CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 023 (P346211)

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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Chemical Data

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Metadata history Transliteration history

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 2.02.03 Lament for Sumer and Ur (witness))

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

-

Has fragments Witness

tablet
obverse
column 1
1. [...] szu# bala ke3-de3# gesz#-[...]
 en: In order to overturn the day, in order to destroy the plans
2. [u4]-de3# mar-rux(TE)-gin7 tesz2-bi# [...]
 en: The storm ravages like a stormwind
3. me# ki-en-gi-ra szu# [...]
 en: In order to overturn the cosmic powers of Sumer
4. bala sa6#-ga# e2-ba gi4#-[...]
 en: In order to confine the good reign in its house
5. uru17 gul#-gul-lu-de3 e2 gul-gul-lu-[de3]
 en: In order to destroy the city, in order to destroy the temple
6. turx(SZILAM) gul-gul-lu-de3 amasz tab-tab-e-de3#
 en: In order to destroy the cattlepen, in order to flatten the sheepfold
7. gu4#-bi turx(SZILAM)-bi-a nu-gub-bu-de3#
 en: So that the ox does not does not stand in its cattlepen
8. udu#-bi amasz-bi-a nu-dagal-e-de3#
 en: So that the sheep does not expand (in number?) in the sheepfold
9. i7-de3 a mun4-na tum3-e-[de3]
 en: So that the canal irrigates with (only) brackish water
10. ama dumu-ni ki nu-kikken2-[de3]
 en: So that the mother does not seek the whereabouts of her child
11. ad-da a dam-gu10 nu-di-[de3]
 en: So that the father does not say “ah, my wife”
12. dam# banda3 ur2-ra nu-hul2-le-[de3]
 en: So that the junior spouse does not delight in (his) lap
13. [TUR]-TUR# dub3-ba nu-bulug3-e#?-[de3]
 en: So that the little ones do not grow on the knee
14. [emeda]{+da#}-e u5#?-[...]
 en: So that the nursemaid does not sign a lullaby
15. [...]
 en: So that the dwelling of kingship is changed
16. [...]
 en: In order to paralyze/actively diminish(?) decision making
17. nam#?-[...]
 en: In order to take away the kingship of the land
18. igi#-bi ki#-szar2#-ra# ga2#?-[...]
 en: So that it (the destructive storm) sets its gaze on the entire world
19. inim# du11-ga an {d}en#-[...]
 en: So that it ruins the plans according to the command of An and Enlil
20. u4# an-ne2 kur-kur-ta sag#-[ki ...]
 en: It was the time when An frowned upon the lands
21. {d}en-lil2-le2 igi-ni ki# [...]
 en: It was the (time) that Enlil set his gaze on another place
22. {d}nin-tur5-e nig2-dim2-[...]
 en: It was the (time) that Nintur rejected her creations
23. {d}en-ki-ke4 {i7}idigna {i7#}[...]
 en: It was the (time) that Enki changed (the course of) the Tigris and Euphrates
24. {d}utu har-ra-an kaskal#-[...]
 en: It was the (time) that Utu cursed the journeys and caravans
25. ki#-en#-gi#-[...]
 en: In order to destroy the me of Sumer, in order to alter its plans
 en: (several lines missing)
  n lines broken
26'. isz# za-bu gaba# [...]
 en: From the sand dunes of Zabu on the shore of the sea to the border of Anšan
27'. sim e2-bi ba-ra#?-[...]
 en: Like a swallow that has flown (from) its house (i.e., nest), he is not to return to his city
28'. {i7}idigna {i7}buranunx(|KIB.NUN|)?-na# [...]
 en: So that malevolent plants grow on both(?) banks of the Tigris and Euphrates
29'. kaskal#?-la giri3 nu-ga2-ga2-de3# [...]
 en: So that no one sets foot on the road, so that no one seeks the path
30'. iri a2-dam szu gar-gar-a-ba du6#-[...]
 en: In order to break up the founded city and (outlying) settlements into ruin mounds
31'. sag-gig2 lu-lu-a-ba! {gesz}hasz-e#? [...]
 en: In order to smite the teeming black-headed people with the haš weapon
32'. GAN2-ne2 zi-de3 {gesz}al nu-ru-gu2-de3# [...]
 en: So that the hoe does not penetrate the fertile field, ...
33'. e#-lu szir3 gu4 sub2-sub2-ba edin-na nu-di-de3#
 en: So that the e'ellu, the song of the going oxen, is not sung in the plain
34'. e2-turx(SZILAM)-ra i3 gar9 nu-ke3-de3 x szu ha-lam-e-de3
 en: So that butter and cream are not made in the cattlepen, so that ... is destroyed
35'. x-lu-lam!-ma du9-du9 {dug}szakir3-a amasz nu-di-de3
 en: So that the ilulama song, the churning of the churn, is not sung in the sheepfold
36'. edin#-na masz2-ansze tur-re-de3 nig2-zi-gal2 til-le-de3
 en: In order to diminish the herd, in order to finish the wild animals
37'. [... {d}]szakkan#-na!-ke4 x ki-a nu-tag-ge-de3
 en: So that the dung/bedding(?) of the quadrupeds of Sumuqan does not touch the ground
38'. [... ki]-in#-dar# di!-de3 numun#!? nu-tuku-tuku-de3!
 en: So that in the marshes (wet land) is turned into cracked land, so that they do not acquire seeds
column 2
  beginning broken
1'. [...]-lugal# kalam-ma kar#-[...]
 en: In order to take away the kingship of the land
2'. [...]-bi# ki-szar2-ra ga2-ga2-[de3]
 en: So that it (the destructive storm) sets its gaze on the entire world
3'. inim du11-ga an {d}en-lil2-la2-ta gesz-hur# ha#-lam-ma#-de3#
 en: So that it ruins the plans according to the command of An and Enlil
4'. u4 an-ne2 kur-kur-ta sag-<ki> ba-da-an-gid2-da#?-ba
 en: It was the time when An frowned upon the lands
5'. {d}en-lil2-le igi-ni ki kur2-ra ba-ra-gar-ra-a#-ba#
 en: It was the (time) that Enlil set his gaze on another place
6'. {d}nin-tur5-e nig2-dim2-dim2-ma-ni za3 bi2-in-tag-a-ba
 en: It was the (time) that Nintur rejected her creations
7'. {d}en-ki-ke4 {i7}idigna {i7}buranunx(|KIB.NUN|)?-na szu bi2-in#-x-x-ba
 en: It was the (time) that Enki changed (the course of) the Tigris and Euphrates
8'. sul#? {d}utu har-ra-an kaskal-e nam ba-ni-ku5-a-ba#
 en: It was the (time) that the youth(?) Utu cursed the journeys and caravans
9'. ki-en-gi-ra me-bi ha-lam-e-de3 gesz-hur-bi kur2-x-x
 en: In order to destroy the me of Sumer, in order to alter its plans
10'. uri2{ki} me nam-lugal-na bala-bi su13-su13-de3#
 en: In order to obfuscate the me and the reign of kingship in Ur
11'. dumu nun-na e2-kisz-nu-gal2 szu pe-el-la di-de3#
 en: In order to defile the princely son in his Ekišnugal temple
12'. {d}nanna ug3 x-gin7!? x-a#-na igi-ta-bi si-le#-[...]
 en: In order to tear apart the “mesh” of the people ... like ... of Nanna
reverse
column 1
1. uri2{ki#} esz3#? nindaba# gal-gal-la# nindaba-[...]
 en: In order to change the nindaba offering of Ur, the shrine of great nindaba offerings
2. ug3 ki-tusz-ba nu-tusz-u3-de3 lu2-erim2 szum2#-[...]
 en: So that its people do no dwell in their dwelling, so that enemy territory gives it away(?)
3. szimaszgi elam{ki} lu2-kur2-ra ki-tusz-bi tusz-de3
 en: So that Šimašgi and Elam, the foreign/enemy people, dwell in their dwellings
4. sipa#-bi e2 ni2-te-a lu2-erim2-e dab5-be2-de3
 en: So that the enemy seizes its shepherd in his very own house
5. di-bi2-{d}suen! kur elam-ma-sze3 gesz-bur2-ra tum2-mu#-[de3]
 en: So that Ibbi-Sîn is brought to the land of Elam in a {geš}bur trap/restraint
6. isz za-[x] gaba ab-ka-ta za3 an-sza4-an-sze3#
 en: From the sand dunes of Zabu on the shore of the sea to the border of Anšan
7. x [...] ba#-ra-an-dal-gin7 iri-ni-sze3 nu-gur-re-de3
 en: Like a swallow that has flown from its house (i.e., nest), he is not to return to his city
8. [... {i7}]buranun#-na gu2 min4!{min}-a-ba u2 hul#!
 en: (So that) malevolent plants (grow) on both(?) banks of the Tigris and Euphrates
9. [...]-de3 har-ra-an nu-kikken2-de3#
 en: So that no one sets foot on the road, so that no one seeks the path
10. [...]-ba#? dux(|LAGARxESZ|)?-dux(|LAGARxESZ|)?-da szid#-de3
 en: In order to break up the founded city and (outlying) settlements into ruin mounds
11. [...] {gesz#}hasz-a ke3-de3
 en: In order to smite the teeming black-headed people with the haš weapon
12. [...]-de3 numun!(TI) ki nu-tag#?-ge#?-de3
 en: So that the hoe does not penetrate the fertile field, so that the seed is not planted
13. [...] nu#-di-de3
 en: So that the e'ellu, the song of the going oxen, is not sung in the plain
14. [...] ha#-lam#-[...]
 en: So that butter and cream are not made in the cattlepen, so that ... is destroyed
15. [...] x [...]
  n lines broken
16'. [...] igi nu-gal2 inim# [...]
 en: It was something unseen (before), and (for which) there was no word, something not to be accepted(?)
17'. kur-kur-re ni2-ta-bi-a [...]
 en: The lands were confused all by themselves(?)
18'. iri-ba dingir-bi-ne bar-ta ba#-[...]
 en: The gods of that city stood outside
19'. nam-lu2-lu7 e2 ni2-te-bi-a# [...]
 en: Humanity breathed painfully in their very own homes(?)
20'. u4 szu bala ak-de3 gesz-hur!? ha-lam#-[...]
 en: In order to overturn the day, in order to destroy the plans
21'. u4-de3 mar-rux(TE)-gin7 tesz2-bi# i3-[...]
 en: The storm ravages like a stormwind
22'. me ki-en-gi-ra szu bala# [...]
 en: In order to overturn the cosmic powers of Sumer
23'. bala sa6-ga e2-ba gi4-gi#?-[...]
 en: In order to confine the good reign in its house
24'. x gul#-gul-lu-de3 e2# [...]
 en: In order to destroy the city, in order to destroy the temple
25'. x-[...] gul#-gul-de3 amasz# [...]
 en: In order to destroy the cattlepen, in order to flatten the sheepfold
26'. gu4#-[...] x-bi-a nu#-[...]
 en: So that the ox does not does not stand in its cattlepen
27'. udu#-[...] amasz#-a [...]
 en: So that the sheep does not expand (in number?) in the sheepfold
28'. i7#-[...]
 en: So that the canal irrigates with (only) brackish water
column 2
  blank space
  rest broken

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:
  • This artifact is composed of fragments.
  • Condition Description:
  • Join Information:
  • Seal no.:
  • Seal information:
  • Artifact comments:

  • Genre(s): Literary (ETCSL 2.02.03 Lament for Sumer and Ur (witness))
  • Language(s): Sumerian

  • history: UET 6, 0126 + 0127 (+) 0510

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

  • citation: Michalowski, Piotr, Lamentation over Sumer and Ur p.32,

    [sec87743] N.d.

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

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

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2023-06-15 at 20:34:30 Rattenborg, Rune Artifact Rattenborg, Rune Geomapping Landscapes of Writing Rattenborg, Rune approved View
2019-06-11 at 10:34:48 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2019-06-01 at 14:34:09 Englund, Robert K. Atf Peterson, Jeremiah CDLI approved View
2019-05-29 at 21:01:58 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. 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 000380 (Lament for Sumer and Ur) composite (P469682) View the score

General Notes: -
CDLI Notes:

join noted by Shaffer UET 6/3, p.14join noted by Shaffer UET 6/3, p.14

Cite this Artifact
“CDLI Literary 000380, Ex. 023 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). June 15, 2023. https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346211.
CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 023 artifact entry (No. P346211). (2023, June 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346211 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 023 artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346211 (Accessed: April 20, 2024).
@misc{2023CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2024-04-20]},
	year = {2023},
	month = {jun 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000380, ex. 023 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346211},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346211},
}


TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2023/6/15/
PY  - 2023
ID  - P346211
LB  - CDLI:P346211
M1  - 2024/4/20/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 023 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346211
ER  -
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