16

CHALDAEAN ACCOUNT OF THE DELUGE

GILGAMESH spake to him, even to Pernapishtim the remote;
"I look up to thee (with amazement), Pernapishtim ;
Thy appearance has not changed, like unto me art thou.
And thou thyself art not changed, like unto me art thou,

Although thou didst depart from this life. But my heart has still to struggle

against all that no longer lies upon thee.

Tell me how thou didst come to dwell (here) and obtain life in the assembly of the gods."

Pernapishtim, then, spake to him, even to Gilgamesh:

"I will disclose unto thee, Gilgamesh, the hidden story,

and the oracle of the gods I will tell thee.

The city of Shurippak, a city which, as thou knowest, is situated on the bank of the river Euphrates,

This city was ancient (already), when the gods within

set their hearts to bring a deluge (literally, a cyclone), even the great gods,

as many as] there were: their father Anu, their counsellor, the warlike Bel

their leader Adar, their champion the god En-nu-gi.

But god Ea, the lord of the unfathomable wisdom, argued with them, Their plan he announced to the forest (calling), "Forest, forest, town,

town;

Forest hear, and town pay attention:

O man of Shurippak, son of Ubara-Tutu

Build a house, construct a vessel; leave thy possessions, save thy life (literally lives),

Leave thy property, but save (thy) life;

Bid the seed of life of every kind to mount into the ship.

The ship, that thou shalt build, let her proportions be measured (i. e.,

have a design made);

Her width and her length be equal. Into the sea then launch her." (These words Atrachasis heard in a dream-oracle).