SHORTER BABYLONIAN LEGENDS
 

THE LEGEND OF ZU, THE STORM-BIRD

I.   THE THEFT OF THE  TABLETS OF DESTINY

A LSO the commands of afl the gods he determined.^
/\    he * * *, he touched, he sent Zu,
*   »■  As he * * * had completed, he approached Bel;
and the brightness of the pure waters was before him.
His eyes beheld the insignia (?) of Bel's supremacy,
the crown (royal cap) of his sovereignty, and the robe of

his godhead,
Zu gazed also at the Tablets of Destiny, belonging to the

god.
And as he saw the father of the gods, the god of Duranki,
eager desire for the supremacy took possession of his heart.
As Zu saw the father of the gods, the god of Duranki,
eager desire for the supremacy took possession of his heart.
" I will take the tablet of destiny of the gods, even I;
and I will direct all the decrees (oracles) of the gods;
I will [establish] a throne, and dispense commands,
I will rule over all the spirits of Heaven! "
And after his heart had planned the attack,
■he awaited the dawn of the morning at the entrance to the

palace (of the gods) which he had seen.
Now, when Bel had washed himself in the pure waters,
had ascended his throne, and placed upon his head the

crown,
Zu seized with his hand the Tablets of Destiny;

' Several lines at the beginning broken ofE.
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