Atrahasis and Human Creation

When the Gods did the work they grew weary and decided to create man. This concept appears in all legalism. This later Akkadian version of the flood story and the creation of humanity and fits between the Sumerian version and the Babylonian version in the Epic of Gilgamesh. This following outline is from The Treasures of Darkness" by Thorkild Jacobsen! "ale #niversity. $ress! %&'(). *t begins+ When *,# -that is E.,*,) was the boss they -the gods) were burdened with toil! lugged the work basket/ the god0s work basket . . . was big! so that the toil was heavy! great the straits. E.,*,! having charge of the earth put the other gods to work digging the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Tired of their condition and at the instigation of one of the gods they burned their tools one night and surrounded E.,*,0s house. E.,*, was alarmed and sent for A. and E.1*. After the striking gods told them that the work was killing them and that they would not continued E.,*, burst into tears and offered his resignation. E.1* then proposed a compromise. They would create man to bear the burden to that the gods would be free. With the birth goddess! .*.T#2! E.1* used the flesh and blood of the strike0s ringleader -killed by the other gods) to fashion clay into ( male and ( female embryos in the house of destiny . After & months humanity was born and put to work. After %!344 years the the growing human population kept E.,*, awake nights. So E.,*, and the gods sent a plague which was ended when E.1* told the human Atrahasis to shift all offerings to the god of the plague! .A5TA2 who became to abashed to harm the people further. The story of Second Adam and Eve define how the second thousand years began. As with all traditions of instrumental music and choir to manipulate other people! Satan is always the source. After another %!344 years the noise was back so E.,*, and the gods sent a drought. E.1* advised Atrahasis to shift all offering to A6A6! the god causing the drought! and the drought stopped. Soon the noise returned so the gods ceased to perform their duties so all of natures bounty disappeared. This was only ended when E.1* let large 7uantities of fish into the rivers -accidentally! he maintained).

E.,*,! by now enraged! bound his fellow gods by an oath to annihilate humanity by a flood. E.1* got around this oath and managed to warn Atrahasis by speaking not to him but to the reed hut in which he was lying. Atrahasis built a large boat e8plaining to the town elders that he was leaving because of the bad blood between his personal god! E.1*! and E.,*, in whose domain his town of Shuruppak lay. After having loaded the boat with all kinds of animals and his family the flood came. The gods were horrified at the destruction of the flood which lasted ( days and nights. *n addition they became hungry as no offerings were made to sustain them. When Atrahasis left the ship he prepared a sacrifice around which the hungry gods gathered like flies. E.,*, was the e8ception. 9e was enraged and E.1* had to defend himself. 9e blamed E.,*, for punishing the innocent and guilty alike. Eventually a compromise was reached to keep the human population from getting to large. The gods introduced a type of barren woman! created a demon! $AS9*TT#! who kills children at birth! and established several categories of priestesses for whom childbearing was taboo. The following e8cerpt is taken from 5yths :rom 5esopotamia+ Gilgamesh! The :lood! and ;thers Translated by Stephanie 6alley. *t is related here for educational purposes only. When the gods instead of man 6id the work! bore the loads! The gods0 load was too great! The work too hard! the trouble too much! The great Anunnaki made the Igigi <arry the workload sevenfold. Anu their father was king! Their counselor warrior Ellil! Their <hamberlain was .inurta! Their canal=controller Ennugi. They took the bo8 of lots <ast the lots/ the gods made the division. Anu went up to the sky! And Ellil took the earth for his people. The bolt which bars the sea Was assigned to far=sighted Enki. When Anu had gone up to the sky! And the gods of the Apsu had gone below! The Annunaki of the sky

Made the Igigi bear the

orkload!

The gods had to dig out canals! 9ad to clear channels the lifelines of the land. The gods dug out the Tigris river And then dug out the Euphrates. in the deep they set up the Apsu of the land inside it raised its top of all the mountains They were counting the years of loads he great marsh! They were counting the years of loads. :or >!'44 years they bore the e8cess! 9ard work! night and day. They groaned and blamed each other! Grumbled over the masses of e8cavated soil+ ,et us confront our <hamberlain And get him to relieve us of our hard work? <ome! let us carry the ,ord The counselor of the gods! the warrior from his dwelling. Then...made his voice heard And spoke to the gods! his brothers+ <ome! let us carry The counselor of the gods! the warrior! from his dwelling. <ome! let us carry Ellil! The counselor of the gods! the warrior! from his dwelling. .ow! cry battle? ,et us mi8 fight with battle? The gods listened to his speech! Set fire to their tools! $ut aside their spades for fire! Their loads for the fire=god. They flared up. When they reached the gate of warrior Ellil0s dwelling! *t was night! the middle watch!

The house was surrounded! the god had not reali@ed. When they reached the gate of warrior Ellil0s dwelling! *t was night! the middle watch! Ekur was surrounded! Ellil had not reali@ed. "et 1alkal was attentive! and had it closed! 9e held the lock and watched the gate. 1alkal roused .usku. They listened to the noise of the Igigi! Then .usku roused his master! 5ade him get out of bed+ 5y lord! your house is surrounded! A rabble is running around your door? Ellil! your house is surrounded! A rabble is running around your door? Ellil had weapons brought to his dwelling. Ellil made his voice heard And spoke to the vi@ier .usku! .usku! bar your door! Take up your weapons and stand in front of me. .usku barred his door Took up his weapons and stood in front of Ellil. .usku made his voice heard And spoke to the warrior Ellil! 0; my lord! your face is sallow as Tamarisk? Why do you fear your own sonsA 0; Ellil! you face is sallow as Tamarisk? Why do you fear your own sonsA Send for Anu to be brought down to you 9ave Enki fetched into your presence. 9e sent for Anu to be brought down to him! Enki was fetched into his presence! Anu! king of the sky was present! Enki! king of the Apsu attended. The great Anunnaki were present. Ellil got up and the case was put. Ellil made his voice heard And spoke to the great gods+ *s it against me that they have risenA

Shall * do battle...A What did * see with my own eyesA A rabble was running around my door? Anu made his voice heard And spoke to the warrior Ellil ,et .usku go out And find out the word of the *gigi Who have surrounded your door. A command... To... Ellil made his voice heard And spoke to the vi@ier .usku! .usku! open your door! Take up your weapons and stand before me? *n the assembly of all the gods! Bow! then stand and tell them! "our father Anu! "our counselor! warrior Ellil! "our chamberlain .inurta And your canal=controller Ennugi 9ave sent me to say! Who is in charge of the rabbleA Who is in charge of the fightingA Who declared warA Who ran to the door of EllilA .usku opened his door! Took up his weapons! went before Ellil *n the assembly of all the gods 9e bowed! then stood and told the message. "our father Anu! "ou counselor warrior Ellil! "our chamberlain .inurta! And your canal controller Ennugi 9ave sent me to say Who is in charge of the rabble" Who is in charge of the fightingA Who declared warA Who ran to the door of EllilA Ellil...

Every single one of us declared war? #e have put a stop to the digging! The load is e8cessive! it is killing us? ;ur work is too hard! the trouble too much? So every single one of us gods 9as agreed to complain to Ellil .usku took his weapons Went and returned to Ellil 5y lord! you sent me to... * went... * e8plained... ... Saying every single one of us gods 6eclared war We have put a stop to the digging. The load is e8cessive! it is killing us? ;ur work is too hard! the trouble too much! So every single one of us gods 9as agreed to complain to Ellil? Ellil listened to that speech. 9is tears flowed. Ellil spoke guardedly! Addressed the warrior Anu! .oble one! take a decree With you to the sky! show your strength= While the Anunnaki are sitting before you <all up one god and let them cast him for destruction Anu made his voice heard And spoke to the gods his brothers! What are we complaining ofA Their work was indeed too hard! their trouble was too much. Every day the Earth resounded. The warning signal was loud enough! we kept hearing the noise. ...do ...tasks ... While the Anunnaki are sitting before you And while Belet$Ili the omb goddess is present% <all up one and cast him for destruction?

Anu made his voice heard and spoke to .usku .usku! open your door! take up your weapons! Bow in the assembly of the great gods! then stand And tell them... "our father Anu! your counselor warrior Ellil! "our chamberlain .inurta and your canal controller Ennugi 9ave sent me to say Who is in charge of the rabbleA Who will be in charge of battleA Which god started the warA A rabble was running around my door? When .usku heard this! 9e took up his weapons! Bowed in the assembly of the great gods! then stood And told them "our father Anu! your counselor warrior Ellil! 9ave sent me to say! Who is in charge of the rabbleA Who is in charge of the fightingA Which god started the warAA rabble was running around Ellil0s door? .. Ea made his voice heard And spoke to the gods his brothers! Why are we blaming themA Their work was too hard! their trouble was too much. Every day the earth resounded. The warning signal was loud enough! we kept hearing the noise. There is... Belet=ili the womb goddess is present= &et her create a mortal man So that he may bear the yoke!!! So that he may bear the yoke! the work of Ellil! ,et man bear the load of the gods? ... 'elet=ili the womb goddess is present! ,et the womb goddess create offspring! And let them bear the load of the gods? They called up the goddess! asked The midwife of the gods! wise 5ami! "ou are the womb=goddess! to be the creator of 5ankind? <reate a mortal! that he may bear the yoke?

,et him bear the yoke! the work of Ellil ,et him bear the load of the gods? .intu made her voice heard And spoke to the great gods! ;n the first! seventh! and fifteenth of the month * shall make a purification by washing. Then one god should be slaughtered. And the gods can be purified by immersion. .intu shall mi8 the clay With his flesh and blood. Then a god and a man Will be mi8ed together in clay. ,et us hear the drumbeat forever after! ,et a ghost come into e8istence from the god(s flesh! ,et her proclaim it as her living sign! And let the ghost e8ist so as not to forget the slain god. They answered yes in the assembly! The great Anunnaki who assign the fates ;n the first! seventh! and fifteenth of the month 9e made a purification by washing. )eshtu$E! a god who had intelligence! They slaughtered in their assembly. .intu mi8ed clay with his flesh and blood. They heard the drumbeat forever after! A ghost came into e8istence from the god0s flesh! and she proclaimed it as his living sign. The ghost e8isted so as not to forget the slain god. After she had mi8ed that clay! She called up the Anunnaki! the great gods. The *gigi! the great gods! Spat spittle upon the clay 5ami made her voice heard And spoke to the great gods! * have carried out perfectly The work that you ordered of me. "ou have slaughtered a god together with his intelligence. * have relieved you of your hard work! * have imposed your load on man. "ou have besto ed noise on man! "ou have besto ed noise on mankind!

* have undone the fetter and granted freedom! They listened to the speech of hers! And were freed from an8iety! and kissed her feet+ We used to call you Mami! But now your name shall be 5istress of All Gods. :ar sighted Enki and wise 5ami Went into the room of fate. The womb=goddesses were assembled. 9e trod the clay in her presence/ She kept reciting an incantation! :or Enki! staying in her presence! made her recite it When she had finished her incantation! She pinched off fourteen pieces of clay! And set seven pieces on the right! Seven on the left. Between them she put down a mud brick! She made use of a reed! opened it to cut the umbilical cord! <alled up the wise and knowledgeable Womb goddesses! seven and seven. Seven created males! Seven created females! :or the womb goddess is creator of fate. 9e...them two by two! ...them two by two in her presence. 5ami made these rules for people+ *n the house of a woman who is giving birth The mud brick shall be put down for seven days. Belet=ili! wise 5ami shall be honored. The midwife shall reBoice in the house of the woman who gives birth And when the woman gives birth to the baby! The mother of the baby shall sever herself. A man to a girl... ...her bosom A beard can be seen ;n a young man0s cheek. *n gardens and waysides A wife and her husband choose each other. The womb goddesses were assembled And .intu was present. They counted the months! <alled up the Tenth month as the term of fates.

When the Tenth month came! She slipped in a staff and opened the omb! 9er face was glad and Boyful. She covered her head! $erformed the midwifery! $ut on her belt! said a blessing. She made a drawing in flour and put down a mud brick+ * myself created it! my hands made it. he midwife shall reBoice in the house of the *adistu$priestess. Whenever a woman gives birth And the baby0s mother severs herself! The mud brick shall be put down for nine days. .intu the womb goddess shall be honored. She shall call their ... 5ami She shall ... the womb goddess! ,ay down the linen cloth. When the bed is laid out in their house! A wife and her husband shall choose each other. *nanna shall reBoice in the wife=husband relationship *n the father=in=law0s house. <elebration shall last for nine days! And they shall call *nanna -*shtar) *shhara . ;n the fifteenth day! the fi8ed time of fate She shall call... ... A man... <lean the home... The son to his father... ... They sat and... 9e was carrying... 9e saw... Ellil... They took hold of... 5ade new picks and spades! 5ade big canals! To feed people and sustain the gods. ... '44 years! less than '44! passed!AAAA And the country was as noisy as a bello ing bull. The god grew restless at their racket! Ellil had to listen to their noise. 9e addressed the great gods! The noise of mankind has become too much%

* am losing sleep over their racket. Give the order that suruppu=disease shall break out! ... .ow there was one Atrahasis Whose ear was open to his god Enki. 9e would speak with his god And his god would speak with him. Atrahasis made his voice heard And spoke to his lord! 9ow long will the gods make us sufferA Will they make us suffer illness foreverA Enki made his voice heard And spoke to his servant+ <all the elders! the senior men? Start an uprising in your own house! ,et the heralds proclaim... ,et them make a loud noise in the land+ 6o not revere your gods! 6o not pray to your goddesses! But search out the door of +amtara. Bring as baked loaf into his presence. 5ay he be shamed by the presents And wipe away his hand. Atrahasis took the order! Gathered the elders to his door. Atrahasis made his voice heard And spoke to the elders+ * have called the elders! the senior men? Start an uprising in your own house! ,et the heralds proclaim... ,et them make a loud noise in the land+ 6o not revere your gods! 6o not pray to your goddesses! But search out the door of .amtara. Bring as baked loaf into his presence. 5ay the flour offerings reach him. 5ay he be shamed by the presents And wipe away his hand. The elders listened to his speech/ They built a temple for .amtara in the city.

9eralds proclaimed... They made a loud noise in the land. They did not revere their god! they did not pray to their goddess! But searched out the door of .amtara! Brought a baked loaf into his presence The flour offerings reached him. And he was shamed by the presents. And wiped away his hand. The suruppu=disease left them. The gods went back to their regular offerings.