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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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23,483 of 102,257 tablets · 3 filters activeClear filters

4251–4300 of 23483

Page 86 / 470

~1800 BCE·

Old Babylonian

ETCSL

An adab for Shu-ilishu (Shu-ilishu C)

...... august divine powers ....... May ...... prolong ...... for Cu-ilicu. Its uru. An adab of ....... (ll. 3 and 4 written as one line in source)

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab of Inana for Rim-Sin (Rim-Sin H)

...... beloved of An ...... 1 line fragmentary Nintud is delighted at your creation, and has determined a great destiny for you. She has made your brow attractive, ....... Your limbs ......, your form spectacular. barsud. You have been decreed femininity, you are full of charm, Inana, glory of the pure heavens, fitted to be a queen, 4 lines fragmentary or unclear unknown no. of lines missing 2 lines fragmentary You have perfected the just, and made them speak with one voice; may you exercise your role as shepherd for years of abundance and sweet days of rejoicing. Rim-Sîn, you have perfe…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab of Inana for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta D)

Goddess who excels the Anuna gods, who has gathered together all the divine powers! Your gaze is lordly as it surveys all the foreign lands in heaven and earth. Inana, lioness shining in the heavens, your divine powers are most complex, your cultic ordinances are unalterable, and your divine plans are influential. barsud. Your ideas are as profound as the abzu; no one is known to have perceived them. Your actions are very great, and there is no god to rival you. You fetched your divine powers on a favourable day, and none of them escaped you. You have secured the kingship, and nothing escapes…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab of Ninurta for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta C)

Hero, terror-inspiring dragon of exceptional fearsome terror, powerful Ninurta! Rising hurricane, ......, mighty possessor of august strength, who lets no foreign land escape! Fitted for heroism from the womb, unrivalled! barsud. You who treat as hostile the cities as well as the unsettled areas, the rebel lands -- Ninurta, as you pass by, like a terrifying fierce lion (?) you make heaven and earth tremble from east to west. When in judgment, like a hero possessing great strength, you batter a rebel land, by day you thrust, by night you rear up, and you leave the rebel land lying prone. If you…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to An for Lipit-Eshtar (Lipit-Eshtar C)

The august lord, pre-eminent, with the most complex divine powers, almighty grandfather of all the lords -- barsud. -- head high, surpassing everyone, breed-bull, who makes the seeds sprout, whose name is respected, spreading great terror, whose august commands cannot be countermanded, who is imbued with awesomeness on the mountain of pure divine powers, who has taken his seat on the great throne-dais, An, the king of the gods -- cagbatuku. -- has looked at him with long-lasting favour, has looked at prince Lipit-Ectar with favour. He has bestowed on him a long life, he has bestowed on prince…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to An for Shu-Suen (Shu-Suen E)

unknown no. of lines missing Warrior from birth ....... Cagbatuku. Wise Cu-Suen ....... 1 line fragmentary ...... dais ....... ...... the beauty and ornament ....... 2nd (?) barsud. An ....... Cu-Suen ....... 2 lines fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing 1 line fragmentary Cu-Suen ...... rising ....... Sa-gida. 1 line fragmentary Jicgijal of the sa-gida. As An determined the fates ....... Holy An determined the fates, ...... the shrine Urim ....... Like the sunlight An ...... for Cu-Suen. Its uru. An adab of An.

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to An for Ur-Ninurta (Ur-Ninurta E)

An the powerful, great among the gods, An the respected, brilliantly manifest god! In fixing a great fate for the king, An has laid his hand truly upon Ur-Ninurta. barsud. As he passes, alone, as far as the border of the foreign lands, he is indeed the guardian of the Anuna. He seizes all the great divine powers, and places his feet upon the numerous divine powers. The very wise god, the prince who decides destiny, has truly spoken to him; An has truly spoken to Ur-Ninurta. He has made him the mightiest in the Land; An has made Ur-Ninurta the mightiest in the Land. He has bestowed upon…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Bau for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan B)

Lady, imbued with fearsomeness, whose greatness is recognised in heaven and on earth, perfect in nobility! Mother Bau, foremost among ladies, warrior ......! Powerful goddess, who perfectly controls the august divine powers, proud one, ...... great intelligence! ......, true woman, wise lady who has been made knowledgeable from birth! Daughter of An, expert, eloquent, who holds everything in her hand! Lady, great doctor of the black-headed people, who keeps people alive, and brings them to birth. Cuhalbi, incantation priestess of the numerous people, ......! Merciful, compassionate one of the…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Bau for Luma

Child of An, he has chosen you in his holy heart in the great sky and on the great earth and made you worthy of the ladyship of the Land. Bau, child of An, he has chosen you in his holy heart in the great sky and on the great earth and made you worthy of the ladyship of the Land. Enlil has looked at you with favour, young woman, mother Bau, from the shining E-kur, and made you eminently fit for lord Ninjirsu. The Great Mountain Enlil has looked at you with favour, young woman, mother Bau, from the shining E-kur and made you eminently fit for lord Ninjirsu. In the E-tarsirsir, founded for you…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Dagan (?) for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan U)

In the E-kur, the house ....... The great gods ...... to your upraised hands. ...... holy lap for your exceedingly pleasant life. ...... for its good reign ....... Icme-Dagan, the son of Enlil ....... ...... joy (?) in the Egal-mah, your ladylike house. ...... the prince ...... mec tree with shining branches ....... ...... to make his life pleasant ...... Icme-Dagan ....... ...... holy ...... the child of An ....... 2 lines fragmentary ...... brick-built E-kur ....... Sa-jara. Dagan, you have ...... the shepherd Icme-Dagan, the son of Enlil, with a royal garment. Jicgijal of the sa-jara. The l…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Enki for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan D)

Great lord, prominent (?) among the gods, your judgments are clever and powerful! Father Enki, respected one, supreme dragon, who determines the fates firmly, who has taken his seat upon the numerous divine powers in colourful brilliance (?), great prince, the guardian of the gods, ...... of holy An! 2 lines fragmentary The fates you determine are firm; you are the junior Enlil. You (?) distribute the divine powers for the Anuna, the great gods. You establish for them a habitation, a holy dwelling place; you are their proud lord. Your greatness is unapproachable ....... You (?) ...... in a pur…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Enlil for Bur-Suen (Bur-Suen B)

...... who alone surpasses heaven and earth, the exalted one, prominent among the Anuna gods, whose utterances cannot be overturned! Nunamnir, whose decisions cannot be altered, proud one imbued with terrifying awesomeness, who alone is exalted (1 ms. has instead: who alone is eminent, the foremost one) among the Great Princes, has taken his seat in the shrine of Nibru, in Dur-an-ki, in E-kur, the temple where the fates are determined, in the holy shining temple. When mother Ninlil, who is equal in rank with the Great Mountain, embraces him ......, ...... says to ......: "...... chosen in the…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Enlil for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan H)

...... the prince of gods ...... seated upon all the divine powers, Nunamnir, the lord of just decrees, who possesses fully the great divine powers, father Enlil, made your fearsomeness manifest in heaven and on the earth. He made the gods of heaven stand by in heaven (?), and gave them (?) auspicious names. ...... its king ....... 1 line fragmentary The Anuna, its great gods, line up before you. Enlil, they pay attention to your holy words and august statements. Nunamnir, you alone are elevated in the entirety of heaven and earth. ...... of the Anuna gods, august shackle on all the lands,…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Enlil for Shulgi (Shulgi G)

Enlil, the eminent one, the sovereign lord, whose utterance is trustworthy; Nunamnir, the eternal shepherd of the Land, who hails from the great mountain; the great counsellor, the first and foremost in heaven and on earth, who is in control of all the divine powers; lord, who is imbued with great fearsomeness in accordance with his nobility, a perfected heavenly star, who takes good care of the primeval and choice divine powers, who alone is the lofty god; lord, life-giving light, who leads the people all over the world along one track; huge net spread over heaven and earth, rope stretched ov…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Nanna for Gungunum (Gungunum A)

1 line missing ...... of the gods, ...... light! Attractive great ......, ...... radiance! Barsud. ...... in princeship. Ruler, leader of the Anuna deities, prince of the just decision, lord Acimbabbar, An and Enlil have made you perfect for the sky. Beloved of the king, making the good crown sparkle, coming forth on high, you come forth like bright sunlight, whether at noon or in the night. Youthful Suen, lord, ...... son of the Great Mountain and born of Ninlil, given a good destiny by his grandparents Enki and Ninki -- they have given ...... to him, the just lord of the sky. Cagbatuku. ....…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Nanna for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan M)

1 line fragmentary ...... what he orders is faithfully executed, ...... endowed with beauty in the E-kur, ...... among the great gods, the great and august lord ...... in the heavens, ...... whose seat (?) no other god ......! August ......, lord whose abode is the mountains, father Nanna ......, ...... fixes the months and the new moon according to a cord (?), establishes the year ......, ...... life for the multitudes ......, ...... who puts all the lands in order, ...... who makes the Tigris and the Euphrates bring flowing water ......, ...... fine grain ......, ...... lush vegetation in th…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Nanna (Nanna H)

Righteous lord who determines destiny! Born to Ninlil, Suen, beloved son of Ninlil, Suen, having no rival in the E-kur, the house of Enlil: your divine powers are majestic divine powers granted by An! Your father, holy An, has bestowed upon you divine powers to which other gods cannot aspire. Enlil has decreed them to you in destiny. The lord of the holy lustration rites, An, has established them. ......, sacred lion of the gods, justly honoured, you are the light of heaven. 1 line fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing O house of ...... in ......, city founded by An! O house of ...... in ..…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Nergal for Shu-ilishu (Shu-ilishu A)

Lord, furiously raging storm, confusing the enemies and unleashing (?) great terror over the Land, Nergal, mighty quay of heaven and earth, who ...... all living things, lord who guards (?) the teeming people when he looks up furiously, turning (?) his weapons against the wicked: Nergal, powerful in heaven and earth, who ...... the people in heaps! Barsud. Lord, mighty storm, raging with your great powers, south storm which covers the Land, Nergal, who smites the enemy whom he has cursed ......, exalted lord, strong one with a powerful wrist, whom no one can withstand, Nergal, rising broadly,…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Ningublaga for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan C)

The lord, a furious angry storm against the enemy, ......, strong ......., my lord who brings life to the people, whose own father ......, a great storm, a mighty ......, has ...... a battle-cry -- the lord whose manliness is impressively strong, ......! Barsud. Hero, with a battle-cry you have angrily piled up skulls in the rebel lands. You have terrified their brick buildings and scattered their chaff heavenward. Rampant wild bull, with a battle-cry you have angrily piled up skulls in the rebel lands. You have terrified their brick buildings and scattered their chaff heavenward. Divine…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Nininsina (Nininsina E)

I will praise the greatness of the ...... who was engendered vigorous by great An -- holy Nininsina, who brought youthful power from the womb, who was brought up sitting on the holy knees of Urac; who was copiously given divine powers of ladyship, and who is girded with fearsomeness and awesome radiance: Nininsina. I will praise the greatness of ...... my Nininsina, who was engendered vigorous -- holy Nininsina, who brought ladyship from the womb, who was brought up sitting on the holy knees of Urac; who was copiously given divine powers of ladyship, and who is girded with fearsomeness and awe…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Ninlil (Ninlil A)

Ninlil, comprehensively replete with numerous divine powers! Equal to the Great Mountain; deciding destinies with lord Nunamnir; suited to the Great Lion; pre-eminent over heaven and earth! Joyous princess (?), lady with the princely divine powers; conveying terror; wise with advice! Mother Ninlil, whose speech is a storm (?), you are a pleasure to Enlil's heart -- he has embraced you! Overseeing everything, lord Nunamnir loves (?) you. You occupy a holy dais, mother Ninlil; you provide the ...... of prosperity. All the great lords and sovereigns have paid homage to you. Riding in princely sty…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab to Ninurta for Bur-Suen (Bur-Suen A)

......, lord, whom the Great Mountain engendered, whose magnificence has no equal. Ninurta, magnificent in heaven and earth, surpassing among the Anuna gods. ......, foremost among the gods, support of An. ...... imbued with ......, who roars like a storm, who growls in battle. ......, who butts like a huge wild bull, who destroys the fortresses of the rebel lands. ...... of Enlil: no foreign land can escape from his grasp. ...... by Nunamnir, whose words are firmly established. ......, fit for princeship, the counsellor of Ekur. ...... cannot be scattered, the neckstock of the gods. approx.…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab (?) to Ninurta for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan O)

Great hero, strongest in heaven and earth! Ninurta, who controls perfectly the fifty divine powers in the E-kur! ...... governor for his father, rising raging storm, who extends terror ...... towards the foreign countries. ...... roaring ......, who casts fear upon the people, who has no rival! Ninurta, surpassing in vigour! ...... great and majestic strength ......, ...... of Enlil, ...... of Enlil, ornament of the august shrine! ...... whose radiance ......! 1 line fragmentary ...... the neck-stock of the gods. 1 line fragmentary ...... among the Anuna gods. ...... exceptionally mighty…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

An adab (?) to Ninurta (?) for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan P)

3 lines fragmentary Great warrior, ....... Brave ....... His radiance ....... 1 line fragmentary ...... the cities and settlements. Roaring lion ...... to ....... Ninurta. Uta-ulu ....... Sa-gida. Lord ....... Jicgijal of the sa-gida. 2 lines fragmentary ...... in the Ubcu-unkena. ...... the status of Enlil ....... ...... the power of the Great Mountain, Enlil ....... ...... my man ....... Prince Icme-Dagan ....... ...... Ninurta ....... ...... fifty-headed battle-mace ....... ...... Icme-Dagan ....... 1 line fragmentary ...... great copper throne ....... 1 line fragmentary unknown no. of line…

Religion & Myth

~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…

Religion & Myth

~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.…

Religion & Myth

~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 or…

Religion & Myth

~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 whic…

Religion & Myth

~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 com…

Religion & Myth

~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…

Daily Life·Religion & Myth

~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 .......…

Daily Life·Religion & Myth

~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…

Religion & Myth

~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…

Religion & Myth

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSL

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

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