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© Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 The ETCSL project, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford |
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| ETCSLtranslation |
| Enlil and Ninlil: c.1.2.1 There was a city, there was a city -- the one we live in. Nibru was the city, the one we live in. Dur-ĝišnimbar was the city, the one we live in. Id-sala is its holy river, Kar-ĝeština is its quay. Kar-asar is its quay where boats make fast. Pu-lal is its freshwater well. Id-nunbir-tum is its branching canal, and if one measures from there, its cultivated land is 50 sar each way. Enlil was one of its young men, and Ninlil was one its young women. Nun-bar-še-gunu was one of its wise old women. |
| 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 Birḫar-tura, his royal guard, spoke in admiration to his king: "{ (2 mss. add:) My king, } I shall { go } { (1 ms. has instead:) go prancing (?) } to Aga so that his reasoning will become confused and his judgment disarrayed." |
| 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. |
| The Sumerian king list: c.2.1.1 In Agade, Sargon, whose father was a gardener, the cupbearer of Ur-Zababa, became king, the king of Agade, { who built Agade } { (ms. L1+N1 has instead:) under whom Agade was built }; he ruled for { 56 } { (ms. L1+N1 has instead:) 55 } { (ms. TL has instead:) 54 } years. Rīmuš, the son of Sargon, ruled for { 9 } { (ms. IB has instead:) 7 } { (ms. L1+N1 has instead:) 15 } years. Man-ištiššu, the older brother of Rīmuš, the son of Sargon, ruled for { 15 } { (ms. L1+N1 has instead:) 7 } years. Narām-Suen, the son of Man-ištiššu, ruled for (mss. L1+N1, P3+BT14 have:) { 56 } years. Šar-kali-šarrī, the son of Narām-Suen, ruled for { (ms. L1+N1, Su+Su4 have:) 25 } { (ms. P3+BT14 has instead:) 24 } years. { (ms. P3+BT14 adds:) 157 are the years of the dynasty of Sargon. } Then { who was the king? Who was not the king? } { (ms. Su3+Su4 has instead:) who was the king? Who indeed was the king? } Irgigi was king, Imi was king, Nanûm was king (in mss. L1+N1, Su3+Su4, Imi and Nanûm are in reverse order), Ilulu was king, and the (mss. P3+BT14, S have:) { 4 } of them ruled for only (mss. P3+BT14, S have:) { 3 } years. Dudu ruled for 21 years. Šu-Durul, the son of Dudu, ruled for { 15 } { (ms. IB has instead:) 18 } years. { 11 kings; they ruled for 181 years } { (ms. S has instead:) 12 kings; they ruled for (ms. S has:) { 197 } years } { (mss. Su1, Su3+Su4, which omit Dudu and Šu-Durul, have instead:) 9 kings; they ruled for { (ms. Su1 has:) 161 } { (ms. Su3+Su4 has instead:) 177 } years }. { Then Agade was defeated } { (ms. S has instead:) Then the reign of Agade was abolished } and the kingship was taken to Unug. |
| Sargon and Ur-Zababa: c.2.1.4 Then Sargon -- his city was the city of ……, his father was La’ibum, his mother …… -- Sargon …… with happy heart. Since he was born ……. (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| Sargon and Ur-Zababa: c.2.1.4 One day, after the evening had arrived and Sargon had brought the regular deliveries to the palace, Ur-Zababa was sleeping (and dreaming) in the holy bed-chamber, his holy residence. He realised what the dream was about, but did not put into words, did not discuss it with anyone. After Sargon had received the regular deliveries for the palace, Ur-Zababa appointed him cupbearer, putting him in charge of the drinks cupboard. Holy Inana did not cease to stand by him. |
| Sargon and Ur-Zababa: c.2.1.4 It was then that the cupbearer of Ezina's wine-house, Sargon, lay down not to sleep, but lay down to dream. In the dream, holy Inana drowned Ur-Zababa in a river of blood. The sleeping Sargon groaned and gnawed the ground. When King Ur-Zababa heard about this groaning, he was brought into the king's holy presence, Sargon was brought into the presence of Ur-Zababa (who said:) "Cupbearer, was a dream revealed to you in the night?" Sargon answered his king: "My king, this is my dream, which I will tell you about: There was a young woman who was as high as the heavens and as broad as the earth. She was firmly set as the base of a wall. For me, she drowned you in a great river, a river of blood." |
| Sargon and Ur-Zababa: c.2.1.4 Ur-Zababa chewed his lips, he became seriously afraid. He spoke to ……, his chancellor: "My royal sister, holy Inana, is going to change (?) my finger into a …… of blood; she will drown Sargon, the cupbearer, in the great river. Beliš-tikal, chief smith, man of my choosing, who can write tablets, I will give you orders, let my orders be carried out! Let my advice be followed! Now then, when the cupbearer has delivered my bronze hand-mirror (?) to you, in the E-sikil, the fated house, throw them (the mirror and Sargon) into the mould like statues." |
| Sargon and Ur-Zababa: c.2.1.4 Beliš-tikal heeded his king's words and prepared the moulds in the E-sikil, the fated house. The king spoke to Sargon: "Go and deliver my bronze hand-mirror (?) to the chief smith!" Sargon left the palace of Ur-Zababa. Holy Inana, however, did not cease to stand at his right hand side, and before he had come within five or 10 nindan of the E-sikil, the fated house, holy Inana turned around toward him and blocked his way, (saying:) "The E-sikil is a holy house! No one polluted with blood should enter it!" Thus he met the chief smith of the king only at the gate of the fated house. After he delivered the king's bronze hand-mirror (?) to the chief smith, Beliš-tikal, the chief smith, …… and threw it into the mould like statues. |
| Sargon and Ur-Zababa: c.2.1.4 After five or 10 days had passed, Sargon came into the presence of Ur-Zababa, his king; he came into the palace, firmly founded like a great mountain. King Ur-Zababa …… and became frightened in his residence. He realised what was it about, but did not put into words, did not discuss it with anyone. Ur-Zababa became frightened in the bed-chamber, his holy residence. He realised what was it about, but did not put into words, did not discuss it with anyone. |
| Sargon and Ur-Zababa: c.2.1.4 In those days, although writing words on tablets existed, putting tablets into envelopes did not yet exist. King Ur-Zababa despatched Sargon, the creature of the gods, to Lugal-zage-si in Unug with a message written on clay, which was about murdering Sargon. (unknown no. of lines missing) |
| Sargon and Ur-Zababa: c.2.1.4 Lugal-zage-si replied to the envoy: "Envoy, Sargon does not yield."After he has submitted,Sargon …… Lugal-zage-si …….Sargon …… Lugal-zage-si ……. Why …… Sargon ……? |
| The cursing of Agade: c.2.1.5 After Enlil's frown had slain Kiš as if it were the Bull of Heaven, had slaughtered the house of the land of Unug in the dust as if it were a mighty bull, and then Enlil had given the rulership and kingship from the south as far as the highlands to Sargon, king of Agade -- at that time, holy Inana established the sanctuary of Agade as her celebrated woman's domain; she set up her throne in Ulmaš. |
| The 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 lament for Sumer and Urim: c.2.2.3 On that day, the storm forced people to live in darkness. In order to destroy Kuara, it forced people to live in darkness. Nineḫama in her fear wept bitter tears." Alas the destroyed city, my destroyed house," she cried bitterly. Asarluḫi put his robes on with haste and ……. Lugalbanda took an unfamiliar path away from his beloved dwelling. { (1 ms. adds:) Ninsumun ……. } "Alas the destroyed city, my destroyed house," she cried bitterly. |
| A šir-namursaĝa to Ninsiana for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A): c.2.5.3.1 They fill the tables of the Land with ghee, dates, cheese, and seven sorts of fruits as first-fruit offerings for her. They pour dark beer for her, they pour light beer for her. Dark beer, emmer beer, and emmer beer for my lady bubble in the šagub jar and the lamsari vat for her. From pastes of honey mixed with ghee { (some mss. add the line:) From …… mixed with ghee }, they bake date-syrup cakes for her. They pour out early-morning beer, flour, flour in honey, honey, and wine of sunrise for her. The personal gods of the people also attend upon her with food and drink. { They provide the Mistress with food in the holy place, the pure place. } { (some mss. have instead:) They purify the earth for the Mistress, they celebrate her in songs. } |
| A praise poem of Enlil-bāni (Enlil-bāni A): c.2.5.8.1 Enlil-bāni, you are the one who has authority. Sweet mouth, lips good with words, (2 lines missing)husband of holy Inana, Asarluḫi gave you wisdom. |
| A prayer to Asarluḫi for Ḫammu-rābi (Ḫammu-rābi D): c.2.8.2.4 O Asarluḫi, …… destiny for my Ḫammu-rābi! |
| 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 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! |
| Letter from Ibbi-Suen to Išbi-Erra about his bad conduct: c.3.1.18 As long as Enlil was my lord (?), what course were you following? And is this how you alter your word? Today Enlil detests me, he detests his son Suen (the principal deity of Urim), and is handing Urim over to the enemy. Its central part (?) is gone, the enemy has risen up, and all the lands are thrown into disarray. But on the day when Enlil turns again towards his son Suen, you and your word will be marked out! |
| 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 Son endowed with a broad understanding, whose movement is that of an animal with large horns in the split reeds; Asarluḫi, mighty deluge determining great fates, unleashed and knowing no course whatsoever! When great An shared out the divine powers for heaven and earth, incantations fell to your lot. Scanning all mankind with a glance, god of benign features, with an attractive physique; most skilled metalworker, creating masterpieces; counsellor and judge, whose word in the august sanctuary is unalterable and whose character is sublime: I shall exalt him in song and glorify his name. |
| A hymn to Asarluḫi (Asarluḫi A): c.4.01.1 Eloquent one of the abzu, great minister of Eridug, lordly Asarluḫi! The enkum and ninkum priests, the abgal and abrig priests, the …… priestesses and the …… all pay attention when you open your holy mouth. Daily as they go forth, they circumambulate (?) you. Cleansing the purification rites with pure hands and pure tread, holy in every respect, you are the supervisor of the purification priests of E-abzu. |
| 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-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 šir-gida to Martu (Martu A): c.4.12.1 Hero, august youth, who completely controls the distant mountains as far as their borders! Martu, august youth, who completely controls the distant mountains as far as their borders, who possesses the strength of a savage lion, who occupies a holy dais in the mountains, the pure place! Martu, who possesses the strength of a savage lion, who occupies a holy dais in the mountains, the pure place, who is imbued with great fearsomeness, whom holy An engendered, who appears gloriously with numerous divine powers! His own mother Ninḫursaĝa made his form excel Medim-ša's so that no one should threaten him. The Anuna, the great gods, enhanced his strength with warrior qualities, and spoke favourably to him. They invested (?) him with authority that accompanies him in battle like a coat of armour, …… to him mace, divine weapon, a great bow, arrows and quiver in his august hands, made his divinity magnificently perfect, and let him …… no adversaries. |
| A hymn to Ninimma (Ninimma A): c.4.21.1 You are the seal-holder of the treasury of the ……. You are the caretaker of the great gods, you are ……. Ninimma, you are the lady of all the great rites in the E-kur. Lady, you are the …… of Enlil, you are the heavenly scribe. You …… the tablet of life. (1 line fragmentary) You who bring the best corn are the lady of the E-sara. The surveyor's gleaming line and the measuring rod suit you perfectly. You can hold your head high among the great princes. You are ……. You are ……, the cherished one. (1 line fragmentary) ……; you are exceptional in wisdom. …… joy ……. My lady, you were exalted already in the womb; you are resplendent like the sunlight. You are suited to the lapis-lazuli crown (?); you are the heavenly ……. …… adorned with loveliness ……. (1 line fragmentary) (approx. 10 lines missing) |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 Your prince, the most precious prince Asarluḫi, the most precious one, is a warrior, born a noble prince, a leopard who seizes prey. He is like an onrushing storm battering the rebel land. As long as it remains disobedient, he pours spittle upon it. Asar-alim-nuna, the son of the abzu, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Kuara, and taken his seat upon your dais. |
| The temple hymns: c.4.80.1 11 lines: the house of Asarluḫi in Kuara. |
| The Keš temple hymn: c.4.80.2 House positioned over its foundations like a storm, like white bulls standing about on the plain; house founded by the prince, in praise on the tigi instrument! House in whose interior is the power of the Land, and behind which { is the life of Sumer } { (some mss. have instead:) it is filled with life }; at whose gate is a lion reclining on its paws, at whose gate is the ruler who decides cases (?)! House at whose door is the Great Mountain without adversary; { at whose bolt } { (some mss. have here instead:) at whose bar } is a great frisking wild bull { (some mss. add here the line:), at whose bolt is a beast …… a man } { (1 ms. adds here instead the line:), at whose …… is an awe-inspiring lion } ! { Whose well-founded storehouse is a corner of heaven, a corner of earth } { (1 ms. has here instead:) Whose storehouse established as a household is a lance (?) }; whose terrace is supported by laḫama deities; whose princely { (1 ms. adds:) great } wall …… the shrine of Urim! Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Keš? Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Ašgi? Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur? |
| A drinking song: c.5.5.a The gakkul vat, the gakkul vat! The gakkul vat, the lamsare vat! The gakkul vat, which puts us in a happy mood! The lamsare vat, which makes the heart rejoice! The ugurbal jar, glory of the house! The šaggub jar, filled with beer! The amam jar, which carries the beer from the lamsare vat! The troughs made with bur grass and the pails for kneading the dough! All the beautiful vessels are ready on their pot stands! |
| The home of the fish: c.5.9.1 The one with a spiny (?) tail and a spiny (?) back, who goes ……, my še-suḫur-gal (?) fish: may he also enter with you, my fish! The fish who is like a crying child in its prayers, my še-suḫur-sig (?) fish: may he also enter with you, my fish! With a pickaxe as a head, and having a comb for teeth, the branches of a fir-tree as its bones, Dumuzid's waterskin for its stomach (?), with a dehaired skin that does not need processing, with its slender tail like the fishermen's whip, the jumping fish, with naturally smoothed skin, with no entrails in its nose, the fish that hides from its adversary, whose sting goes across like a nail, that is taboo and is not placed as an offering in the city's shrines, my mur fish (= sting-ray): may he also enter with you, my fish! |
| Proverbs: collection 3: c.6.1.03 Where someone is lame, …… the emissary of Bau comes to their aid. |
| Proverbs: collection 5: c.6.1.05 The owner of an ox is also happy at being the emissary at the city gate. |
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© Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 The ETCSL project, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford |
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