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SUMERIAN MYTHOLOGY
Achie~ement in the Thi1}dMillennium B;'C.
BY
S,AMUEL N'OAHKRAMER
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ISBN 9781605060491
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In
Sumerian Mythology
A Study of Spiritual and Literary Achieve ent in the Third Millennium B.C.
By
Samuel Noah Kramer
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First published
1944
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PUBLISHER'S PREFACE
About the Book "The Sumerians were a non-Semitic, non-Indo-European people who lived in southern Babylonia from 4000-3000 B,C. , They invented cunieform writing, and their spiritual beliefs influenced all successive Near Eastern religions, including J daism, Christianity and Islam, They produced an extensive ody of literature, among the oldest in the world, Samuel Noah Kramer spent most of his life studying this literature, by piecing together clay tablets in far-flung museums, This sho work gives translations or summaries of the most im ortant Sumerian myths," (Quote from sacred-te ts.com) About the Author Samuel Noah Kramer (1897 -1990) "Kramer was born in 1897 in the Ukraine, In 1905 as a r suit of the anti-Semitic pogroms of Czar Nicholas II of Russia, hi family emigrated to Philadelphia, where his father establi hed a Hebrew school. After graduating from high school and a taining a bachelor's degree, Kramer tried a variety of occu ations, including teaching in his father's school, becoming a wri er and becoming a business man, He later stated in his autobiography, concerning the tim when he began to approach the age of thirty, still without a career: ·'Finally it came to me that I might well go back to m begin-
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nings and t to utilize the Hebrew learning on which I had spent so m ch of my youth, and relate it in some way to an academic fu ure." [citation needed] He then enr and Cognat Egyptology. Department with "the br become on Studies. "[cl cuneiform t 1300 BC; it understandi Kramer earn bling tablets between di from formal throughout lied at Dropsie College of Philadelphia for Hebrew learning, and became passionately interested in He then transferred to the Oriental Studies of the University of Pennsylvania, working work lliant young Ephraim Avigdor Speiser, who was to of the world's leading figures in Near Eastern tion needed] Speiser was trying to decipher blets of the late Bronze Age dating from about s now that Kramer began his life-long work in g the cuneiform writing system. d his Ph.D. in 1929, and was famous for assemrecounting single stories that had been distributed erent institutions around the world. He retired academic life in 1968, but remained very active is post-retirement years.
In his auto iography, published in 1986 he sums up his accomplish ents as follows: "First, and most important, is the role I playe in the recovery, restoration, and resurrection of Sumerian lit rature, or at least of a representative cross section ... Throug my efforts several thousand Sumerian literary tablets and ragments have been made available to cuneiformists, a basic eservoir of unadulterated data that will endure for many decad s to come. Second, I endeavored ... to make available re sonably reliable translations of many of these the academic community, and especially to the anthropolog ,historian, and humanist. Third, I have helped to spread the ame of Sumer to the world at large, and to make people awa of the crucial role the Sumerians played in the ascent of civ lized man. "[citation needed]
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CONTENTS
PUBLISHER'S PREFACE PREFACE INTRODUCTION THE SCOPE AND SIGNIFICANCE MYTHS OF ORIGINS MYTHS OF KUR MISCELLANEOUS MYTHS REFERENCES AN D NOTES SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES ENDNOTES OF SUMERIAN MYTHOLOGy
Vll
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Sumerran Mythology'
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HE Sumerians were a no -Semitic, non-Indo-European people who flourished in southern Babylon ia from the beginning of the fourth t the end of the third millennium B. C. During this long stretc oftime the Sumerians, whose racial and linguistic affiliati ns are still unclassifiable, represented the dominant cult ral group of the entire Near East. This cultural dominance manifested itself in three directions: loped and probably invented the cuneiform system of writing which was adopted by nearly all the peoples of the Near East nd without which the cultural progress of western Asia would h ve been largely impossible. 2. The Sumerians developed re together with a remarkably we influenced profoundly all the peo the Hebrews and the Greeks. Christianity, and Mohammedanis and religious concepts have pe world. igious and spiritual concepts I integrated pantheon which les ofthe Near East, including oreover, by way of Judaism, ,not a few of these spiritual meated the modern civilized
1. It was the Sumerians who de
3. The Sumerians produced a vast and highly developed literature, largely poetic in char cter, consisting of epics and myths, hymns and lamentatio s, proverbs and "words of wisdom." These compositions ar inscribed in cuneiform script on clay ta blets wh ich date large Iy from approxi mately 1750 B. C. a In the course of the past hund d years, approximately five b thousand such literary pieces ave been excavated in the
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mounds of ancient Sumer. Of this n mber, over two thousand, more than two-thirds of our source aterial, were excavated by the University of Pennsylvania in th mound covering ancient Nippur in the course of four grueli g campaigns lasting from 1889 to 1900; these Nippur tablets and fragments represent, therefore, the major source for he reconstruction of the Sumerian compositions. As literary products, these Sumerian compositions rank high among the reations of civilized man. They compare not unfavorably wi h the ancient Greek and Hebrew masterpieces, and like the mirror the spiritual and intellectual life of an otherwise littl known civilization. Their signfficance for a proper appraisal 0 the cultural and spiritual development of the Near East can hardly be overestimated. The Assyrians and Babylonians took the over almost in toto. The Hittites translated them into their 0 n language and no doubt imitated them widely. The form an contents of the Hebrew literary creations and to a certain extent even those of the ancient Greeks were profoundly influenced by them. As practically the oldest written lite ature of any significant amount ever uncovered, it furnishes new, rich, and unexpected source material to the archaeologist and anthropologist, to the ethnologist and student of folklor , to the students of the history of religion and of the history f literature. In spite of their unique and extra rdinary significance, and although the large majority of the t blets on which they were inscribed were excavated almost half a century ago, the translation and interpretation of the umerian literary compositions have made relatively little pro ress to date. The translation of Sumerian is a highly compli ted process. It is only in comparatively recent years that the grammar has been scientifically established, while the lexical problems are still numerous and far from resolved. By ar the major obstacle to a trustworthy reconstruction and tran lation of the compositions, however, is the fact that the great r part of the tablets and
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fragments 0 which they are inscribed, and which are now largely locat d in the Museum of the Ancient Orient at Istanbul and in the U iversity Museum at Philadelphia, have been lying about unco ied and unpublished, and thus unavailable for study. To re edy this situation, I travelled to Istanbul in 1937, and, with th aid of a Guggenheim fellowship, devoted some twenty mon hs to the copying of 170 tablets and fragments in the Nippur c lIection of the Museum of the Ancient Orient. And largely with he help of a grant from the American Philosophical Society, the better part of the past three years has been devoted to t e studying ofthe unpublished literary pieces in the Nippur colle tion of the University Museum; their copying has already begu . c It is the utiliz tion of this vast quantity of unpublished Sumerian literary tabl ts and fragments in the University Museum, approximate 675 pieces according to my investigations, which will make ossible the restoration and translation of the Sumerian lit rarv compositions and lay the groundwork for a study of Su erian culture, especially in its more spiritual aspects; a s udy which, considering the age of the culture involved, th t of the third millennium B. C., will long remain unparalleled or breadth of scope and fullness of detail. As the writer visua izes it, the preparation and publication of this survey woul be most effective in the form of a seven-volume series bearin the general title, Studies in Sumerian Culture. The first volume, the present Memoir, is therefore largely introductorv in cha cter; it contains a detailed description of our sources tog her with a brief outline of the more significant mythological concepts of the Sumerians as evident from their epics and m hs. The five sub equent volumes, as planned by the author, will consist prim rilyof source material, that is, they will contain the
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'-
tra
we 11.d
the i the
ntation ; (5 l
II
:ay ttl ma In be um
ut ili2@d to r t e raeonstru rtion of tha ILime'S will b devoted to a pa rtku ta r klass ition: (1) e ie'S; (2) mvth5i; (3) hvmn ; (4) lsdo m t It c "not be too stro"81v st ssad task is comp d and Su merian lite-rat re i5. ~ availa ble 0 sehol ar an d layma n, the e nrlehec by one of t ne most mag., if ee nt ts ever bro ght to light- As the ea hold i3I un iq ue position i the eea use of the ir p rofoun and I and re ligiou~ develop nt of rtta ble untapped min u rce material and inval .a bla he re leva nt h L.I rna n itie's:. eligion: A Co mpa rative S , will 5 k@tcn tha rEI igiou ans a'S: revea led in th ~ir r, it will en d avor to trace tne Influe I'll ee prs on tne spirit ual and cu ttu ral deY N@.a r E.a st. T is work i5. leh to t n@ la asons: it ls 0. Iy after the SUmenan I' been sc- ntiflca IIV reeenst ructe d ted that we sha II be i I'll a position to re:.asona ble srta inty tnat all-irn portan mpl lcared su je C1, Wh ile, then. 1: he fi i., primarily the data and the sou rces ill atte mpt formulate rhe rssu Its an h istorta n .a n t ha layma n, And the he ,30:;,.3 resu It th is meth od of pr~ pa fina I 10rm u I ic I'll will prove both 'Sign i , Sume ria n udyr and own
of
ere,
lopfor ra and
rv
tra ns
uat@ly nd wit d iffiOJ and c
mat
but
i!!
is
nju s;-.:ifi d th
n, t n
tic n
ea nt
I wish to ~:w:
Jayne Me
of tru ee 5, ictl s@1@(t@(j rna as the n n ual k!ctu ra r for 1 2 to '50 eoil on the k su bject of umerl n myth ologV. I al~ aekn ledge my gratitude to he boa of ma nage rs ttl e Unlver5
boa
cu rat
0'51: '"
.i! rtfelt
;jJ
nks to the
to Or, Georg C. Vail nt, its director to M , Horae his predsoas or; a nd to Professor L on roil n, th i
its Babylon ia sectlon, for their seien ific C tt1 e Su me (n lite rv ta elees a liable Profo"U1d th n ks a due to the M nist ry Turkish R.e u blit: .a d its Depa rt nt permitt i n.s e to st dv and copy p rt of tablets in th N Ipp u collect Ion of t e Mu
Orient at Is Pennsylva ni n b ul, acted
of
Edue
io n
of the
ne
inar
of ttl e
eago I am
inor fi na ndal ntri h il esopbka I So .etv prepa ration u dy po"-'''-'ible; - is t h e II'trao and generos is society wn le is e a b Ii ng struct oil d t nslate n a scia ntitic a d tru worthv n extan t SLI m ian lite a rv compos it' ns: piece
t
(I-
2010 F~~
B-o-ob
..... *:-. , ~the world red • .i3 nd one of ttl i!!! To the Macm i llan Comp,a n .am in ebted for p~rmi!;si spec 1ft acknowledgme nt s of plates VII. X.
v.
NOTETOT
on will be- found on io ns will be 10 und on p
I
THE ATING
excav tlon rs pre ent t eo b.a sk mate ial detail the pe and da e
o ncl das wit h a of vente in 13 rge 1M rt ~ trust rt tra nsl tion of the 5 urne lan Iit€-r.a co th e d tail&, not uninte in in tt1 ms.e t:t1!! n he- Iactors IN hi h p rey reconstruct i n 3 nd position", I., tepa st; vas, furn is h a eali"g
(I-
(110 F[)ft~
:8
',::"
e nta ry 0" the eou ., u man i5tit: effo rts m th.at etail wh ase of f W!!it@ rem Bib such n.a
t he facto~
and
I'rtent For in the nnia, the in 51 ig_atin& '5C hola I"!i .at the r isposa I muc releva nt mat~ria I and lasslcs I sou s, Not only were Astl ...r, a d Babylo" II knowfl. but at I and w th rnuc h limita ia n .and qu.a liti eatl the poles wao:; not Itogether Llnf.a mil s, however, the sit uaticn was
st to a n r @\I'@O
r. In th quite drent; the
r or
people a
in tha ent ["@ Biblical, classi I, and -classi , The very n me Sumer wa~ era d trom he mind a of man 10 r er two theusa nd ea rs, Tn d i.,;.covery ria ns and th i r langu age ea me u itt=! an pectedly a it u 0 I 00 kad r; a nd ttl is more r less ir le:vdint d@ st partially respons ible for th t rOLlbl~ progress I ~ from the arll ese days to the
Iyr the
d!!dp erment of Sul'Jl@ria wi'! id'l in t m followed the d I an. Briefly s:ketched. t he pro "-'''-' was e Dan ish t veler a nd schcl r, ca
from that
nt of cun
s follows.
e,
by 1802 with e he Ip of the newly aeq ui kn Old Persia a nd by kee n rna n Ipu latio n of t e s as ha nded down in Biblica I a n cia'S ita I it rapp::!rsianvers ion of th e inscri re made by n u me reus the crowning achieve ment Ftawl inson. A rnernba r of th lin son wao; fi rst stat ioned in ian la nguageo. In 1835 he wa learne-d of the huge tri Ii ngu
io n
H. C. e. R.a eo Pe rs he
Beh i
t:t1!! rod
hirtun inscript ion co rl!;is:1o; n a'S;tl e E13 mite ve rsicn, co n sts t ird, t e Accad ian (d esign ated in ea lie r ;as ssyri.a n (] r Ba bVIa nla n~~see n e 12 lin s. 0 uri ng th e ye aI'S 1&35-37. lh awll n on succeeded in copying 0 II ion, H rewrned in 1844 and eernel ted tan a well as the Elam ire ve rsio • Th inscri ptlon, owe er, was se 'Situated that it t1 im to co it. 3 d tt was not until 1847 that rna king sq U eze-s f tne- text. To retu rn to d1e e"Cip erm aJ n@iform arsla • bv 1846 Ft.awlinson pu b lis"!! his me th e .J ou rna of he Roya I Asiatic Socie-ty, h ich ga tra nsllte rati nan tra nslation of the Pe rsian 8el'1 ist\l r1 ripti n lOgetne r wit h a c:opy
Voeriion of getond. no wt1 ile the (31 lit!!r.at u conslsts of and 11m b.
he
in
ori,g inal,
10
.....*:-. '- ~-
..
d1 e Persia.,
ne
'\.._tf. ~
~.11
standard wo k on t tlrifte
SiU bjact until WI:!! s.b:ilcn zweiter Art in 1 6-
'II be noted, noth ing h 5 yet rians A5 ea rly as 1850 howe the mit it in habita of A
und,H f wrtti
up
au
bill Nin
ne mi.sht f the sign~ he syllabic whicn no to suspect by a nonpctarnia. nal of the ry of nonseuehern lneks took • ["@Cogn iz@d hat it w.as; the first exa ple-; from rit 1"t1 M use u from the vario.usly
cnsonant,
ry DoiIm@
tongu the Fr 'king d to t ribLrted Semiti syria and rt. basing cad," and d by the ian to the invented
Ian
(I-
(I10F~~~
u ..... *:-. '- ..~the cunei followed . Neventl eless Oppe rt was not im ajority of the '§.SVria logists, .i! nd he na to be used for u meria n 10 r many ea rs 5
I
e>l: e nee ltv a II the ".;OiIJ e materia I for it"" eclptl e I'IIsisted of t ne b h"gua Is and sylla nss fro s following th ~ iscorJe
rba n ipal lib ra eh, Th is mate· e flftee n tl u nd politica I entity.
Su marl din s
rv of the
nsistad
011 most
of brid::-:., Sumerian
Mu-s.eum- I
and cyl.nd ~rs wh lch had fou tl oweve r, bega s ite, In th.at yea at T~11o the a n h RI THE FLRST H
wh ict! was dis a I dates from t h d yeaN after the As for t he materia ntk!! tv of a v@ry '5 m th ~ Su me rial'l d their way Ime t ttl e fi rst sueees r the F rf! nch u nda r ient SLI erja n city m F OF TJ1E THJRD
II..LEN
NJUM E C.
s w re a non-Semit i • non- Indo-eiIJ rope red Me'SOpOtil i a from the east who prcba iIIen n ium B. C. At the time of th '= during the invagol'll m c e 13nd betwee th e Tligli5 and the inha bited by t e Sem ites, a nd ttl do arkad the beg n ning of a st ruggle the twc r co ntrol 'Of th two- rive r 1111 nd r wh I'IIn To jiIJdge f om 0 ur pre-;.ent ea ta, for some eria ns, The re is ason to assu me t first fuU to 1'115 were in co rol of t ne bette ttl at t ney even earned t nei r ton q s, It W:iI'§. no DU bt during th i'5. more di COI'I Q uest 1'1 r in the fuu millenl'lium B. C. porta nt aeva n es in their econo sumerlans
e ntrsn
betw
h last . v letc
at (It
pan
ests in
ried
and politica I 0 iz tion. Th is mate ria I p reg t:t1 I! growth a nd d velopl'l'M!nt of the spirit eeneeers wh id'l e m panied rt, must nave impress on 0111 th p op!@s of tha N!!.a r EOI'5t wh th ~ fou rth mi lien niu wit h the Sumeria suring But ttl e ea rIy d
rna rk the end of control of Mes inva-s-Ion he rdes a of t ne Se mites by rhe struggle betw"@!! n the t amia. No doub.: with t
more: aggress ive. n '50 in the first part of the we fk,d the Sum ia s be i n.s ~r.a d ua IIV pus hed Me'.;opota mla, rough Iv fr 90 utherlv portio rap. North of Nipptlr the Pef'5,kl n G u tf 0" we II entre-nch@d. Approximately in great Semitic co Aa:::ad. H@ and t d efe3t~d the Su
moreover, to car
oottle Semites in
of ths end tor th of the th ird mil polltica I co ntrol Dynasty of U~I importa nt roll! Su me ria n· kingd ind Itilted by the bore Semit ie na capita], in .appro d isa ppe.ared as S meria ns. It is true t kat t n m the Sumeria ns made e sepeea mta and under ttl "5 rth a eerta i" inilia I sueee S. H la ed by the Se:m it@5 @v@ w hie h la'Sted for no more that the 1a"5t three ki Witl'1 tt1 e de struetion @Iy 2050 B. C., the Su i lit leaI e ntitv. Not long pie who had begu n t
I
(I-
2010 F~~
'INW'rN.
r~~jJ(I~-II'i-
14
.....*:-. '- ~-
..
lower Me
est! bl ishI!
petam ia towa rei the end of the c ity of Babylon as thei r CiI i
r such
sway Ion in
Id and
name
wh ieh 1'1 as contin uedin use to' the p resent {M ap dr.a n by M.arie Strobe I, afte r on Ha nd buc h de r Archaologi;e (Mun chen, 19
in ))
IRD MI
~;JEI!'.)
N IU
e. c..
inm I@
ri ng]
modern
obflqua
'INW'rN.
rl:l"lll~jJ(I~-II'i-
ntly
rian rlptlons m d tho
.d nd
s at ttl
none hun
ing
im
orta nt
and
us
from th pre-Sa
ajor e:.:c vation
II ttl rough
tne
a nd
'It~
r .a
h aeology~con
reave r, it
tn@ Nippu r i!iooveri
'§.
Ui
'-
rgE!:'5:t
n southern Meosopota-
s, Th yare divide d into two of the Shatt-e nANI l a tf1 e Euph rate 5 and
rran t@rTitory t hroug h the tempi ~ st ruep of bu lid 1"85 wh Ie h lib ra ry; it is in ttl is pan I' was !!)(Clv.at@d, The of the city prope r. 7
Ira CI Nipp
nde r ttl e
was;
OF~~~
0-91.
96·1900.
!! 5!!V@rl!!
;i
nd d ism u
ass u
of the obstacle's. h
succeed
and fril8
part of from the
n[ hand
a
ensrsnng
bs oil nd ~wis
ro\P@
sen bas tn@ms@l\.r@'. But rc up of ta blets dated bout with t he s..J merl.a n I era I'Y
and rnyt:h'5, hymn and
0201
F~~~
l' ..... *:-. '- ..~r Ni pur. t e e~vation'5ood ~ city Sku ruppa k) of C icage at Bi5ima rta nt Su marian
!!:
eve
fumi!!ihe!!i a bi s uncovered .a n s. d I add ition, score Sippar, and number of sien of the
mu urn .a nd rivat@ colle:cria
pro btv a COI'I rvati'Ve gUM'S. at now is con e nts of t hi vast aecu mu ta I n of 5 um
02(10F~~~
19
material?
rEveal?
Wnat
sign
ifica nt
five pe-r cent of a II the S d1 aracter, t nat is., tney con." rt of sale and e>«: ha rlge, agree
wills and testaments, trad ttio na I lists
patte rn wh Ich is
one mastic materia I to be re prese-nts; a fruitful 'SOLI rce tion in a nd a be ut su mer diU rl Of the Su I1l@ ria n i nscri ption one grou p conslsts of a pp d ed icatory In 5cription~ on
5
of the- eth n ic d
ribu-
.9
h istory of 5 urna r has bet! n I rg Iv r th ese in$(;riptlons, too, offe. n eente Itt." are 1,1"-' ua Ily brief a d and pattern of t ne Su m n fu llowe d to .a Ia rg!! ext@n t inscri ptlons: th e bil ingua I te ia I, All In all, therefore. except i Sume ria n h istorical mate rial int@rprat, 10
tv srna II
u itdin& hel p.
is also
.iI
vari i!!!d
.iI nd
im porn n
le;.::ical and maths matiea I incant ti 0 s. 11 But by fa r the most sign ifica t mate ria st Lldy of me nan c LiltLire. e spec iaIIV in 0; me re aspe • C Mist"-' of a greu p of i'lite-ra ry. ta lets. d at 1750 _C- teh are inscribed with Sumeria e pies an hym nand lamantst ions, proverbs and I' wo s of wisd it is i po a nt to note that. in sp ite of th vast qu nt ity Su me 'S-Crlpbonal material €,)CC3l1ated t date, 0 Iv 'SCI three iiUld ta bien b iiUld fragments, n more msc ribed with Su ma nan lit@r.a compos Ion'S. these th euss nd piece~. a ppro>t:imately n in~ hun red a d I"-'trlb ted a s follow~. Some t hree h u nd very._.. II fra me nts ha e bee-n 10 un cI in Kish by the ren c: had we pu blis ed by D!! G@nauillac in 1924. A fln:lxim Iv h LInd d blets and fragmenes we re be LJ ht by th Be i MU'5e m f m dea !er-s;= these we re pu bllsh by Zim ern 1912· 3. ppro)Cimately on e h u nd red we acquired by t
Louv fro d@al!!rs; thesa W@r@' blished b pu De G!!n u iliac
fth
1930. ess ha n a hundred pieces have fou n their 'INa to t Britl'5h M~ e u m a nd the A'5hmclean M~ seu ; the,,-,e h e pu blis ed n tf1 e COY rse (If sew ral decades by Ki"g. ngd and G dd, o these must ba addad an unce in num @r (
h LInd 7)
the B r i~h
Th@ r m.a i ing two thousa nd .a nd one hu a frag nts, by tar the major p.a rt of OLir Sume rian ta bl re e:<ta\llated by the Un l\IIers tty Pen n,,-,yl an ia fifty ye ars il8o. Of th is n Y moor. over one u nd un their w.ay to the University of .appr ima ~Iy eight hu ndred .3 re in the 'Ss;ion of t MU'5e m f the Ancie nt Orient In I~n b I; aim h u nd d a located in ttl e Un iverstty Muse m at Ph i delp"
@xpe:dilion
credited in
pa rt witn t
odde s
nts, wh leh
hs,
prime
th
so u n:::e rna rial for ou r 5u ria myth ogy. will b~ wit h consl era ble deta il in the followi ehapters, la mmu:z s dea IIn.g with he ying de - y and h Is res r d: Ion will be om - ed; rhe cente nt a re till tee bseu re for rs s na bly ion. 13
(I-
(110 ~~
I
e r.
.artual Third
were composed
large
du ring the last 0 cent urjes of the . C.: with t he defeat and c ptu re of the ir last ill i mate Iv 2050 8. C- S ume ceased to exist as
he ki n.gs of the Is in Dyn.a e
wereSe
r u
tha conq 1
1lE:i:I
wh ich followe:d rthe les:s: their hvm M, Ii these of t hei r ccmaosed a nd wrltte n j SUmer ian .. wt1 ic h d a s the litera ry and rei ious langu age of f tr.agic cornposi-
t ion de \I'eIIO
destructi peoples;
Book of
he Sumerl ans to com mem rate the freq uent Ir ctties; by the -5U rrc un dig me re boa .-baric re ru., ner of su Eh bhcaI mpo5iit ions as the
en
nt
ins.
inc. of more t ha n
Ii e wh lch
lament the d estru i on of the city of b en restored a.,d publi"-'n d." and a "-'Imdar Ii g with the destruction f N ippu rand its
. In add itilon it is
l!@.ctia n
rs y Muse um]. The uppoe-r ea re presents the O\I\Ier pa rt, the auther's an d copy of the these comp05iit lens wt1 aerua I co ntents n ruct in Iii r:gt! part all! as to 1oW!i~
1. Hymn bu Igi (a ppro:-: ima 2. Hvmn ipit~ Ishta r (.i! ppr .3, Myth, stien cf tha Pic 4. Hvmn Inan a, quaa n of h@av 5. Hvmn E"nli he air-~od. I, 6. Hymn 0 the t m pie of the m city of Ke h. 7. Epic ta!!:, "Gi amash, Ifnkidur 30). 8. Epic ta ,i'lna na and Eblh· ('S 9, Epic ta ," Gil mesh and H uwa 10. If pk.!: I!!!, I'G i mash iii nd 11. Myth "Catt and Grain" (see 12. lame ta tlc n ver t he f.aII of (a ppro>:i tely 00 B. C.),
ely 2l
No.
ian Vf!rth@ destruct on of ippur.
15. La me tic n ver the eestruct on of 16. Epic t Ie, !ILl.! albanda and En rkar.' 17. Myth "I naI'IIn 's Descent to th Nethe World II 18. Pe-rh.il s iii hy n to Inan n.a. 19. Col ~hort hymn s 10 aII 11'1 e imeerta position s dese r bing t be a s riba. m CO o~it.on. "I nstru io ns 0 a Peasan
of
n. •
(I-
201 0 F~~
'INW'rN.
r~~III(1~-II'i-
24
.....*:-. '- ~-
..
as a
ed as
r part Agade d part oft And
"SO nJ led
in the ea rlie r
8. C.14 f the
shert,
So
ar, itions.
not .a
Tn
$1:
sui be:
very
bes of
nseu s m pi ling
rnposftlo ta lc Lie wM
50
bt practi I. For a is now c ea r, by app Kima ely 2000 8. C a large n u ber of Irter.a ry mposilion of al tv pes an siz:e were cu r rrt in S mer. i"'Sic bed on tabl ts of II shapes oil nd irnens ions wh ich h d to be: andled, stc d. an cared me of th sc ribes in eh a of the
tabl
ts In
e tem
pI
for
late "'ta bl
U rpo5@'5
of ref!!ra n
e re p~ctive ta tets,
line bet
!!@n nub!!~
10
02(110F~~~
conta nts we
. And what is W hich ttl is; re of compositio s whose aetuaI et in larg!! part. adlass to Sdi'tr :d-i of man", me e com po~itio ns N Ippu r cats I08U . e ut since the
nty-on e- of the it s
AND DE HWPMENTOF SYSTEM 0 F WRIT IN G w.as proba otde..,t Inri pdo!'llS u nea 11h and ¥fa rnents from t he I recent yeil Ia nguage. 8 t invented the sc
. C. wh ic were ill I Iik ihood
nine.
ori,gin.ated by
to cate-ove r er ha If of the
excav.ated
wrrtten
her or ot it wa~ the erlans who it was rea i n Iy they who he ceurse of B. C. fa h ioned it into an ttil.re writing OJ grildually rec g i led by the who bo rowed It from t h LI merka ns and wn Ia ngu gas, By the seco dille nn i~m B.
J
'IIertl1e
number of
'5-
use, The S~
nd d iffic
or more concrete objects n represe nted ant leal witn, or d s Iv re lated to, t his type .are rm of the sIgn~ nd the huge der it too unwie d for praenea I eve rca me t he fi d Ifflcu ltv by a nd co n ntio naliz:i n.g the of the signs nit: origi n .iJ'5 no longar aPfl r nt. ~ for the ~V reduc d the number of s and kept it it".; by rt I.,g to lJarleus Ipfu I devices.
op po ile:d d
PagE!! W.i35
urnartan
but whose
at the s ilCty@
umber runs;
i" southern
02(110F~~
'-
t nat au r
will be
nlarg d.16
So t
@
5C pe.il nd 00
c th
what ent mad e 11'11 preced I.,g page".; that the re p rese nts tne olde-s.t writte n hteratu re of nt eY@ r u nCOV@ red. The toil b lats
see
IT It NJPFU R ARCHAI C GYUNDER ri pt. the NiPPUf eyl i., der d I~st rate d cn th is ip pu r eells d: ien of the U" iversity Muse I.Im)
2500 B. C. Alth ough [0 pied .1 nd pu blished sa 110fl a-s ea rly as 1918. 20 It,_; contents. bOll the Sumelia n ai r-god EnIil and the godde ss sti I Iarge Iv un irrtelligibte. Neve rtheless. mue h own r misu nderstood at the tim!!: of its; pu bl learadu ltv b~comjng cia rtf led, and there is good e tn t t he not too dista nt futu re wi II see the eo te nts re:lldv for tra nslatlcn.
5
a rlv org
m E. de Sa raee. Deco uvertes en Cha Idee (pa rls, I. 37) iII~st rate 5 0., e of t he two G udaa cyli I'll de rs
thlE
(yli.,
hym
see is hi dev
corn
(yli.,
a pro i~tety :;2150B. C. They were eXCfl'LI~ted by t.aga h more tha n half a centu ry .ago r .and bot h ers a ow n the Louvre. Th ev a re Inscribed IN Ith long s tc t d i ngirsu (another .,arne for t he god N in urea80) his t mple In Lagash. Tne ~yle of th e com pos~o I'll "Iv a need and points to a long prnced i 1'118 pe riod of pm@ , in w iLh much lite ra ry material must hava bee n w· en down. The contents of the two Gude a osed ers ca fu Ily copl ed and tra nslated by the eml nent
French Assyrio
daca de of ou r imp!!r,nive, entu
ry.
ore of the
ra slatlen
PLATe IV
II:
Fe(" D!"SC1'lptlofl,
(I-
0 F~~
'INW'rN.r~~jJ(I~-II'iI II I I
iO
..
fl
t k~m!ielve!i. to judge evidence, -were iI'IIscrib period following im IIl@ of Ur. Ju~ as a rough wrltll'llg of the ta blet", As for the eernposjtten emu p of hymn!i devot much of it actua ltv t wh Ich la'Sted a pproKi ver, an 41"41 lysis of the so-called G udea cvli n 2250 B. C., and of t (Vii., der pu bl is.hed by '5C ript, dates cons id e c I@arty ind icat!!s that n materia I h ad a I ready Fina 1Iy, an a na lysis of bu ilcl i"g and cled ieatc period, rough Iv 2600In she rt W~ are a
rom t i!!! scri pt CI!i well rom in d in t e Ea rly Po -S um n perio ine Iv upon the t II of th hird oint f reference there . the be dated .app r ximat 1750 the contents, 0 jy d d to t @ kings of t !! Th i ok p ce in that Neo-S tely m 2150 2050 8 C. h conte ts of ttl e h ri bed wh ir::h da
arnal ,the
.a!ity
av
ctual . C. a
a 1- I~ of ths ny
een he rei
i"st
00 II pty j I.a ble
lit!! rat'l.ln! ot t n@ s.u m latter ha If of the 1: hi Ute ra ry mate ria I fro m he se a r her poerio to date is in Ia rge pa rt a m r of arch41 it not basn r for !!)(;i1 I@ for t ha Nippu r mr have ve little Sume r n Iite ary maten Su me ria n period.
Iv 2
meria n t S- Co. a la
s h.as
ologic
rv
lit~ rateres know n to might have expected rate with its h i,g h cult
ttl !! pt, f r
one
02(110F~~
n Iit@ rature
in thl!!!
il h
@
must
hava bee n w tt
s
little he pe th.3t enough it will er be reccve red to g rs asona bly adeq uaee c r -section the Egyptian Irteratu th at an cient period. 1't1 n too. th rs is the h rtherto un k 0 ancia nt Canaa nite Iit@r3 u wnich as been fou nd msc ri tabl~t-; excavated in th e p st decac by the French at Rash e Shamra in northern ... 111 e ta blets, relatively fe n y moor. i nd ieate that n ites, too. had a h d!!!V@ loped I it@r,nu re itt 1400 B, C., that is. the late r t nan CI u r Su merta Babylon ian Iite rat ure as e of Creatia n," t "f pi sh," @tc •• it is not 0 con-sider.3bty later th a erl an lit~rat Lire. but inchJ des much that I~bo IV from tt. 22
ne
mort profou nd infl uenc n the 0 re spiritLia I aspects tivdizatlon. The~ are h 81ble, teh conta in~ t he Ii he Iliad nd Odyssey. wh ich are Gr@!!k!i; the Ft i.g~veda, wit h the @pic .a nd myth i conta in s 1: e lite rary p r h ets et a cte nt India; a nd the A n clent I n, NO ne of these Ii wt1 ic h conta Ins tI1 ose collect iOr1'50 were wrttte n in t Ii! ir p resent form befo f rst half af t n@ first mi I@ n lu m B. C. 0 ur 5'1.1me ria n lit@ra inscri bed on ra b lets d fro m a pp rox.m.a1:~tv 2000 literatu 5 by more than a m tl1 e refore a nredates th n iu m, More-over. the re n oth er ital ddfere nee - The te t:t1!! Bible, of t ha Iliad n Odysse , an d of the RitVveda Ave sta, .3$ 'We have 1: h have ~e n mod ified. ~d ited, redacted by compile ~ n rs with varied motives
II
a a
!ill
..
diverse po i ts
compilers point, The tal Importa has it rn .a.v.a ilabk:!: t sch imped~d t d Why has itt Ie t ra"'&lation f t h unfortuna presented language;
rnrnentators, And '50 c m@ to the c rue i I lu e of s.J merla n lite ra Lire and it!; fiJ nda me r t he related t....J rna n tt sing obvlou$, wh (I rge Iv un k"own; why has it not bee" mad I.a r .a nd byl"l\1l D? Wh h '5 h arnpared an iphe rme nt of the Su rl n litera ry ta blets regress been made in d1e on ~ ructio nan ir contents 1 The fa ct rs r spen sible for ti'l t, the difficult i of the Sumeria
~t of t he phVSi
c ha raerens
H u n.ga nan
seems to h
therefore. la nguage
i n8
la nguage. As
cons!!!qu@n
at in
' to t eir own
rei s
la ng'l.la,ce, Aa::: d i.a
lit
t ra"'&lation
.a nd As5y ri.a !"IUd , 11'1 ~V the refo ua I syllabaries or ph rases y.;.e • I n .additien th ra rv corn pes itie by it~ Accad ia ngue rs lawd t
niangua s, was decip ilingua Is beca mE!' tn@ b e pherment Su me an, fo r by e dian word ith ths eorres n ing of ttl latte r u lei be ded LJe€! d~ re lativ IV sl mpl so t hasa
ered latively early, ic tarial fur the mpa ri g the known on d i Su IIl@ rian, the ,No while-.all t bls I practice the
e pherment
any .era rnatkal nd
mi
me
gr m rna rand
v cabu I
n Su
I.a rs
w@r@
r@s@nted with
some of
u r u ilingua I I rter.a ry
rv
that
wt1 en
ts, t hat is 'h theIting effo proved I s the atte pted tra n em usly TEV,
I
blets i Mclibec:l
their
and ~VII ba ries campi I he 8a bylo nian he ir st u of e Su me i iU1 ngu~ge, wh sic d is.ci in@, vari@d co 1d!!: Iv in make- up r
t"
it"
n~ of th mort usetu I ~S' th e ·Chlcago· ba rv. a sci€' tific ed iti n of wI'! ict1 was rece n Iv pu blished by ard Halb: of the 0 -ental I" Sit itute. 2.3 It 5i iIIust rated 10" U02 d hers pi! ission of the , It was in.,;crlb c:I in t e latter part of a Itho~gt1 th e d ica io ns a re that rt etime ln the sa nd
structure.
Md@d into tw
ha I'll'!! , a nd
@.a
t:
h h aH
is su bd ivicIed ."to fo
p onetka
t ran-s:latjon,
PLATE: VI. T
r.1ry
2(110F~~
VI R [j.Il:AMMATICAL
"tAn
TEXT
Poebe I'~ GnJ nd:z uge de r ttl at Sume ria 1"11 mrna r ha s been gra for t ha Iexit::oiI pm blems, these still I uft of Arne
re-solved, 26
ta bl~.
r, the m
lets,
nd tra nslating are not in-;upera ble, The m.ajor serlous 5t~ m bling block, is the te>:t~ al ia Ily thaw irlscri bed wit h the wh ich oil H! larg!!ly un ba k@d, m the grau nd. usua lIy they are in a uent Iv 11"11 very fr.agme Ma I'Y a i sadvantage isrhe ha ppy fact that the tha n one ropy of any gi'lff!n one ta blet may 1 herefc re freq uent tv
oil
pleces
IN njch
may t he rm.elves be
me rs breken fragme nts, T us. i., the to the Net:t!!! r World4' (see fl. 83:), I ut fragments. In ttl e case of t e rees ntly Ov!! r t ha O@structicn ot U(, 1 S th~ t@:Kt twenty-two different trag nts, And
fragments. To ta ke fu II ad con S!!q ue nt restoratksns. much .3'S peso;ible of the
of
III
na
lized fou
u b lished
w.as ream ru
But of the NI pp ur lite ra rv t Pen nsy Ivan ia a nd now 10 'S01'Jl@ t'WO th OUY nd in nu bee n copied and pu bl ish appro:< Imately 'Seven h u nd teuvre, Berli n Mu se u m. a copied .a nd pubhshad, 12 'S not a ppea r until a relative ta nees, the tru'StWOrt t ra "slation of au r Su me ria sea Ie was obvio usly impossi
ny
I flm realized ttl i5 $it~ aticn a nd it'S imp a decade ago. wtl ile work ng in the Un ive~ity of Chicago as a msrn ber 0 staff. For in that ye.ar die Edward copied more of the Nipp r lite rary -combined. Lo ng a me mbe of the fa
Pen nsy Ivan ia, he devoted h io;stay the re to
io ary
ar
ltv
th n a
of the Uni
the co pyin of me re l a n two h u dre ta blets and fragme nts In t e Un ivers. M U'S-eU m La ea lied to the rapid Iv ex and i"g 0 r ntal In Un ive~ity of Chicago as he d of its A'S rla n Dini na ry p rear
he took h is co pie'S with hi ,and the ri enta I In itu took to pu blj s h t he min volu me'S. Upon Ct1- ra's deat h, the eel iterta I de rtm ent of tne 0 rie I
nst ute
o posth umeu s
the contents
available.
efforts on the
e nan
litera rv
h rt\J dy of the d "Spent some t n@ A ci ant rie: nt,. w hara I Lime ri n lite ry ta elets and
ion; u
ate ...
re pa and fi are i nsaibed with
cent ted la rgeiy on t:t1 epics and 'S. B utll izin ava il ble publ ishad m terja I. together wit h t at part of the LinPLI b ished mate rial kh I copied In t e Mu'S um of he Anc nt 0 ent at Istanbul In
(I-
2010 F~~
B-o-ob
fl
an
M
la er parts of the
m at Ph il:ilde-Ipn ia, I suee ed in rf! te)(tS (If twe ty-f u r S4.l '5; 28 th '50 is th!! ba sic source ial for t erla n m hology to be $ketth the tol r the s ientiflc editlo n of th
SUmeri
th@'5.@
wort
02(1 OF~~
I I
..
TH
RIAN
YTHOLO
he
T
the sa
H cie nee of corn pa ativ~ rnytho I v. Iike a Im s - nees, ~act .a nd exact, I'Sla tv a prod u
nn
velepment
the seianca
WI h
ena I g e ph ilolegy It....e wa'S.due p ri a rily to th e bot!' Sa nskrft, tel anguage tne oldes
phe ern
cc
sa red
OJ
literatu r th e la u
peoples,
the H in d U pi!!!O les, as we II as e of the old ~ sacrec lite r ere Inde- EUrope I.a nguages;: amily of languag s as Greek a
nd 0- E uro p~i1n ph
end,
t ure
r Okl p~
of th e I ra ian at k-J they bien to d Latin. Th i 1ol08V t kat fo owed w.a s t @rf! re lite ratu res 0 the Gr'"eek"i. H in us, uraIIVand dj tv to a co ara lYe ds as re lated d revea led n th m.
cted fie Id
of
- e mytho logy. F
we re d c phe red, an d m u
gradu all th is fiel ecovered. What
dded im pet
ppreach to ttl i!!! udy of t k~ e eloJident th at s me of th e 0 was '"'""""""'''''Iogica I in cham c:t r, ""Inee it p
and
blances to the
sou rces, And
'50
yt hs raccvs he stu dy of
02(110F~~~
40 gy
.....*:-. '- ~-
..
followin gin t h.
er rastricted
of ph iI logy a nd Ii
t a anei nt
Ie
Ind
mo
roughly
an
of the Hebre
I'll! first mi1 onium B. C. I
a nd I!!ge nd
i rece t centu tes, M obta ned bv word e moo of tho e peop les nd reported a nth. pologistsgoes wit he ru n, the cent, prim itit as i p ortant a d va Iua ble
ttl
re I ted ~cienc
as that of th
cone the
Babyloo i ns and Egyptia 0'5., e. It is th e 'S ritual an religiou s cl ent literat u which perm eaee ths
mod rn
gdad~
c die oft
land th
alysis of th more important world; reo too. how IoJ.e r, t he will be traces of Sumer n mythology Whate r Ittt Ie is of Sume ri ., mythol gy ts la rgely urmised from the '5@n'S@, g.a rbl e S Lime ria ns ., and who steri s an le.ge.,d as a ba~i and nu dey s of th ir 0 n mytk .
02 10F~~
I
fl
·OUS
Ag
In Is
Ia g.ig
eel for many centYri the study of t nd lite rature r@nuined t"@ basic p ursu it
Su
t"@
Ol'lly '5
riba I
d i ntell~ct ... l .a nd s:pi ltual cente rs not a sand A s-s-y Iians, bil.lt lse of d1e many h as the Eia m rt-es. H u ia ns, Hjttite"5-, and of their content their a_se, th e SLI ria n mytho logi
u'St
iI.I rrou
I ta Ie
pt
tl ave pen etrated .a nd permea~d t ose e r East. A. knowledge of ttl e Sumeri an myth
hi'i P ct icallv un known SU eria n mythology hlch I have Ie e of sketch ing briBfl in the page'S to foil The i I begi" wittl the rnyt:h c:e nterin8 about he c ane n
d
r~rting mls the reade ria n myth
@
I:: ultu
re
I ng th rf!i!!! ve rsions of .d peemin nna's Descent to the I will cone! de- w- h n outl i ne of th ri!!!@ I neous myth ,All in II, e refere r it is hoped ill obta in a airlv a eq ate cress-sect Ion of ion ie, considering the age in olve d, is rna rka Iv road in SCOpE! and n eta il. KUf
ytns of
1::0nSiI
if a nd (If th
02(11 F~~~
I
Th-e major
otthe uni which I h W~u1d,jl TI'I
e hi
reeenstru
bte.
1i1rg~1y
Ci1 U5i@
02(110F~~
p reperl
d'assvri
t to the Nethe r Wo rid II (see @ffon r!!(.{lnstru rt the c sly se e e d to CO nta in a eh wall_; the that I came upon t the pie 'S in t nei r proper c e c:rysta lited from .a n effect s wh ictl eha mete rize Sume nks ve low in tne seaIe of f view of tha d~cip follow-;, When th a 8fven esc riptio nor In cld e coincj e with ttl e 0 rig inal god or ern (] rders his: mes ssage, n matter how Iong.a fl ~ he n t ne me~~en8e r eco.,d t me w ne n the rne"S'S rsions a th us p ra[tirally id ssage m V be restored from
J
p- 83lr I decided to
ntants of the poem, wh - h
LIti lizatio n of two a n poetry. The fim 0 artistic teebn iq ue but wh i @["@rs tm Iv a boon, t m i poet finds it ad~i~ I~ nt he makes th is re eat 0 th every last deta i Th en,cer to del iver a d d eta iled r is given t Is inrtNcted by nis e is act ... !ly del ive a ntical,.aI nd the brea ks in t e othe r.
e
'II
0
d s
sitiOM. d laIe ct
and diH
quee n • .3 3 A nd t hat
J
may be thy'S 'Sketch usas two d ialact in his epic and he main dialect. nd anothe r knowr. The latter resem les the rnain diale rs 0 nly in shewl ng vera I r!!8 ulsr an cI d1 .aI riation s, What is OrE! int@l'e'sting,. h ow po~ uses th is Em I dialect in re nde ri a fema le, not rna Ie de tty; th 1.1 II_; ttl e spee f tl eaven, areorsgu rty rendered in the so, on sxamining ca efu Ily th@ tsxts befor hat in th e case of severaI pa$~ag~ ha ere meaningless a d unmotivated dupl"
I
I
n ,
46
.....*:-. '- ~-
..
ally eentai
5;jJ
sp ech of t he godde ss Ina n na i" whic I dtalaet ;jJ II that ttl I!!! poet had prevrm in the rna in dialect. Wit h
DS AND THE NETHER WORLD
re
to a 11 mad
prima
ritv
for
te
m
En su sta rat
thi
"ger lsi
i mytns.
de~ign m En id u, an d ttl
41
In tha
pictu re we "ate a
r ~ion!i
;i
nd is
s to
I
Th
c the left i a god, ttl ping dow I'll a tree right naif of tf1e d esi,gn
The lower de I.g I'll rna In u a ph rase as, Tne n her t:t1!! right h a
flam.ng mou tl1 e word use
,Cyli
doer
02(110F~~
4, '. -;
cI u as a &u id I succaeded _ of th i~ m; th is wa~ P Llblished t he po m ~tillrem ined largely [l"d pu lished pa had seve ral
t his
ing togetha t @ fi rst part 9.38. 3:4 The I r h aJf of IIgIble, and n t he fir.;t 5 breaks i
193;9 I fou nd in
As a
over
!! m,
b ri@fly
low: it wa~ : it was nu red by the Wi nd tore t it, root 41"d
Ma
nr while t
qu n of heav
e Eup ing
bro gnt it to E
it in her wh~
ei nC1~
, an d pia nted
ca rNu
holy
en
Tn@(@
r
11v,
f.c r
the tree
r w b'
she plann~d to m
wood a chair
to r er.;.elf an d
passed, t If U n.3bl e rnatu rsd
own
;iI
nd gre w
n bird -a mythol
hOM
the tree. For t ito; se th e snake II h.a d b ui tt its ne-s:t.In i~ crown, th e Z~~ atu re wh ich at tim s wr ugnt m lsehie-f-u ng, In the midd I@ Lil ith tha a id of di!!!sol.a
r
its
, And
0;0
su n-god Utu. ar
to him
t@artully al I hat
ne 10 e ru n ner of the
rd Inn na's 'W@epinG S:CUe, He do nn ~d his: und -and wit h hls
n weigh t--ove r
tha sn Ice ~
no
knows
no
e the
the tree" See i ng w lch. e ZU-Bird fled 0 untai n, and Li lit h ore own he r heuse
presented
the base of the h hippu tree she m.a d@ kku (proba b Iy a dr m)..a d of its crown e d object called t e mi ku (probably.a
a
Ii eSi
objetts w h sa (] psnat h it is in p@ comes i lIigible .3 in, it contin es ~bereaus of ttl e ry of the yo "8 ne m ikk fell into he net ne r w d, in t ha g oun d. Gi mesh put in his w.a-s una Ie to rea the m; he p sueces uLAnd so e seated him If ned witn a lien fate ~j
~f.atellof the
ry, why is h aart sit: k? pukku, I will bing it up om the n herworkl, 0/' of the ne h~ mikku, I will b ng It up
t hou
er world.
po d Gilgariles h war ed him rs involved in hi!; cend to t he n her wo d~~a~pIe n Id passage, b lef e taee s of the I er regions. id
k@ m advice.
tf1e (dead)
ne
oes will
51
II t n@v wi II crowd a
we re struck down b
und thee:
,iI
bou
m other of t he god Nin a2 u who h se 11oty body no ga rme nt toVe sa h oly breast no cloth wraps;. eeded not t he advice of hI" a ga inst w hieh G i lea mesh ha d w the neth@r world .a nd w.a s u e reu po n Gilgam esh r g reatlv tr ippur and ~pt before tl1 e g
s.u me -
n pantheon:
OF ther Enllt my pukku fell Into th ikku fe II into t he nether worl t [nkid u to bring tharnup to h 5 seized him.
mkl
02(110F~~~
'5l
.....~*:-. 'j m,
..
Ashak (a demon)
im,
noon
e, has not
But Enlil
ot wi5do m.
neth er wo
earth, Tne sppea red Gilgam@'5.h world. The
broken. b
see to run by Gilg peated his lea befa ' En ki ordar d a nd tc aI w the u n~god Utu did as b0 Gi I,ga rnes . Mane uestioned nkid u a pas:sag~fro he re to the follow I pa niy
od
ade de n
a.,d
ut w
h~ e
ho ttl en proceeded to ter-god En ki, the "god t to OP!! n.a hole in the r::nkidu to a seend to n the stl ade of Enbd u want embraced and a saw in th~ nether of the poem is badly Uoquv will serve (J$ an
.,!!
illustration: k
hast thou seen I"
een."
is h@ tre ted? broken)
a~h:
"Ho
(I-
2 10 FI)ft~
I
The
En kid u,
a nd
he Nethe
conta n the
ttl ~ t
nslatl
blet (14068 i" e Nippu ) publish@d by C i I!!r.ain 1 3,4,36 Th@ one to the N Ippu r colle Ie n of t e M U'SeIJ m of the l5ta nbu I) is a f rnent of pri sm copied by itl1erto u" pu bl is ed- The rna rked pa5s:llges the un iv@r!ie; fa r ig nifica nt fur the eo 3;7 an d note the tra nslite
37.
the te>.1: of he poem liThe Cre.at ion of , S1), In first five lin es ~re ignjfi~ nt for the ot the crest io of the tra MUte ration. ee page
un ive rse: fur the an d note 39.
VIIL iH
e :]'~PAP.A T o
t.I
~ FOr di!'Slifp1i".;)tJ.
!ilE!oE!
eAAiH
Gilgi1l"1l@'5h: 4' Hi m w En kid u: "I h.3V~ SP::!e Gil,ga tne'5h: i, How is; Enkidui "Uke . , , hi Gilga mesh:
Enkid u: "I
II
tim
II
seen I"
Hi m w
see
II
have
i
41
Gil,ga rY'!Ie'Sh
How is
Gil,ga rY'!Ie'Sh
41
Hi m w
"
Enkidu: "like
him
es."
II
II
~~~
Gilgam!!Si :" Him who h as E nkid u:"1 aw seen, I Gilgam!!5 : "H ow is n@ tra E"nkidLI:" 0 ne clQ~eto tI'I
i!!!
An
Gilgame~ : "H im whose d plain hast he u ",oon?~ E nkid u:"1 aw seen, I Gilgam!!5 E"nkidLI: .. d cdy lie'; (u n buried) i the
II
Afte.r he-a
n had been m
e ad §;~t sa it
sail.
r Kur
had set
, 38
Agai nst t king the sma II ne it (Ku r) hurled, Agal nst E kl, the large one it u rled;
02(110F~~~
'56
..
fl
he eentents of 1'1 is pass ge, it !!n and !!.a rt:h, 0 19i nallv 0 ite d, d away from ea ct:he and was 0 rdained. n, the h avenA
off
rd iog to pia
b b
er or malt aters
e the
tosmogo" it 0 r c
basic conte nts
0
ntire h the
a ccustomed to b
dea ling wittl e roe
It is from the f
rst ha If of t
inned uctio n
t at we
blain
2(110F~~~
d e rtf1 we re un ited.
of
ight
oft
me ng the cruc~ I pc I
Implle
re- t he following
· Were heave n a nd e
om?
· Wnat was the sha pE!:
u me
the
ri.an-s?
these three
SU me rian te>.1'5 our
@i1'iIE n
an d ea rth
'W@
rib s the
irt:h in h@.av@n of the s i rits of cattle ;iI nd grai." nt down to ea rth to ring ('(10; pe rity to man in. than
with
It is not iI.I nre asona ble t eant1 I,U1 ited were conee bottom of the @,ilrt:h a nd ;, The mytn liThe C rea ion of dese rioos th e fa 511 ni g and io .agricu Itu ["31 i mpie: ment
Iv he
ca u5ed to
Took ea re to rno
And so we have the an er to 0 god e nli L whe se P(I rated and re If nOW we 'Sum up the c
51 on:
tt was the ai
1,
Firit
tv that
ot the
(I-
II
(I0F~~~
I
eived as gods i
and K {e.iJ
rt:h,
W.iJ'5. th
i!!!n
the ai
od EnliL
OWGJCAL SCEN
The identp
(I
foot
meu nta in
the rl s:in of Utu. the sun ays, a nd sa kn ife. He p laces hi ile (Itt ell d il1g d eit ie s ttl row ope
l'1OU5
(see
fiery
lion figure
he water-g e nthro !'lied ill h is. 'sea house d@5C ibed in" En ra and E du ~ the center uw. the sun-god. ith on (I e rou !, in,g de ity - Ttw len oil gatepost, is proba bty oil n mend n Utu and nkl, who r.; ell mbl
Enkl.
"able.
,an u niden . ied god with fi@ry
he scene ls to Nipp ur (se 47). The ste a sna ke, wh i Ie t e prow ends king oil punt in ol-!!. In the ural Implemer. and a hum a vegetation cess, perha p. de 55 of pla nts ( ee p, S7), or
re min Iseent of Na of the boat ends i ., the body of a god bon .a re v,arious n-headed lior.. a to be ide ntif~ as Asn ...an, the god d e
@p.53,.
what is preba
Iv a divine
con n ubi
60
.....*:-. '- ~-
..
(Reprod uced,
y, from
XVI·I
fat
ne r An ea rri
nile his
Ki. tha aarth, Th union of f times; she is; pe aps to b~ i va riou Sily Nin m • ·great q
(eesrn icl mou
TI1-e
~heave n7~.a rth, I'
literally
@mor@
be s ubd ivided
Heaven
2(110F~~~
di!!!iti~,
hological
follows,:
is born of
e sta rs, a
sea
;iI
Utu, th@ '5. od, who rises i sets: in the OU ntain of the any boat 0 C a riot used by th Nor is rt c I a ju'&t wt1 at ne d t at upon re.ild1 in
h day he co rrti rUJ
"natural
ountaln his jo rney at n'
ot the
toju
rlsest,
orf
mad
sen i
of the
'5U n
wnic:h roE!! 5; 4S d
OOSO
of h is
r deities
is. both
le-god, in order
i'5
based
e in
getti
io iog
Ni
u r.
nan
re an d ivill Choose 5 the
of th earth d ~T h
contents we now h a hole the mcon-god Na g of Na.,na; The J @V!!! 0 arE' of pri ma i .0 rigin and ertablis The-s.e are Emes;h a Creatio n of the Pic k
e wh.o Ily
na: they umey of
rta nee
m ~nt of d Ente n:
)C~
cattle
and Grai
o
to [ ch
he
of
Nippur; I
ur e.y of
from [rid
contents
We ~hall n
p reed
the
read
tog!tther
th t @ir spiritual
ral igiou s
begetting of th
iI.I nderwer
n-god Na n Nin
as we II
as
d de it es, Nergat
i terpreted t n @x m e of the assu mes e for th ree d Iffe t1 is; wrfu N ., Iii w· 1'1 t e th ree net right
Tne poe
salla, fts pu
rkurunna
water, canal
02010
~~~
old
WOm.i!D.
.adviCE!: to
Ninlil foil
(I
nd
de
to r
Su I'neri.a
02(110F~~~
see ms
nd a.,s-we rs
s:ilge in
centai n
refu a 1 to d iv
een ce ive s Mes mta-ea, re co ki ne: of the net @rworld In splts flavor of th i-s r rna rka b I passage
t he following q
En Iii..
NLina daparte ir (.3 na from the city, of Enlilj ... depart the city.
Oman 111y qu
n Ninlil
Tell he
If she a ksthee
fthe bol
man
of
oingr
02(1 OF~~
ki g, but Y ueen,
am
Ninlil: "Th
'water' of hV lng th
bright 'water' i in
I
heart.
Tne hsart."
I
'water,' Ii
W.aI
'ware of mv king, go oay down in the rt n t1 er, abited with her a ha ca used to 10
rd ea rt .' p, 46
EnIiI. '5 the man gate, He kl ed her. be 01'1 btted kis~d her ha -ng co The ~ er" of . , slarnta over (h e r) hea rt.
The
@ity Ninaz world, th n all ethe
E"nlilwalk d, Nin IiItol N~namnlr walked. th E nlil says th e rna n th~ manorld. the ma n
let
02 10F~~
. ...t!,
world, tne marl evou ring riveri "0 man of the ri ar of tha nether
devou ring rive r.
man evou ring riv~r: "En III. the king a II the lands, has comma nded
world, the
Th@ s bsta nee of the mma nd ls U ninta Iligible. foil d ia 10 e betw.e~ n Nin Iii a nd Enlit the lane r im persona i
th til
th e river of the
e~ :
N in Iii: "trua, En I Iis thy king. but I .a m tny q u@@ n. EnIii: "If now til a rt my q ueen, Iet my ha nd tou
N in Iii: ~'The IW
heart, The 'wale r'
heart.
II
r'
EnIii: 'The IWale 'of my king, let it go toward he let h go towdird .iI rth, let mv 'wat r,' Iike the 'water' of mv ki ng. g ward earth, ~ Eniii, asthe man of the ri\ter of tne nett1er world,
man-devon ring 1-1 avjng
kl~~ed h ,t1av 11'18 cohabited w tth he r, ,., e llwate rt of irl azUr t ne king of , , ., he ca used over (n@r, heart,
The em then co nt I eo; IN tth
u nde
om :iI bri
Ou
II;!
p:il5S..E!g!!! in decrees
e Sume tans of he thir millennium 8. C" Ni sp i u;(I1 te r of th ir eou n ry- Its tutela ry deity. lea ing god f the u meri i3I pa ntheon: his te mpl • fkur. w.as th~ ~ 1m rtant emple In sumer, And 'So, ttl bleo;.,lf'lg of prosperity ntial f r the esta blistl me nt other important cit ie s of Su r, such a s .and U , To o •n th bl !!:ssin&. the tute Iii To
re CO cejved as t ravelling to N Ippu
j ust ~ud1 a Ur to. i pp I,Jr 0 t ne moon -ged Na I'IIna (;(1150 known as nand h.c irba aft th t Llt@lary de ity of Ur. n th rs. myth, as I the p r ceding n III-Nj III com position, the c Ies such a s Nip ur and be fu built and lich in an-i al and plant life. a!tnoug st ill n oneJ(i'Ste ...t, d .a nd of the glo of Nlpp ins Nan na's decision
m p le,
u r myttl SO d esen
rv
con inues a
0 ur
fat
rs City:
nd before hi..,father, in-d: I weu Id go, bela re m father
Id go.
before my fat h
I wau Id
10
..
FCII'IO
~rl
rnv c -
stand,
On. t he . , , of t
lI.
IaZ:Uli
rf!W
quay.
of EnliL
up his At the wh' q~ay. the A".; gjrba b ar drew up h On tne . - . the fathe s~lf, To th ~ gat keeper of E: "Open the Open the Open tne forth, 0 pe the hcu se, O. , '. wt10 makest the house, Gab!k!!:@ pe • OP!!! n tha the heuse.
dhim·
e forth. open
protecting &!!: n i
2010 ~~~
I II
e forth.
grass and
p, 49
eds,
e noney an d
u-
'INW'rN.r~~jJ(I~-II'iI I
reconciliatio n
lete; because of the rUJ me r15 t herefe re often d ifficu It ents of the poem may be
a"
he a i..~god tl iJS set tl is; 1nd 0 bring fontl trees. and gra in esta bli5ih a bu nda "te nd p s perity in the I~nd - For t his
@
II!
ach
pc int at it s impos$ible to rna ke out the es.e d utie$; the IIOWingve ry brief intelligible
eneral direction: bi rth to the lam b. the
ulti
plv.
w.ld
he hOI d them
111e fi~h
tneir
the
sea, i
mpland he
an (the gra i n goddess), the lei used rsngth to ;jJpp~ar, mesh rougnt into e"l'listence the tre Idsr @ mad wid@ tha sta bles an d shaapf n th e fa s he multi pi ied the prod LI he. " e ea use d to cover the earth, ne (I eu da nt ha rve-st he ea used to be b ught j" 0 t @ COl used the gr.a na riss to b!! a p@d hi .
ut betwee" t ne two brot h
challenges [ pr:xiti n of ''fa r er of the god~.· And sc they ea en states niSi ease before to NI P I· comp ai
me
@
ne
e natu re of their
0 rigin al
d ties
iolent
- Seve
Enten
n s dep let a deity in c:1o~erei ign two god", are g uid ing a lion ;(I nd ;(I wormlike d rI18 olding.a plow in front of hi h lch sprouts apia nt an d 0 ; in f nt of him a deity lead'l a ~ nis a ms, I.,. the lowe r de-s.ign ;(I n plow is trave IIi ng in a beat whos d wtJ prow ends In th e body
t.
to d@pirt a n offering of th I c:nptjo, A worshi pp~r carry Ing a ga z a g d ss no Id ng a vase, from wh ich f1 wate T e WOI"5i ipper sta nds before a" other parha s be idII! tified as In an na in the role
'5@!!:1nS
right dby
ms of
omay !!:'5S of
02(110F~~~
'-
..;}.._ ~.I!!!re m
war,
ut rt is he two deities to
O'5tly, 80th
~s faei
n 1m may
inscription'S. wl1 it: h nave 1:!!.i31"!i of gra i n Ie ,god is eq u ipped h is feet. He may [R"Ilrll"-liI'OC. wh ile the
be Ash
in goddess (~
p.
Companv, from
e, and XlXe.)
the
atar of abundance,
tOUC"
farm I made
farm,
Li ke sh na n, the kindly
(I-
OF~~~
I
II
On
t strength. on
..
rs
p roduC:ing water
its
hou co
p.a
roth~r?·
e and
ed
r ha n E.rIl@!i h, ~r Enlit pra i-;e-I
ThiS
poem e
although not
s.u menan
00
kno
to
'We
c 10
appear,
Th!!: lord wh osa d eisi En lit who. br.ngs p th nait@rabll! seed of the Iand r y he awn from ea y ea rth from he ha creature whir ml! to and ea 111'1·'eN ipp rJ he stret he
50
;iI rE
Took ca re to mov aw
aw
nto
@xistencl!. th
forth,
tate.
Upon ti'le pitkax nd b sket he directs th En Iii made his pi c ax @ had, 1-1 is pickax of gold wh head is of 1.3 a uIl, pis
d.
02(110F~~~
all.
I nd.
Tne picka:lll and t e ba sket b uikl ci es, The steadfast no Sf! tI1!! pickax bu i house th e pi o;:ax sta bl ish ~'S. Tne 'Steadfast no se it eauses to p The house wh ich rebels agai nst th
The hou'ie wi'! ich is not su bmi~'j ive
0
ki g.
PIucks at th e roo s, te ars at the 0' Tne picka:ll!".; are the ... p ls nts; p Tne picka:lll, i~ fa decreed by fat
The picka x is
!!)(.a
d.
CA TLEAND GRAI
02(110F~~~
l' ..... *:-. '- ..~00, .i3 nd h na n, t ne grai n-god des'S, rs sents a not er variatjo C'Ai ~Ab!!1 motif in N@:iIr lEa mytholOGY. bar and a rd ing to cu r myth. were eated in the reatien d'I.a t h god$ In order that tl1 e An n n ns kt the ch Idren and
involving
r
myt h
s 3:
La ha , t ha cattle
of
th
ne ne ave n-god
An, might have food to eat an d c r, But th@ An u n naki w@r U DOl b Ie to m ke etfuc:.tiv product§; of these
t es
deitie it w.as to re t h ma n WG$ created. All tl1 is is told In an I wh ch, beca use of its s ignific "00 tor the S ot h@ craatlon of rna n, is q oted in fu II 0 p.a age following the introd ction i'!i a no d riboe", the descent of La a rand A$h n
e.dV th i s s
trod uctory
me ria n co
pa{:;!!S 72-
her po~ti e
11 nd the a
CIJ fty
ra I ben
from
he
Asl1 na n, 111ey who loIave bee n eated in the u Ikug. l@t us -COl use them to ascend from t e Ou Ikug."
they
esta
i~
Plow .a nd yok@ th!!!y P nt to ha r. La ha r stan ding in hiss ee pfold. A sh e p he rd I ncrea sing the boo unty of he st1ee
he; k.hnan '51:and inc. 01 me {:;the crops, A ma id ki nd Iv an d bou lful is she,
'INW'rN.
r~~jJ(I~-II'i-
The dacreas of !! god @v direct. the wa houses th~y mutt p , The contents they fll full. Tne rtoret1 OU
In t
E"
!!
house of he poe
hugging
tn@ dust
ring t hey b in.g abu Tne pair of the • whe re Bri t1eavy i., ease in The plaos wt1!! they the sit they -s;u ply, rh made goo d1e ne
But then
"0
ta ar and AI§.
n@y
to q uarrel
n the far sand Ids, In the arg e nSiIJec, ea deity e lied it".; a h ~eme nts an d of its oPPO nt. Fi nally En Iii and Enk i intervened,
t:t1!! po!!m
ry and r simplicity af th ~ m IXt remark ble co moos itio ns grou p. Tne e ro is En k the 8 wate r~8od of t one of the fou r creat ng de iti s of Su mer; h is eou ntarpa is PO'5f!id • Th@ laes of ou r '5tcry district wh' h i-s; p~rh a to be i ent ifi~d with ea tl1 e Pe rsia G IJ If an d wh idl ., hi5torica I tl m act ... Ity" lay eu ts ide of a d ascription Dilmu n a
Both for i -racy of
I@ th is
'INW'rN.
r~~jJ(I~-II'i-
80
'lien uttered
no cries,
ot.
oman,"
not
OS'Se
~Iam
an old rna
,t-
"'0 wail,
nt.
02(110F~~
61
I'
PLATE )(11
• ~Sumerlan Epic
the time (If its P phic::al '51:ud ies a nd the conte nderstcod, Th
the Flood a
Sumerian relativelv d tfficu It interpret se ientific publicaf
Fall of
the result
fragment
TI1-e last 1
:(111,
-soc
OF~~~
Ni nsa r i tu m is i
regnated
by he
goddess N in k u
r n ne
Nin r,
r
d ¥ of h gives bi rt h to too, is ten imp re ated by E" ki an godds of pia nts, th is pia nt-god gra nd m the r Nin h g, who off~r; tutu re lat lensh I ittl en kl, Pa rt m udl broke" I fa il wt1 ate , Uttu follows it i~ in t ur impregn t by Enki and p the pia nts; t h Enki, i
t
s n g
"5:
fjn allv is born ttu, he new.a pp@ars h r gre ad\!'lee pe rtine t to e r passage is bre en, nd et to eernpreh "d, II detail, As a r 5U It t d iffe rent plan s sp
(l
L~ng,his ts the ' t for njm a nd he i has aatsn a II t iII be re called, is nes, C~ rses Enkl.
ey-plant'."
02(110F~~~
8A
'
..;}.._ ~.-
~rl
~d5 in
clear,
of the hLII'Sag rapidly
pr
to
(10
laI deity for eac h of E: kl's pa i ns. Thls 'S 0 ur poem ru ns as. follow'S:
N inh u rsa,c: I'My
which
brother,
brother,
II
En ki: "My hip hu rts me, N I.,h U rsag : "To the god
N inh u rsa,c: I'My
•
I'
brother,
II
En ki: "My toot h h LJ rts m . N I.,h U rsag: "To the godd tt'ui!e!'
N in h u rsag: My brother.
II
II
E.,ki: "MV meet h hum N i., h u rsag i "To the godd thee!' N I.,h U rsag: "My brother. En ki: "My , - . hu rt5i me,"
N inh u rsa,c: I'To
the god
bin" f r tha
(I-
(I10F~~~