The Etana Epic

Tablet I

1They planned the city [ f

2[The gods? laid its foundations],

3[They planned the city? Kish?],

4[The Anunna-gods?] laid its foundations.

5The Igigi-gods founded its brickwork* [. |

6“Let [a man]* be their (the people's) shepherd,

7“Let Etana be their master builder ...

8The great Anunna-gods, or[dainers of destinies],"

9[Sa]t taking their counsel [concerning the land],

10The creators of the four world regions,

11[establishers of all physical form],

12By(?) command of all of them the Igigi-gods

13[ordained the festi]val f[or the people],

14No [king] had they established [over the teeming people;].

15At that time [no headdress had been assembled, nor crown], scepter [had been set] with lapis,

16No throne daises(?)? whatsoever [had been constructed].

17The seven gods barred the [gates] against the multitude,

18Against the inhabited world they barred [the gates ... ],

19The Igigi-gods surrounded the city [with ramparts:?].^

20Ishtar [came down from heaven? to seek] a shepherd,

21And sought for a king [everywhere].

22Innina [came down from heaven? to seek] a shepherd,

23And sought for a king e[verywhere].

24Enlil examined the dais of(?) Etana,

25The man whom Ishtar st[eadfastly ]

26"She has constantly sought ...

27. This passage has been discussed by Sauren, CRRAI 19 (1971), 460—461; Haul, Etana-Epos,

28. Old Babylonian version begins here, suggesting that the first seven lines of the Late version

29were added as a prologue.

30"[Let] king[ship] be established in the land, let the heart of Kish [be joyful].”

31Kingship, the radiant crown, throne, | ]

32He(?) brought and [ ]

33The gods of the land[s ]

34His wife [said] to him, [to Etana],

35“| ] made me have a dream.

36"Etana the king [ ]

37"His ghost to [ ]

Tablet II

38[ ] that he called [ ]

39[ ] he had built a tower(?) [ ]

40[ ] shrine for Adad, his god [. |

41In the shade of that shrine a po[plar] was growing [ ],

42In its crown an eagle settled,

43A serpent ... at its root.

44Daily they wa[tched the wild beasts].*

45[The eagl]e made ready to speak, [saying to the serpent],

46"[Co]me, [let us make] friend[ship],

47"Let us be comrades, [you] and I."

48[The serpent] made ready to speak, [saying to the eagle],

49[Shamash] is the one who [ | friendship.

50"[If you are wicked, you will do a deed abhorrent] to him,

51"[You will commit] an abomination of the gods,

52[a forbidden act].

53“Come then, let us set forth [and go up a high mountain],

54"Let us swear [an oath] by the netherworld."

55Before Shamash the warrior they swo[re] the oath,

56“Whoever [transgresses] the limits of Shamash [ ],

57"May Shamash [deliver him] as an offender

58into the hands of the executioner,

59“Whoever [transgresses] the limits of Shamash,

60"May the [mountains] remove

61[their pas]ses far away from him,

62"May the oncoming weapon [make straight for him],

63"May the trap and curse of Shamash overthrow him

64[and hunt him down|]!”

65After they had sworn the oath by the netherworld,

66They set forth, going up the high mountains,

67Each day by turns watching for [the wild beasts].

68The eagle would hunt down wild oxen and asses,

69The serpent would eat, turn away, then his children would eat.

70The serpent would hunt down buck and gazelle,

71The eagle would eat, turn away, then [his] children would eat.

72The eagle would hunt down wild sheep and aurochs,

73The serpent would eat, turn away, then his children would eat.

74The serpent would hunt down bfeasts of the field,

75crea]|tures of the earth,*

76[The eagle would eat, turn aw]ay, then his children would eat.

77ora | ] the food,

78The eagle’s children grew big and flourished.

79After the eagle’s children were grown big and were flourishing,

80The eagle’s heart indeed plotted evil,

81Evil his heart plotted indeed!

82He set his thoughts upon eating his friend’s young!

83The eagle made ready to speak, saying to [his children],

84"I will eat the serpent’s children,

85“The serpent [ ]

86"I will go up and d[well] in heaven,

87“I will come down to the crown of the tree and eat fruit.”

88The littlest fledgling, exceedingly wise,

89[said] these words to the eagle, his father,

90“Do not eat, my father!

91The net of Shamash will hu[nt you] down,

92“The mesh and oath of Shamash

93will overthrow you and hunt you down.

94“Whoever transgresses the limits of Shamash,

95Shamash [will deliver] him as an offender

96into the hands of the [executioner]!"

97He did not heed them nor listen to [his sons’ words],

98He went down and ate the serpent's [children].

99In the evening of the same day(?).*

100The serpent ca[me], bearing his burden,

101At the entrance to his nest [he cast down the meat].

102[He loo|ked around, his nest was gone!

103He looked down, [his children were] not[ |!

104[The eagle had gouged] the ground with his talon,

105The cloud of dust from the nest [darkened] the sky.

106The serpent collapsed, weeping before Shamash,

107[Before] Shamash [the warrior his tears ran down],

108“I trusted in you, [O warrior Shamash],

109"I [was the one who gave provisions?] to the eagle,

110“Now my nest [ ]!

111“My nest is gone, [while his] ne[st is safe],

112“My young are destroyed, [while his young are] saffe].

113“He came down and ate [my children]!

114“TYou know], O Shamash, the evil he has done me,

115“Truly, O Shamash, your net is the [wide] earth,

116"Your trap is the [distant] heaven.

117"[The eagle] must not es[cape] from your net,

118who harbored evil [against his friend]

119[When he had heard] the serpent’s lament,

120Shamash made ready to speak, [and said] to [him],

121“Go (your) way and cros[s the mountains],

122"[I?] have captured for you a wi[ld ox].

123“Open its insides, [rend its belly],

124“Set an ambush [in its belly],

125“[Every kind of] bird of heaven

126[will come down to eat the meat].

127“The eagle [will come down] with them [to eat the meat].

128"[As] he will not know [the evil in store for him],

129“He will sea[rch for] the juiciest meat [ |,

130he will walk about outside(?),

131“He will work his way* into the covering of the intestines.

132“When he comes inside, seize him by his wing,

133“Cut off his wings, his pinions, and tail feathers,

134“Pluck him and cast him into a bottomless(?) pit,

135“Let him die there of hunger and thirst."

136As Shamash the warrior commanded,

137The serpent went and crossed the mountain.

138Then did the serpent reach the wild ox,

139He opened its insides, he rent its belly.

140He set an ambush in its belly.

141Every kind of bird of heaven came down to eat the meat.

142Did the [ea]gle know the evil in store for him?

143He would not eat the meat [with] the other birds!

144[The eagle] made ready to speak, saying to his children,

145"[Co]me, let us go down

146and we too eat the meat of this wild ox."

147The little [fled]gling, exceedingly wise,

148said [these] words to the eagle [his father],

149“Do not go down, father,

150no doubt the serpent is lurking inside the wild ox.”

151The eagle said to himself,

152" Are the birds [afraid]?

153How is it they eat the meat [in peace?"

154He did not listen to them,

155he did not listen to his sons’ words,

156He went down and perched on the wild ox.

157The eagle looked at the meat,

158searching in front and behind it.

159A second time he looked at the meat,

160searching in front and behind it,

161He walked around outside(?),

162he worked his way into the covering of the intestines.

163When he came inside, the serpent seized him by his wings,

164"You intruded into my precious nest,

165you intruded into my precious nest!*

166The eagle made ready to speak, saying to the serpent,

167"Have mercy on me!

168I will make you such a gift as a king's ransom!"'

169. Literally: "I will give you a wedding present."

170The serpent made ready to speak, saying to the eagle,

171“If I release you, how shall I answer to Shamash on high?

172“Your punishment would turn upon me,

173“Me, the one to lay punishment upon you!”

174He cut off his wings, pinions, and tail feathers,

175[He pluc]ked him and ca[st him into] a p[it],

176That he should die [there] of hunger [and thirst].

177[As for him, the eagle], ... [ ]

178He kept on beseeching Shamash day after day,

179" Am I to die in a pit?

180Who would know how your punishment was imposed upon me?’

181“Save my life, me, the eagle!

182“Let me cause your name to be heard for all time.”

183Shamash made ready to speak and said to the eagle,

184“You are wicked and have done a deed abhorrent to me,

185“You committed an abomination of the gods, a forbidden act.

186“Were you (not) under oath? I will not come near you.

187“There, there! A man I will send you will help you.”

188Etana kept on beseeching Shamash day after day,

189“O Shamash, you have dined from my fattest sheep!

190“O Netherworld, you have drunk of the blood

191of my (sacrificed) lambs!

192"I have honored the gods and revered the spirits,

193“Dream interpreters have used up my incense,

194“Gods have used up my lambs in slaughter.

195“O lord, give the command!

196“Grant me the plant of birth!

197“Reveal to me the plant of birth!

198“Relieve me of my disgrace,* grant me an heir!”

199Shamash made ready to speak and sa[id] to Etana,

200“Go (your) way, cross the mountain,

201"Find a pit, [look insi]de,

202“An eagle is cast within it.

203“He will reveal to you the plant [of birth]

204III. The Mature Period

205According to the command of the warrior Shamash, qp

206Etana went (his) way, [he crossed the mountains].

207He found the pit, he looked inside,

208[The eagle was cast] with[in it].

209There he was for him to bring up! (150) ld

Tablet III fic

210The eagle made ready to speak, [saying to Shamash his lord], (1) {wk

211“TMy lord, l, ibd him] the speech of birds, Nn

212*[So that whatever he will say, I will understand], B

213*[So that whatever I will say, he will understand]. () W

214“I am [a bird and he is a human being]." “Onl

215According to the command of Shamash the warr[ior], Theat

216[Etana could understand] the speech of birds. bso

217[The eagle made ready to speak, saying to (E)tana], liil

218^[Tell, O tell me why you are come]!” (ro) dx

219[Etana made ready to speak], saying to the [ea]gle, lit

220“Friend, give me] the plant of birth! fitu

221“(Reveal to me] the plant of birth! Tee

222“TRelieve me of my disgrace], give me an [he]ir! lm

223“T left behind [ ] the plant of birth!

224“It comes out [where the birds] fly forth,

225“Take me there and | ] me!”

226“T alone can [ ] the mountains,

227“I will bring you [the plant of birth].”’

228He went and [ ] the mountains alone,

229The eagle hunted | |, la

230[The plant of birth] was not there. "

231"Come, my friend, [ j a plant of birth is] with the lady, [ ] Ishtar.

232"[We must go] to Ishtar, the lady [ |. (25) k

233“Put [your arms] against my sides,

234“Put [your hands] against my wing feathers.”

235He put [his arms] against his sides, m

236He [put his hands] against his wing feathers.

237[When he had borne him aloft] one league,

238“Look, my friend, how the land [is now]!"

239“The land's [circumference?] has become one fifth of (its size?).*

240“The vast sea has become like a paddock."

241[When he had borne him aloft] a second league,

242“Look, my friend, how the land [is now]!”

243“The land has become a garden plot [ ],

244“And the vast sea the size of a trough."

245[When he had borne him aloft] a third [league],

246“Look, my friend, how the land [is now]!

247^I looked, but could not see the land!

248^Nor were [my eyes] enough to (find) the vast sea!

249“My friend, I won't go up to heaven!

250“Set me down, let me go off to my city!”

251league he dropped him down(?),

252Then the eagle plunged and caught him in his wings.

253A second league he dropped him down(?),

254Then the eagle plunged and caught him in his wings.

255A third league he dropped him down(?),

256Then the eagle plunged and caught him in his wings.

257Within three cubits of the earth [he dropped him down].* (so)

258The eagle plunged, and ca[ught him in his wings].

259The eagle [ ] Etana’s | ].

260(Etana tells the eagle of a dream he had."

261[tana made ready to speak and said to the eagle],

262"[My] fr[iend], that god let me have a dream.

263*DWe] passed through the gates of Anu, Enlil, [and] Ea.’

264“We did obeisance [together], yo[u] and I.

265“We passed through the gates of Sin, Shamash, Adad, and Ishtar,

266Very uncertain; some translators suggest that the clamor of earth is very faint here.

267“(We did obeisance together], yo[u] and I. (105) pon

268“I saw a house, I opened [its] seal,’

269^| pushed the door open and went inside. itp

270“A remarkable [young woman] was seated therein.

271“Wearing a tiara, beautiful of [fe]ature.

272“A throne was set out, [worthy of?] divinity, (110) jj

273"Under the throne lions were [c]rou[ching]. jn

274“As I went in, the lions [sprang at me?].

275“I awoke with a start and shuddered* | ]."

276The eagle [said] to him, to Etana,

277“My friend, the [dream] is obvious, | (115) dfe

278"Come, let me take you up to heaven [of Anu].

279“Put [your chest] against my chest, |

280"Put [your hands] against my wing feathers, Herat

281“Put [your arms] against my sides." His

282He put [his chest] against his chest, (120) |

283He put [his] hands against his wing feathers, |

284He put [his] hands against his sides, !

285Great indeed was the burden upon him. e..

286When he bore [him] aloft one league,

287The eagle said to him, to Etana,

288“Look, my friend, how the land is now!

289"Examine the sea, lo[ok for] its boundaries."

290“The land stretches(?) to the mountains,

291"The sea has become a stream(?)."

292When he had borne [him] aloft a second league, (150) — Eu

293The eagle said to him, to Etana, n

294"Look, my friend, how the land is now!" ue

295“The land is [ ne es

296When he had borne him aloft a third league, aur

297The eagle said to him, to Etana, (13) XE

298"Look, my friend, how the land i[s now]!" TI

299“The sea has become a gardener's ditch." V

300After they had ascended to the heaven of A[nu], >

301They passed through the gates of Anu, Enlil, and Ea. PS

302The eagle and E[tana] did obei[sance to]gether. (140 —

303[They passed] through the gates of S[in, Adad, and Ishtar], a

304[The eagle] and Etan[a did obeisance together].

305He saw [a house, he opened its seal],

306[He pushed the door open and went inside].

307(breaks off)

308(Presumably, the goddess on the throne, Ishtar, gives Etana the plant of birth. As the goddess who took a special interest in kingship [Tablet I, line 20], she would, no doubt, favor the dynastic principle.)

309(A small fragment may describe Etana's return home with the plant of birth.)

310[ ] to his house,

311He reached his city and his house.

312[His wife made ready to speak] and said to Etana,

313"[ ] the plant of birth?"

314“| ] I [did not(?)] see where it came out."'

315She ...| ] to cook it

316(breaks off)

317(According to Mesopotamian historical tradition, Etana had a son, Balih, who succeeded him to the throne.)

318Assyrian (MA) = Ebeling-Kócher-R ost, LK A 14; Ebeling, KAR 170, 335; VAT 10291 (collation

319Haul, Etana-Epos, pl. XIII-XIV), 10137, 10529 = Kinnier Wilson, Etana, pl. 7-10. Late Assyrian

320(LV) Tablet I = Kinnier Wilson, Etana, pl. 11-12; Tablet II = Kinnier Wilson, Etana, pl. 13-19

321(composite text); Tablet III = Kinnier Wilson, Etana, pl. 11, 12, 20-25 (collation Haul, Etana- pl. HI-XII. The “Pittsfield” tablet (Haul's manuscript Ep) collated from photo. III/C = Kinnier

322Mythos des Himmelfahrt des Kónigs von Kis, GAAL 1 (2000); J. Novotny, The Standard Babylonian

323Etana Epic, SAACT 2 (2001), with additional collations communicated privately.

324Where he got the plant. Or, perhaps, in a missing episode, Ishtar told the eagle and Etana where to find the plant, but, as with Gilgamesh and the plant of eternal rejuvenation (Foster, Gilgamesh, 94), was somewhere Etana could never return for more, so this was the only use of it.

325ss4 HI. The Mature Period

326* Notes to Text: Haul, Etana-Epos, offers a detailed commentary, with many original proposals adopt- here. I have generally followed the arrangement of text argued by Haul and Novotny. I have made a selection from among the various conflicting collations and readings of broken signs and passages in recent publications without the benefit of personal collation of the manuscripts. (OV

327I/A 2) For the difficulties with this line, see Wilcke, ZA 67 (1977), 157. Is the Ja distributive and paralleled in line 13? (OV I/E 3-4) Differently Streck, AOAT 264 (1999), 82. (MV I/A 4) mul- ta[k-s]i-du (WGL); for this obscure word, see CAD K, 283a. Kinnier Wilson reads mul-'tar'-pi.

328du. (MV I/A 5) Kinnier Wilson, Etana, 72. (MA I/A *16) Text corrupt, reading from LV II.3o.

329N/1, 349b. (LV I/A 6) Novotny. (LV II 7) Kinnier Wilson, Etana, 88. (LV II 32) Kinnier

330Wilson, Etana, 129. (LV II 52) Streck, OrNS 64 (1995), 59 note 108 suggests that qer-bet u,-me means the approach of the following day. (LV II 82) von Soden, WZKM 55 (1959), 61; CAD

331Wilson, Etana, 132; Edzard, ZA 76 (1986), 137; Haul, Etana-Epos, 222. (LV III A 50) von Soden,