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CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar, ex. 001 (P345482)
Literary, Neo-Assyrian, Nineveh · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE
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| Designation | CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar, ex. 001 |
|---|---|
| ID | P345482 |
| Museum no. | BM — |
| Collection | British Museum, London, UK |
| Language | Akkadian |
| Period | Neo-Assyrian · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
| Find spot | Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) |
| Coordinates | 36.3582, 43.1621 |
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 | ||
| 1 | a-na _kur-nu-gi4-a_ qaq-qa-ri {d#}[eresz-ki-gal] | to Kurnugi’a, the field of Ereškigal |
| 2 | {d}inanna _dumu-munus_ {d}sin u2-zu-un-sza2 [isz-kun] | Ištar the daughter of Sîn set her free. |
| 3 | isz-kun-ma _dumu-munus_ {d}sin u2-zu-un#-[sza2] | he placed, and the daughter of Sîn her husband |
| 4 | a-na _e2_ e-t,e-e szu-bat {d}ir-[kal-la] | to the house of the dead, the seat of Irkalla |
| 5 | a-na _e2_ sza e-ri-bu-szu2 la a-s,u#-[u2] | to the house where they entered they shall not go out. |
| 6 | a-na har-ra-ni sza a-lak-ta-sza2 la ta-a-a-[rat] | Do not go on the road of her journey! |
| 7 | a-na _e2_ sza e-ri-bu-szu2 zu-um-mu-u2 nu-[u2-ra] | to the house where he entered, he is dead. |
| 8 | a-szar _sahar-hi-a_ bu-bu-us-su-nu a-kal-szu-nu t,i-it,#-[t,u] | Where dust covers them, their food is plentiful. |
| 9 | nu-u2-ru ul im-ma-ru i-na e-t,u-t,i asz2-[bu] | (Sum) The light did not come out, it was seated in darkness (Akk) The daylight did not shine, it stood in darkness |
| 10 | lab-szu-ma _gim_ is,-s,ur-ri s,u-bat kap-pi | “If he is swollen like a pig’s horn, the skin of the kappu-disease will be removed. |
| 11 | _ugu {gesz}ig_ u _{gesz}sag-kul_ sza2-bu-uh ep-ru | upon the door and the bolt a šabuḫ-container was installed. |
| 12 | {d}inanna a-na _ka2 kur-nu-gi4-a_ ina ka-sza2-di-sza2 | Ištar, at the gate of Kurnugi’a in her journey |
| 13 | a-na _{lu2}i3-du8_ ba-a-bi a-ma-tum iz-zak-kar | to the doorkeeper of the gate the matter he shall speak |
| 14 | _{lu2}i3-du8_-me-e pi-ta-a ba-ab-ka | the gatekeepers, open your mouth |
| 15 | pi-ta-a ba-ab-ka-ma lu-ru-ba a-na-ku | Release me, so that I may enter. |
| 16 | szum-ma la ta-pat-ta-a ba-a-bu la er-ru-ba a-na-ku | If you do not open the door, I will not enter. |
| 17 | a-mah-ha-as, dal-tum sik-ku-ru a-szab-bir | I smash the daltu-flood (and) I scatter the sikkuru-boil. |
| 18 | a-mah-ha-as, si-ip-pu-ma u3-sza2-bala-kat3 _{gesz}ig-mesz_ | I struck the bolt and I twisted the doors. |
| 19 | u2-sze-el-la-a mi-tu-ti _gu7-mesz_ bal-t,u-ti | (and) made the dead, the living, dwell. |
| 20 | _ugu_ bal-t,u-ti i-ma-i-du mi-tu-ti | Concerning the living, he saw the dead. |
| 21 | _{lu2}i3-du8_ pa-a-szu2 i-pu-usz-ma i-qab-bi | the doorman opened his mouth and said: |
| 22 | iz-zak-ka-ra a-na _gal_-ti {d}isz#-tar# | to great Ištar |
| 23 | i-zi-zi be-el-ti la ta-na-da-asz2-szi | (Sum) She stands, my lady, do not give her away (Akk) You stand, lady, don’t give it to her |
| 24 | lu-ul-lik _mu_-ki lu-sza2-an-ni a-na szar-ra-ti {d}eresz#-ki#-gal | May I go (and) your name may I proclaim to the kingship of Ereškigal |
| 25 | e-ru-um-ma _{lu2}i3-du8_ iz-zak-ka#-ra# [a-na {d}eresz-ki-gal] | entered and the doorkeeper spoke to Ereškigal |
| 26 | an-ni-tu me-e a-ha-ta-ki {d}isz-tar i-za#-[az i-na ba-bi-ka] | This water, Ištar, stands before you. |
| 27 | mu#-kil-tu sza2 kep-pe-e _gal-mesz_ da-li#-[ha-at ap-si-i ma-har {d}e2-a _lugal_] | the one who carries out the great rites of the Apsu before Ea, the king |
| 28 | {d}eresz-ki-gal# an-ni-ta# i-na# [sze-mi-sza2] | Ereškigal, at her hearing |
| 29 | ki-ma ni-kis# {gesz}bi-ni# e-ru-[qu pa-nu-sza2] | like a nīšu tree I planted her face. |
| 30 | ki-ma sza2-bat ku-ni-ni is,-li-[ma sza-ba-tu-sza2] | like a šabat kunīnu he looked at her heart, |
| 31 | mi-na-a lib3-ba-sza2 ub-la-an-ni mi-na-a kab-ta#-[sa-ma usz-par2-da-an-ni-ma] | What has brought her heart to me? What has sent me frightened? |
| 32 | an-ni-tu-me-e a-na-ku it-ti [{d}a-nun-na-ki _a-mesz_ a-szat-ti] | These I am with the Anunnaki, the water of the sea. |
| 33 | ki-ma _ninda-mesz_ a-kal _im_ ki-ma _kasz-mesz#_ [a-szat-ta-a _a-mesz_ dal-hu-te] | Like bread, soup, like beer, asattû-beer, water of the dalhutu-festival, |
| 34 | lu-ub-ki a-na _gurus_mesz_ sza e-zi-bu {munus}hi-[re-ti] | Let me bring to you the men who have left the harem. |
| 35 | lu-ub-ki a-na _{munus}ki-sikil-mesz_ sza _ta ur2_ {lu}ha-i-ri-szi-na# [szal-lu-pa-ni] | let me bring. To the maidens who were captured from the lap of their mayor |
| 36 | a-na _{lu2}tur_ la-ke-e lu-ub-ki sza ina la _u4-mesz_-szu3 t,ar-[du] | to a young man let me bring, who in his absence has been captured. |
| 37 | a-lik _{lu2}i3-du8_ pi-ta-asz2-szi ba-ab-[ka] | “Go, gatekeeper, open your gate! |
| 38 | up-pi-is-si-ma ki-ma _garza_mesz_ la-bi-ru-ti# | I reorganized it and, like old prebends, |
| 39 | il-lik _{lu2}i3-du8_ ip-ta-asz2-szi ba-ab-[szu] | went and the doorman opened his gate. |
| 40 | er-bi be-el-ti gu2-du8-a{ki} li-risz-ki# | I, the lady of Kutha, praise you! |
| 41 | _e2-gal kur-nu-gi-a_ li-ih-du ina pa-ni-ki | May the palace of Kurnugi’a rejoice before you. |
| 42 | 1(disz)-en _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal _aga gal_-a sza _sag-du_-sza2 | one gate he brought into her and she went out, she carried off the great crown of her head. |
| 43 | am-mi-ni _i3-du8_ ta-at-bal _aga gal_-a sza _sag-du_-ia | Why did you take away the gatekeeper, the great crown of my head? |
| 44 | er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2 | The lady of Nineveh, thus her rites |
| 45 | 2(disz)-a _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal in-s,a-ba-te sza _gesztu-min_-sza2 | two times the gate he brought her and she went out, she carried off, she seized the birds of her ears. |
| 46 | am-mi-ni _i3-du8_ ta-at-bal in-s,a-ba-te sza _gesztu-min_-ia | “Why did you take the gatekeeper away, the captives of my ears? |
| 47 | er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2 | The lady of Nineveh, thus her rites |
| 48 | 3(disz)-szu _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal _{na4}nunuz-mesz_ sza _gu2_-sza2 | three times he brought her into the gate and took her away. He carried off the pomegranates of her neck. |
| 49 | am-mi-ni _i3-du8_ ta-at-bal _{na4}nunuz-mesz_ sza _gu2_-ia | “Why did you take the gatekeeper away the ninû-stones of my neck? |
| 50 | er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2 | The lady of Nineveh, thus her rites |
| 51 | 4(disz)-u2 _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal du-di-na-te sza2 _gaba_-sza2 | 4th gate he brought her in, and she went out, carried off the garments of her breast. |
| 52 | am-mi-ni _{lu2}i3-du8_ ta-at-bal du-di-na-te sza2 _gaba_-ia | “Why did you take away the gatekeepers of my breast? |
| 53 | er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2 | The lady of Nineveh, thus her rites |
| 54 | 5(disz)-szu2 _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal szib-bu _na4-tu_ sza _murub4-mesz_-sza2 | The 5th gate brought her in, and she went out. She carried off the šibbu-stone of her middle parts. |
| 55 | am-mi-ni _{lu2}i3-du8_ ta-at-bal szib-bu _na4-tu_ sza _murub4-mesz_-ia | “Why did you take the doorkeeper away the stone shackles of my middle thigh?’ |
| 56 | er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2 | The lady of Nineveh, thus her rites |
| 57 | 6(disz)-szu2 _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal _har-mesz szu_-sza2 u _giri3_-sza2 | 6 times at the gate he brought her in and took her away; she carried off her hands and feet. |
| 58 | am-mi-ni _{lu2}i3-du8_ ta-at-bal _har-mesz szu_-ia u _giri3_-ia | “Why did you take the doorkeeper away? My hands and feet |
| 59 | er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2 | The lady of Nineveh, thus her rites |
| 60 | 7(disz)-u2 ka2 u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal s,u-bat bal-t,i sza2 zu-um-ri-sza2 | The 7th gate brought her in, and she carried off the garment of life of her body. |
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.