trans. Arno Poebel
1914
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NOTE |
The tablets translated below represent a variant of the Mesopotamian creation myth, better known from the Enuma Elish, which differs greatly from that epic. It is an older version of the account better known from the Atrahasis epic, which translates and reproduces the same story. The tablets are described and introduced by their translator, Arno Poebel, the German Assyriologist.
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INTRODUCTION
The tablet published as No. 1 of the present volume contains a Sumerian account of the creation, the founding of prediluvian cities and the deluge. I found this tablet in the summer of 1912 in several fragments among the tablets which had been numbered and catalogued by the former curator of the Babylonian section of the Museum, Prof. H. V. Hilprecht. According to the catalogue it was dug from the soil of Nippur during the third Babylonian expedition of the University of Pennsylvania. The tablet, as published here, represents only the lower portion of the original. This measured about 7 inches or 17.8 centimeters in length and 5 inches or 14.3 centimeters in width and its inscribed surface was about three times that of the present fragments. There is, however, some hope that at least some of the missing fragments will be found either in the University Museum at Philadelphia or in the Museum at Constantinople, since the breaks on the upper side of the recovered portion are very sharp, a fact which seems to indicate that the missing portions were broken off only after the tablet was dug from the soil. As regards the contents of our tablet, this will best be seen from the transcription and translation of the text itself. A brief synopsis, however, may perhaps be found useful by those who do not care to read the technical remarks in the last section of this chapter, or who are not so thoroughly accustomed to the quaint peculiarities and especially to the abrupt style of ancient poetry-for our text is a poem as may be seen from the mere external appearance of the tablet, namely, the arrangement of the lines and the frequent blank spaces between the various groups of signs due to the rhythmical character of the text. Readers of the Bible, moreover, will easily recognize the quaint principle of partial repetition or paraphrase in parallel lines, which is so characteristic a feature of Hebrew poetry. At the beginning of the preserved portion of the first column we find the goddess Nintu (r) or Nin-harsagga speaking of the destruction of mankind which she calls hers, because she was one of its creators as we shall presently see. It is not clear, however, whether in this passage she promises to protect human kind from destruction or whether she declares her intention to destroy human kind. In the annotations at the end of this chapter it will be shown how the answer to this question would definitely establish the relation between the first two columns of our tablet and the rest of the text, the point at issue being whether the former represent an independent account of the creation or simply a retrospective' description of the origin of what was to perish in the flood, namely, all living beings and the cities which man had built. Unfortunately it will be impossible to give a definite answer to this important question as long as the upper portion of the tablet is missing. Be this as it may, in l. 11 we read that the creating deity fixes the commandments concerning man, i. e., defines his duties and his rights, one of which is, e. g., the building of cities and temples in a "clean spot," i. e., in hallowed places. The last lines of the first column refer to the creation of the animals which by this passage are shown to have been created after man just as in the second Biblical account of the creation in Genesis 2. The introductory lines 13 and 14, which form the transition from the account of the creation of man to that of the animals, fortunately give us the names of the four creators of mankind, namely, An, Enlil, Enki and the goddess Nin-harsagga, the four highest deities of the Babylonian pantheon. It has hitherto been almost completely overlooked what an important part the last named deity played in the earlier Babylonian period, especially in the southern section of the country; our passage, therefore, furnishes us a most welcome clue concerning the position of this deity. One of the sacred cities of this goddess, the city of Adab, has been made known to us by the excavations of the University of Chicago. In the preserved portion of the second column we read of five prediluvian cities of Babylonia, which were founded and bestowed upon various deities evidently by the most powerful of the gods, namely, Enlil, the lord of all the lands. As the first of these cities, Eridu, is given to Enki, the lord of the ocean, who is the third of the gods in rank, it is evident that the now missing upper portion reported the founding of the sacred cities of the two highest gods, namely, Uruk, the city of An, god of Heaven, and Nippur, the city of Enlil himself, which has been partially excavated by the University of Pennsylvania, and where our own tablet was dug from the soil. In one of the two cities, moreover, one of the created men must have been established as the first king of Babylonia, but in our text we have preserved only an allusion to the creation of the insignia of this king in the broken lines at the beginning of Column 2. The last lines of the column are not clear to me; possibly they treat of the creation of canals, etc., the water of which was indispensable for the existence of the Babylonian cities; for without it the land would turn into a sandy desert as indeed it has in many places at the present day. In the third column of our fragment we are already in the story of the flood. The gods have resolved to destroy mankind, but when it comes to the execution of the decision, the gods, and especially the goddesses Innanna and Nintu, are filled. with terror and the latter with repentance for the great calamity which they have caused. But it is only Enki, the god of wisdom, who is able to devise a plan to save at least one of the doomed race, Ziugiddu, the tenth and last of the prediluvian kings, who like Noah in the Bible was a pious man; in Column 4 we therefore read that Enki informs Ziugiddu of the resolution of the gods, and the missing part of the same column must have reported how Ziugiddu built his boat and placed in it his family and all kinds of artisans as well as all sorts of animals. In the fifth column the deluge itself is recounted. In accordance with the older Biblical account it is caused only by a strong rain or, in the Babylonian expression, the rain. demon, not as in the later Biblical account also by the waters from underneath the earth. The duration of the rain is seven days and seven nights; in this our tablet differs from the previously known Babylonian account which gives it as six days only; nevertheless, in this point our text stands much nearer to this other Babylonian account than to either Biblical tradition, the older of which makes the rain last forty days and nights, while according to the later tradition the flood continued to rise for five months. After the rain has ceased, the sun-god appears from behind the clouds and is the first to observe Ziugiddu in his boat which is floating on the waters. Our hero prostrates himself before the god and by offering up sacrifices evidently wins his favor. In the sixth and last column, after an obscure passage, he prostrates himself before Enlil who had been chiefly responsible for the resolution of the gods to destroy mankind. But he too is now appeased and shows his favor by making Ziugiddu a god. In the last of the preserved lines the gods take Ziugiddu to a distant land, probably the country of Dilmun somewhere on the shore of the Persian gulf, where he lives thenceforth as a god. |
THE ERIDU GENESIS
COLUMN I
The upper part of the column, about three-fourths of the text, is missing.
The upper part of the column, about three-fourths of the text, is missing.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[. . . . . . . . . . . . . .] . . . [. . . . . . . . . . . . . .]
”My human-kind on its destruction I will (let us) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"My, Nintu’s, creations . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I will (let us) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 "The people in their settlements I will (let us) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Cities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . he may build,
their shade (protection) I will (let us) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"The brick of our houses may he cast in a clean spot,
"Our . . . . . . . . . . . . . . places may he establish in a clean spot.”
10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the temennu she made straight for it,
The sublime commandments and precepts she made perfect for it,
After Anu, Enlil, Enki, and Nin-harsagga
Had created the blackheaded,
The . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the ground the ground . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15 The animals, the four-legged, of the field artfully they called
into existence.
[. . . . . . . . . . . . . .] . . . [. . . . . . . . . . . . . .]
”My human-kind on its destruction I will (let us) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"My, Nintu’s, creations . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I will (let us) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 "The people in their settlements I will (let us) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Cities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . he may build,
their shade (protection) I will (let us) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"The brick of our houses may he cast in a clean spot,
"Our . . . . . . . . . . . . . . places may he establish in a clean spot.”
10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the temennu she made straight for it,
The sublime commandments and precepts she made perfect for it,
After Anu, Enlil, Enki, and Nin-harsagga
Had created the blackheaded,
The . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the ground the ground . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15 The animals, the four-legged, of the field artfully they called
into existence.
COLUMN II
5 ". . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“. . . . . . . . . . . . . . I will (let us) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . upon him
" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I will (let us) look upon him.”
After the maker of the . . . . . . . . of the land, the establisher
of the foundation of the . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Had created the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of royalty,
10 Created the sublime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of royalty,
The sublime commandments and precepts he made perfect for it.
In clean places five cities he founded,
(And) after their names he had called, and they had been allotted to kabdu(ga)s
--The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . first of the cities, Eridu, to the leader Nudimmut
15 he gave,
Secondly, to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bad-NAGAR + DIS he gave,
Thirdly, Larak to Pabilharsag he gave,
Fourthly, Sippar to the hero Shamash he gave,
Fifthly, Suruppak to . . . . . . . . . . . he gave--;
20 After the names of these cities he had called, (and) to
kabdu(ga)s they had been allotted,
The . . . . . . . . . . . .he . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . he . . . . . . . . . ,
. . . . . . . small rivers and suluhs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . he established . . .
“. . . . . . . . . . . . . . I will (let us) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . upon him
" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I will (let us) look upon him.”
After the maker of the . . . . . . . . of the land, the establisher
of the foundation of the . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Had created the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of royalty,
10 Created the sublime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of royalty,
The sublime commandments and precepts he made perfect for it.
In clean places five cities he founded,
(And) after their names he had called, and they had been allotted to kabdu(ga)s
--The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . first of the cities, Eridu, to the leader Nudimmut
15 he gave,
Secondly, to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bad-NAGAR + DIS he gave,
Thirdly, Larak to Pabilharsag he gave,
Fourthly, Sippar to the hero Shamash he gave,
Fifthly, Suruppak to . . . . . . . . . . . he gave--;
20 After the names of these cities he had called, (and) to
kabdu(ga)s they had been allotted,
The . . . . . . . . . . . .he . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . he . . . . . . . . . ,
. . . . . . . small rivers and suluhs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . he established . . .
COLUMN III
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10 The . . . . . . . . . . . place . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The people . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A rainstorm . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Their . . . . . . . . . . . . . . they made, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15 At that time Nintu screamed like a woman in travail.
The holy Ishtar wailed on account of her people.
Enki in his own heart held counsel.
Anu, Enlil, Enki, and Nin-harsagga . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The gods of Heaven and Earth invoked the name of Anu (and) Enlil.
20 At that time Ziugiddu was King, the pasisu of . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A huge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . he made, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In humility prostrating himself, in reverence . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
Daily and perseveringly standing in attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
. . . . . -ing by dreams which had not been (before), . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25 Conjuring by the name of Heaven and Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10 The . . . . . . . . . . . place . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The people . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A rainstorm . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Their . . . . . . . . . . . . . . they made, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15 At that time Nintu screamed like a woman in travail.
The holy Ishtar wailed on account of her people.
Enki in his own heart held counsel.
Anu, Enlil, Enki, and Nin-harsagga . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The gods of Heaven and Earth invoked the name of Anu (and) Enlil.
20 At that time Ziugiddu was King, the pasisu of . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A huge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . he made, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In humility prostrating himself, in reverence . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
Daily and perseveringly standing in attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
. . . . . -ing by dreams which had not been (before), . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25 Conjuring by the name of Heaven and Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
COLUMN IV
For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the gods a wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ziugiddu standing at its (?) side heard . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“At the wall at my left side stand and . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
At the wall I will speak a word to thee.
5 “O my holy one, thy ear open to me
"By our hand (?) a rainstorm . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
will be sent;
"To destroy the seed of mankind, to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
"Is the decision, the saying of the assembly of the gods,
10 ”The commands of Anu (and) Enlil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
"Its (their) kingdom, its (their) rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
"To him . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ziugiddu standing at its (?) side heard . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“At the wall at my left side stand and . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
At the wall I will speak a word to thee.
5 “O my holy one, thy ear open to me
"By our hand (?) a rainstorm . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
will be sent;
"To destroy the seed of mankind, to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
"Is the decision, the saying of the assembly of the gods,
10 ”The commands of Anu (and) Enlil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
"Its (their) kingdom, its (their) rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,
"To him . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
COLUMN V
All the windstorms which possess immense power, they
all (and) together came,
The rainstorm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . raged with them.
When for seven days, for seven nights
The rainstorm in the land had raged,
5 The huge boat on the great waters by the windstorms had been carried away,
Shamash came forth (again), shedding light over Heaven and Earth.
Ziugiddu opened a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the huge boat,
The light of the hero Shamash he lets (thou letest) enter into
the interior? of the huge boat.
Ziugiddu, the King,
10 Before Shamash he prostrates himself,
The King, an ox he sacrifices, a sheep he slaughters.
While . . . . . . . . . . . . . . great horn? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . he . . . . . . . for him
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . he filled
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . two . . .
After . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
all (and) together came,
The rainstorm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . raged with them.
When for seven days, for seven nights
The rainstorm in the land had raged,
5 The huge boat on the great waters by the windstorms had been carried away,
Shamash came forth (again), shedding light over Heaven and Earth.
Ziugiddu opened a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the huge boat,
The light of the hero Shamash he lets (thou letest) enter into
the interior? of the huge boat.
Ziugiddu, the King,
10 Before Shamash he prostrates himself,
The King, an ox he sacrifices, a sheep he slaughters.
While . . . . . . . . . . . . . . great horn? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . he . . . . . . . for him
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . he filled
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . two . . .
After . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
COLUMN VI
”By the soul of Heaven, by the soul of the earth, ye shall
conjure him,
that he may . . . . . . . . . . . . . . with you.
"Anu (and) Enlil by the soul of Heaven and by the soul of
the earth ye shall conjure,
and he will . . . with you.”
5 The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the ground (with the earth), rising it rises.
Ziugiddu, the King,
Before Anu (and) Enlil he prostrates himself.
Life like (that of) a god he gives to him,
An eternal soul like that of a god he creates for him.
10 At that time Ziugiddu, the King,
The name of the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ”Preserver of the seed of mankind ” . . .
On a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . mountain, the mountain of Dilmun . . . . . . . . .
they caused him to dwell
After . . . . . . . . . . . . . . they had caused him to dwell.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
conjure him,
that he may . . . . . . . . . . . . . . with you.
"Anu (and) Enlil by the soul of Heaven and by the soul of
the earth ye shall conjure,
and he will . . . with you.”
5 The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of the ground (with the earth), rising it rises.
Ziugiddu, the King,
Before Anu (and) Enlil he prostrates himself.
Life like (that of) a god he gives to him,
An eternal soul like that of a god he creates for him.
10 At that time Ziugiddu, the King,
The name of the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ”Preserver of the seed of mankind ” . . .
On a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . mountain, the mountain of Dilmun . . . . . . . . .
they caused him to dwell
After . . . . . . . . . . . . . . they had caused him to dwell.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
LEFT EDGE
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ziugiddu . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Source: Arno Poebel, Historical Texts, The University Museum Publications of Babylonian Section, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: The University Museum, 1914), 9-20.
