| 364. Now [Atra-hasis (Biblical Noah) 365. Was informing his god Enki 366. He spoke [with his god] 367. And his god [spoke] with him. 368. Atra-hasis [opened] his mouth 369 And addressed [his] lord, 371. Will impose disease on us [forever]? 372. Enki opened his mouth 373. And addressed his slave… (106) At this point we can sum up the previous text once more and find that mankind had been created out of clay, but the noise they were making was too much for Enlil, depriving him of precious sleep. (Gods need sleep of course). So, a flood was to be unleashed on the land by the Storm God Adad, and mankind was to be wiped out for good. Column IV 2. Below, the flood did not [rise] from the abyss. 4. The womb of earth did not bear, 5. Vegetation did not sprout […] 6. People were not seen [….] 7. The black fields became white, 8. The broad plain was choked with salt. 9. For one year they ate couch-grass (?); 10. For the second year they suffered the itch. 11. The third year came 12. [And] their features [were altered] by hunger. 13. [Their] faces were encrusted, like malt, 14. [And they were living] on the verge of death. 15. [Their] faces appeared green, 16. They walked hunched [in the street]. 17. Their broad shoulders [became narrow], 18. Their long legs [became short]. (107) In the next text fragment, we read how the gods were upset now at the Igigi for their revolt and decided to bind Enki to a promise not to reveal to mankind what would happen to them. Column V 13. He was filled with anger [at the Igigi]. 14. “[All we] great Anunnaki 15. Decided together [on a rule]. 16. Anu and [Adad] guarded [the upper regions], 17. I guarded the [lower] earth. 18. Where Enki [went] 19. He loosed the yoke [and established freedom]. 20. He let loose [abundance for the peoples], (108) Column VII 38. Let us bind prince Enki … [by an oath.’ 40. Enki opened his mouth 41. And addressed the gods [his brothers] 42. “Why will you bind me with an oath .[…] ? 43. Am I to lay my hands on [my own peoples]? |
44. The flood that you are commanding [me], 45. Who is it I [do not know]. 46. Am I to give birth to [a flood]? 47. This is the task of [Enlil] Column VIII 34. The gods commanded total destruction, 35. Enlil did an evil deed on the peoples. Tablet III 11. Atra-hasis opened his mouth 12. And addressed his lord, 13. ‘Teach me the meaning [of the dream], 14. […] … that I may seek its outcome.’ 15. [Enki opened his mouth 16. And addressed his slave, 17. ‘You say, “What am I to seek?” 18. Observe the message that I will speak to you: 20. Wall, listen to me! 21. Reed wall, observe all my words! 22. Destroy your house, build a boat, 23. Spurn property and save life. 25. The boat which you build 29. Roof it over like the Apsu. 30. So that the sun shall not see into it 31. Let it be roofed over above and below. (Build a submarine) 37. He announced to him the coming of the flood for the seventh night. 38. Atra-hasis received the command, 39. He assembled the elders to his gate. 40. Atra-hasis opened his mouth 41. And addressed the elders, 42. ‘My god [does not agree] with your god, 43. Enki and [Enlil] are angry with one another. 44. They have expelled me from [my house?], 45. Since I reverence [Enki], 46. [He told me] of this matter. (109) 24. For seven days and seven nights 25. Came the deluge, the storm, [the flood]. (110) Gathering from this last bit what we can, we find that Enki did not disobey the gods on their command not to reveal to Atrahasis or mankind what would be coming with the deluge but instead spoke through a “reed wall” and told Atrahasis to listen to the reed wall for divine instructions. These were the very oldest myths created by men, under patriarchal rule and many of the warring elements are carried over into later Hittite, Canaanite, Greek, and Hebrew myth. These myths are very different than the earlier Hindu and Persian myths. Nature and fertility already begin to take a backseat to war and conquest. (106) ibid, p. 61-69 (107) ibid, p. 79-81 (108) ibid, p. 81 (109) Atra Hasis, p. 89-91 (110) ibid, p. 97 |