* In Chaldaea, as in Egypt, nothing was supposed to have a real existence until it had received its name:  the sentence quoted in the text means practically, that at that time there was neither heaven nor earth.

** Apsu has been transliterated kiracruv [in Greek], by the author an extract from whose works has been preserved by Damascius.  He gives a different version of the tradition, according to which the amorphous goddess Mummu-Tiamat consisted of two persons.  The first, Tauthe, was the wife of Apason; the second, Moymis, was the son of Apason and of Tauthe.  The last part of the sentence is very obscure in the Assyrian text, and has been translated in a variety of different ways.  It seems to contain a comparison between Apsu and Mummu-Tiamat on the one hand, and the reeds and clumps of rushes so common in Chaldaea on the other; the two divinities remain inert and unfruitful, like water-plants which have not yet manifested their exuberant growth.

*** The first fragments of the Chaldaean account of the Creation were discovered by G. Smith, who described them in the Daily Telegraph (of March 4, 1875), and published them in the Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, and translated in his Chaldaean account of Genesis all the fragments with which he was acquainted; other fragments have since been collected, but unfortunately not enough to enable us to entirely reconstitute the legend.  It covered at least six tablets, possibly more.  Portions of it have been translated after Smith, by Talbot, by Oppert, by Lenormant, by Schrader, by Sayce, by Jensen, by Winckler, by Zimmern, and lastly by Delitzsch.  Since G. Smith wrote The Chaldaean Account, a fragment of a different version has been considered to be a part of the dogma of the Creation, as it was put forth at Kutha.

[Illustration:  006.jpg one of the eagle-headed genii.]

     Drawn by Faucher-Gudin from an Assyrian bas-relief from
     Khorsabad

At first they knew not whom to send against her.  Anshar despatched his son Anu; but Anu was afraid, and made no attempt to oppose her.  He sent Ea; but Ea, like Anu, grew pale with fear, and did not venture to attack her.  Merodach, the son of Ea, was the only one who believed himself strong enough to conquer her.  The gods, summoned to a solemn banquet in the palace of Anshar, unanimously chose him to be their champion, and proclaimed him king.  “Thou, thou art glorious among the great gods, thy will is second to none, thy bidding is Anu; Marduk (Merodach), thou art glorious among the great gods, thy will is second to none,* thy bidding is Anu.** From this day, that which thou orderest may not be changed, the power to raise or to abase shall be in thy hand, the word of thy mouth shall endure, and thy commandment shall not meet with opposition.  None of the gods shall transgress thy law; but wheresoever