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© Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 The ETCSL project, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford |
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| ETCSLtranslation |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 The great prince fixed a string to the hoe, and organised brick moulds. He penetrated the …… like precious oil. Enki placed in charge of them him whose sharp-bladed hoe is a corpse-devouring snake that ……, whose brick mould in place is a tidy stack of hulled grain for the ewes -- Kulla, who …… bricks in the Land. |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 "May he destroy the lands as a snake in a crevice. May he make them slither around like a saĝkal snake coming down from a mountain. May he establish control over the mountain, examine it and know its length. May he go out on the holy campaign of An and know its depth. I want to surpass the other deities, since the Anuna deities have ……." |
| Dumuzid and Ĝeštin-ana: c.1.4.1.1 The lad raises his hands heavenward to Utu: "O Utu, I am your friend, I am a youth. Do you recognise me? Your sister, whom I married, descended to the underworld. Because she descended to the underworld, it was me that she was to hand over to the underworld as a substitute. O Utu, you are a just judge, don't disappoint me! Change my hands, alter my appearance, so that I may escape the clutches of my demons! Don't let them seize me! Like a saĝkal snake that slithers across the meadows and mountains, let me escape alive to the dwelling of my sister Ĝeštin-ana." |
| Dumuzid and Ĝeštin-ana: c.1.4.1.1 Utu accepted his tears. He changed his hands, he altered his appearance. Then like a saĝkal snake that slithers across the meadows and mountains, like a soaring falcon that can swoop down on a live (?) bird, Dumuzid escaped alive to the dwelling of his sister Ĝeštin-ana. Ĝeštin-ana looked at her brother. She scratched at her cheek: she scratched at her nose. She looked at her sides: she …… her garment. She recited a lament of misfortune for the unfortunate lad: "O my brother! O my brother, lad who has not fulfilled those days! O my brother, shepherd Ama-ušumgal-ana, lad who has not fulfilled those days and years! O my brother, lad who has no wife, who has no children! O my brother, lad who has no friend, who has no companion! O my brother, the lad who is not a comfort (?) to his mother!" |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Dumuzid let out a wail and wept. The lad raised his hands to heaven, to Utu: "Utu, you are my brother-in-law. I am your relation by marriage. I brought butter to your mother's house. I brought milk to Ningal's house. Turn my hands into snake's hands and turn my feet into snake's feet, so I can escape my demons, let them not keep hold of me." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Utu accepted his tears. { (1 ms. adds 1 line:) Dumuzid's demons could not keep hold of him. } Utu turned Dumuzid's hands into snake's hands. He turned his feet into snake's feet. Dumuzid escaped his demons. { (1 ms. adds 1 line:) Like a saĝkal snake he ……. } They seized ……. (2 lines fragmentary)Holy Inana …… her heart. |
| Dumuzid's dream: c.1.4.3 "Utu, you are my brother-in-law, I am your sister's husband! I am he who carries food to E-ana, I am he who brought the wedding gifts to Unug, I am he who kisses the holy lips, I am he who dances on the holy knees, the knees of Inana. Please change my hands into { gazelle } { (1 ms. has instead:) snake } hands, change my feet into { gazelle } { (1 ms. has instead:) snake } feet, so I can escape to the house of Old Woman Belili." |
| Dumuzid's dream: c.1.4.3 Utu accepted his tears. He changed his hands into { gazelle } { (1 ms. has instead:) snake } hands, he changed his feet into { gazelle } { (1 ms. has instead:) snake } feet, so he evaded the demons and escaped with his life to the house of Old Woman Belili. He approached the house of Old Woman Belili. |
| Dumuzid's dream: c.1.4.3 Utu accepted his tears. He changed his hands into { gazelle } { (1 ms. has instead:) snake } hands, he changed his feet into { gazelle } { (1 ms. has instead:) snake } feet, so he evaded the demons, and escaped with his life to the holy sheepfold, his sister's sheepfold. He approached the holy sheepfold, his sister's sheepfold. Ĝeštin-ana cried toward heaven, cried toward earth. Her cries covered the horizon completely like a cloth, they were spread out like linen. She lacerated her eyes, she lacerated her face, she lacerated her ears in public; in private she lacerated her buttocks. |
| Ninurta's exploits: a šir-sud (?) to Ninurta: c.1.6.2 { (1 ms. adds before line 1:) An, king of the gods, majestic one: } O king, storm of majestic splendour, peerless Ninurta, possessing superior strength; who pillages the mountains all alone; deluge, indefatigable serpent hurling yourself at the rebel land, hero striding formidably into battle; lord whose powerful arm is fit to bear the mace, reaping like barley the necks of the insubordinate; Ninurta, king, son in whose strength his father rejoices; hero whose awesomeness covers the mountains like a south storm; Ninurta, who makes the good tiara, the rainbow (?), flash like lightning; grandly begotten by him who wears the princely beard; dragon who turns on himself, strength of a lion snarling at a snake, roaring hurricane; Ninurta, king, whom Enlil has exalted above himself; hero, great battle-net flung over the foe; Ninurta, with the awesomeness of your shadow extending over the Land; releasing fury on the rebel lands, overwhelming their assemblies! Ninurta, king, son who has forced homage to his father far and wide! |
| Ninurta's exploits: a šir-sud (?) to Ninurta: c.1.6.2 "Hero, pitfall (?), net of battle, Ninurta, king, celestial mace …… irresistible against the enemy, vigorous one, tempest which rages against the rebel lands, wave which submerges the harvest, king, you have looked on battles, you have …… in the thick of them. Ninurta, after gathering the enemy in a battle-net, after erecting a great reed-altar, lord, heavenly serpent, purify your pickaxe and your mace! Ninurta, I will enumerate the names of the warriors you have already slain: the Kuli-ana, the Dragon, the Gypsum, the Strong Copper, the hero Six-headed Wild Ram, the Magilum Boat, Lord Saman-ana, the Bison Bull, the Palm-tree King, the Anzud bird, the Seven-headed Snake -- Ninurta, you slew them in the mountains." |
| Ninurta's exploits: a šir-sud (?) to Ninurta: c.1.6.2 The Asag leapt up at the head of the battle. For a club it uprooted the sky, took it in its hand; like a snake it slid its head along the ground. It was a mad dog attacking to kill the helpless, dripping with sweat on its flanks. Like a wall collapsing, the Asag fell on Ninurta, the son of Enlil. Like an accursed storm, it howled in a raucous voice; like a gigantic snake, it roared at the Land. It dried up the waters of the mountains, dragged away the tamarisks, tore the flesh of the Earth and covered her with painful wounds. It set fire to the reedbeds, bathed the sky in blood, turned it inside out; it dispersed the people there. At that moment, on that day, the fields became black scum, across the whole extent of the horizon, reddish like purple dye -- truly it was so! An was overwhelmed, crouched, wrung his hands against his stomach; Enlil groaned and hid himself in a corner, the Anuna flattened themselves against walls, the house was full of fearful sighing as of pigeons. The Great Mountain Enlil cried to Ninlil: |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 The woman planted the tree with her feet, but not with her hands. The woman watered it using her feet but not her hands. She said: "When will this be a luxuriant chair on which I can take a seat?" She said: "When this will be a luxuriant bed on which I can lie down?" Five years, 10 years went by, the tree grew massive; its bark, however, did not split. At its roots, a snake immune to incantations made itself a nest. In its branches, the Anzud bird settled its young. In its trunk, the phantom maid built herself a dwelling, the maid who laughs with a joyful heart. But holy Inana cried! |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 "I, the woman, planted the tree with my feet, but not with my hands. I, { Inana } { (1 ms. has instead:) the woman }, watered it using my feet but not my hands. She said: "When will this be a luxuriant chair on which I can take a seat?" She said: "When will this be a luxuriant bed on which I can lie down?" Five years, 10 years had gone by, the tree had grown massive; its bark, however, did not split. At its roots, a snake immune to incantations made itself a nest. In its branches, the Anzud bird settled its young. In its trunk, the phantom maid built herself a dwelling, the maid who laughs with a joyful heart. But holy Inana cried!" Her brother, the young warrior Utu, however, did not stand by her in the matter. |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 "The woman planted the tree with her feet, but not with her hands. Inana watered it using her feet but not her hands. She said: "When will this be a luxuriant chair on which I can take a seat?" She said: "When will this be a luxuriant bed on which I can lie down?" Five years, 10 years had gone by, the tree had grown massive; its bark, however, did not split. At its roots, a snake immune to incantations made itself a nest. In its branches, the Anzud bird settled its young. In its trunk, the phantom maid built herself a dwelling, the maid who laughs with a joyful heart. But { holy Inana } { (1 ms. has instead:) I, holy Inana, } cried!" In the matter which his sister had told him about, her brother, the warrior Gilgameš, stood by her. |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 He { strapped } { (1 ms. has instead:) …… } his …… belt of 50 minas weight to his waist -- 50 minas were to him as 30 shekels. He took his bronze axe used for expeditions, which weighs seven talents and seven minas, in his hand. He killed the snake immune to incantations living at its roots. The Anzud bird living in its branches took up its young and went into the mountains. The phantom maid living in its trunk left (?) her dwelling and sought refuge in the wilderness. As for the tree, he uprooted it and stripped its branches, and the sons of his city, who went with him, cut up its branches and { bundled them } { (1 ms. has instead:) piled them up }. He gave it to his sister holy Inana for her chair. He gave it to her for her bed. As for himself, from its roots, he manufactured his ball (?) and, from its branches, he manufactured his mallet (?). |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 Utu accepted his tears as a fitting gift. As befits a compassionate person, he turned to him full of compassion: "Now there are seven warriors, sons of a single mother. The first, their eldest brother, has lion's paws and eagle's talons. The second is a …… snake, ……. The third is a dragon snake, ……. The fourth blazes with fire ……. The fifth is a …… snake, ……. The sixth { (1 ms. adds:), a shackle that …… the rebel lands in the hills, } beats at the flanks of the mountains { like a battering flood } { (1 ms. has instead:), floodwater that destroys all }. The seventh …… flashes like lightning, and no one can deflect { it } { (1 ms. has instead:) its power }. { (1 ms. adds 4 lines:) (4 lines fragmentary) } { (another ms. adds instead 6 lines:) (2 lines fragmentary) …… kingship ……. Nisaba has bestowed …… on you in addition. They ……, and know the routes on earth. They will help you find the …… of the way. } They should guide you to the place in the mountains where the boats have to be pulled from the water! { The warrior, youthful Utu, gave these seven to Gilgameš. } { (3 mss. have instead the line, placed after line 43:) These seven the warrior, youthful Utu, gave to Lord Gilgameš. } The feller of cedars was filled with joy; Lord Gilgameš was filled with joy." |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 When Ḫuwawa had finally handed over to him his seventh terror, Gilgameš found himself beside Ḫuwawa. He { went up to him gradually } { (1 ms. has instead:) …… } from behind, as one does with a …… snake. He made as if to kiss him, but then punched him on the cheek with his fist. |
| Lugalbanda in the mountain cave: c.1.8.2.1 Lugalbanda, the eighth of them, …… was washed in water. In awed silence he went forward, …… he marched with the troops. When they had covered half the way, covered half the way, a sickness befell him there, 'head sickness' befell him. He jerked like a snake dragged by its head with a reed; his mouth bit the dust, like a gazelle caught in a snare. No longer could his hands return the hand grip, no longer could he lift his feet high. Neither king nor contingents could help him. In the great mountains, crowded together like a dustcloud over the ground, they said: "Let them bring him to Unug." But they did not know how they could bring him." Let them bring him to Kulaba." But they did not know how they could bring him. As his teeth chattered (?) in the cold places of the mountains, they brought him to a warm place there. |
| Lugalbanda in the mountain cave: c.1.8.2.1 "Inana, if only this were my home, if only this were my city! If only this were Kulaba, the city in which my mother bore me ……! Even if it were to me as the waste land to a snake! If it were to me as a crack in the ground to a scorpion! My mighty people ……! My great ladies ……! …… to E-ana!" (2 lines unclear)"The little stones of it, the shining stones in their glory, saĝkal stones above, …… below, from its crying out in the mountain land Zabu, from its voice …… open -- may my limbs not perish in the mountains of the cypresses!" |
| Lugalbanda in the mountain cave: c.1.8.2.1 "King whom one cannot reach in the distant sky! Suen whom one cannot reach in the distant sky! King who loves justice, who hates evil! Suen who loves justice, who hates evil! Justice brings joy justly to your heart. A poplar, a great staff, forms a sceptre for you, you who loosen the bonds of justice, who do not loosen the bonds of evil. If you encounter evil before you, it is dragged away behind ……. When your heart becomes angry, you spit your venom at evil like a snake which drools poison." |
| Lugalbanda in the mountain cave: c.1.8.2.1 "Who will slaughter (?) a brown wild bull for me? Who will make its fat melt for me? He shall take my axe whose metal is tin, he shall wield my dagger which is of iron. Like an athlete I shall let him bring away the brown wild bull, the wild bull of the mountains, I shall let him like a wrestler make it submit. Its strength will leave it. When he offers it before the rising sun, let him heap up like barleycorns the heads of the brown goat and the buck-goat, both the goats; when he has poured out their blood in the pit -- let their smell waft out in the desert so that the alert snakes of the mountains will sniff it." |
| Lugalbanda in the mountain cave: c.1.8.2.1 Lugalbanda awoke -- it was a dream. He shivered -- it was sleep. He rubbed his eyes, he was overawed. He took his axe whose metal was tin, he wielded his dagger which was of iron. Like an athlete he brought away the brown wild bull, the wild bull of the mountains, like a wrestler he made it submit. Its strength left it. He offered it before the rising sun. He heaped up like barleycorns the heads of the brown goat and the buck-goat, both of the goats. He poured out their blood in the pit so that their smell wafted out in the desert. The alert snakes of the mountains sniffed it. |
| Lugalbanda and the Anzud bird: c.1.8.2.2 Now the splendid 'eagle'-tree of Enki on the summit of Inana's mountain of multicoloured cornelian stood fast on the earth like a tower, all shaggy like an aru. With its shade it covered the highest eminences of the mountains like a cloak, was spread out over them like a tunic. Its roots rested like saĝkal snakes in Utu's river of the seven mouths. Nearby, in the mountains where no cypresses grow, where no snake slithers, where no scorpion stings, in the midst of the mountains the buru-az bird had put its nest and laid therein its eggs; nearby the Anzud bird had set his nest and settled therein his young. It was made with wood from the juniper and the box trees. The bird had made the bright twigs into a bower. When at daybreak the bird stretches himself, when at sunrise Anzud cries out, at his cry the ground quakes in the Lulubi mountains. He has a shark's teeth and an eagle's claws. In terror of him wild bulls run away into the foothills, stags run away into their mountains. |
| Lugalbanda and the Anzud bird: c.1.8.2.2 Then the men of Unug followed them as one man; they wound their way through the hills like a snake over a grain-pile. When the city was only a double-hour distant, the armies of Unug and Kulaba encamped by the posts and ditches that surrounded Aratta. From the city it rained down javelins as if from the clouds, slingstones numerous as the raindrops falling in a whole year whizzed down loudly from Aratta's walls. The days passed, the months became long, the year turned full circle. A yellow harvest grew beneath the sky. They looked askance at the fields. Unease came over them. Slingstones numerous as the raindrops falling in a whole year landed on the road. They were hemmed in by the barrier of mountain thornbushes thronged with dragons. No one knew how to go back to the city, no was rushing to go back to Kulaba. In their midst Enmerkar son of Utu was afraid, was troubled, was disturbed by this upset. He sought someone whom he could send back to the city, he sought someone whom he could send back to Kulaba. No one said to him "I will go to the city." No one said to him "I will go to Kulaba." He went out to the foreign host. No one said to him "I will go to the city." No one said to him "I will go to Kulaba." He stood before the élite troops. No one said to him "I will go to the city." No one said to him "I will go to Kulaba." A second time he went out to the foreign host. No one said to him "I will go to the city." No one said to him "I will go to Kulaba." He stepped out before the élite troops. |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 "Chant to him the holy song, the incantation sung in its chambers -- the incantation of Nudimmud: "On that day when there is no snake, when there is no scorpion, when there is no hyena, when there is no lion, when there is neither dog nor wolf, when there is thus neither fear nor trembling, man has no rival! At such a time, may the lands of Šubur and Ḫamazi, the many-tongued, and Sumer, the great mountain of the me of magnificence, and Akkad, the land possessing all that is befitting, and the Martu land, resting in security -- the whole universe, the well-guarded people -- may they all address Enlil together in a single language! For at that time, for the ambitious lords, for the ambitious princes, for the ambitious kings, Enki, for the ambitious lords, for the ambitious princes, for the ambitious kings, for the ambitious lords, for the ambitious princes, for the ambitious kings -- Enki, the lord of abundance and of steadfast decisions, the wise and knowing lord of the Land, the expert of the gods, chosen for wisdom, the lord of Eridug, shall change the speech in their mouths, as many as he had placed there, and so the speech of mankind is truly one."" |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 "This is what my master has spoken, this is what he has said. My king who from his birth has been fitted { for lordship } { (1 ms. has instead:) for the crown }, the lord of Unug, the saĝkal snake living in Sumer, who pulverises { mountains } { (2 mss. have instead:) heads } like flour, the stag of the tall mountains, endowed with princely antlers, wild cow, kid pawing the holy soapwort with its hoof, whom the good cow had given birth to in the heart of the mountains, Enmerkar, the son of Utu, has sent me to you." { (2 mss. add here:) (the lord of Aratta speaks): "What is it to me what your master has spoken? what is it to me what he has said?" } "This is what my master said: "Lest I make the people fly off from that city like a wild dove from its tree, lest I make them fly around like a bird over its well-founded nest, lest I requite (?) them as if at a current market rate, lest I make it gather dust like an utterly destroyed city, lest like a settlement cursed by Enki and utterly destroyed, I too utterly destroy Aratta; lest like the devastation which swept destructively, and in whose wake Inana arose, shrieked and yelled aloud, I too wreak a sweeping devastation there -- let Aratta pack nuggets of gold in leather sacks, placing alongside it the kugmea ore; package up precious metals, and load the packs on the donkeys of the mountains; and then may the Junior Enlil of Sumer have them build for me, the lord whom Nudimmud has chosen in his sacred heart, a mountain of a shining me; have them make it luxuriant for me like a boxwood tree, have them make its shining horns colourful for me as when Utu comes forth from his chamber, have them make its doorposts gleam brightly for me. Chant to him for me the holy song, the incantation sung in its chambers -- the Incantation of Nudimmud."" |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 After he had spoken to him thus, the messenger set off, ulum, alam. In brick-built Kulaba, he was speechless, like a ……. He gazed like a goat on the mountain slopes, he …… as if it were a huge mir snake coming out from the brambles. In …… he lifted his head. …… of Aratta ……. From his seat, he addressed him like a raging torrent: |
| The cursing of Agade: c.2.1.5 "May foxes that frequent ruin mounds brush with their tails your uzga precinct, established for purification ceremonies! May the ukuku, the bird of depression, make its nest in your gateways, established for the Land! In your city that could not sleep because of the tigi drums, that could not rest from its joy, may the bulls of Nanna that fill the pens bellow like those who wander in the desert, the silent place! May the grass grow long on your canal-bank tow-paths, may the grass of mourning grow on your highways laid for waggons! Moreover, may …… wild rams (?) and alert snakes of the mountains allow no one to pass on your tow-paths built up with canal sediment! In your plains where fine grass grows, may the reed of lamentation grow! { Agade, may brackish water flow } { (1 ms. has instead:) May brackish water flow in the river, } where fresh water flowed for you! If someone decides," I will dwell in this city!", may he not enjoy the pleasures of a dwelling place! If someone decides," I will rest in Agade!", may he not enjoy the pleasures of a resting place!" |
| The cursing of Agade: c.2.1.5 And before Utu on that very day, so it was! On its canal bank tow-paths, the grass grew long. On its highways laid for waggons, the grass of mourning grew. Moreover, on its tow-paths built up with canal sediment, …… wild rams (?) and alert snakes of the mountains allowed no one to pass. On its plains, where fine grass grew, now the reeds of lamentation grew. Agade's flowing fresh water flowed as brackish water. When someone decided," I will dwell in that city!", he could not enjoy the pleasures of a dwelling place. When someone decided," I will rest in Agade!", he could not enjoy the pleasures of a resting place! |
| The victory of Utu-ḫeĝal: c.2.1.6 Enlil, the king of all the lands, entrusted Utu-ḫeĝal, the mighty man, the king of Unug, the king of the four quarters, the king whose orders cannot be countermanded, with wiping out the name of Gutium, the fanged (?) snake of the mountains, who acted with violence against the gods, who carried off the kingship of Sumer to foreign lands, who filled Sumer with wickedness, who took away spouses from the married and took away children from parents, who made wickedness and violence normal in the Land. |
| The victory of Utu-ḫeĝal: c.2.1.6 Then Tirigan the king of Gutium ran away alone on foot. He thought himself safe in Dabrum, where he fled to save his life; but since the people of Dabrum knew that Utu-ḫeĝal was a king endowed with power by Enlil, they did not let Tirigan go, and an envoy of Utu-ḫeĝal arrested Tirigan together with his wife and children in Dabrum. He put handcuffs and a blindfold on him. Before Utu, Utu-ḫeĝal made him lie at his feet and placed his foot on his neck. He made Gutium, the fanged (?) snake of the mountains drink again from the crevices (?), he ……, he …… and he …… boat. He brought back the kingship of Sumer. |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 "Like a fierce snake, I built E-ḫuš, my fierce place, in a dread location. When my heart gets angry at a land that rebels against me -- unutterable idea (?) -- it will produce venom for me like a snake that dribbles poison." |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 As they placed wooden beams on the house, they looked like dragons of the abzu coming out all together, they were like …… of heaven ……, they were like huge serpents of the foothills ……. The reeds cut for the house were like mountain snakes sleeping together. Its upper parts were covered with luxuriant cedar and cypress, and they put white cedars in its inner room of cedar, marvellous to behold. They treated them with good perfume and precious oil. The mud-wall of the house was covered with the abundance (?) of the abzu and they tied its …… to it. The shrine of E-ninnu was thus placed in the …… hand of An. |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 The built-in door-sockets of the house are laḫama deities standing by the abzu. Its timber store (?) looks like waves (?) of an enormous lagoon where snakes have dived (?) into the water. Its …… is …… full of fearsomeness. Its …… is a light floating in the midst of heaven. On the Gate where the King Enters an eagle is raising its eyes toward a wild bull. Its curved wooden posts joining above the gate are a rainbow stretching over the sky. Its upper lintel of the gate like (?) the E-ninnu stands among rumbling, roaring storms. Its awe-inspiring eyebrow-shaped arch (?) meets the admiring eyes of the gods. His white dais …… of the house is a firmly founded lapis lazuli mountain connecting heaven and earth. |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 The cedar doors installed in the house are Iškur roaring above. The locks of the E-ninnu are bisons, its door-pivots are lions, from its bolts horned vipers and fierce snakes are hissing at wild bulls. Its jambs, against which the door leaves close, are young lions and panthers lying on their paws. |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 Gudea, the ruler in charge of building the house, the ruler of Lagaš, presented it with the chariot "It makes the mountains bow down", which carries awesome radiance and on which great fearsomeness rides and with its donkey stallion, Ud-gu-dugduga, to serve before it; with the seven-headed mace, the fierce battle weapon, the weapon unbearable both for the North and for the South, with a battle cudgel, with the mitum mace, with the lion-headed weapon made from nir stone, which never turns back before the highlands, with dagger blades, with nine standards, with the "strength of heroism", with his bow which twangs like a meš forest, with his angry arrows which whizz like lightning flashes in battle, and with his quiver, which is like a lion, a piriĝ lion, or a fierce snake sticking out its tongue -- strengths of battle imbued with the power of kingship. |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 The temple towered upwards in full grandeur, unparallelled in fearsomeness and radiance. Like a boat it …… and ……. Its owner, the warrior Ninĝirsu, came out as the daylight on the dais of Ĝir-nun. Its …… resting on supports was like the blue sky in all its splendour. Its standards and their caps (?) were Ninĝirsu himself emanating fearsomeness; their leather straps stretched out in front of them were green snake-eater birds bathing. Its owner, the warrior Ninĝirsu, stood like Utu in his most fascinating blue chariot. Its throne, standing in the guena hall, was An's holy seat which is sat upon joyfully. Its bed, standing in the bedroom, was a young cow kneeling down in its sleeping place. On its holy quilt (?), strewn with fresh herbs, Mother Bau was resting comfortably with Lord Ninĝirsu. |
| The lament for Sumer and Urim: c.2.2.3 Keš, built all alone on the high open country, was haunted. Adab, the settlement which stretches out along the river, { was treated as a rebellious land. } { (1 ms. has instead:) was deprived of water. } The snake of the mountains made his lair there, it became a rebellious land. The Gutians bred there, issued their seed. Nintur wept bitter tears over her creatures." Alas, the destroyed city, my destroyed house," she cried bitterly. In Zabalam the sacred Giguna was haunted. Inana abandoned Unug and went off to enemy territory. In the E-ana the enemy set eyes upon the sacred Ĝipar shrine. The sacred Ĝipar of en priesthood was defiled. Its en priest was snatched from the Ĝipar and carried off to enemy territory." Alas, the destroyed city, my destroyed house," she cried bitterly. |
| A praise poem of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma C): c.2.4.1.3 I am Ur-Namma, king of Urim, the protecting genius of my city. I strike against those guilty of capital offences, and make them tremble. The fear I cause ……. My judgments make Sumer and Akkad follow a single path. I place my foot on the necks of thieves and criminals. I clamp down on evildoers, who will be caught like snakes. I …… fugitives, and their intentions will be set right. I make justice apparent; I defeat wickedness. As if I were fire, even my frowning is enough to create concord. My word ……. …… the lands, the foreign countries …… Urim ……. Their food offerings make Nanna rejoice in E-kiš-nu-ĝal. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi A): c.2.4.2.01 I, the lion, never failing in his vigour, standing firm in his strength, fastened the small niĝlam garment firmly to my hips. Like a pigeon anxiously fleeing from a …… snake, I spread my wings; like the Anzud bird lifting its gaze to the mountains, I stretched forward my legs. The inhabitants of the cities which I had founded in the Land lined up for me; the black-headed people, as numerous as ewes, looked at me with sweet admiration. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi C): c.2.4.2.03 I am a shepherd who, apart from being one who always makes the right decisions on what he has sworn, is also fully able to re-establish …… in the Land and to …… forcefully the house of the rebel lands; who grasps hold of the righteous as if they were great bulls, and who darts (?) out his tongue at the wicked like a snake in a terrifying place. I never frighten the just, and I never …… the evil. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi D): c.2.4.2.04 "I, the king, …… upon the foreign lands a mighty yoke …… of heroism ……, I subject their people to destruction. After setting my foot on the neck of the foreign lands, I make …… on the rebel lands. After knocking down …… like ……, and placing my foot on his head, I make him die amid dripping blood ……. Against their ……, my battle-axe gnashes and gnashes its teeth like a sharp-toothed beast. Against their ……, which are well fitted with …… axes of meteoric iron and …… gold ore, like a …… snake my mouth brings forth venom. I cut off from his strength the strong one who resorts to his strength. My …… against their warriors as if they were fish. …… the small net over their runners, I catch them like gazelles in the woods. Having …… like fire (?) against their tireless runners, I make them fall violently into a trap set with a net like wild asses. I place …… on their boastful ones in the battle. My fierce weapons pour forth venom into them like a serpent ready to bite. After tearing out the entrails of its …… who are still alive, I make the man coiling like an attacking …… snake sink his head in the dust, like an ailing, neglected (?) bull. I make their little ones who survive eat bitter dust as long as they live, like the locust which consumes everything." |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi D): c.2.4.2.04 Like a saĝkal snake, he roars against the …… of hostile foreign lands ……. The king, roaring like a rising flood against the rebel lands, Šulgi, roaring like a rising flood against the rebel lands, embraces Gilgameš, his brother and friend, his comrade, as one who was born ……, and he walks along the road together with Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi E): c.2.4.2.05 I did not lie in ambush, like a fierce cheetah, against the rebel and hostile lands, the aggressive foreign lands, in order to establish my renown as far as the horizon with the power of my master Enlil, and to transmit my lasting fame of victories to the distant future. I did not come out of a hole like a scorpion. Instead I left my main forces at my side, and went ahead of my scouts. As I repelled the tribal Gutians, the bandits of the hills, like a …… snake I made my fearsomeness reach afar. |
| Šulgi and Ninlil's barge: a tigi (?) to Ninlil (Šulgi R): c.2.4.2.18 Your woven …… is ……. Your covering reed-mats are the daylight spreading wide over the holy settlements. Your timbers are sniffing (?) …… reptiles crouching on their paws. Your punting poles are dragons sleeping a sweet sleep in their lair. Your strakes (?) are …… snakes, ……. Your floor-planks are flood-currents, sparkling altogether in the pure Euphrates. Your side-planks, which are fastened into their fixed places (?) with wooden rings (?), are a stairway leading to a mountain spring (?), a …… filled with ……. Your holy …… are persisting and firmly founded abundance. Your bench is a lofty dais erected in the midst of the abzu. Your …… is Aratta, full-laden with treasures. Your door, facing the sunrise, is a …… bird, carrying a …… in its talons while spreading wide its wings. |
| A tigi to Ninurta for Šulgi (Šulgi T): c.2.4.2.20 Lord, perfect warrior, beloved by ……. Ninurta, meš tree with a broad shining canopy, ……. Weapon striding into battle, …… foreign countries. A dragon with a terrifying face, venomous snake who …… its venom against the rebel lands. …… overpowering ……, foremost lion ……. Ninurta, who …… with the great prince Enki. My king, in your city, shrine Nibru, ……. E-šu-me-ša, where …… for you. Lord, the kingship is perfect with you ……. Adviser, the dragon of the Land, ……. Ninurta, the great wall of Nibru, ……. My king, whose divine powers cannot be scattered, warrior ……. Forceful lion, ……. King with the broad wisdom of heaven and earth, ……. Exalted sceptre rising above the Land, ……. Ninurta, who …… the enemy, ……. |
| A dedication of a statue (Šulgi V): c.2.4.2.22 In the E-kur, the great snake of the deep, ……, in Dur-an-ki, which lavishly …… the eternal divine powers, ……, Enlil determined a great fate from the womb for the long-enduring sapling of the brickwork founded by the princely one, Šulgi, who was born for a prosperous reign: "Make the people obedient, you enduring king of the multitudes!" |
| Išbi-Erra and Kindattu (Išbi-Erra B): c.2.5.1.2 (1 line fragmentary) He gave him ……, not implementing his strength. …… in princely style ……. He approached the enemy like a snake spitting venom and gall. He wiped …… in the …… of Sumer. …… Larsam, …… in the plain of Urim. …… great …… did not escape his power. The great mass of the enemy ……. Išbi-Erra ……. (1 line fragmentary) |
| An adab (?) to Enki for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan D): c.2.5.4.04 (2 lines fragmentary) The fates you determine are firm; you are the junior Enlil. You (?) distribute the divine powers for the Anuna, the great gods. You establish for them a habitation, a holy dwelling place; you are their proud lord. Your greatness is unapproachable ……. You (?) …… in a pure place the abzu, the mountain built with princely divine powers; …… Eridug, the shrine, which extends over huge marshes, marshes of snakes. |
| A hymn to Numušda for Sîn-iqīšam (Sîn-iqīšam A): c.2.6.7.1 Snarling lion fiercely poised for the fight, …… snake spitting roaring at the enemy, great dragon …… holy incantations, whose knees never cease from running! Fearsome flood which no one can withstand, overflowing high water engulfing the banks! (1 line unclear)God, creative (?) personage who has no rival, foremost in heroism, who can rival you? Numušda, your face is that of a lion, and you have a muzzle like that of a fearsome mušḫuš. |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 The false or true response, the sneer, to commit violence, to extend derision, to speak with hostility, to cause smiling and to be humbled or important, misfortune, hardship, grief, to make happy, to clarify and to darken, agitation, terror, panic, awesome brilliance and radiance, triumph, pursuit, imbasur illness, sleeplessness and restlessness, submission, gift, …… and howling, strife, chaos, opposition, fighting and speeding carnage, ……, to know everything, to strengthen for the distant future a nest built ……, to instill fear in the …… desert like a …… poisonous snake, to subdue the hostile enemy, …… and to hate …… are yours, Inana. |
| Nanše and the birds (Nanše C): c.4.14.3 (3 lines fragmentary) The misaz bird …… cries out ……. (1 line fragmentary) The snake-eater bird is green ……. Its wings …… a barge ……. The …… bird ……. The gubi bird ……. (5 lines fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A balbale to Ninĝišzida (Ninĝišzida A): c.4.19.1 Hero, lord of field and meadow, lion of the distant mountains! Ninĝišzida, who brings together giant snakes and dragons! Great wild bull who, in the murderous battle, is a flood that ……! Beloved by his mother, he to whom Ningirida gave birth from her luxurious body, who drank the good milk at her holy breast, who sucked in lion's spittle, who grew up in the abzu! August išib priest who holds the holy ešda vessels, checker of tablets, who secures justice ……! King, wild bull with tall limbs (?), who directs speech aright, and who hates wickedness! Mighty power, whom no one dare stop when he spreads confusion! Mighty Ninĝišzida, whom no one dare stop when he spreads confusion! |
| A balbale to Ninĝišzida (Ninĝišzida B): c.4.19.2 Lord, your mouth is that of { a pure magician } { (1 ms. has instead:) a snake with a great tongue, a magician } { (1 ms. has instead:) a poisonous snake }, Lord Ninĝišzida, ……! Ninĝišzida, your mouth is that of a pure magician, Lord Ninĝišzida, ……! My linen-clad one, when you ……, who can find out your intentions? Ninĝišzida, when you ……, who can find out your intentions? Your holy word is known to them that know it, but is unknown to them that do not know it. To them that do not know it, to them that do not know it, ……. Ninĝišzida, to them that do not know it, …… When your great word comes to the earth, you are indeed a { (1 ms. adds:) great } mušḫuš ……. |
| A šir-gida to Ninisina (Ninisina A): c.4.22.1 "My son, pay attention to everything medical! Damu, pay attention to everything medical! You will be praised for your diagnoses." Holy Ninisina performs for him her role as incantation priest, which Enki bestowed on her from the princely abzu. Because of the anxiety and intestinal disease which pursue mankind, this person writhes like a snake on scorching ground, hissing like a snake in waste ground, always calling out anew: "My heart! My stomach!" |
| A hymn to Nungal (Nungal A): c.4.28.1 "When someone has been brought into the palace of the king and this man is accused of a capital offence, my chief prosecutor, Nindimgul, stretches out his arm in accusation (?). He sentences that person to death, but he will not be killed; he snatches the man from the jaws of destruction and brings him into my house of life and keeps him under guard. No one wears clean clothes in my dusty (?) house. My house falls upon the person like a drunken man. He will be listening for fanged (?) snakes in the darkness of the house. My house gives birth to a just person, but exterminates a false one. Since there are pity and tears within its brick walls, and it is built with compassion, it soothes the heart of that person, and refreshes his spirits." |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 Ĝipar, princely shrine of the holy divine powers, shining like the …… sun, E-kiš-nu-ĝal, beaming moonlight which comes forth in the Land, broad light of midday which fills all lands, house, your platform is a great snake, a marsh of snakes. Your foundation is the abzu, fifty in number, and the engur, seven in number, a shrine which looks into the heart of the gods. Your prince, the prince who makes decisions, the crown of the wide heaven, the sovereign of heaven, Ašimbabbar, has erected a house in your precinct, O shrine Urim, and taken his seat upon your dais. |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 O house inspiring terror like a great lion, making as clear as day the decisions for those on the high plain, house of Iškur, at your front is abundance, at your rear is celebration. Your foundation is a horned bull, a lion. Holy staff, teat of heaven with rain for fine barley, the pilasters of your house are a wild bull with outspread horns, your ……, foundation and wall rising high, ……, thick cloud, …… snake, …… moonlight, …… Iškur, a sweeping flood, …… a storm and seven raging winds, ……, blowing raging winds, …… running from the ……, splits the …… hillside, diorite, stones and ……. (2 lines missing) (1 line fragmentary) |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 O E-ḫursaĝ (House which is a mountain) beautiful as greenery, …… (The Sumerian name of this city is unknown), your interior is plenitude. At the place where destiny is determined you determine destiny. May the crown bring joy to your platform. May your roots glisten like an immense saĝkal snake in your holy foundations. |
| The Keš temple hymn: c.4.80.2 House, 10 šar at its upper end, five šar at its lower end; house, 10 bur at its upper end, five bur at its lower end! House, at its upper end a bison, at its lower end a stag; house, at its upper end a wild sheep, at its lower end a deer; house, at its upper end a dappled wild sheep, at its lower end a beautiful deer! House, at its upper end green as a snake-eater bird, at its lower end floating on the water like a pelican! House, at its upper end rising like the sun, at its lower end spreading like the moonlight; house, at its upper end a warrior mace, at its lower end a battle-axe; house, at its upper end a mountain, at its lower end a spring! House, at its upper end threefold indeed! Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Keš? Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Ašgi? Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur? |
| The debate between Grain and Sheep: c.5.3.2 "Your shepherd on the high plain eyes my produce enviously; when I am standing in stalks in the field, my farmer chases away your herdsman with his cudgel. Even when they look out for you, from the open country to the hidden places, your fears are not removed from you: fanged (?) snakes and bandits, the creatures of the desert, want your life on the high plain." |
| The debate between Copper and Silver: c.5.3.6 "Silver, you are forgotten in the soil inside the house. A scared mouse in a silent house, …… -- Silver, the palace is not your station! An obscure place, a grave, such is your station. Silver, banquets are not your assigned task -- fasting is your assigned task. Silver, to make lead shine (?) is not an important achievement. The task of making divine statues is not likely to fall within your capabilities. Why do you keep attacking me like a dog? You snake, get back in the darkest part of the house and lie down in your grave!" |
| A diatribe against Engar-dug (Diatribe B): c.5.4.11 Engar-dug, blocked at the anus, …… speech, …… vomit (?)! A man without ……, a tail stuck in its mouth, ……, limping cripple who …… people in the broad streets! Choosing words carefully, weak, bragging and constantly shifty in his advice and counsel, …… the lamentation priest and snake-charmer ……, a disgraced reputation among the singers, a dog not producing sound from the lyre but emitting a battle-cry! ……, he sweeps (?) the house. He gives instructions, ……, and does not speak to ……, turning …… to evil ……. (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A diatribe against Engar-dug (Diatribe B): c.5.4.11 Engar-dug, your holy song is finished, your greatness ……, your insults …… the city squares, your lies are made obvious! ……, Engar-dug, ……, …… like a francolin ……, ……, the snake-charmer ……. (2 lines fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| He is a good seed of a dog (Diatribe C): c.5.4.12 (1 line fragmentary) A …… man bringing complaints ……. He is a bastard (?), ……. He does not …… -- may he follow an unfamiliar path! May he …… and walk among the thorns of the mountains! …… he does not come out ……. He …… and grasps wickedly ……. He crushes …… and sweeps over ……. Fit for his …… and judgment, …… in his advice, ……, loving ……, a snake-charmer, may he …… and not act with evil intent. |
| The home of the fish: c.5.9.1 ……, spotted (?) ……, my ĝiru (?) fish: may he also enter with you, my fish! The one that the children bring in ……, my salsal fish: may he also enter with you, my fish! The one with snake's eyes, a …… mouse's mouth, who …… on riverbanks, (approx. 8 lines fragmentary or missing) |
| The heron and the turtle: c.5.9.2 Then the quarrelsome turtle, he of the troublesome way, said: "I am going to pick a quarrel with the heron, the heron! I, the turtle, am going to pick a quarrel with the heron! I, whose eyes are snake's eyes, am going to pick a quarrel! I, whose mouth is a snake's mouth, am going to pick a quarrel! I, whose tongue is a snake's tongue, am going to pick a quarrel! I, whose bite is a puppy's bite, am going to pick a quarrel! With my slender hands and slender feet, I am going to pick a quarrel! I, the turtle -- an oven brick -- am going to pick a quarrel! I, who live in the vegetable gardens, am going to pick a quarrel! I, who like a digging tool spend my time in the mud, am going to pick a quarrel! I, an unwashed refuse-basket, am going to pick a quarrel!" |
| The heron and the turtle: c.5.9.2 "Then the quarrelsome turtle, he of the troublesome way, he whose eyes are snake's eyes, he of the troublesome way, he whose mouth is a snake's mouth, he of the troublesome way, he whose tongue is a snake's tongue, he of the troublesome way, he whose bite is a puppy's bite, he of the troublesome way, he with the slender hands and slender feet, the turtle -- an oven brick -- he of the troublesome way, he who lives in the vegetable gardens, he of the troublesome way, he who like a digging tool spends his time in the mud, he of the troublesome way, an unwashed refuse-basket, he of the troublesome way, the turtle, the trapper of birds, the setter of nets, overthrew my heron's construction of reeds." |
| Proverbs: collection 3: c.6.1.03 A lizard follows like a snake, like a ……. |
| Proverbs: from Urim: c.6.2.3 Let the snake find its deep hole, the scorpion its crevice, and the hyena its exit. |
| Proverbs: of unknown provenance: c.6.2.5 A snake charmer had a snake. He pulled out the tooth …… (1 line fragmentary) |
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