No names they bore, no titles they had,
          Then were born of the gods.... 
          Lachmu Lachamu came into existence. 
          Many ages past.... 
          Anshar, Kishar were born. 
          Many days went by.  Anu....

[Here there is a long lacuna.  The lost lines completed the history of the creation of the gods, and gave the reason for the uprising of Tiamat with her hosts.  What it was that divided the divine society into two hostile camps can only be conjectured; probably Tiamat, who represents the unfriendly or chaotic forces of nature, saw that her domain was being encroached on by the light-gods, who stand for cosmic order.]

     II.  REVOLT OF TIAMAT

     To her came flocking all the gods,
     They gathered together, they came to Tiamat;
     Angry they plan, restless by night and by day,
     Prepare for war with gestures of rage and hate,
     With combined might to begin the battle. 
     The mother of the abyss, she who created them all,
     Unconquerable warriors, gave them giant snakes,
     Sharp of tooth, pitiless in might,
     With poison like blood she filled their bodies,
     Huge poisonous adders raging, she clothed them with dread,
     Filled them with splendor.... 
     He who sees them shuddering shall seize him,
     They rear their bodies, none can resist their breast. 
     Vipers she made, terrible snakes....
     ... raging dogs, scorpion-men ... fish men.... 
     Bearing invincible arms, fearless in the fight. 
     Stern are her commands, not to be resisted. 
     Of all the first-born gods, because he gave her help,
     She raised up Kingu in the midst, she made him the greatest,
     To march in front of the host, to lead the whole,
     To begin the war of arms, to advance the attack,
     Forward in the fight to be the triumpher. 
     This she gave into his hand, made him sit on the throne:—­
     By my command I make thee great in the circle of the gods;
     Rule over all the gods I have given to thee,
     The greatest shalt thou be, thou my chosen consort;
     Be thy name made great over all the earth. 
     She gave him the tablets of fate, laid them on his breast. 
     Thy command be not gainsaid, thy word stand fast. 
     Thus lifted up on high, endued with Anu’s rank,
     Among the gods her children Kingu did bear rule.

[The gods, dismayed, first appeal to Anu for aid against Tiamat, but he refuses to lead the attack.  Anshar then sends to invite the gods to a feast.]

     Anshar opened his mouth,
     To Gaga, his servant, spake he:—­
     Go, O Gaga, my servant thou who delightest my soul,
     To Lachmu Lachamu I will send thee... 
     That the gods may sit at the feast,
     Bread to eat, wine to drink,
     To give the rule to Marduk. 
     Up Gaga, to them go,
     And tell what I say to thee:—­
     Anshar, your son, has sent me,
     Told me the desire of his heart.