ds bore grain.The third plan also involved drought and famine. Frustrated by his failures, Enlil added the extra insurance of posting divine guards at every level of heaven and earth to prevent water from reaching the fields. There is no indication of another 1200-year interval, and it seems somewhat unlikely because this episode is cast in different terms than the first two. The black fields became white,The broad plain was choked with salt.For one year they ate couch grass;For the second year they suffered the itch.The third year came(And) their features (were altered) by hunger(Their faces) were encrusted, like malt,(And they were living) on the verge of death.Although the tablets at the end of this episode are badly damaged, it appears that Enki removed the bar, which held back the subterranean waters. Man was thus saved from drought and famine. Dissatisfied with Enki's attempt to explain away his interference, Enlil determined to use water which had been a savior to eradicate mankind. The gods in council agreed to Enlil's plan. IV. The Flood This portion begins with Atra-hasis communing with his divine protector Enki through the walls of his house. Enki told Atra-hasis to tear down these walls and use them to construct a boat in which to save himself, his family, and some of the animals: Reed wall, observe all my words!"Destroy your house, build a boat,Spurn property and save life.The boat which you build . . . .Roof it over like Apsu,So that the sun shall not see inside it.Let it be roofed over above and below.The tackle should be very strong,Let the pitch be tough, and so give (the boat) strength".Atra-hasis then informed his people that he would be forced to leave because his god Enki was disputing with Enlil.There is a damaged portion of the tablets that contains the story of the building of the ark and the collection and loading of the animals which follows. Atra-hasis' family went aboard the boat while he attended a farewel...
