CDLI Literary 000344, ex. 001 (P346096)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Ur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | CDLI Literary 000344, ex. 001 |
|---|---|
| ID | P346096 |
| Museum no. | BM — |
| Collection | British Museum, London, UK |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Period | Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
| Find spot | Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar) |
| Coordinates | 30.9607, 46.1063 |
English translation
By Peterson, Jeremiah · Via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI (reuse with citation)
| Line | English |
|---|---|
| obverse 1 | The junior galla demon opened his mouth and was speaking to the eldest galla demon |
| obverse 2 | Come! let us go to the holy lap of Inanna |
| obverse 3 | The galla demons entered Unug and were seizing(?) Inanna there |
| obverse 4 | Come, Inanna! Go ... towards your path, descend to the netherworld |
| obverse 5 | Go to the place you have plotted against(?), descend to the netherworld |
| obverse 6 | Go to the place of Ereškigal, descend to the netherworld |
| obverse 7 | You should not wear the holy ba garment or the pala garment, the garments of your queenship, go to the netherworld |
| obverse 8 | After you remove the holy crown, the ornament of glorification, upon your head, in order to descend to the netherworld |
| obverse 9 | You (should) not equip/perfect your face(?) with allure |
| obverse 10 | You should unfasten(?) the small(?) uridim dogs(?) at/from your feet, descend to the netherworld |
| obverse 11 | ... you go down, ... does not ... |
| obverse 12 | They released holy Inanna, they ... her |
| obverse 13 | Inanna herself handed over Dumuzi |
| obverse 14 | As for the youth, we will put his feet in the great <beam(?)> |
| obverse 15 | As for the youth, we will cast the esad trap/restraint (upon him), we will place neck in the neckstock |
| obverse 16 | The ubri spear, kibir weapon(?) and the great šukur spear were raised before him |
| obverse 17 | They were sharpening large hazin axes |
| obverse 18 | As for the male, they were (about) to stand, they were to sit(?) |
| obverse 19 | We will cast a rope upon his shoulder: position the executioner! |
| obverse 20 | As for the youth, they were to bind his arm, and then tighten it up(?) |
| obverse 21 | They were to cover his own face with his own garment |
| obverse 22 | The youth raised his hands heavenwards for Utu |
| obverse 23 | Utu, I am your comrade, like you(?) I am a youth |
| obverse 24 | The one who married your sister |
| obverse 25 | She descends to the netherworld |
| obverse 26 | Because she descends to the netherworld |
| obverse 27 | I, as a substitute, am to be given to the netherworld |
| obverse 28 | Utu, you are the judge of justice, you are never to oppress (anyone) |
| obverse 29 | After you have altered my hands and changed my form |
| obverse 30 | I shall elude the hand of my (pursuing) galla demons, they must not grasp (me) |
| obverse 31 | As a sagkal snake, I(!) shall traverse the meadows and(?) the mountain range |
| obverse 32 | I shall take refuge with (my) sister Gštinanna |
| obverse 33 | Utu accepted his weeping |
| obverse 34 | He altered his hands and changed his form |
| obverse 35 | As a sagkal snake, he traversed the meadows and(?) the mountain range |
| obverse 36 | Dumuzi, like a bird flying (from) the claws of a falcon, guarded for his very life |
| obverse 37 | He took refuge with Geštinanna |
| obverse 38 | geštinanna saw her brother |
| reverse 1 | She scratched her cheeks, she scratched her nose |
| reverse 2 | She unleashed a spear/thorn(?) in her side, she split apart(?) her garment |
| reverse 3 | She was intoning a lament of anathema for the youth (afflicted by) anathema |
| reverse 4 | Alas, my brother, alas, my brother, the days of the youth do not ... |
| reverse 5 | Alas, my brother, the shepherd Ama'ušumgalana, the days of the youth do not ... |
| reverse 6 | Alas, my brother, the youth who does not have a spouse, who does not have a son |
| reverse 7 | Alas, my brother, the youth who does not have a comrade, who does not have a friend |
| reverse 8 | Alas, my brother, the youth whose mother “did not release her good(ness)"(?) |
| reverse 9 | The galla demons were seeking out Dumuzi, they were roaming around |
| reverse 10 | The junior galla demons were speaking to the eldest demons |
| reverse 11 | They were galla demons without compassion, who did not have a father, mother, spouse, brother, sister, or son |
| reverse 12 | ... removed from(?) ..., the one set apart from the universe |
| reverse 13 | You are gala demons(!?), those who are to be reglected ... (!?) |
| reverse 14 | They did not have the power of goodness(?), they did not know good and evil |
| reverse 15 | Who has seen someone with a healthy life without a home and all alone? |
| reverse 16 | I(?) will not go to where the friend is, I will not go to where the in-law is |
| reverse 17 | We shall go for the shepherd where {geš}tinanna is |
| reverse 18 | They were the galla demons who were to smite him(!) by hand(?), they were seeking him |
| reverse 19 | The lament was not yet finished in her mouth |
| reverse 20 | (When) the galla demons came to where {geš}tinanna was |
| reverse 21 | "(One of them(?)) was saying “Show where your brother is,” but she was saying not a word to him |
| reverse 22 | He made her shave(!?) her own hair in her crotch, but she was not saying a word to him |
| reverse 23 | He made her scratch her face(?) with her own hands(!?), but she was not saying a word to him |
| reverse 24 | He made her own hands(?) shred her garment, but she was not saying a word to him |
| reverse 25 | He poured dirt/sand(?) in her crotch, but she was not saying a word to him |
| reverse 26 | He did not find Dumuzi in the house of Geštinanna |
| reverse 27 | The junior galla demons were speaking to the eldest demons |
| reverse 28 | Come! let us go to the pure sheepfold |
| reverse 29 | Dumuzi ... the sheepfold ... they were casting/ducking down ... |
| reverse 30.a | They were searching, they were ..., |
| reverse 30.b | they were seeking, he was seen |
| reverse 31 | (Saying) “I shall take the ax to the youth like a dilapidated house” |
| reverse 32 | They carved him(?) with giri'ura knife, they smote him in a silent place |
| reverse 33 | The sister roamed around in the city like a bird(?) |
| reverse 34 | My brother (who suffered) this anathema! Where shall I go?(?) I shall enter no one's house(?) |
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 | ||
| 1 | galla# tur ka ba-a-szi-bad-de6 galla gu-la-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e# | |
| 2 | ga2-nam-ma-an-ze2-en ur2 ku3 {d}inanna-ka-sze3 ga-da-re7-en-de3-en | |
| 3 | galla unu{ki}-sze3 ba-ni-in-ku4-re-esz ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 mu-ni-in-dab5!?-be2-ne | |
| 4 | ga2-nu {d}inanna kaskal-zu-sze3 NI-BA gen-na kur-sze3# e11-de3 | |
| 5 | ki#? sza3-ge4 de6-a-zu-sze3 gen-na kur-sze3 e11-de3 | |
| 6 | ki {d}eresz-ki#!-gal-la-sze3 gen-na kur-sze3 e11-de3 | |
| 7 | {tug2}ba13 ku3 {tug2}pala3-a tug2 nam-eresz-zu nam-ba#?-mur10-mur10-un kur-sze3 e11#-de3# | |
| 8 | men ku3 me-te ka silim-ma sag-zu-a um-ta-ga2-ar kur-sze3 e11#-de3# | |
| 9 | hi-li-a igi#?-zu# szu# la-ba-ni-in-du7 kur-sze3 e11-de3 | |
| 10 | ur-idim tur#? giri3-zu x [...]-un#-duh#-duh kur-sze3 e11-de3 | |
| 11 | x za#-e e11-de3 x [...] nu-BU-BU | |
| 12 | ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 mu-un-bur2-bur2-re-esz [...]-x-x-NE-esz | |
| 13 | {d}inanna ni2-te-na {d}dumu-zi szu-sze3 ba#?-an#?-szum2# | |
| 14 | gurusz-e {gesz}<rab3>-mah giri3-ni im-ma-an-gar-re-en-de3-en | |
| 15 | gurusz-e {gesz}es2-ad szub-bu-de3-en-de3-en gesz-gu2 gu2-ni gar-re-en-de3#-en# | |
| 16 | {uruda}ubri2 {uruda}kibir2 {uruda}szukur mah-e igi-ni-sze3 ba-an-szi-ib2-il2-il2 | |
| 17 | {uruda}ha-zi-in gal-gal-la u3-sar i3-ke3-e-ne | |
| 18 | gurusz-e mu-ni-in-gub-bu-de3-esz mu-ni-in-durun-de3-esz | |
| 19 | esz2 murgu2-na i3-szub-bu-de3-en-de3-en gab2-gaz# gub-bu-de3-en-de3#-en | |
| 20 | gurusz-e a2-na mu-un-la2-e-de3-esz {tug2}esz-darax(SIKI) u3?-mu-un-szi-in-ak-esz | |
| 21 | tug2 ni2-te-na igi-na mu-ni-in-dul-u3#-de3-esz | |
| 22 | gurusz-e {d}utu-ra an-sze3 szu-ni ba-an-na-zi | |
| 23 | {d}utu gu5-li-zu ga2-e-me-en szul-me-en za-e mu-GIM | |
| 24 | nin9#-zu nam-dam-sze3 ba-an-tuku-a | |
| 25 | e-ne kur-sze3 e11-de3 | |
| 26 | mu e#-ne kur-sze3 e11-de3 | |
| 27 | ga2-e ki-gar-ra-bi-sze3 kur-sze3 ba-ab-szum2-mu-de3 | |
| 28 | {d}utu di-ku5 nig2-si-sa2 za-e-me-en nam-ba-szaga-de3 | |
| 29 | szu-ga2 u3-mu-e-kur2-kur2 uludim2-gu10 u3-mu-e-bala | |
| 30 | szu galla-gu10-ne ga-ba-e-da-ze-er nam-mu-ha-za-asz | |
| 31 | musz-sag-kal-gin7 sza3-tum2 hur-sag-ga2 hu-mu-ni-in-bala-bala | |
| 32 | ki nin9 {d}gesztin-an-na-sze3 zi-gu10 ga-ba-an-szi-in-de6 | |
| 33 | {d}utu er2-na szu ba-an-szi-in-ti | |
| 34 | szu-ni mu-ni-in-kur2-kur2 ulutim2-ma-ni mu-ni-in-bala | |
| 35 | musz-sag-kal-gin7 sza3-tum2 hur-sag-ga2 mu-ni-in-bala-bala | |
| 36 | {d}dumu-zi-de3 muszen szu surx(SAG)-du3{muszen} ri-a-gin7 zi-ni ur5-da i3-ak#?-x | |
| 37 | ki {d}gesztin-an-na zi-ni ba-szi-in-de6 | |
| 38 | [{d}]gesztin-an-na szesz-a-ni igi ba-ni-in-duh-am3 | |
| reverse | ||
| 1 | te#-na# mu-ni-in-hur#-hur# giri17#-na mu-ni-in-hur-hur | |
| 2 | |IGI.GAG|#? za3-ga-na mi-ni-in-duh tug2-ni mi-ni-in-da-da-ra | |
| 3 | gurusz ag2-gig-ra i-lu ag2-gig-ga hu-mu-ni-ib2-be2 | |
| 4 | a szesz-gu10 a szesz-gu10 gurusz u4-bi nu-um-x-x | |
| 5 | a szesz-gu10 su8-ba {d}ama-uszumgal-an-na gurusz u4-bi x-x nu-x-x-gur? | |
| 6 | a szesz-gu10 gurusz dam nu-tuku dumu nu-tuku | |
| 7 | a szesz-gu10 gurusz gu5-li nu-tuku du10-us2-sa nu-tuku | |
| 8 | a szesz-gu10 gurusz ama-ni sa6-ga-ni nu-duh | |
| 9 | galla {d}dumu-zi-de3 mu-ni-in-kikken2-de3 mu-ni-in-nigin-de3#-esz | |
| 10 | galla tur galla gu-la-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e-ne | |
| 11 | galla arhusz nu-tuku ad-da ama dam? szesz nin9 dumu nu-tuku-me-esz | |
| 12 | x-me-da gal? UN-ta#? gar-ra an-ki-ta ri-a-bi | |
| 13 | za-e-ne-ne galla <me>-en-ze2-en lu2 za3 tag?-ge x-x-me-esz | |
| 14 | szu nig2-sa6-ga nu-tuku-me-esz sa6-ga hul nu-zu me!-esz | |
| 15 | lu2-u3 e2 nu ni2-te-na zi-ni silim-ma a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-duh | |
| 16 | ki gu5-li-bi nu-um-szi-du-de3-en ki mussa-bi nu-um-szi-du-de3-en | |
| 17 | su8-ba-ra ki {d}gesztin-an-na-ka-sze3 ga-an-szi-re7-en-de3-en | |
| 18 | galla-e-e-ne szu-ta ba-ab-sag3-sag3-ge-me-esz mu-ni-in-kin2?-kin2?-de3-esz | |
| 19 | i-lu-bi ka-ga14-na nu-mu-un-til-la-am3 | |
| 20 | galla ki {d}gesztin-an-na!-sze3 ba-e-szi-re7{+re}-esz | |
| 21 | ki szesz-zu# la2-ma-ra-ab e-ne mu-ni-ib2-be2 e-ne inim-bi nu-mu-na-ab-be2 | |
| 22 | siki ni2-te-na ur2-ra ba-ni-in-ze2-eg3 inim-bi nu-mu-na-ab-be2 | |
| 23 | szu!? ni2-te-na igi#?-na ba-ni-in-hur-hur inim-bi nu-mu-na-ab-be2 | |
| 24 | szu!? ni2-te-na tug2-na ba-ni-in-bir7-bir7 inim-bi nu-mu-na-ab-be2 | |
| 25 | sahar#? ur2-ra-na ba-ni-in-de2-de2 inim-bi nu-mu-na-ab-be2 | |
| 26 | {d}dumu-zi-de3 e2 {d}gesztin-an-na-ke4 nu-um-me-ni-in-pa3-de3 | |
| 27 | galla# [tur] galla# gu-la-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e-ne | |
| 28 | ga2-nam#-[...]-en# amasz ku3-ga-sze3 ga-an-szi-re7-de3-en! | |
| 29 | {d}dumu-zi-de3# amasz# [...]-x mu-ni-in-szub-be2-de3-esz | |
| 30.a | mu-ni-in-nigin-de3-esz# [...]-x-be2-de3-esz | |
| 30.b | mu-ni-in-kin2?-de3#-esz# igi ba-ni#-in-duh-am3# | |
| 31 | gurusz-ra e2 sumun-na-gin7 {uruda}ha-zi-in szu ga-ba-szi-in-ti | |
| 32 | giri2-ur3-ra mu-ni-in-sar-sar-re-esz ki#? si-ga mu-ni-in-tu10#-tu10-esz | |
| 33 | nin9-e na-ag2 szesz-na-sze3 iri-a muszen#?-gin7#? im-ma-an-nigin | |
| 34 | szesz-gu10 ag2-gig-ga me?-sze3? ga-DU# e2 na-me ga-an-ku4#? | |
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.