Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria

A tigi to Enlil for Ur-Namma

(Ur-Namma B)

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

Exalted Enlil, ...... fame ......, lord who ...... his great princedom, Nunamnir, king of heaven and earth ......, looked around among the people. The Great Mountain, Enlil, chose Ur-Namma the good shepherd from the multitude of people: "Let him be the shepherd of Nunamnir!" He made him emanate (?) fierce awesomeness.

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.

The shepherd Ur-Namma made the lofty E-kur grow high in Dur-an-ki. He made it to be wondered by the multitude of people. He made glittering the eyebrow-shaped arches of the Lofty Gate, the Great Gate, the Gate of Peace, the Artfully Built Mountain and the Gate of Perpetual Grain Supplies, by covering them with refined silver. The Anzud bird runs there and an eagle seizes enemies in its claws (?). Its doors are lofty; he filled them with joy. The temple is lofty, it is surrounded with fearsome radiance. It is spread wide, it awakes great awesomeness. Within it, he made the Artfully Built Mountain, the raised temple (?), the holy dwelling stand fast for the Great Mountain like a lofty tower (?).

In the Gagiccua of the great palace, where she renders verdicts with grandeur, he made the great mother Ninlil glad. Enlil and Ninlil relished it there. In its great dining-hall, the trustworthy hero chosen by Nunamnir made them enjoy a magnificent meal: the E-kur was rejoicing. They looked with approval at the shepherd Ur-Namma, and the Great Mountain decreed a great destiny for Ur-Namma for all time, making him the mightiest among his black-headed people.

The sagida.

"I am Nunamnir, whose firm commands and decisions are immutable! You have made my lofty E-kur shine gloriously, you have raised it high with a brilliant crenellation. Trustworthy hero, you have made it shine gloriously in the Land. Ur-Namma, mighty lord, may your (?) kingship be unparalleled, may your fame spread to heaven's borders, as far as the foot of the mountains!"

"I am the Great Mountain, father Enlil, whose firm commands and decisions are immutable! You have made my lofty E-kur shine gloriously, you have raised it high with a brilliant crenellation. Trustworthy hero, you have made it shine gloriously in the Land. Ur-Namma, mighty lord, may your (?) kingship be unparalleled, may your fame spread to heaven's borders, as far as the foot of the mountains!"

Lord Nunamnir gave to my king the lofty mace which heaps up human heads like piles of dust in the hostile foreign countries and smashes the rebellious lands; he gave to the shepherd Ur-Namma the lofty mace which heaps up human heads like piles of dust in the hostile foreign countries and smashes the rebellious lands, so now he beats down the foreign lands and tramples them underfoot. Lord Nunamnir gave it to the shepherd Ur-Namma, so now he beats down the foreign lands and tramples them underfoot.

He destroys the cities of the wicked, and with heavy oppression he turns (?) them into haunted places. The shepherd Ur-Namma destroys the cities of the wicked, and with heavy oppression he turns (?) them into haunted places. He has a terrible fame in the houses of the rebellious lands, his storming ...... the wicked. The shepherd Ur-Namma has a terrible fame in the houses of the rebellious lands, his storming ...... the wicked.

He has made the royal dais stand firmly, he has made Urim resplendent. The shepherd Ur-Namma has made it exude awesomeness, and he, as king of the Land, has lifted his head high there. All this was granted to him in the place of his king, Enlil: a fate was decreed and then it was duly fulfilled. There is now joy and abundance in Urim because (?) of Ur "Namma.

The sajara. A tigi of Enlil.

September 25, 2011
0
Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

Praise poem of Ur-Nammu

A praise poem of Ur-Namma

(Ur-Namma C)

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

ETCSL Home Page

City of the finest divine powers, lofty royal throne-dais! Shrine Urim, pre-eminent in Sumer, built in a pure place! City, your well-founded great wall has grown out of the abzu! City, beautiful as the sky, endowed with beauty, colourfully decorated in a great place! Shrine Urim, well-founded jipar, dwelling of An and Enlil! Your lofty palace is the E-kic-nujal, in which the fates are determined! Your pilasters heavy with radiance tower over all the countries! Its terrace like a white cloud is a spectacle in the midst of heaven. Its ...... like flashing lightning shines (?) inside a shrine. Like a single bull under the yoke, ....... Suen's beloved pure table; E-kic-nujal, Suen's beloved pure table. The king, ornament of the royal offering place, occupies the august courtyard; Ur-Namma the exalted, whom no one dares to oppose, ....... Urim, the wide city .......

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......, 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. Nintud 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. Ningubalag has given me strength. In the whole extent of heaven and earth, no one can escape from a battle with me.

I am Ur-Namma, king of Urim, the protecting genius of my city. I strike against those guilty of capital offences, and make them tremble. The fear I cause ....... My judgments make Sumer and Akkad follow a single path. I place my foot on the necks of thieves and criminals. I clamp down on evildoers, who will be caught like snakes. I ...... fugitives, and their intentions will be set right. I make justice apparent; I defeat wickedness. As if I were fire, even my frowning is enough to create concord. My word ....... ...... the lands, the foreign countries ...... Urim ....... Their food offerings make Nanna rejoice in E-kic-nujal.

After my seed had been poured into the holy womb, Suen, loving its appearance (?), made it partake of Nanna's attractiveness. Coming forth over the Land like Utu, Enlil called me by an auspicious name, and Nintud assisted at my birth. As I came forth from the womb of my mother Ninsun, a favorable destiny was determined for me.

In me, Ur-Namma, the lands of Sumer and Akkad have their protecting genius. I am a source of joy for the Land; my life indeed creates! ......, the fields are resplendent (?) under my rule. In the fields growing with ......, ...... did not multiply under my rule. In the desert, the roads are made up as for a festival, and are passable because of me. The owner of the fields ......; it rises (?) up to his chest. I have freed the sons of the poor from their duty of going to fetch firewood.

After the storm ......, and the month had been completed (?) for me, Enlil chose me by extispicy on a day very auspicious for him. He spoke fairly to Sumer, and caused me to arise (?) from my family (?). Because of my broad understanding and wisdom, An the king entrusted ...... into my hands. I am the foremost one of Sumer. I am ...... good ....... I am ....... I am ...... of the Land.

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I, the lord, .......

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 jipar. 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 (?).

Since I have been adorned (?) with their rulership, no one imposes taxes on my abundant crops which grow tall. My commands bring about (?) joy in the great fortresses of the mountains. The joy of my city and the territory (?) of Sumer delights me. I release water into the canals of Sumer, making the trees grow tall on their banks. I have lifted the yoke of its male prostitutes.

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I returned ...... to Urim. I made ...... return (?) to his country ...... like ....... I loaded its grain on barges, I delivered it to its store-houses. I returned its ...... citizens to their (?) homes. I ...... their earth-baskets. I ...... the savage hands of the Gutians, the ....... After I had made the evil-doers return (?) to their ......, I restored (?) the walls that had been torn down; my outstanding mind ....... ...... the shrine of Urim ....... I am the foremost workman (?) of Enlil; I am the one who ...... food offerings.

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...... at a banquet with me in the city. ...... joyful dance ....... I have brought abundance to Enlil's temple on the king's canal: I have directed ships both to the wine quay of Enlil and to the lapis-lazuli quay of Nanna. Alcohol and syrup have been poured out before Enlil. To me, the shepherd Ur-Namma, let life be given as a reward! For Nanna, my master, I have built his temple; as if it were a verdant hillside, I have set up the E-kic-nujal in a great place. I have surrounded (?) its terrace with a gold and lapis-lazuli fence.

I am the creature of Nanna! I am the older brother of Gilgamec! I am the son borne by Ninsun, a princely seed! For me, kingship came down from heaven! Sweet is the praise of me, the shepherd Ur-Namma!

September 25, 2011
0
Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

The death of Ur-Nammu

The death of Ur-Namma

(Ur-Namma A)

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

ETCSL Home Page

A version from Nippur

...... entire land ......, ....... struck, the palace was devastated. ...... panic spread rapidly among the dwellings of the black-headed people. ...... abandoned places ...... in Sumer. ...... the cities were destroyed in their entirety; the people were seized with panic. Evil came upon Urim and made the trustworthy shepherd pass away. It made Ur-Namma, the trustworthy shepherd, pass away; it made the trustworthy shepherd pass away.

Because An had altered his holy words completely, ...... became empty, and because, deceitfully, Enlil had completely changed the fate he decreed, Ninmah 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 mother, miserable because of her son, the mother of the king, holy Ninsun, was crying: "Oh my heart!". Because of the fate decreed for Ur-Namma, because it made the trustworthy shepherd pass away, she was weeping bitterly in the broad square, which is otherwise a place of entertainment. Sweet sleep did not come to the people whose happiness ......; they passed their time in lamentation over the trustworthy shepherd who had been snatched away.

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.

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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 wise shepherd ...... does not give orders any more. ...... in battle and combat. The king, the advocate of Sumer, the ornament of the assembly, Ur-Namma, the advocate of Sumer, the ornament of the assembly, the leader of Sumer, ...... lies sick. His hands which used to grasp cannot grasp any more, he lies sick. His feet ...... cannot step any more, he lies sick.

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The trustworthy shepherd, king, the sword of Sumer, Ur-Namma, the king of the Land, was taken to the ...... house. He was taken to Urim; the king of the Land was brought into the ...... house. The proud one lay in his palace. Ur-Namma, he who was beloved by the troops, could not raise his neck any more. The wise one ...... lay down; silence descended. As he, who was the vigour of the Land, had fallen, the Land became demolished like a mountain; like a cypress forest it was stripped, its appearance changed. As if he were a boxwood tree, they put axes against him in his joyous dwelling place. As if he were a sappy cedar tree, he was uprooted in the palace where he used to sleep (?). His spouse ...... resting place; ...... was covered by a storm; it embraced it like a wife her sweetheart (?). His appointed time had arrived, and he passed away in his prime.

His (?) pleasing sacrifices were no longer accepted; they were treated as dirty (?). The Anuna gods refused his gifts. An did not stand by an "It is enough", and he could not complete his (?) days. Because of what Enlil ordered, there was no more rising up; his beloved men lost their wise one. Strangers turned into (?) ....... How iniquitously Ur-Namma was abandoned, like a broken jar! His ...... with grandeur like (?) thick clouds (?). He does not ...... any more, and he does not reach out for ....... "...... Ur-Namma, alas, what is it to me?" Ur-Namma, the son of Ninsun, was brought to Arali, the ...... of the Land, in his prime. The soldiers accompanying the king shed tears: their boat (i.e. Ur-Namma) was sunk in a land as foreign to them as Dilmun. ...... was cut. It was stripped of the oars, punting poles and rudder which it had. ......; its bolt was broken off. ...... was put aside; it stood (?) in saltpetre. His donkeys were to be found with the king; they were buried with him. His donkeys were to be found with Ur-Namma; they were buried with him. As he crossed over the ...... of the Land, the Land was deprived of its ornament. The journey to the nether world is a desolate route. Because of the king, the chariots were covered over, the roads were thrown into disorder, no one could go up and down on them. Because of Ur-Namma, the chariots were covered over, the roads were thrown into disorder, no one could go up and down on them.

He presented gifts to the seven chief porters of the nether world. As the famous kings who had died and the dead icib priests, lumah priests, and nindijir priestesses, all chosen by extispicy, announced the king's coming to the people, a tumult arose in the nether world. As they announced Ur-Namma's coming to the people, a tumult arose in the nether world. The king slaughtered numerous bulls and sheep, Ur-Namma seated the people at a huge banquet. The food of the nether world is bitter, the water of the nether world is brackish. The trustworthy shepherd knew well the rites of the nether world, so the king presented the offerings of the nether world, Ur-Namma presented the offerings of the nether world: as many faultless bulls, faultless kids, and fattened sheep as could be brought.

To Nergal, the Enlil of the nether world, in his palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a mace, a large bow with quiver and arrows, an artfully made ...... dagger, and a multi-coloured leather bag for wearing at the hip.

To Gilgamec, the king of the nether world, in his palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a spear, a leather bag for a saddle-hook, a heavenly lion-headed imitum mace, a shield resting on the ground, a heroic weapon, and a battle-axe, an implement beloved of Ereckigala.

To Ereckigala, the mother of Ninazu, in her palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a ...... which he filled with oil, a cajan bowl of perfect make, a heavy garment, a long-fleeced garment, a queenly pala robe, ...... the divine powers of the nether world.

To Dumuzid, the beloved husband of Inana, in his palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a ...... sheep, ......, mountain ......, a lordly golden sceptre, ...... a shining hand. (1 ms. adds: He ...... a gold and silver ......, a lapis-lazuli ......, and a ...... pin to Dimpikug ....... )

To Namtar, who decrees all the fates, in his palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered perfectly wrought jewellery, a golden ring cast (?) as a ...... barge, pure cornelian stone fit to be worn on the breasts of the gods.

To Hucbisag, the wife of Namtar, in her palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a chest (?) with a lapis-lazuli handle, containing (?) everything that is essential in the underworld, a silver hair clasp adorned with lapis-lazuli, and a comb of womanly fashion.

To the valiant warrior Ninjiczida, in his palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a chariot with ...... wheels sparkling with gold, ...... donkeys, thoroughbreds, ...... donkeys with dappled thighs, ......, followed ...... by a shepherd and a herdsman. To Dimpimekug (1 ms. has instead: Dimpikug), who stands by his side, he gave a lapis-lazuli seal hanging from a pin, and a gold and silver toggle-pin with a bison's head.

To his spouse, Ninazimua, the august scribe, denizen of Arali, in her palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a headdress with the august ear-pieces (?) of a sage, made of alabaster, a ...... stylus, the hallmark of the scribe, a surveyor's gleaming line, and the measuring rod .......

To ......, the great ...... of the nether world, he gave

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After the king had presented properly the offerings of the nether world, after Ur-Namma had presented properly the offerings of the nether world, the ...... of the underworld, the ......, seated Ur-Namma on a great dais of the nether world and set up a dwelling place for him in the nether world. At the command of Ereckigala all the soldiers who had been killed by weapons and all the men who had been found guilty were given into the king's hands. Ur-Namma was ......, so with Gilgamec, his beloved brother, he will issue the judgments of the nether world and render the decisions of the nether world.

After seven days, ten days had passed, lamenting for Sumer overwhelmed my king, lamenting for Sumer overwhelmed Ur-Namma. My king's heart was full of tears, he ...... bitterly that he could not complete the wall of Urim; that he could no longer enjoy the new palace he had built; that he, the shepherd, could no longer ...... his household (?); that he could no longer bring pleasure to his wife with his embrace; that he could not bring up his sons on his knees; that he would never see in their prime the beauty of their little sisters who had not yet grown up.

The trustworthy shepherd ...... a heart-rending lament for himself: "I, who have been treated like this, served the gods well, set up chapels for them. I have created evident abundance for the Anuna gods. I have laid treasures on their beds strewn with fresh herbs. Yet no god stood by me and soothed my heart. Because of them, anything that could have been a favourable portent for me was as far away from me as the heavens, the ....... What is my reward for my eagerness to serve during the days? My days have been finished for serving them sleeplessly during the night! Now, just as the rain pouring down from heaven cannot turn back, alas, nor can I turn back to brick-built Urim.

"Alas, my wife has become a widow (?)! She spends the days in tears and bitter laments. My strength has ebbed away ....... The hand of fate ...... 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. Ninsun no longer rests her august arm firmly on her head. Nanna, lord Acimbabbar, no longer leads (?) her by 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.

"My tigi, adab, flute and zamzam songs have been turned into laments because of me. The instruments of the house of music have been propped against the wall. Because I have been made to ...... on a heap of soil (?) instead of my throne whose beauty was endless; because I have been made to lie down in the open, desolate steppe instead of my bed, the sleeping place whose ...... was endless, alas, my wife and my children are in tears and wailing. My people whom I used to command (?) sing like lamentation and dirge singers because of her (?). While I was so treated, foremost Inana, the warlike lady, was not present at my verdict. Enlil had sent her as a messenger to all the foreign lands concerning very important matters."

When she had turned her gaze away from there, Inana humbly entered the shining E-kur, she ...... at Enlil's fierce brow. (Then Enlil said:) "Great lady of the E-ana, once someone has bowed down, he cannot ...... (?) any more; the trustworthy shepherd left E-ana, you cannot see him any more." My lady ...... among the people ...... (1 ms. has instead: like ......). Then Inana, the fierce storm, the eldest child of Suen, ......, made the heavens tremble, made the earth shake. Inana destroyed cattle-pens, devastated sheepfolds, saying: "I want to hurl insults at An, the king of the gods: Who can change the matter, if Enlil elevates someone? Who can change the import of the august words uttered by An, the king? If there are divine ordinances imposed on the Land, but they are not observed, there will be no abundance at the gods's place of sunrise. My holy jipar, the shrine E-ana, has been barred up like (?) a mountain (some mss. have instead: like the heavens). If only my shepherd could enter before me in it in his prime -- I will not enter it otherwise! (some mss. have instead: Why should I enter it otherwise?) If only my strong one could grow for me like grass and herbs in the desert. If only he could hold steady for me like a river boat at its calm mooring." This is how Inana ...... a lament over him (1 ms. has instead: ...... Ur-Namma ......)

Lord Ninjiczida ....... Ur-Namma, my ...... who was killed,

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Among tears and laments, ...... decreed a fate for Ur-Namma: "Ur-Namma ......, your august name will be called upon. From the south to the uplands, ...... the holy sceptre. Sumer ...... to your palace. The people will admire ...... the canals which you have dug, the ...... which you have ......, the large and grand arable tracts which you have ......, the reed-beds which you have drained, the wide barley fields which you ......, and the fortresses and settlements which you have ....... Ur-Namma, they will call upon ...... your name. Lord Nunamnir, surpassing ......, will drive away the evil spirits ......"

After shepherd Ur-Namma ......, Nanna, lord Acimbabbar, ......, 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 judgements. ......, lord Ninjiczida be praised! My king ...... among tears and laments; ...... among tears and laments.

A version from Susa

SEGMENT A

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...... frowned at ....... ......, the day was full of sorrow. ...... withdrew into his bedchamber and lay down fasting.

The mother, wretched (?) because of her son, ...... the mother of the king, holy Ninsun, was crying: "Oh my heart!". She was weeping bitterly in the broad square, which is otherwise a place of entertainment, that the fate of Ur-Namma had been overturned and that the trustworthy shepherd had been made to pass away. She spent the day in lamentation over the trustworthy shepherd who had been snatched away. Sweet sleep did not (?) come to the people whose happiness had come to an end.

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 ......

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SEGMENT B

Ur-Namma ....... His hands which used to grasp, cannot ....... His feet which used to tread, .......

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The trustworthy shepherd, the king, the ...... of Sumer, Ur-Namma, ....... As he himself was going to Urim, Ur-Namma ...... house. The proud one lying in the palace, Ur-Namma, who ...... by the troops (?), ....... He could not rise any more, the wise one of the countries lay down; silence ....... As he, who was the vigour of the Land, has fallen, the land became demolished like a mountain. As he, a cypress forest, was felled, the state of the Land became confused. As he, the cedar tree of the Land, was uprooted, the state of the Land became altered. Axes (?) were set against him, a boxwood tree, in his joyous dwelling place. His appointed time arrived, and he passed away in his prime.

His (?) pleasing sacrifices were no longer accepted; they were treated as dirty (?). The Anuna gods did not reach out for his gifts any more. ...... did not stand by an "It is enough", his (?) days were not prolonged. ......, there was no more rising up. Ur-Namma, a broken jar, was abandoned at .......

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"......, what is it to me?"

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SEGMENT C

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...... the bolt ....... ...... sat (?) in saltpetre. ......, the roads were thrown into disorder, no one could go up and down on them; ......, the roads were thrown into disorder, no one could go up and down on them. ...... is a long route. ...... the way ....... ...... the journey to the nether world .......

...... gifts ....... ...... chief porters ....... ...... who died ......, ...... dead nindijir priestesses, chosen by extispicy,

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...... raised a tumult ......; ...... raised a tumult ....... The king knew well the rites of the nether world, Ur-Namma knew well the rites of the nether world: so he brought magnificent bulls, faultless kids, and fattened sheep.

To Nergal, the Enlil of the nether world, in his palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a mace, a large bow with quiver and arrows, a large ...... dagger, and a multi-coloured leather bag for wearing at the hip.

To Gilgamec, the king of the nether world, in his palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a spear, a leather bag for (?) the saddle-hook ......, a heavenly lion-headed mitum mace, a shield resting on the ground, and a battle-axe, an implement beloved of Ereckigala.

To Ereckigala, the mother of Ninazu ......, in her palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a ...... with oil, a cajan bowl of perfect make, a royal ......, ...... the divine powers of the nether world .......

To Dumuzid, the beloved husband of Inana, in his palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered alum sheep, long-fleeced sheep, big mountain he-goats, a lordly ...... of manu wood fit for a shining hand, and shepherd's staff and crook of manu wood, fit for a lord.

To Namtar, who decrees all (?) the fates, in his palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered perfectly wrought jewellery, a golden ring cast (?) as a ...... barge, pure cornelian stone ...... of the gods.

To Hucbisag, the wife of Namtar, in her palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a chest with a lapis-lazuli handle, containing (?) everything that is essential in the underworld, a hair clasp adorned with lapis-lazuli, and seven (?) combs of womanly fashion.

To ...... Ninjiczida, in his palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a ...... sparkling with ......, ....... donkeys that bray loudly (?), followed by .......

To ...... Ninazimua, ...... denizen of Arali, and to Jectin-ana, the king's sister, in her palace, the shepherd Ur-Namma offered a ......, the hallmark of the scribe, ......, a peg and the measuring rod .......

To Dimpimekug, who stands at the right and the left (?), the shepherd Ur-Namma ...... and offered in her (?) palace a golden and silver toggle-pin with a bison's head, and a lapis-lazuli seal with a golden edge and a pin of refined silver.

To ......, the great ensi of the nether world he brought the magnificent bulls, faultless kids, and fattened sheep that he had; in his palace the shepherd Ur-Namma offered them.

After the offerings were presented to the great ...... of the underworld, the Anuna, they (?) seated Ur-Namma on a great dais of the nether world and set up a dwelling place for him in the nether world. At the command of Ereckigala, with (?) Gilgamec, his beloved brother, he will pass the judgments of the nether world and render the ...... decisions concerning (?) all the men who fell by weapons and all the men who ...... guilty.

After five days, ten days had passed, lamenting for Sumer overwhelmed my king, lamenting for Sumer overwhelmed Ur-Namma. As he could not complete the wall of Urim; as he could no longer enjoy the new palace he had built; as he, the shepherd, could no longer protect (?) his household; as he could no longer bring pleasure to his wife with his embrace; as he could not bring up his sons on his knees; as he would never see in their prime the beauty of their little sisters, who are yet to grow up, the trustworthy shepherd uttered a heart-rending lament for himself: "I, who ......, who ......, ...... for the great gods, I have set up chapels for them. I have created evident abundance for the Anuna gods. I have ...... treasures to their ...... shining thrones. ...... a favourable portent for me, was ...... as the nether world or the heavens .......

1 line fragmentary

approx. 7 lines missing

SEGMENT D

"...... guard ....... ...... silence ....... ...... adab, flute and zamzam songs ...... laments. ...... have been propped against the wall. Because I have been made to sit on ...... whose beauty was endless; because I have been made to fall in ...... was endless,

1 line fragmentary

Maiden Inana, the warlike lady, ....... Enlil had sent her as a messenger to all the great mountains."

When she had turned her gaze away from there, the trustworthy shepherd had left the E-ana, and she (?) could not see him any more. She ...... at Enlil's fierce brow. Antagonistically (?) she insulted An, the king of the gods: "When An, the king speaks, his words cannot be changed! ...... Ur-Namma ....... There will be no ...... at the gods' place of sunrise. ...... holy jipar, shrine E-ana ....... ...... not enter ......."

September 25, 2011
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Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

The Temple Hymns

THE TEMPLE HYMNS

Gracious permission from: 'Copyright J.A. Black, G. Cunningham, E. Robson, and G. Zlyomi 1998, 1999, 2000. The authors have asserted their moral rights.'Scholarly Versions at their Home Page The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Oxford University.

E-Unir

1-7. O E-unir (House which is a ziqqurat), grown together with heaven and earth, foundation of heaven and earth, great banqueting hall of Eridug! Abzu, shrine erected for its prince, E-du-kug (House which is the holy mound) where pure food is eaten, watered by the prince's pure canal, mountain, pure place cleansed with the potash plant, Abzu, your tigi drums belong to the divine powers.

8-15. Your great wall is in good repair. Light does not enter your meeting-place where the god dwells, the great , the beautiful place. Your tightly constructed house is sacred and has no equal. Your prince, the great prince, has fixed firmly a holy crown for you in your precinct -- O Eridug with a crown placed on your head, bringing forth thriving thornbushes, pure thornbushes for the susbu priests (?), O shrine Abzu, your place, your great place!

16-23. At your place of calling upon Utu, at your oven bringing bread to eat, on your ziqqurat, a magnificent shrine stretching toward heaven, at your great oven rivalling the great banqueting hall, your prince, the prince of heaven and earth can never be changed, the , the creator, the , the wise one, the , lord Nudimmud, has erected a house in your precinct, O E-engura (House of the subterranean waters), and taken his seat upon your dais.

24. 23 lines: the house of Enki in Eridug.

25-33. O , shrine where destiny is determined, , foundation, raised with a ziqqurat, , settlement of Enlil, your , your right and your left are Sumer and Akkad. House of Enlil, your interior is cool, your exterior determines destiny. Your door-jambs and architrave are a mountain summit, your projecting pilasters a dignified mountain. Your peak is a peak of your princely platform. Your base serves heaven and earth.

34-37. Your prince, the great prince Enlil, the good lord, the lord of the limits of heaven, the lord who determines destiny, the Great Mountain Enlil, has erected a house in your precinct, O shrine Nibru, and taken his seat upon your dais.

38. 13 lines: the house of Enlil in Nibru.

39-46. O Tummal, exceedingly worthy of the princely divine powers, inspiring awe and dread! Foundation, your pure lustration extends over the abzu. Primeval city, reed-bed green with old reeds and new shoots, your interior is a mountain of abundance built in plenitude. At your feast held in the month of the New Year, you are wondrously adorned as the great lady of Ki-ur rivals Enlil. Your princess, mother Ninlil, the beloved wife of Nunamnir, has erected a house in your precinct, O E-Tummal (Tummal House), and taken a place upon your dais.

47. 8 lines: the house of Ninlil in Nibru.

48-56. O E-melem-u (House of terrifying radiance) exuding great awesomeness, E-ma (Magnificent shrine), to which princely divine powers were sent from heaven, storehouse of Enlil founded for the primeval divine powers, worthy of nobility, lifting your head in princeship, counsellor of E-kur, parapeted buttress, your house the platform with heaven. The decisions at its place of reaching the great judgment -- the river of the ordeal -- let the just live and consign to darkness the hearts that are evil. In your great place fit for pure lustration and the rites of iib priests, you dine with lord Nunamnir.

57-59. Your prince, the prince who is the counsellor of Enlil and worthy of E-ma, the udug demon of E-kur, the leader Nuska, has erected a house in your precinct, O house of Enlil, and taken his seat upon your dais.

60. 12 lines: the house of Nuska in Nibru.

61-68. O E-me-ur-ana (House which gathers the divine powers of heaven) standing in a great place, the just divine powers which the warrior , strength of battle, heroic mace, carrier of the quiver, mighty bustling brick building, your foundation is eternal. Founded by the primeval lord, with decisions which belong to the princely divine powers, holy soil filling the mountain, lifting your head among the princes, magnificent house, the wonder coming from you is like the sun whose glow spreads. E-u-me-a (House which the divine powers), Enlil has instilled your name with terrifying awesomeness.

69-75. Your prince, the great , the warrior whose strength is boundless, the great ruler for Enlil, the noble who rivals heaven and earth, the provisioning (?) seal-keeper of father Enlil who makes the great divine powers perfect, the , the leader for father Enlil, the foremost, the lion engendered by the Great Mountain, who destroys the hostile lands for Enlil, lord Ninurta, has erected a house in your precinct, O E-u-me-a, and taken his seat upon your dais.

76. 15 lines: the house of Ninurta in Nibru.

77-85. O E-ĝa-duda (House, chamber of the mound), , crown of the high plain, holy place, pure place, house, your foundation is a great princely mooring pole. Du-saĝ-dili (Singular mound), your lady, the singular woman who keeps the chamber and the dais full, gladdens your platform in princely style. Your princess who avoids anger and is exceedingly wise, the princely daughter who prospers together with the Great Mountain, u-zi-ana, the junior wife of father Enlil, has erected a house in your precinct, O Du-saĝ-dili, and taken her seat upon your dais.

86. 9 lines: the house of u-zi-ana in Ĝa-gi-ma.

87-95. O mighty Ke, form of heaven and earth, arousing terror like a great horned viper, house of Ninursaĝa, built in a terrifying place! Respected Ke, your interior is a deep interior while your exterior is tall. Great lion on the high plain and roving about on the plain, great hill established by incantations, twilit interior in which moonlight does not shine, Nintur has made you beautiful -- O house Ke, your brickwork and your moulding of it! Your terrace! Your exterior, a lustrous su crown, and your building of it!

96-99. Your princess, the silencing princess, the true and great lady of heaven -- when she talks heaven trembles, when she opens her mouth a storm thunders -- Aruru, the sister of Enlil, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Ke, and taken her seat upon your dais.

100. 13 lines: the house of Ninursaĝa in Ke.

101-108. O Urim, bull standing in the wet reeds, E-ki-nu-ĝal (House sending light to the earth (?)), calf of a great cow, light of holy heaven, , trap laid in a nest, Urim, container feeding all lands, you are a shrine in a pure place, earth of An -- O house of Suen, at your front a prince, at your back a ruler, your dining hall with adab songs, your great, holy banqueting hall with em and ala drums! The light coming from you and your true lordship is a precious destiny.

109-117. Ĝipar, princely shrine of the holy divine powers, shining like the sun, E-ki-nu-ĝal, beaming moonlight which comes forth in the Land, broad light of midday which fills all lands, house, your platform is a great snake, a marsh of snakes. Your foundation is the abzu, fifty in number, and the engur, seven in number, a shrine which looks into the heart of the gods. Your prince, the prince who makes decisions, the crown of the wide heaven, the sovereign of heaven, Aimbabbar, has erected a house in your precinct, O shrine Urim, and taken his seat upon your dais.

118. 17 lines: the house of Nanna in Urim.

119-128. O E-mu-ma (House with a magnificent name), rising mountain of heaven, your holy sides and your great foundation are a precious destiny. Interior full with princely divine powers, a beaming light which shines, shrine with your back to the blue sky and your prominent front to all people, in the Land it represents a binding agreement and a single track. Magnificent river with open mouth gathering together your divine powers, your base is great in awesomeness, a righteous hill grown in a broad place. Your lofty dwelling-place of magnificence with all the divine powers of princeship, , shouting ; house of celebration, your platform gladdens the settlements.

129-133. House, your prince ulgi has made it great and most princely. The perfect and magnificent , the mighty and great wind, adorned with the divine powers, determining destiny, ulgi of An, has erected a house in your precinct, O E-ursaĝ (House which is a hill), and taken his seat upon your dais.

134. 15 lines: addition: E-ursaĝ of ulgi in Urim.

135-139. O city, from the abzu like barley, cloudy plain, taking the divine powers from its midst, Kuara, your foundation and just banqueting hall, the lord who does not hold back his goods stands ready for admiration. The Seven Sages have enlarged it for you from the south to the uplands.

140-145. Your prince, the most precious prince Asarlui, 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.

146. 11 lines: the house of Asarlui in Kuara.

147-156. O E-gud-du-ar (House with numerous perfect oxen) of holy nir stone in which its sovereign sits, raising a magnificent door decoration for the princely son, whose best fine oil is holy and well-prepared, Ĝa-bura (Chamber of bowls), holy cattle-pen pasturing cows with munzer plants, your prince is a great wild bull, an elephant rejoicing in its own strength, a wild cow growing horns and and delighting in its shining horns. The incantation priest of opposed languages who put clouds in the sky, the storm which roars in the sky, as the sunlight giving to the earth, Ningublaga, the son of Nanna, has erected a house in your precinct, O Ki-abrig, and taken his seat upon your dais.

157. 10 lines: the house of Ningublaga in Ki-abrig.

158-167. O shrine, great sanctuary founded at a cattle-pen, small shining city of Suen, Kar-zida (Pure quay), your interior is a mighty place, your foundation is holy and clean. Shrine, your ĝipar is founded in purity. Your door is of strong copper set up at a great place. Lowing cattle-pen, you raise your horns like a bull. Your prince, the lord of heaven standing in joy, at midday and , Aimbabbar, has erected a house in your precinct, O Kar-zida, and taken his seat upon your dais.

168. 10 lines: the house of Nanna in Gae.

169-177. O house which comes forth from heaven, resplendent in Kulaba, shrine E-babbar (Shining house), shining bull, lift your neck to Utu who in the sky! Your shining horns are aggressive, holy and lustrous. Bearing a beard of shining lapis lazuli, , your prince, the mighty sunlight, the lord who the true word, who lightens the horizon, who lightens the sky's vault, Utu, the sovereign of E-babbar, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Larsam, and taken his seat upon your dais.

178. 9 lines: the house of Utu in Larsam.

179-185. O Enegir, great libation pipe, libation pipe to the underworld of Erekigala, Gudua (Entrance to the nether world) of Sumer where mankind is gathered, E-gida (Long house), in the land your shadow has stretched over the princes of the land. Your prince, the seed of the great lord, the sacred one of the great underworld, given birth by Erekigala, playing loudly on the zanaru instrument, sweet as the voice of a calf, Ninazu of the words of prayer, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Enegir, and taken his seat upon your dais.

186. 7 lines: the house of Ninazu in Enegir.

187-196. O primeval place, deep mountain founded in an artful fashion, shrine, terrifying place lying in a pasture, a dread whose lofty ways none can fathom, Ĝibanda, neck-stock, meshed net, shackles of the great underworld from which none can escape, your exterior is raised up, prominent like a snare, your interior is where the sun rises, endowed with wide-spreading plenty. Your prince is the prince who stretches out his pure hand, the holy one of heaven, with luxuriant and abundant hair hanging at his back, lord Ninĝizida. Ninĝizida has erected a house in your precinct, O Ĝibanda, and taken his seat upon your dais.

197. 10 lines: the house of Ninĝizida in Ĝibanda.

198-203. O house with the great divine powers of Kulaba, , its platform has made the great shrine flourish. Green fresh fruit, marvellous, filled with ripeness, descending from the centre of heaven, shrine built for the bull, E-ana (House of heaven), house with seven corners, with seven fires lifted at night-time, surveying seven pleasures (?), your princess is on the pure horizon.

.204' 204-208. Your lady Inana who , who adorns the woman and covers the man's head with a cloth, the one with a lustrous su crown, the dragon of Niĝin-ĝar, the queen of heaven and earth, Inana, has erected a house in your precinct, O E-ana, and taken her seat upon your dais.

209. 11 lines: the house of Inana in Unug.

210-219. O house where lustrous herbs are strewn upon the flowery bed, the bed-chamber of holy Inana, where the lady of the plain refreshes herself! Brick-built E-mu (House which is the precinct) is flowery and holy, its clay established for him who tends the ewes on the high plain. Your house of Arali (House which is the nether world) gives shade (?) to the shepherd. Your prince, a raging lion on the plain, the uba jewel of the Mistress whose breast is holy and marvellous, the lord who is holy Inana's husband, Dumuzid, the sovereign of E-mu, has erected a house in your precinct, O Bad-tibira, and taken his seat upon your dais.

220. 10 lines: the house of Dumuzid in Bad-tibira.

221-228. O E-igizu-uru (House, your face is mighty), with plenty coming from within, your well-stocked chamber is a mountain of abundance. House, your fragrance is a mound of vines. Your true minister is a leader in heaven. House, your princess is prominent among the gods, the true minister of E-ana who holds a holy sceptre in her hand. Ninubur, the true minister of E-ana, has erected a house in your precinct, O E-akkil (House of lamentation), and taken her seat upon your dais.

229. 8 lines: the house of Ninubur in Akkil.

230-235. O city, founded upon a dais in the abzu, established for the rites of iib priests, house where incantations of heaven and earth are recited,

4 lines fragmentary

236-238. lustration water in the holy heaven and on the pure earth. Ningirim, the lady of the shining lustration water, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Murum, and taken her seat upon your dais.

239. 9 lines: the house of Ningirim in Murum.

240-248. O E-ninnu (House of 50), right hand of Laga, foremost in Sumer, the Anzud bird which gazes upon the mountain, the ar-ur weapon of Ninĝirsu, in all lands, the strength of battle, a terrifying storm which envelops men, giving the strength of battle to the Anuna, the great gods, brick building on whose holy mound destiny is determined, beautiful as the hills, your canal , your blowing in opposition (?) at your gate facing towards Iri-kug, wine is poured into holy An's beautiful bowls set out in the open air.

249-254. Whatever enters you is unequalled, whatever leaves endures. , terrifying facade, house of radiance, a place of reaching judgment which lord Ninĝirsu has filled with great awesomeness and dread! All the Anuna gods attend your great drinking-bouts.

255-261. Your prince, a raging storm which destroys cities in hostile lands, your sovereign, a terrifying wild ox which will manifest its strength, a terrifying lion which smashes heads, the warrior who devises strategies in lordship and attains victory in kingship, the mighty one, the great warrior in battle, the lord without rival, the son of Enlil, lord Ninĝirsu, has erected a house in your precinct, O E-ninnu, and taken his seat upon your dais.

262. 22 lines: the house of Ninĝirsu in Laga.

263-270. O Iri-kug (Holy city), shrine of holy An, which caused the human seed to come forth, called by a good name, within you is the river of ordeal which vindicates the just man. E-ĝalga-sud (House which spreads counsel far and wide), storehouse which eternally possesses silver and lapis lazuli, E-tar-sirsir, from which decisions and the divine powers come forth, where the hero performs obeisance, your princess, the merciful princess of the Land, is the mother of all lands. The lady, the great healer of the black-headed who determines the destiny of her city, the first-born daughter of holy An, the maiden, mother Bau, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Iri-kug, and taken her seat upon your dais.

271. 8 lines: the house of Bau in Iri-kug.

272-281. O house, wild cow , city which appears in splendour adorned for the princess, Sirara, great and princely place, your by the shrine, your lady Nane, a great storm, a mighty flood, born on the shore of the sea, who laughs on the foam of the sea, who plays on the water of the flood, who , Nane, the lady, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Sirara, and taken her seat upon your dais.

282. 10 lines: the house of Nane in Sirara.

283-292. O E-ab-aga-la (House which stretches over the midst of the sea) built in a holy place, Gu-aba, your interior produces everything and is a well-established storehouse. Holy shrine, wild cow for which everything endures, your princess is Ninĝagia, the magnificent stewardess, the mighty of father Enlil, who takes counsel with lord Nunamnir. Born in , in the flood of the sea, like her father a controller of the pure sea, holy Ninmarki has erected a house in your precinct, O house Gu-aba, and taken her seat upon your dais.

293. 10 lines: the house of Ninmarki in Gu-aba.

294-301. O house Kinira, suited for its lady, , beautiful as a hill, standing by the ziqqurat, house, , place resounding loudly with happiness, house, your princess is a storm, riding on a lion, . Exalted in holy song and antiphony, singing with a loud voice, the child, the true wild cow, taken care of at the holy breast of the mother who begot her, Dumuzid-abzu, has erected a house in your precinct, O shrine Kinira, and taken her seat upon your dais.

302. 7 lines: the house of Dumuzid-abzu in Kinira.

303-310. O E-bur-sigsig (House with beautiful bowls) set up under heaven, mighty banqueting hall, fulfilling (?) the commands, abundance of the midst of the sea in , at whose holy there is entreaty and joy. The faithful man has enlarged E-ma (Magnificent house), the house of ara, for you in plenty. Your house E-ma -- whose prince is the princely son of the Mistress -- continues (?) in good fortune, an area of abundance and well-being.

311-313. The one who arranges the hair at the nape of the neck, with the gaze of a wild cow, ara, who good things, the son who allots the divine powers to his mother, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Umma, and taken his seat upon your dais.

314. 11 lines: the house of ara in Umma.

315-320. O E-erzi-guru (House clad in splendour) dressed with ornaments of uba stone, great awesomeness, Niĝin-ĝar of holy Inana, adorned throughout with the divine powers which are true, Zabalam, shrine of the shining mountain, shrine of dawn, which has resounded with pleasure (?), the Mistress has founded your good banqueting hall for you in pleasure (?).

321-326. Your lady Inana, the , the singular woman, the dragon who speaks hostile words to , who shines in brightness, who goes against the rebel land, through whom the firmament is made beautiful in the evening, the great daughter of Suen, holy Inana, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Zabalam, and taken her seat upon your dais.

327. 12 lines: the house of Inana in Zabalam.

328-345. O house inspiring terror like a great lion, making as clear as day the decisions for those on the high plain, house of Ikur, at your front is abundance, at your rear is celebration. Your foundation is a horned bull, a lion. Holy staff, teat of heaven with rain for fine barley, the pilasters of your house are a wild bull with outspread horns, your , foundation and wall rising of their own accord, , thick cloud, snake, moonlight, Ikur, a sweeping flood, a storm and seven raging winds, , blowing raging winds, running from the , splits the hillside, diorite, stones and .

2 lines missing

1 line fragmentary

346-350. The , the seed of the Land, the , the prince, the canal inspector of heaven and earth, the living, the numerous people, the , Ikur, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Karkara, and taken his seat upon your dais.

351. 23 lines: the house of Ikur in Karkara.

352-361. O , bolt founded by An,

4 lines fragmentary

1 line missing

1 line fragmentary

approx. 2 lines missing

has erected a house in your precinct, O , and taken a seat upon your dais.

362. 10 (?) lines: the house of in .

363-377.

2 lines missing

1 line fragmentary

An has your platform. E-ma (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 Ke, Ninursaĝa has blessed your priests maintaining the shrine in the holy uzga precinct. House with great divine powers, a pure platform and cleansing lustration, Agi, 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.

378. 15 lines: the house of Ninursaĝa in Adab.

379-391. O Isin, city founded by An which he has built on an empty plain! Its front is mighty, its interior is artfully built, its divine powers are divine powers which An has determined. Shrine which Enlil loves, place where An and Enlil determine destinies, place where the great gods dine, filled with great awesomeness and terror: all the Anuna gods attend your great drinking-bouts. Your princess, the mother, the Mistress adorned with jewels of uba stone, who maintains the holy place's Niĝin-ĝar, who binds the su crown on the nugig priestess, who causes the seven teats to flow for the nubar priestess, has resounded with seven pleasures (?).

392-394. Your lady, the great healer of the Land, Ninisina, the daughter of An, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Isin, and taken her seat upon your dais.

395. 16 lines: the house of Ninisina in Isin.

396-405. O Kazallu, your crown reaches to the centre of heaven, shining, an object of admiration. Your prince is the seed of a bull, engendered by a wild bull in , a magnificent with sparkling eyes, a lord with the teeth of a lion, who snatches the calf with his claws, who snatches . who snatches , the who gives strength to the , great lord Numuda, has erected a house in your precinct, O Kun-satu (Threshold of the mountain), O Kazallu, and taken his seat upon your dais.

406. 10 lines: the house of Numuda in Kazallu.

407-414. O E-igi-kalama (House which is the eye of the Land), your foundation is firmly laid, growing hill which stands broadly on the earth, the enemies' land,

3 lines fragmentary

approx. 1 line missing

has erected a house in your precinct, O , and taken a seat upon your dais.

415. 8 (?) lines: the house of Lugal-Marda in Marda.

416-423. O Dēr (Akkadian name; a Sumerian name is unknown) , taking extreme care of decisions, , on your awesome and radiant gate a decoration displays a horned viper and a muu embracing. Your prince, a leader of the gods, fit for giving counsel and grand speech, the son of Ura who knows thoroughly the true divine powers of princeship, Itaran, the sovereign of heaven, has erected a house in your precinct, O E-dim-gal-kalama (House which is the great pole of the Land), and taken his seat upon your dais.

424. 8 lines: the house of Itaran in Dēr.

425-435. O E-sikil (Pure house) whose pure divine powers are supreme in all lands, whose name is high and mighty, magnificent dwelling of the warrior, holy house of Ninazu, house of the holy divine powers! House, your divine powers are pure divine powers, your lustration is a cleansing lustration. The warrior refreshes himself in your dwelling. Ninazu dines on your platform. Your sovereign, the great lord, the son of Enlil, is a towering lion spitting venom over hostile lands, rising like the south wind against enemy lands, snarling like a dragon against the walls of rebel lands, a storm enveloping the disobedient and trampling on the enemy.

436-446. When he strides forth, no evil-doer can escape. When he establishes his triumph, the cities of the rebel lands are destroyed. When he frowns, their people are cast into the dust. House, your prince is a great lion from whose claws the enemy hangs. Your sovereign is a terrifying, mighty storm, the vigour of the battle, in combat like a with a shield on his lofty arm, a net over the widespread people from whose reach the foe cannot escape. When the great lord is resplendent, his magnificence has no equal. The true seed born of the Great Mountain and Ninlil, your sovereign, the warrior Ninazu, has erected a house in your precinct, O E-sikil, O Enunna, and taken his seat upon your dais.

447. 22 lines: the house of Ninazu in Enunna.

448-455. O house built in plenitude, Ki, raising its head among the princely divine powers, established settlement, your great foundation cannot be scattered. Your plinth is a vast oppressive cloud floating in the midst of the sky. Your interior is a weapon, a mace decorated with . Your right hand makes mountains tremble, your left thins out the enemy. Your prince, mighty and magnificent, a great storm overpowering the earth, inspiring great and terrifying awe, your sovereign, the warrior Zababa, has erected a house in your precinct, O E-dub (Storage house), O house Ki, and taken his seat upon your dais.

456. 8 lines: the house of Zababa in Ki.

457-466. O E-ĝikeda-kalama (House which is the bond of the Land), bull great strength among the gods, terrifying wild cow, wild bull which causes lament, Gudua, your quay is a low quay which bestows water, your interior is artfully built, your mace is a mace released from heaven, your platform is a lustrous platform spreading over Melam. Your prince, the mighty god, the sovereign of Melam, the fierce god of the underworld, the sovereign of Ud-u (Sunset), Nergal, Melamta-ea, has erected a house in your precinct, and taken his seat upon your dais.

467. 10 lines: the house of Nergal in Gudua.

468-477. O mighty Urum where Suen pronounces judgment, E-ab-lua (House with teeming cattle), wide cattle-yard, Aimbabbar acts as your shepherd. House, my sovereign, your sceptre reaches to heaven, to the earth, moonlight , celebration, your may the light. Your prince, the prince of holy celebration, , who appears in the lapis lazuli coloured sky, a celebration, to whom the hero pays homage , who brightens the Land, Suen, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Urum, and taken his seat upon your dais.

478. 10 lines: the house of Suen in Urum.

479-488. O Zimbir, dais upon which Utu sits daily, E-nun-ana (House of the prince of heaven), star of heaven, crown given birth by Ningal, house of Utu, your prince, the of the universe, fills heaven and earth. When the lord sleeps, the people sleep; when he rises, the people rise. The bull and the people prostrate themselves. Before Utu the herds pasture . The black-headed have bathed before him, the Land has before him. He measures out the divine powers -- your shrine is a flood.

489-492. Pronouncing judgment where the sun rises, mighty sunlight, wearing a beard, tying on the su crown at night, Utu, the sovereign of E-babbar (Shining house), has erected a house in your precinct, O house Zimbir, and taken his seat upon your dais.

493. 14 lines: the house of Utu in Zimbir.

494-499. O E-ursaĝ (House which is a mountain) beautiful as greenery, ...... (The Sumerian name of this city is unknown) , your interior is plenitude. At the place where destiny is determined you determine destiny. May the crown bring joy to your platform. May your roots glisten like an immense saĝkal snake in your holy foundations.

500-505. Mother Nintur, the lady of creation, performs her task within your dark place, binding the true su crown on the new-born king, setting the crown on the new-born lord who is secure in her hand. The midwife of heaven and earth, Ninursaĝa, has erected a house in your precinct, O house ......, and taken her seat upon your dais.

506. 12 lines: the house of Ninursaĝa in .......

507-513. O Ulma, upper land, of the Land, terrifying lion battering a wild bull, net spreading over an enemy, making silence fall upon a rebel land on which, as long as it remains insubmissive, spittle is poured! House of Inana of silver and lapis lazuli, a storehouse built of gold, your princess is an arabu bird, the Mistress of the Niĝin-ĝar.

514-518. Arrayed in battle, jubilantly (?) beautiful, ready with the seven maces, washing her tools for battle, opening the door of battle and , the extremely wise one of heaven, Inana, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Ulma, and taken her seat upon your dais.

519. 12 lines: the house of Inana in Ulma.

520-523. O house, right arm, battle-axe cutting down the rebel lands, digging up their green fields,

2 lines fragmentary

524-527. Your prince, the warrior who , who defeats (?) all in battle, exulting , Aba, the god of Agade, has erected a house in your precinct, O house Agade, and taken his seat upon your dais.

528. 8 lines: the house of Aba in Agade.

529-534. O house of stars, bright E-zagin (Lapis lazuli house), reaching into all lands, establishing in the shrine, Ere! The primeval lords raise their heads to you every month. the potash plant, great Nanibgal, Nisaba, has brought divine powers from heaven and added to your divine powers.

535-542. Sanctuary established for ! To the true woman who possesses exceeding wisdom, soothing and opening the mouth, always consulting a tablet of lapis lazuli, giving advice to all lands, the true woman, the holy potash plant, born of the stylus reed, applies the measure to heaven and places the measuring-rope on the earth -- to Nisaba be praise!

543-544. The compiler of the tablets was En-edu-ana. My king, something has been created that no one has created before.

545. 14 lines: the house of Nisaba in Ere.

approx. 14 lines missing.

Revision history

25.xi.1998-29.i.1999: GC, editor: adapting translation

08.iv.1999-12.iv.1999: JAB, editor: proofreading

11.viii.1999: JAB, editor: minor corrections

03.xi.1999: GC, editor: SGML tagging

03.xii.1999: ER, editor: proofreading SGML

27.xi.1999: ER, editor: web publication

01.vi.2003: GC/JE, editor/technical developer: XML/TEI conversion.

Ke (Kish, Kic)

1-9. The princely lord, the princely lord came forth from the house. Enlil, the princely lord, came forth from the house. The princely lord came forth royally from the house. Enlil lifted his glance over all the lands, and the lands raised themselves to Enlil. The four corners of heaven became green for Enlil like a garden. Ke was positioned there for him with head uplifted, and as Ke lifted its head among all the lands, Enlil spoke the praises of Ke.

10-20. Nisaba was its decision-maker (?); with its words she wove it intricately like a net. Written on tablets it was held in her hands: House, platform of the Land, important fierce bull! House Ke, platform of the Land, important fierce bull! Growing as high as the hills, embracing the heavens, growing as high as E-kur, lifting its head among the mountains! {Rooted in the abzu} {(2 mss. have instead:) Colourful as the abzu}, verdant like the mountains! Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Ke? Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Agi? Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?

21. The first house.

22-30. Good house, built in a good location, house Ke, {(some mss. add here:) good house,} built in a good location, floating in the heavens like a princely barge, like a holy barge furnished with a gate, like the boat of heaven, the platform of all the lands! from the riverbank like a boat cabin! House roaring like an ox, bellowing loudly like a breed-bull! House in whose interior is the power of the Land, and behind which is the life of Sumer!

31-43. House, great enclosure, reaching to the heavens, great, true house, reaching to the heavens! House, great crown reaching to the heavens, house, rainbow reaching to the heavens! House whose diadem extends into the midst of the heavens, whose foundations are fixed in the abzu, whose shade covers all lands! House founded by An, praised by Enlil, given an oracle by mother Nintur! House Ke, green in its fruit! Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Ke? Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Agi? Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?

44. The second house.

45-57. House, 10 ar at its upper end, 5 ar at its lower end; house, 10 bur at its upper end, 5 bur at its lower end! House, at its upper end a bison, at its lower end a stag; house, at its upper end a wild sheep, at its lower end a deer; house, at its upper end a dappled wild sheep, at its lower end a beautiful deer! House, at its upper end green as a snake-eater bird, at its lower end floating on the water like a pelican! House, at its upper end rising like the sun, at its lower end spreading like the moonlight; house, at its upper end a warrior mace, at its lower end a battle-axe; house, at its upper end a mountain, at its lower end a spring! House, at its upper end threefold indeed: Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Ke? Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Agi? Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?

58. The third house.

58A-58Q. {(1 ms. adds here the following lines:) House inspiring great awe, called with a mighty name by An; house whose fate is grandly determined by the Great Mountain Enlil! House of the Anuna gods possessing great power, which gives wisdom to the people; house, reposeful dwelling of the great gods! House, which was planned together with the plans of heaven and earth, with the pure divine powers; house which underpins the Land and supports the shrines! House, mountain of abundance which passes the days in glory; house of Ninursaĝa which establishes the life of the Land! House, great hillside worthy of the purification rites, altering (?) all things; house without whom no decisions are made! House, good carrying in its hands the broad Land; house which gives birth to countless peoples, seed which has sprouts! House which gives birth to kings, which determines the destinies of the Land; house whose royal personages are to be revered! Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Ke? Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Agi? Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?}

{ 58 R. The house. }

59-73. It is indeed a city, it is indeed a city! Who knows its interior? The house Ke is indeed a city! Who knows its interior? The heroes make their way straight into its interior and perform its oracle rites perfectly. Frisking cattle are gathered at the house in herds. The house consumes many cattle; the house consumes many sheep.

1 line unclear

Those who sit on daises bow their necks before it. It wears a crown to vie with the boxwood tree, it spreads out to vie with the poplar ; it is {(1 ms. adds here:) growing} as green as the hills! Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Ke? Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Agi? Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?

74. The fourth house.

75-86. House given birth by a lion, whose interior the hero has embellished (?)! House Ke, given birth by a lion, whose interior the hero has embellished (?)! The heroes make their way straight into its interior. Ninursaĝa sits within like a great dragon. Nintur the great mother assists at births there. ul-pa-e the ruler acts as lord. Agi the hero consumes the contents of the vessels (?). Uruma, the great herald of the plains, dwells there too. Stags are gathered at the house in herds. Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Ke? Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Agi? Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?

87. The fifth house.

88-102. 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 laama deities; whose princely {(1 ms. adds:) great} wall the shrine of Urim! Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Ke? Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Agi? Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?

103. The sixth house.

103A-103K. {(1 ms. (which uses a different numbering of the sections) adds here the following lines:) House imbued with radiance, excellence! House ! Lord Nudimmud in heaven and earth brickwork of the Land, brickwork grandly in the abzu. Terrace, relaxing abode, holy splendour rising over the people! House which is seemly for the foreign lands! Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Ke? Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Agi? Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?}

{ 103L. The eighth house. }

104-115. The holy house whose is the shrine, the holy house Ke, whose is the shrine; the house whose lords are the Anuna gods, whose nue priests are the sacrificers of E-ana! In the house the king places stone bowls in position; the good en priest holds the lead-rope dangling. The a-tu priests holds the staff; the brings the gathered (?) waters. The takes his seat in the holy place; the enkum priests bow down . The pae priests beat the drumskins; they recite powerfully, powerfully.

116-126. The bull's horn is made to growl; the drumsticks are made to thud. The singer {cries out} {(1 ms. has instead:) declaims} to the ala drum; {the grand sweet tigi is played for him} {(some mss. have instead:) the sweet tigi is well tuned}. The house is built; its nobility is good! The house Ke is built; its nobility is good! Its lady has taken a seat in its . Ninursaĝa, its lady, has taken her seat in its . Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Ke? Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Agi? Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?

127. The seventh house.

128-133. Draw near, man, to the city, to the city -- but do not draw near! Draw near, man, to the house Ke, to the city -- but do not draw near! Draw near, man, to its hero Agi -- but do not draw near! Draw near, man, to its lady Nintur -- but do not draw near! Praise be to well-built Ke, O Agi! Praise be to cherished Ke and Nintur!

134. The eighth house.

Revision history

27.ii.1999-15.iii.1999: JAB, editor: adapting translation

18.iii.1999: JAB, editor: minor corrections

08.iv.1999: JAB, editor: minor corrections

02.v.2000: GZ, editor: proofreading

04.v.2000: GZ, editor: SGML tagging

05.v.2000: ER, editor: proofreading SGML

05.v.2000: ER, editor: web publication

01.vi.2003: GC/JE, editor/technical developer: XML/TEI conversion.

E-kur

1-13. The great house is as great as a mountain. The house of Enlil is as great as a mountain. The house of Ninlil is as great as a mountain. The bedchamber is as great as a mountain. The house which knows no daylight is as great as a mountain. The house at the Lofty Gate is as great as a mountain. The house at the Gate of Well-being is as great as a mountain. The courtyard of Enlil is as great as a mountain. The ursaĝ-galama is as great as a mountain. The holy Renowned Gate is as great as a mountain. The Gate From Which Grain Is Never Diverted is as great as a mountain. The Ubu-unkena is as great as a mountain. The Ĝa-ĝi-ua is as great as a mountain.

14-27. The house of Ninlil is as great as a mountain. The gate Kan-innamra is as great as a mountain. The E-itida-buru is as great as a mountain. The courtyard of the Egal-ma is as great as a mountain. The lofty E-itida-buru is as great as a mountain. The Entum-galzu is as great as a mountain. The Innam-gidazu is as great as a mountain. The Suen Gate is as great as a mountain. The Du-kug, the holy place, is as great as a mountain. The field of E-dima is as great as a mountain. The Ane-ĝara is as great as a mountain. The Ate, the pure place, is as great as a mountain. The E-tilla-ma is as great as a mountain. The Ĝa-apina is as great as a mountain.

28. Sa-gida.

29. He declares: 'Heavenward (?)!'

30. Its ĝigiĝal.

31-41. For him who declares it, for him who declares it, the house comes forth like the daylight. For him who declares that he is of the mountain, the house comes forth like the daylight. For him who declares that he is of the house of Enlil, the house comes forth like the daylight. For him who declares that he is of the house of Ninlil, the house comes forth like the daylight. For him who declares that he is of the house of Ninurta, the house comes forth like the daylight, for him who declares that he is of the house of the princely son.

42. Kirugu.

43-52. The house towers high in full grandeur; in its midst is a mountain of aromatic cedars. The house of Enlil towers high in full grandeur; in its midst is a mountain of aromatic cedars. The house of Ninlil towers high in full grandeur; in its midst is a mountain of aromatic cedars. The courtyard of Enlil towers high in full grandeur; in its midst is a mountain of aromatic cedars. The courtyard of Ninlil towers high in full grandeur; in its midst is a mountain of aromatic cedars.

53. Sa-ĝara.

54. rejoice .

55. Its ĝigiĝal.

56-68. Its king is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth. The hero Ninurta is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth. The offspring (?) of Ninlil is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth. The lord, the hero (?) of the E-kur, is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth. The offspring (?) of Enlil is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth. Lord Aimbabbar is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth. The princely son of the E-kur is worthy of Enlil the king in the true house of youth.

69. (This rubric was probably omitted accidentally)

70. He is the favourite of Enlil.

71. Its ĝigiĝal.

Revision history

25.vi.1999: GZ, editor: adapting translation

06.xii.1999: JAB, editor: proofreading

13.xii.1999: GC, editor: SGML tagging

22.xii.1999: ER, editor: proofreading SGML

22.xii.1999: ER, editor: web publication

01.vi.2003: GC/JE, editor/technical developer: XML/TEI conversion

September 25, 2011
4
Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

Return of Ninurta to Nibru

The return of Ninurta to Nibru

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

ETCSL Home Page

Created like An, O son of Enlil, Ninurta, created like Enlil, born by Nintud, mightiest of the Anuna gods, who came forth from the mountain range, imbued with terrible awesomeness, son of Enlil, confident in his strength, my sovereign, you are magnificent -- let your magnificence therefore be praised. Ninurta, you are magnificent -- let your magnificence therefore be praised.

Sovereign of all the lands, in your massive might, warrior of Enlil, in your great might, fierce warrior, you have taken up the divine powers which are like heaven, son of Enlil, you have taken up the divine powers which are like the earth, you have taken up the divine powers of the mountains, which are heavy as heaven, you have taken up the divine powers of Eridug, which are huge as the earth.

You have made the gods prostrate (?) themselves before you. You have made the Anuna salute (?) you. Ninurta, you are made complete by heroic strength.

The utterance of the sovereign is a storm ....... The word of lord Ninurta is a storm .......

To the hostile mountains ....... To the fortress of the rebellious land .......

1 line unclear

Lord, frighteningly fierce, ....... Fierce in heaven and earth, .......

1 line unclear

His angry utterance made a corpse of the mountains. His fierce countenance .......

Horned wild bull ....... Wild ram and stag ....... The great wild bull of the mountains ...... from its ....... He put his ......, the strength in battle, in his belt.

The sovereign, with his heroic arms, Ninurta, son of Enlil, in his great might, brought forth the Six-headed wild ram from the shining, lofty house. He brought forth the Warrior dragon from the great fortress of the mountains. He brought forth the Magilum boat from ...... his abzu. He brought forth the Bison from his battle dust. He brought forth the Mermaid from the limits of heaven and earth. He brought forth the White substance from the soil of the mountain range. He brought forth the Strong copper from the shattered mountain range. He brought forth the Anzud bird from the halub-haran tree. He brought forth the Seven-headed serpent from the ...... of the mountains.

He mustered them all before him ....... He spoke ....... He was unhappy ....... He spoke ....... He seized the axe ....... He took his .......

The warrior ...... made a corpse of the mountains. Lord Ninurta, who destroys (?) ......, made a corpse of the mountains. He piled up ....... The sovereign, with his heroic strength, wreaked his vengeance (?). The warrior Ninurta, with his heroic strength, wreaked his vengeance (?).

On his shining chariot, which inspires terrible awe, he hung his captured wild bulls on the axle and hung his captured cows on the cross-piece of the yoke.

He hung the Six-headed wild ram on the dust-guard. He hung the Warrior dragon on the seat. He hung the Magilum boat on the ....... He hung the Bison on the beam. He hung the Mermaid on the foot-board. He hung the White substance on the forward part of the yoke. He hung the Strong copper on the inside pole pin (?). He hung the Anzud bird on the front guard. He hung the Seven-headed serpent on the shining .......

Lord Ninurta stepped into his battle-worthy chariot. Ud-ane, the all-seeing god, and Lugal-anbara, the bearded (?) lord, went before him, and the awesome one of the mountains, Lugal-kur-dub, the ...... of lord Ninurta, followed behind him.

The lion who ...... from the abzu, who ...... An's awesomeness and radiance -- the Anuna, the great gods .......

As the sovereign swept on like the deluge, as Ninurta, storm of the rebellious land, swept on like the deluge, he rumbled like a storm on the horizon.

When, at Enlil's command, he was making his way towards E-kur, the warrior of the gods was levelling the Land; and before he had yet approached Nibru from afar, Nuska, the chancellor of Enlil, came forth from the E-kur to meet him.

He greeted lord Ninurta: "My sovereign, perfect warrior, heed yourself. Ninurta, perfect warrior, heed yourself.

"Your radiance has covered Enlil's temple like a cloak. When you step into your chariot, whose creaking is a pleasant sound, heaven and earth tremble. When you raise your arm .......

"The Anuna, the great gods ....... Do not frighten your father in his residence. Do not frighten Enlil in his residence. May your father give you gifts because of your heroic strength. May Enlil give you gifts because of your heroic strength.

"O sovereign, shackle of An, first among the gods, seal-bearer of Enlil, inspired by E-kur, O warrior, because you have toppled the mountains your father need send out no other god beside you. Ninurta, because you have toppled the mountains Enlil need send out no other god beside you."

While these words were yet in Nuska's mouth, Ninurta put the whip and goad away in the rope-box. He leaned his mace, the strength in battle, against the box and entered into the temple of Enlil.

He directed his captive wild bulls into the temple. He directed his captive cows, like the wild bulls, into the temple. He laid out the booty of his plundered cities. The Anuna were amazed....... Enlil the Great Mountain made obeisance to him, and Acimbabbar prayed to him.

The great mother Ninlil, from within her Ki-ur, spoke admiringly to lord Ninurta: "O wild bull, with fierce horns raised, son of Enlil, you have struck blows in the mountains. Warrior, lord Ninurta, you have ....... You have ...... the rebellious land."

Lord Ninurta answered her: "My mother, I alone cannot ...... with you ....... Ninlil, I alone cannot ...... with you, for me alone ....... Battle arrayed like heaven -- no one can rival me (?). Like the deluge ....... Smashing the mountains like reed huts .......

"My battle, like an onrushing flood, overflowed in the mountains. With a lion's body and lion's muscles, it rose up in the rebellious land. The gods have become worried and flee (?) to the mountain ranges. They beat their wings like a flock of small birds. They stand hiding in the grass like wild bulls ....... No one can confront my radiance, heavy as heaven.

"Because I am the lord of the terraced mountain ranges, in every direction ....... Because I have subjugated these mountain ranges of alabaster and lapis lazuli, the Anuna hide like mice.

"Now I have reestablished my heroic strength in the mountains. On my right, I bear my Mows-down-a-myriad. On my left, I bear my Crushes-a-myriad. I bear my Fifty-toothed-storm, my heavenly mace. I bear the hero who comes down from the great mountains, my No-resisting-this-storm. I bear the weapon which devours corpses like a dragon, my agasilig axe. I bear my .......

"I bear my ....... I bear the alkad net of the rebellious land, my alkad net. I bear that from which the mountains cannot escape, my cucgal net. I bear the seven-mouthed mucmah serpent, the slayer, my spike (?). I bear that which strips away the mountains, the sword, my heavenly dagger.

"I bear the deluge of battle, my fifty-headed mace. I bear the storm that attacks humans, my bow and quiver. I bear those which carry off the temples of the rebellious land, my throwing stick and shield. I bear the helper of men, my spear. I bear that which brings forth light like the day, my Obliterator-of-the-mountains. I bear the maintainer of the people in heaven and earth, my The-enemy-cannot-escape.

"I bear that whose awesome radiance covers the Land, which is grandly suited for my right hand, finished in gold and lapis lazuli, whose presence is amazing, my Object-of-trust. I bear the perfect weapon, exceedingly magnificent, trustworthy in battle, having no equal, well-suited for my wrist on the battlefield, my fifty-headed mace, I bear the weapon which consumes the rebellious land like fire, my fifty-headed club.

"Let my father therefore bring in my battle trophies and weapons for me. Let Enlil bathe my heroic arms. Let him pour holy water on the fierce arms which bore my weapons. Let him set up a holy dais in the throne room for me. Let him set my heavenly chariot upon a pedestal. Let him tether my captured warriors there like butting bulls. Let him have my captured kings make obeisance to me there, as to the light of heaven.

"I am the strong one, unopposed in the mountains, I am Ninurta -- let them prostrate themselves at my name. I am the exceedingly mighty lion-headed one of Enlil, whom he engendered in his strength. The storm of heaven, shackle of the gods, I am the one whom An in his great might has chosen.

"I am the ......, the creature 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.

"Let my beloved city, the sanctuary Nibru, raise its head as high as heaven. Let my city be pre-eminent among the cities of my brothers. Let my temple rise (?) the highest ...... among the temples of my brothers. Let the territory of my city be the fresh-water well of Sumer. Let the Anuna, my brother gods, bow down there. Let their flying birds establish nests in my city. Let their refugees refresh themselves in my shade."

As Ninurta went out from Enlil's temple, the most bright-faced of warriors, Ninkarnuna, having heard the favourable pronouncement of Ninurta, stepped before lord Ninurta and prayed to him:

"My sovereign, may you be well-disposed towards your beloved city. Lord Ninurta, may you be well-disposed towards your beloved city. May you be well-disposed towards the sanctuary Nibru, your beloved city. When you enter E-cumeca, your beloved temple, alone, tell your wife, young lady Ninnibru, what is in your heart, tell her what is on your mind. Make an enduring favourable pronouncement to her for the king."

The content of that prayer of the offspring of a prince, Ninkarnuna, his sprinkling Ninurta's heart with an offering of cool water, and the matter of prosperity about which he spoke were pleasing to Ninurta's heart as he went in procession to E-cumeca to manifest the eternal divine powers. Lord Ninurta gazed approvingly at Ninkarnuna.

When Ninurta entered E-cumeca, his beloved temple, alone, he told his wife, young lady Ninnibru, what was in his heart, he told her what was on his mind and he made an enduring favourable pronouncement to her for the king.

The warrior, whose heroism is manifest, Ninurta, son of Enlil, has firmly grounded his greatness in Enlil's sanctuary.

Lord who has destroyed the mountains, who has no rival, who butts angrily in that magnificent battle, great warrior who goes forth in his ...... might, strong one, deluge of Enlil, Ninurta, magnificent child of E-kur, pride of the father who engendered him, it is sweet to praise you.

Cir-gida of Ninurta.

September 25, 2011
0
Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

The Shumunda grass

The shumunda grass

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

ETCSL Home Page

The abba instructed, the abba instructed:

When the rain rained, when walls were demolished, when it rained potsherds and fireballs, when one person confronted another defiantly, when there was copulation -- he also copulated, when there was kissing -- he also kissed. When the rain said: "I will rain," when the wall said: "I will rain (scribal error for 'demolish' ?)", when the flood said: "I will sweep everything away" -- Heaven impregnated (?), Earth gave birth, she gave birth also to the cumunda grass. Earth gave birth, Heaven impregnated (?), she gave birth also to the cumunda grass.

His luxuriant reeds carry fire. They who defied it, who defied it, the umma who had survived that day, the abba who had survived that day, the chief gala priest who had survived that year, whoever had survived the Flood -- the cumunda grass crushed them with labour, crushed them with labour, made them crouch in the dust.

The cumunda grass is a fire carrier, he cannot be tied into bundles, the grass cannot be shifted, the grass cannot be loosened, the grass cannot be loosened. When built into a booth, one moment he stands up, one moment he lies down. Having kindled a fire, he spreads it wide. The cumunda grass's habitat is among his bitter waters. He butts about (saying): "I will start, I will start a fire".

He set fire to the base of the E-ana; there he was bound, there he was fettered. When he protested, Inana seized a raven there and set it on top of him. The shepherd abandoned his sheep in their enclosure. Inana seized the raven there.

When the rain had rained, when walls had been demolished, when it rained potsherds and fireballs, when Dumuzid was defied -- the rain rained, walls were demolished, the cowpen was demolished, the sheepfold was ripped out, wild flood-waters were hurled against the rivers, wild rains were hurled against the marshes. By (?) the ...... of the Tigris and Euphrates, of the Tigris and the Euphrates, long grass grew, long grass .......

5 lines missing

He tied him into bundles, he shifted him, he ...... cumunda grass, the fire-carrier. He bundled up the cumunda grass, the fire carrier, bundled up the fire carrier. The launderer who made her garments clean asks her, Inana -- the carpenter who gave her the spindle to hold in her hand (asks her), Inana -- the potter who fashioned pots and jugs (asks her), Inana. The potter gave her holy drinking vessels, the shepherd brought her his sheep, the shepherd brought her his sheep -- he asks her. He brought her all kinds of luxuriant plants, as if it were the harvest.

Her voice reached Heaven, her voice reached Earth, her resounding cry covered the horizon like a garment, was spread over it like a cloth, she hurled fierce winds at the head of the cumunda grass (saying): "Cumunda grass, your name ....... You shall be a plant ....... You shall be a hateful plant ....... Your name ......."

approx. 23 lines missing

September 25, 2011
0
Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

The Sargon legend

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

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Segment A

To ...... the sanctuary like a cargo-ship; to...... its great furnaces; to see that its canals ...... waters of joy, to see that the hoes till the arable tracts and that ...... the fields; to turn the house of Kic, which was like a haunted town, into a living settlement again -- its king, shepherd Ur- Zababa, rose like Utu over the house of Kic. An and Enlil, however, authoritatively (?) decided (?) by their holy command to alter his term of reigning and to remove the prosperity of the palace.

Then Sargon -- his city was the city of ......, his father was La'ibum, his mother ......., Sargon ...... with happy heart. Since he was born .......

unknown number of lines missing

Segment B

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 realized 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.

After five or ten days had passed, king Ur- Zababa ...... and became frightened in his residence. Like a lion he urinated, sprinkling his legs, and the urine contained blood and pus. He was troubled, he was afraid like a fish floundering in brackish water.

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."

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. Belic-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."

Belic-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-mirrors (?) 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 ten 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, Belic-tikal, the chief smith, ...... and threw it into the mould like statues.

After five or ten 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 realized 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 realized what was it about, but did not put into words, did not discuss it with anyone.

In those days, although writing words on tablets existed, putting tablets into envelopes did not yet exist. King Ur- Zababa dispatched Sargon, the creature of the gods, to Lugal-zage-si in Unug with a message written on clay, which was about murdering Sargon.

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Segment C

With the wife of Lugal-zage-si ....... She (?) ...... her feminity as a shelter. Lugal-zage-si did not ...... the envoy. "Come! He directed his steps to brick-built E-ana!" Lugal-zage-si did not grasp it, he did not talk to the envoy. But as soon as he did talk to the envoy ....... The lord said "Alas!" and sat in the dust.

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 ......?

September 25, 2011
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Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

Evidencerbs from Ki-en-gir

Evidencerbs from Ki-en-gir (Sumer)

c. 2000 BC

1. Whoever has walked with truth generates life.

2. Do not cut off the neck of that which has had its neck cut off.

3. That which is given in submission becomes a medium of defiance.

4. The destruction is from his own personal god; he knows no savior.

5. Wealth is hard to come by, but poverty is always at hand.

6. He acquires many things, he must keep close watch over them.

7. A boat bent on honest pursuits sailed downstream with the wind; Utu has sought out honest ports for it.

8. He who drinks too much beer must drink water.

9. He who eats too much will not be able to sleep.

10. Since my wife is at the outdoor shrine, and furthermore since my mother is at the river, I shall die of hunger, he says.

11. May the goddess Inanna cause a hot-limited wife to lie down for you; May she bestow upon you broad-armed sons; May she seek out for you a place of Happiness.

12. The fox could not build his own house, and so he came to the house of his friend as a conqueror.

13. The fox, having urinated into the sea, said at the whole of the sea is my urine.

14. The poor man nibbles at his silver.

15. The poor are the silent ones of the land.

16. All the households of the poor are not equally submissive.

17. A poor man does not strike his son a single blow; he treasures him forever.

Source:

Scanned by: J. S. Arkenberg, Dept. of History, Cal. State Fullerton. Prof. Arkenberg has modernized the text.

September 25, 2011
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Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

Rulers of Lagash

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

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After the flood had swept over and brought about the destruction of the countries; when mankind was made to endure, and the seed of mankind was preserved and the black-headed people all rose; when An and Enlil called the name of mankind and established rulership, but kingship and the crown of the city had not yet come out from heaven, and Nin-jirsu had not yet established for the multitude of well-guarded (?) people the pickaxe, the spade, the earth basket and the plough, which mean life for the Land -- in those days, the carefree youth of man lasted for 100 years and, following his upbringing, he lasted for another 100 years.

However, he did not do any work. He became smaller and smaller, ......; his sheep died (?) in the sheepfold. In those days, because the water of Lagac was held back, there was famine in Jirsu. Canals were not dug, the levees and ditches were not cleaned. The large arable tracts were not ......, there was no water to irrigate abundantly all the cultivated fields: the people relied on rain; Acnan did not make dappled barley grow, furrows were not yet opened, they bore no yield; the high plain was not tilled, it bore no yield.

None of the countries with numerous people libated emmer beer, liquor, ......, sweet liquor or ...... for the gods. They did not till large fields for them with the plough.

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...... the canal. ...... its (?) fields.

In order to dig canals, to clean the levees and ditches, to ...... the large arable tracts, to ...... all the cultivated fields, he established for the people the pickaxe, the spade, the earth basket, and the plough, which mean life for the Land. Then he turned his attention to making barley sprout. He made the people stand before the maiden, and they raised their heads day and night, at the appointed times. Before Acnan who makes the seeds grow, they prostrated themselves and she made them grow (?). Before (?) Acnan who makes the dappled barley grow, they ......

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...... acted for ...... years. ...... dug the canal ......, he acted for 2760 years.

En-akigalaguba: his personal god was ......, he dug the canal Nijin-jic-tukuam, he acted for 1200 years. In those days there was no writing, ......, canals were not dug, earth baskets were not carried. In those days, ......, the people ...... offerings of refined gold

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a good shepherd rose over the Land; he gave them (?) ...... as a gift. En- Ninjirsu-ki-aj, the son of En-akigalaguba: he acted for 1320 years. En- Enlile-ki-aj, the son of En- Ninjirsu-ki-aj: he acted for 1800 years. Ur- Bau the son of En- Enlile-ki-aj: he acted for 900 years.

A-gal: his personal god was Ig-alim, he acted for 660 years. Kue (?), the son of A-gal: he acted for 1200 years. Ama-alim, son of Kue (?): ......, he acted for 600 years.

12 lines unclear or missing, the lines list further rulers with unrecoverable names and length of rule.

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he dug the Mah canal, the ...... canal, the Pirijgin-jen canal, the ...... canal, the Pirij canal at the mouth of the Lugal canal, the Gana-hili-ana canal, the ...... canal, and the Nance-pada canal. To care, single-handedly, for the great arable lands, he dug irrigation ditches and ......, he acted for 2220 years. Ur- Nance, the son of ......, who built the E-Sirara, her temple of happiness and Nijin, her beloved city, acted for 1080 years. Ane-tum, the son of Ur- Nance, in whose ...... place the gods stood, who ...... the land register of great Enlil: his personal god was Cul-utul, he acted for 690 years. ......, the son of Ane-tum: he acted for X+360 years.

En-entar-zid: his god was Mes-an-du (?), of the seed of ancient days, who had grown together with the city, he acted for 990 years. ......, the son of En-entar-zid: he dug the canal Urmah-banda, and the canal Tabta-kug-jal, his personal god was Mes-an-du (?); his master Nin-jirsu commanded him to build his temple; he acted for 960 years.

En- Enlile-su: he acted for 600 years. ......, the son of En- Enlile-su: his personal god was Ninazu; he acted for 660 years. ......: he acted for 1110 years.

Puzur- Ninlil: he acted for X x 60 + 1 years. En- Mes-an-du (?), the son of Puzur- Ninlil: his personal god was ......, he acted for 120 years. Dadu, the son of En- Mes-an-du (?): he acted for 160 years. Tuggur, the son of Dadu: he acted for 160 years. ......: he acted for 120 years.

Puzur- Mama, the scribe of Ninki: his personal god was Zazaru; he acted for ...... years. Lamku-nijgena (?), the administrator of Puzur- Mama, who built the wall of Jirsu, his ......, and the Tirac palace in Lagac: he acted for 280 years. Henjal, the son of Lamku-nijgena (?): his god was Pabilsaj (?), he acted for 140 years. ......, the son of Henjal: he acted for 144 years.

Ur- Ninmarki, the scribe and scholar: ......, his personal gods were Haya and Nisaba, he acted for X + 20 years. Ur- Ninjirsu, the son of Ur- Ninmarki: he acted for X x 60 years. Ur- Bau, the scribe of Ur- Ninjirsu, who ...... in the assembly: he acted for X + 30 years. Gudea, the younger brother of Ur- Bau, ......, who was not the son of his mother nor the son of his father: he acted for ...... years.

Written in the school. Nisaba be praised!

September 25, 2011
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Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

Poem of Utu-Hejal

Poem of Utu-hejal

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

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Enlil, the king of all the lands, entrusted Utu-hejal, the mighty man, the king of Unug, the king of the four quarters, the king whose orders cannot be countermanded, with wiping out the name of Gutium, the fanged (?) snake of the mountains, who acted with violence against the gods, who carried off the kingship of Sumer to foreign lands, who filled Sumer with wickedness, who took away spouses from the married and took away children from parents, who made wickedness and violence normal in the Land.

He went to his lady, Inana, and prayed to her: "My lady, lioness in the battle, who butts the foreign lands, Enlil has entrusted me with bringing back the kingship to Sumer. May you be my help!"

The enemy troops established themselves everywhere. Tirigan, the king of Gutium ...... the mouths of the channels (?). Nobody came out of his city to face him; he already occupied both part of the Tigris. In the south, in Sumer, he blocked the water from the fields, in the uplands he closed off the roads. Because of him the grass grew high on the highways of the land.

But the king, endowed with power by Enlil, chosen by Inana with her (1 ms. adds: holy) heart -- Utu-hejal, the mighty man, came out from Unug to face him and set up camp (?) at the temple of Ickur. He addressed a speech to the citizens of his city: " Enlil has given Gutium to me and my lady Inana will be my help! Dumuzid Ama-ucumgal-ana has declared "It is a matter for me!" and assigned Gilgamec, the son of Nin-sun to me as a constable!" The citizens of Unug and Kulaba rejoiced and followed him with one accord. He lined up his elite troops.

After departing from the temple of Ickur, on the fourth day he set up camp (?) in Najsu on the Surungal canal, and on the fifth day he set up camp (?) at the shrine at Ili-tapp He captured Ur- Nin-azu and Nabi- Enlil, generals of Tirigan sent as envoys to Sumer, and put them in handcuffs.

After departing from the shrine at Ili-tapp on the sixth day he set up camp (?) at Karkara. He went to Ickur and prayed to him: "O Ickur, Enlil has provided me with weapons, may you be my help!" In the middle of that night, ...... he departed (?) and above Adab he went to the rising (?) Utu and prayed to him: "O Utu, Enlil has given Gutium to me, may you be my help!" He laid a trap (?) there behind the Gutian. Utu-hejal, the mighty man, defeated their generals.

Then Tirigan the king of Gutium ran away alone on foot. He thought himself safe in Dabrum, where he fled to save his life; but since the people of Dabrum knew that Utu-hejal was a king endowed with power by Enlil, they did not let Tirigan go, and an envoy of Utu-hejal arrested Tirigan together with his wife and children in Dabrum. He put handcuffs and a blindfold on him. Before Utu, Utu-hejal made him lie at his feet and placed his foot on his neck. He made Gutium, the fanged (?) snake of the mountains drink again from the crevices (?), he ......, he ...... and he ...... boat.

He brought back the kingship of Sumer.

September 25, 2011
0
Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

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Praise Poem of Shulgi

A praise poem of Shulgi

From: Ancient Near East (Babylonia) Glossary and Texts

Shulgi, the son of Ur-Nammu, military commander, temple builder, patron of Instrumental Music in worship and Song praising himself.

Shulgi, too, called himself king of the four quarters of the earth. Although he resided in Ur, another important centre was in Nippur, whence--according to the prevailing ideology-- Enlil, the chief god in the Sumerian state pantheon, had bestowed on Shulgi the royal dignity. Shulgi and his successors enjoyed divine honours, as Naram-Sin of Akkad had before them; by now, however, the process of deification had taken on clearer outlines in that sacrifices were offered and chapels built to the king and his throne, while the royal determinative turned up in personal names. Along with an Utu-hegal ("The Sun God Is Exuberance") there appears a Shulgi-hegal ("Shulgi Is Exuberance")

2060 B.C., king of the ancient city of Ur, sometimes called Zur-Nammu or Ur-Engur. He founded a new Sumerian dynasty, the third dynasty of Ur, that lasted a century. Ur-Nammu was the promulgator of the oldest code of law yet known, older by about three centuries than the code of Hammurabi. It consists of a prologue and seven laws; the prologue describes Ur-Nammu as a divinely appointed king who established justice throughout the land. This code is of great importance to the study of biblical law, which it predates by about five centuries. The two most famous monuments of Ur-Nammu's reign are the great ziggurat (temple) at Ur and his stele, of which fragments remain.

To make his name famous for all time until distant days, and to transmit to posterity and the days to come the praise poems of his power, the songs of his might, and the lasting fame of his exceptional intelligence, King Culgi, king of Urim, has brought the songs' latent wisdom before the mighty son of Ninsumun.

He praises his own power in song, and lauds his own superior native intelligence: I am a king, offspring begotten by a king and borne by a queen. I, Culgi the noble, have been blessed with a favourable destiny right from the womb. When I was small, I was at the academy, where I learned the scribal art from the tablets of Sumer and Akkad. None of the nobles could write on clay as I could. There where people regularly went for tutelage in the scribal art, I qualified fully in subtraction, addition, reckoning and accounting. The fair Nanibgal, Nisaba, provided me amply with knowledge and comprehension. I am an experienced scribe who does not neglect a thing.

When I sprang up, muscular as a young lion, galloping like a spirited ass at full gallop, the favour of An brought me joy; to my delight Enlil spoke favourably about me, and they gave me the sceptre because of my righteousness. I place my foot on the neck of the foreign lands; the fame of my weapons is established as far as the south, and my victory is established in the highlands. When I set off for battle and strife to a place that Enlil has commanded me, I go ahead of the main body of my troops and I clear the terrain for my scouts. I have a positive passion for weapons. Not only do I carry lance and spear, I also know how to handle slingstones with a sling. The clay bullets, the treacherous pellets that I shoot, fly around like a violent rainstorm. In my rage I do not let them miss.

I sow fear and confusion in the foreign land. I look to my brother and friend, youthful Utu, as a source of divine encouragement. I, Culgi, converse with him whenever he rises over there; he is the god who keeps a good eye on my battles. The youth Utu, beloved in the mountains, is the protective deity of my weapons; by his words I am strengthened and made pugnacious (?). In those battles, where weapon clashes on weapon, Utu shines on me. Thus I broke the weapons of the highlands over my knees, and in the south placed a yoke on the neck of Elam. I make the populations of the rebel lands -- how could they still resist my weapons? -- scatter like seed-grain over Sumer and Akkad.

Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications?

I stride forward in majesty, trampling endlessly through the esparto grass and thickets, capturing elephant after elephant, creatures of the plain; and I put an end to the heroic roaring in the plains of the savage lion, dragon of the plains, wherever it approaches from and wherever it is going. I do not go after them with a net, nor do I lie in wait for them in a hide; it comes to a confrontation of strength and weapons. I do not hurl a weapon; when I plunge a bitter-pointed lance in their throats, I do not flinch at their roar. I am not one to retreat to my hiding-place but, as when one warrior kills another warrior, I do everything swiftly on the open plain. In the desert where the paths play out, I reduce the roar at the lair to silence. In the sheepfold and the cattle-pen, where heads are laid to rest (?), I put the shepherd tribesmen at ease. Let no one ever at any time say about me, "Could he really subdue them all on his own?" The number of lions that I have dispatched with my weapons is limitless; their total is unknown.

Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications?

I am Culgi, god of manliness, the foremost of the troops. When I stretch the bowstring on the bow, when I fit a perfect arrow to it, I shoot the bow's arrow with the full strength of my arms. The great wild bull, the bull of heaven, the wild cow and the bison bellow. As they pass across the foothills of the mountains, I shoot barbed arrows at them with my powerful strength.

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As they collapse (?) on the plain, I topple them like old towers. I make their heads plunge to the ground like crushing pestles. For the wild asses I set no snares, dig no pits, shoot no arrows against them. But I race after them as against my own rivals; I do not try to surround them to kill their young, as people kill slim ass foals.

When a burly wild boar (?) is running across the plain, I pierce its lungs with an arrow. With only one shot of mine I bring it to the ground; no single clansman from my regiments can surpass me in archery. I am a man with sharp eyes. When I lead the ...... of the crack troops, I know best of all how to cast the throwstick, running as quick as light radiating from heaven. What I hit no longer rises from its place.

1 line unclear

I can throw an ellag (a weapon) as high in the air as if it is a rag. I can bring down quadrupeds lightning-quick with the sling. I, Culgi, can catch a goat with a quick pace; nothing checks my power. ...... has been given to me. Wherever I direct my steps, I always achieve something; when I return from the desert, I always bring something more for her -- for Ninsumun, my own mother, I am her son of five things, of ten things (= of everything) .

Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications?, the king, am the Land's most excellent fighter against the enemy. I, Culgi, am respected for my immense bodily strength. I am mighty; nothing resists me; I know no setbacks. My barges on the river do not sink (?) under me (alludes to a Evidencerb (?)) ; my teams of asses do not collapse under me. Striding forward like my brother and friend, the youth Utu, as if with the legs of a lion, I am the good groom of my dust-making asses that bray like lions roaring. Like that of a stallion, my strength is unwavering during the running-race; I come first in the race, and my knees do not get tired. I am fearless; I dance with joy. My words shall never be forgotten.

Praise for me because of my reliable judgments is on everyone's lips.

I am a ritually pure interpreter of omens. I am the very Nintud (creator deity) of the collections of omens.

These words of the gods are of pre-eminent value for the exact performance of hand-washing and purification rites, for eulogy of the en priestess or for her enthronement in the jipar, for the choosing of the lumah and nindijir priests by sacred extispicy, for attacking the south or for defeating the uplands, for the opening of the emblem house, for the washing of lances in the "water of battle" (blood) , for the taking of subtle decisions about the rebel lands.

After I have determined a sound omen through extispicy from a white lamb and a sheep, water and flour are libated at the place of invocation. Then, as I prepare the sheep with words of prayer, my diviner watches in amazement like an idiot. The prepared sheep is placed at my disposal, and I never confuse a favourable sign with an unfavourable one. I myself have a clear intuition, and I judge by my own eyes.

In the insides of just one sheep I, the king, can find the indications for everything and everywhere.

Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications?

I, Culgi, king of Urim, have also devoted myself to the art of music. Nothing is too complicated for me; I know the full extent of the tigi and the adab, the perfection of the art of music. When I fix the frets on the lute, which enraptures my heart, I never damage its neck; I have devised rules for raising and lowering its intervals.

On the gu-uc lyre I know the melodious tuning.

I am familiar with the sa-ec and with drumming on its musical soundbox.

I can take in my hands the miritum, which ....... I know the finger technique of the aljar and sabitum, royal creations.

In the same way I can produce sounds from the urzababitum, the harhar, the zanaru, the ur-gula and the dim-lu-magura.

Even if they bring to me, as one might to a skilled musician, a musical instrument that I have not played previously, when I strike it up I make its true sound known; I am able to handle it just like something that has been in my hands before. Tuning, stringing, unstringing and fastening are not beyond my skills.

I do not make the reed pipe sound like a rustic pipe, and on my own initiative I can wail a sumunca or make a lament as well as anyone who does it regularly.

I bestow joy and gladness, and I pass my days in pomp and splendour. But people should consider for themselves -- it is a matter to keep in one's sights -- that at the inescapable end of life, no one will be spared the bitter gall of the land of oppression.

But I am one who is powerful enough to trust in his own power.

He who trusts in his own exalted name may carry out great things. Why should he do less? Since it was for my true mother Ninsumun that my mother together with her actually bore me to bestow joy and gladness, lovingly she cherished my unborn fruit. She did not endure scandal from anyone's mouth. Before she released her little one, this lady passed her time in my palace in the greatest joy.

Before Utu son of Ningal, I, Culgi, declare that in my long life in which I have achieved great things since the day that my kingly destiny was determined, in my life in which everything was richly provided in contentment, I have never lacked anything.

Until the distant future may this song bless the name of me, the king, with a life of long days.

As I am musical, as I am eloquent, I am a heavenly star of steadfastness. It is an awe-inspiring brow that establishes palaces, just as a peg and a measuring cord are the builders of cities.

With the awesomeness that radiates from my forehead, which I make the foreign lands wear like a nose-rope, and the fear-inspiring lustre, my personal weapon, which I impose on the Land like a neck-stock, I am able to root out and undo crime. I have the ability to reconcile great matters with one word.

When I ...... like a torrent with the roar of a great storm, in the capture of a citadel in Elam ......, I can understand what their spokesman answers. By origin I am a son of Sumer; I am a warrior, a warrior of Sumer. Thirdly, I can conduct a conversation with a man from the black mountains. Fourthly, I can do service as a translator with an Amorite, a man of the mountains ....... I myself can correct his confused words in his own language. Fifthly, when a man of Subir yells ......, I can even distinguish the words in his language, although I am not a fellow-citizen of his. When I provide justice in the legal cases of Sumer, I give answers in all five languages. In my palace no one in conversation switches to another language as quickly as I do.

When I pronounce a completed verdict, it is heartily welcomed, since I am wise and exalted in kingship. So that my consultative assemblies, sitting together to care for the people, inspire respect in their hearts when the chief herald sounds the horn, they should deliberate and debate; and so that the council should decide policy properly, I have taught my governors to deliberate and to debate. While the words at their dining tables flow like a river, I tackle crime, so that the foundations are securely established for my wide dominions. I vanquish a city with words as weapons, and my wisdom keeps it subjected just as violence with burning torches would. I have taught them the meaning of the words "I have no mother". My words can be words smooth as the finest quality oil; I know how to cool hearts which are hot as fire, and I know how to extinguish a mouth set on fire like a reed-bed. I weigh my words against those of the braggart. I am a man of the very highest standards of value. The importance of the humble is of particular value to me, and they cannot be counter-productive to any of my activities. By command of An and by command of Enlil, prayers are said for the life of the Land and for the life of the foreign lands, and I neither neglect them nor allow them to be interrupted.

I also know how to serve the gods, and I can cool the hearts of the Anuna gods. I am Culgi, whose thick neck becomes fat (?) in majesty. Grand achievements that I have accomplished which bring joy to my heart I do not cast negligently aside; therefore I give pride of place to progress. I give no orders concerning the development of waste ground, but devote my energies to extensive building plots. I have planted trees in fields and in agricultural land; I devote my powers to dams, ......, ditches and canals. I try to ensure a surplus of oil and wool. Thanks to my efforts flax and barley are of the highest quality. The thirst and hunger of the gods are a cause of the greatest anxiety to me; I, Culgi, am the life of Sumer.

I have no equal among even the most distant rulers, and I can also state that my deeds are great deeds. Everything is achievable by me, the king. Since the time when Enlil gave me the direction of his numerous people in view of my wisdom, my extraordinary power and my justice, in view of my resolute and unforgettable words, and in view of my expertise, comparable to that of Ictaran, in verdicts, my heart has never committed violence against even one other king, be he an Akkadian or a son of Sumer, or even a brute from Gutium.

I am no fool as regards the knowledge acquired since the time that mankind was, from heaven above, set on its path: when I have discovered tigi and zamzam hymns from past days, old ones from ancient times, I have never declared them to be false, and have never contradicted their contents. I have conserved these antiquities, never abandoning them to oblivion. Wherever the tigi and the zamzam sounded, I have recovered all that knowledge, and I have had those cir-gida songs brilliantly performed in my own good house. So that they should never fall into disuse, I have added them to the singers' repertoire, and thereby I have set the heart of the Land on fire and aflame.

Whatever is acquired is destined to be lost. What mortal has ever reached the heavens? At some time in the distant future, a man of Enlil may arise, and if he is a just king, like myself, then let my odes, prayers and learned songs about my heroic courage and expeditions follow that king in his good palace. He should take to heart the benefit that has been conferred on him; he should exalt the power of my odes, absorb the exuberance of my songs, and value highly my great wisdom. Just as a strong person can consider on an equal basis even those things which he has not brought about by his own efforts, let him applaud and welcome my achievements. Let him call upon my good name.

But if his heart devises treason against me, and he commits violence against anything of mine, may Nanna then adjudicate against this rebel, and let Utu the torch catch him. Wherever that king's path may lead, his word shall be wiped out. Until he has completed the days of his life, he shall do everything in his power to keep the hymns in their proper form. Through becoming familiar thereby with me, the king, he will speak of me in awed amazement. Because of my extraordinary wisdom and my ancient fame as a master, he should choose my hymns as examples, and himself beget heavenly writings.

In the south, in Urim, I caused a House of the Wisdom of Nisaba to spring up in sacrosanct ground for the writing of my hymns; up country in Nibru I established another. May the scribe be on duty there and transcribe with his hand the prayers which I instituted in the E-kur; and may the singer perform, reciting from the text.

The academies are never to be altered; the places of learning shall never cease to exist. This and this only is now my accumulated knowledge!

The collected words of all the hymns that are in my honour supersede all other formulations. By An, Enlil, Utu and Inana, it is no lie -- it is true!

Furthermore no one will assert under oath that to this day there is any mention in my inscriptions of a single city that I have not devastated, or wall that I have not demolished, or land that I have not made tremble like a reed hut, or praise that I have not completely verified. Why should a singer put them in hymns? An eminent example deserves eternal fame. What is the use of writing lies without truth?

For me, the king, the singer has recorded my exploits in songs about the strength of the protective deity of my power; my songs are unforgettable, and my words shall not fall into oblivion.

I am the best king of the Land. From the very first origins until the full flourishing of mankind, there will never be any king who can measure himself against my achievements whom An will let wear his crown or wield his sceptre from a royal throne.

I am gifted with power, insight and wisdom. The high point of my great deeds is the culling of lions before the lance as if they were garden weeds, the snapping of fierce felines like reeds as if under the carding-comb, and the crushing (?) of their throats under the axe as if they were dogs. Great powerful wild cows, indomitable bulls, cattle on their way to their mountain pastures, which were killed in the plain, were ...... the mountains. That the hills were impenetrable and inaccessible ...... -- those are pure lies. Where, in important words on tablets, my wisdom and my power

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He who knows, and does not ...... the truth about me as lies, will applaud and praise me.

I am a warrior whose might is enormous might. I am Culgi, whose shadow lies over the mountain lands. I am the king, the weapon and the downfall of rebel lands. Thus I have spread far and wide my everlasting renown.

Now, I swear by Utu on this very day -- and my younger brothers shall be witnesses of it in foreign lands where the sons of Sumer are not known, where people do not have the use of paved (?) roads, where they have no access to the written word --

that the firstborn son is a fashioner of words, a composer of songs, a composer of words, and that they will recite my songs as heavenly writings, and that they will bow down before my words as a ......

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For that house, I am the right man to step over the threshold. I am the man whose name has been chosen by Nanna. I am the steward of Enlil's temple, the domestic slave of An. I am Culgi, and my house E-hursaj is the palace of palaces. My royal residence is above all praise; I made it tower up like a lapis-lazuli mountain. Inana, the queen of the gods, the protective deity of my power, has perfected the songs of my might -- the foremost among kings -- in respect of everything in the whole world. It is good to praise me. Praise be to Nisaba.

September 25, 2011
0
Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

Pabilsaj's journey to Nibru

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SEGMENT A

The wild bull with brindled thighs, whose house is noble! My king, the wild bull with brindled thighs, whose house is noble! Pabilsaj, the wild bull with brindled thighs, whose house is noble! His house, the house of Larag, is noble, his house is noble! His city, a mighty city, is abundant, and his house is noble! The warrior's house is the house of Larag; Lord Pabilsaj's city is a mighty city ....... His birthplace was the shrine Nibru ....... The place where he drank good milk was the house ....... From the place, the pure place, ....... Isin, the unique house ....... The place which the bull embraces ....... Like a scorpion rising up from among the thorns, he is a fearsome scorpion; like a wolf rising up from his lair, he is likely to growl; like a lion rising up in the pathway, he is likely to beat .......

At that time, he wished to dig (?) in the meadows; the lord wished to dig (?) in the meadows. The lord Pabilsaj wished to dig (?) in the meadows; in the meadows, the meadows of Isin, my king wished to dig (?). So then my king set off for Nibru.

And as the warrior Pabilsaj set off in Enlil's direction, as he he set off, now he turned (?) in front of that house in Isin. And then my lady in Isin came out ....... At the spacious house, the house of Isin, she ...... her hair, then she ...... the hair in curls (?) ....... Its (her?) face....... She addressed Pabilsaj joyfully: "Good-looking ...... the house of Isin! Warrior Pabilsaj ...... borne to Nintud! You who are travelling from (?) Larag to ...... that house in Isin, say to your father, "May she be my spouse!" Say further to Enlil, "...... with me!" Fix your sights on it, fix your sights on it, and may you be its lord! The house of Isin ....... May you, Pabilsaj, be its lord, and may I be its lady!"

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SEGMENT B

It is possible, but less likely, that Segment B belongs after Segment D

( Enlil speaks:) "...... and may its flax be flax! ...... and may its grain be grain! ...... may its ...... be good for eating."

And now, under that very sun and on that day, so it really happened. ...... waved their tails in the Kir-sig watercourse, waved ....... ...... established the house ....... ...... the most righteous ....... ...... the good bull-calf, the ruler ....... ...... established the house ....... ...... its flax was flax. ...... its grain was grain. ...... its ...... was good for eating.

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SEGMENT C

Nininsina ....... In the Kir-sig watercourse ...... their tails ...... Isin ....... Joyfully his son married a wife ......; joyfully lord Pabilsaj married Nininsina ....... She ...... him the digging implement for the Kir-sig watercourse. ...... their tails ...... Isin ...... for him.

Enlil stood beside the river and spoke to it. He stood beside the Kir-sig watercourse and ......: "River, may ...... your outlet be ...... for him. May you establish ...... the house here. ...... the most righteous ......, ...... great wild bull ......."

approx. 1 line missing

SEGMENT D

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But Pabilsaj would not eat (?) the bull in his mouth; nor would ...... Pabilsaj eat (?) the sheep in his mouth. He did not rub the ...... pot ....... "Don't go ...... to ......." They raised the ...... lament, and put ....... They raised lord Pabilsaj, and put ....... They set him down (?) in the city of his sister. His sister came out to him from the house.

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But Pabilsaj would not eat (?) the bull in his mouth; nor would ...... Pabilsaj eat (?) the sheep in his mouth. He did not rub the ...... pot ....... "Don't go ......!"

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September 25, 2011
0
Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

3 Ox-drivers from Adab

Three ox-drivers from Adab

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There were three friends, citizens of Adab, who fell into a dispute with each other, and sought justice. They deliberated the matter with many words, and went before the king.

"Our king! We are ox-drivers. The ox belongs to one man, the cow belongs to one man, and the waggon belongs to one man. We became thirsty and had no water. We said to the owner of the ox, "If you were to fetch some water, then we could drink!". And he said, "What if my ox is devoured by a lion? I will not leave my ox!". We said to the owner of the cow, "If you were to fetch some water, then we could drink!". And he said, "What if my cow went off into the desert? I will not leave my cow!". We said to the owner of the waggon, "If you were to fetch some water, then we could drink!". And he said, "What if the load were removed from my waggon? I will not leave my waggon!". "Come on, let's all go! Come on, and let's return together!" "

"First the ox, although tied with a leash (?), mounted the cow, and then she dropped her young, and the calf started to chew up (?) the waggon's load. Who does this calf belong to? Who can take the calf?"

The king did not give them an answer, but went to visit a cloistered lady. The king sought advice from the cloistered lady:

"Three young men came before me and said: 'Our king, we are ox-drivers. The ox belongs to one man, the cow belongs to one man, and the waggon belongs to one man. We became thirsty and had no water. We said to the owner of the ox, "If you were to draw some water, then we could drink!". And he said, "What if my ox is devoured by a lion? I will not leave my ox!". We said to the owner of the cow, "If you were to draw some water, then we could drink!". And he said, "What if my cow went off into the desert? I will not leave my cow!". We said to the owner of the waggon, "If you were to draw some water, then we could drink!". And he said, "What if the load were removed from my waggon? I will not leave my waggon!" he said. "Come on, let's all go! Come on, and let's return together!" ' "

" 'First the ox, although tied with a leash (?), mounted the cow, and then she dropped her young, and the calf started to chew up (?) the waggon's load. Who does this calf belong to? Who can take the calf?" '

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(The cloistered lady continues her reply to the king:) "Well now, the owner of the ox, ...... his field ....... After his ox has been eaten by a lion ......, his field ......."
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"The hero....... Like a mountaineer ....... A dog ...... the ox ....... A strong man (?) ...... in his field......."

"Well now, the owner of the cow ...... his wife. After his cow has gone off into the desert ......, his wife will walk the streets ....... After the cow has dropped its young ......, the hero, walking in the rain (?)....... His wife ...... herself. The ox's food ration which he has turned to his ......, ...... hunger. His wife dwells with him in his house, his desired one ...... "

"Well now, the owner of the waggon, after he has abandoned his ......, and the load has been removed from his waggon, and ...... from his waggon, and after he has brought his ...... into his house, ...... will be made to leave his house. His calf that began to chew up (?) the waggon's load will be ...... in his house. When he has approached (?) ...... the open-armed (?) hero, the king, having learnt about his case, will make his ...... leave his dwelling (1 ms. has instead: location). ...... the ox, ...... has partaken of my (?) wisdom, shall not oppose (?) it. His load, ......, will not return (?)."

When the king came out from the cloistered lady's presence, each (?) man's heart was dissatisfied. The man who hated his wife left his wife. The man ...... his ...... abandoned his ....... With elaborate words, with elaborate words, the case of the citizens of Adab was settled. Pa-nijin-jara, their sage, the scholar, the god of Adab, was the scribe.

September 25, 2011
0
Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts

Ninurta with his thunderbolts pursues Anzû stealing the Tablet of Destinies from Enlil's sanctuary (Austen Henry Layard Monuments of Nineveh, 2nd Series)

The exploits of Ninurta

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(1 ms. adds before line 1: An, king of the gods, majestic one:) O King, storm of majestic splendour, peerless Ninurta, possessing superior strength; who pillages the Mountains all alone; deluge, indefatigable serpent hurling yourself at the rebel land, Hero striding formidably into battle; Lord whose powerful arm is fit to bear the mace, reaping like barley the necks of the insubordinate; Ninurta, King, son in whose strength his father rejoices; Hero whose awesomeness covers the Mountains like a south storm; Ninurta, who makes the good tiara, the rainbow (?), flash like lightning; grandly begotten by him who wears the princely beard; dragon who turns on himself, strength of a lion snarling at a snake, roaring hurricane; Ninurta, King, whom Enlil has exalted above himself; Hero, great battle-net flung over the foe; Ninurta, with the awesomeness of your shadow extending over the Land; releasing fury on the rebel lands, overwhelming their assemblies! Ninurta, King, son who has forced homage to his father far and wide! (King and Hero are titles of Ninurta)

Inspiring great numinous power, he had taken his place on the throne, the august dais, and was sitting gladly at his ease at the festival celebrated in his honour, rivalling An and Enlil in drinking his fill, while Bau was pleading petitions in a prayer for the king, and he, Ninurta, Enlil's son, was handing down decisions. At that moment the Lord's battle-mace looked towards the Mountains, the Car-ur cried out aloud to its master:

"Lord of lofty station, foremost one, who presides over all lords from the throne dais, Ninurta, whose orders are unalterable, whose decisions are faithfully executed; my master! Heaven copulated with the verdant Earth, Ninurta: she has born him a warrior who knows no fear -- the Asag, a child who sucked the power of milk without ever staying with a wet-nurse, a foster-child, O my master -- knowing no father, a murderer from the Mountains, a youth who has come forth from ......, whose face knows no shame; impudent of eye, an arrogant male, Ninurta (1 ms. has instead: Ninjirsu), rejoicing in his stature. My Hero, you who are like a bull, I will take my stand beside you. My master, who turns sympathetically towards his own city, who is effective in carrying out his mother's wishes: it has sired offspring in the Mountains, and spread its seeds far and wide. The plants have unanimously named it king over them; like a great wild bull, it tosses its horns amongst them. The cu, the sajkal, the esi (diorite), the usium, the kagina (haematite), and the heroic nu stones, its warriors, constantly come raiding the cities. For them a shark's tooth has grown up in the Mountains; it has stripped the trees. Before its might the gods of those cities bow towards it. My master, this same creature has erected a throne dais: it is not lying idle. Ninurta, Lord, it actually decides the Land's lawsuits, just as you do. Who can compass the Asag's dread glory? Who can counteract the severity of its frown? People are terrified, fear makes the flesh creep; their eyes are fixed upon it. My master, the Mountains have taken their offerings to it."

"Hero! They have appealed to you, because of your father; son of Enlil, Lord, because of your superior strength they are looking to you here; since you are strong, my master, they are calling for your help, saying, Ninurta, that not a single warrior counts except for you! They wanted to advise you about ....... Hero, there have been consultations with a view to taking away your kingship. Ninurta, it is confident that it can lay hands on the powers received by you in the abzu. Its face is deformed, its location is continually changing; day by day, the Asag adds territories to its domain."

"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?

The Lord cried "Alas!" so that Heaven trembled, and Earth huddled at his feet and was terrified (?) at his strength. Enlil became confused and went out of the E-kur. The Mountains were devastated. That day the earth became dark, the Anuna trembled. The Hero beat his thighs with his fists. The gods dispersed; the Anuna disappeared over the horizon like sheep. The Lord arose, touching the sky; Ninurta went to battle, with one step (?) he covered a league, he was an alarming storm, and rode on the eight winds towards the rebel lands. His arms grasped the lance. The mace snarled at the Mountains, the club began to devour all the enemy. He fitted the evil wind and the sirocco on a pole (?), he placed the quiver on its hook (?). An enormous hurricane, irresistible, went before the Hero, stirred up the dust, caused the dust to settle, levelled high and low, filled the holes. It caused a rain of coals and flaming fires; the fire consumed men. It overturned tall trees by their trunks, reducing the forests to heaps, Earth put her hands on her heart and cried harrowingly; the Tigris was muddied, disturbed, cloudy, stirred up. He hurried to battle on the boat Ma-kar-nunta-eda; the people there did not know where to turn, they bumped into (?) the walls. The birds there tried to lift their heads to fly away, but their wings trailed on the ground. The storm flooded out the fish there in the subterranean waters, their mouths snapped at the air. It reduced the animals of the open country to firewood, roasting them like locusts. It was a deluge rising and disastrously ruining the Mountains.

The Hero Ninurta led the march through the rebel lands. He killed their messengers in the Mountains, he crushed (?) their cities, he smote their cowherds over the head like fluttering butterflies, he tied together their hands with hirin grass, so that they dashed their heads against walls. The lights of the Mountains did not gleam in the distance any longer. People gasped for breath (?); those people were ill, they hugged themselves, they cursed the Earth, they considered the day of the Asag's birth a day of disaster. The Lord caused bilious poison to run over the rebel lands. As he went the gall followed, anger filled his heart, and he rose like a river in spate and engulfed all the enemies. In his heart he beamed at his lion-headed weapon, as it flew up like a bird, trampling the Mountains for him. It raised itself on its wings to take away prisoner the disobedient, it spun around the horizon of heaven to find out what was happening. Someone from afar came to meet it, brought news for the tireless one, the one who never rests, whose wings bear the deluge, the Car-ur. What did it gather there ...... for Lord Ninurta? It reported the deliberations of the Mountains, it explained their intentions to Lord Ninurta, it outlined (?) what people were saying about the Asag.

"Hero, beware!" it said concernedly. The weapon embraced him whom it loved, the Car-ur addressed Lord Ninurta: "Hero, pitfall (?), net of battle, Ninurta, King, celestial mace ...... irresistible against the enemy, vigorous one, tempest which rages against the rebel lands, wave which submerges the harvest, King, you have looked on battles, you have ...... in the thick of them. Ninurta, after gathering the enemy in a battle-net, after erecting a great reed-altar, Lord, heavenly serpent, purify your pickaxe and your mace! Ninurta, I will enumerate the names of the warriors you have already slain: the Kuli-ana, the Dragon, Gypsum, the Strong Copper, the hero Six-headed Wild Ram, the Magilum boat, Lord Saman-ana, the Bison bull, the Palm-tree King, the Anzud bird, the Seven-headed Snake -- Ninurta, you slew them in the Mountains."

"But Lord, do not venture again to a battle as terrible as that. Do not lift your arm to the smiting of weapons, to the festival of the young men, to Inana's dance! Lord, do not go to such a great battle as this! Do not hurry; fix your feet on the ground. Ninurta, the Asag is waiting for you in the Mountains. Hero who is so handsome in his crown, firstborn son whom Ninlil has decorated with numberless charms, good Lord, whom a princess bore to an en priest, Hero who wears horns like the moon, who is long life for the king of the Land, who opens the sky by great sublime strength, inundation who engulfs the banks ......, Ninurta, Lord, full of fearsomeness, who will hurry towards the Mountains, proud Hero without fellow, this time you will not equal the Asag! Ninurta, do not make your young men enter the Mountains."

The Hero, the son, pride of his father, the very wise, rising from profound deliberation, Ninurta, the Lord, the son of Enlil, gifted with broad wisdom, the ...... god, the Lord stretched his leg to mount the onager, and joined the battalions ....... He spread over the Mountains his great long ......, he caused ...... to go out among its people like the ....... He reached ....... He went into the rebel lands in the vanguard of the battle. He gave orders to his lance, and attached it ...... by its cord; the Lord commanded his mace, and it went to its belt. The Hero hastened to the battle, he ...... heaven and earth. He prepared the throw-stick and the shield, the Mountains were smitten and cringed beside the battle legions of Ninurta. When the hero was girding on his mace, the sun did not wait, the moon went in; they were forgotten, as he marched towards the Mountains; the day became like pitch.

The Asag leapt up at the head of the battle. For a club it uprooted the sky, took it in its hand; like a snake it slid its head along the ground. It was a mad dog attacking to kill the helpless, dripping with sweat on its flanks. Like a wall collapsing, the Asag fell on Ninurta the son of Enlil. Like an accursed storm, it howled in a raucous voice; like a gigantic snake, it roared at the Land. It dried up the waters of the Mountains, dragged away the tamarisks, tore the flesh of the Earth and covered her with painful wounds. It set fire to the reed-beds, bathed the sky in blood, turned it inside out; it dispersed the people there. At that moment, on that day, the fields became black potash, across the whole extent of the horizon, reddish like purple dye -- truly it was so! An was overwhelmed, crouched, wrung his hands against his stomach; Enlil groaned and hid himself in a corner, the Anuna flattened themselves against walls, the house was full of fearful sighing as of pigeons. The Great Mountain Enlil cried to Ninlil:

"My wife, my son is no longer here; what is there to support me? The Lord, the authority of the E-kur, the King who imposes the strong shackle for his father, a cedar rooted in the abzu, a crown with broad shade, my son, my security -- he is not here any more: who will take me by the hand?"

The weapon which loved the Lord, obedient to its master, the Car-ur ...... for Lord Ninurta to his father in Nibru ....... The awesome splendour enveloped Ninurta like a garment, ....... ...... bound him: therefore the Lord ....... The weapon ...... spoke to Enlil.

"...... Ninurta, having confidence in himself; ...... he will be standing; the waters will be dried up as if by the sun's heat; ...... he will breathe again, he will be standing full of joy. I shall cause horrid storms to rise against ...... of the Hero Ninurta ....... ...... as for him who resisted (?) the Mountains, he has been amazed by his strength. Now I shall give my orders, you are to follow these instructions:

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...... in the fields, let him not diminish the population. ...... let him not cause a lack of posterity. Let him not cause to perish the name of all the kinds of species whose destinies I, Enlil, have decreed."

The weapon, its heart ......, was reassured: it slapped its thighs, the Car-ur began to run, it entered the rebel lands, joyfully it reported the message to Lord Ninurta:

"My master, ...... for you, Enlil has said: "As the Deluge i.e. Ninurta, before whom the venom has piled up, attacks the enemy, let him take the Asag by the shoulder, let him pierce its liver, let my son enter with it into the E-kur. Then, Ninurta, to the limits of the earth my people will deservedly praise your power." You, Lord who trusts in the word of his father, do not tarry, great strength of Enlil. Storm of the rebel lands, who grinds the Mountains like flour, Ninurta, Enlil's seal-bearer, go to it! Do not tarry. My master: the Asag has constructed a wall of stakes on an earthen rampart; the fortress is too high and cannot be reached, ...... its fierceness does not diminish.

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My master, ......." Ninurta opened his mouth to speak to the mace ....... He aimed the lance at the Mountains ....... The Lord stretched out an arm towards the clouds. Day became a dark night. He yelled like a storm, .......

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The Lord ...... clouds of dust. In his battle he smote the Mountains with a cudgel. The Car-ur made the storm-wind rise to heaven, scattering the people; like ...... it tore. Its venom alone destroyed the townspeople. The destructive mace set fire to the Mountains, the murderous weapon smashed skulls with its painful teeth, the club which tears out entrails gnashed its teeth. The lance was stuck into the ground and the crevasses filled with blood. In the rebel lands dogs licked it up like milk. The enemy rose up, crying to wife and child, "You did not lift your arms in prayer to Lord Ninurta". The weapon covered the Mountains with dust, but did not shake the heart of the Asag. The Car-ur threw its arms around the neck of the Lord:

"Hero, ah, what further awaits you? Do not on any account meddle with the hurricane of the Mountains. Ninurta, Lord, son of Enlil, I tell you again, it is made like a storm. It is a blister whose smell is foul, like mucus which comes from the nose it is unpleasant, Lord, its words are devious, it will not obey you. My master, it has been created against you as a god; who can help you? Hero, it falls on the land as a whirlwind, it scrubs it as if with saltwort, Ninurta, it chases the onagers before it in the Mountains. Its terrifying splendour sends the dust into clouds, it causes a downpour of potsherds. In the rebel lands it is a lion striking with savage teeth; no man can catch it. After reducing everything to nothing in the north wind, it ....... The sheepfolds have been closed by ghostly demons. It has dried up the waters in the ground. In the whirlwind storm, the people are finished, they have no solution (?). From an implacable enemy, great Hero, Lord, turn away," he said quietly.

But the Lord howled at the Mountains, could not withhold a roar. The Hero did not address the rebel lands, he ....... He reversed the evil that it had done ....... He smashed the heads of all the enemies, he made the Mountains weep. The Lord ranged about in all directions, like a soldier saying "I will go on the rampage". Like a bird of prey the Asag looked up angrily from the Mountains. He commanded the rebel lands to be silent and ....... Ninurta approached the enemy and flattened him like a wave (?). The Asag's terrifying splendour was contained, it began to fade, it began to fade. It looked wonderingly upwards. Like water he agitated it, he scattered it into the Mountains, like weeds he pulled it up, like rushes he ripped it up. Ninurta's splendour covered the Land, he pounded the Asag like roasted barley, he ...... its genitals (?), he piled it up like a heap of broken bricks, he heaped it up like flour, as a potter does with coals; he piled it up like stamped earth whose mud is being stirred. The Hero had achieved his heart's desire. Ninurta, the Lord, the son of Enlil, ...... began to calm down.

In the Mountains, the day came to an end. The sun bade it farewell. The Lord ...... his belt and mace in water, he washed the blood from his clothes, the Hero wiped his brow, he made a victory-chant over the dead body. When he had brought the Asag which he had slain to the condition of a ship wrecked by a tidal wave, the gods of the Land came to him. Like exhausted wild asses they prostrated themselves before him, and for this Lord, because of his proud conduct, for Ninurta, the son of Enlil, they clapped their hands in greeting. The Car-ur addressed these flattering words aloud to its master (1 ms. has instead: to Lord Ninurta):

"Lord, great mec tree in a watered field, Hero, who is like you? My master, beside you there is no one else, nor can anyone stand like you, nor is anyone born like you. Ninurta, from today no one in the Mountains will rise against you. My master, if you give but one roar, ...... how they will praise you!

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Lord Ninurta ......."

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After he had pulled up the Asag like a weed in the rebel lands, torn it up like a rush, Lord Ninurta ...... his club:

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"From today forward, do not say Asag: its name shall be Stone. Its name shall be zalag stone, its name shall be Stone. This, its entrails, shall be the underworld. Its valour shall belong to the Lord."

The blessing of the club, laid to rest in a corner: "The mighty battle which reduces the Land".

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At that time, the good water coming forth from the earth did not pour down over the fields. The cold water (?) was piled up everywhere, and the day when it began to ...... it brought destruction in the Mountains, since the gods of the Land were subject to servitude, and had to carry the hoe and the basket -- this was their corv work -- people called on a household for the recruitment of workers. The Tigris did not bring up its flood in its fullness. Its mouth did not finish in the sea, it did not carry fresh water. No one brought (?) offerings to the market. The famine was hard, as nothing had yet been born. No one yet cleaned the little canals, the mud was not dredged up. Ditch-making did not yet exist. People did not work (?) in furrows, barley was sown broadcast.

The Lord applied his great wisdom to it. Ninurta (1 ms. has instead: Ninjirsu), the son of Enlil, set about it in a grand way. He made a pile of stones in the Mountains. Like a floating cloud he stretched out his arms over it. With a great wall he barred the front of the Land. He installed a sluice (?) on the horizon. The Hero acted cleverly, he dammed in the cities together. He blocked (?) the powerful waters by means of stones. Now the waters will never again go down from the Mountains into the earth. That which was dispersed he gathered together. Where in the Mountains scattered lakes had formed, he joined them all together and led them down to the Tigris. He poured carp-floods of water over the fields.

Now, today, throughout the whole world, kings of the Land far and wide rejoice at Lord Ninurta. He provided water for the speckled barley in the cultivated fields, he raised up (2 mss. have instead: piled up) the harvest of fruits in garden and orchard. He heaped up the grain piles like mounds. The Lord caused trading colonies to go up from the Land of Sumer. He contented the desires of the gods. They duly praised Ninurta's father.

At that time he also reached a woman with compassion. Ninmah was sleepless from remembering the place where she had conceived him. She covered her outside with a fleece, like an unshorn ewe, she made a great lament about the now inaccessible Mountains:

"The Mountains could not bear the Lord's great strength. The great Hero -- the force of whose rage no one can approach, like heaven itself; the savage storm which walks on earth, spilling poison in the earth's breast; the Lord, the life-breath of Enlil, whose head is worthy of the tiara, ...... who knows nothing of ......: in triumph he hurried by me, he with whom my husband made me pregnant (?). I bore him for my husband. He was close ......; but the son of Enlil passed by and did not lift his glance to me. For the good youth" -- thus the good lady said, as she went to him in E-cumeca, his chosen place, --" I will cut the knot. Now I, yes I, shall go to the presumptuous Lord, to gaze upon the precious Lord. I will go directly to him, to my son, Enlil's judge, the great Hero, favoured by his father."

The lady performed the song in a holy manner. Ninmah recited it to Lord Ninurta. He looked at her with his life-giving looks and spoke to her:

"Lady, since you came to the Mountains, Ninmah ('Great Lady'), since you entered the rebel lands for my sake, since you did not keep far from me when I was surrounded by the horrors of battle -- let the name of the pile which I, the Hero, have piled up be Mountain (hursaj) and may you be its lady (nin): now that is the destiny decreed by Ninurta. Henceforth people shall speak of Ninhursaja. So be it. Let its meadows produce herbs for you. Let its slopes produce honey and wine for you. Let its hillsides grow cedars, cypress, juniper and box for you. Let it make abundant for you ripe fruits, as a garden. Let the mountain supply you richly with divine perfumes. Let it mine gold and silver for you, make ...... for you. Let it smelt copper and tin for you, make its tribute for you. Let the Mountains make wild animals teem for you. Let the mountain increase the fecundity of quadrupeds for you. You, o Queen, become equal to An, wearing a terrifying splendour. Great goddess who detests boasting, good lady, maiden Ninhursaja, Nintud, ...... approach me. Lady, I have given you great powers: may you be exalted."

While the Lord was fixing the destiny of the Mountains, as he walked about in the sanctuary of Nibru, the good lady whose powers excel all powers, Lady-creatrix-of-the-womb, Aruru, Enlil's elder sister, stood before him:

"Great Hero whose word like that of his father is unalterable, Lord: you have not fixed the destinies of the warriors that you have slain."

The Lord then addressed the u stone. He defined (?) its typical behaviour. The Lord spoke to it in anger in the Land, Ninurta son of Enlil cursed it:

"U stone (emery), since you rose against me in the Mountains, since you barred the way (2 mss. have instead: seized me) so as to detain me, since you swore to put me to death, since you frightened me, Lord Ninurta, on my great throne; you are powerful, a youth of outstanding strength: may your size be diminished. A mighty lion, confident in its strength, will tear you into pieces, the strong man will fling you in his hand in combat (1 ms. has instead: for strength). Young u stone, your brothers will heap you up like flour. You will lift your hand against your offspring, sink your teeth into their corpses. You, young man, though you may cry out, will end as ....... Like a great wild bull killed by many people, be divided into portions. U stone, you will be hounded from the battlefield with clubs, like a dog chased by shepherd boys. Because I am the Lord: since cornelian is polished by you, you shall be called by its name. And now, according to the destiny fixed by Ninurta, henceforth when u stone touches it, there will be pierced cornelian. Let it be so."

The Hero addressed the cu and gasura stones. The Lord enumerated their characteristics. Ninurta son of Enlil fixed their destiny:

"Cu stones, since you attacked against my weapons; gasura stones, since you stood fiercely against me like bulls, since you tossed (?) your horns in the dust at me like wild bulls, you shall be ...... like butterflies. My terrifying splendour will cover you. Since you cannot escape from my (1 ms. has instead: his) great strength, the goldsmith shall puff and blow on you with his breath. You shall be shaped by him to form a matrix for his creations. People shall place the first fruits of the gods on you at the time of the new moon."

My King stood before the sajkal stone, he addressed the gulgul and sajjar stones. Ninurta son of Enlil fixed their destiny:

"Sajkal stone, since you flew up against me ......; gulgul stone, since you sparked lightning against me ......; sajjar stone, since you shook your head at me, since you ground your teeth at me, the Lord! The sajkal stone will smash you, sajjar stone, young brave, and the gulgul stone will destroy (gul) you. You will be discarded as contemptible and valueless (saj nukala). Be a prey to the famine (cagjar) of the Land; you shall be fed by the charity of your city. You shall be accounted a common person, a warrior among slave-girls. They shall say to you "Be off with you, hurry!", it shall be your name. And now, by the destiny fixed by Ninurta, henceforth you shall be called a bad lot in the Land. So be it."

My King stood before the esi stone. ...... he spoke in hymnic language. Ninurta son of Enlil fixed its destiny:

"Esi (diorite), your army in battle changed sides separately (?). You spread before me like thick smoke. You did not raise your hand. You did not attack me. Since you said, "It is false. The Lord is alone the Hero. Who can vie with Ninurta, son of Enlil?" -- they shall extract you from the highland countries. They shall bring (?) you from the land of Magan. You shall shape (?) Strong Copper like leather and then you shall be perfectly adapted for my heroic arm, for me, the Lord. When a king who is establishing his renown for perpetuity has had its statues sculpted for all time, you shall be placed in the place of libations -- and it shall suit you well -- in my temple E-ninnu, the house full of grace."

My King turned to the na stone. He ...... the body from the na stone. Ninurta son of Enlil cursed it: "Stone, since you said, "If only it had been me"; na stones, since you bewitched my powers -- lie down there, you, to be worked on like a pig. Be discarded, be used for nothing, end up by being reduced to tiny fragments. He who knows you shall reduce you to liquid."

My King turned to the elel stone. Ninurta son of Enlil fixed its destiny: "Elel, intelligently you caused terror of me to descend on the Mountains where discord had broken out. In the rebel lands you proclaimed my name among my people who had banded together. Nothing of your wholeness shall be diminished (?). It shall be difficult to reduce your mass to small pieces. My divine ordinances shall be set out in straight lines on your body. You shall be greatly suited to the clash of weapons, when I have heroes to slay. You shall be set up on a pedestal in my great courtyard. The Land shall praise you in wonder, the foreign lands shall speak your praises (2 mss. have instead: elevate you)."

The Hero turned to the kagina (haematite) stone, he addressed it for its hardness. Ninurta son of Enlil fixed its destiny: "Young man worthy of respect, whose surface reflects the light, kagina, when the demands of the rebel lands reached you, I did not conquer you ....... I did not notice you among the hostile ones. I shall make room for you in the Land. The divine rites of Utu shall become your powers. Be constituted as a judge in the foreign lands. The craftsman, expert in everything, shall value you as if gold. Young man of whom I have taken possession, because of you I shall not sleep until you come to life. And now, according to the destiny fixed by Ninurta, henceforth kagina shall live! So shall it be."

The Hero stood before the jicnugal (alabaster) stone. Ninurta son of Enlil fixed its destiny: "icnu, whose body shines like the daylight! Purified silver, youth destined for the palace, since you alone held out your hands to me, and you prostrated yourself before me in your Mountains, I did not smite you with the club, and I did not turn my strength against you. Hero, you stood firm by me when I yelled out. Your name shall be called benevolence. The treasury of the Land shall be subject to your hand, you shall be its seal-keeper. (1 ms. adds the line: The Anuna .......)"

My King turned to the algamec stone and frowned. The Lord spoke to it angrily in the Land. Ninurta son of Enlil cursed it: "What provision did you make to assist my progress? Be the first to go into my forge. Algamec, you shall be the regular sacrifice offered daily by the smiths."

My King turned to the ducia stone. He addressed the nir, the gug (cornelian) and the zagin (lapis lazuli); the amac-pa-ed, the caba, the hurizum, the gug-gazi and the marhali; the egi-zaga, the girin-hiliba , the anzugulme and the nir-mucjir stones (1 ms.: the ...... and the gazi-musud stones). The Lord Ninurta, son of Enlil, fixed their destinies for ...... the waterskin: "How you came to my side, male and female in form, and in your own way! You committed no fault, and you supported me with strength. You exalted me in public. Now in my deliberation, I shall exalt you. Since you made yourself general of the assembly, you, nir, shall be chosen for syrup and for wine. You shall all be decorated with precious metal. The principal among the gods shall cause the foreign lands to prostrate themselves before you, putting their noses to the ground."

My King turned to the jir-zu-jal (flint), and frowned. The Lord spoke to it angrily in the Land. Ninurta son of Enlil cursed it: "Ah, duplicitous jir-zu-jal, what then? They shall split your horns, wild bull, in your Mountains. Lie down before the ....... You were not equal to me who supported you. I shall rip you like a sack, and people will smash you into tiny pieces. The metalworker shall deal with you, he shall use his chisel on you. Young man, massive, bearer of hatred: the carpenter, saying "I wish to buy it for my work", shall wet you with water ...... and shall crush you like malt."

My King turned to the iman stones, he addressed the alliga stones. Ninurta son of Enlil fixed their destiny: "Iman stones, in the Mountains you cried out against me. You fiercely uttered battle-yells. I shall enflame you like fire. Like a storm I shall overturn you. I shall strip you like rushes. I shall rip you up like weeds. Who will assist you then? Iman stone: your cries shall not be valued, no attention shall be paid to them. Iman stone, alliga stone: your path shall not lead to the palace."

My King turned to the macda stone. He addressed the dubban and urutum stones. Ninurta son of Enlil defined (?) their characteristic behaviour: "Macda stone, dubban stone, blazing fires; urutum stone, which nothing resists; when the gasura stone ...... and you were set ablaze, you burnt against me in the rebel lands like a brazier. Since you all stood against me in the land of Saba: macda stone, they shall slaughter you like a sheep. Dubban stone, they shall crunch you for pulverising. Urutum stone, they shall sharpen you for the battle-mace; with bronze, the arrowheads of the gods, they shall smash you with the axe, stinging with fierce swords."

My King turned to the cagara stone. Ninurta son of Enlil fixed its destiny: "Cagara stone, who smash (?) your head against anyone travelling alone in the desert, in the Mountains when my arms were occupied you tried to trample on me. Since you glutted yourself in the battle, the reed-worker shall make the reeds jump with you. You shall be thrown onto your couch; the appearance (?) of your mother and father who bore you shall be forgotten (?). No one shall say to you, "Get up", no one shall have the feeling that he misses you, the people shall not complain about your loss. In praise of the eternally-created powers in Ninhursaja's resting place, you shall be discarded on the dais there. They shall feed you on malt, as they do for sheep; you shall content yourself with a portion of scattered flour. This shall be the explanation for you."

My King turned to the marhuca stone, Ninurta the son of Enlil pronounced its destiny. "Marhuca, ...... the string in my place, ...... you were taken, since you did not participate in the crimes of your city, ......; you shall be the bowl under the filter-jug, the water shall filter into you. Marhusa, you shall be used for inlay-work, ....... You shall be the perfect ornament for sacred brooches. Marhuca, you shall be duly praised in the temples of the gods."

The Hero turned to the hactum stone and frowned. In the Land the Lord addressed it angrily; Ninurta the son of Enlil pronounced its destiny: "Hactum stone, you cried out against me in the Mountains. You yelled fiercely with wild battle-yells. With your yelling, you fixed a lila demon in the Mountains. Young man, because of your digging, Ditch (hactum) shall be your name. And now, according to the destiny of Ninurta, henceforth they shall say hactum. So be it."

My King turned to the durul stone. Ninurta son of Enlil fixed its destiny: "Durul stone, holy garment of mourning, blinded youth whom people carve, in the Mountains you prostrated yourself before me. Since you said to me, "If only it had been me who broke the bars of the gates, if only I had stood before him, before my King, Lord Ninurta", your name shall be magnified of its own accord wherever it is mentioned. As the connoisseur says of precious metal, "I will buy it", so the foreign nations, like musicians playing the reed-pipe, shall pursue you."

My King turned to the cigcig stone, he addressed the engen and ezinum stones. For the ug-gun, the hem, the madanum, the sajgirmud, the ...... and the mursuh stones, Ninurta son of Enlil fixed their destiny:

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"with ribs drawn in, balancing on the haunches, heart elated, legs bent like a bear, ......: I shall come to you; now, being an ally, you come forward from all of them; who shall extend the hand to them? You were the club, you stood as the doorway.

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In the Land, the champion shall always look (?) with favour on you."

The Hero turned to the kurgaranum stone. He addressed the bal stone; the Lord Ninurta, son of Enlil, fixed the destiny for the yellow-coloured cimbi (kohl): "Since you said, "I will bring forth the people",

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you ...... as if ...... the young man who has obtained (?) glory for you; the young artisan shall sing your praises. You shall be favoured for the festival of spirits of the dead; on the ninth day of the month, at the new moon, the young men shall ...... for you." He assigned ...... them to the cult of Ninhursaja.

The Hero had conquered the Mountains. As he moved across the desert, he ....... Through the crowd, he came forth among their acclamations (?), majestically he ....... Ninurta joyfully went to his beloved barge, the Lord set foot in the boat Ma-kar-nunta-eda. The boatmen sang a pleasant song, for the Lord they sang his praise. They addressed an eternal greeting to Ninurta son of Enlil: "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 do not dare to 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?

"My King: there is a hero who is devoted to you and to your offerings, he is as just as his reputation, he walks in your ways; since he has brilliantly accomplished all that is proper for you in your temple, since he has made your shrine rise from the dust for you, let him do everything magnificently for your festival. Let him accomplish perfectly for you your holy rites. He has formulated a vow for his life. May he praise you in the Land. "May An's heart be appeased for the Lord, may the maiden mother Bau shine like the daylight for Ninurta, Enlil's strength."

They sang to the Lord in the ceremonial (?) boat. The boat, floating of its own accord, was piled up with riches. The boat Ma-kar-nunta-eda proceeded shiningly. To greet the Hero from the smiting of weapons, the Anuna ...... came to meet him. They pressed their noses to the ground, they placed their hands on their chests. They addressed a prayer and a supplication to the Lord: "May your anger be appeased ....... Ninurta, King, Utu-ulu, lift your head to heaven".

His father Enlil blessed him: "......, pre-eminent with your great name, you have established your habitation ....... Chest, fittingly ......, King of battle, I presented the storm of heaven to you for use against the rebel lands. O Hero of heaven and earth I presented to you the club, the deluge which sets the Mountains on fire. King, ahead of your storm the way was narrow. But, Ninurta, I had confidence in your march to the Mountains. Like a wolf (?) set free to seize his prey, in your storm you adventured into the rebel lands from above. The mountain that you have handed over shall not be restored. You have caused its cities to be counted as ruin-mounds. Its mighty rulers have lost their breath before you. A celestial mace, a prosperous and unchanging rule, eternal life, the good favour of Enlil, o King, and the strength of An: these shall be your reward."

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 the 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.

To the lady, the celestial star, made magnificently beautiful by the prince in the abzu, to the lady of knowledge who gladdens hearts, who alone has the gift of governing, endowed with prudence, ......, who rules the black-headed, who possesses the tablet with all the names (?), from whose suspended nets the birds which are caught do not escape, whose every work accomplished meets with complete success, to her ...... which is not unravelled, to her for whom the days are counted according to the phases of the moon, to her who is unassailable as if a fortress of copper ......, who is ...... in counsels, and wise in all manner of things, ...... who cares for the black-headed, who rules the people justly, ......, the replica of Enlil, to the bright good lady who takes counsel with An -- to Nisaba be praise.

Enlil's mighty Lord, Ninurta, great son of the E-kur, heroic one of the father who bore him: it is good to praise you.

A cir-gid song of Ninurta.

September 25, 2011
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Published in Clay Tablets from Sumer, Babylon and Assyria
Written by LC Geerts