Position in chronology
Amar-Suena 16
Written in modern English
Karzida had never had a ĝipar built there, and no en priestess had ever lived in the city, until Amar-Suena changed that. Amar-Suena — whose name Enlil had proclaimed in Nippur, steadfast supporter of Enlil's temple, just god, the Utu of his land, powerful king, king of Ur, king of the four quarters, and beloved of Nanna — built a holy ĝipar for Nanna of Karzida, his beloved master, and installed his beloved en priestess inside it. By doing this, Amar-Suena would lengthen his own days. He dedicated the building to Nanna for his own well-being.
A modern paraphrase of the literal translation — same content, contemporary voice.
Translation — scholar edition
ETCSRI(1) In Karzida, where since the beginning of time there never had been a ĝipar built and no en priestess had dwelt, Amar-Suena, whose name was proclaimed by Enlil in Nibru, the steadfast supporter of Enlil's temple, the just god, the Utu of his land, the powerful king, king of Urim, king of the four quarters, the beloved of Nanna, built his holy ĝipar for Nanna of Karzida, his beloved master, (and) made his beloved en priestess enter it. In so doing Amar-Suena will lengthen the days (of his life). He dedicated it for his well-being to him.
Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions — scholar edition (Vienna).
Why it matters
Records Amar-Suena's foundation of the first ĝipar (high-priestess residence) at Karzida, attesting the Ur III crown's active role in extending Nanna's cult into previously unserved cult centres.
Scholarly note
Sumerian royal inscription, published in the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI) by Gábor Zólyomi and collaborators. Translation reproduced from the ETCSRI edition. ORACC text Q000989.
Attribution
Image: BM 137386 (British Museum, London, UK) — from Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts, P226864). source
Translation excerpted from Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q000989/.
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