Unread Atlas

Home › Tablets › P480325

CDLI Literary 002295 (Adapa) composite (P480325)

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

Open in the reader & map →See it among all tablets

DesignationCDLI Literary 002295 (Adapa) composite
IDP480325
LanguageSumerian
PeriodOld Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
GenreLiterary

English translation

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

LineEnglish
object composite text 1In those days, when Utu set into motion,
object composite text 2In those nights, when night was everlasting,
object composite text 3In those years, when the years were completed,
object composite text 4After the flood swept over,
object composite text 5After the destruction of the lands came about,
object composite text 6After mankind came forth from dust
object composite text 7After all the lands, low and high, were completely flattened,
object composite text 8The Anuna-gods of heaven and earth-- where were they?
object composite text 9The evening meal did not exist, nothing existed.
object composite text 10Dwelling-places were not laid out, the long arm was not tired to release from starvation.
object composite text 11An, Enlil, Enki, and Ninhursaga ...
object composite text 12They preserved the seed of mankind, ...
object composite text 13The black-headed were preserved, accomplished afresh...
object composite text 14The animals, the quadrupeds ... widely
object composite text 15The lofty reed and marshes ... fish and fowl ...
object composite text 16The greenery of the high steppe was assembled in joy.
object composite text 17At that time, the canals were not yet dug, their places not established,
object composite text 18The Tigris and Euphrates, the twin rivers, ...
object composite text 19The inhabitants of all the lands were digging, the people ...
object composite text 20They put the canals ... in order.
object composite text 21Mankind ... in the right course
object composite text 22They touched food and drink ...
object composite text 24An and Enlil ... heaven and earth
object composite text 25Kish, the city, the pillar of the land ...
object composite text 26At that time, a man was chosen as shepherd ...
object composite text 27After the word was spoken ...
object composite text 28Mankind ...
object composite text 29He established a dynasty ...
object composite text 30The man went for herbs ....
object composite text 31The man ...
object composite text 32The man ... chariots on the roads ...
object composite text 34Mankind did not touch ...
object composite text 35The South Wind during his reign ... benefit.
object composite text 36The man ... frowned ...
object composite text 37... did not frown.
object composite text 38... in its entirety did not have directive.
object composite text 39... the slaves of the overseer did not have their insight.
object composite text 40... do not go outside ...
object composite text 41... was not united to the sceptre of kingship, he did not praise ...
object composite text 42... in his heart he became stiff.
object composite text 44... was weakened
object composite text 45... lied down
object composite text 46... spoke
object composite text 46... he instructed
object composite text 46Mankind ... grazed by its side
object composite text 46... may you be the one who heaps up the grain-heaps
object composite text 46... from the well ...
object composite text 51... where were they?
object composite text 52... they smelled the incense
object composite text 53... may they submit
object composite text 54The raging north wind blew at the people.
object composite text 55Asznan, passed and passed (to and fro?) the broad field, stretching its high head
object composite text 56Szullat and Hanisz had perfect barley for the people, ... barley ... barley ...
object composite text 57Mankind was all confused, they had no directive.
object composite text 58In those days, death ... was not(?) established.
object composite text 59... fled; life, breath was brought
object composite text 61... was scrubbed
object composite text 62... poured (called?) ... to him
object composite text 63... became pale
object composite text 64... to go ...
object composite text 65... he had wisdom
object composite text 65a... had ... for him ...
object composite text 66... brought about ...
object composite text 67... they crossed(?) ...
object composite text 68... place ...
object composite text 69... place Naramtum ...
object composite text 70... the people brought it about
object composite text 70... they crossed(?) your path
object composite text 70... did not make ... live with him ...
object composite text 70... broad ... his fish
object composite text 82... he had wisdom
object composite text 82... had ... the grain of mankind ...
object composite text 82... gave him ...
object composite text 82... they turned ...
object composite text 82Enlil ... multiplied
object composite text 82Grain-heap ... multiplied
object composite text 82... may ... be lofty ...
object composite text 82... may ... be ...
object composite text 96Great fields ...
object composite text 97River ... fish and fowl ...
object composite text 98Reedbed ...
object composite text 99... my king ... carp
object composite text 100... my god ... appropriately ...
object composite text 101At that time, Adaba the sage ...
object composite text 102On the pure quay, the quay of the crescent moon ...
object composite text 103Without a rudder ...
object composite text 104Without a punting pole ...
object composite text 105On the sea, the broad place ...
object composite text 106With his hand he caught carp ...
object composite text 107The meals of Enki ...
object composite text 108The twin rivers, the Euphrates ...
object composite text 109The South Wind, the furious wind, ...
object composite text 110Adaba, the citizen of Eridu ...
object composite text 111For this word ... carried ... the South Wind ...
object composite text 112He broke the wing of the South Wind ...
object composite text 113Seven days and seven nights passed, the South Wind did not blow in the land.
object composite text 114At that time, great An, the king of the gods,
object composite text 115Spoke to his vizier KAgi'a:
object composite text 116Come, my vizier, who responds to me with due propriety,
object composite text 117Why is it that for seven days and seven nights the South Wind not blown in the land?
object composite text 118KAgi'a responded to An, the king of the gods:
object composite text 119My king, Adaba, the sage, the citizen of Eridu,
object composite text 120On the pure quay, the quay of the crescent moon, he ... his sailing boat
object composite text 121Without a rudder, ... the boat
object composite text 122Without a punting pole, ... the boat
object composite text 123The sea, the broad place ...
object composite text 124With his hand he caught ... carp ...
object composite text 125For the afternoon meal of Enki ...
object composite text 126When he turned towards the twin rivers, the Euphrates,
object composite text 127The South Wind, the furious wind, blew ...
object composite text 128Adaba, the citizen of Eridu ... fish ...
object composite text 129For this word ... carried ... the South Wind ...
object composite text 130He broke the wing of the South Wind, in the land ...
object composite text 131An spoke a word to KAgi'a:
object composite text 132The word ... in his mouth ...
object composite text 133KAgi'a spoke a word, speaking to the herald:
object composite text 134An, the king of the gods, calls to Adaba, the sage:
object composite text 135He commands him: you will go to the place of An!
object composite text 136Enki called to Adaba,
object composite text 136aHe commanded him, he called to him:
object composite text 137Adaba, you must come out of the place of the father where you were born, you must not accept ...
object composite text 138An eats bread; should he offer it to you, you must not accept it!
object composite text 139Should he offer water to you, you must not accept it!
object composite text 140The bread and water are presents of death; should he offer it to you, you must not accept them!
object composite text 141Should he offer the raised hand, you must not accept it!
object composite text 142Should he offer perfume to you, you should put it on you!
object composite text 143Adaba, you release your hair to your sides, fire will touch you ...
object composite text 144Two gods will approach you and ask a question,
object composite text 145Lord Dumuzi and lord Ningiszzida will approach you and ask a question:
object composite text 146Young man, why do you bear a mourning garment on your head and hair?
object composite text 147You will respond thus:
object composite text 148In our city, two young men have died, therefore life is like this for me.
object composite text 149Lord Dumuzi and lord Ningiszzida have died, therefore life is like this for me.
object composite text 150They will look at one another and laugh.
object composite text 151Adaba held the word of his king close to his heart.
object composite text 152Adaba released his hair at his sides, fire would touch him.
object composite text 153He entered the midst of heaven with Utu, he brought him to the gate of An.
object composite text 154He brought him to the gate of An, the father of the gods.
object composite text 155Two gods approached and asked him a question,
object composite text 156Lord Dumuzi and lord Ningiszzida approached and asked him a question:
object composite text 156aYoung man, why do you wear a mourning garment on your head and hair?
object composite text 157He answered the two gods:
object composite text 158He responded to lord Dumuzi and lord Ningiszzida:
object composite text 159In our city two young men have died, therefore life is like this for me.
object composite text 160Lord Dumuzi and lord Ningiszzida have died, therefore life is like this for me.
object composite text 161They looked at one another and laughed.
object composite text 162Adaba paid attention to the word of Enki.
object composite text 163On the day of prosperity, the day of ablution,
object composite text 164The day of the New Moon, the day of judgement,
object composite text 165They introduced Adaba to a favourable An.
object composite text 166An gave Adaba, the intelligent and wise one, a seat as an audience gift.
object composite text 167An was eating bread, he offered it to him, he did not accept it.
object composite text 168He offered water to him, he he not accept it.
object composite text 169He offered the raised hand to him, he did not accept it.
object composite text 170He offered perfume to him, he put it on himself.
object composite text 171An said: "Eat, drink!" and laughed:
object composite text 172Father Enki of the green space prevented me from giving my breath to the people.
object composite text 173An called to the great gods in the assembly:
object composite text 174Adaba, why have you broken the wing of the South Wind?
object composite text 175The great gods responded to An:
object composite text 176He will put the wing of the South Wind in order, then it will be able to rise.
object composite text 177As Enki turned (his) head,
object composite text 178The commands, ordinances, and powers of An emerged in the land.
object composite text 179Enki spoke ... to the South Wind:
object composite text 180Come, South Wind, your heart is not good ..., let me fix your destiny!
object composite text 181In the steppe, let this man in his quiet place speak thus:
object composite text 182O king, your beneficent inscription ... the South Wind
object composite text 183From the great marshlands, the broad places,
object composite text 184... went ...
object composite text 187The simmu-disease ... the bodies of mankind,
object composite text 188When the South-Wind rises, may it attend to my body!
object composite text 189The pure bandage of Ninisina, which soothes my heart,
object composite text 190The great prince, the father Enki, 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)
object composite text
1u4 re-da {d}utu bi-da
2ge6 re-da ge6 ba-u4-ul-a-ta
3mu re-da mu ba-til-la-a-ta
4egir a-ma-ru ba-nir-ra-a-ta
5nam-gilim kur-ra-ke4 ba-ab-gar-ra-a-ta
6nam-lu2-ulu3 sahar-ra ba-ab-<e3?>-a-ta
7kur-kur sig igi-nim-ma tesz2 ba-ab-sig-a-ta
8{d}a-nun-na an ki-a a-na-me-a-bi
9kin-sig nu-gal2-bi nam-mu-da-gal2-la
10ki-tusz nu-mu-un-tag sza3!-gar dun-de3 a2 gid2 nu-ku-usz
11an {d}en-lil2 {d}en-ki {d}nin-hur-sag-ga2-ke4 sag x [...]
12numun nam-lu2-ulu3 im-ma-da-an#-[taka4 ...]
13sag ge6-ga ib2-taka4-am3 sig7-ga-asz sag du11-ga# [...]
14masz2!-ansze nig2-ur2-limmu dagal-bi nam#-[...]
15gesz-gi mah sug-gim-bar-gal2-la ku6 muszen [...]
16an-edin-na u2-szim-bi giri17-zal gu2 im-da-gar-re-[esz]
17u4-ba pa3-da nu-mu-un-da-ba-e-ne ki-bi mu-ga2-[ga2?-ne?]
18i7 idigna i7 buranun-na-bi-ta i7 masz-tab-ba [...]
19gu2-kin kur-kur-ra mu-un-ba-la-a un im-DI-e [x (x)]
20e-pa5 [...] si mu-un-si-sa2#
21nam-lu2-ulu3 us2 gi-na mu-un-su-usz ki TUN3 mu-[...]
22gu7# nag mu#-un-tag# [...]
23ME KI RA x A SZUL x [...]
24an {d}en-lil2#-bi#-ta an ki [...]
25kiszi{ki} iri dim2-gal kalam#-[ma ...]
26u4-ba lu2 sipa pa3-[da ...]
27ur? inim du11-ga-ta KA# [...]
28nam-lu2-ulu3 [...]
29e2?# im-ma-an-du11 [...]
30lu2 u2-sze3 i-DU UN# [...]
31lu2 x mu#-un#-na-an#-[...]
32lu2 [?] gigir# HAR-ra#-na-ke4 [...]
33u4 [x (x)] NE im# ma UR x ra?# [...]
34da [(...)] nam#-lu2#-ulu3 nu-mu-un-tag [...]
35im-ulu3# bala?#-na szu-zi mu#-[...]
36lu2?# [x x]-a sag-ki gid2-da [...]
37[x x x x] x-a sag-ki la-ba-ke4 x
38[x x x x] x dagal-bi na-de5 nu-du12-du12#
39[x x x] arad ugula-a igi-ne-ne li-bi2-in-tuku#
40[x x x (x)]-la bar-ta la-ba-e3-de3 x x x la#(-)ba-an-gar
41[x x x] gidri# nam-lugal-la-ra nu-mu-un-tab?# [...] me-te-esz / [(?)] li-bi-gar
42[x x x x] x ki sza3-ga-na DU i3-du-un
43[x x x x x x] gi#-ig-ri szu ba-an-na#-[x x] x / [...] tu#-ut-tu
44[...] mi-ni-sig
45[...] un#-nu2
46[...] ri# im-me
51[...]x a-na me-a-bi
52[...] la? i3-bi2 bu-un-ne
53[...] x gu2# he2-ga2-ga2
54im mi-ri nam-UD-da-ke4 un-e mu-ni-gal2
55{d}ezinam GANA2 dagal ba-dib-ba ba-dib-ba sag-il2 gid2-gid2-e
56{d}szullat {d}hanisz-bi un-e sze du7-ru ba-tuku di-id-mah / sze-mah sze A.AN-bi-sza
57nam-lu2-ulu3-bi tesz2 mu-un-bala na-de5 nu-du12-du12
58u4 e-ne-bi nam-usz2 e-re-bi na-ga2-la? i3-se3-ke-nam
59UN x [x x x] mu#-un-kar nam-ti zi me-de5
60mu# [x x x x x x x x] x ba?#-la?#-tag-am i-ta
61[...] KA#.KA mu-ni-szi-su?-ub
62[...] mu#-na-de2-a
63[...] un-sig7-ga
64[...] x e du-de3 ba-an-na-HI
65[...] x gesztu2 tuku-a-ni
65a[...] mu-un-na-tuku
66[...] x-e mu-ni-gal2
67[... mu]-un-dib-dib-be2-esz
68[...] i3-ga2-ga2 da-HI
69[...] x-ke4? na-ra-am-tum i3-ga2-ga2 / x da-HI
70[...] x x x x x x
80[...] im#-da-an-x [...]
81[...]-e11# [...]
82[...] x [...]
95AN x [...] / [...]
96a-gar3 gal-gal x [...]
97i7 ku6 muszen x [...]
98gesz-gi x [...] x IGI [...]
99lugal-ga2 [...] DU-ta suhur [...]
100digir-ga2? x [x x] x me-tesz2 x [...]
101u4-ba a-da-ba# [abgal ...] x x [...]
102kar# ku3-ga kar# [u4-sakar-ra ...]
103{gesz}zi-gi nu-me-a [...]
104{gesz}gi-musz nu-me-a [...]
105a-ab-ba ki nig2 dagal-la x [...]
106szu?(esz2?)-ni mu-un-DU suhur x [...]
107[x x x] unu3#-gal# {d}en-ki [...]
108masz-tab-ba i7 buranun-na [...]
109im-ulu3 im szur2-bi im-da-x-[...]
110a-da-ba dumu eridu{ki}{+du10}-ga-ke4 [...]
111inim-bi-sze3 nam-tum3 im#-ulu3# [...]
112im-ulu3 pa-bi in#-hasz# [...]
113u4 imin ge6 imin-sze3? ba?-zal im-ulu3# [kur-ra nu]-mu#-un-[dal?-dal]
114u4-ba an gal [lugal digir-re]-e#-ne-[ke4]
115sukkal-a-ni {d}KA#-[gi4-a-ra gu3 mu]-na#-de2-a
116ga2-nu sukkal#-mu# lu2?# KA#-gi4#-gi4?#-mu# me-te nam-[galam?]-ma
117u4 imin ge6 [imin]-sze3? im-ulu3 a-na-asz-am3 kur-ra# nu-mu-un?#/[dal?-dal]
118{d}KA#-gi4#-a an lugal digir-re-e-ne-ra# inim# mu-ni-gi4-gi4
119lugal-mu a-da-ba abgal dumu eridu{ki}{+du10#}-[ga]-ke4#
120kar ku3-ga [kar-uskar-ra] {gesz}ma2-sza3?#-[ha ...]-ra?
121{gesz}zi-gi nu-me-[a] {gesz#}ma2#-bi# im#-[...]
122{gesz}gi#-[musz nu-me-a] {gesz}ma2-bi im#-[...]
123a-ab-[ba ki nig2] dagal#-la [...]
124esz3?/szu?-ni mu-un-DU# [in-...] suhur?#-masz-e x [...]
125kin-sig [unu3]-gal {d}en-[ki-ra ...]
126masz-tab-ba i7 buranun-na#-ke4 mu?#-un?#-nigin2?#-na?#-a-ba [(?)]
127im-ulu3 im szur2-bi im-ma#-an-zi# [x x] x [...]
128a-da-ba dumu eridu{ki}{+du10}-ga x ku6?# [...]
129inim-bi ma? nam#-tum3# im-ulu3 [...]
130im-ulu3 pa-bi in#-hasz?# kur-ra [...]
131an-e {d}KA-gi4-ra inim mu-ni#-be2
132inim-bi ka-ka-na um-ma-da?#-[...]-gal2# x ga2#-e# x x / x x-ni-ib-ku4# [(x)] x
133{d}KA-gi4-a inim an-na-ra-du11 nimgir?-ra u3-na-du11#
134an lugal digir-re-e-ne a-da-ba abgal gu3 mu#-un#-[na]-de2
135a2 mu-da-na-ga2 ki an-na-sze3 im#-szi#-ge26#-en
136{d}en-ki-ke4 a-da-ba gu3 mu-na-de2-a
136aa2 mu-da-na-ga2 gu3?# mu?#-na#-[(ni)-]de2#-[e]
137a-da-ba ki a-a u3-du2 mu-e3-da im ba-x-te?# szu nu-ma-gid2-de3
138an-e ninda i3-gu7-e a-ra-ab-du11-ga szu nu-ma?-gid2#-de3
139a-nag-a a-ra-ab-du11-ga szu nu-ma-gid2#-de3#
140ninda a-nag!(KU3) nig2-ba ug7 a-ra-ab-du11-ga szu nu-ma#-gid2-de3
141szu? il2-la2 a-ra-ab-du11-ga szu nu-ma-gid2-de3
142ir-da-ni a-ra-ab-du11-ga ugu-zu he2?#-bi?#-si?#
143a-da-ba siki-zu bar-zu im-mi-in-du8 izi im-me-en-ta-ta-[(...)]
144digir min-a-bi im-mi-en-tesz2 en na-ab-tar-tar-re
145en {d}dumu-zi en {d}nin-gisz-zi-da-ke4 / im-mi-tesz2 en na-ab-tar-tar-re
146lu2 gurusz a-na-asz-am3 sag siki {tug2}mu-du?-ra mu#-na-da / [(?)]-il2?
147za-e ur5-gin7 mu-ra-ab-gi4-gi4-en?#
148iri-me-a gurusz min-a-bi im-ug5-ga ur5-sze3 ma-ti-la
149en {d}dumu-zi en {d}nin-gisz-zi-da-ke4 im-ug5-ga / ur5-sze3 ma-ti-la
150szesz szesz-ra igi mu-un-szi-bar-re zu2 al-NE-NE
151a-da-ba inim lugal-ni sza3-sze3 ba-gid2
152a-da-ba siki-zu bar-zu im-mi-in-du8 izi mi-in-tag-tag
153{d}utu-da an-sza3-ga mu-un-ku4 ka2 an-na-sze3 mu-un-/tum3-me-en
154ka2 an-na-sze3 a-a digir-re-e-ne mu-un-tum3-me-en
155digir min-a-bi im-mi-tesz2 en na-ab-tar-tar-re
156en {d}dumu-zi en {d}nin-gisz-zi-da-ke4 / im-mi-tesz2 en3 na-ab-tar-tar-re
156alu2 gurusz! a-na-asz-am3 sag# siki# tug2 mu#-du#-ra mu-na-da-BI
157digir min-a-be2 im-ma-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
158en {d}dumu-zi en {d}nin-gisz-zi-da-ke4 / KA gi-ri-da-a-bi
159iri-me-a gurusz min-a-bi im-mu-ga ur5-sze3 ma-ti-la
160[en] {d}dumu-zi en {d}nin-gisz-zi-da im#-ug5#-ga ur5-sze3 ma?-ti-la
161szesz# szesz#-ra igi mu-un-szi-bar-re zu2 al-NE-NE
162a-da-ba inim {d}en-ki-ke4 gesztu2 ba-szi#-la2
163u4? he2?-gal2?#-la u4 a-tu5-a-ta
164u4 nu2-a u4 di du11-ga-a-ba
165a-da-ba sag-ki zalag an-na sig5 mu-un-zu-zu-ne
166an#-e a-da-ba gesztu2 ku3-zu igi-du8 {gesz}gu?#-za?# / mu-un-na-an-[szum2?]
167an#-e ninda i3-gu7-e a-ra-ab-du11-ga szu nu-um-gid2-de3
168a-nag a-ra-ab-du11-ga szu nu-ma-gid2-de3
169szu?# il2-la! a-ra-ab-du11-ga szu nu-ma-gid2#-de3#
170ir-da-ni a-ra-ab-du11-ga ugu-zu# he2-bi-sig
171an-ne2# gu7?# nag?# bi2-du11-du11 zu2 na-NE-NE
172a-a [{d}]en#-ki musz2-bi sig7-ga-gin7 zi-mu un nu-me-/da-an-szum2
173an-ne2 unken-na digir gal-gal-e-ne gu3 mu-un-na-de3
174a-da-ba im-ulu3 pa na-asz me-hasz#
175digir gal-gal-e-ne# an-e inim mu-un-na-<ni>-ib-gi4#-[gi4]
176im-ulu3 pa-a-bi bi-ib-si-sa2 ur5 mu-un-da#-/zi-ga
177{d}en-ki-ke4 sag-du nigin2-na-a-ba
178a2-ga2 bi-lu-da me an-na-ke4 kur-ra e3-de3
179{d}en-ki-ke4 im-ulu3 [(x x x)] gu3 mu-un-na-de3
180ga2-nun im-ulu3 sza3-zu?# nu?-du10? esz TU nam ga-mu-/ni-ib-tar-re
181edin? lu2# bi? ki si-ga-ni ur5-gin7 he2-da-ab-be2
182lugal mu-sar-ra sag5-ga-zu2?# im-ulu3 KUSZ2 nu ba-du10 (su?-he?)
183ambar gal-gal?# ki nig2 dagal-la-bi-ta
184u4 x [x x x x x] x HA A ur im-szi-gen-na
185IM# [...] HA A ur2 ha-ga?#-dib-be2
186x HA x [...] x
187gig-simx(GIG)-ma su nam-lu2-ulu3 SU mu!-un#-x-x
188im-ulu3 a-ba-an-zi-zi su-mu-ra gesztu# he2-em-szi-gub-en
189nig2-la2-a ku3 {d}nin-i3-si-na-ke4 sza3-mu hug-ga2
190nun gal a-a {d}en-ki za3-mi2

Sources & licences

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