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CDLI Literary 000347, ex. 053 (P355697)
Literary, Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | CDLI Literary 000347, ex. 053 |
|---|---|
| ID | P355697 |
| Museum no. | BM 113234 |
| Collection | British Museum, London, UK |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Period | Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
| Find spot | uncertain (mod. uncertain) |
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 | [{d}]dumu#-zi# [...] | Dumuzi |
| 2 | gidru-ni gu2-na mu-un#?-di#?-[...] | His scepter ... on his neck |
| 3 | i-lu gar-u3 i-lu [...] | The lament is established, the lament ... |
| 4 | eden i#-lu gar-u3 ambar gu3 gar-u3# | The steppe is filled with lamentation, the marshes are filled with clamour |
| 5 | al-lub i7-da |GIR3xGANA2@t| i-lu gar-u3 | “Loading in the river, a lament is set, |
| 6 | bi2-za-za i7-da gu3 gar-u3 ama-gu10 gu3 he2-em-me | “If he shouts in the river, may my mother shout! |
| 7 | ama-mu tur-tur-gu10 gu3 he2-em-me | May my little mother cry out. |
| 8 | ama#-mu ninda-ia2-gu10 gu3 he2-em-me | My mother, may she cry out “my bread!' |
| 9 | ama#-mu ninda-u-gu10 gu3 he2-em-me | May my mother speak of my bread |
| 10 | u4-da# ug5-ga-gu10 nu-um-zu | My dead one does not know the storm |
| 11 | eden ama#-gu10-gin7 inim mu-e-de3-zu im-me | She says “like my mother in the steppe you have spoken to me" |
| 12 | nin ban3-da#-gu10-gin7 er2-gu10 he2-sze8-sze8 | Like my younger sister, may she weep for me |
| 13 | u4-ul-e ba-nu2 u4-ul-e ba-nu2 | He lies down in the storm, he lies down on the storm. |
| 14 | sipa u4-ul-e ba-nu2-gin7 ma-mu2-de3 ba-nu2 | Like a shepherd lying down in the storm, he lies down to me. |
| 15 | i-im-zi ma-mu2-da i-im-bu-lu-uh2 u3-sa2-ga | (Sum) He grew up with me, he screamed at me (Akk) He raised up his head to me, I rumbled at my mother |
| 16 | igi-ni szu bi2-in-kig2 nig2-me-gar su3-ga | his eyes he searched, a long-lasting thing |
| 17 | tum2-mu-un-ze tum2-mu-un-ze# nin9-gu10 tum2-mu-un#-ze | Bring, bring, bring my sister! |
| 18 | {d}gesztin-an-na-ke4 tum2-mu-un-ze# nin9#-gu10 tum2-mu-un-ze | May Geštinana bring, may my sister bring |
| 19 | dub-sar im-zu-gu10 tum2-mu-un#-ze# nin9#-gu10 tum2-mu-un-ze | May the scribe bring my knowledge, may he bring my sister |
| 20 | nar en3-du-zu-gu10 tum2-mu-un-ze nin9-gu10 tum2-mu-un-ze | May he bring my singer who knows song to you, may [he bring] my sister to you |
| 21 | lu2#-ban3#-da# sza3-inim-ma-zu-gu10 tum2-mu-un-ze nin9-gu10 tum2-mu-ze | Let me bring my messenger, let my sister bring my message |
| 22 | um-ma sza3-ma-mu2-da-zu-gu10 tum2-mu-un-ze nin9-gu10 tum2-mu-ze | "O mother, bring me your ša-mamu-da! Bring me my sister! |
| 23 | ma-mu2 ga-mu-un-na-bur2 | I want to burst my seed for him. |
| 24 | ma-mu2-da nin9-gu10 ma-mu2-da sza3-ma-mu2-da an-gal2 | With me, my sister, with me, there is rejoicing. |
| 25 | {u2}numun2 ma-zi-zi-i-zi {u2}numun2 ma-ra-mu2-a | “The date palms are planted for you, the dates for you are planted. |
| 26 | gi#-dili#-e du3-e sag ma-sag3-ge | The single reed worker strikes the head |
| 27 | gi-didli du3-e dili ma-ra-bad-re6 | The reed-beds that were built, I roam around for you alone. |
| 28 | tir-ra gisz AN ni2-bi ma-ra-an-zi-ga | He raised the ... tree for you in the forest. |
| 29 | ki-izi-ku3-ga2 a mu-da-an-de2 | He watered the water in my Ŋizkug. |
| 30 | {dug}szakir3-ku3-ga2 tun3-bi ma-ra-an-pad | He chose my churn for you. |
| 31 | an-za-am-ku3 {gisz}kak-ta la2-a-gu10 {gisz}kak-ta ba-ra-si-ig | My Anzamkug, who was bound by a “barley-bearing'-beam, was tied to a wooden bead. |
| 32 | {gisz}ma#-nu-gu10 u2-gu ba-e-da-an-de2 | My manu tree was pushed away(?) |
| 33 | [...]-ta#-e ga2-udu-ka sila4 szu ba-ni-ti | ... the lamb received from the sheepfold |
| 34 | [...] gi#-dub#?-ba-an-na-ka buru5{muszen} szu ba-ni-ti | ... in the reed screen(?) received the sparrow |
| 35 | [...]-dur2# ga nu-un-de2 | ... does not eat milk |
| 36 | [...] [{d}dumu]-zi# nu-un-ti amasz# lil2-am3 al-du3-a | ... Dumuzi lives no more, the sheepfold is an empty wind |
| 37 | [...]-ma#?-bur2#-e# | ... is to be released(?) |
| obverse col 2 | ||
| 1 | amasz e2 si-[ga ba-e-de3-ga2-ga2] | The sheepfold, a house of silence, you set it up. |
| 2 | {dug}szakir3 ku3-zu tun3#-[bi ma-ra-an-pad] | He has chosen your pure churn for you |
| 3 | lu2-hul-gal2-e szu-na [ba-e-ni-in-ku4-ku4] | The evildoer entered his hand |
| 4 | an-za-am ku3 {gisz}kak-ta la2-a-mu {gisz}kak-ta ba-[ra-si-ig] | The holy Anzam from the kiln was taken away. From the kakkiln he removed it. |
| 5 | du10-ub ama ugu-zu-ta ba-ra-szub-bu-de3 | So that the ub priestess does not abandon your birth mother |
| 6 | {gisz}ma#-nu-zu u2-gu ba-e-da-an-de2 | Your bed is stretched out on the ground |
| 7 | gal5-la2-e nig2 ba-e-ra-ra | The galla demons have taken away something. |
| 8 | {d}nin-ninna2-ta{muszen}-e ga2-udu-ka sila4# szu ba-ni-ti | Ninninna received the lamb from the rams |
| 9 | lu2-hul-gal2-e szu-na ba-e-ni-in-ku4-ku4 | The evildoer entered his hand. |
| 10 | sur2-du{muszen}-e gi-dub-ba-an-na-ka buru5{muszen} szu ba-ni-ti | The surdu bird received the buru bird from the reed screen. |
| 11 | gal5-la2-e amasz-tur3-ta im-mu-e-re-a-e11 | The galla demon came out from the sheepfold. |
| 12 | {dug}szakir3 i-dur2-dur2 ga nu-un-de2 | She sat down in the churn, she did not pour milk. |
| 13 | an-za-am i-dur2-dur2 {d}dumu-zi nu-un-ti amasz lil2-am3 al-du3-a | Anzam dwells, Dumuzi lives no more, the sheepfold is an empty wind. |
| 14 | szu-zu szu-du3-a ba-e-dab5-be2 | You seized your hand in the šudu ritual. |
| 15 | a2-zu a2-la2-a-bi [ba]-e#-ga2-ga2 | You set your power and power in order |
| 16 | masz2-uz3-da-zu su6 za-gin3-bi sahar-e ma-ra-gid2-e | Your goats, whose lapis lazuli are piled up in dust for you. |
| 17 | sig2-mu mar-uru5-gin7 an-na ma-ra-nigin | Like a reddish reed in the sky, I have surrounded it for you. |
| 18 | udu-uax(AMASZ) a2 gur-gur-ra-zu ki ma-ra-ab-hur-hur-re | (Sum) Your sheep, whose arms are bent back, the earth shakes for you (Akk) The sheep, your arms are turned back for you |
| 19 | szu-si-mu {gisz}bulug2-taskarin te ma-ra-ab-hur-hur-re | The šusīmu of the ulug-taskarin tree, how is it to be hurled at you? |
| 20 | inim-bi ka-za nam-ba-e-du11 NE x x x | Do not speak your word ... |
| 21 | nin9 du6-da e11-bi nin9 du6-da [e11-bi] | The sister of the Duda, its outflow, the sister [of the Dudua] |
| 22 | nin9 du6-da e11-da#-[zu-ne] | Sister, when you go up to the mound |
| 23 | du6-da nam-lu2-ulu3-gin7 nam-ba-[e11-da-nam] | You should not go up to the river like a human being |
| 24 | sig2-zu bar-zu u3-[mu-ne2-hur] | May your hair and your liver be turned away. |
| 25 | bidx(TUG2)-zu hasz4-zu [u3-mu-e-ne2-hur] | When you turn your neck towards your hips |
| 26 | nin9 du6-da [e11-bi] | The sister of the Duda temple |
| 27 | nin9 du6-da e11-da-zu-[de3 igi il2-la-ab] | Sister, when you go up to the mound, raise your eyes! |
| 28 | AM3 an-gig?-ga?-am3 AN# [...] | ... is an illness(?) |
| 29 | {gisz}ma2-gur8 i7-da AM3 AN# [...] | The barge in the river ... |
| 30 | gisz-szu-ka TUG2 am3-mi#-[...] | You ... the garment in your hand |
| 31 | gisz-gu2-ka gada am3-[...] | On the throne the linen ... |
| 32 | ama {d}gesztin-an-na [...] | Mother Geštinana |
| obverse col 3 | ||
| 1 | x [...] | |
| 2 | ku-li-mu sag# [...] | ... my head ... |
| 3 | sag u2 di4-di4-la2 [...] | The head of the small plants |
| 4 | sag u2 gal-gal-la [...] | The head of the great plants |
| 5 | e a-ra-li-ke4 [...] | The house of Arali |
| 6 | u4 ki-zu u4 pa3-de3# [...] | The storm that is to make your place resplendent(?) |
| 7 | ur gi6 ur [...] | Dogs of the night, ... dogs |
| 8 | ur gi7 ur [...] | Dogs of the river, ... dogs |
| 9 | lugal-ra lu2 mu-un#-[...] | For the king a man ... |
| 10 | u2 nu-zu-me-esz [...] | They do not know food |
| 11 | zid2 dub-dub-ba [...] | ... heaped up flour |
| 12 | a bal-bal [...] | ... flowing water |
| 13 | kadra [...] | ... festival |
| 14 | ur2 [...] | the base of |
| reverse col 1 | ||
| 1 | e-ne-sze3 [ku-li-ni-ir] | for this he dedicated it. |
| 2 | i7 a:ba mu-un-[...] | Who ... the river? |
| 3 | a-sza3 sze-ba [mu]-un#-[...] | The barley in the field ... |
| 4 | ku-li-mu sag# u2-a [...] | The one who ... my head and my body |
| 5 | {d}dumu-zi sag u2-a mu#-[...] | Dumuzi, head in the pastures |
| 6 | sag u2-a di4-di4-la2 ga-[an-szub] [...] | I want to abandon the head of the grass, the little ones |
| 7 | {d}dumu-zi sag u2-a di4-di4-la2 [...] | Dumuzi, the one who provides for the little ones |
| 8 | sag u2-a gal-gal-la ga-an-[...] | I want to ... the head of the large plants |
| 9 | {d}dumu-zi sag u2-a gal-gal# [...] | Dumuzi, foremost of the great nursemaids |
| 10 | e a-ra-li-ke4 ga-an-[...] | I want to ... the house of Arali |
| 11 | {d}dumu-zi e a-ra-li-ke4 [...] | Dumuzi, the house of Arali |
| 12 | iri-a nin9-mu mu-un-ti-en [...] | In the city my sister lives |
| 13 | dumu nin9-e sila-a he2-en-gub lu2# [...] | May the child of the sister stand in the street, the man ... |
| 14 | dumu ku-li sila-a he2-en-gub lu2# [...] | May the son of Kulli stand in the street, the man ... |
| 15 | lu2 ba-nigin-ne-esz a-nigin2 ba-[...] | The men gathered together, the sea ... |
| 16 | gu mu-un-na-sur-ru-ne sa mu#-[...] | They stretched out their necks for him, they tied knots |
| 17 | gu-ze2-ep-pa-tum mu-un-na-[...] | The guzeppatum drum |
| 18 | {gisz}ma-nu mu-un-na-[...] | The manu tree ... for him |
| 19 | lu2 igi-na-ke4 nig2 mu-[...] | The man before him did something |
| 20 | lu2 murgu-na-ke4 kusz3 [...] | The one of the murguna temple ... |
| 21 | szu-ni szu-du3-a ba-e-[dab5-be2] | his hand in the šudu ritual was seized |
| 22 | a2-ni a2-la2-a-bi ga2-[ga2] | his labor, his ala-service I shall perform |
| 23 | gurusz-ra {d}utu-ra an-sze3 [...] | For the young man Utu, to heaven |
| 24 | {d}utu |MI2.USZ|-ru6-mu-me-[...] | Šamaš |
| 25 | e2-an-na-sze3 [...] | To the Eanna temple |
| 26 | unu{ki}-sze3 [...] | to Uruk |
| 27 | nundum ku3-ge [...] | The holy scepter |
| 28 | du10 ku3-ge du10 {d}inanna-ke4# [...] | The pure one, the good one of Inanna |
| 29 | szu-ni szu-masz-da3-ra [...] | His hand to Šumashda |
| 30 | giri3-ni giri3-masz-da3-ra u3-[...] | His feet, the feet of a gazelle |
| 31 | KU {gisz}bix(NAM)-re-e-[...] | ... juniper |
| 32 | {d}utu a-igi-na [...] | Utu, before him |
| reverse col 2 | ||
| 1 | szu-ni [szu]-du3-a ba-e-dab5-be2 | his hand was seized in a šudu ritual |
| 2 | a2-ni a2-la2-a-bi ga2-ga2 | his labor, his alābu-tax is to be paid. |
| 3 | gurusz-e {d}utu-ra an-sze3 szu-ni ba-na-an-zi | The young man raised his hands to Utu |
| 4 | {d}utu mi2-u4-ru6-mu-me-en ga2-e nig2 mi2-us2 | I am Utu, I am the one who makes things abundant. |
| 5 | e2-an-na-sze3 u2 gur3-me-en | I am the one carrying grass for the Eana. |
| 6 | unu{ki}-sze3 nig2 mi2-us2-sa2 du11-me-en | I am the one who makes everything right for Uruk |
| 7 | nundum ku3-ge ne mu-un-su-ub-ba-me-en | I am the one who binds the holy crown in his hand. |
| 8 | du10 ku3-ge du10 {d}inanna e-ne x | The pure one, the good one, Inanna ... |
| 9 | szu-ni szu-musz-a u3-mu-e-ne2-si3 | “I will make his hand into a šumush-vessel. |
| 10 | giri3-ni giri2-musz-a u3-mu-e-ne2-si3 | “Umuni’s feet are the feet of a snake. |
| 11 | e2 um-ma {d}be-li-li-sze3 zi-ni ga-ba-szi | I want to go to the house of the mother of Belili |
| 12 | {d}utu a-igi-na szu ba-szi-in-ti | Šamaš before him received. |
| 13 | szu-ni szu-musz-a mu-e-ne2-si3 | He adorned his hands with a šumush-vessel. |
| 14 | giri3-ni giri3 uz | his feet, feet of goats |
| 15 | e2 um-ma {d}be-li-li-sze3 zi-ni mu-ni | He named it the house of the mother Bēleli. |
| 16 | um-ma lu2 nu-me-en dam dingir-ra-me-en | I am not a man, I am a spouse of a god |
| 17 | a ub-ta-bal-bal a tukum ga-nag | “Oh, I want to drink the water! |
| 18 | zid2 ub-ta-bal-bal-e zid2 tukum ga-gu7 | (Sum) If he constantly carries flour, if he eats flour, |
| 19 | a ub-ta-bal zid2 ub-ta-dub | He has carried water, he has heaped up flour. |
| 20 | a tukum-bi ga-nag sza3-bi-a ba-tusz | If I drink water, I will dwell in that midst. |
| 21 | um-ma e2-ta ba-ra-e3 | The mother left the house. |
| 22 | um-ma e3-ta e3-da-ni | After the mother came out, after she came out |
| 23 | gal5-la2-e-ne igi ba-ni-in-du8-usz-am3 | The galla demons looked at him. |
| 24 | tukum-bi u4-da um-ma ki {d}dumu-zi ti-la nu-zu | If at that time the mother did not know the place of Dumuzi |
| 25 | igi ne-ta a-na-am3-bar-bar-re | Why do you look at him with this eye? |
| 26 | gu3 ne-ta a-na-am3-de2-de2 | Why do you shout from this place? |
| 27 | ga2-nam-ma-an-ze2-en e2 um-ma {d}be-li-li-sze3 ga-an-szi-re7-en-de3-en | Let us go to the house of the mother of Belili! |
| 28 | {d}dumu-zi e2 um-ma {d}be-li-li-sze3 mu-ni-in-dab5-be2-ne | Dumuzi took him to the house of the mother of Belili. |
| 29 | lu2 ba-nigin-ne-esz a-nigin2 ba-ni-in-du8-usz | The men gathered, they gathered together. |
| 30 | gu mu-un-na-sur-ru-ne sa mu-un-na-kesz2-re6-ne | They cover him with a net and tie knots for him. |
| 31 | gu zi-ba-tum mu-un-na-sur-ru-ne | They are tearing out the limbs of the fallen one. |
| 32 | {gisz}ma-nu mu-un-na-hur-ru-ne | they turned him into a boat. |
| 33 | lu2 igi-na-ke4 nig2 mu-ra-ra | The man before him ... for you. |
| 34 | lu2 murgu-na-ke4 kusz3#-gin7# mu#-un#-bur2# | The one on his left side smashed it like a cubit |
| reverse col 3 | ||
| 1 | [{d}utu a-igi-na] szu ba-szi-ni-in#-[ti] | Šamaš before him received. |
| 2 | [szu-ni] szu-musz-a mu-e-ni-in-si3 | He filled his hands with a šumuša prayer |
| 3 | giri3-ni giri3-musz-a mu-e-ni-in-si3 | He filled his feet with a snake-foot. |
| 4 | amasz-tur3-sze3 amasz nin9-a-ni-sze3 zi-ni ba-szi-in-tum3 | To the sheepfold, to the fold of his sister, he brought her life. |
| 5 | gal5-la2-e-ne igi ba-ni-in-du8-am3 | The galla demons looked at him. |
| 6 | ga2-nam-ma-an-ze2-en amasz-tur3-sze3 amasz nin9-a-ni ga-an-szi-re7-de3-en | Come on, let us go to the sheepfold, to his sister's sheepfold! |
| 7 | {d}gesztin-an-na-ke5 amasz-tur3-sze3 amasz-zu mu-ni-in-dab5-be2-ne2 | Geštinana seized your sheepfold to the sheepfold. |
| 8 | {d}gesztin-an-na-ke5 gu3 an-ne2 ba-te gu3 ki-sze3 ba-te | Geštinana spoke to An, she spoke to the ground. |
| 9 | gu3 szu nigin2-na-ni an-ur2-ra tug2-gin7 im-ma-dul5{+dul} gada-gin7 bi2-bur2 | He covered the horizon like a garment, covered it like linen. |
| 10 | gal5-la2-e-ne amasz-tur3-sze3 ku4-ra-ni | The galla demons entered her sheepfold. |
| 11 | {gisz}NI-x gu3 ba-ni-ra | ... shouted |
| 12 | min-kam-ma amasz-tur3-sze3 ku4-ra-ni | Second time, when he enters the sheepfold, |
| 13 | {gisz}ma-nu izi ba-ni-ra | The manu-tree that ignites fire |
| 14 | esz5-kam-ma amasz-tur3-sze3 ku4-ra-ni | It is the fifth song; when he enters the sheepfold, |
| 15 | {dug}szakir3 ku3-ga2 tun3-bi ma-ra-an-pad | He chose my pure churn for you. |
| 16 | limmu-kam-ma amasz-tur3-sze3 ku4-ra-ni | It is the eponym year of the woman who enters the sheepfold. |
| 17 | ki-izi ku3-ga2 a mu-da-an-de2 | In my pure place he pours water. |
| 18 | ia2-kam-ma amasz-tur3-sze3 ku4-ra-ni | It is the first time that he enters the sheepfold. |
| 19 | an-za-am ku3 {gisz}kak-ta-la2-mu {gisz}kak-ta ba-ra-ab-si-ig | The holy Anzam, the kaktalamu-tree, was tied to the kakta. |
| 20 | asz3-kam-ma amasz-tur3-sze3 ku4-ra-ni | It is the third time that he has entered the sheepfold. |
| 21 | {dug}szakir3 i3-dur2-dur2 ga nu-un-de2 | The šakir-vessels were covered, milk was not poured. |
| 22 | imin-kam-ma amasz-tur3-sze3 ku4-ra-ni | It is the ninth time that he has entered the sheepfold. |
| 23 | an-za-am i-dur2-dur2 {d}dumu-zi nu-um-ti amasz lil2-am3 al-du3-a | Anzam dwells, Dumuzi lives no more, the sheepfold is an empty wind. |
| 24 | {d}dumu-zi ug5-ga | Dumuzi, the dead, |
| 25 | zag-til-la | to be finished |
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.