- "From the bright covering of thyf
great heaven may the waters flow,
- May the city be refreshed with
water, may it drink,
- May Dilmun be refreshed with
water, may it drink,
- May the deep of bitter water flow
as a deep of sweet water.
- May the city be a resting, an
abode of the people,
- May Dilmun be a resting, an abode
of the people.
- Now, O sun-god, shine
forth,
- O sun-god, stand in
heaven;
- Bring open water from the womb of
the land!
- [And] fish, O moon-god, from the
water.
- In the water-course on the face
of the land, O earth's sweet water come!
- That from the bright covering of
the great heavens water may flow,
- Its city be refreshed, may
drink,
- Dilmun be refreshed, may
drink,
- The deep of bitter water flow as
a deep of sweet water,
- The fields and meadows....
- The city be a house for the
multitutes of the land,
- Dilmun be a house for the
multitudes of the land.
- To shine may the sun-god come
forth--let it be so.
- He who alone is wise (i.e.
Enki)
- To Nintu, mother of the
land....
(Lines 22-30 describe with a frankness common among
primitive people a marital union of the god and goddess.
In many parts of the world it has been thought that acts
of creation proceed from such unions.)
- Enki, the father of Damgalnunna,
his word spoke.
- Ninkhursag floded the
fields,
- The fields received the waters of
Enki.
- It was the first day whose month
is first;
- It was the second day whose month
is second;
- It was the third day whose month
is third;
- It was the fourth day whose month
is fourth;
- It was the fifth day whose month
is fifth;
- It was the sixth day whose month
is sixth:
- It was the seventh day whose
month is seventh;
- It was the eighth day [whose
month is eighth];
- It was the ninth day whose month
is ninth, the month of outpouring of the water.
- Like fat, like fat, like abundant
sweet oil,
- ......had brought them
forth.
"In the first part of the above
column the description of the city is continued. As a
consequence of the union of the gods, water flowed to
irrigate the land. Lines 34-42 tell in a quaint way how
waters continued to come for nine months and nine
days.
Source:
Prior to 2000 B.C.From: George A.
Barton, Archaeology and The
Bible, 7th Edition revised,
(Philadelphia: American Sunday School, 1937), pgs
337-338
Eridue
Genesis
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