The traditions embodied by Accadians and Assyrians in the literature of which specimens have been given in the preceding chapter, had been handed down by word of mouth through many generations, and committed to writing only at a comparatively late period. When such is the case, traditions are naturally liable to vary, sometimes very widely, according to the period and condition of the country. Thus many different versions of a story arise, and there can be no doubt that this was actually the case with the Creation legends. The account of the Creation in six days was not the only account of the Creation current among the inhabitants of Assyria and Babylonia. It was but one out of many which had slowly grown up among the people, and been finally thrown into a literary form. The story of the Creation transmitted through Berosus (see chapter iii. pp. 34-36), for example, supplies us with an account which differs entirely from the cuneiform account in the last chapter as well as from the Genesis account, and some fragments of tablets from Kouyunjik belonging to the library of Assur-bani-pal give a copy, mutilated as usual, of a third version which has, however, points of agreement with the account of Berosus. This legend, of which the following is a translation, is stated to be copied from a tablet at Cutha. _Legend of Creation from Cutha tablet._ (Many lines lost at commencement.) 1. .... his lord, the crown of the gods .... 2. the spearmen of his host, the spearmen of (his) host .... 3. lord of those above and those below, lord of the angels .... 4. who drank turbid waters and pure waters did not drink .... 5. who with his flame, as a weapon, that host enclosed, 6. has taken, has devoured. 7. On a memorial-stone he wrote not, he disclosed not, and bodies and produce 8. in the earth he caused not to come forth, and I approached him not. 9. Warriors with the bodies of birds of the desert, men 10. with the faces of ravens, 11. these the great gods created, 12. in the earth the gods created their city. 13. Tiamtu gave them suck, 14. their life (?) the mistress of the gods created. 15. In the midst of the earth they grew up and became strong, and 16. increased (?) in number, 17. Seven kings, brethren, were made to come as begetters; 18. six thousand in number were their armies. 19. The god Banini their father was king, their mother 20. the queen was Melili, 21. their eldest brother who went before them, Memangab was his name, 22. their second brother Medudu was his name, 23. their third brother .... pakh was his name, 24. their fourth brother .... dada was his name, 25. their fifth brother .... takh was his name, 27. their sixth brother .... ruru was his name, 28. their seventh brother .... (rara) was his name. COLUMN II. (Many lines lost.) 1. ..... the evil curse .... 2. The man his will turned .... 3. on a .... I arranged. 4. On a (tablet) the evil curse (which) in blood he raised