly (the net) and gains a measure of respect. The sword’s meaning shifts from an unattainable ideal to a practical, if still intimidating, ally. By the end, Kasusu is no longer just Ishtar’s weapon but a living testament to the endurance of heroism across generations.

Character Connections

  • Ishtar: Kasusu is an extension of Ishtar’s dual nature as love and war. She and the sword share a bond of battle-sisterhood. Her death in Chapter Eighteen does not sever the sword’s purpose; it continues to serve her daughter.
  • Belet: Belet is Kasusu’s primary wielder after Ishtar. Their relationship is affectionate—Belet talks to the sword, and Kasusu boasts about killing Leonidas. The sword supports Belet’s quest to rescue Ishtar and gives her the confidence to face Nergal.
  • Sikander: Sikander’s interactions with Kasusu are marked by intimidation and grudging cooperation. The sword’s dismissal reflects Sikander’s own self-doubt, but its eventual aid (the net) shows that even the arrogant blade can be part of a team effort.
  • Gilgamesh: Kasusu was once the sword of Gilgamesh before he obtained the even more powerful Sky Cutter, Abubu. Kasusu reveals that Gilgamesh never lost a battle but could not save Enkidu—a key insight into the theme of mortality and immortality.
  • Nergal: The plague god fears Kasusu. In the WWII flashback, he cringes when Ishtar flips the blade, and his demons snarl. Nergal’s terror of the sword underscores its potency against divine evil.

Thematic Significance

Kasusu ties directly into several major themes of the novel:

  • Heroism and Sacrifice: The sword has been wielded by the greatest heroes in history. Its presence reminds characters that heroism is a choice, not an innate trait. Ishtar’s use of Kasusu in WWII, against impossible odds, echoes Sikander’s later willingness to sacrifice himself.
  • Mortality and Immortality: Kasusu’s knowledge of Gilgamesh’s failure to save Enkidu highlights the limits of even the strongest hero. The sword cannot prevent death, only fight against it—mirroring the novel’s central conflict with Nergal’s plague.
  • Plague and Decay: Nergal’s decay is contrasted with the sharp, clean edge of Kasusu. The sword represents life, order, and the will to resist corruption.
  • Identity and Heritage: Kasusu carries the memory of countless battles and heroes. For Belet, wielding it affirms her identity as Ishtar’s daughter. For Sikander, the sword challenges him to define his own kind of heroism, not simply inherit past glories.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. How does Kasusu’s sentience influence Belet’s character development?
    Kasusu acts as a mentor and confidant for Belet. The sword’s approval (“That’s my girl”) validates her fierce nature. In turn, Belet’s protective attitude toward the weapon shows her growth from a lonely warrior into someone who values companionship, even in an inanimate blade.

  2. What does Kasusu reveal about Gilgamesh’s legacy, and how does this affect Sikander?
    Kasusu tells Sikander that Gilgamesh never lost a battle but could not save his friend Enkidu. This revelation humanizes the hero for Sikander, making heroism feel more attainable. It also underscores the theme that even the greatest cannot control death, which helps Sikander accept Mo’s fate.

  3. Compare Kasusu’s role in the World War II flashback to its role in the modern battle against Nergal. What changes?
    In WWII, Kasusu is wielded by Ishtar in a direct, violent confrontation against bombers. In the modern story, the sword is used more sparingly—Belet kills demons with it, but the final victory comes from a nonviolent dispersal of the cure. The shift emphasizes that power alone is not enough; wisdom and sacrifice matter more.

  4. How does Kasusu embody the theme of sacrifice in the novel?
    Ishtar sacrifices her life in battle while holding Kasusu. Later, Belet is willing to die fighting Nergal with the sword. Sikander, though not a wielder, sacrifices his safety using a tool from Kasusu. The sword’s history of being passed from hero to hero symbolizes the continuity of selfless acts across time.

For further exploration, see the main book page, themes of mortality and immortality, heroism and sacrifice, family and brotherhood, plague and decay, and identity and heritage. Learn more about the characters Sikander Aziz, Belet, Ishtar, Nergal, Gilgamesh, and Mo Aziz.