The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria Part 47

[709] _Babylonische Weltschopfungsepos_, p. 94.

[710] Cory's _Ancient Fragments_, p. 58.

[711] An epithet descriptive of Tiamat. "Ummu" is "mother" and "khubur"

signifies "hollow"; "mother of the hollow" would be a poetic expression for "source of the deep," and an appropriate term to apply to Tiamat. It has nothing to do with Omoroka. The latter, as Wright has shown, is a corruption of "O Marduk" (_Zeits. f. a.s.syr_. x. 71-74).

[712] The word used is Lakhami, the plural of Lakhamu.

[713] This scene, the description of the monsters and the installation of Kingu, occurs four times in the 'Epic.' See p. 424.

[714] Delitzsch, _Babylonische Weltschopfungsepos_, p. 25.

[715] Cory, _ib._ p. 92.

[716] "The chamber of fates" where Marduk sits on New Year's Day and decides the fate of mankind for the ensuing year. Jensen and Zimmern read _upshugina_, but see Delitzsch, _Babylonische Weltschopfungsepos,_ p. 135.

[717] The deity is mentioned by Sennacherib (Meissner-Host, _Bauinschriften_, p. 108). See above, p. 238.

[718] In the first tablet, in the second in connection with the mission of Anu, and twice in the third in connection with Marduk's visit.

[719] Tiamat's presence.

[720] Called Nudimmud. Delitzsch, _Babylonische Weltschopfungsepos_, p.

99, questions the ident.i.ty with Ea, but his skepticism is unwarranted, though the t.i.tle is also used of Bel.

[721] Here used to comprise the army of Tiamat.

[722] _I.e._, thy power is equal to that of Anu.

[723] Exod. iv. 2-8; other parallels might be adduced.

[724] _I.e._, far off.

[725] _I.e._, that a wind might not carry her off.

[726] Adding three to the ordinary winds from the four directions.

[727] For the explanation of the term used in the original--_kirbish_--see Delitzsch's excellent remarks, _Babylonische Weltschopfungsepos._ pp. 132-134.

[728] Lit., 'storm,'--perhaps the thunderbolt, as Delitzsch suggests.

[729] Marduk.

[730] She lost her reason.

[731] Gasping, as it were, for breath.

[732] Cory's _Ancient Fragments_, p. 49.

[733] Lit., 'places,' here used as a synonym for 'heavens,' as an a.s.syrian commentator expressly states. See Delitzsch's remarks (_Babylonische Weltschopfungsepos_, p. 147) against Jensen's and Zimmern's interpretation.

[734] _I.e._, Ea. See above, p. 424, note 3.

[735] The complete proof is brought by Jensen, _Kosmologie_, pp.

246-253.

[736] To render the word used as "Palace" (so Delitzsch), while not incorrect, is somewhat misleading.

[737] _Kosmologie_, p. 199.

[738] _Magie und Wahrsagekunst der Chaldaer_, p. 163.

[739] See the ill.u.s.tration in Jensen's _Kosmologie_, pl. 3.

[740] The word used also means "cities." A Babylonian district is naught but an extended city.

[741] See p. 429.

[742] Gen. viii. 22.

[743] See above, p. 370, and chapter xxii.

[744] _I.e._, for each of the great G.o.ds.

[745] _I.e._, of the G.o.ds.

[746] A particular group of stars--the _mas.h.i.+_ stars--is mentioned, but the term seems to be used in a rather general sense. I cannot share Delitzsch's extreme skepticism with regard to the interpretation of the fifth tablet. Jensen seems to have solved the chief difficulties.

[747] Jensen and Zimmern interpret "he drew the pictures," referring the phrase to the contours of the stars; but the parallelism speaks in favor of connecting the words with the "year." The divisions of the year or seasons seem to be meant.

[748] _I.e._, the planet Marduk, or Jupiter.

[749] _I.e._, with Nibir.

[750] See Jensen, _Kosmologie_, p. 354. George Smith already interpreted the pa.s.sage in this way.

[751] _I.e._, of the heavens. Delitzsch renders "Schwerpunkt."

[752] Text _elati_. Jensen, Zimmern, and Halevy translate "zenith," but Delitzsch questions this.

[753] The moon-G.o.d.

[754] _I.e._, the moon.

[755] Published by Delitzsch, _a.s.syrische Lesestucke_ (3d edition), p.

94.

[756] See the proof as put together by Jensen, _Kosmologie_, pp. 293, 294.