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Page 44 / 334

~1800 BCE·Old Babylonian

ETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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.…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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,…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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 ...…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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…

The Kesh temple hymn

The lament for Eridug

The lament for Nibru

The lament for Sumer and Urim

The lament for Unug

The lament for Urim

The marriage of Martu

The message of Lu-dingira to his mother

The poem of early rulers

The return of Ninurta to Nibru

The Sargon legend

The shumunda grass

The song of the hoe

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

The song of the ploughing oxen

The Sumerian king list

The tale of Gudam

The temple hymns

Three ox-drivers from Adab

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

4R 35, 8

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

AbB 10, 151

AbB 10, 183

AbB 10, 187

AbB 10, 194

AbB 11, 087

AbB 11, 115

AbB 14, 215

AfO 29/30, 024, CBS 04610

AfO 29/30, 024, CBS 04836

AfO 29/30, 024, CBS 04864

AfO 29/30, 024, CBS 04869

AfO 29/30, 025, CBS 06481

AfO 29/30, 025, CBS 06499

AfO 29/30, 026, CBS 07034

AfO 29/30, 027, CBS 07871

AfO 29/30, 027, CBS 07872

AfO 29/30, 027, CBS 07970

AfO 29/30, 028, CBS 10507

AfO 29/30, 028, CBS 10784

AfO 29/30, 030, CBS 14215

AfO 29/30, 033, N 5063

AfO 29/30, 033, UM 29-16-469

AfO 29/30, 033, UM 29-16-656

AfO 29/30, 034, N 5399

AfO 29/30, 034, N 5527

AfO 29/30, 034, N 5746

AfO 29/30, 034, N 5923

AfO 29/30, 035, N 5933