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The Flood story (Q000357)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | The Flood story |
|---|---|
| ID | Q000357 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Seg.A, | ||
| 1 | x im-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ x | ... ... |
| 2 | nam-lu₂-ulu₃-ŋu₁₀ ha-lam-ma-bi-a ga-ba-ni-ib-x | I want to ... the destruction of humanity |
| 3 | {d}nin-tur₅-ra niŋ₂-dim₂-dim₂-ma-ŋu₁₀ sig₁₀-sig₁₀-bi-a ga-ba-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄ | I want to answer Nintur’s question in a favorable way. |
| 4 | uŋ₃ ki-ur₃-bi-ta ga-ba-ni-ib-gur-ru-ne | I want to return them from the Kiʾur. |
| 5 | iri{ki} me-a-bi he₂-em-mi-in-du₃ ŋissu-bi ni₂ ga-ba-ab-dub₂-bu | I shall build the city where it belongs, I shall utter an arazu prayer to it |
| 6 | iri me-a šeg₁₂-bi ki kug-ga he₂-em-mi-in-šub | In the city, where is its brickwork placed in a pure place? |
| 7 | ki-eš-bar me-a ki kug-ga he₂-em-mi-ni-ib-ri | May he make the earth tremble in the pure place. |
| 8 | KUG A niŋ₂ izi ten-na si mi-ni-in-si-sa₂ | He arranged the gold, water, and ... in a ten-sided fire. |
| 9 | ŋarza me mah šu mi-ni-ib-šu-du₇ | The dais is perfect for the exalted divine powers |
| 10 | ki a im-ma-ab-dug₄ silim ga-mu-ni-in-ŋar | I want to make the place pleasant for him. |
| 11 | an {d}en-lil₂ {d}en-ki {d}nin-hur-saŋ-ŋa₂-ke₄ | An, Enlil, Enki and Ninhursa |
| 12 | saŋ gig₂-ga mu-un-dim₂-eš-a-ba | When they had fashioned a bitter crown |
| 13 | niŋ₂-gilim ki-ta ki-ta mu-lu-lu | The niŋgilim priestess, from earth to earth, man |
| 14 | maš₂-anše niŋ₂-ur₂-limmu₂ edin-na me-te-a-aš bi₂-ib₂-ŋal₂ | He carried off the wild goats of the steppe in a suitable manner |
| Seg.B, | ||
| 1 | x mu-un-x | ... . |
| 2 | x AM₃ x | ... , |
| 3 | x X degₓ(RI)-ga ga-ba-ni-in-x | ... I want to ... |
| 4 | du-lum-bi igi ga-ba-ni-ib-du₈-du₈-x | I want to look at its work |
| 5 | X šidim kalam-ma-ke₄ uš gen₆ ha-ba-ab-ba-al | May the ... of the land like a snake be carried away. |
| 6 | ud x X nam-lugal-la an-ta ed₃-de₃-a-ba | When the ... of kingship was ascending from heaven, |
| 7 | men mah {ŋiš}gu-za nam-lugal-la an-ta ed₃-a-ba | When the supreme crown, the throne of kingship, rises from heaven |
| 8 | ŋarza me mah šu mi-ni-ib-šu-du₇ | The dais is perfect for the exalted divine powers |
| 9 | iri-bi-e-ne šeg₁₂-bi ki kug-ga im-ma-an-da-šub | The roof of their city was set up in a pure place |
| 10 | mu-bi ba-an-sa₄ kab dug₄-ga ba-hal-hal-la | Its name was named, it was split into two parts. |
| 11 | nesaŋ iri-be₂-e-ne eridug{ki} maš₂-saŋ {d}nu-dim₂-mud mi-ni-in-šum₂ | The nesa priests of their cities gave Eridug as a gift to Nudimmud |
| 12 | 2-kam-ma-še₃ nu-gig-ra bad₃-tibira{ki} mi-ni-in-šum₂ | It was the second time that the nugig priestess of Badtibira prayed. |
| 13 | 3-kam-ma la-ra-ag {d}pa-bil₂-saŋ mi-ni-in-šum₂ | It is the third song: “Pabilsa gave it to him. |
| 14 | 4-kam-ma zimbir{ki} šul {d}utu mi-ni-in-šum₂ | The 4th, Sippar was surrounded by the sun. |
| 15 | 5-kam-ma šuruppag {d}sud₃{ki}-ra mi-ni-in-šum₂ | It is the 5th šuruppag of Sud. |
| 16 | iri-be₂-e-ne mu-bi ba-an-sa₄-a kab dug₄-ga ba-hal-hal-la | The names of their cities have been named, the good ones have been dispersed. |
| 17 | id₂ IM GUN₂ ma-an-šu₄-am₃ im-ma-al-la a im-ma-an-de₆ | The river ... there was ..., water was carried away. |
| 18 | id₂ tur-tur-re šu luh-bi GAR HAR-HAR mi-ni-ib₂-ŋar-ŋar | (Sum) The small river, its hand trembles (Akk) Its small river shakes |
| Seg.C, | ||
| 1 | ki-tuš an-na X x | The dwelling place of heaven |
| 2 | e-x | ..., |
| 3 | a-ma-ru x | The flood ... |
| 4 | nam-lu₂-ulu₃ x | Humanity |
| 5 | ur₅-gin₇ bi₂-in-ak x | he did like a dog ... |
| 6 | ud-bi-a {d}nin-tur₅ x DIM₂ A x | At that time Nintur ... |
| 7 | kug {d}inana-ke₄ uŋ₃-bi-še₃ a-nir mu-un-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | The silver of Inana poured out a lament for them. |
| 8 | {d}en-ki šag₄ ni₂-te-na-ke₄ ad i-ni-in-gi₄-gi₄ | Enki answered his own heart: |
| 9 | an {d}en-lil₂ {d}en-ki {d}nin-hur-saŋ-ŋa₂-ke₄ | An, Enlil, Enki and Ninhursa |
| 10 | diŋir an ki-ke₄ mu an {d}en-lil₂ mu-X-pad₃ | The rainbow of heaven and earth he ... the name of An and Enlil. |
| 11 | ud-ba zi-ud-su₃-ra₂ lugal-am₃ gudug X x | At that time, Ziudsu was king, gudug priest ... |
| 12 | an saŋ NIŊIN mu-un-dim₂-dim₂ EN x | He fashioned heaven and earth, |
| 13 | nam-sun₅-na inim sig₁₀-sig₁₀-ge ni₂ teŋ₃-ŋe₂₆ x | The slanderer speaks a favorable word. |
| 14 | ud šu₂-uš-e saŋ us₂ gub-ba x | On that day, standing at the quay |
| 15 | ma-mu₂ nu-me-a ed₂-de₃ inim bal x | Without a father, the path ... words. |
| 16 | mu an ki-bi-ta pad₃-pad₃-de₃ x | to find out the name of heaven and earth, |
| 17 | ki-ur₃-še₃ diŋir-re-e-ne e₂-ŋar₈ x | In the Ki'ur the intertwined priests ... the Ebar |
| 18 | zi-ud-su₃-ra₂ da-bi gub-ba ŋiš mu-un-tuku | The one who stands at the side of the ziggurat has a right arm. |
| 19 | iz-zi-da a₂ gab₂-bu-ŋu₁₀ gub-ba x | standing at the left side, |
| 20 | iz-zi-da inim ga-ra-ab-dug₄ inim-ŋu₁₀ he₂-dab₅ | I want to speak a word to you, may it be seized. |
| 21 | na degₓ(RI)-ga-ŋu₁₀ ŋizzal he₂-em-ši-ak | “May he be able to raise a scepter for you. |
| 22 | DAG-me-a a-ma-ru ugu kab dug₄-ga x ba-ur₃ x | ... the flood that covers the mouth ... |
| 23 | numun nam-lu₂-ulu₃ ha-lam-e-de₃ nam-bi ba-tar | In order to destroy the seed of mankind, its fate was decided. |
| 24 | di-til-la inim pu-uh₂-ru-um-ma-ka šu gi₄-gi₄ nu-ŋal₂ | The end of the judgment, the word of the assembly, will not be carried off. |
| 25 | inim dug₄-ga an {d}en-lil₂-la₂-ka šu bal-e nu-zu | The good word of An and Enlil has no rival. |
| 26 | nam-lugal-bi bal-bi ba-bur₁₂ e-ne šag₄ kuš₂-u₃-de₃ | Its kingship has been dispersed, how long will it be abandoned? |
| 27 | e-ne-eš₂ x | The word |
| 28 | a-na MU-MU x | to my name |
| Seg.D, | ||
| 1 | im-hul-im-hul {tum₉}si-si-ig du₃-a-bi teš₂-bi i₃-sug₂-ge-eš | They stood together in a rage against the evildoer and the wicked one |
| 2 | a-ma-ru ugu kab dug₄-ga ba-an-da-ab-ur₃-e | (Sum) The flood swept over the land, it wiped away the land (Akk) It wiped the land with the flood that struck the land |
| 3 | ud 7-am₃ ŋi₆ 7-am₃ | The 7th day, the 7th night |
| 4 | a-ma-ru kalam-ma ba-ur₃-ra-ta | After the flood swept over the Land |
| 5 | {ŋiš}ma₂ gur₄-gur₄ a gal-la im-hul tuku₄-tuku₄-a-ta | After he sank a mighty boat in the great flood, which had been destroyed, |
| 6 | {d}utu i-im-ma-ra-e₃ an ki-a ud ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | Šamaš came out, heaven and earth ... |
| 7 | zi-ud-su₃-ra₂ {ŋiš}ma₂ gur₄-gur₄ ab-BUR₂ mu-un-da-burudₓ(U) | The “flood-carrying’ of the boat was smashed with a broom. |
| 8 | šul {d}utu ŋiš-nu₁₁-ni-da {ŋiš}ma₂ gur₄-gur₄-še₃ ba-an-kur₉-re-en | You are the one who turns the head of Šamaš into a boat that is to be sunk. |
| 9 | zi-ud-su₃-ra₂ lugal-am₃ | is king Ziusura. |
| 10 | igi {d}utu-še₃ giri₁₇ ki su-ub ba-gub | before Utu, he set his nose in the earth. |
| 11 | lugal-e gud im-ma-ab-gaz-e udu im-ma-ab-šar₂-re | The king slaughtered oxen, he sacrificed sheep. |
| 12 | x X si gal x sikil-la-da | ... with pure ... |
| 13 | x X mu-un-na-X-X-ba | When he ... |
| 14 | x | |
| 15 | x bi₂-in-si | he filled. |
| 16 | x X tab-ba | [x] ..., |
| 17 | x A X | ...; |
| Seg.E, | ||
| 1 | zi an-na zi ki-a i₃-pad₃-de₃-en-ze₂-en za-zu-da he₂-em-da-la₂ | You will find the life of heaven and earth, the life on earth, so that you will carry it with you. |
| 2 | an {d}en-lil₂ zi an-na zi ki-a i₃-pad₃-de₃-ze₂-en za-da-ne-ne im-da-la₂ | An and Enlil, true in heaven and true on earth, he chose you, they stretched out their arms. |
| 3 | niŋ₂-gilim-ma ki-ta ed₃-de₃ im-ma-ra-ed₃-de₃ | The niŋgilim priestess goes down from the ground for you. |
| 4 | zi-ud-su₃-ra₂ lugal-am₃ | is king Ziusura. |
| 5 | igi an {d}en-lil₂-la₂-še₃ giri₁₇ ki su-ub ba-gub | Before An and Enlil, he set his nose in the earth. |
| 6 | an {d}en-lil₂ zi-ud-su₃-ra₂ mi₂-e-eš₂ X-dug₄-X | For An and Enlil, the one who loves life ... praise. |
| 7 | til₃ diŋir-gin₇ mu-un-na-šum₂-mu | he breathes like a riverbank |
| 8 | zi da-ri₂ diŋir-gin₇ mu-un-na-ab-ed₃-de₃ | (Sum) The life of the eternal one is poured out for him like a rainbow (Akk) The eternal life is to be poured for him as if it were a flood |
| 9 | ud-ba zi-ud-su₃-ra₂ lugal-am₃ | At that time, it was king Ziudsu. |
| 10 | mu niŋ₂-gilim-ma numun nam-lu₂-ulu₃ uru₃ ak | year: “Ningilima, the seed of humanity, erected the city. |
| 11 | kur-bal kur dilmun-na ki {d}utu e₃-še₃ mu-un-til₃-eš | The kurbal priests of the Dilmun mountain, the place where Utu came forth, lived there. |
| 12 | za-e X x BA X-bi til₃-eš X | You ... well-being |
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.