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The Keš temple hymn (Q000751)

Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE

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Designation	The Keš temple hymn
ID	Q000751
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)
e A,
1	nam₂ nun-e nam₂ nun-e e₂-ta nam-ta-ab-e₃	The rulership, the rulership came out from the house.
2	{d}en-lil₂ nam₂ nun-e e₂-ta nam-ta-ab-e₃	Enlil, the princely fate has left the house.
3	nam₂ nun-e nam-lugal-la e₂-ta nam-ta-ab-e₃	The rulership and kingship came forth from the house.
4	{d}en-lil₂ kur-kur-ra igi mi-ni-in-il₂-il₂-i	Enlil has looked at all the lands
5	{d}en-lil₂-ra kur ni₂-ba mu-na-il₂-il₂-i	For Enlil he raised the mountain in fear for him.
6	an ub-da 4 {d}en-lil₂-ra {ŋiš}kiri₆-gin₇ mu-na-sig₇	He decorated the four corners of heaven for Enlil like a garden.
7	keš₃{ki} saŋ il₂ mu-na-ni-in-ŋal₂	Keš lifted its net for him.
8	keš₃{ki} kur-kur-ra saŋ il₂-bi	Keš, lifted up in all the lands
9	{d}en-lil₂-le keš₃{ki} za₃-mi₂ am₃-ma-ab-be₂	Enlil praises Keš.
10	{d}nisaba nu-ka-aš-bi-im	Nisaba is not its owner
11	inim-bi-ta sa-gin₇ im-da-an-sur	Its words have been scattered like a net.
12	dub-ba sar-sar šu-še₃ al-ŋa₂-ŋa₂	A tablet of sarsar-textiles is drawn up.
13	e₂ muš₃ kalam-ma gud huš aratta	The temple, the snake of the land, the fierce ox is yours
14	e₂ keš₃{ki} muš₃ kalam-ma gud huš aratta	The temple of Keš, the snake of the land, the furious oxen of Aratta
15	hur-saŋ-da mu₂-a an-da gu₂ la₂-a	growing in the mountain ranges, stretched out over the sky,
16	e₂-kur-da mu₂-a kur-ra saŋ il₂-bi	In the Ekur, growing up in the mountains, its piles of soil
	abzu-gin₇ ri-a hur-saŋ-gin₇ sig₇-sig₇-ga gun₃-a	Like the Abzu, adorned like a mountain range, speckled with redness,
18	keš₃{ki}-gin₇ rib-ba lu₂ ši-in-ga-tum₂-mu	Like Keš, a person should bring it to me
19	ur-saŋ-bi {aš}{d}aš₇-gi₄-gin₇ rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-u₃-tud	Its hero was born like Ašgi
20	nin-bi {d}nin-tur₅-gin₇ rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du₈	Who has seen anything as surpassing as its lady Nintur?
21	e₂ 1-kam-ma	It is the first house.
e B,
22	e₂ dug₃ ki dug₃-ga du₃-a	A good house built in a good place,
	e₂ keš₃{ki} ki dug₃-ga du₃-a e₂ dug₃	The temple of Keš, built in a good place, the temple is good.
24	ma₂-gur₈ nun-gin₇ an-na dirig-ga	like a princely barge floating in heaven,
25	ma₂-gur₈ kug-gin₇ kan₄ si ri-a	Like a gold barge, a gate ...
26	ma₂ an-na-gin₇ muš₃ kur-kur-ra	Like a boat of heaven, a snake of all the lands
27	u₅ ma₂ ban₃-da-gin₇ peš₁₀-ta sur-sur-ra	Like the oil of a small boat, a reed bundle is stretched out from the peg
28	e₂ gud-gin₇ mur ša₄ ninda₂-gin₇ gu₃ nun di	The house, like a ox, roaring like the heart of a bull
29	e₂ šag₄-bi-ta lipiš kalam-ma	In the house that was plundered, the blood of the land
30	a-ga-bi-ta zi ki-en-gi-ra	Because of this curse, the life of Sumer
31	e₂ ib-gal an-ne₂ us₂-sa	The house, the ibgal priestess of heaven,
32	e₂ zid-da gal an-ne₂ us₂-sa	The true house, the great one, whose foundations are firmly established by An
33	e₂ men gal an-ne₂ us₂-sa	The great crown that rises from heaven,
34	e₂ {d}tir-an-na an-ne₂ us₂-sa	the temple of Tirana, which An had founded,
35	e₂ suh₁₀-bi an-šag₄-ga la₂-a	The house, its sheepfold is a net stretched out over the sky
36	te-me-bi abzu-a sig₉-ga	The foundations of the Abzu are good.
37	ŋissu-bi kur-kur-ra dul-la	“Its roots are the work of all the lands,
38	e₂ an-ne₂ ki ŋar-ra {d}en-lil₂-le za₃-mi₂ dug₄-ga	The temple of An, the place of Enlil's praise,
39	ama {d}nin-tur₅-ra eš-bar kiŋ₂ dug₄-ga	The mother of Nintur, the decision made in a favorable place
40	e₂ keš₃{ki} gurun-na sig₇-ga	The temple of Keš, with greenery
41	keš₃{ki}-gin₇ rib-ba lu₂ ši-in-ga-tum₂-mu	Like Keš, a person should bring it to me
42	ur-saŋ-bi {aš}{d}aš₇-gi₄-gin₇ rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-u₃-tud	Its hero was born like Ašgi
43	nin-bi {d}nin-tur₅-gin₇ rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du₈	Who has seen anything as surpassing as its lady Nintur?
44	e₂ 2-kam-ma	It is the second house.
e C,
45	e₂ an-še₃ 10 šar₂{iku} ki-še₃ 5 šar₂{iku}	Temple of heaven, ten šar-obiku-priests, earth, (5)
46	e₂ an-še₃ 10 bur₃{iku} ki-še₃ 5 bur₃{iku}	House of heaven, 10 bowls, earth, 5 bowls
47	e₂ an-še₃ alim ki-še₃ lu-lim	House of heaven, important one of earth, luxuriant
48	e₂ an-še₃ šeg₉-bar ki-še₃ tarah-maš	House of An, resplendent in heaven and earth, exalted
49	e₂ an-še₃ šeg₉-bar gun₃-a ki-še₃ tarah-maš sig₇-ga	Temple with a reddish radiance on the horizon, shaded on the earth
50	e₂ an-še₃ muš-gu₇{mušen}-gin₇ sig₇-ga ki-še₃ u₅{mušen}-gin₇ a-e šu₂-a	House, like a bird eating at the sky, green at the earth, like an eagle, in the water
51	e₂ an-še₃ ud-gin₇ e₃-a ki-še₃ iti₆-gin₇ barag₂-ga	Temple that rises to heaven like the storm, on earth like the moonlight
52	e₂ an-še₃ šita₂ šul ki-še₃ {ŋiš}tun₃-am₃	The house of heaven is a šita-priestess, a princely crown on earth.
53	e₂ an-še₃ kur-ra-am₃ ki-še₃ idim-ma-am₃	The house above is a mountain, below is an eagle
54	e₂ an-še₃ 3-kam-bi na-nam	It is indeed the third temple of heaven.
55	keš₃{ki}-gin₇ rib-ba lu₂ ši-in-ga-an-tum₂-mu	Like Keš, one should bring it to me.
56	ur-saŋ-bi {aš}{d}aš₇-gi₄-gin₇ rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-u₃-tud	Its hero was born like Ašgi
57	nin-bi {d}nin-tur₅-gin₇ rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du₈	Who has seen anything as surpassing as its lady Nintur?
58	e₂ 3-kam-ma	It is the third temple.
e D,
58A	e₂ x ni₂ gal ši-ri an-ne₂ mu mah sa₄	House ... with great fearsomeness, chosen by An supreme name
58B	e₂ x kur gal {d}en-lil₂-le nam-ma-ni gal tar-re	The temple ..., the great mountain that Enlil determines his great fate
58Š	e₂ a₂-nun-ŋal₂ {d}a-nun-ke₄-ne uŋ₃ ŋalga šum₂-mu	The house of the Anuna gods is indeed a flood.
58D	e₂ ki-tuš ni₂ dub₂-bu diŋir gal-e-ne	The house, a dwelling of fearsomeness among the great judges
58E	e₂ an ki-bi-da ŋiš-hur-bi i₃-hur me sikil šu ba-e-X	The house, which has been plundered by heaven and earth, has become an empty wind
58F	e₂ kalam ki ŋar-ra zag-ŋar-ra us₂-sa	The house of the land on the outside, on the right,
58G	e₂ kur he₂-ŋal₂ giri₁₇-zal ud zal-zal-le	May the house carry off the foreign land, spend the day in joy.
58H	e₂ {d}nin-hur-saŋ-ŋa₂ zi kalam-ma ki-bi-še₃ ŋar	The temple of Ninḫursa, the life of the Land, was restored to its place
58I	e₂ hur-saŋ gal šu-luh-ha tum₂-ma niŋ₂-nam-ma-ni i₃-kur₂	The temple, fitting for the great mountain range, changed its aura.
58Ŋ	e₂ e-ne-da nu ka-aš bar nu-ŋa₂-ŋa₂	The house of the man is not a beer jar, it is not torn out
58K	e₂ x dug₃ kalam daŋal šu la₂-a	The house, the good ... of the land, taken care of
58L	e₂ uŋ₃ šar₂ u₃-tud numun {ŋiš}isimu₂{sar} tuku-tuku	The house of the lord who gave birth to the seed of juniper
58M	e₂ lugal u₃-tud nam kalam-ma tar-re	The king's house, given birth, determines the fate of the land.
58N	e₂ barag-barag-bi šu-kin dab₅-be₂ ak-de₃	To seize and seize the throne-dwelling house
58O	keš₃{ki}-gin₇ rib-ba lu₂ ši-in-ga-an-tum₂-mu	Like Keš, one should bring it to me.
58P	ur-saŋ-bi {aš}{d}aš₇-gi₄-gin₇ rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-a-an-u₃-tud	Its hero was born like Ašgi
58Q	nin-bi {d}nin-tur₅-gin₇ rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du₈	Who has seen anything as surpassing as its lady Nintur?
58R	x-kam-ma-am₃	It is the [xth]
e E,
59	iri{ki} ga-am₃ iri{ki} ga-am₃ šag₄-bi a-ba mu-zu	I want to say: “I want to speak about the city, I desire the city!’ Who knows this?
60	e₂ keš₃{ki} iri{ki} ga-am₃ šag₄-bi a-ba mu-zu	The house of Keš is indeed a city, who knows its interior?
61	šag₄-bi ur-saŋ-ur-saŋ-e-ne si mu-un-si-sa₂-e-ne	The hero(s) make their way straight to their (own) fields
62	eš-bar kiŋ₂ dug₄-ga šu gal mu-un-du₇-du₇	A decision made in a favorable place, a great hand made it perfect
63	e₂ gud du₇-du₇-dam gu₂ am₃-ma-gur-re	The house that has been clad in gud, is being turned into a mound.
64	e₂ gud šar₂-a al-gu₇-e	The oxen of the king eat
65	e₂ udu šar₂-a-am₃ al-gu₇-e	The house is a sheep of the king, eaten.
	X X-ma-am₃ gu₂-bi luh-luh-ha udu šeg₁₁-e ib₂ am₃-luh-luh-e	... its neck is frightened, the sheep weeps.
67	barag-barag-e-ne gu₂-ne am₃-ma-ŋal₂-le-ne	The šagbaraŋ-priests roar,
68	{ŋiš}taškarin-da men an-da-gur₃-ru	The taškarinda drum, the crown of the Andagurru drum
69	{ŋiš}asal₂-gin₇ an-da-tal₂-tal₂ sal-la	like a juniper growing in abundance,
	hur-saŋ-da an-da-sig₇-sig₇-ga mu₂-a	growing in the mountains with reddish radiance,
71	keš₃{ki}-gin₇ rib-ba lu₂ ši-in-ga-an-tum₂-mu	Like Keš, one should bring it to me.
72	ur-saŋ-bi {aš}{d}aš₇-gi₄-gin₇ rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-u₃-tud	Its hero was born like Ašgi
73	nin-bi {d}nin-tur₅-gin₇ rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du₈	Who has seen anything as surpassing as its lady Nintur?
74	e₂ 4-kam-ma	It is the fourth house.
e F,
75	e₂ piriŋ u₃-tud šag₄-bi ur-saŋ su₃-ud	The house born by piriŋ, its inside is full of heroism
76	e₂ keš₃{ki} piriŋ u₃-tud šag₄-bi ur-saŋ su₃-ud	The temple of Keš, born in piri, its inside is full of heroism
77	šag₄-bi ur-saŋ-ur-saŋ-e-ne si mu-un-si-sa₂	The hero(s) arranged their (own) fields
78	{d}nin-hur-saŋ-ŋa₂ ušumgal-am₃ šag₄ im-mi-in-tuš	Ninḫursa sat on the throne
79	{d}nin-tur₅ ama gal-la tud-tud mu-un-ŋa₂-ŋa₂	Nintur, the great mother who bore him, was born.
80	{d}šul-pa-e₃ ensi₂-ke₄ nam-en mu-un-na-ak	Šulpa’e, the ruler, exercised lordship
81	{aš}{d}aš₇-gi₄ ur-saŋ pisaŋ₃ mu-un-gu₇-e	Ašgi, the hero, eats the basket.
82	{d}uru₃-maš niŋir gal edin-na mu-un-da-an-til₃	Urumaš, the great mountain of the steppe, lives with him
83	e₂ lulim gu₂ am₃-ma-gur-re	The house of the lulim priests is turned away.
84	keš₃{ki}-gin₇ rib-ba lu₂ ši-in-ga-tum₂-mu	Like Keš, a person should bring it to me
85	ur-saŋ-bi {aš}{d}aš₇-gi₄-gin₇ rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-u₃-tud	Its hero was born like Ašgi
86	nin-bi {d}nin-tur₅-gin₇ rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du₈	Who has seen anything as surpassing as its lady Nintur?
87	e₂ 5-kam-ma	It is the fifth temple.
e G,
88	e₂ ud-gin₇ ki-gal-la gub-ba	House standing at its foundations like a storm
89	am babbar-gin₇ edin sug₂-da	Like a white bull in the desert,
90	e₂ nun-e ki ŋar-ra tigi-da ar₂-ra	The princely house, the place of the tigida demon
91	e₂ šag₄-bi-ta lipiš kalam-ma	In the house that was plundered, the blood of the land
	a-ga-bi-ta zi ki-en-gi-ra šag₄-ge si-a	From its foundations, the life of Sumer is in order,
93	kan₄-bi-ta piriŋ šu-ba nu₂-a	From its gate a piriŋ offering lies down
94	kan₄-bi-ta UN-gal inim ŋar-ra	From its gate the chief ...
95	e₂ ig-bi-ta kur gal gaba nu-gi₄-gi₄	From the door of the house the great mountain will not be answered.
	{ŋiš}saŋ-kul-ta am gal-la du₇-a {ŋiš}suhub₄-bi-ta	From the sakulta-vessel, the great wild bull, built from the ebony,
	{ŋiš}saŋ-kul-bi ur-ra lu₂ X X X {ŋiš}x X ur-mah ni₂ gur₃-ru	Its sakul offerings are for the dog ... lion carrying fear.
	ŋa₂-nun ŋar-ra-bi an-ub ki-ub ŋa₂-nun e₂ ŋar-ra šukur	Its throne-dais is heaven, earth, thrones are the temples of the outer world.
98	gi-gun₄{ki}-na-bi la-ha-ma ki us₂-sa	Its Giguna is lahama, it is a place of relaxation.
	bad₃ nun-na-bi eš₃ urim₂{ki} zu₂ keše₂-da gal	Its princely wall, the shrine Urim, which is firmly secured
100	keš₃{ki}-gin₇ rib-ba lu₂ ši-in-ga-an-tum₂-mu	Like Keš, one should bring it to me.
101	ur-saŋ-bi {aš}{d}aš₇-gi₄-gin₇ rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-u₃-tud	Its hero was born like Ašgi
102	nin-bi {d}nin-tur₅-ra-gin₇ rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du₈	Who has seen anything as surpassing as its lady Nintur?
103	e₂ 6-kam-ma	It is the sixth temple.
e H,
103A	e₂ su-lim guru₃ zag dib-ba šu	The house of Sulim, the granary on the right side is mine
103B	e₂ igi tab an-ne₂ BAR šag₄ AB	(If) he looks at a house: An ... .
103Š	en {d}nu-dim₂-mud-e an ki-a	Lord Nudimmud of heaven and earth
103D	an nin lu₂ šeg₁₂ kalam-ma dug₃	An, the lady, the one who makes the brickwork of the Land good,
103E	šeg₁₂ abzu-ta kiŋ₂ gal-le-eš	From the brickwork of the Abzu, the great place
103F	gi-gun₄-na ki-tuš ni₂ dub₂-bu	In the Giguna, the dwelling place of relaxation
103G	si-muš₃ kug šag₄ uŋ₃-ŋa₂ saŋ zig₃	The holy horns of the open country are raised high.
103H	e₂ kur-kur-ra me-te-ŋal₂-la₂	The house of all the lands is balanced.
103I	keš₃{ki}-gin₇ rib-ba lu₂ ši-in-ga-an-tum₂-mu	Like Keš, one should bring it to me.
103J	ur-saŋ-bi {aš}{d}aš₇-gi₄-gin₇ rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-u₃-tud	Its hero was born like Ašgi
103K	nin-bi {d}nin-tur₅-ra-gin₇ rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du₈	Who has seen anything as surpassing as its lady Nintur?
103L	e₂ 8-kam-ma	It is the 8th house.
e I,
104	e₂ kug KU-bi agrun	The pure house, whose ... is the agrun
105	e₂ keš₃{ki} kug KU-bi agrun	The temple of Keš, whose pure rites are the agrun
106	e₂ en-bi {d}a-nun-na-me-eš	The Anuna gods of the temple
107	nu-eš₃-bi ŋiri₂ la₂ e₂-an-na-me-eš	The nu’eš-priests of the Eanna temple
108	e₂-e lugal bur-ra am₃-mi-gub	The king stands in the bowl at the house.
109	en dug₃ šag₄ eš₂ la₂ am₃-mi-in-la₂	The lord, the one who carries the scepter in his hand
110	a-tu-e ešgiri₂ šu bi₂-in-du₈	The Atu opened his hand to the yoke
111	TU-e a ur₄-a am₃-mu-e-de₆	... pours out water in the marshes.
112	lal₃-e ki kug-ga am₃-mi-in-tuš	She sits on honey in a pure place
113	enkum-e-ne šeg₁₁ ki am₃-ma-ŋal₂-le-eš	The enkum priestess is the one who makes the earth shake
114	pa₄-šeš-e-ne kuš mu-un-sag₃-ge-ne	They struck him with the sword
115	u₁₈-ru u₁₈-ru mu-ni-ib-be₂-e-ne	They say “Woe, woe!"
116	si am-ma-ke₄ gum₂-ga mi-ni-ib-za	The horns of the wild bull are in your mouths.
117	{ŋiš}al-ŋar-sur₉-ra suh₃-sah₄ mi-ni-ib-za	He smote the hoe and the barsur.
	nar {kuš}a₂-la₂-e šeg₁₁ mu-ni-ib-gi₄ hu-mu-ni-ib-be₂	The singer uttered a supplication to the ala drum.
	tigi nun dug₃-ge mu-na-du₁₂-a niŋ₂ dug₃-ge si ba-ni-in-sa₂	The princely tigi song that he played for him, he made it perfect for him.
120	e₂ al-du₃ giri₁₇-zal-bi al-dug₃	The house is built, its joy is sweet.
121	e₂ keš₃{ki} al-du₃ giri₁₇-zal-bi al-dug₃	The temple of Keš was built, its joy was sweet
122	nin-bi DIN-bi-a mu-un-tuš	Its lady sits on its throne
123	{d}nin-hur-saŋ-ŋa₂ nin-bi DIN-bi-a mu-un-tuš	Ninḫursa, his mistress, sat on her throne
124	keš₃{ki}-gin₇ rib-ba lu₂ ši-in-ga-an-tum₂-mu	Like Keš, one should bring it to me.
125	ur-saŋ-bi {aš}{d}aš₇-gi₄-gin₇ rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-u₃-tud	Its hero was born like Ašgi
126	nin-bi {d}nin-tur₅-ra-gin₇ rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du₈	Who has seen anything as surpassing as its lady Nintur?
127	e₂ 7-kam-ma	It is the 7th house.
e J,
128	iri-še₃ iri-še₃ lu₂ te-a na-te	In the city, in the city a man approached.
129	e₂ keš₃{ki} iri-še₃ lu₂ te-a na-te	The house of Keš, the city, the one who approached it
130	ur-saŋ-bi {aš}{d}aš₇-gi₄-še₃ lu₂ te-a na-te	Its hero Ašgi approached the man.
131	nin-bi {d}nin-tur₅-še₃ lu₂ te-a na-te	Its lady Ninturše, the one who approached, approached.
132	keš₃{ki} du₃-a {aš}{d}aš₇-gi₄ za₃-mi₂	The one who built Keš, the one who praises Ezina
133	keš₃{ki} mi₂ dug₄-ga {d}nin-tur₅-ra za₃-mi₂	Nebuchadnezzar praises Keš.
134	e₂ 8-kam-ma	It is the 8th house.

Sources & licences

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