ack. I took out a
swallow and let it go: the swallow went, turned about, and as there was
no place to alight upon, came back. I took out a raven and let it go:
the raven went, and saw that the water had abated, and came near the
ship flapping its wings, croaking, and returned no more."
Shamashnapishtim escaped from the deluge, but he did not know whether
the divine wrath was appeased, or what would be done with him when it
became known that he still lived.** He resolved to conciliate the
gods by expiatory ceremonies. "I sent forth the inhabitants of the ark
towards the four winds, I made an offering, I poured out a propitiatory
libation on the summit of the mountain. I set up seven and seven
vessels, and I placed there some sweet-smelling rushes, some cedar-wood,
and storax." He thereupon re-entered the ship to await there the effect
of his sacrifice.

* I have adopted, in the translation of this difficult
passage, the meaning suggested by Haupt, according to which
it ought to be translated, "The field makes nothing more
than one with the mountain;" that is to say, "mountains and
fields are no longer distinguishable one from another." I
have merely substituted for mountain the version wood, piece
of land covered with trees, which Jensen has suggested.

** The mountain of Nisir is replaced in the version of
Berossus by the Gordyaean mountains of classical geography; a
passage of Assur-nazir-pal informs us that it was situated
between the Tigris and the Great Zab, according to Delitzsch
between 35 deg. and 36 deg. N. latitude. The Assyrian-speaking
people interpreted the name as _Salvation_, and a play upon
words probably decided the placing upon its slopes the
locality where those _saved_ from the deluge landed on the
abating of the waters. Fr. Lenormant proposes to identify it
with the peak Rowandiz.

The gods, who no longer hoped for such a wind-fall, accepted the
sacrifice with a wondering joy. "The gods sniffed up the odour, the gods
sniffed up the excellent odour, the gods gathered like flies above the
offering. "When Ishtar, the mistress of life, came in her turn, she held
up the great amulet which Anu had made for her."* She was still furious
against those who had determined upon the destruction of mankind,
especially against Bel: "These gods, I swear it on the necklace of my
neck! I will not forget them; these days I will rem