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Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation · 10 of 12 · tr. L.W. King

1j

Tutu [Marduk] is "He who created them anew"; Should their wants be pure, then are they satisfied; Should he make an incantation, then are the gods appeased; Should they attack him in anger, he withstandeth their onslaught! Let him therefore be exalted, and in the assembly of the gods let him... ; None among the gods can rival him! 15 Tutu [Marduk] is Zi-ukkina, "the Life of the host of the gods," Who established for the gods the bright heavens. He set them on their way, and ordained their path; Never shall his ... deeds be forgotten among men. Tutu as Zi-azag thirdly they named, "the Bringer of Purification," "The God of the Favoring Breeze," "the Lord of Hearing and Mercy," "The Creator of Fulness and Abundance," " the Founder of Plenteousness," "Who increaseth all that is small." In sore distress we felt his favoring breeze," Let them say, let them pay reverence, let them bow in humility before him! Tutu as Aga-azag may mankind fourthly magnify! "The Lord of the Pure Incantation," " the Quickener of the Dead," "Who had mercy upon the captive gods," "Who removed the yoke from upon the gods his enemies," "For their forgiveness did he create mankind," "The Merciful One, with whom it is to bestow life!" May his deeds endure, may they never be forgotten , In the mouth of mankind whom his hands have made! Tutu as Mu-azag, fifthly, his "Pure incantation" may their mouth proclaim, Who through his Pure Incantation hath destroyed all the evil ones!" Sag-zu, [Marduk] "who knoweth the heart of the gods," " who seeth through the innermost part!" "The evil-doer he hath not caused to go forth with him!" "Founder of the assembly of the gods," who ... their heart!" "Subduer of the disobedient," "...!" "Director of Righteousness," "...," " Who rebellion and...!" Tutu as Zi-si, "the ...," "Who put an end to anger," "who...!" Tutu as Suh-kur, thirdly, "the Destroyer of the foe," "Who put their plans to confusion," "Who destroyed all the wicked," "...," ... let them... ! [There is a gap here of sixty lines. But somewhere among the lost lines belong the following fragments.] who... He named the four quarters of the world, mankind hecreated, And upon him understanding... "The mighty one...!" Agil... "The Creator of the earth...!" Zulummu... . "The Giver of counsel and of whatsoever...!" Mummu, " the Creator of...!" Mulil, the heavens..., "Who for...!" Giskul, let..., "Who brought the gods to naught....!" ............... ... " the Chief of all lords," ... supreme is his might! Lugal-durmah, "the King of the band of the gods," " the Lord of rulers." "Who is exalted in a royal habitation," "Who among the gods is gloriously supreme! Adu-nuna, " the Counselor of Ea," who created the gods his fathers, Unto the path of whose majesty No god can ever attain! ... in Dul-azag be made it known, ... pure is his dwelling! ... the... of those without understanding is Lugaldul-azaga! ... supreme is his might! ... their... in the midst of Tiamat, ... of the battle! [Here follows the better-preserved ending.] ... the star, which shineth in the heavens.
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Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

The text attributes human-like emotions and actions to the deity, such as anger, wants, and the capacity to be appeased or bowed before.

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Cosmogonycosmology

Narratives or doctrines of cosmic origin — how heaven, earth, and the primordial deities first came into being. The Kojiki's deities born alone on the Plain of High Heaven, Voluspo's Ginnungagap, Genesis's tohu wa-bohu, the Timaeus's Demiurge fashioning the Receptacle, the Hesiodic Theogony, the Kalevala's egg-cosmogony, Egyptian Nun-and-Atum. Distinct from emanation_hierarchy (structural-ontological cascade), letters_of_creation (mechanism of creation), and apocatastasis/frashokereti (end-state restoration); cosmogony is temporally-narrative beginning.

The text is a creation narrative explicitly stating Marduk created the world, established heavens, and fashioned mankind.

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Divine Providencetheology

Pronoia — the doctrine that the divine actively orders the unfolding of the cosmos and human affairs toward intelligible ends, against pure chance or blind necessity.

Marduk is described as ordaining paths, establishing heavens, and ensuring abundance for gods and mankind.

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

[auto] Marduk is depicted as dynamically responsive to human wants, capable of anger, mercy, and active intervention in the affairs of gods and men.

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Prayerpraxis

Direct address to the divine, whether petitionary, contemplative, or liturgical; speech and silence offered upward.

The text includes liturgical exhortations for humans to proclaim, pay reverence, and bow before the deity.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

The maintenance of a state of cleanliness—physical, moral, or spiritual—required for encounter with the divine.

Purity is mentioned as a condition for satisfaction ('wants be pure') and Marduk is explicitly named 'the Bringer of Purification' and 'Lord of the Pure Incantation'.

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Sacred Namestheology

Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.

[auto] The passage explicitly enumerates multiple divine epithets (Zi-ukkina, Zi-azag, Aga-azag) and commands reverence to them as defining Marduk's power and nature.

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Theurgypraxis

Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.

The 'Pure Incantation' is described as a mechanism that appeases gods, destroys evil, and quickens the dead.

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