Overpopulation of the earth (1)

Text
Atrahasis Epic (SBV) 5.17-58:
Atrahasis received the instruction (from Ea), he gathered the elders to his house. Atrahasis opened his mouth and said to the elders: “The case has been heard, the assembly (of gods) was convened, the gods agreed to swear an oath. Command that the heralds proclaim, let them give loud voice in the land: “Do not reverence your gods, do not pray to your goddess! Seek out (instead) the gate of Adad, bring a baked loaf (and put it) before it! Let the flour offering please him, so that at night surreptitiously he rains down dew, in the mornings he rains down mist, and the earth by stealth yields twins!” The elders heard his word, a temple to Adad they built in the city. The flour offering pleased him, at night surreptitiously he rained down dew, in the mornings he rained down mist, and the earth by stealth yielded twins. Their fine features returned, their former noise started again, their days of well-being returned, the womb was open and making babies. Three myriad years did not go by, the land had grown, the people had multiplied. The land was bellowing like a bull, the god became disturbed by the noise. Enlil reconvened his assembly, saying to the gods, his sons: “The noise of mankind has become too much for me, because of their din sleep cannot overtake me. Command that Anu and Adad stand guard in the heights, that Sin and Nergal stand guard on the earth in between. At the bolt that keeps the sea in check, let Ea stand guard, along with his lahmus. He commended, and Anu and Ea stood guard in the heights, Sin and Nergal stood guard on the earth in between. At the bolt that keeps the sea in check, Ea stood guard, along with his lahmus.

Source (list of abbreviations)
Atrahasis Epic (SBV) 5.17-58

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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