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Ur-Namma the canal-digger (Ur-Namma D) (Q000389)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | Ur-Namma the canal-digger (Ur-Namma D) |
|---|---|
| ID | Q000389 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Ver.1, | ||
| 1 | a-ba-a mu-un-ba-al-e a-ba-a mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig it, who will digging it? |
| 2 | {id₂}asila-kug a-ba mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig the Asilakuga? |
| 3 | {id₂}pa₅-bi-luh a-ba mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig the Pabiluh canal? |
| 4 | X ur-{d}namma x tuku mu-un-ba-al-e | ... Ur-Namma, who has ..., will carry it. |
| 5 | x tuku mu-un-ba-al-e | ... he will carry. |
| 6 | x-za {d}en-lil₂-le x {d}dil-im₂-babbar | Enlil ... Dilimbabbar |
| 7 | x a-ra₂-bi ku₆-a dal-bi mušen-a | ... its ... fish, its flying fish, snake |
| 8 | x a dug₃-bi ku₆-a dal-bi mušen-a | ... its well-stocked water, its floating fish, a snake |
| 9 | x u₂-lal₃-a mu-un-du suhur{ku₆} am₃-gur-gur | ... he spreads out honey and turns it into a fish net. |
| 10 | x u₂-lal₃-a mu-un-du suhur{ku₆} am₃-gur-gur | ... he spreads out honey and turns it into a fish net. |
| 11 | x gi-zi-bi lal₃-am₃ ku₆ ha-ma-gu₇-e | ... its reed screen is honey, may fish eat it. |
| 12 | x gi-zi-bi lal₃-am₃ ku₆ ha-ma-gu₇-e | ... its reed screen is honey, may fish eat it. |
| 13 | x-ŋu₁₀ ki ŋar-ra-bi-ta ku₆ mušen sug₄-ga-am₃ | The ... of the netherworld is a fish covered with snakes. |
| 14 | x X ki ŋar-ra-bi-ta ku₆ mušen sug₄-ga-am₃ | ... from its outer ... is a fish covered with snakes. |
| 15 | x-bi lugal eridug{ki}-ga uₓ(PA)-a-zu sug₄-ga-am₃ | Its ..., the king of Eridug, is abandoned. |
| 16 | {d}nu-dim₂-mud lugal eridug{ki}-ga uₓ(PA)-a-zu sug₄-ga-am₃ | Nudimmud, king of Eridug, your praise is exalted. |
| 17 | x a dug₃ hu-mu-un-tum₂-mu {ŋiš}dusu-e ha-ma-la₂-e | May he bring me good water, may he fill me with fig-beer. |
| 18 | x X a dug₃ hu-mu-un-tum₂-mu {ŋiš}dusu-e ha-ma-la₂-e | May he bring me good water, may he fill me with fig-beer |
| Ver.2, | ||
| 1 | a-ba-a mu-un-ba-al-e a-ba-a mu-un-ba-al-e id₂ a-ba-a mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig it, who will dig the river? |
| 2 | {id₂}keše₂-kug a-ba-a mu-un-ba-al-e id₂ a-ba-a mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig the Kešekug canal, who will dig its canal? |
| 3 | {id₂}pa₅-bi-luh a-ba-a mu-un-ba-al-e id₂ a-ba-a mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig the Pabi-luḫ canal, who will dig it? |
| 4 | {d}ur-{d}namma kug tuku mu-un-ba-al-e | Ur-Namma, who has silver, will carry it. |
| 5 | šul zid niŋ₂-tuku mu-un-ba-al-e | (Sum) The one who has a righteous heart, he smite(?) it with a reed mat |
| 6 | lugal-ŋu₁₀ barag-za {d}en-lil₂-le en {d}dil-im₂-babbar | Lugal-būzib on your dais Enlil, lord Dilimbabbar |
| 7 | šul {d}suen barag-za {d}en-lil₂-le en {d}dil-im₂-babbar | King Suen, on your dais Enlil, lord Dilimbabbar |
| 8 | lugal šag₄ zid-ta nam tar-ra nam-nir-ra saŋ il₂ | King who decrees fates and raises up his voice in the open country |
| 9 | {d}ur-{d}namma šul igi il₂-la kur gal {d}en-lil₂-le | Ur-Namma, the one who raises the head, great mountain Enlil |
| 10 | {d}nu-nam-nir-re ki-en-gi ki-uri-a ŋe₂₆-e mu-un-suh-en | Nunamnir swept over Sumer and Akkad. |
| 11 | nibru{ki}-a hur-saŋ nam-til₃-la-ka nam-ŋu₁₀ im-mi-in-tar | In Nippur, he decreed a fate in the mountain range of life. |
| 12 | saŋ-ki zalag-ga-ni mu-un-ši-in-bar nam-lugal ma-an-šum₂ | He made his shining brow shine, he is indeed king. |
| 13 | urim₂{ki}-ma e₂-mud-kur-ra-ka | in Urim, in the E-mud-kur |
| 14 | {ŋiš}gu-za-ŋa₂ suhuš-bi x-ge-en | The foundation of the throne is firm |
| 15 | ŋidru kug uŋ₃ šar₂ si sa₂-sa₂-e šu-ŋa₂ x | The holy throne, the king, the righteous one, in its hand |
| 16 | šibir ešgiri₂ uŋ₃ daŋal lu-a X he₂-em-x | May the one who crosses the path ... |
| 17 | en {d}dil-im₂-babbar-ke₄ zi ud sud-sud x | Lord Dilimbabbar, life, long days |
| 18 | {d}en-lil₂-le ub-da 4-ba X X x | Enlil ... the four corners |
| 19 | mu da-ri₂ mu ka-ge ba-ab-du₇ x | forever, forever perfected ... |
| 20 | {d}en-ki-ke₄ ŋeštug₂ daŋal-la-ŋu₁₀ saŋ-e-eš mu-rig₇ | Enki presented to me a beautiful garment. |
| 21 | ŋe₂₆-e iri{ki}-ŋa₂ id₂ he₂-ŋal₂-la mu-ba-al {id₂}keše₂-kug mu-sa₄ | In that city he dug a canal and named it Keše-kug. |
| 22 | urim₂{ki}-ma id₂ he₂-ŋal₂-la mu-ba-al {id₂}keše₂-kug mu-sa₄ | In Urim he dug a canal and named it Keše-kug. |
| 23 | mu da-ri₂ ka-ge ba-ab-du₇-am₃ {id₂}pa₅-bi-luh mušen-am₃ | It is a forever-lasting year, it is the Pabiluḫ canal, the snake |
| 24 | ŋe₂₆-e iri-ŋa₂ a-ra₂-a-bi ku₆-am₃ dirig-bi mušen-am₃ | “Its cities, its ways are fish, its heights are snakes. |
| 25 | urim₂{ki}-ma a-ra₂-a-bi ku₆-am₃ dirig-bi mušen-am₃ | In Urim its ways are fish, its heights are snakes. |
| 26 | ŋe₂₆-e id₂-ŋa₂ u₂-lal₃-e mu-un-du₃ suhur{ku₆}-e am₃-gur-gur-e | In the river he built a honey-house, and the Suḫur-fish sank. |
| 27 | urim₂{ki}-ma u₂-lal₃-e mu-un-du₃ suhur{ku₆}-e am₃-gur-gur-e | In Urim honey was made, and the suhur fish were carried away. |
| 28 | ŋe₂₆-e iri-ŋa₂ gi-zi-bi lal₃-am₃ ab₂-e ha-ma-gu₇-e | May the cow eat the reeds of the city! |
| 29 | urim₂{ki}-ma gi-zi-bi lal₃-am₃ ab₂-e ha-ma-gu₇-e | In Urim its reed screen is honey, may the cows eat it. |
| 30 | ŋe₂₆-e x-ta ku₆ mušen sug₄-ga-am₃ | The ... fish is a barren snake |
| 31 | urim₂{ki}-ma x | in Urim |
| 32 | ŋe₂₆-e id-ŋa₂ a-ra₂-a hu-mu-un-tum₃ {ŋiš}dusu-e hu-mu-un-na-la₂-e | May he bring (them) down to the river for me, may he fill it with pomegranates |
| 33 | urim₂{ki}-ma id-ŋa₂ a-ra₂-a hu-mu-un-tum₃ {ŋiš}dusu-e hu-mu-un-na-la₂-e | May he bring the river into Urim, may he fill it with flour. |
| 34 | lugal-bi lugal eridug{ki}-ga uₓ(PA)-a-zu sug₄-am₃ | Its king, the king of Eridug, is dead. |
| 35 | {d}nu-dim-mud lugal eridug{ki}-ga uₓ(PA)-a-zu sug₄-am₃ | Nudimmud, king of Eridug, your praise is exalted. |
| 36 | lugal an ub-da 4-ba šag₄ {d}en-lil₂-la₂ dug₃-ge-en | king of the four world quarters, beloved of Enlil |
| 37 | {d}ur-{d}namma u₂-a nibru{ki} saŋ us₂ urim₂{ki}-ma | Ur-Namma provider of Nippur, provider of Urim |
| 38 | iti₆-še₃ kalam urim₂{ki}-ma-še₃ | in the moonlight, to the Land of Urim |
| 39 | asila(|EZEN×LAL₂|) ud mi-ni-ib-zal-zal-e-ne | they will spend the day in joy |
| 40 | {d}ur-{d}namma lugal urim₂{ki}-ma za₃-mi₂-zu dug₃-ga-am₃ | Ur-Namma, king of Urim, your praise is sweet. |
| Ver.3, | ||
| 1 | x X x | |
| 2 | a-ba mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig it? |
| 3 | {id₂}X-X-luh-ha a-ba mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig the ... canal? |
| 4 | id₂ a-ba mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig the river? |
| 5 | {id₂}{ŋiš}ŋisal-a-ŋar-ra a-ba mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig this canal? |
| 6 | id₂ a-ba mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig the river? |
| 7 | ur-{d}namma kug tuku mu-un-ba-al-e | Ur-Namma, who has silver, will carry it. |
| 8 | id₂ a-ba mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig the river? |
| 9 | {d}šul-gi niŋ₂-tuku mu-un-ba-al-e | Šulgi has compassion for him. |
| 10 | id₂ a-ba mu-un-ba-al-e | Who will dig the river? |
| 11 | lugal šag₄ zid-da nam tar-ra nam-nir-ra saŋ il₂ | King who decrees fates and raises up a scepter |
| 12 | ur-{d}namma šul igi il₂-la kur gal-e {d}en-lil₂-la₂-ke₄ | Ur-Namma, the one with a raised head, the great mountain of Enlil |
| 13 | {d}nun-nam-nir ki-en-gi ki-uri-e me-am₃ mu-un-suh-e | Nunamnir, Sumer and Akkad - where is he? |
| 14 | nibru{ki}-e hur-saŋ nam-til₃-la-ka nam-ŋi₆ im-mi-in-tar | In Nippur he decreed the fate of the mountain range for the well-being. |
| 15 | urim₅{ki}-e e₂-mud-kur-ra-kam | In Urim it is the Emudkur. |
| 16 | {ŋiš}gu-za-ŋa₂ suhuš-bi im-mi-in-gen₆ | He made the foundation of the throne firm. |
| 17 | aga me-lem₄ me-teš₂ nam-lugal-la saŋ-ŋa₂ im-mi-ŋal₂ | He carried off a crown of radiance and splendor, emblems of kingship, |
| 18 | {ŋiš}ŋidru kug uŋ₃ šar₂ si-si-e sa₂ šu-ŋa₂ im-mi-in-sa₂ | He placed a holy scepter, a king of sisi, on his hand. |
| 19 | ešgiri₂ šibir eš₂-giri₁₇ zi-ŋal₂ lah₆-lah₆-e šu-ŋu₁₀-uš im-ma-an-X | The ešgiri, the crossbar, and the ‘cutting-of-the-throat’, the lahlaḫ-demon, ... |
| 20 | x saŋ X X e₂ u₆ di-da-bi x X im-mi-in-sa₂ | ... its beautiful temple ... |
| 21 | x X x X GA | ...; |
| 22 | x X x | |
| 24 | e₂-kiš-nu-ŋal₂ saŋ kun ŋal₂-la | The Ekišnu-bal temple, the place where the tails are bound |
| 25 | e₂-temen-ni₂-gur₃-ru ki-tuš šag₄ hul₂-la | E-temen-ni-gurru, the joyful dwelling |
| 26 | x X X-da ur₂-bi im-mi-in-gen₆ | ... he made its base. |
| 27 | x x X-na-kam gu₂-da am-bi šu₂ | It is the ... of the wild bull. |
| 28 | x X X ZI kug-babbar-ra gub-ba-am₃ im-mi-ir-mi-ri | ... stood in silver. |
| 29 | na-ri-ŋu₁₀ ud he₂-ŋal₂-la bal UB-ba {id₂}keše₂-kug mu-še | “May the narībû-demon prolong the days of the šandabakkug-priestess, the ... of the Tigris. |
| 30 | mu da-ri ka-ge₅ du-a-ba {id₂}pa₅-bi-luh-ha mu-še | year: “If he opens the mouth, the Pabi-luḫa-flood will grow.’ |
| 31 | ŋe₂₆ iri{ki}-ŋa₂ a-ra₂-bi ku₆-ab te-li-bi mu-še-na | The fish of the netherworld, whose scent is fresh |
| 32 | {id₂}keše₂-kug iri{ki}-bi ku₆-ab te-li-bi mu-še-na | The Kešekug canal, the fish of the city, is its name. |
| 33 | {id₂}pa₅-bi-luh a-ra₂-bi ku₆-ab te-li-bi mu-še-na | The Pabi-luḫ canal whose course is fish, whose path is mūšena |
| 34 | he₂-ŋal₂-bi ku₆ mušen ma-ra-ab-de₆ e₂-kiš-nu-ŋal₂-še₃ | The fish carried snakes for you into the Ekišnubal temple |
| 35 | gu₂-gu₂-bi {u₂}munzer lu₂-a u₂-lal₃-e gu₇-e | Its branches - a man eats juniper and honey. |
| 36 | a-gar₃ gal-bi še gu-nu mu₂-mu₂ {ŋiš}tir-gin₇ su-su-u₃-e | Its large meadows are filled with barley, like a mountain range. |
| 37 | lugal an ub-da 4-bi še-ga {d}en-lil₂-la₂ | king of the four world quarters, favorite of Enlil |
| 38 | ur-{d}namma sipad u₂-a ki-en-gi ki-uri-e ki aŋ₂ {d}en-lil₂-la₂ | Ur-Namma, the shepherd who provides for Sumer and Akkad, the father of Enlil |
| 39 | x X X NA niŋ₂ urim₂{ki}-ma-ke₄ X sila-am₃ ud mi-ni-in-za-e-en-za-e-le za-e-me-en | ... the aura of Urim, you are the one who spends the day in the street. |
| 40 | ur-{d}namma lugal mu da-a-ri za₃-mi₂-zu dug₃-ga | Ur-Namma, king of eternal years, your praise is sweet |
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.