Tablet 1
- When the heaven above was not named,
ππ‘π ππΊ π· πΎππ ππ π¬
- the earth below was not called by name,
πΊβπ
πΊ π π π ππ π· π π₯
- but Apsu, the primeval, their progenitor,
πͺπππ ππ
π ππππ¦
- Mummu and Tiamat, who bore all of them,
π¬ππ¬ πΎπ©βπ³ π¬π π·ππ πΆπππ¦
- their waters as one they mingled:
π¨ππ‘ π
πΌniΕ‘ πΏππͺπ
- when reeds were not yet matted together, marshes had not yet appeared,
ππΊπ π· π ππ’π π’ππ π· πΊπΏπ
- when the gods had not yet been fashioned, not one,
ππ‘π πβπ π· πππ π πΎπ
- none was called by name, destinies were not fixed:
ππ π· zukπͺπ π
π π« π· π
πΏπ¬
- then the gods were created in their midst.
π
ππ‘π πβπ π πππ¦
- Lahmu and Lahamu were fashioned, were called by name;
π ππ¬ π π·π©π¬ ππ«ππ ππͺ ππ π
- as they grew they became mighty.
ππ²πΏ π
ππ πΏπ
π·
- Anshar and Kishar were created-they were now more than they.
ππ¬ π π π¬ π
ππ‘π ππ·ππ‘ ππ
- Long were the days; years were added thereto:
π¨ππͺ ume usππ Ε‘anate
- Anu, their son, rival of his fathers-
π ππ‘π ππππ‘ ππ abeπ
- Anshar made Anu, his first-born, their equal.
ππ¬ π ππ‘π ππππ ππ¦π»π
- Then Anu begat Nudimmud in his own image.
π π ππ‘π ππ
π·π πlid π π‘π΄π·βπ
- Nudimmud became master of his fathers;
π π‘π΄π·βπ π abeπ ππππ‘ ππ
- keen open-eared, thoughtful, mighty in strength,
palπ
π»π π©π ππ¬kan πππͺπ
- stronger, by far, than his begetter, his father Anshar:
ππΕ‘ur π πΏπΉ ππΎ ππ abiπ ππ¬
- he had no equal among the gods, his brothers.
π· πΏπ
ππ ina πβπ πheππ
- So came into being the brothers, the gods.
π
ππΊπ ππ·π πβπ π
- They perturbed Tiamat, they overpowered all of their guards,
πππ πΎπ©βπ³ kishat πΎπ€ππ‘ π
π°π
- They troubled the thoughts of Tiamat,
ππ π·ππ π πΎπ©βπ³ πΌβπasπ
- With singing in the midst of Anduruna.
πΏπΎ ππΏππ ππΊπ π π πduruπΎ
- Apsu could not diminish their uproar,
π· πΎπ
π
πͺππ ππΆππ¦
- and Tiamat was distressed by their clamor;
π πΎπ©βπ³ ππ
π π¬π π akkil
- their deeds were obnoxious unto her,
π
π»ππ π ipπΊπ«ππ¦ ππ·π
- their way was not good, for they had become powerful.
π· π«bat π katπ’π‘ ππ‘πΎ πΏπ«ππ·
- Then Apsu, the begetter of the great gods,
πΏπ‘π πͺπ ππ πβπ πππtim
- cried to Mummu, his messenger, saying unto him:
πππ π π¬ππ¬ sukππ·π πΏπ πΌβππ
- βMummu, my messenger, who rejoicest my soul,
π π¬ππ¬ sukππ· π¬tibπ π
bitπΎπ
- come, unto Tiamat let us go.β
π π°π πππ
πΎπ©βπ³ πΏ ππ
lik
- They went and before Tiamat they sat down.
π
π·πͺπ πͺππͺπ
πΎπ©βπ³ sakπ
- They consulted on a plan concerning the gods, their sons.
ππ πΎ π
talπ·πͺ πΈπ³ πβπ mareππ¦
- Apsu opened his mouth, addressing her,
πͺπ πΊππ πΏπΕ‘amπ izakkarπ
- to the shining Tiamat he spoke:
ππΎ πΎπ©βπ³ ππ·π
π πΏπ πΌβπ ππ π
- βTheir way annoys me.β
π
πas π katπ’π‘ ππ·π
- By day I am rested not, by night I sleep not.
π¨π π· πupππ©π π¬π
π· ππ π·πͺ
- I will destroy them and confound their ways.
π»πhallikπ π katπ’π‘ π»πΊβπ
piih
- Let tranquillity reign, and let us sleep, even us.
πͺππ» πΊππ₯π πΏ ππlal ππΏπ‘
- When Tiamat heard this,
πΎπ©βπ³ πππ« πΏπΎ πΊπ¨ππ
- She raged crying out to her husband.
πΏπͺπ»π π
π«π ππ· π―πͺπ
- In pain she raged, she alone.
π₯ππ
ugπgat ππΉπ
π
- She planned evil for herself:
π·mutπ« ππ«π² ππΎ πΌβππ
π
- How shall we destroy that which we have made?
πͺπΎπ ππΏπ‘ π πipπΕ‘am π‘πhallak
- Let their way be made troublesome but let us travel happily.
π katπ’π‘ π» π³πππ πΏ ππ
πΊπ π«π«
- Mummu replied giving counsel to Apsu.
πΏπππ π Muππ¬ Apsam πΏπ π lik
- Wicked and not favorable was the advice of his β Mummu β.
π©π π π· π ππ πͺlik Muππ¨π
- Go, thou art able, even upon a gloomy way go,
πlik π·-β-π π π
π« πππ«
- Mayest thou have rest by day and by night mayest thou sleep.
π¨π π» Ε‘upπhat π¬Ε‘iΕ‘ π» π©π·π
- Apsu hearkened unto him and his countenance brightened,
π
π¨π³π Apsu π
π¨π πΊπ‘ππ
- At the injuries which he planned against the gods his sons.
π π
πππΎ ikππΊ ππΎ πβπ π πππ
- The neck of Mummu he embraced.
π Muππ¬ πΏπΌdir π Ε‘adπ’
- He lifted him upon his knees as he kissed him.
πππ π π΅π
ππ ππΎππͺ πππ
- Whatsoever they planned in their assembly,
mimπ¬π ikππΊ πuhππΕ‘un
- Unto the gods their first-born they repeated.
ππΎ πβπ πππππ‘ πtanπ‘π
- The gods wept as they hastened.
idπ¬ππ πβπ πΏπβππ»
- Silence reigned and they sat whispering.
πͺπ» πππ
ππͺππͺπ usπ
- The exceedingly wise, the clever in skill,
ππ π»π πpiπ πΌπ·-β-π Ea
- who knoweth all things, perceived their plan.
π ππ π©π πͺπ
π π πΏπΊ-βπ π¨π ππ¦
- He devised for himself a curse having power over all things and he made it sure.
π
Ε‘imπ usπ₯ π
π· ππ₯π
- He made skillfully his pure incantation, surpassing all.
πnakkilπ ππ
π π«ππ ππ
- He recited it and caused it to be upon the waters.
π
ππ³π ina π¨ ππΊβπ
π
- He bewitched him in sleep as he reposed in a cavern.
Ε‘itπ π
πΌππ πlil π
πkitπ
- Apsu he caused to slumber, bewitching the sleep.
ππaslilπ Apsaπ ππ Ε‘itπ
- Of Mummu whose manly parts frightfully he severed,
π Muππ¬ utπ·π ππ·π« πͺππ
- He severed his sinews and tore off his crown.
ipπ rikππ π
π«hat ππ΅π
- His splendor he took from him, and he was dishonored.
π¨π΄π¨π πππ· ππ ππ«π²ik
- Then he bound Apsu and slew him.
ikπ¨ππ Apsaπ πΏπΎππΈπ
- Mummu he tied and his skull he crushed.
π Muππ¬ πΏπ«π€ eliπ ipπ»π
- He fixed upon Apsu his dwelling.
ππ₯π eli Apsi πbatπ’
- Mummu he seized and strengthened his bands.
π Muππ¬ ππ«mah πdan π€ritπ’
- After he had bound his enemies and had slain them,
ππ
π
πππ ikπ¬π πΏπππΊ
- And he, Ea, had established his victory over his foes,
π ππ πzizπͺ π
nitπ«π eli π΅ππ
- And in his chamber he had become composed as one who is soothed,
π«π« kumπͺπ Ε‘upπππ
πΏπ‘uhπ·
- He named it Apsu and they determined the holy places.
π
ππ³π Apsam πππΊπ ππππΎ
- Therein he caused to be founded his secret chamber.
πΈπππ πpirππ ππ¬ππ
- Lahmu and Lahamu his wife abode therein in majesty.
π Lahπ¬ π Laπ©π¬ πππ ina rabπππΌ ππ
- In the shrine of fates, the dwelling of concepts,
ina π ππ Ε‘imati ππ π usurati
- The wisest of the wise ones, the adviser of the gods, a god, was engendered.
π·-β-π π·-β-ππΎ abkal πβπ π ππ»π
- In the midst of the nether sea was born Ashur.
ina π π Apsi π
ππ π Ashur
- In the midst of the pure nether sea was born Ashur.
ina π π elli Apsi π
ππ π Ashur
- Lahmu his father begat him,
π
πππ π Lahπ¬ πππ
- Lahamu his mother was his bearer.
π Laπ©π¬ πβπ΅π π―πasπ
- He sucked at the breasts of goddesses.
πΏπΎnikπ π€rit Ishtarati
- A nurse tended him and filled him with terribleness.
π«ππ
ππ»ππ pulπ©ππ« ππ π π·
- Enticing was his form, the gaze of his eye was brilliant.
Ε‘amhat nabnitπ’ πππ
ππ
πππ
- Virile became his growth, he was given to procreation from the beginning.
utπ
lat ππ«π π¬Ε‘ir ππ
ππ·
- Lahmu, the begetter, his father beheld him.
πΏπ―ππ π Lahπ¬ ππ‘π abiπ
- His heart rejoiced and was glad ; he was filled with joy.
πΏπ π
mir πππ ππΊπ« π
π·
- He perfected him and double godhead he added unto him.
ππΌπππ³π ππ¦πΎπ ili usπipπ
- He was made exceedingly tall and he surpassed them somewhat.
πππͺ π -βπΉ eliππ‘ ππ» mimπ¬π
- Not comprehended were his measurements, and they were skillfully made.
π· π΄ππ π‘ππͺπ· πͺπΎπ
π
- They were not suited to be understood, and were oppressive to behold.
π©πππ
π· πΎπ«π ππ π πΊπΈπ
- Four were his eyes, four were his ears.
π
π enaπ π
π uznaπ
- When he moved his lips fire blazed forth.
πΊβπ
π«π ina ππ«ππ· π Gibil πtanpah
- Four ears grew large.
π
π-βππ«π π©ππ
- And the eyes behold all things, even as that one.
π ena π π πππ
πΏπππ πΆπππΎ
- He was lifted up among the gods, surpassing all in form.
ππ»ππ ina πβπ ππ π·πππ
- His limbs were made massive, and he was made to excel in height.
meΕ‘ππ
π πutπ
π© πΏπ·π ππ
- Son of Enki son of Damkina
π π π Ea π π π Damkina
- Son, majesty, majesty of the gods!
mari nigππ· Ε‘ilig ina π
- He was clothed in splendor of ten gods, powerful was he exceedingly.
π·π« π¨π΄π¨ πrit πβπ ππ§ ππ
- Five fearsome rays were clustered above him.
π
π¨π
πΈπ¨ πΊπ― πβπ
π’
- Anu created the four winds and gave them birth,
π πnum π Ε‘are irbitti ππ lid
- He fashioned dust and made the whirlwind carry it;
ππ π ππ©π΅ π π
hul π π
- He made the flood-wave and stirred up Tiamat,
ππ πΏπ ππ ππ΅π π πΏππ π πΎπ©βπ³
- Tiamat was stirred up, and heaved restlessly day and night.
π πΎπ©βπ³ dalahu π π’πͺπΊ ππ πππΎ
- The gods, unable to rest, had to suffer.
ina πβπ π‘kusπ π² π³π³
- They plotted evil in their hearts, and
π’π‘ Ε‘ag nigππ¨ inaππ ππ
- They addressed Tiamat their mother, saying,
π’π‘ π de π πΎπ©βπ³ πΌππ π
- Apsu thy husband they have slain.
Apsaπ π―π π πΏπΎππ
- Bitterly she wept and she sat down as one wailing.
π₯ππ
π°ππ π π
π·π
π
ππ
- He has created the four, fearful winds
ππ‘ π΄ ina limma π
hul
- Until we shall have brought about his revenge, verily not shall we sleep.
ππ² π‘πΌπ πmilπ·π π πππ lal ππΏπ
- And now although they have slain, Apsu thy husband
π
πΎπ‘ π
π hasπ’ Apπ’π π―π π
- And Mummu, who has been bound, now alone sittest thou.
π π Muππ¬ π ikπ
π¬π π· ππΉ πΈπππΎ
- Quickly hasten thou.
π¨πππ
π«πΊππ·
- We will bring about their revenge and let us repose.
π‘π«π
πmilπ·ππ‘ πΏ ππlal ππΏπ
- Poured out are our bowels, dazed are our eyes.
π°πͺ π -β-π π·ππ¬π ππΎπ
ππ
- We will bring about their revenge and let us repose.
π‘π«π
πmilπ·ππ‘ πΏ ππlal ππΏπ
- set up a battle cry and take vengeance for them.
π¨ πgeΕ‘kiri πmilπ·π’π‘ ππ
- unto the whirlwind annihilate.
ππΎ ππ πͺ πππ π
- Tiamat heard the words of the bright god.
π
π¨π πΎπ©βπ³ ππ π πΏπ» ππ»
- verily give ye and let us make monsters.
π» π«ππ²π‘ πΏ πππ π²π π·
- disturb the gods in the midst of Anduruna,
ππ³π³ πβπ π π πduruπΎ
- shall draw nigh against the gods
π π
π π³ ina πβπ
- They cursed the day and went forth beside Tiamat.
π
π azπππ πΏπΊπ πΎπ©βπ³ πΎπππ
- They raged, they plotted, without resting day and night
ππͺ kapπΊ π· ππ π π¬π π π
π
- They joined battle, they fumed, they raged.
πΎππ ππ©π πΎπ‘ππ π·ππ
- They assembled forces making hostility.
ukkinπΎ Ε‘itπͺπ‘π πΏbanπ‘π π’π·ππΎ
- Mother Hubur, the designer of all things,
ππ π·π πΊπΎπ
π π
π·π
- added thereto weapons which are not withstood ; she gave birth to the monsters.
πradπ² ππͺ π· mahπ ππ«lad π²mahhe
- Sharp of tooth, they spare not the fang.
π π
π Ε‘inπ π· πΊπΊπ ππ«-βπ
- With poison like blood she filled their bodies.
π
π
π π ππ¬ πͺπ―ππ‘ π π π π·
- Gruesome monsters she caused to be clothed with terror.
ushumgalle πΎπππ πππ©ππΎ ππ©π«π
- She caused them to bear dreadfulness, she made them like the gods.
π¨π΄π¨ πtaΕ‘πππ πΏπ·π
πtaΕ‘π
π
- Whosoever beholds them verily they ban him with terror.
πmirππ‘ π¬ππ πΊπ―πͺπ¬
- Their bodies rear up and none restrain their breast.
πͺπ―ππ‘ πΊtahπππ π· πΏπ-βπ πΏπ₯π’π‘
- She established the Viper, the Raging-Serpent, and Lahamu,
πziz ππΈπ¬ mushrushshu π π Laπ©π¬
- The Great-lion, the Gruesome Hound, the Scorpion-man,
ugallum uridimmu π akrabamelu girtablili
- The destructive spirits of wrath, the Fish-man and the Fish-ram,
ππͺ πapππΌ kulilu π πͺπrikπͺ
- Bearers of weapons that spare not, fearing not the battle.
πΎπ
ππͺ π· πΊπΊπ π· ππ²π π«π©π£
- Prodigious were her designs, not to be opposed are they.
gapπ πΌππ
π π· mahπ π
πΎππ
- In all eleven were they and thus she brought them into being.
apππΎπ π
πΌ πrit kima πππΎ ππ°π
- Among the gods her first born who formed her assembly,
πΏπΎ πβπ ππππ πut π
πͺπ‘π
πuhπ
- She exalted Kingu ; in their midst she magnified him.
πππΈπ π Kinπ ina ππππ‘ πππ πrabππ
- As for those who go before the host, as for those who direct the assembly,
ππ·kut mahπ πΊπ ππ π π¬-β-π
ππ
πuhπ
- To undertake the bearing of arms, to advance to the attack,
πΎπΈ kakki πΎπππ
πΌππ ππΎππ«
- As to matters of battle, to be mighty in victory,
πut ππ©π ππ Ε‘ikπ
π
π
- She entrusted to his hand, and she caused him to sit in sack-cloth, saying,
ipkidπ π
ππ ππΊπ
ππΈπ ina πΌβππ
- I have uttered thy spell ; in the assembly of the gods I have magnified thee.
ππ² π«ππ
ina puhur πβπ ππ¬ππ
- The dominion of the gods, all of them, I have put into thy hand.
π π·kut πβπ πΆπππ’π‘ π
ππ
π malπ·
- Verily thou hast been exalted, O my husband, thou alone.
π» Ε‘urππ«π π©-β-πΏπ ππΊπ ππ«
- May thy names be greater than all of the names of the Anunnaki.
π·π
π°ππ π¨ππ
eli kaliππ‘ π ππ‘ππ
- She gave him the tablets of fate, she caused them to be fastened upon his breast, saying,
idπ·ππ dupshimati πΏπ₯π πΕ‘atπͺih
- As for thee, thy command is not annulled ; the issue of thy mouth is sure.
π
π« kibitπ
π· π
ππΎπ π·π² ππ piika
- And now Kingu who had been exalted, who had received Anuship,
πππΎ π Kinπ πππͺ π·πͺπ π Anπ‘πΎ
- Among the gods her sons fixed the destinies, saying,
ina πβπ π πππ π
π π« π
πΎπ¬
- Open ye your mouths; verily it shall quench the fire-god.
ipπ piπͺπ‘ π Gibil π·πihπ©
- He who is strong in conflict may humiliate might.
gashru ina kitπ¬π π πππ πΊrabππ
- Tiamat strengthened her handiwork.
ππbitπ πΎππ π piπΎikπ
Sources on CDLI