CDLI Literary 000561, ex. 017 & 000564, ex. 009 & 000575, ex. 013 & 000582, ex. 013 & 000599, ex. 001 (P346258)
Literary letter and letter-prayer 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 > Literary letter and letter-prayer (ETCSL 3.01.21 Letter from Abaindasa to Šulgi (witness); ETCSL 3.02.03 Letter fro Letter from Inannaka to Nintiugga (B 17); Letter from KA-enlila to the King; Letter from Abaindasa to Shulgi (B 1); Letter Fragments; Letter from Lugal-ŠÚ/nisag to a King (B 8))Language(s)
SumerianMeasurements
-Witness
tablet
obverse
column 1
beginning broken
1'. [...]-zi#
en: She (should) raise the Asag demon that is in my body from my body
2'. [...]-en#
en: And set my foot (back) on the “earth” of life
3'. u3 ga2#-[...]-me-en
en: I will be your maidservant
4'. e2-za-a kisal-luh-bi he2-me-en igi-zu-sze3 he2-gub
en: And therefore I will be the courtyard sweeper in your temple who(?) stands before you
5'. u3-ba-sa6-ge nin-gu10 lu2-ku5-ra2 du7-du7
en: After (I!?/the situation) improves, my lady, as “the one who makes cripples viable”
6'. mu-zu ga-am3-mi-ib2-sze21
en: I will invoke your name
double ruling
7'. lugal inim sa6-sa6-ge dingir-re-e-ne-er gub-ba
en: The king, the flattering/praying one who serves the gods(?)
8'. {ninda}nindaba si bi2-sa2 u3-na-a-du11
en: (Who) has set in order the nindaba offering(?), when you speak to him
9'. alan sukud-da dim2-ma ad#? gi4-gi4 in-tuku
en: One tall of stature, (who) has obtained discernment and counsel
10'. sza3-la2 sug4 sza3 kalam-ma du10-ga
en: Who is filled with pity, who sweetens the heart of the land
11'. u3-ne-de3-tah
en: When you repeat (this) to him
12'. {disz}inim-{d}en-lil2-la2 dub-sar dumu suen-pa-lil2
en: Inim-Enlila, the scribe, son of Sin-palil(?)
13'. ARAD-zu na-ab-be2-a
en: Your servant, thus speaks
14'. nam-tag-gu10 nu-zu nam-tag-ga2 gesztux(|GISZ.TUG2|) la-ba-szi-gal2
en: My sin is unknown, my sin is unheard of
15'. nam im-ri-a HI-x i-si-isz-bi ib2-gu7-en
en: The bitterness of the fate of my family/professional group ... has consumed me(?)
16'. giri3-pad-ra2-gu10 sza3 iri kur2-ra-sze3 a nam-ba-an-tum3
en: My bones should not be carried by water towards a strange city
column 2
beginning broken
1'. [...] x x [...]
double ruling
2'. [...]-ra# u3#-[...]
3'. [...] hur#-sag-ga2 a2 sa6-[...]
4'. sisi hur-sag-ga2 umbin u11#-ri2#-[...]
5'. {gesz}geszimmar ki sikil-e mu2-a zu2-lum {na4}za#-[...]
6'. u3-ne-de3-tah
7'. {disz}a-ba-in-da-sa2 ugula aga-us2 zu2-kesz2
8'. sag-ki zalag lugal-la-na-sze3 sza3 lugal-a-ni-ir du10-du10-ge-ra
9'. ARAD2-zu na-ab-be2-a
10'. kal-ga me-en lugal-gu10 ga-ab-us2
11'. inim-ma-zu ra-gaba-zu he2-me-en
12'. {gesz}ma2 gub-ba {gesz}gisal mu-un-si-ge
13'. a gub-ba a mu-un-da-ak-e
14'. tu15 gub-ba sze mu-un-da-la2-a
15'. dub-sar-me-en na-ru2-a ab-sar-re-en
16'. inim pu-uh2-ru-um-ma szub-ba e11-de3-bi mu-un-da-si-ge
17'. gesz-gin7 {gesz}tir-ga2 mu-du3-na mu-dur7-re im-gurum-e
18'. {gesz}gu-za-ga2 lu2 mu-un-da-la2-a szu-gu10 esz2 im-ma-an-la2
19'. lag-e# a nig2 dan6-dan6-a sahar igi-ga2 ba-e-gub-bu
20'. ur-e# adda? ib2-gu7 gaba-bi ib2-zi-zi
21'. uszumgal-e sag gesz ib2-ra-ra ka-ta ab-tak4 i3-ib2-tak4
reverse
column 1
1. gesz#-gi# izi ib2-gu7-e x i3-da13-da13
2. {d}[utu] i3 gu7 ga-ar3 mu-un-nag [{gesz}]banszur!? ukur3!-ra-sze3 szu-ni im-szi-in-tum4
3. zi-gu10 ba-e-i szu-gu10 ha-za-a-ab
4. dumu nu-mu-un-kusz-me-en lu2 en3 tar-re# la-ba-an-tuku
5. ga2-e me-e-a-na-am3 sza3 {d}szul-gi lugal-gu10 ki-bi ha-ma-gi4-gi4
6. lugal-gu10 en3-gu10 he2-tar-re ki ama!-gu10-sze3 he2-em-mi-ib-gi4-gi4
double ruling
7. lugal-gu10 u3-na-a-du11
en: When you speak to my king
8. {d}nanna-ki-ag2 ra-bi si2-ik-ka-tum-ma
9. ARAD-zu na-ab-be2-a
en: Thus says Nanna-kiag, the city commander, your servant
10. e2-danna{+da-na} ki lugal-gu10 ba-an-da-bala
en: Edana has turned against my king
11. sza3# e2-danna{+da-na}-sze3 6(disz) me-at
12. ugnim gu-un-gu-nu-um
13. [{disz}]at-ta-ma-nu-um ba-ni-in-ku4
en: Into Edana, Attamannum brought a six hundred (man) force of Gungunum
14. iri#{ki} gibil-am3 al-dur2-ru-ne!-esz
15. ugnim# gu-un-gu-nu-um
16. [...] {i7#}amar#-{d#}suen-[...]
17. [...] du#-un-nu-um{ki#} [...]
18. [...]-al#?-e-de3#? [...]
en: This army of Gungunum, at the (far?) bank of the Amar-Suen canal, serves(?) by constructing brickwork, working/fortifying Dunnum(?), and excavating the canal
rest broken
column 2
1. x MI-MI-bi-ke4 tum12{muszen} x-x mi-ni-in-DU
en: That of the darkened(?) ... has brought(?) ... doves(?)
2. su#?-lim si-ga? ba-ab-szu2-un
en: An aura set in place(!?) has covered/overwhelmed me
3. u8#?-e-a-e mu-un-DU-DU hur?-sag giggi-gu10 babbar2-ra
en: (I) go crying “u'a,” my black mountain range (is now) white
4. en-nu-ug3-ga2-en-nu-ug3 nu-me-a nam-usz2-ta sa2-a
en: There being no guard is tantamount to death
5. nam lugal-zu-sze3 gesztux(|GISZ.TUG2|)-gu10 im-szi-gal2
en: My ears are set in order to (hear about) the fate of your king/your kingship
6. inim {d}nin-isin2{+si-na} musz3 lugal-ga2-kam
en: The word of Ninisina, the “it is enough” of my king
7. igi-bi bi2-ib-duh
en: Has been seen(?)
double ruling
8. lugal {d}utu-gin7 sza3 kalam-ma mu-un-zalag-ga
9. u3-na-a-du11
en: When you speak to the king who has shined in the middle of the land like Utu
10. i-{d}utu ab-sin2-ta ib2-ta-an-zi-ga-asz
en: Because he removed the cries to Utu from the furrow
11. tidnumx(|PIRIG.PIRIG|) nim szu-bi in-gar eszkiri-bi mu-un-dab-be2
en: He has made the Tidnum tribe set down their hand(?), he holds their nose-rope
12. lugal til-bi-sze3 ab-szid!?-de3-a#
en: King who counts them(?) in their entirety/towards their spring (i.e., origin?)
13. u3-ne-de3-tah
en: When you repeat (this message) to him
14. lugal-nesag-ge26 dumu nibru{ki} ARAD-zu na-ab-be2-a
en: Thus says lugalnesag, citizen of Nippur, your servant
15. szul-a-lum nu-zu-gu10 sag-ki ba-gid2 tal3 ak-gu10 mu-e-pa3
en: My not knowing punishment was frowned upon(?), I have found my (ability) to make noise
16. [...]-in-sza4
en: In a strange city, I have moaned like a dove
rest broken
obverse
column 1
beginning broken
1'. [...]-zi#
en: She (should) raise the Asag demon that is in my body from my body
2'. [...]-en#
en: And set my foot (back) on the “earth” of life
3'. u3 ga2#-[...]-me-en
en: I will be your maidservant
4'. e2-za-a kisal-luh-bi he2-me-en igi-zu-sze3 he2-gub
en: And therefore I will be the courtyard sweeper in your temple who(?) stands before you
5'. u3-ba-sa6-ge nin-gu10 lu2-ku5-ra2 du7-du7
en: After (I!?/the situation) improves, my lady, as “the one who makes cripples viable”
6'. mu-zu ga-am3-mi-ib2-sze21
en: I will invoke your name
double ruling
7'. lugal inim sa6-sa6-ge dingir-re-e-ne-er gub-ba
en: The king, the flattering/praying one who serves the gods(?)
8'. {ninda}nindaba si bi2-sa2 u3-na-a-du11
en: (Who) has set in order the nindaba offering(?), when you speak to him
9'. alan sukud-da dim2-ma ad#? gi4-gi4 in-tuku
en: One tall of stature, (who) has obtained discernment and counsel
10'. sza3-la2 sug4 sza3 kalam-ma du10-ga
en: Who is filled with pity, who sweetens the heart of the land
11'. u3-ne-de3-tah
en: When you repeat (this) to him
12'. {disz}inim-{d}en-lil2-la2 dub-sar dumu suen-pa-lil2
en: Inim-Enlila, the scribe, son of Sin-palil(?)
13'. ARAD-zu na-ab-be2-a
en: Your servant, thus speaks
14'. nam-tag-gu10 nu-zu nam-tag-ga2 gesztux(|GISZ.TUG2|) la-ba-szi-gal2
en: My sin is unknown, my sin is unheard of
15'. nam im-ri-a HI-x i-si-isz-bi ib2-gu7-en
en: The bitterness of the fate of my family/professional group ... has consumed me(?)
16'. giri3-pad-ra2-gu10 sza3 iri kur2-ra-sze3 a nam-ba-an-tum3
en: My bones should not be carried by water towards a strange city
column 2
beginning broken
1'. [...] x x [...]
double ruling
2'. [...]-ra# u3#-[...]
3'. [...] hur#-sag-ga2 a2 sa6-[...]
4'. sisi hur-sag-ga2 umbin u11#-ri2#-[...]
5'. {gesz}geszimmar ki sikil-e mu2-a zu2-lum {na4}za#-[...]
6'. u3-ne-de3-tah
7'. {disz}a-ba-in-da-sa2 ugula aga-us2 zu2-kesz2
8'. sag-ki zalag lugal-la-na-sze3 sza3 lugal-a-ni-ir du10-du10-ge-ra
9'. ARAD2-zu na-ab-be2-a
10'. kal-ga me-en lugal-gu10 ga-ab-us2
11'. inim-ma-zu ra-gaba-zu he2-me-en
12'. {gesz}ma2 gub-ba {gesz}gisal mu-un-si-ge
13'. a gub-ba a mu-un-da-ak-e
14'. tu15 gub-ba sze mu-un-da-la2-a
15'. dub-sar-me-en na-ru2-a ab-sar-re-en
16'. inim pu-uh2-ru-um-ma szub-ba e11-de3-bi mu-un-da-si-ge
17'. gesz-gin7 {gesz}tir-ga2 mu-du3-na mu-dur7-re im-gurum-e
18'. {gesz}gu-za-ga2 lu2 mu-un-da-la2-a szu-gu10 esz2 im-ma-an-la2
19'. lag-e# a nig2 dan6-dan6-a sahar igi-ga2 ba-e-gub-bu
20'. ur-e# adda? ib2-gu7 gaba-bi ib2-zi-zi
21'. uszumgal-e sag gesz ib2-ra-ra ka-ta ab-tak4 i3-ib2-tak4
reverse
column 1
1. gesz#-gi# izi ib2-gu7-e x i3-da13-da13
2. {d}[utu] i3 gu7 ga-ar3 mu-un-nag [{gesz}]banszur!? ukur3!-ra-sze3 szu-ni im-szi-in-tum4
3. zi-gu10 ba-e-i szu-gu10 ha-za-a-ab
4. dumu nu-mu-un-kusz-me-en lu2 en3 tar-re# la-ba-an-tuku
5. ga2-e me-e-a-na-am3 sza3 {d}szul-gi lugal-gu10 ki-bi ha-ma-gi4-gi4
6. lugal-gu10 en3-gu10 he2-tar-re ki ama!-gu10-sze3 he2-em-mi-ib-gi4-gi4
double ruling
7. lugal-gu10 u3-na-a-du11
en: When you speak to my king
8. {d}nanna-ki-ag2 ra-bi si2-ik-ka-tum-ma
9. ARAD-zu na-ab-be2-a
en: Thus says Nanna-kiag, the city commander, your servant
10. e2-danna{+da-na} ki lugal-gu10 ba-an-da-bala
en: Edana has turned against my king
11. sza3# e2-danna{+da-na}-sze3 6(disz) me-at
12. ugnim gu-un-gu-nu-um
13. [{disz}]at-ta-ma-nu-um ba-ni-in-ku4
en: Into Edana, Attamannum brought a six hundred (man) force of Gungunum
14. iri#{ki} gibil-am3 al-dur2-ru-ne!-esz
15. ugnim# gu-un-gu-nu-um
16. [...] {i7#}amar#-{d#}suen-[...]
17. [...] du#-un-nu-um{ki#} [...]
18. [...]-al#?-e-de3#? [...]
en: This army of Gungunum, at the (far?) bank of the Amar-Suen canal, serves(?) by constructing brickwork, working/fortifying Dunnum(?), and excavating the canal
rest broken
column 2
1. x MI-MI-bi-ke4 tum12{muszen} x-x mi-ni-in-DU
en: That of the darkened(?) ... has brought(?) ... doves(?)
2. su#?-lim si-ga? ba-ab-szu2-un
en: An aura set in place(!?) has covered/overwhelmed me
3. u8#?-e-a-e mu-un-DU-DU hur?-sag giggi-gu10 babbar2-ra
en: (I) go crying “u'a,” my black mountain range (is now) white
4. en-nu-ug3-ga2-en-nu-ug3 nu-me-a nam-usz2-ta sa2-a
en: There being no guard is tantamount to death
5. nam lugal-zu-sze3 gesztux(|GISZ.TUG2|)-gu10 im-szi-gal2
en: My ears are set in order to (hear about) the fate of your king/your kingship
6. inim {d}nin-isin2{+si-na} musz3 lugal-ga2-kam
en: The word of Ninisina, the “it is enough” of my king
7. igi-bi bi2-ib-duh
en: Has been seen(?)
double ruling
8. lugal {d}utu-gin7 sza3 kalam-ma mu-un-zalag-ga
9. u3-na-a-du11
en: When you speak to the king who has shined in the middle of the land like Utu
10. i-{d}utu ab-sin2-ta ib2-ta-an-zi-ga-asz
en: Because he removed the cries to Utu from the furrow
11. tidnumx(|PIRIG.PIRIG|) nim szu-bi in-gar eszkiri-bi mu-un-dab-be2
en: He has made the Tidnum tribe set down their hand(?), he holds their nose-rope
12. lugal til-bi-sze3 ab-szid!?-de3-a#
en: King who counts them(?) in their entirety/towards their spring (i.e., origin?)
13. u3-ne-de3-tah
en: When you repeat (this message) to him
14. lugal-nesag-ge26 dumu nibru{ki} ARAD-zu na-ab-be2-a
en: Thus says lugalnesag, citizen of Nippur, your servant
15. szul-a-lum nu-zu-gu10 sag-ki ba-gid2 tal3 ak-gu10 mu-e-pa3
en: My not knowing punishment was frowned upon(?), I have found my (ability) to make noise
16. [...]-in-sza4
en: In a strange city, I have moaned like a dove
rest broken
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 > Literary letter and letter-prayer (ETCSL 3.01.21 Letter from Abaindasa to Šulgi (witness); ETCSL 3.02.03 Letter fro Letter from Inannaka to Nintiugga (B 17); Letter from KA-enlila to the King; Letter from Abaindasa to Shulgi (B 1); Letter Fragments; Letter from Lugal-ŠÚ/nisag to a King (B 8))
- Language(s): Sumerian
- Composite No.:
- Museum No.: BM —
- Accession No.:
- Provenience: Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)
- Elevation:
- Stratigraphic Level:
- Excavation No: U 07741
- 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 |  |
| 2023-06-15 at 20:34:30 | Rattenborg, Rune | Artifact | Rattenborg, Rune | Geomapping Landscapes of Writing | Rattenborg, Rune | approved | |
| 2020-01-25 at 15:46:25 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
|
| 2019-06-11 at 16:01:13 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
|
| 2019-06-01 at 14:34:09 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Peterson, Jeremiah | CDLI | approved | |
|
| 2019-05-29 at 21:01:58 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved | |
|
| 2006-11-02 at 00:00:00 | CDLI | Artifact | Foxvog, Daniel A.; Guerra, Dylan; Peterson, Jeremiah; Veldhuis, Niek; Wolfe, Jared N. | CDLI | approved | |
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 000561 (Letter from Abaindasa to Shulgi) composite (P473732) | View the score |
General Notes:
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CDLI Notes:
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