The Babylonian Creation Epic: Enuma Elish (Magian Version)
- From the Introduction to the Necronomicon
- (Avon Books, 1980, xx.)
There was a battle between the forces of "light" and "darkness" (so-called) that took place long before man was created, before even the cosmos as we know it existed. it is described fully in the Enuma Elish and in the basterdized version found in the NECRONOMICON, and involved the Ancient Ones, led by the serpent MUMMU-TIAMAT and her male counterpart ABSU, against the ELDER GODS (called such in the N.) led by the Warrior MARDUK, son of the sea god ENKI, Lord of Magicians of this Side, or what would be called the "White Magicians" -although close of the myths of ancient times makes one pause before attempting to judge which of the two warring factions were "good" or "evil". Marduk won this battle -in much the same way that later St. George and St. Michael would defeat the Serpent again -the cosmos was created from the body of the slain Serpent, and man was created from the body of the slain commander of the Ancient Army, KINGU, thereby making man a descendent of the Blood of the Enemy, as well as the "breath" of the Elder Gods: a close parallel to the "sons of God and daughters of men" reference in the Old Testament.
- THE MAGAN TEXT
THE verses here following come from the secret text of some of the priests of a cult which is all that is left of the Old Faith that existed before Babylon was built, and it was originally in their tongue, but I have put it into the Golden Speech of my country so that you may understand it. I came upon this text in my early wanderings in the region of the Seven Fabled Cities of UR, which are no more, and it tells of the War between the Gods that took place in a time beyond the memory of man. And the horrors and ugliness that the Priest will encounter in his Rites are herein described, and their reasons, and their natures, and Essences. And the Number of the Lines is Sacred, and the Word are Sacred, and are most potent charms against the Evil Ones. And surely some Magicians of the country do write them on parchment or clay, or on pottery, or in the air, that they might be efficacious thereby, and that the Gods will remember the words of the Covenant.
I copied these words down in my tongue and kept them faithfully these many years, and my own copy will go with me to the place where I will go when my Spirit is torn from the body. But heed these words well, and remember! For remembering is the most important and most potent magick, being the Rememberance of Things Past and the Rememberance of Things to Come, which is the same Memory. And do not show this text to the uninitiated, for it hath caused madness, in men and in beasts.
THE MAGAN (Egyptian) TEXTFrom the Introduction to the Necronomicon
(Avon Books, 1980, xx.)
- THE MAGAN TEXT
- Transcribed by Drafna
- From the book Necronomicon
- Edited by "Simon"
- THE MAGAN TEXT
- Hearken, and Remember!
- In the Name of ANU, Remember!
- In the Name of ENLIL, Remember!
- In the Name of ENKI, Remember!
- When on High the Heavens had not been named,
- The Earth had not been named,
- And Naught existed but the Seas of ABSU,
- The Ancient One,
- And MUMMU TIAMAT, the Ancient One
- Who bore them all,
- Their Waters as One Water.
- At this time, before the ELDER GODS had been brought forth,
- Uncalled by Name,
- Their destinies unknown and undetermined,
- Then is was that the Gods were formed within the Ancient Ones
- LLMU and LLAAMU were brought forth and called by Name,
- And for Ages they grew in age and bearing.
- ANSHAR and KISHAR were brought forth,
- And brought forth ANU
- Who begat NUDIMMUD (Ea), Our Master ENKI,
- Who has no rival among the Gods.
- Remember!
- The Elder Gods came together
- They disturbed TIAMAT, the Ancient One, as they surged back and forth.
- Yea, they troubled the belly of TIAMAT
- By their Rebellion in the abode of Heaven.
- ABSU could not lessen their clamor
- TIAMAT was speechless at their ways.
- Their doings were loathsome unto the Ancient Ones
- ABSU rose up to slay the Elder Gods by stealth.
- With magick charm and spell ABSU fought,
- But was slain by the sorcery of the Elder Gods.
- And it was their first victory.
- His body was lain in an empty Space
- Hid
- He was lain,
- But his blood cried out to the Abode of Heaven.
- TIAMAT
- Enraged
- Filled with an Evil Motion
- Said
- Let us make Monsters
- That they may go out and do battle
- Against there Sons of Iniquity
- The murderous offspring who have destroyed
- A God.
- HUBUR arose, She who fashioneth all things,
- And possessor of Magick like unto Our Master.
- She added matchless weapons to the arsenals of the Ancient Ones,
- She bore Monster-Serpents
- Sharp of tooth, long of fang,
- She filled their bodies with venom for blood
- Roaring dragons she has clother with Terror
- Has crowned them with Haloes, making them as Gods,
- So that he who beholds them shall perish
- And, that, with their bodies reared up
- None might turn them back.
- She summoned the Viper, the Dragon, and the Winged Bull,
- The Great Lion, the Mad-Dog, and the Scorpion-Man
- Mighty rabid Demons, Feathered-Serpents, the Horse-Man,
- Bearing weapons that spare not
- Fearless in Battle,
- Charmed with the spells of ancient sorcery,
- ...withal Eleven of this kind she brought forth
- With KINGU as Leader of the Minions
- Remember!
- ENKI
- Our Master
- Fearing defeat, summoned his Son
- MARDUK
- Summoned his Son
- The Son of Magick
- Told him the Secret Name
- The Secret Number
- The Secret Shape
- Whereby he might do battle
- With the Ancient Horde
- And be victorious.
- MARDUK KURIOS!
- Brightest Star among the Stars
- Strongest God among the Gods
- Son of Magick and the Sword
- Child of Wisdom and the Word
- Knower of the Secret Name
- Knower of the Secret Number
- Knower of the Secret Shape
- He armed himself with the Disc of Power
- In chariots of Fire he went forth
- With a shouting Voice he called the Spell
- With a Blazing Flame he filled his Body
- Dragons, Vipers, all fell down
- Lions, Horse-Men, all were slain.
- The Mighty Creatures of HUBUR were slain
- The Spells, the Charms, the Sorcery were broken.
- Naught but TIAMAT remained.
- The Great Serpent, the Enormous Worm
- The Snake with iron teeth
- The Snake with sharpened claw
- The Snake with Eyes of Death,
- She lunged at MARDUK
- With a roar
- With a curse
- She Lunged.
- MARDUK struck with the Disc of Power
- Blinded TIAMAT's Eyes of Death
- The Monster heaven and raised its back
- Struck forth in all directrions
- Spitting ancient words of Power
- Screamed the ancient incantations
- MARDUK struck again and blew
- An Evil Wind into her body
- Which filled the raging, wicked Serpent
- MARDUK shot between her jaws
- The Charmed arrow of ENKI's Magick
- MARDUK struck again and severed
- The head of TIAMAT from its body.
- And all was silent.
- Remember!
- MARDUK
- Wictor
- Took the Tablets of Destiny
- Unbidden
- Hung them around his neck.
- Acclaimed of the Elder Gods was he.
- First among the Elder Ones was he.
- He split the sundered TIAMAT in twain
- And fashioned the heavens and the earth,
- With a Gate to keep the Ancient Ones Without.
- With a Gate whose Key is hid forever
- Save to the Sons of MARDUK
- Save to the Followers of Our Master
- ENKI
- First in Magick among the Gods.
- From the Blood of KINGU he fashioned Man.
- He constructed Watchtowers for the Elder Gods
- Fixing their astral bodies as constellations
- That the may watch the Gate of ABSU
- The Gate of TIAMAT they watch
- The Gate of KINGU they oversee
- The Gate whose Guardian is IAK SAKKAK they bind.
- All the Elder Powers resist
- The Force of Ancient Artistry
- The Marick Spell of the Oldest Ones
- The Incantation of the Primal Power
- The Mountain KUR, the Serpent God
- The Mountain MASHU, that of Magick
- The Dead KUTULU, Dead but Dreaming
- TIAMAT, Dead but Dreaming
- ABSU, KINGU, Dead but Dreaming
- And shall their generation come again?
- WE ARE THE LOST ONES
- From a Time before Time
- From a Land beyond the Stars
- From the Age when ANU walked the earth
- In company of Bright Angels.
- We have survived the first War
- Between the Powers of the Gods
- And have seen the wrath of the Ancient Ones
- Dark Angels
- Vent upon the Earth
- WE ARE FROM A RACE BEYOND THE WANDERERS OF NIGHT.
- We have survived the Age when ABSU ruled the Earth
- And the Power destroyed our generations.
- We have survived on tops of mountains
- And beneath the feet of mountains
- And have spoked with the Scorpions
- In allegiance and were betrayed.
- And TIAMAT has promised us nevermore to attack
- With water and with wind.
- But the Gods are forgetful.
- Beneath the Seas of NAR MATTARU
- Beneath the Seas of the Earth, NAR MATTARU
- Beneath the World lays sleeping
- The God of Anger, Dead but Dreaming
- The God CUTHALU, Dead but Dreaming!
- The Lord of KUR, calm but thunderous!
- The One-Eyed Sword, cold but burning!
- He who awakens Him calls the ancient
- Vengeance of the Elder Ones
- The Seven Glorious Gods
- Of the Seven Glorious Cities
- Upon himself and upon the World
- An old vengeance...
- Know that our years are the years of War
- And our days are measured as battles
- And every hour is a Life
- Lost to the Outside
- Those form Without
- Have builded up charnel houses
- To nourish the fiends of TIAMAT
- And the Blood of the weakest here
- Is libation unto TIAMAT
- Queen of the Ghouls
- Wreaker of Pain
- And to invoke her
- The Red Water of Life
- Need be split on a stone
- The stone struck with a sword
- That hath slain eleven men
- Sacrifices to HUBUR
- So that the strike ringeth out
- And call TIAMAT from Her slumber
- From her sleep in the Caverns
- Of the Earth.
- And none may dare entreat further
- For to invoke Death is to utter
- The final prayer.
- II
- Of The Generations of the Ancient Ones
- UTUKK XUL
- The accounts of the generations
- Of the Ancient Ones here rendered
- Of the generations of the Ancient Ones
- Here remembered.
- Cold and Rain that erode all things
- They are the Evil Spirits
- In the creation of ANU spawned
- Plague Gods
- PAZUZU
- And the Beloved Sons of ENG
- The Offspring of NINNKIGAL
- Rending in pieces on high
- Bringing destruction below
- They are the Children of the Underworld
- Loudly roaring on high
- Gibbering loathsomely below
- They are the bitter venom of the Gods.
- The great storms directed from heaven
- Those are they
- The Owl, Messenger of UGGI
- Lord of Death
- Those they are
- THEY ARE THE CHILDREN
- BORN OF EARTH
- THAT IN THE CREATION
- OF ANU WERE SPAWNED
- The highest walls
- The thickest walls
- The strongest walls
- Like a flood they pass
- From house to house
- They ravage
- No door can shut them out
- No bolt can turn them back
- Through the door like snakes they slide
- Through the bolt like winds they blow
- Pulling the wife from the embrace of the husband
- Snatching the child from the loins of man
- Banishing the man from his home, his land
- THEY ARE THE BURNING PAIN
- THAT PRESSETH ITSELF ON THE BACK OF MAN.
- THEY ARE THE GHOULS
- The spirit of the harlot that hath died in the streets
- The spirit of the woman that hath died in childbirth
- The spirit of the woman that hath died, weeping with a babe at the breast
- The spirit of an evil man
- One that haunteth the streets
- Or one that haunteth the bed.
- They are Seven!
- Seven are they!
- Those Seven were born in the Mountains of MASHU
- Called Magick
- They dwell within the Caverns of the Earth
- Amid the desolate places of the Earth they live
- Amid the desolate places between
- The Places
- Unknown in heaven and in earth
- They are arrayed in terror
- Among the Elder Gods there is no knowledge of them
- They have no name
- Not in heaven
- Nor on earth
- They ride over the Mountain of Sunset
- And on the Mountain of Dawn they dry
- Through the Caverns of the Earth they creep
- Amid the desolate places of the Earth they lie
- Nowhere are they known
- Not in heaven
- Nor in the Earth
- Are they discovered
- For their place is outside our place
- And between the angles of the Earth
- They lie in wait
- Crouching for the Sacrifice
- THEY ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE UNDERWORLD
- Falling like rain from the sky
- Issuing like mist from the earth
- Doors do not stop them
- Bolts do not stop them
- They glide in at the doors like serpents
- They enter by the windows like the wind
- IDPA they are, entering by the head
- NAMTAR they are, entering by the heart
- UTUK they are, entering by the brow
- ALAL they are, entering by the chest
- GIGIM they are, seizing the bowels
- TELAL they are, grasping the hand
- URUKU they are, giant Larvae, feeding on the Blood
- They are Seven!
- Seven are They!
- They seize all the towers
- From UR to NIPPUR
- Yet UR knows them not
- Yet NIPPUR does not know them
- They have brought down the mighty
- Of all the mighty Cities of man
- Yet man knows them not
- Yet the Cities do not know them
- They have struck down the forests of the East
- And have flooded the Lands of the West
- Yet the East knows them not
- Yet the West does not know them
- They are a hand grasping at the neck
- Yet the neck does not know them
- And man knows them not.
- Their words are Unwrit
- Their numbers are Unknown
- Their shapes are all Shapes
- Their habitations
- The desolate places where their Rites are performed
- Their habitations
- The haunts of man where a sacrifice has been offered
- Their habitations
- The lands here
- The cities here
- And the lands between the lands
- The cities between the cities
- In spaces no man has ever walked
- In KURNUDE
- The country from whence no traveler returns
- At EKURBAR
- In the altar of the Temple of the Dead
- And at GI UMUNA
- At their Mother's breast
- At the Foundations of CHAOS
- In the ARALIYA of MUMMU-TIAMAT
- And at the Gates
- Of IAK SAKKAK!
- SPIRIT OF THE AIR, REMEMBER!
- SPIRIT OF THE EARTH, REMEMBER!
- III
- Of the Forgotten Generations of Man
- And was not Man created from the blood of KINGU
- Commander of the hordes of the Ancient Ones?
- Does not man possess in his spirit
- The seed of rebellion against the Elder Gods?
- And the blood of Man is the Blood of Vengeance
- And the blood of Man is the Spirit of Vengeance
- And the Power of Man is the Power of the Ancient Ones
- And this is the Covenant
- For, lo! The Elder Gods possess the Sign
- By which the Powers of the Ancient Ones are turned back
- But Man possesses the Sign
- And the Number
- And the Shape
- To summon the Blood of his Parents
- And this is the Covenant.
- Created by the Elder Gods
- From the Blood of the Ancient Ones
- Man is the Key by whick
- The Gate of IAK SAKKAK may be flung wide
- By which the Ancient Ones
- Seek their Vengeance
- Upon the face of the Earth
- Against the Offspring of MARDUK.
- For what is new
- Came from that which is old
- And what is old
- Shall replace that which is new
- And once again the Ancient Ones
- Shall rule upon the face of the Earth!
- And this is too the Covenant!
- IV
- Of the Sleep of ISHTAR
- Yet ISHTAR
- Queen of Heaven
- Bright Light of Nights
- Mistress of the Gods
- Set her mind in that direction
- From Above she set her mind,
- To Below she set her mind
- From the Heavens she set forth
- To the Abyss
- Out of the Gates of the Living
- To enter the Gates of Death
- Out of the Lands we know
- Into the Lands we know not
- To the Land of No Return
- To the Land of Queen ERESHKIGAL
- ISHTAR, Queen of Heavens, she set her mind
- ISHTAR, Daughter of SIN, she set forth
- To the Black Earth, the Land of CUTHA
- She set forth
- To the House of No Returh she set ehr foot
- Upon the Road whence None Return
- She set her foot
- To the Cave, forever unlit
- Where bowls of clay are heaped upon the altar
- Where bowls of dust are the food
- Of residents clothed only in wings
- To ABSU ISHTAR set forth.
- Where sleeps the dread CUTHALU
- ISHTAR set forth.
- The Watcher
- Stood fast.
- The Watcher
- NINNGHIZHIDDA
- Stood fast.
- And ISHTAR spoke unto him
- NINNGHIZHIDDA! Serpent of the Deep!
- NINNGHIZHIDDA! Horned Serpent of the Deep!
- NINNGHIZHIDDA! Plumed Serpent of the Deep!
- Open!
- Open the Door that I may enter!
- NINNGHIZHIDDA, Spirit of the Deep, Watcher of the Gate, Remember!
- In the Name of our Father before the Flight, ENKI, Lord and Master of
- Magicians
- Open the Door that I may enter!
- Open
- Lest I attack the Door
- Lest I break apart its bars
- Lest I attack the Barrier
- Lest I take its walls by force
- Open the Door
- Open Wide the Gate
- Lest I cause the Dead to rise!
- I will raise up the Dead!
- I will cause the Dead to rise and devour the living!
- Open the Door
- Lest I cause the Dead to outnumber the Living!
- NINNGHIZHIDDA, Spirit of the Deep, Watcher of the Gate, Open!
- NINNGHIZHIDDA
- The Great Serpent
- Coiled back on itself
- And answered
- ISHTAR
- Lady
- Queen among the Gods
- I go before my Mistress
- ERESHKIGAL
- Before the Queen of Death
- I will announce Thee.
- And NINNGHIZHIDDA
- Horned Serpent
- Approached the Lady ERESHKIGAL
- And said:
- Behold, ISHTAR, Thy Sister
- Queen among the Gods
- Stands before the Gate!
- Daughter of SIN, Mistress of ENKI