Myth that tells how Enki
built a house (temple) for himself in Eridu, the oldest city in Sumer
according to tradition, the first of five cities founded before the
Great Flood.
The temple, decorated with silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian and gold,
was established on the bank of a river, where its foundations reached
deep into the underground sweet, fertilizing waters, called the Apsu.
The temple had magical qualities: the brickwork gave Enki advice,
while the surrounding reed fences roared like a bull. The roof-beam
was shaped like the bull of heaven, and a lion gripping a man formed
the gateway. The overall effect was described as a lusty bull.
The bustle of activity there was compared to the drama of a river
rising during a flood, Enki filled the building with lyres, drums and
every other kind of musical instruments.
Surrounding the temple was a delightful garden full of fruit trees,
with birds singing all around and frolicking carp playing among the
reeds in the streams.
After finishing the construction of the E-engurra, the temple, Enki
called up the beat of the ala and the uh drums and set out by barge to
Nippur, in order to receive the other gods¥ blessings.
The fish danced before him on the way to Nippur, and Enki slaughtered
several oxen and sheep for the feast to come.
Once in Nippur, Enki started preparing the feast.
Paying attention to protocol, Anu was at the head of the group, with
Enlil beside him and the goddess Nintu in a seat of honour nearby.
In the happy celebration that followed, all the great gods pronounced
blessings on Enki¥s new home, and Anu stated:" My son Enki has
made his temple.... grow from the ground like a mountain".
After the water of creation had been decreed, After the name hegal
(abundance) born in heaven, Like plant and herb had clothed the land,
The lord of the abyss, the king Enki, Enki the Lord who decrees the
fates, Built his house of silver and lapis lazuli; Its silver and
lapis lazuli, like sparkling light, The father fashioned fittingly in
the abyss.
The creatures of bright countenances and wise, coming forth from the
abyss, Stood all about the lord Nudimmud; The pure house he built He
ornamented it greatly with gold, In Eridu he built the house of
water-bank, Its brickwork, word-uttering, advice-giving, Its... like
an ox roaring, The house of Enki, the oracles uttering.
Follows a long passage in which Isimud, Enki's counsellor/prime
minister, sings the praises of the sea-house.
Then Enki raises the city of Eridu from the abyss and makes it float
over the water like a lofty mountain.
Its green fruit-bearing gardens he fills with birds; fishes too he
makes abundant.
Enki is now ready to proceed by boat to Nippur, where he will obtain
Enlil's blessings for his newly built city and temple. He therefore
rises from the abyss:)
When Enki rises, the fish.... rise, The abyss stands in wonder, In the
sea joy enters, Fear comes over the deep, Terror holds the exalted
river, The Euphrates, the South Wind lifts it in waves.
Enki seats himself in his boat and first arrives in Eridu itself.
In Eridu, he slaughters many oxen and sheep before proceeding to
Nippur.
Upon his arrival, a feast is prepared for all gods and Enlil in
special:
Enki in the shrine Nippur, Gives his brother Enlil bread to eat, In
the first place he seated Anu (the Sky father), Next to Anu he seated
Enlil, Nintu he seated at the big side, The Anunnaki seated themselves
one after the other.
Enlil says to the Anunnaki: " Ye great gods who are standing
about, My brother has built a house, the king Enki; Eridu, like a
mountain, he has raised up from the earth, In a good place he has
built it.
Eridu, the clean place, where none may enter, The house built of
silver, adorned with lapis lazuli, The house directed by the seven
lyre-songs given over to incantation, With pure songs....
The abyss, the shrine of the goodness of Enki, befitting the divine
decrees, Eridu, the pure house having been built, O Enki,
praise!"
