CDLI Literary 000379, ex. 026 (P346221)

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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Chemical Data

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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 2.02.02 Lament for Ur (witness))

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

-

Has fragments Witness

tablet
obverse
1. [...] musz3 mu-ni-in-ga#-[am3 ...]
 en: He has ceased in the cattlepen, an empty wind (is set, smites?) his sheepfold is an empty wind
2. [...] musz3 mu-ni-in-ga-am3# [...]
 en: The wild bull has ceased in the cattlepen, his sheepfold is an empty wind
3. [...] musz3 mu-ni-in-ga-am3# [...]
 en: The lord of the lands has ceased there, his sheepfold is an empty wind
4. [...]{ki#?} musz3 mu-ni-in-ga-am3# [...]
 en: The lord of the lands has ceased there, his sheepfold is an empty wind
5. [...] musz3 mu-ni-in-ga-am3# [...]
 en: His spouse Ninlil has ceased there, her sheepfold is an empty wind
6. [... ki]-ur3-ra musz3 mu-ni-in-ga-am3# [...]
 en: Ninlil has ceased in the temple in the Ki'ur complex, her sheepfold is an empty wind
7. [...] musz3 mi-ni-in-[ga-am3 ...]
 en: The lady of Kesh has ceased there, her sheepfold is an empty wind
8. [...]-bi keszx(|SZU2.AN|){ki}-kam? musz3 mi-ni-in#-<ga>-am3# [...]
 en: Ninmah has ceased in the temple in Kesh, her sheepfold is an empty wind
9. [...] musz3 mi-ni-in-ga-am3 amasz-[...]
 en: The one of Isin has ceased there, her sheepfold is an empty wind
10. [...]-ke4# e2-bi esz3 e2-gal-mah musz3# mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3# [...]
 en: NinIsina has ceased in shrine Egalmah, her sheepfold is an empty wind
11. [... musz3] mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 [...]
 en: The lady of the region of Uruk has ceased there, her sheepfold is an empty wind
12. [...] unu{ki}-ga musz3# mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3# [...]
 en: Inanna has ceased in the temple in the region of Uruk, her sheepfold is an empty wind
13. [...] uri2#{ki#}-ma musz3# mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 [...]
 en: Nanna has ceased in shrine Urim, his sheepfold is an empty wind
14. [...] e3-kisz-nu-gal2-la#?-na musz3# mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 [...]
 en: Suen has ceased in his Ekišnugal temple, his sheepfold is an empty wind
15. dam#-ni# ga-sza-an#-[gal]-e musz3# mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 [...]
 en: His spouse Ningal has ceased there, her sheepfold is an empty wind
16. {d}ga-sza-an-<gal>-e e2#-bi# agrun-ku3-ga musz3 mi-ni#-in-<ga>-am3 amasz#-[a-ni] lil2#-la2
 en: Ningal has ceased in the temple, in her holy cella, her sheepfold is an empty wind
17. am uru2-ze2#{ki}-ba-ke4# musz3 mi-ni-in#-<ga>-am3 amasz#-a-ni# lil2-la2
 en: The wild bull of Eridu has ceased there, his sheepfold is an empty wind
18. dam#-an#-ki-ke4 uru2-ze2{ki}-ba-ke4 musz3# mi#-ni-[in-<ga>-am3] amasz#-a-ni# lil2-la2
 en: Enki has ceased in the temple of Eridu, his sheepfold is an empty wind
19. {d}szara2 e2-mah-a musz3# [mi]-ni#-in#-[am3 amasz]-a#-ni# lil2-la2
 en: Šara has ceased in the Emah temple, his sheepfold is an empty wind
20. {d}ud-sahar-ra e2-bi umma{ki} musz3# mi#-ni-in-[am3 amasz-a-ni] lil2-la2
 en: Udsahara has ceased in the temple in Umma, her sheepfold is an empty wind
21. {d}ba-ba6 iri-ku3-ga musz3# mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3# [amasz-a-ni lil2-la2]
 en: Baba has ceased in the Irikug precinct, her sheepfold is an empty wind
22. e4-du11-ga ama5#-na musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 [amasz-a-ni lil2-la2]
 en: She has ceased the Eduga(!?), her chamber, her sheepfold is an empty wind
23. ama-ni dab-ba-ba6 musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 [amasz-a-ni lil2-la2]
 en: Her mother, Abbaba, has ceased there, her sheepfold is an empty wind
24. dab-ba-u2 ma-gu2#-en-na musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 [amasz-a-ni lil2-la2]
 en: Abbau has ceased in the Maguena shrine, her sheepfold is an empty wind
25. {d}lamma e2-[...] musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga> am3# amasz#-[a-ni lil2-la2]
 en: The protective lamma spirit of the temple has ceased there, her sheepfold is an empty wind
26. {d}lamma-re e2-tar-sir2-sir2-ra musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3# amasz-a#-ni# [lil2-la2]
 en: The protective lamma spirit has ceased in the Etarsirsir temple, her sheepfold is an empty wind
27. um-ma# lagaszx(|SZIR.BUR.LA.DIL.BUR|){ki}-ke4 musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3# amasz-a#-ni# lil2#-la2#
 en: The matron of lagaš has ceased there, her sheepfold is an empty wind
28. {d}ma-ze2-ze2 e2-bi lagasz#{ki}-ke4 musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 amasz-a-ni# lil2-la2
 en: gatumdug has ceased in the temple in lagaš, her sheepfold is an empty wind
29. mu-lu nigin6?{ki} musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 amasz-a-ni# lil2-la2
 en: The one of Nina has ceased there, her sheepfold is an empty wind
30. {d}ga-sza-an gu-la e2-bi# sirarax(|UD.DAR.AB.BI.DAR|)-a musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 amasz-a-ni# lil2-la2
 en: The greatest lady (Nanše) has ceased in the temple in Sirara(?), her sheepfold is an empty wind
31. mu-lu ki-nir-sza4{ki}-ke4# musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 amasz-a-ni# lil2-la2
 en: The one of Kinirša has ceased there, his sheepfold is an empty wind
32. {d}dumu-zi-abzu e2#-bi# ki-nir-sza4{ki}-ke4 musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 amasz-a-ni# lil2-la2
 en: Dumuzi-Abzu has ceased in the temple in Kinirša, his sheepfold is an empty wind
33. mu-lu gu2-ab#-ba{ki} musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 amasz-a-ni# lil2-la2
 en: The one of Gu'abba has ceased there, her sheepfold is an empty wind
34. {d}ga-sza-an-mar#{ki#} e2-bi gu2-ab-ba{ki} musz3 mi-ni-in-<ga>-am3 amasz-a-ni# lil2-la2
 en: Ninmar has ceased in the temple in Gu'abba, her sheepfold is an empty wind
35. ki-ru-gu2 disz-kam-ma
 en: It is the first kirugu
36. amasz-a-ni# lil2#-[...]-in-gar i-si-isz-bi mu-un-kusz2-u3
 en: An empty wind is set in his sheepfold, its lament exhausts him
37. ab2 gu3#-zu#? tur3-ra nu-ma-al tur3 nun nu-e-du7
 en: Cow, your moo is not present in the cattlepen, the cattlepen is no longer suitable for the prince(?)
38. gesz-gi4-gal2-bi-im
 en: It is its gešgigal “response”
39. uru2# [...] gig-ga a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: City whose lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
40. a-[...] gig-ga uru2# a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Your lament is bitter, city, initiate your lament!
41. uru2 zi gul-la#-na a-sze-er-bi gig-ga-am3
 en: The lament of his destroyed true city is bitter
42. uri2#{ki} gul#-la#-na a-sze-er-bi gig-ga-am3
 en: The lament of his destroyed Urim is bitter
43. a-sze-er-zu gig#-ga#-am3 ga-sza-an gal-zu mu-lu er2-ra en3-sze3 mu-un-kusz2-u3
 en: Your lament is bitter, your “great lady” (Ningal), the one who laments, how long will it exhaust her?
44. a-sze-er-zu gig-ga-am3 {d}nanna mu-lu er2-ra en3-sze3 mu-un-kusz2-u3
 en: Your lament is bitter, Nanna, the one who laments, how long will it exhaust him?
45. sze-eb e2-kur-ra a-sze-er gig-ga-am3 a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Brickwork of Ekur, the lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
46. ki-ur3 ki gal-la a-sze-er gig-ga-am3 a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Ki'ur, the great place, the lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
47. ub#-szu#-ukken-na a-sze-er gig-ga-am3 a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Ubšu'ukken assembly place, the lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
48. esz3 nibru#{ki} uru2 a-sze-er gig-ga-am3 a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Shrine Nibru, city, the lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
49. sze-eb i3-si#-[in]-na{ki} a-sze-er gig-ga-am3 a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Brickwork of Isin, the lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
50. esz3 e2-gal-mah a-sze-er gig-ga-am3 a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Shrine Egalmah, the lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
51. sze-eb uri2{ki}-ma a-sze-er gig-ga-am3 a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Brickwork of Urim, the lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
52. e2-kisz-nu-gal2 a-sze-er gig-ga-am3 a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Ekišnugal temple, the lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
53. esz3 agrun-ku3-ga a-sze-er gig-ga-am3 a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Shrine Agrunkuga, the lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
54. sze-eb uru2-ze2{ki}-ba-ke4 a-sze-er gig-ga-am3 a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Brickwork of Eridu, the lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
55. sze-eb uru2-ku3-ga a-sze-er gig-ga-am3 a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Brickwork of the Irikug precinct, the lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
56. ma-gu2-en-na a-sze-er gig-ga-am3 a-sze-er-zu gar-ra
 en: Maguenna shrine, the lament is bitter, initiate your lament!
57. a-sze-er-zu gig-ga-am3 ga-sza-an gal-zu mu-lu er2-ra en3-sze3 mu-un-kusz2-u3
 en: Your lament is bitter, your “great lady” (Ningal), the one who laments, how long will it exhaust her?
58. a-sze-er-zu gig-ga-am3 {d}nanna mu-lu er2-ra en3-sze3 mu-un-kusz2-u3
 en: Your lament is bitter, Nanna, the one who laments, how long will it exhaust her?
59. uru2 mu-zu i3-ma-al za-e ba-e-da-gul-e
 en: City, your name is (still) present, but you will be destroyed to my/your detriment(?)
reverse
1. uru2 bad3-zu nigin2#-na-ka kalam-zu ba-e-da-til
 en: City, your walls (may be) “those of encircling/totality"(i.e., they may still be complete?), but your land is finished to my/your detriment(?)
2. uru2-gu10 u8 zi-gin7 sila4-zu ba-e-da-til
 en: My city, like a fecund ewe, your lamb is finished to my/your detriment(?)
3. uri2{ki}-ma ud5 zi-gin7# masz2-zu ba-e-da-til
 en: Urim, like a fecund she-goat, your kid is finished to my/your detriment(?)
4. uru2{ki} garza-zu# im-mu-e-de3-kur2-ra
 en: City, your rites are changed to my/your detriment(?)
5. me-zu me kur2-ra szu bala ba-ni-ib-bala
 en: Your ordinances have been changed into strange ordinances
6. a-sze-er-zu gig-ga-am3 ga-sza-an gal-zu mu-lu er2-ra en3-sze3 mu-un-kusz2-u3
 en: Your lament is bitter, your “great lady” (Ningal), the one who laments, how long will it exhaust her?
7. a-sze-er-zu gig-ga-am3 {d}nanna mu-lu er2-ra en3-sze3 mu-un-kusz2-u3
 en: Your lament is bitter, Nanna, the one who laments, how long will it exhaust him?
8. ki-ru-gu2 2(disz)-kam-ma
 en: It is the 2nd kirugu
9. uru2 zi gul-la-na a-sze-er-bi gig-ga-am3
 en: When ... destroys the true city, the lament is bitter
10. uri2{ki} gul-la-na a-sze-er-bi gig-ga-am3
 en: When ... destroys Urim, the lament is bitter
11. gesz-gi4-gal2-bi-im
 en: It is its gešgigal “response”
12. nin-bi iri hul-a-ta iri-ni er2-ra ba-an-di-ni#-ib#-gar
 en: The lady, after the city was destroyed, her city initiated a lament along with her(?)
13. {d}nin-gal lu2 kalam-ma ba-e#-da-til#-e#
 en: Ningal, who is finished in the land to my/your detriment(?)
14. uri2{ki}-ma a-sze-er gig-ga bar-ba ba-e-da-tab2#?
 en: (The former inhabitants of) Urim are inconsolable(!?) with bitter lamentation to my/your detriment(?)
15. munus zi nin iri-ni-sze3 kusz2-u3-de3
 en: The true woman, the lady who is to exhaust herself on behalf of her city
16. {d}nin-gal kalam-ma-ni-sze3 u3 nu-ku-ku-u3-de3
 en: Ningal, who is not to sleep on behalf of her land
17. e-ne-ra nam iri{ki}-na mu-un-te er2 gig mu-sze8-sze8
 en: For her the fate of the city approaches, she weeps bitterly
18. nin-ga2 nam e2-na mu-un#-te# er2 gig mu-sze8-sze8#
 en: Upon my lady/that of my lady(?) the fate of the temple approaches(?), she weeps bitterly
19. nam iri hul-a-na mu-un#-te# er2 gig mu-sze8-sze8#
 en: The fate of her destroyed city approaches, she weeps bitterly
20. nam# e2 pe-el-na mu-un#-te er2 gig mu-sze8#-sze8#
 en: The fate of her defiled city approaches, she weeps bitterly
21. [...]-e ad-da-a balag er2-ra ki# al-gar-ra-ba
 en: The lady, after that of the voice(!?), the balag drum/lyre of lamentation, was being 'founded'(?)
22. [...] x si-ga tur-tur-bi ni2-te-na mi-ni-ib-be2
 en: She herself was minimally( i.e., softly?) intoning an ilu lament/intoning little ilu laments(?) (of) the silenced ...
23. [...] ma#!?-al-DA-al-la i-si-isz-bi ma-la2
 en: The storm that is set (for me), its sorrow/wailing hangs upon me
24. {lu2#}nu#-nuz# men3 u4 ma-al-ma-al-la
 en: I am the woman whom the storm is set (for)
25. u4 ma-al-ma-al#-[...]-bi mu-un-kusz2-u3
 en: The storm that is set (for me), its sorrow/wailing exhausts me(!)
26. u4-da u4 gig-ga <<ga>> ma#-ra# ma-al-ma-al-la-am3?
 en: The storm, the bitter storm, is set for me
27. me!-e u4-bi-sze3 zarah# he2-em-szi-ak#
 en: And therefore I wail because of that storm
28. u4-da a2-bi-sze3 ba#-ra-ba-ra-an-e3-[e]
 en: Because of the power/wing(?) of the storm, I(!) cannot bring out(?) ...
29. u4 tur-bi-sze3 bala-ga2 u4 sa6-ga bala#-ga2# u4 sa6-ga igi ba-ra-[...]-duh#-a
 en: And therefore, (even) for a short length of days(?), in my reign, propitious days, in my reign, propitious days ... has not seen
30. ge6-da ge6 a2-bi-sze3 ma-ra ma-al#-ma-al-la#?
 en: Along with(?) the night, because of the power of the night that is set for me
31. me ge6-bi-sze3 zarah# he2-em-szi-ak
 en: And therefore I wail because of that night
32. ge6-da a2-bi-sze3 ba-ra-ba#-ra-an-e3-e
 en: Because of the power/wing(?) of(!) the night, I(!) cannot bring out(?) ...
33. u4 uru2-gin7 gul-lu-da ni2-bi-a ha-ma-la2-[...]
 en: The storm that is about to destroy like a flood, hangs for me by itself/in its aura(?)
34. na-ag2-bi-sze3 ki-nu2 ge6#-u3-na-ga2#?
 en: Because of this, in my bed chamber of the night
35. ki-nu2 ge6-u3-na-gu10 lib ba-ra-mu-gal2
 en: Calm sleep is not put (in?) my bedchamber of the night
36. na-ag2-bi-sze3 ki-nu2 gesz#-la2-a-bi
 en: Because of this, the silencing of the bedchamber
37. ki-nu2 gesz-la2-a-bi nu-usz-in-ga#-ma#-ni-ib-de6
 en: If only ... would also bring the silencing of the bedchamber
38. ka-na-ag2-gu10 ag2-gig-ga ma-gal2-la-ke4-esz
 en: Because anathema was placed (in?) my land for me(!?)
39. ab2 amar-bi-gin7-nam ki zu he2-em#-mi-ib#-ak
 en: Like a cow with its calf, it ... the ground
40. ka-na-ag2-gu10 ni2-sze3-am3 ba-ra#-mu-da-an-sa2-e
 en: My land, regarding itself(?), does not compare with (me)(!?)
41. uru2{ki}-gu10 du-lum gig ba-gal2#-[la]-ke4#?-[esz]
 en: Because bitter toil was placed (in?) my city
42. muszen an-na-gin7 a2 dub2 [...]
 en: I flap my wings towards it like a bird of the sky
43. me uru2-ga2 [...]
 en: I fly towards my city
44. uru2 ki gar-ba he2-en-ga-[...]
 en: (But) so to (i.e., nevertheless?) the city is destroyed where it was founded to my detriment
45. uri2#{ki#}-ma# ki-nu2-bi-a he2-en#-[...]
 en: (But) so to (i.e., nevertheless?) Urim is finished in its bedchamber to my detriment
46. [...] an-ta# ba-gal2#-[...]
 en: Because the power of the storm was placed from above/superior (to me)(?)
47. [...]-dub2#? edin#-na u4 [...]-e# he2#-em#-ma#-na#?-du11#?
 en: I screamed and said to him “storm, you shall stay confined to the steppe”
48. [...]-ra#-mu-da#-ab-[...]
 en: But the breast of the storm would not rise away from me
49. [...]-ga#? e2 na-ag2#-[...]-an-na-[...]
 en: ...
50. [...]-re-esz-am3#
 en: (Saying?) The lady, they must not put distant days (for me) into the reign of the Agrunkug temple, (the temple of my ladyship)
51. [...]-ab-us2#-e#?
 en: She shall found (only) weeping and lamentation
52. [...]-me-a#-ke4-esz#
 en: Because this temple is the site of liver pleasing of the black-headed
53. [...]-ga#?-ba-e-da#-tab#?-[...]
 en: Anger and distress shall also be doubled on behalf of/by means of its festival to your detriment
54. [...] x-a e2 IGI# [...]
 en: ...
55. [...] hu-mu#-[...]
 en: They shall continually bring despair, lament and anathema, lament and anathema
56. [...]-an-gar-ra-[...]
 en: My temple which was established by the just man

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:
  • This artifact is composed of fragments.
  • Condition Description:
  • Join Information:
  • Seal no.:
  • Seal information:
  • Artifact comments:

  • Genre(s): Literary (ETCSL 2.02.02 Lament for Ur (witness))
  • Language(s): Sumerian


  • history: UET 6, 0136 + 0508

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

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

  • Provenience: Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)
  • Elevation:
  • Stratigraphic Level:
  • Excavation No: U 16900j
  • 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
2019-06-11 at 15:37:49 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2019-06-11 at 10:18:59 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2019-06-01 at 14:34:09 Englund, Robert K. Atf Peterson, Jeremiah CDLI 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

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

Composite Score
CDLI Literary 000379 (Lament for Ur) composite (P469681) View the score

General Notes: -
CDLI Notes:

Shaffer (UET 6/3, p.14) notes possibly same tablet as UET 6/2, 139b (U 16900N)Shaffer (UET 6/3, p.14) notes possibly same tablet as UET 6/2, 139b (U 16900N)

Cite this Artifact
“CDLI Literary 000379, Ex. 026 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). June 15, 2023. https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346221.
CDLI Literary 000379, ex. 026 artifact entry (No. P346221). (2023, June 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346221 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary 000379, ex. 026 artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346221 (Accessed: March 29, 2024).
@misc{2023CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2024-03-29]},
	year = {2023},
	month = {jun 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000379, ex. 026 artifact entry},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346221},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2023/6/15/
PY  - 2023
ID  - P346221
LB  - CDLI:P346221
M1  - 2024/3/29/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000379, ex. 026 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346221
ER  - 
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