The Enûma Eliš (Akkadian Cuneiform: 𒂊𒉡𒈠𒂊𒇺) is the Babylonian creation myth (named after its opening words). It was recovered by Austen Henry Layard in 1849 (in fragmentary form) in the ruined Library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh (Mosul, Iraq), and published by George Smith in 1876.