Once in the olden days Alalus was king in heaven. (As long as)
Alalus was seated on the throne, the mighty Anu, first among the
gods, was standing before him. He would sink at his feet and set the
drinking cup in his hand.
Nine in number were the years that Alalus was king in heaven. In the
ninth year Anu gave battle to Alalus and he vanquished Alalus. He
fled before him and went down to the dark earth. Down he went to the
dark earth, but Anu took his seat upon the throne. (As long as) Anu
was seated upon the throne, the mighty Kumarbi would give him his
food. He would sink at his feet and set the drinking cup in his
hand.
Nine in number were the years that Anu was king in heaven. In the
ninth year Anu gave battle to Kumarbi and like Alalus Kumarbi gave
battle to Anu. (When) he could no longer withstand Kumarbi's eyes,
(he) Anu, he struggled forth from the hands of Kumarbi. he fled,
(he) Anu; (like) a bird he moved in the sky. After him rushed
Kumarbi, seized (him) Anu, by his feet and dragged him down from the
sky.
He (Kumarbi) bit his "knees" and his manhood went down into his
inside. When it lodged there (and) when Kumarbi had swallowed Anu's
manhood, he rejoiced and laughed. Anu turned back to him, to Kumarbi
he began to speak: "Thou rejoicest over thine inside, because thou
hast swallowed my manhood.
"Rejoice not over thine inside! In thine inside I have planted a
heavy burden. Firstly I have impregnated thee with the noble
Storm-god. Secondly I have impregnated thee with the river Tigris,
not to be endured. Thirdly I have impregnated thee with the noble
Tasmisus. Three dreadful gods have I planted in thy belly as seed.
Thou shalt go and end by striking the rocks of thine own mountain
with thy head!"
When Anu had finished speaking, he went up to heaven and hid
himself. Out of his mouth spat Kumarbi, the wise king. Out of his
mouth he spat....mixed with....That which Kumarbi spat out, [fell
on] Mt. Kanzuras;....an awesome god therein.
Filled with fury Kumarbi went to Nippur....At the lordly....he
settled down. Kumarbi did not....(while) he counts [the months (i.e.
of his pregnancy)]. The seventh month came.....
(Anu addresses the Storm-god who is still unborn inside Kumarbi and
advises him of the various parts of Kumarbi's body through which he
may come forth. The Storm-god answere from within Kumarbi:)
Long life to thee! lord of the well-spring of wisdom!...The earth
shall give me it's strength, the sky will give me its valor, Anu
will give me his manliness, Kumarbi will give me his wisdom...
(It seems as though the Storm-god speaks of his future greatness and
promises Anu to revenge him. Anu repeats his advice as to the places
from which the Storm-god may come forth, among them Kumarbi's mouth
and "the good place". The Storm-god replies:)
If I come forth from his...., it will derange (my) mind. If I come
forth from his...., it will defile me at that spot, ....it will
defile me at the ear....If I come forth from "the good place," a
woman will....me."
(In the following the Storm-god, it seems, is forewarned of what
will happen if he should come forth by rending asunder Kumarbi's "tarnassas")
As he walked along and took his place before Ayas, Kumarbi became
dizzy and collapsed....Kumarbi began to speak to Ayas: "Give me my
son, I want to devour my son!"
(Indeed, it seems that Kumarbi received something to eat. However it
hurts his mouth and he begins to moan. On Kumarbi's complaint Ayas
advises him to call in certain experts...This then is done)
They began to work magic on him with....They kept bringing
sacrifices of meal to him, they kept....From the "tarnassas" [he
wanted to come forth but] they made Kumarbi's ["tarnassas"] secure.
[Thus from the "good pl]ace" came forth the valiant Storm-god.
(The birth of the Storm-god is completed and reported to Anu. Anu
plots to destroy Kumarbi with the help of the Storm-god. The
Storm-god prepares for battle. The outcome of the battle is not
narrated on the preserved part of the tablet...At any rate, we have
to assume that the Storm-god defeated Kumarbi and took over the
kingship in heaven).
Kumarbi thinks out wise
thoughts in his mind. He nurses the thought of creating misfortune
and an evil being. he plots evil against the Storm-god. He nurses
the thought of raising up a rival for the Storm-god.
Kumarbi thinks out wise thoughts in his mind and strings them
together like beads.
When Kumarbi had thought out the wise thoughts in his mind, he
instantly rose from his seat. He took his staff in his hand, put
swift shoes on his feet. He set forth from Urkis, his city, and
betook himself to the.....
In the....a great rock lies. Her length us three double hours, her
width is....[double hours] and a half....His desire was aroused and
he slept with the rock. His manhood flowed into her; five times he
took her;[....]; ten times he took her....
... When night[...; when night] stood in the [...] vigil, stone
moved stone.[...], they attended her when she gave birth [...] the
Rock [...] forth [...and] Kumarbi's son [made his] appea[rance].
The [...] women brought him into the world; the Good-women and the
Moth[er goddesses lifted the child and] placed [him upon Kumarbi's]
knees. [Kumar]bi began to fondle his son [and] let him dance up and
down. He proceeded to give [the child] a propitious name!
Kumarbi began to say to his soul: "What name [shall I give] him? The
child which the Good-women and the Mother-goddesses presented me,
[for the reason that he] shot forth from her body as a shaft, let
him go and [his] name be Ullikummi! Let him ascend to heaven for
kingship! Let him vanquish Kummiya, the beautiful city! Let him
attack the Storm-god and tear [him] to pieces like a mortal! Let him
tread him under foot like an ant! Let him crush Tasmisus like a reed
in the brake! Let him shot down all the gods from the sky like birds
and let him break them to pieces like empty pots!"
When Kumarbi [had finished] speaking these words, [he began] to say
to his soul: "To [whom] shall I give him, this child? Who will
[take] him upon himself and treat him as a gift?....
When the Irsirra deities heard the words, they took the child...The
Irsirra deities lifted the child and pressed it to their breasts
like a cloth. They lifted him and placed him upon Ellil's knees.
The...lifted his eyes and beheld the child as it stood in his divine
presence. His body was made of diorite.
Ellil began to speak to h[is min]d: "Who is that child whom the
Good-women and the Mother-goddesses reared? No one among the great
gods will see mightier battles. no one's vileness equals Kumarbi's.
Just as Kumarbi raised the Storm-god, he has [now raised] this
awesome diorite man as his rival."
When Ellil [had finished] his words, [the Irsirra deities took the
child] and placed it - a shaft - upon the right shoulder of
Ubelluris (a giant carrying the world on his shoulders, like Atlas).
The diorite grows, the strong [waters] make him grow. In one day he
increases one cubit, in one month he increases one acre. The stone
which is added to his stature presents an amazing spectacle.
When the 15th day came, the stone had grown high. he [was standing]
in the sea with his knees as a shaft. it stood out above the water,
the stone, and in height it was like [a pillar]. The sea reached up
to its belt like a loin cloth. Like a tower the stone is raised up
and reaches up to the temples and the dwelling of the gods in
heaven....
The Storm-god sat down on the ground, while tears streamed [from his
eyes] as in water courses. With tears streaming from his eyes the
Storm-god speaks the word: "Who can bear to look upon so vexatious a
sight? Who will dare go and battle [against the monster]? Who can
bear seeing his terrifying [...]...s?" Ishtar replies t[o the
Storm-god, her brother]: "My brother! Is there really not a
single...[...] to whom sufficient courage [has been] gi[ven?] Dost
thou really not know the son whom [...]... [has] begotten? [...]."
(After an indecisive battle against Ullikummi, the Storm-god is
defeated. Finally, however, the Storm-god rallies the gods and is
able to defeat Ullikummi).