BCT B

Obv.

i 1'–2' (. . .) [a mig]hty [weapon] of his (Marduk's) hands. He shot an arrow and [broke open her (Tiāmat's) belly], he cut through the neck of [Qingu], her consort, with a merciless weapon.

i 3'–7' [After] he defeated Tiāmat, took his sovereignty, [and] secured in his hand the [tablet of] destinies of Qingu, he made [images] of them (Tiāmat's monsters) and installed them in the Gate of the Apsû, so that the deeds of Tiāmat be not forgotten [in future] days. He was showing his fathers [. . .] . . .

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i 8'–13' [In] Simānu, when Marduk reveals rites concerning them (Tiāmat and Qingu), [. . . destruction] by the Elamite . . . Asakku [. . .] . . . Tiāmat rises up and the [la]nd of Elam [. . .]. [If] Tiāmat is s[een] inside the moon [. . ., if] Marduk is [seen] inside the sun [. . .], like when the prince Marduk [decided] to make a flood.

i 14'–17' In the offering arrangement of lamentation and his (Marduk's) game he says . . . [. . .]. Upstream and downstream he (Marduk) incites evil and they plot dishonestly. It (the omen) is in the day. He (Marduk) reveals a crown of splendor (full moon) portending the changing of the reign, [and] she (Tiāmat) aspires to the divine power of Anu's position, which is improper.

i 18'–23' The gods of the cult centers of the land of Akkad incite their people to calumny. They speak dishonest words (and) utter abuse, they repeatedly gave bad advice (and) acted dishonestly. Bēl becomes angry and destroys the shrines, he commands the Elamite and overwhelms the land. Instead of (Marduk) making a flood, he (a cultic functionary) performed an apotropaic ritual for the good resolution of the omen.

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i 24'–27' In Duʾūzu, when he (a cultic functionary) performed in Babylon the ritual procedure for an enemy's defeat, because Mars and the moon, lords of secret knowledge of the land of Elam, had height (maximum latitude), (and) Jupiter and the sun, lords of secret knowledge of the land of Akkad, had depth (minimum latitude), they revealed an omen portending the changing of Babylon's reign.

i 28'–32' He performed an apotropaic ritual in the city. The place of secret knowledge of the moon is the Old Man constellation and the Bristle constellation, a constellation of [the land of] Elam . . . The place of secret knowledge of the sun is the Hired Man constellation, Du[mūzi . . .]. The place of the secret knowledge of Mars, the L[eopard] star, [is the Goat-Fish constellation . . .]. The place of the secret knowledge of Jupiter is the [Crab] constellation [. . .].

i 33'–35' In Ṭebētu (Tappatu), in the (lunar) horn of renewal [. . .] . . . the divine power of Anu's position [. . . with] reference to rebellion . . . [. . .]

ii 1'–8' [. . .] . . . [. . .] . . . who from the house [. . .] . . . and to the house of imprisonment [. . . with] reference to it/him he sealed, as in: "[. . .] it/he/I revealed [the li]ght to you." At that time they gave an omen [. . . portending] the changing of the reign. He (a cultic functionary) performed an apotropaic ritual. "[If] the sun sets and in its position a planet becomes visible, there will be (imposed) total control, alternatively: rebellion, and [the reign] will change." Therefore, in Ṭebētu, she (Tiāmat) is the male slave and the female slave.

ii 9'–13' As for the Elamite and the Subarian, the offering arrangement of the assinnu-performers was set up. They (the Elamite and the Subarian) ruled. The reign of the land was changed. Elam and Subartu [in] their [names] are the male slave and the female slave. They became one and rites [concerning Tiāmat and] Qingu were performed. As for Elam, "City of the female slave" is said in its name. [. . .] of Tiāmat has gone out. Land of Subartu: its name is "Land of the male slave." Correspondingly, Subur (BE.ŠAḪ) = male slave (ár-du).

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ii 14'–17' [In Ulūlu, when] thrones came for the performance of rites from Borsippa to [Babylon] and Equlê was smashed up, instead of [the . . . of the Elamite] or the Subarian, they (the thrones) went away. [. . .] an omen [. . .]. He (a cultic functionary) recited [. . . concerning] the destruction of cities. He performed an apotropaic ritual.

ii 18'–25' The deity [. . .] the Elamite rose up and the city [. . .]. Therefore, the people of/who . . . [. . .] it fell into the river. The star/constellation [. . .] . . . [. . .], the star/constellation [. . .] the temple [. . .] . . . [. . .] the people [. . .] . . . [. . .] the region of Asakku [. . .] . . . [. . .]

ii 26'–28' [. . .] in Nisannu, Nabû, the performer of rites, . . . [. . . and] Nergal did not go. Equlê of the quarter of TE.E was smashed up. It is the quarter of Nippur.

ii 29' – iii 1 [Hence, as for Bēl]et-Nippuri in the quarter of [Nippur, instead of the quarter of Eridu, her house] is buil[t] as a substitute for Esagil.

iii 2–5 [. . .] . . . her house Nippur, Equl[ēa . . . of Ekur, the house of Enlil, has gone out. Secondly,] Equlē[a: its name is "House of the lands."] It is [the house of all the gods]. It matches up to Esagil. [There]fore, [he (a cultic functionary) built a dais of the Igigi and the An]unnaki inside it.

iii 6–8 As for Nana[yītu, who crossed over from Egišḫurankia,] where there is an image of Asakku of ḫul[amēsu-wood], when she took up residence [in the quarter of] TE.E: its (the ritual's) name is "Kīnay[ītu-offering like for Nippur." Urunan]am, Nippur = true city.

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iii 9–15 On [Tašrītu day 6], when a fire was lit on top of [a brick] and it was thrown into the river, inste[ad of the Elam]ite or the Subarian who would (otherwise) enter Babylon and [destr]oy the city, its brick is burnt with fire and hurled into the water.  He (a cultic functionary) performed an apotropaic ritual against destruction. "Nippur, which is destroyed and hurled into the water," is said with reference to (this). The ḫašḫūru-fruitwood and olive-wood were put on top of the brick. As for the brick that is made as a substitute for ravaging the city, it is said regarding (this).

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iii 16–22 On Tašrītu day 8, when the throne of Marduk's vigil and the Daughters of Esagil went to Dilbat and Borsippa, (and) did not enter Babylon until day 13, instead of the journey that Bēl would (otherwise) make to the land of Elam or the land of Subartu, the throne goes away. Tašmētu's words that she speaks in his (Marduk's) presence are instead of the enemy, as in when at the command of the king of the land of Elam Bēl would (otherwise) go to the land of Elam. Hence through Tašmētu's words, the Furrow constellation, a constellation of the land of Elam, is a (zodiac) constellation of Tašmētu.

iii 23–26 The words of the woman in labor that she spoke are the vanquishing of the enemy. The throne of [Marduk] has gone out in Enlil's name. As for Marduk in his anger, his name is "Enlil." Forty-two sta[rs . . .]. Correspondingly, NAB = nap ("god" in Elamite) = Enlil. Correspondingly, the throne of the vigil is concerning replacement . . . [. . .]. The six days that it moved around in the countryside are for twelve years . . . [. . .].

iii 27–30 On Tašrītu day 13, when the gate was opened before Bēl, the open country and the countryside [. . .] . . . of Bēl go out to the countryside [. . .] . . . steadfast word of [. . .] . . . [. . .]

(Lacuna)

iv 1–7 In Ṭebētu, when he (a cultic functionary) performed these ritual procedures, because [. . .], they advanced against Marduk, [they assembled] in the region of Ṭebētu. [Correspondingly, the Goat-Fish] constellation is [Tiāmat] and Qingu. Correspondingly, fathers (ab-bi) = Ṭebētu (^itiab) = se[a (ab.ba, tâmtu), Tiāmat. In the region of] the Goat-Fish constellation (Capricorn), Tiāmat of the army, when she [stood ready] for the war, made [war]. Tiāmat and Qingu become one, and she [divides]. They become visible together. Therefore, the She-Goat constellation, which became visible with the Scorpion constellation, is the Goat-Fish constellation. Ezida = She-Goat constellation (enzu, ^múlùz); its name is "Stat of witchcraft" (mul uš₁₁.zu, kakkab kišpī).

iv 7–12 Rites concerning Tiāmat are observed. Gizzānītu and Buššānītu, which is said with regard to the stars, is said with reference to the She-Goat constellation and the Corpse star/constellation regarding the Goat-Fish constellation. They are Tiāmat and Qingu. Correspondingly, Gizzānītu – its name is "Goat-like female (kizzānītu)," with reference to the Goat-Fish constellation, a goat (kizzu). Correspondingly, as for Buššānītu – its name is "Hyena-like female (buṣṣānītu)"; it is said with reference to the Hyena star/constellation. Hyena star/constellation = Corpse star/constellation. Correspondingly, as for Tiāmat, her name is "Female twin (tuʾāmtu)." She has two faces. She is male and female.

iv 13–17 Hence, the omens of the Scorpion constellation are with Ninlil and Ereškigal. They (Ninlil and Ereškigal) are present in reference to the rites concerning Tiāmat. Bull (gu₄, alpu) and scorpion (gír.tab, zuqaqīpu) are one: gìr = scorpion, correspondingly, pirig (GÌR) meaning "lion" (lû), ditto meaning "bull." Therefore, in Ṭebētu, in the region of Asakku, the She-Goat constellation (is) in the region of the Corpse star/constellation. She (Tiāmat) stood in a crown of splendor [and] the Leopard star (Mars) became stationary inside the Goat-Fish constellation, a place of secret knowledge of the land of Elam.

iv 18–23 They (Tiāmat and Qingu) turned their [. . .] . . . and stood (ready) for war. And the sun inside/regarding [. . .] Jupiter [. . .] . . . a stationary point. The Arrow star and the Bow constellation, in front of the Ki[ng] star [. . .] . . . Marduk of battle when he stood. An offering arrang[ement of] . . . [. . .] . . . and many became visible [. . .] . . . the sun . . . its name is "Ninurta." [It (the Arrow star) descends] to the Apsû [and they defeat] him (an enemy). The enemy whom they defeat becomes visible. [It (the Arrow star) is] Ninur[ta].

iv 24 [Bēl is the flood] weapon. As for Marduk (^damar.utu), "The weapon of the flood" (kakku abūbu) [is said] in his name.

iv 25–29 "Bēl [raised] the flood, his great weapon," concerning when Ninurta has gone out. Therefore the region of war . . . they say. The place of a festival of musical skill of day 17 in the late afternoon . . . [. . .] thus: "Bēl, the hero, who in his angry heart [. . .] . . . Asakku." [Encore: "Anzû, insubordi]nate to him, rebels"; "Battle of Ninurta"; "Marduk, who hung the weapon, the bow, at his side"; "To/for Ekur, the house of Enlil."

iv 30–33 To the region of Asakku . . . The Bull of Heaven [constellation], the place of secret knowledge of the moon, set and . . . became [visible]. "In the Field (constellation) [. . .] it is placed . . ." is said with reference to (this). [. . .] . . . [. . .]