Sumerian Proverbs: Glimpses of Everyday Life in Ancient Mesopotamia [Reprint 2016 ed.] 9781512816372

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MUSEUM

MONOGRAPHS

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

GLIMPSES OF EVERYDAY LIFE IN A N C I E N T MESOPOTAMIA By E D M U N D I. Q P R D O N with a chapter by Thorkild Jacobsen

PUBLISHED BY

T H E UNIVERSITY MUSEUM UNIVERSITY

OF

PENNSYLVANIA

PHILADELPHIA 1959

Price

$7.50

P l e a s e send o r d e r s for Museum

Monographs

T h e University Museum, 33rd a n d S p r u c e S t r e e t s , P h i l a d e l p h i a 4, P e n n s y l v a n i a .

to:

To the Memory of My Beloved Father DR. HERMAN GORDON (1896-1957)

PREFACE This m o n o g r a p h r e p r e s e n t s a d e f i n i t i v e e d i t i o n of two of the m o s t popular S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s c o m p i l e d b y S u m e r i a n s c r i b e s in the opening c e n t u r i e s of the s e c o n d m i l l e n n i u m B . C . ; it i n c l u d e s the m o s t c o m p l e t e text of t h e s e two c o l l e c t i o n s r e c o n s t r u c t i b l e at the p r e s e n t t i m e , with t r a n s l a t i o n s , n o t e s on v a r i a n t r e a d i n g s , l i t e r a r y and i n t e r p r e t a t i v e c o m m e n t a r y , a g l o s s a r y and c o n c o r d a n c e , a s w e l l a s a d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s , in outline f o r m , of a l l u s i o n s to the c u l t u r a l m i l i e u in w h i c h the p r o v e r b s a r o s e and w e r e applied. In addition to the t r a n s l i t e r a t e d text, t h e r e a r e h e r e p u b l i s h e d photographs a n d / o r h a n d - c o p i e s of the 170 c u n e i f o r m t a b l e t s and f r a g m e n t s u t i l i z e d in the r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of the two c o l l e c t i o n s , with the e x c e p t i o n of t w e n t y - t h r e e p i e c e s (all in m u s e u m s other than the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m ) , f i v e of t h e m a l r e a d y p u b l i s h e d e l s e w h e r e and e i g h t e e n which, f o r one r e a s o n or a n o t h e r , could not be i n c l u d e d h e r e . The tablet m a t e r i a l s t u d i e d for this e d i t i o n i s l o c a t e d in the c o l l e c tions of the following m u s e u m s b e s i d e s the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m of the U n i · v e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a : the M u s e u m of the A n c i e n t O r i e n t ( E s k i ijark M ü z e s i ) in Istanbul, the F r a u P r o f e s s o r H i l p r e c h t C o l l e c t i o n of B a b y l o n i a n A n t i q u i t i e s (" H i l p r e c h t - S a m m l u n g " ) at the F r i e d r i c h - S c h i l l e r U n i v e r s i t ä t in Jena ( E a s t G e r m a n y ) , the Iraq M u s e u m in Baghdad, the O r i e n t a l I n s t i tute of the U n i v e r s i t y of C h i c a g o , the N i e s B a b y l o n i a n C o l l e c t i o n and the Yale B a b y l o n i a n C o l l e c t i o n at Yale U n i v e r s i t y in New Haven, the R o y a l O n t a r i o M u s e u m in Toronto, the F . M . T h . d e L i a g r e Böhl C o l l e c t i o n at the N e d e r l a n d s c h Instituut v o o r h e t Nabije O o s t e n in L e i d e n ; in addition, t h e r e a r e a n u m b e r of p i e c e s t e m p o r a r i l y s i t u a t e d at the B r i t i s h M u s e u m in L o n don. A l l but eight of t h e s e 170 t a b l e t s and f r a g m e n t s a r e f r o m e x c a v a t i o n s in Iraq, e i t h e r c o n d u c t e d by the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m i t s e l f or in w h i c h the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m p l a y e d a m a j o r r ô l e . T h e s e include: (1) the o r i g i n a l U n i v e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a e x c a v a t i o n s at Nippur f r o m 1889 to 1900 103 t a b l e t s and f r a g m e n t s now divided b e t w e e n the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m in P h i l a d e l p h i a (74 p i e c e s ) , the M u s e u m of the A n c i e n t O r i e n t in Istanbul (25 p i e c e s ) , and the H i l p r e c h t - S a m m l u n g in Jena (4 p i e c e s ) ; (2) the e x c a v a t i o n s at Ur b y the Joint E x p e d i t i o n of the B r i t i s h M u s e u m and the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m , under the d i r e c t i o n of S i r L e o n a r d Woolley a l l of the l i t e r a r y t a b l e t s found during the 1 9 3 0 - 1 9 3 1 s e a s o n , including 11 p i e c e s r e l e vant to this study, a r e l o d g e d t e m p o r a r i l y at the B r i t i s h M u s e u m in London, w h e r e they a r e now being p r e p a r e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n b y P r o f e s s o r C . J . Gadd; and (3) the 1 9 4 9 - 1 9 5 0 and 1 9 5 1 - 1 9 5 2 e x c a v a t i o n s of the S c r i b a l Q u a r t e r at Nippur by the Joint E x p e d i t i o n of the O r i e n t a l Institute of the U n i v e r s i t y of C h i c a g o and the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m 3 3 t a b l e t s or f r a g m e n t s (plus 15 a d V

ditional s m a l l f r a g m e n t s which have a l r e a d y been ( 1 4 p i e c e s ) , the O r i e n t a l M u s e u m in P h i l a d e l p h i a

lodged t e m p o r a r i l y at the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m ) , apportioned between the I r a q Museum in Baghdad Institute in C h i c a g o (10 p i e c e s ) , and the U n i v e r s i t y (9 p i e c e s ) .

The p r e s e n t publication r e p r e s e n t s in f a c t the c o n s u m m a t i o n of s i x y e a r s of work by the w r i t e r in the N e a r E a s t e r n Section ( f o r m e r l y the B a b y lonian Section) of the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m , begun in 1953 under the d i r e c t i o n of P r o f e s s o r S a m u e l Noah K r a m e r . A p r e l i m i n a r y edition of the two p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s included h e r e f o r m e d the subject of m y d o c t o r a l d i s s e r t a tion " S u m e r i a n P r o v e r b s and their C u l t u r a l S i g n i f i c a n c e , " which was p r e sented in the spring of 1955 to the O r i e n t a l Studies D e p a r t m e n t of the Univ e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a ( Mie 5 5 - 1 1 0 5 / P u b l i c a t i o n no. 1 3 , 3 9 1 , U n i v e r s i t y M i c r o f i l m s , Ann A r b o r , Michigan). In the s u m m e r of the v e r y s a m e y e a r , t h e r e b e c a m e a v a i l a b l e f o r study the t a b l e t s f r o m the 1 9 4 9 - 1 9 5 0 and 1 9 5 1 1952 Nippur e x c a v a t i o n s , which had finally been apportioned between the participating institutions, and m u c h of this new m a t e r i a l was a l m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y i n c o r p o r a t e d by the w r i t e r into the m a i n body of the t e x t . The augmented m a n u s c r i p t was then f o r w a r d e d to P r o f e s s o r Thorkild J a c o b s e n of the O r i e n t a l Institute f o r his c o m m e n t , which is a l s o included in the p r e sent v o l u m e . In the c o u r s e of the four y e a r s which followed while the w r i t e r was engaged in p r e p a r i n g o t h e r s of the S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s for publication a f a i r amount of new and i m p o r t a n t m a t e r i a l c a m e to light. T h i s obliged the w r i t e r in the spring of 1959, when the w o r k of p r e paring the m a n u s c r i p t f o r the p r i n t e r was nearing c o m p l e t i o n , to c o m p i l e a c h a p t e r of "Additions and C o r r e c t i o n s , " which a p p e a r s at the end of the book t o g e t h e r with a final p o s t s c r i p t by P r o f e s s o r J a c o b s e n . I Rainey versity without ding to

wish to e x p r e s s m y profound a p p r e c i a t i o n to P r o f e s s o r s F r o e l i c h and A l f r e d Kidder II, D i r e c t o r and A s s o c i a t e D i r e c t o r of the U n i M u s e u m , and to the B o a r d of M a n a g e r s of the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m , whose g e n e r o u s c o o p e r a t i o n this publication and the r e s e a r c h e s l e a it would have been i m p o s s i b l e .

To m y t e a c h e r of S u m e r i a n , P r o f e s s o r Samuel Noah K r a m e r , with whom I have f r e q u e n t l y d i s c u s s e d the reading and meaning of t h e s e often difficult t e x t s , and f r o m whom I have r e c e i v e d constant a s s i s t a n c e and e n c o u r a g e m e n t , I a m e s p e c i a l l y indebted f o r : (1) placing at m y d i s p o s a l , not only the t a b l e t s of the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m ' s T a b l e t C o l l e c t i o n s of which he is C u r a t o r , but a l s o his own h a n d - c o p i e s of all the p r o v e r b t a b l e t s in the M u s e u m of the A n c i e n t O r i e n t in Istanbul, which he had p r e p a r e d in 1 9 5 1 - 1 9 5 2 , and which he c o l l a t e d for m e during the S t i m m e r of 1954; and (2) being i n s t r u m e n t a l in making available to m e the m a t e r i a l f r o m the H i l p r e c h t - S a m m l u n g in J e n a , a s well a s the p r o v e r b p i e c e s f r o m U r . P r o f e s s o r E . A . S p e i s e r , m y t e a c h e r for m a n y y e a r s in Akkadian, in M e s o p o t a m i a n h i s t o r y , and in B i b l i c a l Studies, has been a m o s t valuable s o u r c e of both i n f o r m a t i o n and i n s p i r a t i o n , not only in m a t t e r s pertaining to Akkadian u s a g e , but a l s o f o r the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of s o m e of the s p e c i f i c proverbs. vi

T o P r o f e s s o r T h o r k i l d Jacobsen of the U n i v e r s i t y of C h i c a g o , m y s i n c e r e e t thanks f o r taking the t i m e in the m i d s t of numerous other p r o jects to r e a d m y m a n u s c r i p t and p r e p a r e his own " N o t e s on S e l e c t e d S a y i n g s " f o r i n c l u s i o n h e r e , as w e l l as f o r placing at m y d i s p o s a l photographs and t r a n s l i t e r a t i o n s of two unpublished p r o v e r b t a b l e t s in the Danish National M u s e u m , K ^ b e nhavn, which have a l r e a d y p r o v e d useful in this study. T o M m e s . M u a z z e z Ç i g and H a t i c e K i z i l y a y , the C u r a t o r s of the T a b l e t C o l l e c t i o n s of the M u s e u m of the A n c i e n t O r i e n t in Istanbul, and to the D i r e c t o r of that m u s e u m , f o r their c o o p e r a t i o n which m a d e p o s s i b l e the i n c l u s i o n in this publication of P r o f e s s o r K r a m e r ' s h a n d - c o p i e s of the l a r g e and i m p o r t a n t body of S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b m a t e r i a l in Istanbul, as w e l l as f o r t h e i r p r o v i d i n g the c l e a r new photographs of the two m a j o r t a b l e t s of P r o v e r b C o l l e c t i o n One. T o M m e . K i z i l y a y in p a r t i c u l a r , I a m indebted, m o r e o v e r , f o r h e r h a n d - c o p y of one of the Istanbul p r o v e r b p i e c e s published h e r e . T o P r o f e s s o r W i l f r e d G. L a m b e r t , f o r m e r l y of the U n i v e r s i t y C o l l e g e of the U n i v e r s i t y of T o r o n t o , and now of the Johns Hopkins U n i v e r s i t y , m y h e a r t f e l t g r a t i t u d e f o r (1) making a v a i l a b l e to m e continuously o v e r the c o u r s e of the past f i v e y e a r s his c o p i e s of unpublished N e o - A s s y r i a n and N e o Babylonian bilingual p r o v e r b tablets in the B r i t i s h M u s e u m and e l s e w h e r e , which he w a s p r e p a r i n g f o r publication in his c o m p r e h e n s i v e v o l u m e , B a b y lonian W i s d o m L i t e r a t u r e (now in p r e s s ) ; (2) f o r his n u m e r o u s c o l l a t i o n s "ST the p r e v i o u s l y published bilingual p r o v e r b p i e c e s in the B r i t i s h M u s e u m ; and (3) f o r his h a n d - c o p i e s of two S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b tablets d i s c o v e r e d by h i m in the R o y a l O n t a r i o M u s e u m in T o r o n t o , which a r e published h e r e through the c o u r t e s y of the a u t h o r i t i e s of that m u s e u m . T o P r o f e s s o r C.J. Gadd of the U n i v e r s i t y of London (as w e l l as to the T r u s t e e s of the B r i t i s h M u s e u m ) f o r g e n e r o u s l y a l l o w i n g m e to m a k e use of his unpublished h a n d - c o p i e s of S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b t a b l e t s f r o m U r which he is in p r o c e s s of p r e p a r i n g f o r publication. T o D r . I n e z B e r n h a r d t (and the o f f i c i a l s of the " H i l p r e c h t - S a m m l u n g " at the F r i e d r i c h - S c h i l l e r U n i v e r s i t ä t in Jena) f o r p e r m i t t i n g the use f o r study of l a r g e b l o w n - u p photographs of the Sumerian p r o v e r b p i e c e s at Jena, handc o p i e s of which a r e now being p r e p a r e d f o r publication b y h e r . T o P r o f e s s o r C a r l K r a e l i n g ( D i r e c t o r of the O r i e n t a l Institute of the U n i v e r s i t y of C h i c a g o ) , P r o f e s s o r Ignace J. Gelb ( C u r a t o r of the T a b l e t C o l l e c t i o n of the O r i e n t a l Institute), P r o f e s s o r C a r l H a i n e s ( D i r e c t o r of the Joint Nippur E x p e d i t i o n ) , D r . Watson B o y e s ( R e g i s t r a r and M u s e u m S e c r e t a r y of the O r i e n t a l Institute), and P r o f e s s o r A . L e o Oppenheim ( E d i t o r - i n - C h a r g e of the C h i c a g o A s s y r i a n D i c t i o n a r y p r o j e c t ) , f o r t h e i r kind h e l p f u l n e s s in m a king a v a i l a b l e f o r study the T a b l e t C o l l e c t i o n s , the c o l l e c t i o n of Nippur tablet c a s t s , and the A s s y r i a n D i c t i o n a r y f i l e s , and f o r t h e i r g e n e r o s i t y in p r o v i d i n g photographs of a l l the r e l e v a n t p i e c e s f o r publication h e r e ; and to M r s . L e e S w i t a l s k i ( A s s i s t a n t R e g i s t r a r in c h a r g e of P h o t o g r a p h s at the O r i e n t a l I n s t i tute) and M r s . U r s u l a Schneider (Staff P h o t o g r a p h e r of the O r i e n t a l Institute) f o r t h e i r e x p e d i t i o u s p r e p a r a t i o n of these photographs. T o P r o f e s s o r F e r r i s J. Stephens, C u r a t o r of the Y a l e B a b y l o n i a n C o l l e c t i o n s , f o r his f r i e n d l y c o n c e r n in helping m e to f i n d p r e v i o u s l y unpublished vii

S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b t a b l e t s in t h e c o l l e c t i o n s u n d e r h i s c h a r g e , a n d f o r h i s m o s t g r a c i o u s l y p r e p a r i n g h a n d - c o p i e s of t h e f o u r Y a l e p r o v e r b t a b l e t s here published. To P r o f e s s o r B e n n o L a n d s b e r g e r of t h e O r i e n t a l I n s t i t u t e of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of C h i c a g o , a n d t o P r o f e s s o r A d a m F a l k e n s t e i n of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of H e i d e l b e r g , t h e m o s t i n f l u e n t i a l of m y u n o f f i c i a l " m e n t o r s " in m a t t e r s S u m e r o l o g i c a l , f o r their i n d i r e c t help, a s evidenced by the n u m e r o u s r e f e r e n c e s to t h e i r p u b l i s h e d w r i t i n g s . To P r o f e s s o r L a n d s b e r g e r , m o r e o v e r , m y t h a n k s m u s t go f o r t h e m a n y h e l p f u l s u g g e s t i o n s w h i c h he h a s g i v e n t o m e o r a l l y , a s w e l l a s f o r t u r n i n g o v e r to m e f o r p u b l i c a t i o n h e r e a p h o t o g r a p h of t h e o b v e r s e ( c o n t a i n i n g p r o v e r b s ) of one of the l e x i c a l t a b l e t s f r o m J e n a a s s i g n e d to h i m f o r p u b l i c a t i o n . To M r . R o b e r t H. D y s o n , J r . , A s s i s t a n t C u r a t o r of t h e N e a r E a s t e r n S e c t i o n of t h e U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m , to D r . E u g e n B e r g m a n n , S. J . , of t h e P o n t i f i c a l B i b l i c a l I n s t i t u t e in R o m e , who w o r k e d a l o n g s i d e m e f o r two y e a r s d u r i n g h i s s t a y in P h i l a d e l p h i a , a n d to P r o f e s s o r E d i t h P o r a d a of C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y , f o r t h e i r h e l p f u l s u g g e s t i o n s f r o m t i m e to t i m e , p a r t i c u l a r l y in m a t t e r s p e r t a i n i n g to t h e m a t e r i a l c u l t u r e of M e s o p o t a m i a . T o M i s s G e r a l d i n e B r u c k n e r , E d i t o r of t h e U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m ' s p u b l i c a t i o n s , f o r h e r c a r e f u l p r o o f - r e a d i n g of t h e c o m p l e t e d t y p e s c r i p t of t h i s m o n o g r a p h , a s w e l l a s f o r h e r p a t i e n t c o o p e r a t i o n in s e e i n g it t h r o u g h t h e f i n a l s t a g e s of p u b l i c a t i o n . T o M r . R e u b e n G o l d b e r g (Staff P h o t o g r a p h e r of the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m ) and M r s . C a r o l i n e Dosker ( A s s i s t a n t R e g i s t r a r in c h a r g e of P h o t o g r a p h s ) f o r t h e l a b o r i o u s t a s k of p r e p a r i n g t h e h u n d r e d o r m o r e p h o t o g r a p h s of t h e t a b l e t s a n d c a s t s in t h e U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m ' s c o l l e c tion h e r e published. To M r . George F. Dales, J r . , and M r . Miguel Civil y D e s v e u s , R e s e a r c h s t a f f m e m b e r s of the N e a r E a s t e r n S e c t i o n of t h e m u s e u m , f o r p r e p a r i n g p h o t o g r a p h s of two t a b l e t s f o r p u b l i c a t i o n h e r e . T o M i s s N a n c y C. S e l l e r s (the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m ' s v a r i t y p i s t ) f o r h e r p a i n s t a k i n g j o b of m a k i n g c o r r e c t i o n s in a t y p e s c r i p t w h i c h s h e h e r s e l f d i d not p r e p a r e , a n d f o r h e r c o n s c i e n t i o u s w o r k in a r r a n g i n g the p l a t e s f o r this v o l u m e . L a s t l y , t h e w r i t e r w i s h e s to o f f e r h i s g r a t i t u d e f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g f e l l o w s h i p s a n d g r a n t s w h i c h h e l p e d to m a k e p o s s i b l e h i s r e s e a r c h e s d u r i n g the p a s t s i x y e a r s : (1) to P r o f e s s o r R o y F . N i c h o l s , D e a n of t h e G r a d u a t e S c h o o l of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a , to t h e C o u n c i l of t h e G r a d u a t e S c h o o l , a n d to t h e B o a r d of T r u s t e e s of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a , f o r the G e o r g e Leib H a r r i s o n Fellowship for R e s e a r c h (Post-Doctoral) which he held for t h r e e s u c c e s s i v e a c a d e m i c y e a r s f r o m 1955 t h r o u g h 1958; (2) to t h e A m e r i c a n C o u n c i l of L e a r n e d S o c i e t i e s f o r i t s a w a r d of a R e s e a r c h F e l l o w s h i p f r o m J u l y 1958 to J u l y 1959; a n d (3) to t h e B a r t h F o u n d a t i o n f o r s u p p o r t r e c e i v e d b y h i m a s S u m e r o l o g i c a l A s s i s t a n t to P r o f e s s o r S a m u e l N o a h Kramer. J u n e 25, 1959

EDMUND

I.

GORDON

CONTENTS

PREFACE LIST

OF

ν ABBREVIATIONS BIBLIOGRAPHICAL

GENERAL

xii ABBREVIATIONS

INTRODUCTION

1

I.

Proverbs

II.

Mesopotamian Proverb Literature: and t h e i r P u b l i c a t i o n H i s t o r y

in G e n e r a l

1 The

T A B L E O N E . D i s t r i b u t i o n of Sumerian M a t e r i a l s from Nippur III.

xv

R e c o g n i t i o n and R e c o n s t r u c t i o n · of the

Materials 2 Proverb 4 Sumerian

Proverb Collections

5

IV.

T y p e s of T a b l e t s

6

V.

C h a r a c t e r i s t i c F e a t u r e s of the Sumerian P r o v e r b s

10

A.

Grammatical

10

B.

Dialectal

13

C.

Rhetorical Analysis 1. F i g u r e s of S p e e c h

14 14

2. P a r a l l e l i s m

16

VI.

T y p o l o g i c a l C l a s s i f i c a t i o n of the Sumerian " P r o v e r b s "

17

VII.

T h e C o m p o s i t i o n , C o l l e c t i o n , and E d u c a t i o n a l U s e of the Proverbs

19

VIII. S y s t e m of T r a n s l i t e r a t i o n COLLECTION

20

ONE

23

Introductory Remarks TABLE

TWO.

23 Arrangement of P r o v e r b s in C o l l e c t i o n O n e

28

TABLE THREE. T a b l e t s and F r a g m e n t s U s e d in the R e c o n s t r u c t i o n of C o l l e c t i o n O n e

31

TABLE FOUR. Starting-Points of T a b l e t s , and of Columns in Multi-columned P i e c e s , of C o l l e c t i o n O n e

39

ix

Collection One: COLLECTION

T e x t and Commentary

41

TWO

151

Introductory Remarks TABLE

151

FIVE.

A r r a n g e m e n t of P r o v e r b s in C o l l e c t i o n T w o

157

T A B L E SIX. T a b l e t s and F r a g m e n t s U s e d in the R e c o n s t r u c t i o n of C o l l e c t i o n T w o

161

TABLE SEVEN. S t a r t i n g - P o i n t s of T a b l e t s , and of C o l u m n s in M u l t i - c o l u m n e d P i e c e s , of C o l l e c t i o n T w o

173

Collection CULTURAL

Two:

T e x t and Commentary

176

ANALYSIS

285

I.

Environment

285

II.

Economic Life

289

III.

S o c i a l S t a t u s and I n s t i t u t i o n s

297

IV.

Religious

306

V.

Education,

VI.

The Individual

314

VII.

Abstract Ideas

320

SUMERIAN

B e l i e f s and I n s t i t u t i o n s F i n e A r t s , and R e c r e a t i o n

GLOSSARY

AND

CONCORDANCE

Proper N a m e s

ON

ADDITIONS

Words C i t e d in the

SELECTED AND

COLLECTION

324 436

L i s t of A k k a d i a n NOTES

311

Philological Notes

SAYINGS

CORRECTIONS

Thorkild J a c o b s e n (1959)

438 447 489

ONE

491

A d d i t i o n s to T A B L E

T H R E E (cf. pp. 3 1 - 3 8 )

492

A d d i t i o n s to T A B L E

FOUR

493

( c f . pp. 3 9 - 4 0 )

T e x t and Commentary ( A d d i t i o n s and C o r r e c t i o n s )

494

[Postscript]

516

COLLECTION

TWO

518

A d d i t i o n s to T A B L E

SIX (cf. pp. 1 6 1 - 1 7 2 )

519

A d d i t i o n s to T A B L E

SEVEN (cf. pp. 1 7 3 - 1 7 5 )

521

T e x t and C o m m e n t a r y ( A d d i t i o n s and C o r r e c t i o n s ) χ

. 522

ADDITIONAL SELECTED

NOTES

(1959)

Thorkild Jacobsen

BIBLIOGRAPHY

551

I.

PROVERBS

II.

PROVERBS OF

THE

MODERN NEAR

III.

PROVERBS OF than Cuneiform )

THE

ANCIENT

P R O V E R B S OF

THE

IV.

547

IN G E N E R A L

551

NEAR

EAST EAST

551 (other '52

ANCIENT

PLATES

NEAR

EAST (Cuneiform)

552 555

xi

LIST

OF

ABBREVIATIONS

Oriental Institute, University of Chicago. Cuneiform Tablet Collection. (Followed by catalogue number.) A(ntiksamlingen)

Danish National Museum, Kfrfbenhavn. Antiksamlingen. (Followed by catalogue number.)

adj.

adjective

Akk.

Akkadian

AO

Musée du Louvre, Paris. Département des Antiquités orientales. (Followed by catalogue number.)

BM

British Museum, London. Department of Western Asiatic Antiquities. (Followed by catalogue number.)

Bu.

British Museum, London. Department of Western Asiatic Antiquities: Sir E. A. Wallis Budge Collection. (Followed by catalogue number.)

CBS

University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Catalogue of the Babylonian [now Near Eastern] Section. (Followed by catalogue number.)

col.

column

comm.

commentary

D.

Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto. (Followed by catalogue number.)

diam.

diameter

HS

"Hilprecht-Sammlung," or The Frau Professor Hilprecht Collection of Babylonian Antiquities im Eigentum der Friedrich-Schiller Universität, Jena. (Followed by catalogue number.)

IM

Iraq Museum, Baghdad. (Followed by catalogue number.)

in trans.

intransitive

K.

British Museum, London. Department of Western Asiatic Antiquities: Kouyunjik [Kuyunjik] Collection. (Followed by catalogue number.)

lit.

literally

Ν—

University Museum, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Near Eastern Section: Nippur Tablet Collection [tablets from 1889-1900 excavations catalogued after 1940]. (Followed by catalogue number. )

NBC

Sterling Memorial Library, Yale University, New Haven. J a m e s B. N i e s Babylonian Collection. (Followed by catalogue number.)

Ni

E s k i §ark Miizesi (Museum of the Ancient Orient), Istanbul. Tablet Collection. (Followed by catalogue number.)

nsl

no separating line (i. e., the additional ruled line usually found between proverbs in t h e proverb collection tablets)

2 Ν—Τ

Joint Expedition to Nippur of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago and the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania, Second Season (1949-1950), Registry of clay t a b l e t s . (Followed by field registry number.) [Divided in 1955 between the Iraq Museum, Baghdad and the two excavating institutions; museum acquisition numbers given when known.]

3 Ν—Τ

Joint Expedition to Nippur of the Oriental Institute and the University Museum, Third Season (1951—1952), Registry of clay t a b l e t s . (Followed by field registry number.) [ 3 N - T l t o 3 N - T 892 inclusive were divided in 1955 between the Iraq Museum, Baghdad and the two excavating institutions; museum acquisition numbers given when known. 3 N - T 900 to 908, 916 to 919 , 923 , 925, a n d 927 comprise sixteen groups of tiny literary fragments not individually catalogued in the field, temporarily lodged at the University Museum in Philadelphia, where the individual fragments have been provided with additional numbers running consecutively from 1 to 535: e. g., 3 N - T 9 0 3 - 1 1 0 and 3 N - T 919-475.]

obv.

obverse

P.

Nederlandsch Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, Leiden. F . M. Th. de Liagre Böhl Verzameling van S p i j k e r s c h r i f t - I n s c r i p t i e s . (Followed by a catalogue number.)

phot.

photograph (s)

pl., pis.

plate(s)

poss.

possessive

oron.

pronoun

xiii

Nippur

rev.

reverse

saet

so all extant texts

sing.

singular

Sm.

British Museum, London. Department of Western Asiatic Antiquities: George Smith Collection. (Followed by a catalogue number.)

SMN

Harvard Semitic Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Nuzi Collection. (Followed by a catalogue number.)

temp.

temporary location

Th.

British Museum, London. Department of Western Asiatic Antiquities: R. Campbell Thompson Collection. (Followed by a catalogue number.)

trans.

transitive

U.

Joint Expedition of the British Museum and the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania to Mesopotamia: Excavations of Ur, Field registry of o b j e c t s including clay t a b l e t s . (Followed by a field registry number.)

UM

University Museum, University of P e n n y s l v a n i a , Philadelphia. General Catalogue of the University Museum [1930— ; objects, including tablets excavated at Nipour from 1889—1900, catalogued after 1930 and before 1940, are catalogued a s if acquired in 1929] (Followed by a catalogue number.)

uninsc.

uninscribed

unpubl.

unpublished

UP

U n i v e r s i t y Museum, University of Pennsylvania), P(hiladelphia)

var.

variant

VAT

Vorderasiatische Museum der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin: Tontafelsammlung [formerly Königliche Museen zu Berlin, Vorderasiatische Abteilung]. (Followed by a catalogue number.)

YBC

Sterling Memorial Library, Yale University, New Haven. Yale Babylonian Collection. (Followed by a catalogue number.)

xiv

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL

AASOR

Annual of the American

ABBREVIATIONS

Schools

of Oriental

Research.

New Haven, 1920—.

AASOR X

Speiser, Ε. Α., " N e w Kirkuk Documents relating to Family L a w s , " pp. 1 - 7 3 . New Haven, 1930.

AASOR XXIII

See SLTN

AASOR XXXI

Goetze, Albrecht,

The Laws of Eshnunna.

ABPh

Ungnad, Arthur, Stuttgart, 1920.

Altbabylonisc

Acta Orientalia

Acta Orientalia.

L e i d e n , 1923—,

AfO

Archiv für Orientforschung.

AJA

American Journal of Archaeology. Boston, e t c . ], 1 8 8 5 - .

AJP

Cohen, Abraham,

AJSL

American 1941.

aus dem Museum

zu

Philadelphia.

Graz, Austria [originally Berlin], 1923—,

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MVAG 44; Leipzig,

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Archiv Orientálni.

ARM

Archives

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Chicago, 1884—

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TCL XXII-. Paris, 1946-.

ARM I

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T C L XXII. P a r i s , 1946.

T C L XXIV. P a r i s , 1948.

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ARM VI

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AS

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Paris, 1950—.

Paris, 1950. des Tomes I

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AS 1 / 1

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AS 2

Poebel, Arno, The Sumerian Prefix Forms E— and 1— in the Time of the Earlier Princes of LagaS. Chicago, 1931.

AS 4

See Β AW II.

AS 7

Hallock, Richard T., The Chicago Syllabary and the Louvre AO 7661. Chicago, 1940.

AS 10

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AT

Wiseman, Donald J . , The Alalakh Tablets. Occasional Publications of the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, No. 2. London, 1953.

AWLU

Fortsch, Wilhelm, Altbabylonische Wirtschaftstexte aus der Zeit Lugalando's und Urukagina's. VS XIV. Leipzig, 1916.

Babyl. Fab.

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Babyloniaca

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BASOR

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A Sumerian

BAW Ι - Π

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BE

The Babylonian Expedition of the University of Pennsylvania, Series Cuneiform Texts. Philadelphia, 1 8 9 3 - 1 9 1 1 ; München, 1913-1914.

BASOR, SS 1

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1919—,

"Paradise"

AS 1 / 1 and

A:

BE VI/2

Poebel, Amo, Babylonian Legal and Business Documents from the Time of the First Dynasty of Babylon, chiefly from Nippur. Philadelphia, 1909.

BE XXX

Radau, Hugo, Sumerian Hymns and Prayers 1913.

BE XXXI

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Belleten

Belleten: Kurumu).

Bi Or

Bibliotheca

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L e i d e n , 1943—.

BIN

Babylonian 1918 - .

Inscriptions

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BIN II

Revue publiée par la Société Ankara, 1937—,

to God Dumu-zi.

Texts

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München,

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turque.

of James Β. Nies.

Temple

{Türk

New Haven,

N i e s , J a m e s Β., and C l a r e n c e E. Keiser, Historical, Religious, Economic Texts and Antiquities. New Haven, 1920.

and

BuA

Meissner, Bruno, Babylonien

CAD

The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, ed. Ignace J . Gelb, Thorkild J a c o b s e n , Benno Landsberger, and A. L e o Oppenheim. Chicago, 1956—.

Cant. Rab.

Canticum Rabba (Midrash Shir Hash-shirim

Cat. Eames

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Tarih

Heidelberg, 1920 and 1925.

or

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C l a v i s Cun

Howardy, Gert, Clavis Cuneorum, sive Lexicon London, L e i p z i g , and Kjòbenhavn, 1904—1933.

CRR II

Compte-rendu de la Seconde rencontre assyriologique internationale organisée à Paris du 2 au 6 juillet 1951 par le Groupe François ThureauDangin. P a r i s , 1951.

CRR III

Compte-rendu de la Troisième rencontre assyriologique organisée à Leiden du 28 juin au 4 juillet 1952 par le Instituut voor het Cobije Oosten. L e i d e n , 1954.

CT

Cuneiform Texts from Babylonian London, 1 8 9 6 - .

Tablets,

DAB

Thompson, Reginald Campbell, London, 1949.

A Dictionary

Divination

Contenau, Georges, P a r i s , 1940.

E c c l e s . R.

E c c l e s i a s t e s Rabba. (Uidrash Qoheleth

ELA

Kramer, Samuel Noah, Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta: A Sumerian Epic Tale of Iraq and Iran. University Museum: Museum Monographs. P h i l a d e l p h i a , 1952.

E p i c of Gilgamish

Thompson, Reginald Campbell,

Fauna

Landsberger, Benno, Die Fauna des alten Mesopotamien nach der 14. Tafel der Serie HAR-RA = HUBULLU. Abhandlungen der P h i l o l o g i s c h H i s t o r i s c h e n K l a s s e der S ä c h s i s c h e n Akademie der W i s s e n s c h a f t e n , Band 42, Nr. VI. L e i p z i g , 1934.

FTS

Kramer, Samuel Noah, From the Tablets of Sumer: Twenty-five Man's Recorded History. Indian Hills, Colorado, 1956.

Getreide

Hrozny, Friedrich (Bedrich), Das Getreide im alten Babylonien (Sitzungsb e r i c h t e der K a i s e r l i c h e n Akademie der W i s s e n s c h a f t e n in Wien, P h i l o l o g i s c h - H i s t o r i s c h e n K l a s s e , Band 173, Abhandlung 1. Wien, 1913.

Glossar

Bezold, Carl, Babylonisch-Assyrisches

GSG

P o e b e l , Arno, Grundzüge

GS GL

F a l k e n s t e i n , Adam, Grammatik und Formenlehre; II: Syntax] . 1949-1950.

La divination

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R a d a u , Hugo, " M i s c e l l a n e o u s Sumerian T e x t s from the T e m p l e Library of N i p p u r " in llilprecht Anniversary Volume: Studies in Assyriology and Archaeology , pp. 3 7 4 - 4 5 7 . L e i p z i g , 1909.

HBPM

S t e v e n s o n , Burton, The Home Book of Proverbs, Phrases. New York, 1948.

HCCT

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HMA

L a b a t , R e n é , Ilémérologies logie I. P a r i s , 1939.

HWB

D e l i t z s c h , Friedrich, Assyrisches

IAAM

Frankfort, Henri, H. A. Frankfort, John A. Wilson, Thorkild J a c o b s e n and William A.Irwin, The intellectual Adventure of Ancient Man. Chicago, 1948.

IDR

Gadd, C. J . , ideas of Divine Rule in the Ancient Lectures for 1945. London, 1948.

IEJ

Israel

IF

Indogermanische Forschungen: allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft. Iraq:

Iraq

Islamic

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Journal.

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Handwörterbuch.

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East:

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Zeitschrift für Indogermanistik und Berlin (originally S t r a s s b u r g ), 1892—. School

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(Quarterly. Hyderabad-Deccan, India, 1927—.

Islamic Culture Mission f r a n ç a i s e de C h a l d e e , Inventaire des tablettes de Tello conservées au Musée Impérial Ottoman,ed. F r a n ç o i s Thureau-Dangin, Henri de Genouillac, and L o u i s Delaporte. P a r i s , 1 9 1 0 - 1 9 2 1 .

ITT

JAF

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Folklore.

J AO S

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J AOS, Suppl. 10

Hartman, L o u i s F . , and A. L e o Oppenheim, On Beer and Techniques in Ancient Mesopotamia. Baltimore, 1950.

JAOS, Suppl. 17

Wilson, John Α., Ε. Α. Speiser, H. G. Güterbock, I. Mendelsohn, D. H. H. I n g a l l s , and Derk Bodde, Authority and Law in the Ancient Orient. Baltimore, 1954. xix

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JEOL

Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch-Egyptisch Lux'. Leiden, 1933—.

JNES

Journal of Y ear Eastern

JRAS

Journal of the Royal Asiatic London, 1 8 3 4 - .

JTVI

Journal of the Transactions of the Victoria Institute, Society of Great Britain. London, 1866—1907.

JWH

Journal of World History/Cahiers d'histoire historia mundial. P a r i s , 1953 ~ ·

KAR

Ebeling, Erich, Keilschrifttexte aus Assur religiösen Inhalts. WVDOG, Band 28, Heft 1 - 4 , and Band 34, Heft 1 - 5 . Leipzig, 1915-1923.

KAV

Schroeder, Otto, Keilschrifttexte aus Assur WVDOG, Band 35. Leipzig, 1920.

KBo I

F i g u l l a , H. H., Emil Forrer, and E. F . Weidner, Keilschrifttexte aus Boghazköi, Erstes bis Viertes Heft. WVDOG, Band 30. Leipzig, 1 9 1 6 1923.

KUB

Weidner, E. F., Keilschrifturkunden Berlin, 1921-1944.

L e v . R.

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LSS

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MAOG

MBI

Semitistische

New Haven, 1947—.

Studies.

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or

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Ireland.

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MAOG I I / 3

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MAOG IV

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1931—.

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Neugebauer, Otto, and Abraham S a c h s , Mathematical Cuneiform American Oriental S e r i e s , Vol. 29. New Haven, 1945.

MDP

Mémoires

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MDP XIV

S c h e i l , Vincent, 1913.

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MDP XVIII

D o s s i n , Georges, Autres

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Van der Meer, P . E.,

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Labat, René,

MHG

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MSBA

Galpin, Francis W., The Music of the Sumerians and their Immediate Successors, the Babylonians and Assyrians. Cambridge, England, 1937.

MSL

Landsberger, Benno, et al., Roma, 1 9 3 7 - . Landsberger, Benno,

akkadienne.

série.

MEA

MSL I

Manuel d'êpigraphie

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de Susiane,

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P a r i s , 1900—,

en Perse,

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Lexikon.

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Roma, 1951.

, R. T . Hailock, H. S. Schuster and A. S a c h s , Das Syllabar Sachträge

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MSL IV

Landsberger, Benno, R. T. H a i l o c k , Thorkild J a c o b s e n , and Adam Falkens t e i n , Emesal-Vocabulary. (Series dimir—dingir-i/um), Old Babylonian Grammatical Texts, Veobabylonian Grammatical Texts, Nachträge zu MSL III. Roma, 1956.

MSL V

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Mitteilungen

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Studien.

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Mitteilungen der Vorderasiatischen ungen der Vorderasiatisch-Ägyptischen (later Leipzig), 1 8 9 6 - 1 9 4 4 . See Akkadische

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OECT

Oxford

OECT I

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Ionian

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Langdon, Stephen, The H. Weld-Blundell Collection in the Museum I: Sumerian and Semitic Religious and Historical Oxford, 1923.

OLZ

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Ori entalia

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Pantheon

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PAPS

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Literaturzeitung.

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PBS IV/1

P o e b e l , Arno, Historical

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PBS VI/1

, Grammatical Ungnad, Arthur, Babylonian Philadelphia, 1915.

XXll

Texts. Letters

\ova

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Philadelphia, 1838 —·

and Prayers.

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Arabicis, Roma, 1920—1930.

\omina Deorum e Textibus distributa. Roma, 1914.

Lutz, Henry Frederick, Selected Philadelphia, 1919. Texts.

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PBS V

Ashmolean Texts.

Berlin and L e i p z i g , 1898—,

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MitteilBerlin,

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PBS X / l

L a n g d o n , Stephen, Sumerian Epic of Paradise, of Man. P h i l a d e l p h i a , 1915.

the Flood,

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L a n g d o n , Stephen,

P h i l a d e l ü h i a , 1917.

PBS XI/1

C h i e r a , Edward, Lists of Personal \ames \ippur: 1 Syllabary of Personal \ames.

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P B S XIII

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P h i l o s o p h y of Grammar J e s p e r s e n , Otto,

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P h i l a d e l p h i a , 1917.

P h i l a d e l p h i a , 1922.

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P i r q ê Abôth

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II R

R a w l i n s o n , Henry C . , The Cuneiform Vol. II. London, 1866.

IV R

ditto,

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V R

ditto,

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RA

Revue

d'assyriologie

REI

Revue

des études

RLA

Reallexikon der Assyriologie, ed. Erich E b e l i n g and Bruno Meissner. [Vols. I I I - , ed. Erich E b e l i n g and E r n s t Weidner] ( V o l s . I—II: Berlin and L e i p z i g , 1 9 2 8 - 1 9 3 8 ; V o l s . I I I - : Berlin, 1 9 5 7 - ) .

RT

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RTC

Thureau-Dangin, François, 1903.

SAHG

F a l k e n s t e i n , Adam, and Wolfram von Soden, Sumerische Hymnen und Gebete. Z ü r i c h and Stuttgart, 1953.

SAK

T h u r e a u - D a n g i n , F r a n ç o i s , Sumerische VAB 1/1. L e i p z i g , 1907.

§amas

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P a r i s , 1884—.

P a r i s , 1927—.

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SBH

R e i s n e r , George, Numerisch-Babylonische Hymnen nach Thontafeln griechische Zeit. Mitteilungen aus den Orientalischen Sammlungen der Königlichen Museen zu Berlin, Heft X. Berlin, 1896.

SDMR

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SEM

Chiera, Edward, Sumerian

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tions X V , Cuneiform S e r i e s III. Deimel, Anton, en von Fara II.

SF

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SK

SL

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SLT

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2. Auflage, Roma, 1930—,

Lexikon. Lexical

Texts

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Oriental Institute Publications X I , Cuneiform Series I.

Chicago, 1929. SLTN

Kramer, Samuel Noah, Sumerian Literary Museum of the Ancient Orient at Istanbul. 1944.

SM

—, Sumerian Mythology. Memoirs of the American Philosophical S o c i e t y , X X I . Philadelphia, 1944.

SRT

Chiera, Edward, Sumerian Religious Texts. Seminary Babylonian P u b l i c a t i o n s , Vol. I.

SSA

Van Dijk, J . J . Α., les genres littéraires L e i d e n , 1953.

STE

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Studia Mariana

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Stud. Or.

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Crozer T h e o l o g i c a l Upland, Pennsylvania, 1924.

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Mariana.

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Helsinki, 1925—.

Stud. Or. VIII/4

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Chiera, Edward, Sumerian Texts of Varied Contents. Oriental Institute Publications XVI, Cuneiform Series IV. Chicago, 1934.

Sumer

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Syria

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TCL

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1 Journal

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T C L XV and XVI See TRS. TCL XXII-XXVII See ARM I—VI. TRS

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UET

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sumériens

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UET III

Legrain, Léon, Business Documents of Ur: Third Dynasty of Ur. Part I: Plates: [London and Philadelühia], 1937. Part Two: Indexes, Vocabulary, Catalogue and Lists: [London and Philadelphia], 1947.

UET V

Figulla, H. H., and W. J . Martin, Letters and Documents Babylonian Period. [London and Philadelphia], 1953.

UMB

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VAB

Vorderasiatische

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S e e SAK.

VAB V

Schorr, Moses, Urkunden des altaby Ionise hen ZivilLeipzig, 1913. Vorderasiatische Schriftdenkmäler Leipzig, 1 9 0 7 - 1 9 1 7 .

VS II

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VS X

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Old-

Museum

Leipzig, 1907—1916.

VAB 1/1

VS

of the

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und

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zu

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VS XIV

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AWLU.

Wasserfahrzeuge

Salonen, Armas, Die \¡ asserfahrzeuge im Babylonien nach ahkadischen Quellen. Stud. Or. V I I I / 4 . Helsinki, 1939. Die Welt des Orients.

WO WVDOG

See KAR (part I).

WVDOG 30

See KBo I .

WVDOG 34

See KAR (oart II).

WVDOG 3 5

See KAV.

WVDOG 43

See S F .

WZJ

Wissenschaftliche Gesellschafts-

YBT

Yale

YBT 1

Wuppertal [originally Göttingen], 1947—.

Wissensc haftlic he V eröffentlichungen Berlin [originally Leipzig], 1900—.

WVDOG 2 8

Oriental

der Deutschen

Zeitschrift der Friedrich-Schiller und Sprachwissenschaftliche Reihe. Series:

sumerisch-

Babylonian

Clay, Albert Tobias, Miscellaneous Collection. New Haven, 1915.

Texts.

Orient-Gesellschaft.

Universität Jena: J e n a , 1951—.

New Haven, 1915—.

Inscriptions

in the

[Fa/e]

Babylonian

ZA

Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie [originally Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und verwandte Gebiete]. Vols. I— XXXIV, Berlin and Leipzig [originally Leipzig, e t c . ] , 1 8 8 6 - 1 9 2 2 . Vols. XXXV [= Neue Folge, Vol. I]— , Berlin [originally Berlin and Leipzig ], 1923—.

ZDMG

Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen [originally Leipzig], 1847—.

xxvi

Gesellschaft.

Wiesbaden

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

I.

P r o v e r b s in G e n e r a l

T h e i m p o r t a n c e of p r o v e r b s f o r u n d e r s t a n d i n g a p e o p l e h a s b e e n l o n g known; a s F r a n c i s B a c o n put it, " T h e g e n i u s , w i t a n d s p i r i t of a n a t i o n a r e d i s c o v e r e d in i t s p r o v e r b s . " To q u o t e a m o d e r n w r i t e r , 1 p r o v e r b s " a r e the s a f e s t i n d e x to the i n n e r l i f e of a p e o p l e . W i t h t h e i r a i d w e c a n c o n s t r u c t a m e n t a l i m a g e of the c o n d i t i o n s of e x i s t e n c e , the m a n n e r s , c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , m o r a l s and W e l t a n s c h a u u n g of the c o m m u n i t y w h i c h u s e d t h e m . T h e y p r e s e n t u s w i t h the s u r e s t data upon w h i c h to b a s e o u r k n o w l e d g e of V o l k s p s y c h o l o g i e . '' P r o p e r l y speaking, a proverb i s a "short familiar saying, e x p r e s s i n g s o m e w e l l - k n o w n t r u t h o r c o m m o n f a c t of e x p e r i e n c e , " 2 o r a s C e r v a n t e s p h r a s e d it, "a s h o r t s e n t e n c e f o u n d e d o n l o n g e x p e r i e n c e . " T h e t e r m " p r o v e r b " i s u s e d to i n c l u d e a n u m b e r of q u i t e d i f f e r e n t t y p e s of s a y i n g s , w h i c h it w o u l d be w e l l to d e f i n e a n d c l a s s i f y . S o m e of t h e s e t e r m s s e e m to o v e r l a p in t h e i r d e f i n i t i o n s a s g i v e n in the s t a n d a r d d i c t i o n a r i e s , a n d the d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n s m a d e h e r e a r e a d m i t t e d l y m o r e o r l e s s s u b j e c t i v e : 1.

P r e c e p t — a rule concerning conduct, e s p e c i a l l y m o r a l c o n d u c t , o f t e n e x p r e s s e d i n the i m p e r a t i v e , a n d f r e q u e n t l y on a l o f t y p l a n e .

2.

M a x i m — a r u l e d e a l i n g w i t h the p r a c t i c a l s i d e of l i f e , o f t e n e x p r e s s e d in the i m p e r a t i v e .

3.

T r u i s m or S i m p l e A p o t h e g m — a s i m p l e platitude or bald a s s e r t i o n of a truth, w i t h o u t m e t a p h o r , r e c o g n i z e d a s p r o v e r b i a l b e c a u s e it i s u s e d f r e q u e n t l y a n d m a y b e a p p l i e d to many different situations.3

4.

A d a g e — a s t a t e m e n t of a s i m p l e o r p r a c t i c a l t r u t h c o u c h e d in m e t a p h o r o r o t h e r f i g u r e of s p e e c h ; i. e . , the " p r o v e r b " in i t s n a r r o w e s t s e n s e .

5.

Byword — a declarative or e x c l a m a t o r y statement, u s u a l l y s c o r n f u l o r s a r c a s t i c i n i t s r e f e r e n c e to a n o b j e c t o r p e r s o n (to b e d i s t i n g u i s h e d f r o m a taunt i n i t s b e i n g in the third person). 'Abraham Cohen, 2

3

A n c i e n t J e w i s h P r o v e r b s , p.

Winston's English

13.

Dictionary.

A d a p t e d f r o m A r c h e r T a y l o r , T h e P r o v e r b , p. 5.

1

and

2

GORDON:

SUMERJAN PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

Throughout this study and in the title itself, the t e r m "proverb" has been used a s a generic t e r m including all these categories except, p e r haps, the "precept," since collections of precepts seem, to f o r m a d i s tinct genre of Sumerian wisdom l i t e r a t u r e (cf., f o r the present, K r a m e r , BASOR 122 [1951], pp. 28 and 30, and Van Dijk, SSA, pp. lOOf.j. F o r other categories of Sumerian "proverbs," see below (Section VI. Typological Classification of the Sumerian "Proverbs"). II. Mesopotamian P r o v e r b Literature:

The Materials and their

Publication History The f i r s t cuneiform p r o v e r b collections to be found and recognized as such w e r e not unilingual Sumerian texts, but rather Akkadian and Sumero Akkadian bilingual s. Although they r e p r e s e n t almost e v e r y period of Mesopotamia's long h i s t o r y , only a fractional p a r t of what was once, in a l l p r o bability, a v e r y r i c h p r o v e r b l i t e r a t u r e has been r e c o v e r e d and published to date. About twenty tablets and f r a g m e n t s of Sumero-Akkadian bilingual p r o v e r b s f r o m Ashurbanipal's l i b r a r y at Kuyunjik (ancient Nineveh) w e r e published by Rawlinson, Langdon, Meek and Meissner. 4 In addition there have been published two tablets of Akkadian p r o v e r b s f r o m Bogazköy 5 (one an Akkadian-Hittite bilingual), and one f r o m A s sur 6 (chiefly animal proverbi and short fables) dated to the time of Sargon Π of A s s y r i a . Frequently individual p r o v e r b s a r e cited in both Sumerian and Akkadian l i t e r a r y texts (cf., f o r the f o r m e r , K r a m e r , JCS IΓ19471, p. 35, n. 215, and Van Dijk, op. cit., p. 9 and notes 1 8 f . , and f o r the latter, especially "Arad ΤΓΗ^ΡΓίρνίΓτηηϋ" —— see now S p e i s e r , JCS VHE[1954], pp. 104 f.), and in the l e t t e r s f r o m Mari, Alalakh, Tell e l - A m a r n a and p a r t i c u l a r l y the Neo-Assyrian r o y a l c o r r e s pondence. 7 In addition to the above-listed published Akkadian and Sumero Akkadian p r o v e r b m a t e r i a l , there a r e in the British Museum a number of bilingual p r o v e r b tablets of both Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian date in p r o c e s s of being prepared f o r publication in the v e r y near future, together

4 R a w l i n s o n , II R, pi. 8, no. 3; L a n g d o n , A J S L 28 [ l 9 1 2 ] , pp. 2 1 7 - 2 4 3 ; Meek, s c a t t e r e d through h i s " S o m e E x p l a n a t o r y L i s t s and G r a m m a t i c a l T e x t s , " R A 17 [ ΐ 9 2 θ ] , pp. 117-206; M e i s s n e r , MAOG III/3 [1929], pp. 23-45 and 56. Most of t h e s e c o p i e s h a v e b e e n r e p r o d u c e d p h o t o g r a p h i c a l l y and r e p u b l i s h e d by J a c o b P e r e m a n in T h e Book of A s s y r o - B a b y l o n i a n Proverbs ( T e l - A v i v 1947). 5Weidner,

KUB IV 40 and 97; t r a n s l a t e d by E b e l i n g , MAOG IV [ l 9 2 8 - 1 9 2 9 ] , pp. 21-25, and P f e i f f e r , in A N E T , p. 4 2 5 . 6Ebeling,

KAR 174, and B a b y l . F a b . (MAOG II/3), pp. 39-50.

' F o r p a r t i a l l i s t i n g s , c f . P f e i f f e r , ANET, p. 4 2 6 , and Van Dijk, SSA, pp. 6 f.; Van Dijk in a d d i t i o n h a s a n e a r l y c o m p l e t e l i s t of p r e v i o u s l y p u b l i s h e d proverb m a t e r i a l in both S u m e r i a n and A k k a d i a n .

GENERAL

3

INTRODUCTION

w i t h a n e w e d i t i o n of t h e p r e v i o u s l y p u b l i s h e d A k k a d i a n w i s d o m t e x t s , b y W. G. L a m b e n . " A l t h o u g h to d a t e o n l y a b o u t 10 p e r c e n t of i t h a s b e e n p u b l i s h e d , b y f a r t h e g r e a t e s t v o l u m e of u n i l i n g u a l S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b m a t e r i a l i s t h a t e x c a v a t e d - a t N i p p u r i n t h e h o u s e s of t h e S c r i b a l Q u a r t e r 9 of t h e e a r l y O l d B a b y l o n i a n p e r i o d ( I s i n D y n a s t y a n d t h e F i r s t D y n a s t y of B a b y l o n t o t h e t i m e of S a m s u i l u n a ) b y t h e B a b y l o n i a n E x p e d i t i o n of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a d u r i n g t h e y e a r s 1889 t o 1 9 0 0 , s u p p l e m e n t e d b y t h e f i n d s d u r i n g t h e 1 9 4 9 - 1 9 5 0 a n d 1 9 5 1 - 1 9 5 2 s e a s o n s a t N i p p u r of t h e J o i n t E x p e d i t i o n of t h e O r i e n t a l I n s t i t u t e of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of C h i c a g o a n d t h e U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a . T h i s m a t e r i a l c o m p r i s e s , i n a d d i t i o n to 101 l e n t i c u l a r s c h o o l t a b l e t s , 3 5 8 t a b l e t s a n d f r a g m e n t s r a n g i n g in s i z e f r o m s m a l l f r a g m e n t s not m o r e t h a n a n i n c h o r t w o a c r o s s ( a b o u t 40 p e r c e n t of t h e m a t e r i a l ) t o l a r g e r t a b l e t s of s i x , e i g h t a n d e v e n t w e l v e c o l u m n s , i n v a r y i n g s t a t e s of p r e s e r v a t i o n . Of t h e s e 459 t a b l e t s a n d f r a g m e n t s -{an o r i g i n a l g r a n d t o t a l of 5 0 5 p i e c e s h a s b e e n r e d u c e d a s a r e s u l t of f o r t y - s i x " j o i n s " m a d e b y t h e w r i t e r i n t h e c o u r s e of t h e p a s t t h r e e y e a r s ' w o r k ) , o n l y f o r t y - e i g h t p i e c e s h a v e to d a t e b e e n p u b l i s h e d i n a n y f o r m . A s t a t i s t i c a l b r e a k - d o w n of t h e s e f i g u r e s ( i n c l u d i n g t h e p r e s e n t m u s e u m l o c a t i o n s of t h e p i e c e s ) w i l l b e f o u n d i n T a b l e O n e ( D i s t r i b u t i o n of S u m e r i a n P r o v e r b M a t e r i a l s f r o m N i p p u r ) on the f o l l o w i n g p a g e . T h e t w e n t y - t w o p u b l i s h e d p i e c e s in the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m w e r e c o p i e d a n d p u b l i s h e d b e t w e e n 1909 a n d 1934 b y R a d a u , L a n g d o n , L u t z , L e g r a i n and C h i e r a ; the t w e n t y - s i x at I s t a n b u l w e r e , e x c e p t f o r the one l e n t i c u l a r t a b l e t w h i c h S c h e i l p u b l i s h e d i n 1897, p u b l i s h e d b y K r a m e r p a r t l y i n 1944 a n d t h e r e s t i n 1 9 5 2 - 1 9 5 3 . T h e r e m a i n i n g u n p u b l i s h e d p i e c e s i n I s t a n b u l w e r e c o p i e d i n 1952 a n d 1954 b y K r a m e r , w h o h a s p l a c e d h i s c o p i e s a t t h e d i s p o s a l of t h e w r i t e r f o r t h e p u r p o s e of t h i s s t u d y , a n d t h o s e which it is e x p e c t e d will follow. In a d d i t i o n t o t h e p r o v e r b t e x t s e x c a v a t e d a t N i p p u r , a n u n k n o w n n u m b e r of p r o v e r b t a b l e t s f r o m U r ( n o w a t t h e B r i t i s h M u s e u m ) a r e b e ing p r e p a r e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n b y G a d d , w h i l e a t l e a s t t w e n t y - f o u r of t h e l e n t i c u l a r s c h o o l t a b l e t s f r o m S u s a ( p u b l i s h e d i n 1927 a n d 1935, b y D o s s i n a n d V a n d e r M e e r r e s p e c t i v e l y , i n v o l u m e s 18 a n d 27 of t h e M é m o i r e s de la M i s s i o n a r c h é o l o g i q u e en P e r s e ) a r e i d e n t i f i a b l e a s p r o v e r b e , and s e v e n o t h e r s of u n k n o w n p r o v e n a n c e a r e a m o n g t h e s c h o o l t a b l e t s i n t h e

g T h e l a t t e r h a s m o s t g e n e r o u s l y p l a c e d at t h e w r i t e r ' s d i s p o s a l h i s t r a n s l i t e r a t i o n s of t h e f i v e N e o - B a b y I o n i a n b i l i n g u a l s , w h i c h i n c l u d e a n u m b e r of p r o v e r b s i d e n t i f i e d b y t h e writer among the Old B a b y l o n i a n Sumerian u n i l i n g u a l t e x t s .

In a d d i t i o n , Mr. L a m b e r t

m a d e c o l l a t i o n s of a l l t h e p r e v i o u s l y p u b l i s h e d b i l i n g u a l p r o v e r b p i e c e s i n t h e M u s e u m , w h i c h h e h a s a l s o p l a c e d at t h e w r i t e r ' s 5

C f . , for t h e p r e s e n t , M c C o w n , UMB 1 6 / 2

[ l 9 5 2 ] , pp.

172-174.

British

disposal.

[ j u l y 1 9 5 l ] , p p . 14 f f . , a n d i d . , J N E S 11

has

4

GORDON:

TABLE

ONE.

SUMERJAN

Years Excavated

Present Museum Location

1889-1900

University Museum, Philadelphia

1951-1952

MATERIALS

NIPPUR

Pieces Published

267

67

22 (25 b e f o r e • j o i n s ')

M u s e u m of t h e A n c i e n t Orient, Istanbul

90

1

26

I r a q Museum, Baghdad

15

9

—

University Museum, Philadelphia

8

6

—

Oriental Institute, Chicago

7

3

—

28 1 0

9

—

University Museum, Philadelphia

9

10

3

—

Oriental Institute, Chicago

9 10

3

—

University Museum, Philadelphia (temporarily)

10

Monographs

Lenticular Tablets Included

I r a q Museum, Baghdad

Totals

Museum

DISTRIBUTION O F SUMERIAN P R O V E R B FROM

1949-1950

PROVERBS

T o t a l No. of P i e c e s

26 1 1

459

101

48 (originally 51)

M o s t l y w h o l e t a b l e t s o r l a r g e f r a g m e n t s , of w h i c h c a s t s ( m a d e f r o m l a t e x

squeezes)

a r e a v a i l a b l e a t t h o s e of t h e t h r e e i n s t i t u t i o n s w h i c h d o n o t p o s s e s s t h e o r i g i n a l 1

' M o s t l y v e r y s m a l l f r a g m e n t s ( o r i g i n a l l y 29 in n u m b e r b e f o r e " j o i n s " w e r e

tablets.

made).

GENERAL

INTRODUCTION

5

N i e s Babylonian Collection at Yale University, New Haven, published by N i e s a n d K e i s e r in BIN I I i n 1920. A n o t h e r l e n t i c u l a r t a b l e t f r o m the B ö h l C o l l e c t i o n at L e i d e n w a s p u b l i s h e d b y W e i d n e r in 1914. Two a d d i t i o n a l l a r g e r t a b l e t f r a g m e n t s of u n k n o w n p r o v e n a n c e a n d a s y e t u n p u b l i s h e d a r e in the D a n i s h National M u s e u m ( A n t i k s a m l i n g e n ) , Kj^benhavn, a n d h a v e b e e n m a d e a v a i l a b l e to t h e w r i t e r i n t h e f o r m of p h o t o g r a p h s and rough t r a n s l i t e r a t i o n s by P r o f e s s o r Thorkild J a c o b s e n .

III. R e c o g n i t i o n a n d R e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e S u m e r j a n P r o v e r b C o l l e c t i o n s B y a n d l a r g e t h e e a r l y c o p y i s t s d i d n o t r e c o g n i z e t h e t r u e n a t u r e of the unilingual S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b p i e c e s which they h a d p u b l i s h e d . A s l a t e a s 1929, i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n to h i s S u m e r i a n L e x i c a l T e x t s ( p . 2), C h i e r a c o n s i d e r e d the p r o v e r b p i e c e s w h i c h he p u b l i s h e d t h e r e to be m e r e l y s c h o o l e x e r c i s e s in w h i c h the s t u d e n t w a s "to c o m p o s e a s m a n y s e n t e n c e s a s p o s s i b l e with a n y g i v e n n o u n , " while a s l a t e a s 1934, K r a m e r ( w h i l e h e d i d r e c o g n i z e a f e w of t h e f r a g m e n t s a s c o n t a i n i n g p r o v e r b s ) i n h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n to C h i e r a ' s S u m e r i a n T e x t s of V a r i e d C o n t e n t s ( p . 1) c o n s i d e r e d t w o of t h e p i e c e s l a t e r r e c o g n i z e d to b e p r o v e r b s a s i n c a n t a t i o n s . T h i s w a s i n p a r t d u e to t h e f r a g m e n t a r y n a t u r e of m o s t of t h e e a r l i e r c o p i e d p i e c e s , i n p a r t to t h e d i s j o i n t e d c h a r a c t e r of t h e c o n t e x t s , s i n c e e a c h p r o v e r b is an e n t i t y in i t s e l f , a n d a l s o to the f a c t t h a t f e w d u p l i c a t e s of t h e t e x t s h a d a s y e t b e e n d i s c o v e r e d . It w a s n o t u n t i l K r a m e r , i n t h e c o u r s e of s u r v e y i n g , c o p y i n g a n d r e c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e l i t e r a r y t e x t s f r o m N i p p u r i n t h e c o l l e c t i o n s of b o t h t h e U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m a n d t h e M u s e u m of t h e A n c i e n t O r i e n t i n I s t a n b u l , b e g i n n i n g i n 1 9 3 7 , h a d i d e n t i f i e d m a n y m o r e t a b l e t s a n d f r a g m e n t s , s o m e of t h e m d u p l i c a t i n g t h o s e a l r e a d y k n o w n , t h a t t h e t r u e n a t u r e of t h e s e p r o v e r b t e x t s c a m e to b e r e c o g n i z e d a n d s t a t e d i n p u b l i c a t i o n . 1 2 T h i s p r o c e s s c u l m i n a t e d in 1952 w i t h K r a m e r ' s i d e n t i f y i n g a n d c o p y i n g s o m e e i g h t y - o d d p r o v e r b t a b l e t s and f r a g m e n t s in Istanbul.13 W h e n the w o r k on the w r i t e r ' s d i s s e r t a t i o n , r e s u l t i n g in t h i s m o n o g r a p h , w a s b e g u n i n 1 9 5 3 , a p p r o x i m a t e l y 115 t a b l e t s a n d f r a g m e n t s i n the University M u s e u m ' s tablet collections had a l r e a d y been identified as containing p r o v e r b s . However a thorough " f i n e - c o m b " s e a r c h a few m o n t h s l a t e r t h r o u g h t h e e n t i r e t a b l e t c o l l e c t i o n of t h e M u s e u m u n c o v e r e d a n a d d i t i o n a l 127 p i e c e s , m a i n l y s m a l l e r f r a g m e n t s , a s w e l l a s the p r e v i o u s l y mentioned s i x t y - s e v e n lenticular t a b l e t s . T h e s e a d d i t i o n a l p i e c e s , a u g m e n t e d i n 1 9 5 4 b y t h e n e w l y - a r r i v e d c a s t s of t w e n t y t h r e e tablets and f r a g m e n t s f r o m the 1951-1952 Nippur e x c a v a t i o n s ,

12

C f . Kramer, S L T N , I n t r o d u c t i o n , p. 4 0 ( w r i t t e n in 1 9 4 0 ) , and B A S O R 1 2 2 [ l 9 5 l ] , p. 29

and n o t e s 5 - 1 1 i n c l . 13

C f . Kramer, B e l l e t e n 16 [ l 9 5 2 ] , p. 3 6 3 ; O r i e n t a l i a , n. s . 22 [ l 9 5 3 ] , pp. 1 9 0 and 1 9 2 ;

and C R R III, pp. 75 f. ( w r i t t e n 1 9 5 2 , p u b l i s h e d in 1 9 5 4 ) .

6

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

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and twenty-nine p i e c e s culled f r o m among the s m a l l e r f r a g m e n t s tempor a r i l y at the University Museum, m o r e than doubled the quantity of the proverb m a t e r i a l s . In the s u m m e r of 1955, at the time of the division of tablets f r o m both the 1 9 4 9 - 1 9 5 0 and 1 9 5 1 - 1 9 5 2 seasons at Nippur between the I r a q Museum, Baghdad, and the two excavating institutions, a study of the field notebooks of the expedition's epigrapher, F r a n c i s R. Steele, a s well a s of the available field photographs, in conjunction with the official r e g i s t e r of tablets* led to the identification of about fifty-five additional p r o v e r b p i e c e s . Thus were brought to light a g r e a t many m o r e duplicating t e x t s , which helped to fill in one lacuna after another in the a l ready p a r t i a l l y r e c o v e r e d texts of some of the p r o v e r b collections. 1 4 As a result, the entire group of 459 tablets and fragments (after the f o r t y six " j o i n s " — s e e page 3 — h a d been made) could be sorted out into a p p r o x imately fifteen " c o l l e c t i o n s " (although some of these m a y yet be found to belong together). Up to the p r e s e n t time, about 235 of the p i e c e s have been " p l a c e d " in one o r another of these fifteen collections, while 224 still r e m a i n "unplaced. " IV. Types of Tablets An analysis of the Nippur p r o v e r b tablets and fragments f r o m the standpoint of shape, size, number of columns on obverse and r e v e r s e , physical a r r a n g e m e n t of contents, and general appearance, indicates that they m a y be c l a s s i f i e d into s e v e r a l groups: some of the tablets a r e w e l l - p r e p a r e d and have the same general shape and appearance as the m a j o r i t y of other l i t e r a r y texts, while others a r e roughly square-edged, thick, often crudely made and poorly inscribed tablets. In addition, some of these l a t t e r tablets frequently contain l e x i c a l , m e t r o l o g i c a l , m a t h e m a t i c a l , c o n t r a c t o r other types of texts either on the r e v e r s e — r a r e l y , if the p r o v e r b s a r e on the r e v e r s e , on the o b v e r s e — o r in a different column f r o m that in which the p r o v e r b s a r e inscribed. At t i m e s , the c o lumn of p r o v e r b s is found twice in two different hands. ( F o r a discussion

I4

T h i s p r o c e s s b e g a n w i t h t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of many s m a l l g r o u p s o f o v e r l a p p i n g

t e x t s , t h e o v e r l a p c o n s i s t i n g at t i m e s of o n l y o n e or t w o s i g n s on e a c h o f two or t h r e e lines.

A c a r e f u l r e a d i n g o v e r o f t h e l a r g e r c o m p l e t e or n e a r l y c o m p l e t e t a b l e t s

coupled

w i t h t h e c a r d - i n d e x i n g o f t h e w o r d s in e a c h l i n e or p a r t i a l l i n e o f e a c h o f t h e s m a l l e r f r a g m e n t s m a d e it p o s s i b l e to " c a t c h " many o f t h e s e d u p l i c a t i o n s w h i c h might not h a v e been otherwise noticed.

In at l e a s t two i n s t a n c e s , a s m a l l f r a g m e n t w h o s e o b v e r s e and

r e v e r s e , r e s p e c t i v e l y , t i e d in w i t h d i f f e r e n t g r o u p s of d u p l i c a t i n g t a b l e t s and f r a g m e n t s , m a d e p o s s i b l e t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e s e q u e n c e s of two of t h e l a r g e r c o l l e c t i o n s , C o l l e c t i o n s T h r e e and S i x ; in t h e c a s e of t h e f o r m e r , t h i s c o l l o c a t i o n o f two g r o u p s o f t a b l e t s w a s c o n f i r m e d by t h e a r r i v a l at t h e U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m of t h e c a s t s of t a b l e t s from t h e r e c e n t N i p p u r e x c a v a t i o n s , a m o n g w h i c h w e r e t w o a l m o s t c o m p l e t e

six-column

t a b l e t s which, although they only partially d u p l i c a t e e a c h other, t o g e t h e r c o n t a i n the entire Collection

Three.

GENERAL

INTRODUCTION

7

of this f e a t u r e , s e e below, Section VTL The C o m p o s i t i o n , C o l l e c t i o n and E d u c a t i o n a l Use of the P r o v e r b s , pp. 19 f.) The l e n t i c u l a r t a b l e t s too, in m o s t c a s e s , contain the s a m e p r o v e r b i n s c r i b e d t w i c e in two d i f f e r e n t handwritings, u s u a l l y one above and the o t h e r below, although m o r e r a r e l y one c o p y i s i n s c r i b e d on the o b v e r s e and the o t h e r on the r e v e r s e . The following is an a t t e m p t a t a " m o r p h o l o g i c a l " c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of m o s t of the t a b l e t s f r o m Nippur and e l s e w h e r e on which S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b s have been found i n s c r i b e d : A.

Whole C o l l e c t i o n s : L a r g e r e c t a n g u l a r w e l l - p r e p a r e d t a b l e t s a v e r a g i n g 1 7 X 2 2 to 2 0 X 2 6 c m . in s i z e , i n s c r i b e d a s a r u l e on both o b v e r s e and r e v e r s e with f r o m t h r e e to s i x c o l u m n s to the side.

B.

P a r t i a l C o l l e c t i o n s : W e l l - p r e p a r e d r e c t a n g u l a r t a b l e t s of the following s u b - t y p e s : B-l:

Long r e c t a n g u l a r t a b l e t s , on the a v e r a g e 1 4 X 1 8 to 15X 23 c m . in s i z e , i n s c r i b e d a s a r u l e on both s i d e s with two or t h r e e c o l u m n s to the side (although one m a j o r tablet of this group h a s four c o l u m n s on the o b v e r s e and five on the r e v e r s e ) .

B - 2 : Long r e c t a n g u l a r t a b l e t s , a v e r a g i n g 7. 5 X 2 0 to 1 0 X 2 6 c m . in s i z e , i n s c r i b e d a s a rule with one c o l u m n to e a c h side. B-3:

S m a l l e r r e c t a n g u l a r t a b l e t s , a v e r a g i n g 6 X 1 0 to 7 . 5 X 1 5 c m . in s i z e , i n s c r i b e d on both s i d e s with a single c o l u m n of t e x t ( s i m i l a r to the m a j o r i t y of s m a l l e r l i t e r a r y e x cerpt tablets).

School " P r a c t i c e " T a b l e t s : S m a l l e r t a b l e t s with rounded e d g e s , including the l e n t i c u l a r t a b l e t s , which a v e r a g e 7 to 10 c m . in d i a m e t e r . T h e s e c o n s i s t of the following s u b - t y p e s :

1 S

C-l:

L e n t i c u l a r t a b l e t s containing a single p r o v e r b o r a single line ( o c c a s i o n a l l y two l i n e s ) f r o m s o m e of the l o n g e r " p r o v e r b s , " i n s c r i b e d in a c l e a r and c a r e f u l hand in the upper p a r t of the o b v e r s e (the plane s i d e ) , and r e p e a t e d in a different and, quite frequently, a p o o r e r hand on the l o w e r half of the s a m e side; r e v e r s e u n i n s c r i b e d .

C-2:

L e n t i c u l a r t a b l e t s (with s i m i l a r c o n t e n t s to t h o s e of C - l ) in which the b e t t e r handwriting i s found on the o b v e r s e , and the p o o r e r c o p y on the r e v e r s e (the c o n v e x side).

F o r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s of o t h e r g r o u p s of s c h o o l t a b l e t s , c f . C h i e r a , P B S X I / 1 , pp.

41-48

( h i s T y p e I = T y p e s D - 3 and D - 4 h e r e , h i s t y p e I I = T y p e C - l h e r e , a n d h i s T y p e I I I = T y p e s A a n d Β h e r e ) , and L a n d s b e r g e r , M S L I I , p. 2 , a n d M S L I I I , p. 1 5 9 , n o t e to p. 2 ( h i s A = T y p e s D - 3 a n d D - 4 h e r e , and h i s T y p e Β = T y p e s A a n d B - l

here).

Type

8

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PROVERBS

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Monographs

This type is r a r e among the Nippur lenticular tablets, but r a t h e r common among the p i e c e s f r o m Susa and those in the Nies Babylonian Collection of Yale University. C-3:

L e n t i c u l a r tablets (with contents s i m i l a r to C - l ) in which the o b v e r s e i s divided into two columns, the better handwriting being on the left and the p o o r e r copy in the r i g h t hand column. (Quite r a r e . )

C-4:

L e n t i c u l a r tablets (with s i m i l a r contents to those of C - l ) inscribed in two different hands, one above and the other below, but on the r e v e r s e ^ ! ) of the tablet; the obverse is actually s o m e t i m e s inscribed with a different type of text —— l e x i c a l or the like which m a y even be a r r a n g e d in a different m a n n e r . (Quite r a r e . ) L e n t i c u l a r tablets containing s e v e r a l p r o v e r b s written in a single handwriting which is r a t h e r poor, covering the entire o b v e r s e of the tablet; the r e v e r s e is uninscribed. (Comparatively r a r e . ) R e c t i l i n e a r tablets divided into two columns, inscribed in the left-hand column with a single p r o v e r b in a fine hand, and copied in the right-hand column in a different and l e s s p e r f e c t hand. This sub-type and the two following (ranging in size f r o m 8. 5X 5. 5 to 8. 5X 7. 8 c m . ) a r e c l a s s ed with the lenticular tablets because of their s i m i l a r l i m ited contents, in spite of the difference in shape.

G-5:

C-6:

C-7:

C-8:

D.

R e c t i l i n e a r tablets divided into an upper and a lower r e g i s t e r , inscribed with a single p r o v e r b in a good hand in the upper r e g i s t e r , and repeated in a p o o r e r handwriting in the lower r e g i s t e r . R e c t i l i n e a r tablets divided into r e g i s t e r s and inscribed in a s i m i l a r manner to type C—7 but on the r e v e r s e ( 1 ): cf. type C - 4 above. The obverse is inscribed with a differ ent s o r t of text (in the c a s e of tablets " V W " and " X X X " of Collection Two, it is m a t h e m a t i c a l ) . It is to be noted that the l a s t t h r e e sub-types a r e exceedingly r a r è !

School " E x c e r p t " Tablets: Rather crudely p r e p a r e d square or r e c t a n g u l a r tablets with " s q u a r e d " angular edges ( r a t h e r than rounded), in which the p r o v e r b s a r e i n s c r i b e d either entirely on the o b v e r s e , or begin on the obverse and continue on the r e verse. These consist of the following sub-types: D-l:

D-2:

Small r e c t a n g u l a r square-edged tablets, about 5 X 7 c m . in size, inscribed in a single column, beginning on the o b v e r s e and continuing on the r e v e r s e ; written in a c o m p a r a t i v e l y poor handwriting. Small n e a r l y square, or rectangular, tablets with squared edges, ranging in size f r o m 7. 5 X 9 to 9 X 1 3 c m . , inscribed

GENERAL

INTRODUCTION

9

i n a s i n g l e c o l u m n , b e g i n n i n g on the o b v e r s e a n d o f t e n c o n t i n u i n g on t h e r e v e r s e ; u s u a l l y w r i t t e n i n a c o m p a r atively poor hand. D-3:

D-4:

Long n a r r o w square-edged rectangular tablets, thicker on t h e r i g h t s i d e t h a n on t h e l e f t — t h e s e t a b l e t s o f t e n s h o w e v i d e n c e of h a v i n g b e e n t r i m m e d down f r o m o r i g i n a l l y w i d e r t a b l e t s ; o c c a s i o n a l l y the r e m a i n s of a s e c o n d column, either uninscribed or containing an i n c o m p l e t e l y e r a s e d t e x t , i s r e c o g n i z a b l e . In t h e s e t a b l e t s a s i n g l e c o l u m n of p r o v e r b s i s a l w a y s to be f o u n d in t h e " f i r s t c o l u m n " of the o b v e r s e ; t h e r e v e r s e i s , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , i n s c r i b e d ( u s u a l l y in a d i f f e r e n t h a n d w r i t i n g ) w i t h l e x i c a l , m a t h e m a t i c a l , m e t r o l o g i c a l , or " s a m p l e c o n t r a c t " texts, r a r e l y w i t h o t h e r l i t e r a r y m a t e r i a l (two p i e c e s , h o w e v e r , " I I I " of C o l l e c t i o n O n e a n d " Q Q Q Q " of C o l l e c t i o n T w o , a c t u a l l y c o n t a i n p r o v e r b s on t h e i r r e v e r s e a s w e l l ; in the l a t t e r piece, an e x c e r p t f r o m another u n r e l a t e d collection). T h e c o l u m n d i v i s i o n of the r e v e r s e i s u s u a l l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t of the o b v e r s e , a n d o f t e n (in the c a s e of " t r i m m e d " t a b l e t s ) the c u t h a s b e e n m a d e s t r a i g h t down the c e n t e r of a c o l u m n of t e x t . T h e s e t a b l e t s r a n g e in s i z e f r o m 6 . 5 X 1 8 to 8 . 5 X 2 1 c m . , a n d w h i l e u s u a l l y w r i t t e n i n a r e l a t i v e l y i m p e r f e c t h a n d w r i t i n g , the p r o v e r b s in a n u m b e r of t h e s e p i e c e s a r e o c c a s i o n a l l y f o u n d i n s c r i b e d in a v e r y c l e a r and c a r e f u l hand. L a r g e r e c t a n g u l a r t a b l e t s , a v e r a g i n g 18X28 c m . in s i z e , w e l l - p r e p a r e d but with squared edges. The o b v e r s e is a l w a y s d i v i d e d into t h r e e c o l u m n s , the f i r s t b e i n g m a t h e m a t i c a l in content, the second and t h i r d c o l u m n s c o n t a i n ing a s e q u e n c e of p r o v e r b s , i n s c r i b e d i n a c l e a r r e l a t i v e l y g o o d h a n d in t h e s e c o n d c o l u m n , w h i l e t h e t h i r d c o l u m n r e p e a t s the s a m e text in a p o o r e r hand.

School T a b l e t s containing Longer " E x c e r p t s " : L a r g e tablets r e c tangular in shape, usually better p r e p a r e d than types D - l , D - 2 and D - 3 , but not a s w e l l - p r e p a r e d a s the t a b l e t s c l a s s e d a s type B , ajad u s u a l l y h a v i n g s q u a r e d e d g e s . T h e s e m a y b e d i v i d e d i n t o the following s u b - t y p e s : E - l : L o n g r e c t a n g u l a r t a b l e t s , r a n g i n g f r o m 1 0 . 5 X 2 3 to 1 5 X 3 0 c m . i n s i z e , i n s c r i b e d o n l y on t h e r e v e r s e ( ! ) w i t h two c o l u m n s of p r o v e r b s , u s u a l l y in a r e l a t i v e l y p o o r h a n d , b u t o c c a s i o n a l l y q u i t e c a r e f u l l y w r i t t e n . T h e o b v e r s e of t h e s e t a b lets is usually uninscribed. E-2: L a r g e rectangular tablets, c o m p a r a t i v e l y w e l l - p r e p a r e d but w i t h s q u a r e d e d g e s , i n s c r i b e d on t h e r e v e r s e ( !) w i t h t h r e e c o l u m n s of p r o v e r b s . T h e o b v e r s e h a s a m a t h e m a t i c a l t e x t in the f i r s t c o l u m n , the r e m a i n i n g "two c o l u m n s " being u n i n s c r i b e d . O n l y one e x a m p l e , o r i g i n a l l y a b o u t 15. 5 X 2 6 c m . in size, h a s thus f a r been identified.

GORDON:

10 E-3:

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This type is r e p r e s e n t e d thus f a r by a single fragment of what was probably originally a l a r g e r e c t a n g u l a r tablet, c o m p a r a t i v e l y w e l l - p r e p a r e d , i n s c r i b e d only on the o b v e r s e with two columns of p r o v e r b s , the r e v e r s e being uninscribed. Although written in a f a i r l y e x p e r i e n c e d hand, the f r a g m e n t h a s not been c l a s s i fied under type Β b e c a u s e of its squared edges.

V. C h a r a c t e r i s t i c F e a t u r e s of the Sumerjan P r o v e r b s A.

Grammatical

One of the f e a t u r e s c o m m o n to p r o v e r b s in g e n e r a l (which is borne out a l s o in the study of the Sumerian p r o v e r b s ) is the t e r s e n e s s of e x p r e s s i o n , allowing for a considerable degree of g r a m m a t i c a l l i c e n c e , often ignoring the n o r m a l rules of syntax. In some i n s t a n c e s , a d i r e c t quotation is the subject of the sentence (in effect, elision of the words •He who s a y s ' ) . F r e q u e n t in p r o v e r b s of a l m o s t e v e r y language is the use of f o r m s in the second and f i r s t p e r s o n to make generalizations, to imply u n i v e r s a l e x p e r i e n c e ; the third p e r s o n is often used for r e f e r r i n g to the p e r s o n to whom the p r o v e r b is applied at the time it is quoted. 16 At t i m e s the subject m a y change within the p r o v e r b , and there is at l e a s t one instance (proverb 1.5) in which all three g r a m m a t i c a l p e r s o n s o c c u r in a single p r o v e r b . Quite commonly in the p r o v e r b s which deal with animals, the ' p e r s o n a l ' p o s s e s s i v e suffix - ( a ) n i ('his') is found for the 'neuter' - b i ( ' i t s ' ) , and since - ( a ) n i is not so used in any of the animal p r o v e r b s in which human beings figure a s well, it is suggested that its use indicates that the animal i s there personified. Another frequent t r a i t is the use of non-finite verbal f o r m s (participles and i m p e r a t i v e s ) in the place of finite verbal f o r m s . A selected l i s t of e x a m p l e s , both of these g e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and of some of the m o r e specifically S u m e r i a n g r a m m a t i c a l p e c u l i a r i t i e s , f r o m the p r o v e r b s studied in this volume follows: 1.

E l l i p s i s of the copula a. Subject .and dimensional noun-complex only: 2 . 1 3 3 (first line of the p r o v e r b ) . b. - a for 1.6,

l6

- i m 1 7 (including complete ellipsis of - a /

-àm):

1.30, 1.49, 1.65^ ( i . e . , note 5 to p r o v e r b 1.65),

1.668,

Q u i t e u n u s u a l i s t h e u s e o f t h e s e c o n d p e r s o n p l u r a l in p r o v e r b 2 . 1 , a s w e l l a s in t h e

rather o b s c u r e proverb 2 . 1 0 7 ( a l o n g s i d e the singular). ' ^ C o n f i r m e d by t h e o c c a s i o n a l a p p e a r a n c e of -^m a s a v a r i a n t .

GENERAL· 1.69,

1.99,

2.89,

4

2.

1.1012,

1.1542'4,

3

2.90 ,

2.1213,

INTRODUCTION

5

2.108 ,

2.1232 and

2.110 ,

1.1561»3, 2.114,

2.13,

2.115,

2.142. 1.73,

-kam:

1.1556,

3

2.92 ,

11

1.84,

-ka

for

2.32,

2.33 and

-na

for

-nam / - ηa -àm :

-da

for

-dam:

-la

for

-im:

-b i

for

-bi-im:

1.132,

1.303,

1.993,

2.34. 1.182 and

1.692 and

2.23.

1.385.

2.1233.

1.704,

1 . 8 3 2 ' 4 and

1.169.

D i r e c t q u o t a t i o n a s s u b j e c t of a s e n t e n c e : 2.108.

3.

U s e of n o n - f i n i t e v e r b a l f o r m s i n p l a c e of f i n i t e f o r m s : a.

Participles: 1.193, 2.93,

b.

2.97,

2.31,

2.107,

2.74,

2.77,

2.109,

2.113,

2.78,

2.80,

2.121,

2.84,

2.124,

2.135,

2.142 and 2 . 1 4 9 ' . Imperatives: 1.145,

4.

1.155,

2.71 and

2.137.

Unusual word order: a. P a r t i c i p l e (for f i n i t e v e r b ) b e f o r e the subject: 1.193. b. A d j e c t i v e ( o r p a r t i c i p l e ) b e f o r e t h e n o u n i t m o d i f i e s : 2.414 and

5.

P a r a l l e l nouns or a d j e c t i v e s without syntactic connections: 2.121,

6.

2.1062.

2.123,

2.124 and

2.125.

E x a m p l e s of t h e u s e of g r a m m a t i c a l p e r s o n : a. F i r s t p e r s o n : 1.5 ( d i r e c t o b j e c t ) , and

1.9,

1.10,

1.54 ( d i r e c t o b j e c t ) ,

1.149.

b. S e c o n d p e r s o n : 1.3, 1.4,

1.5,

1.11,

1.14,

1.21,

1.54 and

1.148.

c. T h i r d p e r s o n : 1.55(po s s e s s i v e ) ,

1.7,

1.14 ( i n d i r e c t o b j e c t ) ,

1.29,

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Museum

Monographs

1.148 a n d 1.149 ( n o t e , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e a p p a r e n t c h a n g e of s u b j e c t in the l a s t - n a m e d p r o v e r b ) . 7.

U s e of the p o s s e s s i v e s u f f i x e s ( ' i t s ' ) i n r e f e r r i n g to a.

- (a ) η i

( ' h i s ' ) and

-b i

animals:

('his'):

2.60 (fox), (fox),

-(a) ni

2.62 (fox),

2.63 (crab),

2 . 6 5 (fox),

2.67

2.69 (fox), a n d 2.78 ( a s s ) ; c f . a l s o 2 . 6 6 ,

dealing

again with the fox, w h e r e the p r o n o m i n a l e l e m e n t ('him')

18

i s u s e d t w i c e (with t h e i n f i x e s

in t h e v e r b a l f o r m s b.

-bi

an-da-gál

-da -

and

-n -

and

- si-

an-ii-sur5).

(,'itg'):

1.70 (kid),

2.59 (fox),

2 . 6 1 (fox),

2.77 ( a s s ) ,

2 . 8 6 (ox),

2.90 (ox),

(dog),

2 . 6 1 a (fox), 2 . 1 1 4 (dog),

2 . 6 8 (fox), 2.115

a n d 2 . 1 1 7 (dog),

c . In p r o v e r b

1.150,

the a l t e r n a t i o n of

-bi

and

- ( a ) ni

in t h e m a i n t e x t i s o b s c u r e . 8.

S p e c i a l u s e s of the o p t a t i v e p r e f o r m a t i v e s and

ga-

(Emesal

fré-/ha-/hu-

da-):

a . In t h e p r o t a s i s of c o n d i t i o n a l s e n t e n c e s ( p r e f i x e d o c c a s i o n a l l y to the p r e t e r i t e of t r a n s i t i v e v e r b s ) w i t h t h e s e n s e of ' w h e n ' o r ' if ' : 1.2,

1.9,

1.64(7),

1.40, 1.72,

1.41, [1.73],

(twice with p r e t e r i t e ) , rite),

[1.43],

1.93,

1.47,

1.55,

1.107 ( p r e t e r i t e ) ,

1.111 ( p r e t e r i t e ) ,

2.1 (twice with p r e t e r i t e ) ,

2.3(preterite), rite),

1.42,

2.35 ( p r e t e r i t e ) ,

1.56, 1.110

1.192(prete-

2.2 ( t w i c e w i t h p r e t e r i t e ) , 2.38 (twice with p r e t e -

2.39 ( t w i c e w i t h p r e t e r i t e ) ,

2 . 4 9 (the t e x t q u o t e d in

the c o m m e n t a r y ) ,

2 . 5 7 ( p r e t e r i t e ?),

2.100 ( p r e t e r i t e ) ,

a n d 2.103;

2 . 9 9 ( p r e t e r i t e ?),

p e r h a p s a l s o in

1.91.

18 N o t e t h a t t h e r e a p p e a r s t o b e n o r e c o g n i z a b l e r e g u l a r i t y i n t h e u s e of t h e s u b j e c t accusative/causative

e l e m e n t s - b - a n d - n - w i t h v e r b s in t h e s e a n i m a l

proverbs.

and

GENERAL

INTRODUCTION

13

b. A s an a s s e v e r a t i v e p a r t i c l e ' 9 ( s e v e r a l t i m e s in q u e s t i o n s ) : 1.41,

1.42,

(question), tion),

1.190 (question),

η u

2.43

(nu-a),

10.

1.95

2.35 (ques-

2.56 ( q u e s t i o n ) ,

1.109 ( b a - η u ),

and 2.79 ( n u - a ) . η u,

t r a n s l a t e d " i s it not

in p r o v e r b 1.15.

1.53'4,

1.142,

2.6la(?),

B.

1.91,

2.11 (question),

1.52 ( i n - n u - ù ) ,

The p a r t i c l e of d i r e c t d i s c o u r s e

2.103,

1.85,

2.49 ( q u e s t i o n ) ,

b. Note the u n u s u a l p o s t p o s i t e d so?"

1.79,

a s a v e r b a l - r o o t 'not to b e , ' ' n o t to h a v e ' :

1.37 ( b f - i n - n u ) , 3

1.68,

and 2 . 1 0 1 .

The negative a.

1.57,

2.48 (question),

2.99 ( ? ) , 9.

1.43,

2.64,

2.126,

1.1581(?), 2.65,

- e - § e (= Akkadian

1.175,

2.67,

2.76,

1.192, 2.95,

2.9, 2.100,

-mi):20

2.10, 2.101,

and 2 . 1 3 4 .

Dialectal

B y f a r the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y of p r o v e r b s in the two c o l l e c t i o n s s t u d i e d in this v o l u m e a r e w r i t t e n in the m a i n S u m e r i a n d i a l e c t ( u s u a l l y c a l l e d " E m e - K U , " but s e e note 4 to p r o v e r b 2.47 on p. 207). T h e r e a r e , h o w e v e r , two g r o u p s of p r o v e r b s h e r e which m a k e u s e of the E m e s a l d i a l e c t , 2 1 the d i a l e c t u s e d in s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t g e n r e s of S u m e r i a n l i t e r a t u r e to r e p r e s e n t the s p e e c h of w o m e n and g o d d e s s e s . 2 2 1.

19

T h e f i r s t g r o u p , c o n s i s t i n g of at l e a s t twenty p r o v e r b s i s s c a t t e r e d t h r o u g h the l a s t t h i r d of C o l l e c t i o n One, s e t a m o n g p r o v e r b s d e a l i n g w i t h f a m i l y and h o u s e h o l d m a t t e r s . In a l m o s t e v e r y c a s e t h e s e p r o v e r b s f a l l into the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n " t a u n t s " o r " b y w o r d s , " and a r e , by their n a t u r e , s p e e c h e s .

C f . P o e b e l , G S G , p p . 2 6 0 f . , a n d F a l k e n s t e i n , G S G L II, p. 2 1 2 .

1.41, 1.42,

N o t e t h a t in p r o v e r b s

1 . 4 3 , 1 . 9 1 a n d 2 . 3 5 , it i s f o u n d in t h e a p o d o s i s of c o n d i t i o n a l s e n t e n c e s

which

a l s o h a v e t h e s a m e p r e f o r m a t i v e in t h e p r o t a s i s ( s e e u n d e r 8 - a a b o v e ) ; o b s e r v e t o o t h a t the A k k a d i a n t r a n s l a t i o n of 1 . 4 2 ( s e e n o t e 1 t h e r e ) h a s lu . . . - m a lu . . .

2 0S e e 21

.

n o t e s 10 to p r o v e r b 1. 1 4 2 a n d 8 to 2. 9 .

C f . P o e b e l , G S G , pp. 4 f., and pp. 28-31.

22

S e e now V a n D i j k , S S A , p p . 8 9 ( a n d r e f e r e n c e s c i t e d t h e r e ) a n d 9 9 .

GORDON:

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PROVERBS

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Monographs

It is therefore assumed that the speech is that of a w o man in each case. A still unsettled p r o b l e m of the p a s s ages in the Erne sal dialect is the inconsistent orthography, since frequently w o r d s and g r a m m a t i c a l f o r m a t i v e s which p r o p e r l y belong to the main dialect a r e met in the midst of the E m e s a l contexts; 23 these a r e all noted in the c o m m e n taries and philological notes to the individual p r o v e r b s . A listing of the p r o v e r b s which seem c l e a r l y to belong to this group follows: 2 4 1.125',

2.

1.144,

1.150 (see note 1 there),

1.169,

1.172,

1.176,

1.177,

1.178,

1.190,

1.192,

1.195,

and 1.202.

1.163,

1.187,

1.165,

1.188,

The second group making use of speeches in the E m e s a l dialect (in all but one case followed by the particle of d i rect discourse - e - i e ) consists of p r o v e r b s , or better, " b y w o r d s , " concerning the k a l u m - p r i e s t ( g a l a ) , whose association with the chanting of hymns and lamentations in the E m e s a l dialect is w e l l attested (cf., f o r example, Thureau-Dangin, RA. XVII[1920], p. 53), and who was apparently noted f o r his effeminate characteristics andhis otherwise atypical sexual life. This group of E m e s a l p a s s ages consists of the following p r o v e r b s : 2.99 (see notes 2, 5 and 12 there), 2.103.

2.100,

2.101,

and

(Note that the same inconsistencies of ortho-

graphy seem to occur here as in the group of p r o v e r b s discussed above.)

Rhetorical A n a l y s i s 1.

F i g u r e s of Speech A l l the m a j o r types of f i g u r e s of speech a r e found r e p r e sented in the p r o v e r b s of the two collections here r e c o n structed. Tliey a r e found in the following o r d e r of frequency:

23

C f . K r a m e r , A S 12, p p . 7 f.

24 A s p e c i a l p r o b l e m i n v o l v i n g the w o r d m u - u d - n a o c c u r s in the d i f f i c u l t p r o v e r b ( q . v . ) , w h i c h s e e m s o t h e r w i s e to h a v e no r e a s o n f o r b e i n g c o n s i d e r e d Emesal

dialect.

1.111

a s b e l o n g i n g to the

GENERAL

15

INTRODUCTION

m e t a p h o r (36 e x a m p l e s 2 5 ) , i r o n y (32), s i m i l e (15), 2 6 h y p e r b o l e (10), m e t o n y m y (9) and s y n e c d o c h e (2). The f o l l o w i n g i s a l i s t of the e x a m p l e s a c c o r d i n g to t h e i r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n : a.

Metaphor: 1.18,

1.30,

(= 2 . 1 1 8 ) ,

1.38,

1.40,

1. 80, 1 . 9 9 ,

1.41,

1.101,

1.42,

1.43,

1.153,

1.48,

1.159,

1.65

1.166,

1 . 1 9 6 , 2 . 9 , 2. 10, 2. 11, 2. 12, 2. 13, 2. 14, 2 . 3 1 , 2. 46, 2. 7 2 ( 7 ) , 2 . 8 3 , 2 . 8 9 , 2 . 9 1 , 2 . 9 8 , 2 . 1 0 5 ,

2.43,

2.110,

2 . 1 1 3 , 2 . 1 1 6 , 2 . 1 2 3 , and 2. 158. b.

Irony: 1. 20, 1. 32 and 1. 33 (in a s s o c i a t i o n with e a c h o t h e r ) , 1. 38, 1 . 5 5 , 1.111(?),

1. 65 ( = 2. 118), 1 . 8 5 ,

1. 1 7 2 ( ? ) ,

1. 1 7 4 ( 7 ) ,

2 . 2 9 , 2 . 4 4 , 2 . 5 4 , 2 . 7 5 , 2.77, 2.93, c.

2.94,

2.99(7),

2.104,

1.91,

1.105,

1.106,

1. 195, 2. 16, 2. 17, 2.84(7),

2.106,

2.87,

2.124,

2.28,

2.91,

and 2 . 1 6 9 .

Simile: 1.29,

1.39,

1. 68, 1 . 7 9 ,

1.92,

1.149,

1. 1 5 0 ( 7 ) ,

2.11,

2. 45, 2 . 6 9 , 2 . 8 1 , 2 . 8 5 , 2 . 8 9 , 2 . 1 3 7 , and 2. 145. d.

Hyperbole: 1.9(7),

1.55,

1.72,

1.142,

1.144,

1 . 1 9 3 , 2 . 3 7 , 2 f 44,

2. 53, and 2. 100. e.

Metonymy: 1.19,

1.70,

1.86,

1.87,

1.108,

1.145, 2.27,

2.30,

and 2. 138. f.

Synecdoche: 1. 1 and 1. 159.

25

T h i s sum i n c l u d e s only i n t e r n a l m e t a p h o r s , and not t h o s e p r o v e r b s w h i c h w o u l d be m e t a p h o r i c a l only in t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n to a s i t u a t i o n . 26

M o s t e a s i l y r e c o g n i z a b l e b e c a u s e of t h e u s e of - g i m .

GORDON:

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PROVERBS

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Monographs

Parallelism Out of the n e a r l y 300 p r o v e r b s h e r e edited which a r e c o m plete o r sufficiently p r e s e r v e d for the r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e i r s t r u c t u r e , 138 c a n be c l a s s i f i e d by the types of p a r a l l e l i s m which they contain. A p p r o x i m a t e l y 54 a r e c h a r a c t e r i z e d by c e r t a i n ( o r p r o b a b l e ) antithetic p a r a l l e l i s m , and 51 by c e r tain (or p r o b a b l e ) p a r a t h e t i c o r synonomous p a r a l l e l i s m . A n o t h e r group of t w e n t y - t h r e e p r o v e r b s have t h r e e m e m b e r s , in which two of the m e m b e r s a r e u s u a l l y in p a r a t h e t i c p a r a l l e l i s m ( o c c a s i o n a l l y antithetic), and the third i s added to f o r m a capping " c l i m a x . " (In a few i n s t a n c e s , it is the s e cond and t h i r d m e m b e r s which a r e in p a r a t h e t i c o r antithetic p a r a l l e l i s m , so that the " c l i m a x " i s i n v e r t e d . ) In one c a s e , the f o r m s e e m s to be a c o m p l e x of t h r e e p a r a t h e t i c " c l i m a x e s , " t h e m s e l v e s a r r a n g e d in the o r d e r of a p a r a t h e t i c " c l i m a x , " and the whole group of nine l i n e s capped by a tenth line ( p r o v e r b 2. 1). A n o t h e r group s e e m to contain an e l e m e n t of e x a c t r e p e t i t i o n o r a s s o n a n c e . Following is a listing of the t y p e s of p a r a l l e l i s m a s c l a s s i f i e d above: a.

Antithetic p a r a l l e l i s m : 1. 11,

1. 15,

1. 2 0 ,

each other),

1. 32 and 1. 33 (in a s s o c i a t i o n with

1. 55 (a s e r i e s of s e v e r a l e x a m p l e s ) ,

1. 84,

1. 86 and 1. 87 (in a s s o c i a t i o n with e a c h o t h e r ) ,

1. 9 8 ,

1. 9 9 ,

1.108,

1. 102 (between the two h a l v e s of e a c h line),

1.144,

1.156,

1.160,

the two h a l v e s of e a c h line), 1. 1 8 3 ( ? ) , 2.44,

b.

1. 6 9 ,

1.185,

2.50(7).

1.193,

2.53,

1.161(7), 1.169,

1.195,

2.68,

1. 166 (between

1. 1 7 0 ( ? ) ,

1.174,

2 . 2 , [2. 1 7 ( ? ) ] ,

2.83(7),

2.91,

2.104,

2. 105 (the second line), 2 . 1 1 2 ,

2.122,

2.123,

2.124, 2.125,

2.137,

2.138,

2. 142, 2 . 1 4 4 , and 2. 158.

2.126,

2.35,

2.93,

2.115,

2.95(7),

2.121,

2.134(7),

2.135,

P a r a t h e t i c (or synonymous) p a r a l l e l i s m : 1.9,

1. 16,

1.72, 1.101,

1.30,

1.78,

1.80,

1. 38 ( f i r s t two l i n e s ) , 1.81,

1.85,

1.86,

1. 102 (between the two l i n e s ) ,

1.115(7).

1. 145, 1 . 1 4 6 ,

the two l i n e s ) ,

1. 172,

1. 157,

1. 1 7 8 ( 7 ) ,

1.54,

1. 9 1 , 1.105,

1.165,

1.70,

1.100, 1.110,

1. 166 (between

1. 186, 1. 189,

1. 192,

2. 9 and 2. 10 (in a s s o c i a t i o n with e a c h o t h e r ) , 2. 2 9 , 2. 30, 2. 33, 2. 4 3 , 2. 5 4 ( a s e r i e s of s e v e n e x a m p l e s ) ,

GENERAL 2.61,

2.66,

2. 69 ( t h e s e c o n d l i n e ) , 2 . 7 3 ,

2.79,

2.87,

2. 8 8 ( ? ) , 2. 1 0 9 ( ? ) , 2 . 1 1 0 ,

2 . 139. c.

17

INTRODUCTION 2.74,

2.113,

2.75, and

( P e r h a p s a l s o 1. 64 a n d 1. 7 3 . )

" C l i m a x " with two a n t i t h e t i c

members:

1. 103, 2. 2 7 , 2. 7 1 , a n d 2. 1 4 9 ' ( t h e l a s t i s i n i n v e r t e d order). d.

" C l i m a x " with two p a r a t h e t i c 1.83,

1.125»,

1.167,

1.142(7),

1.175,

1.190,

members:

1.147,

1.151,

1.153,

1.155,

1 . 1 9 6 , 2. 1 (a c o m p l e x f o r m of

t h r e e " c l i m a x e s " within a "climax,·" s e e above), 2.38,

2.39,

2. 99 (in i n v e r t e d o r d e r ) ,

2.116,

2. 11,

2.146(7),

a n d 2. 159. e.

Assonance: 1.3,

1.6(7),

1.82,

1.83,

1.84,

1.101,

1.105,

1.148(7),

2. 37, 2. 9 6 ( 7 ) , a n d 2. 159. f.

M o r e c o m p l i c a t e d t y p e s of p a r a l l e l i s m : 1. 111 (a c o m b i n a t i o n of a n t i t h e s i s a n d a s s o n a n c e ) , a n d 2. 133 ( " c r o s s e d " a n t i t h e s i s ) .

VI. T y p o l o g i c a l C l a s s i f i c a t i o n of t h e S u m e r j a n

"Proverbs"

In a d d i t i o n to t h e f i v e c a t e g o r i e s of p r o v e r b s d e f i n e d i n t h e f i r s t s e c t i o n (p. 1) of t h i s G e n e r a l I n t r o d u c t i o n — 1. P r e c e p t , 2. M a x i m , 3. T r u i s m o r S i m p l e A p o t h e g m , 4. A d a g e , a n d 5. B y w o r d — t h e t w o S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s h e r e studied include the following w h i c h a r e not u s u a l ly c l a s s e d as " p r o v e r b s " e l s e w h e r e : 6. T a u n t — a d e c l a r a t i v e o r e x c l a m a t o r y s t a t e m e n t ( u s u a l l y in the s e c o n d p e r s o n ) , s c o r n f u l a n d s a r c a s t i c in c h a r a c t e r . 7. C o m p l i m e n t — a d e c l a r a t i v e o r e x c l a m a t o r y s t a t e m e n t of a p p r o v a l o r a d m i r a t i o n ( u s u a l l y in the s e c o n d p e r s o n ) . 8. W i s h e s , G r e e t i n g s o r

"Toasts."

9. S h o r t F a b l e s , P a r a b l e s ( 7 ) a n d A n e c d o t e s o r

Character

Sketches. The m o s t c o m m o n types,

it w i l l b e o b s e r v e d f r o m t h e l i s t w h i c h f o l -

18

GORDON:

SUMERIAN P R O V E R B S

Museum

Monographs

l o w s (which i s m e r e l y a s e l e c t i o n of e x a m p l e s and i s not i n t e n d e d to be e x h a u s t i v e ) , i n c o n t r a d i s t i n c t i o n , f o r e x a m p l e , to the B i b l i c a l B o o k of P r o v e r b s , w h e r e p r e c e p t s and m a x i m s p r e d o m i n a t e , 2 7 a r e the t r u i s m o r s i m p l e a p o t h e g m , the a d a g e , the b y w o r d and the taunt: 1. P r e c e p t : 1. 145 and 2. 1 ( a p p a r e n t l y the o n l y " p r o v e r b s " in t h e s e two c o l l e c t i o n s that c a n w i t h a n y d e g r e e of e x a c t n e s s be c l a s s e d a s " p r e c e p t s " - — c f . the c o m m e n t on p. 2 a b o v e ) . 2. M a x i m : 1 . 3 ( 7 ) , 1 . 4 ( 7 ) , 1. 14, 1. 35, 1. 4 0 ( 7 ) , 1 . 4 9 , 1. 100, 1. 110, 1 . 1 1 1 , and 2. 144. ( P e r h a p s a l s o 1 . 4 1 , 1 . 4 2 , and 1. 43). 3. T r u i s m o r S i m p l e A p o t h e g m : 1. 7, 1. 8, 1 . 9 , 1. 51, 1 . 6 8 ,

1. 10, 1. 1 1 ( 7 ) ,

1. 81, 1 . 8 4 ,

1.16,

1. 28, 1 . 4 7 ,

1. 105, 1. 106, 1 . 1 0 8 ,

1. 4 8 ( 7 ) ,

1. 156, 1. 185,

1. 189, 1. 193, 2 . 3 , 2. 15, 2. 18, 2. 19, 2. 26, 2 . 2 8 , 2. 29, 2. 31, 2. 39, 2 . 9 2 , and 2. 123. 4. A d a g e : 1 . 1 , 1 . 6 , 1. 18, 1 . 1 9 , 1. 30, 1. 3 8 ( 7 ) , 1 . 5 5 , 1 . 6 7 , 1. 70, 1 . 8 3 , 1 . 8 6 , 1 . 9 9 , 1. 101, 1 . 1 0 7 , 1 . 1 5 9 , 1. 160, 1. 195, 2. 1 1 ( 7 ) , 2. 71, 2. 72, 2 . 9 2 , 2 . 1 2 1 , 2. 122, 2. 125, 2. 142, 2. 149', and 2. 158. 5. B y w o r d : 1. 29, 1 . 6 5 , 1 . 7 9 , 1. 92, 1. 142, 1 . 1 4 3 , 1 . 1 5 1 , 1. 153, 1 . 1 5 4 , 1 . 1 5 7 , 1. 165, 1. 169, 1. 175, 1 . 1 8 7 , 2 . 1 7 , 2 . 4 7 , 2 . 4 8 , 2 . 4 9 , 2 . 5 3 , 2. 68, 2. 74, and 2. 100. (Note p a r t i c u l a r l y that t h i s type i s quite c o m m o n in the s e c t i o n s d e a l i n g with the s c r i b e , the k a l û m - p r i e a t and the d o g . ) 6. Taunt: 1. 11, 1. 31, 1. 36, 1. 37, 1. 69, 1. 1 1 2 ( 7 ) , 1. 125«,

27

1.144,

«

A n o t h e r c o n t r a s t s h o w n by t h e S u m e r i a n c o l l e c t i o n s v i s - a - v i s t h e B i b l i c a l

proverbs

i s t h e " f r e e d o m " of l a n g u a g e i n t h e f o r m e r , t h e i r " c a l l i n g a s p a d e a s p a d e " i n t h e r e f e r e n c e s to s e x and p h y s i o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n s .

In t h i s t h e y s h o w m o r e of a k i n s h i p t o t h e

Arabic, T u r k i s h and other modern N e a r E a s t e r n p r o v e r b s (cf. the w o r k s l i s t e d in the Bibliography).

GENERAL

INTRODUCTION

1. 188, 1. 192, 2. 37, and 2.44.

19

(Note that this type is p a r -

ticularly common in the section of Collection One consisting of p r o v e r b s in the E m e s a l d i a l e c t . ) 7. Compliment:

1. 21. 8. W i s h e s , Greetings and "Toasts: 1 1 1. 80(?),

1.146,

1.147,

1.178(?), and 2. 160.

9. Short F a b l e s, P a r a b l e s ( ? ) , Anecdotes and Character Sketches: 1.109, 2 . 9 ( ? ) ,

2. 10(?), 2.61, 2.61a, 2.65, 2. 66, 2.67,

2.69, 2.76, 2. 82(7), 2.99, 2.100, 2.101, 2.103, and 2. 105.

(Note p a r t i c u l a r l y the frequency of the "short

f a b l e " among the f o x p r o v e r b s , and perhaps the anecdote among the groups dealing with the a s s and the kalQm-priest. It is noteworthy that there is no explicit " m o r a l " in any of those that appear to be " f a b l e s " or " p a r a b l e s , " although, to be sure, the actual meaning of some of these is quite obscure.) VII. The Composition, Collection and Educational U s e of the P r o v e r b s There a r e a number of indications pointing to the original c o m p o s i tion of many of these p r o v e r b s by the Sumerian literati of the Edubba, 28 the Sumerian academies, although there is some r e a s o n to believe that at least some of the p r o v e r b s w e r e collected by the s c r i b e s f r o m "out of the mouth of the people. " In favour of original composition by the literati a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y the abundance of rhetorical f i g u r e s of speech and the num e r o u s complex f o r m s of p a r a l l e l i s m , as well as the group of p r o v e r b s specifically dealing with s c r i b e s . On the other hand, the many p r o v e r b s relating to household and f a m i l y situations, the l a r g e number of p r o v e r b s in the E m e s a l dialect, and the frequent occurrence of speeches with the particle of direct discourse - e - S e point in some degree to the collecting of these p r o v e r b s f r o m m o r e homely s o u r c e s . In any case, it w a s the literati and s c r i b e s of the Edubba who selected and a r r a n g e d the p r o v e r b s in the m o r e or l e s s standard o r d e r in which they a r e found in the c o l l e c tions (cf. the Introductory R e m a r k s to Collection One and to Collection Two, pp. 26-30 and 154-160 respectively).

28

C f . K r a m e r , J A O S 69

V a n D i j k , S S A , pp.

21-27.

[ l 9 4 9 ] , pp.

199 f f . , a n d i d . , SD MR I, pp. 2 3 8 - 2 4 5 , a s w e l l

as

20

GORDON:

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

The S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s w e r e a p p a r e n t l y u s e d in the s c h o o l s a s t e x t b o o k s on a l l l e v e l s of the e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m , a s i s w i t n e s s e d b y the n u m e r o u s " s c h o o l c o p i e s " of i n d i v i d u a l p r o v e r b s and of l o n g e r e x c e r p t s f r o m the s e r i e s ( s e e S e c t i o n IV. T y p e s of T a b l e t s , pp. 6 - 1 0 ) . It i s p r o b a b l e that the p u p i l s in the e l e m e n t a r y s t a g e s of their e d u c a t i o n m a d e u s e of the l e n t i c u l a r t a b l e t s — a s well a s the s m a l l oblong t a b l e t s — with a s i n g l e p r o v e r b to c o p y and p e r h a p s to m e m o r i z e . The w e l l - w r i t t e n t e x t s in the u p p e r r e g i s t e r of t a b l e t s of t y p e s C - l , C - 4 , C - 7 and C - 8 — o r on the o b v e r s e of type C - 2 , and in the l e f t - h a n d c o l u m n s of t a b l e t s of t y p e s C - 3 a n d C - 6 — w e r e p r o b a b l y p r e p a r e d f o r the p u p i l s by the " b i g b r o t h e r " ( S e S - g a l ) , the t e a c h e r ' s a s s i s t a n t , 2 9 while the att e m p t of the p u p i l s t h e m s e l v e s i s p r o b a b l y r e p r e s e n t e d by the u s u a l l y l e s s p e r f e c t c o p i e s of the text in the l o w e r r e g i s t e r — o r , a s the c a s e m a y b e , on the r e v e r s e o r in the r i g h t - h a n d c o l u m n — of t h e s e t a b l e t s . An o c c a s i o n a l o c c u r r e n c e with the l o w e r r e g i s t e r u n i n s c r i b e d in a l l p r o b a b i l i t y r e p r e s e n t s the t a b l e t of a pupil who did not do h i s " h o m e w o r k . " T a b l e t s of type D - 4 p r o b a b l y b e t o k e n a h i g h e r s t a g e of e d u c a t i o n , in which the § e § - g a l s e e m s to h a v e p r e p a r e d the m a t h e m a t i c a l l e s s o n in the f i r s t c o l u m n f o r the p u p i l ' s m e m o r i z a t i o n , a s well a s the m i d d l e " p r o v e r b " c o l u m n which w a s then c o p i e d o v e r by the pupil in the t h i r d c o l u m n . T h o s e t a b l e t s of type D - 3 in which a r i g h t - h a n d c o l u m n i s p r e s e r v e d m a y p e r h a p s h a v e b e e n p r o d u c e d in the s a m e way, in which c a s e it i s not i m p o s s i b l e that the pupil cut off f r o m the t a b l e t his own a t t e m p t , r e t a i n i n g f o r h i m s e l f only the b e t t e r w r i t t e n l e f t - h a n d c o l u m n of the § e § - g a l . The other t y p e s of s c h o o l - t a b l e t s ( D - l , D - 2 , E - l , E - 2 , E - 3 and the l e n t i c u l a r t a b l e t s of type C - 5 ) m a y r e p r e s e n t the w o r k of the m o r e a d v a n c e d s t u d e n t s who m a y e i t h e r have c o p i e d the t e x t s f r o m a m o d e l t a b l e t , o r p e r h a p s w r o t e out the e x c e r p t s f r o m m e m o r y . F i n a l l y the t a b l e t s of t y p e s A and Β p r o b a b l y e x e m p l i f y the w o r k of the m o r e m a t u r e s t u d e n t s o r a r e the c o p i e s owned b y the t e a c h e r s t h e m s e l v e s . 3 0 A s f o r the p o p u l a r i t y of p r o v e r b s in the S u m e r i a n e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m , it w a s p r o b a b l y due to the s i m p l i c i t y of their f o r m , the e d i f y i n g c h a r a c t e r of their content, a s well a s t h e i r u s e f u l n e s s in i l l u s t r a t i n g both v o c a b u l a r y and r h e t o r i c a l f i g u r e s . VIII. S y s t e m of T r a n s l i t e r a t i o n The s y s t e m of t r a n s l i t e r a t i o n u s e d in this m o n o g r a p h f o r both the S u m e r i a n and A k k a d i a n (when the l a t t e r i s not " n o r m a l i z e d " in i t s Old B a b y -

29

F o r t h e s e s - e a l , c f . K r a m e r , J A O S 69 [ l 9 4 9 ] , p . 209 and n o t e 187, a s w e l l a s

id.,

S D M R I, p. 2 4 2 . 30

C f . C h i e r a , P B S X I / 1 , p p . 4 1 - 4 8 , and L a n d s b e r g e r , M S L III, p. 1 5 9 , n o t e to p. 2.

GENERAL

INTRODUCTION

21

Ionian f o r m ) i s b a s e d p r i m a r i l y upon the v a l u e s a s s i g n e d to the c u n e i f o r m s i g n s in Anton D e i m e l ' s S u m e r i s c h e s L e x i k o n a n d / o r R e n é L a b a t ' s M a n uel d ' é p i g r a p h i e a k k a d i e n n e . F r e q u e n t l y r e a d i n g s not l i s t e d in e i t h e r of t h e s e two w o r k s have b e e n a d o p t e d f r o m t h o s e found in B e n n o L a n d s b e r g e r ' s M S L I I and M S L I I I , in which c a s e t h e s e r e a d i n g s (if they a r e h o m o phonous with the r e a d i n g s of other s i g n s a s listed in e i t h e r of the a b o v e - m e n tioned w o r k s ) h a v e not b e e n g i v e n a new u n l i s t e d s u b s c r i p t n u m b e r , 3 1 b u t h a v e b e e n p r o v i d e d with a s u b s c r i p t x or yx ( f o r e x a m p l e , s u n x = BÚR, melex =KAXKADRA, m e l e x x = KAx(l). A n u m b e r of a d d i t i o n a l r e a d i n g s not l i s t e d in any of the p u b l i s h e d s y l l a b a r i e s have b e e n u s e d h e r e , b a s e d upon v a r i a n t s ^for e x a m p l e , a r a x = K A X B A L A G with the v a r i a n t a r a 9 = K A X S E D , o r , i n a c a s e w h e r e the " p r i n c i p l e of gunu -f ic a t i o n ' ' 3 2 i s i n v o l v e d , p e S x = K U f c / H A with the v a r i a n t p e g = H A . gunu ), or upon the u s e of phonetic " c o m p l e m e n t s " (for e x a m p l e , u r x - r u - U R U 4 / A P I Ν - r u , or i η i m x - i η i m x - m a = Κ Α Χ L I ΚΑ X L I - m a ) . A l i s t of t h e s e new and other r a r e r e a d i n g s f o l l o w s (with r e f e r e n c e s to the p r o v e r b s in which they have b e e n u s e d , and to the n o t e s in which the b a s i s f o r the r e a d i n g h a s b e e n d i s c u s s e d ) : ab a 4 = UNU, addir

ara

du ι 4 = L Û X N E ,

= Α.ΡΑ. BI. GIS. PAD. DIRIG,

ara

2.695 1.89,

D U Β ( c o n f u s i o n of s i g n with S I M ) ,

1.187

9

= KAXSED,

x

= ΚΑ Χ Β A L AG ,

1.1501,

2.6926 2.69

,

l.l

2.1052 a r a

x x

= SIG4, = δλχΑ,

7

2.692é>,

gals

2.1127

1.17514,

1.1494,

dabin

HUN.SE),

1.1554'

du 5 = DÎJN/GIN,

gurud iηim

2.674

in

in

g i l 8 "

2.1446

= NUN.issu.KI,

- ΚΑΧ LI inimx-ma,

x

c

n a m

>

1.1508 1.792

1.792 in i η i m χ 2.5411, 2.1061

Assyrio-

, 3.

C f . P o e b e l a p u d H a l l o c k , AS 7, p. 10, n o t e 13, a n d F a l k e n s t e i n , G S G L I, p.

n o t e 3.

2.ΙΟΙ5

nfg-SED,

S o in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e p r i n c i p l e a g r e e d upon by t h e s e c o n d R e n c o n t r e

l o g i q u e I n t e r n a t i o n a l e ; c f . C R R II, p. 9 1 , 32

in k i - g a l g »

g u r u dx = L Ú . K I ,

7

1.1785,

U D

g i 18 = GIM

1.852

31

nam-BÛR-na,

1.523

2.2911

b u ζu r ς = ΚΑΧ KAR , = Ζ f D . S Ε (i.e., 1.482

=

gazx(?) = §ED

1.1913, 2.1007

b u r u x = E N X G A N A , tenu. 2.887

di 5 = R I ,

in

4

E R Í M (?) = UR U X G A R ,

bid = KU / T U S , bir

2.937

dun5 = BUR 26

1 . 1 7 0 3 , 1.196

124,

GORDON:

22 kindagal

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS s u r 5 (or

= GAL .KIND A,

2.55I.3 k i r i j

(or

1.188 ,

é S - k i r i j kun la^

= KA and

l.u 7 = G À L

S e

kiri3(?) 2.192,

in

lú-lu

7

2

Sub

,

1.98,

m e1e

S u dχ

= S U B (i.e., 1.102 »

2

2.31 ·

= K A X Û,

x x

melé/milf nimgir

x

nindaba

2.43

= KA Χ LI,

6

3

t ib i r

4

ρ e Sχ

2.432·4 2.983

.d IΝ Α Ν Ν Α

pe S

x x

= §λ X TUR,

r ιm A = KASÌ 2.103, su^úb san,

I.I4

x

(-d),

1.1931'3

2.133 in

2.656 n a m - BOR - η a,

I.726,

tukúr 7

ul

T

u r

tuQ

1.1066

2.662»

tú d = Ρ A. U Ζ U,

ug

2.233»5

= I M , 1.86, 1.87, 2.998

5

6

= Κ A Χ δ E , 1.1045, 2.312» 3

= B A D / T I L , = GÀL 2.99 8

in

1.55,

tuj 5 - ul

1.142 x

-lu,

= U R U 4 / A P I N in u r χ r u , 2.171, 2.201, 2.911, 2.1593

χ

in b a r - r i m ^ - m a ,

= MUL , = BÚR

Su-peS

tu J

1.252

I.I933

= Κ U ¿ / £ 1 A in 1.771, 1.10914

= ΤAG X S U ,

( -tu9),

(i.e., Ρ A D . d I N A N N A ) , pe δ 4 = S X x A ,

x

KAxSU),

7

tu g = κ υ / τ υ δ in ù.

2.434

(?) = DÚN/GÍN, = Κ UR UΜ

1 . 1 2 and

2.1074

= § ED ,

x

3

= KA Χ Κ AD RA ,

χ

2.925 (see

also Addendum,

1.160 m e1e

1.1429

2.80)

1.90

m a 5 = Κ Α Χ ρ Ν ,

2.667

= KU/TUS,

2.764

Monographs

5) = L A L ,

2.12,

= KU,

1 0

1.801

= DU. DU,

x

Sagar

in

1.1532'4,

= I.LU,

4

su r u 4

kir^)

ÇAR,

Museum

ú S = B A D / T I L

in

nam-ύδ,

1 .68 zug

x

= K A X L I in ú - z u g 1.403«6, 2.1102

x

,

COLLECTION INTRODUCTORY

ONE REMARKS

This c o l l e c t i o n h a s been r e c o n s t r u c t e d f r o m f i f t y - s i x p a r t i a l l y duplicating tablets and f r a g m e n t s ( o r i g i n a l l y s i x t y - n i n e p i e c e s — one 'join, 1 Ni 4 1 7 2 + 4 1 7 3 , w a s m a d e by K r a m e r in Istanbul a t the t i m e of copying; all the o t h e r ' j o i n s ' w e r e m a d e by the w r i t e r in the c o u r s e of this study)i Of t h e s e f i f t y - s i x p i e c e s , f o r t y - f i v e w e r e e x c a v a t e d by the Babylonian Expedition of the U n i v e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a at Nippur during the y e a r s 1 8 8 9 - 1 9 0 0 , and e l e v e n by the J o i n t E x p e d i t i o n of the O r i e n t a l Institute of the U n i v e r s i t y of C h i c a g o and the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m of the U n i v e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a in the s e a s o n 1 9 5 1 - 1 9 5 2 . T h i r t y - o n e of the p i e c e s f r o m the older e x c a v a t i o n s a r e now in the c o l l e c t i o n s of the N e a r E a s t e r n S e c t i o n of the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m in P h i l a d e l p h i a ( c a t a l o g u e d a s C B S , UM and N - with n u m b e r s ) and f o u r t e e n in the M u s e u m of the A n c i e n t O r i e n t in Istanbul ( c a t a l o g u e d a s Ni with n u m b e r s ) . Of the e l e v e n p i e c e s found d u r ing the 1 9 5 1 - 1 9 5 2 e x c a v a t i o n s ( r e f e r r e d to h e r e a s 3 N - T with f i e l d - c a t a logue n u m b e r s between one and 8 9 2 ) , four a r e in the I r a q M u s e u m , B a g h dad, two a t the O r i e n t a l Institute, C h i c a g o , and one a t the U n i v e r s i t y M u s e u m in P h i l a d e l p h i a ( c a s t s m a d e f r o m l a t e x s q u e e z e s of a l l the l a r g e r tablets a r e in the p o s s e s s i o n of both the l a t t e r institutions). The r e m a i n i n g four p i e c e s a r e s m a l l f r a g m e n t s l o c a t e d f o r the t i m e being a t the U n i v e r s i t y Museum in P h i l a d e l p h i a ( r e f e r r e d to h e r e a s 3 N - T with n u m b e r s in the 9 0 0 s e r i e s followed by a s e c o n d individual n u m b e r ) . T h r e e of the p i e c e s u s e d a r e e i g h t - c o l u m n t a b l e t s 2 which o r i g i n a l l y contained the e n t i r e c o l l e c t i o n ( t a b l e t s of Type A), 3 while s e v e n t e e n of the p i e c e s a r e t a b l e t s o r f r a g m e n t s of t a b l e t s which contained only s e c t i o n s of the c o l l e c t i o n (Type B). 4 All the r e m a i n i n g t a b l e t s and f r a g m e n t s a r e " s c h o o l - t e x t s , " c l a s s i f i e d a s follows: s e v e n l e n t i c u l a r t a b l e t s ( s i x of Type C - l and one of type C - 5 , the l a t t e r containing four s e p a r a t e p r o v e r b s '"Joins"

p r o p o s e d b y t h e w r i t e r i n v o l v i n g p i e c e s in I s t a n b u l w e r e c o n f i r m e d b y P r o f .

K r a m e r d u r i n g h i s s t a y t h e r e in t h e s u m m e r o f 2

3

4

1954.

For d e t a i l s , s e e T a b l e T h r e e , which follows t h e s e Introductory

Remarks.

S e e S e c t i o n I V ( T y p e s o f T a b l e t s ) in t h e G e n e r a l I n t r o d u c t i o n , pp. 6 - 1 0 . I t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e f i v e f r a g m e n t s from t h e 1 9 5 1 - 1 9 5 2 N i p p u r e x c a v a t i o n s

— O,

AA + Y Y , X X a n d A A A — a l l b e l o n g t o t h e s a m e o r i g i n a l t a b l e t , m a k i n g a f o u r t h t a b l e t of t h e whole collection (Type

A).

23

24

GORDON:

SUMERIAN P R O V E R B S

Museum

Monographs

w r i t t e n o n l y o n c e ) , o n e t a b l e t of t y p e D - l , t h r e e of t y p e D - 2 , t h i r t e e n of t y p e D - 3 , s e v e n p i e c e s of t y p e E - l , 5 a n d o n e e a c h of t y p e s E - 2 a n d E - 3 . T h r e e p i e c e s (H, E E a n d L L ) a r e of u n c e r t a i n c l a s s i f i c a t i o n . A l l t h e t e x t s of t h i s c o l l e c t i o n , a s i s t h e c a s e w i t h m o s t of the l i t e r a r y m a t e r i a l f r o m N i p p u r , w e r e a c t u a l l y i n s c r i b e d d u r i n g t h e f i r s t t h i r d of the s e c o n d m i l l e n n i u m B . C . ( I s i n D y n a s t y a n d F i r s t D y n a s t y of B a b y l o n t h r o u g h t h e t i m e of S a m s u i l u n a ) , a l t h o u g h i t i s q u i t e r e a s o n a b l e to a s s u m e a c o n s i d e r a b l y o l d e r d a t e f o r t h e o r i g i n of a t l e a s t a g r e a t n u m b e r of t h e p r o v e r b s i n c l u d e d i n t h e m , e s p e c i a l l y in v i e w of t h e f a c t t h a t s o m e of t h e p r o v e r b s f r o m t h i s v e r y c o l l e c t i o n a r e f o u n d in a p p r o x i m a t e l y c o n t e m p o r a r y s c h o o l - t e x t s f r o m U r (cf. n o t e s 1 to b o t h p r o v e r b s 1. 1 a n d 1. 2). Note t o o t h a t t h e i r p o p u l a r i t y w a s n o t s h o r t - l i v e d , f o r a t l e a s t t h r e e of t h e p r o v e r b s i n t h i s c o l l e c t i o n (1. 89, 1. 107, a n d 1. 143) h a v e b e e n i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e N e o - A s s y r i a n b i l i n g u a l s f r o m K u y u n j i k , a n d a n o t h e r f i v e (1. 3, 1 . 4 , 1 . 5 , 1. 151, a n d 1. 154) i n t h e Ne o - B a b y l o n i a n b i l i n g u a l p r o v e r b c o l lections f r o m the B r i t i s h M u s e u m . O n l y e i g h t of t h e f i f t y - s i x p i e c e s u t i l i z e d in t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h i s c o l l e c t i o n h a v e b e e n p r e v i o u s l y p u b l i s h e d . In 1934 t h e r e w e r e p u b l i s h e d 6 C h i e r a ' s c o p i e s of t h r e e t a b l e t - f r a g m e n t s b e l o n g i n g to t h i s c o l l e c t i o n (two of t h e m , S T Y C 5 + 7 , h a v e now b e e n ' j o i n e d ' to m a k e t a b l e t M M , a n d the t h i r d , S T V C 6, n o w ' j o i n e d ' to a n o t h e r f r a g m e n t , i s l i s t e d in T a b l e T h r e e w h i c h f o l l o w s a s t e x t Y), a n d in 1944 K r a m e r ' s c o p y of o n e f r a g m e n t (CC) i n I s t a n b u l a p p e a r e d a s S L T N 146. T h e two e i g h t - c o l u m n t a b l e t s f r o m I s t a n b u l (A a n d Β of t h i s c o l l e c t i o n ) w e r e p u b l i s h e d in b o t h a u t o g r a p h - c o p i e s a n d p h o t o g r a p h s b y K r a m e r in 1952 a n d 1953 (two s m a l l f r a g m e n t s h a v e b e e n j o i n e d ' to e a c h of t h e m a s a r e s u l t of t h i s s t u d y ) , a l o n g w i t h c o p i e s of t h r e e o t h e r f r a g m e n t s (G, Η a n d N). In the s u m m e r of 1952, K r a m e r p r e s e n t e d t h e t e n t a t i v e t e x t s of f o r t y - e i g h t p r o v e r b s f r o m this c o l l e c t i o n t o g e t h e r with t r a n s l a t i o n s b a s e d upon the c o o p e r a t i v e e f f o r t s of e i g h t A s s y r i o l o g i s t s in a p a p e r a t t h e t h i r d R e n c o n t r e A s s y r i o l o g i q u e I n t e r n a t i o n a l e a t L e i d e n . 7 F i v e of t h e s e f o r t y - e i g h t , a n d t w e n t y one a d d i t i o n a l p r o v e r b s s e l e c t e d f r o m t h i s s a m e c o l l e c t i o n w e r e p u b l i s h e d

S

6

T h e s e s e v e n p i e c e s probably b e l o n g to only f i v e d i f f e r e n t t a b l e t s . F o r d e t a i l s r e g a r d i n g t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e s e a n d t h e f o l l o w i n g p i e c e s , s e e t h e

r e s p e c t i v e e n t r i e s i n t h e c o l u m n h e a d e d " R e m a r k s " in T a b l e T h r e e , w h i c h f o l l o w s Introductory j

these

Remarks.

Published

1 9 5 4 in C R R III, pp. 7 5 - 8 2 , w i t h an a d d e n d u m , o p . c i t . , pp. 8 2 f . ,

containing

c o r r e c t i o n s a n d a d d i t i o n s p r o v i d e d by t h e p r e s e n t w r i t e r a s a r e s u l t of h i s s t u d i e s to t h a t date.

A n u m b e r of a d d i t i o n a l c h a n g e s in r e a d i n g s a n d t r a n s l a t i o n s

h a v e b e e n m a d e in t h e

c o u r s e of f u r t h e r s t u d y o n t h e s e p r o v e r b s , a n d at a l l p o i n t s w h e r e t h e r e v i s e d r e a d i n g s or t r a n s l a t i o n s d i f f e r f r o m t h o s e in t h e e a r l i e r p u b l i c a t i o n s , t h i s h a s b e e n n o t e d . t h e s e f o r t y - e i g h t p r o v e r b s a p p e a r e d in 1 9 5 3 in J . J . V a n D i j k ' s L a S a g e s s e w i t h a d d i t i o n a l d i s c u s s i o n by h i m .

S o m e of

sumero-accadienne

COLLECTION

ONE

25

b y the p r e s e n t w r i t e r in t r a n s l i t e r a t e d f o r m with t e n t a t i v e t r a n s l a t i o n s in 1954.8 I n a d d i t i o n to t h e e i g h t p r o v e r b s m e n t i o n e d a b o v e a s h a v i n g b e e n i d e n tified in the N e o - A s S y r i a n and N e o - B a b y l o n i a n b i l i n g u a l t e x t s , t h i r t y t h r e e ( a n d p o s s i b l y t h i r t y - f o u r ) p r o v e r b s of t h i s c o l l e c t i o n a r e a l s o f o u n d i n t a b l e t s b e l o n g i n g t o o t h e r S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s of t h e O l d B a b y lonian p e r i o d , which have b e e n u t i l i z e d w h e n e v e r n e c e s s a r y to r e s t o r e t h e t e x t s of t h e p r o v e r b s h e r e : t w o of t h e p r o v e r b s a r e a l s o f o u n d i n C o l l e c t i o n T w o (1. 65 = 2. 118, a n d 1. 66 = 2. 119), a n d a t h i r d i s f o u n d i n C o l l e c t i o n T h r e e , w h i c h h a s a l r e a d y b e e n t e n t a t i v e l y r e c o n s t r u c t e d (1. 165 = 3. 64); i n a d d i t i o n , p r o v e r b 1. 153 s e e m s to f o r m p a r t of a l o n g e r p r o v e r b i n C o l l e c t i o n T h r e e , 3. 9. S i x t e e n of t h e p r o v e r b s i n C o l l e c t i o n O n e 9 a r e f o u n d i n t h e c o l l e c t i o n p u b l i s h e d a s S Τ VC 3 + 4 ( n o w ' j o i n e d ' ) , s e v e n 1 0 i n t h e u n p u b l i s h e d t a b l e t C B S 14139 + UM 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 , f i v e 1 1 i n t h e c o l l e c t i o n UM 2 9 - 1 5 - 3 9 4 ( u n p u b l i s h e d ) , a n d f o u r (or five) in the l a r g e t w e l v e - c o l u m n t a b l e t C B S 14176 + 1 4 2 2 2 + 7 8 3 1 + 4567, 1 2 a n d f i n a l l y o n e e a c h i n N i 4 2 1 0 + 4444a and CBS 13944 (both unpublished).13 C o l l e c t i o n O n e , a s n o w r e c o n s t r u c t e d , p r o b a b l y c o n s i s t e d of a t o t a l of 2 0 2 p r o v e r b s , 1 4 of w h i c h 108 a r e n o w c o m p l e t e , n i n e t e e n o t h e r s a l m o s t so (i.e., only one o r two s i g n s a r e b r o k e n o r u n i d e n t i f i a b l e ) , e i g h t e e n b r o k e n (but p r e s e r v i n g e n o u g h to p r o v i d e a t l e a s t a p a r t i a l c o n t e x t , f o r t y two v e r y b a d l y b r o k e n , and a p p r o x i m a t e l y f i f t e e n a l t o g e t h e r m i s s i n g . T h e v a r i o u s t y p e s of t a b l e t s o c c a s i o n a l l y d i f f e r i n r e g a r d t o t h e n u m b e r of l i n e s in w h i c h t h e y w r i t e a g i v e n p r o v e r b , a n d t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n a t t e m p t s , p a r t i a l l y o n t h e b a s i s of p a r a l l e l i s m b e t w e e n s e n t e n c e s o r c l a u 8

J A O S 74 [1954], p p . 8 2 - 8 5 .

' T h e s e are 1.30, 1.31, 1.70, 1.79, 1.84, 1.91, 1.103, 1.155, 1.167, 1.174, 1.175, 1.177, 1.183 and

1.176,

1.187.

10

T h e s e a r e 1 . 6 8 , 1 . 1 2 5 ', 1 . 1 2 6 ' , 1 . 1 5 1 , 1 . 1 5 4 , 1 . 1 6 0 a n d

1 1

T h e s e are 1.40, 1.145, 1.146, 1.147 and 1.190.

12

T h e s e a r e 1 . 1 0 0 , 1 . 1 0 7 , 1 . 1 1 2 , 1 . 1 5 0 ( a n d p e r h a p s 1 . 1 7 3 in a v a r i a n t f o r m ) ; t h i s t a b l e t

1.169.

w a s " j o i n e d " in 1 9 5 4 , a l t h o u g h t w o of i t s f o u r p i e c e s w e r e p u b l i s h e d a s Ρ BS X I I / 1 , n o . 29 a n d P B S XIII 5 0 . 13

T h e y a r e 1 . 1 0 7 in Ni 4 2 1 0 + 4 4 4 4 a , a n d 1 . 1 6 5 in C B S 1 3 9 4 4 .

In a d d i t i o n p r o v e r b

1.146

i s a l s o f o u n d in t h e " M a r t u " m y t h SEM 58 ( c f . a l r e a d y K r a m e r in ST V C , I n t r o d u c t i o n , p. 1). 14

T h e f i g u r e 2 1 2 , g i v e n by t h e w r i t e r in J A O S 74 [ l 9 5 4 ] , p. 8 2 , a n d a p u d K r a m e r , C R R III,

p. 82, w a s b a s e d u p o n a m i s c a l c u l a t i o n of t h e s i z e of t h e l a c u n a e b e t w e e n c o l u m n s on t h e r e v e r s e of t h e t w o l a r g e e i g h t - c o l u m n t a b l e t s A a n d B.

In f a c t it i s p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e f i g u r e

202 m a y h a v e to b e r e d u c e d s l i g h t l y w i t h t h e d i s c o v e r y of a d d i t i o n a l f r a g m e n t s t o f i l l in t h e g a p s , s i n c e t h e n u m b e r of p r o v e r b s n o t e d a s m i s s i n g in e a c h c a s e h a s b e e n g u e s s e d from t h e n u m b e r of l i n e s a s s u m e d to h a v e o r i g i n a l l y s t o o d in t h e s e

gaps.

GORDON:

26

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

s e s , to standardize the a r r a n g e m e n t of the lines, at l e a s t in the c a s e of complete o r only partially broken proverbs. 1 5 As far a s can be d e t e r mined with any degree of certainty, there a r e in this collection seventys i x one-line p r o v e r b s , fifty-one which a r e two lines in length, twelve of three lines each, one of four lines, two of five lines, and one ' p r o v e r b ' of seven lines. As for the incomplete p r o v e r b s , whose lengths a r e l e s s c e r t a i n , twenty-two s e e m to be of one line each, fifteen of two lines, while eight s e e m to range in length f r o m three to s i x lines. The p r o v e r b s of this collection fall, with few exceptions, into groupings which have in c o m m o n either the initial signs of each individual p r o verb or the subject m a t t e r of the p r o v e r b s in the group. The l a t t e r is the dominant c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of the p r o v e r b s in the second half of Collection One. Table Two, which follows these Introductory R e m a r k s , c o n s i s t s of a tabulation of these groupings, to be interpreted, for example, thus: p r o v e r b s 1.1 — 1.53 a r e p r o v e r b s with the initial sign G A R (read either n f g [a word forming a b s t r a c t s and meaning "thing"] or n i n d a ["food" or " b r e a d " ] . The n u m e r a l s in square b r a c k e t s placed to the left of each group r e p r e s e n t the total number of p r o v e r b s included in the group. Exceptions and interpolations within each group a r e listed in the right-hand column (when their position is explainable, this i s stated); the figures in square b r a c k e t s to the right of each group of these exceptions and i n t e r polations indicate the number of p r o v e r b s so categorized. Table T h r e e l i s t s the f i f t y - s i x tablets and fragments used in the r e c o n struction of Collection One, with their column-by-column contents (the numbers r e f e r to the individual p r o v e r b s of the collection omitting the "1. " thus, p r o v e r b 1.20 is listed here simply a s " 2 0 " ) , catalogue numb e r and museums-location, m e a s u r e m e n t s , and classification by tablet-type (see General Introduction, Section IV, pp. 6 - 1 0 ) . The l a s t column, headed " R e m a r k s " l i s t s p l a c e s of publication in the c a s e of published p i e c e s , a s well a s suggestions a s to the possibility that c e r t a i n fragments belong to the same original tablet (although the f r a g m e n t s do not 'join'). Table F o u r in which the r e f e r e n c e s to individual p r o v e r b s a r e a b breviated a s in Table T h r e e l i s t s the starting-points of each tablet or fragment (followed in parenthesis by the subsequent breaking-off point or end-point), a s well a s subsequent starting-points of each column in m u l t i columned tablets and f r a g m e n t s . In the c a s e of those tablets of Type C which contain only a single proverb, this fact is indicated by a hyphen enclosed within a p a r e n t h e s i s : ( - ) .

lS

T h e e x c e p t i o n s t o t h i s r u l e a p p e a r m a i n l y in t h o s e s e c t i o n s of t h e c o l l e c t i o n

preserved

o n l y in v e r y n a r r o w - c o l u m n e d f r a g m e n t s s u c h a s , for e x a m p l e , AA a n d Y Y , w h e r e it w a s d e e m e d r e a s o n a b l e to k e e p t h e l i n e - d i v i s i o n a s found on t h e t a b l e t s , in o r d e r to s e p a r a t e t h e g r a m m a t i c a l c o m p l e x e s in t h e i r b r o k e n c o n t e x t s .

N o t e t h a t p r o v e r b 1 . 6 9 , g i v e n h e r e in o n e

l i n e , i s p r o b a b l y t o b e c o n s i d e r e d a t w o - l i n e p r o v e r b , and 1 . 1 9 3 , g i v e n in two l i n e s , a o n e line proverb;

1 . 1 2 5 ' , a l t h o u g h g i v e n in four l i n e s , i s p r o b a b l y in f a c t a t h r e e - l i n e

a s i s a l s o in a l l p r o b a b i l i t y p r o v e r b

1.192.

proverb,

COLLECTION

ONE

27

Following the tables is the reconstructed text of Collection One, in which each p r o v e r b is given in transliteration, 16 followed by the t r a n s l a tion and commentary on the meaning and parallels e l s e w h e r e (the c o m m e n tary is omitted in cases where the meaning of the p r o v e r b is either o b vious or top obscure for comment). Notes to the transliterations relate to the readings of r a r e signs, unusual readings, and to variants; notes to the translations a r e philological notes. l6In

a l l c a s e s , s i g n s r e s t o r e d but c o m p l e t e l y broken a w a y in a l l d u p l i c a t e s are g i v e n in

square b r a c k e t s :

[

].

When no s i g n s h a v e b e e n r e s t o r e d , t w o d o t s w i t h i n s q u a r e b r a c k e t s

r e p r e s e n t a s i n g l e m i s s i n g s i g n , three d o t s t w o m i s s i n g s i g n s , and f o u r d o t s t h r e e or more m i s s i n g s i g n s ; in the c a s e of a s i g n o n l y p a r t i a l l y p r e s e r v e d w h o s e r e a d i n g h a s not b e e n g u e s s e d , one dot w i l l be found w i t h i n the b r a c k e t s and another o u t s i d e the b r a c k e t s .

A s for

s i g n s p r e s e r v e d but u n i d e n t i f i a b l e — or t r a c e s p r e s e r v e d but u n r e c o g n i z a b l e — t h e s e are r e p r e s e n t e d by d o t s not e n c l o s e d in square b r a c k e t s , the number of d o t s r e f e r r i n g to the number of s i g n s as a b o v e .

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(0 •V «Η H' m m ι rg m

Ο O ι 00 o

υ υ υ

Q Q Q

•

r-1 tí O S* > -û O

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O γΗ W W

LO

SH < m II

tí o 0) tí

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υ tí •rH >—I

o oo m u •- g i •s -- a

1

- t «a·

3 4 5 sχ a> - g i· s* - a - t• a

A è-a zu

2

6

7 -*a m

g What

has

c o m e out f r o m the " h e a r t " of Q (only) b y the " h e a r t " of the t r e e .

a

tree

is

recognized

The i m p l i c a t i o n s e e m s to b e that o n l y the o r i g i n a t o r a p p r e c i a t e s what he h i m s e l f h a s p r o d u c e d (but s e e n o t e 8 b e l o w for a p o s s i b l e alternative interpretation). 1.

So I I ; A , Β and C o m i t

- a - .

2. So C and HH; I I s e e m s to h a v e very close together.

-à[m]

for

-a ,

squeezed

3. So C ( b e g i n n i n g a n e w l i n e ! ) and HH; II: a - ë à for § à (also at the b e g i n n i n g of a n e w l i n e ) . N o t e that a l l the t e x t s e x c e p t C and I I w r i t e t h i s p r o v e r b in o n l y one l i n e , and that t h e r e f o r e the e r r o r ( ! ? ) in 11 m a y h a v e o r i g i n a t e d in the c o u r s e of c o p y i n g f r o m s u c h a t e x t . 4.

So Β and II; A , C and HH o m i t

5.

So A , C, HH and II; Β o m i t s

6.

A:

7.

So A , 11 and p r o b a b l y Β ; C and HH:

-zu(!)

- a - . - ta .

a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of the o r i g i n a l t a b l e t . -a

for

-àm.

8. It i s b a r e l y p o s s i b l e g i s (here r e n d e r e d by its usual t r a n s l a tion, "tree") i s a phonetic writing for g i à (i.e., U S ) , "penis," in w h i c h c a s e the i m p l i c a t i o n s of the p r o v e r b m i g h t b e t h a t a f a t h e r s h o u l d r e c o g n i z e his own son. 9.

Cf. the p o s t p o s i t i o n

-ta.

F o r the c o n s t r u c t i o n of the v e r b

GORDON:

94

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

z u w i t h t h e p o s t p o s i t i o n a n d / o r i n f i x - t a , c f . , f o r e x a m p l e , the form m u - d a - a n - z u i n p r o v e r b 2 . 1 1 ( f o r t h e c h a n g e of - t a to - d a - , c f . F a l k e n s t e i n , GSGL I. pp. 116 [and n o t e 6] a n d Ζ15 [and n o t e 2 there]). 1.102 §à-ge kú-e

ba-dùg ba-te

Inwardly He h a s

he

2

bar-e' §udx(?)

3

ba - Sag ^ -e

4

ba-bu-i

is

glad, o u t w a r d l y he i s 5 6 attained (his) livelihood, he

pleased: has

received

homage(?).

7

P e r h a p s a d e s c r i p t i o n of the p e r s o n who h a s a c h i e v e d c o m plete s a t i s f a c t i o n f r o m life and f r o m his surroundings both m a terially and psychologically. 1. So C a n d I I ; A, Β a n d HH: 2.

I I s e e m s to h a v e a n e r a s e d

-re -e

for

-e .

following

-te.

3. i . e . , S U B ( = K A X S U ) f o r t h e r e a d i n g § u d x , cf. L a n d s b e r g e r , M S L I I . p. 57, l i n e 329 a n d f o o t n o t e s o C a n d p o s s i b l y A; I I s e e m s to h a v e § u ( ? ) f o r ä u d x (see note 7 below). 4.

So A; C o m i t s

5.

Literally,

- e .

"touched upon,

reached."

6. F o r k ú , " f o o d , l i v e l i h o o d , " c f . t h e p h r a s e in K r a m e r , M H G . p p . 173 a n d 177, l i n e 9.

kú

la-ba-ak-e

7. S u d x ( = S U B ) = A k k a d i a n i k r i b u m . T h e v a r i a n t 5 u ( ? ) see note 3 above m a y p e r h a p s b e c o n f i r m a t i o n of t h e r e a d i n g of t h e i n i t i a l s i b i l a n t of § u d x . N o t e t h a t the t r a n s l a t i o n h e r e i g n o r e s the p o s t p o s i t i o n - e , w h i c h i s , to b e s u r e , o m i t t e d i n the v a r i a n t t e x t of C (cf. n o t e 4 a b o v e ) . 1.1031 in-kú

nu-un-kú

η u m un - δ a g ς - g a - à m

Whether

he

( a n y of

is

has eaten

good.

it)

or

not,

2

the

seed(-grain)

3

COLLECTION

ONE

95

If the t r a n s l a t i o n i s c o r r e c t ( s e e n o t e 2 b e l o w ) , p e r h a p s an a l l u s i o n to a f a r m e r o v e r - c o n f i d e n t a b o u t t h e q u a l i t y of his grain. 1. T h i s p r o v e r b i s o m i t t e d in A; this proverb.

c f . a l s o S T V C 3 + 4 i i i 23 f o r

2. L i t e r a l l y , " H e h a s e a t e n (it), he h a s not e a t e n ( i t ) . " N o t e the b a r e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t the i n of t h e c o m p l e x i n - k ú m i g h t b e a n o u n m e a n i n g " f l a x " o r e v e n " t a u n t " (cf. n o t e 3 to p r o v e r b 1.81) r a t h e r t h a n a v e r b a l p r e f i x , in w h i c h c a s e , h o w e v e r , t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s of t h e p r o v e r b w o u l d be t o t a l l y o b s c u r e . 3. n u m u n i s a s s u m e d to be f o r § e - n u m u n . F o r an e a r l i e r t r a n s l a t i o n b a s e d on a m i s r e a d i n g of the s i g n n u m u n , c f . K r a m e r , C R R I I I , p. 80, no. 35, b u t s e e a l r e a d y i b i d . . p. 83, no. 35. 1.104* in-pad

δà

bu-lu-ú|} He(?)

2

-an

acts

-si-a

mu-un-si

broke(?)8 he

3

(it(?)

6

4

Su

bf-in-KAX?

-il-si-il-e

and)

. . . d9

5

7

the

heart(?)

which

was

. . d;10

irreverently.**

S i n c e s e v e r a l of t h e r e a d i n g s in t h i s p r o v e r b a r e q u i t e u n c e r t a i n , it i s i m p o s s i b l e to a t t e m p t a c o n n e c t e d t r a n s l a t i o n , b u t the p r o v e r b s e e m s to r e f e r to s o m e s o r t of s a c r i l e g i o u s act by an individual. 1. CC a n d I I : n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 1.103 a n d 1.104. 2.

CC:

§à (!) - .

3. s a e t e x c e p t J J , w h i c h s e e m s to h a v e [ a ] 1 for a n - ; it i s h o w e v e r q u i t e p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e t r a c e s in J J ( s e e p h o t o g r a p h ) s h o u l d a c tually be i n t e r p r e t e d a s [ding]ir-[r]er a t h e r t h a n [ a ] l - , in w h i c h c a s e t h e r e a d i n g of t h e c o m p l e x in a l l t h e o t h e r t e x t s s h o u l d b e Sà-dingir-si-a i n s t e a d of § à - a n - s i - a ( s e e a l s o n o t e 10 b e l o w ) . 4. So A , B, C, CC a n d J J; I I o m i t s h a s not b e e n r e a d - d i r i g ) .

-a

(for this r e a s o ñ ,

-si-a

5. T h e s i g n i n s c r i b e d w i t h i n t h e Κ A i s b e s t p r e s e r v e d i n J J , w h e r e it l o o k s m o s t l i k e 5 E the s i g n K A x S E i s to be r e a d tukúr, " t o n i b b l e ( ? ) " ; c f . L a n d s b e r g e r , MSL TTr p. 153, l i n e 14

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PROVERBS

although it m i g h t w e l l turn out to be K Á R Se.

Museum

Monographs

or e v e n K I B , r a t h e r than

6. A o m i t s the f i r s t - s i - of this c o m p l e x ( s c r i b a l e r r o r ! ) a c c o r ding to c o l l a t i o n of the o r i g i n a l tablet. for

7. So A, C and p r o b a b l y Β; I I and p r o b a b l y CC: m u - un - s i - i l - s i - il - e .

al-si-il-si-il

8. Although i n - p a d l o o k s l i k e , and in a l l p r o b a b i l i t y , i s , a v e r bal f o r m , note that, in v i e w of the p r o b l e m a t i c a l i n - k ú of the p r e c e ding p r o v e r b (cf. note 2 to p r o v e r b 1.103), it too m a y turn out to be a p a r t i c i p l e c o m p o u n d e d with the noun i n "flax" o r "taunt" (cf. note 3 to p r o v e r b 1.81) in which c a s e the l i t e r a l t r a n s l a t i o n would b e , p e r h a p s , "He who b r e a k s ( ? ? ) a t a u n t ( ? ) , " m a k i n g the p r o v e r b e v e n m o r e obscure. 9. L i t e r a l l y , p e r h a p s , "he . . d upon(?) the hand"; b e c a u s e of the u n c e r t a i n t y of the reading of the s i g n KAX ? ( s e e note 5 above), the t r a n s l a t i o n of the e n t i r e p h r a s e i s l e f t in doubt. 10. It i s not c e r t a i n w h i c h of the m a n y m e a n i n g s of the root s i is to be under s t o o d h e r e : "to s i l e n c e , to be silent"; "to f i l l / be f i l l e d , to s a t i a t e / be s a t i a t e d , " e t c . ( F o r the p r o b l e m of s i - a where si-ga m i g h t be e x p e c t e d , cf. now K r a m e r , JCS IV [ 1950]. p. 210, note 73.) Note too that if the reading of the s i g n - a n - (variant: - a l - ) should turn out to be - d i n g i r ( - r e ) (cf. note 3 above), the r e n d e r i n g m i g h t be "the h e a r t ( ? ) . .d b y ( ? ) the g o d ( s ) . " 11. L i t e r a l l y , "he d e p a r t s f r o m r e v e r e n c e . " The S u m e r i á n w o r d b u - l u - u h i s a s s u m e d to be a l o a n w o r d f r o m the Akkadian pulhum ; 'or the v e r b a l r o o t s i - i l ( = Akkadian s a l â t u m ) , c f . Poebef^ AfO IX 1934], pp. 2 7 8 - 2 8 2 , and, m o s t r e c e n t l y , W. G. L a m b e r t , Anat. St. IV 1954], pp. 76 f. (Cf. a l s o the p r o b l e m a t i c a l e x p r e s s i o n s g u - g i m s i - i l and K A - T A R s i - i l in K r a m e r , MHG, pp. 173 f f . , l i n e s 3, 58 and 67, and p. 176, l i n e 113, r e s p e c t i v e l y , and the c o m m e n t s t h e r e t o , pp. 180 f f . ) F o r the compound v e r b b u - l u - u h s i - i l and i t s actual m e a n i n g , c f . p a r t i c u l a r l y the c o n t e x t of p r o v e r b 2 . 1 6 . 1.105* 2 kaS

-nag-nag-e

He who

drinks

a

ba-nag-nag

much beer

must

drink

water.

P e r h a p s a r e f e r e n c e to the " a f t e r - t a s t e " of b e e r of M e s o p o t a m i a , o r , what i s p e r h a p s quite i t s s t r e n g t h , the w a t e r s e r v i n g a s a " c h a s e r . " b o r n e in m i n d that o r d i n a r y b e e r or k a § m u s t

k a £ , the l i k e l y , to It should be have b e e n a

COLLECTION

ONE

97

comparatively strong drink, since for a milder and a p p a r ently m o r e highly favoured alcoholic b e v e r a g e the t e r m k a ä k a S k a § b i r (i.e., A . S Ù , "beer diluted with water") w a s u s e d ( c f . O p p e n h e i m , J A O S . S u p p l . 10 [ 1 9 5 0 ] , p p . 2 2 f f . , c o l . ii, l i n e s 23 a n d 37, a n d p. 4 7 , n o t e 55). 1.

T h i s p r o v e r b is o m i t t e d in A a n d B.

2. So C a n d YY; 11 a p p e a r s t o h a v e ( s c r i b a l e r r o r ? ! ).

kaS

DUG

(i.e.,

Κ A S XA)

for

1.1061 nfg - m a h - k ú - k ú - e He

who

eats

too

2

ù

much^

3

nu-um

will

not

4

(be

- S i - t u g - t u g

able

to)

sleep. ^

P e r h a p s simply an injunction against eating too heavy a m e a l c l o s e to o n e ' s b e d - t i m e . H o w e v e r , to j u d g e f r o m a c o m p a r i s o n w i t h p r o v e r b 3.25, it m a y be an a l l u s i o n to the r i c h m a n , in w h i c h c a s e E c c l e s i a s t e s 5:11 is to be c o m p a r e d . Cf. a l s o , i n e i t h e r c a s e , S a * d i , G u l i s t a n . v i i i 52: " T h e g l u t t o n f o r two n i g h t s no s l e e p c a n get: The f i r s t f r o m s u r f e i t , the second f r o m r e g r e t . " 1. N o n e of t h e e x t a n t t e x t s h a s a s e p a r a t i n g l i n e b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 1.105 and 1.106; t h e y a r e t r e a t e d a s two s e p a r a t e p r o v e r b s , h o w e v e r , s i n c e 1.105 is o m i t t e d in A a n d Β (cf. n o t e 1 to p r o v e r b 1.105). 2.

So I I ,

YY a n d Z Z ; A , C a n d p r o b a b l y C C o m i t

3.

So C a n d i l ;

4.

So A , C a n d YY; I I a n d Z Z :

5. η f g - m a h p r o v e r b 1.44.

C C a n d YY:

= Akkadian

ù(!). - m u - un -

mimma

ma'dum

6. F o r t h e r e a d i n g of t h e v e r b " t o s l e e p , " t u g - t u g , cf. note 6 to p r o v e r b 1.72.

ù

-e.

for

- um - .

(SL 597: 83): c f . ù

T U S - T U S

1.1071 5 à - g i d r u - k a If

he

has will

ià

poured know

oil

(about

Jjé - e n - d é 4

into it).

the

l ú - n a - m e inside

of

a

nu

sceptre,

2 5

-zu no

3 one

also as

98

GORDON:

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PROVERBS

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Monographs

C f . , p e r h a p s , "Don't hide your l i g h t under a b u s h e l ! " M e i s s n e r ' s e r r o n e o u s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n in MAOG H i / 3 , p. 44, of the Kuyunjik b i l i n g u a l ( s e e note 1 b e l o w ) w a s b a s e d o n l y on the a m b i g u o u s Akkadian t e x t ( s e e note 5 b e l o w ) , the S u m e r i a n there being incomplete. 1. Cf. a l s o C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 1 4 2 2 2 + 7 8 3 1 + 4567 iv l O ' - l l ' , and Ni 4 2 1 0 + 4 4 4 4 a obv. i i i 6 - 7 , f o r t h i s p r o v e r b in two other c o l l e c t i o n s . Cf. a s w e l l the Kuyunjik b i l i n g u a l S m . 6 l (AJSL· X X V H l f l 9121. p. 242), l i n e s 2 - 4 , w h e r e the A k k a d i a n c o l u m n r e a d s a s f o l l o w s : a - n a l i b b i h a - a t - t i S a m - n u S a - p i - i k - m a m a - a m - m a n ul i - d e : the S u m e r i a n c o l u m n i s p o o r l y p r e s e r v e d , but a c c o r d i n g to a c o l l a t i o n by W. G. L a m b e r t , a c t u a l l y h a s the f o l l o w i n g (note that the m i d d l e l i n e i s d i f f i c u l t to r e s t o r e , and m a y s h o w a v a r i a n t text) : [ S à ] - g i d r u - [ k a ] , [ i à . . ] - s i - [. . ] , [lú-n]a-me n u - u n - ζ [ u ( !) ] . 2.

s a e t e x c e p t S m . 61 w h i c h h a s

nu-un-

for

nu-.

3. So A, ZZ and N i 4210 + 4 4 4 4 a , a s w e l l a s S m . 6 l ; C, I I , Y Y, CBS 1 4 1 7 6 + 14222 + 7831 + 4 5 6 7 , and p r o b a b l y CC o m i t the e n t i r e p h r a s e lú-na-me nu-zu. 4. So the S u m e r i a n t e x t of a l l the Nippur e x a m p l e s ; the S u m e r i a n of S m . 61 m a y p e r h a p s h a v e r e a d in the m i d d l e l i n e [ i à hé]-si-[si] or the l i k e , "if it be f i l l e d " ; the Akkadian of the b i l i n g u a l r e a d s , w i t h a p a s s i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n , "When o i l h a s b e e n p o u r e d . " 5. So u n a m b i g u o u s l y the S u m e r i a n t e x t , w h i c h i s , l i t e r a l l y , "in the h e a r t of the s c e p t r e . " The Akkadian e x p r e s s i o n ana l i b b i i s , of c o u r s e , a m b i g u o u s in i t s m e a n i n g ; c f . M e i s s n e r , l o c . cit. 1.108 Sà-ge dug 4 - g e The

Sà-hul-gig

nu-ub^-tu-ud

Sà-hul-gig

heart has

not

(ever)

generated

hatred.

fb-tu-ud generated

hatred,^

(but)

speech

has

C f . , p e r h a p s , "The I n s t r u c t i o n of Ani" v i i 7 f f . ( W i l s o n in A N E T . p. 420): "Thou s h o u l d s t not e x p r e s s thy (whçle) h e a r t to a s t r a n g e r , to l e t h i m d i s c o v e r thy s p e e c h a g a i n s t thee . . . . " 1. So A, C and ZZ; YY:

-um-

for

- ub - .

COLLECTION 2.

Literally,

ONE

99

"a s c o r n f u l h e a r t . "

1.109 1 2 3 a-gàr-e a ba -lalj 4 äu-pe § -da-bi ba-nu 5 Su-pe§ -d è ku¿ ηu-u[η - δ]i - túm d a m^ - S u - p e á ^ - d a - k e ^ dag

9

-ma-la-ga-na

In t h e

inundated

was

no^

bring

land

10 11

a -ku¿

-Sé

nu-un-Si-túm

the

fishing^

an-s[ù(?)-.].-sù(!)-..^

water

there,

had

(and)

dried the

up,

12

(so

fisherman^

that) did

there not

in

any fish. T h e w i f e of t h e f i s h e r m a n w a s . . ing 15 fish-soup(?), (and now) s h e c o u l d not b r i n g (any) to t h e 16 17 chamber of h e r c o n f i d a n t e . T h e i m p l i c a t i o n s of t h i s s h o r t p a r a b l e a b o u t t h e d o m e s t i c w o e s of a f i s h e r m a n a n d h i s w i f e a r e s o m e w h a t o b s c u r e d , p a r t i c u l a r l y b y the b r o k e n u n c e r t a i n v e r b in t h e f o u r t h l i n e . 1. So A; C C : 2.

So A a n d CC; YY:

3. i . e . , for

-ra

UD;

CC:

4. So A a n d CC; AA: -pe§-.

5. So AA; A: lation). 6. So AA; A: 7. i . e . ,

for

-e.

al-

for

-la[&(!)]. - ρ e Sχ -

- p e §(!) dam(!) -

-HA-

ba-. (i.e.,

-HA-

, s e e n o t e 14)

( s o on o r i g i n a l t a b l e t a c c o r d i n g to c o l ( s o o r i g i n a l a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n ) .

( s e e n o t e 14 b e l o w ) : so b o t h A a n d A A .

8. So A a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of t h e o r i g i n a l t a b l e t ; t h e f i n a l s i g n i s q u i t e c l e a r l y p r e s e r v e d in A, a n d , a l t h o u g h it m o s t r e s e m b l e s t h e s i g n - m a , it is n e v e r t h e l e s s unidentifiable. 9.

So AA; A s e e m s to h a v e

10. So AA; A: 11.

The t e r m

-nia-gàr

for

é -

for

dag - .

-ηa - .

= Akkadian

ugârum

has usually been

GORDON:

100

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

translated " m e a d o w , " " t e r r i t o r y surrounding a city" and the like. It is to be noted, however, that almost always the a - g à r or ugârum is found to be associated with water or r i v e r s ; cf., f o r example, F a l k e n stein, Z A 49 [1949], p. 114, lines 8f., L e g r a i n , U E T I I I 1429 rev. i 5 and 11 ( a - g à r - r a - d é - a ) , Kupper, A R M I I I 77, lines 7 ff. ( ina egei ugârê Sa R a g g i m ^ i §al⧠me*ât e glum mê imlâ . . . . ) , numerous o c c u r r e n c e s in Schorr, V A B V note e s p e c i a l l y no. 133 on p. 188, r e f e r r i n g to an u g â r u m mê rêqat . "an u g â r u m drained (literally, 'emptied') of w a t e r " ; cf. also the p a s s a g e s cited in Delitzsch, H W B , p. 18. See also p r o v e r b 3.149. On the b a s i s of a l l these p a s s a g e s and p a r t i c u l a r l y the present context a-gàr has been translated "inundated l a n d . " 12. F o r the reading of U D r e f e r r i n g to the drying up of soil, pp. 372 f., note 73. 13. F o r the negative 4 to p r o v e r b 1.37.

η u

as l a h = Akkadian a b â l u m , when cf. now L a n d s b e r g e r , W O 1/5 [ 1950]. as an independent v e r b a l root, cf. note

14. The two texts A and A A use both δ u - ρ e § and δu - H A as f r e e variants (cf. notes 4, 5. and 7 above) f o r the same phenomenon within a single text, see also Dossin, A R M I 31, and cf. Bottéro in A R M T XV, p. 84. Following the rule that a simple sign m a y also have the value of its gunu-fied f o r m (cf. P o e b e l apud Hallock, A S 7, p. 10, note 13, and Falkenstein, G S G L I . p. 124, note 3), § u - H A has been r e a d here as § u - ρ e δχ . F r o m the f o r m s â u - p e â - d è (containing the subject-element - e ; cf. also p r o v e r b 1.77), dam-äu-peäx-da-ke4 (with the genitive element - a k - in addition to the subject-element), and the v e r b a l noun § u - p e § - d a , it can be deduced that the root is actually ρ e öd rather than p e δ. Cf. al so k é δ — the root k e δ d (see P o e b e l , AS 2, pp. 35 f . ) , and p e (i.e., S À X A ) with its variant p e ä x * (i.e., S Â X T U R ) , both of which also r e p r e s e n t a second root p e § d (cf. note 3 to p r o v e r b 1.193). 15. for

L i t e r a l l y , perhaps, " w a t e r of f i s h . "

16. The variant text in A (see note 9 above) seems to have "chamber."

"house"

17. F o r m a l a g , "confidant(e)," cf. note 3 to p r o v e r b 1.94; the term m a l a g is here a s s u m e d to r e f e r to a p r e v i o u s l y unmentioned third p e r s o n p r e s u m a b l y a close f e m a l e f r i e n d of the f i s h e r m a n ' s wife although it is not impossible that it might r e f e r in some way to the f i s h e r m a n (i.e., her husband) himself.

1.110 1} é - 1 u -

nam

2

, .3 - b a - la

1

COLLECTION hé-éb hé-éb

4 5

-dirig

101

ONE

na-an-su-su

-Seg(,

na-an-te

If

one

makes

it n u m e r o u s ,

If

one

makes

it

If

one

heats

it,

7

too m u c h , he

must

b

-en-te-e[n] he m u s t

he m u s t not c o o l

not l e s s e n not

increase

8 9 it.

it.

it. ^

That i s , p e r h a p s , when one h a s m a d e a thing a c c o r d i n g to s p e c i f i c a t i o n s , he s h o u l d not then r a d i c a l l y a l t e r t h o s e s p e c i f i c a t i o n s e i t h e r q u a n t i t a t i v e l y or q u a l i t a t i v e l y . (With the f i r s t l i n e of this p r o v e r b , c f . the a n a l o g o u s l i n e f r o m the l e g a l t e r m i n o l o g y of A n a I t t i - s u quoted in note 8 b e l o w ; note that the s e c o n d line of the p r o v e r b i s not e x a c t l y p a r a l l e l to the f i r s t and t h i r d l i n e s , but cf. note 9 b e l o w . ) 1. F F h a s a s e p a r a t i n g l i n e b e t w e e n the s e c o n d and t h i r d l i n e s of this p r o v e r b . 2. So A; AA:

na-an-

for

nam-.

3. So A ; the t r a c e s in A A do not point to 4. S o F F ; A o m i t s 5. So F F ; A: 6. A:

- t e (!) -

-eb(cf.

-là.

-éb-. for

-éb-.

photograph).

7. l u = A k k a d i a n m a ' d u m . § L 5 3 7 : 2 8 and 29; cf. a l s o F a l k e n s t e i n , Z A 49 [1949], pp. 118 (line 23) and 147, and ZA^50 [1952], pp. 66 (line 47) and 84. 8. 1 á = A k k a d i a n m a t u m , m u t t û m . Note that the f o r m e x p e c t e d i s n a m - b a - l á - e ; c f . , both g r a m m a t i c a l l y and c o n t e x t u a l l y , L a n d s b e r g e r , M S L I, pp. 13 f., (Ana I t t i - S u ) I i v 71 f. : h é - d i r i g - g a namba-lá-e = l î t i r a i i m t i , " R a t h e r too m u c h than too l i t t l e , o r , l i t e r a l l y , " L e t one m a k e it too m u c h , l e t one not l e s s e n i t ! " 9. s u - s u = A k k a d i a n r u d d û m . S L 7 : 3 4 , and L a n d s b e r g e r , i b i d . , I iv 68; p e r h a p s , to j u d g e f r o m the p a r a l l e l i s m of the f i r s t and t h i r d l i n e s of the p r o v e r b , the v e r b h e r e m i g h t l i k e w i s e h a v e b e e n e x p e c t e d to h a v e b e e n one with a m e a n i n g the o p p o s i t e of dirig. 10. F o r t e - e n , " t o c o o l , to be c o o l , " cf. L a n d s b e r g e r , Γ1949], p. 286, note 121.

J N E S VIII

102

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

1.111 Sa

ug

bar*

sipad^ Inside: (Even)

ug

mu-ud-na

(|é-en^-ku¿-lam a ewe; if he

6

outside:

destroys

a

LUM-ma^-LUM-ma^

za-e

a ewe!

na-an-ku¿-lam-e-d[e]

The m a t e ( ? )

shepherd,

7

is most

fecund.

you should not d e s t r o y

him!

P e r h a p s an a l l u s i o n to the s t u d - r a m of a f l o c k , w h o s e fecundity and t h e r e f o r e h i s e c o n o m i c value f a r outw e i g h s any d a m a g e that he m a y c a u s e . 1. So F F ; A:

ba

(phonetic variant) f o r

bar.

2. So F F and A ( ! ) a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of the o r i g i n a l tablet. 3. F F s e e m s to have a p a r t i a l l y e r a s e d the f i n a l -ma. 4. So A; F F :

-ma

just to the l e f t of

s ipad(!) .

5. So A; F F o m i t s

-en-.

6. The two s i g n s h e r e r e a d u g m a y a l t e r n a t i v e l y be r e a d g a n a m 4 ("sheep") or δ u r u m ("dung") or e v e n u ' a ( " a l a s ! " / " w o e ! "), although none of t h e s e s e e m s p r e f e r a b l e to u 8 ("ewe"; c f . MSL· II. p. 102). 7. m u - u d - n a = Akkadian frawirum. ^ a w i r t u m (§L· 61:155. and D e l i t z s c h , HWB, p. 275). Note that if the w o r d m u - u d - n a belongs e x c l u s i v e l y to the E m e s a l d i a l e c t of Sumerian, i t s u s e h e r e s e e m s to be u n j u s t i f i e d , s i n c e the p r o v e r b i s o t h e r w i s e in the m a i n d i a l e c t . It i s of c o u r s e not i m p o s s i b l e that the w o r d s have b e e n w r o n g l y divided and that mu-UD should be i n t e r p r e t e d a s a v e r b a l f o r m , with the syllable η a - being a p r e f i x to what f o l l o w s . 1.112* si

nu-mu^-e - da-a^ - íl-i(?)^

a - b a - à m^ m à- e

s i — f l - i - d è - η a m^

n u - m u - e - da - ga ζ

7

i-ni

Did you not butt m e ' " with (your) Who

11

is

it that you a r e

butting?

8

-du-du

horns? 12

9

-dè-en

COLLECTION I did

not

smite

you!

13·

I will

go

ONE

(away)!

103

14

T h e w o r d - d i v i s i o n a n d t r a n s l a t i o n of t h i s p r o v e r b a r e h i g h l y u n c e r t a i n , b u t if c o r r e c t , i t m a y p e r h a p s b e t h e w o r d s of a s h e p h e r d t r y i n g to p a c i f y a n a n g r y r a m . 1. C f . a l s o C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 14222 + 7831 + 4567 o b v . i i i 5 - 7 . ' 2. So A a n d F F ;

C B S 14176 + 14222 + 7831 + 4567 o m i t s

-mu-.

3. So F F ; A a n d C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 14222 + 7831 + 4567 o m i t 4. So F F a n d C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 14222 + 7831 + 4567; 4567:

5. So F F ; A: a - b a a-na-aâ-àm for

-a-.

A omits

-i(?).

f o r a - b a - à m ; CBS 14176 + 14222 + 7831 + a - b a - "à. m .

6. So p r o b a b l y F F ; A m a y h a v e - n a ( ? ) - [ à m ( ? ) ] CBS 1 4 1 7 6 + 14222 + 7831 + 4 5 6 7 : - e n f o r -nam.

for

-nam;

7. So A a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of t h e o r i g i n a l t a b l e t ; C B S 14176 + 14222 + 7831 + 4567 o m i t s t h e e n t i r e c l a u s e m à - e nu-mu-e-da-gaz 8. So A; C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 14222 + 7 8 3 1 + 4567:

î -

9. So A; C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 14222 + 7831 + 4567:

-du-

for

i-ni-. for

-du-du-.

10. L i t e r a l l y , " l i f t t h e h o r n s a g a i n s t m e " (the i n f i x e d i s a s s u m e d to b e f o r - * -da-); f o r the compound v e r b si c f . a l s o , p e r h a p s , G u d e a , C y l . A, 2 1 : 2 1 .

-e - daf1,

11. T h e v a r i a n t t e x t of C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 14222 + 7 8 3 1 + 4 5 6 7 ( s e e n o t e 5 a b o v e ) r e a d s " W h y ? " i n s t e a d of " W h o ? " 12. Note t h a t s i — f l - i - d è - n a m is p e r h a p s to be a n a l y s e d a s si ( ì - ) f l - e d - e n — a — ( î - ) m ( e ) ; t h e v a r i a n t of C B S 14176 + 14222'+ 7831 + 4567 ( s e e n o t e 6 a b o v e ) w o u l d t h u s b e s i m p l y si (î-)fl-ed-en. 13. T h e m e a n i n g of t h e i n f i x e d smite," is obscure.

-da -

with the v e r b

gaz

, "to

14. T h e t r a n s l a t i o n f a i l s to a c c o u n t f o r the i n f i x e d - n i - a n d the reduplicated - d u - , but cf. the v a r i a n t ì - d u - d è - e n (see n o t e s 8 and 9 above). 1.1131

[

]

m u - . [.

GORDON:

104 [ . . . . ] . [ —

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

\luseurr: Monographs

]

1. T h i s p r o v e r b i s o m i t t e d i n A ( f o u n d o n l y i n B); it i s a s s u m e d t h a t t h e p r o v e r b c o n s i s t e d of t w o l i n e s , of w h i c h o n l y t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e second line is p r e s e r v e d .

edin(?)

ηu -m [u - . . . . ]

ba-ni(!)^-in-[. He

did( ? ) not

. . . ]

[. . ]

the

steppe(?);

he

. . d(?)

in

the

earth;

he

1.

T h i s p r o v e r b i s o m i t t e d in A.

2.

So B , o v e r a n e r a s u r e ( c f . p h o t o g r a p h ) .

[. . . ] .

1.115 an-bala He

who

ki-bala crosses

tions

the

the

an-ba

ki

an-ba

heavens, ^ c r o s s e s

heavens,

has

apportioned

the

the

who

appor-

earth.

T h e m e a n i n g of t h i s p r o v e r b i s q u i t e e l u s i v e , a n d s e v e r a l other translations might be possible on t h e s u r f a c e , t h e a l l u s i o n s e e m s t o b e to o n e of t h e g o d s . 1. a η -

in the f i r s t c o m p l e x i s a s s u m e d to be f o r

aη - e - .

2. I n v i e w of t h e p a r t i c i p i a l s t r u c t u r e of t h e f i r s t t h r e e c o m p l e x e s , t h e l a s t c o m p l e x m i g h t h a v e b e e n e x p e c t e d to r e a d ki - ba r a t h e r than the p h r a s e ki an-ba.

1.116 BU'-ud-bar 4 A planter(?)

ma-ad

ù-sù

-ud

COLLECTION

105

ONE

1. So Β a n d p r o b a b l y A ( a c c o r d i n g t o c o l l a t i o n of t h e o r i g i n a l t a b lets). 2.

So B; A :

-bar(!)

(the s i g n a c t u a l l y l o o k s l i k e

3.

So A (cf.

photograph).

-MAS).

4. F o r B U - u d - b a r = Akkadian h a r - § u m . cf. 5L 371:98. The t r a n s l a t i o n " p l a n t e r " is nothing m o r e than a g u e s s . See a l s o the following p r o v e r b .

1.117 ù(?)2-ba

Bu' - ud-bar A

plante r( ?

ma-.

. . . . [ . . ] . .

[ . . . ] . . .

.

1.

So Β a n d p r o b a b l y A ( a c c o r d i n g t o c o l l a t i o n of t h e o r i g i n a l t a b -

2.

C f . p h o t o g r a p h s of b o t h A a n d B .

3.

S e e n o t e 4 to t h e p r e c e d i n g p r o v e r b .

lets).

1.118

ma(?)-da(?)

. . [ . . . ]

KA(?)[...]

1.119 S

i §

A

bunin

NÍG-..

water-barrel^ 1.

Or

[ S ] á h (? ) - ηu - 1uh - h [ a

. . . [ . . ]

an

uncleane[d

p]ig(?),

. . . ] [ . . . . ]

" t u b . " See a l s o the following p r o v e r b .

1.120 § A

i 5

bunin

δ á h - k ú - k [ ú ( ? )*

water - b a r r e l 2

one who

. . . ] eats

much

pork

[ . . . . ]

GORDON:

106

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

1. So p r o b a b l y Β (according to collation of the original tablet). 2.

C f . note 1 to p r o v e r b 1.119.

1.121 e(?) - K U ( ? ) - S u(?) - a(?) . . . .

I(?)

will( ? )

. .

ga(?)-ra-..[

for

you [ . . . . ]

]

.

1.122 e - K U ( ? ) - δu - è - n i - d a ( ? ) - . [. . . . ] . . .

by( ? )

Ms

going

out(?)

. . . [ . . . . ]

.

1.123 gu-gub-ba

nu - u[ η - . . . . ]

NIG - . . [ . . . .

]

He

did

not [ . . ]

a firmly-fixed(?)

threadi?) 1 ;

1. Another possible translation might be 1 to p r o v e r b 1.47).

1.124

. . [ . . . . ]

.

"standing f l a x " (cf. note

1.139 *

1. T h e r e f o l l o w s here a lacuna of not m o r e than 16 p r o v e r b s (about 24 lines in A and B ) . Within this lacuna belongs the textual m a t e r i a l p r e s e r v e d in Y Y (col. ii) and A A (col. iv). Since it is m o r e than probable that Y Y (col. i) and A A (col. iii) f o r m a "join, 11 the text f r o m Y Y (col. ii) is placed b e f o r e that found in A A (col. iv). Since it is, however, not p o s sible to determine the exact position within the lacuna of the six p r o v e r b s r e c o v e r a b l e f r o m these two pieces, they have been numbered 1.1241 to 1.129'.

COLLECTION

ONE

107

1.124'

[

] - · - (?)

[

]. - g a 1 (? )

[. . . . ] . - i m [ . . . . - í ] L

[

]. .

[ . . . . ] . . [ . . . . ] [ . . . .

g r e a t ( ? ); is

[...],

car]ried(?). 1.125'1

dam-mu dumu-mu

ma-dub-bé ma-an-ág-e

[ m ]u - ud-ηa - m u

ku^-ta

gir-pad-du

[lj]é-éb-ri-ri-ge M y husband h e a p s

(things)

up f o r

me;

M y c h i l d m e a s u r e s (things) out f o r m e . 2 Let m y mate r e m o v e the b o n e s f r o m the f i s h (for

me)!

P r o b a b l y the w o r d s of a w i f e ——and m o t h e r who i s only p a r t i a l l y s a t i s f i e d with the c a r e and p r o v i s i o n s b e s t o w e d upon her b y the m e n of her f a m i l y . (It i s h a r d l y l i k e l y to be the w o r d s of a husband and f a t h e r — s i n c e the w o r d m u - u d - n a is in t h e E m e s a l dialect; note h o w e v e r the " E m e - K U " w r i t i n g s d u m u , g i r - p a d - d u and h é - . ) 1. T h i s p r o v e r b h a s b e e n r e s t o r e d with the help of a t a b l e t b e l o n g ing to a n o t h e r c o l l e c t i o n , CBS 14139 + U M 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 i i i 7 ' - 9 ' (unpublished), w h e r e t h i s p r o v e r b and the f o l l o w i n g a r e a l s o found. 2.

For

mu-ud-na,

c f . note 7 to p r o v e r b 1.111.

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PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

COLLECTION

TABLE OF

SEVEN.

STARTING-POINTS

COLUMNS

IN

COLLECTION

1

1

173

TWO

OF

TABLETS

MULTI-COLUMNED TWO

PIECES

AND OF

( E n d - p o i n t s in p a r e n t h e s e s )

F i r s t l i n e : C o b v . (-5); D (-7)5 E i ( - 7 ) ; F ( - l , t e n t h line); G i ( - 1, n i n t h line); H o b v . ( - 1 , s i x t h line); I ( - ) ; P P P i (-4)

29

F o u r t h line: U obv. (-34); V(-30)

30?

Ν ii ( b r e a k s off)

31?

Q ii (-33)

34

TTT(-)

Third line: line)

J obv. (-1, ninth

1

Sixth line:

Ai(-3)

38

W (-49);

1

Tenth line:

Κ (-2)

39

A i v ( - 5 4 , s i x t h line); GGGGobv. (-42)

2

QQQ(-) 40

Y(-)

4

Li(-lO) 41

UUU(->

6

C rev. (-15) 42

VVV(-)

47

AA (-54); BB obv. (-50)

49

WWW(-)

52

XXX ( - )

53

U rev. (-54, sixth line); BB rev. (-54, f i r s t line)

9

Firstline: Ν i (-12)

Aii(-21);

X(-)

Z(-)

M(-18);

9

Second line: RRR (-11)

PPPii(-17);

10

O ( -); Ρ ( -);

17

LLL(-)

19

SSS(-)

54

Firstline:

CC obv. (-57)

22·

R (-251)

54

Fifth line:

DD(-)

26

A iii (-37)

58

E E i (-70(?))

28

S ii (-36)

59

CC r e v . ( e x c e r p t ends)

29

Τ ( s e c o n d l i n e only)

60

YYYobv. (-61a)

Qi(-12)

174

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

TABLE 61

62

SEVEN.

L i i ( - 6 l a ) ; FF(->, GG(-); Z Z Z ( - ) l [ F o r 61-63 see also JJ (out of o r d e r ) below under 66 and 69 ( f i f t h l i n e ) . ] Α ν ( - 6 9 , fourth line); Y Y Y r e v . (-63)

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

(Continued) 80

Β ν (-88)

83

R R obv. (-85)

84

P P P v i (-97)

85

Ν vi (-90)

63

H H ( - 6 5 , ?); SS i ( - 6 9 , second line)

86

SS i i (-97); T T (-90); UU(-88)í E r e v . i i i (??)

64

Β iv(-67)

87

A vii(-99)

65

I I ( - 6 9 , fourth line)

92

VV(-101)

66

J J obv. (Unusual order: 66,62, 61, 69[fir st four l i n e s ] !)

93

Η r e v . (-96, ? ); GGGG r e v . (-95(?))

67

K K o b v . (-70); A A A A ( - )

98

WW (-103)

68

P P P ν (-73)

99

X X (-102)

69

Second line:

101

A v i i i (-110); Β v i (breaks off); J r e v . (-103)

69

Fifth line: JJ r e v . (Unusual order: 69, 63, 71-75 !)

104

M M M i (-105)

69

Sixth line:

105

Β v i (resumes,-110); Y Y ( - 1 1 2 ) ; DDDobv. ( - )

69

Seventh line: M M ( - 7 4 )

106

ZZ(-110)

69 69 a

raptirtiHT)«»·

Ν ν ( - 6 9 , f i f t h line)

L L (-69, eighth line)

A vi (-82)

I n s e r t e d in C o m m e n t a r y to 69:

FFFF(-) EEii(-92(?))

107

A A A obv. (-112)

109

BBB (-126)

111

CCC (-112)

71

K K r e v . (->

74

NN ( - )

118

Aix(-126);

77

L i i i (-82); OO obv. ( - 9 4 )

124

M M M i i (-126)

79

P P (-84); QQ ( - 8 2 )

126

BBBB(-)

000(-124)

COLLECTION

TABLE

SEVEN.

TWO

175

(Concluded) 140

J J J o b v . (-142); E E E E ( - 1 4 5 )

142

D D D r e v . (-143); H H H r e v . (-146)

Β vii (-143); E E E (-140); F F F (-138)

147'

J J J r e v . (-1491)

137

GGG(-)

148'

I I I rev. (-150·)

138

HHHobv. (-141)

158

KKK (-164)

139

I l l o b v . (-143)

159

Β viii (-164)

131

CCCC (-133)

133

NNN(-136>,

135

DDDD(-134!)

COLLECTION TEXT

AND

TWO

COMMENTARY

2.11 ki-gul-la-ba

ki

hé-en^-gul

ki - nu - g u l - 1 a - b a ki^-ni

ki-lu-úb^

g a r z a - bνi ιk i· - i ·r

11

- kud7 - da8

-gài

4

1> é - a

uk·i

ub a - e - g u ιl

b a - d a - ku ^ - 1a m gîr^

16 τ k ,i· - î· r - g a - a

m e - bκi·

one

na-ab-ta^-ab^-kùr-ru-dè-en-zé-en

ιk i·

17

νa-e nam-b

18

- g u τl - lι u - dΛ* e - en

20 ι u, ^ ι- l a m - e n a - a bν - *t a - a bκ - k

gud-ne

ki-gub-ba has

wreak

you

¿3

24

-kur-ru-dè

d e v a s t a t i o n in a p l a c e 26 'break-through' in a p l a c e

-en-zé-en 25

destroyed

a

not

destroyed,

place

has

perverted(?)

and wiped you,)

na-ab-ta-ab

- e n - z ¿e - e n

(already)

when his(?) (usually)

2 1

- ζ ¿e - e η

wrought

and m a d e

You

3

hé-en

.b a - d , a - k u r 10

12

-ga-a

garza-bi

(But

s a r

g i>r 9

me-bi

When

gú-gír

out its

29

become(?) its

a place

rites,

wrought

Norms. 31 should not p e r v e r t ( ? ) its

devastation

vine N o r m s ! should not r e m o v e

of

(yet)

. . . ,

28

he

devastation

has

in . . ,

27

30

Divine

32

in . . ! this

33

You ox(?)

176

rites!

should

from(?)

You

not wipe the

should out

pedestal!

its

not Di-

COLLECTION

177

TWO

This unusual p a s s a g e begins with a description of the sacrilegious acts that conquerors in the past had committed, and continues with an exhortation to the listeners or r e a d e r s not to act in the same way. These ten lines, which seem not to be related in any apparent w a y to the rest of Collection Two, include phrases which a r e quite reminiscent of the " l a m e n t a tion" literature. 1. F o r this p a s s a g e in another p r o v e r b collection, cf. S T V C 3 + 4 i 1-7 ff.; E omits the fourth, fifth and sixth lines of the " p r o v e r b " ; F omits the fifth line. E has separating lines following the third, seventh and eighth lines (collated on the original tablet); F and G have separating lines after each individual line; H has a separating line following the third line; and P P P has a separating line after each line of the passage except the f i r s t . (Note that C and D have no separating lines following any of the individual p r o v e r b s of the respective tablets.) 2.

saet e x c e p t C , which omits

-en-.

3.

saet e x c e p t C , which omits

-en-.

4.

saet except P P P ,

which has

-gul

for

5. So D, G, H, P P P and probably C; E: cording to collation of the original tablet). 6. So D, 7.

E:

F,

G,

H and P P P ; C and E:

-kud(!) -

-gài DI-

-LU-

( s c r i b a l e r r o r !).

for for

C:

(so a c -

-úb-.

(according to collation of the original tablet).

8. So C , E (so according to collation of the o r i g i n a l ! ) , P P P and probably J; S T Y C 3 + 4: - d u f o r -da. 9.

ki -

F,

G,

H,

g i r (!) .

10. saet except S T V C 3 + 4, which probably r e a d here [me-bi] b a - d a - k u £ , - l a m ; i.e., it p r o b a b l y omitted the fourth line and placed the sixth line in its stead! ( C f . also note 14 below.) 11. C:

- ir (!) - .

12. saet except D, which has J has an e r a s u r e following -a. 13. C: g i r ( ! ) ; E: g i r lation of the original t a b l e t ! ) .

ki-ir-ga-àm

for

ki-ir-ga-a;

(over an e r a s u r e —- so according to c o l -

14. saet except S T Y C 3 + 4. which has -dafor - t a - . (It is probable that S T V C 3 + 4 omitted the seventh line, and placed the ninth line of the passage in its stead; cf. note 10 above.) 15. D:

saet except E,

which has

- àm -

for

-ab-,

16. So G and P P P ; cf. also all the extant texts f o r the fifth line. k i ( ! ) - ; E: DIfor k i - (so according to collation of the original).

178

GORDON: 17.

s a e t e x c e p t E,

18. s a e t e x c e p t C, ( s i c ! ) for -ba -e - .

SUMERJAN P R O V E R B S

which has

-àm

which omits

-e-,

19.

saet except P P P ,

which omits

20.

s a e t e x c e p t E,

21.

So A; a l l other extant t e x t s o m i t

which has

for

Museum

Monographs

-a. and D, w h i c h h a s

-dè - en-.

-àm-

for

-ab-,

-e - .

22. So C, D, Κ and P P P ; A o m i t s - b a ; E: k i - b a - g u b k i - g u b - b a ( s o a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of the o r i g i n a l tablet). 23.

s a e t e x c e p t E,

24.

PPP:

-dè(!)-

which has

-bi-

-àm-

for

for

-ab-.

o v e r an e r a s u r e .

25. L i t e r a l l y , "when he h a s d e s t r o y e d a p l a c e in i t s d e s t r o y e d p l a c e s " ; c f . the s i m i l a r l i n e s in K r a m e r , E L A . pp. 12 and 18 ( l i n e s 120 and 193). 26. g ú - g í r = Akkadian p i l S u m . SL 106:173: c f . " L a m e n t a t i o n o v e r the D e s t r u c t i o n of U r , " l i n e 212 ( s e e now K r a m e r , A N E T . p. 459 and note 61). 27.

Literally,

"in i t s

not-destroyed

places."

28. L i t e r a l l y , p e r h a p s , "a p l a c e of cut beans"; c f . , h o w e v e r , SL 5 3 7 : 1 4 0 , w h e r e the w h o l e c o m p l e x lu-úb®ar-kud-da s e e m s to be e q u a t e d with the s i n g l e Akkadian wo rd ffIR / S A R - s u - r u m ( ? ) l . the m e a n ing of w h i c h i s unknown. 29. L i t e r a l l y , p e r h a p s , "changed (or ' r e m o v e d ' ) f r o m (its) c o u r s e . " Cf. P B S X / 4 , no. 1 ( " L a m e n t a t i o n o v e r the D e s t r u c t i o n of N i p pur"), r e v . i 1 0 - 1 1 , w h i c h r e a d s dim-ma-bi gir ib-ta-ankùr-ra-àm umu§-bi in-sù^-àm, "its j u d g e m e n t h a s b e e n perverted(?), i t s d i s c e r n m e n t h a s b e e n c o n f u s e d . N o t e , h o w e v e r , in the Old B a b y l o n i a n v e r s i o n of s o - c a l l e d "King of Kutha" p o e m , "The C u t h a e a n L e g e n d of N a r â m - S i n , " c o l . iv, l i n e 5 ( r e v e r s e of RT X X [ 1 8 9 8 ] . pp. 65 f f . , a s y e t u n p u b l i s h e d r e f e r e n c e p r o v i d e d by D r . J. J. F i n k e l s t e i n ) , the s i m i l a r p a s s a g e fou-bu-ur-5a i k - t a - b a - â s te - e m - S a i s - p u - u ^ . w h i c h m a y p e r h a p s indicate that the compound gir kúr i s to be under s t o o d a s the e q u i v a l e n t of the Akkadian k a b â s u m . "to t r a m ple." [ S i n c e both u m u S and d i m - m a a r e e q u i v a l e n t to the A k k a d i a n te m u m (cf. n o t e s 7 to p r o v e r b 1.183, 4 and 5 to 1.184, and 14 to 1 . 1 4 3 ) , it m i g h t be e x p e c t e d that at l e a s t in t h i s c o n t e x t the p r o b l e m a t i c a l A k k a d i a n t e r m h u b u r u m should have a m e a n i n g akin to that of { ê m u m . On the o t h e r hand, it m a y be that the two p a s s a g e s a r e not e x a c t l y a n a l o g o u s , s i n c e in o t h e r s i m i l a r S u m e r i a n p a s s a g e s " L a m e n t a t i o n o v e r the D e s t r u c t i o n of U r , " l i n e s 231 f. ( K r a m e r , AS 12, pp. 4 2 f . ; d i m - m a t h e r e should be d i m - m a ) , and p a r t i c u l a r l y in " G i l g a m e s h and A g g a , " l i n e s 47 and 58 ( K r a m e r , A J A L I I I [ l 9 4 9 l . pp. 8 and 11) it i s dim-ma and g a l g a , r a t h e r than d i m - m a and u m u § , w h i c h a r e u s e d in

COLLECTION the p a r a l l e l i s m . be t i e equivalent dim - ma. For CAD, vol. 6, pp.

TWO

179

Thus the t e r m fouburum in this p a s s a g e m a y p e r h a p s of the S u m e r i a n g a l g a ( " c o u n s e l " ) r a t h e r than of quite a different i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of the t e r m , s e e now 2 2 0 f . (note that d i m - m a t h e r e should be dim-ma).]

30. The meaning of is totally o b s c u r e .

ki-ir-ga-a

31.

See note 29 above.

32.

See note 30 above.

(variant:

ki-ir-ga-àm)

33. F o r - n e , " t h i s , " cf. P o e b e l , GSG, p. 8 2 , and F a l k e n stein, GSGL I, p. 5 5 . The r e f e r e n c e to an o x and p e d e s t a l is quite o b s c u r e . Note f u r t h e r m o r e that this tenth line (in the prohibitive) h a s no c o u n t e r p a r t among the s t a t e m e n t s m a d e in the n a r r a t i v e p a s s a g e in the f i r s t s i x lines.

nam-tar-mu pa

ga-àm-dug^

ga-àm^-è^

in-na-àm

k i - g e d i m (?

d u ^ - à m^ 9

If I s a y

"O

my

If I (thereby(?)) ghosts(?)

Fate!," cause

him

it

is

but a

taunt.

to m a t e r i a l i z e ,

it

is

a place(?)

where

walk(?).

The i m p l i c a t i o n s of this p r o v e r b a r e r a t h e r o b s c u r e . The " F a t e " of an individual h e r e (and in m o s t of the following p r o v e r b s ) s e e m s to be the p e r s o n i f i e d N a m t a r - d e m o n , who m a y p e r h a p s r e p r e s e n t not only the death of the individual, but a l s o his unknown life in the not too distant future. 1. C and D have no s e p a r a t i n g lines between p r o v e r b s 2 . 1 and 2 . 2 ( s e e note 1 to 2 . 1 above); P P P s e e m s to have an e r a s e d s e p a r a t i n g line p r e c e d i n g the final c o m p l e x of the p r o v e r b . 2. - àm ;

s a e t e x c e p t D, which h a s

-a-

for

-àm-,

3. So A , P P P and p e r h a p s QQQ; C and Κ omit D quite unexplainably o m i t s - ηa - àm .

4. So A , C, Κ and QQQ; D: ga-anfor ga-àm-,

ga-ni-

for

5.

In C , the t r a c e s a r e difficult to r e a d .

6.

So Α , Ε , Κ ( s i c . ! ) , P P P and QQQ; in C,

-na-;

ga-àm-;

E

omits

E and P P P :

the t r a c e s a r e difficult

GORDON:

180

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

to i n t e r p r e t . 7.

In K, the pupil's c o p y (the l o w e r r e g i s t e r ) o m i t t e d

8.

So C, P P P and p r o b a b l y A and QQQ; K:

9.

For

in(-na),

-e

for

-du-àm.

" t a u n t , " s e e note 3 to p r o v e r b 1 . 8 1 . 2.31

nam-tar-mu in-na

usar

-ma

ga-na-ab

- αug 4

ma-gá-gá 4

If I m e n t i o n heaped

my

fate

upon

to m y

(female)

companion,

5 taunts

are

me.^

P e r h a p s the i m p l i c a t i o n i s that it i s unwise to d i s c u s s s e r i o u s plans o r s o l e m n m a t t e r s with o n e ' s f e m a l e c o m p a n i o n s . 1. C and D have no s e p a r a t i n g l i n e s between p r o v e r b s 2.2 and 2 . 3 ( s e e note 1 to p r o v e r b 2 . 1 above). i.e., L Á L + S A R . So A , C and D; E and P P P have ( = L A L + D U ) for u s a r ( s c r i b a l e r r o r ! ? ). 3.

C:

4.

For

- a b ( !) usar

( = Akkadian S e ' î t u m ) .

5. F o r in(-na) , 3 to p r o v e r b 1 . 8 1 . 6.

ukú

Literally,

s e e note 7 to p r o v e r b 1 . 1 7 0 .

" t a u n t , " c f . the p r e c e d i n g p r o v e r b , and note

"placed for

me." 2.41

a-a

lgi

I looked into

i-ni-in the w a t e r :

2 , -bar (it w a s )

^ nam-tar-mu my

Fate

, , , 3 , 4 ba-deb -ba

which w a s

walking

there

P e r h a p s an allusion to divining the f u t u r e by h y d r o m a n c y (cf. now Contenau, ^ i y i i l f l p p . 2 9 1 ff. and the r e f e r e n c e s cited there). 1.

F o r this p r o v e r b in a n o t h e r c o l l e c t i o n ,

c f . Ni 9 8 2 4 (unpublished)

5

COLLECTION

181

TWO

obv. 5; C a n d D h a v e no s e p a r a t i n g l i n e s b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2 . 3 a n d 2.4 ( s e e note 1 to p r o v e r b 2 . 1 ) . -in-,

2. So E a n d P P P ; C o m i t s

i-ni-;

D omits

i-;

Ni 9 8 2 4 o m i t s

3. So p r o b a b l y E, a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of the o r i g i n a l ; t h e r e i s , h o w e v e r , a s l i g h t p o s s i b i l i t y that s o m e of the " w e d g e s " of the s i g n a r e a c t u a l l y s c r a t c h e s , a n d t h a t the s i g n i s t h e r e f o r e Τ U S , i . e . , -dab 5 4. So E; i n P P P the t r a c e s do not point to

-ba.

5. b a - d e b - b a i s a s s u m e d to be f o r b a - d e b - a ( ( - 1) - m ( e ) ) if the s i g n s h o u l d a c t u a l l y b e - d a b 5 - r a t h e r than - d e b - ( s e e note 3 a b o v e ) , the s e c o n d c l a u s e of the p r o v e r b s h o u l d p r o b a b l y be r e n d e r e d "it w a s m y F a t e w h i c h I s e i z e d ( t h e r e ) . " 2.51 2 U4 - η a m - t a r - g i g - g a - k a I w a s b o r n on an i l l - f a t e d

3 4 ba - t u - u d - d [ è - e n ] day.

C f . the B o o k of J o b , c h a p t e r 3, a n d , p e r h a p s , the e v e n c l o s e r s t a t e m e n t of P l a u t u s , " N a t u s d i s i n i m i c u s o m n i b u s " ( S t e v e n s o n , H B P M . p. 2 2 0 7 , no. 12). 1. C a n d D: n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2 . 4 a n d 2.5; E h a s p r o v e r b s 2 . 4 and 2 . 5 i n s c r i b e d on the s a m e l i n e . 2. E:

u4(!)-.

3. L :

b a ( !) - .

4. So E a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of the o r i g i n a l t a b l e t !

2.6 1 nam-tar-mu A word(?)

iηim -ηam -. [. . ]

of(?) . . .

will(?)

change(?) m y

m u - da - a η - kύ [ r - r ]u -[ fate.

1. C a n d D: n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2 . 5 a n d 2 . 6 ( c f . note 1 to 2 . 1 ) . 2. So p r o b a b l y E .

182

GORDON:

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PROVERBS

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i l i zu-a-ùr2-ra Hot-headed(?)^

3

mu-un(?!)-da(!?)4-an(?)-[. acquaintances^

. . ]

can(?) [. .] .

1. C and D: n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2.6 and 2.7 ( s e e note 1 to 2.1). 2. So L; C:

- ù r (!)

3. So L; C o m i t s

-ra-.

4. The beginning of the s i g n end in E. 5. F o r

- d a - i s p r e s e r v e d in L ,

and the

" h o t - h e a d e d , brusque(?), M s e e note 5 to p r o v e r b

ùr-ra,

2.126. 6. F o r zu-a, " a c q u a i n t a n c e ( s ) , " c f . F a l k e n s t e i n , ZA 50 [ 19521, p. 81, and Van Dijk, SSA, pp. 15 (line 12) and 17. 2.81 usar

ama-mu zi-mu

é^-a

su

[. . . ]

î-tag-[...] 3

A

(female)

companion

m y breath(?)

(and(?)) m y

touch[es(?)] the

mother

in(?) the h o u s e

[...];

flesh(?).

Note that the r e l a t i o n of the u n c e r t a i n s e c o n d c l a u s e of this p r o v e r b to the f i r s t c l a u s e i s t o t a l l y o b s c u r e . 1. C: n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2.7 and 2.8 ( s e e note 1 to 2.1). 2. So L; C: 3. F o r

é (!) - .

usar,

c f . p r o v e r b 2 . 3 and note 7 to p r o v e r b 1.170. 2.91

n a m - n u - tar - r e lú-kug-lá-zu

4

2

ki-gul-la

-me-en

igi-za

5

gaba

ba - aη- r[i -m e - eη

ga-gub

m a - a n - d u g 4 - e - Se

COLLECTION (The He

TWO

183

demon)

D e s t r u c t i o n c o n f r o n t e d [ m e ] , w h o s e f u t u r e had not 7 been determined; 8 9 s a i d to m e : " I a m y o u r p a y m a s t e r ! L e t m e b e at your s e r • , „ 1 0 vice ! " F o r the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h i s p r o v e r b , to the n e x t p r o v e r b ( 2 . 1 0 ) .

omit

omit

s e e the c o m m e n t

1.

C: n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2 . 8 and 2 . 9 ( s e e note 1 to 2 . 1 ) .

2.

So C; L o m i t s

-re.

3. So p r o b a b l y A ( c f . note 5 to p r o v e r b 2 . 1 0 ) ; L and p r o b a b l y C -m e - eη. 4.

So C and R R R ;

L omits

5.

s a e t e x c e p t P P P and R R R ,

6. So A , C and p r o b a b l y N; -e - se,

-zu-. which have

L , M,

-zu

for

-za.

and p r o b a b l y P P P and Ë.RR

7. L i t e r a l l y , " I a m ( - m e - e n ) one w h o s e f a t e h a d not b e e n determined ( n a m - n u - t a r ( - r e ) i s a s s u m e d to b e f o r ηam - ηu t a r - r a ; c f . the n e x t p r o v e r b ) , D e s t r u c t i o n h a s c o n f r o n t e d h i m ( i . e . , ' o n e ' ) . " T h e e x p r e s s i o n i s p e r h a p s to b e u n d e r s t o o d , p a r t i c u l a r l y in view of the s p e e c h e s of the two d e m o n s , a s m e a n i n g " o n e f o r whom no p r o v i s i o n (for e c o n o m i c s u p p o r t in the f u t u r e ) h a s b e e n m a d e (in a will) 1 1 ; c f . note 4 to p r o v e r b 1 . 6 7 . 8. Note the u s e of - e - δ e s u f f i x e d to the f i n i t e v e r b ma-an-dug4 both h e r e and in the f o l l o w i n g p r o v e r b , i n d i c a t i n g that - e - § e itself s i m p l y c o r r e s p o n d s to the A k k a d i a n p a r t i c l e of d i r e c t d i s c o u r s e - m i . and i s not to b e t r a n s l a t e d ; c f . note 10 to p r o v e r b 1 . 1 4 2 . 9. L i t e r a l l y , " I a m y o u r m a n who p a y s ( i . e . , ' w e i g h s ' ) out s i l v e r (to you) !" F o r a d i f f e r e n t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ( b a s e d upon an i n c o m p l e t e t e x t ) , c f . F a l k e n s t e i n , J £ L X [ 1 9 5 0 ] , p. 123. 10.

Literally,

"Let

me

stand

before

you!"

2.101 ηam - ηu-tar-ra

2


L 449:137); s i g - g a i s a s s u m e d in this p r o v e r b to be an i m p e r a t i v e .

2.381 [dub-s] ar(!) -re hé-sagij-§ag5

mu-...(?) e-ne-àm

hé-en-zu(l) dub-sar-ra

[...].(?)

COLLECTION When [ a he

scri]be is

knows

indeed

a

the

...(?)

2

TWO

and

201

does

well

the

. . [.(?)],

scribe !

A d e f i n i t i o n of the i d e a l s c r i b e (cf. p r o v e r b 2 . 3 9 , g i v e s a d e f i n i t i o n of the i d e a l s i n g e r ) .

2.38.

1.

3

which

T h e r e i s p r o b a b l y nothing m i s s i n g b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2.37 and

2. T h e c o m p l e x m u - . . . ( ? ) m i g h t h a v e b e e n e x p e c t e d to r e a d m u - g u b - b a , " m o d e l t a b l e t s " (cf. now L a n d s b e r g e r , J A O S 69 [ 1949] , p. 214, note to line 6), but the t r a c e s p r e s e r v e d in X do not s e e m to point to this r e a d i n g . 3. A t e r m l i k e s a r - s u b - b a ( " e x e r c i s e t a b l e t " ) or im-su ( " p a r a g r a p h t a b l e t " ) , f o r which s e e L a n d s b e r g e r , l o c . c i t . . m i g h t be e x p e c t e d h e r e , e s p e c i a l l y if m u - g u b - b a should turn out to be the c o r r e c t r e s t o r a t i o n in the p r e v i o u s c l a u s e ( s e e note 2 a b o v e ) . 2.39 nar-re

1

li-du-àm

hé - e n - s a g When a he

singer is

e-ne-àm

knows

indeed

a

2 ad(!) - d u - à m

hé-en-zu

the

hymns

5

n a r - r a - à m^ and p e r f o r m s

well

the

trills(?),

6

singer!

A d e f i n i t i o n of the i d e a l s i n g e r (cf. the p r e c e d i n g p r o v e r b , which g i v e s a d e f i n i t i o n of the i d e a l s c r i b e , a s w e l l a s p r o v e r b s 2.41 and 2 . 5 7 , which g i v e a n o t h e r r e q u i r e m e n t f o r the g o o d s i n g e r v i s - à - v i s the b a d s i n g e r ) . 1. So A; W o m i t s

-re.

2. So W, a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of the o r i g i n a l t a b l e t . 3. So W; A o m i t s the c l a u s e a d - d u - à m l j é - e n - § a g 5 ; it i s not c e r t a i n f r o m the t r a c e s , but G G G G m a y a l s o have o m i t t e d this c l a u s e . 4. So A(!)¡ W o m i t s

-àm;

GGGG o m i t s

-ra-,

5. i . e . , p e r h a p s , the w o r d s and b a s i c m e l o d i e s of the h y m n s ( s e e the following note); f o r the g e n e r i c c h a r a c t e r of the t e r m l i - d u , c f . F a l k e n s t e i n , ZA 49 [ 1 9 4 9 ] , pp. 8 4 f . 6.

T h e t r a n s l a t i o n of

ad-du

( = Akkadian n i s s a t u m . § L 145:26b)

202

GORDON:

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\luseum

Monographs

"trills(?)" that i s , p e r h a p s , a t e r m r e f e r r i n g to the technique of e m b r o i d e r i n g the m e l o d y of a song with s c a l e s and t r e m o l i such a s i s a s s o c i a t e d with both t r a d i t i o n a l and m o d e r n N e a r E a s t e r n m u s i c is a guess b a s e d upon the range of m e a n i n g s a s s o c i a t e d with the Akkadian r o o t n a s â s u m . n u s s u s u m . "to shake, to w a v e , to rock, to q u i v e r , " with w h i c h n i s s a t u m i s p r o b a b l y to be c o n n e c t e d . 2.40 dub-s ar-§u-ka - ta-di - a 2 A s c r i b e w h o s e hand moves(?) is

indeed

a

e - ηe - àm

dub-sar-ra-àm'

in a c c o r d a n c e

with the m o u t h ,

he

scribe!

That i s , p e r h a p s , a s c r i b e w h o s e w r i t t e n c o p y i s f a i t h f u l to the d i c t a t e d w o r d i s an i d e a l s c r i b e . 1. So A and p r o b a b l y GGGG; W and Y o m i t 2. F o r another i n s t a n c e w h e r e a r e c o n t r a s t e d , s e e p r o v e r b 3.184.

-àm.

s u ("hand") and

ka

("mouth")

2.41 ηa r - ζ a - ρa - á g - ηu - dùg - g a A

singer

whose

voice(?)

3

is

not

hu-ru-um^-nar sweet,

an i n f e r i o r

4

e-ne^ singer

is

he!

F o r the c o n v e r s e of this p r o v e r b , s e e p r o v e r b 2.57; s e e a l s o p r o v e r b 2 . 1 0 6 f o r what i s p e r h a p s a c o n t r a r y q u a l i f i c a tion of the k a l u m - p r i e s t . 1. So W, - um - .

Ζ and UUU; A o m i t s

2. So A , W and GGGG; Z: ering

-àm

-um-; (i.e.,

Ζ h a s an e r a s u r e f o l l o w i n g -nar-àm)

for

e-ne.

3. z a - p a - á g = Akkadian r i g m u m (SL 586:74): the s p e c i f i c r e n d " v o i c e " h e r e i s a g u e s s b a s e d upon the context.

4. F o r h u - r u - u m (variant: h u - r u ) , p r o b a b l y a l o a n - w o r d f r o m the Akkadian apurruña . " c o m m o n m a n , " with which it i s e q u a t e d in S Li 77:27 ( s e e a l s o L a n d s b e r g e r , AfO. B e i b a n d I [19331. p. 176), c f . a l s o p r o v e r b s 2 . 4 2 , 3 . 1 0 1 and 3.102, a s w e l l a s the d i f f i c u l t Edubba p a s s a g e SRT 28, l i n e 4 ( s e e , f o r the p r e s e n t , Van Dijk, SSA, p. 24). Note the

COLLECTION

203

TWO

o r t h o g r a p h y d u b - s a r - h u r (sic!) - r u m in the l e x i c a l ' V o r l ä u f e r 1 f r o m Nuzi S M N 2623 r e v . " 1 7 - 1 8 ( L a c h e m a n , RA_ X X X V I [1939] , pp. 91 and 94 r e f e r e n c e p r o v i d e d by P r o f e s s o r E . A. S p e i s e r ) . Note f i n a l l y the a p p a r e n t l y i n v e r t e d w o r d - o r d e r of the f i n a l c l a u s e , with the a d j e c t i v e p l a c e d b e f o r e the noun, i . e . , h u - r u - u m - n a r i n s t e a d of the e x p e c t e d n a r - h u - r u - u m ; f o r a s i m i l a r c o n s t r u c t i o n , cf. b à d - g a l a in p r o v e r b 2.106 and note 2 t h e r e . 2.42 * dub-sar-hu-ru [ . . ( ? ) ]5 An

inferior

6

schoo[ 1 1.

2

3 4 A „ G A ( ? ) . A S . GI 4

é - dub -b[ a scribe

is(?)

....(?)

gÌ4-me-as-e-ne

. ] . [ . . . ] of(?)

kinsmen;

7

[ . . (?)]

the

. ] . [ . . . ]

T h i s p r o v e r b i s o m i t t e d in W.

2. So both A and VVV (cf. note 1 to p r o v e r b 2.41); G G G G m a y have h a d [ d u b - s a r - h u ] - r u - u m ( ! ? ) , although the t r a c e s m a y e v e n t u a l l y turn out to b e l o n g to a d i f f e r e n t p r o v e r b . 3. So VVV ( a c c o r d i n g to the r o u g h t r a n s l i t e r a t i o n in the ' f i e l d n o t e book 1 of the e x c a v a t i o n e p i g r a p h e r , which w a s the only f o r m in which the t e x t of t h i s t a b l e t w a s a v a i l a b l e to the w r i t e r ) ; in A , the t r a c e s do not point to G A . 4. So VVV ( a c c o r d i n g to the ' f i e l d notebook'; s e e the p r e c e d i n g note), although the f i r s t G I 4 m a y turn out to be an e r a s u r e ; in A , t h e r e s e e m s to be only one G I 4 (that of the next c o m p l e x ? ? ) . The a c t u a l s y n t a c t i c r e l a t i o n of the s i g n s A . G A ( ? ) . A S . G l 4 to e a c h other and to the s e n t e n c e a s a whole i s t o t a l l y u n c l e a r . 5. In A , it i s u n c e r t a i n whether a s i g n at the beginning of the line h a s b e e n d e s t r o y e d or whether the s e c o n d line of the p r o v e r b i s indented and t h e r e f o r e t h e r e i s nothing m i s s i n g ; a s g i v e n in the ' f i e l d n o t e b o o k ' , VVV a p p e a r s to have quoted only the f i r s t line of the p r o v e r b . 6.

For

l)u-ru,

s e e note 4 to p r o v e r b 2.41.

7. F o r gÌ4-me-as (elsewhere a l s o written g i 4 - m e - a - a δ ) = A k k a d i a n k i n â t u m . " k i n s m a n , " c f . p r o v e r b s 3.17 and 3 . 1 8 , both of which a r e a l s o found in the b i l i n g u a l p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s f r o m K u y u n j i k ( c f . , f o r the p r e s e n t , L a n g d o n , A J S L X X V H I [ 1912]. p. 242 [ S m . 61, l i n e s 9 — 15], and M e i s s n e r , MAO G I I I / 3 [1929], p. 45); in the l a t t e r p r o v e r b , the w o r d g i ^ - m e - a S h a s the v a r i a n t § e s - g a 1 ("elder brother"), which thus p r e c l u d e s the r e n d e r i n g " s e r v a n t , d o m e s t i c , d e p e n d e n t " f r e q u e n t l y g i v e n f o r g i 4 - m e - ( a - ) a S = k i n â t u m ( M e i s s n e r , l o c . c i t . . and

204

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

SL 3 2 6 : 3 6 ) .

d ub - s a r - ë u - η u - a A

scribe

without

3

nar-mili

a hand

(is

like)

-nu-a a

singer

without

a

throat(?).

4

T h a t i s , p e r h a p s , an i n j u r y to the hand of a s c r i b e h a s the s a m e i n c a p a c i t a t i n g e f f e c t a s an i n j u r y to the t h r o a t of a singer. 1. A: n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2 . 4 2 and 2 . 4 3 . 2.

i.e.,

K A X L I.

3. T h e s u f f i x e d - n u - a i s a s s u m e d to b e the p a r t i c i p i a l f o r m of the v e r b a l r o o t n u ("not to b e , n o t to h a v e " ) , b a s e d on the n e g a t i v e n u - ; c f . n o t e 4 to p r o v e r b 1.37 ( s e e a l s o F a l k e n s t e i n , GSGL I. p. 150, note 4), a s w e l l a s p r o v e r b 2 . 7 9 . 4. T h e s i g n Κ A X L I , i n a d d i t i o n to i t s m o s t c o m m o n v a l u e s t u & ( " i n c a n t a t i o n " ) and u S 7 ( " s p e l l " ) , n e i t h e r of w h i c h s e e m s to f i t the c o n t e x t h e r e , a l s o h a s the r e a d i n g m i l i ( c f . L a n d s b e r g e r , M S L II r p. 57, l i n e 3 2 7 ) , f o r w h i c h the A k k a d i a n e q u i v a l e n t n e m l u m . " t h r o a t , " i s p r o b a b l y to b e r e s t o r e d on the a n a l o g y of m e l e x ( = K A X K A D R A ) = A k k a d i a n n e m l u m ("throat"), and m e 1 e x x ( = Κ A X Ú ) = A k k a d i a n n e m l u m ( " t h r o a t " ) , f o r w h i c h s e e L a n d s b e r g e r , op. c i t . . p. 153, l i n e s 20-21.

2.44 dub-sar You m a y not

an-ta-me-en be^

a

(even)

scribe a man

lú*

ki-ta-nu-me - e η

(when v i e w e d )

from

above;

(when viewed)

f r o m below !

(but)

you

are

P e r h a p s a taunt d i r e c t e d at a s c r i b e w h o , a l t h o u g h he p o s s e s s e s the c o n f i d e n c e of h i s s u p e r i o r s , d o e s not h a v e the r e s p e c t of h i s s u b o r d i n a t e s and h i s c o l l e a g u e s . 1.

W:

1ύ(!) ,

a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of the o r i g i n a l t a b l e t .

2.

Literally,

3.

For a similar statement,

"you a r e . " with a somewhat different e m p h a s i s ,

COLLECTION however,

c f . p r o v e r b 1.98 2.45

d u m u - u m -mi -a e -η e The

3

ηa 4

1

g ug - g i m

ti -b a

un - U

2

. 4 dub-sar-ra-àm

son he

205

TWO

of is

a a

school-master

like

carnelian-stone

. . . . (?);

scribe!

The m e a n i n g of t h i s p r o v e r b , b e c a u s e of the d i f f i c u l t ti-ba un-U, i s quite o b s c u r e . 1. A: n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2 . 4 4 a n d 2 . 4 5 . 2. So A; W s e e m s to h a v e - G A M (possibly a m i s c o p y ! ) for c f . the f o l l o w i n g p r o v e r b ( 2 . 4 6 ) a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y note 3 t h e r e .

-U;

3. S o A; in W, the s i g n - n e s e e m s to h a v e b e e n u n j u s t i f i a b l y e r a s e d b y the s c r i b e ( s o a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of the o r i g i n a l t a b l e t ) . 4.

S o A; W o m i t s

-àm.

5. The c o m p l e x d u m u - u m - m i - a , although t r a n s l a t e d "the s o n of a s c h o o l - m a s t e r , " m a y p e r h a p s be s i m p l y " a m e m b e r of the s c h o o l - m a s t e r s ' p r o f e s s i o n " ( c f . the u s e of m ä r in A k k a d i a n with the n a m e s of p r o f e s s i o n s ) ; f o r o t h e r p o s s i b l e o c c u r r e n c e s of t h i s i d i o m a t i c u s a g e in S u m e r i a n , c f . d u m u - £ a g i n a ( = G Í R . N I T Á ) , dumu-saé-ga[l] and d u m u - n u - [ b à n d a ] in the L i p i t - I s h t a r L a w C o d e v i i 1 - 3 ( S t e e l e , A J A L I I [ 1 9 4 8 ] . p . 4 3 5 ) , a s w e l l a s the p o s s i b l y m o r e c o n v i n c i n g o c c u r r e n c e in p r o v e r b 3 . 8 5 of C o l l e c t i o n T h r e e , w h i c h h a s dùg-ga-ab dumu-sila-su-dug-a-kam (variant: dumu-sus i l a - d u g - a - k a m ) w h e r e i t s c o u n t e r p a r t in the i d e n t i c a l p r o v e r b a m o n g the K u y u n j i k b i l i n g u a l c o l l e c t i o n s ( s e e , f o r the p r e s e n t , L a n g d o n , AJSJ-L X X V I H [ 1 9 1 2 ] , p. 242 [ S m . 61, l i n e ó ] ) r e a d s [ d ù g - g j a su-s iladug - ke4 with the A k k a d i a n t r a n s l a t i o n t j j - u b - b u s â S â - q i - i i . e . , " ' S w e e t e n i t ! ' i s (the w o r d ) of one of the c u p - b e a r e r s . " 6. 4 g u g - g i m m a y p e r h a p s h e r e be " a s if i t w e r e c a r n e l i a n s t o n e , " and r e f e r to the p r e d i c a t e of the s e n t e n c e , the o b s c u r e ti-ba u n - U ( s e e the f o l l o w i n g n o t e ) . n

a

7. The p h r a s e t i - b a u n - U i s t o t a l l y o b s c u r e ; c f . a l s o the f o l lowing p r o v e r b . None of the u s u a l r e n d e r i n g s of t i a n d b a s e e m to f i t the c o n t e x t ; t i - b a m a y p o s s i b l y be the n a m e of s o m e s o r t of i m p l e m e n t or i n s t r u m e n t (cf., p e r h a p s , 7 3 : 2 8 a n d 30). A s to the r e a d i n g a n d m e a n i n g of u n - U , t h e s e too a r e q u i t e u n c e r t a i n ( c f . p r o v e r b 2 . 4 6 ) .

206

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

2.461 . . , ti-ba

un

....(?)

5

is

2

TT -U

3

na 4 > j . 4 ^ ζ a - gιη - ηa - a m

lapis-lazuli!

T h e m e a n i n g of t h i s p r o v e r b ( c f . p r o v e r b 2 . 4 5 ) i s t o t a l l y obscure. 1. A : n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2 . 4 5 a n d 2 . 4 6 . C f . a l s o , f o r t h i s p r o v e r b , t h e N e o - A s s y r i a n b i l i n g u a l c o l l e c t i o n f r o m K u y u n j i k K. 8 3 1 5 ( L a n g d o n , A J S L X X V I I I Í 1 9 1 2 1 , p . 2 4 3 , a n d M e e k , R A X V I I Γ 1 9 2 0 1 , p . 159), l i n e s 1 - 2 , w h i c h r e n d e r s the p r o v e r b in its A k k a d i a n c o l u m n a s follows: ana UB-b[i(?)] . [.(?)] , u q - n i [ . . (?)] . N o t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t a c c o r d i n g to t h e r e c e n t c o l l a t i o n of t h e t a b l e t b y W . G . L a m b e r t , t h e t r a c e s i n the f i r s t line h a v e d e t e r i o r a t e d s i n c e the t a b l e t w a s l a s t copied, so that n e i t h e r the U Β n o r t h e t r a c e s of - b [ i 1 a s c o p i e d b y M e e k a r e v i s i b l e any longer. 2.

So A a n d W; K . 8 3 1 5 :

ù - u m -

3. So A ; W s e e m s t o h a v e K. 8 3 1 5 a c t u a l l y h a s -U(!?) ing to t h e c o l l a t i o n of L a m b e r t . 4 . So A : W o m i t s ηa 4 * > ^ z a - g i n - n a - a m .

for

un-.

- G A M ( p o s s i b l y a m i s c o p y ! ) f o r - U; not - s ú a s in M e e k 1 s copy accord-

-àm;

Κ. 8315:

i

n a

4

z

] a - g î n - a J

for

O

5. F o r t h e p h r a s e ti-ba un-U (variant here: ù-um-U), s e e n o t e 7 to t h e p r e c e d i n g p r o v e r b ( 2 . 4 5 ) ; t h e u n c e r t a i n s t a t u s of t h e A k k a d i a n t e x t p r e v e n t s t h e l a t t e r f r o m b e i n g of a n y u s e i n a t t e m p t i n g t o t r a n s l a t e the p h r a s e . It s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t t h i s p r o v e r b m a y n o t e v e n r e f e r to a h u m a n b e i n g , and m a y p o s s i b l y h a v e b e e n i n s e r t e d h e r e , in t h e m i d s t of t h e dub-sar and nar s e r i e s of p r o v e r b s , s i m p l y b e c a u s e of i t s s i m i l a r i t y t o t h e p r e c e d i n g p r o v e r b .

2.47 j

a

1

t

2

j.

dub-s ar - eme - ζ ι r - η u - m u - u n - z u - a

A

dub-sar s c r i b e who scribe

e-ne^ d o e s not know 5 is he?

Sumerian,^

a - n a - a m

what

(kind

of)

a

COLLECTION

207

TWO

If t h e t r a n s l a t i o n of e m e - ζ ir a s "(the) S u m e r i a n (language)" is c o r r e c t , this p r o v e r b is p e r h a p s an allusion to s c r i b e s w h o m a y h a v e s t u d i e d o n l y t h e A k k a d i a n l a n g u a g e , and t h u s did not r e c e i v e a " l i b e r a l e d u c a t i o n . " (Cf. a l s o p r o v e r b s 2.49 and 2.55.) 1. So A a n d B B ; W s e e m s to h a v e Κ A X S U ( s o a c c o r d i n g t o c o l l a t i o n of t h e o r i g i n a l t a b l e t ! ) f o r erne (= K A X M E ) . 2.

So W a n d p o s s i b l y A A ; A a n d B B o m i t

3.

So A; for

ra-ni

W, B B a n d p r o b a b l y AA: a - n a - à m dub-sar

-m u - .

a - n a - à m e-ne.

n a m - d u b - s a r -

4. F o r e m e - ζ ir, "the S u m e r i a n l a n g u a g e , " cf. also p r o v e r b s 2 . 4 9 a n d 2 . 5 5 , a s w e l l a s K r a m e r , J A O S 69 [ 1 9 4 9 ] , p p . 2 0 2 a n d 2 0 5 ( l i n e 4 0 ) , a n d i d e m , J A O S 6 3 [ 1 9 4 3 ] , p . 193, n o t e 7. Note a l s o that in the l e x i c a l ' V o r l ä u f e r ' l i s t of o c c u p a t i o n a l t e r m s f r o m U g a r i t ( T h u r e a u - D a n g i n , S y r i a XIII [ 1 9 3 2 ] , p. 2 3 4 , n o . 9, o b v . i i 17), MIN( = d u b - s a r ) - e m e K U - r a c o r r e s p o n d s to t h e [ d u b - s a r ] - e m e - K U = tupsar sum e - r i in the b i l i n g u a l l i s t p u b l i s h e d b y S c h e i l (RT_XXXVI [ 1914], p p . 1 8 4 f . , r e v . i i 13); i t i s to b e n o t e d t h a t t h e K U a n d K U - r a of t h e s e l a t e t e x t s i s f o r t h e e a r l i e r ( a n d no l o n g e r d i s t i n g u i s h e d b y M i d d l e B a b y lonian times) writing S f c / H U N and S È / H U N - r a , i.e., ζ ir and ζ ι r - r a , and thus e m e - Κ U i s p r o b a b l y a l w a y s to be r e a d e m e - ζ ir ! his

5. T h e m e a n i n g of t h e v a r i a n t t e x t ( s e e n o t e 3 a b o v e ) i s " w h a t s c r i b e s h i p ? " (i.e., "what does his s c r i b e s h i p amount t o ? " ) .

1ύ - a - a - η u - m u - u η -da - a k - d a - à m γ me-da hé-en -tùm(u) A

fellow

who

where

can

will

he

not

(even)

(expect

eme

- k a s ^ - k a s ^

make(?)

to)

(the sounds(?)) "a-a"(?), 9 10 obtain(?) fluent(?) speech?

P e r h a p s a r e f e r e n c e to the pupil who w a s slow in l e a r n i n g to r e a d a l o u d . 1.

T h i s p r o v e r b is o m i t t e d in A.

2.

So W a n d B B ; A A o m i t s

3.

So AA(!) a n d B B ; W o m i t s

-un-. -da-

g

is

208

GORDON: 4.

So B B ; W a n d AA:

5.

AA:

e m e (!) -

SUMERIAN -dè

Museum

Monographs

- d a - à m .

( s o a c c o r d i n g t o c o l l a t i o n of t h e o r i g i n a l t a b l e t ) .

6. So A A a n d B B ; W: of t h e o r i g i n a l t a b l e t . 7.

for

PROVERBS

- [ k a s 4 ] - k a § 4 (!) ,

So W a n d AA; B B :

- em -

8. T h i s t r a n s l a t i o n of b a s e d upon the context.

for

a-a

a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n

-en-.

(-da)-ak

is purely a guess

9. F o r me-da tùm(u), c f . p r o v e r b s 1.2 ( a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y note 7 t h e r e ) , 2.35, 2.49 and 2.56. N o t e t h a t t h e r e n d e r i n g of t h e e x p r e s s i o n h e r e and in the l a s t t h r e e a b o v e - c i t e d p r o v e r b s d i f f e r s f r o m the t r a n s l a t i o n of t h e p h r a s e i n p r o v e r b 1.2 ( a l t h o u g h c f . t h e a l t e r n a t i v e r e n d e r i n g s u g g e s t e d i n n o t e 7 to t h a t p r o v e r b ) . 10.

Literally,

perhaps,

"running,

quick.11

2.491 2 dJ u bν - s a r - e m e - ζ ι·' r - η u - m u - u n - z u - a

me-da A

Ijé - e n

4

-tùm(u)

· i n· i m -κb a1l a - e 3

5

scribe

who d o e s not know S u m e r i a n / * w h e r e w i l l he 7 8 obtain(?) a translation(?) (of a S u m e r i a n t e x t ) ?

(expect

to)

Cf. the following p a s s a g e f r o m a f r a g m e n t a r y Edubba c o m p o s i t i o n ( S E M 67 o b v . i 7 - 8 ) : e m e - z i r - t a iηim e-da-bala-e h« é - é b - d a - g&á l e m e - z i r Q i - r i 7 dui-la, "If t h e r e i s a t r a n s l a t i o n to b e m a d e from the S u m e r i a n , the S u m e r i a n is h i d d e n f r o m y o u ! " ^ The i m p l i c a t i o n s of b o t h t h e s e p a s s a g e s s e e m t o b e t h a t S u m e r i a n (if eme-zir i s i n d e e d c o r r e c t l y t r a n s l a t e d ; s e e n o t e 4 to p r o v e r b 2 . 4 7 ) w a s n o t t h e n a t i v e l a n g u a g e of t h e s e s c r i b e s (cf. a l s o p r o v e r b 2.47), a n d p e r h a p s t h a t it w a s no l o n g e r a living tongue at the time that t h e s e p a s s a g e s w e r e c o m p o s e d . 1.

T h i s p r o v e r b is o m i t t e d in A.

2. So A A ; W a n d B B o m i t - m u - ; WWW ( a v a i l a b l e to the w r i t e r o n l y i n t h e f o r m of a r o u g h t r a n s l i t e r a t i o n i n t h e ' f i e l d - n o t e b o o k ' of t h e excavation epigrapher) m a y have omitted both -muand -un-, since the notebook i m p l i e s only two u n c e r t a i n s i g n s b e t w e e n - e m e - z i r and - a (i.e., probably, - n u - z u - , a l t h o u g h i t i s of c o u r s e p o s s i b l e t h a t there were actually three signs squeezed close together).

COLLECTION

TWO

209

3. S o W a n d A A ; B B o m i t s - e ; WWW (at l e a s t a c c o r d i n g to t h e r o u g h t r a n s l a t i o n in the ' f i e l d - n o t e b o o k ' ) : i n i m - b a l - l a for inimba 1a - e . 4.

So A A a n d p r o b a b l y W; B B a n d WWW:

5.

W:

-tùm(u)(!),

6.

For

e m e - ζ ir ,

7.

For

me-da

-em-

for

-en-.

a c c o r d i n g t o c o l l a t i o n of t h e o r i g i n a l t a b l e t . s e e n o t e 4 to p r o v e r b 2.47 a b o v e .

hé-en-tùm(u),

s e e n o t e 9 to p r o v e r b 2 . 4 8 .

8. F o r i n i m - b a l a - e , s e e ( i n a d d i t i o n to t h e p a s s a g e q u o t e d i n t h e c o m m e n t a r y t o t h e p r e s e n t p r o v e r b , a n d n o t e 9 b e l o w ) n o t e 2 to p r o v e r b 1.36. 9. i n i m - e - d a - b a l a - e i s p r o b a b l y to b e a n a l y s e d a s i - t a - b a i a - e ( d) ( - a ) ; t h e c h a n g e of t h e i n f i x - t a to c f . F a l k e n s t e i n , G S G L I. p . 2 1 5 a n d n o t e 2.

inim — -da-,

10. i - r i - d u i - l a i s a s s u m e d to b e f o r i - r i - d u l - l a - à m (that is, f o r î ( - e ) - r a - d u l — a ( ( - i ) - m ( e ) ) ; cf. P o e b e l , GSG. p p . 220 a n d 2 0 2 , §§ 5 4 8 a n d 508); d u i = Akkadian pu s s u m u m . cf. L a n d s b e r g e r , M S L I I . p . 129, l i n e 12.

X

_

L*

dub-sar - SED-ma

i m - m a

d u b - s a r - [ . . - m ] a ( ? ) The The

reciting(?) [.].(?f

3

SED - e

scribe

scribe

ba-an-LAL

has

has

. . d(?)

. . d(?)

4

4

ba-an-LAL in(?)

in(?)

the

the

. .

clay

(tablets(?));

!

T h i s p r o v e r b , a l t h o u g h s e v e r a l of i t s s i g n s a r e u n c e r t a i n o r a m b i g u o u s a s to t h e i r r e a d i n g s , s e e m s to c o n t r a s t t h e a b i l i t i e s o r i n t e r e s t s of t w o d i f f e r e n t k i n d s of s c r i b e s . 1.

T h i s p r o v e r b is o m i t t e d in A.

2.

So AA;

3.

F o r the u n c e r t a i n

BB probably omits

4. b a - a n - L A L in ( r e s p e c t t o ) . "

SED-ma,

-ma. cf. p e r h a p s §L 314:68 a.

is perhaps simply

ba-an-lá,

"is

deficient

5. I t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e f i r s t c o m p l e x of t h e s e c o n d l i n e i s t o b e r e s t o r e d , o n t h e b a s i s of t h e a p p a r e n t p a r a l l e l i s m , d u b - s a r - i m - m a , a l t h o u g h t h i s c a n n o t b e s u r e b e c a u s e of t h e v a r i a t i o n b e t w e e n S E D - m a

210

GORDON:

in the f i r s t line and

SUMERIAN

δ ED - e

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

i n the s e c o n d l i n e . 2.511

dub-sar-Sà-ba-me-en You a r e 2

a

scribe

KA(?)

. . . (?);3

. . (?)

...

1.

T h i s p r o v e r b i s o m i t t e d i n AA.

2.

Or

"I

3. T h e to a s c r i b e .

... !

am."

signs read

Sà-ba

a r e q u i t e u n i n t e l l i g i b l e in r e f e r e n c e

2.52 dub-sar-lú-zú-ra 5 A chattering scribe 1. So A; AA:

1

2 - a h (!) his

nam-tag-ga-ni

guilt

- [r ]a (!) - ,

is

ab-gu

3

4 -ul

great.

a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of t h e o r i g i n a l

tablet. 2. So A A a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of t h e o r i g i n a l t a b l e t ; A m a y h a v e omitted -al). 3. So XXX; in A, the t r a c e s of t h e f i r s t two s i g n s of t h i s c o m p l e x do n o t e x c l u d e t h i s r e a d i n g . 4.

So A .

5.

For

lú-zú-ra-a^j.,

c f . p r o v e r b 1.185 a n d n o t e 5 t h e r e . 2.53

dub-sar-TUR*

ninda

δ à - g a 1-1 a - η i - δ è

bí-íb2-

dirig - dirig^-ge 4 nam - dub - s a r - r a - δ è

geStúg

A junior-scribe

concerned

He

does

not pay

is

overmuch attention

to

(his)

nu - ub - §i - g á - g á with

6

scribe ship.

food for his

5 stomach;

7

COLLECTION 1. A:

TWO

211

- Τ UR (! ) .

2. S o A; AA:

-ib-

3. So A; AA:

-di rig-

4. So AA; A o m i t s

for

- ib - . for

-dirig-dirig-.

-ra-.

5. So A A and p r o b a b l y U; A p r o b a b l y h a s g i z z [ a l ] nu-ub(!)· si-ak-e (for which s e e now K r a m e r . J C S I [1947]. p . 33 and n o t e s 208 and 209) i n s t e a d of g e s t ú g η u - ub - s i - g á - g á . 6. L i t e r a l l y ,

"he

makes

it

excessive."

7. The t r a n s l a t i o n " s t o m a c h " f o r s à - g a l (literally, "great h e a r t , g r e a t i n s i d e " ) i s a g u e s s b a s e d upon the c o n t e x t ; c f . a l s o , e s p e c i a l l y , p r o v e r b 2 . 1 3 8 , w h e r e the w o r d i s c o n t r a s t e d with s u , " h a n d , " and should t h e r e f o r e a l s o be a p a r t of the body. The w e l l - a t t e s t e d e q u a tion s à - g a l = A k k a d i a n u k u l l u m , " f o o d - s u p p l y , " d o e s not s e e m to f i t in e i t h e r of the s e o c c u r r e n c e s of s à - g a l . 2.541 dub - s a r - p e - e l - l á

1ú -iηim

nar-pe-el-lá gala-pe

6

χ

2

-ma

3

-kam

4

< 1 lú-gi-gid-a -kam

dam-kàr-pe -el-lá ηag ar - ρ e - e 1-1á s im u g - ρ e - e 1 - 1 á

da-ba-ri-ri-a-kam . ~ g lú-^isbala-a -kam 1ú -u

s idim -ρ e - el-lá

A disgraced

-iηim

lú- gì-di-da^-kam

- e 1-1á

A disgraced^

x

r u

^u g u r j q - k a m

im-bu-bu-a

scribe

becomes

a

a man

singer

A disgraced

becomes a piper;^ 13 kalum-priest becomes a

A disgraced

merchant

becomes

an

A disgraced

carpenter

becomes

a man

A disgraced

smith becomes

A disgraced

mason

a man

becomes

In e a c h of t h e s e l i n e s ,

a

-kam of

spells(?);^

12 flutist; 14 artisan(?); of

of the

spindle;

15

the

sickle·/^ h o d - c a r r i e r ( ? ) . 17

a m e m b e r of a r e s p e c t e d p r o f e s s i o n

GORDON:

212

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

or m a s t e r - c r a f t , having s u f f e r e d d i s g r a c e , is said to have thereupon taken up a m o r e l o w l y occupation which, in each c a s e , b e a r s s o m e r e l a t i o n to his f o r m e r position: in two o r t h r e e c a s e s , p e r h a p s , it i s a j o b w h e r e he a s s i s t s his f o r m e r c o l l e a g u e s ( v i z . , the e x - s i n g e r , the e x - k a l u m - p r i e s t . and p o s s i b l y the e x - m a s o n ) , while in two of the o t h e r s , he s e e m s to have b e c o m e a man who uses the t o o l s which he f o r m e r l y produced ( v i z . , the e x - c a r p e n t e r and the e x - s m i t h ) .

has one any line

1. CC has separating l i n e s f o l l o w i n g each l i n e of this p a s s a g e ; A A no separating line b e t w e e n the f i r s t and second l i n e s , but d o e s have a f t e r each succeeding line; A and U have no separating l i n e s between of the sentences of this p a s s a g e (note that both A and U o m i t the third of the " p r o v e r b " ) . 2.

i.e.,

-KA X LI-KA X LI-

: so U, A A , B B and C C .

3. So C C ; BB o m i t s - m a - ; U has - § È - f o r - m a - ; A A ha s - i n i m x - a - ( i . e . , the sign Κ A X L I i s w r i t t e n only once) f o r i ηi m inimx-ma-. 4. for

saet e x c e p t B B ,

5. So U; A A : -a -gi-di-da-. 6.

CC:

- ρ e (!) - ,

7. So A A ;

CC:

which has for

-k[a(?)]

-da-;

for

-kam.

CC (and p o s s i b l y A ) has - g i - g i d

o v e r an e r a s u r e .

-gi-di-da-

8.

So A A and DD; CC o m i t s

9.

So A A ; CC o m i t s

for

-gi-gid-a-.

-a - .

-a - .

10. p e - e l - l à = Akkadian l u ' u m . qullulum and sulp ut um ( § L 383:77); c f . a l s o ρil-là (i.e., N E - l á ) with the s a m e A k k a d i a n equi v a l e n t s (SL 172:159 C and d). See a l s o Van D i j k , SSA, pp. 49 (line 295), 57 and 126, as w e l l as K r a m e r , M H G . pp. 173 and 177 (line 29), and c o m m e n t to that line on p. 181. 11. Since none of the attested v a l u e s of KAX LI s e e m s to end in -m, the signs Κ A X L I - Κ A X L I - m a have b e e n a s s u m e d to have the value inimx-inimx-ma on the a n a l o g y of the w e l l - a t t e s t e d in i m - i n i m - m a ( i . e . , s i m p l y , K A - K A - m a ) = Akkadian sip tum (SL 15:84), " s p e l l . " ( N o t e , h o w e v e r , the i n e x p l i c a b l e -SÈin p l a c e of - m a - in the v a r i a n t in U; see note 3 a b o v e . ) 12. F o r the two r e e d w i n d - i n s t r u m e n t s g i - d i - d a ( = Akkadian e b û b u m . c f . § L 85:406c) and g i - g i d ( = A k k a d i a n m â l i l u m ) . see " I n a n n a ' s D e s c e n t to the N e t h e r W o r l d , " line 337 ( K r a m e r , JCS V [ 1 9 5 l ] , p. 14). Note that one of the texts ( C C , c f . note 5 a b o v e ) r e v e r s e s the p o s i t i o n s of the two i n s t r u m e n t s , attributing the flute to the d i s g r a c e d s i n g e r , and the pipe to the f o r m e r k a l û m - p r i e s t . ( F o r the d i f f e r e n c e in

COLLECTION t h e q u a l i t y of the v o i c e s of the v e r b s 2 . 4 1 , 2 . 5 7 a n d 2.106).

nar

213

TWO

and the

gala,

cf.,

perhaps,

pro-

13. F o r the k a l û m - p r i e s t . c f . T h u r e a u - D a n g i n , R A X V I [ 1 9 1 9 ] , p. 121; A l i o t t e de l a F u y e , R A X V I I I [ 1 9 2 1 ] , p p . 1 0 1 - 1 2 1 ; a n d O p p e n h e i m , O r i e n t a l i a . N. S . . 19 [ 1 9 5 0 ] , p . 135 a n d n o t e 1. See a l s o p r o v e r b s 2.97 to 2 . 1 0 6 i n c l u s i v e . 14. F o r t h e o c c u p a t i o n a l t e r m d a - b a - r i - r i (possibly connected with the v e r b d a r i , " t o d r i v e ( a n i m a l s ) , to d e l i v e r , e t c . " ; c f . , in a d d i t i o n to SL 335:52, the o c c u r r e n c e in I T T I, n o . 1119, l i n e 9), s e e S L T 102 r e v . v i i 7, w h e r e t h e w o r d i s f o u n d b e t w e e n g a S a m ( i . e . , N U N . M E . T A G ) , " c r a f t s m a n , " a n d δ i d i m , " m a s o n " ; on t h i s b a s i s , it i s a s s u m e d that d a - b a - r i - r i r e f e r s to s o m e s o r t of a r t i s a n , a l t h o u g h i t i s n o t i m p o s s i b l e t h a t it a c t u a l l y m e a n s a " p o r t e r " o r t h e l i k e , in v i e w of the p o s s i b l e c o n n e c t i o n w i t h d a r i a s well a s the context in this p r o v e r b . (Note t h a t the - a k - of - a - k a m , b o t h h e r e a n d in t h e f i n a l l i n e of t h i s p r o v e r b , a p p e a r s to b e u n j u s t i f i a b l y u s e d on t h e a n a l o g y of t h e r e m a i n i n g l i n e s of t h e p r o v e r b , w h e r e g e n i t i v e s a r e a c t u a l l y involved.) 15. F o r t h e s p i n d l e a s a s y m b o l of e f f e m i n a t e n e s s (not n e c e s s a r i l y t h e c a s e in t h i s p r o v e r b ) , s e e e s p e c i a l l y t h e " H i t t i t e S o l d i e r s ' O a t h , " ii 4 2 - i i i 1 (cf. now G o e t z e in A N E T . p . 354). T h e i m p l i c a t i o n of t h e s p i n d l e ( g í b a l a ) in t h i s p r o v e r b i s p r o b a b l y t h a t it w a s a n o b j e c t m a d e b y the c a r p e n t e r s f o r t h e u s e of o t h e r s (cf. t h e f o l l o w i n g n o t e ) . 16. N o t e t h a t t h e c o p p e r f o r t h e r e a d i n g a n d m e a n i n g of p. 143 a n d n o t e 132 t h e r e , a n d a n d k e p t in r e g u l a r r e p a i r ( c f . , (cf. the p r e c e d i n g note).

u r u d u sickle ( u r u d u g u r ! 0 ; i.e., KIN, w h i c h s e e now O p p e n h e i m , C a t . E a m e s , r e f e r e n c e s cited) was an object produced f o r e x a m p l e , U E T I I I 383) b y the s m i t h s

17. T h e t r a n s l a t i o n of i m - b u - b u ( p e r h a p s l i t e r a l l y " t h e c l a y d r a g g e r " ; cf., p o s s i b l y , the p h r a s e im-ma a l - b u - i - d è and its v a r i a n t s in p r o v e r b 1.156) a s " h o d - c a r r i e r " i s l a r g e l y a g u e s s b a s e d u p o n t h e c o n t e x t h e r e . ( F o r the g r a m m a t i c a l l y u n j u s t i f i a b l e -a - kam, s e e n o t e 14 a b o v e . ) 2.55 kindagal He

a

1

- e m e - ζ ί r - b a - a η - ζu - a valet

who

(actually)

knows

(the)

Sumerian

5 (language) !

F o r t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s of " k n o w i n g S u m e r i a n , " s e e the c o m m e n t a r y to p r o v e r b 2 . 4 9 . This p r o v e r b would thus s e e m to r e f e r to the u n u s u a l s i t u a t i o n of a n e d u c a t e d v a l e t .

GORDON:

214 1. i.e., 2.

-a

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

GAL.KINDA. is a s s u m e d to be f o r

-àm.

3. F o r kindagal, cf. "Death of G i l g a m e s h " B , line 4 ( K r a m e r , B A S O R 94 Γ19441. pp. 8 and 12); see a l s o K r a u s , JÇS I I I [ 1 9 4 9 ] , pp. 80f., note 50. 4. The function of the thematic particle bain (as distinguished f r o m the m o r e common m u - u n - z u )

ba-an-zu is uncertain.

5. F o r e m e - ζ i r , see note 4 to p r o v e r b 2.47, as w e l l as p r o v e r b 2.49 and the p a s s a g e quoted in the commentary to the latter. 2.56 dub-sar -ià-dabjf!) - ba-nu-un-zu-a me-da A

scribe

who

obtaini?) 2

inim-bala-e

^é-em-tùm(u) does a

not know

. . .(?),*

where

will

he

(expect

to)

translation(?) ? 3

With this p r o v e r b ,

cf. p r o v e r b 2.49.

1. S à - d a b j - b a (i.e., S à - T U S - b a ) here s e e m s to have a meaning which in some way is p a r a l l e l with that of e m e - ζ i r ("(the) Sumerian (language)"); cf. the otherwise identical p r o v e r b 2.49 above. It is possible that the w o r d is actually δ à - d u b ( ! ) - b a , f o r which see note 4 to p r o v e r b 2.36. 2.

For

me-da

^é-em-tùm(u),

cf. note 9 to p r o v e r b 2.48.

3. F o r inim-bala-e, cf. note 2 to p r o v e r b 1.36, as w e l l as p r o v e r b 2.49 and the p a s s a g e quoted in the commentary to the latter. 2.57 nar When

za-pa-ág a

singer's

^é-en-dùg

voice(?)^

is

sweet,

e^-ne-àm he

is

indeed

ηa r - à m a

singer!

This p r o v e r b states a positive qualification of the ideal singer; f o r the converse, see p r o v e r b 2.41 above.

COLLECTION 1. CC:

e ( ! ) - (over an e r a s e d

2. F o r

za-pa-ág,

215

TWO

NE-).

see note 3 to p r o v e r b 2.41. 2.581

ka 5 - a - a The fox

...(?) ....(?),

LUL

ba-.[..]

(and(?)) . . d(?) a lie(?).

1. This p r o v e r b i s omitted in CC, the only extant text being EE! 2.59 ka5 - a - a

1

Sà

b a - a b - . .(?)

2

ubur-bi

3

ga

4

ba - a n 5 - UD(! ?)6 7 The vixen . . d(?) her(?) heart(?); she (thereby(?)) caused(?) 8 9 milk to d r y up(?) in h e r teats.

the

The implications of this p r o v e r b a r e uncertain. 1. So EE; CC: k a 5 - a f o r k a 5 - a - a . 2. In CC the final sign of this complex s e e m s to be - r a (!) or possibly even - su(!); the t r a c e s seem definitely not to point to either - S u b or - K Í D / T A G 4 . 3. So CC; EE omits 4. So CC; EE:

-bi.

ga(!) .

5. So CC; EE omits

-an-.

6. So probably CC. 7. If the f i n a l sign of the v e r b a l f o r m in the f i r s t clause should turn out to be - r a (i.e., f o r - r a - a ^ ) , the clause might perhaps be translated "The vixen was struck in the belly (or 'in the womb 1 ), 11 providing a context f r o m which the second clause might l o g i c a l l y follow; cf. perhaps p r o v e r b 2 . 6 1 . 8. Since the w o r d division in the second clause i s not e n t i r e l y c e r t ain, it is not impossible that g a might actually turn out to be the f i r s t person optative p r e f i x g a - .

GORDON:

216

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

9. - U D , if the sign has been correctly identified, is perhaps to be read here as - l a h ( = Akkadian abâlum), for which see now Landsberger, WO I / 5 [ 1950J. pp. 372 f., note 73, as well as proverb 1.109.

2.60 * [k]a5 - a- a

ama-a-ni

The fox . . . ( ? )

his mother.

....(?

1. EE inserts proverb 2.68 (see below) after proverb 2.59 and before proverb 2.60. 2. It is assumed that the traces of signs in the first preserved f r a g mentary line of YYY correspond to the illegible traces following the complex a m a - a - n i in EE. 2.611

ka5-a-a

2

The hearing

geStúg

3 4 -bi

al-gig

of the fox was bad,

6

gir-bi

5 al-gaz-za

(and so) its foot was

7 crushed.

For this proverb, cf. already Scheil, BJL XIX [ 1897], p. 55, no. 12; Weidner, O L Z 17 [ 1914], p. 307; Weidner apud G. Meier, AfO XI [ 1937]. p. 363, note 29; and Van Dijk, SSA, p. 13. The proverb, as translated here note that all the previous renderings differ from the present one seems to imply that, because of his bad hearing, the fox was unable to escape his human or canine foe; i.e., "cause-and-effect." 1. J J seems to insert this proverb before proverb 2.69 in the place of proverb 2.68. 2. So EE and JJ; FF: k a 5 - a for k a 5 - a - a .

ka 5

for

kas-a-a;

GG, YYY and Z Z Z :

3. i.e., G l S . T U G . P I : so FF, JJ, YYY and probably EE; GG and Z Z Z : g e S t u g - (i.e., P I - ) for ge§túg-, 4. So FF, GG, YYY and Z Z Z ; JJ seems to omit (i.e.,

-bi.

5. So F F and probably EE; GG, Z Z Z and probably YYY: a l - L U M - e ) for al-gaz-za.

al-guz-e

6. Or, perhaps, literally (cf. already the earlier translations; see above), "The fox its ear was sick, (and) its foot was crushed," in

COLLECTION which case,

however,

217

TWO

the " c a u s e - a n d - e f f e c t " motif would be lacking.

7. Note p a r t i c u l a r l y the phonetic variants (see note 5 above).

-gaz -

and

-guz-

2.61a1 k a 5 - a - a^ é3 The

kun-bi

al-ùr tail

...(?)

of

al-dugud

L A L - àm(?) the

f o x was

a temple (?)

...(?)

m e ( ?) - e ( ?) - [ . . ]4

heavy; burnt-bricks

5

....(?)

6

.

The second line of this p r o v e r b is too full of uncertainties f o r a connected translation (see note 6 below f o r two possible translations and interpretations of the p r o v e r b ) . 1. This p r o v e r b is omitted in E E (it is found only in Y Y Y and p r o bably also in L ) . Since the f r a g m e n t Y Y Y was d i s c o v e r e d only after the entire c o l l e c t i o n had been p i e c e d together, and at the time that this v o l ume was a l r e a d y being p r e p a r e d f o r p r e s s , the original numeration of the p r o v e r b s has not been changed, and this p r o v e r b has been given the number 2.61 a. 2. So L ;

YYY:

ka^-a

for

ka5-a-a.

3. So L (it has been assumed that the remains of this p r o v e r b are actually p r e s e r v e d in this f r a g m e n t — and that they a r e not of p r o v e r b 2.62 as was o r i g i n a l l y assumed by the w r i t e r b e f o r e the d i s c o v e r y of YYY although the f i r s t line has p r e s e r v e d only k a 5 - a - a and the second line m e r e l y é at the beginning; the width of the column seems to preclude the interpretation of this é as representing either of the two signs é in p r o v e r b 2.62); in Y Y Y , the t r a c e s of the initial sign in the second line do not exclude the reading é. 4. If the l a s t p r e s e r v e d sign of this p r o v e r b in Y Y Y is indeed it is not unreasonable that - e - [ s e ] is to be r e s t o r e d . 5. a l - ù r

is f o r the m o r e usual

-e -,

sig^-al-ùr.

6. If the r e s t o r a t i o n - e - [ δ e ] proposed in note 4 above, as w e l l as the readings of the questioned signs in the second line, should p r o v e c o r r e c t , one possible translation of the second line might be: " 'Where is there a temple with burnt-bricks hanging down (or ' o v e r hanging') f r o m it? 1 (he s a i d ) . " [In this translation, m e has been assumed to be f o r the usual m e - a , " w h e r e ? " ; L A L - à m has been read s u r u c - à m , "hanging down," f o r which see note 4 to p r o v e r b 1.188, note 7 to 2.12, and note 7 to 2.66; f o r - e - i e , the p a r t i c l e of

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d i r e c t d i s c o u r s e , s e e note 10 to p r o v e r b 1.142.] H e r e the f o x , c o m p a r ing h i m s e l f to a t e m p l e and h i s tail to the b u r n t - b r i c k s , w o u l d s e e m to be m a k i n g a c o m p l a i n t , w h i c h i s h o w e v e r p h r a s e d in the u s u a l s e l f - i m p o r t ant s t y l e of the f o x (cf. the other f o x p r o v e r b s ) . A n o t h e r , and p e r h a p s m o r e likely, p o s s i b i l i t y f o r t h i s l i n e i s : 11 'Where i s t h e r e a t e m p l e w h i c h l a c k s b u r n t - b r i c k s ? ' (he s a i d ) . " [In t h i s c a s e , it h a s b e e n a s s u m e d that L A L - à m i s to be r e a d l à - à m , " m i s s i n g , lacking"; on m e f o r m e - a , and - e - S e , s e e a b o v e . ] H e r e the f o x , s t i l l c o m p a r i n g h i m s e l f to a t e m p l e , and h i s n u i s a n c e s o m e t a i l to the s p e c i a l l y p r e p a r e d b u r n t - b r i c k s of the t e m p l e , would s e e m to be o f f e r i n g a r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n f o r the b u r d e n , by e m p h a s i z i n g the b e a u t y of h i s tail. 2.62 * ka5-a-a

2

é-a-ni nu-mu 5 é - k u - 1 i - ηa - § è al-tar-re The f o x

6

c o u l d not bui[ld(!?)]

to the h o u s e

7

his

3

-un-da-an-d[ù(!?)]

4

ba-gen (own)

of h i s f r i e n d as(?)

a

house,

(and so) he g conqueror(?).

came

The f o x c o m p e n s a t e s f o r h i s i n f e r i o r i t y by bullying o t h e r s , a t y p i c a l s y m p t o m of the " i n f e r i o r i t y c o m p l e x " w h i c h the f o x exemplifies. 1. J J h a s this p r o v e r b in the p l a c e of p r o v e r b 2 . 6 7 ( i . e . , j u s t b e f o r e p r o v e r b 2 . 6 1 , w h i c h in JJ t a k e s the p l a c e of 2.68; s e e note 1 to p r o v e r b 2 . 6 1 a b o v e ) . F o r a r e l a t e d p r o v e r b in a n o t h e r c o l l e c t i o n , s e e note 6 b e l o w . 2. So E E , J J and p r o b a b l y A; YYY: 3. So YYY; E E o m i t s

ka5 - a

for

k a s - a - a.

-mu-.

4. So t r a c e s in YYY (although they m a y turn out to be of the t r a c e s in E E a r e l e s s c e r t a i n .

- Τ [AR] );

5. So EE; YYY: - n i - S è f o r - n a - â è ; J J s e e m s to have - Ν E - [ . . ( ? ) ] f o r - η a - δ è , w h i c h m u s t r e m a i n without e x p l a n a t i o n s i n c e the r e m a i n d e r of the p r o v e r b in JJ i s i n c o m p l e t e . 6. Cf. the s i m i l a r p r o v e r b i n A ( n t i k s a m l i n g e n ) 10062 r e v . i i i 7 - 8 (tablet in the D a n i s h N a t i o n a l M u s e u m , K^benhavn, p h o t o g r a p h s and a r o u g h t r a n s l i t e r a t i o n of w h i c h w e r e p r o v i d e d the w r i t e r b y P r o f . T h o r k i l d Jacobsen), which reads: lú-lul-la é-a(!?)-[ni . . . . ] , é - ku(!) - [ 1] i ( ! ) - m u - e ( ! ? ) al-tar-r[e . . . ] ; h e r e "The l i a r " s e e m s to take the p l a c e of "The fox" (that i s , the p r o v e r b i s r e l a t e d to a h u m a n being r a t h e r than to the p e r s o n i f i e d f o x ) , and " m y f r i e n d " (with

COLLECTION

TWO

219

grammatical difficulties since k u - l i - m à - § è would be e x p e c t e d ) i n s t e a d of "his f r i e n d " (the s e c o n d c l a u s e m a y have h e r e b e e n part of a s p e e c h ) . 7. The m e a n i n g of the i n f i x - n - d a - h e r e i s u n c e r t a i n . If the v e r b a l r o o t should turn out to r e a d - Τ A R ( s e e note 4 above) r a t h e r than - d ù ("to build"), the t r a n s l a t i o n m i g h t be "was not cut off(?) f r o m h i s h o u s e " (with the i n f i x - d a - b e i n g f o r - t a - ; c f . F a l k e n s t e i n , GSGL. I. p. 215 and n o t e s 1 and 2 t h e r e ) , in w h i c h c a s e , h o w e v e r , the i m p l i c a t i o n s of the p r o v e r b w o u l d be u n c e r t a i n . 8. Cf. a l - t a r = Akkadian dâpinu(m). SL 2 9 8 : 1 5 c . It i s not i m p o s s i b l e that a l - t a r - r e i s to be taken a s the s u b j e c t of the s e c o n d c l a u s e : that i s , "to the h o u s e of h i s f r i e n d , he (the f o x ) , the c o n q u e r o r , came."

a 1 -1 u ς

é - a - ni

..(?)4-NE The

crab

7

of h i s

5

ab-si

é - m a - la - ga - ni - s è

Î-DU6

—— h i s crony

a

house 8

became

...(?)

he

filled with water; 9 entered(?).

into

the

house

The c r a b w a s a p p a r e n t l y c o n s i d e r e d an a g g r e s s i v e a n i m a l who "took out" h i s own t r o u b l e s on h i s n e i g h b o u r s . Note that, l i k e the f o x , the n a m e of the c r a b i s w r i t t e n with the s i g n L U L . 1. JJ h a s t h i s p r o v e r b out of p l a c e , s t e a d of 2 . 7 0 . for

f o l l o w i n g p r o v e r b 2 . 6 9 , in the

2. So A , Y Y Y and p r o b a b l y E E and HH; J J: a1- 1u 5 . 3. So A , E E and JJ; YYY:

a-a

for

4. T h i s s i g n , found in both A and J J, s e e m s to be n e i t h e r G I R nor LUL. 5. So A and p r o b a b l y EE; JJ:

G A (? !) - a l - 1 u 5

a. is unrecognizable,

-NE-NE

for

but it

-NE.

6. So YYY; J J: - D U ( ! ) . ( N o t e that in JJ, the s i g n s w h i c h a p p e a r to be w r i t t e n j u s t b e l o w -ΝE -ΝE 1 - D U ( ! ) a c t u a l l y b e l o n g to p r o v e r b 2.69 on the o b v e r s e (sic! ) of the tablet (cf. note 4 to that p r o v e r b ) !) 7. a l - l u 5 ( i . e . , a l - L U L ) = Akkadian a l l u t t u m . c f . L a n d s b e r g e r , F a u n a , p. 121. T h i s p r o v e r b , r e f e r r i n g to the c r a b and not to the f o x , m a y have b e e n i n s e r t e d h e r e not only b e c a u s e of the o r t h o g r a p h y of the n a m e of the c r a b ( s e e above) but a l s o b e c a u s e of the p a r a l l e l i s m b e t w e e n

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é - m a - l a - g a - n i - 5 è h e r e and é - k u - l i - n a - § è in the p r e c e d i n g proverb (2.62). The G A ( ? ) - of the v a r i a n t J J ( s e e note 2 a b o v e ) i s quite u n e x p l a i n a b l e . 8. F o r m a l a ( g ) , to p r o v e r b 1.94.

usually translated

"confidant(e), 1 1 c f . note 3

Ν

S

^

9. A s s u m i n g that i - D U i s r e a d e i t h e r i - d u or i - g e n . It i s of c o u r s e p o s s i b l e that the c o r r e c t r e a d i n g and t r a n s l a t i o n should be i - g u b , "he s t e p p e d . " The r e a d i n g of the p r e c e d i n g c o m p l e x . . ( ? ) - N E i s uncertain; it m a y be a w o r d u s e d a d v e r b i a l l y o r i s p o s s i b l y an i n f i n i t i v e ending in - d è . 2.64 k a 5 - a - a^

a-NUMUN

η ig - n a m - t a r - r a The f o x touched(?) longs

Se(?)-...(?)

TUG-bi

3

to F a t e

2

a water-rush

5

its

Su

[b]í-in-dug

kú r - r a - à m - e - § e 4

and a . . . (?); "That w h i c h b e 6 7 garment(?) i s strange(?) !" (he s a i d ) .

The t r a n s l a t i o n of this p r o v e r b i s r a t h e r u n c e r t a i n , its implications therefore obscure. 1. So A and p r o b a b l y EE; HH: 2.

i.e.,

4

kaj - a

for

and

ka5-a-a.

IJ + LAGAB.

3. L i t e r a l l y ,

"placed(?) the hand upon."

F o r Ú a - N U M Ú N (or Ú a - G U G 4 ) = A k k a d i a n e l p e t m e b u r k i . c f . C a m p b e l l T h o m p s o n , DAB, pp. 3 and 9 f f . Note that in "Enki and N i n ^ u r s a g , " l i n e 207 (and the r e s t o r a t i o n in l i n e 191) ( K r a m e r , BASOR. SS 1, p. 18), the s i g n s on the o r i g i n a l t a b l e t c o l l a t e d b y the p r e s e n t writer a r e a c t u a l l y ú a - N U M U N (not ú a - p a - S A R ) , but c f . a l r e a d y the c o r r e c t r e a d i n g of the s i g n s in L a n g d o n , P B S X / 1, p. 81, l i n e 26! [Note that the t r a n s l a t i o n a s s u m e s that § e ( ? ) - . . . ( ? ) r e p r e s e n t s s o m e Ó other object a plant ? ? c o o r d i n a t e with a-NUMÚN.] 4.

5. The f i r st c o m p l e x m a y be r e a d n i n d a - n a m - t a r - r a , "the f o o d of F a t e , " or p e r h a p s e v e n n i g - n a m t a r - r a , "anything w h i c h has been cut." 6. Note that T U G m a y turn out to be u m u § , "discernment" ( s e e note 7 to p r o v e r b 1.183, note 4 to 1 . 1 8 4 , and note 29 to proverb, 2.1), r a t h e r than t ú g , " g a r m e n t , " in w h i c h c a s e , h o w e v e r , the i m p l i c a t i o n s would be e q u a l l y o b s c u r e .

COLLECTION 7.

For

- e - §e ,

221

TWO

s e e note 10 to p r o v e r b 1.142. 2.65

ι 1 ka5 - a

> gir-sunub

, 3 -am-ma-ke^

> . gir-ni

' . ,4 bi-in-gub

nu-ub-si-e-se A fox trod

5

(said8

upon the hoof(?) the

6

of

a wild-ox;

"It

didn't

hurt!"

7

wild-ox(?)).

C f . the N e o - A s s y r i a n f a b l e ( f r o m A s s u r ) of " T h e G n a t and the E l e p h a n t , " a s w e l l a s the d e r i v a t i v e G r e e k f a b l e of " T h e Gnat and the O x " found in B a b r i o s ( s e e E b e l i n g , B a b y l . F a b . . pp. 49 f . ) . It h a s b e e n a s s u m e d , on the b a s i s of t h i s f a b l e , that the w i l d - o x in t h i s p r o v e r b i s the one who p o i n t s out that the f o x h a s not h u r t h i m , although it i s not a t a l l i m p o s s i b l e that the s e l f - i m p o r t a n t f o x h a s m a d e the s t a t e m e n t with the i m p l i c a t i o n that he c o u l d h u r t the w i l d - o x if he s o d e sired. 1. So HH; A: ka 5-a .

ka^-a-àm

(i.e.,

2. i . e . , M U L : s o A and E E ; c o l l a t i o n of the o r i g i n a l t a b l e t .

"It w a s

HH:

3. So I I ; E E and p r o b a b l y Β and SS:

only

a fox") for

-suhúb(!)-, -ka

for

a c c o r d i n g to

-ke4
the r e a d i n g of the f i r s t sign and the m e a n i n g "to h o w l , " s e e note 26 to p r o v e r b 2.69. Note the unusual t r i p l y - r e p e a t e d v e r b a l root h e r e a s w e l l a s in the l a s t l i n e of the "proverb"; the t r a n s l a t i o n " k e e p s on howling" a t t e m p t s to r e n d e r the a s s u m e d i t e r a t i v e f u n c t i o n of this f o r m . 7.

For

1a g - g a ,

8.

i.e.,

the

s e e note 1 to p r o v e r b 2 . 1 0 4 .

"howling" ( = a r a x ) ;

c f . note 11 b e l o w .

9. L i t e r a l l y , p e r h a p s , "it b r i n g s v e r y c l o s e " ; note a g a i n the t r i p l y - r e p e a t e d root, the s i g n i f i c a n c e of w h i c h h e r e i s p e r h a p s s e m a n t i c r a t h e r than g r a m m a t i c a l . 10. F o r d a g - g i 4 ~ a = Akkadian bâbtum. L a n d s b e r g e r , MSL I, p. 143.

"city-quarter," cf.

11. L i t e r a l l y , p e r h a p s , "it m a k e s a l a n c e p e n e t r a t e the c i t y q u a r t e r . " F o r another o c c u r r e n c e of the v e r b m u - n i - i b - t e - t e in c o n n e c t i o n with g i § § u k u r (variant: u r u d u g u k u r ) , c f . p r o v e r b 3.27 of C o l l e c t i o n T h r e e , w h e r e the s e c o n d o b j e c t i s k u S , "the skin." 2.106 g a1a - tu£-tu6-ηu-dùg-g a A kalûm-priest superior(?)

who d o e s

not

kalûm-priest

bàd-gala (sing) is

the

spells^

e-ne sweet(ly),

a

he!

P r e s u m a b l y the k a l û m - p r i e s t . unlike the s e c u l a r s i n g e r , the n a r (cf. p r o v e r b s 2.41 and 2 . 5 7 ) , w a s not s u p p o s e d to sing a e s t h e t i c a l l y , but w a s p e r h a p s e x p e c t e d to m u t t e r h i s i n cantations. N o t e , h o w e v e r , that another p o s s i b l e , though p e r -

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255

TWO

haps l e s s l i k e l y ( e s p e c i a l l y in view of the p a r a l l e l i s m of this p r o v e r b with p r o v e r b s 2 . 4 1 and 2.57), t r a n s l a t i o n of the p r o v e r b might be "A k a l û m - p r i e s t who does not (sing) the s p e l l s well(?), a death-dealing(?) (i.e., reading the sign B À D a s u g 5 r a t h e r than a s b à d ) k a l û m - p r i e s t is he!"; in this c a s e the implication might be that the incantations sung by such a k a l û m - p r i e s t w i l l be i n e f f e c t i v e against the s i c k n e s s - d e m o n s , and his patients w i l l not be saved f r o m death. 1. F o r the p o s s i b i l i t y that t u ^ - t u ^ (i.e., K A X L I - K A X L I ) in the sense of " s p e l l s " is to be r e a d i n i m x - i n i m x , see note 11 to p r o v e r b 2 . 5 4 . 2. b à d ( - d a ) = Akkadian elûm. saqûm : cf. §L 152^: 3 and 10, as w e l l as L a n d s b e r g e r , MSL II r pp. 86 f. (note to line 774), and MSL 11 I r pp. 2 1 3 f . (note to p. 87). F o r the unusual i n v e r t e d w o r d - o r d e r (adjective b e f o r e the noun that it m o d i f i e s ; i.e., b à d - g a l a r a t h e r than the e x p e c t ed g a l a - b à d ) , cf. the e x p r e s sion h u - r u ( - u m ) - n a r in p r o v e r b 2.41 (see note 4 to that p r o v e r b ) . If the t r a n s l a t i o n of b à d h e r e is c o r r e c t , the unusual g r a m m a t i c a l usage of both these a d j e c t i v e s m a y be a f u r t h e r indication that b à d and l j u - r u ( - u m ) a r e antonyms. 2.1071 ur

λ SED-ba

m e- sè

sag

2

-ΚΑ-DU

3

gi^-mu-un-zé-en

Dogs at(?) their(?) it gone)?"

. . (?)

"Bring

4

wait f o r

(it) back!"

-ha-lja-za gub-ba

5

instructions^): (and)

6

"Where

"Stay (where

you

(has are)!"

γ

This p r o v e r b , if it has been c o r r e c t l y understood, s e e m s to be an allusion to the training of the watch-dog or perhaps even of the dogs used in hunting. 1. Β s e e m s to have an unexpected separating line between the two l i n e s of this p r o v e r b . 2. YY has an erased(!) G A R (so according to a collation of the o r i g i n a l tablet) between s a g - and - Κ A - D U - . 3. A:

-DU(?) -

o v e r an e r a s u r e .

4. The - b a of S E D - b a has been t r a n s l a t e d "at(?) their(?)" on the assumption that it i s a pronominal suffix; S ED itself has been l e f t untranslated since, while a number of its readings and meanings, notably l a g , "chunks (of food(?))," might a c t u a l l y be possible h e r e , none of

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t h e m s e e m s r e a l l y to f i t the context p r o p e r l y . It i s not at a l l i m p o s s i b l e , h o w e v e r , that the - b a is not a p r o n o m i n a l s u f f i x , and that S E D - b a is to be r e a d s u b x - b a ( f o r which see L a n d s b e r g e r , M S L I I . p. 74, l i n e 555 and the p e r t i n e n t note), the meaning of which i s unknown; in this c a s e , it m a y be a d v i s a b l e to r e a d ur-subx-ba as a s i n g l e g r a m m a t i c a l c o m p l e x and to e x p e c t that - s u b x - b a m i g h t have s o m e m e a n i n g such as " t r a i n e d " or " w e l l - t r a i n e d " or the l i k e . 5. s a g h a - z a = Akkadian r ê § ( X ) kullum . " t o wait upon, (a p e r s o n ) , to w a i t f o r (a p e r s o n or a thing), to be at the d i s p o s a l of, e t c . " ( l i t e r a l l y , " t o hold up the head o f " ) ; it is a s s u m e d that ha-ha-za h e r e i s the r e d u p l i c a t e d - s t e m f o r m of the v e r b h a - z a ( i . e . , f o r a hypothetical ha(-z)-ha-za, on the a n a l o g y of t u t ( u ) k u < t u ( k ) tuku, gig(e)re < gi(r)5-gir5, etc.; c f . P o e b e l , GSG. p. 35). 6. T h e t r a n s l a t i o n a s s u m e s that Κ Α - D U (to be d i s t i n g u i s h e d f r o m the t e r m nig-ka-gub, " l u n c h , " f o r which s e e now note 4 to p r o v e r b 1.45) has the meaning " i n s t r u c t i o n s " which w a s s u g g e s t e d f o r nig-ka-gub by L a n d s b e r g e r apud K r a m e r , JAOS_69 [ 1949], p. 214. 7. T h e use of the p l u r a l i m p e r a t i v e ( g Í 4 ~ m u - u n - z é - e n ) along side the singular f o r m of the i m p e r a t i v e ( g u b - b a ) , both s e e m i n g l y a d d r e s s e d to the s a m e dog ( o r dogs^ is quite i n e x p l i c a b l e .

2.108 1 ur-GALAM-GALAM He

who who

esteems(?) has

no

2

-igi-kal

highly(?)^

dogs

lú-téS-n which

are

u-tuku-àm

clever(?)^ is

a

man

shame !

T h e t r a n s l a t i o n o f f e r e d h e r e i s quite l i t e r a l and i s f u l l of u n c e r t a i n t i e s ; see p a r t i c u l a r l y note 5 b e l o w . ( T h e p o s s i b i l i t y should be noted that the second c l a u s e i s p e r h a p s to be t r a n s l a t e d " i s a man who does not own a d o g , " r e a d i n g the sign -URs i m p l y as - u r r a t h e r than - t é s - , in w h i c h c a s e the i m p l i c a t i o n s of the p r o v e r b would s e e m to be e v e n m o r e o b scure.) 1. Β s e e m s to have no separating l i n e b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2.107 and 2.108 (note that a separating line w a s a p p a r e n t l y m a d e by m i s t a k e in the m i d d l e of p r o v e r b 2.107 in B; see note 1 to 2.107). 2. So A , Y Y and A A A ; Β : - G A L A M ( ! ) - G A L A M ( ! ) - (the s i g n s in Β a c t u a l l y r e s e m b l e - G Â R - G Â R - ) ; Z Z : u r - i g i - G A L A M - G A L A M f o r u r - G A L A M - G A L A M - ( d o u b t l e s s a s c r i b a l e r r o r under the i n f l u e n c e of the f o l l o w i n g -igi-kal).

COLLECTION 3. 4. more or note 4 to prefer,"

So Α;

Ζ Ζ and p r o b a b l y AAA:

257

TWO -a

for

-àm.

The compound verb ig i k a l i s a s s u m e d to have a m e a n i n g l e s s the o p p o s i t e of i g i tur, " t o be c o n t e m p t u o u s o f " ( c f . p r o v e r b 2 . 1 6 ) ; c f . a l s o the compound v e r b s a g — — k a l , " t o f o r which s e e note 6 to p r o v e r b 1 . 1 4 8 .

5. F o r the v a r i o u s p o s s i b l e r e a d i n g s and m e a n i n g s of the sign G A L A M , s e e now L a n d s b e r g e r , M S L TIT, p. 1 5 1 , l i n e 360; the t r a n s l a t i o n c h o s e n i s the only one ( = A k k a d i a n naklum ) which s e e m s to d e s c r i b e the dog a p p r o p r i a t e l y . On the o t h e r hand, the u r - of the f i r s t c o m p l e x m a y a c t u a l l y have s o m e o t h e r m e a n i n g than " d o g " (for e x a m p l e , " h e r o , " " c h a m p i o n " o r the l i k e ) , o r i s p e r h a p s even to be r e a d t é s - ( = A k k a d i a n b u s turn . b a s turn . S L 5 7 5 : 7 and 8, and L a n d s b e r g e r , M S L I I . p. 1 4 1 , c o l . i i , l i n e 2 0 ' ) with the m e a n i n g " s h a m e " o r " s e x u a l v i g o u r " o r p o s s i b l y e v e n , c o n c r e t e l y , " p e n i s " ( c f . g i s , " p e n i s , " and note p e r h a p s the p h o n e t i c p a r a l l e l b e t w e e n [ d ] / [ t ] and [ g ] in d i s , " o n e , " and g i s / g é s , " s i x t y , " a s w e l l a s in the f i r s t - p e r s o n optative p a r t i c l e gaand i t s E m e s a l d i a l e c t c o u n t e r p a r t d a - ) ; should the l a s t t r a n s l a t i o n p r o v e t o be the c o r r e c t o n e , the m e a n i n g of -galam-galammight be " h i g h - s t a n d i n g , " and the p u r p o s e of the p r o v e r b m i g h t then b e to d e p l o r e an e x c e s s i v e p r e o c c u p a t i o n with s e x . (Note a l s o that, if the f i r s t URi s to be r e a d t é s - and t r a n s l a t e d " p e n i s " h e r e , the s a m e r e a d ing and m e a n i n g of the sign m a y a l s o be a p p l i c a b l e in p r o v e r b s 2 . 1 10, 2 . 1 1 3 , 2 . 1 1 4 j and e s p e c i a l l y 2 . 1 1 6 , w h e r e the word i s p a r a l l e l to the w o r d g i ^ s u k u r , " l a n c e , " c l e a r l y an a p p r o p r i a t e c o m p a r i s o n f o r a p e n i s a s opposed to the dog.) 6. F o r the e x p r e s s i o n t é â - n u - t u k u = Akkadian l a b â § u . sa bill ta ( < hnst.am ) l a îgsû . s e e , in addition to the r e f e r e n c e s given f o r the word t é § a l o n e in the p r e c e d i n g n o t e , ¿ L . 5 7 5 : 85 b and c . 2.109 u r - s i - im - s i - im A

begging(?)

4

dog

1 goes

é-é-a from

2

-tu-tu

house

to

3 house.

5

1. s a e t e x c e p t B , which h a s u r - s i - i m - D I - i m for ur-sii m - s i - i m (a s c r i b a l e r r o r p r o b a b l y under the i n f l u e n c e of the c o m m o n phrase si i m - s á , i.e., s i i m - D I !), 2. So Z Z and AAA; B : é ( ! ) - a - é ( ! ) - a - (in spite of the c o p y in HAY: c f . p h o t o g r a p h ) ; Y Y : é ( ! ) - é ( ! ) - a - ( s o a c c o r d i n g to the c o l l a t i o n of the o r i g i n a l t a b l e t , in s p i t e of the c o p y in S L T N ) . 3. Y Y : -tu(!)-t[u(!)] ( s o a c c o r d i n g to the c o l l a t i o n of the o r i g i n a l t a b l e t , in spite of the c o p y in S L T N ) .

258

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

4. The translation " b e g g i n g ( ? ) " f o r the w o r d s i - i m is m e r e l y a g u e s s b a s e d upon the context; cf., p e r h a p s , the equation, found only in a " s y n o n y m - l i s t , " s i = Akkadian s a - a - p u ( s e e S L 112:41), which m a y r e p r e s e n t the A k k a d i a n sap Gm , "to b e g ( r e f e r r i n g to d o g s ) . " For another s i - i m which m a y be totally u n r e l a t e d to the w o r d s i - i m h e r e , cf. the musiceli instrument u r s i - i m ( - d a ) of the Gudea c y l i n d e r s ( s e e now Falkenstein, G S G L I f p. 35); it is of c o u r s e not i m p o s s i b l e that the meaning of s i - i m - s i - i m with r e f e r e n c e to dogs is "to w h i m p e r , to w h i n e , " in which c a s e this meaning would p r o b a b l y underlie the n a m e of the m u s i c a l instrument. 5.

Literally,

"enters

a l l the

houses."

2.110 1 u r - η ig - ύ - ζ u g χ

- kύ- a

3 4 5 u r - n i n d a - u 4 - ζ a1 - l e - n u - t a g 4 -a It

is

the

dog

which

"eats"

It

is

the

dog

which

does

things not l e a v e

(sexually) (any)

defiling!

food for

the

(next(?))

morning (?) ! Both l i n e s of this p r o v e r b —— a s s u m i n g on the b a s i s of the a r r a n g e m e n t in Y Y that this is a single p r o v e r b and not two s e p a r a t e p r o v e r b s as the a r r a n g e m e n t in Ζ Ζ and A A A would have it ( s e e note 1 b e l o w ) allude to the b a d habits of the dog. The f i r s t m a y p e r h a p s r e f e r to the d o g ' s biting or sniffing his own o r another d o g ' s genitalia; f o r the f i g u r a tive e x p r e s s i o n u s e d h e r e , cf. the c o m m e n t to p r o v e r b 1.40. ( C f . a l s o p r o v e r b 2.117.) The second m a y r e f e r to the r a v e n ous appetite of the dog. 1. Ζ Ζ and A A A have a separating line b e t w e e n the two lines of this p r o v e r b , but note that Y Y w r i t e s both these l i n e s in a single line. 2. GAR)

i.e., ΚA X LI: so Β , Y Y and A A A ; for -zugx( s c r i b a l e r r o r !).

3.

BBB:

4.

A:

5.

So A and A A A ;

6.

F o r the meaning of

ZZ:

- K Ú -

(i.e.,

KA X

- ζ a l (!) - . -[t]ag

4

(!)-. Ζ Ζ p e r h a p s had

- àm

nig — ύ — z u g

x

,

for

-a.

see note 6 to p r o v e r b 1.40.

COLLECTION

2.111

ur-..(?)

-kú

tillá-a

s á 1}

TWO

259

1 in-kú

dug(!) - Sagan

s i3- . [. . ] A

. .(?)-eating (but(?))

dog

has

devoured

the f a t - j a r 4

[is(?)]

a pig

in

the

market-place,

.[.]!

The meaning of this p r o v e r b is unfortunately obscured by the breaks in the text. 1. Y Y i n s e r t s this p r o v e r b a f t e r p r o v e r b 2.112 ( s e e below); p r o v e r b is omitted altogether in A A A .

this

2. The t r a c e s of this sign p r e s e r v e d in both B B B and C C C do not point to - b i - ; i.e., the f i r s t c o m p l e x is not to be r e s t o r e d as t é s - b i - k ú = Akkadian â k i l u m . z í b u m . " j a c k a l , " as might, perhaps with good reason, be assumed ( c f . L a n d s b e r g e r , Fauna, p. 79). 3. C C C :

s i (!) - .

4. F o r d u g - S a g a n - Akkadian sappatum, Siqqatum , see S l 428:2 and 4; cf. also Oppenheim, Cat. E a m e s . pp. 85 and 156 f o r details relating to this type of j a r , which apparently r e s e m b l e d the m o d e r n " d e m i john." 2.112

, 1 ur - s i m u g - ke ^ pisán(?) The

smith's

3

> na4~su-min-e

-dug-a

4

i-im-zi

dog

nu-mu

2

-un-zi

5

could not overturn(?) g the w a t e r - p o t ( ? ) (instead).

6

the

anvil(?!);

7

it

overturned(?)

P o s s i b l y this p r o v e r b was used to r e f e r to any a g g r e s s i v e individual who, when f r u s t r a t e d in his attempts against an opponent stronger than h i m s e l f , "takes out" his a g g r e s s i v e d e s i r e s upon a w e a k e r person. 1. Y Y : probably ginal tablet).

~[k]e4(!)

(so according to collation of the o r i -

GORDON:

260 2.

s a e t e x c e p t Y Y,

3. i . e . ,

SUMERIAN

which o m i t s

probably,

Monographs

-mu-. B B B s e e m s to h a v e

Y Y and p o s s i b l y AAA:

6. L i t e r a l l y ,

Museum

SED-.

4. So A A A and p r o b a b l y C C C ; r a t h e r than p i s á n ( ? ) - d u g - a . 5. So B B B ;

PROVERBS

im-ma-z[i]

pisán(?) - a- si for

i-im-zi.

" d i d not o v e r t u r n ( ? ) . "

7. L i t e r a l l y , " t h e stone (object) with two h a n d l e s ( ! ) " ; c f . a l s o the l i n e , in a c o n t e x t s p e a k i n g of the b r i n g i n g in of m e t a l s and b u i l d i n g s t o n e s and m e n t i o n i n g the a c t i v i t y of the s m i t h ( s i m u g ), in G u d e a , C y l . A x v i 31 ( T h u r e a u - D a n g i n , S A K . p. 107, and F a l k e n s t e i n , S A H G . p. 154): na4~su-min-e U4~da-àm a r a x x ( i . e . , S I G ^ ; c f . note 26 to p r o v e r b 2.69) m u - n a - a b - g i ^ , which m a y p e r h a p s now b e t r a n s l a t e d " T h e anvil(?!) r e s o u n d e d ( ? ) f o r h i m by d a y ( ? ) " ( o r , " a s if it w e r e a s t o r m - d e m o n ( ? ) " ) . Note the w r i t i n g in the G u d e a i n s c r i p t i o n with -mina s o p p o s e d to the o r t h o g r a p h y h e r e with - m i n - ( i . e . , N l S / M A N ) . In the l i n e which f o l l o w s the a b o v e - c i t e d p a s s a g e (xvi 32), the t e r m n a 4 - s u - k e 4 m a y p e r h a p s be a " ( s t o n e ) p o u n d i n g - h a m m e r , sledge" ( l i t e r a l l y , " s t o n e of the h a n d " ) . F o r a d i f f e r e n t e x p l a n a t i o n and i n t e r p r e t ation of t h e s e t e r m s , s e e F a l k e n s t e i n , OL Ζ 43 [ 1 9 4 0 ] , p. 184. 8. The t e r m p i s á n ( ? ) - d u g - a and i t s v a r i a n t p i s á n ( ? ) - a - s i a r e t r a n s l a t e d " w a t e r - p o t ( ? ) " m e r e l y a s a g u e s s b a s e d upon the c o n t e x t . The f i r s t would a p p e a r to be l i t e r a l l y " a pot (for) w a t e r , " and the s e c o n d , " a pot f o r f i l l i n g with w a t e r . " 2.1131 ur-lul-la-gú-§ag He who p e t s ( ? ) mane(!?)

3

2

the

of

a

5

neck

[u]r(!?)-z[í]r(!?)-gú-tar-gag of a

treacherous

w[i]ld-do[g](?).

dog

is

petting(?)

5

2

the

4

S e e note 4 b e l o w . If the a s s u m p t i o n m a d e t h e r e i s c o r r e c t , the m e a n i n g of the p r o v e r b should be that a t r e a c h e r o u s u r dog i s j u s t a s d a n g e r o u s a s the w e l l - k n o w n f e r o c i o u s u r - ζ i r . 1.

Y Y i n s e r t s p r o v e r b 2.111 ( s e e above) a f t e r p r o v e r b 2.112.

2. L i t e r a l l y ,

perhaps,

" t r e a t s nicely,

c a u s e s to b e

pleased(?)."

3. g ú - t a r = A k k a d i a n k u t a l l u m . u s u a l l y t r a n s l a t e d " b a c k of the h e a d " or " n a p e of the n e c k " ( S L 1 0 6 : 4 2 b ) : c f . , h o w e v e r , the o c c u p a t i o n a l title g ú - t a r - l à , "hairdresser(!?)n (literally, perhaps, "braid-binder(?), t r e s s - b i n d e r (?)"), which i s found p a r a l l e l to the t e r m u m b i η - k u r 5 - k u r 5 , "manicuristi?), valet(?)" (literally, "finger-nail cutter") f o r the r e a d i n g

COLLECTION

261

TWO

u m b i n ( r a t h e r than D U B B I N ) , c f . L a n d s b e r g e r , M S L I I I , p. 116, line 231; f o r the reading of - T A R - T A R in this e x p r e s s i o n as - k u r j k u r ς , c f . p r o v e r b 3.124 of C o l l e c t i o n T h r e e , w h e r e the t e r m is w r i t t e n urn b i η - k u r 5 - r u in the " D e s c e n t of Inanna," line 320 ( K r a m e r , JCS V Γ19511. p. 13). 4. If the reading u r - ζ i r i s c o r r e c t h e r e , the p r o v e r b m a y p e r haps indicate that the u r and the u r - z i r w e r e two quite distinct kinds of dog; c f . , p e r h a p s , Van B u r e n , A f O X I [1936]. pp. 11-16, and see a l s o the r e f e r e n c e s g i v e n in note 7 to p r o v e r b 1.65.

2.114 ur — k i - t u § - b i — n u - m u - z u - a (It

is)

a

dog

which

does

not

know

its

home!

T h i s p r o v e r b i s p r o b a b l y an allusion to a s t r a y c u r . 2.115 /

ur

ni-bi-sè

The

dog

thinks

kù-zu-a it

is

lugal-bi-ir

clever,^

1. L i t e r a l l y , " t o i t s e l f tobefor kù-zu-àm.

(but) it

is

to

its

master

clever";

.

sa it

um(?)-ra . . . (?)

kù-zu-a

is a s s u m e d

2. One m i g h t p e r h a p s e x p e c t s a u m ( ? ) - r a (perhaps a compound verb s a — r a) to have s o m e such meaning as " i t i s t r o u b l e s o m e , " " t o act f o o l i s h l y , " o r the l i k e . 2.116 ur

a l - e

u

- d è

S

i §

§ukur

al - e

1

j (!) - d[ è ]

ba-ni-ib-sî-ge A

dog

descends(?), *

a

lance

descends(?)*

(each)

does

(its)

damage(?)

The t r a n s l a t i o n g i v e n f o r this p r o v e r b attempts to be as l i t e r a l as p o s s i b l e , and its meaning i s quite uncertain. The p a r a l l e l i s m b e t w e e n " a d o g " and " a l a n c e " s e e m s to be quite

262

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

o b s c u r e , although s e e note 1 b e l o w f o r a l t e r n a t i v e p o s s i b i l i t i e s in the t r a n s l a t i o n . 1. P o s s i b l y " s p r i n g s up" in the c a s e of the dog, and "is p r o p e l l e d " in the c a s e of the l a n c e ; in v i e w of the a m b i g u i t y of the v e r b e j j , the i m p l i c a t i o n s h e r e a r e e n t i r e l y u n c e r t a i n . (Note that if U R h e r e i s to be r e a d t é s i n s t e a d of u r and t r a n s l a t e d "penis" s e e note 5 to p r o v e r b 2.108 above the t r a n s l a t i o n " s p r i n g e up" would p r o b a b l y be the c o r r e c t one; note p a r t i c u l a r l y the v e r y s a t i s f a c t o r y p a r a l l e l that would e x i s t b e t w e e n "the p e n i s " and "the l a n c e " in this c a s e . ) 2. F o r t h i s t r a n s l a t i o n of the v e r b s i ( - g ) , s e e note 5 to p r o v e r b 1.99. It i s , n e v e r t h e l e s s , not i m p o s s i b l e that h e r e the m e a n i n g i s s i m p l y "they a r e both alike"; i . e . , s î ( - g ) / s ι ( - k ) = Akkadian m a S â l u m (Sil 164:13), f o r w h i c h s e e a l s o p r o v e r b 2.71 and note 4 t h e r e . 2.117 ur-zir The

gi5-bi(!?)*

(\vild(?)) - d o g

2

licks(?)

eme 3

its

ab(!?)-bé

penis.

A n o t h e r p r o v e r b a p p a r e n t l y r e f e r r i n g to canine h a b i t s c o n s i d e r e d to be d i s g u s t i n g (cf. p r o v e r b 2.110). 1. So B B B o v e r an e r a s u r e . 2.

For

u r - z i r , s e e note 7 to p r o v e r b 1.65 and note 4 to p r o v e r b

2.113. 3. L i t e r a l l y , p e r h a p s , " p l a c e s the tongue (upon)"; f o r the a u x i l i a r y v e r b e in the c o m p o u n d v e r b e m e e h e r e , c f . P o e b e l , AS 14, pp. 100 f . 2.118 uru-nu It i s

ur-zir-ra

not a city;

the

kaj-a

wild(?)-dog

nu-bànda-àm* and the f o x a r e

overseers

(there)!

T h i s i s the v e r y s a m e p r o v e r b a s p r o v e r b 1.65 in C o l l e c t i o n One, w h i c h s e e f o r t e x t u a l and e x p l a n a t o r y n o t e s . 1. So A; a l l e x t a n t t e x t s of p r o v e r b 1.65 o m i t the f i n a l m a y have a l s o o m i t t e d -àm.

-àm;

BBB

COLLECTION

263

TWO

2.119 u r u - t i n ^ - e ^ - d è - dug 4 lú-kas4-a-kam

ba-za He

who

commands)?)

that

3

a. c i t y

be

revived(?),

...(?)

is(?)

a

runner.

One,

T h i s p r o v e r b i s i d e n t i c a l to p r o v e r b 1.66 i n C o l l e c t i o n which see for textual and e x p l a n a t o r y n o t e s .

1. A: omit

- tiη(!) - .

2. So A a n d B B B ; - e - .

a l l t h e t e x t s of t h i s p r o v e r b i n C o l l e c t i o n O n e

3. So A; a l l t h e t e x t s of t h e p r o v e r b i n C o l l e c t i o n O n e ( a n d p e r h a p s also BBB here) have l ú - k a s ^ - e for lú-kas4~a-kam. 2.1201 ba-za . . .(?),3 1.

a - n a - à m^ how

steadil[y(?)

. . . . ]

. . . . ] !

T h i s p r o v e r b is o m i t t e d in A.

2. So B B B ; original tablet). 3.

gub-ba-b[i(?)

For

OOO:

ba-za,

-[à]m(!)

( s o a c c o r d i n g to c o l l a t i o n of t h e

s e e t h e p r e c e d i n g p r o v e r b a n d n o t e 7 to p r o v e r b

1.66. 2.1211 ^ a g 5 - g a ~ t) i Pleasurable Harmful

pàd-da it

it

is

is

hui

2

-bi

ύ-gu-dé-àm

3

found!

lost!

T h a t i s , if a t h i n g i s c o n s i d e r e d w o r t h f i n d i n g , b e f o u n d ; if n o t , i t s l o s s i s i g n o r e d .

it w i l l

GORDON:

264

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

1. F o r this p r o v e r b in another c o l l e c t i o n , 2. So A and OOO; S T V C 3 + 4: in spite of the copy in S T V C ) . 3. So A ;

S T V C 3 + 4:

hul(!)-

ú-gu-dé-a

Museum

Monograph,

cf. S T Y C 3 + 4 ν 31-32. (so on the o r i g i n a l tablet

for

ύ-gu-dé-àm.

2.1221 î (!) - ρ à d ú-gu

ba-húl-le-en i-ni-in-dé

I

have

found

I

have

lost

go!"

(it) (it)

s à ( !) - m u I

l a - ba - g i g - g a - à m

rejoice!

my

heart

does

not

ache!

C f . , p e r h a p s , the English p r o v e r b s and " S m a l l gain, small l o s s ! "

"Easy come,

easy

1. T h i s p r o v e r b is omitted in B B B and OOO (it is found only in A ) ; OOO i n s e r t s h e r e in its stead p r o v e r b 2.124 (see b e l o w ) . 2.123 1 nam-sag5~ga Pleasure Discomfort^

it

kaS - àm is

beer!

it

is

an

2

nam-hul

kaskal-àm

3

expedition!^

P r o b a b l y the w o r d s of a m e r c h a n t (or of a s o l d i e r ) who has returned home f r o m a dangerous business j o u r n e y (or a m i l i t a r y campaign, as the c a s e m a y be); in e f f e c t , the p r o v e r b m a y i m ply that " T h e r e ' s no place like h o m e " with its simple c o m f o r t s ! 1. F o r this p r o v e r b in another c o l l e c t i o n , c f . S T V C 3 + 4 ν 33; OOO has no separating line between p r o v e r b s 2.124 ( i n s e r t e d a f t e r 2.121 and b e f o r e 2.123 in the p l a c e of 2.122) and 2.123. 2. So A ; OOO and S T V C 3 + 4: 3. So A ; S T V C 3 + 4: mean

kas-a

kaskal-la

for

for

kaS-àm.

kaskal-àm.

4. n a m - h u l as the opposite of nam-äagj-ga "displeasure, discomfort, rigour, harm(fulness)."

s e e m s to

COLLECTION

TWO

265

5. L i t e r a l l y , "it i s the road"; the t e r m k a s k a l either trading expeditions or m i l i t a r y campaigns.

is used f o r

2.1241 §ag5-ga -ηi - sè For

his

On h i s

pleasure thinking

verb

tuku-àm

g a 1 g a - a^-η i - δ è

tag^-àm

married! 3 it o v e r divorced(!?) !

C f . , p e r h a p s , the s i m i l a r but l e s s d r a s t i c E n g l i s h p r o " M a r r y in h a s t e , repent at l e i s u r e ! "

1. OOO i n s e r t s this p r o v e r b a f t e r p r o v e r b 2 . 1 2 1 and b e f o r e 2 . 1 2 3 (in the p l a c e of the o m i t t e d 2 . 1 2 2 ) ; B B B i n s e r t s p r o v e r b 2 . 1 2 5 ( s e e below) a f t e r p r o v e r b 2 . 1 2 3 and b e f o r e 2 . 1 2 4 . 2. So A (note that g a l g a i s w r i t t e n Ê X G A R ) ; B B B : galga-gagalga-a( p r o b a b l y a s c r i b a l e r r o r under the i n f l u e n c e of the p r e c e d gag5-ga-).

for ing

3. F o r 4, 5 and 6.

galga

= Akkadian milkum . m a l â k u m .

etc.,

s e e SL 278:

2.1251 gag

5

-ga-ne-ne

hul2- ne-ne

[if ] u l - n e - n e Sag^-ga-ne-ne

Their

pleasure

Their

discomfort

their

[di]scomfort !

their

3

pleasure !

C f . , p e r h a p s , the E n g l i s h p r o v e r b another man's poison!" 1.

"One m a n ' s m e a t i s

B B B i n s e r t s this p r o v e r b b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2 . 1 2 3 and 2 . 1 2 4 .

2. So MMM; B B B : l } u l ( ! ) - ( p e r h a p s o v e r an e r a s u r e ) ; t r a c e s do not s e e m to point to h u l - . 3.

For

^ul

a s the o p p o s i t e of

l a g 5,

in A , the

s e e note 4 to p r o v e r b 2 . 1 2 3 .

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2.1261 Ιύ-ùr-ra^ lú-galga "The The

3

al-ti-la 4 a 1 - ζ a 1 a g - ζ a1a g - g a - e - § e

hot-headed(?]^ man 7 reflective man he

he is

is

allowed(?)

chastised(?) !"

to live 8

(he

(in

says).

his

own

way(?));^

9

P e r h a p s the words of a reflective man who has felt h i m self to have been wronged by those in authority. Cf., p e r haps, the common motif of the "righteous s u f f e r e r " (the b i b lical Book of Job, the Sumerian poem " M a n and His G o d , " and the Akkadian " A c r o s t i c D i a l o g u e " also known as the "Babylonian Theodicy" and Ludlul b e l nêmeqi). 1. Cf. also CBS 14176 + 14222 + 7831 + 4567 rev. χ 3-5, where a similar p r o v e r b is found, which reads: Ιύ-ùr an-ná, lú-galga(l) (the sign g a l g a , properly Ê X G A R , here actually looks like a simple E) a n - t i - l [ a ] , al-zalag-e-Se, p r o b a b l y to be translated: " ' T h e hot-headed(?) man he can lie down (in peace(?)); the reflective(l) man he may be allowed to live, (but) he is chastised(?) !' (he says)." 2. So B B B , M M M and B B B B ; 4567 (see note 1 above) has 1 ú - ù r

note that C B S 14176 + 14222 + 7831 + for lú-úr - ra.

3. So probably M M M and C B S 14176+ 14222 +7831 + 4567; B B B and BBBB: lú-galga-a-ra for l ú - g a l g a - a (the unexpected -ra is probably a scribal e r r o r b a s e d upon a misinterpretation of the - r a of Ιύ-ùr-ra in the f i r s t line; cf. note 2 to p r o v e r b 2.124 f o r an analogous e r r o r by the scribe of B B B ) . Note that the sign g a l g a is written as Ê X G A R in agreement with L a n d s b e r g e r , M S L I I . p. 50, line 223, and M S L I I I , p. 193, note to lines 223ff., and not as G Á X G A R as it a p p e a r s in later periods; note too that the inscribed G A R is in a number of instances (cf. note 1 above) quite unclear. 4. So B B B ; B B B B : -gefor - g a - ; 7831 + 4567 (the latter has only one - z a l a g have neither - g a - nor -ge-,

A and C B S 14176 + 14222 + for - ζ a l a g - ζ a l a g - )

5. Cf. ù r - r a = Akkadian ezzum (¿>L 255:3): this adjectival m e a n ing of ù r - r a , assumed to be a participial f o r m of the v e r b a l root ù r ("to sweep away, to move with a sweeping motion"), is the only one which seems to fit the context here. See also p r o v e r b 2.7 f o r zu-a-ùr-ra, translated "hot-headed(?) acquaintances." 6. F o r this interpretation of the v e r b

ti,

"to l i v e , "

see note 5

COLLECTION

267

TWO

to p r o v e r b 1 . 1 4 9 , a n d n o t e 11 to p r o v e r b 2 . 9 9 . 7. l ú - g a l g a ( - a ) is literally tion"; cf. note 3 to p r o v e r b 2.124.

" m a n of c o u n s e l ,

m a n of

reflec-

8. F o r t h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h e v e r b al-zalag-zalag (literally, "is cleansed, is purified") = Akkadian ubbub . cf., p e r h a p s , t h e u s a g e of t h e v e r b u b b u b u m a n d t h e n o u n t ê b i b t u m t h r o u g h o u t t h e M a r i l e t t e r s (see, f o r e x a m p l e , K ü p p e r , Studia M a r i a n a , pp. 99-110). 9. F o r -e - s e , p r o v e r b 1.142.

t h e p a r t i c l e of d i r e c t q u o t a t i o n ,

s e e n o t e 10 t o

2.1301

2.127

1. T h e r e f o l l o w s h e r e a l a c u n a of a p p r o x i m a t e l y f o u r p r o v e r b s , s i n c e , a t t h e m o s t , n o t m o r e t h a n t e n l i n e s of t h e l a c u n a i n Β r e m a i n u n accounted for.

2.1311 . . (? ) - η a - [ . . . . ] §e

m u - n a - [ . . ]

. . . [ . . . . ] ;

he(?) [. . ] s ( ? )

barley

for

him.

1. T h e t e x t of t h i s p r o v e r b i s p r e s e r v e d o n l y i n C C C C , w h i c h i s a v a i l a b l e to t h e w r i t e r o n l y i n t h e f o r m of a r o u g h t r a n s l i t e r a t i o n i n t h e ' f i e l d n o t e b o o k ' of t h e e x p e d i t i o n e p i g r a p h e r . 2.1321

. . (?)-. . (?)-[ mu(?)-ri-ga-[.

[

];

] . . . ]

[

]

268

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1. The t e x t of t h i s p r o v e r b i s p r e s e r v e d o n l y i n C C C C , a v a i l a b l e to the w r i t e r o n l y in a r o u g h t r a n s l i t e r a t i o n in the e x p e d i t i o n e p i g r a p h e r ' s 'field notebook.1 2.1331 ú-ri-ri-ga

k a l a g - g a - §è

νb a r - r i m ^ - m a

si-ga

mu-un

2

-na

3

5 firewood ( i s ) f o r the s t r o n g (to 6 7 8 weak wait(?) f o r h i m on d r y l a n d !

Collecting

-an

4

-• t uXs

do);

he

makes

the

T h i s p r o v e r b s e e m s to i m p l y t h a t the p l a c e s w h e r e f i r e w o o d w a s c o l l e c t e d w e r e m a r s h y ; ( c f . , p e r h a p s , the d i s c u s s i o n of the t e r m 8 1 s t i r ( u s u a l l y t r a n s l a t e d " f o r e s t , g r o v e " ) in O p p e n h e i m , C a t . E a m e s , pp. 107 f.); it f u r t h e r s h o w s a t y p e of s o c i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y u s u a l l y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of the " r u g g e d individualist. " 1. F o r t h i s p r o v e r b in a n o t h e r c o l l e c t i o n , c f . C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 1 4 2 2 2 + 7 8 3 1 + 4 5 6 7 o b v . i 5 - 6 ( t h i s p a r t i s p u b l i s h e d a s P B S XIII 50). N o t e that the t e x t of t h i s p r o v e r b a s p r e s e r v e d i n C C C C a n d D D D D w a s n o t a v a i l a b l e to the w r i t e r e x c e p t in the f o r m of a r o u g h t r a n s l i t e r a t i o n of C C C C in the ' f i e l d n o t e b o o k 1 of the e x p e d i t i o n e p i g r a p h e r , a n d s i m p l y t h e n o t a t i o n of the c o m p l e x ú - r i - r i - g a in the d e s c r i p t i o n of D D D D i n t h e s a m e s e t of 'field notebooks. ' 2. omits

So C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 1 4 2 2 2 + 7 8 3 1 + 4 5 6 7 and p o s s i b l y N N N ; C C C C - u n - ; D D D D (unknown to the w r i t e r ; s e e n o t e 1 a b o v e ) .

3. So C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 1 4 2 2 2 + 7 8 3 1 + 4 5 6 7 and C C C C ; NNN: -na(!)p r o b a b l y o v e r an e r a s e d - N E - ; D D D D (unknown to the w r i t e r ; s e e n o t e 1 above). 4 . So N N N and C C C C ; C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 1 4 2 2 2 + 7 8 3 1 + 4 5 6 7 o m i t s D D D D (unknown to the w r i t e r ; s e e n o t e 1 a b o v e ) .

-an-;

5. F o r ú , " f i r e w o o d , " s e e n o t e 4 to p r o v e r b 1 . 1 2 6 ' (and r e f e r e n c e s c i t e d t h e r e ) and n o t e 7 to p r o v e r b 1 . 1 8 6 . 6. F o r s i - g a ( p h o n e t i c w r i t i n g f o r s i g - g a ) c o n t r a s t e d w i t h k a l a g - g a , "the w e a k " a n d "the s t r o n g , " c f . K A R 1 1 9 . o b v . (?) 1 3 ' 14' ( s e e n o w V a n D i j k , SSA r p. 1 1 6 , a n d F a l k e n s t e i n , O r i e n t a l i a T N. S. 23 [ 1 9 5 4 ] , p. 51). 7.

Literally,

8.

For

"he h a s m a d e h i m s i t f o r

bar-rim4,

"dryland,"

him."

s e e n o t e 10 t o p r o v e r b 2 . 1 0 3 .

COLLECTION

TWO

269

2.134 [ . . . . ] [ . . . . ]

..(?) - ga

" [ . . . ]

1.

1

-an-tuku-tuku

AN.TIR

b a - a n - d i r i g - d i r i g - e - S e

has

much

erased

ba(!?)

a c q u i r e d m u c h . . (?), 2 3 . . (?) !" (he s a y s ) .

(and)

[ . . ] . (?)

has

accumulated

NNN (the only text in w h i c h t h i s p r o v e r b is p r e s e r v e d ) h a s an -ANbetween b a ( ! ?) - and -an-.

2. T h e w o r d - d i v i s i o n a n d m e a n i n g of -ga A N . T I R are unc e r t a i n ; it i s n o t i m p o s s i b l e t h a t AN. TIR is m e a n t f o r ^aínan (i.e., A N . S E . T I R ) , "grain." The t r a n s l a t i o n " m u c h " in both c l a u s e s of t h e p r o v e r b a t t e m p t s to r e n d e r t h e r e d u p l i c a t e d v e r b a l s t e m s tuku-tuku and dirig-dirig. 3. F o r v e r b 1.142.

- e - δ e , t h e p a r t i c l e of d i r e c t d i s c o u r s e ,

s e e n o t e 10 to p r o -

2.135 [ . . . . ]

-la

gi-gul(!)

-l[a]

[ . . . (. ) - 1 ] a

g u s k i n - g u l - 1[ a ]

[...(?)

. . ]d(?),

(only)

[...(?)

. . ]d(?),

gold

reeds

destroye[d] !

destroye[d] !

C f . , p e r h a p s , a s i m i l a r p r o v e r b in a d i f f e r e n t c o l l e c t i o n (UM 2 9 - 1 5 - 3 9 4 o b v . i i 7 - 8 , u n p u b l i s h e d ) , w h i c h r e a d s a s f o l lows: é-^ul-gul-e kug î-gul-e, é-gul-e guSkin i-gul-e, "He who d e s t r o y s m a n y h o u s e s d e s t r o y s (only) s i l v e r ! He who d e s t r o y s a (single) h o u s e d e s t r o y s g o l d ! " ( T h e i m p l i c a t i o n s of t h i s p r o v e r b a r e n o t e n tirely certain; it m a y r e p r e s e n t a c o m p a r i s o n b e t w e e n the c a l l o u s n e s s of t h e w a n t o n d e s t r o y e r a n d t h e r e m o r s e f e l t b y t h e o n e - t i m e o f f e n d e r . F o r t h e s t r u c t u r e of t h e p r o v e r b , c f . , f o r e x a m p l e , the M i d r a s h i c p r o v e r b "He who r e n t s one g a r d e n will e a t b i r d s ; he who r e n t s g a r d e n s , the b i r d s will eat h i m ! " [ L e v . R . c h . i i i 1; a n d E c c l e s . R . t o i v 6, i n C o h e n , A J P f p . 6 8 , n o . 130].) N o t e t h a t t h e p r o v e r b c i t e d a b o v e m a k e s t h e comparison g i ( " r e e d s " ) and g u ä k i n (i.e., KUG.GI,

270

GORDON:

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Monographs

"gold"), w h i l e the p r o v e r b h e r e h a s the p a i r k u g ("silver") and g u S k i n ( = K U G . G I , "gold"); thus, while both p r o v e r b s have g u S k i n in the s e c o n d c l a u s e , t h e o n e h a s k u g a n d t h e o t h e r h a s g i i n t h e f i r s t c l a u s e . If p r o v e r b 2 . 1 3 5 i s t h e r e f o r e to b e r e s t o r e d on t h e b a s i s of t h e p r o v e r b in UM 2 9 - 1 5 - 3 9 4 , it m a y have been: [é - g u i - g u l ] - l a gi-gul(!)-l[a], [é - g u i - l ] a g u § ki η - g u l - 1 [ a ] , "[Many houses destro]yed, (only) r e e d s d e s t r o y e [ d ] ! [A ( s i n g l e ) h o u s e d e s t r o y e j d , g o l d d e s t r o y e [ d ] !" 2.136 [..

n]u(?)-gur-àm'

[..-.].(?) -bi [. . .]

a

nu-gar-ra-ba^

nu-kú

was

not(?)

water,

he(?)

returned(?);

since

did n o t

its

eat

it had

not b e e n

placed(?)

in(?)

[ . . ].(?).

1. So NNN;

F F F and p r o b a b l y Β omit

-àm.

2. So F F F ;

E E E a n d NNN:

-ba.

-bi

for

2.1371 [en]-gim

dù^

[ sa]g -gim Build Build

7 7

sag-gim^

dù^

en-gim

like

a [lord],

go a b o u t

like

a

[sia] ve,

du^ du^

7

like a slave ! 7 go a b o u t like a l o r d !

C f . t h e E n g l i s h p r o v e r b " E c o n o m y the p o o r m a n ' s m i n t , e x t r a v a g a n c e the r i c h m a n ' s p i t f a l l " ( S t e v e n s o n , H B P M . p . 9 1 7 , n o . 11). 1. F o r a s l i g h t v a r i a n t of t h i s p r o v e r b in a n o t h e r c o l l e c t i o n , c f . UM 2 9 - 1 5 - 3 9 4 obv. i i 5 - 6 ( u n p u b l i s h e d ) , w h i c h r e a d s : [en]-gim dù sag-gim ti, sag-gim dù en-gim t i ; see note 7 below. for

2. So F F F , UM 2 9 - 1 5 - 3 9 4 a n d p r o b a b l y E E E ; dù. 3.

saet except Β, which has

sag-ki

for

Β a n d GGG:

sag-gim

du

( s c r i b a l e r r o r ! ).

COLLECTION

4. So Β a n d GGG; E E E a n d F F F : d ù 15-394 (see note 1 above) has ti for du. fo r

5. So F F F , dù .

271

TWO

for

du;

UM 2 9 - 1 5 - 3 9 4 and p r o b a b l y E E E ;

6. So Β a n d G G G ; E E E a n d F F F : d ù 15-394 (see note 1 above) has t i for du.

for

n o t e t h a t U M 29 -

Β and GGG:

du;

du

n o t e t h a t U M 29 -

7. I t i s to b e n o t e d t h a t a c t u a l l y Β a n d G G G h a v e d u ("to w a l k , to m o v e a b o u t " ) i n a l l f o u r c l a u s e s , w h i l e E E E a n d F F F , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , h a v e d ù ("to b u i l d " ) in a l l f o u r c l a u s e s . The translation m a k e s the a s s u m p t i o n that the o r i g i n a l text should h a v e had d ù ("to build") in t h e f i r s t c l a u s e of e a c h l i n e , a n d t h e h o m o n y m o u s d u ( " t o m o v e a b o u t " ) in t h e s e c o n d c l a u s e of e a c h l i n e , a l t h o u g h , to b e s u r e , t h i s c o m b i n a t i o n is found n o w h e r e . C f . , h o w e v e r , the v e r s i o n in UM 2 9 - 1 5 - 3 9 4 ( s e e n o t e 1 a b o v e ) , w h i c h d o e s h a v e d ù ( " t o b u i l d " ) i n t h e f i r s t c l a u s e of e a c h l i n e , a n d h a s t i ( " t o l i v e " ) i n p l a c e of t h e a s s u m e d d u ("to m o v e a b o u t " ) i n t h e s e c o n d c l a u s e of e a c h l i n e . 2.1381 §u

su-a

sà-gal

b a - a b - d a ^ §à - g a l - e

4 added to 5 Stomach added Hand

2

al-dù-e

ba-ab-da{j

hand: to

é-lú

the

house

stomach:

the

é-lú of

a

man

house

of

al-gul-e is a

built man

3

up! is

destroyed!

6

F o r t h e f i r s t l i n e of t h i s p r o v e r b , c f . , p e r h a p s , t h e E n g l i s h p r o v e r b "In unity t h e r e i s s t r e n g t h " ; the s e c o n d line i m p l i e s that a h o u s e h o l d with too m a n y n o n - c o n t r i b u t i n g d e p e n d e n t s will b e d e p l e t e d of a l l i t s r e s o u r c e s . With the e n t i r e p r o v e r b , cf., perhaps, " U n i t e d w e s t a n d , d i v i d e d w e f a l l ! " ( a t t r i b u t e d to A e s o p ) , a s w e l l a s t h e h u m o r o u s A m e r i c a n s a y i n g "If w e d o n ' t all hang t o g e t h e r , we will all hang s e p a r a t e l y ! " 1. T h i s p r o v e r b i s i n s e r t e d i n A a f t e r p r o v e r b 2 . 9 7 a n d b e f o r e 2 . 9 9 (in p l a c e of t h e o m i t t e d p r o v e r b 2 . 9 8 ) . 2.

So Β a n d H H H ;

3.

So A ,

4.

Literally,

5. proverb

A:

Β a n d HHH;

Sà - g a l - l a EEE:

"was added,"

for

Sà-gal-e.

a l - g u l ( ! ) - e (!) . or possibly

"added

itself."

F o r t h e t r a n s l a t i o n of S à - g a l a s " s t o m a c h , " s e e note 7 to 2.53; note that it i s the p a r a l l e l i s m h e r e with S u ("hand") that

272

GORDON:

c o m p e l s the taking

of

SUMERIAN

5à-gal

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Museum

Monographs

a s a p a r t of the body.

6. F o r the a n t i t h e t i c a l p a i r é - d û - a and é - g u i in l e g a l f o r m u l a e (with quite a d i f f e r e n t m e a n i n g , h o w e v e r ) , c f . , f o r e x a m p l e , O p p e n h e i m , C a t . E a m e s . pp. 162 f . 2.1391 g

i §

al

ú

nu-kur(u)

S

5

i 5

kibir

ú

2

nu-kur(u)

5

3 The

pickaxe cut

does

not

cut

firewood;

the

pitch-fork(?)

does

not

firewood!

C f . the E n g l i s h p r o v e r b " Y o u c a n ' t c a r r y w a t e r in a s i e v e !" Note t h a t , a c c o r d i n g to the " D i s p u t a t i o n b e t w e e n C o p p e r and S i l v e r " ( S R T 4, l i n e 18; s e e , f o r the p r e s e n t , V a n Dijk, S S A , pp. 58 and 6 0 ) , it w a s , a s i s to be e x p e c t e d , the a x e ( u r u d u ^ a - z i - i n ) w h i c h w a s u s e d to " c u t f i r e wood. " 1. B : n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2 . 1 3 8 and 2 . 1 3 9 (note that t h e r e i s a s e p a r a t i n g l i n e in t h i s p o s i t i o n in E E E and HHH; c f . , h o w e v e r , note 1 to p r o v e r b 2 . 1 4 0 ) . 2. as

HHH:

g

i §

0)kibir.

3. F o r the t r a n s l a t i o n of g ^ k i b i r ( = A k k a d i a n " p i t c h - f o r k , " s e e L a b a t , MF.A, p. 2 2 7 , no. 5 4 8 .

kibirrum)

2.1401 é^-guruS - g a l - g a l - e ^ - n e -ka^ al-§eg

6

-gá(?)

In a h o u s e h o l d pickaxe

g^dusu^

6

(consisting)

and the

g ^ a l

of

several grown-up 7 8 work-basket a r e . . (?) !

T h i s p r o v e r b i s p r o b a b l y a n a l l u s i o n to the although i t s e x a c t i m p l i c a t i o n s a r e u n c e r t a i n .

young

men,

corvée

the

service,

1. E E E , HHH and I I I : n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2 . 1 3 9 and 2 . 1 4 0 (note that t h e r e i s a s e p a r a t i n g l i n e in t h i s p o s i t i o n in B ; c f . , h o w e v e r ,

COLLECTION

273

TWO

n o t e 1 to p r o v e r b 2 . 1 3 9 ) . 2.

So HHH;

B:

é(!)-

( o v e r an e r a s e d

Κ A L - ).

3. So Β , E E E , HHH, J J J and p r o b a b l y E E E E ; - e - e - for -e-. 4.

So HHH and p r o b a b l y B , J J J and E E E E ;

5. i . e . , g ÍL: s o E E E , HHH and E E E E ; s i o n of the d e t e r m i n a t i v e S ® ) f o r g ^ d u s u . So HHH and p r o b a b l y JJJ;

EEE:

s e e m s to h a v e

EEE omits

i §

6.

III

B:

-ka.

du su

[ al(?) ] - § eg

6

(with o m i s -

(! ?) - g á (? ) .

7. 8 i s f L i s here read S ^ d u s u ( = Akkadian tupsikkum . "workb a s k e t " ; c f . S L 320: 19) in s p i t e of the d e t e r m i n a t i v e g i s the t e r m i s more usually written g 1 d u s u , since baskets were usually matted from reeds r a t h e r than g i ^ í l ( - l á ) = A k k a d i a n n a n S u m . "the l e v e r " ( c f . § L 3 2 0 : 3 2 a n d O p p e n h e i m , C a t . E a m e s . p. 64), b e c a u s e of the u s u a l a s s o c i a t i o n e l s e w h e r e of the " w o r k - b a s k e t " w i t h the " p i c k a x e . " 8. If t h e r e a d i n g a l - S e g ^ - g á ( i . e . , a l - N E - g á ) should prove to be c o r r e c t , the m e a n i n g m i g h t b e e x p e c t e d to be "(they) a r e hot ( p e r haps f r o m continual u s e ) , " although this description, while p o s s i b l y app r o p r i a t e enough f o r the p i c k a x e under s u c h c o n d i t i o n s , could hardly be a p p l i e d to the w o r k - b a s k e t , a n o b j e c t m a d e of r e e d - m a t t i n g o r (at l e a s t h e r e ) of w o o d . 2.1411 ama - g u r u § - u s su A mother

of

4

bearing

eight

(more

2 5

-e-tu-ud (grown)

children)

3

f nig-sig-ga

-da

young lies

men

down

who (for

is

ba-ná

(still

c a p a b l e of) 6 7 copulation) passively(?) !

P r o b a b l y a b o a s t on t h e p a r t of a p a r t i c u l a r l y p r o u d f a t h e r (but b y m o d e r n s t a n d a r d s , a d o m i n e e r i n g h u s b a n d ) , a l t h o u g h it i s n o t i m p o s s i b l y a n e x p r e s s i o n of s y m p a t h y f o r the m o t h e r . 1. E E E E : n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2 . 1 4 0 a n d 2 . 1 4 1 (but n o t é that E E E E a c t u a l l y h a s n o s e p a r a t i n g l i n e s b e t w e e n a n y of the p r o v e r b s i n s c r i b e d o n it). 2.

So B;

HHH a n d E E E E s e e m to h a v e

3.

So HHH;

III,

J J J and E E E E :

-tu-

4. The - e of a m a - g u r u § - u s s u - e genitive element - a ( k ) - .

- im iη for

for

- u s su - .

-tu-ud-.

i s a s s u m e d to b e f o r the

5. N o t e that t h e v a r i a n t t e x t i n HHH a n d E E E E ( s e e n o t e 2 a b o v e ) s e e m s to r e a d " s e v e n " i n s t e a d of " e i g h t . "

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GORDON:

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Monographs

6. The v e r b n á h e r e is taken as the equivalent of the Akkadian niâkum (SL 431:14), " t o l i e down ( f o r copulation), to copulate w i t h , " in v i e w of the context ( c f . a l s o the use of the v e r b in the same sense in p r o v e r b 1.147), r a t h e r than in the s i m p l e meaning of " t o l i e down (to r e s t ) . " 7. L i t e r a l l y , resistance.

" i n ( h e r ) w e a k n e s s " ; that i s ,

without o f f e r i n g any

2.142 1 é-lù-zi-dè The

house

2

-dù

built^

treacherous

3

-a

by

lú-lul-e the

upright

4

man

gul-la has

5

been

destroyed

by

the

man!

C f . a l s o the s i m i l a r p r o v e r b in another c o l l e c t i o n (CBS 14139 + U M 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 o b v . i i 3 - 4 ) , which d e a l s with M e - s i l i m ( v a r i a n t : M e s - a n n e - p a d d a ) as the b u i l d e r of the t e m p l e E b a b b a r , and Annane ( v a r i a n t : Na-anna; i . e . , A - a n n e - p a d d a ) as the d e s t r o y e r of the same t e m p l e ( s e e , f o r the p r e s e n t , G o r d o n , B A S O R 132 [ 1 9 5 3 ] , pp. 29 f . Note a l s o , f o r e x a m p l e , such p a s s a g e s as " L a m e n t a t i o n o v e r the D e s t r u c t i o n of U r , " l i n e s 122 f . and 126 ( K r a m e r , A§. 12, pp. 30 f . ) . Cf. too the not too d i s s i m i l a r b i b l i c a l p r o v e r b ( P r o v . 14:1): " E v e r y w i s e w o m a n buildeth h e r house; But the f o o l i s h plucketh it down w i t h h e r own h a n d s . " 1. F o r this p r o v e r b in another c o l l e c t i o n , c f . A 10062 (tablet in the A n t i k s a m l i n g e n , Danish N a t i o n a l M u s e u m , K^benhavn) r e v . i i i 11-12. E E E E : nsl b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2.141 and 2.142 (but see note 1 to p r o v e r b 2.141). 2. for

So B , DDD, HHH, I I I

and E E E E ; A 10062: - d a -

3. So Β , DDD, H H H , JJJ, E E E E , - d ù - (phonetic w r i t i n g ! ) .

for

-dè-.

and p r o b a b l y A 10062; I I I :

-du-

4. So H H H and E E E E ; B: l ú - l u l - U D ( s c r i b a l er r o r ! ) f o r lú-lul-e; A 10062: l u - l u l - l a for lú-lul-e. for

5. So JJJ and p r o b a b l y B, HHH and E E E E ; g u l - l a ( f i n i t e v e r b f o r the p a r t i c i p l e ) .

A 10062:

ba - g u l

6. P o s s i b l y " T h e t e m p l e built, e t c . " o r e v e n " T h e household built up" ( p e r h a p s then to be taken f i g u r a t i v e l y as in p r o v e r b 2.138, q. v. ). In any c a s e , the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of the p r o v e r b r e m a i n s the s a m e .

COLLECTION

275

TWO

2.1431 e¿ - a

2

ιl u' - z u

èn-bi-a^ An

3

4

m u - u n - g u τl

ba^-tar-re-[

acquaintance

[ You(?)^]

- κb ·ι

must

9

of(?)

the

5

en(?)f

household

investigate

the

has

been

attacked;

10

matter!^

If t h i s p r o v e r b h a s b e e n c o r r e c t l y t r a n s l a t e d , it is, p e r h a p s , a n a l l u s i o n to l o y a l t y t o w a r d o n e ' s f a m i l y a c q u a i n t a n c e s ( b u t c f . , h o w e v e r , n o t e 10 b e l o w ) . 1. F o r t h i s p r o v e r b in a n o t h e r c o l l e c t i o n , c f . C B S 14139 + U M 2 9 13-361 obv. ii 6 - 7 . E E E E : n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2.142 and 2.143 (but s e e n o t e 1 to p r o v e r b 2 . 1 4 1 ) . 2. So Β a n d I I I ; H H H o m i t s UM 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 : é - e for é-a.

-a;

DDD, E E E E a n d C B S 14139 +

3. So D D D , H H H , E E E E a n d C B S 14139 + U M 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 ; Β: - z u ( ! ) - ; III: lu-NEf o r l ú - z u - (a s c r i b a l e r r o r , p o s s i b l y i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e - d è - of é - l ù - z i - d è - d u - a in the p r e c e d i n g line). 4. So D D D , H H H , I I I , E E E E a n d C B S 1 4 1 3 9 + U M 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 ; Β: lu-zu(!)-UD for l ú - z u - b i ( p e r h a p s the s c r i b e a c t u a l l y intended it f o r 1 ύ - ζ u - e ; c f . t h e e r r o n e o u s - U D f o r - e i n Β i n n o t e 4 t o p r o v e r b 2.142). 5. So C B S 14139 + U M 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 a n d p r o b a b l y a l s o Β , D D D , I I I , and E E E E ; HHH: a n - g u (i.e., G U L ) - u l - e for mu-un-gul. 6. èn-bi omits

So B , H H H , I I I , E E E E , for èn-bi-a.

7. So Β , D D D , H H H , b a - .

III,

a n d C B S 14139 + U M 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 ; and E E E E ;

DDD:

C B S 14139 + UM 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1

8. So p o s s i b l y Β a n d I I I (on t h e b a s i s of t h e s p a c i n g of t h e s i g n s ; the sign - e n or is - e s o r e v e n - d è to be r e s t o r e d r a t h e r t h a n - e n ? i s a c t u a l l y f o u n d n o w h e r e ) ; HHH, C B S 14139 + UM 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 , a n d , in a l l p r o b a b i l i t y , a l s o E E E E o m i t t h e a s s u m e d ~ [ e n ( ? ) ] (that is, HHH and p r o b a b l y E E E E h a v e s i m p l y b a - t a r - r e , a n d C B S 141 39 + U M 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 m e r e l y t a r - r e ; cf. note 7 above f o r the l a t t e r ) . 9. L i t e r a l l y , " i t s k n o w e r " (cf. the t e r m z u - a , l i t e r a l l y , "a known o n e , " a n d a l s o t r a n s l a t e d " a c q u a i n t a n c e , " f o r w h i c h s e e note 6 to p r o v e r b 2.7). It i s h a r d l y l i k e l y t h a t t h e v a r i a n t l ú - N E of I I I ( s e e n o t e 3 above) i s to be r e a d d u j 4 , a r o o t m e a n i n g "to q u a r r e l " (cf. n o t e s 3 and 8

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Museum

Monographs

to p r o v e r b 1 . 1 7 0 , a n d n o t e 1 to p r o v e r b 1 . 1 9 6 ) v s i n c e d u j 4 is always written L Ú Χ Ν E in t h i s p e r i o d , and not L U . N E a s it i s l a t e r . 10. I t i s , t o b e s u r e , n o t i m p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e s e n t e n c e s h o u l d b e r e n d e r e d " T h e h o u s e h o l d h a s a t t a c k e d ( o n e of) i t s a c q u a i n t a n c e ( s ) , " o r e v e n " A n a c q u a i n t a n c e of t h e h o u s e h o l d h a s a t t a c k e d ( o r ' d e s t r o y e d ' ) i t , " i n e i t h e r of w h i c h c a s e s t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s of t h e p r o v e r b w o u l d b e q u i t e d i f f e r e n t f r o m the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n given above. Note the u n u s u a l o r t h o g r a p h y of t h e v e r b a l r o o t g u 1 w i t h t h e t w o s i g n s g u x - u l ( i . e . , G U L - u l ) i n t h e v a r i a n t t e x t of H H H ( s e e n o t e 5 a b o v e ) . 11. S h o u l d t h e r e s t o r a t i o n of ~ [ e n ( ? ) ] i n Β a n d I I I b e c o r r e c t (cf. note 8 a b o v e ) , it m i g h t be t h a t the v e r b s h o u l d be r e n d e r e d "I m u s t investigate" r a t h e r than "You m u s t investigate," but note, h o w e v e r , that the v a r i a n t f o r m t a r - r e (see notes 7 and 8 above) h a s b e e n a s s u m e d to s t a n d f o r the i m p e r a t i v e (2nd p e r s o n s i n g u l a r ) t a r - r a . If, on the o t h e r h a n d , t h e v e r b i s to be r e s t o r e d a s b a - t a r - r e - [ d è ] as sugg e s t e d i n n o t e 8, t h e l i n e m a y p e r h a p s b e t r a n s l a t e d " T h e m a t t e r i n v o l v ing t h e m w i l l b e i n v e s t i g a t e d , " w i t h the v a r i a n t t a r - r e then, p e r h a p s , to be u n d e r s t o o d a s standing f o r the p r e s e n t - f u t u r e p a r t i c i p l e t a r - r e - d a (or, with the copula, t a r - r e - d a m ) , "(is) to be i n v e s t i gated." 12. è η t a r = A k k a d i a n w a r k â t (X) p a r â s i i m ; c f . , f o r e x a m p l e , L a n d s b e r g e r , M S L I . p . 8 1 ( A n a I t t i - S u ) . VI i i 3 6 f . Note, however, that o t h e r t r a n s l a t i o n s of è η tar a r e possible; for e x a m p l e , "You (or Ί ' ) m u s t be c a r e f u l (under such c i r c u m s t a n c e s ) ! " 2.1441 é - e^

ki-galg^

a-gà-ga

5

A

s u 7(!)

ljé-éb^-ús hé-éb

6 (building-) lot should g threshing-floor should be

vacant

4

be

-ú[s] adjacent

adja[cent]

to

to a

a

house,

7

(but)

a

field!

P e r h a p s a m a x i m c u r r e n t a m o n g the r e a l - e s t a t e b r o k e r s o r e v e n t h e " R e g i s t r a r of D e e d s " ( t h e s a 12 - s u g 5 ; s e e p r o v e r b 1 . 6 7 a n d n o t e 5 t h e r e ) , i m p l y i n g t h a t t h e u s e of u n d e v e l oped land should depend upon its location: To t h r e s h g r a i n at a d i s t a n c e f r o m the f i e l d s would be i n c o n v e n i e n t , a n d to do the w i n n o w i n g of t h e c h a f f i n t h e v i c i n i t y of d w e l l i n g - p l a c e s d i s c o m f o r t i n g t o t h e o c c u p a n t s of t h e h o u s e s . (Cf., p e r h a p s , the " z o n ing o r d i n a n c e s " in m o d e r n c i t i e s to p r e v e n t the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of c e r t a i n t y p e s of i n d u s t r i e s i n r e s i d e n t i a l q u a r t e r s . )

COLLECTION

277

TWO

1. T h e t r a c e s p r e s e r v e d f o l l o w i n g p r o v e r b 2 . 1 4 3 i n I I I a n d p o s s i b l y a l s o i n Β s e e m to i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e s e t w o t a b l e t s m a y h a v e o m i t t e d this p r o v e r b . E E E E : n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2.143 and 2.144 (but see note 1 to p r o v e r b 2.141). 2.

So E E E E ; H H H :

3.

i.e.,

4.

So E E E E ;

HHH:

5.

So E E E E ;

HHH:

é

for

é-e.

ki - UD . -eb-

for

-éb-

(in b o t h l i n e s of t h e p r o v e r b ) .

-ga(!).

6. F o r t h e r e a d i n g of k i - U D as k i - g a l g » see Goetze, AJSL LII [1936] , pp. 150-152. As f o r the m e a n i n g " v a c a n t (building-) lot," c f . p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e u s a g e i n t h e " C o d e of L i p i t - I s h t a r L a w n o . 11 ( S t e e l e , A J A . L I I [1948] , p. 437, col. xiii, l i n e s 2 0 - 3 4 ) ; s e e a l s o n o t e 8 b e l o w . with

7. F o r t h e v e r b a l r o o t ú s , " t o b e é - e , s e e n o t e 5 to p r o v e r b 2 . 9 7 .

a d j a c e n t (to)," in a s s o c i a t i o n

8. F o r s u γ , " t h r e s h i n g - f l o o r , " s e e n o t e s 1 a n d 4 to p r o v e r b 2.85, a n d n o t e 1 to p r o v e r b 2 . 8 7 . T h e a n t i t h e t i c a l u s e h e r e of k i - g a l g ( " v a c ant (building-) lot") and s u y ( " t h r e s h i n g - f l o o r " ) m a y p e r h a p s indicate, s i n c e it i s e v i d e n t that the two t e r m s w e r e c l e a r l y d i s t i n c t in S u m e r i a n u s a g e , t h a t o n l y k i - g a l g i s t h e e q u i v a l e n t of t h e A k k a d i a n n i d û t u m . and that only s u y i s to b e e q u a t e d w i t h A k k a d i a n m a S k a n u m , i n s p i t e of t h e c o n f u s i o n o v e r t h e e q u a t i o n s i n t h e l e x i c a l t e x t s , a n d t h e a m b i g u i t y in t h e l o g o g r a p h i c u s e of t h e t w o S u m e r i a n t e r m s i n A k k a d i a n c o n t e x t s (cf. G o e t z e , l o c . cit.). 2.1451 é-a-ni

é - z a g - u r u - g i m

ab-ba

h é - . . (? ) 2

His

h o u s e like the the e l d e r s .4

houses

(on)

the

outskirts

of

the

city

3 . . s(?)

T h e s i g n i f i c a n c e of t h i s p r o v e r b i s e n t i r e l y o b s c u r e b e c a u s e of t h e u n c e r t a i n v e r b a l r o o t a t t h e e n d , in a d d i t i o n to t h e f a c t t h a t t h e a c t u a l m e a n i n g of " h o u s e s on t h e o u t s k i r t s of t h e c i t y " in s o c i o - e c o n o m i c t e r m s i s u n c l e a r . 1. E E E E : p r o v e r b 2.141).

n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2 . 1 4 4 a n d 2 . 1 4 5 ( b u t s e e n o t e 1 to

2. F o r t h e t e r m z a g - u r u ( " o u t s k i r t s of t h e c i t y " ) probably i n c o n t r a s t w i t h t h e t e r m s ¡5 à - u r u ( " c e n t e r of t h e c i t y , " i . e . , t h a t p a r t of t h e c i t y e n c l o s e d w i t h i n i t s w a l l s ) a n d b a r - u r u or u r u - b a r - r a

278

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Museum

Monographs

("(the open country) o u t s i d e a city") c f . "Enki and N i n ^ u r s a g , " l i n e 30 ( K r a m e r , BASOR. SS.no. 1, pp. 1 0 f . , and M. L a m b e r t , RA X L I I l f l 9 4 9 l . p. 108 and note 4 t h e r e ) , a s w e l l a s the u s e of z a g in the s e n s e of " b o r d e r , boundary, o u t e r e d g e " ( = Akkadian m i $ r u m and pâ {.um : c f . èL· 332: 35 and 38) in s u c h e x p r e s s i o n s a s z a g - a n - S a ^ a n ^ i . ( s e e f o r the p r e s ent, f o r e x a m p l e , K r a m e r , BASOR 96 \ 19441. p. 26). It i s h a r d l y l i k e l y that the e x p r e s s i o n é - z a g - u r u in this p r o v e r b should be t r a n s l a t e d " w a r e h o u s e " in a c c o r d a n c e with M. L a m b e r t (loc. c i t . , a s w e l l a s in h i s " E s s a i : L e V e r b e G A R , " S u m e r i c a e Linguae T h e s a u r u s , July 1954, p. 12, under the i t e m " Ê - Z A G . t a . . . . G A R " ) , although p e r h a p s the w a r e h o u s e of that n a m e at L a g a s h ( c i t e d by M. L a m b e r t ) a c t u a l l y r e c e i v e d i t s n a m e b e c a u s e of i t s l o c a t i o n . 3. The u n i d e n t i f i a b l e s i g n w h o s e reading c o n c e a l s the m e a n i n g of the v e r b a l r o o t i s p r e s e r v e d o n l y in HHH. 4. F o r a b - b a , "old m a n , e l d e r (of a c i t y ) , " c f . , f o r e x a m p l e , " G i l g a m e s h and A g g a , " l i n e s 3, 9, 17 and 85 ( K r a m e r , AIÄ^LHI [1949], pp. 7 and 9, t r a n s l a t e d on pp. 10 f f . ) , "Enki and N i n ^ u r s a g , " l i n e 25 ( K r a m e r , BASOR. S S no. 1, pp. 1 0 f . ) , a s w e l l a s K r a m e r , E L A . pp. 2 8 f . , l i n e 374. 2.1461 é — d a m - e — gù — n u - d é - d a m [. . . ] - da — i n i m -J)úl — n u - g á - g á - d a m [ . . . ] . ( ? ) - n u - S [ i ( ? ) ] - i b ( ? ) - k [ ú ] S (?)-ù It i s

2 a h o u s e h o l d w h e r e the w i f e d o e s not speak, w h e r e the 3 [..].(?) d o e s not utter a joyful w o r d , (where(?)) the [ . . ( ? ) ] does

not

s[i]gh(?)

over(?)

[..].(?)!

T h i s p r o v e r b s e e m s to be d e s c r i p t i v e of an unhappy h o u s e h o l d in s p i t e of the b r o k e n state of the l a s t two l i n e s . 1.

The t e x t of t h i s p r o v e r b i s p r e s e r v e d only in HHH.

2. Or, a l t e r n a t i v e l y , "husband," e s p e c i a l l y if r e a d in the s e c o n d l i n e ( s e e note 3 b e l o w ) .

"father" i s to be

3. It i s not i m p o s s i b l e that the s i g n s to be r e s t o r e d at the beginning of the s e c o n d l i n e end w i t h a d - d a , "father"; i n f a c t , t h e r e m a y be only a s i n g l e s i g n m i s s i n g r a t h e r than two a s h a s b e e n a s s u m e d .

COLLECTION

2.147

TWO

279

2.1571

1. T h e r e f o l l o w s a l a c u n a e s t i m a t e c i to h a v e c o n t a i n e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y e l e v e n p r o v e r b s ( a p p r o x i m a t e l y 22 l i n e s r e m a i n of t h e l a c u n a i n Β b e t w e e n t h e e n d of c o l . v i i a n d t h e b e g i n n i n g of c o l . v i i i a f t e r p r o v e r b s 2 . 1 4 4 2.146 a r e accounted for there). Within this l a c u n a a r e to be p l a c e d the f r a g m e n t a r y p r o v e r b s p r e s e r v e d o n t h e r e v e r s e s of b o t h I I I a n d J J J ( t h e l a t t e r c o m m e n c e s t w o p r o v e r b s b e f o r e t h e b e g i n n i n g of I I I ) . 2.147' [

].(?)-nir(?)-r[a(?)]

[ . . . ] . · .(?)! 2.148' [. . . ] [ . . . ]

nu-gi did

not

4

(? !)

answer(?) ! 2.149'1

[a(?)-d]a

ab-tuä

&[ul (?) ] - b i - Sè He

was the

made

igi

to

uplands

kur-5à-§è^

dwell(?) 4

without

igi-dug

nu-dug near

[the

looking

3 water(?)], (but) h e l o o k s 5 6 at t h e i r r i g [ o u r s(?)] !

toward

If t h i s p r o v e r b h a s b e e n c o r r e c t l y r e s t o r e d a n d t r a n s l a t e d , cf., p e r h a p s , the E n g l i s h p r o v e r b s " T h e g r a s s i s a l w a y s g r e e n e r on t h e o t h e r s i d e of t h e f e n c e , " o r " A m a n n e v e r r e a l i z e s h o w w e l l off h e i s u n t i l i t i s t o o l a t e ! " ( m o r e r e c e n t l y r e s t a t e d in a h u m o r o u s c o l l o q u i a l m a n n e r a s "They n e v e r h a d i t so g o o d b e f o r e ! " ) .

280

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Musrum

Monographs

1. F o r t h i s p r o v e r b i n a n o t h e r c o l l e c t i o n ( w h e r e t h e t e x t i s m u c h b e t t e r p r e s e r v e d ) , c f . C B S 14176 + 14222 + 7 8 3 1 + 4 5 6 7 o b v . ν 9 * - 1 0 · ( t h e r e l e v a n t p i e c e w a s p u b l i s h e d a s P B S XII / 1, n o . 29, w h e r e t h e p r o v e r b a p p e a r s in the f o u r t h c o l u m n , l i n e s 4 - 5 , but note t h a t the r e a d i n g f o l l o w s the o r i g i n a l tablet r a t h e r than L a n g d o n ' s c o p y ! ) . 2. So I I I ; C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 14222 + 7831 + 4 5 6 7 o m i t s

-5è.

3. [ a ( ? ) - d ] a ( ! ) ( s o p r o b a b l y i n s p i t e of t h e c o p y i n £ B S X I I / 1) i s r e s t o r e d on t h e b a s i s of t h e p r o v e r b w h i c h f o l l o w s t h i s one i n C B S 1 4 1 7 6 + 14222 + 7 8 3 1 + 4567 ( o b v . ν 11 1 f f . ) , w h i c h a l s o b e g i n s w i t h a-da ( n o t e a l s o t h e c o m p l e x k u r - S à - g e i n l i n e 13' i n t h e s a m e p r o v e r b ) . 4. L i t e r a l l y , " t h e h e a r t of t h e h i g h l a n d , " p r o b a b l y a n o t h e r t e r m d e n o t i n g t h e m o u n t a i n r a n g e s e a s t of S u m e r in p r e s e n t - d a y I r a n ; c f . k u r - § à - g a = A k k a d i a n ina q e r e b S a d ê m , SL 366:22. See a l s o K r a m e r , E L A . p p . I 6 f f . , l i n e 185, a n d t h e n a m e of t h e g o d S a r a ' s t e m p l e a t U m m a ( s i g 4 ~ k u r - § à - g a ) , for which cf., for example, "Inanna's D e s c e n t , " l i n e s 312 f. ( K r a m e r , J C S V [ 1 9 5 l ] , p . 13); s e e a l s o t h e a d d i t i o n a l r e f e r e n c e given in note 3 a b o v e . 5. L i t e r a l l y ,

"he does not look

toward."

6. L i t e r a l l y , " t h e i r [ h a j r m f u l n e s s , t h e i r [ u ] n p l e a s a n t n e s s " ( t h a t i s , p e r h a p s , t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s of l i v i n g t h e r e ) ; f o r t h i s m e a n i n g of ) > u l , s e e n o t e 4 to p r o v e r b 2 . 1 2 3 , a s w e l l a s p r o v e r b s 2 . 1 2 1 a n d 2 . 1 2 5 . 2.150

[

]

[. . ]

[

]

[. . ]! 2.151'

2.157'

1

1. S e e n o t e 1 to the b e g i n n i n g of t h e w h o l e l a c u n a 2 . 1 4 7 (before p r o v e r b 2.147').

2.158 é -gal u4 - di δ

u^-diS ama-a

1

ama-tu-da-àm 3

- n· i r - r a - *a m

2.157

COLLECTION The

TWO

palace

one d a y it i s a m o t h e r 5 the next day, it i s a m o t h e r in

281

who h a s mourning!

given 6

birth;

P e r h a p s the c o m m e n t of a s c r i b e or other p a l a c e - o f f i c i a l on the f l u c t u a t i n g m o o d s of the p a l a c e (that i s , p r o b a b l y , the governmental "bureaus"). 1. F o r this p r o v e r b in two d i f f e r e n t other c o l l e c t i o n s (both unpubl i s h e d ) , cf. C B S 14139 + UM 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 obv. ii 14-15, and C B S 13944 r e v . iii 11-12. 2. So C B S 14139 + UM 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 ; K K K : u 4 ( ! ) - d i δ ( ! ) ( s o a c c o r d ing to the o r i g i n a l t a b l e t in s p i t e of the c o p y in S L T ) . 3. So C B S 14139 + UM 2 9 - 1 3 - 3 6 1 ; K K K : o r i g i n a l t a b l e t in s p i t e of the c o p y in S L T ) . 4.

i.e.,

ama-a(!)-

(so on the

the p a l a c e p e r s o n n e l a r e in a j o y f u l m o o d .

5. L i t e r a l l y ,

"one d a y , "

a s in the f i r s t c l a u s e .

6. Note that the t e r m a - n i r - r a , which u s u a l l y a p p e a r s a s the noun a - n i r ( " l a m e n t a t i o n , m o u r n i n g " ; c f . , f o r e x a m p l e , p r o v e r b s 1.47 and 1.99, in addition to the n u m e r o u s o c c u r r e n c e s e l s e w h e r e ) , h e r e s e e m s to be u s e d a d j e c t i v a l l y ( m o d i f y i n g the noun a m a , " m o t h e r " ) ; hence the t r a n s l a t i o n " i n m o u r n i n g . " 2.1591 é -dù-dù-a-mà

u r 5 - r [ a - b i (? ) ]

g á ηa -ga r -ga r - r a -m à I am

in debt o v e r cultivate

my

the f i e l d s

2

nu-ur

x

3

-r[u-bi(?)]

improved

real-estate, 4 a s s i g n e d ( ? ) to m e !

(so

mà-e-me-en

that) I

cannot

P r o b a b l y the c o m p l a i n t of a l a n d - o w n e r who h a s m o r t g a g e d h i m s e l f so h e a v i l y in o r d e r to ' i m p r o v e ' h i s t o w n - p r o p e r t i e s that he i s unable to k e e p up with the e x p e n s e of cultivating h i s a g r i c u l t u r a l land. 1. F o r this p r o v e r b in another c o l l e c t i o n , (unpublished) obv. 10'. 2. So B ; r a -m à .

KKK:

c f . p r o b a b l y C B S 13890

gána-gar-gar-ra-mu

for

gána- gar- gar-

282

GORDON: 3, i . e . ,

-APIN /

SUMERJAN PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

URU4-.

4. L i t e r a l l y , "Of m y built-up e s t a t e s (or ' h o u s e s ' ) , [their(?)] indebte[d] one; of m y p l a c e d ( i . e . , in m y c h a r g e ) f i e l d s , [their(?)] non-cultivato[r], I a m . " Note the apparently intentional a s s o n a n c e b e tween urj-rfa-bi] and nu-urx-r[u-bi]. It i s a s s u m e d that u r 5 - r a i s to be equated with the Akkadian hubbulum , "debtor," in the s a m e way that u r 5 ( - r a ) i s the equivalent of Akkadian foiihiill^m r "debt" (cf. p r o v e r b s 1.183 and 2.30). F o r the l e g a l connotations of the expression é - d ù - a the reduplicated d ù of é - d ù - d ù - a is c l e a r l y h e r e an indication of plurality of the "logical object" é cf. Oppenheim, Cat. E a m e s . pp. I 6 2 f .

2.160 é - dumu-tab^-dù-a

l^é-me-en 2

May you b e c o m e

a household built up by ( m e a n s

of) twin

sons!

P e r h a p s a w i s h to a m a n w h o s e wife i s pregnant. 1. So KKK; Β o m i t s -tab-. 2. F o r t a b = Akkadian t u ' â m u m . cf. § L 124:32; note that the variant text of Β ( s e e note 1 above) r e a d s s i m p l y d u m u , " s o n s , " i n s t e a d of d u m u - t a b , "twin s o n s . " 2.1611 é - Sè

— ga-gen-na

I would rather

go

sag

ab-kal

home

1. B: n s l b e t w e e n p r o v e r b s 2.160 and 2.161. F o r this p r o v e r b in another c o l l e c t i o n , cf. p r o v e r b 3.165 of C o l l e c t i o n T h r e e . 2. L i t e r a l l y , "That (cf. the nominalizing - a s u f f i x e d to the o p tative v e r b a l f o r m g a - g e n , 'Let m e go!') I might go h o m e , I p r e f e r ! " F o r the compound v e r b sag—kal, "to p r e f e r ( l i t e r a l l y , 'to value the head 1 or 'to value (in) f i r s t (place)')," s e e a l s o note 6 to p r o v e r b 1.148.

283

COLLECTION TWO 2.162

é-tu-ra-ni

ninnu-àm

(The m e m b e r s ( ? ) of(?)) Ms s i c k household a r e f i f t y (in number(?))!^ The meaning of this p r o v e r b i s totally obscure. 1. The implications of the number " f i f t y " here (the sign s e e m s r e a sonably c e r t a i n in both Β and KKK) are, to s a y the l e a s t , highly e n i g m a t i c . 2.163 1 é - η um u η - t i 1- t i 1 - 1 a - δè Who has brought you

3

a-ba-àm

m u - u n - t ù m ^ - m e - en

to a household whose seed has been picked off?

P e r h a p s the words of a man,whose home h a s been c u r s e d with a heavy rate of i n f a n t - m o r t a l i t y , to a v i s i t o r who has a r r i v e d there soon a f t e r the most recent t r a g e d y . (For an a l t e r n ative t r a n s l a t i o n and interpretation, see note 3 below.) 1. F o r what i s probably this proverb in another collection, cf. CBS 13890 (unpublished) obv. 12'. 2. So B; CBS 13890: - t ú m - ( i . e . , - D U - ) for - t ù m - . 3. The suffix - e n of m u - u n - t ù m - m e - e n (note that the f o r m to be expected with the verb - t ù m - is actually mu-un-tùm-mu-un) i s a s s u m e d to be the second p e r s o n a c c u s a t i v e suffix. It i s , to be s u r e , quite p o s s i b l e that the suffix - e n h e r e i s the f i r s t (rather than the second) person a c c u s a t i v e , to be r e n d e r e d , t h e r e f o r e , " m e " r a t h e r than "you"; in this c a s e , the p r o v e r b would r e p r e s e n t the words (or p e r h a p s , b e t t e r , the inner thoughts) of the v i s i t o r to such a misfortunate home, in effect implying "Who has brought m e to such an a c c u r s e d c a l a m i t y - s t r i c k e n place a s t h i s ? " 4. F o r the e x p r e s s i o n n u m u n - t i l - t i l - l a = Akkadian l a q i t z ê r i m . "(one whose) seed h a s been picked off," see now Gordon, BASOR 132 [1953], p. 29, and notes 21 and 22 there; see also notes 3 and 4 to p r o v e r b 1.35 for the v e r b t i l ( - t i l ) = Akkadian l a qâ turn.. "to pick (fruit, etc.V' Note that it i s possible that the common use of this e x p r e s s i o n in the " c u r s e f o r m u l a e " of building i n s c r i p t i o n s , s t e l a e , and other r o y a l i n s c r i p t i o n s of a r e l i g i o u s nature, m a y have c a u s e d it to lose its l i t e r a l meaning, so that it m a y have come to mean s i m p l y " a c c u r s e d . "

284

GORDON:

SUMERI A N

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

2.164 1 é —l u g a l - b i —nu-tu§-a I

shall

not

(ever)

return

5à - b i - a to

a house

whose

nu-gur(!)-re(!)-en master

is

not

at

home!

P e r h a p s the w o r d s of a man piqued at having had to deal with the w o m e n of a household when the " m a n of the h o u s e " was away, o r , a l t e r n a t i v e l y , the r e m o r s e f u l statement of a man who has l e a r n t a b i t t e r l e s s o n f r o m some p r e v i o u s i n d i s creet experience. 1. T h e r e i s in Β a double r u l e d line f o l l o w i n g this p r o v e r b and no f u r t h e r w r i t i n g in r e v e r s e c o l . i i ( i . e . , c o l . v i i i ) or in the f o l l o w i n g c o l umn. In addition, it i s not c e r t a i n whether anything m o r e w a s w r i t t e n in K K K f o l l o w i n g p r o v e r b 2.164 (the t r a c e s on the o r i g i n a l tablet c f . the photograph a r e not quite as " c e r t a i n " as they appear to be in the copy in S L T 193). It i s t h e r e f o r e a s s u m e d that p r o v e r b 2.164 w a s the c o n c l u d ing p r o v e r b of C o l l e c t i o n T w o . T h e r e a p p e a r s to be no colophon in B, unless it was w r i t t e n on the l o w e r l e f t c o r n e r of the r e v e r s e of the tablet, which i s now b r o k e n a w a y . 2. L i t e r a l l y , " ( O f ) a house its owner (in) which he is not p r e s e n t ( = 'not d w e l l i n g ' ) within i t ( = 'in its h e a r t ' ) I shall not r e turn."

CULTURAL

ANALYSIS

The p r o v e r b s of the two c o l l e c t i o n s r e c o n s t r u c t e d in this volume a bound in r e f e r e n c e s and a l l u s i o n s to a l m o s t e v e r y f a c e t of daily life in southern M e s o p o t a m i a of the e a r l y second millennium B . C . In this c h a p ter an attempt is being m a d e to p r e s e n t (in s e m i - t a b u l a t e d f o r m ) a c a t a logue of all such a l l u s i o n s explicit in the p r o v e r b s t h e m s e l v e s , a s well a s of m a n y of the i n f e r e n c e s drawn by the writer in the c o m m e n t a r i e s to the individual p r o v e r b s . The a n a l y s i s i s a r r a n g e d under the following headings: I.

Environment (Geography; C l i m a t e ; Fauna; F l o r a ;

Minerals).

I I . Economic L i f e (Agriculture; Animal Husbandry; C r a f t s and Ind u s t r i e s ; C o m m e r c e and T r a n s p o r t ; F i s h i n g and Hunting; P r i v a t e P r o p e r t y and Inheritance). I I I . S o c i a l Status and S o c i a l Institutions (Social Status; P o l i t i c a l Institutions; F a m i l y and Household, including M a r r i a g e ; F r i e n d s h i p ) . IV. R e l i g i o u s B e l i e f s and Institutions (Gods; S p i r i t s , Genii and D e m o n s ; R e l i g i o u s Concepts; T a b o o s and S a c r i l e g e ; Cult P r a c t i c e s , Cult P l a c e s and Cult P e r s o n n e l ) . V.

Education.

F i n e A r t s and R e c r e a t i o n .

VI. The ìndi vidi!?,1 (The P h y s i c a l O r g a n i s m ; P h y s i o l o g i c a l S t a t e s and Functions; P s y c h o l o g i c a l S t a t e s and P r o c e s s e s ; Speech; Actions; R e l a t i o n of the Individual to Society; I n t e r p e r s o n a l R e l a t i o n s ) . VII. A b s t r a c t I d e a s (Time; E x i s t e n c e ;

I.

Values).

ENVIRONMENT. A.

G e o g r a p h i c a l Environment. 1.

The R i v e r s .

R e f e r e n c e s to r i v e r - b o a t t r a f f i c in 1.86 and 1.87, and to the low-lying b e a c h e s where b o a t s might run aground and be wrecked. 1.89 shows that the c i t i e s of Z a b a l a m and L a r s a m were l o c a t e d along the s a m e canal, the l a t t e r d o w n s t r e a m f r o m the f o r m e r . 285

GORDON:

286 2.

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

Intuida tion.

C e r t a i n low-lying land ( a - g à r = Akkadian u g â r u m ) n e a r the r i v e r s and c a n a l s w a s allowed to b e c o m e inundated during the h i g h - w a t e r s e a s o n , a p p a r e n t l y f o r m i n g s m a l l ponds which c o n t a i n e d f i s h ( s e e p r o v e r b 2 . 1 0 9 ) . A f t e r the w a t e r had d r i e d up o r w a s d r a i n e d off, t h e s e p a r c e l s of land w e r e usable f o r a g r i c u l t u r e . 3.

Marshes.

The wooded p l a c e s w h e r e f i r e w o o d w a s c o l l e c t e d s e e m to have been l o c a t e d in the m a r s h e s ( s e e p r o v e r b 2 . 1 3 3 ) . 4.

Steppe. 1.114(7),

B.

1.126«,

2.12,

2.101.

Climate.

1.20 (the w e a t h e r r e s p o n s i b l e for the d e t e r i o r a t i o n of food), 2 . 1 3 (the s t o r m a s a m e t a p h o r f o r F a t e ) ; 1.155, 2.34. C.

Fauna. 1.

M a m m a l s (Wild). a . G e n e r i c terms., "Beasts" ( u r ) : b. Mongoose

1.20.

(^nin-kilim).

1.9 ( e a t s up a m a n ' s food); c. Wild-ox ( a m )

1.1281.

and W i l d - c o w

(sún

or

silam).

1.30 ( m e t a p h o r f o r the g o u r m a n d ) ; 2 . 6 5 ( s e e below, under the F o x ) ; 2 . 9 4 (both the w i l d - o x and the w i l d - c o w a r e o b j e c t s of t e r r o r to a m a n ) ; 2 . 8 9 ( ? ) ( s e e note 6 t h e r e ) . d. G a z e l l e ( m a § - d à ). 1.30 ( m e t a p h o r f o r the e x c e s s i v e d r i n k e r ) . e. F o x ( k a 5 - a ) . The one wild a n i m a l whose c h a r a c t e r i s m o s t c l e a r l y delineated in the p r o v e r b s i s the fox, a s m a l l c r e a t u r e who is full of c o n c e i t and e x h i b i t s c o n t i n u a l l y the t e n d e n c y to e x a g g e r a t e , not only h i s own r o l e in the w o r l d , but a l s o the f a c t s in s e l f - e v i d e n t s i t u a t i o n s (cf. p a r t i c u l a r l y 2 . 6 1 , 2 . 6 7 and 2 . 6 9 ) . He s p e a k s a s though he had

CULTURAL

287

ANALYSIS

hurt the m i g h t y w i l d - o x (a b e a s t which s t r u c k t e r r o r in the h e a r t s of m e n ; s e e c. a b o v e ) , but he i s c a s u a l ly b r u s h e d a s i d e by the l a t t e r (2.65). The f o x in the S u m e r i a n m a t e r i a l thus f a r s t u d i e d d o e s not s e e m e v e r to be r e p r e s e n t e d a s the c l e v e r and s l y b e a s t (who a l w a y s s e e m s to g e t what he g o e s a f t e r ) that he i s in l a t e r E u r o p e a n f o l k l o r e , although the f o x of A e s o p ' s " S o u r G r a p e s " f a b l e i s c l o s e to the S u m e r i a n f o x in p e r s o n ality. 1.65 ( = 2 . 1 1 8 ) , 2 . 5 8 , 2 . 5 9 , 2 . 6 0 , 2.61, 2.61 a , 2.62, 2.64, 2 . 6 5 , 2 . 6 6 , 2 . 6 7 , 2.68, 2 . 6 9 , 2.69 a , 2 . 7 0 . f.

Wild-dog ( p e r h a p s m e r e l y a, s p e c i a l b r e e d , l a r g e and v i c i o u s , of the d o m e s t i c dog) ( u r - z i r ) . 1.65 ( = 2 . 1 1 8 ) ,

g. L i o n Mammals a.

Sheep.

2.117.

(ur-malj.).

1.128», 2.

2.113,

2.101. (Domesticated). Goats.

Cattle

"Animal Husbandry

and Swine (see under

Livestock").

II. B.

1.,

b. A s s ( a η δ e ). The a s s i s r e g a r d e d , in a g o o d - h u m o u r e d s p i r i t n e v e r t h e l e s s , a s a slow and f o o l i s h c r e a t u r e whose m a i n o b j e c t i v e in l i f e s e e m s to be to a c t c o n t r a r y to the w i s h e s of h i s m a s t e r . 1.68, 2.73, 2.74, 2 . 7 5 , 2.76, 2.77, 2.78, 2.79, 2.80, 2 . 8 1 . (In the l a s t of t h e s e p r o v e r b s , the a s s i s u s e d a s a s i m i l e f o r the p r a c t i c e of c h i l d - m a r r i a g e . ) c. Dog ( u r )

(see also "Wild-dog"

above).

The dog, f a r f r o m being " m a n ' s b e s t f r i e n d " ( e x c e p t , p e r h a p s , in 2.69 and 2.107)," i s p r i m a r i l y c o n c e i v e d of a s a v i c i o u s , v o r a c i o u s and s e l f i s h creature. He i s u s e d a n u m b e r of t i m e s a s a m e t a p h o r for Fate. H i s d i s l o y a l t y to m a n i s e s p e c i a l l y pointed up in p r o v e r b s 2 . 9 1 , 2 . 1 1 2 , 2 . 1 1 3 , and p e r h a p s 2.115 and 2 . 1 1 6 . S e e , in addition to t h o s e a l r e a d y c i t e d , p r o v e r b s 2.11, 2 . 1 4 , 2.79 ( p r o v e r b quoted in note 5), 2 . 1 0 9 , 2 . 1 1 0 , 2 . 1 1 1 and 2 . 1 1 4 .

288

GORDON: 3.

Birds, a.

Fish

SUMERIAN a n d other

PROVERBS Lower

\luseum

Monographs

O r d e r s of A n i m a l

Life.

Birds.

S p a r r o w s ( b u r u 5 m u ^ e n ) a s a m e t a p h o r f o r the t r a n s i t o r i n e s s of w e a l t h ( 1 . 1 8 ) . T h e S u - l ú b i r d and the fox (2.70). b.

Fish.

1.109, 1.125' (alluded t o in b o t h c a s e s only i n t h e i r r o l e a s food f o r h u m a n beings; i n the f o r m e r , f i s h a r e s a i d t o have b e e n f i s h e d f o r i n the a - g à r a t the t i m e of i n u n d a t i o n ) . c.

Crustaceans.

T h e c r a b ( a l - I U 5 ) i s de s c r i b e d a s an a g g r e s s o r on h i s n e i g h b o u r ' s " h o u s e " when h i s own h a s b e c o m e filled with w a t e r (2.63). 4.

General

Information.

a. A n i m a l

body-parts.

B e l l y ( s à ) : 2.59(?)(vixen), 2.78 (ass). Bones ( g i r - p a d - d u ) : 1.125' (fish). B u t t o c k s , h a m ( d ú r ) : 1.191 (pig). Ear ( g e á t ú g ) : 2.61 (note 6 t h e r e ) (fox). E y e s ( i g i ) : 2.90 (ox). Feet ( g i r ) : 2.61 and 2.69 (fox). H e a d ( s a g ) : 2.69 a ( p r o v e r b i n s e r t e d i n c o m m e n t a r y to p r o v e r b 2.69) (fox); 2.107 (dog). H e a r t ( s à ) : 2.59(?) ( v i x e n ) . Hoof ( g í r - s u h ú b ) : 2.65 (wild-ox). H o r n s ( s i ) : ΐΓΐ 12 ( r a m ( ? ) ) . Mane ( g u - t a r ) : 2.113 (wild-dog). N e c k ( g ú ) : 2.68 ( n e c k - s t o c k f o r a fox), 2.113 (dog). N o s e ( k i r i ß ) : 2.76 (ass). Nostrils ( p a - á g ) : 2.76 (ass). P e n i s ( g i S ) : 2.67 (fox urinating), 2.78 ( a s s ) , 2.117 (wild-dog). T a i l ( k u n ) : 2.61 a (fox). T e a t s ( u b u r ) : 2.59 (vixen). T e e t h ( z ú ) : 2.11 (biting dog), 2.69 (foxes), 2 . 6 9 a ( p r o v e r b i n s e r t e d i n c o m m e n t a r y t o 2.69) (fox). Tongue ( e m e ) : 2.75 (braying a s s ) , 2.117 (wild-dog). b. P h y s i o l o g i c a l F u n c t i o n s Diarrhoea

(Sà-sur):

(Animals). 2.92 (ox).

CULTURAL

ANALYSIS

289

Dung ( § e J o ) : 2 . 9 2 ( o x ) . H e a r i n g ( g e S t ú g ) : 2.61 (fox). M i l k ( g a ) : 2 . 5 9 ( d r i e s up(?) i n v i x e n ' s t e a t s ) . Urine ( k à § ) and Urination ( g i s s u r ) : 2.67 (fox). D.

Flora

(Non-agricultural).

T r e e s — not a single t r e e is m e n t i o n e d by n a m e in the two p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s h e r e edited, although the w o r d " t r e e " ( g i s ) itself o c c u r s once (1.101), w h e r e it is u s e d m e t a p h o r i c a l l y and p l a n t s a r e m e n t i o n e d only i n c i d e n t a l l y in t h e s e p r o v e r b s (but see a l s o I I . A. " A g r i c u l t u r e . " below). 1.

Firewood or Brush 1.126',

2.

1.186,

Canebrakes

(ú).

2 . 1 3 3 ( g a t h e r e d in m a r s h y a r e a s ) ,

2.139.

(81èn-bar).

1.155 (context o b s c u r e ) . 3.

Water-rushes

(áa-NUMÚN).

2.64 (allusion is o b s c u r e ) . 4.

R e e d s ( g i ). 2 . 1 3 5 ( r e f e r r e d to m e t a p h o r i c a l l y i n a n t i t h e s i s to g o l d ) .

E.

Minerals.

Carnelian ( n a 4 g u g ) and L a p i s - l a z u l i ( n a 4 z a - g î n ) m e n t i o n e d f i g u r a t i v e l y , b u t in o b s c u r e c o n t e x t s ( 2 . 4 5 a n d 2 . 4 6 ) . G o l d (in a n t i t h e s i s to " r e e d s , " a n d , i n a v a r i a n t t e x t , t o " s i l v e r " ) r e f e r r e d to m e t a p h o r i c a l l y ( 2 . 1 3 5 ) . (For Silver, see under " C o m m e r c e M e d i a of E x c h a n g e , " I I . D. 1. d . , b e l o w . )

ECONOMIC A.

LIFE.

Agriculture.

In t h e m a i n , t h e a l l u s i o n s to a g r i c u l t u r e i n t h e s e p r o v e r b s a r e only incidental. 1.

Crops. a.

Cereals. Barley ( s e ) :

1.165,

2.17,

2.131.

GORDON:

290

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

Emmer-wheat ( z x z ) : 2.17 (a costly grain to plant, in contrast to barley, the more usual and less expensive grain crop in Mesopotamia). Generic term for " g r a i n " or a specific variety(?) ( d a § n a n ) : 2.134(?) (note 2 there). Seed-grain ( n u m u n ) , probably barley: 1.103, 2.87 and 2.88. b. Vegetables. Leek ( g a r à s s a r ) : 2.69 ("crushed between the teeth"). Beans ( l u - ú b s a r ) : 2.1 (note 28 there). (NOTE: The term l u - ú b s a r is actually "turnips," not "beans," according to Jacobsen;see his "Notes on Selected Sayings" below, under 2.1.) c. Fruit. No specific fruits or fruit-trees are mentioned by name in either of these two proverb collections, a l though the generic term for "(ripened) fruit" ( g a - r a - a n ) appears in proverb 1.35. 2.

By-products. a. b. c. d. e. f.

3.

Flour ( z i d ) : 1.47, 1.48, 1.50, 2.90. Bread ( n i n d a ) : 1.38, 1.39, 1.46, 1.53, 1.55. Cake ( n i n d a g ú g ) : 1.52 (a luxury item). Roasted barley ( s e - s a - a ) : 1.192. Beer ( k a § ) : 1.80, 1.105, 2.123. Honey —produced f r o m dates ! — ( l à l ) : 1.47

Agricultural P r o c e s s e s . a. Ploughing ( u r x - r u ) :

2.20,

2.86,

2.91.

There are references to two different kinds of " f u r rows," the a b - s i n (in 2.86) and the "deep f u r r o w " or s ù r (in 2.91), both made with the help of the ox; The "deep f u r r o w " ( s i r ) is said to be destroyed by the digging of the dog (2.91). b. Cultivation in general ( u r c. Sowing ( n u m u n

x

-ru):

gá-gá):

2.17 and 2.159.

2.87 and 2.88.

d. Harvest ( b u r u x ) : 2.88 (grain used up during the harvest cannot be used for the next season's sowing). e. Threshing-floor ( s u 7 ) : 2.85 and 2.87 (references

CULTURAL·

ANALYSIS

291

to the o x u s e d a t t h e t h r e s h i n g - f l o o r ; the o x m u s t b e p r e v e n t e d f r o m e a t i n g the t h r e s h e d g r a i n ) , 2 . 1 4 4 (the p r o p e r l o c a t i o n of a t h r e s h i n g - f l o o r i s n e a r the f i e l d s , not in the v i c i n i t y of d w e l l i n g - p l a c e s ) . 4.

Agricultural a. P i c k a x e

Implements. (ê

i S

al):

b. P i t c h f o r k ( ? ) ( g c. Sickle ( 5.

u r u d u

i §

2.139.

kibir):

g u r

1 0

):

2.139. 2.54.

Occupations. a. F a r m e r ( e n g a r ) : to b e a f a r m e r ) .

1.100 ( s h e p h e r d should not t r y

b. P l a n t e r ( ? ) ( B U - u d - b a r ) : in o b s c u r e o r b r o k e n c o n t e x t s ) . Animal 1.

1 . 1 1 6 and 1 . 1 1 7 (both

Husbandry.

Livestock. a. Sheep and G o a t s . The r a m (if p r o v e r b s 1 . 1 1 1 and 1 . 1 1 2 h a v e b e e n c o r r e c t l y i n t e r p r e t e d ) w a s c o n s i d e r e d an a n i m a l d a n g e r o u s to d e a l w i t h , but, n e v e r t h e l e s s , of p r i m e i m p o r t a n c e to the s h e p h e r d , a n d s o , w a s to b e r e s p e c t e d . The l a m b ( 1 . 5 5 ) a n d the kid ( 1 . 7 0 ) a r e r e f e r r e d to o n l y in t e r m s of t h e i r u s e a s f o o d a n d in the c u l t ( f o r e x t i s p i c y ) , respectively. b. O x e n ( g u d ) . T h e o x i s v i e w e d a s a s t u p i d and p l o d d i n g a n i m a l , w h o s e o c c a s i o n a l f i t s of c o n t r a r i n e s s a r e g o o d - n a t u r e d l y e x c u s e d in r e c o g n i t i o n of h i s b a s i c u s e f u l n e s s . 2 . 7 9 ( p r o v e r b q u o t e d in n o t e 5 t h e r e ) , 2 . 8 3 , 2 . 8 4 , 2 . 8 5 , 2 . 8 6 , 2 . 8 7 , 2 . 8 9 ( t h e r e i s a l s o p o s s i b l y a r e f e r e n c e to the c o w h e r e ; c f . n o t e 6 to t h i s p r o v e r b ) , 2 . 9 0 , 2 . 9 1 , 2.92, 2.93, 2.95. c. Swine ( § á |j). The b r o k e n c o n t e x t notwithstanding, p r o v e r b 1.119 s e e m s t o p o i n t up t h e p i g a s a d i r t y a n i m a l . However, the o t h e r a l l u s i o n s i n d i c a t e n o t h i n g u n u s u a l ( l e t a l o n e taboo) a b o u t the e a t i n g of p o r k , a l t h o u g h if t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of p r o v e r b 1.191 in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h 1 . 1 9 0

292

GORDON:

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

ιluseum

Monographs

is c o r r e c t the l e a n h a m - f l e s h w a s a p p a r e n t l y not g e n e r a l l y r e c o g n i z e d a s a d e s i r a b l e cut of m e a t , s i n c e it w a s to be f e d to the s l a v e - g i r l s in l i e u of the highly f a v o u r e d f a t t y m e a t (cf. a l s o 1.192 and p e r h a p s 1.48). Other p r o v e r b s with r e f e r e n c e s to swine a r e 1.120 (a b r o k e n context), 1.172 (an a l l u s i o n to a taboo(?) a g a i n s t the s l a u g h t e r i n g of p i g s in the m o n t h of T e s h r î t u m , which, a c c o r d i n g to the w r i t e r ' s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of the p r o v e r b , w a s p e r h a p s s u p p o s e d to h a v e b e e n o b s e r v e d during the month of Ulûlum) a n d 2 . 1 1 1 (a pig k i l l e d b y a dog in the m a r k e t - p l a c e ) . d. A s s ( a n S e ) ( s e e a b o v e , u n d e r ( D o m e s t i c a t e d ) . " I. C . 2. b. ). 2.

Products

"Vanna

Mammals

and B y - p r o d u c t s .

a . Milk ( g a ) : 1.96(?). b. Ghee ( i à - n u n ) : 1.47. c . C r e a m a n d / o r F a t ( i à and u 5 ) : 1.107, 1.150(?), 1.190, 1.192, and p e r h a p s a l s o 1.46 and 1.48. d. M e a t ( u z u ) : 1.48, 1.55, 1.190 and 1.192. 3.

Occupations. a . S h e p h e r d ( s i p a d ) : 1.100 ( s h e p h e r d should not t r y to be a f a r m e r ) , 1.111 ( l i f e of a s h e p h e r d , though c o n s t a n t l y at s t a k e , i s not a s i m p o r t a n t a s that of the s t u d r a m of the f l o c k ) and 1.112 ( s h e p h e r d and r a m ) . b. A p e r s o n s o m e h o w c o n n e c t e d with oxen(?) ( § à - b i z i - g a ) : 1.100 (this p e r s o n i s a d v i s e d not to t r y to be a foremen). c . G r o o m ( n a g a - d ú b ) f o r a s s e s : 2.79 (his j o b would not be n e c e s s a r y if the a s s h a d no s t e n c h ) .

C.

C r a f t s and I n d u s t r i e s .

The a l l u s i o n s to c r a f t s and i n d u s t r i e s a r e a l m o s t e n t i r e l y i n c i d e n t a l , although p e r h a p s p r o v e r b 2 . 5 4 i s m o s t r e v e a l i n g in r e g a r d to the r e s p e c t a b i l i t y of c e r t a i n c r a f t s and p r o f e s s i o n s v i s - à - v i s c e r t a i n other m o r e l o w l y o c c u p a t i o n s in t h e i r r e s p e c tive f i e l d s . 1.

Occupations. a. Tailor:

1.175 ( p r o v e r b q u o t e d in note 14 to t h i s p r o v e r b ) .

b. A r t i s a n ( ? ) or, possibly, "porter" r i - r i ) : 2.54 ( s e e note 14 t h e r e ) .

(da-ba-

CULTURAL· c. Mason ( S s i d i m ) : ions).

293

ANALYSIS

2.54 (one of the r e s p e c t a b l e p r o f e s s -

d. Smith, i . e . , the c o p p e r s m i t h ( s i m u g ) : 2.54 (one of r e s p e c t a b l e p r o f e s s i o n s ) , 2 . 1 1 2 ( h a s trouble with his dog in the workshop). e. C a r p e n t e r ( n a g a r ) :

2 . 5 4 (another r e s p e c t a b l e c r a f t ) .

f. F o r e m a n

1.100.

(ugula):

g. Hod-car rier(?) ( i m - b u - b u ) :

2.54 (see note 17 there).

It is perhaps noteworthy that neither of these two p r o v e r b collections contains a single r e f e r e n c e to the w e a v e r , the goldsmith ( / s i l v e r smith), b a s k e t - m a k e r , s e a l - c u t t e r , or other important c r a f t s of the t i m e , although perhaps the "man of the spindle" (2.54; see below) m a y r e f e r to the w e a v e r , u s u a l l y c o n s i d e r e d one of the l o w l i e s t c r a f t s in a n cient Mesopotamia. 2.

Equipment. a. Spindle ( S i s b a l a ) :

2 . 5 4 (see the p a r a g r a p h above).

b. Anvil ( n a 4 - S u - m î n - e ) : shop).

2 . 1 1 2 (in the copper smith's

c. Water-pot(?) ( p i s á n ( ? ) - d u g - a 2 . 1 1 2 (in the c o p p e r s m i t h ' s shop).

or

pisán(?)-a-si)

C o m m e r c e and T r a n s p o r t . 1.

Commerce. a. M e r c h a n t s and M e r c h a n d i s e . P r o v e r b s 1 . 1 6 5 and 1 . 1 7 5 a r e m o s t revealing of the attitude of the S u m e r i a n housewife toward cheating (or at l e a s t "short-changing") and adulteration of m e r c h a n dise on the p a r t of the m e r c h a n t s . Lack of i n t e r e s t in damaged goods i s e x p r e s s e d in p r o v e r b 1.28. (See also 2.54 and 2 . 1 2 3 f o r other r e f e r e n c e s or allusions to the merchant; see too 1 . 7 7 in the "Addendum" to this volume.) b. M a r k e t - p l a c e s

(tillá).

That the m a r k e t - p l a c e , l i k e the m o d e r n b a z a a r , was a place w h e r e other a c t i v i t i e s than business went on m a y be seen f r o m p r o v e r b s 2 . 1 0 5 (slave complains about his f o o d - r a t i o n s ) and 2 . 1 1 l ( d o g k i l l s a pig).

GORDON:

294

SUMERJAN

c. M a r k e t s and P o r t s

PROVERBS

Museum

Uonnpraph

( k a r ).

P r o v e r b 1.86 r e f e r s to r i v e r - p o r t s as the d e s t i n a tion of c o m m e r c i a l boats. L e s s c e r t a i n is the r e f e r ence to m a r k e t s f o r m i l k in 2.96. d. M e d i a of

Exchange.

1.165 ( s i l v e r and b a r l e y ) , 2.10 ( s i l v e r , h e r e used as a m e t a p h o r f o r d i s e a s e ) , 2.31 (the p o o r m a n ' s s i l v e r ) , 2.135 ( g o l d , h e r e used m e t a p h o r i c a l l y in a n t i thesis to r e e d s [ v a r i a n t ( ? ) : s i l v e r ] ) . e. M o n e y - l e n d i n g and I n t e r e st. Quite i n t e r e s t i n g f o r the r ô l e of the m o n e y - l e n d e r ( d a m - k à r ) v i s - à - v i s the p o o r m a n ( u k u ) a r e p r o v e r b s 2.19, 2.27 and 2.30; the f i r s t two include the term su t i ( " t o b o r r o w " ) , w h i l e the l a t t e r r e f e r s to " d e b t s " ( u r 5 ~ r a ) . F o r additional r e f e r e n c e s to " d e b t s , " see 2.159 as w e l l as the l e s s c e r t a i n 1.183. 2.

T r a n s p o r t and

Travel.

It is noteworthy that the only m e a n s of t r a n s p o r t r e f e r r e d to in these p r o v e r b s , aside f r o m the p a c k - a s s , is w a t e r t r a n s p o r t , including allusions to c o m m o n r i v e r - b o a t s , p a s s e n g e r f e r r i e s (1.89 and 1.187) as w e l l as s e a - g o i n g d e e p draught ships (1.72). T h i s t a l l i e s w e l l with the p i c t u r e p r e sented by the e c o n o m i c texts and l e t t e r s f r o m the p e r i o d of the T h i r d Dynasty of Ur ( c f . e s p e c i a l l y U E T I I I ) as w e l l as f r o m the Old Babylonian p e r i o d ( s e e now Oppenheim, JA OS 74[1954], pp. 6 - 1 7 ) . a. P a c k - a s s e s 1.68,

(anse -baia - a

or

anse-barag-lá-a).

2.73.

b. Boats and Ships

(Sismá).

1.54, 1.72 ( d e e p - d r a u g h t ship, gism£_sk_a)j 1.86, 1.87, 1.88 ( r e f e r e n c e to a r a f t , g i - a - d a g ) , 1.89 ( f e r r y - b o a t , g i s m á - a d d i r , and the p r o b l e m of f l o t s a m ) , 1.91, 1.92 (a boat as a s i m i l e f o r a m a n s w i m m i n g ) , 1.93 ( d e e p - d r a u g h t ship, g ^ m á - s u , as w e l l as the c o m m o n " b o a t of 60 g u r ( c a p a c i t y ) , " gigmá-géS-gur), 1.187 ( f e r r y - b o a t ) , 2.98 ( r e f e r ence to a boat in connection with the k a l û m - p r i e s t ) , 2.103 (a g r a i n - b o a t , g l s m á - s § e , b e l o n g i n g to a k a l û m - p r i e st).

CULTURAL c. Boatman_ ( β 1

s

ANALYSIS

m á - 1a h

x

295

).

1.90. d. C a r g o a n d

Lading.

1.91 ( c r a t e s , b a r a g , o n a b o a t ) , 2 . 7 3 ( c r a t e s o n p a c k - a s s e s ) , 2.103 (grain in a boat). e . P o r t s ( k a r ) — s e e 1. c . " M a r k e t s a n d P o r t s " o n t h e preceding page. f.

Travel.

Of c o n s i d e r a b l e " h u m a n i n t e r e s t " a r e p r o v e r b s 2 . 7 2 , i n w h i c h t h e l i a r c l a i m s to h a v e t r a v e l l e d w i d e l y , a n d 2 . 1 2 3 , w h i c h m a y b e t h e " m o t t o " of a m e r c h a n t w h o e n joys returning home f r o m dangerous business journeys. E.

Fishing and Hunting. 1.

Fishing

(su-pes-da).

T h e " p a r a b l e " of t h e f i s h e r m a n ( i u - p e s - d ) a n d h i s w i f e ( 1 . 1 0 9 ) t e l l s of f i s h i n g i n t h e i n u n d a t e d f a r m l a n d s ( t h e a - g à r = A k k a d i a n u g â r u m ), p l a y i n g u p t h e d i s a p p o i n t m e n t at not catching any f i s h t h e r e a f t e r the w a t e r s had r e t u r n e d to t h e i r n o r m a l s t a t e a n d t h e a - g à r had d r i e d up. T h a t f i s h w e r e a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t of t h e d i e t m a y b e s e e n a l s o f r o m p r o v e r b 1.125'. F o r a r e f e r e n c e to the e c o n o m i c s e l f - s u f f i c i e n c y of t h e f i s h e r m e n , s e e p r o v e r b 1.77 [ c f . t h e " A d d e n d u m " a t t h e e n d of t h i s v o l u m e f o r t h e n o w c o m p l e t e proverb], 2.

Hunting.

A l t h o u g h n o r e f e r e n c e s to t h e h u n t i n g of g a m e a r e f o u n d h e r e , p r o v e r b 2 . 6 8 a l l u d e s t o t h e c a t c h i n g of l i v e a n i m a l s (in.this c a s e , a fox), for which, a f t e r w a r d s , a n e c k - s t o c k ( B l S a z - g ú ) w a s u t i l i z e d to k e e p t h e a n i m a l u n d e r c o n t r o l ( f o r t h e u s e of t h i s i m p l e m e n t on t h e b e a r , c f . L a n d s b e r g e r , F a u n a , p. 81). F.

Private 1.

Property

and

Inheritance.

P r i v a t e P r o p e r t y (Finance and Real Estate).

P r o p e r t y (both m o n e t a r y and landed) has at all t i m e s b o r n e both rights and p r i v i l e g e s as well as r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , and the S u m e r i a n b u s i n e s s - m a n and p r o p e r t y - h o l d e r had doubtless as many w o r r i e s as has his m o d e r n counterpart;

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s e e , f o r e x a m p l e , p r o v e r b 2.159 with i t s r e f e r e n c e to mortgage-ridden properties. Of e s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t i s the c o n c e r n o v e r the o w n e r s h i p r i g h t s of f l o t s a m in the c a s e of a sunken f e r r y - b o a t (1.89). P r o v e r b 2 . 1 4 4 s e e m s to be a m a x i m r e l a t i n g to the p r o p e r and m o s t e f f i c i e n t u s e s to w h i c h a s y e t u n d e v e l o p e d l a n d - p r o p e r t y should be put (whether to u s e a g i v e n p a r c e l of ground a s a b u i l d i n g - l o t or a s a t h r e s h i n g - f l o o r ) ; in e f f e c t , t h i s i s the " a n c e s t o r " of the m o d e r n "zoning r e g u l a t i o n s . " a.

Rights.

Problems

and R e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s .

1.16 (the n e e d f o r guarding p o s s e s s i o n s ) , 1.18 (the t r a n s i t o r i n e s s of wealth), 1.32 and 1.33 ( l o s s e s and e x p e n d i t u r e s ) , 1.89 ( f l o t s a m ; s e e above). b. R e a l E s t a t e

(é).

2 . 1 4 4 ( b u i l d i n g - l o t s or t h r e s h i n g - f l o o r s ; s e e above), 2.159 ( m o r t g a g e s f o r i m p r o v i n g r e a l e s t a t e ) . P e r h a p s 2.137 ( e f f e c t s of building l u x u r i o u s l y c o n t r a s t e d w i t h building f o r " s i m p l e living") should a l s o be included here. c. D e b t s ( u r 5 ). 1.183(?), 2 . 1 9 , 2 . 2 7 , 2.30 (the l a s t t h r e e m e n t i o n e d deal with the d i f f i c u l t i e s of the poor m a n , u k ú , in m e e t i n g h i s debts), 2.159 (the l a n d - h o l d e r , h e a v i l y m o r t g a g e d in h i s r e a l e s t a t e , h a s d i f f i c u l t y in financing his agricultural enterprises). d. M a n a g e m e n t of E s t a t e s ( é ) b y S t e w a r d

(agrig).

1.17(?), 1.32, 1.33 (the l a t t e r two d e a l with the p r o b l e m of the s t e w a r d and a " p o l i c e official(?)," the bailiff nimgir , in r e p o r t i n g l o s s e s ( r i - r i - g a ) a s w e l l a s e x p e n d i t u r e s ( z i - g a ) to the owner of the p r o perty). 2.

Inheritance.

The S u m e r i a n and Akkadian e c o n o m i c and l e g a l t e x t s have p r o v i d e d a g o o d l y n u m b e r of e x a m p l e s of both w i l l s (to the w r i t e r ' s k n o w l e d g e , only Akkadian d o c u m e n t s of this sort Sim tum — - have until now b e e n found) and i n h e r i t a n c e - d i v i s i o n d o c u m e n t s . A l l u s i o n s to e a c h of t h e s e s e e m to be found in the f o l l o w i n g p r o v e r b s : a. W i l l s ( n a m

tar).

CULTURAL

ANALYSIS

297

1.67 ( l o s s e s to the h e i r s , in the f o r m of p o l i t i c a l " j u g g l i n g of f i g u r e s , " " g e r r y m a n d e r i n g " of b o u n d a r i e s , and " g r a f t , " w h e n the p a r e n t s h a v e o m i t t e d to p r e p a r e e x p l i c i t l y - w o r d e d w i l l s ) , 2.9 a n d 2 . 1 0 (the t w o d e m o n s D e s t r u c t i o n and D i s e a s e c a l l t h e m s e l v e s f i g u r a t i v e l y the " e x e c u t o r of the w i l l " — l i t e r a l l y , the " p a y m a s t e r , " l ú - k u g - l á — a n d the " l e g a c y " — l i t e r a l l y , " p r o p e r t y (in the f o r m of) s i l v e r , " k u g - n i g - g a — , r e s p e c t i v e l y , in t h e s e two ' p r o v e r b s ' w h i c h t o g e t h e r f o r m a ' f a b l e ' d e a l i n g w i t h t h e h e i r w h o s e f a t h e r l e f t b e h i n d no w r i t t e n will). b. D i v i s i o n of I n h e r i t a n c e

(lja - l a ) .

1.141 ( j e a l o u s y a m o n g b r o t h e r s c a u s e s d e s t r u c t i o n of the p a t e r n a l e s t a t e ) , 1 . 1 4 5 ( a l l u s i o n to the u s e of the t h r o w - s t i c k , g i s - S u b , f o r t a k i n g l o t s in the d i v i s i o n of i n h e r i t a n c e ) .

III.

SOCIAL A.

STATUS

Social 1.

SOCIAL

INSTITUTIONS.

Status.

F r e e Men a.

AND

( a s o p p o s e d to S l a v e s ) .

R i c h and P o o r .

It i s n o t e w o r t h y that the t h r e e f o l d s o c i a l c l a s s - s t r a t i f i c a t i o n that i s f o u n d in t h e C o d e of H a m m u r a p i and in the L a w s of E s h n u n n a ( s e e now G o e t z e , T h e L a w s of E s h n u n n a [AASOR X X X I ] . N e w H a v e n , 1956) a p p e a r s to b e t o t a l l y u n k n o w n in t h e s e p r o v e r b s . In t h i s r e s p e c t , the p r o v e r b s a g r e e w i t h the (to be s u r e , f r a g m e n t a r y ) C o d e of U r - N a m m u and p o s s i b l y a l s o the C o d e of L i p i t I s h t a r ( c f . K r a m e r , O r i e n t a l i a , n. s. 2 3 [ 1 9 5 4 ] , p. 42 and n o t e 1 t h e r e ) . There are, however, numerous all u s i o n s to "the r i c h m a n " ( l ú - n i g - t u k u ) and "the p o o r m a n " ( u k ú ( r ) ), w h i c h s e e m , on the o t h e r hand, to be s i m p l e e c o n o m i c a l l y d i f f e r e n t i a t e d g r o u p s r a t h e r than s t r i c t l y d e f i n e d s o c i a l c l a s s e s . ( F o r a r e c e n t d i s c u s s i o n of s o m e of the s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s d u r i n g the e a r l y p a r t of the Old B a b y l o n i a n p e r i o d , s e e n o w F . R. K r a u s , JWH. v o l . I, no. 3 [ 1 9 5 4 ] , pp. 5 3 3 - 5 4 0 , a s w e l l a s the s a m e a u t h o r ' s m o n o g r a p h o n I s i n and N i p p u r in t h i s p e r i od, JÇS I I I [ 1 9 4 9 ] , pp. 30 f. and 3 4 - 3 7 . ) T h e p o o r m a n s e e m s to b e s p o k e n of i n the p r o v e r b s w i t h a g r e a t d e g r e e of s y m p a t h y a n d c o m p a s s i o n , o f t e n b o r d e r i n g on e m p a t h y , g i v i n g a f u r t h e r i l l u s t r a t i o n of the S u m e r i a n i d e a l of s o -

298

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SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

c i a l j u s t i c e a s it i s e x p r e s s e d in the c o n e - i n s c r i p t i o n s of U r u k a g i n a ( c f . n o w K r a m e r , I E J 3 f 19531. p p . 2 2 7 2 3 2 , a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y n o t e 2 3) a n d i n t h e N a n s h e H y m n of S o c i a l J u s t i c e ( s e e n o w , f o r t h e p r e s e n t , K r a m e r , S T E , pp. 56-58). Of c o n s i d e r a b l e i n t e r e s t a s r e g a r d s o n e m e a n s o p e n t o t h e p o o r in t i m e s of u t t e r d e s t i t u t i o n a r e two p r o v e r b s which a p p a r e n t l y deal with v a g r a n c y or mendicancy. Rich and P o o r :

1.15,

2.16,

2.24',

2.27,

2.35.

Poverty: 1.55, 2.15, 2.17, 2.18, 2.19, 2 . 2 2 ' , 2.23' (the p o o r m a n n e v e r b e a t s his s o n s b e c a u s e they a r e t o o i m p o r t a n t to h i m e c o n o m i c a l l y ) , 2 . 2 4 ' , 2 . 2 6 (the p o o r will not a l l " t a k e things lying down"; s o m e i n s i s t on " s t a n d i n g up f o r t h e i r r i g h t s " ) , 2.28, 2.29, 2.30, 2.31, 2.32, 2.33, 2.34. V a g r a n c y o r M e n d i c a n c y : 2.28, 2.35 (the a t t i t u d e of t h e w e l l - t o - d o b u t " c h a u v i n i s t i c " g i v e r of c h a r i t y ) . b. Social Distinctions between the

Sexes.

W h i l e , a s is w e l l - k n o w n , w o m e n in a n c i e n t M e s o p o t a m i a e n j o y e d a c e r t a i n d e g r e e of f r e e d o m ( p a r t i c i p a tion in public l i f e and in the e c o n o m y , p a r t i c u l a r l y in c o m m e r c e a n d f i n a n c e ) , t h e y d i d not; b y a n y m e a n s , h a v e all the p r e r o g a t i v e s held by men; see e s p e c i a l l y p r o v e r b 1.156. P r o v e r b 1.187, on the o t h e r h a n d , a l l u d e s to a w o m a n who w a s , p e r h a p s , m o r e r e l u c t a n t t h a n s o m e t o m i n g l e w i t h m e m b e r s of t h e o p p o s i t e s e x . A g a i n , 2 . 1 6 4 m a y p e r h a p s b e t h e r e f l e c t i o n of a m a n ' s h a v i n g h a d t o d o b u s i n e s s w i t h t h e w o m e n of a h o u s e h o l d w h e n t h e m a n of t h e h o u s e w a s a w a y . 2.

Slavery.

T h e r e a r e o n l y two e x p l i c i t r e f e r e n c e s to s l a v e s in the t w o p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s e d i t e d h e r e , b o t h of t h e m d e a l i n g w i t h the f o o d g i v e n to s l a v e s to e a t . In 1 . 1 9 0 ( i n t e r p r e t e d in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h 1.191), a s l a v e - g i r l ( g e m è ) i s g i v e n t h e l e a n h a m - f l e s h of t h e p i g t o e a t , s i n c e t h e h i g h l y e s t e e m e d " f a t t y m e a t " i s s t a t e d to b e t o o g o o d f o r h e r . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i n 2 . 1 0 5 , t h e s l a v e ( a r á d ) of a k a l u m p r i e s t c o m p l a i n s p u b l i c l y t h a t h i s m a s t e r t r i e s to m a k e h i m e a t the s a m e d e l i c a t e f o o d w h i c h he h i m s e l f i s wont to e a t (cf. p r o v e r b 2.104). B.

Political 1.

Institutions.

T h e C i t y ( u r u ) a n d t h e L a n d ( k a 1 a m ).

CULTURAL

ANALYSIS

299

1.65 ( = 2 . 1 1 8 ) (a c i t y w h e r e l a w a n d o r d e r do n o t p r e v a i l ) , 1.66 (= 2 . 1 1 9 ) , 1.69 (a m a n w h o i s n o t g r a t e f u l t o t h e c i t i z e n s of a c i t y , w h o h a v e u s e d t h e i r i n f l u e n c e to m a k e t h e i r o w n r u l e r f a v o u r a b l e to h i m ) , 1 . 7 2 , 2 . 9 9 . 2.

Rulers

(and R u l e r s v i s - à - v i s

Citizens).

1.50(?), 1.69 ( s e e p r e c e d i n g s e c t i o n ) , 1 . 7 8 ( a r e f e r e n c e to b o t h t h e k i n g ( l u g a l ) a n d q u e e n ( n i n ) , a s w e l l a s to t h e c i t i z e n s , of a c i t y , i n a n u n f o r t u n a t e l y q u i t e o b s c u r e context). 3.

The P a l a c e

( é - g a 1 ) and the

Officialdom.

P r o v e r b 2.158 s t r i k e s a f a m i l i a r and m o d e r n - s o u n d i n g n o t e w i t h i t s c o m m e n t on t h e c h a n g e a b i l i t y of t h e m o o d of the p a l a c e and the b u r e a u c r a c y h o u s e d t h e r e . Of c o n s i d e r a b l e i n t e r e s t , t o o , i s 1.67, w h i c h a l l u d e s t o o p p o r t u n i s t i c c o r r u p t i o n ( s e e u n d e r c . b e l o w ) of o n e c l a s s of o f f i c i a l s . a. The Bailiff ( n i m g i r ) ,

a 'Police' Official:

1.32.

b. T h e O v e r s e e r ( n u - b à n d a ) , ají O f f i c i a l w i t h b o t h ' P o l i c e ' a n d S u p e r v i s o r y D u t i e s : 1.65 ( = 2 . 1 1 8 ) ( t h i s o f f i c i a l in a c i t y w h i c h b e h a v e s in a l a w l e s s , d i s o r d e r l y m a n n e r , i s c o m p a r e d to a f o x a n d a w i l d - d o g w h i c h s l i n k a b o u t in t h e r u i n s of d e a d c i t i e s ) . c . T h e " R e g i s t r a r of D e e d s " ( s a - sug5): 1.67 ( t h i s o f f i c i a l , if g i v e n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y , i n t h e c a s e of wills which have not b e e n e x p l i c i t l y w r i t t e n out, will r e c o r d t h e l a n d - t r a n s f e r s in a w a y t h a t c a n b e w o r k e d to h i s own a d v a n t a g e , a s t h o u g h h e w e r e " i n b u s i n e s s for himself"). 4.

Law and Judieiary

Processes.

W h i l e t h e r e a r e no a l l u s i o n s in t h e s e t w o p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s to t h e p l a c e of l a w a n d of l a w - c o d e s i n t h e l i f e of t h e p e o p l e of S u m e r , t h e r e a r e t w o p r o v e r b s w h i c h r e f e r , a p p a r e n t l y , to l i t i g a t i o n i n t h e c o u r t s : 1.84 ( w h i c h e m p h a s i z e s t h e p r e f e r a b i l i t y of p u b l i c a d j u d i c a t i o n of d i f f e r e n c e s t o p r i v a t e v i n d i c t i v e n e s s) a n d 1 . 1 9 6 ( w h i c h s e e m s to c o m m e n t on t h e n e e d f o r e x p e r i e n c e to u n d e r s t a n d t h e " m y s t e r i o u s " w a y s of the c o u r t - r o o m ) . 5.

Foreigners.

A l t h o u g h r e f e r e n c e s to f o r e i g n e r s ( i n c l u d i n g b o t h t h e E l a m i t e s a n d t h e A m o r i t e s) a r e f o u n d in s o m e of t h e o t h e r p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s a s y e t u n p u b l i s h e d (in a t y p e of p r o v e r b k n o w n t o d a y as " B l a s o n p o p u l a i r e " ; cf. A r c h e r T a y l o r , The P r o v e r b ) ,

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PROVERBS

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Monographs

C o l l e c t i o n s One and T w o do not s e e m to c o n t a i n s u c h r e f e r e n c e s , u n l e s s f o r e i g n i m m i g r a n t s a r e c o n s i d e r e d to b e i n c l u d e d a m o n g the m e n d i c a n t s w h o w a n d e r f r o m v i l l a g e to village seeking food (2.35). T h e n , t o o , the A k k a d i a n w h o h a s l o s t h i s two a s s e s in the b r o k e n ' f a b l e ' 2 . 8 2 m a y p e r h a p s , a s a n o n - S u m e r i a n w h o i s a p p a r e n t l y s i n g l e d out f o r s o m e s o r t of r i d i c u l e , b e c l a s s e d in t h i s c a t e g o r y . 6.

Military Activity and Military

hiiz.

F e w r e f e r e n c e s e i t h e r to w a r o r to m i l i t a r y a c t i v i t i e s p e r s e a p p e a r in a n y of the p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s , but m o s t w o r t h y of n o t e i s the l o n g t e n - l i n e p a s s a g e ( 2 . 1 ) , w h i c h s e e m s to c o n s i s t of a d e s c r i p t i o n of a s e r i e s of s a c r i l e g i o u s a c t s of s o m e s o r t w h i c h c o n q u e r o r s in the p a s t w e r e w o n t to c o m m i t , f o l l o w e d b y a n e x h o r t a t i o n to the " c o n t e m p o r a r y " and f u t u r e c o n q u e r o r s n o t to a c t in the s a m e w a y ( c f . , n o w , h o w e v e r , J a c o b s e n ' s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h i s p a s s a g e a s a " m o c k l a m e n t a t i o n , " in h i s " N o t e s on S e l e c t e d S a y i n g s " at the e n d of t h i s v o l u m e , w h i c h m a y , p e r h a p s , b e the c o r r e c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ) . T h e r e m a y b e a l l u s i o n s to m e n s e r v i n g in a m i l i t a r y c a m p a i g n in t w o o t h e r p r o v e r b s ( 1 . 4 8 a n d 1.49), and it i s a l s o quite p o s s i b l e that 2 . 1 2 3 i s the m o t t o of a s o l d i e r who p r e f e r s h o m e and d r i n k i n g in the t a v e r n s to l i f e at "the f r o n t " ( r a t h e r than that of a t r a v e l l i n g m e r c h a n t ) . The f i g u r a t i v e u s e of v a r i o u s t e r m s f o r w e a p o n s , a s the n o s e - l e a s h f o r p r i s o n e r s , i s a l s o n o t e w o r t h y : a. M a c e ( 8 l s t u k u l ) : about the ox).

as well

2 . 8 3 ( o b s c u r e a l l u s i o n in a p r o v e r b

b. L a n c e ( S 1 ^ g u k u r ) : 2 . 1 0 5 ( m e t a p h o r f o r the h o w l i n g of a s l a v e ) , 2 . 1 1 6 ( c o m p a r e d w i t h a dog, p e r h a p s in r e s p e c t to i t s s i m i l a r p o t e n t i a l f o r d o i n g d a m a g e ) . c. N o s e - l e a s h ( é â - k i r i j ) : 1 . 1 5 3 ( m e t a p h o r f o r the r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of m a r r i a g e and f a t h e r h o o d ) . 7.

The C o r v é e

Service.

A p p a r e n t l y the o n l y r e f e r e n c e to the s e r v i c e of young m e n in the C o r v é e f o r t h e n u m e r o u s p u b l i c w o r k s p r o j e c t s i s p r o v e r b 2 . 1 4 0 , w h i c h a l l u d e s to b o t h the p i c k a x e ( g * ° a l ) a n d the w o r k - b a s k e t ( S ^ d u s u ) , the t w o s t a n d a r d i m p l e m e n t s a l w a y s m e n t i o n e d e l s e w h e r e in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h C o r v é e s e r v i c e . C.

F a m i l y and H o u s e h o l d , 1.

The

Family.

including

Marriage.

CULTURAL

ANALYSIS

301

a. P a r e n t s and E l d e r s . It is somewhat interesting to o b s e r v e that there a r e by f a r m a n y m o r e r e f e r e n c e s to the m o t h e r ( a m a ) than there a r e to the f a t h e r ( a - a or a d - d a ) in the S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b s , and that r a t h e r strikingly, it i s the "personal" (or the f a m i l y ) deity, and not the f a ther, who a p p e a r s opposite the mother in p a r a l l e l couplets, e s p e c i a l l y in allusions to p r o c r e a t i o n and the birth of the child. To be sure, in a few instances (notably p r o v e r b s 1 . 1 4 2 , 1 . 1 4 3 and perhaps 1.185), the mother is not r e f e r r e d to in a p a r t i c u l a r l y kindly way. i.

Father ( a d - d a ) .

1 . 1 5 5 (an o b s c u r e context; p a r a l l e l to, and m e n tioned p r i o r to, "mother"), 2 . 1 4 6 (uncertain, cf. note 3 there; if the "father" is mentioned t h e r e , his lot is not a happy one). In 1 . 1 4 1 the "father" is mentioned only in connection with the division(?) of his estate a f t e r his death. In 1 . 1 5 1 the f a t h e r of a prodigal son laments his lot. ii. Mother

(ama).

1.142 (mother neglects her hungry son at m e a l time; h e r e she is p a r a l l e l to "sister"), 1 . 1 4 3 (mothe r induces h e r daughter to slap her son, who r e s e n t s his m o t h e r ' s act), 1 . 1 4 5 (mother can be pleased by one's not quarreling with b r o t h e r s at i n h e r i t a n c e division; m o t h e r mentioned p a r a l l e l to, and p r i o r (sic ! p r o g r e s s i o n f r o m minor to m a j o r ? !) to, the p e r s o n a l god), 1 . 1 5 5 (mother p a r a l l e l to, but f o l l o w ing, the mention of the father; context is obscure), 1.157 (mother and p e r s o n a l god, in that o r d e r , a r e blamed f o r having given birth to and p r o c r e a t e d a p e r v e r s e child), 1 . 1 6 1 (mother and p e r s o n a l deity, mentioned in that o r d e r , in connection with birth), 1.185 (mother is e a s i l y able to discipline an unruly daughter, but apparently not an unruly son), 2.8 (mother and h e r son's 'female c o m p a n i o n ' — u s a r — in a broken context), 2.60 (the f o x ' s mother in a broken context), 2 . 1 4 1 (mother who has a l r e a d y r a i s e d eight sons still able to give birth), 2 . 1 5 8 (the mother as a metaphor f o r the palace in r e s p e c t to changing moods of j o y and s o r r o w ) . In 1 . 1 2 5 ' a mother s e e m s to be speaking of h e r son's attentiveness, while still demanding f u r t h e r attention f r o m h e r husband. iii. E l d e r s o r Old Men ( a b - b a ) : 2 . 1 4 5 (obscure).

302

GORDON: b.

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Siblings. i.

B r o t h e r - B r o t h e r R e l a t i o n s h i p ( s e § ).

1.141 (brothers quarreling o v e r their f a t h e r ' s e s t a t e ) , 1.145 (ditto, by i m p l i c a t i o n ) . ii. B r o t h e r ( S e s )

and S i s t e r ( η i η g ) R e l a t i o n s h i p s .

1 . 1 4 3 (a y o u n g e r s i s t e r ηiηg - bàn-da s l a p s h e r b r o t h e r at h e r m o t h e r ' s i n s t i g a t i o n ) , 1 . 1 4 8 ( b r o t h e r d o e s not g i v e h i s s i s t e r the f i r s t c h o i c e ) , 1 . 1 4 9 ( g i r l ' s " l o v e r " ( ? ) s t a t e s that the g i r l ' s b r o t h e r d o e s not l e t h e r l e a d h e r own life). c. Other R e l a t i v e s . i. d.

Kinsmen ( g Ì 4 - m e - ( a - ) a s ) ,

a g e n e r a l term(?): 2 . 4 2 .

Marriage. i.

Bachelorhood.

In p r o v e r b 1 . 1 5 3 , a l t h o u g h it i s a p p a r e n t l y c r i t i c a l of t h e b a c h e l o r in i t s i n t e n t , n o t e p a r t i c u l a r l y the m e t a p h o r of a p r i s o n e r ' s n o s e - l e a s h f o r the r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s of m a r r i a g e a n d f a t h e r h o o d , w h i c h , t h e r e f o r e , s e e m s to g i v e the p r o v e r b a d e g r e e of a m b i v a l e n c e . i i . P r e l i m i n a r i e s to M a r r i a g e ( C o u r t s h i p . and B r i d e - p r i c e Negotiations).

Betrothal

1 . 1 4 6 ( s o n i s t o l d b y m o t h e r to t a k e a w i f e of h i s o w n c h o i c e ) , 1 . 1 4 8 and 1 . 1 4 9 (a l o v e r ( ? ) to a g i r l , p o i n t ing out to h e r that he i s m o r e i n t e r e s t e d in h e r w e l f a r e t h a n h e r b r o t h e r i s ) , 1 . 1 6 9 (a b r i d e c o m p l a i n s that the b r i d e - g r o o m — t o — b e and h e r f a t h e r a r e b a r g a i n i n g o v e r h e r a n d the b r i d e - p r i c e ) . i i i . N u p t i a l s a n d T y p e s of M a r r i a g e R e l a t i o n s h i p s . a'. Child-marriage. 1 . 1 2 (a t a b o o of s o m e s o r t n e w l y i n s t i t u t e d in r e c e n t t i m e s s e e m s to b e f r o w n e d upon), 2 . 8 1 (the i n s t i t u t i o n of c h i l d - m a r r i a g e s e e m s to be a l l u d e d to d i s p a r a g i n g l y i n t e r m s of the m a t i n g of a s s - f o a l s a t t h r e e y e a r s of a g e ) . b'. P o l y g a m y . 1 . 1 6 0 s e e m s to i m p l y that,

w h i l e the d e s i r e f o r

CULTURAL

303

ANALYSIS

m a r r y i n g m a n y w i v e s was a h u m a n w e a k n e s s , the m o r e i m p o r t a n t o b l i g a t i o n of m a n to t h e g o d s w a s t h e p r o c r e a t i o n of c h i l d r e n . c

M a r r i a g e a ¿ such.

2 . 1 2 4 ( A s o u r c e of p l e a s u r e , to d i v o r c e ) . iv. I n - l a w

but also a prelude

Relationships.

T h e r e s e e m to b e n o a l l u s i o n s a t a l l i n t h e s e p r o verbs o r i n a n y of t h e o t h e r p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s t e n t a t i v e l y r e s t o r e d to d a t e to t h e m o t h e r - i n - l a w , a n d only a single p r o v e r b (1.169, d e a l i n g with the n e g o t i a t i o n s p r e l i m i n a r y to t h e m a r r i a g e ) i n w h i c h t h e b r i d e 1 s father c a l l e d u r y , " f a t h e r - i n - l a w , " in c o n t r a s t to t h e m i - ú s - s á - t u r , " s o n - i n - l a w " is r e f e r r e d to. v.

R e l a t i o n s h i p of H u s b a n d ¿md W i f e .

(dam).

1.12 a n d 1 . 1 3 ( a n " i n n o v a t i o n " i n t h e m a r i t a l r e l a t i o n s h i p of a c h i l d - b r i d e to h e r h u s b a n d i s d e c r i e d ) , 1.109 ( f i s h e r m a n and his wife), 1.125' (wife c o m p l a i n s that h e r h u s b a n d , i n s p i t e of t h e f a c t t h a t h e s u p p l i e s h e r w i t h p l e n t y of f o o d , d o e s n o t r e m o v e t h e b o n e s f r o m t h e f i s h f o r h e r ) , 1 . 1 2 6 ' ( c o n t e x t b r o k e n ) , 1. 128 (a h u n g r y h u s band c o m p l a i n s that his wife, who is a p p a r e n t l y engaged i n s o m e s o r t of r e l i g i o u s a c t i v i t y a t t h e t i m e , i s n o t a t h o m e to s e r v e h i m a t m e a l - t i m e ) , 1 . 1 4 7 (a w i s h t h a t t h e goddess Inanna will provide for a m a n a h o t - l i m b e d wife f o r p u r p o s e s of c o p u l a t i o n ) , 1 . 1 5 1 (a t h r i f t l e s s w i f e m a k e s t h e l i f e of h e r h u s b a n d m i s e r a b l e ) , 1 . 1 5 3 ( r e f e r e n c e to t h e d u t y of a h u s b a n d t o s u p p o r t a w i f e ) , 1 . 1 5 4 ( t h e t h r i f t l e s s wife will s u f f e r a f t e r h e r h u s b a n d d i e s ) , 2.141 (the wife who h a s a l r e a d y b o r n e eight s o n s c a n be e a s i l y m a d e to c o p u l a t e w i t h o u t o f f e r i n g a n y r e s i s t a n c e ) , 2 . 1 4 6 (a w i f e or perhaps a "hen-pecked" husband in an unhappy household). vi. D i v o r c e ( d a m

t a g 4 ).

1.127' ( b r o k e n c o n t e x t ) , 2.124 ( M a r r i a g e l e a d s to d i vorce after reconsideration). vii. Widowhood ( n u - m u - u n - s u .

"widow").

1.154 (Widow who w a s a s p e n d t h r i f t d u r i n g h e r h u s band's lifetime is especially m i s e r a b l e after his death), 2.33 (Widow's a t t r i b u t e is h e l p l e s s n e s s ) , 2.80 (an o b s c u r e r e f e r e n c e to t h e a s s b e l o n g i n g t o a w i d o w ) .

304

GORDON: e. C h i l d r e n i.

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

(dumu).

B e g e t t i n g of c h i l d r e n ( d u m u - t u k u - t u k u dumu — d im - dim -ma).

and

1.146 (young m a n i s told to have c h i l d r e n "as h i s h e a r t d e s i r e s " ) , 1.147 (a w i s h that the g o d d e s s Inanna w i l l p r o v i d e strong c h i l d r e n for a m a n ) , 1.160 (it i s m o r e i m p o r t a n t to the g o d s than m a n ' s p r a c t i c e of p o l y g a m y ) . [See above, under a. P a r e n t s and E l d e r s , f o r the p r o b l e m of the r ô l e of the f a t h e r and of the " f a m i l y god" in the p r o c r e a t i o n of c h i l d r e n . ] i i . B e a r i n g of c h i l d r e n

(dumu-tu-da).

1.157 ( m o t h e r of a p e r v e r s e c h i l d "should n e v e r have g i v e n b i r t h to him"), 1.161 (broken c o n t e x t ) , 1.193 ( r e f e r e n c e to the p a i n s of childbirth), 2 . 1 4 1 (the m o t h e r who h a s a l r e a d y b o r n e eight s o n s ) , 2 . 1 5 8 (the joy of a m o t h e r who h a s g i v e n birth to a c h i l d a s a m e t a p h o r f o r the m o o d of the "palace"), 2.160 (a w i s h f o r the b i r t h of twins). i i i . Attitude of P a r e n t s t o w a r d their

Children.

1 . 1 4 3 ( m o t h e r i n s t i g a t e s h e r daughter to s l a p h e r o l d er b r o t h e r ) , 1.151 (prodigal son m a k e s h i s f a t h e r ' s l i f e m i s e r a b l e ) , 1.157 (a p e r v e r s e son m i g h t b e t t e r n e v e r have b e e n b o r n ) , 1.178 (mother(?) p r o v i d e s food in abund a n c e f o r her(?) c h i l d r e n ) , 1.185 (a m o t h e r i s able to d i s c i p l i n e h e r daughter but not, h e r son), 2 . 2 3 ' (a poor m a n d o e s not b e a t h i s son), 2.99 (a k a l u m - p r i e s t t h r o w s h i s s o n into the w a t e r ) , 2.140 (the s o n s of a h o u s e h o l d who a r e in the c o r v é e s e r v i c e ) , 2 . 1 5 8 ( m e t a p h o r s of the m o t h e r r e j o i c i n g o v e r the birth and m o u r n i n g the death of h e r c h i l d r e n ) , 2 . 1 6 3 (a h o m e w h e r e a n u m b e r of c h i l d r e n have died). 2.

Household

(é).

A n e x c e p t i o n a l l y l a r g e n u m b e r of p r o v e r b s in t h e s e two p r o v e r b c o l l e c t i o n s d e a l with both the s i m p l e and the c o m p l e x p r o b l e m s of e v e r y d a y h o m e l i f e , d e m o n s t r a t i n g that the h o m e p r o b a b l y p l a y e d an i m p o r t a n t p a r t in S u m e r i a n l i f e ( c f . , f o r e x a m p l e , the p i c t u r e of the s c h o o l - b o y at h o m e in the Edubba c o m p o s i t i o n e n t i t l e d " S c h o o l d a y s " b y K r a m e r , JA OS 69 [19491. pp. 1 9 9 - 2 1 5 ) . Note e s p e c i a l l y p r o v e r b 2 . 1 6 1 ("I would r a t h e r go h o m e ! " ) in the l i g h t of the e n t i r e group of p r o v e r b s dealing with this subject. a. F o o d ( s e e a l s o

c. Eating and Drinking,

under VI. A. 2.

CULTURAL

ANALYSIS

305

The Individual: Physiological States and Functions). 1.52 ( c a k e s [ n * n c * a g ú g ] a r e a l u x u r y t o b e f o r g o n e b y a f r u g a l m a n ) , 1.109 ( f i s h - s o u p [ a - k u f , ] b e i n g p r e p a r e d by the f i s h e r m a n ' s wife), 1.125' (fish), 1.142 (the h u n g r y h u s b a n d who is n e g l e c t e d at m e a l - t i m e ) , 1.175 ( b a r l e y ) , 1.178 ( m o t h e r who p r o v i d e s f o o d f o r h e r c h i l d r e n ) , 1.190 ( f a t t y m e a t [ u z u - i à ] c o n s i d e r e d to b e t o o g o o d t o g i v e to t h e s l a v e - g i r l s to e a t ) , 1 . 1 9 1 ( h a m of t h e p i g [ d ú r - S á h ] i s to b e f e d to t h e s l a v e - g i r l s ) , 1 . 1 9 2 ( f a t w a s n o t t o b e p o u r e d off f r o m t h e m e a t , a n d r o a s t e d b a r l e y w a s n o t s u p p o s e d t o b e m a s h e d ) , 2 . 2 2 ' ( s o m e s o r t of h e r b s c o o k i n g i n a cauldron). b.

Clothing.

1.172 ( a p p a r e n t l y a n a l l u s i o n to a t a b o o a g a i n s t the w e a r ing of a n e w t u r b a n [ a g a ] , i n t h e m o n t h of ( p r o b a b l y ) T e s h r i t u m ) , 1 . 1 7 5 (a r e f e r e n c e t o r a g s [ t ú g - m e - z é - e r - r a = túg-mu-sír-ra]), 1 . 1 7 6 (a l a r g e w o m a n m a k e s h e r o w n g i r d l e [ t ú g - η ι g - i b ] ), 2 . 2 9 ( p o o r m a n ' s g a r m e n t s a r e n o t m e n d e d w h e n t h e y a r e t o r n ) , 2 . 6 9 ( t h e s t r a p p i n g of s a n d a l s on t h e f e e t a s a s i m i l e ) . c.

Shelter.

2 . 1 3 7 ( e x t r a v a g a n c e a n d t h r i f t i n t h e b u i l d i n g of a h o u s e are contrasted). d. F i r e w o o d

(ú).

1 . 1 2 6 ' ( b r o k e n c o n t e x t ) , 1 . 1 8 6 ( c a r r y i n g of f i r e w o o d ) , 2.133 ( f i r e w o o d is c o l l e c t e d in the m a r s h y p l a c e s by the s t r o n g e r m e m b e r s of t h e c o m m u n i t y ) , 2 . 1 3 9 ( f i r e w o o d c a n n o t b e c u t w i t h t h e a i d of t h e w r o n g i m p l e m e n t s ) . e. Household E q u i p m e n t and

Utensils.

1.192, 1.196, and 2 . 2 2 ' ( a l l t h r e e a l l u d e to t h e " s o u p c a u l d r o n , " u t ú l ) ; 1 . 1 9 6 ( " m i x i n g - j a r , " d u g - s u r - r a ); 2.29 (the m i l l , é - n a 4 k í n - n a ; a n d t h e o v e n , i m - g u r i n ) ; 2.111 ( " f a t - j a r " or " d e m i j o h n , " d u g - S a g a n ) ; 2.139 (the p i c k a x e , 8 i § a l , a n d the p i t c h - f o r k ( ? ) , g i ^ k i b i r , a r e not suitable f o r cutting f i r e w o o d ) . f.

Servants.

1.188 ( s e r v a n t - g i r l s q u a r r e l i n g ( ? ) w i t h e a c h o t h e r ) , 1.190 and 1.191 (fatty m e a t c o n s i d e r e d too good f o r s l a v e - g i r l s , s o t h e y a r e to b e g i v e n t h e h a m of t h e p i g t o e a t ) , 1 . 1 9 2 ( m i s t r e s s of t h e h o u s e " n a g s " t h e k i t e h e n - s e r v a n t s a t t h e i r w o r k ) , 2.55 (the e d u c a t e d v a l e t who k n o w s the S u m e r i a n l a n g uage).

306

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

g. B u d g e t ( E x p e n s e s ,

PROVERBS

Income,

Museum

Monographs

etc,).

1 . 3 2 ( z i - g a , e x p e n d i t u r e s ) , 1.33 ( r i - r i - g a , l o s s e s ) , 1.52 ( n i g - S E D , b u d g e t ) , 1 . 1 0 2 ( k ú , l i v e l i h o o d ( ? ) ) , 1.170 ( z i - g a , e x p e n d i t u r e s ) , 2.137 (economy c o n t r a s t e d with t h r i f t i n t h e b u i l d i n g of a h o u s e ) , 2 . 1 38 ( " h a n d " a n d " s t o m a c h " c o n t r a s t e d : m e t o n y m y for " c o n t r i b u t i n g " and " n o n - c o n t r i b u t i n g " m e m b e r s of a h o u s e h o l d ) . h.

Miscellaneous.

2.142, 2.164. D.

2.143,

2.144,

2.145,

2.146,

2.161,

2.162,

2.163,

Friendship.

T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l different S u m e r i a n t e r m s for " f r i e n d " which a p p e a r i n t h e p r o v e r b s , b u t a c l e a r d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n of t h e i r m e a n i n g s is a s yet i m p o s s i b l e . 1.

Of

Men:

a. Male

Friends.

1.94(7), 1 . 1 7 0 , 1 . 1 7 3 a n d 2 . 6 3 (in a l l f o u r of t h e s e p r o v e r b s , the t e r m u s e d is m a l a g ) , 1 . 8 ( d u j q - ú s - s a ) , 2.62 ( k u - l i ) . [ N o t e t h a t p r o v e r b s 2 . 7 a n d 2 . 1 4 3 a l l u d e to " a c q u a i n t a n c e s " ( ζ u - a in t h e f o r m e r a n d l u - z u i n t h e l a t ter).] b. F e m a l e

Friends.

1.94(?) ( m a l a g ) , 1 . 1 7 0 , 2 . 3 a n d 2 . 8 ( t h e t e r m u s e d i n the l a t t e r t h r e e p r o v e r b s is u s a r , " f e m a l e companion"). c . T h e t e r m " o p p o n e n t " ( l ú - d u ^ - d a ) a p p e a r s to b e t h e a n t i t h e s i s of " c o n f i d a n t " ( m a l a g ) i n p r o v e r b 1 . 1 7 0 . 2. f

IV.

Of

Women:

T h e r e i s n o c l e a r i n s t a n c e of a w o m a n ' s m a l e f r i e n d , a n d s o i t i s a s s u m e d t h a t t h e m a l a g of t h e f i s h e r m a n ' s w i f e i n " p r o v e r b " 1 . 1 0 9 ( u n l e s s t h e t e r m s h o u l d a c t u a l l y r e f e r to h e r h u s b a n d , the f i s h e r m a n h i m s e l f ) is a n o t h e r w o m a n .

RELIGIOUS B E L I E F S AND A.

Religious

Beliefs.

1.

(dingir).

Gods

INSTITUTIONS.

CULTURAL a. D e i t i e s S p e c i f i e d by i.

307

ANALYSIS Name.

Enlil.

2 . 7 4 (the g o d i s i n v o k e d b y the d i s c o u r a g e d d o n k e y driver). ii.

Enki.

2 . 1 0 3 (the w a t e r - g o d , i n v o k e d with h i s n a m e in the Erne sal d i a l e c t , ^ a m - a n - k i , h a s r e s c u e d the s h i p wrecked k a l G m - p r i e s t f r o m drowning). iii. Inanna. 1.147 (the g o d d e s s i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r p r o v i d i n g a g o o d wife, healthy children and a p l e a s u r a b l e life for a man), 2 . 1 0 0 (the k a l u m - p r i e s t . s a c r e d to I n a n n a , r e f e r s to h i s a n u s a s b e l o n g i n g to the g o d d e s s ) . i v . Utu. 1.2 a n d 1.89 (both of t h e s e p r o v e r b s r e f e r to the s u n g o d , Utu, in h i s r o l e of the a l l - s e e i n g a n d o m n i s c i e n t g o d ) , 1 . 8 6 , 1.87 a n d p e r h a p s a l s o 1.2 ( a l l t h r e e r e f e r to Utu in h i s c a p a c i t y a s the d e i t y c o n c e r n e d with m e t i n g out r e t r i b u t i o n f o r both good and evil). v.

Ningishzida.

1.4 ( t h i s d e i t y , who i s h i m s e l f not a l i v e , p o w e r e d to g r a n t the f a v o u r of l i f e to m e n ) . b. T h e P e r s o n a l G o d of a M a n ( d i η g i r

i s not e m -

with p o s s e s s i v e ) .

A m a n ' s " p e r s o n a l g o d , " a s i s now w e l l - k n o w n , w a s that god f r e q u e n t l y o n e of the l e s s e r d e i t i e s , b u t o c c a s i o n a l l y e v e n one of the m o r e i m p o r t a n t d e i t i e s who w a s c o n c e i v e d of b y the S u m e r i a n s a s h a v i n g f a s h i o n e d a m a n in the w o m b of h i s m o t h e r ( c f . p r o v e r b 1.157 a n d p r o b a b l y a l s o 1 . 1 6 1 ) , a n d w h o s e f u n c t i o n w a s to a c t a s i n t e r c e s s o r on that m a n ' s b e h a l f in the a s s e m b l y of the g o d s . P r o v e r b 1.7 p o i n t s out that if a m a n ' s p e r s o n a l g o d i s a n g r y a t h i m , he then h a s no one to i n t e r c e d e f o r h i m , a n d no o t h e r m e a n s of r e d r e s s . P r o v e r b 1 . 1 4 5 s e e m s to s t a t e that the p e r s o n a l d e i t y i s p l e a s e d b y p r o m p t a c t i o n s on the p a r t of h i s " s e r v a n t . " c . T h e G o d s in

General.

1.115(?) ( u n c e r t a i n i m p l i c a t i o n s ) , to p r o c r e a t e c h i l d r e n ) .

1.160 ( g o d s d e s i r e a m a n

308

GORDON: 2.

Spirits.

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

G e n i i and D e m o n s .

a. B e n e v o l e n t G e n i i . i.

"The G u a r d i a n G e n i u s "

( ^ 1 a m m a ).

1.19 ( t h i s "genius, or m i n o r d e i t y , a i d s m a n ' s a c t i v i t i e s w h e n the l a t t e r ' s m i n d i s c o n c e n t r a t e d on the e x e c u tion of an a c t ) . b. M a l e v o l e n t i.

Fate

Demons.

(nam-tar).

F a t e , in the S u m e r i a n p r o v e r b s , i s r e p r e s e n t e d a s the p e r s o n i f i e d d e m o n N a m t a r , who i s in c h a r g e , not o n l y of an i n d i v i d u a l ' s d e a t h , but a l s o of the l a t t e r ' s a s y e t u n d i s c l o s e d f u t u r e ( c f . e s p e c i a l l y p r o v e r b s 1.67, 2.9 and 2 . 1 0 , w h e r e the e x p r e s s i o n u s e d i s nam-nu-tar-ra, c o n c r e t e l y "not p r o v i d e d f o r (by m e a n s of a w i l l , in e c o n o m i c t e r m s ) " ; h e r e , of c o u r s e , the d e m o n N a m t a r i s not a l l u d e d to). In two p r o v e r b s ( 2 . 1 1 and 2 . 1 4 ) , F a t e i s l i k e n e d to a biting v i c i o u s d o g . B y l o o k i n g into the w a t e r ( d i v i n a t i o n b y h y d r o m a n c y ( ? ) ) , a m a n i s s a i d to s e e h i s own F a t e w a l k i n g t h e r e ( p r o v e r b 2 . 4 ) . One c a n invoke o n e ' s own F a t e (although w h a t t h i s i n v o l v e s c o n c r e t e l y i s not at a l l c l e a r ) w i t h d i r e c o n s e q u e n c e s ( p r o v e r b 2 . 2 ) . [In s e v e r a l o t h e r p r o v e r b s , F a t e i s a l l u d e d to in i m p e r s o n a l l a n g u a g e ( s e e b e l o w u n d e r 3. a. " R e l i g i o u s C o n cepts: Fate or Destiny").1 i i . The S i c k n e s s - d e m o n ( á - s à g ) and D e s t r u c t i o n ( k i - g u l - l a ) . In p r o v e r b s 2.9 and 2 . 1 0 , the d e m o n s D e s t r u c t i o n and S i c k n e s s a p p e a r in p e r s o n to a m a n who h a s b e e n l e f t no m o n e t a r y l e g a c y f o r h i s s u p p o r t , and o f f e r , e a c h in turn, to p l a c e t h e m s e l v e s at h i s s e r v i c e ( i . e . , f i g u r a t i v e l y , to take the p l a c e of a m o n e t a r y l e g a c y ) . Note a l s o p r o v e r b 1 . 1 5 4 , w h e r e the s i c k n e s s - d e m o n s a r e s a i d to p l a g u e the t h r i f t l e s s wife after she b e c o m e s a widow. 3.

Religious

Concepts.

a. F a t e or D e s t i n y ( n a m - t a r ) [ s e e a l s o a b o v e , 2. b. i]. In the f o l l o w i n g p r o v e r b s , F a t e i s t r e a t e d i m p e r s o n a l l y ; that i s , a s an a b s t r a c t c o n c e p t , and not a s a p e r s o n i f i e d d e m o n : 1.83, 2 . 3 , 2 . 5 , 2 . 6 , 2 . 1 2 , 2 . 1 3 , 2.64(?). b. D e a t h ( n a m - ú § ) and the N e t h e r - w o r l d ( k u r ).

CULTURAL

ANALYSIS

309

1.30 (in t h e N e t h e r - w o r l d t h e r e i s no e a t i n g a n d d r i n k i n g , n o t e v e n f o r t h e w i l d - o x a n d t h e g a z e l l e ) , 1.38 ( t h e N e t h e r w o r l d i s s o b a r r e n t h a t a n y f o o d o r d r i n k w h i c h f a l l s to t h e g r o u n d a c c i d e n t a l l y i n t h e w o r l d of t h e l i v i n g i s c o n s i d e r e d to b e a l i b a t i o n b y t h e d e n i z e n s of t h e N e t h e r - w o r l d ) , 1.183 ( c o n t e x t u n c e r t a i n ) . In p r o v e r b 1 . 6 8 , a m a n ' s f e a r of d e a t h m a k e s h i m b a l k l i k e a n a s s on a p p r o a c h i n g a p l a g u e - s t r i c k e n c i t y . P r o v e r b 2 . 1 6 3 c o n t a i n s a r e f e r e n c e to i n f a n t m o r t a l i t y (numun-til-til-la). c. Divine N o r m s

(me).

A c c o r d i n g to " p r o v e r b " 2 . 1 , w h e n a c o n q u e r o r c o m pletely devastates a place and p e r v e r t s its religious r i t e s , he t h e r e b y d e s t r o y s t h a t p l a c e ' s " D i v i n e N o r m s " ( S u m e r i a n m e = A k k a d i a n p a r s u ) , f o r t h e n a t u r e of w h i c h s e e L a n d s b e r g e r , A Í Q I I [ 1 9 2 4 ] , p . 66, J a c o b s e n , J N E S V Γ19461. p . 139 ( a n d n o t e 20 t h e r e ) , a n d K r a m e r , J C S V [ 1 9 5 1 1 . p . 15, a s w e l l a s i t f o m , F T S r p p . 75 a n d 9 1 - 9 3 . Taboos and 1.

Sacrilege.

Taboos.

1.12 ( a n a l l u s i o n to w h a t m a y p e r h a p s h a v e b e e n o n l y a s o c i a l "taboo" t h e c h i l d - b r i d e ' s a v o i d a n c e of s i t t i n g ( ? ) in h e r h u s b a n d ' s l a p — a n d h e n c e not to be l i s t e d h e r e ) , 1.23 (context b r o ken, although "taboo" [ n i g - g i g = Akkadian ikkîbum 1 is explic i t l y m e n t i o n e d ) , 1.40 a n d 2 . 1 1 0 ( b o t h of t h e l a t t e r t w o p r o v e r b s r e f e r t o t h e " e a t i n g " of " s o m e t h i n g s e x u a l l y d e f i l i n g " [ n i g ú - z u g x = Akkadian usukkum ] ; see ad locum). 2.

Menologie s.

P r o v e r b 1.172 m a y b e of c o n s i d e r a b l e i m p o r t a n c e f o r d a t i n g t h e b e g i n n i n g s of t h e m e n o l o g y l i t e r a t u r e , t h e e a r l i e s t e x t a n t e x a m p l e s of w h i c h b e l o n g t o t h e K a s s i t e p e r i o d , s i n c e t h i s p r o v e r b i m p l i e s t h e p r i o r e x i s t e n c e of s u c h r e g u l a t i o n s f o r b i d d i n g c e r t a i n a c t s d u r i n g c e r t a i n s p e c i f i c m o n t h s ; f o r f u r t h e r d e t a i l s , s e e tind e r this p r o v e r b in the t e x t . 3.

Sacrilege and

Desecration.

1.104 ( u n c e r t a i n i m p l i c a t i o n s ; the t e r m b u - l u - ú h si-il " t o a c t i r r e v e r e n t l y , " i s u s e d ) , 2 . 1 ( r e f e r e n c e s to v a r i o u s a c t s of d e s e c r a t i o n i n t h e c o u r s e of m i l i t a r y c o n q u e s t s ) . Religious Institutions or 1.

Cult

Practices.

Cult.

310

GORDON:

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

ιlonogrvphs

The a l l u s i o n s to cult p r a c t i c e s in the p r o v e r b s of C o l l e c t i o n s One and Two a r e a l m o s t e n t i r e l y m e r e l y i n c i d e n t a l . T h e y include r e f e r e n c e s to the following: Libations ( a - d é - d a )

and o f f e r i n g s to the dead:

1.38.

H y m n s ( 1 i - d u ): 1.70 (silng by the p e o p l e of a c i t y ) . Divination b y E x t i s p i c y ( m á § Divination by H y d r o m a n c y : Rites ( g a r z a ) :

§u

g i d - g id):

1.70.

2.4(?).

2.1.

Incense-cups ( n i g - n a ) :

2.2l(?).

S p e l l s ( i η i m x - i η i m χ - m a ): 2.54 ( c o m p o s e d b y s c r i b e s who a r e in d i s g r a c e within their own p r o f e s s i o n ) . S p e l l s ( t u k - . t u & or p o s s i b l y a l s o i n i m χ - i η i m χ ): 2.106 (to be sung, or r a t h e r ( p e r h a p s ) , m u t t e r e d , without a e s t h e t i c e m b e l l i s h m e n t by the k a l û m - p r i e s t ) . 2.

C u l t P l a c e s ( T e m p l e s and S h r i n e s ) .

The r e f e r e n c e s to t e m p l e s and s h r i n e s in t h e s e p r o v e r b s a r e a l l only i n c i d e n t a l . P r o v e r b 1.142 m e n t i o n s the u b - l í l - l á , an o p e n - a i r s h r i n e , a s the r e s o r t of the wife who h a s n e g l e c t e d h e r h u s b a n d a t m e a l - t i m e . P r o v e r b 2 . 6 1 a (in a r a t h e r b r o k e n context) s e e m s to a l l u d e to the b u r n t - b r i c k s ( a l - ù r ) of which a t e m p l e ( é ) w a s built, while 2.69 r e f e r s to the w e l l - k n o w n t e m p l e - c o m p l e x of the g o d d e s s Ninlil at or n e a r N i p p u r , the T u m m a l (with the p o s s i b i l i t y that the w a t c h - d o g s w e r e c a l l e d by the a p p e l a t i v e " s l a v e - g i r l s of the T u m m a l , " g e m é - t u m m a - a l k i o r , in the E m e s a l d i a l e c t , gi^-in-tum-ma-al^^). It i s quite p o s s i b l e that t h e r e m a y a l s o be a d d i t i o n a l r e f e r e n c e s to t e m p l e s in t h e s e p r o v e r b s , c o n c e a l e d in the w o r d é (which h a s b e e n u s u a l l y t r a n s l a t e d " h o u s e , " " h o u s e h o l d " or " e s t a t e " e l s e w h e r e in this v o l u m e ) , and u n r e c o g n i z e d by the w r i t e r . 3.

Cult P e r s o n n e l . a . The

kalûm-priest

(gala).

F o r s o m e r e a s o n , p e r h a p s b e c a u s e of h i s " a t y p i c a l " s e x u a l l i f e — s e e p a r t i c u l a r l y p r o v e r b 2.100 and the c o m m e n t a r y to that p r o v e r b a s w e l l a s the p o s s i b i l i t y that he m a y have a l s o b e e n a eunuch, the k a l û m - p r i e s t (even though he w a s m o s t i m p o r t a n t in the t e m p l e cult and f r e quently a l s o in the p o l i t i c a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ) s e e m s to h a v e b e e n m a d e the butt of a g r e a t n u m b e r of s a t i r i c a l a n e c d o t e s and s c o r n f u l b y w o r d s . It i s to be noted that j u s t a s the h y m n s and l a m e n t a t i o n s which w e r e c h a n t e d by the k a l û m -

CULTURAL

ANALYSIS

311

p r i e s t w e r e w r i t t e n i n the E m e s a l d i a l e c t (the s p e e c h of f e m a l e d e i t i e s and of w o m e n ) , s o too a r e m o s t of the q u o t a t i o n s of the k a l û m - p r i e s t ' s w o r d s in t h e s e s a t i r e s g i v e n in the E m e s a l d i a l e c t . E v e n h i s d i e t s e e m s to b e r i d i c u l e d ( p r o v e r b s 2 . 1 0 4 and 2 . 1 0 5 ) . H i s m a n n e r of s i n g i n g , if 2.106 has indeed been c o r r e c t l y understood, was c o n s i d e r e d to b e the d i r e c t a n t i t h e s i s of the s i n g i n g s t y l e r e q u i r e d of the s e c u l a r s i n g e r ( n a r ) ; w i t h 2 . 1 0 6 , c f . 2 . 4 1 a n d 2 . 5 7 . O t h e r p r o v e r b s p e r t a i n i n g to the k a l û m - p r i e s t a r e the f o l l o w i n g : 2 . 5 4 (a k a l û m - p r i e s t w h o h a s b e e n d i s g r a c e d f a l l s to the l o w s t a t e of p l a y i n g the f l u t e , p r o b a b l y a s the o b b l i g a t o a c c o m p a n i m e n t to h i s f o r m e r c o l l e a g u e s ) , 2 . 9 7 a n d 2 . 9 8 ( u n c l e a r i m p l i c a t i o n s ) , 2 . 9 9 (a r e f e r e n c e , w h i c h i s s o m e w h a t u n c l e a r , to a k a l û m - p r i e s t w h o t h r e w h i s s o n into the water w h i c h m a y p e r h a p s b e a n a l l u s i o n to m a s t u r b a t i o n ) , 2 . 1 0 1 (an a n e c d o t e a b o u t a k a l û m - p r i e s t who m e t a l i o n in the s t e p p e ) , 2 . 1 0 2 ( b r o k e n c o n t e x t ) , 2 . 1 0 3 (an a n e c dote about a k a l û m - p r i e s t w h o s e boat l o a d e d with g r a i n w a s s u n k , a n d w h o t h e n t h a n k e d E n k i , the w a t e r - g o d , f o r s a v ing h i m f r o m d r o w n i n g ) . b. H i g h - p r i e s t e s s

(nin-dingir).

1 . 6 3 ( b r o k e n c o n t e x t , and p o s s i b l y not a c t u a l l y a r e f e r e n c e to the n i n - d i n g i r ) . c . S l a v e - g i r l s of the T u m m a l ( g e m é / g i 4 - i η - t u m - m a alki). 2 . 6 9 ( p o s s i b l y a r e f e r e n c e to a c t u a l w o m e n , but m o r e p r o b a b l y a n e p i t h e t a p p l i e d to the w a t c h - d o g s of the t e m p l e - c o m plex).

EDUCATION. A.

FINE

ARTS

AND

RECREATION.

Education.

S i n c e it w a s the s c r i b e s of S u m e r w h o c o l l e c t e d , and p e r h a p s to s o m e e x t e n t c o m p o s e d , the p r o v e r b s in t h e s e c o l l e c t i o n s , i t i s not a t a l l s u r p r i s i n g that t h e y s h o u l d i n c l u d e a g r o u p of p r o v e r b s d e a l i n g w i t h s i t u a t i o n s in the s c r i b a l l i f e . S o m e of t h e s e e x p r e s s l y s t a t e t h e p r e r e q u i s i t e s f o r the i d e a l s c r i b e ( 2 . 3 8 and 2 . 4 0 ) , a n d not a f e w of the o t h e r s c o n s i s t of d e r i s i v e t a u n t s a d d r e s s e d to the f a i l i n g s of i n d i v i d u a l s c r i b e s ( 2 . 4 4 , 2 . 4 7 , 2 . 4 8 , 2 . 4 9 , 2.51(?), 2 . 5 2 , and 2 . 5 6 ) . Of p e r h a p s m a j o r i m p o r t a n c e a s e v i d e n c e f o r the h i s t o r y of t h e S u m e r i a n l a n g u a g e a r e p r o v e r b s 2 . 4 7 and 2 . 4 9 , w h i c h i m p l y t h a t S u m e r i a n (or at l e a s t the s t a n d a r d l i t e r a r y l a n g u a g e ) w a s not the n a t i v e t o n g u e of at l e a s t s o m e of the s c r i b e s , and that

312

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

p e r h a p s it w a s a l r e a d y dead a s a spoken language at the t i m e that these particular proverbs were composed. Of s o m e s o c i o l o g i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e i s p r o v e r b 2 . 5 5 , w h i c h a l l u d e s to a v a l e t ( k i n d a g a l ) who k n e w ( o r h a d s t u d i e d ) S u m e r i a n . On t h e s o m e w h a t h u m o r o u s s i d e i s p r o v e r b 2 . 4 8 w h i c h s e e m s to t r e a t of a p u p i l who s t u m b l e d o v e r e v e n the s i m p l e s t s o u n d s in l e a r n i n g to r e a d , w h i l e a r a t h e r " h u m a n " v i g n e t t e i s p r o v i d e d in the a l l u s i o n to the j u n i o r - s c r i b e ( d u b - s a r - T U R ) who i s m o r e c o n c e r n e d w i t h f o o d f o r h i s s t o m a c h t h a n f o r h i s m i n d (2.53). F i n a l l y , p r o v e r b 2 . 5 4 t e l l s u s t h a t the s c r i b e who h a s b e c o m e d i s g r a c e d w i t h i n h i s p r o f e s s i o n s i n k s to t h e l e v e l of w r i t i n g m a g i c a l s p e l l s , p e r h a p s m u c h a s t h e u n s u c c e s s f u l w r i t e r of t o - d a y i s f r e q u e n t l y c o m p e l l e d to w r i t e d o g g e r e l a n d a d v e r t i s i n g j i n g l e s to s u p p o r t h i m s e l f . 1.

Schools (έ - d u b - b a ) . 2.42 (context b r o k e n ) .

2.

Personnel. a. Scribes ( d u b - s a r ) . 2.36, 2.37, 2.38, 2.40, 2.42, 2.43, 2.49, 2.50, 2.51, 2.52, 2.54, 2.56.

2.44,

2.45,

2.47,

b. S c h o o l - m a s t e r ( o r S c h o o l - m a s t e r ' s Son) ( d u m u - u m - m i - a ). 2 . 4 5 ( m e a n i n g of t h e p r o v e r b i s o b s c u r e ) . c. J u n i o r - s c r i b e ( d u b - s a r - T U R ) . 2 . 5 3 . [See a l s o t h e c o l o p h o n to t e x t A of C o l l e c t i o n O n e , w h i c h d e s c r i b e s N i n u r t a - m u § t a l , t h e s c r i b e of t h a t t a b l e t , a s a d u b - s a r - T U R ; c f . p. 150 a b o v e . ] d. P u p i l s . 2.48(?). 3.

C u r r i c u l u m of S t u d i e s . a. Mathematics ( Sà - d u b - b a ) :

2.36 a n d p o s s i b l y 2 . 5 6 .

b. S u m e r i a n language ( e m e - z i r ) :

2.47,

2.49,

2.55

c . R e a d i n g (?) o r R e c i t a t i o n ( ? ) ( S E D - m a ): 2.48(?),

2.50.

d. T r a n s l a t i o n ( o r I n t e r p r e t a t i o n ^ ) ) of T e x t s ( i n i m - b a l a - e ) : 2.49, 2 . 5 6 , a n d p o s s i b l y a l s o 1.36.

CULTURAL Β.

ANALYSIS

313

Fine A r t s . 1.

Music

(nam-nar).

The only one of the fine a r t s r e p r e s e n t e d in the p r o v e r b s of these two collections is m u s i c . They include a number of a l l u s i o n s to m u s i c a l compositions and m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t s , as w e l l a s s e v e r a l p r o v e r b s which d e s c r i b e the qualifications of the ideal singer. a. S i n g e r s ( η a r ). 2.39 (the ideal singer m u s t not only know his songs, but also be adept at the e m b e l l i s h m e n t of the m e l o d i e s with the t r i l l s and t r e m o l i which t y p i f y the music of the Near East even to-day), 2 . 4 1 and 2.57 (the ideal s i n g e r ' s voice [ z a - p a - á g ] m u s t be sweet; f o r a contrasting c o m ment on the singing style of the k a l û m - p r i e s t , cf. p r o v e r b 2 . 1 0 6 ) , 2 . 4 3 (the s i n g e r ' s throat [ m i l l ] is a s important to him a s i s the hand to the scribe), 2.54 (a singer who has become d i s g r a c e d in his p r o f e s s i o n sinks to the l e v e l of b e coming a simple piper who p r e s u m a b l y accompanies the singing of his f o r m e r colleagues). b. Musical Instruments. i.

L y r e ( b a 1 a g ): 1 . 1 6 7 (considered an i n s t r u m e n t of lamentation [ é r , "tears"]).

ii. Pipe ( g i - d i - d a ) : 2.54 (played by the d i s g r a c e d singer to accompany other singers). iii. Flute ( g i - g i d ): 2.54 (played by the d i s g r a c e d k a l u m - p r i e s t , probably to accompany his f o r m e r colleagues). c. Musical Compositions and Techniques. i.

Hymns (or Melodies) ( l i - d u ) : 1.70 (sung by the people of a city), 2.39 (must be well-known by the ideal singer).

ii. T r i l l s or T r e m o l i ( a d - d u ): 2.39 (must be p e r f o r m e d w e l l by an ideal singer). C.

Recreation. 1.

B e e r (ka£>) Drinking.

Three p r o v e r b s in Collections One and Two r e f e r to the drinking of b e e r , a r e l a t i v e l y strong b e v e r a g e in ancient M e s o -

314

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

,i/useum Monographs

potamia: 1.80 (an u n c e r t a i n c o n t e x t , b u t c o n s i d e r e d to b e t h e w o r d s of a ' t o a s t ' b y t h e w r i t e r ) , 1.105 (if b e e r [ k a § ] i s d r u n k u n d i l u t e d , it i s n e c e s s a r y to d r i n k m u c h w a t e r a f t e r i t a s a ' c h a s e r ' ) , 2.123 ( b e e r - d r i n k i n g and p r o b a b l y the ' G e m ü t l i c h k e i t ' a s s o c i a t e d w i t h it i n t h e t a v e r n s was cons i d e r e d to b e t h e a n t i t h e s i s of t h e r i g o r o u s l i f e of a c o m m e r cial, or m i l i t a r y , expedition). 2.

Swimming.

1.92(?) ( t h i s u n c e r t a i n a l l u s i o n r e f e r s to a m a n w h o " b o b s up a n d down in the w a t e r l i k e a b o a t " ) . VI.

THE A.

INDIVIDUAL. The Individual p e r 1.

The P h y s i c a l

se. Organism.

a . E x t e r n a l P a r t s of t h e

Body.

anus ( b i d ) : 2.100. arms (á): 1.147. b r a i d s (of h a i r ) ( s u ^ u r ) : 1.188. breast ( g a b a ) : 1.63(?). cheek ( t e ) : 1.143. eyes ( i g i ) : 1.98. face ( i g i ) : 2«37. feet ( g i r ) : 1.192. f i s t o r p a l m of t h e h a n d ( t i b i r x ) : 2.23'. flesh ( s u ) : 2.8(?). hand ( S u ) : 2.40, 2.43, 2.138. [head ( s a g ) : 1.148 (only i n a n i d i o m a t i c e x p r e s s i o n ) . ] jaws(?) ( k a ) : 2.89. lap ( ú r ) : 1.12. limbs ( ú r ) : 1.147. m o u t h ( k a ) : 2 . 2 7 , 2 . 3 0 , 2.40 ( f i g u r a t i v e ) , 2.89 ( j a w s ( ? ) ) . neck ( g ú ) : 1.3. nose ( k i r i 3 ) : 1.153 (figurative), penis ( g î § ) : 1.159 ( f i g u r a t i v e ) . [ s h o u l d e r ( z a g ) : 1.54 ( o n l y i n a n i d i o m a t i c e x p r e s s i o n ) . ] teeth ( z ú ) : 1.80. throat ( m i l i ) : 2.43. voice(?) ( z a - p a - á g ) : 2.41, 2.57. vulva ( g a l 4 ~ l a ) : 1.159 ( f i g u r a t i v e ) . U n c e r t a i n p a r t s of t h e b o d y : t h r e e t e r m s w h i c h p o s s i b l y r e f e r to g e n i t a l o r g a n s ( η u n u ζ - D A L L A , gir-paddu-DALLA, uzu-DALLA: 1.41, 1 . 4 2 , 1.43).

CULTURAL b. I n t e r n a l O r g a n s , i.

315

ANALYSIS Vital Fluids,

Blood ( m u d ) :

etc.

1.7Z.

ii. B r e a t h ( z i ) : 1.41, 1.42, 1.43 ( p o s s i b l y in a l l t h r e e a r e f e r e n c e to " s e x u a l a r d o u r " ) , 2 . 8 . i i i . H e a r t ( s à ); a ' . A s t h e S e a t of t h e E m o t i o n s : 1 . 9 9 , 1.102(7), 1.104(7), 1 . 1 0 8 , 2.122.

1.94(?), 1.98(?), 1.146, 1.151,

b ' . A s t h e S e a t of t h e I n t e l l e c t : 1.101 ( f i g u r a t i v e ) .

1.95,

iv. L i v e r v. 2.

(urs):

1.180 ( t r a n s l a t e d

Stomach ( s à - g a l ) :

Physiological States and a.

2.53,

1.98(7),

"spirit" or

"mood").

2.138.

Functions.

Health. i. W e l l - b e i n g : 1 . 1 0 2 . ii. P h y s i c a l Strength ( l i r u m 2.133.

and

kalag-ga):

2.74,

b. D i s e a s e and I n f i r m i t y ( s e e a l s o " S p i r i t s , Genii and D e m o n s " u n d e r I V . A . 2. a b o v e , p . 3 0 8 ) . i.

Blindne ss:

1.29.

ii. P l a g u e or E p i d e m i c :

1.68.

iii. S i c k n e s s : 1.154 ( t h r i f t l e s s wife a f f l i c t e d with s i c k n e s s d e m o n s [ à - s à g ] in widowhood), 1.193 ( c o m p a r i s o n b e t w e e n t h e t r o u b l e s of a s i c k p e r s o n [ t u - r a ] a n d a w o m a n in c h i l d - b i r t h [ p e s x x / p e § ^ - d è ] ) , 1 . 1 9 4 (a s i c k p r e g n a n t w o m a n [ p e s ^ - t u - r a ] ) , 2 . 1 0 ( t h e s i c k n e s s - d e m o n [ à - s à g ] a p p e a r s to the m a n who h a s no m o n e y ) , 2 . 4 3 ( s i n g e r w h o h a s a s i c k t h r o a t ) ; see also 2.61 and 2.92 f o r s i c k n e s s among a n i m a l s . iv. P h y s i c a l I n j u r y : v.

2 . 4 3 ( h a n d of a s c r i b e ) .

Physical Weakness:

2.74,

2.133.

c. Eating and Drinking (see also "Household: III. C . 2. a b o v e , p p . 3 0 4 - 3 0 5 ) .

Food" under

1 . 8 , 1 . 9 , 1 . 3 0 , 1 . 3 9 , 1 . 4 4 , 1.45 ( s h a r i n g of l u n c h ) , 1 . 4 6 , 1 . 4 7 , 1 . 4 8 , 1.49 ( s h a r i n g of f o o d ) , 1 . 5 0 , 1 . 5 1 , 1.55, 1 . 7 7 ,

GORDON:

316

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

1 . 8 0 , 1 . 1 0 2 , 1 . 1 0 5 , 1 . 1 0 6 (eating to e x c e s s ) , 1 . 1 2 0 , 1 . 1 2 5 · , 1 . 1 4 2 (a hungry husband n e g l e c t e d by both h i s wife and m o ther at m e a l - t i m e ) , 1 . 1 5 0 , 1 . 1 7 8 , 1 . 1 8 9 , 1 . 1 9 0 , 1 . 1 9 1 , 2.15, 2.53, 2.104, 2.105. d. Sexual A c t i v i t y . i.

Typical or " N o r m a l " Sexual Activity.

P r o v e r b 1.12 s e e m s to r e f e r to a " t a b o o " ( o r p o s s ibly a s o c i a l objection) a g a i n s t the c u s t o m a r y s e x u a l r e l a t i o n s between husband and wife in the c a s e of c h i l d m a r r i a g e , p a r t i c u l a r l y when the b r i d e h a s not yet r e a c h e d puberty. Other p r o v e r b s alluding to s e x u a l r e l a t i o n s between m a n and wife a r e : 1 . 1 4 7 (a " h o t - l i m b e d " wife will be given to a m a n by the g o d d e s s Inanna f o r p u r p o s e s of copulation), 1 . 1 5 9 ( f i g u r a t i v e r e f e r e n c e s to the " t r e a c h e r o u s p e n i s " and the " t r e a c h e r o u s v u l v a " ) , 2 . 1 4 1 (the wife who h a s been a m o t h e r eight t i m e s c a n be m a d e to lie down f o r copulation by h e r husband with e a s e ) ; a l s o p e r h a p s by i m p l i c a t i o n , p r o v e r b s 1 . 1 6 0 ( m e n a r e i n t e r e s t ed in m a r r y i n g women without thinking of having c h i l d r e n , which is what the gods a r e i n t e r e s t e d in) and 2 . 1 2 4 ( m a r r iage for the sake of p l e a s u r e ) . ii. A t y p i c a l or " A b e r r a n t " S e x u a l A c t s . One group of four p r o v e r b s ( 1 . 4 0 , 1 . 4 1 , 1.42 and 1.43; cf. 2 . 1 1 0 , which r e f e r s to the s a m e o r a s i m i l a r a c t p e r f o r m e d by the dog, a s well a s 2 . 1 1 7 ) s e e m to r e f e r to v a r i o u s types of o r a l s e x u a l a c t i v i t i e s upon which the S u m e r i a n s did not a p p a r e n t l y look with favour. P r o v e r b 2 . 1 0 0 s e e m s to be a s a t i r i c a l c o m m e n t on the anal e r o t i c i s m of the k a l G m - p r i e s t . who w a s a p p a r e n t l y a s a c r e d c a t a m i t e ; t h e r e is a l s o a p o s s i b i l i t y that 2 . 9 9 r e f e r s to his p r a c t i c e of m a s t u r b a t i o n ( s e e note 9 to the latter proverb). e. R e s t and Sleep ( ù

tug - tug).

1 . 1 0 6 (eating to e x c e s s will keep one f r o m sleeping), 1 . 1 7 4 (meaning s o m e w h a t o b s c u r e , but the p r o v e r b s e e m s to involve the p a r a d o x i c a l situation of a p e r s o n with i n s o m nia who walks up and down but cannot m a k e h i m s e l f t i r e d enough to get to s l e e p ) . f.

C l e a n l i n e s s and T o i l e t .

1.188 ( a p p a r e n t l y an a r g u m e n t among w o m e n about k e e p ing a c l e a n a p p e a r a n c e ) ; 2 . 1 0 0 (wiping the a n u s ) .

CULTURAL 3.

ANALYSIS

P s y c h o l o g i c a l State s and a. Mental i.

317

Processes.

Faculties.

Discernment

ii. J u d g e m e n t

(umu§):

(dim-ma

1.183, or

iii. R e a s o n ( n a m - k ù - z u ) :

1ύ - d im -ma):

i.

1.143.

1.19.

i v . I g n o r a n c e . L a c k of J u d g e m e n t , 1.196, 2.37. b. M e n t a l

1.184.

etc. :

1.36,

1.175,

Processes.

Thought P r o c e s s e s :

ii. Wishing: c. C h a r a c t e r

1.95,

1.98,

1.108,

2.124,

2.126.

1.4.

and

Personality.

C a l l o u s n e s s t o w a r d d e s t r u c t i o n : 2.135. T h e " C a r r i e r of B a d L u c k , " t h e " J i n x " : 1 . 7 2 . C h i l d i s h n e s s : 1.37 ( c o n t r a s t e d with m a n l i n e s s ) . Egocentricity: 1.10. E x t r a v a g a n c e : 2.137 ( c o n t r a s t e d with thrift). T h e " f a i l u r e " who t r i e s to hold o t h e r s down: 1.195 ( c o n t r a s t e d with the s u c c e s s f u l man). Frugality: 1.52. H o t - h e a d e d m a n : 2.126 ( c o n t r a s t e d with the r e f l e c t i v e m a n ) . H u m i l i t y : ( P r o v e r b q u o t e d i n n o t e 4 to p r o v e r b 1.1). M a n l i n e s s : 1.37 ( c o n t r a s t e d w i t h c h i l d i s h n e s s ) , 2 . 4 4 . Ostentation: 1.79. Patience: 1.35. Perseverance: 1.19. The p e s s i m i s t : 1.11. R e c o g n i t i o n of r e a l i t y : 1 . 9 8 . The r e f l e c t i v e m a n : 2.126 ( c o n t r a s t e d with the h o t - h e a d e d man). Restlessness: 1.144. S h a m e l e s s n e s s : 2.108. T h e s u c c e s s f u l m a n w h o h e l p s o t h e r s to r i s e : 1 . 1 9 5 ( c o n t r a s t e d with the "failure"). Thrift: 2.137 ( c o n t r a s t e d with extravagance). T h r i f t l e s s n e s s : 1.151, 1.154. d. E m o t i o n s i.

or

Passive

Sensibilities. Emotions.

GORDON:

318

SUMERI AN

a'. P o s i t i v e :

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

Joy and Happiness.

( 1.1 — p r o v e r b quoted in note 4 t h e r e ) , 1.32 and 1.33 ( h ú l ) , 1.99 ( f i r s t l i n e ) , 1 . 1 0 2 ( S à dùg), 1.180( u r 5 - S a g s ) , 1.183 ( e - l i - 1 u m ), 2.122 ( h ú l ) , 2.158 (metaphor of " m o t h e r who has g i v e n birth"). b1. N e g a t i v e :

P a i n and Sadness.

1.97 ( g i g ), 1.99 ( a - n i r - r a ) , 1.15 1 ( S à - η u d ù g - g a ) , 2.122(Sà g i g ) . 2.158 ( a - η i r - r a ). ii. Aesthetic

Sensibilities.

a P o s i t i v e : Pleasure of Beauty.

( § a g 5 ) and A p p r e c i a t i o n

1.10 (a man with an e g o c e n t r i c standard of a e s thetic c o m p a r i s o n ) , 1.101 ( a p p r e c i a t i o n of o n e ' s own handiwork), 1.102, 1.103(?), 1.147 ( p l e a s u r e s p r o v i d e d by the g o d d e s s Inanna), 2.38, 2.39, 2.57, 2.121, 2.123, 2.124, 2.125. bNegative:

Displeasure

( hu 1 ).

1.14, 1.28 ( l o s s of i n t e r e s t in a thing: § à - t a è ), 2.41 ( nu - d ù g - g a : a s i n g e r with a " v o i c e which is not s w e e t " ) , 2.121, 2.123, 2.125. 4.

Speech.

1.11 ( c o m p l a i n i n g ) , 1.108 ( g e n e r a t e s hatred; c o n t r a s t e d with "the h e a r t , " i . e . , the inner thoughts), 1.185 ( c h a t t e r i n g ) , 2.48 ( f l u e n c y of speech), 2.52 (the chattering s c r i b e ) , 2.7 1 (truth and f a l s e h o o d ) , 2.72 (the p e r e n n i a l l i a r ) , 2.146 (unhappy r e t i c e n c e ) . 5.

Actions.

1.3 ( u s e l e s s action), 1.29 ( " l i k e a blind m a n " ) , 1. 37 (childish a c t i o n s ) , 1.38 ( i n v o l u n t a r y and unplanned actions or a c c i d e n t s ) , 1.51 ( c o m p l e t e d action), 1.54 ( i m p a t i e n c e to a c t ) , 1.107 ( f u r t i v e a c t i o n ) , 1.110 ( f i c k l e n e s s ( ? ) ) , 1.186 ( s e l f - r e l i a n c e ) . B.

R e l a t i o n of the Individual to S o c i e t y 1.

Positive:

Conformity,

("Socialization").

etc.

1.1 ( p r o v e r b quoted in note 4 there: h u m i l i t y b r i n g s happin e s s ) , 1.6 (apparent s u b m i s s i o n ) , 1.84 ( a c c e p t a n c e of the v e r dict of s o c i e t y ) , 1.102 ( r e c e i p t of homage b r i n g s s a t i s f a c t i o n ) , 1.156 ( r e c o n c i l i a t i o n a f t e r r e b e l l i o n ) , 2.126(the hot-headed man

CULTURAL

ANALYSIS

i s p e r m i t t e d to l i v e in h i s o w n w a y , chastised). 2.

Negative:

Nonconformity,

319

the r e f l e c t i v e m a n is

etc.

1.6 ( p a s s i v e r e s i s t a n c e ) , 1.12 ( d i s a p p r o v a l of a s o c i a l t a b o o ) , 1.69 ( u n g r a t e f u l n e s s ) , 1.72 (the m a n w h o " b r i n g s b a d l u c k " ) , 1.156 ( r e b e l l i o u s n e s s d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n the s e x e s in i t s r e s u l t s ) , 2 . 2 6 ( a l l t h e p o o r a r e n o t e q u a l l y s u b m i s s i v e to a u t h o r i t y ) , 2 . 7 1 ( o n c e a l i a r , a l w a y s c o n s i d e r e d a l i a r ) , 2 . 1 2 6 ( t h e h o t - h e a d e d m a n i s p e r m i t t e d t o l i v e in h i s o w n w a y , but the r e f l e c t i v e m a n is c h a s t i s e d ) . Interpersonal 1.

Positive

Relations. or Beneficent

Relations.

a. Ρ s ychological. 1.145 (making o n e ' s m o t h e r h a p p y ) . b.

Verbal.

1 . 2 1 ( c o m p l i m e n t to a n i n d i v i d u a l ) , ( r e c e i p t of h o m a g e ( ? ) ) . c. P h y s i c a l or

1.99 ( p r a i s e ) ,

1.102

Active.

1.45 a n d 1.49 ( s h a r i n g of f o o d ) , 1 . 5 3 ( r e p a y m e n t of d e b t s ) , 2.35 ( c h a r i t y t o w a r d v a g r a n t s ) . 2.

Negative or Maleficent

Relations.

a . C o e r c i o n o r I n f r i n g e m e n t o n t h e W i l l of

Another.

1.5 ( r e f u s a l to do a t h i n g a g a i n s t o n e ' s w i l l ) , 1 . 6 8 (a m a n m u s t b e f o r c e d to e n t e r a p l a g u e - s t r i c k e n c i t y ) . b. A g g r e s s i o n o r I n f r i n g e m e n t upon the P r o p e r t y H a n d i w o r k of A n o t h e r . i.

Psychological

(Covetousness and

or

Jealousy).

No explicit e x a m p l e s . ii.

Verbal. 1 . 1 4 ( d e s t r u c t i v e c r i t i c i s m of a n o t h e r ' s

iii. P h y s i c a l or

handiwork).

Active.

1.8 ( t h e " s p o n g e r " a m o n g h i s f r i e n d s ) ,

1.9 ( t h e m o n -

320

GORDON:

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Mono

graphs

g o o s e and the " s t r a n g e r " eat a man out of "house and h o m e " ) , 1.31 ( b o r r o w i n g without r e t u r n i n g ) , 2.62 (the f o x in the v a r i a n t text quoted in note 6 t h e r e , he is r e p l a c e d by "the l i a r " — b r e a k s into the house of his f r i e n d ) , 2.63 ( c r a b whose own house i s f l o o d e d e n t e r s his f r i e n d ' s house). c. V i o l e n c e or I n f r i n g e m e n t of A n o t h e r I n d i v i d u a l ' s P e r s o n . i.

P s y c h o l o g i c a l or E m o t i o n a l

Violence.

1.57 (broken context, m e n t i o n s " h a t r e d " ) , 1.99 (the heart which "has been h u r t ( ? ) " ) , 1.108 (hatred g e n e r a ted by speech r a t h e r than by the h e a r t ) . ii. Verbal

Violence.

1.81 (taunts and c u r s e s ) , 1.82 ( c u r s e s ) , 1.83 (taunts and c u r s e s ) , 1.84 ( c u r s e s and p e r s o n a l v i n d i c t i v e n e s s ) , 1.85 (the i n e v i t a b i l i t y of g o s s i p ) . iii. Physical

Violence.

1.90 (the boatman is a man of v i o l e n c e ) , 1.97 ( b r o ken context, but contains the w o r d s " D o not hurt m e ! " ) , 1.143 (slap on the c h e e k a d m i n i s t e r e d b y a m a n ' s younger s i s t e r ) , 1.159 (bad cannot hurt bad), 2.65 ( f o x steps on the f o o t of the w i l d - o x ) , 2.66 ( f o x c a r r i e s a stick, and l o o k s f o r someone to b e a t ) . VII.

ABSTRACT A.

IDEAS.

Time. 1.

The P a s t . ( u 4 - b i - t a ) . 1.12 (a s o c i a l taboo with no p r e c e d e n t in the p a s t ) .

2.

The

Present.

1.13 (a thing " o f short d u r a t i o n " ) , 1.35 (admonition not to p i c k anything the b l o s s o m s ( ? ) b e f o r e the f r u i t r i p e n s ) . 3.

The Future ( e g i r ) .

1.2 ( F u t u r e outcropping s of e v i l a r e known only to Utu, the sun-god), 1.6 ( s u b m i s s i o n e v e n t u a l l y b e c o m e s a m e a n s of r e s i s t a n c e ) , 1.35 (wait f o r f r u i t to r i p e n b e f o r e p i c k i n g ) , 1.67, 2.9 and 2.10 (three a l l u s i o n s to w i l l s to p r o v i d e f o r the f u t u r e of o n e ' s h e i r s ) , 2.110 (dog does not s a v e f o o d f o r the next d a y ) .

CULTURAL 4.

ANALYSIS

321

R e c u r r e n c e in Time.

1.83 (the constant "renewal of destiny," i . e . , perhaps, the concept of the "vicious c i r c l e " or the "cyclical" r e t u r n of events). 5.

A l t e r n a t i o n in Time.

2 . 1 5 8 (the mood of the "palace" is c h e e r f u l one day, but m o u r n f u l the next day). 6.

Promptness.

Impatience,

etc.

1.54 (impatience to get on the move), 1 . 1 4 5 (promptness is pleasing to one's p e r s o n a l god), 2.74, 2.75 and 2.76 (all t h r e e p r o v e r b s deal with impatience o v e r the slow-moving and balking a s s ) . B.

Existence. 1.

R e a l n e s s or F a c t .

1 . 3 (the i m p r a c t i c a l i t y of attempting to do what has a l r e a d y been done), 1.4 (unrealistic w i s h e s ) , 1.21 (a p e r s o n who has not been "lax t o w a r d s the e v i l which exists": the r e a l i s t ) , 1 . 9 8 ("in m y (own) e y e s I am not (yet) a man"), 1 . 1 0 0 (understanding w h e r e one's talents a c t u a l l y lie), 2.2 ("letting one's F a t e m a t e r i a l i z e " ) , 2 . 1 3 9 (pickaxe and pitchfork cannot be used to cut f i r e w o o d ) . 2.

Imagination or Fancy.

1.98 ("in m y h e a r t I am a (fully mature) human being"), 2 . 9 0 (the ox imagines dust which he produces to be f l o u r ) , 2 . 1 1 5 (the dog imagines that it is c l e v e r ) . 3.

R e l a t i v i t y (see a l s o C. 2. " P r e f e r e n t i a l Values" below).

1 . 1 0 (an egocentric standard of comparisons), 1.32 and 1 . 3 3 (the bailiff and the s t e w a r d each make the e s t a t e ' s owner r e l a t i v e l y happy o v e r the a d v e r s e r e p o r t of the other), 1.98 ( r e l a t i v i t y of imagination to r e a l i t y ) , 1 . 1 9 3 (the r e l a t i v e d e g r e e of i l l n e s s of the d i s e a s e d p e r s o n v i s - à - v i s the woman in c h i l d birth), 2 . 1 1 5 (the r e l a t i v e evaluations of the dog's c l e v e r n e s s by the dog and by its m a s t e r ) , 2 . 1 2 2 ( r e l a t i v e evaluation of what h a s been found by a man and what a man has lost), 2 . 1 2 5 ( p l e a s u r e s and d i s p l e a s u r e s of individuals a r e r e l a t i v e : this p r o v e r b is a m o s t explicit statement of the idea of r e l a t i v e values). C.

Values.

322

GORDON: 1.

SUMERJAN

U n i v e r s a l e or " A b s o l u t e "

PROVERBS

Museum

\lorioi:raf>hs

Values.

The S u m e r i a n t e r m s included under " u n i v e r s a l v a l u e s " a r e those -which they t h e m s e l v e s c o n s i d e r e d to be " c o s m i c and i m m u t a b l e . " When applied to human b e i n g s , these t e r m s w e r e apparently intended to e x p r e s s a d i r e c t r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tween the r e l e v a n t human act and the divine n o r m . (See the r e f e r e n c e s c i t e d above f o r the " D i v i n e N o r m s [ m e ] " on p. 309, as w e l l as S p e i s e r , J A O S , Suppl., N o . 17 [1954], pp. 12-14.) In the c a s e of s o m e of the " n e g a t i v e " t e r m s h e r e l i s t e d , their inclusion i s b a s e d upon their use ( e i t h e r in the p r o v e r b s of C o l l e c t i o n s One and T w o or in those of other as yet unpublished c o l l e c t i o n s ) as antithetic p a r a l l e l s to t e r m s f o r " p o s i t i v e " v a l u e s o t h e r w i s e known to f a l l within the rubric of " u n i v e r s a l v a l u e s . " a. P o s i t i v e i.

Values:

"Cosmic

"Good."

T r u t h " or H o n e s t y ( n i g - g e - n a ) .

1.1, 1.86. i i . Τ ruthf ulne s s or Uprightne s s 2.71,

2.142.

b. N e g a t i v e V a l u e s : i.

(zi[-d]).

" B a d " or

"Evil."

W i c k e d n e s s or F r a u d ( n i g - n e - r u , and η i r - d a ). 1.2,

1.87,

ne-ru-du

2.82 (uncertain context in the l a t t e r ) .

i i . F a l s e h o o d or T r e a c h e r y

(lui).

1.158 (broken context), 1.159, 1.162 ( b r o k e n c o n t e x t ) , 2.58 (broken context), 2.62 ( v a r i a n t text of the p r o v e r b as quoted in note 6 t h e r e ) , 2.71, 2.72, 2.85(?), 2.113, 2.142. iii. P e r v e r s i t y

(si — nu-sá).

1.157. 2.

P r e f e r e n t i a l Value s ( S o c i a l or

Individual).

The S u m e r i a n t e r m s included under " p r e f e r e n t i a l v a l u e s " a r e e s s e n t i a l l y those which r e l a t e to the a e s t h e t i c and the e m o tional e x p e r i e n c e ( c f . pp. 317-318 a b o v e ) . In the c a s e of s o m e of the " n e g a t i v e " v a l u e s l i s t e d h e r e , t h e i r inclusion i s b a s e d (as with the " u n i v e r s a l v a l u e s " a b o v e ) upon their use in the p r o v e r b s as antithetic p a r a l l e l s to known t e r m s f o r " p o s i t i v e "

CULTURAL

32 3

ANALYSIS

values. That a l l these t e r m s r e f e r to values which w e r e not " c o s m i c and i m m u t a b l e , " but rather r e l a t i v e ( i . e . , actuallyr e p r e s e n t e d " p r e f e r e n t i a l v a l u e s " to the S u m e r i a n s t h e m s e l v e s , and not " a b s o l u t e s " ) , m a y be seen f r o m their use in the p r o v e r b s , m o s t p a r t i c u l a r l y f r o m p r o v e r b 2.125 ( see a l s o under B. 3. " R e l a t i v i t y " on p. 321 a b o v e ) . a. P o s i t i v e i.

Values:

"Good,"

etc.

Well made.

W e l l p e r f o r m e d ( s a g 5 ).

2.38,

2.86.

2.39,

i i . Good (in Quality) ( s a g 5 ). 1.103. iii. Pleasant.

Pleasurable

( s a g 5 ).

1.1 ( p r o v e r b c i t e d in note 4 to that p r o v e r b ) , 2.123, 2.124, 2.125. iv. Pleasant,

Sweet-sounding

(of M u s i c )

2.121,

(dùg).

2.57. v.

Good (to the T a s t e ) ,

Sweet (of F o o d ) ( d ù g / ζ é - e b ) .

1.190. vi. A p p r e c i a t e d ( ? )

(sà-ta-zu-a).

1.101. b. N e g a t i v e Value s: i.

B a d l y made

"Bad,"

etc.

( η 1 g - h u 1 - d i m - m a ).

1.14, 1.21 (?) (in the l a t t e r p r o v e r b n i g - h u l perhaps w r o n g l y translated " e v i l " ) . ii. Unpleasant.

Harmful.

Rigorous(?)

was

(hul).

1.21(?) ( s e e c o m m e n t under the p r e c e d i n g e n t r y ) , 2.121, 2.123, 2.125, 2.149'. i i i . Unpleasant. 2.41,

2.106,

iv. Strange(?)

Ugly(?).

Not Sweet (of M u s i c )

and perhaps a l s o 1.78.

(kúr).

1.10 (a r e l a t i v e judgement is i n v o l v e d h e r e ) .

(nu-dùg).

SUMERJAN

GLOSSARY

CONCORDANCE1

AND

'water'

1 . 3 0 , 1 . 3 8 , 1.79, 1 . 9 2 ,

1.105,

8

1.109, 1.155 (?), 1.196, 2.4, 2.63, 2.99, 2.136, 2.149'3 'drink (noun) 1 [ w h e n contrasted with ύ , 'food'] ( p i s á n - d u g - )a [ = (SED - dug - )a]

SEE

1 . 3 0 , 1.38, 1 . 1 8 9

pisán-dug-a

a-a

'father'

1.943

a - a

'the s o u n d " a - a " (?) '

2.488

a-ab-ba

'the s e a '

2.67

A. AN

READ

a-ba

àm

(q.v.)

OR

Sèg(q.v.)

'whoever' [ u s e d a s a r e l a t i v e pro noun]

a-ba a-ba

[ =a- ba(-k)] 1

'whom?'

1.898(?),

'whose...?'

1.89 8 (?)

1.1125

T h i s G l o s s a r y a n d C o n c o r d a n c e i n c l u d e s a l l w o r d s f o u n d in t h e p r o v e r b s of t h e t w o c o l l e c -

t i o n s r e c o n s t r u c t e d in t h i s v o l u m e , in a d d i t i o n t o a l l i s o l a t e d S u m e r i a n w o r d s ( a s w e l l a s w o r d s f o u n d in o t h e r t e x t s ) c i t e d in t h e p h i l o l o g i c a l n o t e s t o t h e p r o v e r b s .

All r e f e r e n c e s h e r e are t o

t h e i n d i v i d u a l p r o v e r b s , a n d , w h e n w a r r a n t e d , t o t h e p h i l o l o g i c a l n o t e s in w h i c h t h e r e s p e c t i v e words are d i s c u s s e d ; thus,

1.142

10

r e f e r s t o n o t e 10 of p r o v e r b 1 . 1 4 2 in C o l l e c t i o n O n e .

t h e S u m e r i a n p a r t of t h i s c o n c o r d a n c e , t h e e n t r i e s a r e a r r a n g e d in t h e o r d e r of t h e R o m a n

In alpha-

b e t , a l t h o u g h a l l p r o p e r n a m e s ( p l a c e - n a m e s a n d n a m e s of r i v e r s , p e r s o n a l n a m e s a n d n a m e s of d e i t i e s ) a r e l i s t e d s e p a r a t e l y at t h e e n d .

T h e S u m e r i a n g l o s s a r y i s f o l l o w e d by a s i m p l e l i s t

of A k k a d i a n w o r d s c i t e d in t h e p h i l o l o g i c a l n o t e s ; t h e s e , h o w e v e r , a r e a r r a n g e d u n d e r t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e r o o t s in t h e o r d e r of t h e N o r t h w e s t - S e m i t i c a l p h a b e t ( a s a d a p t e d for A k k a d i a n b y B e z o l d in h i s D a b y I o n i s c h - a s s y r i s c h e s G l o s s a r ) .

324

SUMERIAN

- a - b a

GLOSSARY

'when,

AND

after,

CONCORDANCE

since'

[ s u f f i x e d to v e r b s ]

2.6924'25,

2. 1 36

'when . . . not yet . . .'

2.6924,

2.136(??)

a - b a - à m

'who?'

1. 3 6 , 1 . 9 5 , 1 . 1 4 8 7 ( ? ) , 2.1634

a - b a - à m

'whom?'

1.89 3 '

nu - . . - a - b a

325

2 5

,

2.11,

, 1. 1 1 2 , 1. 1 4 8 7 ( ? ) ,

8

2.66 (gi-)a-dag

SEE

a - d é - d a A . g a (?) . A S . g i

4

a - g à r Ú

a - G U G

'libation'

1.38

' ? ''

2.423'4

'inundated land'

1.10911

4

a-HA a - H AR

READ

Ú

a - N U M U N

READ

a - k u ¿

•? '

ν

READ [ =a - HA ]

(q.v.)

ér

(q.v.)

'fish-soup(?) '

1. 1 0 9

a-na

'how?'

2.17

a - n a - à m

'how...!'

2.2 9 , 2 . 1 2 0

a - n a - à m

'what?'

6

(q.v.)

1. 1 5 5 8

A . IGI a - k u

g i - a - d a g

1 5

[both s u b j e c t

and a c c u s a t i v e ]

1.165,

1.164, 2 . 4 7 3 ' 5 ,

2.66

a - n a - à m

'what k i n d of . . . ? '

2.47

a - n a - à m

'what (a) . . . ! '

1.14

a - n a ( - à m )

SEE ALSO t a , ta-a A N D t a - à m (the E m e s a l d i a l e c t f o r m s of a - n a and a - n a - à

a - n a - a s - à m

'why?'

a - n i r

'lament(ation), mourning; s o u r n e s s ( ? ) ' 1.475,

1.1125·11

1.99,

2.1586

326

GORDON:

a - n i r - r a u

"

/

a - p a - S A R "

SEE

i á

g

Museum

Monograph,

2.158^

' w a t e r - r u s h (a p l a n t )

m á -) Α. Ρ A. BI. GIS. PAD. DIRIG

u

PROVERBS

'in m o u r n i n g (adj.)1

a -NUMUN [ =ú a - | J + L A G A B ]

(8

SUMERIAN

2.Ò44

m á - a d d i r

/ [a m i s r e a d i n g of u a N U M Ú N (q.v.)] 2.644

(pisán-)a-si [=SED-a-si] k a S

SEE

A . S U D

p i s á n - a - si k a §

READ

k a § b i r

(q.v.)

a-Sà(-g)

'field'

1.48,1.49,2.20,2.144

-a-ta,

' a f tveerr' b [ss] u f f i x e d t o

1.562

á

'arm(s), strength'

1.26,

á

'wage, fee '

1.2

á

- . a - ta

gar

"7

'to r e i n f o r c e , to be 1.194, 2.285

useful' á

kúS-ú

' t o w e a r off (?) '

1.26

á

kú δ - ù

'to e a r n a w a g e '

1.2^

á - sàg

[=á- PA]

' s i c k n e s s ; the

demon

of s i c k n e s s ' á-síg

[=á-PA]

á-tuku á-zág a 5 AB ab-

1.1477

SEE

1.154®, 2.10 (and c o m m e n t a r y ) á-ság 1.388

'powerful' [ =á - Ρ A ]

[ =A Κ ]

SEE SEE

á-ság ak

(and p a r t i c u l a r l y

2.905)

' ? • 2.83® [ T h e m a t i c p a r t i c l e p r e f i x e d to the f o l l o w i n g verbal stems: ak-ak 1.37; (-ta-)bala 1.192; e (written b é ) 1.11; ( e m e )e

SUMERI AN GLOSSARY

AND CONCORDANCE

327

2 . 1 1 7 ; ( - t a - ) è 1.28 2 ( v a r i a n t of l b - ) ; g u - u l 2.52, 2.104, 2.105 ; g u r 2.66; (sag ) k a 1 2.161; k a r 1.18 3 , 2 . 9 6 ( 7 ) ; s i 2.63; s i ( - g ) 2.85 ( v a r i a n t : a l - ) ; s u 1.53 ( v a r i a n t : a n - ) ; s u - s u 2.30; (-ta-)Sár 1.46; t u s 2.149' ] ab-ba

'old m a n , e l d e r '

(a-)ab-ba

1.94 3 , 2 . 1 4 5 4

SEE

a-ab-ba

a b - s in [ = a b - N A M ] 'furrow'

1.157 ( c o m m e n t a r y ) , 2 . 8 6 3

áb

'cow'

2.89^

á b - H U - nu - m e - a

'helpless(?) cow'

2.337

áb - s i - in

[phonetic w r i t i n g for a b - s i n , ' f u r r o w ' ] 2. 8 6 3

( m a - ) ad ad-da

SEE

ma-ad

'father'

(é-)ad-da ad-du

1.141, 1. 1 55, 2. 146 3 (?) SEE

é-ad-da

' t r i l l s ( ? ) ( e l a b o r a t i o n of m u s i c in p e r f o r m a n c e ) 1

(g

i §

má-)addir

AG

SEE

g

i S

má-addir

SEE ALSO

ág

'to m e a s u r e out'

è m 1.125'

(ka-na-)ág

SEE

(ki

SEE

ki

(pa-)ág

SEE

pa - ág

(za-pa-)ág

SEE

)á g

2.39^

ka-na-ág ág

za-pa-ág

a g a [ = DÙ Ν: g unû ]

'turban, crown'

1.172(?)

a g a x [ = DÙN]

' t u r b a n , crown 1 '

2.98 3 (?)

a g r i g [ = I G I + D U B ] ' s tALSO e w a r d ' i z[ SkEi E m]

1.17 2 (?), 1.32 ( c o m m e n t a r y ) , 1.33

328

GORDON:

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

(lú-zú-ra-)ah

SEE

(ra-)ah

SEE

ra,

(zú

SEE

zú

r a - ) ah

ak,

ak-ak

'todo, t0

Monographs

(lú-)zú-ra-ah ra - ah ra,

ζύ

ra - ah

1.165, 1.292, 1.372,

to m a k e ,

a c t

Museum

1.129(?),

8

1.143, 2 . 4 8 , 2.68, 2.827,

'

2.905, 2.101 ak

[ u s e d a s a n a u x i l i a r y v e r b in t h e f o l l o w i n g c o m pound v e r b s (q.v.): e r n e ak , en-nu-un ak, gil-sa ak, gizzal a k , kú ak, m a 5 [ =K A X S E / H U N ] ak, δu a k ]

(nig-)ak

SEE

nig-ak

(-gim-)ak-a

SEE

- g i m - a k - a

-ak-e 8

i S

a l

(ZA-ba-)al al-

· ?

1

[variant: - d a ]

'pickaxe1

2.824>7 2.139,

SEE

2.1407'8

ZA-ha-al

[ T h e m a t i c p a r t i c l e p r e f i x e d to t h e f o l l o w i n g verbal stems: ak 2 . 6 8 ( c f . a l s o n o t e 7 to 2.82); b u / b u - i 1.156 ( v a r i a n t : a n - ) ; di-di 1.174 ( t h e m a t i c p a r t i c l e a l - is h e r e p a r a l l e l to, and c o n t r a s t e d with, the s a m e v e r b a l s t e m with the t h e m a t i c p a r t i c l e i - ) ; DU 2.82; d ù 2.138; ( g ù )dug-du8 2.79^; d u g 4 ~ d u g 4 2.73; d u g u d 2.61a; e J ; [ = D U L . D U ] 2.116; g à i 1.84,2.22»; gaz 2.61; ( a r a χ [ = Κ A Χ Β A L A G ] ) gÌ4-gÌ4(-gÌ4) 2.69 (variant o f à m - d a - ) 2.105; g i g 2.61; g u i 2.138; guz[=LUM] 2 . 6 1 5 ; h u n - h u n 2.73 ; k a 1 - 1 a ( - g ) [ = the v e r b a l s t e m k a 1a g ] 1.17414; K U - n u 1.15 (cf. J a c o b s e n in A P P E N D I X to t h i s v o l u m e ) ; k ú 1.156 ( v a r i a n t : a n - ) ; l a h [ = U D ] 1.1092 ( v a r i a n t of b a - ) ; s i 1 . 1 0 4 3 (?)( v a r i a n t of a n - , b u t s e e p a r t i c u l a r l y n o t e 10 t h e r e ) ; s i ( - g ) 2 . 8 5 ^ ( v a r i a n t of a b - ) ; ( b u - l u - ú h ) sil i - s i - i l 1 . 1 0 4 7 ( v a r i a n t of m u - ) " s ì 1 . 1 9 6 ; s ù - u d 1.15; § a g 5 - § a g 5 2.86; ä e g ( , [ =

SUMERIAN

GLOSSARY

AND

CONCORDANCE

329

Ν E ] 2. 140 ; t i ( - 1) 2. 126 ( v a r i a n t : a n - ) ; t i 1 [ = B A D ] 1 . 2 0 2 ( C o l o p h o n of " A " ) ; t u r 2 . 2 9 ( v a r i a n t : m u - ) , 2 . 3 0 ( v a r i a n t : ι - ), 2 . 1 0 4 , 2 . 1 0 5 ; T U S 1.15; u r x - r u [ = A Ρ I Ν r u ] 2 . 9 1 ; z a l a g - z a l a g 2 . 1 2 6 ( a n d n o t e 4); z é - e b 1.190 ] a 1- DU

• ? ·

2.82

al - 1 u 5 [ = a 1 - L U L ]

'crab'

2.637

al

' conqueror(?)'

2.628

' burnt-brick'

2.61a5

-tar

al-ùr ( s ig 4 - ) a l - ù r a m àm-

SEE

sig^-al-ùr 1.30, 2.65, 2 . 8 9 6 , 2.94

'wild-ox· [ =A . AN - ]

[ T h e m a t i c p a r t i c l e p r e f i x e d to the following verbal stems: b ú r 1.169^ ( v a r i a n t s : b a and b ' - ) ; ( a r a χ [ = Κ A Χ Β A L A G ] (-da-))gÍ4-gÍ4 2.69 ( v a r i a n t s : al(?)and a n - ) ; h ú l 1 . 3 2 * ( v a r i a n t of a n - ) ; k u r

1.10;

tin

1.194; ( - d a - ) t u k u - t u k u

1.16

(variant: a n - ) ; urù [=SES] 1.16 ( v a r i a n t : an-); zi-zi 1.92; . . . [ . . . ] ( ? ) 1.62] - à m

'it is, he is, she i s ' ; 'indeed, only, but'

AMA ama

SEE

ALSO

(passim) dag al 1 . 9 4 3 , 1.142, 1.143,

•mother'

1.145,

1 . 1 5 5 , 1 . 1 5 7 , 1 . 1 6 1 , 1.162(?), 1.185, 2.8, 2.60, 2.141, 2.158 A M A - . . . . (?)

' ? ' (a s u b s t a n c e )

amar

' c a l f , y o u n g of a n a n i m a l '

amar - H U - nu-me ν a m a r - H U - n u tuku AN

1. 4 7 5

a , 2.337

• helpless calf' SEE

ALSO

ding ir

GORDON:

330

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

(Α. )Α Ν

READ

àm

( Ρ Α . ) ΑΝ

READ

garza

Museum

(q.v.) OR

Sèg

Monographs

(q.v.)

(q.v.)

([. . ·(?)]-) Α Ν

ι 9 ι

a η -

[ T h e m a t i c p a r t i c l e p r e f i x e d to t h e f o l l o w i n g verbal stems: ba 1.115; b u - b u / bu-i 1 . 1 5 6 5 ( v a r i a n t of a l - ) ; b u l u g 3 2.20(?) ; (igi (-Sè/Si-))dù-dù 2.15; e [i.e., an-na-ab-bé] 2.69; ( - d a - ) g á l 2.66; (-Si-)gál l . l 4 ; ( a r a x [ =KA X BAL AG] ( - da - )gi4 - gi4 2 . 6 9 ^ 1 ( v a r i a n t of à m - ) ; g u x - u 1 [ = G U L - u l ] 2 . 1 4 3 5 ( v a r i a n t of m u - ) ; ha-za 1.143 ( v a r i a n t : m u or the a f f i r m a tive p r e f o r m a t i v e n a - ) ; ( k i r Í 3 [ = K A ] ) HAR(-r) 2.19,2.76; húl 1.32 ( v a r i a n t : à m - ) , 1.33; k ú 1.15 6 2 ( v a r i a n t of a l - ) ; 1 ná 2.126 ; p a d 1.39; s i 1.104(?) ( v a r i a n t : a l - , b u t s e e n o t e 10 t h e r e ) ; su 1.544 ( v a r i a n t of a b - ) ; s [ ù ( ? ) - . ] . ( ? ) - s ù ( ! ) - . . (?) 1.109; ( - § i - ) s u r 5 [i.e., ( - S i - ) L A L ] 2.66; t a g 2.91; ti(-l) 2. 1 2 6 1 ( v a r i a n t of al-); t ú d [ =Ρ A . U Z U ] 2.66; tuku-tuku 1.94^ ; ( - d a - ) t u k u - t u k u 1.162 (variant of à m - ) ; ( - d a - ) u r ù [i.e., ( - d a - ) á E S ] 1. 1 6 3 ( v a r i a n t of à m - ) ; ú s 2.96; zé 2.76]

a η

'heavens,

1.179

sky1

1.1151, 1.166

ΑΝ . Α § . ΑΝ

READ

tillá

A N . S E . T I R

READ

d

a η - δ è

'upward,

a η - ta

'from

AN.

ι 9 ι

TIR

above'

ANSE

a η δ e

high'

(q.v.)

a § n a n

(q.v.)

1.1952 2.44 2.1342

SEE ALSO g i r (AND R E L A T E D SIGNS S U C H AS huS ) 'ass'

2.73, 2.74, 2.75, 2.76, 2.77, 2.78, 2.79, 2.80, 2.81, 2.82

a η § e - b a1a( - a)

'pack-ass'

1.688

SUMERIAN

GLOSSARY

AP I Ν

AND

SEE

á r [ =UΒ ]

CONCORDANCE

eng ar

AND

ur

' p r a i s e (noun) '

1.99

'to h o w l '

2.691'20'26

a r a g [ =Κ A X S E D ] g M - g M a r a

x

[ =K A X

B A L A G ]

g i4 - g i4 ara a r a

x

2

'to h o w l 1

gÍ4"gÍ4~gÍ4

x x [ = S IG 4] g i4 ( - g i4 )

'to k e e p on howling '

6911,20,26>

2.105

6

'to h o w l , to resound"

2 . 6 9 2 6 , 2.112 7

a r ád

'(male)

2.105

a r hu § [ =EX S A L ]

'sympathy'

slave1

1.85

AS

SEE

( A N . ) AS . A N

READ

tillá

A S - e -e §

READ

dele-e-eS

( A . g a (?) . ) A S .

gi

SEE

4

SEE

ÁS

ALSO

á ë -

ALSO

curses' gài

á δ

g i 4

AND

'to l a y a cur se (upon) '

(q.v.)

ziz 1.81, 1.82, 1.83, 1.84

1.82^ 1.81

'to a n s w e r with a cur se ' 1.82^ á § d

§

m ú [ = áS

a § Tη IaRη] [ = A N . i ë

ba

a z - g ú

SAR] SE.

rum

(q.v.)

'a s p e a k e r of m a n y

dug4"dug4

á ë

dele

A . g a (?) . A S . g 14

' c u r s e (noun)'

á ë

2-1O52'6

'to c u r se ( v e r b ) '

1.8 1 3

' g r a i n (in g e n e r a l ) »

2.134^ (?)

' n e c k - s t o c k ( f o r use with animals) '

2.683

'to a p p o r t i o n , to b e s t o w '

1. 115 2 , 1.147

332 ba

ba-

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

[phonetic writing for b a r , 'outside']

\luseum

Monographs

1.1111

[ T h e m a t i c p a r t i c l e p r e f i x e d to the following verbal stems: ak I.IO26, 1.1434(variant of m a - ) ; (Su )ak 1.186 ( v a r i a n t : mua n d η u [sic !] - m u - ) ; (-da-)bir7[ = SÀXA] 1.175; b u - i 1.102; (igi-tur )bu-i 2.16; b ú r 1 . 1 6 9 6 ( v a r i a n t of b i - a n d à m - ) ; d a b 5 [ = Τ U 5 ] 1 . 7 7 , 2 . 4 3 ' 5 (?); d a h 2.138; (ú-gu )dé 2.82; d e b 2.4; dirigdirig 2.134; ( - r a - ) d i r i g 1.86,1.87; du 1.96; d u 7 [ = U L ] 1.50; ( § à )dùg 1.102; ( Κ A Χ ? )dug4 2.70; ( - d a - r a - ) e n [i.e., D U L . D U ] 2.76; g à i 1.94(varia n t of - ( i ) m - m a - ) , 1 . 1 2 , 1 . 2 1 ; g a m 2.26; gar 1.20; g a z 1.34; g e n [ = D U ] 2.62, 2.103; ( - n i - ) g i 4 1.82; ( S à )gig 2.122; g u l 2.142; ( k i )gul 2.1 (variant: -bi[q.v.]) ; h ú l 2 . 1 2 2 ; ( - d a - ) í l 1.186; (-ni-)kal 1.8; ( - d a - ) k u ¿ - 1a m [i.e., H A - 1 a m ] 2 . 1 ; k u d [ = Τ A R ] 1.3 ( v a r i a n t : -bi-[q.v.]); (gir (-da-))kúr 2.1; là [ =L A L ] 2.50; l a h [ = U D ] 1.109(varia n t : a l - ), 2 . 5 9 6 ' 9 (?) ; n á 2 . 9 3 , 2 . 1 4 1 ; nag 1.38; n a g - n a g 1.105; n u 1 . 1 0 9 ; r a (?) 2.592»7; (a ( - d a - j ) r a - r a 2.99; (da )r i - r i 2.54l4(?); (gaba )ri 2.9,2.10,2.94; si 1 . 7 2 , 1 . 1 8 7 (?) ; (-ni-)sf 1.159 ( v a r i a n t : b i - ) ; (-ni-)si(-g) 2.116; sî(-k) 2.71; su 1 . 8 9 , 2 . 5 9 (?) ; su-su 1.91; ( - d a - ) s u 2.103; ( - d a - ) s u - s u 2.1035; ( - d a - ) s ù 1.892 ; s u r 5 [ = L A L ] 1.188; £ a g 5 1.102; ( - d a - ) δ á r [i.e., Η I ] 1.39 (?) ; ( - n i - ) S ú - S ú 1 . 4 0 5 ( v a r i a n t of" b 1 - and m u - ); ( g ú (-Si/da-))Sub 1.21; ( è η [ = L I ] )tar 2.143; t e 1.102; (-da-)ti-i 1.55; t i ( - l ) 1 . 5 5 3 (?); (-da-)ti(-l) 1.175 (variant: i m - m a - ) ; (5u (-ni-)jti 1.175: ( § u (-§i-))ti 2.27; t i l [ = B A D J 1.553 ; t u - u d 2.5; tuku-tuku 1.94^,2.134; (-ni-)tuku 1.146; ( - r a - ) t ú m u [i.e., D U ] 1.69; tur 1.165; u g 7 [ = Β À D ] 1.55, 1 . 1 4 2 ; (-ra-)ùr 1.91; u r x - r u [ = A P I N - r u l 2.17; ús 1.158; ( - d a - ) z é - è m 2.992 ; ( - d a - ) z é - e r 1.895; ( g i S (-da-)zi 1.89; z u 2.55; ( - d a - ) . . (?) 1 . 6 4 ; ( - η i - ) . . (?) 1 . 1 1 4 ; .[··(?) 2.58 ]

SUMERIAN

GLOSSARY

AND

• . . a s a gift1

-ba

1 . 1 7 8 6 (?)

(sà-)ba

SEE

δà -b a

(ti-)ba

SEE

ti-ba

(Ù - ) b a

SEE

ù-ba

(ub-)ba

[phonetic w r i t i n g of u b - a ^ (i.e., u b - a k ) , 'having made1 ] 2.905 SEE

ba -ηu

nu

(da-)ba-ri-ri

SEE ' ?

ba -ζ a

1

(noun?)

1.667, 2.119, 2.1203

SEE

BAD

S E E ALSO bad-du

kù-babbar til,

ug7

AND

ÚS

1.35 3

'to o p e n '

(ki-)bad-du

SEE

BÀD

S E E ALSO

ki-bad-du ug 5

' s u p e r i o r (?)(adj.)'

2 . 4 1 ^ , 2.106^(and c o m m e n tary there)

bà d- s i

• p a r a p e t (?) '

1.1868

g

'spindle '

2.54 15

'to c r o s s ( o v e r ) '

1.115

i §

bàd-da

2.100

da-ba-ri-ri

(kù-)babbar [=KUG-UD]

b à d,

( v e r b a l s t e m 'not to b e ' )

[Negative verbal prefix u s e d with p r e s e n t future f o r m s ] 1.187,

ba-ra-

bad,

333

CONCORDANCE

bala

bala ( a n § e - ) b a l a ( - a)

SEE

(iηim

SEE

i η im

e

SEE

iηim-bala

(níg - i n i m - ) b a l a

SEE

η ig - i η i m - b a 1 a

)b a 1a

(inim-)bala

anSe-bala(-a) bala e

334

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

( - t a - ) bala

'to pour o f f ·

BAL AG

[sign c l e a r l y distinguished f r o m the sign D Û B ] 2.69

balag

'lyre'

1.167 4

b à n - da [ = Τ U R - d a ]

'younger'

1.1432'12

(ning-)bàn-da bànda

[=TUR]

SEE

1.192

ning-bàn-da

'younger'

1.12 3 (?), 1 . 1 4 3 2 · 1 2

(ning-)bànda

SEE

(nu-)bànda

SEE

bar

nin^ - bànda nu-bànda

'outside'

(uru-)bar-ra bar

1.102, 1.111, 2.145 2 SEE

uru-bar-ra

[verbal stem]

(BU-ud-)bar

SEE

BU-ud-bar

( §

SEE

g ^ n - b a r

i

M US EUM

è n - ) b a r [ =g i L I - b a r ]

(ig i

)bar

SEE

ig i

bar

bar - r i m 4 ( - ma) [ =b a r - K A S 4 ( - m a ) ] ' d r y land (as o p p o s e d to ' m a r s h - l a n d ' or •water'/'river') 2 . 1 0 3 1 0 , 2.133 8 bar-§ég(-gá) [ =bar - A. A N ( - g á ) ] bar - ur u

'mist(?)'

1.1501'13

'open country (outside a city)1

barag(-ga)

2.145 2

' c r a t e , wooden b o x '

b é [ = K A S / B I ] (verbal stem)

SEE

ΒI

SEE A L S O

1.91^, 2.73 4

e bé

AND

kaS

\TONORN

SUMERIAN - bi -

GLOSSARY

CONCORDANCE

335

[ V a r i a n t of - b a - e - ( t h e t h e m a t i c p a r t i c l e b a + the infix - e - ) following the p r o h i b i t i v e p r e f o r m a t i v e n a m - (q.v.) w i t h t h e v e r b a l s t e m s : k u d [ = Τ A R ] 1.32 and ( k i )gul 2.118 ]

m á - A . P A . ) Β I. GIS. P A D . DIRIG bi-iz(-za), bi-iz-bi-iz (Sà-)bi-zi-ga bi-

AND

[=N E - ]

-bí

READ

má-addir

'to s p l a s h '

1.79

SEE

§à-bi-zi-ga

[ T h e m a t i c p a r t i c l e p r e f i x e d to t h e f o l l o w i n g verbal stems: búr 1.169 ( v a r i a n t s : à m and b a - ) ; dah 2.28; d i r i g 2.532>3; dirig-dirig 2.53; d u g 4 1.85, 1 . 9 7 ; (5u )dug 4 2.64; (á )gar 1.19, 2.28; ( g î r )gub 2.65; g u r 1.31; (Su )KAXSE(?) 1.104 (and note 5 t h e r e : the v e r b a l s t e m m a y be K A X K A R ( ? ) or even Κ A Χ Κ I Β (?)) ; n u 1.374; sì 1.1593 (varia n t of b a - n i - ) ; ( z u —— ) s ó d - s u d [ i . e . , (KA ) " R A D " - " R A D " ] 2.69a (proverb ins e r t e d i n c o m m e n t a r y to 2 . 6 9 ) ; ( g ì δ ) sur [i.e., ( U S ) s u r ] 2.67; Sú 2.22'; Sú-Sú 1.40 ( v a r i a n t s : b a - n i and mu-)] [ E m e s a l phonetic w r i t i n g of t h e possessive suffix - b i , 'its' ]

bi-in-nu

(q.v.)

1.1501'4'9·1

' t h e r e i s not . . . in it' (SEE verbal stem n u )

bid(-da) [= TUS(-da)] 'anus'

1

1.394

1 . 1 9 1 , 2.100

'

( M A (?) - ) Β I R (?) [ = M A (?) - H I X S E (?) ] bir¿

[=§ÀXU.A]

b i r 7b i[r=7S -ÀbXi r A7] ,

SEE

M A (?) - Β I R (?) 14

'to r i p to p i e c e s '

1.175

' t o r i p (a g a r m e n t ) t o pieces'

1.17514,

2.2911

336

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

BU

PROVERBS

SEE A L S O

sir

AND

[..(?)-] Β U

1

bu,

'to d r a g ; to be d r a g g e d ' 1.156 6 » 9 , 2 . 5 4 1 7

bu-bu

?

g id,

Museum

Monographs

sud4

1.177

1

(im-)bu-bu

SEE

(m á § -§u-)BU-BU

READ

m á § - § u - g i d - g i d (q. ν . )

(Su

READ

Su

)Β U -Β U

im-bu-bu

g i d - g i d (q. ν . )

bu-i

[variant: b u ]

'to d r a g ; to be d r a g g e d ' 1.156^, 2 . 5 4 * 7

bu-i

[variant: b u ]

'to a c c e p t , to r e c e i v e '

(ig i-tur

)bu-i

bu-lu-úh

SEE

1.84 4 , 1.102

ig i - t u r

bu-i

' r e v e r e n c e (noun)'

1 . 1 0 4 ^ , 2.16 3

'to a c t i r r e v e n t l y '

1 . 1 0 4 1 1 , 2.16 3

bu-lu-úh-si-il

'ir re verent (adj.)1

2.16 3

BU-ud-bar

'planter(?)'

1.116 4 , 1.117 3

'to r i p e n '

2.20

' w a t e r - b a r r e l , tub'

1.119 1 , 1.120 2

bu-lu-úh

si - i1

b ul u g 3 [ = D I M g

i S

bunin

4

]

[=8ig

L A G A B X A ] BÚR

SEE A L S O

búr

'to d sp b r (a o atdh, i ntog ) ' i srpeoasdeaof

búr

'to p a y an additional charge'

búr

b u r u 5 buru

x

m u 5 e n

[ =ENX

AND

sunx

1.85 5 , 1.169 8 >8 1.169c

' ? ' (verb)

BÚR-na

dun5

READ 'sparrow' G Â N A :' ht aernv eûs]t (noun)'

1.143 4 (?) dun5~na 1.18 3 2.882'7

OR

s u η x - η a (q. v . )

SUMERJAN b u ζ u r 4

GLOSSARY

AND

CONCORDANCE

[ = K A x S U . S A ]

'secret; secrecy1

337

1.852

b u ζ u r 5 [ =K A X K Á R ] 'secret; secrecy1

1.852

da

' s i d e (e) (of a b o a t ) 1

da -

[Emesal for g a - , cohortative prefix (1st p e r s o n sing.]

1.93 J

1 . 9 4 3 , 1.176 ( a n d c o m m e n t a r y ) , 1.190 ( a n d c o m m . ) , l , 1 9 2 1 1 ( a n d c o m m . ) , 2.35 ( a n d c o m m . ) , 2.108^

d a (postposition) and - d a - / - d è (verbal infix)

[ F o r the p o s t p o s i t i o n - t a and the v e r b a l infix - t a - , 1 a w a y f r o m , out o f ' , with the f o l l o w ing v e r b a l s t e m s : (in im ) b a l a ^ 2.49 ( c o m m e n t a r y and note 9); b i r 7 [ =S À X A ] 1.175; e 1 1 [ = D U L . ' D U ] 2 . 7 6 8 ; kar 2 . 8 5 ( a n d n o t e 2), 2 . 9 4 ; k a r - k a r 2. 103 ( a n d n o t e 13) ; k ú 2 . 8 8 ( a n d n o t e s 3 a n d 6) ; kdr 2.1, 2.6 ( ? ) ; ( g i r )kúr 2. 1 ( a n d n o t e s 14, 15, 29 a n d 31) ; p a d 1.45 ( n o t e 5: - d è - for - t a - ) ; (a ) r a - r a 2.99; ri 1.173; ( - g i - ) r i ( - g ) 1.1731; TAR 2 . 6 2 7 ( ? ) ; t ù m u in t h e e x p r e s s i o n me-da tùmu 1.27, 2.353, 2.48^, 2.497, 2.562 ; zé-èm 2.992'8 ; z é - e r 1.895 ; (gi§ )zi 1.89; z u 1.1019,2.11]

da

['together with'; becomes - t a and - t a f r e q u e n t l y in connection with the v e r b a l s t e m Sár 1.392, 1.462, 1.473, 1.591 ]

(postposition) and - d a (verbal infix)

d a -b a

r ι - r ι

da -ga

da - m a - al

da-ré-ég da

ri

' a r t i s a n (?) ' o r ' p o r t e r (?)' 'perseveranti?), q u i t o u s (?) '

2.5414

ubi-

[ E m e s a l dialect for d a g a l , 'broad'] [r é = U R U ] ' f o r e v e r ' 'to d r i v e ( a n i m a l s ) ; t o d e l i v e r (?)'

1.191.177

(and c o m m e n t a r y )

2.23'6 2.5414,

2.955

338

GORDON:

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

d a - r i

• d r i v e r (of a n i m a l s ) 1

2.953» ^

d a - r i - a

'driven (animal)1

2.952.5

d a - r í [ =d a - U R U ]

[phonetic variant for d a - r i , 'driver']

2.953

d a - r í - § è

READ HERE

(ma § - ) dà [ = (ma § - ) D Ù ]

SEE

d a b 5 [= Τ U S ]

dabin

5

d a - r é - é á

\lonograpks

(q.v.)

m a à-dà

'to s e i z e , to a p p r o p r i a t e ; to c a t c h (animals, fish)'

( § à - ) d a b

Museum

1.773, 2.43'5(?),

2.68

- b a

[= ZÍD . SE]

dag dag

SEE

S à - d a b

5

- b a

' c o a r s e (?) b a r l e y - f l o u r ' 1 . 4 8 4 'chamber ' 1 . 1 0 9 16 'to m o v e about h e r e and t h e r e , to be active (or ubiquitous) ' *

(g i - a - ) d a g d a g - d a g -g e

dag - g i 4- a

SEE

1.19

g i - a - d a g

[phonetic writing for d á g - d á g - g a , 'cleanliness' ]

1.1882

' q u a r t e r (of a c i t y ) '

2.10510

DAG .KISIM X G A

λ

R E A D . u b u r (q.v.)

dág - dág(-ga) [ = U D - U D ( - g a ) ] 'to be clean'

1.188 2

' b r o a d , t h i c k (?) '

1.46, 1 . 1 7 7 2 (and c o m m e n t a r y )

d a hν

'to a d d ' (with b i - )

2.28

d a hw

•to b e a d d e d ' ( w i t h b a - )

(iSu-)dah-a

• ?

dal-dal

'to fly'

dagal

[ =A M A ]

[= RI-RI]

'

2.1384

2.20

1.18

SUMERIAN DALLA

GLOSSARY ' ?

1

AND

CONCORDANCE 1.416'7, 1.423,

(adjective?)

339 1.432

(gir - pad - du-)DALLA

SEE

g î r - p a d - d u - D A L L A

(η uη u ζ - )DA L L A

SEE

nunuz-DALLA

(uzu-)DALLA

SEE

uzu-DALLA

dam

'spouse (husband or wife)·

dam-kàr

'merchant, broker1

dam - tag 4 [ =d a m KID] dam

tuku,

dam

1.12, 1.109, 1.125·4, 1.126', 1.142, 1.146, 1.147, 1.151, 1 . 1 5 2 (7), 1 . 1 5 3 3 , 1 . 1 5 4 , 1.160, 2.69, 2.81, 2.1462

(private) 1.67, 1 . 1 6 5 7 , 2.54

' d i v o r c e (noun)'

1.127'

tuku-tuku SEE

DÊ

tuku,

tuku-tuku

SEE ALSO

dé

'to s p i l l out, to p o u r '

(a-)dé-da (gù

(ηίg-ύ-gu - )dé-a

SEE

ηίg-ύ-gu-dé - a

(ú-gu

SEE

ú-gu

[=Ν E - ]

11

a-dé-da gù

)dé

)d é]

1 . 3 8 , 1 . 1 0 7 4 , 1. 109

SEE

dè-

)d é [=(ΚA

SEE

simug

[ E mp er es ca al t fi vo re hp ér e -f i, x (2ndand 3rdpersons)]

dé

dé

1 . 1 5 0 1 , 1 . 1 9 2 8 (?)

- dè -

[= t h e c o m i t a t i v e i n f i x - d a - i n t h e i m p e r a t i v e v e r b a l f o r m p a d - m a - a n - d è - e b , 1.45^(?)]

-dè

[ = t h e p o s t p o s i t i o n - d a ( = - t a (?)), ' b y , t h r o u g h , b e c a u s e of', following a v e r b a l infinitive + the possessive suffixes - m u or - z u : 1.129'(?), 1.1512, 2.94]

deb

' t o e n t e r , t o go t h r o u g h , to walk1 1.5, 2 . 4 3 ' 5

GORDON:

340

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

dele - e - e § [ SAS - e - e ä]

'in c o m m o n ; a s o n e '

DI

SEE ALSO

DI

1

DI

' ? ' (verb:

?

1

(KA.)DI(-ma) di

variant

KA.Dl(-ma)

'legal verdict'

di-di

1.84

SEE

níg-di

SEE

i-di

'to s p e a k '

(i-)di (in

1.1553'4'7

Rl[=di5(?)]) SEE

(níg-)di

sá 1 . 2 3 2 (?), 1 . 5 6

(noun?)

reads

di,

1.49*

)di

SEE

in

di

di, di-di (gi-)di-da

' t o ipnl satyr u(m meuns ti sc )a l 1.1672'3 SEE gi-di-da

di,

'to m o v e , to w a l k a b o u t , to r o v e a b o u t ' [ a l s o t h e E m e sal for d u with this meaning] l . l 4 , 1.1747, 2.284, 2.35 (and c o m m e n t a r y ) , 2.40

di-di

1.781

di - di

' ? ' ( n o u n ?)

di-ta

[Emesal for d i § - a ( k ) , •of o n e 1 ( q . v . ) ] 1.1441»2

di 5 [=RI]

' ? '(verb; variant of d i ]

dim,

dim-dim

( η ig - h ul - ) d i m - m a

1

1.1557

to f a s h i o n , to p r o d u c e ; t o c o n c e i v e (in t h e mind)' 1.94, 1.95, 1 . 1 5 7 2 ' 3 ( a n d c o m m e n t a r y ) , 1.1612 SEE

nig - hul - d i m - m a

SUMERIAN dim -ma

GLOSSARY

AND

'judgement'

1. 1 4 3 6 ' 1 4 , 1 . 1 8 4 5 ,

( 1ύ - ) d im - m a

SEE

1ύ - d im - m a

DIM

SEE

b u 1u g 3

4

341

CONCORDANCE

2.129

dingir

'god'

1. 1 0 4 3 · 1 ° ( ? ) , 1 . 1 6 0 5 ,

d i η g i r (+ p o s s e s s i ve suffix)

' p e r s o n a l god'

1.7, 1.145,

dingir

SEE

nin-dingir(-ra)

dirig,

d i r i g - d i r i g ' t o b e e x c e s s i v e , to b e too m u c h / t o o m a n y '

dirig,

dirig - dirig

'to a c c u m u l a t e '

2. 1 3 4 2

dirig,

dirig-dirig

'to b e o v e r m u c h c o n c e r n e d (with) '

2 . 5 3^

dirig,

dirig-dirig

'to be o v e r - f u l l with, to be a f f l i c t e d w i t h '

dirig i §

1.157

[ D e t e r m i n a t i v e p r e f i x e d p r i m a r i l y to the n a m e s of d e i t i e s ( s e e the n a m e s of d e i t i e s l i s t e d a m o n g the L i s t s of P r o p e r N a m e s a t the end of t h i s C o n cordance); S E E ALSO d a S n a n ' g r a i n ' AND d n i n - k i l i m ' m o n g o o s e 1 (within the m a i n b o d y of t h i s c o n c o r d a n c e ) ]

(nin-)dingir(-ra)

(g

1.161

'to s a i l d o w n s t r e a m ' má-A.PA.BI.GIS.PAD.)

di§

1.187

1.1547 1.864,

1.87

DIRIG

READ DIS

1.1044(?), 1.1108,

g i ^ má - addir

SEE ALSO

(q.v.)

gé §

'one ( n u m e r a l ) ; a s i n g l e '

1.1442, 1.188, 2.23",

2.IO85, 2.1585 (u4-)di§.

. . . u4 - di §

SEE

u4 - di § . . . . u4 - di S

DlSxU

READ

g é S : u (q.v.)

DU

S E E At Lá Sm O / tgúe m n ,u g u b ,

-mèn,

AND

342

GORDON:

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

DU

'to e n t e r 1

2.63M(?)

DU

' ? ' (verb)

2.82, 2 . 8 3 6

-DU

READ

-DU

-DU

du,

du-du

-mèn

Monographs

(q.v.)

[ E m e s a l e q u i v a l e n t of - e n d e n (Istperson plural verbal suffix)]

1.1905·6

[ E m e s a l e q u i v a l e n t of - e η ζ e η (2nd p e r s o n plural v e r b a l suffix)]

1.1906

'to go, to c o m e , to w a l k 1.1129·14,

a b o u t , to r o v e a b o u t ' 1 . 5 6 ( ? ) , 1 . 9 6 ,

2.2 (?), 2 . 1 4 7 , 2 . 2 8 4 , 2 . 3 5 2 (and c o m m e n t a r y ) , 2.137 (lu-)du-du

SEE

D U . DU

SEE ALSO

du

du

2.101^,

7

lú-du-du l a «h Yχ

[phonetic writing for d ù 'to b u i l d ' ]

2.1372»5.7,

2.1423

[phonetic writing for d u 5 ( = Τ Ü Ν ) ' w h o l e ']

(ad-)du

SEE

(DUL.)DU

READ

(KA-)DU

SEE

2.674'6

ad-du e

1

j (q.v.)

KA-DU

(Ii -) du du-lum

SEE li-du ο 2 5 'misery, suffering' 1.83 , 2.14 '

du-lum

[variantfor

nam-tar 1.838, 2 . 1 4 2 « 5

'fate' ] (gud - ) d u - r i - a

SEE

gud-du-ri-a

DU: Se§§ig

R E A Dr i mg i r 4

5

, ( q .ivm. ) ,

ka§

4

,

AND

SUMERIAN

GLOSSARY

DU

AND

CONCORDANCE

SEE ALSO

dù

343

dà 1.56(?), 2 . 6 2 4 · 7 , 2 . 9 9

' t o b u i l d , to b u i l d u p ·

1

2.1377, 2.1386, 2.1426, 2.1594, 2.160 (é-)dù-a dù,

dù-dù

(igi

(

é-dù-a

' t o s t r e t c h , to s t r a i n '

( - δ i -)) d ù - d ù

dù

(§

SEE

SEE

2.15^

igi

(-Si-)dù-dù

[phonetic writing for d u , ' t o go a b o u t ' ] i 5

IGI+)DÍJ

u r u d u

I G I +) DÙ

(SE.)DU 1

2.1374'6'7

READ

Si

READ

u r u d u

READ

henbúr

(an occupation)

S

Sukur

(q.v.)

g u k u r (q.v.)

1.1655·7

dù-ù

' ?

du 5 [=DÙN/TÙN]

'whole (noun)'

2.674'6,

du 5

' d e p t h (?)'

2.676(?)

d u j - m u

[Emesal for d u m u , •child, son']

1.1785

(iti-) d u 6 - k u g - g a ( - k ) [du¿ = LAGAR: gunu] du 7 [=UL]

SEE

dug, (igi (ka

[= G A Β A ] dug-du8 )duß )d u g , (ka

2.983(?)

iti-du^-kug-ga(-k)

'to b e a p p r o p r i a t e , to b e f i t t i n g '

dug

1.50 1.525

'to b a k e ' 'to

open' SEE

igi

dug

)dug-dug SEE

ka

dug,

ka

(sila-äu-)dug

SEE

sìla-Su-dug

( S u - s i l a -) d u g

SEE

§u-sîla-dug

dug-ud-da

(q.v.)

'dried bran'

2.347

du g - d u g

344

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

dug [ =Β Û R ]

HERE READ

du

SEE

1 0

[ = D ÍJ G ]

du J g - s a ,

duio-ûs-sa •friend, companion1

K A

duii

[=

du

[=LÛXNE;

1 4

later

dùg;

1

LÚ.NE]

READ

d U η 5 (q.v.) OR S U n x (q. V.) SEE ALSO

hi

AND

§ár

1.8, 1.196^

1.1703'8, 2.23'5, 2.1439

SEE

lú-dui4-da

d u ι [4 =—d u mι 4ú - m úS A R - S A R ] •to s t a r t a q u a r r e l 1

1.1966

dub

' t o h e a p up 1

1 . 1 2 5 · , 2 . 8 6 (?)

dub

' t a b l e t , (legal) d o c u ment1

2.66

(é-)dub-ba

SEE

é-dub-ba

(Sà-)dub-ba

SEE

§à-dub-ba

dub-sar

Ponographs

d u g 4 (q.v.)

' q u a r r e l · (noun)

(lú-)dui4~da

Museum

2 . 3 6 2 , 2.37, 2.38, 2.40, 2.42,

'scribe'

2.43, 2.44, 2.45, 2.47, 2.49, 2.50, 2.51, 2.52, 2.53, 2.54, 2.56 ( n a m - ) dub - s a r ( - r a)

SEE

η a m - d ub - s a r ( - r a )

dub - s a r - erne - " Κ U " ( - ra) •scribe o f t h e S u m e r ian language'

2.47^

dub-sar-eme-zir(-ra) ' s c r i b e of the S u m e r ian language'

2.47^

dub-sar-TUR

1 . 2 0 2 1 ( C o l o p h o n of " A " ) ,

'junior-scribe'

2.53 (IGI +)DUB

READ

a g r i g (q.v.) OR

i ζ k i r n (q.v.)

SUMERIAN

GLOSSARY

AND

[ a m i s r e a d i n g of the sign Β A L A G ]

" D ÚΒ "

sign dúb

1. 1 5 0 1 ,

SIM ]

)dú b

(naga

)d ú b

"DUBBIN"

SEE

in

SEE

naga

READ

" D U B B I N " - k u r 5 [ =KAË X A]

(pisán-)dug-a

k u r 5

[ =SED - dug - a] SEE

umbin

1

(q.v.)

u m b i n - k u r 5 - k u r 5

(q.v.)

1. 1 0 5 2

pisán-

dug-a

1. 1 9 6 4

'mixing(?) - j a r

dug - § a g a η

' f a t - j a r , demijohn(?)· SEE ALSO

-dùg

dúb

R E A D NOW

d u g - s u r - r a

dùg , dùg

dúb

NOW

[ s c r i b a l e r r o r (?) f o r ka S , 'beer' ]

D ÎJG

2.934'7

2.795

'to r u b '

DUG

2.6926

[ s c r i b a l e r r o r f o r the

DÚB

(iη

345

CONCORDANCE

'good(?), sweet(ly) '

2. I l l

4

d u i Q,

hi

AND

§ár

1.783, 1.190 ( c o m m e n t a r y ) , 2.41, 2.57, 2.106

dùg

'well(?)[of h e a l t h ]

dùg

' g l a d [of t h e e m o t i o n s ; cf. S à ( - g e ) dùg] 'to

dùg (Sà(-ge) dug

)dùg

[= Κ A ] , dug4-dug4

4

1. 193

sweeten' SEE

1.102

2.45Sà(-ge)

dùg

' t o s a y , t o s p e a k , to t e l l 1 . 2 7 2 , 1 . 8 2 , 1 . 8 5 , [p^eterite^temr'

1.97,

1 1 4 2 ΐ 1 Ι 7 5 · °· · ° ' 2'2' 2.3, 2.98, 2 . 1 0 7 ' 1 0 , 2.71,

2 . 7 2 2 , 2 . 1 0 1 1 9 (?), 2 . 1 0 5

346

GORDON:

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

dug4 ,

dug 4 - dug4

' t o c o m m a n d , to o r d e r 1 1 . 6 6 ^ ( 7 ) , 1 . 1 7 0 5 ( ? ) , Z . 7 3 3 [preterite stem] (note h e r e the s u f f i x i n g " p r e s ent-future" form a l - d u g 4 d u g 4 - g e ) , 2 . 1 19 (?)

dug4,

dug4~dug4

[ A u x i l i a r y v e r b ( p r e t e r i t e s t e m ) u s e d with n o u n s to f o r m compound v e r b s which take t h e i r m e a n i n g s f r o m the r e s p e c t i v e n o u n s : SEE á δ - d u g 4 - d u g 4 ; KA X ? dug4; ka§4 (= D U: Sessig) dug4 ; s á dug4; §u d u g 4 (note h e r e the s u f f i x i n g " p r e s e n t f u t u r e " f o r m § u η u - u r n - S i (!?) - η i - d u g 4 g [e ( ! ? ) ] ) ; u 6 dug 4 ]

dug4

'speech'

dugud

' t o b e h e a v y , to b e i m portanti?)' 2.61a

dui

'to be hidden'

[ = U + TÚG]

DUL.DU dumu

[= TUR]

1.108

READ

2 . 4 9 ( c o m m e n t a r y a n d n o t e 10) e

(q.v.)

n

'child (male or female); 1.125', 1.146, 1.147, SOn

'

1.153 , 1.157, 3

1.151,

1.160 , 2

1.1785(?), 2.23', 2 . 4 5 5 , dumu

'son (figuratively, r e f e r r i n g to ' s e m e n ' ) '

dumu-

' m e m b e r of a g i v e n g r o u p or p r o f e s s i o n '

d um u - 1u g a 1 - 1a

'prince'

D U M U . S A L (to b e

'daughter '

r e a d d u m u - m u η u s (?))

2.999

2.999(?)

2.45^(?) 1.99^

1.198

dumu-tab

'twin s o n s '

2.1602

d u m u - u m - m i - a D U N [or T Ü N ]

' m ei m e r sof r oaf se tsesr -s 1 2.45"* o nbof c htohoe lp- m S E E ALSO a g a x , du5, GÍN , ηim gi rχ , s u g 5 AND TUN

DÜN

' ? ' (noun)

2.983

SUMERIAN

GLOSSARY

AND

CONCORDANCE

' d e p t h (?) 1

dùn DÍIN: g u n û

347

2.676 READ

aga

(q.v.)

AND

nimgir

(q.v.)

d uη c (- ηa ) [ = BÛR(-na)]

l.l4

'humble»

( n a m - ) d u n 5 - na

nam-dun5-na

SEE 'buttocks'

1.1913 •5

'tositdown'

1.12

d ú r - í á h a

' h a m (of t h e p i g ) '

1.19 1 3

dur

'to s i t '

1.123(?)

dur

[=TUS]

dúr

gar

(SÈ-)dur-re

SEE

S É - d ú r - r e

( T U S - ) d ú r - r e / - r a

SEE

T ü S - d ú r - r e / - r a

(TUS

SEE

)dúr (-re)

ë i dus u [ =g i IL] S

i §

dusu

[=S

i 5

e

bé

[ =K A S / B I ]

e

ÍL]

TUS

dúr(-re)

'work-basket'

2.1407

'work-basket'

2.1405'7»8

' t o s a y , to s p e a k , to u t t e r '

1.362

[= P r o n o m i n a l i n f i x - b + e , ' t o s a y , to speak' (presentj 1 4 } n χ J4 f u t u r e s t e m of t h e · » · » · » · v e r b d u g 4 (q.v.)] 2 . 6 9

175

14 >

[ A u x i l i a r y v e r b ( p r e s e n t - f u t u r e s t e m of t h e v e r b d u g 4 (q.v.)) u s e d w i t h n o u n s t o f o r m c o m p o u n d v e r b s which take their m e a n i n g s f r o m the r e spective nouns: SEE eme e ; in e ; inim - bala

e - Κ U (?) - § u

' ? '

1.121, 1.122

e-li-lum

' c r y of j o y ( n o u n ) '

1.183^

e]

348

GORDON:

e - η e

SUMERIAN

'he; she'

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

1 . 1 7 3 ( 7 ) , 2 . 4 1 , Ζ.45, 2 . 4 7 , 2.106

e - ηe - à m

e - s ir k u g

[ =e - Β U ]

e - sir

- e - δ e

'he (or ' s h e ' ) is indeed1

2.38, 2.39, 2.40, 2.57

' street'

1.56

'sandal(s)1

2.69

[ P a r t i c l e s u f f i x e d to 1 . 5 3 ' 4 , 1.14210, 1.1731, a direct quotation, ¡ 1 9 2 1 3 2 96,8 ¡ iy514 c o r r e s p o n d i n g to ' ' ' ' " . . . . "(i.e., = 2.108.10, 2.6la6(?), 2.647, the Akkadian - m i ) ] ¿ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ z 2.9910, 2.1008,

2.IOI19,

2.1031 1, 2.1269, 2.1343 - e - δ e

e - ζ é

Ê

[The p r e c e d i n g p a r t i c l e s u f f i x e d t o f o r m s of the v e r b d u g 4 , 'to s a y , to s p e a k ' , f o l - j 1 4 2 1 0 lowing a d i r e c t quotation ] 2.IOIO [Emesal for 'sheep' ]

L

158'(?), w

2.96'8,

udu, I.I9O (commentary)

[scribal e r r o r for g a l g a ( =ÉXG AR), 'counsel, r e f l e c t i o n ' ] 2.126^»3 'house;

temple'

1 . 1 0 9 9 ' 1 6 , 1.150l(?), 2.8, 2 . 2 1 (?), 2 . 6 1 a , 2 . 6 2 , 2 . 6 3 , 2 . 9 7 4 . 5 , 2.IO95, 2.135 ( c o m mentary), 2.1386, 2.1426, 2.144, 2.145, 2.1642

•household; e s t a t e '

1.8, 1 . 3 2 , 1.33, 1 . 1 4 1 ,

1.1546,

2 . 2 6 , 2 . 1 4 0 , 2 . 1 4 2 6 ( ? ) , 2. 143, 2.146, 2.160, 2.162, 2 . 1 6 3 3 (and c o m m e n t a r y )

SUMERJAN

GLOSSARY

AND

CONCORDANCE

é

' r e a l - e s t a t e (i.e., b u i l d ing p r o p e r t i e s )' 2.1594

é - ad - da

'patrimony, father's estate'

349

1.141

é - dù -a ,é - dù-dù-a

'built-up or improved real-estate' 2.1386, Z.1594

é-dub-ba

'school'

é - gal

' p a l a c e (i.e., the g o v e r n m e n t b u r e a u c r a c y ) ' 1.50 (?), 2. 158 ^.nd c o m m e n tary)

é-gÌ4~a

'daughter-in-law'

é - g u 1( - l a )

' u n i m p r o v e d (i.e., n o t built-up) r e a l - e s tate '

é -

n a

4

2.42

1.198

2.138^

kín-na

[= é -

n a

4 H A R - η a] 'mill (noun)'

2.29

10

é -líl-là

' c r y o f joy (noun)'

1.1835

é - δè

'home(wards)'

2.1612

é - z a g - u r u

' h o u s e on the o u t s k i r t s 2.1452

of a c i t y ' EX GAR

READ

galga

EX SAL

READ

a r h u δ (q.v.)

è

[=UD .D U]

(. . -ta

( - t a -)) è

' t o c o m e o u t , to go o u t ' 11.53 . 1 5 5(?), 1 . 7 3 , 1 . 1 0 1 ,

(gà-ta

)è ( - t a -)) è

e j j [=DUL.DU]

1.122,

' t o h a v e no m o r e . . ; t o 1 . 2 8 6 ( ? ) , 1 . 5 3 (?), 2 . 7 4 3

no l o n g e r have a n y . .' (pa

(q.v.)

SEE

pa

SEE

§à-ta

è

' t o gs po rui pn ,g tuopa; s to c e ndde ,s c teon d ; t o b e p r o p e l l e d (?) ' 2 . 7 6 8 ,

(-ta-))è 2.1161

350

GORDON:

SUMERIAN

" E B U R " [= Ε Ν X GÁNA: tenu] edin

PROVERBS

R E A D NOW 'steppe1

buru

Museum

x

Monographs

(q.v.)

1.114(7), 1 . 1 2 6 ' 2 · 6 ,

1.128·,

2.12, 2.101 e g ir

'future'

1.35^

e g i r - . . - a (k )

'behind . . ; in b a c k of..'

2.147

(pe - ) e l - l à [=P I - S I K I L - l à ] èm

[ = ÂG ]

SEE

pe-el-lá

[ E m e s a l for n i g , •thing' and p r e f i x forming abstractsj

1.1442, 1.1501»2, 1.1765, 1.178 ^ n d c o m m e n t a r y ) , 77 ^ 2 . 1 0 0 (and c o m m e n t a r y )

(zé-)èm

SEE

ζé -è m

èm -ηam

[Emesal f o r n i g - n a m , ' a i l s o r t s of t h i n g s ' ] 1 . 1 7 8 6

eme eme

[=KAXME] ak

'tongue;

language'

'to b r a y (of a s s e s ) '

2.75^

eme e 'to l i c k (with the tongue) ' 2.117^ 1 eme-ka§4-ka§4 ' f l u e n t (?) s p e e c h ' 2.48 0 [ ka δ4 = D U : § e § ä i g ] e m e - " KU " ( - r a ) [ l a t e r o r t h o g r a p h y of e m e - ζ i r , 'the S u m e r i a n l a n g u a g e '] 2 . 4 7 4 eme-zír

[=eme-SÈ/HUN] 2 . 4 7 ^ , 2.49 Çind c o m m e n t a r y ) , 'the S u m e r i a n l a n g u a g e ^ ^ 5^1

e η e η-nu-un

•lord' ak

ENX GANA: tenu

1.55 (??), 1 . 1 7 7 5 , 2 . 1 3 7

'to w a t c h out f o r , t o b e c a r e f u l of' 1.192 READ

buru

x

(q.v.)

SUMERIAN

GLOSSARY

(U +) E N X G Á N A : t e n u g1 èη -b a r [=gi L I - b a r ] èn(-bi) tar [= L I ( - b i)

AND

READ e δ g i r i / e § k i r i (q.v.) S I B I R (q.v.)

to be c a r e f u l of ; to i n ve s t i g a t e a m a t t e r » 1 . 8 8 5 , 2 . 1 4 3 6 > 7 > 8 > 1 1,12

tar]

[=sag - L I - t a r ]

ér

SEE

[=A .I G I ]

ér-ra

1.1674

'tearful'

1.1674 SEE

E R I M

"

"

( n i g - ) E R Í M

[= Ν E . R U ]

" E R Í M - d u " E R Î M ki [ = U R U X G A R

é δ (or

1 . 1 6 5 , 1.100

' t e a r s (noun)1

(níg-)ér "

sag-èn-tar

'farmer, ploughman1

[=APIN]

»

níg-ér

READ

ne-ru

(q.v.)

READ

nig -ne - r u

]

e δé) rope, l e a s h '

(da-ré-)éS

(q.v.)

READ n e - r u - d u (q.v.) ' ? ( s e e a l s o l i s t of p l a c e - n a m e s i n the L i s t s of P r o p e r N a m e s at the e n d of this C o n c o r d a n c e ) 2.1015'17(?) 1

k i

AND

1.155 e ?

'canebrake'

(sag - )è η - ta r

engar

351

CONCORDANCE

[ré = U R U ]

SEE

1. 1 5 3 4 da-ré-éS 1.1534

é δ - k i r i 3 [= é δ - Κ A ]

' n o s e - r o p e (for p r i s o n e r s)'

e §5

'three (numeral)'

2.816

(mu-)e05"àm

' t h r e e y e a r s (old)'

2.8

gi^eögiri, eSkiri [= g » δ S I Β I R = g i g U + E N X G Α Ν A : t e n u ] 'nose-rope for prisoners)'

1.15

352

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

ga

'milk'

2.59 (and note 8 there), 2 9 6 2,3,6,8( ? )

ga-an-tu§

'tenant (in a house) 1

1.164 1

(A.)ga(?).AS.gi4

SEE

GA.KASKAL

READ

s a r

ga-nam-ma

Monographs

A . g a (?) . Α δ . g i 4 gar à δ

(q. v.)

8 a r

[late scribal e r r o r f o r gá-nam-ma, 'go along !» (q.v.)]

2.691'17'29

ga-ra-an

'(ripe) fruit'

ga-Sa

[variant ( s c r i b a l e r r o r ?) for g a - ä a - a n (Emesalfor η in), 'lady, queen' ] 2.1003'4 [Emesalfor n i n , 1.176 (and commentary), 1.188^,

ga-§a-an

1.35^

lady, queen ]

2.100 ^ind commentary)

ga-Sa-an-an-na

[Emesalfor ^ i n a n n a , 'the goddess Inanna'; see list of names of deities in L i s t s of P r o p e r N a m e s at the end of this Concordance]

g a - Sá m

'customer (?)'

GÁ

1.164 1

SEE A L S O

m à

AND

PISAN

GÁ

1

? ' (noun ?) [in the e x pression G A - a l - l u 5 , which occurs as a v a r i ant f o r a l - l u g ' c r a b ' alone] 2.63?

g á - &g á &

'to place 1 (cf. also the . , _ c , , \ -> -,6 ν ι \ it τ 1.195 Kommentar y), 2.3°, v e r b a l stems g a l ^ " and

( g e §tύ g (in

) gá-gá

)gá-gá

gar)

2.146

SEE

g e §tú g

SEE

in

gá-gá gá-gá

SUMERIAN ) g á - gá

(inim-húl (ηum uη

GLOSSARY

)gá -g á

AND

CONCORDANCE

SEE

inim-húl

SEE

numun

gá-gá gá-gá

gá - n a m - m a

'go a l o n g ! '

2.691,17,29

gá - η u

•come!'

2.69

G AB A

S E E ALSO

g a b a

ga b a

g aba

gar

g a ba

r i

g a ba

δu

gar

g a b a - U4 - d a ( - k )

gai

(,

gal

-gai)

dug

[phonetic writing for g a - b a ' t h a t (?) m i l k (?) 1 ]

2.962·3'7'8

'breast, chest'

1.63

SEE

r a - g a b a

(r a - )ga b a

353

1

'to d e f y '

1.6

'to c o n f r o n t '

2.9, 2.10, 2.94

'to d e f y , to o p p o s e '

1.6l

' t h e b r e a s t of t h e s t o r m (?)'

1.15510, 2.347

' l a r g e , g r e a t ; g r o w n - u p (?) ' 1.124', 1.176 , 2.140

(é-)gal SEE

é - gal

SEE

§ à - g a1

SEE

Se § -gal

(Sà-)gal (δe s - )g a 1 GAL .KIND A READ

kindagal

(q.v.)

gài ' t o teox bi set ,a vto a ibl ae b pl er e' s e n t , 1.4 C o m m e n t a r y ) , 1 . 1 2 , 1 . 2 1 , 1.49, 1 . 6 8 6 , 2.1, 2 . 2 2 ' 2 ( ? ) gài

'to be p o s s i b l e '

1 . 8 4i4 -

gài

'to p l a c e , to p r o d u c e , tobring about'

2.1

354

GORDON:

gal

( - d a -) g a l

S U M E R I AN

PROVERBS

' t o r e m a i n , to s t a y (in a p l a c e ) , to be left over1

1.8, 1.9,

'to h a v e (with one)'; 'there is . .'

2.49(commentary),

' t o h a v e , to b e t h e l o t of . . ·

l.l4

(-Si-)

gal

(áS —

)gál

SEE

£δ

gal

(in

)gál

SEE

iη

gal

GAL

gal

4

FOR

-la

gala

[= k i - U D ]

[= U S . Τ U S ]

Monographs

1.195(commentary)

2.66

l u - G À L , SEE lú-lu7; FOR GÀL -lu, SEE ulx-lu

[=S A L - l a ] 'vulva'

(ki-)galg

Museum

1.159 SEE

ki-gal

8

2.414, 2.5412>

'kalmn - priest'

13

, 2.97 1 ,

2.98, 2.999, 2.100(and c o m m e n t a r y ) , 2.1011, 2.102, 2.103, 2.104(and c o m m e n t a ry), 2.105(and c o m m e n t a r y ) , 2.106(and c o m m e n t a r y ) GALAM-GALAM

' c l e v e r (?)'

2.1082'5

galam(-galam)

' h i g h - s t a n d i n g (?) '

2 . 1 0 8>5 -

galga

Γ

[=EXGARJ

-ι

(lú-)galga(-a)

'counsel, advice; r e - , Q .3 ? ,29 consideration, r e flection' 2.1261'3'7 SEE

2.45Z, 2.463

[a m i s c o p y of

GAM

'to b e s u b m i s s i v e '

2.26

gana

'field, f a r m '

1.150 1 '

'to a s s i g n a f i e l d (to a p e r s o n ) '

2.159

gar(-gar)

3

lu-galga(-a)

"GAM "

gana

-> ,7AZ,

U (q.v.)]

10

, 2.973, 2.1594

SUMERLAN

GLOSSARY

AND

CONCORDANCE k A r ,

GANA: tenu

READ

GANAM4

SEE ALSO

ganam GAR

Sur im,

SEE ALSO

nig

GAR

'twelve cubits' ( m e a s u r e of l e n g t h ; = c a . 18 o r 20 f e e t = c a . 6 metres) 2.69

gar

' t o p l a c e , to a s s i g n '

-da-) gar á dur

)gar

SEE

a

SEE

dur

g aba

)gar

SEE

gaba

gana

)gar (-gar)

SEE

gana

gar gar gar gar

SEE

gú

gar

i η

)ga r

SEE

iη

gar

SEE

ninda

1.69^

)ga r

gar

(-gar)

numun-gar

' t o s p a r e , to s a v e u p '

1.20 6 , 1 . 1 5 1 7 ' 9 •7

g a r - r a

'economical, thrifty'

1.151

n u - g a r - r a

'thriftless'

1.1517,

n u - g a r - r a

'worthless,

SEE

GÀR ( a -) g à r ^_sa r g a r a[ s= G A . K A S K A L

1.1517(?) η1g - ηu - ga r - r a

SEE ALSO SEE s a r

]

'leek'

1.1545

unseemly,

indecent' ( η ί g -) η u - g a r - r a

and

2.347, 2.136, 2.1594

g ú

numun-)gar

ug,

and

' t o s e t ( o n e s e l f ) a g a i n s t (?) '

)ga r

(q.v.)

1.1116(?)

'sheep'

4

KARA

355

KAR

a - gà r 2.69

u'a

356

GORDON:

garza

[=PA.AN]

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

'rite(s), custom(s)'

g a g a m [=NUN. ME. Τ A G ] •craftsman 1

Museum

2.1 2.5414

•to c r u s h ·

1.34, 2 . 6 1 5 ' 7 , 2.69

(-da-) gaz

'to s m i t e '

1.112 1 3

gaζ

' ?

:a ζ

(

n

[= S E D ]

x

íg-)g

ge,

a z

ge-en

- ge - eη ge-na

1.52 3

1

x

SEE

π ig - g a ζ

χ

'to m a k e constant, to c o n f i r m ·

1·64(?), 1 . 1 7 8 4 · 6

[phonetic w r i t i n g f o r • - g i m , 'like, as·]

1.149

'true, honest, t r u s t -

1.1, 1.64(?), 1.86, 1.153"

worthy' (nig-) ge-na

(and c o m m e n t a r y ) SEE

η ig-ge-na

g edi m

'ghost, p e r s osnp'i r i t of a dead2.2(?)

gemè

'slave-girl'

gemè - t u m - m a - a l ^

gen

[= D U ]

Monographs

2.6913'

' S l a v e - g i r l s ( ? ) of T u m m a l ' ( e p i t h e t of watch-dogs(?) ) 2.69 'to c o m e , to g o '

15,27

'

2.62, 2.63 9 (?), 2.76, 2 . 1 0 3 6 ' 9 , 2.161 2

géS

[= D I S ]

'sixty'

1.93 3 , 2 . 6 9 2 4 , 2.108 5

g é g : u [=DIS X U]

'six-hundred'

2.69

g e g t ug

'ear, hearing'

2.613'6

[=PI]

g e g t ú g [= G I S . T U G . P i ] ' e a r , h e a r i n g ' , , geStúg ga-ga 'to pay attention' GI

1.24, 2 . 6 l 3 ' 6 5 2.53

SEE A L S O U N D E R

g e

SUMERJAN

GLOSSARY

AND

CONCORDANCE

357

gi

'reed®1

gi

[ D e t e r m i n a t i v e p r e f i x e d t o t h e n a m e s of r e e d s a n d of o b j e c t s m a d e f r o m r e e d s ; S E E A L S O gidusu(=giÍL)and gièn-bar(=giLIbar)]

(KU G.) Gl

1.198(?), 2 . 1 3 5 ( a n d c o m m e n tary)

READ

guSkin 1.884

g i -a -dag

'raft'

gi-di-da

'pipe (musical instrument) '

gi-èn-bar

[=gi-LI-bar ]

(q.v.)

READ

2.54^

^ è n - b a r

(q.v.)

g i - g id [ = g i - B U ]

'flute'

2.5412

-gi-nam

[phonetic writing f o r - g i j g - n a m , 'is like* (q.v.)]

1.1501'8

g i4

[phonetic writing for g i 4 - i η and g e m è , ' s l a v e - g i r l ' (q.v.)] 2.69

gi4(-gi4)

'to bring back, return'

gi

'to a n s w e r '

4

(-gi

4

)

to

'

·

2.107' 1.82 , 1.94 3 , 2 . 1 4 8 ' ( ? )

(A.ga(?).AS.)gi4

SEE

A . g a (?). A S . g:1 4

(ara

9

)gÌ4"gÌ4

SEE

ara

9

gi4~gM

(ara

x

)gi4-gÌ4(-gÌ4)

SEE

a r a

x

gi

SEE

a r a

SEE

ag

SEE

d a

SEE

é -gi

4

(

a r a

(á δ

)gi4(-gi4)

x x )gi

(dag-)gi

4

4

-a

( é -) g i 4 - a (KA Χ Β AL AG (ΚA XSE D

)gi )gi

4

4

-gi

4

-gÌ4("gi4)

g Ì 4 ( ·" g i 4 )

x x gi

4

g - g 14~a -a

-gÌ4

READ

ar a

x

gi

4

-• g i 4 (q v.)

4

READ

araç

gi

4

-• g i 4

(q-v.)

358

GORDON:

(SIG4

SUMERIAN

)gi4(-gi4)

g i4 - i η

PROVERBS

READ

a r a

[phoneUc w r i t i n g f o r g i r l ' (q.v.)]

4

-me-a-aS, gi4-me-a§

GI6

'kinsman'

[=MI]

1 > 1 9 0 ( a n d

c o m m e n t

2.691'

1 5

2.42 S E E UNDER

13

>

1 3

1.1492'4,

g ibi1

'new'

1.172

'27

"16'27

1.1508

(ki-)gibil-gibil-la, (ki-)gibil-gibil-lá

SEE

( g i - ) g i d [= g i - Β U ]

SEE

g i - g id

( m á § - δ u-) g id - g íd

SEE

m á δ - § u - g íd - g íd

(5u

SEE

δα

[= Ρ A ]

gig

ary),

ku10

'is like'

gidru

(q.v.)

^

-giig-nam [=GIM - n a m ]

)gid-gid

\lonographs

gi4(-gi4)

x x

g i ^ - i n - t u m - m a - a l ^ ^ [phonetic w r i t i n g f o r gemè -tum-ma alki(q.v.)] 2.691' gi

Museum

ki-gibil-gibil-la, ki-gibil-gibil-la

gíd-gíd

'sceptre, stick'

1.107,

2.66

'to b e i l l , to a c h e ; to h u r t , to g i v e pain'

gig

1.97, 1 . 1 9 3 , 2 . 5 , 2.122

'to b e b a d ( h e a r i n g ) 1

(hul

)gig

SEE

( n i g - ) g ig

S E E

(Sa

SEE

)gig

(Sà-hul-)gig

SEE

gigere,

SEE

gigre

2 . 6 l ( a n d note 6)

fcul

gig

nig-gig Sà

gig

öa-fcul-gig gir

5

-gir

5

[=KAS4-KAS4]

SUMERIAN

GLOSSARY

gil-sa

'treasure,

gil-sa

ak

AND

CONCORDANCE

jewel'

2.23'^

'to t r e a s u r e '

GIM

2.23'^

SEE ALSO

-gim

'like,

359

as'

dim,

gi^g.

and 5 i d i m

1 . 2 9 , 1 . 3 9 , 1 . 4 5 , 1.58(?), 1 . 6 8 4 , 1.79, 1.88,

1.92,

1.149, 1.197, 2.11, 2.45, 2.69, 2.81, 2.85, 2.89, 2.99, 2.137, 2.145 (-)gim-ak-a

[variantfor gi

jg-nam, 1.1492

'is like' (q.v.)] -GIM-nam (gu-)gim

READ s i-il

SEE

GIN

-gi jg-nam gu-gim

(q.v.)

s i-il

S E E nAi LmS gO i r a ,g a sx u, g 5d u s a, n d D Ù /dùn, TN ÖN x

GÍN

' ? ' (inexplicable variantfor - n i )

G fΝ - p a d

1.461

' s l i c e (?) '

GIR

1.422

SEE ALSO

an§e

(AND

SIGNS SUCH AS GÎR

' ? »

gir

'foot,

RELATED

J>u5)

2.634(?) feet'

1. 1 9 2 ^ ( a n d c o m m e n t a r y ) , 2.61, 2.655, 2.69,

(gu-)gir gir gir

gub

SEE

2.893'8

gu-gîr

' t o uspt eo pn ' o n , t o t r e a d

2.65^

'to p e r v e r t ' trample' ' b o n e (s)'

2.1¿9'31 1.42J, 1.125'(c o m m e n t a r y )

(ta-/da-)kur

gir-pad-du

or

'to Λ

360

GORDON:

gîr-pad-du-DALLA

SUMERIAN

.(?) bones, genitalia(?), mandrake-root(?)'

gír-su|}úb [=gîr-MUL]

'hoof(?)'

gire-gir5

'to drown, to be

[= Κ A S 4 - K A S 4 ]

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

1.42 3 .

2.65

submerged'

" G I S A L " [verb]

READ

2.107 5 bi-iz

(q.v.)

g i sai

' ? '

1.79 4 ' 8(?)

gisal

'rowlock (of a boat'

1.88 2

GIS

SEE ALSO

iζ

gig gig

'wood, tree 1 1.89 4 , 1.101 8 [Determinative prefixed to the names of trees and of objects made of wood; SEE S al, g i S a z - g ú , g í b a l a , 8iSbunin ( = g l ä L A G A B X A), g i 5 d u s u ( = g i S f L ) , g i ^ e S g i r i / e S k i r i (=giSu + ENXGÁNA: tenu), g i s í l - l á g i S k i b i r , gi3má(and its compounds), g 1 ® § u - k a r a , g i S g u k u r ( = g i 5 I G I + DÎJ), g i S t i r , and g i S t u k u l ]

giδ

[phonetic writing for g î § , 'penis' (q.v.)] 1.101 8 (?)

( b i -) G i S

READ

( g i 5 m a - A . P A . B I . ) G l S . P A D . D READ IRIG gii-Sub

bi-iz

gi^má - addir

GIS.TUG.PI tuku(-tuku)

READ

1.145 geStug

'to listen, to hear'

g í S [= D IS ] g ÎS [=US]

(q.v.)

'lot; i.e., a portion chosen by lot'

giS

(q.v.)

(q.v.)

1.36

SEE g é S 'penis'

1.101 8 , 1.159, 2.67 5 , 2.78, 2.108 5 , 2.117

SUMERIAN

g ι §

sur

g iζ ζ a1

a k

gu

GLOSSARY

2.675

'to pay attention'

2.535

'thread, yarn; flax'

1.123'

SEE

( ύ -) g u

dé

SEE

(níg-ú-)gu-dé-a gu-gim

s i-il

tab

gu-ul

CONCORDANCE

'to u r i n a t e 1

( ζ id-) g u

gu

AND

zid-gu ú-gu

SEE

dé

n í g - ú - g u - d é - a

' t o b e m o a n (?)'

1.104**

'to t w i s t y a r n '

2.11*5

'to be l a r g e ,

to b e

great'

2.52, 2.104, 2.105

gu

'neck'

1.3

gú

' e d g e (of a n o v e n ) '

2.29

gu

' b a n k (of a r i v e r ) '

1.87^

(gi g ύ

5

a ζ -) g ύ gar

SEE 'to submit,

S *S a ζ - g ύ

to g i v e

in s u b m i s s i o n ' gu-gîr

'breach,

g ύ g ύ

' t o ap e td ot hge) ' n e c k (of 'to be l a x '

§a g 5 Sub

1.6

'break-through·' 2 . 1 1 34 2 1.21

g ύ - ta r

' b a c k of t h e h e a d , n a p e of t h e n e c k ; m a n e (of a n a n i m a l ) , b r a i d s (of a human being)' 2.1133

gú-tar-lá

' h a i r d r e s s e r (?) '

2.1133

' t o p e t t h e m a n e (of an animal)'

2.1132'3

gú-tar

g Cl

dé

Sag 5

[= Κ A — d é ] ' t o s p e a k »

2.146

361

362

GORDON:

g u 4 ( - d ), g u 4 - u d [=GUD-ud] gu

x

-ul

gub,

[=GUL-ul] gub-gub

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

ιluseum

Monographs

'to jump, to dance 1

70 1.80,2.89''

'to destroy, to attack (a person) 1

2.1435'10

•to stand, to stay'

1.167, 2.14 7 , 2.63 9 (?), 2.65 5 , 2.107 7

(gir

)gub

( i g i - . . . - a ( - k)

)gub

SEE

gir

SEE

igi-. . .-a(-k)

gub

(nig-ka-)gub

SEE

nig-ka-gub

(ki-)gub(-ba)

SEE

ki - g u b ( - b a )

(mu-)gub-ba

SEE

mu-gub-ba

gub-ba,

gub-bu

gub-ba-b i

' f i r m l y - f i x e d , standing, intact» 1.123 1 , 1.196 •steadily (?)'

GUD g ud

gub

2.120(?)

SEE A L S O •ox'

gu4 1.80 2 (?), 2.1 3 3 , 2.79 5 , 2.83, 2.84, 2.85, 2.86, 2.87, 2.89, 2.90, 2.91, 2.92, 2.93, 2.95

(nu-bànda-)gud

SEE

(Sà-)gud

SEE

nu-bànda-gud δà - g ud

gud-da-ri(-a)

'ox-driver'

2.95 3,5

gud-da-ri-a

'a d r i v e n o x '

2.95 2 '

gud-da-ri-a

' b u l l o c k - o f f e r i n g (?) '

2.95 5

gud-da-ri

[variant f o r g u d - d a r i ( - a ) , ' o x - d r i v e r ' ] 2.95 3

gud-du-ri-a

•ox-driver(?)'

2.95-

g ud i dd i

[possible reading f o r KAXBALAG]

2.69

26

5

SUMERJAN GLOSSARY AND CONCORDANCE n a

4

[=

g u g

n i n d a

n a

4

Z A

gug

GUG4

.

G U L ]

'carnelian-stone '

2.45

'cake®'

1.526

[=^J + L A G A B ]

SEE UNDER

GUL

SEE ALSO

GUL

1

gul,

gul-gul

363

NUMUN gux

? '

AND

sun

2.896

'to w destroy, tor et ec akr, to down'

7 3 , 27 1 . 8 9->9 , ,->r/ 1. 141, 1 . 1 8 6 8 , τ1 . 8,25 2 . 1 " ' 2 . 1 3 5 ( a n d commentary), 2 . 1 3 8 6 , 2 . 1 4 2 5 2.1435'10

gul

'to attack (a person)'

gul

'to c e a s e , to be wiped

χ 4?

away, to be destroyed' gul

[scribal e r r o r for g a l ]

(ki (

n a 4

)gul

SEE

ZA.)GUL

READ

(é - ) g u l ( - l a ) GUL-ul gur

SEE

'

> ·

2.1^ gul

n a 4

gug

(q.v.)

é-gul(-la)

SEE

g

'to r e t u r n (a thing borrowed)'

i S

ma-géâ-gur 1.31, 2 . 1 3 6 τ

gur

'to r e t u r n (intrans.)

2.164

gur

'to challenge'

2.66

'sickle'

2.54

gur10 [=uruduKIN]

^ 7Q ¿

READ g u x - u l (q.v.) ' g u r 1 ( m e a s u r e of capacity; = ca. 7. 17 bushels [U.S. d r y ] = 66. 8 gallons [U.S. liquid] = 252. 8 l i t r e s ) 1 . 9 3 3

(gi5má-gé5-)gur gur

ki

6

u r u d u

» ·

135

364

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

(Sà-ge -)guruy g ur ud

[= Ν U Ν . K I

SEE

[= L Û . K I ]

x

gurun guru?

Museum

Monographs

S a - g e - g u r u y

or

NUN: tenu. Kl] g u r u d

PROVERBS

[= Κ A L ]

g us i

'to throw1

1.792'

6

'to throw'

1.792'6

'fruit'

1.35^

' ( g r o wu nt h) y o u n g m a n , y° '

1 . 9 4 3 , 1.162(?), 2.140, 2.141

1.185,

[possible reading for 2.6926

KAXBALAG] guSkin

[=KUG. Gl]

'gold'

2.135 (and c o m m e n t a r y )

guSudi

[ p oK s sA i bX l e B rA e aLd iAn G g ]f o r

2.6926

guz

'to c r u s h '

2.615'7

[= L U M ]

£1A

SEE ALSO

y A. A

READ

(ZA-)jja-al

SEE

(äu-)yA(-d)

READ

h a - h a - z a

ku

za&

AND

6

peS

x

(q.v.)

Z A - h a - a l Su-peS

x

(-d)

(q.v.)

[ r e d u p l i c a t e d f o r m of J>a - z a , ' t o h o l d u p ' ] 2 . 1 0 7 5

y A - l a m

READ

1} a - ζ a , h a - l j a - z a (sag (te

k u ^ - l a m 1.14310'

'to hold u p '

)^a-za )ha-za

SEE

sag

SEE

te

ur udujja _z j _jn PAR [= £11 X Á S ]

'axe'

y AR

[scribal error(?) for s û r (=yiX AS)]

SEE ALSO

(q.v.) 15

,

2.1075

^a-za Jja-za 2.139 ( c o m m e n t a r y ) h u r , k i n , AND

2.91 »

ur

5

SUMERIAN

GLOSSARY

AND

(a-)pAR

SEE

n a 4

READ

pAR(-na)

pAR(-r)

'to bow down,

CONCORDANCE

a - ρ A R n a 4

kin(-na)

(KA

' ?

(ki r i 3

) p R ( - r )

l>é-a {jenbur

2.19

1

)pAR(-r)

(q.v.)

to

lower1 pAR(-r)

365

1.63 SEE

KA

SEE

kiri

pAR(-r) pAR(-r)

3

'if i t b e , w h e n i t w a s ' 1.40, 1 . 4 1 , 1 . 4 2 , [=SE.DÙ]

' s p r o u t , s h o o t (of a plant)'

μΐ

1.157 ( c o m m e n t a r y ) SEE ALSO

Ij. i — 1 i

1.43,2.1

du

'luxuriousness '

1 0

,

dùg,

AND

gar

kin

AND

ur

1.197

p i X AS

READ

s ùr

p i x Á S

READ

PAR,

y i X S E

S E E UNDER

PU

SEE ALSO

p U - p U - n u

READ

m u δe η- m u δe η - ηu

HU-nu

READ

mu§en-nu

H wU - n u - m e - a pU-nu-tuku bu-ru, hul

fcu-ru-um

(q.v.) hur, Β IR muSen (q.v.)

(q.v.)

' ? ' (\ t e r m d e s c r i b ing a n i m a l s ) ' ? ' (term describing a n i m a l s )

2 . 3 3—

'inferior'

2.411 » 4, 2.423'

2.33

'bad, h a r m f u l n e s s , unpleasantness, rigour'

2.125^, 2.149

(nam-)j)ul

SEE

nam-hul

(níg-)hul

SEE

níg-fyul

6

, 2.1062

(?)

5

366

GORDON:

hul-bi

SUMERIAN

'harmful·

(níg-){jul-dím-ma kul

PROVERBS

gig

nig - hul - d i m - ma

' t o h a t e , to s c o r n ' SEE

húl

1.57,

hun,

gá-gá

hun-hun

SEE

1.1082

âà-frul-gig

' t o r e j o i c e , to b e j o y ful: to m a k e (a ' ν, \ p e r s o n ) happy*

(inim-)húl

Monographs

2.121 SEE

( 5 à -) l j u l - g i g

Museum

1.32, 1.33, 1 . 1 0 3 1 4 , , . -, -, ->·>., 2.122, 2.146

in i m - h ú l

' t o h i r e , to a c q u i r e '

1.145,

gá-gá

1 . 1 5 2 . 7 3

h u r - r u m [= h u r - A S ]

[later phonetic writing for fru-ru-um, ' i n f e r i o r · (q.v.)] 2.414

i>uS [ = G Ì R X D I N ( ? ) ]

'furious1

i -di i - i m -

' ? ' [Thematic particle;

i - ir

[ p h o n e t i c w r i t i n g of i r , the E m e s a l for t ù m or t u m , 'to b r i n g ' (q.v.)] 2.35 (and c o m m e n t a r y )

I. LU

2.13

READ

1.781 SEE UNDER i m - m a -

k un 4

(q.v.)

i-lu

'song, wail (noun)'

i(-r)

[ p h o n e t i c w r i t i n g of i r , the E m e s a l for tit m or t u m , ' t o bring'(q.v.)]

î-Sim-ma

ià

[= Ν I ]

[phonetic writing for ú-Sim-e,'in the m e a d o w ' ( q . v . ) ] »oil, f a t ·

]

1.80^

1.1694

2.93 1.46, 1.48, 1.107,

1.1655'7(?),

1 . 1 9 0 , 1. 192 ( a n d c o m m e n t a r y ) ià

' c r e a m (?)'

1.15012

SUMERIAN

GLOSSARY

(uzu-)ià

AND

SEE

CONCORDANCE

uzu-ià

ià - n u n

'ghee ( c l a r i f i e d b u t t e r ) 1 1.474

ià-udu

'suet1

( t u g - Ν f G -) i b ibila

1.1902 SEE

[=DUMU. US]

id

'heir'

túg-NIG-ib

1.153 ( c o m m e n t a r y )

' r i v e r , (navigable) canal· 1

igi

1.142, 1 . 1 7 7 6 1.17(?), 1.98, 2 . 1 5 6 , 2 . 9 0 ,

e ye (s) '

2.1082 ' f a c e (noun)1

ig i (A.) I Gl

READ

igi-. . .-a(-k) igi-. . . -a(-k)

2.372 ér

'in f r o n t of, b e f o r e '

(q.v.) 2.9^

gub , 2.101¿

•to b e a t t h e s e r v i c e o f ' 2.9 igi

bar

'to look (at)'

2.4, 2.2l(?)

igi

(-§i-)dù-dù

'to be c u r i o u s a b o u t '

2.15^

igi

dug

'to look,

2.149^

igi-nu-dug-a

to s e e '

'blind'

1.29

igi-il-la

'(personal) choice'

1.1464

igi

'to e s t e e m highly(?)'

2.1084

ka 1

i g i i g i s î g s[ î=g i -g si i— g P A' t]o , s l a p o n e ' s f a c e ' igi

tur

igi - tu r

igi

2.37

'to look c o n t e m p t u o u s l y at, to be c o n t e m p t u ous of' 2.16 , 2.108 b u - i

(-da-)urù

367

'to look contemptuous ly at' 2.164 'to k e e p c l o s e w a t c h o v e r 1

1.16^

368 i S

GORDON:

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS i 5

READ

g

READ

u r u d u

IGI + DUB

READ

a

IGI + E

READ

u

6

gifL

READ

S

1

giSfL

READ

g1

g

I G I + DÙ

u r udu

I G I

+ D ÍJ

8

r

Museum

gukur

(q.v.)

5 u k u r

i g

(q.v.)

(

(-Si-) s u r 5,

(-Si-)LÁ

lag

10

18

>

2 0

1.1782, 6la6(?)

(-Si-)suruc (q.v.)

l ú - k u g - la

' c l o d (of e a r t h ) ; c h u n k ( ? ) (of f o o d ) } b u l k ( ? ) ' 1.79, 2.105, 2.1074(?)

SUMERIAN

lag(-ga)

GLOSSARY

AND

'in the l u m p , in b u l k i 2.104 , 2.1057

ness' (im-Su-)LAGAB

READ

i m - 5 u - r i n

READ

g l 5

LAGABXES

READ

tuku

LAGAR: gunû

READ

du¿

(q.v.)

L A G A R X SE

READ

SU7

(q.v.)

6

¡ í

L A G A B X A

1a £ 1a h (S

[=UD] [= D U . D U ]

x

i 5

ma-)lah

bunin

1.902, 2.284

SEE

1

S

i S

m a - l a h la

READ

ukú

LAL + SAR

READ

usar

d

la m m a

[=£IA-lam]

[=dKAL]

LI

'honey'

OR

SEE

ku¿

5

2.61a6

uSur

(q.v.)

-lam

S E E Ue N n dD EofR tN h iasm eCs o nofc o D r deai nt icees a t SEE ALSO

è η

li-du

'song, hymn, melody'

(é-) Iii -la

suru

1.47

[ f o r m of t h e n e g a t i v e prefix n u used b e f o r e the t h e m a t i c particle b ί - ] 1.31

1Í1 - l a

s u r 5,

(q.v.)

li -

(e-)li-lum

x

AND

2.504,

? '

L A L + DU

( k u ^ -) 1 a m

(q.v.)

4

'to p r o p e l ( a b o a t ) '

SEE ALSO

[= Τ A X £11 ]

(q.v.)

1 . 1 0 9 1 2 , 2.599(?)

x

LAL

(q-v.)

'to d r y up'

LAL

lai

381

CONCORDANCE

SEE 'out-of-doors' SEE

1.70, 2.39^

e-li-lum 1.1501'10 é-líl-lá

the

382

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

(ub-)líl-lá

SEE

PROVERBS

[= Á Β + S À ]

' a n g e r (?) 1

1.141

l i r u m

[= § U . K A L ]

'(physical) strength1

2.745

SEE ALSO READ

(I.)LU (i-)lu ( m u -) 1 u ( u 1 x -) 1 u lu,

[=GÀL - lu]

l u - ú b s a r ( - d ) [db = S È / ^ U N ] lu-ub

s a

r

- k u d - d a

SEE

i - l u

SEE

m u - l u

SEE

ul

χ

(q.v.)

-1u l.llO7

'beans'

2 . 1 28

I 9 I

2 . 1 28

'man,

1Ú

udu

k uη 4

' t o be n u m e r o u s 1

lu-a

Monographs

u b - l í l - l á

LIPIS

L· U

\luscum

1.8, 1.37 , 1.40, 1.94 , 1 . 9 8 * .

fellow'

1.1 7 5 1 4 ,

1.187(commentary

a n d n o t e s 4 a n d 7), 1.197, 2.284, 2.35(and c o m m e n t a r y ) , 2.44, 2.48, 2.54, 2.74, 2.82, 2.108, 2.142 1Ú l ú - m u 1Ú 1ú (äu-)ld

1ú - ù

. .

m u δe η

l u - a - g a - d è ki l ú - d i - d i

'fellow! (vocative)'

1.192^(and commentary)

• m y (good) m a n ! (vocative) '

1.1874'

'one'

1.8, 1.40, 1.88

(impersonal)

7

,

2.II17

' t h e one . . . t h e o t h e r ' 1 . 8 1 3 SEE ' a m a n of A g a d e , Akkadian'

su-lu an 2.82

[ E m e sal(?) f o r l ú - d u - d u , 'a r o v i n g m a n ' ( q . v . ) ] 2.35(and c o m m e n t a r y )

SUMERJAN

1ú - d i m - m a

lu - du - du

l u - d u 14-da [du14=LtJXNE]

GLOSSARY

AND

CONCORDANCE

'judgement (mental capacity)· 'a r o v i n g m a n '

1.14314,

1.1845

2.28^»4, tary)

2.35^(andcommen-

. R 1.170J'0

'opponent'

1.94*,

[scribal error for l u - g a l g a (q.v.)]

2.1261'

3

1ú - g a1 g a a) [ = l ú - E X G A R (- a ) ] ' a r e f l e c t i v e m a n ·

2.1261'

3

l ú - K A - p A R - r a , l ú - k i r i J- y AR - ra

2.19 2

lu-Ê

lú

-kaS4-a, lú-ka§4-e

' ? '

READ

gu r u dx

lú-kug-lá

'paymaster'

2.9^

l ú - k ú r - r a

'stranger'

1.9

1ú - 1 u 7 [ = l ù - G À L ]

'man,

'

7

1.66ö, 2.119á

'runner·

L Ú . K I

383

(noun)

human being'

1.984,

(q.v.)

1.1604

lu-lul(—la)

' l i a r , t r e a c h e r o u s m a n , 1 . 1 5 3 3 , 1.158, 2 . 6 2 6 , 2 . 1 4 2 4 untrustworthy man'

lú-na-me

'anyone' [with a verb i n the n e g a t i v e , = •no o n e ' ]

L Ú . N E

[later orthography for

lú-NE

[scribal error lu-zu

1.107 LUX NE

for

]

2.143

lú-níg-tuku

'rich man'

l ú - tuS - a

'a m n nw' h o i s s e t t l e d 2 . 2 8 d oa w

1ú - ù r ,

'hot-headed man'

l u - ù r - r a

' 9

2.16

2.1262'5

=

du14(q.v.)]

384

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

lú-zi(-d)

'upright m a n '

2.142

lú-zu

'acquaintance'

2.143^»^

Monographs

lú-zú-ra(-a^)

SEE UNDER

(lú-)zú-ra(-ah)

LÍJXNE

READ

du14

(q.v.)

( a 1-) 1 u 5 [ = a l - L U L ]

SEE

al-lu 5

( 1 ú -) 1 u 7 [ = l ú - G Á L ]

SEE

lú-lu

lug al

'king'

lug al

'owner,

7

1.69, 1.78 ft c 1.38 , 1.177 (and c o m m e n -

master'

t a r y ) , 2.76, 2.115, 2.164 2 (dumu-)lugal-la lu&

SEE

dumu-lugal-la

'to c l e a n '

LUL

1.119 SEE A L S O

L UL

' ?

lui

'lie, treachery,

lul-la

'false, treacherous'

(lú-)lul(-la)

SEE

LUM

SEE A L S O

LUM-ma(-LUM-ma)

lu5,

AND

nar

2.63 4 (?), 2.66 1

1

rebelliousness' lui,

ka5,

2.58, 2.71, 2 . 7 2 2 , 2.85 5 1.159, 1.162(?), 2.113, 2.142 •

lu-lul(-la)

'fecund·

guz 1.111

(du-)lum

SEE

(e-li-)lum

SEE

d u - 1 urn e-li-lum

- m a

' ? '

1.143 4

ma-ad

' ? '

1,116

ma-al

[ E m e sal f o r g a l , 'to stay, to be located'(q.v.)]

1.195 (and c o m m e n t a r y )

SUMERLAN

m a - a l - g a

GLOSSARY

[Emesal for

AND

CONCORDANCE

galga,

'counsel, advice'(q.v.)]

1.94

M A (?) - Β I R (?)

' ? '

2.336

m a (?) - d a (?) ma-g im

' ? 1 [scribal error(?) for mà(-a)-gim, ' l i k e me» ( q . v . ) ]

1.118

2.99b'

ma-la(-g)

'confidant(e), i n t i m a t e friend, crony'

1.943, 1.10917, 1.1706, 1.1731 ' 3 , 2 . 6 3 8

m a - m a

[Emesal for g á - g á , 'to a l l o w to s t a y , etc.' (q.v.)] 1.195 (and c o m m e n t a r y )

má,

g

i 5

S

i 5

m a

'boat'

[= β 1

m a - addir

8 ^ m à - g gée ï s-- jg uι r [g é § = D I S ] m á - 1 a Ij χ , S

x

5

[la|}x = DU.DU]

10

1.54, 1 . 8 6 , 1 . 8 7 , 1 . 8 8 , 1 . 9 1 , 1.92, 2 . 9 8 2 , 2 . 1 0 3 3 ' 4 ' 7

m á - Α . Ρ Α . Β I.G i á . P A D.D I R I G ] 'ferry-boat' 1.896, 1.1875 ' b o a t of 6 0 - g u r (capacity)'

^má-la{j

1.93:

x

'boatman,

sailor'

1.90

g

i 5

m£-su(-a)

'ship, deep-draught boat'

1.724» 8 ,

g

i 5

m a - s u - a

'ship, deep-draught boat'

1.728,

8

i 5

mà-ïe(-k)

'grain-boat'

M À

SEE ALSO

1.932(?)

1.932

2.1033'7 gá

AND

m à - a

Ί'

1.1437

mà-a(-k)

'mine'

1.1508

PISAN

( è m - ) m à - a - g i - n a m [ v a r i a n t of m a - a - g i i 8 - n a m , 'like m e , like what is m i n e ' ] 1.150 » 8 m à - a - g i jg-nam

385

'like m e , like what is m i n e '

1.1508

386

GORDON:

SUMERJAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

m à - a - g i m

'like m e '

2-99

mà-e

Ί·

1.112, 1.143, 1.149,

1.1845,

2.1594 mà-e

g i jg - n a m

*I a m ( ? ) l i k e . . . 1

1.149 2 8

m à - e - gi j g - n a m

'like m e '

1 . 1 4 9 ( c o m m e n t a r y ) , 1.150 '

mà-e - gim

'like m e '

2.994,

m à - gim

'like m e '

1.149, 2 . 9 9 4

(zé-)mà

SEE

ma 5 [=KAxSÈ/|iUN] ma ς —

ak

mah

6

'

13

zé-mà 2.313

'to n i b b l e '

'to n i b b l e , to c h e w '

2.31

'mighty, great, numerous'

(nig-)mah

SEE

nig - mah

(\ u r - )/ m a h

SEE

u r - m a hν

MAN

S E E UNDER

\j

/

NlS

ma δ

'one-half'

min 1.166

m a i - d à [= m a δ - D Ü J ' g a z e l l e 1

1.30

mag

1.70

'kid,

maS-5u-BU-BU m á δ - §u - gíd - gíd

he-goat' READ

'omen-priest,

ma5-§u-gid-gid

exti-

spicist, haruspex' m a S - z u - r a - a h

SEE UNDER

1.70 (máS-)zú-ra-ah

m a Ski m [= Ρ A . D U: § e δ δ i g ] ' i n s p e c t o r , c o n s t a b l e ' ME (MÛâ.)ME

1.193 1.55(?), 2 . 3 4 6

' ? ' SEE

(q.v.)

MÚS.ME

SUMERIAN

GLOSSARY

(MÜS.) ME me

AND

SEE 'to

CONCORDANCE

MÜS.ME

be1

1 . 6 5 6 , 1.100, 1.142, Z . 3 3 7

(-na-)me

SEE

-na-me

(nam-) m e

SEE

nam-me

(nam-ga-)me-àm

SEE

- m e - e n

387

n a m - g a - m e - am

Ί a m , you a r e ' 1.982, 1.1465, 1 . 1 7 4 4 ' 6 ' 8 , ( S E E A L S O - m e η ^ . i 7 6 ( c o m m e n t a r y ) , 1.177 (commentary),

1.178^(and

commentary), 2 . 9 3 , 9 , 2.105' 2

2.37, 2.44, 2.51 , me

'Divine Norm(s)'

me

' w h e r e ? 1 [for the u s u a l

4

2.159 ,2.l60

2.1

2.61 a6(?)

m e - a (?)] me -a

U

'where?'

2.61a^

m e -md ea - t a t ù m t ù(u), m ( u ) 'where. . . obtain?'

1.27, 2.353, 2.489, 2.497, 2.562

me-gè

2.107

'where?

whither?'

3 me-ta

'where?

-me

'our'

whence?'

(possessive)

( g Ì 4( "g) ir ^n -e j- m a -e a- Sa ,í m e - r e

2.35

SEE [Emesal for

2.95(?)

gi^-me-a-aS,

gir,

'foot, feet'(q.v.)] (NUN.)ME.TAG

READ

( t ú g - ) m e - z é - e r - r a

SEE

melé

S E E UNDER

[= Κ A X L I ]

m e 1ie. ex . , [Κ= Α ΚA X X NIK G .Aà D À .RAA] ; ' t h r o a t '

gi^-me-a^

1.192 ( a n d c o m m e n t a r y )

gag am

(q.v.)

t ú g - m e - z é - e r - r a mili 2.434

,

388

GORDON:

m e l e

x x

[= K A X Ú ]

- m è η [: DU]

SUMERIAN

PROVERBS

Museum

Monographs

2.434

'throat'

[Emesal for - m e - e n , Ί a m , you a r e " (q.v.)]

1.144, 1.176(and c o m m e n 1.177(and c o m m e n tary),

t a r y ) , 1 . 1 7 8 * ' 4» ^ ( a n d c o m 1.1906

mentary), MI

SEE ALSO UNDER

ku

(d um u - um-) m i - a

SEE

d u m u - u m - m i - a

(um-)mi-a

SEE

u m - m i - a

SEE

n i g - m í - ú s - s a

J 0

(t n i' g - \) m 'i - u* s - s a ' [m í = SAL] m í - ú s - s á - t u r

1

son-in-law,bridegroom1

m i l i [= K A X L I ]

'throat'

2.432«4

min

'two'

1.53, 2.82, 2 . 1 1 2 7

(na^-iu-)min-e min

[= MAN/NIS ]

SEE

n a ^ - S u - m i n - e 2.1127

'two'

( η a 4 - δ u-) m in - e

1.169

SEE

n a ^ - S u - m î n - e 1.782, 2.37

mu

' n a m e ' (noun)

mu

'fame (literally,'name')'

mu

'year'

2.81

' t h r e e y e a r s (old)'

2.81^

' ? '

2.132

m u - e g ^ - a m mu ( d u 5 -) m u

[= D Ù N / T Ì J N - m u ]

1.782

SEE UNDER

mu-gub-ba

'model tablet'

m u - 1u

[ E m' m e saanl' f(oqr. v .l )ú] ,

d u

5

- m u

2.382 1 . 9 4 3 , 1 . 1 8 71 40' 7 ( a ncdo cmom memn et anr-y ) ,

tary)>

u

1