Enki and Ninhursag

	*Enki and Ninhursag*
HOME	KSU - English 2110/39 & 40 - Mr. Hagin - Revised: 22 January 2005	WLRC

PART 1: The Lovers of Dilmun

Pure are the cities — and you are the ones to whom they are allotted. Pure is Dilmun land. Pure is Sumer — and you are the ones to whom it is allotted. Pure is Dilmun land. Pure is Dilmun land. Virginal is Dilmun land. Pristine is Dilmun land.

After Time had come into being and the holy seasons for growth and rest were finally known, holy Dilmun, the pure, clean, and bright land of the living, the garden of the Great Gods and Earthly paradise, located eastward in Eden, was the place where Ninhursag, the Earth Mother, Most Exalted Lady and Supreme Queen, could be found.

There she lived for a season during the Wheel of the Year, when the Earth lay deep in slumber and rest before the onset of Spring, in the land that knew neither sickness nor death or old age, where the raven uttered no cry, where lions and wolves killed not, and unknown were the sorrows of a widow or the wailing of the sick.

And it was in Dilmun, at that time that Enki, the wise god of Magic and the Sweet Waters, the Patron of Crafts and Skills, met, fell in love with, and lied with the Lady of the Stony Earth, Ninhursag.

The Earth Mother’s kiss did change the carefree and Sweet Waters Lord — Ninhursag had wholly captivated him through the most profound of all bonds, the thread of enchantment — passion. So profound the feeling was that the God of all Sweet Waters, Magic, and Crafts proposed to Ninhursag, with the enthusiasm of a young lover’s heart.

He laid her down all alone in Dilmun, and the place where Enki had lain down with his spouse, that place was still virginal, that place was still pristine. He laid her down all alone in Dilmun, and the place where Enki had lain down with Ninhursag, that place was virginal, that place was pristine.

In Dilmun the raven was not yet cawing, the partridge not cackling. The lion did not slay, the wolf was not carrying off lambs, the dog had not been taught to make kids curl up, and the pig had not learned that grain was to be eaten. When a widow had spread malt on the roof, the birds did not yet eat that malt up there. The pigeon then did not tuck its head under its wing.

No eye-diseases said there, “I am the eye disease.” No headache said there, “I am the headache.” No old woman belonging to it said there, “I am an old woman.” No old man belonging to it said there, “I am an old man.” No man dredging a river said there, “It is getting dark.” No herald made the rounds in his border district. No singer sang an elulam there. No wailings were wailed in the city’s outskirts there.

Ninhursag looked around the land, her stony body, and remembered the taste of the wondrous moisture of the Sweet Waters God within herself. She wondered whether the land should not feel the same loving touch without. She said then to Enki, “I heard your heart speak, Enki dearest. But if I feel your wondrous moisture within me, I look at the earth of Dilmun, also my body, and feel it is the longing, the thirst for the gifts that you, dear heart, surely can bring. Thus, I ask you: what is a land, what is a city that has no river quay? A city that has no ponds of sweet water? You have given a city. What does your giving avail me? You have given a city, Dilmun. You have given a city. What does your giving avail me? You have given a city. What does your giving avail me? You have given a city that has no river quay. You have given a city. What does your giving avail me?”

Taken by surprise, Enki realized that indeed he had given his whole essence to his beloved, but had forgotten to look after her Earthly Body, the land. He then rose to the challenge of providing water for the land.

He told then Ninhursag, “For Dilmun, the land of my lady’s heart, I will create long waterways, rivers and canals, whereby water will flow to quench the thirst of all beings and bring abundance to all that lives. When Utu steps up into heaven, fresh waters shall run out of the ground for you from the standing vessels on Eden’s shore, from Nanna’s radiant high temple, and from the mouth of the waters running underground.”

Enki then summoned Utu, the Sun God and Light of the Day. Together, they brought a mist from the depths of the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. Then Enki and Utu created waterways to surround the land with a never-ending source of fertile Sweet Waters, and Enki also devised basins and cisterns to store the waters for further needs.

“May the waters rise up from it into your great basins. May your city drink water aplenty from them. May Dilmun drink water aplenty from them. May your pools of salt water become pools of fresh water!” proclaimed Enki. From these fertile sweet waters flow the four Great Rivers of the Ancient World: the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates.

Thus, from that moment on, Dilmun was blessed by Enki with everlasting agricultural and trade superiority, for through its waterways and quays, fruits and grains were sold and exchanged by the people of Dilmun and beyond. Exclaimed Enki, “May your city become an emporium on the quay for the Land. May Dilmun become an emporium on the quay for the Land. May the land of Tukric hand over to you gold from Harali and lapis lazuli. May the land of Meluha load precious desirable cornelian, mec wood of Magan and the best abba wood into large ships for you. May the land of Marhaci yield you precious topazes. May the land of Magan offer you strong, powerful copper, dolerite, u stone and cumin stone. May the Sea-land offer you its own ebony wood fit for a king. May the Tent-lands offer you fine multicolored wools. May the land of Elam hand over to you choice wools, its tribute. May the manor of Urim, the royal throne dais, load up into large ships for you sesame, august raiment, and fine cloth. May the wide sea yield you its wealth. The city’s dwellings are good dwellings. Dilmun’s dwellings are good dwellings. Its grains are little grains, its dates are big dates, its harvests are triple, and its wood is superior wood.”

At that moment, on that day, and under that sun, when Utu stepped up into heaven, from the standing vessels on Eden’s shore, from Nanna’s radiant high temple, from the mouth of the waters running underground, fresh waters ran out of the ground for her. The waters rose up from it into her great basins. Her city drank water aplenty from them. Dilmun drank water aplenty from them. Her pools of salt water indeed became pools of fresh water. Her fields, glebe, and furrows indeed produced grain for her. Her city indeed became an emporium on the quay for the Land. Dilmun indeed became an emporium on the quay for the Land. At that moment, on that day, and under that sun, so it indeed happened.

Ninhursag rejoiced in Enki’s mighty prowess and said to him, “Beloved, the powerful touch of your sweet waters, the essence of Mother Nammu that lies deep within you, has transformed the land, my stony body. I feel the power of life throbbing within me, to be revealed without my very depths as I give birth joyously and offer sustenance to the marshes and reed-beds, that from now on will shelter fish, plant, beasts and all that breathes. Thus, I call myself Nintura, the lady who gives birth, the Womb of the Damp Lands by the riverbanks.”

PART 2: The Rapacious Enki

One day, all alone, the wise one was digging his phallus into the dykes, plunging his phallus into the reed-beds. The august one pulled his phallus aside and cried out, “No man take me in the marsh!”

He traveled back to Ninhsrsag and cried out, “Ninhursag, dearest Nintura, beloved, how can anyone quite compare to you? I cannot resist your wild, sweet ways, so lie with me one more time and fill my body, heart, soul, and mind with endless delights! For me, you will forever be my fierce Damgalnuna, my Great Spouse, passionate and very much loved! By the life’s breath of heaven, I adjure you. Lie down for me in the marsh! Lie down for me in the marsh — that would be joyous!”

Ninhursag laughed and welcomed the eagerness of the Sweet Waters Lord. Enki distributed his semen destined for Damgalnuna. He poured semen into Ninhursag’s womb, and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.

But her one month was one day, but her two months were two days, but her three months were three days, but her four months were four days, but her five months were five days, but her six months were six days, but her seven months were seven days, but her eight months were eight days, but her nine months were nine days. Nine days later, in the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, without the slightest labor or pain, the Great Mother Goddess gave birth to a lovely girl without the slightest travail or pain. Nintura, mother of the country, like juniper oil, gave birth to Ninsar, Lady Verdure, the Mistress of Vegetation, the green carpet of grass, leaves and flower beds that cover the surface of the earth.

Enki was overjoyed with the birth of his and Ninhursag’s child: “How perfect, how lovely is our Ninsar! I love already the woman in the girl-child, the young Anunnaki goddess and Mistress of Velvet Meadows and Green Fields. The ties that bind me to Ninsar are strong and tempered by an even greater love, for in her face I see also Ninhursag’s, the one and only to my wandering heart.”

The Great Lady, holding Ninsar in her arms, kissed Enki in the mouth, and said, “Soon my time to leave Dilmun will come, but to this holy land I will sure return at the beginning of the earth’s rest in the Middle World. I need to leave soon, for without my loving touch Spring cannot come back, the winds to dismiss Winter won’t blow, all there is won’t sing or mate until I return to them. But before I go away, I endow Ninsar with the power to grow in record time, and in holy Dilmun I’ll leave my youngster daughter safe and sound from any illness, hatred or harm.”

As the Great Lady had declared, nine days later Ninsar was fully grown, charming and graceful, a sight to behold! Ninhursag then left for the Middle World. Enki knew he would miss his beloved terribly, but while she was busy in the Middle Earth giving her Essence for the land to grow in bliss, equally as busy as Ninhursag was Enki in holy Dilmun.

It was the sacred duty of the Sweet Waters Lord to oversee the rise and fall of all fertilizing waters that flowed from Dilmun to feed the rivers, lakes, and ponds of the Middle World to make the land ready to receive the Spring seeds. Thus, as much as he missed Ninhursag, Enki knew he could not leave Dilmun before all the waterways were filled to ensure that the people would have plenty of water to grow their crops. Enki’s essence, the fertilizing power of the sweet waters, should reach every piece of land in the Middle World that had been worked and ploughed.

It was at the end of a day he had spent totally absorbed by the mighty task of controlling the water flow to the Middle World that Enki saw Ninsar walking on her own along the marshlands. Indeed, a lovely goddess she had become, and Enki’s eyes fell on those of the Maiden. The Sweet Waters Lord felt a longing he could not yet define. He only knew that, after Ninhursag’s departure, no other maiden had touched his heart the way that this one did. Indeed, she who walked on her own along the marshlands was the closest version to Ninhursag his eyes had the fortune to find.

He said to his minister Isimud, “Is this nice youngster not to be kissed? Is this nice Ninsar not to be kissed?”

His minister Isimud answered him, “Is this nice youngster not to be kissed? My master will sail. Let me navigate.” They guided their boat upstream until they encountered the maiden.
Enki did not lose time, and immediately started wooing the young lady, encouraging her to love him wildly by the riverside. First he put his feet in the boat; next he put them on dry land. He clasped her bosom and kissed her. Curious and eager as Ninsar was to experience the power of love in her body, mind, soul, and heart, she, the young goddess of Green Fields and Luscious Meadows, yielded to the Sweet Waters Lord, and together they made love. Enki poured semen into her womb, and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.
But when morning came, Enki looked into Ninsar’s eyes and found her a loving, but pale portrait of Ninhursag. “What is in her was so alluring last night, but now, in the broad daylight, it seems to have lost substance. Lovely as she is, she is not the one I surely miss,” thought Enki. Despite his doubts, Enki stayed with Ninsar for a while, because he knew his seed could be in her womb. But her one month was one day, but her two months were two days, but her nine months were nine days. In the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, Ninsar, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, gave birth to Ninkura, another girl-child, and the future goddess of Mountain Pastures.

As before, Enki rejoiced at Ninkura’s loveliness, at her cheerful smile and sweet face. Again, Enki saw in Ninkura twice the mark of his beloved Ninhursag. Sadly, Ninsar realized that, although she had been passionately loved by Enki for a time, there was a longing in his eyes. His body, soul and mind she could not satisfy. “Bonded to him I for a time was,” thought Ninsar, “but he does not want me for myself; this I can tell. Mine is not the mind, body, soul, and heart that holds, so I’ll let him go, now and forever. I need to be loved, and not to be a mere replacement for whom I know he loves.”

Thus, when Enki left her and young Ninkura, Ninsar grieved deeply. She also kept a watchful eye on Ninkura, who, like herself, grew in nine days’ time. Lovely, resourceful Ninkura demonstrated enormous energy by climbing the highest heights, up to the mountain tops, but also keeping her essence tied to the ground. This way Ninkura, the Goddess of Mountain Pastures, grew safe from all hatred or harm.

One day, Ninkura went out to the riverbank. As before with Ninsar, Enki was able to see up there from in the marsh. Again, Enki looked at Ninkura’s young and cheerful face, and desired to dive into the maiden’s embrace, for she reminded him twice of Ninhursag, the one and only to Enki’s wandering heart.

He asked his minister Isimud, “Is this nice youngster not to be kissed? Is this nice Ninkura not to kissed?”

His minister Isimud answered him, “Kiss this nice youngster. Kiss this nice Ninkura. My master will sail. Let me navigate.”

As Ninkura played at a mountain top, curiosity led her to explore a well that surfaced out of the blue to water the greens and wild flower beds she had just made grow. To her sheer surprise and delight, the well took the shape of a handsome god who introduced himself to her as Enki, the Sweet Waters Lord. Ninkura, who had lived a life so sheltered at the mountain heights, was fully bewitched by the easy charm of the older, more experienced god.

First Enki put his feet in the boat; next he put them on dry land. He clasped her bosom and kissed her. She joyously yielded to him, and love they made for nine days and nine nights. Enki poured semen into her womb, and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.

Enki soon realized that, as lovely as Ninkura was, she could not be compared to Ninhursag. But her one month was one day, but her nine months were nine days. In the month of womanhood, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, Ninkura, like juniper oil, like oil of abundance, gave birth to another lovely girl-child called Uttu, the Spider, the Weaver of Patterns and Life Desires. As before, the Sweet Waters Lord left after nine days.

PART 3: Ninhursag’s Warning

But Ninhursag, having kissed the earth to awaken for Spring to come, had returned to holy Dilmun. The Great Lady, who saw and wisely judged all life forms, frowned at the sadness reflected in Ninsar’s and Ninkura’s eyes, and frowned at Enki’s unbridled lust. Ninhursag knew how charming Enki could be, but no matter what, young Uttu the Weaver should be advised to avoid the riverbanks, and the places where Enki and herself could be found alone or unchaperoned.

The Great Goddess spoke to Uttu: “Let me advise you, and may you take heed of my advice. Let me speak words to you and may you heed my words. Beware of the marshes and the riverbanks, where Enki, the Sweet Waters god, reigns as Sovereign. There he will see you, and he will set eyes on you. He will desire you and want to make of you his own, only to leave you alone later on.”

For a time, young Uttu did follow the Great Lady’s advice and kept her distance from Enki’s lusty sight. But, one day, Enki’s desire won the young goddess’ heart when he asked her, “What may I do for you?”

Uttu replied: “Bring me cucumbers in, bring apples with their stems sticking out, and bring grapes in their clusters, and in the house you will indeed have hold of my halter, O Enki, you will indeed have hold of my halter.”

When he was filling the earth with water, he filled the dykes with water, he filled the canals with water, he filled the fallows with water. The gardener in his joy rose from the dust and embraced him: “Who are you who are you who brings life to the garden?”

Enki explained to the gardener what he needed, and soon the gardener brought him cucumbers, brought him apples with their stems sticking out, brought him grapes in their clusters, and they filled his lap.

Enki made his face attractive and took a staff in his hand. Enki came to a halt at Uttu’s door, and knocked at her house, demanding, “Open up, open up!”

She asked, “Who are you?”

He answered, “I am a gardener. Let me give you cucumbers, apples, and grapes for your delight!”

Then Uttu, full of joy, opened herself to welcome Enki, the crafty god. Enki gave Uttu, the exalted woman, cucumbers, gave her apples with their stems sticking out, and gave her grapes in their clusters. Then he poured beer for her in large measure. Enki aroused Uttu. He embraced her with heartfelt glee, lying in her lap, content and happy. He clasped her bosom, and, while lying in her crotch, fondled her thighs, fondled her with his hand. He clasped her bosom, lying in her crotch, made love to the youngster, and kissed her. Enki poured semen into Uttu’s womb, and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki.

Later, still lying on Enki’s powerful arms, doubt entered Uttu’s mind. She spoke, “Tonight you loved me dearly. Tonight I was your spouse, the one and only, your dearest. But will you love me in the morning, O lustiest of all gods? Will you love for more than a holy night, and share with me happy and hard times?”

But, when morning came and Uttu looked into Enki’s eyes, she knew she still was not the one to hold captive the Sweet Waters Lord. With a tender kiss, Enki took his leave, but did not say when he was going to come back, or if he would ever return to stay. Uttu, the beautiful woman, cried out: “Woe, my thighs!” She cried out: “Woe, my liver! Woe, my heart!”

PART 4: Ninhursag’s Intervention

Uttu swallowed stubborn tears, but decided not to surrender to loss and sorrow, and more: “I vow not to be bonded to Enki from this moment on,” she promised herself with a deep-rooted resolve. “If he does not want me, then I will not carry any of his seeds within or without my very being!” Uttu immediately turned then to Ninhursag for help. The Great Mother Goddess, beloved by all, would know what to do, would ensure the best course of action.

“Wipe out Enki’s seed of your body, and bury within the depths of the Earth the promise of life you shared with him,” said the Great Lady and Womb of Creation. “Let the Earth receive and transform yours and Enki’s seed. May the wisdom of experience brought by such pain enter your being.”

Ninhursag then removed the semen from Uttu’s thighs and buried it in the earth. Where Ninhursag buried Enki’s seed, nine days later, eight plants, luscious and strong, started to grow. Ninhursag laughed and declared happily to each of them: “Out of the depths of the earth, out of my stony womb, eight plants came out to bring more blessings to the world! Eight they are, and from now on each of them will be both fathers and mothers, the very first Seed, of a new group of beings, whom I’ll call Plants, creatures of a green color, that will nourish, heal and grow in the glory of Dilmun and the Middle World.”

She grew the “tree” plant, she grew the “honey” plant, she grew the “vegetable” plant, she grew the esparto grass, she grew the atutu plant, she grew the actaltal plant, she grew the amharu plant, and she grew the fragrant plant.

After a time, Enki returned, happy and carefree, as it was his custom to be. He was not alone, but in the company of the two-faced god Isimud, Enki’s vizier and friend. Both took long walks around the riverbanks and enjoyed the pleasures of the marshlands. Enki and Isimud were able to see up there from in the marsh. Both saw the luscious plants.

“What sorts of beings are those, Isimud, my faithful servant and friend? What is in them so new and yet so old that fills my heart with desire and my mind with deep-rooted curiosity? I want to taste them, to know their hearts. I want to know their insides. Tell me, what is this plant?” asked Enki.

Isimud, pointing at the closest one, replied, “My king, this is a tree plant.” Sworn as he was to serve the Sweet Waters Lord, Isimud then proceeded to cut down a piece of the tree-plant and passed it on to Enki, who immediately ate it with greed.

The taste of the tree-plant fuelled even more Enki’s desire to know the nature of the other seven plants left. He asked Isimud about the nature of the seven plants, their essence and content.

“My master, the honey plant,” he commanded. Isimud pulled it up for him and Enki ate it.

“My master, the vegetable plant,” Enki said to Isimud, who cut it off for him, and Enki ate it.

“My master, the alfalfa grass,” he said to him, who pulled it up for him, and Enki ate it.

“My master, the atutu plant,” he said to him, who cut it off for him, and Enki ate it.

“My master, the actaltal plant,” he said to him, who pulled it up for him, and Enki ate it.

“My master, the amharu plant,” he said to him, who pulled it up for him, and Enki ate it.

“My master, the fragrant plant,” he said to him, who cut it off for him, and Enki ate it. Enki then determined the destiny of the plants.

PART 5: The Healing Powers of Ninhursag

Seeing that once again Enki had shown no respect or restraint, Ninhursag became angry beyond measure. “Enough is enough!” exclaimed the Great Mother, Mistress and Supreme Queen of the Earth.

The Great Goddess then explained: “Enki, you’ve gone too far by taking over the hearts’ essence of not only young goddesses, but also by taking into yourself eight primeval samples of the Plant World. It is good to feel desire, but there is a profound responsibility implicit in these actions. You, Enki, enter many maidens’ lives, set yourself up like a squatter within their hearts, but only to leave them afterwards, never to return. But even then you were not satisfied in your lust to know and experience everything, so you turned to the newly created Plant World. You, Enki, tasted each one of the eight sacred plants, devouring them next with greed. You never asked, but always took without giving anything back or offering any sign of acknowledgement. For all this, you deserve a mighty lesson, for it is time that you, Enki, learn in sorrow what you did not learn in happiness.”

The Goddess then cursed Enki: “I will never look at you with a life-giving eye from this moment on. May the suffering you inflicted return to you threefold!”

With these words, Great Ninhursag disappeared, leaving Enki behind, when his health began to fail. A strange illness this was: eight organs of his body fell progressively ill. Indeed, they started to die in Enki’s living body.

The Anunnaki, the Great Gods, were disconsolate with Enki’s suffering. Father An, the Sky Lord, Enlil, Lord Air and Enki’s beloved older brother, and all of the healer gods and goddesses of the land tried everything they could, but to no avail. Only Ninhursag could not be found anywhere, while Enki’s health deteriorated little by little day after day.

It soon came a time when Enlil left Enki’s side to sit on the dust, so immersed he was in despair and worry for the health of his younger and favorite brother. The Air Lord grieved for Enki. A world without the Lord of the Sweet Waters, Magic and Crafts — how sad would it be?

It was then that a fox, a sacred wild beast to Ninhursag, came to console Lord Air: “I’ve seen the suffering of the Sweet Waters Lord, and I’ve witnessed the lament of the greatest of the Anunnaki for Enki, their beloved brother. Only Ninhursag can heal him, only the Mistress of All Creation can make him whole again. I’ll do my best to find the Greatest Lady of Earth, holy Ninhursag, whom I am sworn to worship and serve till the end of my days. I will find the Great Goddess and bring her here to accomplish the healing of the sick god.”

Then An answered the fox: “If you bring Ninhursag to me, I shall erect two standards for you in my city, and you will be renowned.”

The fox first anointed his body, shook out his fur, and put kohl on his eyes before he disappeared. He persuaded Ninhursag to find her healing touch and to cure Enki. Ninhursag relented, and soon came running to Enki’s aid.

She went straight to the chamber where Enki laid in agony, and, with a wave of her mighty hand, Ninhursag dismissed healers, nurses and well-wishers. Their work was done. Ninhursag’s had just begun.

With immense tenderness, the Mistress of All Creation made herself comfortable by on the bed, carefully placing Enki’s head on her vagina. She then leaned forward and wrapped herself, arms, legs, and breasts around the body of the Sweet Waters Lord. Enki was this way lovingly embraced by the Great Lady, kept safe and protected by her warmth. Like a nurturing womb, the Great Lady wrapped herself around the Sweet Waters god.

Ninhursag whispered softly in Enki’s ear, “Dearest, what hurts you?”

“O beloved, my whole body hurts me,” Enki managed to answer, with visible effort.

Ninhursag rocked gently back and forth with much care: “I know your body hurts, dear heart, but soon you will be made whole again, because I will receive in my Womb of Abundance, the nest of creation, the seeds that you so greedily ate and that made you so ill. I’ll take them all into my body so that they can bring healing, not harm, to all beings. Let the Work begin!”

Initially, Enki felt that he could not move. Given time, however, warmth started spreading all over his body, bringing new vitality, a new life force with it.

Ninhursag asked, “My brother, what part of you hurts you?”

“The top of my head (ugu-dili) hurts me.”

Enki heard Ninhursag’s voice resonate all over his being: “The first seed you ate and made you ill, I take its power into my myself and transform it into a newly born god, a younger brother and son to you, dearest. I therefore have given birth to the god Abu to set your body free.” Thus, she gave birth to Abu out of it.

The Great Lady continued her mighty healing ritual, asking Enki for the names of the organs that had been affected.