This reads with some doubt on account of its mutilation:
- 1. The scimitar he had made the gods saw
- 2. and they saw also the bow how it had been stored up.
- 3. The work he had wrought (on his shoulder)
- 4. he raised and Anu in the assembly of the gods
- 5. kissed the bow; it (he addressed),
- 6. and he spake of the bow thus (and said)
- 7. The illustrious wood I have drawn out once and twice,
- 8. thrice also, her punishment the star of the bow in heaven (shall effect)
- 9. and I have made (it) the protection (of mankind).
- 10. From the choice of ....
- 11. and place his throne ....
Bel encountering the Dragon; from Babylonian Cylinder.
The next fragment or collection of fragments gives the final struggle between Tiamtu and Bel Merodach. The saparu, or sickle-shaped sword, is always represented both in the sculptures and inscriptions as a weapon of Bel Merodach in this war.
Sixth Fragment.
- 1. .... he fixed it ....
- 2. the weapon with his right hand he took
- 3. .... and the quiver from his hand he hung,
- 4. and he hurled the lightning before him,
- 5. heat filled his body.
- 6. He made also the scimitar (to produce) calm in the midst of the sea (Tiamtu).
- 7. The four winds he imprisoned that they might come forth from its calm,
- 8. the South, the North, the East, and the West winds.
- 9. His hand caused the scimitar to approach the bow of his father Anu.
- 10. He created the evil wind, the hostile wind, the tempest, the storm,
- 11. the four winds, the seven winds, the whirlwind, the unceasing wind.
- 12. He sent forth also the winds he had created, seven of them;
- 13. into the midst of the sea (Tiamtu) they were launched to disturb, they came after him.
- 14. He lifted up the weapon, the thunderbolt, his mighty weapon;
- 15. in a chariot that sweeps away all in front, which gives rest, he rode.
- 16. He fixed it and four yoke-thongs on its pole he hung,
- 17. .... the unyielding, the overwhelming, he that pursues her.
- 18. .... with their sting bringing poison
- 19. .... sweeping away knowledge (?)
- 20. .... destruction and fighting.
(Several other fragmentary lines.)
Reverse.
- 1. Unprevailing (is) thy troop; may thy arms strike their bodies!
- 2. I also stand firm, and with thee make battle.
- 3. Tiamtu (the sea) on hearing this
- 4. as before used spells, she changed her resolution.
- 5. Tiamtu also raised herself; warily she ascended.
- 6. At the roots fully she grounded (her) foundations.
- 7. She told over the spell; she determined return (to chaos),
- 8. and the gods for the war asked for themselves their weapons.
- 9. Then Tiamtu attacked the prince of the gods, Merodach,
- 10. who had made charms as for combat for the conflict in battle.
- 11. Then Bel made sharp his scimitar; he smote her.
- 12. The evil wind that seizes behind from before him fled.
- 13. And Tiamtu opened her mouth to swallow him.
- 14. The evil wind he made to descend so that she could not close her lips;
- 15. the force of the wind her stomach filled, and
- 16. she was sickened in heart, and her mouth it distorted.
- 17. She bit the shaft (of the sword); her stomach failed;[15]
- 18. her inside it cut asunder, it conquered the heart;
- 19. it consumed her, and her life it ended.
- 20. Her death he completed, over her he fixes (it).
- 21. When Tiamat their leader he had conquered,
- 22. her ranks he broke, her assembly was scattered;
- 23. and the gods her helpers who went beside her
- 24. returned in fear, they fled back behind them.
- 25. They fled and feared for their life.
- 26. They are companions in flight, powerless.
- 27. He trampled on them and their weapons he broke.
- 28. Like a scimitar are they laid, and as in darkness they sat.
- 29. (They seek) their quarters, they are full of grief;
- 30. what was left they take away, they pull back like a rope,