HISTORY ANCIENT TEXTS SUMERIA COSMOLOGY

The Gilamesh Epics, Tablet One and Two

The Babylonians inherited their religion from the Sumerians. By about 1770 BCE, king Hammurabi had conquered most of Mesopotamia. King Hammurabi followed ancient tradition by issuing law to protect his subject. Using Cuneiform Script, he had 282 laws carved on a black stone pillar. Left The Ishtar Gate.

TABLET II
All the Anunnaki gathered; their lips closed tight they sat in silence, "No god (they thought) can go to battle and Facing Tiamat, escape with his life." Lord Anshar, Father of the Gods, arose in grandeur, And, having pondered in his heart, said to the Anunnaki: "He whose strength is potent shall be our Avenger, He who is keen in battle, Marduk, the Hero!" Marduk replies to the invitation:

"Creator of the Gods, destiny of the Great Gods, If I indeed, as your Avenger, Am to vanquish Tiamat and save your lives, Set up the Assembly, proclaim supreme my destiny! When you have sat down together rejoicing in Ubshukinna Let my word, instead of you, determine the fates. Unalterable shall be what I may bring into being; Neither recalled nor changed shall be the command of my lips."

TABLET III
They made ready to leave on their journey, All the Great Gods who determine the fates. They entered before Anshar, filling Ubshukinna. They kissed one another in the Assembly. They ate festive bread, poured the wine, They wetted their drinking tubes with sweet intoxicant. As they drank the strong drink, their bodies swelled. They became very languid as their spirits rose. For Marduk the Avenger they fixed the decrees. They erected for him a princely throne. Facing his fathers, he sat down, presiding.

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