K 2606.
- 1. ....... the god had placed ....
- 2. of the city he had fixed its brickwork ....
- 3. he had shepherded them ....
- 4. Etana gave them ....
- 5. .... corn ....
- 6. the seven spirits of earth ....
- 7. .... they took their counsel ....
- 8. .... the world ....
- 9. .... all of them the angels ....
- 10. .... they ....
- 11. In those days also ....
- 12. and a sceptre of crystal ....
- 13. the bowing down of the world ....
- 14. the seven gods over the people raised ....
- 15. over the men they raised ....
- 16. the city of the angels Surippak
- 17. Istar the streets ....
- 18. and the king flew ....
- 19. the god Inninna the streets ....
- 20. and the king flew ....
- 21. Bel encircled (?) the sanctuary of the god ....
- 22. he worshipped also ....
- 23. in the wide country ....
- 24. the kingdom ....
- 25. he brought and ....
- 26. the gods of the country ....
Reverse.
Many lines lost.
- 1. from of old he caused him to wait ....
—–———–———–———– - 2. Third tablet of “The city he left (?) ....”
—–———–———–———– - 3. The eagle his mouth opened and to Samas his lord he spake.
The next fragment is a small portion probably of the fourth tablet.
- 1. The eagle his mouth (opened) ....
- 2. ..........
- 3. the people of the birds ....
- 4. ..........
- 5. peace he speaks ....
- 6. peace I speak ....
- 7. in the mouth of Samas the warrior ....
- 8. the people of the birds ....
- 9. The eagle his mouth opened and ....
- 10. Why do I go ....
- 11. the god Etana his mouth opened and ....
Such are the principal fragments of this curious legend. According to the fragment K 2527, the serpent had committed some sin for which it was condemned by the god Samas to be eaten by the eagle; but the eagle declined the repast.
After this, some one, whose name is lost, baits a trap for the eagle, and the bird going to get the meat, falls into the trap and is caught. Now the eagle is left, until dying for want of food it is glad to eat the serpent, which it takes and tears open. The other birds then interfere, but the tablet is too mutilated to allow us to discover for what purpose.
The other fragments concern the building of some city, Etana being king, and in these relations the eagle again appears; there are seven spirits or angels principal actors in the matter, but the whole story is obscure at present, and a connected plot cannot be made out.