CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 022 (P346219)

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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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

-

Witness

tablet
obverse
  beginning broken
1'. {gesz#}gu#-za# ki di ku5-ru-bi#? [...]-um#?-[...]
 en: The throne (where) cases had been decided no longer stood(?), cases were not undertaken correctly
2'. {d}alamusz gidri ba-an-da-szub szu-ni# [...]
 en: (Nanna/Suen's vizier) Alamuš dropped the scepter (with) his hand shaking
3'. a2-nu2-da ku3 {d}nanna-ka giri3-na nu#?-x-ge-NE#!?
 en: In the holy bed chamber of Nanna ... he(?) does not ... at/on his feet(?)
4'. dub-szen ku3 lu2 igi nu-bar-re-dam erim2-e igi i-ni-in-bar
 en: The holy treasure box, which no one(!) is to see, the enemy saw (inside of it)
5'. gesz-nu2 gi4-rin-na nu-um-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)
6'. {uruda}alan |AN.ZAG|-gi4 si-a-ba gu2-guru5 ba-an-ne-esz
 en: They were cutting down the statue that occupied(?) the uzga shrine
7'. engiz ensi kiszib3-gal2-bi esz-da szu# li-bi2-in-du7-usz#
 en: The engiz temple cook, dream interpreter, and seal bearer did not use the ešda vessel(?) properly
8'. gu2 ki gal2-la-ba ba-e-sug2-esz kur-re ba-ab-DU-DU-na-esz
 en: They stood in the manner of one whose neck is pushed to the ground(?) the mountain(dwellers?) carried(?) them away
9'. uz-ga ku3 szu-luh dadag-ga-ke4 sza3-gada-la2-bi-ne
 en: In the holy uzga shrine, the šagadala priests of the pure washing rites
10'. gesz-hur me ku3-ga ba-da-ha-lam-e iri kur2-sze3 ba-ab-re7-esz
 en: They(?) were forsaking the pure plans and the me, they(?) went to another city
11'. {d}suen-e sza3 hul-la-ni a-a-ni-ir ba-szi-in-de6
 en: Suen brought his ruined heart there for his father
12'. igi a-a ugu-na {d}en-lil2-la2-sze3 dub3 ki ba-ni-in-us2
 en: He knelt there before his birth father Enlil
13'. a-a ugu-gu10 en3-tukum-sze3 nig2-ka9 igi erim2-e# mu-e-duh x [...]
 en: My birth father, how long will the eye of the enemy have looked at the accounts(?), how long ...
14'. nam-en nam-lugal szum2-ma#-za-am3 na-mu-e-szi-NE?
 en: When you give lordship and kingship, do not ... towards me/on my behalf
15'. a-a {d}en-lil2 lu2 a2 ag2-e du11-ga zi
 en: Father Enlil, the one of the true order and command
  blank space
16'. a-a {d}en-lil2 nam mu-e-tar-ra galga# ba-ra-an-du8-du8-x
 en: Father Enlil, it is the fate that you decreed and therefore no one can release (its) logic(?)
  blank space
17'. siki-pa nam-en-na suh kesz2-da#?-ga2#
 en: On(?) my hair, bound up with the suh headress/pectoral(?)
  blank space
18'. {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
19'. dumu-gu10 iri nam-he2 giri17-zal sza-ra-da-du bala-zu ba-szi-ib-kin2!?
 en: My son, a city of abundance was built(?) for you, your turn of office sought (you?) out(?)
reverse
1. iri gul bad3 gal bad3-si-ba# si-ge5 ux(|IGI.SZE3xU|)? ur5-re bala an-x-x
 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
2. KU mi-ri-ib-du11-ga bala u4 ku10-ku10-ga-bi-ir gal2-lu sza-ra-zu#?
 en: One who ..., for the dark days of you term of office, may “open (the temple(?))” be known(?)
3'. tusz-u3-ri? ki-tusz e2-temen-ni2-gur3-ru-za zi-de3-esz du3#?-x [...]
 en: Previous dweller, in your dwelling, the Etemenniguru temple, which was built faithfully
4'. uri2{ki} giri17-zal-la? he2-en-du3 ug3 he2-em-szi-x-[...]
 en: May ... (re)build it in joy, may the people bow down towards it
5'. ur2-bi-a ninda he2-en-gal2 {d}asznan he2-em-da#-hul2#?
 en: May ... have bread (?) at its base, may Ašnan rejoice with him
6'. pa-bi-a giri17-zal he2-en-gal2 {d}utu#? he2-em-da-hul2#
 en: May ... have joy in its branches, may Utu rejoice
7'. {gesz}banszur-ba he2-gal2 {d}asznan-ka gu2-da he2-em-mi#?-la2#
 en: On its table may the abundance of Ašnan embrace ...
8'. uri2{ki} iri# an-ne2 nam tar-re ki-bi ha-ra-ab-gi4-gi4
 en: May Ur, the city decreed by An, be returned to its place for you
9'. {d}en-lil2-le gu3 zi de2-am3 gu2 an-sze3 he2-x-zi
 en: May Enlil, who is the true speaker, raise his neck towards heaven
10'. {d}nanna-ar ma-da sig nim-ma gu2 hu-mu-na-x-x
 en: For Nanna may the high and low (land) assemble(?)
11'. {d}suen kaskal kur-ra-ke4 si he2-na-x-x
 en: For Suen may he set the roads of the land of land in order
12'. muru9-gin7 ki us2-sa-a-gin7 x x x [...]
 en: Touching the ground like a rainstorm(?) ...
13'. inim du11-ga an {d}en-lil2-la2-kam#? szu zi# [...]
 en: It was the spoken word of An and Enlil, and therefore it was being carried out faithfully(?)
14'. {d}nanna iri-ni! uri2{ki}-ma sag il2# mu-[...]
 en: Nanna stood(?) in his city, Ur, with head held high
15'. {d}suen-e e2-kisz-nu-gal2-la-sze3 im-ma-da-an-ku4#-[ku4]
 en: Suen was able to enter the Ekišnugal temple
16'. {d}nin-gal-e agrun-na ku3-ga-na ni2 mu-ni-ib2-te-en#-[...]
 en: Ningal was relaxing in her pure chamber
17'. szul {d}suen e2-kisz-nu-gal2 im-ma-da#-ku4#-ku4
 en: The youth Suen was able to enter into his Ekišnugal temple
18'. u4 gig-ga u4 gaba-zu zi!-ga-ab#? u4#? e2-za gi4#-bi#
 en: Bitter storm, storm, raise you chest (depart), storm, turn back/confine yourself in your house
19'. u4 iri gul-gul u4 gaba-zu! zi#-[ga-ab] u4# e2-za gi4-bi
 en: Storm, destroyer of cities, storm, raise you chest (depart), storm, turn back/confine yourself in your house
20'. u4 e2 gul-gul u4 gaba-zu zi#-[ga-ab] u4# e2#?-za gi4#-bi
 en: Storm, destroyer of temples, storm, raise you chest (depart), storm, turn back/confine yourself in your house
21'. u4 ki-en-gi-ra ba-zal-la-ri kur#-kur#-ra# he2-eb-zal#
 en: May the storm that once spent time in Sumer spend time in the (other) lands instead
22'. u4 ma-da <<ib?>> ba-zal-la-a-ri kur-kur-ra# he2#-eb#-zal#
 en: May the storm that once spent time in the land spend time in the (other) lands instead
23'. kur ti#-id#?-nu-um-e he2-eb-zal kur-re he2#-eb-zal
 en: May it spend time in the land of Tidnum instead, may it spend time in (that) land
24'. [...]-um#-ma-ka#? he2-eb-zal# [kur]-re# he2-eb#!-zal
 en: May it spend time in the land of Gutium instead, may it spend time in (that) land
25'. [...]-na#-ka!? he2-eb-zal# [...] he2#-eb#-zal#
 en: May it spend time in the land of Anšan instead, may it spend time in (that) land
26'. [...] x x [...]
  beginning broken
  rest broken
left
  beginning broken
column 1'
1. uri2{ki}-ma bala nam-he2 u4! he2-ni-ib-su3-u4-de3
 en: So that in Ur the term of office and abundance last long
2. ug3#-bi u2-sal-la he2-em-nu2 e-ne su13-u4-bi im-ak?
 en: (So that) the people lay down in the meadows and copulate
3. [...] nam-lu2-lux(URU) ba-tu11 ba-de5-de5
 en: Alas, humanity is stricken(?) and gathered up(?)
4. egir3#?-re mu-lu er2 a-sze-re
 en: The princess(?) the one (of) weeping and lament (says)
column 2'
1. {d}nanna a iri-zu a e2-zu a nam-lu2-lux(URU)-zu
 en: “Nanna, alas, your city, alas, your temple, alas, your humanity”
2. ki-ru-gu 5(disz)-kam-ma#?-am3#?
 en: It is the 5th kirugu

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, 0134

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

  • history: LSU, p.33

    [Michalowski1989LamentationSumer] Michalowski, Piotr. 1989. The Lamentation over the Destruction of Sumer and Ur. Vol. 1. Mesopotamian Civilizations. Winona Lake, Ind : Eisenbrauns.

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

  • Provenience: Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)
  • Elevation:
  • Stratigraphic Level:
  • Excavation No: U 16858
  • Findspot Square:
  • Findspot Comments:

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2024-07-19 at 13:59:15 Firth, Richard Artifact, Other Entity Firth, Richard Firth, Richard approved View
2024-07-12 at 18:14:13 Firth, Richard Artifact, Other Entity Firth, Richard Firth, Richard approved View
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
2019-06-11 at 10:30:12 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. 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: -
Cite this Artifact
“CDLI Literary 000380, Ex. 022 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2024. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 19, 2024. https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346219.
CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 022 artifact entry (No. P346219). (2024, July 19). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346219 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 022 artifact entry (2024) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346219 (Accessed: March 13, 2025).
@misc{2024CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2025-03-13]},
	year = {2024},
	month = {jul 19},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000380, ex. 022 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346219},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346219},
}


TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2024/7/19/
PY  - 2024
ID  - P346219
LB  - CDLI:P346219
M1  - 2025/3/13/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 022 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346219
ER  -
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