CDLI Literary 000509, ex. 001 (P423487)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Ur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | CDLI Literary 000509, ex. 001 |
|---|---|
| ID | P423487 |
| 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 | Lord who perfectly executes supreme wisdom, and gives great advice |
| obverse 2 | Haya, who holds the great tablets, (which) make thick/triplicate(?) understanding |
| obverse 3 | Accountant of Halankug, skillful knotter and opener of the eye(?) of the “house of wisdom of Nisaba” |
| obverse 4 | Archivist of the palace of the universe, counting up all of the tasks |
| obverse 5 | One who holds the holy reed (stylus), writing/making shine the tablet of great fates(?) |
| obverse 6 | Wise one who listens to the word/ponders matters(?) for holy An daily |
| obverse 7 | Seal-bearer of father Enlil, šatam official(?) and key holder(?) of the storehouse of the Ekur temple |
| obverse 8 | Ornament of shrine Abzu, who ties up(?) (his) external hair for lord Nudimmud |
| obverse 9 | Haya, the šagadala priest of the Eunir temple, the one who passes into the holy uzga cella |
| obverse 10 | The one who acts sagaciously of shrine Ekišnugal, who exalts its supreme name |
| obverse 11 | The one with thoughts in his mind(?) who Ningal sustains in the great dining hall/sanctum |
| obverse 12 | (Possessor of) beautiful features, beloved spouse of Nunbaršegunu (Nisaba) |
| obverse 13 | Man with a great name, father-in-law of Great Mountain Enlil |
| obverse 14 | Junior saga functionary, wise one, examiner(?) and ... of both heaven and earth |
| obverse 15 | Who received the tribute of the gods, and disseminates his (Enlil's?) word about the abundance of(?) distant mountains and seas |
| obverse 16 | Wise one who is clad in the control/superimposition of(!?) the supreme cosmic powers of rulership(?) |
| obverse 17 | (Possessor) of a mind broadly “squeezed” (of every potential idea?), grasping the holy plans of the temple of Eridu |
| obverse 18 | Haya, he of the pure šuluh rites of the watery deep, fastened to(?) the ba garment |
| obverse 19 | Indagara, saga functionary, in heaven and the netherworld (he is) the mouth-opener (ritual practitioner) of the gods |
| obverse 20 | Who knows the contents of esoteric tablets, the skillfully acting one of the great gods |
| obverse 21 | The one who fixes in place the emblems set (upon) a wood(en pole)(?), caretaker(?) of the ... site of the land |
| obverse 22 | (As well as?) the kišutag shrines, and the verdant(?) sanctum for Anšar and Great Mountain (Enlil) |
| obverse 23 | Supreme one who raises the head, who is agreeable to his (Enki's) command in shrine Abzu |
| obverse 24 | Caretaker who requisitions pure daily rations (for?) the temples of the gods |
| obverse 25 | Without Kusu and Indagara the sky would not be pure, the earth would not be clean |
| obverse 26 | The one who dines extensively in the supreme dining hall/sanctum of An and Enlil |
| obverse 27 | The one whose pure face(?) is seen by lord Nudimmud/has seen lord Nudimmud(?) |
| obverse 28 | Who holds the pure bronze vessel/mirror(?) that gladdens the heart and improves/beautifies(?) the back/liver |
| obverse 29 | My king, I want to praise your greatness in song |
| reverse 1 | Haya, I want to constantly discover your greatness as a treasure |
| reverse 2 | Who is like you among the gods in being suited for the pure cosmic powers? |
| reverse 3 | Your beloved spouse, the young woman Nisaba, the great lady/"elder sister"(?) of ladies |
| reverse 4 | Her womb gave birth to(?) Ninlil, the supreme spouse of Nunamnir |
| reverse 5 | She who has raised her head in the tent enclosure/at the dais of the Ekur temple, she is able to approach(?) towards heaven |
| reverse 6 | She singly exercises the queenship of the gods (as) a god that has no rival |
| reverse 7 | You, the great breed bull that finds true counsel, who constantly inquires after the gods |
| reverse 8 | Haya, who gives out the cosmic powers and assigns work, you are the one who makes (others?) familiar with(?) the shrine |
| reverse 9 | Enki bestowed his incantations of life to you in shrine Abzu |
| reverse 10 | You install the en priestess in the gipar cloister, you put in place (its) caretaking(?) |
| reverse 11 | For the shepherd of the homeland, you take hold of the supreme scepter of(?) distant time for his hand |
| reverse 12 | Haya, god of the homeland, you are the one who listens to the arazu prayer of the many people |
| reverse 13 | You (among the?) great gods take hold of/settle(?) the broad population for his hand |
| reverse 14 | After Enki comes forth from the Abzu |
| reverse 15 | Haya, he shall measure/assign(?) its greatness for you |
| reverse 16 | The one(s) who are in the midst of the homeland(?) shall raise their necks towards heaven |
| reverse 17 | Its people will pass the time rejoicing |
| reverse 18 | You will compel its many people to rejoice as in ancient times |
| reverse 19 | You establish festivals (in) the temples of the great gods and therefore release joy |
| reverse 20 | The foremost among the gods(?), when he ... the great lots that sustain/finish(?) the land/people |
| reverse 21 | For the sake of the king, look faithfully towards him (with) your beautiful face that is filled with/surpassing with(?) life |
| reverse 22 | For prince Rīm-Sîn, faithfully establish a most joyous reign of distant duration |
| reverse 23 | Enter this name on the tablet of life, which is never to be altered |
| reverse 24 | So that An and Enlil shall love the lordship of shepherd Rīm-Sîn |
| reverse 25 | The singers shall make your praise sweet in their(?) mouths |
| reverse 26 | Haya, the singers shall make your praise sweet in their(?) mouths |
| reverse 27 | Lord of the universe, king of the watery deep, whose(?) praise is supreme |
| reverse 28 | Father Enki, king of the watery deep, your praise is sweet |
| reverse 29 | It is its uru. |
| reverse 30 | Haya, god of the land who loves the will to live/the ex-voto offering(?), your shall be his one who extends open arms (in protection) |
| reverse 31 | It is its gešgigal “response”. |
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 | en gesztu2 mah szu du7 sa2 gal-e pa3-da | |
| 2 | {d}ha-ia3 dub gal-gal ha-ha-za gesztux(|GISZ.TUG2|)-gesztu2-ga pesz-pesz | |
| 3 | szita5-du3 hal-an-ku3 igi kad5? BAD galam-ma e2-|E2.GESZTU2| {d}nisaba-ke4 | |
| 4 | sza13-dub-ba e2-gal an-ki-a kinx(UR4) kilib3-ba szid-szid | |
| 5 | gi ku3-ga szu gal2-le im nam tar gal-gal mul-mul | |
| 6 | gal-an-zu inim gesztu2 de5-ge u4-bi-sze3 an ku3-ga-ra | |
| 7 | kiszib3-gal2 a-a {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4 lu2 <sza3>-tam-ma <lu2>-e3 erim3# e2-kur-ra | |
| 8 | he2-du7 esz3-e abzu-a siki bar-ra sur5-sur5 en {d}nu-dim2-mud-ra | |
| 9 | {d}ha-ia3 sza3-gada-la2 e2-u6-nir-ra uz-ga ku3-sze3 dab | |
| 10 | umun2 ke3-ke3 esz3 e2-kisz-nu-gal2-ke4 mu mah-bi gal-la#? | |
| 11 | sza3 inim gal2 ki-sikil {d}nin-gal-e unu2 gal ti-la | |
| 12 | musz3-me sa6 gidlam2 ki ag2 {d}nun-bar-sze-gu-nu | |
| 13 | lu2 mu mah mi2-us2#-sa2 kur-gal a-a {d}en-lil2-la2 | |
| 14 | saga banda3{+da} igi-gal2-tuku igi#? kar2# x-x an ki-bi-da-ke4 | |
| 15 | gu2-un dingir-re#-e#-ne# szu# gid2#-da#? ma#-dam kur ab su3-u4-da inim-ma-ni bur2#?-e | |
| 16 | gal-zu me mah# nam#?-nun#?-na#?-ka u5#?-bi# za3 kesz2-da | |
| 17 | sza3 dagal# sur-ra gesz-hur ku3-ga e2 eridu#{ki}-ga-ke4 szu dab#?-be2# | |
| 18 | {d}ha-ia3 lu2 szu-luh sikil-la engur-ra-ke4 {tug2}ba13-sze3 la2-la2 | |
| 19 | {d}nindagarax(|NINDA2.GU4|) sanga2 utah-he2 kur-ta ka# duh-u3 dingir-re-e-ne#-ke4 | |
| 20 | sza3 dub-ba su3-u4-da zu#-a galam ke3-ke3 dingir gal-gal-e-ne | |
| 21 | szu!?-nir-nir gesz du3-a du3-du3 sag si-ga ki galam HAR kalam-ma | |
| 22 | ki-szu-tag-tag unu2 sig7-ga an-szar2 kur-gal-ra | |
| 23 | sag il2 mah esz3-e abzu-ta du11-ga-ni sze-ga | |
| 24 | lu2 sag kesz2 kur6 u4 sikil-la szu dab-be2 e2 dingir-re-e-ne | |
| 25 | {d}ku3-su3 {d}nindagarax(|NINDA2.GU4|) e-ne-ne-da nu an nu-sikil-la ki nu-dadag-ge | |
| 26 | u2 gal-gal su3-su3 an {d}en-lil2-la2 unu2 mah-ne-ne-ke4 | |
| 27 | lu2 musz3 ku3-ga igi duh en {d}nu-dim2-mud-e | |
| 28 | zabar ku3-ga szu gal2-le sza3 hul2-hul2 bar si-si-ge5 | |
| 29 | lugal-gu10 nam-mah-zu szir3-ra ga-am3-i-i | |
| reverse | ||
| 1 | {d}ha-ia3 nam-gal-zu gil-sa-sze3 ga-am3-pa3-pa3-de3 | |
| 2 | a-ba za-a-gin7 dingir-re-e-ne-ke4 me ku3-ga-asz tum2-ma | |
| 3 | gidlam ki ag2-zu ki-sikil {d}nisaba nin9 gal nin-e-ne | |
| 4 | u3-tu-da sza3-ga-ni {d}nin-lil2-la2 dam mah {d}nu-nam-nir#-ra | |
| 5 | bara2 e2-kur-ra-ke4 sag il2-la an-sze3 szi-in-da-ti | |
| 6 | nam-eresz dingir-re-e-ne-ke4 me-er-ga-bi al-ke3-e dingir za3 sza4 nu-tuku | |
| 7 | za-e ninda2 gal galga zi pa3-da en3 tar-tar dingir-re-e-ne-ke4 | |
| 8 | {d}ha-ia3 me szum2-szum2-mu kinx(UR4) ag2-e ki-szu-pesz igi zu-zu-a-me-en | |
| 9 | {d}en-ki-ke4 esz3-e abzu-ta mu7-mu7 nam-ti-la-ni mu-ra-rig7 | |
| 10 | en ge6-par4-e mu-ni-ib-hun-en sag si mu-ni-ib-gar-re-en | |
| 11 | sipa kalam-ma-ra gidri mah u4 su3-ra2 szu-ni-sze3 bi2-ib-dab5-be2!-en | |
| 12 | {d}ha-ia3 dingir kalam-ma a-ra-zu ug3 szar2-ra gesz tuku-me-en | |
| 13 | za-e dingir gal-gal-e-ne ug3 dagal-la szu-ni-sze3 bi2-ib-dab5-e#?-en | |
| 14 | a-a {d}en-ki abzu-ta e3-da-ni-ta | |
| 15 | {d}ha-ia3 nam-gal-bi za-e sza-mu-re-da-an-ag2 | |
| 16 | kalam sza3-ba i3-ni-me-a-ke4 gu2-bi an-sze3 szi-bi2-ib-zi-zi | |
| 17 | nam-lu2-lu7-bi u4 asil3-la2 mi-ni-ib-zal-zal-le-ne | |
| 18 | ug3 szar2-ra-bi sza3 hul2-la u4 ul-li2-a-asz bi2-ib-ke3-e-en | |
| 19 | e2 dingir gal-gal-e-ne ezem ab-gar-re-en giri17-zal szi-bi2-du8-du8-un | |
| 20 | sag-kal-sag-kal-e dingir-re-e-ne-ke4 gesz-szub gal-gal ug3 til-la-a#!?-ni | |
| 21 | igi sa6-ga-zu nam-ti SI-A lugal-ra igi zi bar-mu-un-szi-ib | |
| 22 | nun {d}ri-im-{d}suen bala hul2-hul2 u4 su3-u4-da szu zi gar-mu-na-ab | |
| 23 | im nam-ti-la-ke4 du-ri2-sze3 nu-kur2-ru mu-bi gub-ni | |
| 24 | sipa {d}ri-im-{d}suen nam-en-bi an {d}en-lil2-la2 ki he2-ag2-e-ne | |
| 25 | lu2-szir3-ra-ke4 za3-mi2-zu ka-bi-a mi-ni-ib-du10-ge-ne | |
| 26 | {d}ha-ia3 lu2-szir3-ra-ke4 za3-mi2-zu ka-bi-a mi-ni-ib-du10-ge-ne | |
| 27 | en an-ki lugal abzu-a za3-mi2-bi mah-a | |
| 28 | a-a {d}en-ki lugal abzu-a za3-mi2-zu du10-ga | |
| 29 | u18-ru12-bi-im | |
| 30 | {d}ha-ia3 dingir kalam-ma ga-ti-e ki ag2 nun {d}ri-im-{d}suen-e a2 bad tal2-ni he2-me#-en# | |
| 31 | gesz-gi4-gal2-bi-im | |
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.