04_Enuma Elish.BB.

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"Enuma Elish" The "Enuma Elish" is the Babylonian creation epic, a poem consisting of seven tablets of cuneiform writing with most of the tablets containing about 150 lines. The epic is referred to as the "Enuma Elish" because those are the first two words of the poem on the first tablet. The translation of "Enuma Elish" is "When on high." Our oldest copies of the epic date to the seventh century BCE but most scholars believe the epic is much older, probably dating to the 18ct BCE. It is recorded in Old Babylonian on seven clay tablets. From Tablet 1 "O Mummu, my vizier, who makes my spirit rejoice, come hither and let us go to Tiamat!" WHEN on high the Heavens had not been named, They went and sat down before Tiamat, firm ground below had not been called by name, exchanging counsel about the gods, their children. nothing but primordial Apsu [the ocean] the Begetter, Apsu, opening his mouth, said to resplendent Tiamat: (and) Mummu-Tiamat [the primeval waters], She Who "Their ways are truly loathsome to me, Bore Them All, by day I find no relief, nor sleep at night. their waters commingling as a single body I will destroy, I will wreck their ways, no reed hut had been matted, no marshland had so that quiet may be restored. Let us have rest!" appeared, when no gods whatever had been brought into being, 50 As soon as Tiamat heard this, uncalled by name, their destinies undetermined she was angry and called out to her husband; THEN it was that the gods were formed in the midst of she cried out aggrieved as she raged all alone, heaven. injecting woe into her mood: "What? Should we destroy that which we have built? Lahmu [mud] and Lahamu ['Mrs. Mud'] were brought Their ways indeed are most troublesome, but let us forth, attend kindly!" by name they were called Then answered Mummu, giving counsel to Apsu; before they had grown in age and stature. ill-wishing and ungracious was Mummu's advice: Anshar [the upper firmament: the sky] and Kishar [the "Do destroy, my father, the mutinous ways. lower firmament: the earth] were formed, 60 Then you will have relief by day and rest at night!" surpassing the others. They prolonged the days, added on the years. When Apsu heard this, his face grew radiant because of the evil he planned against the gods his sons. Anu [the sky god, the principle of authority] was their As for Mummu, he embraced him by the neck heir, the rival of his fathers; as he sat down on his knees to kiss him. yes, Anu, Anshar's first-born, was his equal. He begot in his image Nudimmud [= Ea, god of water, Now all that they had planned between them the principle of wisdom]. was repeated to the gods, their children. This Nudimmud was the master of his fathers; When the gods heard, they were upset, of broad wisdom, understanding, mighty in strength, then they lapsed into silence and remained speechless. mightier by far than his grandfather Anshar. Ea-Nudimmud, surpassing in wisdom, accomplished, He had no rival among the gods, his brothers. 70 resourceful, Ea the All-Wise, saw through their scheme. The divine brothers banded together, A master design against it he devised and set up, they disturbed Tiamat as they surged back and forth, made artful his spell against it yes, they troubled the mood of Tiamat by their hilarity in the Abode of Heaven. Having fettered Apsu he slew him Apsu could not lessen their clamor and Tiamat was speechless at their ways. Their doings were loathsome to [the older gods]. From Tablet 2 Unsavory were their ways; they were overbearing. [Tiamat, who represents the forces of disorder and chaos, wants to avenge her husband. She prepares to Then Apsu, the Begetter of the Great Gods, unleash Kingu, her destructive powers, on the Younger cried out, addressing Mummu [mist of the clouds, the Gods. Ea attempts to confront Tiamat but fails. Then principle of entropy], his vizier:

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Anu tries to stop her but fails as well. In terror the Younger Gods turn to Anshar for advice.] All the Anunnaki [younger gods] gathered; their lips closed tight, they sat in silence, "No god (they thought) can go to battle and, facing Tiamat, escape with his life." Lord Anshar, Father of the gods, arose in grandeur, and, having pondered in his heart, said to the Anunnaki: "He whose strength is potent shall be our avenger, he who is keen in battle, Marduk, the hero!" [Marduk, youngest son of the gods, replies to the invitation:] "What male is it who has pressed his fight against you? It is but Tiamat, a woman, that flies at you with weapons. Creator of the gods, destiny of the great gods, if I indeed, as your avenger, am to vanquish Tiamat and save your lives, set up the assembly, proclaim supreme my destiny! When you have sat down together rejoicing in Ubshukinna [assembly], let my word, instead of you, determine the fates. Unalterable shall be what I may bring into being; neither recalled nor changed shall be the command of my lips." From Tablet 3 They made ready to leave on their journey, all the Great Gods who determine the fates. They entered before Anshar, filling Ubshukinna. They kissed one another in the assembly. They ate festive bread, poured the wine, they wetted their drinking tubes with sweet intoxicant. As they drank the strong drink, their bodies swelled. They became very languid as their spirits rose. For Marduk the avenger they fixed the decrees. From Tablet 4 They erected for him a princely throne. Facing his fathers, he sat down, presiding. "You are the most honored of the great gods, your decree is unrivaled, your command is Anu. You, Marduk, are the most honored of the great gods, your decree is unrivaled, your word is Anu. From this day your pronouncement shall be unchangeable. To raise or bring lowthese shall be in your hand. Your utterance shall be true, your command shall be unimpeachable. No one among the gods shall transgress your bounds! Adornment being wanted for the seats of the gods,

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let the place of their shrines ever be in your place. O Marduk, you are indeed our avenger. We have granted you kingship over the universe entire. When you sit in assembly your word shall be supreme. Your weapons shall not fail; they shall smash your foes! O lord, spare the life of him who trusts you, but pour out the life of the god who seized evil." Then Tiamat and Marduk joined issue, wisest of gods. They strove in single combat, locked in battle. The lord spread out his net to enfold her, the Evil Wind, which followed behind, he let loose in her face. When Tiamat opened her mouth to consume him, he drove in the Evil Wind while as yet she had not shut her lips. As the terrible winds filled her belly, her body was distended and her mouth was wide open. He released the arrow, it tore her belly, it cut through her insides, splitting the heart. Having thus subdued her, he extinguished her life. He cast down her carcass to stand upon it. After he had slain Tiamat the leader, her band was shattered, her troop broken up; and the gods her helpers who marched at her side, trembling with terror, turned their backs about, in order to save and preserve their lives. Tightly encircled, they could not escape. He made them captives and he smashed their weapons. Thrown into the net, they found themselves ensnared; placed in cells, they were filled with wailing; bearing his wrath, they were held imprisoned. The lord [Marduk] trod on the legs of Tiamat, with his unsparing mace he crushed her skull. When the arteries of her blood he had severed, the North Wind bore it to places undisclosed. On seeing this, his fathers were joyful and jubilant, they brought gifts of homage to him. Then the lord paused to view her dead body that he might divide the monster and do artful works. He split her like a shellfish into two parts: half of her he set up and ceiled it as sky, pulled down the bar and posted guards. He bade them to allow not her waters to escape. He crossed the heavens and surveyed the regions. He squared Apsu's quarter, the abode of Nudimmud, as the lord measured the dimensions of Apsu. The Great Abode, its likeness, he fixed as Esharra, the Great Abode, Esharra, which he made as the firmament. Anu, Enlil, and Ea he made occupy their places.

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From Tablet 5 [Marduk builds dwelling places for the other gods: they reside in the constellations in the sky. For himself, he establishes the city of Babylon as his throne room.] "Below I have hardened the ground for a building site, I will build a house, it will be my luxurious abode. I will found therein its temple, I will appoint its inner rooms, I will establish my sovereignty. When you descend from heaven for assembly, you will spend the night in it, it is there to receive all of you. I will call its name Babylon which means the houses of the great gods, I shall build it with the skill of craftsmen." From Tablet 6 When Marduk heard the words of the gods, his heart prompted (him) to fashion artful works. Opening his mouth, he addressed Ea to impart the plan he had conceived in his heart: "Blood I will mass and cause bones to be. I will establish a savage, 'man' shall be his name. Verily, savage-man I will create. He shall be charged with the service of the gods that they might be at ease!"

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[Ea and the gods answer:] "It was Kingu who contrived the uprising, and made Tiamat rebel, and joined battle." They bound him, holding him before Ea. They imposed on him his guilt and severed his blood vessels. Out of his blood they fashioned mankind. He [Marduk] imposed the service and let free the gods. When they had granted him the exercise of kingship of the gods, when they had given him dominion over the gods of heaven and underworld, Anshar pronounced supreme his name, Asarluhi, saying: "Let us do obeisance at the mention of his name, to his utterance let the gods give heed, let his command be supreme above and below! Most exalted be the Son, our avenger; let his sovereignty be surpassing, having no rival. May he shepherd the black-headed ones, his creatures. To the end of days, without forgetting, let them acclaim his ways. May he establish for his fathers the great food-offerings; their support they shall furnish, shall tend their sanctuaries. May he cause incense to be smelled, [and] their chants to make a likeness on earth of what he has wrought in heaven."

Translation by E. A. Speiser in Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, edited by James B. Pritchard (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969, 3rd edition with supplement), pages 60-72.