Enki and the World Order

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The following is taken from "Myths of Enki, The Crafty God" by Samuel Noah Kramer.

It is related here for educational purposes only.

Lord who walks nobly on heaven and earth, self-reliant, father Enki, engendered by a bull, begotten by a wild bull, prized by Enlil, the Great Kur, loved by holy An, king, who turned out the mes-tree in the Abzu, raised it up over all the lands, great usumgal, who planted it in Eridu - its shade spreading over heaven and earth - a grove of fruit trees stretching over the land.

Enki, lord of the hegal the Anunna-gods possess. Nudimmud, the mighty one of the Ekur, the strong one of An and Uras. Nudimmud, the mighty one of the Ekur, strong one of the Anunna, whose noble house set up in the Abzu is the mast of heaven and earth.

Enki, who, lifting but a single eye, convulses the Kur, where the bison is born, the stag is born, where the wild sheep is born, the stag is born in the...meadows, and the pits in the heart of the hursag in the verdant... the place where no one dares to enter, there you have fixed your eyes like a halhal-reed.

[a word from you] - and heaps and piles stack high with grain.

[in the land] - be it fat - be it milk - the stalls and sheepfolds produce it.

[the shepherd] sweetly sounds his ilulamma-song.

[the cowherd] spends the day rocking the churn next to him.

You set out meals - the way it should be - in the dining halls of the gods. Your word: the young man thrusts it in to strengthen the heart. He gores in the courtyard like an ox with thick horns. Your word: the young woman sets it on her head as a lure. The people in all the settled cities gaze at her in wonder. Lords and rulers to thrill their hearts, to bring them joy. Enlil, the great Kur, has empowered you.

Enki, lord of the hegal lord of wisdom lord, beloved of An, ornament of Eridu, who directs commands and decisions, expert at fate-decreeing: You have locked up...by day, you have made the month to enter its 'house'. You bring down the stars of heaven, you have computed their number. ...you have given the people a place to live. ...you have looked after them, you have made sure they follow their shepherd... ...you turned the weapons back into their 'houses'. ...you kept the people safe in their homes.

When father Enki comes out into the seeded Land, it brings forth fecund seed, When Nudimmud comes out to my fecund ewe, it gives birth to the lamb, When he comes out to my "seeded" cow, it gives birth to the fecund calf, When he comes out to my fecund goat, it gives birth to the fecund kid, When you have gone out to the field, to the cultivated field, You pile up heaps and mounds on the high plain, [You] . . . the . . . of the parched (?) earth.

Enki, the king of the Abzu, overpowering in his majesty, speaks up with authority: "My father, the king of the universe, Brought me into existence in the universe, My ancestor, the king of all the lands, Gathered together all the me's, placed the me's in my hand.

From the Ekur, the house of Enlil, I brought craftsmanship to my Abzu of Eridu.

I am the fecund seed, engendered by the great wild ox, I am the first born son of An, I am the great storm' who goes forth out of the great below', I am the lord of the Land, I am the GUGAL of the chieftains, I am the father of all the lands, I am the big brother' of the gods, I am he who brings full prosperity, I am the record keeper of heaven and earth, I am the ear and the mind of all the lands, I am he who directs justice with the king An on An's dais, I am he who decrees the fates with Enlil in the mountain of wisdom,' He placed in my hand the decreeing of the fates of the place where the sun rises,' I am he to whom Nintu pays due homage, I am he who has been called a good name by Ninhursag, I am the leader of the Anunnaki, I am he who has been born as the first son of the holy An."

After the lord had uttered (his) exaltedness, After the great prince had himself pronounced (his) praise, The Anunnaki came before him in prayer and supplication: "Lord who directs craftsmanship, Who makes decision, the glorified; Enki, praise!"

For a second time, because of (his) great joy, Enki, the king of the Abzu, in his majesty, speaks up with authority: "I am the lord, I am one whose command is unquestioned, I am the foremost in all things, At my command the stalls have been built, the sheepfolds have been enclosed, When I approached heaven a rain of prosperity poured down from heaven, When I approached the earth, there was a high flood, When I approached its green meadows, The heaps and mounds were pi[led] up at my word.

I built my [house], a shrine, in a pure place, I called it with a good name, I built my Abzu, a shrine, in a . . , I decreed a good fate for it.

My house - its shade stre[tches] over the snake'-marsh, My house, its . . wears a beard among the honey'-plants,, The ca[rps] wave the tail to him in The sm[all gizi-reeds],

The sparrows chirp in their . . . . , The weapon carrying . . . . , Came into my, Enki's, The abgal's, . . [into my] . . . . . . . , The Enkum (and) [Ninkum] . . . , Sacred songs and spells filled my Abzu.

My magur-boat, the crown, the ibex of the Abzu' - In its midst there is a great rejoicing.

The lofty marshland, my favourite spot, Stretches out its arms to me, bends its neck to me.

The Kara's drew on the oars in unison, Sing sweet songs, cause the river to rejoice, Nimgirsig, the ensi of my ma[gur-boat], He[ld] the gold scepter [for me], I, Enki, [. . . d] the boat ibex of the Abzu,' I, the lord . . . ., I, Enki, . . . . .

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. . . . I would watch over its green cedars.

The l[ands] of Magan and Dilmun Looked up at me, En[ki], Moored The Dilmun-boat to the ground, Loaded the Magan-boat sky high; The magilum-boat of Meluhha Transports gold and silver, Brings them to Nippur for Enlil, the [king] of all the lands."

To him, who has no city, to him who has no horse, The Martu-Enki pre[sen]ted cattle as a gift, To the [great] prince who came forth in his [land], The Anunnaki pay due homage: "Lord who rides the great me's the pure me's, Who has charge of the universe, the widespread, Who received the lofty sun-disk' in Eridu, the pure place, the mo[st prec]ious place, Enki, lord of the universe, praise!"

For the great prince who comes forth in his land, All the lords, all the chieftains, The incantation priests of Eridu, The "linen-wearers" of Sumer, Perform the incantation rites of the Abzu, To father Enki in the holy place . . . they direct (their) step, In the sleeping chamber, the princely house, they . . . . , In the stations they call [his] name, In the lofty shrine, the Abzu [they] . . . . ,

(About thirty-six lines destroyed in large part)

Nimgirsig, the ensi of the magur-boat, He[ld] the holy scepter for the lord, The lahama's of the sea, the fifty, did ho[mage to him], The kara's . . d like a . . -bird of heaven.

For the king standing proudly, father Enki - in the Land - The great prince who came forth in his Land, Prosperity prevailed in the universe.

Enki decrees (the) fate: "Sumer, great mountain,' country of the universe,' Filled with enduring light, dispensing from sunrise to sunset the me's to the people, Your me's are lofty me's, unreachable.

Your heart is profound, unfathomable.

The enduring . . , your place where gods give birth, is untouchable like heaven.

The born king, who dons the enduring diadem - The born lord, who puts crown on head - Your lord (is) an honored lord, he sits with the king An on An's dais, Your king - the great mountain,' Father Enlil, Has . . d him for you by the . . . like a cedar - the father of all the lands.

The Anunnaki, the great gods, Have taken up (their) dwelling place in your midst, Eat (their) food in your tree-planted giguna.

House, Sumer, may your many stalls be built, may your cows multiply, May your many sheepfolds be erected, may your sheep be myriad, May your giguna reach skyward, May your enduring . . lift hand to heaven. May the Anunnaki decree the fates in your midst."

He proceeded to the shrine Ur, Enki, the king of the Abzu decrees (its) fate: "City possessing all that is appropriate, water-washed, firm-standing ox, Dais of abundance of the highland, knees open, green like a mountain, Hashur-grove, wide of shade - he who is lordly because of his might Has directed your perfect me's, Enlil, the great mountain,' has pronounced your lofty name in the universe.

City whose fate has been decreed by Enlil, Shrine Ur, may you rise heaven high."

He procee[ded] to the land Meluhha, Enki, the king of the Abzu, [decrees] (its) fate: "Black land, may your trees be large trees, [may they be highland']-trees, [May] their thrones [fill] the royal palace, May your reeds be large reeds, [may they be highland']-reeds, May the heroes in the place of battle [wield their] weapons, May your bulls be large bulls, [may they be] highland' bulls, [May] their cry [be] the cry [of highland'] wild bulls, May the great me's of the gods be per[fected for you], [May all dar-birds of the highland [wear carneli]an beards, [May] your bird be the Haia-bird, [M]ay its calls fill the royal palace, May your silver be gold, May your copper be tin (and) bronze, Land, may everything you have, [increase], May your people [multiply], May your . . go forth like a bull to his . . . ." . . . the city of . .

He treated like . . . . , He cleansed, purified the [land Di]lmun, Placed Ninsikilla in charge of it, He gave . . as . . , he eats its . . -fish, He gave . . as a cultivated field (?), he eats [its da]tes.

. . . . Elam and Marhashi . . . . Were (destined) to be devoured like . . -fish; The king (presumably Enki) upon whom Enlil had bestowed might, Destroyed their houses, destroyed their walls.

Their (precious) metal (and) lapis lazuli (and the contents of) their storehouses, He brought to Nippur for Enlil - the king of all the lands.

To him who builds no city, builds no [house] -

The Martu - Enki presented cattle as a gift.

After he had cast his eye from that spot, After father Enki had lifted it over the Euphrates, He stood up proudly like a rampant bull.

He lifts the penis, ejaculates, Filled the Tigris with sparkling water.

The wild cow mooing for its young in the pastures, the scorpion (infested) stall, [The Tigr]is surre[ndered] to him, as (to) a rampant bull.

He lifted the penis, brought the bridal gift, Brought joy to the Tigris, like a big wild bull [rejoiced (?)] in its giving birth.

The water he brought is sparkling water, its "wine" tastes sweet, The grain he brought, its checkered grain, the people eat it, He fi[lled] the Ekur, the house of Enlil, with possessions, With Enki, Enlil rejoices, Nipper [is delighted].

The lord don[ned] the diadem for lordship, [Put on] the enduring tiara for kingship, Trod the ground on his left side, Prosperity came forth out of the earth for him.

After he had placed the scepter in his right hand, In order to make the Tigris and Euphrates "eat together," He who utters the . . word in accordance with his . . , Who carries off like fat the "princely knee" from the palace, The lord who decrees the fate, Enki the king of the Abzu, Enbilulu, the inspector of canals, [Enki] placed in charge of them.

He called the marshland], placed in it carp (and) . . -fish, He cal[led the canebrake], placed in it . . -reeds (and) green reeds,

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[He issued] a challenge . . . . ]. He whose net] no fish escapes, Whose trap no . . escapes, Whose snare no bird escapes, . . . . the son of . . . . . . (a god) who loves fish, Enki placed in charge of them.

The lord erected a shrine, a holy shrine - its heart is profound, Erected a shrine in the sea, a holy shrine - its heart is profound, The shrine - its midst is a . . . , known to no one, The [shrine] - its station is the . . iku constellation, The lofty [shrine], above - its station stands by the "chariot"-constellation, The . . . from the trembling . . . . its Elam's . . ,

The Anunnaki came with [pray]er and supplication, For Enki in the E-[engurra they set up] a lofty dais. For the lord . . . . , The great prince . . , bor[n . . . .] The u-bird . . . . ,

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Her who is the great inundation of the deep, Who . . s the izi-bird and the lil-fish, who . . . . , Who comes out from the zipag, who . . . . , The Lady of Sirar[a, Mother Nansh]e, Of the sea, of its . . . . places, Enki placed in charge.

He called the "two" rains, the water of the heaven, Aligned them like floating clouds, Drives their breath (of life) toward the horizon, Turns the hilly ground into fields.

Him who rides the great storm, who attacks with lightning, Who closes the holy bolt in the "heart" of heaven, The son of An, the GUGAL of the universe, Ishkur . . , the son of An, Enki placed in charge of them.

He directed the plow and the . . yoke, The great prince Enki put the "horned oxen" in the . . . , Opened the holy furrows, Made grow the grain in the cultivated field.

The lord who dons the diadem, the ornament of the high plain, The robust, the farmer of Enlil, Enkimdu, the man of the ditch and dike, Enki placed in charge of them.

The lord called the cultivated field, put there the checkered grain, Heaped up its . . grain, the checkered grain, the innuba-grain into piles, Enki multiplied the heaps and mounds, With Enlil he spread wide the abundance in the Land, Her whose head and side are dappled, whose face is honey-covered, The Lady, the procreatress, the vigor of the Land, the "life" of the black-heads, Ashnan, the nourishing bread, the bread of all, Enki placed in charge of them.

The great prince put the "net" upon the pickax, then directed the mold, Fertilized the agarin, like good butter, Him whose crushing pickax-tooth is a snake devouring the corpses, . . . . , Whose . . mold directs . . . . , Kulla, the brick-maker of the Land, Enki placed in charge of them.

He built stalls directed the purification rites, Erected sheepfolds, put there the best fat and milk, Brought joy to the dining halls of the gods, In the vegetation-like plain he made prosperity prevail.

The trustworthy provider of Eanna, the "friend of An," The beloved son-in-law of the valiant Sin, the husband of holy Inanna, The Lady, the queen of all the great me's, Who time and again, commands the procreation of the . . . of Kullab, Dumuzi, the divine "ushumgal of heaven," the "friend of An," Enki placed in [charge] of them.

He filled the Ekur, the house of Enlil, with possessions, Enlil rejoiced with Enki, Nipper was joyous, He fixed the borders, demarcated them with boundary stones, Enki, for the Anunnaki, Erected dwelling places in the cities, Set up fields for them in the countryside, The hero, the bull who comes forth out of the hashur (forest), who roars lion-(like), The valiant Utu, the bull who stands secure, who proudly displays (his) power, The father of the great city, the place where the sun rises, the gr[eat hera]ld of holy An, The judge, the decision-maker of the gods, Who wears a lapis lazuli beard, who comes forth from the holy heaven, the . . . . heaven, Utu, the son born of [Ninga]l, Enki placed in charge of the entire universe.

He wove the mug-cloth, directed the temenos, Enki perfected greatly that which is woman's task, For Enki, the people [. . d] the . . . -garment, The tiara (?) of the palace, the jewel of the king, Uttu, the trustworthy woman, the joyous (?), Enki placed in charge of them.

Then all by her[self], having abandoned the royal scepter, The woman, . . . . , the maid Inanna having abandoned the royal scepter

Inanna, to [her father] Enki, Ente[rs] the house, (and) [humb]ly weeping, utters a plaint (?): "The Anunnaki, the great gods - their fate

Enlil placed firmly in your [hand], Me, the woman, [wh]y did you treat differently?

I, the holy Inanna, - where are [my prerogat]ives?

Aruru, [Enlil's sist]er, Nintu, the queen [of the] moun[tain], H[as taken for herself] her holy . . . . of lordship, Has carried off for herself her holy, pure ala-vessel, She has become the midwife of the Land, In her hand you have placed the born king, the born lord.

That sister of mine, the holy Ninisinna, Has taken for herself the bright unu, has become the heirodule of An.

Has stationed herself near An, utters the word which fills heaven, That sister of mine, the holy Ninmug, Has taken for herself the gold chisel (and) the silver hammer, Has become the met[alwor]ker of the Land, The [born] king, who dons the enduring diadem, The born lord who puts crown of head, you have placed [in her hand].

That sister of mine, the holy Nidaba, Has taken for herself the measuring rod, Has fastened the lapis lazuli line on her arm, Proclaims all the great me's, Fixes the borders, marks off the boundaries - has become the scribe of the Land, In her hands you have placed the food of the gods.

Nanshe, the lady, the lord - the holy . . . fell at her feet, She has become the fishery inspector of the se[a], Fish, tasty, (and) . . . . , She presents to her [father] Enlil.

Me, the [woman], why did you treat differently?

I, holy Inanna, where are my prerogatives?"

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. . . . his . . . . , "[E]nlil (?) . . . . , Has adorned for you . . . . , You wear there the garment might of the young lad,' You have established the words spoken by the young lad,' You have taken charge of the crook, staff, and wand of shepherdship, Maid Inanna, what, what more shall we add to you?

Battles (and) onslaughts - of their oracles you give the answer, In their midst, you who are not an arabu-bird, give an unfavorable answer, You twist the straight thread, Maid Inanna, you straighten the twi[sted] thread, You have fashioned garments, you wear garments, You have woven mug-cloth, you have threaded the spindle, In your . . . you have dyed the many-colored . . thread.

Inanna, you have . . . . , Inanna, you have destroyed the indestructible, you have made perish the imperishable, You have silenced The . . with the timbrel of lament,' Maid Inanna, you have returned the tigi- and adab-hymns to their house.

You whose admirers do not grow weary to look at, Maid Inanna, you who know not the distant wells, the fastening ropes; Lo, the inundation has come, the Land is restored, The inundation of Enlil has come, the Land is restored."

Remaining nineteen lines destroyed

Last nineteen lines missing

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What follows next is the original translation of the Tablet.

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

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Enki and the world order

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Grandiloquent lord of heaven and earth, self-reliant, father Enki, engendered by a bull, begotten by a wild bull, cherished by Enlil the Great Mountain, beloved by holy An, king, mes tree planted in the Abzu, rising over all lands; great dragon who stands in Eridug, whose shadow covers heaven and earth, a grove of vines extending over the Land, Enki, lord of plenty of the Anuna gods, Nudimmud, mighty one of the E-kur, strong one of heaven and earth! Your great house is founded in the Abzu, the great mooring-post of heaven and earth. Enki, from whom a single glance is enough to unsettle the heart of the mountains; wherever bison are born, where stags are born, where ibex are born, where wild goats are born, in meadows ......, in hollows in the heart of the hills, in green ...... unvisited by man, you have fixed your gaze on the heart of the Land like a halhal reed.

Counting the days and putting the months in their houses, so as to complete the years and to submit the completed years to the assembly for a decision, taking decisions to regularise the days: father Enki, you are the king of the assembled people. You have only to open your mouth for everything to multiply and for plenty to be established. Your branches ...... green with their fruit ......, ...... do honour to the gods. ...... in its forests is like a fleecy garment. Good sheep and good lambs do honour to ....... When ...... the prepared fields, ...... will accumulate stockpiles and stacks. ...... there is oil, there is milk, produced by the sheepfold and cow-pen. The shepherd sweetly sings his rustic song, the cowherd spends the day rocking his churns. Their products would do honour to the late lunches in the gods' great dining hall.

Your word fills the young man's heart with vigour, so that like a thick-horned bull he butts about in the courtyard. Your word bestows loveliness on the young woman's head, so that the people in their settled cities gaze at her in wonder.

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Enlil, the Great Mountain, has commissioned you to gladden the hearts of lords and rulers and wish them well. Enki, lord of prosperity, lord of wisdom, lord, the beloved of An, the ornament of Eridug, who establish commands and decisions, who well understands the decreeing of fates: you close up the days ......, and make the months enter their houses. You bring down ......, you have reached their number. You make the people dwell in their dwelling places ......., you make them follow their herdsman .......

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You turn weapons away from their houses ......, you make the people safe in their dwellings .......

When father Enki goes forth to the inseminated people, good seed will come forth. When Nudimmud goes forth to the good pregnant ewes, good lambs will be born; when he goes forth to the fecund cows, good calves will be born; whe he goes forth to the good pregnant goats, good kids will be born. If you go forth to the cultivated fields, to the good germinating fields, stockpiles and stacks can be accumulated on the high plain. If you go forth to the parched areas of the Land,

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Enki, the king of the Abzu, justly praises himself in his majesty: "My father, the king of heaven and earth, made me famous in heaven and earth. My elder brother, the king of all the lands, gathered up all the divine powers and placed them in my hand. I brought the arts and crafts from the E-kur, the house of Enlil, to my Abzu in Eridug. I am the good semen, begotten by a wild bull, I am the first born of An. I am a great storm rising over the great earth, I am the great lord of the Land. I am the principal among all rulers, the father of all the foreign lands. I am the big brother of the gods, I bring prosperity to perfection. I am the seal-keeper of heaven and earth. I am the wisdom and understanding of all the foreign lands. With An the king, on An's dais, I oversee justice. With Enlil, looking out over the lands, I decree good destinies. He has placed in my hands the decreeing of fates in the 'Place where the sun rises'. I am cherished by Nintud. I am named with a good name by Ninhursaja. I am the leader of the Anuna gods. I was born as the firstborn son of holy An."

After the lord had proclaimed his greatness, after the great prince had eulogised himself, the Anuna gods stood there in prayer and supplication:

"Praise be to Enki, the much-praised lord who controls all the arts and crafts, who takes decisions!"

In a state of high delight Enki, the king of the Abzu, again justly praises himself in his majesty: "I am the lord, I am one whose word is reliable, I am one who excels in everything. "

"At my command, sheepfolds have been built, cow-pens have been fenced off. When I approach heaven, a rain of abundance rains from heaven. When I approach earth, there is a high carp-flood. When I approach the green meadows, at my word stockpiles and stacks are accumulated. I have built my house, a shrine, in a pure place, and named it with a good name. I have built my Abzu, a shrine, in ......, and decreed a good fate for it. The shade of my house extends over the ...... pool. By my house the suhur carp dart among the honey plants, and the ectub carp wave their tails among the small gizi reeds. The small birds chirp in their nests. "

"The lords ...... to me. I am Enki! They stand before me, praising me. The abgal priests and abrig officials who ...... stand before me ...... distant days. The enkum and ninkum officiants organise ....... They purify the river for me, they ...... the interior of the shrine for me. In my Abzu, sacred songs and incantations resound for me. My barge 'Crown', the 'Stag of the Abzu', transports me there most delightfully. It glides swiftly for me through the great marshes to wherever I have decided, it is obedient to me. The stroke-callers make the oars pull in perfect unison. They sing for me pleasant songs, creating a cheerful mood on the river. Nijir-sig, the captain of my barge, holds the golden sceptre for me. I am Enki! He is in command of my boat 'Stag of the Abzu'. I am the lord! I will travel! I am Enki! I will go forth into my Land! I, the lord who determines the fates, ......,"

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"I will admire its green cedars. Let the lands of Meluha, Magan and Dilmun look upon me, upon Enki. Let the Dilmun boats be loaded (?) with timber. Let the Magan boats be loaded sky-high. Let the magilum boats of Meluha transport gold and silver and bring them to Nibru for Enlil, king of all the lands."

He presented animals to those who have no city, to those who have no houses, to the Martu nomads.

The Anuna gods address affectionately the great prince who has travelled in his Land: "Lord who rides upon the great powers, the pure powers, who controls the great powers, the numberless powers, foremost in all the breadth of heaven and earth; who received the supreme powers in Eridug, the holy place, the most esteemed place, Enki, lord of heaven and earth -- praise!"

All the lords and rulers, the incantation-priests of Eridug and the linen-clad priests of Sumer, perform the purification rites of the Abzu for the great prince who has travelled in his land; for father Enki they stand guard in the holy place, the most esteemed place. They ...... the chambers ......, they ...... the emplacements, they purify the great shrine of the Abzu ....... They bring there the tall juniper, the pure plant. They organise the holy ...... in the great music room ...... of Enki. Skilfully they build the main staircase of Eridug on the Good Quay. They prepare the sacred uzga shrine, where they utter endless prayers.

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For Enki, ...... squabbling together, and the suhurmac carp dart among the honey plants, again fighting amongst themselves for the great prince. The ectub carp wave their tails among the small gizi reeds.

The lord, the great ruler of the Abzu issues instructions on board the 'Stag of the Abzu' -- the great emblem erected in the Abzu, providing protection, its shade extending over the whole land and refreshing the people, the principal foundation (?), the pole planted in the ...... marsh, rising high over all the foreign lands. The noble captain of the lands, the son of Enlil, holds in his hand the sacred punt-pole, a mes tree ornamented in the Abzu which received the supreme powers in Eridug, the holy place, the most esteemed place. The hero proudly lifts his head towards the Abzu.

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Sirsir ......, the boatman of the barge, ...... the boat for the lord. Nijir-sig, the captain of the barge, holds the holy sceptre for the lord. The fifty lahama deities of the subterranean waters speak affectionately to him. The stroke-callers, like heavenly gamgam birds, .......

The intrepid king, father Enki ...... in the Land. Prosperity was made to burgeon in heaven and on earth for the great prince who travels in the Land. Enki decreed its fate:

" Sumer, Great Mountain, land of heaven and earth, trailing glory, bestowing powers on the people from sunrise to sunset: your powers are superior powers, untouchable, and your heart is complex and inscrutable. Like heaven itself, your good creative force (?), in which gods too can be born, is beyond reach. Giving birth to kings who put on the good diadem, giving birth to lords who wear the crown on their heads -- your lord, the honoured lord, sits with An the king on An's dais. Your king, the Great Mountain, father Enlil, the father of all the lands, has blocked you impenetrably (?) like a cedar tree. The Anuna, the great gods, have taken up dwellings in your midst, and consume their food in your giguna shrines with their single trees. Household Sumer, may your sheepfolds be built and your cattle multiply, may your giguna touch the skies. May your good temples reach up to heaven. May the Anuna determine the destinies in your midst."

Then he proceeded to the sanctuary of Urim. Enki, lord of the Abzu, decreed its fate:

"City which possesses all that is fitting, bathed by water! sturdy bull, altar of abundance that strides across the mountains, rising like the hills, forest of hacur cypresses with broad shade, self-confident! May your perfect powers be well-directed. The Great Mountain Enlil has pronounced your name great in heaven and on earth. City whose fate Enki has decreed, sanctuary of Urim, you shall rise high to heaven!"

Then he proceeded to the land of Meluha. Enki, lord of the Abzu, decreed its fate:

"Black land, may your trees be great trees, may your forests be forests of highland mes trees! Chairs made from them will grace royal palaces! May your reeds be great reeds, may they ......! Heroes shall ...... them on the battlefield as weapons! May your bulls be great bulls, may they be bulls of the mountains! May their bellowing be the bellowing of wild bulls of the mountains! The great powers of the gods shall be made perfect for you! May the francolins of the mountains wear cornelian beards! May your birds all be peacocks! May their cries grace royal palaces! May all your silver be gold! May all your copper be tin-bronze! Land, may all you possess be plentiful! May your people ......! May your men go forth like bulls against their fellow men!"

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He cleansed and purified the land of Dilmun. He placed Ninsikila in charge of it. He gave ...... for the fish spawn, ate its ...... fish, bestowed palms on the cultivated land, ate its dates. ...... Elam and Marhaci ....... ...... to devour ....... The king endowed with strength by Enlil destroyed their houses, demolished (?) their walls. He brought their silver and lapis-lazuli, their treasure, to Enlil, king of all the lands, in Nibru.

Enki presented animals to those who have no city, who have no houses, to the Martu nomads.

After he had turned his gaze from there, after father Enki had lifted his eyes across the Euphrates, he stood up full of lust like a rampant bull, lifted his penis, ejaculated and filled the Tigris with flowing water. He was like a wild cow mooing for its young in the wild grass, its scorpion-infested cow-pen. The Tigris ...... at his side like a rampant bull. By lifting his penis, he brought a bridal gift. The Tigris rejoiced in its heart like a great wild bull, when it was born ....... It brought water, flowing water indeed: its wine will be sweet. It brought barley, mottled barley indeed: the people will eat it. It filled the E-kur, the house of Enlil, with all sorts of things. Enlil was delighted with Enki, and Nibru was glad. The lord put on the diadem as a sign of lordship, he put on the good crown as a sign of kingship, touching the ground on his left side. Plenty came forth out of the earth for him.

Enki, the lord of the destinies, Enki, the king of the Abzu, placed in charge of all this him who holds a sceptre in his right hand, him who with glorious mouth submits to verification the devouring force of Tigris and Euphrates, while prosperity pours forth from the palace like oil -- Enbilulu, the inspector of waterways.

He called the marshes and gave them the various species of carp, he spoke to the reedbeds and bestowed on them the old and new growths of reeds.

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He issued a challenge ....... Enki placed in charge of all this him from whose net no fish escapes, him from whose trap no living thing escapes, him from whose bird-net no bird escapes,

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-- ......, who loves fish.

The lord established a shrine, a holy shrine, whose interior is elaborately constructed. He established a shrine in the sea, a holy shrine, whose interior is elaborately constructed. The shrine, whose interior is a tangled thread, is beyond understanding. The shrine's emplacement is situated by the constellation the Field, the holy upper shrine's emplacement faces towards the Chariot constellation. Its terrifying awesomeness is a rising wave, its splendour is fearsome. The Anuna gods dare not approach it. ...... to refresh their hearts, the palace rejoices. The Anuna stand by with prayers and supplications. They set up a great altar for Enki in the E-engura, for the lord ....... The great prince ....... ...... the pelican of the sea.

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He filled the E-kur, the house of Enlil, with goods of all sorts. Enlil was delighted with Enki, and Nibru was glad. Enki placed in charge of all this, over the wide extent of the sea, her who sets sail ...... in the holy shrine, who induces sexual intercourse ......, who ...... over the enormous high flood of the subterranean waters, the terrifying waves, the inundation of the sea ......, who comes forth from the ......, the mistress of Sirara, ...... -- Nance.

He called to the rain of the heavens. He ...... as floating clouds. He made ...... rising at the horizon. He turned the mounds into fields ....... Enki placed in charge of all this him who rides on the great storms, who attacks with lightning bolts, the holy bar which blocks the entrance to the interior of heaven, the son of An, the canal inspector of heaven and earth -- Ickur, the bringer of plenty, the son of An.

He organised ploughs, yokes and teams. The great prince Enki bestowed the horned oxen that follow ......, he opened up the holy furrows, and made the barley grow on the cultivated fields. Enki placed in charge of them the lord who wears the diadem, the ornament of the high plain, him of the implements, the farmer of Enlil -- Enkimdu, responsible for ditches and dykes.

The lord called the cultivated fields, and bestowed on them mottled barley. Enki made chickpeas, lentils and ...... grow. He heaped up into piles the early, mottled and innuha varieties of barley. Enki multiplied the stockpiles and stacks, and with Enlil's help he enhanced the people's prosperity. Enki placed in charge of all this her whose head and body are dappled, whose face is covered in syrup, the mistress who causes sexual intercourse, the power of the Land, the life of the black-headed -- Acnan, the good bread of the whole world.

The great prince fixed a string to the hoe, and organised brick moulds. He penetrated the ...... like precious oil. Enki placed in charge of them him whose sharp-bladed hoe is a corpse-devouring snake that ......, whose brick mould in place is a tidy stack of hulled grain for the ewes -- Kulla, who ...... bricks in the Land.

He tied down the strings and coordinated them with the foundations, and with the power of the assembly he planned a house and performed the purification rituals. The great prince put down the foundations, and laid the bricks. Enki placed in charge of all this him whose foundations once laid do not sag, whose good houses once built do not collapse (?), whose vaults reach up into the heart of the heavens like a rainbow -- Mucdama, Enlil's master builder.

He raised a holy crown over the upland plain. He fastened a lapis-lazuli beard to the high plain, and made it wear a lapis-lazuli headdress. He made this good place perfect with grasses and herbs in abundance. He multiplied the animals of the high plain to an appropriate degree, he multiplied the ibex and wild goats of the pastures, and made them copulate. Enki placed in charge of them the hero who is the crown of the high plain, who is the king of the countryside, the great lion of the high plain, the muscular, the hefty, the burly strength of Enlil -- Cakkan, the king of the hills.

He built the sheepfolds, carried out their cleaning, made the cow-pens, bestowed on them the best fat and cream, and brought luxury to the gods' dining places. He made the plain, created for grasses and herbs, achieve prosperity. Enki placed in charge of all this the king, the good provider of E-ana, the friend of An, the beloved son-in-law of the youth Suen, the holy spouse of Inana the mistress, the lady of the great powers who allows sexual intercourse in the open squares of Kulaba -- Dumuzid-ucumgal-ana, the friend of An.

He filled the E-kur, the house of Enlil, with possessions. Enlil was delighted with Enki and Nibru was glad. He demarcated borders and fixed boundaries. For the Anuna gods, Enki situated dwellings in cities and disposed agricultural land into fields. Enki placed in charge of the whole of heaven and earth the hero, the bull who comes out of the hacur forest bellowing truculently, the youth Utu, the bull standing triumphantly, audaciously, majestically, the father of the Great City (an expression for the underworld), the great herald in the east of holy An, the judge who searches out verdicts for the gods, with a lapis-lazuli beard, rising from the horizon into the holy heavens -- Utu, the son born by Ningal.

He picked out the tow from the fibres, and adapted it for rags (?). Enki greatly perfected the task of women. For Enki, the people ...... in suluhu garments. Enki placed in charge of them the honour of the palace, the dignity of the king -- Uttu, the conscientious woman, the silent one.

Then, alone lacking any functions, the great woman of heaven, Inana, lacking any functions -- Inana came in to see her father Enki in his house, weeping to him, and making her complaint to him:

" Enlil left it in your hands to confirm the functions of the Anuna, the great gods. Why did you treat me, the woman, in an exceptional manner? I am holy Inana -- where are my functions? "

" Aruru, Enlil's sister, Nintud, the lady of giving birth, is to get the holy birth-bricks as her prerogative. She is to carry off the lancet for umbilical cords, the special sand and leeks. She is to get the sila-jara bowl of translucent lapis lazuli (in which to place the afterbirth). She is to carry off the holy consecrated ala vessel. She is to be the midwife of the land! The birthing of kings and lords is to be in her hands."

"My illustrious sister, holy Nininsina, is to get the jewellery of cuba stones. She is to be An's mistress. She is to stand beside An and speak to him whenever she desires. "

"My illustrious sister, holy Ninmug, is to get the golden chisel and the silver burin. She is to carry off her big flint antasura blade. She is to be the metal-worker of the Land. The fitting of the good diadem when a king is born and the crowning with the crown when a lord is born are to be in her hands. "

"My illustrious sister, holy Nisaba, is to get the measuring-reed. The lapis-lazuli measuring tape is to hang over her arm. She is to proclaim all the great powers. She is to demarcate boundaries and mark borders. She is to be the scribe of the Land. The planning of the gods' meals is to be in her hands."

" Nance, the august lady, who rests her feet on the holy pelican, is to be the fisheries inspector of the sea. She is to be responsible for accepting delectable fish and delicious birds from there to go to Nibru for her father Enlil. "

"But why did you treat me, the woman, in an exceptional manner? I am holy Inana -- where are my functions?"

Enki answered his daughter, holy Inana : "How have I disparaged you? Goddess, how have I disparaged you? How can I enhance you? Maiden Inana, how have I disparaged you? How can I enhance you? I made you speak as a woman with pleasant voice. I made you go forth ....... I covered ...... with a garment. I made you exchange its right side and its left side. I clothed you in garments of women's power. I put women's speech in your mouth. I placed in your hands the spindle and the hairpin. I ...... to you women's adornment. I settled on you the staff and the crook, with the shepherd's stick beside them. "

"Maiden Inana, how have I disparaged you? How can I enhance you? Amongst the ominous ocurrences in the hurly-burly of battle, I shall make you speak vivifying words; and in its midst, although you are not an arabu bird (a bird of ill omen), I shall make you speak ill-omened words also. I made you tangle straight threads; maiden Inana, I made you straighten out tangled threads. I made you put on garments, I made you dress in linen. I made you pick out the tow from the fibres, I made you spin with the spindle. I made you colour tufted (?) cloth with coloured threads."

" Inana, you heap up human heads like piles of dust, you sow heads like seed. Inana, you destroy what should not be destroyed; you create what should not be created. You remove the cover from the cem drum of lamentations, Maiden Inana, while shutting up the tigi and adab instruments in their homes. You never grow weary with admirers looking at you. Maiden Inana, you know nothing of tying the ropes on deep wells."

"But now, the heart has overflowed, the Land is restored; Enlil's heart has overflowed, the Land is restored. In his overflowing heart of mankind,"

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"...... lapis-lazuli headdress ...... is your prerogative, ...... is your prerogative, ......; is your prerogative, ...... is your prerogative."

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Praise be to father Enki.

Enki and Ninmah

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In those days, in the days when heaven and earth were created; in those nights, in the nights when heaven and earth were created; in those years, in the years when the fates were determined; when the Anunna gods were born; when the goddesses were taken in marriage; when the goddesses were distributed in heaven and earth; when the goddesses ...... became pregnant and gave birth; when the gods were obliged (?) ...... their food ...... for their meals; the senior gods oversaw the work, while the minor gods were bearing the toil. The gods were digging the canals and piling up the silt in Harali. The gods, dredging the clay, began complaining about this life.

At that time, the one of great wisdom, the creator of all the senior gods, Enki lay on his bed, not waking up from his sleep, in the deep engur, in the flowing water, the place the inside of which no other god knows. The gods said, weeping: "He is the cause of the lamenting!" Namma (Nammu), the primeval mother who gave birth to the senior gods, took the tears of the gods to the one who lay sleeping, to the one who did not wake up from his bed, to her son: "Are you really lying there asleep, and ...... not awake? The gods, your creatures, are smashing their ....... My son, wake up from your bed! Please apply the skill deriving from your wisdom and create a substitute (?) for the gods so that they can be freed from their toil!"

At the word of his mother Namma, Enki rose up from his bed. In Hal-an-kug, his room for pondering, he slapped his thigh in annoyance. The wise and intelligent one, the prudent, ...... of skills, the fashioner of the design of everything brought to life birth-goddesses (?). Enki reached out his arm over them and turned his attention to them. And after Enki, the fashioner of designs by himself, had pondered the matter, he said to his mother Namma: "My mother, the creature you planned will really come into existence. Impose on him the work of carrying baskets. You should knead clay from the top of the Abzu; the birth-goddesses (?) will nip off the clay and you shall bring the form into existence. Let Ninmah act as your assistant; and let Ninimma, Cu-zi-ana, Ninmada, Ninbarag, Ninmug, ...... and Ninguna stand by as you give birth. My mother, after you have decreed his fate, let Ninmah impose on him the work of carrying baskets."

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Enki ...... brought joy to their heart. He set a feast for his mother Namma and for Ninmah. All the princely birth-goddesses (?) ...... ate delicate reed (?) and bread. An, Enlil, and the lord Nudimmud roasted holy kids. All the senior gods praised him: "O lord of wide understanding, who is as wise as you? Enki, the great lord, who can equal your actions? Like a corporeal father, you are the one who has the me of deciding destinies, in fact you are the me."

Enki and Ninmah drank beer, their hearts became elated, and then Ninmah said to Enki: "Man's body can be either good or bad and whether I make a fate good or bad depends on my will."

Enki answered Ninmah: "I will counterbalance whatever fate -- good or bad -- you happen to decide." Ninmah took clay from the top of the abzu in her hand and she fashioned from it first a man who could not bend his outstretched weak hands. Enki looked at the man who could not bend his outstretched weak hands, and decreed his fate: he appointed him as a servant of the king.

Second, she fashioned one who turned back (?) the light, a man with constantly opened eyes (?). Enki looked at the one who turned back (?) the light, the man with constantly opened eyes (?), and decreed his fate allotting to it the musical arts, making him as the chief ...... in the king's presence.

Third, she fashioned one with both feet broken, one with paralysed feet. Enki looked at the one with both feet broken, the one with paralysed feet and ...... him for the work of ...... and the silversmith and ....... ( 1 ms. has instead: She fashioned one, a third one, born as an idiot. Enki looked at this one, the one born as an idiot, and decreed his fate: he appointed him as a servant of the king.)

Fourth, she fashioned one who could not hold back his urine. Enki looked at the one who could not hold back his urine and bathed him in enchanted water and drove out the Namtar demon from his body.

Fifth, she fashioned a woman who could not give birth. Enki looked at the woman who could not give birth, and decreed her fate: he made (?) her belong to the queen's household. ( 1 ms. has instead: ...... as a weaver, fashioned her to belong to the queen's household.)

Sixth, she fashioned one with neither penis nor vagina on its body. Enki looked at the one with neither penis nor vagina on its body and give it the name " Nibru eunuch (?)", and decreed as its fate to stand before the king.

Ninmah threw the pinched-off clay from her hand on the ground and a great silence fell. The great lord Enki said to Ninmah: "I have decreed the fates of your creatures and given them their daily bread. Come, now I will fashion somebody for you, and you must decree the fate of the newborn one!"

Enki devised a shape with head, ...... and mouth in its middle, and said to Ninmah: "Pour ejaculated semen into a woman's womb, and the woman will give birth to the semen of her womb." Ninmah stood by for the newborn ....... and the woman brought forth ...... in the midst ....... In return (?), this was Umul: its head was afflicted, its place of ...... was afflicted, its eyes were afflicted, its neck was afflicted. It could hardly breathe, its ribs were shaky, its lungs were afflicted, its heart was afflicted, its bowels were afflicted. With its hand and its lolling head it could not put bread into its mouth; its spine and head were dislocated. The weak hips and the shaky feet could not carry (?) it on the field -- Enki fashioned it in this way.

Enki said to Ninmah: "For your creatures I have decreed a fate, I have given them their daily bread. Now, you should decree a fate for my creature, give him his daily bread too." Ninmah looked at Umul and turned to him. She went nearer to Umul asked him questions but he could not speak. She offered him bread to eat but he could not reach out for it. He could not lie on ......., he could not ....... Standing up he could not sit down, could not lie down, he could not ...... a house, he could not eat bread. Ninmah answered Enki: "The man you have fashioned is neither alive nor dead. He cannot support himself (?)."

Enki answered Ninmah: "I decreed a fate for the first man with the weak hands, I gave him bread. I decreed a fate for the man who turned back (?) the light, I gave him bread. I decreed a fate for the man with broken, paralysed feet, I gave him bread. I decreed a fate for the man who could not hold back his urine, I gave him bread. I decreed a fate for the woman who could not give birth, I gave her bread. I decreed the fate for the one with neither penis nor vagina on its body, I gave it bread. My sister, ......." 2 lines fragmentary

Ninmah answered Enki:

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( Ninmah's answer continues) "You (?) entered ....... Look, you do not dwell in heaven, you do not dwell on earth, you do not come out to look at the Land. Where you do not dwell but where my house is built, your words cannot be heard. Where you do not live but where my city is built, I myself am silenced (?). My city is ruined, my house is destroyed, my child has been taken captive. I am a fugitive who has had to leave the E-kur, even I myself could not escape from your hand."

Enki replied to Ninmah: "Who could change the words that left your mouth? Remove Umul from your lap ....... Ninmah, may your work be ......, you ...... for me what is imperfect; who can oppose (?) this? The man whom I shaped ...... after you ......, let him pray! Today let my penis be praised, may your wisdom be confirmed (?)! May the Enkum and Ninkum ...... proclaim your glory ....... My sister, the heroic strength ....... The song ...... the writing (?) ....... The gods who heard ...... let Umul build (?) my house ......."

Ninmah could not rival the great lord Enki. Father Enki, your praise is sweet!

ENKI BUILDS THE E-ENGURRA

Source: Kramer, Samuel Noah (1988) Sumerian Mythology, University of Pennsylvania Press, West Port, Connecticut.

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Myth that tells how Enki built a house (temple) for himself in Eridu, the oldest city in Sumer according to tradition, the first of five cities founded before the Great Flood.

The temple, decorated with silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian and gold, was established on the bank of a river, where its foundations reached deep into the underground sweet, fertilising waters, called the Apsu.

The temple had magical qualities: the brickwork gave Enki advice, while the surrounding reed fences roared like a bull. The roof-beam was shaped like the bull of heaven, and a lion gripping a man formed the gateway. The overall effect was described as a lusty bull.

The bustle of activity there was compared to the drama of a river rising during a flood, Enki filled the building with lyres, drums and every other kind of musical instruments.

Surrounding the temple was a delightful garden full of fruit trees, with birds singing all around and frolicking carp playing among the reeds in the streams.

After finishing the construction of the E-engurra, the temple, Enki called up the beat of the ala and the uh drums and set out by barge to Nippur, in order to receive the other gods blessings.

The fish danced before him on the way to Nippur, and Enki slaughtered several oxen and sheep for the feast to come.

Once in Nippur, Enki started preparing the feast.

Paying attention to protocol, Anu was at the head of the group, with Enlil beside him and the goddess Nintu in a seat of honour nearby.

In the happy celebration that followed, all the great gods pronounced blessings on Enkis new home, and Anu stated:" My son Enki has made his temple.... grow from the ground like a mountain".

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After the water of creation had been decreed, After the name hegal (abundance) born in heaven, Like plant and herb had clothed the land, The lord of the abyss, the king Enki, Enki the Lord who decrees the fates, Built his house of silver and lapis lazuli; Its silver and lapis lazuli, like sparkling light, The father fashioned fittingly in the abyss.

The creatures of bright countenances and wise, coming forth from the abyss, Stood all about the lord Nudimmud; The pure house he built He ornamented it greatly with gold, In Eridu he built the house of water-bank, Its brickwork, word-uttering, advice-giving, Its... like an ox roaring, The house of Enki, the oracles uttering.

Follows a long passage in which Isimud, Enki's counsellor/prime minister, sings the praises of the sea-house.

Then Enki raises the city of Eridu from the abyss and makes it float over the water like a lofty mountain.

Its green fruit-bearing gardens he fills with birds; fishes too he makes abundant.

Enki is now ready to proceed by boat to Nippur, where he will obtain Enlil's blessings for his newly built city and temple. He therefore rises from the abyss:)

When Enki rises, the fish.... rise, The abyss stands in wonder, In the sea joy enters, Fear comes over the deep, Terror holds the exalted river, The Euphrates, the South Wind lifts it in waves.

Enki seats himself in his boat and first arrives in Eridu itself.

In Eridu, he slaughters many oxen and sheep before proceeding to Nippur.

Upon his arrival, a feast is prepared for all gods and Enlil in special:

Enki in the shrine Nippur, Gives his brother Enlil bread to eat, In the first place he seated Anu (the Sky father), Next to Anu he seated Enlil, Nintu he seated at the big side, The Anunnaki seated themselves one after the other.

Enlil says to the Anunnaki: " Ye great gods who are standing about, My brother has built a house, the king Enki; Eridu, like a mountain, he has raised up from the earth, In a good place he has built it.

Eridu, the clean place, where none may enter, The house built of silver, adorned with lapis lazuli, The house directed by the seven lyre-songs given over to incantation, With pure songs....

The abyss, the shrine of the goodness of Enki, befitting the divine decrees, Eridu, the pure house having been built, O Enki, praise!"

ENKI AND NINHURSAG

Version 1

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After Time had come into being and the holy seasons for growth and rest were finally known, holy Dilmun, the pure clean and bright land of the living, the garden of the Great Gods and Earthly paradise, located eastward in Eden, was the place where Ninhursag, the Earth Mother, Most Exalted Lady and Supreme Queen, could be found.

There she lived for a season during the Wheel of the Year, when the Earth lay deep in slumber and rest before the onset of Spring, in the land that knew neither sickness nor death or old age, where the raven uttered no cry, where lions and wolves killed not, and unknown were the sorrows of a widow or the wailing of the sick.

And it was in Dilmun, at that time that Enki, the wise god of Magic and the Sweet Waters, the Patron of Crafts and Skills, met, fell in love and lied with the Lady of the Stony Earth, Ninhursag.

The Earth Mother's kiss did change the carefree and sexy Sweet Waters Lord: Ninhursag had wholly captivated him through the most profound of all bonds, the thread of enchantment, passion and daring called Love. So profound the feeling was that the God of all Sweet Waters, Magic and Crafts proposed to Ninhursag, with the enthusiasm of a young lover's heart.

Ninhursag looked around the land, her stony body, and remembered the taste of the wondrous moisture of the Sweet Waters God within herself. She wondered whether the land should not feel the same loving touch without. She said then to Enki:

' I heard your heart speak, Enki dearest. But if I feel your wondrous moisture within me, I look at the earth of Dilmun, also my body, and feel it is the longing, the thirst for the gifts that you, dear heart, for sure can bring. Thus I ask you: what is a land, what is a city that has no river quay? A city that has no ponds of sweet water?'

Taken by surprise, Enki realised that indeed he had given his whole essence to the beloved, but forgotten to look after her Earthly Body, the land. He then rose to the challenge of providing water for the land with aplomb.

He told then Ninhursag: ' For Dilmun, the land of my lady's heart, I will create long waterways, rivers and canals, whereby water will flow to quench the thirst of all beings and bring abundance to all that lives.'

Enki then summoned Utu, the Sun God and Light of the Day. Together, they brought a mist from the depths of the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. Then Enki and Utu created waterways to surround the land with a never-ending source of fertile Sweet Waters, and Enki also devised basins and cisterns to store the waters for further needs.

From these fertile sweet waters flow the four Great Rivers of the Ancient World, including the Tigris and the Euphrates.

Thus, from that moment on, Dilmun was blessed by Enki with everlasting agricultural and trade superiority, for through its waterways and quays, fruits and grains were sold and exchanged by the people of Dilmun and beyond.

Ninhursag rejoiced in Enki's mighty prowess and said to him: ' Beloved, the powerful touch of your sweet waters, the essence of Mother Nammu that lies deep within you, transformed the land, my stony body. I feel the power of life throbbing within to be revealed without my very depths as I give joyously birth and sustenance to the marshes and reed-beds, that from now on will shelter fish, plant, beasts and all that breathes. Thus I call myself Nintur, the lady who gives birth, the Womb of the Damp Lands by the riverbanks.'

Enki replied: ' Ninhursag, dearest Nintur, beloved, how can anyone quite compare to you? I cannot resist your wild, sweet ways, so lie with me one more time and fill my body, heart, soul and mind with endless delights! For me you will forever be my fierce Damgalnunna, my Great Spouse, passionate and very much loved!'

Ninhursag laughed and welcomed the eagerness of the Sweet Waters Lord. Nine days later, without the slightest labour or pain, the Great Mother Goddess gave birth to a lovely girl without the slightest travail or pain. The girl was called Ninsar, Lady Verdure, the Mistress of Vegetation, the green carpet of grass, leaves and flower beds that cover the surface of the earth.

Enki was overjoyed with the birth of his and Ninhursag's child: ' How perfect, how lovely is our Ninsar! I love already the woman in the girl-child, the young Anunnaki goddess and Mistress of Velvet Meadows and Green Fields. The ties that bind me to Ninsar are strong and tempered by an even greater love, for in her face I see also Ninhursag's, the one and only to my wandering heart.'

The Great Lady, holding Ninsar in her arms, kissed Enki in the mouth, and said: ' Soon my time to leave Dilmun will come, but to this holy land I will sure return at the beginning of the earth's rest in the Middle world. I need to leave soon, for without my loving touch Spring cannot come back, the winds to dismiss Winter won't blow, all there is won't sing or mate until I to them return. But before I go away, I endow Ninsar with the power to grow in record time, and in holy Dilmun I'll leave my youngster daughter safe and sound from any illness, hatred or harm.'

As the Great Lady had declared, nine days later Ninsar was fully grown, charming and graceful, a sight to behold. Ninhursag then left for the Middle world.

Enki knew he would miss his beloved terribly, but while she was busy in the Middle Earth giving her Essence for the land to grow happy and gay, equally as busy as Ninhursag was Enki in holy Dilmun.

It was the sacred duty of the Sweet Waters Lord to oversee the rise and fall of all fertilising waters that flowed from Dilmun to feed the rivers, lakes and ponds of the Middle world to make the land ready to receive the Spring seeds.

Thus, as much as he missed Ninhursag, Enki knew he could not leave Dilmun before all waterways were filled to ensure that the people would have plenty of water to grow their crops. Enki's essence, the fertilising power of the sweet waters, should reach every piece of land in the Middle world that had been worked and ploughed.

It was at the end of a day he had spent totally absorbed by the mighty task of controlling the water flow to the Middle world that Enki saw Ninsar walking on her own along the marshlands. Indeed, a lovely goddess she had become, and Enki's eyes fell on the Maiden's, the Sweet Waters Lord felt a longing he could not yet define. He only knew that after Ninhursag's departure, no other maiden had touched his heart the way this one did. Indeed, she who walked on her own along the marshlands was the closest version to Ninhursag his eyes had the luck to find. Enki did not lose time and immediately started wooing the young lady, encouraging her to love him wildly by the riverside.

Curious and eager as Ninsar was to experience the power of love in her body, mind, soul, and heart, she, the young goddess of Green Fields and Luscious Meadows, yielded to the Sweet Waters Lord, and together they made wild love.

But when morning came, Enki looked into Ninsar's eyes and found her a loving, but pale portrait of Ninhursag. ' What is in her that was so alluring last night, but now in the broad day light seems to have lost substance Lovely as she is, she is not the one I surely miss,' thought Enki. '

Despite the doubts he felt deep inside, Enki stayed with Ninsar for a while, because he knew his seed could be her womb. So he stayed with her until the ninth day, when Ninsar gave birth to Ninkurra, another girl-child, the future goddess of Mountain Pastures.

As before, Enki rejoiced at Ninkurra's loveliness, at her cheerful smile and sweet face. Again, Enki saw in Ninkurra twice the mark of his beloved Ninhursag.

Sadly, Ninsar realised that although she had been passionately loved by Enki for a time, there was a longing in his eyes, his body, soul and mind she could not satisfy. ' Bonded to him I for a time was,' thought Ninsar,' but he does not want me for myself, this I can tell. Mine is not the mind, body, soul and heart that holds his for a minute that means eternity, so I'll let him go, now and forever. I need to be loved for who and what I am, and not to be a mere replacement for whom I know not he loves.'

Thus, when Enki left her and young Ninkurra, Ninsar grieved deeply, but found hope, meaning and sustenance in drawing from her all-one-ness, her inner and outer resources to heal and grow with the experience. She also kept a watchful eye on Ninkurra, who, like herself, grew in record time. Lovely, resourceful Ninkurra demonstrated enormous energy by climbing the highest heights, up to the mountain tops, but also keeping her essence tied to the ground. This way Ninkurra, the Goddess of Mountain Pastures grew safe from all hatred or harm.

Another nine days passed by, and as Ninkurra played at a mountain top, curiosity led her to explore a well that surfaced out of the blue to water the greens and wild flower beds she had just made grow. To her sheer surprise and delight, the well took the shape of a handsome god, who introduced himself to her as Enki the Sweet Waters Lord.

Again, Enki looked at Ninkurra's young and cheerful face, and desired to dive into the maiden's embrace, for she reminded him twice of Ninhursag, the one and only to Enki's wandering heart. The maiden at the mountain top though had attracted the Sweet Waters' Lord. Had he again fallen in love?

Ninkurra, who had lived a life so sheltered at the mountain heights, was fully bewitched by the easy charm of the older, more experienced god. Thus she joyously yielded to him and love they made for nine days and nine nights. But Enki soon realised that as lovely as Ninkurra was, she could not be compared to Ninhursag.

As before, the Sweet Waters Lord left Ninsar after nine days, when Ninkurra gave birth to another lovely girl-child called Uttu, the Spider, the Weaver of Patterns and Life Desires.

But Ninhursag, having kissed the earth to awaken for Spring to come, had returned to holy Dilmun. The Great Lady who saw and wisely judged all life forms, frowned at the sadness reflected in Ninsar's and Ninkurra's eyes, and frowned at Enki's unbridled lust. Ninhursag knew how charming Enki could be, but no matter what, young Uttu the Weaver should be advised to avoid the riverbanks, or the places where Enki and herself could be found alone or unchaperoned: ' Daughter Uttu, beware of the marshes and the riverbanks, where Enki, the Sweet Waters god, reigns as Sovereign. There he will see you, there he will desire you and want to make of you his own, only to leave you all alone later on!' was Ninhursag's stern advice to Uttu.

For a time young Uttu did follow the Great Lady's advice and kept her distance from Enki's lusty sight. But one day Enki's desire won the young goddess' heart, when he brought to her delicacies from the garden of delights: apples, cucumbers and grapes, all this and more Enki offered to the young goddess. Then Uttu, full of joy, opened herself to welcome Enki, the crafty god, and he embraced her with heartfelt glee, lying in her lap content and happy. Loving strokes, kisses and hugs they shared, until Enki's seed found its way to Uttu's young and yet untried womb.

Later, still lying on Enki's powerful arms, doubt entered Uttu's mind, body and heart: ' Tonight you loved me so dearly, tonight I was your spouse, the one and only, your dearest, ' she thought . ' But will you love me in the morning, o lustiest of all gods? Will you stay in my arms and never let me go And will you love for more than a holy night, and share with me happy and hard times?'

But when morning came and Uttu looked into Enki's eyes, she knew she still was not the one to hold captive the Sweet Waters Lord. With a tender kiss Enki took his leave, but did not say when he was going to come back, or ever returned to stay.

Uttu swallowed stubborn tears, but decided no to surrender to loss and sorrow, and more. ' I vow not to be bonded to Enki from this moment on,' she promised herself with a deep-rooted resolve. ' If he does not want me for myself, for what we can together be, I will not carry any of his seeds within or without my very being!'

Uttu immediately turned then to Ninhursag for help. The Great Mother goddess, beloved by all, would know what to do, would ensure the best course of action. ' Wipe out Enki's seed of your body, and bury within the depths of the Earth the promise of life you shared with him, ' said the Great Lady and Womb of Creation. ' Let the Earth receive and transform yours and Enki's seed. And after you do this all, take your time so that your body, heart, mind and soul may heal. And I, who have known love, pain, sorrow and immense joy, give you, daughter, a very special blessing: may the wisdom of experience brought by such pain enter your being again and may you learn to ask as much as you give from your future lovers for as long as you live. Reciprocation is the key for everlasting relationships!'

Where Ninhursag buried Enki's seed, nine days later eight plants, luscious and strong, started to grow. Ninhursag laughed and declared happily to each of them: ' Out of the depths of the earth, out of my stony womb, eight plants came out to bring more blessings to the world! Eight they are, and from now on each of them will be both fathers and mothers, the very first Seed, of a new group of beings, whom I'll call Plants, creatures of green and colour, that will nourish, heal and grow in the glory of Dilmun and the Middle world.' .

After a time, Enki returned, happy and carefree, as it was his custom to be. He was not alone, but in the company of the two-faced god Isimud, Enki's vizier and friend. Both took long walks around the riverbanks, enjoyed the pleasures of the marshlands.

Both saw the luscious plants. ' What sorts of beings are those, Isimud, my faithful servant and friend? What is in them so new and yet so old that fills my heart with desire and my mind with deep-rooted curiosity? I want to taste them, to know their hearts, I want to know their insides. What, pray, is this plant?' asked Enki Isimud, pointing at the closest one. ' My king, this is a tree plant,' Isimud answered, and sworn as he was to serve the Sweet Waters Lord, Isimud then proceeded to cut down a piece of the tree-plant and passed it on to Enki, who immediately ate it with greed.

The taste of the tree-plant fuelled even more Enki's desire to know the nature of the other seven plants left.. He asked Isimud about the nature of the seven plants, their essence and content. Isimud replied to all his mater's questions, cutting down a sample of each and passing them on to Enki, who devoured them immediately with glee. This way Enki got to know the hearts of the Plants World.

Seeing that once again Enki had shown no respect or restraint, taking over to make his own not only young maiden goddesses, but also the Plants World angered Ninhursag beyond any measure. ' Enough is enough!' exclaimed the Great Mother, Mistress and Supreme Queen of the Earth, outraged and furious at Enki's disdain for all beings, human or plants. ' Enki, you've gone too far by taking over the hearts' essence of not only young goddesses, but also by taking into yourself eight primeval samples of the Plants World.

It is good to feel desire and experience the need to be one with the beloved. But there is a profound responsibility implicit in falling in love and captivating someone's mind, body, heart and soul. You, Enki, came out of the blue into many maidens' lives, set yourself up like a squatter within their hearts only to leave them afterwards, never to return. But even then you were not satisfied in your lust to know and experience everything, so you turned to the newly created Plants World. You, Enki, tasted each one of the eight sacred plants, devouring them next with greed. You never asked, but always took without giving anything back, a sign of acknowledgement, a simple caress.

To how many did you bring a little death to their spirit, to their hopes about a future with you? For all this, you deserve a mighty lesson, for it is high time that you, Enki, learn in sorrow what you did not learn in happiness: I will never look at you with a life-giving eye from this moment on. May the suffering you inflicted return to you threefold!'

With these words, Great Ninhursag disappeared, leaving Enki clearly divided between the joy of seeing the one and only to his heart and the growing concern for her parting words.

Because indeed Enki's health began to fail. A strange illness this was: eight organs of his body fell progressively ill. Indeed, they started to die in Enki's living body. The Anunnaki, the Great Gods, were disconsolate with Enki's suffering.

Father An, the Sky Lord, Enlil, Lord Air and Enki's beloved older brother, all healer gods and goddesses of the land tried everything they could to no avail.

Only Ninhursag could not be found anywhere, while Enki's health deteriorated little by little day after day.

It soon came a time when Enlil left Enki's side to sit on the dust, so immerse he was in despair and worry for the health of his younger and favourite brother. The Air Lord grieved for Enki. A world without the Lord of the Sweet Waters, Magic and Crafts, how sad it would be! Enlil simply could not conceive life without Enki's cunning, humour and sheer energy.

It was then that a fox, a sacred wild beast to Ninhursag who was passing by, came to console Lord Air: ' I've seen the suffering of the Sweet Waters Lord, I've witnessed the lament of the greatest of the Anunnaki for Enki, their beloved brother. Only Ninhursag can heal him, only the Mistress of All Creation can make him whole again. I'll do my best to go and find the Greatest Lady of Earth, holy Ninhursag I am sworn to worship and serve till the end of my days. I will find the Great Goddess and bring her here to accomplish the healing of the sick god.'

The fox disappeared, but kept her promise, for Ninhursag relented and came running to Enki's aid. She went straight to the chamber where Enki laid in agony, and, with a wave of her mighty hand, Ninhursag dismissed healers, nurses and well-wishers.

Their work was done. Ninhursag's had just begun.

With immense tenderness, the Mistress of All Creation made herself comfortable by on the bed, carefully placing Enki's head on her vagina. She then leaned forward and wrapped herself, arms, legs, breasts around the body of the Sweet Waters Lord. Enki was this way lovingly embraced by the Great Lady, kept safe and protected by her warmth, and arms that felt strong yet very sweet. Like a nurturing womb, the Great Lady wrapped herself around the Sweet Waters god.

Ninhursag whispered softly in Enki's ear: ' Dearest, what hurts you?' ' O beloved, my whole body hurts me.,' Enki managed to answer with visible effort. Ninhursag rocked gently back and forth with much care the sick god: ' I know your body hurts, dear heart, but soon you will be made whole again. Because I'll receive in my Womb of Abundance, the nest of creation, the seeds that you so greedily ate and that made you so ill. I'll take them all into my body so that they can bring healing, not harm to all beings. Let the Work begin!'

Enki felt he could not move a fingertip. At the same time, warmth started spreading all over his body, bringing new vitality, life force with it.

Enki heard Ninhursag's voice resonate all over his being: ' The first seed you ate and made you ill, I take its power into my myself and transform it into a newly born god, a younger brother and son to you, dearest. I therefore have given birth to the god Abu to set your body free.'

The Great Lady continued her mighty healing ritual, asking Enki for the names of the organs that had been affected. : ' Dearest, what hurts you?' ' My jaw hurts me.' ' To the god Nintulla I have given birth for you to set your jaw free.

Where else do you hurt, dearest?' ' My tooth hurts me.' 'To the goddess Ninsutu I have given birth for you to set your tooth free.

Where do you still feel much pain, dearest? What hurts you?' ' My mouth hurts me.' Ninhursag kissed Enki in the mouth. ' To the goddess Ninkasi I have given birth for you to set your mouth free.

What hurts you still, dear?' ' My throat hurts me.' ' To the goddess Azimua I have given birth for you to set your throat free.

What hurts you still, dear?'' ' My limbs hurt me'. ' To the god Enshag I have given birth for you to set your limbs free.

What hurts you most, dearest? ' My rib hurts me.' ' To the goddess Nin-ti, the Lady of the Rib and the One who makes Live, I have given birth for you to set your rib free.'

As soon as Ninhursag uttered the last sentence, Enki felt no pain or ache, revitalised and stronger than ever. Indeed, as if he himself had been reborn in the close embrace of Ninhursag.

Gone was the pain, the fever, the shivers. ' I am alive,' he said very simply, his voice full of wonder, ' and yet it feels so different from the moment I came out of the sea of mother Nammu or when I met Ereshkigal in the Underworld.'

He moved into Ninhursag's arms, for he wanted to see her face too. The Great Lady had closed her eyes, but there was a smile on her lips. She rested against the pillows of Enki's bed, still holding him in a loose embrace.

Now it was his turn to act with immense tenderness, as he shifted positions to make her rest on his chest. ' You healed me by sending your soul into my body, ' he said, deeply moved by the Gift of Life he had been given, and more. ' This is why you are so wearied. And the reason why I feel so much more part of yourself as a consequence. How could I have been so stupid not to understand you or myself until now? It was you I longed for, your embrace, your touch. But beforehand I wanted you for me only, and desired all maidens, because I knew not of the extent of my longing for you and only you. How impossibly absurd and stupid of me to think that I should find your image in every maiden I came across just to leave them when I realised they were not you! '

They kissed passionately.

' I would never bind you to me against your True Will, beloved,' said simply Ninhursag. ' And because you understood this great mystery, because you and I are indeed two of a kind, let all worlds know what I now declare: from this very moment on let it be known that I, Ninhursag, the Earth Mother, Wisest beyond all Beings in the Ways of Nature, built a house for my beloved and myself on a Rock, steadfast and solid....' ' Let me finish this for you... for us, dearest,' interrupted Enki Ninhursag with a kiss,' I, Enki, the Lord of Sweet Waters, say that from this strong and solid rock that means Life, Love and Fruition for me the Waters of Life will flow forever in all worlds we dare to fare'.

They kissed and hugged passionately, sealing their shared Fate forever, for as long as they wanted to be together. ' For you I stayed here in Dilmun, the place of delights, where we are safe from hate or harm', continued Enki. ' Now I know that you made me ill to make me see that the bond that I feel for you is stronger than friendship or love. I know now that even if we cannot be together all the time, we will never be apart. But tell me, dearest, did you really need to be so radical and cast on me the eye of death?'

Indeed, Enki had come back to his normal enquiring self. Ninhursag could burst of joy, and her laughter was pure delight and mischief: ' This, Enki, you will never find out!'

Enki chuckled, half disappointed, half amused. Life with Ninhursag would never be boring, this he knew for sure. She would certainly drive him nuts with her assertiveness, wits, passionate ways and guts many other times in the future. But she was and would be forever in his future, he loved her and wanted her like no other. Ninhursag was his Soul-Companion, his Rock of Strength, the Inspirational Divine Feminine that brightened up his life. And if he could not have the last word with her, at least Enki knew very well how to silence Ninhursag in the sweetest and wildest way for very long moments.

With perfect skill and determination he started to kiss her holy body. All over.

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Enki and Ninhursanga

What follows next is the original translation of the Tablet.

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Pure are the cities -- and you are the ones to whom they are allotted. Pure is Dilmun land. Pure is Sumer -- and you are the ones to whom it is allotted. Pure is Dilmun land. Pure is Dilmun land. Virginal is Dilmun land. Virginal is Dilmun land. Pristine is Dilmun land.

He laid her down all alone in Dilmun, and the place where Enki had lain down with his spouse, that place was still virginal, that place was still pristine. He laid her down all alone in Dilmun, and the place where Enki had lain down with Ninsikila, that place was virginal, that place was pristine.

In Dilmun the raven was not yet cawing, the partridge not cackling. The lion did not slay, the wolf was not carrying off lambs, the dog had not been taught to make kids curl up, the pig had not learned that grain was to be eaten.

When a widow had spread malt on the roof, the birds did not yet eat that malt up there. The pigeon then did not tuck its head under its wing.

No eye-diseases said there: "I am the eye disease." No headache said there: "I am the headache." No old woman belonging to it said there: "I am an old woman." No old man belonging to it said there: "I am an old man." No maiden in her unwashed state ...... in the city. No man dredging a river said there: "It is getting dark." No herald made the rounds in his border district.

No singer sang an elulam there. No wailings were wailed in the city's outskirts there.

Ninsikilasaid to her father Enki: "You have given a city. You have given a city. What does your giving avail me? You have given a city, Dilmun. You have given a city. What does your giving avail me? You have given ....... You have given a city. What does your giving avail me?"

"You have given ......, a city that has no river quay. You have given a city. What does your giving avail me?

1 line fragmentary

A city that has no fields, glebe or furrow"

3 lines missing

( Enki answered Ninsikila:) "When Utu steps up into heaven, fresh waters shall run out of the ground for you from the standing vessels (?) on Ezen's (?) shore, from Nanna's radiant high temple, from the mouth of the waters running underground."

"May the waters rise up from it into your great basins. May your city drink water aplenty from them. May Dilmun drink water aplenty from them. May your pools of salt water become pools of fresh water. May your city become an emporium on the quay for the Land. May Dilmun become an emporium on the quay for the Land."

(Possible insertion point for additional lines in a ms. from Ur:

"May the land of Tukric hand over to you gold from Harali, lapis lazuli and ....... May the land of Meluha load precious desirable cornelian, mec wood of Magan and the best abba wood into large ships for you. May the land of Marhaci yield you precious stones, topazes. May the land of Magan offer you strong, powerful copper, dolerite, u stone and cumin stone. May the Sea-land offer you its own ebony wood, ...... of a king. May the 'Tent'-lands offer you fine multicoloured wools. May the land of Elam hand over to you choice wools, its tribute. May the manor of Urim, the royal throne dais, the city ......, load up into large ships for you sesame, august raiment, and fine cloth. May the wide sea yield you its wealth."

The city's dwellings are good dwellings. Dilmun's dwellings are good dwellings. Its grains are little grains, its dates are big dates, its harvests are triple ......, its wood is ...... wood.)

At that moment, on that day, and under that sun, when Utu stepped up into heaven, from the standing vessels (?) on Ezen's (?) shore, from Nanna's radiant high temple, from the mouth of the waters running underground, fresh waters ran out of the ground for her.

The waters rose up from it into her great basins. Her city drank water aplenty from them. Dilmun drank water aplenty from them. Her pools of salt water indeed became pools of fresh water. Her fields, glebe and furrows indeed produced grain for her. Her city indeed became an emporium on the quay for the Land. Dilmun indeed became an emporium on the quay for the Land. At that moment, on that day, and under that sun, so it indeed happened.

All alone the wise one, toward Nintud, the country's mother, Enki, the wise one, toward Nintud, the country's mother, was digging his phallus into the dykes, plunging his phallus into the reed-beds. The august one pulled his phallus aside and cried out: "No man take me in the marsh."

Enkicried out: "By the life's breath of heaven I adjure you. Lie down for me in the marsh, lie down for me in the marsh, that would be joyous." Enki distributed his semen destined for Damgalnuna. He poured semen into Ninhursaja's womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.

But her one month was one day, but her two months were two days, but her three months were three days, but her four months were four days, but her five months were five days, but her six months were six days, but her seven months were seven days, but her eight months were eight days, but her nine months were nine days. In the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, Nintud, mother of the country, like juniper oil, gave birth to Ninsar.

In turn Ninsar went out to the riverbank. Enki was able to see up there from in the marsh, he was able to see up there, he was. He said to his minister Isimud: "Is this nice youngster not to be kissed? Is this nice Ninsar not to be kissed?" His minister Isimud answered him: "Is this nice youngster not to be kissed? Is this nice Ninsar not to be kissed? My master will sail, let me navigate. He will sail, let me navigate."

First he put his feet in the boat, next he put them on dry land. He clasped her to the bosom, kissed her, Enki poured semen into the womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki. But her one month was one day, but her two months were two days, but her nine months were nine days. In the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, Ninsar, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, gave birth to Ninkura.

In turn Ninkura went out to the riverbank. Enki was able to see up there from in the marsh, he was able to see up there, he was. He said to his minister Isimud: "Is this nice youngster not to be kissed? Is this nice Ninkura not to kissed?" His minister Isimud answered him: "Kiss this nice youngster. Kiss this nice Ninkura. My master will sail, let me navigate. He will sail, let me navigate."

First he put his feet in the boat, next he put them on dry land. He clasped her to the bosom, kissed her, Enki poured semen into the womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki. But her one month was one day, but her nine months were nine days. In the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, Ninkura, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, gave birth to Uttu, the exalted (?) woman.

(Insertion point for additional lines in a ms. of unknown origin:

Ninkura in turn gave birth to Ninimma. She brought the child up and made her flourish. Ninimma in turn went out to the riverbank. Enki was towing his boat along and was able to see up there, ....... He laid eyes on Ninimma on the riverbank and said to his minister Isimud: "Have I ever kissed one like this nice youngster? Have I ever made love to one like nice Ninimma?" His minister Isimud answered him: "My master will sail, let me navigate. He will sail, let me navigate."

First he put his feet in the boat, next he put them on dry land. He clasped her to the bosom, lying in her crotch, made love to the youngster and kissed her. Enki poured semen into Ninimma's womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.

To the woman its one month was but its one day, its two months were but its two days, its three months were but its three days, its four months were but its four days, its five months were but its five days, its six months were but its six days, its seven months were but its seven days, its eight months were but its eight days, and at its nine days, in the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, Ninimma, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, gave birth to Uttu, the exalted (?) woman.)

Nintudsaid to Uttu: "Let me advise you, and may you take heed of my advice. Let me speak words to you and may you heed my words. From in the marsh one man is able to see up here, is able to see up here, he is; from in the marsh Enki is able to see up here, is able to see up here, he is. He will set eyes on you."

10 lines fragmentary

...... Uttu, the exalted (?) woman ......

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( Uttu said:) "Bring cucumbers in ......, bring apples with their stems sticking out (?), bring grapes in their clusters, and in the house you will indeed have hold of my halter, O Enki, you will indeed have hold of my halter."

When he was filling with water a second time, he filled the dykes with water, he filled the canals with water, he filled the fallows with water. The gardener in his joy rose (?) from the dust and embraced him: "Who are you who ...... the garden?"

Enki(said to) ...... the gardener:

4 lines missing

He brought him cucumbers in ......, brought him apples with their stems sticking out (?), brought him grapes in their clusters, filled his lap.

Enkimade his face attractive and took a staff in his hand. Enki came to a halt at Uttu's, knocked at her house (demanding): "Open up, open up." (She asked): "Who are you?" (He answered:) "I am a gardener. Let me give you cucumbers, apples, and grapes for your 'Yes'." Joyfully Uttu opened the house. Enki gave Uttu, the exalted (?) woman, cucumbers in ......, gave her apples with their stems sticking out (?), gave her grapes in their clusters. (1 line not in the ms. from Nippur: He poured beer for her in the large ban measure.)

Uttu, the exalted (?) woman, ...... to the left for him, waved the hands for him. Enki aroused Uttu. He clasped her to the bosom, lying in her crotch, fondled her thighs, fondled her with the hand. He clasped her to the bosom, lying in her crotch, made love to the youngster and kissed her. Enki poured semen into Uttu's womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.

Uttu, the beautiful woman, cried out : "Woe, my thighs". She cried out: "Woe, my liver. Woe, my heart." Ninhursaja removed the semen from the thighs.

2 lines fragmentary

She grew the 'tree' plant, she grew the 'honey' plant, she grew the 'vegetable' plant, she grew the esparto grass (?), she grew the atutu plant, she grew the actaltal plant, she grew the ...... plant, she grew the amharu plant.

Enkiwas able to see up there from in the marsh, he was able to see up there, he was. He said to his minister Isimud: "I have not determined the destiny of these plants. What is this one? What is that one?"

His minister Isimud had the answer for him. "My master, the 'tree' plant," he said to him, cut it off for him and Enki ate it. "My master, the 'honey' plant," he said to him, pulled it up for him and Enki ate it. "My master, the 'vegetable' plant," he said to him, cut it off for him and Enki ate it. "My master, the alfalfa grass (?)," he said to him, pulled it up for him and Enki ate it.

"My master, the atutu plant," he said to him, cut it off for him and Enki ate it. "My master, the actaltal plant," he said to him, pulled it up for him and Enki ate it. "My master, the ...... plant," he said to him, cut it off for him and Enki ate it. "My master, the amharu plant," he said to him, pulled it up for him and Enki ate it. Enki determined the destiny of the plants, had them know it in their hearts.

Ninhursajacursed the name Enki: "Until his dying day, I will never look upon him with life-giving eye." The Anuna sat down in the dust. But a fox was able to speak to Enlil: "If I bring Ninhursaja to you, what will be my reward?" Enlil answered the fox: "If you bring Ninhursaja to me, I shall erect two standards for you in my city and you will be renowned."

The fox first anointed his body, first shook out his fur (?), first put kohl on his eyes.

4 lines fragmentary

(The fox said to Ninhursaja:) "I have been to Nibru, but Enlil ....... I have been to Urim, but Nanna ....... I have been to Larsa, but Utu ....... I have been to Unug, but Inana ....... I am seeking refuge with one who is ......."

7 lines fragmentary

Ninhursajahastened to the temple. The Anuna slipped off her garment, made ......, determined its destiny and ....... Ninhursaja made Enki sit by her vagina. (1 line not in the ms. from Nippur: She placed (?) her hands on ....... and ....... on its outside.)

( Ninhursaja asked:) "My brother, what part of you hurts you?" "The top of my head (ugu-dili) hurts me." She gave birth to Ab-u out of it. "My brother, what part of you hurts you?" "The locks of my hair (siki) hurt me." She gave birth to Ninsikila out of it. "My brother, what part of you hurts you?" "My nose (giri) hurts me." She gave birth to Ningiriudu out of it. "My brother, what part of you hurts you?" "My mouth (ka) hurts me." She gave birth to Ninkasi out of it.

"My brother, what part of you hurts you?" "My throat (zi) hurts me." She gave birth to Nazi out of it. "My brother, what part of you hurts you?" "My arm (a) hurts me." She gave birth to Azimua out of it. "My brother, what part of you hurts you?" "My ribs (ti) hurt me." She gave birth to Ninti out of it. "My brother, what part of you hurts you?" "My sides (zag) hurt me." She gave birth to Ensag out of it.

(She said:) "For the little ones to whom I have given birth may rewards not be lacking. Ab-u shall become king of the grasses, Ninsikila shall become lord of Magan, Ningiriudu shall marry Ninazu, Ninkasi shall be what satisfies the heart, Nazi shall marry Nindara, Azimua shall marry Ninjiczida, Ninti shall become the lady of the month, and Ensag shall become lord of Dilmun."

Praise be to Father Enki.