The epic of Ammisaduqa

 

The epic of Ammisaduqa

In Marduk's absence, Erra plots to devastate Babylon, turning its cities into a desert, desecrating its sacred shrines, leaving its royal palaces in ruins, and sowing strife between families.

Ishum intervenes and twice tries, to no avail, to change Erra's mind. In his third attempt he passionately describes the perverse effect of the devastation of Babylon.

"He who is ignorant of weapons draws his sword,

He who does not know the battle makes war,

The one who does not know the wings flies like a bird, the weak protects the one who has strength,

the fat man outruns the runner."

Ishum reports that Marduk himself has cried "oh!", his heart breaking. Throughout Babylon, in Sippar, Uruk, and Der, the people are at war and the country devastated.

It concludes:

"O warrior Erra, you have put the just to death,

you have put the unjust to death.

You have put to death the man who had offended you,

You have put to death the man who had not offended you,

You have put to death the one who made taklimu offerings punctually,

you have put to death the courtier who served the king,

you have put the elders of the porch to death,

You have put the girls to death in their rooms,

yet you do not rest..."

Erra is defiant and addresses all the gods:

"Everyone shut up and listen to what I have to say!

What if he meant the damage I just did?

When I am enraged I devastate the town!"

Ishum reassures him:

"Warrior, calm down and listen to my words!

How about you go now to rest and we take care of you?

We all know that there is no one who can stand up to you in a day of anger!"

Appeased, Erra retires to his temple in Kutha.

Ishum gathers the scattered people of Acad, prophesying victory and prosperity and a time when they will look back and remember the destruction that befell them.

"For countless years the praises of the great lord Nergal and the warrior Ishum will be sung; how Erra wroth and quarreled with the victorious countries and destroyed the peoples, but his counselor Ishum so placated him that he left a remnant."

And Erra concludes:

"May this song continue forever, may it last for eternity!

May all nations hear him and praise my courage!

May the peoples see and magnify my name!"