Benjamin R. Foster 20053 Before
Foster 2005 Before
Before the Muses. An Anthology of Akkadian Literature,
Bethesda: CDL Press
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ToC of Foster 2005 Before
| Table of Contents | See PDF |
| 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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Excerpts from Foster 2005 Before
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Enūma ēliš
| Enūma ēliš, (cf. Buccellati 2007 Yahweh) |
p. 457 (III.17) | Tablet IV: 15-28 15. “Take your place in the assembly, your word shall be supreme. 16. “May your weapon never strike wide but dispatch your foes. 17. “O Lord, spare his life who trusts in you, 18. “But the god who has taken up evil, snuff out his life!” 19. They set up among them a certain constellation, 20. To Marduk their firstborn said they (these words), 21. “Your destiny, O Lord, shall be foremost of the gods’, 22. “Command destruction or creation, they shall take place. 23. “At your word the constellation shall be destroyed, 24. “Command again, the constellation shall be intact.” 25. He commanded and at his word the constellation was destroyed, 26. He commanded again and the constellation was created anew. 27. When the gods his fathers saw what he had commanded, 28. Joyfully they hailed, “Marduk is king!" |
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The Poem of Erra
| Erra, "revelation of the poem" (cf. Buccellati 2023 When, 7.4, note b) |
p. 910 | (Erra's speech melds into that of the narrator. The poet introduces himself by name, and explains that the text, or "sign" of the god, was approved by Erra himself after it was
revealed to the author in a half-waking state. Having become a sign, the text acquires prophylactic powers.). (lines 37-45): Praise to the great lord Nergal and warrior Ishum / for years without number! / How it came to pass that Erra grew angry and set out to lay / waste the lands and destroy their peoples. / But Ishum his counsellor calmed him and left a remnant. / The composer of its text was Kabti-ilani-Marduk, / of the family Dabibi. / He revealed it at night, and, just as he (the god?) / had discoursed it while he (K.) was coming awake, / he (K.) omitted nothing at all. / Nor one line did he add. When Erra heard it he approved. |