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Art of the First Cities
Writing: Mesopotamia
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Cuneiform tablet with the Sumerian Flood story, ca. 1740 B.C.; Old Babylonian period. Mesopotamia, Nippur. Cuneiform inscription in Sumerian. Clay; H. 10.2 cm (4 in.); W. 13.3 cm (5 1/4 in.); Thickness 4.5 cm (1 3/4 in.). University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia CBS 10673, 10867.
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This fragmentary poem recounts how the god Enlil attempted to wipe out humanity by means of a great flood. After the creation of the world, all was well; humanity was established, animals multiplied everywhere, kingship was lowered from the heavens, and the main cities of Sumer were apportioned to the major divinities. The text breaks at this point, but from parallel Babylonian stories we can surmise that the noise of teeming humanity proved to be too much for Enlil, who decided to end it for all time. The other gods and goddesses lamented this decision, but only the crafty Enki took action, revealing the future to a king by the name of Ziusudra. The text breaks once again, but it undoubtedly continued with a description of the construction of a large boat that would withstand the coming deluge. And so Ziusudra survived the flood:
"All the destructive winds (and) gales were present,
The storm swept over the capitals.
After the storm had swept the country for seven days and seven nights . . . .
And the destructive wind had rocked the huge boat in the high water,
The Sun came out, illuminating the earth and the sky.
Ziusudra made an opening in the huge boat,
And the Sun with its rays entered the huge boat.
The king Ziusudra
Prostrated himself before the sun god;
The king slaughtered a large number of bulls and sheep."
Ziusudra saved the seed of humanity, and in return he was made immortal and was settled in far-off Dilmun.
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