Flood Stories from Around the World
Assyrian:The gods, led by Enlil, agreed to cleanse the earth of an overpopulated humanity, but Utnapishtim was warned by the god Ea in a dream.
Some Consideration of the Deluge Legends
In the Chaldean legends the god Ea ordered Khasisatra to inscribe the divine learning, and the principles of all sciences, on tables of terra-cotta, and bury them, before the Deluge, "in the City of the Sun at Sippara."
The Deluge Legends of America
And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said in his heart, 'I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake.'" In the Chaldean legend we are told that Khasisatra also offered a sacrifice, a burnt offering, "and the gods assembled like flies above the master of the sacrifice." But Bel came in a high state of indignation, just as the Aztec god did, and was about to finish the work of the Deluge, when the great god Ea took ''pity in his heart and interfered to save the remnant of mankind.
Chronological Nations and Tribes
Gods: Ishtar, Shamash, Ea
Was there a tower in Babylon?
Utnapishtim, a character in the Epic of Gilgamesh, is warned by the god Ea (Enki) that the gods have decided to destroy humanity with a great flood.
Ea instructs Utnapishtim to build a large boat to save himself, his family, and pairs of all living creatures.
The Deluge of the Chaldeans
It was under him that the Great Deluge took place, the history of which is told in the sacred documents as follows: Cronos (Ea) appeared to him in his sleep, and announced that on the fifteenth of the month of Daisios (the Assyrian month Sivan--a little before the summer solstice) all men should perish by a flood.
"'And the god [Ea], the immutable lord, repeated this command in a dream.--I listened to the decree of fate that he announced, and he said to me:--" Man of Shurippak, son of Ubaratutu--thou, build a vessel and finish it [quickly].--[By a deluge] I will destroy substance and life.--Cause thou to go up into the vessel the substance of all that has life.--The vessel thou shall build-600 cubits shall be the measure of its length--and 60 cubits the amount of its breadth and of its height.
[Launch if] thus on the ocean, and cover it with a roof."--I understood, and I said to Ea, my lord:--"The vessel] that thou commandest me to build thus--[when] I shall do it,--young and old [shall laugh at me.]"--[Ea opened his mouth and] spoke.--He said to me, his servant:--"[If they laugh at thee] thou shalt say to them:--[shall be punished] he who has insulted me, [for the protection of the gods] is over me.-- .
At a given moment that I shall cause thee to know,--enter into it, and draw the door of the ship toward thee.--Within it, thy grains, thy furniture, thy provisions, thy riches, thy men-servants, and thy maid-servants, and thy young people--the cattle of the field, and the wild beasts of the plain that I will assemble-and that I will send thee, shall be kept behind thy door."--Khasisatra opened his mouth and spoke;--he said to Ea, his lord:--"No one has made [such a] ship.--On the prow I will fix .
No man shall be preserved from the abyss!"--Adar opened his mouth and said; he said to the warrior Bel:--"What other than Ea should have formed this resolution?--for Ea possesses knowledge, and [he foresees] all."--Ea opened his mouth and spake; he said to the warrior Bel:--"O thou, herald of the gods, warrior,--as thou didst not master thyself, thou hast made the water-spout of the Deluge.--Let the sinner carry the weight of his sins, the blasphemer the weight of his blasphemy.--Please thyself with this good pleasure, and it shall never be infringed; faith in it never [shall be violated].--Instead of thy making a new deluge, let lions appear and reduce the number of men;--instead of thy making a new deluge, let hyenas appear and reduce the number of men;--instead of thy making a new deluge, let there be famine, and let the earth be [devastated];--instead of thy making a new deluge, let Dibbara appear, and let men be [mown down].
Hea or Ea, the god of the Nineveh tablets, was a fish-god: he was represented in the Chaldean monuments as half man and half fish; he was described as the god, not of the rivers and seas, but of "the abyss"--to wit, the ocean.
August 2024 Update
Hea or Ea, the god of the Nineveh tablets, was a fish-god: he was represented in the Chaldean monuments as half man and half fish; he was described as the god, not of the rivers and seas, but of “the abyss”–to wit, the ocean.
Oannes from Mesopotamian
Oannes was probably the emissary of Ea, god of the freshwater deep and of wisdom.
Garden of Eden – Desert or Steppe
This tree appears frequently in Assyrian iconography and is associated with the deity Ea.
The Deluge Legends (I)
Chaldean Legend: Xisuthros (Khasisatra) is warned by the god Cronos (Ea) of a flood.
The Chaldean Deluge
The shorter, ancient version by Berosus describes how Xisuthros (Khasisatra) was warned by the god Cronos (Ea) of a coming flood and instructed to build a vessel to save his family, friends, and animals.
The narrative includes precise instructions from the god Ea on building a large vessel, loading it with provisions and animals, and surviving a cataclysm involving rain, thunder, and earthquakes.
Ea: The fish-god who brought civilization from the ocean, indicating a maritime culture similar to the Atlanteans.
Numerology
Anu was represented by the number 60, Enlil by 50, Ea by 40, Sin, the moon god, by 30, Shamash by 20, Ishtar by 15, and Adad, the god of storms, by 6.
Apkallu
These were mythological beings depicted as sages or demigods, often associated with the god Ea (Enki in Sumerian mythology), the god of wisdom and waters.
They are often depicted in art as figures with the body of a fish and the head and limbs of a human, or wearing fish cloaks that signify their association with Ea.
In Mesopotamia, these sages are often referred to as the "Apkallu" (Akkadian) or "Abgal" (Sumerian), and they are described as wise demigods or advisors sent by the god Enki (Ea in Akkadian) to teach humanity the arts of civilization, such as writing, law, temple building, and kingship.
The Holy Seven
Uanna (Adapa) was considered a sage gifted with extraordinary wisdom by the god Ea (Enki) in Mesopotamian lore.
Who is Enki?
It is associated with fresh water and is considered the domain of the god Enki (or Ea), who is often depicted as a deity of wisdom, creation, and water.
Who is Anu?
Anu was the father of several other important deities in the Sumerian pantheon, including Enlil (god of the air and storms) and Ea/Enki (god of water, wisdom, and creation).
Colonization
Scientists and Naturalists like Charles Darwin might be likened to Ninshubur, a deity associated with the natural world, or Enki/Ea, a god of wisdom, intelligence, and the creator of mankind, known for his knowledge of all things.
Little People
While Enlil and Adad were not primarily water gods (like Enki/Ea, who was the god of water, knowledge, mischief, crafts, and creation), their association with storms and rainfall indirectly connects them to the element of water.
The Nephilim
In fact, some were even called the son of Ea.
Aessir Anunnaki
In fact, some were even called the son of Ea.
Atrahasis
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
As for the bolt that bars the sea,Ea with his lahmu-creatures shall keep it locked'He ordered, and Anu and Adad kept the (air) above(earth) locked,Sin and Nergal kept the middle earth locked.As for the bolt that bars the sea,Ea with his lahmu-creatures kept it locked.Then the very wise man Atra-hasisWept daily.He would carry a massakku-offering along theriverside pasture,Although the irrigation-water was silent.Half-way through the night he offered a sacrifice.As sleep began to overtake him (?)He addressed the irrigation-water:'May the irrigation-water take it, may the rivercarry it,May the gift be placed in front of Ea my lord.May Ea see it and think of me!So may I see a dream in the night.'When he had sent the message by water,He sat facing the river, he wept (?),The man wept (?) facing the riverAs his plea went down to the Apsu.Then Ea heard his voice.[He summoned his Lahmu-creaturesl and addressedthem.(jar the next 36/ines see Supplement 1.
[6oo years, less than 6oo years, passed.The country became too wide, the people toonumerous.]He grew restless at their noise.Sleep could not overtake him because of theirracket.Ellil organized his assembly,Addressed the gods his sons,'The noise of mankind has become too much.I have become restless at their noise.Sleep cannot overtake me because of their racket.Give the order that suruppu-disease shall breakout,Let Namtar put an end to their noise straightaway!Let sickness: headache, suruppu, asakku,Blow in to them like a storm.'They gave the order, and suruppu-disease did breakout.Namtar put an end to their noise straight away.Sickness: headache, suruppu, asakku,Blew into them like a storm.The thoughtful man, AtrahasisKept his ear open to his master Ea;He would speak with his god,
[And his god (?)] Ea would speak with him.Atrahasis made his voice heard and spoke,Said to Ea his master,'Oh Lord, people are grumbling!Your [sickness] is consuming the country!Oh Lord Ea, people are grumbling![Sickness] from the gods is consuming thecountry!Since you created us[You ought to] cut off sickness: headache,suruppu and asakku.
' Ea made his voice heard and spoke,Said to Atrahasis,'Order the heralds to proclaim,To make a loud noise in the land:Do not revere your gods,Do not pray to your goddesses![ ] withhold his rites![ ] the flour as an offering[ ] to her presence[ ] say a prayer[ ] the presents [his "hand" .'Ellil organized his assembly,Addressed the gods his sons,'You are not to inflict disease on them again,(Even though) the people have not diminishedthey are more than before!I have become restless at their noise,Sleep cannot overtake me because of their racket!Cut off food from the people,Let vegetation be too scant for their stomachs!Let Adad on high make his rain scarce,Let him block below, and not raise flood-waterfrom the springs!
Ea kept guard over the bolt that bars the sea,Together with his lahmu-heroes.Above, Adad made his rain scarce,Blocked below, and did not raise flood-water fromthe springs.The field decreased its yield,Nissaba turned away her breast,The dark fields became white,The broad countryside bred alkali.Earth clamped down her womb:No vegetation sprouted, no grain grew.Asakku was inflicted on the people,The womb was too tight to let a baby out.(gap of 2 lines)When the second year arrivedThey had depleted the storehouse.When the third year arrived[The people's looks] were changed [by starvation].When the fourth year arrivedTheir upstanding bearing bowed,Their well-set shoulders slouched,People went out in public hunched over.When the fifth year arrived,
life.The thoughtful man AtrahasisKept his ear open to his master Ea.He would speak with his god,And his god Ea would speak with him.He left the door of his god,Put his bed right beside the river,(For even) the canals were quite silent.(gap of about 25 lines)
It seems like Ea gave the humans access to water
Ninmah and Enki
The story features Enki (Ea) and Ninmah (Ninhursag) engaging in a humorous and somewhat ribald competition to create various human and animal beings, with Enki often needing Ninmah's help to fix his creations.