Origin/Historian/Author: Sumerian, ca 2100 BCE.
Source: Sumerian Religious Texts, Edward Chiera, 1924
Full Text Below
After heaven had moved away from earth
After earth had separated from heaven
And the name of man had been ordained
After Anu had carried off the heaven
After Enlil had carried off the earth
And Ereshkigal to the nether world had been presented
After he had set sail after he had set sail
For the nether world the father had set sail
For the nether world Enki had set sail
Because of the lord the light winds stormed
Because of Enki the heavy winds stormed
The keel of Enki’s boat the raging waters covered with foam
Because of the lord the water at the boat’s prow like a jackal attacks
Because of Enki the water at the boat’s stern like a lion strikes down.
On that day a tree a willow tree
On the bank of the Euphrates planted
By the waters of the Euphrates nourished
Fiercely the Southwind tore at its roots plucked at its branches
The Euphrates on its waters carried it away.
A goddess at the word of Anu trembling at the word of Enlil trembling
Seized the tree in her hand entered Erech:
“To pure Ninanna’s holy garden I bring thee.”
The goddess tended the tree with her hand at her foot she let it stand
Ninanna tended the tree with her hand at her foot she let it stand:
“When oh when on a holy throne shall I sit me down” she said
“When oh when on a holy conch shall I lay me down” she said.
Five years ten years had passed
The tree grew big she dared not cut it down
At its roots the snake who knows no charm built his nest
In its branches the Zu-bird set up his young
In its midst Lillith built her house
The maiden ever-singing all hearts rejoicing
Ninanna the pure lady of heaven how she weeps and weeps!
At the break of day as the horizon grew light
The hero Gilgamesh stood by his sister’s side
His armor fifty talents its weight
like thirty shekels he fastened at his waist
His bronze axe his axe of the road
his axe of seven talents he seized in his hand
At its roots he smote the snake who knows no charm
In its branches the Zu-bird gathered his young
to the mountain he rose in flight
In its midst Lillith tore down her house
to the desert wastes she fled.
The tree Gilgamesh tore at its roots
plucked at its branches
The sons of his city who had accompanied him
cut down its branches
To pure Ninanna
for her throne he gives them
for her couch he gives them.