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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 He laid her down all alone in Dilmun, and the place where Enki had lain down with his spouse, that place was still virginal, that place was still pristine. He laid her down all alone in Dilmun, and the place where Enki had lain down with Ninsikila, that place was virginal, that place was pristine. |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 Ninsikila said to her father Enki: "You have given a city. You have given a city. What does your giving avail me? You have given a city, Dilmun. You have given a city. What does your giving avail me? You have given ……. You have given a city. What avails me your giving?" |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 (Enki answered Ninsikila:) "When Utu steps up into heaven, fresh waters shall run out of the ground for you from the standing vessels (?) on Ezen's (?) shore, from Nanna's radiant high temple, from the mouth of the waters running underground." |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 All alone the wise one, toward Nintur, the country's mother, Enki, the wise one, toward Nintur, the country's mother, was digging his phallus into the dykes, plunging his phallus into the reedbeds. The august one pulled his phallus aside and cried out: "No man take me in the marsh." |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 Enki cried out: "By the life's breath of heaven I adjure you. Lie down for me in the marsh, lie down for me in the marsh, that would be joyous." Enki distributed his semen destined for Damgalnuna. He poured semen into Ninḫursaĝa's womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki. |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 In turn Ninnisig went out to the riverbank. Enki was able to see up there from in the marsh, he was able to see up there, he was. He said to his minister Isimud: "Is this nice youngster not to be kissed? Is this nice Ninnisig not to be kissed?" His minister Isimud answered him: "Is this nice youngster not to be kissed? Is this nice Ninnisig not to be kissed? My master will sail, let me navigate. He will sail, let me navigate." |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 First he put his feet in the boat, next he put them on dry land. He clasped her to the bosom, kissed her, Enki poured semen into the womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki. But her one month was one day, but her two months were two days, but her nine months were nine days. In the month of womanhood, like fine (?) oil, like fine (?) oil, like oil of abundance, Ninnisig, like fine (?) oil, like fine (?) oil, like oil of abundance, gave birth to Ninkura. |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 In turn Ninkura went out to the riverbank. Enki was able to see up there from in the marsh, he was able to see up there, he was. He said to his minister Isimud: "Is this nice youngster not to be kissed? Is this nice Ninkura not to kissed?" His minister Isimud answered him: "Kiss this nice youngster. Kiss this nice Ninkura. My master will sail, let me navigate. He will sail, let me navigate." |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 First he put his feet in the boat, next he put them on dry land. He clasped her to the bosom, kissed her, Enki poured semen into the womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki. But her one month was one day, but her nine months were nine days. In the month of womanhood, like fine (?) oil, like fine (?) oil, like oil of abundance, Ninkura, like fine (?) oil, like fine (?) oil, like oil of abundance, gave birth to Uttu, the exalted (?) woman. |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 Ninkura in turn gave birth to Ninimma. She brought the child up and made her flourish. Ninimma in turn went out to the riverbank. Enki was towing his boat along and was able to see up there, ……. He laid eyes on Ninimma on the riverbank and said to his minister Isimud: "Have I ever kissed one like this nice youngster? Have I ever made love to one like nice Ninimma?" His minister Isimud answered him: "My master will sail, let me navigate. He will sail, let me navigate." |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 First he put his feet in the boat, next he put them on dry land. He clasped her to the bosom, lying in her crotch, made love to the youngster and kissed her. Enki poured semen into Ninimma's womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki. |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 Nintur said to Uttu: "Let me advise you, and may you take heed of my advice. Let me speak words to you and may you heed my words. From in the marsh one man is able to see up here, is able to see up here, he is; from in the marsh Enki is able to see up here, is able to see up here, he is. He will set eyes on you." (10 lines fragmentary) …… Uttu, the exalted (?) woman …… (3 lines fragmentary) |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 (Uttu said:) "Bring cucumbers in ……, bring apples with their stems sticking out (?), bring grapes in their clusters, and in the house you will indeed have hold of my halter, O Enki, you will indeed have hold of my halter." |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 Enki (said to) …… the gardener: (4 lines missing) He brought him cucumbers in ……, brought him apples with their stems sticking out (?), brought him grapes in their clusters, filled his lap. |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 Enki made his face attractive and took a staff in his hand. Enki came to a halt at Uttu's, knocked at her house (demanding): "Open up, open up." (She asked): "Who are you?" (He answered:) "I am a gardener. Let me give you cucumbers, apples, and grapes for your consent." Joyfully Uttu opened the house. Enki gave Uttu, the exalted (?) woman, cucumbers in ……, gave her apples with their stems sticking out (?), gave her grapes in their clusters. { (1 line not in the ms. from Nibru:) He poured beer for her in the large ban measure. } |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 Uttu, the exalted (?) woman, …… to the left for him, waved the hands for him. Enki aroused Uttu. He clasped her to the bosom, lying in her crotch, fondled her thighs, fondled her with the hand. He clasped her to the bosom, lying in her crotch, made love to the youngster and kissed her. Enki poured semen into Uttu's womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki. |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 Enki was able to see up there from in the marsh, he was able to see up there, he was. He said to his minister Isimud: "I have not determined the destiny of these plants. What is this one? What is that one?" |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 His minister Isimud had the answer for him." My master, the 'tree' plant," he said to him, cut it off for him and Enki ate it." My master, the 'honey' plant," he said to him, pulled it up for him and Enki ate it." My master, the 'vegetable' plant," he said to him, cut it off for him and Enki ate it." My master, the alfalfa grass (?)," he said to him, pulled it up for him and Enki ate it. |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 "My master, the atutu plant," he said to him, cut it off for him and Enki ate it." My master, the aštaltal plant," he said to him, pulled it up for him and Enki ate it." My master, the …… plant," he said to him, cut it off for him and Enki ate it." My master, the amḫaru plant," he said to him, pulled it up for him and Enki ate it. Enki determined the destiny of the plants, had them know it in their hearts. |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 Ninḫursaĝa cursed the name Enki: "Until his dying day, I will never look upon him with life-giving eye." The Anuna sat down in the dust. But a fox was able to speak to Enlil: "If I bring Ninḫursaĝa to you, what will be my reward?" Enlil answered the fox: "If you bring Ninḫursaĝa to me, I shall erect two birch (?) trees for you in my city and you will be renowned." |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 Ninḫursaĝa hastened to the temple. The Anuna slipped off her garment, made ……, determined its destiny and ……. Ninḫursaĝa made Enki sit by her vagina. { (1 line not in the ms. from Nibru:) She placed (?) her hands on ……. and ……. on its outside. } |
| Enki and Ninḫursaĝa: c.1.1.1 Praise be to Father Enki. |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 At that time, the one of great wisdom, the creator of all the senior gods, Enki lay on his bed, not waking up from his sleep, in the deep engur, in the subterranean water, the place the inside of which no other god knows. The gods said, weeping: "He is the cause of the lamenting!" Namma, the primeval mother who gave birth to the senior gods, took the tears of the gods to the one who lay sleeping, to the one who did not wake up from his bed, to her son: "Are you really lying there asleep, and …… not awake? The gods, your creatures, are smashing their ……. My son, wake up from your bed! Please apply the skill deriving from your wisdom and create a substitute (?) for the gods so that they can be freed from their toil!" |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 At the word of his mother Namma, Enki rose up from his bed. In Ḫal-an-kug, his room for pondering, he slapped his thigh in annoyance. The wise and intelligent one, the prudent, …… of skills, the fashioner of the design of everything brought to life birth-goddesses (?). Enki reached out his arm over them and turned his attention to them. And after Enki, the fashioner of designs by himself, had pondered the matter, he said to his mother Namma: "My mother, the creature you planned will really come into existence. Impose on him the work of carrying baskets. You should knead clay from the top of the abzu; the birth-goddesses (?) will nip off the clay and you shall bring the form into existence. Let Ninmaḫ act as your assistant; and let Ninimma, Šu-zi-ana, Ninmada, Ninbarag, Ninmug, …… and Ninguna stand by as you give birth. My mother, after you have decreed his fate, let Ninmaḫ impose on him the work of carrying baskets." (5 lines fragmentary)…… she placed it on grass and purified the birth. |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Enki …… brought joy to their heart. He set a feast for his mother Namma and for Ninmaḫ. All the princely birth-goddesses (?) …… ate delicate reed (?) and bread. An, Enlil, and Lord Nudimmud roasted holy kids. All the senior gods praised him: "O lord of wide understanding, who is as wise as you? Enki, the great lord, who can equal your actions? Like a corporeal father, you are the one who has the me of deciding destinies, in fact you are the me." |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Enki and Ninmaḫ drank beer, their hearts became elated, and then Ninmaḫ said to Enki: "Man's body can be either good or bad and whether I make a fate good or bad depends on my will." |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Enki answered Ninmaḫ: "I will counterbalance whatever fate -- good or bad -- you happen to decide." Ninmaḫ took clay from the top of the abzu in her hand and she fashioned from it first a man who could not bend his outstretched weak hands. Enki looked at the man who cannot bend his outstretched weak hands, and decreed his fate: he appointed him as a servant of the king. |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Second, she fashioned one who turned back (?) the light, a man with constantly opened eyes (?). Enki looked at the who turned back (?) the light, the man with constantly opened eyes (?), and decreed his fate allotting to it the musical arts, making him as the chief …… in the king's presence. |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 { Third, she fashioned one with both feet broken, one with paralysed feet. Enki looked at the one with both feet broken, the one with paralysed feet and …… him for the work of …… and the silversmith and ……. } { (1 ms. has instead:) She fashioned one, a third one, born as an idiot. Enki looked at this one, the one born as an idiot, and decreed his fate: he appointed him as a servant of the king. } |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Fourth, she fashioned one who could not hold back his urine. Enki looked at the one who could not hold back his urine and bathed him in enchanted water and drove out the namtar demon from his body. |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Fifth, she fashioned a woman who could not give birth. Enki looked at the woman who could not give birth, { and decreed her fate: he made (?) her belong to the queen's household. } { (1 ms. has instead:) …… as a weaver, fashioned her to belong to the queen's household. } |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Sixth, she fashioned one with neither penis nor vagina on its body. Enki looked at the one with neither penis nor vagina on its body and gave it the name 'Nibru eunuch (?)', and decreed as its fate to stand before the king. |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 { Ninmaḫ threw the pinched-off clay from her hand on the ground and a great silence fell }{ (1 ms. has instead:) Enki threw all (?) the clay to the ground and was greatly …… }. The great lord Enki said to Ninmaḫ: "I have decreed the fates of your creatures and given them their daily bread. Come, now I will fashion somebody for you, and you must decree the fate of the newborn one!" |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Enki devised a shape with head, …… and mouth in its middle, and said to Ninmaḫ: "Pour ejaculated semen into a woman's womb, and the woman will give birth to the semen of her womb." Ninmaḫ stood by for the newborn ……. and the woman brought forth …… in the midst ……. In return (?), this was Umul: its head was afflicted, its place of …… was afflicted, its eyes were afflicted, its neck was afflicted. It could hardly breathe, its ribs were shaky, its lungs were afflicted, its heart was afflicted, its bowels were afflicted. With its hand and its lolling head it could not not put bread into its mouth; its spine and head were dislocated. The weak hips and the shaky feet could not carry (?) it on the field -- Enki fashioned it in this way. |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Enki said to Ninmaḫ: "For your creatures I have decreed a fate, I have given them their daily bread. Now, you should decree a fate for my creature, give him his daily bread too." Ninmaḫ looked at Umul and turned to him. She went nearer to Umul asked him questions but he could not speak. She offered him bread to eat but he could not reach out for it. He could not lie on ……, he could not ……. Standing up he could not sit down, could not lie down, he could not …… a house, he could not eat bread. Ninmaḫ answered Enki: "The man you have fashioned is neither alive nor dead. He cannot support himself (?)." |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Enki answered Ninmaḫ: "I decreed a fate for the first man with the weak hands, I gave him bread. I decreed a fate for the man who turned back (?) the light, I gave him bread. I decreed a fate for the man with broken, paralysed feet, I gave him bread. I decreed a fate for the man who could not hold back his urine, I gave him bread. I decreed a fate for the woman who could not give birth, I gave her bread. I decreed the fate for the one with neither penis nor vagina on its body, I gave it bread. My sister, ……." (2 lines fragmentary) |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Ninmaḫ answered Enki: (9 lines fragmentary) |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Enki replied to Ninmaḫ: "Who could change the words that left your mouth? Remove Umul from your lap ……. Ninmaḫ, may your work be ……, you …… for me what is imperfect; who can oppose (?) this? The man whom I shaped …… after you ……, let him pray! Today let my penis be praised, may your wisdom be confirmed (?)! May the enkum and ninkum …… proclaim your glory ……. My sister, the heroic strength ……. The song …… the writing (?) ……. The gods who heard …… let Umul build (?) my house ……." |
| Enki and Ninmaḫ: c.1.1.2 Ninmaḫ could not rival the great lord Enki. Father Enki, your praise is sweet! |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 Grandiloquent lord of heaven and earth, self-reliant, Father Enki, engendered by a bull, begotten by a wild bull, cherished by Enlil, the Great Mountain, beloved by holy An, king, meš tree planted in the Abzu, rising over all lands; great dragon who stands in Eridug, whose shadow covers heaven and earth, a grove of vines extending over the Land, Enki, lord of plenty of the Anuna gods, Nudimmud, mighty one of the E-kur, strong one of heaven and earth! Your great house is founded in the Abzu, the great mooring-post of heaven and earth. Enki, from whom a single glance is enough to unsettle the heart of the mountains; wherever bison are born, where stags are born, where ibex are born, where wild goats are born, in meadows ……, in hollows in the heart of the hills, in green …… unvisited by man, you have fixed your gaze on the heart of the Land as on split reeds. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 Counting the days and putting the months in their houses, so as to complete the years and to submit the completed years to the assembly for a decision, taking decisions to regularise the days: Father Enki, you are the king of the assembled people. You have only to open your mouth for everything to multiply and for plenty to be established. Your branches …… green with their fruit ……, …… do honour to the gods. …… in its forests is like a fleecy garment. Good sheep and good lambs do honour to ……. When …… the prepared fields, …… will accumulate stockpiles and stacks. …… there is oil, there is milk, produced by the sheepfold and cow-pen. The shepherd sweetly sings his rustic song, the cowherd spends the day rocking his churns. Their products would do honour to the late lunches in the gods' great dining hall. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 Enlil, the Great Mountain, has commissioned you to gladden the hearts of lords and rulers and wish them well. Enki, lord of prosperity, lord of wisdom, lord, the beloved of An, the ornament of Eridug, who establish commands and decisions, who well understands the decreeing of fates: you close up the days ……, and make the months enter their houses. You bring down ……, you have reached their number. You make the people dwell in their dwelling places ……, you make them follow their herdsman ……. (2 lines unclear) |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 When Father Enki goes forth to the inseminated people, good seed will come forth. When Nudimmud goes forth to the good pregnant ewes, good lambs will be born; when he goes forth to the fecund cows, good calves will be born; whe he goes forth to the good pregnant goats, good kids will be born. If you go forth to the cultivated fields, to the good germinating fields, stockpiles and stacks can be accumulated on the high plain. If you go forth to the parched areas of the Land, (2 lines missing or unclear) |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 Enki, the king of the Abzu, rejoicing in great splendour, justly praises himself: "My father, the king of heaven and earth, made me famous in heaven and earth. My elder brother, the king of all the lands, gathered up all the divine powers and placed them in my hand. I brought the arts and crafts from the E-kur, the house of Enlil, to my Abzu in Eridug. I am the good semen, begotten by a wild bull, I am the first born of An. I am a great storm rising over the great earth, I am the great lord of the Land. I am the principal among all rulers, the father of all the foreign lands. I am the big brother of the gods, I bring prosperity to perfection. I am the seal-keeper of heaven and earth. I am the wisdom and understanding of all the foreign lands. With An the king, on An's dais, I oversee justice. With Enlil, looking out over the lands, I decree good destinies. He has placed in my hands the decreeing of fates in the place where the sun rises. I am cherished by Nintur. I am named with a good name by Ninḫursaĝa. I am the leader of the Anuna gods. I was born as the firstborn son of holy An." |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 "Praise be to Enki, the much-praised lord who controls all the arts and crafts, who takes decisions!" |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 In a state of high delight Enki, the king of the Abzu, rejoicing in great splendour, again justly praises himself: "I am the lord, I am one whose word is reliable, I am one who excels in everything." |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 "The lords pay heed …… to me. I am Enki! They stand before me, praising me. The abgal priests and abrig officials who …… stand before me …… distant days. The enkum and ninkum officiants organise ……. They purify the river for me, they …… the interior of the shrine for me. In my Abzu, sacred songs and incantations resound for me. My barge 'Crown', the 'Stag of the Abzu', transports me there most delightfully. It glides swiftly for me through the great marshes to wherever I have decided, it is obedient to me. The stroke-callers make the oars pull in perfect unison. They sing for me pleasant songs, creating a cheerful mood on the river. Niĝir-sig, the captain of my barge, holds the golden sceptre for me. I am Enki! He is in command of my boat 'Stag of the Abzu'. I am the lord! I will travel! I am Enki! I will go forth into my Land! I, the lord who determines the fates, ……," (4 lines unclear) |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 "I will admire its green cedars. Let the lands of Meluḫa, Magan and Dilmun look upon me, upon Enki. Let the Dilmun boats be loaded (?) with timber. Let the Magan boats be loaded sky-high. Let the magilum boats of Meluḫa transport gold and silver and bring them to Nibru for Enlil, king of all the lands." |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 The Anuna gods address affectionately the great prince who has travelled in his Land: "Lord who rides upon the great powers, the pure powers, who controls the great powers, the numberless powers, foremost in all the breadth of heaven and earth; who received the supreme powers in Eridug, the holy place, the most esteemed place, Enki, lord of heaven and earth -- praise!" |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 All the lords and rulers, the incantation-priests of Eridug and the linen-clad priests of Sumer, perform the purification rites of the Abzu for the great prince who has travelled in his land; for Father Enki they stand guard in the holy place, the most esteemed place. They …… the chambers ……, they …… the emplacements, they purify the great shrine of the Abzu ……. They bring there the tall juniper, the pure plant. They organise the holy …… in the great watercourse …… of Enki. Skilfully they build the main stairway of Eridug on the Good Quay. They prepare the sacred uzga shrine, where they utter endless prayers. (7 lines fragmentary or unclear) |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 For Enki, …… squabbling together, and the suḫurmaš carp dart among the honey plants, again fighting amongst themselves for the great prince. The eštub carp wave their tails among the small gizi reeds. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 The intrepid king, Father Enki …… in the Land. Prosperity was made to burgeon in heaven and on earth for the great prince who travels in the Land. Enki decreed its fate: |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 Then he proceeded to the sanctuary of Urim. Enki, lord of the Abzu, decreed its fate: |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 "City which possesses all that is fitting, bathed by water! Sturdy bull, altar of abundance that strides across the mountains, rising like the hills, forest of ḫašur cypresses with broad shade, self-confident! May your perfect powers be well-directed. The Great Mountain Enlil has pronounced your name great in heaven and on earth. City whose fate Enki has decreed, sanctuary of Urim, you shall rise high to heaven!" |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 Then he proceeded to the land of Meluḫa. Enki, lord of the Abzu, decreed its fate: |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 Enki presented animals to those who have no city, who have no houses, to the Martu nomads. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 After he had turned his gaze from there, after Father Enki had lifted his eyes across the Euphrates, he stood up full of lust like a rampant bull, lifted his penis, ejaculated and filled the Tigris with flowing water. He was like a wild cow mooing for its young in the wild grass, its scorpion-infested cow-pen. The Tigris …… at his side like a rampant bull. By lifting his penis, he brought a bridal gift. The Tigris rejoiced in its heart like a great wild bull, when it was born ……. It brought water, flowing water indeed: its wine will be sweet. It brought barley, mottled barley indeed: the people will eat it. It filled the E-kur, the house of Enlil, with all sorts of things. Enlil was delighted with Enki, and Nibru was glad. The lord put on the diadem as a sign of lordship, he put on the good crown as a sign of kingship, touching the ground on his left side. Plenty came forth out of the earth for him. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 Enki, the lord of the destinies, Enki, the king of the Abzu, placed in charge of all this him who holds a sceptre in his right hand, him who with glorious mouth submits to verification the devouring force of the Tigris and Euphrates, while prosperity pours forth from the palace like oil -- Enbilulu, the inspector of waterways. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 He issued a challenge ……. Enki placed in charge of all this him from whose net no fish escapes, him from whose trap no living thing escapes, him from whose bird-net no bird escapes, (1 line unclear)-- ……, who loves fish. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 The lord established a shrine, a holy shrine, whose interior is elaborately constructed. He established a shrine in the sea, a holy shrine, whose interior is elaborately constructed. The shrine, whose interior is a tangled thread, is beyond understanding. The shrine's emplacement is situated by the constellation the Field, the holy upper shrine's emplacement faces towards the Chariot constellation. Its terrifying sea is a rising wave, its splendour is fearsome. The Anuna gods dare not approach it. …… to refresh their hearts, the palace rejoices. The Anuna stand by with prayers and supplications. They set up a great altar for Enki in the E-engura, for the lord ……. The great prince ……. …… the pelican of the sea. (1 line unclear) |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 He filled the E-kur, the house of Enlil, with goods of all sorts. Enlil was delighted with Enki, and Nibru was glad. Enki placed in charge of all this, over the wide extent of the sea, her who sets sail …… in the holy shrine, who induces sexual intercourse ……, who …… over the enormous high flood of the subterranean waters, the terrifying waves, the inundation of the sea ……, who comes forth from the ……, the mistress of Sirara, …… -- Nanše. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 He called to the rain of the heavens. He …… as floating clouds. He made …… rising at the horizon. He turned the mounds into fields ……. Enki placed in charge of all this him who rides on the great storms, who attacks with lightning bolts, the holy bar which blocks the entrance to the interior of heaven, the son of An, the canal inspector of heaven and earth -- Iškur, the bringer of plenty, the son of An. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 He organised ploughs, yokes and teams. The great prince Enki bestowed the horned oxen that follow the …… tools, he opened up the holy furrows, and made the barley grow on the cultivated fields. Enki placed in charge of them the lord who wears the diadem, the ornament of the high plain, him of the implements, the farmer of Enlil -- Enkimdu, responsible for ditches and dykes. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 The lord called the cultivated fields, and bestowed on them mottled barley. Enki made chickpeas, lentils and …… grow. He heaped up into piles the early, mottled and innuḫa varieties of barley. Enki multiplied the stockpiles and stacks, and with Enlil's help he enhanced the people's prosperity. Enki placed in charge of all this her whose head and body are dappled, whose face is covered in syrup, the mistress who causes sexual intercourse, the power of the Land, the life of the black-headed -- Ezina, the good bread of the whole world. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 The great prince fixed a string to the hoe, and organised brick moulds. He penetrated the …… like precious oil. Enki placed in charge of them him whose sharp-bladed hoe is a corpse-devouring snake that ……, whose brick mould in place is a tidy stack of hulled grain for the ewes -- Kulla, who …… bricks in the Land. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 He tied down the strings and coordinated them with the foundations, and with the power of the assembly he planned a house and performed the purification rituals. The great prince put down the foundations, and laid the bricks. Enki placed in charge of all this him whose foundations once laid do not sag, whose good houses once built do not collapse (?), whose vaults reach up into the heart of the heavens like a rainbow -- Mušdama, Enlil's master builder. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 He raised a holy crown over the upland plain. He fastened a lapis-lazuli beard to the high plain, and made it wear a lapis-lazuli headdress. He made this good place perfect with greenery in abundance. He multiplied the animals of the high plain to an appropriate degree, he multiplied the ibex and wild goats of the pastures, and made them copulate. Enki placed in charge of them the hero who is the crown of the high plain, who is the king of the countryside, the great lion of the high plain, the muscular, the hefty, the burly strength of Enlil -- Šakkan, the king of the hills. |
| 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 He filled the E-kur, the house of Enlil, with possessions. Enlil was delighted with Enki and Nibru was glad. He demarcated borders and fixed boundaries. For the Anuna gods, Enki situated dwellings in cities and disposed agricultural land into fields. Enki placed in charge of the whole of heaven and earth the hero, the bull who comes out of the ḫašur forest bellowing truculently, the youth Utu, the bull standing triumphantly, audaciously, majestically, the father of the Great City (an expression for the underworld), the great herald in the east of holy An, the judge who searches out verdicts for the gods, with a lapis-lazuli beard, rising from the horizon into the holy heavens -- Utu, the son born by Ningal. |
| Enki and the world order: c.1.1.3 He picked out the tow from the fibres, and set up the loom. Enki greatly perfected the task of women. For Enki, the people …… in …… garments. Enki placed in charge of them the honour of the palace, the dignity of the king -- Uttu, the conscientious woman, the silent one. |
| 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 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 Praise be to Father Enki. |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 In those remote days, when the fates were determined; in a year when An brought about abundance, and people broke through the earth like green plants -- then the lord of the abzu, King Enki, Enki, the lord who determines the fates, built up his temple entirely from silver and lapis lazuli. Its silver and lapis lazuli were the shining daylight. Into the shrine of the abzu he brought joy. |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 An artfully made bright crenellation rising out from the abzu was erected for Lord Nudimmud. He built the temple from precious metal, decorated it with lapis lazuli, and covered it abundantly with gold. In Eridug, he built the house on the bank. Its brickwork makes utterances and gives advice. Its eaves roar like a bull; the temple of Enki bellows. During the night the temple praises its lord and offers its best for him. |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 Before Lord Enki, Isimud the minister praises the temple; he goes to the temple and speaks to it. He goes to the brick building and addresses it: "Temple, built from precious metal and lapis lazuli; whose foundation pegs are driven into the abzu; which has been cared for by the prince in the abzu! Like the Tigris and the Euphrates, it is mighty and awe-inspiring (?). Joy has been brought into Enki's abzu." |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 "Abzu, pure place which fulfils its purpose! E-engura! Your lord has directed his steps towards you. Enki, lord of the abzu, has embellished your foundation pegs with cornelian. He has adorned you with …… and (?) lapis lazuli. The temple of Enki is provisioned with holy wax (?); it is a bull obedient to its master, roaring by itself and giving advice at the same time. E-engura, which Enki has surrounded with a holy reed fence! In your midst a lofty throne is erected, your door-jamb is the holy locking bar of heaven." |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 "Abzu, pure place, place where the fates are determined -- the lord of wisdom, Lord Enki, { (1 ms. adds 1 line:) the lord who determines the fates, } Nudimmud, the lord of Eridug, lets nobody look into its midst. Your abgal priests let their hair down their backs." |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 "Enki's beloved Eridug, E-engura whose inside is full of abundance! Abzu, life of the Land, beloved of Enki! Temple built on the edge, befitting the artful divine powers! Eridug, your shadow extends over the midst of the sea! Rising sea without a rival; mighty awe-inspiring river which terrifies the Land! E-engura, high citadel (?) standing firm on the earth! Temple at the edge of the engur, a lion in the midst of the abzu; lofty temple of Enki, which bestows wisdom on the Land; your cry, like that of a mighty rising river, reaches (?) King Enki." |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 "He made { the lyre, the alĝar instrument, the balaĝ drum with the drumsticks } { (some mss. have instead:) the lyre, the alĝar instrument, the balaĝ drum of your sur priests } { (1 ms. has instead:) your lyre and alĝar instrument, the balaĝ drum with the drumsticks } { (1 ms. has instead:) the lyre, the alĝar instrument, the balaĝ drum and even the plectrum (?) }, the ḫarḫar, the sabitum, and the …… miritum instruments offer their best for his holy temple. The …… resounded by themselves with a sweet sound. The holy alĝar instrument of Enki played for him on his own and seven { singers sang } { (some mss. have instead:) tigi drums resounded. }" |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 "What Enki says is irrefutable; …… is well established (?)." This is what Isimud spoke to the brick building; he praised the E-engura { with sweet songs } { (1 ms. has instead:) duly. } |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 As it has been built, as it has been built; as Enki has raised Eridug up, it is an artfully built mountain which floats on the water. His shrine (?) spreads (?) out into the reedbeds; birds brood { (1 ms. adds:) at night } in its green orchards laden with fruit. The suḫur carp play among the honey-herbs, and the eštub carp dart among the small gizi reeds. When Enki rises, the fish rise before him like waves. He has the abzu stand as a marvel, as he brings joy into the engur. |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 Like the sea, he is awe-inspiring; like a mighty river, he instils fear. The Euphrates rises before him as it does before the fierce south wind. His punting pole is { Nirah } { (some mss. have instead:) Imdudu }; his oars are the small reeds. When Enki embarks, the year will be full of abundance. The ship departs of its own accord, with tow rope held (?) by itself. As he leaves the temple of Eridug, the river gurgles (?) to its lord: its sound is a calf's mooing, the mooing of a good cow. |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 Enki had oxen slaughtered, and had sheep offered there lavishly. Where there were no ala drums, he installed some in their places; where there were no bronze ub drums, he despatched some to their places. |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 He directed his steps on his own to Nibru and entered the temple terrace, the shrine of Nibru. Enki reached for (?) the beer, he reached for (?) the liquor. He had liquor poured into big bronze containers, and had emmer-wheat beer pressed out (?). In kukuru containers which make the beer good he mixed beer-mash. By adding date-syrup to its taste (?), he made it strong. He …… its bran-mash. |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 In the shrine of Nibru, Enki provided a meal for Enlil, his father. He seated An at the head of the table and seated Enlil next to An. He seated Nintur in the place of honour and seated the Anuna gods at the adjacent places (?). All of them were drinking and enjoying beer and liquor. They filled the bronze aga vessels to the brim and started a competition, drinking from the bronze vessels of Uraš. They made the tilimda vessels shine like holy barges. After beer and liquor had been libated and enjoyed, and after …… from the house, Enlil was made happy in Nibru. |
| Enki's journey to Nibru: c.1.1.4 Enlil addressed the Anuna gods: "Great gods who are standing here! Anuna, who have lined up in the Ubšu-unkena! My son, King Enki has built up the temple! He has made Eridug { rise up (?) } { (1 ms. has instead:) come out } from the ground like a mountain! He has built it in a pleasant place, in Eridug, the pure place, where no one is to enter -- a temple built with silver and decorated with lapis lazuli, a house which tunes the seven tigi drums properly, and provides incantations; where holy songs make all of the house a lovely place -- the shrine of the abzu, the good destiny of Enki, befitting the elaborate divine powers; the temple of Eridug, built with silver: for all this, Father Enki be praised!" |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 "When I have gratified the lord ……, when I have made …… brilliant, when I have made …… beautiful, when I have made …… glorious, when I have ……, when I have made …… perfect, when I have made …… luxuriant, when I have made …… exuberant, when I have made …… shining (?), when I have made …… return, when I have made …… brilliant, when I have made …… shimmering, I shall direct my steps to the abzu, to Eridug, I shall direct my steps to Enki, to the abzu, to Eridug, and I myself shall speak coaxingly to him, in the abzu, in Eridug, I myself shall speak coaxingly to Enki, in the abzu, in Eridug. …… had her go out ……." (approx. 21 lines missing) |
| 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 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 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 Enki spoke to Isimud the minister: "Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?" "Where are the office of en priest, the office of lagar priest, divinity, the great and good crown, the royal throne?" "My master has given them to his daughter." |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 …… king …… in the house of Enki should not forget a word. …… full of advice, loud voiced, knowing much ……. They said: "By the bolt of the temple door, a frog spoke." He showed him to a place. Enki grasped the frog by his right paw. He showed him into his holy ……. He received …… the ḫalub tree and his box-tree. He gave …… to the bird of heaven. He gave …… to the fish of the subterranean waters. (11 lines fragmentary) (approx. 10-15 lines missing) |
| Inana and Enki: c.1.3.1 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 …… Quay." "Go now! The enkum 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 (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 Šu-kale-tuda: c.1.3.3 (2 lines missing) (3 lines fragmentary)"He will …… its feet", he (Enki) says. Full of wisdom he adds the following words: "Raven, I shall give you instructions. Pay attention to my instructions. Raven, in the shrine I shall give you instructions. Pay attention to my instructions. First, chop up (?) and chew (?) the kohl for the incantation priests of Eridug with the oil and water which are to be found in a lapis-lazuli bowl and are placed in the back-room of the shrine. Then plant them in a trench for leeks in a vegetable plot; then you should pull out (?) ……." -- 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 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'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 "Father Enki, the lord of great wisdom, knows about the life-giving plant and the life-giving water. He is the one who will restore me to life." |
| 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 { Then Father Enki spoke out to the gala-tura and the kur-ĝara: } " { (1 ms. has instead the line:) One of you sprinkle the life-giving plant over her, and the other the life-giving water. } Go and direct your steps to the underworld. Flit past the door like flies. Slip through the door pivots like phantoms. The mother who gave birth, Ereškigala, on account of her children, is lying there. Her holy shoulders are not covered by a linen cloth. Her breasts are not full like a šagan vessel. Her nails are like a pickaxe (?) upon her. The hair on her head is bunched up as if it were leeks." |
| Inana's descent to the nether world: c.1.4.1 The gala-tura and the kur-ĝara paid attention to the instructions of Enki. They flitted through the door like flies. They slipped through the door pivots like phantoms. The mother who gave birth, Ereškigala, because of her children, was lying there. Her holy shoulders were not covered by a linen cloth. Her breasts were not full like a šagan vessel. Her nails were like a pickaxe (?) upon her. The hair on her head was bunched up as if it were leeks. |
| 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 "All alone she directed her steps to the E-kur, to the house of Enlil, and to Urim, to the house of Nanna, and to Eridug, to the house of Enki. { (1 ms. adds 1 line:) She wept before Enki. } She brought me back to life. How could I turn her over to you? Let us go on. Let us go on to the Šeg-kuršaga in Umma." |
| 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 you will force it into the shackles of the gods. You, Antelope of Heaven, must trample the mountains beneath your hooves, Ninurta, lord, son of Enlil. Who has so far been able to resist its assault? The besetting Asag is beyond all control, its weight is too heavy. Rumours of its armies constantly arrive, before ever its soldiers are seen. This thing's strength is massive, no weapon has been able to overturn it. Ninurta, neither the axe nor the all-powerful spear can penetrate its flesh, no warrior like it has ever been created against you. Lord, you who reach out towards the august divine powers, splendour, jewel of the gods, you bull with the features of a wild bull, with a prominent backbone, …… this fellow is clever! My Ninurta, whose form Enki contemplates with favour, my Uta-ulu, lord, son of Enlil, what is to be done?" |
| Ninurta's exploits: a šir-sud (?) to Ninurta: c.1.6.2 "God who outstrips the heroes, Lord Ninurta, king of the Anuna gods, holding a cudgel in his right hand, bearded, you fall as a torrent on all enemies; who can rival your great works? Hero, deluge, without equal, the Enki and Ninki deities dare not resist (?) you. Hero who pillages the cities, who subjugates the mountains, son of Enlil, who will rise up against you? Ninurta, lord, son of Enlil, hero, who is like you?" |
| Ninurta's exploits: a šir-sud (?) to Ninurta: c.1.6.2 Since the hero had killed the Asag, since the lord had made that pile of stones, since he had given the order "Let it be called Stone", since he had …… the roaring dragon, since the hero had traced the way of the waters …… down from above, since he had brought them to the fertile fields, since he had made famous the plough of abundance, since the lord had established it in regular furrows, since Ninurta son of Enlil had heaped up grain-piles and granaries -- Ninurta son of Enlil entrusted their keeping to the care of the lady who possesses the divine powers which exist of themselves, who is eminently worthy of praise, to Nisaba, good lady, greatly wise, pre-eminent in the lands, her who possesses the principal tablet with the obligations of en and lugal, endowed by Enki on the Holy Mound with a great intelligence. |
| Ninurta and the turtle: c.1.6.3 Father Enki in the abzu knew what had been said. |
| Ninurta and the turtle: c.1.6.3 The Anzud chick took the hero Ninurta by his hand and drew near with him to Enki's place, the abzu. The Anzud chick returned Uta-ulu to the abzu. The lord was delighted with the hero, Father Enki was delighted with the hero Ninurta. |
| Ninurta and the turtle: c.1.6.3 The great lord Enki intuitively grasped the substance of the plan. In the shrine, in the abzu he stirred up a dark flood-storm. |
| Ninurta and the turtle: c.1.6.3 Against Ninurta, Enki fashioned a turtle from the clay of the abzu. Against him he stationed the turtle at an opening, at the gate of the abzu. Enki talked to him near the place of the ambush and brought him to the place where the turtle was. The turtle was able to grab Ninurta's tendon from behind. The hero Ninurta managed to turn back its feet. Enki, as if perplexed, said," What is this!" He had the turtle scrape the ground with its claws, had it dig an evil pit. The hero Ninurta fell into it with the turtle. The hero did not know how to get out from ……. The turtle kept on gnawing his feet with its claws (?). |
| Ninurta and the turtle: c.1.6.3 The great lord Enki said to him: "From ……, you who set your mind to kill me, …… who makes big claims -- I cut down, I raise up. You who set your sights on me like this -- what has your position seized for you, how ……? Where has your strength fled? Where is your heroism? In the great mountains you caused destruction, but how will you get out now?" |
| Ninurta and the turtle: c.1.6.3 Ninmena learned of this situation. She ripped the clothes on her body and she ……." You my plant-eater Enki, who shall I send to you? Men will shake their heads in fear ……. Who shall I send to you? That name is not Enki. That name is Ugugu-that-does-not-pour (?). You who are death which has no mercy, who shall I send to you?" (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| The Flood story: c.1.7.4 After An, Enlil, Enki and Ninḫursaĝa had fashioned the black-headed people, they also made animals multiply everywhere, and made herds of four-legged animals exist on the plains, as is befitting. (approx. 32 lines missing) |
| 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) |
| Gilgameš and Aga: c.1.8.1.1 Then Gilgameš, the lord of Kulaba, rejoiced at the advice of his city's able-bodied men and his spirit brightened. He addressed his servant Enkidu: "On this account let the weaponry and arms of battle be made ready. Let the battle mace return to your side. May they create a great terror and radiance. When he comes, my great fearsomeness will overwhelm him. His reasoning will become confused and his judgment disarrayed." |
| Gilgameš and Aga: c.1.8.1.1 They hit him, they struck him. They beat Birḫar-tura's entire length. Gilgameš climbed up on the rampart after the officer of Unug. His radiance overwhelmed Kulaba's young and old. He armed Unug's able-bodied men with battle maces and stationed them on the causeway at the city gate's door. Only Enkidu went out through the city gate. Gilgameš leaned out over the rampart. Looking up, Aga saw him: "Slave, is that man your king?" |
| 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 His sister ……. His mother who bore him ……. Peštur, his little sister ……. Gilgameš …… "My mother who bore me, in the house (?) of Enki (?) ……. Peštur, the little sister, ……, will bring back the cattle to their tethering stakes ……, will bring back the sheep to their tethering stakes ……." |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 The Bull …… in the dust. Gilgameš …… and Enkidu ……. Their fellow-citizens ……. …… with dust, like a young calf unused to the yoke. Enkidu stood by (?) the Bull's head and spoke to Gilgameš: |
| Gilgameš and the bull of heaven: c.1.8.1.2 When Enkidu had spoken thus to Gilgameš, Gilgameš himself smote its skull with his axe weighing seven talents. The Bull reared up so high, so high that it overbalanced. It spattered like rain, it spread itself out like the harvested crop. |
| The death of Gilgameš: c.1.8.1.3 " (1 line fragmentary) …… Enkidu, your young comrade. (1 line fragmentary) …… is lying alone. …… is lying alone. …… the king ……. (1 line fragmentary) …… will come to you. …… will come to you. …… will come to you. …… will come to you. …… will come to you. …… will come to you. …… will come to you." (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| The death of Gilgameš: c.1.8.1.3 Gilgameš, the son of Ninsumun, set out their audience-gifts for Ereškigala. He set out their gifts for Namtar. He set out their surprises for Dimpikug. He set out their presents for Neti. He set out their presents for Ninĝišzida and Dumuzid. He …… the audience-gifts for Enki, Ninki, Enmul, Ninmul, Endukuga, Nindukuga, Enindašuruma, Nindašuruma, Enmu-utula, En-me-šara, the maternal and paternal ancestors of Enlil; for Šul-pa-e, the lord of the table, for Sumugan and Ninḫursaĝa, for the Anuna gods of the Holy Mound, for the Great Princes of the Holy Mound, for the dead en priests, the dead lagar priests, the dead lumaḫ priests, the dead nindiĝir priestesses, and the dead gudug, the linen-clad and …… priests. (1 line fragmentary)He set out their presents for ……. |
| The death of Gilgameš: c.1.8.1.3 (2 lines fragmentary) Enlil's advice was given to Enki. Enki answered An and Enlil: "In those days, in those distant days, in those nights, in those distant nights, in those years, in those distant years, after the assembly had made the Flood sweep over to destroy the seed of mankind, among us I was the only one who was for life (?), and so he remained alive (?) -- Zi-ud-sura, although (?) a human being, remained alive (?). Then you made me swear by heaven and by earth, and …… that no human will be allowed to live forever (?) any more. Now, as we look at Gilgameš, could not he escape because of his mother?" |
| The death of Gilgameš: c.1.8.1.3 "Go ahead to the place where the Anuna gods, the great gods, sit at the funerary offerings, to the place where the en priests lie, to where the lagar priests lie, to where the lumaḫ priests and the nindiĝir priestesses lie, to where the gudug priests lie, to where the linen-clad priests lie, to where the nindiĝir priestesses lie, to where the …… lie, to the place where your father, your grandfather, your mother, your sisters, your ……, to where your precious friend, your companion, your friend Enkidu, your young comrade, and the governors appointed by the king to the Great City are, to the place where the sergeants of the army lie, to where the captains of the troops lie, (3 lines missing)From the house of ……, the …… will come to meet you. Your jewel will come to meet you, your precious one will come to meet you. The elders of your city will come to meet you. You should not despair, you should not feel depressed." |
| The death of Gilgameš: c.1.8.1.3 (1 line fragmentary) …… Gilgameš ……. Enlil's advice was given to Enki. Enki answered An and Enlil: "In those days, in those distant days, in those nights, in those distant nights, in those years, in those distant years, after the assembly had made the Flood sweep over to destroy the seed of mankind ……, among us I was the only one who was for life (?). He remained alive (?); Zi-ud-sura alone, although (?) a human being, remained alive (?). Then you made me swear by heaven and by earth, and I swore that no human will be allowed to live forever (?) any more. Now, as we look at Gilgameš, could not he escape because of his mother?" |
| The death of Gilgameš: c.1.8.1.3 "Go ahead to the place where the Anuna gods, the great gods, sit at the funerary offerings, to the place where the en priests lie, to where the lagar priests lie, to where the lumaḫ priests and the nindiĝir priestesses lie, to where the gudug priests lie, to where the linen-clad priests lie, to where the nindiĝir priestesses lie, to where the …… lie, to the place where your father, your grandfather, your mother, your sisters, your ……, to where your precious friend, your companion, your friend Enkidu, your young comrade, and the governors appointed by the king to the Great City are, to the place where the sergeants of the army lie, to where the captains of the troops lie. …… the Great City Arali …… (1 line fragmentary)" |
| The death of Gilgameš: c.1.8.1.3 (5 lines fragmentary) His architect (?) designed his tomb like ……. His god Enki showed him where the solution of the dream lies by ……. No one but the …… of the king could solve the vision. |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 In those days, in those distant days, in those nights, in those remote nights, in those years, in those distant years; in days of yore, when the necessary things had been brought into manifest existence, in days of yore, when the necessary things had been for the first time properly cared for, when bread had been tasted for the first time in the shrines of the Land, when the ovens of the Land had been made to work, when the heavens had been separated from the earth, when the earth had been delimited from the heavens, when the fame of mankind had been established, 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 king 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 king 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 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 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 His servant Enkidu { answered } { (1 ms. has instead:) said to } { him } { (1 ms. has instead:) Gilgameš }: "My king, you weep; why does your heart worry? Today I shall retrieve your ball (?) from the nether world, I shall retrieve your mallet (?) from Ganzer." Gilgameš answered Enkidu: "{ If today } { (1 ms. has instead:) If } you are going to go down to the nether world, let me advise you! My instructions should be followed. Let me talk to you! { Pay attention to my words } { (1 ms. has instead:) My words should be followed }!" |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 Enkidu, however, did not heed not his master's words. He put on his clean garments and they recognised that he was alien. He anointed himself with fine oil from a bowl and they surrounded him at its scent. He hurled throw-sticks in the nether world and those struck down by the throw-sticks surrounded him. He held a cornel-wood stick in his hand and the spirits felt insulted by him. He put sandals on his feet. He caused irritation in the nether world. He kissed his beloved wife and hit his wife when he was annoyed with her. He kissed his beloved child and hit his son when he was annoyed with him. He aroused an outcry and was detained in the nether world. |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 The warrior Gilgameš, son of Ninsumun, directed his steps on his own to E-kur, the temple of Enlil. He cried before Enlil: "Father Enlil, my ball (?) fell down into the nether world, my mallet (?) fell down into Ganzer. Enkidu went down to retrieve them but the nether world has seized him. Namtar did not seize him, the Asag did not seize him; but the nether world has seized him. The udug demon of Nergal, who spares nobody, did not seize him, but the nether world has seized him. He did not fall in battle on the field of manhood, but the nether world has seized him." Father Enlil did not stand by him in the matter, so he went to Eridug. |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 In Eridug he directed his steps on his own to the temple of Enki. He cried before Enki: "Father Enki, my ball (?) fell down into the nether world, my mallet (?) fell down into Ganzer. Enkidu went down to retrieve them but the nether world has seized him. Namtar did not seize him, the Asag did not seize him; but the nether world has seized him. The udug demon of Nergal, who spares nobody, did not seize him, but the nether world has seized him. He did not fall in battle on the field of manhood, but the nether world has seized him." Father Enki stood by him in this matter. |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 From that fateful day and for seven days his servant, Enkidu, did not come out from the nether world. The king was lamenting, crying bitterly: "My beloved servant, my faithful companion, my counsellor, has been seized in the nether world! Namtar did not seize him, the Asag did not seize him; but he was seized in the nether world. The udug of Nergal who …… did not seize him, but he was seized in the nether world. He did not fall in battle on the field of ……, but he was seized in the nether world." |
| Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world: c.1.8.1.4 He directed his steps on his own to E-kur, the temple of Enlil. Before Enlil, he ……: "My ball (?) fell down into the nether world, my mallet (?) fell down into Ganzer. But Enkidu, going down to retrieve them, my beloved servant, my faithful companion, my counsellor, was seized in the nether world. Namtar did not seize him, the Asag did not seize him, but he was seized in the nether world. …… did not seize him, but he was seized in the nether world." (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version B): c.1.8.1.5.1 "In Unug people are dying, and souls are full of distress. People are lost -- that fills me with dismay. I lean out over the city wall: bodies in the water make the river almost overflow. That is what I see: that people die thus, which fills me with despair; that the end of life is unavoidable; that the grave, the all-powerful underworld, will spare no one; that no one is tall enough to block off the underworld; that no one is broad enough to cover over the underworld -- the boundary that a man cannot cross at the final end of life. By the life of my own mother Ninsumun, and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! My personal god Enki, Lord Nudimmud, (3 lines fragmentary)I will complete …… there. I will bring …… there." |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version B): c.1.8.1.5.1 His slave Enkidu answered him: "…… if you want to set off into the mountains, Utu should know about it from you. If you want to set off into the Mountains of Cedar-felling, Utu should know about it from you. A decision that concerns the mountains is Utu's business. A decision that concerns the Mountains of Cedar-felling is the business of youthful Utu." |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version B): c.1.8.1.5.1 Gilgameš began to chop at the cedars. His slave Enkidu worked on the branches for him. His fellow-citizens who had come with him stacked them in piles. |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version B): c.1.8.1.5.1 Gilgameš awoke from his dream, shuddering from his sleep. He rubbed his eyes; there was eery silence everywhere." By the life of my own mother Ninsumun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! My personal god Enki, Lord Nudimmud ……! (2 lines missing)" |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version B): c.1.8.1.5.1 His slave Enkidu addressed him:" (2 lines fragmentary)" |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version B): c.1.8.1.5.1 "By the life of my own mother Ninsumun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! My personal god Enki, Lord Nudimmud ……! Warrior, one would like to know where in the mountains you live. Here, they have made some tiny shoes for your tiny feet. Here, they have made some big shoes for your big feet. (4 lines missing)If you bring ……." |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version B): c.1.8.1.5.1 "By the life of my mother Ninsumun and of my father, holy Lugalbanda! My personal god Enki, Lord Nudimmud ……! Warrior, one would like to know where in the mountains you live. Here, they have made some tiny shoes for your tiny feet. Here, they have made some big shoes for your big feet. (2 lines fragmentary)" |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version B): c.1.8.1.5.1 "Warrior, you lied! You have manhandled me; yet you had sworn an oath, by the life of your own mother Ninsumun and of your father, holy Lugalbanda. Your personal god Enki, Lord Nudimmud ……! And now you have thrown a halter over me as if over a captured wild bull, and have tied me up by the elbows like a captured warrior!" |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version B): c.1.8.1.5.1 …… Gilgameš's noble heart took pity on him. He addressed his slave Enkidu: "Come on, let us set the warrior free! He could be our guide! He could be our guide who would spy out the pitfalls of the route for us! He could be my ……! He could carry all my things! (1 line fragmentary)" |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version B): c.1.8.1.5.1 { His slave Enkidu replied to him } { (1 ms. has instead:) …… replied to Gilgameš }: "…… so lacking in understanding! …… with no ……! …… with not ……! A captured warrior set free! A captured high priestess returned to the ĝipar! A captured gudug priest restored to his wig of hair! Who has ever, ever seen such a thing? He would be able to …… the mountain routes. He would be able to mix up the mountain paths. Then we would never get back to the mother-city that bore us! (4 lines missing)" |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 Now the lord once decided to set off for the mountain where the man lives; Lord Gilgameš decided to set off for the mountain where the man lives. He spoke to his slave Enkidu: |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 "Enkidu, since a man cannot pass beyond the final end of life, I want to set off into the mountains, to establish my renown there. Where renown can be established there, I will establish my renown; and where no renown can be established there, I shall establish the renown of the gods." |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 His slave Enkidu answered him: "My lord, if today you are going to set off into the mountains, Utu should know about it from us. { (1 ms. adds:) If you are going to to set off into the Mountains of Cedar-felling, Utu should know about it from us. } Utu, youthful Utu, should know about it from us. A decision that concerns the mountains is Utu's business. A decision that concerns the Mountains of Cedar-felling is the business of youthful Utu. Utu should know about it from us." |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 When he had crossed the seventh mountain range, there his intuition led him to find the cedars. He did not need to ask, nor did he have to search any further. Lord Gilgameš began to chop at the cedars, { { while Enkidu lopped off their branches, …… to Gilgameš. } { (1 ms. has instead:) while Enkidu …… their branches, and his fellow-citizens ……. } { (1 ms. adds:) to ……, Enkidu ……. } …… stacked them in piles. { (1 ms. adds:) Ḫuwawa ……. } He loosed his terrrors against ……. } { (instead of lines 65-67, 1 ms. has:) while Enkidu cut up the timbers, and the widows' sons who had come with him heaped them up in piles. Since, because of the ……, Ḫuwawa had been scared in his lair by Gilgameš, he began to radiate his terrors ……. } |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 Gilgameš …… was overcome by sleep, and it affected Enkidu …… as a powerful longing. His fellow-citizens who had come with him flailed around at his feet like puppies. Enkidu awoke from his dream, shuddering from his sleep. He rubbed his eyes; there was eery silence everywhere. He touched Gilgameš, but could not rouse him. He spoke to him, but he did not reply. |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 "Look, Enkidu, two people together will not perish! A grappling-pole does not sink! No one can cut through a three-ply cloth! Water cannot wash someone away from a wall! Fire in a reed house cannot be extinguished! You help me, and I will help you -- what can anyone do against us then? When it sank, when it sank, when the Magan boat sank, when the magilum barge sank, then at least the life-saving grappling-pole of the boat { was rescued } { (1 ms. has instead:) was not allowed to sink }! Come on, let's get after him and get a sight of him!" |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 Ḫuwawa clutched at Gilgameš's hand, and prostrated himself before him. Then Gilgameš's noble heart took pity on him. { Gilgameš addressed Enkidu } { (3 mss. have instead:) He addressed his slave Enkidu }: |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 "Enkidu, let the captured bird run away home! Let the captured man return to his mother's embrace!" |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 { Enkidu replied to Gilgameš } { (2 mss. have instead:) His slave Enkidu replied }: "Come on now, you heroic bearer of a sceptre of wide-ranging power! Noble glory of the gods, angry bull standing ready for a fight! Young Lord Gilgameš, cherished in Unug, your mother knew well how to bear sons, and your nurse knew well how to nourish children! -- One so exalted and yet so lacking in { understanding } { (1 ms. has instead:) judgment } will be devoured by fate without him ever understanding that fate. The very idea that a captured bird should run away home, or a captured man should return to his mother's embrace! -- Then you yourself would never get back to the mother-city that bore you! { (1 ms. adds:) A captured warrior set free! A captured high priestess …… to the ĝipar! A captured gudug priest restored to his wig of hair! …… ever, ever ……? (2 lines fragmentary) …… his attention to his words ……. }" |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 Ḫuwawa addressed Enkidu: "Enkidu, you speak such hateful { (1 ms. adds:) hostile } words against me to him! You hireling, who are hired for your keep! You who follow along after him -- { you speak such hateful words to him. } { (2 mss. have instead:) why do you speak such hateful words to him? }" { (1 ms. adds:) (2 lines fragmentary) } |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 As Ḫuwawa spoke thus to him, { Enkidu, full of rage and anger, cut his throat } { (2 mss. from Nibru have instead:) they cut his throat }. { He put } { (1 ms. has instead:) He chucked } { (the same 2 mss. from Nibru have instead:) They put } his head in a leather bag. |
| Gilgameš and Ḫuwawa (Version A): c.1.8.1.5 { Mighty one, Gilgameš, { who is cherished! } { (1 ms. has instead:) be praised! Enkidu, be praised }! Nisaba, be praised! } { (instead of lines 201-202, 1 ms. has:) Ḫuwawa, ……! …… cherished, ……! Enkidu, be praised ……! } |
| 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 (Description of the demons) They make …… Enki, father of the gods; they are ……, they ……; like a string of figs dripping with lusciousness, they hang their arms. They are gazelles of Suen running in flight, they are the fine smooth cloths of Ninlil, they are the helpers of Iškur; they pile up flax, they pile up barley; they are wild animals on the rampage, they descend like a storm on a rebel land hated by Suen, indeed they descend like a storm. They lie up during all the long day, and during the short night they enter …… houses (?); during the long day, during the short night they lie in beds ……, they give ……. At dead of night they ……, in the breeze …… swallows of Utu; they enter into house after house, they peer into street after street, they are talkers, they are repliers to talkers, seeking words with a mother, replying to a great lady; they nestle at the bedside, they smite ……, when the black …… are stolen, they leave …… the doors and tables of humans, they change ……, they tie the door-pivots together. The hero who ……, Utu who ……, the heroic youth Utu of the good word (2 lines unclear) the incantation …… of the youth Utu, which the Anuna, the great gods, do not know, from that time ……, (3 lines unclear) |
| 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 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 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."" |
| 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 "Chant to him the holy song, the incantation sung in its chambers -- the incantation of Nudimmud: "On that day when there is no snake, when there is no scorpion, when there is no hyena, when there is no lion, when there is neither dog nor wolf, when there is thus neither fear nor trembling, man has no rival! At such a time, may the lands of Šubur and Ḫamazi, the many-tongued, and Sumer, the great mountain of the me of magnificence, and Akkad, the land possessing all that is befitting, and the Martu land, resting in security -- the whole universe, the well-guarded people -- may they all address Enlil together in a single language! For at that time, for the ambitious lords, for the ambitious princes, for the ambitious kings, Enki, for the ambitious lords, for the ambitious princes, for the ambitious kings, for the ambitious lords, for the ambitious princes, for the ambitious kings -- Enki, the lord of abundance and of steadfast decisions, the wise and knowing lord of the Land, the expert of the gods, chosen for wisdom, the lord of Eridug, shall change the speech in their mouths, as many as he had placed there, and so the speech of mankind is truly one."" |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 "This is what my master has spoken, this is what he has said. My king who from his birth has been fitted { for lordship } { (1 ms. has instead:) for the crown }, the lord of Unug, the saĝkal snake living in Sumer, who pulverises { mountains } { (2 mss. have instead:) heads } like flour, the stag of the tall mountains, endowed with princely antlers, wild cow, kid pawing the holy soapwort with its hoof, whom the good cow had given birth to in the heart of the mountains, Enmerkar, the son of Utu, has sent me to you." { (2 mss. add here:) (the lord of Aratta speaks): "What is it to me what your master has spoken? what is it to me what he has said?" } "This is what my master said: "Lest I make the people fly off from that city like a wild dove from its tree, lest I make them fly around like a bird over its well-founded nest, lest I requite (?) them as if at a current market rate, lest I make it gather dust like an utterly destroyed city, lest like a settlement cursed by Enki and utterly destroyed, I too utterly destroy Aratta; lest like the devastation which swept destructively, and in whose wake Inana arose, shrieked and yelled aloud, I too wreak a sweeping devastation there -- let Aratta pack nuggets of gold in leather sacks, placing alongside it the kugmea ore; package up precious metals, and load the packs on the donkeys of the mountains; and then may the Junior Enlil of Sumer have them build for me, the lord whom Nudimmud has chosen in his sacred heart, a mountain of a shining me; have them make it luxuriant for me like a boxwood tree, have them make its shining horns colourful for me as when Utu comes forth from his chamber, have them make its doorposts gleam brightly for me. Chant to him for me the holy song, the incantation sung in its chambers -- the Incantation of Nudimmud."" |
| Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta: c.1.8.2.3 After he had spoken to him thus, the messenger went off like a young donkey, braying as it is cut off from the chariot tongue; he trotted like an onager running on dry land, he filled his mouth with wind; he ran in one track (?) like a long-woolled sheep butting other sheep in its fury. He set foot joyfully in brick-built Kulaba. He transmitted the message word for word to his master, the lord of Kulaba. Now Enki gave Enmerkar wisdom, and the lord gave instructions to his chief steward. In his house ……, the king received ……. He wrapped it up like ……, and inspected it. He pounded …… with a pestle like herbs, he poured it like oil on the …… reed. From the sunlight it emerged into the shade, and from the shade it emerged into the sunlight. After five years, 10 years had passsed, he split the …… reed with an axe. The lord looked at it, pleased, and poured on …… fine oil, fine oil of the bright mountains. The lord placed the sceptre in the hands of the messenger going to the mountains. The messenger, whose journeying to Aratta was like a pelican over the hills, like a fly over the ground, who darted through the mountains as swiftly as carp swim, reached Aratta. He set foot joyfully in the courtyard of Aratta, and put the sceptre in ……. He …… and …… it. The lord of Aratta, eying the sceptre, which was shining awesomely in the sanctuary, his holy dwelling -- he, the lord, called to his šatam official: |
| 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 Enki took away its wisdom. An took up into the midst of heaven its fearsomeness that reaches heaven. Enki tore out its well-anchored holy mooring pole from the abzu. (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 For the one looked on with favour by Nanše, for the favourite of Enlil, for the ruler …… by Ninĝirsu, for Gudea, born in the august sanctuary by Ĝatumdug, Nisaba opened the house of understanding and Enki put right the design of the house. |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 He shook the brick mould and left the brick to dry. He looked at the …… with satisfaction. He anointed it with cypress essence and balsam (?). Utu rejoiced over the brick put into the mould by Gudea, and King Enki …… the …… rising like a great river. …… and Gudea went into the house. |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 He stretched out lines in the most perfect way; he set up (?) a sanctuary in the holy uzga. In the house, Enki drove in the foundation pegs, while Nanše, the daughter of Eridug, took care of the oracular messages. The mother of Lagaš, holy Ĝatumdug, gave birth to its bricks amid cries (?), and Bau, the lady, first-born daughter of An, sprinkled them with oil and cedar essence. En and lagar priests were detailed to the house to provide maintenance for it. The Anuna gods stood there full of admiration. |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 They inserted the wooden door frames, which were like a crown worn in the blue sky. As Gudea sat down at a wooden door frame, from there it was like a huge house embracing heaven. As he built the house and laid wooden scaffolding against it, it was like Nanna's lagoon attended by Enki. They made the house grow as high as the hills, they mad it float in the midst of heaven as a cloud, they made it lift its horns as a bull and they made it raise its head above all the lands, like the ĝišgana tree over the abzu. As the house had been made to lift its head so high as to fill the space between heaven and earth like the hills, it was like a luxuriant cedar growing among high grass (?); E-ninnu was decorated most alluringly among Sumer's buildings. |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 The ruler built the house, he made it high, high as a great mountain. Its abzu foundation pegs, big mooring stakes, he drove into the ground so deep they could take counsel with Enki in the E-engura. He had heavenly foundation pegs surround the house like warriors, so that each one was drinking water at the libation place of the gods. He fixed the E-ninnu, the mooring stake, he drove in its pegs shaped like praying wizards. He planted the pleasant poplars of his city so that they cast their shadow. He embedded its Šar-ur weapon beside Lagaš like a big standard, placed it in its dreadful place, the Šu-galam, and made it emanate fearsome radiance. On the dais of Ĝir-nun, on the place of making judgments, the provider of Lagaš lifted his horns like a mighty bull. |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 On the day when the true god was to arrive, Gudea was busy with the evening meal from early morning. Asari cared for the maintenance of the house. Ninmada took care of its cleaning. King Enki gave oracular pronouncements concerning it. Nindub, the chief purification priest of Eridug, filled it with the smoke of incense. The lady of precious rites, Nanše, versed in singing holy songs, sang songs for the house. |
| The building of Ninĝirsu's temple (Gudea, cylinders A and B): c.2.1.7 Holy An made the location appropriate. Enlil wound (?) a turban (?) round its top. Ninḫursaĝa looked at it approvingly. Enki, the king of Eridug, drove in its foundation pegs. The true lord with a pure heart, Suen, made its powers the largest in heaven and on earth. Ninĝirsu chose it among shrines of sprouting seeds with his heart. Mother Nanše cared for it especially among the buildings of the land of Lagaš. But it was the god of most reliable progeny who built the house and made its name famous. |
| 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, Enlil, Enki and { Ninḫursaĝa } { (2 mss. have instead:) Ninmaḫ } have decided its fate -- to overturn the divine powers of Sumer, to lock up the favourable reign in its home, to destroy the city, to destroy the house, to destroy the cattle-pen, to level the sheepfold; that the cattle should not stand in the pen, that the sheep should not multiply in the fold, that watercourses should carry brackish water, that weeds should grow in the fertile fields, that mourning plants should grow in the open country, |
| The lament for Sumer and Urim: c.2.2.3 after An had frowned upon all the lands, after Enlil had looked favourably on an enemy land, after Nintur had scattered the creatures that she had created, after Enki had altered the course of the Tigris and Euphrates, after Utu had cast his curse on the roads and highways; |
| 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 Kazallu, the city of teeming multitudes, was cast into confusion. Numušda took an unfamiliar path away from the city, his beloved dwelling. His wife Namrat, the beautiful lady, was lamenting bitterly." Alas, the destroyed city, my destroyed house," she cried bitterly. Its river bed was empty, no water flowed. Like a river cursed by Enki its opening channel was dammed up. On the fields fine grains grew no more, people had nothing to eat. The orchards were scorched like an oven, its open country was scattered. The four-legged wild animals did not run about. The four-legged creatures of Šakkan could find no rest. |
| The lament for Sumer and Urim: c.2.2.3 "I, a young man whom the storm has not destroyed, ……. I, not destroyed by the storm, my attractiveness not brought to an end, ……. We have been struck down like beautiful boxwood trees. We have been struck down like …… with coloured eyes. We have been struck down like statues being cast in moulds. The Gutians, the vandals, are wiping us out. We turned to Father Enki in the abzu of Eridug. …… whatever we shall say, whatever we shall add, …… whatever we shall say, whatever we shall add, we came out from the …… of Eridug." |
| The lament for Sumer and Urim: c.2.2.3 "While were in charge of …… during the day, the shadows ……. While we were in charge of …… during the night, the storm ……. What do we receive trembling on duty during the day? What do we lose not sleeping on duty during the night? Enki, your city has been cursed, it has been given to an enemy land. Why do they reckon us among those who have been displaced from Eridug? Why do they destroy us like palm trees which we have not tended? Why do they break us up like new boats we have not caulked?" |
| The lament for Sumer and Urim: c.2.2.3 After Enki had cast his eyes on a foreign land, (1 line unclear)…… have risen up, have called on their cohorts. Enki took an unfamiliar path away from Eridug. Damgalnuna, the mother of the E-maḫ, wept bitter tears." Alas the destroyed city, my destroyed house," she cried bitterly. Its sacred Ĝipar of en priesthood was defiled. Its en priestess was snatched from the Ĝipar and carried off to enemy territory. |
| The lament for Sumer and Urim: c.2.2.3 May An not change the divine powers of heaven, the divine plans for treating the people with justice. May An not change the decisions and judgments to lead the people properly. To travel on the roads of the Land: may An not change it. May An and Enlil not change it, may An not change it. May Enki and Ninmaḫ not change it, may An not change it. That the Tigris and Euphrates should again carry water: may An not change it. That there should be rain in the skies and on the ground speckled barley: may An not change it. That there should be watercourses with water and fields with grain: may An not change it. That the marshes should support fish and fowl: may An not change it. That old reeds and fresh reeds should grow in the reedbeds: may An not change it. May An and Enlil not change it. May Enki and Ninmaḫ not change it. |
| The lament for Sumer and Urim: c.2.2.3 That the orchards should bear syrup and grapes, that the high plain should bear the mašgurum tree, that there should be long life in the palace, that the sea should bring forth every abundance: may An not change it. The land densely populated from south to uplands: may An not change it. May An and Enlil not change it, may An not change it. May Enki and Ninmaḫ not change it, may An not change it. That cities should be rebuilt, that people should be numerous, that in the whole universe the people should be cared for; O Nanna, your kingship is sweet, return to your place. May a good abundant reign be long-lasting in Urim. Let its people lie down in safe pastures, let them reproduce. O mankind ……, princess overcome by lamentation and crying! O Nanna! O your city! O your house! O your people! |
| The lament for Nibru: c.2.2.4 Isin, the provisioner of the Anuna, rising high since times of old -- An, Enlil, Enki and Ninmaḫ have made its reign long! By their command they have handed it over and expressed their approval! They have entrusted it to Ninurta, the champion, the strong hero! They have told Ninisina, the exalted child of An, the incantation priest of the Land, to rest calmly in her sacred dwelling, Egal-maḫ! They have told Damu, the chief barber of Nunamnir, healer of the living, to make the foreign countries bow at the feet of his father and mother! |
| The lament for Nibru: c.2.2.4 An, Enlil, Enki and Ninmaḫ have given their orders! |
| The lament for Unug: c.2.2.5 …… mortal man multiplied to become as numerous as the gods. When together …… had achieved a momentous decision, the …… of the gods ……. Enki and Ninki determined the consensus -- deemed worthless. Enul and Ninul assigned the fate, ……. |
| The lament for Unug: c.2.2.5 When together An and Enlil had created it, that one resembled ……. When Ninlil had given it features, that one was fit for ……. When together Aruru, Suen and Enki had fashioned its limbs, that one turned pitch black, as at night, halfway through the watch, ……. All the great gods paled at its immensity and …… was brought about. Like a great wild bull which bellows mightily, that one filled the world with its roar. |
| The lament for Eridug: c.2.2.6 Its king stayed outside his city as if it were an alien city. He wept bitter tears. Father Enki stayed outside his city as if it were an alien city. He wept bitter tears. For the sake of his harmed city, he wept bitter tears. Its lady, like a flying bird, left her city. The mother of E-maḫ, holy Damgalnuna, left her city. The divine powers of the city of holiest divine powers were overturned. The divine powers of the rites of the greatest divine powers were altered. In Eridug everything was reduced to ruin, was wrought with confusion. |
| The lament for Eridug: c.2.2.6 Father Enki uttered a lament for himself ……. |
| The lament for Eridug: c.2.2.6 Bitterly Father Enki uttered a lament for himself. |
| The lament for Eridug: c.2.2.6 Because of this, Enki, king of the abzu, stayed outside his city as if it were an alien city. It bowed its neck down to the ground. Eridu's lady, holy Damgalnuna, the faithful cow, the compassionate one, clawed at her breast, clawed at her eyes. She uttered a frenzied cry. She held a dagger and a sword in her two hands -- they clashed together. |
| The lament for Eridug: c.2.2.6 "Lord Enki, who has ever seen such a destruction as that of your city Eridug? Who has ever seen such a misfortune as that of the shrine Abzu, your house?" No one goes up to his offering terrace. At the lunches, in his great dining hall, they do not call his name. Enki, king of the abzu, felt distressed, felt anxious. At the words of his spouse, he himself began to wail. He lay down and fasted. |
| The lament for Eridug: c.2.2.6 My king, you must not be distressed, you must not be anxious. Father Enki, you must not be distressed, you must not be anxious. Son of An, return your heart to your Ki-ur and your attention to your city. Living in an alien city is miserable -- return your attention to your city. Living in an alien house is miserable -- return your attention to your house. What can anyone compare with this city? -- Return your attention to your city. What can anyone compare with this house? -- Return your attention to your house. Eridug's day is long. Its night is over. |
| The lament for Eridug: c.2.2.6 At the great gate, the lion-faced gate, the place where fates are determined, evildoers ……. They set fire to its door. Ka-ḫeĝala and Igi-ḫeĝala, the doorkeepers of the house, ……. …… Enki, at the …… place, …… its people. …… the destroyed place, the Abzu …… the powers of the Anuna gods. (3 lines fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing)(continuation of 3rd kirugu) |
| The lament for Eridug: c.2.2.6 Father Enki! O your house, O your city, O your people …… the mountains. |
| The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A): c.2.4.1.1 Because An had altered his holy words completely, …… became empty, and because, deceitfully, Enlil had completely changed the fate he decreed, Ninmaḫ began a lament in her ……. Enki shut (?) the great door of Eridug. Nudimmud withdrew into his bedchamber and lay down fasting. At his zenith, Nanna frowned at the …… words of An. Utu did not come forth in the sky, and the day was full of sorrow. |
| The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A): c.2.4.1.1 As the early flood was filling the canals, their canal-inspector was already silenced (?); the mottled barley grown on the arable lands, the life of the land, was inundated. To the farmer, the fertile fields planted (?) by him yielded little. Enkimdu, the lord of levees and ditches, took away the levees and ditches from Urim. (1 line fragmentary)As the intelligence and …… of the Land were lost, fine food became scarce. The plains did not grow lush grass any more, they grew the grass of mourning. The cows ……, their …… cattle-pen has been destroyed. The calves …… their cows bleated bitterly. |
| The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A): c.2.4.1.1 "Alas, my wife has become a widow (?)! She spends the days in tears and bitter laments. My strength has ebbed away ……. The hand of the fate demon …… bitterly me, the hero. Like a wild bull ……, I cannot ……. Like a mighty bull, ……. Like an offshoot ……. Like an ass ……, I died. …… my …… wife ……. She spends the days in tears and bitter laments. Her kind protective god has left her; her kind protective goddess does not care for her any more. Ninsumun no longer rests her august arm firmly on her head. Nanna, Lord Ašimbabbar, no longer leads (?) her by the hand. Enki, the lord of Eridug, does not ……. Her …… has been silenced (?), she can no longer answer. She is cast adrift like a boat in a raging storm; the mooring pole has not been strong enough for her. Like a wild ass lured (?) into a perilous pit she has been treated heavy-handedly. Like a lion fallen into a pitfall, a guard has been set up for her. Like a dog kept in a cage, she is silenced. Utu …… does not pay heed to the cries "Oh my king" overwhelming her." |
| The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A): c.2.4.1.1 After shepherd Ur-Namma ……, Nanna, Lord Ašimbabbar, ……, Enki, the king of Eridug ……. { …… devastated sheepfolds …… } { (the other ms. has instead:) …… the foremost, the flood …… }. { …… holy ……, lion born on high } { (the other ms. has instead:) …… basket (?) …… }. …… your city; renders just judgments. ……, Lord Ninĝišzida be praised! My king …… among tears and laments; …… among tears and laments. |
| The death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A): c.2.4.1.1 As the early flood was filling the canals, their canal-inspector ……. The mottled barley come forth on the arable lands, the life of the land, ……. To the farmer, the fertile fields ……. Enkimdu, the lord of levees and ditches, ……. …… its numerous people ……. …… of the Land ……. The plains …… fine grass ……. …… heavy cows …… (approx. 4 lines missing) |
| A tigi to Enlil for Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma B): c.2.4.1.2 The divine plans of brick-built E-kur were drawn up. The Great Mountain Enlil made up his mind, filled with pure and useful thoughts, to make them shine like the sun in the E-kur, his august shrine. He instructed the shepherd Ur-Namma to make the E-kur rise high; the king made him the mightiest in the Land, he made him the first among the people. The good shepherd Ur-Namma, …… whose trust in Nunamnir is enduring, the knowledgeable judge, the lord of great wisdom, prepared the brick mould. Enlil brought order in his rebellious and hostile lands for the shepherd Ur-Namma, and made Sumer flourish in joy, in days filled with prosperity. The foundations were laid down firmly and the holy foundation pegs were driven in. The enkum and ninkum priests praised it duly and Enki made the temple rejoice with his artful incantations. |
| A praise poem of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma C): c.2.4.1.3 ……, the authoritative, praised himself exultantly: Under Ur-Namma, king of Urim, for whom a favorable destiny was determined, the roads have been made passable. An opens his holy mouth, and because of me rain is produced. He directs it downward into the earth, and abundance is brought for me. Enlil treats me kindly, ……. Enki treats me kindly, bestowing early floods, grain and dappled barley. Nintur formed me; I am peerless. …… brought me up well; I am the king of the Land. I am ……; under my rule the cattle-pens and sheepfolds are extended wide. Utu endowed me with eloquence (?); my judgments create concord in Sumer and Akkad. Ningublaga has given me strength. In the whole extent of heaven and earth, no one can escape from a battle with me. |
| A praise poem of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma C): c.2.4.1.3 I, Ur-Namma, born on high, …… shining. The people line up in front of me. Enlil has given me the task of keeping the Land secure, with unscathed (?) troops. I am clad in linen in the ĝipar. I lie down on the splendid bed in its delightful bedchamber. I cause the people to eat splendid food; I am their Enkimdu (i.e. the god of irrigation and cultivation). I am the good shepherd whose sheep multiply greatly. I open the …… of the cattle-pens and sheepfolds. I am peerless. …… the pastures and watering-places of shepherds (?). |
| Ur-Namma the canal-digger (Ur-Namma D): c.2.4.1.4 My king, Lord Ašimbabbar, you are on your throne because of Enlil. Youthful Suen, Lord Ašimbabbar, you are on your throne because of Enlil. I, the king, whose fate was already decreed in the true womb, who raises his head in authority, Ur-Namma, the youth who caught the eyes of the Great Mountain Enlil, was chosen by Nunamnir in Sumer and Akkad. He decreed my fate in Nibru, in the mountain of life. He beamed at me approvingly and bestowed the kingship on me. In Urim, in the E-mud-kura, he made the foundation of my throne firm. He …… the holy sceptre to guide the numerous people in my hand. He …… the staff and the shepherd's crook to …… the expanding and teeming people. Lord Ašimbabbar …… a long-lasting life. Enlil …… of the four quarters of the world. He …… a lasting name, a name worthy to be praised. Enki presented me with my broad wisdom. |
| A praise poem of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma I): c.2.4.1.a Ur-Namma, son of Ninsumun, king given strength by Enlil, tenderly cared for by Ninlil, enthroned by the will of Ninḫursaĝa, provided with superior intelligence by Enki, (1 line fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| 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 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 D): c.2.4.2.04 At the same time, King Enki emerges from the abzu; he has but to raise one eye from the abzu to destroy for him the foreign lands from where he stands, to destroy for him their cities from where he sits -- he of the trustworthy command, whose utterances are firmly established, Nudimmud, the great lord of Eridug; and he walks along the road together with Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi D): c.2.4.2.04 After carrying out a noble revenge in the foreign lands, the hero had his brilliant royal barge caulked. Imbued with terrible splendour on the Exalted River, it was adorned with holy horns, and its golden ram symbol (?) gleamed in the open air. Its bitumen was the …… bitumen of Enki provided generously by the abzu; its cabin was a palace. It was decorated with stars like the sky. Its holy ……, (1 line fragmentary) |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi E): c.2.4.2.05 In future days, a man like myself whom Enlil shall call to the shepherdship of the Land …… my songs; let him see ……. Let him call upon my name in the beloved ……. …… that man, whenever my hymns (1 line missing)…… my singer (?) ……. May he establish my name in the beloved …… temple. Whether he is a man …… Enki and Enlil ……, may …… come forth from the house which …… justice and a favourable destiny. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi E): c.2.4.2.05 May my hymns be in everyone's mouth; let the songs about me not pass from memory. So that the fame of my praise, the words which Enki composed about me, and which Ĝeštin-ana joyously speaks from the heart and broadcasts far and wide, shall never be forgotten, I have had them written down line by line in the House of the Wisdom of Nisaba in holy heavenly writing, as great works of scholarship. No one shall ever let any of it pass from memory ……. It shall not be forgotten, since indestructible heavenly writing has a lasting renown. The scribe should bring it to the singer, and can let him look at it, and with the wisdom and intelligence of Nisaba, let him read it to him as if from a lapis-lazuli tablet. Let my songs sparkle like silver in the lode! Let them be performed in all the cult-places, and let no one neglect them in the Shrine of the New Moon. In the music-rooms of Enlil and Ninlil and at the morning and evening meals of Nanna, let the sweet praise of me, Šulgi, be never-ending. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi O): c.2.4.2.15 …… the rebel lands like a horned viper ……, Šulgi, son of Ninsumun …… Enki …… (1 line fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| Šulgi and Ninlil's barge: a tigi (?) to Ninlil (Šulgi R): c.2.4.2.18 Oh barge, Enki assigned the quay of abundance to you as your fate. Father Enlil looked at you with approval. Your lady, Ninlil, commanded your construction. She entrusted it to the faithful provider, King Šulgi; and the shepherd, who is of broad intelligence, will not rest day and night in thinking deeply about you. He, the wise one, who is proficient in planning, he, the omniscient one, will fell large cedars in the huge forests for you. He will make you perfect and you will be breathtaking to look upon. |
| Šulgi and Ninlil's barge: a tigi (?) to Ninlil (Šulgi R): c.2.4.2.18 Then light shines up at the edge of the Land as Utu rises refulgently. As the barge is travelling upstream, it …… radiates (?) and creaks (?). …… in the Ninmutum, the canal of the year of abundance ……. As the carp make their bellies (?) sparkle, Enlil rejoices. As the mušu fish play noisily there, Ninlil rejoices. As the …… fish ……, Enki rejoices. As the suḫurmaš fish dart about, Nanna rejoices. The Anuna gods rejoice at ……. …… lifts its head in the Euphrates; it ……. In the midst of …… ever-flowing water is carried. In joyous Nibru, he moors the holy barge at the quay. |
| Šulgi and Ninlil's barge: a tigi (?) to Ninlil (Šulgi R): c.2.4.2.18 With joyful eyes and shining forehead, Ninlil, ……, looks upon King Šulgi: "Shepherd ……, Šulgi, who has a lasting name, king of jubilation! I will prolong the nights of the crown that was placed upon your head by holy An, and I will extend the days of the holy sceptre that was given to you by Enlil. May the foundation of your throne that was bestowed on you by Enki be firm! Shepherd who brings about perfection, may Nanna, the robust calf, the seed of Enlil, to whom I gave birth, cover your life with …… which is full of exuberance as if it were my holy ba garment!" |
| A tigi to Ninurta for Šulgi (Šulgi T): c.2.4.2.20 Lord, perfect warrior, beloved by ……. Ninurta, meš tree with a broad shining canopy, ……. Weapon striding into battle, …… foreign countries. A dragon with a terrifying face, venomous snake who …… its venom against the rebel lands. …… overpowering ……, foremost lion ……. Ninurta, who …… with the great prince Enki. My king, in your city, shrine Nibru, ……. E-šu-me-ša, where …… for you. Lord, the kingship is perfect with you ……. Adviser, the dragon of the Land, ……. Ninurta, the great wall of Nibru, ……. My king, whose divine powers cannot be scattered, warrior ……. Forceful lion, ……. King with the broad wisdom of heaven and earth, ……. Exalted sceptre rising above the Land, ……. Ninurta, who …… the enemy, ……. |
| A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi Y): c.2.4.2.25 (2 lines fragmentary) To make my kingship longlasting, to make abundance conspicuous in my reign, Enki, the lord whose utterances cannot be altered, entered it proudly. He assigned Utu, whose words are pre-eminent, as a constable to me. |
| A song of Šulgi: c.2.4.2.a My king went to Eridug. Great prince, Father Enki, rejoice! Šulgi went to Eridug. Great prince, Father Enki, rejoice! |
| Amar-Suena and Enki's temple (Amar-Suena A): c.2.4.3.1 In the first year the temple remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. Amar-Suena …… the divine powers of kingship. In the second year it remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. Amar-Suena …… his royal garments for mourning clothes. In the third year it remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. Amar-Suena could not interpret (?) the temple's ominous sign among (?) the birch trees. In the fourth year it remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. Although he had been advised (?) by a sage, he could not realise the plans of the temple. In the fifth year it remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. The abzu shrine has been …… by force. In the sixth year it remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. He was searching for the divine plan of the temple, but could not find it. In the seventh year it remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. Enki spoke to him about the temple, the temple that did not exist. In the eighth year, he applied himself to building the temple. By the ninth year, King Amar-Suena built the E-uduna of the wise lord (?) like ……. |
| Amar-Suena and Enki's temple (Amar-Suena A): c.2.4.3.1 Then the lord, the great lord Enki, destroyed (?) the site of his own temple. (2 lines fragmentary) Father Enki …… Eridug ……. …… his minister …… (1 line fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| Amar-Suena and Enki's temple (Amar-Suena A): c.2.4.3.1 (1 line fragmentary) The guardian (?) of the spacious land ……. As Enki lifted his gaze ……. Having left the temple …… in the abzu. |
| Amar-Suena and Enki's temple (Amar-Suena A): c.2.4.3.1 Lord ……. When he performed extispicy regarding the building of Enki's temple, the omen did not mention anything about the building of the temple, so he did not start it. To establish a lasting fame for himself, the king ……; to establish a lasting fame for himself, Amar-Suena ……. …… the temple of Enki ……. (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A hymn for Šu-Suen: c.2.4.4.a You are the mighty one of Father Enlil, the lord who determines destinies! Like Utu, you are an ornament to Ninlil of the majestic shrine, and to fair Lord Enki who determines destinies, the father of broad understanding! Wise Enlil has justly …… to the one he has scrutinised. My king, the gods who determine destinies …… in the place that soothes the spirit. Šu-Suen, …… to pronounce judgments and render verdicts. My king, …… outstretched arms. |
| A tigi to Suen for Ibbi-Suen (Ibbi-Suen A): c.2.4.5.1 Urim is the city of youthful Suen's princely divine powers. Let them give praise in a great song to An, to Enlil, to the eldest brother Nudimmud and to Mother Nintur of the Land. The shrine Urim is the city of youthful Suen's princely divine powers. Let them give praise in a great song to An, to Enlil, to the eldest brother Nudimmud and to Mother Nintur of the Land. The Anuna gods ……. Enki …… (3 lines fragmentary)…… assembly where ……. …… festival (?) ……. |
| An adab to Suen for Ibbi-Suen (Ibbi-Suen C): c.2.4.5.3 An …… favourable day …… holy ……. He has a righteous crown, long-lasting divine powers and a royal sceptre. Enlil has decreed lordship for his beloved one, as his destiny, and has created with magnificent grandeur the qualities of a warrior. Enki, renewing abundance and days of splendour, …… the Tigris and Euphrates in their wide flooding. Nintur, who causes human seed to propagate and brings living beings into existence, …… cities and crowded places, all the numerous people together. Nanna, the …… light, confirming the divine plans, new moon of eternal fame, light which goes towards the earth, has given authority (?) to my Ibbi-Suen, foremost among princes, over the south and the uplands as far as the outer limits of heaven and earth. Utu has produced justice and propriety for Ibbi-Suen the augustly powerful, strong among warriors, unsurpassed in his youthfulness, overthrowing the enemy lands, finding the right decisions and giving advice to the people. The good lady Ninirigal, mother of Kulaba, …… prayer and supplication ……, …… lady with an august name ……. …… long life. |
| Išbi-Erra and Kindattu (Išbi-Erra B): c.2.5.1.2 (1 line fragmentary) …… to return ……. He put its gold and precious belongings into sacks. As for Zinnum, who escaped from them, Enki is their maškim. He was fed at the banks of the Euphrates and Tigris and the Kir-sig and Kiš watercourses. He died of thirst, persecuted by ghosts in the dry desert. The news was brought to Kindattu, the man of Elam. Anšan cried out to Šimaški, and he approached the mountains. He addressed the assembly of his army. |
| 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 praise poem of Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan B): c.2.5.3.2 Enki has brought to you, Iddin-Dagan, broad understanding, knowledge of everything, wise command, a life (?) that comes from the mouth of a lion. May all the foreign lands praise you. |
| A praise poem of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan A + V): c.2.5.4.01 Enlil, by far …… (2 lines missing) He to whom the great gods pay attention; foundation deposit of the Anuna, living …… of the Enki deities; he whose great divine powers know no opponents, whose …… excel all others, whose …… is achieved by no one; whose …… return of their own accord, whose …… is very sweet in heaven and on earth, whose …… founds cities, whose …… establishes the Land; …… wisdom is perfect as time passes; …… wise in command, re-establishing justice ……, adviser who never tires of discussion; ……, giving verdicts, ……, judge of heaven and earth (1 line fragmentary)guiding the living ……, Father Enlil, shepherd of the black-headed, by his …… making the foreign countries bow low. |
| A praise poem of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan A + V): c.2.5.4.01 His splendour …… the mountains, and his roar reaches beyond heaven and earth. He selected me from my people, and announced me to the Land. Enlil, king of the gods, gave me lordship over the south and over the uplands. At Nunamnir's instigation, An spoke encouragingly to me, and placed crook and staff in my hands. Uraš nursed me on her holy knees. In the Ki-ur, the great place, Ninlil in her radiant heart determined as my destiny that I should sit on an exalted dais until distant days, to enjoy in favour the reign which is my lot; that I should delight Enlil, and that I should daily attend to the E-kur. Enki, the great lord of Eridug, confirmed for me the good and great crown, …… everything, and richly conferred on me seven wisdoms. Suen, the firstborn son of Enlil, …… for me a royal throne that gathers together the divine powers, established an excellent lordly dais, and made my crown shine brilliantly until distant days. |
| A praise poem of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan A + V): c.2.5.4.01 Enki and Ninki, Enul and Ninul, the Anuna, the lords who determine destiny there, the spirits of Nibru, and the protective goddesses of the E-kur, those who among the great gods determine destinies there, have uttered an unchangeable "So be it!" On his most favourable day, Enlil, king of the foreign lands, chose me, Išme-Dagan, son of Dagan, by extispicy. He looked upon me joyfully in E-kur, and spoke well of me to Sumer. …… a favourable reign in Nibru. I, Išme-Dagan …… restored Urim ……. …… in splendour. Enlil has commanded the favourable …… of my throne, the promotion of concord in Sumer and Akkad in their power, and restoration (?) of the …… brick buildings; and that I should daily tend the E-kur, that I should unceasingly provide for Nibru, and that I should care after the Ki-ur, the great place. |
| 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) |
| A praise poem of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan A + V): c.2.5.4.01 (1 line fragmentary) Utu ……; the black-headed people ……. Enki, Iškur, Ezina, …… the god of abundance, ……; …… abundance in heaven and earth. Again, let there be a chief singer; let there be a scholar and a songsmith; let there be a composer of odes and a performer of songs; let there be a sweet-voiced singer of the king; let there be a joyful-hearted (?) alternating singer; let there be a calm-voiced singer in the bedchamber; let there be a singer with answering voice …… (approx. 31 lines fragmentary or missing) |
| A hymn to Nibru and Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan C): c.2.5.4.03 Shrine of Nibru, shrine surpassing the abzu, shining E-kur; your prince is the Great Mountain Enlil who surpasses the Prince (i.e. Enki). Your great lady is the good woman, Mother Ninlil, excelling in refinement. Your caretaker is one whose vigour is surpassing, the hero Ninurta. The chief minister (i.e. Nuska), who is worthy of your fair copper vessels, who makes your bedchamber exceedingly pleasant, is also the guardian watching over your honourable divine powers; he is the shepherd watching over your honourable divine powers. Your provider, who was engendered by the Great Mountain and was born by Ninlil -- Išme-Dagan, who was engendered by the Great Mountain, and was born by Ninlil, he who has achieved a high reputation among his numerous people, throws himself at your feet. |
| An adab (?) to Enki for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan D): c.2.5.4.04 Great lord, prominent (?) among the gods, your judgments are clever and powerful! Father Enki, respected one, supreme dragon, who determines the fates firmly, who has taken his seat upon the numerous divine powers in colourful brilliance (?), great prince, the guardian of the gods, …… of holy An! |
| An adab (?) to Enki for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan D): c.2.5.4.04 Father Enki, may …… for Išme-Dagan. |
| An adab (?) to Enki for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan D): c.2.5.4.04 Enki, lord, firstborn son of An ……, Nudimmud, great bull of the abzu ……, may you …… with your consort, holy Damgalnuna. Father Enki, may you embrace her and soothe your heart with her. …… friendly words on behalf of Išme-Dagan. …… the prayer of the king until distant days. The one blessed by Enlil ……, Išme-Dagan, the shepherd, …… the son of Enlil. May his radiance …… for you to the outer limits of heaven and earth. May he have authority, may he be peerless in all the numerous countries. May Išme-Dagan …… from the south as far as the uplands. …… the god of the Land ……. May the Tigris and Euphrates ……, may they bring abundance for him. May the udders of heaven open for him; may the harvest …… for him. May barley, emmer, wheat, gu-nida grain …… on vast fields for him. May grain heaps be heaped up for him; may Ezina ……. |
| An adab (?) to Enki for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan D): c.2.5.4.04 Father Enki, bestow …… kingship and a reign of abundance upon Išme-Dagan. |
| A balbale to Enki for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan E): c.2.5.4.05 (1 line missing) …… in the holy heart ……, ……, whose words are powerful, who …… decisions. …… foremost of the gods, omniscient ……. …… Enki, counsellor of holy An, adviser of the Great Mountain ……. …… foremost of the gods, omniscient ……. …… Enki, counsellor of holy An, adviser of the Great Mountain ……. Adviser, whose statements cannot be countermanded, whose ways …… fearsomeness. Patient-hearted, who rides upon all the divine powers, who …… like Enlil. Nudimmud …… holy dais ……. Lord imbued with fearsomeness, borne by An and Uraš, eldest brother of ……. King whose ways are recognised by Enlil, caretaker of ……. Supreme ……, first-born child of holy An, whose divine powers are untouchable ……. Junior Enlil of trustworthy utterances, …… divine plans. Nudimmud, lord who determines the fates, who strengthens the Land ……. Enki, great bull of Eridug, ……. …… greatly exalted among the Anuna ……. (1 line fragmentary) …… like sheep (?) ……. (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A balbale to Enki for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan E): c.2.5.4.05 May he bestow a long life with vigorous (?) days on Išme-Dagan, the son of Enlil! May Father Enki bestow a long life with vigorous (?) days on Išme-Dagan, the son of Enlil! |
| A balbale to Enki for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan E): c.2.5.4.05 A balbale of Enki. (lines 8 and 9 are written as one line in source) |
| An adab to Nanna for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan M): c.2.5.4.13 After you have extended yourself in the bright ……, the daylight ……, after you have established …… on earth, on the day of the disappearance of the moon, as you have completed the month, you summon (?) the people, lord; and then in the nether world you decree great judgments, you decide sublime verdicts. Enki and Ninki, the great lords, the great princes, the lords who determine fates, await your utterances, father; they …… the newborn (?) moon. |
| An adab to Nanna for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan M): c.2.5.4.13 (unknown no. of lines missing) (1 line fragmentary)On the day of the disappearance of the moon, ……, …… the people, lord, …… verdicts in the nether world. Enki and Ninki, ……, lord, ……. |
| A tigi (?) to Ninurta for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan O): c.2.5.4.15 (2 lines fragmentary) …… lord of the nether world. Enki ……. (5 lines fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A tigi (?) to Ninurta for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan O): c.2.5.4.15 (8 lines fragmentary) …… Enki …… (9 lines fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A dedication of a statue (Išme-Dagan S): c.2.5.4.19 If a king issues evil orders concerning this statue, and erases its inscription and writes his own name on it; or, because of this curse, he makes another man raise his hand against it, then may Enlil my lord and Ninlil my lady curse that man! May Enki, Iškur, Ezina, Šakkan, the lords of abundance, …… him cruelly by withholding abundance from heaven and earth under his rule! |
| A hymn to Ninurta for Išme-Dagan: c.2.5.4.29 To befit heaven and earth grandly, they raised Enki, the lord, the firstborn son of holy An, to the status of junior Enlil. So that he can reveal everything (?), they bestowed sevenfold wisdom upon him as a gift. They have established eternally that he should give counsel, that he should decide great fates, that he ……, and that he should provide wisdom. |
| A hymn to Enki for Išme-Dagan: c.2.5.4.b August Nibru! No deity excels like your lord and lady! They are powerful princes; they are brilliantly revealed deities. No deity excels like Enlil or Ninlil! They are powerful princes; they are lords who can decide destinies. In your midst they have given divine powers to King Enki. Nibru, your holy songs are exceptionally precious, surpassing all praise! I, Išme-Dagan, have placed them in everyone's mouths for all time. |
| 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 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) |
| A tigi to Enki for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta B): c.2.5.6.2 Lord of complex divine powers, who establishes umderstanding, whose intentions are unfathomable, who knows everything! Enki, of broad wisdom, august ruler of the Anuna, wise one who casts spells, who provides words, who attends to decisions, who clarifies verdicts, who dispenses advice from dawn to dusk! Enki, lord of all true words, I will praise you. Your father, An the king, the lord who caused human seed to come forth and who placed all mankind on the earth, has laid upon you the guarding of the divine powers of heaven and earth, and has elevated you to be their prince. An, king of the gods, has instructed you to keep open the holy mouths of the Tigris and Euphrates, to fill them with splendour, to make the dense clouds release plentiful water and make them rain all over the fields, to make Ezina lift her head in the furrows, to make vegetation …… in the desert, and to make orchards and gardens ripe with syrup and vines grow as tall as forests. |
| A tigi to Enki for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta B): c.2.5.6.2 August lord, you excel in heaven and earth, and you have made your name shine forth. Enki, you have gathered up all the divine powers that there are, and stored them in the abzu. You have made praiseworthy the divine powers, exceeding all other divine powers, of your holy dwelling which you have chosen in your heart -- the abzu, the august shrine …… -- as well as its divine plans. Its shadow covers all lands from east to west, and its terrifying splendour rests upon the holy heavens like dense thunderclouds. It fills with terror E-kur, the holy dwelling of An and Enlil. Therein, equipped with the sceptre, you fashion the numerous seeds (?) …… for the assigned divine powers of the great gods; to create mankind and to preserve them alive is in your power, Father Enki, when you take your seat on the dais where you decide destinies. |
| A tigi to Enki for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta B): c.2.5.6.2 May Ur-Ninurta, the king in whom Enlil trusts, open up your house of wisdom in which you have gathered knowledge in plenty, and then be the great ruler of the black-headed. Make terrifying splendour befitting his godhead issue from him, the lion of kingship, in everything that he does, for as long as he lives. May you present him with weighty tribute from the upper and the lower seas, and let Ur-Ninurta bring it into the glorious E-kur. May Enlil look upon him joyously, and add to his period of rule blissful days and years of joy and life. Father Enki, inspiring terrible awe, surpassing description, may the Anuna, your divine brothers, rejoice over you. Son of An, possessor of august honour, it is sweet to praise you! |
| A tigi to Enki for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta B): c.2.5.6.2 A tigi of Enki. |
| An adab to Ninurta for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta C): c.2.5.6.3 Lord trampling underfoot all rulers, the powerful ones, ……, you do not let the evil and wicked escape, ……. The foreign land and the broad territories that you have looked upon with favour spread themselves before you in abundance. You have entrusted the various quarters of heaven and earth, with their settled peoples, to Ur-Ninurta, the youth who is all for you, the good shepherd who is attentive to you. You have made him to whom Enki has given wisdom understand how to …… them. May you be available to make the black-headed, numerous as sheep, follow your path. |
| A praise poem of Enlil-bāni (Enlil-bāni A): c.2.5.8.1 Enlil-bāni, great son of Enki, { shepherd } { (1 ms. has instead:) sage } and counsellor who guides living things, who spreads broad shade over all lands, grandiloquent prince whom great An has summoned, the great mother Ninlil trusts in you. |
| An adab to Nanna for Gungunum (Gungunum A): c.2.6.2.1 …… in princeship. Ruler, leader of the Anuna deities, prince of the just decision, Lord Ašimbabbar, An and Enlil have made you perfect for the sky. Beloved of the king, making the good crown sparkle, coming forth on high, you come forth like bright sunlight, whether at noon or in the night. Youthful Suen, lord, …… son of the Great Mountain and born of Ninlil, given a good destiny by his grandparents Enki and Ninki -- they have given …… to him, the just lord of the sky. |
| A hymn to Ḫaia for Rīm-Sîn (Rīm-Sîn B): c.2.6.9.2 My king, I shall praise your eminence in song! Ḫaia, I will declare your greatness perpetually! Who among the gods is fitted like you for the holy divine powers? Your beloved spouse is the maiden Nisaba, the great queen of queens. Ninlil, who was born of her holy womb, the august wife of Nunamnir, sits with her on the dais of E-kur with head raised high, uniquely entitled to behave as queen of the gods, the peerless goddess. In the abzu shrine, Enki has bestowed his incantations of life on you, great breed-bull, who are recognised for your right understanding, who constantly care for the gods, Ḫaia, you who operate effectively the assigning of divine powers, who mark out the cult places. |
| A hymn to Ḫaia for Rīm-Sîn (Rīm-Sîn B): c.2.6.9.2 When Father Enki comes forth from the abzu, he assigns (?) its greatness to you, Ḫaia. You cause the people who are in its midst to lift their necks towards heaven; you make its population pass their days in rejoicing. You keep all its people forever contented. You establish festivals in the houses of the great gods; you spread splendour. |
| A hymn to Ḫaia for Rīm-Sîn (Rīm-Sîn B): c.2.6.9.2 Leader, leader (?) of the gods, complete the great fates of the people. Look favourably upon the king with your gracious gaze that is full of life. Duly grant a joyous reign of long days to prince Rīm-Sîn, marking its years on the tablet of life, forever unalterable. May An and Enlil love the shepherd Rīm-Sîn in the office of high priest. The singers will make your praise resound sweetly in their mouths; Ḫaia, the singers will make your praise resound sweetly in their mouths. Lord of heaven and earth, king of the abzu, its praise is august. Father Enki, king of the abzu, your praise is sweet. |
| A praise poem of Ḫammu-rābi (Ḫammu-rābi A): c.2.8.2.1 (1 line fragmentary) …… acting as its lord …… (7 lines fragmentary)…… the black-headed ……. …… the Euphrates ……. …… the Tigris ……. …… on the banks of the Irnina watercourse ……. King Ḫammu-rābi …… Gibil (the god of fire). Enlil ……. Enki …… heroism. Suen ……. |
| A praise poem of Ḫammu-rābi (Ḫammu-rābi A): c.2.8.2.1 (1 line fragmentary) …… Enki ……. …… emerging from the Land. …… befitting divinity ……. (3 lines fragmentary) …… joyous ……. …… praising with their songs ……. …… your statue shall not be brought in …… (2 lines fragmentary) …… formed your heart for Enlil (?). …… enter ……. …… precious destinies ……. (2 lines fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A prayer to Enki for Ḫammu-rābi (Ḫammu-rābi B): c.2.8.2.2 May Lugal-Šubur place on your head the desert crown of kingship! May Enki, the lord of life, …… life, and in the E-unir, the house of the plans of heaven and earth which rides upon all the divine powers, may he cover your priestly headdress in awe and splendour! May he make the divine powers of kingship resplendent for you, and fit you up forever with the plans appropriate to the rank of en priest! May he gently recite for you live-giving incantations, bestowing in addition a long-lived destiny; may the uttering of your name delight Enki as much as the uttering of his own name! May he reward you with wisdom and intelligence! May your royal name be as something unchangeable! May Father Enki prolong the years of your life, and may he grant you lordship over every one of the foreign lands. O Ḫammu-rābi, my king! |
| A praise poem of Ḫammu-rābi (Ḫammu-rābi C): c.2.8.2.3 Enki has esteemed him truly in the shrine, the august place -- the king who loves purification rites and is well-suited to the pure divine powers, the king who is skilled in the precious plans, who is reverent, eloquent and deft (?), the shepherd, favourite of Lord Nunamnir and beloved of Mother Ninlil, who …… great food offerings in E-kur, who delights (?) the great prince Enki, ……, who is cherished by holy Damgalnuna: the good shepherd Ḫammu-rābi. |
| A prayer to Asarluḫi for Ḫammu-rābi (Ḫammu-rābi D): c.2.8.2.4 An, Enlil and Enki …… with him. When they had decided ……, all the great gods together …… joyfully to Marduk. (Marduk speaks to the great gods:) "You have …… the shepherd of your hearts to exercise the lordship in the Land. Determine his destiny grandly, …… with your holy mouths. Appoint …… your word …… for him, the indefatigable shepherd." |
| A prayer to Asarluḫi for Ḫammu-rābi (Ḫammu-rābi D): c.2.8.2.4 Ḫammu-rābi …… the command of An and Enlil, …… of heaven and earth, …… throughout the world ……. An and Enlil …… to the king. Among the great gods, Asarluhi ……. In Babylon, the city, the precinct, the pure dwelling ……. …… foundation, the great dais, the beloved and august dwelling, in joy ……. …… the noble son of the gods, …… royal name, …… they firmly spoke their consent to him. When they ……, they …… the power of Enlil over the numerous people. …… they manifested his destiny, …… the life of the Land. They magnified Ḫammu-rābi, their benign shepherd, and …… over all the black-headed. …… him whom Enki has …… his favour in the Land, (1 line fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A prayer for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna B): c.2.8.3.2 (unknown no. of lines missing) Life ……. Life ……. Life ……. …… of your name ……. …… holy life ……. Enki ……. Prince Samsu-iluna, ……. …… terrifying splendour which spreads far and wide. Enki …… your throne, and …… bestow on you a sceptre of long years and days; may he …… your crown …… like Utu. |
| 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 prayer for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna C): c.2.8.3.3 When you are imbued with the terrifying splendour of royalty, …… shining like the sun! When you perfectly wield the august divine powers, the great divine powers, may you be cloaked as if with a mantle in the great awesomeness of royalty! When you come forth in brilliance like the shining day, may An and Enlil determine a great destiny for you! When you appear like Nanna over the Land, may the great prince Enki pray on your behalf in his overflowing heart! |
| 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) |
| A prayer for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna G): c.2.8.3.7 He greeted { Enki, Asalim and the son of Eridug } { (an Akkadian gloss has:) Ea, Marduk and Asalluḫa }, the great gods, { while sitting majestically on the golden throne of kingship with head high in heroic strength in its midst } { (an Akkadian gloss has:) on your golden throne of kingship, whose head is raised high in the strength of your heroism, may you sit majestically, Samsu-ilūna, double king }, the king of Urim and king of Larsam, the king of Sumer and Akkad. |
| A hymn to Marduk for Abī-Ešuḫ (Abī-Ešuḫ A): c.2.8.5.1 King who gathers up the divine powers of heaven and earth, foremost son of Enki, Marduk, mighty lord, perfect hero, foremost of the Great Princes (a name for the Igigi gods), strong one of the Anuna, the great gods who have given him justice and judgment! Great prince, descendant of holy An, lord who decides destinies, who has everything in his grasp (?), wise, august knower of hearts, whose divinity is manifest, who shows concern for all that he looks upon! Your ancestor An, king of the gods, has made your lordship effective against the armies of heaven and earth. |
| Letter from Šarrum-bāni to Šu-Suen about keeping the Martu at bay: c.3.1.15 At the time I sent my messenger to you, I sent another messenger, after him, to { Lu-Nanna } { (1 ms. has instead:) Lu-Enki }, the ruler of the province of Zimudar. He has sent you 7200 workers. |
| Letter from Šu-Suen to Šarrum-bāni about digging a trench: c.3.1.16 Concerning Lu-Enki, the ruler of the province of Zimudar, he should come to you, and should bring with him 60 troops. Let them be sent together with ……. |
| Letter from Išbi-Erra to Ibbi-Suen about the purchase of grain: c.3.1.17 May An, Enlil and Enki, who have loved Ibbi-Suen from the womb, look upon him approvingly. …… is indeed placed there; they have changed (?) their appearance. With the …… and (?) the city-gates of Urim opening, they cry "Aee!" If …… says," Who is my lord?" -- You are the king to whom Enlil has given …… no rival! |
| Letter from Ugubi to his mother: c.3.3.07 Urim is the joyful city of Nanna. But I sit behind the door of the chief musician's house in Eridug, the abundant city of Enki. Longing consumes me. I don't want to die because the bread is never fresh and the beer is never fresh. Send a messenger to me at once. It is urgent. |
| A hymn to Asarluḫi (Asarluḫi A): c.4.01.1 (5 lines missing) …… new ……. …… august words. Enki has named you with the name Id-lu-rugu (i.e. River of the ordeal, an epithet of Asarluḫi), the sublime course ……. You cleanse the just man like gold, and you hand over the wicked to extinction. |
| A hymn to Asarluḫi (Asarluḫi A): c.4.01.1 Nourished on the good milk of intelligence, advice and reason, his voice resounds loudly. August sage, firstborn son of Enki, he gives …… to all who are born. Profoundly intelligent, as wise as his father, possessed of understanding, Asarluḫi penetrates everything. Nothing …… him. Lordly son of the abzu, endowed with holy wisdom, he is Marduk, the bringer of counsel. Tall in stature, he can survey all the divine powers of heaven and earth. |
| A hymn to Asarluḫi (Asarluḫi A): c.4.01.1 Kuara, the beloved city which you have chosen in your heart, lives in joy because of you. The generous-hearted Prince (Enki) named you with the name Asarluḫi. (2 lines unclear or fragmentary) (up to 5 lines missing) |
| A šir-šag-ḫula to Damgalnuna (Damgalnuna A): c.4.03.1 The great prince Enki, …… heaven and earth, …… cherishes you. Bride of Enki who determines fates favourably, great wild cow, exceptional in appearance, pre-eminent forever! Your husband, the great lord Nudimmud who makes perfect the borders of the Land, the lord on whom An the king has bestowed perceptiveness; the wise adviser, the sage lord whose command is foremost, who is skilful in everything, the majestic leader who pleases (?) Enlil's heart; whose divine powers cannot be withstood, he of deep understanding, called by an auspicious name, reaching decisions …… who is knowledgeable about giving birth, ……, (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A šir-šag-ḫula to Damgalnuna (Damgalnuna A): c.4.03.1 The churn (?) ……. The great prince Enki ……. The house (?) ……. (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A hymn to Ḫendursaĝa (Ḫendursaĝa A): c.4.06.1 (1 line fragmentary) You are the leader of ……. You are the accountant of the black-headed. You are the chief constable of the dead people who are brought to the underworld. Chief herald, who …… playing in streets and on roofs, …… of the dark houses ……, who peers (?) out from the rooftops (?) of the Land, Lord Ḫendursaĝa: because you were that too, after Enki had had intercourse with ……, he destined the seven sons that she had borne to him -- those seven sons of a crab -- for the starvation of heaven; he placed them by at your behest, for the crushing (?) of the people of earth. |
| A hymn to Ḫendursaĝa (Ḫendursaĝa A): c.4.06.1 So as to integrate securely into the cattle-pen the bull that has been bought, so as to make the sheep that have been bought multiply in the sheepfold, so as to make the slave that has been bought behave submissively in the house of his master, so as to test the liquid capacity of a one-litre pot; so that, when the Herald signals with his horn to the troops before the mêlée of battle and the warriors go forth to the high plain, the Herald will force the dragons back from the roads, so that the Herald Ḫendursaĝa will make them very frightened -- praise be to the youthful Utu, who has kindly supported the excellent power of the Herald, and praise be to Father Enki, who has kindly supported the excellent power of Ḫendursaĝa! |
| 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, 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 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 The river, the river, good as the vast river, the ……, good as the city -- there is nothing as good as this! The river, the noble river, as the vast river, the river, the Euphrates, as the vast river, the …… of the Euphrates, as the vast river, (2 lines fragmentary)-- good as the ……, good as the city -- there is nothing as good as this! Just as when Enki, the wild bull of Eridug, arrives; as when the mother of the E-maḫ, Damgalnuna, arrives; as when Asarluḫi, the son of Eridug, arrives; as when Enlil eats, as when he drinks, …… good as ……, good as the city -- there is nothing as good as this! |
| 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!" |
| Dumuzid and Enkimdu: c.4.08.33 "In what is the farmer superior to me, the farmer to me, the farmer to me? Enkimdu, the man of the dykes and canals -- in what is that farmer superior to me? Let him give me his black garment, and I will give the farmer my black ewe for it. Let him give me his white garment, and I will give the farmer my white ewe for it. Let him pour me his best beer, and I will pour the farmer my yellow milk for it. Let him pour me his fine beer, and I will pour the farmer my soured (?) milk for it. Let him pour me his brewed beer, and I will pour the farmer my whipped milk for it. Let him pour me his beer shandy, and I will pour the farmer my …… milk for it." |
| Dumuzid and Enkimdu: c.4.08.33 He was cheerful, he was cheerful, at the edge of the riverbank, he was cheerful. On the riverbank, the shepherd on the riverbank, now the shepherd was even pasturing the sheep on the riverbank. The farmer approached the shepherd there, the shepherd pasturing the sheep on the riverbank; the farmer Enkimdu approached him there. Dumuzid …… the farmer, the king of dyke and canal. From the plain where he was, the shepherd from the plain where he was provoked a quarrel with him; the shepherd Dumuzid from the plain where he was provoked a quarrel with him. |
| Dumuzid and Enkimdu: c.4.08.33 "As for me, I am a shepherd: when I am married, farmer, you are going to be counted as my friend. Farmer Enkimdu, you are going to be counted as my friend, farmer, as my friend." |
| A hymn to Nanna (Nanna E): c.4.13.05 Lifting your head in your goodness, greatness and majesty, majestically you extend your arm in order to determine destinies: great An has liberally bestowed on you your kingship over heaven and earth, and Enlil has perfected for you your great and noble filial status and lordship. Enlil has made majestic divinity manifest for you. Determining a destiny for your flowing waters, the majestic lower (?) waters, Enki from within the sacred bathing chamber (?) has placed the good earth, the good mother, at your feet. Enlil has sired you in majesty and lordship. |
| A hymn to Nanna (Nanna E): c.4.13.05 O Nanna, your crescent moon is called "the crescent moon of the seventh day (?)". Enlil has made known throughout heaven and earth your name, which is a sacred name. Princely son, he has made your greatness manifest throughout heaven and earth. The majestic assembly has bestowed on you his status as Enlil. And from the place of the sanctuary Eridug, Enki has determined for you your lordship and majesty. King of heaven and earth who adorns heaven and earth (?), from the majestic abzu, the place of the sanctuary Eridug, he has declared your great lordship and your greatness. |
| A hymn to Nanna (Nanna E): c.4.13.05 Enki purifies the dwelling for you, he makes the dwelling shine for you. He consecrates the heavens for you, he makes the earth shine for you. He makes the E-kiš-nu-ĝal, the house of the cedar forests, tower straight upward for you. He makes your majestic residence into a sacred place for you, the foundation of heaven and earth. |
| A hymn to Nanna (Nanna E): c.4.13.05 He puts your ritual plans and majestic lustration rituals in order for you. …… he makes the offering table resplendent for you in the sacred place. …… he puts in order for you …… evening meals, your evening meals and morning meals. He consecrates the lustration rituals and makes them shine for you. After ……, he has made the …… beautiful. He has called ……. Enki sets up for you the lustration rituals created in his abzu; Kusu establishes the lustration rituals created in their specific house -- the oven for oxen, sheep and bread beside the interior of the bathing chamber (?), those sacred lustration rituals beside the shrine! |
| A hymn to Nanna (Nanna E): c.4.13.05 With the majestic oil of the sacred body, the oil of lordship, oil from your great treasury, Lord Ningublaga consecrates the hands on his lapis-lazuli quay, the majestic quay, the sacred quay. But from Eridug the stag of the abzu (Enki) purifies the oil for those hands. So that you should place sacred hands upon your offering table in the banqueting hall, the great place, your steward Kusu -- she who purifies hands and cleanses hands -- consecrates the hands. But from Eridug the stag of the abzu purifies the oil for those hands. |
| An adab to Nanna (Nanna H): c.4.13.08 O shrine Urim! Within, through their intricate craftsmanship, the Enki and Ninki deities have perfected the divine powers with their righteousness, and the Anuna gods stand there in service. |
| A hymn to Nanna (Nanna O): c.4.13.15 (4 lines missing) (1 line fragmentary)You possess ……! An, Enlil, Enki and Ninḫursaĝa treat you with deserved affection in your place of creation. Exalted Nanna ……, adviser in heaven and on earth ……! An, Enlil, Enki and Ninḫursaĝa treat you with deserved affection in your place of creation. |
| A hymn to Nanše (Nanše A): c.4.14.1 The lady, the matriarch of Enlil, Nanše, the lady of abundance who lives in the Land, the ……, the child of Enki, acting as a good woman for a good household, is to make the appointments. After she, as a good woman for a good household, has made the appointments, the regular offerings and daily goods of the house arrive unfailingly from the Bur-saĝ. |
| A hymn to Nanše (Nanše A): c.4.14.1 My lady, your divine powers are mighty powers, surpassing all other divine powers; Nanše, there are no divine powers matching your powers. An, the king, looks joyfully at you, as you sit with Enlil on the throne-dais where the fates are to be determined. Father Enki determined a fate for you. Nanše, child born in Eridug, sweet is your praise. |
| A hymn to Nisaba (Nisaba A): c.4.16.1 He (Enki (?)) approaches the maiden Nisaba in prayer. He has organised pure food-offerings; he has opened up Nisaba's house of learning, and has placed the lapis-lazuli tablet on her knees, for her to consult the holy tablet of the heavenly stars. In Aratta he has placed E-zagin at her disposal. You have built up Ereš in abundance, founded from little …… bricks, you who are granted the most complex wisdom! |
| A hymn to Nisaba (Nisaba A): c.4.16.1 In the Abzu, the great crown of Eridug, where sanctuaries are apportioned, where elevated …… are apportioned -- when Enki, the great princely farmer of the awe-inspiring temple, the carpenter of Eridug, the master of purification rites, the lord of the great en priest's precinct, occupies E-engura, and when he builds up the Abzu of Eridug; when he takes counsel in Ḫal-an-kug, when he splits with an axe the house of boxwood; when the sage's hair is allowed to hang loose, when he opens the house of learning, when he stands in the street of the door of learning; when he finishes (?) the great dining hall of cedar, when he grasps the date-palm mace, when he strikes (?) the priestly garment with that mace, then he utters seven …… to Nisaba, the supreme nursemaid: |
| A hymn to Nisaba (Nisaba A): c.4.16.1 Because the Prince (Enki) cherished Nisaba, O Father Enki, it is sweet to praise you! |
| A balbale to Ninĝišzida (Ninĝišzida A): c.4.19.1 The merciful king (i.e. Enki) entrusted you from your birth with your words of prayer. He let you have life and creation. Prince endowed with attractiveness, Ninĝišzida, when taking your seat on the throne-dais in an elevated location, lord, god, youth, right arm -- clothed in your ……, with the shining sceptre grasped in your hands -- then …… performs a šir-namšub song to you, addressing you intimately: "(1 line missing) You bring calming of the heart to …… who …… lies. You fall upon the many …… and you burn them like fire." |
| A balbale to Ninĝišzida (Ninĝišzida A): c.4.19.1 The king who is the lord of broad understanding (i.e. Enki) has determined a good destiny for you on your elevated throne-dais; the god who loves justice (probably Utu) has spoken these favourable words: "Foremost one, leader of the assembly, glory of ……, king endowed with awesomeness, sun of the masses, advancing in front of them! Who can rival you in the highest heaven? What can equal you?" Hero who, after surveying the battle, goes up to the high mountains! Ninĝišzida, who, after surveying the battle, goes up to the high mountains! King, you who carry out commands in the great underworld, you who carry out the underworld's business! Any youth who has a personal god is at your disposal, there where your commands are issued. O king, honeyed mouth of the gods! Praise be to Enki. Ninĝišzida, son of Ninazu! Praise be to Father Enki. |
| A hymn to Ninĝišzida (Ninĝišzida C): c.4.19.3 Hero, as you wander on the earth, Ninĝišzida, beloved of An, through you the early flood occurs, and Enki rejoices at you. Through you fine grains are in the fields, and …… rejoices at you. …… head held high, Lord Ninĝišzida. You ……, Lord Ninĝišzida. You extend ……, and you stretch out your claws. Lord Ninĝišzida, your praise is sweet, ……. |
| A šir-gida to Ninisina (Ninisina A): c.4.22.1 "My son, pay attention to everything medical! Damu, pay attention to everything medical! You will be praised for your diagnoses." Holy Ninisina performs for him her role as incantation priest, which Enki bestowed on her from the princely abzu. Because of the anxiety and intestinal disease which pursue mankind, this person writhes like a snake on scorching ground, hissing like a snake in waste ground, always calling out anew: "My heart! My stomach!" |
| Ninisina's journey to Nibru: a šir-namšub to Ninisina (Ninisina C): c.4.22.3 (14 lines missing) (1 line fragmentary)…… escorts her to ……. She sails on the Euphrates, amid the holy reed-shoots; ……. She moors the boat at Kar-ĝeština; Enki ……. |
| Ninisina and the gods (Ninisina F): c.4.22.6 Having left the temple of Enlil, she entered Eridug, the pleasant place, and took her seat in the abzu shrine. Her father, Enki, seated her upon his knees. He truly cherished Ninisina -- as soon as …… took a fancy to jewels of šuba stone, they were hung around the neck of Ninisina; as soon as she took a fancy to a white linen garment, he dressed the daughter of holy An in it. Lord Nudimmud determined a fate for her. (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A hymn to Ninkasi (Ninkasi A): c.4.23.1 Your father is Enki, Lord Nudimmud, and your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu. Ninkasi, your father is Enki, Lord Nudimmud, and your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu. |
| An adab to Ninlil (Ninlil A): c.4.24.1 …… equal to the great gods, (1 line fragmentary) (approx. 6 lines missing) (1 line fragmentary)Mother Ninlil, righteous woman of Enlil, you dwell in the Ki-ur. In his heart filled with pleasure at your joyous divine powers, he has embraced you. The Enki and Ninki deities have perfected their divine powers throughout all countries for you. My lady, your speech is majestic -- take pleasure in your E-kur! |
| 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. |
| Ninurta's journey to Eridug: a šir-gida to Ninurta (Ninurta B): c.4.27.02 When the king arrived at the abzu, the day was spent in abundance and the night in celebration; when Ninurta arrived at Eridug, the day was spent in abundance and the night in celebration. The firstborn son of An presented him with divine powers for a lifetime; the lord of all divine powers restored the ancient divine powers to their places for him. The good days of Sumer were to come, …… Enki. |
| Ninurta's journey to Eridug: a šir-gida to Ninurta (Ninurta B): c.4.27.02 As a king, Ninurta, the son of Enlil, wore a crown and ……; as a lord, he tied on the shining headgear and held abundance in his hands. He came forth radiantly, raised his head high in the abzu, in Eridug. A youth who is the glory of the E-kur ……, he is the …… of kingship; he is the prayer of heaven and earth. With An and Enki he sits joyfully in the courtyard ……. (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| A hymn to Ninurta (Ninurta C): c.4.27.03 He is great in his anger (?)! He (?) alone is a hero! No superior god raises himself against him! King who is great in heaven, great on earth, lordly in the east! Ninurta who is great in heaven, great on earth, lordly in the east! Mighty hero Ninurta! Praise be to Father Enlil! Praise be to the …… of intelligence, the lord who decides destinies, to Father Enki! …… Anuna gods ……, favourable before Ninurta, the great governor of Enlil, and Ninnibru, the beloved child of An. |
| A šir-namšub to Ninurta (Ninurta G): c.4.27.07 King, your headdress hangs loose upon your neck, your kingship is gloriously manifest! Hero Ninurta, your headress hangs loose upon your neck! Hero Pabilsaĝ, your headress hangs loose upon your neck! Hero Ninĝirsu, your headdress hangs loose upon your neck; your kingship is manifest! Your kingship exists in the heavens, exists on the earth. You sit with Enki upon the holy throne-dais. |
| A šir-gida to Nuska (Nuska B): c.4.29.2 You are the light of the good shepherd Enlil, and you have been given a majestic name by Ninlil. You have been given wisdom by Enki. You were born to Enul and Ninul, and so you are united with the lordly seed. You are the E-kur's song. You are a minister fit for his king: Nuska, you are the man of Enlil's heart. |
| A šir-namšub to Utu (Utu E): c.4.32.e Whoever has eaten good bread has also drunk good beer, in the house where the righteous man has filled the bowls with liquor -- the lord of the storehouse, the Great Mountain Enlil; the lady of the storehouse, the great mother Ninlil; youthful Utu, lord of the mountain; Šerida, youthful leader of battle; the Enki and Ninki deities; Enmul and Ninmul. |
| A šir-namšub to Utu (Utu E): c.4.32.e The beer for the bur-gia offerings has been filled to overflowing. Among the offerings of the house, at the place where the huge bowls have been stood under the heavens, where bread has been offered by pure hands, at the house where the righteous man has offered prayers, where the most righteous of men has offered prayers, where the god of the man has offered prayers, where Lord Enki has offered prayers, there the righteous man has filled to overflowing the beer for the bur-gia offerings. |
| A hymn to Kusu (Kusu A): c.4.33.2 O angry great butting bull! O torch! O great bull of Enki, standing aggressively, coming forth from the abzu, the pure place! O Gibil (the god of fire), …… the palace and hall, as he radiates great awesomeness, his countenance ……! O Nun-bar-ana, angry avenger (?) ……, bringing forth the great torch from the abzu, lifting his head with the noble divine powers! |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 23 lines: the house of Enki in Eridug. |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 (2 lines missing) (1 line fragmentary)An has …… your platform. E-maḫ (Exalted house), house of the universe, suited for its lady, your front inspires great awesomeness, your interior is filled with radiance. Mother Nintur, Enlil and Enki have determined your destiny. E-suga (Joyous (?) house) which ……, life of the black-headed, An has given you the magnificent divine powers from the interior of heaven. As in Keš, Ninḫursaĝa has blessed your priests maintaining the shrine in the holy uzga precinct. House with great divine powers, a pure platform and cleansing lustration, Ašgi, the god of Adab, has erected a house in your precinct, O Adab, O house situated at a canal, O house Adab, and taken his seat upon your dais. |
| The debate between Grain and Sheep: c.5.3.2 At that time Enki spoke to Enlil: "Father Enlil, now Sheep and Grain have been created on the Holy Mound, let us send them down from the Holy Mound." Enki and Enlil, having spoken their holy word, sent Sheep and Grain down from the Holy Mound. |
| The debate between Grain and Sheep: c.5.3.2 Then Enki spoke to Enlil: "Father Enlil, Sheep and Grain should be sisters! They should stand together! Of their threefold metal …… shall not cease. But of the two, Grain shall be the greater. Let Sheep fall on her knees before Grain. Let her kiss the feet of ……. From sunrise till sunset, may the name of Grain be praised. People should submit to the yoke of Grain. Whoever has silver, whoever has jewels, whoever has cattle, whoever has sheep shall take a seat at the gate of whoever has grain, and pass his time there." |
| The debate between Grain and Sheep: c.5.3.2 Dispute spoken between Sheep and Grain: Sheep is left behind and Grain comes forward -- praise be to Father Enki! |
| The debate between Bird and Fish: c.5.3.5 In those ancient days, when the good destinies had been decreed, and after An and Enlil had set up the divine rules of heaven and earth, then the third of them, ……, the lord of broad wisdom, Enki, the master of destinies, gathered together …… and founded dwelling places; he took in his hand waters to encourage and create good seed; he laid out side by side the Tigris and the Euphrates, and caused them to bring water from the mountains; he scoured out the smaller streams, and positioned the other watercourses. …… Enki made spacious sheepfolds and cattle-pens, and provided shepherds and herdsmen; he founded cities and settlements throughout the earth, and made the black-headed multiply. He provided them with a king as shepherd, elevating him to sovereignty over them; the king rose as the daylight over the foreign countries. |
| The debate between Bird and Fish: c.5.3.5 …… Enki knit together the marshlands, making young and old reeds grow there; he made birds and fish live in the pools and lagoons ……; he gave …… all kinds of living creatures as their sustenance, …… placed them in charge of this abundance of the gods. When Nudimmud, august prince, the lord of broad wisdom, had fashioned ……, he filled the reedbeds and marshes with fish and birds, indicated to them their positions and instructed them in their divine rules. |
| The debate between Bird and Fish: c.5.3.5 Again Bird had hurled insults at Fish. Then Fish shouted at Bird, eyeing it angrily: "Do not puff yourself up from your lying mouth! Our judge shall take this up. Let us take our case to Enki, our judge and adjudicator." |
| The debate between Bird and Fish: c.5.3.5 (Fish speaks:)"……, let it be favourable to me!" (Šulgi speaks:)"I shall instruct you in the divine rules and just ordinances of our dwelling-place. Like (?) Enki, king of the abzu, I am successful in finding solutions, and am wise in words." He answered Bird and Fish: |
| The debate between Bird and Fish: c.5.3.5 Thereupon Fish …… Bird. (6 lines missing or fragmentary) …… Enki …… bestowed. (1 line fragmentary)In the abzu of Eridug …… Bird ……. Because Bird was victorious over Fish in the dispute between Fish and Bird, Father Enki be praised! |
| The song of the hoe: c.5.5.4 The leader of heaven and earth, Lord Nunamnir, named the important persons and valued (kal) persons. He formed those persons into a row and recruited them to provide for the gods. Now Enki praised Enlil's hoe (al), and the maiden Nisaba was made responsible for keeping records of the decisions. And so people took (ĝal) the shining hoes (al), the holy hoes (al), into their hands. |
| The song of the hoe: c.5.5.4 The temple of Ĝeštin-ana resembled the drumsticks, the drumsticks of Mother Ĝeštin-ana that make a pleasant sound. The lord (Enlil) bellowed at his hoe (al) like a bull. As for the grave (irigal): the hoe (al) buries people, but dead people are also brought up from the ground by the hoe (al) (This may allude to Enkidu's ghost being put in contact with Gilgameš.). With the hoe (al), the hero honoured by An, the younger brother of Nergal, the warrior Gilgameš is as powerful as a hunting net. The { (1 ms. adds:) sage } son of Ninsumun is pre-eminent with oars (ĝisal) (This may allude to Gilgameš rowing across the waters of death.). With the hoe (al) he is the great barber (kindagal) of the watercourses. In the { chamber } { (1 ms. has instead:) place } of the shrine, with the hoe (al) he is the minister (sukkal). The wicked (ḫulĝal) …… are sons of the hoe (al); they are born in sleep from heaven. |
| The song of the ploughing oxen: an ululumama to Ninurta: c.5.5.5 ellu mallu! Enkimdu, he of dykes and canals, says to the lord ……," My king, I want to ……. I will irrigate your fertile fields ……. The early rain ……" (11 lines fragmentary or missing) |
| The song of the ploughing oxen: an ululumama to Ninurta: c.5.5.5 ellu mallu! The harrow, the comb of my field, must be fitted with large teeth to harrow the holy field. The mattock must dig the edges. Remove the stumps! The mattock must dig the edges. Once you have taken down from the beam your holy plough which was hanging from a beam, a skilled carpenter must tighten its bonds. …… its side boards. (12 lines missing or fragmentary)…… noises. …… the measuring reed in his right hand. Enkimdu, he of dykes and canals ……, should …… for you in ……. |
| The heron and the turtle: c.5.9.2 What do they say in the reedbeds whose growth is good? In the wide reedbeds of Tutub, whose growth is good? In the marshes of Kiritaba, whose growth is good? In the adara thickets of Akšak, whose growth is good? In Enki's interconnecting (?) lagoons, whose growth is good? In the smaller lagoon, Enki's lagoon, whose growth is good? In Enki's barbar reeds, whose growth is good? In the little zi reeds of Urim, whose growth is good? In Urim, where cows and calves abound, whose growth is good? |
| The heron and the turtle: c.5.9.2 The gift-giving bird made a plea; the heron entered the house of King Enki and spoke to him: "Give me …… a wide-open place to lay my eggs in." He gave her ……, and did …… for her. …… is indeed …… (1 line fragmentary)She laid eggs in the ……. She laid eggs in the wide reedbeds of Tutub. She laid eggs in the marshes of Kiritaba. She laid eggs in the adara thickets of Akšak. She laid eggs in Enki's interconnecting (?) lagoons. She laid eggs in the smaller lagoon, the lagoon of Eridug. She laid eggs in Enki's barbar reeds. She laid eggs in the little zi reeds of Urim. She laid eggs in Urim, where cows and calves abound. |
| The heron and the turtle: c.5.9.2 The heron cried out, shedding tears: "If I, a bird, …… my empty nest and …… { (1 ms. adds:) I, a heron, ……; I shall take my case up to my king, …… }. Let my king judge my case, and give me verdict! Let Enki judge my case, and give me verdict! May the lord of Eridug …… my claim." |
| The heron and the turtle: c.5.9.2 { It dug in the ground, …… its head upwards ……. } { (1 ms. has instead:) The heron ……, ……. } She (the heron) { (1 ms. adds:) entered the house and } cried out to King Enki: "My king, you gave me the wide reedbeds, and I laid eggs there. I laid eggs in the wide reedbeds of Tutub. I laid eggs in the marshes of Kiritaba. I laid eggs in the adara thickets of Akšak. I laid eggs in Enki's interconnecting (?) lagoons. I laid eggs in the smaller lagoon, the lagoon of Eridug. I laid eggs in Enki's barbar reeds. I laid eggs in the little zi reeds of Urim. I laid eggs in Urim, where cows and calves abound." |
| The heron and the turtle: c.5.9.2 The prince called to his minister, Isimud: "My minister, Isimud, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "I stand at Enki's service! What is your wish?" "First …… is filtered on the left side, then a copper box is made, so that …… is covered. Then you tie ……, and you tie the top with string ……; then you …… with a piece of dough, and you irrigate the outer enclosure (?); and you put …… (?) Enki's interconnecting (?) lagoons. Then let him sit …… (1 line missing) (1 line fragmentary)" |
| The heron and the turtle: c.5.9.2 Isimud …… paid attention. First he filtered …… on the left side, then he made a copper box and covered ……. Then he tied the top with string ……; then he …… with a piece of dough, and he irrigated the outer enclosure (?); and he …… (?) Enki's interconnecting (?) lagoons. (Enki speaks:) "Then I, the prince, will make …… stand ……." |
| The heron and the turtle: c.5.9.2 The turtle called to the prince: "You are a prince! She ……. …… from fire. I am not a god; …… (1 line fragmentary) King Enki ……. You are a prince! She ……. My heart ……. You are a prince! She …… your word. My little one destroyed a wall ……; she ……. You are a prince! You are ……. …… brickwork. (16 lines missing) Your flax (?) is single (1 line unclear) Your …… is single; ……. …… the hero ……. Your seed is single ……. …… a tall tree. My strong copper ……. …… good semen ……" |
| The heron and the turtle: c.5.9.2 Then, on the ziggurat ……. King Enki was …… on the ziggurat. The great brickwork of the ziggurat …… the abzu; the brickwork of the abzu ……. He took dirt from his fingernail and created the dimgi vegetable. He made the dimgi …… in the ground. Your flax came out of the earth ……. He watered the little ones with his hand; he watered the big ones with his foot. The flax grew large. After the flax had grown tall, after he had bound (?) it …… (1 line fragmentary) (6 lines missing) The king ……. (1 line fragmentary) (1 line missing) (3 lines fragmentary) They seized …… for him. They …… for him. They confronted (?) …… in the desert. (1 line unclear) ……, they laid out the hunting net. …… did not catch; he caught in (?) the hunting net, …… did not catch; he spread out the hunting net. (5 lines fragmentary) …… of Enki (1 line fragmentary) May you be ……; may you be ……; may you be ……; may you be …… (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| The heron and the turtle: c.5.9.2 (2 lines fragmentary) …… of Enki. …… did not catch; …… the hunting net. The turtle ……. Enki …… something from his fingernail. Its inside is five ……; its exterior is 10 ……. A crevice …… (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| Proverbs: collection 2 + 6: c.6.1.02 (cf. |
| Proverbs: collection 3: c.6.1.03 (cf. |
| Proverbs: collection 11: c.6.1.11 (cf. |
| Proverbs: collection 22: c.6.1.22 (cf. |
| Proverbs: collection 28: c.6.1.28 (cf. |
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