Category Archives: Ninurta

The Farmer’s Instructions

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

The Sumerian Farmer´s Instructions was inscribed about 1,700 BCE, thus predating Hesiod´s work by approximately a millennium. The piece is also known as The Instructions of Ninurta.

 

(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)

 

1 Ud-ul-uru (Old man cultivator) gave advice to his son:

 

2-7 “When you have to prepare a field, inspect the levees, canals and mounds that have to be opened.

When you let the flood water into the field, this water should not rise too high in it.

At the time that the field emerges from the water, watch its area with standing water; it should be fenced.

Do not let cattle herds trample there.

 

8-13 After you cut the weeds and establish the limits of the field,

level it repeatedly with a thin hoe weighing two-thirds of a mina (approx. 650 g).

Let a flat hoe erase the oxen tracks, let the flied be swept clean.

A maul should flatten the furrow bottoms of the area.

A hoe should go round the four edges of the field.

Until the field is dry it should be smoothed out.

 

14-22 Your implements should be ready.

The parts of your yoke should be assembled.

Your new whip should hang from a nail —

the bindings of the handle of your old whip should be repaired by artisans.

The adze, drill and saw, your tools and your strength, should be in good order.

Let braided thongs, straps, leather wrappings and whips be attached securely.

Let your sowing basket be checked, and its sides made strong.

What you need for the field should be at hand.

Inspect your work carefully.

Farming - farming in Uruk (earthlings learn to work for the gods in the fields)

 

23-29 The plow oxen will have back-up oxen.

The attachments of ox to ox should be loose.

Each plow will have a back-up plow.

The assigned task for one plow is 180 iku (approx. 65 ha),

but if you build the implement at 144 iku (approx. 52 ha), the work will be pleasantly performed for you.

180 (?) sila of grain (approx. 180 liters) will be spent on each 18 iku area (approx. 6 1/2 ha).

 

30-34 After working one plow’s area with a bardil plow,

Farming - naked plowman seal (earthlings & animal workers for the gods)

and after working the bardil plow’s area with a tugsig plow, till it with the tuggur plow.

Harrow once, twice, three times.

When you flatten the stubborn spots with a heavy maul,

the handle of your maul should be securely attached, otherwise it will not perform as needed.

 

35-40 When your field work becomes excessive, you should not neglect your work;

no one should have to tell anyone else: “Do your field work!”.

When the constellations in the sky are right, do not be reluctant to take the oxen force to the field many times.

The hoe should work everything.

 

41-45 When you have to work the field with the seeder-plow, your plow should be properly adjusted.

Put a leather sealing on the kacu of your plow.

Provide your beam with narrow pegs.

Your boards should be spread. Make your furrows.

 

46-54 Make eight furrows per ninda of width (approx. 6 m); the barley will lodge in more closely spaced furrows.

7b - farming in Enlil's Edin (knowledge learned from the alien gods)

When you have to work the field with the seeder-plow, keep your eye on the man who drops the seed.

The grain should fall two fingers deep (approx. 3 1/2 cm).

You should put one gij of seed per ninda (approx. 3 ml/m).

If the barley seed is not being inserted into the hollow of the furrow, change the wedge of your plow share.

If the bindings become loose, tighten them.

 

55-63 Where you have made vertical furrows, make slanted furrows,

and where you have made slanted furrows, make vertical furrows.

Straight furrows will give you edges that are wide enough and nice (?).

Your crooked furrows should be straightened out.

Make the furrows clear.

Plow your portion of field.

The clods should be picked out.

The furrows should be made wide where the soil is open,

and the furrows should be narrower where the soil is clogged: it is good for the seedlings.

 

64-73 After the seedlings break open the ground, perform the rites against mice.

Turn away the beaks of small birds.

When the plants overflow the narrow bottoms of the furrows, water them with the water of the first seed.

When the plants resemble a …… reed mat, water them.

Water the plants when they are heading.

When the plants are fully leafed out, do not water them or they will become infected by leaf rust.

When the barley is right for husking, water it.

It will provide a yield increase of one sila per ban (approx. 1 liter in 10).

 

74-80 When you have to reap the barley, do not let the plants become overripe.

Harvest at the right time.

One man is to cut the barley, and one to tie the sheaves;

and one before him should apportion the sheaves: three men should harvest for you.

Do not let those who gather the barley bruise the grain.

They should not scatter the grain when it is in the stacks.

 

81-90 Your daily work starts at daybreak.

Gather your force of helpers and grain gatherers in sufficient number and lay down the sheaves.

Your work should be carefully done.

Although they have been having stale coarse flour,

do not let anyone thresh for your new bread — let the sheaves have a rest.

The rites for the sheaves should be performed daily.

When you transport your barley, your barley carriers should handle small amounts (?).

 

91-95 Mark the limits of a vacant lot of yours.

Establish properly your access paths to it.

Your wagons should be in working order.

Feed the wagon’s oxen. Your implements should be …….

 

96-103 Let your prepared threshing floor rest for a few days.

When you open the threshing floor, smooth its surface (?).

When you thresh, the teeth of your threshing sledge and its leather straps should be secured with bitumen.

When you make the oxen trample the grain, your threshers should be strong.

When your grain is spread on the ground, perform the rites of the grain not yet clean.

 

104-106 When you winnow, put an intelligent person as your second winnower.

Two people should work at moving the grain around.

 

107-109 When the grain is clean, lay it under the measuring stick.

Perform the rites in the evening and at night.

Release the grain at midday.

http://earthstation1.simplenet.com

        (giant mixed-breed shepherd, Ninurta, & plow given earthlings by Enlil)

 

110-111 Instructions of the god Ninurta, son of Enlil

7a - when the gods did the work before man

   (alien giant Anunnaki did the burdensome work with much complaint, prior to fashioned earthling workers)

Ninurta, faithful farmer of Enlil, your praise be good!”

Sky-Ships / Sky-Chariots / Boats of Heaven / Winged Discs, Etc., Text Quotes

(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 bluemixed-breed demigods in teal…)

(Enki‘s creation = Enkidu, Enlil‘s creation = Hawawa)

 

          “Its-tu-ri Same mut-tab ri,” “the winged birds of heaven. …”

 

The gods now rushing from the gleaming sky,

With blazing weapons carry victory; …”

 

Anu:

         “For nine counted periods, Alula was king in Heaven.

         In the ninth period, Anu gave battle against Alula.

         Alula was defeated, he fled before Anu

         He descended to the dark-hued Earth.

         Down to the dark-hued Earth he went;

         On the throne sat Anu …”

 

         “The gods had clasped hands together,

         Had cast lots and had divided.

         Anu then went up to Heaven;

         To Enlil the Earth was made subject.

         The seas, enclosed as with a loop,

         They had given to Enki, the Prince of the Earth …”

 

         “he seated Anu (the Skyfather) …”

 

         “Father An (Anu), the Sky Lord ,…”

 

         “May the Igigi who are in heaven

          and the Anunnaki who are on Earth, bless you! …”

 

          “After he had brought the …… forth from the sky,

          he overcame the protective deities.

          He …… and kept it below the horizon. …”

 

          “Kakka went down the long stairway of heaven …”

 

          “Adapa, you are to go before king An.

          You will go up to Heaven,

          And when you go up to Heaven,

          When you approach the gate of An, …”

 

          “When he came up to heaven,

          When he approached the Gate of An, …”

          “’Fetch him the bread of eternal life and let him eat!’

          They fetched him the bread of eternal life, but he would not eat.

          They fetched him the water of eternal life, but he would not drink.

          They fetched him a garment, and he put it on himself.

          They fetched him oil, and he anointed himself.

          An watched him and laughed at him.

            ‘Come Adapa, why didn’t you eat?

          Why didn’t you drink?’

          ‘Didn’t you want to be immortal?

          Alas for downtrodden people!’

            ‘But Enki my lord told me:

          ‘You mustn’t eat! You mustn’t drink!’

Take him and send him back to his earth.’ …”

 

Men used to eat grass with their mouths like sheep.

In those times, they did not know grain, barley or flax.

An (Anu) brought these down from the interior of heaven …”

 

          “Šul-a-zida, An‘s (Anu) herdsman (?),

          grasped the cosmic tethering rope in his hands.

          After he had brought the …… forth from the sky,

          he overcame the protective deities.

          He …… and kept it below the horizon …”

 

Enlil:

         “he spanned the sky as the rainbow.

          Like a floating cloud, he moved alone.

          He alone is the prince of heaven, the dragon of the earth …”

 

          “Ninlil, you ride across heaven and earth …”

 

         “’Let us cause them to descend from the Dulkug.’

  At the pure word of Enki and Enlil,

            Lahar and Ashnan descended from the Dulkug …”

 

         “At that time Enki spoke to Enlil: ‘Father Enlil,

now Sheep and Grain have been created on the Holy Mound,

let us send them down from the Holy Mound.’

Enki and Enlil, having spoken their holy word,

         sent Sheep and Grain down from the Holy Mound …”

 

         “Your glittering golden sun-disc,

         fastened with leather straps, is the brilliant moonlight,

         shining brightly upon all the lands …”

 

Ninurta:

         “set my heavenly chariot upon a pedestal …”

 

         “he beamed at his lion-headed weapon,

as it flew up like a bird, trampling the Mountains for him.

It raised itself on its wings to take away prisoner the disobedient,

          it spun around the horizon of heaven to find out what was happening…

          whose wings bear the deluge, the Car-ur (terrible weapons).

What did it gather there …… for Lord Ninurta?

It reported the deliberations of the Mountains,

it explained their intentions to Lord Ninurta, it outlined (?)

          what people were saying about the Asag …”

 

         “He made a pile of stones in the Mountains.

         Like a floating cloud he stretched out his arms over it …”

 

         “who brings daylight to the mountains,

……, battering ……,

         ……, who flashes like lightning …”

 

Adad:

         “And Rimmon rides triumphant on the air, …”

 

         “Like Rimmon (Adad) now he flies upon the air, …

         That flash with fire along the roaring skies,

         Around the Sar and seer he furious flies …”

 

         “Dark tempests fly above from Rimmon‘s (Adad) breath,

         Who hovers o’er them with the gods of death; …”

 

Nannar:

         “Father Nannar, Lord of Ur

         Whose glory in the sacred Boat of Heaven is…

         Lord, firstborn of Enlil.

         When in the Boat of Heaven thou ascendeth,

         Thou art glorious.

         Enlil hath adorned thy hand

         With a scepter everlasting

         When over Ur in the Sacred Boat thou mountest …”

 

         “The princely son of the E-kur …….

The king, the holy barge which traverses the sky,

         Nanna, the lord ……, Suen (Nannar / Sin) ……. …”

 

Ningal, Nannar‘s spouse:

         “if I, birdlike, had stretched my wings,

         and, (like a bird), flown to my city …”

 

         “Its queen like a bird in fright departed from her city.

Ningal like a bird in fright departed from her city.

All the treasures accumulated in the Land were defiled.

          In all the storehouses abounding in the Land fires were kindled…

          Its queen cried, “Alas, my city (Ur)“, cried, “Alas, my house”.

Ningal cried, “Alas, my city,” cried, “Alas, my house.

As for me, the woman, both my city has been destroyed

and my house has been destroyed.

         O Nanna, the shrine Urim has been destroyed

         and its people have been killed …”

 

Papsukul, Nannar‘s son:

        “When Papsukul beheld in man’s abodes

The change that spread o’er blasted, lifeless clods,

And heard earth’s wailing through the waning light,

With vegetation passing out of sight,

From the doomed world to Heaven he quickly flies,

         While from the earth are rising fearful cries …”

 

          To Sin, the moon-god, Pap-su-kul now cries

 O’er Ishtar‘s fate, who in black Hades lies;

 O’er Earth’s dire end, which with Queen Ishtar dies;

          To Hea he appeals with mournful cries:…

          Release our queen! To Hades quickly fly! …”

 

Inanna:

        “For Ishtar, Anu from the clouds creates

A shining monster with thick brazen plates

And horns of adamant; and now it flies

         Toward the palace, roaring from the skies …”

 

        “And Ishtar in her car above doth shine.

The blazing standards high with shouts are raised,

As Samas‘ car above grand Sumir blazed.

The march they sound at Izdubar’s command,

And thus they start for King Khumbaba‘s land;

The gods in bright array above them shine,

By Ishtar (Inanna) led, with Samas (Utu), moon-god Sin (Nannar),

On either sidle with Merodac (Marduk) and Bel (Enlil),

And Ninip (Ninurta), Nergal, Nusku (Enlil’s chancellor) with his spell,

The sixty gods on chargers of the skies,

         And Ishtar‘s chariot before them flies …”

 

         “Inanna…hovering like An …”

 

         “But holy Inanna had gathered up the divine powers (alien technologies)

          and embarked onto the Boat of Heaven (flying device).

         The Boat of Heaven had already left the quay…

          ‘Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?’

          ‘Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?’

          ‘It has just now reached the holy …….’

          ‘Go now! The fifty giants of Eridug

          are to take the Boat of Heaven away from her!’ …”

 

          “The Enkum are to take the Boat of Heaven away from her!…

          but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for me…

          The fifty giants of Eridug are to take the Boat of Heaven away from her! …”

          “Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!”

Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?”

“Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?”

“It has just now reached the UL.MA hill.”

“Go now! The fifty lahama of the subterranean waters

         are to take the Boat of Heaven away from her! …”

 

         “At the time when Enmerkar in Uruk ruled,

         Nungal, the lion-hearted, was the Pilot

         who from the skies brought Ishtar (Inanna) down

          to the E-Anna (Uruk‘s temple – residence)

 

         “Lest I make the people fly off from that city

like a wild dove from its tree,

         lest I make them fly around like a bird over its well-founded nest, …”

 

         “Against the inhabited world they barred the gates…

The Igigi gods surrounded the city with ramparts

Ishtar (Inanna) came down from heaven to seek a shepherd,

And sought for a king everywhere.

Innina (Inanna) came down from heaven to seek a shepherd,

          And sought for a king everywhere …”

 

         “The great queen of heaven (Inanna),

         who rides upon the awesome me (alien technologies),

         dwelling on the peaks of the bright mountains,

         adorning the dais of the bright mountains — …”

 

         “Their ruler (i.e. Enmerkar), riding on a storm, Utu‘s (mixed-breed) son,

         the good bright metal, stepped down from heaven to the great earth.

         His head shines with brilliance,

         the barbed arrows flash past him like lightning; …”

 

         “Her Samkhatu (alien technologies)

         Kharimtu (alien technologies) from the sky,

As gently, lightly as a spirit’s wing

         Oft carries gods to earth while Sedu sing. …”

 

         “The march they sound at Izdubar‘s command,

And thus they start for King Khumbaba‘s land;

The gods in bright array above them shine,

By Ishtar led, with Samas, moon-god Sin,

On either sidle with Merodac and Bel,

And Ninip, Nergal, Nusku with his spell,

The sixty gods on chargers of the skies,

         And Ishtar‘s chariot before them flies. …”

 

         “The gods now rushing from the gleaming sky,

         With blazing weapons carry victory; …”

 

         “And flying with her maids, sped to the skies. …”

 

         “But oh, friend Izdubar, my King, when I

         From this dear earth to waiting Hades fly, …”


         “With these words from
Gilgamesh in her ears

Eanna (Inanna) did roar and shout, and

Straight to heaven did she fly.

Straight to her father (great-grandfather) Anu,

and her mother Anunna (Antu) too.

‘The king of Uruk has insulted me.

         He mocks my loves, and told of them to everyone.’ …”

 

         “From heaven down did Eanna (Inanna) come with roar and shout.

On high tower of Uruk did she stand and curse all below.

Woe be to all because of Gilgamesh.

For insult to Eanna by his telling all her myriad ways.

         For insult to Eanna by killing her punisher the Bull of Heaven …”


           “
Eanna swooped downand the haunch she took

         To her temple and Did wail and lament over this haunch. …”

 

        “When Anu heard her words,

         he placed the nose rope of the Bull of Heaven in her hand.

         Ishtar led the Bull of Heaven down to the earth.

         When it reached Uruk It climbed down to the Euphrates …”

 

         “The queen in fury from his presence turned,

In speechless rage the palace halls she spurned;

And proudly from the earth swept to the skies;

          Her godly train in terror quickly flies …”

 

         “Inanna gathered then all the Holy Measures

The Sacred Measures were placed on the Boat of Heaven (Sky Chariot)

         The Boat of Heaven (flew) set off to Uruk …”

 

         “My warrior who fights by my side,

         Save the Boat of Heaven (Sky Chariot) with the sacred measures! …”

         “fly like a swallow from the window …”

         “Prince Tammuz now again to life restored,

Is crowned in Hades as its King and Lord,

And Ishtar‘s sorrow thus appeased, she flies

         To earth, and fills with light and love the skies …”

 

Utu:

        “who put clouds in the sky, the storm which roars in the sky,

as the sunlight giving …… to the earth,

         Ningublaga (Utu), the son of Nanna (Nannar), …”

 

         “Great Samas once the way of me did ask,

And I forbade him, but the mighty task

He undertook, and crossed the mighty deep,

Where Death’s dark waters lie in wait asleep:

His mighty car of gold swept through the skies,

         With fiery chargers now he daily flies …”

 

         “The eagle (pilot) said to him, to Etana:

‘My friend, the [ ] are obvious,

          Come, let me take you up to heaven,’…

          When he bore him aloft one league,

The eagle said to him, to Etana:

‘Look, my friend, how the land is now

Examine the sea, look for its boundaries

The land is hills…

The sea has become a stream’.

When he had borne him aloft a second league,

The eagle said to him, said to Etana,

‘Look, my friend, how the land is now!

The land is a hill’.

When he had borne him aloft a third league,

The eagle said to him, said to Etana,

‘Look, my friend, how the land is now!’

‘The sea has become a gardener´s ditch’.

          After they had ascended to the heaven of Anu,

They passed through the gates of Anu, Enlil and Ea,

The eagle and Etana did obeisance together,

At the gate of Sin (Nannar)

          The eagle and Etana did obeisance together …”

 

         (Another version of this episode):

         “When he had borne him aloft one league,

‘Look, my friend, how the land is now!’

‘The land´s circumference is become one fifth of its size.

‘The vast sea is become like a paddock’.

When he had borne him aloft a second league,

‘Look, my friend, how the land is now!’

‘The land has become a garden plot [ ],

‘And the vast sea has become a trough’.

When he had borne him aloft a third league,

‘Look, my friend, how the land is now!’

‘I looked but could not see the land!

‘Nor were my eyes enough to find the vast sea!

‘My friend, I won´t go up to heaven

         ‘Set me down, let me go off to my city’ …”

 

Enki:

The Anunnaki pay due homage:

Lord who rides the great me’s the pure me’s (alien technologies of flight),

Who has charge of the universe, the widespread,

Who received the lofty ‘sun-disk’ (alien flying saucer in Eridu (Enki‘s city)…”

 

        “Father Enki stayed outside his city as if it were an alien city.

He wept bitter tears.

          For the sake of his harmed city, he wept bitter tears.

          Its lady, like a flying bird, left her city.

          The mother of E-mah, holy Damgalnuna

          (Damkina, Enki‘s spouse), left her city …”

 

         “Ninki (Damkina, Enki‘s spouse), its great lady,

         flying like a bird, left her city …”

 

         “When I approached heaven a rain of prosperity poured down from heaven,

         When I approached the earth, there was a high flood, …”

 

“Your me’s are lofty me’s, unreachable.

Your heart is profound, unfathomable.

The enduring . . , your place where gods give birth, is untouchable like heaven…”

 

Nergal:

         “Mighty Erra (Nergal), who goes before his army,

         Will shatter his front line and go at this enemy´s side …”

 

Horus:

         “He entered into the presence of Thoth (Ningishzidda),

         the twice great, god of magic,

and Thoth gave him the power to change himself into a great winged disk,

a disk that glowed like a ball of fire, with great wings on either side

like the colors of the sky at sunset when the blue shades from dark to light,

          and is shot with gold and flame.

          Men try to copy these hues

when they carve the winged disk above the temple-doors,

or make it into a breast-ornament of gold inlaid

          with turquoise and carnelian and lazuli.

          Thus Horus, as a great winged disk (alien technologies),

          sat on the prow of the Boat of Ra (alien technologies), …”

 

         “while over them flew the gleaming Disk (alien technologies) watching for Set. …”

 

        “Then Horus flew back to Ra …”

 

         “Horus came behind them in the Boat of Ra,

         and his form was the form of a great winged disk (alien technologies);…”

 

         “The Boat of Ra went against them,

and above the Boat shone the glory of the great winged Disk (alien technologies).

         When Horus saw the enemy gathered together in one place, …”

 

         “Then Horus of Edfu changed himself into a great winged Disk

          with gleaming pinions outspread, …”

 

         “and he gave commandment that in every temple throughout the Two Lands

          men should carve the Winged Disk, …”

 

Igigi:

        “They come! they come! three hundred spirits high,

The heavenly spirits come! the I-gi-gi!

From Heaven’s streams and mouths and plains and vales,

And gods by thousands on the wings of gales.

The spirits of the earth, An-un-na-ci,

         Now join around their sisters of the sky …”

 

The Bible – Genesis:

         “The Nephilim were on earth in those days – and also afterward –

          when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them.

          They were the heroes of old, men of renown (giant mixed-breeds made into the 1st kings)…”

 

          NEPHILIM: THOSE WHO FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH CAME …”

          “THE WATCHERS

          “WHEN THE GIANTS WERE UPON THE EARTH …”

 

Adapa of Eridu:

        Adapa, before the face of Anu the King thou art to go… to heaven

When thou comest up, and when thou approachest the door of Anu,

         At the door of Anu, Tammuz and Gishzida are standing, …”

 

         “The road to Heaven he made him take, and to Heaven he ascended.

When he came to Heaven, when he approached the door of Anu,

At the door of Anu, Tammuz and Gisbzida are standing.

         When they saw him, ‘Adapa‘, they cried: …”

 

Enmerkar of Uruk:

          “Their ruler (i.e. Enmerkar), riding on a storm, Utu‘s son,

          the good bright metal, stepped down from heaven to the great earth.

          His head shines with brilliance,

          the barbed arrows flash past him like lightning; …”

 

Lugalbanda of Uruk:

         “Like the Seven Stormers of Ishkur in a flame

         let me lift myself off, and thunder away! …”

 

Noah of Shuruppak:

          “The gods were frightened by the Flood,

         and retreated, ascending to the heaven of Anu …”

 

Assur-nasir-pal of Assyria:

        “The summit of the mountain was like the point of an iron blade,

         and the flying bird of heaven had not swooped upon it …”

 

Assurnasirpal II of Assyria:

        “Ninip who uplifts my feet. …”

 

The Qur’an / Koran

2:28 “…then, ascending to the sky, He fashioned it into seven heavens …”

2:49 “We caused the clouds to draw their shadow over you and sent down for you manna and quails, ‘saying: ‘Eat of the good things We have given you. …”

 

          6:6 “If We sent down to you a Book inscribed on real parchment and …”

 

6:7 “They ask: ‘Why has no angel been sent down to him?’ If We had sent down an angel, their fate would have been sealed and they would have never been reprieved. If We had made him an angel, We would have given him the semblance of a man, and would have thus added to their confusion …”

 

6:34 …”But they patiently bore with disbelief and persecution until Our help came down to them …”

 

6:75 “Thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, so that he might become a firm believer …”

 

6:86 “We raise whom We will to exalted rank…

We gave him Isaac and Jacob and guided both as We had guided Noah before them. Among his descendants were David and Solomon, Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron; Zacharias and John, Jesus and Elias; and Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah and Lot. All these We exalted above the nations as We exalted some of their fathers, their children, and their brothers. We chose them and guided them to a straight path …”

 

6:111 “If We sent the angels down to them, and caused the dead to speak with them, and ranged all things in front of them, they would still not believe …”