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Sargon and Ur-Zababa (Q000374)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | Sargon and Ur-Zababa |
|---|---|
| ID | Q000374 |
| 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 | eš₃ ma₂-gur₈-gin₇ x | Like a barge ... |
| 2 | gir₄ mah-bi X x | Its exalted nose ... |
| 3 | id₂-bi a hul₂-la da-ri₂ x | Its river ... joyful waters forever. |
| 4 | a-gar₃-bi {ŋiš}al-e ri-e-de₃ gana₂ x | Its meadows are to be ploughed, the field |
| 5 | e₂ kiš{ki}-a iri lil₂-la-gin₇ maš-gana₂ gi₄-gi₄-de₃ | In order to turn the house of Kiš into a haunted city, |
| 6 | lugal-bi sipad ur-{d}za-ba₄-ba₄ | its king, the shepherd Ur-Zababa |
| 7 | e₂ kiš{ki}-a-ka {d}utu-gin₇ am₃-e₃ | In the house of Kiš, Utu came out like that. |
| 8 | nam-lugal-la-na bal-bi šu kur₂-ru-de₃ e₂-gal-la LAM-bi su₃-ra₂-X-X | In order to change his kingship, in order to ... the ... of the palace |
| 9 | an {d}en-lil₂ inim kug-ga-ne-ne-a zid-de₃-eš X x x | An and Enlil, their pure words are true |
| 10 | ki ud-bi šar-ru-um-ki-in iri-ni iri x | When Šarrum-kin his city |
| 11 | ad-da-ni la-i-bu-um ama-ni x | His father is Lā-ibum, his mother is |
| 12 | šar-ru-um-ki-in šag₄ dug₃-ga mu-x | Šarrum-kiŋin ... the good heart |
| 13 | mu im-ta-tu-ud-da-aš X x | because he has given birth |
| Seg.B, | ||
| 1 | ud ne ud te-en-e um-ma-te-a-ta | After the storm, after the storm had passed, |
| 2 | {m}šar-ru-um-ki-in sa₂-dug₄ e₂-gal-še₃ im-de₆-a-ba | When Šarrum-kīn brought the regular offerings to the palace |
| 3 | itima kug ki-tuš kug-ga-ni-a im-ma-da-an-nu₂ | He sat with him in the holy bedchamber, his holy dwelling. |
| 4 | šag₄-ga-ni-še₃ mu-un-zu eme-na nu-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ lu₂-da nu-mu-un-da-ab-be₂ | He knows his place, he does not have a tongue, no one can speak with him |
| 5 | {m}šar-ru-um-ki-in sa₂-dug₄ e₂-gal-še₃ šu ba-ab-te-a-ta | After Šarrum-kīn received the regular offerings of the palace |
| 6 | |MUŠ₃.KA.UL| mu-un-sig₁₀-ga {ŋiš}gu₂-ne-saŋ-ŋa₂ mu-un-dab₅-be₂ | The snake that he struck struck, he seized it |
| 7 | kug {d}inana-ke₄ da-bi-a muš₃ nu-tum₂-me | The silver of Inana does not cease its utterance |
| 8 | ud 5-am₃ ud 10-am₃ ba-zal-la-ta | After five and ten days had passed, |
| 9 | lugal {d}ur-{d}za-ba₄-ba₄ im-da-la₂ ki-tuš-bi-ta mi-ni-ib-hu-luh | The king, Ur-Zababa, stretched out his arms and shook his body. |
| 10 | piriŋ-gin₇ šag₄ pap-hal-la-na kaš₃ biz-biz šag₄-ba uš₂ lugud si-a-ba | Like a piri vessel in his paphala vessel, the beer of the bizbiz vessel in its midst, the šuŋ drum filled with radiance |
| 11 | i₃-kuš₂ ku₆ a mun lug-ga-gin₇ zi mu-un-di-ni-ib-ir-ir | Like a fish dripping with water and salt, he carries it with him. |
| 12 | ud-ba |MUŠ₃.KA.UL| e₂-kurun₂ {d}ezina₂-ka | At that time, in the Ekurun temple of Ezina |
| 13 | {m}šar-ru-um-ki-in u₃-sa₂-gin₇ la-ba-nu₂ ma-mu₂-de₃ ba-nu₂ | Argum-kīn did not lie down like a goat, he lay down for me. |
| 14 | kug {d}inana-ke₄ ma-mu₂ id₂ mud-še₃ mu-un-gir₅-gir₅ | The silver of Inana, my mother, swept the river with blood. |
| 15 | {m}šar-ru-um-ki-in dum-dam-ma-na zu₂ ki-še₃ ba-da-ab-ra-ah | Šarrum-kīn, his daughter, was seized by the teeth of the earth |
| 16 | dum-dum-bi lugal {d}ur-{d}za-ba₄-ba₄ ŋiš tuku-tuku-da-ni | his son, the king Ur-Zababa, who had acquired him |
| 17 | lugal-ra ki kug-ga-ni-še₃ im-ma-da-an-sun₅-ne-eš | They were bringing them to the king in his pure place |
| 18 | {m}šar-ru-um-ki-in ki {d}ur-{d}za-ba₄-ba₄-še₃ im-ma-da-an-sun₅-ne | Šarrum-kīn greeted Ur-Zababa. |
| 19 | |MUŠ₃.KA.UL|-GA ma-mu₂ ŋi₆ u₃-na X-na u₃-mu-ri-du₈ | (Sum) My ..., the river ... (Akk) The ... of the river(?) ... |
| 20 | {m}šar-ru-um-ki-in lugal-a-ni im-ma-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄ | Šarrum-kīn answered his king: |
| 21 | lugal-ŋu₁₀ ma-mu₂-ŋu₁₀ u₃-mu-ri-dug₄-ga | Lugal-bug, Umuriduga, |
| 22 | {lu₂}ki-sikil 1-am₃ an-gin₇ sukud-da-ni ki-gin₇ daŋal-la-ni | The maiden, like heaven, her body, like earth, her limbs |
| 23 | suhuš bad₃-da-gin₇ ŋar-ŋar-ra | like a foundation of a wall stretched out |
| 24 | id₂ mah id₂ mud-še₃ ŋa₂-ra mu-un-gir₅-re-de₃-en | We go to the great river, the river of blood |
| 25 | X X {d}ur-{d}za-ba₄-ba₄ nundum KA bi₂-in-gu₇ ni₂ šag₄-še₃ ba-gid₂ | Ur-Zababa eats ..., he is terrified. |
| 26 | x X NA AN x sukkal-a-ni gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e | ... his minister spoke to him. |
| 27 | x nin₉ e-ŋu₁₀ kug {d}inana-ke₄ | ... sister of Ebu, holy Inana |
| 28 | x X X mud-še₃ u-ŋu₁₀ mu-un-kur₉-re | ... brought in blood. |
| 29 | x X {m}šar-ru-um-ki-in |MUŠ₃.KA.UL| id₂ mah mu-un-gir₅-gir₅ | ... Šarrum-kīn swept the great river. |
| 30 | {m}be-li₂-iš-ti-kal₂ gal-simug lu₂ šag₄-ga de₆-a-ŋu₁₀ im sar-sar | Bēlīš-tikal, the chief smith, the man in charge of the harvest, poured out clay |
| 31 | inim ga-ra-ab-dug₄ inim-ŋu₁₀ he₂-dab₅ | I want to speak a word to you, may it be seized. |
| 32 | na degₓ(RI)-ga-ŋu₁₀ ŋizzal he₂-em-ši-ak | “May he be able to raise a scepter for you. |
| 33 | ne-eš₂ |MUŠ₃.KA.UL| zabar-šu-ŋa₂ a-ra-X-ab-de₆ | I shall bring to you a bronze kettledrum. |
| 34 | e₂-sikil-la e₂ nam tar-ra-ka alan-gin₇ kuš₃-kuš₃-a sig₁₀-bi₂-ib | In the Esikila, the house of deciding fates, like a statue, you make it shine like the sun. |
| 35 | {m}be-li₂-iš-ti-kal₂ inim lugal-la-na-še₃ saŋ keše₂ ba-ši-in-ak | Bēlīš-tikal to his king’s order he bound. |
| 36 | e₂-sikil e₂ nam tar-ra-ka kuš₃-kuš₃-a si mu-un-sa₂ | In the Esikil, the house where fates are determined, he arranges the sandals. |
| 37 | lugal-e {m}šar-ru-um-ki-in gu₃ mu-na-de₂-e | The king spoke to Sargon |
| 38 | ŋen-na zabar-šu-ŋa₂ gal-simug-še₃ tum₂-mu-na-ni-ib | Bring him into the great smith's workshop! |
| 38A | {m}šar-ru-um-ki-in e₂-gal {d}ur-{d}za-ba₄-ba₄ im-ma-da-ra-ab-e₃ | Šarrum-kīn entered the palace of Ur-Zababa. |
| 39 | kug {d}inana-ke₄ zag zid-da-ni muš₃ nu-tum₂-mu | The silver of Inana, his right shoulder does not tire |
| 40 | e₂-sikil-la e₂ nam tar-ra-ka 5 nindan 10 nindan nu-te-a-na | In the Esikila, the house where fates are determined, 5 rods is not equal to 10 rods. |
| 41 | kug {d}inana-ke₄ igi mu-un-na-ni₁₀-ni₁₀ ŋiri₃-ni im-da-RU | She looked at the silver of Inana, she ... her cheeks. |
| 42 | e₂-sikil-la e₂ kug-ga na-nam lu₂ mud nu-mu-un-kur₉-re | In the Esikila, the pure house, no one brings blood. |
| 43 | kan₄ e₂ nam tar-ra-ka gal-simug lugal-la-ke₄ gaba mu-un-da-ri | At the gate of the house where the fates are determined, the chief smith of the king approaches. |
| 44 | zabar-šu lugal-la-ke₄ gal-simug-še₃ mu-un-de₆-a-ta | After he brought his bronze to the king, the chief coppersmith |
| 45 | {m}be-li₂-iš-ti-kal₂ gal-simug im-da-la₂ alan-gin₇ kuš₃-kuš₃-a ba-da-ab-sig₁₀-ga-bi | Bēlīš-tikal, the chief smith, stretched out a scepter like a statue, and it was covered in sweat. |
| 46 | {m}šar-ru-um-ki-in ud 5-am₃ ud 10-am₃ ba-zal-la-ta | After Šarrum-kīn had passed the five and the ten days, |
| 47 | ki {d}ur-{d}za-ba₄-ba₄ lugal-la-na-še₃ im-ma-da-an-ku₄-ku₄ | to the place of Ur-Zababa his master he brought in. |
| 48 | šag₄ e₂-gal kur gal-gin₇ ki us₂-sa im-ma-da-an-ku₄-ku₄ | He made the palace, like a great mountain, enter its foundation pit |
| 49 | lugal {d}ur-{d}za-ba₄-ba₄ im-da-la₂ ki-tuš-bi-ta mi-ni-ib-hu-luh | The king, Ur-Zababa, stretched out his arms and shook his body. |
| 50 | šag₄-ga-ni-še₃ mu-un-zu eme-na nu-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ lu₂-da nu-mu-un-da-ab-be₂ | He knows his place, he does not have a tongue, no one can speak with him |
| 51 | itima-ka ki-tuš kug-ga-ni {d}ur-{d}za-ba₄-ba₄ mi-ni-ib-hu-luh | In the morning Ur-Zababa shook his holy dwelling. |
| 52 | šag₄-ga-ni-še₃ mu-un-zu eme-na nu-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ lu₂-da nu-mu-un-da-ab-be₂ | He knows his place, he does not have a tongue, no one can speak with him |
| 53 | ud-bi-ta inim im-ma gub-bu he₂-ŋal₂ im sig₉-sig₉-ge ba-ra-ŋal₂-la-am₃ | At that time, there was a word, a supplication, and he was not able to raise a favorable word. |
| 54 | lugal {d}ur-{d}za-ba₄-ba₄ {m}šar-ru-um-ki-in diŋir-re-e-ne šu dug₄-ga-ar | King Ur-Zababa, Šarrum-kin, the judges, is your servant. |
| 55 | im-ma gub-bu niŋ₂ ni₂ ba-ug₇-a-ta | After the one who stood in the clay, terrified by fear, |
| 56 | unug{ki}-ga lugal-zag-ge₄-e-si šu ba-ni-ib-da₁₃-da₁₃ | In Uruk Lugalzage-si has sworn it. |
| Seg.C, | ||
| 1 | dam lugal-zag-ge₄-si-da im-x | wife of Lugalzagesida ... |
| 2 | nam-munus an-dul₃-eš₂ mu-ni-ba X x | The womanhood of the throne, her name ... |
| 3 | lugal-zag-ge₄-si kiŋ₂-gi₄-a nu-x | Lugal-zage-si did not |
| 4 | ŋa₂-nam-ma šeg₁₂ e₂-an-na-še₃ ŋiri₃ mu-un-gub | He set up the brickwork of the Eanna temple there. |
| 5 | lugal-zag-ge₄-si šag₄-ga-ni nu-un-zu ugu kiŋ₂-gi₄-a nu-mu-un-dug₄-dug₄ | Lugal-zage-si did not know his way, he did not agree with him. |
| 6 | en-na ugu kiŋ₂-gi₄-a na-mu-un-dug₄-dug₄ igi dumu nun ba-an-da-bad | As long as he does not speak to the envoy, he looks at the princely son. |
| 7 | en-e u₈ bi₂-in-dug₄ sahar-ra ba-an-da-tuš | The lord praised the ewe and sat down in the dust. |
| 8 | lugal-zag-ge₄-si kiŋ₂-gi₄-a-ar im-ši-in-gi₄ | Lugal-zage-si returned to the place. |
| 9 | kiŋ₂-gi₄-a šar-ru-ki-in gu₂ nu-mu-un-sig₁₀-sig₁₀ | The šarrikin-priest does not raise his neck at the place of reconciliation |
| 10 | gam-gam-ma-ni šar-ru-ki-in lugal-zag-ge₄-si x | Šarru-kīn, Lugal-zage-si |
| 11 | šar-ru-ki-in lugal-zag-ge₄-si x | Šarrukin Lugal-zage-si |
| 12 | a-na-aš-am₃ šar-ru-ki-in x | Why does your king |
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.