Position in chronology
An adab to Nergal for Shu-ilishu (Shu-ilishu A)
Written in modern English
Nergal is addressed as a lord of raging storms who throws enemies into confusion and unleashes terror across the land. He is the mighty pillar of heaven and earth, guardian of the teeming masses, who turns his weapons against the wicked — and several lines note actions toward living things and people that the original text leaves partially illegible. He strikes down those he has cursed, a strong-wristed lord whom no one can withstand, rising in furious might and praised above the great youthful gods. His greatness stretches to the uttermost edges of heaven and earth.
A modern paraphrase of the literal translation — same content, contemporary voice.
Translation — scholar edition
ETCSLLord, furiously raging storm, confusing the enemies and unleashing (?) great terror over the Land, Nergal, mighty quay of heaven and earth, who ...... all living things, lord who guards (?) the teeming people when he looks up furiously, turning (?) his weapons against the wicked: Nergal, powerful in heaven and earth, who ...... the people in heaps! Barsud. Lord, mighty storm, raging with your great powers, south storm which covers the Land, Nergal, who smites the enemy whom he has cursed ......, exalted lord, strong one with a powerful wrist, whom no one can withstand, Nergal, rising broadly, full of furious might, great one praised for his accomplishments, pre-eminent among the great youthful gods, whose valour is ...... of valour, Nergal, whose greatness covers heaven and earth to their uttermost limits!
Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature — scholar edition (Oxford, Black/Cunningham/Robson/Zólyomi).
Scholarly note
Composition c.2.5.2.1 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.2.5.2.1: An adab to Nergal for Shu-ilishu (Shu-ilishu A). 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.2.5.2.1.
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