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Creation of man (1)

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05 Scientific knowledge and scholarly lore




01 Religious and ideological doctrines and imagery



Keywords
creation of mankind
Period
Neo-Assyrian Empire
Channel
Neo-Assyrian texts


Text
KAR 4, obverse:
1. When heaven had been separated from the earth, the distant trusty twin, (and) the mother of the goddesses had been brought into being; when the earth had been brought forth (and) the earth had been fashioned; when the destinies of heaven and earth had been fixed; (when) trench and canal had been given (their) right courses, (and) the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates had been established
7. (Then) Anu, Enlil, Šamaš, (and) Ea, the great gods, (and) the Anunnaki, the great gods, seated themselves in the exalted sanctuary and recounted among themselves what had been created.
12. “Now that the destinies of heaven and earth have been fixed, trench and canal have been given their right courses, the banks of the Tigris and the Euphrates have been established. What (else) shall we do? What (else) shall we create? 18. O Anunnaki, ye great gods, what (else) shall we do? What (else) shall we create?”
21. The great gods who were present, the Anunnaki, who fix the destinies, both (groups) of them, made answer to Enlil:
24. “In Uzumua, the bond of heaven and earth, let us slay (two) Lamga gods. With their blood let us create mankind. The service of the gods be their portion, for all times to maintain the boundary ditch, to place the hoe and the basket Into their hands. For the dwelling of the great gods, which is fit to be an exalted sanctuary, to mark off field from field for all times. To maintain the boundary ditch, to give the trench (its) right course, to maintain the boundary stone (?), to water the four regions of the earth (?), to rise plants in abundance, rains (?) [ … ]
Reverse:
1. To maintain the boundary (?), o fill (?) the granary, [ … ...] to make the field of the Anunnaki produce plentifully, to increase the abundance in the land, to celebrate the festivals of the gods, to pour out cold water in the great house of the gods, which is fit to be an exalted sanctuary. Ulligarra (and) Zalgarra you will call their names.”
13. That they should increase ox, sheep, cattle, fish, and fowl, the abundance in the land, the Lord of Abundance (and) the Lady of Abundance decreed with their holy mouths.
17. Aruru, the lady of the gods, who is fit for rulership ordained for them great destinies: skilled worker to produce for skilled worker (and) unskilled worker for unskilled worker, (springing up) by themselves like grain from the ground, a thing which, (like) the stars of heaven, shall not be changed forever. Day and night to celebrate the festivals of the gods by themselves.
25. (These) great destinies did Anu, Enlil, Ea, and Ninmah, the great gods, decree (for them). In the place where mankind was created, there Nisaba was firmly established.
31. Let the wise teach the mystery to the wise.


Source (list of abbreviations)
KAR 4

Bibliography

Heidel 1951, 68-71Heidel, Alexander. The Babylonian Genesis. The Story of Creation. Chicago: Chicago University Press 1951 (second edition).

Links (external links will open in a new browser window)
Cf. Creation of man (2)
Cf. Creation of man (3)
Cf. Primordial battle and creation of man (1)

Amar Annus


URL for this entry: http://www.aakkl.helsinki.fi/melammu/database/gen_html/a0000108.php


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