the Flood, and the center of most of his exploits was the city of Erech, now called Warka, which must have been one of the most ancient cities in the world. Four cities only are mentioned in these inscriptions, Babel, Erech, Surippak, and Nipur. Two of these, Babel and Erech, are the first two capitals of Nimrod, and the last one, Nipur, according to the Talmud, is the same as Calneh the fourth city of Nimrod. Of the first five tablets of the history of Izdubar I have not recognized any fragments, but in the mass of material which I have collected it is possible that some portions may belong to this part of the story.
The following passage forms the opening of the sixth tablet and shows the style of the writing. Before giving the translation I must notice that in various places the tablets are broken and the texts defective: as I cannot point out each of these defective passages, I will endeavor to indicate them by pausing in my reading.
| 1. | . . . . . Belesu, he despised Belesu
|
| 2. | like a bull his country he ascended after him
|
| 3. | he destroyed him, and his memorial perished
|
| 4. | the country was subdued, and after he took the crown
|
| 5. | Izdubar put on his crown, and after he took the crown
|
| 6. | for the favor of Izdubar, the princess Ishtar lifted her eyes.
|
| 7. | And she spake thus, "Izdubar thou shalt be husband
|
| 8. | thy word me shall bind in bonds,
|
| 9. | thou shalt be husband and I will be thy wife,
|
| 10. | thou shalt drive in a chariot of Ukni stone and gold,
|
| 11. | of which its body is gold and splendid its pole
|
| 12. | thou shalt ride in days of great glory
|
| 13. | to Bitani, in which is the country where the pine trees grow.
|
| 14. | Bitani at thy entrance
|
| 15. | to the Euphrates shall kiss thy feet.
|
| 16. | There shall be in subjection under thee, kings, lords, and princes.
|
| 17. | The tribute of the mountains and plains they shall bring to thee, taxes
|
