Babylonian and Assyrian Literature eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 377 pages of information about Babylonian and Assyrian Literature.

Babylonian and Assyrian Literature eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 377 pages of information about Babylonian and Assyrian Literature.

A copy of the cuneiform text will be found in the “Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia,” Vol.  IV, pl. 15.  M. Fr. Lenormant has translated a portion of it in “La Magie chez les Chaldeens" pp. 26, 27.

ACCADIAN POEM ON THE SEVEN EVIL SPIRITS

OBVERSE

1 (In) the earth their borders were taken, and that god[1]
    came not forth.
2 From the earth he came not forth, (and) their power was
    baneful.
3 The heaven like a vault they extended and that which had
    no exit they opened.[2]
4 Among the stars of heaven their watch they kept not, in
    watching (was) their office.
5 The mighty hero[3] to heaven they exalted, and his father
    he knew not.[4]
6 The Fire-god on high, the supreme, the first-born, the
    mighty, the divider of the supreme crown of Anu!
7 The Fire-god the light that exalts him with himself he
    exalts.
8 Baleful (are) those seven, destroyers.
9 For his ministers in his dwelling he chooses (them).
10 O Fire-god, those seven how were they born, how grew
    they up?
11 Those seven in the mountain of the sunset were born.
12 Those seven in the mountain of the sunrise grew up.
13 In the hollows of the earth have they their dwelling.
14 On the high-places of the earth are they proclaimed.
15 As for them in heaven and earth immense (is) their habitation.
16 Among the gods their couch they have not.
17 Their name in heaven (and) earth exists not.
18 Seven they are:  in the mountain of the sunset do they rise.
19 Seven they are:  in the mountain of the sunrise did they set.
20 Into the hollows of the earth do they penetrate.[5]
21 On the high places of the earth did they ascend.
22 As for them, goods they have not, in heaven and earth they
    are not known.[6]
23 Unto Merodach[7] draw near, and this word may he say
    unto thee.[8]
24 Of those baleful seven, as many as he sets before thee,
    their might may he give thee,
25 according to the command of his blessed mouth, (he who
    is) the supreme judge of Anu.
26 The Fire-god unto Merodach draws near, and this word
    he saith unto thee.
27 In the pavilion, the resting-place of might, this word he
    hears, and
28 to his father Hea[9] to his house he descends, and speaks: 
29 O my father, the Fire-god unto the rising of the sun has
    penetrated, and these secret words has uttered.
30 Learning the story of those seven, their places grant thou
    to another.
31 Enlarge the ears, O son of Eridu.[10]
32 Hea his son Merodach answered: 
33 My son, those seven dwell in earth;
34 those seven from the earth have issued.

[Footnote 1:  That is, the god of fire.]

[Footnote 2:  The Assyrian has, “Unto heaven that which was not seen they raised.”]

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Babylonian and Assyrian Literature from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.