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Ubaid Uruk Period Early Dynastic Akkadian Empire Ur III · Neo-Sumerian Old Babylonian Old Assyrian Middle Babylonian Middle Assyrian Neo-Assyrian Neo-Babylonian Achaemenid Persian

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19,189 of 102,257 tablets · 7 filters activeClear filters

2301–2350 of 19189

Page 47 / 384

~1800 BCE·

Old Babylonian

ETCSL

A praise poem of Shu-Suen (?) (Shu-Suen I)

King Cu-Suen, forceful lord, unknown no. of lines missing

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Dedication of a statue (of Shulgi?) by Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan S)

For Enlil, whose statements are powerful, the profoundly far-sighted knowledgeable judge, who issues decisions, whose utterances are immutable, who places the ...... in his hands -- Icme-Dagan, the mighty man with muscles and body of a lion, the strong awe-inspiring youth who alone is august, the lord whose sweet name is invoked in all the lands, under whose rule the living creatures multiply, makes the black-headed people, its settled people who were entrusted to him for protection, proceed with the firstling-offerings of the land. He does not ...... in his good palace. Then Icme-Dagan the…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Dumuzid and Enkimdu

"Maiden, the cattle-pen ......; maiden Inana, the sheepfold ....... ...... bending in the furrows. Inana, let me stroll with you; ...... the emmer ....... Young lady, let me ......." "I am a woman and I won't do that, I won't! I am a star ......, and I won't! I won't be the wife of a shepherd!" Her brother, the warrior youth Utu, said to holy Inana: "My sister, let the shepherd marry you! Maiden Inana, why are you unwilling? His butter is good, his milk is good (2 mss. have instead: He of good butter, he of good milk) -- all the work of the shepherd's hands is splendid. Inana, let Dumuzid…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Dumuzid and Geshtin-ana

A small demon opened his mouth and said to the big demon, "Come on, let's go to the lap of holy Inana". The demons entered Unug and seized holy Inana. "Come on, Inana, go on that journey which is yours alone -- descend to the underworld. Go to the place which you have coveted -- descend to the netherworld. Go to the dwelling of Ereckigal -- descend to the underworld. Don't put on your holy ma garment, the pala dress of ladyship -- descend to the underworld. Remove the holy headdress, that splendid ornament, from your head -- descend to the underworld. Don't enhance your apperance with a wig --…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Dumuzid's dream

His heart was full of tears as he went out into the countryside. The lad's heart was full of tears as he went out into the countryside. Dumuzid's heart was full of tears as he went out into the countryside. He carried with him his (1 ms. adds: shepherd's) stick on his shoulder, sobbing all the time: "Grieve, grieve, o countryside, grieve! O countryside, grieve! O marshes, cry out! O ...... crabs of the river, grieve! O frogs of the river, cry out! My mother will call to me, my mother, my Durtur, will call to me, my mother will call to me for five things, my mother will call to me for ten thing…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Enki and Ninhursanga

Pure are the cities -- and you are the ones to whom they are allotted. Pure is Dilmun land. Pure is Sumer -- and you are the ones to whom it is allotted. Pure is Dilmun land. Pure is Dilmun land. Virginal is Dilmun land. Virginal is Dilmun land. Pristine is Dilmun land. He laid her down all alone in Dilmun, and the place where Enki had lain down with his spouse, that place was still virginal, that place was still pristine. He laid her down all alone in Dilmun, and the place where Enki had lain down with Ninsikila, that place was virginal, that place was pristine. In Dilmun the raven was not ye…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Enki and Ninmah

In those days, in the days when heaven and earth were created; in those nights, in the nights when heaven and earth were created; in those years, in the years when the fates were determined; when the Anuna gods were born; when the goddesses were taken in marriage; when the goddesses were distributed in heaven and earth; when the goddesses ...... became pregnant and gave birth; when the gods were obliged (?) ...... their food ...... for their meals; the senior gods oversaw the work, while the minor gods were bearing the toil. The gods were digging the canals and piling up the silt in Harali. Th…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Enki and the world order

Grandiloquent lord of heaven and earth, self-reliant, father Enki, engendered by a bull, begotten by a wild bull, cherished by Enlil the Great Mountain, beloved by holy An, king, mes tree planted in the Abzu, rising over all lands; great dragon who stands in Eridug, whose shadow covers heaven and earth, a grove of vines extending over the Land, Enki, lord of plenty of the Anuna gods, Nudimmud, mighty one of the E-kur, strong one of heaven and earth! Your great house is founded in the Abzu, the great mooring-post of heaven and earth. Enki, from whom a single glance is enough to unsettle the…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Enki's journey to Nibru

In those remote days, when the fates were determined; in a year when An brought about abundance, and people broke through the earth like herbs and plants -- then the lord of the abzu, king Enki, Enki, the lord who determines the fates, built up his temple entirely from silver and lapis lazuli. Its silver and lapis lazuli were the shining daylight. Into the shrine of the abzu he brought joy. An artfully made bright crenellation rising out from the abzu was erected for lord Nudimmud. He built the temple from precious metal, decorated it with lapis lazuli, and covered it abundantly with gold. In…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Enlil and Nam-zid-tara

Nam-zid-tara walked by Enlil, who said to him: "Where have you come from, Nam-zid-tara?" "From Enlil's temple. My turn of duty is finished. I serve at the place of the gudu priests, with their sheep. I am on my way home. Don't stop me; I am in a hurry. Who are you who asks me questions?" "I am Enlil." But Enlil had changed his appearance: he had turned into a raven and was croaking. "But you are not a raven, you really are Enlil!" "How did you recognise that I am Enlil, who decrees the destinies? " "When your uncle En-me-cara was a captive, after taking for himself the rank of Enlil, he said:…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Enlil and Ninlil

There was a city, there was a city -- the one we live in. Nibru was the city, the one we live in. Dur-jicnimbar was the city, the one we live in. Id-sala is its holy river, Kar-jectina is its quay. Kar-asar is its quay where boats make fast. Pu-lal is its fresh-water well. Id-nunbir-tum is its branching canal, and if one measures from there, its cultivated land is 50 sar each way. Enlil was one of its young men, and Ninlil was one its young women. Nun-bar-ce-gunu was one of its wise old women. At that time the maiden was advised by her own mother, Ninlil was advised by Nun-bar-ce-gunu: "The…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Enlil and Sud

...... she was faithfully sitting (?) on ......, admirable and full of charms. ......, the noble son -- who like him can compare with An and Enlil? Haia, the ......, put the holy semen into her womb. Nun-bar-ce-gunu (a name of Nisaba) faithfully gave birth to ......, she brought her up in her ...... and suckled her at her breasts full of good milk. The ...... of the young girl burgeoned, and she became full of flourishing beauty. In the ...... of Nisaba, at the gate of the E-zagin, ...... she stood, the object of admiration, like a tall, beautifully shaped cow. At that time Enlil had not yet…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Enlil in the E-kur (Enlil A)

Enlil's commands are by far the loftiest, his words (1 ms. has instead: commands) are holy, his utterances are immutable! The fate he decides is everlasting, his glance makes the mountains anxious, his ...... reaches (?) into the interior of the mountains. All the gods of the earth bow down to father Enlil, who sits comfortably on the holy dais, the lofty dais (some mss. have instead: engur), to Nunamnir, whose lordship and princeship are most perfect. The Anuna gods enter before him (1 ms. has instead: stand before him) and obey his instructions faithfully. The mighty lord, the greatest in…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Enmerkar and En-suhgir-ana

Brickwork rising out from the pristine mountain (on the edge of ms. C: of the shining plain) -- Kulaba, city which reaches from heaven to earth; Unug, whose fame like the rainbow reaches up to the sky, a multicoloured sheen, as the new moon standing in the heavens. Built in magnificence with all the great powers, lustrous mount founded on a favourable day, like moonlight coming up over the land, like bright sunlight radiating over the land, the rear cow and ...... cow coming forth in abundance: all this is Unug, the glory of which reaches the highland and its radiance, genuine refined silver,…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta

City, majestic bull bearing vigour and great awesome splendour, Kulaba, ......, breast of the storm, where destiny is determined; Unug, great mountain, in the midst of ....... There the evening meal of the great abode of An was set. In those days of yore, when the destinies were determined, the great princes allowed Unug Kulaba's E-ana to lift its head high. Plenty, and carp floods, and the rain which brings forth dappled barley were then increased in Unug Kulaba. Before the land of Dilmun yet existed, the E-ana of Unug Kulaba was well founded, and the holy jipar of Inana in brick-built…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Gilgamesh and Aga

Envoys of Aga, the son of En-me-barage-si, came from Kic to Gilgamec in Unug. Gilgamec presented the issue before the elders of his city, carefully choosing his words: "There are wells to be finished, many wells of the Land yet to be finished; there are shallow wells of the Land yet to be finished, there are wells to deepen and hoisting gear to be completed. We should not submit to the house of Kic! Should we not smite it with weapons? (2 mss. have instead: Let us smite it with weapons!)" In the convened assembly, his city's elders answered Gilgamec: "There are indeed wells to be finished,…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Gilgamesh and Huwawa, version A

Now the lord once decided to set off for the mountain where the man lives; lord Gilgamec decided to set off for the mountain where the man lives. He spoke to his slave Enkidu: "Enkidu, since a man cannot pass beyond the final end of life, I want to set off into the mountains, to establish my renown there. Where renown can be established there, I will establish my renown; and where no renown can be established there, I shall establish the renown of the gods." His slave Enkidu answered him: "My lord, if today you want to set off into the mountains, Utu should know about it from us. (1 ms. adds:…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Gilgamesh and the Bull of Heaven

I will sing the song of the man of battle, the man of battle. I will sing the song of lord Gilgamec, the man of battle, I will sing the song of him with the well-proportioned limbs, the man of battle. I will sing the song of the mighty ...... lord, the man of battle. I will sing the song of the lord with the very black beard, the man of battle. I will sing the song of ...... athletic strength, the man of battle. ...... the king, the man ......; my king ......, my lord ...... garden ....... ...... courtyard, ...... jipar; (1 ms. has instead: ...... his mother who bore him spoke to the lord: "My…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Gilgamesh, Enkidu and the nether world

In those days, in those distant days, in those nights, in those remote nights, in those years, in those distant years; in days of yore, when the necessary things had been brought into manifest existence, in days of yore, when the necessary things had been for the first time properly cared for, when bread had been tasted for the first time in the shrines of the Land, when the ovens of the Land had been made to work, when the heavens had been separated from the earth, when the earth had been delimited from the heavens, when the fame of mankind had been established, when An had taken the heavens…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Gilgamesh und Huwawa, Version B

"So come on now, you heroic bearer of a sceptre of wide-ranging power! Noble glory of the gods, angry bull standing ready for a fight! Young lord Gilgamec, cherished in Unug!" "In Unug people are dying, and souls are full of distress. People are lost -- that fills me with dismay. I lean out over the city wall: bodies in the water make the river almost overflow. That is what I see: that people die thus, which fills me with despair; that the end of life is unavoidable; that the grave, the all-powerful underworld, will spare no one; that no one is tall enough to block off the underworld; that no…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

He is a good seed of a dog (Diatribe C)

He is a good seed of a dog, the offspring of a wolf! He is the stench of a mongoose, an unruly (?) hyena cub, a fox with a covering like a crab's, a monkey not pleasing to its homeland, its judgment confused. His face is disfigured, his judgment is muddled, his intelligence is ....... I would ...... with the dog (?), a smitten man who makes himself important. He is negligent, a cripple, the son of a hound. A madman, crazy, a man who ...... -- he is a pitfall, ...... evil words, denouncing ...... with an evil mouth and a forked tongue. ......, he lies on the bank of a river, allowing a ship's…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

How grain came to Sumer

Men used to eat grass with their mouths like sheep. In those times, they did not know grain, barley or flax. An brought these down from the interior of heaven. Enlil lifted his gaze around as a stag lifts its horns when climbing the terraced ...... hills. He looked southwards and saw the wide sea; he looked northwards and saw the mountain of aromatic cedars. Enlil piled up the barley, gave it to the mountain. He piled up the bounty of the Land, gave the innuha barley to the mountain. He closed off access to the wide-open hill. He ...... its lock, which heaven and earth shut fast (?), its bolt,…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D)

Great light, heavenly lioness, always speaking words of assent! Inana, great light, lioness of heaven, who always speaks words of assent! Ninegala! As you rise in the morning sky like a flame visible from afar, and at your bright appearance in the evening sky, the shepherd (i.e. the king) entrusts (?) the flocks of Sumer to you. Celestial sign, ...... glory of heaven! All the countries are building a house for you as for the risen sun; a shining (?) torch is assigned to you, the light of the Land. Inana, you are the lady of all the divine powers, and no deity can compete with you. Here is your…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Hymn to the E-kur

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 Hursaj-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 Ubcu-unkena is as great…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Inana and Bilulu

She can make the lament for you, my Dumuzid, the lament for you, the lament, the lamentation, reach the desert -- she can make it reach the house Arali; she can make it reach Bad-tibira; she can make it reach Dul-cuba; she can make it reach the shepherding country, the sheepfold of Dumuzid ....... ...... she broods on it: "O Dumuzid of the fair-spoken mouth, of the ever kind eyes," she sobs tearfully, "O you of the fair-spoken mouth, of the ever kind eyes," she sobs tearfully. "Lad, husband, lord, sweet as the date, ...... O Dumuzid!" she sobs, she sobs tearfully. Holy Inana ...... 1 line frag…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Inana and Ebih

Goddess of the fearsome divine powers, clad in terror, riding on the great divine powers, Inana, made complete by the strength of the holy ankar weapon, drenched in blood, rushing around in great battles, with shield resting on the ground (?), covered in storm and flood, great lady Inana, knowing well how to plan conflicts, you destroy mighty lands with arrow and strength and overpower lands. In heaven and on earth you roar like a lion and devastate the people. Like a huge wild bull you triumph over lands which are hostile. Like a fearsome lion you pacify the insubordinate and unsubmissive wit…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Inana and Enki

She ...... of the desert. She put the cu-gura, the desert crown, on her head. ...... when she went out to the shepherd, to the sheepfold, ...... her genitals were remarkable. ...... her genitals were remarkable. She praised herself, full of delight at her genitals, she praised herself, full of delight at her genitals. She looked at ......, she looked at ......, she looked at ....... "When I have gratified the lord ......, when I have made ...... brilliant, when I have made ...... beautiful, when I have made ...... glorious, when I have ......, when I have made ...... perfect, when I have made…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Inana and Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A)

I shall greet her who ascends above, her who ascends above, I shall greet the Mistress who ascends above, I shall greet the great lady of heaven, Inana! I shall greet the holy torch who fills the heavens, the light, Inana, her who shines like daylight, the great lady of heaven, Inana! I shall greet the Mistress, the most awesome lady among the Anuna gods; the respected one who fills heaven and earth with her huge brilliance; the eldest daughter of Suen, Inana! For the young lady I shall sing a song about her grandeur, about her greatness, about her exalted dignity; about her radiantly ascendin…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Inana and Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan K)

Young woman Inana, Suen's daughter, who makes the divine powers of the Land supreme, who achieves everything, who seizes the divine powers in heaven and gathers them up on earth, who proceeds proudly with her head reaching the heavens, whose radiance makes the nighttime secure like a fire which lights up into the distance -- no god can stand up as her opposition, ....... Holy Inana was endowed by Enlil and Ninlil with the capacity to make the heavens shake, to make the earth tremble, to hold the four directions in her hand and to act grandly as their lady, to shout with wide open mouth in…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Inana and Lipit-Eshtar (Lipit-Eshtar H)

I will perform in song the praise of the mistress, the trustworthy lady, the noble child of the E-mah, the spouse of the king, the woman, the goddess who is worth of the ladyship, surpassing heaven and earth. I will pay her due homage. 1 line unclear ...... great divine powers ....... She cherished Lipit-Ectar, the son of Enlil. ...... pleasant ....... ...... pleasant ....... ...... searched ...... for me. ...... surpassing in joy ....... unknown no. of lines missing 2 lines fragmentary Inana, ...... prince Lipit-Ectar on your holy lap. Its jicgijal. An ua-di of Inana.

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Inana and Shu-kale-tuda

The mistress who, having all the great divine powers, deserves the throne-dais; Inana, who, having all the great divine powers, occupies a holy throne-dais; Inana, who stands in E-ana as a source of wonder -- once, the young woman went up into the mountains, holy Inana went up into the mountains. To detect falsehood and justice, to inspect the Land closely, to identify the criminal against the just, she went up into the mountains. -- Now, what did one say to another? What further did one add to the other in detail? My lady stands among wild bulls at the foot of the mountains, she possesses ful…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Inana's descent to the nether world

From the great heaven she set her mind on the great below. From the great heaven the goddess set her mind on the great below. From the great heaven Inana set her mind on the great below. My mistress abandoned heaven, abandoned earth, and descended to the underworld. Inana abandoned heaven, abandoned earth, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the office of en, abandoned the office of lagar, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-ana in Unug, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the E-muc-kalama in Bad-tibira, and descended to the underworld. She abandoned the…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Ishbi-Erra and Kindattu (Ishbi-Erra B)

unknown no. of lines missing 1 line fragmentary ...... to introduce ....... At left and right was a crouching lion, ........ ...... at the command of Enlil. ...... to reduce the city to ruin-mounds. He determined ......; ...... Enlil is its ally! 1st kirugu. Enlil ...... went forth ....... unknown no. of lines missing 1 line fragmentary He gave him ......, not implementing his strength. ...... in princely style ....... He approached the enemy like a snake spitting venom and gall. He wiped ...... in the ...... of Sumer. ...... Larsa, ...... in the plain of Urim. ...... great ...... did not esca…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Ishme-Dagan and Enlil's chariot (Ishme-Dagan I)

August chariot! Enlil, the lord of wisdom, the father of the gods, ordered your construction in the E-kur, his exalted shrine. He instructed Icme-Dagan, the wise shepherd called by an auspicious name, born from a beautiful mother's womb, the adviser of the Land, to make your holy and pure divine powers manifest. He set to work on you and worked without stopping. He decorated you with ...... and lapis lazuli. He placed you ....... Your two ...... are something to be marvelled at. Your furnishings are most outstanding, like a forest of aromatic cedars. Your pole is a field with open furrows, an…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Aba-indasa to Shulgi about his neglect

Say to my lord, and repeat to my kid of the mountains, with beautiful horns; to my horse of the mountains, with an eagle's claws; my date-palm, growing on untouched ground and with fresh (?) dates hanging from it: this is what the captain of pledged troops (2 mss. have instead: soldiers), Aba-indasa -- who, by means of prayers for his king, greatly pleases his king's heart -- your servant, says: You are mighty, my lord; I will follow you (1 ms. has instead: let me be your soldier)! Let me be the courier of your business (1 ms. has instead: I will stand (?) before him attentively)! When a boat…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Aradngu to Shulgi about Aba-indasa's missing troops

Say to my lord: this is what Aradju, your servant, says: Aba-indasa, the captain of the royal pledged troops, has sent you ....... May my lord take note most carefully concerning this matter. When I had set my sights towards Zimudar, I was levying troops for the expedition, my lord; but when Aba-indasa had inspected the troops, 2000 men of those troops were missing. They were not ......, nor ....... They have ...... the fortress, my lord, they have taken ....... ...... offence ....... 2 lines fragmentary Whatever you say, my lord! May my lord know!

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Aradngu to Shulgi about Apillasha

Say to my lord: this is what Aradju, your servant, says: You instructed me, as I was taking the direct route to Subir, to secure your provincial taxes, to inform myself precisely as to the state of the territory, and to ensure its obedience by taking counsel with (?) Apillaca, the 'Sage of the Assembly', so that he could thus return the people of Subir to their customary way of speaking (?). But when I arrived at the palace gate, no one enquired after the well-being of my lord. No one rose from their seat before me, or bowed down. (1 ms. adds: They intimidated me. ) When I came nearer (1 ms.…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Aradngu to Shulgi about attentive citizens

Say to my lord: This is what Aradju, your servant, says: My lord, the vast territory which has been given to you as booty has been made obedient: it is of one mind. The people, abundant as vegetation, belong to Culgi, shepherd of the reliable word. You are the god of mankind, in the south and the highlands. They keep their gaze fixed on you. The widespread people, abundant as vegetation, say: "Hail, my lord!", from the flooding Tigris and Euphrates to the Tigris ....... ...... will rise. ...... put aside. ...... I (?) will make. ...... which is esteemed (?). When I have filled (?) ......, 1 li…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Aradngu to Shulgi about irrigation work

Say to my lord: thus says Aradju, your servant: My lord, you have given me instructions about every matter, from the waters of the sea and the land of Dilmun, from the salt waters and the borders of the land of the Martu (some mss. have instead: to the salt waters and the borders of the land of the Martu), to (1 ms. has instead: from) the side (?) (1 ms. has instead: borders (?)) of Simurrum and the territory of ...... (1 ms. has instead: the territory of Subir): Their various cities and all their environs (1 ms. has instead: their troops), their canals, fields, arable tracts and their embankm…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Aradngu to Shulgi about the fortress Igi-hursaja

Say to my lord: This is what Aradju, your servant, says: My lord, your word is the word of An, it ....... Your decreed destiny has been bestowed on you as on a god. As to the fortification which my lord sent me back to, the work on it has been put into effect. The approach of the enemy is kept at a distance from the Land. My lord continues to maintain his sublime reputation in the south and the uplands, from the rising to the setting sun, as far as the borders of the entire Land. The rebellious (?) Martu have turned back ...... (An Akkadian gloss has instead: The totality ......). Kurgamabi (A…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Gudea to his god imploring support

Speak to my god: this is what Gudea, your servant, says: I am like a sheep who has no reliable shepherd; there is no reliable herdsman to lead me on. An unintelligent merchant transported me (?) for trading purposes. With a vicious whip he ...... me cruelly like a donkey. I am noble (?) but do not utter a word, being vigilantly (?) ....... Seven times ...... has not ...... my accomplishments. Seven times my god (?) has not been able to find out about their extent. My god, I am not one to be hostile. May you show sympathy towards me once again.

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Ibbi-Suen to Ishbi-Erra about his bad conduct

Say to Icbi-Erra: this is what your lord (?), Ibbi-Suen, says: As long as Enlil was my lord (?), what course were you following? And is this how you alter your word? Today Enlil detests me, he detests his son Suen (the principal deity of Urim) , and is handing Urim over to the enemy. Its central part (?) is gone, the enemy has risen up, and all the lands are thrown into disarray. But on the day when Enlil turns again towards his son Suen, you and your word will be marked out! You have received 20 talents of silver to purchase grain. You purchase it at the price of one shekel of silver per 2 gu…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Ibbi-Suen to Puzur-Shulgi hoping for Ishbi-Erra's downfall

Say to Puzur-Culgi (2 mss. have instead: Puzur-Numucda), the governor of Kazallu: this is what Ibbi-Suen, your lord, says: When I had chosen for you ...... from among the troops, they were at your disposal, as governor of Kazallu. But as in my own case, are not your troops (1 ms. has instead: your people) proof (?) of your importance? Why have you sent me somebody saying: "Icbi-Erra has got his eyes upon me -- so let me come to you when he falls upon me"? How come you did not know how long it would take to make Icbi-Erra return to the mountain lands? Why have you and Girbubu, the governor of J…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Iddin-Dagan to Sîn-illat about the troops

Speak to Sîn-illat the general: this is what Iddin-Dagan, your lord, says: My expeditionary force is able to cross to both banks of the river, inspiring awe and creating a blockade. When you moved opposite Kakkulatum, the protective goddess and Dagan and ...... and Enlil, king of the Land, ...... the soldiers. My splendour covers the Land. And as for you, your heroism and strength ....... 1 line fragmentary Kingship (?) ....... The troops ....... ...... heavy (?) work (?). You (?) should ...... the recruits (?) of the ...... men who are mounting guard. They should check on your behalf ..…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Ishbi-Erra to Ibbi-Suen about the purchase of grain

Say to Ibbi-Suen, my lord: this is what Icbi-Erra, your servant, says: You ordered me to travel to Isin and Kazallu to purchase grain. With grain reaching the exchange rate of one shekel of silver per gur, 20 talents of silver have been invested for the purchase (2 mss. have instead: ......) of grain. I heard news that the hostile Martu have entered inside your territories. I entered with 72,000 gur of grain (1 ms. has instead: 72,000 gur of grain was brought) -- the entire amount of grain -- inside Isin. Now I have let the Martu, all of them, penetrate inside the Land, and one by one I have s…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Kug-Nanna to Ninshubur

Say to 1 line missing to the counsellor who constantly cares for ......, the god who distributes the divine powers, who utters pleasing words, who ...... a verdant branch by his head; the linen-clad god of the abzu, the chief administrator, who makes the oracular responses (?) favourable, whose words are pre-eminent; the powerful one (?) at the bow (?) of the boat "Stag of the Abzu", the lord of wide and complete wisdom, the minister who knows An's secrets, with whom no god can compare; the lord of the protective goddesses; him whose great sweet eyes inspire confidence, who provides the Anuna…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Lipit-Eshtar to Nanna-kiang about driving away the enemy

Say to Nanna-kiaj, the general: this is what Lipit-Ectar, your lord, says: Because of enemy troops (1 ms. has instead: the enemy), I, the king, have sent you a letter (1 ms. has instead: I have sent a letter). Atta-mannum, who pleases his lord, is (?) a better servant to his lord (1 ms. has instead: man) than you! Why is it that you have not been avenging your lord, and not keeping me informed (1 ms. has instead: while I (?) have kept the soldiers loyal (?), you have not stationed them among those people)? (1 ms. adds: So now you are to station the troops there.) Now, I have sent to you in…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Nanna-kiang to Lipit-Eshtar about Gungunum's troops

Speak to my lord: this is what Nanna-kiaj the general, your servant, says: E-danna has turned against my lord. Atta-mannum has made six hundred troops of Gungunum enter into E-danna. I would not allow these troops to enter old Iri-saj-ana. They camped instead in Iri-gibil. These troops (1 ms. has instead:) The troops of Gungunum have come from the banks of the Id-Amar-Suena watercourse, in order to build ......, to make Dunnum ready (?) and to ....... If my lord does not ...... crews of highlanders, bows, arrows, small boats, fishermen ......, their tied-up leather sacks, weapons, ...... and i…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Nanna-manshum to the goddess Ninisina about his unsuccessful medical treatment

Speak to Ninisina, first-born child of holy An, eminent among ladies, ...... of lord Nunamnir; who perfects the divine powers of E-kur, ...... of great mother Ninlil, with notions in her heart which are expressed (?); wife of the great hero, lord Pabilsaj, youth who has no rival; holy Ninisina, you reapply (?) a dressing to soothe the dark place of sores which no one can understand; mother of the Land, great physician of the black-headed, incantation priestess of the widespread people -- from the namtar demon and ...... which are settled in a man's body and which no one knows how to expel, lad…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

Letter from Puzur-Shulgi to Ibbi-Suen about Ishbi-Erra's claim on Isin

Say to Ibbi-Suen, my lord: this is what Puzur-Culgi, the governor of Kazallu, your servant, says: A messenger of Icbi-Erra came to me. He presented himself before me announcing: "Icbi-Erra, my lord, sends you a message: " 'Enlil, my lord, has ...... the shepherdship of the land. Enlil has told me to bring before Ninisina the cities, deities and troops of the region of the Tigris, Euphrates, Ab-gal and Me-Enlila watercourses, from the province of Hamazi to the sea of Magan (1 ms. has instead: and from the ...... of Magan), so as to make Isin the storehouse of Enlil, to make it famous, and to ma…

Religion & Myth

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1…46 47 48…384

A praise poem of Shu-Suen (?) (Shu-Suen I)

Dedication of a statue (of Shulgi?) by Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan S)

Dumuzid and Enkimdu

Dumuzid and Geshtin-ana

Dumuzid's dream

Enki and Ninhursanga

Enki and Ninmah

Enki and the world order

Enki's journey to Nibru

Enlil and Nam-zid-tara

Enlil and Ninlil

Enlil and Sud

Enlil in the E-kur (Enlil A)

Enmerkar and En-suhgir-ana

Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta

Gilgamesh and Aga

Gilgamesh and Huwawa, version A

Gilgamesh and the Bull of Heaven

Gilgamesh, Enkidu and the nether world

Gilgamesh und Huwawa, Version B

He is a good seed of a dog (Diatribe C)

How grain came to Sumer

Hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D)

Hymn to the E-kur

Inana and Bilulu

Inana and Ebih

Inana and Enki

Inana and Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan A)

Inana and Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan K)

Inana and Lipit-Eshtar (Lipit-Eshtar H)

Inana and Shu-kale-tuda

Inana's descent to the nether world

Ishbi-Erra and Kindattu (Ishbi-Erra B)

Ishme-Dagan and Enlil's chariot (Ishme-Dagan I)

Letter from Aba-indasa to Shulgi about his neglect

Letter from Aradngu to Shulgi about Aba-indasa's missing troops

Letter from Aradngu to Shulgi about Apillasha

Letter from Aradngu to Shulgi about attentive citizens

Letter from Aradngu to Shulgi about irrigation work

Letter from Aradngu to Shulgi about the fortress Igi-hursaja

Letter from Gudea to his god imploring support

Letter from Ibbi-Suen to Ishbi-Erra about his bad conduct

Letter from Ibbi-Suen to Puzur-Shulgi hoping for Ishbi-Erra's downfall

Letter from Iddin-Dagan to S&icirc;n-illat about the troops

Letter from Ishbi-Erra to Ibbi-Suen about the purchase of grain

Letter from Kug-Nanna to Ninshubur

Letter from Lipit-Eshtar to Nanna-kiang about driving away the enemy

Letter from Nanna-kiang to Lipit-Eshtar about Gungunum's troops

Letter from Nanna-manshum to the goddess Ninisina about his unsuccessful medical treatment

Letter from Puzur-Shulgi to Ibbi-Suen about Ishbi-Erra's claim on Isin

Letter from Iddin-Dagan to Sîn-illat about the troops