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A praise poem of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma C) (Q000388)
Literary, Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | A praise poem of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma C) |
|---|---|
| ID | Q000388 |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Period | Old Babylonian · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE |
| Genre | Literary |
| Find spot | uncertain |
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 | iri me dug₃-dug₃-ga barag mah nam-lugal-la | City of good divine powers, supreme dais of kingship |
| 2 | eš₃ urim₅{ki} gu₂-gal ki-en-gi-ra ki kug-ga du₃-a | The shrine Urim, the canal inspector of Sumer, built in a pure place |
| 3 | iri bad₃ gal ki ŋar-ra-zu abzu-ta mu₂-a | City, your great wall, grown from the Abzu |
| 4 | iri an-gin₇ sig₇-ga hi-li gur₃-ru ki gal-la gun₃-gun₃ | City that is beautiful like heaven, full of allure, adorned with greatness, |
| 5 | eš₃ urim₅{ki} ŋi₆-par₄ ki ŋar-ra ki-tuš an {d}en-lil₂-la₂ | The shrine Urim, the Ipar, the place of the king, the residence of An and Enlil |
| 6 | e₂-gal mah-zu e₂-kiš-nu-ŋal₂ šag₄-ga nam tar-ra | Your supreme palace, the Ekišnubal, the place where fates are determined |
| 7 | dub-la₂-zu me-lem₄ du₈-du₈-a kur-kur-ra dirig-ga | Your throne, adorned with splendor, surpassing all the lands, |
| 8 | gi-gun₄-na-bi dungu babbar-gin₇ an-šag₄-ga u₆ di | Its reed-beds, like white clouds, shine like the heavens |
| 9 | {ŋiš}RU-bi nim ŋir₂-ŋir₂-e-gin₇ eš₃ šag₄-ga kumₓ(PA)-kumₓ(PA)-mu | Its cultic rites, like a rising flood, are to be sung in the open country |
| 10 | 1 gud {ŋiš}šudul₄-a-gin₇ ur₂ gur-ra X kug da-ra-ga | 1 ox, like one covered with a šudula cloak, ... of silver forever, |
| 11 | {ŋiš}banšur sikil-la ki aŋ₂ {d}suen-na | The pure table, the place of Suen's water, |
| 12 | e₂-kiš-nu-ŋal₂ {ŋiš}banšur sikil-la ki aŋ₂ {d}suen-na | The Ekišnubal, the pure table, the place of Suen |
| 13 | lugal |KI.LUGAL.GUB|-la he₂-du₇-bi kisal mah-e si-a | The king, the king of the “great throne,’s fitting in the supreme courtyard. |
| 14 | ur-{d}namma uru₁₆ a₂ nun gi₄-a {d}en-X X X-ma | Ur-Namma, the powerful one, the princely arm of En- |
| 15 | X urim₅{ki} iri daŋal-ba SAR X X x x | ... Urim, the rebel city ... |
| 16 | x NAM X X GA pa ba-e-ni-a-e₃ | ... he made appear. |
| 17 | x X X X x X nir-ŋal₂-e | [......] to carry off |
| 18 | ni₂-te-a-ni mi₂ zid i-ri in-ga-am₃-me | (Sum) His own self loves him, he weeps bitterly (Akk) His self loves me, I wept bitterly |
| 19 | ur-{d}namma lugal urim₅{ki}-ma nam dug₃ tar-ra-ba ŋiri₃ si mu-un-da-ab-sa₂ | Ur-Namma, king of Urim, determined a good fate for him, and he made the city square. |
| 20 | an-e ka kug-ga-ni mu-un-ba šeŋₓ(|IM.A|) ma-u₃-tud | When An opened his holy mouth, he gave birth to me |
| 21 | ki-še₃ šag₄-ga si ba-an-sa₂ he₂-ŋal₂ ma-ra-de₆ | He made the earth tremble, he carried it for you. |
| 22 | {d}en-lil₂-le mi₂ zid mu-un-dug₄ UN mu-ši-in-X | Enlil treated him kindly, ... |
| 23 | {d}en-ki-ke₄ mi₂ zid mu-un-dug₄ a-eštub{ku₆} {d}ezina₂ še gu-nu saŋ-e-eš mu-un-rig₇ | Enki treated me kindly. The āštub fish and the ezina fish were presented to me. |
| 24 | {d}nin-tur₅-re ŋe₂₆-e mu-un-dim₂-dim₂-en gaba-ri-ŋu₁₀ nu-tuku | Nintur fashioned me, but I had no rival. |
| 25 | x X dug₃-bi bi₂-in-peš-en lugal kalam-ma-me-en | I am the king of the land |
| 26 | x ŋal₂ zid-da-me-en tur₃ amaš mu-da-daŋal | I am the true ..., I roam around with him in the cattlepen and sheepfold. |
| 27 | {d}utu ka-ŋa₂ inim ba-ni-in-ŋal₂ | Šamaš carried a word in his mouth |
| 28 | di ku₅-ru-ŋu₁₀ ki-en-gi ki-uri gu₃ teš₂-a bi₂-in-sig₁₀ | Judged in Sumer and Akkad, he uttered a lament. |
| 29 | {d}nin-gublaga-ke₄ a₂ ma-an-šum₂ | Ningublaga has given me strength |
| 30 | me₃-ŋu₁₀ an ki šu₂-a-bi lu₂ la-ba-ra-e₃ | The battles of heaven and earth did not leave anyone behind |
| 31 | ur-{d}namma lugal urim₅{ki}-ma {d}lamma iri-ŋa₂-me-en | Ur-Namma king of Urim I am the protective spirit of the city. |
| 32 | šer₇-da mu-dub₂ su mu-un-sag₃-sag₃ | He trembles with sorrow, he shakes his body |
| 33 | ni₂ su-e bi₂-us₂-sa-ŋu₁₀ X X-a i-na mu X X ri-ia-aš | (Sum) He ... the fear of the mountain(?) (Akk) In the year ... |
| 34 | di ku₅-ru-ŋu₁₀ ki-en-gi ki-uri us₂ dili-a mi-ni-ib-dab₅ | Judge of Sumer and Akkad, he seized him alone. |
| 35 | ni₂-zuh lu₂ i-{d}utu-ka gu₂-ba ŋiri₃ bi₂-gub | The nizuḫ priestess, the one of Ištar, stood at the bank of the river. |
| 36 | erim₂-du muš-gin₇ šu gid₂-gid₂-da šu im-da-an-šu₂-šu₂ | The evildoer, like a snake, has long hands |
| 37 | lu₂-kar-da gur₅-ru-uš im-da-ab-be₂ šag₄-bi si bi₂-ib-sa₂ | He spoke to the fugitive, and made his heart happy. |
| 38 | niŋ₂-si-sa₂-e pa e₃ bi₂-ak niŋ₂-erim₂ sa₂ bi₂-dug₄ | He made a resplendent appearance, he satisfied the enemy. |
| 39 | {d}gibil₆-gin₇ saŋ-ki gid₂-da-ŋu₁₀ gu₃ teš₂-a bi₂-sig₁₀ | Like Gibil, he shouted with a loud voice |
| 40 | inim-ŋu₁₀ me-me DU₈-ba gub-bi UN X A x X X E | (Sum) The word of the lord is ... (Akk) It is an incantation of ... |
| 41 | DAG X X-la ma-da kur-kur-ra x urim₅{ki}-e X kur x | ... the land of all the lands ... Urim |
| 42 | nidba-bi e₂-kiš-nu-ŋal₂-la-na {d}nanna-ar mi-ni-in-hul₂-le | Nanna rejoiced over his offerings in the Ekišnubal. |
| 43 | a-ŋu₁₀ šag₄ kug-ge ba-ri-a-ta | From the water of the pure reedbed |
| 44 | {d}suen-e u₆-e ki aŋ₂-ni | Sîn, when he looks at the sky, |
| 45 | {d}nanna-ar hi-li-na ba-ni-in-kur₉-re | Nanna brought forth her allure. |
| 46 | {d}en-lil₂-le {d}utu-gin₇ kalam-ma ed₂-de₃ mu dug₃ mu-un-sa₄ | Enlil named it as “like Utu in the Land,’ |
| 47 | {d}nin-tur₅ tud-tud-a mu-un-gub-bu | Nintur, who had been born, stood by her. |
| 48 | šag₄ ama-ŋu₁₀ {d}nin-sumun₂-ka-ta | From the heart of mother Ninsumun |
| 49 | nam tar-ra sag₉-ga ma-ta-e₃ | The good fate has come out for me. |
| 50 | ur-{d}namma-me-en ma-da ki-en-gi ki-uri {d}lamma mu-un-da-an-tuku | I am Ur-Namma, the ruler of Sumer and Akkad, who has a protective spirit. |
| 51 | kalam-ma ki ur₅ sag₉-ge-bi ŋe₂₆-e-me-en zi-ŋu₁₀ he₂-u₃-tud | You are the one who makes the land happy, may you give birth to life! |
| 52 | ug ušumgal X A KA IGI X LA₂ a-šag₄ mu-da-dadag | (Sum) ... he lights up the field(?) (Akk) The ... of the field is illuminated |
| 53 | gana₂ gi hul mu₂-a šuba₂ nu-mu-u₈-da-lu | The evil reed grows in the fields, the šuba stones are not spread out |
| 54 | edimₓ(EDIN)-ma ezen-gin₇ du₃-a-ba ŋiri₃ si mu-un-da-ab-sa₂ | In the steppe, where the festival is like a festival, it makes the bīt biri square. |
| 55 | lu₂ a-šag₄-ga nir-ŋal₂-bi mu-un-DU gaba-na ib₂-ta-an-zig₃ | (Sum) The one who ... in the field, he raises his voice against his chest (Akk) The man who carries the nirbala ritual on the field rises up against her chest |
| 56 | dumu ukur₃-ra u₂ il₂-i-de₃ ŋen-na ama-ni-ir mu-un-gi₄-gi₄ | The child of the ukur priestess, when he raises the grass, he answers his mother: |
| 57 | a-ma-ru gi₄-ba i-ti{X} ma-gi₄{X-a-ba} | When the flood returns, when it returns |
| 58 | {d}en-lil₂-le ud dug₃-dug₃-ga-na maš₂-e bi₂-in-pad₃-de₃-en | Enlil chose me as his favorite on a propitious day. |
| 59 | ki-en-gi-ra gu₃ zid mu-un-de₂ e₂-a in-da-an-zig₃-ge-en | In Sumer he uttered a good cry, he raised him up in the house. |
| 60 | ŋeštug₂ daŋal igi-ŋal₂-tuku-ŋu₁₀-še₃ | “It is enough, it is enough! It is sufficient! Its eye is too small! |
| 61 | X an lugal-e šu-ŋu₁₀-še₃ ba-an-šum₂ | ... An, the king, gave it to him. |
| 62 | ki-en-gi-ra ud₅-saŋ-bi ŋe₂₆-e-me-en | In Sumer I am its herdsman |
| 63 | x X X X X sag₉-ga-me-en | I am a beautiful ... |
| 64 | x-a-me-en | I am ... |
| 65 | x X x X kalam-ma-me-en | I am the ... of the land |
| 66 | x X tum₂-mu | ... fitting |
| 67 | X X X x | |
| 68 | X HI X x | ...; |
| 69 | en-me-en zi X X X x X X x | I am the righteous lord [......] |
| 70 | ur-{d}namma an-še₃ tud-da kug-ge-eš X x | Ur-Namma, born in heaven, the silver ... |
| 71 | unken igi-ŋu₁₀-še₃ si im-sa₂ | The assembly was seated before him. |
| 72 | erin₂ silim-ma kalam šu-a gi₄-gi₄ {d}en-lil₂-le ma-ra-an-šum₂ | The “well-behaved’ troops of the land are being returned, Enlil has given them to you. |
| 73 | ŋi₆-par₄-ra {tug₂}gada nam-mi-la₂ | In the Ipar he wore a tunic. |
| 74 | ŋiš-nu₂ gi-rin-na ki-nu₂ dug₃-ba mu-nu₂ | He laid down in the reed bed in its comfortable bed. |
| 75 | uŋ₃-e u₂ nir-ŋal₂ bi₂-ib₂-gu₇-en {d}en-ki-im-du-bi-me-en | I am Enkimdu, the one who feeds the hungry. |
| 76 | sipad zid udu-ni dirig ŋal₂-la-me-en | I am the faithful shepherd who raises his sheep high. |
| 77 | tur₃ amaš daŋal |KA×MAŠ|-bi ŋal₂ bi₂-taka₄ gaba-ri-ŋu₁₀ nu-tuku | Its cattlepen and sheepfold were seized, it had no rival. |
| 78 | sipad u₂ naŋ-ŋa₂-bi šuba₂{X-X} ma-šar₂{mu-ni-šar₂} | The shepherd ... the šuba stones for him |
| 79 | nam-en-na-bi u₃-me-ni-tag | he has sworn by his lordship. |
| 80 | buru₁₄ mah-ŋu₁₀ ni₂-bi il₂-il₂-i niŋ₂-kud nu-ak-e | (Sum) The great harvest does not ... itself, it does not cut itself off (Akk) The magnificent harvest is not cut off by itself |
| 81 | a₂ aŋ₂-ŋa₂-ŋu₁₀ bad₃ gal kur-ra-ka a-ne hul₂-la mu-e | He rejoicing over the labor of the great wall of the netherworld. |
| 82 | iri-ŋa₂ ki-sur-ra ki-en-gi-ra giri₁₇-zal-bi ma-dug₃ | The joy of the city, the boundary of Sumer, is sweet. |
| 83 | ki-en-gi id₂-ba a šu bi₂-ba ŋiš gu₂-ba mu-zig₃ | In Sumer, in the river where water was poured, he raised his neck high. |
| 84 | saŋ-ur-saŋ-bi {ŋiš}šudul₄-bi mu-zig₃ | Its sabursa and šudul are raised. |
| 85 | x kur-ra-ka zag-la₂-bi mu-du₈ | In the ... of the netherworld, he made its fringe visible. |
| 86 | urim₅{ki} šu-ba im-mi-gi₄ | Urim returned to its place |
| 87 | X-ba ITIMA-gin₇ kur-ra-na bi₂-gi₄ | ... returned to his land like a cloud. |
| 88 | še-bi ma₂-gur₈-ra-ke₄ bi₂-la₂ ŋa₂-nun-bi bi₂-gi₄ | Its barley was carried off the barge and returned to its storehouse. |
| 89 | dumu KIŊ₂-bi e₂-a-ni im-mi-gi₄ dusu-bi mu-gi₄ | He returned the sons to their places and returned them to their beds. |
| 90 | gu-ti-um{ki} lu₂-|ŠAG₄×TAR|-a-ke₄ šu sis-na mu-du₈ | Gutium, Lu-Šamaš, hand of the sisna instrument he played. |
| 91 | i-{d}utu ka-ba um-mi-gi₄ | Ištar opened its mouth |
| 92 | bad₃ bi₂-šub-ba bi₂-gi₄ šag₄ su₃-ra-ŋu₁₀ X iri DU mu-gul eš₃ urim₅{ki} x | He restored the wall that had been torn down, ... the city ... destroyed the shrine of Urim |
| 93 | ŋuruš gu₂-tuku {d}en-lil₂-la₂-me-en nidba X X X-me-en | I am the strong female lamb of Enlil, I am ... food |
| 94 | X uŋ₃ X daŋal-bi AN DA X X X | (Sum) ... ... (Akk) .... |
| 95 | x X-bi an-da NI X X | ... above ... |
| 96 | x X X X X x dug₃ | ... good |
| 97 | x X x X | |
| 99 | x X x | |
| 100 | GIŠ X {ŋiš}šinig GIŠ x | ... šinig tree |
| 101 | iri-a ŋišbun-e mu-da-an-x | In the city ... bread |
| 102 | e-ne di hul₂-la ŋar-ra-še₃ ŋe₂₆-e X x | When he makes a joyful decision, ... |
| 103 | id₂ lugal-la e₂ {d}en-lil₂-la₂-še₃ he₂-ŋal₂ mu-un-da-kur₉ | The king’s river, the house of Enlil, was brought to him. |
| 104 | kar-ŋeštin-na {d}en-lil₂-la₂-še₃ ma₂ na-an-ga-mu-ni-in-ri | To Kar-beština, Enlil's boat, he did not bring it. |
| 105 | kar-za-gin₃-na {d}nanna-ka ma₂ na-an-ga-mu-ni-in-ri | In the lapis lazuli quay of Nanna no boat can take it. |
| 106 | {d}en-lil₂-ra kurun₂ lal₃ ba-an-na-de₂ | For Enlil he poured beer and honey. |
| 107 | sipad ur-{d}namma-me-en til₃ niŋ₂-ba-ŋu₁₀ he₂-a | I am the shepherd Ur-Namma, may life be a joy! |
| 108 | {d}nanna lugal-ŋu₁₀ e₂-gal-la-na mu-na-du₃ | For Nanna, his master, he built his palace. |
| 109 | e₂-kiš-nu-ŋal₂ hur-saŋ sig₇-ga-gin₇ ki gal-la bi₂-gub | He set up the Ekišnubal, like a green mountain range, in a great place. |
| 110 | gi-gun₄-na-bi kug-sig₁₇ {na₄}za-gin₃-na dub-ba-an ba-la₂ | Its terrace was covered with gold and lapis lazuli. |
| 111 | šu dug₄-ga-e {d}nanna-a-me-en | I am the good hand of Nanna |
| 112 | šeš {d}gilgameš₂ gu-la-me-en | I am the hand of great Gilgamesh |
| 113 | dumu tud-da {d}nin-sumun₂-ka-me-en numun nam-en-na-me-en | You are the child born by Ninsumun, you are the seed of en-ship |
| 114 | an-ta nam-lugal ma-ra-ed₃ | From above he entrusted me with kingship. |
| 115 | sipad ur-{d}namma-me-en za₃-mi₂-ŋu₁₀ dug₃-ga-am₃ | I am the shepherd Ur-Namma, it is favourable. |
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.