CDLI Literary 000344, ex. 001 (P346096)

Literary tablet excavated in Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar), dated to the Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC) period and now kept in British Museum, London, UK

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Seal Chemistry

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Museum Collection(s)

British Museum, London, UK

Museum Number

BM —

Period

Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

Provenience

Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)

Artifact Type

Tablet

Material(s)

Clay

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Literary (ETCSL 1.04.01.01 Dumuzi and Geshtinana (witness))

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

-

Witness

tablet
obverse
1. galla# tur ka ba-a-szi-bad-de6 galla gu-la-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e#
 en: The junior galla demon opened his mouth and was speaking to the eldest galla demon
2. ga2-nam-ma-an-ze2-en ur2 ku3 {d}inanna-ka-sze3 ga-da-re7-en-de3-en
 en: Come! let us go to the holy lap of Inanna
3. galla unu{ki}-sze3 ba-ni-in-ku4-re-esz ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 mu-ni-in-dab5!?-be2-ne
 en: The galla demons entered Unug and were seizing(?) Inanna there
4. ga2-nu {d}inanna kaskal-zu-sze3 NI-BA gen-na kur-sze3# e11-de3
 en: Come, Inanna! Go ... towards your path, descend to the netherworld
5. ki#? sza3-ge4 de6-a-zu-sze3 gen-na kur-sze3 e11-de3
 en: Go to the place you have plotted against(?), descend to the netherworld
6. ki {d}eresz-ki#!-gal-la-sze3 gen-na kur-sze3 e11-de3
 en: Go to the place of Ereškigal, descend to the netherworld
7. {tug2}ba13 ku3 {tug2}pala3-a tug2 nam-eresz-zu nam-ba#?-mur10-mur10-un kur-sze3 e11#-de3#
 en: You should not wear the holy ba garment or the pala garment, the garments of your queenship, go to the netherworld
8. men ku3 me-te ka silim-ma sag-zu-a um-ta-ga2-ar kur-sze3 e11#-de3#
 en: After you remove the holy crown, the ornament of glorification, upon your head, in order to descend to the netherworld
9. hi-li-a igi#?-zu# szu# la-ba-ni-in-du7 kur-sze3 e11-de3
 en: You (should) not equip/perfect your face(?) with allure
10. ur-idim tur#? giri3-zu x [...]-un#-duh#-duh kur-sze3 e11-de3
 en: You should unfasten(?) the small(?) uridim dogs(?) at/from your feet, descend to the netherworld
11. x za#-e e11-de3 x [...] nu-BU-BU
 en: ... you go down, ... does not ...
12. ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 mu-un-bur2-bur2-re-esz [...]-x-x-NE-esz
 en: They released holy Inanna, they ... her
13. {d}inanna ni2-te-na {d}dumu-zi szu-sze3 ba#?-an#?-szum2#
 en: Inanna herself handed over Dumuzi
14. gurusz-e {gesz}<rab3>-mah giri3-ni im-ma-an-gar-re-en-de3-en
 en: As for the youth, we will put his feet in the great <beam(?)>
15. gurusz-e {gesz}es2-ad szub-bu-de3-en-de3-en gesz-gu2 gu2-ni gar-re-en-de3#-en#
 en: As for the youth, we will cast the esad trap/restraint (upon him), we will place neck in the neckstock
16. {uruda}ubri2 {uruda}kibir2 {uruda}szukur mah-e igi-ni-sze3 ba-an-szi-ib2-il2-il2
 en: The ubri spear, kibir weapon(?) and the great šukur spear were raised before him
17. {uruda}ha-zi-in gal-gal-la u3-sar i3-ke3-e-ne
 en: They were sharpening large hazin axes
18. gurusz-e mu-ni-in-gub-bu-de3-esz mu-ni-in-durun-de3-esz
 en: As for the male, they were (about) to stand, they were to sit(?)
19. esz2 murgu2-na i3-szub-bu-de3-en-de3-en gab2-gaz# gub-bu-de3-en-de3#-en
 en: We will cast a rope upon his shoulder: position the executioner!
20. gurusz-e a2-na mu-un-la2-e-de3-esz {tug2}esz-darax(SIKI) u3?-mu-un-szi-in-ak-esz
 en: As for the youth, they were to bind his arm, and then tighten it up(?)
21. tug2 ni2-te-na igi-na mu-ni-in-dul-u3#-de3-esz
 en: They were to cover his own face with his own garment
22. gurusz-e {d}utu-ra an-sze3 szu-ni ba-an-na-zi
 en: The youth raised his hands heavenwards for Utu
23. {d}utu gu5-li-zu ga2-e-me-en szul-me-en za-e mu-GIM
 en: Utu, I am your comrade, like you(?) I am a youth
24. nin9#-zu nam-dam-sze3 ba-an-tuku-a
 en: The one who married your sister
25. e-ne kur-sze3 e11-de3
 en: She descends to the netherworld
26. mu e#-ne kur-sze3 e11-de3
 en: Because she descends to the netherworld
27. ga2-e ki-gar-ra-bi-sze3 kur-sze3 ba-ab-szum2-mu-de3
 en: I, as a substitute, am to be given to the netherworld
28. {d}utu di-ku5 nig2-si-sa2 za-e-me-en nam-ba-szaga-de3
 en: Utu, you are the judge of justice, you are never to oppress (anyone)
29. szu-ga2 u3-mu-e-kur2-kur2 uludim2-gu10 u3-mu-e-bala
 en: After you have altered my hands and changed my form
30. szu galla-gu10-ne ga-ba-e-da-ze-er nam-mu-ha-za-asz
 en: I shall elude the hand of my (pursuing) galla demons, they must not grasp (me)
31. musz-sag-kal-gin7 sza3-tum2 hur-sag-ga2 hu-mu-ni-in-bala-bala
 en: As a sagkal snake, I(!) shall traverse the meadows and(?) the mountain range
32. ki nin9 {d}gesztin-an-na-sze3 zi-gu10 ga-ba-an-szi-in-de6
 en: I shall take refuge with (my) sister Gštinanna
33. {d}utu er2-na szu ba-an-szi-in-ti
 en: Utu accepted his weeping
34. szu-ni mu-ni-in-kur2-kur2 ulutim2-ma-ni mu-ni-in-bala
 en: He altered his hands and changed his form
35. musz-sag-kal-gin7 sza3-tum2 hur-sag-ga2 mu-ni-in-bala-bala
 en: As a sagkal snake, he traversed the meadows and(?) the mountain range
36. {d}dumu-zi-de3 muszen szu surx(SAG)-du3{muszen} ri-a-gin7 zi-ni ur5-da i3-ak#?-x
 en: Dumuzi, like a bird flying (from) the claws of a falcon, guarded for his very life
37. ki {d}gesztin-an-na zi-ni ba-szi-in-de6
 en: He took refuge with Geštinanna
38. [{d}]gesztin-an-na szesz-a-ni igi ba-ni-in-duh-am3
 en: geštinanna saw her brother
reverse
1. te#-na# mu-ni-in-hur#-hur# giri17#-na mu-ni-in-hur-hur
 en: She scratched her cheeks, she scratched her nose
2. |IGI.GAG|#? za3-ga-na mi-ni-in-duh tug2-ni mi-ni-in-da-da-ra
 en: She unleashed a spear/thorn(?) in her side, she split apart(?) her garment
3. gurusz ag2-gig-ra i-lu ag2-gig-ga hu-mu-ni-ib2-be2
 en: She was intoning a lament of anathema for the youth (afflicted by) anathema
4. a szesz-gu10 a szesz-gu10 gurusz u4-bi nu-um-x-x
 en: Alas, my brother, alas, my brother, the days of the youth do not ...
5. a szesz-gu10 su8-ba {d}ama-uszumgal-an-na gurusz u4-bi x-x nu-x-x-gur?
 en: Alas, my brother, the shepherd Ama'ušumgalana, the days of the youth do not ...
6. a szesz-gu10 gurusz dam nu-tuku dumu nu-tuku
 en: Alas, my brother, the youth who does not have a spouse, who does not have a son
7. a szesz-gu10 gurusz gu5-li nu-tuku du10-us2-sa nu-tuku
 en: Alas, my brother, the youth who does not have a comrade, who does not have a friend
8. a szesz-gu10 gurusz ama-ni sa6-ga-ni nu-duh
 en: Alas, my brother, the youth whose mother “did not release her good(ness)"(?)
9. galla {d}dumu-zi-de3 mu-ni-in-kikken2-de3 mu-ni-in-nigin-de3#-esz
 en: The galla demons were seeking out Dumuzi, they were roaming around
10. galla tur galla gu-la-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e-ne
 en: The junior galla demons were speaking to the eldest demons
11. galla arhusz nu-tuku ad-da ama dam? szesz nin9 dumu nu-tuku-me-esz
 en: They were galla demons without compassion, who did not have a father, mother, spouse, brother, sister, or son
12. x-me-da gal? UN-ta#? gar-ra an-ki-ta ri-a-bi
 en: ... removed from(?) ..., the one set apart from the universe
13. za-e-ne-ne galla <me>-en-ze2-en lu2 za3 tag?-ge x-x-me-esz
 en: You are gala demons(!?), those who are to be reglected ... (!?)
14. szu nig2-sa6-ga nu-tuku-me-esz sa6-ga hul nu-zu me!-esz
 en: They did not have the power of goodness(?), they did not know good and evil
15. lu2-u3 e2 nu ni2-te-na zi-ni silim-ma a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-duh
 en: Who has seen someone with a healthy life without a home and all alone?
16. ki gu5-li-bi nu-um-szi-du-de3-en ki mussa-bi nu-um-szi-du-de3-en
 en: I(?) will not go to where the friend is, I will not go to where the in-law is
17. su8-ba-ra ki {d}gesztin-an-na-ka-sze3 ga-an-szi-re7-en-de3-en
 en: We shall go for the shepherd where {geš}tinanna is
18. galla-e-e-ne szu-ta ba-ab-sag3-sag3-ge-me-esz mu-ni-in-kin2?-kin2?-de3-esz
 en: They were the galla demons who were to smite him(!) by hand(?), they were seeking him
19. i-lu-bi ka-ga14-na nu-mu-un-til-la-am3
 en: The lament was not yet finished in her mouth
20. galla ki {d}gesztin-an-na!-sze3 ba-e-szi-re7{+re}-esz
 en: (When) the galla demons came to where {geš}tinanna was
21. ki szesz-zu# la2-ma-ra-ab e-ne mu-ni-ib2-be2 e-ne inim-bi nu-mu-na-ab-be2
 en: "(One of them(?)) was saying “Show where your brother is,” but she was saying not a word to him
22. siki ni2-te-na ur2-ra ba-ni-in-ze2-eg3 inim-bi nu-mu-na-ab-be2
 en: He made her shave(!?) her own hair in her crotch, but she was not saying a word to him
23. szu!? ni2-te-na igi#?-na ba-ni-in-hur-hur inim-bi nu-mu-na-ab-be2
 en: He made her scratch her face(?) with her own hands(!?), but she was not saying a word to him
24. szu!? ni2-te-na tug2-na ba-ni-in-bir7-bir7 inim-bi nu-mu-na-ab-be2
 en: He made her own hands(?) shred her garment, but she was not saying a word to him
25. sahar#? ur2-ra-na ba-ni-in-de2-de2 inim-bi nu-mu-na-ab-be2
 en: He poured dirt/sand(?) in her crotch, but she was not saying a word to him
26. {d}dumu-zi-de3 e2 {d}gesztin-an-na-ke4 nu-um-me-ni-in-pa3-de3
 en: He did not find Dumuzi in the house of Geštinanna
27. galla# [tur] galla# gu-la-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e-ne
 en: The junior galla demons were speaking to the eldest demons
28. ga2-nam#-[...]-en# amasz ku3-ga-sze3 ga-an-szi-re7-de3-en!
 en: Come! let us go to the pure sheepfold
29. {d}dumu-zi-de3# amasz# [...]-x mu-ni-in-szub-be2-de3-esz
 en: Dumuzi ... the sheepfold ... they were casting/ducking down ...
30.a. mu-ni-in-nigin-de3-esz# [...]-x-be2-de3-esz
 en: They were searching, they were ...,
30.b. mu-ni-in-kin2?-de3#-esz# igi ba-ni#-in-duh-am3#
 en: they were seeking, he was seen
31. gurusz-ra e2 sumun-na-gin7 {uruda}ha-zi-in szu ga-ba-szi-in-ti
 en: (Saying) “I shall take the ax to the youth like a dilapidated house”
32. giri2-ur3-ra mu-ni-in-sar-sar-re-esz ki#? si-ga mu-ni-in-tu10#-tu10-esz
 en: They carved him(?) with giri'ura knife, they smote him in a silent place
33. nin9-e na-ag2 szesz-na-sze3 iri-a muszen#?-gin7#? im-ma-an-nigin
 en: The sister roamed around in the city like a bird(?)
34. szesz-gu10 ag2-gig-ga me?-sze3? ga-DU# e2 na-me ga-an-ku4#?
 en: My brother (who suffered) this anathema! Where shall I go?(?) I shall enter no one's house(?)

Consult previous versions and their differences
Consult sign list of Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
Consult word list of Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

  • Artifact type: Tablet
  • Material: Clay
  • Measurements (mm):
  • Weight:
  • Artifact Preservation:
  • Condition Description:
  • Join Information:
  • Seal no.:
  • Seal information:
  • Artifact comments:

  • Genre(s): Literary (ETCSL 1.04.01.01 Dumuzi and Geshtinana (witness))
  • Language(s): Sumerian

  • history: UET 6, 0011

    [Gadd1963] Gadd, Cyril J., and Aaron Shaffer. 1963, 1966.

  • Composite No.:
  • Museum No.: BM —
  • Accession No.:

  • Provenience: Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)
  • Elevation:
  • Stratigraphic Level:
  • Excavation No: U 16852
  • Findspot Square:
  • Findspot Comments:

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2023-06-28 at 23:15:35 Rattenborg, Rune Artifact Hafford, William B.; Rattenborg, Rune Geomapping Landscapes of Writing Rattenborg, Rune approved View
2023-06-15 at 20:34:30 Rattenborg, Rune Artifact Rattenborg, Rune Geomapping Landscapes of Writing Rattenborg, Rune approved View
2019-05-29 at 21:02:00 Englund, Robert K. Atf Peterson, Jeremiah CDLI approved View
2011-10-07 at 08:44:55 Wagensonner, Klaus Atf Wagensonner, Klaus CDLI approved View
2006-11-02 at 00:00:00 CDLI Artifact Foxvog, Daniel A.; Guerra, Dylan; Peterson, Jeremiah; Veldhuis, Niek; Wolfe, Jared N. CDLI approved View

Consult this artifact as presented on the website of collections and projects:

This artifact is a witness to the following composite(s):

Composite Score
CDLI Literary 000344 (Dumuzi and Geshtin-ana) composite (P469525) View the score

General Notes: -
CDLI Notes: -
Cite this Artifact
“CDLI Literary 000344, Ex. 001 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). June 28, 2023. https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346096.
CDLI Literary 000344, ex. 001 artifact entry (No. P346096). (2023, June 28). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346096 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary 000344, ex. 001 artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346096 (Accessed: March 27, 2025).
@misc{2023CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2025-03-27]},
	year = {2023},
	month = {jun 28},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000344, ex. 001 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346096},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346096},
}


TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2023/6/28/
PY  - 2023
ID  - P346096
LB  - CDLI:P346096
M1  - 2025/3/27/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000344, ex. 001 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346096
ER  -
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