Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Intertextuality and Allusion 2 The Three Poems 3 The Study of Ancient Allusions 4 Competitive Strategies of Allusion 5 The Babylonian Literary Background 6 Structure of the Book 1 Allusions in Anzû 1 Introduction 2 The Re-shaping of Ninurta's Victories: Lugal-e and An-gin 3 New Names, New Identities 4 Lamentations 5 Reverse Intertextuality 6 Conclusions 2 Enuma elis and Anzû 1 Introduction 2 Marduk as the New Ninurta 3 The Tablet of Destinies 4 Poisonous Monsters, 'Poisonous' Arrows 5 Structural Imitations and Adaptations 6 Lord of Incantations 7 Conclusions 3 Enuma elis and Atraasis 1 Introduction 2 Destructions: The Dethroning of Enlil 3 Creations: Superseding Ea 4 Conclusions 4 Enuma elis and Lugal-e 1 Introduction 2 Elements of the Battle 3 Establishing Order 4 Conclusions 5 Erra and Isum : Allusions to Anzû and Lugal - e 1 Introduction 2 Anzû: The Background 3 Erra as Anzû 4 Isum as Ninurta 5 sar-ur Divides 6 Isum the Door 7 Where Is the Young Hero? 8 Conclusions 6 Overturning the Old Order: Erra and Isum and Enuma elis , Atraasis , and Gilgames 1 Introduction 2 Enuma elis 3 The Deluge 4 Disturbed Sleep 5 A Time before the Flood 6 Marduk's Defeat and Erra's Victory 7 Conclusions 7 Erra and Isum and Lamentations 1 Introduction 2 Erra and Isum and the Lamentation over the Destruction of Sumer and Ur 3 The Functions of Lamentation and Praise 4 Conclusions Conclusion--a Self-Conscious Tradition 1 The Consequences of Competition 2 Implications for Literary History 3 The Power of Intertextuality References Index.