Part 7
When Tiamat heard these words, She fell into fury, beside herself was she. Tiamat cried wild and loud Till through and through her body shook. She utters her magic formula, speaks her word, And the gods of battle rush to arms. Then advance Tiamat, and Marduk the ruler of the gods To battle they rush, come on to the fight. His wide-stretched net over her the lord did cast, The evil wind from behind him he let loose in her face. Tiamat opened her throat as wide as she might, Into it he sent the evil wind before she could close her lips. The terrible winds filled her body, Her senses she lost, wide open stood her throat. He seized his spear, through her body he ran it, Her inward parts he hewed, cut to pieces her heart. Her he overcame, put an end to her life, Cast away her corpse and on it stood. So he, the leader, slew Tiamat, Her power he crushed, her might he destroyed. Then the gods, her helpers, who stood at her side, Fear and trembling seized them, their backs they turned, Away they fled to save their lives. Fast were they girt, escape they could not, Captive he took them, broke in pieces their arms. They were caught in the net, sat in the toils, All the earth they filled with their cry. Their doom they bore, held fast in prison, And the eleven creatures, clothed with dread, A herd of demons who with her went, These he subdued, destroyed their power, Crushed their valor, trod them under foot; And Kingu, who had grown great over them all, Him he overcame with the god Kugga, Took from him the tablets of fate which were not rightfully his, Stamped thereon his seal, and hung them on his breast. When thus the doughty Marduk had conquered his foes, His proud adversary to shame had brought, Had completed Anshar's triumph over the enemy, Had fulfilled Nudimmud's will, Then the conquered gods he put in prison, And to Tiamat, whom he had conquered, returned. Under his foot the lord Tiamat's body trod, With his irresistible club he shattered her skull, Through the veins of her blood he cut; Commanded the north wind to bear it to a secret place. His fathers saw it, rejoiced and shouted. Gifts and offerings to him they brought. The lord was appeased seeing her corpse. Dividing her body, wise plans he laid. Into two halves like a fish he divided her, Out of one half he made the vault of heaven, A bar he set and guards he posted, Gave them command that the waters pass not through. Through the heaven he strode, viewed its spaces, Near the deep placed Nudimmud's dwelling. And the lord measured the domain of the deep, A palace like it, Eshara, he built, The palace Eshara which he fashioned as heaven. Therein made he Anu, Bel, and Ea to dwell. He established the station of the great gods, Stars which were like them, constellations he set, The year he established, marked off its parts, Divided twelve months by three stars, From the day that begins the year to the day that ends it He established the station Nibir to mark its limits. That no harm come, no one go astray, The stations of Bel and Ea be set by its side. Great doors he made on this side and that, Closed them fast on left and right.
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The moon-god he summoned, to him committed the night.
[Here the account breaks off; there probably followed the history of the creation of the earth and of man.]
III. FRAGMENTS OF A DESCENT TO THE UNDERWORLD
To the underworld I turn, I spread my wings like a bird, I descend to the house of darkness, to the dwelling of Irkalla, To the house from which there is no exit, The road on which there is no return, To the house whose dwellers long for light, Dust is their nourishment and mud their food, Whose chiefs are like feathered birds, Where light is never seen, in darkness they dwell. In the house which I will enter There is treasured up for me a crown, With the crowned ones who of old ruled the earth, To whom Anu and Bel have given terrible names, Carrion is their food, their drink stagnant water. There dwell the chiefs and unconquered ones, There dwell the bards and the mighty men, Monsters of the deep of the great gods. It is the dwelling of Etana, the dwelling of Ner, Of Ninkigal, the queen of the underworld.... Her I will approach and she will see me.
ISHTAR'S DESCENT TO THE UNDERWORLD
[After a description substantially identical with the first half of the preceding poem, the story goes on:--]
To the gate of the underworld Ishtar came, To the keeper of the gate her command she addressed:-- Keeper of the waters, open thy gate, Open thy gate that I may enter. If thou open not the gate and let me in, I will strike the door, the posts I will shatter, I will strike the hinges, burst open the doors, I will raise up the dead devourers of the living, Over the living the dead shall triumph. The keeper opened his mouth and spake, To the Princess Ishtar he cried:-- Stay, lady, do not thus, Let me go and repeat thy words to Queen Ninkigal.
[He goes and gets the terrible queen's permission for Ishtar to enter on certain conditions.]
Through the first gate he caused her to pass The crown of her head he took away. Why, O keeper, takest thou away the great crown of my head? Thus, O lady, the goddess of the underworld doeth to all her visitors at the entrance. Through the second gate he caused her to pass, The earrings of her ears he took away. Why, O keeper, takest thou away the earrings of my ears? So, O lady, the goddess of the underworld doeth to all that enter her realm.
[And so at each gate till she is stripped of clothing. A long time Ninkigal holds her prisoner, and in the upper world love vanishes and men and gods mourn. Ea sees that Ishtar must return, and sends his messenger to bring her.]
Go forth, O messenger, Toward the gates of the underworld set thy face, Let the seven gates of Hades be opened at thy presence, Let Ninkigal see thee and rejoice at thy arrival, That her heart be satisfied and her anger be removed. Appease her by the names of the great gods . . . Ninkigal, when this she heard, Beat her breast and wrung her hands, Turned away, no comfort would she take. Go, thou messenger, Let the great jailer keep thee, The refuse of the city be thy food, The drains of the city thy drink, The shadow of the dungeon be thy resting-place, The slab of stone be thy seat. Ninkigal opened her mouth and spake, To Simtar, her attendant, her command she gave. Go, Simtar, strike the palace of judgment, Pour over Ishtar the water of life, and bring her before me. Simtar went and struck the palace of judgment, On Ishtar he poured the water of life and brought her. Through the first gate he caused her to pass, And restored to her her covering cloak.
[And so through the seven gates till all her ornaments are restored. The result of the visit to the underworld is not described.]
IV. THE FLOOD
[The hero Gilgamesh (Izdubar), wandering in search of healing for his sickness, finds Hasisadra (Xisuthros), the Babylonian Noah, who tells him the story of the Flood.]
Hasisadra spake to him, to Gilgamesh:--- To thee I will reveal, Gilgamesh, the story of my deliverance, And the oracle of the gods I will make known to thee. The city Surippak, which, as thou knowest, Lies on the Euphrates' bank, Already old was this city When the gods that therein dwell To send a flood their heart impelled them, All the great gods: their father Anu, Their counsellor the warlike Bel, Adar their throne-bearer and the Prince Ennugi. The lord of boundless wisdom, Ea, sat with them in council. Their resolve he announced and so he spake:-- O thou of Surippak, son of Ubaratutu, Leave thy house and build a ship. They will destroy the seed of life. Do thou preserve in life, and hither bring the seed of life Of every sort into the ship.
[Here follows a statement of the dimensions of the ship, but the numbers are lost.]
When this I heard to Ea my lord I spake:-- The building of the ship, O lord, which thou commandest If I perform it, people and elders will mock me. Ea opened his mouth and spake, Spake to me, his servant:--
[The text is here mutilated: Hasisadra is ordered to threaten the mockers with Ea's vengeance.]
Thou, however, shut not thy door till I shall send thee word. Then pass through the door and bring All grain and goods and wealth, Family, servants and maids and all thy kin, The cattle of the field, the beasts of the field. Hasisadra opened his mouth, to Ea his lord he said:-- O my lord, a ship in this wise hath no one ever built....
[Hasisadra tells how he built the ship according to Ea's directions.]
All that I had I brought together, All of silver and all of gold, And all of the seed of life into the ship I brought. And my household, men and women, The cattle of the field, the beasts of the field, And all my kin I caused to enter. Then when the sun the destined time brought on, To me he said at even-fall:-- Destruction shall the heaven rain. Enter the ship and close the door. With sorrow on that day I saw the sun go down. The day on which I was to enter the ship I was afraid. Yet into the ship I went, behind me the door I closed. Into the hands of the steersman I gave the ship with its cargo. Then from the heaven's horizon rose the dark cloud Raman uttered his thunder, Nabu and Sarru rushed on, Over hill and dale strode the throne-bearers, Adar sent ceaseless streams, floods the Anunnaki brought. Their power shakes the earth,
* * * * *
Raman's billows up to heaven mount, All light to darkness is turned.
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Brother looks not after brother, no man for another cares. The gods in heaven are frightened, refuge they seek, Upward they mount to the heaven of Anu. Like a dog in his lair, So cower the gods together at the bars of heaven. Ishtar cries out in pain, loud cries the exalted goddess:-- All is turned to mire. This evil to the gods I announced, to the gods foretold the evil. This exterminating war foretold Against my race of mankind. Not for this bare I men that like the brood of the fishes They should fill the sea. Then wept the gods with her over the Anunnaki, In lamentation sat the gods, their lips hard pressed together. Six days and seven nights ruled wind and flood and storm. But when the seventh day broke, subsided the storm, and the flood
_ASSYRIAN CLAY TABLET_, Containing a part of the story of the flood, from the library of Assurbanipal. Found in recent explorations in Ancient Babylon, London: British Museum.
Which raged like a mighty host, settled itself to quiet. Down went the sea, ceased storm and flood. Through the sea I rode lamenting. The upper dwellings of men were ruined, Corpses floated like trees. A window I opened, on my face the daylight fell. I shuddered and sat me down weeping, Over my face flowed my tears. I rode over regions of land, on a terrible sea. Then rose one piece of land twelve measures high. To the land Nizir the ship was steered, The mountain Nizir held the ship fast, and let it no more go.
* * * * *
At the dawn of the seventh day I took a dove and sent it forth. Hither and thither flew the dove, No resting-place it found, back to me it came. A swallow I took and sent it forth, No resting-place it found, and back to me it came. A raven I took and sent it forth, Forth flew the raven and saw that the water had fallen, Carefully waded on but came not back. All the animals then to the four winds I sent. A sacrifice I offered, An altar I built on the mountain-top, By sevens I placed the vessels, Under them spread sweet cane and cedar. The gods inhaled the smoke, inhaled the sweet-smelling smoke, Like flies the gods collected over the offering. Thither then came Ishtar, Lifted on high her bow, which Anu had made:-- These days I will not forget, will keep them in remembrance, Them I will never forget. Let the gods come to the altar, But let not Bel to the altar come, Because he heedlessly wrought, the flood he brought on, To destruction my people gave over. Thither came Bel and saw the ship, Full of anger was he Against the gods and the spirits of heaven:-- What soul has escaped! In the destruction no man shall live. Then Adar opened his mouth and spake, Spake to the warlike Bel:-- Who but Ea knew it? He knew and all he hath told. Then Ea opened his mouth, Spake to the warlike Bel:-- Thou art the valiant leader of the gods, Why hast thou heedlessly wrought, and brought on the flood? Let the sinner bear his sin, the wrongdoer his wrong; Yield to our request, that he be not wholly destroyed. Instead of sending a flood, send lions that men be reduced; Instead of sending a flood, send hyenas that men be reduced; Instead of sending a flood, send flames to waste the land; Instead of sending a flood, send pestilence that men be reduced. The counsel of the great gods to him I did not impart; A dream to Hasisadra I sent, and the will of the gods he learned. Then came right reason to Bel, Into the ship he entered, Took my hand and lifted me up, Raised my wife and laid her hand in mine, To us he turned, between us he stepped, His blessing he gave. Human Hasisadra has been, But he and his wife united Now to the gods shall be raised, And Hasisadra shall dwell far off at the mouth of the streams. Then they took me and placed me Far off at the mouth of the streams.
V. THE EAGLE AND THE SNAKE
To Samas came the snake and said:-- The eagle has come to my nest, my young are scattered. See, O Samas, what evil he has done me. Help me, thy nest is as broad as the earth, Thy snare is like the heavens, Who can escape out of thy net? Hearing the snake's complaint, Samas opened his mouth and spake:-- Get thee on thy way, go to the mountain. A wild ox shall be thy hiding-place. Open his body, tear out his inward parts, Make thy dwelling within him. All the birds of heaven will descend, with them will come the eagle, Heedless and hurrying on the flesh he will swoop, Thinking of that which is hidden inside. So soon as he enters the ox, seize his wing, Tear off his wing-feathers and claws, Pull him to pieces and cast him away, Let him die of hunger and thirst. So as the mighty Samas commanded, Rose the snake, went to the mountain, There he found a wild ox, Opened his body, tore out his inward parts, Entered and dwelt within him. And the birds of heaven descended, with them came the eagle. Yet the eagle, fearing a snare, ate not of the flesh with the birds. The eagle spake to his young:-- We will not fly down, nor eat of the flesh of the wild ox. An eaglet, keen of eye, thus to his father spake:-- In the flesh of the ox lurks the snake
[The rest is lost.]
VI. THE FLIGHT OF ETANA
/* The priests have offered my sacrifice With joyful hearts to the gods. O Lord, issue thy command, Give me the plant of birth, show me the plant of birth, Bring the child into the world, grant me a son. Samas opened his mouth and spake to Etana:-- Away with thee, go to the mountain.... The eagle opened his mouth and spake to Etana:-- Wherefore art thou come? Etana opened his mouth and said to the eagle:-- My friend, give me the plant of birth, show me the plant of birth, Bring the child into the world, grant me a son.... To Etana then spake the eagle:-- My friend, be of good cheer. Come, let me bear thee to Anu's heaven, On my breast lay thy breast, Grasp with thy hands the feathers of my wings. On my side lay thy side. On his breast he laid his breast, On his feathers he placed his hands, On his side laid his side, Firmly he clung, great was his weight. Two hours he bore him on high. The eagle spake to him, to Etana:-- See my friend, the land, how it lies, Look at the sea, the ocean-girded, Like a mountain looks the land, the sea like petty waters. Two hours more he bore him up. The eagle spake to him, to Etana:-- See my friend the land, how it lies, The sea is like the girdle of the land. Two hours more he bore him up. The eagle spake to him, to Etana:-- See my friend the land, how it lies, The sea is like the gardener's ditches. Up they rose to Anu's heaven, Came to the gate of Anu, Bel and Ea.... Come, my friend, let me bear thee to Ishtar, To Ishtar, the queen, shalt thou go, and dwell at her feet. On my side lay thy side, Grasp my wing-feathers with thy hands. On his side he laid his side, His feathers he grasped with his hands. Two hours he bore him on high. My friend see the land, how it lies, How it spreads itself out. The broad sea is as great as a court. Two hours he bore him on high. My friend see the land, how it lies, The land is like the bed of a garden, The broad sea is as great as a [.] Two hours he bore him on high. My friend see the land, how it lies.
[Etana, frightened, begs the eagle to ascend no further; then, as it seems, the bird's strength is exhausted.]
To the earth the eagle fell down Shattered upon the ground.
VII. THE GOD ZU
He sees the badges of rule, His royal crown, his raiment divine. On the tablets of fate of the god Zu fixes his look. On the father of the gods, the god of Duranki, Zu fixes his gaze. Lust after rule enters into his soul. I will take the tablets of fate of the gods, Will determine the oracle of all the gods, Will set up my throne, all orders control, Will rule all the heavenly spirits. His heart was set on combat. At the entrance of the hall he stands, waiting the break of day, When Bel dispensed the tender rains, Sat on his throne, put off his crown, He snatched the tablets of fate from his hands, Seized the power, the control of commands. Down flew Zu, in a mountain he hid. There was anguish and crying. On the earth Bel poured out his wrath. Anu opened his mouth and spake, Said to the gods his children:-- Who will conquer Zu? Great shall be his name among the dwellers of all lands. They called for Ramman, the mighty, Anu's son. To him gives Anu command:-- Up, Ramman, my son, thou hero, From thine attack desist not, conquer Zu with thy weapons, That thy name may be great in the assembly of the great gods. Among the gods thy brethren, none shall be thy equal, Thy shrines on high shall be built; Found thee cities in all the world; Thy cities shall reach to the mountain of the world; Show thyself strong for the gods, strong be thy name! To Anu his father's command Ramman answered and spake:-- My father, who shall come to the inaccessible mound? Who is like unto Zu among the gods thy sons? The tablets of fate he has snatched from his hands, Seized on the power, the control of commands. Zu has fled and hides in his mountain.
[The rest is lost.]
VIII. ADAPA AND THE SOUTHWIND
Under the water the Southwind blew him Sunk him to the home of the fishes. O Southwind, ill hast thou used me, thy wings I will break. As thus with his mouth he spake the wings of the Southwind were broken. Seven days long the Southwind over the earth blew no more. To his messenger Ila-Abrat Anu then spake thus:-- Why for seven days long Blows the Southwind no more on the earth? His messenger Ila-Abrat answered and said: My lord, Adapa, Ea's son, hath broken the wings of the Southwind. When Anu heard these words, "Aha!" he cried, and went forth.
[Ea, the ocean-god, then directs his son how to proceed in order to avert Anu's wrath. Some lines are mutilated.]
At the gate of Anu stand. The gods Tammuz and Iszida will see thee and ask:-- Why lookest thou thus, Adapa, For whom wearest thou garments of mourning? From the earth two gods have vanished, therefore do I thus. Who are these two gods who from the earth have vanished? At each other they will look, Tammuz and Iszida, and lament. A friendly word they will speak to Anu Anu's sacred face they will show thee. When thou to Anu comest, Food of death will be offered thee, eat not thereof. Water of death will be offered thee, drink not thereof. A garment will be offered thee, put it on. Oil will be offered thee, anoint thyself therewith. What I tell thee neglect not, keep my word in mind. Then came Anu's messenger:-- The wing of the Southwind Adapa has broken, Deliver him up to me. Up to heaven he came, approached the gate of Anu. At Anu's gate Tammuz and Iszida stand, Adapa they see, and "Aha!" they cry. O Adapa, wherefore lookest thou thus, For whom wearest thou apparel of mourning? From the earth two gods have vanished Therefore I wear apparel of mourning. Who are these two gods who from the earth have vanished? At one another look Tammuz and Iszida and lament. Adapa go hence to Anu. When he came, Anu at him looked, saying, O Adapa, Why hast thou broken the Southwind's wing? Adapa answered: My lord, 'Fore my lord's house I was fishing, In the midst of the sea, it was smooth, Then the Southwind began to blow Under it forced me, to the home of the fishes I sank.
[By this speech Ann's anger is turned away.]
A beaker he set before him. What shall we offer him? Food of life Prepare for him that he may eat. Food of life was brought for him, but he ate not. Water of life was brought for him, but he drank not. A garment was brought him, he put it on, Oil they gave him, he anointed himself therewith. Anu looked at him and mourned:-- And now, Adapa, wherefore Has thou not eaten or drunken? Now canst thou not live forever ... Ea, my lord, commanded me:-- Thou shalt not eat nor drink.
IX. PENITENTIAL PSALMS
I