Reading Guides: Atrahasis and
Enki and Ninhursag
HOME
KSU   -   English 2110/34 & 37   -   Mr. Hagin   -   Revised: 16 January 2004
WLRC
 

Atrahasis (Dalley, 1-38)
 

Important Gods and Goddesses

Adad — “rider of the storm”; the storm god, canal gate controller, and son of Anu 
Anu — “sky”; the uppermost heaven; son of Anshar and Kishar; head of the older generation of gods 
Anukki (Anunnaki, or Anunna) — the group of the older Sumerian fertility gods, led by Anu 
Anzu — the monstrous, lion-headed eagle and doorkeeper of Ellil; flapping its wings created windstorms 
Apsu — the domain of fresh (sweet) water that springs from the earth; home to Ea; husband to Tiamat 
Atrahasis -- his name means "Surpassing Wise"; he is the hero of this flood story; parallel character to 
          Utnapishtim from The Epic of Gilgamesh and to Noah in Genesis 6-9. 
Belet-ili (also referred to as Ninhursag and Lapis Lazuli Brick) — “lady of the gods”; mother goddess 
Ellil (Enlil in Sumerian) -- means “Great Mountain,” “wild bull,” and “raging storm”; father of Inanna 
Enki (called Ea in Babylonian) -- god of fresh water, spells, and civilization; son of Anu and Nammu  
Ennugi — “canal inspector of the great gods”; the throne bearer of Ellil; son of Ellil 
Geshtu–e — “ear”; the god slain for his intelligence and blood in the creation of mankind 
Igigi — the collected group of 300 of the younger generation of Sumerian sky gods, led by Ellil 
Ishtar (also called Inanna in Sumerian) — goddess of love and war; daughter of Anu 
Lahmu —“the hairy one”; a protective deity of Ea in the Apsu, controlling the sea gate 
Mami (also called Nintu or Ninhursag in Sumerian texts) — the great mother goddess 
Namtar (or Namtara) — “decider of fate”; the advisor of Erishkigal (the goddess of the Underworld) 
Nintura — “champion of Ellil”; god of agricultural and pastoral fertility; son of Ellil 
Nissaba — Sumerian goddess of writing, knowledge, and cereal fertility; daughter of Anu 
Nusku — god of light and fire; advisor/minister of Anu and Ellil; son of Ellil 
 
 
Introduction
I strongly suggest reading the eight-page introduction to this story.  Inside, you will learn that Atrahasis is the early Sumerian version of the later Hebrew tale of Noah’s Ark.  You will see that several names of the characters in Atrahasis (and the Gilgamesh epic that we will read shortly) contain the early versions of more commonly known characters, such as Noah and Odysseus.  Atrahasis is one of dozens of flood narratives that exist from Mesopotamia alone.
 

Tablet I (9-20)
The story officially begins on page 9 of your Dalley text, and is divided into three parts (tablets).  In this first section, the Igigi are yoked with the burden of labor that the higher gods refuse to do.  When they rebel, the first people are created to relieve the gods of their work.  However, when the population grows too large, the gods are angered by the noise created from the Earth below, and they vow to destroy mankind.  A man named Atrahasis will communicate with Ea/Enki to seek a solution to the people’s problems.  NOTE: The god Enki is also called Ea (his Babylonian name).  Both names are used in this story (because it is pieced together with fragments from both the Sumerian and Babylonian cultures).

1. What complaints do the Igigi bring to Ellil?
 

2. What is Ea’s solution to the problems claimed by the Igigi?
 

3. Which god was sacrificed in order to assist in the creation of the first people?  Why?
 

4. What was “bestowed” onto mankind?
 

5. How many men and women were first created?  Why?
 

6. List a few of Mami’s rules for pregnancy and childbirth.
 

7. After the world becomes populated, what does Ellil complain about?  What is his solution?
 

8. Why is Atrahasis allowed to speak directly to Enki?
 

9. What is Enki’s advice to Atrahasis?
 
 

Tablet II (20-29)
The gods continue to curse the people below, but each time they are thwarted, thanks to Enki’s/Ea’s assistance to his people.  This section is repetitive, but it describes the long-term suffering of the people in Mesopotamia.  Concentrate on the behaviors and actions of these gods.

10. What is Ellil’s second curse upon people?
 

11. What does Enki/Ea suggest that the people do this time to defy the angry gods?
 

12. What is the third heavenly curse levied against the people?
 

13. After these curses fail to deplete the human population, what is Ellil’s fourth curse?
 

14. After six years of this curse, what do the people begin to eat?  How many households remain?
 

15. What is the next curse planned by Ellil to destroy mankind?
 

16. Why does Ellil become furious with Enki/Ea?
 
 

Tablet III (29-35)
The text is fragmentary, and so you will be missing a few important plot points due to the poor condition of the cuneiform tablets.  Here are a few areas that will fill in the narrative: 1) on page 28, where a gap of 34 lines is indicated, Ellil decides to try a great flood to finally destroy mankind; 2) in the middle of page 33, where a gap of 58 lines is indicated, Atrahasis and his boat sail safely on the flood waters, they eventually settle on dry land, and Atrahasis presents a sacrificial offering to Enki/Ea, which also attracts the other gods, who are starved and parched by the end of the flood.

17. Why does Enki/Ea talk to the wall of Atrahasis’ reed hut while he sleeps inside?
 

18. What instructions does Enki/Ea give the “wall”?
 

19. What is the goddess Mami’s (Nintu’s) reaction to the devastation of the great flood?
 

20. Why are the gods starving and thirsty during the seven-day storm?
 

21. What does Nintu scold the gods about?
 

22. What does Enki/Ea say is his reason for defying his oath to the other gods?
 

23. Rather than destroy mankind in the future, what curse do they impose upon women in order to control the growth of the human population?
 
 
 

Enki and Ninhursag (handout)
 

Important Gods and Goddesses

An (called Anu in Babylonian) -- "sky"; the uppermost heaven; son of Anshar and Kishar; head of the older 
          generation of gods 
Damgalnuna (also called Damkina) — a mother goddess; wife of Enki; mother to Marduk 
Enki (called Ea in Babylonian) -- god of fresh water, spells, and civilization; son of Anu and Nammu  
Enlil (Ellil in Babylonian) -- means “Great Mountain,” “wild bull,” and “raging storm”; father of Inanna 
Isimud (also called Ismû in Akkadian) -- meaning "with two faces"; a vizier (advisor) to Enki
Nammu — Sumerian birth goddess, associated with fresh water; mother of Enki 
Nanna (also called Sin) — the moon god; son of Enlil and Ninlil; father of Utu (sun god) and Inanna Ninhursag (Nintura) — the great stone land and Mother Goddess; the Womb of Creation: Queen of Earth 
Ninkura — goddess of the mountain pastures; daughter of Enki and Ninsar 
Ninsar — mistress of vegetation; daughter of Enki and Ninhursag 
Uttu – the Spider; weaver of patterns and life desires; daughter of Enki and Ninkura 
Utu (also called Shamash) — the sun god; son of Nanna and twin brother of Inanna 
 
 

The Lovers of Dilmun
1. Describe the winter setting of this story, Dilmun, which was “eastward in Eden.”
 

2. Why are Enki and Ninhursag a good fit to be a couple (symbolically)
 
 

The Rapacious Enki
3. Describe Ninhursag’s pregnancy and birth of Ninsar.
 

4. Why does Ninhursag leave Enki and her daughter to go to the Middle world?
 

5. Describe the metaphorical significance of Enki’s relationships with his daughter.
 

6. Hoe does Enki entice Ninkura on the mountain top?
 
 

Ninhursag’s Warning
7. What is Ninhursag’s advice to Uttu?
 

8. How is Enki’s approach to Uttu different from his lusty advances against his first two daughters?  Why is he called “crafty”?
 
 

Ninhursag’s Intervention
9. What are the eight plants created from the flushed out seed of Enki from Uttu’s body?
 

10. Explain the symbolism of Enki’s devouring of these eight plants.
 
 

The Healing Powers of Ninhursag
11. What curse does Ninhursag place upon Enki due to his lust and unbridled greed?
 

12. How does the fox assist Enki?
 

13. How does Ninhursag embrace the dying Enki in order to nurture and heal him?
 

14. How does she heal him?