This was at a time when the holy city of Nippur was inhabited only by gods, the children of Anu. One of the goddesses of the older generation, the old and cunning Nunbarshegunu, decided to marry her daughter Ninlil and the elder of the gods, the mighty Enlil.
Knowing that Enlil liked to wander alone along the river bank, Nunbarshegunu persuaded her daughter to come to the stream at that time, take off her clothes and pretend that she was going to swim. Everything happened as the cunning old goddess had planned. Enlil, seeing Ninlil's beautiful body, was inflamed with passion and immediately wanted to get closer to her, but the girl resolutely refused him, citing her innocence. Discouraged, the almighty god retreated with a heavy sigh. However, the girl’s beauty sank into his soul, and he turned to his servant Nusku for help. He advised his master to be more persistent and kidnap the young maiden, saying that she resists only out of modesty, and, having known your passion, she herself will be inflamed with love.
When the next day the girl came to the river to swim, Enlil jumped out of the reed thickets, grabbed her, put her in a boat that Nusku had prepared in advance, and set the boat adrift. There he took possession of Ninlil by force and the young goddess conceived a child.
The gods, having learned about this immoral act, were greatly indignant. The seven greatest gods and fifty great gods and goddesses unanimously decided that Enlil should renounce supreme power and go to the lower world as punishment for violating the prohibitions. But then the beautiful Ninlil, pregnant with the future moon god Nanna, decisively declared that she loved her offender and would follow him into exile.
Enlil was greatly distressed that if his son had been born into the dark world of the dead, he would not have been able to ascend to heaven, as was destined for him. Then God came up with a cunning plan. He knew the laws of the underworld. In order for someone to leave the “country of no return” it was necessary to provide a replacement. This means that Enlil, if he wants to take his family to the upper world, had to find three volunteers who agreed to stay forever in the kingdom of darkness.
“I want to be the first to go underground,” he told his wife, “and I will wait for you in the dark world.” Take your time and calmly prepare for the journey. When you approach the gates of the underworld, a guard will meet you and ask who you are and where you are going. Tell him everything and fulfill all his wishes! Then you will reach the great underground river and see its owner. Introduce yourself again and do whatever he wants. A boatman will take you across the river. Do his will also. Don't be afraid of anything. Everything will be as the seven greatest gods, who determine the fate of the future, decided in advance. Having committed a sin, you will remain sinless!
Having said goodbye to his wife, Enlil took the form of a guardian of the gates of the lower world and began to wait for Ninlil. She soon approached the gate, saw the guard and began to explain to him the purpose of her visit. Enlil, in the form of a gatekeeper, said that he would let her through only if she lay on his bed. After some hesitation, remembering her husband’s instructions, the goddess agreed, and the god Nergal, Meslamtea, was born in her womb. Ninlil moved further, approached the bank of the underground river and there she met Enlil in the form of the owner of the river. Having become close to him, she conceived the god Ninaza. In order to cross the river, the goddess also had to give herself to the ferryman.
Thus, Enlil's plan succeeded and his three sons remained in the underworld, allowing their elder brother Nanna to become the moon god and ascend to heaven. Enlil and Nanna also did not remain long in the lower world. Having atoned for their guilt, they returned to Nippur, where Enlil again became the head of the gods.
The connection between earth and sky - city... The Tale of Enlil and Ninlil
The connection between earth and sky is the city, and we live in it.
Nippur is a city, truly a city, and we live in it.
"Palm Fence" is a city, and we live in it.
There is a “Women’s Stream”, a light stream running.
"Vine Grape Pier", the city pier, is still standing.
And the “Neighboring Pier”, the pier, stands.
There the “Honey Spring” gives you its sweet water.
There the "Princely Stream", whose sparkling waters, flows.
And the fields that the canals irrigate,
They count by a hundred fathoms.
There young Enlil, the youth of the city, lives.
There young Ninlil, the maiden of the city, lives.
Nunbarshegunu - the mother of the city - lives.
As in those days the mother-parent gave advice to the virgin.
Ninlil gave advice to Nunbarshegun:
“The waters of the “Female Stream” are bright, its streams are pure,
But don't wallow in them.
And don’t go to the bank of the Princely Stream, Ninlil.
Bright-Eyed, Lord, Sharp-Eyed -
His eye will see you.
Mighty Rock, Father Enlil, Sharp-Eyed -
His eye will see you.
Shepherd, arbiter of destinies, sharp-eyed -
His eye will see you.
He will uplift the root, he will embrace you,
The joy of the heart, the seed of bliss will emit into your womb,
And then he will leave."
This is how she instructed her, this is how she admonished her.
The waters of the “Female Stream” are bright, its streams are pure,
And she bathes in them.
Ninlil, she goes to the shore of the Princely Stream.
Clear-eyed, Lord, Sharp-eyed - his eye saw her.
Mighty Rock, Father Enlil, Sharp-Eyed -
His eye saw her.
Shepherd, arbiter of destinies, sharp-eyed -
His eye saw her.
Vladyka - “Let me get closer to you!” - he tells her,
But she doesn't want to.
Enlil - “Let me draw closer to you!” - he tells her.
But she doesn't want to
"My womb is small, it does not know closeness,
My lips are young, they don’t know how to kiss.
Mother will visit me and hit me,
Father will find out, he will chase me,
I’ll tell my friend and she’ll let it slip.”
Enlil says to his advisor Nusku:
"My advisor Nusku!" - “At your service!
Great builder Ekura, at your service,
O my lord!"
"This maiden... is so captivating, so seductive...
This Ninlil... is so captivating, so seductive...
Not kissed, not pardoned..."
Adviser to his master
Something like a boat brings.
He brings him a rope for the boat,
He brings him a large raft.
Mister... he's sailing.
To the unkissed, to the unmerciful.
Father Enlil... is sailing.
To the unkissed, to the unmerciful.
Having found it, he takes her hand,
Unkissed, pardoned.
He puts it next to him in a secluded place.
He kisses her, has mercy on her.
The root rises, hugging her,
He poured the seed of Zuen, the shining god, into her womb.
Enlil passes through the courtyard of Kiur.
When Enlil passes through the court of Kiura,
All fifty great gods
And seven gods, arbiters of destinies,
They capture Enlil in Kiura.
"Enlil, taboo-breaker, leave the city!
Nunamnir, taboo-breaker, leave the city!"
Enlil is the arbiter of destinies himself,
Nunamnir is the arbiter of destinies himself,
Enlil leaves, Ninlil follows.
Nunamnir leaves, the maiden pursues.
Enlil to the gatekeeper of the main gate, he says to him:
"O my gatekeeper, keeper of the bolt,
Guardian of the narthex, keeper of the bolt,
Your mistress Ninlil will come here.
When she asks you about me,
Don't tell her where I hid."
Ninlil to the gatekeeper of the main gate, so she says to him:
"O my gatekeeper, keeper of the bolt,
Guardian of the narthex, keeper of the bolt,
Enlil, your lord, where has he gone? -
So she says.
Enlil answers her for the gatekeeper of the main gate:
"My lord, oh most beautiful one,
I didn't deign to say anything about it.
Enlil, O most beautiful one, did not deign to speak of this."
"Word said, deed done.
My womb is heavy, will you remain silent about that?
Enlil, the ruler of all countries, filled my womb.
Enlil is your master and I am your mistress."
"If you are my mistress, let me touch you."
"The seed of my master, the shining seed, is in my womb.
The seed of Zuen, the sparkling seed, is in my womb."
"My master's seed is to heaven, my seed is
Let him truly go to the ground!
My seed for my master's seed
Let him truly go to the ground! "
And Enlil disguised as a gatekeeper
He lay down with her in the bedchamber.
He kissed her, he had mercy on her.
The root rises, hugging her,
He poured the seed of Nergal-Meslamtea into her womb.
Enlil goes, Ninlil follows.
Nunamnir goes, the maiden pursues.
To the guardian of the river of the underworld,
People of the devouring stream,
Enlil approaches.
"O guardian of the river of the underworld,
People devouring stream!
Your mistress Ninlil is coming here.
When she asks you about me,
Don't tell her where I hid."
To the guardian of the river of the underworld,
People of the devouring stream,
Ninlil approaches.
"O guardian of the river of the underworld,
People of the devouring stream,
Enlil, your lord, where has he gone?"
That's what she tells him.
Enlil answers her for the guardian of the underworld:
"My lord, oh most beautiful one,
I didn't deign to say anything about it.
Enlil, O most beautiful one, did not deign to speak of this."
"Word said, deed done.
My womb is heavy, will you keep silent about that!
Enlil, the ruler of all countries, filled my womb.
Enlil is your master and I am your mistress."
"If you are my mistress, let me touch you."
"The seed of my master, the shining seed, is in my womb.
The seed of Zuen, the sparkling seed, is in my womb."
"My master's seed is to heaven, my seed is
Let him truly go to the ground!
My seed for my master's seed
Let him truly go to the ground!"
And Enlil disguised as guardian of the river of the underworld
He lay down with her in the bedchamber.
He kissed her, he had mercy on her.
The root rises, hugging her,
The seed of the god Ninazu, lord of the field of measuring rope,
He poured into her womb.
Enlil goes, Ninlil follows.
Nunamnir goes, the maiden pursues.
Enlil approaches Siluigi, the ferryman.
"Siluigi, my ferryman!
Your mistress Ninlil is coming here.
When she asks you about me,
Don't tell her where I hid."
Ninlil approaches Siluigi the carrier.
"O Siluigi the ferryman!
Enlil, your lord, where has he gone? -
So she tells him.
For Siluigi the carrier, Enlil answers her:
"My lord, oh most beautiful one,
He didn't deign to tell me about it.
Enlil, O most beautiful one,
He didn’t deign to tell me about it.”
"Word said, deed done.
My womb is heavy, will you remain silent about that?
Enlil, the ruler of all countries, filled my womb.
Enlil is your master and I am your mistress."
"If you are my mistress, let me touch you."
"The seed of your master, the sparkling seed, is in my womb.
The seed of Zuen, the sparkling seed, is in my womb."
"My master's seed is to heaven, my seed is
Let him truly go to the ground!
My seed for my master's seed
Let him truly go to the ground!"
Enlil disguised as Siluigi the ferryman
He lay down with her in the bedchamber.
He kissed her, he pardoned her,
The root rises, hugging her,
Seed of Enbilulu, lord of canals and dams,
He poured into her womb.
You are the ruler, you are the master!
You are the lord, you are the lord, Enlil!
You are the ruler, you are the master, Nunamnir!
You are a winner, you are a conqueror, truly it is you!
You are the master of the flax, the master of the grain that gives them growth,
Truly it is you!
Lord of the heavens, fertility, lord of the earth,
Truly it is you!
Lord of the earth, fertility, lord of the heavens,
Truly it is you!
Enlil heavenly, Enlil lord!
The words he speaks cannot be broken,
The things he does cannot be changed!
Praise for deeds, for mother Ninlil,
Father Enlil, praise!"
Translation by V. K. Afanasyeva
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru