The Babylonian Legends of the Creation, Ernest Alfred Wallis Budge [best short books to read .TXT] 📗

children.

 

53. Mummu embraced his neck …

 

54. He took him on his knee, he kissed him …

 

55. They (i.e. Mummu and Apsu) planned the cursing in the

assembly,

 

56. They repeated the curses to the gods their eldest sons.

 

57. The gods made answer …

 

58. They began a lamentation…

 

59. [Endowed] with understanding, the prudent god, the exalted one,

 

60. Ea, who pondereth everything that is, searched out their [plan].

 

61. He brought it to nought (?), he made the form of everything to

stand still.

 

62. He recited a cunning incantation, very powerful and holy.

 

[In the British Museum tablets lines 63-108 are either wanting

entirely, or are too broken to translate, and the last 130 lines of

the Berlin fragment are much mutilated. The fragments of text show

that Ea waged war against Apsu and Mummu. Ea recited an incantation

which caused Apsu to fall asleep. He then “loosed the joints” of

Mummu, who in some way suffered, but he was strong enough to attack Ea

when he turned to deal with Apsu. Ea overcame both his adversaries and

divided Apsu into chambers and laid fetters upon him. In one of the

chambers of Apsu a god was begotten and born. According to the

Ninevite theologians Ea begat by his wife, who is not named, his son

Marduk, and according to the theologians of the City of Ashur, Lakhmu

begat by his wife Lakhamu a son who is no other than Anshar, or

Ashur. A nurse was appointed to rear him, and he grew up a handsome

child, to the great delight of his father. He had four ears and four

eyes, a statement which suggests that he was two-headed, and resembled

the Latin god Janus.]

 

109. They formed a band, and went forth to battle to help Tiâmat.

 

110. They were exceedingly wroth, they made plots by day and by night

without ceasing.

 

111. They offered battle, fuming and raging.

 

112. They set the battle in array, they uttered cries[1] of hostility,

 

[Footnote 1: Literally, “they excited themselves to hostility.”]

 

113. Ummu-Khubur,[1] who fashioned all things,

 

[Footnote 1: A title of Tiâmat.]

 

114. Set up the unrivalled weapon, she spawned huge serpents,

 

115. Sharp of tooth, pitiless in attack (?)

 

116. She filled their bodies with venom instead of blood,

117. Grim, monstrous serpents, arrayed in terror,

118. She decked them with brightness, she fashioned them in exalted

forms,

 

119. So that fright and horror might overcome him that looked upon

them,

 

120. So that their bodies might rear up, and no man resist their

attack,

 

121. She set up the Viper, and the Snake, and the god Lakhamu,

122. The Whirlwind, the ravening Dog, the Scorpion-man,

123. The mighty Storm-wind, the Fish-man, the horned Beast

(Capricorn?)

 

124. They carried the Weapon[1] which spared not, nor flinched from

the battle.

 

[Footnote 1: These nine monsters with the Weapon (Thunderbolt?) and

Kingu form the Eleven Allies of Tiâmat, and it is clear that she and

her Allies represent the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac. When Marduk

destroyed Tiâmat and her associates, he found it necessary to fix the

stars, the images of the great gods, in their places, as the Twelve

Signs of the Zodiac. (See the Fifth Tablet of Creation, p. 55.)]

 

125. Most mighty were Tiâmat’s decrees, they could not be resisted,

 

126. Thus she caused eleven [monsters] of this kind to come into

being,

 

127. Among the gods, her first-born son who had collected her company,

 

128. That is to say, Kingu, she set on high, she made him the great

one amongst them,

 

129. Leader of the hosts in battle, disposer of the troops,

 

130. Bearer of the firmly grasped weapon, attacker in the fight,

 

131. He who in the battle is the master of the weapon,

 

132. She appointed, she made him to sit down in [goodly apparel]

 

133. [Saying], “I have uttered the incantation for thee. I have

magnified thee in the assembly of the gods.

 

134. “I have filled his [_sic_, read ‘thy’] hand with the

sovereignty of the whole company of the gods.

 

135. “Mayest thou be magnified, thou who art my only spouse,

 

136. “May the Anunnaki make great thy renown over all of them.”

 

137. She gave him the TABLET OF DESTINIES, she fastened it on his

breast, [saying],

 

138. “As for thee, thy command shall not fall empty, whatsoever goeth

forth from thy mouth shall be established.”

 

139. When Kingu was raised on high and had taken the heavens

(literally, the god Anutum)

 

140. He fixed the destinies for the gods his sons,

 

141. Open your mouths, let the Fire-god[1] be quenched,

 

[Footnote 1: The god here alluded to is Mardak, who, in one aspect, is

a fire-god; see Tablet IV, II. 39, 40.]

 

142. He who is glorious in battle and is most mighty, shall do great

deeds.

 

SECOND TABLET.

 

1. Tiâmat made solid that which she had moulded.

 

2. She bound the gods her children with [evil bonds].

 

3. Tiâmat wrought wickedness to avenge Apsu.

 

4. When … had harnessed his chariot he went to meet Ea,

5. Ea hearkened to his story,

6. He was sorely afflicted and abode in sorrow,

 

7. The days were long, his wrath died down.

 

8. He went his way to the dwelling of Anshar, his father,

 

9. He went into the presence of Anshar, the father who begat him,

 

[Illustration: Portion of a tablet inscribed in Assyrian with a text

of the Second Tablet of the Creation Series. [No. 40,559.]]

 

10. Whatsoever Tiâmat had devised he repeated unto him,

 

11. Mother Tiâmat who gave us birth hath sown these things.

 

12. She hath set in order her assembly, she rageth furiously,

 

13. All the gods have joined themselves to her.

 

14. They march by her side together with those whom ye have created.

 

15. They formed a band and went forth to battle to help Tiâmat,

 

16. They were exceedingly wroth, they made plots by day and by night

without ceasing,

17. They offered battle, fuming and raging,

18. They set the battle in array, they uttered cries of defiance.

 

19. Ummu-Khubur,[1] who fashioned all things,

 

[Footnote 1: See above.]

 

20. Set up the unrivalled weapon, she spawned huge serpents

 

21. Sharp of tooth, pitiless in attack (?)

 

22. She filled their bodies with venom instead of blood,

 

23. Grim, monstrous serpents arrayed in terror.

 

24. She decked them with brightness, she fashioned them in exalted

forms,

 

25. So that fright and horror might overcome him that looked upon

them,

 

26. So that their bodies might rear up, and no man resist their

attack.

 

27. She set up the Viper, and the Snake, and the god Lakhamu,

28. The Whirlwind, the ravening Dog, the Scorpion-man,

29. The Storm-wind, the Fish-man, the Horned Beast.

 

30. They carried the Weapon which spared not, nor flinched from the

battle.

 

31. Most mighty were Tiâmat’s allies, they could not be resisted.

 

32. Thus she caused eleven [monsters] of this kind to come into being.

 

33. Among the gods, her first-born son who had collected her company,

 

34. That is to say, Kingu, she set on high, she made him the great one

amongst them.

 

35. Leader of the hosts in battle, disposer of the troops,

 

36. Bearer of the firmly-grasped weapon, attacker in the fight,

 

37. He who in the battle is the master of the weapon,

 

38. She appointed, she made him to sit down in [goodly apparel]

 

39. [Saying], “I have recited the incantation for thee, I have

magnified thee in the assembly of the gods,

 

40. “I have filled his [_sic_, read ‘thy’] hand with the

sovereignty of the whole company of the gods.

 

41. “Mayest thou be magnified, thou who art my only spouse,

 

42. “May the Anunnaki make great thy renown over all of them.”

 

43. She gave him the TABLET OF DESTINIES, she fastened it on his

breast, [saying]—

 

44. “As for thee, thy command shall not fall empty, what goeth forth

from thy mouth shall be established.”

 

45. When Kingu was raised on high and had taken the heavens

(literally, “the god Anutum”)

 

46. He fixed the destinies for the gods his sons, [saying],

 

47. “Open your mouths, let the Fire-god be quenched,

 

48. “He who is glorious in battle and is most mighty shall do great

deeds.”

 

49. When Anshar heard that Tiâmat was stirred mightily,

 

50. … he bit his lips

 

51. … his mind was not at peace

 

[Lines 52-54 too fragmentary for translation.]

 

An’shar then addresses Ea and says:—

55. “Thou hast slain Mummu and Apsu

56. “But Tiâmat hath exalted Kingu—where is the one who can meet her?

 

[Lines 57 and 58 imperfect; lines 59-71 wanting.]

 

72. Anshar spake a word unto his son [Anu]:—

 

73. “… this is a difficulty, my warrior

 

74. “Whose power is exalted, whose attack cannot be stayed,

 

75. “Go and stand thou in the presence of Tiâmat,

 

76. “That her spirit [be quieted], her heart softened.

 

77. “But should she not hearken unto thy word,

 

78. “Speak thou our word unto her so that she may be abated.”

 

79. [Anu] heard the order of his father Anshar.

 

80. He took the straight road to her, and hastened on the way to her.

 

81. Anu drew nigh, he searched out the plan of Tiâmat,

 

82. He could not prevail against her, he turned back.

 

Lines 83 and 84 contain Anu’s report to Anshar, but they are too

fragmentary to translate; line 85 reads:—

 

83. He (Anu) went to his father Anshar who begat him,

 

84. He spake unto him a word [concerning Tiâmat]

 

85. [She laid] hands upon me that withered me up.”

 

86. Anshar was distressed, he looked down upon the ground,

 

87. He turned pale; towards Ea he lifted up his head.

 

88. All the Anunnaki assembled at their posts.

 

89. They shut their mouths, they sat in lamentation.

 

90. [They said], “Nowhere is there a god who can attack Tiâmat.

 

91. “He would not escape from Tiâmat’s presence with his life.”

 

92. The Lord Anshar, the Father of the gods, [spake] majestically,

 

93. He lifted up his heart, he addressed the Anunnaki, [saying]

 

94. “He whose [strength] is mighty [shall be] an avenger for [us]

 

95. “The … in the strife, Marduk the Hero.”

 

96. Ea called Marduk to the place where he gave oracles,

 

97. Marduk came and according to his heart he addressed him,

 

98. [Saying], “O Marduk, hear the counsel and advice of thy father,

 

99. “Thou art the son who refresheth his heart,

 

100. “Draw nigh and enter the presence of An-shar,

 

101. “Stand there [with joy], when he looketh upon thee he will be at

rest.”[1]

 

[Footnote 1: Lines 83, 84, 88-101 are translated from the British

Museum fragments and the Berlin fragments; lines 88-101 contain the

equivalent to the whole gap in the British Museum tablet.]

 

113. The Lord [Marduk] rejoiced at the word of his father,

 

114. He approached and took up his place before Anshar.

 

115. Anshar looked upon him and his heart was filled with gladness.

 

116. He (i.e., Anshar) kissed his