Position in chronology
A prayer for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna E)
Written in modern English
Samsu-iluna is addressed directly: his head is held high, his name is august, and Enlil and Ninlil have determined a great destiny for him — though several phrases in the opening lines are too damaged to read. The warrior god Ninurta stands as his helper, and inside the E-kur temple, Nuska — Enlil's high minister and the assembly leader of all lands — serves as his chief palace superintendent. The prayer asks that Samsu-iluna walk with his head high all his life, that his days be prolonged, and that An, king of the gods, look on him with favour. The text breaks off there.
A modern paraphrase of the literal translation — same content, contemporary voice.
Translation — scholar edition
ETCSLMy ...... of eternal fame, head lifted high in princely worth, ...... who loves righteousness and truth, ...... named with an august name, for whom Enlil ...... has determined a great destiny, and Ninlil ......! The valiant Ninurta is your helper. In the E-kur, Nuska the august minister of Enlil, the assembly leader of all lands, is your foremost palace superintendent. Throughout your life, may you carry your neck high; in princely manner may you lift your head high! "Prolong the days of his life for Samsu-iluna, of princely worth!" May An, king of the gods, look upon you favourably; the…
Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature — scholar edition (Oxford, Black/Cunningham/Robson/Zólyomi).
Scholarly note
Composition c.2.8.3.5 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.2.8.3.5: A prayer for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna E). 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.2.8.3.5.
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