Contents
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.
Printed source: Albert T. Clay, A Hebrew Deluge Story in Cuneiform and Other Epic Fragments in the Pierpont Morgan Library (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1922), Appendix D, pp. 69–72. This provisional online transcription has not yet been collated line by line against the printed text.
Classification: This is a distinct Sumerian flood narrative, often associated with the Eridu Genesis, not a tablet of the Akkadian Atrahasis Epic.
Modern online editorial note (J.C., Jason Colavito): The online transcription identifies this as another translation of the Eridu Genesis. This identification is not part of Clay's translated ancient text.
COLUMN III
The beginning of the column is wanting. [10] The …. place ….. The people .... The flood ….. …… …… the made, …… [15] At that time Nintu [cried aloud] like [a woman in travail]. The holy Ishtar lamented for her people. ….. Ea in his own heart held counsel. Anu, Enlil, Ea and Nin-Harsag….. The gods of heaven and earth inv[oked] the name of Anu (and) Enlil. [20] At that time Zi-u-sudda the king, the priest of .... A great …… he made ……. In humility he prostrates himself, in reverence .... Daily he stands in attendance ……. A dream, as had not been before, comes forth ……….. By the name of heaven and earth he conjures ……..
COLUMN IV
For ………. the gods …… Zi-u-suddu standing at its side heard ... At the wall on my left side stand At the wall I will speak a word to thee. [5] My holy one, give attention! By our hand( ?) a flood will be sent; To destroy the seed of mankind …… Is the decision, the word of the assembly [of the gods] The commands of Anu (and) En[lil] ….. [10] Its (their) kingdom, its (their) reign …… To him (them) …… [Untranslated damaged Sumerian line:] [ ]-na mu- The rest of the column, or about three-fourths of the text, is missing.
COLUMN V
All the mighty windstorms together blew. The flood …… raged. When for seven days, for seven nights The flood overwhelmed the land. [5] When the storm drove out the great boat over the mighty waters. Shamash (the sun-god) came forth shedding light over the heaven and earth. Zi-u-suddu opened the [hatch] of the great boat. The light of the hero Shamash enters into the interior (?) of the great boat. Zi-u-suddu, the king, [10] Prostrates himself before Shamash. The king sacrifies [sic] an ox; a sheep he slaughters (?). The rest of the column is missing.
COLUMN VI
By the soul of heaven, by the soul of earth ye shall conjure him, That he may be ……… with you. Anu (and) Enlil by the soul of heaven, by the soul of earth ye shall conjure; He will be ….. with you. [5] The niggilma of the ground rises in abundance. Zi-u-suddu, the king, Before Anu (and) Enlil prostrates himself Life like (that of) a god he gives to him; An eternal soul like (that of) a god he creates for him. [10] At that time Zi-u-suddu, the king, The name of the niggilma (he named) “Presence of the seed of mankind” In a ….. land, that of Dilmun, they caused him to dwell. The rest of the column, about three-quarters of the text, is missing. [Untranslated damaged Sumerian fragment, printed after the missing-text notice:] -ra (?) Zi-u-sud-du SAL . . .