Adapa's story was initially known from a find at
Amarna in Egypt from the archives of Egyptian King
Amenophis IV (1377–1361 BC). By 1912, three finds from the
Library of Ashurbanipal (668–626 BC) had been interpreted and found to contain parts of the story. As of 2001 five fragments from the library are known. There are differences in several of the known versions of the text. Based on a catalogue of texts, a possible original title, an
incipit, may have been
Adapa into heaven. A modern analysis of the development of the main Adapa tale is by .
Summary :
Summary based on translations in , , , After the
flood, although the kingship was in
Kish, humanity was without guidance and had no direction, and this led to the rise of Adapa. Adapa was a mortal man, a sage or priest of the temple of
Ea in the city of
Eridu. Ea (sometimes considered his father) had given Adapa the gift of great wisdom but not eternal life. While carrying out his duties, he was fishing at the river Tigris. The sea became rough by the strong wind, and his boat was capsized. Angry, Adapa "broke the wings of the south wind" preventing it from blowing for seven days. The god
Anu called Adapa to account for his action, but Ea aided him by instructing Adapa to gain the sympathy of
Dumuzid and
Gishzida, who guard the gates of heaven and not to eat or drink there, as such food might kill him. When offered garments and oil, he should put the clothes on and anoint himself. Adapa puts on mourning garments, tells Dumuzid and Gishzida that he is in mourning because they have disappeared from the land. Adapa is then offered the "food of life" and "water of life" but will not eat or drink. Then garments and oil are offered, and he does what he had been told. He is brought before Anu, who asks why he will not eat or drink. Adapa replies that Ea told him not to. Anu laughs at Ea's actions, and passes judgment on Adapa by asking rhetorically, "What ill has he [Adapa] brought on mankind?" He adds that men will suffer disease as a consequence, which
Ninkarrak may allay. Adapa is then sent back down to earth. The ending of the text is missing.
Other myths Adapa is also associated with the king
Enmerkar (the known text is very fragmentary). In the portions that are known, Adapa and Enmerkar descend into the earth (nine
cubits down), and are involved in breaking into an ancient tomb. What happens in there is not clear, but the outcome is that they leave and reseal the tomb.
Legacy The name of Adapa became pervasive in some rituals of the Mesopotamian religion. According to exorcists would state "I am Adapa!" in their rituals. Rituals from
Nippur dating to as early as around 1800 BC use Adapa's name in their incantations. Derivatives of the text remained in use until at least the 1st century AD. During the
Neo-Assyrian period, comparisons to Adapa would be used in reference to the king and so were used to legitimize that king. For example, it was written in
Sennacherib's Annals, "Ea [..] endowed me with vast knowledge equivalent to that of the Sage Adapa". == Interpretation ==