UET 6, 0414 (P274721)
Literary tablet excavated in Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar), dated to the Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC) period and now kept in British Museum, London, UKMetadata / catalogue
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Museum Collection(s)
British Museum, London, UKMuseum Number
BM —Provenience
Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)Artifact Type
TabletMaterial(s)
ClayGenre / Subgenre(s)
Literary (humor At the cleaners)Language(s)
AkkadianMeasurements
-Witness
tablet
obverse
1. al-kam _{lu2}azlag2_ lu-wa-hi-ir-ka-a-ma# su-ba-ti zu-uk#-ki
en: “Come now, cleaner, I’ll give you an order—clean my clothes!
2. sza u-wa-hi#-ru#-ka la ta-na-ad-di-i-ma
en: What I instruct you, do not lay aside,
3. sza-at ra-ma-ni-ka la te-ep-pe-esz
en: Your own (ideas), you should not do!
4. si2-is-si2-ik-tam qa2-ap-si-da-am ta-na-ad-di
en: As for the hem of the garment, you will lay down the selvage,
5. pa-nam a-na li-ib-bi-im tu-ta-ak-ka-ap
en: You will stitch the outer side to the inside,
6. qa2 szi-id-dim ta-la-aq-qa-at
en: You will pick up the thread of the (shorter) border.
7. me-eh-ha-am qa-at-nam ta-ra-as-sa3-an
en: You will soak the delicate part (of the cloth) in beer,
8. i-na ma-asz-ha-li-im ta-sza-ah-ha-al
en: You will strain it through a sieve.
9. si2-si2-ka-at qa2-ap-si-di-im tu-pa-at,-t,a#-ar
en: You will loosen the hem with the selvage.
10. asz i-na me-e na-am-ru-tim te#-di-ik#?
en: You will spray it with clear water,
aš on the left edge, indicating 10th line
11. ki-ma ki-im-di-im-ma ta#-ka#?-pa#-ar u3 te-x-ni#?
en: You will wipe it like a kimdum cloth, and you will ... :
12. a#-na pi2-it-tim ta-sa3#-x ki-ma# szu-tu-um# x-x-bi?
en: To the weft yarns you will [brush?] so that the warp yarns ...
13. [a]-na# me-es-ke-er-tim ta#-ta#-x-[x-x]
en: You will ... in a basin(?),
14. x ku-up?-pa?# x _im-babbar_ tu#-[ba-la]-al#
en: ... you will mix alkali with gypsum (to prepare fuller’s earth?).
15. [i-na] _na4#_ ta-ma#-[ah-ha]-su2#
en: You will beat(?) it on/with/under a stone.
16. i#-na# te-er-hi-im ta-ma#-ar-ra#-[as u3 te?-x x x]
en: ... in a vessel.
17. pi2-qa2 si2-im-tam te-me-su#? ta#-[x-x-x] u3 tu-na-da#-[ad?]
en: In case you have applied a (laundry) mark, (then) you must ... and you will have to comb (the fabric).
18. i-na# _{gesz#}gidri# ma-nu_ tu-ta-ar#-[ra-ak]
en: You will tap (the garment) repeatedly with an e’ru-wood stick (to felt or smooth the fabric).
19. it#-qa2#-am na-pa-al-sa3-ah-tam tu-[...]
en: You will arrange the fleece on the washer’s stool.
20. asz szu-ta-am szi#-ip-ra-am i-na _{gesz}dala#_ x-[x]-ni#?
en: You will sew/repair the work, the (damaged) warp, with a needle.
aš on the left edge, indicating 10th line
reverse
1. si2-si2-ik-tam ta-sza-at-ta-aq u3 tu-pa-asz-sza-ah
en: You will spread and cool the hem.
2. i-na s,i-it li-li-im tu-ub-ba-al
en: You will dry (the garment) in the break of evening,
3. ki-ma szu-tu-um la usz-ta-ak-ka-su2
en: so that the fabric will not dry (and wrinkle).
4. i-na sza-ad-di-im i-na pi-it-ni-im ta-sza-ak-ka-an#
en: (Afterwards) you will place it in a box (and that) in a chest.
5. lu pu-usz-szu-uh-kum bi-lam u2-ha-ad-da-ka ma-di-isz hu-um-t,a-am
en: No cause for concern! Bring (it) to me; I will make you very happy—promptly!
6. a-na bi-tim tu-ba-lam-ma 1(ban2) sze a-na su2-ni-ka i-sza-ap-pa-[ku]
en: You will bring (the garment) to the house, (one) will pour a seah of barley into your lap.”
7. _{lu2}azlag2_ i-ip-al-szu asz-szum e2-a be-el ne2-em-si2-im sza u2-ba-la-t,u3#-[ni?]
en: The fuller answers him: “By Ea, lord of the washbowl, who gives me life!
‘The fuller answers’ commonly understood to be stage directions
8. e-zi-ib la ia-ti sza ta-qa-ab-bu-u2 um-me2-ni u3 mu-sza-[di-ni?]
en: Drop it! Not me! What you are saying—only my creditor and my tax collector
9. sza ki-ma ka-a-ti li-ib-ba-am i-ra-asz-szu-u2-ma#
en: have the nerve (to talk) like you!
10. szi-ip-ra-am ri#-ta-szu i-ka-asz-sza-da u2-la i-ba-asz-szi
en: Nobody’s hands could manage this work!
11. asz sza tu-wa-hi#-ru#!-ni szu-un-na-am da-ba-ba-am
en: What you have instructed me I cannot repeat,
aš on the left edge, indicating 10th line
12. qa2-ba-am u3 tu-ur-ra-am u2-la e-le-i
en: utter or reiterate!
13. al-kam e-le-nu-um a-li-im i-na li-it a-li-im
en: Come upstream of the city, in the environs of the city—
14. ma-ah-tu-tam lu-ka-al-li-im-ka-ma-me
en: let me show you a washing-place!
15. ma-na-ha-tim ra-be2-tim sza i-na qa-ti-ka i-ba-asz-szi-a i-na ra-ma-ni-ka szu-ku-un-ma
en: The great work you have in your hands set yourself (to do)!
16. na-ap-ta-nu-um la i-ba-a et-ru-ba-am-ma
en: The meal time should not pass—go in there, and
or ‘He does not come to the meal but goes in,’ commonly understood to be stage directions
17. u3# qe2-e _{lu2}azlag2_ ma-du-tim pu-szu-ur
en: the many threads of the fuller unravel!
18. szum-ma la at-ta li-ib-bi ra-ma-ni-ka tu-na-ap-pa-asz
en: If you don’t calm yourself down
literally If not-you the stomach of yourself exhales
19. _{lu2}azlag2_ sza i-na-ah-hi-da-kum u2-la i-ba-asz-szi
en: a fuller who will bother for you will be none.
20. i-me-esz-szu-ni-ik-kum-ma li-ib-ba-ka-mi
en: They will mock you. Your heart
21. asz ih-ha-am-ma-at, u3 te-er-szi-tam
en: will burn, and a rash(?)
aš on the left edge, indicating 10th line
22. pa-ga-ar-ka te-mi-id
en: on your body you will impose.”
23. ($ blank space $) _mu-bi szid-bi 4(u) 1(disz)_
en: The lines, their count: 41.
obverse
1. al-kam _{lu2}azlag2_ lu-wa-hi-ir-ka-a-ma# su-ba-ti zu-uk#-ki
en: “Come now, cleaner, I’ll give you an order—clean my clothes!
2. sza u-wa-hi#-ru#-ka la ta-na-ad-di-i-ma
en: What I instruct you, do not lay aside,
3. sza-at ra-ma-ni-ka la te-ep-pe-esz
en: Your own (ideas), you should not do!
4. si2-is-si2-ik-tam qa2-ap-si-da-am ta-na-ad-di
en: As for the hem of the garment, you will lay down the selvage,
5. pa-nam a-na li-ib-bi-im tu-ta-ak-ka-ap
en: You will stitch the outer side to the inside,
6. qa2 szi-id-dim ta-la-aq-qa-at
en: You will pick up the thread of the (shorter) border.
7. me-eh-ha-am qa-at-nam ta-ra-as-sa3-an
en: You will soak the delicate part (of the cloth) in beer,
8. i-na ma-asz-ha-li-im ta-sza-ah-ha-al
en: You will strain it through a sieve.
9. si2-si2-ka-at qa2-ap-si-di-im tu-pa-at,-t,a#-ar
en: You will loosen the hem with the selvage.
10. asz i-na me-e na-am-ru-tim te#-di-ik#?
en: You will spray it with clear water,
aš on the left edge, indicating 10th line
11. ki-ma ki-im-di-im-ma ta#-ka#?-pa#-ar u3 te-x-ni#?
en: You will wipe it like a kimdum cloth, and you will ... :
12. a#-na pi2-it-tim ta-sa3#-x ki-ma# szu-tu-um# x-x-bi?
en: To the weft yarns you will [brush?] so that the warp yarns ...
13. [a]-na# me-es-ke-er-tim ta#-ta#-x-[x-x]
en: You will ... in a basin(?),
14. x ku-up?-pa?# x _im-babbar_ tu#-[ba-la]-al#
en: ... you will mix alkali with gypsum (to prepare fuller’s earth?).
15. [i-na] _na4#_ ta-ma#-[ah-ha]-su2#
en: You will beat(?) it on/with/under a stone.
16. i#-na# te-er-hi-im ta-ma#-ar-ra#-[as u3 te?-x x x]
en: ... in a vessel.
17. pi2-qa2 si2-im-tam te-me-su#? ta#-[x-x-x] u3 tu-na-da#-[ad?]
en: In case you have applied a (laundry) mark, (then) you must ... and you will have to comb (the fabric).
18. i-na# _{gesz#}gidri# ma-nu_ tu-ta-ar#-[ra-ak]
en: You will tap (the garment) repeatedly with an e’ru-wood stick (to felt or smooth the fabric).
19. it#-qa2#-am na-pa-al-sa3-ah-tam tu-[...]
en: You will arrange the fleece on the washer’s stool.
20. asz szu-ta-am szi#-ip-ra-am i-na _{gesz}dala#_ x-[x]-ni#?
en: You will sew/repair the work, the (damaged) warp, with a needle.
aš on the left edge, indicating 10th line
reverse
1. si2-si2-ik-tam ta-sza-at-ta-aq u3 tu-pa-asz-sza-ah
en: You will spread and cool the hem.
2. i-na s,i-it li-li-im tu-ub-ba-al
en: You will dry (the garment) in the break of evening,
3. ki-ma szu-tu-um la usz-ta-ak-ka-su2
en: so that the fabric will not dry (and wrinkle).
4. i-na sza-ad-di-im i-na pi-it-ni-im ta-sza-ak-ka-an#
en: (Afterwards) you will place it in a box (and that) in a chest.
5. lu pu-usz-szu-uh-kum bi-lam u2-ha-ad-da-ka ma-di-isz hu-um-t,a-am
en: No cause for concern! Bring (it) to me; I will make you very happy—promptly!
6. a-na bi-tim tu-ba-lam-ma 1(ban2) sze a-na su2-ni-ka i-sza-ap-pa-[ku]
en: You will bring (the garment) to the house, (one) will pour a seah of barley into your lap.”
7. _{lu2}azlag2_ i-ip-al-szu asz-szum e2-a be-el ne2-em-si2-im sza u2-ba-la-t,u3#-[ni?]
en: The fuller answers him: “By Ea, lord of the washbowl, who gives me life!
‘The fuller answers’ commonly understood to be stage directions
8. e-zi-ib la ia-ti sza ta-qa-ab-bu-u2 um-me2-ni u3 mu-sza-[di-ni?]
en: Drop it! Not me! What you are saying—only my creditor and my tax collector
9. sza ki-ma ka-a-ti li-ib-ba-am i-ra-asz-szu-u2-ma#
en: have the nerve (to talk) like you!
10. szi-ip-ra-am ri#-ta-szu i-ka-asz-sza-da u2-la i-ba-asz-szi
en: Nobody’s hands could manage this work!
11. asz sza tu-wa-hi#-ru#!-ni szu-un-na-am da-ba-ba-am
en: What you have instructed me I cannot repeat,
aš on the left edge, indicating 10th line
12. qa2-ba-am u3 tu-ur-ra-am u2-la e-le-i
en: utter or reiterate!
13. al-kam e-le-nu-um a-li-im i-na li-it a-li-im
en: Come upstream of the city, in the environs of the city—
14. ma-ah-tu-tam lu-ka-al-li-im-ka-ma-me
en: let me show you a washing-place!
15. ma-na-ha-tim ra-be2-tim sza i-na qa-ti-ka i-ba-asz-szi-a i-na ra-ma-ni-ka szu-ku-un-ma
en: The great work you have in your hands set yourself (to do)!
16. na-ap-ta-nu-um la i-ba-a et-ru-ba-am-ma
en: The meal time should not pass—go in there, and
or ‘He does not come to the meal but goes in,’ commonly understood to be stage directions
17. u3# qe2-e _{lu2}azlag2_ ma-du-tim pu-szu-ur
en: the many threads of the fuller unravel!
18. szum-ma la at-ta li-ib-bi ra-ma-ni-ka tu-na-ap-pa-asz
en: If you don’t calm yourself down
literally If not-you the stomach of yourself exhales
19. _{lu2}azlag2_ sza i-na-ah-hi-da-kum u2-la i-ba-asz-szi
en: a fuller who will bother for you will be none.
20. i-me-esz-szu-ni-ik-kum-ma li-ib-ba-ka-mi
en: They will mock you. Your heart
21. asz ih-ha-am-ma-at, u3 te-er-szi-tam
en: will burn, and a rash(?)
aš on the left edge, indicating 10th line
22. pa-ga-ar-ka te-mi-id
en: on your body you will impose.”
23. ($ blank space $) _mu-bi szid-bi 4(u) 1(disz)_
en: The lines, their count: 41.
Consult previous versions and their differences
Consult sign list of Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
Consult word list of Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
- Artifact type: Tablet
- Material: Clay
- Measurements (mm):
- Weight:
- Artifact Preservation:
- Condition Description:
- Join Information:
- Seal no.:
- Seal information:
- Artifact comments:
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primary: UET 6, 0414
[Gadd1963] Gadd, Cyril J., and Aaron Shaffer. 1963, 1966.
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history: Gadd, Cyril J., “Two Sketches from the Life at Ur,” Iraq 25 (1963) 177-188,
[sec53425] N.d.
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history: Livingstone, Alisdair, Fs Deller (= AOAT 220, Neukirchen-Vluyn 1988) 175-187,
[sec53426] N.d.
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history: Foster, Benjamin, Muses (2005) 151-152,
[sec53428] N.d.
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history: Wasserman, Nathan, Iraq 75 (2013) 255-277,
[sec53429] N.d.
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citation: Charpin Clergé d'Ur, p. 431-432
[Charpin1986Clergé] Charpin, Dominique. 1986. Le Clergé d’Ur Au Siècle d’Hammurabi (XIXe-XVIIIe Siècles Av. J.-C.). Hautes Études Orientales 22. Genève - Paris: Librairie Droz.
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collation: A. George, Iraq 55 (1993) 73-74,
[sec53432] N.d.
- Composite No.:
- Museum No.: BM —
- Accession No.:
- Provenience: Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)
- Elevation:
- Stratigraphic Level:
- Excavation No: U 07793
- Findspot Square:
- Findspot Comments:
- Period: Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
- Dates Referenced:
- Alternative Years:
- Date Comments:
- Accounting Period: 0
| Created | Creator | Type | Authors | Project | Reviewer | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-28 at 23:15:35 | Rattenborg, Rune | Artifact | Hafford, William B.; Rattenborg, Rune | Geomapping Landscapes of Writing | Rattenborg, Rune | approved |  |
| 2017-10-27 at 09:15:02 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | CDLI | CDLI | approved | |
|
| 2016-11-28 at 15:41:33 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2016-11-28 at 15:36:33 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2016-11-28 at 15:33:58 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2016-11-28 at 14:40:51 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2016-11-28 at 14:26:02 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2016-11-22 at 13:56:24 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2016-11-22 at 13:49:51 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2016-11-22 at 13:34:57 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2016-11-22 at 11:20:30 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2014-01-11 at 08:42:30 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2012-04-01 at 13:41:16 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2012-03-29 at 21:24:04 | Friberg, Jöran | Atf | Friberg, Jöran | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2012-03-29 at 21:23:50 | Friberg, Jöran | Atf | Friberg, Jöran | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2012-03-29 at 21:20:33 | Friberg, Jöran | Atf | Friberg, Jöran | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2012-03-29 at 21:18:16 | Friberg, Jöran | Atf | Friberg, Jöran | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2012-03-29 at 21:09:33 | Friberg, Jöran | Atf | Friberg, Jöran | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2012-03-29 at 21:00:34 | Friberg, Jöran | Atf | Friberg, Jöran | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2012-03-28 at 11:07:53 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2012-03-21 at 17:37:47 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
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| 2005-09-15 at 00:00:00 | CDLI | Artifact | Wasserman, Nathan | CDLI | approved | |
Consult this artifact as presented on the website of collections and projects:
- Ur Online Project (7171)
This artifact is a witness to the following composite(s):
| Composite | Score |
|---|---|
| Dummy composite "needed" (P546835) | View the score |
General Notes:
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CDLI Notes:
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