Utnapishtim and the Flood

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In the old days there was no sun and the world was dark. Armies led by the vrakhiri fought violent wars against men, burned their villages and cities, and killed them as they wished.

In one of these villages there lived a man named Utnapishtim. One night, he had a vision so terrifying he awoke screaming. He told no one what he’d seen, for he knew they would not believe him. But he set about building a boat, and continued for ninety days and ninety nights.

On the ninety-first day, it began to rain. And it rained and rained, until all the villagers flocked round Utnapishtim and begged him to let them onto his boat. When he did, a miracle occurred. Although the boat was small, there was enough room on it for all villagers and their livestock. Soon the village was flooded, right before the vrakhiri reached it. The demons died under the waves, but Utnapishtim’s boat endured.

After another ninety days and ninety nights, the flood was over. Utnapishtim built a new village, which later became the sacred city of Hatum. He never told anyone who had sent him the vision of the flood, but the largest temple in Hatum has always been devoted to Sheema, the cunning weaver of webs.