Editing Enki (section)

===Uniter of languages===
In the Sumerian epic entitled ''[[Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta]]'', in a speech of [[Enmerkar]], an introductory spell appears, recounting Enki having had mankind communicate in one language (following Jay Crisostomo 2019); in other accounts, it is a hymn imploring Enki to do so. 
In either case, Enki "facilitated the debates between [the two kings] by allowing the world to speak one language," the presumed superior language of the tablet, i.e. Sumerian.{{refn|group=note|In the larger narrative Enmerkar is the king of Uruk (Sumer) and Aratta is a mythical eastern land. This episode is one of the most-argued in Assyriological literature.<ref>Crisostomo, ''Translation as Scholarship: Language, Writing, and Bilingual Education in Ancient Babylonia'' (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2019), 36–39. {{ISBN|978-1-5015-0981-0}}</ref><ref>Jacob Klein, "The So-called 'Spell of Nudimmud' (ELA 134–155): A Re-examination", in Simonetta Graziani, ed., ''Studi sul Vicino Oriente Antico dedicati alla memoria di Luigi Cagni'' (Naples: Instituto Universitario Orientale, 2000), 563–84</ref><ref>C. Mittermayer, ''Enmerkara und der Herr von Arata: ein ungleicher Wettstreit'' (Freiburg: Academic Press, 2009), 363.</ref>}}

Jay Crisostomo's 2019 translation, based on the recent work of C. Mittermayer is:
{{poemquote|At that time, as there was no snake, as there was no scorpion, 
as there was no hyena, as there was no lion, 
as there was no dog or wolf, as there was no fear or trembling
— as humans had no rival.

It was then that the lands of [[Subartu|Subur]] [and] [[Hamazi]], 
the distinctly-tongued, Sumer, the great mountain, the essence of nobility, 
Akkad, the land possessing the befitting, 
and the land of Martu, lying in safety 
— the totality of heaven and earth, the well-guarded people, [all] proclaimed Enlil in a single language.

Enki, the lord of abundance and true word, 
the lord chosen in wisdom who watches over the land, 
the expert of all the gods, the chosen in wisdom, 
the lord of Eridu, [Enki] placed an alteration of the language in their mouths.

The speech of humanity is one.}}

S.N. Kramer's 1940 translation is as follows:{{refn|group=note|Another translation describes 'Hamazi, the many-tongued' and instead calls on Enki to change the languages of mankind into one.<ref>{{cite web |title=Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: translation |url=http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section1/tr1823.htm |website=etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk |access-date=20 September 2020}}</ref>}}

{{poemquote|Once upon a time there was no snake, there was no scorpion,
There was no hyena, there was no lion,
There was no wild dog, no wolf,
There was no fear, no terror,
Man had no rival.

In those days, the lands of Subur (and) Hamazi,
Harmony-tongued Sumer, the great land of the decrees of princeship,
Uri, the land having all that is appropriate,
The land [[Amorites|Martu]], resting in security,
The whole universe, the people in unison
To Enlil in one tongue [spoke].

(Then) Enki, the lord of abundance (whose) commands are trustworthy,
The lord of wisdom, who understands the land,
The leader of the gods,
Endowed with wisdom, the lord of [[Eridu]]
Changed the speech in their mouths, [brought] contention into it,
Into the speech of man that (until then) had been one.}}