Floods in the city (Šumma ālu)

machine draft machine English only

Neo-Assyrian omens from river floods and their colours.

View at electronic Babylonian Library (eBL), LMU Munich · CDLI P366115 · Try the in-browser translator

Designation	K.47
Museum no.	K.47
Collection	Kuyunjik
Language	Akkadian
Period	Neo-Assyrian
Genre	CANONICAL > Divination > Terrestrial > Šumma ālu
Provenience	Nineveh
Findspot	36.3582, 43.1621
CDLI no.	P366115
Source	electronic Babylonian Library (eBL), LMU Munich — MIT (eBL Zenodo dataset); platform terms unverified
Lines	223 (223 with machine English)

Machine draft. English generated by model atf-en-best-v2 (montycrypto/atf-to-english) (version d871547f92875415dbbc7f4a37fd65e35f8ac97d) on 2026-10-05, line by line from the ATF. Not a scholarly translation.

The transliteration is not reproduced here because the source (electronic Babylonian Library (eBL), LMU Munich) is not marked as republishable; read it at the source link above.

Line	English (machine draft)
col 1
1	If in Nisannu (Month I) a flood goes and the river like a flood....
2	If the river is like a sick person's...: there will be illness in the river.
3	If a river is like a death-snake: rejoicing.
4	If a river is filled with famine: after the year Adad will devastate.
5	If the river is like the water of a mountain: in the Apsu Ea an eclipse will take place.
6	If the river is like a sahhu-disease: there will be famine in the land.
7	If the river is yellow-green: that man will be yellow-green in the land.
8	If a river like a scribal art is present in the land of Ahzu
9	If a river is filled with water: there will be black water on them.
10	10?... of the river like a flood, and... on them
11	There will be a snake in the land. A man will be killed.
12	If the river is like a ziggurat of a river in the middle of the river: the... of a river will be scattered.
13	(If) ditto: in the middle of the river he is ill, the land will experience famine.
14	If the river is like a flood, ditto, like a flood, in the middle of the river
15	If ditto he strews, he strews a mountain, he strews its base.
16	If the river is like a white cloud and a fog: the harvest of the land will prosper.
17	The land will experience happiness.
18	If the river is like a cloudy wind: the harvest of the land will be plundered.
19	If a river is like a cloudburst: there will be frost in the land.
20	If the river is like a river: a king will conquer the land.
21	If the river rains like a flood: he will die.
22	The king of the land will become happy over his people; : he will not become happy.
23	If in Ayyaru (II) a flood takes place and the watercourse of the field is not good for clearing them.
24	Adad eats in the land and the land will be seized.
25	If the river irrigates them like a..., ditto, like birds.
26	in the land...
27	The 10th, if the river reaches them, there will be fish in the land.
28	If the river is like a well: rain.
29	If a river like a son of a ghost...
30	If the river is surrounded by a river: there will be famine; the king of the land will seize him with him.
31	He has not heard the truth.
32	If a river is surrounded by a snake and it is surrounded by a halo: a wild cow will seize.
33	If in Simanu (Month III) a flood takes place and the field is covered in a river:
34	Afterwards Adad will demolish the houses.
35	If there is a mole on the... of your chest, the... of the river will be dispersed.
36	barley rations, rations,
37	The river is surrounded by a river, it is a flood; there will be famine in the land; there will be famine in the land.
38	If a sow goes and his son is seized by hurhumma: he will die.
39	There will be a sassur-vessel, oxen-driver and famine in the land.
40	If in Duuzu (Month IV)... he continually seeks out(?)...: there will be famine in the land.
41	10... of the river, his son... and... of the river
42	sesame in the land?
43	If a flood goes and its water like a river.......
44	They strew bitter water upon them.... is not favourable.
45	If a flood takes place and... water:....
46	......
47	If a flood goes and its son... like a scribe
48	If ditto he is ill, he is ill, ditto he is ill...
49	If in Abu (Month V) a flood goes and its water....
50	... he goes in front of...
51	If his son(?) is white and he/she is white(?)
52	On account of the water...
53	If his son is yellow-green and he is a hurhum creature
54	dates...
55	If his son is white ditto:....
56	... tribute
57	If in Elul (VI) a flood goes and...
58	......
59	......
60	......
61	If he... his son
62	......
63	......
64	......
65	If in Til-arru (II) he goes and he is satisfied with them:
66	... ditto......
67	If his son... ditto a river goes and is red(?)
68	... there will be abundance in the land.
col 2
1	If the river reaches a favorable field and it rises on top of them, white water will be poured.
2	(If) there is a mole on the thigh: there will be famine.
3	If in Arasamna (VIII) the field is like a sahhu-disease and it is over them: hurhummatu-disease of the water.
4	They are frightened and they have become frightened. When the barley is piled up, Adad will devastate
5	If the river level is like a swollen wind, and it is surrounded by a fog. Night.
6	You... their..., the... of the river, the... of stone...
7	You... the heavens and the god Adad on his neck.
8	If in Kislimu (Month IX)... water... in its midst
9	... he will perform, and the land......
10	If he goes to the watercourse and... the river inside it like a river
11	: In a qaqaru-snake the moon and the sun are seen and the ewe...
12	... people, their sons, for silver.
13	If a water source goes out and a river inside it...
14	... young and old...
15	There was no rejoicing in the land...
16	If in ebtu (Month X), her waters like silver before them...
17	... in the middle of the river he smote...
18	If a field like a gall bladder is located on the river and...... the river....
19	he constantly seeks out the life of the harvest of the land, and the land...
20	: a great land will go to a small land for life....
21	If a field like a barley on a river bank goes and from the middle of the river the field....
22	The courtyard of the river is surrounded by a river bank, ditto: the field...
23	........... to the great land for the preservation of...
24	If a son... like a gall bladder...... their news.......
25	the star of the field like a... wind blew; the river level receded.
26	Ditto: there will be famine in the end of the night, and there will be famine in the land.
27	If in abau (Month XI)... water... in them....
28	(and) the wrath of the warriors like Ea
29	Ea... with the gods of heaven
30	If he is ill, he is ill in their heart...
31	he roars like a wild bull...
32	Ea... with the gods of the underworld.
33	... in front of...
col 3
1	If in Abu (Month V), the flood will come and floods will come. Fish of Ea(?) will prosper.
2	If in Ululu (VI) ditto the south wind blows and.
3	If in Taritu (VII) ditto: there will be abundance in the land.
4	If in Arasamna (VIII) ditto: rain, Adad will devastate the walls.
5	If in Kislimu (Month IX) ditto Adad and Nergal eat food in the land
6	If in ebtu (Month X), ditto the harvest of the land will not prosper.
7	If in abau (Month XI) ditto Adad will devastate in the land.
8	If in Addaru (XII) ditto: the land will become happy.
9	If in Nisannu (Month I), the flood will come and his son will die like a death. The sixth year ditto.
10	Adad will devastate the land...
11	If in Kislimu (Month IX), ditto the people... a date palm
12	If in Simanu (Month I), ditto (he fills) the bt qti(?), there will be famine(?) and famine(?)
13	If in Duuzu (Month IV) ditto: there will be deaths in the land. : a lightning flashes in the land.
14	If in Tebetu (Month IV) ditto: the harvest will prosper.
15	If in Ululu (Month VI) ditto: rain and floods will come.
16	If in Taritu (Month VII) ditto: the harvest will prosper; the land will be seized.
17	If in Arasamna (VIII) ditto: there will be rains in the land.
18	If in Kislimu (Month IX) ditto Adad (means) in the land: he will...
19	If in Kislimu (Month IX) ditto: the land which is surrounded by a flood will be scattered.
20	(If) a land is surrounded by a halo: there will be an attack of the land; alternatively, the land will be plundered.
21	(If) in abau (Month XI) ditto: the gods will destroy the land.
22	If in Addaru (XII) ditto: the land(?) will be scattered in abundance.
23	If there is a mole on the right side of the thigh, there will be famine.
24	If white... he destroys the land.
25	If he sees a black...:
26	If there is a mole in the midst of the mountain(?), there will be....
27	If (it is) yellow-green: eclipse of Ea, destruction of the land.
28	If a fog rolls over the harvest of the land: ditto....
29	If he is ill : he is ill : he is ill.
30	If he is ill, he will kill the land.
31	If the heart of the land is raging: the harvest of the land will prosper.
32	(If) he is ill for all enemy lands: attack of the land; attack of the land.
33	If there is a mole on the left side of the land
34	If there is a mole on the land
35	If he is very ill: attack of the land.
36	If he is surrounded by a flood: attack of the land.
37	[If] he is surrounded by a flood, he will kill [the enemy].
38	If he is ill, he will kill the land.
39	If he is ill: the land will become happy.
40	If her takkuu-disease is faint : she will die.
41	10...: the enemy will fall.
42	If Kulili is a sea : like a sea : there will be a flood.
43	If Kulili is seen: the land will become happy.
44	If Kulili is white: attack of the land.
45	If Kulili is dark: the land will become happy.
46	If a kiln is red: the enemy will fall.
47	If he is surrounded by a yellow-green kiln: attack of the land.
48	If Kulili roars in a womb: the heart of the land will become happy.
49	If a kulllu-plant (means): he will become ill for a long time. Ditto: he will not become happy.
50	If a kililu-plant screams, the enemy will devastate.
51	If Kulili recites (this incantation) for clearing.
52	If a cloudburst lies in front of the water like that of a fog: the land will come to the land.
53	If in front of a son, it is like oil: ditto.
54	a snake and a fire will afflict the land.
55	If I... like a pig, he is a pig, he is a pig and a pig:
56	(If) he sees a sick person like oil: ditto.
57	The following: he should eat famine.
58	(If) he irrigates the river: that river will be destroyed.
59	Itatia (is) Gumu, destruction of the property of Kish.
60	If a river is too small and it does not enter a field for rejoicing
61	(If) there is a mole in the land and he does not clear it: a mole will not exist.
62	If a river hears her and her skin is covered: that river will devastate and
63	ama’s first appearance
64	(If) the river... a river like a death, (and) the dead man's army will fall into Elam with a weapon.
65	(If) he is ill: the land will seize (or): the enemy and the army will fall in battle.
66	(If) a river gives birth to its light: this is the case.
67	The harvest will increase, and business will be stable.
68	The 10th... of the river, which like a amnu-disease he brought out.
col 4
1	If a man's blood is covered like a tikmnu-plant: he will recover.
2	the flood of Ea in the wall was set
3	If a river brings water and oil: the gods will rage.
4	The land will dwell in peaceful abodes.
5	(If) a river gives birth to a dead man: the land will become hostile to the land.
6	(If) he is ill: his brother will die.
7	If a river in the river, a son who is like a fire will bring out rains: there will be deaths in the land.
8	If a river in the flood, a son who is like a pig (or a pig) ditto: death of Ea.
9	(If) the river reaches the flood and falls into its middle: he will die.
10	rains and floods will not occur. : there will be famine.
11	If in the river a flood is scattered: ditto.
12	(If) her head rises and the river level is favourable : he will go.
13	If water in the river is surrounded by a harpu-vessel: he will recover.
14	If there is a mole in the river: snakes will thrive; alternatively, in the river.
15	There will be...s and...s.
16	(If) he sees a snake in the river: ditto he will die.
17	(If) they are swollen: alternatively, they are swollen: they will be swollen.
18	(If) he sees a bird in the river: he will be covered in dust and will fall.
19	... of Adad...
20	If he sees a fish in the river: the land will dwell in a peaceful place.
21	If he sees a man, he will do the work. The flood will stand....
22	If he sees a man, he will recover, and he will recover. Ditto: he will recover.
23	If he is ill, and he is covered in red water:....
24	... and son of a prostuqtu-priest,...,
25	(If) in the river... her head raises...
26	If a flood flashes in the river and... in its midst
27	If he sees a swollen ewe in the ualû-vessel:....
28	If a takkutu-prayer.......
29	he swore,...
30	If water comes out in their midst... is present
31	10............ Ea
32	If a son is like a amnu-plant: there will be a womb of.
33	If he is stricken in front of a leprous and he is stricken: the harvest of the land will prosper.
34	If there is a mole on the right side,....
35	If her speech is heard: the harvest of the land....
36	If her speech is sung, the harvest will be lifted and....
37	If the flood becomes visible and sees oil in the land: end of the reign of the land.
38	If a flood afflicts the life of the land: the king will die.
39	If a flood takes place in the midst of the city: the wives of a man will kill the men and the wives.
40	he performs (it) with a weapon.
41	If the flood becomes visible in the middle of the city: weapons will occur and the throne will become confused.
42	If there is a mole in the midst of the city: there will be abundance.
43	If there is a reed in the middle of the city: that city will experience a severe hunger.
44	If there is a mole on the side of the city, that city will be destroyed.
45	If there is a mole in the middle of the city: that city will diminish.
46	If there is a plant in the middle of the city, there will be a stag in the land.
47	If in the middle of the city there is a uppatu-plant(?), ditto
48	If there is a mole on the side of the city(?): there will be... plant(s)
49	If on the threshing floor of the city a flood emerges, a curse will be established(?)
50	Its ritual: 2 U 47.
51	(If) he does not drink water from the threshing floor of the river: he will die.
52	he will return it to its place and return it to the future.
53	The 61st tablet.
54	Palace of Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria.