ADAPA, MYTH OF. Adapa was a legendary sage, a citizen of Eridu, a city of Babylonia. Endowed with vast intelligence by the God Ea, he became the hero of the Eridu myth of the Fall of Man. Adapa, in spite of his possession of all wisdom was denied immortality, and one day, while fishing, the south wind blew so violently that he was thrown into the sea. In his rage he broke the wings of the south wind which then blow. Anu, the god of heaven, summoned him before his gates to receive punishment, but jealous Ea (god of wisdom) cautioned him not to touch the bread and water which would be offered him. When Adapa came before Anu, Tammuz and Gishzida interceded for him and ex plained to the god of heaven that as Adapa had been endowed with omniscience he needed only immortality to become a god ; Anu then offered Adapa the bread and water of eternal life, which he refused to take. Thus mankind became mortal. (See The Cain bridge Ancient History, vol. i.