THE BABYLONIAN STORY OF THE CREATION. 



35 



sequence of this, it is placed on the left-hand edge of some of 

 the copies of the seventh tablet of the series, at the head of 

 certain of the paragraphs. 



In a list of divine names, many or all of which are 

 Merodach's, we find the explanation of tliis mystic reduplicate 

 word, namely, mullid ilani, milddis Uani, " begetter of the gods, 

 renewer of the gods," showing clearly in what way the ancient 

 Babylonians thought of him. How Merodach, who is described 

 in the earlier tablets of the Creation-legend itself as a 

 descendant of the god Anu, grandson of the older Bel, and son 

 of Ae, could be the creator of the gods, is difficult to explain. 

 Perhaps this etymology of Tutu rests upon a play upon words, 

 the Sumerian utu or tu, which are apparently shortened forms 

 of utudda or tudda, meaning, according to the bilingual lists, 

 " to bring forth," " to beget." The ordinary meaning of Tutu, 

 however, as a reduplicate of the root tu, is " to cross," and this 

 may, in fact, be the real meaning, one of the names of 

 Merodach, as the planet Jupiter, being (as we have seen) 

 Nibiru, " the traverser," so called, according to Jensen, on 

 account of his movements upon the ecliptic. As the tablet 

 says, he was to control the paths of the stars of heaven, and 

 pasture (or, perhaps, shepherd; the stars, all of them, like 

 sheep. 



The following is a rendering of the principal part of this 

 tablet, and will serve to show the style of the composition : — 

 " Asari, bestower of planting, [institutor of irrigation ( «)], 

 Who has created grain and plants, causing [verdure to grow]. 

 Asari-alim, who in the house of counsel is honoured, [who increaseth 

 counsel] — 



The gods pay him homage, fe[ar besettech them]. 



Asari-alim-nunna, the princely one, light of the [father who begot hira], 



Director of the decrees of Anu, Bel, [and Ae] ; 



He is their patron, the announcer of ..... . 



Who maketh its"^ adornment, abundance, to grow 



Tutu, the maker of their renewal, [is he] ; 



May he purify their desires, and as for them, let them [be at ease] ; 

 Let him make then the incantation, may the gods [be at rest]. 

 Angrily have they arisen, let him restrain [their opposition].! 



Verily he has been made high in the assembly of the gods 



None among the gods shall [forsake him]. 



Tutu (is) Zi-ukkina, the life of the people| [of the] gods. 



Who set for the gods the glorious heavens. 



Their paths they took, they instituted § 



May the deeds [which he performed] not be forgotten among men. 

 Tutu Zi-azaga, thirdly, they called — the possessor of purification. 



^ Or " his." t Lit. " their breast." + Or " host." 



§ Or " He instituted their way, he ordained [their path ?]." 



