in some texts Nergal is Enlil‘s & Ninlil’s son: in some texts Nergal is Enki’s & Inanna‘s son:
(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…)
Nergal as son to Enlil & Ninlil:
“Lord who, like his own father Nunamnir (Enlil)… , has the power to create life,
Nergal, enduring house (?), great shrine — you are the junior Enlil!
It is in your power to determine destinies, to render judgments and to make decisions,…”
“Lord, you have avenged Enlil! He has calmed the heart of his father!
Nergal the strong, son who subdues the foreign lands for Nunamnir:
may you assist in battle, furious fight and combat the shepherd whom An (Anu) has chosen among the numerous people,
the good and exalted youth of the Great Mountain (= Enlil) ––
Cu-ilicu (Shu-ilishu), who publicly performs the purification rites, born of Ninlil!
Nergal, catch his malefactors for him like small birds!”
“Nergal, single-handed crusher, who tortures the disobedient, fearsome terror of the Land,
respected lord and hero, established offspring of Nunamnir……!
Nergal, who sprinkles cool water on the angry heart of Enlil, great lord ……!”
“Nergal, your supremacy in the rebel lands!
Your father loves you greatly.
He has made your heroism known among the people.
Your father Enlil loves you greatly’ …”
“Nergal, hero, after your father begot you,
your father Enlil bestowed on you the mountain of the earth and all of the people.
He definitively handed the deciding of destinies to you.
Hero, Nergal, you are their king!…”
“Nergal [ ]
She went to the bath
And dressed in a fine robe, and allowed him to catch a glimpse of her body.
He gave in to his heart’s desire to do what men and women do.
The two embraced each other
And went passionately to bed.
They lay there, queen Ereshkigal and Erra, for a first day and a second day.
They lay there, queen Ereshkigal and Erra, for a third day and a fourth day.
They lay there, queen Ereshkigal and Erra, for a fifth day and a sixth day.
When the seventh day arrived,
Nergal, without [ ]
Took away after him [ ]
‘let me go, and my sister [ ]
Do not make tremble [ ]
Let me go now, and I will return to Kurnugi later.’
Her mouth turned dark with rage [ ]
Nergal went and made his voice heard and spake.
He addressed his speech to the gatekeeper,
‘Ereshkigal your lady sent me,
Saying, ‘I am sending you to the heaven of Anu our father’
So let me be allowed out! The message [ ].’
Nergal as son to Enki & Inanna:
“Then Ea made his voice heard and spake, he addressed his words to Nergal.
‘My son, you shall go on the journey you want to make, … grasp a sword in your hand…”
“Nergal came up along the long stairway of heaven.
When he arrived at the gate of Anu, Ellil (Enlil), and Ea (Enki),
Anu, Ellil, and Ea saw him and said,
‘The son of Ishtar (Inanna) has come back to us,
She (Ereshkigal) will search for him and [ ]. …
Ea his father must sprinkle him with spring water, and bareheaded,…”
Also:
“Ereshkigal cried aloud, grievously,
Fell from the throne to the ground,
Then straightened up from the ground.
Her tears flowed down her cheeks.
‘Erra, the lover of my delight-
I did not have enough delight with him before he left!
Erra, the love of my delight-
I did not have enough delight with him before he left.’ …”
“Ea from his abyss deep heard Gilgamesh and took pity then said:
‘Nergel, hear me now, open a most wide hole in your roof
From whence can Enkidu waft like smoke up from your hot fires below.’
Nergel heard Ea‘s great voice and did cut a hole in his roof
To let Enkidu‘s spirit waft up from his hot fires below.
Enkidu‘s spirit did waft up …”
“Nergal, lord of weaponry …”
“Tiglath-pileser the valiant hero,
the holder of the scepter unrivaled who completes the mission of the supreme (gods).
Uras (Marduk) and Nergal have given their forceful weapons
and their supreme bow to the hands of my lordship …”
In reliance on Assur the great lord, my lord, and Nergal who marches before me,
with the forceful weapons which Assur the lord gave unto me, my arms (and) armies I assembled; …”
“In the powers supreme of Nergal who marches before me
I fought with them.I made a destruction of them.
I shattered their forces; 1460 of their fighting-men in the lowlands I slew …”
“By the command of Assur the great lord, my lord, (and) Nergal who goes before me, …”
Erra Quotes From Texts
Erra = Nergal God of war
Nergal As Erra:
Erra Speaking in the 1st Person:
“’Like the sun, I scan the circumference of the world,
‘I am the wild ram striding forth in the steppe,
‘I invade the range and take up my dwelling in the fold,
‘All the gods are afraid of a fight, so the black-headed folk are contemptuous!
‘As for me, since they did not fear my name, and I have disregarded Marduk´s command,
so he may act according to his wishes I will make Marduk angry,
stir him from his dwelling, and lay waste the people!’
The warrior Erra set out for Babylon, city of the king of the gods.
He entered Esagila, (Marduk’s temple / residence) palace of heaven and earth and stood before him.
He made ready to speak, saying to the king of the gods:
Why has your precious image, symbol of your lordship, lost its brilliance?
‘Your lordly diadem,
which made the inner sanctum shine like the outside tower, why is it dimmed?
The king of the gods made ready to speak, saying to Erra, these words,
‘O warrior Erra, concerning that deed you said you would do,
‘Once, long ago indeed I grew angry,
indeed I left my dwelling and caused the deluge!
‘When I left my dwelling, the regulation of heaven and earth disintegrated:
‘The shaking of heaven meant:
the positions of the heavenly bodies changed, nor did I restore them,
‘The quaking of netherworld meant: the yield of the furrow diminished,
being thereafter difficult to exploit.
‘The regulations of heaven and earth disintegrating meant:
underground water diminished, high water receded.
When I looked again, it was struggle to get enough.
‘Productivity of living offspring declined, nor did I renew it,
‘Such that were I a plowman, I could hold all seed in my hand.
‘I built another house and settled therein
‘As to my precious image, which had been struck by the deluge
that its appearance was sullied,
‘I commanded fire to make my features shine and cleanse my apparel.
‘When it had shined my precious image and completed the task,
‘I donned my lordly diadem and returned.
‘Haughty were my features, terrifying my glare!
‘The survivors of the deluge saw what was done,
‘Shall I raise my weapon and destroy the rest?
‘I sent those craftsmen down to the depths, I ordered them not to come up,
‘I removed the wood and gemstone and showed no one where,
‘Now then, warrior Erra, as concerns that deed you said you would do,
‘Where is the wood, flesh of the gods, suitable for the lord of the universe,
‘The sacred tree, splendid stripling, perfect for lordship,
‘Whose roots thrust down an hundred leagues
through the waters of the vast ocean to the depths of hell,
‘Whose crown brushed Anu´s heaven on high?
‘Where is the clear gemstone that I reserved for [ ]?
‘Where is Ninildum (unidentified), great carpenter of my supreme divinity,
‘Wielder of the glittering hatchet, who knows that tool,
‘Who makes it shine like the day and puts it in subjection at my feet?
‘Where is Kunig-banda (unidentified), fashioner of god and man, whose hands are sacred?
‘Where is Ninagal (Gibil), wielder of the upper and lower millstone
‘Who grinds up hard copper like hide and who forges tools?
‘Where are the choice stones, created by the vast sea, to ornament my diadem?
‘Where are the seven sages of the depths, those sacred fish,
who, like Ea (Enki) their lord, are perfect in sublime wisdom,
the ones who cleansed my person?
The warrior Erra heard him….. [ ]
He made ready to speak, saying to noble Marduk,
‘[ craftsmen ],
‘[ tree ],
‘Clear gemstone [from] its place will I bring up.’
When Marduk heard this, he made ready to speak, saying to the warrior Erra:
‘(When) I rise from my dwelling,
the regulation of heaven and earth will disintegrate,
‘The waters will rise and sweep over the land,
‘Bright day will turn to darkness,
whirlwind will rise and the stars of heaven will be…
‘Ill winds will blow and the eyesight of living creatures will be darkened,
‘Demons will raise up and seize [ ],
‘They will …. the unarmed one who confronts them!
‘The gods of hell will rise up and smite down living creatures,
‘Who will keep them at bay till I gird on my weaponry once more?
When Erra heard this, he made himself ready to speak, saying to noble Marduk:
‘O noble Marduk (older brother to Erra / Nergal), while you enter the house,
fire cleanses your apparel and you return to your palace,
‘For that time I will govern and keep strong the regulation of heaven and earth,
‘I will go up to heaven and issue instructions
to the Igigi (Anunnaki in orbit, for the transport of goods) gods,
‘I will go down to the depths and keep the Anunna gods in order.
‘I will dispatch the wild demons to the netherworld,
‘I will brandish my fierce weaponry against them,
‘I will truss the wings of the ill wind like a bird’s.
‘At that house you shall enter, O noble Marduk,
‘I will station Anu and Enlil to the right and left, like bulls.’
Noble Marduk heard him, the words which Erra spoke pleased him. …”
“Mighty Erra, who goes before his army,
Will shatter his front line and go at this enemy´s side …”
“’He (Anu) summoned the first to give his instructions,
‘Wherever you go and spread terror, have no equal.’
He said to the second, ‘Burn like fire, scorch like flame’.
He commanded the third, ‘Look like a lion, let him who sees you be paralyzed with fear’.
He said to the fourth, ‘Let a mountain collapse when you present your fierce arms’.
He said to the fifth, ‘Blast like the wind, scan the circumference of the earth’.
He said to the sixth. ‘Go out everywhere (like the deluge) and spare no one’.
The seventh he charged with viperous venom,‘Slay whatever lives’.
After Anu had ordained destinies for all of the Seven (nuclear missiles),
He gave those very ones to Erra, warrior of the gods, saying:
‘Let them go beside you, when the clamor of human habitations becomes noisome to you,
‘And you resolve to wreak destruction,
‘To massacre the black-headed folk and fell the livestock,
‘Let these be your fierce weaponry, let them go beside you’. …”
“’Let me … him at the outer gate.
Let me bring back to my lord a description of him.’
Namtar went and looked at Erra (Nergal) in the shadow of the door.
Namtar‘s face went as livid as cut tamarisk.
His lips grew dark as the rim of a kuninu vessle …”
“Namtar went and let in ‘the Gods’, Erra (Nergal).
He let Nergal in through the first, the gate of Nedu.
He let Nergal in through the second, the gate of Enkishar.
He let Nergal in through the third, the gate of Endashurimma.
He let Nergal in through the fourth, the gate of Enuralla.
He let Nergal in through the fifth, the gate of Endukuga.
He let Nergal in through the sixth, the gate of Endushuba.
He let Nergal in through the seventh, the gate of Ennugigi.
He came into the broad courtyard,
And he knelt down, kissed the ground in front of her.
He straightened up, stood and addressed her, …”
“He (Nergal) struck down Nedu, the doorman of the first gate, and did not let him grapple with him.
He entered her wide courtyard,
And went up to her and laughed.
He seized her by her hairdo,
And pulled her from the throne.
He seized her by her tresses[ ]
The two embraced each other
And went passionately to bed.
They lay there, queen Ereshkigal and Erra, for a first day and a second day.
They lay there, queen Ereshkigal and Erra, for a third day.
They lay there, queen Ereshkigal and Erra, for a fourth day.
They lay there, queen Ereshkigal and Erra, for a fifth day.
They lay there, queen Ereshkigal and Erra, for a sixth day.
When the seventh day arrived, Anu made his voice heard and spoke,
Addressed his words to Kakka, his vizier, ‘Kakka, I shall send you to Kurnugi,
To the home of Ereshkigal who dwells within Erkalla,‘
To say, ‘That god, whom I sent you,
Forever [ ]’ …”
“Namtar made his voice heard and spake,
Addressed his words to Ereshkigal his lady,
‘The messenger of Anu our father who came to see us-
Before daylight he disappeared! ‘…”
“Ereshkigal cried aloud, grievously,
Fell from the throne to the ground,
Then straightened up from the ground.
Her tears flowed down her cheeks.
‘Erra, the lover of my delight-
I did not have enough delight with him before he left!
Erra, the love of my delight-
I did not have enough delight with him before he left. …”
“Ereshkigal made her voice heard and spake,
Addressed her words to Namtar her vizier,
‘Go, Namtar, you must speak to Anu, Ellil, and Ea!
Set your face towards the gate of Anu, Ellil, and Ea,
To say, ‘Ever since I was a child and a daughter,
I have not known the playing of other girls,
I have not known the romping of children.
That god whom you sent to me and who has impregnated me-
let him sleep with me again!
Send that god to us, and let him spend the night with me as my lover!
I am unclean, and I am not pure enough to perform the judging of the great gods,
The great gods who dwell within Erkalla.
If you do not send that god (Nergal) to me
According to the rites of Erkalla and the great Earth
I shall raise up the dead, and they will eat the living.
I shall make the dead outnumber the living!’ …”
“Namtar made his voice heard and spake, addressed his words to Erra,
‘Erra, [ ]
All the rites of the great Underworld [ ]
When you go from [ ]
You shall carry the chair [ ]
You shall carry [ ]
You shall carry [ ]
You shall carry [ ]
You shall carry [ ]
You shall carry [ ]
[ ]
Do not grapple with him lest he bind your chest.’
Erra took to heart the speech of Namtar.
He [ ] oiled his strap and slung his bow.
Nergal went down the long stairway of heaven ….”
Irkalla Quotes From Texts
Irkalla = Nergal in reference, the name for the Under World
“‘Anu your father (grandfather) sent me to see you,
Saying, ‘Sit down on that throne,
Judge the cases of the great gods,
The great gods who live within Erkalla (Under World)!’ …”
“’he led me to the House of Darkness
There where Irkalla (Nergal) lives, He, the God of the Dead.
No one who enters that house comes forth again.
It is the one-way road from which there is no return;
Those residing there are bereft of the light for ever,
Where dust is their food and mud their sustenance’ …”
Gukgalanna Quotes From Text
Gugalanna = Nergal, Erishkigal‘s spouse
deity of the Under World
“Inanna:
‘I am Inanna, Queen of Heaven, on my way to the East’.
I came … because of my older sister Ereshkigal,
Her husband, Gugalanna, the Bull of Heaven has died.
I have come to witness the funeral rites …”
“Holy Inanna answered him:
‘Because lord Gud-gal-ana (Nergal),
the husband of my elder sister holy Erec-ki-gala (Ereshkigal), has died;
in order to have his funeral rites observed,
she offers generous libations at his wake — that is the reason.’ …”
Meslamta-ea / Meclamta-eda Quotes From Texts
Meslamta-ea / Meclamta-eda / Nergal = Enlil‘s & Ninlil’s Son
god who joined Ninurta in battling Marduk
“Ninlil touched with a tender wave of her hand the gatekeeper’s face:
‘This seed of yours that grows within me now,
I’ll call him Nergal-Meslamtaea,’ …”
“’you are Mešlamta-ea, …….
Nergal, lord, you are the Enlil of his Land.
Like Alla (Utu) (?), you have no rival.
Like Ištaran (Ninurta),’ …”
“‘Meclamta-eda, your supremacy in the rebel lands!
You have encircled the rebel lands, O youth.
Nergal, your supremacy in the rebel lands!
Your father loves you greatly.
He has made your heroism known among the people.
Your father Enlil loves you greatly’ …”
“The warrior qualities of Meclamta-ea and Lord Lugal-era ……
in the foreign lands;…
Their power is a storm which could eradicate the Land.
Meclamta-ea and Lord Lugal-era, it is sweet to praise you!
Its kicu.
A cir-namgala of Meclamta-ea and Lugal-era (Ninurta)”