Enki und Ninmaḫ

Enki and Ninmaḫ is the modern name for a mythical story in the Sumerian language featuring the two main characters Enki, the god of crafts and wisdom, and Ninmaḫ, the mother goddess. The text firstly tells of humankind's creation as a workforce for the gods and then relates how Enki and Ninmaḫ compete to be able to determine the fate of humans. Ninmaḫ creates seven invalids, whom Enki, however, is able to find suitable work for. The text hereby explains the existence of sick people and Enki's superiority is confirmed. In this new critical edition, Manuel Ceccarelli concentrates on philological analysis and religio-historical interpretation of the narrative, with particular attention paid to the humorous and satirical aspects of the contest.