trans. George A. Barton
1916/1927
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NOTE |
The myth of Adapa tells the story of a man who unknowingly refused a boon that would have granted him immortality. The story has often been compared to the Fall of Man from Genesis due to several parallel elements, from the protagonists' names to the deadly food and the accounting of transgressions before a deity, though the stories themselves are fundamentally different in nature. Five fragments of the text are known today, but the fifth is not in the public domain. The text below represents the texts available in the public domain, translated by George A. Barton and taken from the edition he published in 1927. I have appended introductory remarks from Robert William Rogers' earlier translation from 1912.
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THE MYTH OF ADAPA
Robert William Rogers This myth is preserved upon four fragments, three of which once belonged to the library of the Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal (668-626 B.C.) in Nineveh, while the fourth was discovered among the archives of the Egyptian heretic king Amenophis IV (1377-1361 B.C), in Tell-el-Amarna, Egypt. The latter had the divisions of words marked by small dots in red ink, and was therefore used as a means of teaching the Babylonian language in Egypt. The contents of the four tablets may be here summarized as a clue to their contents, which in the translation alone might not always be clear upon the first examination. No. 1. Adapa, or perhaps Adamu, son of Ea, had received from his father wisdom, but not eternal life. He was a semidivine being and was the wise man and priest of the temple of Ea at Eridu, which he provided with the ritual bread and water. In the exercise of this duty he carried on fishing upon the Persian Gulf. No. 2. When Adapa was fishing one day on a smooth sea, the south wind rose suddenly and overturned his boat, so that he was thrown into the sea. Angered by the mishap, he broke the wings of the south wind so that for seven days it could not blow the sea coolness over the hot land. Anu calls Adapa to account for this misdeed, and his father Ea warns him as to what should befall him. He tells him how to secure the pity of Tammuz and Gishzida, whom he would meet at heaven's portal, and cautions him not to eat the food or partake of the drink which would be set before him, as Ea feared that food and drink of death would be offered him. The counsel was ill advised, for it was, rather, the food of life and the water of life that were set before him, and overcaution deprived him of immortal life, and he had to return to earth. No. 3 is a duplicate of lines 12 to 21 of No. 2. No. 4 is so badly broken that its general sense is very difficult to obtain. The correspondences with Genesis 2 and 3, and the differences also, are most interesting, and it may well be hoped that later discoveries may provide material for still more striking comparisons. It may here be pointed out simply that the "food of life" belongs to the same category as the "tree of life" in Genesis. Adam lost immortality because he desired to become like God; Adapa, on the other hand, was already endowed with knowledge and wisdom, and failed of immortality, not because he was disobedient, like Adam, but through his literal obedience to Ea, his creator. That the Paradise narrative (Gen. 2, 3) may have been influenced at least in part (Zimmern) by the Adapa myth seems most probable. We know, certainly, that this myth had reached Egypt as early as the fourteenth century B.C., and presumably also had passed through Palestine. |
Four fragments of the Adapa myth have been found. They really present but three parts of the story, as two of them cover the same ground. These three parts of the story are translated in this chapter. It will be noted that the fragments do not present the entire story. Between fragments I and II, as well as between fragments II and III, some lines have fallen out, and the last fragment is broken away before the end of the account is reached.
I.
1. He possessed intelligence....
2. His command like the command of Anu..
3. Wide intelligence he (Ea) made perfect for him, the destiny of the country
to reveal.
4. Unto him wisdom he gave; eternal life he did not grant him.
5. In those days, in those years the wise man of Eridu,
6. Ea as a chief (?) among men had created him,
7. A wise man whose command no one could restrain,
8. The prudent, the most wise among the Anunnaki was he,
9. Blameless, clean of hands, anointed, the observer of divine commands,
10. With the bakers he made bread,
11. With the bakers of Eridu he made bread,
12. The food and water of Eridu he prepared daily,
13. With his clean hands he prepared the table,
14. And without him the table was not cleared.
15. The ship he steered; fishing and hunting for Eridu he did.
16. Then Adapa of Eridu,
17. While Ea lay upon a bed in a chamber (?),
18. Daily the closing of Eridu he made right.
19. At the pure quay, the quay of the new-moon, he embarked upon the ship,
20. The wind blew, his ship sailed,
21. With the rudder he steered the ship
22. Upon the broad sea.
........................................................................................................................................
2. His command like the command of Anu..
3. Wide intelligence he (Ea) made perfect for him, the destiny of the country
to reveal.
4. Unto him wisdom he gave; eternal life he did not grant him.
5. In those days, in those years the wise man of Eridu,
6. Ea as a chief (?) among men had created him,
7. A wise man whose command no one could restrain,
8. The prudent, the most wise among the Anunnaki was he,
9. Blameless, clean of hands, anointed, the observer of divine commands,
10. With the bakers he made bread,
11. With the bakers of Eridu he made bread,
12. The food and water of Eridu he prepared daily,
13. With his clean hands he prepared the table,
14. And without him the table was not cleared.
15. The ship he steered; fishing and hunting for Eridu he did.
16. Then Adapa of Eridu,
17. While Ea lay upon a bed in a chamber (?),
18. Daily the closing of Eridu he made right.
19. At the pure quay, the quay of the new-moon, he embarked upon the ship,
20. The wind blew, his ship sailed,
21. With the rudder he steered the ship
22. Upon the broad sea.
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II.
1. ..............................................
2. The south wind [blew and capsized him),
3. To the house (of the fishes] it made him sink,
4. "O south wind [increase] thy rage as much as [thou art able],
5. Thy wing I will break." As he spoke with his mouth,
6. The wing of the south wind was broken, seven days
7. The south wind blew not on the land. Anu
8. To his messenger, Ilabrat, said:
9. "Why has the south wind not blown upon the land for seven days?"
10. His messenger Ilabrat answered him, "My lord
11. Adapa, the son of Ea, the wing of the south wind
12. Has broken." Anu, when he heard this,
13. Cried "Help!" He ascended his throne: "Let some one bring him to me.
14. Likewise Ea, who knows the heavens, summon him,
[The lines 14a, etc., are supplied from a parallel tablet.]
14a. To King Ea to come."
14b. To him he caused word to be borne,
14c. .................... To him, to King Ea,
14d. He sent a messenger.
14e. He is of great understanding, he knows the hearts of the great gods,
14f. ...................... of the heavens, he establishes it.
15. [A soiled garment he made] him wear; with a mourning garment clad him, 16. He clothed him and gave him counsel,
17. Saying: "Adapa, into the presence of Anu, the king, thou art going,
18. Fail not the order, my word keep,
19. When thou goest up to heaven and approachest the gate of Anu,
20. At the gate of Anu, Tammuz and Gishzida
21. Stand, they will see thee, they will ask: 'Lord,
22. For whose sake art thou thus, Adapa? For whom
23. Art thou clad in a mourning garment?' 'In our country two gods have vanished, therefore
24. Am I thus.' 'Who are the two gods who in the land
25. Have vanished?' 'Tammuz and Gishzida.' They will look at one another and
26. Be astonished. Favorable words
27. To Anu they will speak. A joyful countenance of Anu
28. They will reveal to thee. When thou standest in the presence of Anu,
29. Food of death they will offer thee to eat;
30. Thou shalt not eat. Water of death they will offer thee to drink;
31. Thou shalt not drink. A garment will they show thee;
32. Put it on. Oil they will set before thee; anoint thyself.
33. The command which I give thee, forget not. The word
34. Which I have spoken hold fast." The messenger
35. Of Anu came: "Adapa of the south wind
36. The wing has broken. Into my presence bring him."
37. The road to heaven he made him take and to heaven he ascended.
38. When to heaven he ascended, when he approached the gate of Anu,
39. At the gate of Anu, Tammuz and Gishzida were standing.
40. When they saw him they cried: "Adapa, help!
41. Lord, for whose sake art thou thus?
42. For whom art thou clad in a mourning garment?
43. In the country two gods have vanished; therefore in a mourning garment
44. Am I clad. Who are the two gods who from the land have vanished?"
45. "Tammuz and Gishzida." They looked at one another and
46. Were astonished. When Adapa before Anu the king,
47. Approached, Anu saw him and cried:
48. "Come, Adapa, why of the south wind the wing
49. Hast thou broken?" Adapa answered: "Anu, my lord, 50. For the house of my lord in the midst of the sea
51. I was catching fish. As I was midway of the voyage
52. The south wind blew and capsized me;
53. To the house of the fishes it made me sink. In the anger of my heart
54. [The south wind] I cursed. At my side answered Tammuz
55. And Gishzida: 'The heart should be toward Anu.'
56. They spoke, he was appeased, his heart was won (?).
57. "Why has Ea, to impure man, of the heavens
58. And the earth revealed the heart?
59. Strong (?) has he made him (Adapa); a name he has given him.
60. We what can we do to him? Food of life
61. Bring him, that he may eat." Food of life
62. They brought him; he ate it not. Water of life
63. They brought him; he drank it not. A garment
64. They brought him; he clothed himself. Oil
65. They brought him; he anointed himself.
66. Anu looked at him; he wondered (?) at him.
67. "Come, Adapa, why dost thou not eat nor drink?
68. Now thou shalt not live; men are mortal (?)." "Ea my lord
69. Said: Thou shalt not eat, thou shalt not drink."
70. Take him and bring him back to earth.
71. ................................. looked upon him.
2. The south wind [blew and capsized him),
3. To the house (of the fishes] it made him sink,
4. "O south wind [increase] thy rage as much as [thou art able],
5. Thy wing I will break." As he spoke with his mouth,
6. The wing of the south wind was broken, seven days
7. The south wind blew not on the land. Anu
8. To his messenger, Ilabrat, said:
9. "Why has the south wind not blown upon the land for seven days?"
10. His messenger Ilabrat answered him, "My lord
11. Adapa, the son of Ea, the wing of the south wind
12. Has broken." Anu, when he heard this,
13. Cried "Help!" He ascended his throne: "Let some one bring him to me.
14. Likewise Ea, who knows the heavens, summon him,
[The lines 14a, etc., are supplied from a parallel tablet.]
14a. To King Ea to come."
14b. To him he caused word to be borne,
14c. .................... To him, to King Ea,
14d. He sent a messenger.
14e. He is of great understanding, he knows the hearts of the great gods,
14f. ...................... of the heavens, he establishes it.
15. [A soiled garment he made] him wear; with a mourning garment clad him, 16. He clothed him and gave him counsel,
17. Saying: "Adapa, into the presence of Anu, the king, thou art going,
18. Fail not the order, my word keep,
19. When thou goest up to heaven and approachest the gate of Anu,
20. At the gate of Anu, Tammuz and Gishzida
21. Stand, they will see thee, they will ask: 'Lord,
22. For whose sake art thou thus, Adapa? For whom
23. Art thou clad in a mourning garment?' 'In our country two gods have vanished, therefore
24. Am I thus.' 'Who are the two gods who in the land
25. Have vanished?' 'Tammuz and Gishzida.' They will look at one another and
26. Be astonished. Favorable words
27. To Anu they will speak. A joyful countenance of Anu
28. They will reveal to thee. When thou standest in the presence of Anu,
29. Food of death they will offer thee to eat;
30. Thou shalt not eat. Water of death they will offer thee to drink;
31. Thou shalt not drink. A garment will they show thee;
32. Put it on. Oil they will set before thee; anoint thyself.
33. The command which I give thee, forget not. The word
34. Which I have spoken hold fast." The messenger
35. Of Anu came: "Adapa of the south wind
36. The wing has broken. Into my presence bring him."
37. The road to heaven he made him take and to heaven he ascended.
38. When to heaven he ascended, when he approached the gate of Anu,
39. At the gate of Anu, Tammuz and Gishzida were standing.
40. When they saw him they cried: "Adapa, help!
41. Lord, for whose sake art thou thus?
42. For whom art thou clad in a mourning garment?
43. In the country two gods have vanished; therefore in a mourning garment
44. Am I clad. Who are the two gods who from the land have vanished?"
45. "Tammuz and Gishzida." They looked at one another and
46. Were astonished. When Adapa before Anu the king,
47. Approached, Anu saw him and cried:
48. "Come, Adapa, why of the south wind the wing
49. Hast thou broken?" Adapa answered: "Anu, my lord, 50. For the house of my lord in the midst of the sea
51. I was catching fish. As I was midway of the voyage
52. The south wind blew and capsized me;
53. To the house of the fishes it made me sink. In the anger of my heart
54. [The south wind] I cursed. At my side answered Tammuz
55. And Gishzida: 'The heart should be toward Anu.'
56. They spoke, he was appeased, his heart was won (?).
57. "Why has Ea, to impure man, of the heavens
58. And the earth revealed the heart?
59. Strong (?) has he made him (Adapa); a name he has given him.
60. We what can we do to him? Food of life
61. Bring him, that he may eat." Food of life
62. They brought him; he ate it not. Water of life
63. They brought him; he drank it not. A garment
64. They brought him; he clothed himself. Oil
65. They brought him; he anointed himself.
66. Anu looked at him; he wondered (?) at him.
67. "Come, Adapa, why dost thou not eat nor drink?
68. Now thou shalt not live; men are mortal (?)." "Ea my lord
69. Said: Thou shalt not eat, thou shalt not drink."
70. Take him and bring him back to earth.
71. ................................. looked upon him.
III.
1. ..................................................................
2. He commanded him and he.......
3. The garment, he commanded him and he clothed himself.
4. Anu wondered greatly at the deed of Ea.
5. The gods of heaven and earth, as many as there are: "Who is thus mighty (?)?
6. His command is the command of Anu. Who can surpass [him]?"
7. As now Adapa from the horizon to the zenith of the heavens
8. ...... looked, he saw his terror ..... (i. e., the terror he inspired)
9. [Which] Anu concerning Adapa upon him ...... had placed.
10. [The service (?)] of Ea he made his satisfaction.
11. Anu fixed as his lot his lordship in brilliance to the distant future.
12. ........ Adapa, the seed of mankind,
13. [Who] victoriously broke the wing of the south wind,
14. And to heaven he ascended. "Thus let it be!"
15. ........ that which he in evil ways imposed on the people,
16. ........ sickness which he placed in the bodies of people.
17. ......... Ninkarrak appeased.
18. Sickness [shall c]ome, his disease shall be violent,
19. ......... destruction shall fall upon him,
20. [In] good sleep he shall not rest,
21. ....shall overturn (?) the joy of people's hearts.
(The remainder is broken away.)
2. He commanded him and he.......
3. The garment, he commanded him and he clothed himself.
4. Anu wondered greatly at the deed of Ea.
5. The gods of heaven and earth, as many as there are: "Who is thus mighty (?)?
6. His command is the command of Anu. Who can surpass [him]?"
7. As now Adapa from the horizon to the zenith of the heavens
8. ...... looked, he saw his terror ..... (i. e., the terror he inspired)
9. [Which] Anu concerning Adapa upon him ...... had placed.
10. [The service (?)] of Ea he made his satisfaction.
11. Anu fixed as his lot his lordship in brilliance to the distant future.
12. ........ Adapa, the seed of mankind,
13. [Who] victoriously broke the wing of the south wind,
14. And to heaven he ascended. "Thus let it be!"
15. ........ that which he in evil ways imposed on the people,
16. ........ sickness which he placed in the bodies of people.
17. ......... Ninkarrak appeased.
18. Sickness [shall c]ome, his disease shall be violent,
19. ......... destruction shall fall upon him,
20. [In] good sleep he shall not rest,
21. ....shall overturn (?) the joy of people's hearts.
(The remainder is broken away.)
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Source: George A. Barton, Archæology and the Bible, 5th ed. (Philadelphia: American Sunday-School Union, 1927), 283-286; Robert William Rogers, Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament (London: Henry Frowde/Oxford University Press, 1912), 67-69.
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