In the beginning

ABZU and NAAMA were the beginning. NAAMA bore Lah-mu and Lah-amu. From Lah were born ANŠAR and KIŠAR. From ŠAR was born AN.

AN's son was a champion called nudimmud, "the Begetter of mankind". He is wise and robust in strength and his name is ENKI.

In the nesting grounds of Anduruna, "the seat of AN", NAAMA's descendants were loud, dancing, and spreading alarm to the point that ABZU and NAMMA could neither sleep. Their offspring's conduct was displeasing and their behaviour was not good.

ABZU conferred with UMUN, his vizier, then congregated with NAAMA and said, "Their behaviour has become displeasing to me. And I cannot rest in the day-time or sleep at night. I will destroy and break up their way of life, that silence may reign and we may sleep."

When NAAMA heard this she became enraged, and cried out in distress to her mate, fuming within herself and grieving over this plotted evil, "How can we destroy what we have given birth to? Though their behaviour causes distress, let us tighten discipline graciously."

However the counsel of UMUN was in full support of ABZU' plot to do away with their descendants. When the news was brought to their attention, the offspring of ABZU and NAAMA became frantic. Then the descendants became overcome with silence and sat quietly.

ENKI, who excels in knowledge, poured a sleeping potion (or solution) upon ABZU, so that he fell into a deep slumber. UMUN, the counsellor, became breathless with agitation. Aware of UMUN, ENKI handled him roughly and then confined him. As ABZU continued to sleep, ENKI bound him, gutted him, then ripped off his crown. During this time, NAAMA had withdrawn in silence so as not to be in anyone's way.

For ENKI bound and slain anyone who stood in his way, taking the crown of his progenitor. Then he donned the crown upon himself so that he carried the aura of ABZU. ENKI dedicated the shrines to ABZU, as he took full control of the chamber of the destinies, that which ENKI named ABZU.

ENKI and DAMKINA, his wife, sat in splendour and in the ABZU, AMARUTUKA was born.

AMARUTUKA was seen favourable to AN whom he exulted and smiled; his heart filled with joy. AN rendered AMARUTUKA perfect: his divinity remarkable.

But something stirred within AN to cause NAAMA to become disquieted. Since the death of their progenitor, ABZU, the offspring had no rest. AN congregated with NAAMA and said: "When ABZU was killed, you did not go at his side, but sat quietly. We cannot sleep. You gave no thought to ABZU, nor to UMUN who is a prisoner. Now you sit alone. And as for us, who cannot rest, you do not love us! Consider our burden, our eyes are hollow. Break the immovable yoke that we may sleep. Make battle and avenge them!"

NAAMA was moved by AN, and so she exalted Qingu and magnified him among them to the leadership of the army, the direction of the host, the bearing of weapons, campaigning, the mobilization of conflict, as chief executive power of battle, supreme command. She entrusted Qingu to the throne. NAAMA thus said, "You are indeed exalted, my spouse, you are renowned. Let your commands prevail over all the Anunnaki."

NAAMA gave Qingu the *Tablet of Destinies* and fastened it to his breast, saying, "Your order may not be changed; let the utterance of your mouth be firm." Qingu was elevated and had acquired the power of Anuship.

When this news came to ENKI, he lapsed into silence in his chamber and sat motionless. After he had reflected, and his anger subsided, he congregated with ANŠAR his grandfather, saying: "Father! NAAMA our mother has conceived a hatred for us. She has established a host in her savage fury. All the Anunnaki have turned to her. Even those you ŠAR begat, they also take her side! Fiercely plotting, unresting by night and day, lusting for battle, raging, storming. They set up a host to bring about conflict."

As ANŠAR heard his grandson ENKI speak, the matter was profoundly disturbing. ANŠAR cried "Woe!" and bit his lip. His heart was in fury, his mind could not be calmed, over ENKI his grandson, his cry was faltering. "My son, you who provoked the war. Take responsibility for whatever you alone have done! You set out and killed ABZU!"

ANŠAR continued, "And as for NAAMA, whom you made furious, where is her equal?"

ENKI, the nudimmud, then calmly began to speak to his grandfather, "My father, ANŠAR, deep mind, who decrees destiny. Who has the power to bring into being and destroy. I want to say something to you. Calm down for me for a moment, and consider that I performed a helpful deed. Before I killed ABZU, who could have seen the present situation? Before I quickly made an end of him, what were the circumstances were I to destroy him?"

ANŠAR listened and ENKI's words pleased him. His heart relaxed to speak to ENKI and blessed him, "My son, your deeds are fitting for a god. You are capable of a fierce, unequalled blow. Go before NAAMA and appease her attack. Her fury with your incantation."

With ANŠAR's blessing, ENKI set out on the road and proceeded on the route to NAAMA. On his journey, he perceived the tricks of NAAMA. He stopped, fell silent, and then turned back.

ENKI entered into the presence of the respected and most impressive ANŠAR, penitently addressing his grandfather once again, "My father, NAAMA's deeds are too much for me. I perceived her planning, and my incantation was not equal to hers. Her strength is mighty. She is full of dread. She is altogether very strong, none can go against her. Her very loud cry did not diminish, and I became afraid of her cry and turned back."

ENKI continued, "My father, do not lose hope, send a second person against her. Though a woman's strength is very great, it is not equal to a man's. Disband her cohorts, break up her plans. Before she lays her hands on us."

ANŠAR then cried out in intense fury. He congregated with AN his son, and said, "Honoured son, hero, warrior, Whose strength is mighty, whose attack is irresistible. Hasten and stand before NAAMA. Appease her rage that her heart may relax. If she does not harken to your words, address to her words of petition that she may be appeased."

AN heard the speech of ANŠAR his father, so he took the road and proceeded on the route to NAAMA. On his journey, AN perceived the tricks of NAAMA. He stopped, fell silent, and turned back.

AN entered the presence of ANŠAR his father who begat him, penitently addressing him, "My father, NAAMA's deeds are too much for me. I perceived her planning, but my incantation was not equal to hers. Her strength is mighty, and she is full of dread. She is altogether very strong, no one can go against her. Her very loud noise does not diminish. I became afraid of her cry and turned back."

AN continued, "My father, do not lose hope, send another person against her. Though a woman's strength is very great, it is not equal to a man's. Disband her cohorts, break up her plans before she lays her hands on us."

ANŠAR lapsed into silence, staring at the ground. He nodded to ENKI, shaking his head. The IGIGI and all the Anunnaki had assembled. They sat in tight-lipped silence. No one would go to face NAAMA. Yet the lord ANŠAR, father of the great ANUNNA, was angry in his heart, and did not summon any one.

So ENKI summoned his son, whom he begat, saying, "AMARUTUKA, give counsel, listen to your father. You are my son, who gives me pleasure. Go reverently before ANŠAR. Speak, take your stand, appease him with your glance."

So the Lord AMARUTUKA rejoiced at his father's words. He drew near and stood in the presence of ANŠAR. And when ANŠAR saw him, his heart filled with satisfaction. He kissed his face and fear was removed. "My father do not hold your peace, but speak forth. I will go and fulfil your desires! Which man has drawn up his battle array against you? And will NAAMA, who is a woman, attack you with her weapons? My father, begetter, rejoice and be glad. Soon you will tread on the neck of NAAMA!"