| 47.) Mummu answered, and gave counsel to Apsu, 48.) … and hostile (to the gods) was the counsel Mu[mmu gave]: 49.) “Come, their way is strong, but thou shall destroy [it]; 50.) “Then by day thou shalt have rest, by night thou shalt lie down (in peace).” 52.) [Since] he (i.e. Apsu) planned evil against the gods his sons. 53.) … He was afraid … 54.) His knees [became weak (?)], they gave way beneath him. 55.) [Because of the evil] which their first-born had planned. (So far it appears as if Mummu, Apsu and Tiamat are plotting to destroy their children, lesser gods.) 60. Then Ea, who knoweth all that [is], went up and he beheld their muttering. 85.) … the god Anu, 86.) … an aven[ger]. 88.) …. And he shall confound Tiamat. (From texts I have left out, at this point, it seems that the battle has been won and several captives taken.) 96.) … we shall not lie down (in peace). 97.) Apsu is laid waste 98.) … “and Mummu, who were taken captive, in … 103. … thou shall take vengeance for them, 105.) [And Tiamat harkened unto] the word of the bright god, (and said): 106.) ..shalt thou entrust! Let us wage [war]!” 113.) Ummu-Hubu]r, who formed all things, 114.) [Made in addition] weapons invincible, she spawned monster-serpents, 115.) [Sharp of] tooth, and merciless of fang; 116. [With poison instead of] blood, she filled [their] bodies. 117.) Fierce [monster-vipers] she clothed with terror, 118.) [With splendor] she decked them, [she made them] of lofty stature. 119.) Whoever beheld them, terror overcame them, 120,) Their bodies reared up, and none could withstand [their attack]. 121.) [She set] up vipers, and dragons, and the (monster) Lahamu, 122.) [And hurricanes], and raging hounds, and scorpion-men, 123.) [They bore cruel] weapons without fear of the [fight] (At this point, it is difficult to say whether or not the serpents, dragons and monsters are weapons or actual creatures. But it’s interesting that all the fiercest weapons, if that’s what they are, are described as dragons and snakes. I assume all these are aspects of the mushroom deity, Tiamat. The “splendor” she has decked them with is the halo of enlightenment, called melammu.) |
124.) After this fashion, huge of stature, [she made] eleven (monsters). 127.) Among the gods who were her sons, inasmuch as he had given [her support], 128.) She exalted Kingu; in their midst [she raised] him [to power] 133.) “I have uttered thy spell, in the assembly of the gods I have raised thee to power. 135.) “Be thou exalted, thou my chosen spouse, (Now it appears that Kingu, one of her sons, was chosen to lead the battle for her, to avenge Mummu and Apsu, but when he was exalted, she made him her “spouse.” Is this the origin of the mother/son-lover story?) 136. “May they magnify thy name over all [of them … Anunnaki].” 137.) She gave him the Tablets of Destiny on [his] breast she laid them, (saying): (From here, we see the “Stones” or Tablets of Destiny being given to a military leader.) Tablet 2 1.) Tiamat made weighty her handiwork 2.) [Evil} she wrought against the gods her children. 3.) [To avenge] Apsu, Tiamat planned evil, 4.) But how she had collected her [forced, the god…] unto Ea divulged 5.) Ea [harkened to] this thing, and 6.) He was [grievous]ly afflicted and he sat in sorrow. 7.) And to [the place] of Anshar his father he took [his way]. 10.) [All that] Tiamat plotted he repeated unto him, 11.) [Saying, “Ti]amat our mother hath conceived a hatred for us, 16.) “They are furious, they devise mischief without resting night and day. 17.) They prepare for battle, fuming and raging; 49.) [When Anshar heard how Tiamat was mighty in revolt, 50.) … He bit his lips, 51.) …, his mind was not at peace 72.) [Anshar unto] his son, addressed the [word]: - (Apparently addressing Marduk now) 73.) “… my mighty hero, 74.) “[Whose] strength [is great] and whose onslaught cannot be withstood, 75.) “[Go} and stand before Tiamat, Tablet 3 52.) “Whoso is exalted in the battle, let him display (his) might!” 53.) “I sent Anu, but he could not withstand her; 54.) “Nudimmud was afraid and turned back 55.) “But Marduk hath set out, the director of the gods, your son; (This part reveals clearly that Marduk was the selected hero) 125.) Lahmu and Lahamu heard and cried aloud, |