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"EnumaElish"

The"EnumaElish"is theBabyloniancreationepic,apoemconsistingof seventabletsofcuneiformwritingwithmostof

thetabletscontainingabout150lines.Theepicisreferredtoasthe"EnumaElish"becausethosearethefirsttwowordsof

thepoemonthefirsttablet.Thetranslationof"EnumaElish"is"Whenonhigh."Ouroldestcopiesoftheepicdatetothe

seventhcenturyBCEbutmostscholarsbelievetheepicismucholder,probablydatingtothe18ctBCE.ItisrecordedinOld

Babylonianonsevenclaytablets.

FromTablet1

WHENonhightheHeavenshadnotbeennamed,

firmgroundbelowhadnotbeencalledbyname,

nothingbutprimordialApsu[theocean]theBegetter,

(and)Mummu-Tiamat[theprimevalwaters],SheWho

BoreThemAll,

theirwaterscomminglingasasinglebody

noreedhuthadbeenmatted,nomarshlandhad

appeared,

whennogodswhateverhadbeenbroughtintobeing,

uncalledbyname,theirdestiniesundetermined10

THENitwasthatthegodswereformedinthemidstof

heaven.

Lahmu[mud]andLahamu['Mrs.Mud']werebrought

forth,

bynametheywerecalled

beforetheyhadgrowninageandstature.

Anshar[theupperfirmament:thesky]andKishar[the

lowerfirmament:theearth]wereformed,

surpassingtheothers.

Theyprolongedthedays,addedontheyears.20

Anu[theskygod,theprincipleofauthority]wastheir

heir,therivalofhisfathers;

yes,Anu,Anshar'sfirst-born,washisequal.

HebegotinhisimageNudimmud[=Ea,godofwater,

theprincipleofwisdom].

ThisNudimmudwasthemasterofhisfathers;

ofbroadwisdom,understanding,mightyinstrength,

mightierbyfarthanhisgrandfatherAnshar.

Hehadnorivalamongthegods,hisbrothers.

Thedivinebrothersbandedtogether,30

theydisturbedTiamatastheysurgedbackandforth,

yes,theytroubledthemoodofTiamatbytheirhilarityintheAbodeofHeaven.

Apsucouldnotlessentheirclamor

andTiamatwasspeechlessattheirways.

Theirdoingswereloathsometo[theoldergods].

Unsavoryweretheirways;theywereoverbearing.

ThenApsu,theBegetteroftheGreatGods,

criedout,addressingMummu[mistoftheclouds,the

principleofentropy],hisvizier:40

"OMummu,myvizier,whomakesmyspiritrejoice,

comehitherandletusgotoTiamat!"

TheywentandsatdownbeforeTiamat,

exchangingcounselaboutthegods,theirchildren.

Apsu,openinghismouth,saidtoresplendentTiamat:

"Theirwaysaretrulyloathsometome,

bydayIfindnorelief,norsleepatnight.

Iwilldestroy,Iwillwrecktheirways,

sothatquietmayberestored.Letushaverest!"

AssoonasTiamatheardthis,50

shewasangryandcalledouttoherhusband;

shecriedoutaggrievedassheragedallalone,

injectingwoeintohermood:

"What?Shouldwedestroythatwhichwehavebuilt?

Theirwaysindeedaremosttroublesome,butletus

attendkindly!"

ThenansweredMummu,givingcounseltoApsu;

ill-wishingandungraciouswasMummu'sadvice:

"Dodestroy,myfather,themutinousways.

Thenyouwillhavereliefbydayandrestatnight!"60

WhenApsuheardthis,hisfacegrewradiant

becauseoftheevilheplannedagainstthegodshissons.AsforMummu,heembracedhimbytheneck

ashesatdownonhiskneestokisshim.

Nowallthattheyhadplannedbetweenthem

wasrepeatedtothegods,theirchildren.

Whenthegodsheard,theywereupset,

thentheylapsedintosilenceandremainedspeechless.

Ea-Nudimmud,surpassinginwisdom,accomplished,

resourceful,70

EatheAll-Wise,sawthroughtheirscheme.

Amasterdesignagainstithedevisedandsetup,

madeartfulhisspellagainstit

HavingfetteredApsuheslewhim

FromTablet2

[Tiamat, who represents the forces of disorder and

chaos, wants to avenge her husband. Sheprepares to

unleash Kingu, herdestructive powers, on theYounger

Gods. Ea attempts to confront Tiamat but fails. Then

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Anu tries to stop her but fails as well. In terror the80

YoungerGodsturntoAnsharforadvice.]

AlltheAnunnaki[youngergods]gathered;

theirlipsclosedtight,theysatinsilence,

"Nogod(theythought)cangotobattleand,

facingTiamat,escapewithhislife."

LordAnshar,Fatherofthegods,aroseingrandeur,

and,havingponderedinhisheart,saidtotheAnunnaki:

"Hewhosestrengthispotentshallbeouravenger,

hewhoiskeeninbattle,Marduk,thehero!"

[Marduk,youngestsonofthegods,repliestothe90

invitation:]

"Whatmaleisitwhohaspressedhisfightagainstyou?

ItisbutTiamat,awoman,thatfliesatyouwith

weapons.

Creatorofthegods,destinyofthegreatgods,

ifIindeed,asyouravenger,

amtovanquishTiamatandsaveyourlives,setuptheassembly,proclaimsuprememydestiny!

Whenyouhavesatdowntogetherrejoicingin

Ubshukinna[assembly],100

letmyword,insteadofyou,determinethefates.

UnalterableshallbewhatImaybringintobeing;

neitherrecallednorchangedshallbethecommandof

mylips."

FromTablet3

Theymadereadytoleaveontheirjourney,

alltheGreatGodswhodeterminethefates.

TheyenteredbeforeAnshar,fillingUbshukinna.Theykissedoneanotherintheassembly.

Theyatefestivebread,pouredthewine,

theywettedtheirdrinkingtubeswithsweetintoxicant.

Astheydrankthestrongdrink,theirbodiesswelled.110

Theybecameverylanguidastheirspiritsrose.

ForMarduktheavengertheyfixedthedecrees.

FromTablet4

Theyerectedforhimaprincelythrone.

Facinghisfathers,hesatdown,presiding.

"Youarethemosthonoredofthegreatgods,

yourdecreeisunrivaled,yourcommandisAnu.You,Marduk,arethemosthonoredofthegreatgods,

yourdecreeisunrivaled,yourwordisAnu.

Fromthisdayyourpronouncementshallbe120

unchangeable.

Toraiseorbringlowtheseshallbeinyourhand.

Yourutteranceshallbetrue,yourcommandshallbe

unimpeachable.

Nooneamongthegodsshalltransgressyourbounds!

Adornmentbeingwantedfortheseatsofthegods,

lettheplaceoftheirshrineseverbeinyourplace.

OMarduk,youareindeedouravenger.

Wehavegrantedyoukingshipovertheuniverseentire.

Whenyousitinassemblyyourwordshallbesupreme.130

Yourweaponsshallnotfail;theyshallsmashyourfoes!

Olord,sparethelifeofhimwhotrustsyou,

butpouroutthelifeofthegodwhoseizedevil."

ThenTiamatandMardukjoinedissue,wisestofgods.

Theystroveinsinglecombat,lockedinbattle.

Thelordspreadouthisnettoenfoldher,

theEvilWind,whichfollowedbehind,heletlooseinher

face.

WhenTiamatopenedhermouthtoconsumehim,

hedroveintheEvilWindwhileasyetshehadnotshut140

herlips.

Astheterriblewindsfilledherbelly,

herbodywasdistendedandhermouthwaswideopen.

Hereleasedthearrow,ittoreherbelly,itcutthroughherinsides,splittingtheheart.

Havingthussubduedher,heextinguishedherlife.

Hecastdownhercarcasstostanduponit.

AfterhehadslainTiamattheleader,

herbandwasshattered,hertroopbrokenup;

andthegodsherhelperswhomarchedatherside,150

tremblingwithterror,turnedtheirbacksabout,

inordertosaveandpreservetheirlives.

Tightlyencircled,theycouldnotescape.

Hemadethemcaptivesandhesmashedtheirweapons.

Thrownintothenet,theyfoundthemselvesensnared;

placedincells,theywerefilledwithwailing;

bearinghiswrath,theywereheldimprisoned.

Thelord[Marduk]trodonthelegsofTiamat,

withhisunsparingmacehecrushedherskull.

Whenthearteriesofherbloodhehadsevered,160

theNorthWindboreittoplacesundisclosed.

Onseeingthis,hisfatherswerejoyfulandjubilant,

theybroughtgiftsofhomagetohim.

Thenthelordpausedtoviewherdeadbody

thathemightdividethemonsteranddoartfulworks.

Hesplitherlikeashellfishintotwoparts:

halfofherhesetupandceileditassky,pulleddownthebarandpostedguards.

Hebadethemtoallownotherwaterstoescape.

Hecrossedtheheavensandsurveyedtheregions.170

HesquaredApsu'squarter,theabodeofNudimmud,

asthelordmeasuredthedimensionsofApsu.

TheGreatAbode,itslikeness,hefixedasEsharra,

theGreatAbode,Esharra,whichhemadeasthe

firmament.

Anu,Enlil,andEahemadeoccupytheirplaces.

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FromTablet5

[Mardukbuildsdwellingplacesfortheothergods:they

resideintheconstellationsinthesky.Forhimself,he

establishesthecityofBabylonashisthroneroom.]180

"BelowIhavehardenedthegroundforabuildingsite,

Iwillbuildahouse,itwillbemyluxuriousabode.

Iwillfoundthereinitstemple,Iwillappointitsinnerrooms,Iwillestablishmy

sovereignty.

Whenyoudescendfromheavenforassembly,

youwillspendthenightinit,itistheretoreceiveallof

you.

IwillcallitsnameBabylonwhichmeansthehousesof

thegreatgods,190

Ishallbuilditwiththeskillofcraftsmen."

FromTablet6

WhenMardukheardthewordsofthegods,

hisheartprompted(him)tofashionartfulworks.Openinghismouth,headdressedEa

toimparttheplanhehadconceivedinhisheart:

"BloodIwillmassandcausebonestobe.

Iwillestablishasavage,'man'shallbehisname.

Verily,savage-manIwillcreate.

Heshallbechargedwiththeserviceofthegods200

thattheymightbeatease!"

[Eaandthegodsanswer:]

"ItwasKinguwhocontrivedtheuprising,

andmadeTiamatrebel,andjoinedbattle."

Theyboundhim,holdinghimbeforeEa.

Theyimposedonhimhisguiltandseveredhisblood

vessels.

Outofhisbloodtheyfashionedmankind.

He[Marduk]imposedtheserviceandletfreethegods.

210

Whentheyhadgrantedhimtheexerciseofkingshipof

thegods,

whentheyhadgivenhimdominionoverthegodsof

heavenandunderworld,

Ansharpronouncedsupremehisname,Asarluhi,saying:

"Letusdoobeisanceatthementionofhisname,

tohisutteranceletthegodsgiveheed,

lethiscommandbesupremeaboveandbelow!

MostexaltedbetheSon,ouravenger;

lethissovereigntybesurpassing,havingnorival.220Mayheshepherdtheblack-headedones,hiscreatures.

Totheendofdays,withoutforgetting,letthemacclaim

hisways.

Mayheestablishforhisfathersthegreatfood-offerings;

theirsupporttheyshallfurnish,shalltendtheir

sanctuaries.

Mayhecauseincensetobesmelled,[and]theirchants

tomake

alikenessonearthofwhathehaswroughtinheaven."

TranslationbyE.A.SpeiserinAncientNearEasternTextsRelatingtotheOldTestament,editedbyJamesB.Pritchard

(Princeton:PrincetonUniversityPress,1969,3rdeditionwithsupplement),pages60-72.