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CDLI Literary 000343, ex. 031 (P345597)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | CDLI Literary 000343, ex. 031 |
|---|---|
| ID | P345597 |
| Museum no. | HS 1480 + HS 1580 + HS 2505 |
| Collection | Hilprecht Collection, University of Jena, Jena, Germany |
| 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' | [...]-szub# x x x [...] | ... fell ... |
| 2' | [...]-un-szub kur-ra mu-[...] x [...] | ... abandoned ... in the mountains ... |
| 3' | [...]-ga e2#-[...]-un#-szub | ... abandoned the temple |
| 4' | zabala2#{ki} gi#-[...]-un#-szub | Zabalam fell into ruin |
| 5' | umma{ki}-a ib-gal mu#-un-szub | In Umma, the great flood swept away |
| 6' | uri2{ki}-ma e2-dilmun#-na# mu-un-szub | He abandoned the Edilmuna in Ur |
| 7' | kisig{ki}-a amasz-e2-ku3 mu-un-szub | In Kisig he abandoned the Amašekug. |
| 8' | gir2-su{ki}-a e2-esz2-dam-ku3 mu-un-szub | In Girsu he abandoned the E-ešdam-kug. |
| 9' | adab{ki}-a e2-szar2-ra mu-un-szub | In Adab he abandoned the Ešara. |
| 10' | nibru{ki}-a bara2#-dur2-gar-ra mu-un-szub | In Nippur he abandoned the dais |
| 11' | i3-si-i-na{ki} e2-sig4-me-sze3-du7 mu-un-szub | Isin abandoned the E-sigme-šedu. |
| 12' | kisz{ki}-a hur-sag-kalam-ma mu-un-szub | In Kiš the Hursagkalama fell. |
| 13' | akszak{ki}-a an!-za-gar3 mu-un-szub | In Akšak he abandoned the tower |
| 14' | szuruppak{ki}-e nigar{gar}-ku3 mu-un-szub | Šuruppak abandoned the Nigar-kug. |
| 15' | ka-zal-lu{ki} e2-sza3-hul2-la mu-un#-szub# | Kazallu abandoned its E-šaḫula |
| 16' | a-ga-de3{ki}-a e2 ul-masz mu-un-szub | In Agade the house of Ulmaš fell. |
| 17' | me 7(disz)-bi za3 mu-ni-in-kesz2 | he bound its seven mes. |
| 18' | me mu-un-ur4!-ur4 szu-ni-sze3 mu-un-la2 | He gathered the divine powers, he held them in his hand |
| 19' | me du10 giri3 gub-ba i-im#-gen# | He went along the good path of the divine powers |
| 20' | {tug2}szu-gur-ra men edin-na sag-ga2-na mu-un-gal2 | He adorned his head with a šugur garment. |
| 21' | hi-li sag-ki-na szu ba-szi-in-ti | He took away the allure of her forehead. |
| 22' | {na4}za di4-di4 gu2-na ba-ni-in-la2 | he hung tiny beads on his neck. |
| 23' | {na4}nunuz tab-ba gaba-na ba-ni-im-si | he filled his chest with pomegranates piled up on his chest. |
| 24' | {tug2}pala3 nam-nin-a bar-ra-na bi2-in-dul | He covered her body with the pala garment of ladyship. |
| 25' | szimbi lu2 he2-du igi-ni x-NI-ba!-gar | The šimbi plant, the man of abundance, his eye ... |
| 26' | tu-di-da lu2 ga2-nu ga2-nu [...] | The one born by a man, come on! Come on! |
| 27' | har ku3-sig17 szu-na ba-ni-in-la2# | He hung a gold bracelet in his hand |
| 28' | gi 1(disz) ninda esz2-GAN2 za-gin3 szu ba-ni-in-du8 | reeds, 1 ninda of eš-GAN2 lapis lazuli ... |
| 29' | sukkal-a-ni {d}x-ra | his minister was |
| 30' | ga2-nu sukkal zi e2-an-na-mu | Come, loyal minister of the Eanna temple, |
| 31' | sukkal e-ne-eg3 sa6-sa6-ga-mu | the minister, my beautiful word |
| 32' | ra-gaba e-ne-eg3 ge-en-ge# | The courier, the true word |
| 33' | u4-da kur-sze3 am3# e11-de3-en-na | When we go out to the netherworld |
| 34' | ud-da ki gub-ba-asz ba-du-en#-na-ta | When the day had passed, when the place was set aside |
| 35' | er2 du6-du6-da mar-mar-ma-ni-[...] | She weeps over the ruined mounds |
| 36' | szem# gu2#-en-na du12-du12-a-ma-ni-[...] | When he sings the “symbols of the neck"(?) |
| 37' | [...]-x-e-ne [...] | ... their ... |
| 38' | [...] hur#-ma-ab giri17-zu# hur-ma-ab | ... lift it up for me, lift your nose for me |
| 39' | [...] u6 di-zu [...] | ... your beautiful ... |
| 40' | [...] x nu-di [...] | ... does not know |
| 41' | [...] hur-ma-ab | ... hurmab |
| 42' | [...] hasz4?-gal-zu! hur-ma-ab | ... your hašgal plant(?) |
| 43' | [...] x tug2 dili-a mu4?-ma-ab | ... a single garment(?) |
| 44' | [...] mu-ul-lil2-la2-sze3 me-ri-zu dili u3-mu-un-gub | ... to Mullil, your feet stand alone. |
| 45' | [...] mu-ul-lil2-la2-sze3 er2 | ... to Mullil weeps. |
| 46' | [...] x x mu-lu mu-lu kur-ra nam-x-[...] | ... man, man of the netherworld |
| 47' | [...] | |
| 48' | [...] | |
| obverse col 2 | ||
| 1' | x [...] | |
| 2' | ki-x [...] | ... ... |
| 3' | u4-da# [...] | On that day |
| 4' | i-[...] | ... . |
| 5' | IGI-a | Witness: |
| 6' | ku3 [...] | Holy |
| 7' | {na4}za-gin3 | lapis lazuli |
| 8' | {gesz}taszkarin-zu# gesz nagar-ra [...] | Your taškarin tree, the tree of the carpenter |
| 9' | ki-sikil ga-sza-an-na x [...] | Young lady Gašanana |
| 10' | a-a-mu {d}am!-an-ki-ra [...] | For my father, Enki |
| 11' | a-a {d}am-an-ki u3-[...] | Father Enki |
| 12' | u2 nam-ti-la a nam-ti-la# [...] | The food of life, the water of life |
| 13' | {d}inanna kur-sze3 [...] | Inanna, to the netherworld |
| 14' | {d}nin-szubur?-ra-ke4 [...] | Ninszubur(?) |
| 15' | x x x | |
| 16' | x x x | |
| 17' | {d}inanna | For Inanna |
| 18' | {gesz}ig# kur-ra x szu x [...] | The door of the netherworld |
| 19' | abul kur-ra-ke4 gu3 x-x-[...] | The gate of the netherworld ... |
| 20' | e2 gal2-u3 i3-du8 e2# [...] | Open the house, doorkeeper, open the house! |
| 21' | e2 gal2-u3 {d}bi2-ti dili-mu-sze3 x-[...] | Open the house, Ištar, to my alone |
| 22' | {d}bi2-ti i3-du8 gal kur# [...] | Iti, the great gatekeeper of the mountain |
| 23' | ku3 {d}inanna-ra inim mu-na#-[...] | He spoke to holy Inanna |
| 24' | a-ba-me-en za-[...] | Who are you? ... |
| 25' | me-e ga-sza-an#-na ki {d}utu [...] | I, Gašanana, the place of Utu |
| 26' | tukumbi za-e {d}inanna ki {d}utu e3-[...] | If you, Inanna, come out to the place of Utu |
| 27' | a-na ba-du-un kur nu-gi4# [...] | Why does the land not return to its place? |
| 28' | kaskal lu2# ib! lu2# nu-gi4-gi4-de3 sza3-zu a-[...] | On a journey that no one should return, your heart ... |
| 29' | nin9 gu-la-mu ga-sza-an-ki-gal-[...] | My great sister, Gašankigal |
| 30' | nin-a-ni u3-mu-un gu4-gal-an-na ba-an-ug5#-[...] | His mistress, the lord of the great bull was killed |
| 31' | NIG2-se3-ga-ni i-bi2 du8-u8 | His property is to be looked after. |
| 32' | kasz ki-se3-ga-ni gal x?-bi2 ur5 he2-en-na-[...] | May he ... his great beer in his courtyard |
| 33' | {d}bi2-ti i3-du8 gal kur-ra [...] | Biti, the great gatekeeper of the netherworld |
| 34' | ku3 {d}inanna-ra mu-na-ni-ib-[...] | ... for holy Inanna |
| 35' | gub#-ba-a nin-mu [...] x x [...] | stationed, my mistress ... |
| 36' | nin-ga2! {d}x [...] x [...] | My lady, the god |
| 37' | {d}bi2-ti# [...] | “Biti |
| 38' | nin x [...] | Lady ... |
| reverse col 1 | ||
| 1' | inim [...] | ... words |
| 2' | abul kur-ra# [...] | The gate of the netherworld |
| 3' | e2-gal ganzer [...] | The palace Ganzer |
| 4' | ku3 {d}inanna-ra [...] | For holy Inanna |
| 5' | ga2-nu {d}inanna# [...] | Come, Inanna |
| 6' | {d}inanna ku4-ku4-da-[...] | Inanna, when she enters |
| 7' | {tug2}szu-gur-ra men edin x [...] | The šugur garment, the crown of the steppe |
| 8' | ta-am3 ne-e si-a {d}inanna [...] | What ... Inanna? |
| 9' | {d}inanna garza kur-ra-ke4 ka-zu [...] | Inanna, the rites of the netherworld, your mouth |
| 10' | abul 2(disz)-kam-ma ku4-ku4-da#-[...] | It is the 2nd gate |
| 11' | {na4}za-gin3 [...] gu2-na lu2# [...] | The lapis lazuli ... on his neck |
| 12' | ta-am3 ne-e si-a {d}inanna [...] | What ... Inanna? |
| 13' | {d}inanna garza kur-ra-ke4 ka-zu [...] | Inanna, the rites of the netherworld, your mouth |
| 14' | abul 3(disz)-kam-ma ku4-ku4#-[...] | It is the 3rd gate |
| 15' | {na4}nunuz tab-ba gaba-na x [...] | The tabba-stone on her chest ... |
| 16' | ta-am3 ne-e si-a {d}inanna me kur-ra#-ke4# [...] | What is this? Inanna, the divine powers of the netherworld |
| 17' | {d}inanna garza kur-ta-ke4 ka-zu# na-an-[...] | Inanna, do not open your mouth to the rites of the netherworld |
| 18' | abul 4(disz)-kam-ma ku4-ku4-da-ni-ta# | After entering the 4th gate |
| 19' | tu-di-da lu2 ga2-nu ga2-nu gaba-na lu2 ba-[...] | The one who is born, come on! Come on! The man ... on his chest! |
| 20' | ta-am3 ne-e si-a {d}inanna me kur-ra-ke4# szu# [...] | What ...? Inanna, the divine powers of the netherworld |
| 21' | {d}inanna garza kur-ra-ke4 ka-zu na-[...] | Inanna, the rites of the netherworld, your mouth should not |
| 22' | abul 5(disz)-kam#-ma ku4-ku4-ta-[...] | It is the 5th gate |
| 23' | x x [...] x ba-da#-[...] | ... ... |
| 24' | ta-am3 ne-e si-a {d}inanna [...] | What ... Inanna? |
| 25' | {d}inanna garza kur-ra-ke4 ka-zu na-an#-[...] | Inanna, do not open your mouth to the rites of the netherworld |
| 26' | KA2 6(disz)-kam-ma kur-ra-da-ni#-[...] | The 6th gate of Kurradani- |
| 27' | gi 1(disz) ninda esz2-GAN2 za-gin3 szu#-[...] lu2 x-[...] | Reed, 1 ninda, eš-GAN, lapis lazuli |
| 28' | ta-am3 ne-e si-a {d}inanna me kur-[...] | What ...? Inanna, the divine powers of the netherworld |
| 29' | abul 7(disz)-kam-ma ku4-ku4#-[...] | It is the 7th gate |
| 30' | gam-gam-ma-ni tug2 zil#-zil#-la#-ni-[...] | He was wearing a cloak/garment(?) |
| 31' | nin-a-ni {gesz}gu-za# [...] | His mistress ... the throne |
| 32' | e-ne {gesz}gu-za-ni-ta [...] | By means of his throne |
| 33' | {d}a-nun-na di-ku5 7(disz)-bi [...] | The Anuna, the judges, seven times |
| 34' | igi mu-un-szi-in-bar x [...] | He looked at him |
| 35' | inim mu-un-x-x-[...] | ... words |
| 36' | x x [...] | |
| 37' | x [...] | |
| 38' | x [...] | |
| reverse col 2 | ||
| 1' | [...] x [...] | |
| 2' | [...] zu# x [...] | ... knowing ... |
| 3' | [...] sa6#-ga-zu za-dim# [...] | ... your beautiful ..., the stone mason |
| 4' | [...] gesz# nagar-ra-ka nam#-[...] | ... of the carpenter's wood should not ... |
| 5' | [...] ga#-sza-an-na# kur-ra nam-[...] | ... Gašanana, do not ... in the mountains |
| 6' | [...] en-lil2 lipisz bala-a-ni {d}nin-[...] mu-un#-[...] | ... Enlil, his exalted reign, Nin-... |
| 7' | [...] an | ... An |
| 8' | [...] an gal al bi2-in-du11 ki gal x [...]-in-du11 | ... great An, he shouted, great earth ... |
| 9' | [...]-ra me al nu-di-da sa2 bi2-in-[...]-x he2-eb-us2 | ... he placed the divine powers that cannot be changed. |
| 10' | a-a {d}en-lil2 inim-bi nu-mu-na!-an-DU# [...] ba-gen | Father Enlil did not speak a word with him, he went |
| 11' | igi {d}suen-na-sze3 er2# [...] sze8-sze8 | She weeps before Suen |
| 12' | a-a {d}x mu mu-lu kur# [...]-da-an-gam-e | Father ..., you are the one who takes away the name of the land |
| 13' | ku3 sa6-ga-zu sahar kur-ra-ka nam#-[...]-szar2-re | May the dust of the netherworld multiply(?) your beautiful silver |
| 14' | {na4}za-gin3 sa6-ga-zu za-dim# [...]-si-il-si-il-le [...] | Your beautiful lapis lazuli, the zadim stone(?), ..., ... , |
| 15' | {gisz}taszkarin gisz nagar-ra-ka [...]-dar#-re | The taškarin tree, the tree of the carpenter(?) |
| 16' | ki-sikil ga-sza#-an-na kur-ra [...]-gam-e | Young lady Gašanana, you have taken the mountain away |
| 17' | a-a {d}x [...] | Father ... |
| 18' | dumu-mu an gal al bi2-in-du11 [...]-in#-du11 | My son, great An spoke to me, ... spoke |
| 19' | {d}inanna an gal al bi2-in-du11# [...]-in#-du11 | Ištar commanded great An, he commanded |
| 20' | [...] x me al nu-di-da sa2# x [...]-eb-us2 | ... the me that cannot be changed(?) |
| 21' | [...] | |
| 22' | igi# {d}en-ki-sze3 [...] | Before Enki |
| 23' | a-a {d}en-ki du5-mu-zu mu-[...]-x-an-gam-e | Father Enki, your child ... |
| 24' | ku3 sa6-ga-zu sahar kur-ra-ke4 nam-[...]-x-x-re | May the dust of the netherworld not ... your beautiful silver |
| 25' | {na4}za-gin3 sa6-ga-zu za zadim-e nam-[...]-x-x-[...]-il-i | Your beautiful lapis lazuli should not be ... by a stone cutter |
| 26' | {gesz}taszkarin-zu gisz nagar-ra-ka nam-ba-da-dar-[...]-re | Your taškarin-wood, the carpenter's wood, will not be cut down(?) |
| 27' | ki-sikil ga-sza-an-na kur-ra nam-ba-da-an-U-e | Young lady Gašanana, do not go down to the netherworld! |
| 28' | a#-a {d}en-ki inim-bi ba-e-de3-gub | Father Enki, you set up his word |
| 29' | umbin si-ni mu-sir2 ba-ra-an-de6 kur-gar#-ra-asz ba#-an#-dim2# | He twisted his thigh and fashioned a kurgaraš weapon |
| 30' | umbin 3(disz)-kam-ma mu-sir2 ba-ra-an-de6 gala-tur-ra-asz ba-[...] | It is the 3rd (time) that he carried the knot for you. The gala-tur priestess |
| 31' | {d}en-ki-ke4 gala-tur-ra kur-gar-ra gu3 mu-na-[...] | Enki spoke to the lamentation singer and the kurgar priest |
| 32' | gen-na-an-ze2-en giri3 kur-sze3 nu2-ba-an-[...]-en# | You go, you do not go to the netherworld |
| 33' | {gesz}ig nim-gin7 u3-mu-un-dal-dal-ze2-en | Like a rising door, I will make it fly away. |
| 34' | za-ra x-gin7 u3-mu-un-gur-gur-re-en-ze2-en | Like ... for you, we will bring it to you. |
| 35' | ama gan-e nam-x-dumu-ne-ne-sze3 | To the mother of Gan, to their ... children |
| 36' | {d}eresz-ki-gal-la-ke4 i3-nu2 tu-ra-am3 | Ereškigal lies down, |
| 37' | mur-ku3-ga-ni gada nu-un-bur2 | His Urkugani cloth was not loosened. |
| 38' | gaba-ni bur szagan-gin7 nu-un-gid2 | His chest was not extended like a šagan bowl. |
| 39' | x-si-ni {uruda}lul-bi-gin7 an-da-gal2 | His ... is there with him like a lullaby |
| 40' | x-ni ga-rasz{sar}-gin7 sag-ga2-na mu-un-ur4-ur4 | His ... trembled on his head like a cream-cream. |
| 41' | u3-u8-a sza3-mu du11-ga-ni | Woe, my heart, what I say! |
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.