When the heaven above was not yet named
or the earth beneath had recorded a name,
the primaeval (ristu) deep was their generator,
Mummu-Tiamat (the chaos of the sea) was the mother
of
them all.
Their waters were embosomed together, and
the corn-field was unharvested, the reed-bed was ungrown.
When the gods had not yet appeared, any one of them,
by no name were they recorded, no destiny [was fixed].
Then the great gods were created,
Lakhmu and Lakhamu issued forth [the first],
until they grew up [when]
Ansar and Kisar (the upper and lower firmaments) were
created.
Long were the days, extended [was the time, till]
the gods [Anu, Bel, and Ea were born],
Ansar [and Kisar gave them birth].
* * * * *
The deep [opened] its mouth [and said,]
to [Tiamat], the glorious, [it spake]:
While their path ...
I will overthrow their path ...
Let lamentations arise, let complaining [be made]
[When] Tiamat [undertakes] this [work]
* * * * *
Their way shall be difficult ...
[Then] the god Mummu answered [his] father the deep:
* * * * *
Their way [shall be overthrown], the light shall be darkened, let [it be] as the night! The deep [heard] him and [his] countenance was lightened; evil planned they against the gods.
* * * * *
Tiamat, the mother of the gods, lifted up herself
against
them,
gathering her forces, madly raging. The gods
united themselves together with her, until (all) that
had been created marched at her side. Banning
the day they followed Tiamat, wrathful, devising mischief,
untiring (?) day and night, prepared for the conflict,
fiercely raging, they gathered themselves together
and began the battle. The mother of the deep
(?) (Khubur), the creatress of them all, added
victorious weapons, creating monstrous serpents, with
sharp fangs, unsparing in their attack. With
poison for blood she filled their bodies. Horrible
adders she clothed with terror, she decked them with
fear, and raised high their ... ’May their
appearance ... Make huge their bodies that none
may withstand their
breast!’
She created the adder, the horrible serpent, the Lakhamu,
the great monster, the raging dog, the scorpion-man,
the dog-days, the fish-man and the (Zodiacal) ram,
who carry weapons that spare not, who fear not the
battle, insolent of heart, unconquerable by the enemy.
Moreover that she might create (?) eleven such-like
monsters, among the gods, her sons, whom she had summoned
together, she raised up Kingu, and magnified him among
them: ’To march before the host, be that
thy duty! Order the weapons to be uplifted and
the onset of battle!’ That he might be the first
in the conflict, the leader in
victory,
she took his hand and set him on a throne: ’I