CDLI Literary 000388 (Ur-Namma C) composite (P469690)
Literary, Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | CDLI Literary 000388 (Ur-Namma C) composite |
|---|---|
| ID | P469690 |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Period | Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
English translation
By etcsl · Via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI (reuse with citation)
| Line | English |
|---|---|
| surface a 1 | City of the finest divine powers, lofty royal throne-dais! |
| surface a 2 | Shrine Urim, pre-eminent in Sumer, built in a pure place! |
| surface a 3 | City, your well-founded great wall has grown out of the abzu! |
| surface a 4 | City, beautiful as the sky, endowed with beauty, colourfully decorated in a great place! |
| surface a 5 | Shrine Urim, well-founded ĝipar, dwelling of An and Enlil! |
| surface a 6 | Your lofty palace is the E-kiš-nu-ĝal, in which the fates are determined! |
| surface a 7 | Your pilasters heavy with radiance tower over all the countries! |
| surface a 8 | Its terrace like a white cloud is a spectacle in the midst of heaven. |
| surface a 9 | Its ... like flashing lightning shines (?) inside a shrine. |
| surface a 10 | Like a single bull under the yoke, .... |
| surface a 11 | Suen's beloved pure table; |
| surface a 12 | E-kiš-nu-ĝal, Suen's beloved pure table. |
| surface a 13 | The king, ornament of the royal offering place, occupies the august courtyard; |
| surface a 14 | Ur-Namma the exalted, whom no one dare oppose, ... |
| surface a 15 | ... Urim, the wide city ... |
| surface a 17 | ..., the authoritative, |
| surface a 18 | praised himself exultantly: |
| surface a 19 | Under Ur-Namma, king of Urim, for whom a favorable destiny was determined, the roads have been made passable. |
| surface a 20 | An opens his holy mouth, and because of me rain is produced. |
| surface a 21 | He directs it downward into the earth, and abundance is brought for me. |
| surface a 22 | Enlil treats me kindly, ... |
| surface a 23 | Enki treats me kindly, bestowing early floods, grain and dappled barley. |
| surface a 24 | Nintur formed me; I am peerless. |
| surface a 25 | ... brought me up well; I am the king of the Land. |
| surface a 26 | I am ...; under my rule the cattle-pens and sheepfolds are extended wide. |
| surface a 27 | Utu endowed me with eloquence (?); |
| surface a 28 | my judgments create concord in Sumer and Akkad. |
| surface a 29 | Ningublaga has given me strength. |
| surface a 30 | In the whole extent of heaven and earth, no one can escape from a battle with me. |
| surface a 31 | I am Ur-Namma, king of Urim, the protecting genius of my city. |
| surface a 32 | I strike against those guilty of capital offences, and make them tremble. |
| surface a 33b | The fear I cause ... |
| surface a 34 | My judgments make Sumer and Akkad follow a single path. |
| surface a 35 | I place my foot on the necks of thieves and criminals. |
| surface a 36 | I clamp down on evildoers, who will be caught like snakes. |
| surface a 37 | I ... fugitives, and their intentions will be set right. |
| surface a 38 | I make justice apparent; I defeat wickedness. |
| surface a 39 | As if I were fire, even my frowning is enough to create concord. |
| surface a 40 | My word ... the lands, |
| surface a 41 | the foreign countries ... Urim ... |
| surface a 42 | Their food offerings make Nanna rejoice in E-kiš-nu-ĝal. |
| surface a 43 | After my seed had been poured into the holy womb, |
| surface a 44 | Suen, loving its appearance (?), |
| surface a 45 | made it partake of Nanna's attractiveness. |
| surface a 46 | Coming forth over the Land like Utu, Enlil called me by an auspicious name, |
| surface a 47 | and Nintur assisted at my birth. |
| surface a 48 | As I came forth from the womb of my mother Ninsumun, |
| surface a 49 | a favorable allotted destiny was determined for me. |
| surface a 50 | In me, Ur-Namma, the lands of Sumer and Akkad have their protecting genius. |
| surface a 51 | I am a source of joy for the Land; my life indeed creates! |
| surface a 52 | ..., the fields are resplendent (?) under my rule. |
| surface a 53 | In the fields growing with ..., ... did not multiply under my rule. |
| surface a 54 | In the desert, the roads are made up as for a festival, and are passable because of me. |
| surface a 55 | The owner of the fields ...; it rises (?) up to his chest. |
| surface a 56 | I have freed the sons of the poor from their duty of going to fetch firewood. |
| surface a 57 | After the storm ..., and the month had been completed (?) for me, |
| surface a 58 | Enlil chose me by extispicy on a day very auspicious for him. |
| surface a 59 | He spoke fairly to Sumer, and caused me to arise (?) from my family (?) |
| surface a 60 | Because of my broad understanding and wisdom, |
| surface a 61 | An the king entrusted ... into my hands. |
| surface a 62 | I am the cosmic bond of Sumer. |
| surface a 63 | I am ... good ... |
| surface a 64 | I am ... |
| surface a 65 | I am ... of the Land. |
| surface a 69 | I am the righteous (?) lord ... |
| surface a 70 | I, Ur-Namma, born on high, ... shining ... |
| surface a 71 | The people line up in front of me. |
| surface a 72 | Enlil has given me the task of keeping the Land secure, with unscathed (?) troops. |
| surface a 73 | I am clad in linen in the ĝipar. |
| surface a 74 | I lie down on the splendid bed in its delightful bedchamber. |
| surface a 75 | I cause the people to eat splendid food; I am their Enkimdu (i.e. the god of irrigation and cultivation). |
| surface a 76 | I am the good shepherd whose sheep multiply greatly. |
| surface a 77 | I open the ... of the cattle-pens and sheepfolds. I am peerless. |
| surface a 78 | ... the pastures and watering-places of shepherds (?). |
| surface a 79 | Since I have been adorned (?) with their rulership, |
| surface a 80 | no one imposes taxes on my abundant crops which grow tall. |
| surface a 81 | My commands bring about (?) joy in the great fortresses of the mountains. |
| surface a 82 | The joy of my city and the territory (?) of Sumer delights me. |
| surface a 83 | I release water into the canals of Sumer, making the trees grow tall on their banks. |
| surface a 84 | I have lifted the yoke of its male prostitutes. |
| surface a 86 | I returned ... to Urim. |
| surface a 87 | I made ... return (?) to his country ... like ... |
| surface a 88 | I loaded its grain on barges, I delivered it to its storehouses. |
| surface a 89 | I returned its ... citizens to their (?) homes. I ... their earth-baskets. |
| surface a 90 | I ... the savage hands of the Gutians, the .. |
| surface a 91 | After I had made the evil-doers return (?) to their ... |
| surface a 92 | I restored (?) the walls that had been torn down; my outstanding mind .... ... the shrine of Urim ... |
| surface a 93 | I am the foremost workman (?) of Enlil; I am the one who ...... food offerings. |
| surface a 101 | ... at a banquet with me in the city. |
| surface a 102 | ... joyful dance ... |
| surface a 103 | I have brought abundance to Enlil's temple on the king's canal: |
| surface a 104 | I have directed ships both to Kar-ĝeština of Enlil |
| surface a 105 | and to the lapis-lazuli quay of Nanna. |
| surface a 106 | Alcohol and syrup have been poured out before Enlil. |
| surface a 107 | To me, the shepherd Ur-Namma, let life be given as a reward! |
| surface a 108 | For Nanna, my master, I have built his temple; |
| surface a 109 | as if it were a verdant hillside, I have set up the E-kiš-nu-ĝal in a great place. |
| surface a 110 | I have surrounded (?) its terrace with a gold and lapis-lazuli fence. |
| surface a 111 | I am the creature of Nanna! |
| surface a 112 | I am the older brother of Gilgameš! |
| surface a 113 | I am the son borne by Ninsumun, a princely seed! |
| surface a 114 | For me, kingship came down from heaven! |
| surface a 115 | Sweet is the praise of me, the shepherd Ur-Namma! |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| surface a | ||
| 1 | iri me du10-du10-ga bara2 mah nam-lugal-la | |
| 2 | esz3 uri5{ki} gu2-gal ki-en-gi-ra ki ku3-ga du3-a | |
| 3 | iri bad3 gal ki gar-ra-zu abzu-ta mu2-a | |
| 4 | iri an-gin7 sig7-ga hi-li gur3-ru ki gal-la gun3-gun3 | |
| 5 | esz3 uri5{ki} ge6-par4 ki gar-ra ki-tusz an {d}en-lil2-la2 | |
| 6 | e2-gal mah-zu e2-kisz-nu-gal2 sza3-ga nam tar-ra | |
| 7 | dub-la2-zu me-lem4 du8-du8-a kur-kur-ra diri-ga | |
| 8 | gi-gun4-na-bi dungu babbar-gin7 an-sza3-ga u6 di | |
| 9 | {gesz}RU-bi nim gir2-gir2-e-gin7 esz3 sza3-ga kumx(PA)-kumx(PA)-mu | |
| 10 | 1(disz) gu4 {gesz}szudul4-a-gin7 ur2 gur-ra x ku3 da-ra-ga | |
| 11 | {gesz}banszur sikil-la ki ag2 {d}suen-na | |
| 12 | e2-kisz-nu-gal2 {gesz}banszur sikil-la ki ag2 {d}suen-na | |
| 13 | lugal |KI.LUGAL.GUB|-la he2-du7-bi kisal mah-e si-a | |
| 14 | ur-{d}namma uru16 a2 nun gi4-a {d}en-x x x-ma | |
| 15 | x uri5{ki} iri? dagal-ba? SAR? x x x x | |
| 16 | [...] NAM x x GA pa? ba-e-ni-a-e3 | |
| 17 | [...] x x x x x nir-gal2-e | |
| 18 | ni2-te-a-ni mi2 zi i-ri in-ga-am3-me | |
| 19 | ur-{d}namma lugal uri5{ki}-ma nam du10 tar-ra-ba giri3 si mu-un-da-ab-sa2 | |
| 20 | an-e ka ku3-ga-ni mu-un-ba szegx(|IM.A|) ma-u3-tu | |
| 21 | ki-sze3 sza3-ga si ba-an-sa2 he2-gal2 ma-ra-de6 | |
| 22 | {d}en-lil2-le mi2 zi mu-un-du11 UN mu-szi-in-x | |
| 23 | {d}en-ki-ke4 mi2 zi mu-un-du11 a-esztub{ku6} {d}ezina2 sze gu-nu sag-e-esz mu-un-rig7 | |
| 24 | {d}nin-tu-re ge26-e mu-un-dim2-dim2-en gaba-ri-gu10 nu-tuku | |
| 25 | [...] x du10-bi bi2-in-pesz-en lugal kalam-ma-me-en | |
| 26 | [...] gal2 zi-da-me-en tur3 amasz mu-da-dagal | |
| 27 | {d}utu ka-ga2 inim ba-ni-in-gal2 | |
| 28 | di ku5-ru-gu10 ki-en-gi ki-uri gu3 tesz2-a bi2-in-se3 | |
| 29 | {d}nin-gublaga-ke4 a2 ma-an-szum2 | |
| 30 | me3-gu10 an ki szu2-a-bi lu2 la-ba-ra-e3 | |
| 31 | ur-{d}namma lugal uri5{ki}-ma {d}lamma iri-ga2-me-en | |
| 32 | szer7-da mu-dub2 su mu-un-sag3-sag3 | |
| 33a | ni2 su-e bi2-us2-sa-gu10 x x-a | |
| 33b | i-na mu x x ri-ia-asz | |
| 34 | di ku5-ru-gu10 ki-en-gi ki-uri us2 dili-a mi-ni-ib-dab5 | |
| 35 | ni2-zuh lu2 i-{d}utu-ka gu2-ba giri3 bi2-gub | |
| 36 | erim2-du musz-gin7 szu gid2-gid2-da szu im-da-an-szu2-szu2 | |
| 37 | lu2-kar-da gur5-ru-usz im-da-ab-be2 sza3-bi si bi2-ib-sa2 | |
| 38 | nig2-si-sa2-e pa e3 bi2-ak nig2-erim2 sa2 bi2-du11 | |
| 39 | {d}gibil6-gin7 sag-ki gid2-da-gu10 gu3 tesz2-a bi2-se3 | |
| 40 | inim-gu10 me-me DU8-ba gub-bi UN x A [...] x x E | |
| 41 | DAG x x-la ma-da kur-kur-ra ... uri5{ki}-e? x kur [...] | |
| 42 | nidba-bi e2-kisz-nu-gal2-la-na {d}nanna-ar mi-ni-in-hul2-le | |
| 43 | a-gu10 sza3 ku3-ge ba-ri-a-ta | |
| 44 | {d}suen-e u6-e ki ag2-ni | |
| 45 | {d}nanna-ar hi-li-na ba-ni-in-ku4-re | |
| 46 | {d}en-lil2-le {d}utu-gin7 kalam-ma e3-de3 mu du10 mu-un-sa4 | |
| 47 | {d}nin-tu tu-tu-a mu-un-gub-bu | |
| 48 | sza3 ama-gu10 {d}nin-sumun2-ka-ta | |
| 49 | nam tar-ra sa6-ga ma-ta-e3 | |
| 50 | ur-{d}namma-me-en ma-da ki-en-gi ki-uri {d}lamma mu-un-da-an-tuku | |
| 51 | kalam-ma ki ur5 sa6-ge-bi ge26-e-me-en zi-gu10 he2-u3-tu | |
| 52 | ug uszumgal x A KA IGI x LA2 a-sza3 mu-da-dadag | |
| 53 | gan2? gi hul mu2-a szuba2 nu-mu-u8-da-lu | |
| 54 | edimx(EDIN)-ma ezen-gin7 du3-a-ba giri3 si mu-un-da-ab-sa2 | |
| 55 | lu2 a-sza3-ga nir-gal2-bi mu-un-DU gaba-na ib2-ta-an-zi | |
| 56 | dumu ukur3-ra u2 il2-i-de3 gen-na ama-ni-ir mu-un-gi4-gi4 | |
| 57 | a{x}-ma-ru gi4{x}-ba i-ti{x} ma-gi4{x-a-ba} | |
| 58 | {d}en-lil2-le u4 du10-du10-ga-na masz2-e bi2-in-pa3-de3-en | |
| 59 | ki-en-gi-ra gu3 zi mu-un-de2 e2-a in-da-an-zi-ge-en | |
| 60 | gesztu2 dagal igi-gal2-tuku-gu10-sze3 | |
| 61 | x an lugal-e szu-gu10-sze3 ba-an-szum2 | |
| 62 | ki-en-gi-ra ud5-sag-bi ge26-e-me-en | |
| 63 | [...] x x x x sa6-ga-me-en | |
| 64 | [...]-a?-me-en | |
| 65 | [...] x [...] x kalam-ma-me-en | |
| 66 | [...] x tum2-mu | |
| 67 | x x x [...] | |
| 68 | x HI? x [...] | |
| 69 | en-me-en zi? x x x [...] x x [...] | |
| 70 | ur-{d}namma an-sze3 tu-da ku3-ge-esz x [...] | |
| 71 | ukken? igi-gu10-sze3 si im-sa2 | |
| 72 | erin2 silim-ma kalam szu-a gi4-gi4 {d}en-lil2-le ma-ra-an-szum2 | |
| 73 | ge6-par4-ra {tug2?}gada nam-mi-la2 | |
| 74 | gesz-nu2 gi-rin-na ki-nu2 du10-ba mu-nu2 | |
| 75 | ug3-e u2 nir-gal2 bi2-ib2-gu7?-en {d}en-ki-im-du-bi-me-en | |
| 76 | sipa zi udu-ni diri gal2-la-me-en | |
| 77 | tur3 amasz dagal |KAxMASZ|-bi gal2 bi2-tak4 gaba-ri-gu10 nu-tuku | |
| 78 | sipa u2 nag-ga2-bi szuba2{x-x} ma-szar2{mu?-ni-szar2} | |
| 79 | nam-en-na-bi u3-me-ni-tag | |
| 80 | buru14 mah-gu10 ni2-bi il2-il2-i nig2-ku5 nu-ak-e | |
| 81 | a2 ag2-ga2-gu10 bad3 gal kur-ra-ka a-ne hul2-la mu-e | |
| 82 | iri-ga2 ki-sur-ra ki-en-gi-ra giri17-zal-bi ma-du10 | |
| 83 | ki-en-gi i7-ba a szu bi2-ba gesz gu2-ba mu-zi | |
| 84 | sag-ur-sag-bi {gesz}szudul4-bi mu-zi | |
| 85 | [...] kur-ra-ka za3-la2-bi? mu-du8? | |
| 86 | uri5{ki} szu-ba im-mi-gi4 | |
| 87 | x-ba itima?-gin7 kur-ra-na bi2-gi4 | |
| 88 | sze-bi ma2-gur8-ra-ke4 bi2-la2 ga2-nun-bi bi2-gi4 | |
| 89 | dumu kig2?-bi e2-a-ni im-mi-gi4 dusu-bi mu-gi4 | |
| 90 | gu-ti-um{ki} lu2-|SZA3xTAR|?-a-ke4 szu ses-na mu-du8 | |
| 91 | i-{d}utu ka-ba um-mi-gi4 | |
| 92 | bad3? bi2-szub?-ba bi2-gi4 sza3 su3-ra-gu10 x iri? DU mu-gul? esz3 uri5{ki} [...] | |
| 93 | gurusz? gu2-tuku {d}en-lil2-la2-me-en nidba x x x-me-en | |
| 94 | x ug3 x dagal-bi AN DA x x x | |
| 95 | [...] x-bi an-da NI? x x | |
| 96 | [...] x x x x [...] du10? | |
| 97 | [...] x [...] x | |
| 99 | [...] x [...] | |
| 100 | GISZ? x {gesz}szinig? GISZ [...] | |
| 101 | iri-a {gesz}bun-e mu-da-an-[...] | |
| 102 | e-ne di hul2-la gar-ra-sze3 ge26?-e? x [...] | |
| 103 | i7 lugal-la e2 {d}en-lil2-la2-sze3 he2-gal2 mu-un-da-ku4 | |
| 104 | kar-gesztin-na {d}en-lil2-la2-sze3 ma2 na-an-ga-mu-ni-in-ri | |
| 105 | kar-za-gin3-na {d}nanna-ka ma2 na-an-ga-mu-ni-in-ri | |
| 106 | {d}en-lil2-ra kurun2 lal3 ba-an-na-de2 | |
| 107 | sipa ur-{d}namma-me-en ti nig2-ba-gu10 he2-a | |
| 108 | {d}nanna lugal-gu10 e2-gal-la-na mu-na-du3 | |
| 109 | e2-kisz-nu-gal2 hur-sag sig7-ga-gin7 ki gal-la bi2-gub | |
| 110 | gi-gun4-na-bi ku3-sig17 {na4}za-gin3-na dub-ba-an ba-la2 | |
| 111 | szu du11-ga-e {d}nanna-a-me-en | |
| 112 | szesz {d}gilgames2 gu-la-me-en | |
| 113 | dumu tu-da {d}nin-sumun2-ka-me-en numun nam-en-na-me-en | |
| 114 | an-ta nam-lugal ma-ra-e11(|SI.DU|) | |
| 115 | sipa ur-{d}namma-me-en za3-mi2-gu10 du10-ga-am3 | |
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.