Chapter 1 - Origins

This is a modern translation of the Dire 42-C tablet found originally in Mesopotamia in 1856. It was translated by Dr. Friedrich Dire in 1993. It is alleged to be among the first writings of the BeeSheep.

This is the recording of the digyr, and how they opened their eyes.

When all was just a salty sea, the digyr gathered in great council.

“We should fashion for ourselves a place to live above the waters. A place where we might dwell in peace and stability.”

And so, the digyr opened their eyes and lo, land arose from the salty sea, and it rose so that the salty sea was no longer upon it.

The digyr opened their eyes again, and grass began to grow. Waters that were fresh and cool to drink began to flow upon the face of the land which had been lifted.

The digyr opened their eyes once more, and there were creatures of all kinds. Creatures that roamed upon the land. Creatures that swam in the sea. Creatures that flew in the sky. Thus their eyes were opened, and these things were so.

However, it was at this time that humans had not yet been created. And the digyr met in council again, saying to one another, “who will watch all of these animals? The ones who swim in the salty sea? Who creep upon the land? Who fly in the heavens? For we have opened our eyes to a great many things that we alone cannot behold.”

And so, they opened their eyes, and crafted for themselves humans. For they said unto themselves, “we will create a being who shall dwell upon the land, and they shall cultivate the things to which we open our eyes.”

In those days, there was peace among the land, among the sea, and in the heavens. Also, among the digyr there was peace. For a time. For each digyr was unique, and they went unto different parts of the land, and there, they opened their eyes and created for themselves unique things.

And there was one digyr, Allatu, for in her uniqueness chose not to live upon the land, but to live in the salty sea. Allatu opened her eyes, and within the sea created amalgamations. Things which were half of one thing, and things which were half of another.

Allatu opened her eyes and created for herself a great kingdom within the depths of the salty sea. And she created many amalgamations.

Among them were the Abzu Me, the people of the water, half human, and half water swarmer.

When the digyr of the land saw the things to which Allatu had opened her eyes and created the Abzu Me, among others, and they met in council once more.

“What do we think of Allatu and her creations?” Asked the Digyr of High Mountains, Hursag.

“Are they not abominations unto us?” Declared Sidar, the Digyr of Deep Forests. “For she has opened her eyes against us and created things that are an amalgamation. 

For it was that we all gathered together, and we opened our eyes, and thus arose the land. We opened our eyes and thus we formed the sky. We opened our eyes and thus placed living beings among the waters, among the land, and among the sky. Is this not so?”

“For Allatu seeks to make her name greater than ours, and she opens her eyes against the created order of things.”

And so, there was an agreement among the digyr. That indeed, Allatu, Digyr of the Salty Sea, had opened her eyes against them.

However there was one, Livadi, Digyr of Far Meadows, who did not speak against Allatu. For she spoke saying, “Allatu has not opened her eyes against us, for the sea has not risen against the land, nor the creatures she has opened her eyes to risen against our own. 

Was she not also among us, when we opened our eyes? What then has become of her, our sister, is she no longer?”

At this saying, the digyr were not convinced. For they had become proud in their land, and the things which they had opened their eyes to. So they said, “let it be thus, that Allatu has opened her eyes against us, and so shall we open our eyes against her. We will attack the salty sea, and we will slay her amalgamations and bring her to court amongst us.”

And so they opened their eyes, all but Livadi, and there were dragons. They roamed the edge of the land where the earth and water meet.

There was fire then. 

It spilled forth from the nostrils of the great dragons as they fought against the sea. They breathed fire upon the waters, and the waters frothed and turned white and retreated from the face of the dragons.

And Allatu saw that the digyr had opened their eyes against her and brought forth dragons to fight the waters. So she in turn opened her eyes, bringing forth mighty leviathans.

(So great and mighty were the leviathans that their height ranged fifty cubits tall, and seventy-five cubits its length.)

The dragons and the leviathans waged a war at the tide. The dragons burned the water with fire, and if any drew near to the waters they were caught by the mighty claws of the leviathans and drowned in the deepness.

Seeing this battle, and the destruction it caused, Livadi feared that fighting would one day come upon her far meadows. That it would ruin the flowers and the grasses and the peoples that she presided upon.

Determining herself, Livadi opened her eyes to create a new being. One that was not great and mighty like the dragon. Nor vicious and strong like the leviathan. Rather, a humble creature, and a peaceful creature, mighty in his own way.

And this is how the BeeSheep was created, by Livadi of Far Meadows, in the time of the war between dragons and leviathans.

And Livadi cupped the BeeSheep in her hands, (for he was created small, about the size of a peach.) and she blessed him saying, “mighty are you, littlest of creatures. Go forth and cease this battle between digyr. Go forth with an eye of power and show unto them an amalgamation of the far meadows.”

(This will be important later.)

And so BeeSheep buzzed, and flapping his wings, flew to the edge of the land where the battle was raging.

And as BeeSheep arrived, he saw that a leviathan had been pulled from the waters and over it, a dragon breathing in a great amount of wind, so that it would fill its lungs. BeeSheep, whose instincts were to help, flew toward the dragon so that he might beseech him to cease in his fighting.

However, as the dragon was breathing in, BeeSheep became sucked into the nostril of the dragon. And with no other thought but escape, BeeSheep stung the inside of the dragon’s nose, and flew out from his nostril.

The dragon was greatly anguished by this, and in its anguish began to breathe fire. However, because of the BeeSheep and his sting, the dragon’s nostrils and throat became swollen and fire ceased coming forth. It is said that the dragon burned from within, its eyes and bones and flesh melting at the great heat contained within his belly.

Upon the death of the great dragon, the digyr were in fear.

“How could such a small amalgamation slay so violently a mighty foe such as this?”

Livadi of Far Meadows spoke thus, “I have opened my eyes and created a small amalgamation, as are the Abzu Me, and yet I have not opened my eyes against you. See, indeed, amalgamations may be created, and war not be waged.”

There were murmurings amongst the digyr who claimed the land. Some sided with Livadi, but most did not. For as they saw it, Allatu had opened her eyes against them, and so too had Livadi. For her amalgamation had indeed slain a great dragon, thereby siding with Allatu.

Sidar of Deep Forests stepped forth and spoke to Livadi. “You, as Allatu, have opened your eyes against us. See, your creation has slain one of our beasts. A dragon which we ourselves opened our eyes to create. Cursed shall you be, mother of far meadows. I open mine eyes against you, that you may no longer be as one of us. That your eyes be scattered across the face of the earth, and that you no longer craft amalgamations against us.”

“Let us decide this day, that Livadi of Far Meadows shall live as creation and not creator. We will take her eyes, so that she may no longer open them to create new things. Let this BeeSheep be her final creation, and this slain dragon her only victory.”

At this proclamation, the digyr of the land agreed amongst themselves to take her eyes and scattered them across the face of the land so that they may not be found.

It was in those days that the digyr took Livadi of Far Meadows from her far meadows. Among the generations of my forefathers none have seen her.

And it is said that the BeeSheep whom she created roams the land, searching for his lost goddess even now. It is spoken of, hoped even, that one day he will find Livadi of Far Meadows, that they may be restored, and glorified in her presence once more, and judgement be proclaimed upon those who cast her sentence.

Translator’s Note – There are of course other manuscripts that tell a similar, but also very different narrative. Some have speculated the use and translation of the word leviathan for its roots in Ugaritic as well as an in ancient Hebrew texts. I however hold to them as appropriate transliteration. The Mesopotamian 42-C tablet is the oldest and perhaps most accurate to the origins and character of BeeSheep. The narratives that take place after the origin story of the world follow BeeSheep in many different adventures.