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Canonical Lamentations 536ff, esp541-45, 840-43, Text C (P302741)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Larsa · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | Canonical Lamentations 536ff, esp541-45, 840-43, Text C |
|---|---|
| ID | P302741 |
| Museum no. | NCBT 00688 |
| Collection | Newell Collections of Babylonian Tablets, Yale Babylonian Collection, New Haven, Connecticut, USA |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Period | Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
| Find spot | Larsa |
| Coordinates | 31.2832, 45.8549 |
Transliteration (ATF)
From Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618)
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) |
|---|---|---|
| o | ||
| 1 | uru₂ am₃-i-ra-bi a di₄-di₄-la₂-[bi] | The city that was plundered, woe its little ones! |
| 2 | ama mu-gib₃ uru₂ am₃-i-ra-bi a di₄-di₄-la₂-bi | Mother, mugib priestess, this city that was plundered, woe its little ones! |
| 3 | kul-aba₄{ki} uru₂ am₃-i-ra-bi a di₄-di₄-la₂-bi | Kulaba, the city that was plundered, woe its little ones! |
| 4 | mu-gib₃ an-na ga-ša-an-an-na-ke₄ | Mistress of heaven, Gašanana |
| 5 | kur [gul]-gul ga-ša-an e₂-an-na-ke₄ | Destroyer of mountains, lady of the Eana |
| 6 | an dub₂-ba ga-ša-an gi₆-par₃-ra-ke₄ | The one who makes heaven tremble, the lady of the Ŋipar |
| 7 | {d}lil₂-la₂-en-na ga-ša-an tur₃ amaš-ke₄ | Lilaena, the lady of the cattlepen and sheepfold |
| 8 | ama unug{ki}<<gig>>-ga ga-ša-an-an-na-ke₄ | The mother of Uruk, the sick one, Gašanana |
| 9 | di₄-di₄-la₂-bi gal-gal-la₂-bi | Its little ones, its large ones, |
| 10 | di₄-di₄-bi šu-ta du₁₁-ga-bi | Its little ones, whose commands are from the hand |
| 11 | gal-gal-bi me-ri-ta lah₆-a-bi | Its large ones, taken away by foot, |
| 12 | uru₂ hul-hul-lu-de₃ ba-ab-i-ra-bi | The city that has been plundered to be destroyed, |
| 13 | e₂ hul-hul-lu-de₃ ba-ab-i-ra-bi | The house that has been plundered to be destroyed, |
| 14 | i₃-ge₁₆-le-eŋ₃-ŋe₂₆-de₃ bi₂-in-du₁₁-ga-bi | Its utterances that he had spoken |
| 15 | i₃-ug₅-ge-de₃ bi₂-in-du₁₁-ga-bi | If he dies, so will he. |
| 16 | ga-ša-an-bi ge₁₆-le-eŋ₃-ŋe₂₆-de₃ ba-ra-e₃-a-bi | Its lady, if only she would leave it! |
| 17 | uru₂ a du₁₁-ga a gi₄-a-bi | City whose water was poured, whose waters were returned. |
| 18 | kul-aba₄{ki} a du₁₁-ga a x-ta ba-ra-e₃-a-bi | Kulab, whose water was poured out from the ... water, |
| 19 | uru₂ izi-a ki us₂-sa-bi | The city that has been destroyed by fire, |
| 20 | uru₂ na-aŋ₂-bi nu-tar-re-da-bi | City whose fate is not to be decided |
| 21 | uru₂ u₃-mu-un-e en₃ li-bi₂-in-tar-ra-bi | The city that the lord did not inquire after, |
| 22 | uru₂ {d}mu-ul-lil₂-le ba-e-ul₄-la-bi | The city that Enlil had built |
| 23 | uru₂ {d}nin-lil₂-le du₁₄(|LU₂.NE|) mu₂-a-bi | The city that Ninlil erected |
| 24 | an-ne₂ saŋ-ki-ni gid₂-da-bi | An extended his length. |
| 25 | {d}nu-dim₂-mud ša₃ dib-ba-bi | Nudimmud, whose words |
| 26 | uru₂ na-aŋ₂-tar gig-ga im-ma-an-du₃-a-bi | The city whose bitter fate has been decided |
| 27 | uru₂ {ŋeš}tukul saŋ-e ba-da-zi-ga-bi | The city that raised its weapons against the enemy |
| 28 | uru₂ {ŋeš}tukul-ta la-ba-ra-šub-ba-bi | The city that has not been plundered with weapons |
| 29 | uru₂ me₃-a ba-an-gul-la-bi | The city that has been destroyed in battle |
| 30 | me₃ saŋ-e gaba ri-a-bi | whose battles are fought against each other |
| 31 | uru₂ dam šub-ba dumu šub-ba-bi | City where the spouse is placed, where the child is placed |
| 32 | uru₂ ki-sikil šub-ba guruš šub-ba-bi | City where the young woman is in her cella, where young men are in their cella |
| 33 | uru₂ mu-bi dur₅-ru gi-bi dur₅-ru-bi | City, its young men and young women are young |
| 34 | uru₂ ki-sikil-bi nu-hul₂-le-de₃ | To make the young woman of the city not rejoice, |
| 35 | uru₂ ŋuruš-bi nu-lib-be₂-de₃ | In order that the city does not let its young flourish, |
| 36 | e₂ tuku-bi šu-a-na nu-du₇ | The one who has a house is not good in his hand |
| 37 | mu-un-gur₁₁ tuku-bi šu nu-un-du₇ | Who has possessions, whose hand cannot be changed |
| 38 | ur-bi adda-a i-im-da-nud | Its dogs lie down in wailing. |
| 39 | uga{mušen}bi ad₆ im-da-gu₇(KA-)e | Its birds eat the carcasses. |
| 40 | lu₂ saŋ-e ama saŋ-e ba-ab-ga-am₃ | The one in charge, the mother in charge is taken away. |
| 41 | lu₂ egir-ra [ama] egir-ra ba-ab-ga-am₃ | The one behind, the mother behind was carried away. |
| 42 | bar-kar-ra-bi [...]-dam | Its outer wall is ... |
| 43 | lu₂ kar-ra-bi [...]-am₃ | Its merchants are ... |
| 44 | ma sipad-da-bi [...] | Its shepherd’s house |
| 45 | ma mu-un-gar₃-bi [...] | Its farmers |
| 46 | id₂-da dib-ba {ŋeš}ma₂ [...]-⸢GAM⸣ | passing through the river, |
| 47 | har-ra-an-na dib-ba gigir [...]-⸢GAM⸣ | On the road that crosses, the chariot ... |
| 48 | uru₂ zi-ŋa₂ kaskal-e [dib-ba ...]-RU | The true city on the road, passing by ... |
| 49 | a nu-zu-gin₇ a x [...]-e | Like one who does not know water, ... water |
| 50 | peš₁₀ nu-zu-gin₇ a hul [...]-⸢DU⸣-DU-e | Like one who does not know a marsh, ... evil water |
| 51 | {ŋeš}i-ri₉-na ki [...] x ba-an-da-gul | The Irina temple ... was destroyed |
| 52 | lu₂ ši-ni-še₃ [ba-an-da-kar-ra-bi me-ri]-⸢ni⸣-še₃ lu₂ ba-de₆ | Those who were taken away by force were carried away by foot. |
| 53 | lu₂ {u₂}šub₅-še₃ x [... {u₂]}šub₅-še₃ ba-da-ab-kud | The man ... the šub5 plant |
| 54 | lu₂ {u₂}šu-mu-še₃ x [...] x x bi {u₂}šu-mu-še₃ ba-da-ab-kud | The man ... his own plants ... the plants. |
| 55 | mušen {u₂}šub₅-še₃ i₃-dal-la-bi {u₂}šub₅-še₃ ba-da-ab-kud | The snake that was flying in the grasses cut down the grass. |
| 56 | mušen {u₂}šu-mu-še₃ i₃-dal-la-bi {u₂}šu-mu-še₃ ba-da-ab-kud | The snake that was circling around in its wild bull's horns was beaten. |
| 57 | mušen-e ki dal-la-bi-a [... ba-da-ab]-⸢kud⸣ | The snake escaped from its hiding place |
| 58 | mu-lu₂-bi ki kas₄ du₁₁-ga-ni-a ⸢li-bi-ir⸣ [...]-⸢bu⸣-re | Its man, when he runs, he ... the elibir temple |
| 59 | kas₄ du₁₁-ga-bi ni₂ nu-dub₂ [...] | Its runners who do not fear ... |
| 60 | ir-ra-bi la-ga nu-[...] | Its lament is unfathomable |
| 61 | ir-ra-bi e-ne-eŋ₃ {[d}mu-ul-lil₂-la₂-ke₄ ...] | The word of Enlil |
| 62 | 61 ki-ru-gu₂ 1kam-ma] | 61 lines, the first song |
| 63 | [a] ⸢uru₂⸣ e₂ a uru₂ e₂ [...] | Woe city, house, woe city ... |
| 64 | mu-gib₃ an-na ga-[ša-an-an-na-ke₄] | Mistress of heaven, Gašanana |
| 65 | kur gul-gul ga-ša-an e₂-an-na-[ke₄] | Destroyer of mountains, lady of the Eana |
| 66 | an dub₂-ba ga-ša-an gi₆-par₃-[ra-ke₄] | who makes heavens tremble, lady of the Ŋipar |
| 67 | lil₂-la₂-en-na ga-ša-an tur₃ ⸢amaš⸣-[a-ke₄] | Lilaʾena, lady of the cattlepen and sheepfold |
| r | ||
| 1 | e₂-ŋu₁₀ im-me uru₂-ŋu₁₀ im-[me] | She says "House!", she says "Uru!" |
| 2 | dam-ŋu₁₀ im-me dumu-ŋu₁₀ im-[me] | She says “I am a wife, I am an adolescent’ she says. |
| 3 | a ba-gub-be₂-en ki-gub-ŋu₁₀ im-[me] | "Oh, I stand at my station!" she says. |
| 4 | a ba-tuš-en ki-tuš-ŋu₁₀ im-me | She says: “Oh, I dwelled in your dwelling place!" |
| 5 | a₂ nu-gal₂-gin₇ ki di-ŋu₁₀ im-me | Like one who does not have power, she says at the place of judgment. |
| 6 | a-gin₇ dam sag₉-ŋu₁₀ im-me | "How is my beautiful spouse," she says. |
| 7 | e₂ ŋar-ra-ba e₂-ŋu₁₀ ba-gul | In its outer house, the house is destroyed. |
| 8 | uru₂ ŋar-ra-ba uru₂-ŋu₁₀ ba-gul | In its outer city, the city was destroyed. |
| 9 | ugnim ŋar-ra-gin₇ mu-lu-bi ba-an-lah₅ | Like a hostile army, this man was taken captive. |
| 10 | {d}a-nun-na dur₂-dur₂-ru-na-bi me-e ba-ge₁₆-le-eŋ₃-ŋe₂₆-de₃ | The Anuna who dwell there, I shall be able to escape. |
| 11 | u₈-ŋu₁₀ ki kur₂-ta gu₃ im-me | She calls out from a hostile place: |
| 12 | sila₄-ŋu₁₀ ki kur₂-ta še am₃-ša₄ | The lambs wailed from a hostile place |
| 13 | u₈-ŋu₁₀ sila₄-bi-ta ba-⸢da⸣-de₆ | The ewes and their lambs were carried off. |
| 14 | uz₃-ŋu₁₀ maš₂-bi-ta ba-[da]-de₆ | the goat and its kid were carried away |
| 15 | e-ze₂ gi₄-a-ŋu₁₀ sipa-bi ba-⸢ab⸣-de₆ | When the sheep returned, its shepherd was carried off. |
| 16 | ab₂ e-ze₂ du₁₁-ga-ŋu₁₀ mu-nu₁₂-bi ba-ab-de₆ | The cows and sheep that were fed were carried away. |
| 17 | u₈ id₂-da bala-ŋa₂ sila₄ peš₁₀ bi₂-in-šub | The ewes of the river ... lambs |
| 18 | uz₃ id₂-da bala-ŋa₂ maš₂ peš₁₀ bi₂-in-šub | The goats of the river ... the goats |
| 19 | ama-gan zi id₂-da bala-ŋa₂ dumu peš₁₀ bi₂-in-šub | True mother, in the river he placed the child in the lap of her father |
| 20 | ad-da tur-ŋu₁₀ dumu u₂-gu ba-an-de₂ | The young father gave birth to a child. |
| 21 | ad-da gu-la-ŋu₁₀ dumu a-e ba-an-ze₂-eŋ₃ | The father of Gula, the son of Aye, gave it to him. |
| 22 | u₂-še₃ ŋen-na-ŋu₁₀ ba-da-de₆ | he brought it to the cattlepen. |
| 23 | a-še₃ ŋen-na-ŋu₁₀ ba-da-de₆ | he brought the water to Ennabu. |
| 24 | u₂ il₂-il₂-ŋu₁₀ gaba kur-ra-ke₄ u₄ hul ba-an-da-šub | The one who raises the grass at the edge of the mountain - a terrible storm awaits him. |
| 25 | ur šu ak-ŋu₁₀ lu₂-kur₂-ra nam-mu-un-na-zu-zu | Do not forget the dog that did it to a stranger |
| 26 | ur šu nu-[ak] lu₂-<kur₂>-ra ba-ni-in-us₂ | A dog who does not act with his hand, a stranger sat down |
| 27 | tu{mušen} tur-tur x-x nu-zu-zu ki bi₂-in-ri-ri-ge | The little turtles that do not know ... roamed the earth. |
| 28 | mušen-ŋu₁₀ ambar nu-zu-zu a₂ bi₂-ib-su₁₃-e | The snake that does not know the marshes raises its arms. |
| 29 | 34 ki-ru-gu₂ 2kam-ma | 34 lines. It is the second song. |
| 30 | e₂-dim₂-ba-ba-re e₂-dim₂-ba-ba-re e₂ ki-aŋ₂-ŋu₁₀ me-a | Where is the Edimbaba, the Eimbabar, the house of the earth? |
| 31 | e₂ gi-gur-ba še nu-si | The house with its reed screen is not filled with barley |
| 32 | e₂ šaŋan-ba u₅-a e₂-dim₂-ba-ba-re e₂ ki-aŋ₂-ŋu₁₀ me-a | The šabanba temple, the ua of the Edimbabar, the temple of the earth, where is it? |
| 33 | 4 ki-ru-gu₂ 3kam-ma | 4 lines. It is the 3rd song. |
| 34 | gu₃ im-me-a-ri gu₃ uru₂-na na-nam im-ma-al-e gu₃ im-me-a-ri | She shouts, it is indeed the cry of her city, she shouts. |
| 35 | mu-gib₃ an-na kur gul-gul an dub₂-ba {d}lil₂-la₂-en-na | The mugib priestess of heaven, the destroyer of mountains, the one who makes heaven tremble, Lilaena |
| 36 | uru₂-na na-nam e₂-na na-nam dam-na na-nam dumu-na na-nam | In her city indeed, in her house indeed, she is indeed her spouse, indeed, her child indeed. |
| 37 | i-bi₂ ud-da-ke₄ i-bi₂ am₃-mi-in-du₈ ša₃ ud-da-ke₄ in-ga-an-zu | The eye of the storm has seen it, the heart of storm has known it |
| 38 | gurum-gurum-ma-ni am₃-ta-di-di-in u₄-da e₂ ku₃-ga im-da-sag₃-ge-de₃ | He keeps wandering about in his shed. At that time the holy house was struck down. |
| 39 | e₂ ku₃-ga-ni-a a-gin₇ mu-un-til₃-le-na {{ i-x }} nu-nus ku₃ e₂ ku₃ e₂ šen-na ta im-gu-ul-lu-bi | How did he live in his holy house? ... holy woman, holy house, holy temple, what destroyed it? |
| 40 | šir₃-saŋ-e a-gin₇ ma-al-ma-al-e mu-gib₃ an-na ŋen im-me bil-la₂-bi | The en priestess, how is it that there is such a thing? The mugib of heaven, she says bitterly. |
| 41 | aratta-ta a-gin₇ ba-ra-gi₄-a ga-ša-an e₂-an-na ŋen er₂ gig i₃-še₈-še₈ | How could I be returned from Aratta? Lady of the Eana, I weep bitter tears |
| 42 | er₂ im-me er₂-bi gig-ga ad im-ša₄ ad-ša₄ mar-a | She weeps, her tears are bitter, she wails, she cries. |
| 43 | er₂-ra ki di-bi ga-nam mu-un-zu-a-ta ad-ša₄ ki di-bi ga-nam mu-un-zu-e | After he has known the place of judgment, the counsellor knows the place where judgments are made. |
| 44 | im-ma-al-e gu₃ im-me-a-ri gu₃ uru₂-<na> na-nam inim du₁₁-ga-ŋu₁₀ me-e-li-ia ta-aš | It is there, he shouted, it is the cry of her city, <it is indeed> a word spoken by me - what did I receive? |
| 45 | inim du₁₁-ga še ša₄-ŋu₁₀ me-e-li-ia gu₃ uru₂-ŋa₂ la-ba-ra-e₃-a-ŋu₁₀ | The word spoken by me is a flood that cannot escape from the city |
| 46 | gu₃ e₂-ŋa₂ la-ba-ra-e₃-a-ŋu₁₀ e₂-ŋu₁₀ i-bi₂-ŋu₁₀ sig₁₁ ba-ab-du₁₁ ta-aš | The voice of the house does not come out, the house looks at it - what has been done to it? |
| 47 | uru₂-ŋu₁₀ i-bi₂-ŋu₁₀ sig₁₁ ba-ab-du₁₁ ta-aš aŋ₂-ma-al-la-gin₇ im-ma-ba-ba-e ta-aš | “If he looks at the city, what will he do? Like a flood it will afflict him. |
| 48 | me-e e₂ šen-gin₇ ku₄-ku₄-ŋu₁₀-ne lu₂-la-ga kur-ra-ke₄ ba-e-ul₄-e | I, when they enter the house like a pig, the men of the netherworld roar |
| 49 | en₃-tukum-še₃ a-hi-aš di-dam mu-gib₃ an-na ŋen a-gin₇ ba-e-ak-ŋu₁₀ | As long as he lives, how is the mugib priestess of heaven treated? |
| 50 | ki bahar₂-e sila i₃-ku₅-de₃ emeda{da} sila i-lu šu₂-šu₂-de₃ | In order to cut the street at the potter’s place, in order to make the nursemaid perform laments in the street |
| 51 | tug₂ mu-un-da-si-ig en-na mu₄-mu₄ me-ri-ŋu₁₀ u₂ ba-ab-tag en-na gurum-e-de₃ | She washes herself with a cloth. Until when will he grow old? She eats grass. Till when is he to inspect it? |
| 52 | id₂-ŋa₂ ku₃-ŋal₂-e dug ma-ra-gaz a-ša₃-ŋa₂ mu-un-gar₃-e gi-gur ma-ra-gur | The canal inspector destroys pots for you, the farmer destroys fields for you. |
| 53 | kaskal-ŋa₂ li-bi-ir kur₂-ra-ke₄ aŋ₂ mu-ni-gi₄-ra sila-ŋa₂ li-bi-ir ŋi₆-u₃-na-ke₄ gu₂-ŋiri₃ ba-kar | On the road, the enemy's messenger returned the troops, on the street, the messenger of the river seized the canals. |
| 54 | e₂-ŋu₁₀ e₂ šeš-a-ne-ne-ka KU-KU mi-ni-dar-dar erim₆-ma-ŋu₁₀ kur₂-re sa₂ mi-ni-du₁₁ ŋa₂ mu-lu | The house, the house of their fathers, he trembled, the enemy attacked the storehouse, the people |
| 55 | me-e-li-ia a uru₂-ŋu₁₀ ga-am₃-du₁₁ me-e-li-ia a e₂-ŋu₁₀ ga-am₃-du₁₁ | Oh, I want to say "Oh" in the city, Oh!" in the temple. |
| 56 | e₂-ŋu₁₀ ga-am₃-du₁₁ uru₂-ŋu₁₀ ga-am₃-du₁₁ dam-ŋu₁₀ ga-am₃-du₁₁ dumu-ŋu₁₀ [ga-am₃-du₁₁] | I want to say "House!", I want [to say] "Uru!", [I want to speak] "Wife!", "[I want] to speak "Daughter!" |
| 57 | ama₅-ŋu₁₀ erim₆-ma-ŋu₁₀ ga-am₃-du₁₁ mu-un-gar gi₁₆-sa-bi e₂-[ŋu₁₀ ga-am₃-du₁₁] | I want to say “The cella, the storehouse, I want [to say]: 'I want to bring in its treasures into the house.' |
| 58 | ama-a-tu-ŋu₁₀ pel-la₂-bi ga-am₃-du₁₁ a gi₄-in tur-ŋu₁₀ gig-[bi ga-am₃-du₁₁] | I want to say “I want to cry out bitterly at the house of the slave-girls,’ |
| 59 | 54 ki-ru-gu₂ 4kam-ma | 54 lines. It is the fourth song. |
| 60 | me-e e₂ zi-ŋa₂ gu₃ ga-am₃-de₂ a-ba-a ba-ra-[e₃ (...)] | I want to speak about the true house, but who can come out? |
| 61 | [me-e uru₂]-ŋa₂ gu₃ ga-am₃-de₂ [...] | I want to call out to the city |
| 62 | [e₂-an-na] e₂ ub imin-e gu₃ ga-am₃-de₂ [...] | I want to call out to the Eana, the seven-sided house |
| 63 | [gi₄]-in-bi gub-ba gi₄-in-bi nu-gub la-bar-bi gub-ba la-bar-bi [nu-gub] | Its female laborers stationed, its female laborer did not station, its lagar laborers stations, it's lagar labourers do not station. |
| 64 | 5 ki-ru-gu₂ 5kam-ma | 5, the fifth song. |
| l.e. | ||
| 1 | me-e ur-re ŋen me-e gir₇ ŋen 2 šu-ši 35 mu-bi | I am the enemy, I am a stranger, 2 out of 35 lines |
Sources & licences
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- Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618) · ORACC project editions, https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ ; cite the individual project (see texts.extra_json.project)
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