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Shamash Religious Texts pl. 19 K 02296 (P394330)

Neo-Assyrian, Nineveh · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE

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DesignationShamash Religious Texts pl. 19 K 02296
IDP394330
Museum no.BM —
CollectionBritish Museum, London, UK
LanguageAkkadian
PeriodNeo-Assyrian · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE
Find spotNineveh (mod. Kuyunjik)
Coordinates36.3582, 43.1621

English translation

By Gray, Clifton D. · Via Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC)

LineEnglish
Obverse [0:1] o 11–o 11If a prince is riding a chariot and, in the course of a campaign, either the yoke or the shaft or the lance or some wooden part(?) of the chariot
Obverse [1:2] o 22–o 22breaks, and the prince, the owner of the chariot, sees (it), discontentedness will constantly pursue that prince, who was riding the chariot, (and) he will encounter (lit. see) troubles {or, the consequences (of the sign)}.
Obverse [2:3] o 33–o 33If that sign does not draw near to the prince or his land, to make his troubles {or, consequences} pass by, so that the aforementioned prince, wherever he goes, will achieve his desire,
Obverse [3:4] o 44–o 44and (so that) when he goes on campaign he will return to his land unharmed (lit. in good condition), he sacrifices a sheep to the great gods, Nergal and the gods of the steppe,
Obverse [4:5] o 55–o 55The great gods, Nergal and the gods of the steppe, for the prince who was riding the chariot, will have mercy (on him), and rescue him, spare him, and save him.
Obverse [5:6] o 66–o 66That prince will bring word before Shamash (about the situation); then he will sacrifice a sheep and perform "its releasing" (the namburbi-ritual) so that the aforementioned prince will constrain the hostility (directed against) him.
Obverse [6:7] o 77–o 77The prince who saw the evil [will (also) see] (its) assauging. The great gods, Nergal and the gods of the steppe, will be at peace with that prince and a campaign of truth and justice
Obverse [7:8] o 88–o 88they will give to that prince and he will constrain the hostility (directed against) him.
Obverse [8:9] o 99–o 99Do no neglect your instructions!
Obverse [9:10] o 1010–o 1010When he (i.e., the prince) brings word before Shamash, you set out a ritual assemblage before Shamash. The incantation "Utu who proceeds from the great mountain"
Obverse [10:11] o 1111–o 1111(and) the incantation "Shamash, great lord, whose 'yes' (means) yes, whose 'no' (means) no" you make that prince speak.
Obverse [11:12] o 1212–o 1212[After] that you? {or, he?} set(s) out a ritual assemblage to Nergal and the gods of the steppe. The exorcist lifts his hands and the incantation "You, O Nergal, powerful one among the gods, his brothers, the most pre-eminent one (lit. the pre-eminent one [of] the first)"
Obverse [12:13] o 1313–o 1313he recites.
Obverse [13:14] o 1414–o 1414[The (Sumerian) incantation "Utu], who proceeds from [the great mountain]" / (in Akkadian) "Shamash, you proceed from the great mountain"
Obverse [14:15] o 1515–o 1515[. . .] proceeds [. . .]
Obverse [15:16] o 1616–o 1616[. . . pr]oceeds [. . .]
Obverse [16:17] o 1717–o 1717[. . . proc]eeds [. . .]
Obverse [19:20] o 3'3'–o 3'3'[. . .] . . . may [. . .] . . . [. . .]
Obverse [20:21] o 4'4'–o 4'4'[. . .] . . . may he e[at . . .] may he drink . . .
Obverse [22:23] o 6'6'–o 6'6'May the [evil] u[tukku-demon] not lay hold of his case.
Obverse [23:24] o 7'7'–o 7'7'Incantation: O Shamash, great lord, whose "yes" (means) yes (and) [whose] "n[o]" (means) [no, the lord] of the upper and lower regions, who illuminates the darkness, O Shamash, you (indeed)!
Obverse [24:25] o 8'8'–o 8'8'Who converts the (evil) signs (and) portents, as many as [there are, to ones favorable], who makes "its releasing" (i.e., namburbi-ritual) effective wherever signs (and) portents, as many as there are, (occur),
Obverse [25:26] o 9'9'–o 9'9'Now, (concerning) the evil sign that [happened] "in [my] steppe," [according to] your great [com]mand that cannot be changed and your true affirmation that cannot be overturned,
Obverse [26:27] o 10'10'–o 10'10'Release that evil! Save (my) life! Era[se . . .] so that I may live, that I may be whole, and that in the presence of your great divinity I may walk about in safety "in my steppe,"
Obverse [27:28] o 11'11'–o 11'11'Let me see your light. Let me [warm myself] with your heat! Decree for me [a fate of li]fe that I may live in your presence!
Obverse [28:29] o 12'12'–o 12'12'Lengthen my days [. . .], tear out the evil portent, throw away the knot of evil in my steppe.
Edge [0:1] e. 1e. 1–e. 1e. 1I am scared, I am frightened [. . .]
Edge [1:2] e. 22–e. 22I turn to you, I seek [you] out [. . .]
Edge [2:3] e. 33–e. 33On account of a portent [. . .]
Reverse [0:1] r 11–r 11O Shamash, on this day stand for me in my trial and judge my case, decide my lawsuit. O Shamash, pre-eminent among the gods, have mercy on me.
Reverse [1:2] r 22–r 22May the heavens rejoice because of you; may the Apsu be glad on your account. May the gods of the entire world bless you. May the great gods make your heart happy.
Reverse [2:3] r 33–r 33May Anu, Enlil, and Ea magnify your name!
Reverse [3:4] r 44–r 44It is the wording of a lifted-hand prayer to Shamash.
Reverse [4:5] r 55–r 55Incantation: You, O Nergal, powerful one among the gods, (his) brothers, the most pre-eminent one (lit. the pre-eminent who is the first), creation of the Apsu : you hold the earth in your hand.
Reverse [5:6] r 66–r 66The awe-inspiring radiance of your fearsomeness covers the steppe. The gods of the night, the stars of the night, seek in your presence the middle of [the heavens(?)]
Reverse [6:7] r 77–r 77The way is straight for you; the path is clear for you. The furious inspector-demon in his lair(?) (and) the Lilu-demon fe[ar you(?)].
Reverse [7:8] r 88–r 88[(. . .)] your [wife], queen Ereshkigal, gives you (victory in) combat (and) battle in(?) your environs(?). Awe-inspiring radiance [. . .]
Reverse [8:9] r 99–r 99[. . .] with her [fe]arsomeness she has given [. . .] to you. Her unfaceable rage . . . [. . .]
Reverse [9:10] r 1010–r 1010[. . .] her [fea]rsomeness, her awe-inspiring radiance, so-and-so, son of so-and-so, your servant . . . [. . .]
Reverse [10:11] r 1111–r 1111[. . .] . I, so-and-so, your exhausted servant, [. . .]
Reverse [12:13] r 2'2'–r 2'2'Ea and Asallu[ḫi . . .]
Reverse [13:14] r 3'3'–r 3'3'14 loaves (of bread) you set out. Dates and fine [flour . . .]
Reverse [14:15] r 4'4'–r 4'4'On the left side, you set up an adagurru-vessel. A censer of [juniper . . .]
Reverse [15:16] r 5'5'–r 5'5'Every day you set out a meal. You libate miḫḫu-beer . . .
Reverse [16:17] r 6'6'–r 6'6'"Anything evil, an evil god, an evil goddess, you (Shamash?) slay for humanity! Witchcraft, magic, sorcery, (evil) machinations
Reverse [17:18] r 7'7'–r 7'7'Which you know (but) I do not know: On this day tear (it) out, withdraw (it), let it go away, let it be separated from my body!
Reverse [18:19] r 8'8'–r 8'8'I, your exhausted servant, will sing your praises!" he/you say(s).
Reverse [19:20] r 9'9'–r 9'9'If a king or a prince was riding a chariot and falls from the chariot, in order to effect its releasing so that its evil does not reach the king or (lit. and) the prince,
Reverse [20:21] r 10'10'–r 10'10'and in order to save him, for three days the exorcist (and) the king or (lit. and) the prince sanctify themselves. At the bank of the river, you sweep the ground. You sprinkle pure water. For Marduk, Shamash, the god of the city and the goddess of the city,
Reverse [21:22] r 11'11'–r 11'11'(For) his (personal) god (and) his (personal) goddess, you set up . . . censers. You sacrifice a pure sheep. You put one shekel's worth of fatty tissue for each to the flame. You strew aromatics (i.e., herbs) with flour.
Reverse [22:23] r 12'12'–r 12'12'You set up beer. You set out [gift]s for those gods and you say thus:
Reverse [23:24] r 13'13'–r 13'13'I call out to you, O great gods! Pay attention to my utterance (lit. the issuance of my mouth)! May they tell me (see line 14ˊ) the sin that I committed, (what) I neglected, (how) I transgressed,
Reverse [24:25] r 14'14'–r 14'14'So that I may guard myself (against doing it again). You say (this) seven times and libate the beer that you set out. With sikillu-plant (and) mashtakal-plant
Reverse [25:26] r 15'15'–r 15'15'in filtered oil you rub (him) and then the evil signs will not reach him.
Reverse [26:27] r 16'16'–r 16'16'The namburbi for the evil that results from (improperly carrying out) a cultic regulation, a mistake in a ritual, or (lit. and) a purification rite.

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)

LineATFMachine English (draft)
o
1DIŠ NUN {giš(diš)}GIGIR U₅-ma KASKAL ina DU-šu₂ lu-u₂ {giš}ni-i-ru lu-u {giš}ma-šad-du lu-u₂ {giš}as-mar-u₂ lu-u mim-ma hu-ṣab {giš}GIGIR
2iš-še-bir-ma NUN EN {giš}GIGIR IGI NUN BI U₅ {giš}GIGIR la ṭu-ub lib₃-bi UŠ-MEŠ-šu ud-da-a-tu₂ IGI
3šum₄-ma GISKIM ši-i ana NUN u KUR-šu NU TE{e} u₂-da-šu šu-tu-qi₂-im-ma NUN BI a-šar DU{ku} AŠ₂-su i-kaš-ša₂-du
4u₃ ina KASKAL DU{ku} šal-mu-us-su(ŠU) ana KUR-šu i-tur-ra ana DINGIR-MEŠ GAL-MEŠ {d}U.GUR u DINGIR-ME EDIN SISKUR₂ BAL{qi₂}
5DINGIR-MEŠ GAL-MEŠ {d}⸢U.GUR u DINGIR-ME EDIN⸣ ana NUN U₅ {giš}GIGIR ARHUŠ TUKU-MEŠ-ma iṭ-ṭi-ru-šu i-gam-me-lu-šu u₃ u₂-še-ez-zi-bu-šu
6NUN BI ma-⸢har {d}UTU u₂-ba-as-sar⸣ u₃ SISKUR₂ i-naq-qi₂-ma NAM.BUR₂.BI ip-pu-uš-ma NUN BI KUR₂-šu₂ i-kam-me
7NUN ša₂ HUL IGI pa-ša₂-⸢ha⸣ [IGI{mar]} ⸢DINGIR⸣-MEŠ GAL-MEŠ {d}U.GUR u DINGIR-MEŠ EDIN it-ti NUN BI i-sal-li-mu-ma KASKAL kit-ti u mi-ša₂-ri
8ana NUN BI SUM{nu}ma KUR₂-šu i-kam-mi
9ana ih-zi-ka la te-eg-gi
10e-nu-ma ma-har {d}UTU u₂-ba-as-sa-ru KEŠDA ana IGI {d}UTU KEŠDA{as} EN₂ {d}utu kur-gal-ta e₃-a-ni
11EN₂ {d}UTU EN GAL{u₂} ša₂ an-na-šu₂ an-nu ul-la-šu₂ ul-lu NUN BI tu-šad-bab
12[EGIR]-⸢šu ana⸣ {d}U.GUR u DINGIR-MEŠ EDIN ⸢KEŠDA KEŠDA{as⸣} MAŠ.MAŠ ŠU+su IL₂-ma EN₂ at-ta {d}U.GUR gaš-ru DINGIR-MEŠ ŠEŠ-MEŠ-šu₂ a-ša₂-re-du
13[ša] mah-ri ŠID
14[EN₂ {d}utu kur-gal]-⸢ta {d}UTU⸣ [iš]-⸢tu⸣ KUR{⸢i} GAL{i} tu-ṣa⸣-[a] im-⸢ta⸣-e₃-a-nam
15[...] ⸢im-ta⸣-e₃-a-nam
16[... im]-⸢ta⸣-e₃-a-nam
17[... im-ta-e₃]-⸢a-nam⸣
1'[...] AN [...]
2'[...] AN.ME ⸢DAG⸣ [...]
3'[...] ⸢x⸣ li-[...] ⸢x x x x x⸣ [...]
4'[x x] ⸢x šid⸣-e-ne li-⸢ku⸣-[lu ...] ⸢li⸣-iš-tu-u₂ he₂-en-⸢šub-bu-x⸣
5'[x x] ⸢x šub⸣-e-ne sal-⸢x⸣-[x x x]-di-du he₂-en-sar-re-e-ne
6'udug hul.gal₂ di-da-a-ni u₂-[tuk-ku lem-nu] ⸢di⸣-ni-šu₂ a-a iṣ-bat nam-ba-bu-ne
7'EN₂ {d}UTU EN GAL{u₂} ša₂ an-na-šu₂ an-na ⸢ul⸣-[la-šu₂ ul-la EN] ⸢AN⸣.TA-MEŠ u KI.TA-MEŠ mu-nam-⸢mir ek-let⸣ {d}UTU at-ta-ma
8'muš-pe-el A₂-MEŠ GISKIM-ME ma-⸢la⸣ [ba-ša₂-a dum-qa] ⸢mu⸣-pa-aš₂-šir₃ NAM.BUR₂.BI{e} e-⸢ma A₂⸣-ME GISKIM-MEŠ ma-la ba-ša₂-a
9'i-na-an-ni GISKIM HUL{tu₂} ša₂ ina EDIN-[MU GAL₂{u} ina qi₂]-⸢bi⸣-ti-ka GAL{ti} ša₂ NU KUR₂{ru} u₃ an-ni-ka ki-nim ša₂ NU BAL{u}
10'HUL šu₂ šup-ṭir e(A-)ṭir ZI pu-⸢su⸣-[us ...] ⸢lu⸣-ub₂-luṭ lu-uš-lim-ma šal-meš ina ma-har ⸢DINGIR{ti⸣}ka GAL{ti} lut-tal-lak ina EDIN-MU
11'ZALAG₂-ka lu-mur UD.DA-ka lu-[uš-tah-hu-un ši-mat TI].⸢LA⸣ ši-man-ni-ma ma-har-ka lu-ub₂-luṭ
12'UD-MEŠ-ia ur-ri-ik [... GISKIM] HUL-ti₃ u₂-⸢suh(NUN) ki-ṣir HUL ŠUB{e} ina EDIN-ia₂
e.
1pal-ha-ku ad-ra-⸢ku⸣ [...]
2as-hur-ka ⸢eš-ʾ⸣-[ka ...]
3aš₂-šu₂ ⸢GISKIM⸣ [...]
r
1{d}UTU ina u₄-mi an-ni-i ina di-ni-ia i-ziz-za-am-ma di-ni di-in EŠ.BAR{a-a} KUD{us} {d}UTU a-ša₂-re-di DINGIR-MEŠ ri-ša₂-a re-e-ma
2AN{u₂} lih-du-ka ABZU li-riš-ka DINGIR-MEŠ ša₂ kiš-ša₂-ti lik-ru-bu-ka DINGIR-⸢MEŠ⸣ GAL-MEŠ lib₃-ba-ka li-ṭib-bu
3{d}a-num {d}EN.LIL₂ u {d}e₂-a li-šar-bu-u₂ zi-kir₃-ka
4KA.INIM.MA ŠU.IL₂.LA₂ {d}UTU.KAM
5EN₂ at-ta {d}ne₃-iri₁₁-gal gaš-ru DINGIR-MEŠ ŠEŠ-MEŠ-šu₂ a-ša₂-re-ed ša₂ mah-ru tab-nit ABZU bu-kur₂ {d}a-nim tam-ha-ta KI{ti₃} qa-tuk-ka
6⸢nam⸣-ri-ir-ri pu-luh-ti-ka EDIN kat₂-mu DINGIR-ME GE₆{ti} MUL-MEŠ GE₆{ti} ina pa-ni-ka i-še-ʾ-u qab-⸢li⸣ [AN{e]}
7⸢šu⸣-šur-ka pa-da-nu pe-ti-ka ur-ha ha-a-a-ṭu ez-zu u₂-šub-šu li-lu ⸢pa⸣-[al-hu-ka]
8[(...) hi-ir-ta]-ka šar-rat {d}ereš-ki-gal qab-la tam-ha-ra <ina> li-mi-ti-ka id-din-ka nam-ri-⸢ir-ru⸣ [...]
9[... pu]-luh-ta-ša₂ id-din-ka uz-zu-uš la ma-har A ⸢x x⸣ NA RU [...]
10[... pu]-luh-ta-ša₂ nam-ri-ri-ša₂ NENNI A NENNI IR₃-⸢ka x x x x x⸣ [...]
11[...] ⸢x ana-ku NENNI⸣ šu-nu-ha ⸢IR₃-ka x⸣ [...]
1'[x] ⸢x x⸣ [...]
2'{d}e₂-a u {d}⸢asal-lu₂⸣-[hi ...]
3'1(u) 4(diš) NINDA-MEŠ GAR{an} ZU₂.LUM.MA {⸢zi₃⸣}[EŠA ...]
4'ana GUB₂ 1(diš) {dug}A.DA.GUR₅ GIN{an} NIG₂.NA {⸢šim⸣}[LI ...]
5'ka-la u₄-mi nap-tan GAR{an} KAŠ mi-ih-hi BAL{qi₂} ⸢x x x x x x x x x x x x⸣ BAD DINGIR ⸢x⸣
6'mim-ma lem-nu DINGIR lem-nu {d}1(u) 5(diš) HUL{tu₂} a-me-lu-ti₃ te-še-eg-gi-iš kiš-pi ru-he-e ru-se-e up-ša₂-še-e
7'ša₂ at-ta ZU{u} ana-ku NU ZU{u₂} ina u₄-mi an-ni-i u₂-suh dup-pir lit-tal-lak lip-pa-ri-is ina SU-MU
8'ana-ku šu-nu-ha IR₃-ka da₃-li₂-li₂-ka lud-lul DUG₄.GA
9'šum₄-ma LUGAL lu-u₂ NUN <TA> {giš}GIGIR U₅-ma TA {giš}GIGIR ŠUB{ta} ana NAM.BUR₂.BI BUR₂-ma LUGAL u NUN HUL-šu₂ NU SA₂.SA₂
10'u e-ṭe-ri-šu₂ UD.3(diš).KAM {lu₂}MAŠ.MAŠ LUGAL u NUN uq-ta-ad-da-šu₂ ina GU₂ ID₂ KI SAR A KU₃ SUD ana {d}AMAR.UTU {d}UTU DINGIR URU u {d}iš₈-tar₂ URU
11'DINGIR-šu₂ {d}iš₈-tar₂-šu₂ NIG₂.NA-MEŠ šam-hu-ta GAR{an} {udu}SISKUR₂ eb-ba BAL 1(diš) GIN₂.TA.AM₃ {uzu}ME.HE₂ NE.DIR GAR ŠIM.HI.A KI ZI₃.MAD.GA₂ DUB{aq}
12'KAŠ.SAG GIN{an} [NIG₂.BA]-MEŠ ana DINGIR-MEŠ ša₂-šu-nu GAR-ma UR₅.GIM DUG₄.GA
13'DINGIR-MEŠ GAL-MEŠ al-si-ku-nu-ši ana ṣi-it KA-ia qu₂-la-a-ni an-ni ah-ṭu-u₂ e-še-ṭu₂ u₂-gal-li-lu
14'liq-bu-nim-ma ana-ku lut-ta-aṣ-⸢ra 7(diš)-šu₂ DUG₄.GA-ma KAŠ.SAG ša₂ tu-kin-nu BAL U₂.SIKIL U₂.IN.NU.UŠ
15'ina I₃.GIŠ BARA₂.GA ŠEŠ₂-ma ⸢GISKIM-MEŠ⸣ HUL-MEŠ NU KUR-MEŠ-šu₂
16'NAM.BUR₂.BI HUL GARZA NAM.TAG.GA ki-du-de-e u ŠU.LUH.HA

Sources & licences

Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.