CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 021 (P346218)

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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Text / annotations

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Chemical Data

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 2.02.03 Lament for Sumer and Ur (witness))

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

-

Witness

tablet
obverse
1. gi-zi# musz2 ku3-ge# mu2-a szu ba-e-lal-lal
 en: The gizi reeds that grew in the holy enclosure(?) were actively diminished(?)
2. gu2-un gal-gal-e mi-[ni]-in-gar-re-esz kur2-re i3-IL2#-IL2#
 en: The enemy carried (away) the great tribute that ... deposited there
3. e2-e gesz!-bur2-bi ba-e#?-szub# bad3-si ba-a-gul
 en: In the temple, its {geš}bur ormanment(?) fell, its parapet was destroyed
4. GIR3-e zi-da gab2-bu-ba gu2-da# la2-bi
 en: ... embracing on its right and left
5. ur-sag-ur-sag gaz-a-gin7 igi-bi-ta ba-e-szu2
 en: Like smitten heroes, they were covered from the front
6. u4 gal ka duh-a igi pirig-ga2 ni2 gur3-gur3-ru-bi
 en: Its great storm(-demon)?, with an open mouth and the face of an awe-bearing pirig creature
7. am dab5-ba-gin7 samanx(|SZE3.SUD.SZE3.TU|) ba-an-szub-szub-bu ki-erim2 ba#?-ab#?-du11#
 en: ... were felling them with a saman rope like a caught wild bull, enemy territory ...
8. ki-tusz ku3 {d}nanna tir# szim {gesz}erin#-na-gin7 ir-si-im-bi#-a ba-an-gul#
 en: ... brought the scent of the dwelling of holy Nanna, which was like a juniper forest to an end
9. a-sal-bar-bi# ku3#?-sig17 {na4}za-gin3-na#!? u3#?-gun3#? du11-ga-a-bi
 en: Its asalbar feature, the one that was overlaid(?) with gold and lapis ...
10. e2 u6-di#-bi# i3#-du10#-ga#?-ri u6#-di# ba-a-gul
 en: (And?) the awe of the temple, which had been good(?)--the awe was (now) destroyed”
11. u4-gin7 kur-kur-ra i-im-si#-a {d#}usan#? an-na-gin7 ba-e#-du3#?
 en: The one that had filled(?) the lands like sunlight(?) was (re)built(?) like the evening(?) of heaven (instead?)
12. {gesz}ig-bi u4? mul! an#-na#? sag12#?-ga#?-a-gin7#? x DAR#? du11-ga-a-bi
 en: Its door, the one that ... sunlight(?) like a beautiful/verdant star of heaven/constellation(?)
13. {uruda}bulugx(BUR2) gal-gal-e x mu#?-x-gi4#?-gi4#? ba#-ra#-an#-BU-BU-de3#-esz
 en: (And?) the great boundary stakes? shouted(?) so that ... would not(?) tear them out(!?)
14. a2?-si-bi a-ba# lib#-lib#-be2#?-esz#? szu#? pe#?-el#?-la2#? ba#-ab#?-du11
 en: Its hinge ... was defiled(?) with a stunned silence
15. {gesz}nu-kusz2-u3-bi-da#? lu2#-kar#?-ra#?-gin7 er2# gig# mu#-un#-szesz4#-szesz4#
 en: Together with its door fitting, it wept like a fugitive
16. {gesz#}sag#-kul {gesz}suhub4# ku3#-ga# {gesz}ig# gal#? gu2# gid2# nu-mu-un-na-ke3-e
 en: The holy bolt and bar were no longer fixed on/controlling(?) the great(?) door
17. {gesz#}ig gu2 gid2-da za-pa-ag2-bi ba-szub#? lu2# gu2 gid2#-de3# la#-ba#-ab-tuku?
 en: The noise of the (previously?) fixed/controlled(?) door fell(?) (silent?), it had no one to fix/control it
18. x ku3#? x szu ba-e-lal-lal sila dagal-la IM#? [...]
 en: ... was actively diminished(?), it set ... in the broad street
19. ki#?-lugal#?-DU#?-e ki-lugal#-DU-bu-ba#? {ninda#?}nindaba#?-bi [...]
 en: In the royal offering place the nindaba offering of the royal offering place(!?) was changed
20. x ku3-ba tigi2 szem5#?{zabar#} {kusz}a2#-la2-e gu3 nun# [...]-ib#-be2
 en: In its holy ... was not making the tigi, šem, and ala drums sound nobly
21. tigix(|KID.NAR.BALAG|)#? mah-x a#?-u3#-a szir3 ku3 nu-mu-ni-ib#?-[...]
 en: Among its supreme tigi drums(!?) the a'ua functionary did not sing pure songs
22. dub-la2 ki nam tar-re-de3 inim inim-ma nu-gal2#
 en: (At) the gate tower where fates are to be determined there were no affairs(?)
23. {gesz}gu-za di ku5-ru-bi nu-mu-un-gub di si nu-mu#-[...]
 en: The throne (where) cases had been decided no longer stood(?), cases were not undertaken correctly
24. {d}alamusz!?-a {gesz}gidri ba-da-an-szub szu-ni gu4-u4-gu4#-x
 en: (Nanna/Suen's vizier) Alamuš dropped the scepter (with) his hand shaking
25. a2-nu2-da za {d}nanna-ka# giri3-na nam#?-un#-[...]
 en: In the holy(!) bed chamber of Nanna ... shall not ... at his feet(?)
26. dub#-szen# ku3 lu2 igi <nu>-bar-re-dam erim2-e im#-mi#-[...]-in#-bar
 en: The holy treasure box, which no one(!) is to see, the enemy saw (inside of it)
27. gesz-nu2# gi4#-rin#-na nu-un-gub u2 za-gin3# nu-mu-un#-bur2#
 en: ... did not set up the pure bed/bed of flowers, ... did not spread out shining plants (upon it)
28. {uruda#}an#-za3#-gi4 si-a#-bi gu2# guru5# x-x-x-x-esz#
 en: They were cutting down the statue that occupied(?) the uzga shrine
29. ensi# engiz# kiszib3-gal2#-x [...] szu# li-bi2-in-du7
 en: The dream interpreter, the engiz temple cook, and the seal bearer did not use the ešda vessel(?) properly
30. uz-ga#? x-x szu#-luh# dadag-ga sza3#-gada-la2#-bi#-e-ne
 en: In the holy uzga shrine, the šagadala priests of the pure washing rites
31. gu2# ki# gal2#?-bi ba-e-sug2-sug2-ge-esz kur2-re# ba-ab-lah5#-e-esz
 en: They stood in the manner of one whose neck is pushed to the ground(?), the enemies took them away
reverse
1. [{d}]suen#?-e# x [...] gal2-la-a-ni a-a-<ni>-ir ba-szi-in-de6
 en: Suen brought his ... there for his father
2. [... {d}]en-lil2-la2-sze3 dub3 ki ba-ni-ib-us2
 en: He knelt there before his birth father Enlil
3. [...]-ki#?-gu10 igi erim2-ma bi2-duh en3-tukum-sze3 x
 en: My birth father, how long will the eye of the enemy have looked at my ..., how long ...
4. siki-pa# [...] kesz2#?-da#?-ga2
 en: On(?) my hair, bound up with the suh headress/pectoral(?)
5. u4 sikil#? mah# [...] mu-dur7-ra mi-ni-in-ku4#
 en: The great cleaned pure “day"(?) has become dirty ...(?)
6. sza3 su2-mu-ug2-ga# i#-zi#-gin7 hu#-luh#-ha-<<ha>>-za igi zi# bar#-mu-un-szi-ib
 en: Examine faithfully your heart darkened (by anger), which terrifies like a wave
7. {d}en-lil2-le dumu-ni {d}suen-ra inim zi mu-un-na-ab-be2
 en: Enlil was speaking a true word to his son Suen
8. iri gul bad3 gal bad3-si-bi u4 si-ge u3 ur5#-re bala an-[ga]-am3
 en: The destroyed city, the flattening of the parapet of the great wall by the storm, this too is (a part of) the turn of office
9. KU mi-ri!(HU)-ib-du11-ga bala u4 ku10-ku10-da#?-x gal2#-lu sza#-ra-du11
 en: One who ..., for the dark days of you term of office, may “open (the temple(?))” be spoken(?)
10. tusz# ki-tusz e2-temen-ni2-gur3-ru-za zi-de3-esz du3-du3-am3
 en: (Previous) dweller, in your dwelling, the Etemenniguru temple, which was built faithfully
11. uri2{ki}-ma [...]-x he2-en-du3 ug3 he2-en-szi-gurum-e
 en: May ... (re)build it ..., may the people bow down towards it
12. ur2#-bi-a ninda he2#-en-gal2# {d}asznan# he2-eb2-da-tusz
 en: May ... have bread (?) at its base, may Ašnan dwell with it
13. pa-bi-a giri17-zal he2-gal2 {d}utu#? he2-en-da-hul2
 en: May there be joy in its branches, may Utu rejoice with him
14. x-ba BI AN he2-gal2 {d}asznan#-ma#-ka gu2-da he2#-em#-mi-in-la2
 en: On its ..., ... may the abundance of Ašnan embrace ...
15. uri2{ki} iri an-ne2 nam tar-ra# ki-bi ha-ra-ab-gi4-gi4
 en: May Ur, the city decreed by An, be returned to its place for you
16. {d}en-lil2-le gu3 zi# de2#-a#?-gin7#? x x x x-zi
 en: May(?) Enlil, like(?) a true speaker, raise his neck towards heaven
17. {d}nanna-ra sig-x igi#-nim#-ma# x x he2#-en-na-si-a
 en: For Nanna may the high and low (land) assemble(?)
18. {d}suen-ra kaskal kur-ra-ke4# si# he2#-en-na-sa2-e
 en: For Suen may he set the roads of the land of land in order
19. {d#?}muru9-e ki us2-sa-a na4#?-szu#? mu-un-na-ga2-ga2
 en: (With a noise like?) a rainstorm touching the earth, (may?) pounding stones(?) be employed(?) for him
20. inim du11-ga an {d}en-lil2#-la2-kam szu ZI he2-ga2-ga2
 en: It was the spoken word of An and Enlil, and therefore it was being carried out faithfully(?)
21. a-a {d}nanna iri{ki}-ni uri2{ki}-ma sag il2-la mu-un-gub
 en: Father Nanna stood(?) in his city, Ur, with head held high
22. szul {d}suen e2-kisz-nu-gal2-la-na im-ma-da-an-ku4-ku4
 en: The youth Suen was able to enter into his Ekišnugal temple
23. {d}nin-gal-e agrun ku3#-ga-na ni2 mu-ni-ib-te-en-te-en
 en: Ningal was relaxing in her pure chamber
24. uri2{ki}-ma e2-kisz-nu-gal2-la-na im-ma-da-an-ku4-ku4
 en: He was able to enter into Ur, into his Ekišnugal temple
25. ki-ru-gu2 4(disz)-kam-ma
 en: It is the 4th kirugu
26. iri#{ki} lil2-la2-am3 sza3-bi a-sze-ra gi er2-ra ba-an-mu2
 en: The city was an empty wind, in its midst the reed of lamentation grew in(?) lament
27. sza3-bi a-sze-ra gi er2-ra ba-an-mu2
 en: In its midst the reed of lamentation grew in(?) lament
28. ug3-bi a-sze-ra u4 mi-ni-ib-zal-zal
 en: Its people spend the day in lamentation
29. gesz-gi4-gal2-bi-im
 en: It is its gešgigal “response”
30. u4 gig-ga u4 gaba-zu zi-ga-ab e2-za gi4-bi
 en: Bitter storm, raise you chest (depart), turn back/confine yourself in your house.
bottom
1. {iti}sze-sag11-ku5 u4 1(u) 8(disz)#-kam#
 en: Month “Harvest,” 18th day.

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


  • history: UET 6, 0133

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

  • history: Michalowski Lamentation over Sumer and Ur p.33,

    [sec87755] 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 15:37:49 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2019-06-11 at 10:29:06 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

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: -
Cite this Artifact
“CDLI Literary 000380, Ex. 021 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). June 15, 2023. https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346218.
CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 021 artifact entry (No. P346218). (2023, June 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346218 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 021 artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346218 (Accessed: April 16, 2024).
@misc{2023CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2024-04-16]},
	year = {2023},
	month = {jun 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000380, ex. 021 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346218},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346218},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2023/6/15/
PY  - 2023
ID  - P346218
LB  - CDLI:P346218
M1  - 2024/4/16/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 021 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346218
ER  - 
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