I sing the superb son of the king
of populated lands,
I praise superb Ninurta, beloved of Mani, The
powerful god, Enlil's son, Eku's child, leader of the Anunnaki, focus
of Eninnu, Who waters cattle-pens, irrigated gardens, ponds (?), in
country and town. Flood-wave of battles, who darkens the sash,
warrior. The fiercest gallu-demons, though
tireless, fear his attack. Listen to the praise of the powerful
onés strength, Who subdued, who bound the Mountain of Stones
in his fury, Who conquered soaring Anzu with his weapon, Who slew the
bull-man inside the Sea. Strong warrior who slays with his weapon,
Powerful one, who is quick to form a battle array, Until now, no dais
had been created for the Igigi; The Igigi would assemble for their
Enlil-power. Rivers were formed in the Tigris, the Euphrates
But springs ahd not yet sent their water to
the land. Seas [ ] Clouds were still far away on the horizon [ ] All
the Igigi gathered To Enlil, their father, warrior of the gods, They
his sons, brought a report, ë Pay attention to reliable words!
On Hehe, a wooded mountain of [ ] In the lap of (?) the Anunnaki [ ]
[ ] has given birth to Anu. [His beak is a saw] [ ] Which [ ] Eleven
coats of mail (?) [ ] The mountains [ ] At his shout [ ] The South
Wind [ ] The powerful [ ] wind [ ] The mass [ ] Whirlwinds [ ] They
met and [ ] The four winds [ ] Father of the gods, Duranki's god,
looked at him, But kept his thoughts to himself. He studied Anzu
closely [ ] He considered with (?) [ ] 'Who gave birth to [ ] Why is
this [ ] Ea answered his heart-searching, The far-sighted one
addressed his words to Enlil, Surely water of the spate begot Anzu,
Holy water of the gods of Apzu. Broad Earth conceived him, And he was
born from mountain rocks. You have looked at Anzu himself [ ] Let him
serve you and never cease! In the hall let him bar the way to the
innermost chamber, forever1. (gap of three lines) [ ] th words spoken
to him. He (Enlil) took a cult centre [ ] And aministered the orders
of all the gods. He made na extra fate, and Anzu administered it.
Enlil appointed him t the entrance of the chamber which he had
perfected He would bathe in holy water in his presence His eyes would
gaze at the trappings of Enlil-power; His lordly crown, his robe of
divinity, The Tablet of Destinies in his hands, Anzu gazed, And fixed
his purpose, to usurp the Enlil-power. Anzu often gazed at Duranki's
god, father of the gods, And fixed his purpose to usurp the
Enlil-power. ' I shall take the gods' Tablet of Destinies for myself,
And control the orders for all athe gods, And shall possess the
throne and be master of the rites! I shall direct every one of the
Igigi!' He plotted opposition in his heart And at the chamber's
entrance from which he often gazed, He waited for the start of the
day. While Enlil was bathing in the holy water, Stripped and with his
crown laid down on the throne, He gained the Tablet of Destinies for
himself, Took away the Enlil-power.
Rites were abandoned, Anzu flew off and went
into Radiance faded, silence reigned, Father Enlil, their counsellor,
was dumbstruck, For he had stripped the chamber of its radiance. The
gods of the land searched high and low for a solution. Anu made his
voice heard, and spoke, addressed the gods his sons: ' Whichever god
slays Anzu Will make our name great in all populated lands!' They
called the canal-controller, Anu's son, The decision-maker spoke for
him; They called Adad, the canal controller, Anu's son, The
decision-maker spoke to him, ' Powerful Adad, ferocious Adad, your
attack cannot be deflected; Your name shall be great in the great
gods' assembly, You shall have no rival among the gods your brothers,
Then surely shall shrines be created! Establish your cult centres all
over the four quarters! Your cult centres shall enter Ekur! Show
prowess to the gods, and your name shall be Powerful! Adad answered
the speech, addressed his words to Anu, his father: ' Father, who
could rush off to the inaccessible mountain? Has taken away the
Enlil-power: rites are abandoned! Anzu flew off and went into hiding!
His utterance has replaced that of Duranki's god! He has only to
command, and whoever he curses turns to clay! At his utterance, the
gods must now tremble!' He turned away, saying he would not make the
expedition. They called Gerra, Anunitu's son. The decision-maker
spoke to him, ' Powerful Gerra, ferocious Gerra, your attack cannot
be deflected; Burn Anzu with fire, your weapon! Your name shall be
great in the great gods' assembly, You shall have no rival among the
gods your brothers, Then surely shall shrines be created! Establish
your cult centres all over the four quarters! Your cult centres shall
enter Ekur! Show prowess to the gods, and your name shall be
Powerful!' Gerra answered the speech, addressed his words to Anu, his
father, ' Father, who could rush off to the inaccessible mountain?
Which of the gods your sons will be Anzu's conqueror? For he has
gained the Tablets of Destinies for himself, Has taken away the Enlil
power: rites are abandoned! His utterance has replaced that of
Duranki's god! He has only to command, and whoever he curses turns to
clay! At his utterance, the gods must now tremble!' He turned away,
saying he would not make the expedition. They called Shara, Ishtar's
on, He (Anu) proposed a solution, spoke to him, 'Powerful Shara,
ferocious Shara, your attack cannot be deflected! Strike Anzu with [
........] your weapon! Your name shall be great in the great gods'
assembly, You shall have no rival among the gods your brothers, Then
surely shall shrines be created! Establish your cult centres all over
the four quarters! Your cult centres shall enter Ekur! Show prowess
to the gods, and your name shall be Powerful!' Shara answered the
speech, addressed his words to Anu his father, ' Father, who could
rush off to the inaccessible mountain? Which of the gods your sons
will be Anzu's conqueror? For he has gained the Tablets of Destinies
for himself, Has taken away the Enlil power: rites are abandoned! His
utterance has replaced that of Duranki's god! He has only to command,
and whoever he curses turns to clay! At his utterance, the gods must
now tremble!' He turned away, saying he would not make the
expedition. The gods fell silent and despaired of advice. The Lord of
Intelligence wise one who dwells in the Apsu Formed an idea in the
depths of his being Ea formed intelligence in his heart He told Anu
what he ws thinking in his inmost being. ' Let me give orders and
search among the gods, And pick from the Assembly Anzu's conqueror. I
myself shall search among the gods And pick from the Assembly Anzu's
conqueror.' The Igigi listened to this speech of his The Igigi were
freed from anxiety and kissed his feet The far-sighted one made his
voice heard and spoke, Addressed his words to Anu and Dagan: ' Have
them call for me Belet-ili, sister of the gods, Wise counsellor of
the gods her brothers, Have them announce her supremacy in the
assembly, Have the gods honour her in their assembly; I shall then
tell her the idea which is my heart.' They called for Belet-ili,
sister of the gods, to him, Wise counsellor of the gods her brothers,
They announced her supremacy in the assembly, The gods honoured her
in their assembly. Then Ea told the idea in the depths of his inmost
being. ' Previously we used to call you Mami But now your name shall
be Mistress of all Gods. Offer the powerful one, your superb beloved,
Broad of chest, who forms the battle array! Give Ninurta, your superb
beloved, Broad of chest who forms the battle array, Then shall his
name be Lord in the great gods' assembly. Let him show prowess to the
gods that his may be Powerful! Let his name be made great in all
populated lands His cult centres.... Lord.....
(2 lines fragmentary)
Mami listened to this speech of his And
Belet-ili the supreme uttered "Yes" The gods of the land were glad at
her utterance The Igigi were freed from anxiety and kissed her feet.
She called her son into the gods' assembly, And instructed her
favourite, saying to him, ' In the presence of Anu and Dagan, They
announced the course of their rites in the assembly I gave birth to
all the Igigi, I created every single one of the Anunnaki! And I
created the gods' assembly. I Mami, Assigned the Enlil-power to my
brother. Anzu has disrupted the kingship that I designated! He has
obtained for himself the Tablet of Destinies [ ] He has robbed Enlil;
he rejected your father, Stole the rites and turned them to his use
(Catchline) Make a path, fix the hour,
TABLET II
Make a path, fix the hour, Let light dawn for
the gods whom I created. Muster your devastating battle force, Make
your evil winds flash as they march over him. Capture soaring Anzu
And inundate the earth, which I created
wreck his dwelling. Let terror thunder above
him, Let fear of your battle force shake in him. Make the devastating
whirlwind rise up against him Set your arrow in the bow , coat it
with poison, Your form must keep chaning, like a gallu-demon, Send
out a fog, so that he cannot recognize your features! May your rays
proceed above him, Make a high, attacking leap; have glare More
powerful than Shamash generates, May broad daylight turn to darkness
for him Seize him by the throat: conquer Anzu, And let the winds
bring his feathers as good news To Ekur, to your father Enlil's
house, Rush and inundate the mountain pastures And slit the throat of
wicked Anzu. Then shall kingship enter Ekur again, Then shall rites
return for the father who begot you! Then surely shall shrines be
created! Establish your cult centres all over the four quarters! Your
cult centres shall enter Ekur! Show prowess to the gods, and your
name shall be Powerful!' The warrior listened to his mother's words,
He hunched in trepidation and went into hiding, The Lord marshalled
the Seven of Battle The warrior marshalled the seven evil winds, Who
dance in the dust, the seven whirlwinds, He mustered a battle array,
made war with a terrifying formation, Even the gales were silent at
his side, poised for conflict. On the mountainside, Azu and Ninurta
met. Anzu looked at him and shook with rage at him, Bared his teeth
like a lion in sudden rage, In utter fury shouted to the warrior: ' I
have taken away every single rite, And I am in charge of al the gods'
orders! Who are you, to come to do battle against me? Give your
reasons!' Insolently his speech rushed out at him, The warrior
Ninurta answered Anzu: ' I am the avenger of Duranki's god, Who
established Duranki, the ..... of the broad Earth of.....Ea king of
destinies'. Anzu listened to his speech, then hurled his ahout
furiously amid the mountains, Darkness fell over the mountain, their
faces were overcast, Shamash, the light of the gods, was overcast by
darkness, Adad roared like a lion, his din joined that of Anzu, A
clash between battle arrays war imminent, the flood-weapon massed,
The armour-plated breast was bathed in blood, Clouds of death rained
down, an arrow flashed lightning, Wizzed, the battle force roared
between them The powerful, superb one, Mami's son, trusted of Anu and
Dagan, Beloved of the far-sighted one, Aimed the shaft at him from
the bow's curve But it did not go near Anzu: the shaft turned back.
Anzu shuted at it, "You, shaft that came, return to your reed
thicket! Bow frame, back to your copse! Bow string, back to the ram's
gut! Feathers, return to the birds!" He was holding the gods' Tablet
of Destinies in his hand, And they influenced the string of the bow,
the arrows did not come near his body. Deadly silence came over the
battle and conflict ceased. Weapons stopped and did not capture Anzu
amid the mountains He (Ninurta) shouted out and instructed Sharur: '
Repeat to the far-sighted Ea the actions you have seen! The Lord's
message is: Ninurta was encircling Anzu And Ninurta was wrapped in
devastation's dust, But when he set the shaft to the bow, drew it
taut And aimed the shaft at him from the bows curve, It did not go
near Anzu: the shaft turned back As Anzu shouted at it: "You, shaft
that came, return to your reed thicket! Bow frame, back to your
copse! Bow string, back to the ram's gut! Feathers, return to the
birds!" He was holding the gods' Tablet of Destinies in his hand, And
they influenced the string of the bow, the arrows did not come near
his body. Deadly silence came over the battle and conflict ceased.
Weapons stopped and did not capture Anzu amid the mountains.' Sharur
bowed, took the message, Carried the battle dispatch to far-sighted
Ea. ' The Lord's message is: Ninurta was encircling Anzu And Ninurta
was wrapped in devastation's dust, But when he set the shaft to the
bow, drew it taut And aimed the shaft at him from the bows curve, It
did not go near Anzu: the shaft turned back As Anzu shouted at it:
"You, shaft that came, return to your reed thicket! Bow frame, back
to your copse! Bow string, back to the ram's gut! Feathers, return to
the birds!" He was holding the gods' Tablet of Destinies in his hand,
And they influenced the string of the bow, the arrows did not come
near his body Deadly silence came over the battle and conflict
ceased. Weapons stopped and did not capture Anzu amid the mountains.'
The far-sighted one listened to his son's words, Called out and
instructed Sharur: ' Repeat to your lord what I say, and everything I
tell you , repeat to him: "Don't let the battle slacken, press home
your victory! Tire him out so that he sheds his pinions in the clash
of tempests! Take a throw-stick to follo your arrows And cut off his
pinions, detach both right and left. When he sees his wings and emits
(?) his utterance, Shouts "Wing to wing", don't panic: Draw taut from
the curve of your bow Seize him by the throat, conquer Anzu, And let
the winds bring his feathers as good news To Ekur, to your father
Enlil's house. Rush and inundate the mountain pastures And slit the
throat of wicked Anzu. Then shall kingship enter Ekur again, Then
shall rites return for the father who begot you! Then surely shall
shrines be created! Establish your cult centres all over the four
quarters! Your cult centres shall enter Ekur! Show prowess to the
gods, and your name shall be Powerful!' Sharus boewed, took the
message, Carried the battle dispatch to his lord, Everything Ea told
him, he repeated to him. ' Don't let the battle slacken, press home
your victory! Tire him out so that he sheds his pinions in the clash
of tempests! Take a throw-stick to follo your arrows And cut off his
pinions, detach both right and left. When he sees his wings and emits
his utterance, Shouts 'Wing to wing', don't panic; Draw taut from the
curve of your bow, let shafts fly like lightning, Let the wing
feathers dance like butterflies. Seize him by the throat, conquer
Anzu And let the winds bring his feathers as good news To Kur, to
your father's Enlil house. Rush and inundate the mountain pastures
And slit the throat of wicked Anzu. Then shall kingship enter Ekur
again, Then shall rites return for the father who begot you! Then
surely shall shrines be created! Establish your cult centres all over
the four quarters! Your cult centres shall enter Ekur! Show prowess
to the gods, and your name shall be Powerful!' The Lord listened to
the words of far-sighted Ea. He hunched (2) in trepidation, and went
into hiding. The Lord marshalled the Seven of Battle, The warrior
marshalled the seven evil winds, Who dance in the dust, the seven
whirlwinds, He mustered a battale array, made war with a terrifying
formation, Even the gales were silent at his side, poised for
conflict.
TABLET III
( 3 Lines fragmentary)
Devastation.... A heatwave blazed, confusion
(?) [ ] A tempest [ ] to the four winds, Weapons slew (?) the
protection of frost, Both were bathed in the sweat of battle. Anzu
grew weary and in the clash of tempests shed his pinions. He
(Ninurta) took a throw-stick to follow his arrows, And cut off his
pinions, detached both right and left. He (Anzu) saw his wings and
emitted his utterance. But as he shouted 'Wing to wing' a shaft came
up at him A dart passed through his very heart. He (Ninurta) made an
arrow pass through pinion and wing, A dart passed through heart and
lungs, He slew the mountains, inundated their proud pastures,
Inundated the broad earth in his fury, Inundated the midst of the
mountains, slew wicked Anzu, And warrior Ninurta regained the Tablets
of Destinies for his own hand. As a sign of good news, The wind
brought Anzu's feathers Dagan saw his sign and rejoiced Called all
the gods and joyfully he spoke: ' The strong one has indeed slain
Anzu on his mountain He regained for his own hand the .... of Anu e
Dagan. Come! Let hm come to us, Let him rejoice, play, make merry.
.... the gods, his brothers and hear their secrets. .... the secrets
of the gods. Let Enlil the .... of the gods his brothers bestow on
him the rites'. Enlil made his voice heard, and spoke to Dagan, ' [ ]
water.... When [ ] he took. When he slew wicked Anzu in the midst of
the mountains, Warrior Ninurta regained the gods' Tablet of Destinies
for his own hand. Send for him and let him come to you. Let him place
the Tablet of Destinies in your lap!' Enlil made his voice heard and
spoke, Addressed his words to Nusku, his vizier, ' Nusku, go outside,
bring Birdu into my presence'. Nusku went outside, brought Birdu into
Enlil's presence. Enlil made his voice heard and spoke, Addressed his
words to Birdu, ' Birdu, I shall send you, I shall....'
(gap of a few lines)
Ninurta mde his voice heard and spoke.
Addressed his words to Birdu, ' Birdu, why have you come here so
aggressively?' Birdu mde his voice heard and spoke. Addressed his
words to Ninurta, his lord, ' My lord, Enlil, your father, sent me to
you .... to say The gods have heard That you slew wicked Anzu amid
the mountains. They rejoiced, were glad and [ ] Made me to come to
your presence and [ ] Go to him that he may [ ]
(11 lines fragmentary, about 34 lines
missing, then 3 lines fragmentary)
Let him (Enlil) in his powerfulness faze upon
wicked Anzu in Ekur, Warrior, in your powerfulness, when you slew the
mountain, You captured Anzu, slew him in powefulness, Slew soaring
Anzu in his powerfulness. Because you were so brave and slew the
mountain, You made all foes kneel at the feet of Enlil your father,
Ninurta, because you were so brave and slew the mountain, You have
made all foes kneel at the feet of Enlil your father, You have won
complete dominion, every single rite, Who was ever created like you?
The mountain's rites are proclaimed, The shrines of the gods of fates
granted to you. They call upon Nissaba for your purification
cerimony; They call your name in the furrow Ningirsu. They designate
for you the entire shepherding of peoples, Give your great (?) name
as Duku for kingship. In Elam they give your name as Hurabtil, They
speak of you as Shushinak in Susa. Your name is Anu's..... they give
you as Lord of the Secret [ ] among the gods your brothers [ ] your
father. [ ] who marshes in front. They give [your name as Pabilsag]
in Egalmah, Call your name ...... in Ur, Give your name as Nin-Azu in
Ekurmah, [ ] Duranki was your birthplace. [In ] they speak of you as
Ishtaran, [In ] Zababa. [ ] they call his name. Your bravery much
greater than all the other gods, [ ] your divinity is surpassing;
Wholehearted (?) I praise you! They give your name in ...... as
Lugalbanda. In E-igi-kalama (?) they give you as Warrior Tishpak,
They call you (?) .... or ...... in E-nimma-anku. [ ] son of
Belet-ili, your mother, [ ] lord of the Boundary-Arrow, [ ] Panigara,
[In E-akkil (?)] they call...... [ Your name ] Papsukkal, who marshes
in front. [ ] surpassing are your names among the gods by far! [ ]
you are thoughtful, capable, awesome, Your counsellor (?) the
far-sighted one, your father Anu, [ ] battle and combat, He granted
you [ ] Called you [ ] of their [ ]
(7 lines fragmentary, about 5 lines missing, 2
lines fragmentary. After a ruled line, 5 fragmentary lines and a few
missing lines appear to give a concluding passage.)
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