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7 Tablets of Creation

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1When in the height heaven was not named,
2And the earth beneath did not yet bear a name,
3And the primeval Apsû, who begat them,
4And chaos, Tiamat, the mother of them both,--
5Their waters were mingled together,
6And no field was formed, no marsh was to be seen;
7When of the gods none had been called into being,
8And none bore a name, and no destinies [were ordained];
9Then were created the gods in the midst of [heaven],
10Lahmu and Lahamu were called into being [...].
11Ages increased, [...],
12Then Anshar and Kishar were created, and over them [...].
13Long were the days, then there came forth [...]
14Anu, their son, [...]
15Anshar and Anu [...]
16And the god Anu [...]
17Nudimmud, whom his fathers [his] begetters [...]
18Abounding in all wisdom, [...]
19He was exceeding strong [...]
20He had no rival [...]
21(Thus) were established and [were ... the great gods
22But T[iamat and Âpsû] were (still) in confusion [...],
23They were troubled and [...]
24In disorder(?) ... [...]
25And Tiamat roared [...]
26Apsû was not diminished in might [...]
27She smote, and their deeds [...]
28Their way was evil ... [...] ...
29Then Apsû, the begetter of the great gods,
30Cried unto Mummu, his minister, and said unto him:
31O Mummu, thou minister that rejoicest my spirit,
32 Come, unto Tiamat let us [go]!"
32So they went and before Tiamat they lay down,
33They consulted on a plan with regard to the gods [their sons].
34Apsû opened his mouth [and spake],
35And unto Tiamat, the glistening one, he addressed [the word]:
36[...] their way [...],
38 By day I cannot rest, by night [I cannot lie down (in peace)].
37But I will destroy their way, I will [...],
40 Let there be lamentation, and let us lie down (again in peace)."
38When Tiamat [heard] these words,
39She raged and cried aloud [...].
40[She ...] grievously [...],
41She uttered a curse, and unto [Apsû she spake]:
42What then shall we [do]?
46 Let their way be made difficult, and let us [lie down (again) in peace]."
43Mummu answered, and gave counsel unto Apsû,
44[...] and hostile (to the gods) was the counsel Mu[mmu gave]:
45Come, their way is strong, but thou shalt destroy [it];
50 Then by day shalt thou have rest, by night shalt thou lie down (in peace)."
46Apsû [hearkened unto] him and his countenance grew bright,
47[Since] he (i.e. Mummu) planned evil against the gods his sons.
48[...] he was afraid [...],
49His knees [became weak(?)], they gave way beneath him,
50[Because of the evil] which their first-born had planned.
51[...] their [...] they altered(?).
52Lamentation [...] they sat in [sorrow] '
53[...] they [...],
54[...]
55Then Ea, who knoweth all that [is], went up and he beheld their muttering.
56[...]
57[...] ... his pure incantation
58[...] ... [...]
59[...]
60[...] misery
61[...]
62[...]
63[...]
64[...]
65[...]
66[...]
67[...]
68[...]
69[...]
70[...]
71[...]
72[...]
73[...]
74[...]
75[...]
76[...]
77[...]
78[...]
79[...]
80[...] the god Anu,
81[... an aven]ger.
82[...]
83[...] and he shall confound Tiamat.
84[...] he ...
85[...] for ever.
86[...] the evil,
87[...] ... he spake:
88[...] thy [...] he hath conquered and
94 [...] he [weepeth] and sitteth in tribulation(?).
95 [...] of fear,
89[...] we shall not lie down (in peace).
97 [...] Apsû is laid waste(?),
90[...] and Mummu, who were taken captive, in [...]
99 [...] thou didst, ...
91[...] let us lie down (in peace).
101 [...] ... they will smite (?) [...].
92 [...] let us lie down (in peace).
103 [...] thou shalt take vengeance for them,
93[...]unto the tempest shalt thou [...]!
94[And Tiamat hearkened unto] the word of the bright god, (and said):
95[...] shalt thou entrust! let us wage [war]!
96[...] the gods in the midst of [...]
97[...] for the gods did she create.'
98[They banded themselves together and] at the side of Tiamat [they] advanced;
99[They were furious, they devised mischief without resting] night and [day].
100[They prepared for battle], fuming and raging;
101[They joined their forces] and made war.
102[Ummu-Hubu]r, who formed all things,
103[Made in addition] weapons invincible, she spawned monster-serpents,
104[Sharp of] tooth, and merciless of fang;
105[With poison instead of] blood she filled [their] bodies.
106Fierce [monster-vipers] she clothed with terror,
107[With splendour] she decked them, [she made them] of lofty stature.
108[Whoever beheld] them, terror overcame him,
109Their bodies reared up and none could withstand [their attack].
110[She set] up vipers, and dragons, and the (monster) [Lahamu],
111[And hurricanes], and raging hounds, and scorpion-men,
112And mighty [tempests], and fish-men, and[rams];
113[They bore] cruel weapons, without fear of [the fight].
114Her commands [were mighty], [none] could resist them;
115After this fashion, huge of stature, [she made] eleven (monsters).
116Among the gods who were her sons, inasmuch as he had given [her support],
117She exalted Kingu; in their midst [she raised] him [to power].
118To march before the forces, to lead [the host],
119To give the battle-signal, to advance to the attack,
120To direct the battle, to control the fight,
121Unto him she entrusted; in [costly raiment] she made him sit, (saying):
122I have uttered thy spell, in the assembly of the gods I have raised thee to power.
134 The dominion over all the gods [have I entrusted unto him].
123Be thou exalted, thou my chosen spouse,
136 May they magnify thy name over all [of them ... the Anunnaki]."
124She gave him the Tablets of Destiny, on [his] breast she laid them, (saying):
125Thy command shall not be without avail, and[the word of thy mouth shall be established].
126Now Kingu, (thus) exalted, having received [the power of Anu],
127[Decreed] the fate among the gods his sons, (saying):
128Let the opening of your mouth [quench] the Fire-god;
142 Whoso is exalted in the battle, let him [display (his) might]!"