Enūma Eliš

Akkadian

Etymology

From 𒂊𒉡𒈠 (enūma, “when”) and 𒂊𒇺 (eliš, “up above”), the opening words of the myth.

Pronunciation

• (Old Babylonian) IPA^(key): /eˈnuː.ma ˈe.liʃ/

Proper noun

Enūma Eliš m

1. The Enûma Eliš (lit. "when on high"), an Ancient Mesopotamian creation myth named after its opening words.
   • Marduk's Ordeal, line 54:

     𒋗𒌑 𒀸 𒊮 𒂊𒉡𒈠 𒂊𒇺 𒅅𒁲𒁉 𒆠𒄿 𒀭𒂊 𒆠𒁴 𒆷 𒅁𒁀𒉡𒉌 𒀭𒊹 𒀉𒋰𒅆

     [šū ina libbi Enūma Eliš iqṭibi kī šamê qaqqara lā ibbannûni Aššur ittabši]

     šu-u₂ ina ŠA₃ e-nu-ma e-liš iq-⸢ṭi-bi⸣ ki-i AN-e KI.TIM la ib-ba-nu-ni AN.ŠAR₂ it-[tab-ši]

     It is said in Enuma Eliš: When heaven and earth were not created, Aššur came [into being].

Cuneiform spellings

Phonetic
𒂊𒉡𒈠𒂊𒇺 (e-nu-ma e-liš)