Zipang Recording Project

Popularising the literature of ancient Iraq through the art of oral storytelling

The Zipang Recording Project was launched by Eye on Heritage partner the Enheduanna Society in October 2017.

The purpose of the project is to record and make publicly available the Zipang repertoire of re-told Mesopotamian stories. These stories are based closely on academic translations and were developed over twenty years of public performances by the Zipang storytellers: June Peters, Badia Obaid, Fran Hazelton, Fiona Collins.

The Zipang Recording Project was launched with an Outreach Grant generously awarded by the British Institute for the Study of Iraq. The project was then supported by the Sponsor-a-Story scheme and by Purple Patch Records Ltd.

The stories were recorded by Robert Worby , Arij al-Soltan, Jennifer Iles, and Colin Rae. The Zipang Recording Project was produced by Fran Hazelton and by James Ware of Purple Patch Records.

Zipang storytellers June Peters, Fran Hazelton and Badia Obaid.

Adapa

Arabic

Badia Obaid tells in Arabic the story of Adapa, a fisherman from Eridu who breaks the wing of the South Wind. He is summoned to the gods in the sky and gains eternal wisdom but not eternal life. His story makes him famous forever.

10 minutes, 29 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Adapa story told in this recording is held by Badia Obaid © ℗ 2020. Recorded by Colin Rae.

The Asag

English

In this story the god Ninurta faces his destiny. Ninurta was worshipped by the ancient Mesopotamians as a god of the thunderstorm, a god of agriculture, and above all as a god of war. June Peters tells how Ninurta fought against an army of stone warriors led by the monstrous Asag. He then created mountains from the defeated stones and, as a beneficent deity of agriculture, made it possible for cultivation to begin.

20 minutes, 1 second

The copyright for the version of the Asag story told in this recording is held by June Peters © ℗ 2001. This recording was made by Robert Worby and first published in 2001 on a CD by Purple Patch Records.

Adapa

Arabic

This video shows Badia Obaid telling the story of Adapa in Arabic. Adapa is a fisherman from Eridu who breaks the wing of the South Wind. He is summoned to the gods in the sky and gains eternal wisdom but not eternal life. His story makes him famous forever.

The copyright for the version of the Adapa story told in this video is held by Badia Obaid © ℗ 2020.

Dialogue of Pessimism

Arabic

Badia Obaid tells in Arabic this darkly philosophical comedy sketch written in Babylon 3000 years ago. It is a dialogue between a Master and a Servant.

10 minutes, 58 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Dialogue of Pessimism story told in this recording is held by Badia Obaid © ℗ 2020.

Dialogue of Pessimism

English

Fran Hazelton tells this darkly philosophical comedy sketch written in Babylon 3000 years ago. It is a dialogue between a Master and a Servant.

6 minutes, 52 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Dialogue of Pessimism story told in this recording is held by Fran Hazelton © ℗ 2020.

Dumuzid’s Dream

Arabic

Badia Obaid tells the story of Dumuzid’s Dream. Dumuzid, the shepherd god and husband of the goddess Inana, has a bad dream predicting his own capture and death. His sister interprets the dream for him and tries to save him. But his dream comes true.

12 minutes, 19 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Dumuzid’s Dream story told in this recording is held by Badia Obaid © ℗ 2020.

Enki and Ninmah

English

Fran Hazelton tells the story of Enki and Ninmah. The gods and goddesses are having a party. The god of fresh water and wisdom—Enki—disputes with the womb goddess, Ninmah. To outwit her he invents sexual intercourse as a means of human reproduction.

8 minutes, 19 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Enki and Ninmah story told in this recording is held by Fran Hazelton © ℗ 2020.

Ereshkigal and Nergal

Arabic

Badia Obaid tells in Arabic the story of Ereshkigal, queen of the Land of the Dead, and Nergal, the god of death. Ereshkigal seduces Nergal and falls in love with him. When he leaves her she is distraught and threatens to free the dead. Nergal returns to the Great Below and forces Ereshkigal to share her throne. Music by Tara Jaff.

17 minutes

The copyright for the version of the Ereshkigal and Nergal story told in this recording is held by Badia Obaid © ℗ 2020.

Ereshkigal and Nergal

English

Fran Hazelton tells the story of Ereshkigal, queen of the Land of the Dead, and Nergal, the god of death. Ereshkigal seduces Nergal and falls in love with him. When he leaves her she is distraught and threatens to free the dead. Nergal returns to the Great Below and forces Ereshkigal to share her throne.

12 minutes, 55 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Ereshkigal and Nergal story told in this recording is held by Fran Hazelton © ℗ 2020. Recorded by Colin Rae.

Etana

English

Fran Hazelton tells the story of Etana. The image of a man flying on the back of a large bird is well known from the Greek myth of Ganymede. It also exists in Mesopotamian mythology. Etana, the king of the city of Kish, flies to heaven on the back of an eagle to find the herb of birth.

13 minutes, 44 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Etana story told in this recording is held by Fran Hazelton © ℗ 2020.

The Gilgamesh epic

Part 1, The story begins…

These videos show Fran Hazelton and John Levitt telling the Gilgamesh epic in seven parts. The text is taken from Three Kings of Warka.

view more episodes

The copyright for the version of the Gilgamesh epic told in this video is held by Fran Hazelton © ℗ 2020. The video was made by Chocolate Films.

The Home of the Fish

English

June Peters tells the story of a fisherman who calls fish into his net. He attracts the fish by describing the net as a wonderful home.

6 minutes, 5 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Home of the Fish story told in this recording is held by June Peters © ℗ 2020. Recorded by Colin Rae.

The Huluppu Tree

Arabic and English

The goddess Inanna asks the young Gilgamesh to make her throne and bed from the Huluppu Tree. With the left-over wood he makes himself a bat and a ball but drops them into the Land of the Dead. His friend Enkidu risks all to recover them. This story is told in both English and Arabic, by June Peters and Badia Obaid.

20 minutes, 11 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Hulluppu Tree story told in this recording is held by June Peters & Badia Obaid © ℗ 2020.

Huwawa

English

This story, told by Fran Hazelton, is about Gilgamesh, the legendary king of the city of Unug in ancient Sumer, his faithful servant Enkidu, and the awesome being Huwawa. When Gilgamesh and Enkidu set off on an expedition to fetch precious cedarwood they found the Cedar Mountains were guarded by the fearsome Huwawa who was protected by seven mysetrious auras.

19 minutes, 30 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Huwawa story told in this recording is held by Fran Hazelton © ℗ 2001. This recording was made by Robert Worby and first published in 2001 on a CD by Purple Patch Records.

Inanna and the King

English

This Sumerian story, told by Fran Hazelton, comes from A Hymn to Anana for Innin-Dagan. It describes the worship of Inanna as the evening star, the morning star, and the monthly cycle of the moon. Inanna has a procession of followers including some whose garments are half masculine and half feminine.

7 minutes, 28 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Inanna and the King story told in this recording is held by Fran Hazelton © ℗ 2020. Recorded by Colin Rae.

Inanna’s Descent

English

Fiona Collins tells the story of the descent of the goddess Inanna/Ishtar into the Underworld. This subterranean realm was ruled over by its queen, Inanna’s sister Ereshkigal. After Inanna has ventured into the Underworld, she realises that she will not be allowed to leave this ‘land of no return’.

26 minutes, 26 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Inanna’s Descent story told in this recording is held by Fiona Collins © ℗ 2001. This recording was made by Robert Worby and first published in 2001 on a CD by Purple Patch Records.

Ishtar’s Descent

Arabic

Badia Obaid tells in Arabic the story of the descent of the goddess Inanna/Ishtar into the Underworld. This subterranean realm was ruled over by its queen, Ishtar’s sister Ereshkigal. After Ishtar has ventured into the Underworld, she realises that she will not be allowed to leave this ‘land of no return’.

12 minutes, 2 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Ishtar’s Descent story told in this recording is held by Badia Obaid © ℗ 2020.

King Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta

Arabic

This story from Sumer is told in Arabic by Badia Obaid. It is a story of challenges and rivalry explaining the origins of trade and writing. It features the world’s first diplomatic letter and ceremonial maces carried in procession as symbols of royal authority.

18 minutes, 49 seconds

The copyright for the version of the King Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta story told in this recording is held by Badia Obaid © ℗ 2020.

King Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta

English

This story from Sumer is told by June Peters. It is a story of challenges and rivalry explaining the origins of trade and writing. It features the world’s first diplomatic letter and ceremonial maces carried in procession as symbols of royal authority.

23 minutes, 29 seconds

The copyright for the version of the King Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta story told in this recording is held by June Peters © ℗ 2020.

The Marriage of Martu

English

This 3000-year-old love story from Sumer is about the coming together of “civilised” people and “wild” people. The name Martu is Sumerian for “nomad”. The story resonates with modern-day themes of urbanisation, migration and diversification of the gene pool. This is an illustrated story told by June Peters.

The copyright for the version of the Marriage of Martu story told in this recording is held by June Peters © ℗ 2020. The illustrative video was made by Jennifer Iles.

The Marriage of Martu

English

This 3000-year-old love story from Sumer is about the coming together of “civilised” people and “wild” people. The name Martu is Sumerian for “nomad”. The story resonates with modern-day themes of urbanisation, migration and diversification of the gene pool. The story is told by June Peters.

13 minutes, 31 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Marriage of Martu story told in this recording is held by June Peters © ℗ 2020.

The Moon God’s Journey to Nibru

English

John Levitt and Fran Hazelton tell a Sumerian story about a journey made by the moon-god, Nanna-Suen. He travels in a magnificent ceremonial barge from his home city, Urim, to Nibru, the city of his father, the god Enlil.

12 minutes, 40 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Moon God’s Journey to Nibru story told in this recording is held by Fran Hazelton © 2020. Read by Fran Hazelton & John Levitt ℗ 2020. Recorded by Arij al-Soltan.

The Poor Man of Nippur

English

Fran Hazelton tells the story Gimil Ninurta—a poor man who gives the Mayor of Nippur a goat as a gift. The Mayor tricks Gimil Ninurta by taking his goat and giving him only gristle to eat at the feast. Gimil Ninurta then tricks the Mayor not once, not twice but three times.

12 minutes, 5 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Poor Man of Nippur story told in this recording held by Fran Hazelton © ℗ 2020.

The Poor Man of Nippur

English

This video shows Fran Hazelton telling the story Gimil Ninurta—a poor man who gives the Mayor of Nippur a goat as a gift. The Mayor tricks Gimil Ninurta by taking his goat and giving him only gristle to eat at the feast. Gimil Ninurta then tricks the Mayor not once, not twice but three times.

The copyright for the version of the Poor Man of Nippur story told in this recording and in this video held by Fran Hazelton © ℗ 2020.

Shukaletuda

English

June Peters tells the story of Shukaletuda. He is a spotty youth whose job is to look after a garden. The goddess Inana falls asleep under a nearby tree. Shukaletuda makes love to the goddess while she sleeps. For this he must die. But his song goes on forever.

19 minutes, 13 seconds

The copyright for the version of the Shukaletuda story told in this recording is held by June Peters © ℗ 2020. Recorded by Colin Rae.

Written sources for the stories

Academic translations—Sumerian

Jeremy Black, Graham Cunningham, Eleanor Robson and Gábor Zólyomi, The Literature of Ancient Sumer, Oxford University Press, 2004
Thorkild Jacobsen, The Harps that Once… Sumerian Poetry in Translation, Yale University Press, 1987
W. G. Lambert, Babylonian Wisdom Literature, Oxford University Press, 1960
Herman Vanstiphout, Epics of Sumerian Kings: the Matter of Aratta, Society of Biblical Literature, 2003

Academic translations—Akkadian

Stephanie Dalley, Myths from Mesopotamia, Oxford University Press, 1991
Benjamin R. Foster, Before the Muses: an Anthology of Akkadian Literature, CDL Press, 1996
Andrew George, The Epic of Gilgamesh, Allen Lane, The Penguin Press, 1999

Retellings from academic translations

Fran Hazelton, Stories from Ancient Iraq (2nd ed.) The Enheduanna Society, 2010
Fran Hazelton, Three Kings of Warka, The Enheduanna Society, 2012
Diane Wolkstein & Samual Noah Kramer, Inanna: Queen Of Heaven And Earth: her stories and hymns from Sumer, Harper Collins, 1983

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