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253 In the aftermath of the Deluge, the decrees of Heaven and Earth had gone astray. The cities of the gods upon the wide Earth were changed around; They were not brought back to their locations . . . As I survey them again, of the evil I am disgusted; Without a return to their [original] places. Mankind's existence is diminished. . . Rebuild I must my residence which in the Deluge was wiped away; Its name [I must] call again. Among the post-Diluvian disorders that bothered Marduk were some failures on the part of Erra himself to account for certain di- vine artifacts—'the instrument of giving orders, the Oracle of the Gods; the sign of kingship, the Holy Scepter which contributes brilliance to Lordship. . . . Where is the holy Radiating Stone which disintegrates all?" Marduk asked. If he were forced to leave, Marduk said, "on the day I step off my seat, the flooding shall from its well cease to work ... the waters shall not rise... the bright day to darkness [shall turn] . . . confusion shall arise the winds of draught shall howl . . . sicknesses shall spread." After some more exchanges Erra offered to return to Marduk "the artifacts of Heaven and Earth" if Marduk would personally go to the Lower World to pick them up; and as to the "works" in Babylon, he assured Marduk there was nothing to worry about: he (Erra) would enter Marduk"s House only to "erect the Bulls of Anu and Enlil at thy gate"—statues of Winged Bulls as were actually found at temple sites—but would do nothing to upset the water- works. Marduk heard this; The promise, given by Erra. found his favor. So did he step down from his seat. and to the Land of Mines, abode of the Anunnaki, Thus persuaded, Marduk agreed to leave Babylon. But no sooner he had done that than Nergal broke his word. Unable to re- sist his curiosity. Nergal/Erra ventured into the Gigunu, the myste- rious underground chamber which Marduk had stressed was off Prelude to Disaster he set his direction.