Benjamin R. Foster
Foster 2005 Before
Before the Muses. An Anthology of Akkadian Literature,
Bethesda: CDL Press
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| Table of Contents |
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General topic(s)
of the book |
This volume collects the English translation of many texts, representative of the richness of ancient Akkadian literature The following excerpts are useful to contextualise many literary passages quoted by G. Buccellati in his book (specific references to these excerpts are put in the Notes-section). |
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Atrahasis
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Birth of the first men
| Topic |
Page |
Excerpt |
| Birth of the first men |
p. 237 |
Tablet I
[And the young girl ... ] her breasts,
[...] a beard
[... on] the cheek of the young man.
[In the garde]ns(?) and street (275)
Wife and husband will choose each other.
The birth-goddesses were assembled.
And Nintu [sat rec]koning the months.
[At the] destined [time(?)], they summoned the tenth month.
The tenth month arrived; (280)
She ..., opened the womb(?).
Her face beaming and joyful.
With covered head.
She performed the midwifery. (285)
She girded (the mother’s) middle
As she pronounced a blessing.
She drew (a circle?) with meal and placed the brick,
“I am the one who created, my hands have made it!
(...)
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The Tigris and the Euphrates
| Topic |
Page |
Excerpt |
| Tigris & Euphrates |
pp. 230, 238-239 |
Tablet I
[The gods] were digging watercourses,
[The waterways of the gods], the life of the land,
[The Igigi-gods] were digging watercourses,
[The waterways of the gods, the] life of the land.
[The Igigi-gods dug the Ti]gris river, (25)
[And the Euphrates there] after.
[Springs they opened up from] the depths,
[Wells ... ] they established.
[...]
A man [ ]
“Cleanse the dwelling(?) [ ]
The son to [his] father [ ] (330)
... [ ]
They sat and [ ]
He it was who was carrying [ ]
He saw and [ ]
Enlil [ ] (335)
They took up ... [ ]
They made n[e]w hoes and shovels,
They built the big canal banks.
For food for the peoples, for the sustenance of [the gods].
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Agum-Kakrime and the return of Marduk
| Topic |
Page |
Excerpt |
| Agum-Kakrime and the return of Marduk |
p. 361 |
(i I) [Agum]-kakrime, son of Tashshigurumash, pure offspring of (the god) Shuqamunu, whom Anu and Enlil, Ea and Marduk,
Sin and Shamash nominated (for kingship), the mighty man of Ishtar, the most warlike of goddesses am I!
(i II) Intelligent and understanding king, obedient and conciliatory king, son of Tashshigurumash, descendant of Abirattash, the valorous [man] among his [brethren?], lawful heir of Agum the elder, pure offspring, royal offspring, who holds firm the leadline of humankind(?), shepherd, lordly one am I! Shepherd of numerous humankind, warrior, shepherd who makes secure his ancestral house am I!
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Enūma elīš
| Topic |
Page |
Excerpt |
| Enūma elīš: creation of cities (Babylon) |
pp. 467-468 |
Marduk made ready to speak and said
(These) words to the gods his fathers,
“Above Apsu, the azure dwelling,
“As a counterpart to Esharra, which I built for you, (120)
“Below the firmament, whose grounding I made firm,
“A house I shall build, let it be the abode of my pleasure.
“Within it I shall establish its holy place,
“I shall appoint my (holy) chambers,
I shall establish my kingship.
“When you go up from Apsu to assembly, (125)
“ Let your stopping places be here, before your assembly.
“When you come down from heaven to [assembly].
“Let your stopping places be there to receive all of you.
“I shall call [its] name [Babylon],
Houses of the Great Gods, (130)
“We shall all hold fe[stival]s with[in] it.”
When the gods his fathers heard what he commanded,
They ... [ ]
“Over all things that your hands have created,
“Who has [authority, save for you]? (135)
“Over the earth that you have created,
“Who has [authority, save for] you?
“Babylon, to which you have given name,
“Make our [stopping place] there forever.
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