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Atrahasis - The Babylonian Myth of the Creation of Man & The Flood

Epic of Atra-Hasis

Epic of Atra-Hasis
Epic of Atra-Hasis

 

   

The Epic of Atra-Hasis were first discovered in 1876 AD at Sippar, Iraq.

The Epic of Atrahasis is the fullest Mesopotamian account of a flood myth. The text is known from several versions: two written by Assyrian writers (one in Assyrian language, one in the Babylonian dialect), the third one (on three tablets) was written during the reign of Ammi-saduqa of Babylonia (1647-1626 BC).

The story starts with complaints by the Lesser Gods, who refuse to work any longer. Humankind is created, but men make so much noise, that the gods decide to wipe them out. The plan to send a Deluge, however, is betrayed by the god Enki, who sends a dream to Atrahasis.

This later Akkadian version fits between the Sumerian version and the Babylonian version in the Epic of Gilgamesh. The following excerpt is taken from Myths From Mesopotamia: Gilgamesh, The Flood, and Others, translated by Stephanie Dalley.


Table of Contents

  Tablet I, Column 1 - The "God Problem" before Man was Created
  Tablet I, Column 2 - Enlil's House is Surrounded while he Sleeps
  Tablet I, Column 3 - Send out Nusku and find out why the Lower Gods are Gathered for War
  Tablet I, Column 4 - Sacrifice of Lower God
  Tablet I, Column 5 - Mami Mixes the God with Clay
  Tablet I, Column 6 - Clean the Home
  Tablet I, Column 7 - Man begins Working for the Gods
  Tablet I, Column 8 - Start an Uprising in Your Own House
  Tablet II, Column 1 - Ellil had to Listen to Their Noise
  Tablet II, Column 2 - Search Out the Door of Adad
  Tablet II, Column 3 - He Set His Foot in The City
  Tablet II, Column 4 - Ellil Organized His Assembly
  Tablet II, Column 5 - The Order of Atrahasis
  Tablet II, Column 6 - Adad Made His Rain Pour Down
  Tablet II, Column 7 - Let Us make far-sighted Enki Swear ... An Oath
  Tablet III, Column 1 - Atrahasis Made His Voice Heard
  Tablet III, Column 2 - The Carpenter Brought His Axe
  Tablet III, Column 3 - Anzu was Tearing at The Sky With His Talons
  Tablet III, Column 4 - Nintu Wept and Fuelled Her Passions
  Tablet III, Column 5 - Gathered the People to Catastrophe
  Tablet III, Column 6 - Come, Summon Nintu the Womb-Goddess!
  Tablet III, Column 7 - Let there be The Pagttu-Demon among the People
  Tablet III, Column 8 - You are the Counsellor of The Gods



Tablet I, Column 1 - The "God Problem" before Man was Created


When the gods instead of man

Did the work, bore the loads,

The gods' load was too great,          

The work too hard, the trouble too much,

The great Anunnaki [governing body of gods] made the Igigi [lower gods]

Carry the workload sevenfold.

Anu their father was king,

Their counselor warrior Enlil,

Their Chamberlain was Ninurta,

Their canal-controller Ennugi.

[The rebellion of the lower gods against the higher gods]

They [Anunnaki] took the box of lots

Cast the lots; the gods made the division.

Anu went up to the sky,

And Enlil took the earth for his people.

The bolt which bars the sea

Was assigned to far-sighted Enki.

When Anu had gone up to the sky,

And the gods of the Apsu had gone below,

The Annunaki of the sky

Made the Igigi bear the workload.

The gods had to dig out canals,

Had to clear channels, the lifelines of the land.

The gods dug out the Tigris river

And then dug out the Euphrates.

...in the deep

...they set up

...the Apsu

...of the land

...inside it

...raised its top

...of all the mountains

They were counting the years of loads

...the great marsh,

They were counting the years of loads.

For 3,600 years they bore the excess,

Hard work, night and day.

They groaned and blamed each other,

Grumbled over the masses of excavated soil:

[The call to war against the higher gods]

Let us confront our Chamberlain

And get him to relieve us of our hard work!

 

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Tablet I, Column 2 - Enlil's House is Surrounded while he Sleeps


Come, let us carry the Lord

The counselor of the gods, the warrior from his dwelling.

Then...made his voice heard

And spoke to the gods, his brothers:

Come, let us carry                 

The counselor of the gods, the warrior, from his dwelling.

Come, let us carry Enlil,      

The counselor of the gods, the warrior, from his dwelling.

Now, cry battle!

Let us mix fight with battle!

The gods listened to his speech,

Set fire to their tools,

Put aside their spades for fire,

Their loads for the fire-god.

They flared up.

[Enlil's house is surrounded while he sleeps]

When they reached the gate of warrior Enlil's dwelling,

It was night, the middle watch,

The house was surrounded, the god had not realized.

When they reached the gate of warrior Enlil's dwelling,

It was night, the middle watch,

Ekur was surrounded, Enlil had not realized.

Yet Kalkal was attentive, and had it closed,

He held the lock and watched the gate.

Kalkal roused Nusku.

They listened to the noise of the Igigi.

Then Nusku roused his master,

Made him get out of bed:

[Enlil is terrified and calls for the other high gods to help]

My lord, your house is surrounded,

A rabble is running around your door!

Enlil, your house is surrounded,

A rabble is running around your door!

Enlil had weapons brought to his dwelling.

Enlil made his voice heard

And spoke to the vizier Nusku,

Nusku, bar your door,

Take up your weapons and stand in front of me.

Nusku barred his door

Took up his weapons and stood in front of Enlil.

Nusku made his voice heard

And spoke to the warrior Enlil,

'O my lord, your face is sallow [yellow] as Tamarisk!

Why do you fear your own sons?

'O Enlil, you face is sallow as Tamarisk!

Why do you fear your own sons?

Send for Anu to be brought down to you

Have Enki fetched into your presence.

He sent for Anu to be brought down to him,

Enki was fetched into his presence,

Anu, king of the sky was present,

Enki, king of the Apsu attended.

[An assembly of the high gods is convened to take action]

The great Anunnaki were present.

Enlil got up and the case was put.

Enlil made his voice heard

And spoke to the great gods:

Is it against me that they have risen?

Shall I do battle...?

What did I see with my own eyes?

A rabble was running around my door!

Anu made his voice heard

And spoke to the warrior Enlil

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Tablet I, Column 3 - Send out Nusku and find out why the Lower Gods are Gathered for War


[The decision of the council is to send out Nusku and find out why the lower gods are gathered for war against the high gods.]

Let Nusku go out        

And find out the word of the Igigi

Who have surrounded your door.

A command...

To...

Enlil made his voice heard

And spoke to the vizier Nusku,

Nusku, open your door,

Take up your weapons and stand before me!

In the assembly of all the [lower] gods,

Bow, then stand and tell them,

"Your father Anu,

Your counselor, warrior Enlil,

Your chamberlain Ninurta

And your canal-controller Ennugi

Have sent me to say,

Who is in charge of the rabble?

Who is in charge of the fighting?

Who declared war?

Who ran to the door of Enlil?"

Nusku opened his door,

Took up his weapons, went before Enlil

In the assembly of all the gods

He bowed, then stood and told the message.

Your father Anu,

You counselor warrior Enlil,

Your chamberlain Ninurta,

And your canal controller Ennugi

Have sent me to say

"Who is in charge of the rabble?

Who is in charge of the fighting?

Who declared war?

Who ran to the door of Enlil?"

[The lower gods want their workload reduced]

Enlil...

Every single one of us declared war!

We have put a stop to the digging.

The load is excessive, it is killing us!

Our work is too hard, the trouble too much!

So every single one of us gods

Has agreed to complain to Enlil

Nusku took his weapons

Went and returned to Enlil

My lord, you sent me to...

I went...

I explained...

...

Saying "every single one of us gods

Declared war

We have put a stop to the digging.

The load is excessive, it is killing us!

Our work is too hard, the trouble too much,

So every single one of us gods

Has agreed to complain to Enlil!"

[Enlil's response]

Enlil listened to that speech.

His tears flowed.

Enlil spoke guardedly,

Addressed the warrior Anu,

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Tablet I, Column 4 - Sacrifice of Lower God



Noble one, take a decree

With you to the sky, show your strength-

While the Anunnaki are sitting before you

Call up one god and let them cast him for destruction

Anu made his voice heard

And spoke to the gods his brothers,

What are we complaining of?

Their work was indeed too hard, their trouble was too much.

Every day the Earth resounded.

The warning signal was loud enough, we kept hearing the noise.

...do

...tasks

...

While the Anunnaki are sitting before you

And while Belet-Ili the womb goddess is present,

Call up one and cast him for destruction!

Anu made his voice heard and spoke to Nusku

Nusku, open your door, take up your weapons,

Bow in the assembly of the great gods, then stand

And tell them...

"Your father Anu, your counselor warrior Enlil,

Your chamberlain Ninurta and your canal controller Ennugi

Have sent me to say

"Who is in charge of the rabble? Who will be in charge of battle?

Which god started the war?

A rabble was running around my door!

When Nusku heard this,

He took up his weapons,

Bowed in the assembly of the great gods, then stood

And told them

Your father Anu, your counselor warrior Enlil,

Your chamberlain Ninurta and your canal controller Ennugi

Have sent me to say,

"Who is in charge of the rabble? Who is in charge of the fighting?

Which god started the war?

A rabble was running around Enlil's door!

...

Ea made his voice heard

And spoke to the gods his brothers,

Why are we blaming them?

Their work was too hard, their trouble was too much.

Every day the earth resounded.

The warning signal was loud enough, we kept hearing the noise.

There is...

Belet-ili the womb goddess is present-

Let her create a mortal man

So that he may bear the yoke...

So that he may bear the yoke, the work of Enlil,

Let man bear the load of the gods!

...

Belet-ili the womb goddess is present,

Let the womb goddess create offspring,

And let them bear the load of the gods!

They called up the goddess, asked

The midwife of the gods, wise Mami,

You are the womb-goddess, to be the creator of Mankind!

Create a mortal, that he may bear the yoke!

Let him bear the yoke, the work of Enlil

Let him bear the load of the gods!

Nintu made her voice heard

And spoke to the great gods,

[Sacrifice of lower god]

On the first, seventh, and fifteenth of the month

I shall make a purification by washing.

Then one god should be slaughtered.

And the gods can be purified by immersion.

Nintu shall mix the clay

With his flesh and blood.

Then a god and a man

Will be mixed together in clay.

Let us hear the drumbeat forever after,

Let a ghost come into existence from the god's flesh,

Let her proclaim it as her living sign,

And let the ghost exist so as not to forget the slain god.

They answered "yes" in the assembly,

The great Anunnaki who assign the fates

[Geshtu-E selected to be killed to create man]

On the first, seventh, and fifteenth of the month

He made a purification by washing.

Geshtu-E, a god who had intelligence,

They slaughtered in their assembly.

Nintu mixed clay

with his flesh and blood.

They heard the drumbeat forever after.

A ghost came into existence from the god's flesh,

and she proclaimed it as his living sign.

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Tablet I, Column 5 - Mami Mixes the God with Clay



The ghost existed so as not to forget the slain god.

After she had mixed that clay,

She called up the Anunnaki, the great gods.

The Igigi, the great gods,

Spat spittle upon the clay

[Mami mixes the god with clay]

Mami made her voice heard

And spoke to the great gods,

I have carried out perfectly

The work that you ordered of me.

You have slaughtered a god together with his intelligence.

I have relieved you of your hard work,

I have imposed your load on man.

You have bestowed noise on man,

You have bestowed noise on mankind.

I have undone the fetter and granted freedom.

They listened to the speech of hers,

And were freed from anxiety, and kissed her feet:

We used to call you Mami,

But now your name shall be Mistress of All Gods.

[The creation of 7 mated couples from clay]

Far sighted Enki and wise Mami

Went into the room of fate.

The womb-goddesses were assembled.

He trod the clay in her presence;

She kept reciting an incantation,

For Enki, staying in her presence, made her recite it

When she had finished her incantation,

She pinched off fourteen pieces of clay,

And set seven pieces on the right,

Seven on the left.

Between them she put down a mud brick.

She made use of a reed, opened it to cut the umbilical cord,

Called up the wise and knowledgeable

Womb goddesses, seven and seven.

Seven created males,

Seven created females,

For the womb goddess is creator of fate.

He...them two by two,

...them two by two in her presence.

Mami made these rules for people:

In the house of a woman who is giving birth

The mud brick shall be put down for seven days.

Belet-ili, wise Mami shall be honored.

The midwife shall rejoice in the house of the woman who gives birth

And when the woman gives birth to the baby,

The mother of the baby shall sever herself.

A man to a girl...

...her bosom

A beard can be seen

On a young man's cheek.

In gardens and waysides

A wife and her husband choose each other.

The womb goddesses were assembled

And Nintu was present. They counted the months,

Called up the Tenth month as the term of fates.

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Tablet I, Column 6 - Clean the Home


When the Tenth month came,

She slipped in a staff and opened the womb.

Her face was glad and joyful.

She covered her head,

Performed the midwifery,

Put on her belt, said a blessing.

She made a drawing in flour and put down a mud brick:

I myself created it, my hands made it.

The midwife shall rejoice in the house of the qadistu-priestess.

Whenever a woman gives birth

And the baby's mother severs herself,

The mud brick shall be put down for nine days.

Nintu the womb goddess shall be honored.

She shall call their ..."Mami"

She shall ... the womb goddess,

Lay down the linen cloth.

When the bed is laid out in their house,

A wife and her husband shall choose each other.

Inanna shall rejoice in the wife-husband relationship

In the father-in-law's house.

Celebration shall last for nine days,

And they shall call Inanna "Ishhara".

On the fifteenth day, the fixed time of fate

She shall call...

...

A man...

Clean the home...

The son to his father...

...

They sat and...

He was carrying...

 

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Tablet I, Column 7 - Man begins Working for the Gods


He saw...

Enlil...

[Man begins working for the gods]

They took hold of...

Made new picks and spades,

Made big canals,

To feed people and sustain the gods.

...

[After 600 years man's noise bothers the top gods]

600 years, less than 600, passed,

And the country was as noisy as a bellowing bull.

The god grew restless at their racket,

Enlil had to listen to their noise.                                            

[Enlil orders disease to kill off some men to reduce noise]

He addressed the great gods,

The noise of mankind has become too much,

I am losing sleep over their racket.

Give the order that suruppu-disease shall break out,

...

[Man complains to the very god that caused their work]

Now there was one Atra-hasis

Whose ear was open to his god Enki.

He would speak with his god           

And his god would speak with him.

Atra-hasis made his voice heard

And spoke to his lord,

How long will the gods make us suffer?

Will they make us suffer illness forever?

[Enki tell man to ignore the gods by no longer praying and sacrificing, and make lots of noise to bug them.]

Enki made his voice heard

And spoke to his servant:

Call the elders, the senior men!

Start an uprising in your own house,

Let the heralds proclaim...

Let them make a loud noise in the land:

Do not revere your gods,

Do not pray to your goddesses,

But search out the door of Namtara.

Bring as baked loaf into his presence.

May the flour offerings reach him.

May he be shamed by the presents

And wipe away his hand.

[Atra-hasis and the townsfolk starts making lots of noise, ignore their gods and begin worshipping Namtara, the god of fate, even building him a temple]

Atra-hasis took the order,

Gathered the elders to his door.

Atra-hasis made his voice heard

And spoke to the elders:

I have called the elders, the senior men!

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Tablet I, Column 8 - Start an Uprising in Your Own House



Start an uprising in your own house,

Let the heralds proclaim...

Let them make a loud noise in the land:

Do not revere your gods,

Do not pray to your goddesses,

But search out the door of Namtara.

Bring as baked loaf into his presence.

May the flour offerings reach him.

May he be shamed by the presents

And wipe away his hand.

The elders listened to his speech;

They built a temple for Namtara in the city.

Heralds proclaimed...

They made a loud noise in the land.

They did not revere their god,

they did not pray to their goddess,

But searched out the door of Namtara,

Brought a baked loaf into his presence

The flour offerings reached him.

And he was shamed by the presents.

And wiped away his hand.

The suruppu-disease left them.

The gods went back to their regular offerings.

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Tablet II, Column 1 - Ellil had to Listen to Their Noise



OBV i 600 years, less than 600, passed

And the country became too wide, the people too numerous.

The country was as noisy as a bellowing bull. The God grew restless at their clamour,

Ellil had to listen to their noise. He addressed the great gods,

'The noise of mankind has become too much.

I am losing sleep over their racket. Cut off food supplies to the people!

Let the vegetation be too scant for their hunger! Let Adad wipe away his rain.

Below (?) let no flood-water flow from the springs.

Let wind go, let it strip the ground bare, Let clouds gather (but) not drop rain,

Let the field yield a diminished harvest, Let Nissaba stop up her bosom.

No happiness shall come to them.

Let their [                          ] be dejected.'

(gap of about 34 lines to end of column)


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Tablet II, Column 2 - Search Out the Door of Adad



(gap of about 12 lines at beginning of column)

'Call the [elders, the senior men], Start an uprising in your house,

Let heralds proclaim ...

Let them make a loud noise in the land:

Do not revere your god(s)!

Do not pray to your goddess!

Search out the door of Adad,

Bring a baked loaf into his presence.

May the flour offering reach him,

May he be shamed by the presents

And wipe away his "hand".'

(Then) he will make a mist form in the morning And in the night he will steal out and make dew drop,

Deliver (?) the field (of its produce) ninefold, like a thief.

They built a temple for Adad in the city,

Ordered heralds to proclaim

And make a loud noise in the land.

They did not revere their god(s),

Did not pray to their goddess,

But searched out the door of Adad,

Brought a baked (loaf) into his presence.

The flour offering reached him;

He was shamed by the presents

And wiped away his 'hand'.

He made mist form in the morning

And in the night he stole out and made dew drop, Delivered (?) the field (of its produce) ninefold, like a thief.

[The drought] left them,

[The gods] went back [to their (regular) offerings].

(gap of about 2/ lines to end of column)


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Tablet II, Column 3 - He Set His Foot in The City



(gap of 2 lines at beginning of column)

He set his foot in the city (?);

Every day he wept and wept.

In the morning he would bring incense.

'My god [would speak] to me, but he is under oath,

So he will give [instructions] in dreams.

Enki [would speak to me], but he is under oath, So he will give [instructions] in dreams.'

the house of his god,

he would sit and weep.

he would sit and weep.

was hushed

ended.

looked,

Addressed [         ] of the river.

'Let the river receive [    ] and take away,

Let

To [          ] my [      ],

Let him see, Let him

In the night, When

Facing the river On the bank

To the Apsu I [    ]-'

Enki listened to [his speech]

And [gave instructions] to the lahmu-heroes.

'The man who [ Behold! Let [ Come,

(gap of about 20 lines to end of column)


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Tablet II, Column 4 - Ellil Organized His Assembly



Above, [rain did not fill the canals (?)]

Below, flood-water did not flow from the springs. Earth's womb did not give birth,

No vegetation sprouted .

People did not look

The dark pastureland was bleached,

The broad countryside filled up with alkali.

In the first year they ate (?)

In the second year they depleted the storehouse. When the third year came,

Their looks were changed by starvation, Their faces covered with scabs (?) like malt.

They stayed alive by . . . . . . life. Their faces looked sallow.

They went out in public hunched, Their well-set shoulders slouched, Their upstanding bearing bowed.

They took a message [from Atrahasis to the gods].

In front of [the assembly of the great gods],

They stood and

The orders [of Atrahasis they repeated] In front of

(gap of about 22 lines to end of column)

[600 years, less than 600 years, passed.

The country became too wide, the people too numerous.

He grew restless at their noise.

Sleep could not overtake him because of their racket.

Ellil organized his assembly,

Addressed the gods his sons,

'The noise of mankind has become too much.

I have become restless at their noise.

Sleep cannot overtake me because of their racket. Give the order that e'uruppu-disease shall break out,

Let Namtar put an end to their noise straight away!

Let sickness: headache, guruppu, asakku, Blow in to them like a storm.'

They gave the order, and "i,cruppu-disease did break out.

Namtar put an end to their noise straight away. Sickness: headache, suruppu, aiakku,

Blew into them like a storm.

The thoughtful man, Atrahasis

Kept his ear open to his master Ea;

He would speak with his god,

[And his god (?)] Ea would speak with him. Atrahasis made his voice heard and spoke, Said to Ea his master,

'Oh Lord, people are grumbling!

Your [sickness] is consuming the country! Oh Lord Ea, people are grumbling!

[Sickness] from the gods is consuming the country!

Since you created us

[You ought to] cut off sickness: headache, guruppu and agakku.'"

Ea made his voice heard and spoke,

Said to Atrahasis,

'Order the heralds to proclaim,

To make a loud noise in the land:

Do not revere your gods,

Do not pray to your goddesses!

withhold his rites!

the flour as an offering ] to her presence

say a prayer

the presents

his "hand".'

Ellil organized his assembly,

Addressed the gods his sons,

'You are not to inflict disease on them again, (Even though) the people have not diminished—they are more than before!

I have become restless at their noise,

Sleep cannot overtake me because of their racket! Cut off food from the people,

Let vegetation be too scant for their stomachs! Let Adad on high make his rain scarce,

Let him block below, and not raise flood-water from the springs!

Let the field decrease its yield,

Let Nissaba turn away her breast,

Let the dark fields become white,

Let the broad countryside breed alkali Let earth clamp down her womb

So that no vegetation sprouts, no grain grows.

Let asakku be inflicted on the people,

Let the womb be too tight to let a baby out!' They cut off food for the people,

Vegetation ... became too scant for their stomachs. Adad on high made his rain scarce,

Blocked below, and did not raise flood-water from

the springs.

The field decreased its yield, Nissaba turned away her breast, The dark fields became white, The broad countryside bred alkali. Earth clamped down her womb:

No vegetation sprouted, no grain grew. Agakku was inflicted on the people.

The womb was too tight to let a baby out.


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Tablet II, Column 5 - The Order of Atrahasis



Ea kept guard over the bolt that bars the sea, Together with his lahmu-heroes.

Above, Adad made his rain scarce,

Blocked below, and did not raise flood-water from

the springs.

The field decreased its yield, Nissaba turned away her breast,

The dark fields became white,

The broad countryside bred alkali. Earth clamped down her womb:

No vegetation sprouted, no grain grew. Agakku was inflicted on the people,

The womb was too tight to let a baby out.

(gap of 2 lines)

When the second year arrived They had depleted the storehouse. When the third year arrived

[The people's looks] were changed [by starvation]. When the fourth year arrived

Their upstanding bearing bowed, Their well-set shoulders slouched,

People went out in public hunched over. When the fifth year arrived,

They served up a daughter for a meal, Served up a son for food.

Only one or two households were left.

Their faces were covered with scabs (?) like malt, The people stayed alive by ......life.

They took a message

Entered and

The order of Atrahasis

Saying, 'How long

(gap of about 36 lines to end of tablet)

He (Ellil) was furious [with the Igigi,] 'We, the great Anunna, all of us, Agreed together on [a plan].

Anu and [Adad] were to guard [above], I was to guard the earth [below]. Where Enki [went],

He was to undo the [chain and set (us) free],

He was to release [produce for the people]. He was to exercise [control (?) by holding the balance (?)].'

Ellil made his voice heard

And [spoke] to the vizier Nusku,

'Have the fifty (?) lahmu-heroes (?) ... fetched for me!

Have them brought in to my presence!'

The fifty (?) lahmu-heroes (?) were fetched for him.

The warrior [Ellil] addressed them, 'We, the great Anunna, [all of us], Agreed together on a plan.

Anu and Adad were to guard above, I was to guard the earth below. Where you [went],

[You were to undo the chain and set (us) free], [You were to release produce for the people],

[You were to exercise control (?) by holding the balance (?)].'

A daughter would eye her mother coming in;

A mother would not even open her door to her daughter.

A daughter would watch the scales (at the sale of her) mother,

A mother would watch the scales (at the sale of her) daughter.

When the sixth year arrived

They served up a daughter for a meal,

Served up a son for food.

Only one or two households were left.

Their faces were covered with scabs (?) like malt. People stayed alive by ... ... life.

The thoughtful man Atrahasis

Kept his ear open to his master Ea. He would speak with his god,

And his god Ea would speak with him. He left the door of his god,

Put his bed right beside the river,

(For even) the canals were quite silent.

(gap of about 25 lines)


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Tablet II, Column 6 - Adad Made His Rain Pour Down



When the second year arrived, they had depleted the storehouse.

When the third year arrived

The people's looks were changed by starvation.

When the fourth year arrived

Their upstanding bearing bowed, Their well-set shoulders slouched,

People went out in public hunched over.

When the fifth year arrived,

A daughter would eye her mother coming in;

A mother would not even open her door to her daughter.

A daughter would watch the scales (at the sale) of her mother,

A mother would watch the scales (at the sale) of her daughter.

When the sixth year arrived,

The warrior Ellil [

(gap of about 34 lines)

'Adad made his rain pour down,

filled the pasture land And clouds (?) veiled

Do not feed his people,

And do not give Nissaba's corn, luxury for people, to eat.'

Then [the god (?)] grew anxious as he sat, In the gods' assembly worry gnawed at him. [Enki (?)] grew anxious as he sat,

In the gods' assembly worry gnawed at him.

(3 lines fragmentary)

[They were furious with each other], Enki and Ellil. 'We, the great Anunna, all of us,

Agreed together on a plan.

Anu and Adad were to guard above,

I was to guard the earth below.

Where you went,

You were to undo the chain and set (us) free!

You were to release produce for the people! [You were to exercise control (?)] by holding the

balance (?).

' And spoke to his brother gods,

'Why should you make me swear an oath?

Why should I use my power against my people? The flood that you mention to me—

What is it? I don't even know!

Could I give birth to a flood?

That is Ellil's kind of work!

Let him choose

Let Shullat and [Hanish] march [ahead]

[Let Erakal pull out] the mooring poles

Let [Ninurta] march, let him make [the weirs] overflow.

(gap of 2 or 3 lines to end of column) viii            (gap of 31 lines)

The assembly

Do not listen to

The gods gave an explicit command.

Ellil performed a bad deed to the people.'

(Catchline)

Atrahasis made his voice heard And spoke to his master,

The warrior Ellil

(gap of 30 lines)


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Tablet II, Column 7 - Let Us make far-sighted Enki Swear ... An Oath



'[You] imposed your loads on man,

You bestowed noise on mankind,

You slaughtered a god together with his intelligence,

You must ... and [create a flood].

It is indeed your power that shall be used against [your people!]

You agreed to [the wrong (?)] plan! Have it reversed! (?)

Let us make far-sighted Enki swear ... an oath.' Enki made his voice heard


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Tablet III, Column 1 - Atrahasis Made His Voice Heard



(gap of about 10 lines)

Atrahasis made his voice heard

And spoke to his master,

'Indicate to me the meaning of the dream,

et me find out its portent (?)' Enki made his voice heard

And spoke to his servant,

'You say, "I should find out in bed (?)".

Make sure you attend to the message I shall tell you!

Wall, listen constantly to me!

Reed hut, make sure you attend to all my words! Dismantle the house, build a boat,

Reject possessions, and save living things. The boat that you build

Roof it like the Apsu

So that the Sun cannot see inside it!

Make upper decks and lower decks. The tackle must be very strong,

The bitumen strong, to give strength.

I shall make rain fall on you here,

A wealth of birds, a hamper (?) of fish.'

He opened the sand clock and filled it,

He told him the sand (needed) for the Flood was Seven nights' worth.

Atrahasis received the message. He gathered the elders at his door.

Atrahasis made his voice heard And spoke to the elders,

'My god is out of favour with your god.

Enki and [Ellil (?)] have become angry with each other.

They have driven me out of [my house].

Since I always stand in awe of Enki,

He told (me) of this matter. I can no longer stay in

I cannot set my foot on Ellil's territory (again).

[I must go down to the Apsu and stay] with (my) god (?).

This is what he told me.'

(gap of 4 or 5 lines to end of column)


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Tablet III, Column 2 - The Carpenter Brought His Axe



(gap of about 9 lines)

The elders

The carpenter [brought his axe,]

The reed worker [brought his stone,] [A child brought] bitumen.

The poor [fetched what was needed.

(9 lines very damaged) Everything there was,     
Everything there was

Pure ones

Fat ones

He selected [and put on board.]

[The birds] that fly in the sky,

Cattle [of Shak]kan,

Wild animals (?) [                ] of open country,

he] put on board

. . .

He invited his people [

to a feast.

he put his family on board. They were eating, they were drinking.

But he went in and out,

Could not stay still or rest on his haunches,

His heart was breaking and he was vomiting bile. The face of the weather changed.

Adad bellowed from the clouds.

When (?) he (Atrahasis) heard his noise,

Bitumen was brought and he sealed his door. While he was closing up his door

Adad kept bellowing from the clouds.

The winds were raging even as he went up (And) cut through the rope, he released the boat.


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Tablet III, Column 3 - Anzu was Tearing at The Sky With His Talons



(6 lines missing at beginning of column)

Anzu was tearing at the sky with his talons,

the land,

He broke [        ] the Flood [came out (?)].

The kafigu-weapon went against the people like an army.

No one could see anyone else,

They could not be recognized in the catastrophe. The Flood roared like a bull,

Like a wild ass screaming the winds [howled]

The darkness was total, there was no sun.

like white sheep.

of the Flood.

the noise of the Flood.

[                                                             ]

[Anu (?)] went berserk,

[The gods (?)]  . his sons ... before him

As for Nintu the Great Mistress,

Her lips became encrusted with rime."

The great gods, the Anunna,

Stayed parched and famished.

The goddess watched and wept,

Midwife of the gods, wise Mami:

'Let daylight (?)

Let it return and . !

However could I, in the assembly of gods, Have ordered such destruction with them?

Ellil was strong enough (?) to give a wicked order.

Like Tiruru he ought to have cancelled that wicked order!

I heard their cry levelled at me,

Against myself, against my person.

Beyond my control (?) my offspring have become like white sheep.

As for me, how am I to live (?) in a house of bereavement?

My noise has turned to silence.

Could I go away, up to the sky

And live as in a cloister(?)?

What was Anu's intention as decision-maker? It was his command that the gods his sons obeyed,

He who did not deliberate, but sent the Flood, He who gathered the people to catastrophe


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Tablet III, Column 4 - Nintu Wept and Fuelled Her Passions



(3 lines missing at beginning of column)

Nintu was wailing

'Would a true father (?) have given birth to the [rolling (?)] sea

(So that) they could clog the river like

dragonflies ?

They are washed up (?) like a raft on [a bank (?)], They are washed up like a raft on a bank in open country!

I have seen, and wept over them!

Shall I (ever) finish weeping for them?'

She wept, she gave vent to her feelings,

Nintu wept and fuelled her passions.

The gods wept with her for the country.

She was sated with grief, she longed for beer (in vain).

Where she sat weeping, (there the great gods) sat too,

But, like sheep, could only fill their windpipes (with bleating).

Thirsty as they were, their lips

Discharged only the rime of famine.

For seven days and seven nights

The torrent, storm and flood came on.

(gap of about 58 lines)



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Tablet III, Column 5 - Gathered the People to Catastrophe



He put down, Provided food

The gods smelt the fragrance, Gathered like flies over the offering. When they had eaten the offering, Nintu got up and blamed them all,

'Whatever came over Anu who makes the

decisions?

Did Ellil (dare to) come for the smoke offering?

(Those two) who did not deliberate, but sent the

Flood,

Gathered the people to catastrophe—You agreed the destruction.

(Now) their bright faces are dark (forever).'

Then she went up to the big flies

Which Anu had made, and (declared) before the gods,

'His grief is mine! My destiny goes with his! He must deliver me from evil, and appease me! Let me go out in the morning (?)



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Tablet III, Column 6 - Come, Summon Nintu the Womb-Goddess!



Let these flies be the lapis lazuli of my necklace

By which I may remember it (?) daily (?)

[forever (?)].'

The warrior Ellil spotted the boat

And was furious with the Igigi. 'We, the great Anunna, all of us,

Agreed together on an oath!

No form of life should have escaped!

How did any man survive the catastrophe?'

Anu made his voice heard And spoke to the warrior Ellil,

'Who but Enki would do this?

He made sure that the [reed hut] disclosed the order.'

Enki made his voice heard And spoke to the great gods,

'I did it, in defiance of you!

I made sure life was preserved

(5 lines missing)

Exact your punishment from the sinner. And whoever contradicts your order

(12 lines missing)

I have given vent to my feelings!'

Ellil made his voice heard

And spoke to far-sighted Enki,

'Come, summon Nintu the womb-goddess!

Confer with each other in the assembly.'

Enki made his voice heard

And spoke to the womb-goddess Nintu,

'You are the womb-goddess who decrees destinies.

to the people.

Let one-third of them be

Let another third of them be



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Tablet III, Column 7 - Let there be The Pagttu-Demon among the People



In addition let there be one-third of the people, Among the people the woman who gives birth yet does

Not give birth (successfully);

Let there be the pagttu-demon among the people, To snatch the baby from its mother's lap. Establish ugbabtu, entu, egisitu-women:

They shall be taboo, and thus control childbirth.'

(26 lines missing to end of column)



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Tablet III, Column 8 - You are the Counsellor of The Gods


(8 lines missing at beginning of column)

How we sent the Flood.

But a man survived the catastrophe.

You are the counsellor of the gods; On your orders I created conflict. Let the Igigi listen to this song

In order to praise you,

And let them record (?) your greatness.

I shall sing of the Flood to all people:

Listen!

(Colophon)

The End.

Third tablet,

'When the gods instead of man' 390 lines,

Total 1245

For the three tablets.

Hand of Nur-Aya, junior scribe. Month Ayyar [x day],

Year Ammi-saduqa was king. A statue of himself.


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