Editing Ninhursag (section)

===''Enki and Ninhursag''===

Two full copies of ''Enki and Ninhursag'' have been uncovered. One is from [[Nippur]]{{sfn | Kramer | Albright | 1945 | p=3}}{{sfn | Katz | 2010}} which contains the complete text (although some passages on the tablet are broken), and another from [[Ur]], found in the house of a priest of Enki, where half of the text is missing.{{sfn | Katz | 2010}} This second tablet contains fewer lines, and hence it is considered a truncated version.{{sfn | Katz | 2010}} There exists also an excerpt, covering the incestuous couplings, which differs from the Nippur version's events.{{sfn | Katz | 2010}}

In ''Enki and Ninhursag'', the goddess complains to Enki that the city of Dilmun is lacking in water.{{sfn | Dickson | 2007 | p=2}} As a result, Enki makes the land rich, and Dilmun becomes a prosperous wetland.{{sfn | Dickson | 2007 | p=2}} Afterwards, he and Ninhursag sleep together, resulting in a daughter, [[Ninsar]]{{sfn | Dickson | 2007 | p=3}} (called ''Ninnisig'' in the ETCSL translation,{{sfn | ''https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk'' | 2006}} ''Ninmu'' by Kramer{{sfn | Kramer | Albright | 1945 | p=5}}). Ninsar matures quickly, and after Enki spots her walking along the bank, sleeps with her, resulting in a daughter, [[Ninkura|Ninkurra]].{{sfn | Dickson | 2007 | p=3}}{{sfn | ''https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk'' | 2006}} Enki spots her and sleeps with her as well, resulting in [[Uttu]].{{sfn | Dickson | 2007 | p=4}} (In alternate versions the order is Ninkura, Ninima, then Uttu.{{sfn|Katz|2008|p=320}}) After Enki has intercourse with Uttu, Ninhursag removes the semen from her womb and plants it in the earth, causing eight plants to spring up.{{sfn | Dickson | 2007 | p=4}} As a result of his actions, Ninhursag curses Enki by casting her "life giving eye" away from him.{{sfn | Dickson | 2007 | p=4}}{{sfn | ''https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk'' | 2006}} Enki then becomes gravely ill.{{sfn | Dickson | 2007 | p=4}} A fox then makes an offer to [[Enlil]] that he will bring Ninhursag back to cure him; in exchange Enlil promises to erect two birch trees{{sfn | ''https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk'' | 2006}} for the fox in his city, and to give the creature fame.{{sfn | Dickson | 2007 | p=4}} The fox is able to retrieve Ninhursag, and she then cures Enki, giving birth to eight minor deities from his ailing body parts.{{sfn | Dickson | 2007 | p=5}}

Comparisons between this myth and that of [[Biblical|Genesis]] are common. As suggested by [[Samuel Kramer]] and [[W. F. Albright]], Enki's eating of the eight plants and the consequences following his actions can be compared to the consumption of the fruit of knowledge by Adam and Eve.{{sfn | Kramer | Albright | 1945 | p=8}}