THE TENTH TABLET

In Sippar all the Anunnaki gathered, the Day of the Deluge they awaited.

It was at that time, as the tension of awaiting was mounting,

That the lord Enki, asleep in his quarters, had a dream-vision.

In the dream-vision there appeared the image of a man, bright and shining like the heavens;

And as the man Enki approached, Enki saw that the white-haired Galzu he was!

In his right hand an engraver's stylus he was holding,

And in his left hand a tablet of lapis lazuli, shining smooth, he held.

And as he approached near enough by Enki's bed to stand, Galzu spoke up and said:

Unwarranted your accusations against Enlil were, for only the truth he spoke;

And the decision that as Enlil's Decision will be known, not he but Destiny decreed.

Now into your hands Fate take, for the Earthlings the Earth will inherit;

Summon your son Ziusudra, without breaking the oath to him the coming calamity reveal.

A boat that the watery avalanche can withstand, a submersible one, to build him tell,

Let him in it save himself and his kinfolk,

And the seed of all that is useful, be it plant or animal, also take;

That is the will of the Creator of All!

And Galzu, in the dream-vision, with the stylus on the tablet an image drew,

And placed the engraved tablet by the side of Enki's bed;

And after that the image faded, the dream-vision ended, and Enki with a shudder awoke.

In his bed Enki for a while lying remained, with wonder the dream-vision he pondered:

What was thereof the meaning, what omen did it hold?

Then, as off his bed he stepped, to and behold there was the tablet;

What in a mere dream-vision he had seen now by his bedside materially was!

With trembling hands the lord Enki the tablet picked up,

A design of a curious-shaped boat upon the tablet he saw,

By the tablet's edge measuring markings there were, the boat's measures indicating!

Astir with awe and hope the lord Enki by sunrise for his emissaries quickly sent,

Find the one called Galzu, to him I must speak! So to them he said.

By sundown all came back, to Enki thus reporting: None Galzu to find was able,

Galzu, they said, to Nibiru did long ago return!

Greatly baffled Enki was, the mystery and its omen to understand he strove.

Unravel the mystery he could not, yet the message to him was clear!

That night to the reed but where Ziusudra was sleeping Enki stealthily went;

The oath not breaking, the lord Enki not to Ziusudra but to the hut's wall spoke:

Wake up! Wake up! to the reed wall Enki was saying, from behind the reed screen he was speaking.

When Ziusudra by the words was awakened, to him Enki from behind the reed screen said:

Reed hut, reed hut! To my words pay attention, to my instructions heed pay!

On all the habitations, over the cities, a calamitous storm will sweep,

The destruction of Mankind and its offspring it will be.

This is the final ruling, the word of the assembly by Enlil convened,

This is the decision by Anu and Enlil and Ninmah spoken.

Now heed my words, observe the message that to you I am speaking:

Abandon your house, build a boat; spurn possessions, save the life!

The boat that you must build, its design and measurements on a tablet are shown,

By the reed hut's wall the tablet I shall leave.

Make sure that the boat shall be roofed throughout, the sun from the inside must not be seen.

The tackle must be very strong, the pitch strong and tight to ward off the water.

Let the boat be one that can turn and tumble, the watery avalanche to survive!

In seven days build the boat, into it your family and kinfolk gather,

In the boat food and water for drinking heap up, household animals also bring.

Then, on the appointed day, a signal to you shall be given;

A boatguide who knows the waters, by me appointed, to you that day will come;

On that day the boat you must enter, its hatch tightly close you must.

An overwhelming Deluge, coming from the south, lands and life shall devastate;

Your boat from its moorings it shall lift, the boat it shall turn and tumble.

Fear not: To a safe haven the boatguide will navigate you,

By you shall the seed of Civilized Mankind survive!

When Enki's voice fell silent, agog was Ziusudra, on his knees prostrate he fell:

My lord! My lord! he shouted. Your voice I heard, let me see your face!

Not to you, Ziusudra, have I spoken, to the reed wall did I speak! So Enki said.

By Enlil's decision, by an oath upheld am I bound to that all the Anunnaki swore;

If my face you shall see, surely like all Earthlings you will die!

Now reed hut, to my words pay heed:

The purpose of the boat, a secret of the Anunnaki with you must remain!

When the townspeople will inquire, to them you will so say:

The lord Enlil with my lord Enki has angry been,

To Enki's abode in the Abzu I am sailing, perchance Enlil will be appeased!

For a while a silence followed. Ziusudra from behind the reed wall came,

A tablet of lapis lazuli, in the moonlight shining, he saw and picked up;

The image of a boat upon it was drawn, notches its measurements gave;

Wisest of Civilized Men was Ziusudra, what he had heard he understood.

In the morning, to the townspeople he so announced:

The lord Enlil with the Lord Enki, my master, angry has been,

On that account to me the lord Enlil is hostile.

In this city I no longer reside can, nor in the Edin my foot anymore set;

To the Abzu, the lord Enki's domain, I will there a-sailing go.

In a boat that must quickly be built I will away from here depart;

Thereby the lord Enlil's anger will subside, hardships will end,

Upon you the lord Enlil abundance henceforth will shower!

The morning was not yet gone when the people about Ziusudra gathered,

To speedily for him the boat build they each other encouraged.

Timbers of boat-wood the elders were hauling, the little ones bitumen from the marshes carried.

As woodworkers the planks together hammered, Ziusudra in a cauldron the bitumen melted.

With bitumen the boat he waterproofed inside and out,

As in the drawing upon the tablet the boat on the fifth day was completed. Eager to see Ziusudra depart, the townspeople to the boat food and water brought,

From their own mouths sustenance they took; to appease Enlil they were in a hurry!

Four-legged animals into the boat were also driven, birds from the field by themselves flew in.

Into the boat Ziusudra his spouse and sons made embark, their wives and children also came.

Any who to the abode of the lord Enki wish to go, let them too aboard come!

So did Ziusudra to the gathered people announce.

Envisioning Enlil's abundance, only some of the craftsmen the call heeded.

On the sixth day Ninagal, Lord of the Great Waters, to the boat came,

A son of Enki he was, to be the boat's navigator he was selected.

A box of cedarwood in his hands he held, by his side in the boat he kept it;

The life essences and life eggs of living creatures it contains, by the lord Enki and Ninmah collected,

From the wrath of Enlil to be hidden, to life resurrect if Earth be willing!

So did Ninagal to Ziusudra explain; thus were all beasts by their twos in the boat hidden.

Now Ninagal and Ziusudra in the boat the arrival of the seventh day awaited.

In the one hundred and twentieth Shar was the Deluge awaited,

In the tenth Shar in the life age of Ziusudra was the Deluge forthcoming,

In the station of the Constellation of the Lion was the avalanche looming.

Now this is the account of the Deluge that over the Earth swept

And how the Anunnaki escaped, and how Ziusudra in the boat survived.

For days before the Day of the Deluge the Earth was rumbling, groan as with pain it did;

For nights before the calamity struck, in the heavens Nibiru as a glowing star was seen;

Then there was darkness in daytime, and at night the Moon as though by a monster was swallowed.

The Earth began to shake, by a netforce before unknown it was agitated.

In the glow of dawn, a black cloud arose from the horizon, The morning's light to darkness changed, as though by death's shadow veiled.

Then the sound of a rolling thunder boomed, lightnings the skies lit up.

Depart! Depart! Utu to the Anunnaki gave the signal.

Crouched in the boats of heaven, the Anunnaki heavenward were lofted.

In Shurubak, eighteen leagues away, the bright eruptions by Ninagal were seen:

Button up! Button up the hatch! Ninagal to Ziusudra shouted.

Together the trapdoor that the hatch concealed they pulled down;

Watertight, enclosed completely, was the boat; inside riot a ray of light penetrated.

On that day, on that unforgettable day, the Deluge with a roar began;

In the Whiteland, at the Earth's bottom, the Earth's foundations were shaking;

Then with a roar to a thousand thunders equal, off its foundations the icesheet slipped,

By Nibiru's unseen netforce it was pulled away, into the south sea crashing.

One sheet of ice into another icesheet was smashing,

The Whiteland's surface like a broken eggshell was crumbling.

All at once a tidal wave arose, the very skies was the wall of waters reaching.

A storm, its ferocity never before seen, at the Earth's bottom began to howl,

Its winds the wall of water were driving, the tidal wave northward was spreading;

Northward was the wall of waters onrushing, the Abzu lands it was reaching.

Therefrom toward the settled lands it traveled, the Edin it overwhelmed.

When the tidal wave, the wall of waters, Shurubak reached,

The boat of Ziusudra the tidal wave from its moorings lifted,

Tossed it about, like a watery abyss the boat it swallowed.

Though completely submerged, the boat held firm, not a drop of water into it did enter.

Outside the storm's wave the people overtook like a killing battle,

No one his fellow man could see, the ground vanished, there was only water.

All that once on the ground stood by the mighty waters away was swept;

Before day's end the watery wall, gathering speed, the mountains overwhelmed.

In their celestial boats the Anunnaki the Earth were circling.

Crowding the compartments, against the outer walls they crouched,

What was happening upon the Earth, down below, to see they strained.

From the celestial boat in which she was, Ninmah like a woman in travail cried out:

My created like drowned dragonflies in a pond the waters fill,

All life by the rolling sea wave away was taken! Thus did Ninmah cry and moan.

Inanna, who was with her, also cried and lamented:

Everything down below, all that lived, has turned into clay!

Thus did Ninmah and Inanna weep; they wept and eased their feelings.

In the other celestial boats the Anunnaki by the sight of unbridled fury were humbled,

A power greater than theirs they with awe those days witnessed.

For the fruits of Earth they hungered, for fermented elixir they thirsted.

The olden days, alas, to clay have turned! So to each other the Anunnaki said.

After the immense tidal wave that over the Earth swept,

The sluices of heaven opened, a downpour from the skies upon the Earth was unleashed.

For seven days the waters from above with the waters of the Great Below were mingled;

Then the wall of water, its limits reaching, its onslaught ceased,

But the rains from the skies for forty more days and nights continued.

From their perches the Anunnaki looked down: Where there were dry lands, now was a sea of water,

And where mountains once to the heavens their peaks raised,

Their tops now like islands were in the waters;

And all that on the dry lands was living in the avalanche of waters perished.

Then, as in the Beginning, the waters to their basins were gathered,

Waving back and forth, day by day the water level came lower.

Then, forty days after the Deluge over the Earth swept, the rains also stopped.

After the forty days Ziusudra the boat's hatch opened, his whereabouts to survey.

A bright day it was, a gentle breeze was blowing;

All alone, with no other sign of life, the boat upon a vast sea was lolling.

Mankind, all living things, off the Earth's face are wiped out,

No one except us few survived, but there is no dry land to set a foot upon!

So did Ziusudra to his kinfolk say as he sat down and lamented.

At that time Ninagal, by Enki appointed, the boat toward the twin peaks of Arrata directed,

A sail for her he shaped, toward the Mount of Salvation he the boat guided.

Impatient Ziusudra was; birds that were on board he released

To check for dry land, for surviving vegetation to verify he sent them.

He sent forth a swallow, he sent forth a raven; both to the boat returned.

He sent forth a dove; with a twig from a tree to the boat it returned!

Now Ziusudra knew that the dry land from under the waters had emerged.

A few more days, and the boat by rocks was arrested:

The Deluge is over, at the Mount of Salvation we are! So did Ninagal to Ziusudra say.

Opening the watertight hatch, from the boat Ziusudra emerged;

The sky was clear, the Sun was shining, a gentle wind was blowing.

Hurriedly upon his spouse and children he to come out called.

The lord Enki let us praise, to him thanks give! to them Ziusudra said.

With his sons stones he gathered, with them an altar he built, Then a fire on the altar he lit, with aromatic incense he made a fire.

A ewe-lamb, one without blemish, for a sacrifice he selected,

And upon the altar to Enki the ewe-Iamb as a sacrifice he offered.

At that time Enlil from his celestial boat to Enki words conveyed:

Let us in Whirlwinds from the celestial boats upon the peak of Arrata descend,

The situation to review, what to be done to determine!

While the others in their celestial boats the Earth to circuit continued,

Enlil and Enki in Whirlwinds upon the peak of Arrata descended.

Smiling the two brothers met, with joy their arms they locked.

Then Enlil by the whiffs of fire and roasting meat was puzzled.

What is that? to his brother he shouted. Has anyone the Deluge survived?

Let us go and see! meekly to him Enki responded.

In their Whirlwinds to the other peak of Arrata they flew over,

The boat of Ziusudra they saw, by the altar that he had built they landed.

When Enlil the survivors saw, Ninagal among them, his fury no bounds had.

Every Earthling had to perish! he with fury shouted; at Enki with anger he lunged,

To kill his brother with his bare hands he was ready.

He is no mere mortal, my son he is! Enki, to Ziusudra pointing, cried out.

For a moment Enlil was hesitating. You broke your oath! at Enki he shouted.

To a reed wall I spoke, not to Ziususdra! Enki said, then to Enlil the dream-vision related.

By then, by Ninagal alerted, Ninurta and Ninmah in their Whirlwinds also touched down;

When the account of events they heard, Ninurta and Ninmah by the account were not angered.

The survival of Mankind the will of the Creator of All must be! So did Ninurta to his father say.

Ninmah her necklace of crystals, a gift of Anu, touched and swore: On my oath, the annihilation of Mankind shall never be repeated!

Relenting, Enlil by the hands Ziusudra and Emzara his spouse took and blessed them thus:

Be fruitful and multiply, and the Earth replenish!

Thus were the Olden Times ended.

Now this is the account of how survival on Earth was restored,

And how a new source of gold and other Earthlings beyond the oceans were found.

It was after the encounter at Arrata that the waters of the Deluge to recede continued,

And the face of the Earth gradually from under the waters was showing.

The mountainlands were mostly unscathed, but the valleys under mud and silt were buried.

From the celestial boats and from the Whirlwinds the Anunnaki the landscapes surveyed:

All that in the Olden Times in the Edin and the Abzu had existed under the mud was buried!

Eridu, Nibru-ki, Shurubak, Sippar, all were gone, completely vanished;

But in the Cedar Mountains the great stone platform in the sunlight glistened,

The Landing Place, in the Olden Times established, was still standing!

One after another the Whirlwinds upon the platform landed;

The platform was intact; at the launch corner the huge stone blocks held firm.

Clearing debris and tree branches away, the first to land to the chariots signaled;

One after the other the celestial chariots came, upon the platform they touched down.

Then to Marduk on Lahmu and Nannar on the Moon words were sent,

And they too to Earth returned, upon the Landing Place they came down.

Now the Anunnaki and Igigi who were thus gathered by Enlil to assembly were called.

The Deluge we have survived, but the Earth is devastated! So did Enlil to them say.

All ways to recover we must assess, be it on Earth, be it elsewhere!

Lahmu by the passage of Nibiru was devastated! So did Marduk relate:

Its atmosphere was sucked out, its waters thereafter evaporated, a place of dust storms it is!

The Moon by itself life cannot sustain, only with Eagle masks is staying enabled!

So did Nannar to the others account give, and then words of enamor he added:

Once there, that it was Tiamat's host's leader one must recall,

Of Earth a companion it is, with it Earth's destiny is connected!

Lovingly Enlil on his son's shoulders his arm put. With survival now we are concerned!

So did Enlil to Nannar mildly retort; now, sustenance is our first concern!

Let us the sealed Creation Chamber examine; perchance Nibiru's seeds we shall still find!

So did Enlil to Enki say, of the grains once created him reminding.

At the side of the platform, clearing some mud, the shaft from times remote they found,

The stone that blocked it they lifted off, the sanctuary they entered.

The diorite chests with seals were fastened, the seals with a copper key they made open.

Inside the chests, in crystal vessels, the seeds of Nibiru's grain were there!

Once outside, to Ninurta Enlil the seeds gave, to him he was thus saying:

Go, the mountainside terrace, let the grains of Nibiru once again bread provide!

In the Cedar Mountains, on other mountains too, Ninurta waterfalls dammed,

Terraces constructed, the eldest son of Ziusudra to raise crops he taught.

To Ishkur, his youngest, Enlil another task assigned:

Where the waters have receded, go and remaining fruit-bearing trees find!

To him as fruit cultivator Ziusudra's youngest son was assigned:

The first fruit they found, the vine that by Ninmah was brought it was;

Of its juice, as the Anunnaki's elixir renowned, Ziusudra took a sip.

By one sip, then another and another, Ziusudra was overpowered, like a drunkard he fell asleep!

Then a gift to Anunnaki and Earthlings Enki presented: The chest that Ninagal had carried he unveiled, its surprising contents to all he announced:

The life essences and life eggs, in the wombs of the four-legged animals from Ziusudra's boat can be combined,

Sheep for wool and meat will multiply, cattle for milk and hides will all have,

Then with other living creatures the Earth we shall replenish!

To Dumuzi the shepherding tasks Enki gave, in the task was Ziusudra's middle son assisting.

Then to the dark-hued landmass, where his and his sons' domains had been, Enki his attention turned.

With Ninagal, at the confluence of mighty waters the mountains he dammed,

Fierce waterfalls to a lake he channeled to let the waters as a lake accumulate.

Then the lands between the Abzu and the Great Sea with Marduk he surveyed:

Where habitations once were, the river's valley how to drain he considered.

At midstream where the river's waters cascaded, an island from the waters he raised.

In its bowels twin caverns he carved out, above them from stones sluices he fashioned.

From there two channels in the rocks he cut, for the waters two narrows he fashioned,

Thus the flowing waters from the highlands coming he could slow or let go faster;

With dams and sluices and the two narrows the waters he regulated.

From the Cavern Island, the island of Abu, the river's serpentine valley from under the waters he raised:

In the Land of the Two Narrows for Dumuzi and the shepherds a habitation did Enki fashion.

With satisfaction did Enlil all this to Nibiru words send; with words of concern Nibiru responded:

The close passage that Earth and Lahmu affected on Nibiru too much damage caused;

The shield of gold dust was torn, the atmosphere was dwindling again,

Now new supplies of gold quickly were needed!

Fervently to the Abzu Enki went, with Gibil his son to survey and search he journeyed.

All the gold mines were gone, by the avalanche of water they were buried.

In the Edin, Bad-Tibira too no longer existed, in Sippar a place for the chariots was no more!

The hundreds of Anunnaki who in the mines and Bad-Tibira toiled, from the Earth were gone,

The multitude of Earthlings, as Primitive Workers serving, by the Deluge were to clay turned;

No gold can from Earth anymore be provided! So did Enlil and Enki to Nibiru announce.

On Earth and on Nibiru there was desperation.

At that time Ninurta, his tasks in the mountains of cedars completed,

To the mountainland beyond the oceans once again journeyed.

From that land, on the other side of Earth, astounding words he delivered:

The avalanche of waters deep cuts into the mountainsides there tore,

From the mountainsides uncounted gold, in nuggets large and small,

To the rivers below fell down, without mining can the gold be hauled!

Enlil and Enki to the distant mountainland hurried, with amazement they the discovery viewed:

Gold, pure gold, refining and smelting not requiring, all about was lying!

A miracle it is! So was Enki to Enlil saying. What by Nibiru was wrought, by Nibiru was amended!

The unseen hand of the Creator of All it is life on Nibiru to enable! So did Enlil say.

Now who could collect the nuggets, how to Nibiru they will be sent? the leaders each other asked.

Of the first question, Ninurta had the answer:

In the high mountainland on this side of Earth, some Earthlings have survived!

Descendants of Ka-in they are, with the handling of metals they are knowing;

Four brothers and four sisters are their leaders, on rafts they themselves saved,

Now their mountaintop in the midst of a great lake is an island.

As the protector of their forefathers they me recall, the Great Protector they call me!

By the report that other Earthlings had survived the leaders were heartened,

Even Enlil, who the end of all flesh planned, was no longer angered.

It is the will of the Creator of All! to each other they said.

Now let us a new Place for Celestial Chariots establish, therefrom the gold to Nibiru send!

For a new plain whose soil has dried and hardened they searched,

In the proximity of the Landing Place, in a desolate peninsula, such a plain they found.

Flat as a quiet lake it was, by white mountains it was surrounded.

Now this is the account of the new Place of the Celestial Chariots,

And the artificed twin mounts and how the image of the lion by Marduk was usurped.

In the peninsula by the Anunnaki chosen, the heavenly Ways of Anu and Enlil on Earth were reflected;

Let the new Place of the Chariots precisely on that boundary be located,

Let the heart of the plain the heavens reflect! So did Enlil to Enki suggest.

Once Enki to this agreed, Enlil from the skies of distances took measures;

On a tablet a grand design for all to see he marked out.

Let the Landing Place in the Cedar Mountains be a part of the facilities! he said.

The distance between the Landing Place and the Chariot Place he measured,

In the midst thereof a place for a new Mission Control Center he designated:

There a suitable mount he selected, the Mount of Way Showing he named it.

A platform of stones, akin but smaller than the Landing Place, to be built there he ordered;

In its midst a great rock was carved inside and out, to house a new Bond Heaven-Earth it was made.

A new Navel of the Earth, the role of Nibru-ki before the Deluge to replace.

The Landing Path on the twin peaks of Arrata in the north were anchored;

To demarcate the Landing Corridor Enlil two other sets of twin peaks required,

To delimit the Landing Corridor's boundary, ascent and descent to secure.

In the southern part of the desolate peninsula, a place of mountains,

Twin adjoining peaks Enlil selected, on them the southern delimit he anchored.

Where the second set of twin peaks was required, mountains there were none,

Only a flatland above the water-clogged valley from the ground protruded.

Artificial peaks thereon we can raise! So did Ningishzidda to the leaders say.

On a tablet the image of smooth-sided, skyward rising peaks for them he drew.

If it can be done, let it so be! Enlil with approval said. Let them also as beacons serve!

On the flatland, above the river's valley, Ningishzidda a scale model built,

The rising angles and four smooth sides with it he perfected.

Next to it a larger peak he placed, its sides to Earth's four corners he set;

By the Anunnaki, with their tools of power, were its stones cut and erected.

Beside it, in a precise location, the peak that was its twin he placed;

With galleries and chambers for pulsating crystals he designed it.

When this artful peak to the heavens rose, to place upon it the capstone the leaders were invited.

Of electrum, an admixture by Gibil fashioned, was the Apex Stone made.

The sunlight to the horizon it reflected, by night like a pillar of fire it was,

The power of all the crystals to the heavens in a beam it focused.

When the artful works, by Ningishzidda designed, were completed and ready,

The Anunnaki leaders the Great Twin Peak entered, at what they saw they marveled;

Ekur, House Which Like a Mountain is, they named it, a beacon to the heavens it was.

That the Anunnaki the Deluge survived and prevailed forever it proclaimed.

Now the new Place of the Celestial Chariots gold from across the seas can receive,

From it the chariots to Nibiru the gold for survival shall carry;

From it to the east, where the Sun on the designated day rises, they will ascend,

To it to the southwest, where the Sun on the designated day sets, they will descend!

Then Enlil by his own hand the Nibiru crystals activated.

Inside eerie lights began to flicker, an enchanting hum the stillness broke;

Outside the capstone all at once was shining, brighter than the Sun it was.

The multitude of assembled Anunnaki a great cry of joy uttered;

Ninmah, by the occasion moved, a poem recited and sang:

House that is like a mountain, house with a pointed peak,

For Heaven-Earth it is equipped, the handiwork of the Anunnaki it is.

House bright and dark, house of heaven and Earth,

For the celestial boats it was put together, by the Anunnaki built.

House whose interior with a reddish light of heaven glows,

A pulsating beam that far and high reaches it emits;

Lofty mountain of mountains, great and lofty fashioned,

Beyond the understanding of Earthlings it is.

House of equipment, lofty house of eternity,

Its foundation stones the waters touch, its great circumference in clay is set.

House whose parts are skilfully together woven,

The great ones who in the skies circle to a resting make descent;

House that for the rocketships is a landmark, with unfathomable insides,

By Anu himself is the Ekur blessed.

Thus did Ninmah at the celebration recite and sing.

While the Anunnaki their remarkable handiwork were celebrating,

Enki to Enlil words of suggestion said: When in future days it will be asked:

When and by whom has this marvel been fashioned?

Let us beside the twin peaks a monument create, the Age of the Lion let it announce,

The image of Ningishzidda, the peaks' designer, let its face be,

Let it precisely toward the Place of the Celestial Chariots gaze,

When, by whom, and the purpose let it to future generations reveal!

So did Enki to Enlil suggest. To the words Enlil consented and to Enki said:

Of the Place of the Celestial Chariots, Utu must again the commander be;

Let the gazing lion, precisely eastward facing, with Ningishzidda's image be!

When the work to cut and shape the lion from the bedrock was proceeding,

Marduk to his father Enki words of aggrievement said:

To dominate the whole Earth to me did you promise,

Now command and glory to others are granted, without task or dominion I am left.

In my erstwhile domain are the artificed mounts situated, on the lion the image mine must be!

By these words of Marduk Ningishzidda was angered, the other sons were also annoyed,

By the clamor for domains Ninurta and his brothers were also aroused,

Lands for themselves and devoted Earthlings everyone was demanding!

Let not the celebration a contest become! Ninmah amidst the raised voices shouted.

The Earth is still in havoc, we Anunnaki are few, of the Earthlings there are only survivors!

Let Marduk Ningishzidda of the honor not deprive, let us Marduk's words also heed!

So did Ninmah, the peacemaker, to the contending leaders say.

For peace to prevail, the habitable lands between us should be apart set! Enlil to Enki said.

To make the peninsula an uncontested divider they agreed, to the peacemaker Ninmah they it allotted.

Tilmun, Land of the Missiles, they named it; to Earthlings it was beyond bounds.

The habitable lands to the east thereof to Enlil and his offspring were set apart,

For the descendants of two sons of Ziusudra, Shem and Yafet, therein to dwell.

The dark-hued landmass that the Abzu included to Enki and his clan was for domains granted,

The people of Ziusudra's middle son, Ham, to inhabit it were chosen.

To make Marduk their lord, of their lands the master, Enki to appease his son suggested.

By your wish let it so be! Enlil to Enki about it said.

In Tilmun, in its mountainous south, an abode for Ninmah his mother Ninurta built;

Near a spring with date trees, a verdant valley, it was located,

The mountain peak Ninurta terraced, a fragrant garden for Ninmah he planted.

When all was thus completed, a signal to all outposts on Earth was given:

From the mountainlands across the ocean Whirlwinds the gold nuggets brought,

From the Place of the Celestial Chariots to Nibiru the gold was lofted.

On that memorable day Enlil and Enki to each other said and agreed:

Let us Ninmah, the peacemaker, with a new epithet-name honor:

Ninharsag, Mistress of the Mountainhead, let us name her!

By acclamation was Ninmah the honor given, henceforth Ninharsag she was called.

Praise to Ninharsag, on Earth the peacemaker! in unison the Anunnaki proclaimed.

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LINKS:

ENKI: TOC