CDLI Literary 000539, ex. 014 & 000540, ex. 016 & 000559, ex. 017 & 000574, ex. 015 & 000582, ex. 012 (P346259)
Literary letter and letter-prayer tablet excavated in Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar), dated to the Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC) period and now kept in British Museum, London, UKMetadata / catalogue
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Museum Collection(s)
British Museum, London, UKMuseum Number
BM —Provenience
Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)Artifact Type
TabletMaterial(s)
ClayGenre / Subgenre(s)
Literary > Literary letter and letter-prayer (ETCSL 3.01.01 Letter from Aradmu to Šulgi about Apillasha (witness); ETCSL 3.01. Letters from Aradmu to Shulgi (A 1); Letter from Lugal-ŠÚ/nisag to a King (B 7); Letters from Shulgi to Aradmu (A 2); Letter from Puzur-Shulgi to Ibbisîn (A 3); Letter from Inannaka to Nintiugga (B 17))Language(s)
SumerianMeasurements
-Witness
tablet
obverse
column 1
beginning broken
1'. [...] kur#?-kur#?-ra#
2'. [...]-du11#
en: When you speak to the king whose shining is like the moon manifested in the lands
3'. [...] ku5-da#?
4'. [...]-sa2#-ra#
5'. [...] gesz# tuku-gu10-ur2
6'. [...]-de3#-tah#
en: When you repeat (the message) to the king who justly decides legal decisions, who properly executes decisions like Ištarān, who is attentive to the šud prayer
7'. [...] nibru#!{ki#} na#?-ab#?-be2#?-a#
en: Thus says lugal-nesag, a citizen of Nibru, <you servant(?)>
8'. [...] u2 gu7 mu-ni-in-szub
en: ... has cast (me) into (the role of?) eating plants with my mouth like a sheep
9'. [...] naga# dub2#-ba i-ni-til
en: I ceased scrubbing (myself)
10'. [...]-x nu-ub-ha-za-gin7
11'. [...] ba-ab-gen-ne-en
en: Like a bull that is not held in the yoke, I was compelled to go in the plain
12'. [...] nu#-ub#-ta-la2-gin7
13'. [...] arhusz#?-a i-im-me
en: Like a cow not in the proximity of its calf, (I) shout with compassion
14'. [...]-ubur#-ra dab5#?-ba#-gin7#
15'. [...] ba-ab-dab5#?-be2
en: Like a ewe whose lamb was seized in the milking pen, ...'s hand has seized (me)
16'. [...] li#-bi2-ib-tak4-a-gin7
17'. [...]-ab#-diri#-ge
en: Like a boat that was not left behind in a reliable harbor, the wind has floated (me) downstream
18'. [...] x x
column 2
beginning broken
1'. [...] x x [...]
en: ...
2'. [...]-ga2-na 5(disz)# li#-mu#-[...]
en: His elite soldiers, which were 5 thousand in number
3'. zi#?-da#? gab2-bu-ba ib2-ta-gub#?-bu#-[...]
en: Stood apart from ... at its right and left
4'. asz3#? gu4 niga gesz2 udu niga-am3 zu2-gub-sze3 in-[...]
en: He established six fattened bulls and sixty fattened sheep as a meal
5'. szu#-luh lugal-ga2-ke4 sa2 bi2-in-du
en: He had appropriated/regularly performed(?) the šuluh rite of my king
6'. ka2#? e2-gal-la-ta i3-gub-bu-ne
en: They(?) were standing (idle) at the gate of the palace
7'. [...] nu#-mu#-un#-szi#-ku4-ku4
en: No one was letting (me) enter towards him
8'. ku4-ku4-da#-gu10-ne
en: When I was to enter
9'. {gesz#}gu-za# gar3#-ba ku3-sig17 gar-ra#!?
10'. lu2# ma#?-x-de6#? tusz-a bi2-in#-[...]
en: Someone brought(?) a chair whose knobs were inlaid with gold for me and said “sit!”
11'. a2 ag2#-[...]-ga2-kam# i3#-gub#-be2#?-[...] nu#-tusz#-a# bi2-in#-[...]
en: (I said:) It is the orders of my king that I am serving, who has said not to sit
12'. 1(disz gu4 niga asz3 udu niga {gesz}banszur# [...]-gar#
en: They placed one fattened bull and six fattened sheep (on) the table
13'. nu-kar2-kar2-de3 aga-us2 lugal-[...] {gesz}banszur ib2-bala-[...]-esz#
en: In order to not insult (me?), the soldiers of my king overturned the table
14'. {iti}ezem-{d}nin-a-zu u4 1(u) 5(disz)-kam ba-[zal]-le#?
en: The 15th day of the month "festival of Ninazu,” (the day) elapsing
15'. lugal-gu10 a2-szu mu!?-da-[...]
en: My king thereupon(?) made orders
16'. {iti}u5-gu7{muszen} u4 1(disz)-kam ba-[zal]-le#?
en: It is the 1st day of the month "Ubi,” (the day) elapsing
17'. lugal#-gu10 lu2-kasz4#?-[...]
18'. lu2# mu#-un-szi-in#-gi4#-gi4#
en: To my king, (I) am sending someone as a messenger
19'. u4# nu-mu-un-da#-sa9 szen#-e# ba-te
en: The day has not yet been half completed, and it has (already) approached battle
20'. lugal#-gu10 he2-en-zu
en: My king should know (this)
double ruling
21'. [...]-ra# u3-na-a-du11#
en: When you speak to Aradgu
22'. [...] lugal#?-zu#? na-ab#-[...]-a#
en: Thus Shulgi, your king, speaks
23'. [...]-x lu2-x-x
en: Your man who I sent to ..., ...
24'. [...]-zu#-ta x am3# [...] x szu# la-ba-ra-ab-ti
en: Aren't orders(!?) taken from your own hand ...?
25'. a-na-asz-am3 nig2-nam-bi? x ur5 i-me nu-um-me#?-x
en: Why do you not ... anything ..., such as it is(?)
column 3
beginning broken
1'. [...] x x x-ne
en: Come into agreement, establish the foundation of the land!
double ruling
2'. i3-bi2-{d}suen lugal-gu10-ra
3'. u3-a-na-du11
en: When you speak to Ibbi-Sîn, my king
4'. {disz}puzur5-{d}szul-gi! ensi2 ka-zal-lu!(KU){ki}
5'. ARAD-zu na-ab-be2-a
en: Thus Puzur-Shulgi, the governor of Kazallu, speaks
6'. {lu2}kin-gi4-a disz-bi-er3-ra-ka#?
7'. ugu#-gu10#-[...]-DU#-en
en: The messenger of Išbi-Erra ... before me
8'. igi#-ni ma-an-gar#-ma
en: He devoted his attention to me (and said)
9'. disz-bi-er3-ra lugal-gu10
10'. ugu#-zu-usz kin2-gi4-a# im-mi#?-[...]
en: Išbi-Erra, my king, has sent a message to you
11'. {d}en-lil2 lugal-gu10 nam-sipa kalam-ma#
12'. ka-ga14#-a#-ni ba-an-szum2#
en: Enlil, my king, has expounded upon(?) the shepherdship of the land
13'. gu2# {i7}idigna gu2# {i7}buranun#?-[...]
14'. gu2 i7 {+ab2}abgal-x
15'. u3 gu2 {i7#}me-{d}en-lil2-la2#
en: The banks of the Tigris, Euphrates, Abgal and Me-Enlil canals
16'. u3#? iri#?-bi-ne#?-ne#? dingir#?-bi#?-[...]
17'. u3 ugnim x [...]
en: Their cities, gods, and ... armies
18'. ma#-da# ha-ma-zi2#[{ki} ...]
en: From the land of Hamazi
19'. en#-na# a#-a#-[...]
en: Until the Persian Gulf(?)
20'. u3 ma2-gan#-[...]
en: And Magan
reverse
column 1
beginning broken
1'. x-[...]
en: ...
2'. sza3# i3#-si#-in#?{ki#?}-[...]
3'. {gesz}za3-gu-la2-ne-ne#?
4'. ga-bi2-ib-du3-du3#
en: I shall have their shrines/places of honor built inside Isin
5'. DA?-la-a-ne-ne ga-x-[...]
en: I shall ... their ...
6'. alan-gu10-ne {gesz?!}szu-nir#-gu10#-[ne]
7'. en-gu10-ne eresz#-dingir#?-gu10-[ne]
8'. ge6-par4#-ra-ne-ne-a# ga#?-[...]
en: I shall make my statues and emblems and my en and erešdigir priestesses dwell in their cloisters
9'. igi {d}en-lil2-la2-sze3 sza3 e2-kur-ra#-[...]
10'. igi {d}nanna-sze3 sza3 e2-kisz#-[...]
11'. TUR-TUR-gu10 siskur2#?-bi#? he2#?-[...]
en: Before Enlil in the Ekur temple, before Nanna in the Ekišnugal temple my children(?) shall enact the siskur rites
12'. u3 za-e lu2# x-[...]
en: And you, the one who you trust(!?)
13'. sza3 ma-da-ni#-ta# [...]
en: I shall stand him apart from his land
14'. i3-si#-in{ki} bad3#-bi# [...]
en: I shall build the walls of Isin
15'. [...]-di-il-KA-szu#-[...]
16'. [...] x ga-bi?-NE-[...]
en: And shall name them(?) Idil-pašunu
17'. [...]-in#-du11#-ga#?-gin7#-[...]
en: It was as he said
18'. [...] x [...]
en: ...
rest broken
column 2
beginning broken
1'. [...] x [...]
2'. [...]-ma#-ra u3#-ne#-du11#!?
en: When your speak to Nintinuga, the true steward of the Ekur temple, the physician of the land
3'. [...]-ga#-a-ni ug3# 1(szar2)# ti-le#
4'. [...]-x-ni ug3 si-ge
en: The lady whose performed spell sustains the many people, whose incantations/murmuring ... the people
5'. [...]-sza4 lu2 ti-ti
en: Lady of compassion who sustains a man
6'. [...] u3#-ne-de3-tah
en: ... when you repeat to her
7'. [...] {d#}en-lil2-a2#-mah
8'. [...]-a
en: Thus says Inannaka, daughter of Enlilamah
9'. [...] x min-ta#?
en: Twice/twofold(?) (in) the midst of my bedroom
10'. [...]-gu10#
11'. [...]-um#?-zu
12'. [...]-mu-da-an-tar
en: ...
13'. [...] x-ra-an#?-x
14'. [...]-du3
15'. [...]-tusz
en: My mistress, ... built a house for me (and) (I) dwell (in it) suspiciously(?)
16'. [...]-x
en: ...
rest broken
column 3
broken
obverse
column 1
beginning broken
1'. [...] kur#?-kur#?-ra#
2'. [...]-du11#
en: When you speak to the king whose shining is like the moon manifested in the lands
3'. [...] ku5-da#?
4'. [...]-sa2#-ra#
5'. [...] gesz# tuku-gu10-ur2
6'. [...]-de3#-tah#
en: When you repeat (the message) to the king who justly decides legal decisions, who properly executes decisions like Ištarān, who is attentive to the šud prayer
7'. [...] nibru#!{ki#} na#?-ab#?-be2#?-a#
en: Thus says lugal-nesag, a citizen of Nibru, <you servant(?)>
8'. [...] u2 gu7 mu-ni-in-szub
en: ... has cast (me) into (the role of?) eating plants with my mouth like a sheep
9'. [...] naga# dub2#-ba i-ni-til
en: I ceased scrubbing (myself)
10'. [...]-x nu-ub-ha-za-gin7
11'. [...] ba-ab-gen-ne-en
en: Like a bull that is not held in the yoke, I was compelled to go in the plain
12'. [...] nu#-ub#-ta-la2-gin7
13'. [...] arhusz#?-a i-im-me
en: Like a cow not in the proximity of its calf, (I) shout with compassion
14'. [...]-ubur#-ra dab5#?-ba#-gin7#
15'. [...] ba-ab-dab5#?-be2
en: Like a ewe whose lamb was seized in the milking pen, ...'s hand has seized (me)
16'. [...] li#-bi2-ib-tak4-a-gin7
17'. [...]-ab#-diri#-ge
en: Like a boat that was not left behind in a reliable harbor, the wind has floated (me) downstream
18'. [...] x x
column 2
beginning broken
1'. [...] x x [...]
en: ...
2'. [...]-ga2-na 5(disz)# li#-mu#-[...]
en: His elite soldiers, which were 5 thousand in number
3'. zi#?-da#? gab2-bu-ba ib2-ta-gub#?-bu#-[...]
en: Stood apart from ... at its right and left
4'. asz3#? gu4 niga gesz2 udu niga-am3 zu2-gub-sze3 in-[...]
en: He established six fattened bulls and sixty fattened sheep as a meal
5'. szu#-luh lugal-ga2-ke4 sa2 bi2-in-du
en: He had appropriated/regularly performed(?) the šuluh rite of my king
6'. ka2#? e2-gal-la-ta i3-gub-bu-ne
en: They(?) were standing (idle) at the gate of the palace
7'. [...] nu#-mu#-un#-szi#-ku4-ku4
en: No one was letting (me) enter towards him
8'. ku4-ku4-da#-gu10-ne
en: When I was to enter
9'. {gesz#}gu-za# gar3#-ba ku3-sig17 gar-ra#!?
10'. lu2# ma#?-x-de6#? tusz-a bi2-in#-[...]
en: Someone brought(?) a chair whose knobs were inlaid with gold for me and said “sit!”
11'. a2 ag2#-[...]-ga2-kam# i3#-gub#-be2#?-[...] nu#-tusz#-a# bi2-in#-[...]
en: (I said:) It is the orders of my king that I am serving, who has said not to sit
12'. 1(disz gu4 niga asz3 udu niga {gesz}banszur# [...]-gar#
en: They placed one fattened bull and six fattened sheep (on) the table
13'. nu-kar2-kar2-de3 aga-us2 lugal-[...] {gesz}banszur ib2-bala-[...]-esz#
en: In order to not insult (me?), the soldiers of my king overturned the table
14'. {iti}ezem-{d}nin-a-zu u4 1(u) 5(disz)-kam ba-[zal]-le#?
en: The 15th day of the month "festival of Ninazu,” (the day) elapsing
15'. lugal-gu10 a2-szu mu!?-da-[...]
en: My king thereupon(?) made orders
16'. {iti}u5-gu7{muszen} u4 1(disz)-kam ba-[zal]-le#?
en: It is the 1st day of the month "Ubi,” (the day) elapsing
17'. lugal#-gu10 lu2-kasz4#?-[...]
18'. lu2# mu#-un-szi-in#-gi4#-gi4#
en: To my king, (I) am sending someone as a messenger
19'. u4# nu-mu-un-da#-sa9 szen#-e# ba-te
en: The day has not yet been half completed, and it has (already) approached battle
20'. lugal#-gu10 he2-en-zu
en: My king should know (this)
double ruling
21'. [...]-ra# u3-na-a-du11#
en: When you speak to Aradgu
22'. [...] lugal#?-zu#? na-ab#-[...]-a#
en: Thus Shulgi, your king, speaks
23'. [...]-x lu2-x-x
en: Your man who I sent to ..., ...
24'. [...]-zu#-ta x am3# [...] x szu# la-ba-ra-ab-ti
en: Aren't orders(!?) taken from your own hand ...?
25'. a-na-asz-am3 nig2-nam-bi? x ur5 i-me nu-um-me#?-x
en: Why do you not ... anything ..., such as it is(?)
column 3
beginning broken
1'. [...] x x x-ne
en: Come into agreement, establish the foundation of the land!
double ruling
2'. i3-bi2-{d}suen lugal-gu10-ra
3'. u3-a-na-du11
en: When you speak to Ibbi-Sîn, my king
4'. {disz}puzur5-{d}szul-gi! ensi2 ka-zal-lu!(KU){ki}
5'. ARAD-zu na-ab-be2-a
en: Thus Puzur-Shulgi, the governor of Kazallu, speaks
6'. {lu2}kin-gi4-a disz-bi-er3-ra-ka#?
7'. ugu#-gu10#-[...]-DU#-en
en: The messenger of Išbi-Erra ... before me
8'. igi#-ni ma-an-gar#-ma
en: He devoted his attention to me (and said)
9'. disz-bi-er3-ra lugal-gu10
10'. ugu#-zu-usz kin2-gi4-a# im-mi#?-[...]
en: Išbi-Erra, my king, has sent a message to you
11'. {d}en-lil2 lugal-gu10 nam-sipa kalam-ma#
12'. ka-ga14#-a#-ni ba-an-szum2#
en: Enlil, my king, has expounded upon(?) the shepherdship of the land
13'. gu2# {i7}idigna gu2# {i7}buranun#?-[...]
14'. gu2 i7 {+ab2}abgal-x
15'. u3 gu2 {i7#}me-{d}en-lil2-la2#
en: The banks of the Tigris, Euphrates, Abgal and Me-Enlil canals
16'. u3#? iri#?-bi-ne#?-ne#? dingir#?-bi#?-[...]
17'. u3 ugnim x [...]
en: Their cities, gods, and ... armies
18'. ma#-da# ha-ma-zi2#[{ki} ...]
en: From the land of Hamazi
19'. en#-na# a#-a#-[...]
en: Until the Persian Gulf(?)
20'. u3 ma2-gan#-[...]
en: And Magan
reverse
column 1
beginning broken
1'. x-[...]
en: ...
2'. sza3# i3#-si#-in#?{ki#?}-[...]
3'. {gesz}za3-gu-la2-ne-ne#?
4'. ga-bi2-ib-du3-du3#
en: I shall have their shrines/places of honor built inside Isin
5'. DA?-la-a-ne-ne ga-x-[...]
en: I shall ... their ...
6'. alan-gu10-ne {gesz?!}szu-nir#-gu10#-[ne]
7'. en-gu10-ne eresz#-dingir#?-gu10-[ne]
8'. ge6-par4#-ra-ne-ne-a# ga#?-[...]
en: I shall make my statues and emblems and my en and erešdigir priestesses dwell in their cloisters
9'. igi {d}en-lil2-la2-sze3 sza3 e2-kur-ra#-[...]
10'. igi {d}nanna-sze3 sza3 e2-kisz#-[...]
11'. TUR-TUR-gu10 siskur2#?-bi#? he2#?-[...]
en: Before Enlil in the Ekur temple, before Nanna in the Ekišnugal temple my children(?) shall enact the siskur rites
12'. u3 za-e lu2# x-[...]
en: And you, the one who you trust(!?)
13'. sza3 ma-da-ni#-ta# [...]
en: I shall stand him apart from his land
14'. i3-si#-in{ki} bad3#-bi# [...]
en: I shall build the walls of Isin
15'. [...]-di-il-KA-szu#-[...]
16'. [...] x ga-bi?-NE-[...]
en: And shall name them(?) Idil-pašunu
17'. [...]-in#-du11#-ga#?-gin7#-[...]
en: It was as he said
18'. [...] x [...]
en: ...
rest broken
column 2
beginning broken
1'. [...] x [...]
2'. [...]-ma#-ra u3#-ne#-du11#!?
en: When your speak to Nintinuga, the true steward of the Ekur temple, the physician of the land
3'. [...]-ga#-a-ni ug3# 1(szar2)# ti-le#
4'. [...]-x-ni ug3 si-ge
en: The lady whose performed spell sustains the many people, whose incantations/murmuring ... the people
5'. [...]-sza4 lu2 ti-ti
en: Lady of compassion who sustains a man
6'. [...] u3#-ne-de3-tah
en: ... when you repeat to her
7'. [...] {d#}en-lil2-a2#-mah
8'. [...]-a
en: Thus says Inannaka, daughter of Enlilamah
9'. [...] x min-ta#?
en: Twice/twofold(?) (in) the midst of my bedroom
10'. [...]-gu10#
11'. [...]-um#?-zu
12'. [...]-mu-da-an-tar
en: ...
13'. [...] x-ra-an#?-x
14'. [...]-du3
15'. [...]-tusz
en: My mistress, ... built a house for me (and) (I) dwell (in it) suspiciously(?)
16'. [...]-x
en: ...
rest broken
column 3
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:
- Condition Description:
- Join Information:
- Seal no.:
- Seal information:
- Artifact comments:
- Genre(s): Literary > Literary letter and letter-prayer (ETCSL 3.01.01 Letter from Aradmu to Šulgi about Apillasha (witness); ETCSL 3.01. Letters from Aradmu to Shulgi (A 1); Letter from Lugal-ŠÚ/nisag to a King (B 7); Letters from Shulgi to Aradmu (A 2); Letter from Puzur-Shulgi to Ibbisîn (A 3); Letter from Inannaka to Nintiugga (B 17))
- Language(s): Sumerian
-
history: UET 6, 0174 + 0557
[Gadd1963] Gadd, Cyril J., and Aaron Shaffer. 1963, 1966.
-
history: CKU, 01,02, 23
[Michalowski2011CKU] Michalowski, Piotr. 2011. The Correspondence of the Kings of Ur : An Epistolary History of an Ancient Mesopotamian Kingdom. Vol. 15. Mesopotamian Civilizations. Winona Lake, Ind. : Eisenbrauns.
- Composite No.:
- Museum No.: BM —
- Accession No.:
- Provenience: Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)
- Elevation:
- Stratigraphic Level:
- Excavation No: U 16853
- Findspot Square:
- Findspot Comments:
- Period: Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
- Dates Referenced:
- Alternative Years:
- Date Comments:
- Accounting Period: 0
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 000539 (Letter from Aradmu to Shulgi about Apillasha) composite (P473727) | View the score |
General Notes:
-
CDLI Notes:
-