Adapa as explanation for man's mortality

Adapa is oftentimes depicted as the reason why humans are mortal, but wise (allegedly). Adapa was known as "wise" and "the sage."^[1] His wisdom was said to be provided by Enki, even though he was punished by An for having it. Adapa was allegedly tricked into taking bread and water offered by An instead of immortality. According to Jeremy Black, this is the case.

"According to Babylonian legend, Adapa was
the ancient `wise man' or `sage' (apkallu) of
Eridu, the reputed earliest city of Sumer (see
Seven Sages). His wisdom and position had
been granted him by the god Ea (Enki). Having
'broken the wings' of the south wind, Adapa
was summoned for punishment by the supreme
god Anu (An). Ea had told Adapa that he
would be offered the bread and water of death.
Meanwhile, though, the two gatekeepers of
heaven, Dumuzi and Giszida (Ningiszida),
had interceded with Anu on Adapa's behalf,
causing a change of heart. Anu instead offered
the sage the bread and water of eternal life.
Adapa refused, thus losing the chance of immortality.
The story is often regarded as an
explanatory myth of the mortality of man."^[2]

Adapa may therefore be considered the person responsible for man's immortality according to the Babylonian tradition.