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, UK

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Chemical Data

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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 > 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

Measurements

-

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

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: Michalowski CKU 01,02, 23,

    [sec87799] N.d.

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

  • Provenience: Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)
  • Elevation:
  • Stratigraphic Level:
  • Excavation No: U 16853
  • 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
2020-03-27 at 11:34:31 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2019-06-11 at 15:57:17 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2019-06-11 at 15:56:15 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2019-06-01 at 14:34:08 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

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: -
Cite this Artifact
“CDLI Literary 000539, Ex. 014 & 000540, Ex. 016 & 000559, Ex. 017 & 000574, Ex. 015 & 000582, Ex. 012 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). June 28, 2023. https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346259.
CDLI Literary 000539, ex. 014 & 000540, ex. 016 & 000559, ex. 017 & 000574, ex. 015 & 000582, ex. 012 artifact entry (No. P346259). (2023, June 28). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346259 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary 000539, ex. 014 & 000540, ex. 016 & 000559, ex. 017 & 000574, ex. 015 & 000582, ex. 012 artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346259 (Accessed: March 28, 2024).
@misc{2023CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2024-03-28]},
	year = {2023},
	month = {jun 28},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000539, ex. 014 & 000540, ex. 016 & 000559, ex. 017 & 000574, ex. 015 & 000582, ex. 012 artifact entry},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346259},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2023/6/28/
PY  - 2023
ID  - P346259
LB  - CDLI:P346259
M1  - 2024/3/28/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000539, ex. 014 & 000540, ex. 016 & 000559, ex. 017 & 00
0574, ex. 015 & 000582, ex. 012 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346259
ER  - 
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