Enki and the World Order
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,
. . . . .
(Approximately five lines missing)
. . . . 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,
(Two lines missing)
[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 . . . . ,
(Approximately three lines missing)
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?"
(Approximately three lines missing)
. . . . 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
What follows next is the original translation of the
Tablet.
The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature
ETCSL Home Page
Enki and the world order
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.
2 lines unclear
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 .......
2 lines unclear
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,
2 lines missing or unclear
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, ......,"
4 lines unclear
"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.
7 lines missing, damaged or unclear
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.
6 lines missing or unclear
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!"
2 lines unclear
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.
2 lines missing
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,
1 line unclear
-- ......, 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.
1 line unclear
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,"
4 lines unclear
"...... lapis-lazuli headdress ...... is your prerogative, ...... is your prerogative,
......; is your prerogative, ...... is your prerogative."
10 lines unclear
Praise be to father Enki.
![The Remorse of Nero After the Murdering of his Mother. Artist: John William Waterhouse [1878] (Public Domain Image)](/images/rome/nerorem.jpg)
