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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 Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 (The fox said to Ninḫursaĝa:) "I have been to Nibru, but Enlil ……. I have been to Urim, but Nanna ……. I have been to Larsam, but Utu ……. I have been to Unug, but Inana ……. I am seeking refuge with one who is ……." (7 lines fragmentary) |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 He built the sheepfolds, carried out their cleaning, made the cow-pens, bestowed on them the best fat and cream, and brought luxury to the gods' dining places. He made the plain, created for greenery, achieve prosperity. Enki placed in charge of all this the king, the good provider of E-ana, the friend of An, the beloved son-in-law of the youth Suen, the holy spouse of Inana the mistress, the lady of the great powers who allows sexual intercourse in the open squares of Kulaba -- Dumuzid-ušumgal-ana, the friend of An. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 Then, alone lacking any functions, the great woman of heaven, Inana, lacking any functions -- Inana came in to see her father Enki in his house, weeping to him, and making her complaint to him: |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 "Enlil left it in your hands to confirm the functions of the Anuna, the great gods. Why did you treat me, the woman, in an exceptional manner? I am holy Inana -- where are my functions?" |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 "But why did you treat me, the woman, in an exceptional manner? I am holy Inana -- where are my functions?" |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 Enki answered his daughter, holy Inana: "How have I disparaged you? Goddess, how have I disparaged you? How can I enhance you? Maiden Inana, how have I disparaged you? How can I enhance you? I made you speak as a woman with pleasant voice. I made you go forth ……. I covered …… with a garment. I made you exchange its right side and its left side. I clothed you in garments of women's power. I put women's speech in your mouth. I placed in your hands the spindle and the hairpin. I …… to you women's adornment. I settled on you the staff and the crook, with the shepherd's stick beside them." |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 "Maiden Inana, how have I disparaged you? How can I enhance you? Amongst the ominous ocurrences in the hurly-burly of battle, I shall make you speak vivifying words; and in its midst, although you are not an arabu bird"(a bird of ill omen), I shall make you speak ill-omened words also. I made you tangle straight threads; maiden Inana, I made you straighten out tangled threads. I made you put on garments, I made you dress in linen. I made you pick out the tow from the fibres, I made you spin with the spindle. I made you colour tufted (?) cloth with coloured threads. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 "Inana, you heap up human heads like piles of dust, you sow heads like seed. Inana, you destroy what should not be destroyed; you create what should not be created. You remove the cover from the šem drum of lamentations, Maiden Inana, while shutting up the tigi and adab instruments in their homes. You never grow weary with admirers looking at you. Maiden Inana, you know nothing of tying the ropes on deep wells." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 "Inana, …… it is I who ……. I, Inana, personally { intend to go to the abzu } { (1 ms. has instead:) intend to go to Eridug }. I shall utter a plea to Lord Enki. Like the sweet oil of the cedar, who will …… for my holy …… perfume? It shall never escape me that I have been neglected by him who has had sex." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 On that day the maiden Inana, holy Inana, directed her steps all by herself towards Enki's abzu in Eridug. On that day, he of exceptional knowledge, who knows the divine powers in heaven and earth, who from his own dwelling already knows the intentions of the gods, Enki, the king of the abzu, who, even before holy Inana had approached within six miles of { the abzu } { (1 ms. has instead:) the temple } in Eridug, knew all about her enterprise -- Enki spoke to his man, gave him instructions: "Come here, my man, listen to my words." (1 line fragmentary) (approx. 2 lines missing) |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 "…… she will drink, …… she will eat. Come here! ……. I will ……, …… do. The maiden …… the abzu and Eridug, Inana …… the abzu and Eridug ……. When the maiden Inana has entered the abzu and Eridug, when Inana has entered the abzu and Eridug, offer her butter cake to eat. Let her be served cool refreshing water. Pour beer for her, in front of the Lions' Gate, make her feel as if she is in her girlfriend's house, make her …… as a colleague. You are to welcome holy Inana at the holy table, at the table of An." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 After Enki had spoken thus to him, Isimud the minister followed his master's instructions closely. He let the maiden into the abzu and Eridug. He let Inana into the abzu and Eridug. When the maiden had entered the abzu and Eridug, when Inana had entered the abzu and Eridug, she got butter cake to eat. They poured cool refreshing water for her, and they gave her beer to drink, in front of the Lions' Gate. He made her feel as if she was in her girlfriend's house, and made her …… as a colleague. He welcomed holy Inana at the holy table, at the table of An. |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 So it came about that Enki and Inana were drinking beer together in the abzu, and enjoying the taste of sweet wine. The bronze aga vessels were filled to the brim, and the two of them started a competition, drinking from the bronze vessels of Uraš. (approx. 35 lines missing) |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 "I will give them to holy Inana, my daughter; may …… not ……." Holy Inana received heroism, power, wickedness, righteousness, the plundering of cities, making lamentations, rejoicing." In the name of my power, in the name of my abzu, I will give them to holy Inana, my daughter; may …… not ……." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Holy Inana received deceit, the rebel lands, kindness, being on the move, being sedentary." In the name of my power, in the name of my abzu, I will give them to holy Inana, my daughter; may …… not ……." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Holy Inana received the craft of the carpenter, the craft of the coppersmith, the craft of the scribe, the craft of the smith, the craft of the leather-worker, the craft of the fuller, the craft of the builder, the craft of the reed-worker." In the name of my power, in the name of my abzu, I will give them to holy Inana, my daughter; may …… not ……." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Holy Inana received wisdom, attentiveness, holy purification rites, the shepherd's hut, piling up glowing charcoals, the sheepfold, respect, awe, reverent silence." In the name of my power, in the name of my abzu, I will give them to holy Inana, my daughter; may …… not ……." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Holy Inana received the bitter-toothed (?) ……, the kindling of fire, the extinguishing of fire, hard work, ……, the assembled family, descendants." In the name of my power, in the name of my abzu, I will give them to holy Inana, my daughter; may …… not ……." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Holy Inana received strife, triumph, counselling, comforting, judging, decision-making." In the name of my power, in the name of my abzu, I will give them to holy Inana, my daughter; may …… not ……." Holy Inana received ……, ……, (approx. 78 lines missing) |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Enki spoke to the minister Isimud: "Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?" "Since she said that she would not yet depart from here for Unug Kulaba, that she would not yet depart from here to the place where Utu ……, can I still reach her?" But holy Inana had gathered up the divine powers and embarked onto the Boat of Heaven. The Boat of Heaven had already left the quay. As the effects of the beer cleared from him who had drunk beer, from him who had drunk beer, as the effects of the beer cleared from Father Enki who had drunk beer, the great lord Enki turned his attention to the …… building. The lord looked up at the abzu. King Enki turned his attention to Eridug. |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 The minister Isimud spoke to holy Inana: "My lady! Your father has sent me to you. Inana, your father has sent me to you. What your father said was very serious. What Enki spoke was very serious. His important words cannot be countermanded." Holy Inana replied to him: "What has my father said to you, what has he spoken? Why should his important words not be countermanded?" "My master has spoken to me, Enki has said to me: "Inana may travel to Unug, but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for me"." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Holy Inana spoke to the minister Isimud: "How could my father have changed what he said to me? How could he have altered his promise as far as I am concerned? How could he have discredited his important words to me? Was it falsehood that my father said to me, did he speak falsely to me? Has he sworn falsely by the name of his power and by the name of his abzu? Has he duplicitously sent you to me as a messenger?" Now as these words were still in her mouth, he got the enkum to seize hold of the Boat of Heaven. Holy Inana adressed her minister Ninšubur: "Come, my good minister of E-ana! My fair-spoken minister! My envoy of reliable words! Water has never touched your hand, water has never touched your feet!" |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 So Inana got hold again of the divine powers which had been presented to her, and the Boat of Heaven; and then for the second time the prince spoke to his minister Isimud, Enki addressed the Sweet Name of Heaven: "Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?" "Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has just now reached the holy ……." "Go now! The fifty giants of Eridug are to take the Boat of Heaven away from her!" |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 The minister Isimud spoke to holy Inana: "My lady! Your father has sent me to you. Inana, your father has sent me to you. What your father said was very serious. What Enki spoke was very serious. His important words cannot be countermanded." Holy Inana replied to him: "What has my father said to you, what has he spoken? Why should his important words not be countermanded?" "My master has spoken to me, Enki has said to me: "Inana may travel to Unug, but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for me"." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Holy Inana spoke to the minister Isimud: "How could my father have changed what he said to me? How could he have altered his promise as far as I am concerned? How could he have discredited his important words to me? Was it falsehood that my father said to me, did he speak falsely to me? Has he sworn falsely by the name of his power and by the name of his abzu? Has he duplicitously sent you to me as a messenger?" Now as these words were still in her mouth, he got the fifty giants of Eridug to seize hold of the Boat of Heaven. Holy Inana adressed her minister Ninšubur: "Come, my good minister of E-ana! My fair-spoken minister! My envoy of reliable words! Water has never touched your hand, water has never touched your feet!" |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 So Inana got hold again of the divine powers which had been presented to her, and the Boat of Heaven; and then for the third time the prince spoke to his minister Isimud, Enki addressed the Sweet Name of Heaven: "Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?" "Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has just now reached the UL.MA hill." "Go now! The fifty laḫama of the subterranean waters are to take the Boat of Heaven away from her!" |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 The minister Isimud spoke to holy Inana: "My lady! Your father has sent me to you. Inana, your father has sent me to you. What your father said was very serious. What Enki spoke was very serious. His important words cannot be countermanded." Holy Inana replied to him: "What has my father said to you, what has he spoken? Why should his important words not be countermanded?" "My master has spoken to me, Enki has said to me: "Inana may travel to Unug, but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for me"." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Holy Inana spoke to the minister Isimud: "How could my father have changed what he said to me? How could he have altered his promise as far as I am concerned? How could he have discredited his important words to me? Was it falsehood that my father said to me, did he speak falsely to me? Has he sworn falsely by the name of his power and by the name of his abzu? Has he duplicitously sent you to me as a messenger?" Now as these words were still in her mouth, he got the fifty laḫama of the subterranean waters to seize hold of the Boat of Heaven. Holy Inana adressed her minister Ninšubur: "Come, my good minister of E-ana! My fair-spoken minister! My envoy of reliable words! Water has never touched your hand, water has never touched your feet!" |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 So Inana got hold again of the divine powers which had been presented to her, and the Boat of Heaven; and then for the fourth time the prince spoke to his minister Isimud, Enki addressed the Sweet Name of Heaven: "Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?" "Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has just now reached the Field Hill." "Go now! All the great fish together …… are to take the Boat of Heaven away from her!" |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 The minister Isimud spoke to holy Inana: "My lady! Your father has sent me to you. Inana, your father has sent me to you. What your father said was very serious. What Enki spoke was very serious. His important words cannot be countermanded." Holy Inana replied to him: "What has my father said to you, what has he spoken? Why should his important words not be countermanded?" "My master has spoken to me, Enki has said to me: "Inana may travel to Unug, but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for me"." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Holy Inana spoke to the minister Isimud: "How could my father have changed what he said to me? How could he have altered his promise as far as I am concerned? How could he have discredited his important words to me? Was it falsehood that my father said to me, did he speak falsely to me? Has he sworn falsely by the name of his power and by the name of his abzu? Has he duplicitously sent you to me as a messenger?" Now as these words were still in her mouth, he got all the great fish together …… to seize hold of the Boat of Heaven. Holy Inana adressed her minister Ninšubur: "Come, my good minister of E-ana! My fair-spoken minister! My envoy of reliable words! Water has never touched your hand, water has never touched your feet!" |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 So Inana got hold again of the divine powers which had been presented to her, and the Boat of Heaven; and then for the fifth time the prince spoke to his minister Isimud, Enki addressed the Sweet Name of Heaven: "Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?" "Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has just now reached ……." "Go now! ……, the guardians of Unug, are to take the Boat of Heaven away from her!" |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 The minister Isimud spoke to holy Inana: "My lady! Your father has sent me to you. Inana, your father has sent me to you. What your father said was very serious. What Enki spoke was very serious. His important words cannot be countermanded." Holy Inana replied to him: "What has my father said to you, what has he spoken? Why should his important words not be countermanded?" "My master has spoken to me, Enki has said to me: "Inana may travel to Unug, but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for me"." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Holy Inana spoke to the minister Isimud: "How could my father have changed what he said to me? How could he have altered his promise as far as I am concerned? How could he have discredited his important words to me? Was it falsehood that my father said to me, did he speak falsely to me? Has he sworn falsely by the name of his power and by the name of his abzu? Has he duplicitously sent you to me as a messenger?" Now as these words were still in her mouth, he got the ……, the guardians of Unug, to seize hold of the Boat of Heaven. Holy Inana adressed her minister Ninšubur: "Come, my good minister of E-ana! My fair-spoken minister! My envoy of reliable words! Water has never touched your hand, water has never touched your feet!" |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 So Inana got hold again of the divine powers which had been presented to her, and the Boat of Heaven; and then for the sixth time the prince spoke to his minister Isimud, Enki addressed the Sweet Name of Heaven: "Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?" "Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has just now reached the Surungal canal ……." "Go now! The Surungal canal …… are to take the Boat of Heaven away from her! …… from holy Inana." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 The minister Isimud spoke to holy Inana: "My lady! Your father has sent me to you. Inana, your father has sent me to you. What your father said was very serious. What Enki spoke was very serious. His important words cannot be countermanded." Holy Inana replied to him: "What has my father said to you, what has he spoken? Why should his important words not be countermanded?" "My master has spoken to me, Enki has said to me: "Inana may travel to Unug, but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for me"." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Holy Inana spoke to the minister Isimud: "How could my father have changed what he said to me? How could he have altered his promise as far as I am concerned? How could he have discredited his important words to me? Was it falsehood that my father said to me, did he speak falsely to me? Has he sworn falsely by the name of his power and by the name of his abzu? Has he duplicitously sent you to me as a messenger?" Now as these words were still in her mouth, he got the Surungal canal …… to seize hold of the Boat of Heaven. …… from holy Inana. Holy Inana adressed her minister Ninšubur: "Come, my good minister of E-ana! My fair-spoken minister! My envoy of reliable words! Water has never touched your hand, water has never touched your feet!" |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 So Inana got hold again of the divine powers which had been presented to her, and the Boat of Heaven; and then (1 line fragmentary) …… Unug …… (1 line fragmentary) …… the Boat of Heaven. Ninšubur ……, …… the Boat of Heaven. A seventh time …… (1 line fragmentary)The great princely scion, holy ……. Holy Inana …… the Boat of Heaven. Holy Inana at that time ……. |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Her minister Ninšubur spoke to holy Inana: "My lady, today you have brought the Boat of Heaven to the Gate of Joy, to Unug Kulaba. Now there will be rejoicing in our city, now there will be rejoicing in our city. …… barges on our river ……." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Holy Inana replied to her: "Today I have brought the Boat of Heaven to the Gate of Joy, to Unug Kulaba. It shall pass along the street magnificently. The people shall stand in the street full of awe." (1 line fragmentary) …… in joy. …… the old men of the city …… comfort, …… the old women …… counsel, …… the young men …… strength of arms, …… the children …… joy. …… Unug. (1 line fragmentary) (1 line missing) (3 lines fragmentary)"…… festival …… the Boat of Heaven. He shall recite great prayers. The king shall slaughter bulls, shall sacrifice sheep. He shall pour beer from a bowl. He shall have the šem and ala drums sound, and have the sweet-sounding tigi instruments play. The foreign lands shall declare my greatness. My people shall utter my praise." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 When she had …… the Boat of Heaven to the Gate of Joy at Unug Kulaba, it passed magnificently along the street. It reached the maiden's house, and she …… its place. …… the purified well, her principal well. Inana …… the divine powers which had been presented to her, and the Boat of Heaven, at the Ĝipar Gate. At the Agrun Chamber ……. Holy Inana …… the Boat of Heaven ……. |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 The prince addressed his minister Isimud, Enki spoke to the Sweet Name of Heaven: "Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?" "Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has just now reached the White Quay." "Go now, …… admiration. …… admiration …… the Boat of Heaven. Holy Inana ……. …… admiration ……." (approx. 3 lines missing) |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 "Inana, you have brought with you the office of en priest, you have brought with you the office of lagar priest, you have brought with you divinity, you have brought with you the great and good crown, you have brought with you the royal throne." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 Enki spoke to holy Inana: "In the name of my power, in the name of my abzu, I will establish …… in my abzu for the woman." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 (Inana speaks:) "Why has this one now entered here? …… taking the divine powers from me?" |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 (3 lines fragmentary) (A third deity speaks:) "May the …… in your name!" (4 lines fragmentary) "May there be …… a festival! May …… pass their time …… at the gate of your Ĝipar! May the citizens of your city, Inana, the citizens of Unug, live ……! And as for you, Enki -- may …… your city, Eridug ……, and has indeed restored ……." |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 Goddess of the fearsome divine powers, clad in terror, riding on the great divine powers, Inana, made perfect by the holy a-an-kar weapon, drenched in blood, rushing around in great battles, with shield resting on the ground (?), covered in storm and flood, great lady Inana, knowing well how to plan conflicts, you destroy mighty lands with arrow and strength and overpower lands. |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 My lady, on your acquiring the stature of heaven, maiden Inana, on your becoming as magnificent as the earth, on your coming forth like Utu the king and stretching your arms wide, on your walking in heaven and wearing fearsome terror, on your wearing daylight and brilliance on earth, on your walking in the mountain ranges and bringing forth beaming rays, on your bathing the girin plants of the mountains (in light), on your giving birth to the bright mountain, the mountain, the holy place, on your ……, on your being strong with the mace like a joyful lord, like an enthusiastic (?) lord, on your exulting in such battle like a destructive weapon -- the black-headed people ring out in song and all the lands sing their song sweetly. |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 I shall praise the lady of battle, the great child of Suen, maiden Inana. |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 (Inana announced:) "When I, the goddess, was walking around in heaven, walking around on earth, when I, Inana, was walking around in heaven, walking around on earth, when I was walking around in Elam and Subir, when I was walking around in the Lulubi mountains, when I turned towards the centre of the mountains, as I, the goddess, approached the mountain it showed me no respect, as I, Inana, approached the mountain it showed me no respect, as I approached the mountain range of Ebiḫ it showed me no respect." |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 "Against its magnificent sides I shall place magnificent battering-rams, against its small sides I shall place small battering-rams. I shall storm it and start the 'game' of holy Inana. In the mountain range I shall start battles and prepare conflicts." |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 Inana, the child of Suen, put on the garment of royalty and girded herself in joy. She bedecked her forehead with terror and fearsome radiance. She arranged cornelian rosettes around her holy throat. She brandished the seven-headed šita weapon vigorously to her right and placed straps of lapis lazuli on her feet. |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 An, in delight at Inana, stepped forward and took his place. He filled the seat of honour of heaven. |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 (Inana announced:) "An, my father, I greet you! Lend your ear to my words. An has made me terrifying throughout heaven. Owing to you my word has no rival in heaven or on earth. At the limits of heaven are the silig weapon, the antibal and mansium emblems." |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 "How can it be that the mountain did not fear me in heaven and on earth, that the mountain did not fear me, Inana, in heaven and on earth, that the mountain range of Ebiḫ, the mountain, did not fear me in heaven and on earth? Because it did not act appropriately on its own initiative, because it did not put its nose to the ground, because it did not rub its lips in the dust, may I fill my hand with the soaring mountain range and make it learn fear of me." |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 "Against its magnificent sides let me place magnificent battering rams, against its small sides let me place small battering rams. Let me storm it and start the 'game' of holy Inana. In the mountain range let me set up battle and prepare conflicts." |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 An, the king of the deities, answered her: "My little one demands the destruction of this mountain -- what is she taking on? Inana demands the destruction of this mountain -- what is she taking on? She demands the destruction of this mountain -- what is she taking on?" |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 "Its fearsomenness is terrible -- you cannot pass through. The mountain range's radiance is terrible -- maiden Inana, you cannot oppose it." Thus he spoke. |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 The mistress, in her rage and anger, opened the arsenal and pushed on the lapis lazuli gate. She brought out magnificent battle and called up a great storm. Holy Inana reached for the quiver. She raised a towering flood with evil silt. She stirred up an evil raging wind with potsherds. |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 The rocks forming the body of Ebiḫ clattered down its flanks. From its sides and crevices great serpents spat venom. She damned its forests and cursed its trees. She killed its oak trees with drought. She poured fire on its flanks and made its smoke dense.The goddess established authority over the mountain. Holy Inana did as she wished. |
| Inana and Ebiḫ: c.1.3.2 For destroying Ebiḫ, great child of Suen, maiden Inana, be praised. |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 The mistress who, having all the great divine powers, deserves the throne-dais; Inana who, having all the great divine powers, occupies a holy throne-dais; Inana who stands in E-ana as a source of wonder -- once, the young woman went up into the mountains, holy Inana went up into the mountains. To detect falsehood and justice, to inspect the Land closely, to identify the criminal against the just, she went up into the mountains. -- Now, what did one say to another? What further did one add to the other in detail? |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 My lady stands among wild bulls at the foot of the mountains, she possesses fully the divine powers. Inana stands among stags in the mountain tops, she possesses fully the divine powers. -- Now, what did one say to another? What further did one add to the other in detail? |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 Then the …… left heaven, left the earth and climbed up into the mountains. Inana left heaven, left the earth and climbed up into the mountains. She left E-ana in Unug and climbed up into the mountains. She left the giguna in Zabalam and climbed up into the mountains. As she had gone up from E-ana, …… ĝipar ……. Inana …… her cloak …… and climbed up into the mountains. -- Now, what did one say to another? What further did one add to the other in detail? |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 Once, after my lady had gone around the heavens, after she had gone around the earth, after Inana had gone around the heavens, after she had gone around the earth, after she had gone around Elam and Subir, after she had gone around the intertwined horizon of heaven, the mistress became so tired that when she arrived there she lay down by its roots. Šu-kale-tuda noticed her from beside his plot. Inana …… the loincloth (?) of the seven divine powers over her genitals. …… the girdle of the seven divine powers over her genitals ……. …… with the shepherd Ama-ušumgal-ana ……. …… over her holy genitals ……. Šu-kale-tuda undid the loincloth (?) of seven divine powers and got her to lie down in her resting place. He had intercourse with her and kissed her there. After he had had intercourse with her and kissed her, he went back to beside his plot. When day had broken and Utu had risen, the woman inspected herself closely, holy Inana inspected herself closely. |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 Then the woman was considering what should be destroyed because of her genitals; Inana was considering what should be done because of her genitals. She filled the wells of the Land with blood, so it was blood that the irrigated orchards of the Land yielded, it was blood that the slave who went to collect firewood drank, it was blood that the slavegirl who went out to draw water drew, and it was blood that the black-headed people drank. No one knew when this would end. She said: "I will search everywhere for the man who had intercourse with me." But nowhere in all the lands could she find the man who had had intercourse with her. -- Now, what did one say to another? What further did one add to the other in detail? |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 "Once, after my lady had gone around the heavens, after she had gone around the earth, after Inana had gone around the heavens, after she had gone around the earth, after she had gone around Elam and Subir, after she had gone around the intertwined horizon of heaven, the mistress became so tired that when she arrived there she lay down by its roots. I noticed her from beside my plot. I had intercourse with her and kissed her there. Then I went back to beside my plot." |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 "Then the woman was considering what should be destroyed because of her genitals; Inana was considering what should be done because of her genitals. She filled the wells of the Land with blood, so it was blood that the irrigated orchards of the Land yielded, it was blood that the slave who went to collect firewood drank, it was blood that the slavegirl who went out to draw water drew, and it was blood that the black-headed people drank. No one knew when this would end. She said: "I will search everywhere for the man who had intercourse with me." But nowhere could she find the man who had had intercourse with her." |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 Then the woman was considering a second time what should be destroyed because of her genitals; Inana was considering what should be done because of her genitals. She mounted on a cloud, took (?) her seat there and ……. The south wind and a fearsome storm flood went before her. The pilipili (one of the cultic personnel in Inana's entourage) and a dust storm followed her. Abba-šušu, Inim-kur-dugdug, …… adviser ……. Seven times seven helpers (?) stood beside her in the high desert. She said: "I will search everywhere for the man who had intercourse with me." But nowhere could she find the man who had intercourse with her. |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 The boy went home to his father and spoke to him; Šu-kale-tuda went home to his father and spoke to him: "My father, the woman of whom I spoke to you, this woman was considering a second time what should be destroyed because of her genitals; Inana was considering what should be done because of her genitals. She mounted on a cloud, took (?) her seat there and ……. The south wind and a fearsome storm flood went before her. The pilipili (one of the cultic personnel in Inana's entourage) and a dust storm followed her. Abba-šušu, Inim-kur-dugdug, …… adviser ……. Seven times seven helpers (?) stood beside her in the high desert. She said: "I will search everywhere for the man who had intercourse with me." But nowhere could she find the man who had intercourse with her." |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 Then the woman was considering a third time what should be destroyed because of her genitals; Inana was considering what should be done because of her genitals. She took a single …… in her hand. She blocked the highways of the Land with it. Because of her, the black-headed people ……. She said: "I will search everywhere for the man who had intercourse with me." But nowhere could she find the man who had intercourse with her. |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 The boy went home to his father and spoke to him; Šu-kale-tuda went home to his father and spoke to him: "My father, the woman of whom I spoke to you, this woman was considering a third time what should be destroyed because of her genitals; Inana was considering what should be done because of her genitals. She took a single …… in her hand. She blocked the highways of the Land with it. Because of her, the black-headed people ……. She said: "I will search everywhere for the man who had intercourse with me." But nowhere could she find the man who had intercourse with her." |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 When day had broken and Utu had risen, the women inspected herself closely, holy Inana inspected herself closely." Ah, who will compensate me? Ah, who will pay (?) for what happened to me? Should it not be the concern of my own father, Enki?" Holy Inana directed her steps to the abzu of Eridug and, because of this, prostrated herself on the ground before him and stretched out her hands to him: "Father Enki, I should be compensated! What's more, someone should { pay (?) } { (1 ms. has instead:) make up } for what happened to me! I shall only re-enter my shrine E-ana satisfied after you have handed over that man to me from the abzu." Enki said "All right!" to her. He said "So be it!" to her. With that holy Inana went out from the abzu of Eridug. She stretched herself like a rainbow across the sky and reached thereby as far as the earth. She let the south wind pass across, she let the north wind pass across. From fear, { (1 ms. adds:) solitary } Šu-kale-tuda tried to make himself as tiny as possible, but the woman had found him among the mountains. |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 Holy Inana now spoke to Šu-kale-tuda: "How ……? …… dog ……! …… ass ……! …… pig ……! (1 line missing)" |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 Šu-kale-tuda replied to holy Inana: "My lady (?), I was to water garden plots and build the installation for a well among the plants, but not a single plant remained there, not even one: I had pulled them out by their roots and destroyed them. Then what did the stormwind bring? It blew the dust of the mountains into my eyes. When I tried to wipe the corner of my eyes with my hand, I got some of it out, but was not able to get all of it out. I raised my eyes to the lower land, and saw the exalted gods of the land where the sun rises. I raised my eyes to the highlands, and saw the exalted gods of the land where the sun sets. I saw a solitary ghost. I recognised a solitary god by her appearance. I saw someone who possesses fully the divine powers. I was looking at someone whose destiny was decided by the gods. In that plot -- had I not approached it three or six hundred times before? -- there stood a single shady tree at that place. The shady tree was a Euphrates poplar with broad shade. Its shade was not diminished in the morning, and it did not change either at midday or in the evening." |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 "Once, after my lady had gone around the heavens, after she had gone around the earth, after Inana had gone around the heavens, after she had gone around the earth, after she had gone around Elam and Subir, after she had gone around the intertwined horizon of heaven, the mistress became so tired that when she arrived there she lay down by its roots. I noticed her from beside my plot. I had intercourse with her and kissed her there. Then I went back to beside my plot." |
| Inana and Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 When he had spoken thus to her, …… hit ……. …… added (?) ……. …… changed (?) him ……. She (?) determined his destiny ……, holy Inana spoke to Šu-kale-tuda: "So! You shall die! What is that to me? Your name, however, shall not be forgotten. Your name shall exist in songs and make the songs sweet. A young singer shall perform them most pleasingly in the king's palace. A shepherd shall sing them sweetly as he tumbles his butter churn. A young shepherd shall carry your name to where he grazes the sheep. The palace of the desert shall be your home." (5 lines unclear) Šu-kale-tuda …… (1 line missing)Because …… destiny was determined, praise be to …… Inana! |
| Inana and Gudam: c.1.3.4 Gudam ……. Gudam ……. Inana ……. Gudam …… within Unug ……. He …… the storehouse ……. Gudam …… the beer, …… the wine, …… the bronze vessels, …… the bronze vessels ……. (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| Inana and Gudam: c.1.3.4 They filled the bronze vessels to the brim. He made the tilimda vessels shine like the holy barge, …… fine chickpea flour, bearded carp ……. ……, he …… fish like dates. Many followed Gudam on the streets of Unug. They sat armed before him. Her (= Inana's) (?) singer Lugal-gabaĝal came out to ……, and looked at the troops. The singer met him with a song, …… string with his hand: |
| Inana and Gudam: c.1.3.4 A junior fisherman, a fisherman of Inana, { turned } { (the other ms. has instead:) …… } the double-axe against him and struck Gudam down. Gudam began to grieve, and was tear-stricken: |
| Inana and Gudam: c.1.3.4 "Inana, spare my life! I will give you bulls of the mountains, I will make your cow-pen full! I will give (?) you sheep of the mountains, I will make your sheepfold full!" |
| Inana and Gudam: c.1.3.4 Holy Inana replied to him: "{ (the other ms. adds:) …… bulls of the mountains for me. …… sheep of the mountains for me. …… weapon ……. } The fields of Zabalam, where you dwelt: its villages ……. Over a wide area, may …… calm for you, may …… desire (?)." |
| Inana and Gudam: c.1.3.4 Inana, I will speak of your heroism. It is pleasant to praise you! |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 (unknown no. of lines missing) (1 line fragmentary) Holy Inana ……. The hero, youthful Utu, ……. At dead of night ……. E-ana ……. Inana ……. The great (?) heavens ……. (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 (1 line fragmentary) …… E-ana comes forth from heaven, …… the lady of heaven set her mind to capturing the great heavens, …… Inana set her mind to capturing the great heavens, …… set her mind to capturing the great heavens from the …… of heaven, …… youthful Utu, she set her mind to capturing the great heavens. |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 Holy Inana spoke to her brother the hero, youthful Utu: "……, I want to tell you something -- pay attention to my speech. ……, my twin, I want to tell you something -- pay attention to my speech." |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 Her brother the hero, youthful Utu, answered holy Inana: "My sister, I swear an oath by the life of heaven, I swear by the life of the rainbow (?) of heaven, my ……, ……, I swear by the life of my throne, by my majesty: I will follow what my sister says to me, I will follow what holy Inana says to me." |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 The maiden Inana answered her brother the hero, youthful Utu: "……, my spouse (?), has made love to me, has kissed me. I wanted …… for him but …… he did not give it to him. I hastened (?) with him …… but majestic An would not give him E-ana. The heavens are ours, the earth is ours: E-ana should be captured from An. After you have taken ……, listen to what I say to you. Examine …… for me, you must observe these instructions: …… the evil wind, the south wind, against me." (approx. 23 lines missing) |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 Holy Inana embarked (?) on the ……. The barge ……. The rope ……. The south wind, that south wind, rose up. The evil wind, that evil wind, rose up. In the distant heavens ……. Ḫienḫi-sag ……. The fisherman ……. The reed thickets and the tall reeds ……. |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 Inana spoke to Adagbir: "Youthful Utu ……. The barge ……." (2 lines fragmentary) (approx. 15 lines missing) |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 (Inana speaks:) "I ……. …… the way ……." (2 lines fragmentary) |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 Adagbir answered holy Inana: "My lady, you cannot ……. Your divinity ……. The fisherman …… the south wind. My lady, if you travel on the barge, and he raises the south wind, that south wind, and he raises the evil wind, that evil wind, barges and small boats will sink in the marshes." |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 Holy Inana answered the fisherman: "If you are to find …… E-ana …… and I am to gaze in admiration …… at that place, you said …… the narrow passage." |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 Adagbir answered holy Inana: "…… through the reed thickets and the tall reeds. For you …… find E-ana, which comes forth from heaven." |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 Having drunk cleansing water from the Ulaya river, Inana stamped on the scorpion and cut off its tail. Like a lion it bellowed in an angry roar but its cries died down. …… she threw it …… and made it secure. |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 Having heard those words, An slapped his thighs in ……, his voice filled with sighs of grief: "What has my child done? She has become greater than me! What has Inana done? She has become greater than me! From now on, the normal length of daylight becomes shorter, and daylight converts to night-time. From today, when the day's watch is three units long, daylight is equal to night-time." And now, when day began, it was indeed so. |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 An, who created gods and humankind, gazed at holy Inana { (1 ms. adds:) and addressed the favourite wife who travels by his side }, unable to describe this arrogance, this arrogance -- An was unable to describe { (1 ms. adds:) to Inana } this arrogance, this arrogance: "My child, …… you did not say …… -- you were able to capture E-ana! Inana, …… you did not say …… -- you were able to capture E-ana! E-ana should be as firm as heaven, { it should not be toppled } { (1 ms. has instead:) its attractions should never be exhausted }. Its name should be 'The Settlement of the Land'. { (1 ms. adds:) It should have no rival. } Mankind, all of the people, should prostrate themselves at her (?) feet." And now, under that sun and on that day, it was indeed so. |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 She had captured E-ana from An! She secured it ……. Now Inana speaks of the E-ana as the house that is the place of the lady. The goddess who has attained her triumphant position, Inana who has attained her triumphant position, declares in the good place: "I have captured E-ana from An." |
| Inana and An: c.1.3.5 Because you are unmatched among the Great Princes, maiden Inana, praising you is magnificent! |
| Dumuzid and Ĝeštin-ana: c.1.4.1.1 A small demon opened his mouth and said to the big demon," Come on, let's go to the lap of holy Inana." The demons entered Unug and seized holy Inana." Come on, Inana, go on that journey which is yours alone -- descend to the underworld. Go to the place which you have coveted -- descend to the nether world. Go to the dwelling of Ereškigala -- descend to the underworld. Don't put on your holy ba garment, the pala dress of ladyship -- descend to the underworld. Remove the holy headdress, that splendid ornament, from your head -- descend to the underworld. Don't enhance your appearance with a wig -- descend to the underworld. Don't adorn your feet with …… -- descend to the underworld. When you descend, ……." |
| Dumuzid and Ĝeštin-ana: c.1.4.1.1 They released holy Inana, they …… her. Inana handed over Dumuzid to them in exchange for herself." As for the lad, we will put his feet in foot stocks. As for the lad, we will put his hands in hand stocks: we will put his neck in neck stocks." Copper pins, nails and pokers were raised to his face. They sharpened their large copper axes. As for the lad, they stood him up, they sat him down." Let us remove his …… garment, let us make him stand ……." As for the lad, they bound his arms, they did evil ……. They covered his face with his own garment. |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 From the great heaven she set her mind on the great below. From the great heaven the goddess set her mind on the great below. From the great heaven Inana set her mind on the great below. My mistress abandoned heaven, abandoned earth, and descended to the underworld. Inana abandoned heaven, abandoned earth, and descended to the underworld. |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Inana travelled towards the underworld. Her minister Ninšubur travelled behind her. |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Holy Inana said to Ninšubur: "Come my faithful minister of E-ana, { my minister who speaks fair words, my escort who speaks trustworthy words } { (1 ms. has instead:) I am going to give you instructions: my instructions must be followed; I am going to say something to you: it must be observed }." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 "When you have entered the E-kur, the house of Enlil, lament before Enlil: "Father Enlil, don't let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld. Don't let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter's wood. Don't let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld."" |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 "If Enlil does not help you in this matter, go to Urim. In the E-mud-kura at Urim, when you have entered the E-kiš-nu-ĝal, the house of Nanna, lament before Nanna: "Father Nanna, don't let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld. Don't let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter's wood. Don't let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld."" |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 "And if Nanna does not help you in this matter, go to Eridug. In Eridug, when you have entered the house of Enki, lament before Enki: "Father Enki, don't let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld. Don't let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter's wood. Don't let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld."" |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 When Inana travelled on towards the underworld, her minister Ninšubur travelled on behind her. She said to her minister Ninšubur: "Go now, my Ninšubur, and pay attention. Don't neglect the instructions I gave you." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 When Inana arrived at the palace Ganzer, she pushed aggressively on the door of the underworld. She shouted aggressively at the gate of the underworld: "Open up, doorman, open up. Open up, Neti, open up. I am all alone and I want to come in." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, answered holy Inana: "Who are you?" "I am Inana going to the east." "If you are Inana going to the east, why have you travelled to the land of no return? How did you set your heart on the road whose traveller never returns?" |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Holy Inana answered him: "Because Lord Gud-gal-ana, the husband of my elder sister holy Ereškigala, has died; in order to have his funeral rites observed, she offers generous libations at his wake -- that is the reason." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, answered holy Inana: "Stay here, Inana. I will speak to my mistress. I will speak to my mistress Ereškigala and tell her what you have said." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, entered the house of his mistress Ereškigala and said: "My mistress, there is a lone girl outside. It is Inana, your sister, and she has arrived at the palace Ganzer. She pushed aggressively on the door of the underworld. She shouted aggressively at the gate of the underworld. She has abandoned E-ana and has descended to the underworld." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Neti, the chief doorman of the underworld, paid attention to the instructions of his mistress. He bolted the seven gates of the underworld. Then he opened each of the doors of the palace Ganzer separately. He said to holy Inana: "Come on, Inana, and enter." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 And when Inana entered, { (1 ms. adds 2 lines:) the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line were removed from her hand, when she entered the first gate, } the turban, headgear for the open country, was removed from her head." What is this?" "Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 When she entered the second gate, the small lapis-lazuli beads were removed from her neck." What is this?" "Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 When she entered the third gate, the twin egg-shaped beads were removed from her breast." What is this?" "Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 When she entered the fourth gate, the "Come, man, come" pectoral was removed from her breast." What is this?" "Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 When she entered the fifth gate, the golden ring was removed from her hand." What is this?" "Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 When she entered the sixth gate, the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line were removed from her hand." What is this?" "Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 When she entered the seventh gate, the pala dress, the garment of ladyship, was removed from her body." What is this?" "Be silent, Inana, a divine power of the underworld has been fulfilled. Inana, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the underworld." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 When she had entered the E-kur, the house of Enlil, she lamented before Enlil: "Father Enlil, don't let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld. Don't let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter's wood. Don't let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 In his rage Father Enlil answered Ninšubur: "My daughter craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. Inana craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. The divine powers of the underworld are divine powers which should not be craved, for whoever gets them must remain in the underworld. Who, having got to that place, could then expect to come up again?" |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Thus Father Enlil did not help in this matter, so she went to Urim. In the E-mud-kura at Urim, when she had entered the E-kiš-nu-ĝal, the house of Nanna, she lamented before Nanna: "Father Nanna, don't let your daughter be killed in the underworld. Don't let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter's wood. Don't let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 In his rage Father Nanna answered Ninšubur: "My daughter craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. Inana craved the great heaven and she craved the great below as well. The divine powers of the underworld are divine powers which should not be craved, for whoever gets them must remain in the underworld. Who, having got to that place, could then expect to come up again?" |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Thus Father Nanna did not help her in this matter, so she went to Eridug. In Eridug, when she had entered the house of Enki, she lamented before Enki: "Father Enki, don't let anyone kill your daughter in the underworld. Don't let your precious metal be alloyed there with the dirt of the underworld. Don't let your precious lapis lazuli be split there with the mason's stone. Don't let your boxwood be chopped up there with the carpenter's wood. Don't let young lady Inana be killed in the underworld." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Father Enki answered Ninšubur: "What has my daughter done? She has me worried. What has Inana done? She has me worried. What has the mistress of all the lands done? She has me worried. What has the mistress of heaven done? She has me worried." { (1 ms. adds 1 line:) Thus Father Enki helped her in this matter. } He removed some dirt from the tip of his fingernail and created the kur-ĝara. He removed some dirt from the tip of his other fingernail and created the gala-tura. To the kur-ĝara he gave the life-giving plant. To the gala-tura he gave the life-giving water. |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 "They will offer you a riverful of water -- don't accept it. They will offer you a field with its grain -- don't accept it. But say to her: "Give us the corpse hanging on the hook." (She will answer:) "That is the corpse of your queen." Say to her: "Whether it is that of our king, whether it is that of our queen, give it to us." She will give you the corpse hanging on the hook. One of you sprinkle on it the life-giving plant and the other the life-giving water. Thus let Inana arise." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 They were offered a river with its water -- they did not accept it. They were offered a field with its grain -- they did not accept it. They said to her: "Give us the corpse hanging on the hook." Holy Ereškigala answered the gala-tura and the kur-ĝara: "The corpse is that of your queen." They said to her: "Whether it is that of our king or that of our queen, give it to us." They were given the corpse hanging on the hook. One of them sprinkled on it the life-giving plant and the other the life-giving water. And thus Inana arose. |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Ereškigala said to the gala-tura and the kur-ĝara: "Bring your queen ……, your …… has been seized." Inana, because of Enki's instructions, was about to ascend from the underworld. But as Inana was about to ascend from the underworld, the Anuna seized her: "Who has ever ascended from the underworld, has ascended unscathed from the underworld? If Inana is to ascend from the underworld, let her provide a substitute for herself." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 So when Inana left the underworld, the one in front of her, though not a minister, held a sceptre in his hand; the one behind her, though not an escort, carried a mace at his hip, while the small demons, like a reed enclosure, and the big demons, like the reeds of a fence, restrained her on all sides. |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Those who accompanied her, those who accompanied Inana, know no food, know no drink, eat no flour offering and drink no libation. { They accept no pleasant gifts. They never enjoy the pleasures of the marital embrace, never have any sweet children to kiss. They tear away the wife from a man's embrace. They snatch the son from a man's knee. They make the bride leave the house of her father-in-law } { (instead of lines 300-305, 1 ms. has 2 lines:) They take the wife away from a man's embrace. They take away the child hanging on a wet-nurse's breasts }. { (1 ms. adds 3 lines:) They crush no bitter garlic. They eat no fish, they eat no leeks. They, it was, who accompanied Inana. } |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 After Inana had ascended from the underworld, Ninšubur threw herself at her feet at the door of the Ganzer. She had sat in the dust and clothed herself in a filthy garment. The demons said to holy Inana: "Inana, proceed to your city, we will take her back." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Holy Inana answered the demons: "This is my minister of fair words, my escort of trustworthy words. She did not forget my instructions. She did not neglect the orders I gave her. She made a lament for me on the ruin mounds. She beat the drum for me in the sanctuaries. She made the rounds of the gods' houses for me. She lacerated her eyes for me, lacerated her nose for me. { (1 ms. adds 1 line:) She lacerated her ears for me in public. } In private, she lacerated her buttocks for me. Like a pauper, she clothed herself in a single garment." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 At the Šeg-kuršaga in Umma, Šara, in his own city, threw himself at her feet. He had sat in the dust and dressed himself in a filthy garment. The demons said to holy Inana: "Inana, proceed to your city, we will take him back." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Holy Inana answered the demons: "Šara is my singer, my manicurist and my hairdresser. How could I turn him over to you? Let us go on. Let us go on to the E-muš-kalama in Bad-tibira." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 At the E-muš-kalama in Bad-tibira, Lulal, in his own city, threw himself at her feet. He had sat in the dust and clothed himself in a filthy garment. The demons said to holy Inana: "Inana, proceed to your city, we will take him back." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Holy Inana answered the demons: "Outstanding Lulal follows me at my right and my left. How could I turn him over to you? Let us go on. Let us go on to the great apple tree in the plain of Kulaba." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 She looked at him, it was the look of death. She spoke to him (?), it was the speech of anger. She shouted at him (?), it was the shout of heavy guilt: "How much longer? Take him away." Holy Inana gave Dumuzid the shepherd into their hands. |
| 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. |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 Holy Inana wept bitterly for her husband. (4 lines fragmentary)She tore at her hair like esparto grass, she ripped it out like esparto grass." You wives who lie in your men's embrace, where is my precious husband? You children who lie in your men's embrace, where is my precious child? Where is my man? Where ……? Where is my man? Where ……?" |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 A fly spoke to holy Inana: "If I show you where your man is, what will be my reward?" Holy Inana answered the fly: "If you show me where my man is, I will give you this gift: I will cover ……." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 The fly helped (?) holy Inana. Young lady Inana decreed the destiny of the fly: "In the beer-house, may …… bronze vessels …… for you. You will live (?) like the sons of the wise." Now Inana decreed this fate and thus it came to be. |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 …… was weeping. She came up to the sister (?) and …… by the hand: "Now, alas, my ……. You for half the year and your sister for half the year: when you are demanded, on that day you will stay, when your sister is demanded, on that day you will be released." Thus holy Inana gave Dumuzid as a substitute ……. |
| 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 hands, change my feet into gazelle feet, so I can evade my demons. Let me escape with my life to Ku-bireš-dildareš." |
| 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, 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 hands, change my feet into gazelle feet, so I can escape to the holy sheepfold, my sister's sheepfold." |
| Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana: c.1.4.4 Holy Inana …… (1 line fragmentary)The goddess ……. The maiden Inana ……. She was pacing to and fro in the chamber of her mother who bore her, in prayer and supplication, while they stood in attendance on her respectfully: |
| Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana: c.1.4.4 Like a child sent on an errand by its own mother, she went out from the chamber; like one sent on an errand by Mother Ningal, she went out from the chamber. Full knowledgeable my lady was, and also she was full apt, full knowledgeable holy Inana was, and also she was full apt. Beer stored in remote days, in long past days ……. |
| Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana: c.1.4.4 "The sheep of my master, of Dumuzid, in the desert ……. O Inana, a man who was not the shepherd was returning beside my master's sheep!" |
| Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana: c.1.4.4 The lady created a song for her young husband, fashioned a song for him, holy Inana created a song for Dumuzid, fashioned a song for him: |
| Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana: c.1.4.4 That day what was in the lady's heart? What was in holy Inana's heart? To kill old woman Bilulu was in her heart! To make good the resting place for her beloved young husband, for Dumuzid-ama-ušumgal-ana -- that was in her heart! My lady went to Bilulu in the haunted desert. Her son Ĝirĝire like the wind there did …… Širru of the haunted desert, no one's child and no one's friend, ……. |
| Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana: c.1.4.4 Holy Inana entered the alehouse, stepped into a seat, began to determine fate: "Begone! I have killed you; so it is indeed, and with you I destroy also your name: May you become the waterskin for cold water that is used in the desert! May her son Ĝirĝire together with her become the protective god of the desert and the protective goddess of the desert! May Širru of the haunted desert, no one's child and no one's friend, walk in the desert and keep count of the flour, and when water is libated and flour sprinkled for the lad wandering in the desert, let the protective god of the desert and the protective goddess of the desert call out: "Libate!", call out: "Sprinkle!", and thereby cause him to be present in the place from which he vanished, in the desert! Let old woman Bilulu gladden his heart!" |
| Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana: c.1.4.4 And immediately, under the sun of that day, it truly became so. She became the waterskin for cold water that is used in the desert. Her son Ĝirĝire together with her became the protective god of the desert and the protective goddess of the desert. Širru of the haunted desert, no one's child and no one's friend, walks in the desert and keeps count of the flour, and when water is libated and flour sprinkled for the lad wandering in the desert, the protective god of the desert and the protective goddess of the desert call out: "Libate!", call out: "Sprinkle!", and thereby cause him to be present in the place from which he vanished, in the desert. Old woman Bilulu gladdens his heart. Inana put out her hand to the lad on the ground, put out her hand to Dumuzid on the ground, his death-bound hands …… |
| Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana: c.1.4.4 The maiden …… the admiration. Ĝeštin-ana ……. The sacred one, Inana …… in her hand. …… together. …… replied: |
| Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana: c.1.4.4 How truly the goddess proved the equal of her betrothed, how truly holy Inana proved the equal of the shepherd Dumuzid! It was granted to Inana to make good his resting place, it was granted to the goddess to avenge him! |
| Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana: c.1.4.4 How truly she proved the equal of Dumuzid, avenging him; by killing Bilulu, Inana proved equal to him! |
| Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana: c.1.4.4 An ulila song of Inana. |
| Nanna-Suen's journey to Nibru: c.1.5.1 Unug lay ahead of the offerings, Larsam lay behind them. She brought out of the house what should not come out of the house, what should not come out of the house -- holy Inana brought out of the house what should not come out of the house: "Welcome, welcome, welcome, O boat! O boat of my father welcome, welcome, O boat! { (1 ms. adds 1 line:) O boat of Suen welcome, welcome, O boat! }" |
| Ninurta's return to Nibru: a šir-gida to Ninurta: c.1.6.1 "I am the ……, the life-source of Inana. I am the warrior, destined with Enki to be suited for the fearsome divine powers. Let my kingship be manifest unto the ends of heaven and earth. I am most able among the gods -- let me be imbued with great awesomeness." |
| Ninurta's exploits: a šir-sud (?) to Ninurta: c.1.6.2 "But lord, do not venture again to a battle as terrible as that. Do not lift your arm to the smiting of weapons, to the festival of the young men, to Inana's dance! Lord, do not go to such a great battle as this! Do not hurry; fix your feet on the ground. Ninurta, the Asag is waiting for you in the mountains. Hero who is so handsome in his crown, firstborn son whom Ninlil has decorated with numberless charms, good lord, whom a princess bore to an en priest, hero who wears horns like the moon, who is long life for the king of the Land, who opens the sky by great sublime strength, inundation who engulfs the banks ……, Ninurta, lord, full of fearsomeness, who will hurry towards the mountains, proud hero without fellow, this time you will not equal the Asag! Ninurta, do not make your young men enter the mountains." |
| The Flood story: c.1.7.4 ……seat in heaven. …… flood. …… mankind. So he made ……. Then Nintur ……. Holy Inana made a lament for its people. Enki took counsel with himself. An, Enlil, Enki and Ninḫursaĝa made all the gods of heaven and earth take an oath by invoking An and Enlil. In those days Zi-ud-sura the king, the gudug priest, ……. He fashioned ……. The humble, committed, reverent ……. Day by day, standing constantly at ……. Something that was not a dream appeared, conversation ……, …… taking an oath by invoking heaven and earth. In the Ki-ur, the gods …… a wall. Zi-ud-sura, standing at its side, heard: "Side-wall standing at my left side, ……. Side-wall, I will speak words to you; take heed of my words, pay attention to my instructions. A flood will sweep over the …… in all the ……. A decision that the seed of mankind is to be destroyed has been made. The verdict, the word of the divine assembly, cannot be revoked. The order announced by An and Enlil cannot be overturned. Their kingship, their term has been cut off; their heart should be rested about this. Now ……. What ……." (approx. 38 lines missing) |
| The šumunda grass: c.1.7.7 He set fire to the base of the E-ana; there he was bound, there he was fettered. When he protested, Inana seized a raven there and set it on top of him. The shepherd abandoned his sheep in their enclosure. Inana seized the raven there. |
| The šumunda grass: c.1.7.7 He tied him into bundles, he shifted him, he …… šumunda grass, the fire-carrier. He bundled up the šumunda grass, the fire carrier, bundled up the fire carrier. The launderer who made her garments clean asks her, Inana -- the carpenter who gave her the spindle to hold in her hand (asks her), Inana -- the potter who fashioned pots and jugs (asks her), Inana. The potter gave her holy drinking vessels, the shepherd brought her his sheep, the shepherd brought her his sheep -- he asks her. He brought her all kinds of luxuriant plants, as if it were the harvest. |
| Gilgameš and Aga: c.1.8.1.1 Gilgameš, the lord of Kulaba, placing his trust in Inana, did not take seriously the advice of his city's elders. Gilgameš { (1 ms. adds:), the lord of Kulaba, } presented the issue again, this time before the able-bodied men of his city, carefully choosing his words: "There are wells to be finished, many wells of the Land yet to be finished; there are shallow wells of the Land yet to be finished, there are wells to deepen and hoisting gear to be completed. { Never before have you submitted to the house of Kiš. Should you not smite it with weapons? } { (1 ms. has instead:) We should not submit to the house of Kiš. We should smite it with weapons! }" |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 In the great courtyard, without there being any combat, a man ……. She perceived the canopy, the canopy ……, holy Inana perceived the canopy, from the palace of the abzu, she perceived the canopy ……: |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 (Gilgameš speaks:) "I shall certainly not try to take over the portion of Inana in your ĝipar. Ninegala will not …… because of my valorous strength. But Inana, lady, don't you block my way, either! My wish is to catch (?) mountain bulls, to fill the cow-pens. I wish to catch (?) mountain sheep, to fill the sheepfolds. I wish to …… silver and cornelian." |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 The queen spoke with a snort; Inana spoke with a snort: "…… say to you. …… say to you. ……, Gilgameš." (7 lines fragmentary) |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 (An speaks:) "Its entrails (?)……. Its hide ……. Its blood ……." (1 line fragmentary)"Inana, it will muddy the waters; it will …… cowpats. My one beloved by An, ……." |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 (Inana speaks:) "Maybe it will muddy the waters, and will leave gigantic cowpats -- but let my father give me the Bull of Heaven, so I can kill the lord, so I can kill the lord, so I can kill the lord, Lord Gilgameš!" |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 Great An replied to holy Inana: "My child, the Bull of Heaven would not have any pasture, as its pasture is on the horizon. Maiden Inana, the Bull of Heaven can only graze where the sun rises. So I cannot give the Bull of Heaven to you!" |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 Holy Inana replied to him: "I shall shout, and make my voice reach heaven and earth!" |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 { He was frightened, he was frightened. { (1 ms. adds here:) …… was frightened of Inana. } Great An replied to holy Inana: "I shall give her the Bull of Heaven." } { (instead of approx. lines 52-54, 1 ms. has:) She made her voice reach heaven ……, she made her voice reach earth; she made her voice reach heaven ……, she made her voice reach earth. It covered them like a woollen garment, it was spread over them like a linen garment. …… who could speak to her? …… who could speak to her? …… gave ……. } |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 In masculine fashion, the maiden Inana grasped it by the lapis-lazuli tether. Holy Inana brought the Bull of Heaven { out } { (1 ms. has instead:) down }. At Unug, the Bull devoured the pasture, and drank the water of the river in great slurps. With each slurp it used up one mile of the river, but its thirst was not satisfied. It devoured the pasture and stripped the land bare. It broke up the palm trees of Unug, as it bent them to fit them into its mouth. When it was standing, the Bull submerged Unug. { The aura } { (1 ms. has instead:) the name } of the Bull of Heaven submerged Kulaba. |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 Lord Gilgameš ……. Inana …… the Bull of Heaven. At Unug, the Bull ……, and drank the water of the river in great slurps. With each slurp it used up one mile of the river, but its thirst was not satisfied. It devoured the pasture and stripped the land bare. { (1 ms. adds here:) His lady ……. Gilgameš …… said," My mother ……, my sister ……, will …… the cattle to their tethering stakes, will …… the sheep to their tethering stakes, will …… to their tethering stakes." Gilgameš ……," Bull of Heaven, you, yes you, ……; you, yes you -- you do not ……." Gilgameš ……. } (5 lines unclear)"They will throw your corpse in the deserted streets, and throw your intestines in the broad square. They will send your carcass to the knacker's, and I shall share out your meat in baskets to the widows' sons who are citizens of my city ……. I shall make flasks of your two horns for pouring fine oil to Inana in E-ana." |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 Inana watched from the top of the ramparts. The Bull bellowed in the dust, and Gilgameš walked (?) at its head as Enkidu climbed up the rope of its ……. Their fellow-citizens came along ……. It covered them with dust, like a young calf unused to the yoke. { Enkidu stood behind the Bull and went round ……. } { (1 ms. has instead:) He put …… and seized its tail. } He spoke to his master Gilgameš: |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 Then …… the canopy ……. Holy Inana perceived the canopy, from the palace of the abzu, she perceived the canopy: |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 Holy Inana ……. An ……. …… the bond of heaven. An …… to holy Inana: "My child, ……." Inana replied ……: |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 "Bull of Heaven, you -- you, ……, yes, you! You crush them ……, and I crush them ……. If you crush them, …… They shall consign your hide to the streets ……. They shall consign your intestines to the broad square ……. The widows' sons of my city shall each take their share of your meat in baskets. They shall consign your carcass to the knacker's, and I shall turn your two horns into flasks for pouring fine oil to Inana in E-ana." |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 The king took his knife in his hand, just as if he were a master chef. He hit Inana with a haunch, he made her flee away like a pigeon, and demolished those ramparts. Standing by (?) the Bull's head, the king wept bitter tears: "Just as I can destroy you, so shall I do the same to her (?)." |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 As he spoke, he consigned its hide to the streets, he consigned its intestines to the broad square, and the widows' sons of his city each took their share of its meat in baskets. He consigned its carcass to the knacker's, and turned its two horns into flasks for pouring fine oil to Inana in E-ana.For the death of the Bull of Heaven: holy Inana, it is sweet to praise you! |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 Seed of the ĝipar (= Gilgameš?) ……; he sat on the ……; that which was in the marsh, my king, to bend that which was in the marsh with the oar, the lord covered it with water with the oar, as if they were flourishing reeds. That which exceeded, as if it was a reed (?) ……, he covered with water. In the wide courtyard …… of the temple of Inana Gilgameš ……. |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 I (?) shall not try to take over the portion of Inana in the ĝipar; …… shall not cover my valiant arm with a garment (?)! |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 At that time, there was a single tree, a single ḫalub tree, a single tree, growing on the bank of the pure Euphrates, being watered by the Euphrates. The force of the south wind uprooted it and stripped its branches, and the Euphrates picked it up and carried it away. A woman, respectful of An's words, was walking along; a woman, respectful of Enlil's words, was walking along, and took the tree and brought it into Unug, into Inana's luxuriant garden. |
| 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 When dawn was breaking, when the horizon became bright, when the little birds, at the break of dawn, began to clamour, when Utu had left his bedchamber, his sister holy Inana said to the young warrior Utu: "My brother, in those days when destiny was determined, when abundance overflowed in the Land, when An had taken the heavens for himself, when Enlil had taken the earth for himself, when the nether world had been given to Ereškigala as a gift; when he set sail, when he set sail, when the father set sail for the nether world, when Enki set sail for the nether world -- against the lord a storm of small hailstones arose, against Enki a storm of large hailstones arose. The small ones were light hammers, the large ones were like stones from catapults (?). The keel of Enki's little boat was trembling as if it were being butted by turtles, the waves at the bow of the boat rose to devour the lord like wolves and the waves at the stern of the boat were attacking Enki like a lion." |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 "At that time, there was a single tree, a single ḫalub tree, a single tree (?), growing on the bank of the pure Euphrates, being watered by the Euphrates. The force of the south wind uprooted it and stripped its branches, and the Euphrates picked it up and carried it away. I, a woman, respectful of An's words, was walking along; I, a woman, respectful of Enlil's words, was walking along, and took the tree and brought it into Unug, into holy Inana's luxuriant garden." |
| 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 When dawn was breaking, when the horizon became bright, when the little birds, at the break of dawn, began to clamour, when Utu had left his bedchamber, his sister holy Inana said to the warrior Gilgameš: "My brother, in those days when destiny was determined, when abundance overflowed in the Land, when An had taken the heavens for himself, when Enlil had taken the earth for himself, when the nether world had been given to Ereškigala as a gift; when he set sail, when he set sail, when the father set sail for the nether world, when Enki set sail for the nether world -- against the lord a storm of small hailstones arose, against Enki a storm of large hailstones arose. The small ones were light hammers, the large ones were like stones from catapults (?). The keel of Enki's little boat was trembling as if it were being butted by turtles, the waves at the bow of the boat rose to devour the lord like wolves and the waves at the stern of the boat were attacking Enki like a lion." |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 "At that time, there was a single tree, a single ḫalub tree, a single tree (?), growing on the bank of the pure Euphrates, being watered by the Euphrates. The force of the south wind uprooted it and stripped its branches, and the Euphrates picked it up and carried it away. I, a woman, respectful of An's words, was walking along; I, a woman, respectful of Enlil's words, was walking along, and took the tree and brought it into Unug, into Inana's luxuriant garden." |
| 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 (?). |
| Lugalbanda in the mountain cave: c.1.8.2.1 When in ancient days heaven was separated from earth, when in ancient days that which was fitting ……, when after the ancient harvests …… barley was eaten (?), when boundaries were laid out and borders were fixed, when boundary-stones were placed and inscribed with names, when dykes and canals were purified, when …… wells were dug straight down; when the bed of the Euphrates, the plenteous river of Unug, was opened up, when ……, when ……, when holy An removed ……, when the offices of en and king were famously exercised at Unug, when the sceptre and staff of Kulaba were held high in battle -- in battle, Inana's game; when the black-headed were blessed with long life, in their settled ways and in their ……, when they presented the mountain goats with pounding hooves and the mountain stags beautiful with their antlers to Enmerkar son of Utu -- |
| Lugalbanda in the mountain cave: c.1.8.2.1 She who makes …… for the poor, whose game (i.e. battle) is sweet, the prostitute who goes out to the inn, who makes the bedchamber delightful, who is food to the poor man -- Inana (i.e. the evening star), the daughter of Suen, arose before him like a bull in the Land. Her brilliance, like that of holy Šara, her stellar brightness illuminated for him the mountain cave. When he lifted his eyes upwards to Inana, he wept as if before his own father. In the mountain cave he raised to her his fair hands: |
| 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 Inana accepted his tears. With power of life she let him go to sleep just like the sleeping Utu. Inana enveloped him with heart's joy as if with a woollen garment. Then, just as if ……, she went to brick-built Kulaba. |
| Lugalbanda in the mountain cave: c.1.8.2.1 He was alone and, even to his sharp eyes, there was not a single person to be seen. Sleep overcame the king (i.e. Lugalbanda) -- sleep, the country of oppression; it is like a towering flood, like a hand demolishing a brick wall, a hand raised high, a foot raised high; covering like syrup that which is in front of it, overflowing like syrup onto that which is in front of it; it knows no overseer, knows no captain, yet it is overpowering for the hero. And by means of Ninkasi's wooden cask (i.e. with the help of beer), sleep finally overcame Lugalbanda. He laid down ilinnuš, pure herb of the mountains, as a couch, he spread out a zulumḫi garment, he unfolded there a white linen sheet. There being no …… room for bathing, he made do with that place. The king lay down not to sleep, he lay down to dream -- not turning back at the door of the dream, not turning back at the door-pivot. To the liar it talks in lies, to the truthful it speaks truth. It can make one man happy, it can make another man sing, but it is the closed tablet-basket of the gods. It is the beautiful bedchamber of Ninlil, it is the counsellor of Inana. The multiplier of mankind, the voice of one not alive -- Zangara, the god of dreams, himself like a bull, bellowed at Lugalbanda. Like the calf of a cow he lowed: |
| Lugalbanda in the mountain cave: c.1.8.2.1 As the sun was rising ……, Lugalbanda, invoking the name of Enlil, made An, Enlil, Enki and Ninḫursaĝa sit down to a banquet at the pit, at the place in the mountains which he had prepared. The banquet was set, the libations were poured -- dark beer, alcoholic drink, light emmer beer, wine for drinking which is pleasant to the taste. Over the plain he poured cool water as a libation. He put the knife to the flesh of the brown goats, and he roasted the dark livers there. He let their smoke rise there, like incense put on the fire. As if Dumuzid had brought in the good savours of the cattle pen, so An, Enlil, Enki and Ninḫursaĝa consumed the best part of the food prepared by Lugalbanda. Like the shining place of pure strength, the holy altar of Suen, ……. On top of the altar of Utu and the altar of Suen ……, he decorated the two altars with the lapis lazuli …… of Inana. Suen ……. He bathed the a-an-kar. When he had bathed the ……, he set out all the cakes properly. |
| Lugalbanda in the mountain cave: c.1.8.2.1 The wise elders of the city …… (1 line unclear) the incantation …… of the youth Utu, which the Anuna, the great gods, do not know, (5 lines unclear) they are able to enter the presence of Utu, of Enlil, god of the ……, the bearded son of Ningal ……; they give to Suen ……, they confirm with their power the fate of the foreign lands. At dead of night they know the black wild boar, at midday to Utu …… he can …… his incantation, (3 lines unclear) They enter before An, Enlil, ……, Inana, the gods; they know ……, they watch ……, they …… at the window; the door of the shining mountain, the doorbolt of the shining mountain; (4 lines unclear) they stand ……, (1 line unclear) |
| Lugalbanda in the mountain cave: c.1.8.2.1 They pursue …… Inana ……, who are favoured by Inana's heart, who stand in the battle, they are the fourteen torches of battle ……, at midnight they ……, at dead of night they pursue like wildfire, in a band they flash together like lightning, in the urgent storm of battle, which roars loudly like a great flood rising up; they who are favoured in Inana's heart, who stand in the battle, they are the seven torches of battle ……; they stand joyfully as she wears the crown under a clear sky, with their foreheads and eyes they are a clear evening. Their ears …… a boat, with their mouths they are wild boars resting in a reed thicket; they stand in the thick of battle, with their life-force they ……, (1 line unclear) who are favoured in Inana's heart, who stand in the battle, by Nintur of heaven they are numerous, by the life of heaven they hold ……; the holy shining battle-mace reaches to the edge of heaven and earth, …… reaches. (1 line unclear) |
| Lugalbanda in the mountain cave: c.1.8.2.1 As Utu comes forth from his chamber, the holy battle-mace of An ……, the just god who lies alongside a man; they are wicked gods with evil hearts, they are …… gods. It is they, like Nanna, like Utu, like Inana of the fifty divine powers, …… in heaven and earth ……; they are the interpreters of spoken evil, the spies of righteousness, (2 lines unclear) …… a clear sky and numerous stars, (1 line unclear) …… fresh cedars in the mountains of the cypress, …… a battle-net from the horizon to the zenith, (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| 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 "Like Šara, Inana's beloved son, shoot forth with your barbed arrows like a sunbeam, shoot forth with reed-arrows like moonlight! May the barbed arrows be a horned viper to those they hit! Like a fish killed with the cleaver, may they be magic-cut! May you bundle them up like logs hewn with the axe!" -- Lugalbanda who loves the seed will not accept this. |
| Lugalbanda and the Anzud bird: c.1.8.2.2 Holy Lugalbanda answers him: "Let the power of running be in my thighs, let me never grow tired! Let there be strength in my arms, let me stretch my arms wide, let my arms never become weak! Moving like the sunlight, like Inana, like the seven storms, those of Iškur, let me leap like a flame, blaze like lightning! Let me go wherever I look to, set foot wherever I cast my glance, reach wherever my heart desires and let me loosen my shoes in whatever place my heart has named to me! When Utu lets me reach Kulaba my city, let him who curses me have no joy thereof; let him who wishes to strive with me never say "Just let him come!" I shall have the woodcarvers fashion statues of you, and you will be breathtaking to look upon. Your name will be made famous thereby in Sumer and will redound to the credit of the temples of the great gods." |
| Lugalbanda and the Anzud bird: c.1.8.2.2 So Anzud says to holy Lugalbanda: "The power of running be in your thighs! Never grow tired! Strength be in your arms! Stretch your arms wide, may your arms never become weak! Moving like the sun, like Inana, like the seven storms of Iškur, leap like a flame, blaze like lightning! Go wherever you look to, set foot wherever you cast your glance, reach wherever your heart desires, loosen your shoes in whatever place your heart has named to you! When Utu lets you reach Kulaba your city, he who curses you shall have no joy thereof; he who wishes to strive with you shall never say "Just let him come!" When you have had the woodcarvers fashion statues of me, I shall be breathtaking to look upon. My name will be made famous thereby in Sumer and will redound to the credit of the temples of the great gods. May …… shake for you …… like a sandal. …… the Euphrates …… your feet ……." |
| Lugalbanda and the Anzud bird: c.1.8.2.2 After he had stood before the summoned assembly, within the palace that rests on earth like a great mountain Enmerkar son of Utu berated Inana: "Once upon a time my princely sister holy Inana summoned me in her holy heart from the bright mountains, had me enter brick-built Kulaba. Where there was a marsh then in Unug, it was full of water. Where there was any dry land, Euphrates poplars grew there. Where there were reed thickets, old reeds and young reeds grew there. Divine Enki who is king in Eridu tore up for me the old reeds, drained off the water completely. For fifty years I built, for fifty years I was successful. Then the Martu peoples, who know no agriculture, arose in all Sumer and Akkad. But the wall of Unug extended out across the desert like a bird net. Yet now, here in this place, my attractiveness to her has dwindled. My troops are bound to me as a cow is bound to its calf; but like a son who, hating his mother, leaves his city, my princely sister holy Inana has run away from me back to brick-built Kulaba. If she loves her city and hates me, why does she bind the city to me? If she hates the city and yet loves me, why does she bind me to the city? If the mistress removes herself from me to her holy chamber, and abandons me like an Anzud chick, then may she at least bring me home to brick-built Kulaba: on that day my spear shall be laid aside. On that day she may shatter my shield. Speak thus to my princely sister, holy Inana." |
| Lugalbanda and the Anzud bird: c.1.8.2.2 By midnight, but before they had brought the offering-table to holy Inana, he set foot joyfully in brick-built Kulaba. His lady, holy Inana, sat there on her cushion. He bowed and prostrated himself on the ground. With { (1 ms. adds:) joyful } eyes Inana looked at holy Lugalbanda as she would look at the shepherd Ama-ušumgal-ana. In a { (1 ms. adds:) joyful } voice, Inana spoke to holy Lugalbanda as she would speak to her son Lord Šara: "Come now, my Lugalbanda, why do you bring news from the city? How have you come here alone from Aratta?" |
| Lugalbanda and the Anzud bird: c.1.8.2.2 Holy Lugalbanda answered her: "What Enmerkar son of Utu quoth and what he says, what your brother quoth and what he says, is: "Once upon a time my princely sister holy Inana summoned me in her holy heart from the mountains, had me enter brick-built Kulaba. Where there was a marsh then in Unug, it was full of water. Where there was any dry land, Euphrates poplars grew there. Where there were reed thickets, old reeds and young reeds grew there. Divine Enki who is king in Eridu tore up for me the old reeds, drained off the water completely. For fifty years I built, for fifty years I was successful. Then the Martu peoples, who know no agriculture, arose in all Sumer and Akkad. But the wall of Unug extended out across the desert like a bird net. Yet now, here in this place, my attractiveness to her has dwindled. My troops are bound to me as a cow is bound to its calf; but like a son who, hating his mother, leaves his city, my princely sister holy Inana has run away from me back to brick-built Kulaba. If she loves her city and hates me, why does she bind the city to me? If she hates the city and yet loves me, why does she bind me to the city? If the mistress removes herself from me to her holy chamber and abandons me like an Anzud chick, then may she at least bring me home to brick-built Kulaba: on that day my spear shall be laid aside. On that day she may shatter my shield. Speak thus to my princely sister, holy Inana."" |
| Lugalbanda and the Anzud bird: c.1.8.2.2 Holy Inana uttered this response: "Now, at the end, on the banks, in the water-meadows, of a clear river, of a river of clear water, of the river which is Inana's gleaming waterskin, the suḫurmaš fish eats the honey-herb; the toad eats the mountain acorns; and the …… fish, which is a god of the suḫurmaš fish, plays happily there and darts about. With his scaly tail he touches the old reeds in that holy place. The tamarisks of the place, as many as there are, drink water from that pool." |
| Lugalbanda and the Anzud bird: c.1.8.2.2 "It stands alone, it stands alone! One tamarisk stands alone at the side! When Enmerkar son of Utu has cut that tamarisk and has fashioned it into a bucket, he must tear up the old reeds in that holy place roots and all, and collect them in his hands. When he has chased out from it the …… fish, which is a god of the suḫurmaš fish, caught that fish, cooked it, garnished it and brought it as a sacrifice to the a-an-kar weapon, Inana's battle-strength, then his troops will have success for him; then he will have brought to an end that which in the subterranean waters provides the life-strength of Aratta." |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 City, majestic bull bearing vigour and great awesome splendour, Kulaba, ……, breast of the storm, where destiny is determined; Unug, great mountain, in the midst of ……. There the evening meal of the great abode of An was set. In those days of yore, when the destinies were determined, the great princes allowed Unug Kulaba's E-ana to lift its head high. Plenty, and carp floods, and the rain which brings forth dappled barley were then increased in Unug Kulaba. Before the land of Dilmun yet existed, the E-ana of Unug Kulaba was well founded, and the holy ĝipar of Inana in brick-built Kulaba shone forth like the silver in the lode. Before …… carried ……, before ……, before …… carried ……, before the commerce was practised; before gold, silver, copper, tin, blocks of lapis lazuli, and mountain stones were brought down together from their mountains, before …… bathed for the festival, ……, …… time passed. (2 lines missing) |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 …… was colourfully adorned, and ……, the holy place, was …… with flawless lapis lazuli, its interior beautifully formed like a white meš tree bearing fruit. The lord of Aratta placed on his head the golden crown for Inana. But he did not please her like the lord of Kulaba. Aratta did not build for holy Inana -- unlike the Shrine E-ana, the ĝipar, the holy place, unlike brick-built Kulaba. |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 At that time, the lord chosen by Inana in her heart, chosen by Inana in her holy heart from the bright mountain, Enmerkar, the son of Utu, made a plea to his sister, the lady who grants desires, holy Inana: |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 Thereupon the splendour of holy An, the lady of the mountains, the wise, the goddess whose kohl is for Ama-ušumgal-ana, Inana, the lady of all the lands, called to Enmerkar, the son of Utu: |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 "Come, Enmerkar! I shall offer you advice: let my counsel be heeded. I shall speak words to you; let them be heard. Choose from the troops as a messenger one who is eloquent of speech and endowed with endurance. Where and to whom shall he carry the important message of wise Inana? Let him bring it up into the Zubi mountains, let him descend with it from the Zubi mountains. Let Susa and the land of Anšan humbly salute Inana like tiny mice. In the great mountain ranges, let the teeming multitudes grovel in the dust for her. Aratta shall submit beneath the yoke to Unug. The people of Aratta shall bring down the mountain stones from their mountains, and shall build the great shrine for you, and erect the great abode for you, will cause the great abode, the abode of the gods, to shine forth for you; will make your me flourish in Kulaba, will make the abzu grow for you like a holy mountain, will make Eridug shining for you like the mountain range, will cause the abzu shrine to shine forth for you like the glitter in the lode. When in the abzu you utter praise, when you bring the me from Eridug, when, in lordship, you are adorned with the crown like a purified shrine, when you place on your head the holy crown in Unug Kulaba, then may the …… of the great shrine bring you into the ĝipar, and may the …… of the ĝipar bring you into the great shrine. May the people marvel admiringly, and may Utu witness it in joy. Because …… shall carry daily, when …… in the evening cool ……, -- in the place of Dumuzid where the ewes, kids and lambs are numerous, the people of Aratta shall run around for you like the mountain sheep in the akalag fields, the fields of Dumuzid. Rise like the sun over my holy breast! You are the jewel of my throat! Praise be to you, Enmerkar, the son of Utu!" |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 The lord gave heed to the words of holy Inana, and chose from the troops as a messenger one who was eloquent of speech and endowed with endurance. { (1 ms. adds:) …… to his messenger ……. } Where and to whom will he carry the important message of wise Inana? |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 "You shall bring it up into the Zubi mountains, you shall descend with it from the Zubi mountains. Let Susa and the land of Anšan humbly salute Inana like tiny mice. In the great mountain ranges, let the teeming multitudes grovel in the dust for her. Messenger, speak to the lord of Aratta and say to him: "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."" |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 The messenger gave heed to the words of his king. He journeyed by the starry night, and by day he travelled with Utu of heaven. Where and to whom will he carry the important message of Inana with its stinging tone? He brought it up into the Zubi mountains, he descended with it from the Zubi mountains. Susa and the land of Anšan humbly saluted Inana like tiny mice. In the great mountain ranges, the teeming multitudes grovelled in the dust for her. He traversed five mountains, six mountains, seven mountains. He lifted his eyes as he approached Aratta. He stepped joyfully into the courtyard of Aratta, he made known the authority of his king. Openly he spoke out the words in his heart. The messenger transmitted the message to the lord of Aratta: |
| 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 When he had spoken thus to him, (the lord of Aratta replied): "Messenger, speak to your king, the lord of Kulaba, and say to him: "It is I, the lord suited to purification, I whom the huge heavenly neck-stock, the queen of heaven and earth, the goddess of the numerous me, holy Inana, has brought to Aratta, the mountain of the shining me, I whom she has let bar the entrance of the mountains as if with a great door. How then shall Aratta submit to Unug? Aratta's submission to Unug is out of the question!" Say this to him." |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 "Messenger! Speak to your king, the lord of Kulaba, and say to him: "This great mountain range is a meš tree grown high to the sky; its roots form a net, and its branches are a snare. It may be a sparrow but it has the talons of an Anzud bird or of an eagle. The barrier of Inana is perfectly made and is impenetrable (?). Those eagle talons make the blood of the enemy run from the bright mountain. Although in Aratta there is weeping ……, water libations are offered and flour is sprinkled; on the mountain, sacrifices and prayers are offered in obeisance. With fewer than five or 10 men, how can mobilised Unug proceed against the Zubi mountains? Your king is heading in all haste against my military might, but I am equally eager for a contest. (As the proverb goes,) he who ignores a rival, does not get to eat everything up, like the bull which ignores the bull at its side. But he who acknowledges a contest can be the outright winner, like the bull which acknowledges the bull at its side -- or does he reject me in this contest? Like ……, …… can match no one -- or does he still reject me in this contest? Again, I have words to say to you, messenger: I have an artful proposal to make to you ……, may it get across to you ……. Repeat this to your master, to the lord of Kulaba, a lion lying on its paws in E-ana, a bull bellowing within it, within his ĝipar, fruitful as a flourishing meš tree. The mountain range is a warrior, …… high, like Utu going to his abode at twilight, like one from whose face blood drips; or like Nanna, who is majestic in the high heavens, like him whose countenance shines with radiance, who …… is like the woods in the mountains."" |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 ""But if he were actually to have barley poured into carrying-nets, and to have it loaded on the packasses at whose sides reserve donkeys have been placed, and were to have it heaped up in a pile in the courtyard of Aratta -- were he really to heap it up in such a manner; and were Inana, the luxuriance of the grain pile, who is the 'illuminator of the lands', the 'ornament of the settlements', who adorns the seven walls, who is the heroic lady, fit for battle, who, as the heroine of the battleground, makes the troops dance the dance of Inana -- were she actually to cast off Aratta as if to a carrion-pursuing dog, then in that case I should submit to him; he would indeed have made me know his preeminence; like the city, I in my smallness would submit to him." So say to him." |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 "Messenger, speak to the lord of Aratta and say to him: "The base of my sceptre is the divine power of magnificence. Its crown provides a protective shade over Kulaba; under its spreading branches holy Inana refreshes herself in the shrine E-ana. Let him snap off a splinter from it and hold that in his hand; let him hold it in his hand like a string of cornelian beads, a string of lapis lazuli beads. Let the lord of Aratta bring that before me." So say to him." |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 "What is it to me what your master has spoken? What is it to me what he has said?" "This is what my master has spoken, this is what he has said: "The base of my sceptre is the divine power of magnificence. Its crown provides a protective shade over Kulaba; under its spreading branches holy Inana refreshes herself in the shrine E-ana.Let him snap off a splinter from it and hold that in his hand; let him hold it in his hand like a string of cornelian beads, a string of lapis lazuli beads. Let the lord of Aratta bring that before me. So say to him."" |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 "Aratta is indeed like a slaughtered sheep! Its roads are inded like those of the rebel lands! Since holy Inana has given the primacy of Aratta to the lord of Kulaba, now it seems that holy Inana is looking with favour on her man who has sent a messenger to make the severe message as clear as the light of Utu. So in Aratta where can one go in this crisis? How long before the yoke-rope becomes bearable? As for us, in the direst hunger, in our direst famine, are we to prostrate ourselves before the lord of Kulaba?" |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 "Messenger! Speak to the lord of Aratta and say to him: "A garment that is not black-coloured, a garment that is not white-coloured, a garment that is not brown-coloured, a garment that is not red-coloured, a garment that is not yellow-coloured, a garment that is not multicoloured -- I shall give him such a garment. My champion is embraced by Enlil. I shall send him such a champion. My champion will compete against his champion, and let the more able one prevail!" Say this to him. Second, speak to him and say: "Let him immediately pass from subterfuge ……. In his city, let them go before him like sheep. Let him, like their shepherd, follow behind them. As he goes, let the mountain of bright lapis lazuli humble itself before him like a crushed reed. And let them heap up its shining gold and silver in the courtyard of Aratta for Inana the lady of E-ana." Third, speak to him and say: "Lest I make the people fly off from that city like a wild dove from its tree, lest I smash them like ……, lest I requite (?) them as if at a current market rate, lest I make …… them walk in ……, when he goes, let them take the mountain stones, and rebuild for me the great shrine Eridug, the abzu, the E-nun; let them adorn its architrave for me ……. Let them make its protection spread over the Land for me." His speaking ……. Recite his omen to him. At that time, the lord ……, …… on the throne daises and on the chairs, the noble seed, ……." |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 "Inana, the lady of all the lands, has not run away from the primacy of her city, Aratta, nor has she stolen it for Unug; she has not run away from her E-zagin, nor has she stolen it for the shrine E-ana; she has not run away from the mountain of the shining me, nor has she stolen it for brick-built Kulaba; she has not run away from the adorned bed, nor has she stolen it for the shining bed; she has not run away from the purification for the lord, nor has she stolen it for the lord of Unug, the lord of Kulaba. Inana, the lady of all the lands, has surrounded Aratta, on its right and left, for her like a rising flood. They are people whom she has separated from other people, they are people whom Dumuzid has made step forth from other people, who firmly establish the holy words of Inana. Let the clever champion and the …… of Dumuzid whirl about! Quickly, come now, ……. After the flood had swept over, Inana, the lady of all the lands, from her great love of Dumuzid, has sprinkled the water of life upon those who had stood in the face of the flood and made the Land subject to them." |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 The clever champion, when he came, had covered his head with a colourful turban, and wrapped himself in a garment of lion skins. (4 lines unclear)Inana ……. Her song was pleasing to her spouse, Ama-ušumgal-ana. Since that time, she has made it perfect in the holy ear, the holy ear of Dumuzid, has sung it and has let the words be known. |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 (An unidentified person speaks:) "…… befitting ……, …… the ilu song of the heart, …… your abundance in his ……. Enlil has granted you ……, and may …… be made known. …… his father was not luxuriantly fertile, and poured forth no semen. Enlil, king of all the lands ……. In accordance with the tasks which he has now established, the people of Aratta …… their task of plying gold, silver and lapis lazuli; the men who …… golden fruit, fruit trees, with their figs and grapes, shall heap the fruit up in great mounds ……; and shall dig out the flawless lapis lazuli from the roots of the trees, and shall remove the succulent part of the reeds from the crowns of the trees, and then shall heap them up in a pile in the courtyard of E-ana for Inana, the lady of E-ana." |
| Enmerkar and En-suḫgir-ana: c.1.8.2.4 "Let him submit to me, let him bear my yoke. If he submits to me, indeed submits to me, then as for him and me -- he may dwell with Inana within a walled enclosure (?), but I dwell with Inana in the E-zagin of Aratta; he may lie with her on the splendid bed, but I lie in sweet slumber with her on the adorned bed, he may see dreams with Inana at night, but I converse with Inana awake. He may feed the geese with barley, but I will definitely not feed the geese with barley. I will …… the geese's eggs in a basket and …… their goslings. The small ones into my pot, the large ones into my kettle, and the rulers of the land who submitted will consume, together with me, what remains from the geese." This is what he said to Enmerkar. |
| Enmerkar and En-suḫgir-ana: c.1.8.2.4 He entered the presence of the lord in { his holy ĝipar } { (1 ms. has instead:) in his most holy place }. { (1 ms. adds 1 line:) He entered the presence of Enmerkar in his most holy place. } "My king has sent me to you. The lord of Aratta, En-suḫgir-ana, has sent me to you." { (some mss. add the lines:) "What does your king have to tell me, what does he have to add to me? What does En-suḫgir-ana have to tell me, what does he have to add to me?" "This is what my king said, what he added, this is what En-suḫgir-ana said, what he added." } "This is what my king says: "Let him submit to me, let him bear my yoke. If he submits to me, indeed submits to me, then as for him and me -- he may dwell with Inana within a walled enclosure (?), but I dwell with Inana in the E-zagin of Aratta; he may lie with her on the splendid bed, but I lie in sweet slumber with her on the adorned bed, he may see dreams with Inana at night, but I converse with Inana awake. He may feed the geese with barley, but I will definitely not feed the geese with barley. I will …… the geese's eggs in a basket and …… their goslings. The small ones into my pot, the large ones into my kettle, and the rulers of the land who submitted will consume, together with me, what remains from the geese."" |
| Enmerkar and En-suḫgir-ana: c.1.8.2.4 He patted it like a lump of clay, he examined it like a clay-tablet: "He may dwell with Inana in the E-zagin of Aratta, but I dwell with her …… as her earthly companion (?). He may lie with her in sweet slumber on the adorned bed, but I lie on Inana's splendid bed strewn with pure plants. Its back is an ug lion, its front is a piriĝ lion. The ug lion chases the piriĝ lion, the piriĝ lion chases the ug lion. As the ug lion chases the piriĝ lion and the piriĝ lion chases the ug lion, the day does not dawn, the night does not pass. I accompany Inana for a journey of 15 leagues and yet Utu the sun god cannot see my holy crown, when she enters my holy ĝipar. Enlil has given (?) me the true crown and sceptre. Ninurta, the son of Enlil, held me on his lap as the frame holds the waterskin. Aruru, the sister of Enlil, extended her right breast to me, extended her left breast to me. When I go up to the great shrine, the Mistress screeches like an Anzud chick, and other times when I go there, even though she is not a duckling, she shrieks like one. She …… from the city of her birth. No city was made to be so well-built as the city of Unug (?). It is Unug where Inana dwells and as regards Aratta, what does it have to do with this? It is brick-built Kulaba where she lives, and as regards the mount of the lustrous me, what can it do about this? For five or 10 years she will definitely not go to Aratta. Since the great holy lady of the E-ana took counsel with me (?) about whether to go also to Aratta, since she { let me know } { (1 ms. has instead:) told me } about this matter, I know that she will not go to Aratta. He who has nothing shall not feed the geese with barley, but I will feed the geese with barley. I will …… the geese's eggs in a basket and …… their goslings. The small ones into my pot, the old ones into my kettle, and the rulers { of the Land } { (some mss. has instead:) of Sumer } who submitted will consume, together with me, what remains from the geese." |
| Enmerkar and En-suḫgir-ana: c.1.8.2.4 Having heard this matter, En-suḫgir-ana sent a man to Enmerkar: "You are the beloved lord of Inana, you alone are exalted. Inana has truly chosen you for her holy lap, you are her beloved. From the south to the highlands, you are the great lord, and I am only second to you; from the moment of conception I was not your equal, you are the older brother. I cannot match you ever." |
| The history of the Tummal: c.2.1.3 From the years of { Amar-Suena } { (1 ms. has instead:) Šu-Suen } until King Ibbi-Suen chose { En-am-gal-ana } { (1. ms. has instead:) En-me-gal-ana } by extispicy as the high priest of Inana of Unug, Ninlil came regularly to the Tummal. |
| The history of the Tummal: c.2.1.3 Written according to the words of Lu-Inana the chief leatherworker of Enlil. |
| Sargon and Ur-Zababa: c.2.1.4 One day, after the evening had arrived and Sargon had brought the regular deliveries to the palace, Ur-Zababa was sleeping (and dreaming) in the holy bed-chamber, his holy residence. He realised what the dream was about, but did not put into words, did not discuss it with anyone. After Sargon had received the regular deliveries for the palace, Ur-Zababa appointed him cupbearer, putting him in charge of the drinks cupboard. Holy Inana did not cease to stand by him. |
| Sargon and Ur-Zababa: c.2.1.4 It was then that the cupbearer of Ezina's wine-house, Sargon, lay down not to sleep, but lay down to dream. In the dream, holy Inana drowned Ur-Zababa in a river of blood. The sleeping Sargon groaned and gnawed the ground. When King Ur-Zababa heard about this groaning, he was brought into the king's holy presence, Sargon was brought into the presence of Ur-Zababa (who said:) "Cupbearer, was a dream revealed to you in the night?" Sargon answered his king: "My king, this is my dream, which I will tell you about: There was a young woman who was as high as the heavens and as broad as the earth. She was firmly set as the base of a wall. For me, she drowned you in a great river, a river of blood." |
| Sargon and Ur-Zababa: c.2.1.4 Ur-Zababa chewed his lips, he became seriously afraid. He spoke to ……, his chancellor: "My royal sister, holy Inana, is going to change (?) my finger into a …… of blood; she will drown Sargon, the cupbearer, in the great river. Beliš-tikal, chief smith, man of my choosing, who can write tablets, I will give you orders, let my orders be carried out! Let my advice be followed! Now then, when the cupbearer has delivered my bronze hand-mirror (?) to you, in the E-sikil, the fated house, throw them (the mirror and Sargon) into the mould like statues." |
| Sargon and Ur-Zababa: c.2.1.4 Beliš-tikal heeded his king's words and prepared the moulds in the E-sikil, the fated house. The king spoke to Sargon: "Go and deliver my bronze hand-mirror (?) to the chief smith!" Sargon left the palace of Ur-Zababa. Holy Inana, however, did not cease to stand at his right hand side, and before he had come within five or 10 nindan of the E-sikil, the fated house, holy Inana turned around toward him and blocked his way, (saying:) "The E-sikil is a holy house! No one polluted with blood should enter it!" Thus he met the chief smith of the king only at the gate of the fated house. After he delivered the king's bronze hand-mirror (?) to the chief smith, Beliš-tikal, the chief smith, …… and threw it into the mould like statues. |
| The cursing of Agade: c.2.1.5 After Enlil's frown had slain Kiš as if it were the Bull of Heaven, had slaughtered the house of the land of Unug in the dust as if it were a mighty bull, and then Enlil had given the rulership and kingship from the south as far as the highlands to Sargon, king of Agade -- at that time, holy Inana established the sanctuary of Agade as her celebrated woman's domain; she set up her throne in Ulmaš. |
| The cursing of Agade: c.2.1.5 Like a young man building a house for the first time, like a girl establishing a woman's domain, holy Inana did not sleep as she ensured that the warehouses would be provisioned; that dwellings would be founded in the city; that its people would eat splendid food; that its people would drink splendid beverages; that those bathed for holidays would rejoice in the courtyards; that the people would throng the places of celebration; that acquaintances would dine together; that foreigners would cruise about like unusual birds in the sky; that even Marhaši would be re-entered on the tribute rolls; that monkeys, mighty elephants, water buffalo, exotic animals, as well as thoroughbred dogs, lions, { mountain ibexes } { (some mss. have instead:) mountain beasts (?) } { (some mss. have instead:) horses }, and alum sheep with long wool would jostle each other in the public squares. |
| The cursing of Agade: c.2.1.5 Its king, the shepherd Naram-Suen, rose as the daylight on the holy throne of Agade. Its city wall { , like a mountain, } { (1 ms. has instead:), a great mountain, } reached the heavens. It was like the Tigris { going to } { (some mss. have instead:) flowing into } the sea as holy Inana opened the portals of its city-gates and made Sumer bring its own possessions upstream by boats. The highland Martu, people ignorant of agriculture, brought spirited cattle and kids for her. The Meluḫans, the people of the black land, brought { exotic wares } { (some mss. have instead:) wares of foreign countries } up to her. Elam and Subir loaded themselves with goods for her as if they were packasses. All the governors, the { temple administrators } { (1 ms. has instead:) generals }, and the accountants of the Gu-edina regularly supplied the monthly and New Year offerings. What a weariness all these caused at Agade's city gates! Holy Inana could hardly receive all these offerings. As if she were a citizen there, she could not restrain (?) the desire (?) to prepare the ground for a temple. |
| The cursing of Agade: c.2.1.5 But the statement coming from the E-kur was disquieting. Because of Enlil (?) all Agade was reduced (?) to trembling, and terror befell Inana in Ulmaš. She left the city, returning to her home. Holy Inana abandoned the sanctuary of Agade like someone abandoning the young women of her woman's domain. Like a warrior hurrying to arms, she { removed } { (some mss. have instead:) tore away } the gift of battle and fight from the city and handed them over to the enemy. |
| The cursing of Agade: c.2.1.5 Not even five or 10 days had passed and Ninurta brought the jewels of rulership, the royal crown, the emblem and the royal throne bestowed on Agade, back into his E-šu-me-ša. Utu took away the eloquence of the city. Enki took away its wisdom. An took { up } { (some mss. have instead:) out } { (1 ms. has instead:) away } into the midst of heaven its fearsomeness that reaches heaven. Enki tore out its well-anchored holy mooring pole from the abzu. Inana took away its weapons. |
| The cursing of Agade: c.2.1.5 At that time, Suen, Enki, Inana, Ninurta, Iškur, Utu, Nuska, and Nisaba, { the great gods } { (1 ms. has instead:) all the gods whosoever }, { cooled } { (1 ms. has instead:) sprinkled } Enlil's heart with cool water and prayed to him: "Enlil, may the city that destroyed your city be treated as your city has been treated! May the one that defiled your giguna be treated as Nibru! In this city, may heads fill the wells! May no one find his acquaintances there, may brother not recognise brother! May its young woman be cruelly killed in her woman's domain, may its old man cry in distress for his slain wife! May its pigeons moan on their window ledges, may its small birds be smitten in their nooks, may it live in constant anxiety like a timid pigeon!" |
| The cursing of Agade: c.2.1.5 Again, Suen, Enki, Inana, Ninurta, Iškur, Utu, Nuska and Nisaba, all the gods whosoever, turned their attention to the city, and cursed Agade severely: "City, you pounced on E-kur: it is as if you had pounced on Enlil! Agade, you pounced on E-kur: it is as if you had pounced on Enlil! May your holy walls, to their highest point, resound with mourning! May your giguna be reduced to a pile of dust! May your pilasters with the standing lahama deities fall to the ground like tall young men drunk on wine! May your clay be returned to its abzu, may it be clay cursed by Enki! May your grain be returned to its furrow, may it be grain cursed by Ezina! May your timber be returned to its forest, may it be timber cursed by Ninilduma! May { the } { (1 ms. has instead:) your } cattle slaughterer slaughter his wife, may { your } { (some mss. have instead:) the } sheep butcher butcher his child! May water wash away your pauper as he is looking for ……! May your prostitute hang herself at the entrance to her brothel! May your pregnant (?) priestesses and cult prostitutes abort (?) their children! May your gold be bought for the price of silver, may your silver be bought for the price of pyrite (?), and may your copper be bought for the price of lead!" |
| The cursing of Agade: c.2.1.5 Inana be praised for the destruction of Agade! |
| The victory of Utu-ḫeĝal: c.2.1.6 He went to his lady, Inana, and prayed to her: "My lady, lioness in the battle, who butts the foreign lands, Enlil has entrusted me with bringing back the kingship to Sumer. May you be my help!" |
| The victory of Utu-ḫeĝal: c.2.1.6 But the king, endowed with power by Enlil, chosen by Inana with her { (1 ms. adds:) holy } heart -- Utu-ḫeĝal, the mighty man, came out from Unug to face him and set up camp (?) at the temple of Iškur. He addressed a speech to the citizens of his city: "Enlil has given Gutium to me and my lady Inana will be my help! Dumuzid-ama-ušumgal-ana has declared "It is a matter for me!" and assigned Gilgameš, the son of Ninsumun, to me as a constable!" The citizens of Unug and Kulaba rejoiced and followed him with one accord. He lined up his élite troops. |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 There was a levy for him on the clans of Inana "The net suspended for catching the beasts of the steppe" and "Choice steeds, famous team, the team beloved by Utu", and he placed the rosette, the standard of Inana, in front of them. |
| The lament for Urim: c.2.2.2 She of Isin has abandoned it and has let the breezes haunt her sheepfold. Ninisina has abandoned the shrine Egal-maḫ and has let the breezes haunt her sheepfold. The queen of Unug has abandoned it and has let the breezes haunt her sheepfold. Inana has abandoned that house Unug and has let the breezes haunt her sheepfold. Nanna has abandoned Urim and has let the breezes haunt his sheepfold. Suen has abandoned E-kiš-nu-ĝal and has let the breezes haunt his sheepfold. His wife Ningal has abandoned it and has let the breezes haunt her sheepfold. Ningal has abandoned her Agrun-kug and has let the breezes haunt her sheepfold. The wild bull of Eridug has abandoned it and has let the breezes haunt his sheepfold. Enki has abandoned that house Eridug and has let the breezes haunt his sheepfold. |
| The lament for Sumer and Urim: c.2.2.3 An frightened the very dwellings of Sumer, the people were afraid. Enlil blew an evil storm, silence lay upon the city. Nintur bolted the door of the storehouses of the Land. Enki blocked the water in the Tigris and the Euphrates. Utu took away the pronouncement of equity and justice. Inana handed over victory in strife and battle to a rebellious land. Ninĝirsu poured Sumer away like milk to the dogs. Turmoil descended upon the Land, something that no one had ever known, something unseen, which had no name, something that could not be fathomed. The lands were confused in their fear. The god of the city turned away, its shepherd vanished. |
| 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. |
| The lament for Unug: c.2.2.5 Lady Inana whose greatness is vaster than the mountains, hovering like An, vested with grandeur like Enlil, like her father, perfect by night and in the heat of the day, like Utu, surpassing in vigour, singularly exalted in all the four regions -- let Išme-Dagan take pleasure in relaxing in your temple, let him murmer to you in your temple, let him raise his head to you in your E-ana. |
| The lament for Eridug: c.2.2.6 Inana, the queen of heaven and earth, destroyed her city Unug. Fleeing from the E-ana, the house of seven corners and seven fires ……, she destroyed it but did not abandon it -- at the lunches, in her great dining hall, they call her name. |
| The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A): c.2.4.1.1 To Dumuzid, the beloved husband of Inana, in his palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a …… sheep, ……, mountain ……, a lordly golden sceptre, …… a shining hand. { (1 ms. adds:) He …… a gold and silver ……, a lapis-lazuli ……, and a …… pin to Dimpikug ……. } |
| The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A): c.2.4.1.1 "My tigi, adab, flute and zamzam songs have been turned into laments because of me. The instruments of the house of music have been propped against the wall. Because I have been made to …… in a soil-filled pit instead of my throne whose beauty was endless; because I have been made to lie down in the open, desolate steppe instead of my bed, the sleeping place whose …… was endless, alas, my wife and my children are in tears and wailing. My people whom I used to command (?) sing like lamentation and dirge singers because of her (?). While I was so treated, foremost Inana, the warlike lady, was not present at my verdict. Enlil had sent her as a messenger to all the foreign lands concerning very important matters." |
| The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A): c.2.4.1.1 When she had turned her gaze away from there, Inana humbly entered the shining E-kur, she …… at Enlil's fierce brow. (Then Enlil said:) "Great lady of the E-ana, once someone has bowed down, he cannot …… (?) any more; the trustworthy shepherd left E-ana, you cannot see him any more." My lady …… among the people { …… } { (1 ms. has instead:) like …… }. Then Inana, the fierce storm, the eldest child of Suen, ……, made the heavens tremble, made the earth shake. Inana destroyed cattle-pens, devastated sheepfolds, saying: "I want to hurl insults at An, the king of the gods: Who can change the matter, if Enlil elevates someone? Who can change the import of the august words uttered by An, the king? If there are divine ordinances imposed on the Land, but they are not observed, there will be no abundance at the gods's place of sunrise. My holy ĝipar, the shrine E-ana, has been barred up { like (?) a mountain } { (some mss. have instead:) like the heavens }. If only my shepherd could enter before me in it in his prime -- { I will not enter it otherwise! } { (some mss. have instead:) Why should I enter it otherwise? } If only my strong one could grow for me like greenery in the desert. If only he could hold steady for me like a river boat at its calm mooring." This is how Inana { gave vent (?) to a lament over him } { (1 ms. has instead:) …… Ur-Namma …… } |
| The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A): c.2.4.1.1 To Dumuzid, the beloved husband of Inana, in his palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered alum sheep, long-fleeced sheep, big mountain he-goats, a lordly …… of manu wood fit for a shining hand, and shepherd's staff and crook of manu wood, fit for a lord. |
| The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A): c.2.4.1.1 "…… guard ……. …… silence ……. …… adab, flute and zamzam songs …… laments. …… have been propped against the wall. Because I have been made to sit on …… whose beauty was endless; because I have been made to fall in …… was endless, (1 line fragmentary)Maiden Inana, the warlike lady, ……. Enlil had sent her as a messenger to all the great mountains." |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi A): c.2.4.2.01 I am a child born of Ninsumun. I am the choice of holy An's heart. I am the man whose fate was decided by Enlil. I am Šulgi, the beloved of Ninlil. I am he who is cherished by Nintur. I am he who was endowed with wisdom by Enki. I am the powerful king of Nanna. I am the growling lion of Utu. I am Šulgi, who has been chosen by Inana for his attractiveness. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi A): c.2.4.2.01 I drank beer in the palace founded by An with my brother and companion, the hero Utu. My singers praised me with songs accompanied by seven tigi drums. My spouse, the maiden Inana, the lady, the joy of heaven and earth, sat with me at the banquet. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi B): c.2.4.2.02 In the south, in Urim, I caused a House of the Wisdom of Nisaba to spring up in sacrosanct ground for the writing of my hymns; up country in Nibru I established another. May the scribe be on duty there and transcribe with his hand the prayers which I instituted in the E-kur; and may the singer perform, reciting from the text. The academies are never to be altered; the places of learning shall never cease to exist. This and this only is now my accumulated knowledge! The collected words of all the hymns that are in my honour supersede all other formulations. By An, Enlil, Utu and Inana, it is no lie -- it is true! |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi B): c.2.4.2.02 For that house, I am the right man to step over the threshold. I am the man whose name has been chosen by Nanna. I am the steward of Enlil's temple, the domestic slave of An. I am Šulgi, and my house E-ḫursaĝ is the palace of palaces. My royal residence is above all praise; I made it tower up like a lapis-lazuli mountain. Inana, the queen of the gods, the protective deity of my power, has perfected the songs of my might -- the foremost among kings -- in respect of everything in the whole world. It is good to praise me. Praise be to Nisaba. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi C): c.2.4.2.03 (4 lines fragmentary) in the …… of Enlil, Ninlil and Nintur, …… Nanna and Ninurta, in the …… of holy Inana (2 lines fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi D): c.2.4.2.04 The king ……. On that day, in the foreign land ……. His roar …… the hills ……. The city which Enlil has ……, which An has ……, which Nintur has ……, which Enki has …… good wisdom. Nanna has …… the heights of heaven, Utu has …… on the horizon; Inana the lady of battle has frowned (?) on it. The people of the rebel lands, like old reeds ……. The great and terrible battle of Šulgi ……. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi E): c.2.4.2.05 I am Šulgi, the great musician, superintendent of the art of music. If …… favourable ……. My songs, lapsing from people's mouths and passing out of memory, neglected (?) in all the cult-places ……. …… his king ……, in the music-rooms of the gods …… (10 lines unclear) King of the singer's art, Suen ……, protective goddess of the singer's art, Ĝeštinana …… (3 lines unclear or missing) |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi E): c.2.4.2.05 For the rebel lands, the illiterate (?) ones that carry no emblems, my warfare is a horizon on which there are clouds, enveloping the twilight in fear. The mountains, where the forests do not grow as thick as thornbushes, where in the cult places of the rites of Inana (i.e. in battle) throw-stick and shield do not tumble to the earth in a great storm, where the combatants take no rest in the insistent bitterness of the fierce battle, where life-fluid and blood from both scoundrel and honest person ……, where no black ewes trek over the mountains like floating clouds, and corpses in reedbeds and crannies …… (1 line unclear)The desert scorpion shall no longer behave thus ……. Neither shortly nor in the future shall he rise again. A villain and rebel …… to the weapons of strength. A path that is confused, a way that is cut off like a ……. I bent low the land of the Gutians like a mubum tree, and the land turned its heart in its fear before me, as I put my foot on its neck. I am he who all alone plunders cities with his own strength. I am the strong one who is praised for his weapons. I am he whose lasting name and prayerful words are as tremendous as ……. I am the just and the benefactor in the Land. |
| An adab to Enlil for Šulgi (Šulgi G): c.2.4.2.07 Šulgi, the mighty king, ……, who exults in his triumph, the …… king vanquished the rebellious land with the agakar weapon of Inana. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi X): c.2.4.2.24 The king sailed to Unug towards the princely divine powers. Sumer and Akkad marvelled at him as he moored the boat at the quay of Kulaba. With a large wild bull of the mountains with uplifted horns, and with a sheep led by the hand of an en priest at his right side, with a dappled kid and a bearded kid clasped to his breast, he entered before Inana in the shrine of E-ana. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi X): c.2.4.2.24 Šulgi, the good shepherd, a heart in love, dressed himself in the ba garment and put a ḫili wig on his head as a crown. Inana looked at him with admiration and spontaneously struck up a song, singing the words: |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi X): c.2.4.2.24 "When I have bathed for the king, for the lord, when I have bathed for the shepherd Dumuzid, when I have adorned my flanks (?) with ointment (?), when I have anointed my mouth with balsamic oil (?), when I have painted my eyes with kohl, when he has …… my hips with his fair hands, when the lord who lies down beside holy Inana, the shepherd Dumuzid, has …… on his lap, when he has relaxed (?) …… in my pure (?) arms, when he has intercourse (?) with me …… like choice beer, when he ruffles my pubic hair for me, when he plays with the hair of my head, when he lays his hands on my holy genitals, when he lies down in the …… of my sweet womb, (2 lines unclear)when he treats me tenderly on the bed, then I will too treat my lord tenderly." |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi X): c.2.4.2.24 The lady, the light of heaven, the delight of the black-headed, the youthful woman who excels her mother, who was granted divine powers by her father, Inana, the daughter of Suen, decreed a destiny for Šulgi, the son of Ninsumun: |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi X): c.2.4.2.24 "In battle I will be the one who goes before you. In combat I will carry your weapon like a personal attendant. In the assembly I will be your advocate. On campaign I will be your encouragement. You are the shepherd chosen by holy ……. You are the king and generous provider of E-ana. You are the pure (?) one of An's Iri-gal. You are worthy of ……. You are one who is entitled to hold high his head on the lofty dais. You are one who is worthy of sitting on the shining throne. Your head is worthy of the brilliant crown. Your body is worthy of the long fleecy garment. You are worthy of being dressed in the royal garb. You are suited to hold the mitum weapon in your arm. You are suited to run fast with the battle-mace. You are suited to hit accurately with the barbed arrows and the bow. You are suited to fasten the throw-stick and the sling to your side. Your hand is worthy of the holy sceptre. Your feet are worthy of the holy shoes. You are a fast runner suited to race on the road. You are worthy to delight yourself on my holy breast like a pure calf. May your love be lasting! An has determined this for you, and may he never alter it! May Enlil, the decreer of fates, never change it!" Thus Inana treated him tenderly. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi X): c.2.4.2.24 "As if you were Utu, your terror radiates in battle. As if you were Nergal, your battle-mace drools with gore and your spear reaches into the blood of the Land. You are the great door of the city, you are the great wall of the Land. You are a net piled up (?) over heaven and earth, you are a cosmic bond laid for Sumer. May …… proclaim your glory in abundance! May the words of Enlil, which are so enormous, provide a shelter over your head! May the loving heart, Inana, never abandon you!" |
| A song of Šulgi: c.2.4.2.a My king went to Zabalam. …… Inana, rejoice! Šulgi went to Zabalam. …… Inana, rejoice! |
| A balbale to Inana for Šu-Suen (Šu-Suen B): c.2.4.4.2 It is a balbale of Inana. |
| A balbale to Inana for Šu-Suen (Šu-Suen C): c.2.4.4.3 It is a balbale of Inana. |
| A hymn for Šu-Suen: c.2.4.4.a Head held high, fit for the royal crown, son of Ninsumun, mighty and forceful among the Anuna gods ……. Šu-Suen! Holy Inana made manifest ……. Enlil has given to you as your helper the beloved heart whose beauty is unending, the good woman …… -- you have embraced her. Strong one given majestic strength by the Great Mountain, …… from his power; hero excelling all lords and sovereigns, who is their great lion -- Šu-Suen, gracious figure, shining crown, holy breast wondrous to behold, hero born for godhood, ornament of kingship, …… in heaven and on earth, strong as far as the borders of the Land! |
| A tigi to Nanaya for Išbi-Erra (Išbi-Erra C): c.2.5.1.3 As fine as An, woman with a holy (?) head, made perfect by the …… lady! Nanaya, properly educated by holy Inana, woman who is as bright as the stars, wise lady who is available for everything, righteous sympathetic woman, lady who is always available on request, counselled by holy Inana, beloved by the Mistress! Nanaya, great judge, deity who occupies the high throne of Unug! |
| A tigi to Nanaya for Išbi-Erra (Išbi-Erra C): c.2.5.1.3 Great lady, worthy source of inspiration, counselled (?) by the Mistress: luxurious divine powers have been generously given to you by the Mistress. Nanaya, great lady, worthy source of inspiration, counselled (?) by the Mistress! Išbi-Erra, you are the king and shepherd of the people! Nanaya, by the command of An you are the queen of all the countries. In the shrine, in Kulaba, …… he declares it, and the people turn their hearts towards you as you address them. Nanaya, good woman, you are the favourable (?) name of the black-headed! O youth chosen in beauty by the Mistress, son of Enlil, your wise word is brightly made good for the goddess Inana! O Nanaya, the goddess has created your holy powers …… for you. You have …… turned the favourable eye of life onto the bedchamber, and Išbi-Erra is the youth chosen for his beauty. |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 I shall greet her who ascends above, her who ascends above, I shall greet the Mistress who ascends above, I shall greet the great lady of heaven, Inana! I shall greet the holy torch who fills the heavens, the light, Inana, her who shines like daylight, the great lady of heaven, Inana! I shall greet the Mistress, the most awesome lady among the Anuna gods; the respected one who fills heaven and earth with her huge brilliance; the eldest daughter of Suen, Inana! For the young lady I shall sing a song about her grandeur, about her greatness, about her exalted dignity; about her radiantly ascending at evening; about her filling the heaven like a holy torch; about her stance in the heavens, as noticeable by all lands, from the south to the highlands, as that of Nanna or of Utu; about the greatness of the mistress of heaven! |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 When standing in the heavens she is the good wild cow of An, on earth she instils respect; she is the lady of all the lands. She received the divine powers in the abzu, in Eridug; her father Enki presented them to her. He placed the lordship and kingship in her hands. She takes her seat on the great dais with An; she determines the fates in her Land with Enlil. Monthly, at the new moon, the gods of the Land gather around her so that the divine powers are perfected. The great Anuna gods, having bowed before them, stand there with prayers and supplications and utter prayers on behalf of all the lands. My lady decrees judgments in due order for the Land. { (2 mss. add the line:) Inana decides verdicts for the Land together with Enlil. } Her black-headed people parade before her. |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 Making silver alĝar instruments sound for her, they parade before her, holy Inana. I shall greet the great lady of heaven, Inana! Making holy ub and holy lilis drums sound for her, they parade before her, holy Inana. I shall greet the great lady of heaven, Inana! Beating (?) holy balaĝ and holy lilis drums for her, they parade before her, holy Inana. I shall greet { (1 ms. adds:) in (?) her grandeur, in (?) her greatness, in (?) her exalted dignity as she ascends radiantly at evening, } { the eldest daughter of Suen } { (some mss. have instead:) the great lady of heaven }, Inana! |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 Tightening their hairgrips for her, male prostitutes parade before her, holy Inana. Their locks of hair at the back are adorned for her with coloured rags (?); they parade before her, holy Inana. Clothed (?) in the leather (?) of divinity, they parade before her, holy Inana. The trustworthy { man } { (1 ms. has instead:) king } and the proud lady, the doyenne of the great wise women, parade before her, holy Inana. Those who are in charge (?) of beating (?) the soothing balaĝ drums parade before her, holy Inana. Each girded with a sword belt, the strength of battle, they parade before her, holy Inana. Grasping a spear, the strength of battle, in their hands, they parade before her, holy Inana. |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 Dressed with men's clothing on the right side, they parade before her, holy Inana. I shall greet the great lady of heaven, Inana! Adorned (?) with women's clothing on the left side, they parade before her, holy Inana. I shall greet the great lady of heaven, Inana! Competing with skipping ropes of (?) coloured cords for her, they parade before her, holy Inana. I shall greet { the eldest daughter of Suen } { (1 ms. has instead:) the great lady of heaven }, Inana! |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 Young men wearing neck-stocks sing to her and parade before her, holy Inana. Young women, šugia priestesses, coiffured, parade before her, holy Inana. …… sword and dagger for her, they parade before her, holy Inana. With daggers in their hands, …… kurĝara priests parade before her, holy Inana. Those who cover their swords with gore spatter blood as they parade before her, holy Inana. Blood is poured on the dais standing in the guena hall, as tigi, šem and ala drums are made to sound loudly. |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 The Mistress stands alone in the pure heavens. From the midst of heaven my lady looks with joy at all the lands and the black headed people, who are as numerous as { sheep } { (1 ms. has instead:) ewes }. { (some mss. add the line:) They parade before her, holy Inana. } I praise the lady of the evening, Inana, the august one, the young lady, Inana. { The lady of the evening reaches the borders of heaven! } { (1 ms. has instead:) The lady exalted as high as the heaven, Inana, is august! } |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 From the midst of heaven my lady looks down with joy. They parade before her, holy Inana. The lady of the evening, Inana, is august; I praise the young lady, Inana. The lady of the evening, her grandeur reaches the borders of heaven! |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 From the midst of heaven my lady looks down with joy. They parade before her, holy Inana. The lady exalted as high as the heaven, Inana, is august! I praise the young woman, Inana. The lady exalted as high as the heaven, her grandeur reaches the borders of heaven. |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 Everybody hastens to holy Inana. For my lady in the midst of heaven the best of everything is prepared (?). In the pure places of the plain, at its good places, on the roofs, on the rooftops, the rooftops of the dwellings (?), in the sanctuaries (?) of mankind, incense offerings like a forest of aromatic cedars are transmitted to her. They sacrifice alum sheep, long-haired sheep, and fattened sheep for her. They purify the earth for the Mistress, they { carry out purification rites for her } { (some mss. have instead:) celebrate her in songs }. |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 From the midst of heaven my lady looks down with joy. They parade before her, holy Inana. Inana, the lady exalted as high as the heaven is august! I praise the young lady, Inana. The lady exalted as high as the heaven, her grandeur reaches the borders of heaven! |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 In order to find sweetness in the bed on the joyous coverlet, my lady bathes her holy thighs. She bathes them for the thighs of the king; { she bathes them for } { (some mss. have instead:) with head held high she goes to } the thighs of Iddin-Dagan. Holy Inana rubs herself with soap; she sprinkles oil and cedar essence on the ground. |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 The king goes to her holy thighs with head held high, { (some mss. add:) she goes to the thighs of Iddin-Dagan, } he goes to the thighs of Inana with head held high. Ama-ušumgal-ana lies down beside her and { caresses her holy thighs } { (some mss. have instead:) (says:) "O my holy thighs! O my holy Inana!" }. After the lady has made him rejoice with her holy thighs on the bed, after holy Inana has made him rejoice with her holy thighs on the bed, she relaxes (?) with him on her bed: "Iddin-Dagan, you are indeed my beloved!" |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 To pour libations, to carry out purification rites, to heap up incense offerings, to burn juniper, to set out food offerings, to set out offering-bowls, he goes into her Egal-maḫ. She embraces her beloved spouse, holy Inana embraces him. She shines like daylight on { the great throne dais } { (1 ms. has instead:) the throne at one side (?) } and makes the king position himself next (?) to her like the sun. |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 They praise my lady on my behalf (?) with the hymns of heaven and earth." You are the Mistress born together with heaven and earth." In the holy place, the pure place, they celebrate the Mistress in songs: "Joy of the black-headed people, ornament of the assembly, Inana, eldest daughter of Suen, lady of the evening, your praise is good." |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 From the midst of heaven my lady looks down with joy. They parade before her, holy Inana. { Inana, the lady elevated as high as the heavens, is august! } { (some mss. have instead:) The lady of the evening, her grandeur reaches the borders of heaven! } |
| A praise poem of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan A + V): c.2.5.4.01 Inana, the lady of heaven and earth ……, chose me as her beloved spouse. She put attractiveness in my waist-belt (?), looking at me with her life-giving look, as she lifted her radiant forehead to me, to make me step onto the flowery bed. She has uttered her unalterable holy word for me to spend long, long days in the ĝipar, combining the priestly office of en with the kingship and caring unceasingly for E-ana, and for my neck to become thick like a wild bull's in Unug as my splendour covers Kulaba. |
| A praise poem of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan A + V): c.2.5.4.01 I made sure that my praise was spoken, by creating numerous songs to Ĝeštin-ana, the honey-mouthed lady. I installed …… my scholars and chief singers. The skilful singers composed for me adab, tigi, šumunša, malgatum, šir-gida, royal praise poems perfect in content, araḫi, balbale, zamzam and kunĝar compositions. They magnify my name in the places where odes are performed. That I am omniscient and broad in wisdom, that I am knowedgeable (?) about the …… of the troops, that I direct the people as a wise shepherd who is brilliant (?) in the face of weapons, that I am skilful in everything, that An has looked favourably on me, that by the word of Enlil ……, that Ninlil is my protection, that Enki has given me wisdom, that Ninurta is all for me (?), that Nanna loves me greatly, that I am the son-in-law of Ningal, that Inana has made me attractive, (2 lines broken or unclear) |
| Išme-Dagan and Enlil's chariot: a tigi to Enlil (Išme-Dagan I): c.2.5.4.09 The young hero then proudly enters the resplendent E-kur, Lord Ninurta prays to Enlil: "Please, look with favour on Išme-Dagan, the accomplished shepherd, who is at your service in the dining-hall; on the king who has built you the chariot! Give him Inana your beloved eldest daughter as a spouse. May they embrace each other forever! May the days of delight and sweetness last long in her holy embrace full of life!" |
| A love song of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan J): c.2.5.4.10 Lady, going to the sweet-voiced cows and gentle-voiced calves in the cattle-pen, young woman, when you arrive there, Inana, may the churn sound! May the churn of your spouse sound, Inana, may the churn sound! May the churn of Dumuzid sound, Inana, may the churn sound! |
| A love song of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan J): c.2.5.4.10 The rocking of the churn will sing (?) for you, Inana, may it thus make you joyous! The good shepherd, the man of sweet songs, will loudly (?) sing songs for you; lady, with all the sweetest things, Inana, may he make your heart joyous! |
| A love song of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan J): c.2.5.4.10 Lady, when you enter the cattle-pen, Inana, the cattle-pen will indeed rejoice over you. Mistress, when you enter the sheepfold, Inana, the sheepfold will indeed rejoice over you. When you enter the feeding-pen, healthy ewes will spread out their wool for you. |
| A hymn to Inana for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan K): c.2.5.4.11 Young woman Inana, Suen's daughter, who makes the divine powers of the Land supreme, who achieves everything, who seizes the divine powers in heaven and gathers them up on earth, who proceeds proudly with her head reaching the heavens, whose radiance makes the nighttime secure like a fire which lights up into the distance -- no god can stand up as her opposition, ……. |
| A hymn to Inana for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan K): c.2.5.4.11 Holy Inana was endowed by Enlil and Ninlil with the capacity to make the heavens shake, to make the earth tremble, to hold the four directions in her hand and to act grandly as their lady, to shout with wide open mouth in battle and combat and to wreak carnage (?), to butt all at once valiantly (?) like a wild bull, to make the earth drink the blood of enemies like water and to pile up their bodies, to take captive their overwhelmed (?) troops and to make them serve, to make the people ascend from below to above, to make the { foreign } { (1 ms. has instead:) numerous } people change their place, and to turn light to darkness and darkness to light. They made her without rival in heaven and on earth. They bestowed on her the power to establish a woman's domain in ……. They detemined as her fate to ……, to make them content together. |
| A hymn to Inana for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan K): c.2.5.4.11 Inana was entrusted by Enlil and Ninlil with the capacity to gladden the heart of those who revere her in their established residences, but not to soothe the mood of those who do not revere her in their well-built houses; to turn a man into a woman and a woman into a man, to change one into the other, to make young women dress as men on their right side, to make young men dress as women on their left side, to put spindles into the hands of men ……, and to give weapons to the women; to see that women amuse themselves by using children's language, to see that children amuse themselves by using women's language, to …… skill, to ……. They built a palace, her house of ladyship, for the mistress of heaven, and invested it with fearsome radiance. They made it into the neck-stock of all the foreign countries, and imbued it with awe-inspiring, terrifying splendour. |
| A hymn to Inana for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan K): c.2.5.4.11 To clamp down (?) on the black-headed people, to ……, to decide justly the lawsuits of the numerous people, to select the just, ……, to …… who speaks (?) violently -- all these were entrusted into Inana's hands by them. |
| A hymn to Inana for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan K): c.2.5.4.11 Enlil and Ninlil gave her Išme-Dagan, the constant attendant, …… as her husband ……. The duty to build temples for the gods, to furnish their daily portions, to purify their raised temples and to sanctify their daises, to secure their daily liquor, syrup and choice beer in their dining halls -- all this was bestowed on Inana and Išme-Dagan by Enlil and Ninlil. |
| A hymn to Inana for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan K): c.2.5.4.11 August Nibru, no god excels like your lord and lady! In your midst they have bestowed the divine powers on the young woman Inana. I, Išme-Dagan, have put this (i.e. this composition) in everyone's mouth for all time. |
| A hymn to Inana for Išme-Dagan: c.2.5.4.a (1 line fragmentary) …… squatting in the dust ……. …… of Inana ……. (1 line fragmentary) …… of her garment of ladyship. …… with blood (?). …… her submission ……. (1 line unclear) …… insulted ……, cursed my temple. …… I despised him. …… cursed my city. …… devastated my ……. …… sullied my garments. (2 lines fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A hymn to Inana for Išme-Dagan: c.2.5.4.a He made the people follow the proper path, and ousted (?) the enemy from Sumer. He removed the wicked tongues, and made justice shine forth like copper. That fathers should be feared and mothers respected, that sons should pay heed to the words of their fathers, and that mercy, compassion and pity should be shown, that one should provide even one's paternal grandparents with food and drink -- all this he established in Sumer and Akkad. Then she made Išme-Dagan, the son of Enlil, the en priest of Unug, into their guardian -- this is what Inana, the lady of heaven and earth, did; and the great An declared his consent. Enlil ……. |
| A praise poem of Lipit-Eštar (Lipit-Eštar A): c.2.5.5.1 Uta-ulu imbued me, the man of his heart, with great awesomeness in E-šu-me-ša. I am he on whom Enki has bestowed wisdom: he gave me kingship in Eridug. As the beloved husband of Inana, I lift my head high in the place Unug. I am a proficient scribe of Nisaba. I am a young man whose word Utu confirms. I am the perfection of kingship. I am Lipit-Eštar, Enlil's son. |
| A praise poem of Lipit-Eštar (Lipit-Eštar A): c.2.5.5.1 In my royal palace, my holy and good residence, my spouse holy Inana made firm the foundation of my throne. She will embrace me forever and eternally. I will spend all day for the Mistress in the { good } { (1 ms.:) lapis-lazuli } bedchamber that fills the heart with joy! I am Lipit-Eštar, the powerful heir; I am the king that makes justice prominent. May my name be called on in all the foreign lands! I am Lipit-Eštar, Enlil's son. It is sweet to praise me. |
| A praise poem of Lipit-Eštar (Lipit-Eštar B): c.2.5.5.2 You who speak as sweet as honey, whose name suits the mouth, longed-for husband of Inana, to whom Enki gave broad wisdom as a gift! Nisaba, the woman radiant with joy, the true woman, the scribe, the lady who knows everything, guides your fingers on the clay: she makes them put beautiful wedges on the tablets and adorns them with a golden stylus. Nisaba generously bestowed upon you the measuring rod, the surveyor's gleaming line, the yardstick, and the tablets which confer wisdom. |
| A praise poem of Lipit-Eštar (Lipit-Eštar B): c.2.5.5.2 Lipit-Eštar, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, you are the tablet writer of Nibru; Lipit-Eštar, you are the constant attendant of the E-kur, Enlil's house. You are the beloved one of Enlil's and Ninlil's hearts. Hero Ninurta is your mighty commissioner. Chief minister Nuska is your aid in all matters. You have been rightly chosen by Nintur as the purification priest of Keš. When in Urim, you are the youth who has the attention of Suen. You are the one to whom Enki gave the good headdress in Eridug. In Unug, Lipit-Eštar, you are the delight of holy Inana's heart. In Isin, Ninisina set up your lofty throne-dais. |
| An adab to An for Lipit-Eštar (Lipit-Eštar C): c.2.5.5.3 In the overflowing of his heart, An has chosen him as king and blessed the royal descendant: "Lipit-Eštar, on whom I bestowed power, may you lift your head high! May you spread fearsome radiance as if you were the front of a rising tempest! May your storm cover the enemy territories, the disobedient countries! You have established justice in Sumer and Akkad, and made the Land feel content. Lipit-Eštar, son of Enlil, may you shine as brilliantly as the sunlight! May concord be created under you in the established cities, settlements and dwellings! May the black-headed people, numerous as flocks, follow the right path under you! Lipit-Eštar, even in far-away foreign countries, you will be the king! Enlil has faithfully bestowed on you the princely august throne, the eternal ornament of kingship; he has made it firm for you. May you never cease to wear the crown that Suen has placed firmly on your head! Enki has adorned you with princely divine powers. Inana escorts (?) you with the garment of princeship. The friendly guardians and the protecting genii of the E-kur stand by you. May the food offerings, wine, and milk that you bring ……! Son and creature of Enlil, may everything be pleasant for you!" (2 lines missing) |
| An ua-di to Inana for Lipit-Eštar (Lipit-Eštar H): c.2.5.5.8 Inana, …… prince Lipit-Eštar on your holy lap. |
| An ua-di to Inana for Lipit-Eštar (Lipit-Eštar H): c.2.5.5.8 An ua-di of Inana. |
| A šir-namgala (?) to Inana for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta A): c.2.5.6.1 ……, when she augustly appears, no one can keep pace with her, …… glowing in the night, …… with awe-inspiring splendour. The great gods are filled with fear at her ……. Her …… utterances are as grand as those of An, and as weighty as those of Enlil. Inana is supreme, with multifarious divine powers surpassing the other divine ladies. She perfected the divine plans of kingship, so as to re-establish it, and she made up her mind and truly yearned to provide justice for the black-headed and to give them stable governance. From among the numerous people she summoned Ur-Ninurta to be the shepherd of living beings. She made the king whom she took by the hand humbly enter into the …… where destinies are determined, where the good divine powers are assigned to the great gods -- the E-kur, the holy dwelling of An and Enlil that is imbued with terrifying awe. There the goddess without whom no destiny is determined in heaven or earth sits on the dais with An and Enlil, taking counsel with them. |
| A šir-namgala (?) to Inana for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta A): c.2.5.6.1 (Inana speaks:) "Great An, your commands are great indeed: who can revoke them? Father Enlil, no one knows how to dissipate the great destinies that you determine. Both of you, bestow permanently the role of shepherd of living beings, of the numerous people, upon Ur-Ninurta, the youth who knows how to carry out your orders. He has brought with him from the holy womb a knowledge of how to build homes and cities, and how to strengthen the Land. He knows how to direct all countries: let him give great commands. May his shepherd's crook make the rebel lands bow low; may he let them have stable governance. From the south to the uplands may he clamp down upon the Land like a neck-stock. May his utterances ……. May he search out food for them to eat as if for sheep, and may he get them …… water to drink." |
| A šir-namgala (?) to Inana for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta A): c.2.5.6.1 The Anuna, the great gods, said "Let it be so!" to the destiny determined by great An and by Nunamnir, the lord of all living beings. In order to strengthen the black-headed in their dwelling-places, to keep the foreign lands on the track, to put …… the people in unison, and to make them bow down at his feet, Inana, the great daughter of Suen and Ur-Ninurta's beloved spouse, gathered together …… all the divine powers and placed them in his hand. Together the two of them went forth joyfully from Enlil's presence to take their seats in the palace, the dwelling-place of sweet honey. …… her king …… does not cease, as she speaks truly to him: |
| A šir-namgala (?) to Inana for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta A): c.2.5.6.1 A …… of Inana. |
| An adab to Inana for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta D): c.2.5.6.4 Goddess who excels the Anuna gods, who has gathered together all the divine powers! Your gaze is lordly as it surveys all the foreign lands in heaven and earth. Inana, lioness shining in the heavens, your divine powers are most complex, your cultic ordinances are unalterable, and your divine plans are influential. |
| An adab to Inana for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta D): c.2.5.6.4 Your ideas are as profound as the abzu; no one is known to have perceived them. Your actions are very great, and there is no god to rival you. You fetched your divine powers on a favourable day, and none of them escaped you. You have secured the kingship, and nothing escapes from your hand. You have equal rank with An the king, and you decide destinies with him. Your utterances are as well-established as those of Enlil. Grandiloquent Inana, you have no rival in heaven or on earth. |
| An adab to Inana for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta D): c.2.5.6.4 Inana, may Ur-Ninurta never cease doing so, until far-off days. |
| An adab to Inana for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta D): c.2.5.6.4 Inana, lady of heaven and of the broad earth, powerful ……, who radiates ……, who shines by night, who …… goes forth from ……, who is diffused wide over heaven and earth. …… may you make eminent …… Ur-Ninurta, …… who is the awe …… and the joy of his mother. …… may he lift his head high, and be their great wild bull. Make …… bow low for him ……, so that he may clamp down upon them. Deliver them into the exalted hands of him created from good seed. Under his rule may the people rest in meadows with him as their herdsman. May Ur-Ninurta make the numerous people follow the just path. |
| An adab to Inana for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta D): c.2.5.6.4 Inana, may Ur-Ninurta prolong the days of his life in your sweet holy embrace. |
| An adab to Inana for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta D): c.2.5.6.4 Lady of the great divine powers, perfect in valour! Inana, lady of the great divine powers, perfect in valour! You have bestowed plenty and long-lasting life on Ur-Ninurta. |
| An adab to Inana for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta D): c.2.5.6.4 An adab of Inana. |
| An adab to An for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta E): c.2.5.6.5 An raised his far-reaching gaze to the good shepherd. He spoke to Ur-Ninurta, his beloved son, with kindly words: "May there be shame at your awe-inspiring splendour, while you (?) ride as if on a great storm. May you have no rival in your youthful power. May the Land remain (?) under your rule. May you make your name supreme in the foreign lands, and may they speak good of you. May the land that is of its own will unbending to you, submit to you. Ur-Ninurta, to whom I have given great power: you should trust in my name. May your words clamp down upon the wicked like a great neck-stock. May the rebel land approach at your command, and do reverence to you. In your lordliness may you hold your head high. May you be good to the people. May you be the man of justice, and may it come to your aid. You have justice that comes from the heart; you are one of Utu's retainers. May Inana, who is assuredly your beloved, provide you with long life. May the good protective deities of the en priesthood and of kingship stand faithfully at your side. My Ur-Ninurta, named with the name of Sumer! Go with your head high to the shrine of Nibru, to Dur-an-ki. Brick-built E-kur accepts your offerings: "May the awe-inspiring shepherd stand in attendance with his great food offerings for the house."" |
| An adab (?) to Iškur for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta F): c.2.5.6.6 (1 line fragmentary) A second time he …… a mighty tempest and a raging wind. A third time …… a destructive wind of heaven. A fourth time he addressed (?) the dense clouds in the heavens. Fine barley stood in the fertile fields, and the corn joyously ……. Iškur organised everything; he …… the harvest and the superior barley. He heaped up grain piles and grain stores in the fields for Ur-Ninurta. On a favourable day he sowed the seeds, he …… the wheat. For Ur-Ninurta the son of An he sowed the seeds, ……. Iškur, Inana and …… life for him. |
| A praise poem of Enlil-bāni (Enlil-bāni A): c.2.5.8.1 Enlil-bāni, you are the one who has authority. Sweet mouth, lips good with words, (2 lines missing)husband of holy Inana, Asarluḫi gave you wisdom. |
| A praise poem of Enlil-bāni (Enlil-bāni A): c.2.5.8.1 In the E-ana, Inana has fixed a rejoicing heart to be your lot and has you brought grandly into her holy bedchamber to spend the night there. The mother of the Land, Ninisina, has caused you to lay the foundations with your hands in Isin. Utu, the judge, the king of heaven and earth, has confirmed for you in your hands the sceptre which brings the black-headed to justice. (1 line missing) |
| An adab to Inana for Rīm-Sîn (Rīm-Sîn H): c.2.6.9.8 You have been decreed femininity, you are full of charm, Inana, glory of the pure heavens, fitted to be a queen, (4 lines fragmentary or unclear) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| An adab to Inana for Rīm-Sîn (Rīm-Sîn H): c.2.6.9.8 Inana, out of the goodness of your heart make Rīm-Sîn's good (?) renown a long-lasting renown. Mistress, supremely august, sparkling (?) in the heavens! Inana, Mistress, supremely august, sparkling (?) in the heavens! Speaking kindly, extending your charms, …… great mother goddesses, grant life to Rīm-Sîn. |
| An adab to Inana for Rīm-Sîn (Rīm-Sîn H): c.2.6.9.8 An adab of Inana. |
| A praise poem of Anam (Anam A): c.2.7.1.1 Anam, lord, ……, ……, perfect in your broad wisdom, ……, who preserves Nibru, who prevents the city from having ……! Sweet breeze (?) of his city, father of the region of Unug, judge who …… in his verdicts, reverent ……, who fears An and Inana! Who cherishes E-ana, who is happy there …… in friendly words! Mighty ……, heart's desire of Inana, who reveres the …… of the Land, …… with head high, en priest of Inana, ……, all-knowing! |
| A praise poem of Ḫammu-rābi (Ḫammu-rābi A): c.2.8.2.1 Utu the sorcerer …… (1 line fragmentary) …… his favourite ……. Iškur …… heroism. Marduk …… strength (?). Inana …… divine powers. …… reverent …… (1 line fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A prayer to Inana for Ḫammu-rābi (Ḫammu-rābi F): c.2.8.2.6 Lady who perfects the august divine powers, …… his destiny grandly! O Inana, to whom An has …… manliness in heaven and earth! |
| A prayer to Inana for Ḫammu-rābi (Ḫammu-rābi F): c.2.8.2.6 Foremost among the gods, manifest, …… his destiny! Inana, without whom An and Enlil cannot make a decision in the Land, proud one among the Anuna gods, …… self-esteem and ……! Inana, good wild cow of the great princes, respected among ladies ……, your greatness shines forth to heaven and earth, your divine powers are …… powers. When you speak it is the command of An, …… named by An ……. Your divinity is pre-eminent in the throne-hall (?), your great ways are ……. With An, you give judgment on earth; with Enlil ……. |
| Samsu-iluna and Inana (Samsu-iluna A): c.2.8.3.1 The ruddy countenance, the great knife of masculinity, looked at him with joyful eye and shining brow. She conferred attractiveness on his beauty. She made charm approach the colourful statue. She erected the statue for him against (?) the opposing side. She took its precious form to her heart (?). With overflowing heart, she ……. Inana blessed the king in words: |
| Samsu-iluna and Inana (Samsu-iluna A): c.2.8.3.1 Standing joyfully beside the king, she granted a good destiny to the people for the sake of the king. She gave them great beasts, and male and female protective deities, to make their companions (?) powerful, and to send running those on that side, on the opposing side. Inana took up her position at the right-hand side, while Samsu-ilūna stood at their left-hand. |
| Samsu-iluna and Inana (Samsu-iluna A): c.2.8.3.1 (The protective goddesses speak:) "We are the beneficent protective goddesses of Inana. We are the raised band (?) of Samsu-ilūna. You are on the opposing side ……. The celebration of incantation rituals is not perfect. I will recite a pilipili." …… statue …… is not. (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A prayer for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna B): c.2.8.3.2 When like a raging storm you batter the foreign lands that are hostile to you, may your head be raised high, O king; may your head be raised high, O Samsu-iluna! In Babylon, the city of the divine powers of Suen, may you let your cleverness shine like the sun! May Marduk, the god who created you, lift your head high in the midst of lords and princes! On the field of battle, of mêlée and conflict, may he never stray from your side! May he be your helper with weapons, may he cause you to excel until distant days! May An, king of the gods, make your life last until distant days! May Enlil, king of the foreign lands, who confirms your words, make your words weighty! May Inana, the great queen of heaven, grasp you firmly with her holy word! May Enki deliver numerous people into your hands! May Asari, the great ruler of the abzu, who provides advice for all the foreign lands, the lordly one of Eridug, the god who in his …… calls all the …… with a good name -- may he be your great princely strength! |
| A hymn to Enlil for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna F): c.2.8.3.6 He is the man to whom Enlil has given …… and the shepherdship over the widespread people, the beloved (?) shepherd of Nibru, the constant servant of E-kur; he is the trustworthy farmer of the house of Asalim, who takes care that provisions do not cease in E-saĝ-ila. For you to exercise your divine powers of shepherdship in the Land, Enlil has placed the foreign lands at your feet. Obedient to Utu, beloved (?) of Inana, Samsu-iluna, the king whose fate is never altered by Enlil, my king, at the command uttered by Enlil, Enki and Asalim, Zababa, Lugal-gu-dua, the king who builds temples, …… the rebel lands …… (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| Letter from Ur-saga to a king fearing the loss of his father's household: c.3.3.01 Repeat to my golden statue born on a favourable day, to my water buffalo reared in a holy fold, chosen in the heart { of holy Inana } { (1 ms. has instead:) of holy Inana, …… of Suen }, to my lord, the trusted one of Inana: |
| Letter from Inanaka to the goddess Nintinuga: c.3.3.10 Say to Nintinuga, the reliable stewardess of the E-kur, the physician of the Land; repeat to the lady, whose incantation heals the multitude of people, whose spells make the people recover, to { my }{ (1 ms. has instead:) the } relenting lady, who loves to revive the people and loves supplications, the merciful and compassionate one who listens to prayers. You are the caretaker of the living and the dead; you are the great healer of all the crippled ones. This is what Inanaka, the daughter of Enlil-a-mah, your maidservant says: |
| Letter from Inim-Inana to Enlil-massu: c.3.3.11 Say to Enlil-massu what Inim-Inana says: |
| Letter from Inim-Inana to Lugal-ibila: c.3.3.12 Say to Lugal-ibila what Inim-Inana says: |
| Letter from Kug-Nanna to the god Ninšubur: c.3.3.39 Say to (1 line missing)to the counsellor who constantly cares for ……, the god who distributes the divine powers, who utters pleasing words, who …… a verdant branch by his head; the linen-clad god of the abzu, the chief administrator, who makes the oracular responses (?) favourable, whose words are pre-eminent; the powerful one (?) at the bow (?) of the boat "Stag of the Abzu", the lord of wide and complete wisdom, the minister who knows An's secrets, with whom no god can compare; the lord of the protective goddesses; him whose great sweet eyes inspire confidence, who provides the Anuna gods, the great gods, with food offerings; the adviser who comes forth from the skies, who is worthy of holy Inana; without whom no lord or king could receive the lofty sceptre -- to Ninšubur, the merciful god who listens to prayers and supplications, repeat: this is what Kug-Nanna the incantation priest, the son of Lugal-ka-gena, your servant, says: |
| A hymn to Bau's beneficent protective goddess (Bau A): c.4.02.1 (3 lines fragmentary) She does not ……. She does not go to the rich …… nor ……. She does not ……. The barge of Suen as it proceeds -- lady, is not yours as beautiful? The joyous symbol of Inana -- protective goddess, is not yours as attractive? Let us …… praise (?) you, the beneficent protective goddess of Bau. |
| A balbale to Inana (Inana A): c.4.07.1 Great fierce storm, …… radiance! Inana, emitting fearsomeness and radiance in battle! { (1 ms. adds:) Inana, playing (?) in battle! Inana, emitting fearsomeness and radiance in battle! } Where Enlil has commanded it, you make a lion's body and lion's muscles rise up. …… in the south and in the uplands …… like grass. Like Iškur ……. Like their proud mighty heroes, { you …… } { (1 ms. has instead:) may they …… for you } their noses (?) to the ground. May the { great } { (1 ms. has instead:) proud } warrior of kings and queens restore for you the shrine Keš. May he make them …… their noses (?) to the ground for you. |
| A balbale to Inana (Inana A): c.4.07.1 A balbale of Inana. |
| The exaltation of Inana (Inana B): c.4.07.2 Lady of all the divine powers, resplendent light, righteous woman clothed in radiance, beloved of An and Uraš! Mistress of heaven, with the great diadem, who loves the good headdress befitting the office of en priestess, who has seized all seven of its divine powers! My lady, you are the guardian of the great divine powers! You have taken up the divine powers, you have hung the divine powers from your hand. You have gathered up the divine powers, you have clasped the divine powers to your breast. Like a dragon you have deposited venom on the foreign lands. When like Iškur you roar at the earth, no vegetation can stand up to you. As a flood descending upon (?) those foreign lands, powerful one of heaven and earth, you are their Inana. |
| The exaltation of Inana (Inana B): c.4.07.2 I, En-ḫedu-ana, will recite a prayer to you. To you, holy Inana, I shall give free vent to my tears like sweet beer! I shall say to her { "Your decision!" } { (some mss. have instead:) "Greetings!" } Do not be anxious about Ašimbabbar. In connection with the purification rites of holy An, Lugal-Ane has altered everything of his, and has stripped An of the E-ana. He has not stood in awe of the greatest deity. He has turned that temple, whose attractions were inexhaustible, whose beauty was endless, into a destroyed temple. While he entered before me as if he was a partner, really he approached out of envy. |
| The exaltation of Inana (Inana B): c.4.07.2 The powerful lady, respected in the gathering of rulers, has accepted her offerings from her. Inana's holy heart has been assuaged. The light was sweet for her, delight extended over her, she was full of fairest beauty. Like the light of the rising moon, she exuded delight. Nanna came out to gaze at her properly, and her mother Ningal blessed her. The door posts greeted her. Everyone's speech to the mistress is exalted. Praise be to the destroyer of foreign lands, endowed with divine powers by An, to my lady enveloped in beauty, to Inana! |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 At her loud cries, the gods of the Land become scared. Her roaring makes the Anuna gods tremble like a solitary reed. At her rumbling, they hide all together. Without Inana great An makes no decisions, and Enlil determines no destinies. Who opposes the mistress who raises her head and is supreme over the mountains? Wherever she ……, cities become ruin mounds and haunted places, and shrines become waste land. When her wrath makes people tremble, the burning sensation and the distress she causes are like an ulu demon ensnaring a man. |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 She stirs confusion and chaos against those who are disobedient to her, speeding carnage and inciting the devastating flood, clothed in terrifying radiance. It is her game to speed conflict and battle, untiring, strapping on her sandals. Clothed (?) in a furious storm, a whirlwind, she …… the garment of ladyship. When she touches …… there is despair, a south wind which has covered ……. Inana sits on harnessed (?) lions, she cuts to pieces him who shows no respect. A leopard of the hills, entering (?) the roads, raging (?), ……, the mistress is a great bull trusting in its strength; no one dare turn against her. ……, the foremost among the Great Princes, a pitfall for the disobedient, a trap for the evil, a …… for the hostile, wherever she casts her venom ……. |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 Her wrath is ……, a devastating flood which no one can withstand. A great watercourse, ……, she abases those whom she despises. The mistress, an eagle that lets no one escape, ……, Inana, a falcon preying on the gods, Inana rips to pieces the spacious cattle-pens. The fields of the city which Inana has looked at in anger ……. The furrows of the field which the mistress …… grass. An opposes her, ……. Setting on fire, in the high plain the mistress ……. Inana ……. The mistress …… speeding …… fighting, …… conflict. |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 …… she performs a song. This song …… its established plan, weeping, the food and milk of death. Whoever eats …… Inana's food and milk of death will not last. Gall will give a burning pain to those she gives it to eat, …… in their mouth ……. In her joyful heart she performs the song of death on the plain. She performs the song of her heart. She washes their weapons with blood and gore, ……. Axes smash heads, spears penetrate and maces are covered in blood. Their evil mouths …… the warriors ……. On their first offerings she pours blood, filling them with death. |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 Humbling huge mountains as if they were piles of litter, she immobilises ……. She brings about the destruction of the mountain lands from east to west. Inana …… wall …… gulgul stones, she obtains victory. She …… the kalaga stone …… as if it were an earthenware bowl, she makes it like sheep's fat. The proud mistress holds a dagger in her hand, a radiance which covers the Land; her suspended net catches fish in the deep, not even leaving the ahan in the subterranean waters. As if she were a clever fowler no bird escapes the mesh of her suspended net. The place ……, …… the divine plans of heaven and earth. The intention of her word does not …… to An. The context of her confusing advice in the great gods' assembly is not known. (2 lines fragmentary) |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 The mistress, a leopard among the Anuna gods, full of pride, has been given authority. Not having …… struggle ……, Inana ……. She …… the adolescent girl in her chamber, receiving her, …… heart …… charms. She evilly …… the woman she rejects. In the entire (?) country she ……. She lets her run around in the town square ……. …… of a house the wife sees her child. |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 Ezina …… august dais ……. Iškur who roars from the sky ……. His thick clouds ……. When …… the great divine powers of heaven and earth, Inana, your victory is terrifying ……. The Anuna gods bow down in prostration, they abase themselves. You ride on seven great beasts as you come forth from heaven. Great An feared your precinct and was frightened of your dwelling-place. He let you take a seat in the dwelling-place of great An and then feared you no more, saying: "I will hand over to you the august royal rites and the great divine rites." |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 To run, to escape, to quiet and to pacify are yours, Inana. To rove around, to rush, to rise up, to fall down and to …… a companion are yours, Inana. To open up roads and paths, a place of peace for the journey, a companion for the weak, are yours, Inana. To keep paths and ways in good order, to shatter earth and to make it firm are yours, Inana. To destroy, to build up, to tear out and to settle are yours, Inana. To turn a man into a woman and a woman into a man are yours, Inana. Desirability and arousal, bringing goods into existence and establishing properties and equipment are yours, Inana. Profit, gain, great wealth and greater wealth are yours, Inana. Profit and having success in wealth, financial loss and reduced wealth are yours, Inana. { Observation } { (1 ms. has instead:) Everything }, choice, offering, inspection and embellishment are yours, Inana. Assigning virility, dignity, guardian angels, protective deities and cult centres are yours, Inana. (6 lines fragmentary) |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 …… mercy and pity are yours, Inana. …… are yours, Inana. To cause the …… heart to tremble, …… illnesses are yours, Inana. To have a favourite wife, ……, to love …… are yours, Inana. Rejoicing, being haughty, …… are yours, Inana. Neglect and care, raising and bowing down are yours, Inana. To build a house, to create a woman's chamber, to possess implements, to kiss a child's lips are yours, Inana. To run, to race, to plot and to succeed are yours, Inana. To interchange the brute and the strong and the weak and the powerless is yours, Inana. To interchange the heights and valleys, and raising up and reducing, is yours, Inana. To give the crown, the throne and the royal sceptre is yours, Inana. (12 lines missing) |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 To diminish, to make great, to make low, to make broad, to …… and to give a lavish supply are yours, Inana. To bestow the divine and royal rites, to carry out the appropriate instructions, slander, untruthful words, abuse, to speak inimically and to overstate are yours, Inana. |
| 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. |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 To …… the lots ……, to gather the dispersed people and restore them to their homes, to receive ……, to …… are yours, Inana. (1 line fragmentary) |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 …… the runners, when you open your mouth, …… turns into ……. At your glance a deaf man does not …… to one who can hear. At your anger what is bright darkens; you turn midday into darkness. When the time had come you destroyed the place you had in your thoughts, you made the place tremble. Nothing can be compared to your purposes (?); who can oppose your great deeds? You are the lady of heaven and earth! Inana, in (?) the palace the unbribable judge, among the numerous people …… decisions. The invocation of your name fills the mountains, An (?) cannot compete with your ……. |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 They proclaim your magnificence; you are the lady ……. An and Enlil have determined a great destiny for you throughout the entire universe. They have bestowed upon you ladyship in the assembly chamber. Being fitted for ladyship, you determine the destiny of noble ladies. Mistress, you are magnificent, you are great! Inana, you are magnificent, you are great! My lady, your magnificence is resplendent. May your heart be restored for my sake! |
| A hymn to Inana (Inana C): c.4.07.3 Your great deeds are unparallelled, your magnificence is praised! Young woman, Inana, your praise is sweet! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Great light, heavenly lioness, always speaking words of assent! Inana, great light, lioness of heaven, who always speaks words of assent! Ninegala! As you rise in the morning sky like a flame visible from afar, and at your bright appearance in the evening sky, the shepherd (i.e. the king) entrusts (?) the flocks of Sumer to you. Celestial sign, …… glory of heaven! All the countries are building a house for you as for the risen sun; a shining (?) torch is assigned to you, the light of the Land. |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 After the first watch of the night has passed, as like a shepherd you get up from the grass, you seize your battle-mace like a warrior, you fasten the guma cloth on your arms, and you bind on your indefatigable strength. Thus you appear brilliantly, together with An, in the city (probably Unug). On earth, Inana, you emit awe-inspiring splendour from the holy dais. Your feet are placed on seven dogs, your seat is set upon a lion and a leopard. Cattle and sheep are brought to you for inspection. Lulal stands by your feet, bearing in battle the pitiless (?) mace. Beside them the cultic attendants stand at your service, lined up for you beside the dogs. They have taken over the temple Gu-ena-ida, to provide for you. |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, in heaven you are lightning, on earth you move swiftly …… against the foreign land that you are angry with, ……. When in your precinct and shrine the Ibgal you regulate the divine ordinances like the divine powers of An, when you regulate the heavenly ordinances like the divine powers of Enki and cause awe of you to reach up to the heavens, then your seat is on the …… dais on the terrace by your Gate of Four Faces. Inana, you go into the interior of heaven like your father Suen; Ninegala, you appear like moonlight in your shrine the Ibgal, placing your foot on your ordinances, and dividing them among the …… dogs (?). |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 When you slip through where brambles and foul great thorns grow, when you stride along all the mountains, when you drink from puddles with the dogs, when you share the stall with the horses, when with the storm you reduce everything to a mere shadow, Inana, when you cause the rain to fall all day long, then your seat is in your E-kug-nuna at Eridug, on the dais where destinies are determined. |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 At the New Year, at the festival of Dumuzid, your spouse Ama-ušumgal-ana, Lord Dumuzid, steps forward to you. …… of weeping are brought to you, Inana, as offerings. The tubes of the underworld are opened for you, and memorial libations are poured down them for you. The en priests, the lumaḫ priests and the nindiĝir priestesses, and the dead luzid and amalu, eat meals for you, to keep away the ghosts, and drink water for you, to keep away the ghosts. Your holy dais is set up beside them. |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, when you give judgment with An and Enlil; Ninegala, when you decide destinies on earth with Enki, when you shimmer (?), when you …… to a mere shadow, when you come forth from the corner, when you come forth from the side, when you are to be seen on the horizon, Inana, when in your destructiveness you make storm-floods wash over everything, then the great en priests ……, then the igi-dua priestesses wear the tonsure for you, then your seat is on your Dais of Silence. |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 When you act as a shepherd with the herdsman, when …… with the cowherd you throw the halters on the cows, when you mix the butter, when you purify the milk, when you find joy in the embrace of your spouse Dumuzid, when you have pleasure in the embrace of your spouse Dumuzid, when you take your seat on the high dais in the great hall in your Kura-igi-ĝal where judgment is passed, then the people of the holy uzga stand there at your service. (1 line unclear)They cannot compete with you, Inana. As a prostitute you go down to the tavern and, like (?) a ghost who slips in through the window, you enter there. |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 When the servants let the flocks loose, and when cattle and sheep are returned to cow-pen and sheepfold, then, my lady, like the nameless poor, you wear only a single garment. The pearls of a prostitute are placed around your neck, and you are likely to snatch a man from the tavern. As you hasten to the embrace of your spouse Dumuzid, Inana, then the seven paranymphs share the bedchamber with you. |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 In the evening, when the stars return together again and when Utu enters into his chamber, when in heaven, Inana, you diffuse awesomeness like fire, and when on earth, Ninegala, you screech like a falcon, then you …… in play and dancing. (1 line unclear)You go from moonlight to star, you go from star to moonlight. |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 (1 line fragmentary) Inana, you are an object of admiration, like a charming young maiden. …… has been opened for you. Mistress, your …… priestess hangs the šuba jewels on you. The great ……, responsible for the ordinances, (1 line unclear)You enter house after house, you peer into lane after lane. Lady, when ……, when your emblem is displayed, maiden, when you stand in ……, you are covered in loveliness. Who …… finds …… in the sheepfold, ……, …… prayer ……. |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur! |
| A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D): c.4.07.4 Inana, you are the lady of the great divine powers. Your mother Ningal …… great attributes. Your father Suen …… great holy cows. Your brother, the youth Utu ……. Your spouse Ama-ušumgal-ana, the shepherd, Lord Dumuzid, ……. Your beloved minister (?) Ninšubur ……. Your beloved sister-in-law Ĝeštin-ana ……. (3 lines fragmentary or missing) |
| A tigi to Inana (Inana E): c.4.07.5 Lady whom Ningal has joyously made attractive with beauty, speed has been given to you as to a dragon. Inana whom Ningal has joyously made attractive with beauty, speed has been given to you as to a dragon. |
| A tigi to Inana (Inana E): c.4.07.5 Riding on the south wind, you are she who has received the divine powers from the abzu. You have seated King Ama-ušumgal-ana upon your holy dais. Inana, riding on the south wind, you are she who has received the divine powers from the abzu. You have seated King Ama-ušumgal-ana upon your holy dais. |
| A tigi to Inana (Inana E): c.4.07.5 Goddess, you have provided …… to the hero and made your divine powers excel in heaven. Since your mother's womb, you have wielded the šita mace and the mitum mace. Inana, you have provided …… to the hero and made your divine powers excel in heaven. Since Ningal's womb, you have wielded the šita mace and the mitum mace. |
| A tigi to Inana (Inana E): c.4.07.5 My lady, he has been given as your husband -- rejoice with him! Enlil has given a mountain of greatness into your hands. Inana, he has been given as your husband -- rejoice with him! Enlil has given a mountain of greatness into your hands. |
| A tigi to Inana (Inana E): c.4.07.5 Mistress, you have given your strength to him who is king. Ama-ušumgal-ana brings forth radiance for you. Inana, you have given your strength to him who is king. Ama-ušumgal-ana brings forth radiance for you. |
| A tigi to Inana (Inana E): c.4.07.5 Inana, lady whom no one can withstand in battle, great daughter of Suen who rises in heaven and inspires terror, he who for you stands complete in his manhood rejoices in battle as at a festival, and for you he destroys the rebel lands and houses ……. For you Ama-ušumgal-ana, the mighty hero, kills everyone with his shining šita mace. |
| A tigi to Inana (Inana E): c.4.07.5 Inana, lady, throughout heaven and earth who knows from you the intentions of your heart, those great matters? All heaven trembles (?) at your word, a double-twined thread which cannot be separated. Your father Enlil has given this to you. Ama-ušumgal-ana competes majestically for you in battle, cutting a swathe like a dragon. |
| A tigi to Inana (Inana E): c.4.07.5 Inana, my lady, Ama-ušumgal-ana trusts in you. He cloaks his body as if in your royal robe of office. Monthly at the crescent moon An recreates him for you like Suen. With you, people praise King Ama-ušumgal-ana like Utu as he rises. |
| A tigi to Inana (Inana E): c.4.07.5 A tigi of Inana. (lines 54 and 55 are written as one line in source) |
| A balbale (?) to Inana (Inana F): c.4.07.6 My father gave me the heavens and he gave me the earth. I am Inana! Which god compares with me? |
| A balbale (?) to Inana (Inana F): c.4.07.6 Enlil gave me the heavens and he gave me the earth. I am Inana! He gave me lordship, and he gave me queenship. He gave me battles and he gave me fighting. He gave me the stormwind and he gave me the dust cloud. He placed the heavens on my head as a crown. He put the earth at my feet as sandals. He wrapped the holy ba garment around my body. He put the holy sceptre in my hand. |
| A balbale (?) to Inana (Inana F): c.4.07.6 A …… of Inana. |
| A šir-namšub to Inana (Inana G): c.4.07.7 When I go, when I go -- the mighty queen who ……, who ……; when I, the queen, go to the Abzu, when I, Inana, go to the Abzu, when I go to the Abzu, the E-nun, when I go to Eridug the good, when I go to E-engura, when I go to E-ana, the temple of Enlil, when I go to ……, when I go to where the great offering bowls stand in the open air, when I go to where the …… pure …… bowls, when I go to where …… is honoured, when I go to where Lord Enki is honoured, when I go to where Damgalnuna …… is honoured, when I go to where Asarluḫi …… is honoured -- then I bring a dog with me, I bring a lion (?) with me, I bring boxwood with me, I bring ḫalub wood with me. I, Inana, receive the little ……, when I travel there, when I travel there. |
| A šir-namšub to Inana (Inana G): c.4.07.7 (Inana speaks:) "…… this is in (?) my heart. To where …… is honoured, …… to where the just man honours him, its man prepares a flowered bed within the house." |
| A šir-namšub to Inana (Inana G): c.4.07.7 In E-ana the linen-clad priests prepare an altar for him. Water is placed there for the lord; they address him. Bread is placed there; they address him. He is refreshed in the palace; they address him as follows: "Dumuzid, radiant in the temple (?) and on earth! Mother Inana, Mother Inana, your mounds, your mounds (?)! Mother Inana, Inana of heaven, your garments, your garments, your black garment, your white garment!" (Inana (?) speaks:) "Oh my man who has come to the house: approach (?)!" (The priests (?) speak:) "Bring forward a chant, a melody of the heart! Bring forward their ……, as they seat the ……! Approach their place, where they are stationing, where they are stationing, where they are stationing, where they are stationing Enlil in the Ki-ur!" |
| A šir-namšub to Inana (Inana G): c.4.07.7 (Inana speaks:) "Wild bull, face of the Land! I will give life to its man! I will fulfil all its needs (?)! I will make its man produce correct speech in the shrine, …… correct speech in the interior hall of the palace." |
| A šir-namšub to Inana (Inana G): c.4.07.7 (The priests (?) speak:) "Oh mistress, let your breasts be your fields! Inana, let your breasts be your fields, your wide fields which pour forth flax, your wide fields which pour forth grain! Make water flow from them! Provide it from them for the man! Make water flow and flow from them! Keep providing it from them for the man! …… for the specified man, and I will give you this to drink." |
| A šir-namšub to Inana (Inana G): c.4.07.7 A šir-namšub of Inana. |
| A balbale to Inana as Nanaya (Inana H): c.4.07.8 A balbale of { Nanaya } { (ms. a has instead:) Inana }. |
| A šir-namšub to Inana (Inana I): c.4.07.9 We shall go! We shall go! We shall go in supplication! We shall go for the supplication of the lord! We shall go for the supplication of the king! Those of the supplication of the corner …… at the corner. Those of the supplication of the side …… at the side. Mother Inana of heaven …… with beauty. The Mistress …… with beauty in the shrine. |
| A šir-namšub to Inana (Inana I): c.4.07.9 A šir-namšub of Inana. |
| A hymn to Inana: c.4.07.a Lady ……! Returning heroic youth, Inana ……. At the shrine, in Nibru, in the E-du-kug …… by An, with the holy crown of An placed on her head, the most holy ba garment of An draped around her torso, and the holy sceptre of An placed in her hand -- seated on a seat in the assembly, rendering great judgments in the mountains, and reaching majestic decisions in all the lands! |
| A hymn to Inana: c.4.07.a Holy Inana gazes as she shines (?) down from heaven like a light. Together with her father Suen, the mistress issues commands to the E-kiš-nu-ĝal of Urim. In her hands she holds prosperity for all the lands. The lady ……. Holy Inana ……. |
| A hymn to Inana: c.4.07.a (Inana speaks:) "When I was living in my dwelling place, when I was living in An's dwelling, my lover Ušumgal-ana called upon me to be his wife. In Bad-tibira, from the E-muš-kalama, …… for his crown." (6 lines fragmentary or unclear)…… his assembly, and brought …… into her holy shrine for her brother Ušumgal-ana. |
| A hymn to Inana: c.4.07.a (Inana speaks:) "…… stands ……. Dumuzid stands in beauty like an ildag tree. I will fill my heart with joy. The one who makes food plentiful …… in Du-šuba (?). My heart is filled with joy, …… in heaven and earth. The house of Arali ……." (3 lines fragmentary or unclear) …… the houses in the broad streets. (One blank line on the tablet) |
| A hymn to Inana: c.4.07.a Holy Inana, your august ……! …… Inana be praised! |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana A): c.4.08.01 The brother speaks gently to his sister, Utu speaks gently to his sister, he speaks tenderly to holy Inana: "Young lady, the flax in the garden beds is full of loveliness, Inana, the flax in the garden beds is full of loveliness, like the barley in the furrows, overflowing with loveliness and delight. { Sister } { (1 ms. has instead:) Young lady }, you took a fancy to a grand length of linen; Inana, you took a fancy to a grand length of linen. I will dig up the plants for you and give them to you. { Young lady } { (1 ms. has instead:) My sister }, I will bring you flax from the garden beds. Inana, I will bring you flax from the garden beds." |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana A): c.4.08.01 "My sister, I will bring it to you already retted! Inana, I will bring it to you already retted!" |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana A): c.4.08.01 "My sister, I will bring it to you already spun! Inana, I will bring it to you already spun!" |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana A): c.4.08.01 "My sister, I will bring it to you already twined! Inana, I will bring it to you already twined!" |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana A): c.4.08.01 "My sister, I will bring it to you already warped! Inana, I will bring it to you already warped!" |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana A): c.4.08.01 "My sister, I will bring it to you already woven! Inana, I will bring it to you already woven!" |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana A): c.4.08.01 "My sister, I will bring it to you already bleached! Inana, I will bring it to you already bleached!" |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana A): c.4.08.01 A balbale of Inana. |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana B): c.4.08.02 A balbale song of Inana. |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana C): c.4.08.03 "I was bathing, I was rubbing myself with soap. I was washing myself with water from the holy kettle, I was rubbing myself with the soap from the white stone bowl. I was anointing myself with good oil from the stone bowl, and dressing myself in the formal dress proper to Inana. That is how I was busying myself in the house." |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana C): c.4.08.03 A balbale of Inana. |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana D): c.4.08.04 As I was strolling, as I was strolling, as I was strolling …… the house, as I was strolling, he caught sight of my Inana. |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana D): c.4.08.04 "What did the brother say to you and speak to you? He of the loving heart and most sweet charms offered you a gift, my holy Inana. As I looked in that direction, my beloved man met you, and he fell in love with you, and he delighted in you alone! The brother brought you into his house and had you lie down on a bed dripping with honey." |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana D): c.4.08.04 A balbale of Inana. |
| The song of the lettuce: a balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana E): c.4.08.05 A balbale of Inana. |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana F): c.4.08.06 I, the queen, will look with wonder at the foliage. I, Inana, will gaze at the open foliage. May my bridegroom speak to me …… kindly words such as a farmer or a shepherd would speak. |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana F): c.4.08.06 I, the queen, will lie on the foliage. I, Inana, will run to the foliage. May they stand at my service ……. I will meet …… Ama-ušumgal-ana. |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana F): c.4.08.06 A balbale of Inana. |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana G): c.4.08.07 A balbale of Inana. |
| A tigi to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana H): c.4.08.08 While I, the lady, was passing the day yesterday, while I, Inana, was passing the day yesterday, while I was passing the day, while I was dancing, while I was singing songs all day until evening, he met me, he met me. The lord, the friend of An, met me; the lord took me in his hands, Ušumgal-ana embraced me about my neck. |
| A tigi to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana H): c.4.08.08 "Let me teach you, let me teach you! Inana, let me teach you the lies of women: "My girlfriend was dancing with me in the square. She ran around playfully with me, banging the drum. She sang her sweet songs for me. I passed the day there with her in pleasure and delight." Offer this as a lie to your own mother. As for us -- let me make love with you by moonlight! Let me loosen your hairgrip on the holy and luxuriant couch. May you pass a sweet day there with me in voluptuous pleasure." |
| A tigi to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana H): c.4.08.08 A tigi of Inana. |
| A kunĝar to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana I): c.4.08.09 "Young woman, don't provoke a quarrel! Inana, let us talk it over! Inana, don't provoke a quarrel! Ninegala, let us discuss it together! My father is just as good as your father; Inana, let us talk it over! My mother is just as good as your mother; Ninegala, let us discuss it together! Ĝeštin-ana is just as good as ……; Inana, let us talk it over! I am just as good as Utu; Ninegala, let us discuss it together! Enki is just as good as Suen; Inana, let us talk it over! Durtur is just as good as Ningal; Ninegala, let us discuss it together!" |
| A kunĝar to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana I): c.4.08.09 He of the šuba jewels, he of the šuba jewels is indeed ploughing with the šuba jewels! Ama-ušumgal-ana, he of the šuba jewels, is indeed ploughing with the šuba jewels! He lays down like seeds the little jewels among his jewels. He piles up (?) like grain piles the large jewels among his jewels. He will carry them to the roof for his …… who is leaning towards him from the roof; he will carry them to the wall for Inana who is leaning towards him from the wall. |
| A kunĝar to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana I): c.4.08.09 Ama-ušumgal-ana answers the mistress: "It is for the mistress, it is for my spouse the mistress -- I am ploughing with them for her! For holy Inana, the priestess -- I am ploughing with them for her!" He of the šuba jewels, he of the šuba jewels will indeed plough with the šuba jewels! Ama-ušumgal-ana, he of the šuba jewels, will indeed plough with the šuba jewels! |
| A kunĝar to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana I): c.4.08.09 A kunĝar of Inana. |
| A šir-namšub to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana M): c.4.08.13 (1 line unclear) Belonging to Inana ……. Belonging to the gatherer (?) of divine powers ……. Belonging to my good woman ……. My good young woman ……. Plenty …… Dumuzid ……. Ušumgal-ana ……. Belonging to the lady ……. Ninegala ……. (1 line fragmentary) (approx. 6 lines missing) |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana O): c.4.08.15 A balbale of Inana. |
| A balbale (?) to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana P): c.4.08.16 The queen ……. Outside (?) the city, the house (?) …… lapis lazuli ……. In my sanctuary, …… in prayer, in holy prayer, ……. I am Inana …… powerful garment. The gala singer …… in song, the musician performs a hymn. My bridegroom rejoices beside me, the { wild bull } { (1 ms. has instead:) lord } Dumuzid rejoices beside me. |
| A balbale (?) to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana P): c.4.08.16 …… a desire in laudatory words. The lady of all the lands ……, who raises up prayers in Nibru ……, who lowers prayers ……, the lady praises herself; the gala singer …… in song. Inana praises …… her genitals in song: |
| A balbale (?) to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana P): c.4.08.16 His wife dwelt happily with him in E-namtila, the king's house; Inana dwelt happily with him in E-namtila, Dumuzid's house. Rejoicing in his house, Inana pleads with the king: |
| A balbale (?) to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana P): c.4.08.16 "My spouse, …… the pleasant building. Inana, I will place them at your disposal, I will place them there before you in your E-namtila, the amazing source of the Land's radiance, the house where the destiny of all the lands is decreed, where the living people are correctly guided. Ninegala, I will place them at your disposal, I will place them there before you in your E-namtila. Inana, I will place them at your disposal in E-namtila, the building which grants long life. I will place them there before you in your E-namtila. (3 lines missing) (1 line fragmentary)" |
| A balbale (?) to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana P): c.4.08.16 Inside (?) ……, E-namtila ……. Ningal faithfully ……: "I will give you life unto distant days, Dumuzid, the desire and love of Inana." |
| A balbale (?) to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana P): c.4.08.16 "Inana, I will place them at your disposal, I will place them there before you in your E-namtila, the house whose splendour covers the Land, the house in which the purification rites are most holy, the house with appropriately grand treasures." …… with his butter and cheese, …… will place at your disposal there ……. (11 lines fragmentary)…… of Inana. |
| A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana R): c.4.08.18 Maiden, glossy mane, lovely beauty, Inana, glossy mane, lovely beauty! Maiden, mane of the ibex, …… red deer, …… red deer, Inana, mane of the ibex, …… red deer, …… red deer! Maiden, colourful as a pile of grain, fit for the king, Inana, colourful as a pile of grain, fit for Dumuzid! Maiden, you are a shock of two-row barley, fully developed in loveliness, Inana, you are a shock of two-row barley, fully developed in loveliness! |
| A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana R): c.4.08.18 I am the queen, I shall go with him to his ……. I am Inana, I shall go with him to his ……. I shall go with him to his ……. I shall go with him to his …… shrine. I shall go with him to the house with its measuring jars. |
| A kunĝar to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana T): c.4.08.20 …… he who cools, who cools ……. He who uproots the grass for holy Inana, who uproots ……. He who gathers the dates, …… the date palm. He who gathers the dates for holy Inana, …… the date palm. Let him bring her water, let him bring her water, and black emmer seeds. With the water let him bring Inana a heap, and white emmer seeds. The man brings, the man brings, he brings a heap of stones to choose from. The man brings to the maiden Inana, he brings a heap of stones to choose from. He gathers the lapis lazuli from the top of the heap. He gathers the lapis lazuli for Inana from the top of the heap. |
| A kunĝar to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana T): c.4.08.20 She chooses the buttocks beads and puts them on her buttocks. Inana chooses the head stones and puts them on her head. She chooses the lumps of translucent lapis lazuli and puts them on the nape of her neck. She chooses the golden genitals and puts them on the hair of her head. She chooses the ribbons (?) of gold for the ears and puts them on her ears. She chooses the burnished bronze and puts it in her ear lobes (?). She chooses that which drips with honey and puts it on her face. She chooses that of the outer shrine and puts it on her nose. She chooses the …… and puts it on her mouth. She chooses the beautiful …… ring and puts it in her navel. She chooses a well of honey and fresh water and puts it on her hips. She chooses bright alabaster and puts it on her thighs. She chooses black { …… willow (?) } { (1 ms. has instead:) fleece (?) } and puts it on her genitals. She chooses ornate sandals and puts them on her toes. |
| A kunĝar to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana T): c.4.08.20 The lord meets her for whom lapis lazuli was gathered from the heap. Dumuzid meets Inana for whom lapis lazuli was gathered from the heap. The shepherd of An, the servant of Enlil, the lord meets her. The servant of An, the herdsman of Enlil, Dumuzid meets her. The lord meets her at the lapis lazuli door which stands in the ĝipar shrine. Dumuzid meets her at the narrow door which stands in the storehouse of E-ana. |
| A kunĝar to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana T): c.4.08.20 When she turns from the top of the heap, when Inana turns from the top of the heap, may the woman enter (?) with her songs, decorated (?). The maiden, singing, sends a messenger to her father. Inana, dancing from joy, sends a messenger to her father: |
| A kunĝar to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana T): c.4.08.20 Kunĝar of Inana. |
| A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana V): c.4.08.22 The young lady, the king's kohl, Inana, Dumuzid's kohl, full of joy, adorned with loveliness, goes to the shepherd in the sheepfold, goes to Dumuzid in the cattle-pen. There on the road she …… the shepherd, the maiden Inana meets him on the path. Dumuzid comes forth like the daylight. …… extended his hand to ……; …… extended his hand to ……. …… extended hand. (1 line fragmentary)…… enfolded in numerous buds, …… sprouted branches, …… heart ……. |
| A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana W): c.4.08.23 …… and smeared milk and honey on it. The youth is gentle towards his spouse; the wild bull stands in prayer before her. He is gentle towards holy Inana. Embracing ……, he treats her gently. Dumuzid stands in prayer before her. (approx. 5 lines missing) |
| A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana B1): c.4.08.28 He told his wife of this resolve; he presented his decision to her. His wife returned to their dwelling; holy Inana brought …… into E-tur-kalama. She was dumbfounded; the mistress Inana was thrown into confusion as if by a flood wave. |
| A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana C1): c.4.08.29 (2 lines fragmentary) Ninegala, your wedding ushers are lords! …… like someone cracking eggs ……. Inana, your ushers are lords! …… is first, …… is second, (1 line fragmentary)the fowler ……, and the fisherman from the depths of the reedbeds. |
| A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana C1): c.4.08.29 "I will send a messenger to the shepherd: let him treat me to the best butter and the best milk! I will send a messenger to my farmer: let him treat me to …… and wine! I, the lady, will send a messenger to the fowler, whose bird-nets are spread out: let him treat me to fine birds! I, Inana, will send a messenger to the fisherman too whose nets are set up in the reedbeds: let him treat me to fat carp!" |
| A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana C1): c.4.08.29 At her mother's bidding, Inana bathed in water and anointed herself with sweet oil. She covered her body with a grand robe; she also took her pin. She straightened the lapis lazuli stones on her neck, and grasped her cylinder seal in her hand. The young lady stepped forward as Dumuzid pushed open the door, and like a moonbeam she came forth to him from the house. He looked at her and rejoiced in her; he embraced her and kissed her. (1 line fragmentary) (approx. 9 lines missing) |
| A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana C1): c.4.08.29 "My bride, come forth from the ……. Inana, …… the house of my personal god. I shall bring you to the house of my god. I shall get you to lie down before my god and, Inana, you shall sit with me in my god's seat of honour!" |
| A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana D1): c.4.08.30 Ninšubur, the good minister of E-ana, clasps him by his right hand and brings him in bliss to Inana's embrace: "May the lord whom you have chosen in your heart, the king, your beloved husband, enjoy long days in your holy and sweet embrace! Give him a propitious and famous reign, give him a royal throne of kingship on its firm foundation, give him the sceptre to guide the Land, and the staff and crook, and give him the righteous headdress and the crown which glorifies the head! From the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun, from the south to the north, from the upper sea to the lower sea, from where the ḫalub tree grows to where the cedar grows, over all Sumer and Akkad, grant him the staff and the crook!" |
| A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana D1): c.4.08.30 With head high, the king goes now ……, with head high he goes to the holy embrace of Inana. The king going now with head high ……, going now to my lady with head high, (1 line fragmentary) he embraces the mistress.(the ends of a number of further lines are preserved) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A balbale to Inana (Dumuzid-Inana E1): c.4.08.31 A balbale of Inana. |
| Dumuzid and Enkimdu: c.4.08.33 "Maiden, the cattle-pen ……; maiden Inana, the sheepfold ……. …… bending in the furrows. Inana, let me stroll with you; …… the emmer ……. Young lady, let me ……." |
| Dumuzid and Enkimdu: c.4.08.33 "I am a woman and I won't do that, I won't! I am a star ……, and I won't! I won't be the wife of a shepherd!" Her brother, the warrior youth Utu, said to holy Inana: |
| Dumuzid and Enkimdu: c.4.08.33 "My sister, let the shepherd marry you! Maiden Inana, why are you unwilling? { His butter is good, his milk is good } { (2 mss. have instead:) He of good butter, he of good milk } -- all the work of the shepherd's hands is splendid. Inana, let Dumuzid marry you. You who wear jewellery, who wear šuba jewels, why are you unwilling? { (1 ms. adds 2 lines:) His butter is good, his milk is good -- all the work of the shepherd's hands is splendid. } He will eat his good butter with you. Protector of the king, why are you unwilling?" |
| Dumuzid and Enkimdu: c.4.08.33 "I will bring you wheat, and I will bring you beans; I will bring you two-row barley from the threshing-floor. And you, maiden, I will bring you whatever you please, maiden Inana, …… barley or …… beans." |
| Dumuzid and Enkimdu: c.4.08.33 The dispute between the shepherd and the farmer: maiden Inana, your praise is sweet. |
| A balbale to Inana: c.4.08.a Lady, you who wander among sweet-voiced cows and gentle-voiced calves in the cattle-pen; young woman, no sooner will you arrive there, Inana, than the churn should sound! May the churn of your spouse sound, Inana, may the churn of Dumuzid sound! May the churn sound, may the churn of Dumuzid sound! |
| A balbale to Inana: c.4.08.a The rocking of the churn will sing for you, Inana, thus making you joyous. The holy churn will sound …… for you, thus making you joyous, Ninegala. The good shepherd, the man of sweet songs, will loudly (?) sing songs for you; lady, with the sweetest songs, Inana, may he make your heart joyous! |
| A balbale to Inana: c.4.08.a Lady, when you enter the cattle-pen, Inana, the cattle-pen indeed will rejoice over you. Mistress, when you enter the sheepfold, Inana, the sheepfold indeed will rejoice over you. When you enter the feeding-pen, healthy ewes will spread out their wool for you. |
| A balbale to Inana: c.4.08.a May your spouse, Ama-ušumgal-ana, …… on (?) your holy breast. May the holy sheepfold produce plentiful supplies of butter (?) for you. It will make butter plentiful (?), it will make milk plentiful (?), thus making you joyous, Inana. May the holy sheepfold make the butter extensive (?) for you, thus making you joyous, Ninegala. |
| A balbale to Inana: c.4.08.a A balbale of Inana. |
| An adab to Nanna (Nanna H): c.4.13.08 O house of …… in ……, city founded by An! O house of …… in ……, city founded by An! O house of Lugalbanda in ……, city founded by An! O house of …… in ……, city founded by An! O house of Inana in Zabalam, city founded by An! |
| A hymn to Nanna (Nanna O): c.4.13.15 The abzu has flourished, the abzu is beautiful. The abzu shall establish the lord as its lord. Lord Nanna, Lord Ašimbabbar, to the lord of the courtyard, noble Alamuš, may ……! May ……! May …… Inana of heaven …… in beauty! May the mistress …… in beauty in the shrine! May …… as desired! May ……! May you ……! …… of Ninsumun ……! (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A šir-gida (?) to Ninšubur (Ninšubur A): c.4.25.1 "I will soothe hearts, I will soothe spirits. I will appease the Anuna gods ……. I, who am to serve -- I, the tutelary deity, who am to serve ……, I will make the young lady, Inana, born in the shining mountains, rejoice. I, the lady, ……, will make her rejoice. I will soothe hearts, I will soothe spirits. I will appease the Anuna gods ……." This is how the lady celebrated in Akkil. |
| A hymn to Ninšubur (Ninšubur B): c.4.25.2 For Father Enlil, lord of all the lands; for Ninlil, lady of Ki-ur, the majestic place; for Enki, the bull of Eridug; for the good woman, …… Damgalnuna; for Ašimbabbar in Urim; for Ningal in her Agrun-kug; …… the Great Mountain Enlil; for ……, Ninurta, for …… Ninḫursaĝa, for youthful Utu in the shrine of E-babbar ……, for …… Ninirigal, for Inana in Zabalam, Enlil …… the great gods ……. |
| A šir-gida to Ninurta (Ninurta A): c.4.27.01 …… playing ……, …… roaring ……, in the remote …… Lord Ninurta …… all the divine powers …… ornament of šuba stone, Inana ……, beautiful charms ……. The lord of the great place of An, ……. …… in the abzu constantly, the lord, the foremost one of the house of the excellent divine powers ……, greeting Enki in the abzu shrine. |
| A hymn to Nungal (Nungal A): c.4.28.1 Then the lady is exultant; the powerful goddess, holy Nungal, praises herself: "An has determined a fate for me, the lady; I am the daughter of An. Enlil too has provided me with an eminent fate, for I am his daughter-in-law. The gods have given the divine powers of heaven and earth into my hands. My own mother, Ereškigala, has allotted to me her divine powers. I have set up my august dais in the nether world, the mountain where Utu rises. I am the goddess of the great house, the holy royal residence. I speak with grandeur to Inana, I am her heart's joy. I assist Nintur at the place of child-delivery (?); I know how to cut the umbilical cord and know the favourable words when determining fates. I am the lady, the true stewardess of Enlil; he has heaped up possessions for me. The storehouse which never becomes empty is mine; ……." |
| A balbale to Šara (Šara A): c.4.30.1 Your own mother, holy Inana, has let you sit with her on the holy ……. …… she is the Mistress. She has let you ……. She has called you by a good name. …… joyfully in your ……. …… dwells ……; the lord shines forth in its midst. (1 line fragmentary)Šara, you ……, praying in the good and holy ……. ……, the princely son, grandiloquent …… holy ……, coming forth like the sun from the shrine E-maḫ. |
| A šir-namšub to Utu (Utu F): c.4.32.f (17 lines fragmentary) Youthful Utu ……, calf of the wild cow, calf of the wild cow, calf of the righteous son, Utu, royal brother of Inana! He who brings thirst to streets and paths (?), Utu, he of the tavern, provided beer, youthful Utu, he of the tavern, provided beer. |
| A šir-namšub to Utu (Utu F): c.4.32.f (Inana speaks:) "My brother, awe-inspiring lord, let me ride with you to the mountains! Lord of heaven, awe-inspiring lord, lord, let me ride with you to the mountains; to the mountains of herbs, to the mountains of cedars, to the mountains; to the mountains of cedars, the mountains of cypresses, to the mountains; to the mountains of silver, the mountains of lapis lazuli, to the mountains; to the mountains where the gakkul plants grow, to the mountains; to the distant source of the rolling rivers, to the mountains." |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 Your lady Inana who ……, who adorns the woman and covers the man's head with a cloth, the one with a lustrous …… suḫ crown, the dragon of Niĝin-ĝar, the queen of heaven and earth, Inana, has erected a house in your precinct, O E-ana, and taken her seat upon your dais. |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 11 lines: the house of Inana in Unug. |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 O house where lustrous herbs are strewn upon the flowery bed, the bed-chamber of holy Inana, where the lady of the plain refreshes herself! Brick-built E-muš (House which is the precinct) is flowery and holy, its …… clay established for him who tends the ewes on the high plain. Your …… house of Arali (House which is the nether world) gives shade (?) to the shepherd. Your prince, a raging lion on the plain, the šuba jewel of the Mistress whose breast is holy and marvellous, the lord who is holy Inana's husband, Dumuzid, the sovereign of E-muš, has erected a house in your precinct, O Bad-tibira, and taken his seat upon your dais. |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 O E-šerzi-guru (House clad in splendour) dressed with ornaments of šuba stone, great awesomeness, Niĝin-ĝar of holy Inana, adorned throughout with the divine powers which are true, Zabalam, shrine of the shining mountain, shrine of …… dawn, which has resounded with pleasure (?), the Mistress has founded your good banqueting hall for you in pleasure (?). |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 Your lady Inana, the ……, the singular woman, the dragon who speaks hostile words to ……, who shines in brightness, who goes against the rebel land, through whom the firmament is made beautiful in the evening, the great daughter of Suen, holy Inana, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Zabalam, and taken her seat upon your dais. |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 12 lines: the house of Inana in Zabalam. |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 O Ulmaš, upper land, …… of the Land, terrifying lion battering a wild bull, net spreading over an enemy, making silence fall upon a rebel land on which, as long as it remains insubmissive, spittle is poured! House of Inana of silver and lapis lazuli, a storehouse built of gold, your princess is an arabu bird, the Mistress of the Niĝin-ĝar. |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 Arrayed in battle, jubilantly (?) beautiful, ready with the seven maces, washing her tools for battle, opening the door of battle and ……, the extremely wise one of heaven, Inana, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Ulmaš, and taken her seat upon your dais. |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 12 lines: the house of Inana in Ulmaš. |
| The debate between Grain and Sheep: c.5.3.2 Grain called out to Sheep: "Sister, I am your better; I take precedence over you. I am the glory of the lights of the Land. I grant my power to the saĝursaĝ (a member of the cultic personnel of Inana) -- he fills the palace with awe and people spread his fame to the borders of the Land. I am the gift of the Anuna gods. I am central to all princes. After I have conferred my power on the warrior, when he goes to war he knows no fear, he knows no faltering (?) -- I make him leave …… as if to the playing field." |
| The debate between Grain and Sheep: c.5.3.2 Again Sheep answered Grain: "You, like holy Inana of heaven, love horses. When a banished enemy, a slave from the mountains or a labourer with a poor wife and small children comes, bound with his rope of one cubit, to the threshing-floor or is taken away from (?) the threshing-floor, when his cudgel pounds your face, pounds your mouth, like crushed …… your ears (?) ……, and you are …… around by the south wind and the north wind. The mortar ……. As if it were pumice (?) it makes your body into flour." |
| The message of Lu-diĝira to his mother: c.5.5.1 In case you should not recognise my mother, let me describe her to you. Her name is { Šat-Eštar } { (1 ms. has instead:) Šimat-Eštar }, { …… by her words } { (some mss. have instead:) …… } ……. Her body, face and limbs, and outer appearance are ……. She is the fair goddess of her city-quarter. Her fate has been decided since the days of her youth. Single-handed she keeps in order the house of her father-in-law. She serves humbly before her divine mistress. She knows how to look after Inana's place. She never disobeys the { orders } { (1 ms. has instead:) wishes } of the king. She is energetic and causes possessions to multiply. She is loving, gentle, and lively. By nature she is a lamb, sweet butter, honey, flowing ghee. |
| The song of the hoe: c.5.5.4 In the city of Zabalam, the hoe (al) is Inana's workman (?). She determined the destiny of the hoe (al), with its projecting lapis-lazuli { beard } { (1 ms. has instead:) tooth }. Utu was ready to help her with her building project (altar); it is the renowned (?) building project (altar) of youthful Utu. |
| The song of the ploughing oxen: an ululumama to Ninurta: c.5.5.5 ellu mallu! Go, oxen, go, put your necks under the yoke! Go, …… oxen, go, put your necks under the yoke! Tread the furrows of the fertile field, walk the sides straight. In the alehouse, the joy ……, …… Inana …… a place of relaxation. …… is restored again ……. |
| A drinking song: c.5.5.a In the troughs made with bur grass, there is sweet beer. I will have the cupbearers, the boys and the brewers stand by. As I spin around the lake of beer, while feeling wonderful, feeling wonderful, while drinking beer, in a blissful mood, while drinking alcohol and feeling exhilarated, with joy in the heart and a contented liver -- my heart is a heart filled with joy! I clothe my contented liver in a garment fit for a queen! The heart of Inana is happy once again; the heart of Inana is happy once again! |
| Proverbs: collection 1: c.6.1.01 (cf. |
| Proverbs: collection 1: c.6.1.01 Inana ……. |
| Proverbs: collection 2 + 6: c.6.1.02 The lamentation priest wipes his bottom: "One should not remove what belongs to my mistress Inana." |
| Proverbs: collection 2 + 6: c.6.1.02 (cf. |
| Proverbs: collection 3: c.6.1.03 (cf. |
| Proverbs: collection 3: c.6.1.03 May Inana pour oil on my heart that aches. |
| Proverbs: collection 3: c.6.1.03 For him who is rejected by Inana, his dream is to forget. |
| Proverbs: collection 3: c.6.1.03 Carrying bread to the oven whilst singing is an abomination to Inana. |
| Proverbs: collection 7: c.6.1.07 Inana …… (1 line fragmentary) |
| Proverbs: collection 7: c.6.1.07 (1 line unclear) …… something belonging to Inana …… (1 line fragmentary) |
| Proverbs: collection 11: c.6.1.11 From the river, oh Inana, let my man eat. |
| Proverbs: collection 13: c.6.1.13 When the ecstatic had taken up position at Inana's gate, his daughter addressed the crowd: "My mother's word is absolutely true." |
| Proverbs: collection 19: c.6.1.19 (cf. |
| Proverbs: collection 21: c.6.1.21 (= Alster 1997 21 Sec. A 10; cf. |
| Proverbs: collection 22: c.6.1.22 (cf. |
| Proverbs: collection 25: c.6.1.25 (cf. |
| Proverbs: from Urim: c.6.2.3 (cf. |
| Proverbs: from Urim: c.6.2.3 …… Inana …… builds a house for her ……. |
| Proverbs: of unknown provenance: c.6.2.5 (cf. |
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