Chapter 05 · 2000 – 1600 BCE
Old Babylonian
Hammurabi, the Epic of Gilgamesh, mathematics.
~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
A hymn to Bau's Beneficent Protective Goddess (Bau A)
In plain English
The opening three lines are too damaged to read, but the hymn then addresses the Beneficent Protective Goddess of Bau directly, comparing her beauty to Suen's barge moving across the sky and her attractiveness to Inana's joyous emblem. A refrain — 'Let us praise you, the Beneficent Protective Goddess of Bau' — punctuates each section. Eight more lines are missing or broken beyond recovery, then the text resumes with the goddess standing at her lady Bau's right side, tending to her daily, full of glory and magnificence throughout the land, before the refrain returns once more.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 lines fragmentary Let us ...... praise (?) you, the Beneficent Protective Goddess of Bau. 3 lines fragmentary She does not ....... She does not go to the rich ...... nor ....... She does not ....... The barge of Suen as it proceeds -- lady, is not yours as beautiful? The joyous symbol of Inana -- Protective Goddess, is not yours as attractive? Let us ...... praise (?) you, the Beneficent Protective Goddess of Bau. 8 lines missing or fragmentary ......, daily ...... at her feet. My lady, at his right side you ...... your good ...... towards him. ...... full of glory -- lady, is not yours as beautiful? ...... magnificently in the Land -- Protective Goddess, is not yours as attractive? Let us ...... praise (?) you, the Beneficent Protective Goddess of Bau.”
Source: ETCSL c.4.02.1: A hymn to Bau's Beneficent Protective Goddess (Bau 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.4.02.1
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
A hymn to Enki for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan X)
In plain English
Among the gods, Enki is the cleverest decision-maker, the most prominent from the southern lowlands to the uplands. Staff in hand, he determines the fates of the Anuna gods as they come before him; holding all the divine powers, he stands apart and alone above them all. A great lord over living things — though part of that line is damaged — he is proclaimed as their god, the one whose words make justice flourish and whose authority strengthens the divine powers of heaven and earth. He examines the ordinances and carries them out correctly, and so is proclaimed their great prince. The hymn then turns to the creation of humanity, though the passage breaks off before the line is complete.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Lord who among the gods makes the clever decisions, most prominent among them from the south to the uplands; who holding a staff in his hand determines their destinies as the Anuna gods come to him; who possessing all the divine powers is alone surpassing; a great lord, who ...... the living things; who alone is proclaimed as their god -- you are their ....... You, whose utterances make justice flourish, strengthen the divine powers of heaven and earth. You, who examine the ordinances and carry them out correctly, are proclaimed as their great prince. Lord, who has made the seed of mankind…”
Source: ETCSL c.2.5.4.24: A hymn to Enki for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan X). 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.2.5.4.24
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
A hymn to Enlil for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna F)
In plain English
Samsu-iluna is addressed as An's foremost chosen one, seated in majesty on a gold-decorated throne, ruling with heroic strength — though several phrases in this opening section are too damaged to read. An, the mighty king of heaven and august judge, has assigned Samsu-iluna a great destiny and guaranteed him a secure crown for life. Enlil, for his part, has given Samsu-iluna shepherdship over the widespread people and named him beloved shepherd of Nippur, though the lines that follow are broken off.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“O king, foremost one of An, chosen in his holy heart, Samsu-iluna, king, foremost one of An, chosen in his holy heart, ...... rites ...... august, ......, joyful, supreme, assiduous, with head high on the gold-decorated throne of ...... kingship, who sits majestically ...... in its midst in heroic strength, Samsu-iluna: An, the mighty king of heaven, the august judge, has assigned you a great destiny, and has made you to pass your life with a secure crown. He is the man to whom Enlil has given ...... and the shepherdship over the widespread people, the beloved (?) shepherd of Nibru, the…”
Source: ETCSL c.2.8.3.6: A hymn to Enlil for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna F). 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.2.8.3.6
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
A hymn to Enlil for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna H)
In plain English
Someone brought offerings into the E-kur, the house of Enlil — the text is too damaged at the opening to say more. Then Samsu-iluna is named: the mighty king whose splendour covers all people, who has made wise decisions and inflicted defeat on hostile foreign lands. Several lines in the middle are too fragmentary to read. The passage ends in direct address: Samsu-iluna, good hero and lord of his land — it is sweet to praise you.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“...... offerings ......, he brought (?) them into E-kur. In the E-kur, the house of Enlil, Samsu-iluna, the mighty king whose ...... awesomeness covers all people (An Akkadian gloss has: whose splendour covers all people) 1 line unclear (An Akkadian gloss has: reach ......) 3 lines fragmentary 1 line fragmentary (An Akkadian gloss has: by saving ......) The foreign lands ...... has wisely (?) made decisions (?) (An Akkadian gloss has: ......; who has inflicted defeat ...... on all hostile lands). Samsu-iluna, the good hero, lordly one of his Land (An Akkadian gloss has: Samsu-iluna, the good hero, lordly one of his land)! O Samsu-iluna, it is sweet to praise you!”
Source: ETCSL c.2.8.3.8: A hymn to Enlil for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna H). 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.2.8.3.8
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
A hymn to Haia for Rim-Sin (Rim-Sin B)
In plain English
Haia is praised as a lord of perfect wisdom and mighty counsel, the one who holds the great tablets and enriches wisdom upon wisdom. He is the accountant of Hal-an-kug, keeper of all the arts of Nisaba's house of wisdom, and palace archivist of heaven and earth — counting every single assignment, gripping a holy reed-stylus, and covering the great tablets of destiny with writing. He speaks to holy An at exactly the right moments, holds the seal of Father Enlil, brings the sacred objects out of the treasure-house of E-kur, and stands as an ornament of the abzu shrine, his hair worn loose in honor of lord Nudimmud.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Lord, perfect in august wisdom and recognised for his mighty counsel, Haia, who holds the great tablets, who enriches wisdom with wisdom! Accountant of Hal-an-kug, having the final overview of the arts of Nisaba's house of wisdom; palace archivist of heaven and earth, who keeps count of every single assignment, who holds a holy reed-stylus and covers the great tablets of destiny with writing! Wise one, who prompts holy An with words and attention at the appropriate times; seal-holder of Father Enlil! He who brings forth the holy objects from the treasure-house of E-kur; ornament of the abzu shrine, wearing his hair loose for lord Nudimmud!”
Source: ETCSL c.2.6.9.2: A hymn to Haia for Rim-Sin (Rim-Sin B). 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.2.6.9.2
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
A hymn to Hendursanga (Hendursanga A)
In plain English
The opening five lines are missing or too damaged to read. What follows praises Hendursaja, who holds divine powers beyond anything that could be asked of him. He is the one who gives counsel from the rooftops, who carries the staff among powerful lords and rulers, a shepherd watching over the teeming masses of people. He walks the city squares at night, in the middle of the watch, and at daybreak he opens the gates and throws the doors wide onto the street. The hymn then names him the accountant of Nindara, king of Nijin — though the description of that city breaks off mid-phrase.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“5 lines missing or fragmentary ...... wise ......; Hendursaja, you have great divine powers, more than anyone could require. ...... who gives advice on the rooftops (?); you who among powerful lords are ......, who among rulers hold the staff, a shepherd who oversees the teeming people; ......, who strides about the city's squares by night at the middle of the watch; you who open the gates at daybreak, who make their doors stand open onto the street: Hendursaja, you have great divine powers, more than anyone could require. You are the accountant of Nindara, king of Nijin in its spacious…”
Source: ETCSL c.4.06.1: A hymn to Hendursanga (Hendursanga 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.4.06.1
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
A hymn to Inana for Hammu-rabi (Hammu-rabi F)
In plain English
Inana is addressed as the lady who perfects the highest divine powers and whose greatness blazes across heaven and earth. An has granted her dominion over manliness in both realms, and without her, An and Enlil cannot reach a decision anywhere in the land. When she speaks, her word carries the full authority of An's command, and her divinity stands supreme in the throne-hall. She sits in judgment on earth alongside An, and alongside Enlil — but the tablet's surface is too damaged at several points to preserve the full text, and a number of lines break off before they can be completed.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Lady who perfects the august divine powers, ...... his destiny grandly! O Inana, to whom An has ...... manliness in heaven and earth! Foremost among the gods, manifest, ...... his destiny! Inana, without whom An and Enlil cannot make a decision in the Land, proud one among the Anuna gods, ...... self-esteem and ......! Inana, good wild cow of the great princes, respected among ladies ......, your greatness shines forth to heaven and earth, your divine powers are ...... powers. When you speak it is the command of An, ...... named by An ....... Your divinity is pre-eminent in the throne-hall (?), your great ways are ....... With An, you give judgment on earth; with Enlil .......”
Source: ETCSL c.2.8.2.6: A hymn to Inana for Hammu-rabi (Hammu-rabi F). 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.2.8.2.6
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
A hymn to Inana (Inana C)
In plain English
Inana stands mightiest among the great gods, outranking even An himself. She is the proud, impetuous daughter of the moon god Suen, and she gathers the divine powers of heaven and earth into her own hands — the Anuna gods crawl before her word, and An does not dare move against her commands. She shifts course whenever she chooses, and no one can predict what she will do next. She holds the shepherd's crook, clamps down on the gods of the land like a great shackle, and her terrible majesty blankets the mountains and levels every road before her.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“The great-hearted mistress, the impetuous lady, proud among the Anuna gods and pre-eminent in all lands, the great daughter of Suen, exalted among the Great Princes (a name of the Igigi gods) , the magnificent lady who gathers up the divine powers of heaven and earth and rivals great An, is mightiest among the great gods -- she makes their verdicts final. The Anuna gods crawl before her august word whose course she does not let An know; he dares not proceed against her command. She ../changes her own action, and no one knows how it will occur. She makes perfect the great divine powers, she holds a shepherd's crook, and she is their magnificent pre-eminent one. She is a huge shackle clamping down upon the gods of the Land. Her great awesomeness covers the great mountain and levels the roads.”
Source: ETCSL c.4.07.3: A hymn to Inana (Inana 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.4.07.3
Read the full tablet entry