Accadian Poem on the Seven Evil Spirits

(In) the earth their borders were taken, and that god came not forth.
From the earth he came not forth, (and) their power was baneful.
The heaven like a vault they extended and that which had no exit they opened.
Among the stars of heaven their watch they kept not, in watching (was) their office.
The mighty hero to heaven they exalted, and his father he knew not.
The Fire-god on high, the supreme, the first-born, the mighty, the divider of the supreme crown of Anu!
The Fire-god the light that exalts him with himself he exalts.
Baleful (are) those seven, destroyers.
For his ministers in his dwelling he chooses (them).
O Fire-god, those seven how were they born, how grew they up?
Those seven in the mountain of the sunset were born.
Those seven in the mountain of the sunrise grew up.
In the hollows of the earth have they their dwelling.
On the high-places of the earth are they proclaimed.
As for them in heaven and earth immense (is) their habitation.
Among the gods their couch they have not.
Their name in heaven (and) earth exists not.
Seven they are: in the mountain of the sunset do they rise.
Seven they are: in the mountain of the sunrise did they set.
Into the hollows of the earth do they penetrate.
On the high places of the earth did they ascend.
As for them, goods they have not, in heaven and earth they are not known.
Unto Merodach draw near, and this word may he say unto thee.
Of those baleful seven, as many as he sets before thee, their might may he give thee,
according to the command of his blessed mouth, (he who is) the supreme judge of Anu.
The Fire-god unto Merodach draws near, and this word he saith unto thee.
In the pavilion, the resting-place of might, this word he hears, and
to his father Hea to his house he descends, and speaks:
O my father, the Fire-god unto the rising of the sun has penetrated, and these secret words has uttered.
Learning the story of those seven, their places grant thou to another.
Enlarge the ears, O son of Eridu.
Hea his son Merodach answered:
My son, those seven dwell in earth;
those seven from the earth have issued.

Those seven in the earth were born,
those seven in the earth grew up.
The forces of the deep for war have drawn near.
Go, my son Merodach!
(for) the laurel, the baleful tree that breaks in pieces the incubi,
the name whereof Hea remembers in his heart.
In the mighty enclosure, the girdle of Eridu which is to be praised,
to roof and foundation may the fire ascend and to (work) evil may those seven never draw near.
Like a broad scimitar in a broad place bid (thine) hand rest; and
In circling fire by night and by day on the (sick) man's head may it abide.
At night mingle the potion and at dawn in his hand let him raise (it).
In the night a precept in a holy book, in bed, on the sick man's head let them place.
The hero (Merodach) unto his warriors sends:
Let the Fire-god seize on the incubus.
Those baleful seven may he remove and their bodies may he bind.
During the day the sickness (caused by) the incubus (let him) overcome.
May the Fire-god bring back the mighty powers to their foundations.
May Nin-ci-gal the wife of (Hea) establish before her the bile (of the man).
Burn up the sickness ...
May Nin-akha-kuddu seize upon his body and abide upon his head,
according to the word of Nin-akha-kuddu,
(in) the enclosure of Eridu.
(In) the mighty girdle of the deep and of Eridu may she remember his return (to health).
In (her) great watch may she keep (away) the incubus supreme among the gods (that is) upon his head, and in the night may she watch him.
(By) night and day to the prospering hands of the Sun-god may she intrust him.

(In) Eridu a dark pine grew, in a holy place it was planted.
Its (crown) was white crystal which toward the deep spread.
The ... of Hea (was) its pasturage in Eridu, a canal full (of waters).
Its seat (was) the (central) place of this earth.
Its shrine (was) the couch of mother Zicum.
The ... of its holy house like a forest spread its shade; there (was) none who within entered not.
(It was the seat) of the mighty the mother, begetter of Anu.
Within it (also was) Tammuz.