The Myth of Anzu

Since Anzu dies in the myth, it can be classified as the last myth in which Anzu appears. Since Anzu was still worshipped during the Isin-Lasa period (2025 BCE - 1763 BCE), the plot of the Anzu myth must take place after the beginning of the Isin-Lasa Period. On the other hand, Ninurta's deeds could have provided the mythological reason for the construction of the E-šumeša temple in Nippur, which is dedicated to Ninurta. Its construction began around 2100 BCE. Of course, Ninurta could have been worshiped at this time for reasons other than killing Anzu. Hence, the year 1900 BCE might be a good guess for the plot of the Anzu myth.

This text combines two independent translations of the myth. Some of the wording has been changed.

Translation

Prologue

I praise the great son of the king of the settled lands. I praise the great Ninurta, beloved of Ninhursag (Ninhursag), the mighty goddess, the son of Enlil, leader of the Anunnaki. I praise Ninurta, the lord of the temple Eninnu of Lagash, who waters the pastures, irrigates the gardens, and fills the ponds in the countryside and in the city.

Ninurta, the warrior, he is the storm of battle that obscures vision. The fiercest Gallu demons, though they never tire, fear his attack. Hear the praises of the mighty Ninurta, who defeated Asag, the demon of stone, in his rage, who defeated the mighty Anzu with his weapon, who slew the bull-man in the sea. He is a strong warrior who kills with his weapon, a powerful man who can quickly form a battle formation. No dais has yet been created for the Igigi.

The Origin and Mission of Anzu

In the time when the Igigi were assigned their destiny by Enlil, when the rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, were formed, but their sources had not yet directed their waters into the land, the clouds were still far away on the horizon, Anzu was born (lines incomplete).

The Igigi gathered with Enlil, their father, the leader of the gods, and helped him to shed light on Anzu's origins. They, his sons, brought a report:

"On Hehe, a wooded mountain, in the womb of the Anunnaki, Anzu was born. At the call of the gods, the four winds met, bringing the waters of the life-giving flood that gave birth to Anzu. (lines incomplete)"

The father of the gods, Enlil, looked at them but kept his thoughts to himself. He studied Anzu closely. He pondered. Who gave birth to Anzu? Enki (Ea), the far-sighted one, answered his heart's desire. He addressed his words to Enlil:

"Surely, the water of the life-giving flood begat Anzu, the holy water of the gods of Apzu. The vast earth received it, and then he was born from mountain rock. You have seen Anzu for yourself. Let him serve you forever! In the hall he shall watch over the entrance to the innermost chamber."

Enlil carried out the decision of the gods. He has not decreed any additional fate since then. Anzu administered them. Enlil assigned Anzu the entrance to the chamber he had completed.

Anzu Steals the Tablet of Destinies

In Enlil's presence, he bathed in holy water, but his eyes stared at the insignia of Enlil's power. With Enlil's lordly crown, his divine robe and the tablet of destinies in hand, Anzu would rise. He made the decision to usurp Enlil's power. Anzu often looked at Enlil, the father of the gods, and resolved to seize his power:

"I will take the tablet of destinies of the gods and control the orders for all the [Igigi] gods. I will ascend the throne and be master of the rites! I will lead every single one of the Igigi!"

In his heart he planned the opposition, and at the entrance to the chamber, from where he often gazed into the distance, he waited for the day to begin.

When Enlil bathed in the holy water, was undressed and had placed his crown on the throne, Anzu took the tablet of destinies. He took the power of Enlil.

The rites were abandoned. Anzu flew away. The glow faded and silence reigned. Father Enlil, advisor to the gods, was speechless, for Anzu had robbed the chamber of its splendor.

The Gods are Looking for Rescue

The gods of the land were desperate to find a solution. An (Anu) made himself heard, spoke and turned to the gods and his sons:

"Whichever god kills Anzu will make his name great in all settled lands!"

They called Adad, the ruler of the weather, the son of An. The decision-makers spoke to him:

"Mighty Adad, cruel Adad, your attack cannot be repelled. Your name shall be great in the assembly of the great gods. You shall have no rival among the gods, your brothers. Then shrines will surely be created for you! Establish your cult centers everywhere in the four parts of the world! Your cult centers shall find entrance in the Ekur! Show the gods your prowess, and your name shall be mighty!"

Adad responded to the speech and addressed his words to An, his father:

"Father, who could hurry to the inaccessible mountain? Anzu has taken away the tablet of destinies: the rites have been abandoned! Anzu has flown away and gone into hiding! His spells have replaced those of Enlil! He need only command, and whoever he curses turnes to clay! The gods must now tremble at his words!"

He turned away and said he would not accept the mission. They called Gerra, Anunitu's son. The decision-makers spoke to him:

"Mighty Gerra, cruel Gerra, your attack cannot be repelled. Burn Anzu with fire, your weapon! Your name shall be great in the assembly of the great gods. You shall have no rival among the gods, your brothers. Then shrines will surely be created for you! Establish your cult centers everywhere in the four parts of the world! Your cult centers shall find entrance in Ekur! Show the gods your prowess, and your name shall be mighty!"

Gerra responded to the speech and addressed his words to An, his father:

"Father, who could hurry to the inaccessible mountain? Which of the gods who are your sons will be the conqueror of Anzu? For he has won the tablet of destinies for himself, has usurped the power of Enlil: The rites are abandoned! His spells have replaced those of Enlil! He only needs to command, and whoever he curses turnes to clay! The gods must now tremble at his words!"

He turned away and said he would not accept the mission. They called Shara, the son of Inanna. An suggested a solution and spoke to him:

"Mighty Shara, ferocious Shara, your attack cannot be repelled! Strike Anzu with your weapon! Your name shall be great in the assembly of the great gods. You shall have no rival among the gods, your brothers. Then shrines will surely be created for you! Establish your cult centers everywhere in the four parts of the world! Your cult centers shall find entrance in the Ekur! Show the gods your prowess, and your name shall be mighty!"

Shara responded to the speech, directing his words to An, his father:

"Father, who could hurry to the inaccessible mountain? Which of the gods who are your sons will be the conqueror of Anzu? For he has won the tablet of destinies for himself, has usurped the power of Enlil: The rites are abandoned! His spells have replaced those of Enlil! He only needs to command, and whoever he curses turnes to clay! The gods must now tremble at his words!"

He turned away and said he would not accept the mission. The gods fell silent and despaired. The god of intelligence, the sage who dwells in Apsu, formed an idea in the depths of his being. Enki formed an idea in his heart. He told An what he had conceived in his innermost being.

"Let me give orders and search among the Igigi gods and choose the conqueror of Anzu from the assembly. I myself will search among the Igigi and choose the conqueror of Anzu from the assembly."

The Igigi listened to his speech. The Igigi were freed from their fear and kissed his feet. The far-sighted Enki spoke. He addressed his words to An and Dagan:

"Let them call Ninhursag (Ninhursag) to me, the sister of the gods, the wise counselor of the gods, her brothers. They shall proclaim her supremacy in the assembly. The gods shall honor her in their assembly. I will then communicate to her the idea that is in my heart."

They called Ninhursag, the sister of the gods, to them, the wise counselor of the gods, her brothers. They proclaimed her supremacy in the assembly. The gods honored her in their assembly. Then Enki told her the idea that he had conceived in his innermost being.

"We used to call you Ninhursag (Ninhursag). But now your name shall be 'Mistress of all gods'. Offer us the mighty one, your outstanding beloved son Ninurta, so that he may form the battle formation with armored chest. Then his name shall be 'Lord' in the assembly of the great gods. May he show prowess to the gods so that he may become mighty! May his name become great in all settled lands. May shrines be created for him. May his cult centers be established everywhere in the four parts of the world! May his cult centers be established in Ekur!"

Ninhursag (Mami), the exalted one, listened to his speech and said "Yes". The gods of the land rejoiced at her utterance. The Igigi were freed from their fears and kissed her feet..

The Commissioning of Ninurta

Ninhursag called her son into the assembly of the gods, instructed her beloved son and said to him:

"In the presence of An and Dagan, they announced their plan in the assembly. I gave birth to all the Igigi, I created every single one of the Anunnaki! I created the assembly of the gods. I, Ninhursag, gave the tablet of destinies to my brother Enlil. Anzu has disturbed the kingship I have ordained! He has obtained the tablet of destinies for himself. He has robbed Enlil, he has rejected your father, he has stolen the rites and turned them to his use."

Ninhursag continued:

"Make your way, determine the hour. Let the light rise again for the gods I have created. Gather your devastating force. Let the evil winds flash as they pass over him. Seize the winged Anzu and cover the land in which he was created with the dust of desolation: destroy his dwelling. Let your armor crash against him. Let the fear of your fighting power tremble within him. Let the destructive whirlwind rise against him. Put your arrow in his bow, let it become his poison. Let your countenance become demonic, like that of a gallu demon. Send out a mist so that he cannot recognize your features! Let your aura rush towards him. May your onslaught be supreme. Let him be dazzled. More powerful than Utu (Shamash) can, may daylight turn to darkness for him. End his life, defeat Anzu, and let the winds carry his feathers as good news to Ekur, to the house of your father Enlil. Rush and cover the pastures of the mountain with the dust of desolation. End Anzu's life.

Then kingship will return to Ekur. Then the rites for the father who begot you will return! Then shrines will surely be created for you! Establish your cult centers everywhere in the four parts of the world! May your cult centers find entrance in Ekur! Show the gods your prowess and your name will be mighty!"

The warrior listened to his mother's words. At first he trembled, but then he gathered the seven evil winds of battle, the seven whirlwinds that stir up dust. He drew up a battle plan to wage war in a fearsome formation. The storms were at his side, ready for battle. Then he went to the mount od Anzu.

The first Encounter

Anzu and Ninurta met on the mountainside. Anzu looked at him and shook with rage. He growled like a storm demon. He bared his teeth like an angry lion. He screamed at the warrior in rage:

"I have taken every single rite to myself. I am now responsible for all commands to the gods, the Igigi! Who are you to come and fight me? Give your reasons!"

With these words he rushed towards him, with these words he addressed him. The warrior Ninurta answered Anzu:

"I am Ninurta, the avenger of Enlil, who founded Duranki, who has the wide earth beneath him, sent by Enki, the king of destinies. According to his instructions, I have come to fight and crush you."

Anzu listened to his speech, then his roar echoed furiously through the mountains. Darkness fell over the mountains. The rock faces were no longer recognizable. The sun, the light of the gods, dimmed to darkness. He roared to attack: the sign of the attack was his cry!

A clash of opponents was imminent. The weapon of chaos, the seven winds, formed up. The breastplate, the blood-soaked one, was put on. Lightning shot out of the clouds of death like arrows. The battle between them raged.

The strong and splendid firstborn of Ninhursag, bulwark of An and Dagan, beloved of Enki, drew his bow and loaded an arrow. With the bow, he shot an arrow at Anzu, but the arrow did not reach Anzu. The arrow recoiled as Anzu said:

"You, you arrow that approaches, return to the thicket of reeds [from which you were made]! Bow frame, back to your grove! Bowstring, back to the bowels of the ram! Feathers, back to the bird!"

He held the tablet of destinies in his hand and they influenced the bowstring. The arrows did not reach his body. Then it became deathly quiet. The fighting stopped. They were stopped because Ninurta's weapons could not defeat Anzu.

Ninurta called out and instructed Sharur:

"Repeat the deeds you have seen to the far-sighted Enki! My message is: Ninurta circled Anzu. Ninurta was covered in the dust of desolation, but when he put the arrow to the bow, drew it and shot it, it did not come near Anzu: The arrow recoiled as Anzu called out to it, "You, arrow that have come, return to your thicket of reeds! Bow frame, back to your grove! Bowstring, back to the bowels of the ram! Feathers, back to the bird!' He held the tablet of destinies in his hand, and it influenced the bowstring. The arrows did not reach his body. A deadly silence fell over the battle and the fighting stopped. The weapons paused. They did not seize Anzu."

Sharur bowed, took the message and delivered it to the far-sighted Enki. Enki listened to his son's words and instructed Sharur:

"Repeat to your Lord what I say, and all that I say to you, repeat to him: Do not let the battle slacken, gain your victory! Weary him so that he sheds his feathers in battle against the storms! Take a throwing stick that follows your arrows and cut off his wings. Detach them right and left. When he sees his wings and shouts his "wing to wing" spell to call his wings back to him, don't panic: Draw your bow and let the arrows fly like lightning. Let the wing feathers dance like butterflies. Put an end to his life. Defeat Anzu and let the winds carry his feathers as good news to Ekur, to the house of your father Enlil. Hasten and cover the pastures of the mountain with the storm of devastation. Put an end to the life of the evil Anzu. Then kingship will return to Ekur. Then the rites for the father who fathered you will return! Then shrines will surely be created for you! Establish your cult centers everywhere in the four parts of the world! Your cult centers shall enter Ekur! Show the gods your prowess and your name will be mighty!"

Sharur bowed, took the message and delivered it to his master Ninurta. He repeated everything Enki told him to him. Ninurta listened to the words of the far-sighted Enki.

The Decisive Battle

He gathered the seven evil winds of battle, the seven whirlwinds that stir up dust. He drew up a battle plan to wage war in a fearsome formation. The storms were at his side, ready for battle. Then he went to Anzu's mountain.

A heat wave blazed. Ninurta unleashed a storm. He unleashed four winds. Ninurta and Anzu were bathed in the sweat of battle. Anzu grew tired and shed his feathers in the face of the storms. Ninurta took his throwing sticks, which chased his arrows and severed Anzu's wings right and left. Anzu saw his wings and shouted 'wing to wing'. But as he shouted this to bring his wings back to him, an arrow came straight at him and pierced his heart. Ninurta let an arrow pass through his pinion and wings. An arrow pierced his heart and lungs.

Ninurta, who covered the proud pastures of the mountains with the storm of devastation, who flooded the wide earth with his wrath, defeated the evil Anzu. The warrior Ninurta regained the tablet of destiny for his own hand.

As a sign of good news, the wind carried Anzu's feathers to Ekur, to the house of his father Enlil. Dagan saw his sign and rejoiced. He called all the gods together and spoke joyfully:

"The strong Ninurta has indeed defeated Anzu on his mountain. He has reclaimed for his own hand the tablet of destinies of the great gods. Come! Let him come to us. Let him rejoice, play, be merry."

Dagan said to Enlil:

"When he defeated the evil Anzu in the middle of the mountains, the warrior Ninurta won back the tablet of destinies of the gods for his own hand. Send for him and let him come to you. Let him place the tablet of destinies in your lap!"

Contacting Ninurta

Enlil made himself heard and spoke. He addressed these words to Nusku, his vizier:

"Nusku, go outside and bring Birdu to me."

Nusku went out and brought Birdu to him. Enlil addressed these words to Birdu:

"Birdu, I will send you, I will send you to Ninurta. You have to deliver a message to him."

Birdu found Ninurta and Ninurta said to Birdu:

"Birdu, why did you come here so aggressively?"

Birdu replied to Ninurta:

"My lord, Enlil, your father, has sent me to you to bring you a message. The gods have heard that you have killed the evil Anzu in the mountains. They were happy and rejoiced and told me to come and see you. Go to him so that he can [grant you the rites you deserve]. (large gap) Or will you let him (Enlil), in his power, stumble over the evil Anzu in Ekur?

Warrior, in your strength, when you ravaged the mountain, you captured Anzu, defeating him despite his strength. Ninurta, because you were so brave and defeated Anzu, you made all enemies kneel at the feet of your father Enlil. You have gained complete dominion over every single rite. Who was ever created like you?

[Give the tablet of destinies back to Enlil]. Then your destiny will be proclaimed anew and the sanctuaries of the gods of destiny will be granted to you. They invoke Nissaba for your purification ceremony. They give you the name Ningirsu. They grant you the entire shepherding over the people. Have a great name in Duku, [where judgment is passed on the lands, where destiny is decided]. The people will call you by many names and praise you (At this point it is indicated where he will be called and how). They will call your name. Your valor is far greater than that of all other gods, your divinity is supreme. With all my heart I praise you, son of Ninhursag (Belet-ili), your mother. You are attentive, capable and great. Your advisor, the far-sighted Enki, [who helped you to victory] and his father An, they granted you [this]."

(gap of 7 lines)

Interpretation

It is often claimed that Anzu was employed by Enlil as a gatekeeper and then decided to steal the tablet of destinies, which determines the fates of people all over the world. However, this is false. At the time the myth was written, the tablet of destinies did not determine the fates of people. It determined the rites that had to be performed by the Igigi.

The Igigi were subordinate to the Anunnaki. They took on human form to perform the rites that were written on the tablet of destinies. The Igigi were not real gods, but they were elevated to the status of gods for the people (The Myth of Etana, Morgan tablet). This qualified them as leaders of the people. Anzu stole the tablet of destinies because he wanted to gain control over the Igigi.

According to the myth Lugalbanda and the Anzu Bird, Anzu was commissioned by Enlil to decree the fates of the people. Therefore, guarding the entrance to the innermost chamber, which contains the tablet of destinies, does not mean that Anzu stood around doing nothing all day. It means that he supported the Igigi so that they could do what they were told to do. He supported them by decreeing the fates of people. This is also emphasized in the Anzu myth, where it says that after completing the innermost chamber, "Enlil had decreed no further fates. Anzu administered them."

After Anzu stole the tablet of destinies, the Anunnaki asked various gods to fight Anzu, but the gods were free to decline the endeavor. In contrast, the Igigi Ninurta could not refuse the mission. Since he was an Igigi, he had to do what the gods told him to do. However, his mentor Ninhuarsag had to approve that.

After Ninurta killed Anzu, Anzu's job had become vacant, so Ninurta was able to get it. This meant that he was allowed to determine the fates of the people, provided he returned the tablet of destinies to Enlil.

An obvious inconsistency in the myth is that Ninurta himself was an Igigi, so Anzu could easily have changed his fate. However, this inconsistency can be resolved by assuming that his armor protected him from Anzu.