Origin/Historian/Author: Neo Sumerian, (ca 2100 BCE)
Source: Der Alte Orient, 1899-1927
Introduction
This Sumerian text features Enki and Ninmah, just before the creation of Man. It is one of the earliest tellings of the Igigi’s rebellion as mentioned in Tablet I of the Atrahasis Epic. Overburdened and tired of digging the waterways for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, the lower class rebelled against the Anunnaki, forcing them to delegate the work to another group. The result was the creation of a new and lower class of society, a slave-man, to carry the burden.
Unlike in the Atrahasis Epic, where Enlil receives blame for the hardship, here it is Enki. However, from the many versions of the Enuma Elish, we understand Marduk attains the title Lord of Earth (Enki) as well as the Tablet of Destinies, which is Enlilship. In the Enki and Ninmah text, Enki also has the ability to decree destinies, which in other sources is a rite exclusive to Enlil. These factors allow us to determine that Marduk is in fact the Lord of the Earth Enki, and in some cases such as in the Atrahasis Epic, he is also Enlil.
This fragmented translation, incomplete as it is, still offers more context to the events surrounding the rebellion of the Igigi. It also reveals numerous trials the creators had faced in their attempts to fashion Man. Many immediately conclude these trials to be the splicing of DNA, or another technologically or magically enhanced process being undertaken. Others have determined that these trials merely reflect the assimilation of a primitive neighboring culture, into the more civilized Sumerian culture. Upon entering the new and more advanced society, these primitive people, presumably the Ubaid, would have been required to learn new Sumerian traditions. As a primitive people, it is likely that some were incapable of learning, while a number were likely deemed physically unfit in the eyes of the more civilized Sumerian people. Each trial mentioned in this text may offer insight as to complications they encountered. Section II lines 26 and 27, imply that all of mankind, in spite of their mental and physical limitations, should be assigned a task which further advances or aids society.
A more modern and complete translation of this myth is available on the ETCSL Corpus website created by The University of Oxford. Click here to view the newer translation: ETCSL Enki and Ninmah t.1.1.2.
Full Text Below
SECTION I
1 [On that day], the day when heaven was [separated] from earth,
2 [On that night], the night when heaven and earth were established
3 . . . ] . . [ . . ] . [ . . . ]
4 After the Anunna gods had been born,
5 After the goddesses had been taken in marriage,
6 After the goddesses had been distributed through heaven and earth,
7 After the goddesses had copulated(?), become pregnant and given birth,
8 The gods’ rations . . . and . . . was imposed to supply their meals.
9 The great gods presided over the work, the junior gods bore the toil.
10 The gods dug the rivers, with the earth from them they heaped up (Mount) Ḫaralli.
11 The gods suffered anguish, they complained about their conscription.
12 At that time he of great wisdom, the creator of the great gods,
13 Enki, in the depths of the Apsû, the abyss into which no god can see,
14 He lay in his bed, was sleeping, and did not rise.
15 The gods gave vent to their weeping, they said, “He brought about the present grief,”
16 But the sleeper was reclining and did not arise from his bed.
17 Namma, the primeval mother who gave birth to the great gods,
18 Brought (news of) the weeping of the gods to her son,
19 “Lord, you are reclining, you are sleeping indeed,
20 [ . . ] . . . . . . . [ . . ] rise
21 The gods you created are complaining(?) about their set tasks.
22 My son, arise from your bed, with your expertise you must seek out skill.
23 Create a substitute for the gods so that they will be relieved of their toil.”
24 Enki arose from his bed at the command of his mother Namma,
25 In Ḫalanku, his conference chamber, he [slapped] his thigh.
26 Being expert in wisdom, discernment and consultation, he produced skill of blood, bodies, and creative power, the birth goddesses.
27 Enki stationed them at his side, seeking out wisdom.
28 After Enki had in wisdom reflected upon his own blood and body,
29 He addressed his mother Namma,
30 “My mother, there is my blood which you set aside(?), impose on it the corvée of the gods.
31 When you have mixed it in the clay from above the Apsû,
32 The birth goddesses will nip off clay, and you must fashion bodies.
33 Your companion Ninmaḫ will act and
34 Ninimma, Šuzianna, Ninmada, Ninšar,
35 Ninmug, Mumudu and Ninniginna
36 Will assist you as you bring to birth.
37 My mother, you decree their destiny so that Ninmaḫ may impose their corvée.
[short gap in text]
SECTION II
1 . . . ] . . . . [ . . . ( . . . . . . . )] copulated(?), man [ . . .
2 [By the plans] of [Enki they created] man.
3 [ . . . . ] . . . . . . [ . . . ]
4 [ . . . . ] . those meals . [ . . . . ] their bodies.
5 [The man] cast his eye on the woman and [took her] in marriage.
6 [By] the man’s [insemination] the woman conceived, she brought forth offspring of the womb.
7 Enki surveyed the finished(?) task, his heart rejoiced.
8 For Namma his mother and for Ninmaḫ he arranged a banquet.
9 The group of birth goddesses . . . . ate bread.
10 Anu and Enlil . . . . . . for the lord Nudimmud,
11 The great gods sang his praises.
12 “A lord of comprehensive wisdom, who can grasp his wisdom?
13 O great lord Enki, who can rival your achievements?
14 You are like a father who begets, one who decrees destinies are you, you are indeed!”
15 Enki and Ninmaḫ drank beer, their hearts became elated.
16 Ninmaḫ said to Enki
17 “It is for me to decide whether a human body should be good or bad.
18 In accordance with my decision will I make a destiny good or bad.”
19 Enki replied to Ninmaḫ,
20 “I shall assess the destiny you decide upon, whether it is good or bad.”
21 Ninmaḫ took clay from above the Apsû in her hand,
22 She fashioned a . . . . man, who could not . . . . , a freak.
23 When Enki saw the . . . . man, who could not . . . . ,
24 He decreed his destiny and stationed him at the head of the king.
25 Secondly, she fashioned a blind man, a freak.
26 When Enki saw the blind man, a freak,
27 He decreed his destiny, and endowed him with the art of singing.
28 In [ . . ] . and shrine he [set] him in front of the king.
29 [Thirdly, she fashioned a . . . ] with . . .
30 [When] Enki saw [the . . . ] with . . .
31 He [ . ] . . . his aura like silver . . [ . ]
32 Fourthly, she fashioned a dim-wit of Subarian extraction.
33 When Enki saw the dim-wit of Subarian extraction
34 He decreed his destiny and stationed him at the head of the king.
35 Fifthly, she fashioned an incontinent man.
36 When Enki saw the incontinent man
37 He washed him with holy water and removed the disease from his body.
38 Sixthly, she fashioned a woman who cannot bear children.
39 When Enki saw the woman who cannot bear children
40 He appointed her a weaver and set her up in the women’s workhouse.
41 Seventhly, she fashioned a man with a body lacking both penis and vulva.
42 When Enki saw the man with a body lacking both penis and vulva
43 He named him a courtier and stationed him at the head of the king.
(v.l. decreed his destiny to stand in attendance on the king.)
44 Ninmaḫ threw down on the ground the nipped-off clay in her hand and became silent.
(v.l. lapsed into total silence.)
45 The great lord Enki spoke to Ninmaḫ,
46 “I have decreed destinies for your creations, I have given them bread.
47 Come on, I will fashion (something) for you, you decree the destiny of the offspring.”
48 Enki fashioned the body of his slave-(girl) with an abnormality already in her womb.
49 He said to Ninmaḫ,
50 “When the fertilizing semen has impregnated the woman’s womb, that woman will bear in her womb.”
51 The skilled Ninmaḫ stood in attendance for its birth.
52 When the woman’s days were [completed] she delivered the abnormality of her womb.
53 Ninmaḫ [ . . . . ] . . . was silent.
54 The whole of it was “At Death’s Door” (Ummul). Its head was sick, its brow was sick,
55 Its face was sick, its neck was sick, its throat was stopped up, its ribs were protruding,
56 Its lungs were sick, its inwards were sick, its heart was sick,
57 It held its head in its hands, it could put not food in its mouth,
58 Its spine was curved, the buttocks/anus was/were . . . , the shoulders were . . .,
59 The feet were weak, it could not stand on the ground—(so) he had fashioned it.
60 Enki said to Ninmaḫ,
61 “I decreed the destinies for your creations and [provided] them with bread,
62 You decree the destiny of my creation and (so) provide it with bread.”
63 When Ninmaḫ saw Ummul, she turned towards . . .
64 She approached Ummul, questioning it, but it did not open its mouth.
65 She gave it bread to eat, but it did not stretch out its hand.
66 She offered it her hand, but it could not rise.
67 She laid down a mattress(?) for it, but it could not lie on it.
68 It could not stand, it could not sit, it could not lie, it could not . . , it could do nothing at all.
69 Ninmaḫ [spoke] to Enki,
70 “Your creation is neither living nor dead! I cannot bear it!”
71 Enki replied to Ninmaḫ,
72 “I decreed the destiny for the . . . . and gave him bread.
73 I decreed the destiny for the blind man and gave him bread.
74 I decreed the destiny for the . . . and gave him bread.
75 I decreed the destiny for the [dim]-wit and [gave] him bread.
76 I decreed the destiny for the [incontinent man and gave him bread.]
77 I [decreed] the destiny for the woman who cannot bear children [and gave her bread].
78 [I decreed the destiny for the] courtier [and gave him bread.]
79 My sister, you [ . . .
80 . . . [ . . .
81 . [ . . . ”
82 Nin[maḫ spoke to Enki],
83 “Whatever . [ . . .
84 Whatever . [ . . .
85 . . [ . . .
86 Whatever . [ . . .
87 Whatever . [ . . .
88 Whatever . [ . . .
89 Whatever . [ . . .
90 Whatever . [ . . . . . . . . . . ] . . . .
91 Whatever any one [ . . . . . . . . . ] . . . .
92 . . . . . [ . . . . . . . .] . . . . . . [ . . ] will enter.
93 Now I cannot live in heaven, I cannot live on earth (or: in the netherworld), I cannot escape
your attention in the land.
94 Where you do not live, in a temple I shall build, your words will not be heard.
95 Where you do not dwell, in a city I shall build, I myself shall lapse into silence.
96 My city is ruined, my temple is destroyed, my sons are taken captive.
97 Now, I am a refugee, expelled from Ekur,
98 And as for me, I cannot save myself from your power.”
99 Enki answered Ninmaḫ,
100 “Who can alter the words you have uttered?
101 Remove from your bosom Ummul, who is held at the breast.
102 Let Ninmug sustain your task.
103 [ . ] . [ . ] . . who can resist?
104 May the human race in future times show respect to him in song.
105 Henceforth may my penis be praised, may your unforgotten skill remain.
106 May Enkum and Ninkum
107 Sing the praises of the . . . strength of my . . [ . . ] daily
108 My sister, [may] my heroic might [be pro]claimed!
109 . . . . . . [ . . . . ] . . . . [ . . . ] .
110 May the god who hears it (?) . . [ . . ] Ummul, may he make my house.”
111 Ninmaḫ did not equal the great lord Enki.
112 Father Enki, praise of you is sweet.