Uttu = Enki & Ninimma’s Daughter,

or Enki & Ninkurra’s Daughter

Goddess of Clothing, Weaving

 

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue)

 

Uttu As Ninimma’s Daughter:

        “Ninimma, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, gave birth to Uttu, the exalted (?) woman.

        Nintud (Ninhursag) said to Uttu:

        ‘Let me advise you, and may you take heed of my advice.

        Let me speak words to you and may you heed my words.

        From in the marsh one man is able to see up here, is able to see up here, he is;

        from in the marsh Enki is able to see up here, is able to see up here, he is.

        He will set eyes on you.’

        10 lines fragmentary

        …… Uttu, the exalted (?) woman ……

        3 lines fragmentary

        (Uttu said:)

        ‘Bring cucumbers in ……, bring apples with their stems sticking out (?),

        bring grapes in their clusters, and in the house you will indeed have hold of my halter,

        O Enki, you will indeed have hold of my halter.’

        When he was filling with water a second time, he filled the dykes with water,

        he filled the canals with water, he filled the fallows with water.

        The gardener in his joy rose (?) from the dust and embraced him:

        ‘Who are you who …… the garden?’

        Enki (said to) …… the gardener:

        4 lines missing

        He brought him cucumbers in ……,

        brought him apples with their stems sticking out (?), brought him grapes in their clusters, filled his lap.

        Enki made his face attractive and took a staff in his hand.

        Enki came to a halt at Uttu’s, knocked at her house (demanding): ‘Open up, open up.’

        (She asked): ‘Who are you?’ (He answered:) ‘I am a gardener.

        Let me give you cucumbers, apples, and grapes for your …Yes’.

        Joyfully Uttu opened the house. Enki gave Uttu, the exalted (?) woman, cucumbers in ……,

        gave her apples with their stems sticking out (?), gave her grapes in their clusters.

       (1 line not in the ms. from Nippur: He poured beer for her in the large ban measure.)

       Uttu, the exalted (?) woman, …… to the left for him, waved the hands for him.

       Enki aroused Uttu.

        He clasped her to the bosom, lying in her crotch, fondled her thighs, fondled her with the hand.

        He clasped her to the bosom, lying in her crotch, made love to the youngster and kissed her.

        Enki poured semen into Uttu’s womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.

       Uttu, the beautiful woman, cried out :

        ‘Woe, my thighs’. She cried out: ‘Woe, my liver. Woe, my heart.’

       Ninhursaja (Ninhursag) removed the semen from the thighs… Ninhursaja cursed the name Enki:

        ‘Until his dying day, I will never look upon him with life-giving eye.’…”

 

        “and since in the Land he neither fashioned the yarn of Uttu

        (the goddess of weaving) nor pegged out the loom for Uttu…”

 

        “There was no cloth to wear; Uttu had not been born — no royal turban was worn;…”

 

        “All the yarns of Uttu, the splendor of kingship, belong to me…”

      

        “For Enki the people…the…garment.

        The one who is the dignity of the palace, the decorum of the king,

        Uttu, the unfailing woman of silence, Enki placed in charge of them…”

      

        “The tiara (?) of the palace, the jewel of the king,

        Uttu, the trustworthy woman, the joyous (?), Enki placed in charge of them…”

 

Uttu As Ninkurra’s Daughter:

“Enki poured semen into the womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.

But her one month was one day, but her nine months were nine days.

In the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance,

         Ninkura, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, gave birth to Uttu, the exalted (?) woman. …”

 

        “Ninkurra, who had lived a life so sheltered at the mountain heights,

        was fully bewitched by the easy charm of the older, more experienced god.

        Thus she joyously yielded to him and love they made for nine days and nine nights.

        But Enki soon realized that as lovely as Ninkurra was, she could not be compared to Ninhursag.

        As before, the Sweet Waters Lord left Ninsar after nine days,

        when Ninkurra gave birth to another lovely girl-child called Uttu,

        the Spider, the Weaver of Patterns and Life Desires…”

      

        “Nintud (Ninhursag) said to Uttu:

        ‘Let me advise you, and may you take heed of my advice.

        Let me speak words to you and may you heed my words.

        From in the marsh one man is able to see up here, is able to see up here, he is;

        from in the marsh Enki is able to see up here, is able to see up here, he is.

        He will set eyes on you.’…”

      

        “Ninhursag…frowned at the sadness reflected in Ninsar’s and Ninkurra’s eyes, and frowned at Enki’s unbridled lust.

       Ninhursag knew how charming Enki could be, but no matter what, young Uttu the Weaver

        should be advised to avoid the riverbanks, or the places where Enki and herself could be found alone or unchaperoned:

        ‘Daughter Uttu, beware of the marshes and the riverbanks, where Enki, the Sweet Waters god, reigns as Sovereign.

        There he will see you, there he will desire you and want to make of you his own,

        only to leave you all alone later on!’ was Ninhursag’s stern advice to Uttu.

        For a time young Uttu did follow the Great Lady’s advice and kept her distance from Enki’s lusty sight.

        But one day Enki’s desire won the young goddess’ heart,

        when he brought to her delicacies from the garden of delights:

        apples, cucumbers and grapes, all this and more Enki offered to the young goddess.

        Then Uttu, full of joy, opened herself to welcome Enki, the crafty god,

        and he embraced her with heartfelt glee, lying in her lap content and happy.

        Loving strokes, kisses and hugs they shared,

        until Enki’s seed found its way to Uttu’s young and yet untried womb.

        Later, still lying on Enki’s powerful arms, doubt entered Uttu’s mind, body and heart:

        ‘Tonight you loved me so dearly, tonight I was your spouse, the one and only, your dearest,’ she thought .

        ‘But will you love me in the morning, o lustiest of all gods?

        Will you stay in my arms and never let me go

        And will you love for more than a holy night, and share with me happy and hard times?’

        But when morning came and Uttu looked into Enki’s eyes,

        she knew she still was not the one to hold captive the Sweet Waters Lord.

        With a tender kiss Enki took his leave,

        but did not say when he was going to come back, or ever returned to stay.

        Uttu swallowed stubborn tears, but decided not to surrender to loss and sorrow, and more.

        ‘I vow not to be bonded to Enki from this moment on,’ she promised herself with a deep-rooted resolve.

        ‘If he does not want me for myself, for what we can together be,

        I will not carry any of his seeds within or without my very being!’

        Uttu immediately turned then to Ninhursag for help.

        The Great Mother goddess, beloved by all, would know what to do, would ensure the best course of action.

        ‘Wipe out Enki’s seed of your body, and bury within the depths of the Earth

        the promise of life you shared with him,’ said the Great Lady and Womb of Creation.

        ‘Let the Earth receive and transform yours and Enki’s seed.

        And after you do this all, take your time so that your body, heart, mind and soul may heal.

        And I, who have known love, pain, sorrow and immense joy, give you, daughter, a very special blessing:

        may the wisdom of experience brought by such pain enter your being again

        and may you learn to ask as much as you give from your future lovers for as long as you live.

        Reciprocation is the key for everlasting relationships!’…”

Nintulla = Enki’s & Ninhursag’s Son via Uttu

 

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue)

      

        “The Great Lady (Ninhursag) continued her mighty healing ritual,

        asking Enki for the names of the organs that had been affected.:

        ‘Dearest, what hurts you?’

        ‘My jaw hurts me.’

        To the god Nintulla I have given birth for you to set your jaw free’…”

Ninsikila = Enki’s & Ninhursag’s daughter via Uttu

Patron Goddess of the Pristine Lands of Dilmun

 

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue)

      

        “‘My brother (Enki), what part of you hurts you?’

        ‘The locks of my hair (siki) hurt me.’

        She gave birth to Ninsikila out of it…”

 

       “He laid her down all alone in Dilmun,

       and the place where Enki had lain down with Ninsikila,

       that place was virginal, that place was pristine…”

      

        “Ninsikila said to her father Enki:

        ‘You have given a city. You have given a city.

        What does your giving avail me? You have given a city, Dilmun’…”

      

        “(Enki answered Ninsikila)

        ‘When Utu steps up into heaven, fresh waters shall run out of the ground for you

        from the standing vessels (?) on Ezen’s (?) shore, from Nanna’s (Nannar’s) radiant high temple,

        from the mouth of the waters running underground’…”

       

        “from Nanna’s (Nannar’s) radiant high temple,

        from the mouth of the waters running underground,

        fresh waters ran out of the ground for her.

        The waters rose up from it into her great basins.

        Her city drank water aplenty from them.

        Dilmun drank water aplenty from them…”

      

        “Ninsikila shall become lord of Magan,…”

      

        “He cleansed, purified the [land Di]lmun,

        Placed Ninsikilla in charge of it,…”

      

        “He cleanses and purified the kur-Dilmun, set Ninsikilla in charge of it…”

 

        “Nin-sikila was also instructed and she made large halub logs, ebony,

         and aba wood reach the ruler building the E-ninnu…”

Ninsar = Ninhursag’s & Enki’s daughter, Ninkurra’s Mother

“Mistress of Vegetation”

 

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue)

 

         “Enki distributed his semen destined for Damgalnuna (Ninhursag).

         He poured semen into Ninhursaja’s (Ninhursag) womb

         and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.

         But her one month was one day, but her two months were two days,

         but her three months were three days, but her four months were four days,

         but her five months were five days, but her six months were six days,

         but her seven months were seven days, but her eight months were eight days,

         but her nine months were nine days.

         In the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like juniper oil,

         like oil of abundance, Nintud, mother of the country, like juniper oil, gave birth to Ninsar. …”

 

         “Nine days later, without the slightest labor or pain,

         the Great Mother Goddess gave birth to a lovely girl without the slightest travail or pain.

         The girl was called Ninsar, Lady Verdure, the Mistress of Vegetation,

       the green carpet of grass, leaves and flower beds that cover the surface of the earth…”

 

         “Enki was overjoyed with the birth of his and Ninhursag’s child:…”

 

         “’How perfect, how lovely is our Ninsar! I love already the woman in the girl-child,

         the young Anunnaki goddess and Mistress of Velvet Meadows and Green Fields.

         The ties that bind me to Ninsar are strong and tempered by an even greater love,

         for in her face I see also Ninhursag’s, the one and only to my wandering heart.’

         The Great Lady, holding Ninsar in her arms, kissed Enki in the mouth, and said:

         ‘Soon my time to leave Dilmun will come, I endow Ninsar with the power to grow in record time,

         and in holy Dilmun I’ll leave my youngster daughter safe and sound from any illness, hatred or harm.’ …

         nine days later Ninsar was fully grown, charming and graceful, a sight to behold.

         …Enki saw Ninsar walking on her own along the marshlands.

         Indeed, a lovely goddess she had become, and Enki’s eyes fell on the Maiden’s,…”

 

         “Enki did not lose time and immediately started wooing the young lady,

         encouraging her to love him wildly by the riverside.

         Curious and eager as Ninsar was to experience the power of love in her body, mind, soul, and heart,

         she, the young goddess of Green Fields and Luscious Meadows,

          yielded to the Sweet Waters Lord, and together they made wild love.

         But when morning came, Enki looked into Ninsar’s eyes and found her a loving,

         but pale portrait of Ninhursag…”

 

         “Enki stayed with Ninsar for a while, because he knew his seed could be her womb.

         So he stayed with her until the ninth day, when Ninsar gave birth to Ninkurra,

         another girl-child, the future goddess of Mountain Pastures…”

 

         “Sadly, Ninsar realized that although she had been passionately loved by Enki for a time,

         there was a longing in his eyes, his body, soul and mind she could not satisfy.

         ‘Bonded to him I for a time was,’ thought Ninsar, ‘but he does not want me for myself, this I can tell.

         Mine is not the mind, body, soul and heart that holds his for a minute that means eternity,

         so I’ll let him go, now and forever’…”

 

         “In turn Ninsar went out to the riverbank.

         Enki was able to see up there from in the marsh, he was able to see up there, he was.

         He said to his minister Isimud:

         ‘Is this nice youngster not to be kissed? Is this nice Ninsar not to be kissed?’

         His minister Isimud answered him:

         ‘Is this nice youngster not to be kissed? Is this nice Ninsar not to be kissed?’…”

 

         “First he put his feet in the boat, next he put them on dry land.

         He clasped her to the bosom, kissed her,

         Enki poured semen into the womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.

         But her one month was one day, but her two months were two days,  but her nine months were nine days.

        In the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance,

         Ninsar, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance,gave birth to Ninkura...”

Ninti = Enki’s & Ninhursag’s Daughter via Uttu

“Lady Life”

 

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue …mixed-breed demigods in teal…)

 

“‘What hurts you most, dearest (Enki)?’

My rib hurts me.’

‘To the goddess Nin-ti, the Lady of the Rib and the One who makes Live,

I (Ninhursag) have given birth for you to set your rib free.’…”

 

‘”My brother (Enki), what part of you hurts you?’

My ribs (ti) hurt me.’

She (Ninhursag) gave birth to Ninti out of it…

Ninti shall become the lady of the month,…”

 

              ^“Your father is Enki, the lord Nudimmud, and your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu.

          Ninkasi, your father is Enki, the lord Nudimmud, and your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu…”

 

Ninti, “Lady of the Rib”, shared her emotions with the other Anunnaki on board her ship. They watched as all living things left upon the Earth were drowned.

         “The Anunnaki, great gods, were sitting in thirst, in hunger…

         Ninti wept and spent her emotion; she wept and eased her feelings.

         The gods wept with her for the land.

         She was overcome with grief; she thirsted for beer.

         Where she sat, the gods sat weeping; crouching like sheep at a trough.

         Their lips were feverish of thirst, they were suffering cramp from hunger…”

         

         “The Goddess saw and she wept…her lips were covered with feverishness….”

 

         ”My creatures have become like flies – they filled the rivers like dragonflies,

         their fatherhood was taken by the rolling sea…”

Ninkasi / Ninkashi = Enki’s & Ninhursag’s Daughter via Uttu

                         = sometimes Enki’s & Ninti’s Daughter

Goddess of Beer, Brew Master of the Gods

 

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue)

 

As Enki’s & Ninhursag’s daughter via Uttu:

         “’Where do you still feel much pain, dearest? What hurts you?’

         ‘My mouth hurts me.’ Ninhursag kissed Enki in the mouth.

         ‘To the goddess Ninkasi I have given birth for you to set your mouth free’…”

 

        ‘”My brother (Enki), what part of you hurts you?’

         ‘My mouth (ka) hurts me.’

         She (Ninhursag) gave birth to Ninkasi out of it…”

 

As Enki’s & Ninti’s Daughter:         

         “Your father is Enki, the lord Nudimmud, and your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu.

         Ninkasi, your father is Enki, the lord Nudimmud,

          and your mother is Ninti (Enki’s & Ninhursag’s daughter via Uttu), the queen of the abzu…”

 

         “Ninkasi shall be what satisfies the heart,…”

 

         “Let Ninkasi be she who sates the thirsts;…”

 

         “”When the beer dough has been carefully prepared in the oven, and the mash tended in the oven,

         Ninkasi (the goddess of beer) mixes them for me…”

 

         “Ninkasi, it is you who pour out the filtered beer of the collector vat;

         it is like the onrush of the Tigris and the Euphrates…”

 

         “I am Ninkasi’s help, for her I sweeten the beer, with as much cold water,

         the tribute of the hills, as you brought…”

 

         “An (Anu) will fetch Ninguenaka (Ninkasi) for me from her mountain home —

         the expert woman, who redounds to her mother’s credit,

         Ninkasi the expert, who redounds to her mother’s credit:

         her fermenting-vat is of green lapis lazuli, her beer cask is of refined silver and of gold;

         if she stands by the beer, there is joy, if she sits by the beer, there is gladness;

         as cupbearer she mixes the beer, never wearying as she walks back and forth,

         Ninkasi, the keg at her side, on her hips; may she make my beer-serving perfect…”

Ninimma = Enki’s & Ninkurra’s daughter

 

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue)

 

        “Ninkura in turn gave birth to Ninimma.

          She brought the child up and made her flourish…”

 

         “Ninimma in turn went out to the riverbank.

         Enki was towing his boat along and was able to see up there, …….

         He laid eyes on Ninimma on the riverbank and said to his minister Isimud:

         ‘Have I ever kissed one like this nice youngster?

         Have I ever made love to one like nice Ninimma?’

         His minister Isimud answered him:

          ‘My master will sail, let me navigate.

         He will sail, let me navigate.’

         First he put his feet in the boat, next he put them on dry land.

         He clasped her to the bosom, lying in her crotch, made love to the youngster and kissed her.

         Enki poured semen into Ninimma’s womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.

         To the woman its one month was but its one day,

         its two months were but its two days, its three months were but its three days,

         its four months were but its four days, its five months were but its five days,

         its six months were but its six days, its seven months were but its seven days,

          its eight months were but its eight days, and at its nine days,

         in the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance,

         Ninimma, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, gave birth to Uttu, the exalted (?) woman…”

 

         “Let Ninmah (Ninhursag) act as your assistant; and let Ninimma, Cu-zi-ana, Ninmada, Ninbarag, Ninmug,

       ……  and Ninguna stand by as you give birth…”