TRANSLATED BY W. ST. CHAD BOSCAWEN This legend is found on a tablet marked K, 3,657, in the British Museum. The story which the tablet contains appears to be the building of some great temple tower, apparently by command of a king. The gods are angry at the work, and so to put an end to it they confuse the speech of the builders. The tablet is in a very broken condition, only a few lines being in any way complete. The late Mr. George Smith has given a translation of the legend in his work on Chaldean Genesis, and I have published the text and translation in the fifth volume of "Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archæology." LEGEND OF THE TOWER OF BABEL COLUMN I 1 ...[1] them the father. 2 (The thoughts) of his heart were evil 3 ...[1] the father of all the gods[2] he turned from. 4 (The thoughts) of his heart were evil[3] 5 ...[1] Babylon corruptly to sin went and 6 small and great mingled on the mound.[4] 7 ...[1] Babylon corruptly to sin went and 8 small and great mingled on the mound. [Footnote 1: Lacunæ.] [Footnote 2: A title of Anu.] [Footnote 3: Refers to the king who caused the people to sin.] [Footnote 4: The verb used here is the same as in Gen. xi. 7, [Hebrew: bll].] COLUMN II 1 The King of the holy mound[1] ...[2] 2 In front and Anu lifted up ...[2] 3 to the good god his father..,[2] 4 Then his heart also ...[2] 5 which carried a command ...[2] 6 At that time also ...[2] 7 he lifted it up ...[3] 8 Davkina. 9 Their (work) all day they founded 10 to their stronghold[4] in the night 11 entirely an end he made. 12 In his anger also the secret counsel he poured out 13 to scatter (abroad) his face he set 14 he gave a command to make strange their speech[5] 15 ...[6] their progress he impeded 16 ...[6]the altar (Column III is so broken only a few words remain, so I have omitted it.) [Footnote 1: A title of Anu.] [Footnote 2: Lacunæ.] [Footnote 3: All these broken lines relate to council of gods?] [Footnote 4: The tower.] [Footnote 5: "Uttaccira--melic-su-nu," "make hostile their council."] [Footnote 6: Lacunæ.] COLUMN IV [Footnote: Relates to the destruction of the tower by a storm.] 1 In (that day) 2 he blew and ...[1] 3 For future time the mountain ...[1] 4 Nu-nam-nir[2] went ...[1] 5 Like heaven and earth he spake ...[1] 6 His ways they went ...[1] 7 Violently they fronted against him [3] 8 He saw them and to the earth (descended) 9 When a stop he did not make 10 of the gods ...[1] 11 Against the gods they revolted 12 ...[1] violence ...[1] 13 Violently they wept for Babylon[4] 14 very much they wept. 15 And in the midst (The rest is wanting.) [Footnote 1: Lacunæ.] [Footnote 2: The god of "no rule," or lawlessness.] [Footnote 3: The builders continued to build.] [Footnote 4: Lamentations of the gods for the Babylonians.] AN ACCADIAN PENITENTIAL PSALM TRANSLATED BY REV. A.H. SAYCE, M.A.