Origin/Historian/Author: Neo Babylonian
Sources: Siglum of tablets in the British Museum
Introduction
This heavily fragmented text was recorded sometime during the Neo-Babylonian Period. It consists of a single tablet with four columns. The first two columns are far from complete and lack enough context for us to understand exactly what is occurring, however it implies Anshar was killed. The final two columns are so fragmented we are only able to decipher a few key words. As a Neo-Babylonian period text, some degree of corruption is to be expected. While most consider the Akkadian god Ea and Sumerian god Enki to be one in the same, here we see both mentioned within a few lines from one another. Although the context in which they relate to one another is unclear, the implication that they are two different characters is not.
This myth appears to take place after Tiamat’s defeat, and Marduk’s ascension to Lord of the Earth, otherwise known as Enki. However in the Enuma Elish, Tiamat’s defeat is referred to as Anshar’s victory. This implies that before Marduk’s ascension, Anshar was the ruling god, or heir of the ruling god (Lahmu). After Tiamat’s defeat, as agreed upon, Anshar abdicated and Marduk took over as King, or that is what we are to believe. Whether that happened willfully or not is up for debate, but this text implies Anshar withheld kingship from Marduk until he was stripped of it by force.
The text begins with dialogue between Enki, who here we understand to be Marduk, and his sister Ninamakalla [1]. He requests that she supply him with rations for his journey or mission. She does so while reminding him of his instructions. What is taking place here can only be described as a plan to assassinate Anshar. On Column II, line 12, Enki meets with Anshar for bread and beer. The following events appear to be a struggle of sorts. Unfortunately, in the tablet’s fragmented state we are unable to understand exactly what occurred, although we can assume Anshar was slain by Enki.
Although not referenced in this myth, after Marduk became King of the Gods he built the mountain of heaven, the Anu Ziggurat. Following the sequence of who ruled as King of the Gods, Anu was known to overthrow the creator and ruler of heaven. His ascension is recorded in the Hittite Kumarbi Cycle when rebelling against Alalu. The Hittite tale gives no clear reason as to why he rebelled, but The Murder of Anshar offers a clear motive. It was always Anu’s divine right to rule, that is until Marduk dethroned his father. This was the beginning of a blood feud between the lineages of Marduk and Anshar’s, which would last for generations.
Full Text Below
OBVERSE COLUMN I
7 . . . ] . entered;
8 . . . crossed] the square;
9 . . . ] reared me;
10 . . . ] to requite me;
11 . . . ] . . goes to the help;
12 . . . ] . . . Ninamakalla;
13 . . . ] . . . . they lifted my brother Enki;
14 . . . ] . his shout he . . the fleeing (goddess);
15 [And you] will address her as follows,
16 Speak [to] Ninamakalla, the great queen,
17 ‘[Your brother] Enki has sent me,
18 I have brought his . [ . . ] before you,
19 “[ . . . ] . the sign, you have not brought bread for his travel rations,
20 You have not filled my drinking-horn with [beer],
21 You have not set me [on the way],
22 You have not put [a path] before my feet.”
23 When [ . . . ] . hears this
24 She will give to you their [ . . . ] .
25 [He/She brought] bread for his/your travel rations,
26 [And] filled his/your drinking-horn with beer (?)
OBVERSE COLUMN II
1 I have brought [his . . . . before you],
2 “[ . . . ] sign, you have not brought bread [for my travel rations],
3 You have not filled my drinking-horn [with beer],
4 [You have not] set me [on the way],
5 You have [not] set [a path] before my feet.”’
6 When Ninamakalla heard this
7 . . . she] kissed her brother Enki,
8 “. . . ] have thus come, you have,
9 . . . ] . to my brother Enki,
10 . . . ] . . I have given you your instructions.
11 . . . ] . Anšar and his son Anu.”
12 He entered, thereupon he proceeded.
13 Anšar was present, his son Anu was not present.
14 In the middle watch of the night [he entered, there]upon he proceeded
15 He accepted the favour(?) [ . . .
16 He ate the bread [ . . .
17 Drinking the beer [ . . .
18 From the protection of [the gods] his brothers [ . . .
19 Of Anšar in secrecy [ …
20 “You must not give . [ …
21 Upon his weapon . . [ …
22 Cross over and take up [ …
23 For you (pl.) . [ …
24 With the merciless weapon [ …
25 From the protection of the gods his brothers [ .. . ”
26 He took up his weapon, against . [ …
27 A pouring . [ …
28 He took up his weapon [ …
29 He took up the merciless weapon [ …
30 He cut . . [ …
31 His blood . [ …
32 Enki . [ …
REVERSE COLUMN III
2 After [ . . .
3 He took up [his weapon . . .
4 He cut . [ . . .
5 His blood . [ . . .
6 The crown . [ . . .
7 The hand . . [ . . .
REVERSE COLUMN IV
2 . . . ] . . . . Gula
3 . . . ] . . in the river
4 . . . ] Ea [2] the king
5 . . . ] . sleep
6 . . . ] of his land
7 . . . ] . . against him
8 . . . ] . going down
9 . . . ] Enlil seven
10 . . . ] . .
11 . . . ] design(?)
Footnotes
[1] Ninamakalla is a lesser known goddess, but perhaps a parallel to Aruru/Ninhursag.
[2] Ea is the god of the deep (Eridu), who in the Enuma Elish acknowledged his son Marduk to have attained the title Lord of the Earth, which in Sumerian is Enki.