Épopée sumérienne du paradis, du déluge et de la chute de l'homme
Édition de Stephen Langdon (1915) des tablettes de Nippur CBS 4561 et CBS 4611
Édition de Stephen Langdon (1915) du récit sumérien conservé sur les tablettes de Nippur CBS 4561 et CBS 4611. L'érudition moderne reconnaît l'« épopée » de Langdon comme un composite : les colonnes I–VI correspondent à ce que l'on identifie aujourd'hui comme le matériel paradisiaque d'Enki et Ninhursag / Dilmun, tandis que le bref fragment de CBS 4611 (colonne VII) conserve l'avertissement donné à Zi-ud-sud-du qui survit sous une forme plus complète dans la tradition de la Genèse d'Eridu / Ziusudra. Nous conservons le titre et la séquence de Langdon parce que l'édition elle-même est un artefact unique, citable et du domaine public.
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They that slept, they that slept are ye.
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[In mountain of] Dilmun which is an holy place,
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[In the holy place] they that slept are ye.
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[...] the mountain of Dilmun which is an holy place.
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The mountain of Dilmun which is an holy place, the mountain of Dilmun is pure.
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The mountain of Dilmun is pure, the mountain of Dilmun is clean.
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Alone in Dilmun they lay down;
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Where Enki with his consort lay,
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That place is pure, that place is clean.
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Alone in Dilmun they lay down.
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Where Enki with the pure divine queen lay down,
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That place is pure, that place is clean.
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In Dilmun the raven shrieked not.
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The kite shrieked not, kitelike.
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The lion slew not.
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The wolf plundered not the lambs.
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The dog approached not the kids in repose.
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The mother (goat) as it fed on grain he disturbed not.
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The (ewes) impregnate their foetus [...]
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The birds of heaven their young [forsook] not.
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The doves were not put to flight.
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"Oh disease of the eyes thou art the 'Sick Eye,'" one said not.
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"Oh head ache thou art the 'Head Ache,'" one said not.
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As to the old woman, "thou art an old woman" one said not.
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As to the old man, "thou art an old man" one said not.
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A pure place where water was not poured for cleansing in the city one inhabited not.
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"A man has changed a canal," one said not.
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A prince his wisdom withheld not.
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"A deceiver deceives," one said not.
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"The counsellor of a city [...]," one said not.
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Ninella to Enki her father spoke.
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"A city thou hast founded, a city thou hast founded and a fate thou hast given.
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In Dilmun a city thou hast founded, a city (thou hast founded and a fate thou hast given).
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[...] thou hast founded a city (thou hast founded and a fate hast given).
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[...] (which) a canal has not.
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[...] thou hast founded, a city (thou hast founded and a fate thou hast given).
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[...]
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[About seven lines broken away.]
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In thy great [...] may waters flow.
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Thy city may drink water in abundance.
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Dilmun may drink water in abundance.
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Thy pools of bitter waters as a pool of sweet waters may flow.
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Let thy city be the home which assembles the Land of Sumer.
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Let Dilmun be the home which assembles the Land of Sumer.
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Now oh Sun-god shine forth.
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Oh Sun-god in heaven stand.
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He that marches [...] from his place.
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[...] the Moon-god
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From the mouth of the earth walking forth, with sweet waters of the earth he comes unto thee."
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In his great [...] waters went up.
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His city drank water in abundance.
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Dilmun drank water in abundance.
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His pool of bitter waters was (a pool of) sweet water.
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The low-lands [...]
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His city was the home which assembles the Land (of Sumer).
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Dilmun was the home which assembles the Land (of Sumer).
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Now oh Sun-god shine forth. Verily it was so.
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He the renderer of decision, the possessor of wisdom,
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To Nintud the mother of the Land of Sumer,
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Enki the possessor of wisdom,
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Even unto Nintud (the mother of the Land of Sumer)
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His counsel in the temple revealed.
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His revelation in the reed-house as a decision he rendered unto her.
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His counsel in secret grandly and beneficently to her he affirmed.
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He spoke. "Unto me man enters not."
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Enki spoke,
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By heaven he swore.
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"Cause him to sleep for me, cause him to sleep for me," was his word.
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Enki the father of Damgalnunna uttered his word.
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Ninharsag the fields [...]
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The fields received the waters of Enki.
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It was the first day whose month is the first.
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It was the second day whose month is the second.
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It was the third day whose month is the third.
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It was the fourth day whose month is the fourth.
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It was the fifth day [whose month is the fifth].
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It was the sixth day [whose month is the sixth].
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It was the seventh day [whose month is the seventh].
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It was the eighth day [whose month is the eighth].
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It was the ninth day whose month is the ninth; month of the cessation of the waters.
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Like fat, like fat, like tallow.
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Nintud mother of the Land,
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[Even Ninkurra],
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had created them.
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Nintud to the bank of the river summoned.
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"Enki (for me) they are reckoned, yea are reckoned."
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Her herald the divine anointed ones called.
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The sons of men who were pious she was not wroth against.
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Nintud against the pious was not wroth.
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Her herald the divine anointed ones caused to return.
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The sons of men who were pious she was not wroth against.
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Nintud against the pious [was not wroth].
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My king, who was filled with fear, yea was filled with fear,
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His foot alone upon the boat set.
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Two "humbles," as watchmen he placed on guard.
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Doubly he caulked the ship; torches he lighted,
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Enki devastated the fields.
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The fields received the waters of Enki.
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It was the first day, whose month is the first.
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It was the second day, whose month is the second.
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It was the ninth day, whose month is the ninth; the month of the cessation of the waters.
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Like fat, like fat, like tallow,
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Ninkurra (like) fat,
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Nintud [mother of the Land] had created them.
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Ninkurra [to the shore of the river had summoned].
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"Enki, for me they are reckoned, yea they are reckoned."
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Her herald the divine anointed ones had called.
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The pious sons of men she was not wroth against.
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Ninkurra against the pious sons of men was not wroth.
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Her herald caused the divine anointed ones to turn unto her.
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The pious sons of men [...] she [...]
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Ninkurra the pious [...]
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My king the terror filled, the terror filled,
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His foot alone on the ship had set.
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Two "humbles" as watchmen on guard he had placed.
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Doubly he had caulked the ship; torches he had lighted.
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Enki devastated the fields.
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The fields received the waters of Enki.
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It was the first day whose month is the first.
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It was the ninth day whose month is the ninth; the month of the cessation of the waters.
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Like fat, like fat, like tallow,
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Ninkurra (like) fat [had created them].
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To the divine Tagtug she revealed secrets [...]
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Nintud to the divine Tagtug spoke.
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"Verily I will purge thee; my purging [...]
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I will tell thee; my words [...]"
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"Oh thou one man, for me [they were reckoned, yea were reckoned],
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Enki, for me has reckoned [has reckoned],
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[...]
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[...]
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[...]
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[One line broken from the end of this column.]
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[About twelve lines broken away before the first traces of lines in this column.]
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[...] revealed secrets [caused] to see [...]
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[...] in the garden
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[In Ebaraguldu] stand.
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In Erabgaran stand.
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In the temple may my guide dwell,
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May Enki my guide dwell.
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Two "humbles" who fill with water,
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The water course filled with water.
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The canal they filled with water.
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The barren land they irrigated(?) [...]
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The gardener [...]
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A secret [...]
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Who art thou? the garden [...]
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Enki to the gardener [...]
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[Here four lines broken away.]
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[...]
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In E-baraguldu he stood.
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In E-rabgaran he stood. His seat he took.
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Enki beheld him. A scepter in his hand he grasped.
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Enki for Tagtug waited [...]
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In his temple he cried, "Open the door, open the door.
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Who is it that thou art?"
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"I am a gardener joyful [...]"
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[...] I will cause to be given unto thee.
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The divine Tagtug with glad heart opened the temple's door.
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Enki unto the divine Tagtug revealed secrets.
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[...] he gave unto him joyously.
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In E-baraguldu he gave unto him.
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In Erabgaran he gave unto him.
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The divine Tagtug was confided; the left hand he raised; the (right) hand he composed.
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[Here about six lines are obliterated.]
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[The plant] grew.
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[The plant] grew.
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[The plant] grew.
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[The plant] grew.
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[The plant] grew.
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[The plant] grew.
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The plant [...] grew.
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"Enki, for me they are reckoned, they are reckoned."
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Her herald the divine anointed ones called.
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"As for the plants, their fates I have determined forever.
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Something it is; something it is."
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Her herald caused the divine anointed ones to return unto her.
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My king as to the woody plants she commanded:
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"He shall cut off; he shall eat."
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My king as to the fruit bearing plants, she commanded:
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"He shall pluck; he shall eat."
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My king as to the [...] plants, she commanded:
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"He shall cut off; he shall eat."
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My king as to the prickly plants, she commanded:
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"He shall pluck; he shall eat."
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My king as to the [...] plants she commanded:
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"[He shall cut off;] he shall eat."
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[My king as to the plants...] she commanded:
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"[He shall pluck; he shall eat]."
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[My king as to the plants ... she commanded]:
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"[He shall cut off; he shall eat.]"
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[My king] the cassia plant approached.
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He plucked; he ate.
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[...] the plant, its fate she had determined; therein she came upon it.
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Ninharsag in the name of Enki uttered a curse.
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"The face of life until he dies not shall he see."
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The Anunnaki in the dust sat down (to weep).
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Angrily unto Enlil she spoke.
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"I Ninharsag begat thee children and what is my reward?"
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Enlil the begetter angrily replied;
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"Thou oh Ninharsag hast begotten children, (therefore)
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'In my city two creatures I will make for thee,' shall thy name be called."
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The renowned — his head as a prototype she had moulded.
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His foot as a prototype she had designed.
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His eyes as a prototype she had made luminous.
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[About five lines are broken away.]
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[...] the lord Enlil
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[...] the lord
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To [...] they went, the lord, god
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To [...] they went, the lord of the gods
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Ninharsag [...]
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Ninharsag [...]
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Of Enlil, in his [...] they reposed.
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Fates they declared.
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Destiny they fixed.
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Ninharsag in her [...] reposed.
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"My brother, what of thee is ill?" "My pastures are distressed."
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"Abu I have created for thee."
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"My brother, what of thee is ill?" "My flocks are distressed."
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"The queen of the flocks I have created for thee."
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"My brother, what of thee is ill?" "My [...] is ill."
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"Nin-KA-u-tud I have created for thee."
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"My brother, what of thee is ill?" "My mouth is distressed."
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"The queen who fills the mouth (with wine) I have created for thee."
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"My brother, what of thee is ill?" "My [...] is ill."
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"The goddess Nazi I have created for thee."
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"My brother, what of thee is ill?" "My [...] is ill."
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"The goddess Dazima I have created for thee."
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"My brother, what of thee is ill?" "My health is ill."
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"The queen of life I have created for thee."
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"My brother, what of thee is ill?" "My understanding is distressed."
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"The Lord who renders the understanding good I have created for thee."
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Since grandly were they born, (grandly) they do.
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Abu, lord of vegetation, let be.
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Nintulla, lord of Magan, let be.
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May Nin-KA-u-tud Ninazu possess.
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May Ninkasi be she that fills the heart.
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May Nazi the lord of [...] possess.
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May Dazima [...] possess.
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May Nintil be the mistress of the month.
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May Ensagme be lord of Dilmun.
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Praise!
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[Obverse]
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"Oh Zi-ud-sud-du, a command [I will speak to thee].
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My purification faithfully [will I accomplish]."
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Words to him she spoke.
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[Reverse]
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"In [...] not shall be sacrificed; beside the [...]
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In [...] not shall be sacrificed; beside the brick wall shalt thou [sacrifice].
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In [...] of the palace not shall be sacrificed; beside the [...] [shalt thou sacrifice].
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The slave from a strange land, to his land thou shalt [cause to return].
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Him that knows no place (home) shalt thou cause to [...].
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My son, where the sun goes up,
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shall he be thy water libator; before thee [...] shall he [...].
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Of him that has no house, his house enlarge.
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Of him that has no city, his city enlarge.
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Him that is not happy, with joy [enthuse].
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My [son], where the sun goes up, [...]