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CDLI Literary 000368, ex. 043 (P278220)

Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE

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Designation	CDLI Literary 000368, ex. 043
ID	P278220
Museum no.	BM 022695 + CBS 12519 + N 3166 + N 3220 + UM 29-15-356
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

Transliteration (ATF)

From Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched)

Machine draft. The right-hand column is machine English from ixmon/atf-to-english (atf-en-t5base-F, 2026-10-17), generated line by line from the transliteration. It is unreviewed and is not a scholarly translation.

Line	ATF	Machine English (draft)
obverse col 1
1	[...]{+da#} kur ki su3-ra2 ga2-la ba-ni-in-dag	... abandoned the mountain, the distant place
2	[...]{ki#}-a nir ba-ni-in-gal2	In ..., he had authority
3	[...]-an#-ti# na# <nu>-mu-un-de5-de5	... did not bring out ... for me
4	[...] inim# nu-mu-un-di-ni-ib2-be2	... does not speak a word
1	[...] gu2-da# [...]	... on the neck
2	[x x]{muszen}-de3 dumu [...]	... the ... bird, son of
3	geszbun#-na um-ma-ni-in#-dur2#-ru#-un#	They sat in the banquet
4	[x]-ne2# nin-gu2-en-na-ke4-ne	The ... of Ninguena
5	[x]-sag#-ga2-ta um-ma-da-an-re7	After he had brought it to the ...,
6	[x] tuku-tuku ama-ra me-te-gal2	who has ..., who is appropriate for the mother
7	{d#}nin-ka-si tuku-tuku ama-ra me-te-gal2	Ninkasi, who has power, is appropriate for the mother
8	{na4}gakkul#-a-ni {na4}za-gin3 dur5-ru	His gakkul stone is lapis lazuli
9	{gi}lam-sa2-a-ni ku3-me-a ku3-zi-ga	His holy lamsa drum, which is pure,
10	kasz-a gub-ba-ni nig2 giri17-zal	His serving of beer is something joyous.
11	kasz-ta# tusz-a-ni mud5-me-gar-ra	When he sits down to drink beer
12	sila3# szu-du8-a sa2-sa2-da-ni \|DU.DU\| nu-kusz2	The sila of the šuduŋ drum, his sasada drum, does not tire
13	{d}nin-ka-si {gisz}x x za3-ga-ta ib2?-ba-ta	Ninkasi, from the ... of the border,
14	gesztin ne-sag-ga2-mu me-te-asz bi2-ib-gal2	Wine is my first-fruit offering, it is appropriate.
15	muszen# kasz nag-ga2 ul ti-a	The bird that drinks beer is not alive anymore
16	anzu#{muszen} kasz nag-a ul ti-a	The Anzu bird, drinking beer in a peaceful place
17	[x] unug#{ki} ba-gub-ba ha-ma-pa3-da	May the ... of Uruk, which stands, be found for me
18	anzu#{muszen}-de3 har-an szesz-mu-ne-ka im-se3-se3-ge	The Anzu bird reaches the haran of their brother
19	[x x] giri17-zal hu-ri2-in{muszen} {d}en-ki-ke4	... joy of Enki's ḫurin bird
20	hur-sag {na4#}gug igi gun3 {d}inanna-ka	Inanna's mountain range of carnelian with speckled eyes
21	[x]-ba u18-ru-gin7 ki he2-us2#-sa-ba	Its ..., like a storm, should be set upon the earth
22	[x x]-gin7 siki la2-la2-ba	like a ..., whose hair is trimmed
23	[x]-ra# gissu-ba ki# mah-ba	... in its ..., in its supreme place
24	[x x] i#-im-dul gada-gin7 i-im-bur2	... covered ... like linen ...
25	[x x]-ri9-na-bi musz-sag-kal-gin7	its ... like a lion
26	[x] ka# 7(disz) {d}utu-ka sza3-ba mu#-un-sze21-sze21	In the ... of the seven mouths of Utu, the heart was smitten
27	[x]-da#-ba ha-szu#-ur2 nu-zu# kur-ra-ka#	... the one who does not know ḫašūru in the mountains
28	musz# nu-sul-sul giri2 nu-sa#-sa	snake that cannot be smothered, whose feet cannot be tied
29	sza3-ba# buru5#-az{muszen}-e	In its midst the sparrows
30	gud3# im-ma-an-us2 nunuz-bi ba-an-gar	He sat on the throne, he placed its horns there
31	[x]-da#-ba muszen anzu{muszen}	... the Anzu bird
32	[x] ki im-ma-ni-ib-usz2 amar-bi ba-an-gar	... abandoned it and its calf was set free.
33	[x]-bi {gisz}li {gisz}taszkarin-na-ka	Its ... of juniper and taškarin wood
34	[x x] pa mul-mul-la an-dul3-sze3 ba-ab-ak	... covered the horizon with ...
35	[x x] a2 u4 zal-le-da#-ka# ni2 mu-gid2	... at the beginning of the day, fear was set upon him.
36	[x]{muszen}-de3 {d}utu e3-gim \|KA.LI\|# mu-gi4	In order to ... Utu came out, he swore an oath
37	[x x]-bi#-sze3 kur lu5-lu5-bi#-a# ki# mu-ra#-ra	To its ..., the mountain of its people, he returned to its place for you
38	[x x] x ki hu-ri2-in{muszen}-na-ke4	... of the place of the Hurin bird
39	[...] am-gal-e ni2-bi im-sar-re	... the great wild bull wrote its own ...
40	[x x] kur#-ur3-bi-sze3 ni2-bi# im-sar-re	He swore an oath by the ... of the netherworld
41	[x x]{+da#} gal in-zu gal in-ga-an-tum2-mu	Great ..., who knows, great ... has brought to me
42	[...]-gi# dingir-re-e-ne-ke4	... of the gods
43	[x x]-ga#-ba sag se3 ba-an-tah	In its ... he shaved his head
obverse col 2
1	[x x]-de2-a ka-bi-sze3 sa2 bi2-in-du11	... to its mouth he spoke.
2	[x] anzu{muszen}-de3-ka gud3-ba mi-ni-sze21	In the ... of the Anzud bird he smote its nest
3	[x]-bi szem-zid-da mu-un-gun3	he decorated its ... with kohl.
4	[x]-ba# {gisz}erin babbar2 bi2-in-du3-du3	Its ... planted white cedar
5	[...] gur#-gur-ra#-bi# [...]	... its reedbeds
6	gud3 anzu{muszen#}-da-ka ba-ra-zi	The Anzu bird nest was not raised there
7	[...] nu-zu kur-ra-[...]-na#-ak#-[x]	... who does not know ..., ... the mountain for him
8	[...] am# kur-ra-ke4 gu2 mi-[...]-gur	The wild bull of the netherworld ... his neck
9	anzu#{muszen#}-de3 am# kur-ra-ke4# [gu2] mi-ni-ib-gur-gur	The Anzu bird roared at the wild bull of the mountain
10	am til-la szu-bi-sze3# [...]	Wild bull who is finished, to its hand
11	am ug5-ga gu2-ba [...]	Wild bull, standing on its neck
12	a 1(u)! U+GUR-am3 ad?-bi [...]	It is 10 kurru
13	muszen 1(DISZ) za3 am3-ma-da-lu#-[x]	1 flock of birds ... with me
14	anzu{muszen} 1(DISZ) za3 am3-ma-da-[x x]	The Anzu bird ... the border
15	muszen-e gud3-bi-sze3 \|KAxX\| un-gi4#	The bird returned to its nest
16	amar-bi gud3-bi-ta inim nu-um-ma-ni-ib-gi4	Its calf does not reply from its nest.
17	2(disz)-kam-ma-sze3 gud3-bi-sze3 \|KAxX\| un-gi4	for the 2nd time to Gudbi returned
18	amar-bi gud3-bi-ta inim nu-um-ni-ib-gi4	Its calf does not reply from its nest.
19	u4 na-an-ga-ma \|U3.KI\|-bi-sze3 \|KAxX\| un-gi4	When he was not present, he did not return to its place
20	amar-bi gud3-bi-ta inim nu-um-[ma]-ni-ib-gi4-gi4	Its calf does not reply to its nest.
21	i3-ne-esz2 \|U3.KI.SZE3\|-bi \|KAxX\| un-gi4	Now, he has returned to its place.
22	amar-bi \|U3.KI.SZE3\|-bi-sze3 inim nu-um-ma-ni-ib-gi4	Its calf did not reply to its pasture.
23	muszen-e a-nir im-gar an-ne2 ba-te	The bird screamed, An approached.
24	dam u8 bi2-in-du11 engur-ra ba-te	The wife said "Woe!", she approached the deep.
25	muszen-e u8 du11-ga-bi-sze3	The bird ... the ewes.
26	dam-bi a-nir gar-ra-bi-sze3	and its spouses to their supplications
27	da-nun-na dingir hur-sag-ga2	The Anuna, the gods of the mountains,
28	kiszi6-gin7 ki-in-dar-ra ba-an-di-ni-ib-ku4-re-esz	They brought him into the ruins like a marshland.
29	dam-e dam-bi-ir gu3 am3-de2-e	The spouse says to its spouse:
30	anzu{muszen} dam-bi-ir gu3 am3-de2-e	The Anzu, its spouse, calls out.
31	gud3 tur3 gal {d}nanna ni2 husz em-da-ri	The oxen of the great cattle pen of Nanna, with furious fearsomeness,
32	pirig kur-ra tesz2-bi du7-du7 su zi em-du8-du8	The lions of the netherworld are gathered together, they make the righteous man bow down.
33	amar-bi gud3 a-ba ra-tum4	Its calf, the ox, who brought it?
34	anzu{muszen} gud3-ba a-ba ba-ra-an-tum4	Who brought the Anzu bird in its nest?
35	muszen-e gud3-bi-sze3 he2-em-ma-teg3-ge26-ka	May the bird approach its nest.
36	ki dingir ti-la-gin7 im-ak giri17-zal im-du8-du8	Like a living god he did it, he made it shine with joy.
37	amar-bi gud3-bi i-im-sze21-a	Its calf, its ox ...
38	igi-bi szim-x-zi-da mu-un-gun3	He adorned its eyes with ...-juniper.
39	sag-be2 {gisz}erin babbar2 mu-un-du3-du3	On its head he planted white cedars.
40	mu-du-li-a szu gur-gur-ra-bi sag-bi-sze3 mu-un-gar	He placed its reed bundles on their heads.
41	muszen-e ni2-bi silim-e-esz iri in-ga-am3-me	The birds ... peacefully the city.
42	anzu{muszen}-de3 ni2-bi silim-e-esz iri in-ga-am3-me	The Anzu bird, whose fearsomeness is reconciled with the city
43	i7 hal-hal-la nun nam tar-ra-bi-me-en	I am the prince who determines fate in the canal Ḫalhal.
44	zid-du sza3 kusz2-u3 {d}en-lil2-la2-ka igi-tab-bi	“The risen one, the exhausted heart of Enlil, is its eye.
45	a-a-mu {d}en-lil2-le mu-un-de6-me	My father Enlil brought me.
46	[x]-ra# ig# gal-gin7 igi-ba bi2-in-tab	... like a great door he opened its front
47	[...] a#-ba szu mi-ni-ib-bal-e	... who will change it?
48	inim u3-bi2-du11 a-ba ib2-ta-bal-e	Who will take away the word that he has spoken?
obverse col 3
1	gu5-li-ga2 nam-ba-e#-[...]	Do not kill my enemies
2	lu2-ux-lu me-en nam ga-mu-[...]	I am a man, I want to ...
3	kur-re gaba-szu-gar mu-ni-in#-[x x]	The enemy ...
4	mesz3 anzu{muszen}-de3 a2 szum2-ma he2-me#-en#	May you be the Anzu's mesz bird given strength
5	lugal-banda3{da} ni2 1(DISZ)-ta sza3-hul2-la 1(DISZ)-ta	Lugalbanda, oneself, one happy heart,
6	ni2 1(DISZ)-ta sza3 hul2-la 1(DISZ)-ta	at a rate of 1 <shekel> per day, in rejoicing, at the rate of (one-third) per day
7	muszen-e mi2 iri im-me	The bird cries out in the city
8	anzu#{muszen#}-de3# mi2 iri im-me	The Anzu bird cries out in the city
9	[x x]-ur2# sig7 nigin5-a tu-da#	... reddish ..., born
10'	ki-sze3 [...]	to the netherworld
11'	murgu-zu [...]	Your neck ...
12'	ti-ti-zu# {d}[...]	Your life(?)
13'	sza3-sud-zu kiri6 sig7#-[...]	Your šasud prayer is a green garden
14'	sza-du11-ga-ta zi-mu mu-ri#-[x] zag-mu mu-ri-us2#	From the šadug prayer, rise, rise!
15'	dam-zu ama-mu he2-am3 bi2#-in-du11	Your spouse should be my mother, he said
16'	za-e ad-da-mu he2-am3 bi2-in#-du11	You, may my father speak!
17'	di4#-di4#-la2-zu szesz-mu-ne-ka nam#-ba-e-ni-in-ku4-ku4	Do not enter with your little ones into their brothers
18'	sza-du11-ba-ta ha-szu-ur2 nu-zu [x]-ra-ka ki-gub mu-ra#-ak#-e	From the šadub priestess, the one who does not know ḫašur, he set up a station for you.
19'	dam-zu silim-ga2 he2#-mu#-[x]-da#-gub	May your spouse stand with me in peace
20'	silim-mu ga-mu-ra-an-du11 nam tar-ra-mu ga-mu-ra-ab-[bur2]-ra-a	I want to speak to you about my well-being, about my decreed fate,
21'	muszen-e ni2-bi mu-ra#-ba-e ul# [...]-ak-e	The bird ... its fearsomeness for you
22'	anzu{muszen}-de3 ni2-bi mu-ra#-ba-e ul mu-szi-x-[x]-e	The Anzu bird ... its fearsomeness for you, ... joy for you
23'	anzu{muszen}-de3 ku3 {d}lugal-banda3[{+da}]-ar gu3 am3-de2-e	The Anzu bird calls out to holy Lugalbanda
24'	ga2-nu lugal-banda3{+da#}-mu	Come, Lugalbandamu!
25'	{gisz}ma2-gin7 {gisz}ma2 sze#-gin7	Like a boat, like a barge
26'	{gisz}ma2 pesz3-a [...]-bal-e	If a boat sails in the open,
27'	{gisz}ma2 hul-la UN [x]-a-gin7	Like a ... ruined boat
28'	{gisz}ma2 ki-buru14 hi-li du8#-[x]-a-gin7	Like a boat carrying allure at the harvest
29'	szeg12 kul-aba4{ki}-sze3 sag# [x x] gen#-na	I am going to the brickwork of Kulaba
30'	lugal-banda3{da} lu2 numun-e ki-ag2-ga2#? szu nu-um-<ma>-gid2-de3	Lugalbanda, the one who loves seed(?) does not accept
31'	{d}szara2 dumu ki-ag2 {d}inanna-ge2#	Šara, beloved son of Inanna
32'	ti zu2-zu-a u4-gin7 e3-a-NI#	Like a storm coming forth from your body
33'	GIL-ak iti6-gin7 e3-a-NI#	... coming forth like the moonlight
34'	ti zu lu2 ra-ra-bi musz-tur3 he2-e#	May you be the one who knows life, whose greatness is a snake
35'	ku6 {uruda}dur10 ra-gin7 tu6 kud he2-e#	Like a fish carrying a scepter, may the incantation be long
36'	ad {uruda}dur10? ra-gin7 nig2-kesz2 he2#-[x x]	Like a mighty arrow, may it be bound(?)
37'	lugal-banda3{da} lu2 numun-e ki-ag2-am3 szu nu-um-ma-gid2-de3	Lugalbanda, the one who loves the seed, does not accept it.
38'	{d}nin-urta dumu {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4	Ninurta, son of Enlil
39'	{tug2}sagszu pirig# [...]	The sagšu-garment of the lion
40'	LUM?# BU# TUKU# [...]	(If) he has ... .
obverse col 4
1'	ki-ib{muszen#} [...]	The kib bird
2'	muszen-e [...]	The bird ...
3'	anzu{muszen#}-[...]	The Anzu bird
4'	ga2-nu# [...]	Come on! ...
5'	inim# [...]	The word of ...
6'	[...] inim#-inim# ga#-ra#-gub#	... I want to stand by you in words
7'	[...] guru7#-a-zu ge26-e mu-ra-ab#-[x]	... I will ... for you in your silo
8'	[...] mu#-ni-ib-gi4-gi4	... replied to him
9'	[...] he2#-gal2 nam-ba-kusz2-u3-de3#-[x]	... do not tire of(?) abundance
10'	[...] lirum# he2-gal2	... abundance
11'	[...]-su3 a2-mu na-gig-ge	... his ..., my arms hurt.
12'	[...] {d}inanna-ge2	... of Inanna
13'	[...] iszkur#-ra-ge2#	... the Iškur temple
14'	[...] nim-gin7 ga-gir2-re	... I want to fly like a wind
15'	[...] ga-gen	I want to go ...
16'	[...] giri3-ga2 ga-gub	... I want to stand at my feet
17'	sza3#-ge# guru7#-ga2# an#-ta ga-ab-gi4	I want to return my heart to my silo from heaven
18'	ki sza3-mu na-ga-[...]-ab-be2-a {kusz}e-sir2 ga-zu	When he says: “The place of my heart should not be, I want to know the esir-garment!
19'	{d}utu iri-mu kul-aba4-aba4{ki}-sze3 ku4-ku4-de3-ne-a	Šamaš, when they enter my city Kulababa
20'	lu2 asz2# du11-ga-mu nam#-ba-szi-hul2-e-en	You should not rejoice over the man who spoke to you
21'	lu2 du14# mu2#-a#-mu [x]-du nam-me	The one who has sex with me is indeed a ...
22'	alan-zu gisz-dim2-ba um-mi-dim2 u6-e gub-ba-me-en	I am the one who fashioned your statue from its reed-bed, standing in splendor.
23'	mu-zu ki-en#-[x]-ra# pa e3 ha-bi2-ak	May your name appear in Sumer!
24'	e2 dingir gal-gal-e#-ne#-ka# me#-te-asz bi2-[ib]-gal2#	In the temples of the great gods, it is present in a fitting way.
25'	anzu{muszen}-de3 ku3#-[...]-ra [...]-de2-e	To make the Anzu fly off to the holy place
26'	za3-sze-ga2 he2-gal2 [...]	May there be abundance at my side
27'	a2-zu-a lirum [x x]	the strength of the army ...
28'	a2-zu na-su3-su3 a2#-[...]	Your strength is torn out, your strength ...
29'	u4-gin7 du {d}[x x]	Like a storm, ...
30'	u4 7(disz) u4 {d}[...]	7 days, day
31'	izi-gin7 il2-la# [...]	... raised like fire(?)
32'	igi du8-a bar-ra-[...]	Look at me, I will not ...
33'	igi il2-la-zu giri3#-[...]	Your raised eye
34'	sza3 guru7-zu an-[...]	In your silos, heaven ...
35'	ki sza3-zu na-ga-ra#-[...]	The place where your heart is torn apart(?)
36'	[x] utu iri-mu [...]	... of my city
37'	[x] asz2 du11#-[...]	... uttered
38'	[...]
reverse col 1
1'	[x] tar#-re# [...]	... to be determined ...
2'	[x]-nu# lugal-banda3#-[...]	... Lugalbanda-
3'	lu2 a-me3 gisz ra-gin7# [...]	A man who like a wild bull ...
4'	i3 du10-a tur3-ra ba#-[...]	Good oil in the cowshed
5'	ga luh-ha amasz-a ba#-[...]	Milk ... in the sheepfold
6'	hur-sag gal lu2 dili nu-[...]	Great mountain range, one who does not ... alone
7'	lu2-bi lu2-ra nu-gi4-gi4-da# [...]-da#-du#-[x x]	Its man does not return to the man
8'	2(disz)-kam-ma-sze3 szesz-a-ne#-ne gu5-[...]	For the 2nd time, brothers ...
9'	en3 tar-re i-im-in-kusz2#-[...]	When he inquires, he is exhausted
10'	i7 kur-ra ama he2-[x]-na-[x]	May the mother ... the river of the netherworld
11'	pesz10-pesz10-bi pesz10-ta# [...]	Its reed bundles(?) are ... from ...
12'	a-bi a-gin7 mu-un-nag#-[x x] mu#-un-bal-e	How does he drink its water? He carries it off
13'	ku3 lugal-banda3{da} mu-na-ni-ib2#-gi4#-ne	They returned the silver to Lugalbanda
14'	i7 ama he2-nun-na-ra	for the river of abundance,
15'	pesz10-pesz10-bi pesz10-ta sur#-ra-am3	Its reed bundles(?) are piled up(?) from a pile of rubble
16'	za3#-sze-ga2 ki um-ma-ni-ib-us2 a {kusz}EDEN mu-un-nag	He sat on my lap and drank water from the sandals
17'	[x]-bar#-ra-gin7 gum2{+am3}-ga-am3 mi-ni-ib#-za u2-sal i3-gu7-e	Like a ... he eats grass
18'	[x x]{muszen#}-gin7 ki im-de5-de5-ge i-a-nu-um kur-ra i3-gu7-e	Like a ... bird, he roams the netherworld
19'	[...]-ne gu5-li#-ne#-ne	The ... of the people
20'	[...]-du11-ga sza3-ga-ne#-ne#-a ba-an-szub-bu-usz	... fell into their midst
21'	[...]-zu# buru5-az{muszen} u4 gid2-da# tesz2-bi szer3-re-de3	Your ..., the sparrows, the long days are to be recited together
22'	[...] lu2#-dili-gim eger#-bi#-ir bi2-ib-u2-us2	... the single man pushed back(?)
23'	[...] mi#-ni#-in-la2-la2-e	... he heaped up
24'	[...] gud3#-ba tusz-a-gin7	Like one sitting on a throne
25'	[...] mu#-ni#-ib#-na8#-na8#-ne	... they will give him to drink
26'	[...]-ra# mu#-un#-ed3-[x]	He ... for the king
27'	[...] lu2 dili-gin7 eger-bi-[...]	... like a single man
28'	[...]-ra#-ta hur-sag-gim im-me#-re-bal#-[x]	After you have ... the mountain range
29'	iri# danna 1(asz)-am3 am3-da-gal2-[...]	It is a single city that is there for you
30'	dim#-dim-e aratta{ki}-[x]	The gods of Aratta
31'	unug{ki} kul-aba4{ki} ur2 ba-an-[x x]	Uruk and Kulaba ... the base
32'	iri-ta gi-bar-bar-ra im-gin7# [x x]	From the city ... like clay
33'	im-dug-e im gen#-[x x]	The potter ... the pot
34'	bad3 aratta{ki}-ka gu3 [...]	The wall of Aratta shouted
35'	u4 ba-zal-zal itid ba-an-su3#-su3# [...]	The day passed, the month elapsed
36'	buru14 sig7-ga an-ne2 ba#-[...]	The yellow harvest ... An
37'	a-sza3 igi ba-ab-hul ni2# [...]	The field that has been destroyed, ... fear
reverse col 6
1'	kul#-[...]	Kullamu
2'	sza3#-[...]	The heart of
3'	ni2 ba-ni#-[...]	He ... fear
4'	lu2 iri{ki}-sze3# [...]	The man who to the city
5'	kul-aba4{ki}-sze3 mu#-[...]	... to Kulaba
6'	lu2 iri{ki}-sze3 ge26-e ga#-[...]	I want to go to the city of the man
7'	kul-aba4{ki}-sze3 ge26-e ga-gen nu-mu#-[...]	I want to go to Kulaba, but I do not
8'	ugnim kur-kur-ra-ka mu#-[...]	The army of all the lands ...
9'	lu2 iri{ki}-sze3 ge26-e ga-gen nu-mu-na#-[...]	I want to go to the city, but I do not ... for him
10'	kul-aba4{ki}-sze3 ge26-e ga-gen nu-mu-na-ab#-[x]	I want to go to Kulaba, but I will not ... for him
11'	zu2 kesz2 igi bar-ra-ka mu-un#-[x]	He ... the knots of the eye
12'	lu2 iri{ki}-sze3 ge26-e ga-gen nu#-[...]	I want to go to the city, but I do not
13'	kul-aba4{ki}-sze3 ge26-e ga-gen nu#-[...]	I want to go to Kulaba, I do not
14'	2(disz)-kam-ma-sze3 ugnim kur-kur-[...]	For the 2nd time, the army of the lands
15'	lu2 iri{ki}-sze3 ge26-e ga-gen nu-mu-[...]	I want to go to the city, but I do not
16'	kul-aba4{ki}-sze3 ge26-e ga-gen nu-mu#-[...]	I want to go to Kulaba, but I do not
17'	zu2 kesz2 igi bar-ra-ka mu#-[x x]	He ... the knots of the eye
18'	lugal-banda3{da} dili-ni mu-un-zi gu3 [...]-e#	Lugalbanda raised his voice alone(?)
19'	lugal-mu ge26-e iri-sze3 ga-gen lu2# [...]-du#	My king, I want to go to the city, someone should come
20'	kul-aba4{ki}-sze3 dili-ni ga-gen lu2# [x x]-da#-du	I want to go alone to Kulaba
21'	u4-da iri-ne2 i3-du-un lu2# [...]-u3#	At that time, the city was trembling(?)
22'	kul-aba4{ki}-sze3 dili-zu-u3 i3-du-un lu2 [...]-du#-u3	You alone are the one who goes to Kulaba
23'	zi an-na zi ki-a i3-pa3 me# [x]-la kul-aba4{ki}-a szu-zu ba#-[x x]-ra-e3	The life of heaven, the life of earth he chose. The cosmic powers ... in Kulaba your hand ... for you
24'	unken gar-ra si sa2#-[x]-na	In the ... of the established assembly
25'	sza3 e2-gal-gim kur gal-gin7 ki he2#-[...]	May the heart of the palace be like a great mountain
26'	en-me-er-kar2-ra dumu [x x]-ke4#	Enmerkara, son of ...
27'	eme sig {d}inanna ba-an#?-[x]-gu7#	The low tongue of Inanna ate
28'	ki u4-ba nin9 NIN9-mu [x x] inanna-ke4	At that time, my sister, ... of Inanna
29'	kur szuba?-ta sza3 ku3-ga-ni#-[...]-pa3-de3	From the mountain of the šuba stone(?), to purify his holy heart
30'	szeg12 kul-aba4{ki}-[...]-in-ku4-re	He brought the brickwork of Kulaba
31'	unug{ki#} sug he2#-[...]-in#?-de2#-a#	In Uruk, the marshes(?) were gathered
32'	pa-rim4 he2#-me#-[...]	May you be a guardian angel
33'	gisz#-[...]	... tree
34'	DINGIR# [...]	. . the god(?)
35'	gi# sumun# [...]	Old reed
36'	u4-da iri-ni# [...]-ag2#	At that time, his city was given over to him
37'	iri ge26-e-da a-na-asz da-la2-e-en	Why do you dwell with me in the city?
38'	nu-gig anzu{muszen} amar-ra-gin7	Like a nugig Anzu, a calf
39'	ni2-te-a-ni sag2 um-ma-an-di!	After he had smeared himself
40'	bar ku3-ga-ni-a um-ma-an-szub-be2	She abandoned her pure body.
reverse col 7
2'	gisz#-gid2#-da#-mu# u4# ne# ba#-[x x]	My scepter ... the day
3'	{kusz}gur21{ur3}-mu u4 ne e-ne ba#-[...]	My “gurgur-mu-garment, the storm, how is it that you(?) ...?
4'	nin9 NIN9-mu ku3 {d#}inanna#-ra# a#-gin7# du11#-[...]	Sister, my sister, holy Inanna, how is it that you speak?
5'	ku3 lugal-banda3{+da#} [...] am3#-ma-da#-ra#-[x x]	The silver of Lugalbanda ... with him
6'	ur gir5# ur-ra# ku4#-ra hu-un-ha mu-un-za	The dog, the dog that enters a dog, he makes a joyful noise
7'	dur3 gir5 dur3 ku4-ra-gin7 galam mu-na-ta-e3	He brought forth a throne like one brought by a dog.
8'	en-ra unug{ki}-sze3 gi4-mu-un	lord, return to Uruk!
9'	en-me-er-kar2-ra dumu {d}utu-ra	for Enmerkara, son of Utu
10'	aratta{ki} dili-mu-ne ga-gen	I want to go to Aratta alone
11'	lu2 nam-mu-da-du a-gin7 mu-un-ne2-du11	How could a man say: "Do not go with me!"
12'	me-na-am3 dili-zu-ne kaskal-e sag ba-ra-mu#-ri#-ib#-us2#	How long, when you go alone, will you not set foot on the road?
13'	{d}udug sa6-me-a nam-ba-e-de3-gub-ba	Do not stand before our good udug priest
14'	{d}lamma sa6-me-a nam-ba-e-de3-gen-na	When you go to our beautiful protective deity
15'	ki gub-ba-me-a nam-ba-e-de3-gub-bu#-na	Do not stand at our station
16'	ki tusz-a-me-a nam-ba-de3-tusz-na	Do not dwell at our dwelling place!
17'	sahar giri3-me-a giri3 nam-ba-e-de3-us2-e	You should not drag the dirt on our feet,
18'	hur-sag gal lu2 dili nu-du-u3-dam	The great mountain range is not to be conquered by anyone.
19'	lu2-bi lu2-ra nu-gi4-gi4-de3 ba-ra-gi4-gi4	This man will not be able to answer the man.
20'	u4 zal-e [x x]-ta ki gal-la ba-ra-da-ni-in#-su8-ge-za#	When the day passed, ... did not stand with you in the great place.
21'	lugal-banda3{+da#} sza3 gu3 di szesz-a-ne-ne-ta	Lugalbanda, from the wailing heart of their brothers
22'	sza3 sag3 gu5-li-ne-ne-ta	from the angry heart of their friends
23'	ninda kaskal-la-ka-ni nu-mu-un-asz	He did not eat the bread of his journey.
24'	{gisz}tukul 1(DISZ)-bi 1(DISZ)-bi szu im-ma-an-ti	Its one weapon, its one hand he took away.
25'	kur-ra kur-bad3-da ma-du-u3	In the mountains, in the fortified mountains,
26'	da an-sza4-na-ta sag an-sza4-an{ki}-na-sze3	from the side of heaven to the head of Anšan
27'	hur-sag 5(disz) hur-sag 6(disz) hur-sag 7(disz) im-me-re-bal-bal	5 ḫursaĝ (mountain), 6 (horses): Immerbalbalbal;
28'	gi6-a {gisz}banszur ka {d}inanna-ke4 nu-um-te-a-asz	At night the table of Inanna did not approach.
29'	szeg12 kul-aba4{ki}-sze3 giri3 hul2-la mi-ni-in-gub	He set foot joyfully on the brickwork of Kulaba.
30'	nin-a-ni ku3 {d}inanna-ke4	his mistress, holy Inanna
31'	sza3-da-ga-na mu-na-an-tusz	sat down for him in his womb.
32'	i3-gam ki-a mu-na-ab-za	he conquered, on earth he made it for her.
33'	su8-ba {d}ama-uszumgal-an-na mu-na-szi-bar-gin7	Like a shepherd Ama-ušumgal-ana,
34'	ku3 lugal-banda3{da} igi mu-na-szi-bar-re	He looked at the silver of Lugalbanda
35'	dumu-na en {d}szara2 mu-na-de2-a-gin7	like the lord Šara, his son,
36'	ku3 lugal-banda3{da} mu-na-de2-e	silver Lugalbanda gave to him.
37'	ga2-nu lugal-banda3{da}-mu	Come, Lugalbandamu!
38'	aratta{ki} dili-zu-ne a-gin7 im-da-gen-ne	When you go alone to Aratta, how do you go?
39'	szesz-zu a-na bi2-in-du11 a-na bi2-in-tah	What did your brother say, what did he take away?
40'	en-me-er-kar2-ra a-na bi2-in-du11 a-na# [x x]	What did Enmerkara say to ...?
41'	ki# u4-ba nin9-NIN9 ku3 {d#}[x x]	At that time, the pure sister of
42'	kur szuba?-ta sza3 ku3-ga-ni-a he2#-[...]	From the mountain of the šuba stone(?), may his holy heart
43'	unu{ki} sug he2-me a he2-em#-[x x]	May Uruk be a marsh, may it ... water
44'	gisz-gi he2-me-a gi sumun gi henbur# [...]	May it be a reed tree, a old re[ed], a young rēdu-tree
45'	{d}+en-ki lugal abzu#-[x]	Enki, king of the Abzu
46'	gi sumun-bi ha-ma-ze2# [...]	May the old reed grow there for me
47'	mu 5(u)-usz# hu-mu-[...]	50 years ...
50''	[...]-la2#-la2#	... slackens
51''	[...] ba#-til#	... finished
52''	[...] mu#-da#-la2#	... he stretched out
53''	[...]-gin7	like
reverse col 8
1	[...]
2	szeg12# kul#-aba4#{ki#}-[...]-dag#	It is the brickwork of Kulaba
3	u4-da iri-ni ki ha-ba-ag2 ga2-e-ra hul ba-an-gig	At that time, his city was beloved by me, it was destroyed for me.
4	[x x]-e-da a-na-asz mu-da-la2-en	Why do you sit with ...?
5	[x x] iri-ni hul ba-an-gig ga2#-a-ra ki ha-ba-na-ag2	... his city will be destroyed, for me it will be loved.
6	[iri] ga2#-e-da a-na-asz da-la2-en	Why do you dwell with me in the city?
7	[...] anzu{muszen} amar-ra-gin7	... like an Anzu, a calf
8	[...]-a-ni sag2 um-ma-an-di!	... he struck his ...
9	[x x]-ga-ni um-ma-an-szub-be2	... abandoned his ...
10	szeg12 kul-aba4{ki}-sze3 he2-em-ma-ni-ku4-re	I made enter into the brickwork of Kulaba.
11	gisz-gid2-da-mu u4 ne ba-de6	My wagon was carried away at that time.
12	{kusz}e-ib2-uru12 u4 ne e-ne ba-zur-zur-re	The eiburu-shoes, when they were released,
13	nin9#-NIN9-mu ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 ur5-gin7 du11-mu-na-ab#	Speak to my sister, holy Inanna, like a dog
14	i7 {kusz}ummud za-gin3 {d}inanna-gim	the canal of lapis lazuli sandals of Inanna,
15	ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4	Holy Inanna replied to him:
16	i3-ne-esz2 i7 szen i7 a?! szen-na-gim	Now the bitter river, the bitter water of the river
17	\|NIN.NIN9\|-la2 ku3 {d}inanna-ke4	Holy Inanna,
18	[x]-ba# pesz10-pesz10 u2-sal-u2-sal-ba	In its ..., in its reed thickets
19	suhur#-masz{ku6}-e u2-lal3 i3-gu7-e	The suhurmaš fish eats honey
20	[x]-tur#{ku6} ia-nu kur-ra i3-gu7-e	... fish, he eats nothing in the nether world
21	\|GISZ.SZESZ\| HAL suhur-masz2{ku6}-e!-KE4	“Šamaš-mātu-šēru-plant, a kind of fish,
22	sza3#-ba e-ne hul2-la mu-e kun-bi mu-su3-e	In its midst he rejoices, he stretches out his tail
23	[x] szika# ri-be2 gi sumun ki ku3-ga mi-ni-in-us2-e	... he made the young reeds grow in the pure place
24	\|GISZ.SZESZ\| dingir suhur-masz2{ku6}-e sza3-ba mu-un?-dab5?	The brother of the god, the Suhur-maš-fish, seized it
25	dili-bi i3-du dili-bi i3-du	He goes alone, he goes alone.
26	{gisz}szeg9-bi bar-ta dili-bi i3-du	Its ewes roamed alone from the outside.
27	{gisz}szeg9-bi un-sag3 {gisz}bunin(SUG)-sze3 mu-un-dim2	Its brickwork was struck down, it was fashioned into a boxwood tree.
28	ku6-bi un-dab5 un-szeg6 un-su3	Its fish was seized, it was smashed, and it was covered.
29	a2-kar2 a2 me3 {d}inanna-ke4 mu-ni-gu7	He eats the akar-offering, the weapons of Inanna.
30	erin2-na-ni szu-bi he2-ri-ib-su3-su3	his troops shall be bound.
31	zi aratta-ka engur-ra he2-til	May the life of Aratta end in the deep!
32	iri ku3 dim2-bi u3-mu-un-dab5	He seized the holy city and its features.
33	za-be2 za-dim2-bi u3#-mu-un-dab5#	You have seized its precious stones
34	aratta{ki} \|A.GAR5.GAR5.A\| szu mu-ra-nigin2	Aratta he surrounded with a meadow.
35	aratta#{ki} za3-e3-bi {na4}za-gin3# [x x]	Aratta, its edge of lapis lazuli
36	sig4-bi szeg12 sag zi-da husz-am3	Its brickwork is a true brick with a fierce head.
37	im-bi im-an-na	Its brickwork is a flood.
38	[x] ha-szu-ur2-ra-ta kid2-a	... from the Hašur
39	[...]-banda3{da} za3-mi2	...-banda, praise

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 2026-10-18.