Babylonian Story of the Deluge | Page 9

the
gods I will declare unto thee. 11. Shurippak, [11] a city which thou
thyself knowest, 12. On [the bank] of the river Puratti (Euphrates) is
situated, 13. That city was old and the gods [dwelling] within it-- 14.
Their hearts induced the great gods to make a wind-storm (a-bu-bi), [12]
15. Their father Anu, 16. Their counsellor, the warrior Enlil, 17. Their
messenger En-urta [and] 18. Their prince Ennugi. 19. Nin-igi-azag, Ea,
was with them [in council] and 20. reported their word to the house of
reeds.
[First Speech of Ea to Uta-Napishtim who is sleeping in a reed hut.]
21. O House of reeds, O House of reeds! O Wall, O Wall! 22. O House
of reeds, hear! O Wall, understand! 23. O man of Shurippak, son of
Ubara-Tutu. 24. Throw down the house, build a ship, 25. Forsake
wealth, seek after life, 26. Abandon possessions, save thy life, 27.
Carry grain of every kind into the ship. 28. The ship which thou shalt

build, 29. The dimensions thereof shall be measured, 30. The breadth
and the length thereof shall be the same. 31. ... the ocean, provide it
with a roof."
[Uta-Napishtim's answer to Ea.]
32. "I understood and I said unto Ea, my lord: 33. [I comprehend] my
lord, that which thou hast ordered, 34. I will regard it with great
reverence, and will perform it. 35. But what shall I say to the town, to
the multitude, and to the elders?"
[Second Speech of Ea.]
36. "Ea opened his mouth and spake 37. And said unto his servant,
myself, 38. ... Thus shalt thou say unto them: 39. Ill-will hath the god
Enlil formed against me, 40. Therefore I can no longer dwell in your
city, 41. And never more will I turn my countenance upon the soil of
Enlil. 42. I will descend into the ocean to dwell with my lord Ea. 43.
But upon you he will rain riches: 44. A catch of birds, a catch of fish
45. ... an [abundant] harvest, 46. ... the prince (?) of the darkness 47. ...
shall make a violent cyclone [to fall upon you]."
[The Building of the Ship.]
48. As soon as [the dawn] broke...
[Lines 49-54 broken away.]
55. The weak [man] ... brought bitumen, 56. The strong [man] ...
brought what was needed. 57. On the fifth day I decided upon its plan.
58. According to the plan its walls were 10 Gar (i.e. 120 cubits) high,
59. And the circuit of the roof thereof was equally 10 Gar. 60. I
measured out the hull thereof and marked it out (?) 61. I covered (?) it
six times. 62. Its exterior I divided into seven, 63. Its interior I divided
into nine, 64. Water bolts I drove into the middle of it. 65. I provided a
steering pole, and fixed what was needful for it, 66. Six sar of bitumen
I poured over the inside wall, 67. Three sar of pitch I poured into the
inside. 68. The men who bear loads brought three sar of oil, 69. Besides
a sar of oil which the offering consumed, 70. And two sar of oil which
the boatman hid. 71. I slaughtered oxen for the [work]people, 72. I slew
sheep every day. 73. Beer, sesame wine, oil and wine 74. I made the
people drink as if they were water from the river. 75. I celebrated a
feast-day as if it had been New Year's Day. 76. I opened [a box of
ointment], I laid my hands in unguent. 77. Before the sunset the ship
was finished. 78. [Since] ... was difficult. 79. The shipbuilders brought

the ... of the ship, above and below, 80. ... two-thirds of it.
[The Loading of the Ship.]
81. With everything that I possessed I loaded it (i.e. the ship). 82. With
everything that I possessed of silver I loaded it. 83. With everything
that I possessed of gold I loaded it. 84. With all that I possessed of
living grain I loaded it. 85. I made to go up into the ship all my family
and kinsfolk, 86. The cattle of the field, the beasts of the field, all
handicraftsmen I made them go up into it. 87. The god Shamash had
appointed me a time (saying) 88. The Power of Darkness will at
eventide make a rain-flood to fall; 89. Then enter into the ship and shut
thy door. 90. The appointed time drew nigh; 91. The Power of
Darkness made a rain-flood to fall at eventide. 92. I watched the
coming of the [approaching] storm, 93. "When I saw it terror possessed
me, 94. I went into the ship and shut my door. 95. To the pilot of the
ship, Puzur-Bêl (or Puzur-Amurri) the sailor 96. I