Marduk's Creations

Marduk made the stations for the great gods.

The stars, their images, as the stars of the Zodiac, he fixed.

He ordained the year and into sections he divided it.[]

For the 12 months he fixed 3 stars.

After he had … the days of the year … images.

He founded the station of Nibiru [the planet Jupiter] to determine their bounds.*

That none might err or go astray, He set the station of Bel and Ea [Enki] along with him.

He opened great gates on both sides, He made strong the bolt on the left and on the right.

In the midst thereof he fixed the zenith.

The Moon

He caused the god Moon to shine forth, the night he entrusted to him.

He appointed him, a being of the night, to determine the days.

Every month without ceasing with the crown he covered him, saying:

“At the beginning of the month, when you shine on the land, you command the horns to determine 6 days, And on the seventh day to divide the crown.

On the 14th day thou shalt stand opposite, the half….

When the Sun-god on the foundation of heaven…you,

The … thou shalt cause to …, and thou shalt make his… … unto the path of the Sun-god shalt thou cause to draw nigh,

And on the … day thou shalt stand opposite, and the Sun-god shall… … to traverse her way.

… thou shalt cause to draw nigh, and thou shalt judge the right. … to destroy…”

[Nearly 50 lines are here lost.]

The gods, his fathers, beheld the net which he had made,

They beheld the bow and how its work was accomplished.

They praised the work which he had done…

Then Anu raised the … in the assembly of the gods. He kissed the bow, saving, " It is…!"

Thus he named the names of the bow, saving, “‘Long-wood’ shall be one name, and the second name shall be …,

Its third name shall be the Bow-star, in heaven shall it…!”

Then he fixed a station for it…

Now after the fate of…

He set a throne… …in heaven…

[The remainder of this tablet is missing.]