CDLI Literary 000666, ex. 001 (P346229)

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 4.10.01 Lament of Lisin (witness))

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

-

Witness

tablet
obverse
1. sza3#?-tum2 edin# [...] KA nam# [...]
 en: In(?) the pasture(?) and the plain ...
2. u2 x BAD x [...] gir5-re a x [...]
 en: ... slipping/diving(?) ...
3. an-edin-na mu-un-kin2 nu-mu-ni-in-x-[...]
 en: She sought ... in the high plain, she did not ... there
4. {d}li9-si4-na er2 im-ma-an-pa3 sig7-sig7 i3-ga2-[ga2]
 en: Lisin wept, she was making sobbing noises
5. tu15 nim-ma kin2-a-ni# ba-an-tum3
 en: She brought her seeking high(land) wind(?)
6. tu15 sig-ga ka ba-a-ni ba-an-tum3
 en: She brought her loud (lit. mouth opened/speaking) low(land) wind(?)
7. {d}li9-si4-na ka2 kesz2-da ni2 mu-un-sze8-sze8!-e
 en: Lisin, who was bound to(?) the gate, weeps (by) herself(?)
8. ma-ra-an-gi4-gi4-ne ma-ra-an-gi4-gi4-ne
 en: They will return him for me, they will return him for me
9. dur3{+urx(SILA4)}-gu10 galla kal-ga-gu10 ma-ra-an-gi4-gi4-ne
 en: They will return my young male donkey, my mighty policeman, for me
10. ildum2-gu10 mu-un-da-an-ku5 ma-ra-an-gi4-gi4-ne
 en: ... cut him off from my clan, (but now) they will return him for me
11. amar-gu10 hasz4-bi hul-a-bi ma-ra-an-gi4-gi4-ne
 en: My calf, the one whose thigh is shattered(?), they will return him for me
12. [ak]-ka#-nu-um tir-ra-a-ni ku5-de3 ma-ra-an-gi4-gi4-ne
 en: The wild donkey whose thicket is being cut, they will return him for me
13. [ku6-gal2] i7#-da szu2-szu2-ge2 ma-ra-an-gi4-gi4-ne
 en: The canal inspector whose river is being emptied(?), they will return him for me
14. [mu-un-gar3] a#-sza3-bi a de2-a#-bi# ma-ra-an-gi4-gi4#-ne
 en: The farmer (absent due to/during?) the irrigating of the(?) field, they will return him for me
15. [...] x dab#-ba-gu10#? [...] mu-un-na-szesz4-szesz4
 en: (With) my chest (with) breasts/nipples seized/having seized (i.e. stopped milk flow?) (its) breasts/nipples(?) ..., ... she weeps ... for him
16. [... {gesz}]dala2# si-ga# x IGI# x mu-un-na#-szesz4-szesz4
 en: (With) my left side filled with (i.e., pierced by)/torn by(?) a pin/thorn/lance, ... she weeps(?) ... for him
17. [... {gesz}]u3-suh5!-<gu10> mu-da-an-ku5 {gesz}lam-ba mu-un-da-an-nu2
 en: At that time, ... cut down <my> conifer tree, ... and laid it down among its saplings
18. [i-lu ga]-am3#-du11 i-lu ga-am3-du10
 en: I want to lament, I want to lament
19. [dur3]{+urx(SILA4)#}-gu10 mu-da-an-ku5 me-e i-lu ga-am3-du11
 en: (For) my young male donkey(?) who ... has separated, I want to lament
20. ildum2#-gu10 mu-da-an-ku5 me-e i-lu ga-am3-du11
 en: (For) my one who ... has separated from my clan, I want to lament
21. gibil#?-gu10 me-e i-lu ga-am3-du11
 en: (For) my sprout/neophyte(?), I want to lament
22. henzer-gu10 me-e i-lu ga-am3-du11
 en: (For) my baby, I want to lament
23. buru5{muszen} gud3-bi hul-a-bi me-e i-lu ga-am3-du11
 en: (For) the sparrow, whose nest is destroyed, I want to lament
24. amar-gu10 hasz4-bi hul-a-bi me-e i#-lu# ga#-am3-du11
 en: (For) my calf/chick(?), the one whose thigh is broken, I want to lament
25. ak-ka-nu-um tir-ra-ni ku5-de3 me-e [i]-lu# ga-am3-du11
 en: (For) the wild donkey whose thicket is being cut, I want to lament
26. ku6-gal2 i7-da szu2-szu2-ge2 me-e# i#-lu ga#-am3-du11
 en: (For) the canal inspector whose river is being emptied(?), I want to lament
27. mu-un-gar3 a-sza3-bi a de2-a-bi me-e i#-lu# ga#-am3-du11
 en: (For) the farmer (absent during?) the irrigating of his field, I want to lament
28. a-ba-sze3 ga-di a-ba-sze3 ga-di me-e a-ba-sze3 ga-di
 en: I shall go to the rear (of the temple, i.e. sanctum?), I shall go to the rear (of the temple?), (as for) me, I shall go to the rear (of the temple?)
29. ur-gu10 ama-gu10 ba-an-gurum me-e a-ba-sze3 ga-di
 en: My dog, my mother, has curled up, (as for) me, I shall go to the rear (of the temple?)
30. ama ugu-gu10 ga-sza-an-hur-sag-ga2-ke4
 en: My birth mother, Ninhursag
31. ur-gu10 ba-an-gurum me-e a-ba-sze3 ga-di
 en: My dog, has curled up, (as for) me, I shall go to the rear (of the temple?)
32. nig arhusz nu-tuku ga-mu-un-na-di-di
 en: The merciless bitch, I shall repeatedly go (to her) for him
33. {d}li9-si4-na sza3 sag3-ga-ni-ta dili-ni ba-da-an-tusz
 en: Lisina sits alone in (the dust?) due to her grief
34. me-li me-e szu ba-ni-in-ti
 en: "Woe(?) is me,” she (Ninhursag) accepted (this lamentation?)
35. sag-dili-gin7 ga-tusz ga-er2-ra
 en: Like (one who is) alone, I want to sit and weep
36. usar-gin7 nu-tuku ni2-te-gu10-sze3 ga-gu7
 en: Like (one) who has no neighbor, I want to eat by myself
37. ma-la-gin7 nu-tuku ni2-te-gu10#-sze3 ga-gu7
 en: Like (one) who has no girlfriend/female neighbor, I want to eat by myself
reverse
1. i-dub e2-gu10 nin9-gu10 he2-am3
 en: May the threshold of my house be my sister
2. {gesz}si-gar e2-gu10 szesz-gu10 he2-am3
 en: May the bolt of my house be my brother
3. gu3-gu10 ze2-ba ambar-ambar mu-un-tuku-tuku
 en: My sweet voice(?) shook(?) the marshes
4. dur3{+urx(SILA4)}-gu10-sze3 er2-ra ga-an-na-an-ti
 en: On behalf of my young male donkey, I want to live there weeping for him
5. dur3{+urx(SILA4)}-gu10-sze3 sze sza4 ga-an-na-an-ti
 en: On behalf of my young male donkey, I want to live there moaning for him
6. szu-gu10 he2-e3 sag-ga2-ni-sze3
 en: May my hand come out towards my(!?) head
7. zi HAR he2-e3 te-ga2-a-ni-sze3
 en: May (my?) ... breath/life(?) come out towards my(!?) cheek(!?)
8. ab2-gin7 pel2-la2-bi gu3 im-me
 en: Like a cow she cries out in desolation
9. eme7-gin7 gu3 he2-ni-de2 dur3{+urx(SILA4)}-gu10-sze3
 en: May she bray like a female donkey on behalf of my young male donkey
10. {d}li9-si4-na gig-ga!-bi gu3 im-me
 en: Lisin cries out bitterly
11. {d}li9-si4-na sug-e gu3 he2-ni-de2-a-ba
 en: Lisin is the one who should(?) shout out in the marshes
12. [...] x i7-da-ke4 <gu3 he2-ni>-de2-a-ba
 en: The ... of the river is the one who should(?) shout out in lament
13. dur3{+urx(SILA4)}-gu10 mu-da-an-gur dur3{+urx(SILA4)}-gu10 mu-un-da-an-gur
 en: ... has turned away(?) my young male donkey, ... has turned away my young male donkey
14. [...] x x dur3{+urx(SILA4)}-gu10 mu-un-da-an-gur
 en: ... has turned away ..., my young male donkey
15. [...]-gu10# dur3{+urx(SILA4)}-gu10 mu-un-da-an-gur
 en: ... has turned away my ..., my young male donkey
16. [...] dur3{+urx(SILA4)}-gu10 mu-un-da-an-gur
 en: ... has turned away ..., my young male donkey
17. [a-ba-sze3] ga#-di me-e a-ba-sze3 ga-di
 en: I shall go to the rear (of the temple?), I shall go to the rear (of the temple?), me, I shall go to the rear (of the temple?)
18. [... mu-da]-an-ku5 me-e a-ba-sze3 ga-di
 en: ... has separated ..., I shall go to the rear (of the temple?), me, I shall go to the rear (of the temple?)
19. [...] mu#-da-an-ku5 me-e a-ba-sze3 ga-di
 en: ... has separated ..., I shall go to the rear (of the temple?), me, I shall go to the rear (of the temple?)
20. [...]-gu10 mu-da-an-ku5 me-e a-ba-sze3 ga-di
 en: ... has separated ..., I shall go to the rear (of the temple?), me, I shall go to the rear (of the temple?)
21. [...] dur3#{+urx(SILA4)}-gu10# [...] x me#-e# a-ba-sze3 ga-di
 en: ... has separated my young male donkey, I shall go to the rear (of the temple?), me, I shall go to the rear (of the temple?)
22. [...] x? me-e [...] x AN na-ab-be2
 en: ... I ... shall not ...
23. [...] x [...]-ni ga-di
 en: ... I shall go to ...
24. [...] nu#-mu-ni-[...] ga-di
 en: ... I shall go to ...
25. [...] x igi nu-mu-ni-duh-a {d}li9#?-[si4-na] gig#-ga-bi gu3 im-me
 en: ... did not look at ..., lisin shouted bitterly
26. szu-ni du7-e3 [sag]-ga2-ni-sze3
 en: May her hand come out towards her head
27. sze-ni HAR?-re du7-e3 [te]-ga2-ni-sze3
 en: May her ... breath/throat come out towards her cheek(!?)
28. ab2-gin7# pel2-la2-bi gu3# im#-me
 en: Like a cow she cries out in desolation
29. eme7-gin7# gu3 de2-de2 dur3#{+urx(SILA4)#}-ni#?-sze3#
 en: Braying like a female donkey on behalf of her? young male donkey
30. {d}li9-si4-na iri{ki}-ni ba-da-an-szub bar-ta ba-da-an-tusz
 en: Lisin abandoned her city and dwelled outside of it
31. ama {d}li9-si4-na iri{ki}-ni ba-da-an-szub bar-ta ba-da-an-tusz
 en: Mother lisin abandoned her city and dwelled outside of it
32. sag-ga2-ni-ta kur-gar-ra in-gar te-ga2-ni-ta nam-x-RI in-gar
 en: Apart from/by means of(?) her head she set the kurgara perfomer, she set ... apart from/by means of her cheek(!?)
33. i-bi2-ni-ta er2-ra in-gar
 en: Apart from/by means of(?) her eye she initiated a lamentation
34. iri tusz-u3-de3-en ba-ra-na-tusz-u3#-de3-en
 en: For him(?) I shall not dwell (in) the city(?) that I am to inhabit(?)
35. iri{ki}-ni ki sikil he2-am3 me-e-li-e2#?-bi he2-am3
 en: May her city be a pure place, and may she(?) be its (exclamation of) “woe"(?))
36. {d}li9-si4-na iri{ki}-ni ba-ra-e3
 en: Lisin went out from her city
37. ama {d}li9-si4-na dili-ni ba-da-an-tusz
 en: Mother lisin dwelled apart and alone
38. u4 lu3-a-gu10 u4 gel#?-<<a>>-le-ga2-gu10
 en: My disturbed day, my destroyed/forgotten day(!?)
39. {d}li9-si4-na x x kal#-kal#-la am3
 en: Lisin, who is the most precious(?) ...
40. x egir#? x x-ga#-am3
 en: Who is(?) behind/after ...
 en: double ruling

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 4.10.01 Lament of Lisin (witness))
  • Language(s): Sumerian


  • history: UET 6, 0144 + 0574

    [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 05628 + U 08810b
  • 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
2019-06-01 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 000666 (Lament of Lisin) composite (P481936) View the score

General Notes: -
CDLI Notes: -
Cite this Artifact
“CDLI Literary 000666, Ex. 001 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). June 15, 2023. https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346229.
CDLI Literary 000666, ex. 001 artifact entry (No. P346229). (2023, June 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346229 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary 000666, ex. 001 artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346229 (Accessed: March 29, 2024).
@misc{2023CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2024-03-29]},
	year = {2023},
	month = {jun 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000666, ex. 001 artifact entry},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346229},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2023/6/15/
PY  - 2023
ID  - P346229
LB  - CDLI:P346229
M1  - 2024/3/29/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000666, ex. 001 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.ucla.edu/P346229
ER  - 
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