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An elegy on the death of Nawirtum (Q000777)
Literary, Old Babylonian, Nippur · c. 1900 BCE–1600 BCE
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| Designation | An elegy on the death of Nawirtum |
|---|---|
| ID | Q000777 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ud hul dab₅-be₂-da-na ki-sikil-ra ba-x | When he has been seized, the young woman ... |
| 2 | munus sag₉-ga ki-sikil he₂-du₇-ra igi hul ba-x | The beautiful woman, the beautiful young woman ... evil eyes. |
| 3 | mušen amar-bi gud₃-bi dirig-še₃ sa im-x | The snake ... its calf and its nest |
| 4 | ama gan ama dumu tur ŋiš-bur-re ba-an-x | The mother of Gan, the mother of the young child ... |
| 5 | ab₂ sig₇-ga šilam bar-šu-ŋal₂ gakkul-gin₇ bi₂-in-x | He ... like a red cow ... the šilam-priestess and the barṣvubal-demon |
| 6 | {m}na-wi-ir-tum šilam bar-šu-ŋal₂ gakkul-gin₇ bi₂-in-x | Nawirtum, the vizier, ... like a mash tub |
| 7 | a-gig li-bi₂-in-dug₄-ga en₃-bi la-ba-ši-in-tar | (Sum) The illness that he did not treat, how long will he not inquire after it? (Akk) The disease that was not treated well, how much longer will it be treated? |
| 8 | LIL₂ nu-um-ga-am₃ ki diŋir nu-mu-x | There is no ghost, there is no ... in the place of the rainbow. |
| 9 | ki-nu₂-bi-gin₇ IM gurud-da-bi la-ba-ab-x | Like its sleeping place, it does not ... its young ones. |
| 10 | nibru{ki} {d}muru₉ ba-da-an-ŋar iri-a x | In Nippur, Muru was released, in the city |
| 11 | uŋ₃ daŋal-še₃ u₁₁-u₈ im-ma-an-šub nam mu-un-x x | He sat down in the storm, he ... a fate |
| 12 | {a}akkil KI gu₃-kiri₆ šen-šen-gin₇ ba-an-KU | He ... the akkil-vessel with the orchard like a lion |
| 13 | X tuku-tuku KA lum-lum-ma-x ugu-bi dab₅-dab₅-ba šu du₇ x | ... who has ..., who seized it, who perfects |
| 14 | arhuš zi til-le-a-ni zag-ga i₃-šub-be₂ | When he finishes his good deeds, he cries out at the side |
| 15 | alan kug-sig₁₇-gin₇ niŋ₂ ŋar-ra-ni-še₃ lipiš mu-un-na-ta-an-zig₃-X | Like a gold statue she raises her face towards him |
| 16 | lu₂ igi-ni im-ši-bar-ra-a šeₓ(SIG₇)-šeₓ(SIG₇) nu-ŋa₂-ŋa₂ | (Sum) The one who looks at his face, he does not sleep (Akk) The man who sees him does not rest |
| 17 | ama er₂-ra KA X sag₃-sag₃-ge NI NU GABA sig₇-ga AN šu x | Mother of tears ... shaking ... |
| 18 | šir₃ saŋ X DI inim dug₃-ga-ke₄-e-ne | The ... of the good words |
| 19 | i-lu šag₄-ne-ša₄ ki-šar₂-ra ib₂-ši-kur₂-ru-a | The lament that was uttered at the foundation of the universe |
| 20 | in-sag₉ IM X bi₂-ib₂-gi₄-a re šir₃-eš₂ mu-un-na-ab-be₂ | The one who is happy ... replied to him: |
| 21 | AL X ban₃-da-a-ni-ta saŋ šu ak-a re | ... from his left hand ... |
| 22 | na₄ x x gu₂-a kud-da sa₂ nu-mu-un-pad₃ u₂-gu-e mu-un-degₓ(RI) | He did not find the ... stone on the long neck, he set it on the ground. |
| 23 | ur₂ dam-ma-na-ka ud nu-sud-su₃-ra₂ i-si-iš nu-til-la re | In the lap of his spouse, a storm that cannot be undone, an empty wind |
| 24 | aŋ₂ X-ga-a-ni-ta {d}nin-urta a-la nu-gi₄-a re | From his ... Ninurta, the ala drum that cannot be turned back |
| 25 | nin-diŋir ki aŋ₂-ŋa₂-a-ni ŋi₆-par₃-še₃ la-ba-ni-in-kur₉-ra re | Nindibir did not bring him to the place of his birth father in the Ipar. |
| 26 | eme₅ dam-še₃ mu-ni-pad₃-da niŋ₂-de₂-a-še₃ šu nu-mu-un-gid₂-de₂ | The she-donkey that he found for her spouse does not accept her handiwork |
| 27 | buru₁₄ NE la₂ zag-ga-na til-til-la re | The harvest ... finished, |
| 28 | nam-gu-la sag₉-ga im-ma-an-ed₃-de₃ i-lu mu-un-na-ab-be₂ e-ne | He praised her for being a great queen, she cried out a lament for her. |
| 29 | ama ugu-ni-ir ud zalag ba-da-he₂-ši a₂-kar₂ mu-un-na-si | The mother who bore him was surrounded by a bright daylight, he filled the marshes for him. |
| 30 | hal-hal-bi si pad ak-a-bi zag-la mu-un-na-ak-e | Its halhal, its reed stalks are twisted, it is twisted on its side. |
| 31 | zi-bi igi-ni ab-ta-e₃ su hul-bi zil-zil-le | Its life has left its face, its evil flesh has been made into a mound. |
| 32 | x erin₂ im-ri-a-bi ba-da-X x BI x x | The ... of the troops ... |
| 33 | x x dug₃-ta NI x ŋal₂-la re | ... from the vessel ... |
| 34 | ba-ra-gub-bu-uš x-e | he did not stand for you |
| 35 | emeda(|UM.ME|){da}-emeda(|UM.ME|){da}-bi zag x-de₃-eš | Its nursemaids ... their shoulders |
| 36 | AB NE-NE KA x-kar-ra-aš | ... ... |
| 37 | lu₂ šag₄ dab₅-ba-gin₇ na₄ x gig-ga | Like a man seized by a trap, ... stone ... bitterly |
| 38 | iri{ki}-ni-ta ud an-ta NE x nu-dirig | From his city ... we did not make it good. |
| 39 | ud-bi-a nitalam ki aŋ₂-ŋa₂-a-ni x dili-a-ni | At that time, the husband, with his arms, his ... alone |
| 40 | iri{ki}-na nibru{ki}-a iri x x NI KU | In his city Nippur, the city ... |
| 41 | {m}lu₂-diŋir-ra nitalam ki aŋ₂-ŋa₂-a-ni x dili-a-ni | Ludi-bira, the wife of his father, his alone |
| 42 | iri{ki}-na nibru{ki}-a iri x x NI KU | In his city Nippur, the city ... |
| 43 | ki-tuš gal x šag₄ hul ba-an-na-te | He approached the great residence ... with evil intent |
| 44 | šu-ni ba-an-dab₅-be₂-eš šag₄-bi x mu-un-ra | They seized his hand and ... his body |
| 45 | x-a-ni u₂-a ab-ta-an-kud zi-ni x ab-da-ra-ra | His ... has been deprived of food, his life has been taken away. |
| 46 | x x ab₂-gin₇ ib₂-e₃ lu₂ TUG₂ dam nu-tuku-tuku | ... emerges like a cow: a man who has no wife. |
| 47 | x x-bi bi₂-ib₂-mur₁₀-e er₂ am₃-ši-še₈-še₈ | ... was destroyed, she wept. |
| 48 | x x MU X TUG₂ GA DU me-am₃ ga-mu-ri-in-pad₃ | ... where will I find you? |
| 49 | {d}me-me {d}lamma hi-li-hi-li me-am₃ ga-mu-ri-in-pad₃ | “Meme, I want to find you a protective deity of allure! |
| 50 | KA X LA KA DIM₃ inim sag₉ me-am₃ ga-mu-ri-in-pad₃ | ... I want to find you a good word. |
| 51 | ŋiš-dim₃ mar-uru₅ ar₂-re-eš dim₂-ma-ŋu₁₀ me-am₃ ga-mu-ri-in-pad₃ | I want to find out the whereabouts of the sculpted clay molds. |
| 52 | igi X X X zalag-zalag sa₂-ŋar nun-na-ŋu₁₀ me-am₃ ga-mu-ri-in-pad₃ | I want to find out the whereabouts of the shining ..., the princely ... |
| 53 | UL X A IGI-ŋu₁₀ sud-aŋ₂ kal-la-ŋu₁₀ me-am₃ ga-mu-ri-in-pad₃ | Where can I find you? |
| 54 | šir₃ dug₃ niŋ₂ šag₄ hul₂-hul₂-la-ŋu₁₀ me-am₃ ga-mu-ri-in-pad₃ | I want to utter an arazu prayer to you that makes the heart rejoice |
| 55 | ŋiš-dim₃ mar-uru₅ kug-sig₁₇ ur₅ zalag-zalag-ga-ŋu₁₀ me-am₃ ga-mu-ri-in-pad₃ | I want to find out the whereabouts of the precious stone carver with shining horns. |
| 56 | gu₄-ud-gu₄-ud šu il₂-il₂-i ma-li-li-bi-ŋu₁₀ me-am₃ ga-mu-ri-in-pad₃ | I want to utter an arazu prayer to Malilibi |
| 57 | a-ra₂-zu na-an-ha-lam-e mu-zu ha-ma-pad₃-de₃ | May your prayer not be forgotten, may your name be found for me. |
| 58 | nam-tag-ga e₂-e-zu ha-ba-an-ze₂-er šul-a-lum-zu ha-ba-an-du₈ | May the sin of your house be released, may the šulalum curse be released. |
| 59 | dam-zu he₂-til₃ nam-šul nam-ab-ba he₂-ak-e | May your spouse live, may she exercise dominion and kingship |
| 60 | nam-tar dumu-zu he₂-zil₂-zil₂-le silim-ma hu-mu-ne-ŋar | May Namtar, your child, be pure, may he make it shine for him. |
| 61 | e₂-zu igi-bi-še₃ he₂-en-du a-ga-bi-še₃ he₂-daŋal | May your temple be built in front of it, may its foundation be smashed |
| 62 | {d}utu kur-ta ud zalag ha-ra-ta-e₃ a sig₉-ga KA-e | Šamaš, coming forth from the mountains with a bright light, ... good water. |
| 63 | {d}nin-kur-ra-ke₄ he₂-da-ši-DU gu₂-zu he₂-eb₂-il₂-e | May Ninkur go with you, may he raise your neck. |
| 64 | ud gig za-ra ma-ra-ni-ib-gi₄-a re an-ur₂ he₂-eb₂-gi₄ | May the angry storm return to your place for you! |
| 65 | gal₅-la₂ šu-ni ma-ra-an-de₆-a aš₂ hul-bi he₂-en-dug₄ | The galla demon has brought his hand to you, may its evil be dissolved for you |
| 66 | ki-sikil dug₃ la-la-na gud-gin₇ nu₂-a re i-lu-zu gig-ga-am₃ | Young lady, lying down like a pig, your lament is bitter. |
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.