The Babylonian Legends of the Creation Part 14

76. They observed how craftily the bow had been constructed,

77. They extolled the work which he had done.

78. [Then] the G.o.d Anu lifted up [the bow] in the company of the G.o.ds,

79. He kissed the bow [saying]: "That ..."

80. He proclaimed [the names] of the bow to be as follows:--

81. "Verily, the first is 'Long Wood,' the second is ...

82. "Its third name is 'Bow Star in heaven' ..."

83. He fixed a station for it ...

[Of the remaining 57 lines of this tablet only fragments of 17 lines are preserved, and these yield no connected sense.]

SIXTH TABLET.

1. On hearing the words of the G.o.ds, the heart of Marduk moved him to carry out the works of a craftsman.

2. He opened his mouth, he spake to Ea that which he had planned in his heart, he gave counsel [saying]:

3. "I will solidify blood, I will form bone.

4. "I will set up man, 'Man' [shall be] his name.

5. "I will create the man 'Man.'

6. "The service of the G.o.ds shall be established, and I will set them (i.e., the G.o.ds) free.

7. "I will make twofold the ways of the G.o.ds, and I will beautify [them].

8. "They are [now] grouped together in one place, but they shall be part.i.tioned in two."[1]

[Footnote 1: Reading, _ishtenish lu kuppudu-ma ana s.h.i.+na lu uzizu_.]

9. Ea answered and spake a word unto him

10. For the consolation of the G.o.ds[1] he repeated unto him a word of counsel [saying]:

[Footnote 1: _I.e._, "to cause the G.o.ds to be content,"]

11. "Let one brother [G.o.d of their number] be given, let him suffer destruction that men may be fas.h.i.+oned.

12. "Let the great G.o.ds be a.s.sembled, let this [chosen] one be given in order that they (i.e., the other G.o.ds) may be established."

13. Marduk a.s.sembled the great G.o.ds, [he came near] graciously, he issued a decree,

14. He opened his mouth, he addressed the G.o.ds; the King spake a word unto the Anunnaki [saying]:

15. "Verily, that which I spake unto you aforetime was true.

16. "[This time also] I speak truth. [Some there were who] opposed me.[1]

[Footnote 1: Literally "they (indefinite) opposed me."]

17. "Who was it that created the strife,

18. "Who caused Tiamat to revolt, to join battle with me?

19. "Let him who created the strife be given [as sacrifice],

20. "I will cause the axe in the act of sinking to do away his sin."

21. The great G.o.ds, the Igigi, answered him,

22. Unto the King of the G.o.ds of heaven and of earth, the Prince of the G.o.ds, their lord [they said]:

23. "[It was] Kingu who created the strife,

24. "Who made Tiamat to revolt, to join battle [with thee]."

25. They bound him in fetters [they brought] him before Ea, they inflicted punishment on him, they let his blood,

26. From his blood he (i.e., Ea) fas.h.i.+oned mankind for the service of the G.o.ds, and he set the G.o.ds free.

27. After Ea had fas.h.i.+oned man he ... laid service upon him.

28. [For] that work, which pleased him not, man was chosen: Marduk ...

29. Marduk, the King of the G.o.ds, divided ... he set the Anunnaki up on high.

30. He laid down for Anu a decree that protected [his] heart ... as a guard.

31. He made twofold the ways on the earth [and in the heavens?]

32. By decrees ...

33. The Anunnaki who ...

34. The Anunnaki ...

35. They spake unto Marduk, their lord, [saying]:

36. "O thou Moon-G.o.d[1] (Nannaru), who hast established our splendour,