Chapter IX. Babylonian Fables
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The Chaldean Account of Genesis, by George Smith, [1876], at sacred-texts.com
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CHAPTER IX.
BABYLONIAN FABLES.
Fables.—Common in the East.—Description.—Power of speech in animals.—Story of the eagle.—Serpent.—Shamas.—The eagle caught.—Eats the serpent.—Anger of birds.—Etana.—Seven gods.—Third tablet.—Speech of eagle.—Story of the fox.—His cunning.—Judgment of Shamas.—His show of sorrow.—His punishment.—Speech of fox:—Fable of the horse and ox.—They consort together.—Speech of the ox.—His good fortune.—Contrast with the horse.—Hunting the ox.—--Speech of the horse.—Offers to recount story.—Story of Ishtar.—Further tablets.
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by the poets, and repudiated as fabulous by the learned. In the "Fables" or stories in which animals play prominent parts, each creature is endowed with the power of speech, and this idea was common even in that day in the whole of Western Asia and Egypt, it is found in various Egyptian stories, it occurs in Genesis, where we have a speaking serpent, in Numbers where Balaam's ass reproves his master, and in the stories of Jotham and Joash, where the trees are made to speak; again in the Izdubar legends, where the trees answer Heabani.
These legends so far as I have discovered are four in number.
The first contained at least four tablets each having four columns of writing. Two of the acting animals in it are the eagle and the serpent.
The second is similar in character, the leading animal being the fox or jackal, there are only four fragments, and I have no evidence as to the number of tablets; this may belong to the same series as the fable of the eagle.
The third is a single tablet with two columns of writing, it is a discussion between the horse and ox.
The fourth is a single fragment in which a calf speaks, but there is nothing to show the nature of the story.
I. The Story of the Eagle.
This story appears to be the longest and most curious of these legends, but the very mutilated condition of the various fragments gives as usual
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considerable difficulty in attempting an explanation. One of the actors in the story is an ancient monarch named Etana who is mentioned as already dead, and as being an inhabitant of the infernal regions in the time of Izdubar.
I am unable to ascertain the order of the fragments of these legends and must translate them as they come.
K 2527.
Many lines lost at commencement.
1. The serpent in . . .
2. I give command? . . . . . .
3. to the eagle . . . . . .
4. Again the nest . . . . . .
5. my nest I leave . . . . . .
6. the assembly? of my people . . . . . .
7. I go down and enter?
8. the sentence which Shamas has pronounced on me . . . . . .
9. I feel? Shamas thy sight? in the earth . . . .
10. thy stroke? this . . . .
11. in thy sight? let me not . . . .
12. doing evil the goddess Bau (Gula) was . . . .
13. The sorrow of the serpent [shamas saw and]
14. Shamas opened his mouth and word he spoke to. . . .
15. Go the way . . . . pass . . . .
16. I cut thee off? . . . .
17. open also his heart . . . .
18. . . . . he placed . . . .
19. . . . . birds of heaven . . .
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Reverse.
1. The eagle with them . . . .
2. the god? knew . . . .
3. to enter to the food he sought . . . .
4. to cover the . . . .
5. to the midst at his entering . . . .
6. enclosed the feathers of his wings . . . .
7. his claws? and his pinions to . . . .
8. dying of hunger and thirst . . . .
9. at the work of Shamas the warrior, the serpent. . . .
10. he took also the serpent to . . . .
11. he opened also his heart . . . .
12. seat he placed . . .
13. the anger of the birds of heaven . . . .
14. May the eagle . . . .
15. with the young of the birds . . . .
16. The eagle opened his mouth . . . .
Five other mutilated lines.
On another fragment are the following few words:—
Obverse.
1. . . . issu to him also . . . .
2. . . . god my father . . . .
3. like Etana kill thee . . . .
4. like me . . . .
5. Etana the king . . . .
6. took him . . . .
Reverse.
1. Within the gate of Anu, Elu . . . .
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2. . . . .we will fix . . . .
3. within the gate of sin, Shamas, Vul and . . . .
4. . . . . I opened . . . .
5. . . . . I sweep . . . .
6. . . . . in the midst . . . .
7. the king . . . .
8. turned? and . . . .
9. I cover the throne . . . .
10. I take also . . . .
11. and greatly I break . . . .
12. The eagle to him also to Etana . . . .
13. I fear the serpent?
14. the course do thou fix for me . . . .
15. . . . . make me great . . . .
The next fragment, K 2606, is curious, as containing an account of some early legendary story in Babylonian history. This tablet formed the third in the series, and from it we gain part of the title of the tablets.
K 2606.
1. . . . . placed . . . .
2. . . . back bone . . . .
3. this . . . . placed . . .
4. . . . . fixed its brickwork . . . .
5. . . . . to the government of them . . . .
6. Etana he gave them . . . .
7. . . . . sword . . . .
8. the seven spirits . . . .
9. . . . . they took their counsel . . . .
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10. . . . . placed in the country . . . .
11. . . . . all of them the angels . . . .
12. . . . . they . . . .
13. In those days also . . . .
14. and a sceptre of ukni stone . . . .
15. to rule the country . . . .
16. the seven gods over the people they raised . . . .
17. over the cities they raised . . . .
18. the city of the angels Surippak?
19. Ishtar to the neighbourhood to . . . .
20. and the king flew . . . .
21. Inninna to the neighbourhood . . . .
22. and the king flew . . . .
23. Elu encircled the sanctuary of . . . .
24. he sought also . . . .
25. in the wide country . . . .
26. the kingdom . . . .
27. he took and
28. the gods of the country
Reverse.
Many lines lost.
1. from of old he caused to wait . . . .
2.. Third tablet of “The city they . . . .
3. The eagle his mouth opened and to Shamas his lord he spake
The next fragment is a small portion probably of the fourth tablet.
1. The eagle his mouth opened . . . .
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2. . . . . . . . .
3. the people of the birds . . . .
4. . . . . . . . .
5. angrily he spake . . . .
6. angrily I speak . . . .
7. in the mouth of Shamas the warrior . . . .
8. the people of the birds . . . .
9. The eagle his mouth opened and . . . .
10. Why comest thou . . . .
11. Etana his mouth opened and . . . .
12. speech? . . . . he . . . .
Such are the principal fragments of this curious legend. According to the fragment K 2527, the serpent had committed some sin for which it was condemned by the god Shamas to be eaten by the eagle; but the eagle declined the repast.
After this, some one, whose name is lost, baits a trap for the eagle, and the bird going to get the meat, falls into the trap and is caught. Now the eagle is left, until dying for want of food it is glad to eat the serpent, which it takes and tares open. The other birds then take offence, and desire that the eagle should be excluded from their ranks.
The other fragments concern the building of some city, Etana being king, and in these relations the eagle again appears, there are seven spirits or angels principal actors in the matter, but the whole story is obscure at present, and a connected plot cannot be made out.
This fable has evidently some direct connection
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with the mythical history of Babylonia, for Etana is mentioned as an ancient Babylonian monarch in the Izdubar legends. His memory was cherished as belonging to one of the terrible monarchs who were inhabiting Hades, probably on account of their deeds.
II. Story of the Fox.
The next fable, that of the fox, is perhaps part of the same story, the fragments are so disconnected that they must be given without any attempt at arrangement.
K. 3641.
Column I.
1. To. . . .
2. the people . . . .
3. father . . . .
4. mother called . . . .
5. he had asked and . . . .
6. he had raised life . . . .
7. thou in that day also . . . .
8. thou knowest enticing? and cunning, thou . . . .
9. of . . . . chains, his will he . . . .
10. about the rising of the jackal also he sent me let not . . . .
11. in a firm command he set my feet,
12. again by his will is the destruction of life.
13. Shamas in thy sentence, the answer? let him not escape,
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14. by wisdom and cunning let them put to death the fox.
15. The fox on hearing this, bowed his head in the presence of Shamas and wept.
16. To the powerful presence of Shamas he went in his tears:
17. With this sentence O Shamas do not destroy me,
(Columns II. and III. lost.)
Column IV.
1. Go to my forest, do not turn back afterwards
2. . . . shall not come out, and the sun shall not be seen,
3. thou, any one shall not cut thee off . . . .
4. by the anger of my heart and fierceness of my face thou shalt fear before me,
5. may they keep thee and I will not . . . .
6. may they take hold of thee and not . . . .
7. may they bind thee and not . . . .
8. may they fell thy limbs . . . .
9. Then wept the jackal . . . .
10. he bowed his head . . . .
11. thou hast fixed . . . .
12. taking the . . . .
Four other mutilated lines.
The next fragment has lost the commencements and ends of all the lines.
1. . . . . carried in his mouth . . . .
2. . . . . before his . . . .
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3. . . . . thou knowest wisdom and all . .
4. . . . . in . . . . of the jackal it was . . . .
5. . . . . in the field the fox . . . .
6. . . . . was decided under the ruler the . . . .
7. . . . . all laying down under him and of . . . .
8. . . . . he . . . . also . . . . he fled . . . .
9 . . . . . angry command, and not any one . . . .
10. . . . . mayest thou become old . . . . and take. . . .
11. . . . . in those days also the fox carried . . . .
12. . . . . the people he spoke. Why . . . .
13. . . . . the dog is removed and . . . .
The following fragment is in similar condition.
1. . . . . The limbs not . . . .
2. . . . . I did not weave and unclothed I am not. . . .
3. . . . . stranger I know . . . .
4. . . . . I caught and I surrounded . . . .
5. . . . from of old also the dog was my brother . . .
6. . . . . he begot me, a good place . .
7. . . . . of the city of Nisin I of Bel . . . .
8. . . . . limbs and the bodies did not stand . . .
9. . . . . life I did not end . . . .
10. . . . . brought up . . . . me . . . .
The fourth fragment contains only five legible lines.
1. . . . . was placed also right and left . .
2. . . . . their ruler sought . . . . .
3. . . . . let it not be . . . .
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4. . . . he feared and did not throw down his spoil . . .
5. . . . fox in the forest . . . .
The last fragment is a small scrap, at the end of which the fox petitions Shamas to spare him.
The incidental allusions in these fragments show that the fox or jackal was even then considered cunning, and the animal in the story was evidently a watery specimen, as he brings tears to his assistance whenever anything is to be gained by it. He had offended Shamas by some means and the god sentenced him to death, a sentence which he escaped through powerful pleading on his own behalf.
III. Fable of the Horse and Ox.
The next fable, that of the horse and the ox, is a single tablet with only two columns of text. The date of the tablet is in the reign of Assurbanipal, and there is no statement that it is copied from an earlier text. There are altogether four portions of the text, but only one is perfect enough to be worth translating. This largest fragment, K 3456, contains about one third of the story.
K 3456.
(Several lines lost at commencement.)
1. . . . . . . the river . . . .
2. of food . . . . rest . . . .
3. height . . . . the Tigris situated
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4. they ended . . . . was . . . .
5. in the flowers . . . . they disported in the floods?
6. the high places . . . . appearance
7. the vallies . . . . the country
8. at the appearance . . . . made the timid afraid
9. a boundless place . . . . he turned
10. in the side . . . .
11. of the waste . . . . earth were free within it
12. the tribes of beasts rejoiced in companionship and friendship,
13. between the ox and the horse friendship was made,
14. they rejoiced their . . . . over the friendship,
15. they consorted and pleased their hearts, and were prosperous.
16. The ox opened his mouth, and spake and said to the horse glorious in war:
17. I am pondering now upon the good fortune at my hand.
18. From the beginning of the year to the end of the year I ponder at my appearance.
19. He destroyed abundance of food, he dried up rivers of waters,
20. in the flowers he rolled, a carpet he made,
21. the vallies and springs he made for his country,
22. the high places he despised, he raged in the floods,
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23. the sight of his horns make the timid afraid,
24. A boundless place is portioned for his . . . .
25. the man . . . . learned ceased . . . .
26. he broke the ropes and waited . . . .
27. and the horse will not approach a child, and he drives him . . . .
28. they catch thee thyself
29. he ascends also . . . .
Here the ox gives a good picture of his state and enjoyment, and looks with contempt on the horse because he is tamed.
After this comes a speech from the horse to the bull, the rest of the tablet being occupied by speeches and answers between the two animals. Most of these speeches are lost or only present in small fragments, and the story recommences on the reverse with the end of a speech from the horse.
1. fate . . . .
2. strong brass? . . . .
3. like with a cloak I am clothed and . . . .
4. over me any one not suited . . . .
5. king, high priest, lord and prince do not seek . . . .
6. The ox opened his mouth and spake and said to the horse glorious . . . .
7. I say I am noble and thou gatherest . . . .
8. in thy fighting why . . . .
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9. the lord of the chariot destroys me and desolation . . . .
10. in my body I am firm . . . .
11. in my inside I am firm . . . .
12. the warrior draws out of his quiver . . . .
13. strength carries a curse . . . .
14. the weapon of my masters over . . . .
15. he causes to see servitude like . . . .
16. . . . . in thee is not . . . .
17. he causes to go on the path over . . . .
18. The horse opened his mouth and spake arid said to the ox . . . .
19. In my hearing . . . .
20. the weapon . . . .
21. the swords . . . .
22. . . . . . .
23. strength? of the heart which does not . . . .
24. in crossing that river . . . .
25. in the paths of thy country . . . .
26. I reveal? ox the story . . . .
27. in thy appearance, it is not . . . .
28. thy splendour is subdued? . . . .
29. like . . . . the horse . . . .
30. The ox opened his mouth and spake and said to the horse . . . .
31. Of the stories which thou tellest . . . .
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32. open first (that of) "When the noble Ishtar. . . .
(Colophon)
Palace of Assurbanipal, king of nations, king . . .
It appears from these fragments that the story described a time when the animals associated together, and the ox and horse fell into a friendly conversation. The ox, commencing the discussion, praised himself; the answer of the horse is lost, but where the story recommences it appears that the ox objects to the horse drawing the chariot from which he (the ox) is hunted, and the horse ultimately offers to tell the ox a story, the ox choosing the story called "When the noble Ishtar ", probably some story of the same character as Ishtar's descent into Hades.
It is uncertain if any other tablet followed this; it is, however, probable that there was one containing the story told by the horse. Although there is no indication to show the date of this fable, I should think, by the style and matter, it belonged to about the same date as the other writings given in this volume. The loss of the tablet containing the story of Ishtar, told by the horse to the ox, is unfortunate. It is evident that Ishtar was a very celebrated goddess, and her adventures formed the subject of many narratives. Some of the words and forms in these fables are exactly the same as those used in the Izdubar and Creation legends, and in all these stories the
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deity Shamas figures more prominently than is usual in the mythology. The last fable is a mere fragment similar to the others, containing a story in which the calf speaks. There is not enough of this to make it worth translation.
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