Position in chronology
A hymn to Nibru and Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan C)
Written in modern English
The shrine of Nibru — the E-kur, radiant and surpassing even the abzu — counts the greatest gods among its household. Its prince is Enlil, the Great Mountain, who stands above even Enki; its lady is the gentle and refined Ninlil; its caretaker is the vigorous hero Ninurta. The chief minister Nuska tends the shrine's beautiful copper vessels, keeps its inner chamber welcoming, and guards its sacred divine powers. Now Ishme-Dagan — son of Enlil and Ninlil, a king who has won renown among his many people — prostrates himself at the shrine's feet.
A modern paraphrase of the literal translation — same content, contemporary voice.
Translation — scholar edition
ETCSLShrine of Nibru, shrine surpassing the abzu, shining E-kur; your prince is the Great Mountain, Enlil, who surpasses the Prince (i.e. Enki) . Your great lady is the good woman, mother Ninlil, excelling in refinement. Your caretaker is one whose vigour is surpassing, the hero Ninurta. The chief minister (i.e. Nuska) , who is worthy of your fair copper vessels, who makes your bedchamber exceedingly pleasant, is also the guardian watching over your honourable divine powers; he is the shepherd watching over your honourable divine powers. Your provider, who was engendered by the Great Mountain and was born by Ninlil -- Icme-Dagan, who was engendered by the Great Mountain, and was born by Ninlil, he who has achieved a high reputation among his numerous people, throws himself at your feet.
Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature — scholar edition (Oxford, Black/Cunningham/Robson/Zólyomi).
Scholarly note
Composition c.2.5.4.03 in the ETCSL catalogue. Sumerian literary text reconstructed from multiple cuneiform manuscripts, the great majority Old Babylonian (c. 1900–1600 BCE). Translation reproduced from the ETCSL edition.
Attribution
Image: .
Translation excerpted from ETCSL c.2.5.4.03: A hymn to Nibru and Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan C). Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Robson, E. & Zólyomi, G. (eds.), The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.2.5.4.03.
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