310 



T. G. TTSCRTS, LL.D., 1T.E.A.S.. OX VEESIOXS 



Perhaps the translation in this column is in certain respects 

 less doubtful than in the three preceding columns — in any case, 

 the revelation of the coming of the Flood would seem to have 

 been direct, and not made by a dream, as in the case of the 

 version published by George Smith The defective state of the 

 record deprives us of the name of the person who revealed the 

 coming catastrophe to Zi-u-suddu, but there is every probability 

 that this was the god Ea or Enki. the lord of the ocean and of 

 deep wisdom. As in the record already known, the gods in 

 general consent to the destruction of mankind, but tLe actual 

 command came from the combined deity, Ana-Enlilla. who is 

 designated Enlilla simply in G. Smith's version. 



"We now come to the central column of the reverse — col. 5 — 

 rather less than one-third of the whole. It describes the break- 

 ing of the storm, and is not without poetical merit : 



All the powerful wind-storms as one rushed forth 

 A water-flood over the [hostile] raged. 

 After for 7 days and 7 nights 

 The water-flood had raged over the land — 

 After the mighty boat had been carried away by the wind-storms 



upon the swollen waters. 

 Utu (the sun-god) came forth again, on heaven and earth making 



[day. 



Zi-u-suddu opened a window of the mighty boat — 



The hero Utu makes his light to enter within the mighty boat. 



Zi-u-suddu, being king, 



In the presence of Utu prostrated himself. 



The king sacrifices an ox, slaughters a sheep 



Whilst (?) . . . the great horn .... 



he ... s for him. 



filled it 

 doubled (!) 



Here we have again the incidents of the Flood-story translated 

 by Smith — the rain-storm lasting seven days and seven nights, 

 the sun shining atter that length of time again into the ark, 

 and Zi-u-suddu's sacrifice to the deity, though here it would 

 seem to have taken place whilst still in the vessel, and not after 

 he had come forth — unless two acts of sacrifice were recorded. 



The sixth and last column occupies the left-hand portion of 

 the reverse, and contains about fourteen lines — or twelve, if we 

 take them in their poetical divisions. Where the text opens, to 

 all appearance some divine person is speaking : — 



