ASJ 16, 043-046 Barton Cylinder (P222183)

Administrative cylinder excavated in Nippur (mod. Nuffar), dated to the ED IIIb (ca. 2500-2340 BC) period and now kept in Penn Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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Chemical Data

Seal Chemistry

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Museum Collection(s)

Penn Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Museum Number

CBS 08383

Period

ED IIIb (ca. 2500-2340 BC) [uncertain]

Provenience

Nippur (mod. Nuffar)

Artifact Type

Cylinder

Material(s)

Clay

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Administrative [identification uncertain]

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

161.0 mm × 127.0 mm × 127.0 mm

object cylinder
surface a
column 1
1. u4#-ri2#-a# u4-ri2-sze3
 en: Those days were faraway days,
2. na-nam
 en: indeed!
3. ge6-ri2-a ge6-ri2-sze3
 en: Those nights were faraway nights,
4. na-nam
 en: indeed!
5. mu-ri2-a mu-ri2-sze3
 en: Those years were faraway years,
6. na-nam
 en: indeed!
7. u4 na-du7-du7
 en: The storm was roaring,
8. nim na-gir2-gir2
 en: lights flashing.
9. esz3 nibru{ki}
 en: The temple of Nippur,
10. u4 na-du7-du7
 en: the storm was roaring,
11. nim na-gir2-gir2
 en: lights flashing.
12. an-ne2 ki-da
 en: Heaven with earth
13. inim an-dab6-e
 en: was talking;
14. ki an-da inim an-dab6-e
 en: earth with heaven was talking.
  rest broken
column 2
1. [igi-zi-gal-an]-na#
 en: With Igizigalana,
2. nin-gal {d}en-lil2
 en: older sister of Enlil,
3. {d}nin-hur-sag
 en: with Ninḫursag,
4. igi-zi-gal-an-na
 en: With Igizigalana,
5. nin-gal {d}en-lil2
 en: older sister of Enlil,
6. {d}nin-hur-sag-ra
 en: with Ninḫursag
7. gesz3 mu-ni-du11
 en: he had intercourse.
8. ne mu-ni-sub5
 en: He kissed her,
9. a masz imin
 en: the semen of seven twins
10. sza3# mu-na#?-ni#?-ru
 en: into her womb dropped.
11. ki musz-gir2-da
 en: Earth with Scorpion
12. bala-bala an-da-za
 en: a conversation held:
13. {d}i7-mah
 en: “Big-River,
14. nig2-tur-zu a mu-da-du
 en: your little “things” water are carrying.
15. x-ra dingir i7-da-ke4
 en: For you(?), the god(?) of the river
16. [x x] mu# [x x]
 en: ... .”
  rest broken
column 3
1. [...] an# x x
 en: ...
2. KA e2? an-ne2 ba-us2
 en: ... heaven reached.
3. gesztu {gesz}asal an-gur4-gur4
 en: The “ears” of the poplars swelled,
4. igi-gesztin-a sza3-ba mu-gar-gar
 en: “grape-eyes” among them were placed.
5. igi-babbar2 nu11-gal-x
 en: “White-eyes,” “great lights”
6. an-da-dub-e
 en: were piled up with them.
7. gudu4-ge zi# an-|SZU2+SA|-la2
 en: The gudu-priest ...
8. nu-zuh-mah ku3-lal3-zu
 en: “Mighty ..., your ...,
9. an-da-ra-ta-bar-e
 en: is being taken away.”
10. KA-li? GAB nunuz lul sze-a
 en: ...,
11. gu2-HAR pu2-ke4
 en: the beans ... .
12. gudu4 lu2 arattax(|LAM.KUR.RI|)-gin7
 en: The gudu-priest like a man of Aratta
13. si an-sa2-sa2-e
 en: was directing it.
14. za3 za3 PIRIG an-DU-DU
 en: ...
15. szu-si gesz?-BAD an-x
 en: ...
16. x x [...]
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 4
1. [...]
 en: ...
2. [...]
 en: ...
3. UM x {d}en-lil2
 en: ... of Enlil
4. nibru{ki}-sze3
 en: toward Nippur
5. gig-sze3 mu-gar-gar
 en: (Enlil) to feel bitterness caused;
6. {d}inanna-ra ki zabala2-sze3
 en: Inanna toward Zabala
7. gig-sze3 mu-gar-gar
 en: to feel bitterness he caused;
8. {d}en-ki-ra abzu-sze3
 en: Enki toward Abzu.
9. gig-sze3 mu-gar#-[gar]
 en: to feel bitterness he caused;
10. UM [x]-bi# {d}en-lil2
 en: ... of Enlil
11. nibru{ki} u2 nu-sze3-gu7-e
 en: Nippur was not feeding,
12. a nu-sze3-na8-na8
 en: was not giving to drink,
13. edin ninda kum2-na
 en: His oven(?) in which bread was baked
14. ninda kum2 nu-mu-gal2
 en: no baked bread contained.
15. edin ninda te-na
 en: His oven(?) in which bread cooled down
16. ninda# te# [nu-mu-gal2]
 en: bread cooling down [had none].
  rest broken
column 5
1. x [...]
 en: ...
2. {d#}en-lil2# x-sze3 mu-szi-[x]
 en: Enlil to ...
3. a-mun4# a-ne ba-sa2#-sag#
 en: The brackish water he ...;
4. a-mun4 a-ne ba-la2-la2
 en: the brackish water he was holding back.
5. {d}en-lil2 a-ne ba-sa2#-sag#
 en: Enlil, he ...
6. a-mun4 a-ne ba-la2-la2
 en: the brackish water he is holding back.
7. edin ninda kum2-za
 en: Your oven(?), in which bread was baked,
8. ninda kum2 nu-mu-gal2
 en: no baked bread contains.
9. edin# ninda te-za
 en: Your oven(?), in which bread cooled down,
10. ninda te nu-mu-gal2
 en: bread cooling down has none.
11. gir2-mah GA2? gu4 gu7-gu7 zu?
 en: Your(?) supreme ox-devouring oven,
12. esz3 nibru{ki}
 en: in(?) the temple of Nippur.
13. |NI+IGI|-bi a-ne ba-nu2
 en: its stones(?) he made lie (idle).
14. zabar mah-zu mu#-URU#?
 en: Your supreme bronze ...
15. GA2#? nu-mu-gi-ne2#?
 en: to(?) ... does not return(?).
  rest broken
column 6
1. [{d}inanna-ra zabala2{ki}-sze3]
 en: [Inanna toward Zabala,]
2. gig#-sze# mu#-gar#-gar#
 en: to feel bitterness he caused;
3. {d#}en#-ki#-ra# abzu-sze3
 en: Enki toward Abzu".
4. gig-sze3 mu-gar-gar
 en: to feel bitterness he caused;
5. nam-ta#-e3#
 en: he came out!
6. nam-ta#-e3#
 en: He came out!
7. u4 ge6-ta# e3#-a
 en: As the day from the night rose,
8. {d}nin-urta
 en: Ninurta
9. nam-ta-e3
 en: came out!
10. u4 ge6-ta e3-a
 en: As the day from the night rose,
11. kusz pirig# bar nam-mi-mu4
 en: in a lion’s skin his body he dressed.
12. kusz# pirig-pirig
 en: With lion’s skins
13. za3 mu-ni-kesz2
 en: his flanks he bound.
14. si-si ma-ta-za
 en: ...
15. la2-la2 ma-[ta]-za#
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 7
1. [...]
 en: ...
2. [...]
 en: ...
3. x x um#-gig
 en: ...
4. x x na za
 en: ...
5. gurusz DU#? ag2
 en: ...
6. gurusz x ma hi-a
 en: ...
7. dug kurun2#? dug SZID-ra
 en: ...
8. umum mu#-na-ni-za#?-x
 en: ...
9. ama-mu nu# x me-a
 en: My mother ...
10. gurusz-zu x na-dab6-sze3?
 en: ...
11. ama-mu nu# x me-a
 en: My mother ...
12. um-gig a-ne ba-e?
 en: ...
13. tur3 tu nu-me-a-ra#
 en: ...
14. a-gig a-ne RU#?
 en: ...
15. um x [x] x [x]
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 8
1. [...] x
 en: ...
2. [...]
 en: ...
3. na x [...]
 en: ...
4. igi mu#? x
 en: ...
5. [...]
 en: ...
6. im nam# [mu]-ni#?-tar
 en: ...
7. ki? x mah
 en: ...
8. x na x
 en: ...
9. za3# [...]
 en: ...
10. dumu x [x]
 en: Your young man ...
11. tum mu-dab6#-be2
 en: ...
12. ki ku4-ra-bi
 en: Those who enter the place
13. a# AB{ki}-a x ib2#?-be6#?
 en: ...
14. ki#? ub#? KID2 x a [x]
 en: ...
15. x [...]
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 9
1. dumu [...]
 en: Young man ...
2. ki mu-x-x-bad
 en: ...
3. [x] bi# x GA2#?
 en: ...
4. sza3-bi# gu4 x bar?
 en: ...
5. nig2# HI x DU#-DU
 en: ...
6. x x [...]
 en: ...
7. [{d}]nin-[hur]-sag
 en: Ninḫursag,
8. dumu#-ne-ne
 en: For their children
9. nam mu-ne-tar
 en: the fate was determined.
10. im si-sa2-ra
 en: For the north wind
11. nam mu-ni-tar
 en: its fate was determined.
12. gen-na a-zu5-lugal
 en: Come, let Azulugal
13. zi-zu he2-mi-|NINDA2xHI|#
 en: your life be(?)!"
14. sipa x ti HU#?
 en: The shepherd ...
  rest broken
column 10
1. x x [...]
 en: ...
2. lu2 [x] lu2-[ra?] ti [x]
 en: ...
3. x [...]
 en: ...
4. si [...]
 en: ...
5. lu2 x ru-a-zu
 en: ...
6. lu2 x ki# [...]
 en: ...
7. x x [...]
 en: ...
8. x zu5#? GA#? he2#
 en: ...
9. im-RU?-LAGAB MUSZ3#?
 en: For the ... wind
10. nam mu-ni-tar
 en: its fate was determined.
11. gen-na {d}en-ki-du
 en: Come! May Enkidu
12. ku-li-zu he2-am6
 en: your friend be!
13. ki-su7 {d}en-lil2-DU-[x]
 en: The wasteland may Enlildu
14. lu2 lu2-ra
 en: for men
15. edin [x x] x
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 11
  broken
column 12
1. [...]
 en: ...
2. [...]
 en: ...
3. [x] x e3 [x] da
 en: ...
4. kesz2-ta ba-ta-e3
 en: from Keš left.
5. [x] ninda gu7 [{d}]en-lil2
 en: where Enlil bread eats
6. [x x] da [x] ti#
 en: ...
7. {d}irhan
 en: Irḫan,
8. lu2# sa6#-ga
 en: the good one,
9. [x x] x [x x] ti
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 13
1. [...]
 en: ...
2. [...] an#-sze3 [x]
 en: ... to heaven ...
3. idigna# ku3# buranun# [ku3]-ge
 en: Silver Tigris and [silver] Euphrates
4. gidri ku3# {d}en-lil2
 en: pure scepter of Enlil,
5. hur-sag#? mu-DU
 en: the mountains(?) ...
6. ur2-bi he2-x
 en: its roots let ...
7. pa-bi uri3# [x]
 en: its crown let ...
8. bar-ba [x x] zur [x]
 en: On its side let ...
9. nunuz ki [he2?]-tag#
 en: eggs on the ground let be laid.
10. [x] lu2# [x] za
 en: ...
11. [x x] x [x x] GA#?
 en: ...
12. [x x x] e2
 en: ...
13. [...] x [...] x
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 14
1. [...]
 en: ...
2. [...]
 en: ...
3. kur-ra#? al-lu2#
 en: ... in the mountains multiplied;
4. am ge6 al-lu2
 en: black bulls multiplied,
5. am babbar al-lu2
 en: white bulls multiplied,
6. am su4 al-lu2
 en: reddish bulls multiplied,
7. am dara4 al-lu2
 en: dark-red bulls multiplied.
8. ansze pirig su il2
 en: Horrible “horse-lions”
9. an-ga-lu2
 en: also multiplied.
10. ansze zi-zi hur-sag
 en: Mountain horses
11. an-sze3 al-e11
 en: on top climbed.
12. ama-lu5 al-dab5
 en: ... dwellt.
13. siki-siki al-il2
 en: Wool the ... carried.
14. dar3 gi za [{d}]nin-hur-sag
 en: The ... stags of Ninḫursag
15. [al-lu2]
 en: [multiplied(?)].
  rest broken
column 15
1. [...]
 en: ...
2. [...]
 en: ...
3. [...] gi#
 en: ...
4. ul#?-sze3# mu#-gi4-gi4
 en: ...
5. KA lul NE KA lul NE
 en: ...
6. iri da-ba-la
 en: The city, Dabala,
7. e2-e MUD
 en: to the house ...
8. muszen a-ba-szub-be2
 en: after the birds left it,
9. {kusz}ga2-la2-a-ke4 zi3 a-ba-ta-si-ge
 en: after into its sack flour he has put,
10. {kusz}ummux(|EDIN.LAL.A|)-ke4 a a-ba-ta-de2
 en: after water into its water skin he has poured,
11. da-ba-la-e gal i3-ga-mu-zu
 en: Dabala, who is equally wise (said):
12. e2-mu# MUD
 en: “To my house ...
13. muszen a-ba-szub-be2
 en: after the birds have left it,
14. {kusz}ga2-la2-a-ke4 zi3# a-ba-ta-si-ge
 en: after into the sack flour has been put,
15. {kusz#}ummux(|EDIN.LAL.A|)-ke4 a a-ba-ta-de2
 en: after into its water skin water has been poured,”
  rest broken
column 16
1. [x x] x
 en: ...
2. [x] {d#}nin-hur-sag-ke4 ab#? da-me
 en: Ninḫursag, our “arm”(?),
3. ku3-me szu-na# mu-dab5#
 en: of our precious metal took possession.
4. an ba? da ga2#-e mu-na-ni#-gi4-gi4
 en: ... returned.
5. pisan ku3-ga-me pisan SZEN-ga-me
 en: Our silver container, our ... container,
6. lu2 duh ku3 nigin-me
 en: our man of ...
7. nu-zuh gidri# ku3-sig17
 en: the ... of gold,
8. NE sub6-me
 en: our ...
9. szu-ni nam-ma-dab5-[dab5]
 en: took possession.
10. dug 2(asz@c) [x] mu-na-de2#
 en: 2 pots ... poured,
11. 2(asz@c) PI [x] PI mu-na#-de2#
 en: 2 ... poured.
12. sza3 ki#-ag2 DU-a-bi
 en: Their ... beloved heart,
13. kasz mu-da-ni-ru
 en: beer dispersed.
14. {d}irhan
 en: Irḫan
  rest broken
column 17
1. [x] sur3#? BUR? sur3?
 en: ...
2. idigna ku3 buranun ku3-ge
 en: Silver Tigris and silver Euphrates,
3. gidri-ku3 szesz-mu
 en: silver scepter, my brother,
4. {d}en-lil2
 en: Enlil,
5. lu2 nam-DU an# [x]
 en: the man ...
6. dumu-mu# [...]
 en: my son
7. [x x] MI# [x x]
 en: ...
8. {d#}nin#-hur-sag-ke4
 en: Ninḫursag
9. szembi-zi |SZU2+SZE3| igi-du8 i3-li?
 en: fine antimony, eye-paste(?), fine oil(?)
10. igi-na ba-ni-gar
 en: onto her eyes put.
11. za3-e3 kesz3 nam-mi-DU
 en: a seat of honor in Keš(?) she established.
12. sig-sze3 ba-ni-il2
 en: Below they(?) carried.
13. sig-sze3 lu2 nu [x]
 en: Below nobody ...
14. gidri# [...]
 en: Scepter ...
  rest broken
column 18
1. [...]
 en: ...
2. x [...]
 en: ...
3. e2 mu-na-kusz3
 en: The house ...
4. u4-bi a-DU zal-la
 en: That day, ... passing,
5. ge6#-bi [a]-DU szu2-am6
 en: That night, ... darkening,
6. {d}irhan
 en: Irḫan
7. x KU [x] x
 en: ...
8. e2 [...]
 en: The house ...
9. dumu-mu GA2 x
 en: My child, ...
10. a-na# [x] a mu#-[x]
 en: ...
11. lul# [x] na#? [x]
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 19
1. [...]
 en: ...
2. [x] PESZ2# {d}esz-pesz
 en: ... Ešpeš,
3. gal i3-ga-mu-zu
 en: who is equally wise,
4. abul si-gar ba-gar
 en: the great gate bolted,
5. ig-x szu-a mu-ni#-kesz2#
 en: the door with his/her hand bound,
6. esz3#-ta e x i3-ma-szu2-szu2
 en: and down from the sanctuary ...brought.
7. {d}irhan#
 en: Irḫan
8. [...]
 en: ...
9. [...]
 en: ...
10. [x x] mu ta x
 en: ...
11. igi an-sze3 i3-il2-da
 en: his/her eyes toward heaven raised
12. szah2 gesz-gi-gin7
 en: like a wild boar of the canebrake
13. [x x] na# mu# [x x]
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 20
1. [...]
 en: ...
2. [x] nam-sa6#-ga
 en: ... pleasure
3. [ba]-ra-ni me#-nam
 en: ...
4. [x] GA2 dab5 x ma-da
 en: ...
5. mah#-bi sa6-ga
 en: greatly(?) pleasant
6. ba-ra-ni me#-nam
 en: ...
7. x DIN-gin7
 en: ...
8. |SZU2+SA| gi he2-dub-e
 en: ...
9. ki nam-nita-ni
 en: his place of manhood
10. MUSZ dam te esz2-mu-gin7
 en: like ...
11. da dar3 gesz ma NUN
 en: ...
12. ki NIG2 ti# NE# KA#
 en: ...
13. [x] na [x x] DU#
 en: ...
  rest broken
surface b1
  (possible design)
surface b2
  broken

Consult previous versions and their differences
Consult sign list of ED IIIb (ca. 2500-2340 BC)
Consult word list of ED IIIb (ca. 2500-2340 BC)

  • Artifact type: Cylinder
  • Material: Clay
  • Measurements (mm): 161.0 high × 127.0 wide × 127.0 thick
  • Weight:
  • Artifact Preservation:
  • Condition Description:
  • Join Information:
  • Seal no.:
  • Seal information:
  • Artifact comments:


  • primary: ASJ 16, p.15-46, p. 43-46

    [Alster1994Barton-cylinder] Alster, Bendt, and Aage Westenholz. 1994. “The Barton Cylinder.” Acta Sumerologica 16: 15–46.

  • history: JEOL 46, p.145-178,

    [Lisman2016-2017Barton-cylinder] Lisman, Jan J. W. 2016-2017. “The Barton Cylinder: A Lament for Keš?” Jaarbericht van Het Vooraziatisch-Egyptisch Genootschap “Ex Oriente Lux” 46: 145–78.

  • history: Barton, George A., MBI (1918) 01,

    [sec27372] N.d.

  • Composite No.:
  • Museum No.: CBS 08383
  • Accession No.:

  • Provenience: Nippur (mod. Nuffar) [uncertain] Provenience Comments:

    Kesh ?

  • Elevation:
  • Stratigraphic Level:
  • Excavation No:
  • Findspot Square:
  • Findspot Comments:

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2023-01-19 at 10:11:27 Pagé-Perron, Émilie Artifact Földi, Zsombor J.; Jiménez, Enrique; Pagé-Perron, Émilie Electronic Babylonian Library Pagé-Perron, Émilie approved View
2021-04-26 at 10:09:30 Lafont, Bertrand Atf Ozaki Tohru CDLI approved View
2018-05-31 at 14:24:18 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2018-05-16 at 05:41:44 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2018-01-09 at 16:56:02 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2014-02-28 at 09:07:25 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2013-12-23 at 10:03:02 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2008-10-17 at 09:51:50 Andersson, Jakob Atf Andersson, Jakob CDLI approved View
2008-10-09 at 16:04:56 Foxvog, Daniel A. Atf Foxvog, Daniel A. CDLI approved View
2006-10-12 at 12:35:07 CDLI Atf CDLI CDLI approved View
2003-02-26 at 00:00:00 CDLI Artifact Alster, Bendt; Englund, Robert K.; Foxvog, Daniel A.; Guerra, Dylan; Heinle, Michael; Johnson, J. Cale CDLI approved View

Consult this artifact as presented on the website of collections and projects:

General Notes: -
CDLI Notes: -
Cite this Artifact
“ASJ 16, 043-046 Barton Cylinder Artifact Entry.” (2003) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). February 1, 2023. https://cdli.ucla.edu/P222183.
ASJ 16, 043-046 Barton Cylinder artifact entry (No. P222183). (2023, February 1). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.ucla.edu/P222183 (Original work published 2003)
ASJ 16, 043-046 Barton Cylinder artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.ucla.edu/P222183 (Accessed: March 28, 2024).
@misc{2023ASJ,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2024-03-28]},
	year = {2023},
	month = {feb 1},
	title = {ASJ 16, 043-046 {Barton} {Cylinder} artifact entry},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P222183},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2023/2/1/
PY  - 2023
ID  - P222183
LB  - CDLI:P222183
M1  - 2024/3/28/
TI  - ASJ 16, 043-046 Barton Cylinder artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.ucla.edu/P222183
ER  - 
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