VIII

I will portray for thee the likeness of a Mohar; I will let thee know what he does. Thou hast not gone to the land of the Hittites, nor hast thou beheld the land of Aupa. The appearance of Khatuma thou knowest not. Likewise the land of Igadai, what is it like? The Zar (Plain) of Sesostris and the city of Aleppo are on none of its sides. How is its ford? Thou hast not taken thy road to Kadesh (on the Orontes) and Tubikhi (the Tibhath of 1 Chr. xviii. 8), neither hast thou gone to the Shasu (Bedâwin) with numerous foreign soldiers, neither hast thou trodden the way to the Magharat (the caves of the Magoras near Beyrout), where the heaven is dark in the daytime. The place is planted with maple trees, oaks, and acacias, which reach up to heaven, full of beasts, bears and lions, and surrounded by Shasu in all directions. Thou hast not gone up to the mountain of Shaua (in the northern Lebanon), neither hast thou trodden it; there thy hands hold fast to the [rein] of thy chariot; a jerk has shaken thy horses in drawing it. I pray thee, let us go to the city of Beeroth (cisterns). Thou must hasten to its ascent, after thou hast passed over its ford in front of it.

Do thou explain the attraction to be a Mohar! Thychariot lies there [before] thee; thy [strength] has fallen lame; thou treadest the backward path at eventide. All thy limbs are ground small. Thy [bones] are broken to pieces. Sweet is [sleep]. Thou awakest. There has been a time for a thief in this unfortunate night. Thou wast alone, in the belief that the brother could not come to the brother. Some grooms entered into the stable; the horse kicks out; the thief goes back in the night; thy clothes are stolen. Thy groom wakes up in the night; he sees what has happened to him; he takes what is left, he goes to the evil-doers, he mixes himself up with the tribes of the Shasu. He acts as if he were an Amu (Asiatic). The enemies come, they [feel about] for the robber. He is discovered, and is immovable from terror. Thou awakest, thou findest no trace of them, for they have carried off thy property.

Become (again) a Mohar, who is fully accoutred. Let thy ear be full of that which I relate to thee besides.

The town 'Hidden'—such is the meaning of its name Gebal—what is its state? Its goddess (we will speak of) at another time. Thou hast not visited it. Be good enough to look out for Beyrout, Sidon, and Sarepta. Where are the fords of the land of Nazana? The land of Usu (Palætyrus), what is its state? They speak of another city in the sea, Tyre the haven is her name. Drinking water is brought to her in boats. She is richer in fish than in sand. I will tell thee of something else. Dangerous is it to enter into Zorah. Thou wilt say it is burning with a very painful sting (?) Mohar, come! Go forward on the way to the land of Pa-Kâkina. Where is the road to Achshaph? Towards no city. Pray look at the mountain of User. How is its crest? Where is the mountain of Shechem? Who can surmount it? Mohar, whither must you take a journey to the city of Hazor? How is its ford? Let me (choose) the road to Hamath, Dagara, (and) Dagar-el. Here is the road where all Mohars meet. Be good enough to spy out its road, cast a look on Yâ ... When one goes to the land ofAdamim, to what is one opposite? Do not draw back, but instruct us! Guide us that we may know, thou leader!

I will name to thee other cities besides these. Thou hast not gone to the land of Takhis, Kafir-Malona, Tamnah, Kadesh, Dapul, Azai, Har-Nammata, nor hast thou beheld Kirjath-eneb near Beth-Sopher (Kirjath-Sepher or Debir); nor dost thou know Adullam (and) Zidiputha, nor dost thou know any better the name of Khalza in the land of Aupa, the bull on its frontiers (?). Here is the place where all the mighty warriors are seen. Be good enough to look and see how Qina is situated, and tell me about Rehob. Describe Beth-sha-el (Bethel) along with Tarqa-el. The ford of the land of the Jordan, how is it crossed? Teach me to know the passage in order to enter into the city of Megiddo which lies in front of it. Verily thou art a Mohar, well skilled in the work of the strong hand. Pray, is there found a Mohar like thee, to place at the head of the army, or aseigneurwho can beat thee in shooting?

Drive along the edge of the precipice, on the slippery height, over a depth of 2000 cubits, full of rocks and boulders. Thou takest thy way back in a zigzag, thou bearest thy bow, thou takest the iron in thy left hand. Thou lettest the old men see, if their eyes are good, how, worn-out with fatigue, thou supportest thyself with thy hand.Il est perdu, le chameau, le Mohar! Eh bien!18Make to thyself a name among the Mohars and the knights of the land of Egypt. Let thy name be like that of Qazirnai the lord of Aser, because he discovered lions in the interior of the balsam-forest of Baka at the narrow passes, which are rendered dangerous by the Shasu who lie in ambush among the trees. (The lions) measured fourteen cubits by five cubits. Their noses reached to the soles of their feet. Of a grim appearance, without softness, they cared not forcaresses. Thou art alone, no stronger one is with thee, noarméeis behind thee, no Ariel (see 2 Sam. xxiii. 20, Isa. xxix. 1) who prepares the way for thee, and gives thee counsel on the road before thee. Thou knowest not the road. The hair on thy head stands on end; it bristles up. Thy soul is given into thy hands. Thy path is full of rocks and boulders, there is no way out near; it is overgrown with creepers and wolf's-foot. Abysses are on one side of thee, the mountain and the wall of rock on the other. Thou drivest in against it. The chariot jumps on which thou art. Thou art troubled to hold up thy horses. If it falls into the abyss, the pole drags thee down too. Thyceinturesare pulled away. They fall down. Thou shacklest the horse, because the pole is broken on the path of the narrow pass. Not knowing how to tie it up, thou understandest not how it is to be repaired. Theessieuis left on the spot, as the load is too heavy for the horses. Thy courage has evaporated. Thou beginnest to run. The heaven is cloudless. Thou art thirsty; the enemy is behind thee; a trembling seizes thee; a twig of thorny acacia worries thee; thou thrustest it aside; the horse is scratched, till at length thou findest rest.

Explain thou thy attraction to be a Mohar!

Thou comest into Joppa. Thou findest the date-palm in full bloom in its time. Thou openest wide the aperture of thy mouth in order to eat. Thou findest that the maid who keeps the garden is fair. She does whatever thou wantest of her.... Thou art recognised, thou art brought to trial, and owest thy preservation to being a Mohar. Thy girdle of the finest stuff, thou payest it as the price of a bad rag. Thou sleepest every evening with a rug of fur over thee. Thou sleepest a deep sleep, for thou art weary. A thief takes thy bow and thy sword from thy side; thy quiver and thy armour are broken to pieces in the darkness; thy pair of horses run away. The groom takes his course over a slippery path that rises in front of him. He breaks thy chariot in pieces; he follows thy foot-tracks. [He finds] thy equipments,which had fallen on the ground, and had sunk into the sand, leaving only an empty space.

Prayer does not avail thee; even when thy mouth says: "Give food in addition to water that I may reach my goal in safety," they are deaf and will not hear. They say not yes to thy words. The iron-workers enter into the smithy; they rummage in the workshops of the carpenters; the handi-craftsmen and soldiers are at hand; they do whatever thou requirest. They put together thy chariot: they put aside the parts of it that have been made useless; thy spokes arefaçonnéquite new; thy wheels are put on, they put thecourroieson the axles and on the hinder part; they splice thy yoke, they put on the box of thy chariot; the [workmen] in iron forge the ...; they put the ring that is wanting on thy whip, they replace thelunièresupon it.

Thou goest quickly onward to fight on the battlefield, to do the deeds of a strong hand and of firm courage.

Before I wrote I sought me out a Mohar who knows his power, who leads thejeunesse, a chief in thearmée[who goes forward] even to the end of the world.

Answer me not, "That is good, this is bad;" repeat not to me thy opinion. Come, I will tell thee all which lies before thee at the end of thy journey.

I begin for thee with the palace of Sesostris (Ramses II.). Thou hast not set foot in it by force. Thou hast not eaten the fish in the brook of .... Thou hast not washed thyself in it. With thy permission I will remind thee of Huzana (near El-Arish); where is its fortress? Come, I pray thee, to the palace of the land of Uzi, of Sesostris Osymandyas in his victories, to Saz-el together with Absaqbu. I will inform thee of the land of Ainin (the Two Springs), the customs of which thou knowest not. The land of the lake of Nakhai and the land of Rehoburtha (Rehoboth, Gen. xxvi. 22) thou hast not seen since thou wast born, O Mohar. Rapih (the modern boundary between Egypt and Turkey) is widely extended. What is its wall like? It extends for a mile in the direction of Gaza.

Footnote 18:(return)By the use of French words and expressions Brugsch endeavours to represent the Canaanitish terms which the Egyptian writer has affectedly introduced into his work.

By the use of French words and expressions Brugsch endeavours to represent the Canaanitish terms which the Egyptian writer has affectedly introduced into his work.

The 125th chapter of the Book of the Dead contains the confession which the soul of the dead man was required to make before Osiris and the forty-two divine judges of the dead, before he could be justified and admitted to the Paradise of Aalu:—

Said on arriving at the Hall of Righteousness, that N (the soul of the dead man) may be loosed from all the sins which he hath committed, and that he may look upon the divine countenances.

He saith:—Hail to thee, mighty God, lord of Righteousness!

I am come to thee, O my Lord! I have brought myself that I may look upon thy glory. I know thee, and I know the name of the forty-two gods who make their appearance with thee in the Hall of Righteousness; devouring those who harbour mischief and swallowing their blood, upon the day of the searching examination in the presence of Un-neferu (Osiris).

Verily "Thou of the Pair of Eyes, Lord of Righteousness," is thy name.

Here am I; I am come to thee; I bring to thee Right and have put a stop to Wrong.

I am not a doer of wrong to men.

I am not one who slayeth his kindred.

I am not one who telleth lies instead of truth.

I am not conscious of treason.

I am not a doer of mischief.

I do not exact as the first-fruits of each day more work than should be done for me.

My name cometh not to the Bark of the god who is at the Helm.

I am not a transgressor against the God.

I am not a tale-bearer.

I am not a detractor.

I am not a doer of that which the gods abhor.

I hurt no servant with his master.

I cause no famine.

I cause not weeping.

I am not a murderer.

I give not orders for murder.

I cause not suffering to men.

I reduce not the offering in the temples.

I lessen not the cakes of the gods.

I rob not the dead of their funereal food.

I am not an adulterer.

I am undefiled in the sanctuary of the god of my domain.

I neither increase nor diminish the measures of grain.

I am not one who shorteneth the palm's length.

I am not one who cutteth short the field's measurement.

I put not pressure upon the beam of the balance.

I snatch not the milk from the mouth of infants.

I drive not the cattle from their pastures.

I net not the birds of the manors of the gods.

I catch not the fish of their ponds.

I stop not the water at its appointed time.

I divide not an arm of the water in its course.

I extinguish not the lamp during its appointed time.

I do not defraud the Divine Circle of their sacrificial joints.

I drive not away the cattle of the sacred estate.

I stop not a god when he cometh forth.

I am pure, I am pure, I am pure, I am pure!

I. "To Sin-idinnam thus says Khammurabi: The goddesses of the land of Emudbalum restored your courage to you on the day of the defeat of Kudur-Laghghamar (Chedor-laomer). Because they have supported you among the army of thy hand, turn back the army and let them restore the goddesses to their own seats."

II. "To Sin-idinnam thus says Khummarabi: When you have seen this letter you will understand in regard to Amil-Samas and Nur-Nintu, the sons of Gisdubba, that if they are in Larsa or in the territory of Larsa you will order them to be sent away, and that one of your servants on whom you can depend shall take them and bring them to Babylon."

III. "To Sin-idinnam thus says Khammurabi: As to the officials who have resisted you in the accomplishment of their work, do not impose upon them any additional task, but oblige them to do what they ought to have performed, and then remove them from the influence of him who has brought them."

Sin-idinnam seems to have been the legitimate prince of Larsa, who had been expelled from his dominions by the Elamite invader Eri-Aku or Arioch, and had taken refuge at the court of Khammurabi in Babylon. After the overthrow of the Elamites, Sin-idinnam was restored by Khammurabi to his ancestral principality.

1. Sisuthros spake thus unto him, even to Gilgames:

2. 'Let me reveal unto thee, O Gilgames, the tale of my preservation,

3. and the oracle of the gods let me declare unto thee.

4. The city of Surippak, which, as thou knowest, is built [on the bank] of the Euphrates,

5. this city was (already) old when the gods within it

6. set their hearts to cause a flood, even the great gods

7. [as many as] exist: Anu the father of them,

8. the warrior Bel their prince,

9. Bir their throne-bearer, En-nugi (Hades) their chief.

10. Ea the lord of wisdom conferred with them, and

11. repeated their words to the reed-bed: 'Reed-bed, O reed-bed! Frame, O frame!

12. Hear, O reed-bed, and understand, O frame!

13. O man of Surippak, son of Ubara-Tutu,

14. frame the house, build a ship: leave what thou canst; seek life!

15. Resign (thy) goods, and cause thy soul to live,

16. and bring all the seed of life into the midst of the ship.

17. As for the ship which thou shalt build,

18. ... cubits shall be in measurement its length;

19. and ... cubits the extent of its breadth and its height.

20. Into the deep [then] launch it.'

21. I understood and spake to Ea my lord:

22. 'As for the building of the ship, O my lord, which thou hast ordered thus,

23. I will observe and accomplish it.

24. [But what] shall I answer the city, the people and the old men?'

25. [Ea opened his mouth and] says, he speaks to his servant, even to me:

26. ['If they question thee] thou shalt say unto them:

27. Since (?) Bel is estranged from me and

28. I will not dwell in your city, I will not lay my head [in] the land of Bel;

29. but I will descend into the deep; with [Ea] my lord will I dwell.

30. (Bel) will rain fertility on you,

31. [flocks] of birds, shoals of fish.'

Lines 32 to 42 are lost.

43. On the fifth day I laid the plan of it (i.e.the ship);

44. in its hull (?) its walls were 10gar(120 cubits?) high;

45. 10garwere the size of its upper part.'

Another version of the account of the Deluge, of which a fragment has been preserved, puts a wholly different speech into the mouth of Ea, and gives the hero of the story the name of Adra-Khasis. This fragment is as follows:—

'I will judge him above and below,[But] shut [not thou thy door][until] the time that I shall tell thee of.[Then] enter the ship, and close the door of the vessel.[Bring into] it thy corn, thy goods, [thy] property,thy [wife], thy slaves, thy handmaids, and the sons of [thy]people,the [cattle] of the field, the beasts of the field, as many asI appoint ...I will tell thee of (the time), and the door [of thy ship]shall preserve them.'Adra-Khasis opened his mouth and says,he speaks to Ea [his] lord:'[O my lord,] none has ever made a ship [on this wise]that it should sail over the land.' ...

'I will judge him above and below,

[But] shut [not thou thy door]

[until] the time that I shall tell thee of.

[Then] enter the ship, and close the door of the vessel.

[Bring into] it thy corn, thy goods, [thy] property,

thy [wife], thy slaves, thy handmaids, and the sons of [thy]

people,

the [cattle] of the field, the beasts of the field, as many as

I appoint ...

I will tell thee of (the time), and the door [of thy ship]

shall preserve them.'

Adra-Khasis opened his mouth and says,

he speaks to Ea [his] lord:

'[O my lord,] none has ever made a ship [on this wise]that it should sail over the land.' ...

'[O my lord,] none has ever made a ship [on this wise]

that it should sail over the land.' ...

Here the fragment is broken off. The other version proceeds thus:—

46. 'I fashioned its side, and closed it in;

47. I built six storeys (?), I divided it into seven parts;

48. its interior I divided into nine parts.

49. I cut worked (?) timber within it.

50. I looked upon the rudder and added what was lacking.

51. I poured 6sarsof pitch over the outside;

52. [I poured] 3sarsof bitumen over the inside;

53. 3sarsof oil did the men carry who brought it ...

54. I gave asarof oil for the workmen to eat;

55. 2sarsof oil the sailors stored away.

56. For the [workmen?] I slaughtered oxen;

57. I killed [sheep?] daily.

58. Beer, wine, oil and grapes

59. [I distributed among] the people like the waters of a river, and

60. [I kept] a festival like the festival of the new year.

61. ... I dipped my hand [in] oil:

62. [I said to] Samas (the Sun-god): 'The storeys (?) of the ship are complete;

63. the ... is strong, and

64. the oars (?) I introduced above and below.'

65. [Those who should be saved?] went two-thirds of them.

66. With all I had I filled it; with all the silver I possessed I filled it;

67. with all the gold I possessed I filled it;

68. with all that I possessed of the seed of life of all kinds I filled it.

69. I brought into the ship all my slaves and my handmaids,

70. the cattle of the field, the beasts of the field, the sons of my people, all of them did I bring into it.

71. The Sun-god appointed the time and

72. utters the oracle: 'In the night will I cause the heavens to rain destruction;

73. enter the ship, and close thy door.'

74. That time drew near whereof he uttered the oracle:

75. 'On this night will I cause the heavens to rain destruction.'

76. I watched with dread the dawning of the day;

77. I feared to behold the day.

78. I entered into the ship and closed my door.

79. When I had closed the ship, to Buzur-sadi-rabi the sailor

80. I entrusted the palace with all its goods.

81. Mu-seri-ina-namari (the waters of the morning at dawn)

82. arose from the horizon of heaven, a black cloud;

83. the storm-god Rimmon thundered in its midst, and

84. Nebo and Merodach the king marched in front;

85. the throne-bearers marched over mountain and plain;

86. the mighty god of death lets loose the whirlwind;

87. Bir marches causing the storm (?) to descend;

88. the spirits of the underworld lifted up (their) torches,

89. with the lightning of them they set on fire the world;

90. the violence of the storm-god reached to heaven;

91. all that was light was turned to [darkness].

92. In the earth like ... [men] perished (?)

Two lines are lost here.

95. Brother beheld not his brother, men knew not one another. In the heaven

96. the gods feared the deluge, and

97. hastened to ascend to the heaven of Anu.

98. The gods cowered like a dog who lies in a kennel.

99. Istar cried like a woman in travail,

100. the great goddess spoke with a loud voice:

101. 'The former generation is turned to clay.

102. The evil which I prophesied in the presence of the gods,

103. when I prophesied evil in the presence of the gods,

104. I prophesied the storm for the destruction of my people.

105. What I have home, where is it?

106. Like the spawn of the fish it fills the deep.'

107. The gods wept with her because of the spirits of the underworld;

108. the gods sat dejected in weeping,

109. their lips were covered ...

110. Six days and nights

111. rages the wind; the flood and the storm devastate.

112. The seventh day when it arrived the flood ceased, the storm

113. which had fought like an army

114. rested, the sea subsided, and the tempest of the deluge was ended.

115. I beheld the deep and uttered a cry,

116. for the whole of mankind was turned to clay;

117. like the trunks of trees did the bodies float.

118. I opened the window and the light fell upon my face;

119. I stooped, and sat down weeping;

120. over my face ran my tears.

121. I beheld a shore beyond the sea;

122. twelve times distant rose a land.

123. On the mountain of Nizir the ship grounded;

124. the mountain of the country of Nizir held the ship and allowed it not to float.

125. One day and a second day did the mountain of Nizir hold it.

126. A third day and a fourth day did the mountain of Nizir hold it.

127. A fifth day and a sixth day did the mountain of Nizir hold it.

128. When the seventh day came I sent forth a dove and let it go.

129. The dove went and returned; a resting-place it found not and it turned back.

130. I sent forth a swallow and let it go; the swallow went and returned;

131. a resting-place it found not and it turned back.

132. I sent forth a raven and let it go;

133. the raven went and saw the going down of the waters, and

134. it approached, it waded, it croaked and did not turn back.

135. Then I sent forth (everything) to the four points of the compass; I offered sacrifices;

136. I built an altar on the summit of the mountain.

137. I set libation-vases seven by seven;

138. beneath them I piled up reeds, cedar-wood and herbs.

139. The gods smelt the savour, the gods smelt the sweet savour;

140. the gods gathered like flies over the sacrificer.

141. Already at the moment of her coming, the great goddess

142. lifted up the mighty bow which Anu had made according to his wish (?).

143. 'These gods,' (she said), 'by my necklace, never will I forget!

144. Those days, I will think of them and never will forget them.

145. Let the gods come to my altar;

146. (but) let not Bel come to my altar,

147. since he did not take counsel but caused a flood and counted my men for judgment.'

148. Already at the moment of his coming, Bel

149. saw the ship and stood still;

150. he was filled with wrath at the gods, the spirits of heaven, (saying):

151. 'Let no living soul come forth, let no man survive in the judgment!'

152. Bir opened his mouth and says, he speaks to the warrior Bel:

153. 'Who except Ea can devise a speech?

154. for Ea understands all kinds of wisdom.'

155. Ea opened his mouth and speaks, he says to the warrior Bel:

156. 'Thou art the seer of the gods, O warrior!

157. Why, O why didst thou not take counsel, but didst cause a deluge?

158. (Let) the sinner bear his own sin, (let) the evil-doer bear his own evil-doing.

159. Grant (?) that he be not cut off, be merciful that he be not [destroyed].

160. Instead of causing a deluge, let lions come and minish mankind;

161. instead of causing a deluge, let hyænas come and minish mankind;

162. instead of causing a deluge, let there be a famine and let it [devour] the land;

163. instead of causing a deluge, let the plague-god come and minish mankind!

164. I did not reveal (to men) the oracle of the great gods,

165. but sent a dream to Adra-khasis and he heard the oracle of the gods.'

166. Then Bel again took counsel and ascended into the ship.

167. He took my hand and caused me, even me, to ascend,

168. he took up my wife (also, and) caused her to bow at my side;

169. he turned to us and stood between us; he blessed us (saying):

170. 'Hitherto Sisuthros has been mortal, but

171. henceforth Sisuthros and his wife shall be like unto the gods, even unto us, and

172. Sisuthros shall dwell afar at the mouth of the rivers,'

173. Then he took us afar, at the mouth of the rivers he made us dwell.

When the heaven above was not yet namedor the earth beneath had recorded a name,the primæval (ristû) deep was their generator,Mummu-Tiamat (the chaos of the sea) was the mother ofthem all.Their waters were embosomed together, andthe corn-field was unharvested, the reed-bed was ungrown.When the gods had not yet appeared, any one of them,by no name were they recorded, no destiny [was fixed].Then the great gods were created,Lakhmu and Lakhamu issued forth [the first],until they grew up [when]Ansar and Kisar (the upper and lower firmaments) werecreated.Long were the days, extended [was the time, till]the gods [Anu, Bel, and Ea were born],Ansar [and Kisar gave them birth].The deep [opened] its mouth [and said,]to [Tiamat], the glorious, [it spake]:While their path ...I will overthrow their path ...Let lamentations arise, let complaining [be made][When] Tiamat [undertakes] this [work]Their way shall be difficult ...[Then] the god Mummu answered [his] father the deep:Their way [shall be overthrown],the light shall be darkened, let [it be] as the night!The deep [heard] him and [his] countenance was lightened;evil planned they against the gods.Tiamat, the mother of the gods, lifted up herself againstthem,gathering her forces, madly raging.The gods united themselves together with her,until (all) that had been created marched at her side.Banning the day they followed Tiamat,wrathful, devising mischief, untiring (?) day and night,prepared for the conflict, fiercely raging,they gathered themselves together and began the battle.The mother of the deep (?) (Khubur), the creatress of them all,added victorious weapons, creating monstrous serpents,with sharp fangs, unsparing in their attack.With poison for blood she filled their bodies.Horrible adders she clothed with terror,she decked them with fear, and raised high their ...'May their appearance ...Make huge their bodies that none may withstand theirbreast!'She created the adder, the horrible serpent, the Lakhamu,the great monster, the raging dog, the scorpion-man,the dog-days, the fish-man and the (Zodiacal) ram,who carry weapons that spare not, who fear not the battle,insolent of heart, unconquerable by the enemy.Moreover that she might create (?) eleven such-like monsters,among the gods, her sons, whom she had summoned together,she raised up Kingu, and magnified him among them:'To march before the host, be that thy duty!Order the weapons to be uplifted and the onset of battle!'That he might be the first in the conflict, the leader invictory,she took his hand and set him on a throne:'I have uttered the spell for thee; exalt thyself among thegods,assume dominion over all the gods!Highly shalt thou be exalted, thou that art alone myhusband;thy name shall be magnified over [all the world]!'Then she gave to him the tablets of destiny, and laid themon his breast:'Let thy command be obeyed, let the word of thy mouth beestablished!'When Kingu had exalted himself, and made himself likeAnu (the god of heaven),she determined for the gods her sons their destiny:'The opening of your mouth shall quench the fire;The exalted of Kidmuri (i.e. Kingu) shall dissolve its flame.'

When the heaven above was not yet named

or the earth beneath had recorded a name,

the primæval (ristû) deep was their generator,

Mummu-Tiamat (the chaos of the sea) was the mother of

them all.

Their waters were embosomed together, and

the corn-field was unharvested, the reed-bed was ungrown.

When the gods had not yet appeared, any one of them,

by no name were they recorded, no destiny [was fixed].

Then the great gods were created,

Lakhmu and Lakhamu issued forth [the first],

until they grew up [when]

Ansar and Kisar (the upper and lower firmaments) were

created.

Long were the days, extended [was the time, till]

the gods [Anu, Bel, and Ea were born],

Ansar [and Kisar gave them birth].

The deep [opened] its mouth [and said,]to [Tiamat], the glorious, [it spake]:While their path ...I will overthrow their path ...Let lamentations arise, let complaining [be made][When] Tiamat [undertakes] this [work]

The deep [opened] its mouth [and said,]

to [Tiamat], the glorious, [it spake]:

While their path ...

I will overthrow their path ...

Let lamentations arise, let complaining [be made]

[When] Tiamat [undertakes] this [work]

Their way shall be difficult ...[Then] the god Mummu answered [his] father the deep:

Their way shall be difficult ...

[Then] the god Mummu answered [his] father the deep:

Their way [shall be overthrown],the light shall be darkened, let [it be] as the night!The deep [heard] him and [his] countenance was lightened;evil planned they against the gods.

Their way [shall be overthrown],

the light shall be darkened, let [it be] as the night!

The deep [heard] him and [his] countenance was lightened;

evil planned they against the gods.

Tiamat, the mother of the gods, lifted up herself againstthem,gathering her forces, madly raging.The gods united themselves together with her,until (all) that had been created marched at her side.Banning the day they followed Tiamat,wrathful, devising mischief, untiring (?) day and night,prepared for the conflict, fiercely raging,they gathered themselves together and began the battle.The mother of the deep (?) (Khubur), the creatress of them all,added victorious weapons, creating monstrous serpents,with sharp fangs, unsparing in their attack.With poison for blood she filled their bodies.Horrible adders she clothed with terror,she decked them with fear, and raised high their ...'May their appearance ...Make huge their bodies that none may withstand theirbreast!'She created the adder, the horrible serpent, the Lakhamu,the great monster, the raging dog, the scorpion-man,the dog-days, the fish-man and the (Zodiacal) ram,who carry weapons that spare not, who fear not the battle,insolent of heart, unconquerable by the enemy.Moreover that she might create (?) eleven such-like monsters,among the gods, her sons, whom she had summoned together,she raised up Kingu, and magnified him among them:'To march before the host, be that thy duty!Order the weapons to be uplifted and the onset of battle!'That he might be the first in the conflict, the leader invictory,she took his hand and set him on a throne:'I have uttered the spell for thee; exalt thyself among thegods,assume dominion over all the gods!Highly shalt thou be exalted, thou that art alone myhusband;thy name shall be magnified over [all the world]!'Then she gave to him the tablets of destiny, and laid themon his breast:'Let thy command be obeyed, let the word of thy mouth beestablished!'When Kingu had exalted himself, and made himself likeAnu (the god of heaven),she determined for the gods her sons their destiny:'The opening of your mouth shall quench the fire;The exalted of Kidmuri (i.e. Kingu) shall dissolve its flame.'

Tiamat, the mother of the gods, lifted up herself against

them,

gathering her forces, madly raging.

The gods united themselves together with her,

until (all) that had been created marched at her side.

Banning the day they followed Tiamat,

wrathful, devising mischief, untiring (?) day and night,

prepared for the conflict, fiercely raging,

they gathered themselves together and began the battle.

The mother of the deep (?) (Khubur), the creatress of them all,

added victorious weapons, creating monstrous serpents,

with sharp fangs, unsparing in their attack.

With poison for blood she filled their bodies.

Horrible adders she clothed with terror,

she decked them with fear, and raised high their ...

'May their appearance ...

Make huge their bodies that none may withstand their

breast!'

She created the adder, the horrible serpent, the Lakhamu,

the great monster, the raging dog, the scorpion-man,

the dog-days, the fish-man and the (Zodiacal) ram,

who carry weapons that spare not, who fear not the battle,

insolent of heart, unconquerable by the enemy.

Moreover that she might create (?) eleven such-like monsters,

among the gods, her sons, whom she had summoned together,

she raised up Kingu, and magnified him among them:

'To march before the host, be that thy duty!

Order the weapons to be uplifted and the onset of battle!'

That he might be the first in the conflict, the leader in

victory,

she took his hand and set him on a throne:

'I have uttered the spell for thee; exalt thyself among the

gods,

assume dominion over all the gods!

Highly shalt thou be exalted, thou that art alone my

husband;

thy name shall be magnified over [all the world]!'

Then she gave to him the tablets of destiny, and laid them

on his breast:

'Let thy command be obeyed, let the word of thy mouth be

established!'

When Kingu had exalted himself, and made himself like

Anu (the god of heaven),

she determined for the gods her sons their destiny:

'The opening of your mouth shall quench the fire;

The exalted of Kidmuri (i.e. Kingu) shall dissolve its flame.'

"Tiamat our mother has risen up against us,gathering her forces, madly raging.The gods have united themselves together with her,until (all) that has been created marches at her side.Banning the day they have followed Tiamat,wrathful, devising mischief, untiring (?) day and night,prepared for the conflict, fiercely raging,they have gathered themselves together and begun the battle.The mother of the deep (?), the creatress of them all,has added victorious weapons, creating monstrous serpents,with sharp fangs, unsparing in their attack.With poison for blood she has filled their bodies.Horrible adders she has clothed with terror,she has decked them with fear, and raised high their ...'May their appearance ...may their bodies be huge so that none may withstand theirbreast!'She has created the adder, the horrible serpent, the Lakh-amu,the great monster, the raging dog, the scorpion-man,the dog-days, the fish-man (Aquarius), and the (Zodiacal)ram,who carry weapons that spare not, who fear not the battle,insolent of heart, unconquerable by the enemy.Moreover that she may create (?) eleven such-like monsters,among the gods, her sons, whom she has summoned together,she has raised up Kingu and magnified him among them.'To march before the host,' (she has said,) 'be that thyduty!Order the weapons to be uplifted and the onset of battle!'That he may be the first in the conflict, the leader in victory,she has taken his hand and seated him on a throne:'I have uttered the spell for thee; exalt thyself among thegods,assume dominion over all the gods!Highly shalt thou be exalted, thou that art alone myhusband;thy name shall be magnified over [all the world]!'Thereupon she has given him the tablets of destiny and laidthem on his breast:'Let thy command be obeyed, let the word of thy mouth beestablished!'When Kingu had exalted himself, and made himself as Anu,she determined for the gods her sons their destiny:'The opening of your mouth shall quench the fire;the exalted of Kidmuri shall dissolve its flame!'[When Merodach heard this, his heart] was grievously troubled,he ... ... and his lips he bit;.....his heart grew angry......his cry.......[he determined on] battle.[Then spake he to] his father (Ea): 'Be not troubled;......thou shalt become the lord of the deep.......with Tiamat will I contend.'Merodach [heard] the words of his father,in the fulness (?) of his heart he said to his father:'O lord of the gods, offspring (?) of the great gods,if indeed I am your avenger,Tiamat to overpower and you to rescue,make ready an assembly, prepare a banquet(?).Enter joyfully into Ubsugina (the seat of oracles) all together.With my mouth like you will I give the oracle.What I create shall never be changed,the word of my lip shall never go back or be unfulfilled!'

"Tiamat our mother has risen up against us,

gathering her forces, madly raging.

The gods have united themselves together with her,

until (all) that has been created marches at her side.

Banning the day they have followed Tiamat,

wrathful, devising mischief, untiring (?) day and night,

prepared for the conflict, fiercely raging,

they have gathered themselves together and begun the battle.

The mother of the deep (?), the creatress of them all,

has added victorious weapons, creating monstrous serpents,

with sharp fangs, unsparing in their attack.

With poison for blood she has filled their bodies.

Horrible adders she has clothed with terror,

she has decked them with fear, and raised high their ...

'May their appearance ...

may their bodies be huge so that none may withstand their

breast!'

She has created the adder, the horrible serpent, the Lakh-amu,

the great monster, the raging dog, the scorpion-man,

the dog-days, the fish-man (Aquarius), and the (Zodiacal)

ram,

who carry weapons that spare not, who fear not the battle,

insolent of heart, unconquerable by the enemy.

Moreover that she may create (?) eleven such-like monsters,

among the gods, her sons, whom she has summoned together,

she has raised up Kingu and magnified him among them.

'To march before the host,' (she has said,) 'be that thy

duty!

Order the weapons to be uplifted and the onset of battle!'

That he may be the first in the conflict, the leader in victory,

she has taken his hand and seated him on a throne:

'I have uttered the spell for thee; exalt thyself among the

gods,

assume dominion over all the gods!

Highly shalt thou be exalted, thou that art alone my

husband;

thy name shall be magnified over [all the world]!'

Thereupon she has given him the tablets of destiny and laid

them on his breast:

'Let thy command be obeyed, let the word of thy mouth be

established!'

When Kingu had exalted himself, and made himself as Anu,

she determined for the gods her sons their destiny:

'The opening of your mouth shall quench the fire;

the exalted of Kidmuri shall dissolve its flame!'

[When Merodach heard this, his heart] was grievously troubled,

he ... ... and his lips he bit;

.....his heart grew angry

......his cry.

......[he determined on] battle.

[Then spake he to] his father (Ea): 'Be not troubled;

......thou shalt become the lord of the deep.

......with Tiamat will I contend.'

Merodach [heard] the words of his father,in the fulness (?) of his heart he said to his father:'O lord of the gods, offspring (?) of the great gods,if indeed I am your avenger,Tiamat to overpower and you to rescue,make ready an assembly, prepare a banquet(?).Enter joyfully into Ubsugina (the seat of oracles) all together.With my mouth like you will I give the oracle.What I create shall never be changed,the word of my lip shall never go back or be unfulfilled!'

Merodach [heard] the words of his father,

in the fulness (?) of his heart he said to his father:

'O lord of the gods, offspring (?) of the great gods,

if indeed I am your avenger,

Tiamat to overpower and you to rescue,

make ready an assembly, prepare a banquet(?).

Enter joyfully into Ubsugina (the seat of oracles) all together.

With my mouth like you will I give the oracle.

What I create shall never be changed,

the word of my lip shall never go back or be unfulfilled!'

Thereupon Ansar opened his mouth,to [Gâgâ] his [messenger] he uttered the word:'O angel [Gâgâ] who rejoicest my heart,[to Lakhmu and Lakh]amu will I send thee;[the command of my heart] thou shalt gladly hear(?):'Ansar, your son, has sent me,the wish of his heart he has caused me to know.Tiamat our mother has risen up against us,gathering her forces, madly raging.The gods, all of them, have united themselves unto her,all whom she has created march at her side.Banning the day they have followed Tiamat,wrathful, devising mischief, untiring (?) day and night,prepared for the conflict, fiercely raging,they have gathered themselves together and begin the fray.The mother of the deep (?), the creatress of them all,has given them victorious weapons, creating monstrous serpentswith sharp fangs, unsparing in the onset.With poison for blood she has filled their bodies.Horrible adders she has clothed with terror,she has decked them with fear, and raised high their ...'May their appearance ...May their bodies grow huge so that none may stand before them!'She has created the adder, the horrible serpent, the Lakhamu,the great monster, the raging dog, the scorpion-man,the dog-days, the fish-man and the ram,who carry weapons that spare not, who fear not the conflict,insolent of heart, unconquerable by the enemy.Moreover that she may have eleven such monsters,among the gods, her sons, whom she has summoned together,she has raised up Kingu and magnified him among them:'To march before the host, be that thy duty!Order the weapons to be uplifted and the onset of battle!'That he may be first in the conflict, the leader in victory,she has taken his hand and set him on a throne:'I have uttered the spell for thee, exalt thyself among the gods,assume dominion over all the gods!Highly shalt thou be exalted, thou that art alone my husband;thy name shall be magnified over [all the world]!'Then she gave him the tablets of destiny, and laid them on his breast:'Let thy command be obeyed; let the word of thy mouth be established!'When Kingu had exalted himself and made himself as Anushe determined for the gods her sons their destiny:'The opening of your mouth shall quench the fire,the exalted of Kidmuri shall dissolve its flame.'I sent forth Anu, but he would not meet her;Ea was terrified and turned back.Then I bade Merodach, the counsellor of the gods, your son;to attack Tiamat his heart urged him.He opened his mouth and spake unto me:'If I am indeed your avenger,Tiamat to overpower, you to rescue,make ready an assembly, prepare a banquet (?).Enter joyfully into Ubsugina, all together.With my mouth, like you, will I then pronounce an oracle,what I create shall never be changed;the word of my lip shall never go back or be unfulfilled.'Hasten therefore and determine at once for him his destinythat he may go forth and meet your mighty foe!'Lakhmu and Lakhamu heard this and lamented,the gods of heaven, all of them, bitterly grieved:'Foolish are they who thus desire battle (?);nor can we understand the [design] of Tiamat.'Then they came together and marched ...the great gods, all of them, who determine [destinies].They came before (?) Ansar, they filled [his abode],they crowded one on the other in the gathering ...they sat down to the feast, [they devoured] the food;they eat bread, they drank [wine],with sweet honey wine they filled themselves,they drank beer, and delighted their soul (?)....they ascended into their [seats],to determine the destiny of Merodach their avenger.

Thereupon Ansar opened his mouth,

to [Gâgâ] his [messenger] he uttered the word:

'O angel [Gâgâ] who rejoicest my heart,

[to Lakhmu and Lakh]amu will I send thee;

[the command of my heart] thou shalt gladly hear(?):

'Ansar, your son, has sent me,

the wish of his heart he has caused me to know.

Tiamat our mother has risen up against us,

gathering her forces, madly raging.

The gods, all of them, have united themselves unto her,

all whom she has created march at her side.

Banning the day they have followed Tiamat,

wrathful, devising mischief, untiring (?) day and night,

prepared for the conflict, fiercely raging,

they have gathered themselves together and begin the fray.

The mother of the deep (?), the creatress of them all,

has given them victorious weapons, creating monstrous serpents

with sharp fangs, unsparing in the onset.

With poison for blood she has filled their bodies.

Horrible adders she has clothed with terror,

she has decked them with fear, and raised high their ...

'May their appearance ...

May their bodies grow huge so that none may stand before them!'

She has created the adder, the horrible serpent, the Lakhamu,

the great monster, the raging dog, the scorpion-man,

the dog-days, the fish-man and the ram,

who carry weapons that spare not, who fear not the conflict,

insolent of heart, unconquerable by the enemy.

Moreover that she may have eleven such monsters,

among the gods, her sons, whom she has summoned together,

she has raised up Kingu and magnified him among them:

'To march before the host, be that thy duty!

Order the weapons to be uplifted and the onset of battle!'

That he may be first in the conflict, the leader in victory,

she has taken his hand and set him on a throne:

'I have uttered the spell for thee, exalt thyself among the gods,

assume dominion over all the gods!

Highly shalt thou be exalted, thou that art alone my husband;

thy name shall be magnified over [all the world]!'

Then she gave him the tablets of destiny, and laid them on his breast:

'Let thy command be obeyed; let the word of thy mouth be established!'

When Kingu had exalted himself and made himself as Anu

she determined for the gods her sons their destiny:

'The opening of your mouth shall quench the fire,

the exalted of Kidmuri shall dissolve its flame.'

I sent forth Anu, but he would not meet her;

Ea was terrified and turned back.

Then I bade Merodach, the counsellor of the gods, your son;

to attack Tiamat his heart urged him.

He opened his mouth and spake unto me:

'If I am indeed your avenger,

Tiamat to overpower, you to rescue,

make ready an assembly, prepare a banquet (?).

Enter joyfully into Ubsugina, all together.

With my mouth, like you, will I then pronounce an oracle,

what I create shall never be changed;

the word of my lip shall never go back or be unfulfilled.'

Hasten therefore and determine at once for him his destiny

that he may go forth and meet your mighty foe!'

Lakhmu and Lakhamu heard this and lamented,

the gods of heaven, all of them, bitterly grieved:

'Foolish are they who thus desire battle (?);

nor can we understand the [design] of Tiamat.'

Then they came together and marched ...

the great gods, all of them, who determine [destinies].

They came before (?) Ansar, they filled [his abode],

they crowded one on the other in the gathering ...

they sat down to the feast, [they devoured] the food;

they eat bread, they drank [wine],

with sweet honey wine they filled themselves,

they drank beer, and delighted their soul (?)

....they ascended into their [seats],

to determine the destiny of Merodach their avenger.

Then they set him on a princely throne;before his fathers he seated himself as ruler.'Yea, thou art glorious among the great gods,thy destiny has no rival, thy name (?) is Anu;from this day forward unchanged be thy command,high and low entreat thy hand!Let the word of thy mouth be established, thy judgment never be violated,let none among the gods overpass thy bounds!as an adornment has (thy hand) founded the shrine of the gods,may the place of their gathering (?) become thy home.O Merodach, thou art he that avenges us,we give unto thee the sovereignty over the multitudes of the universe.Thou givest counsel, let thy word be exalted;may thy weapons be victorious, may thine enemies tremble!O lord, be gracious to the soul of him who putteth his trust in thee,but pour out the soul of the god who has hold of evil.'Then place they in their midst a robe;they spake to Merodach their first-born:'May thy destiny, O lord, excel that of the gods;command destruction and creation, and so it shall be done.Set thy mouth that it may destroy the robe;bid it return and the robe shall be restored!'He spake and with his mouth destroyed the robe;he spake to it again, and the robe was re-created.When the gods his fathers beheld (the power) of the word of his mouth,they rejoiced, they saluted Merodach the king,they bestowed upon him the sceptre, the throne and reign,they gave him a weapon unrivalled, consuming the hostile:'Go,' (they said,) 'and cut off the life of Tiamat,let the winds carry her blood to secret places.'(Thus) the gods, his fathers, determined for Bel his destiny,they showed his path, and they bade him listen and take the road.He made ready the bow and used it as his weapon;he made the club swing, he fixed its seat;then he lifted up the weapon which he caused his right hand to hold;the bow and the quiver he hung at his side.He set the lightning before him,with glancing flame he filled its body.He made also a net to enclose the dragon Tiamat.He seized the four winds that they might not issue out of it,the south wind, the north wind, the east wind (and) the west wind;he made them enter the net, the gift of his father Anu.He created the evil wind, the hostile wind, the storm, the tempest,the four winds, the seven winds, the whirlwind, the unending wind:he caused the winds he had created to issue forth, seven in all,confounding the dragon Tiamat, as they swept after him.Then Bel lifted up the Deluge, his mighty weapon:he rode in a chariot incomparable, (and) terrible.He stood firm, and harnessed four horses to its side,[steeds] that spare not, spirited and swift,[with sharp] teeth, that carry poison,which know how to sweep away [the opponent].[On the right] ... mighty in battle,on the left they open .........before thee.[Bring to the feast] the gods, all of them,[let them sit down and] satisfy themselves with food,[let them eat bread], let them drink wine,[let them ascend to their seats?] and determine the future.[Go now,] Gâgâ, approach before them,deliver unto them [the message I entrust to] thee:'Ansar, your son, has sent me,the wish of his heart he has caused me to know.Tiamat, our mother, has risen up against us,gathering her forces, madly raging.The gods, all of them, have united themselves unto her,even those who created you march at her side.Banning the day they have followed Tiamat,wrathful, devising mischief, untiring(?) day and night,prepared for the conflict, fiercely raging,they have gathered themselves together and begin the battle.The mother of the deep(?), the creatress of them all,has given them victorious weapons, creating monstrous serpents,with sharp fangs, unsparing in their attack.With poison for blood she has filled their bodies.Horrible adders she has clothed with terror,she has decked them with fear, and raised high their....'May their appearance,' (she has said)....'Let their bodies grow huge so that none may stand before them!'She has created the adder, the horrible serpent, the Lakh-amu,the great monster, the raging dog, the scorpion-man,the dog-days, the fish-man and the ram,who carry weapons that spare not, who fear not the fight,insolent of heart, unconquerable by the enemy.Moreover that she may have eleven such monsters,among the gods, her sons, whom she has summoned together,she has raised up Kingu and magnified him among them.'To march before the host, be that thy duty!Order the weapons to be uplifted and the onset of battle!'That he may be the first in the conflict, the leader in victory,she has taken his hand and set him on a throne:'I have uttered the spell for thee,' (she has said); 'exalt thyself among the gods,assume dominion over all the gods!Highly shalt thou be exalted, thou that art alone my husband;thy name shall be magnified over [all the world]!'Thereupon she has given him the tablets of destiny, and laid them on his breast:'Let thy command be obeyed, let the word of thy mouth be established!'When Kingu had exalted himself and made himself like Anushe fixed for the gods, her sons, their destiny'The opening of your mouth shall quench the fire;the exalted of Kidmuri shall dissolve its flame.'I sent forth Anu, but he would not meet her;Ea was terrified and turned back.Then I sent forth Merodach, the counsellor of the gods, your son;to attack Tiamat his heart urged him.He opened his mouth and said unto me:'If I indeed am your avenger,Tiamat to overpower and you to rescue,make ready an assembly, prepare a banquet (?).Enter joyfully into Ubsugina all together.With my mouth like you will I pronounce the oracle.What I create shall never be changed,the word of my lip shall never go back or be unfulfilled!'Hasten therefore and determine for him at once his destiny,that he may go forward and meet your powerful foe!'Then went Gâgâ and completed his journeyunto Lakhmu and Lakhamu the gods, his fathers,he prostrated himself and kissed the ground at their feet,he bowed himself and stood up and spake unto them:... clothed with fear;with lustre and terror he covered his head.He directed also his way, he made his path descend,to the place where Tiamat [stood] he turned his countenance;with his lip he kept back ...his finger holds the....On that day they extolled him, the gods extolled him,the gods, his fathers, extolled him, the gods extolled him.Then Bel drew near, eager for the struggle with Tiamat,looking for victory over Kingu her husband.When she beheld him, her resolution was destroyed,her understanding was overthrown, her plans confounded.And the gods, his helpers, who marched beside himbeheld (how Merodach) the prince amazes their eyes.He laid judgment on Tiamat, yet she turned not her neck;with her hostile lips she uttered defiance:'Let the gods, O Bel, enter on battle behind thee,[behold,] they are gathered together to where thou art.'Bel [launched] the Deluge, his mighty weapon;against Tiamat, who had raised herself (?), thus he sent it.'Thou wert mighty [below,' he cries,] 'exalted above,yet thy heart [has urged thee] to begin the strife,[to lead the gods from] their fathers to [thy side];[thou hast gathered them around thee] and raisest thyself [against us],[thou hast made] Kingu thy husband[and hast bestowed on] him divine power.... thou hast devised evil,[against the] gods, my fathers, hast thou directed thy enmity.[May] thy host be fettered, thy weapons be restrained!Stand up, and I and thou will fight together.'When Tiamat heard this,she uttered her former spells, she repeated her command.Tiamat also cried out vehemently with a loud voice.From her roots she rocked herself completely.She uttered an incantation, she cast a spell,and the gods of battle demand for themselves their arms.Then Tiamat attacked Merodach the counsellor of the gods;in combat they joined; they engaged in battle.Then Bel opened his net and enclosed her;the evil wind that seizes behind he sent before him.Tiamat opened her mouth to swallow it;he made the evil wind to enter so that she could not close her lips.The violence of the winds tortured her stomach, andher heart was prostrated, and her mouth was torn open.He swung the club; he shattered her stomach;he cut out her entrails; he divided her heart;he overpowered her and ended her life;he threw down her corpse; he stood upon it.When Tiamat who marched before them was conquered,he dispersed her forces, her host was overthrown,and the gods her allies who marched beside hertrembled and feared and turned their backs.They fled away to save their lives;they clung to one another, fleeing helplessly.He followed them and broke their arms;he flung his net and they are caught in the snare.Then filled they the world with their lamentations;they bear their sin and are shut up in prison,and the elevenfold creatures are troubled with fear.The host of spirits (?) who marched beside them (?)he throws into fetters and [binds] their hands,and [tramples] their opposition under him.And the god Kingu who [had been made leader over] them,he bound him also and did to him as to the [other] gods.And he took from him the tablets of destiny [that were on] his breast;he sealed them with his pen and hung them from his own breast.From the time he had bound and overmastered his foeshe led the illustrious foe captive like an ox,bringing to full completion the victory of Ansar over his antagonists.The warrior Merodach (thus) performed the purpose of Ea.Over the gods in bondage he strengthened his watch, andhe turned backwards Tiamat whom he had overpowered.Then Bel trampled on the body of Tiamat;with his club that spares not he smote her skull,he broke it and caused her blood to flow;the north wind bore it away to secret places.Then his fathers beheld, they rejoiced and were glad;they bade peace-offerings to be brought to him.And Bel rested; his body he fed;he strengthened his mind (?), he formed a clever plan,and he stripped her like a fish of her skin in two halves;one half he took and with it overshadowed the heavens;he stretched out the skin, he appointed watchersbidding them that her waters should not issue forth;he lit up the sky, the sanctuary rejoiced,and he set it over against the deep, the seat of Ea.Then Bel measured the form of the deep;as a palace like unto it he made E-Sarra (the upper firmament).The palace of the upper firmament, which he created as heaven,he caused Anu, Bel and Ea to inhabit as their stronghold.

Then they set him on a princely throne;

before his fathers he seated himself as ruler.

'Yea, thou art glorious among the great gods,

thy destiny has no rival, thy name (?) is Anu;

from this day forward unchanged be thy command,

high and low entreat thy hand!

Let the word of thy mouth be established, thy judgment never be violated,

let none among the gods overpass thy bounds!

as an adornment has (thy hand) founded the shrine of the gods,

may the place of their gathering (?) become thy home.

O Merodach, thou art he that avenges us,

we give unto thee the sovereignty over the multitudes of the universe.

Thou givest counsel, let thy word be exalted;

may thy weapons be victorious, may thine enemies tremble!

O lord, be gracious to the soul of him who putteth his trust in thee,

but pour out the soul of the god who has hold of evil.'

Then place they in their midst a robe;

they spake to Merodach their first-born:

'May thy destiny, O lord, excel that of the gods;

command destruction and creation, and so it shall be done.

Set thy mouth that it may destroy the robe;

bid it return and the robe shall be restored!'

He spake and with his mouth destroyed the robe;

he spake to it again, and the robe was re-created.

When the gods his fathers beheld (the power) of the word of his mouth,

they rejoiced, they saluted Merodach the king,

they bestowed upon him the sceptre, the throne and reign,

they gave him a weapon unrivalled, consuming the hostile:

'Go,' (they said,) 'and cut off the life of Tiamat,

let the winds carry her blood to secret places.'

(Thus) the gods, his fathers, determined for Bel his destiny,

they showed his path, and they bade him listen and take the road.

He made ready the bow and used it as his weapon;

he made the club swing, he fixed its seat;

then he lifted up the weapon which he caused his right hand to hold;

the bow and the quiver he hung at his side.

He set the lightning before him,

with glancing flame he filled its body.

He made also a net to enclose the dragon Tiamat.

He seized the four winds that they might not issue out of it,

the south wind, the north wind, the east wind (and) the west wind;

he made them enter the net, the gift of his father Anu.

He created the evil wind, the hostile wind, the storm, the tempest,

the four winds, the seven winds, the whirlwind, the unending wind:

he caused the winds he had created to issue forth, seven in all,

confounding the dragon Tiamat, as they swept after him.

Then Bel lifted up the Deluge, his mighty weapon:

he rode in a chariot incomparable, (and) terrible.

He stood firm, and harnessed four horses to its side,

[steeds] that spare not, spirited and swift,

[with sharp] teeth, that carry poison,

which know how to sweep away [the opponent].

[On the right] ... mighty in battle,

on the left they open ...

......before thee.

[Bring to the feast] the gods, all of them,

[let them sit down and] satisfy themselves with food,

[let them eat bread], let them drink wine,

[let them ascend to their seats?] and determine the future.

[Go now,] Gâgâ, approach before them,

deliver unto them [the message I entrust to] thee:

'Ansar, your son, has sent me,

the wish of his heart he has caused me to know.

Tiamat, our mother, has risen up against us,

gathering her forces, madly raging.

The gods, all of them, have united themselves unto her,

even those who created you march at her side.

Banning the day they have followed Tiamat,

wrathful, devising mischief, untiring(?) day and night,

prepared for the conflict, fiercely raging,

they have gathered themselves together and begin the battle.

The mother of the deep(?), the creatress of them all,

has given them victorious weapons, creating monstrous serpents,

with sharp fangs, unsparing in their attack.

With poison for blood she has filled their bodies.

Horrible adders she has clothed with terror,

she has decked them with fear, and raised high their....

'May their appearance,' (she has said)....

'Let their bodies grow huge so that none may stand before them!'

She has created the adder, the horrible serpent, the Lakh-amu,

the great monster, the raging dog, the scorpion-man,

the dog-days, the fish-man and the ram,

who carry weapons that spare not, who fear not the fight,

insolent of heart, unconquerable by the enemy.

Moreover that she may have eleven such monsters,

among the gods, her sons, whom she has summoned together,

she has raised up Kingu and magnified him among them.

'To march before the host, be that thy duty!

Order the weapons to be uplifted and the onset of battle!'

That he may be the first in the conflict, the leader in victory,

she has taken his hand and set him on a throne:

'I have uttered the spell for thee,' (she has said); 'exalt thyself among the gods,

assume dominion over all the gods!

Highly shalt thou be exalted, thou that art alone my husband;

thy name shall be magnified over [all the world]!'

Thereupon she has given him the tablets of destiny, and laid them on his breast:

'Let thy command be obeyed, let the word of thy mouth be established!'

When Kingu had exalted himself and made himself like Anu

she fixed for the gods, her sons, their destiny

'The opening of your mouth shall quench the fire;

the exalted of Kidmuri shall dissolve its flame.'

I sent forth Anu, but he would not meet her;

Ea was terrified and turned back.

Then I sent forth Merodach, the counsellor of the gods, your son;

to attack Tiamat his heart urged him.

He opened his mouth and said unto me:

'If I indeed am your avenger,

Tiamat to overpower and you to rescue,

make ready an assembly, prepare a banquet (?).

Enter joyfully into Ubsugina all together.

With my mouth like you will I pronounce the oracle.

What I create shall never be changed,

the word of my lip shall never go back or be unfulfilled!'

Hasten therefore and determine for him at once his destiny,

that he may go forward and meet your powerful foe!'

Then went Gâgâ and completed his journey

unto Lakhmu and Lakhamu the gods, his fathers,

he prostrated himself and kissed the ground at their feet,

he bowed himself and stood up and spake unto them:

... clothed with fear;

with lustre and terror he covered his head.

He directed also his way, he made his path descend,

to the place where Tiamat [stood] he turned his countenance;

with his lip he kept back ...

his finger holds the....

On that day they extolled him, the gods extolled him,

the gods, his fathers, extolled him, the gods extolled him.

Then Bel drew near, eager for the struggle with Tiamat,

looking for victory over Kingu her husband.

When she beheld him, her resolution was destroyed,

her understanding was overthrown, her plans confounded.

And the gods, his helpers, who marched beside him

beheld (how Merodach) the prince amazes their eyes.

He laid judgment on Tiamat, yet she turned not her neck;

with her hostile lips she uttered defiance:

'Let the gods, O Bel, enter on battle behind thee,

[behold,] they are gathered together to where thou art.'

Bel [launched] the Deluge, his mighty weapon;

against Tiamat, who had raised herself (?), thus he sent it.

'Thou wert mighty [below,' he cries,] 'exalted above,

yet thy heart [has urged thee] to begin the strife,

[to lead the gods from] their fathers to [thy side];

[thou hast gathered them around thee] and raisest thyself [against us],

[thou hast made] Kingu thy husband

[and hast bestowed on] him divine power.

... thou hast devised evil,

[against the] gods, my fathers, hast thou directed thy enmity.

[May] thy host be fettered, thy weapons be restrained!

Stand up, and I and thou will fight together.'

When Tiamat heard this,

she uttered her former spells, she repeated her command.

Tiamat also cried out vehemently with a loud voice.

From her roots she rocked herself completely.

She uttered an incantation, she cast a spell,

and the gods of battle demand for themselves their arms.

Then Tiamat attacked Merodach the counsellor of the gods;

in combat they joined; they engaged in battle.

Then Bel opened his net and enclosed her;

the evil wind that seizes behind he sent before him.

Tiamat opened her mouth to swallow it;

he made the evil wind to enter so that she could not close her lips.

The violence of the winds tortured her stomach, and

her heart was prostrated, and her mouth was torn open.

He swung the club; he shattered her stomach;

he cut out her entrails; he divided her heart;

he overpowered her and ended her life;

he threw down her corpse; he stood upon it.

When Tiamat who marched before them was conquered,

he dispersed her forces, her host was overthrown,

and the gods her allies who marched beside her

trembled and feared and turned their backs.

They fled away to save their lives;

they clung to one another, fleeing helplessly.

He followed them and broke their arms;

he flung his net and they are caught in the snare.

Then filled they the world with their lamentations;

they bear their sin and are shut up in prison,

and the elevenfold creatures are troubled with fear.

The host of spirits (?) who marched beside them (?)

he throws into fetters and [binds] their hands,

and [tramples] their opposition under him.

And the god Kingu who [had been made leader over] them,

he bound him also and did to him as to the [other] gods.

And he took from him the tablets of destiny [that were on] his breast;

he sealed them with his pen and hung them from his own breast.

From the time he had bound and overmastered his foes

he led the illustrious foe captive like an ox,

bringing to full completion the victory of Ansar over his antagonists.

The warrior Merodach (thus) performed the purpose of Ea.

Over the gods in bondage he strengthened his watch, and

he turned backwards Tiamat whom he had overpowered.

Then Bel trampled on the body of Tiamat;

with his club that spares not he smote her skull,

he broke it and caused her blood to flow;

the north wind bore it away to secret places.

Then his fathers beheld, they rejoiced and were glad;

they bade peace-offerings to be brought to him.

And Bel rested; his body he fed;

he strengthened his mind (?), he formed a clever plan,

and he stripped her like a fish of her skin in two halves;

one half he took and with it overshadowed the heavens;

he stretched out the skin, he appointed watchers

bidding them that her waters should not issue forth;

he lit up the sky, the sanctuary rejoiced,

and he set it over against the deep, the seat of Ea.

Then Bel measured the form of the deep;

as a palace like unto it he made E-Sarra (the upper firmament).

The palace of the upper firmament, which he created as heaven,

he caused Anu, Bel and Ea to inhabit as their stronghold.

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