Origin/Historian/Author: Neo Babylonian
Source: Babylonian Creation Myths, WG Lambert, 2013
Introduction
This myth was recorded during the Neo-Babylonian Period, while traces of the events described can be viewed in earlier myths such as the Enuma Elish, Atrahasis Epic, and Enlil and Namzitarra. The structure of writing, as opposed to older compositions from this region, begins to show a transition from a compact writing system, to a more descriptive and informative one. As a later period text regarding earlier events, we can expect some discrepancies between the different tellings, however the majority of content does coincide with what the earlier stories portray.
These events occur shortly after the defeat of Tiamat and Qingu, as recorded in the Enuma Elish. Qingu is sometimes described as a son of Tiamat. In a lesser known tradition, the Assur version of the Enuma Elish, this would make Qingu the paternal uncle (father’s brother) of Marduk. In the Enlil and Namzitarra myth, Enmesharra is described as a paternal uncle to Enlil. In the Enuma Elish, Marduk attains the Tablet of Destinies from Qingu (his uncle), attaining Enlilship for himself. This is also confirmed in this text on OBV Column III, line 18, Marduk attains Enlilship. Understanding the genealogy allows us to conclude Enmesharra and Qingu to be the same individual.
This text describes what occurred to Qingu after he was captured. Here he is identified as the Lord of all MEs, or Enmesharra. He and his 7 children are escorted by Nergal, the enforcer, to Marduk who passes judgment. Immediately upon their arrival, Marduk is angered and swiftly beheads Enmesharra’s 7 children for participating in the war. The text doesn’t mention Enmesharra’s fate, however all other sources confirm he was killed. As stated in the Atrahasis Epic, the death of this god was tied directly to the creation of Man(a class of slaves).
With the defeat of the Primordial Gods, a new structure and hierarchy was to be established. OBV Column III, lines 13-20 tell us Marduk attained the title of Enlil, Nabu the title of Lord of Urta, and Nergal the title of Erra. Also mentioned are other gods and their designated positions or locations in which to administrate. All who belonged to the old regime were removed from their positions of power and replaced. As referenced in another Neo-Babylonian period text, the new structure of this prehistoric government consisted of the following: [1] A supreme god, the seven gods of destinies, 300 Anunnaki of Heaven, and 600 Anunnaki of the Underworld.
Full Text Below
OBVERSE COLUMN I
1 … ] …
2 When [Nergal] heard this
3 He strengthened his bands
4 as he proceeded to the prison.
5 Quickly he approached and drew near to the prison.
6 He opened the gate of the prison, summoning them,
7 He saw them and inspected every one.
8 The Seized Gods saw him,
9 All of them as one
10 were beside themselves.
11 Nergal stood, shouting to them,
12 Addressing a word to Enmešarra, the Splendor,
13 “Marduk himself has commanded that you should not live,
14 And your seven sons
15 He will quickly bring to a terrible doom.”
16 When Enmešarra heard this
17 He cried “Alas” and his heart burnt.
18 He opened his mouth and spoke a word,
19 “Bēl is terrible that I, a god, should not live;
20 His judgements are terrible that my fledglings should not live.”
21 Nergal opened his mouth
22 Addressing a word to Enmešarra, the Splendor,
23 “From the beginning,
24 from the very beginning,
25 This has been your answer, Enmešarra,
OBVERSE COLUMN II
1 … ] .. [ . ]
2 … ] .. [ . ]
3 … ] .. in the prison
4 … ] .. life (?)
5 … ] .. [ his] seven [ sons ]
6 … let (?)] him consign them.”
7 When [Nergal] heard this
8 [Quickly] he came nigh, he drew near to them.
9 As he was watching them all
10 He made Enmešarra set out first,
11 And his seven sons afterwards.
12 Enmešarra went in front,
13 His seven sons were marching behind him.
14 With Nergal as their escort
15 They quickly entered the presence of Marduk.
16 Marduk suddenly raised his head,
17 He raised his head to look at them.
18 With terrible anger he roared at them,
19 Marduk opened his mouth
20 Addressing a word to Enmešarra, the Splendor,
21 “Thus you thought in your heart,
22 ‘I will beget/swallow the … of Marduk.’
23 You are the offspring of an evil …
24 And your sons perform the task of battle.”
25 Exalted Marduk lifted up his weapons,
26 He cut off the heads of the sons of Enmešarra
27 And drew representations of them on the wall.
28 Their father Enmešarra he bound with his hands,
29 And all his splendor he set on Šamaš.
30 He drew a representation of him on his dwelling.
31 … ] .. he bound with his hands
OBVERSE COLUMN III
1 . [ …
2 . . [ …
3 . . [ …
4 After [ …
5 Anu . [ …
6 He set . [ …
7 In the gate [ …
8 He put . [ : . :
9 The nether world he [ …
10 He withdrew and went down to [ …
11 He addressed them [ …
12 Anu, Enlil and Nin[urta].
13 He summoned Nabû to give him the command,
14 “The rule of the land of Ninurta
15 Quickly take from his power.
16 Proceed, bull, to Borsippa.”
17 Nergal took the power of Erra,
18 Marduk the power of Enlil.
19 Marduk, Nabû and Nergal
20 Took the lordship of Anu equally.
21 Marduk took the power of the Spear-star.
22 [Nabû] took the power of Ninurta.
23 [Nergal] took the power of Erra,
24 Quickly he proceeded and took up his residence . [ … ]
REVERSE COLUMN IV
1 After Marduk . [ …
2 He did not grasp his crown [ …
3 The rule of heaven and nether world he [ ..
4 [He] perfected the regulations . [ . . .
5 He ascended and sat in the heavens,
6 He took up residence in the abode of Anu magnificently.
7 Bēl took Babylon,
8 Nabû took Borsippa,
9 Nergal took Cuthah,
10 Zababa took Kish,
11 Šamaš took Sippar,
12 Sîn took Ur,
13 Adad took Bīt Karkara,
14 Enlil took Nippur,
15 Uraš took Dilbat,
16 Erimabinutuku took Isin.
17 All the gods got land
18 A voice proclaimed from heaven,
19 “Uruk and Nippur are burnt and defeated,
20 Their foundations are uprooted and thrown into the water.
21 The gate-keepers of the temple within them . [ . . . ]
22 Their rites are forgotten to days . [ . . .]
23 Their regular offerings do not take place . [ . . .
24 Their regulations are cast aside [ . . .
25 The people within [them . . .
26 . . [ ( . )] . [ . . .
27 [Their] booty [ . . .
28 . . [ . . .
29 . . [ . . .
30 . [ . . .
REVERSE COLUMN V
1 The Fish-goat [ . . . . . . . ] . . . .
2 The series/task . [ . . . . . . .] . one
3 The Fish-goat [ . . . . . ] . them
4 All . . . [ . . . . . . . .]. [ . . . ]
5 He [ . . . . .] . . [ . . ]
6 Praise . . . speech,
7 Marduk, most exalted [of] the great gods,
8 Who has no equal among the gods his fathers,
9 Lord of the heavens [and] nether world, light of the world regions,
10 Who resides in Esagil, lord of Babylon, Marduk the exalted,
11 Your writing was fixed in former time,
12 The utterance of your mouth cannot be changed,
13 I, the Fish-goat, speak forth your bravery.
14 Thus far, the series is completed.
15 Total, these eight tablets written above.
16 When the regulations were completed
17 And Marduk had taken the rule,
18 A voice proclaimed from heaven,
19 “ .. . . [ . ] bull, lord of the lands,
20 He has been called ‘King of all peoples.’
21 To consolidate the universe to distant days
22 He has grasped the sceptre and mace in his hand.
23 [ .. . . ] he set his head
24 .. . ] . the wise chief lamentation-singer
25 His name [has been] called(?) [ …
26 .. . ] .. .”
REVERSE COLUMN VI
1 All the gods, the gods . [ . . ]
2 Of Borsippa, Cuthah and Kish,
3 And the gods of all the cult centers,
5 Come to Babylon
4 To take the hand of the great lord, Marduk,
6 And they go with him to the Akītu-house. The king
7 Offers a libation before them,
8 He recites a prayer. Anu and Enlil
9 From Uruk and Nippur to Babylon
10 To take the hand of Bēl, and
11 Come
12 They go in procession with him to Esiskur.
13 With(?) them all the great gods
14 Come to Babylon.
15 All the gods who go with Bēl
16 To Esiskur are like a king
17 Whose army cannot be annihilated.
18 The Spear-star is Marduk;
19 Ninurta is Nabû;
20 Bēl, Nabû [and Nergal]
21 Took [the lordship] of Anu equally
Footnotes
[1] As referenced in Sumerisch-babylonische Hymnen, By G. Reisner, 1896