Neptune's Dolphins

 

The following is a translation of ritual instructions, dating to 251 B.C., on escorting Anu from the ReS-temple in Uruk to the akitu-house outside the walled city on the first day of the festival. After Anu has gone out from the Enamenna, and arrives at the High-Gate, all the exorcists chant the (Babylonian) spell “The King Has Gone Out” three times.

 

The exorcists stop, and then the High Priest, the exorcists, the temple personnel and the brewers who are tied to the carrying- poles shall greet Anu, (saying) “Great Anu, heaven and earth greet you!”

 

After the prayers, the exorcists chant the (Babylonian) spell “The King Has Gone Out” four times along the Street of the Gods.

 

The High Priest, the exorcists, the temple personnel and the brewers who are tied to the carrying- poles shall greet Anu, (saying) “Great Anu, heaven and earth greet you!”

 

After the prayers along the Street of the Gods, the exorcists chant the (Sumerian) spell “The King, Who in Heaven and Earth Surpasses All Other Kings” four times.

 

They stop, and the High Priest, the exorcists, the temple personnel and those tied to the carrying-poles shall recite the same (prayer) to Anu as before.

 

After the prayers, the exorcists chant the (Sumerian) spells “The King is Coming to the Festival” and “From the Holy Water Basin” seven times until (they arrive at) the Holy-Quay, the wharf of the Boat of Anu, (along) the Street of the Gods.

 

They stop, and the High Priest, the exorcists, the temple personnel and those tied to the carrying-poles greet Anu. Upon Anu’s arrival at the wharf of the Boat of Anu, the exorcists and the temple personnel chant the (Sumerian) spell “He has Sailed the Cargo Ship.”

 

Afterwards the High Priest, the exorcists, the temple personnel and those tied to the carrying-poles shall recite the same prayer to Anu as before.

 

From the upper wharf of the Holy-Quay to the King’s-Gate the exorcists will recite the spell “He who surpasses all kings, after He has passed by in the holy street” seven times.

 

They stop, and at the King’s-Gate, the High Priest, the exorcists, the temple personnel and those tied to the carrying-poles greet Anu. From the King’s-Gate to the akitu-house (the house of prayer), the exorcists chant the same spells as at the Street of the Gods.

 

They stop (chanting) the spells, and the High Priest, the exorcists, the temple personnel and the brewers tied to the carrying-poles recite the greeting seven times and greet Anu.

 

When Anu arrives at the Akitu-house, the exorcists recite the (Sumerian) spells:

“Holy House, House of the Gods.”

“Anu, My King, Your Good Heart.”

“(In) the Banquet Hall, At the Evening Meal of Anu.”

“He Befitting the Lofty Dais.”

and the (Babylonian) spells: “The House Has Been Purified” and “The Dwelling of the Great Gods.”

 

They recite:

 

“Great Anu, may heaven and earth greet you! May Enlil, Ea and Belet-ili joyously greet you! May the pair of Gods Sin (the moon) and Samas (the sun) greet you with their countenance. May Nergal and the Seven Gods greet you with kindness in their hearts. May the Igigi of heaven and the Anunnaki of earth greet you! May the Gods of the subterranean waters and the Gods of the sacred mound greet you! May They greet you daily, each day, month and year.”
 

The procession and prayers establishes Anu’s domain. He consults with the other Gods, and then decides the fates of the humans for the coming year. The people reaffirm their devotions to Him and the other Gods.

 

 

Notes:

Exorcists: The Asipu who are both diviners and doctors.

Seven Gods: A group of beneficent Gods who protect against demons.

Ea: Akkadian for Enki

Belet-ili: Akkadian for Ninlil

Seven and Four: Magical numbers

Igigi: The Great Gods of Heaven

Anunnaki: The Gods of Earth and Underworld

 

Further reading:

Jeremy Black and Anthony Green, “Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia”