314 



T. G. PINCHES, LL.D., M.R.A.S., ON VERSIONS 



Xin-ella is said to speak to " her father Enki " (aa-ni (h EnH), 

 there would seem to be no doubt as to their relationship in 

 Babylonian mythology. 



Noteworthy is the fact that everything was regarded as 

 perfect in that glorious land. There were no unclean and 

 slaughtering birds ; and lions, wolves (or hyaenas) and dogs kept 

 themselves from ravaging and terrifying. There was no old 

 age, and bodily defects were apparently wanting — for although 

 the bodily ills specified are few, it is evident that a part only is 

 put for the whole — there was no need to extend the list, as the 

 listener would understand what was referred to. The epoch 

 referred to was evidently a period in the history of Babylonia 

 — or at least of the state of Tilmun — corresponding with the 

 golden age of the ancient classics, and the A parallel is rendered 

 still stronger by the fact that Enki or Ea seems to be the 

 Cronos of the Greeks, the Saturn of the Bomans, in whose time 

 the golden age existed. 



Notwithstanding the perfection with regard to mankind and 

 the animals, there were seemingly certain natural defects to be 

 overcome, and these the goddess, apparently, proceeds to refer 

 to in what seems to be the continuation of her speech, though it 

 is more probably the answer of Enki assenting to the requests 

 which Xin-ella had made : 



" May thy city constantly drink abundant water — 



May Tilmun constantly drink abundant water. 



May thy well of bitter water like a well of sweet water flow. 



May thy city be the land's assembly-house — 



May Tilmun be the land's assembly-house. 



For the making of heat, Utu (the sungod) kindles (his) light — 



Utu and Anna (the heavens) together." 



The next few lines are difficult and I do not venture to 

 translate them from the half-tone reproduction which is alone 

 available to me at present. Farther on the lines record the 

 accomplishment of the deities' wishes at Tilmun — Tilmun con- 

 stantly drank abundant water, the well of bitter water became 

 sweet, the field produced grain, the city became the laud's 

 assembly-house, and Utu kindles his light to make heat. 



After this there are several rather complete lines, practically 

 translatable, but they do not make very good sense, so I omit 

 them. Then comes a reference to the invoking of the spirit of 

 heaven, followed by an announcement concerning the destruc- 

 tion of a field and the sending of an inundation. The following 



