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The Cow and the Moon

Incantation.
There was once a cow of the Moon: her name was Geme-Suen (Maid of the Moon). She was adorned with adornment and charming of figure. The Moon saw her and loved her. He provided her with shining ... He had her take the lead of her herd, the cowherds following behind. He grazed her on the moistest grasses, he(!) watered her at the sweetest(?) watering places. Hidden from the herdsboys, out of sight of the cowherds, a fierce young bull sprang on to the cow, he arose at her tail.
When her days were complete, her months at an end, the cow shuddered and frightened her cowherd. He hung his head and all the herdsboys beat their breasts for him. At her crying, at her yelling in labour, he was prostrate.
In the sky Nannaru the Moon heard her yelling, he lifted his hands to the heavens. Two angels of heaven came down, the one bearing oil from the jar, the other bringing down ‘water of labour'. With the oil from the jar she daubed her forehead, the ‘water of labour' she sprinkled all over her body. A second time with the oil from the jar she daubed her forehead, the ‘water of labour' she sprinkled all over her body. At the third daubing the calf fell out on the ground like a gazelle. She called its name Milk Calf.

Just as Geme-Suen gave birth successfully, so let this woman suffering a difficult labour give birth. Let not the midwife be detained (any longer), let the pregnant woman be delivered!

Source:  BAM 248 iii 10-35
Date:  First millennium BC
Language:  Akkadian
Medium:  clay tablet
Find Spot:  Ashur
See all in category Narratives featuring deities