Gilgamesh Serapis Osiris and the resurrected Gods

Epic of Gilgamesh:
Tablet 11


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The Story of the Flood

Gilgamesh spoke to Ut-anapishtim, the Faraway:

"I have been looking at you, but your appearance is not strange--you are like me!

You yourself are not different--you are like me!

My mind was resolved to fight with you,

(but instead?) my arm lies useless over you.

Tell me, how is it that you stand in the Assembly of the Gods, and have found life!"

Ut-anapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:

"I will reveal to you, Gilgamesh, a thing that is hidden, a secret of the gods I will tell you!

Shuruppak, a city that you surely know, situated on the banks of the Euphrates,

that city was very old, and there were gods inside it.

The hearts of the Great Gods moved them to inflict the Flood.

Their Father Anu uttered the oath (of secrecy),

Valiant Enlil was their Adviser,

Ninurta was their Chamberlain,

Ennugi was their Minister of Canals.



Ea, the Clever Prince (?), was under oath with them

so he repeated their talk to the reed house:

'Reed house, reed house! Wall, wall!

O man of Shuruppak, son of Ubartutu:

Tear down the house and build a boat!

Abandon wealth and seek living beings!

Spurn possessions and keep alive living beings!

Make all living beings go up into the boat.

The boat which you are to build,

its dimensions must measure equal to each other:

its length must correspond to its width.

Roof it over like the Apsu.



I understood and spoke to my lord, Ea:

'My lord, thus is the command which you have uttered

I will heed and will do it.

But what shall I answer the city, the populace, and the Elders!'

Ea spoke, commanding me, his servant:

'You, well then, this is what you must say to them:

"It appears that Enlil is rejecting me

so I cannot reside in your city (?),

nor set foot on Enlil's earth.

I will go down to the Apsu to live with my lord, Ea,

and upon you he will rain down abundance,

a profusion of fowl, myriad(!) fishes.

He will bring to you a harvest of wealth,

in the morning he will let loaves of bread shower down,

and in the evening a rain of wheat!"'

Just as dawn began to glow the land assembled around me-

the carpenter carried his hatchet,

the reed worker carried his (flattening) stone,

... the men ...

The child carried the pitch,

the weak brought whatever else was needed.

On the fifth day I laid out her exterior.

It was a field in area,

its walls were each 10 times 12 cubits in height,

the sides of its top were of equal length, 10 times It cubits each.

I laid out its (interior) structure and drew a picture of it (?).

I provided it with six decks,

thus dividing it into seven (levels).

The inside of it I divided into nine (compartments).

I drove plugs (to keep out) water in its middle part.

I saw to the punting poles and laid in what was necessary.

Three times 3,600 (units) of raw bitumen I poured into the bitumen kiln,

three times 3,600 (units of) pitch ...into it,

there were three times 3,600 porters of casks who carried (vegetable) oil,

apart from the 3,600 (units of) oil which they consumed (!)

and two times 3,600 (units of) oil which the boatman stored away.

I butchered oxen for the meat(!),

and day upon day I slaughtered sheep.

I gave the workmen(?) ale, beer, oil, and wine, as if it were river water,

so they could make a party like the New Year's Festival.

... and I set my hand to the oiling(!).

The boat was finished by sunset.

The launching was very difficult.

They had to keep carrying a runway of poles front to back,

until two-thirds of it had gone into the water(?).

Whatever I had I loaded on it:

whatever silver I had I loaded on it,

whatever gold I had I loaded on it.

All the living beings that I had I loaded on it,

I had all my family and friend go up into the boat,

all the beasts and animals of the field and the craftsmen I had go up.

Shamash had set a stated time:

'In the morning I will let loaves of bread shower down,

and in the evening a rain of wheat!

Go inside the boat, seal the entry!'

That stated time had arrived.

In the morning he let loaves of bread shower down,

and in the evening a rain of wheat.

I watched the appearance of the weather--

the weather was frightful to behold!

I went into the boat and sealed the entry.

For the caulking of the boat, to Puzuramurri, the boatman,

I gave the palace together with its contents.

Just as dawn began to glow

there arose from the horizon a black cloud.

Adad rumbled inside of it,

before him went Shullat and Hanish,

heralds going over mountain and land.

Erragal pulled out the mooring poles,

forth went Ninurta and made the dikes overflow.

The Anunnaki lifted up the torches, setting the land ablaze with their flare.

Stunned shock over Adad's deeds overtook the heavens,

and turned to blackness all that had been light.

The... land shattered like a... pot.

All day long the South Wind blew ...,

blowing fast, submerging the mountain in water,

overwhelming the people like an attack.

No one could see his fellow,

they could not recognize each other in the torrent.

The gods were frightened by the Flood,

and retreated, ascending to the heaven of Anu.

The gods were cowering like dogs, crouching by the outer wall.

Ishtar shrieked like a woman in childbirth,

the sweet-voiced Mistress of the Gods wailed:

'The olden days have alas turned to clay,

because I said evil things in the Assembly of the Gods!

How could I say evil things in the Assembly of the Gods,

ordering a catastrophe to destroy my people!!

No sooner have I given birth to my dear people

than they fill the sea like so many fish!'

The gods--those of the Anunnaki--were weeping with her,

the gods humbly sat weeping, sobbing with grief(?),

their lips burning, parched with thirst.

Six days and seven nights

came the wind and flood, the storm flattening the land.

When the seventh day arrived, the storm was pounding,

the flood was a war--struggling with itself like a woman writhing (in labor).

The sea calmed, fell still, the whirlwind (and) flood stopped up.

I looked around all day long--quiet had set in

and all the human beings had turned to clay!

The terrain was as flat as a roof.

I opened a vent and fresh air (daylight!) fell upon the side of my nose.

I fell to my knees and sat weeping,

tears streaming down the side of my nose.

I looked around for coastlines in the expanse of the sea,

and at twelve leagues there emerged a region (of land).

On Mt. Nimush the boat lodged firm,

Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing no sway.

One day and a second Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing no sway.

A third day, a fourth, Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing no sway.

A fifth day, a sixth, Mt. Nimush held the boat, allowing no sway.

When a seventh day arrived

I sent forth a dove and released it.

The dove went off, but came back to me;

no perch was visible so it circled back to me.

I sent forth a swallow and released it.

The swallow went off, but came back to me;

no perch was visible so it circled back to me.

I sent forth a raven and released it.

The raven went off, and saw the waters slither back.

It eats, it scratches, it bobs, but does not circle back to me.

Then I sent out everything in all directions and sacrificed (a sheep).

I offered incense in front of the mountain-ziggurat.

Seven and seven cult vessels I put in place,

and (into the fire) underneath (or: into their bowls) I poured reeds, cedar, and myrtle.

The gods smelled the savor,

the gods smelled the sweet savor,

and collected like flies over a (sheep) sacrifice.

Just then Belet-Ili arrived.

She lifted up the large flies (beads) which Anu had made for his enjoyment(!):

'You gods, as surely as I shall not forget this lapis lazuli around my neck,

may I be mindful of these days, and never forget them!

The gods may come to the incense offering,

but Enlil may not come to the incense offering,

because without considering he brought about the Flood

and consigned my people to annihilation.'

Just then Enlil arrived.

He saw the boat and became furious,

he was filled with rage at the Igigi gods:

'Where did a living being escape?

No man was to survive the annihilation!'

Ninurta spoke to Valiant Enlil, saying:

'Who else but Ea could devise such a thing?

It is Ea who knows every machination!'

La spoke to Valiant Enlil, saying:

'It is yours, O Valiant One, who is the Sage of the Gods.

How, how could you bring about a Flood without consideration

Charge the violation to the violator,

charge the offense to the offender,

but be compassionate lest (mankind) be cut off,

be patient lest they be killed.

Instead of your bringing on the Flood,

would that a lion had appeared to diminish the people!

Instead of your bringing on the Flood,

would that a wolf had appeared to diminish the people!

Instead of your bringing on the Flood,

would that famine had occurred to slay the land!

Instead of your bringing on the Flood,

would that (Pestilent) Erra had appeared to ravage the land!

It was not I who revealed the secret of the Great Gods,

I (only) made a dream appear to Atra-hasis, and (thus) he heard the secret of the gods.

Now then! The deliberation should be about him!'

Enlil went up inside the boat and, grasping my hand, made me go up.

He had my wife go up and kneel by my side.

He touched our forehead and, standing between us, he blessed us:

'Previously Ut-anapishtim was a human being.

But now let Ut-anapishtim and his wife become like us, the gods!

Let Ut-anapishtim reside far away, at the Mouth of the Rivers.'

They took us far away and settled us at the Mouth of the Rivers."

"Now then, who will convene the gods on your behalf,

that you may find the life that you are seeking!

Wait! You must not lie down for six days and seven nights."

soon as he sat down (with his head) between his legs

sleep, like a fog, blew upon him.

Ut-anapishtim said to his wife:

"Look there! The man, the youth who wanted (eternal) life!

Sleep, like a fog, blew over him."

his wife said to Ut-anapishtim the Faraway:

"Touch him, let the man awaken.

Let him return safely by the way he came.

Let him return to his land by the gate through which he left."

Ut-anapishtim said to his wife:

"Mankind is deceptive, and will deceive you.

Come, bake loaves for him and keep setting them by his head

and draw on the wall each day that he lay down."

She baked his loaves and placed them by his head

and marked on the wall the day that he lay down.

The first loaf was dessicated,

the second stale, the third moist(?), the fourth turned white, its ...,

the fifth sprouted gray (mold), the sixth is still fresh.

the seventh--suddenly he touched him and the man awoke.

Gilgamesh said to Ut-anapishtim:

"The very moment sleep was pouring over me

you touched me and alerted me!"

Ut-anapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:

"Look over here, Gilgamesh, count your loaves!

You should be aware of what is marked on the wall!

Your first loaf is dessicated,

the second stale, the third moist, your fourth turned white,

its ...

the fifth sprouted gray (mold), the sixth is still fresh.

The seventh--suddenly he touched him and the man awoke.

Gilgamesh said to Ut-anapishtim:

"The very moment sleep was pouring over me

you touched me and alerted me!"

Ut-anapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:

"Look over here, Gilgamesh, count your loaves!

You should be aware of what is marked on the wall!

Your first loaf is dessicated,

the second stale, the third moist, your fourth turned white,

its ...

the fifth sprouted gray (mold), the sixth is still fresh.

The seventh--at that instant you awoke!"

Gilgamesh said to Ut-anapishtim the Faraway:

"O woe! What shall I do, Ut-anapishtim, where shall I go!

The Snatcher has taken hold of my flesh,

in my bedroom Death dwells,

and wherever I set foot there too is Death!"

Home Empty-Handed

Ut-anapishtim said to Urshanabi, the ferryman:

"May the harbor reject you, may the ferry landing reject you!

May you who used to walk its shores be denied its shores!

The man in front of whom you walk, matted hair chains his body,

animal skins have ruined his beautiful skin.

Take him away, Urshanabi, bring him to the washing place.

Let him wash his matted hair in water like ellu.

Let him cast away his animal skin and have the sea carry it off,

let his body be moistened with fine oil,

let the wrap around his head be made new,

let him wear royal robes worthy of him!

Until he goes off to his city,

until he sets off on his way,

let his royal robe not become spotted, let it be perfectly new!"

Urshanabi took him away and brought him to the washing place.

He washed his matted hair with water like ellu.

He cast off his animal skin and the sea carried it oh.

He moistened his body with fine oil,

and made a new wrap for his head.

He put on a royal robe worthy of him.

Until he went away to his city,

until he set off on his way,

his royal robe remained unspotted, it was perfectly clean.

Gilgamesh and Urshanabi boarded the boat,

they cast off the magillu-boat, and sailed away.

The wife of Ut-anapishtim the Faraway said to him:

"Gilgamesh came here exhausted and worn out.

What can you give him so that he can return to his land (with honor) !"

Then Gilgamesh raised a punting pole

and drew the boat to shore.

Ut-anapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh, saying:

"Gilgamesh, you came here exhausted and worn out.

What can I give you so you can return to your land?

I will disclose to you a thing that is hidden, Gilgamesh,

a... I will tell you.

There is a plant... like a boxthorn,

whose thorns will prick your hand like a rose.

If your hands reach that plant you will become a young man again."

Hearing this, Gilgamesh opened a conduit(!) (to the Apsu)

and attached heavy stones to his feet.

They dragged him down, to the Apsu they pulled him.

He took the plant, though it pricked his hand,

and cut the heavy stones from his feet,

letting the waves(?) throw him onto its shores.

Gilgamesh spoke to Urshanabi, the ferryman, saying:

"Urshanabi, this plant is a plant against decay(!)

by which a man can attain his survival(!).

I will bring it to Uruk-Haven,

and have an old man eat the plant to test it.

The plant's name is 'The Old Man Becomes a Young Man.'"

Then I will eat it and return to the condition of my youth."

At twenty leagues they broke for some food,

at thirty leagues they stopped for the night.

Seeing a spring and how cool its waters were,

Gilgamesh went down and was bathing in the water.

A snake smelled the fragrance of the plant,

silently came up and carried off the plant.

While going back it shed its skin.

At that point Gilgamesh sat down, weeping,

his tears streaming over the side of his nose.

"Counsel me, O ferryman Urshanabi!

For whom have my arms labored, Urshanabi!

For whom has my heart's blood roiled!

I have not secured any good deed for myself,

but done a good deed for the 'lion of the ground'!"

Now the high waters are coursing twenty leagues distant,'

as I was opening the conduit(?) I turned my equipment over into it (!).

What can I find (to serve) as a marker(?) for me!

I will turn back (from the journey by sea) and leave the boat by the shore!"

At twenty leagues they broke for some food,

at thirty leagues they stopped for the night.

They arrived in Uruk-Haven.

Gilgamesh said to Urshanabi, the ferryman:

"Go up, Urshanabi, onto the wall of Uruk and walk around.

Examine its foundation, inspect its brickwork thoroughly--

is not (even the core of) the brick structure of kiln-fired brick,

and did not the Seven Sages themselves lay out its plan!

One league city, one league palm gardens, one league lowlands, the open area(?) of the Ishtar Temple,

three leagues and the open area(?) of Uruk it encloses.

End Tablet 11 and the Epic of Gilgamesh.
The Epic of Gilgamesh: Translated by Maureen Gallery Kovacs






Epic of Gilgamesh:
Tablet 12


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"If only I'd have protected our instruments in the

safe home of the drum-maker;

If only I'd have given so precious a harp to the

craftsman's wife, she who shepherds such jewel-like children.

God, has your heart forgotten me?

Who shall descend to Hell and redeem the

drum from where it rests unused?

Who shall risk his life to retrieve

the precious gifts of Ishtar from death?"



10. And for this quest his friend alone did pledge.

So Gilgamesh said this to Enkidu:

"Descend, descend to hades where life does end

but listen now to words you need to know.

Go slow to where death rules, my brother dear,

and then arise again above and over fear."

And, once more, Gilgamesh said this to Enkidu:

"Let all who would be saved today, take heed,

and listen to god's words in time of need.

When walking with the strong or with the dead,



20. do not wear clothes of purple or of red.

Shun make-up that presents a holy face

for they attack the phony and the base.

Leave here with me your knife and rock and club;

such weapons only add to their own strife.

Put down your bow, as you would leave a wife.

The souls of death will soil your hands and feet.

Go naked, filthy, tearful, when you meet.

Be quiet, mild, remote, and distant too

as those who will surround and follow you.



30. Greet no girl with kiss so kind upon her lips;

push none away from you with fingertips.

Hold no child's hand as you descend to Hell

and strike no boy who chooses there to dwell.

Around you, Enkidu, the lament of the dead

will whirl and scream,

for she alone, in that good place, is at home who,

having given birth to beauty,

has watched that beauty die.

No graceful robe any longer graces her naked self



40. and her kind breasts, once warm with milk,

have turned into bowls of cold stone."



But Enkidu refused to heed his friend

as he set out that day to then descend

to where the dead who-do-not-live do stay.

He wore bright clothes of celebrative red,

the sight of which offended all the dead.

His colored face made him seem fair and good

but spirits hate the flesh that would dare

remind us of the beauty they have lost.



50. He brought with him his club and rock and knife

and did cause strife with those whom he did mock.

There, too, is where he showed off;

where he went clothed among the naked,

where he wasted food beside the starving,

where he danced beside the grief-stricken.

He kissed a happy girl.

He struck a good woman.

He enjoyed his fatherhood.

He fought with his son.



60. Around him, the lament for the dead arose;

for she alone, in that sad place, is at home who,

having given birth to beauty,

has watched that beauty die.

No graceful robe any longer graces her naked self

and her kind breasts, once warm with milk,

have turned into bowls of cold stone.

She never even dreamed once of letting him return

to life. Namtar, the decision-maker,

would not help Enkidu. Nor would illness



70. help. Hell became his home.

Nergal, chief-enforcer, would not help.

Dirges and laments rose all around.

Not even the soldier's death-in-battle,

with all its false and phony honor,

helped Enkidu. Death just swallowed him, unrecognized.

So the great son of Ninsun, proud Gilgamesh,

cried for his beloved friend

and went to the temple of Enlil,

the savage god of soldiers,



80. to say: "My god, when death

called for me, my best friend went

in my place and he is now no longer living."

But the savage god of soldiers, Enlil, was mute.



So Gilgamesh turned next to one who flies alone,

and to the moon he said: "My god, when death

called for me, my best friend went

in my place and he is now no longer living."

But the moon, who flies alone, was also mute;

so he went next to Ea, whose waters fill



90. the desert oasis even when no rain falls.

"My god," he cried, "when death

called for me, my best friend went

in my place and he is now no longer living."

And Ea, whose waters keep us alive as we journey over desert sands,

said this to Nergal, great soldier in arms.

"Go now, mighty follower; free Enkidu to speak once to kin

and show this Gilgamesh how to descend halfway

to Hell through the bowels of earth."

And Nergal, accustomed to absurd orders,



100. obeyed as soldiers do.

He freed Enkidu to speak once to kin

and showed Gilgamesh how to descend halfway

to Hell through the bowels of earth.

Enkidu's shadow (spirit) rose slowly toward the living

and the brothers, tearful and weak,

tried to hug, tried to speak,

tried and failed to do anything but sob.



"Speak to me please, dear brother,"

whispered Gilgamesh.



110. "Tell me of death and where you are."

"Not willingly do I speak of death,"

said Enkidu in slow reply.

"But if you wish to sit for a brief

time, I will describe where I do stay."

"Yes," his brother said in early grief.

"All my skin and all my bones are dead now.

All my skin and all my bones are now dead.

"Oh no," cried Gilgamesh without relief.

"Oh no," sobbed one enclosed by grief.



120. "Did you see there a man who never fathered any child?"

"I saw there a no-man who died."

"Did you see there a man whose one son died?"

"I saw him sobbing all alone in open fields."

"Did you see there a man with two grown sons?"

"I did indeed and he smiles all day long."

"Did you see there a man with three of his own boys?"

"I did, I did; and his heart's full of joys."

"Did you there see a king with four full kids?"

"I did see one whose pleasure is supreme."



130. "Did you see there anyone with five children?"

"oh yes, they go about with laughs and shouts."

"And could you find a man with six or seven boys?"

"You could and they are treated as the gods."



"Have you seen one who died too soon?"

"Oh yes; that one sips water fair and rests each night upon a couch."

"Have you seen one who died in War?"

"Oh yes; his aged father weeps and his young widow visits graves."

"Have you seen one buried poor, with other homeless nomads?"



140. "Oh yes; that one knows rest that is not sure, far from the proper place."



"Have you seen a brother crying among relatives

who chose to ignore his prayers?"

"Oh yes; he brings bread to the hungry from the dumps

of those who feed their dogs

with food they keep from people

and he eats trash that no other man would want."










Epic of Gilgamesh:
Another fragmentary version #2
(four columns)


This version is from George Barton, Archaeology and the Bible 7th edition, American Sunday-School Union. p. 332-335

Column I (3/4 of the column missing)

............................................

......................

"My human-kind from its destruction I will [raise up];

With the aid of Nintu my creation..,...I will raise up;

The people in their settlements I will establish;

The city, whereever man creates one--indeed its protection--therein I will give him rest.

Our house-- its brick may be cast in a clean spor!

Our places in a clean place may heestablish!"

Its brilliant splendor, the temple platform, he made straight,

The exalted regulations he completed for it;

The land he divided; a favorable plan he established.

After Anu, Enlil (Bel), Enik (Ea) and Ninkhursag

The black headed race had created,

All that is from the earth, from the earth they caused to spring,

Cattle and beasts of the field suitably they brought into beings.



Column II (3/5 missing)

...................................

.....................I will.........................................

.................I will turn my eye upon him...........

The ................creator of the land...........

..................of royalty..................

.......................of royalty by him was determined;

The exalted palace of the royal throne was by him set apart,

The exalted precepts............he made perfect,

In clean places..........cities.........he founded,

Their names were named, they were alloted to guardian-spirits (?)

Of these cities Eridu--the chief command to Nudimmud he gave,

Unto the second the nisag-priests of Umma (?) he gave.

Thirdly, Larak to Pabikhursag he gave,

Fourthly, Sippar as the dwelling of Shamash he gave,

Fifthly, Shurippak unto Lamkurru he gave.

Their names were assigned; to guardian-spirits (?) they were allotted;

Its rampart (?), a wall (?) he raised up, he established;

Small rivers, canals (?), and water-courses (?) he established.



Column III

.....................

..............................

The land the sway of Anu..

The people...

A deluge.......................

.........................

Their land (?) it entered...........

Then Nintu [cried out] like [a woman in travail].........

The brilliant Ishtar [uttered] a groan on account of her people.

Enki with himself communion in his wisdom/

Anu, Enlil, Enki, and Nikhursag,

The gods of heaven and earth, invoked the names of Anu and Enlil,

At that time Ziugiddu was king, the priest of.......



The chief deity he made of wood.......

In humility prostrating himself, in reverence...............

Daily at all times was he present in person......

Increasing dreams which had not come [before],

Conjuring by the name of heaven and earth......



Column IV



For the settlement (?) the gods a wall (?)...

Ziugiddu stood by its side, he heard......

"At the wall at my left side stand.....

At the wall I will speak a word to thee

O my brilliant one, let there enter thy ear.....

By our hand a deluge....will be sent,

The seed of mankind to destroy....

Is the momentous decision of the assembly (of the gods)/

The words of Anu and Enlil.....

Their kingdom, their rule......

To them............"

[From other versions Ziugiddu is being told about the coming flood. The command to stand by the wall then reads:]

"O reed-hut, reed-hut, O wall, wall,

O reed-hut, hearken; O wall, give heed!

O man of Shurippak, son of Ubartutu,

Pull down thy house, build a ship, etc.



Column V



The evil winds, the wind that is hostil, came; all of them descended,

The deluge.....came on with them

Seven days and seven nights

The deluge swept over the land,

The evil wind made the huge boat tremble.

Shamash (the Sun) came forth, on heaven and earth he shone;

Ziugiddu the ship at the top uncovered,

The peace of Shamash, his light, entered into the boat.

Ziugiddu, the king

Before Shamash bowed his face to the earth.

The king--an ox he sacrificed, a sheep offered as oblation.

..................



Column VI



By the life of heaven and the life of earth ye shall conjure him,

That he may raise up from you;

Anu and Enlil by the soul of heaven and the soul of earth ye shall conjure,

That they may raise up from you

The curse that has come upon the land, that they may remove it.

Ziugiddu the king

Before Anu and Enlil bowed his face to the earth.

Life like a god's he gave to him,

An immortal spirit like a god's he brought to him.

Then Ziugiddu the king,

Of the seed that was cursed, lord of mankind he made;

Of the seed that was cursed, lord of mankind he made;

In the fruitful land, the land of Dilmum....they made him dwell






Epic of Gilgamesh:
Another fragmentary version #3


This version is from George Barton, Archaeology and the Bible 7th edition, American Sunday-School Union. p. 327-331

1.Gilgamesh said to him, to Utnapishtim, the far-away:

2."I look upon thee, O Utnapishtim,

3.Thy appearance is unchanged; thou are like me;

4.Thou are not at all different, thou art like me;

5.Thy courage is unbroken, to make combat,

6.On thy side thou liest down 00 on thy back.

7.[Tell me] how didst thou thou advance and in the assembly of the gods find life?"

8.Utnapishtim spoke to him, to Gilgamesh:

9.I will reveal to thee, O Gilgamesh, the secret story,

10.And the decision of the gods to thee will I relate.

11.Shurippak, a city which thou knowest,

12.Is situated on the bank of the Euphrates.

13.That city was old and the gods in it--

14.Their hearts prompted them--the great gods--to make a deluge.

15.[There are near] their father An,

16.Their counsillor, the warrior Ellil,

17.Their herald, Enmashtu,

18.Their hero, Ennugi.

19.The lord of wisdom, Ea, counseled with them;

20.Their words he repeated to the reed-hut:

21."O reed-hut, reed-hut, O wall, wall,

22.O reed-hut, hearken; O wall, give heed!

23.O man of Shurippak, son of Ubarattutu,

24.Pull down thy house, build a ship,

25.Leave thy possessions, take thought for thy life,

26.Leave thy gods, thy life save!

27.Embark seed of life and all kinds on a ship!

28.The ship which thou shalt build,

29.Measure well its dimensions,

30.Make to correspond its breath and its length;

31.Upon the ocean thou shalt launch it."

32.I understood and spoke to Ea, my lord:

33."[I understand], my lord; what thou hast thus commanded

34.I will honor and will do.

35.[But] what shall I say to the city, the people, and the elders?"

36.Ea opened his mouth and spake,

37.He said unto me, his servant;

38."Thus shalt thou say unto them:

39.Know that me -- Ellil hates me.

40.I may not dwell in your city,

41.On Ellil's soil I may not lift my face,

42.I must go down to the ocean with Ea, my lord, to dwell.

43.Upon you will he (Ellil) then rain abundance--

44.[A catch] of birds, a catch of fishes,

45...........a rich (?) harvest.

46.[A time Shamash (the sun) appointed, at evening] the senders of rain

47.[Shall rain upon] you a mighty rainstorm.

48.When the grey of dawn brightens,

49.------broken line

50......broken line

51......broken line

52.....broken line

53........broken line

54.........broken line

55.........broken line

56.--------broken line

57.The strong....brought what was needed.

58.On the fifth day I raised its frame.

59.According to its plan (?) its walls were 120 cubits high;

60.120 cubits correspondingly was the extent of its roof.

61.I laid down its hull; I enclosed it.

62.I constructed it in storys, up to six;

63.I divided it [without (?)] into seven parts.

64.Its interior I divided into nine parts.

65......I fastened in its midst.

66.I looked out a rudder, and prepared what was necessary.

67.6 sars of bitumen I poured over its outside (?);

68.3 sars of bitumen I poured over its interior.

69.3 sars of oil the people who carry jars brought.

70.Besides a sar of oil which was used as a libation,

71.2 sars of oil the ship's captain stowed away.

72.For the people I slaughtered bullocks.

73.I slaughtered lambs daily.

74.Must, beer, oil, and wine,

75.I gave the people to drink like river-water.

76.I made a feast, like a new year's festival.

77.I opened (?) [a box of ointment]; I put ointment in my hand.

78.[By the setting] of great Shamash, the ship was finished.

79.[To move it from the stocks] was difficult

80.The men cleared the ship's ways above and below.

81............two thirds of it.

82.With all that I had I laded it (the ship).

83.With all the silver I had I laded it.

84.With all the gold I had I laded it.

85.With all the living things I had I laded it.

86.I embarked on the ship all my family and kindred.

87.Cattle of the fields, beasts of the field, craftsmen, all, I embarked.

88.A fixed time Shamash had appointed, [saying]:

89."When the senders of rain shall rain upon you a mighty rainstorm at evening,

90.Embark upon the ship and close the door."

91.The appointed time approached,

92.The senders of rain sent at evening a heavy rainstorm.

93.I observed the appearance of the day,

94.The day was terrible to look upon.

95.I embarked upon the ship, I closed my door.

96.To the master of the ship, to Puzur-Amurru, the sailor,

97.I entrusted the structure together with its contents.

98.When dew-dawn began to brighten,

99.There arose from the horizon a black cloud;

100.The god Adad thundered in its midst,

101.While Nebo and Sharru marched before;

102.They went as heralds over the mountain and country.

103.Nergal tore away the anchor,

104.Enmashtu advanced, the floods he poured down;

105.The Anunnaki raised their torches,

106.At their brightness the land trembled.

107.The raging of Adad reached to heaven;

108.All light was turned to darkness

109.......the land like....

110.One day [raged the storm )?)]

111.Swiftly it raged [and the waters covered[ the mountains,

112.Like a battle array over the people it swept.

113.No one could see his fellow/

114.No more were people recognized in heaven;

115.The gods were frightened at the deluge,

116.They fled, they climbed to the highest heaven;

117.The gods crouched like dogs, they lay down by the walls.

118.Ishtar cried like a woman in travail,

119.Wailed the queen of the gods with her beautiful voice:

120."Those creatures are turned to clay,

121.Since I commanded evil in the assembly of the gods;

122.Because I commanded evil in the assembly of the gods,

123.For the destruction of my people I commanded battle.

124.I alone bore my people;

125.like spawn of flies they fill the sea."

126.The gods along with the Annunaki wept with her,

127.The gods bowed, sat as they wept;

128.Closed were their lips; [silent their] assembly.

129.Six days and seven nights

130.Blew the wind, the deluge the flood overpowered.

131.When the seventh day approached, the deluge was prolonging the battle

132.Which, like an army, it had waged.

133.The sea calmed, the destruction abated, the flood ceased.

134.I looked upon the sea, the roaring was stilled

135.And all mankind was turned to clay;

136.Like logs all were floating about.

137.I opened the window, the light fell on my cheek;

138.I was overcome, I sat down, I wept;

139.Over my cheek streamed the tears.

140.I looked in all directions--a fearful sea!

141.After twelve days an island appeared;

142.Toward mount Nizir the ship stood off;

143.Mount Nizir held it fast, that it moved not.

144.One day, two days, Mount Nizier held it that it moved not,

145.Three days, four days, mount Nizir held it that it moved not,

146.Five days, six days, mount Nizir held it that it moved not,

147.When the seventh day approached,

148.I brought out a dove and let her go;

149.The dove went out and returned;

150.There was no resting-place and she came back.

151.I brought out a swallow and let it go;

152.The swallow went out and returned.

153.There was o resting place and it came back.

154.I brought out a raven and let it go;

155.The raven went out, the diminution of the waters it saw;

156.It alighted, it waded about, it croaked, it did not come back.

157.I disembarked [all]; to the four winds I poured a libation.

158.I appointed a sacrifice on top of the mountain peak'

159.Seven by seven I arranged the sacrificial vessels;

160.Beneath them I piled reeds, cedar wood, and myrtle.

161.The gods smelled the savor,

162.The gods smelled the sweet savor.

163.The gods above the sacrificer collected like flies.

164.When at length the queen of the gods drew near,

165.She raised the great bows which An at her wish had made.

166."O ye gods, as I shall not forget the jewel of my neck

167.These days I shall not forget--to eternity I shall remember!

168.Let the gods come to the sacrifice,

169.But let Ellil not come to the sacrifice,

170.For he was not wise; he sent the deluge,

171.And numbered my people for destruction."

172.When at last Ellil drew near,

173.He saw the ship, Ellil was angry,

174.His heart was filled against the gods and the Igigi (spirits of heaven)

175."Who then has come out alive?

176.No man must escape from destruction."

177.Then Enmashtu opened his mouth and spake,

178.He said to the warrior Ellil;

179."Who but Ea accomplished the thing?

180.Even Ea knows every undertaking."

181.Ea opened his mouth and spake,

182.He said to the warrior Ellil:

183."O thou, aleader of the gods, warrior,

184.How, how couldst thou without thought send a deluge?

185.On the sinner let his sin rest,

186.On the wrongdoer rest his misdeed.

187.Forbear, let it not be done, have mercy, [That men perish not].

188.Instead of thy sending a deluge

189.Had the lion come and diminished the people!

190.Instead of thy sending a deluge

191.Had a wolf come and diminished the people!

192.Instead of sending a deluge

193.Had a famine come and the land [depopulated!]

194.Instead of sending a deluge

195.Had a pestilence come and the land [depopulated!}

196.I have not divulged the decisions of the great gods.

197.I caused Adrakhasis to see a dream and the decisions of the gods be heard.

198.Now take counsel concerning him."

199.Then went Ea on board the ship,

200.He took my hand and brought me forth,

201.He brought forth my wife and made her kneel at my side;

202.He turned us toward each other and stood between us; he blessed us:

203."In former times Utnapishtim was a man;

204.Now let Utnapishtim and his wife be like gods-- even like us;

205.Let Utnapishtim dwell afar off at the mouth of the rivers!"

206.He took me and caused me to dwell afar off at the mouth of the rivers.








The global flood from the oldest archeology on earth: