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dee1966
Registered User
(6/14/01 12:22 pm)
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Questions about the Tablet of Destinies
Hi. I am looking for someone who is familiar with the story of the Tablet of Destinies. I can't seem to find the story and have just recently heard about it in passing. My main questions are (1) how did Ninurta kill Anzu? (2) what was the advice given to Ninurta? (3) what happened to the tablet? (4)did Anzu actually die or was he an imortal?
These probably sound like silly questions, but the story sparked my interest
Thanks

Liztar
ezOP
(6/14/01 4:54 pm)
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Re: Questions about the Tablet of Destinies
Hello Dee and be most welcome to Gateways2Babylon message board!:D I am Lishtar and ... our standard greeting here is welcome welcome and happy be in our blessed society!

On the Tablet of Destinies and Ninurta: again I guess you are lucky because there are a couple of files in GatewaysToBabylon that deal with Ninurta and the Anzu bird. Perhaps you may want to start with the specific file on Ninurta, the God, in the section dedicated to Lords of Passion, Wit, Magic and Power in Gateways2Babylon website (www.GatewaysToBabylon.com) The myth of Ninurta and the Anzu Bird is also in the section Myths and Knowledge in the site. So go there and explore!

On to your questions:
1) Ninurta killed Anzu in combat using the arrow to immobilize the bird´s wing. A dart then passed through the Anzu´s heart and lungs. I got this from Dalley´s Anzu (Myths from Mesopotamia, 1989, by Stephanie Dalley, Oxford University Press, World´s Classics).

2) The advice given to Ninurta was for him to continue, to press home for victory, and that Ninurta should tire Anzu and neutralize the power of the bird´s mighty wings (Anzu II - page 215 of Dalley´s book)

3) Ninurta then returns the Tablet to Enlil.

4) Mythical beings of power in actual fact never die. Heroes need great opponents to prove how worthy they are, so somehow the Anzu bird is immortal. Yes, he was defeated by Ninurta. But every year, in the psyches of those who love Mesopotamia, Ninurta beats up Anzu, gives back the Tablets to Enlil, and the order of the Universe is restored.

You did not ask silly questions!
Gods know that I am always asking questions myself too... whether I find all my answers... difficult to say but at least I know that I´ll keep asking all conceivable questions... for as long as I live here and now!

Great to have you here and all the very best,
Lishtar

From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres

Edited by: Liztar at: 6/15/01 3:09:30 am
dee1966
Registered User
(6/14/01 6:49 pm)
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Re: Questions about the Tablet of Destinies
Thank you, Lishtar. That was very helpful. As I study, would it be alright if I ask more questions (some possible really dumb)? I'm having difficulty finding books with the information I am looking for
Dee

Liztar
ezOP
(6/15/01 3:02 am)
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Re: Questions about the Tablet of Destinies
Surely you can ask all your questions :D and we have here in the board lovely people who will certainly lend a hand too!

hmmmm... :D my own strong position about asking questions is that ignorance is a step towards enlightenment, so I ask loooooots and looooooots of questions myself. Stupidity, on the other hand, is to keep quiet with lots of interrogation marks flying around... a condition that has no simple cure, characterized by sheer inertia *shivers

May I ask why you love Mesopotamia and Ninurta in special????

As you see, I do ask my questions...
:rollin
love light and laughter,
Lishtar

From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres

Edited by: Liztar at: 6/15/01 10:47:59 am
Liztar
ezOP
(6/15/01 3:41 am)
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Re: Questions about the Tablet of Destinies
In the section of Myths and Knowledge of Gateways2Bab site, go to Modern Myth Retellings and explore a retelling of Ninurta and the Anzu bird by Josepha Sherman. It is the only myth retelling that is not mine :D , and a very good account of it. The description of Ninurta as a young untried hero is a gem. :D

Sometimes when I see myth retellings, there is no real transformation in the author´s words, just plain story telling. Which can be good, but... not Mystery teaching. This is why I am always on the lookout for great myth retellings and unfortunatelly, found so few material to the standard. Keep collecting as much material as I can though.

Josepha Sherman does justice to the ancient myth.
Nisaba be praised!

best,
Lishtar

From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
dee1966
Registered User
(6/15/01 10:04 am)
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Re: Questions about the Tablet of Destinies
Hello again.
I'll check out that sight--it sounds interesting.
To answer your question--I'm a college student (about half way through my bachelors) and every once in awhile a come across a story that strikes my interest. I was reading a book on mythology and came across this short excerpt about the Tablet(s) of Destinies, so I started digging. I've always enjoyed mythology (both my parents are half Greek so as a kid I had this thing for the Greek pantheon). When I'm not busy, I like trying to find other stories and myths from places I'm not too familiar with. Mesopotamia is one of them. It wasn't as much as an interest in Ninurta as in the stories from Mesopotamia themselves.
Unfortunately, I think I need to stop reading these history books because I keep finding little tidbits of interest and end up chasing my tail trying to learn more. There just isn't enough time to learn everything I want to know.
Again, thank you for all your help. I'll check out that sight, plus a couple more I came across.
See you later
Dee

Liztar
ezOP
(6/15/01 10:51 am)
Reply

Re: Questions about the Tablet of Destinies
hmm... I guess we probably belong to the kind of people who did not choose mythology... but the Myths chose us :D

Not bad. We are in good company....

Keep digging and sharing with us!
love light and laughter,
Lishtar

From the Depths and To the Heights to share in all spheres
NinDingir
Registered User
(4/3/03 1:51 am)
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Re: Questions about the Tablet of Destinies
I'm very interested in finding out exactly what the Tablet of Destinies was supposed to be. Was this an actual physical document? Are there more sources that talk about the ToD other than the Anzu story? Fill me in, please!

Nin-Dingir

saharda
Active User
(7/13/03 6:49 am)
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Re: Questions about the Tablet of Destinies
there's a story about Enki and a turtle, in this story ninurta has just retrieved the tablet, but temptation and glory changed him, and he covets its power. Remember that Ninurta is a storm god, and remember too that he was portrayed as an imdugud bird in early times before the gods all were portrayed in human form.

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