Enuma Elish, the Memphite Theology, and Genesis 1â2
GENESIS 1â2
When: Sixth century BCE (?)
Where: Jerusalem
Language: Hebrew
ENUMA ELISH(âWHEN ABOVE . . .â)
What: Copies survive in 181 clay cuneiform tablets and fragments from various cities in Assyria and Babylon, attesting to a seven-tablet composition
When: Ca. 1100 BCE (?)
Where: Babylon
Language: Akkadian
Translation: W. G. Lambert1
Tablet I
When the heavens above did not exist, And earth beneath had not come into beingâ
There was Apsu, the first in order, their begetter, And demiurge Tiamat, who gave birth to them all;
5 They had mingled their waters together Before meadow-land had coalesced and reed-bed was to be foundâ
When not one of the gods had been formed Or had come into being, when no destinies had been decreed,
The gods were created within them;
10 La
mu and La
amu were formed and came into being.
While they grew and increased in stature Anshar and Kishar, who excelled them, were created.
They prolonged their days, they multiplied their years. Anu, their son, could rival his fathers.
15 Anu, the son, equalled Anshar, And Anu begat Nudimmud, his own equal.
Nudimmud was the champion among his fathers; Profoundly discerning, wise, of robust strength;
Very much stronger than his fatherâs begetter, Anshar
20 He had no rival among the gods, his brothers,
The divine brothers came together, Their clamour got loud, throwing Tiamat into a turmoil.
They jarred the nerves of Tiamat, And by their dancing they spread alarm in Anduruna.
25 Apsu did not diminish their clamour, And Tiamat was silent when confronted with them.
Their conduct was displeasing to her, Yet though their behaviour was not good, she wished to spare them.
Apsu and Mummu plot the destruction of the gods
Thereupon Apsu, the begetter of the great gods,
30 Called Mummu, his vizier, and addressed him,
âVizier Mummu, who gratifies my pleasure, Come, let us go to Tiamat!â
They went and sat, facing Tiamat, As they conferred about the gods, their sons.
35 Apsu opened his mouth And addressed Tiamat . . .
âTheir behaviour has become displeasing to me And I cannot rest in the day-time or sleep at night.
I will destroy and break up their way of life
40 That silence may reign and we may sleep.â
When Tiamat heard this She raged and cried out to her spouse,
She cried in distress, fuming within herself, She grieved over the (plotted) evil,
45 âHow can we destroy what we have given birth to? Though their behaviour causes distress, let us tighten discipline graciously.â
Mummu spoke up with counsel for Apsuâ (As from) a rebellious vizier was the counsel of his Mummuâ
âDestroy, my father, that lawless way of life,
50 That you may rest in the day-time and sleep by night!â
Apsu was pleased with him, his face beamed Because he had plotted evil against the gods, his sons.
Mummu put his arms around Apsuâs neck, He sat on his knees kissing him.
Ea kills Apsu and captures Mummu
55 What they plotted in their gathering Was reported to the gods, their sons.
The gods heard it and were frantic. They were overcome with silence and sat quietly.
The one who excels in knowledge, the skilled and learned,
60 Ea, who knows everything, perceived their tricks.
He fashioned it and made it to be all-embracing, He executed it skillfully as supremeâhis pure incantation.
He recited it and set it on the waters, He poured sleep upon him as he was slumbering deeply.
65 He put Apsu to slumber as he poured out sleep, And Mummu, the counsellor, was breathless with agitation.
He split (Apsuâs) sinews, ripped off his crown, Carried away his aura and put it on himself.
He bound Apsu and killed him;
70 Mummu he confined and handled roughly.
Ea builds a house on Apsuâs remains
He set his dwelling upon Apsu, And laid hold on Mummu, keeping the nose-rope in his hand.
After Ea had bound and slain his enemies, Had achieved victory over his foes,
75 He rested quietly in his chamber, He called it Apsu, whose shrines he appointed.
Then he founded his living-quarters within it, And Ea and Damkina, his wife, sat in splendour.
The birth of Marduk
In the chamber of the destinies, the room of the archetypes,
80 The wisest of the wise, the sage of the gods, BÄl was conceived.
In Apsu was Marduk born, In pure Apsu was Marduk born.
Ea his father begat him, Damkina his mother bore him.
85 He sucked the breasts of goddesses, A nurse reared him and filled him with terror.
His figure was well developed, the glance of his eyes was dazzling, His growth was manly, he was mighty from the beginning.
Anu, his fatherâs begetter, saw him,
90 He exulted and smiled; his heart filled with joy.
Anu rendered him perfect: his divinity was remarkable, And he became very lofty, excelling them in his attributes.
His members were incomprehensibly wonderful, Incapable of being grasped with the mind, hard even to look on.
95 Four were his eyes, four his ears, Flame shot forth as he moved his lips.
His four ears grew large, And his eyes likewise took in everything.
His figure was lofty and superior in comparison with the gods,
100 His limbs were surpassing, his nature was superior:
âMari-utu, Mari-utu, The Son, the Sun-god, the Sun-god of the gods.â
He was clothed with the aura of the Ten Gods, so exalted was his strength, The Fifty Dreads were loaded upon him.
105 Anu formed and gave birth to the four winds, He delivered them to him, âMy son, let them whirl!â
He formed dust and set a hurricane to drive it, He made a wave to bring consternation on Tiamat.
Tiamat is moved to action
Tiamat was confounded; day and night she was frantic.
110 The gods took no rest, they . . . . . . . .
In their minds they plotted evil, And addressed their mother Tiamat,
âWhen Apsu, your spouse, was killed, You did not go at his side, but sat quietly.
115 The four dreadful winds have been fashioned To throw you into confusion, and we cannot sleep.
You gave no thought to Apsu, your spouse, Nor to Mummu, who is a prisoner. Now you sit alone.
Henceforth you will be in frantic consternation!
120 And as for us, who cannot rest, you do not love us!
Consider our burden, our eyes are hollow. Break the immovable yoke that we may sleep.
Make battle, avenge them! [. .] . . . . reduce to nothingness!â
125 Tiamat heard, the speech pleased her, She said, âLet us do now all you have advised.â
The gods assembled within her. They conceived [evil] against the gods their begetters.
They . . . . . and took the side of Tiamat,
130 Fiercely plotting, unresting by night and day,
Lusting for battle, raging, storming, They set up a host to bring about conflict.
Mother Hubur, who forms everything, Supplied irresistible weapons, and gave birth to giant serpents.
135 They had sharp teeth, they were merciless . . . . With poison instead of blood she filled their bodies.
She clothed the fearful monsters with dread, She loaded them with an aura and made them godlike.
(She said,) âLet their onlooker feebly perish,
140 May they constantly leap forward and never retire.â
She created the Hydra, the Dragon, the Hairy Hero, The Great Demon, the Savage Dog, and the Scorpion-man,
Fierce demons, the Fish-man, and the Bull-man, Carriers of merciless weapons, fearless in the face of battle.
145 Her commands were tremendous, not to be resisted. Altogether she made eleven of that kind.
Tiamat elevates Qingu
Among the gods, her sons, whom she constituted her host, She exalted Qingu, and magnified him among them.
The leadership of the army, the direction of the host,
150 The bearing of weapons, campaigning, the mobilization of conflict,
The chief executive power of battle, supreme command, She entrusted to him and set him on a throne,
âI have cast the spell for you and exalted you in the host of the gods. I have delivered to you the rule of all the gods.
155 You are indeed exalted, my spouse, you are renowned, Let your commands prevail over all the Anunnaki.â
She gave him the Tablet of Destinies and fastened it to his breast, (Saying) âYour order may not be changed; let the utterance of your mouth be firm.â
After Qingu was elevated and had acquired the power of Anuship,
160 He decreed the destinies for the gods, her sons:
âMay the utterance of your mouths subdue the fire-god, May your poison by its accumulation put down aggression.â
Tablet II
Tiamat gathered together her creation And organized battle against the gods, her offspring.
Henceforth Tiamat plotted evil because of Apsu. It became known to Ea that she had arranged the conflict.
5 Ea heard this matter, He lapsed into silence in his chamber and sat motionless.
