80 APPENDIX A 



" (With the help) of Samas (the Sun -god) the compacting of 

 the ship was finished ; (all parts of the ship) were made strong, 

 and I caused the tackling to be carried above and below. (Then 

 of my household) went two-thirds : all that I had I heaped to- 

 gether ; all that I had of silver I heaped together ; all that I 

 had of gold I heaped together ; all that I had of the seed of life 

 I heaped together. I brought the whole up into the ship ; all 

 my slaves and concubines, the cattle of the field, the beasts of 

 the field, the sons o the people, all of them did I bring up. The 

 season Samas fixed, and he spake, saying : * In the night will I 

 cause the heaven to rain destruction. Enter into the midst of the 



ship and close thy door.' .1 entered into the midst of the 



ship and shut the door, that I might close the ship. To Buzur- 

 sadi-rabi, the boatman, I gave the palace with all its goods. 

 Then arose Mu-seri-ina-namari [The Water of Dawn at Daylight] 

 from the horizon of heaven (like) a black cloud. Bimmon in the 

 midst of it thundered, and Nebo and the Wind-God go in front ; 

 the throne-bearers go over mountain and plain; Nergal the 

 mighty ^removes the wicked; Adar goes overthrowing all before 

 him. The spirits of earth carried the flood : in their terribleness 

 they sweep through the land ; the deluge of Rimmon reaches unto 

 heaven ; all that was light to (darkness) was turned 



" (The surface) of the land like (fire ?) they wasted ; (they 

 destroyed all) life from the face of the land ; to battle against men 

 they brought (the waters). Brother saw not his brother ; men 

 knew not one another. In heaven the gods feared the flood, and 



sought a refuge ; they ascended to the heaven of Anu 



Six days and nights the wind, the flood, and the storm go on 

 overwhelming. The seventh day when it approached the storm 

 subsided ; the flood which had fought against (men) like an 

 armed host was quieted. The sea began to dry, and the wind and 

 the flood ended. I watched the sea making a noise, and the 

 whole of mankind was turned to clay ; like reeds the corpses 

 floated. I opened the window, and the light smote upon my 

 face ; I stooped and sat down ; I weep ; over my face flow tears. 

 I watch the regions at the edge of the sea ; a district rose twelve 

 measures high. To the land of Nizir steered the ship ; in the 

 mountain of Nizir stopped the ship, and it was not able to pass 

 over it. The first day, the second day, the mountain of Nizir 

 stopped the ship. The third day, the fourth day, the mountain 



