Enuma Elish, the Babylonian Creation Epic Tablet II Kenneth Sublett, Piney.com, Hohenwald, Tennessee
Tiamat assembled her creatures
- And collected battle-units against the gods her offspring.
- Tiamat did even more evil for posterity than Apsu.
- It was reported to Ea that she had prepared for war.
- Ea listened to that report,
- And was dumbfounded and sat in silence.
- When he had pondered and his fury subsided,
- He made his way to Anshar his father;
- Came before Anshar, the father who begot him
- And began to repeat to him everything that Tiamat had planned.
- Father, Tiamat who bore us is rejecting us!
- She has convened an assembly and is raging out of control.
- The gods have turned to her, all of them,
- Even those whom you begot have gone over to her side,
- Have crowded round and rallied beside Tiamat.
- Fierce, scheming restlessly night and day,
- Working up to war, growling and raging,
- They have convened a council and created conflict.
- Mother Hubur, who fashions all things,
- Contributed an unfaceable weapon: she bore giant snakes,
- Sharp of tooth and unsparing of fang(?).
- She filled their bodies with venom instead of blood.
- She cloaked ferocious dragons with fearsome rays
- And made them bear mantles of radiance, made them godlike,
- (chanting this imprecation)
- "Whoever looks upon them shall collapse in utter terror!
- Their bodies shall rear up continually and never turn away!"
- She stationed a horned serpent, a mushussu-dragon, and a lahmu-hero,
- An ugallu-demon, a rabid dog, and a scorpion-man,
- Aggressive umu-demons, a fish-man, and a bull-man
- Bearing merciless weapons, fearless in battle.
- Her orders were so powerful, they could not be disobeyed.
- In addition she created eleven more likewise.
- Over the gods her offspring who had convened a council for her
- She promoted Qingu and made him greatest among them,
- Conferred upon him leadership of the army, command of the assembly,
- Raising the weapon to signal engagement, mustering combat-troops,
- Overall command of the whole battle force.
- And she set him upon a throne.
- "I have cast the spell for you and made you greatest in the gods' assembly!
- I have put into your power rule over all the gods!
- You shall be the greatest, for you are my only lover!
- Your commands shall always prevail over all the Anukki!"
- Then she gave him the Tablet of Destinies and made him clasp it to his breast.
- "Your utterance shall never be altered! Your word shall be law!"
- When Qingu was promoted and had received the Anu-power
- And had decreed destinies for the gods his sons, (he said),
- "What issues forth from your mouths shall quench Fire!
- Your accumulated venom (?) shall paralyze the powerful!"'---
- Anshar listened, and the report was very disturbing.
- [He twisted his fingers (?)] and bit his lip;
- [His liver was inflamed (?)], his belly would not rest.
- His roar to Ea his son was quite weak.
- You must be the one who declares war!
- Keep brandishing what you have made (as arms) for yourself!
- [You are the hero, (?)], you slew Apsu.
- Where else (will we find) someone to face Tiamat when she rages uncontrollably?'
- [ ] good sense
- [ of the]gods Nudimmud
- [............................ ]
- Ea made his voice heard,
- You are the unfathomable fixer of fates!
- The power to create and to destroy is yours!
- O Anshar, you are the unfathomable fixer of fates!
- The power to create and to destroy is yours!
- [The ]which you order immediately [ ]
- (5 lines very fragmentary)
- Anshar listened and the speech pleased him.
- His heart prompted him to speak to Ea,
- Your courage like a god [ ]
- [ ] ... [ ]
- Rise up against Tiamat!'
- (gap of up to 25 lines)
- He (Anshar) addressed Anu his son saying,
- This . . . is the kasusu-weapon of warriors.
- Its strength is mighty, its attack unfaceable.
- Go against Tiamat and stand your ground!
- Let her anger abate, let her fury be quelled.
- If she will not listen to your word,
- Speak our words(?) to her, that she may be calmed.'
- He listened to the speech of his father Anshar,
- And took the road to her and made his way straight to her.
- Anu set out. He was trying to find out the strategy of Tiamat.
- [ and] he turned back.
- [He entered the presence of] Anshar the father who begot him
- [ ] he addressed him,
- [ ] too great for me.
- (short gap)
- She laid(?) the . . . of her hand on top of me.'
- Anshar was speechless, and stared at the ground;
- He gnashed his teeth (?) And shook his head (in despair) at Ea.
- Now, the Igigi assembled, all the Anukki.
- They sat silently (for a while), tight-lipped.
- (Finally they spoke)
- Will no (other) god come forward? Is [fate] fixed?
- Will no one go out to face Tiamat with [ ]?'
- Then Ea from his secret dwelling called
- [The perfect] one (?) of Anshar, father of the great gods,
- Whose heart is perfect like a fellow-citizen or countryman (?),
- The mighty heir who was to be his father's champion,
- Who rushes (fearlessly) into battle: Marduk the Hero!
- ===== begin 20 lines
- He (Ea) told him his innermost design, saying,
- O Marduk, take my advice, listen to your father!
- You are the son who sets his heart at rest!
- Approach Anshar, drawing near to him,
- And make your voice heard, stand your ground: he will be calmed by the sight of you.'
- The Lord rejoiced at the word of his father,
- And he approached and stood before Anshar.
- Anshar looked at him, and his heart was filled with joy.
- He kissed him on the lips, put away his trepidation.
- (Then Marduk addressed him, saying)
- Father, don't stay so silent, open your lips,
- Let me go, and let me fulfil your heart's desire.
- Anshar, don't stay so silent, open your lips,
- Let me go, and let me fulfil your heart's desire.'
- (Anshar replied)
- What kind of man has ordered you out (to) his war?
- My son, (don't you realize that) it is Tiamat, of womankind, who will advance against you with arms?'
- (Marduk answered)
- Father, my creator, rejoice and be glad!
- You shall soon set your foot upon the back of Tiamat!
- Anshar, my creator, rejoice and be glad,
- You shall soon set your foot upon the neck of Tiamat.'
- (Anshar replied)
- Then go, son, knowing all wisdom!
- Quell Tiamat with your pure spell!
- Set forth immediately (in) the storm chariot;
- Let its [ ] be not driven out, but turn (them?) back!'
- The Lord rejoiced at the word of his father;
- His heart was glad and he addressed his father,
- Lord of the gods, fate of the great gods,
- If indeed I am to be your champion,
- If I am to defeat Tiamat and save your lives,
- Convene the council, name a special fate,
- Sit joyfully together in Ubshu-ukkinakku:
- My own utterance shall fix fate instead of you!
- Whatever I create shall never be altered!
- The decree of my lips shall never be revoked, never changed!'
- [ [Written] according to [ ] [ ] a copy from Assur.]
Enuma Elish 1--2--3--4--5--6--7