Adapa Breaks the South Wind’s Wing

23 “South Wind [...]
24 “South Wind, [...] your brothers, however many there are,
25 I will break your wing!”
26 As soon as he said this,
27 the South Wind’s wing broke. For seven days

Anu Summons Adapa

28 the South Wind did not blow over the land. Anu
29 said to his messenger Ilabrat:
30 “Why has the South Wind not blown over the land for seven days?”
31 His messenger Ilabrat answered him, “My lord,
32 Adapa, Ea’s son, has broken the South Wind’s
33 wing.” When Anu heard this,
34 he cried, “Help!” He rose from his throne: “Send someone to bring him to me!”

Ea Prepares Adapa for Heaven

35 Ea, who knew heaven’s ways,
36 left Adapa’s hair uncombed and dressed him in mourning clothes.
37 He gave him instructions,
38 saying, “Adapa, you are going into King Anu’s presence;
39 you will go up to heaven.
40 When you reach Anu’s gate,
41 Tammuz and Gishzida
42 will be standing there.
43 They will see you and ask, ‘Young man,
44 for whom are you dressed this way, Adapa? For whom
45 are you wearing mourning clothes?’
46 ‘Two gods have vanished from our land, so
47 I have dressed this way.’ ‘Who are the two gods who have vanished
48 from the land?’ ‘Tammuz and Gishzida.’ They will look at each other and
49 smile. They will speak in your favor
50 to Anu and show you
51 Anu’s friendly face. When you stand in Anu’s presence,

Ea’s Instructions about Food and Drink

52 they will offer you the food of death;
53 do not eat it. They will offer you the water of death;
54 do not drink it. They will offer you a garment;
55 put it on. They will offer you oil; rub it on yourself.
56 Do not forget the instructions I have given you. Hold on to the words
57 I have spoken.” The messenger
58 of Anu arrived: “Adapa has broken the South Wind’s
59 wing. Bring him to me.”

Adapa Enters Heaven

60 He sent him on the road to heaven, and he went up to heaven.⁠a
61 When he reached heaven and approached Anu’s gate,
62 Tammuz and Gishzida were standing there.
63 When they saw him, they cried, “Help! Adapa,
64 young man, for whom are you dressed this way?
65 For whom are you wearing mourning clothes?”
66 “Two gods have vanished from the land, so I am dressed
67 in mourning clothes.” “Who are the two gods who have vanished from the land?”
68 “Tammuz and Gishzida.” They looked at each other and

Adapa Answers Anu

69 smiled. When Adapa came into King Anu’s presence, Anu saw him and said:
70 “Come, Adapa, why did you break the South Wind’s
71 wing?” Adapa answered Anu, “My lord, I was fishing for my lord’s household
72 in the middle of the sea. Halfway through the crossing,
73 the South Wind blew and capsized me;
74 I sank into my lord’s house. In my anger
75 I cursed [the South Wind].” Tammuz spoke beside him,
76 and Gishzida spoke in his favor to Anu.
77 Anu calmed down and became quiet.

The Food and Water of Life

78 “Why has Ea revealed to imperfect humankind⁠b
79 the secrets of heaven and earth?
80 He has given him a bold heart. He himself has done this.
81 What can we do for him? Bring him the food of life
82 so he can eat.” They brought him the food of life;
83 he did not eat it. They brought him the water of life;
84 he did not drink it. They brought him a garment;
85 he put it on. They brought him oil;
86 he rubbed it on himself.
87 Anu looked at him and laughed.
88 “Come, Adapa, why did you not eat or drink?
89 Now you will not live! What a loss for humankind!” “Ea, my lord,
90 told me: ‘Do not eat, do not drink.’”
91 “Take him and send him back to earth.”