ding to which the
embarkation of Shamashnapishtim was made the occasion of a
festival Akitu, celebrated at Shurippak; the time of the
Babylonian festival was probably thought to coincide with
the anniversary of the Deluge.

"As soon as the morning became clear, a black cloud arose from the
foundations of heaven. Bamman growled in its bosom; Nebo and Marduk
ran before it--ran like two throne-bearers over hill and dale. Nera
the Great tore up the stake to which the ark was moored. Ninib came up
quickly; he began the attack; the Anunnaki raised their torches and made
the earth to tremble at their brilliancy; the tempest of Ramman scaled
the heaven, changed all the light to darkness, flooded the earth like a
lake.* For a whole day the hurricane raged, and blew violently over the
mountains and over the country; the tempest rushed upon men like the
shock of an army, brother no longer beheld brother, men recognized each
other no more.

* The progress of the tempest is described as the attack of
the gods, who had resolved on the destruction of men. Ramman
is the thunder which growls in the cloud; Nebo, Merodach,
Nera the Great (Nergal), and Ninib, denote the different
phases of the hurricane from the moment when the wind gets
up until it is at its height; the Anunnaki represent the
lightning which flashes carelessly across the heaven.

[Illustration: 048.jpg SHAMASHNAPISHTIM SHUT INTO THE ARK.]

Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a Chalaean intaglio.

In heaven, the gods were afraid of the deluge;* they betook themselves
to flight, they clambered to the firmament of Anu; the gods, howling
like dogs, cowered upon the parapet.** Ishtar wailed like a woman
in travail; she cried out, "the lady of life, the goddess with the
beautiful voice: 'The past returns to clay, because I have prophesied
evil before the gods! Prophesying evil before the gods, I have
counselled the attack to bring my men to nothing; and these to whom I
myself have given birth, where are they? Like the spawn of fish they
encumber the sea! 'The gods wept with her over the affair of the
Anunnaki;' the gods, in the place where they sat weeping, their lips
were closed." It was not pity only which made their tears to flow:
there were mixed up with it feelings of regret and fears for the future.
Mankind once destroyed, who would then make the accustomed offerings?
The inconsiderate anger of Bel, while punishin