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04_Enuma Elish.BB.docx 19-Sep-11 Page 1 of 3
"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.