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The marriage of Martu (Q000354)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | The marriage of Martu |
|---|---|
| ID | Q000354 |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Period | Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
| Find spot | Nippur |
| Coordinates | 32.1271, 45.2300 |
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)
Machine draft. The right-hand column is machine English from ixmon/atf-to-english (atf-en-t5base-F, 2026-10-17), generated line by line from the transliteration. It is unreviewed and is not a scholarly translation.
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | i₃-na-ab{ki} i₃-me-a kiri₈-tab nu-me-a | Inab was there, but Kiritab was not there, |
| 2 | men kug i₃-me-a aga kug nu-me-a | There was no silver crown, there was no gold crown. |
| 3 | šim kug i₃-me-a {ŋiš}erin kug nu-me-a | There was gold, there was no gold cedar |
| 4 | mun kug i₃-me-a naŋa kug nu-me-a | When there was gold, there was no silver. |
| 5 | ŋiš dug₄-dug₄-ga ne su-ub-ba i₃-me-a | “If he is a slanderer, when he lies down, |
| 6 | šag₄-tum₂-šag₄-tum₂-ma tud-da i₃-me-a | When she was born in a dream, |
| 7 | ad-da-ab-ba {ŋiš}erin kug-ga-me-en bil₂-ga {ŋiš}meš₃-me-en | I am the father of pure cedars, I am a bitter one of mes. |
| 8 | ama ad {ŋiš}erin babbar-ra-me-en su ha-šu-ur₂-ra-me-en | I am the mother of the white cedar tree, I am a cypress tree |
| 9 | ud-ba iri-iri-a kur nam-nun-na-kam | At that time, in the cities, it was the land of princeliness. |
| 10 | i₃-na-ab{ki} iri-iri-a kur nam-nun-na-kam | Inab is the princely land of the cities. |
| 11 | ensi₂ i₃-na-ab{ki}-a tigi-šem₅-{kuš}a₂-la₂-a | governor of Inab, Tigi-svem-kuš-ala |
| 12 | dam-a-ni šag₄-ge-guru₇ mu-ni he₂-en-na-nam | May his wife be his šaggguru priestess |
| 13 | dumu-ni x-da-gur-ra-am₃ | his son ... |
| 14 | AN x-na-ka mu-ni he₂-en-na-nam | May his name be in the ... of his ... |
| 15 | iri-da-e-ne gu na-la₂-e-ne | They will not raise a claim against one another. |
| 16 | i₃-na-ab{ki} iri-da-e-ne gu na-la₂-e-ne | Inab, the cities that they had conquered, they stretched out their nets |
| 17 | gu na-la₂-e-ne maš mu-un-sar-sar-ne | They do not shave their necks, they write their own names |
| 18 | maš-e lu₂-ulu₃-gin₇ ŋiš mu-un-ra-ra-ne | The goats ... like men. |
| 19 | ud ne ud ten-na um-ma-te-a-ra | After the storm, the storm of the tenth day approached, |
| 20 | ki niŋ₂-ba-ka um-ma-te-a-ra | After he has reached the place of relaxation, |
| 21 | igi {d}|EŠ₂.LIL.DU| niŋ₂-ba na-ni-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | before EŠLIL.DU, nani-ba |
| 22 | niŋ₂-ba lu₂ dam tuku 2-am₃ i₃-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | If a man has a wife, it will increase by two. |
| 23 | niŋ₂-ba lu₂ dumu tuku 3-am₃ i₃-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | If a man has a son: it will increase by three. |
| 24 | niŋ₂-ba ŋuruš saŋ-dili 1-am₃ i₃-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | It is the niŋa of a single female kid. It is one. |
| 25 | {d}mar-tu dili-ni 2-am₃ i₃-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | Martu alone is two; |
| 26 | {d}mar-tu ama ugu-ni-ir | Martu, his own mother |
| 27 | e₂-a ba-an-ši-kur₉ gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e | He entered the house and spoke to him: |
| 28 | iri-ŋa₂ gu₅-li-ŋu₁₀-ne-me-en dam ba-an-tuku-tuku-me-eš | In the city, you are the ones who have married a spouse |
| 29 | dub₃-sa-ŋu₁₀-ne-me-en dam ba-an-tuku-tuku-me-eš | I am the one who has married a spouse |
| 30 | iri-ŋa₂ gu₅-li-ŋu₁₀-ne-gin₇ dam nu-tuku-me-en | You are the one who does not have a spouse in the city like a drunken man. |
| 31 | dam nu-tuku-me-en dumu nu-tuku-me-en | I am one who has no wife, I have no child. |
| 32 | ŋiš-šub us₂-sa dirig gu₅-li-ŋa₂-še₃ | It is the “finger-nail of a lion’s nest— |
| 33 | MAŠ dub₃-sa bi₂-dab₅ dirig dub₃-sa-ŋa₂-še₃ | he seized the slave-girl, he advanced against the slave girl |
| 34 | ud ne ud te-en-na um-ma-te-a-ra | After the storm, the storm of the future, has passed, |
| 35 | ki niŋ₂-ba-ka um-ma-te-a-ra | After he has reached the place of relaxation, |
| 36 | igi {d}|EŠ₂.LIL.DU| niŋ₂-ba na-ni-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | before EŠLIL.DU, nani-ba |
| 37 | niŋ₂-ba lu₂ dam tuku 2-am₃ i₃-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | If a man has a wife, it will increase by two. |
| 38 | niŋ₂-ba lu₂ dumu tuku 3-am₃ i₃-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | If a man has a son: it will increase by three. |
| 39 | niŋ₂-ba ŋuruš saŋ-dili 1-am₃ i₃-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | It is the niŋa of a single female kid. It is one. |
| 40 | {d}mar-tu dili-ni 2-am₃ i₃-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | Martu alone is two; |
| 41 | {d}mar-tu ama ugu-ni-ir | Martu, his own mother |
| 42 | e₂-a ba-an-ši-kur₉ gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e | He entered the house and spoke to him: |
| 43 | ama-ŋu₁₀ dam tuku-ba-ab niŋ₂-ba-ŋu₁₀ ga-mu-ra-de₆ | My mother who has a spouse, I want to bring it to you safely. |
| 44 | {d}mar-tu ama ugu-ni mu-na-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄ | Martu answered his mother who bore him: |
| 45 | {d}su-he-nun-na-ŋu₁₀ na ga-e-degₓ(RI) na degₓ(RI)-ŋu₁₀ he₂-dab₅ | Suhenunna, I want to ..., may ... be seized. |
| 46 | inim ga-ra-ab-dug₄ inim-ŋu₁₀-še₃ ŋeštug₂-zu | I want to speak a word to you, it is your word |
| 47 | igi il₂-la-zu dam tuku-ba-ni-ib | When you raise your eyes to the spouse, |
| 48 | šag₄-ge guru₇-zu dam tuku-ba-ni-ib | In the field, may your silo have a spouse |
| 49 | šu-tab ze₂-ŋa₂ gi₄-in x | Hand of sweet, maidservant |
| 50 | iri-da-za e₂-bi du₃-du₃-a {ŋiš}kiri₆ x | In your city, where the temple was built, the orchard |
| 51 | dub₃-sa-za pu₂ ba-e-ni-ba-al | In your heap, the wells are there for you. |
| 52 | {d}mar-tu lu₂ dub₃-sa-x | Martu, the one who ... |
| 53 | ud-ba iri-a iri-a ezen gu₃ bi₂-ib-ra | At that time, a festival was sung in the city. |
| 54 | i₃-na-ab{ki} iri-a ezen gu₃ bi₂-ib-ra | Inab, in the city, a festival was held. |
| 55 | ŋa₂-nam-ma gu₅-li ga-re₇-en-de₃-en ga-ba-e-re₇-en-de₃-en | Let us go, let us go! |
| 56 | e₂ kaš i₃-na-ab{ki}-a ga-re₇-en-de₃-en ga-ba-e-re₇-en-de₃-en | Let us go to the house of beer in Inab, let us go! |
| 57 | {d}nu-muš-da-x ezem-ma mu-x | Numušda ... the festival |
| 58 | dumu ki aŋ₂-ŋa₂-ni {d}ad-ŋar-ki-dug₃ ezem-ma mu-un-x | The son of his father, Enlil-bar-kidug, at the festival |
| 59 | dam-a-ni {d}nam-ra-at munus sag₉-ga ezem-ma mu-un-x | His wife Namrat, the beautiful woman, at the festival |
| 60 | iri-a šem₅ zabar zi-ig-za-ag X-za | In the city, bronze arrowheads ... |
| 61 | {kuš}a₂-la₂ 7-e šeg₁₁ mu-da-an-gi₄ | He returned the seven ala drums to him |
| 62 | nitah x-ne en ib₂-la₂-ne | The ... men and the lords who carried (them) |
| 63 | e₂-ŋešba₂-še₃ mu-na-da-an-ku₄-ku₄ | he brought it into the house for her. |
| 64 | e₂ i₃-na-ab{ki}-a-ka hu-mu-na-ab-sa₂-e | may he make perfect for him in the temple of Inab. |
| 65 | i₃-na-ab{ki} iri ezen ŋal₂-la-še₃ u₆ di-de₃ ba-gub | Inab, the city that was turned into a festival, stood to marvel at it. |
| 66 | i₃-na-ab{ki} iri ezen ŋal₂-la-še₃ u₆ di-de₃ ba-gub | Inab, the city that was turned into a festival, stood to marvel at it. |
| 67 | e-ne-ra bar kug-ga i₃-me-a-ke₄-eš | When he speaks to him in a pure abode |
| 68 | kan₄ i₃-na-ab{ki}-ka ŋešba₂ lirum-e | At the gate of Inab, the lion |
| 69 | {d}mar-tu kisal mah-a dub₃ i-ni-in-bad | Martu sat down in the great courtyard. |
| 70 | ur-saŋ kalag-ga mu-na-ab-kiŋ₂-kiŋ₂-e | The mighty hero goes to him. |
| 71 | ur-saŋ kalag-ga mu-na-ab-zi-zi-i | The strong hero rises for him. |
| 72 | {d}mar-tu kisal mah dub₃ i-ni-bad | Martu surrounded the great courtyard. |
| 73 | x gul-gul-e 1(AŠ)-ta bi₂-ra | ... the one who destroyed it from the first place |
| 74 | kisal mah me₃-e niŋ₂-la₂-e bi₂-in-la₂ | In the supreme courtyard, where battles are fought, he has carried it away. |
| 75 | kisal i₃-na-ab{ki} ad₆ im-il₂-il₂-e | In the courtyard of Inab he raised a wadi. |
| 76 | {d}nu-muš-da {d}mar-tu hul₂-la-e | Numušda rejoices over Martu. |
| 77 | kug mu-un-na-ba-e šu nu-um-ma-gid₂-i-de₃ | He will pay the silver, but he will not give it back to him. |
| 78 | za mu-un-na-ba-e šu nu-um-ma-gid₂-i-de₃ | He poured out a libation for her, but she did not accept her hand |
| 79 | 2-kam ur₅-am₃ um-ak-e | It is the second song. |
| 80 | 3-kam ur₅-am₃ um-ak-e | It is the third song. It is repeated. |
| 81 | kug-zu me-da tum₃ za-zu me-da tum₃ | Bring your silver, bring your praise! |
| 82 | {d}mar-tu-me-en dumu-zu ga-ba-ab-tuku | I am Martu, I want to acquire your son |
| 83 | x dumu-zu ga-ba-ab-tuku | ... I want to bring your child. |
| 91 | amar niŋ₂-mussa dam mu-ni-X | The calf of Nimussa, his wife ... |
| 92 | ab₂-ga amar he₂-em-mi-ib-gu₇ | May the cow eat the calf. |
| 93 | tur₃-ba gud-ab₂-ba-bi hu-mu-un-ši-nu₂-e | May he lie down in its cattlepen and its oxen. |
| 94 | ab₂ x x-ba-ka he₂-em-mi-tuš | May the cow dwell in its ... |
| 95 | amar-bi a₂ zid-da-bi he₂-em-mi-tuš | May its calf dwell at its right side |
| 96 | ur₅-re ur₅-ur₅-re inim ha-ba-ni-ŋar-re-en | I want to speak a word with him, I want it to be spoken with him. |
| 97 | {d}ad-ŋar-ki-dug₃ KA dumu-ŋu₁₀ ga-mu-ra-ab-šum₂ | I want to bring you Enlil-barkidug, the mouth of a child. |
| 98 | sila₄ niŋ₂-mussa dam mu-ni-x | The lamb ... the spouse for her. |
| 99 | u₈-ga sila₄ he₂-em-mi-ib-gu₇ | may the ewe and lamb eat. |
| 100 | amaš-ba x hu-mu-un-ši-nu₂-e | May they lie down in their sheepfold |
| 101 | u₈ x he₂-em-mi-tuš | May he sit ... ewe |
| 102 | sila₄-bi gab₂-bu-bi he₂-em-mi-tuš | Its lambs shall sit on their chests. |
| 103 | ur₅-re ur₅-ur₅-re inim ha-ba-ni-ŋar-re-en | I want to speak a word with him, I want it to be spoken with him. |
| 104 | {d}ad-ŋar-ki-dug₃ KA dumu-ŋu₁₀ ga-mu-ra-ab-šum₂ | I want to bring you Enlil-barkidug, the mouth of a child. |
| 105 | maš₂ niŋ₂-mussa dam mu-ni-x | The kid of Nimussa, the spouse ... |
| 106 | ud₅-ga maš₂ he₂-em-mi-ib-gu₇ | May the goat eat the kid |
| 107 | unu-ba maš₂-ud₅-da-bi hu-mu-un-ši-nu₂-e | May the goats sleep in their stalls |
| 108 | ud₅-de₃ maš₂-bi x he₂-em-mi-tuš | May the goat and its kid dwell there |
| 109 | maš₂-bi x he₂-em-mi-tuš | I made dwell there as its interest |
| 110 | ur₅-re ur₅-ur₅-re inim ha-ba-ni-ŋar-re-en | I want to speak a word with him, I want it to be spoken with him. |
| 111 | {d}ad-ŋar-ki-dug₃ dumu-ŋu₁₀ ga-mu-ra-ab-šum₂ | I want to bring you Enlil-barkidug, your child. |
| 112 | x gal-gal-e ba-ni-in-x | ... great ... |
| 113 | X x X-e-gin₇ gu₃ bi₂-in-ra | ... shouted like ... |
| 114 | kar i₃-na-ab{ki}-ka mu-ni-in-x | at the quay of Inab ... |
| 115 | ab-ba-ab-ba-ar i₃-na-ab{ki}-a | Abba-abbar of Inab, |
| 116 | {ŋiš}rab₃ kug-sig₁₇-ka mi₂ im-ma-ni-in-dug₄ | he treated it with gold ring(s) |
| 117 | um-ma-um-ma-ar i₃-na-ab{ki}-a | the envoy of Inab, |
| 118 | x {tug₂}bar-sig₉ kug-sig₁₇-ga mi₂ im-ma-ni-in-dug₄ | he adorned it with gold robes. |
| 119 | ŋuruš munus X i₃-na-ab{ki}-ke₄-ne | the female kids of Inab |
| 120 | x X X X kug-sig₁₇-ka mi₂ im-ma-ni-in-dug₄ | He treated the ... of gold well. |
| 121 | arad₂-arad₂ X i₃-na-ab{ki}-ke₄-ne | the slaves of Inab |
| 122 | x x A mi₂ im-ma-ni-in-dug₄ | He treated ... well. |
| 123 | {tug₂}x gun₃-a mi₂ im-ma-ni-in-dug₄ | he adorned it with a speckled garment. |
| 124 | geme₂-geme₂ i₃-na-ab{ki}-ke₄-ne | female slaves of Inab |
| 125 | {dug}|KIN₂.GIŠ| kug-babbar mi₂ im-ma-ni-in-dug₄ | he gave her a bowl of silver. |
| 126 | ud ba-hi-a di nu-til-le-dam | In those distant days, judgments were not rendered. |
| 127 | a₂-še šu-bi ha-lam ulutim₂ {ugu}ugu₄-bi | Its hands are destroyed, its limbs are shattered |
| 128 | an-zil gu₇ {d}nanna-kam ni₂ nu-tuku | Anzil, who eats Nanna, has no fear. |
| 129 | šu dag-dag-ge-bi X x | Hand of Agade |
| 130 | niŋ₂-gig e₂ diŋir-re-e-ne-kam | It is the niŋ-gig of the temple of the intercessors. |
| 131 | ŋalga-bi mu-un-lu₃-lu₃ šu suh₃-a dug₄-ga | Its balaŋ drum is raging, the hand is swollen |
| 132 | lu₂ {kuš}lu-ub₂ mur₁₀-a x | a man in a leather cloak |
| 133 | za-lam-ŋar til₃ tum₉ šeŋ₁₄ x sizkur nu-mu-un-dug₄-ga | The zalāmbar drum, brought to an end, the šeŋbar drum was not played properly |
| 134 | hur-saŋ-ŋa₂ tuš-e ki diŋir-re-ne nu-zu-a | The dwelling in the mountains, which has no rival |
| 135 | lu₂ uzu-dirig kur-da mu-un-ba-al-la dub₃ gam nu-zu-am₃ | The one who eats the meat of the mountain, he does not know how to take care of it. |
| 136 | uzu nu-šeŋ₆-ŋa₂ al-gu₇-e | (If) he eats meat that has not been cut |
| 137 | ud til₃-la-na e₂ nu-tuku-a | When he lives he does not have a house. |
| 138 | ud ba-ug₇-a-na ki nu-tum₂-mu-dam | When he died, he did not bring him to an end. |
| 139 | ma-la-ŋu₁₀ {d}mar-tu ta-am₃ an-tuku-tuku-un | Alābu, Martu, what is your strength? |
| 140 | ma-la-ga-ni {d}ad-ŋar-ki-dug₃ mu-na-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄ | his friend, Enlil-barkidug, replied to him: |
| 141 | {d}mar-tu ga-ba-an-tuku-tuku | I want to acquire Martu, |
| 142 | i₃-na-ab{ki} u₂-lum a-lam-ma | Inab, the splendor of the city |
Sources & licences
- 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) · ORACC project editions, https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ ; cite the individual project (see texts.extra_json.project)
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-18.