Adapa and the Food of Life
§ About this work
Tablet 1 describes how Ea grants Adapa intelligence, a wide ear, and wisdom, but not eternal life. Adapa, the wise man of Eridu whom Ea created as chief among men, performs the daily duties of Eridu: making bread, preparing food and water, steering the ship, fishing, and hunting. While fishing on the broad sea, the wind blows and his ship departs. Tablet 2: the South wind capsizes Adapa; he declares he will break its wing, and the wing breaks, so the South wind does not blow for seven days. Anu asks his messenger Ilabrat, who explains Adapa broke the wing. Ea counsels Adapa to go before Anu in mourning garments, telling him Tammuz and Gishzida stand at the door; Ea instructs him not to eat the food of death or drink the water of death, but to put on garments and anoint himself. Adapa ascends, meets Tammuz and Gishzida, and answers Anu. Anu offers food and water of life, which Adapa refuses; he accepts garments and oil. Anu declares he shall not live and sends him back. Tablet 3 repeats Ea's counsel. Tablets 4 and 5 are fragmentary, mentioning disease, Ishtar, Ninkarrak, and mankind.