Sumerian Hymnology, the Ersemma [1 ed.] 0878206019, 9780878206018

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HEBREW UNION COLLEGE ANNUAL SUPPLEMENTS NUMBER2

Sumerian Hymnology: The Ersemma Mark E. Cohen

CINCINNATI,

1981

SumerianHymnology: The ErSemma

HEBREW UNION COLLEGE ANNUAL SUPPLEMENTS NUMBER2

Sumerian Hymnology: The Ersemma Mark E. Cohen

CINCINNATI,

1981

Published with the assistance of The Neumann Memorial Publication Fund established by Sidney Neumann as a memorial to his parents, Abraham and Emma Neumann and the Henry Englandn-Eli Mayer Publication Fund established in their honor by Esther Straus Englander and Jessie Straus Mayer

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title: Sumerian hymnology, the ersemma. i Hebrew

Cnion College annual supplements ; no. 2 / Includes bibliographical re!erenccs and index. 1. Hymns, Sumerian. 2. Hymns, Sunwrian-Translations lrom into English. 3. Hvmns, English-Translations Sumerian. I. Cohen, Mark E. II. Title: Ersemma. Ill. Series: Hebrew Union College annual. Supplements 1\0.

2.

PJ4083.S9 ISBN 0-87820-601-9 ISSN 02 75-9993

299'.92

,c;'1981by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Printed in the United States of America by KlAV Publishing House, Inc.

To my lovely wife Rochelle

Sheldon fl. Blank, Lditor; Matitiahu l'sevat, AssoczateEditor Fdztorial Board: Stanley Gevirtz, Aljred Gottschalk, Alexander Guttmann, LawrenceA. Hoffman, Michael Klem, Barry Kogan, Michael A. Meyer, Herbert H. Paper, Jakob J. Petuchowskt, Werner Weznberg

Table cf Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations

IX XI

Part I Introduction ........... . . . ..... . Catalogue of'the Ersemmas ............. . The Characteristics and Evolution of the Ersl'mma Erscmma No. 29 (nam-mu-un-sub-be-enJ: An Anomaly Composing the Ersemma The Cultic Setting olthe Erscmma . Part II (Selected Texts, Transliteration and Translation) A. E rs cm mas Preserved Only in Old Babylonian Copies no. 23.1: gu 4 -mab pa-i·-a oflskur no. 23.2: gu 4 -mab pa-i·-a oflskur no. 168: sig an-na gu-cli-oflskm no. 184: u-mu-un-e du 6 -du 6 -dam e 4 -nag im-ma-ra oflskur . . . . . . . . . no. 185: u 4 AN[ . .. Joi Ekur 110. 79: ul-e pa-pa-al-ta ofNingirgilu . . . 110. 32: a i·-an-na a gi 6 -par 4 -ku oflnanna 110.1ob:i·-gul-laki-bioflnanna .. . . . . no. 97: en gig-ga-bi ol Inanna and Durnuzi no. 88: gurus dab 5 -ba ofDurnmi and Sinm no. 1b5: ses-e dab 5 -a-na ofDumuzi no. 60: am mu-ra nu-un-ti ol'Dumuzi no. 164: t'1lu-lirum-ma of Ncrgal 110. 171: a-ra-li-111c-en a-ra-li-mc-en of Gula no.159:[ ... ]xcxo!Gula no. 1b6.1: urt1 a gi 16-sa of Baba no. 166.2: uri'.1a gi 16-sa of Baba B. Ersemmas Presn\'ed in Both Old Babylonian and First Mille1111ium11.c.L Copies 110. I. I: dilmun nigin-u of Enlil no. 1.2: dilmunki nigin-na ofE11lil no.35.1:urua-se-rami-naofEnlil \'II

18

51 52 54 5G 57 bu 63 66 70 71 84 87 89 93 96 103 106 108 110 110 11:1 117

no. 35.2: uru a-se-er-ra ofEnlil no. 163.1: en-zu sa-mar-mar ofEnlil no. 163.2: en-zu sa-mar-mar ofEnlil no. 160: musen-du kur-ur-ra-na ofEnlil no. 34.1: an-su-da-ag' zi-gi-mi-en oflnanna no. 34.2: an-su-ud-ag izi-gin 7 oflnanna Old Babylonian Parallel to Ersemma 13 no. 13: umun-mu za-e of Marduk C. Ersemmas Preserved Only in First Millennium B.C.E. Copies no. 10: me-er-ra-mu-de of Baba . . . . no. 45: ur-sag ut-u 18 -lu ofNinurta no. 53: kur-gal a-a dMu-ul-lil ofEnlil no. 59: i-lu-ke 4 i-lu-ke 4 oflnanna

118 121 125 127 130 131 135 136 139 139 143 145 147

Part III Commentary Index of Sumerian Terms in the Ersemmas

VIII

1 97

Acknowledgments For permission to collate or publish tablets in their care, I am grateful to Dr. E. Sollberger and the Trustees of the British Museum; Prof. W.W. Hallo, Curator of the Yale Babylonian Collection; Prof. A. W. Sjoberg, Curator of the University Museum Collection; Prol. M. Civil of the Oriental Institute; Prof. Dr. G. R. Meyer, Director-General, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Vorderasiatischc Abteilung; Dr. Ira Spar and the Metropolitan Museum. I am indebted to ProL A. W. Sjoberg, not only for the valuable suggestions and advice freely olli:red, but also for the sincere concern he has continually shown for me. I thank Prof. M. Civil for guidance and for always informing me of texts he had identified as belonging to this corpus. I am grateful to Prof. S. N. Kramer, who was eager to help me with this manuscript and whose ideas and suggestions proved most valuable to me throughout this work. I also express my appreciation to Prof. W. G. Lambert, who kindly informed me of tablets and fragments belonging to this corpus. For his painstaking care in editing this volume, I am indebted to Professor David B. Weisberg, without whose concern this work could not have been published.

IX

Abbreviations Abbreviations arc according to the standard abbreviaticns of The Assyrian Dictionary of the University of Chicago with the exception of the following: ANET

J. Pritchard,

A. Salonen Festschrift

Studia Orientalia 46, Amsterdam, Publishing, 1975.

Cal K

K.2742+K.8207

Das Lugalbandaepos

C. Wilcke, Das Lugalbandaepos, Otto Harrassowitz, 1969.

Dumuzi's Dream

B. Alster, Dumuzi's Dream, Copenhagen, Akademisk Vorlag, 19 72.

ELA

S. Cohen, Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta, Dissertation, U. of Pa., 1973.

Falkenstein Festschrifi

Heidelberger Studien zum Alten Orient, Wiesbaden, Otto Harrassowitz, 1967.

Gilgames

A. Shaflcr, Sumerian Sources of Tablet XI I of the Epic of Gilgames, Dissertation, U. of Pa., 1963.

G6tterepitheta

K. Tallquist, Akkadische Gotterepitheta, Hildesheim, Georg Olrns Verlag, 1974.

GSG

A. Poebel, Grundzuge der sumerischen Grammatik, Rostock, 1923.

Image ofTammuz

Th. Jacobsen, Toward the Image ofTammuz and Other Essays on Mesopotamian History and Culture, Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1970.

Konigshymnen

W. H. Romer, Sumerische 'Konigshymnen'

Ancient Near Eastern Texts, 3rd ed., Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1969. N. Holland

(S. Langdon, AJSL 42 110). Wiesbaden,

Isin-Zeit, Leiden, E. J. Brill, 1965. XI

der

Kultlyrik

J. Krechcr, Sumerischc Kultlyrik, Wiesbaden, Otto Harrassowitz, 1966.

Mcnschrnbikl

G. Pettinato, Das altorieutalische Mcuschcubild um! die sumerischcn und akkadischen Schi>pfungsmythen, Heidelberg, Carl Winter's Universitatsbuchhandlung, 1971.

Mondgott

A. Sjoberg, Der Mondgott Nanna-Suen in der sumerischen 0berliefrrung, and Wiksell, 1960.

Uppsala, Almqvist

Nanna-Suen's Journey

A. Ferrara, Nanna-Suen'sjourney to Nippur, Biblical Institute Press, Rome, 1973.

Sacred Marriage

S. N. Kramer, The Sacred Marriage Rite: Aspects of Faith, Myth, and Ritual in Ancient Sumer, Bloomington and London, Indiana University Press, 1969.

SAHG

A. Falkenstein, W. von Soden, Sumerische und Akkadische Hymnen und Gebete, Stuttgart, Carl 1953. Winter's Universitatsbuchhandlung,

SGL

A. Falkcnstcin,J. van Dijk, Surnerischc Gotterlieder I-II, Heidelberg, Carl Winter's Universitatsbuchhandlung, 1959-1960.

Studies Albright

H. Goedicke, Near Eastern Studies in Honor of William Foxwell Albright, Baltimorc,Johns Hopkins Press, 1971.

Studies Gelb

Orientalia NS 1973•

Studies Kramer

AOAT 25, NeuKirchen-Vluyn, Bercker Kevelaer, 1976.

Studies Oppenheim

Studies Presented to A. Leo Oppenheim, Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1964.

Tierbilder

W. Heirnpel, Tierbilder in der sumerischen Literatur, Rome, Pontifical Biblical Institute, 1968.

YNER

Yale Near Eastern Researches 1-6, New Haven, Yale University Press, 1967-1975. Xll

42 1-2,

Pontifical Institute Press, Butzon and

PART

I

I ntroduction The greatest quantity of Sumerian literature extant today derives from tablets dating to the Old Babylonian period (ca. 2000-1600 B.C.E.). During this period, which witnessed the hegemony of such cities as I sin, Larsa, Mari, Eshnunna, Asshur and finally Babylon, Sumerian was no longer the vernacular; Akkadian had finally succeeded in replacing Sumerian. Yet Sumerian remained pre-eminent as the literary language in the southern area known as Sumer. Akkadian was probably just beginning to be used in this capacity. Many of the Sumerian compositions preserved from this period were unquestionably composed much earlier, as for example the Kestcmple Hymn, the Instructions of Suruppak, the Temple H ymns 1 and a cycle of hymns to the goddess lnanna which tradition ascribed to Engeduanna, the daughter of Sargon ofAkkad. 2 Also included in this pre-Old Babylonian literature are the numerous royal hymns in honor of the kings B.C.F. ). In addition other works are rited oi the Ur I I I Empire (ca. 2120-2000 in literary catalogues presumed to date to the Ur Ill period. 3 So, too, we believe that a great many other texts, particularly those rclerred to as "myths" and "epics," were authored before the Old Babylonian period. In the literary tablets from this period two Sumerian dialects occur. The first we shall rek·r to as "main dialect" and the other as Emesal. The Emcsal dialect occurs in most of the lamentations, in songs with the rubric ersemma, several incantation-hymns, a lew proverbs and in several other texts, particularly those involving the goddess lnanna. 1 Basically all other Sumerian literary texts are in the main dialect. 5 I 1IA. W. Sjiiberg and E. Bergmann, The Collec1ion of Sumerian Temple Hymns, TCS 3, New York (1973). (2)See W.W. Hallo andj.J.

A. van Dijk, The Exaltation ol Inanna, YNER 3 ( 1968) pp. 1-11.

(3)Sce W.W. Hallo, "On the an1iquity ol Sumerian litcrature",JAOS (4)For the use ol the Emesal dialect see J. Krecher, Kultlyrik

11

83 ( 1963) 167lf

ff

(5IOccasionally a main dialect composition contains an Emesal term. Note Civil, "The

A razzia into Babylonia by the Hittites (ca. 1595 B.c.1-.) coupled with a takeover by invading Kassites brought the Old Babylonian period to an abrupt end. More-ma ma-da-ga-ga sa im-ta-r ab 1 -e-r de 1

n

es

97

49· ne-sc 1 am-ma-al na-ma-da-ab-be sa im1 50. i-bi na-an-ni-bar-re na-ma-da-ab-be sa im-ta-ab-e-rde 1 51. ma e-re-da ma e-re 7-da im-ma-al ri -bi-ni in-bar 52. na-am-tar am-gig ma e-re-da im.53. na-am-di-bi-dib-be im5 ma e-re-da .54. ku-su-mu-gin 7 ma e-re-da im55. za-gin-gu-mu-gin 7 ma e-rc-da irn-ma-al i-bi-r ni 1 linJ-bar 1 56. na-am-tar- ba i-bi-bul-bar-ra KA-rm ud 5 1 rm ud 5 1 -me-ma[r-ral 57. na-am-di-bi-dib-ba i-bi-rmud 5 1 ( ?)-bar-ra KA-mud 5 MIN am-CAM-ma mud-me-mar-ra 58. dam an-tuk-tuk 59. dumu an-u-tu am-CAM-ma mud-me-mar-ra 60. na-am-tar-ba gi4-in-bi (llU)-Illt'-t'll su-se ba-ab-tus-en 61. na-arn-di-bi-dib-bi gi 4 -in-bi nu-me-en su-se 62. gi 4 -in se-cr-nu-ma-al-bi nu-me-en su-se 63. im-du-du-e im-BUR-BUR-re su-se 64. i-tus-en sag-< ma> mu-da-ab-sig-ge su-se 6.5. rsig-sag 1 -ma sag-ma mu-ub-BIZ su-se 66. r SU1 -bar-ma bar-ma mu-ub-BIZ rsu-se 1 67. arn-rla 1 -LUM-gin7 i-bi mu-ub-kur [... ] 68. mu-lu-zu-da-mu mu-da-ab-ba-lam-rnla (... )] 1 ( ?)-mu gu-mu 69. [mu]-flu-su-za rgaba 1 -ra-c fx 1l ... Fx 1 [ •.• ] 70. fna(?)-am(?)-tar1(?)[ur-ma] ra 11 -ne dingir-rnu i-bi-mu i-bi bi-in-du 8 -a-re [mus-am na-ma-ab-be] 102. i-bi lul-la rsu 1( ?)-am al-r pe 1( ?)-pe-lel-la-mu mus-am na-ma-ab-bi·I 103. su-um-du-um lull-la-am al-di-di-in mus-arn na-ma-ab-bel 104. mu-gi 17 -ib [mu-lu-na-am-tar-gig-ga-kc 4 ga-TUS ga-am-ga-TUS] 105. mu-lu-zu-m[u gu mu-un-na-ra ga-TUS ga-am-ga-TUSI 106. GA(?) mu-lu-zu m[u-lu-na-am-tar-gig-ga-ke 4 ni-ga-mu-e ba-ug 5 ] 7 -[ke 107. mu-gi 17 -ba mu-lu-rna-am-tar-gig-ga ba-ug 5 ] 4 ni-ga-mu-e 108. egi KA KA egi-gal-u-mu-un-na-ke ba-ug 5] 4 1 [ni-ga-mu-e 109. u-tu-da (x) en dBil 4 -ga-mes-[e ni-ga-mu-c ba-ug 5 J

1.

2.

5. 6a. 6b. 7. g. 10. 12. 13. 14. 16. 18. 19. 22.

23. 25.

A:-mlen A:-mlen I) A: -a instead of - e 1) A:-a instead of -e 2) A omits from here to end of line 1) lines 6b-6e according to text A 1)Aadds-am2)Aomits-am 1) A inverts the line order of g and 1o 1)Aomits -la 1) A :-ma- instead of -gar1)A:muJ) A has diHerent line: l ... J-e am-mu am-gal-am 1) A: [m]a-ni-in-si-ge 1JA: as-a-se 1) A:[ ... ]-ku,I ?)-kup) am-mu am-gal-am 1) A: me-e I) A: me-e 1) A: e-ne-l,iul instead of n u-l,iul-la 2) A omits -di· I)

1)

99

26. 1) A omits -en

28. 1)A:-kas29. 1)Aomits-en

1.

I am of Arali. I am of Arali. My possessions are great possessions. I am the one of Arali. My possessions arc great possessions. I am the exalted land registrar, Ninisina. I am the mother of the chief city, Nintinugga. I am the child of the house, the lady Gunura. I am the mother of the house, Eze11u-kusu. I am the holy ... , the mother of the EsaLa. I am Ena11un, Amakurku. I am the lady of the storehouse, of the holy place. I am Gasanaste, the lady ofLarak. My possessions are great possessions. My "me's" are great "me's."

The possessions which are there, my possessions, are altered. In the faithful house, the wails which are thne, my wails, are strange. 1 o. The fate which is there, my fate, is changed. [These "me's"J of mine which I am forgetting in the city! My I... J which had been placed there! My I... ]which has been carried off from me! Going wide for a comrade, going wide for a girl friend, my I... J which brought me low to the comrade! My I... ] which has Lea ten me with a sling-stone and rope for my girl friend! I will tell this to IEnlill, (but) he will hurl insults. I will tell this to [father Enli!J, (but) he will utter curses. l ... ] never sleeps. 20. [ ... ] does not turn it away in that house. Indeed[ ... ] ... shake because olme. Indeed l... ] ... drag about. Indeed[ ... [pileup .... strew about. When I( ... ) do not[ ... ], when I, Ninisina, do not rejoice, so I enter unto my!,' father, into the house where the fates are determined. So I enter unto Enlil, into the house where the fates are detem1ined. So I enter into the house of judgments, the house of decisions. So I enter ... of mankind. 30. I laid my hand on the door. "Namtar, open the house!" "My father, Namtar, open the house!" So I spoke to him. "l. .. J" So I spoke to him. 100

l 1 ... I to him: l "You, my father, decide the fates." I lI ... ] to Enlil: "[You decide all] the fates." ll ... to him]:" ... " lI ... to him]:" ... " l I ... to him: "You are the one who gavel the spouse to her who is married.'' lI ... to him: "You are the one who gave] the child to the parent.'' After he removed the (tablets of) fate, lhe looked at me]. 40. After he closed shut the housing for the (tablets of) fate, [he spoke to me]: "(Your) fate is placed in this ... place, my lap. It is placed in this ... place, this ... place, my lap. It is placed in the place ... , my lap. (Your) fate is no longer locked up; it is right next to me. 45. It is here with me. It is here with me.'' ... "The fate is here beside me." .. . "Advernty(.') is here with me." .. . "Destruction is here beside me.'' .. . . . . he doesn't say anything to me ... . 50. He does not look up. He says nothing. "Me into a slave, it has made me into a slave!" He looks up. "The wretched fates have made me into a slave!" He looks up. "Adversity has made me into a slave!" He looks up. "Like the silver (about) my hand, it has made me into a slave!" He looks up.

(n

55. "Like the lapis-lazuli (about) my neck, it has made me into a slave looks up. "Be happy over this fate! Be joyous .. . . . . over this adversity(?)! Be joyous .. . Be joyous over the subjugation (of) her who has a husband! Be joyous over the subjugation (of) her who has born a child!" 60. "I am not the slave of that fate!" ... "I am not the slave (of) advernty(.') !" . . . "I am not its slave, its servant!" ... "I walk-I ... " ... "I sit down-I shake(?)." ... 65. "The hair of my head ... on my head." .. . "The flesh of my body ... on my body." .. .

Like ... He who used to know me has forgotten me.( ... ) 10 I

1"

He

He has caused (this) fate to be iin my lap I. "I shall go away from you lo the steppe!" He has caused ldcstructionl to be in my lap. "I shall go away from you to the steppe!" [He) has caused also adversity(?! tu be with me. "I shall gu away from you to the steppe!" "I shall drink the water ofa rinT I know not. I shall go away from you to the steppe!" "I shall eat the grain ofa field I know not. I shall go away from you to the steppe!" 75. "I shall travel a road I know not. I shall go away from you to the steppe!" As if (in) a swamp he chased me out (like) a flock of birds.

70.

Since my fate has harmed me, I cry out "Oh mother!" Since my advenity(?) has harmed me, I cry out "Oh mother!" "Oh mother who had no part in deciding this fate! The asakku-demon is here! 80. It is as ii 110 one inquires about me, no one is looking for me. The asakku-demon is here! It is as if no one goes to the dream interpretess. The asakku-demon is here! It is as if no one goes anywhere for me! The asakku-demon is here! It is as if(I am) a ghost about whom no one says a word. The asakku-demon is here! It is as if(I am) the ghost olthe steppe about whom no one says a word. The asakku-demon is here! 85. When my father goes about the cattle pen, he does not inquire about me. Indeed when the lord Enlil passes by the sheepfold, he does not inquire about n1e."

"My child, may you beautify yourself! May you make yourself attractive! What good have tears done you:' Not only may you beautify yourself; but also may you make yourself attractive! What good have tears done you? May you adorn yourself with antimony! ... [... J What good have tears done you:' go. May a decoration ofsuba-stone hang ... ! What good have tears done you:' Beautify yourself! Beautify yourself! What do you know about this matter? Go bathe and scrub! What do you know about this matter:' Put antimony on the eyes! What do you know about this matter? Dress yourself in clean clothes! What do you know about this matter?

!OZ

lapis-lazuli ... !"

95 ....

"As for me, I already did sit with the man. The harp-song of my heart is strange. (Concerning) this fate I already did sit with the man. The harp-song ofmy heart is strange. Inside me a ... is busting out. The harp-song of my heart is strange. Inside me I am a gleaming boxwood tree busting out. The harp-song of my heart is strange. 1 oo. This man who looked at me [does not say to me "It is enough!"] ... who looked at me [docs not say to me "It is enough!" J My face which I had cheapened in vain! [He does not say to me "It is enough!"] II move] (my) lips [about in] vain. !He does not say to me "It is enough!"]" "Hierodule,

[oh one of a wretched fate! I shall ... I shall also ... ] I shall also ... ] ... , loh one of a wretched fate! Oh my possession! She has died!] Oh the hierodule, one of a wretched fate! l Oh my possession! She has died!] ... , oh the great daughter-in-law of the lord! IOh my possession! She has died!] Oh one who has born the en Gilgames ! [Oh my possession! She has died!]"

105. [I shall cry out to] him whom I know. II shall ...

109 (lines) [It isl an ersemma

of Gula.

The following ersemma is also of Gula/N inisina. Although the tone of the work is decidedly negative in the first twenty-nine lines, the composition concludes in a most positive mood with an exhortation for the reactivation of Ninisina's temple, presumably the Egalmab in !sin. Ersemma no. 159

Text: BM 96940 (CT 36 pl. 41-42). Collated: S.N. Kramer, Iraq 36 101 1.

[ ...

Fx 1 efx 1[ •••

[sa 12 -du 5 -mlab 3· [ama-u]ru-sag-ga 4. [T]UM-dib-ku 5. ga-sa-an-as-te 2.

]

ga- sa-an-I n- si-n[a-men I ga-sa-an-tin-U9ba-r men 7 ama-e-sa-ba-men ga-sa-an-La-ra-akki _men

103

dEzinu dKu-sti-rnen ga-sa-an-men dGu-nu-ra 7. dumu-c-e ki-ku-ga-men 8. ga-sa-an-ni,_-gar-ra n u-gu 7 -a-mu 9. e-e u-ze-ba nu-nag-a-mu 10. e-e erze-ba n u-dur-ru-na-m u 11. e ki-tus-ze-ba nu-nu-a-mu 12. e ki-nu-ze-ba nu-mu-un-gu 13. e bur-ku-ga 7 -a-mu n u-mu-un-nag-a-m u 14. e zabar-ku-ga nu-mu-un-il-la-mu 15. e gisbansur-ku-ga e4 nu-de-a-mu 16. ti-lim-da-kt:1-ga nu-mu- un-gar-ra-rn u 17. kusub-ku-ga n u-m u-un-d u 12 -a-rn u 18. balag-ku-ga ad nu-sa4-5a4-IT1U 19. sem 5 -ku-ga nu-ze-ze-ba-mu 20. me-ze-ku-ga ur 5 nu-sa 4.l:IUR-mu 21. gi-di-da-mu ba-e-rn u nu-mu-un-ta22. mu-gu-di-de nu-sed 7 -de-mu 23. gala-e sa-mu nu-mu-ni-ibbe-un-du1 1-ga-mu 24. gudu4-ll1U sil6-la nu-mu-da-ti-la-mu 25. e-mu dam-bul-la 26. c-mu dumu-ze-ba nu-mu-da-tus-a-mu 27. e-mu me-e ga-sa-an-bi gal-bi ba-ra-ni-ib-r dib 1 28. gal-bi ba-ra-ni-ib-dib gal-bi ba-ra-ni-im-ma-al 29. a-a-mu be-en-ge-rne-na be-en-ge-meAKA(?) \)e-en-ge-me-AKA(?) 30. a-a-mu dMu-ul!-lil be-en-ge-me-na 31. me-e e-mu ga-ku 4 ga-ku 4 ga-nu ga-nu 32. me-e erim-rna-mu ga-ku 4 ga-ku 4 ga-nu ga-nu 33. me-e c-mu u-sa-bi ga-ku u-sa-bi ze-ba-am 34. me-e e-mu mu-nu-be ga-nu mu-nu-bi ze-ba-dm> 35. me-e e-mu as-te-bc ga-tus as-te-bi ze-ba-am 6. ama-i·-e

er-sem, -ma-dGu-la igi-kar es?-IUD.KIB.N]UNki 1.

[ ...

]

house[ ... ]

I am the exalted [land registrar], Ninisina. I am the [mother] of the chief city, Nintinugga. I am the holy ... , the mother of the Esaba.

5. I am I am I am I am

Gasanaste, the lady of Larak. the mother of the house, Ezinu-kusu. the child of the house, the lady Gunura. Gasannigara of the holy place. 104

Oh house, my tasty food which is not being eaten! Oh house, my sweet water which is not being drunk! My house of the good seat where no one is sitting! My house of the good bedchamber where no one is lying down! My house of the holy plate where no one is eating! My house of the holy bronze (vessel) where no one is drinking! 15. My house of the holy oflering table which no one carries! My (house) of the holy vessel where no one libates water! My (house) of the holy kettledrum where it is not set up! My (house) of the holy balag-instrument which no one plays! My (house) of the holy halhallatu-drum which does not resound! 20. My (house) of the holy manzu-drum which docs not sound sweet! My reed pipe which docs not thunderforth! My instruments which are not being distributed! My gala-priest who no longer soothes my heart! My gudu-priest no longer speaks happily! 25. My house! My happy spouse who no longer is present there! My house! My sweet child who no longer is present there! My house! I, its lady, do not majestically pass through it. I do not majestically pass through it. I am no longer majestically present there. 10.

May my father ... 30. May my father Enlil ... I shall enter my house! I shall enter! I shall lie down (there)! I shall lie down (there)! I shall enter my treasure-house! I shall enter! I shall lie down (there)! I shall lie down (there)! I shall sleep at my house! That sleep is sure to be good. At my house I shall lie upon its bed! That bed is sure to be good. 35. At my house I shall sit upon its throne! That throne is sure to be good. an ersemma of Gula collated (at) the shrine Sippar This next ersemma of Baba, the chief goddess of Lagas, laments Enlil's destruction of Girsu, Lagas, Nina, Sirara and Guabba, a string of cities directly to the east of the southernmost end of the Tigris River. The composition is constructed upon the use of antithesis. In the opening portion the cities and shrines are described as jewels, yet in the next passage we are informed that the gems are now dull and crushed. Moreover, the storm, which should be kept out of the city, is inside the city; whereas the protec-

tive Lama-genie has been forced to live outside the city. The poet then relates that all the accoutrements oflordship were present in the city, yet in the following lines the lady of the city has abandoned it. The final contrast involves the loving care tendered by Enlil when founding the city. Yet now it is Enlil who destroys it. We have two Old Babylonian recensions of this crsemma with so many diflerences that they merit separate editions.

Edemmano.

166.1

Text: BM 85005 (CJ 15 pl. 22) Collated: S. N. Kramer, HA 65 26 1.

2.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

12.

13. 14. 15. 16.

17. 18. 19. 20. 21.

22. 23.

24. 25. 26.

27. 28. 29.

uru a gi 16-sa bar-mu uru-mu Gir-suki a gi 16-sa bar-mu se-cb-ki-Lagaski a gil6-sa bar-mu es e-ninnu-mu a gi 16-sa bar-mu du 6 Ninaki_na-rnu a gi 16-sa bar-mu se-eb-Siraraki-mu a gil6-sa bar-mu edcn-bar-Lagaski_a a gi 16-sa bar-mu uru-mu gi 16-sa-bi ba-bir-bir-rc Gir-suki za-gin-tur-tur ba-sub-sub-e uru sa-bi-ta U4 in-ga-am-dul J Gir-suki bar-bi-ta dLama-ki-ku-ga-mu sa-ba bara-babbar-ra na-mu-un-ma-al mu-dur -ru-na-mu su na-mu-un-ma-al 1 hul-la 1 -se mu-un-ma-al am-mu-us dam-ur-sag-gal-a-sc mu-un-ma-al ga-sa-an -bi-ta nam-ba-ra-e ga-sa-an-gu-la e-bi- 1 ta l ba-ra- 1e 1 e-giegi-uru-me-a gu ga-alm-ral ama ga-sa-an-sun-na gu ga-alm-ral imim_se DI.DI im-dus 1x 1 -[ ••. ] [uru]-mu a-a-mu sag-rig 7 - 1es1 [ ... ] [kur]-gal dMu-ul-lil-e mi 1 x 1[ .. . -du 11] uru-mu gu-KU-a mu-ni-ilb-tia-lam-a] Gir-suki gu-KU-a mu-ni-ib-ba-[lam-a] 1a 1 Lagas gu-KU-a mu-ni-ib-ba-lamSiraraki gu-KU-a mu-ni-ib-ba-lam-a Ninaki gu-KU-a mu-ni-ib-ba-lam-a sipa-sub-be ba-ni-ib-te-en sipa-sub-sub-be u ba-ni-ib-te-en-te-en 106

ba-e-ga-am ba-e-ga-am ba-e-ga-am ba-e-ga-am ba-e-ga-am ba-e-ga-am ba-e-ga-am

30. mu-lu-sir-ra

a uru-mu

er- sem 5 -ma-ct Ba- ba

6-

a e-mu a-na gal-lu-bi kam

City! Oh jewel-work! Because of me it was pillaged. My city Girsu ! Oh jewel-work! Because of me it was pillaged. Brickwork of "the place" La gas! Oh jewel-work! Because of me it was pillaged. My shrine Eninnu ! Oh jewel-work I Because of me it was pillaged. 5. My mound Nina! Oh jewel-work! Because ofme it was pillaged. My brickwork of Sirara ! Oh jewel-work! Because of me it was pillaged . . . . Lagas ! Oh jewel-work! Because of me it was pillaged. 1.

10.

My city (now) scatters its jewel-work. Girsu makes the small lapis-lazuli (stones) dull. From the midst (of) the city the storm has spoken out. (While) my Lama-genie of the holy place (is) outside of Girsu !

Inside she(?) had placed a shining throne. She(?) had placed a scepter(?) there. She(?) placed a third one there for joy. 15. She(?) placed it there for the consort of the great warrior. (Now) the lady has left this city. The supreme lady has left this house. "Princess of our city!" shall I cry out. "Mother Ninsun !" shall I cry out. 20.

Going to the clay, [fashioning(?)] the walls, my father [had presented] my [city to me] as a gift. The great [mountain], Enlil, [had taken] care [of it].

He He 25. He He He

destroys destroys destroys destroys destroys

my city .. . Girsu .. . Lagas .. . Sirara .. . Nina .. .

. . . shepherd ... fallen .. . . . . shepherd(s) ... fallen .. . 30. Singer of songs, oh my city! Oh my house and whatever else there be! It is an ersemma

of Baba. 107

Ersemma no. 166.2

Text: VAT6q

(VAS

2 21 H'V.

1. I llr\1 a gi Jf,-sa] bar-ma 2.

[ ...

]

3· [... ]

5. lse-eb-ki]-La-ga-sa Ii. le-tar-si]r'-sir-ra

7. 8. g. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 2 1. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.

1.

iv 10 fl. ba-c-ga a gtlf;-sa a g1 16-sa a a a a a a

g1 16-sa g116-sa g1J6-Sa g1 16-sa g1 16-sa g1 16-sa

1 ma 1 -gU-Cll-!1a du 6 1 uru 1 -Mi-na se-cb-Si-ra-ra esgu-ab-ba uru-mu gi 16-sa-bi ba-bi-ib-re Gir-suki za-tur-tur-bi ba-si-is-be uru-mu an-zu-ta an-zu-gi 6 -ga Gir-suki an-zu-ta an-zu-babbar-ra sa-bar 6-bar 6-ba-ra na-mu-un-ri mu-duru 5 -u 4-sur-ra na-mu-un-ma-al mi-us bul-la-se na-mu-un-ma-al dam-ur-sag-gal-la-se na-mu-un-ma-al gu 4-de tur-ra su i-zu-zu Gir-su gu 4-da-gin 7 su nu-mu-un-da-zu-zu cgi-me-en uru-ma-a gu ga-am-ra ga-sa-an-ki-La-ga-sa-men gu ga-am-ra uru-mu a-a-mu sag-e-es mu-ni-rig 7 Gir-suki dMu-ul-lil-la mi-zi rnu-un-du za-di 4-di 4-la su-mu ba-e-dab 5 za-gal-gal-la gu-mu ba-e-dalJ 5 uru-mu am-gig-ga nu-sub- 1sub-bi· 1 am-i-bi-ur 5 -ka ur 5 -ra nu-sub-lsub-bi'.] me gu im-me uru ad-[ ... ] gu im-me u-ra ad-[ ... ] uru-mu gu-gu-bi mu-11i-ilb-l_1a-lam-aJ Gir-suki gu-gu-bi mu-nli-ib-l}a-lam-aJ ki-La-ga-sa gu-gu-bi m[u-ni-ib-ba-lam-a] 1 sipa 1 -sub U4-tur-bi U4 ba-1 ... J 1 sipa 1 -sub u 4-tur-bi ni-bi-a u 4 ba-l ... J

[City! Oh jewel-work!] [... ]Oh jewel-work!

11

Because ofme it was pillaged.

108

[... ] Ohjewel-work! [... ] Ohjewel-work! 5. [Brickwork of "the place" 1-Lagas ! Oh jewel-work! Etarsirsira ! Oh jewel-work! Maguenna! Ohjewel-work! Mound Nina! Oh jewel-work! Brickwork of Sirara ! Oh jewel-work! 10. Shrine Guabba! Oh jewel-work! (Now) my city smashes its jewel-work. Girsu makes its small precious stones dull. My city .. . Girsu .. . 15. Inside She(?) She(?) She(:')

she(?) had placed a shining throne. had placed a scepter there for the measure of one's -27)The meaning of gu-KL. -a is unclear. CL 1G6.2 :31-3:> trn gi1-gu-be. (28-29)There arc se\·eral possible interpretations of these lwo lines. sipa-sub(-sub)-be may mean "cowni11g (rab5u)/fallrn shepherds," referring to the shephnds of the destroyed cities who have fled their llocks or whose !locks have been decimated. Perhaps sip a, "the shepherd," rdcrs to Enlil and sub-hi· for lu-suli-bc'·, "fallen (ol tl1c cities)" [('-('IJi-te-en)

rnuld be eith(T "to cool oneself'' (j1asabu)m "to extinguish lilt-" (bullu(£1'·l I. W. 1leimpel, /1,-rlnlder 28.5; A.\\'. Sjoberg, "Nungal Hymn," ,II() 24 line 103). Sornt' possible translations arc: "Thic-si-kur-zi seems to be an orthography Ekmzi" or "shrine, the faitlilul Ekur."

liir i·s e-kur-zi,

"the shrine

Ersemma no. 35.2 ( 1 )The

line has been restored on the basis of the catalogue entry Bi 5 7 and K, iii z. Note the pronunciation guide in Cl 4'2 21 rev. 11: u rt'1-u-a-se-e - t· -er-ra-a urt'.1- u -a -a-a. The second part, url'.1-u-a-a-a is probablv a rt'petition of the opening words and not an indication of additional words after un'.i a-se-er-ra. 18b

( 15)For si gi, "to be quie1," cl. 1h(' incipit of the babg-la111e111a1ion 206ob\·. 1 · usum-gin 7 ni si-a(SBH2oa 1-2;M/,C 18!i2 1; /IT6/2 usum-gin7 ni si-a(-r am 1 ) si en-se (var.: si-in i·n for si en-se., i-gi / [kz-rnaJba-ai-11111 pu-lug-tu 4 ma-lu-u rru-nalu.1-twr-111-ar, "Like a serpl'nt lull ol fear, how long will you keep silent?"; the balag-lamentat ion u 4 -dam ki ,illl-us(VAS z 17 olJ\·. ii 7; SUI/ 1 rev. 10; SBH 2 rn. 31-:-p) !i7: ... ur.,-111u(var.: -gu41 s,i-lia :-mu si-zu(.") i-gi/ lw-bal-/1 li'b-1!1-lll/ us-ga-r/1-ir (1ranslation unclear); SB/I :H oliv. 9: si en-se i-gi / /a}-d1 ma-tz t11i-lw-r1Hir;K.5173 and duplicate H\17903 7 (courtesv, E. Sollbcrgn and tht' Tn1sl(TS ol the British Museun11 q-1 o: I ... J-eden- na-ra s i mu I ... -gi] / /. . ./-ni-Sri ina f: ui-1111-11111-arn; NBC 11433 (coullt'sy, W.W. si mu[ ... -gi] (!\BC 11433 and K.5173 are 1lallo) 10: [ ... ]-eden-na-ra not duplicates); the balag-1,um·ntation abzu pe-c 1-1,i- ,i m (!3M 5-1745, courtesy, A. Shallc.'r) 43-44: si ma-di·-gi I ui-l11f1-n-ir;BM 82-7-14, 1818 (courtesy, E. Sollberger and the Trustees ol 1he Bri1ish Museum) 7: gurus uru-na si in-se i-lgil, "How long will 1he young man be quiet in lm own citv,'": BM 79-7-8,7:-., I... I si i·n-si· i-rgi 1 / [ ... ] it-lu.i-lwn 11-dima-tirn I... [. '.\/ote the variant ka- bi for si- bi in 35.1: 7-10. Pnhaps the fact that ka "mouth" and si (Emesal for zi napistu) "gullet," rdn to areas of the body in the same general region, is responsible for the variant expression with ka. tlnumun-bur = rlpetrnep11rk1and for (19)For usurnunx(GUG 4 )-bur-re, Usu-mu - u n = l'ijletu, see CAD E 108; W. Riimn, Konigshyrnnen188- 189. (26-3 1)We kl\(' translated these lines wi1h the help of variant Text L This inlnpretation explains 1hc genitives ba-zi-in-na and ab-ba-a in :-l:i-2 :28-29. Lines 28 and 29 also occur in PRAK B 471 b olJ\. 19-20:

S(' rni-ni-ib-gi tu-re-es 19. uru gu-ba-zi-in' 20. urt'1 ab-a-e ba 1 x x x 1 ib(?J-gi ba-tu, 1

ba-tuy-ba

We have 1ransla1ed "like the whir/roar olthe ... " on the basis of g11/mu/gu- ... -gin 7 in Text E. The verbal form ba-da-pad (E:8 12tii), parallel to ba-ra-e in 3!i-:Z:2,1 ma, be for ba-da-bad (bad= 11n1i, "to rt'move oneself;'' (AHw 7 81 )). Pnhaps the gloss kum-mc is somehow relate22 a-gal-gal 1.2. :41 (variant for ama-gan) a-g1 6 -a 184:12 a-g111 7 32 :57-60; 60:16-17; 171:26-29,31-32 a-ma 35.1:16(forania 5 (?)) a-mu-sar-ra 13-parallel :23; 13:20 a-na 165:20; 171 :87-91,94 1 97

no. 63 84 71 70 103 12 7 121 125 93 87 106 108 56 96 5 60

a-na-am 160:20; 165:14,17,24 a-na gal-lu-bi 166.1 :30 a-ne 171:70-71 a-nir 88:25; 164:32 da-nun-ke 4 -e-ne 163.1 :35,37 a-ra 171:82 a-ra-li 60:7; 165:29; 171:1-2 a-ra-zu e 13:25-31 a-sa 171 :74 a-se-er 10:18; 35.2:16; 79:28 a-se-r 35.1 :1,3-8 a ag 23:15; 168:8; 184:13 a-bad 13 :9 163.2:a+24 a-gab-bu a-la 88:29 a-nu-gal 163.1 :4 a-nun-gal 163.2 :a+5 a-nun-gal 163.1 :4 a-sag 171:79-84 a-sig 171:16 a su-su 163.1 :33 a-sum-ma 163.1 :2 184:46 a-tuk a-zi-da 163.1:27; 163.2:a+23; 184:23 a 5 /ak 32 :56; 79:10;164:26-27 ab-ba 35.2 :29; 184:39 abax(AB) 163.1 :24 dAba-ba 6 10:3; 60:35 abgal 168:34; 184:42; 185:30 ad sa4 -sa4 159:19 al-tar-re 171 :35-36 alim(-ma) 1.1 :2; 1.2:2; 13:2,4,6,8; 45:2,9; 60:19,25-29; 23.2 :2,4 ctAlla 88:7 am 60:1-3,16-17; 97:101 dAm-an-ki 1.2:10; 23:6; 29:2; 168:4 am eren-na di-di 1.1 :8; 1.2 :8; 53 :7 am 171 :1-2,6-8 tugam-baraga 60 :38

am-dul 1-ga 160:4 am-gal-la 171 :1-2,6-7 am-GAM-ma I 71 :58-59 am-gi-ra 164:5-6,25 am-gig 166.2:27; 171:52 am-gu7 1.1:24; 1.2.:37 am-i-bi-ur 166.2 :28 5 am-la-LUM 171 :67 am-ma-al 171:49 am-ma-al-ma-al 171 :8 am-me-e-ga-ar 79:10 am-u-rum 34.2 :1 I am-mu-us 166.1 :14 ama 10:3,37; 79:11; 88:14,48-50; 97 :14; 166.1 :19; 17 1 :77-79; 185:7 ama-ar\:,ms-a 97:103 ama-e-a/e 59:8; 159:6; 171:6 ama-e-sa-ba 159:4; 171 :77 ama-gal 23:14; 168:7 ama-gan 1.1:28; 1.2.:41 ama-(dlmu-tin-na 60:13; 88:23; 97:53 ama-u-tu-ud-da 29:a+28 ama-ubur-zi-da 79:5 ama-ugu 79:29; 97 :102-103; 164 :21 ama-uru-sag-ga 159:3; 171:4 ama-usum 60:5 (d lama-(d lusumgal-an-na 60:6;88:3 ama 5 32 :13,43,50; 35.2 :20-24 amalu 97 : 1 4 amar 25.2:22-23; 165:18 amar-sag-tuk 165:25 amas 10:27;88:20-21; 97 :34,40-46,60-6 I; 106 :6-7; 171 :86 ambar 171 :76; 184:27 an 13:10,23;23:30;32:10,21; 34.2:8-11,18-20,22-23; 45:10; 53:14; 59:5; 79:8,15; 97:107; 163.2:a+2; 168:1,3,5 198

an-birx 32 :52 an-edcn-na 168 ::3:1 an-gal 34.2 :29; 168:8 an-gu-la 35.2:25 an-pa 184:5,17 an-su-da-,ig 34.1 :1-4 an-si:1-ud-ag 34.2:1 an-s1'i-ud-da-ag 34.2: 1 an-ta-sur-ra 32:17 an-ta zi-zi 184:30 an-tlf 32:11; 184:5,17 an-usan-na 34.2:19 an-z,i 23: 1-10 an-zu 166.2:13-q an-zu-babbar-ra 166.2: q an-zu-gi 6 -ga 1(16.2: 13 ar-rc 34.2: 17,21-27 ar!Jusc 97:103-104 ase 171:18 dAsar-lu-t1i 1.2:11; 13:2,11-12,21,24; 29:3 163.1:24 asilaak uas-ta-al-ta-al 165:30 as tar 171 :80,85-86 as-tc 159:35 ctAsnan 23.2:21 ba 23:19; 159:22; 165:20,24 tugba 97:57 ba-an 32 :56 dBa-ba 6 10:2,36-38; 45:16; 53:20; 59: 15 babbar 166.1:12 bad(-bad''') 163.1:19; 163.2:a+20'"; 160:35 bad-gal 34.2:27; 163.1:11 Bad-tibiraki 60:8 bal 97:39,73,116; 163.1:22; 168:33 bala 106: 20-2 1 balag 97:26; 159:18; 171 :96-99 (gis)l.Jansur 97.113; 159:15 bar 59:11;88:12;97:57;

166.1:11; 164:34,36-37; 171 :36,66 bar(-la) gal 97 .57 bar bun 45:12: 53:1(1 bar-rn,i 166.2:1 bar-mu di6.1: 1-7 liar-mu-us 171:21 harsed 7 10:29; 13:22; 29:a+27; 34.2 :30,32,34,:-,h,38,40 bar-tis 185:13 bar 6 -bar 6 -ba-ra 1b6.2:15 b,ira 166.1:12 hara-KA 1h5 :9 Barsipki 1.2:23; 13:8; 2