Enuma Anu Enlil

Posted: September 17, 2012 by noxprognatus in Anunnaki, Texts

This is a major series of 70 tablets dealing with Babylonian Astrology. The literal translation is ” When the Gods Anu and Enlil..” It is a collection of around 7000 omens dealing with the interpretation of celestial and atmospheric phenomena, relevant to king and state.

The whole series has yet to be fully reconstructed and many gaps in the text are still evident. The matter is complicated by the fact that copies of the same tablet often differ in their contents or are organised differently — a fact that has led some scholars to believe that there were up to five different recensions of the text current in different parts of the Ancient Near East.

The subject matter of the Enuma Anu Enlil tablets unfold in a pattern that reveals the behaviour of the moon first, then solar phenomena, followed by other weather activities, and finally the behaviour of various stars and planets.

It is thought the texts date back to old Babylonia, and possibly before..1950–1595 BCE.

This tablet talks about how the planet Venus will appear at certain times in the future.

Parts of this tablet read:

8. If a normal disk is very dark and its luminosity is very dirty: the king will not show mercy to his country, he will capture his people.

9. If a normal disk is present and one disk stands to the right: one from among the king’s relief troops will take the throne.

10. If a normal disk is present and one disk stands to the left: from the throne of your relief troops the king of Amurru will rebel.

If a normal disk is present and one disk stands to the right (and) one to the left: if the king treats the city and his people kindly for reconciliation and they become reconciled, the cities will start vying with each other, city walls will be destroyed, the people will be dispersed.

22. If seven disks rise: a village dweller will take the throne, the king’s country will rebel against him and he will be besieged and killed.

23. If on the first of Nisannu two disks come up, the king will die.

24. If on the eleventh of Nisannu three disks come up: a large army will perish.

25. If on the twelfth of Nisannu five disks come up, the king will go into exile.

26. If on the fifteenth or fourteenth of Nisannu five disks come up: business will be reduced.

The front of this tablet talks about the month Nisannu (March/April) and what will happen in the future depending on what the sun looks like.

Lines 2 to 8 read:

2. If in Nisannu the sunrise (looks) sprinkled with blood and the light is cool: rebellion will not stop in the country, there will be devouring by Adad.

3. If in Nisannu the normal sunrise (looks) sprinkled with blood: battles

4. If in Nisannu the normal sunrise (looks) sprinkled with blood: there will be battles in the country.

5. If on the first day of Nisannu the sunrise (looks) sprinkled with blood: grain will vanish in the country, there will be hardship and human flesh will be eaten.

6. If on the first day of Nisannu the sunrise (looks) sprinkled with blood and the light is cool: the king will die and there will be mourning in the country.

7. If it becomes visible on the second day and the light is cool: the king’s … high official will die and mourning will not stop in the country.

8. If the sunrise (looks) sprinkled with blood on the third day: an eclipse will take place.

There will be more on the Enuma Anu Enlil texts in a future article. Nox