All tablets.

The debate between Bird and Fish

In those ancient days, when the good destinies had been decreed, and after An and Enlil had set up the divine rules of heaven and earth, then the third of them, ......, the lord of broad wisdom, Enki, the master of destinies, gathered together ...... and founded dwelling places; he took in his hand waters to encourage and create good seed; he laid out side by side the Tigris and the Euphrates, and caused them to bring water from the mountains; he scoured out the smaller streams, and positioned the other watercourses. ...... Enki made spacious sheepfolds and cattle-pens, and provided shepherds…

The debate between Sheep and Grain

When, upon the hill of heaven and earth, An spawned the Anuna gods, since he neither spawned nor created Grain with them, and since in the Land he neither fashioned the yarn of Uttu (the goddess of weaving) nor pegged out the loom for Uttu -- with no Sheep appearing, there were no numerous lambs, and with no goats, there were no numerous kids, the sheep did not give birth to her twin lambs, and the goat did not give birth to her triplet kids; the Anuna, the great gods, did not even know the names Ezina-Kusu (Grain) or Sheep. There was no muc grain of thirty days; there was no muc grain of…

The debate between Silver and Copper

5 lines fragmentary (Silver (?) speaks:) "Powerful with huge arms, does he have any rival? He walks carrying the precious hammer stone and anvil stone. He can create ...... and thus make it larger -- ......, a brother, is your right arm; ......, a mother (?), is your left (?). He has created ......; let him show it off. Constantly digging ......, let him accumulate goods. After exalted ...... conceived (?) him, after ...... like a breast, after ...... towards the abzu, ...... to the edge of the horizon, may ...... bring ...... for you. After ...... made ......." 2 lines fragmentary 31 lines mi…

The debate between the Date Palm and the Tamarisk

The Tamarisk opened his mouth and spoke. He addressed the Date Palm: "My body ...... the bodies of the gods. (The reference is to statues of tamarisk wood.) You grow your fruits but someone places them before me like a maid approaching her mistress. You do not provide the measuring vessels. You are ...... minor crops, but I ....... Your attendants ...... before me for you." In his anger the Date Palm answered him. He addressed his brother the Tamarisk: "You say: "If people build daises for me and beautify them too, they certainly do not swear by the gods before clay (?)." -- You may be the bod…

The debate between the Hoe and the Plough

O the Hoe, the Hoe, the Hoe, tied together with thongs; the Hoe, made from poplar, with a tooth of ash; the Hoe, made from tamarisk, with a tooth of sea-thorn; the Hoe, double-toothed, four-toothed; the Hoe, child of the poor, ...... bereft even of a loin-cloth (?) -- the Hoe started a quarrel ...... with the Plough. The Hoe having engaged in a dispute with the Plough, the Hoe addressed the Plough: "Plough, you draw furrows -- what does your furrowing matter to me? You break clods -- what does your clod-breaking matter to me? When water overflows you cannot dam it up. You cannot fill baskets…

The debate between Winter and Summer

An lifted his head in pride and brought forth a good day. He laid plans for ...... and spread the population wide. Enlil set his foot upon the earth like a great bull. Enlil, the king of all lands, set his mind to increasing the good day of abundance, to making the ...... night resplendent in celebration, to making flax grow, to making barley proliferate, to guaranteeing the spring floods at the quay, to making ...... lengthen (?) their days in abundance, to making Summer close the sluices of heaven, and to making Winter guarantee plentiful water at the quay. He copulated with the great…

The dedication of an axe to Nergal

Nibruta-lu, the son of the merchant Lugal-cuba, has had this tin axe made for Nergal. Its wooden part is of arganum tree of the mountains, a wood which is superior even to the alal stone; its stone part is of antasura, a stone which has no equal. The arm of the man who strikes with it will never get tired. Should it break, I will repair it for Nergal. Should it disappear, I will replace it for him. May Nergal look after me during my life, and may he provide me with clean water in the underworld after my death.

The exaltation of Inana (Inana B)

Lady of all the divine powers, resplendent light, righteous woman clothed in radiance, beloved of An and Urac! Mistress of heaven, with the great pectoral jewels, who loves the good headdress befitting the office of en priestess, who has seized all seven of its divine powers! My lady, you are the guardian of the great divine powers! You have taken up the divine powers, you have hung the divine powers from your hand. You have gathered up the divine powers, you have clasped the divine powers to your breast. Like a dragon you have deposited venom on the foreign lands. When like Ickur you roar at…

The exploits of Ninurta

(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…

The farmer's instructions

Ud-ul-uru (Old man cultivator) gave advice to his son: When you have to prepare a field, inspect the levees, canals and mounds that have to be opened. When you let the flood water into the field, this water should not rise too high in it. At the time that the field emerges from the water, watch its area with standing water; it should be fenced. Do not let cattle herds trample there. After you cut the weeds and establish the limits of the field, level it repeatedly with a thin hoe weighing two-thirds of a mina (approx. 650 g). Let a flat hoe erase the oxen tracks, let the flied be swept clean.…

The Flood story

...... sets up ....... "I will ...... the perishing of my mankind; for Nintud, I will stop the annihilation of my creatures, and I will return the people from their dwelling grounds. Let them build many cities so that I can refresh myself in their shade. Let them lay the bricks of many cities in pure places, let them establish places of divination in pure places, and when the the fire-quenching ...... is arranged, the divine rites and exalted powers are perfected and the earth is irrigated, I will establish well-being there." After An, Enlil, Enki and Ninhursaja had fashioned the black-headed…

The herds of Nanna (Nanna F)

The lord has burnished (?) the heavens; he has embellished the night (1 ms. has instead: the earth). Nanna has burnished the heavens; he has embellished the night (1 ms. has instead: the earth). When he comes forth from the turbulent mountains, he stands as Utu stands at noon. When Acimbabbar comes forth from the turbulent mountains, he stands as Utu stands at noon. His father, whose word is true, speaks with him day and night. Enlil, whose word is true, speaks with him day and night, and in decision determines the fates with him. His lofty jipar number four. There are four platforms (1 ms. ha…

The heron and the turtle

What do they say in the reed-beds whose growth is good? In the wide reed-beds of Tutub, whose growth is good? In the marshes of Kiritaba, whose growth is good? In the adara thickets of Akcak, whose growth is good? In Enki's interconnecting (?) lagoons, whose growth is good? In the smaller lagoon, Enki's lagoon, whose growth is good? In Enki's barbar reeds, whose growth is good? In the little zi reeds of Urim, whose growth is good? In Urim, where cows and calves abound, whose growth is good? At that time, the water was drained away from the reeds ......, and they were visible at the sheepfold.…

The history of the Tummal

En-me-barage-si, the king, built the Iri-nanam in Enlil's temple. Aga, son of En-me-barage-si, made the Tummal flourish and brought Ninlil into the Tummal. Then the Tummal fell into ruins for the first time. Mes-ane-pada built the Burcucua in Enlil's temple. Mes-ki-aj-nuna, son of Mes-ane-pada, made the Tummal flourish and brought Ninlil into the Tummal. Then the Tummal fell into ruins for a second time. Gilgamec built the Numunbura in Enlil's temple. Ur-lugal, son of Gilgamec, made the Tummal flourish and brought Ninlil into the Tummal. Then the Tummal fell into ruins for a third time. Nanni…

The home of the fish

My fish, I have built you a home! My fish, I have built you a house, I have built you a store! I have built you a house bigger than a house, in fact a large sheepfold. Inside there is incense, and I have covered it with cloths for you; in this happy place, I ...... water of joy for you; a house not bothered by cords dividing the plots, ...... in the gutters. In the house, there is food, food of the best quality. In the house, there is food, food in good condition. No flies buzz around in your house where beer is poured out. Your reputation ...... cannot be alienated (?). The threshold and the…

The instructions of Shuruppag

In those days, in those far remote days, in those nights, in those faraway nights, in those years, in those far remote years, at that time the wise one who knew how to speak in elaborate words lived in the Land; Curuppag, the wise one, who knew how to speak with elaborate words lived in the Land. Curuppag gave instructions to his son; Curuppag, the son of Ubara-Tutu gave instructions to his son Zi-ud-sura: My son, let me give you instructions: you should pay attention! Zi-ud-sura, let me speak a word to you: you should pay attention! Do not neglect my instructions! Do not transgress the words…

The Kesh temple hymn

The princely one, the princely one came forth from the house. Enlil, the princely one, came forth from the house. The princely one 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. Kec was positioned there for him with head uplifted, and as Kec lifted its head among all the lands, Enlil spoke the praises of Kec. 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 lament for Eridug

(beginning of 1st kirugu) 4 lines missing The roaring storm covered it like a cloak, was spread over it like a sheet. It covered Eridug like a cloak, was spread over it like a sheet. In the city, the furious storm resounded ....... In Eridug, the furious storm resounded ....... Its voice was smothered with silence as by a sandstorm. Its people ....... Eridug was smothered with silence as by a sandstorm. Its people ....... Its king stayed outside his city as if it were an alien city. He wept bitter tears. Father Enki stayed outside his city as if it were an alien city. He wept bitter tears.…

The lament for Nibru

After the cattle pen had been built for the foremost divine powers -- how did it become a haunted place? When will it be restored? Where once the brick of fate had been laid -- who scattered its divine powers? The lamentation is reprised: how did the storeroom of Nibru, the shrine Dur-an-ki, become a haunted place? When will it be restored? After Ki-ur, the sanctuary, had been built, after the brickwork of E-kur had been built, after Ubcu-unkena had been built, after the shrine Egal-mah had been built -- how did they become haunted? When will they be restored? How did the true city become…

The lament for Sumer and Urim

To overturn the appointed times, to obliterate the divine plans, the storms gather to strike like a flood. An, Enlil, Enki and Ninhursaja (2 mss. have instead: Ninmah) have decided its fate -- to overturn the divine powers of Sumer, to lock up the favourable reign in its home, to destroy the city, to destroy the house, to destroy the cattle-pen, to level the sheepfold; that the cattle should not stand in the pen, that the sheep should not multiply in the fold, that watercourses should carry brackish water, that weeds should grow in the fertile fields, that mourning plants should grow in the op…

The lament for Unug

(beginning of 1st kirugu) The ...... which had developed -- its wiping clean (?) was to be accomplished (?). The ...... of heaven and earth put their divine powers ...... to sleep (?). 1 line fragmentary ...... mortal man multiplied to become as numerous as the gods. When together ...... had achieved a momentous decision, the ...... of the gods ....... Enki and Ninki determined the consensus -- deemed worthless. Enul and Ninul assigned the fate, ....... When together An and Enlil had created it, that one resembled ....... When Ninlil had given it features, that one was fit for ....... When…

The lament for Urim

He has abandoned his cow-pen and has let the breezes haunt his sheepfold. The wild bull has abandoned his cow-pen and has let the breezes haunt his sheepfold. The lord of all the lands has abandoned it and has let the breezes haunt his sheepfold. Enlil has abandoned the shrine Nibru and has let the breezes haunt his sheepfold. His wife Ninlil has abandoned it and has let the breezes haunt her sheepfold. Ninlil has abandoned that house, the Ki-ur, and has let the breezes haunt her sheepfold. The queen of Kic has abandoned it and has let the breezes haunt her sheepfold. Ninmah has abandoned that…

The marriage of Martu

When the city of Inab already existed, but the city of Kiritab did not yet exist, when the holy crown already existed, but the holy tiara did not yet exist, when the holy herb already existed, but the holy cedar did not yet exist, when holy salt already existed, but holy alkali did not yet exist, when intercourse and kissing already existed, when giving birth in the fields already existed -- I was the grandfather of the holy cedar, I was the ancestor of the mes tree, I was the mother and father of the white cedar, I was the relative of the hacur cedar. At that time there was a princely land am…

The message of Lu-dingira to his mother

Royal courier, start the journey! I want to send you to Nibru -- deliver this message! You are going on a long journey. My mother is worried, she cannot sleep (1 ms. has instead: is too (?) ...... to sleep). Although the way to her (1 ms. has instead: the closed) woman's domain is blocked, deliver my letter of greeting into her hands, as she keeps asking (1 ms. has instead: and then she will not keep asking) the travellers (1 ms. has instead: wayfarers) about my well-being. Then my mother will be delighted, and will treat you most kindly (?) for it. In case you should not recognise my mother,…

The poem of early rulers

up to 5 lines missing ...... is not made ....... ...... those men were overthrown. ...... the king? He reigned 36,000 years! ...... the king, the one who ascended to heaven? ...... he who, like Zi-ud-sura, tried to find life? ...... he who was honoured and then seized? ...... was not rivalled in the Land? ...... the kings, the leaders of former days? ......, have they not been born? ...... can my hand reach them? ...... no one knows it. ...... is like the twinkling of an eye. Who would consider ...... without cheerfulness to be superior to death? 36,000 years of silence ...... just one day of…

The return of Ninurta to Nibru

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 w…

The Sargon legend

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 ...…

The shumunda grass

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…

The song of the hoe

Not only did the lord make the world appear in its correct form -- the lord who never changes the destinies which he determines: Enlil, who will make the human seed of the Land come forth (3 mss. have instead: up) from the earth (2 other mss. have instead: chamber) -- and not only did he hasten to separate heaven from earth, and hasten to separate earth from heaven, but, in order to make it possible for humans to grow in 'Where Flesh Came Forth' (2 mss. have instead: 'Where Flesh Grew') [the name of a cosmic location], he first suspended (2 mss. have instead: raised) the axis of the world at D…

The song of the lettuce: a balbale to Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana E): composite text

He has sprouted, he has burgeoned, he is well-watered lettuce, my shaded garden of the desert, richly flourishing, his mother's favourite (1 ms. has instead:) he is well-watered lettuce; my grain lovely in beauty in its furrows, he is well-watered lettuce; my first-class fruitful apple tree, he is well-watered lettuce. The honey man, the honey man will make me sweet; my lord, the honey man of a goddess, his mother's favourite, whose hands are honey, whose feet are honey, will make me sweet, whose limbs are honey-sweet, will make me sweet. Navel! My altogether immediately sweet, my favourite of…

The song of the ploughing oxen

ellu mallu! Go, oxen, go, put your necks under the yoke! Go, ...... oxen, go, put your necks under the yoke! I am ...... of the country. I am ...... of Enlil. I am ...... of the Land. ellu mallu! 6 lines fragmentary or missing And now, may the mother ...... with me; and now, may Nance ...... with me. May she put bread in my leather bag, may she pour water into my waterskin. May she stand by for me ....... May she say to me, "Farmer, eat the bread!", may she say to me, "Farmer, drink the water!" ellu mallu! In the temple he lay down to dream with Nance. He said good night (?) to Nance. He had…

The Sumerian king list

After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridug. In Eridug, Alulim became king; he ruled for 28800 years. Alaljar ruled for 36000 years. 2 kings; they ruled for 64800 years. Then Eridug fell and the kingship was taken to Bad-tibira. In Bad-tibira, En-men-lu-ana ruled for 43200 years. En-men-gal-ana ruled for 28800 years. Dumuzid, the shepherd, ruled for 36000 years. 3 kings; they ruled for 108000 years. Then Bad-tibira fell (?) and the kingship was taken to Larag. In Larag, En-sipad-zid-ana ruled for 28800 years. 1 king; he ruled for 28800 years. Then Larag fell (?) and…

The tale of Gudam

Gudam ...... the city. unknown no. of lines missing Gudam ....... Gudam ....... Inana ....... Gudam ...... within Unug ....... He ...... the storehouse ....... Gudam ...... the beer, ...... the wine, ...... the bronze vessels, ...... the bronze vessels ....... unknown no. of lines missing They filled the bronze vessels to the brim. He made the tilimda vessels shine like the holy barge, ...... fine chickpea flour, bearded carp ....... ......, he ...... fish like dates. Many followed Gudam on the streets of Unug. They sat armed before him. Her = Inana's (?) singer ...... came out to ...... the f…

The temple hymns

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-dul-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. Your great ...... wall is in good repair. Light does not enter your meeting-place where the god dwells, the great assembly-room, the assembly-room, the beautiful place. Your tightly constructed house is sacred and…

Three ox-drivers from Adab

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…

Ur-Namma the canal-digger (Ur-Namma D)

Who will dig it? Who will dig it? Who will dig the Asilal-kug canal? Who will dig the Pabi-luh canal? ...... Ur-Namma will dig it. ...... will dig it. ......, ...... Acimbabbar you are on your ...... because of Enlil. The watercourse of ...... is full of fish, and the air above is full of birds. The fresh water of ...... is full of fish, the air above is full of birds. ...... honey-plants are planted, and the carp grow fat. ...... honey-plants are planted, and the carp grow fat. The gizi reed of ...... is so sweet that the fish eat them. The gizi reed of ...... is so sweet that the fish eat th…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

4R 35, 8

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — 4R 35, 8. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

AAICAB 1/1, pl. 058, 1924-0519

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — AAICAB 1/1, pl. 058, 1924-0519. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

AbB 10, 151

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — AbB 10, 151. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

AbB 10, 183

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — AbB 10, 183. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

AbB 10, 187

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — AbB 10, 187. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

AbB 10, 194

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — AbB 10, 194. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

AbB 11, 087

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — AbB 11, 087. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

AbB 11, 115

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — AbB 11, 115. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

AbB 14, 215

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — AbB 14, 215. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

AfO 29/30, 024, CBS 04610

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — AfO 29/30, 024, CBS 04610. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

AfO 29/30, 024, CBS 04836

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — AfO 29/30, 024, CBS 04836. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

AfO 29/30, 024, CBS 04864

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — AfO 29/30, 024, CBS 04864. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

AfO 29/30, 024, CBS 04869

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — AfO 29/30, 024, CBS 04869. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).