Part 3 (1/2)

FIRST TABLET.[1]

[Footnote 1: This translation is made from transcripts of the British Museum fragments (_Cuneiform Texts_, Part XIII), and transcripts of the Berlin fragments (Ebeling, _Keilschrifttexte aus a.s.sur_, Nos. 117, 118).]

1. When the heavens above were yet unnamed,[1]

[Footnote 1: The name of an object was the object itself, and it was believed that nothing could exist apart from its name.]

2. And the name of the earth beneath had not been recorded,

3. Apsu, the oldest of beings, their progenitor,

4. ”Mummu” Tiamat, who bare each and all of them--

5. Their waters were merged into a single ma.s.s.

6. A field had not been measured, a marsh had not been searched out,

7. When of the G.o.ds none was s.h.i.+ning,

[Ill.u.s.tration: Portion of a tablet inscribed in a.s.syrian with a text of the First Tablet of the Creation Series. [K. 5419C.]]

8. A name had not been recorded, a fate had not been fixed,

9. The G.o.ds came into being in the midst of them.

10. The G.o.d Lakhmu and the G.o.ddess Lakhamu were made to s.h.i.+ne, they were named.

11. [Together] they increased in stature, they grew tall.

12. Anshar and Kishar came into being, and others besides them.

13. Long were the days, the years increased.

14. The G.o.d Anu, their son, the equal of his fathers, [was created].

15. The G.o.d Anshar made his eldest son Anu in his own image.

16. And the G.o.d Anu begat Nudimmud (Ea) the image of himself.

17. The G.o.d Nudimmud was the first among his fathers,

18. Endowed with understanding, he who thinketh deeply, the orator

19. Exceedingly mighty in strength above his father Anshar who begat him.

20. Unrivalled amongst the G.o.ds his brothers ...

21. The confraternity of the G.o.ds was established.