The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-09
First Authoritative Description by the Cee-
brated Assyriologist of the Ancient Babylon
ian Tablets That Take the Blame for Mans
Fall Off Father Adam.
Blu JASPER Ken1k1is
Blu Jasper Ken,n1is

DIR. Langdon is American born. bred and
educated Not only is he the original trans
lator and interpreter OF the remarkable
Babylonian tablets in the Museum OF the
University Of Penns ylvania but ne Is the sole
born American who can claim the distinguished
honor OF holding a PROFESSIONAL chair in tho
University OF Oxford.
Or Langdon is modest as he is learned
His name figures neither In the American nor
the English Who's Who" Yet by his pro
found scholarship he has become one OF the
few living men who are capable OF translating
the ancient Sumerian tongue, which was the
language of the pre-Scmtic inhabitants OF
Babylona. This unique knowledge enabled
him TO decipher some sixty tablets last year
the inscriptions of which he copied and the
translation Of which he completed this Spring
One taOtt alone contains on the diverse
side the astonishingly, interesting story. of the
hat preserved in the book of Genesis:
the second portion which is the re-
verse OF the tablet. gives succinct account
OF the fall Of man revealing some new phases
of the old Bible story. which have never been
brought TO light before.
DR.. Stephen Langdon is native OF Monroe
New York lie was educated at Ann Arbor
for the Il. A. degree, and at Columbia Uni
versty for the Doctorate. The latter university
made MIN an international Fellow" While
three years the Sorbonne and one year at
Leipsc. After leaving the latter he was ap.
pointed. about six years ago. TO the Chair OF
Assyriology at Oxford. He is now British
ubject.
Dr.. Langdon interpreted his discovery for the
readers Of this newspaper. He said that he
preferred 10 describe from his translation
what the great tablet actually contained TO its
being merely copied and misunderstood by
readers unacquainted with such abstruse docu.
ments.
The tablet" he said. is comprised under
three taT sr. heads; ul The story OF the Flood.
CD The fall Of man, and (5) 4 running &C.
count OF the Revelation of Wisdom by the
God OF Wisdom Man.
Il am particularly glad" he went on 30
be able 10 give this story first in its completes
ness to Mr.. Hearst's newspapers Daily i may
say hourly, am receiving fresh evidence OF
the interest aroused in England. in France and
IN Germany by the brief account which has
appeared in the London Times
Il may tell you that when commenced my
researches into the tablets disnterred at Nippur
and now in the Pennsylvania Museum had no
Idea OF the Importance OF the discoveries was
about TO make: These TRANSACTIONS with which
versity Official volume (No. VII. OF their series)
In about a years time, maybe less. The first
and chief OF these tablots-No 1861 in the
OF the Flood (Deuge) and was written about
$500 B. {. BY the priests of Nippur. The writ.
Ing is in classical Sumeran. 1t is the upper
part OF a three-column tablet. 1t contains the
Babylonian version Of the Flood
Dr. Langdon here stopped TO say that he
had found still another tablet containing
fresh version OF the Flood which he will de.
scribe later. This tablet contains a reference
TO bringing people into the snip (Noahs Ark
On the hrs,-named of the two tablets 1,
should be borne in mind that the Babylonan
version OF the Flood comes before the fan
Of man. On the diverse side is also engraved
the Hymn TO "Nintud" and not "Nimtud" as
printed in the London Times. This Hymn.
which is the Babylonan version OF the Flood
reads follows:
"Nintud-shs that assemblies the mighty
answered fragment here broken
Off Enk Greek Ioannes) God OF the Waters
clothed me in awe" Unto her house the
ano!nted priest she called. The pious among
mortals she was not angdy with. Yea yea.
Nintud with the pious not angry Ny
Lord. when the ranstorm ragged his foot
straightway on the ship set Two watchmen
on guard he placed The ship he caulked
doubly Yes, Enki, Enki overwhelmed
the fields. The waters OF Enki possessed the
fields. The first day OF the first month
dawned The second day of the second month
daWned, the ninth day Of The ninth month
dawned and this was the month of the Ois.
appearance"