ASSYRIAN   AND   BABYLONIAN
LITERATURE
 

LEGEND  CONCERNING THE  BIRTH
AND   BOYHOOD  OF  SARGON   I

Corresponding to the Moses story in the Old Testament

SARGON, the powerful king, King of Agade, am I.
My mother was of low degree, my father I did not
know.

The brother of my father dwelt in the mountain.

My city was Azupirani, situate on the bank of the Eu¬
phrates.

(My) humble mother conceived me; in secret she brought
me forth.

She placed me in a basket-boat of rushes; with pitch she
closed my door.

She gave me over to the river which did not (rise) over me.

The river bore me along; to Akki, the irrigator, it carried
me.

Akki, the irrigator in the * * * brought me to land.

Akki, the irrigator, reared me as his own son.

Akki, the irrigator, appointed me his gardener.

While I was gardener, Ishtar looked on me with love
[and]  * * *

* * * four years I ruled the kingdom.

[Remnants of five lines too badly mutilated for trans¬
lation.]