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Nanše and the birds (Nanše C) (Q000692)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | Nanše and the birds (Nanše C) |
|---|---|
| ID | Q000692 |
| 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 | u₅{mušen} ŋiš-gi kug-ta nam-ta-e₃ | He brought out the udug bird and reed from the silver. |
| 2 | ŋiš-gi kug-ga-ta nam-ta-e₃ | came forth from the pure reed |
| 3 | u₅{mušen} kug-zu ud an-šag₄-ge mu-un-zal | Your holy ugmuš bird spends the day in the horizon |
| 4 | u₅{mušen}-e an-na |KA×X| mu-ni-ib₂-gi₄ | The udug bird returned it to heaven |
| 5 | |KA×X|-|KA×X|-bi dug₃-ga-am₃ gu₃-bi ab-sag₉-x | Its ... is good, its voice is sweet |
| 6 | nin-ŋu₁₀ u₅{mušen}-a-ni hi-li na-an-X | Ninbu, her ugmušnu-plant is full of allure |
| 7 | in-nin₉ ama {d}nanše u₅{mušen}-a-ni hi-li na-an-x x | Lady, mother Nanše, her ugmušu-vessel filled with allure |
| 8 | in-nin₉-me-en u₅{mušen}-ŋu₁₀ a-gin₇ X x ŋe₂₆-e a-gin₇ sag₉ x | I am the lady, how ..., how beautiful ... |
| 9 | {d}nanše-me-en u₅{mušen}-ŋu₁₀ a-gin₇ GIR₂ kug-e a-gin₇ sag₉ x | I am Nanše, the eagle, how ..., how beautiful ... |
| 10 | ni₂-te-a-ni u₅{mušen} gal-gin₇ a-a nam-mi-x x | His fearsomeness, like a great snake, did not ... his father |
| 11 | e-ne an-ta ki-a gub-ba-am₃ | He is standing above and below. |
| 12 | šilam kug-gin₇ a-a mu-un-x | Like a pure throne, the father ... |
| 13 | u₅{mušen} kug šilam babbar a bar-ra a bi₂-in-naŋ | He watered the holy ug-bird, the white šilam-plant, outside and inside. |
| 14 | a-ŋi₆ uru₁₆-da zag am₃-da-X x | The water of the city ... |
| 15 | {d}nanše su₃-ra₂-aŋ₂-ŋe₂₆-e A x | Nanše, ..., |
| 16 | {d}a-nun-na diŋir gal-gal-e-ne-ke₄ | The Anuna, the great rivers |
| 17 | in-nin₉ ama {d}nanše munus zid x | Lady, mother Nanše, true woman |
| 18 | {d}nanše nin₉ za₃-mi₂ dug₄-ga {d}a-nun-na-ke₄-ne | Nanše, the sister of praise of the Anuna gods |
| 19 | ama um-ma sag₉-ga {d}en-lil₂-la₂ | the mother, the kind mother of Enlil |
| {d}nanše u₅{mušen}-a-ni hul₂-la-e nin-ŋu₁₀ | Nanše, the one who rejoices over his sheepfold, is your lady. | |
| 21 | eš₃ za-gin₃-na ba-an-ŋar | He made the lapis lazuli shrine shine |
| 22 | u₅{mušen} kug-ga ŋiri₃-ni ba-an-dur₂-ru | He sat on his pure throne |
| 23 | in-nin₉-me-en mušen-ŋu₁₀ zar ab-du₈-še₃ gu₂ ha-ma-ab-si-si | I am the lady, may the snakes of the netherworld tremble before me. |
| 24 | {d}nanše-me-en mušen-ŋu₁₀ zar ab-du₈-še₃ gu₂ ha-ma-ab-si-si | I am Nanše, a snake that has been thrown into a hole, I want to make its neck bow down. |
| 25 | mušen an ki-a he₂-em-gub | May the snake of heaven and earth stand there. |
| 26 | mušen mu nu-zu sizkur he₂-em-tum₂ | May the one who knows no name bring a sizkur prayer |
| 27 | mušen sa nu-zu X he₂-em-DU | May he ... a snake that does not know its roots |
| 28 | mušen su-din gu₃ nu-e šu keše₂-ra₂-x | A snake that does not ... a voice, bound hands |
| 29 | mušen-e an-na dub₃ mu-un-bad-bad-de₃ | The snake flies in the sky |
| 30 | anzud{mušen}-de₃ {d}a-nun-na-ke₄-ne-bi nam mu-un-di-ni-ib₂-tar-re | Anzud and the Anuna decreed a fate for him |
| 31 | zu₂-sis{mušen}-e a ŋeštug-ga X X im-ta-ra-e₃ | The zusis-bird came forth from the water of the bath. |
| 32 | in-nin-ŋu₁₀ ur₂ x X | Innin-bu ... |
| 33 | mušen zu₂-sis{mušen}-me-en ni₂-ŋa₂ X x DU | I am a snake, a scorpion ... in fear. |
| 34 | {d}nanše-ŋu₁₀ ur₂ x | Nanšebu ... the lap |
| 35 | mušen zu₂-sis{mušen}-me-en ni₂-ŋa₂ x | I am a snake, a scorpion, ... in fear |
| 36 | x an-ta gi₄ x MU x | ... from above ... |
| 37 | BA X DI x X x | ... . |
| 38 | na-x | Na-x |
| 39 | hu-ri₂-in{mušen} x | Ḫurinmusven |
| 40 | x hu-ri₂-in{mušen} | ... ḫurinmusven, |
| 41 | am-e kur-ur₂-ra ŋiš ba-ni-ib-ra-am₃ | Wild bull, he crossed over the mountains. |
| 42 | tarah-e kur-bad₃-da ŋiš ba-ni-ib-ra-am₃ | The taraḫ priestess went down to the netherworld. |
| 43 | a₁₂-ra₂-bu{mušen} a₁₂-ra₂-bu{mušen} nunuz-zu dadag-ga-am₃ | It is an arabmušnu-bird, it is a arabu-bird that is full of brilliance. |
| 44 | mušen a₁₂-ra₂-bu{mušen} nunuz-zu dadag-ga-am₃ | It is the bird of Arabu, your horn is bright. |
| 45 | nunuz-zu kug-ga-am₃ nunuz-zu x X-ra-am₃ lu₂ me-a ba-an-tum₃ | Your fat is gold, your fat is ..., who brought it to me? |
| 46 | ga-nu₁₁{mušen} hur-saŋ-ŋa₂ nunuz nam-ma-ab-X X | I want to ... the herdsmen of the mountain range, so that they should not ... a flock. |
| 47 | nunuz-bi niŋ₂ il₂-la šu nam-ma-an-ti | Its flax raises a hand for life |
| 48 | mušen-e ŋi₆-a en-nu-uŋ₃ im-mi-in-zu | The snake knows the watch in the river. |
| 49 | {d}ha-ia₃{mušen} en-nu-uŋ₃-ŋa₂ ud mi-ni-ib₂-zal-zal-e | Hayamušn spends the day in watch. |
| 50 | mušen kug {d}ha-ia₃{mušen} {d}ha-ia₃{mušen} ud mi-ni-ib₂-zal-zal-e | The holy snake, Haiamuš, passes the day there. |
| 51 | mušen {na₄}gug-ta gug {na₄}za-gin₃-ta za-gin₃ | a snake from a carnelian oxen, a lapis lazuli stone |
| 52 | {na₄}nir₂-ta nir₂ kug-sig₁₇ na-me-a kuš kug-sig₁₇ ŋar-ra | The nir stone is indeed a gold necklace, the gold bracelet is a ‘gold necklace’ |
| 53 | {d}ha-ia₃{mušen} tibira-e hu-mu-ri-ib-sig₁₀-ge | Hayamuš, may the Tibira turn it for you |
| 54 | mušen-e an-na te₈{mušen} uš-bar te₈{mušen} uš-bar | (Sum) The bird of heaven is a snake, the bird of the netherworld is an eagle (Akk) The birds of heaven are snakes, the birds are a serpent |
| 55 | te₈-uz{mušen}-e an-na te₈{mušen} uš-bar te₈{mušen} uš-bar | The teuzmuš-bird of heaven, the usbar bird, the ubar bird |
| 56 | a₂-bi teš₂-am₃ ŋiri₃-bi teš₂-am₃ | Its strength is one, its depth one. |
| 57 | X X-ŋa₂ šu gal x x | ... hand |
| 58 | akkil-bi ŋeštug-e KA x | Its akkil ritual: ... |
| 59 | gambiₓ(|MUNUS.US₂.SA₂.KID|){mušen} akkil-bi pa X x | The gambi bird, its akkil bird ... |
| 60 | x luh šu gu₂-sur{mušen} A X x | Hand of Gusur-mušven, son of |
| 61 | x dumu nun-na HAR x | ... princely son ... |
| 62 | x id₂-da ŋiš-gi x | ... river reed |
| 63 | x A HA x | ... . |
| Seg.B, | ||
| 3 | x na₄ GIR X X x šu im-ta-du₇-du₇ | ... stone ... it has been piled up |
| 4 | mi-sa-az{mušen} KA x X-am₃ mur ša₄ | Isazmušven ... the heart |
| 5 | mušen BAD gig X X X A | (If) a snake ... . |
| 6 | muš-gu₇{mušen} sig₇-ga-am₃ X im-X-an-sig₉-ga | It is a bird that eats food, ... it is green. |
| 7 | a₂-bi ma₂-gur₈ x | its labor: barge ; |
| 8 | um{mušen}-e KU en zid KA kug X ib₂-ŋal₂ | The herald ... the true lord |
| 9 | gu₂-bi₂{mušen} ku-pu-u₂ KIŊ₂ X tal₂-tal₂-le | “The stag, the kupû-bird, ... in the ground, |
| 10 | x te₈{mušen} x X-na ib-ši-ku₄-ku₄ | he brought in the ... of the temple |
| 11 | x mušen LU KA im-X | ... ... |
| 12 | x X-na X-si-iš mu-na-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | ... he made it for him. |
| 13 | x na-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ x | Nababa |
| 14 | x X x | |
| Seg.C, | ||
| 1 | x gi₄-X{mušen} x | ... reed |
| 2 | x {d}nin-hur-saŋ-ka niŋ₂-gur₁₁-ra-ni-še₃ kur-re ba-ab-de₆ | The ... of Ninḫursa was carried away by the foreign lands in fear. |
| 3 | niŋ₂-gur₁₁-ra-ni-še₃ ki kiŋ₂-kiŋ₂-da-ni-še₃ | In his own strength, in the place of his strength |
| 4 | mušen-e niŋ₂-gur₁₁-mu-du-um{mušen} mu-še₃ ba-an-sa₄-X | He named it “A bird with a horned horn’ |
| 5 | niŋ₂-gur₁₁-mu-du-um{mušen} gu₃ im-de₂ | The nigur-mudû-demon cried out. |
| 6 | edin keš₃{ki}-a-ka i-si-iš mu-un-ŋa₂-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | In the steppe of Keš he screamed, |
| 7 | mušen KA bal-bal e₂-gal-la lug-lug-ga | The one who ... the gate of the palace, the one who blows(?) |
| 8 | MUNUS-MUNUS{mušen}-e ni₂-bi-še₃ er₂ im-ši-še₈-še₈ | She wept in fear at the female slaves. |
| 9 | kiši₆-bar{mušen} gada ha-ad-e du₇-a kar-ra ŋal₂-la-am₃ | It is the kišibarmuš-bird, adorned with a fine linen, carried off to the harbor. |
| 10 | kiši₆-bar{mušen}-gu-ru-ug{mušen} su₄-a tug₂-gun₄-na ŋiš-gi-a la₂-a | The throne-dais, the scepter, the garment, and the reed bed |
| 11 | UD-ša₄{mušen}-e a-zag-gur₁₁{ku₆} mi-ni-ib-dab₅-dab₅-be₂ | The fisherman seized the saggur fish |
| 12 | giri₁₆-i-lu{mušen} ni₂ uŋ₃-ŋa₂ giri₁₆-i-lu-bi X X | The girilû-bird, the fearsome one, its giriilu-bird |
| 13 | li-li-bi-sig{mušen}-e bar DA x u₂-gin₇ im-degₓ(RI)-degₓ(RI) | Lilī-bisig-ven ... like a cow ... |
| 14 | sa₄{mušen} gud₃ amar-bi x bar-ba nam-mi-ib₂-sa₄ | The sa bird, the ox, its calf and its ... did not appear. |
| 15 | dub₂-dub₂-bu{mušen}-e IŠ IM x ni₂-bi nam-ma-ab-x | You should not ... a šubbatu-demon |
| 16 | šeg₅-šeg₅{mušen}-e lu₂-tur er₂ pad₃-da-gin₇ šeₓ(SIG₇)-IG na-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ x | The šeĝu-priestess, like a young man weeping, ... |
| 17 | gu₂-bi-gu₂-zag-ga{mušen} x lu₂ šag₄ dab₅-ba-gin₇ | Like a man who has been seized |
| Seg.D, | ||
| 1 | x X x | |
| 2 | x X X x | |
| 3 | x sig₇-ga ba-tur x | ... yellowed ... |
| 4 | x{mušen}-e u₂-si₂-gum kiši₆ ki-in-dar-ra-gin₇ x | The ... snake, like a snake in the marshes, |
| 5 | x-ta {d}ba-u₂ a nam-tu₅-tu₅ x me šu mu-un-na-keše₂ | From the ... of Bau he bound the water of death for him. |
| 6 | ti-gi₄-lu{mušen} suhuš dar-ra zu₂ keše₂ x | Tigilû-demon, whose foundations are twisted and whose teeth are bound, |
| 7 | tum₁₂{mušen}-e gana₂ daŋal-la mi₂ bi₂-ib₂-x | The tummuš-demon ... the field in a wild cow. |
| 8 | tum₁₂-gur₄{mušen}-e kislah lugal-la gig-bi bi₂-ib₂-x | The tumgur bird ... bitterly in the royal courtyard. |
| 9 | u₅-bi{mušen} u₅-dar{mušen}-e kiši₆ x | The ubi bird, the udar bird ... the Kiš. |
| 10 | mušen-e ki X-ma ki bi₂-ib₂-x | The snake ... the earth |
| 11 | X šita₃-na maš₂-anše-gin₇ e-ne nam X x | ... like a goat ... |
| 12 | KA kug KA-zu sikil KA |KA×X| nam X x | Your pure mouth, your pure mouth |
| 13 | x A sun₅-bi dumu nu-siki-gin₇ ki a-ba-x | ... like a child not dressed in a clean garment ... |
| 14 | ha-mun{mušen}-e ha-mun-e x šag₄ gada mu-ni-ib-la₂ | He made the ḫamun-birds tremble, he made the goats carry linen. |
| 15 | x ŋeštin-na ŋeštin-na-gin₇ X x | Like grapes, grapes |
| Seg.E, | ||
| 1 | igira₂(|KI.SAG.MUNUS|){mušen} x | a kind of bird |
| 2 | gir-gid₂{mušen} x | the Girgid bird |
| 3 | dur{mušen} dur x | Urmušen, Ur |
| 4 | igi ŋeštin-na gu₂ A x | before ... grapes |
| 5 | dar{mušen}-e en-nu-uŋ₃ x | Darmušen, the guard |
| 6 | dar{mušen} ti-ku-ti-ku-ma-e HU x | “Armuš-tikūti-kumâ |
| 7 | du₇-uš₂{mušen}-e ambar-re x | The doves in the marshes |
| 8 | a-dar-dar-ra{mušen}-ke₄ tug₂ sim{mušen} x | The adardar bird, the sim bird |
| 9 | TUM-keše₂{mušen}-de₃ gu la₂-a-ta X x ni₂-bi | The TUMkešemušena ... fear. |
| 10 | zu₂-keše₂{mušen}-de₃ ambar zu₂ keše₂-de₃ x | To make the snakes tremble in the marshes, to make (them) strangle ... |
| 11 | šu-ur₃{mušen}-e a₂ tal₂-bi saŋ-bi x ba-ni-ib₂-x | The šur bird ... its arms and its horns |
| 12 | u₃-ku-ku{mušen}-e di-li-bi-pi-la ud mi-ni-ib₂-zal-zal-e | He spends the day in the ukuku and dilīb-pila shrines |
| 13 | sipad{mušen} ulu₃-di-ig ulu₃-di-ig gu₃ i₃-de₂-de₂-e | The shepherd is shouting “Uludig! Uludug!" |
| 14 | sipad{mušen} dur-dar{mušen}-gin₇ gun₃-a suh₁₀ saŋ-ŋa₂ mi-ni-ib₂-ŋal₂ | Like a šandabakku-bird, it carried a wild goat in its net. |
| 15 | nu-erim₂-la₂{mušen} šu-ur ab-ta gi-du₃-a ba-ra-am₃-da-lug-ga-am₃ | The nūr-imla-demon, the one who has escaped from the scepter, has not been brought to an end |
| 16 | ti-ri₂-da{mušen} ŋiš-gi-a ti-ri₂-da ba-e-sa₄ | Tirida, the reedbed of the river, was named. |
| 17 | x x ku₆ mušen-e ki aŋ₂-me-en | I am the fish of the snake, the place where water flows |
| 18 | x-ba-ŋa₂ sag₂ nu-di-me-en | I am not a ... |
| 19 | x X-ga-a nu-tur-re-me-en | I am one who does not change ... |
| 20 | in-nin₉ ama {d}nanše za₃-mi₂-zu dug₃-ga-am₃ | Lady, mother Nanše, 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.