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CDLI Literary 000372 (Rulers of Lagash) composite (P469676)

Literary, Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE

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DesignationCDLI Literary 000372 (Rulers of Lagash) composite
IDP469676
LanguageSumerian
PeriodOld Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
GenreLiterary

English translation

By etcsl · Via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI (reuse with citation)

LineEnglish
surface a 1After the flood had swept over
surface a 2and brought about the destruction of the countries;
surface a 3when mankind was made to endure,
surface a 4and the seed of mankind was preserved
surface a 5and the black-headed people all rose;
surface a 6when An and Enlil
surface a 7called the name of mankind
surface a 8and established rulership,
surface a 9but kingship and the crown of the city
surface a 10had not yet come out from heaven,
surface a 11and Ningirsu, the hoe and the spade
surface a 12the earth basket and the plough, which mean life for the Land,
surface a 13had not yet established for the multitude of well-guarded (?) people
surface a 14-- in those days, the carefree youth of man
surface a 15lasted for 100 years
surface a 16and, following his upbringing, he lasted for another 100 years.
surface a 17However, he did not do any work.
surface a 18He became smaller and smaller, ...;
surface a 19his sheep died (?) in the sheepfold.
surface a 20In those days, because the water of Lagaš was held back,
surface a 21there was famine in Ĝirsu.
surface a 22Canals were not dug,
surface a 23the levees and ditches were not cleaned.
surface a 24The large arable tracts were not ...,
surface a 25there was no water to irrigate abundantly all the cultivated fields:
surface a 26the people relied on rain;
surface a 27Ašnan did not make dappled barley grow,
surface a 28furrows were not yet opened,
surface a 29they bore no yield;
surface a 30the high plain was not tilled,
surface a 31it bore no yield.
surface a 32None of the countries with numerous people for the gods
surface a 33emmer beer, liquor, ...,
surface a 34sweet liquor or ...
surface a 35did they libate.
surface a 36Large fields with the plough
surface a 37they did not till for them
surface a 48The river ...
surface a 49Its field...
surface a 50In order to dig canals,
surface a 51to clean the levees and ditches,
surface a 52to ... the large arable tracts,
surface a 53to ... all the cultivated fields,
surface a 54The pickaxe, the spade, the earth basket and the plough,
surface a 55which mean life for the Land,
surface a 56he established for the people.
surface a 57Then, to making barley sprout,
surface a 58he did turn his attention.
surface a 59He made the people stand before the maiden,
surface a 60Day and night, at the appointed times,
surface a 61they raised their heads.
surface a 62Before Ašnan who makes the seeds grow,
surface a 63they prostrated themselves and she made them grow (?)
surface a 64Before (?) Ašnan who makes the dappled barley grow,
surface a 65they ...
surface a 66... he raised ...
surface a 99... acted for ... years.
surface a 101... dug the (canal) ...,
surface a 102he acted for 2760 years.
surface a 103En-akigalaguba
surface a 104his personal god was ...
surface a 105he dug the (canal) Nigin-giš-tukuam
surface a 106He acted for 1200 years.
surface a 107In those days there was no writing
surface a 108canals were not dug, earth baskets was not carried,
surface a 109In those days, the king ...,
surface a 110the people ... offerings of refined gold,
surface a 113... a good shepherd
surface a 114rose over the Land;
surface a 116... he gave them (?) as a gift.
surface a 117En-Ningirsu-kiag
surface a 118son of En-akigalaguba
surface a 119he acted for 1320 years.
surface a 120En-Enlile-ki-ag
surface a 121son of En-Ningirsu-kiag
surface a 122he acted for 1800 years.
surface a 123Ur-Baba, the son of En-Enlile-kiag:
surface a 124he acted for 900 years.
surface a 125A-gal: his personal god was Ig-alim,
surface a 126he acted for 660 years.
surface a 127Kue (?), the son of A-gal:
surface a 128he acted for 1200 years.
surface a 129Ama-alim, son of KUe (?) ...:
surface a 130he acted for 600 years.
surface a 132he acted for n years.
surface a 134he acted for n years.
surface a 136he acted for n years.
surface a 141he dug the (canal) ...,
surface a 142he acted for n years.
surface a 145... the (canal) Maḫ, the (canal) ...,
surface a 146the (canal) Piriggin-gen, the (canal) ...,
surface a 147the (canal) Pirig at the mouth of the (canal) Lugal,
surface a 148the (canal) GAN-ḫili-ana, the (canal) ...,
surface a 149and the (canal) Nanše-pada he dug.
surface a 150To care, single-handedly, for the great arable lands,
surface a 151he dug irrigation ditches and ...,
surface a 152he acted for 2220 years.
surface a 153Ur-Nanše, the son of ...,
surface a 154who built E-Sirara, her temple of happiness,
surface a 155and Nigin, her beloved city,
surface a 156he acted for 1080 years.
surface a 157Annetum, the son of Ur-Nanše,
surface a 158in whose ... place the gods stood,
surface a 159who ... the land register of great Enlil:
surface a 160his personal god was Šul-utul,
surface a 161he acted for 161 years
surface a 162..., the son of Annetum:
surface a 163he acted for n + 360 years.
surface a 164Enentarzi: his god was Mesantum2,
surface a 165of the seed of ancient days, who had grown together with the city,
surface a 166he acted for 990 years.
surface a 167..., the son of Enentarzi:
surface a 168the (canal) Urmaḫ-banda, and the (canal) Tabta-ku-gal,
surface a 169he dug, his personal god was Mesantum2;
surface a 170his king Ningirsu
surface a 171commanded him to build his temple;
surface a 172he acted for 960 years.
surface a 173En-Enlile-su: he acted for 600 years.
surface a 174En-[...], the son of En-Enlile-su:
surface a 175his personal god was Ninazu; he acted for 660 years.
surface a 176...: he acted for 1110 years.
surface a 177Puzur-Ninlil: he acted for n + 61 years.
surface a 178En-Mesantum, the son of Puzur-Ninlil:
surface a 179his personal god was ..., he acted for 120 years.
surface a 180Dadu, the son of En-Mesantum: he acted for 160 years.
surface a 181Tuggur, the son of Dadu: he acted for 160 years.
surface a 182LA-[...], he acted for 120 years
surface a 183Puzur-Mama, the scribe of Ninki:
surface a 184his personal god was Zazaru; he acted for n years.
surface a 185LAMKU-niggena, the administrator of Puzur-Mama,
surface a 186who built the wall of Ĝirsu, his ...,
surface a 187and the Tiraš palace in Lagaš:
surface a 188he acted for 280 years.
surface a 189Ḫengal, the son of LAMKU-niggena:
surface a 190his god was Pabilsag (?), he acted for 140 years.
surface a 191..., the son of Ḫengal: he acted for 144 years.
surface a 192Ur-Ninmarki, the scribe and scholar:
surface a 193..., his personal gods were Ḫaya and Nisaba,
surface a 194he acted for n + 20 years.
surface a 195Ur-Ningirsu, the son of Ur-Ninmarki: he acted for n × 60 years.
surface a 196Ur-Baba, the scribe of Ur-Ningirsu,
surface a 197who ... in the assembly: he acted for n + 30 years.
surface a 198Gudea, the little brother of Ur-Baba ...,
surface a 199who was not the son of his mother nor the son of his father: he acted for ... years.
surface a 200Written in the school. Nisaba be praised!

Transliteration (ATF)

From Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched)

LineATFMachine English (draft)
surface a
1egir a-ma-ru ba-ur3-ra-ta
2u3 ge16-le-eg3 kur-ra-ke4 ba-an-gar-ra-ta
3nam-lu2-ulu3 da-re-esz i-ak-a-ba
4numun nam-lu2-ulu3 im-mi-in-tak4-a-ba
5ug3 sag-ge6-ga ni2-bi-a im-mi-in-il2-la-a-ba
6u4 an-ne2 {d}en-lil2-le
7nam-lu2-ulu3 mu-bi sa4-a-ta
8u3 nam-ensi2 in-gar-ra-ta
9nam-lugal aga iri-am3
10an-ta nu-ub-ta-an-e3-a-ba
11{d}nin-gir2-su {gesz}al {gesz}mar
12{gi}dusu {gesz}apin-e zi-sza3-gal2 kalam-ma
13ug3 se3-ga szar2-a nu-gar-re-esz-a-ba
14u4-ba lu2-tur dan3-dan3-na-ka
15mu 1(gesz2) 4(u) i3-ak
16nam-bulug3-ga2-ni-ta mu 1(gesz2) 4(u) bi2-in-ak
17kin-gi4-a li-bi2-ib2-gi4-gi4
18i3-tur i3-tur-tur i3-gal2 ama-a-ni
19udu?-a-ni tur3-re im-ma-an-ri-ri
20u4-ba a lagasz{ki} du3 [...]
21gir2-su{ki} sza3-gar i3-gal2-am3
22i7 nu-un-dun-na-am3
23e pa5-re szu-luh nu-ak-am3
24a-gar3 gal-gal-e x x-na nu-un-x
25GAN2-ne2 GAN2 zi-de3 a he2-gal2-la nu-un-de2
26nam-lu2-ulu3 igi-bi im szeg3-szeg3-ga2 in-bar
27{d}asznan sze gu-nu nu-ub-ta-an-mu2
28ab-sin2-na ka-bi nu-un-du8
29gu2 nu-mu-un-il2
30an-edin-na nu-un-uru4{ru}-ru
31gu2 nu-mu-un-il2
32kur-kur ug3 lu-a dingir-re-ne-er
33kasz imgaga kurun [...]
34kurun du10 x x [...]
35nu-mu-un-ne-eb2-bala-bala
36a-sza3 gal {gesz}apin-ta
37nu-mu-un-ne-eb?-uru4{ru}-ru
38[...]
39[...]
40[...]
41[...]
42[...]
43[...]
44[...]
45[...]
46[...]
47[...]
48i7 [...]
49a-sza3-bi [...]
50i7 dun-ne-de3
51e pa5-re szu-luh ak-de3
52a-gar3 gal-gal-e x [...]
53GAN2-ne2 GAN2 zi-de3 [...] im-[...]
54{gesz}al {gesz}mar {gi}dusu {gesz}apin-e
55zi-sza3-gal2 kalam-ma
56ug3-sze3 im-ta-an-gar-re-esz
57u4-bi-a sze e11-de3-da
58gesztu2-ga-a-ni na-an-gub
59ki-sikil-sze3 igi-ni-sze3 ba-szi-in-gub-ba-asz
60u4 ge6-bi-ta ki-|KI.KAL|-bi-sze3
61sag-ba ba-szi-in-il2
62{d}asznan sze-numun-bi mu-mu2-a
63ki-a bi2-in-za-za-asz im-mi-ni-in-e11-de3-esz
64{d}asznan sze gu-nu mu-mu2-a
65[...] KU? [...]-esz
66[...]-in-il2
67[...] DU
68[...]
69[...]
70[...]
71[...]
72[...]
73[...]
74[...]
75[...]
76[...]
77[...]
78[...]
79[...]
80[...]
81[...]
82[...]
83[...]
84[...]
85[...]
86[...]
87[...]
88[...]
89[...]
90[...]
91[...]
92[...]
93[...]
94[...]
95[...]
96[...]
97[...]
98[...]
99mu x i3-ak
100igi husz x x [...]
101{i7}PU3 mu-un-dun
102mu 4(gesz'u) 6(gesz2) i3-ak
103en-a2-ki-gal-la-gub-ba
104dingir-ra-ni {d}x-[...]
105{i7}nina{ki}-gesz-tuku-am3 mu-un-dun
106mu 2(gesz'u) i3-ak
107u4-ba mu sar nu-me-a x [...]
108i7 nu-un-dun {gi}dusu nu-un-il2
109u4-bi-a a2 ur3 lugal [...]
110ug3 gesz tag-ga ku3-sig17 si sa2-a
111e11-de3-ra husz-na husz-a
112ba-ni-in-gar
113x tag-ga gabar zi-de3
114kalam-sze3 im-ta-an-e3
115a suhur ab-ba |NUN.ME.DU| ur3-ra
116sa12-esz2 mu-ni-rig7
117en-{d}nin-gir2-su-ki-ag2
118dumu en-a2-ki-gal-la-gub-ba
119mu 2(gesz'u) 2(gesz2) i3-ak
120en-{d}en-lil2-le-ki-ag2
121dumu en-{d}nin-gir2-su-ki-ag2
122mu 3(gesz'u) i3-ak
123ur-{d}ba-ba6 dumu en-{d}en-lil2-le-ki-ag2
124mu 1(gesz'u) 5(gesz2) i3-ak
125a2-gal dingir-ra-ni {d}ig-alim
126mu 1(gesz'u) 1(gesz2) i3-ak
127KU-e dumu a2-gal-la-ke4
128mu 2(gesz'u) i3-ak
129ama-alim dumu KU-e [...]
130mu 1(gesz'u) i3-ak
131da-an-x [...]
132mu n i3-ak
133x [...]
134mu x i3-ak
135A x [...]
136mu x i3-ak
137GAN2? [...]
138UN [...]
139[...]
140[...]
141i7 ... mu-un-dun
142mu x i3-ak
143[...]
144[...]
145{i7}mah {i7}...
146{i7}pirig3-gin7-gen {i7}...
147{i7}pirig3 ka {i7}lugal?-ka
148{i7}GAN2-hi-li-an-na {i7}TE-x
149{i7}{d}nansze-pa3-da mu-un-dun
150a-gar3 gal-gal dili-e en3-bi tar-re-de3
151pa5 a du11-ga |AMAR.TI.AN| mu-un-dun
152mu 3(gesz'u) 7(gesz2) i3-ak
153ur-{d}nansze dumu x x-ma-ke4
154e2-sirara6 e2 sza3 hul2-la-ni
155nina{ki} iri ki ag2-ga2-ni mu-du3-a
156mu 1(gesz'u) 8(gesz2) i3-ak
157an-ne2-tum2 dumu ur-{d}nansze-ke4
158ki alim-ma-na dingir-re-e-ne
159mu-un-gub-ba sa12-du5? {d}en-lil2 gal DE2
160dingir-ra-ni {d}szul-udul10?
161mu 1(gesz'u) 1(gesz2) 3(u) i3-ak
162[...] NE dumu an-ne2-tum2
163mu n 6(gesz2) i3-ak
164en-en3-tar-zi dingir-ra-ni {d}mes-an-tum2
165numun u4 re-a iri-da mu2-a
166mu 1(gesz'u) 6(gesz2) 3(u) i3-ak
167x-en-da-in-si dumu en-en3-tar-zi
168{i7}ur-mah-banda3{da} {i7}tab-ta?-ku3-gal2
169mu-un-dun dingir-a-ni {d}mes-an-DU
170lugal-a-ni {d}nin-gir2-su
171e2-a-ni du3-da mu-un-na-du11
172mu 1(gesz'u) 6(gesz2) i3-ak
173en-{d}en-lil2-le-su mu 1(gesz'u) i3-ak
174en-x-x dumu en-{d}en-lil2-le-su
175dingir-ra-ni {d}nin-a-zu mu 1(gesz'u) 1(gesz2) i3-ak
176[...]-du8 mu 1(gesz'u) 8(gesz2) 3(u) i3-ak
177puzur4-{d}nin-lil2 mu x szu-szi n 1(disz) i3-ak
178en-{d}mes-an-tum2 dumu puzur4-{d}nin-lil2-la2
179dingir-ra-ni AN ... mu 2(disz) szu-szi i3-ak
180da-du dumu en-{d}mes-an-DU mu 2(gesz2) 4(u) i3-ak
181tug2-gur dumu da-du mu 2(gesz2) 4(u) i3-ak
182LA-x mu 2(gesz2) i3-ak
183puzur4-{d}ma-ma dub-sar {d}nin-ki
184dingir-ra-ni {d}za-za-ru mu n i3-ak
185|LAM.KU|-nig2-ge-na sza3-tam puzur4-{d}ma-ma
186lu2 bad3 gir2-su{ki} ASZ2?-a-ni
187e2-gal ti-ra-asz2 ki lagasz{ki} mu-du3-a
188mu 4(gesz2) 4(u) i3-ak
189he2-en-gal2 dumu |LAM.KU|-nig2-ge-na
190dingir-ra-ni {d}pa4?-bil-sag mu 2(gesz2) 2(u) i3-ak
191[...] dumu he2-en-gal2 mu 2(gesz2) 2(u) 4(disz) i3-ak
192ur-{d}nin-mar-ki-ka dub-sar um-mi-a
193x x kal sag dur2-ra dingir-ra-ni {d}ha-ia3 {d}nisaba
194mu n 2(u) i3-ak
195ur-{d}nin-gir2-su dumu ur-{d}nin-mar-ki-ka mu n szu-szi i3-ak
196ur-{d}ba-ba6 dub-sar ur-{d}nin-gir2-su-ka x
197[...] x ukken-na ... mu x 3(u) i3-ak
198gu3-de2-a szesz-banda3{da} ur-{d}ba-ba6-ka [...]
199dumu ama-na dumu ad-da nu-me-a mu x i3-ak
200e2-dub-ba sar-ra {d}nisaba za3-mi2

Sources & licences

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