Eternal Memory🔊

During the dawn of civilization in ancient Sumer, there lived a humble cobbler named Enlil. Deft with his hands but barely literate, Enlil was a man of simplicity, yet he yearned for knowledge and wisdom.

One day, an older man stumbled into his shop. The man, Nusku, was known far and wide as a scholar, an ardent devotee of the Sumerian goddess of writing and wisdom, Nisaba. Stricken by a sudden illness, Nusku needed a pair of comfortable shoes for his pilgrimage to the temple of Nisaba. Enlil, sensing an opportunity, proposed a deal. In exchange for the shoes, Nusku was to teach Enlil the art of writing.

Nusku agreed, and thus Enlil embarked on his journey of intellect. Using clay tablets, Nusku painstakingly taught Enlil the cuneiform script. Despite initial struggles, Enlil's yearning for knowledge drove him to spend countless hours deciphering the complex characters.

As time passed, Enlil's acumen and understanding expanded. His literacy sparked philosophical questions, enriching his conversations and transforming him into a respected figure in the community. People from different regions started to visit his small cobble shop not to buy shoes, but to discuss wisdom and share knowledge.

Meanwhile, Nusku's health deteriorated. On his deathbed, he gifted Enlil his prized possession - a grand library composed of hundreds of clay tablets. Enlil cherished these gifts, and dedicated himself to ink the words Nusku had not finished.

The cobbler turned scholar, now a custodian of wisdom, recognized the fragility of clay tablets. The knowledge they contained could be lost to time and calamity. Fired by an ambition to immortalise this wisdom, Enlil set about another challenge. His plan was to etch upon an obelisk, a monumental tower of imperishable stone.

Enlil's quest continued and expanded. He sourced granite from afar, commissioned the finest stonemasons, and coordinated efforts to erect the obelisk. Thereafter, he began the laborious and intricate process of engraving each revered symbol by hand.

Upon completion, the obelisk stood as a beacon of knowledge, a timeless testament of ancient wisdom. Generations passed, and Enlil’s legacy lived on, immortalised through stone. His name was forgotten in time, but his work - the grand obelisk - endured, carrying forward the knowledge of his time.

Years later, the obelisk was rediscovered by a culture far advanced from Enlil's time. The archeologists marveling at the obelisk found themselves awed by the rich, historical text etched into its imperishable surface. Enlil’s effort wasn’t in vain. He had achieved more than literacy or the prestige of wisdom. He had secured knowledge for posterity, making it endure the ravages of time.

The story of Enlil serves as a poignant testimonial to the lengths humanity can go to preserve wisdom. From a humble cobbler in the heart of ancient Sumer to a venerable scholar and a custodian of wisdom, his journey is a testament to human perseverance and the enduring power of knowledge.