CDLI Literary 000354, ex. 001 (P269077)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | CDLI Literary 000354, ex. 001 |
|---|---|
| ID | P269077 |
| Museum no. | CBS 14061 |
| Collection | Penn Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Period | Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
| Find spot | Nippur (mod. Nuffar) |
| Coordinates | 32.1271, 45.2300 |
English translation
Via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI (reuse with citation)
| Line | English |
|---|---|
| obverse col 1 1 | When the city of Inab already existed, but the city of Kiritab did not yet exist; |
| obverse col 1 2 | When the holy crown already existed, but the holy tiara did not yet exist; |
| obverse col 1 3 | When the holy herb already existed, but the holy cedar did not yet exist; |
| obverse col 1 4 | When holy salt already existed, but holy alkali did not yet exist; |
| obverse col 1 5 | When intercourse and kissing already existed, |
| obverse col 1 6 | When giving birth in the fields already existed - |
| obverse col 1 7 | I was the grandfather of the holy cedar, I was the ancestor of the mesh tree; |
| obverse col 1 8 | I was the mother and father of the white cedar, I was the relative of the hashur cedar. |
| obverse col 1 9 | At that time there was a princely land among the cities; |
| obverse col 1 10 | Inab was this princely land among the cities. |
| obverse col 1 11 | The ruler of Inab was Tigi-shem-ala. |
| obverse col 1 12 | Now, he had a wife whose name was Shage-gur (Desired-by-the-heart); |
| obverse col 1 13 | and a child, who ..., |
| obverse col 1 14 | and her name was ... |
| obverse col 1 15 | The people living around the city hung up nets; |
| obverse col 1 16 | the people living around Inab hung up nets, |
| obverse col 1 17 | hung up nets, chased gazelles; |
| obverse col 1 18 | killed the gazelles as one kills humans. |
| obverse col 1 19 | One day, as the evening came, when they had reached |
| obverse col 1 20 | when they have reached the place of rations, |
| obverse col 1 21 | they established the rations before the god ... |
| obverse col 1 22 | The ration of a married man was established as double; |
| obverse col 1 23 | the ration of a man with a child was established as triple; |
| obverse col 1 24 | the ration of a single man was established as single; |
| obverse col 1 25 | but the ration of Martu, though being single, was also established as double. |
| obverse col 1 26 | Martu (went home) to his own mother, |
| obverse col 1 27 | He entered the house before her and spoke to her: |
| obverse col 1 28 | "In my city I am among my friends and they all have already married wives; |
| obverse col 1 29 | I am there among my mates, and they all have already married wives. |
| obverse col 1 30 | Unlike my friends in my city I am single, |
| obverse col 1 31 | I am single and I have no children. |
| obverse col 1 32 | Yet the imposed share exceeds that of my friends; |
| obverse col 1 33 | over and above that of my mates, I received half of theirs." |
| obverse col 1 34 | One day, as the evening came, and they had reached again |
| obverse col 1 35 | the place of rations, when they had reached it, |
| obverse col 1 36 | they established the rations before the god ... |
| obverse col 1 37 | The ration of a married man was established as double; |
| obverse col 2 1 | the ration of a man with a child was established as triple; |
| obverse col 2 2 | the ration of a single man was established as single; |
| obverse col 2 3 | but the ration of Martu, though he was single, was also established as double. |
| obverse col 2 4 | Martu, to his own mother, |
| obverse col 2 5 | he entered the house before her and spoke to her |
| obverse col 2 6 | "My mother, find me a wife to marry and I will bring you my ration." |
| obverse col 2 7 | His own mother replied to Martu: |
| obverse col 2 8 | "Su-ḫenuna, my son, I will give you advice; may my advice be heeded. |
| obverse col 2 9 | I shall say a word to you; you should pay attention to it. |
| obverse col 2 10 | [Marry] a wife of your choice, |
| obverse col 2 11 | marry a wife of your heart's desire, |
| obverse col 2 12 | give me thus a companion, ... me a slave-girl. |
| obverse col 2 13 | Having built the houses of (?) your people living around the city, and ... gardens, |
| obverse col 2 14 | you will dig the wells of (?) your mates. |
| obverse col 2 15 | Martu, ... mates ..." |
| obverse col 2 16 | At that time a festival was announced in the city; |
| obverse col 2 17 | a festival was announced in the city of Inab. (Martu said:) |
| obverse col 2 18 | "Come, friends, let us go, let us go there, |
| obverse col 2 19 | let us visit the ale-houses of Inab, let us go there." |
| obverse col 2 20 | The god Numušda [participated] in the festival; |
| obverse col 2 21 | his beloved daughter Adgar-kidug participated in the festival, |
| obverse col 2 22 | his wife Namrat, the lovely woman participated in the festival. |
| obverse col 2 23 | In the city, bronze šem drums were rumbling, |
| obverse col 2 24 | and the seven ala drums resounded as strong men, |
| obverse col 2 25 | girdled champions, |
| obverse col 2 26 | entered the wrestling house |
| obverse col 2 27 | to compete with each other in the temple of Inab. |
| obverse col 2 28 | There were many coming to Inab, the city where the festival was taking place, to marvel at this. |
| obverse col 2 29 | There were many coming to Inab, the city where the festival was taking place, to marvel at this. |
| obverse col 2 30 | For Numušda, because he was holy (?), |
| obverse col 2 31 | to compete in wrestling at the gate of Inab, |
| obverse col 2 32 | Martu too strode around the great courtyard. |
| reverse col 1 1 | They kept looking for strong [fighters] for him, |
| reverse col 1 2 | they kept offering him strong fighters. |
| reverse col 1 3 | Martu strode around in the great courtyard. |
| reverse col 1 4 | He hit them ... with a destructive ... |
| reverse col 1 5 | In the great courtyard, in the battle he caused them to be bandaged; |
| reverse col 1 6 | in the great courtyard of Inab he lifted the bodies of the dead. |
| reverse col 1 7 | Numushda, rejoicing over Martu, |
| reverse col 1 8 | offered him silver, but he would not accept it. |
| reverse col 1 9 | He offered jewels, but he would not accept them. |
| reverse col 1 10 | Having done so a second time, |
| reverse col 1 11 | having done so a third time, (Martu says): |
| reverse col 1 12 | "Where does your silver lead? Where do your jewels lead? |
| reverse col 1 13 | I, Martu, would rather marry your daughter, |
| reverse col 1 14 | I would rather marry your daughter [Adgar-kidug]." |
| reverse col 1 1' | (Numušda says:) "You …… the wife with calves as a marriage gift. |
| reverse col 1 2' | Milk cows shall feed the calves. |
| reverse col 1 3' | [In the byre the breeding bull shall lie down]. |
| reverse col 1 4' | ... cows shall live in the ... |
| reverse col 1 5' | [and the calves] shall [stay] at their right side |
| reverse col 1 6' | You must give your word thus and only thus, |
| reverse col 1 7' | and then I will give you my daughter Adgar-kidug." |
| reverse col 1 8' | "You ... the wife with lambs as a marriage gift. |
| reverse col 1 9' | Milk ewes shall feed the lambs. |
| reverse col 1 10' | In the sheepfold ... shall lie down |
| reverse col 1 11' | ... ewes shall live in the ... |
| reverse col 1 12' | and the lambs shall stay at their left side. |
| reverse col 1 13' | You must give your word thus and only thus, |
| reverse col 1 14' | and then I will give you my daughter Adgar-kidug." |
| reverse col 1 15' | "You ... the wife with kids as a marriage gift. |
| reverse col 1 16' | Milk goats shall feed the kids. |
| reverse col 1 17' | In the stall the breeding goat shall lie down. |
| reverse col 1 18' | The goats and kids shall live in the ... |
| reverse col 1 19' | and the kids shall stay ... |
| reverse col 1 20' | You must give your word thus and only thus, |
| reverse col 2 1 | and then I will give you my daughter Adgar-kidug." |
| reverse col 2 2 | He ... great ... |
| reverse col 2 3 | He shouted like ... |
| reverse col 2 4 | At the quay of Inab he ... |
| reverse col 2 5 | The elders of Inab |
| reverse col 2 6 | he gratified with golden torcs. |
| reverse col 2 7 | The old women of Inab |
| reverse col 2 8 | he gratified with golden shawl ... |
| reverse col 2 9 | [The men and women] of Inab |
| reverse col 2 10 | he gratified with golden ... |
| reverse col 2 11 | [The slaves] of Inab |
| reverse col 2 12 | he gratified with ... |
| reverse col 2 13 | and with coloured ... cloths. |
| reverse col 2 14 | The slave-girls of Inab |
| reverse col 2 15 | he gratified with silver jugs. |
| reverse col 2 16 | The days have multiplied, no decision has yet been made. |
| reverse col 2 17 | (Adgar-kidug's girlfriend speaks to her:) "Now listen, their hands are destructive and their features are those of monkeys; |
| reverse col 2 18 | he is one who eats what Nanna forbids and does not show reverence. |
| reverse col 2 19 | They never stop roaming about ..., |
| reverse col 2 20 | they are an abomination to the gods' dwellings. |
| reverse col 2 21 | Their ideas are confused; they cause only disturbance. |
| reverse col 2 22 | He is clothed in sack-leather ...; |
| reverse col 2 23 | He lives in a tent, exposed to wind and rain, and cannot properly recite prayers. |
| reverse col 2 24 | He lives in the mountains and [ignores] the places [of gods]; |
| reverse col 2 25 | He digs up truffles in the foothills, does not know how to bend the knee; |
| reverse col 2 26 | He eats raw flesh. |
| reverse col 2 27 | He has no house during his life, |
| reverse col 2 28 | and when he dies he will not be carried to a burial-place. |
| reverse col 2 29 | "My girlfriend, why would you marry Martu?" |
| reverse col 2 30 | Adgar-kidug replies to her girlfriend: |
| reverse col 2 31 | "I will marry Martu!" |
| reverse col 2 32 | Inab -- ulum, alam! |
Transliteration (ATF)
From Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched)
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| obverse col 1 | ||
| 1 | i3-na-ab{ki} i3-me-a kiri8-tab nu-me-a# | |
| 2 | men kug i3-me-a aga kug nu-me-[a] | |
| 3 | szim kug i3-me-a# {gisz}erin kug nu-me-[a] | |
| 4 | mun kug i3-me-a# naga# kug nu-me#-[a] | |
| 5 | gisz3 dug4-dug4#-ga# [ne su-ub-ba] i3-me-a# | |
| 6 | szag4-tum2#-szag4-tum2-ma tud#-da# i3-me-a | |
| 7 | <ad>-da-ab-ba {gisz}erin kug-ga-me-en bil2#-ga# {gisz#}mesz3-me-en | |
| 8 | ama ad {gisz}erin babbar-ra su ha-szu-ur2-ra-me#-en# | |
| 9 | ud-ba iri-iri-a# kur nam-nun-na-kam | |
| 10 | i3-na-ab{ki#} iri#-iri-a kur nam-nun-na-kam | |
| 11 | ensi2 i3#-na#-ab{ki}-a tigi-szem5-{kusz}a2-la2-a | |
| 12 | dam-a-ni szag4#-ge#-guru7# mu#-ni he2-en-na-nam | |
| 13 | dumu#-[ni] [...]-x [x] da#-gur-ra-am3 | |
| 14 | AN# [...]-na#-ka# mu#-ni he2-en-na#-nam# | |
| 15 | iri-da#-e#-ne# gu# na#-la2-e-ne# | |
| 16 | i3-na-ab{ki#} iri#-da#-e#-ne gu# [na]-la2-e-ne | |
| 17 | gu na#-la2#-e#-ne# masz# mu-un#-sar#-sar-ne | |
| 18 | masz-e lu2-ulu3#-gin7# [gisz mu-un]-ra#-ra#-ne | |
| 19 | ud ne ud ten#-na# um#-[ma-te]-a#-ra | |
| 20 | ki# nig2#-ba#-ka# um#-ma#-[te]-a#-ra | |
| 21 | igi {d#}|ESZ2.LIL.DU|# nig2-ba# na#-ni#-ga2#-ga2# | |
| 22 | nig2-ba lu2 dam tuku 2(disz)-am3# i3#-ga2#-ga2# | |
| 23 | nig2-ba lu2 dumu tuku 3(disz)-am3 i3-ga2-ga2 | |
| 24 | nig2-<ba> gurusz sag-dili 1(disz)-am3 i3-ga2-ga2 | |
| 25 | {d}mar-tu dili-ni 2(disz)-am3 i3-ga2-ga2 | |
| 26 | {d}mar-tu ama# ugu#-ni-ir | |
| 27 | e2-a ba-an-szi-in-kur9# gu3 mu-na-de2-e | |
| 28 | iri-ga2 gu5-li-gu10-ne#-me-en dam ba-an-tuku-tuku-me-esz | |
| 29 | dub3#-sa#-gu10#-ne#-me#-en# dam# ba-an-tuku-tuku-me-esz | |
| 30 | iri-ga2 gu5-li-gu10#-ne#-gin7# dam nu-tuku-me-en | |
| 31 | dam nu-tuku-me-en dumu# nu-tuku-me-en | |
| 32 | gisz-szub us2-sa dirig# gu5#-li-ga2-sze3 | |
| 33 | MASZ dub3-sa# bi2#-dab5 dirig dub3-sa#-ga2-sze3 | |
| 34 | ud ne ud# te-en-na um-ma-te#-a#-ra# | |
| 35 | ki# nig2#-ba#-ka um-ma-te#-[a-ra] | |
| 36 | [igi {d}]|ESZ2.LIL.DU|# nig2-ba na-ni#-[ga2-ga2] | |
| 37 | [nig2-ba] lu2# dam tuku 2(disz)-am3 i3-ga2#-[ga2] | |
| obverse col 2 | ||
| 1 | [nig2]-ba# [lu2 dumu tuku 3(disz)-am3 i3-ga2-ga2] | |
| 2 | [nig2]-ba# gurusz sag-dili# [1(disz)-am3 i3-ga2]-ga2# | |
| 3 | {d#}mar-tu dili-ni 2(disz)#-[am3 i3-ga2]-ga2# | |
| 4 | [{d}]mar#-tu ama ugu#-ni-ir | |
| 5 | e2#-a# ba#-an#-szi-in-kur9# gu3# mu-na-de2#-e | |
| 6 | ama-gu10 dam tuku#-ba-ab nig2#-ba-gu10 ga#-mu#-ra-de6 | |
| 7 | {d}mar-tu ama ugu#-ni# [mu]-na#-ni-ib#-[gi4-gi4] | |
| 8 | {d#}su-he-nun3-[na-gu10 na] ga#-e-de5# na de5#-[gu10 he2-dab5] | |
| 9 | inim ga#-ra#-[ab-dug4] inim#-[gu10-sze3 gesztug2-zu] | |
| 10 | igi il2-la-zu dam# [tuku-ba-ni-ib] | |
| 11 | szag4#-ge guru7-zu dam# [tuku-ba-ni-ib] | |
| 12 | szu-tab ze2-ga2 gi4-in [...] | |
| 13 | iri-da#-za e2-bi du3-du3-a {gisz#}[kiri6 ...] | |
| 14 | dub3-sa-za pu2 ba-e-ni#-ba#-[al] | |
| 15 | {d}mar-tu# lu2# dub3#-[sa ...] | |
| 16 | ud-ba iri-a iri-a# ezen gu3# [bi2-ib-ra] | |
| 17 | i3-na-ab{ki} iri-a ezen gu3# [bi2-ib-ra] | |
| 18 | ga2-nam-ma gu5-li ga#-[re7-en-de3-en] ga-ba-e-re7-en#-de3#-[en] | |
| 19 | e2# kasz i3-na-ab{ki}-a ga-re7#-[en-de3-en] ga#-ba-e-re7#-en#-de3-[en] | |
| 20 | {d}nu-musz#-da# x ezem#-ma mu-[...] | |
| 21 | dumu ki-ag2-ga2-ni# {d}ad#-gar#-[ki-dug3] ezem-ma mu-un#-[...] | |
| 22 | dam-a-ni {d}nam-ra-at munus sag9#-[ga] ezem#-ma mu-un-[...] | |
| 23 | iri-a szem5 zabar# zi-ig-za-ag# [...-za] | |
| 24 | {kusz}a2-la2 7(disz)#-e# szeg11 mu-da-an#-[gi4] | |
| 25 | nitah x-ne# en# ib2-la2-[ne] | |
| 26 | e2-geszpu2#-sze3 mu-na-da-an-kur9#-kur9# | |
| 27 | e2 i3-na-ab{ki}-a-ka hu-mu-na#-ab#-sa2#-e | |
| 28 | i3-na#-ab{ki} iri ezen gal2-la-sze3# u6 di-de3 ba-gub | |
| 29 | i3-na-ab{ki} iri ezen gal2-la-sze3 u6 di-de3 ba-gub | |
| 30 | e#-ne-ra bar kug-ga i3-me-a-ke4-esz | |
| 31 | kan4# i3-na#-ab{ki}-ka geszpu2 lirum-e | |
| 32 | [{d}]mar#-tu kisal mah#-a dub3# i-ni-in-bad | |
| reverse col 1 | ||
| 1 | [ur-sag] kalag#-ga mu-na-ab-kig2-kig2-e | |
| 2 | [ur-sag] kalag#-ga mu-na-ab-zi-zi-i | |
| 3 | [{d}]mar#-tu kisal mah dub3 i-ni-bad | |
| 4 | [X] gul#-gul-e an?-ta bi2-ra | |
| 5 | kisal# mah# me3-e nig2-la2-e bi2#-in#-la2 | |
| 6 | kisal i3-na#-ab{ki} ad6 im-il2-[il2]-e# | |
| 7 | {d}nu#-[musz]-da# {d}mar-tu hul2-la-e# | |
| 8 | kug mu#-[un]-na#-ba-e szu nu#-um-ma-gid2-i-de3 | |
| 9 | za# [mu-un]-na#-ba-e szu nu-um-ma-gid2-i-de3 | |
| 10 | [2(disz)-kam ur5]-am3# um-ak-e | |
| 11 | [3(disz)-kam ur5-am3] um-ak-e | |
| 12 | [kug-zu me-da tum3] za#-zu me-da tum3 | |
| 13 | [{d}mar-tu-me]-en# dumu-zu ga-ba#-ab#-tuku | |
| 14 | [... dumu-zu] ga#-ba-ab#-[tuku] | |
| 1' | [amar nig2-mussa dam mu-ni-...] | |
| 2' | [ab2-ga amar he2-em-mi-ib-gu7] | |
| 3' | [tur3-ba gud-ab2-ba]-bi# [hu-mu-un-szi-nu2-e] | |
| 4' | [ab2 x x]-ba#-ka he2#-[em-mi-tusz] | |
| 5' | [amar-bi a2] zid#-da-bi he2#-[em-mi-tusz] | |
| 6' | [ur5-re ur5]-ur5#-re inim ha-ba-[ni-gar-re-en] | |
| 7' | [{d}ad-gar-ki]-dug3# KA# dumu-gu10 ga#-[mu-ra-ab-szum2] | |
| 8' | sila4# [nig2-mussa] dam# [mu]-ni#-[...] | |
| 9' | u8#-[ga sila4 he2-em-mi-ib-gu7] | |
| 10' | amasz#-[ba ... hu-mu-un-szi-nu2-e] | |
| 11' | u8# [... he2]-em#-mi#-[tusz] | |
| 12' | sila4#-bi gab2-bu-bi he2-[em-mi-tusz] | |
| 13' | ur5-re ur5-ur5-re inim# ha-ba-ni#-[gar-re-en] | |
| 14' | {d}ad-gar-ki-dug3 KA dumu-gu10 ga#-[mu-ra-ab-szum2] | |
| 15' | masz2#? nig2#-mussa dam mu-ni-[...] | |
| 16' | ud5#-ga# masz2 he2-em#-mi-[ib-gu7] | |
| 17' | unu-ba# masz2-ud5-da#-bi# hu-mu-un-szi-nu2-e | |
| 18' | ud5-de3 masz2#-[bi ...] he2-em-mi-tusz | |
| 19' | masz2-bi# [...] he2-em-mi-tusz | |
| 20' | ur5-re ur5-[ur5-re inim ha-ba]-ni-gar-[re-en] | |
| reverse col 2 | ||
| 1 | [{d}ad]-gar#-ki-dug3 dumu-gu10 ga-mu-ra#-[ab-szum2] | |
| 2 | [...] gal#-gal-e ba-ni-in#-[x] | |
| 3 | x [x] x-e-gin7 gu3# bi2-in-ra# | |
| 4 | kar# i3#-na#-ab{ki}-ka mu-ni-in-[x] | |
| 5 | ab-ba-ab-ba-ar i3-na-ab{ki#}-[a] | |
| 6 | {gisz#}rab3 kug-sig17-ka mi2 im-ma-ni-in#-[dug4] | |
| 7 | um#-ma#-um-ma-ar i3-na-ab#[{ki}-a] | |
| 8 | [... {tug2}]bar#-sig9 kug-sig17-ga mi2# [im-ma-ni-in-dug4] | |
| 9 | [gurusz munus] x i3#-na#-[ab{ki}]-ke4#-ne | |
| 10 | [...] x x x [kug]-sig17#-ka# mi2 im-ma#-ni#-in#-dug4 | |
| 11 | [ARAD2-ARAD2] x i3-na-ab#[{ki}]-ke4#-ne# | |
| 12 | [x x] A# mi2 im-ma#-[ni-in]-dug4# | |
| 13 | tug2# [x] gun3-a mi2 im-ma#-[ni-in-dug4] | |
| 14 | geme2-geme2# i3-na-ab#[{ki}-ke4-ne] | |
| 15 | {dug}|KIG2.GISZ| kug-babbar mi2 im-ma-ni#-[in-dug4] | |
| 16 | ud ba-hi-a di nu-til-le-[dam] | |
| 17 | a2-sze szu-bi ha-lam ulutim2 [ugu4-bi] | |
| 18 | an-zil gu7 {d}nanna-[kam] ni2 nu-[tuku] | |
| 19 | szu dag-dag-ge-bi X [...] | |
| 20 | [nig2]-gig# e2 digir#-re-e-ne-[kam] | |
| 21 | [galga]-bi# mu-un-lu3-lu3 szu [suh3-a dug4-ga] | |
| 22 | lu2# {kusz#}lu-ub2 mur10-a# [...] | |
| 23 | za#-lam#-gar# til3# tum9# szeg14# [...] sizkur2 [nu-mu-un-dug4-ga] | |
| 24 | hur-sag-ga2 tusz-e ki [digir-re-ne nu-zu-a] | |
| 25 | lu2 uzu#-dirig# kur-da# mu#-un#-ba-al-la# dub3# gam nu-zu-am3 | |
| 26 | uzu nu-szeg6-ga2 al-gu7-e | |
| 27 | ud til3-la-na e2 nu-tuku-a | |
| 28 | ud ba-ug7-a-na ki nu-tum2-mu-dam | |
| 29 | ma-la-gu10 {d}mar-tu ta-am3 an-tuku-tuku-un | |
| 30 | ma-la-ga-ni {d}ad#-gar#-ki#-dug3# mu#-na#-ni#-ib#-gi4-gi4 | |
| 31 | {d#}mar#-[tu] ga#-ba-an-tuku-tuku | |
| 32 | i3-na-ab[{ki}] u2-lum a-lam-ma | |
| 33 | 2(disz) 2(u) 2(disz) | |
Sources & licences
- Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched) · Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI), https://cdli.earth/ ; cite CDLI and the P-number
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.