The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-08-06
THE STORY OF NOAH
Confirmed by Tablet Recently
Found at Babylon.

Confirmed by Tablet Recently
Found at Babylon.
Philadelphia, Aug. S.-The Bible
story Of Noah and the food is con
lirmed in many details by hierogly-
phics written 1000 years ago, may be
more, by Historian who lived in an
cient Babylon, according to announce
ment made today by the University
of Pennsylvania The writing on a
tablet-an epic of great length puI-
porting TO reach back to the creation
of the world-has been deciphered
at the museum of the university by
Or. Arno Poebl the announcement
says. The tablet, said 10 be The old
est ever rescued from oblivion, was
dug up in Nippur several years ago
by museum expedition.
In strange symbols so finely writ
ten that the entire great poem is
contained on seven inches square.
the primitive historian harks back
to The beginning Of all things. Then
there were seven Gods. chief Of
which were Anu and EMIL and a god
dess. Nintu, the creator of mankind,
the table says
Like The first chapter Of Genesis,
the Babylonian poem opens with a
recital OF the creation of the heay-
ems and The earth. Nintu, god moth
or OF humans, is lamenting that the
ether gods seem bent on their de-
struction. After the color OF their
hair men were named-"the black
headed" For time the other gods
were satisfied and, approving MIN
tu's work, made seven cities over
each OF which one God presided. Al
Ter the Gods these cities were nam
ed Anu, EMIL, Nudimmad, Bad-Nigar,
liabilharsag, Samas (sun GodJ and
Shuruppak .
Priests were assigned to the cities.
canals and rivers were created that
the people might live and, finally,
for some reason not clear to the
translator, the wrath of the Gods
welo kindled against mankind
AT that time Ninu waited like a
woman in travail" reads the tran
slaiicn. THE holy lshtar waited on
| account Of the people. EnlIi( god
CT wisdom, held counsel with Anu,
EMIL and Nintu over the destruc ion
OF mankind. Ziugidda, high priest
OF Schuruppak. prosrrS'ing himself
IN humility, and conjured them BIZ
the name Of heaven and earth
The Ziugidda of the Babylonans,
il is believed was the Noah OF The
| Hebrews Next the tablet tells of
Hiugidda's learning from the lips OF
The great god, Enki thai mankind
was 10 be destroyed "by rain.
storm. Then comes description
OF terrific wind and transforms.
After seven days the ralnstorm
| had passed over ,hc land and ear
lied away the huge boat. Then the
sun god came forth. shedding light
ever heaven and earth Zlugdda
opened the roof of his ship ana the
ligh. Ct the sun god was lo. in.
This version differs in respect to
the duration of the food described
| in Genesis. There it was said Ia
las 40 days.
When the water subsidized Ziugidda
prayed TO The gods with loud voice
tho poem continues. and sacrificed
an OK, 4 sheep ana something with
. great horn" Thrcueh the inter
cessicn Of Niniu the gods fcrgave
The servivin&, human beings and
gave them immortality which they
did not possess before the flood
Hiugidda was taken to an island
in the Persian gulf where he lived
IN sort Of paradise and many
cries tell that heroes came from
afar in succeeding generations tc
visit him.
Dr Poebl has announced that he
viii make public later a literal trans
lation OF the epic From other tab
lots found by the expeditions ii
would appear tho announcement
says hat 100000 years interviewed b,
tween creation and tho flood. al
though one epic writer asserts with
ra'nstaking accuracy that the ox ici
'ime WAS 32.s23 years. some mcn,h.
oNac humber undociphorahie) an,
is days
The tablets also asscr, that on,
Of he Bahonlan kings reisncd ful
$4,000 years.
Many minor paGallenism5 betwocr
the Bahyionian and Bible version.
OF creation and he food are con
tanned in the cpiCs, the announce
mont continues.
The particular tablet from which
the story of he flood was ,ranslat
ed. the announcement says. may b,
as old as 400 years and Is reason
ably certain 10 be no more recen
than the reign of Hamurabi, abou
Zoo b. c. It. is regarded as tn,
worlds most ancient historical writ
inp and ir in fairly rood sate o.
prCservatiCn.