The Myth of Illuyanka

Trinity Journal of Literary Translation | 17

The Myth of Illuyanka

trans. Naomi Harris

Thus speaks Killa, priest of the Storm-God of Nerik, the words of the purulliyaš festival […] of the Storm-God of Heaven; when they speak thus:

“Let the land grow and thrive, and let it be protected. And when it grows and thrives, they will celebrate the purulliyaš festival.”

When the Storm-God and the serpent Illuyanka scuffled in the city of Kiškilušša, Illuyanka defeated the Storm-God.

Then, the Storm-God beckoned to all of the gods: “Support me. Inara has made a feast.”

She arranged much of everything: vessels of wine, vessels of beer, vessels of walḫi. She made abundance inside the vessels.

Inara went to the city of Ziggaratta and found Ḫupašiya, a mortal.

Thus Inara said to Ḫupašiya: “I will do this and that, and you must help me.”

Ḫupašiya responded to Inara, saying: “If you will let me sleep with you, I will come with you and do the desires of your heart.” And he slept with her.

Inara led Hupasiya away and she hid him. She dressed herself and ornamented herself, and she called the serpent Illuyanka up from his lair: “Behold! I am making a feast. Come to eat and drink!”

Illuyanka, together with his sons, came up, and they ate and drank. They drank up all of the vessels and they became drunk.

Then, theyy were so drunk that they were unable to go back down into their hole. Ḫupašiya came and constrained Illuyanka with rope.

Then, the Storm-God came, and he killed Illuyanka. Whereupon, the gods sided with him.

18 | Old Irish

Compert Con Culainn

Boi Conchubur et maithi Uloth i n-Emuin. No:tathigtis énlaith mag ar Emuin. Na:geilltis conna:fácbatis cid mecnu na fér ná lossa hi talam. Ba tochomracht la Ultu a n-aicsiu oc colluth a n-írenn. In:laat .ix. cairptiu dia tophfunn laa n-and; ar bá bés léu sum forim én.

Conchobur dano hi-ssuidiu inna charput 7 a ingen Deichtine ossí macdacht, is si ba harae dia hathair. Eirrid Uloth olchenae inna carptib .i. Conall et Loeguire 7 rl. Bricriu dano leu.

Fos:rumat ind éuin remib dia ndaim tar Slíab Fuait, dar Edmuind, dar Brega. Ní:bíth clad na airbe na caisel im thír i n-Ére ind aimsir sin acht magi rédi. Ba hálaind et ba cáin int énlorcc 7 int énamar boí leu.

Noí fichit én, rond argit eter cach da én. Cach fiche inna lurcc fo leith, noí luircc dóib. Samlaith da én bátar remib cuing arcit etarru.

To:scartha tri éuin dib co haidchi.

Lotar remib hi cenn in brogo. Is and ba hadaig for feraib Uloth. Feraid snechtae mar foroib dano. As:bert Concubur fria muintir, ara:scortis a cairptiu 7 ara:cortiss cor do chuindchid tige dóib. Luid Conall 7 Bricriu do chur cuárta, fo:fúaratar óentech núe. Lotar ind. Fo:rráncatar lánamain and. Boithus failte.

Lotar ass co a muintir. As:bert Bricriu níbu fíu techt don taig cen bratt cen biad. Ba cumung dano cid ar indas. Lotar dó quammaib. Tu:bertatar a cairptiu leu. Ní:gabsat na-mmár isin tig. Con:accatar talmidu dorus cuile friu, in tan ba mithig tabert biid doib. Batar failti meiscc iarom fir Uloth 7 ba maith a tunithe.

As:bert in fer fri Ultu iarom, boí a ben fri idna inna cuili. Luid Deichtine a dochum, atdises, birt macc. Laír dano bói i ndorus in tige, trogais da lurchuire. Gabsit Ulaith iarom in mac, 7 do:bert som na lurchiriu do macslabrai don macc. Alt Deichtine in mac.

Contractions have been expanded where possible.

Thurneysen, Rudolf. Zu irischen Handschriften und Litteraturdenkmälern. Weidmannsche buchhandlung. Berlin, 1912-13. pp 34-36