Fishing from the earliest times - Blog

370 LEGENDS OF ADAPA AND OF THE FLOODappear in heaven before Anu, who had noticed, or had learntthrough his messenger,^ that the South Wind had ceased,according to the earUer or Eridean account, to blow forsevendays.* Before setting out Adapa was bidden by Ea to put onTHE DEMON OF THE SOUTH-WEST WIND.From Karl Frank, Bahylonische BeschwortungeReliefs, p. 80,garments of mourning topropitiate the two gods,Tammuz and Gishzida,guarding the portals ofheaven, but was warned notto touch at any hazardwhat he purposely misnamedthe " Bread ofDeath," or the " Water ofDeath," which would beoffered unto him. 2 He could,however, accept the garmentand the oil when likewisepresented.At the interview theguardian gods interceded sosuccessfully with Anu thathis wrath waned ; he granteda pardon, and decided thatas Adapa had seen the interiorof heaven, he shouldbe added to the company ofthe gods.He therefore commandedthat the " Bread of Life "and the " Water of Life "should be brought forth ; but Adapa would neither eat nordrink of them, although he put on the proffered garment andanointed himself with the poured-out oil. And Anu, whenhe saw that Adapa had not partaken of the " Bread of1 See the Nippur Poem.* Ea's command sprang from the fear of losing the worship, etc. of hisdevotee, when once he had acquired immortality by eating and drinking ofthe Bread and Water of Life.