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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 with your gall.
MythologyInana 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…
MythologyInana 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 ascending at evening; about her filling the heaven like a holy torch; about her stance in the heavens, as noticeable by all lands, from the south to the highlands, as that of Nanna or of Utu; about the greatness of the Mistress of heaven!
MythologyInana 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…
MythologyInana 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.
MythologyInana 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 fully the divine powers. Inana stands among stags in the mountain tops, she possesses fully the divine powers. -- Now, what did one say to another? What further did one add to the other in detail?
MythologyInana'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…
MythologyIshbi-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 escape his power. The great mass of the enemy ....... Icbi-Erra ....... 1 line fragmentary
MythologyIshme-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…
MythologyLetter 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…
MythologyLetter 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!
MythologyLetter 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.…
MythologyLetter 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 line fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing
MythologyLetter 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 embankments and ditches, 1 line unclear All the cities are listening to my lord. 1 line unclear
MythologyLetter 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 (An Akkadian gloss has instead: Kunci-matum) ...... to Culgi. The fortress Igi-hursaja ....... And who will rival him ......? unknown no. of lines missing
MythologyLetter 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.
MythologyLetter 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 gur of grain, but in dealing with me, you fix the price at one shekel of silver per 1 gur of grain!
MythologyLetter 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 Jirikal, not confronted him with the troops which you had at hand? How could you allow (?) him to restore (?) ......?
MythologyLetter 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 ...... all those entering and leaving. My lord, ....... When you ...... by your treacherous ....... Do not cut back (?) your troops (1 ms. has instead: their troops ...... ). Come quickly! It is urgent!
MythologyLetter 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 seized all the fortifications therein. Because of the Martu, I am unable to hand over (2 mss. have instead: I am unable to make ......) this grain for threshing. They are stronger than me, while I am condemned to sitting around.
MythologyLetter 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…
MythologyLetter 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…
MythologyLetter 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 implements, the armaments of battle, then the troops will construct brick structures by the bank of the Id-Amar-Suena watercourse, ...... and dig a ...... canal.
MythologyLetter 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, lady of the E-gal-mah, with the help of ...... you will make that person well again. ...... to keep a person alive ......, ...... who knows and listens, to my lady:
MythologyLetter 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 make those regions its spoils of war and to make Isin's citizens occupy their cities (1 ms. has instead: to make Isin's citizens occupy the cities as spoils of war).' "
MythologyLetter from Puzur-Shulgi to Shulgi about the advance of the enemy
Say to my lord: this is what Puzur-Culgi (1 ms. has instead: Puzur-Marduk) (1 other ms. has instead: Puzur-Numucda) , the commander of the fortress Igi-hursaja, your servant, says: All the gold and silver (1 ms. has instead: gold and lapis lazuli) (1 other ms. has instead: silver and gold) that my lord has been fashioning for the (1 ms. adds: great) gods -- is it not for his own life? For the life (1 ms. has instead: the well-being) of the troops and his land, my king has built the great fortress Igi-hursaja for the people of his land, because of the wicked enemy. And now the enemy troops have risen up. One (1 ms. has instead: ...... ) man who had fled from me has been brought back. Having been caught, he has given me evidence of this, and went ahead (1 ms. has instead: "...... go!", and I (?) went).
MythologyLetter from Sîn-iddinam to the god Utu about the distress of Larsa
Say to Utu my lord, the exalted judge of heaven and earth, who cares for the Land, who renders verdicts; just god, who loves to keep man alive, who heeds entreaty, who extends mercy, who knows ...... compassion, who loves justice, who selects honesty, ......: Repeat to the bearded one, the son of Ningal, ...... a lapis-lazuli beard, who opens the bolts of heaven and earth (1 ms. has instead: who opens the bolts), who creates brightness in darkness; foremost lord who alone is resplendent, whose greatness is unequalled; warrior, son given birth by Ningal, who guards and gathers together the divine powers; just god, prince who determines all the fates, my lord, father of the black-headed: this is what Sîn-iddinam, king of Larsa, your servant, says:
MythologyLetter from Sîn-illat to Iddin-Dagan about confronting the Martu
Speak to my lord: this is what Sîn-illat the general, your servant, says: When I moved opposite Kakkulatum, the Martu rose up from their ambush with their weapons (?). When I ......, I captured 70 (?) ...... and brought them into Kakkulatum. If my lord arranges for the troops to encamp, let him have them take their tied-up leather sacks. If my lord arranges for the troops not to encamp, then let them stay put (2 mss. have instead: then let them go). May my lord know (1 ms. has instead: This is urgent)!
MythologyLetter from Sharrum-bani to Shu-Suen about keeping the Martu at bay
Say to Cu-Suen, my lord: this is what Carrum-bani, the 'Sage of the Assembly', your servant, says: You sent me a message ordering me to work on the construction of the great fortification MurÏq-tidnim. You presented yourself before me (1 ms. has instead: A messenger presented himself before me), announcing: "The Martu have invaded the land". You instructed me (1 ms. has instead: You have imposed on me as a task (?)) to build the fortification, so as to cut off their route; also, that no breaches of the Tigris or the Euphrates should cover the fields with water. When I was setting out, their ...... from the bank of the Abgal watercourse to the province of Zimudar.
MythologyLetter from Shu-Suen to Sharrum-bani about digging a trench
Say to Carrum-bani: this is what Cu-Suen, your lord, says: The messenger whom you have sent to me ....... ...... you do not exceed ...... my instructions, as I ordered you. 1 line unclear As for myself, whatever you say to me ....... When you went into the province -- who but you (?) has approached the province? Midnight ....... When their dignitaries have ...... their words, if ...... 1 line unclear Their dignitaries should stand by you in (?) their quarters. When their ...... have been cast away, they themselves ...... the province. If ...... officials should pass by (?), 1 line unclear By (?) placing the enemy, their cities, their borders ......, until they come down (1 ms. has instead: they come out from their fortress), they must not overturn it!
MythologyLetter from Shulgi (?) to Aradju about troops
To Aradju ......: ...... Culgi (?) ......: 2 lines fragmentary As regards your concern ....... May ....... For their troops ...... not ....... 1 line fragmentary Their troops .......
MythologyLetter from Shulgi to Aradngu about Aba-indasa
Say to Aradju: This is what your lord Culgi says: Because Aba-indasa, the captain of the pledged troops, had sent a letter concerning ......, he (?) indeed insisted on clamping down heavily, when you have borne (?) the offence. Why do they (?) let him rise up from among their troops and make him enter ...... of my guard? Carry (?) it (?), and have your heart bear (?) the offence, ...... the enemy has departed, and then return him to (?) their troops! From my own ......, ...... the fortress ....... approx. 2 lines fragmentary I had set up ....... ...... the fortress ......, you knew (?) ....... ...... sending my letter by his hand (?), ...... return him (?) to their troops!
MythologyLetter from Shulgi to Aradngu about Apillasha
Say to Aradju: this is what Culgi, your lord, says: The man to whom I have sent you is not your subordinate -- he will not accept (1 ms. has instead: change) orders from your hand! How can you ignore what he himself has done too, and that it is indeed so? As I myself ordered, you were to secure the provinces, and to correctly guide the people and make them obedient (2 mss. have instead: secure the foundations of the provinces). When you approach the cities of the provinces, inform yourself precisely of their intentions, and inform yourself of the words of their dignitaries. Let my roar be…
MythologyLetter from Shulgi to Ishbi-Erra about the purchase of grain
Say to Icbi-Erra: this is what Culgi, your lord, says: You have made me so happy with the news and everything. Who could give me a house-born slave such as you are? Who has such a capable man, so beneficial to his lord? Now, no sign can confirm (?) anything of what I have been sending to you, but I have sent it to you anyway (?). I had Babati ......, the ...... official -- who is to me a grandfather, an advisor of longstanding, who knows how to give advice -- send you 600 talents of silver and 600 talents of gold, which I had delivered (?) to you because (?) of the taking of ...... from my troops.
MythologyLetter from Shulgi to Puzur-Shulgi about waterways
Say to Puzur-Culgi, commander of the fortress Igi-hursaja: this is what Culgi, your lord, says: Where (1 ms. has instead: when) I had built the great fortress Igi-hursaja, the ...... not come out. The ...... cannot drink water, because of a breach (?) in (?) the Tigris and Euphrates (1 ms. has instead: ...... together with the Euphrates). In order that ...... should lie down, in order that ...... should be absolutely clean, in order that ...... should be put (?) ......, 1 line missing I will make ...... change ....... After sending you back ......, I (?) instructed you ....... I (?) have built there (?) ....... They returned (?) .......
MythologyLetter from Shulgi to Puzur-Shulgi about work on the fortress Igi-hursanga
Say to Puzur-Culgi, the commander ......: this is what Culgi, your lord, says: When I had ...... the fortress Igi-hursaja, and An and Enlil had ...... supreme rule over all the foreign lands and the widespread people, the cities and the Land ......, and the people of the widespread Land lay ....... 1 line fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing They should mobilise all these cities. When the master-builder (?) has taken up the work concerned, he is to re-establish securely any place where the fortification has fallen into ruins. Let him reinforce and also rebuild it. The neglected work load is to be completed within one month; I shall be questioning him about this work.
MythologyLetter from Ur-dun to Shulgi about the purchase of cedar resin
Say to my lord: this is what the merchant Ur-dun, your servant, says: My lord gave me silver and sent me to a distant land in order to purchase cedar resin. After I had entered the land and had purchased cedar resin, Apillaca, the 'Sage of the Assembly', sent men to me and they took away my goods. When I arrived at his palace gate, no one enquired about my business. Aradju, your servant, and Babati, the ...... official, had gone from Zimudar to Simurrum and had learnt ...... and their messengers ....... ...... of my lord ....... Being in a weak (?) position, I was not able to ...... their illegal seizure.
MythologyLetter from Ur-saga to a king fearing the loss of his father's household: composite text
Speak to my lord, the bull (1 ms. has instead: wild bull) (1 other ms. has instead: bison (?)) with sparkling eyes, who wears a lapis-lazuli beard: Repeat to my golden statue born on a favourable day, to my water buffalo reared in a holy fold, chosen in the heart of holy Inana (1 ms. has instead: of holy Inana, ...... of Suen), to my lord, the trusted one of Inana: You are fashioned like the son of An. As with the words of a god, what you say is irrevocable (1 ms. has instead: all the foreign lands cannot answer (?) your words). Your words, like rain pouring from the skies, are uncountable (1 ms. has instead: are uncheckable) (1 other ms. has instead: are uncontrollable (?)): this is what Ur-saga, your servant, says:
MythologyLetter from X to the god Nanna
Say to Nanna, the firstborn son of Enlil, who loves prayers; repeat to the lord whose light spreads widely, the crown of heaven and earth, the great lord who loves to revive man; the father of the black-headed; the merciful king, who can untie and release; the merciful, compassionate god who listens to appeals: You, who are perfect in lordship and wear the legitimate headdress, the one with gleaming appearance and noble countenance, holy form endowed lavishly with beauty: your greatness covers all countries. Your fearsome radiance overwhelms the holy sky. Your great awesomeness is imbued with…
MythologyLetter to Shulgi about bandits and brigands
The men (?) started irrigation work (?) on the watercourses, ...... the watercourses ...... (1 ms. has instead: and dug and cleaned them out thoroughly). These bandits and brigands applied their hoes to levelling the desert completely. As for their men and their women (1 ms. adds: ...... the road (?) ......): the man among them goes wherever he pleases, the woman among them (1 ms. has instead: the woman), holding a spindle and hair clasp in her hand, goes (?) (1 ms. has instead: ......) (1 other ms. has instead: going) the way of her choice. In the vastness of the desert they set up (1 ms. has instead: they knock up) animal pens, and after setting up their tents and camps (1 ms. has instead: they lie in (?) green meadows in their (?) tents and camps), their workers and agricultural labourers spend the day together on the fields.
MythologyLugalbanda
Lugalbanda lies idle in the mountains, in the faraway places; he has ventured into the Zabu mountains. No mother is with him to offer advice, no father is with him to talk to him. No one is with him whom he knows, whom he values, no confidant is there to talk to him. In his heart he speaks to himself: "I shall treat the bird as befits him, I shall treat Anzud as befits him. I shall greet his wife affectionately. I shall seat Anzud's wife and Anzud's child at a banquet. An will fetch Ninguenaka for me from her mountain home -- the expert woman, who redounds to her mother's credit, Ninkasi the…
MythologyLugalbanda in the mountain cave
When in ancient days heaven was separated from earth, when in ancient days that which was fitting ......, when after the ancient harvests ...... barley was eaten (?), when boundaries were laid out and borders were fixed, when boundary-stones were placed and inscribed with names, when dykes and canals were purified, when ...... wells were dug straight down; when the bed of the Euphrates, the plenteous river of Unug, was opened up, when ......, when ......, when holy An removed ......, when the offices of en and king were famously exercised at Unug, when the sceptre and staff of Kulaba were…
MythologyLullaby for a son of Shulgi (Shulgi N)
Ah, ah, may he grow sturdy through my crooning, may he flourish through my crooning! May he put down strong foundations as roots, may he spread branches wide like a cakir plant! Lord, from this you know our whereabouts; among those resplendent apple trees overhanging the river, may someone who passes by (?) reach out his hand, may someone lying there raise his hand. My son, sleep will overtake you, sleep will settle on you. Sleep come, sleep come, sleep come to my son, sleep hasten (?) to my son! Put to sleep his open eyes, settle your hand upon his sparkling eyes -- as for his murmuring tongue, let the murmuring not spoil his sleep.
MythologyNanna-Suen's journey to Nibru
The heroic Nanna-Suen fixed his mind on the city of his mother. Suen Acimbabbar fixed his mind on the city of his mother. Nanna-Suen fixed his mind on the city of his mother and his father. Acimbabbar fixed his mind on the city of Enlil and Ninlil: "I, the hero, will set off for my city. I will set off for my city, I will set off to my father. I, Suen, will set off for my city. I will set off for my city, I will set off to my father. I will set off to my father Enlil. I will set off for my city, I will set off to my mother. I will set off to my mother Ninlil. I will set off to my father. "The shining city, the pure place ....... 6 lines missing ...... very great, ...... very great, ...... very great, ...... very great.
MythologyNanshe and the birds (Nanshe C)
The pelican (?) came forth from the holy reed-beds. It came forth from the holy reed-beds. The wise pelican (?) spent the day high in the skies. The pelican (?) cried out in the sky: its singing was sweet and its voice was pleasing. My lady ...... her pelican (?) with beauty. The mistress mother Nance ...... her pelican (?) with beauty. "I am the mistress! How can my pelican (?) ......? How can I ......? I am Nance! How can my pelican (?) ...... holy? How can ......?" She herself ...... upon the water like a large pelican (?). Stepping onto earth from heaven, she ...... in the water like a…
MythologyNingishzida's journey to the nether world
"Arise and get on board, arise, we are about to sail, arise and get on board!" -- Woe, weep for the bright daylight, as the barge is steered away! -- "I am a young man! Let me not be covered against my wishes by a cabin, as if with a blanket, as if with a blanket!" Stretching out a hand to the barge, to the young man being steered away on the barge, stretching out a hand to my young man Damu (1 ms. has instead: lord Ninjiczida) being taken away on the barge, stretching out a hand to Ictaran of the bright visage being taken away on the barge, stretching out a hand to Alla, master of the…
MythologyNininsina and the gods (Nininsina F)
They ...... stood around her. The holy and pure divine powers befit Nininsina, lady of the great divine powers. Her divine powers are divine powers bestowed on her by An. The Great Mountain, Enlil, determined a fate for her. Having left the temple of Enlil, she entered Eridug, the pleasant place, and took her seat in the abzu shrine. Her father, Enki, seated her upon his knees. He truly cherished Nininsina -- as soon as ...... took a fancy to jewels of cuba stone, they were hung around the neck of Nininsina; as soon as she took a fancy to a white linen garment, he dressed the daughter of holy An in it. Lord Nudimmud determined a fate for her. unknown no. of lines missing
MythologyNininsina's journey to Nibru: a shir-namshub to Nininsina (Nininsina C)
14 lines missing 1 line fragmentary ...... escorts her to ....... She sails on the Euphrates, amid the holy reed-shoots; ....... She moors the boat at the Wine Quay; Enki ....... Humbly she ...... Enlil's house. She ...... food offerings ...... of Enlil. She slaughters cattle and sheep ...... Enlil. ...... greets her from his eternal royal offering-place; ...... his shining ...... upon her. Joyfully ....... 1 line fragmentary 35 lines missing
MythologyNintinuga's dog
Lugal-murub the son of Zuzu, the master-scribe of Nibru, has fashioned for Nintinuga his messenger (?) dog Tuni-lu-sag. That is why the dog will wag his tail or bare (?) his teeth for his mistress the queen of heaven and earth, the provider of food, the stewardess of Enlil, the sweet breast satisfying all lands, the bringer of abundance, who can diagnose the intentions of the virulent asag demon and who checks people's bones; who examines the sinews of life and the sinews of death, comforting those joints; who knows every sick spot where there is affliction, torment or distress -- the kindly physician, the exorcist to the sick, who looks after the hearts of humans.
MythologyNinurta's journey to Eridug: a shirgida to Ninurta (Ninurta B)
The hero ...... coming forth from the E-kur; Ninurta ...... coming forth from the E-kur, 1 line fragmentary ...... Ninurta, the son of Enlil, 1 line fragmentary in order to instruct ......, Ninurta went from the place of Enlil to Eridug. To determine a destiny of abundance, to improve ...... all the ......, to see that vegetation should grow lushly in the spacious land, to see that the cow-pens and sheepfolds should be heavy with butter and cream to make the shepherds rejoice, the warrior Ninurta went to Eridug. To see that the Tigris and the Euphrates should roar, to see that ......, to see…
Mythology