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Tiamat
Nudimmud, more often called Ea in the epic, is begotten of Anu. Originally a Sumerian deity, he is also sometimes known as Enki or Enlil. Nudimmud is “superior to his forefathers: / Profound of understanding,” and strong at arms. However, when Anshar sends him to confront Tiamat in her rage, he shrinks from the task and encourages Marduk to go instead, setting the stage for Marduk’s ascendancy among the gods. This element of the story thereby dramatizes the emergence of Marduk as the preeminent deity in ancient Babylon and the decline of Ea. Ea continues to have an important role within the pantheon, however; for example, with Marduk, he fashions humanity from the blood of Qingu.
Nudimmud / Ea Quotes in Enuma Elish
The Enuma Elish quotes below are all either spoken by Nudimmud / Ea or refer to Nudimmud / Ea. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Tablet 1
Quotes
Inside pure Apsu, Marduk was born.
Ea his father created him,
Damkina his mother bore him.
He suckled the teats of goddesses;
The nurse who reared him filled him with awesomeness;
Proud was his form, piercing his stare.
Mature his emergence, he was powerful from the start.
Anu his father's begetter beheld him,
And rejoiced, beamed; his heart was filled with joy.
He made him so perfect that his godhead was doubled.
Elevated far above them, he was superior in every way.
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Tablet 2
Quotes
'Will no (other) god come forward? Is [fate] fixed?
Will no one go out to face Tiamat […] ?'
Then Ea from his secret dwelling called
[The perfect] one of Anshar, father of the great gods,
Whose heart is perfect like a fellow-citizen or countryman,
The mighty heir who was to be his father's champion,
Who rushes (fearlessly) into battle: Marduk the Hero!
He told him his innermost design, saying,
'O Marduk, take my advice, listen to your father!
You are the son who sets his heart at rest!
Approach Anshar, drawing near to him,
And make your voice heard, stand your ground:
he will be calmed by the sight of you.'
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Tablet 6
Quotes
When Marduk heard the speech of the gods,
He made up his mind to perform miracles.
He spoke his utterance to Ea,
And communicated to him the plan that he was considering.
‘Let me put blood together, and make bones too.
Let me set up primeval man: Man shall be his name.
Let me create a primeval man.
The work of the gods shall be imposed (on him), and so they shall be at leisure.’
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Nudimmud / Ea Quotes in Enuma Elish
The Enuma Elish quotes below are all either spoken by Nudimmud / Ea or refer to Nudimmud / Ea. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Tablet 1
Quotes
Inside pure Apsu, Marduk was born.
Ea his father created him,
Damkina his mother bore him.
He suckled the teats of goddesses;
The nurse who reared him filled him with awesomeness;
Proud was his form, piercing his stare.
Mature his emergence, he was powerful from the start.
Anu his father's begetter beheld him,
And rejoiced, beamed; his heart was filled with joy.
He made him so perfect that his godhead was doubled.
Elevated far above them, he was superior in every way.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Tablet 2
Quotes
'Will no (other) god come forward? Is [fate] fixed?
Will no one go out to face Tiamat […] ?'
Then Ea from his secret dwelling called
[The perfect] one of Anshar, father of the great gods,
Whose heart is perfect like a fellow-citizen or countryman,
The mighty heir who was to be his father's champion,
Who rushes (fearlessly) into battle: Marduk the Hero!
He told him his innermost design, saying,
'O Marduk, take my advice, listen to your father!
You are the son who sets his heart at rest!
Approach Anshar, drawing near to him,
And make your voice heard, stand your ground:
he will be calmed by the sight of you.'
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Tablet 6
Quotes
When Marduk heard the speech of the gods,
He made up his mind to perform miracles.
He spoke his utterance to Ea,
And communicated to him the plan that he was considering.
‘Let me put blood together, and make bones too.
Let me set up primeval man: Man shall be his name.
Let me create a primeval man.
The work of the gods shall be imposed (on him), and so they shall be at leisure.’
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
