Tablet I

Translated by L. W. King, The Seven Tablets of Creation, vol. 1 (1902), pp. 3–21

127 lines

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p. 3see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
1When in the height heaven was not named,
2And the earth beneath did not yet bear a name,
3And the primeval Apsū, 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],
p. 5see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
10Laḫmu and Laḫamu were called into being [ . . . ].
11Ages increased, [ . . . ],
12Then Anšar and Kišar were created, and over them [ . . . ].
13Long were the days, then there came forth [ . . . ]
14Anu, their son, [ . . . ]
15Anšar 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 (?)].
p. 7see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
22But T[iamat and Apsū] were (still) in confusion [ . . . ],
23They were troubled and [ . . . ]
24In disorder(?) . . . [ . . . ]
25Apsū was not diminished in might [ . . . ]
26And Tiamat roared [ . . . ]
27She smote, and their deeds [ . . . ]
28Their way was evil . . . [ . . . ] . . .
29Then Apsū, the begetter of the great gods,
30Cried unto Mummu, his minister, and said unto him:
31“O Mummu, thou minister that rejoicest my spirit,
32“Come, unto Tiamat let us [go]!”
33So they went and before Tiamat they lay down,
34They consulted on a plan with regard to the gods [their sons].
35Apsū opened his mouth [and spake],
p. 9see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
36And unto Tiamat, the glistening one, he addressed [the word]:
37“[ . . . ] their way [ . . . ],
38“By day I cannot rest, by night [I cannot lie down (in peace)].
39“But I will destroy their way, I will [ . . . ],
40“Let there be lamentation, and let us lie down (again in peace).”
41When Tiamat [heard] these words,
42She raged and cried aloud [ . . . ].
43[She . . . ] grievously [ . . . ],
44She uttered a curse, and unto [Apsū she spake]:
45“What then shall we [do]?
46“Let their way be made difficult, and let us [lie down (again) in peace].”
47Mummu answered, and gave counsel unto Apsū,
48[ . . . ] and hostile (to the gods) was the counsel Mu[mmu gave]:
p. 11see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
49“Come, 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).”
51Apsū [hearkened unto] him and his countenance grew bright,
52[Since] he (i.e. Mummu) planned evil against the gods his sons.
53[ . . . ] he was afraid [ . . . ],
54His knees [became weak(?)], they gave way beneath him,
55[Because of the evil] which their first-born had planned.
56[ . . . ] their [ . . . ] they altered (?).
57[ . . . ] they [ . . . ],
58Lamentation [ . . . ] they sat in [sorrow]
59[ . . . ]
p. 13see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
60Then Ea, who knoweth all that [is], went up and he beheld their muttering.
61[ . . . ]
62[ . . . ] . . . his pure incantation
63[ . . . ] . . . [ . . . ]
64[ . . . ]
65[ . . . ] . . . [ . . . ] misery
66[ . . . ]
67[ . . . ]
Note King, p. 13: "Lines 68–82 are wanting."
83[ . . . ]
84[ . . . ] . . .
85[ . . . ] the god Anu,
86[ . . . an aven]ger.
87[ . . . ]
88[ . . . ] and he shall confound Tiamat.
89[ . . . ] he . . . ,
90[ . . . ] for ever.
91[ . . . ] the evil,
p. 15see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
92[ . . . ] . . . he spake:
93“[ . . . ] thy [ . . . ] he hath conquered and
94“[ . . . ] he [weepeth] and sitteth in tribulation(?).
95“[ . . . ] of fear,
96“[ . . . ] we shall not lie down (in peace).
97“[ . . . ] Apsū is laid waste(?),
98“[ . . . ] and Mummu, who were taken captive, in [ . . . ].
99“[ . . . ] . . . thou didst . . . ;
100“[ . . . ] let us lie down (in peace).
101“[ . . . ] . . . they will smite (?) [ . . . ].
102“[ . . . ] let us lie down (in peace).
103“[ . . . ] thou shalt take vengeance for them,
104“[ . . . ] unto the tempest shalt thou [ . . . ]!”
105[And Tiamat hearkened unto] the word of the bright god, (and said):
p. 17see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
106“[ . . . ] shalt thou entrust! let us wage [war]!”
107[ . . . ] the gods in the midst of [ . . . ]
108[ . . . ] for the gods did she create.
109[They banded themselves together and] at the side of Tiamat [they] advanced;
110[They were furious, they devised mischief without resting] night and [day].
111[They prepared for battle], fuming and raging;
112[They joined their forces] and made war.
113[Ummu-Ḫubu]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.
117Fierce [monster-vipers] she clothed with terror,
118[With splendour] she decked them, [she made them] of lofty stature.
119[Whoever beheld] them, terror overcame him,
120Their bodies reared up and none could withstand [their attack].
p. 19see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
121[She set] up vipers, and dragons, and the (monster) [Laḫamu],
122[And hurricanes], and raging hounds, and scorpion-men,
123And mighty [tempests], and fish-men, and [rams];
124[They bore] cruel weapons, without fear of [the fight].
125Her commands [were mighty], [none] could resist them;
126After this fashion, huge of stature, [she made] eleven (monsters).
127Among the gods who were her sons, inasmuch as he had given [her support],
128She exalted Kingu; in their midst [she raised] him [to power].
129To march before the forces, to lead [the host],
130To give the battle-signal, to advance to the attack,
p. 21see the 1902 page (opens archive.org in a new tab)
131To direct the battle, to control the fight,
132Unto him she entrusted; in [costly raiment] she made him sit, (saying):
133“I 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].
135“Be thou exalted, thou my chosen spouse,
136“May they magnify thy name over all [of them . . . the Anunnaki].”
137She gave him the Tablets of Destiny, on [his] breast she laid them, (saying):
138“Thy command shall not be without avail, and [the word of thy mouth shall be established].”
139Now Kingu, (thus) exalted, having received [the power of Anu],
140[Decreed] the fate among the gods his sons, (saying):
141“Let the opening of your mouth [quench] the Fire-god;
142“Whoso is exalted in the battle, let him [display (his) might]!”