Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 56

14 Sun, illuminate this day the King, son of his G.o.d,[3] make him shine!

15 Everything that is working evil in his body, may that be driven elsewhere.

16 Like a cruse of ...[4] purify him!

17 Like a cruse of milk, make him flow!

18 May it flow like molten bronze!

19 Deliver him from his infirmity!

20 Then, when he revives, may thy sublimity direct him!

21 And me, the magician, thy obedient servant, direct me!

[Footnote 1: Lacunae.]

[Footnote 2: In the Accadian, "Ana and Mulge"]

[Footnote 3: Meaning the pious king.]

[Footnote 4: Here follows an incomprehensible word.]

FOURTH HYMN

1 Great Lord, from the midst of the shining heavens at thy rising, 2 valiant hero, Sun, from the midst of the shining heavens, at thy rising, 3 in the bolts of the shining heavens, in the entrance which opens heaven, at thy rising 4 in the bar of the door of the shining heavens, in ...[1]

at thy rising, 5 in the great door of the shining heavens, when thou openest it.

6 in the highest (summits) of the shining heavens, at the time of thy rapid course, 7 the celestial archangels with respect and joy press around thee; 8 the servants of the Lady of crowns[2] lead thee in a festive manner; 9 the ...[3] for the repose of thy heart fix thy days; 10 the mult.i.tudes of the crowds on the earth turn their eyes often toward thee; 11 the Spirits of heaven and earth lead thee.

12 The ...[3] thou crushest them with thy strength, 13 ...[3] thou discoverest them, 14 ...[3] thou causest to seize, 15 ...[3] thou directest.

[Footnote 1: Lacuna.]

[Footnote 2: In the a.s.syrian version, "of the Lady of the G.o.ds."]

[Footnote 3: Lacunae.]

(I am obliged here to pa.s.s over five lines which are too mutilated for me to attempt to translate them with any degree of certainty.)

21 The Lord, as to me, has sent me; 22 the great G.o.d, Hea, as to me, has sent me.[1]

23 Settle what has reference to him,[2] teach the order which concerns him, decide the question relating to him.

24 Thou, in thy course thou directest the human race; 25 cast upon him a ray of peace, and let it cure his suffering.

26 The man, son of his G.o.d,[3] has laid before thee his shortcomings and his transgressions; 27 his feet and his hands are in pain, grievously defiled by disease.

28 Sun, to the lifting up of my hands pay attention; 29 eat his food, receive the victim, give his G.o.d (for a support) to his hand!

30 By his order let his shortcomings be pardoned! let his transgressions be blotted out!

31 May his trouble leave him! may he recover from his disease!

32 Give back life to the King![4]

33 Then, on the day that he revives, may thy sublimity envelop him!

34 Direct the King who is in subjection to thee!

35 And me, the magician, thy humble servant, direct me!

[Footnote 1: There is no a.s.syrian version of this line; we have only the Accadian.]

[Footnote 2: The invalid on behalf of whom the invocation is recited.]

[Footnote 3: The pious man.]

[Footnote 4: From this verse onward the a.s.syrian version is wanting.]

FIFTH HYMN [Footnote: Cf. also "Chaldean Magic," pp. 185, 186.]

1 Magical incantation.

2 I have invoked thee, O Sun, in the midst of the high heavens.

3 Thou art in the shadow of the cedar, and 4 thy feet rest on the summits.

5 The countries have called thee eagerly, they have directed their looks toward thee, O Friend; 6 thy brilliant light illuminates every land, 7 overthrowing all that impedes thee, a.s.semble the countries, 8 for thou, O Sun, knowest their boundaries.

9 Thou who annihilatest falsehood, who dissipatest the evil influence 10 of wonders, omens, sorceries, dreams, evil apparitions, 11 who turnest to a happy issue malicious designs, who annihilatest men and countries 12 that devote themselves to fatal sorceries, I have taken refuge in thy presence.

13 ...[1]

14 Do not allow those who make spells, and are hardened, to arise; 15 Frighten their heart...[2]

16 Settle also, O Sun, light of the great G.o.ds.

17 Right into my marrow, O Lords of breath, that I may rejoice, even I.

18 May the G.o.ds who have created me take my hands!

19 Direct the breath of my mouth! my hands 20 direct them also, Lord, light of the legions of the heavens, Sun, O Judge!

21 The day, the month, the year...[2]

22 ...[2] conjure the spell!

23 ...[2] deliver from the infirmity!

[Footnote 1: Here I am obliged to omit a line, which I cannot yet make out.]

[Footnote 2: Lacunae.]

TWO ACCADIAN HYMNS

TRANSLATED BY REV. A.H. SAYCE, M.A.

The two following hymns, both of which are unfortunately mutilated, are interesting from their subject-matter. The first is addressed to the sun-G.o.d Tammuz, the husband of Istar, slain by the boar's tusk of winter, and sought by the G.o.ddess in the underground world. It is this visit which is described in the mythological poem known as the "Descent of Istar into Hades" ("Records of the Past," Vol. I, p. 143). The myth of Tammuz and Istar pa.s.sed, through the Phoenicians, to the Greeks, among whom Adonis and Aphrodite represent the personages of the ancient Accadian legend.

Tammuz is referred to in Ezek. viii. 14. (See "Records of the Past," Vol.

IX, p. 147.) The second hymn treats of the world-mountain, the Atlas of the Greeks, which supports the heaven with its stars, and is rooted in Hades. Under its other name, "Kharsak-kurra," or "Mountain of the East,"

it was identified with the present Mount Elwend, and was regarded as the spot where the ark had rested, and where the G.o.ds had their seat. A reference is made to it in Isa. xiv. 13. Both hymns ill.u.s.trate the imagery and metaphor out of which grew the mythology of primeval Babylonia, and offer curious parallels to the Aryan hymns of the Rig-Veda. The cuneiform texts are lithographed in the "Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia,"

Vol. IV, 27, I, 2.

TWO ACCADIAN HYMNS

I