The Myth Of Adapa

The myth is about how a God, Ea, provided Adapa with wisdom in order to lead the people because he was created to be a protecting spirit. Although he was given wisdom, he did not receive immortality. Upon accepting his wisdom, Adapa was to be responsible for feeding the Gods. During a fishing trip, South Wind attempts to sink his ship which Adapa contests back by breaking the wing of South Wind, resulting in no wind for seven days. When Anu realizes that Adapa is responsible for the lack of wind, he sends Ea to bring Adapa to the Gate of Anu for reasoning. Ea instructs Adapa to accept the garments and the anointing oil, but not accept the bread and water. Ea described those as bread and water of death so he tells Adapa that he must not
neglect his directions. Upon Adapa’s arrival, Anu constructs a plan to help Adapa gain immortality because he already had the wisdom of the Gods. Anu offers the oil and Adapa anoints himself, he also accepted the garments and put those on. When Anu offered Adapa the bread and water of eternal life, Adapa remembered to not neglect the instructions of Ea, so he refused. When Anu asks why he refused, he replied that Ea told him to do so. After this response, Anu sent Adapa back to Earth without any possibility of eternal life.