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

Proverbs: collection 21

“3 lines fragmentary 2 lines missing 2 lines fragmentary 1 line fragmentary 2 lines fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing (= Alster 1997 21 Sec. B 1) 1 line fragmentary (= Alster 1997 21 Sec. B 2) 1 line missing 2 lines fragmentary (= Alster 1997 21 Sec. B 3) The king ...... not having questioned ....... (= Alster 1997 21 Sec. B 4; cf. 6.1.09.a12, 6.1.19.b1, 6.1.24.2, 6.2.5: YBC 4677 ll. 1-2) When a fattened pig is about to be slaughtered ......, one says "Let me replace what I am about to eat." (= Alster 1997 21 Sec. B 5; cf. 6.1.09.a13, 6.1.19.b2, 6.1.24.2, 6.2.5: YBC 4677 ll. 3-4) As the piglet snuffles around, it says "......." unknown no. of lines missing”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.21: Proverbs: collection 21. 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.6.1.21

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

Proverbs: collection 22

“(cf. 6.1.03.112, 6.1.28.28, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 311 ll. 4-5) 1 line fragmentaryI pick the bones from the fish ....... (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 311 l. 6) 5 lines fragmentary (cf. 6.1.01.153, 6.1.03.9, 6.1.16.b5, 6.1.23.7) 2 lines fragmentary 4 lines missing 1 line fragmentary (cf. 6.1.01.125, 6.1.14.41, 6.1.23.2) My husband picks the bones from the fish for me. (cf. 6.1.01.126, 6.1.14.42, 6.1.19.c6, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 284) A plant as sweet as a husband does not grow in the desert. (cf. 6.1.14.45, 6.2.5: UM 29-15-748 ll. 6-7) A pig ....... "Where is my husband?" it said. When it realised (?) its fate ....... approx. 11 lines missing”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.22: Proverbs: collection 22. 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.6.1.22

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

Proverbs: collection 23

“4 lines fragmentary (cf. 6.1.01.125, 6.1.14.41, 6.1.22: l. 33) 3 lines unclear My husband picks the bones from the fish for me. ...... is not in the desert. 4 lines fragmentary 2 lines fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing 2 lines fragmentary (cf. 6.1.01.153, 6.1.01.159, 6.1.02.62, 6.1.02.142, 6.1.03.9, 6.1.16.b4-5, 6.1.22: ll. 26-27, 6.1.25.7) A ...... shepherd's sex appeal is his testicles (?); a gardener's is his hair. ...... a waterskin. He who does not support a wife, and who does not support a son. Although the dishonest man was unable to build his own house, he came to serve as a construction worker at my friend's house. A dishonest man chases after women's genitals; an unreliable man has two sickles. A house built by a righteous man is destroyed by a treacherous man.”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.23: Proverbs: collection 23. 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.6.1.23

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

Proverbs: collection 24

“1 line fragmentary (cf. 6.1.09.a12-13, 6.1.19.b1-2, 6.1.21.b4-5, 6.2.5: YBC 4677 ll. 1-4) When a fattened pig is about to be slaughtered, one says "I must replace what I eat." As the piglet snuffles around, it says I can no longer take pleasure in eating. (cf. 6.1.02.135, 6.1.19.b4) He who annihilates a house destroys silver. He who destroys a house destroys gold. (cf. 6.1.09.a14, 6.1.19.b5) The lord's wife kneels, the slave girl dies. The lord kneels, the slave dies. (cf. 6.1.03.71, 6.1.11.19, 6.1.19.b6) ...... its hands ...... to the edge of the desert. There will be losses ....... It will be done .......”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.24: Proverbs: collection 24. 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.6.1.24

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

Proverbs: collection 25

“(cf. 6.1.03.149, 6.1.14.6, 6.1.15.b5, 6.1.16.c5, 6.1.22: ll. 172-175) It became cloudy, but it did not rain. It rained, but no one undid their belt. Although the Tigris was on its high tide, no water reached the arable lands. It rained on the riverbank, but the dry land did not get any of it. (cf. 6.1.15.b7) The en priest eats fish and eats leeks; but cress makes him ill. (cf. 6.1.03.59) The lord (i.e. An (?)) cursed Unug, but he himself was cursed by the lady of E-ana (i.e. Inana) . (cf. 6.1.03.31, 6.1.09.b1, 6.1.11.18, 6.1.15.b8, 6.2.1: Ni 4469 Seg. A ll. 9-12) Nanni cherished his old age.…”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.25: Proverbs: collection 25. 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.6.1.25

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

Proverbs: collection 26

“1 line fragmentary (cf. 6.1.11.56, 6.1.25.9, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. B l. 2) The palace bows down, but only of its own accord. (cf. 6.1.25.12, 6.2.5: YBC 9908, 5.6.1: ll. 95-96) Income ....... Expenditures never cease. (cf. 6.1.22: ll. 49-50, 6.2.3: UET 6/2 259, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. B ll. 4-5, 6.2.5: YBC 7351, 5.6.1: l. 50) Violent cursing and chasing away a son from his father's house are abominations to Ninurta. (cf. 6.1.03.8, 6.2.1: Ni 4122 ll. 2-5) To spit without covering it up with dust and to use the tongue at midday without protection are abominations to Utu. (cf. 6.1.11.66, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. B l. 6) To take revenge is an abomination to Ninurta.”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.26: Proverbs: collection 26. 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.6.1.26

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

Proverbs: collection 27

“(= Alster 1997 p. 284 C ii' 1') 3 lines fragmentary (= Alster 1997 p. 284 C ii' 2') 2 lines fragmentary (= Alster 1997 p. 284 C ii' 3') 4 lines fragmentary (= Alster 1997 p. 284 C ii' 4') 1 line fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing (= Alster 1997 27.1) The rich man's heart is sick, it is very sick indeed (?) -- the man with a troubled heart is sick, he is very sick indeed (?). (= Alster 1997 27.2) "Why are the interest payments so small?" (= Alster 1997 27.3) He who carries a light burden can dance. (= Alster 1997 27.4) The conmen (?) are having their say. (= Alster 1997 27.5) People whose houses have been lost turn to their storehouses.”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.27: Proverbs: collection 27. 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.6.1.27

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

Proverbs: collection 28

“(cf. 6.1.03.84) The battle-club does not find out his name, it just finds his flesh. The city may change its name, but let my name stand! The mongoose does not know fear of god. (cf. 6.1.01.145, 6.1.19.c3, 6.1.22: ll. 87-88) Accept your lot and make your mother happy! Run fast and make your god happy! An eagle (?) enters a man's mouth. When a fly enters, your mouth will buzz (lit. fly) . (cf. 6.1.15.c2, 6.1.26.b3) Let the ox be struck with a stick and let the sheep be given the whip. Where there is no toughness, no one can go about their business, not even a plenipotentiary. (cf. 6.1.01.104, 6.1.11.54, 6.1.15.c3, 6.1.26.b4) If oil is poured into the inside of a sceptre (-- nobody will know) .”

Source: ETCSL c.6.1.28: Proverbs: collection 28. 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.6.1.28

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