Atrahasis Epic (Albert T. Clay, 1922)

About this edition. This historical transcription follows an online presentation of early flood-text translations. It has not yet been collated against the original printed edition. Gaps and original line references are preserved; distinct translations and related accounts are catalogued separately.

Editorial note: This source presents Columns I, II, VII, and VIII only. Columns III–VI are not included in this transcription; no missing text has been reconstructed.

Translator attribution

(Albert Clay translation)

COLUMN I

I will bring (?) their clamor (?) …………
The land had become great; the people had multiplied.
The land like a bull had become satiated.
(In) their assemblage God was absent.
……... heard their clamor.
He said to the great gods (?)
Those observing the clamor of men
In their assemblage he spoke of desolations.
Let the fig tree for the people be (cut off).
[10] (In) their (fields) let the plant become a weed (?)
………. the sheep let Adad destroy.
(The fountains of the deep) let not flow.
[That the flood rise not at the source.]
Let the wind blow.
[15] Let it drive mightily.
Let the clouds be held back, that
[Rain from the heav]ens pour not forth.
Let the field withhold its fertility.
(Let a change come over) the bosom of Nisaba.

COLUMN II

Let …………….
Let …………….
Let him destroy …………….
[70] On the morrow let him cause it to rain mightily
Let him give in the night …………….
Let him cause it to rain a tempest ………
Let it come upon the field like a thief.
Let …………….
Which Adad had created in the city ……
[75] They cried out and became furious ………
They sent up a clamor …………………..
They feared not …………………

COLUMN VII

[385] ………………………………..
Ea …………
Ea his mouth [opened and]
Spake to ……………….
Why hast thou commanded ………….
[390] I will stretch out my hand to the pe[ople] ……….
The flood, which thou hast ordered …………
Who is he? I …………….
I truly will bear …………….
His work he shall suppress …………….
[395] Let be restrained; …………….
His god will bear, and his goddess (?) ………
Let them go into the [ship]
The ship-mast …………….
Let them go …………….
[400] …………….
…………….

COLUMN VIII

[435] …………….
…………….
……………. for the people he made
Atram-hasis opened his mouth, and
Spoke to his lord.
[440]      37 (lines)
The second tablet (of the series) “When God, man.”
Its total is 439 (lines)
By the hand of the scribe Azag-d^Aya, the junior scribe.
Month Shebet, day 28th
[445] of the year when Ammi-zaduga, the king,
built the city Dûr-Ammi-zaduga
at the mouth
of the Euphrates (11th year).