Chapter 05 · 2000 – 1600 BCE

Old Babylonian

Hammurabi, the Epic of Gilgamesh, mathematics.

Illustration: A teacher and apprentice working with clay tablets in a Babylonian courtyard
A Babylonian scribal school, around 1750 BCE.

~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses

Lullaby for a son of Shulgi (Shulgi N)

“Ah, ah, may he grow sturdy through my crooning, may he flourish through my crooning! May he put down strong foundations as roots, may he spread branches wide like a cakir plant! Lord, from this you know our whereabouts; among those resplendent apple trees overhanging the river, may someone who passes by (?) reach out his hand, may someone lying there raise his hand. My son, sleep will overtake you, sleep will settle on you. Sleep come, sleep come, sleep come to my son, sleep hasten (?) to my son! Put to sleep his open eyes, settle your hand upon his sparkling eyes -- as for his murmuring tongue, let the murmuring not spoil his sleep.”

Source: ETCSL c.2.4.2.14: Lullaby for a son of Shulgi (Shulgi N). 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.2.4.2.14

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~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses

Nanna-Suen's journey to Nibru

“The heroic Nanna-Suen fixed his mind on the city of his mother. Suen Acimbabbar fixed his mind on the city of his mother. Nanna-Suen fixed his mind on the city of his mother and his father. Acimbabbar fixed his mind on the city of Enlil and Ninlil: "I, the hero, will set off for my city. I will set off for my city, I will set off to my father. I, Suen, will set off for my city. I will set off for my city, I will set off to my father. I will set off to my father Enlil. I will set off for my city, I will set off to my mother. I will set off to my mother Ninlil. I will set off to my father. "The shining city, the pure place ....... 6 lines missing ...... very great, ...... very great, ...... very great, ...... very great.”

Source: ETCSL c.1.5.1: Nanna-Suen's journey to Nibru. 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.1.5.1

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~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses

Nanshe and the birds (Nanshe C)

“The pelican (?) came forth from the holy reed-beds. It came forth from the holy reed-beds. The wise pelican (?) spent the day high in the skies. The pelican (?) cried out in the sky: its singing was sweet and its voice was pleasing. My lady ...... her pelican (?) with beauty. The mistress mother Nance ...... her pelican (?) with beauty. "I am the mistress! How can my pelican (?) ......? How can I ......? I am Nance! How can my pelican (?) ...... holy? How can ......?" She herself ...... upon the water like a large pelican (?). Stepping onto earth from heaven, she ...... in the water like a…”

Source: ETCSL c.4.14.3: Nanshe and the birds (Nanshe 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.4.14.3

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~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses

Ningishzida's journey to the nether world

“"Arise and get on board, arise, we are about to sail, arise and get on board!" -- Woe, weep for the bright daylight, as the barge is steered away! -- "I am a young man! Let me not be covered against my wishes by a cabin, as if with a blanket, as if with a blanket!" Stretching out a hand to the barge, to the young man being steered away on the barge, stretching out a hand to my young man Damu (1 ms. has instead: lord Ninjiczida) being taken away on the barge, stretching out a hand to Ictaran of the bright visage being taken away on the barge, stretching out a hand to Alla, master of the…”

Source: ETCSL c.1.7.3: Ningishzida's journey to the nether world. 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.1.7.3

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~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses

Nininsina and the gods (Nininsina F)

“They ...... stood around her. The holy and pure divine powers befit Nininsina, lady of the great divine powers. Her divine powers are divine powers bestowed on her by An. The Great Mountain, Enlil, determined a fate for her. Having left the temple of Enlil, she entered Eridug, the pleasant place, and took her seat in the abzu shrine. Her father, Enki, seated her upon his knees. He truly cherished Nininsina -- as soon as ...... took a fancy to jewels of cuba stone, they were hung around the neck of Nininsina; as soon as she took a fancy to a white linen garment, he dressed the daughter of holy An in it. Lord Nudimmud determined a fate for her. unknown no. of lines missing”

Source: ETCSL c.4.22.6: Nininsina and the gods (Nininsina 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.4.22.6

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~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses

Nininsina's journey to Nibru: a shir-namshub to Nininsina (Nininsina C)

“14 lines missing 1 line fragmentary ...... escorts her to ....... She sails on the Euphrates, amid the holy reed-shoots; ....... She moors the boat at the Wine Quay; Enki ....... Humbly she ...... Enlil's house. She ...... food offerings ...... of Enlil. She slaughters cattle and sheep ...... Enlil. ...... greets her from his eternal royal offering-place; ...... his shining ...... upon her. Joyfully ....... 1 line fragmentary 35 lines missing”

Source: ETCSL c.4.22.3: Nininsina's journey to Nibru: a shir-namshub to Nininsina (Nininsina 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.4.22.3

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~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses

Nintinuga's dog

“Lugal-murub the son of Zuzu, the master-scribe of Nibru, has fashioned for Nintinuga his messenger (?) dog Tuni-lu-sag. That is why the dog will wag his tail or bare (?) his teeth for his mistress the queen of heaven and earth, the provider of food, the stewardess of Enlil, the sweet breast satisfying all lands, the bringer of abundance, who can diagnose the intentions of the virulent asag demon and who checks people's bones; who examines the sinews of life and the sinews of death, comforting those joints; who knows every sick spot where there is affliction, torment or distress -- the kindly physician, the exorcist to the sick, who looks after the hearts of humans.”

Source: ETCSL c.5.7.2: Nintinuga's dog. 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.5.7.2

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~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses

Ninurta's journey to Eridug: a shirgida to Ninurta (Ninurta B)

“The hero ...... coming forth from the E-kur; Ninurta ...... coming forth from the E-kur, 1 line fragmentary ...... Ninurta, the son of Enlil, 1 line fragmentary in order to instruct ......, Ninurta went from the place of Enlil to Eridug. To determine a destiny of abundance, to improve ...... all the ......, to see that vegetation should grow lushly in the spacious land, to see that the cow-pens and sheepfolds should be heavy with butter and cream to make the shepherds rejoice, the warrior Ninurta went to Eridug. To see that the Tigris and the Euphrates should roar, to see that ......, to see…”

Source: ETCSL c.4.27.02: Ninurta's journey to Eridug: a shirgida to Ninurta (Ninurta 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.4.27.02

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