Ea / Enki = Anu‘s eldest son, born by Urash / Nammu
(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...)
(Enki’s creation = Heabani)
Enki Speaking in the First Person:
“Enki, the king of the Abzu, justly praises himself in his majesty:
‘My father, the king of heaven and earth, made me famous in heaven and earth.
My elder brother, the king of all the lands, gathered up all the divine powers and placed them in my hand.
I brought the arts and crafts from the E-kur, the house of Enlil, to my Abzu (marshlands of Persian Gulf) in Eridug.
I am the good semen, begotten by a wild bull, I am the first born of An.
I am a great storm rising over the great earth, I am the great lord of the Land.
I am the principal among all rulers, the father of all the foreign lands.
I am the big brother of the gods, I bring prosperity to perfection.
I am the seal-keeper of heaven and earth.
I am the wisdom and understanding of all the foreign lands.
With An the king, on An‘s dais, I oversee justice.
With Enlil, looking out over the lands, I decree good destinies.
He has placed in my hands the decreeing of fates in the ‘Place where the sun rises’.
I am cherished by Nintud (Ninhursag).
I am named with a good name by Ninhursaja (Ninhursag).
I am the leader of the Anuna (Anunnaki) gods.
I was born as the firstborn son of holy An‘...” (the birth-rite of succession)
Enki, the king of the Abzu (marshlands of the Persian Gulf), again justly praises himself in his majesty:
“I am the lord, I am one whose word is reliable, I am one who excels in everything.
At my command, sheepfolds have been built, cow-pens have been fenced off.
When I approach heaven, a rain of abundance rains from heaven.
When I approach earth, there is a high carp-flood.
When I approach the green meadows, at my word stockpiles and stacks are accumulated.
I have built my house, a shrine, in a pure place, and named it with a good name.
I have built my Abzu, a shrine, in ……, and decreed a good fate for it.
The shade of my house extends over the …… pool.
By my house the suhur carp dart among the honey plants, and the ectub carp wave their tails among the small gizi reeds.
The small birds chirp in their nests.
The lords …… to me. I am Enki!
They stand before me, praising me.
The abgal priests and abrig officials who …… stand before me …… distant days.
The enkum and ninkum officiants organise …….
They purify the river for me, they …… the interior of the shrine for me.
In my Abzu, sacred songs and incantations resound for me.
My barge ‘Crown’, the ‘Stag of the Abzu’, transports me there most delightfully’…”
“I am the first born of An. …”
“I was born as the firstborn son of holy An. …”
“’I would never bind you to me against your True Will, beloved,’
said simply Ninhursag. ‘And because you understood this great mystery,
because you and I are indeed two of a kind, let all worlds know what I now declare:
from this very moment on let it be known that I, Ninhursag, the Earth Mother,
Wisest beyond all Beings in the Ways of Nature,
built a house for my beloved and myself on a Rock, steadfast and solid….’
‘Let me finish this for you… for us, dearest,’ interrupted Enki Ninhursag with a kiss,
‘I, Enki, the Lord of Sweet Waters, say that from this strong and solid rock that means Life,
Love and Fruition for me the Waters of Life will flow forever in all worlds we dare to fare‘. …”
“It was Enki, lord of Wisdom, Magic and of the Sweet Waters,
son of An the Sky and Nammu the Sea, (½) brother to Enlil, who answered thoughtfully after some time:
‘Sorrow and pain are the measures of the happiness and laughter that could be.
Healing can always occur, if one is ready to see truth and wholeness beyond the hardest trials.’ …”
“Enki replied: ‘Ninhursag, dearest Nintur, beloved, how can anyone quite compare to you?
I cannot resist your wild, sweet ways, so lie with me one more time
and fill my body, heart, soul and mind with endless delights!
For me you will forever be my fierce Damgalnunna, my Great Spouse, passionate and very much loved!’ …”
“Enki cried out: ‘By the life’s breath of heaven I adjure you.
Lie down for me in the marsh, lie down for me (Ninhursag) in the marsh, that would be joyous’ …”
“He (Enki) told then Ninhursag: ‘ For Dilmun, the land of my lady’s heart,
I will create long waterways, rivers and canals, whereby water will flow
to quench the thirst of all beings and bring abundance to all that lives.’…”
“And after Enki, the fashioner of designs by himself, had pondered the matter, he said to his mother Namma:
‘My mother, the creature you planned will really come into existence.
Impose on him the work of carrying baskets.
You should knead clay from the top of the abzu;
the birth-goddesses (?) will nip off the clay and you shall bring the form into existence.
Let Ninmah (Ninhursag) act as your assistant;
and let Ninimma, Cu-zi-ana, Ninmada, Ninbarag, Ninmug, …… and Ninguna stand by as you give birth.
My mother, after you have decreed his fate, let Ninmah impose on him the work of carrying baskets’ …”
“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.’ …”
“They kissed and hugged passionately, sealing their shared Fate forever, for as long as they wanted to be together.
‘For you I stayed here in Dilmun, the place of delights, where we are safe from hate or harm’, continued Enki.
‘Now I know that you made me ill to make me see
that the bond that I feel for you is stronger than friendship or love.
I know now that even if we cannot be together all the time, we will never be apart.
But tell me, dearest, did you really need to be so radical and cast on me the eye of death?’
Indeed, Enki had come back to his normal inquiring self.
Ninhursag could burst of joy, and her laughter’ …”
“(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’ …”
“The great lord Enki said to Ninmah:
‘I have decreed the fates of your creatures and given them their daily bread.
Come, now I will fashion somebody for you, and you must decree the fate of the newborn one!’
Enki devised a shape with head, …… and mouth in its middle, and said to Ninmah:
“Pour ejaculated semen into a woman’s womb, and the woman will give birth to the semen of her womb’ …”
“Enki answered Ninmah:
‘I decreed a fate for the first man with the weak hands, I gave him bread.
I decreed a fate for the man who turned back (?) the light, I gave him bread.
I decreed a fate for the man with broken, paralyzed feet, I gave him bread.
I decreed a fate for the man who could not hold back his urine, I gave him bread.
I decreed a fate for the woman who could not give birth, I gave her bread.
I decreed the fate for the one with neither penis nor vagina on its body,
I gave it bread.
My sister, …….”
(Enki speaking:) “When thou (Adapa / Adan) standest before Anu
Food of death they will set before thee,
Eat not. Water of death they will set before thee,
Drink not. Garments they will set before thee,
Put them on. Oil they will set before thee, anoint thyself.
The counsel that I have given thee, forget not.
The words which I have spoken, hold fast.”
“And Enki repeats what they say to Ziusudra (Noah),
Speaking through the wall of Ziusudra‘s reed hut:
‘Reed hut, reed hut! Wall of the hut, wall of the hut!
Listen o reed hut! Consider, o wall of the hut!
O man of Shuruppak, o you son of Ubara-Tutu,
Tear down your hut of reeds,
Build of them a reed boat
Abandon things
Seek life…
Enki opened his mouth to speak
Said to me, his servant:
‘Thus, O Mortal, shall you speak to them, saying
I have learned that the god Enlil is ill-disposed toward me
No longer can I reside here in the city.
Never again,
No, never.
Can I turn my face to this soil which is Enlil‘s.
I must go down therefore,
Down to dwell with my lord Enki,
Towards the marshes of the south,
And enter his sweet-watered Deep
Into his very Abyss’ …”
“I allowed Ziusudra (Noah), he who abounds in wisdom
To see a dream
It was thus that he perceived
The secret of the Great Gods …”
As Enki:
“These are the ones who seized power.
The gods cast lots and divided (the Cosmos):
[Enlil had] the earth as his subject;
[the lock,] the snare of the sea
[was given] to Enki the wise.
[and Enki went down [to the ap[su,. . .
(they caused] the Igigi (lesser gods) [to bear the work]. …”
“Enki, lord, firstborn son of An ……,
Nudimmud (Enki), great bull of the Abzu ……,
may you …… with your consort, holy Damgalnuna (Ninhursag) …”
“Where there was a marsh then in Unug (Uruk), it was full of water.
Where there was any dry land, Euphrates poplars grew there.
Where there were reed-thickets, old reeds and young reeds grew there.
Divine Enki who is king in Eridu tore up for me the old reeds, drained off the water completely. …”
“To befit heaven and earth grandly, they raised Enki, the lord,
the firstborn son of holy An, to the status of junior (subordinate to) Enlil.
So that he can reveal everything (?), …”
“Enki and Ninki (Damkina, his spouse), the great lords, the great princes, the lords who determine fates …”
“Enki, seated her upon his knees.
He truly cherished Nininsina (Bau)…
as soon as she took a fancy to a white linen garment,
he dressed the daughter of holy An (Anu) in it.
Lord Nudimmud (Enki) determined a fate for her.
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SEGMENT B
She lay down with him on …… and spent time joyously with him.
‘…… with your beloved spouse, lord Pabilsaj (Ninurta), …… your chosen ……!’
This is what the Great Mountain, Enlil, determined as her fate …”
“Young Ningal lived out in the marshlands close to the ancient settlement of Eridu,
the beloved daughter of Ningikuga, the Goddess of Reeds, and Enki, the God of Magic, Crafts and Wisdom.
Slim, black-haired Ningal of eyes darker than a moonless night was quiet only in appearance, …”
“Father Enki, the lord of great wisdom,
knows about the life-giving plant and the life-giving water.
He is the one who will restore me (Inanna) to life …”
“He (Enki) made broad understanding perfect in him (Adapa),
To disclose the design of the land.
To him he gave wisdom, but did not give eternal life.
At that time, in those years, he was a sage, son of Eridu.
Enki created him …”
“Enki, the lord of abundance and of steadfast decisions, the wise and knowing lord of the Land,
the expert of the gods, chosen for wisdom, the lord of Eridug (Eridu), shall change the speech in their mouths,
as many as he had placed there, and so the speech of mankind is truly one …”
“Present there were An the Great God
Valiant Enlil, his son, Counselor of the Gods,
Their assistant Ninurta, the God of War and Hunting,
Ennugi, their inspector of canals,
And also Ninigiku, which is to say Enki –
For he too was present with them…”
“Now when Enlil arrived and saw the boat,
He waxed wroth,
He was filled with fury against the heavenly Igigi gods and said:
‘What! – Has any mortal escaped?
No mortal was to survive the destruction (Noah‘s Flood)!’
Ninurta, God of War, opened his mouth to speak, said to valiant Enlil:
‘Who besides the god Enki could devise such a plan?
The god Enki alone understands every matter.’ …”
Enki As Ea:
“Bel (Marduk), cleverest of the clever, sage of the gods, was begotten.
And inside Apsu, Marduk was created;
Inside pure Apsu, Marduk was born.
Ea (Enki) his father created him, Damkina (Ninki, Enki’s spouse) his mother bore him. …”
“Anu called to his messenger Ilabrat:
‘Why has the South wind not blown upon the land for seven days?’
His messenger Ilabrat answered him:
‘My lord, Adapa (Adam), the son of Ea (Enki), the wing of the South wind has broken.’
When Anu heard these words He cried, ‘Help!’
He ascended his throne,
‘Let some one bring him,’
Likewise Ea, who knows the heaven.
He roused him… he caused him to wear.
With a mourning garment
He garbed him, and gave him counsel
Saying: ‘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 (Dumuzi) and Gishzida (Ningishzidda) are standing,
they will see thee, they will ask thee;
‘Sir,’ For whose sake dost thou so appear, Adapa‘?’ …”
“The road to Heaven he (Ea) 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: ‘Help,
Sir, for whom dost thou so appear? Adapa,’ …”
“Anu looked at him; he wondered at him.
‘Come, Adapa, why hast thou not eaten, not drunken?
Now thou shalt not live.’
… men …Ea (Enki), my lord
Said: ‘Eat not, drink not.’
Take him and bring him back to his earth …”
Hea Quotes From Texts
Hea = Ea / Enki, Anu‘s eldest son
“Where Hea’s arm outstretched doth form a bay, …”
“As Hea’s face, and heaving breast divine!
‘O Sabit, to your father Hea take our prayer!
And may Dao-ki-na (Damkina), your bright mother, hear!’ …”
“King of the deep, determiner of destinies …”
“Of Hea, where, in white, a band of priests Drawn in a crescent, …”
“To Hea, thus the intantation chant:
‘O chant our incantation to the waters pure, Euphrates’ waters flowing to the sea!
Where Hea’s holy face shines bright on every shore’ …”
“Heabani’s wisdom chant and sing
To Erech‘s king our mighty Sar.
When Hea did Heabani bring,
Who now to Erech comes afar ..,”
Nudimmud Quotes From Texts
Nudimmud = Enki, Anu‘s eldest son
god over the waters
“Nudimmud (Enki’s pet name) …… holy dais …….
Lord imbued with fearsomeness, borne by An and Urac (Anu‘s concubine), eldest brother of …….(Enlil) …”
“Supreme ……, first-born child of holy An, whose divine powers are untouchable …….
Junior Enlil of trustworthy utterances, …… divine plans.
Nudimmud (Enki), lord who determines the fates, who strengthens the Land …….
Enki, great bull of Eridug (Eridu), …….
…… greatly exalted among the Anuna (Anunnaki gods) …”
“the lord Nudimmud;
The pure house he built…
In Eridu he built the house …”
“Bride of Enki who determines fates favorably, great wild cow,
exceptional in appearance, pre-eminent forever!
Your husband, the great lord Nudimmud (Enki) …”
“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 …”
“My personal god Enki, lord Nudimmud ……! …”