The first part of our poem, approximately one hundred lines, is too fragmentary for a reconstruction of its contents.
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| Sumer and god Enki |
Enki and the Divine Order of Sumer
When the poem becomes intelligible, Enki is decreeing the fate of Sumer:
O Sumer, great land, of the lands of the universe, Filled with steadfast brightness,
the people from sunrise to sunset obedient to the divine decrees, thy decrees are
exalted decrees, unreachable, thy heart is profound, unfathomable, thy . . . is like heaven, untouchable.
The king, begotten, adorns himself with lasting jewel, The lord, begotten, sets crown on
head, thy lord is an honored lord; with An, the king, he sits in the shrine of heaven, thy king is the great mountain, the father Enlil, Like . . . the father of all the lands.
"The Anunnaki, the great gods, in thy midst have taken up their dwelling place, in thy large groves they consume (their) food.
O house of Sumer, may thy stables be many, may thy cows multiply, may thy sheepfolds be many, may thy sheep be myriad, May thy.
stand, may thy steadfast . . . lift hand to heaven, May the Anunnaki decree the fates in thy midst.
the people from sunrise to sunset obedient to the divine decrees, thy decrees are
exalted decrees, unreachable, thy heart is profound, unfathomable, thy . . . is like heaven, untouchable.
The king, begotten, adorns himself with lasting jewel, The lord, begotten, sets crown on
head, thy lord is an honored lord; with An, the king, he sits in the shrine of heaven, thy king is the great mountain, the father Enlil, Like . . . the father of all the lands.
"The Anunnaki, the great gods, in thy midst have taken up their dwelling place, in thy large groves they consume (their) food.
O house of Sumer, may thy stables be many, may thy cows multiply, may thy sheepfolds be many, may thy sheep be myriad, May thy.
stand, may thy steadfast . . . lift hand to heaven, May the Anunnaki decree the fates in thy midst.
Myth Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Myth | Enki and the World Order |
| Main Deity | Enki |
| Primary Function | Organizing the world and assigning divine responsibilities |
| Major Locations | Sumer, Ur, Meluhha, Tigris, Euphrates, Persian Gulf |
| Key Theme | Cosmic order and civilization |
| Important Gods | Enbilulu, Ishkur, Ashnan, Dumuzi, Enkimdu, Sirara |
| Primary Source | Enki and the World Order |
The Decree Upon Ur: Shrine of Abundance
Enki then goes to Ur, no doubt the capital of Sumer at the time our poem was composed, and decrees its fate: To Ur he came, Enki, king of the abyss, decrees the fate:
"O city, well-supplied, washed by much water, firm standing ox, Shrine of abundance of the land, knees opened, green like the 'mountain,' Hashur-forest, wide shade.. heroic, thy perfected decrees he has directed, the great mountain, Enlil, in the universe has uttered thy exalted name O thou city whose fates have been decreed by Enki, O thou shrine Ur, neck to heaven mayest Thou rise.
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| Nannar's Ziggourat Temple in Ur |
Enki then comes to Meluhha, the "black mountain," perhaps to be identified with the eastern coast of Africa.
Remarkably enough, Enki is almost as favorably disposed to this land as to Sumer itself.
He blesses its trees and reeds, its oxen and birds, its silver and gold, its bronze and copper, its human beings.
From Meluhha, Enki goes to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
He fills them with sparkling water and appoints the god Enbilulu, the "knower" of rivers, in charge.
Enki then fills the rivers with fishes and makes a deity described as the "son of Kesh" responsible for them.
He next turns to the sea (Persian Gulf), sets up its rules, and appoints the goddess Sirara in charge.
Enki now calls to the winds and appoints over them the god Ishkur, who has charge of the "silver lock of the 'heart' of heaven.
The plow and yoke, fields and vegetation, are next on the list.
Enki and the World Order at a Glance
This Sumerian myth portrays Enki as the divine organizer of the world. Rather than creating humanity, he establishes order by assigning responsibilities to gods, blessing cities, regulating rivers and seas, and overseeing agriculture, construction, and herding. The story explains how civilization and nature were integrated into a single cosmic system governed by divine authority.
Assigning Guardians to Elements of Civilization
The Divine Assignments of Enki’s Decrees
This table summarizes the gods appointed by Enki to oversee essential aspects of civilization in Sumerian mythology.
| Domain/Task | Assigned Deity | Divine Role |
|---|---|---|
| Rivers | Enbilulu | Oversees river flow and irrigation |
| Sea | Sirara | Governs the Persian Gulf |
| Winds | Ishkur | Controls storms and divine winds |
| Agriculture | Enkimdu | Manages canals and crop fields |
| Grain and Bread | Ashnan | Provides nourishment and grain |
| Construction | Kabta / Mushdamma | Directs bricks and architecture |
| Herding and Flocks | Dumuzi | Shepherd god of livestock |
The plow and the yoke he directed, the great prince Enki caused the . . . ox to . . . To the pure crops he roared, In the steadfast field he made grain grow, The lord, the jewel and ornament of the plain,
The .. . farmer of Enlil, Enkimdu, him of the canals and ditches, Enki placed in their charge. The lord called to the steadfast field, he caused it to produce much grain, Enki made it bring forth its small and large beans,
grains he heaped up for the granary, Enki added granary to granary, With Enlil he increases abundance in the land; Her whose head is . . .. whose face is . . ., The lady who . . .. the might of the land, the steadfast support of the black-headed people, Ashnan, strength of all things, Enki placed in charge.
Enki now turns to the pickax and the brickmold and appoints the brick god Kabta in charge.
He then directs the building implement gugun,lays foundations and builds houses, and places them under the charge of Mushdamma, the "great builder of Enlil".
He then fills the plain with plant and animal life and places Sumugan, "king of the 'mountain',in control. Finally Enki builds stables and sheepfolds, fills them with milk and fat, and puts them in the care of the shepherd-god Dumuzi.
The rest of our text is destroyed and we do not know how the poem ends.
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Key Takeaways
- Enki acts as the organizer of the world rather than its creator.
- He blesses Sumer and several important regions, including Ur and Meluhha.
- The myth explains how rivers, seas, winds, and fields received divine supervision.
- Enki appoints specific gods to manage essential aspects of civilization.
- Agriculture, construction, fishing, and herding are all integrated into the cosmic order.
- The story highlights the connection between divine authority and everyday life.
- Enki's wisdom is presented as the force that transforms creation into a functioning world.
Frequently Asked Questions About Enki and the World Order
What is Enki and the World Order?
It is a Sumerian myth describing how Enki organized the world, assigned responsibilities to gods, and established order throughout nature and civilization.
What role does Enki play in the myth?
Enki serves as the divine administrator who regulates cities, rivers, agriculture, construction, and other aspects of existence.
Why is Sumer important in the story?
Sumer is presented as a blessed land whose prosperity and stability are supported by divine decrees and the presence of the gods.
Who oversees the rivers in Enki's system?
Enki appoints Enbilulu to supervise rivers, irrigation systems, and water management.
What does Enki do for agriculture?
He assigns agricultural responsibilities to deities such as Enkimdu and Ashnan and ensures the fertility of fields and crops.
Why does Enki appoint other gods?
The appointments establish a structured cosmic order in which each deity governs a specific part of nature or civilization.
What is the main message of the myth?
The myth teaches that prosperity and stability depend on divine order, proper governance, and the cooperation of different powers within the universe.
Sources
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Written by H. Moses
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