Ziusudra, whose name means "life of distant days", is the epic hero in the Sumerian version of the flood myth.
In a later Akkadian poem about the creation of humankind, he is called Atra-hasis (exceedingly wise). In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Ziusudra is known as Uta-napishti, which means "I found life". The story of Noah in the biblical version of the flood myth contains many similarities to stories about Ziusudra.
In a Sumerian composition called The Instructions of Shuruppak, a wise mythological father named Shuruppak, son of Ubar-Tutu, described a Sumerian view of proper conduct to his son, Ziusudra. According to another composition, known as the Sumerian king list, Ubar-Tutu was ruler of the city of Shuruppak, which was the scene of the great flood.
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| Ubar-Tutu |
The story of Ziusudra and his father is set in days long past. Shuruppak gave Ziusudra instructions that defined the ideals of proper duty and conduct for a respected landowning citizen of Sumer.
Shuruppak’s precepts contained proverbs regarding daily life and rules that were presented in an absolute, imperative manner—"do not steal", "do not break into a house", and "do not murder" were some of his directives.
The text described a society in which the canny individual maintained a low profile. Self-restraint and levelheadedness were right, and hotheadedness, arrogance, impulsive action, and laziness were wrong.
Shuruppak warned, "My son, do not sit [alone] in a chamber with someone’s wife". On the subject of violence, he said, "Do not throw down a man", and "Do not commit rape upon a man’s daughter".
Shuruppak also explained to Ziusudra that one should strive to make rational decisions, pay attention to the words of one’s king, abide by the law, and listen to one’s parents. A wise individual also should not be fooled by appearances.
A man should not choose a wife at a festival, but should seek lasting values rather than superficial qualities that a woman might affect in public. Finally, one should always worship the gods, for "words of prayer bring abundance".
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| wise individual |
Much of the story of Ziusudra as hero has been lost. This text of advice that was given to him by his father may be the advice that made Ziusudra a hero.