belet-ili

Atrahasis

With you to the sky, show your strengthWhile the Anunnaki are sitting before youCall up one god and let them cast him fordestruction!'Anu made his voice heardAnd spoke to the gods his brothers,'What are we complaining of?1JTheir work was indeed too hard, their trouble wastoo much.Every day the earth (?) [resounded (?)].The warning signal was loud enough, we kepthearing the noise.] do] tasks (?)(gap partly filled, partly overlappedby the following two SBV fragments)SBV '(While) the Anunnaki are sitting before you,And (while) Belet-ili the womb-goddess ispresent,Call up one and cast him for destruction!'Anu made his voice heard and spoke to [Nusku],'Nusku, open your door, take up your weapons,Bow in the assembly of the great gods, [thenstand]And tell them [ ],"Your father Anu, your counsellor warrior Ellil,

Who is incharge of the fighting?Which god started the war?A rabble was running around Ellil's door."'(gap of uncertain length)SBV Ea made his voice heardAnd spoke to the gods his brothers,'Why are we blaming them?Their work was too hard, their trouble was toomuch.Every day the earth (?) [resounded (?)].The warning signal was loud enough, [we kepthearing the noise.]There is [ ]Belet-ili the womb-goddess is present

Let her create primeval manSo that he may bear the yoke [( )],So that he may bear the yoke, [the work of Ellil],Let man bear the load of the gods!'(gap)OBV 'Belet-ili the womb-goddess is present,Let the womb-goddess create offspring,

For the womb-goddess (is) creator of fate.He … -ed them two by two,ll… -ed them two by two in her presence.Mami made (these) rules for people'In the house of a woman who is giving birthThe mud brick shall be put down for seven days.Belet-ili, wise Mami shall be honoured.The midwife shall rejoice in the house of thewoman who gives birthAnd when the woman gives birth to the baby,The mother of the baby shall sever herself.A man to a girl [ ]OBV [ ] her bosomA beard can be seen (?)On a young man's cheek.In gardens and waysidesA wife and her husband choose each other.