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~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Ninurta for Lipit-Eshtar (Lipit-Eshtar D)

Hero, mightiest of the Anuna gods, who comes forth from the E-kur! Ninurta, lord Nunamnir created you like a great storm ......, he commanded you to achieve triumphs for him. Barsud. For you Nintud has opened wide her creative hands; she has breast-fed you from her sweet breasts; she has fed you with the milk of vigour. As if you were a spectacular wild bull, she has made your figure strong (?), she has made your limbs massive. She has fitted you out with ...... appearance, awesome radiance and heroism. Your mother, Nintud, held you by the right wrist as she led you before your father in E-kur, the august shrine. Then she said: "Decide a great fate for the son who is your avenger!"

Mythology
~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Nuska for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan Q)

unknown no. of lines missing 1 line fragmentary The Anuna, the great gods, ...... the holy palace, the dwelling-place. Lord Nunamnir has appointed you as his chief minister; he has firmly put the holy sceptre in your hand, and made your name glorious. You are perfectly suited to perform the ordinances of the E-kur in all their complexity, to teach the proper execution of the lustrations and the august rites, to purify and clean, and to make grandly manifest the numerous divine powers, the surpassing divine powers; indeed, to give command with grandeur is now consummately and irrevocably yours. Moreover, you are indeed Nuska, the prince and the counsellor of the E-kur! In the entire extent of heaven and earth, in all the countries, you alone are mighty.

Mythology
~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Suen for Ibbi-Suen (Ibbi-Suen C)

...... of heaven and earth, renewing his light, ...... just prince who comes forth, Suen, whom the Great Mountain engendered to be a princely lord, 1 line fragmentary He is forceful, he is the king of heaven and earth! The lord Acimbabbar, renewing his light! Suen, renewing his light! ......, renewing his light! The god of light, renewing his light! He is forceful, he is the king of heaven and earth! He ...... in the pure sky, he shines forth towards the earth. On the basis of the decisions of great An, he gives important advice. He brings forth all the divine powers, to keep ...... in good order. Youth elevated to be prince, my Ibbi-Suen! He calls him to a long and prosperous reign.

Mythology
~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab (?) to Suen for Shu-Suen (Shu-Suen F)

...... from the distant radiance, ...... in heaven, 1 line fragmentary Suen, ......, ...... Cu-Suen. Nanna has elevated ....... Barsud. The beauty of heaven, the prince of earth, youthful Suen, the immense, the light of heaven and earth, who makes years of prosperity and good ...... last permanently, Nanna, the lord who is born each month, sired my Cu-Suen. Cagbatuku. Mighty one, great power among the great gods, father Nanna, your judgments are ingenious decisions -- deciding great destinies with Nunamnir, his beloved youth Acimbabbar decides destiny for my Cu-Suen. 2nd barsud. The light which sweetens the night and structures the year, Nanna, the crown of the holy heavens, ...... my Cu-Suen, 2 lines fragmentary

Mythology
~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Utu for Shulgi (Shulgi Q)

Youthful Utu ......, ...... from Urac; brilliant light, great lion, ......, hero emerging from the holy interior of heaven, storm whose splendour covers the Land and is laden with great awesomeness; Utu, king of justice that befits the true offspring, made Culgi, the trustworthy shepherd, glorious in the battle. The great wild bull, youthful Utu, who like a torch illuminates the Land from the holy heavens; the wise one of all the countries, the fearsome radiance of (?) Urac, the just god among the Anuna gods, the long (?), holy dragon, the first-born son cherished by Suen, the lord born to command -- Utu bestowed the kingship of the Land on Culgi.

Mythology
~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An elegy on the death of Nannaya (Elegy 1)

A father sent a message to his son, to a far-off place; at that time the son, having gone to a distant place, was far away. The city-dwelling father was stricken with illness. He, precious brilliance found in a distant mountain (?), was stricken with illness. He, attractive in ......, a man who made words pleasing, was stricken with illness. He who had a tall figure, and altogether was powerful, was stricken with illness. He, wise in divine plans and an ornament of the assembly, was stricken with illness. He who was a man of truth, god-fearing, was stricken with illness. He, not eating, was…

Mythology
~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An elegy on the death of Nawirtum (Elegy 2)

An evil day ...... upon the maiden in her ....... Upon the fair woman, the well-favoured maiden, the evil eye ....... Upon the fledgling overstepping its nest, a net has ....... The fecund mother, the mother of children, is ...... by a snare. The yellow cow, the fertile (?) wild cow, ...... like a gakkul vessel. Nawirtum, the fertile (?) wild cow, ...... like a gakkul vessel. She who never said "I am sick" was not cared for. She who did not ...... did not ...... the divine place. Like their resting-place, their hurled ...... was not ....... Nibru is covered in fog (?); in the city .......…

Mythology
~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An ululumama to Nanna (Nanna J)

Lord, glory of heaven, suited to ......, Nanna, whose appearance in the high heavens is adorned with radiance! King, glittering light, crown of Urim, Nanna, glittering light, crown of Urim! Great lion of holy An, first-born of Enlil, seed of a bison, beloved of the gods, great strength inspiring awe in the Land, with the just crown and the shining sceptre, sparkling over the high mountains, ...... of Enlil filled with princely divine powers, ...... in the centre of Nibru, highly skilled at examining ......, 7 lines fragmentary Butting ...... aggressively, ......, never tiring, ...... in…

Mythology
~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An ululumama to Suen for Ibbi-Suen (Ibbi-Suen D)

Great lord, light holding his head high in the vault of the sky, ...... brilliance, Suen, powerful dragon from the high mountains shedding light on the people, light of the remote heavens, crown ......, joy of the father who begot him! Impressive son born of Ninlil, respected in the E-kur, visible even at noontime, youthful Suen, ...... light of heaven, whose majestic radiance is visible even at noontime, light who illuminates the black-headed people, father Nanna, emerging from the remote (?) ......, understanding well how to make the night pleasant! Respected prince who, when he appears, is the glorious radiance of the heavens!

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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 -- descend to the underworld. Don't adorn your feet with ...... -- descend to the underworld. When you descend, ......."

Mythology
~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 things: if she does not know the day when I am dead, you, o countryside, can inform my mother who bore me. Like my little sister may you weep for me."

Mythology
~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 yet cawing, the partridge not cackling. The lion did not slay, the wolf was not carrying off lambs, the dog had not been taught to make kids curl up, the pig had not learned that grain was to be eaten.

Mythology
~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. The gods, dredging the clay, began complaining about this life.

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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 Eridug, he built the house on the bank. Its brickwork makes utterances and gives advice. Its eaves roar like a bull; the temple of Enki bellows. During the night the temple praises its lord and offers its best for him.

Mythology
~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: "Now I shall know the fates, like a lord. " "

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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, covers Aratta like a garment, is spread over it like linen.

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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,…

Mythology
~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:…

Mythology
~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 king ...... in the river, my lord ...... your garden." 2 lines unclear)

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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, which .......

Mythology
~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 dwelling, Ninegala; let me tell of your grandeur!

Mythology
~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 as a mountain. The Ja-jic-cua is as great as a mountain.

Mythology
~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 fragmentary The goddess ....... The maiden Inana ....... She was pacing to and fro in the chamber of her mother who bore her, in prayer and supplication, while they stood in attendance on her respectfully:

Mythology
~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 with your gall.

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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 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!

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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.

Mythology
~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 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?

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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 escape his power. The great mass of the enemy ....... Icbi-Erra ....... 1 line fragmentary

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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…

Mythology
~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!

Mythology
~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.…

Mythology
~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 line fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing

Mythology
~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 embankments and ditches, 1 line unclear All the cities are listening to my lord. 1 line unclear

Mythology
~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 (An Akkadian gloss has instead: Kunci-matum) ...... to Culgi. The fortress Igi-hursaja ....... And who will rival him ......? unknown no. of lines missing

Mythology
~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.

Mythology
~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 gur of grain, but in dealing with me, you fix the price at one shekel of silver per 1 gur of grain!

Mythology