Version 1
After Time had come into being and the holy seasons for growth and
rest were finally known, holy Dilmun, the pure clean and bright land
of the living, the garden of the Great Gods and Earthly paradise,
located eastward in Eden, was the place where Ninhursag, the Earth
Mother, Most Exalted Lady and Supreme Queen, could be found.
There she lived for a season during the Wheel of the Year, when the
Earth lay deep in slumber and rest before the onset of Spring, in
the land that knew neither sickness nor death or old age, where the
raven uttered no cry, where lions and wolves killed not, and unknown
were the sorrows of a widow or the wailing of the sick.
And it was in Dilmun, at that time that Enki, the wise god of Magic
and the Sweet Waters, the Patron of Crafts and Skills, met, fell in
love and lied with the Lady of the Stony Earth, Ninhursag.
The Earth Mother's kiss did change the carefree and sexy Sweet
Waters Lord: Ninhursag had wholly captivated him through the most
profound of all bonds, the thread of enchantment, passion and daring
called Love. So profound the feeling was that the God of all Sweet
Waters, Magic and Crafts proposed to Ninhursag, with the enthusiasm
of a young lover's heart.
Ninhursag looked around the land, her stony body, and remembered the
taste of the wondrous moisture of the Sweet Waters God within
herself. She wondered whether the land should not feel the same
loving touch without. She said then to Enki:
' I heard your heart
speak, Enki dearest. But if I feel your wondrous moisture within
me, I look at the earth of Dilmun, also my body, and feel it is
the longing, the thirst for the gifts that you, dear heart, for
sure can bring. Thus I ask you: what is a land, what is a city
that has no river quay? A city that has no ponds of sweet
water?'
Taken by surprise, Enki
realised that indeed he had given his whole essence to the beloved,
but forgotten to look after her Earthly Body, the land. He then rose
to the challenge of providing water for the land with aplomb.
He told then Ninhursag: ' For Dilmun, the land of my lady's heart, I
will create long waterways, rivers and canals, whereby water will
flow to quench the thirst of all beings and bring abundance to all
that lives.'
Enki then summoned Utu, the Sun God and Light of the Day. Together,
they brought a mist from the depths of the earth and watered the
whole face of the ground. Then Enki and Utu created waterways to
surround the land with a never-ending source of fertile Sweet
Waters, and Enki also devised basins and cisterns to store the
waters for further needs.
From these fertile sweet waters flow the four Great Rivers of the
Ancient World, including the Tigris and the Euphrates.
Thus, from that moment on, Dilmun was blessed by Enki with
everlasting agricultural and trade superiority, for through its
waterways and quays, fruits and grains were sold and exchanged by
the people of Dilmun and beyond.
Ninhursag rejoiced in Enki's mighty prowess and said to him:
' Beloved, the
powerful touch of your sweet waters, the essence of Mother Nammu
that lies deep within you, transformed the land, my stony body.
I feel the power of life throbbing within to be revealed without
my very depths as I give joyously birth and sustenance to the
marshes and reed-beds, that from now on will shelter fish,
plant, beasts and all that breathes. Thus I call myself Nintur,
the lady who gives birth, the Womb of the Damp Lands by the
riverbanks.'
Enki replied:
' Ninhursag, dearest
Nintur, beloved, how can anyone quite compare to you? I cannot
resist your wild, sweet ways, so lie with me one more time and
fill my body, heart, soul and mind with endless delights! For me
you will forever be my fierce Damgalnunna, my Great Spouse,
passionate and very much loved!'
Ninhursag laughed and
welcomed the eagerness of the Sweet Waters Lord. Nine days later,
without the slightest labour or pain, the Great Mother Goddess gave
birth to a lovely girl without the slightest travail or pain. The
girl was called Ninsar, Lady Verdure, the Mistress of Vegetation,
the green carpet of grass, leaves and flower beds that cover the
surface of the earth.
Enki was overjoyed with the birth of his and Ninhursag's child:
' How perfect, how
lovely is our Ninsar! I love already the woman in the
girl-child, the young Anunnaki goddess and Mistress of Velvet
Meadows and Green Fields. The ties that bind me to Ninsar are
strong and tempered by an even greater love, for in her face I
see also Ninhursag's, the one and only to my wandering heart.'
The Great Lady, holding
Ninsar in her arms, kissed Enki in the mouth, and said:
' Soon my time to
leave Dilmun will come, but to this holy land I will sure return
at the beginning of the earth's rest in the Middle world. I need
to leave soon, for without my loving touch Spring cannot come
back, the winds to dismiss Winter won't blow, all there is won't
sing or mate until I to them return. But before I go away, I
endow Ninsar with the power to grow in record time, and in holy
Dilmun I'll leave my youngster daughter safe and sound from any
illness, hatred or harm.'
As the Great Lady had
declared, nine days later Ninsar was fully grown, charming and
graceful, a sight to behold. Ninhursag then left for the Middle
world.
Enki knew he would miss his beloved terribly, but while she was busy
in the Middle Earth giving her Essence for the land to grow happy
and gay, equally as busy as Ninhursag was Enki in holy Dilmun.
It was the sacred duty of the Sweet Waters Lord to oversee the rise
and fall of all fertilising waters that flowed from Dilmun to feed
the rivers, lakes and ponds of the Middle world to make the land
ready to receive the Spring seeds.
Thus, as much as he missed Ninhursag, Enki knew he could not leave
Dilmun before all waterways were filled to ensure that the people
would have plenty of water to grow their crops. Enki's essence, the
fertilising power of the sweet waters, should reach every piece of
land in the Middle world that had been worked and ploughed.
It was at the end of a day he had spent totally absorbed by the
mighty task of controlling the water flow to the Middle world that
Enki saw Ninsar walking on her own along the marshlands. Indeed, a
lovely goddess she had become, and Enki's eyes fell on the Maiden's,
the Sweet Waters Lord felt a longing he could not yet define. He
only knew that after Ninhursag's departure, no other maiden had
touched his heart the way this one did. Indeed, she who walked on
her own along the marshlands was the closest version to Ninhursag
his eyes had the luck to find. Enki did not lose time and
immediately started wooing the young lady, encouraging her to love
him wildly by the riverside.
Curious and eager as Ninsar was to experience the power of love in
her body, mind, soul, and heart, she, the young goddess of Green
Fields and Luscious Meadows, yielded to the Sweet Waters Lord, and
together they made wild love.
But when morning came, Enki looked into Ninsar's eyes and found her
a loving, but pale portrait of Ninhursag. ' What is in her that was
so alluring last night, but now in the broad day light seems to have
lost substance Lovely as she is, she is not the one I surely miss,'
thought Enki. '
Despite the doubts he felt deep inside, Enki stayed with Ninsar for
a while, because he knew his seed could be her womb. So he stayed
with her until the ninth day, when Ninsar gave birth to Ninkurra,
another girl-child, the future goddess of Mountain Pastures.
As before, Enki rejoiced at Ninkurra's loveliness, at her cheerful
smile and sweet face. Again, Enki saw in Ninkurra twice the mark of
his beloved Ninhursag.
Sadly, Ninsar realised that although she had been passionately loved
by Enki for a time, there was a longing in his eyes, his body, soul
and mind she could not satisfy.
' Bonded to him I
for a time was,' thought Ninsar,' but he does not want me for
myself, this I can tell. Mine is not the mind, body, soul and
heart that holds his for a minute that means eternity, so I'll
let him go, now and forever. I need to be loved for who and what
I am, and not to be a mere replacement for whom I know not he
loves.'
Thus, when Enki left her
and young Ninkurra, Ninsar grieved deeply, but found hope, meaning
and sustenance in drawing from her all-one-ness, her inner and outer
resources to heal and grow with the experience. She also kept a
watchful eye on Ninkurra, who, like herself, grew in record time.
Lovely, resourceful Ninkurra demonstrated enormous energy by
climbing the highest heights, up to the mountain tops, but also
keeping her essence tied to the ground. This way Ninkurra, the
Goddess of Mountain Pastures grew safe from all hatred or harm.
Another nine days passed by, and as Ninkurra played at a mountain
top, curiosity led her to explore a well that surfaced out of the
blue to water the greens and wild flower beds she had just made
grow. To her sheer surprise and delight, the well took the shape of
a handsome god, who introduced himself to her as Enki the Sweet
Waters Lord.
Again, Enki looked at Ninkurra's young and cheerful face, and
desired to dive into the maiden's embrace, for she reminded him
twice of Ninhursag, the one and only to Enki's wandering heart. The
maiden at the mountain top though had attracted the Sweet Waters'
Lord. Had he again fallen in love?
Ninkurra, who had lived a life so sheltered at the mountain heights,
was fully bewitched by the easy charm of the older, more experienced
god. Thus she joyously yielded to him and love they made for nine
days and nine nights. But Enki soon realised that as lovely as
Ninkurra was, she could not be compared to Ninhursag.
As before, the Sweet Waters Lord left Ninsar after nine days, when
Ninkurra gave birth to another lovely girl-child called Uttu, the
Spider, the Weaver of Patterns and Life Desires.
But Ninhursag, having kissed the earth to awaken for Spring to come,
had returned to holy Dilmun. The Great Lady who saw and wisely
judged all life forms, frowned at the sadness reflected in Ninsar's
and Ninkurra's eyes, and frowned at Enki's unbridled lust. Ninhursag
knew how charming Enki could be, but no matter what, young Uttu the
Weaver should be advised to avoid the riverbanks, or the places
where Enki and herself could be found alone or unchaperoned: '
Daughter Uttu, beware of the marshes and the riverbanks, where Enki,
the Sweet Waters god, reigns as Sovereign. There he will see you,
there he will desire you and want to make of you his own, only to
leave you all alone later on!' was Ninhursag's stern advice to Uttu.
For a time young Uttu did follow the Great Lady's advice and kept
her distance from Enki's lusty sight. But one day Enki's desire won
the young goddess' heart, when he brought to her delicacies from the
garden of delights: apples, cucumbers and grapes, all this and more
Enki offered to the young goddess. Then Uttu, full of joy, opened
herself to welcome Enki, the crafty god, and he embraced her with
heartfelt glee, lying in her lap content and happy. Loving strokes,
kisses and hugs they shared, until Enki's seed found its way to
Uttu's young and yet untried womb.
Later, still lying on Enki's powerful arms, doubt entered Uttu's
mind, body and heart:
' Tonight you loved
me so dearly, tonight I was your spouse, the one and only, your
dearest, ' she thought . ' But will you love me in the morning,
o lustiest of all gods? Will you stay in my arms and never let
me go And will you love for more than a holy night, and share
with me happy and hard times?'
But when morning came
and Uttu looked into Enki's eyes, she knew she still was not the one
to hold captive the Sweet Waters Lord. With a tender kiss Enki took
his leave, but did not say when he was going to come back, or ever
returned to stay.
Uttu swallowed stubborn tears, but decided no to surrender to loss
and sorrow, and more. ' I vow not to be bonded to Enki from this
moment on,' she promised herself with a deep-rooted resolve. ' If he
does not want me for myself, for what we can together be, I will not
carry any of his seeds within or without my very being!'
Uttu immediately turned then to Ninhursag for help. The Great Mother
goddess, beloved by all, would know what to do, would ensure the
best course of action.
' Wipe out Enki's
seed of your body, and bury within the depths of the Earth the
promise of life you shared with him, ' said the Great Lady and
Womb of Creation. ' Let the Earth receive and transform yours
and Enki's seed. And after you do this all, take your time so
that your body, heart, mind and soul may heal. And I, who have
known love, pain, sorrow and immense joy, give you, daughter, a
very special blessing: may the wisdom of experience brought by
such pain enter your being again and may you learn to ask as
much as you give from your future lovers for as long as you
live. Reciprocation is the key for everlasting relationships!'
Where Ninhursag buried
Enki's seed, nine days later eight plants, luscious and strong,
started to grow. Ninhursag laughed and declared happily to each of
them:
' Out of the depths
of the earth, out of my stony womb, eight plants came out to
bring more blessings to the world! Eight they are, and from now
on each of them will be both fathers and mothers, the very first
Seed, of a new group of beings, whom I'll call Plants, creatures
of green and colour, that will nourish, heal and grow in the
glory of Dilmun and the Middle world.' .
After a time, Enki
returned, happy and carefree, as it was his custom to be. He was not
alone, but in the company of the two-faced god Isimud, Enki's vizier
and friend. Both took long walks around the riverbanks, enjoyed the
pleasures of the marshlands.
Both saw the luscious plants.
' What sorts of
beings are those, Isimud, my faithful servant and friend? What
is in them so new and yet so old that fills my heart with desire
and my mind with deep-rooted curiosity? I want to taste them, to
know their hearts, I want to know their insides. What, pray, is
this plant?' asked Enki Isimud, pointing at the closest one. '
My king, this is a tree plant,' Isimud answered, and sworn as he
was to serve the Sweet Waters Lord, Isimud then proceeded to cut
down a piece of the tree-plant and passed it on to Enki, who
immediately ate it with greed.
The taste of the
tree-plant fuelled even more Enki's desire to know the nature of the
other seven plants left.. He asked Isimud about the nature of the
seven plants, their essence and content. Isimud replied to all his
mater's questions, cutting down a sample of each and passing them on
to Enki, who devoured them immediately with glee. This way Enki got
to know the hearts of the Plants World.
Seeing that once again Enki had shown no respect or restraint,
taking over to make his own not only young maiden goddesses, but
also the Plants World angered Ninhursag beyond any measure.
' Enough is enough!'
exclaimed the Great Mother, Mistress and Supreme Queen of the
Earth, outraged and furious at Enki's disdain for all beings,
human or plants. ' Enki, you've gone too far by taking over the
hearts' essence of not only young goddesses, but also by taking
into yourself eight primeval samples of the Plants World.
It is good to feel desire and experience the need to be one with
the beloved. But there is a profound responsibility implicit in
falling in love and captivating someone's mind, body, heart and
soul. You, Enki, came out of the blue into many maidens' lives,
set yourself up like a squatter within their hearts only to
leave them afterwards, never to return. But even then you were
not satisfied in your lust to know and experience everything, so
you turned to the newly created Plants World. You, Enki, tasted
each one of the eight sacred plants, devouring them next with
greed. You never asked, but always took without giving anything
back, a sign of acknowledgement, a simple caress.
To how many did you bring a little death to their spirit, to
their hopes about a future with you? For all this, you deserve a
mighty lesson, for it is high time that you, Enki, learn in
sorrow what you did not learn in happiness: I will never look at
you with a life-giving eye from this moment on. May the
suffering you inflicted return to you threefold!'
With these words, Great
Ninhursag disappeared, leaving Enki clearly divided between the joy
of seeing the one and only to his heart and the growing concern for
her parting words.
Because indeed Enki's health began to fail. A strange illness this
was: eight organs of his body fell progressively ill. Indeed, they
started to die in Enki's living body. The Anunnaki, the Great Gods,
were disconsolate with Enki's suffering.
Father An, the Sky Lord, Enlil, Lord Air and Enki's beloved older
brother, all healer gods and goddesses of the land tried everything
they could to no avail.
Only Ninhursag could not be found anywhere, while Enki's health
deteriorated little by little day after day.
It soon came a time when Enlil left Enki's side to sit on the dust,
so immerse he was in despair and worry for the health of his younger
and favourite brother. The Air Lord grieved for Enki. A world
without the Lord of the Sweet Waters, Magic and Crafts, how sad it
would be! Enlil simply could not conceive life without Enki's
cunning, humour and sheer energy.
It was then that a fox, a sacred wild beast to Ninhursag who was
passing by, came to console Lord Air: ' I've seen the suffering of
the Sweet Waters Lord, I've witnessed the lament of the greatest of
the Anunnaki for Enki, their beloved brother. Only Ninhursag can
heal him, only the Mistress of All Creation can make him whole
again. I'll do my best to go and find the Greatest Lady of Earth,
holy Ninhursag I am sworn to worship and serve till the end of my
days. I will find the Great Goddess and bring her here to accomplish
the healing of the sick god.'
The fox disappeared, but kept her promise, for Ninhursag relented
and came running to Enki's aid. She went straight to the chamber
where Enki laid in agony, and, with a wave of her mighty hand,
Ninhursag dismissed healers, nurses and well-wishers.
Their work was done. Ninhursag's had just begun.
With immense tenderness, the Mistress of All Creation made herself
comfortable by on the bed, carefully placing Enki's head on her
vagina. She then leaned forward and wrapped herself, arms, legs,
breasts around the body of the Sweet Waters Lord. Enki was this way
lovingly embraced by the Great Lady, kept safe and protected by her
warmth, and arms that felt strong yet very sweet. Like a nurturing
womb, the Great Lady wrapped herself around the Sweet Waters god.
Ninhursag whispered softly in Enki's ear:
' Dearest, what
hurts you?' ' O beloved, my whole body hurts me.,' Enki managed
to answer with visible effort. Ninhursag rocked gently back and
forth with much care the sick god: ' I know your body hurts,
dear heart, but soon you will be made whole again. Because I'll
receive in my Womb of Abundance, the nest of creation, the seeds
that you so greedily ate and that made you so ill. I'll take
them all into my body so that they can bring healing, not harm
to all beings. Let the Work begin!'
Enki felt he could not
move a fingertip. At the same time, warmth started spreading all
over his body, bringing new vitality, life force with it.
Enki heard Ninhursag's voice resonate all over his being:
' The first seed you
ate and made you ill, I take its power into my myself and
transform it into a newly born god, a younger brother and son to
you, dearest. I therefore have given birth to the god Abu to set
your body free.'
The Great Lady continued
her mighty healing ritual, asking Enki for the names of the organs
that had been affected. :
' Dearest, what
hurts you?' ' My jaw hurts me.' ' To the god Nintulla I have
given birth for you to set your jaw free.
Where else do you hurt, dearest?' ' My tooth hurts me.' 'To the
goddess Ninsutu I have given birth for you to set your tooth
free.
Where do you still feel much pain, dearest? What hurts you?' '
My mouth hurts me.' Ninhursag kissed Enki in the mouth. ' To the
goddess Ninkasi I have given birth for you to set your mouth
free.
What hurts you still, dear?' ' My throat hurts me.' ' To the
goddess Azimua I have given birth for you to set your throat
free.
What hurts you still, dear?'' ' My limbs hurt me'. ' To the god
Enshag I have given birth for you to set your limbs free.
What hurts you most, dearest? ' My rib hurts me.' ' To the
goddess Nin-ti, the Lady of the Rib and the One who makes Live,
I have given birth for you to set your rib free.'
As soon as Ninhursag
uttered the last sentence, Enki felt no pain or ache, revitalised
and stronger than ever. Indeed, as if he himself had been reborn in
the close embrace of Ninhursag.
Gone was the pain, the fever, the shivers.
' I am alive,' he
said very simply, his voice full of wonder, ' and yet it feels
so different from the moment I came out of the sea of mother
Nammu or when I met Ereshkigal in the Underworld.'
He moved into
Ninhursag's arms, for he wanted to see her face too. The Great Lady
had closed her eyes, but there was a smile on her lips. She rested
against the pillows of Enki's bed, still holding him in a loose
embrace.
Now it was his turn to act with immense tenderness, as he shifted
positions to make her rest on his chest.
' You healed me by
sending your soul into my body, ' he said, deeply moved by the
Gift of Life he had been given, and more. ' This is why you are
so wearied. And the reason why I feel so much more part of
yourself as a consequence. How could I have been so stupid not
to understand you or myself until now? It was you I longed for,
your embrace, your touch. But beforehand I wanted you for me
only, and desired all maidens, because I knew not of the extent
of my longing for you and only you. How impossibly absurd and
stupid of me to think that I should find your image in every
maiden I came across just to leave them when I realised they
were not you! '
They kissed
passionately.
' I would never bind
you to me against your True Will, beloved,' said simply
Ninhursag. ' And because you understood this great mystery,
because you and I are indeed two of a kind, let all worlds know
what I now declare: from this very moment on let it be known
that I, Ninhursag, the Earth Mother, Wisest beyond all Beings in
the Ways of Nature, built a house for my beloved and myself on a
Rock, steadfast and solid....' ' Let me finish this for you...
for us, dearest,' interrupted Enki Ninhursag with a kiss,' I,
Enki, the Lord of Sweet Waters, say that from this strong and
solid rock that means Life, Love and Fruition for me the Waters
of Life will flow forever in all worlds we dare to fare'.
They kissed and hugged
passionately, sealing their shared Fate forever, for as long as they
wanted to be together.
' For you I stayed
here in Dilmun, the place of delights, where we are safe from
hate or harm', continued Enki. ' Now I know that you made me ill
to make me see that the bond that I feel for you is stronger
than friendship or love. I know now that even if we cannot be
together all the time, we will never be apart. But tell me,
dearest, did you really need to be so radical and cast on me the
eye of death?'
Indeed, Enki had come
back to his normal enquiring self. Ninhursag could burst of joy, and
her laughter was pure delight and mischief: ' This, Enki, you will
never find out!'
Enki chuckled, half disappointed, half amused. Life with Ninhursag
would never be boring, this he knew for sure. She would certainly
drive him nuts with her assertiveness, wits, passionate ways and
guts many other times in the future. But she was and would be
forever in his future, he loved her and wanted her like no other.
Ninhursag was his Soul-Companion, his Rock of Strength, the
Inspirational Divine Feminine that brightened up his life. And if he
could not have the last word with her, at least Enki knew very well
how to silence Ninhursag in the sweetest and wildest way for very
long moments.
With perfect skill and determination he started to kiss her holy
body. All over.
Enki and Ninhursanga
What
follows next is the original translation of the Tablet.
The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature
Pure are the cities -- and you are the ones to whom they are
allotted. Pure is Dilmun land. Pure is Sumer -- and you are the ones
to whom it is allotted. Pure is Dilmun land. Pure is Dilmun land.
Virginal is Dilmun land. Virginal is Dilmun land. Pristine is Dilmun
land.
He laid her down all alone in Dilmun, and the place where Enki had
lain down with his spouse, that place was still virginal, that place
was still pristine. He laid her down all alone in Dilmun, and the
place where Enki had lain down with Ninsikila, that place was
virginal, that place was pristine.
In Dilmun the raven was not yet cawing, the partridge not cackling.
The lion did not slay, the wolf was not carrying off lambs, the dog
had not been taught to make kids curl up, the pig had not learned
that grain was to be eaten.
When a widow had spread malt on the roof, the birds did not yet eat
that malt up there. The pigeon then did not tuck its head under its
wing.
No eye-diseases said there: "I am the eye disease." No headache said
there: "I am the headache." No old woman belonging to it said there:
"I am an old woman." No old man belonging to it said there: "I am an
old man." No maiden in her unwashed state ...... in the city. No man
dredging a river said there: "It is getting dark." No herald made
the rounds in his border district.
No singer sang an elulam there. No wailings were wailed in the
city's outskirts there.
Ninsikila said to her father Enki: "You have given a city. You have
given a city. What does your giving avail me? You have given a city,
Dilmun. You have given a city. What does your giving avail me? You
have given ....... You have given a city. What does your giving
avail me?"
"You have given ......, a city that has no river quay. You have
given a city. What does your giving avail me?
1 line fragmentary
A city that has no fields, glebe or furrow"
3 lines missing
( Enki answered Ninsikila:) "When Utu steps up into heaven, fresh
waters shall run out of the ground for you from the standing vessels
(?) on Ezen's (?) shore, from Nanna's radiant high temple, from the
mouth of the waters running underground."
"May the waters rise up from it into your great basins. May your
city drink water aplenty from them. May Dilmun drink water aplenty
from them. May your pools of salt water become pools of fresh water.
May your city become an emporium on the quay for the Land. May
Dilmun become an emporium on the quay for the Land."
(Possible insertion point for additional lines in a ms. from Ur:
"May the land of Tukric hand over to you gold from Harali, lapis
lazuli and ....... May the land of Meluha load precious desirable
cornelian, mec wood of Magan and the best abba wood into large ships
for you. May the land of Marhaci yield you precious stones, topazes.
May the land of Magan offer you strong, powerful copper, dolerite, u
stone and cumin stone. May the Sea-land offer you its own ebony
wood, ...... of a king. May the 'Tent'-lands offer you fine
multicoloured wools. May the land of Elam hand over to you choice
wools, its tribute. May the manor of Urim, the royal throne dais,
the city ......, load up into large ships for you sesame, august
raiment, and fine cloth. May the wide sea yield you its wealth."
The city's dwellings are good dwellings. Dilmun's dwellings are good
dwellings. Its grains are little grains, its dates are big dates,
its harvests are triple ......, its wood is ...... wood.)
At that moment, on that day, and under that sun, when Utu stepped up
into heaven, from the standing vessels (?) on Ezen's (?) shore, from
Nanna's radiant high temple, from the mouth of the waters running
underground, fresh waters ran out of the ground for her.
The waters rose up from it into her great basins. Her city drank
water aplenty from them. Dilmun drank water aplenty from them. Her
pools of salt water indeed became pools of fresh water. Her fields,
glebe and furrows indeed produced grain for her. Her city indeed
became an emporium on the quay for the Land. Dilmun indeed became an
emporium on the quay for the Land. At that moment, on that day, and
under that sun, so it indeed happened.
All alone the wise one, toward Nintud, the country's mother, Enki,
the wise one, toward Nintud, the country's mother, was digging his
phallus into the dykes, plunging his phallus into the reed-beds. The
august one pulled his phallus aside and cried out: "No man take me
in the marsh."
Enki cried out: "By the life's breath of heaven I adjure you. Lie
down for me in the marsh, lie down for me in the marsh, that would
be joyous." Enki distributed his semen destined for Damgalnuna. He
poured semen into Ninhursaja's womb and she conceived the semen in
the womb, the semen of Enki.
But her one month was one day, but her two months were two days, but
her three months were three days, but her four months were four
days, but her five months were five days, but her six months were
six days, but her seven months were seven days, but her eight months
were eight days, but her nine months were nine days. In the month of
womanhood, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil of
abundance, Nintud, mother of the country, like juniper oil, gave
birth to Ninsar.
In turn Ninsar went out to the riverbank. Enki was able to see up
there from in the marsh, he was able to see up there, he was. He
said to his minister Isimud: "Is this nice youngster not to be
kissed? Is this nice Ninsar not to be kissed?" His minister Isimud
answered him: "Is this nice youngster not to be kissed? Is this nice
Ninsar not to be kissed? My master will sail, let me navigate. He
will sail, let me navigate."
First he put his feet in the boat, next he put them on dry land. He
clasped her to the bosom, kissed her, Enki poured semen into the
womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki. But
her one month was one day, but her two months were two days, but her
nine months were nine days. In the month of womanhood, like juniper
oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, Ninsar, like juniper
oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, gave birth to Ninkura.
In turn Ninkura went out to the riverbank. Enki was able to see up
there from in the marsh, he was able to see up there, he was. He
said to his minister Isimud: "Is this nice youngster not to be
kissed? Is this nice Ninkura not to kissed?" His minister Isimud
answered him: "Kiss this nice youngster. Kiss this nice Ninkura. My
master will sail, let me navigate. He will sail, let me navigate."
First he put his feet in the boat, next he put them on dry land. He
clasped her to the bosom, kissed her, Enki poured semen into the
womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki. But
her one month was one day, but her nine months were nine days. In
the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil
of abundance, Ninkura, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil
of abundance, gave birth to Uttu, the exalted (?) woman.
(Insertion point for additional lines in a ms. of unknown origin)
Ninkura in turn gave birth to Ninimma. She brought the child up and
made her flourish. Ninimma in turn went out to the riverbank. Enki
was towing his boat along and was able to see up there, ....... He
laid eyes on Ninimma on the riverbank and said to his minister
Isimud: "Have I ever kissed one like this nice youngster? Have I
ever made love to one like nice Ninimma?" His minister Isimud
answered him: "My master will sail, let me navigate. He will sail,
let me navigate."
First he put his feet in the boat, next he put them on dry land. He
clasped her to the bosom, lying in her crotch, made love to the
youngster and kissed her. Enki poured semen into Ninimma's womb and
she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.
To the woman its one month was but its one day, its two months were
but its two days, its three months were but its three days, its four
months were but its four days, its five months were but its five
days, its six months were but its six days, its seven months were
but its seven days, its eight months were but its eight days, and at
its nine days, in the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like
juniper oil, like oil of abundance, Ninimma, like juniper oil, like
oil of abundance, gave birth to Uttu, the exalted (?) woman.)
Nintud said to Uttu: "Let me advise you, and may you take heed of my
advice. Let me speak words to you and may you heed my words. From in
the marsh one man is able to see up here, is able to see up here, he
is; from in the marsh Enki is able to see up here, is able to see up
here, he is. He will set eyes on you."
10 lines fragmentary
...... Uttu, the exalted (?) woman ......
3 lines fragmentary
( Uttu said:) "Bring cucumbers in ......, bring apples with their
stems sticking out (?), bring grapes in their clusters, and in the
house you will indeed have hold of my halter, O Enki, you will
indeed have hold of my halter."
When he was filling with water a second time, he filled the dykes
with water, he filled the canals with water, he filled the fallows
with water. The gardener in his joy rose (?) from the dust and
embraced him: "Who are you who ...... the garden?"
Enki (said to) ...... the gardener:
4 lines missing
He brought him cucumbers in ......, brought him apples with their
stems sticking out (?), brought him grapes in their clusters, filled
his lap.
Enki made his face attractive and took a staff in his hand. Enki
came to a halt at Uttu's, knocked at her house (demanding): "Open
up, open up." (She asked): "Who are you?" (He answered:) "I am a
gardener. Let me give you cucumbers, apples, and grapes for your
'Yes'." Joyfully Uttu opened the house. Enki gave Uttu, the exalted
(?) woman, cucumbers in ......, gave her apples with their stems
sticking out (?), gave her grapes in their clusters. (1 line not in
the ms. from Nippur: He poured beer for her in the large ban
measure.)
Uttu, the exalted (?) woman, ...... to the left for him, waved the
hands for him. Enki aroused Uttu. He clasped her to the bosom, lying
in her crotch, fondled her thighs, fondled her with the hand. He
clasped her to the bosom, lying in her crotch, made love to the
youngster and kissed her. Enki poured semen into Uttu's womb and she
conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.
Uttu, the beautiful woman, cried out : "Woe, my thighs". She cried
out: "Woe, my liver. Woe, my heart." Ninhursaja removed the semen
from the thighs.
2 lines fragmentary
She grew the 'tree' plant, she grew the 'honey' plant, she grew the
'vegetable' plant, she grew the esparto grass (?), she grew the
atutu plant, she grew the actaltal plant, she grew the ...... plant,
she grew the amharu plant.
Enki was able to see up there from in the marsh, he was able to see
up there, he was. He said to his minister Isimud: "I have not
determined the destiny of these plants. What is this one? What is
that one?"
His minister Isimud had the answer for him. "My master, the 'tree'
plant," he said to him, cut it off for him and Enki ate it. "My
master, the 'honey' plant," he said to him, pulled it up for him and
Enki ate it. "My master, the 'vegetable' plant," he said to him, cut
it off for him and Enki ate it. "My master, the alfalfa grass (?),"
he said to him, pulled it up for him and Enki ate it.
"My master, the atutu plant," he said to him, cut it off for him and
Enki ate it. "My master, the actaltal plant," he said to him, pulled
it up for him and Enki ate it. "My master, the ...... plant," he
said to him, cut it off for him and Enki ate it. "My master, the
amharu plant," he said to him, pulled it up for him and Enki ate it.
Enki determined the destiny of the plants, had them know it in their
hearts.
Ninhursaja cursed the name Enki: "Until his dying day, I will never
look upon him with life-giving eye." The Anuna sat down in the dust.
But a fox was able to speak to Enlil: "If I bring Ninhursaja to you,
what will be my reward?" Enlil answered the fox: "If you bring
Ninhursaja to me, I shall erect two standards for you in my city and
you will be renowned."
The fox first anointed his body, first shook out his fur (?), first
put kohl on his eyes.
4 lines fragmentary
(The fox said to Ninhursaja:) "I have been to Nibru, but Enlil
....... I have been to Urim, but Nanna ....... I have been to Larsa,
but Utu ....... I have been to Unug, but Inana ....... I am seeking
refuge with one who is ......."
7 lines fragmentary
Ninhursaja hastened to the temple. The Anuna slipped off her
garment, made ......, determined its destiny and ....... Ninhursaja
made Enki sit by her vagina. (1 line not in the ms. from Nippur: She
placed (?) her hands on ....... and ....... on its outside.)
( Ninhursaja asked:) "My brother, what part of you hurts you?" "The
top of my head (ugu-dili) hurts me." She gave birth to Ab-u out of
it. "My brother, what part of you hurts you?" "The locks of my hair
(siki) hurt me." She gave birth to Ninsikila out of it. "My brother,
what part of you hurts you?" "My nose (giri) hurts me." She gave
birth to Ningiriudu out of it. "My brother, what part of you hurts
you?" "My mouth (ka) hurts me." She gave birth to Ninkasi out of it.
"My brother, what part of you hurts you?" "My throat (zi) hurts me."
She gave birth to Nazi out of it. "My brother, what part of you
hurts you?" "My arm (a) hurts me." She gave birth to Azimua out of
it. "My brother, what part of you hurts you?" "My ribs (ti) hurt
me." She gave birth to Ninti out of it. "My brother, what part of
you hurts you?" "My sides (zag) hurt me." She gave birth to Ensag
out of it.
(She said:) "For the little ones to whom I have given birth may
rewards not be lacking. Ab-u shall become king of the grasses,
Ninsikila shall become lord of Magan, Ningiriudu shall marry Ninazu,
Ninkasi shall be what satisfies the heart, Nazi shall marry Nindara,
Azimua shall marry Ninjiczida, Ninti shall become the lady of the
month, and Ensag shall become lord of Dilmun."
Praise be to Father Enki.