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The temple hymns: translation
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0/EN" "http://www.w3c.org/TR/REC-html40/strict.dtd"> <html> <head> <meta name="generator" content="HTML Tidy for Mac OS, see www.w3.org"> <link href="../stylesheets/etcsl.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet"> <title>The temple hymns: translation</title> </head> <body> <p><small><strong><a href="../index1.htm">The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature</a></strong><br> <strong>Catalogues:</strong> <a href="../datelist.htm">by date</a> | <a href= "../catlist.htm">by number</a> | <a href="../catalogue.htm">in full</a> | <strong>Website info:</strong> <a href="../help.htm">navigation help</a> | <a href="../site.htm">site description</a> | <a href="../display.htm">display conventions</a> | <a href="../changes.htm">recent changes</a><br> <strong>Project info:</strong> <a href="../bibliography.htm">consolidated bibliography</a> | <a href="../about.htm">about the project</a> | <a href= "../credits.htm">credits and copyright</a> | <a href= "../links.htm">links</a> <strong>This composition:</strong> <a href="c4801.htm">composite text</a> | <a href="b4801.htm">bibliography</a> </small></p> <hr> <h1>The temple hymns: translation</h1> <p><a name="para1" href="c4801.htm#line1"><sup>1-7</sup></a>O <span class= "tn">E-unir</span> (House which is a ziqqurat), grown together with heaven and earth, foundation of heaven and earth, great banqueting hall of <span class= "sn">Eridug</span>! <i>Abzu</i>, shrine erected for its prince, <span class= "tn">E-dul-kug</span> (House which is the holy mound) where pure food is eaten, watered by the prince's pure canal, mountain, pure place cleansed with the potash plant, <i>abzu</i>, your <i>tigi</i> drums belong to the divine powers.</p> <p><a name="para2" href="c4801.htm#line8"><sup>8-15</sup></a>Your great ...... wall is in good repair. Light does not enter your meeting-place where the god dwells, the great assembly-room, the assembly-room, the beautiful place. Your tightly constructed house is sacred and has no equal. Your prince, the great prince, has fixed firmly a holy crown for you in your precinct -- O <span class="sn">Eridug</span> with a crown placed on your head, bringing forth thriving thornbushes, pure thornbushes for the <i>susbu</i> priests (?), O <span class="tn">Ec-abzu</span> (Shrine which is the <i>abzu</i>), your place, your great place!</p> <p><a name="para3" href="c4801.htm#line16"><sup>16-23</sup></a>At your place of calling upon <span class="dn">Utu</span>, at your oven bringing bread to eat, on your ziqqurat, a magnificent shrine stretching toward heaven, at your great oven rivalling the great banqueting hall, your prince, the prince of heaven and earth ...... can never be changed, the ......, the creator, the ......, the wise one, the ......, lord <span class="dn">Nudimmud</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class="tn">E-engura</span> (House of the subterranean waters), and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para4" href="c4801.htm#line24"><sup>24</sup></a>23 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Enki</span> in <span class="sn">Eridug</span>.</p> <p><a name="para5" href="c4801.htm#line25"><sup>25-33</sup></a>O ......, shrine where destiny is determined, ......, foundation, raised with a ziqqurat, ......, settlement of <span class="dn">Enlil</span>, your ......, your right and your left are <span class="gn">Sumer</span> and <span class= "gn">Akkad</span>. House of <span class="dn">Enlil</span>, your interior is cool, your exterior determines destiny. Your door-jambs and architrave are a high mountain, your projecting pilasters a dignified mountain. Your peak is a ...... peak of your princely platform. Your base serves heaven and earth.</p> <p><a name="para6" href="c4801.htm#line34"><sup>34-37</sup></a>Your prince, the great prince <span class="dn">Enlil</span>, the good lord, the lord of the limits of heaven, the lord who determines destiny, the Great Mountain <span class="dn">Enlil</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O shrine <span class="sn">Nibru</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para7" href="c4801.htm#line38"><sup>38</sup></a>13 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Enlil</span> in <span class="sn">Nibru</span>.</p> <p><a name="para8" href="c4801.htm#line39"><sup>39-46</sup></a>O <span class= "tn">Tummal</span>, exceedingly worthy of the princely divine powers, inspiring awe and dread! Foundation, your pure lustration extends over the <i>abzu</i>. Primeval city, reed-bed green with old reeds and new shoots, your interior is a mountain of abundance built in plenitude. At your feast held in the month of the New Year, you are wondrously adorned as the great lady of <span class= "tn">Ki-ur</span> rivals <span class="dn">Enlil</span>. Your princess, mother <span class="dn">Ninlil</span>, the beloved wife of <span class= "dn">Nunamnir</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class= "tn">E-Tummal</span> (Tummal House), and taken a place upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para9" href="c4801.htm#line47"><sup>47</sup></a>8 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ninlil</span> in <span class="sn">Nibru</span>.</p> <p><a name="para10" href="c4801.htm#line48"><sup>48-56</sup></a>O <span class= "tn">E-melem-huc</span> (House of terrifying radiance) exuding great awesomeness, <span class="tn">Ec-mah</span> (Magnificent shrine), to which princely divine powers were sent from heaven, storehouse of <span class= "dn">Enlil</span> founded for the primeval divine powers, worthy of nobility, lifting your head in princeship, counsellor of <span class="tn">E-kur</span>, pillar of the surroundings, your house ...... the platform with heaven. The decisions at its place of reaching the great judgment -- the river of the ordeal -- let the just live and consign to darkness the hearts that are evil. In your great place fit for pure lustration and the rites of <i>icib</i> priests, you dine with lord <span class="dn">Nunamnir</span>.</p> <p><a name="para11" href="c4801.htm#line57"><sup>57-59</sup></a>Your prince, the prince who is the counsellor of <span class="dn">Enlil</span> and worthy of <span class="tn">Ec-mah</span>, the <i>udug</i> demon of <span class= "tn">E-kur</span>, the leader <span class="dn">Nuska</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O house of <span class="dn">Enlil</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para12" href="c4801.htm#line60"><sup>60</sup></a>12 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Nuska</span> in <span class="sn">Nibru</span>.</p> <p><a name="para13" href="c4801.htm#line61"><sup>61-68</sup></a>O <span class= "tn">E-me-ur-ana</span> (House which gathers the divine powers of heaven) standing in a great place, the just divine powers which the warrior ......, strength of battle, heroic mace, carrier of the quiver, mighty bustling brick building, your foundation is eternal. Founded by the primeval lord, with decisions which belong to the princely divine powers, holy soil filling the mountain, lifting your head among the princes, magnificent house, the wonder coming from you is like the sun whose glow spreads. E-cu-me-ca (House which ...... the divine powers), <span class="dn">Enlil</span> has instilled your name with terrifying awesomeness.</p> <p><a name="para14" href="c4801.htm#line69"><sup>69-75</sup></a>Your prince, the great ......, the warrior whose strength is boundless, the great ruler for <span class="dn">Enlil</span>, the noble who rivals heaven and earth, the provisioning (?) seal-keeper of father <span class="dn">Enlil</span> who makes the great divine powers perfect, the ......, the leader for father <span class= "dn">Enlil</span>, the foremost, the lion engendered by the Great Mountain, who for <span class="dn">Enlil</span> destroys the hostile lands, lord <span class= "dn">Ninurta</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class= "tn">E-cu-me-ca</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para15" href="c4801.htm#line76"><sup>76</sup></a>15 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ninurta</span> in <span class="sn">Nibru</span>.</p> <p><a name="para16" href="c4801.htm#line77"><sup>77-85</sup></a>O <span class= "tn">E-ja-dulda</span> (House, chamber with the mound), ......, crown of the high plain, holy place, pure place, house, your foundation is a great princely mooring pole. <span class="tn">Dul-saj-dili</span> (Singular mound), your lady, the singular woman who keeps the chamber and the dais full, gladdens your platform in princely style. Your princess who avoids anger and is exceedingly wise, the princely daughter who prospers together with the Great Mountain, <span class="dn">Cu-zi-ana</span>, the junior wife of father <span class= "dn">Enlil</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class= "tn">Dul-saj-dili</span>, and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para17" href="c4801.htm#line86"><sup>86</sup></a>9 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Cu-zi-ana</span> in <span class="tn">Ja-gi-mah</span>.</p> <p><a name="para18" href="c4801.htm#line87"><sup>87-95</sup></a>O mighty <span class="sn">Kec</span>, form of heaven and earth, arousing terror like a great horned viper, house of <span class="dn">Ninhursaja</span>, built in a terrifying place! Respected <span class="sn">Kec</span>, your interior is a deep interior while your exterior is tall. Great lion ...... on the high plain and roving about on the plain, great hill established by incantations, twilit interior in which moonlight does not shine, <span class="dn">Nintud</span> has made you beautiful -- O house <span class="sn">Kec</span>, your brickwork and your moulding of it! Your terrace! Your exterior, a lustrous <i>suh</i> crown, and your building of it!</p> <p><a name="para19" href="c4801.htm#line96"><sup>96-99</sup></a>Your princess, the silencing princess, the true and great lady of heaven -- when she talks heaven trembles, when she opens her mouth there is devastation -- <span class= "dn">Aruru</span>, the sister of <span class="dn">Enlil</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class="sn">Kec</span>, and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para20" href="c4801.htm#line100"><sup>100</sup></a>13 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ninhursaja</span> in <span class="sn">Kec</span>.</p> <p><a name="para21" href="c4801.htm#line101"><sup>101-108</sup></a>O <span class="sn">Urim</span>, bull standing in the wet reeds, <span class= "tn">E-kic-nujal</span> (House sending light to the earth (?)), calf of a great cow, ...... light of holy heaven, ...... wild cow, trap laid in a nest, <span class="sn">Urim</span>, container feeding all lands, you are a shrine in a pure place, earth of <span class="dn">An</span> -- O house of <span class= "dn">Suen</span>, at your front a prince, at your back a ruler, your dining hall with <i>adab</i> songs, your great, holy banqueting hall with <i>cem</i> and <i>ala</i> drums! The light coming from you and your true lordship is most precious.</p> <p><a name="para22" href= "c4801.htm#line109"><sup>109-117</sup></a><i>Jipar</i>, princely shrine of the holy divine powers, shining like the ...... sun, <span class= "tn">E-kic-nujal</span>, beaming moonlight which comes forth in the Land, broad light of midday which fills all lands, house, your platform is a great snake, a marsh of snakes. Your foundation is the <i>abzu</i>, fifty in number, and the <i>engur</i>, seven in number, a shrine which looks into the heart of the gods. Your prince, the prince who makes decisions, the crown of the wide heaven, the sovereign of heaven, <span class="dn">Acimbabbar</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O shrine <span class="sn">Urim</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para23" href="c4801.htm#line118"><sup>118</sup></a>17 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Nanna</span> in <span class="sn">Urim</span>.</p> <p><a name="para24" href="c4801.htm#line119"><sup>119-128</sup></a>O <span class="tn">E-mu-mah</span> (House with a magnificent name), rising mountain of heaven, your holy sides and your great foundation are most precious. Interior full with princely divine powers, a beaming light which shines, shrine with your back to the blue sky and your prominent front to all people, in the Land it represents a binding agreement and a single track. Magnificent river with open mouth gathering together your ...... divine powers, your base is great in awesomeness, a righteous hill grown in a broad place. Your lofty dwelling-place of magnificence with all the divine powers of princeship, ......, shouting ......; house of celebration, your platform gladdens the settlements.</p> <p><a name="para25" href="c4801.htm#line129"><sup>129-133</sup></a>House, your prince <span class="rn">Culgi</span> has made it great and most princely. The perfect and magnificent ......, the mighty and great wind, adorned with the divine powers, determining destiny, <span class="rn">Culgi</span> of <span class="dn">An</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class= "tn">E-hursaj</span> (House which is a hill), and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para26" href="c4801.htm#line134"><sup>134</sup></a>15 lines: addition: <span class="tn">E-hursaj</span> of <span class="rn">Culgi</span> in <span class="sn">Urim</span>.</p> <p><a name="para27" href="c4801.htm#line135"><sup>135-139</sup></a>O city, ...... from the <i>abzu</i> like barley, cloudy plain, taking the divine powers from its midst, <span class="sn">Kuara</span>, the lord who does not hold back his goods goes amazed to the foundation of your just banqueting hall. The Seven Sages have enlarged it for you from the south to the uplands.</p> <p><a name="para28" href="c4801.htm#line140"><sup>140-145</sup></a>Your prince, the most precious prince <span class="dn">Asarluhi</span>, the most precious one, is a warrior, born a noble prince, a leopard who seizes prey. He is like an onrushing storm battering the rebel land. As long as it remains disobedient, he pours spittle upon it. <span class="dn">Asar-alim-nuna</span>, the son of the <i>abzu</i>, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class= "sn">Kuara</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para29" href="c4801.htm#line146"><sup>146</sup></a>11 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Asarluhi</span> in <span class="sn">Kuara</span>.</p> <p><a name="para30" href="c4801.htm#line147"><sup>147-156</sup></a>O <span class="tn">E-gud-du-car</span> (House with numerous perfect oxen) of holy <i>nir</i> stone in which its sovereign sits, magnificent trap, crown (?) of the princely son, whose best fine oil is holy and well-prepared, <span class= "tn">Ja-bura</span> (Chamber of bowls), holy cattle-pen pasturing cows with <i>musur</i> plants, your prince is a great wild bull, an elephant rejoicing in its own strength, a wild cow growing horns and and delighting in its shining horns. The incantation priest of opposed languages who put clouds in the sky, the storm which roars in the sky, as the sunlight giving ...... to the earth, <span class="dn">Ningubalag</span>, the son of <span class="dn">Nanna</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class="sn">Ki-abrig</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para31" href="c4801.htm#line157"><sup>157</sup></a>10 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ningubalag</span> in <span class= "sn">Ki-abrig</span>.</p> <p><a name="para32" href="c4801.htm#line158"><sup>158-167</sup></a>O shrine, great sanctuary founded at a cattle-pen, small shining city of <span class= "dn">Suen</span>, <span class="tn">Kar-zida</span> (Pure quay), your interior is a mighty place, your foundation is holy and clean. Shrine, your <i>jipar</i> is founded in purity. Your door is of strong copper set up at a great place. Lowing cattle-pen, you raise your horns like a bull. Your prince, the lord of heaven standing in celebration, ...... at midday and ......, <span class= "dn">Acimbabbar</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class= "tn">Kar-zida</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para33" href="c4801.htm#line168"><sup>168</sup></a>10 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Nanna</span> in <span class="sn">Gaec</span>.</p> <p><a name="para34" href="c4801.htm#line169"><sup>169-177</sup></a>O house which comes forth from heaven, resplendent in <span class="sn">Kulaba</span>, shrine <span class="tn">E-babbar</span> (Shining house), shining bull, lift your neck to <span class="dn">Utu</span> who ...... in the sky! Your shining horns are ......, holy and lustrous. Bearing a beard of shining lapis lazuli, ......, your prince, the mighty sunlight, the lord who ...... the true word, who lightens the horizon, who lightens the sky's ...... vault, <span class= "dn">Utu</span>, the sovereign of <span class="tn">E-babbar</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class="sn">Larsa</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para35" href="c4801.htm#line178"><sup>178</sup></a>9 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Utu</span> in <span class="sn">Larsa</span>.</p> <p><a name="para36" href="c4801.htm#line179"><sup>179-185</sup></a>O <span class="sn">Enegir</span>, great libation pipe, libation pipe to the underworld of <span class="dn">Ereckigala</span>, Gudua (<em>i.e. entrance to the nether world</em>) of <span class="gn">Sumer</span> where mankind is gathered, <span class="tn">E-gida</span> (Long house), in the land your shadow has stretched over the princes of the land. Your prince, the seed of the great lord, the sacred one of the great underworld, given birth by <span class= "dn">Ereckigala</span>, playing loudly on the <i>zanaru</i> instrument, sweet as the voice of a calf, <span class="dn">Ninazu</span> of the words of prayer, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class="sn">Enegir</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para37" href="c4801.htm#line186"><sup>186</sup></a>7 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ninazu</span> in <span class="sn">Enegir</span>.</p> <p><a name="para38" href="c4801.htm#line187"><sup>187-196</sup></a>O primeval place, deep mountain founded in an artful fashion, shrine, terrifying place lying in a pasture, a dread whose lofty ways none can fathom, <span class= "sn">Jicbanda</span>, neck-stock, meshed net, bond of the great underworld from which none can escape, your exterior is raised up, prominent like a snare, your interior is where the sun rises, endowed with wide-spreading plenty. Your prince is the prince who stretches out his pure hand, the holy one of heaven, with luxuriant and abundant hair hanging at his back, lord <span class= "dn">Ninjiczida</span>. <span class="dn">Ninjiczida</span> has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class="sn">Jicbanda</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para39" href="c4801.htm#line197"><sup>197</sup></a>10 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ninjiczida</span> in <span class= "sn">Jicbanda</span>.</p> <p><a name="para40" href="c4801.htm#line198"><sup>198-203</sup></a>O house with the great divine powers of <span class="sn">Kulaba</span>, ......, its platform has made the great shrine flourish. Green fresh fruit, marvellous, filled with ripeness, descending from the centre of heaven, shrine built for the bull, <span class="tn">E-ana</span> (House of heaven), house with seven corners, with seven fires lifted at night-time, surveying seven pleasures (?), your princess is on the pure horizon.</p> <p><a name="para41" href="c4801.htm#line204"><sup>204-208</sup></a>Your lady <span class="dn">Inana</span> who ......, who adorns the woman and covers the man with a helmet, the one with a lustrous ...... <i>suh</i> crown, the dragon of Nijin-jar, the queen of heaven and earth, <span class="dn">Inana</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class="tn">E-ana</span>, and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para42" href="c4801.htm#line209"><sup>209</sup></a>11 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Inana</span> in <span class="sn">Unug</span>.</p> <p><a name="para43" href="c4801.htm#line210"><sup>210-219</sup></a>O house where lustrous herbs are strewn upon the flowery bed, the bed-chamber of holy <span class="dn">Inana</span>, where the lady of the plain refreshes herself! Brick-built <span class="tn">E-muc</span> (House which is the precinct) is flowery and holy, its ...... clay established for him who tends the ewes on the high plain. Your ...... of <span class="tn">E-arali</span> (House which is the nether world) gives shade (?) to the shepherd. Your prince, a raging lion on the plain, the <i>cuba</i> jewel of the Mistress whose breast is holy and marvellous, the lord who is holy <span class="dn">Inana's</span> husband, <span class="dn">Dumuzid</span>, the sovereign of <span class="tn">E-muc</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class="sn">Bad-tibira</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para44" href="c4801.htm#line220"><sup>220</sup></a>10 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Dumuzid</span> in <span class= "sn">Bad-tibira</span>.</p> <p><a name="para45" href="c4801.htm#line221"><sup>221-228</sup></a>O <span class="tn">E-igizu-uru</span> (House, your face is mighty), with plenty coming from within, your treasury is a mountain of abundance. House, your fragrance is a mound of vines. Your true minister is a leader in heaven. House, your princess is prominent among the gods, the true minister of <span class= "tn">E-ana</span> who holds a holy sceptre in her hand. <span class= "dn">Nincubur</span>, the true minister of <span class="tn">E-ana</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class="tn">E-akkil</span> (House of lamentation), and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para46" href="c4801.htm#line229"><sup>229</sup></a>8 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Nincubur</span> in <span class="sn">Akkil</span>.</p> <p><a name="para47" href="c4801.htm#line230"><sup>230-235</sup></a>O city, founded upon a dais in the <i>abzu</i>, established for the rites of <i>icib</i> priests, house where incantations of heaven and earth are recited,<br> <em>4 lines fragmentary</em></p> <p><a name="para48" href="c4801.htm#line236"><sup>236-238</sup></a>...... lustration water in the holy heaven and on the pure earth. <span class= "dn">Ningirim</span>, the lady of the shining lustration water, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class="sn">Murum</span>, and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para49" href="c4801.htm#line239"><sup>239</sup></a>9 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ningirim</span> in <span class="sn">Murum</span>.</p> <p><a name="para50" href="c4801.htm#line240"><sup>240-248</sup></a>O <span class="tn">E-ninnu</span> (House of 50), right hand of <span class= "sn">Lagac</span>, foremost in <span class="gn">Sumer</span>, the Anzud bird which gazes upon the mountain, the <i>car-ur</i> weapon of ...... <span class= "dn">Ninjirsu</span>, ...... in all lands, the strength of battle, a terrifying storm which envelops men, giving the strength of battle to the <span class= "dn">Anuna</span>, the great gods, brick building on whose holy mound destiny is determined, beautiful as the hills, your canal ......, your ...... blowing in opposition (?) at your gate facing towards <span class="tn">Iri-kug</span>, wine is poured into holy <span class="dn">An's</span> beautiful bowls set out in the open air.</p> <p><a name="para51" href="c4801.htm#line249"><sup>249-254</sup></a>Whatever enters you is unequalled, whatever leaves endures. ......, terrifying facade, house of radiance, a place of reaching judgment which lord <span class= "dn">Ninjirsu</span> has filled with great awesomeness and dread! All the <span class="dn">Anuna</span> gods attend your great drinking-bouts.</p> <p><a name="para52" href="c4801.htm#line255"><sup>255-261</sup></a>Your prince, a raging storm which destroys cities in hostile lands, your sovereign, a terrifying wild ox which will manifest its strength, a terrifying lion which smashes heads, the warrior who devises strategies in lordship and attains victory in kingship, the mighty one, the great warrior in battle, the lord without rival, the son of <span class="dn">Enlil</span>, lord <span class= "dn">Ninjirsu</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class= "tn">E-ninnu</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para53" href="c4801.htm#line262"><sup>262</sup></a>22 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ninjirsu</span> in <span class="sn">Lagac</span>.</p> <p><a name="para54" href="c4801.htm#line263"><sup>263-270</sup></a>O <span class="tn">Iri-kug</span> (Holy city), shrine of holy <span class= "dn">An</span>, which caused the human seed to come forth, called by a good name, within you is the river of ordeal which vindicates the just man. <span class="tn">E-jalga-sud</span> (House which spreads counsel far and wide), storehouse which eternally possesses silver and lapis lazuli, <span class= "tn">E-tar-sirsir</span>, from which decisions and the divine powers come forth, where the hero performs obeisance, your princess, the merciful princess of the Land, is the mother of all lands. The lady, the great healer of the black-headed who determines the destiny of her city, the first-born daughter of holy <span class="dn">An</span>, the maiden, mother <span class= "dn">Bau</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class= "tn">E-Iri-kug</span>, and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para55" href="c4801.htm#line271"><sup>271</sup></a>8 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Bau</span> in <span class="tn">Iri-kug</span>.</p> <p><a name="para56" href="c4801.htm#line272"><sup>272-281</sup></a>O house, wild cow ......, city which appears in splendour adorned for the princess, <span class="sn">Sirara</span>, great and princely place, your ...... by the shrine, your lady <span class="dn">Nance</span>, a great storm, a mighty flood, born on the shore of the sea, who laughs on the foam of the sea, who plays on the water of the flood, who ......, <span class="dn">Nance</span>, the ...... lady, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class= "sn">Sirara</span>, and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para57" href="c4801.htm#line282"><sup>282</sup></a>10 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Nance</span> in <span class="sn">Sirara</span>.</p> <p><a name="para58" href="c4801.htm#line283"><sup>283-292</sup></a>O <span class="tn">E-ab-caga-la</span> (House which stretches over the midst of the sea) built in a holy place, <span class="sn">Gu-aba</span>, your interior produces everything and is a well-established storehouse. Holy shrine, wild cow for which everything endures, your princess is <span class= "dn">Ninjagia</span>, the magnificent ...... stewardess, the mighty ...... of father <span class="dn">Enlil</span>, who takes counsel with lord <span class= "dn">Nunamnir</span>. Born in ......, ...... in the flood of the sea, like her ...... father a controller of the pure sea, holy <span class= "dn">Ninmarki</span> has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class= "sn">Gu-aba</span>, and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para59" href="c4801.htm#line293"><sup>293</sup></a>10 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ninmarki</span> in <span class= "sn">Gu-aba</span>.</p> <p><a name="para60" href="c4801.htm#line294"><sup>294-301</sup></a>O house <span class="sn">Kinirca</span>, suited for its lady, ......, beautiful as a hill, standing by the ziqqurat, house, ......, place resounding loudly with happiness, house, your princess is a storm, riding on a lion, ....... Exalted in holy song and antiphony, singing with a loud voice, the child, the true wild cow, taken care of at the holy breast of the mother who begot her, <span class= "dn">Dumuzid-abzu</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O shrine <span class="sn">Kinirca</span>, and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para61" href="c4801.htm#line302"><sup>302</sup></a>7 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Dumuzid-abzu</span> in <span class= "sn">Kinirca</span>.</p> <p><a name="para62" href="c4801.htm#line303"><sup>303-310</sup></a>O <span class="tn">E-bur-sigsig</span> (House with beautiful bowls) set up under heaven, mighty banqueting hall, fulfilling (?) the commands, abundance of the midst of the sea in ......, at whose holy ...... there is entreaty and joy. The faithful man has enlarged <span class="tn">E-mah</span> (Magnificent house), the house of <span class="dn">Cara</span>, for you in plenty. Your house <span class="tn">E-mah</span> -- whose prince is the princely son of the Mistress -- continues (?) in good fortune, an area of abundance and well-being.</p> <p><a name="para63" href="c4801.htm#line311"><sup>311-313</sup></a>......, with the gaze of a wild cow, <span class="dn">Cara</span>, who ...... good things, the son who allots the divine powers to his mother, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class="sn">Umma</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para64" href="c4801.htm#line314"><sup>314</sup></a>11 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Cara</span> in <span class="sn">Umma</span>.</p> <p><a name="para65" href="c4801.htm#line315"><sup>315-320</sup></a>O <span class="tn">E-cerzi-guru</span> (House clad in splendour) dressed with ornaments of <i>cuba</i> stone, great awesomeness, Nijin-jar of holy <span class= "dn">Inana</span>, adorned throughout with the divine powers which are true, <span class="sn">Zabalam</span>, shrine of the shining mountain, shrine of ...... dawn, which has resounded with pleasure (?), the Mistress has founded your good banqueting hall for you in pleasure (?).</p> <p><a name="para66" href="c4801.htm#line321"><sup>321-326</sup></a>Your lady <span class="dn">Inana</span>, the ......, the singular woman, the dragon who speaks hostile words to ......, who shines in brightness, who goes against the rebel land, through whom the firmament is made beautiful in the evening, the great daughter of <span class="dn">Suen</span>, holy <span class= "dn">Inana</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class= "sn">Zabalam</span>, and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para67" href="c4801.htm#line327"><sup>327</sup></a>12 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Inana</span> in <span class="sn">Zabalam</span>.</p> <p><a name="para68" href="c4801.htm#line328"><sup>328-345</sup></a>O house inspiring terror like a great lion, making as clear as day the decisions for those on the high plain, house of <span class="dn">Ickur</span>, at your front is abundance, at your rear is celebration. Your foundation is a horned bull, a lion. Holy staff, teat of heaven with rain for fine barley, the pilasters of your house are a wild bull with lowered horns, your ......, foundation and wall rising of their own accord, ......, thick cloud, ...... snake, ...... moonlight, ...... <span class="dn">Ickur</span>, a sweeping flood, ...... a storm and seven raging winds, ......, blowing raging winds, ...... running from the ......, splits the ...... hillside, diorite, stones and .......<br> <em>2 lines missing</em><br> <em>1 line fragmentary</em></p> <p><a name="para69" href="c4801.htm#line346"><sup>346-350</sup></a>The ......, the seed of the Land, the ......, the ...... prince, the canal inspector of heaven and earth, the ...... living, the numerous people, the ......, <span class="dn">Ickur</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class="sn">Karkara</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para70" href="c4801.htm#line351"><sup>351</sup></a>23 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ickur</span> in <span class="sn">Karkara</span>.</p> <p><a name="para71" href="c4801.htm#line352"><sup>352-361</sup></a>O ......, bolt founded by <span class="dn">An</span>,<br> <em>4 lines fragmentary</em><br> <em>1 line missing</em><br> <em>1 line fragmentary</em><br> <em>approx. 2 lines missing</em><br> ...... has erected a house in your precinct, O ......, and taken a seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para72" href="c4801.htm#line362"><sup>362</sup></a>10 (?) lines: the house of ...... in .......</p> <p><a name="para73" href="c4801.htm#line363"><sup>363-377</sup></a><br> <em>2 lines missing</em><br> <em>1 line fragmentary</em><br> <span class="dn">An</span> has ...... your platform. <span class= "tn">E-mah</span> (Exalted house), house of the universe, suited for its lady, your front inspires great awesomeness, your interior is filled with radiance. Mother <span class="dn">Nintud</span>, <span class="dn">Enlil</span> and <span class="dn">Enki</span> have determined your destiny. <span class= "tn">E-suga</span> (Joyous (?) house) which ......, life of the black-headed, <span class="dn">An</span> has given you the magnificent divine powers from the interior of heaven. As in <span class="sn">Kec</span>, <span class= "dn">Ninhursaja</span> has blessed the holy <i>usga</i> priest (?) who maintains your shrine. House with great divine powers, a pure platform and cleansing lustration, <span class="dn">Acgi</span>, the god of <span class= "sn">Adab</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class= "sn">Adab</span>, O house situated at a canal, O house <span class= "sn">Adab</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para74" href="c4801.htm#line378"><sup>378</sup></a>15 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ninhursaja</span> in <span class= "sn">Adab</span>.</p> <p><a name="para75" href="c4801.htm#line379"><sup>379-391</sup></a>O <span class="sn">Isin</span>, city founded by <span class="dn">An</span> which he has built on an empty plain! Its front is mighty, its interior is artfully built, its divine powers are divine powers which <span class="dn">An</span> has determined. Low dais which <span class="dn">Enlil</span> loves, place where <span class="dn">An</span> and <span class="dn">Enlil</span> determine destinies, place where the great gods dine, filled with great awesomeness and terror: all the <span class="dn">Anuna</span> gods attend your great drinking-bouts. Your princess, the mother, the Mistress adorned with jewels of <i>cuba</i> stone, who maintains the holy place's Nijin-jar, who binds the <i>suh</i> crown on the <i>nugig</i> priestess, who causes the seven teats to flow for the <i>nubar</i> priestess, has resounded with seven pleasures (?).</p> <p><a name="para76" href="c4801.htm#line392"><sup>392-394</sup></a>Your lady, the great healer of the Land, <span class="dn">Nininsina</span>, the daughter of <span class="dn">An</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class="sn">Isin</span>, and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para77" href="c4801.htm#line395"><sup>395</sup></a>16 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Nininsina</span> in <span class="sn">Isin</span>.</p> <p><a name="para78" href="c4801.htm#line396"><sup>396-405</sup></a>O <span class="sn">Kazallu</span>, your platform is in the midst of the sky, shining, ...... an object of admiration. Your prince is the seed of a bull, engendered by a wild bull in ......, a magnificent ...... with sparkling eyes, a lord with the teeth of a lion, who snatches the calf with his claws, who snatches ....... ...... who snatches ......, the ...... who gives strength to the ......, great lord <span class="dn">Numucda</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class="tn">Kun-satu</span> (Threshold of the mountain), O <span class= "sn">Kazallu</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para79" href="c4801.htm#line406"><sup>406</sup></a>10 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Numucda</span> in <span class= "sn">Kazallu</span>.</p> <p><a name="para80" href="c4801.htm#line407"><sup>407-414</sup></a>O <span class="tn">E-igi-kalama</span> (House which is the eye of the Land), your foundation is firmly laid, growing hill which stands broadly on the earth, ...... the enemies' land,<br> <em>3 lines fragmentary</em><br> <em>approx. 1 line missing</em><br> ...... has erected a house in your precinct, O ......, and taken a seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para81" href="c4801.htm#line415"><sup>415</sup></a>8 (?) lines: the house of <span class="dn">Lugal-Marda</span> in <span class= "sn">Marda</span>.</p> <p><a name="para82" href="c4801.htm#line416"><sup>416-423</sup></a>O <span class="sn">Der</span> (<em>Akkadian name; a Sumerian name is unknown</em>) , taking extreme care of decisions, ......, on your awesome and radiant gate a horned viper and a <i>muchuc</i> are being seized in a trap. Your prince, a leader of the gods, fit for giving counsel and grand speech, the son of <span class="dn">Urac</span> who knows thoroughly the true divine powers of princeship, <span class="dn">Ictaran</span>, the ...... sovereign of heaven, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class= "tn">E-dim-gal-kalama</span> (House which is the great pole of the Land), and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para83" href="c4801.htm#line424"><sup>424</sup></a>8 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ictaran</span> in <span class="sn">Der</span>.</p> <p><a name="para84" href="c4801.htm#line425"><sup>425-435</sup></a>O <span class="tn">E-sikil</span> (Pure house) whose pure divine powers are supreme in all lands, whose name is high and mighty, magnificent dwelling of the warrior, holy house of <span class="dn">Ninazu</span>, house of the holy divine powers! House, your divine powers are pure divine powers, your lustration is a cleansing lustration. The warrior refreshes himself in your dwelling. <span class="dn">Ninazu</span> dines on your platform. Your sovereign, the great lord, the son of <span class="dn">Enlil</span>, is a towering lion spitting venom over hostile lands, rising like the south wind against enemy lands, snarling like a dragon against the walls of rebel lands, a storm enveloping the disobedient and trampling on the enemy.</p> <p><a name="para85" href="c4801.htm#line436"><sup>436-446</sup></a>When he strides forth, no evil-doer can escape. When he establishes his triumph, the cities of the rebel lands are destroyed. When he frowns, their people are cast into the dust. House, your prince is a great lion from whose claws the enemy hangs. Your sovereign is a terrifying, mighty storm, the vigour of the battle, in combat ...... like a ...... with a shield on his lofty arm, a net over the widespread people from whose reach the foe cannot escape. When the great lord is resplendent, his magnificence has no equal. The true seed born of the Great Mountain and <span class="dn">Ninlil</span>, your sovereign, the warrior <span class="dn">Ninazu</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class= "tn">E-sikil</span>, O <span class="sn">Ecnunna</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para86" href="c4801.htm#line447"><sup>447</sup></a>22 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ninazu</span> in <span class="sn">Ecnunna</span>.</p> <p><a name="para87" href="c4801.htm#line448"><sup>448-455</sup></a>O house built in plenitude, <span class="sn">Kic</span>, raising its head among the princely divine powers, established settlement, your great foundation cannot be scattered. Your plinth is a vast oppressive cloud floating in the midst of the sky. Your interior is a weapon, a mace decorated with ....... Your right hand makes mountains tremble, your left thins out the enemy. Your prince, mighty and magnificent, a great storm overpowering the earth, inspiring great and terrifying awe, your sovereign, the warrior <span class="dn">Zababa</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O <span class="tn">E-dub</span> (Storage house), O house <span class="sn">Kic</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para88" href="c4801.htm#line456"><sup>456</sup></a>8 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Zababa</span> in <span class="sn">Kic</span>.</p> <p><a name="para89" href="c4801.htm#line457"><sup>457-466</sup></a>O <span class="tn">E-kecda-kalama</span> (House which is the bond of the Land), bull ...... great strength among the gods, terrifying wild cow, wild bull which causes lament, <span class="sn">Gudua</span>, your quay is a ...... quay which bestows water, your interior is artfully built, your mace is a ...... mace released from heaven, your platform is a lustrous platform spreading over <span class="tn">Mec-lam</span> (Warrior of the nether world). Your prince, the mighty god, the sovereign of <span class="tn">Mec-lam</span>, the fierce god of the underworld, the sovereign of <span class="tn">Ud-cuc</span> (Sunset), <span class="dn">Nergal</span>, <span class="dn">Mec-lamta-eda</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para90" href="c4801.htm#line467"><sup>467</sup></a>10 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Nergal</span> in <span class="sn">Gudua</span>.</p> <p><a name="para91" href="c4801.htm#line468"><sup>468-477</sup></a>O mighty <span class="sn">Urum</span> where <span class="dn">Suen</span> pronounces judgment, <span class="tn">E-ab-lua</span> (House with teeming cattle), wide cattle-yard, <span class="dn">Acimbabbar</span> acts as your shepherd. House, my sovereign, your sceptre reaches to heaven, ...... to the earth, moonlight ......, celebration, your ...... may ...... the light. Your prince, the prince of holy celebration, ......, who appears in the lapis lazuli coloured sky, a celebration, to whom the hero pays homage ......, who brightens the Land, ...... <span class="dn">Suen</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class="sn">Urum</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para92" href="c4801.htm#line478"><sup>478</sup></a>10 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Suen</span> in <span class="sn">Urum</span>.</p> <p><a name="para93" href="c4801.htm#line479"><sup>479-488</sup></a>O <span class="sn">Zimbir</span>, dais upon which <span class="dn">Utu</span> sits daily, <span class="tn">E-nun-ana</span> (House of the prince of heaven), star of heaven, crown given birth by <span class="dn">Ningal</span>, house of <span class="dn">Utu</span>, your prince, the ...... of the universe, fills heaven and earth. When the lord sleeps, the people sleep; when he rises, the people rise. The bull ...... and the people prostrate themselves. Before <span class= "dn">Utu</span> the herds pasture ....... The black-headed have bathed before him, the Land has ...... before him. He measures out the divine powers -- your shrine is a flood.</p> <p><a name="para94" href="c4801.htm#line489"><sup>489-492</sup></a>Pronouncing judgment where the sun rises, mighty sunlight, wearing a beard, tying on the <i>suh</i> crown at night, <span class="dn">Utu</span>, the sovereign of <span class="tn">E-babbar</span> (Shining house), has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class="sn">Zimbir</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para95" href="c4801.htm#line493"><sup>493</sup></a>14 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Utu</span> in <span class="sn">Zimbir</span>.</p> <p><a name="para96" href="c4801.htm#line494"><sup>494-499</sup></a>O <span class="tn">E-hursaj</span> (House which is a mountain) beautiful as herbs and flowers, <span class="sn">......</span> (<em>The Sumerian name of this city is unknown</em>) , your interior is plenitude. At the place where destiny is determined you determine destiny. May the crown bring joy to your platform. May your roots glisten like an immense <i>sajkal</i> snake in your holy foundations.</p> <p><a name="para97" href="c4801.htm#line500"><sup>500-505</sup></a>Mother <span class="dn">Nintud</span>, the lady of creation, performs her task within your dark place, binding the true <i>suh</i> crown on the new-born king, setting the crown on the new-born lord who is secure in her hand. The midwife of heaven and earth, <span class="dn">Ninhursaja</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class="sn">......</span>, and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para98" href="c4801.htm#line506"><sup>506</sup></a>12 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Ninhursaja</span> in <span class= "sn">......</span>.</p> <p><a name="para99" href="c4801.htm#line507"><sup>507-513</sup></a>O <span class="sn">Ulmac</span>, upper land, ...... of the Land, terrifying lion battering a wild bull, net spreading over an enemy, making silence fall upon a rebel land on which, as long as it remains insubmissive, spittle is poured! House of <span class="dn">Inana</span> of silver and lapis lazuli, a storehouse built of gold, your princess is an <i>urabu</i> bird, the Mistress of the Nijin-jar.</p> <p><a name="para100" href="c4801.htm#line514"><sup>514-518</sup></a>Arrayed in battle, jubilantly (?) beautiful, ready with the seven maces, washing her tools for battle, opening the door of battle and ......, the extremely wise one of heaven, <span class="dn">Inana</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class="sn">Ulmac</span>, and taken her seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para101" href="c4801.htm#line519"><sup>519</sup></a>12 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Inana</span> in <span class="sn">Ulmac</span>.</p> <p><a name="para102" href="c4801.htm#line520"><sup>520-523</sup></a>O house, right arm of ......, whose green meadows have been tilled,<br> <em>2 lines fragmentary</em></p> <p><a name="para103" href="c4801.htm#line524"><sup>524-527</sup></a>Your prince, the warrior who ......, who defeats (?) all in battle, exulting ......, <span class="dn">Aba</span>, the god of <span class="sn">Agade</span>, has erected a house in your precinct, O house <span class="sn">Agade</span>, and taken his seat upon your dais.</p> <p><a name="para104" href="c4801.htm#line528"><sup>528</sup></a>8 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Aba</span> in <span class="sn">Agade</span>.</p> <p><a name="para105" href="c4801.htm#line529"><sup>529-534</sup></a>O house of stars, <span class="tn">E-zagin-guna</span> (House adorned with lapis lazuli), reaching into all lands, establishing ...... in the shrine, <span class= "sn">Erec</span>! The primeval lords raise their heads to you every month. ...... the potash plant, great <span class="dn">Nanibgal</span>, <span class= "dn">Nisaba</span>, has brought divine powers from heaven and added to your divine powers.</p> <p><a name="para106" href="c4801.htm#line535"><sup>535-542</sup></a>Sanctuary established for ......! To the true woman who possesses exceeding wisdom, soothing ...... and opening the mouth, always consulting a tablet of lapis lazuli, giving advice to all lands, the true woman, the holy potash plant, born of the stylus reed, applies the measure to heaven and places the measuring-rope on the earth -- to <span class="dn">Nisaba</span> be praise!</p> <p><a name="para107" href="c4801.htm#line543"><sup>543-544</sup></a>The compiler of the tablets was <span class="pn">En-hedu-ana</span>. My king, something has been created that no one has created before.</p> <p><a name="para108" href="c4801.htm#line545"><sup>545</sup></a>14 lines: the house of <span class="dn">Nisaba</span> in <span class="sn">Erec</span>.</p> <hr> <p><small><a href="tr4801.htm">Top</a> | <a href="../index1.htm>Home</a> <strong>This composition:</strong> <a href="c4801.htm">composite text</a> | <a href="b4801.htm">bibliography</a> </small></p> <hr> <h3>Revision history</h3> <p><small>25.xi.1998-29.i.1999 : GC : adapting translation<br> 08.iv.1999-12.iv.1999 : JAB : proofreading<br> 11.viii.1999 : JAB : minor corrections<br> 03.xi.1999 : GC : tagging<br> 27.xi.1999 : ER : proofreading SGML<br> 27.xi.1999 : ER : converting to HTML 4.0<br> 7.ix.2001 : ER : header and footer reformatted; substantive content of file not changed</small></p> </body> </html>