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Adapa and the South Wind

Adapa

About this book

Adapa Breaks the South Wind’s Wing

Fragment B

1 “I did ... 2 South Wind! ... 3 I did as much as I needed ... 4 South Wind, ... your brothers, however many there are, 5 I will break your wing!” 6 As soon as he said it, the South Wind’s wing broke.

Anu Summons Adapa

7 The South Wind did not blow over the land for seven days. 8 Anu called to his messenger Ilabrat, 9 “Why has the South Wind not blown for seven days over the land?” 10 His messenger Ilabrat answered him, 11 “My lord, Adapa, son of Ea, has broken the South Wind’s wing.” 12 When Anu heard this, 13 He cried, “Heaven help us!” He rose from his chair, 14 “Send word and have him brought here.”

Ea Prepares Adapa for Heaven

15 Ea, who knows heaven’s ways, touched his arms, 16 ... and made him wear his hair unkempt, 17 Had him put on mourning clothes and gave him instructions,

18 “Adapa, you are going into King Anu’s presence. 19 You will go up to heaven. 20 When you go up to heaven and approach Anu’s gate, 21 Tammuz and Gizzida will be standing at Anu’s gate. 22 When they see you, they will ask you,

23 ‘Young man, for whom are you dressed this way? 24 Adapa, why are you in mourning clothes?’

25 ‘Two gods have disappeared from our land, 26 That is why I am dressed this way.’

27 ‘Who are the two gods who have disappeared from the land?’

28 ‘They are Tammuz and Gizzida.’

29 They will look at each other and laugh and laugh, 30 They will speak in your favor to Anu, 31 They will help you receive a friendly welcome from Anu. 32 When you come before Anu,

Ea’s Instructions About Food and Drink

33 “They will offer you food of death, do not eat it. 34 They will offer you water of death, do not drink it. 35 They will offer you a garment, put it on. 36 They will offer you oil, rub it on yourself. 37 Do not forget the instructions I give you, 38 Hold on to the words that I have spoken.”

39 Anu’s messenger arrived, 40 “Adapa broken the wing of the South Wind, 41 Send him to me!”

Adapa Enters Heaven

42 He brought him along the road to heaven and he went up to heaven.⁠ 43 When he went up to heaven and approached Anu’s gate, 44 Tammuz and Gizzida were standing at Anu’s gate.

45 When they saw him, Adapa, they cried, “Heaven help us! 46 Young man, for whom are you dressed this way? 47 Adapa, why are you dressed in mourning clothes?”

48 “Two gods have disappeared from the land, 49 So I am dressed in mourning clothes.”

50 “Who are the two gods who have disappeared from the land?”

51 “Tammuz and Gizzida.” 52 They looked at each other and laughed and laughed.

53 When Adapa came into King Anu’s presence, 54 Anu saw him and cried,

Adapa Answers Anu

55 “Come, Adapa, why did you break the wing of the South Wind?” 56 Adapa answered Anu,

57 “My lord, I was fishing in the depths of the sea for my lord’s temple. 58 Halfway through the sea crossing, 59 the South Wind blew against me and capsized me, 60 I was plunged into my lord’s house. 61 In my anger, I cursed it.”

62 Tammuz and Gizzida spoke up beside him, 63 Speaking in his favor to Anu. 64 His heart grew calm, he became quiet.

The Food and Water of Life

65 “Why did Ea disclose to a flawed human being something of heaven and earth,⁠ 66 And give him such a bold heart? 67 Since he has done this for him, what can we do for him? 68 Bring him food of life, so he can eat.”

69 They brought him food of life, but he did not eat. 70 They brought him water of life, but he did not drink. 71 They brought him a garment, and he put it on. 72 They brought him oil, and he rubbed it on himself.

73 Anu stared at him and burst out laughing at him,

74 “Come, Adapa, why did you not eat or drink? 75 Will you not live? What a loss for the ... peoples!”

76 “Ea my lord told me, ‘You must not eat, you must not drink.’”

77 “Take him and send him back to earth.” 78 ... stared at him ...

Continue to A Prayer to Nabu

Texts in conversation

Compare Adapa and the South Wind, Fragment B, lines 42–57 and 1 Enoch 14:18

Ancient Near East, Babylonian · Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses

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Summary

In Adapa and the South Wind, the sage enters heaven and approaches King Anu. In 1 Enoch 14, Enoch enters the heavenly sanctuary and sees a throne, with the Great Glory seated on it.

Passages

Adapa and the South Wind, Fragment B, lines 42–57

Ancient Near East, Babylonian · Adapa
42 He brought him along the road to heaven and he went up to heaven.43 When he went up to heaven and approached Anu’s gate,44 Tammuz and Gizzida were standing at Anu’s gate.45 When they saw him, Adapa, they cried, “Heaven help us!46 Young man, for whom are you dressed this way?47 Adapa, why are you dressed in mourning clothes?”48 “Two gods have disappeared from the land,49 So I am dressed in mourning clothes.”50 “Who are the two gods who have disappeared from the land?”51 “Tammuz and Gizzida.”52 They looked at each other and laughed and laughed.53 When Adapa came into King Anu’s presence,54 Anu saw him and cried,55 “Come, Adapa, why did you break the wing of the South Wind?”56 Adapa answered Anu,57 “My lord, I was fishing in the depths of the sea for my lord’s temple.
1400–601 BCE Read in Adapa and the South Wind

1 Enoch 14:18

Pseudepigrapha, Apocalypses · Ethiopic Book of Enoch
17 Its floor was of fire, and above it was lightning and the path of the stars, and its ceiling also was flaming fire.18 I looked and saw a high throne inside it. Its appearance was like crystal, and its wheels were like the shining sun, and there was the vision of cherubim.19 From underneath the throne came streams of flaming fire, so that I could not look at it.20 The Great Glory sat on it, and His garment shone more brightly than the sun and was whiter than any snow.21 None of the angels could enter and look on His face because of its magnificence and glory, and no mortal could look on Him.22 A flaming fire was all around Him, and a great fire stood before Him. No one near Him could come close. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him, yet He needed no counselor.23 The most holy ones who were near Him did not leave by night nor depart from Him.24 Until then I had lain face down, trembling, and the Lord called me with His own mouth and said to me: “Come near, Enoch, and hear my word.”
325 BCE – 100 CE Read in 1 Enoch

References

“… The present paper limits its discussion to the heavenly counterpart traditions that are encountered in the books of Enoch. The patriarch’s travel to heaven and his progression through the chambers of the celestial sanctuary in 1 Enoch 14:9–18 ends with the vision of a high throne. In the course of this encounter, Enoch becomes a heavenly counterpart of the high priest as the earthly sacerdotal servant associated with the activities in these chambers, when the priest once a year on Yom Kippur was allowed to enter the divine Presence. The seer appears to be simultaneously in both realms: dreaming in his sleep on earth and at the same time installed as the sacerdotal servant in the heavenly temple. Martha Himmelfarb stresses the topographical aspects of Enoch’s progression account in which “the ascent shows him passing through the outer court of the temple and the sanctuary to the door of the Holy of Holies, where God addresses him with his own mouth.” Comparably, the “son of Oannes” also locates in the inner cella of Marduk. …”
Amar Annus, The Heavenly Counterparts of Adapa and Enoch in Babylonia and Israel (Leiden: Brill, 2019), 73.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Adapa and the South Wind, Fragment B, lines 42–57 and 1 Enoch 14:18

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