gods,
assume dominion over all the gods! Highly shalt thou be exalted, thou that art alone my
husband;
thy name shall be magnified over [all the world]!’ Then she gave to him the tablets of destiny, and laid them
on his breast:
’Let thy command be obeyed, let the word of thy mouth be
established!’
When Kingu had exalted himself, and made himself like
Anu (the god of heaven),
she determined for the gods her sons their destiny: ’The opening of your mouth shall quench the fire; The exalted of Kidmuri (i.e. Kingu) shall dissolve its flame.’
* * * * *
TABLET II.
(Begins with a speech of Ansar to Merodach.)
“Tiamat our mother has risen up against us,
gathering her forces, madly raging. The gods
have united themselves together with her, until (all)
that has been created marches at her side. Banning
the day they have followed Tiamat, wrathful, devising
mischief, untiring (?) day and night, prepared for
the conflict, fiercely raging, they have gathered
themselves together and begun the battle. The
mother of the deep (?), the creatress of them all,
has added victorious weapons, creating monstrous serpents,
with sharp fangs, unsparing in their attack.
With poison for blood she has filled their bodies.
Horrible adders she has clothed with terror, she has
decked them with fear, and raised high their ...
’May their appearance ... may their bodies be
huge so that none may withstand their breast!’
She has created the adder, the horrible serpent, the
Lakh-amu, the great monster, the raging dog, the scorpion-man,
the dog-days, the fish-man (Aquarius), 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 may create (?) eleven such-like monsters,
among the gods, her sons, whom she has summoned together,
she has raised up Kingu and magnified him among them.
‘To march before the host,’ (she has said,)
’be that thy
duty!
Order the weapons to be uplifted and the onset of
battle!’ That he may be the first in the conflict,
the leader in victory, she has taken his hand and
seated him on a throne: ’I have uttered
the spell for thee; exalt thyself among the
gods,
assume dominion over all the gods! Highly shalt
thou be exalted, thou that art alone my
husband;
thy name shall be magnified over [all the world]!’
Thereupon she has given him the tablets of destiny
and laid them on his breast: ’Let thy
command be obeyed, let the word of thy mouth be
established!’
When Kingu had exalted himself, and made himself as
Anu, she determined for the gods her sons their destiny:
’The opening of your mouth shall quench the fire;
the exalted of Kidmuri shall dissolve its flame!’
[When Merodach heard this, his heart] was grievously
troubled, he ... ... and his lips he bit; .....his
heart grew angry ......his cry. ......[he determined
on] battle. [Then spake he to] his father (Ea):
’Be not troubled; ......thou shalt become the
lord of the deep. ......with Tiamat will I contend.’”