The first tablet begins with a description of primeval chaos; neither earth nor sky existed yet. Forefather Apsu and foremother Tiamat mixed their waters. In the same time immemorial, the mighty and fierce adviser Mummu was created.
It was then that the gods Lahamu and Lahmu appeared, and possibly other gods of the first generation. From them were born Anshar and Kishar, who created Anu in their own image. Anu then begat Ea (Nudimmuda).
Apsu did not like the behavior of the younger generation of gods, who bothered him with their behavior, apparently wanting to separate the elements and streamline the chaos. He planned to destroy his children, although Tiamat tried his best to dissuade him. However, Mummu supported Apsu and this decided the matter.
The gods, learning about the danger, are horrified. But the wise Ea, using a spell, put Apsu to sleep and killed him, cutting him into pieces, and captured Mummu and deprived him of his magical power. After this, Ea built himself the house of Apsu, where his wife Damkina bore him a beautiful son, Marduk. The parents could not get enough of their creation; Anu gave him four hurricane winds that disturbed Tiamat.
Incited by other gods, Tiamat decided to take revenge on the younger generation for the death of Apsu. She creates an army of monsters - snakes, dragons, dogs, fish-men, scorpion-men. One of the gods of the first generation - Kingu - becomes her husband, and she gives him tables of fate.
When the sky above is not named,
And the land below was nameless,
Apsu the first-born, all-creator,
Foremother Tiamat, who gave birth to everything.
Their waters mixed together,
There were no reed paddocks then,
When there were no gods yet,
Nothing is named, nothing is marked by fate,
Then the gods were born in the depths,
They appeared to Lahmu and Laham and were named.
And while they grew and matured,
Then Anshar and Kitar were born.
They saved days, multiplied years,
And their heir, Anu, is equal to his fathers.
Anshar likened Anu the first-born to himself.
Nudimmuda created Anu in his own image.
Nudimmud, born of his fathers,
He is bright in mind, wise and omnipotent,
Anshar, his grandfather, he surpassed greatly,
Among his fellow gods he has no equal.
Fellow gods gather in a crowd,
They disturb Tiamat, scurry about, fuss,
They shake the womb of Tiamat
Violent din in the upper chambers.
In Apsu their hubbub does not subside,
But Tiamat is calm, silent,
Although their habits are painful to her
Their ways are not kind, but she spares them
Apsu, creator of the great gods,
Mummu calls the adviser and says to him:
“My advisor Mummu, who gladdens my liver,
Let’s go with you to Tiamat.”
And they went and sat down before Tiamat,
They thought deeply about the gods, their firstborns.
Apsu opened his mouth,
Shouts irritably, turning to Tiamat:
“I am disgusted by their habits,
I have no rest during the day, no peace at night,
I will destroy them, I will destroy their affairs,
Let the sounds subside, let us remain in sleep.”
As soon as I heard this, Tiamat
She got furious and attacked her husband,
In lonely rage she cried out bitterly,
Her whole belly was filled with anger:
“How will we destroy our Creation?
Even if their ways are bad, let us linger in a friendly manner!”
Then Mummu turned to Apsu with advice,
Mummu’s advice was unkind and unkind:
“Destroy, my father, their evil habits
Your days will be peaceful, your nights will be calm!”
Apsu hears it and his face brightens,
For he planned evil for his firstborn.
Then he grabbed Mummu by the neck,
He sat him on his knees and began to caress him.
About what they decided in the council,
They told the gods, their firstborn.
The gods heard about this and rushed about,
Then they became quiet, sat silently,
But wise, cunning, skillful in mind,
Omniscient Eya came up with a way out.
He created the image, completed and finished,
He created the holy spell wisely,
He believed loudly and sent him to the Waters.
Drowsiness poured out, surrounded by sleep -
He put Apsu to sleep with the sleep poured out,
A numbness seized Councilor Mummu.
Eya took off the baldric, tore off the tiara -
He captured Apsu with radiance,
He chained Apsu and put him to death.
He captured Mumma, locked him with a bolt,
He built his palaces over Apsu,
Laughed at Mummu, dragged him on a rope,
How he defeated and destroyed his adversaries,
Ey strengthened his victory over his enemies.
I tasted rest in hidden peace,
He named the chamber “Apsu”, made it an idol,
He intended them for the marriage of the saint.
There, with Damkina, his wife, Eya lay down in majesty.
In the peace of fate and destiny.
God conceived the wisest of the wise -
Marduk was born in Apsu,
In the bright Apsu Marduk was born.
Eya, the parent, created him there,
Damkina, his mother, gave birth to him.
He was fed by the goddess's breast.
Reverently, his mother nourished him.
His face was beautiful, his eyes sparkled!
Initially, the gait is powerful, royal!
Eya, the creator father, saw him -
My heart was filled with fun and joy.
He perceived its perfection,
He rewarded him with double divine power.
He is great in stature, superior among all,
His appearance is unimaginably perfect -
It's hard to understand, impossible to imagine.
Four eyes, four ears!
He opens his mouth - fire comes out of his mouth!
He hears four times with the wisest ear,
And all-seeing eyes - everyone receives their sight!
Among the gods the highest, the most beautiful figure,
Powerful with muscles, taller than everyone else!
"My baby, son! My baby, son!
Son-sun! God's sunshine!
His halo is the radiance of ten gods!
Fifty lights surround him!
Anu gave birth to four winds,
I put it in his hands - “A gift for my son!” —
He created hurricanes and whirlwinds,
He created the swamps that oppress Tiamat.
Tiamat languishes day and night, restless,
It’s hard for the gods, there’s no rest from the winds,
They conceived evil with their wombs,
Tiamat, foremothers, so they say:
“How your beloved Apsu was killed,
You didn’t come to the rescue, you sat in silence.
Anu created four terrible whirlwinds,
Your womb is shaking and we are sleepless!
May your beloved apsu fall on your heart!
And Mummu is a prisoner - you are the only one left,
Aren't you our mother? And you rush around in fear!
You don’t love us for toiling like this!
Our eyes have dried up in insomnia!
Throw off the yoke and we will have peace!
Fight, avenge Apsu and Mummu!
Defeat your enemies, turn them into shadows!”
Tiamat heard - she loves speech.
“Thankfully - your advice, we’ll raise a hurricane!
Let's destroy the gods in the heat of battle!
We’ll organize a battle and repay the gods!”
They crowded around Tiamat,
Day and night, enraged, thinking about revenge,
The lions are roaring, they are preparing for battle.
They hold a council in order to arrange a battle.
Mother Khubur, who creates everything,
The inevitable multiplies weapons, makes gigantic kites!
Their teeth are sharp, their fangs are merciless!
She filled their bodies with poison, like blood,
She dressed the ferocious dragons in horror,
She surrounded them with halos and equated them with gods.
Whoever sees them will fall without strength!
If they go into battle, they will not retreat!
She created Hydra, Mushhusha, Lahama from the abyss,
Giant Lion, Fierce Dog,
Scorpio in human form,
Storm Demons, Kulilu and Kusarikku.
Their weapons are merciless, they are fearless in battle!
Her creations are powerful, they have no equal!
And she created eleven more like these!
Of the gods, their firstborn, who formed the council,
Kinga was chosen, elevated above all - the commander,
Chief of the Council
With weapons of battle calling for battle,
Distributor of production
She gave everyone under his authority and placed them on the throne.
“I have elevated you above everyone in the Council
I put all God’s decisions into your hand!
You are above all, my only husband,
I will raise your name above the Anunnaki!”
She handed him the tables of fate and placed them on his chest.
“Only your orders are unchangeable, the Word of your mouth is indestructible!”
Now that Kingu has been elevated, they have given him the rank of Anu,
Among the gods, his sons, he judges fate:
“Let the flames of your mouth burst forth
Let the poison that we have collected destroy the enemy’s power.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru