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EtanaThe legendary ancient ruler of the Sumerian city of Kish
Date of Birth: .
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Content:
- Etana: The Mythical King of Kish
- The Eagle's Gift
- Etana in the Sumerian King List
- The Eagle and the Serpent
- Etana's Quest for the Birth Plant
- Variants of the Legend
Etana: The Mythical King of Kish
Legendary Ruler of KishEtana, the fabled ancient ruler of the Sumerian city of Kish, holds a prominent place in an ancient Babylonian legend. According to the surviving fragments of this legend, Etana was a childless monarch who had lost hope of having an heir. However, fate took an unexpected turn when he rescued a starving eagle.
The Eagle's Gift
In gratitude for Etana's kindness, the eagle carried him high into the heavens in search of a mythical "birth plant." It is believed that Etana's quest was successful, as his son, Balih, ultimately succeeded him to the throne of Kish.
Etana in the Sumerian King List
The Sumerian King List, a chronological record of ancient rulers, mentions Etana as a successor to Arwium, the twelfth king of Kish. According to this list, Etana's reign lasted an extraordinary 1560 years, although some versions suggest a more modest 635-year rule. The list also describes Etana as "the shepherd who ascended to heaven, who established all the lands."
The Eagle and the Serpent
A more detailed version of the legend unfolds the story of a tree inhabited by an eagle's nest at its crown and a serpent's den at its base. The eagle and the serpent had pledged loyalty and shared their food with each other's offspring. However, the eagle broke this covenant by consuming the serpent's young.
When the serpent returned to its home and discovered the loss, it lamented loudly. The cunning sun god Utu advised the serpent to hide in the stomach of a slain bull. As the eagle descended to feast, the serpent attacked and imprisoned it in a deep pit, leaving it to die of hunger and thirst.
Etana's Quest for the Birth Plant
It was at this point that Utu intervened, sending a man named Etana to rescue the eagle. In return for its release, Etana implored the bird to help him find the "birth plant" that would allow him to become a father.
The eagle carried Etana up to the heavens, to the abode of the god Anu. However, overcome by fear, Etana requested to be returned to earth. Undeterred, he made a second attempt, this time with more fortitude, and was ultimately able to father a son named Balih.
Variants of the Legend
Three main versions of the Etana legend have been discovered across different languages. The ancient Babylonian version is known from sources found in Susa and Tell Harmal. A Middle Assyrian variant appears on tablets from Assur. The final, standard version was unearthed in Nineveh. Etana is also mentioned in the legendary Epic of Gilgamesh.
