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177 Ereshkigal's stormy voyage to the Lower World. As such, he was acceptable to both sides as guardian of the secrets of the pyramids. A hymn which Ake W. Sjoberg and E. Bergmann ('"The Collec- tion of the Sumerian Temple Hymns") believe was composed by the daughter of Sargon of Akkad in the third millennium B.C. exalted the pyramid-house of Ningishzidda and confirmed its Egyptian location: Enduring place, light-hued mountain which i in an artful fashion was founded. Awesome, its ways no one can fathom. In the Land of the Shield your pedestal is closely knit as a fine-mesh net... At night you face the heavens, your ancient measurements are surpassing. Your interior knows the place where Utu rises, the measure of its width is far reaching. Your prince is the prince whose pure hand is outstretched, whose luxuriant and abundant hair The concluding verses of the hymn twice restate the location of this unique structure: the "Land of the Shield." It is a term equivalent to the Akkadian meaning of the Mesopotamian name for Egypt: the Land Magan, "The Land of the Shield." And another hymn copied and translated by Sjoberg (tablet UET 6/1) called Ningishzidda "the falcon among the gods," a designation commonly applied in Egyptian texts to Egyptian gods and found in Sumerian texts only one other time, applied to Ninurta, conqueror of the pyramids. What did the Egyptians call this son of Enki/Ptah? Their "god of the cord who measures the Earth" was Thoth; he was (as the Tales of the Magicians related) the one appointed to be guardian of the secrets of the Giza pyramids. It was Thoth, according to Manetho, who re- placed Horus on the throne of Egypt; it happened circa 8670 B.C. —Jjust at the time when the Second Pyramid War had ended. Having thus settled the disputes between them, the great Anun- naki turned to the affairs of mankind. As one reads the ancient words it becomes clear that this peace conference dealt not only with the cessation of hostilities and the drawing of binding territorial lines; it also laid the plans for the Peace on Earth Its dark hidden chamber is an awe-inspiring place; in a Field of Supervision it lies. Aeveea nese Lhe ceeaeie ee nee nae Bo flows down on his back— the lord Ningishzida.