Chapter 05 · 2000 – 1600 BCE
Old Babylonian
Hammurabi, the Epic of Gilgamesh, mathematics.
~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
An adab to Nanna for Gungunum (Gungunum A)
In plain English
The opening line is lost, and several others are damaged or fragmentary throughout. What remains praises Nanna, the moon god, in cascading titles: lord Acimbabbar, ruler and leader of the Anuna deities, prince of just decisions. An and Enlil have made him perfect for the sky, and he rises blazing like sunlight whether at noon or in the dead of night. He is the youthful Suen, son of the great mountain god Enlil and of Ninlil, and his grandparents Enki and Ninki granted him a good destiny as just lord of the sky. The closing lines, including a reference to a great dais, trail off into two fragmentary lines too damaged to read.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 line missing ...... of the gods, ...... light! Attractive great ......, ...... radiance! Barsud. ...... in princeship. Ruler, leader of the Anuna deities, prince of the just decision, lord Acimbabbar, An and Enlil have made you perfect for the sky. Beloved of the king, making the good crown sparkle, coming forth on high, you come forth like bright sunlight, whether at noon or in the night. Youthful Suen, lord, ...... son of the Great Mountain and born of Ninlil, given a good destiny by his grandparents Enki and Ninki -- they have given ...... to him, the just lord of the sky. Cagbatuku. ......, you care for them! ......, beloved ......, on the great dais ....... 2 lines fragmentary”
Source: ETCSL c.2.6.2.1: An adab to Nanna for Gungunum (Gungunum 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.2.6.2.1
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
An adab to Nanna for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan M)
In plain English
What commands are given, they are faithfully carried out — Nanna stands among the great gods in the E-kur, beautiful and august, his seat unchallenged by any other deity. He measures out the months and marks the new moon, sets the year in order, and brings life to the multitudes. He keeps all lands in balance, drives water down the Tigris and the Euphrates, and fills the broad earth with fine grain and lush vegetation. Several lines are too damaged or fragmentary to read. What remains names Ishme-Dagan as the king in Nanna's favor, and closes with a reference to honors bestowed on father Nanna by An and Enlil.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 line fragmentary ...... what he orders is faithfully executed, ...... endowed with beauty in the E-kur, ...... among the great gods, the great and august lord ...... in the heavens, ...... whose seat (?) no other god ......! August ......, lord whose abode is the mountains, father Nanna ......, ...... fixes the months and the new moon according to a cord (?), establishes the year ......, ...... life for the multitudes ......, ...... who puts all the lands in order, ...... who makes the Tigris and the Euphrates bring flowing water ......, ...... fine grain ......, ...... lush vegetation in the spacious land ......, 1 line fragmentary ...... lord Icme-Dagan ...... 1 line unclear august ...... bestowed upon father Nanna by An and Enlil ......”
Source: ETCSL c.2.5.4.13: An adab to Nanna for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan M). 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.2.5.4.13
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
An adab to Nanna (Nanna H)
In plain English
This is a hymn addressed to Suen (the moon god), righteous lord and determiner of destiny, born to Ninlil and beloved son of Enlil's household. His divine powers are majestic gifts from An himself — powers no other god can match, decreed by Enlil and established by An, lord of the sacred lustration rites. Suen is called the sacred lion of the gods and the light of heaven. At that point a line survives only in fragments, and an unknown number of lines are lost entirely. What follows is a litany of sacred houses: a series of shrines in cities founded by An, most of whose names are too damaged to read, though the house of Lugalbanda and the house of Inana in Zabalam are legible.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Righteous lord who determines destiny! Born to Ninlil, Suen, beloved son of Ninlil, Suen, having no rival in the E-kur, the house of Enlil: your divine powers are majestic divine powers granted by An! Your father, holy An, has bestowed upon you divine powers to which other gods cannot aspire. Enlil has decreed them to you in destiny. The lord of the holy lustration rites, An, has established them. ......, sacred lion of the gods, justly honoured, you are the light of heaven. 1 line fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing O house of ...... in ......, city founded by An! O house of ...... in ......, city founded by An! O house of Lugalbanda in ......, city founded by An! O house of ...... in ......, city founded by An! O house of Inana in Zabalam, city founded by An!”
Source: ETCSL c.4.13.08: An adab to Nanna (Nanna 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.4.13.08
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
An adab to Nergal for Shu-ilishu (Shu-ilishu A)
In plain 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.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Lord, 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!”
Source: 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
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
An adab to Ningublaga for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan C)
In plain English
Ningublaga is praised as a furious storm against enemies — strong, life-giving to his people, a great and mighty force whose battle-cry rings out across the field. Several phrases describing him are too damaged to read. The text then addresses him directly: with that battle-cry he has angrily heaped up skulls in the rebel lands, sent their brick buildings into terror, and scattered their chaff to the sky. The lines repeat, hailing him as a rampant wild bull, and the same acts of slaughter and destruction are proclaimed again. The passage breaks off mid-line before his divine epithet can be completed.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“The lord, a furious angry storm against the enemy, ......, strong ......., my lord who brings life to the people, whose own father ......, a great storm, a mighty ......, has ...... a battle-cry -- the lord whose manliness is impressively strong, ......! Barsud. Hero, with a battle-cry you have angrily piled up skulls in the rebel lands. You have terrified their brick buildings and scattered their chaff heavenward. Rampant wild bull, with a battle-cry you have angrily piled up skulls in the rebel lands. You have terrified their brick buildings and scattered their chaff heavenward. Divine…”
Source: ETCSL c.2.5.3.3: An adab to Ningublaga for Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-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.2.5.3.3
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
An adab to Nininsina (Nininsina E)
In plain English
The speaker declares their intent to praise Nininsina, born vigorous by the great god An — though a name or title in the opening line is too damaged to read. Holy Nininsina carried the power of youthful strength out of the womb, was raised on the sacred knees of Uraš, and was lavished with the divine gifts of queenship; she is wrapped in terror and dazzling radiance. The passage then repeats, this time saying she carried ladyship itself out of the womb — the same epithets, the same cascade of honors, closing once more on her name.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“I will praise the greatness of the ...... who was engendered vigorous by great An -- holy Nininsina, who brought youthful power from the womb, who was brought up sitting on the holy knees of Urac; who was copiously given divine powers of ladyship, and who is girded with fearsomeness and awesome radiance: Nininsina. I will praise the greatness of ...... my Nininsina, who was engendered vigorous -- holy Nininsina, who brought ladyship from the womb, who was brought up sitting on the holy knees of Urac; who was copiously given divine powers of ladyship, and who is girded with fearsomeness and awesome radiance: Nininsina.”
Source: ETCSL c.4.22.5: An adab to Nininsina (Nininsina 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.4.22.5
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
An adab to Ninlil (Ninlil A)
In plain English
Ninlil holds every divine power in full and stands as an equal to Enlil, the Great Mountain, sharing with him the authority to set destinies. She inspires awe, gives wise counsel, and her word carries the force of a storm. Enlil loves her and has taken her in his arms; he watches over everything and, as lord Nunamnir, he cherishes her. She sits enthroned on a holy dais, where all the great lords and rulers have bowed before her, and she rides in regal comfort beneath a broad canopy — the goddess who delivers joy and prosperity to the world.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Ninlil, comprehensively replete with numerous divine powers! Equal to the Great Mountain; deciding destinies with lord Nunamnir; suited to the Great Lion; pre-eminent over heaven and earth! Joyous princess (?), lady with the princely divine powers; conveying terror; wise with advice! Mother Ninlil, whose speech is a storm (?), you are a pleasure to Enlil's heart -- he has embraced you! Overseeing everything, lord Nunamnir loves (?) you. You occupy a holy dais, mother Ninlil; you provide the ...... of prosperity. All the great lords and sovereigns have paid homage to you. Riding in princely style under a broad shelter in coolness, mother Ninlil, you are the goddess who provides the divine powers of joy and prosperity.”
Source: ETCSL c.4.24.1: An adab to Ninlil (Ninlil 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.4.24.1
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
An adab to Ninurta for Bur-Suen (Bur-Suen A)
In plain English
Ninurta — lord born of the Great Mountain — has magnificence that nothing can match. He surpasses all the Anuna gods in heaven and on earth, stands foremost among them, and is the support of An himself. He roars like a storm and growls through battle, battering enemy fortresses like a great wild bull. No foreign land can slip from his grip; his words, confirmed by Nunamnir, hold firm. He is made for kingship and serves as counsellor of Ekur. Several lines open these stanzas but are too damaged to read, and the passage breaks off before its end.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“......, lord, whom the Great Mountain engendered, whose magnificence has no equal. Ninurta, magnificent in heaven and earth, surpassing among the Anuna gods. ......, foremost among the gods, support of An. ...... imbued with ......, who roars like a storm, who growls in battle. ......, who butts like a huge wild bull, who destroys the fortresses of the rebel lands. ...... of Enlil: no foreign land can escape from his grasp. ...... by Nunamnir, whose words are firmly established. ......, fit for princeship, the counsellor of Ekur. ...... cannot be scattered, the neckstock of the gods. approx.…”
Source: ETCSL c.2.5.7.1: An adab to Ninurta for Bur-Suen (Bur-Suen 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.2.5.7.1
Read the full tablet entry