CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 017 (P346213)

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, UK

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Text / annotations

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Chemical Data

Seal Chemistry

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Metadata history Transliteration history

Museum Collection(s)

British Museum, London, UK

Museum Number

BM —

Period

Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

Provenience

Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)

Artifact Type

Tablet

Material(s)

Clay

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Literary (ETCSL 2.02.03 Lament for Sumer and Ur (witness))

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

-

Witness

tablet
obverse
1. [...]-ib#-bala-bala numun ba-ni-ib-i-[...]
 en: Gutium procreated there, they issued (their) seed there
2. [...]-ma#-ni er2# gig mu-un#-szesz4#-szesz4#
 en: Nintur wept bitterly on behalf of her creation
3. [...] gul#-la-gu10 gig#-ga#-bi im-me
 en: She was saying “Alas, my destroyed city, alas, my destroyed temple” bitterly
4. [... gi]-gun4#-na ku3-ge# szu# lil2-la2 ba-ab-du11
 en: At the site of Zabalam the pure giguna was rendered into an empty wind
5. [... {d}]inanna#? [...]-da#?-gur? ki-erim2-e ba-ab-du11
 en: Inanna turned away(?) from Uruk, enemy territory ...
6. [...] ge6-par4 ku3#?-[...] erim2-e igi mi-ni-in-bar
 en: (In?) the Eanna complex the enemy saw the holy gipar shrine
7. [...] nam#-en-na-[...] szu ba-e-lal-lal
 en: The office of the en priest(ess) of the gipar was actively diminished(?)
8. [...] ge6#-par4-ta ba-x-[...] x ki#-erim2#-e ba-ab-du11
 en: The en priest(ess) turned away from(?) the gipar, enemy territory ...
9. [umma]{ki#?} szeg12-hur-sza3-ga# [...] u4 gig-ga ba#-e-ri
 en: (In) Umma the painful storm/day imposed (itself) in the Šeghurša temple
10. [...]-mah ki#-tusz# ki ag2-ga2-ni giri3 kur2 ba-ra-an#-dab5
 en: (Šara) took to a different path (away from) the Emah temple, his beloved dwelling
11. nin#? mul#?-mul-e uru17{ki} hul#-lu-a-na er2 gig mu-un-szesz2-szesz2
 en: The shining lady(?) wept bitterly on behalf of her destroyed city
12. x# la-la-bi lu2 nu-mu-un-gi4-a-gu10 gig-ga-bi im-me
 en: She was saying “The charms of the city satisfy no one(?)” bitterly
13. gir2#-su{ki} iri{ki} ur-sag-ga2-e-ne-ke4 IM GIR2-e ba-ab-du11
 en: ... in Girsu, the city of heroes
14. {d}nin#-gir2-su-ke4# e2-ninnu-ta giri3 kur2 ba-ra-an-dab5
 en: Ningirsu took to a different path (away from) the Eninnu temple
15. ama {d}ba-ba6 e2-uru17-ku3-ga-na er2 gig mu-un-szesz2-szesz2
 en: Mother Baba wept bitterly in her temple of the Irikug precinct
16. a iri{ki} gul-la e2 gul-la-gu10 gig-ga-bi im-me
 en: She was saying “Alas, my destroyed city, my destroyed temple”
17. u4-ba inim u4-dam al-du7-du7 sza3-bi a-ba-a mu-un-zu
 en: At that time, the word, which was a storm, was thrashing about--who could have known its midst?
18. inim {d}en-lil2-la2 zi-da-asz gilim-ge26-de3 gab2?-bu su-su-de3
 en: The word of Enlil is to twist towards(?) the right, it is to drown(?) on the left(?)
19. {d#}en-lil2 lu2 nam tar-tar-re-de3 a-na bi2-in-ak-a-ba
 en: What was it that Enlil, the one who is to determine fates, did?
20. {d}en-lil2-le elam{ki} lu2-kur-ra kur-ta im-ta-an-e3
 en: Enlil brought down the Elamite, the foreigner, from the mountain
21. {d}nansze dumu-gir15 iri bar-ra mu-un-na-tusz-am3
 en: Nanše, the native citizen, was dwelling in the suburbs
22. {d}nin-mar{ki}-ra esz3 gu2-a-ab-zu-ka izi im-ma-da-an-ten
 en: ... could extinguish the fire(?) for Ninmar in the shrine of Gu'a'abba
23. ku3# {na4}za-gin3-bi ma2 gal-gal-e bala-sze3 i3-ke3-e
 en: Its precious metal and lapis lazuli was made to traverse (into the river) in large boats
24. nin nig2-gur11-ra-ni hul-lu ti-la-am3 ku3 {d}nin-mar{ki}-ke4
 en: The lady whose property was destroyed and brought to an end(!?)--pure Ninmar
25. u4-ba u4 KA-NE-gin7 bar7-ra im-ma-da-ab-tar-re
 en: At that time he was able to(?) decree(?) a day scorching like ...
26. ki lagasz{asz} ki-e elam{ki} szu-ni-a im-ma-szi-in-gi4
 en: The site of lagash! It returned it (to) Elam in its (own) hand
27. u4-bi-a nin-ga2 u4-da-a-ni sa2 nam-ga-mu-ni-ib-du11
 en: At that time the day of “my lady” was also not regularly performed
28. {d}ba-ba6 lu2-lu7#?-gin7 u4-da-a-ni sa2 nam-ga-mu-ni-ib-du11
 en: Baba, like a human, her day was also not regularly performed
29. [me]-li#-e-a u4-de3 szu-ni-a im-ma-szi-in-gi4-gi4#
 en: (Saying) “Woe, the storm returned it in its (own) hand
30. [...] x gul-gul-e szu-ni-a im-ma-szi-in-gi4-gi4#
 en: The storm that destroys the city returned it in its (own) hand
31. [...] gul-gul-e szu-ni-a im-ma-szi-in-gi4-gi4#
 en: The storm that destroys the temple returned it in its (own) hand
32. [...]-abzu# e2#-bi ki-nu-nir-sza3-ba ni2 im-ma-da-an-te#
 en: Dumuzi'Abzu was afraid in the temple (of?) Kinirša
33. [...]{ki#} uru17 nam-dumu-gir15-ni-gin7 kar-kar-re-de3 ba#?-[...]
 en: Kinunir, just as(!?) her native city, (its impending) plundering was spoken/ordered
34. [...] uru17-ni nigin6#!{ki}-a kur-re ba-[...]
 en: The mountain (i.e., the Guti?) set ... in the city of Nanše, in Nigin
35. [...]-AD?-TAG{ki}-a ki-tusz ki ag2-ga2-ni giri3 kur2! ba#?-ra#-[...]
 en: She wandered away from(!) Sirara, her beloved dwelling
36. [...] gul#-la e2 gul-la-gu10 gig-ga-bi im#-[me]
 en: She was saying “Alas, my destroyed city, my destroyed temple” bitterly
37. [...] ku3# nam-en-na-ba szu ba-e-lal-lal#
 en: The office of the en priest(ess) of the holy gipar was actively diminished(?)
38. [...] ge6-par4-ta ba-da-gur ki-erim2-e ba#-ab-du11#
 en: The en priest(ess) turned away from(?) the gipar, enemy territory ...
reverse
1. [...]-x {d}nanna-ka a2 dugud ba-szi-in-de2
 en: It brought a heavy arm towards the banks of the princely canal of Nanna
2. [...]-GAN2#? e2 danna {d}suen-na tur3 dugud-gin7 ba-an-gul
 en: He destroyed the settlements and travel houses of Suen like a cattlepen heavy (with dairy products!?)
3. [...]-ra#?-bi! masz kar#-ra-gin7 tesz2-e im-me-e-da
 en: Its fugitivies left(?) together(?) like fleeing goats
4. [...]-es#{ki#} ga-gin7 ur-e# ba-an-de2 i3-gul-gul-lu-de3
 en: He poured out Ga'eš like milk among the dogs, it is to be destroyed
5. [...] dim2#?-ma uludin2 sa6-ga#-bi me-ze-er-ze-re-de3
 en: The beautiful features of the fashioned statues are to be torn out/broken ...(?)
6. [ge6]-par4# ku3 nam-en-na-ba szu ba-e-lal-lal
 en: The office of the en priestess of the holy gipar was actively diminished(?)
7. en-bi# ge6-par4-ta ba#-da#-an#!-kar# ki#-erim2-e ba-ab-du11
 en: He took away the en priestess from(?) the gipar, enemy territory ...
8. x x x bara2 an#-na-da gid2-da-bi#-a# a#-nir ba-da-ab-si
 en: A lament filled(?) the dais that extended with the heavens(?)
9. {gesz#}gu#-za an-na#-bi nu#-ub#?-x-x [...] me#-te#-asz# li-bi2-ib-gal2
 en: The upper part of the throne(?) was not ..., (its) top was not fitting
10. {gesz}geszimmar-gin7# [...]-gur5#? ba-ab-du11# tesz2#-bi ba-ra-an-kad4
 en: Like a date palm it was cut down, he bound them together
11. asz-szu2 e2? i7#-[...]-a-ri [...] ba#?-da-an-BU
 en: Aššu, where the temple was attached to the canal, he muddied the water/removed it from(?) the water(?)
12. nig2-erim2 [... {d}]nanna#-ka lu2-erim2#-e ba-e-dab
 en: At (the place where) evil does not pass of Nanna, the evildoer passed through
13. e2# BIR#?-re#? [...] x-an-ba e2 pu-uh2#-[ru]-um#-ma sza3 sug4-ga ba-ab-gar
 en: The temple ..., in the “house of the assembly” famine was introduced
14. ki#-ab2#-rig7#?-ga{ki} ab2# lu-[...]-ri#? tur3 dugud-gin7 ba-an-gul#
 en: He destroyed Ki'abrig, where cows ...(?) are numerous, like a cattlepen heavy (with dairy products!?)
15. [{d}]nin#-[...] ga2-bur-ta giri3 kur2 ba-ra-an-dab5
 en: Ningublaga took to a different path (away from) the gabur temple
16. [...]-gara2#-ke4 ni2-te-na er2 gig mu-un-szesz4-szesz4
 en: Nini'gara wept bitterly by herself
17. a# x [gul]-la e2 gul-la-gu10 gig-ga-bi im-me
 en: She was saying “Alas, my destroyed city, my destroyed temple” bitterly
18. ge6-par4 ku3# nam#-en#-na-ba szu ba-e-lal-lal
 en: The office of the en priest(ess) of the holy gipar was actively diminished(?)
19. en-bi ge6-par4#-ta# ba-da-an-kar ki-erim2-e ba-ab-du11
 en: The en priestess fled from the gipar, enemy territory ...
20. {d}nin-a-zu e2#-gid#-da {gesz}tukul ub-ba i-ni-gub
 en: Ninazu stood his weapon in the corner in the Egida temple
21. {d}nin-hur-sag e2-nu#-tur-ra-ke4 u4 hul ba-an-da-RI
 en: An evil storm flew on/was cast upon(?) Ninhursag in the Enutur temple
22. tum12{muszen}-gin7 ab-lal3#-ta# ba-da-an-dal edin-na bar bi2-ib2-gub
 en: Like a wild dove she flew away from the window and stood aside in the plain
23. a iri{ki} gul-la e2 gul#-la-gu10 gig-ga-bi im-me
 en: She was saying “Alas, my destroyed city, my destroyed temple” bitterly
24. gesz-banda3{+da} e2 er2-re gal2#-la#-ri gi er2-ra# ba-an-mu2
 en: In {geš}banda, the temple where there was mourning, the reed of lamentation grew
25. {d}nin-gesz-zi-da gesz-banda3{+da#} giri3# kur2 ba-ra-an-dab5
 en: Ningešzida took to a different path (away from) the {geš}banda temple, his beloved dwelling
26. da2-zi-mu2#-a nin# uru17-a-ke4# er2# gig# mu-un-szesz4-szesz4
 en: Azimua, the lady of the city, wept bitterly
27. a iri{ki#} gul#-la# e2 gul-la#-gu10# gig-ga-bi im-me
 en: She was saying “Alas, my destroyed city, my destroyed temple” bitterly
28. [...]-lu#? lu2 kukku5-a ba-an-dur2-ru-ne-esz
 en: At that time the southern storm made the people dwell in darkness
29. [...]-hul#-lu-de3 lu2 kukku5-a ba-an-dur2-ru-ne-esz
 en: (As a prelude to) destroying the city of Ku'ara, it made the people dwell in darkness
30. [...]-ma#?-ke4 er2 gig# mu-un-szesz4-szesz4
 en: NineHAma wept bitterly
31. [...] gul#-la e2 gul-la-gu10 gig-ba-bi im-me
 en: She was saying “Alas, my destroyed city, my destroyed temple” bitterly
32. [...]-ul4-e tug2 ba-da-mur10 giri16#?-lu? mu-un-sza4#?
 en: Asalluhi dressed hurriedly and intoned a lament(?)
33. [...] ki-tusz ki ag2-ga2-ni giri3# kur# ba-ra-an-dab5
 en: Lugalbanda took to a different path (away from) his beloved dwelling
34. [...]-la# e2 gul-la-gu10 gig-ga-bi im-me
 en: She (Ninsumun?) was saying “Alas, my destroyed city, my destroyed temple” bitterly
35. [...] diri#?-ga a nag-e ba-am3-til!?
 en: (In?) Eridu, which had been floated in a flood, drinking water ceased(?)

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:

  • Genre(s): Literary (ETCSL 2.02.03 Lament for Sumer and Ur (witness))
  • Language(s): Sumerian

  • history: UET 6, 0128

    [Gadd1963] Gadd, Cyril J., and Aaron Shaffer. 1963, 1966.

  • history: Michalowski Lamentation over Sumer and Ur p.32,

    [sec87745] N.d.

  • Composite No.:
  • Museum No.: BM —
  • Accession No.:

  • Provenience: Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)
  • Elevation:
  • Stratigraphic Level:
  • Excavation No: U —
  • Findspot Square:
  • Findspot Comments:

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2023-06-15 at 20:34:30 Rattenborg, Rune Artifact Rattenborg, Rune Geomapping Landscapes of Writing Rattenborg, Rune approved View
2019-05-29 at 21:01:58 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2006-11-02 at 00:00:00 CDLI Artifact Foxvog, Daniel A.; Guerra, Dylan; Peterson, Jeremiah; Veldhuis, Niek; Wolfe, Jared N. CDLI approved View

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

This artifact is a witness to the following composite(s):

Composite Score
CDLI Literary 000380 (Lament for Sumer and Ur) composite (P469682) View the score

General Notes: -
CDLI Notes: -
Cite this Artifact
“CDLI Literary 000380, Ex. 017 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). June 15, 2023. https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346213.
CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 017 artifact entry (No. P346213). (2023, June 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346213 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 017 artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346213 (Accessed: April 24, 2024).
@misc{2023CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2024-04-24]},
	year = {2023},
	month = {jun 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000380, ex. 017 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346213},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346213},
}


TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2023/6/15/
PY  - 2023
ID  - P346213
LB  - CDLI:P346213
M1  - 2024/4/24/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000380, ex. 017 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346213
ER  -
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