Neptune's Dolphins

From “Enuma Elish” (“The Seven Tablets of Creation”)

Translated by Stephanie Dalley, “Myths from Mesopotamia”

Edited by me.

 

According to Dalley, it is hard to give an accurate description of the many titles of Marduk. Some are names of other Gods Who He assimilated. (Note 1) The others are epithets describing aspects of His various powers. Since the Sumerian is hard to convey in English, the rest of the names may seem repetitive.

 

In the “Enuma Elish,” there are more than fifty names listed. Since in English it is hard to differentiate between an actual name and a synonym, I have included all them for this listing. Doing this has been an act of devotion to Marduk, since it requires contemplation.

 

From the “Sixth Tablet”

 

“Thus They granted that He should exercise the Kingship of the Gods

And confirmed for Him, mastery of the Gods of Heaven and Earth.”

 

Marduk, “Let the Son, Majesty of the Gods be his Name.”

Asarluhi, “Let Him act as Shepherd over the black-headed people, his creation”

Marukka, “He is the God who created them”

Marutukku, “He is the Help of country, city and his people”

Mershakushu, “Furious yet Merciful”

Lugal-dimmer-ankia, “His command higher than the Gods, His Fathers”

Bel, “The King at whose instruction, the Gods are awed above and below”

Nari-Lugal-dimmer-ankia, “Director of All the Gods”

Asarlushi, “Light of the Gods, Strong Leader, who like his name is the protecting spirit of God and country”

Namtila, “The God who gives life”

Namra, “The pure God who purified our path”

 

“The Seventh Tablet”

 

Asare, “Bestower of Ploughland”

Asa-ralim, “Whose Weighted Counsel is most revered in the Chamber of Council”

Asar-alim-nuna, “The Mighty One, Whose farmland makes a surplus for the country”

Tutu, “None among the Gods shall rival him, since He is the Creator of their renewal”

Zi-ukkina, “The Inspiration of his people, who fixed the pure skies for the Gods”

Ziku, “The Upholder of Purification, The Producer of riches and abundance”

Agaku, “The Lord of the Pure Incantation, the Quickener of the Dead”

“The Merciful One, who has the power to give life!”

Tuku, “Who uprooted all of the wicked with his pure incantation.”

Shazu, “Director of Justice, Who plucks out crooked speech.”

Suhrim, “Uprooter of all the foe by force of arms”

Zisi, “Silencer of the aggressor”

Suhgurim, “Uprooter of the foe, Destroyer of their offspring”

Zahrim, “Destroyer of all enemies, everyone of them arrogant”

 

Zahgurim, “Who destroyed all the foe by Himself in battle”

Enbilulu, “Who opens up wells and apportions the waters of abundance”

Epadun, “Canal Controller of heaven and earth”

Gugal, “Giver of cereals, Producer of grain”

Hegal, “Who brings rains of abundance over the broad earth”

Sirsir, “Governor of the land, Their Righteous Shepherd

Malah, “The Boatman who uses Tiamat’s body as his barque.”

Gil, “Producer of cereals and flocks, Giver of the land’s seed”

Gilima, “Who established the cosmic bond of the Gods, Who created stability”

Agilima, “Who built the earth above the water, established the heights”

 

Zulum, “Bestower of incomes and food offerings, Supplier of shrines”

Mummu, “Fashioner of heaven and earth”

Zulum-ummu, “Whom no other God equals for strength”

Gish-numu-ab, “Creator of all people, Maker of the World’s quarters”

Lugal-ab-dubur, “The King who scattered Tiamat’s brood and snatched her weapon”

Pagal-guena, “Leader of all the Lords, whose might is supreme”

Lugal-durmah, “Bond of Gods, Lord of the Cosmic Bond”

Aranuna, “The Counsellor of Ea,(Note 2) Whom no God equals in his princely way”

Dumu-duku, “Whose pure dwelling is marked out for Him on the holy mound”

 

Lugal-duku, “Without whom rules cannot be decided”

Lugal-shuanna, “King whose might is supreme among the Gods”

Iruga, “Who unites all wisdom, and is broad of understanding”

Irqingu, “Who administers decrees for everything”

Kinma, “Director of all the Gods, Giver of Counsel”

E-sizkur, “He shall sit highest in the house of prayer”

Gibil, “Who performed miracles in the battle with Tiamat”

Addu, “May He shed water from the clouds, and give sustenance to the people below”

Asharu, “Who likes his name is responsible for the Gods of destinies”

Neberu, “Because He created the Place (heaven) and fashioned Dannina (earth)”

 

Enkurkur, “He whose name his fathers have made glorious,

Shall be even as I, his name shall be Ea!(Note 2)

The binding of all my decrees shall he control,

All my commands shall he make known!”

 

The ending of “Enuma Elish:”

 

“With fifty epithets, the Great Gods

Called his fifty names, Making his ways supreme”

 

“In remembrance of the song of Marduk

Who defeated Tiamat and took the Kingship.”

 

Notes:

Note 1. Asare, Tutu, Enbilulu, and Addu. Addu is the Weather God Adad, the only non-Sumerian God in the list.

Note 2. Ea is another name for Enlil.

The beginning of the Babylonian year starts at the Spring Equinox. (Note 1) This turning of the year is called zagmu, “the border of the year.” (Note 2) At this time, people take stock, review their personal affairs, and check their financial accounts. Then they affirm the Gods as the supreme authorities of the cosmos.

 

According to Assyrian Astrolabe B, Nisannu, the first month of the year is for Nanna (Sin), the God of the Moon. “The month Nisannu, the dais of Anua King is removed and a King is installed; a good start for Anu and Enlil; the month of Nanna-Suen, the first-born of Enlil.” An incantation from Nimrud reiterates this: “May the month Nisannu, (the month) of Anu and Enlil, absolve! The first month belonged to the First of the Gods.”

 

During Nisannu (the new moon after the equinox) the Akitu, the New Year Festival is held for twelve days. It starts with purifications, and then the “Enuma Elish” (the Babylonian Creation Epic) is read. This myth begins with the original creation of the world by Tiamat, the Goddess of Chaos, and Apsu, the God of Waters. Later Anu, a God from the succeeding generation becomes the “Father of the Gods.” Eventually, He cedes his powers to Enlil, from yet a newer generation of Gods, who seeks to overthrow the original Gods. After Enlil kills Apsu, Tiamat wages war on the newer Gods. In desperation, Enlil goes to Marduk, the principal deity of Babylon, for help. On the condition that He is made the Ruler of the Gods, Marduk agrees. After killing Tiamat, Marduk remakes the world from her body.

 

During the Akitu, Marduk disappears. While his and Nabu’s temples are being cleansed, the people search for Him. At this time, they carry the statues of the other Gods to Marduk’s temple. Meanwhile, Nabu, the Scribe of the Gods and Marduk’s Minister, searches for and then frees Marduk from the Underworld. Then in his temple, the priests re-enthroned Marduk as the Ruler of the Gods. (Note 3) Afterwards, they do divination for the coming year. The festival ends with celebrations and the return of the Gods to their shrines. (Note 4)

 

Meanwhile to begin the growing season, the King would enact a sacred marriage with the temple priestess of Ishtar (Inanna). Their mating is to reaffirm the marriage of Ishtar, the Goddess of Fertility, with her husband, Tammuz (Dumuzi). These marriage rites ensure that the King is accepted as one of the Gods, and blessed by Ishtar, who also blesses the crops.

 

Notes:

Note 1. The Babylonians had a lunar calendar and added months beyond the 12-month year. They kept their year keyed to the equinoxes. Between 1750 – 1500 BCE, they standardized their calendar – the Standard Mesopotamian Calendar to unify their empire.

 

Note 2. “Zagmu” translates to “the New Year” or “Spring.” It is believed that the term denoted the spring fruit, or the yield of the first month.

 

Note 3. This called the “Installation of the King,” which could either mean Marduk, Himself or a human king.

 

Note 4. The Stages of the Pageantry for Marduk are

 

At His Temple

Between curtains

At His Sacred Dwelling

On the Throne of Destinies

Procession through the streets

Journey by barge

Residing at the Akitu House

After His Temple is cleansed, the stages are reversed.