From Distant Days: Myth, Tales, and Poetry of Ancient Mesopotamia

Preface vii Introduction 1 I. GODS AND THEIR DEEDS Epic of Creation 9 Story of the Flood 32 When Ishtar Went to the Netherworld 78 Why Nergal Became King of the Netherworld 85 How Adapa Lost Immortality 97 Etana, the King without an Heir 102 Anzu, the Bird Who Stole Destiny 115 How Erra Wrecked the World 132 II. KINGS AND THEIR DEEDS Legends of Sargon of Akkad 165 Legend of Naram-Sin 171 Tukulti-Ninurta Epic 178 Nebuchadnezzar and Marduk 197 Tiglath-Pileser and the Beasts 206 The King of Justice 208 III. DIVINE SPEECH Prophecies 213 Letters from Gods 214 Marduk Prophecy 215 Oracles to Assyrian Kings 218 IV. HYMNS AND PRAYERS INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS To Adad 221 To Dumuzi 222 To Ea 223 To Ea, Shamash, and Marduk 224 To Family Ghosts 227 To Girra 228 To Gula 229 To Ishtar 238 To Marduk 247 To Nabu 249 To Nusku 252 To Shamash 254 To a Personal God 267 To Any God 269 ROYAL PRAYERS Coronation Prayer for Assyrian Kings 272 Prayer at the Gods' Repast 273 Assurnasirpal I, on Occasion of Illness 274 Sargon II, for His New City 278 Assurbanipal, Pious Scholar 282 Nebuchadnezzar II, for His Public Works 283 Nabonidus, for His Public Works 285 DIVINERS' PRAYERS The Cedar 288 The Sacrificial Gazelle 291 The Sacrificial Lamb 291 Will Ur-Utu be Alive and Well? 292 LETTER PRAYERS Kussulu to the Moon God 293 Ur-Nanshe to Ninsianna 294 Apil-Adad to "God My Father" 294 V. SORROW AND SUFFERING Dialogue between a Man and His God 295 Poem of the Righteous Sufferer 298 A Sufferer's Salvation 314 The Babylonian Theodicy 316 Lament for a City 324 Who Has Not Sinned? 326 The Piteous Sufferer 328 Elegy for a Woman Dead in Childbirth 329 VI. LOVE AND SEX Love Charms 331 Against Arousal 341 Love Lyrics of Rim-Sin 342 Love Lyrics of Nabu and Tashmetu 344 Love Lyrics of Ishtar of Babylon 347 Ishtar Will Not Tire 349 Ishtar at the Tavern 350 The Faithful Lover 351 VII. STORIES AND HUMOR At the Cleaners 355 The Poor Man of Nippur 357 Why Do You Curse Me? 363 The Jester 365 The Gilgamesh Letter 368 The Dialogue of Pessimism 370 Against a Bleating Goat 373 The Dog's Boast 374 Land for the Birds 375 VIII. WISDOM Counsels of Wisdom 377 Proverbs and Sayings 381 Proverbs from Letters 389 Advice to a Prince 391 IX. MAGIC SPELLS Birth and Childhood 393 Against Lamashtu 400 Against Demons, Phantoms, Ghosts 406 Against Disease and Discomfort 410 Professional and Business Life 422 Against Witchcraft and Sorcery 425 The World Around 429 Glossary of Proper Names 433