Studia Etanaica: new texts and discussions

)) 7-=t- ~G / /), "1C .l~' 6 c-t:70 ~0S S* L, OSO I (~ Alter Alter Orient Orientund und Altes Altes Testament Testament...

Author: James Vincent Kinnier Wilson

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)) 7-=t- ~G / /), "1C .l~' 6 c-t:70 ~0S S* L, OSO I (~

Alter Alter Orient Orientund und Altes Altes Testament Testament VerOffentlichungen Veroffentlichungenzur zurKultur Kulturund und Geschichte Geschichtedes desAlten Alten Orients Orients und und des desAlten AltenTestaments Testaments

Band Band 338 338

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Studia Etanaica Etanaica Studia

New Texts Texts and and Discussions Discussions New

WILSON James James KINNIER WIER WILSON Herausgeber Herausgeber

Manfried Manfried Dietrich Dietrich • Oswald OswaldLoretz Loretz

Beratergremium Beratergremium R. Bretschneider St. St.Maul Maul R.Albertz· Albertz J.J. Bretschneider· K.A. K.A.Metzler· Metzler H. H.Neumann· Neumann U. U.Riitersworden Riiterswijrden W. Sallaberger· G. Selz· W. W. Sallaberger G. Selz W. Zwickel Zwickel

2007 2007 Ugarit-Verlag Ugarit-Verlag Munster Miinster

2007 2007 Ugarit-Verlag Ugarit-Verlag Miinster MUnster

Preface

James Kinnier Wilson: Wilson: Studia Etanaica. Etanaica. New Texts Texts and Discussions Discussions Alter Orient und Altes Testament, Testament, Band 338 .

© O 2007 Ugarit-Verlag, Munster Miinster Alle Rechte vorbehalten All rights preserved. preserved. No part of this publication publication may be reproduced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, system, or transmitted, transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, photo-copying, recording, recording, or otherwise, electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. publisher.

Herstellung: Herstellung: Druckhaus Druckhaus Folberth, Pfungstadt Pfungstadt Printed in Germany ISBN 978-3-934628-90-8 978-3-934628-90-8

In the academical academical year 1954-55 1954-55 at University College, Toronto, I and a Mr Kelly, a research student in Hebrew Studies Studies who required a brief introduction introduction to Akkadian, read together in transliteration Langdon's Langdon's edition of Etana and the Eagle. I hardly realised at the time that this text, over the ensuing years, was strangely to engage my own research, research, if neither totally nor continuously. continuously. Nevertheless, working later at the British Museum through Bezold's texts, through Bezold's Catalogue of the Kouyunjik texts, unpublished unpublished numbers numbers of the Museum's Babylonian Collection, Collection, through a large section section of 'Geers' 'Geers' copies' at Chicago and many texts in published volumes, volumes, II may claim to have examined over 3,000 pieces in my search search for new material. With the present volume II make known what II have found, found, II lay a last brick in the wall. The work done has been achieved, achieved, and could only have been achieved, with help from gratehlly acknowledged. acknowledged. II name esfrom colleagues colleagues and institutions, institutions, here gratefully pecially Prof. Prof. Manfried Dietrich and Prof. Oswald Loretz for generously accepting the manuscript into the AOAT series, and Dr K. A. Metzler for carefully carefully conducting it through the production stages; Dr Joachim Marzahn of the Vorderasiatisches Vorderasiatisches Museum for his kind responses to my several questions questions on relevant VAT texts and requests Salje, Director of the Museum, for her permission to requests for collations; Dr Beate Salje, reproduce reproduce from its collections collections an impression impression of the Old Akkadian seal, VA 3456, and Keilschrifttexte aus Assur; Assur; the Trustees of copies copies of four VAT texts from from Ebeling's Keilschrifttxte The British Museum for permission to again reproduce the impression impression of the Etana seal, seal, BM 129480, 129480, and copies of thirteen texts from the Kouyunjik collection, eight previously published in my Etana edition; edition; and Prof. W. G. Lambert for kindly previously allowing allowing the inclusion inclusion on Plate 8 of his copy of Sm 365, previously published in fur Orientforschung Bd. XXVII (1980), p. 75. Archiv fur 75. As ever, I have received much advice and practical help from from my colleague, Irving Finkel. Finkel. Dominique Collon has kindly supplied supplied information information on the Etana seals seals in The British Museum. To Claudio Saporetti Saporetti I am grateful for the provision of a offices of Martin photocopy of his out-of-print Etana, achieved through the good offices Worthington, my secretarial and bibliographical bibliographical assistant in many aspects of the work. Had it been possible, possible, I would have liked also to thank my teacher, 0 . R. teacher, Prof. O. Gurney, pis. 8 and 9. Gurney, for permission to reproduce the Sultantepe Sultantepe texts to be seen on pls. 9. I have had to presume upon this courtesy, but he would have been interested interested to know of the likelihood Gilgamesh was represented represented at Suitantepe. Sultantepe. likelihood that Etana as well as Gilgamesh Shortly before he died, died, Oliver Gurney and I had a long correspondence correspondence on the flights flights to heaven described described in Etana III(!). He believed, believed, and indeed with others, that I had presented these wrongly in my edition, an observation observation that, in the following following pages, I do acknowledge acknowledge and accept. Finally, Finally, I would record that the careful styling and production of the work is owed to Dr John Dawson, Dawson, director of the Literary and Linguistic Computing Computing Centre in Cambridge, Cambridge, who, over many years, has unfailingly responded to my several requests requests for his technical help.

J. V. V. K. W. Printed on acid-free acid-free paper

Contents Preface ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................... 5 .................................................................................................................. 9 Introduction and Sigla .................................................................................................................. Part I:

Additions and corrections to the known story

. Notes on the Introduction Introduction and a new text of of the Old Version. Version, Tablet I ..... ..... 13 13 . At the pit ................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................. 21 . From the pit to the heaven ofof Anu ............................................................................ .............................................................................. 25

1 1. 2 2. 3 3. 44. 5 5. 66.

. The flights to heaven ................................................................................................ ......................................................................................................... 31 31 . The meeting with Ishtar ............................................................................................. ................................................................................................... 37 . During the pregnancy ....................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................... 43

II: Part 1 1:

Terra incognita

.

7 7. The return of the eagle ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... 47 ........................................................................................................ 55 88. The death of Muanna ...................................................................................................... 9. The death of Etana ....................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................. 59 9 10. Completing the story ......................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................... 71 71 10 11. Additional lines from the Middle Assyrian Version ........................................... ........................................... 77 11 12 12. How many Tablets? ...................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................... 87

.

. . . .

91 .................................................................................. Appendix: A brief note on K 6845 6845 ...................................................................................... 91 . . Bibliography .................................................................................................................................... 93 .................................................................................................................................... B~bl~ography 93 Index of words discussed .......................................................................................................... 97 ..................................................................................................... Subject Index .................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................. 99 ................................................................................................. Plates Cuneiform Plates .................................................................................................... Plates I-XIII I-XI11 ................................................................................ Plates Etana Seal Impressions ................................................................................. Plates XIV-XV XIV-XV

II I

Introduction Introduction and Sigla Over twenty years have now elapsed since the appearance of my 'new edition' of The The Legend of of Etana published by Aris and Phillips, Warminster, in 1985. 1985. It was a publication that was to disappoint me in many ways: the Introduction lamented that 'what is lost is far more than that which is preserved', and the final manuscript was put forward with several problems preserved', remaining as to the correct placing and identification of individual texts, and even of the length and ending of the story itself. Nevertheless, my search for Etana material has continued intermittently, and with the help of those colleagues who have reviewed the book,' book, l the subsequent translations of Stephanie Dalle/ ~ a l l and e ~ ~Benjamin Foster,3 ~ o s t e r ,the ~ new editions of Claudio 4 Saporetti and Michael Haul,s saporetti4 ~ a u l and , ~ the recent studies of Wayne Horowitz, Novotny,6 Gebhard Selz and J. R. ~ o v o t n many ~ , ~ improvements have resulted to the substance and detail of the work. This new material is presented here, although some reworking and re-assessment of the original texts is also included. To summarize what is provided more exactly, it will be seen that the work as a whole is divided into two Parts and twelve individual studies, these in tum turn being accompanied by twelve cuneiform plates. It has been thought appropriate, and even prudent, to present each study as a 'chapter', 'chapter', and so separated from that which either follows follows or precedes it. Although partly to rest the eye, the main reason for this division is to allow the different aspects of the work or text to be studied independently. No doubt the second part of the work which seeks to bring the story into a new perspective will attract its comments and debate. debate. Indeed, may it be so. so. The importance of the subject in the field of Mesopotamian epic literature requires no less. The further development of this new perspective, already in some degree introduced in 'A Reconstruction of the Story' in Etana pp. 14ff., may be left to its proper place in the relevant chapters of Part II. 11. But new understanding,

'

They include Bendt Alster in JAOS 109 109 (1989),81-86, (1989), 81-86, a review article; D. O. 0.Edzard, ZA 76 (1986), 134-137; JNES 48 (1989), 155-156; 134-137; W. Farber, JIVES 155-156; Claudio Saporetti, OLZ 83 83 (1988),544-546; (1988), 544-546; Marianna Vogelzang, BiOr 43 (1986),436-439. (1986), 436-439. 2 Mythsfrom M y t h s f i m Mesopotamia (Oxford 1989), 189-202. 189-202. Before the Muses II (Bethesda 1993, 2nd. edit. 1996), 1996), 437-457, and From Distant Days 3 (Bethesda 1995), 1995), 102-114. 102-1 14. 4 Etana (Palermo 1990). 1990). 5 Konigs von Kii, Kis, Gottinger Das Etana-Epos: ein Mythos von der Himmelfahrt des Kijnigs ed. B. R. M. Groneberg, Heft I (Gottingen 2000). Arbeitshefte zur altorientalischen Literatur, ed. 6 Respectively, Mesopotamian Cosmic Geography (Winona Lake 1998), 1998), Chap. 3, a study which follows on from "Two notes on Etana's flight to Heaven", Or. Or. 59 (1990), 511-517; 51 1-517; Etana-Erztihlung", ASJ 20 (1998),135-179; (1998), 135-179; and The The Standard Babylonian Etana Epic, "Die Etana-Erziihlung", ASJ20 Epic, SAACT II I1 (Helsinki 2001).

'

Studia Studia Etanaica Etanaica

10 10

Introduction and and Sig\a Sigla Introduction

itit may be claimed, claimed, may be seen seen also also in in Part I.I. Thus Thus in in the the first first chapter chapter we we shall discover the real reason as to why a lawless country required a king. shall discover the as lawless country king. A new text for Tablet I sees Etana on a long search for the plant of birth; for Tablet I sees search for the birth; it is is still still essential essential for for the the story story that that Etana's wife, wife, in in her initial initial dream, dream, 'could not see see where where it was was growing'. growing'. We We may discover discover how, how, at at the the pit, the the hungry hungry eagle 'found his strength again', and we shall find a better place for eagle 'found his strength again', and we shall find a better place for his(?) his(?) and and Etana's dreams dreams than than shortly shortly before before the the first first flight flight to to heaven. heaven. These These flights, flights, as as other other opinion opinion has has indeed indeed supposed, supposed, are are now now reduced reduced from from three three to to two, two, but the the meeting meeting with with Ishtar Ishtar still still stands stands as as the the culminating culminating point point of of Etana's long long search search for for the the plant plant of of birth, birth, and and we we may may now now learn learn something something of what she said to him. The last chapter in Part I reveals of what she said to him. The last chapter in Part I reveals from from new new texts texts something something of of the the measures measures taken taken by by Etana Etana to to protect protect his his wife wife during during her her pregnancy. pregnancy. What What may may further further be be said said at at this this point point concerns concerns the the lay-out lay-out of of the the text. text. Unlike the epic of Gilgamesh where a varied poetic structure is maintained Unlike the epic of Gilgamesh where a varied poetic structure is maintained throughout, throughout, the the legend legend of of Etana Etana has has also also its its 'prose' 'prose' passages, passages, as as so so argued argued in in my my edition, edition, p. p. 128. 128. This This analysis analysis has has been been continued continued for for the the present present study, study, the the poetical poetical lines lines in in their their generally generally twotwo- or or three-line three-line units units being being set set down down with a caesura space-theoretical in some instances-between the two with a caesura space-theoretical in some instances-between the two halves halves of of the the line. line. By By contrast contrast the the longer longer lines lines of of the the prose prose or or narrative narrative sections sections are are presented presentedwithout without divisions, divisions, but but this this isis not not to to imply imply that that they they do do not not also also have have 'form'. 'form'. They They are are invariably invariably complete complete in in one one line line of of text, text, and, and, so so far far as as one one may may judge judge from from the the newly newly accepted accepted texts, texts, appear appear often often to to have have been been composed composedon on the thebasis basis of of seven seven 'beats' 'beats' to to aa line. line. Overall Overall there there isis still still aa considerable considerable loss loss of of original original matter. matter. Accordingly, Accordingly, and as previously, a combination of brackets, as thus [( )], express and as previously, a combination of brackets, as thus [( )I, expressthe the kind kind of of restoration that may suitably be suggested in damaged portions of the text. restoration that may suitably be suggested in damaged portions of the text. A A list list of of the the texts texts used, used, with with their their Museum Museum numbers numbers and andbrief brief pUblication publication details, may next be given. The assigned sigla, where relevant, do details, may next be given. The assigned sigla, where relevant, do not not accord accord with those used in my Etana edition since the scheme adopted has with those used in my Etana edition since the scheme adopted has been been to to letter letter the the texts texts in in the the order order of of their their discussion. discussion. An An asterisk asterisk inserted insertedbefore before aa Museum Museumnumber numberindicates indicatesthat that the thetext text concerned concernedisisused used in inthis thisstudy studyfor forthe the first time. first time. Sigla Sigla Museum Museumnumber number This Thisedition edition

Previous Previouspublication publication

11 11

D

K 3651 365 1+ + 8578 8578 K

pls. 2-3 2-3 pIs.

Etana, pIs. pls. 26-28, 26-28, with with photograph, photograph, pI. pl. 32; 32; Etana, Saporetti,Etana, Etana, Tav. Tav. II (Testo (Testo C C and and G); G); Haul, Haul, Saporetti, Efana,Tf. Tf. XI-XII; XI-XII; Novotny Novotny Etana, Etana, p. p. 9, 9, lines lines 1-38 1-38 Etana, and 133-143; 133-143; aa photograph photograph of of what what is is taken taken to to be be and 105), isis given given by by the obverse obverse (cf. (cf. also also Saporetti, Saporetti,p. p. 105), the Horowitz, Or. Or. NS NS 59, 59, Tab. Tab. XC XC Horowitz,

E

79-7-8,43, obv. 79-7-8, 43, obv.

pl. 2 p1.2

Etana, pI. pl. 20; 20; Saporetti, Saporetti,Etana, Etana, Tav. Tav. II (Testo (Testo D); D); Etana, Novotny, p. p. 9, 9, lines lines 9-19 9-19 Novotny,

F

Rm 2,454 2,454 pIs. pls. 4-5 4-5 K 19530 19530++ Rm K 79-7-8,180 ++79-7-8,180

Etana, pIs. pls. 24-25, 24-25, now now reproduced reproduced with with the· theEtana, correctionof of obverse obverse and and reverse; reverse; Saporetti, Saporetti, Tav. Tav. II correction (Testo F); F); Novotny, Novotny, pp. pp. 9f., 9f., lines lines31-55 3 1-55 and and (Testo 106-144 106-144

G

Rm 2,492 Rm2,492

pl. 66 pI.

Etana, pI. pl. 29, 29, the the copy copy provided provided being being actually actuallythat that Etana, JNES33 33 (1974),245 (1974), 245 first published published in in JNES first

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Etana, pI. pl. 29, 29, now now newly newly placed placed in in the the composition composition Etana,

VAT 12998 12998 VAT

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Etana, pI. pl. 29, 29, reproduced reproduced from from Ebeling, Ebeling,KAR KAR Etana, No. 302 302 No.

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*SU52/325 521325 *SU

pl. 88 pI.

11,No. No. 351 35 1 Gurneyand and Hulin, Hulin, STT STTII, Gurney

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11,No. No. 346 346 STTII, STT

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JCS42 42(1990), (1 990),92, 92,Text TextNo.5 No. 5 JCS

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KARNo. 327 KARNo.327

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Efana,pI. pl.31, 3 1,the thetext textbeing beingthere thereclassified classifiedas as Etana, 'uncertain' 'uncertain'

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*Sm365 365 *Sm

pl.88 pI.

G.Lambert, Lambert,first firstpublished publishedininhis his CopyofW. of W.G. Copy "New fragments fragmentsof ofBabylonian Babylonianepics", epics", AjO AfO XXVII XXVII "New (1980),p.p.75 75 (1980),

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13,3 copy:L.L.W. W.King King CT13, CT 31,1,copy:

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Finkelstein,STT STTI,I,No. No.53 53 Gurneyand andFinkelstein, Gurney

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1.J.van vanDijk, Dijk,Texts Textsininthe theIraq IraqMuseum MuseumVol. Vol.IX IX (Leiden, No.50 50 (Leiden,1976), 1976),No.

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*SU52/302 521302(+) (+) *SU *SU52/320 521320 *SU

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STTII, 11, STTI,I,No. No.27, 27,theoretically theoreticallyjoined joined totoSTT STT No.353 353 No.

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pl.88 pI.

JCS42 42(1990), (1990),94, 94,Text TextNo.7, No.7 JCS

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STTII,11,No. No.358 358 STT

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Studia Etanaica Studia Etanaica

12 12 Y V

*SU 52/335 *SU52/335

pI. 99 pl.

STT I,I, No. No. 24 24 STT

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*SU 52/353 *SU52/353

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No. 349 349 STT 1II, STT 1, No.

X X

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*81-2-4,391 *81-24,391

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Etana, pl. pI. 331, where classified classified as as 'uncertain' 'uncertain' Etana, 1, where

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PART I: ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS TO THE

KNOWN STORY 11. Notes Notes on on the the Introduction Introduction and and aa new new text text of of the Old Version, Tablet I

KAR No. No. 332, 332, where where indicated indicated as as the the 'second 'second KAR fragment'

Two matters matters in in the the above above list list may may importantly importantly be be noted. noted. Ilowe to Dr Dr Marzahn Marzahn Two owe to of KAR 332 has now been given the information that the 'second fragment' the information that the 'second fragment' of KAR 332 has now been given its own own number, number, that that is, is, VAT VAT 10566a 10566a as as shown shown above above in in the the final final entry entry of of its 'Za'. Additionally, in Part V of my Etana, p. 149, note 2, I indicated that the 'Za'. Additionally, in Part V of my Etana, p. 149, note 2, I indicated that the of '1 '11653' assigned to to KAR KAR 335 335 was was incorrect, incorrect, but but Marzahn Marzahn VAT number number of VAT 1653' assigned has informed me that this is indeed the number, as clearly so written both on on has informed me that this is indeed the number, as clearly so written both the fragment fragment and and its its label. label. II do do apologize apologize for for the the error, error, however however it it arose. arose. the

The The beginning beginning of of the the legend legend of of Etana Etana is is disappointingly disappointingly fragmentary. fragmentary. There There has ?as already already been been much much argument argument as as to to what what should, should, or or should should not, not, be be included, although the text here discussed and its association with 82-3-23, mcluded, although the text here discussed and its association with 82-3-23 6, may perhaps dispel one problem in this regard. ' But But there there is is an an additional additional problem problem in in the the Introduction. Introduction. This This relates relates to to whether the fragment fragment Sm 1839, 1839, first copied in my Etana, Etana, pl. pI. 11, 11, should be incorporated into the Late Version of Tablet I, and some notes inco~orated into the Late Version of Tablet I, and some notes on on this this may may be given before proceeding with the new text. Of recent editors or Of gIven translators, tra~slators, Dalley, Foster and Saporetti accept the text into the composition while whIle Haul and Novotny omit it. In one respect, however, however, my own Etana was unsatisfactory and, presentation of the piece in ~resentation of the piece in Etana was unsatisfactory and, as as now now revised, revised, 17-28(!) are set down again below. The reason for the changed line lines hnes 17-28(1) numbering is that the Introduction is written in the hymno-epic hymno-epic style with numbering formal quatrains, quatrains, and the fifth fifth quatrain has previously been short of a fourth fourth formal line at line 20. 20. It has now been approximately approximately restored with the aid of the Old Version, Version, line 12, 12, having having supposedly supposedly been omitted omitted by a scribal error.

il-se-bet-tum eli um-ma-ni urn-ma-ni iZ-se-bet-tum da-cid-me uMdi-Zu zi-di-lu eli da-(id-me hu-ru , , su-tasSu-tas-hu-ru J'-gz-gz aif-Zla a ddi-gi-gi

. previous a-na-.

qurddu [(verily it came to pass)]: By the command of Shamash quriidu [(became as the speech of a man)]. The speech of a bird [(became The Etlana: The eagle eagle (then) opened his mouth, mouth, saying [to [to Et]ana: "(So) why have you come come to me? Tell Tell me!"g me!"'

I

25

Etana opened his mouth, mouth, saying [to [to the ea]gle: ealgle: friend, give give me the plant of birth! birth! "My friend, birth! "Reveal to me the plant of birth! "[Remove the s]hame slhame (upon me) and stablish me with an heir! heir! planlt ofbirth.,,9 of birth."9 "Leave behind [ .. .. .. .. .. the plan]t (Now), (Now), for for a bird in in [its] [its] setting fo[rth, fo[rth, ..... . . . . . ] ...... . . . . . . .. [Acco]rdingly [Accolrdingly [did [did the the eagle] eagle] thus [reply [reply to to Et]ana: Etlana:

25

'

interpreted, the phrase will involve involve a new meaning for for emu, emii,which, which, as as a loanword As now interpreted, from from Sum. Sum. erne, eme, 'tongue', 'tongue', 'language', 'language', has hitherto been only found found in the sense sense of 156 and AHw 215. 2 15. 'ploughshare', cf. cf. CAD CAD E 156 'ploughshare', this point has an an additional at-ta, at-ta, properly 'you'. The urgency, urgency, for for the eagle, eagle, of 8 The text at this a reply reply to to the long long pressing question of why Etana had come to him is is thought indicated accordingly. 97, line line 83, 83, was was accordingly. Not dissimilarly, and for for reasons there explained, atta in Etana 97, translated 'quickly'. 'quickly '. the line line see see below in in the the 'Selected Notes'. Notes' 9 For a possible completion of the 7

aa I[TU.MES]

(So) the eagle [opened] his mouth [and spoke unto Shamash, Shamash, (So) (saying)]: (saying)] : spelech of [a man I do do not understand], "[The spe]ech spelech [he does not understand]. "[(And) the spe ]ech of a bird [he frielnd (of his), [and he is a friend (of mine)]; "I am [a frie]nd "[So I must know] what he says, "[(And) he must know] know] what I say."

15 15

[a-na same Sam&sa $6 dA-nim] ~-nim]

The eagle opened his mouth and said to Etana: friend, we are partners, you and I. "My friend, "Tell me what you require of me and I will give it to you."

Etana opened his mouth and said to the eagle: language!7 [Reve]al [Revelal what is hidden speech) into a language!7 "Change (your speech) from me!"

D ri$$uru,b [[ .. .. .. ] x a-$U-U D E 'issiirulb ina $i-t[i-su] si-t[i-Szi] a-su-u D E 25 su ki-a-am [ip-pa-Ia(?) 25 rina 'ina libbi'clibbile-Szi [ip-pa-la(?) eru(m) erfi(m) a-na C)E-fa-a]n-ni (")E-ta-a]n-ni

DE D E

27

28 28

and ..... . . . . . ] the mountainland? "But alone shall I [rise up(?) arid own(?)] shall I bring to you [the [the plant ofb of blirth? "[On my own(?)] ]irth? . . . . [(but two together(?) ...... . . . . . . )]. )I. "The sin[gle man(?)] .... lO

30

3. From the pit to the heaven of Anu

Studia Etanaica

"An eagle moves about about1' [and. .. .. "An ]; 1; [ a . . .. "There is not [a which/where whichlwhere ....... . . . . . . . ].1. friend, [let me bear you up (even) to the heaven of "Come, my friend, Anu]!" Anu] !" The The passage continues with the details of of the first flight to heaven

Selected Notes

In the above reconstruction it has not been possible to harmonize all of the conflicting details-as pa-a-su, 'his mouth', in C which gives way to pi-i-s'u pi-i-su details-as pa-a-s'u, E. The presence or otherwise of mimation further separates the in D and E. different texts. But structurally considered, it is claimed that the narrative as a whole moves smoothly forwards forwards across its adjoining lines, the new interpretation of line 8 being of much importance in this regard. On specific points, I have firstly, Myths, 197, firstly, in line 1, 1, followed Dalley, Myths, 197, in supposing that it was not the serpent (as in my edition) but Etana that 'seized the hand' of the eagle-less eagle-less plausibly it has been taken to be the l'aquila a prendere la mano di other way round: 'preferiamo pensare che sia l'aquila Etana', Saporetti, JAOS 109, 86, Alster for line 85, 545. In his review in JAOS Saporetti, OLZ 85,545. 12 [i.~-$u-r]a-ku-ma, 'I am a bird'. bird'. In my Etana, p. 136, 136, 12 would restore [is-su-r]a-ku-ma, (discussed by Haul, p. 223), I had considered that the initial space was not sufficient for this restoration, but also such a reading might seem unlikely after the [at-m]i i$-$u-ri is-su-ri of the previous line. The [i-bi-r]a-ku-ma that is now proposed could meet both these objections. Line 23 I had misunderstood. misunderstood. It is now considered that the accusative samma s'a sa aliidi at the end of the line is probably the object of ezib-ma at the Summa beginning, but in the break between these words some word or phrase is missing. If it was possibly ki (or, a-na) zi-it-ti-ia zi-it-ti-ia or the like, yielding, "Leave behind as my inheritance share the plant of birth", birth", the meaning would be, 'Even if you have to die for it, find for me the plant of birth!' birth!' In his Etana, 109, sad a-la-di, 'el-zi-ib-ma [sam]-ma [Sam]-ma s' 109, line 15, 15, Saporetti gives the line as re'-zi-ib-ma translating, "consegna(mi) [la pialnta pia]nta del procreare". procreare". The thought is in general alignment with the above proposal, but without some medial term as suggested the line is out of balance with those preceding it and is considered metrically short. In my line 25 which has been reconstructed on the reasoning

that a speech by the eagle follows, follows, the restored [a-na (m)E-ta-a]n-ni (*)E-ta-a]n-ni is regarded as a desonant form to avoid the assonance of ana Etana. But a· a longer discussion may be devoted to the closing lines of the passage, where a major problem of of interpretation can no longer be avoided. avoided. The enquiry will largely centre on the question: Why, in the first instance, did the companions fly up to heaven? Now, for Langdon and myself, as also later for Foster and Saporetti, there was an obvious answer to this question: a 'message dream' to one of them had told of a confrontation in heaven involving a goddess and her lions and so the direction of flight was determined accordingly. In fact to Stephanie Dalley in her Myths from Mesopotamia belongs the credit of first exposing the fallacy of this argument. II that Langdon and I had wrongly argument. She explained explained1' assigned the two faces faces of the relevant text so that the dream in question precedes the second flight, flight, not the first. first. Haul and Novotny accept this position. So, what prompted the first flight? Some thoughts on the matter may be found in Haul's section on "Weshalb zwei Himmelfliige?" (see his Etana, 27-29), 27-29), which approaches the matter with the help of parallels from the later 'folklore' 'folklore' tradition although arguing nevertheless (p. 29) for the primacy of the Mesopotamian story. However, no answer, I think, has yet been given to the question as I have formulated it, so that the following following thought may be submitted despite the fragmentary nature of the text. I suggest that the object of the first flight was not to find the plant of birth. It was to prove what, from the Etana seals, we have rather taken for granted, namely, that the eagle was indeed able to carry Etana with him as they searched for the plant together. He was confident that he might take him anywhere, even (say) to the heaven of Anu. It would be a subtle twist of the composition that the second flight took them to no less a destination. The chapter may be ended with a note on the last line of Tablet II, 11, a line whose meaning, one may suggest, has not yet been fully apprehended. apprehended. The context is that, following directions given to him by Shamash, Shamash, Etana has arrived at the pit into which, as predicted, the wingless eagle had been thrown. The following line I had read as ul-la-nu-um-ma us-ta-qa-as-su US-ta-qa-as'-s'zi (var.: (var.: ul-taq-qa-as-su) ul-tag-qa-as'-%) [erumUSen], [er6"""~, translating 'There waiting for him was [the eagle]' eagle] '.. Subsequent alternatives offered against this rendering have all taken the saqu not (w)aqu. verb involved to be Sag6 (w)aq6. Thus Edzard in ZA 76, 136, suggested, "(Etana) lieB lieB ihn (= (= den Adler) zu sich heraufkommen", but arguably such a thought comes too soon in the narrative and removes the necessary ingredient of suspense. suspense. Dalley has 'The eagle raised itself itself up at once', Haul, "Sogleich .. ", and Saporetti, not completing the line, 'subito la hob er ihn empor. empor ...", [I ' aquila] sollevo', IW witness against [l'aquila] sollevb', but lines 1-2 1-2 of the Old Version at lIE

'O

Here accepting Dalley's Dalley's i$-$u-da, is-su-da, as also Haul, p. 194, 194, line 21, as a better reading than my i$-$u is-su ta-[a-bu], fa-[a-buj, Etana 114, 114, line 21.

29

10

11

Myths, p. 201, last sentence of note 23.

30 30

Studia StudiaEtanaica Etanaica

these translations translations since since itit was was aa month month before before the the eagle eagle could could rise rise from from the the these pit pit (mathematically, (mathematically, eight eight months months minus minus seven). seven). Foster Foster suggests, suggests, 'There 'There he he was was for for him him to to bring bring up', up', but but only only doubtfully doubtfully can can this this meaning meaning be be wrested wrested from the the Akkadian. Akkadian. from In us'tiiqaSSu, or or ultaqqassu, ultaqqas's'u, isis the the 3rd. 3rd. pers. pers. sing. sing. pres. pres. 8t St In my my judgment judgment ustiiqassu, (cf. (cf. GAG GAG §tj 94, 94, c) c) of of (w)aqu, (w)aqG, 'to 'to wait', wait', with with dative dative suffix. suffix. II had had chosen chosen the the wrong St form form isis here here passive-but passive-but as as now now rendered, rendered, and and with with aa wrong tense-the tense-the 8t new 149f.reads: reads: new suggestion suggestion for for the the end end of of the the line, line, Etana Etana III1 149f. ina lib-[bi-s'd na-di-(ma) nu-di-(ma) erumUSen] er DmUgen] ina lib-[bi-sa [7 ul-la-nu-um-ma us-ta-qa-as-su us'-ta-qa-as'-s'u [7 ITU.MES] ITU.ME$] ul-la-nu-um-ma

Into itit (the (the pit) pit) [had [had been been cast cast the the eagle]; eagle]; Into 12 There him.'* There [for [for seven seven months] months] he he has has had had to to wait wait for for him. ItIt should should be be said said that, that, in in his his Etana, Etana, p. p. 223, 223, Haul Haul comments comments that that waqu waqD isis not not elsewhere St form, form, but but this this of of itself itself isis not not an an argument argument against against itit elsewhere found found in in the the 8t since since tense tense forms forms which which only only occur occur in in aa single single text text are are not not rare rare in in our our studies. studies. The supposed 7 ITU.MES, 'for seven months', would be in a position of The supposed 7 ITU.MES,'for seven months', would be in a position of emphasis emphasis at at the the end end of of the the line, line, and and may may have have been been written written as as suggested. suggested. To To judge judge from from my my copy copy on on pI. pl. 19 19the the space space available available would would neatly neatly accommodate accommodate the three three signs. signs. the

l2 12 For For the the interest interest of of the the matter matter II would would suggest suggest here here aa new new interpretation interpretation of of en. en. el. el. VII, VII, 126, 126, which which concerns concerns the the Nebiru-planet. NEbiru-planet. Supposing Supposing that that the the four four signs signs in in angled angled brackets brackets have have fallen fallen out out by by haplography, haplography, II read read the the text text as: as: e-lis e-liS u ti sap-liS Sap-liSla-<pa-ni-su la-<pa-ni-Su fa> la> ib-bi-ru ib-bi-ru li-qeli-q6-'u-su 'u-S~sa-a-su Sa-a-Su 'Neither 'Neither above above nor nor below below may may they they (the (the stars) stars) cross cross ; him>; they they must must wait wait for for him.' It It may be added added that II regard ibbira ibbid in in this this line line as as a jussive. For two two other suggested suggested examples of this 11, section section 5, 5, assemme, aSSemme, 'may II be obeyed', and and ibid., ibid., this tense tense cf. cf. in in chapter chapter 11, section 6, 6, irtanahha~a, irtanahhaszi, 'may they wash away'.

4. The The flights flights to to heaven heaven 4. There isis one one serious serious lacuna lacuna in in the the reconstruction reconstruction presented presented below, below, but but my my There acceptance in in the the previous previous chapter chapter that that the the ascription ascription of of obverse obverse and and reverse reverse acceptance IS 119530+ was incorrect-the incorrect-the sides sides are are now now correctly correctly on .the the pl~tes plates of of K ?n ~530+ was indicated m in the the republished republished copies copies on on pIs. pls. 4-5-makes 4-5-makes new statement statement mdlcated aa new necessary. The The problem problem of of where, where, if if anywhere, anywhere, Etana Etana and and the the eagle eagle may may necessary. have gone gone when when they they had had their their dreams dreams between between the the flights flights will will also also be be have discussed. discussed. In the the previous previous section section we we left left the the companions companions on on their their first first flight flight to to the the In JAOS heaven of of Anu. Anu. This This flight flight almost almost certainly certainly failed. failed. Alster Alster in in his his review, review, JAOS heaven 109, 83, 83, isis surely surely right right in in saying saying that that we we expect expect the the flight flight to to fail. fail. The The 109, AnzQ,against against Tiamat, Tiamat, or or Huwawa Huwawa and and the the Bull Bull expeditions against against Asag Asag and and Anzu, expeditions of of Heaven, Heaven, all all begin begin with with their their reverses reverses and and succeed succeed only only in in the the end. end. II have have no a-na iilf-ia dli-ia at at the the no additional additional comment comment to to make make for for the the phrase phrase lu-ut-tal-lak lu-ut-tal-lak a-na end of of the the flight, flight, but but the the fall. fall to to earth, earth, as as II would would think, think, has has its its uncertainties uncertainties end also. also. The The current current interpretation interpretation isis that that the the eagle eagle 'threw 'threw down', down', or or 'dropped', 'dropped', or 'shrugged off' Etana, then catching him again as he fell, which or 'shrugged off' Etana, then catching him again as he fell, which he he did did three three times times overall. overall. Another Another possibility, possibility, however, however, would would be be to to translate translate issukassum-ma issukas'.fum-ma as as '(although) '(although) he he tried tried to to thrust thrust him him off', o f f , then then understanding understanding the im-da-har-su ~ ~ ~ ~ ( T I ~ . Mim-qu-ut-ma im-qu-ut-ma uSEN) im-da-har-s'u ina ina kap-pi-su kap-pi-s'u as as 'the 'the the following following eru(TI8.MUSEN) eagle eagle fell, fell, for for he he lay lay squarely squarely across across his his wings'. wings'. This This translation translation as as now now proposed proposed may may improve improve upon upon 'he 'he caught caught him' him' as as the the meaning meaning of of imdahar-su, imdahar-s'u, for of for inherent inherent in in the the 'twofold' 'twofold' aspect aspect of mithuru mithuru isis the the idea idea of of 'to 'to meet meet,' match match,, , correspond', correspond', etc., etc., so so that that the the thought thought would would be be that that Etana Etana lay lay at at full full length length 13 across flying.13Thus Thus interpreted interpreted across the the wings wings and and so so prevented prevented the the eagle eagle from from flying. there there isis still still aa case-I case-I believe believe aa valid valid one-for one-for accepting accepting TIM TIM IX, IX, 49, 49, into into the the composition, composition, and and for for supposing supposing that, that, at at the the eagle's eagle's cry cry to to Ishtar, Ishtar, '[his '[his outstretched outstretched wings(?)] wings(?)] became became embedded embedded in in aa brushwood brushwood pile pile of of poplar poplar wood' . . . ]] ru-um-mU-$a ru-um-mu-$a ab-ru-um ab-ru-um $e-er-[ba-t]i-im, $6-er-[ba-t]i-im, which which saved saved wood' [kap-pa-su [kap-pa-s'u ... their lives. lives. The The piece piece has has not been accepted into into the the story story by other editors, editors, but there there isis no no better place for for the the fragment fragment as as I understand understand it. it. It It is is at at this this point that the the 'serious 'serious lacuna' as as mentioned mentioned above above sets sets in in,, and and one one may may wonder what happens happens next. next. The The problem has has been appreciated appreciated and and isis discussed by Haul Haul in in his his section section "Die "Die LUcke Lucke zwischen Etanas Etanas HimmelflUgen Himmelflugen und Etanas Etanas Traume", see see his his edition, edition, p. p. 29. 29. The The dreams dreams themselves, including V, Haul including those those of the the MA MAV, Haul would place in in the the betweenflights position-a position-a conclusion I would now now also also accept-but accept-but the the more more flights difficult difficult question question is is what happens happens before before this. this. Dalley's suggestion, suggestion, as as given l3

13

For similar examples examples involving the the Gt Gt form form see see now H. H. Hirsch, Hirsch, "Die "Die Verbalstamme Verbalsthme mit mit

AfO 50 50 (2003/4), (2003/4), 80-94. 80-94. fa-Infix", ta-Infix", AjD

4. 4. The The flights flights to to heaven heaven

Studia Studia Etanaica Etanaica

32 32

p. 198, 198, isis that that Etana Etana and and the the eagle eagle 'go 'go back back [presumably [presumably fly fly in in her her Myths, Myths, p. back] back] to to Kish Kish [where] [where] Etana Etana has has aa series series of of three three dreams dreams which encourage encourage him to to make make aa second second attempt attempt to to reach heaven'. What could could be be seen seen as as aa him in this this theory is is that to to give give up up so so soon soon after after aa first first reversal reversal of weakness in fortune fortune is is not very very heroic, heroic, or, or, indeed, indeed, characteristic characteristic of the the old old stories. stories. However, my my own own proposal that there there was was aa flight flight to to aa mountainside mountainside (on (on on the the argument that which see see the the 'Reconstruction' on p.9), p. 9), based on Gilgamesh, as as described in Gilg. Gilg. IV, IV, had his dreams dreams in in such a place, was was Gilgamesh, alternative, not yet considered, considered, would be that, that, doubtless also also in in error. error. An alternative, doubtless dazed by their fall fall from from the the heights heights of heaven, the the sleep sleep of the the companions companions dreams was was the the 'sleep' of unconsciousness. unconsciousness. In this case case the the before their dreams dreams will have been conveyed to them in the place where they fell, fell, and indeed, there is is one text, as as newly seen, which could support this proposal. proposal. The text in question is is LKA 14, 14, rev. rev. vi, the copy, from Franz Kocher's Etana, pI. pl. 6. 6. Its Its general character may ~e be seen hand, being reproduced in my Etana, in Haul's edition, ivy), and in Saporettl, Saporetti, p.96 p. 96 edition, p. 146 146 (there given as 'Kol. iv'), (where described erroneously as a 'col. iii'). What I myself made of it as given in Etana, pp. 64f. 64f. was but a desperate attempt to wr.est wrest some semblance of meaning from a mere fragment of text. A new attempt IS is made below. Three lines fragmentary fragmentary B . . . . . (saying)]: [The eagle's] wife [ ..... as's'asa-[su(?) . .. assas -[sue?) ... "Yo[ur] father [ . . .. .. .. 5' AD-k[a? AD-k[a? . .. "Lift up [his] [his] he[ he[ad(?) ... ad(?) ... i-Si qa[qqad-su(?)b] qa[qqad-~u(?)~] . . . "Lift i-si x [ ... r i ] 'mgs. "[ .. ., . . .. . .h his IS 'wlings. W a '-[ga]p-pe-[su(?) -[glib-pe-[s'u(?) .. . . .. ra "If . . ] ..... . . . . . [ ... ... "If he [ .. [l]@?C-pu-ul . . .. [l]ipt-pu-ul [ .. "If the 'state of being' is confu[sed(?) ... ... "If e-5.'2t1? . . .. e-rset'? ba-s'i-tu ba-si-tu [ .. . , [t? "(then) "(then) if if [his head(?)] does not fall1 fal[l (he is ia ... za im-qu[t? Im-qu .... 10' alive?)]; alive?)]', 14 "(But) he does not hea[r ...... . . . . ]I4 "(But) if ifhe ] ia is'-me-[(e)-ma .. is-me-[(e)-ma .... (and) if he does not .... [ .... . . (he is ifhe ia ih-[ .... .. dead)]." dead)]."

dd[ zi-mar .. u-mar s'itta Sl tta [ .... a-na it-ti [ .... .. 15' aa-na - n a ba b a x [[ .... .. ,

v'

Two fledglings [(flew down(?) ...... . . . . I].. For a sign [of life . . . . . they looked?]. [of ..... ..... . . . [ .... .. Two lines fragmentary fragmentary

DAM-[SU?], cf. comment following aB DAM-[su?],

b

earlier copy, cf. also Haul, note 448

d 11-to II-fa

l4 14

S[AG.DU-SU(?)] S[AG.DU-su(?)] Following Ebeling's

33 33

Notes Notes

As will will be be already already clear, clear, the the above above passage, passage, in in general general terms, terms, is is thought to to As concern the the 'state 'state of of being(?)' of of the the eagle eagle after after the the fall, fall, itit being uncertain, one one may may suppose, suppose, as as to to whether he he is is alive alive or or dead. dead. Necessarily Necessarily this this conjectured meaning bas'itu would need to to be be separated separated from from its its familiar familiar meaning for for basftu sense sense as as 'property', 'property', 'possessions' 'possessions' (the (the proposal of 'the 'the present time' given in Etana, Etana, 75, 75, may be disregarded). In line 6' the the restoration of qaqqad-su, 'his head', is is based solely, solely, though not unsuitably, on the the familar familar drooping drooping head of a dead bird, a sight made made the the more obvious from from their generally long necks. necks. The 13', is is probably new. new. Left untranslated by Haul, Haul, p. p. 146, 146, The word u-mar, zi-mar, line line 13', by Saporetti, p. 96, 96, and by myself, the emerging context suggests suggests that its resemblance resemblance to the Sum. Sum. amar == atmu, atmu, 'fledgling', 'fledgling', may not be accidental. It is is presumed in fact that, occurring before the numeral sitta, Sitta, 'two', 'two', umar is is the uninflected form form of a Sum. Sum. loanword *umaru, at one stage perhaps **amaru, amaru, the change of the initial vowel being of a kind known from the shift of (w)ardu to urdu, 'slave'. 'slave'. Arguing back from this position, the initial DAM of line 4' has been taken as the logogram for assatu, as'iatu, 'wife', 'wife', that is, the eagle's wife, who, having witnessed the fall, will have been the speaker for the direct speech of line 5ff. AD-k[a?] of line 5', if correctly so so read, 5ff. The AD-k[a?] could support the proposal. Additionally, a line from the compilation of literary quotations edited by W. G. Lambert Larnbert in a still intriguing text,15 text,15 may be relevant here. It reads (rev. (rev. 7): NAM?]'TAR. ina mi-le-e Sadi(KUR-i) sadf(KUR-i) it-ta-lad ~ eru(TI8.MUSEN) [ ... . . . NAM?].TAR. ~~~(TI~.MU$EN) ru-mas'-sil rzi-maS'-Sil

Reasonably (p. 155) Lambert considered that the line could refer to the of a poplar tree, not on I1 (except that this was at the top of eagle's nest in Etana II mountain) , but with our new insights into the a mountain), matter the line could 16 also begotten offspring on a translate: '[(Now) by fa]te(?) the eagle had also16 height in the mountainland'. The text would then be referring to a second of the eagle, from which his new family will have observed his nest, or aerie, of fall. Of the dreams which follow, that provided provided by K 14788, published published in my Of edition on pl. pI. 22, is the most difficult to place with certainty in the justification Haul presents it amongst "Text"Textcomposition. With much justification of his book (p. 208). More will be unklarer Einordnung" Einordnung" at the end of fragmente unklarer paragraph of of chap. 8, and the familiar said about it below, in the second paragraph dream that precedes the second flight will be left for discussion to chap. 5.

C

One might might reasonably reasonably expect expect in in this this position position as as aa parallel parallel phrase, phrase, 'and 'and ififhe does not not see' see'. One he does

IS 15 16 16

"A piece piece of of esoteric Babylonian Babylonian learning", learning", RA RA 68 (1984), (1984),149-156. "A 149-156. Uncertain, Uncertain, the the translation translation being being an an attempt attempt to to bring bring umaiiil, umassil, lit., lit., 'he 'he made made equal', equal', or or the the

regarded by by Lambert, it stands outside it, ittal(1)ad ittal(l)ad the sentence as a whole. whole. If, It: as so regarded like, into the could be be rendered rendered '(the '(the eagle) eagle) had had (again) (again) begotten begotten offspring'. offspring'. could

Studia Etanaica

4. The flights flights to heaven

What may, however, be presented here, and for its relevance to chap. 9, is a new transliteration transliteration and translation of the second of the 'symbolic' 'symbolic' dreams as found in the MA V. The basic texts are MAl MA, and MA3 MA3 which are brought MAV. together in my Etana, pp. pp. 66f., and more clearly differentiated in Haul's Partitur presentation as given in his edition, p. 148. What should first, first, however, be explained is that an idealized text is provided for the initial lines 16-17, u] being taken back from the el-pe-t[u] 16-17, with the important term el-pe-t[ beginning of line 17' and placed at the end of line 16'. The translation may best indicate why this new suggestion for the lay-out is now proposed.

supposed; to an extent this relieves the difficulty of the 'evil snakes', snakes', well supposed; possibly "Feinde" as supposed by Haul, p. 159, 159, note on v, 6'-12'. 6'-12'. In line 22' i-ka-nu-Su is a present tense; my previous '(they) bowed down', as if iknusii, iknuizi, i-ka-nu-su is not suitable. suitable. But further fkrther discussion of the dream, and a suggestion as to the elpitu-grass, is withheld to the later arguments of significance of the heaped elpftu-grass, 10. Discussion otherwise would be premature, it being still chapter 10. maintained that the meaning of the dream cannot be resolved within the compass of a three-Tablet work. flights. These The dreams, then, in summary, separate the two (only) flights. flights were motivated by different events and were single in their objectives, flights but their structural details were much the same and their literary merit has been rightly praised. And, be it said, there was never a flight extending bCru into the heavens. As I should have realised, at 3 beru bZru from the earth 6 beru it-I do apologise to Wayne the heaven of Anu has no cosmic space above it-I Horowitz 'for misleading his initial research in this respect. The two-flight scheme requires also a further humility: it completes the demise of 'the spirit 113ff. of my Adventure(?)' which, for a time, had its uneasy life on pp. 113ff. of Adventure(?), edition. But on one matter there will be no compromise: quite certainly, and indeed, inevitably, the climax of the second flight was the meeting with Ishtar in her heavenly temple.

34

20'

ina Su-ti-ia su-ti-ia pa-ah-rat pa-ah-rat el-pe-t[ut el-pe-t[uIa [a-ta-am-mur(?)b e ]l-pe-ta [a-ta-am-rn~r(?)~ ell-pe-ta i+na rbiti'c 'bitilC d i+na kis:"'sat kii-Sat miiti miitid ki gu-ru-ni ig-ta-n[ a ]-tu-nu e biliit/ ig-ta-n[a]-ru-nue biliite g . . . . . ] x $a-ru Su-nu $Criig [ ..... su-nu $erii lem-nu-tu h piinC-ia [ ..... . . . . . il-l]a-ku-ni-ma ana anapiinii-ia sa ana] sap-Iu-ia k [ ..... . . . . . Sa anal rzagmukki'(?)i rzagmukkil(?)Ji-ka-nu-su i-ka-nu-Su Sap-lu-ia"

aa Word taken back from beginning of line 117' T b Free restoration erE' d KUR 'E' e" conflating the ig-ta-n[a-ru-nu] ig-ta-n[a-ru-nu] ofMA of MA3 ig--ru-nu, as probably, of 3 with the ig--ru-nu, MAl g MUS.MES MA, f GUN.MES GUN.MES MUS.MEShh although a reading [im-tal-lJa-ku-ni-ma [im-tal-l]a-ku-ni-ma is not i' IGI j uncertain, but based on the possibility of reading the signs as [Z]A[G.M]U [z]A[G.M]u(usually ZAG.MUK) ZAG.MUK) kk word preceded by ana which is not required

excluded

New Translation Translation

20'

"In my dream haIfa-grass halfa-grass was being gathered; "[I saw(?)] haIfa-grass saw(?)] halfa-grass in [every] house. "Men everywhere throughout the land "were piling quantities (of it) into heaps. 17 heaps.17 "(Then) $iirii ~iirii(villains) [confronted me(?)]; me(?)]; as evil $erii ~Crii(snakes) were they (portrayed). "[Like(?) ..... . . . . . they c]ame clame towards me, "[Men(?) who, at the New] Year(?), Year(?), had been bowing down before me."

Relevant to the above is the point that the el-pe-t[u] of line 16' and the [e]l-pe-ta OLZ 83, 546, [ell-pe-ta of line 17' have been kept distinct. distinct. Saporetti in VLZ followed by Haul, Etana, 161, take them to be the same word; their case 161, endings, however, are different and they occur at different positions on their respective tablets. In line 17' the translation 'in [every] [every] house' will only be correct if the previous verb is a distributive tan-form, but this could well have been the case. In line 20' a play on the words $iirii jiirii and $erii ~Criiis now " Foster's translation here is 'They heaped up loads (of them) in piles', where 'loads' rather 17 translation loads neatly renders bilfte. renders bitiite.

35

5. The The meeting meeting with with Ishtar Ishtar 5. In In Iraq Iraq 64 64 (2002), (2002), Fig. Fig. 41, 41, Julian Julian Reade Reade reproduced reproduced aa watercolour watercolour by by F. Cooper Cooper of of the the entrance entrance to to the the Bet BEt IStar IStar sarrat Sarrat niphi niphi at at Nimrud Nimrud as as itit could could F. once once be be seen. seen.''18 On On either either side side of of the the entrance entrance stands stands aa large large open-mouthed open-mouthed labbu, monuments monuments which which of of themselves themselves would would identify identify the the temple temple even even if if the the labbu, writing writing on on their their flanks flanks was was not not otherwise otherwise available. available. There There isis much much additional additional reason reason to to associate associate the the mythological mythological labbu labbu with with 19 Ishtar. With 1shtar.19 With no no other other goddess, goddess, indeed indeed with with no no other other deity, deity, are are the the labba labbzi associated, and and in in fact fact they they provide provide an an essential essential clue clue for for the the meaning meaning of of the the associated, dream dream which which preceded preceded the the second second flight flight in in Etana. Etana. That That dream, dream, against against current opinion, opinion, II would would still still think think to to be be that that of the the eagle. eagle. Haul Haul in in his his Etana, Etana, current 226, as as also also Alster Alster in in JAOS 226, JAOS 109, 109, 62, 62, argued argued that that the the address address formula formula after after the the dream dream necessarily necessarily involves involves aa change change of of speaker. speaker. That, That, however, however, isis not not the the case case in in LV LV I,I, where where as as seen seen in in chap. chap. 11of of the the present present study study (lines (lines 4' 4' and and 9' 9' of of text text B), B), aa repeated repeated address address formula formula occurs occurs without without change change of of speaker speaker in in the the long address address to to him him of of Etana's long Etana's wife. wife. Moreover, Moreover, and and although although admittedly admittedly from from different V do different versions, versions, the the two. two 'symbolic' 'symbolic' dreams dreams of of the the MA MAV do not not harmonize harmonize well, well, or or at at all, all, with with the the long long 'message' 'message' dream dream of of the the LV. LV. The The dissimilarity, dissimilarity,to to 20 my mind, mind, suggests suggests that that two two dreamers dreamerswere were involved. involved.20 my In the the text text itself one one improvement improvement may may be be suggested. suggested. In In line line 11 11 of the the In dream, dream, and and following following Haul's Haul's collation collation at at the the break break although although departing departing from from his s-su i]t-tak-ba-[ as], 'the his own own proposal proposal (p. (p. 202), 202), one one could could read read (i-i[ ti-i[s-su i]t-tak-ba-[as], 'the clay clay [around [around itit (the (the throne)] throne)] had had been been trodden trodden do[wn]', do[wn]', that that is, is, by by the the labba labba mentioned mentioned in in the the following following line. line. II had had previously previously suggested suggested *qaq-qa-[ru *gag-qa-[ru i]ti]ttak-ba-[as], tak-ba-[as], 'the 'the ground ground (around (around it) it) had had been been trodden trodden down'. down'. II pass pass now now to to the the question question of of whether whether or or not not the the fragmentary fragmentary text text Rm Rm 2,492, 2,492, republished republished here here on on pI. pl. 6, 6, represents represents an an episode episode in in the the working working out out of of the the original original dream. dream. No No editor editor as as yet yet has has so so accepted accepted it; it; indeed, indeed, Foster Foster and and Saporetti Saporetti believe believe in in the the failure failure of the the mission mission altogether. altogether. Nevertheless Nevertheless with with several improvements improvements the the text text is is here here brought brought forward forward again, again, but this this time time several with the the association association ofK of K 10099 with 10099 which which isis also also reproduced reproduced on on pI. pl. 6. 6. The The latter latter text text was was first first presented presented on on pI. pl. 21 21 of of my my edition edition where where II had had certainly certainly The plate plate appears appears on on p. p. 183 183of of Reade's Reade's study, study,"The "The ziggurat ziggurat and and temples temples ofNimrud", of Nimrud", the the 18 The temple itself itself being being discussed discussedon on pp. pp. 18lff. 181ff. temple 19 19 See See accordingly accordinglyWayne Wayne Horowitz, Horowitz,Mesopotamian Mesopotamian Cosmic Cosmic Geography, Geography,p.p. 58 58 with with note note 19. 19. 20 20 An An additional additionalpoint point isis that that the the word word su-pa-a iu-pa-ainin line line 16 16after after the the dream dreamcan can unexceptionally unexceptionally be be taken taken to to mean mean '(now) '(now) has has been been made made manifest manifest to to me', me', the the eagle eagle being being the the speaker. speaker. Haul Haul reads, reads, su-pa-a Su-pa-asut[ta-ka], Sut[ta-ka], translating, translating, "[dein] "[dein] rTraum' 'Traum1 ist ist offensichtlich!", offensichtlich!", but but the the suffix suffix -ka -ka isis not not certain. certain. Dalley Dalley has, has, 'My 'My friend, friend, [the [the significance significanceof of the the dreams] dreams] isis quite quite clear!', clear!', but but only only one dream dream isis of of concern concern so so that that [sunatu] [SunEtu] isis not not the the subject. subject. one

,

5. The meeting with Ishtar

Studia Etanaica

38

misunderstood it. It was considered to relate to the making of of new wings for misunderstood 'with every weapon', weapon', of of line 5, as may be ka-la ka-ak-ka, ka-ak-ka, 'with the eagle, and the ka-la seen further on pp. 106f., was brought into the solution. Thought out anew and restored in a different way, it is set down below with Rm 2,492, necessarily as a separate text since the two pieces are from different tablets 'G' and 'H' 'H' respectively in the list of of join. They are given as 'G' and do not join. texts.

Unclear bpreceded by an erased sign, probably the beginning of of us U$ C f[u] t[u] or l[d /[1] e [K]I [K]I f [G]I$ [O]IS TASKARIN, discussed in the following note g SEM h considered to represent represent the third element of of a 2:2:2 line, concluding the speech i lines thought to be prose 1 lines thought to be prose aa

d DINGIR.MES DINGIR.MES

Translation Translation

2

Transliteration Transliteration ] r MES '?3

[ ...

G G G

[. . . ] qud-mis [u-tar-ri-is-su-nu(?) d)i-ra-a-ta

is b-sa-[am-da(?) ... ir-bi-s[u . ..

G G

[ .... .. [ .... ..

. v, xC [ .. Zl-mu-sa xC[ . . . zi-mu-Sci na-mir-tu k[i .. nu-mir-tu ...

[ . . .

5' 5'

la? in-nalm-ru in-na ]m-ru 1]xx

G G

[ ... [ ...

G G

[dE-ta-na . .. [ ...

G 10' G

[ ... [ ...

i-q]is-su i-q] is-szi id-d)in-su id-d] in-Szi

G G

[ [

... ...

]/i ]-nun

5

1] 1]

10

ka-a-a-an ]1 ka-a-a-an [ .. .. .. tuh-du ta-mi[ -ir-tu lih-nuta-mi[-ir-tu ub(?)] ub(?)l

H

H H

H 5' H

H

H

[ .. [ .. [ ..

. . .

] ] ]

[[ .. . . .. I [[ .. . . .. I [[ .. . . ]I h [sa-ni-ta-am-ma(?)] [Sa-ni-ta-am-ma(?)] ul i-pat-tar i-pat-tar

.. .. a-an-tu Slp-ra . . h] h]a-an-& Sip-ra' ] x ul i-qab-bi i-qab-bi'i

[klma(?) .. . [dE-ta-na . . . Break

1

"[(With this plant) .. .. .. "[(With I(?) have] pass.. brought to pass "[(It . . . . . of all the plant life(?» life(?)) that is cul]tivated culltivated in the "[(It is the ..... earth, fragrant...... . . . . thane?)] than(?)] the box tree whose scent is as as "[More fragrant fragrant herbs. fragrant

[ana qi-bi-t]i-ka(?) a-na-rku' a-nu-'kul [li-in-na-s ]er ka-la ka-ak-ka [li-in-nu-~]er [i-na qa-t]i-ia ul e-li

i

[The goddess] presented him [with the plant, reciting (over it)] a pra[yer]:: pra[yer] [Ishtar ga]ve galve to him [the [the plant, reciting (over it)] a pra[yer, (saying)]:

Short break

[... u-S)ab-s[i] zi-qab-S[i] [sa ina e ]rsitie sur-sa-tu [Sa e]r$itie Sur-sa-tzi [ x ] taskarinni sa riqqu taskarinniff Sa riqqugg nar ... " p j-'. ;zi1 pl-SU

v.

1

] she was filled with fearhl fearful light. more(?) ofi of] the fearful light than (other)

... "Continually [may Adad(?) ... "Continually ralin down and the mead[ows "[May. .. .. .. .. ra]in bloom(?)] with abundant growth!"

Short break H H

[But not yet(?) could her face be sleen, .. s]een, her countenance .[ .... veiled(?)]. [... ] radiance li[ke .... ..

was parallysed [Etana. para]lysed with fright. [Etana . .. . [And he could not(?) note?) see(?) that a plant(?)] plante?)] was being held in her hand. .

[si]m-ma-tu i-.?[am-ma-am] i-s[am-ma-am] [Silm-ma-tu q ]a-ti-sa ta-m[i-ih] ta-m[i-ih] [ina q]a-ti-Sci

tu- '[a ' [a i-man-ni(?)] imanni(SID-ni)(?)] tu-[ 'a imanni(S1~-ni)(?)]

[(But the lions)] she had aforetime harnes[sed (to her yoke?)]; [She drove them off(?)] with a whiplash and they lay do[wn (at her side)]. side )].

[ .... . [ .... . gods radiate.

[m]a-la-at pu-ul-[ha-ti] pu-ul-[ha-ti] [mla-la-at [ip]-pal-hu iilu [@I-pal-hu l ~d7pu-l[uh-ta] ~~u-l[uh-ta]

] ]

339 9

5

. . . . . as a com]mand comlmand to you: "[(But this do you remember(?)], remember(?))], I [ ..... "[(But protelcted with every weapon. weapon. "[(Let a guard be set over it), be it prote]cted [from] my "[(For another plant of this kind)] cannot go forth [from] [halnd, or be released [a second time]." [ha]nd,

Studia Etanaica Studia

5. 5. The The meeting meeting with with Ishtar Ishtar

[As a man to to whom] whom] a swift swift [runner(?) [runner(?) has has just delivered] delivered] an an [As (urgent) message, (urgent) . . . . .the the plant(?))], plant(?))], could not speak. speak. [Etana, (when (when he .....

One One further further text is is considered relevant to to the the theme of this section. section. It It is is VAT 12998 12998 which was was published by Ebeling Ebeling in KAR 302 302 and and reproduced in Etana, pI. pl. 29; 29; i~it is is now further further repeated in pI. pl. 6. 6. There There is is much damage, damage, but ~tana, Its its three final final lInes, lines, the the first first two two in poetry, the the third, third, a catch-line, in prose, may be partly read. read. Testifying, Testifying, it is is thought, to to the the last words words of Ishtar before Etana's departure from from her presence, presence, the the three lines read possibly as: as:

40 40

Break

41 41

Notes Selected Notes The and The first first of the the above above texts texts was first first published in a previous study,21 and indeed I have taken over from qud-mii and and i$-$ais-safrom this this the the readings of both qud-mis [am-da] [am-da] in line 2. 2. Additionally, Additionally, the the copy as as there given (on p. 245) 245) showed showed the mda] as issa[mda] as an an erasure, erasure, and and this this has has been preferred to to the the the traces before i$$a[ completed completed sign sign as as it was was later shown shown in Etana, Etana, pI. pl. 29. The The suitability suitability of the the verb verb $amadu samddu in association association with Ishtar's lions lions is is seen seen in the the cited dIstar d ~ i t a... ... r sa id $a-an-da-ti and 7 la-ab-ba (sic) (sic) ... ... i$-mi-id-su ij-mi-id-su of respectively VAB VAB sa-an-da-ti 7 la-ab-bu and 4 274, 274, 15 15 and and 276, 276, 31. 3 122. The ~The ~ new restoration of u-tar-ri-is-su-nu zi-tar-ri-is-su-nu is is based solely on the tarddu would be the the expected verb verb for for 'to the consideration consideration that taradu drive rabdju in the the same same line line is is used typically typically of drive off' of animals; animals; the the verb raba$u animals. (Etana, p. p. 12) 12) that what animals. As As to to my comment in the the 'Reconstruction' (Etana, was given to Etana in lines 10 10 and 11 11 'will not so so immediately have been the plant of birth', I believe that this opinion badly underestimated the speed of Mesopotamian stories. 'pectoral' by stories. With the replacing of tu-[di-it-tu(?)], 'pectoral' tu-[ 'u], 'prayer formula', the way is open to suggest that we do tu-['u], do at last have a splinter of a text that witnesses to the dramatic climax of Etana's mission. mission. Source H, in its way, supports this conclusion. Perhaps only a line or two supports conclusion. Source H, its is is missing between the two pieces. It is is conceded that, as as before, the tell-tale sammu, Sammu, 'plant', 'plant', does does not appear in the text, but it is is thought that the lines as as restored would suit, suit, and are are convincing, convincing, as as comments comments by Ishtar on the nature and uniqueness of the plant. In line 2, iur-sa-tti for for sur-sa-tu iur-ia-tzi is taken to be 2, sur-sa-tu the stative subj. idruiu, 'to put under cultivation',23 c ~ l t i v a t i o n ' the , ~ ~ feminin~ feminine subject subj. of surusu, being perhaps napistu, napiitu, 'life', 'life', or siknat iiknat napisti, napiiti, or some some other term of a like kind. GI$ TASKARIN, 'box', 'box', in line 3, 3, the end of the top kind. As to the reading of GIS in my copy resembles ma-is· now thought to belong stroke of gis-which gii-which resembles ma-is properly to the sign before, the signs signs in general running close close together at this point. In line 6', i-pat-tar is is thought to stand for ip-pat-tar, passive.

''

"Further contributions to the Legend of Etana", JNES 33 33 (1974),237-249. (1974), 237-249. full, the second reference translates approximately as, 'He (Nabonidus) However, in full, harnessed to himself [not 'for her', her', as Hildegard Lewy in AS 16, 16, 281] 2811 the seven labbii, labbl, symbols of his divinity' (si-mat i-lu-ti-su). i-lu-ti-Su). Arguments advanced in The The Rebel Lands (Cambridge 1979), 1979), 101-106, 101-106, explain that the divine Weapons and powers which subdued 'mythological' 'mythological' enemies in the earlier times were passed down to, or could be assumed by, the later kings who might then use them in their own battles. It is supposed that, in 'reharnessing' 'reharnessing' the Lions, N abonidus was drawing divine power to himself Nabonidus himself in a similar way. 23 285, under eresu erZu B. 23 As thus CAD E 285,

21

22

22

[[ .. ... [[ .. . . ..

] x ki-[t]um ki-[tlum .] -r·, ta-m 1t -t1. . ta-nil-'it1-ti

[[ ... ...

za-mi(?) z&-mi(?)dlnnin]-a-kam d~nnin]-a-kcimi-na bab bdb dA~-nim - n i m[ ... ...

sukun iukun (GAR-un) (GAR-un) [mi-sa-ra(?)] [mi-ia-ra(?)] pa-ni-ka [lu-us-nam-mer(?)] [lu-ui-nam-mer(?)]

1

"[(In the the land?) land?) be] be] law [imposed], [justice] Ijustice] do do thou establish; establish; plraise, and and I will will [brighten] your face face (with joy)!" joy)!" sing(?) my p]raise, "[Ever sing(?) [Saying "Praise(?)] to to [Inanna]!" [Etana [Etana and and the the eagle(?) eagle(?) passed] passed] through the Kish(?)]. the gate gate of Anu [and [and returned safely(?) safely(?) to to Kish(?)]. The The above above piece, already suggested as as part of Etana Etana by R. R. Borger in his HKL HKL II, 57, and III, 111, 62, 62, was incorrectly incorrectly restored as as to its third line in my previous 11, 57, edition, edition, p. 12. 12. As now identified, the text, in terms of the LV, will represent the end of 'Tablet III'. 111'. In Tn the first first line the restoration of mfsaru miiaru is is supported kittu and its well-known use with both by its common association with kittu sakanu--even twice in one line in the 'Akkadian Prophecies' edited by iakdnu-ven Grayson and Lambert, JCS 18 18 (1964), p.16, p. 16, 7. 7. In line 2 the restored l~snam,!!er panu than the luinammer is is a SD form, form, which is is more commonly found with withpiind sImple simple S form form... If the identification identification is is correct, the question arises as as to which version of Etana the fragment fragment belongs. belongs. Since Since there are are no examples, examples, as as presently known, of Late Version texts in the Berlin collections, it may possibly have been a piece of the Middle Assyrian Version written in Neo-Assyrian script, script, such as MA2). It is not clear what is the precise meaning of as VAT 10291 10291 (or MA2)' kam-mu, khm-mu, 'text', 'text', 'tablet?', 'tablet?', which is seen in the first first line of the colophon. colophon.

6. During the pregnancy There is as yet no textual evidence for the birth of a son to Etana. Three new texts, however, given as sources 'J' 'J' to 'L' 'L' in the initial list, may suitably, as they are set down below, speak for the close imminence of that event. pI. 6. It was first The main piece is K 10096, presented in copy on pl. published in the 'Texts and Fragments' section of JCS 42 (1990) 92, and at the time II had no thought as to its possible relevance for the legend of Etana. sequence, I had noticed that in line 7' the signs Sd sa uzi id sa are found together in sequence, and that one possibility would be to read Sd sa Sammi sammi Sd, sa, 'of 'of the plant which'. which'. However, not every plant is the plant of birth. Nevertheless, and in the course of time, continuing research has suggested that two small fragments 0. R. R. Gurney's fragments from the Sultantepe texts, copied in O. second volume as Nos. 346 and 351, may support the text ofK of K 10096. They are reproduced in the present study on pl. pI. 8, 8, and have been positioned in what is thought to be their approximate place in relation to each other. Since both of the texts come from the top edge of their tablet and presumably its obverse, they have the additional importance of suggesting that the episode as a whole belongs to the very beginning of Tablet IV. As elsewhere in this account proposed restorations are provisional but may serve to give added substance to a poorly preserved text. Transliteration Transliteration JK JK JK KL KL

[mu-sa-r]u-u [mu-sa-r]u-zialW iil[iax x x (ma) (ma) m?E-ta-n]a "'E-ta-n]a ina [lib-hie?) [lib-bi(?)... ... [x Z[I-hu? ... [ x (x) u]-sar-ru-[u-si(?) zil-Sar-ru-[u-Si(?)it& arah]b arahlb 3 u 4 Z[I-hu? ... [a-a [a-a u-mas]-ser zi-mail-SBr [ki-rim-ma [ki-rim-ma t]a-ri-is-rsu' t]a-ri-is-'sd [ ... ... [a-a. m]u-se-*rniq'-te [a-a . . .. m]u-Se-*'niql-te [tu-leFe'-a [tu-le]-'el-a [ ... ... 5 [... ki-i(?)] re'-ri-tu lib-ba [i-$ab-ba-tu(?)] [... ki-i(?)]'el-ri-tzi Sd [i-sab-ba-tu(?)] [it? [h? mu-sad-dJu-u(?) mu-Sad-d)u-ti(?)la qe[r-bu-(u)-ni(m)] qe[r-bu-(u)-ni(m)]

KL KL L L L 10 LlO

sa

·· an-nu-u'[]' l-l t u SAL. ]]kki-i an-nu-zi-[tlzi S A L r.MURUB4 ' M U R U ,ck· B ~ki-m[a ~I-m [a ... ... [ .. .. .. [ ..... ip-t]i a-ku-lu a-na [s]a-l[i-im-ti ... . . . . . ip-t]i [Sla-l[i-im-ti. . . [e-li(?) sa e-pu-su [e-li(?)mim-muFu'(?) mim-mu]-'zil(?)Sd e-pu-Szi ma-ti[-ma ma-ti[-ma ... ... r ,d [[ .... ] - e id sa Sammie samml·e Sd sa i-tu--da I-tu--da a [[ ... . . . . me me]-'eld ... [a-di sa ib-ba-nu-u [a-di ma-l]a(?) ma-l]a(?)U4-me u4-me id ib-ba-nu-zi [ ... ... v,

v

v

,

•

1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1

Two fragmentary Two lines fragmentary URU b [ITI] C for a possible reading see in following Notes but considered less likely e U u

a

d or [IU':']U [ILL]U= =

[hll]u, [hiflu,

Translation Translation

S5

10 10

6. 6.During Duringthe thepregnancy pregnancy

StudiaEtanaica Etanaica Studia

44 44

[A garden] garden] bed bed in in the the cit(y cit[y was was opened opened up, up, and and Etan]a Etanlathere(in there[in (A planted the plant of birth]. planted the plant of birth]. pregna[nt and and months] months] three three and and four four [(And)after after he] he] had had made made her her pregna[nt [(And) pas[sed by, by, (his (his wife wife said said to to him)]: him)]: had pas[sed had rellax [her [her hold hold on on him, him, (my (my own own "[So that] that] his his nurse nurse [shall [shall not not re]lax "[So arms shall shall hold hold him)]; him)]; arms . . . . .],j, with with my my "[So that that the the breasts(?)] breasts(?)] of of aa wet wet nurse nurse [shall [shallnot not ..... "[So [breaslts [I[I shall shall suckle suckle him]." him]." own [breas]ts own [Etana also also had had assured(?) assured(?) that], that], being being pregnant, pregnant, the the (demons) (demons) who who [Etana womb(s) [and cause miscarlriage should not draw ne[ar [seize] [seize] womb(s) [and cause miscar]riage should not draw ne[ar her]. her]. [(So [(So when when she she told told him)] him)] that that these these [were [were indeed indeed assailing(?)] assailing(?)] (her) (her) womb(?) as as [previously], [previously], womb(?) [He [He at at once(?) once(?) op]ened oplened up up the the rest rest room room (which) (which) [he [he had had built] built] for for [her] sa[fe sa[fe delivery]. delivery]. [her] more than than anyth]ing(?) anyth]ing(?) that that he he [Its. more [Its ..... had ever ever made. made. had [Now jui]ce(?) of of the the plant plant which which had had been been growing growing [Now also(?) also(?) the the jui]ce(?) . . . . .],1, profusely [he [he ..... profusely [And up up to to the the e]nd e]nd of of the the days days when when [her [her child] child] had had been been (fully) (fully) [And formed [he [he gave gave itit to to her her to to drink]. drink]. formed

Two Two lines linesfragmentary fragmentary

Explanatory Notes Notes Explanatory 1Iff. ff. It It will will be be seen seen that that the the passage passage as as aa whole whole isis written written in in prose, prose, and and even even Muanna's Muanna's two-line two-line declaration declaration in in lines lines 33 and and 44 has has been been set set down down without without aa caesural caesura1 space space in in the the belief belief that that they they are are too too long long to to be be poetry. poetry. In In line line 11 itself itself the the restored restored 'was 'was opened opened up' up' has has probably probably found found the the right right verb-petu verb-petzi isis often often used to to express express the the beginning of of new new enterprise-although enterprise-although the the transitive ip-tu-u-(ma), '''they'' '"they" opened opened up', may may possibly have have transitive and and indefinite indefinite ip-tu-u-(ma), been written. written. The The Akkadian for for 'to 'to plant' is is zaqiipu zaqdpu for for trees trees and and sakiinu Sakdnu for for plants, is'-kun or or perhaps perhaps is-tak-na is'-tak-na may may have have featured featured in in plants, whence whence the the simple simple is-kun the text. text. the 3-4. 3-4. The The suggested suggested restorations restorations in in line line 33 stem stem from from the the consideration consideration that kirimmu, kirimmu, the the strong strong 'armhold' 'armhold' of of aa nurse nurse (probably (probably in in part needed to to prevent baby-snatching as as an an implicit implicit evil evil of of the the times) times) isis the the noun most most associated associated with wlmus's'uru, 'to 'to release' or or 'relax' 'relax' such such hold, hold, is is suggestive suggestive with tiirltu, tdritu, while while wlmu§Suru, as as the the associated verb. verb. In line line 4, 4, and and allowing that the the negative negative precative aya is is the the correct initial restoration, restoration, I would expect that 'with my own breasts

45 45

shall suckle suckle him' him' should should be be tu-le-e-a tu-le-e-a lu-se-niq-su lu-s'e-niq-s'u in in Akkadian, Akkadian, the the end end verb verb II shall being equally equally expressed expressed as as aa precative precative tense. tense. A A line line that that isis somewhat somewhat similar similar being occurs IIC 1:1: occurs in in the the Old Old Version Version of ofEtana Etana at at IIC li-ih-li-iq-su a-ia li-ih-li-iq-s'u rtu'-ii-du '#ul-ti-du a-ia ii-ta ti-ta harriinam harrdnam "May the the path path disappear disappear for for him him so so that that he he cannot cannot find find the the road." road." "May

It may may be be mentioned mentioned that that the the lexical lexical texts texts uphold uphold the the point point of of there there being being aa It close tzritu, 'nurse', 'nurse', and and ummu, ummu, 'mother', 'mother', as as in in close association association between between the the tiirltu, um-me-da um-me-da u-um c-um

DUB.ME DUB.ME UM UM

[u-um DUB] [u-um DUB] [um-me-da [um-me-da DUB.ME] DUB.ME]

ta-ri-tum ta-ri-turn um-mu um-mu Aa 27-28 (MSL III/5,27-28 (MSL XIV XIV 344) 344) Aa HIlS, du-ub-bu *um-*mu du-ub-bu *um-*mu MIN ta-ri-tum MIN me-mu-ii me-mu-ti ta-ri-tum Ea 209-210 111,209-2 10(MSL (MSL XIV XIV 312). 3 12). Ea III,

Additionally, Additionally, the the Sum. Sum. ummeda, ummeda, 'nurse', 'nurse', seems seems doubtless doubtless to to mean mean 'she 'she who who (stands) (= accompanies) accompanies) the the (stands) beside beside the the mother', mother', or or else else 'who 'who (goes) (goes) with with (= mother'. mother'.

5. As As restored, restored, itit isis considered considered that that two two demons demons might might oppose oppose Muanna Muanna in in S. her her pregnancy, pregnancy, the the first first being being doubtless doubtless responsible responsible for for the the condition condition of of sa-dib-ba, Sh-dib-ba, or or 'womb 'womb seizure'. 24 In In modern modem terms terms this this condition condition would would probably probably have have been been that that of of eclampsia, eclampsia, medically medically defined defined as as 'a 'a convulsive convulsive or or epileptiform epileptiform seizure seizure occurring occurring in in women women during during pregnancy, pregnancy, labor labor or or the the puerperium.' 25 The puerperium.'25 The name name of of the the second second demon, demon, the the musaddu(?), mus'addzi(?), is is reconstructed, nadzi as as 'to 'to suffer suffer aa miscarriage', miscarriage', and and suddu s'uddzi as as to to reconstructed, but but the the verb verb nadu cause cause that that event,. event, isis well-known well-known from from occurrences occurrences in in ritual ritual and and legal legal texts texts (cf. (cf. CAD CAD Nil Nl1 79 79 and and 97; 97; AHw AHw 708, 708, under under S 11,, c). c). A A basic basic study study isis that that of of R. R. D. D. Biggs, Biggs, 'Conception, 'Conception, Contraception Contraception and and Abortion Abortion in in Ancient Ancient Mesopotamia', Mesopotamia', published published in in Studies Studies... ... inin honour honour of of W W. G. G. Lambert Lambert (Winona (Winona Lake, Lake, 2000), 2000), 1-l3. 1-13. If the the concept concept of of two two demons demons is is correct, correct, the the possibility may be be considered should be be rather qe[r-ba-(a)qe[r-ba-(a)considered that that the the restored qe[r-bu-(u)-nim] should nim], that is, is, with the the dual dual eQding, ending, but the the stated stated conditions conditions are are not related. related. r 6. The The ideogram ideogram SAL. SAL.'MURUB~', with the the second second sign sign being internally 6. MURUB4" with damaged damaged but otherwise otherwise certain, certain, is is apparently apparently new. new. While While murub murub44 by itself itself isis

24 24

This This term term written written as as sa-di[b-ba] Sa-di[b-ba] occurs occurs in in line line 33 of of Rm Rm 398 398 published published in in JNES JiVES 33, 33, 238. 238. This This piece piece could could still still perhaps perhaps be be aa fragment fragment of of the the very beginning beginning of of the the story story in in the the Late Late Version. Version. 25 25 Cited Cited from from Gould's GouldS Medical Dictionary, ed. ed. C. C. V. V. Brownlow (Philadelphia, 5th 5th edit. edit. 1941),445. 1941), 445.

46

Studia Etanaica Etanaica

well-known as the Sum. Sum. equivalent of qablu A, meaning 'hips' 'hips' or 'waist', 'waist', it does not seem likely that this is also the meaning of SAL.MURUB4. SAL.MURUB4. Based on [uzu.murub,x the model of Hh XV, 24d (text in MSL 9, 7) which has [uzu.murub (SAL.LAGAB)] :: u-ru sa sin-niS-tum, sin-nis-tum, a possible reading qablu Sa sa sinniSti sinnisti could zi-ru Sa (SAL.LAGAB)] be considered as a corresponding phrase. Nevertheless, as the site of a demonic seizure, uru Eru (or also, uru) urzi) might seem a better choice than qablu for early pregnancy. pregnancy. In Ea V, 232 (text in MSL XIV, 402), there is a restored u-ru] entry [mu-ru-u]b SAL SAL [[ 6-ru] which could possibly favour a reading uru. Eru. 7ff. The word a-ku-lu in line 7 is not in this form to be found in the 7ff. dictionaries. dictionaries. It is taken, however, to be the same word as the NA akullu, A11 285 285 and CDA 10), lo), some kind of special room or building (as thus CAD All and in the present context not unsuitably a 'rest room' or 'private room'. In line lOa Sa libbi-sa libbi-Sd would be suitable for 'the child (of her 10 a restoration of sa womb)'. further gain for for the story-as story-as the matter is is understood--concerns understood--concerns the A further administration administration of the plant of birth, the juice(?) of which was was evidently given to Etana's wife from from the beginning of her trouble up to the very end of the gestation period. A note on the plant of birth with reference to Etana is given by Marten Stol St01 in his Birth in Babylonia and the Bible (Groningen, (Groningen, 2000), 2000)' pp. pp. 55f. 55f. In his note 51 51 Stol St01 writes that he cannot agree with J. Bottero, Annuaire de des ' ~ c o l pratique e des Hautes Etudes, ~ t u d e sIV IVe , e Section (1969/70), (1 969170)' 117, 1 17, de I1'Ecole who believed 'that the plant of birth in the myth facilitates facilitates the delivery and that it is not a stimulant for fertility'. From what we may glean from our new text the better argument lies with Bottero; BottCro; the implication of line lOis 10 is that a daily draught was was administered. administered.

11: TERRA INCOGNITA PART II: 7. The return of the eagle furrow. As yet there is no general agreement that, after the I plough a lonely furrow. flights flights to heaven and the return of Etana to Kish, the story must go on. That position, however, I still maintain. To suppose, suppose, originally with Langdon but with much support from today's writers, that a son, son, Balih, is born to Etana since the Sumerian King list declares it to be so so and thereafter no more need be said, is both unsatisfactory as a story and disrespectful disrespecthl of the evidence which points directly to its continuation. That evidence is twofold, and one line of it is new. new. If one accepts the texts presented in chap. as belonging to Etana, then the fact fact that they derive derive chap. ·66 as from from the top edge of a new Tablet (supposedly now Tablet IV) IV) means that not yet is is the story ended. ended. There is, is, secondly, secondly, the evidence of the dreams. dreams. Of the two that are are considered relevant Etana's 'haifa-grass' 'halfa-grass' dream from from the MAV will be examined as to its meaning in chap. 10. 10. But more significant, significant, as I believe, is the second(?) dream of his wife which has an explicit reference to Etana's death as also to her own. own. The important lines are K 8563, 8563, rev.(!) rev.(!) 4-8, 4-8, copied in my Etana, pI. pl. 30. 30. They are also now available available in Haul, Etana, Tf. 11, p. 3, lines 60-64. Tf. IX, and type-set in Novotny, SAACT II, With some new restorations which are naturally uncertain, they read: read: kfma kima E-ta-ni mu-ti ku-u[n-ma(?) ... .. . 5' kfma ka-a-si m[utf(US) kun(GI.NA)-ma(?) kima ka-a-Si m[uti(~g)kcn(G1.N~)-ma(?)... ... rdi rd'E_[t]a_na E-[tla-na sar-ru Sar-ru a [rki?(EGIR)26 [ r k i ? ( ~ ~-ia ~ ~i-mat-ma(?)] i-mat-ma(?)] )~~-ia e-tim-mu-su e-tim-mu-Su ana [pa]nf([IG]I)-[ia(?) [pZ]ni([IG]I)-[ia(?) in-na-mer-ma(?)] in-nu-mer-ma(?)] itt la [n]a-rmer' ina rekalli(E.GAL?Y [L]U.US [n]~-~mer' 'ekalli(~.G~L?)' [L]u.u$ (?)x x [ ... ...

The suggested translation is: is:

5'

26 26

"As (that (that of) of) Etana, Etana, so so has has my own death death been det[ermined(?) det[ermined(?) ... ... "As (that of) yourself, [so has my own] de[ath been determined(?) of) yourself, [so has own] determined(?) ... ... "[Although] Etana, Etana, the the king, king, [will [will die] die] a[fter me(?)], "His ghost-body [appeared(?)] [me(?)]; [appeared(?)] be[fo]re [me(?)]; "Yet not in the paJ[ace] pal[ace] will it be [s]een,27 [ ~ ] e e n , [for *[for ~ the? bo]dy(?) bo]dy(?) ...... . . . . . . ""

So SOreading after Haul's copy in Tf. Tf. IX, which shows shows that the head of a horizontal stroke, stroke, not included in my own copy, copy, is is visible at this this point. point. 27 27 Or, Or, alternatively, 'was 'was it seen', that is, is, in the dream. dream. The restoration of[innamer] of [innamer] in line line 7' has n ]a-' mer' in has been suggested by the the new reading of[ of [nla-'mer' in line line 8'. 8'.

Studia Etanaica

7. The return of of the eagle

The actual placing of this dream is in some dispute. Farber in JNES 48, 155, 155, note 2, suggested that it should be placed in Tablet I. Since the other side of the fragment carries the eagle's(?) dream of Tablet 111, III, he thought it conceivable that K 8563 might be part of a large tablet 'which originally 8563 of..... Etana'. In a long and careful study the contained the complete text of. proposal is developed by Haul, pp. 29ff., and in his edition of the text on p. 168 168 the dream is placed immediately after the Introduction. This idea in tum Muanna's first turn is followed by Novotny, with the added complexity that Muanna's dream of 82-3-23, first , , that is, in my reconstruction: it was discussed 82-3-23, 6-' 6-'first', above in chap. 111. Dalley also (Myths, (Myths, I98f.) 198f.) would chap. I-is 1-is placed in Tablet III. place the dream in Tablet III; 111; Saporetti, Saporetti, Etana, Etana, p. 93, 93, places both dreams of Etana's wife in the text of his 'Part III'; 111'; and Foster in his translations omits omits the dream in question altogether. All is not well here. I also on pI. 8563 pl. 30 of Etana copied that face face of K 8563 which, despite its flatness, I regard as a reverse, under the designation of despite flatness, as 'Tablet V', which is not correct. Nevertheless, my continuing feeling that this is correct. feeling new dream dream of Muanna derives from from a late point in the story, story, that our author is is now dramatically turning his narrative narrative towards a new series series of events, events, is is not, I think, in error. Are we to believe that a dream which concerns the death not, error. to concerns death of both Etana and Muanna-and Muanna-and mu-ti in line 4' means indisputably "my death"-is death"-is to to be placed at a point in the composition when the story has hardly begun? Indeed, Indeed, the dream of Etana's wife concerning the plant of birth, a dream dream which is is arguably locked in position in Tablet I with the association association of TIM IX, IX, 50, 50, is is already divided into into three parts and must surely surely stand stand alone. alone. Misunderstandings, II suggest, suggest, all all hinge hinge on on the the premise premise that Etana is is complete in three Tablets. If the number is rather six, a different picture complete in three Tablets. the is six, a different picture emerges I1 to to defend emerges altogether. It It will will require the the whole whole of the the current Part II this this thesis, thesis, and and where where actually in in the the composition composition this this 'death-dream' should be be placed placed will will be be suggested suggested in in chapter chapter 8. 8. However, However, one one constructional constructional mistake that I have made may be corrected before we proceed. mistake that I have made may be corrected before we proceed. In In 'A 'A reconstruction have reconstruction of of the the story', story', p. p. 16, 16, itit was was supposed supposed that that 'there 'there must... must ... have been been committed committed some some sin sin or or crime crime by by Etana, Etana, both both to to satisfy satisfy the the Gilgamesh Gilgamesh reference VII, iv. iv. 45ff.]28 45ff.12' and and also also the the requirement requirement of of the the unburied unburied 'ghost'ghostreference [of [of VII, body' (of Etana) mentioned in his wife's dream'. A 'sin or crime', however, body' (of Etana) mentioned in his wife's dream'. A 'sin or crime', however, there there need need not not have have been been (correctly (correctly challenged challenged by by Selz, Selz, ASJ ASJ 20, 20, 146). 146). Sudden Sudden death death on on aa .field field of of battle battle orin or in tragic tragic circumstances circumstances could could more more convincingly, convincingly, and and more more realistically, realistically, have have released released Etana's Etana's ghost. ghost. We We shall shall return return to to this this matter in chapter 9. matter in chapter 9. In In fact, fact, for for the the new new 'reconstruction', 'reconstruction', the the theme theme of of Etana's Etana's death death will will form form the VI. Much Much action action has has the climax climax of of the the story; story; itit isis told, told, as as I1 believe, believe, in in Tablet Tablet VI.

thus to precede it, and, as already surmised on p. 13 13 of of my book, the most probable next event is the return of the eagle. It is the Middle Assyrian of Version which provides the evidence for this, one of of the texts being VAT 11653 11653 which was reproduced on pl. pI. 10 from KAR 335 and is now repeated for the present study on pl. pI. 7. I had said of of this text that it 'appears 'appears to concern the eagle as he ruminates over his former friendship with Etana, there being a (h'-par URUDU) reference to the 'copper wings' (a'-par URUDU) which had been made for fqr him in line 4'. Based on the new readings in chap. 2, the situation now is that no new wings were made for the eagle, but the piece has nevertheless been retained for the story with the copper wings being interpreted differently. With the addition and support of KAR 327, obverse(!), now also reproduced pl. 7, a new picture is presented which is set down below. The sources are on pI. 'M' 'N'. 'M' and 'N'.

48

As ASthus thus cited cited in in Etana, Etana, p.p. 14, 14,but but following following George, George, Gilgamesh Gilgamesh I,I, 644, 644, to to be be now now given given as as VII VII 202. 202. The The allusion allusion isis to to the the presence presence of of Etana Etana post post mortem mortem in in the the 'House 'House of of Dust', Dust', or or Irkalla. Irkalla.

28

Transliteration Transliteration Three lines lines fragmentary Three M M M M M

... ki-i x [ ... 5' iteruba fterub a su-u[ n-qu .. szi-u[n-qu . . .. la-ber la-Iu-ru'-[su la-l~-~zi'-[Su.. . ..

M M M M M M

Ab, [d'(?) erzib zi-a[-di(?) ... eru u-a - I . ••• ... ib-ru-su [ ... it-ba-ru-su ki-ma [[ ... ... it-ba-ru-su

[is-sa-pi]-ih(?) ib-[ru]-tam[-ma(?) ib-[rul-tam[-ma(?) .. .. .. MN 10' [is-sa-pi]-ih(?) N [a-na ra]miini(?)c-su x [[ ... N ra]mi~ni(?)~-Su ... N N N

[,m/-m]u sa su-pu[ -u kfma(?) ... .?dk' ene. am-ma- ( at ... A(?)e sam [ -ta.? . .. t1'l - I'I mes U [qn ] a. ra, -par

N 15' 15' u-sa-qi-su zi-Sa-qi-s'u eli eli [[ ... ... N N a-rna' N a-'nal rzik?'-ri-ia iik?'-ri-ia is-[ iS-[ ... . .. N N

um-da-h[i-r]a-an-ni [su-u-ma(?) ... it-tas-[ ...

N Hna pa-n[i ... N 20' e-/[i .. . N lu ru [ .. . N i+na ri [ ...

49

Studia Studia Etanaica Etanaica

50 50

collation: TI~.MUSEN, collation: Marzahn Marzahn

aa KU4-ub K U ~ - U ~b TIg.MUSEN, e N[ N[&At

C

[N]i, [N]i, if correctly correctly interpreted interpreted

7. The The return return of the the eagle eagle 7. dURUDU URUDu

zA.Gi]N(?) ZA.G~]N(?)

Translation Translation Three Three lines lines fragmentary

5' 5'

When. ... When. [[ ... Hun[ger] Hun[ger] had come come upon [him [him ... ... Grown Grown old old was was [his] [his] youthful youthful vigour vigour [[ ... ... The wn(?) ....... The eagle eagle made made kno[ kno[wn(?) . . . . . . . toto his his heart(?), heart(?), saying]: saying]: "His ... "His friendship friendship [[ ... "His "His partnership partnership .. . . [[ ... ...

10' 10'

"[He "[He has has set set at] at] nought the the friend[ship friend[ship ... .. "[He. for "[He... .. for h]imself(?) h]imself(?) .. [[ ... ...

[a-di u]l-la-ma ni-i-[nu it-ba-ru], '[For elver we we [shall [shall be friends]'. The The more [a-di poignant, therefore, therefore, and and the the more more justifiable, would have have been the the eagle's eagle's poignant, grief. A A further further indignity, indignity, as as the the story story conceives conceives it, it, would have have been the the grief. making by Etana of an elaborate statue of him. As in the epic of Gilgamesh, making an elaborate statue him. As in the epic Gilgamesh, VIII, where where Gilgamesh Gilgamesh erects erects aa golden golden statue statue to to his his friend, friend, Enkidu, Enkidu, the the Tablet VIII, Tablet making of a statue statue was was essentially, essentially, or could be seen seen as, as, a post-mortem event. event. making What happens happens next, next, if if the the direction direction we we are are taking taking is is still still correct, may may be be What K 1578, here listed as source 'O', which was followed in part from the text of followed in from the ofK 1578, here as source '0', was originally published with with the the 'uncertain 'uncertain pieces' in in Etana, Etana, pI. pl. 31. 31. Two Two lines lines originally from this this piece piece were were cited cited in in the the 'Reconstruction' 'Reconstruction' on on p. p. 15, 15, but adding adding now from the previous previous line, line, and and then then linking linking the the second second and and third lines lines together as as aa the '2:2:2' line, line, the the text text of of lines lines 4-6 4-6 may may be be set set down down as as follows: follows: three-part or or "2:2:2' three-part

o0

o0 5'5 '

o0

"Higher(?) ]] has has he he raised raised it, it, "Higher(?) than than [[ .... .. 29 "(And) [memlorial ofme of me2' he he has has set set [it [it up(?) up(?) in in his his "(And) as as aa [mem]orial palace(?) ]. palace(?)]. "He against me, me, [(and [(and II will will go go against against him(?»)]! him(?))] ! "He has has g[on]e g [onle against "He and ]!" "He has has tak[en tak[en away30 away3' .. .. .. and II (?) (?).. .... I!" Remainder Remainder fragmentary

Discussion Discussion What What obtains obtains from from the the above above passage passage isis that, that, more more completely completely than than before, before, itit shows shows the the eagle eagle in in great great distress. distress. As As was was suggested suggested in in the the 'Reconstruction' 'Reconstruction' (p. 15), 'he 'he has has been been neglected neglected by by his his friend, friend, and and has has become become resentful resentful and and (p. 15), spiteful(?),. I owe gratefully gratefully to to Dr Dr spiteful(?)'. What What isis important important for for the the offered offered text, text, as as lowe Marzahn, is that 'M' and 'N' are from different tablets and do not join. Marzahn, is that 'M' and 'N' are from different tablets and do not join. Nevertheless, Nevertheless, the the association association of of ibrutu ibrzitu and and itbarutu itbarzitu over over the the three three lines lines of of 8-10 8-10 has has suggested suggested that that they they do do come come together, together, if if not not physically, physically, at at that that point. think correctly, correctly, that that the the last last point. Saporetti Saporetti in in his his review review (p. (p. 546) 546) indicated, indicated, II think line I/D in in Etana, Etana, p.p. 60, 60, should, should, with with Ebeling, Ebeling, have have been been read read as as line of of episode episode liD 29 29

Literally, Literally, ifif correctly correctly restored, restored, 'to 'to my my name'. name'. Uncertain, Uncertain, although although an an obvious obvious choice choice for for the the initial initial verb verb would would be be the the common common nasiihu, nasdhu, 'to 'to remove', remove', 'take 'take away'. away '.

30 30

[i-ka/kaj-sa-as] sin-na-ti Sin-nu-ti [i-ka/ka~-~a-a~] [e-li E-hur-sa E-hur-salg-ka [lam-m]a(?) [e-li ]g-ka[lam-m laC?) [it-ta-up-r]aS-ma er[6 . . . . .] [it-ta-ap-r ]as-ma er[ a.....

dap-pa-n [u ni-islni-tili"ne-su(?)] n i-iSln i-ti1 inZ-hi(?)] dap-pa-n[u Sur-ru-hu par[~u-su] par[jzi-Su] sur-ru-hu

[Gnashing] with with (his) (his) teeth, teeth, warlike warlike [the [the glance glance of of his his eyes(?)], eyes(?)], [Gnashing] E-hursag-kallama when when the the ceremo[nies] ceremo[nies] were were at at their their 5' [Above [Above E-hursag-ka]lama 5' height(?), height(?), [the raging?] raging?] eagle eagle [flew [flew back back and] and] forth. forth. [the

"[A "[A stat]ue statlue (of (of me) me) which which shine[s shine[s like like the the day(?) day(?) (has (has he he made)]; made)]; "Copper ]1 dowel[ss of of bronze(?) bronze(?) has has he he .. .. .. "Copper wings wings with with dowel[ '''Blades' apis lazu]li nelian(?) .. .. .. ]1 "'Blades' of of l[l[apis lazulli and and car[ car[nelian(?) 15' 15'

51 51

The above above rendering rendering derives derives from from aa damaged damaged text, text, but but might might seem seem The nevertheless nevertheless to to represent represent the the beginning beginning of of the the eagle's eagle's action action against against Etana. Etana. The 'zil-ba-ni in in line line 3', 3', perhaps perhaps in in association association with with some some form form of of The word word rll'-ba-ni jupru, could could also also be be relevant relevant if if referring referring to to the the outstretched outstretched 'claws' 'claws' or or ~upru, 'talons' 'talons' of of the the menacing menacing eagle. eagle. But But of of much much importance importance if if correct correct would would be be the E-hursang-kalama, the the main main temple temple complex complex and and the mention mention in in line line 5' 5' of of E-hursang-kalama, ziggurat ziggurat in in Kish. Kish. The The point point here here isis that, that, in in its its origins, origins, that that ziggurat ziggurat could could have have been ~ e l i a n ,the ~ the ' been the the 'citadel' 'citadel' or or 'tower' 'tower' from from which, which, in in aa story story told told by by Aelian,31 infant infant Gilgamos Gilgamos was was once once thrown, thrown, to to be be caught caught as as he he fell fell by by an an eagle eagle who who took took him him (far (far away) away) to to aa 'garden'. 'garden'. That That for for 'Gilgamos' 'Gilgamos' or or Gilgamesh Gilgamesh we we Etana's son, son, was was argued argued in in my my should think think rather rather of of 'Balih', 'Balih', or or Etana's should Aelian's Reconstruction on on pp. pp. 15f. 15f. But But aa longer longer and and better better statement statement on on Aelian's Reconstruction story story isis given given by by A. A. R. R. George George in in The The Babylonian Babylonian Gilgamesh Gilgamesh Epic Epic I,I, 61, 61, and and this this may may be be consulted consulted in in some some support support of of the the present present argument. argument. ItIt isis recognised by by George George that that the the Greek Greek account account may may have have been been contaminated contaminated recognised from aa number number of of different different sources, sources, including including from from Babylon Babylon 'the 'the flight flight of of from Etana'. Etana'. unfortunate that that the the lateral lateral breaks breaks forbid forbid aa further further understanding understanding of of ItIt isis unfortunate source '0'. ' 0 ' .What What supposedly supposedly happened happened on on the the heights heights ofthe of the ziggurat(?), ziggurat(?),and, and, source more intriguingly, intriguingly, why why Etana Etana took took his his son son there there in in the the first first place(?), place(?), we we more ,o~ASN4j. 'q31 31

In his his De De natura naturaanimalium, animalium,or orOn On the tlzenature nature of ofrlnimals, XII. 21. 21. In Animals, XII.

.

g ~~l -~~ ~',

Studia Etanaica Studia

52

7. 7. The return of the eagle

'P', fits closely in behind '0'. '0'. cannot as yet know. But a new text, source 'P', This is Sm 365 which was first published by W. G. Lambert in his "New 75. Lambert AIO XXVII (1980), p. p.75. Fragments of Babylonian Epics", AfO considered that it might possibly belong to the Flood episode of Atra-hasis, and at the time he wrote there was little other choice. In presenting it here as a piece of the Etana story the proposed restorations are my own, and I present the text as initially in verse but from line 10 10 onwards in prose. It thus reads: Traces

P P

[d E-ta-na(?) ......... [d~-ta-na(?) . . . . . . . . .]1 [. .. .. [ . .. .. .. ] x

P P 5' P

[it same" ina e-be-r ]i-su(?)b ik-ta-tam pa-ni-s'zi [& dSamas(?) d$ama~(?)s'amZa e-be-r~i-s'zi(?)~ pa-ni-su [ . . .. u4/u-ma-ak-k]al(?)b ~4/zi-ma-ak-k]al(?)~ ad-ris ad-ris' ir-bi [ .. .. .. la i$-r]u-ur kakkab c Si-me'-ti si-me-ti i,~-r]u-ur

P P P

[ . . .. nu-uh-]ha-su(?) nu-uh-]ha-s'zi(?) [alu(ki) Kisiki [ i f l ~ ( ~~ ' i) s ' ii-bak-ki]d i-bak-kild ~' [ina lib-bi-s'u /ib-bi-su na-si-is(?) et-Iu]d et-luld

P 10' P P

[[ .... . [[ .... . [[ .... .

[@I-pa-li-is [ip ]-pa-li-is id-ma-mi sa-ma-mi as'-ru-US-s'zi i-bak-ki as-ru-us-su

mu-sa h] mu-id us-ta-ni-i[ us'-ta-ni-i[h] [i-dJa-mu-ma u] [i-dla-mu-ma re-ba-tu-s[ re-ba-tu-s'[zi] [ne-e ]s-sa-at ar-da-a[s-su] [nk-e]s-sa-at ar-da-a[s-su] v, d'1- [V'] I -na k a-sasu . . . ] r·, 'il-na ka-id-di-[s'zi]

• ..

... ]-tu it-tu-[ ma] . . . 1-tu it-tu-[ma] ... '-[til . . . t]ub-qa-ra tlzib-qa-'a1-[ti]

a [AN-e], [AN-el,if correctly correctly restored following following discussion discussion

b Free restoration

C

MUL bfuL

Discussion To a large extent, as it is presently seen, the above passage speaks for itself. There is an evident stress laid on the cloudiness of the skies at the time of the abduction(?), lines 4'-6'. 4 ' 4 ' . We suppose that this is preparing the way for an important element in the unfolding story: the fact that Etana had no idea where the eagle had taken his son and perhaps even believed that he would never see him again. Of much importance are lines 8'-9', 8'-9', describing the lamentation in the city. They have been restored from the 'dream' 'dream' text of K 14788, lines 1-2-my copy in Etana, pl. pI. 22, may be consulted on t?is 1-2-my this point-although if line 2 of that text began i-na li-ib-bi-su n e [ ~ ~ ~ - s a - aWIth with t], point-although li-ib-bi-s'u ne[s32-sa-at], nessat standing for nassat by differentiation(?) from the parallel [nasis], then the two clauses in the dream are given in the opposite order to that of Sm 365. A short note would also be appropriate on the ittu, or 'sign', 'sign', of line 11'. 11'. the described ev~nt, event, It possibly refers to some sign or significant aspect of t?e being missed or misinterpreted by Etana before the event Itself, itself, but becommg becoming ominously clear at a later time. We may recall in this connection the 'sign' 'sign' missed by Gilgamesh-see 316ff.-which Gilgamesh-see now George, Gilgamesh I, XI, 316ff.-which foreshadowed the theft by the serpent of the 'plant 'plant of youth'. It is difficult to take the matter further at the present time. Altogether, however, it is submitted that the three 'episodes' 'episodes' of this t~en chapter, coupled with the witness of Aelian's Aelian's narrative if this is rightly taken to concern Etana, provide together a convincing new topos for the emergmg emerging story. It will be the task of the following chapters to take that story forward to its tragic conclusions.

d For the restoration see

Translation Translation Traces

[[ .... . [[ .... .

5'

Etana] gazed at the heavens. .. ... . . ] he wept where (his son) had been.

[(And Shamash, as he crossed the heavens)], had veiled his face. face. [He. .. .. . . all day l]ong(?), l]ong(?), and set in darkness. [He . . . [... ] the evening star [did not] shine. [Etana .. .. .. . .. . . ] .. ,, all night he was distressed. [Kish, the city, wept], its squares [mo]aned [molaned in lament; [Around its citadel(?) the young men grieved], its maidens grieved. The translated The remainder is left un untranslated

53

32

32

A sign not well copied in my edition.

8. The death of Muanna The episodes of the previous chapter have, over many lines, concerned the eagle and Etana, at least as we have so argued. It is now with the practised skill of a story-teller--or so it would seem-that story-teller-r seem-that the author turns the focus of attention onto the third person of his dramatis dramatis personae, namely, Etana's of Balih. wife, Muanna,33 ~ u a n n athe , ~mother ~ In fact, fact, it is at this point in the composition that I would place the reverse (as still so regarded) of K 8563, the controversial 'dream' 'dream' fragment discussed in pages 47-48 of chap. 7. There is no physical join join with the supposed preceding text, Sm 365. But it seems logical to my reconstruction that Muanna's second dream, perhaps again presented in more than one part, should be placed shortly after the abduction. abduction. The loss of her son would have been a troubled time for our heroine; it might suitably, and understandably, have led to troubled dreams. How, textually, this suggestion may be accommodated into a two-column edition of the whole work is discussed below in chapter 12, 'How many Tablets?' parte?) tells of the As we have seen in chap. 7, the dream in its second part(?) death of both Etana and his wife. The important line is rev. 4': 4': kima E-ta-ni mu-ti ku-u[n-ma(?) ku-u[n-ma(?) ... ... "As (that of) Etana, so has my own death been det[ermined(?) ... ..

This sentence is challenging. If the line has been correctly read there can be no disregarding it for the working out of our story. If it has been wrongly read or misunderstood, the exercise of seeking new texts in a considerably extended story will be largely in vain. In accepting the first of these alternatives, it would be fair to say that neither the present chapter nor those following following could in any sense have been written without the witness and authority of VAT 10566 10566 and 10566a, texts first published by Ebeling as KAR 332. They are reproduced in the present study on pls. pis. 10-12, 10-12, the reduced size of the main piece revealing much of its general character and surface damage. The text was first mentioned in my "Further contributions to the Legend of Etana", JNES 33 (1974), pp. 248f., where the theme of the death of Etana was tentatively advanced as an element of a continuing story. story. It was not, however, included in my edition of 1985 1985 mainly from a lack of conviction that the text was truly relevant. As will be seen from the following chapter and chap. 11, 11, there are references in

33 33 On this name of Etana's (marhftu)-wife, justify its (marhitu)-wife, regarded as sufficiently certain to justify general adoption in the monograph, see page 19, 19, note to line 14' of the main text.

56 56

Studia Etanaica

8. The death of o f Muanna

campaign-matters, as one might think, the smaller piece to an army and a campaign-matters, not very suited to Etana. Etana. Nevertheless, the opening lines of VAT 10566, obverse, tell of a situation 1'-lo', in some quite other than this, and a first transliteration of lines 1'-10', defiance of the damage, is set down below. . ,. [ .. [[ .... .

ah]u a[ha(?t a [ h ~ ( ?... ) .~. . , u ] - ru" ru- ' ru-'u]-'zi' 'u-[a ... ruu-[a ...

Two lines fragmentary Two

5'

10'

im-ma-n]a-a im-ma-n]a-a rsinipu,b 'iinipu' ia b[a-si b[a-Si .. . . .. ] rGAZ'.MESc-su /ib-bu x x x [ .. 'GAZ'.ME~~-SU lib-bu . . .. t]a-nb-hi-Sa i-na di-im-[a]-te x [ .. . . .. ina t]a-ne-hi-sa v , d [ki-i(?) [ki-i(?) .. . . .. ]]hha-iu-zi [ ... ... a-su-u na-as-su uL, xd[ er " r ..[l-$l-lS .. v [ki-i(?) .. . . .. [ki-i(?) ]XLIBIR ] x LIBIR~ '6U' $a$a->a-re-etTf iS-hi-i[l-ji-is' pa-re-et,f.vh lSl-l ka-bat-tu(m)] ka-bat-tu(m )] [ki-i(?) if-bu-u-m]a il-bu-zi-m]a le-e-su 'la' '1flgg itL if-be il-b[aa ... ...

[ .... . [ .... . [ .... .

I I I I 1

aa [SE]S.S[ES], [[SE]S.S[ES],suggested reading b rSANABI' 'SANABI' C Probably ittehpi or o r ittenehpi should bbee read d Probably either n[a-si-is] or n[u-us-su-us] n[u-us-su-us] should bbee read e In the light [sa-up-rat kar-pa-t]u kar-pa-t]zi (or OUG-t]u) DUG-tlti)labertu could bbee o f the second half half of o f the line [$a-ap-rat of Saprat, cf. previous note restored f Supposedly differentiated from an earlier $aprat,

'

g r'GUD' GUO '

Translation Translation [ .. . [ .. .

one m]an [consuited(?)] [consulted(?)] ano[ther]; fri]end [enquired(?)] offrie[nd]. of friernd]. frilend [enquired(?)] Two Two lines fragmentary

5'

10'

coulnted [(it was declared)]: [When. . . [When. had been cou]nted "Two thirds (are) 'let it not [be', and one third (are) 'let it be']." be']." [When .... . . . . heard this (his)] heart broke within him,34 him,34.. . . [ ... ... [ . . .. .. .. . . in g]rief glrief for her, in tears. tears . [ ... ... [As loudly as(?)] as(?)] lungs can wail, so w[ailed ... ... [As] an old p[ot ~ h a t t e r e d ]so , ~ ~into sher[ds] was (his) [spirit] [As] prot is shattered]/5 shattered. shattered. moulrns the bull for its (dying) cow, so mour[ned ....... . . . . . . . for [As mou]rns ....... . . . . . . . ].I.

57

Discussion As is seen especially in line 10', lo', and so as not to prejudice the enquiry, the above translation declines to identify the two persons who are brought together in the text. What we appear to learn is that a central figure who might reasonably have been a king is lamenting grievously over a female person condemned to death by a court of Assembly. Jacobsen in two well6 known studies/ explained that the Sumerian he-am be' , was. the term studies,36 he-dm,, 'let it be', baii, as restored in line used for assenting votes in the early Assemblies; ia basi, 5', 5', would need to be the Akkadian equivalent of a negative vote. Not cited in the passage, but clear in the. pI. 10), lo), is the the following line 11' (see thus in pl. word le-re'-a-rtu', boards', which, with the preceding phrase [ x x x le-'el-a-'tu', 'writing boards', mi]-nu-ti, '[the Aclcounting [scribes(?)]', [scribes(?)]', might seem usefully to confirm the '[the Ac]counting picture that is being suggested. suggested. The most serious failing of the text is that it carries no clue as to what crime, or in what situation, an Assembly should require the supreme sacrifice of a woman or wife(?) standing perhaps in a position of close relationship to the king. An answer to that problem can be supplied only by other texts, and so this aspect of the matter is held over to chap. 10. 10. Accordingly, it is only in theory that the persons mentioned in the discussed text can be taken, at the present time, to be Etana and Muanna, and it will take many more pages of further argument to complete the case for this belief. However, the theory of Muanna's Muanna's death as an element of of the Etana story is not confined alone to cuneiform texts. There is evidence for it on the Etana seals, the impressions of two which are particularly relevant being given in the photographic plate at the end of the volume. It would be reasonable to believe that all the motifs on such seals, and not merely that which depicts Etana astride the eagle, relate intrinsically to the Etana story. In this case the seated figure on the Old Iranian 'seal-see pl. pI. 14, Iranianseal-see 14, (a)-'with (a)-'with snakes issuing from her shoulders and a bull's bull's head above her head, ... a deity',37 deity',37 was suitablyEreshkigal, suitably Ereshkigal, queen of the Netherworld. presumably ... On this explanation the kneeling figure beside her could be Muanna as now descended to the netherworld, while the figure above her could be again Muanna, the snake in her hand perhaps representing the poison(?) that ended her life. To the right of this figure is a lyre, too large a symbol to be simply a 'space-filler', 'space-filler', and suitably conveying the idea of 'lamentation'. 'lamentation'. A similar interpretation may be suggested for the familiar Etana seal, BM 129480, pI. 15, 129480, reproduced on pl. 15, (e), and previously on the front cover of

-

36

-Su is presumably dative, but its precise meaning in the line will Uncertain. The suffix -su require a longer text. 35 35 For this restoration see the suggested text as given in the apparatus criticus. criticus. 34

34

"Primitive JNES 2 (1943), 159-172, 'LPrimiti~eDemocracy in Ancient Mesopotamia", JNES 159-172, and "Early ZA political development in Mesopotamia", Z A 18 18 (1957), esp. p. 101. 101. 37 37 Thus Edith Porada in the English version of her Alt-Iran: A It-Iran: die Kunst in vorislamischer Zeit (Baden-Baden 1962), l962), p. 41.

36

58 58

StudiaEtanaica Etanaica Studia

38 my Etana Etana edition, edition, 1985. 1985.~' Here the the kneeling kneeling female female figure figure to to the the left left of of Etana Etana my Here and the the eagle eagle holds holds aa flask(?) flask(?) rather rather than than aa snake; snake; but but attention, attention, more more and particularly, may may be be directed directed to to the the same same figure figure (as (as probably) probably) depicted depicted particularly, centrally on on the the seal. seal. She She appears appears to to be be kneeling kneeling beside beside aa rectangular-shaped rectangular-shaped centrally object which which has has not not yet, yet, II think, think, been been satisfactorily satisfactorily explained. explained. II suggest suggest that that object her grave, grave, and and that that she she isis not not kneeling kneeling but but in in fact fact dead, dead, the the flexed flexed itit isis her position of of the the knees knees being being an an attitude attitude already already known known from from many many burials, burials, and and position the arms arms which which appear appear to to touch touch the the tomb tomb being being folded folded back back at at her her side side or or the across her her chest. chest. across In In thus thus proposing proposing that that there there were were 'pan-Etana' 'pan-Etana' seals seals which which illustrate illustrate several aspects aspects of of the the Etana Etana story, story, itit will will be be suggested suggested on on aa later later page page that that several even the the two two male male figures figures shown shown fighting fighting each each other other on on the the last last of of the the seal seal even impressions of of pI. pl. 14-the 14-the one one bearded bearded and and an an older older man, man, the the other other beardless beardless impressions and young-are young-are not not to to be be excluded excluded from from the the typology. typology. and

''

Principal Principal earlier earlier publications publications include include H. H. Frankfort, Frankfort, <:~linder Cylinder Seals Seals (London (London 1939), 1939), pI. XXIV, seal seal h, h, with with discussion pp. pp. 137-141, 137-141, ~d and DominIque Dominique Collon, Collon, Catalogue Catalogue of of the the pi. XXIV, Western I1 (London (London 1982), 1982), pI. pl. XXII, XXII, Western Asiatic Seals Seals in in the the British Museum: Museum: Cylmder Cylinder Seals Seals II No. No. 151, 15 1, with with discussion pp. pp. 79-80. 79-80. M. M. Haul Haul in in his his Etana, Etana, 40-44, has has an an important section section on on "Die with further further references. references. "Die altakkadischen 'Etana Rollsiegel''', Rollsiegel' ", with

38

9. 9. The The death death of of Etana Etana ItIt was was mentioned mentioned in in the the previous previous chapter chapter that that no no place place was was given given in in my my edition of of Etana Etana to to KAR KAR 332 332 'from 'from aa lack lack of of conviction conviction that that the the text text was was edition

truly truly relevant'. relevant'. In In some some part part itit concerns concerns an an eastern eastern campaign campaign by by aa king king whose whose name name isis not not preserved preserved in in the the extant extant portions portions of of the the text. text. Thus Thus in in the the 'second 'second fragment' 10566a),obv. obv. 4, 4, (probably (probably in in fact fact to to be be placed placed lower lower fragment' (or (or now now VAT VAT 10566a), down down on on the the same same column column as as the the main main text) text) one one reads: reads: [[ .... . . . .a]p-ru-us-ma alp-ru-us-ma sade(KUR-e) Sadt(KUR-e) xx [[ ... . . .]] "I have have taken taken the the decision decision [to [to invade(?)] invade(?)]the the Mountainland." Mountainland." "I

In In lines lines 66 and and 13 13 of of the the same same text text there there isis aa reference reference to to the the 30,000 30,000 men men which , which were were evidently evidently to to comprise comprise the the army. army. From From such such lines lines as as the the above above one one might might reasonably reasonably conclude conclude that that KAR KAR 332 332 isis part part of of an an 'historical 'historical epic'. epic'. Such Such texts texts are are well well known. known. They They tell tell of of kings kings and and their their campaigns; campaigns; they they may may be be Babylonian Babylonian or or Assyrian; Assyrian; and and their their lines Tukultilines are are generally generally very very long. long. Typical Typical of of the the genre genre isis the the familiar familiar TukultiNinurta Ninurta Epic Epic which which glorifies glorifies the the Assyrian Assyrian king king after after his his victory victory over over Kastilias KagtiliaS and and the the verse verse account account of of Shalmaneser Shalmaneser III 111 in in Uranu Urartu published published by by W. W. G. G. Lambert Lambert in in AnSt AnSt XI XI (1961), (1961), 143-158. 143-158. Many Many additional additional texts texts of of the the corpus corpus have Grayson in in his his Babylonian Babylonian Historical-Literary Historical-Literary have been been published published by by A. A. K. K. Grayson Texts Texts (Toronto, (Toronto, 1975). 1975). There There are, are, however, however, several several considerations considerations which which weigh weigh against against such such aa we are discussing. One argument in this regard classification for the text classification for the text we are discussing. One argument in this regard isis that that while while the the epics epics normally normally praise praise or or eulogize eulogize the the king king of of their their concern, concern, the the king KAR 332 332 isis in in fact fact killed. killed. A A second second point point isis that that whereas whereas an an king in in KAR undoubted undoubted element element of of history history is is to to be be seen seen in in the the epics, epics, the the campaign campaign of of KAR specific aspect aspect of of the the KAR 332 332 has has aa strong strong flavour flavour of of fiction. fiction. There There is is aa specific matter matter which which isis also also relevant. relevant. As As was was described described in in chap. chap. 8, 8, the the account account of of the the great great distress distress of the the king king after the the Assembly's verdict against his his beloved comes comes from from a point near the the beginning beginning of the the tablet, tablet, the the space space before before it being hardly sufficient for their close relationship to be explained or hardly sufficient for close relationship to be or for for the the king's grief to to be be made made believable. As As a result, result, KAR KAR 332 332 is is not a text from from the the first first Tablet Tablet of of its its series, series, so so that much other other matter matter must have have been involved involved than simply simply the the campaign. campaign. It is the It is the latter argument argument in in particular which which justifies the the continuation continuation of this this account, account, and and I take take up up the the story story again again at at obv. obv. i,i, 12, 12, of the the Berlin text. text. This This line line immediately follows follows the the extract extract discussed in in chap. chap. 8, 8, and and it is is strangely reminiscent of of a similar similar line line which may be be seen in in my "Death "Death of of a

60 60

StudiaEtanaica Etanaica Studia

9.9.The Thedeath deathof o fEtana Etana

'queen"' paper paper inin the the Cagni Cagni Memorial Memorial Volume. 39 That That reads reads and and was was 'queen'" translated: translated:

The Themusician[s musician[s (also) (also)began began playing playinglaments(?), laments(?),(saying)]: (saying)]: 41 "As [suredly ] our [is "As[suredly] our lord lord4' [isdying dyingofhu]nger of hulnger from fromlack lackof offood." food."

a-na-ku un-te-es-si un-te-es-si bltu(E) bitu(8) xx [[............. . . . . . . . . . . . . .un-tes-si(?) un-tes-si(?) ..... . . . . .]] a-na-ku wastaken, taken, and anda[ll a[ll(my)] (my)]household household [was [wastaken, taken,(to (to aa(waiting?) (waiting?) "I"I was tomb?)] ." tomb?)]." Incomparison comparisonwith withthat that line lineour ourpresent present text textappears appearsto to read: read: In

. . . . .PN PN un-ta-a]s_rsC un-ta-d]s-'sil bltu(E) bitu(8) [ma]-a-di-i[S] [ma]-a-di-i[s'] run 'unl-[tas-si(?) . . . .]] [[..... '-[tas-si(?) .... [Atlon ..... . . . . 40.40•.•.... .was wastak]en, taklen, and and(her) (her) household household in in large largepart part [At/on w[as taken.. . . . I . w[ as taken ..... ]. Here itit seems seems likely likely that that this this statement statement should should be be completed completed by by aa similar similar Here phrase to that suggested for the first text, there being an essential phrase to that suggested for the first text, there being an essential dissimilarity in in that that the the latter latter isis the the speaker's speaker's declaration declaration of of aa dream, dream, and and isis dissimilarity not aarecord record of of fact. fact. not In any any event event itit isis clear clear that that the the king's king's grief grief isis by by no no means means ended ended by by this this In terminal event. The main source remains fragmentary, but fortunately one terminal event. The main source remains fragmentary, but fortunately one may bring bring into into the the text text at at this this point point the the support support of of three three Sultantepe Sultantepe pieces; pieces; may they are are respectively respectively Nos. Nos. 349, 349, 24 24 and and 358 358 as as so so given given in in Gurney's Gurney's volumes, volumes, they and they they are are reproduced reproduced in in their their supposed supposed positions positions in in pI. pl. 99 of of my my end end plates. plates. and 'U', 'V' and 'W' in the the Although fragmentary, these texts, referred to as Although fragmentary, these texts, referred to as 'U', 'V' and 'W' in initial list, list, add add significantly significantly to to the the story story as as may may be be seen seen below below in in the the recovery recovery initial of lines lines 15'-17': 15'-17': of C UVWZ15' 15' [x] [ x ] xx [[ ... . . .par$ p a r ~]u?" l i iiliini ?i15nib ~ b [iste]nis [iit2]niic la+a ut-ta-pa-su ut-ta-pa-s'u k[a-liS(?)] k[a-lii(?)] UVWZ la+a

UVWZ UVWZ

uvwz UVWZ

qa-ta-i[u-nu(?) ...... qa-ta-s[u-nu(?) ]1 us']-ta-kan ri'-[na 'il-[na E.GAL-s]u E.GAL-S]uk[i]-ma k[i]-ma e-di-e e-di-e us]-ta-kan 'zil-[Sib-(ma)? i]na? ilna? ta-a[h-hi ta-a[h-hi ..... . . . . .]] ru'-[sib-(ma)? NAR.M[ES..... be-li m[i-in-de(?)] m[i-in-de(?)] ri-na' 'i-nal la+a la+a ma-ka-rli-e' ma-ka-'li-el NAR.M[ES. ]1be-If i-mat(?)] [bu-b]u-u-t[a i-mate?)] [bu-b]u-u-t[a d iar[rid i d sar[ri sa •... •.

[GARZA].MES suggested b DINGIR.MES-n[11 DINGIR.MES-n[dC [TES].BI;[mit]haris [TES].BI;[rnitlhtiris'could could also also be be aa [GARZA].MES isis suggested LU[GAL]; possibly only only -ma -ma isis missing missing in in the the indicated indicated space space read d LU[GAL]; read possibly 15' 15'

39 39

[ . .. .. [.

. .,the ,the rit]uals ritluals of of none none of of the the gods gods were were performed, performed, .... th[eir . . . . . ] came to an end. th[eir ..... ] came to an end. aplpointed, and and since since he he remained] remained] i[n i[n h]is h]is A 'king's 'king's deputy' deputy' [was [was ap]pointed, A [palace] like like aa recluse, recluse, [. [ ... .. were carried carried out out b]y b]y aa [palace] were substitute. substitute.

In full, full, Studi Studi sui sul Vicino Vicino Oriente Oriente Antico Antico dedicati dedicati alia alla memoria memoria di di Luigi Luigi Cagni, Cagni, ed. ed. In 2000),539-554. 539-554. Simonetta Graziani Graziani (Naples (Naples 2000), Simonetta 40 A temporal temporal phrase phrase isis probably probably to to be be supplied supplied at at this this point. point. 40 A

61 61

.

Lines Lines 13-14 13-14 which which precede precede the the above above passage passage will will be be examined examined in in the the first first numbered numbered Section Sectionof ofchap. chap. 11, 11,but but for forthe themoment, moment, and and in insearch searchprimarily primarily of of the thestory, story, we weproceed proceed deeper deeperinto intothe theterra terra incognita incognitaof ofthe thenew newtexts. texts. There 17', so so that, that, in in the the supposed supposed crucial crucial There isis inin fact fact aa rule rule line line after after line line 17', state state of ofthe the king's king's health, health, one one could could expect expect aa new new situation situation to to be be developing. developing. What 'Z' and and 'V', 'V', What actually actually transpires transpires isis based based on on the the continuing continuing sources sources of of 'Z' and and one one learns learns that, that, now now subject subjectto to aa deficiency deficiency disease disease (as (as we we might might explain explain itit in in modem modern terms), terms), the the king king isis 'visited' 'visited' by by aa complex, complex, shining shining figure figure probably probably hallucinatory hallucinatory in in its its origin. origin. In In the the language language of of the the times times he he was was 'clothed ra'clothed in in awful awful splendour splendour and and filled filled with with fearful fearful light' light' ([ih-haFlip'-ma ([ih-ha]-'lip1-ma rabut aa term sub-ba-tu but he he was was also also an an u-Ia-a-l[u],43 zi-la-a-l[~],~~ term that that isis s'ub-ba-tzi [im-ma]-la-a),42 [i~z-mal-la-a),~~ elsewhere elsewhere used used of of an an immature immature or or perhaps perhaps aa 'simple' 'simple' person, person, there there being being useful useful information information from from the the lexical lexical texts texts as as assembled assembled by by Lambert Lambert in in BWL BWL 18, 18, note note 1.1. The The name name of of this this strange strange figure figure isis also also known. known. On On the the evidence 24)' line line 8', 8', where where itit seems seems actually actually to to have have been been evidence of of 'V' 'V' (or (or STT STT 24), given the female determinative, it was Id-din-a a-gu-su Anum?(AN), 'Anu(?) given the female determinative, it was Id-din-a a-gu-izi Anum?(A~),'Anu(?) has .44 No has given given me me his his crown' crown'.44 No more more fictitious fictitious aa name name will will ever ever be be met met in in Akkadian Akkadian literature, literature, and and itit gives gives the the lie lie to to his his declaration declaration of of the the same same line line ('Z' ('Z' 21') 21') rkun-nu' 'kun-nu1 at-mu-[u-a] at-mu-[zi-a],, "[my "[my w]ords wlords are are true". true". What What he he says-or says--or appears to say-is of much significance in the development of the appears to say-is of much significance in the development of the story. story. II read read (lines (lines 22'-23 22'-23'):'): b VZ [nu-uql-qur ek[allu(?)" e k [ a l l ~ ( ?bft] bit] ) ~ makku[ri makkii[ribit-teh-pu(?)Fu' it-teh-pu(?)]-'zil rki-siskur'-ra'ki-siskurl-raVZ 22' 22' [nu-uq]-qur rak-ku'-ma ia-[a]b-tu [ .... ] 'ak-kul-ma ia-[alb-tu [ . . . . ] d VZ [bi]t . . .]] [u-$]u-*rat [zi-$1~-*ratdruru'U_ri_i_*zae_n[a] 'UN1 U-ri-i- *za e-n [a] [bilt rkunukki'c 'kunukkil u[s-tal-pi]t(?) u[i-tal-pi]t(?) [[ ... VZ .ittad[if d[·f Itta I ..........]g Ig r i r aa rE,.r b [E].NIG.G[A.MES] C [E.N]At.KISIB dcollated GAL ?, E .GAL?' [E].N~G.G[A.MES] [E.N]A~.KISIB collated by b y I.I. L. L. Finkel Finkel (circa (circa

sign collated collated 1982); has GIS.HUR GIS.HURat at this this point, point, perhaps perhaps followed followed by by an an erasure erasure e sign 1982);VV has by an adv. ad". such such as as qaq-qa-ris qaq-qa-ris'or or similar similar isis Su~-d[d g an by Finkel, Finkel, not not aa (Ebeling) (Ebeling) f SUB-d[11 probably probably to to be b e restored restored at a t this this point point

22' 22'

41 41

"The ]lished, the re-houses have "The pa[lace(?) pa[lace(?) has has been been demo demollished, the treasu[ treasu[re-houses have been been 45 broken] into, the [te]mpies have been destroyed [ ..... broken] into, the [te]mples45have been destroyed [ . . . . . ],I ,

Literally, Literally, 'my 'my lord', lord', perhaps perhaps comparable comparable to to the the Sum. Sum. nin-mu nin-mu which which isis often often suitably suitably rendered rendered as as 'our 'our lady'. lady'. 42 The text is 'V', line 7', with 'Z', line 20'. 42 The text is 'V', line 7', with 'Z', line 20'. 43 The word is taken from 'Z', line 19'. 43 The word is taken from 'Z', line 19'. 44 In 'Z', line 27', the name occurs as [I]t-ta-di-na -g[u-su Anum(?)], thus with a perfect 44 In 'Z', line 27', the name occurs as [qt-ta-di-na -g[li-SuAnurn(?)],thus with a perfect rather rather than than aa preterite preterite tense tense in in the the initial initial element. element. 45 kisiskurakku is evidently a new word, if it has been correctly restored. 45 kisiskurakku is evidently a new word, if it has been correctly restored.

62

9. 9. The death of o f Etana

Studia Etanaica

la[id, wast]e, wastle, the [whole?] [s]ite [slite of "[All?] the sto[rehous]es have been la[id. Urlzana Urizana has been razed [to the ground(?)]!" As reconstructed from the damaged texts, the above 'report' 'report' consists of five five short phrases which follow each other in quick succession, each of which has a different verb for the general sense of 'has been destroyed'. It is to be regarded as false in its entirety, an 'invention' 'invention' of the king's deranged mental condition. The report, nevertheless, has its essential place in the narrative's dramatic change of direction at this point: it would provide the reason for the king's pronouncement of Za obv. 4': "'I "'I have taken the decision [to invade(?)] invade(?)] the Mountainland.'" Mountainland."' The city of 'Urlzana' 'Urizana' would almost certainly 46 have been the main objective of the expedition. expedition.46 What little may be gleaned from the much broken text of Za beyond the king's declaration will be discussed in Section 3) of chap. 11. 11. Suffice it to say here that if, as seems likely, it is the visitant's visitant's name but now written as rmi rm'SU[M-na-a-gu-su-Anu(?)] SU[M-na-a-gu-Su-Am(?)]that is to be restored in Za, line 5', 5', then even the arrangements arrangements for the campaign may have been (somehow) under his direction. direction. We have seen already that the force was to be 30,000 men strong, cf. Za obv. 6' and 13'. We leave this army (line 14') [a-na(?)] ruru'Kar_dSa_ ru"l~ar-d~dmars s]a a-ah ld1d[iglat] sak-nu], 'at Kar-Shamash id~d[iglat]Sak-nu], Kgr-Shamash [wh]ich [whlich [is situated] situated] on ma[$ S]a 47 the banks of the Ti[gris]', Ti[grisI7,as they proceed eastward. eastward.47 The break in the text at this point is difficult to estimate although it may not be extensive. extensive. The sources, even probably the versions, are changing as we next consider K 13859; pI. 31 13859; this was first published on pl. 31 of my edition pI. 9. under 'uncertain 'uncertain pieces', and it is reproduced in the present volume on pl. 9. As was mentioned in 'A reconstruction of the story', p. 16, 16, it appears to mention the names of both Balih and Etana-in Etana-in neither case is the name complete-but in reconsidering it here I replace this chapter's earlier use of complete-but 'the king' with the more confident name of 'Etana'. 'Etana'. In large part, as will be seen, the text has been imaginatively restored. This may indeed be a matter for criticism, but the development of a sustained text has been the major consideration. consideration.

Since it pfesumably p;esumably lay in the 'Mountainland' and outside of Sumer, it is tempting to suggest that U-ri-i-za-n[a] in its origins may have been an Indo-Iranian word, cognate with the Gk. 6eli;wv, deicwv, Latin horIzon; horizon, Eng. 'horizon', 'horizon', and perhaps meaning 'Boundary 'Boundary city', or the like. like. Thus explained-and explained-and the medial long ii is helpful in this regard-the regard-the name of this distant place may be better rendered as 'OrIzana'. 'Orizana'. 47 ~7 The name of Kar-Shamash is well known to students of the ancient geography, although it IS is now agreed that there were two 'cities' with this name, see thus within a longer discussion W. Rollig in RLA 5, 453f. For additional references see Brigitte Groneberg, RGTC 3, 134 134 and Khaled Nashef, RGTC 5, 160, 160, also Simo Parpola, Neo-Assyrian Toponyms, Toponyms, AOAT 6, Hallo's 'Itinerary' 'Itinerary' in JCS 18 18 (1964),59, (1964), 59, obv. 8, and in Goetze's p. 198. 198. The name is found in Hallo's JCS 7 (1953), 51 'Itinerary' 'Itinerary' in JCS 51 i, 16, 16, the damaged text being there left incomplete, but subsequently restored with additional support in AS 16 16 (1965), (I965), 215 with note 12. 12. 46

63

Transliteration Transliteration

x X X X X 5' 5'

'] v v[.? ... .. .. [ .... .. . . assl. ci]Si[i?. .. [mE-ta-na ["E-ta-na la i-di-ma(?) kiFi' ki]-'il mBa-li[h "Ba-li[h ... ... . . d]'l-SU v, h . <[ 1• ••• eru~ musen rna ..... It-taar-rJ-r ina . . . . . it-ta-d]i-Szi har-ri-r[i ... [[erzimU"" lu [ . .. .. IU]sakinu batb -sue?) ... ]Siikinuaa be-es-tu be'-eS-tu SUr Su[batb-su(?) .. . [us-ta-hi-is-su(?) si-pir] Siikinuc-ti-ma sakinuC-ti-ma du-us-su-[u [US-ta-hi-is-su(?)Si-pir] du-US-Su-[u ... ...

X X X

[ .. ... [ .. ... [ .. ...

I

I

. [ -tl. Sad; gu'b" - 'u u i-na I-na lr sad~e Sak-nu(?)] sak-nu(?) ] . . . ~i-l]a-nu gzibir[-ti ·. .. . . ma-a]n-nu ma-a]n-nu ina en-[q]u-ti en-[qlu-ti i[m-tah-ha$ i[m-tah-has it-ti-su(?)] it-ti-,%(?)] m r i ·. .. . . mYE'-ta-na ] E -ta-na i-[n]a i-[n]a kakki kakkiee d[a-ak-su d[a-ak-Su liS-sa-kin(?)] liS-Sa-kin(?)] v

v

Two fragmentary Two lines fragmentary b K[I.TUS], K[I.Tu~], if correctly so SO restored C Written GAR-nu GAR-nu d The T h e restoration is based on two occurrences of 16 and 19, 19, o f the name to bbee found in KAR 332, rev. 16 which may bbee seen in their context in the last text of the present chapter

a [LlJ].GAR [LU].GAR

e

I

kur v'• I] • . • kurs1a-nu d

]I ]1 ]I ]1 ]1

GIS.TUKUL GIS.TUKUL

Translation

5' 5'

[ ... . .. . . I] .... [ .... ., [(But) [(But) Etana did not know(?) know(?) th]at thlat Bali[h] Balilh] (was still alive)]. [The catching(?)] [The eagle had se]t him down [in a date garden(?) when catching(?)] field mice (for his hunger). [On finding him(?)], the Siikinu sakinu [thought: [thought: "His hom]e(?) is far away", [(and brought him up as his own son(?)]. son(?)]. [He taught him(?) him(?) the] craft of date cultivation, cultivation, and [ ...... . . . . . . ] .. ... abundant. abundant. [(When he heard that Etana had reached) Mt. Mt. Shi]lanu, Shi]l5nu, a hill situated in the foot[hills of the Mountainland],48 ~ountainland],~~ 49 [The considered(?) [The ..... . . . . .49 considered(?) w]ho from the skilled workers might fi[ght with him], [(For he said ..... . . . . . )]: )I: "the slay[ing] slay[ing] of Etana [must be 5o accomplished] by the sword. sword.50

I

Two Two lines fragmentary

48 48

Literally, 'the breast [of the mountain land]', Sum. gaba-kur-ra, probably to be regarded as mountainland]', the foothills of the Zagros mountains as .they rise sharply upwards from the flat plains of south-eastern south-eastem Iraq. 49 49 The title of the ruler of the supposed enemy land is doubtless required here. here. The term sukallu might usefully usehlly serve until we have a better text. 50 50 Presumably, that is, in close combat or in a duel.

'

64 64

Studia Etanaica

Notes

The above above text has much matured since the misleading and inadequate The Etana, p. p. 16. 16. It is is no longer an 'uncertain piece'; piece'; it has become a statement in Etana, (I), that the names of Etana and story. One notices (1), central piece in the new story. are indeed accepted into into the text, the name of Balih in fact fact for for the first first Balih are (2)' that the death and time since the references in the Sumerian King list; (2), killing of Etana as foreshadowed in line 8' become a virtual certainty for the (3), that Aelian's account that it was 'in a garden' that the eagle set story; and (3), story; down the child it was bearing is in some part confirmed. confirmed. While the SiEkinu in line restoration in line 3' has been made accordingly, the reading of sakinu Siikiniitu in line 5', are not considered to be in doubt. doubt. 4', and of sakinutu We are now approaching the climax of the Etana legend as it is here 81-2-4, 391. It was conceived. The text that is next relevant is the obverse of 81-2-4, 33,247f., JNES 33, 247f., under the heading 'Etana in peril', but originally discussed in JNES as being 'uncertain'. 'uncertain'. With renewed from the Etana edition as was omitted from confidence it is brought forward again, the obverse with its translation being set down below: y

Y Y

Y

5'

"a Reading *IGI.BAR-[sa?], IGI being regarded as erroneous *1GLBAR-[sa?], the stroke below 1GI Explanatory Notes As a first comment on the text one notices that E-ta-na E-ta-na in line 3' 3' has no determinative, and not impossibly it represents a further example of of the Old Version written in the Neo-Assyrian Neo-Assyrian script. The form Sum-ma-am-ma-[an] sum-ma-am-ma-[an] in line 7' would not be against such a conclusion. But for the story of of Etana lines 1'-3' 1'-3' are quite important. It is suggested that they belong to an identification scene and tell of of the means whereby Etana discovered the awesome reality that his assailant was his son. In the Sohrab and Rostam story from the Persian Epic oof f the Kings to which attention was first drawn in my 1985 edition, p. 15, it was a wrist seal by which the identity of of Sohrab

65 65

became known. 51 It might similarly known.51 similarly have been such a seal that had been given to Balih in his infancy, infancy, thus identifying the wearer. For the type in general general 0, "As the seal one may consult W. W. Hall arm",published in Hallo, seal upon thine arm", L. L. Gorelick and E. Williams-Forte (eds.), Ancient Seals Seals and the Bible (Undena Publications, Publications, 1983). 1983). As may be seen in the illustration of a musician of the Early Dynastic period, pI. pl. XII, XII, the seal seal evidently hung from from a bracelet worn on the wrist. 52 The reverse of the fragment fragment follows follows with probably little lost. lost. I read: read:

Y Y Y

[a-n ]u-u[ m-ma .. . [k]i-nisa i-di[ -ma .. . [ha]ttf b as-s[a-rik-ku ...

Y Y Y Y

[hlat-tu-um-ma [ .. . . .. [hJat-tu-um-ma as a Sse S eem e mme m exx [ .. . . .. damc-su damc-Szi el-la la n[a-par-ku-u n[a-par-ku-u ... ... a-na par-ji par-$i sa e'-[pe-si ... S6 la r'el-[pe-Si ... is-sub iS-Sub ub-Ia ub-la a-n[a ... .. .

Y

$i-bit '(sic?) [ ... ji-bit u-tuk-rku zi-tuk-'kul(sic?) ...

Y 10'

[mJu-qa-ber [mlu-qa-ber mi-na-[a-ti mi-na-[a-ti ... ...

Y 5'

lab-bis me-h[u-u ...

y

y y Y

'Sto[rm]' in the form ofa of a Lion The 'Sto[rm]' . . ..... ] [[ ....... [since, as a child(?), in-ne-di-iq-[su ... He had worn it [since, . . . . . . . ]I *@palsaa[ ... ... E-ta-na E-ta-na *ippalsaa .. . . . . .] As Etana looked upon it [ ....... ni-is-sa-ti [ ... ... grief [he ... . . . (crying): i-na ni-is-sa-ti In (his) grief lal-la-ri "[Set lal-Ia-ri bi-k[i-ta bi-k[i-ta Suk-na(?) suk-na(?) ... "[Set up a] wai[l for me(?)], 0 0 my lallaru [ ... ... ul-tu e-t[e-lu-u(?) . . .. "After ... e-t[ e-Iu-u(?) .. "After I had cl[imbed(?) ... Sum-ma-am-ma-[an ... "If ... "If only [ ... sum-ma-am-ma-[an .. [&I ... "[And] the sign [ ... . . . I had not ... ... [it] it-tu [ ...

9. 9. The death of o f Etana

a

Probably not [u]/ [u]l as previously read

b

[(And) n]ow [ ... ... [Of a ce]rtainty celrtainty he knew [ ... ... "My sceptre I now gi[ve to you .. you.... "The sceptre, indeed, [ .. .. .. "" ....... . . . . . . . [[ .... .. His pure blood unc[easingly unc[ easingly .. . . .. When no rituals could a[ vail .. a[vail . . .. Lifting up (his body) he bore it t[o t [ o ... .. . When $ibit jibit utukki [had taken hold ... ... The burier of [hisJ [his] limb[s ... ...

us

[GI]S.GlDRU [GI]S.GIDRUC US

Explanatory Notes Explanatory

Despite the unavoidable breaks in the translation of the above text it is thought that a clear picture emerges: Etana is handing over his sceptre of Balih,53 a l i hand , ~ his ~ lifelong wish is at last fulfilled that a son kingship to his son, ~ might succeed him in the royal house. In line 2' 2' the sign niS nis (see copy) is not well written, but no alternative seems possible; thus taken, the sense of the line, as more fully supported in chap. 11, 11, must be that '[Etana] (now) knew dying]'. The restored restoredassfarikkuJ assrarikku] in line 3' is taken to certainly [that he was dying]'. be an example of of "Punktuelles "Punktuelles Prasens" Prasens" discussed by von Soden in "Die "Die ebensatzen"A . ~ long-standing ~ problem akkadische t-Perfekt in Haupt- und ~Nebensatzen".54 5' 51

of the There have been many translations, but see especially Reuben Levy, The Epic of of Sohrcib Sohrab and Rostcim Rostam Kings (London 1967), 79, and Jerome W. Clinton, The Tragedy of (Seattle 1987), pp. 153ff. 52 52 Cf. also Jerrold Cooper, Angim, 129-130, 129-130, who discusses the Sum. kiSib-la, kiSib-hi, Akk. rittu, as '(place where) the seal is hung' hung' and so the 'wrist', 'wrist', and Yitschak Sefati, Love Songs in the '(place Sumerian Literature (Ramat Gan 1998), 3310, 34-35. 10, note to lines 34-35. 53 53 A A name of of which the etymology is still uncertain, perhaps lost. 54 54 AS 16 (1965), 103-1 103-110. 10.

66

concerns the understanding of is sub in line 8'. Read simply as is-sub, iS Sub iS-Sub, the resulting verb nasiibu naSiibu may be cognate with the Arab. nabasa nabaSa which is given Dictionar/ in Hans Wehr's ~ i c t i o n a r 5$ as ~ 'to unearth, exhume, disinter (a corpse), to excavate, dig up, dig out of the ground'. The $ibit Jibit utukki of line 9', referring evidently to that state of a dead body when it has been 'seized' 'seized' or 'possessed' 'possessed' m o r t i56~ . ~ ~ by an evil spirit, must in modem terms be the condition of rigor mortis. But the central importance importance of this reverse side of 81-2-4, 81-2-4, 391, may now be disclosed, disclosed, for it completes, or is completed by, several lines on the reverse -of 'Z', as I set of VAT 10566, 10566, the old Fragment 1 of KAR 332 and my source 'Z', down below. Thus, Thus, associating the rev. line 7' of the two pieces, one may read: 57 par-$i sa YZ 7' a-na a-napar-.yi Sd la re'-[pe-si 'el-be-Si /1ep]-se-t[um ep]-~e-t[um57sa] Sa] la-a mi-na *n[ap-s]a*n[ap-$]aa-t[i x x x] x] When no .rituals vail] or by any means be made [ef]fect[ive], ,rituals could a[ a[vail] [eflfect[ive], (his) l[i]fe [(came to an end)].

Similarly the following following line in each case case could be read together as: as: YZ 8'

is-sub iS-Sub ub-la a-n[a /1 l]i-bit-te (erasures) e-kal-limpag-ru e-,461-limpag-ru s[a $[a .. . . ... . . . ]1 Lifting it from the ground, ..... . . . . . carried t[o the w]alls wlalls of the palace the body o[f ..... . . . . .]

Then associating respectively lines 10 10 and 9 of the two texts-rev. texts-rev. 9' of 81-2-4, 81-2-4, 391, appears appears not to be represented in the Assur text-we text-we may read on as as follows: follows: '

YZ 10' [m]u-qa-ber [mju-qa-ber mi-na-la'-[ti] mi-nu-Ira1-[ti]e-tel e-kal-lim e'-kdl-lim sa Sa i-na ma-har sara Sarakis-safi-Sar. ,b . [ ] te 'izzazzulb /zzazzu /i-[ ..... . . . . .] Z [ .. . . ] x i-na $eri JZricc u B ba-ma-a-te lid-ku-[u] lid-ku-[u] a-di kus-s[ud(?) kui-S[ud(?) ..... . . . . . I] Z [re-e[re-&-'Fu' 'I-'zi' ka-bar-ru g[e]-er-ru g[e]-er-ru u B n[am-ma]s-su-u n[am-ma]S-Su-zi e-tim-m[a-su e-tim-m[a-Su ..... . . . . . I] e Z [i-na . .... zi-ka-ar u . . . .dd a-a uq-te]b-bi-ra uq-telb-bi-ra sa Sa nlsfi niSBe k sin-[nis sin-[niS .. .... . . . .] aa LUGAL LUGAL

Ebeling Ebeling

9. The The death of Etana

Studia Etanaica Etanaica

breading '-[zu] , or reading 'GUB 'GUB'-[zu], or -[za], -[za], preceded preceded by aa partially partially erased erased e, e, queried queried by C EDIN either qaq-qa-ri qaq-qa-ri or or as-ri bi-ri would would be be aa possible possible restoration restoration EDIN d either

UN.MES

e UN.MES

55 55 In full, full, The The Hans Wehr Wehr Dictionary of of modern modern written written Arabic, ed. ed. 1.J . M. M . Cowan Cowan (Wiesbaden (Wiesbaden and New York, 4th edit. edit. 1979), 1979), p. p. 1102. 1102. 56 56 This This condition affects affects the body some some 12 12 to to 18 18 hours hours after after death, death, and then disappears disappears after after some some 36 hours. hours. A temporary temporary 'seizure' would accordingly accordingly be indicated. indicated. 57 57 A reading reading lowe I owe gratefully gratefully to to I.I. L. L. Finkel. Finkel.

10'

67

(Then) the burier of the lim[bs], a prince of the palace who would ser[ve] in[structed, structed, (saying)]: ser[ ve] the king of Kish, he in[ limbs(?)] into the plains and open country "Let (the men) take [the limbs(?)] up to the (far) rea[ches(?) of (its boundaries?)], sheplherd and shepherd-boy, lion and wi[ld bealst, "[So that only shep]herd bea]st, [may look upon his] ghost. bulried in [ground] whereon people, male "[Let the limbs not be bu]ried female, [may walk]." or female,

associations must be 'hybrid', 'hybrid', in that It should be recognised that the above associations the texts concerned derive surely from two different versions, namely, the and, most probably, the OV in Neo-Assyrian script. Nevertheless, for MAV and, the understanding and identification of KAR 332 they are of high for, with the control of the name E-ta-na on the obverse of importance, for, 'ghost', 81-24, 391, the 'body', pagru, in the second extract as also the 'ghost', 81-2-4, etimmu, in the third, were surely surely then those of Etana. Indeed, Indeed, who etimmu, appropriately in the last passage should have been the 'king of Kish' if not Sar kissiite kiSSiite in this sense sense is is discussed by A. A. Westenholz, Etana? The term sar BiOr 53 53 (1996),p. (1996), p. 121. 121. It is in accord with the above finding that two lines from the reverse of 10566a, source source 'Za', 'Za', are now relevant. relevant. The fragment fragment as a whole is VAT 10566a, probably to be placed just before the account of the death of Etana, and the rev. 6' and 7', have an additional interest in that, to all lines in question, rev. appearances, they represent historical omens in the making. With suggested restorations restorations the lines read as follows: follows:

na]kriaa ul ti-da-a a-na [ma-ri-ka]b [ma-ri-kalb [ta-am-dah-ha-a$(?) itti na]kri C [Sarrucim-dah-ha-a$(?) im-dah-ha-a$(?) Uti] itti] rmiirC 5niirildd a-na na-ak-ri-su nu-ak-ri-Su [u-te-ed-di(?)] [zi-te-ed-di(?)] [sarru "[You "[You will fight with an en]emy enlemy and not recognise (him) (him) as as [your son]; slon, but [regard him] him] as as his enemy." fight(?) with (his) (his) s]on, "[The king will fight(?) a d

[(LlJ).K]UR unless [(LU).K]URb restored restored after after line line T7' C [LUGAL], [LUGAL], unless [sar-ru] [Sar-ru] should should be restored restored sign sign collated by Marzahn, Marzahn, there there being slight slight internal internal damage damage

There remains remains one one major and and one one subsidiary subsidiary 'episode' which we we should should There consider before closing the the chapter. chapter. The The text for for the the first first of these these begins after consider the first first rule line line on the the reverse, reverse, probably col. iv, iv, of KAR 332. 332. Chapter 11, 11, the section 7), 7), will add some some details details of the final final three lines, but the first four four are as it is is thought, given here, lines 15' and 16' being interchanged to restore, as Some extensive extensive restorations the original sequence of the action at that point. Some shore up a badly damaged text. have been suggested to shore

68 68 14' 14' 16' 16'

15' 15' 17' 17'

StudiaEtanaica Etanaica Studia

9. 9. The The death death of o f Etana Etana

["Ba-lihlli-ih(?) sar-r]u(?) jar-r]u(?) e-nen-na e-nen-na sa-n[a]-(eras.)-a s'a-n[a]-(eras.)-a [qa]bda-su [qa]bda-s'u [mBa-lihlli-ih(?) iq-bi(?)] rmiir'?b bUr-[kul-li(?) bzir-[kul-li(?) ki-a-am iq-bi(?)] rmCir,?b e lupa-41s'-hat ic na4na[rii]dSa-qu-zi 'KUR'~ Si-'la1[ka-bat-ti(?) abi-ia abi-iaC [ka-bat-ti(?) lupa-a]s-hat it n"4na[ru]d sa-qu-u rKUR,e Si-rla'n u [[ x ((x) x ) ] xXff [[ .•••. . . . . . I] nu h i-na qqla-ti-ia bi-miSpatarg si[bh-bi] s'a am--[s am--[slzi-su(?) [[ .. .. .. i-na ]a-ti-ia bi-mis patar g szlb -bi] sa ]u-su(?) bi-mis' r'KISIB'? [ . . . . . '? x [ ..... ] bi-mis K1SIB ki]-'ilpi-i lib-be x x ma [i-na a-da]-ma-a-ti lu x [[ ...... .. . .. .] [[ .. .. . kiFC pi-i llb-be

.

br

aa [DUG 4].GA '? cor DUG^] .GA b rDUMU DUMU'? Or a-bi-ia, a-bi-ia, in in contrast contrast with with AD-ia, AD-ia, line line 18' 18' determinative or sad Sad ffni n i or u[S]? u[q? g GiR G ~ Rh or or si[bxl? Si[b,]? e'determinative

dNA.[RU].rA, NA.[RU] .'A'

Translation Translation 14' 16' 15' 17'

kin]g(?), with now his second [or]der, [orlder, [thus [thus Balih, the kin]g(?), [(And) Balih, stone[cutters, commanded] the stone [cutters , (saying)]: "[That the spirit(?) spirit(?) of my father father may be at] at] peace, a 'high "[That ShilSinuY[(shall be constructed)].58 c o n s t r ~ c t e d ) ].. ~ ~ Mt. Shilanu' memorial (on) Mt. . . . . . ] depict [in] [in] my hand the be[lt]-dagger with which I "[ ..... (also) the se[al(?)59 ~ e [ a l ( ?....... .).~. ~. . . . ].1. s[m]ote him, depict (also) "[Incise the stone(?) (at a point) corre]sponding to the 'mouth' 'mouth' of reld pigment." the heart, and let [(it be inset?) with re]d

As a first comment on these lines it may be noted that the term bur[kullu], rather than purkullu, for 'stonecutter' 'stonecutter' appears to be new; if correctly read it ShilSinu is of interest. interest. It could perhaps be dialectic. In line 16' the name Mt. Shilanu Balih' s speech, occurs again in line 19' which appears to read after the end of Balih's [ . m]Cir(DUMU) ggur-gur-rre' a-rna' [u]s?-mit-tu $[a] s[a] Si-la-ni [ . . .. .. m]dr(~~IviU) ~ r - ~ u r - ~a-'nu' r e l [u]s?-mit-tu . .. .. I,], '[So at once(?) the] stone-masons [set to work(?)] on the inscribed relief relief of of '[So Shilanu', and it will be recalled that line 6' of ofK K 13859 edited earlier in (Mt.) ShilSinu', Shi]lanu, a hill situated in the the chapter was restored to read, '[Mt. ShiIlSinu, foot[hills of of the Mountainland]'. MountainlandJ'. The name itself itself is no doubt related to the sllCin, 'in 'in the west', west', and thus supposedly it lay to the west of of the adverb SilZn, Zagros mountains or the the''Mountainland'. Mountainland' . Of Of the many trades involved in the elaborate work of of the relief relief there is of the kabs'arru. kabSarru. It occurs in line 22' 22' of of the text where there is a mention also of [kab]-sar-ru ta ne'-mi-ti ne-mi-ti ddNidaba ~ i d a b [a .... . . 1.]. The phrase is difficult to reference to [kabl-jar-ru translate without a verb, but it suggests that an inscription formed also a part of the completed work.60 work. 60 As for the word bi-mis' bi-mis which is found twice in of Noticeably the the phrase phrase nut5 naro Saqli saqu KUR KUR Sik~nu Siliinu is altogether altogether innocent of of any kind kind of of genitive Noticeably construction, perhaps be the name name of of the perhaps suggesting that that the the whole whole phrase phrase was was. intended intended to be memorial. 59 S9 Cf. above with with note note 52, the the seal being being supposedly worn worn on the the wrist wrist of of the the hand hand that that clasped the the dagger. 60 60 Amongst Amongst other other references references cf. cf. MSL IX 209, where where the Sum. kabsar-r kabsar-{)r better better now now ga-abga-absar-is sar-is translated translated 'engraver', 'engraver', and and my my Nimrud Nimrud Wine Lists, Lists, 66, 66, note note 255, 255, which which follows follows this. this. S8

69 69

line IS', 15', this this isis taken taken to to be be the the imperative imperative sing. sing. of of basCimu, baZZmu, 'to 'to shape, shape, design, design, line or form'. form'. Further examples examples of of that known, known, but uncommon, metathesis metathesis which or balii~uwith with labiisu, labLFSu, 'to 'to stare', stare', as as involves labials labials and and sibilants sibilants would be be balCisu in~olves argued argued by Landsberger Landsberger and and the the writer in in JNES JNES 20 20 (1961), (1961), 173, 173, note note 17; 17; our our new nas'cSbu, 'to 'to lift from from the the ground', ground', as as clarified clarified through through the the Arab. Arab. new verb verb nasCibu, nabas'a; the the English English 'clasp' 'clasp' (a (a metal fastening), fastening), earlier earlier 'clapse'; 'clapse'; and, and, II would nabasa; suggest, suggest, also also 'fingertips' 'fingertips' as as cognate cognate with the the German "Fingerspitzen". The The possibility may, may, however, however, be considered considered that bi-mis bi-mis' should should be read bi-sim bi-s'im,,x, that is, is, regarding the the second second element as as an an 'inverted reading' in in line line with Erica Reiner's note in R4 76 76 (1982), 93, 93, on "The reading reading of the the sign sign LIS". LIP. in RA Since the majority of Reiner'S Reiner's examples come come from from Middle Assyrian texts, Since this alternative alternative explanation is is by no means invalid. invalid. But what forcibly claims attention in the cited lines is the reference reference to the belt-dagger, patar s/si[bbi], and to the blood from the stab wound which was slii[bbi], from stab to be represented by [ada ]mCitu. By specifying [adalmiitu. specifying these details details in the composition of the naru narc saqu s'aqzi it would seem that our author or composer is still emphasizing its tragedy-a tragedy-a tragedy of a kind known later to Sophocles and as told for the Greek stage in his trilogy on Oedipus. Oedipus. Moreover, Moreover, it is not only in the textual sources sources that the fatal fatal dagger is featured. featured. It may be seen in the impression of the cylinder seal VA 3456, of which a photograph with an accompanying drawing is reproduced on pls. pIs. 14 14 61 and 15. Indeed, on that impression the dagger is shown twice, once piercing 15.61 the heart of Etana as centrally depicted in the upper portion of the field, and secondly in an enlarged scale below the arm of of the lower figure, figure, supposedly Balih. In this connection it is perhaps significant that the large dagger-it dagger-it is almost a 'sword'!-is 'sword' I-is not held in the hand, as if if not 'in service'. Also pI. 13 13 which has been reproduced from relevant is the last illustration on pi. seals,62 Abb. 8, which has been taken in Reinhard Bernbeck's study of Etana seals,62 tum from R. M. Boehmer, Die Entwicklung der Glyptik wahrend der Akkadturn 1965), Abb. 697. Here, in association with the familiar Etana Zeit (Berlin, 1965), motif in the centre of of the seal (it is broken away at the left), two and eagle motif figures are seen fighting, the one with an uplifted dagger, the other whose dagger is not shown but probably because the seal-cutter had not left enough room for it on the seal. It must, however, be that the young and beardless of the strange styling of of the hair figure is slaying the other. The significance of 'anger' or 'rage' 'rage' could be suggested. in both instances is not, I think, known: 'anger'

61 61 AS As Marzahn Marzahn has has informed informed me me the the seal was was first published published by by Bruno Bruno Meissner, Meissner, Grundziige Grundzuge babylonischen und und assyrischen Plastik, Plastik, Der Der Alte Alte Orient Orient 15 (Leipzig 1915), S. 52, Abb. der babylonischen A. Moortgat, Vorderasiatische Rollsiegel Rollsiegel (Berlin 1940, 3rd edit. 1988), by A. 90, and secondly by reproduced from Leonard Leonard Woolley, Art Art of of the World: No. 234. The line drawing is reproduced No. Mesopotamia and and the Middle Middle East East (London 1961), 86, the the name name of of the the artist artist being being no no longer longer Mesopotamia known. . known. 62 "Siegel, "Siegel, Mythen, My then, Riten: Riten: Etana Etana und und die die Ideologie Ideologie der der Akkad-Zeit", Akkad-Zeit", Bagh. Bagh. Mitt. Mitt. 27 27 (1996), (1996), p.176. p. 176.

Studia Etanaica Etanaica Studia

70

'subsidiary' It was said some three pages back that there would be one 'subsidiary' chapter. Even with the episode which we should consider before closing the chapter. completion, or so supposedly, of the rock inscription and memorial to Etana the story is not ended. It must be that Balih returns to Kish, but little can be 24'ff. ff. Nevertheless, made out of the more than usually damaged lines of line 24' there is, in these lines, one striking phrase which catches the eye and needs 24'-26' of the text read as explanation. As best I can present them lines 24'-26' follows:

25'

[ .. .. .. [ . .. .. [ ...... sa la . . . . . . Sa

pi/tal? x ka ma x x x [ ... . . ] x ma mapilthl? ... .. .. .. .. . . i]-tel-,ya-am-ma i]-tel-ja-am-ma x biZ bil ti x [ .. . . .. im ]-mah-ra Sa-ga-&-ti sa-ga-as-ti ddEr-[ra im]-mah-ra ~ r - [ r .. .a. ..

Here one might speculate that it was the people of Kish who 'rejoiced' 'rejoiced' in line 25'. unoplposable .... . . . . ,, the 25'. But what then should one make of '[the '[the unop]posable slaughter of Er[ra]' mentioned in line 26'? 26'? This could only, one might argue, refer back to some important incident in an earlier part of the story which has yet to be disclosed. We discuss it in the following chapter.

10. Completing the story To meet the requirement of explaining how a 'slaughter of Erra' (as the plague god) may be introduced into the story of Etana, two new 'episodes' 'episodes' are brought forward and considered in this chapter. Additionally reference will be made to the second of Etana's dreams-the dreams-the 'haIfa 'halfa grass dream'dream'which is provided by the Middle Assyrian Version, and of which an account was given at the end of chapter 4. The first of the new episodes concerns a famine. It is a literary, not an historical, account, but neither the name of Etana, nor that of o f his wife, nor indeed the name of Kish, feature feature in the text. It may be argued that the absence of these names means that the text cannot be securely anchored into the Etana story, and that is true. Indeed, if another and better place may be found for the text its presentation here in its own section will facilitate facilitate its removal from this monograph to be incorporated elsewhere. However, as no elsewhere. better place suggests itself the piece is presented here with a degree of confidence. confidence. The texts are 'Q', 'R' 'Q', 'R' 'R' and'S' and 'S' as given in the list of sources. sources. Source 'R' involves a theoretical join join of Gurney's Gurney's The The Sultantepe Tablets, Nos. 27 and 353-the 353-the symbol (+) (+) is used to express this proposed relationship-and relationship-and OS' 'S' is No. 53 53 of the same collection. It is to be placed closely to the left of 'R' but may not in fact join it. A larger piece is represented by source 'Q', 'Q', K 7067, pI. which was copied by L. W. King and published in CT 13, 13, pl. 31. All the pI. 8. 8. As throughout this study, the pieces are reproduced in this study on pl. provisional nature of many of the restorations should be recognised.

Transliteration Transliteration rdE_a' rapsf,a ... . . . ]] ' d ~ - a [i]-n[a] [il-n[a] l b 'apsila [[ ... ... . .... I]xx[x] QR iZil ilii rabUti rabzitib im-tal-ku-ma x (x) [ ... ... xx[x] c QR kakkabU tam-Sil bu-un-n[i-e it-ta-na-an-ba-tu] kakkabiiC zi-im it-ta-nu-an-ba-tu] QR f QRS same dd rap-su-ti lu]l-liSam& rap-Su-tiee [[ •. •. •. .• •. lull-li- 'u 'uf QRS QRS ultu,yft ultu $it dSamsig dgamSigadi e[reb] dSamsih d$amSih I/ ib-rbal?'-kit ib-'bal?'-kit u an-ni-[ka-a(?) u QRS ul-li-ka-a(?) er-pe-tum(?) er-pe-turn(?) la na]-am-rat nu]-am-rat RS 5' [. qaql-'qarl-ma ul-t[a-biZ(?) ul-t[a-bil(?) er-,ye-t]u(?) er-.ye-t]u(?) um-mat urn-mat ki l[a] [ . . . . . . .... qaqFqar'-ma Sh-ma-mi sa-ma-mi . res "ini lui-us-{us}-ta-qi-lu [ha-a]m-mu sa e-l[a-ti sa? h]arriiniJ r2S ini lui-uS-{uS)-ta-qi-lu $6 Sh? h]arrdniJ QRS QRS - -t uk *'in1-nap-hu ¥.In , -nap-h u ura bbiirdtuk l it2 ida purusse m Sam&" same n u [er,yeti(m)O pu-s{hu' SariiP saril P idal it2puruss&" [er$eti(m)' lu]-u lul-u pu-Sirhul QRS QRS q . . ] gim-rril-is-si-in iZil '-i-zu-m[ a ba-n[a-at .. .. gim-rri'-is-si-in QRS iliiq u-za6-za-'-i-zu-m[aIr ba-n[a-at .. .. .. S . . . .. ]xX ina man-za-az man-da-a-[ti . . . . QR man-da-a-[ti . . . x\iri x [(x)] [(x)] _vt U4-m [e . .. Q 10 ' musa

Q Q

r

72

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10. 10. Completing the story

[u4-m]iana a[r-hi h[r-hi ... ... [u4-m]i [x] [ x ] xxda d a x [ .... .. [x] [ x ] x nnaa xx [ .... ..

Q Q Q Q Q

'ZU.AB'

a rZU .AB '

b DINGIR.MES DINGIR.&SGAL.MES GAL.&$

C

MUL.MES MUL.MES d AN-e

e so SO

Q; R probably t[u] t[u]

f presentation in two lines according to Q; text conveyed in one line in RS g dUTU h duTU r ~ " i i h dUTU r i separating the of o f the copy into 1GI IGI lu zu j [K]ASKAL k PU.MES 1 DA

su'

it m ES.BAR AN-e 0O [K1-(tiltim)] ES.BAR n" AN-e [KI-(tiltim)] p 1M-MES IM-MES S perhaps as aS t' GE6 GEs

d ~E E u [K~ASKALPU.&S q DING1R.MES r' so DINGIR.MES s o Q; Q ; S omits -ma

'

Translation Translation

5' 5'

10'

Ap[sQ ... ... [E]a in the Ap[su The great gods counselled together together.... [ ... ... The stars [shone] as with the appearance ofthe,bright[est of the,bright[est star]; h e a ~ e n s[ ........ . . . . . . . . were belstowed be]stowed with beauty. the broad heav.ens As (Shamash)63 hama ash)^^ pa[s]sed over from sunrise to sunset [no cloud was to] be seen either ne[ar or far]. [The gr]ound grlound [(everywhere(?) became hard(?) for the ear]th earlth had dri[ed out] and was very hot from the lack of rain. Main springs became a trickle, [mar]shes [marlshes of o f ..... . . . [ ... . . . and] wells [by malior maljor roads were 'blazed 'blazed away' (in the scorching heat). By the strong arm and the decision of (the powers of) heaven and [earth] were the winds alike abate[d]. [earth] ] so that (Now) the gods had divided hal[f hal[f of the ... . . .6464 [not?] . . . . . ].1. [not?] all of them [ ..... of man[y of them ... ... In the locations(?) ofman[y (But) night and da[y ... ... [Day]s [Dayls [(proceeded)] into mon[ths ... ... [.] ... [ .. . [.I ...[.. [.] [ . I ... . . . [[ .. . ..

Explanatory Notes In the above text bu-un-n[i-e] bu-un-n[i-el in line 3 appears to be only the second example of the word bunnu, bunnzi, the first as cited in CAD B 319 3 19 and Z 121 121 and AHw 138, 138, being likewise associated with the stars of heaven. As an extension of banu, banzi, 'beautiful', 'beautiful', bunnu bunnzi is the superlative adjective, 'most beautiful'; other examples of the form are given in GAG § 55 n, a), III. 111. In line 5, which appears not to be represented in 'Q', 'Q', the word ummat is taken to be the 3rd. pers. fern. emcmu, 'to be hot', the form being somewhat analogous fem. sg. sg. stative D of ememu,

''

Considered by implication to be the subject of ib-'bal?'-kit. ib-'bal?'-kit. A further occurrence of dSamas d S a m a is ~ probably unlikely, but a restored [ilu] [ilu]would be possible at the point of interchange between sources. 64 64 The missing word which has to be a fern. fem. plur. is suggestively either 'peoples' 'peoples' or 'lands/countries' 'lands/countries'. .

73

*'in1-nap-hu ('were ('were to the stative G form of e-em. At the end of line 6', *rin'-nap-hu blazed away' in the heat) has proved difficult to translate in terms of known modern concept of evaporation would no doubt be examples of napiihu. The modem anachronism, and has been avoided. In the following line the difficult puan anachronism, Si-'hu' si-rhu' may have been differentiated from the expected pu-s'u-hu pu-su-hu because of the five u-vowels in the phrase, but is otherwise an error. Before proceeding, it may be of interest to note that famine in ancient infrequent. Mesopotamia cannot have been so remarkable an event, or even infrequent. Pkter Vargyas, A History A general picture emerges from the recent study of Peter of BC,65 C , where, ~ ~ under the heading of Babylonian Prices in the First Millennium B 'The probability of failed harvests' (pp. 119ff.) and in a survey covering some two centuries of time, it was found that 21 21 per cent of prices related to famine years so that 'every fifth year was a year of famine'. From such a background, however, lines 10 10 and 11 11 of our text stand out significantly, and, from the standpoint ofits of its story, even seriously. From the previous lines 8 and 9 one gains the impression that the described conditions were only local, or so at first. first. But particularly from line 11 11 with its reference to 'days mon[ths]', it would seem that the situation at that time [(proceeding)] into mon[ths]" was developing developi~lginto a crisis. The famine of the story was not of a frequent kind. In fact, fact, it is in such a context that Etana's 'haIfa 'halfa grass dream' could modem Iraq, haIfa, become relevant. Widespread in modern halfa, an Arabic term, is 'a troublesome weed of the cultivated fields'. It grows 'along 'along channels, in wet places or where the water table is not much below the surface of the soil', soil', and in its 'extensively 'extensively creeping' rhizomes it absorbs and retains moisture, its 'young succulent shoots' being 'much relished by (live)stock' be ( l i ~ e ) s t o c.66 k ' .It~ could ~ argued accordingly that Etana's dream told of a future future occasion when large quantities of haIfa halfa would be gathered into houses to offset the dry and desperate conditions of a future drought. Even such an event, as suggested recently in "Death of a 'queen'" 'queen"' (for publication details see note 39), may have caused the Assembly at Ur, at the time of the death pits, to bring a sentence of death to the king's hirtu-wife and her household. The argument was that 'a judgment judgment leading to the sacrifice of so many women would lack all logic and cohesion unless some aspect of womanhood was involved', and it was thought that a connection was, seen between the sterility of the women and the sterility of the fields, was fields, and that their death was required as an atonement. atonement. The suggestion, indeed, is a theory; but this picture nevertheless may well explain why the Assemby at Kish should require the death of Etana's wife. It could be supposed that, after the abduction of Balih and through the passing years, Etana and his wife tried

63

Published in Heidelberg, 2001, being a revision of the author's doctoral thesis, Budapest, 1985. 1985. 66 66 The quotations are from H. L. Chakravarty, Plant Wealth Wealth of of Iraq (Baghdad 1976), 301-303. 301-303. 65 65

74

10. Completing the story

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again, as would be natural, to beget a son. But these attempts must have of Tablet I that the plant plant of of birth failed, for we have learned from the dream of III-and the detail in withered away after its flowering. Equally, in Tablet withered 111-and missed-Ishtar (or so this context assumes an importance that we may have missed-Ishtar plant can be given to him but once only. probably) informs Etana that such a plant Consequently remaining childless, and seen then by the people to be once iilittu, Etana's Etana's wife would be vulnerable should a severe drought again a la dlittu, of Etana's Etana's dream the evil ~drz2 $iiril bring infertility to barren fields. In line 20' of $eril, .or 'evil snakes', snakes', may have been who came before him, seen there as ~Zrz2, of the Kish community who demanded the debate, who required that elders of the king's king's wife be put on trial. To the above arguments one further text, Sm 297, is considered relevant. 'T' in the list of of sources, and is reproduced on pl. pI. 8 from an It is cited as text 'T' original publication in JCS 42 (1990), 94. Unfortunately, no line is complete, of half-lines suggest that it belongs to the trial of of Muanna but the sequence of by the Kish Assembly, and suggestively to a speech delivered at that time by of the 'prosecution'. 'prosecution'. I read the text as follows: one of Transliteration Transliteration

trace

5'

10'

a UN.MES

[ .. [ .. [ .. [ .. [ .. [ .. [ .. [ .. [ .. [ .. [ .. [

. .

. .

. .

. . . . .

sa-as-qa-a [ x x x ] ] x sa-as-qa-a ] x ina mah-ri-t[i?] t]as-qa-a Sh-pi-ik M-pi-ik tlas-qa-a ] Se-am se-am li-ku-lu a ] x us/$/z us/~/znlse n i Z a a-pa-a-tu a-pa-a-tzi ] x Si-i-bi si-i-bi Sib-tzi sib-tu gisle_'a-t[u] ]] gisle'a-t[u] luFu'-qal-li-lu lu]-'ti1-gal-li-lu ana an-n[im] b a-ra-an-s[u-nu] idcb a-ra-an-$ti-nu] ] la idu l]u-u uk-kis uk-kiS a[s-M-tu/su] a[S-Sh-tzi/su] k]i e-den-[ni-ma]

b NU ZU

Translation Translation One One line with trace only

2'

5'

"[ .. . "[ .. . "[ .. . "[ .. . "[ .. .

·. .. . . ] [ ..... . . . . . ] with fine fine flour. flour. ... [me]. . . . ] ... . in the former titi[me]. .. .. . . ] is/was islwas piled up with fine fine flour. flour. ·. .. . . ]1 that they [also?] [also?] may eat grain. ·. .. . . ] .. . .the masses of the people.

10'

75

"[ ] .... the old man and old woman. "[ .. .. .. . . . . ] the writing boards. "[(So "[(So let the Accounting scribes ...... "[Let 'no', and] make few "[Let the Assembly make many (the votes) for 'no', (the votes) for 'yes'. 'yes'. "[(Let them not pardon(?) the king and his wife as] being not aware ofth[eir] . th[eir] crime. of "[ .. .. .. . .... l]et [death] take away his w[ife]; "[As for the king, (let him live for the rest of of his life?) a]s a man of of loneline[ss] ." loneline[ss]."

Notes In this text it is the somewhat laconic references to grain (Serum) (se 'um) and fine fin:e flour (sltasqC), (s/tasqu), coupled with a radically different 'debate' 'debate' terminologyterminologywriting boards (IZ'dtu) (le'iitu) and the 'yes' 'yes' vote (ann6m)-that (annum)-that make the case for its inclusion in this chapter. For the concept of of 'Accounting 'Accounting scribes' with writing boards see above, p. 57. If If line 4' should be restored approximately, '[the offering-tables of the gods(?)] gods(?)] were piled high with fine flour', it might seem that a strong contrast is being drawn between the times of plenty before the famine with the intense scarcity of of even staple grain(?) at the time of the debate. In line 11' the restoration of a[S-$6-tzi] a[s-sa-tu] may be defended by the argument that this word is commonly written with the aS1 as! sign and the initial horizontal does hold a medial position in the line of script. In the following line the reading [k]i e-den-[ni-ma] is thought to be acceptable since the proposed addition of of -ma turns ki kl edZni edeni into ki kl edenni with the change of of stress. What in general may be said is that, if the identification is correct, it is of much interest that we do at least have a fragment of the prosecution's case, although there is clearly a need for the support of additional texts. In particular one would much like to know what was the 'case for the defence'.

11. Additional lines from the Middle Assyrian Version As newly envisaged in the previous chapters, this monograph has provided a new structure for understanding the Etana legend. Inevitably, however, it is but a 'skeleton' 'skeleton' presentation that has been given. There have been some longer passages or 'episodes', 'episodes', even one or two as complete as our present evidence may provide, but many gaps have been left as being not profitable involved. for further consideration because of the textual damage involved. Accordingly, the present chapter attempts to 'flesh 'flesh out' the closing phases of the story, particularly as these are provided by the Middle Assyrian Version, the major source at the present time. We have indeed been slow to bring forward the MAV of Etana into its AIO fO 14, 14, 298ff., proper and now growing light. As is well known Ebeling in A provided a first single text of this version; it was increased to four by Jana Siegelova Siegelovh and to five five by myself in our subsequent editions; editions; and it has been increased now to nine pieces with the addition of my sources I, M, Z and Za. It seems clear also that certainly three copies of the version have been retrieved from the Assur sites: sites: an older four-column version of which the major piece is MAl, a later two-column version of which Z with Za is a clear MA,, example, and a text in standard Neo-Assyrian script of which MA2 is an example (cf. on this point the photograph in Etana, pl. pI. 32). Although not for the final episode which completes the· the chapter, it is otherwise from 'z' 'Z' and 'Za' 'Za' that the new information derives. Overall these supplements are divided into seven parts, and although necessarily disjointed are set down below in the correct sequence of events. events. 1) 1) The account of the trial-such trial-such as we know of it-which it-which leads to the death of Muanna was discussed in chap. 8 from the text of Z, 1'-11', 1'-l l ', and line 12'. The following lines 13'-14' 'U', and, so far 13'-14' have the support of source 'D', as I can understand them, appear to read as follows: follows: .] n-na-ra b' - b[.1- k] a r'iStela-e-num Ii]n-na-'abl-b[i-k]a Iste a-e-num x [ pag-r [.I-sl-na ... DZ [ x]] xxpag-~[i-5-nu .. .] UZ 13' [[ .. .. .. [[ ...... . . . . . . ina arki(?)b arki(?lb(f)Mu]-an-n[a? (f)~u]-an-n[a?.... . . . . s]a S]a ana 2(!) ITU.M[ES] ITU.M[E$] DZ UZ r - C b- - .d r·, [ ana , piinc pan ztatz 'il-[. z - ........ 'anal bitiitid . . . . . . . . ]1 ov

aa rl' 1

b probably

written EGIR if correct

C

v'

,

IGI

d Z: Z:

]

E.E; E.E;U: E.E.-t[e?] E.E.-t[e?]

Notes In attempting to penetrate the meaning of these lines, it is supposed that the initial clause in line 13' may again be reconstructed on the model of the supposed equivalent event in the text of "Death of a 'queen'''. 'queen"'. It was there

Studia Studia Etanaica

11. Additional Additional lines from the Middle Middle Assyrian Version 11.

suggested that poison, possibly in the form of crushed latex from the opium poppy, was administered to the 'queen' 'queen' and her household before their death by asphyxiation. In line 13' the reconstructed innabbikfi, innabbikZ, if correct, could mean 'they (fem.) began to fall [to the ground(?)]', whereupon 'one after the (fern.) fall other [all of their] interred(?)]'. Line 14' would appear to saysaytheir] bodie[s were interred(?)],. after an initial missing phrase-that phrase-that''[after [after the death of Mu ]ann[ a(?), the ... Mu]ann[a(?), . . . .. ('famine' ('famine' or death/epidemic, deathlepidemic, etc.) wh]ich whlich for two months had been [ ...... . .. . . .] every house, [(came [(came to an end)].' Philological and textual notes may include the point that, in line 14', there is possible support, although uncertain, for the name of 'Muanna'. 'Muanna'. In line 13' Wenum is'tgnzim is considered a not improbable way of reading the signs as shown on the copy; 'one after the other' is otherwise Wend, is'tgnd, cf. cf. CAD IIJ I/J 278; AHw 400. In the following line, the interesting 'new' 'new' sign after [s]a, [$]a, consisting of a single vertical followed by a hal-like element of two horizontal strokes, remained unsolved for a long time. Its separation into two signs, ana followed by '2'(!), '2'(!), is thought to have been so written to avoid a possible confusion with the numeral '3'. '3'.

feminine aspect of Etana's Etana's visitant is of interest, if not In this passage the feminine [klunnd in line 19' is relevant to perhaps completely understandable. Even [k]unnd 'messenger' since, after Jacobsen (perhaps unpublished), this image of the 'messenger' mi-dug4, means 'to act the woman'. Confessedly in my the Sum. equivalent, mf-dug4' zi-ta-jer ri/'-lu-ra-te, 'ill-lu-ra-te, first draft I read the near-end phrase in line 20' as u-ta-$er visitant-for some reason-'was reason-'was bound with chains'. supposing that the visitant-for Deeming this impossible in maturer judgments, I have turned to the idea that fem. plur. of luru, lurzi, which, after the Sum. Sum. equivalent terms of lurdte is the fem. [emle-muSen-na and [1]u-eme-sal,68 [l]tI-eme-~al,~* [em]e-musen-na will mean a 'man with a bird's bird's or a woman's voice'.

78 78

2) In this section I gather together additional details from the dialogue Ittadina-agi3Su-Am(?). When between Etana and his hallucinatory visitant, Ittadina-agusu-Anu(?). introducing this strange figure figure in chap. chap. 9, the first three lines after the ruleline were only summarised. summarised. They are here given in full. full.

Transliteration Transliteration

'I-a s']a V] a rK·vki, V b-ma 1'[ ru I' (?) IUS VWZ 18' Sub-ru sa [p -ru ma-a. IS sarram I q-ru- b] u numa-a(?) ilea is'^" s'arramb-ma li[q-ru-bu] nu-'ull[a- ........ . . . . . . . . ]1 1I[aVWZ riL' zi-mu-su [k]u-un-na-[a ]u-ne-su ba-bil p[dniIc p[anit 'zil [bu-un-n]a-a zi-mu-s'zi [klu-un-nu-[a bb]u-ni-s'u u-Ia-a-l[ ]1 zi-la-a-l[uu . . .. V [ih-ha Flip '-ma ra-sub-ba-tu pu-Iuh-tu [im-ma ]-Ia-a zi-'tal-~er u~rta'-$er V Z [ih-ha]-'lip1-ma ra-iub-ba-tzi pu-luh-tzi [im-ma]-la-a rkflkima' 'ki/kimal lu-ra-te n[aFap'-[sat-su(?)] n[a]-'dpl-[iat-su(?)] aa [DINGlR.MES], [DINGIR.MES],

suggested reading

b

LUGAL

C

I[Gl], or I[Gl ~[GI], I[GIx?]

Translation Translation 18'

67 67

A messen[ger, saying: "May the gods ofK]ish of Klish ble[ss] the king!" king!" [(now) spoke] in his imagina[tion imagina[tion to him]. But [beau]tiful [beaultiful were his features, features, [k]indly [klindly was his expression, meek 67 and forgiving forgiving67was [his nature]. He was [clot]hed [clotlhed in awful splendour, he was [fil]led [fillled with fearful fearful light, (and) [his] th[roat(?)] was constricted'[like] constricted.[like] (that of) [his] th[roat(?)] women with high-pitched voices.

Inverting the order of the words concerned.

79

Urlzana as 3) After the crucial announcement of the destruction of Urizana outlined in chap. chap. 9, one can probe a few lines further into the text, as the sources 'V' 'V' and 'Z', 'Z', although rapidly declining, can still give it to us. In particular the first line of Etana's reply to his messenger may be approximately restored as follows: follows: VZ 24' [a-mat-ka(?) za?- ]kar ta-ta[a-mat-ka(?) iFna' i]-'nu' [fa] [la] rSC-bu-[t]im 'iil-bu-[tlim ria' 'la1 k[un-nat(?) k[un-nut(?) za?-]kdr mu-u ku-bu-ut-[ma dan-ni-is(?)] dun-ni-is'(?)] mu-zi "[Your statement wit]hout witlhout w[it]nesses is not con[firmed(?), but the dec]laration . decllaration which you avow is grave [indeed]." The following line 25' asks a question, although only ki-i-mi in Z, supposedly 'pray, how?', and unless to be separated as ki-i mi-[ .. . . ],1, can . . . ] um-ma-ni (eras.?) mat mdt actually be read. Line 26' in Z reads possibly [ ... Gu--i [ ... . . . ].1. Here 'the army of Gutium(?), Gutium(?)' appears unexpectedly in the narrative; it may not, in fact, fact, be correct, but no alternative reading suggests itself. The supposed erasure before the KUR-sign may have been the same sign placed originally too far to the left. Line 27' is clearly an address formula, and bringing the Sultantepe text 'V' 'V' back into the line may be read confidently: confidently: VZ 27' [u? sa]-su-*ma a-n[a mE-ta-na "E-ta-na [It]-ta-di-na [It]-ta-di-na -g[u -g[zi[zi? ki-a-am a-na id]-izi-*ma su-Anu(?) i(z )-zak-kar-su] Su-Am(?) i(z)-zak-kar-s'u] However, we must unfortunately await the discovery of further texts to learn what was said. said.

4) In the 'march of the thirty thousand'-if thousand'-if this oblique reference to the march of Xenophon's army may be charitably allowed-we allowed-we read in Za, pI. 12, obv. i, 10' (copy on pl. 12, line 10): 10):

68

To TO be found respectively in MSL 4,73,222, 4, 73,222, and MSL 12,229,14'. 12,229, 14'.

80 80

siparru(ZABAR)pa-nu itir rar'-[ka 'arl-[ka lil-li-ku/ka] lil-li-kulka] Za 10' 10' [... [ ... Za ]] siparru(ZABAR)pa-na ] of bronze [go] in the van and and at at the the re[ar]." re[ar]." "[Let two . . . "[Let two. . . ] of bronze [go] in the van The allusion allusion will will be be quickly quickly recognised. recognised. As As was was mentioned mentioned in in my my section section on on The 54f., the the urigallii, urigalltl, or or the 'Standard-bearers' 'standard-bearers' in in The The Nimrud Nimrud Wine Wine Lists, Lists, pp. pp. 54f., the Adad headed headed the the march march of of Sargon's Sargon7sarmy army on on his his 'standards', of of Nergal Nergal and and Adad 'standards', II17scolumn,69 column,69 Eighth Campaign. Campaign. Similarly, Similarly, itit was was required required for for Shalmaneser Shalmaneser Ill's Eighth dNergal(MAs.MAS) ina ina pdni-ka lil-lik dGirr[a(GIS.B[AR]) *G~~~[U(GIS.B[AR]) ina arki-ka arki-ka ... . . . ],1, d ~ e r g a ~ ( ~ ~ina S .pani-ka ~ ~ S ) lil-lik "May you, "May Nergal ~ e r ~70 ago go l ~before before ' you, may may Girr[a Girr[a .. ...... at at the the rear]". rear]". In In such such aa composition composition as as Etana Etana one one would would not not expect expect such such particular particular names names to to be be but, of of whatever kind, kind, the the standards standards concerned concerned were were surely surely such such as as given, but, terrifj the the enemy. enemy. might terrify 5) 5) The The following following lines lines involve involve the the reverse of the the fragments fragments Z and and Za of which the the obverse, obverse, over over many lines, lines, has has been discussed discussed above. above. As As Dr Marzahn has has confirmed confirmed for for me, me, Z and and Za do do not join, but both their faces faces come The come close close together as as the the following following extract may in some some part suggest. The lines 81-2-4, 391 391 or source source 'Y', but lines in this this instance instance have have initial support from from 81-2-4, when first first discussed in chap. chap. 9 it was too soon soon in the the argument argument to to associate associate the the two two texts. texts. Even so, so, there there is is much uncertainty in the the reading of several lines, lines, but the attempt is worthwhile since it is the final final words of Etana that are are being provided by the texts. texts. The lines follow follow immediately after rev. 6' and 7' of Za-in Za-in fact almost certainly rev. iv of that tablet, tablet, so so much of the story is is still missing-which, missing-which, as as suggested in chap. chap. 9, 9, may be placed in the narrative shortly before the the death of Etana. Etana. The The text then reads reads on as as follows: follows:

Transliteration Transliteration YZZa 8' [a-n]u-u[m-ma sa? Sa? mE-ta-na "E-ta-na i-d]a-a-su i-d]a-a-Su ik-[kas-sa-a-ma ..... . . . . . .. i-n]a-dS-Se G I [ S . G I D R U / ~ ~ ~ -fl~ ~ I - S U ] ~ ' i-n ]a-as-se GI[S.GIDRU/hat-tal-su [ir? i-be-e]l(?) i-be-ell(?) ki-mu-*u[sa ki-mu-*u[S" .... ... . 1 [kli-niS i-di[-ma ki-i i-m]a-tu(?) [it? YZZa [k]i-nis . .. [Sul-'ti' du-ru-us du-ru-us' [ ... [ha]ttib as-s[a-rik-ku (( ..... . . . . . )] YZ 10' [ha]ttrb [suFzf 1 YZ [h]at-tu-um-ma ]1 [lu]-u-rib-ba-su [hlat-tu-um-ma [ .. .. .. [lul-ti-rib-ba-Su XC xC[[ ••• ... ] [Sum-ka a-na a-na na-r]e-e nu-r]e-e su-tur Su-tur as'-s'e-em-me xd [[ •. .. •. ]1 YZ as-se-em-me [sum-ka Su-mi-ma(?)] ih-[has-sa-as su-mi-ma(?)] Collated.reading, C perhaps *KUR.[MES nak-ra-tll Collated reading, see copy b [G1].S.GIDRU [GI].S.GIDRU *KUR.[MES nak-ra-tq should bbee restored here d <e>-re[s-ti]? <e>-re[S-ti]?

a

69 69

See originally W. G. Larnbert, Lambert, "The Sultantepe Tablets VIII: Shalmaneser in Ararat",

AnSt XI (1961), 150 line 29, and subsequently the editions of of A. Livingstone, SAA 111, III, p. 45,

and K. Grayson, RIMA 3, p. 86. 86. ofdMAS.MAS dNergal dNinurta For the now accepted reading of d ~ as d ~ e r~ g arather l . than d ~ i~ n u r t see a ~R. Borger, Mesopotamisches Zeichenlexikon, AOAT AOAT 305 (2003), (2003), No. 120. 120. " 71 of this line see the first line on the reverse of For the signs transliterated towards the end of source 'Z', 11. 'Z', which is reproduced on pl. pI. 11. 70 70

1 1.Additional Additional lines lines from from the the Middle Middle Assyrian Assyrian Version Version 11.

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Translation Translation

8' 8'

10' 10'

[By] a l m s had had become become para[lysed, para[lysed, and and the the [By] this this [time] [time] [Etana's [Etana's a]rms mace-bearer was] was] carrying carrying [his [his sceptre]. sceptre]. mace-bearer dyling, [(and [(and so so that that his his son son (And) knowing knowing certainly certainly [that [that he he was was dy]ing, (And) Balih would would become become ki]ng(?) ki]ng(?) in in his his place, place, [(he [(he said said to to him)]: him)]: Balih "My [scelptre II now now gi[ve gi[ve to to you; you; it] it] isis the the foundation foundation of of "My [sce]ptre [[ ....... . . . . . . . ].I . "The sceptre, sceptre, indeed, indeed, [[ .... .. "The ];1; all all the the [hostile] [hostile] lan[ds(?)] will will tremble tremble before before it. it. lan[ds(?)] wi[sh(?)]. Write Write [your [your "(But) may may II be be obeyed obeyed as as to to [my [my final] final] wi[sh(?)]. "(But) stlele, that [my [my own own name name may may be] be] name (and (and title) title) upon a st]ele, name rem [em bered(?)].." " rem[embered(?)]

Notes Notes The The inherent inherent difficulties difficulties of these !ines lines are are exemplified exemplified by the the first first signs signs of 12', which in my paper of 1974 1974 inJNES in JNES 33, 33, p. 248, I had read as as ina seSeline 12', 'Amid the com of (this) field'. I now read them-somewhat em me-re[s-ti], em me-re[$-ti], the corn (this) field7. them-somewhat differently!-as differently!-as as-se-em-me as'-Se-em-me x, 'May I be obeyed', obeyed7,(and thus thus introducing an an Akk. Akk. 'jussive' 'jussive' into into future future debate). debate). In fact, fact, to to pursue pursue the the matter here, the the continuation of the line with <e>-ri[s-ti], <e>-ri[S-ti], as as suggested in the the apparatus apparatus criticus, may be correct without the emendation if rest! res'ti was written to avoid the hiatus between the two e-vowels. e-vowels. Concerning other matters matters in this important text, the only person in line 8' who who could have carried Etana's sceptre sceptre would indeed have been his 'macebearer', and perhaps na-as nu-aS hatti(?) should be restored in the first lacuna of the line. line. In line 12' the logic of the restoration [sum-ka] [Sum-ka],, 'your name' name7 before sutur, narii in any other name but his Sutur, 'write', 'write', is that no king would erect a naru own, so Etana's name own, but in giving his title as as 'son of Etana, Etana, king of Kish', so would be mentioned if somewhat modestly in such a context. As will have been noticed, this last line has been regarded as a '2:2:2' '2:2:2' line, and has been set down accordingly. accordingly. It has been already mentioned that speeches in Etana are commonly ended with this stylistic device. device. 6) The last line of Balih's instructions to the muqabber minati, mindti, 'the burier of the limbs', here called 'the burier of (Etana's) (Etana's) limbs', is brought forward in this section. The line'in question is rev. 13' of text 'z' pI. 11. 'Z' on pl. 11. Because of its length and uncertainty it was not included in the previous excerpt in chap. 9, and indeed there is doubt also as to whether the text should be conveyed in one line or two. Accepting the latter option, and keying in the text with the previous line 12' (placed in brackets), the suggested reading and follows: translation run as follows:

Z 13'

a NLGA

12' 13' 13'

1 1. Additional lines from the Middle Assyrian Version 11.

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82

[ ...... . . . . . . I] me-ris-ta me-rii-ta na[ru]h nii[ru] ag[utkar[u]d ag[ziIc kiir [uld [... ...] [... ... ] b f[D]

C

A.GE6.[A]

d KA[R]

makkura makkiir a e-pis-*ti e-piS- *ti [mlit-ha-r[iS] irtanah[ha~ii]" [m ]it-ha-r[is] irtanah[ha$ut

It will be seen from the above arrangement that the second half of line 13' has again been deployed in three parts as befits the last line of a speech, speech, cf. further in the previous section. Strangely also, if correctly so read, it is section. considered that irtanahha$u jussive, the point being irtanahha~iiis another example of the jussive, that we have no authority to transcribe any logogram, and here RA.R[A], as a makkziru as 'property' 'property' when referring to land and precative tense. For makkuru specifically fields, see AHw 590, 7, b), which cites one example of a king's field described as makkur sarri. If, at the end of the line, one had to guess rnakkzir Sarri. what it was that 'river, flood and quay' were asked to wash away, a possible answer would be the fetid smell from the decaying limbs. 7) The account of the erecting of a memorial to Etana on Mt Shilanu-it ShilFmu-it was far more than the requested naru, narzi, an interesting detail-is detail-is told in the MAV in ten lines (rev. (rev. (iv), 14-23). 14-23). Of these I transliterated and translated the first four in the initial statement towards the end of chap. 9, and a fifth, fifth, line 19', in the following discussion. discussion. The previous line 18' reads [ ... . . . ] x ti abi(AD)-ia sa tu-ta-q[i-nu(?) x x x [ ... abi(~D)-iaSa . . . ], 1, which reading has been much assisted by Ebeling's Ebeling7s gloss of 'qin-nu?' 'gin-nu?' above the verb. The latter, tutaqinu, tutaqinii, could be parsed as the 2nd. pers. plur., pret., subj., D of taqanu, which, in this taqiinu, form, 1323, means "ordnen, in Ordnung halten, in Ordnung form, after AHw 1323, bringen". However, it is difficult to go beyond this point without the initial words. The final lines of the passage are poorly preserved. Omitting the much damaged line 20, the best interpretation I can give to lines 21-23, 21-23, which seem possibly to describe a practice that was once prevalent in the . district, I set down as follows: follows: Z 21' 21 ' Z z Z

a M[ar]-ra(sic)-su-u uqnu b aba[s]mu C [ultu ul-la-nu-um-m]a(?) $urru jurrua war]-ra(sic)-Su-zi uqnzib aba[S]mzic [ ...... . . . . . . I] [a-di hu-pe-e(?)d sa h ~ - ~ e - e (Sa ? ) kab kabl-Sar-ru ~ ]-sar-ru ultu ultuee m}-me-ti nk-mi-ti dNidaba d ~ i d a b [a...... . . . . . .] _v~] a-patu r''it-ta-nu1-ba-la . [matI - . ff ..... It- ta-na ' -b a-Ia 'l-na [ ..... . . . . . nzsu niizi] a-pa-tu i-na enm erim[miiti . . . . . . ]1

a NA4.zU b [N]~.ZA.GiN f NUN[UZ.MES]

C

Translation Translation

21 ' 21'

e RA.R[A-$U(?)]

"([Let "([Let the limbs not be bu]ried bulried in [ground] whereon people, male or female female [may [may walk]). "[(Let "[(Let the men pass by)] the ploughland and properti(es) of farming work; "May river, flood and quay together wash [away ... . . . ]." I."

NA4.AMAS.'PA '.f: d or [hu-(up)-pa-ti?]

eTA

83

[(And) from that tim]e(?), M[ar]hashian obsidian (and) lapis lazuli, . . . . . . ], 1, bezoar stones(?) stones(?) [and ...... enlgraver [had let fall] from the [together with stone chips which the en]graver (stone face of the) nemetti Nidaba, . . . . . the] common [people] used to take away and [make] into [ ..... neck[laces]. .

Notes Three notes are considered relevant to the above passage as it is understood. Surru, 'flint' 'flint' or 'obsidian', 'obsidian', Firstly, the adjective M[ar]raSzi M[ar]rasu which qualifies $urru, incorrect, or locally dialectal(?), form of MarhaSzi. must surely be an incorrect, Marhasu. There 'MarhaSi lapis lazuli' and 'Marhasi 'MarhaSi carnelian' in the series are references to 'Marhasi MarhaSi, lying east of Elam,72 lam,'^ would well abnu Sikin-Su, sikin-su, and the country of Marhasi, abaimzi suit the geographical setting of our story at this point. As to the stone abasmu arnaSpD (as no doubt more originally), the Sum. Sum. equivalent n<4 na4 amas-pa-e amaS-pa-& or amaspu (amaS) for its origins, the sup6ru suggests that one should look to the supiiru supuru (amas) supuru being a 'pen' or 'fold' 'fold' for sheep and goats. Bezoar stones are in fact calculi which'are which 'are formed in the stomach and intestines of goats (and certain other ruminants); an entry on them written from the medical point of view is found Useful plants and drugs of of Iran and Iraq (Chicago, 1937), 1937), in D. Hooper, Useful pp. 197-198, 197-198, and it is of interest that the samples chosen for examination were from the Capra aegagrus, or 'Persian wild goat'. Finally, in line 22', it ngrnet(t)i Nidaba, perhaps new, must have signified is thought that the term nemet(t)i the prepared and smoothed rock-face made ready for the inscription, as it 'backing' of the inscription. One could suppose that the first pieces were the 'backing' 'necklaces', so that it cut from the rock would have been too large for the 'necklaces', kabSarru7s chips that were thus used. was the kabSarru's

*

*

*

*

The preceding pages in their seven sections have sought to add substance to the outlines of the 'new Etana' Etana7 as this is largely provided by texts of the MA V. There remains, however, one final text with which I now end the MAV. chapter. chapter. A whole 'episode' 'episode' is involved, which, if a title should be given it as with other episodes in my Etana of 1985, 1985, could be called 'The remorse of Balih'. Its position in the story must either be at its very end, or otherwise close to it. In a sense it 'completes' 'completes' the story and redefines its final tragedy.

72

There are numerous references in current publications to MarhaSi, many well summarised in D. T. Potts, The Elam (Cambridge 1999), The Archaeology of of Elanz 1999), see Index. Cf. also, into mt. at. al. D. O. 0. Edzard, "Zweite Zwischenzeit", 73, n. 352. 72

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84 84

The AT 9958, The text concerned is is the the reverse of V VAT 9958, published by Ebeling as as KAR KAR 327, 327, and and reproduced in in my my end end plates on on pI. pl. 7. 7. Its Its assigned assigned siglum siglum is is 'M', 'M', and and the the reason why, why, for for a final final episode, episode, we we have have (so (so to to speak) speak) moved 'backwards' 'backwards' in in the the alphabet alphabet is is that the the obverse obverse of 'M' 'M' provided a text for for 'The Return of the Eagle' in chap. 7. Two results will follow if the Return the in chap. 7. Two results follow the identification identification is is correct. correct. The The piece will firstly have have its its essential place in determining determining the the Tablet-length of of Etana Etana as as we we discuss discuss in in the the following following chapter. chapter. Secondly, Secondly, it will necessarily belong to to that edition of the the MAV MAV as LKA 14, carries four columns of text on either side. which, on side. which, as LKA 14, carries four columns It It could could be be added added that the the setting setting of this this final final scene scene is is not as as yet clear. clear. If Balih isis the the speaker, speaker, then then whom whom is is he he addressing? addressing? As As I see see the the matter matter at at the the present present time time II believe believe the the speech speech isis in in fact fact aa soliloquy, soliloquy, and and the the translation translation as as given may lend some credibility to the proposal. This translation with the text given may lend some credibility to the proposal. This translation with the text II set set down down as as follows: follows:

1 1. Additional Additional lines lines from from the the Middle Middle Assyrian Assyrian Version Version 11.

85 85

for profit [but [but I sustained sustained a loss(?)]. loss(?)]. "I planned for had not gone gone that half a cubit cubit [(towards [(towards my my father)]; father)]; "[If only(?)] only(?)] II had "[If co[me] [(towards me)]! me)]! "[If only(?)] only(?)] he he had had not co "[If [me] that finger's breadth [(towards 10' 10'

"'Please', I shall shall say, say, '0 ' 0 craftsman, craftsman, [[ ... ... "'Please', [do you maintain(?) maintain(?) in my my presence(?)] presence(?)] a silence silence in the the "And [do [of your weapons]. whetting [of "Perhaps I may may then cast cast out out [[ ... ... "Perhaps "Peradventure may be be [appeased(?) [appeased(?) ... ... "Peradventure

1

]; 73

] ." ]."

Break Break

Commentary Commentary Transliteration Transliteration [[ x x ] ssuu ttur u rxx [ ... . .. ur-te-em ur-te-em mi-si-it-t[i mi-Si-it-t[i i-na i-na ma-sa-di(?) ma-Sa-di(?) ... .. ak-ki-is )-bi-su(?) ... l[i-(ib)-bi-Su(?) ... ak-ki-is qab-la qab-la l[i-(ib

M M M M M M

M at-bu-uh at-bu-uh im-me-ra im-me-ra [[ .. . ... M M M 5' 5' ul ul as-si dS-Si ru-*uq-qa ru-*uq-qa [[ .. . ... M sam-re-e Sam-re-e ul ul as-ru-t[a(?) dS-ru-t[d(?) ... .. M

ak-pu-ud ak-pu-ud a-na a-na ne-me-/i ne'-me-li [[ .. . ... u-ut 6-u[ ul ul al-li-i[k-ma-an al-li-i[k-ma-an .. . ... u-ba-an am-ma-an ... zi-ba-an ul ul u-me-r[ zi-me'-r[am-ma-an .

M M M M M M

M M 10' 10' as-sum-ia dS-ium-ia ma-a ma-a um-ma-n um-ma-n [u [u ... ... M M ir su-uq-mu-um Su-uq-mu-um se-li Se-li [kak-ki-ka(?) [kak-ki-ka(?)... ...

u

M M

rmi'-in-di lu a[d]-di[-ma ... ras-sur'-ra lu U x [ ... Traces Traces

Translation Translation ."[ '"[ ... . . . ]] .... . . . .[[ ... ... "[Striking "[Striking him] him] with with paralysis, paralysis, [his [his ....... . . . . . . .]] II severed; severed; "I cut [the ....... ] inC?) the centre of [his hear]t(?). "I cut [the . . . . . . . ] in(?) the centre of [his hear]t(?).

5' 5'

"I ].1. "I slaughtered slaughtered aa [([( .... . . . .)])] sheep, sheep, [[ ...... "[(Had "[(Had II known?)] known?)] II would would not not have have lifted lifted (it?) (it?) into(?) into(?)the the cauldron; cauldron; "(Nay), I would not (even?) have skinned(?) the fattened one . . . ]. .I. "(Nay), I would not (even?) have skinned(?) the fattened one [[....

Despite some some difficulties difficulties the the main main contribution contribution of of the the above above passage passage isis that that itit Despite provides provides aa credible credible ending ending to to the the Legend Legend of of Etana, Etana, and and lends lends every every support support to to the the supposed supposed new new topos topos of of the the enlarging enlarging story-the story-the death death of of Etana Etana by by the the hand of of his his son. son. The The text text isis phonetically phonetically written written throughout-hence throughout-hence there there isis hand no apparatus apparatus criticus-and criticus-and itit isis thought thought that that the the speech speech contains contains at at least least three three no examples examples of of vernacular vernacular Assyrian. Assyrian. 2', that that the the Passing to to specific specific details, details, itit isis considered considered firstly, firstly, in in line line 2', Passing tai-te-em, reading ur-te-em ur-te-em isis correct. correct. II had had originally originally read read the the verb verb as as tas-te-em, reading regarding this this as as the the 3rd. 3rd. pers. pers. fern. fern. sing. sing. (sic), (sic), perf. perf. G G of of siamu, Sidmu, samu, Zmu, 'to 'to regarding decree', iStgm and and the the decree', or or the the like, like, but but in in aa literary literary text text the the form form should should be be iStem sense in in any any case case isis unsatisfactory. unsatisfactory. In In contrast, contrast, urtem, urtgm, for for the the literary literary urta urta 'im, 'im, sense would 'umu, 'to would be be from from the the rare rare verb verb ru' ru "umu, 'to sever', sever', (doubtless (doubtless aa preterite preterite with with 't' disjunctive). disjunctive). To To the the best best of of my my knowledge knowledge itit isis thus thus far far found found only only in in 't' Anzu, AnzB, see see accordingly accordingly M. M. Vogelzang, Vogelzang, Bin Bin sar Sar dadme, dadmZ, 59, 59, 107 107 and and 60, 60, 129, 129, and Annus, The The Standard Standard Babylonian Babylonian Epic Epic of of Anzu, Anzzi, SAACT SAACT III I11 and now now Amar Amar Annus, (2001), 108and and 130, 130, and and III I11 11. 11. As As in in the the present present passage passage itit isis there there found found (2001), III1 108 in nakdsu, 'to 'to cut', cut', which which would would confirm confirm the the derivation. derivation. in parallelism parallelism with with nakasu, In the the second second of of the the three three triplets triplets the the obvious obvious metaphor metaphor needs needs no no In explanation, the the ruqqu ruqqu being being aa large large bronze bronze cauldron cauldron (such (such were were found found by by explanation, Layard Layard at at Nineveh) Nineveh) typically(?) typically(?) for for the the boiling boiling of of aa whole whole sheep. sheep. In In line line 6' 6' sam-re-e, Sam-re-e, despite despite appearances, appearances, isis an an accusative accusative singular. singular. A A writing writing sam-ra-a Sam-ra-a Samri isis possibly possibly aa 'desonant' 'desonant' form form to to avoid avoid might might have have been been expected, expected, but but samre the the rhyme rhyme with with asruta. ajruta. Line 7', 7', as as II have have completed completed it, it, one one could could think think to to be be aapopular popular saying; saying; the the Line nzmelu could could possibly possibly have have been been imtu. imtzi. The The word for for 'loss' 'loss' to to balance balance nemelu word 8', unmistakeable pathos pathos of of the the line line isis continued continued in in the the lines lines following. following. In In 8', unmistakeable 73 Suitablyone one could could supply supply something something like like '[the '[the memory memory of of my my father's father's death]' death]' or or aa similar similar 73 Suitably phrase,toto complete completethe the sentence. sentence. phrase,

86

Studia Etanaica Etanaica Studia

ti-ut, a unique example?, example?, is is the the uninflected form form of iitu, iitu, "halbe Elle", u-ut, WZKM 56 56 (1960), (1960), pp. pp. 109-112. 109-1 12. In "Spanne", discussed by Landsberger in WZKM "Spanne", ti-me'-r[an-ma-an] sees sees this as as the the pret. pret. D of (w)dru (w)dru with 9', my reading u-me-r[an-ma-an] umBr being then regarded as as the the ventive -am and the the irrealis irrealis particle -man, umer ventive urtBm for for urta'im suggested suggested above. above. In form of uma uma'ir, exactly as as urtem 'ir, exactly vernacular form ubdn, a 'finger's 'finger's breadth', is is not hard to to seek. seek. line 9' also, also, the the significance of ubiin, line distance, the the point of Balih's dagger could have have stopped short of the the By this distance, fatal cut into the heart's blood vessel which caused the death of Etana. fatal into the the further notes may conclude conclude this this long long commentary. commentary. In line 10' 10' one one Three further um-ma-n[u] the break should should be seen seen as as singular tell whether um-ma-n[ cannot tell u] before the also be possible. Of interest or plural; a reading um-ma-n[u-tu] would also aS-Sum-ia in the the same same line line (the (the signs signs have have been philologically is is the the writing as-sum-ia collated for for this study by Dr Marzahn). Marzahn). What one one learns from from the the kindly collated is that, in the the pronunciation of the the times, times, the the Assyrian for for 'please' writing is aSSumya. The The term, term, of course, course, has has its its origin in an(a) an(a) sumi-ia Sumi-ia 'for my was assumya. was 11' I find find difficult. difficult. No such form is sake'. Finally, Finally, the word suqmum Suqmum in line 11' 37 (GAG first line of von Soden's Verbalparadigma 37 to be found in the first p. 48*), and while I have taken the word to be the construct of the infinitive Suqammu I cannot pr9perly properly explain it. it. suqammu Thus are are ended the supplementary texts and a final final episode as as these have Thus MAV. It is been provided by the newly significant and centrally important MAV. as I have made upon them will assist the next hoped that these and such notes as Etana. editor in his or her work on a multi-Tablet edition of Etana.

12. How many many Tablets? Tablets? 12. One One of the the main problems concerned concerned in the the reconstruction reconstruction of the the Legend of Etana is is the the number of Tablets Tablets which originally originally comprised its its three versions. Colophons Colophons and catch-lines are are in short supply, supply, and are are found found not at all all for for the the later Tablets Tablets of the the series. series. The The restored 150 150 lines lines for for the the Eagle-serpent narrative in the the second Tablet of the the Late Version is is strangely a single, single, but important, important, landmark in the the desert of uncertainty. uncertainty. The The single single Tablet Late Version has has of necessity to to provide the the unit of counting for for the the whole composition, composition, and, and, on this basis, Dalley and and Haul Haul see see the the Late Version as as being complete in three Tablets, Saporetti in not less less than three Tablets meno di di tre tavole', Etana, Etana, p. p. 43), 43)' while Foster in his his Tablets ('non meno reconstruction gives the JNES the number as as four four Tablets. Farber in his his review in JNES 48 48 (1989), (1989)' 155, 155, note 2, writes also also of 'four tablets', tablets7,but I regret that, for for this figure, figure, I myself confused him, and he would probably now agree agree that the three. number is is My own position is well known. known. Even in my first first study in Iraq 31 31 (1969), p. p. 17, 17, I concluded from from the presented arguments 'Accordingly there must at least have been six tablets (in the series)'. Thereafter, Thereafter, and based on a wrong assessment of the coverage of the four a-side, and so so eight, eight, columns columns of the main Middle Assyrian text 'LKA 14', I opted for for 'a probable total of eight' eight7 (my Etana, p. 3). I must apologise for for the vacillation, vacillation, but my final final judgment is again for for six Tablets. Tablets. It will perhaps save save much argument if I set down below the suggested subject-matter for for each of these six Tablets. The point of change from from one Tablet to another is not secure for Tablets Tablets IV and V, V, but with otherwise a degree of confidence the Tablets Tablets with their themes or topics are are presented as as follows: follows: Tablet I

The hymnal-epic Introduction. Introduction. Muanna's first first dream; dream; Etana's search through (many) countries countries or 'lands' for for the Plant of birth; [his [his failure failure to find it].

Tablet II I1 The Eagle-serpent narrative. narrative. Tablet III I11 The feeding and rescue of the eagle; eagle; the first flight to heaven (evidently to prove that the eagle was able to carry Etana on his back, even to the heights of heaven); the fall fall to earth; earth; the two(?) two(?) dreams of Etana and the one(?) one(?) dream of the eagle, the latter determining that the heaven of Anu was still their objective; the second flight flight to heaven; the meeting with Ishtar.

Studia Etanaica Etanaica Studia

12. 12. How How many many Tablets? Tablets?

The pregnancy of Etana's wife [and [and the the birth of Balih]; the the return Tablet IV The and resentful eagle eagle into into the the narrative; narrative; the the abduction abduction of a neglected and Balih; [Remaining of Balih; [Remaining childless] childless] Muanna has has a second dream appears to to foretell her own death as as well as as that of Etana; Etana; which appears the onset of a severe drought and and famine(?). the

addition of TIM TIM 50 50 to to the the text of Muanna's first first dream makes makes the the case case new addition for putting her 'second' 'second' dream in in front front of it unconvincing, unconvincing, and and it is is surely surely for the text in in question, question, with ascription ascription as as to to incorrect. In my own reconstruction, the 'obverse' and as originally proposed, comes comes at a midway and 'reverse' being still still as point in the the story, story, the the eagle's dream dream (see (see chapter 5) 5) belonging to to Tablet III, 111, and and Muanna's second second dream dream to to Tablet IV. IV. It may accordingly have been part Etana. of a five-Tablet edition of Etana. put. In chapter 3 of his Mesopotamian Mesopotamian My second point may be briefly put. Cosmic Cosmic Geography (a book full full of much interest), Wayne Horowitz follows follows up a proposal made in his earlier study in Or. Or. 59, 59, 511ff. 511ff. He adopts adopts the the position that the the two two sides sides of what, what, for for my edition, edition, was was the the newly joined K 3651 3651 + + 8578 8578 were wrongly assessed, assessed, one one of the the arguments arguments being that the the three three final final lines on 'Side A' of this fragment fragment following following a rule-line, are are not lines of a colophon but part of a continuing continuing text of the the obverse. However, However, for for XI1 in Haul's edition, edition, another copy copy of my 'reverse' one one may refer to to Tf. Tf. XII where the the wider spacing spacing of the the bottom three lines suggest that they were also also there taken to be the lines of a short colophon. In Wayne's reconstruction to the lines short colophon. there was 50-51), there is is no no place for for a was only one one journey to to heaven (pp. (pp. 50-51), meeting with Ishtar, Ishtar, and and the the journey (once (once again) again) ends ends in failure, failure, with the the companions companions falling falling to earth and their mission not accomplished. Sadly, Sadly, I cannot accompany him on such ajourney. a journey. But what a composition is the Legend of Etana! I.I. M. Diakonoff, in a famous comment, comment, once suggested that there are are 'as many Sumerian famous languages Almost, in the same same vein, one could languages as as there are are Sumerologists'. Almost, think that there are are as as many Legends of Etana as as there are are scholars scholars who have studied it. it. Shall my Etana win its eventual acceptance? acceptance? Will what II suggest to be the story fare fare any any better than another version? Time will tell. tell.

88 88

Tablet V [Muanna's trial by the the (Kish) (Kish) Assembly, the the sterility of the fields fields as the the king's being possibly associated with her own sterility as wife(?)]; her conviction; conviction; after her death death Etana is is beset with grief wife(?)]; Ittadina-agQSu-Am(?); and becomes ill; ill; the the 'visitation' of Ittadina-agusu-Anu(?); and from this delusional delusional visitant, visitant, Etana believing a fictional 'report' from to invade invade the the Mountainland; Mountainland; his army army of 30,000 30,000 move move decides to north-eastwards via Kar-Shamash. Tablet VI VI Balih has has grown up up in the the enemy city ofUrlzana(?); of Urizana(?); [there [there follows follows gap in the the text which might have have told how he became a aa large gap champion in his city and and was was chosen to to fight fight Etana]; Etana]; Etana is is fatally fatally wounded in the the ensuing duel; duel; his his grief at discovering the the assailant; the the handing over of the the sceptre sceptre of identity of his assailant; ShilZinu of a memorial relief Balih; the creation on Mt. Shilanu kingship to Balih; Kish). to Etana; the remorse of Balih (on his return to Kish). It is on the basis of the above scheme that the following following proposals may now be made regarding the number of Tablets Tablets in each Version which would theoretically be required to 'cover' the story. story. (1) It is if preferred, the Old is supposed that the Old Version-or, Version-r, Babylonian Version-was Version-was complete complete in three Tablets, each corresponding to two Tablets of the single single column version. version. (2) (2) It is is supposed that the older of the MAV texts, texts, namely, namely, that which, as as LKA 14, 14, carries four four columns columns on each side, side, was complete in two Tablets, while the later two-column edition which is is mainly represented by KAR 332 (cols. (cols. i and iv) iv) would have comprised three Tablets. Tablets. (3) (3) With regard to the Late Version, Version, there was the single-column edition with Tablets Tablets from from I to VI, and what in my judgment judgment is is a two-column edition represented by the controversial K 8563. 8563. It is is possible also also that the OV fragments fragments written in Neo-Assyrian script were also also parts of a two-column edition like like their exemplars, exemplars, but the few few pieces are are very narrow and the original width of their tablets is not easily assessed. To what is written above two further points could be made. In my Etana, pI. pl. 30, I was wrong to conclude that the presented face face of K 8563, referred to above, above, belonged to 'Tablet V', but equally I do not accept that it is to be placed in the series series as early as Tablet I. This was Farber's opinion as given in JNES JNES 48, 155, 155, note 2; it was accepted and much developed by Haul in his Etana, pp. 30ff., and Novotny also accepted this placing. To my mind the

89 89

Appendix: A brief note on K 6845 Appendix: A text which has at least an apparent connection with Etana is K 6845 which 12 in my "Miscellaneous "Miscellaneous Literary Kuyunjik I published in copy as No. 12 brief catalogue entry on p. 89, and the copy Texts", JCS 42 (1990). There is a brief pI. 13. is reproduced in this volume on pl. Because of the fragmentary nature of the text and the difficulty of interpreting much of it a full edition is not here offered. By way of a description, description, however, the following details seem clear. The text concerns a coronation in Babylon on the 12th [of Nisan], (line 3). There is mention in sign BARAG, or (supposedly) the same line of BellMarduk, BelIMarduk, dEN, d ~ the~ previous , parakku, offering a choice of meanings. The Igigi (restored) and Anunnaki are present (line 4), and in the following four lines one reads of various groups of people who are 'standing 'standing on duty(?)" duty(?)', if this is the meaning one should give to the repeated iz-za-az-zulza. They include the palace women, or so probably (line 5), manual workers and maid servants(?) (line 6), the [pa-aJn [pa-a]n qabal ali Zli or 'staff 'staff of the citadel(?)' (line 7), and the pa-an abulli, 'personnel or guard(?) of the city gate' (line 8). Thereafter strikingly and unexpectedly one reads in lines 9-10: 9-10:

10'

kam-su-*sum(text: sam)-ma $al-mat qaqqadi(SAG.DU) i[d? ... [x x] x x mU-ri-is-sa-nu-u-ma L[UGAL(?) ...

10'

74 Bowing down to him, the black-headed peoples .. down74 . . [ ... ... "[ ........ ], the Urissanian is k[ing!" (they kept crying(?)]. .. . . ....I,

1

Since it was probably in Urlzana Urizana that Balih and Etana met in combat (on which see in chap. 9 with note 46), one could wonder whether the coronation is not that of Balih, whether his name should not even be restored at the beginning of line 10. 10. Nevertheless, and whatever whatever its real purpose, the text as a whole is probably more at home in Livingstone's Court Poetry and I11 (Helsinki 1989) 1989) than with the narrative of Literary miscellanea, SAA III Etana itself. The 'script and clay' does not accord with that of other pieces of l line 11, 11, whatever the reading Etana known to me, and the name ofdNin-lil of d ~ i n - l iin and meaning of the rZI'.MES(?) 'zI'.ME$(?) before it, does nothing to encourage the prospect of there being a direct association with the Legend.

74 74

kamsii, kamszi, a stative, is here regarded as a further example of what I sought to call the 'Lambert-Frankena Etana, p. 133. 'Lambert-Frankena rule', discussed in Etana, 133.

Bibliography Bibliography The The following following titles titles continue continue the the list list of of translations, translations, editions editions and and discussions discussions relevant relevant to to the the text text and and interpretation interpretation of of the the Legend Legend of of Etana, Etana, following following the the style style adopted in chapter chapter 111 III of ofmy my own own earlier earlier edition. edition. adopted in 1984 Claudio Claudio Saporetti, Saporetti, "Diece "Diece brevi brevi note note in in margine margine ad ad Etana", Etana", Egitto Egitto ee Vicino Vicino Oriente 1-73. Oriente VII, VII, 661-73. 1985 - "Dieci "Dieci appunti appunti dai dai Testi Testi di di Etana", Etana", Egitto Egitto ee Vicino Vicino Oriente Oriente VIII, VIII, 63-71. 63-71. J. V. Kinnier Wilson, The Legend of Etana: a new edition (Warminster). Legend ofEtana: a new edition (Warminster). 1985 1. V. Kinnier Wilson, 19.85 J. J. NN.. Postgate, Postgate, Review Review of of The Legend Legend of of Etana, Etana, in in Ur: the the international international 1. Magazine ofArab Arab Culture, 198514,604 1985/4,60-61. Magazine of Etana, ZA 76,134-137. 1986 D. 0O.. Edzard, Review of of The Legend Legend of ofEtana, 76, 134-137. The Legend of Etana, BiOr 43,436439. M. Vogelzang, Review of of Legend ofEtana, 43, 436--439. 1986 1988 Claudio Saporetti, Review of of The Legend Legend of ofEtana, OLZ 83, 544-546. 544-546. 1989 Stephanie Dalley, Myths from from Mesopotamia (Oxford), 189-202. 189-202. Etana, JNES 48,155-156. 1989 W. Farber, Review of of The Legend Legend of ofEtana, 48,155-156. 109, 81-86, The Legend Legend of of Etana, JAOS 109, 81-86, a review 1989 Bendt Alster, Review of The article. 1990 Claudio Saporetti, Etana (Palermo), an edition of the composition divided 'parts' rather than 'tablets'. 'tablets'. into 'parts' Heaven", Or. Or. 59,511-517. 59, 51 1-517. 1990 Wayne Horowitz, "Two notes on Etana's flight to Heaven", Benjamin Foster, Before the Muses I (Bethesda, 2nd. edit. 1996), 437-457. 1993 edit. 1996),437--457.

Simo Parpola, "The Etana myth", in his "The Assyrian Tree of Life: Life: tracing 1993 Simo 195and Greek Greek Philosophy", JNES 52, 195the origins of Jewish Monotheism and 199. 199. Foster, From Distant Days (Bethesda), 102-114. 102-1 14. 1995 Benjamin Foster, Reinhard Bernbeck, Bernbeck, "Siegel, My Mythen, Riten: Etana und die die Ideologie der 1996 Reinhard then, Riten: Bagh. Mitt. Mitt. 27. Akkad-Zeit", Bagh. Wayne Horowitz, Horowitz, Mesopotamian Mesopotamian Cosmic Cosmic Geography Geography (Winona (Winona Lake), Lake), chapter chapter 1998 Wayne 3: The The flights flights of of Etana Etana and and the the Eagle Eagle into into the the Heavens. Heavens. 3: Selz, "Die "Die Etana-Erzahlung: Etana-Erzalung: Ursprung Ursprung und und Tradition Tradition eines eines der der Gebhard J.J. Selz, 1998 Gebhard ASJ20,135-179. altesten epischen epischen Texte Texte in in einer einer semitischen semitischen Sprache", Sprache", ASJ20, altesten 135-179. Michael Haul, Haul, Das Das Etana-Epos: Etana-Epos: ein ein Mythos Mythos von von der der Himmelfahrt Himmelfahrt des des Konigs Konigs 2000 Michael von Kis, KiS, G6ttinger Gottinger Arbeitshefte Arbeitshefte zur zur altorientalischen altorientalischen Literatur, Literatur, (G6ttingen), (Gottingen), von Heft I.I. Heft Shlomo Izre'el, Izre'el, "Linguistics "Linguistics and and Poetics Poetics in in Old Old Bablylonian Bablylonian Literature: Literature: 2000 Shlomo mimation and and meter meter in in Etana", Etana", JANES JANES27, 57-68. 27, 57-68. mimation Novotny, The The Standard Standard Babylonian Babylonian Etana Etana Epic, Epic, State State Archives Archives of of Jamie R. R. Novotny, 2001 Jamie (Helsinki). Assyria: Cuneiform Cuneiform Texts, Texts, III1(Helsinki). Assyria:

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Bibliography

aj-Jabbar: on the persistence of Meso2001 H. H. L. L. J. J. Vanstiphout, "Shamshum aj-Jabbar: 2001 literary motifs", in W. W. H. H. van Soldt (ed.), (ed.), Veenhof Anniversary potamian literary Klaus R. Veenhof on on the the occasion of of his sixtyVolume: Studies presented presented to to Klaas Volume: Jjih fifth birthday (Leiden). 2002 J. J. R. Novotny, Review ofM. of M. Haul, Das Etana-Epos, Etana-Epos, BO LIX, 352-354. 352-354. 2002 M. Sigrist, Review of J. J. R. R. Novotny, The The Standard Babylonian Etana Epic, 2004 M. 111,449451. RB 111,449-451. Id-an-Se ba-eu-de. ba-ell-d6. Der Mythos von Etana um 2000 v. v. Chr., Chr., in 2004 Michael Haul, lu-an-se Colloquien der Deutschen OrientOrientJ.-W. Meyer and W. Sommerfeld (eds.), Colloquien Gesellschaji 3,237-262 3,237-262 [a paper not seen by the writer]. Gesellschaft

W. G. G. Lambert, 'The Sultantepe Tablets VIII: VIII: Shalmaneser in Ararat', AnSt XI W. (1961), with reference to p. p. 150, 150, line 29. 29. (1961),

2005 R. R. D. D. Biggs, Review of J. J. R. Novotny, The The Standard Babylonian Etana Epic, 2005 64,126. JNES 64, 126. The following titles refer to books and articles mentioned in the Monograph but not specifically related to the Legend of Etana. Amar Annus, The The Standard Babylonian Epic of ofAnzzi, 111(Helsinki, 2001). Anzu, SAACT III

18 Julia Asher-Greve, Frauen in altsumerischer Zeit, Bibliotheca Mesopotamica 18 (Malibu, 1985). R. D. Biggs, 'Conception, 'Conception, Contraception and Abortion in Ancient Mesopotamia', Mesopotamia', of W. W. G. G. Lambert (Winona Lake, 2000). Studies in honour of (Munster, 2003). R. Borger, Mesopotamisches Zeichenlexicon, AOAT 305 (MUnster, J. W. Clinton, The Rostam (Seattle, 1987). The Tragedy ofSohrab of Sohrcib and Rostcim 1987). Museum: Dominique Collon, Catalogue of of the Western Western Asiatic Seals in the British Museum: 1982). Cylinder Seals I1 II (London, 1982). QueUen (Wurzburg, (WUrzburg, 2000). Jeanette Fincke, Augenleiden nach keilschriftlichen Quellen H. Frankfort, Cylinder Seals (London, 1939). A. R. George, The The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic (Oxford, 2003). A. K. Grayson, Babylonian Historical-Literary Texts (Toronto, 1975). 'Akkadian Prophecies', Prophecies',JCS 7-30. A. K. Grayson and W. G. Lambert, 'Akkadian JCS 18 18 (1964), 7-30. arm", in L. Gorelick and E. Williams-Forte W. W. Hallo, "As the seal upon thine arm", Ancient Seals and the Bible (Undena Publications, 1983). (eds.), Ancient H. Hirsch, "Die VerbalstSimme Verbalstamme mit ta-Infix", ta-Infix", AfO 50 (2003/4), 80-94. 80-94. D. Hooper, Useful Usefol plants plants and and drugs of of Iran and and Iraq, Field Museum of of Natural History, vol. 913 9/3 (Chicago, 1937). 'Primitive Democracy in Ancient Mesopotamia', Mesopotamia', JNES 2 (1943), Thorkild Jacobsen, 'Primitive 1591-172. 159.1..172. 'Early 91-140. 'Early political development in Mesopotamia', Mesopotamia', ZA 18 (1957), (1957),91-140. 'Death of of a "queen"', "queen"', in Simonetta Graziani (ed.), Studi sul suI J. V. Kinnier Wilson, 'Death Vicino Oriente Antico dedicati alla alia memoria di Luigi Cagni (Naples, 2000), Vicino 539-554. 539-554. 'Miscellaneous 'Miscellaneous Literary Kuyunjik Texts', JCS 42 (1990), 88-98. 88-98.

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fragments of Babylonian Epics', AfO XXVII (1980), 75. 75. 'New fragments 68 (1984),149-156. (1984), 149-156. 'A piece of esoteric Babylonian learning', RA 68

The Epic of of the the Kings (London, 1967). 1967). Reuben Levy, The Reuben Miscellanea, SAA III 111 (Helsinki, Alasdair Livingstone, Court Poetry and Literary Miscellanea, 1989). 1989). Grundziige der babylonischen und assyrischen assyrischen Plastik, Der Alte Bruno Meissner, Grundzuge 15 (Leipzig, 1915),52, Orient 15 1915), 52, Abb. 90. Vorderasiatische Rollsiegel (Berlin, 1940, 1940,3rd edit. 1988), 1988), No. 234. 234. A. Moortgat, Vorderasiatische 3rd edit. Alt-Iran: die Kunst in in vorislamischer Zeit (Baden-Baden, 1962),41. 1962), 41. Edith Porada, Aft-Iran: The Archaeology ofElam of Elam (Cambridge, 1999). 1999). T. Potts, The D. T. in Babylonia and the the Bible (Groningen, 2000), 55f. Marten Stol, Birth in of Babylonian Prices in in the First Millennium Millennium BC PBter Vargyas, A History of Peter (Heidelberg, (Heideiberg, 2001). of the World: World: Mesopotamia and the Middle East (London, Leonard Woolley, Art of 1961),86. 1961), 86.

Index of Words Discussed Sumerian

Balih, 65, note 53 53 gaba-kur-ra, 63 63 with n. 48 *Muanna (suggested name of Etana's hirtu-wife), 19,55 19,55 and n. 33 33 SAL.MURUB, 45f. sa-dib-ba, Sa-dib-ba, 'womb-seizure', 'womb-seizure', 45 um-me-da, 45 Akkadian abasmu, abaimzi, amaspu, amaSpzi, 83 83 akiilu (= (= NA akullu), akullu), 46 anniim, 75 75 annum, ala sutashuru, 14, dla Sutashuru, 14, note 1 ana pdni pani fahinu, sakiinu, OB 'to give

precedence (to)', 19 19 assumya aSSumya (Ass.), 'please', 'please', 86 bunnu, bunnii, 72 elpetu, 34 elpetu, n. 7 emu, emzi, Sum. LW, 27, 27,n. ia basi, baii, a contrary vote, 57 kabiarru, 68, 82f. kabsarru, Kar-Samas, 62 and n. 47 ~dr-,$arnaS, kisiskurakku, Sum. LW, 61 61 and n. 45 kisiskurakku, [abba, labbti, with reference to the Lions of

Ishtar, 37, 40 37,40 lurate, lurbte, 79 79

Marrasu, MarhaSii(?), Marhasu(?), 82f. MarraSu, 82f. me-e-me-e-ma, me-e-me-e-ma, 'the Great Sea', 17,19 17, 19 muqabber mindti, minbti, 'the burier of (Etana's) limbs', 81 81 naplusu, naplusu, intrans. 'to look around', 19 19 nasabu, naidbu, a new verb, 66 patar sls'ibbi, s/sibbi, 69 patar 69 pistu, piltu, 'reproach', piitu, 'reproach', 'insult', 'insult', 18 18 ru' 'umu, 'to sever' ru"umu, sever',, 85 85 sibit utukki, utukki, 66 with n. 56 Serbianni/e, gerbianni/e, the 'second name' of Muanna, 19f. 19f. Sildnu, Sad,$ildnu, Silanu, sad Silanu, 63,68 with n. 58, 82 Su 'atu, as fern. fem. collective of Su 'u, su 'atu, su 'u, 'sheep', 'sheep', 23 suqmum, uncertain mng., 86 Suqmum, teqftu, tzqitu, "Augensalbe", "Augensalbe", 18 18 ulalu, ulalu, 61 61 *umaru, *umaru, Sum. LW from amar, 'fledgling'(?), 'fledgling'(?), 33 33 Urissanu, Urissanzi, 91 91 iit, iitu, iitu, 86 iit, (w)aqu, (w)aqii,'to wait', wait', 29f.

Indo-Iranian(?) Urfzana, Urizana, Orfzana(?), Orizana(?),PN, 62 and

n.46 n. 46

Subject Index Aelian's Aelian's narrative, 51,64 5 1,64

her address to Etana, 39ff.

Bezoar stones, 83 83 (The) eagle, fed with barley-(cakes), his wing-span, 22 the slaking of his thirst, trial(?) flight to heaven, his second nest or aerie, returns into the narrative against Etana, 47ff.

(A) jussive jussive tense in Akkadian proposed, 30,n.12,81,82 30, n. 12, 81, 82 21 21

KAR 332, not an historical epic, 60

23 29 33 33 in anger

Marhasi, MarhSi, NE ofSumer, of Sumer, 83 83 Etana's relevant to the place of Etana's death, 83 83

Ehursang-kalama, 51 Etana, his initial search for the Plant of Birth, 17,19 17, 19 his feeding of the eagle, 21ff. 2 1ff. 73 his dreams, 34, 34,73 the meeting with Ishtar, 37ff. makes statue of the eagle, 50 his death foretold, 55 leads leads expedition to Urizana, 62 mortally wounded, 64f. hands over sceptre to [Balih], 65 his moment of death, 65 and 66, line 7' his memorial on Mt. Shiliinu, Shilanu, 68, 82 (The) Gilgamesh Epic, 10,48, n. 28, 51 51 'Gilgamos' 'Gilgamos' in Aelian, 51 51 IddinaJIttadina-agusu-Anum(?), IddinafIttadina-agGSu-Anurn(?), 61 61 with n. 44, 78 Ishtar, 19f. gasertum, 19f. her epithet gaiertum, her Lions, 37,40 gives the Plant of Birth to Etana(?), 39 39

Muanna, proposed name of Etana's Etana's wife, 19,55 19,55 with n. 33 33 her dreams, 15ff., 47, 55 1Sff., 47,55 her death foretold, 47 her trial by Assembly, 73ff. her grave identified on seal, 58 Oedipus, 69 (The) Plant of Birth, 16f., 16f., 26ff., 28, 39f., 44, 46, 73f. 44,46, Seals related to Etana, 58,69 58, 69 'Second names' of royal queens, 18f. 1Sf. (The) 'slaughter 'slaughter of Erra', 70f. Standards, military, with an advancing army, 80 Text versions of Etana, 87ff. 87ff. '2:2:2' '2:2:2' lines, 15, 15, lines lines 2-3; 2-3; 25, line 3; 39, note h; h; 51; 81; 82 (A) wrist-seal identifies Sohrab in the Persian Epic, 64f. Etana?, a Leitmotiv of relevance for £lana?, 65 65 Writing boards, to record votes in the trial of Muanna, 57,75 57,75

Cuneiform Plates Cuneiform and and Etana Seal Seal Impressions Impressions Etana

Plate I

Cuneiform Plates

A

(1M (IM 52578C) 52578C)

Obv.

Rev. ~ t

411. 4 11. uninscribed

5'

10'

B

(82-3-23,6)

Obv. Rev.

PlateII I1 Plate

StudiaEtanaica Etanaica Studia

Cuneifonn CuneiformPlates Plates

D (K (K 3651 3651 ++ 8578) 8578) Obv. Obv. D

D D

E

(K (K 3651 3651 ++ 8578) 8578) Obv. Obv. cont. cont.

(79-7-8,43) Obv. I~,(~

~

~~~~I @

~

MZ" ~~~ V ff ~ 4"F.=

V ff

Ff

$f 4F. 4:Jf ~ pl-,f-- IT-

o/' rr~4F. If Q-~~,

frr

D (K (K 3651 3651 + + 8578) 8578) Rev. Rev.

Rev. (1)

ern

Rev. (2) I

I

Plate Plate III I11

Plate IV

F

+ 79-7-8,180 (K19530+RM 2454 ,

Obv. Obv.

. c: rm Plates Cuneiform Cuneho

Studia Etanaica

F

+ 79-7-8,180) , (K 19530+RM 2454

Rev.

5

Plate V

Plate Plate VI VI G G (Rm (Rm 2,492) 2,492)

Cuneiform Plates Plates Cuneiform

Studia Studia Etanaica Etanaica

H H (K (K 10099) 10099)Obv. Obv.

M M (VAT (VAT 9958) 9958)

Obv. Obv.

Rev.

0 (K 1578) Obv.

N N (VAT (VAT 11653) 11653) II (VAT (VAT 12998) 12998)

LL (K (K 10096) 10096)Rev. Rev. (7) (?)

Rev. broken

Plate Plate VII VII

Plate VIII VIII Plate

52/325) J (SU 521325)

Cuneiform Cuneiform Plates Plates

Etanaica Studia Etanaica

K (SU 52/44)

Plate Plate IX IX U U (SU (SU 521289) 52/289)

P (Sm 365) V W

(SU 52/335)

(SU 52/353) --_"'l-...-- __ - .....

X R

(SU 521144)

S (SU 521302 52/302 (+) SU 521320) 52/320)

IS'

(SU 52/320) 521320)

'd (SU 52/302) 521302)

Y (81-2-4,391) (81-2-4,391)

Q (K 7067)

Obv.

5

Rev.

(K 13859) 13859) Obv.

Plate X

Z (VAT (VAT 10566) 10566) Obv. Obv.

Plate XI

Plates Cuneiform Plates

Studia Studia Etanaica Etanaica

Z (VAT (VAT 10566) 10566) Rev. Rev.

5

pif<.

~J:IV

~p...$

}~

KY # 1f1;!Y trw 1fW

m mv

Y"W ~,.(#~

¢{YiM

~~t1d~.A \~?@h,

}{I!Y~ ~

'(~

1) Jd'#

iP;I#

collation: J. fIarzahn

Plate XI1 XII Plate

Etanaica Studia Etanaica

Cuneiform Cuneiform Plates Plates

Za (VAT 10566a)

Plate Plate XI11 XIII

K6845 K 6845 Rev.

Obv.

5

5'

10'

perhaps independent independent text discussed discussed in the Appendix. Appendix. A related but perhaps Rev.

5

5

PlateXIV XIV Plate

StudiaEtanaica Etanaica Studia

Plate PlateXV XV

Etana Etana Seal SealImpressions Impressions

~-----------~------

(d) (d)

(a)

VA VA 3456 3456

-

(e) (e)

(b)

(c)

BM 129480 129480

--

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