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ancienttextmoderntablet · 7 years

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My Modern Rendition of the Kesh Temple Hymn, One of the World’s Oldest Known Literary Works

(My modern-day rendition of the Kesh Temple Hymn, in a dried state prior to firing. Although kiln technology was suitably advanced, most ancient cuneiform texts were not fired: most fired tablets were fired by modern museums.)

(final fired version)

The Kesh Temple Hymn is one of the world’s oldest known literary compositions, dating to at least 4,500 years ago along with the Instructions of Shuruppak, a compilation of proverbial advice, and a composition called “Evil Mouth,” now being edited by Jana Matuszak, which involves wide-ranging and crude insults that seems to provoke the anger of the goddess Inana and her right to behave impetuously. There are actually a number of other literary texts from this early period, coming chiefly from the sites of Tell Fara (ancient Shuruppak) and Tell Abu-Salabikh (ancient name uncertain: possibly Eresh), but most of them lack parallels from later periods when Sumerian was rendered more explicitly and are therefore highly enigmatic (the very earliest period of cuneiform, the so-called Archaic or proto-Literate period, has not yet produced an unequivocal example of a literary text with complete sentences and a (reasonably) coherent narrative).

(the oldest version of the Kesh Temple Hymn, found at Tell abu-Salabikh, identified, copied, and published by Robert Biggs of the Oriental Institute)

Like the Instructions of Shuruppak, the Kesh Temple Hymn remained in circulation for centuries. Most manuscripts of this text date from around 3,800 to 3,700 years ago.

(A single column “imgida” manuscript of the Kesh Temple Hymn from Old Babylonian Nippur, now in the University Museum in Philadelphia)

The Kesh Temple Hymn is a text devoted to the praise of the temple of the birth goddess Nintur at the southern Mesopotamian city of Kesh (exact location uncertain), who is also referred to as the goddess Ninhursanga (several mother goddesses were partially interchangeable) and her offspring, the relatively obscure god Ashgi, who is described as the temple’s “hero” (Sumerian ur-saj). The beginning of the text describes Enlil, the king of the gods, examining the world and choosing the city of Kesh from among it. Enlil then praises the temple, which is dutifully written down on a tablet by Nisaba, the goddess of grain and the patron deity of scribes, presumably indicating the divine authorship of the rest of the text. Much of the rest of the text is devoted to the praise of the temple utilizing vivid and highly abstract natural imagery. When I looked over the ancient originals to prepare the text featured on this piece, I found a previously misread reference to ants (Sumerian kiši6, kiši8, kiši9). The line is obscure, but seems to be stating that ants incised the temple, perhaps referring to the marks left by tunneling ants. Much later, in the encyclopedic omen tradition of Shumma Alu, finding ants in the foundation of a house was considered an ominous event (a good omen if the ants were black, a bad omen if they were any other color).

(A fragment of a tablet of the vast omen series Shumma Alu from the library of the Neo-Assyrian king Assurbanipal. Two omens involving ants in the foundations of a building occur in the third and fourth lines after the first preserved ruling, photo credit British Museum via the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative)

A central theme of the Kesh temple’s conception is its enormity (expressed explicitly at one point in the text with enormous measurements) manifesting itself in the realms of heaven, earth, and the subterranean abzu (the distant precursor of English “abyss”). This reflects the widespread ancient Mesopotamian notion that temples were understood at some level to be representations of the cosmos. Another central theme of the text is the temple’s ineffability: ancient Mesopotamian temples existed primarily as the residence of a god, not as a place of public worship. The disturbance of a temple and the prospect of the divine abandonment of a temple by its patron deity were matters of the utmost severity. The Kesh Temple Hymn is divided into eight (and in a few versions, ten) sections each enigmatically labelled “first-eighth temple,” with the same three concluding lines: “Will anyone produce anything as surpassing as Keš? Has any mother given birth to anything as surpassing as its hero Ašgi? Who has seen anything as surpassing as its lady Nintur? “ Near the conclusion of the text, there is a description of a royal ritual involving the king and a stone vessel (Sumerian bur) and numerous cultic officials, some of which are mentioned only in this text and a scant few other instances, as well as a vocal and musical performance, apparently as a prelude to a banquet of the patron goddess. A similar royal ritual involving a stone vessel is described in the Sumerian debate poem “Hoe and Plow,” where it involves an agricultural ritual for the plowing at the beginning of the planting cycle in the month of shu-numun/du’uzu (approximately June-July), although there is no evidence that the ritual described in the Kesh Temple Hymn specifically involved the agricultural cycle. In Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta (308f.), the hero king Enmerkar of Uruk’s use of stone bowls to grow grain at sunrise using water from both the Tigris and Euphrates in response to his rival’s challenge may possess ritual connotation as well.

The Kesh Temple Hymn survives to us in a number of sources, (around 90 manuscripts and fragments according to my current tally) mainly known from the Old Babylonian period (dating around 3,800 to 3,700 years ago). Even though the city of Kesh had become largely irrelevant by this period politically, the text was still popular in southern Mesopotamia at this time.

(This is the conclusion of a loan of grain made during the reign of the Old Babylonian king Samsuiluna. The authoring scribe has the city name of Kesh in his name, in a sentence usually used for deities: Kesh-iddinam ��(the city of) Kesh gave to me”)

As is always the case with ancient Sumerian texts for which many manuscripts survive, there is some variance between the sources. This is the master text I selected for the tablet, followed by my translation. It favors the sources from the city of Nippur, which generally seems to have had the most reliable knowledge of the Sumerian language in its scribal schools. Recently a few important manuscripts have come to light, including a four-sided prism bearing the entire composition housed in the University of California, Los Angeles and several more manuscripts in the massive private collection of Martin Schoyen. Three other four-sided prisms containing the composition are known: one in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, another in the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, and a small fragment of a prism in the University Museum in Philadelphia.

(The best-preserved surviving four-sided prism of the Kesh Temple Hymn, housed in the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, photo credit Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative )

1. nam2-nun-e nam2-nun-e e2-ta nam-ta-ab-e3 2. {d}En-lil2 nam2-nun-e e2-ta nam-ta-ab-e3 3. nam2-nun-e nam-lugal-la e2-ta nam-ta-ab-e3 4. {d}En-lil2-le kur-kur-ra igi mi-ni-ib-il2-il2-i 5. {d}En-lil2-ra kur ni2-bi mu-na-il2-il2-i 6. an-ub-da-limmu2 {d}En-lil2-ra SAR-gin7 mu-na-sig7 7. Keš3{ki} saŋ men mu-na-ni-ib-ŋal2 8. Keš3{k}i kur-kur-ra saŋ il2-bi-im 9. {d}En-lil2-le Keš3{ki}-a za3-mi2 mu-na-ab-be2 10. {d}Nisaba nu-KA-AŠ-bi-im 11. KA-bi-ta sa-gin7 im-da-an-sur 12. dub-ba ŋa2-ŋa2 šu-še3 al-ŋa2-ŋa2 13. e2 muš3 kalam-ma gud huš Aratta{ki} 14. e2 Keš3{ki} muš3 kalam-ma gud huš Aratta{ki} 15. hur-saŋ-da mu2-a an-da gu2 la2-a 16. e2 kur-da mu2-a kur-ra saŋ il2-bi 17. abzu-gin7 gun3-a hur-saŋ-gin7 sig7-ga 18. Keš3{ki}-gin7 rib-ba lu2 ši-in-ga-an-tum2-mu 19. ur-saŋ-bi {d}{aš}Aš7-gi4-gin7 rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-an-u3-tu 20. nin-bi {d}Nin-tur5-gin7 rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du8

21. e2 diš-kam-ma-am3

22. e2 dug3 ki dug3-ga du3-a 23. e2 Keš3{ki} e2 dug3 ki dug3-ga du3-a 24. ma2-gur8 nun-gin7 an-na diri-ga 25. ma2-gur8 kug-gin7 dag-si ri-a 26. ma2 An-na-gin7 muš3 kur-kur-ra 27. u5{mušen}-ban3-da3-gin7 peš10-ta sur-sur-ra 28. e2 gud-gin7 mur im-ša4 ninda2-gin7 gu3 nun-di 29. e2 šag4-bi-ta lipiš kalam-ma 30. a-ga-bi-ta zi Ki-en-gi-ra 31. e2 ib-gal an-ne2 us2-sa 32. e2 zid-da gal an-ne2 us2-sa 33. e2 men gal an-ne2 us2-sa 34. e2 {d}Tir-an-na an-ne2 us2-sa 35. e2 muš3-bi an šag4-ga la2-a 36. temen-bi abzu-a si-ga 36b. nun-e abzu-ta mi2 dug4 -ga 37. e2 An-ne2 ki ŋar-ra {d}En-lil2-le za3-mi2 dug4-ga 38. ama {d}Nin-tur5 eš-bar kin dug4-ga 39. e2 Keš3{ki} gurun-na sig7-ga 40. Keš3{ki}-gin7 rib-ba lu2 ši-in-ga-an-tum2-mu 41. ur-saŋ-bi {d}{aš}Aš7-gi4-gin7 rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-an-u3-tu 42. nin-bi {d}Nin-tur5-gin7 rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du8

43. e2 min-kam-ma-am3

44. e2 an-še3 10 šar2 IKU ki-še3 5 šar2 IKU 45. e2 an-še3 10 bur3 IKU ki-še3 5 bur3 IKU 46. e2 an-še3 alim ki-še3 lu-lim 47. e2 an-še3 šeg9-bar ki-še3 durah-maš 48. e2 an-še3 šeg9-bar-gin7 gun3-a ki-še3 durah-maš-gin7 gun3-a 49. e2 an-še3 muš-gu7{mušen}-gin7 sig7-ga ki-še3 u5{mušen}-gin7 a-e šu2-a 50. e2 an-še3 u4-gin7 e3-a ki-še3 iti6-gin7 barag2-ga 51. e2 an-še3 kur-ra ki-še3 idim-ma-am3 52. e2 an-ki-a eš5-kam-ma-bi na-nam 53. Keš3{ki}-gin7 rib-ba lu2 ši-in-ga-an-tum2-mu 54. ur-saŋ-bi {d}{aš}Aš7-gi4-gin7 rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-an-u3-tu 55. nin-bi {d}Nin-tur5-gin7 rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du8

56. e2 eš5-kam-ma-am3

57. iri{ki} in-ga-am3 iri{ki} in-ga-am3 šag4-bi a-ba-a mu-un-zu 58. e2 Keš3{ki} iri{ki} in-ga-am3 šag4-bi a-ba-a mu-un-zu 59. šag4-bi-a ur-saŋ-ur-saŋ-e-ne si mu-un-sa2-sa2-e-ne 60. eš-bar kiŋ2 dug4-ga šu gal mu-un-du7-du7 61. e2-e gud du7-du7-dam gu2 am3-ma-gur-re 62. gukkal-e ib2 ab-luh-luh-e 63. e2-e gud šar2-ra-am3 al-gu7-e 64. e2-e udu šar2-ra-am3 al-gu7-e 65. barag-barag-ke4-ne gu2 ŋiš am3-ma-ŋal2-le-eš 66. {ŋeš}taskarin-da men an-da gur3-ru 67. {ŋeš}asal2-da an-da tal2-tal2 sal-la 68. hur-saŋ-da an-da sig7-sig7-ga 69. Keš3{ki}-gin7 rib-ba lu2 ši-in-ga-an-tum2-mu 70. ur-saŋ-bi {d} {aš}Aš7-gi4-gin7 rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-an-u3-tu

71. nin-bi {d}Nin-tur5-gin7 rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du8

72. e2 4-kam-ma-am3

73. e2 piriŋ u3-tu šag4-bi ur-saŋ su3-ud 74. e2 Keš3{ki} piriŋ u3-tu šag4-bi ur-saŋ su3-ud 75. šag4-bi-a ur-saŋ-ur-saŋ-e-ne si mu-un-sa2-sa2-e-ne 76. {d}Nin-hur-saŋ-ŋe26 ušumgal-am3 šag4 ki im-mi-in-tab 77. {d}Nin-tur5 ama gal-la tu-tu mu-un-ŋa2-ŋa2 78. {d}Sul-pa-e3-a ensi2-ke4 nam-en mu-un-ak 79. {d}{aš}Aš7-gi4 ur-saŋ-ŋe26 nesaŋ mu-un-gu7-e 80. {d}Uri3-maš nimgir gal-am3 eden-na mu-un-da-an-ti 81. e2 šeg9 lu-lim-e gu2 am3-ma-gur-re 82. Keš3{ki}-gin7 rib-ba lu2 ši-in-ga-an-tum2-mu 83. ur-saŋ-bi {d}{aš}Aš7-gi4-gin7 rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-an-u3-tu 84. nin-bi {d}Nin-tur5-gin7 rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du8

85. e2 ia2-kam-ma-am3

86. e2 u4-gin7 ki-gal-la gub-ba 87. am babbar-gin7 eden-na re7-da 88. e2 nun-e ŋar-ra e2 kiši8-kiši8-da hur-ra 89. e2 ša3-bi-ta lipiš kalam-ma 90. a-ga-bi-ta zi šag4-ge si-a 91. e2-bi piriŋ šu-ba nu2-a 92. kan4-bi-ta UN-gal KA ŋar-ra 93. {ŋeš}ig-bi-ta kur gaba nu-gi4-gi4 94. {ŋeš}suhub4-bi-ta am gal-la du7-a 95. {ŋeš}saŋ-kul-bi ur ad6 LU gu7 96. ŋa2-nun ŋar-ra-bi an-šar2 ki-šar2 97. gi-gun4-na-bi la-ha-ma ki us2-sa 98. bad3 gal nun-na-bi eš3 Urim2{ki} zu2 keš2-da 99. Keš3{ki}-gin7 rib-ba lu2 ši-in-ga-an-tum2-mu 100. ur-saŋ-bi {d}{aš}Aš7-gi4-gin7 rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-an-u3-tu 101. nin-bi {d}Nin-tur5-gin7 rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du8

102. e2 aš3-kam-ma-am3

103. e2 kug dib-be2 e2-nun 104. e2 Keš3{ki} kug dib-be2 e2-nun 105. e2 en-bi {d}A-nun-na-me-eš 106. nu-eš3-bi dim E2-an-na-me-eš 107. e2-e lugal bur-ra-am3 mu-e-de6 108. en-šar2 šag4 {tug2}ba13 nam-mi-in-la2 109. a-tu-e šibir šu bi2-in-du8 110. tu a UR4-a-am3 mu-e-de6 111. lal3 a-šag4-ga ki kug-ga i-im-tuš 112. enkum-e-ne tu6 ki am3-ma-ŋal2-le-eš 113. pa4-šeš-e-ne su mu-un-sag3-ge-ne 114. u18-ru u18-ru mu-ni-ib-be2-ne 115. si am-ma-ke4 gum2-ga-am3 mi-ni-ib-za 115a. šem3 {kuš}a2-la2-e gu3 nun mi-ni-ib-be2 116. {ŋeš}al-ŋar-sur9-ra suh3-sah4 mi-ni-ib-za 117. e2 al-dug3 kiri3-zal-bi al-dug3 118. e2 Keš3{ki} al-dug3 kiri3-zal-bi al-dug3 119. nin-bi TIN kaš-a mu-un-tuš 120. {d}Nin-hur-saŋ-ŋa2 nin-bi TIN kaš-a mu-un-tuš 121. Keš3{ki}-gin7 rib-ba lu2 ši-in-ga-an-tum2-mu 122. ur-saŋ-bi {d}{aš}Aš7-gi4-gin7 rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-an-u3-tu 123. nin-bi {d}Nin-tur5-gin7 rib-ba-ra a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du8

124. e2 imin-kam-ma-am3

125. iri{ki}-še3 iri{ki}-še3 lu2 te-a na-te 126. e2 Keš3{ki} iri{ki}-še3 lu2 te-a na-te 127. ur-saŋ-bi {d}{aš}Aš7-gi4-še3 lu2 te-a na-te 128. nin-bi {d}Nin-tur5-še3 lu2 te na-te 129. Keš3{ki} du3-a {d}{aš}Aš7-gi4 za3-mi2 130. Keš3{ki} mi2 dug4-ga ama {d}Nin-tur5 za3-mi2

131. e2 8-kam-ma-am3

1. Rulership, rulership, he has brought it out from the temple 2. (The chief god) Enlil has brought out rulership from the temple 3. Rulership, that of kingship, he has brought it out from the temple 4. Enlil looks at the all the lands 5. For Enlil, the mountain raises its aura 6. The four corners (of the world: the same expression describes buildings) are verdant for him like an orchard 7. (The city of) Kesh is there for him as a crown 8. Kesh is the one that raises its head among all the lands 9. Enlil praises Kesh 10. (The grain and scribal goddess) Nisaba is its tallier 11. By means of (Enlils?) speech she braided (the words?) like a net/string (this might be a metaphor for arranging cuneiform text on a tablet) 12. She was entering it on a tablet, and setting it in her hand 13. Temple, sacred enclosure of the land, furious bull (of) (the mythical Iranian city of) Aratta 14. Temple of Kesh, sacred enclosure of the land, furious bull (of) (the mythical Iranian city of) Aratta 15. Grown along with the mountain range, embracing the sky 16. Temple grown along with the mountain, the one that raises its head on the mountain 17. Sparkling like the (subterranean watery) abyss, verdant like the mountain range 18. What man can produce something as surpassing as Kesh? 19. What mother can give birth to someone as surpassing as its hero (the god) Ashgi? 20. Who has ever seen anything as surpassing as its lady, (the birth goddess) Nintu?

21. It is the first (strophe of the song of the) temple

22. Good temple, built in a good place 23. Temple of Kesh, a good temple built in a good place 24. Floating in heaven like a noble barge 25. Putting down hanging hooks like a holy barge 26. Like the boat of (the sky god) An, it is the sacred space of the lands 27. Waddling away from the shore like a wild goose 28. Temple that bellows like an ox, bellows nobly like a steer 29. Temple from whose midst is the innards of the homeland 30. Behind it is the life of Sumer 31. Temple whose great oval reaches the sky 32. Great true temple reaching the sky 33. Temple, great crown that reaches the sky 34. Temple, rainbow (a minor deity) that reaches the sky 35. Temple whose sacred space extends into the midst of the sky 36. Its foundation pegs occupy the subterranean abyss 36b. Praised by the ruler (the god Enki, god of wisdom and magic) in the subterranean abyss 37. Temple founded by An, praised by Enlil 38. Mother Nintur made the decision/took the omens(?) 39. Temple of Kesh, verdant with fruit 40. What man can produce something as surpassing as Kesh? 41. What mother can give birth to someone as surpassing as its hero (the god) Ashgi? 42. Who has ever seen anything as surpassing as its lady, (the birth goddess) Nintu?

43. It is the second (strophe of the song of the) temple

44. Temple, towards the sky it is 36,000 iku (in area), towards the earth it is 18,000 iku 45. Temple, towards the sky it is ten bur (in area), towards the earth it is five bur 46. Temple, towards the sky it is a bison, towards the earth it is a red deer 47. Temple, towards the sky it is a fallow deer, towards the earth it is a ram 48. Temple, towards the sky it is speckled like a fallow deer, towards the earth it is speckled a ram 49. Temple, towards the sky it is a yellow mushgu bird, towards the earth it is an goose covered by water 50. Temple, towards the sky it comes out(!) like the sun, towards the earth it is covered by moonlight 51. Temple, towards the sky it is a mountain, towards the earth it is a spring 52. It is indeed the third temple of the universe 53. What man can produce something as surpassing as Kesh? 54. What mother can give birth to someone as surpassing as its hero (the god) Ashgi? 55. Who has ever seen anything as surpassing as its lady, (the birth goddess) Nintu?

56. It is the third (strophe of the song of the) temple

57. It too is a city, it too is a city, who can understand its midst? 58. Temple of Kesh, it too is a city, who can understand its midst? 59. Its midst is set in order by heroes 60. (Its) decision making/omen taking(?) was perfectly and greatly executed 61. The temple gathers up goring bulls 62. It cleans the fat-tailed sheep at the hips 63. The temple consumes many/slaughtered bulls (as offerings to the gods) 64. The temple consumes many/slaughtered sheep 65. The rulers (of the lands) have submitted to the yoke 66. Along with the boxwood tree, a crown raised along with the sky 67. Along with the poplar tree, spreading and stretching along with the sky 68. Verdant along with the mountain range and the sky 69. What man can produce something as surpassing as Kesh? 70. What mother can give birth to someone as surpassing as its hero (the god) Ashgi? 71. Who has ever seen anything as surpassing as its lady, (the birth goddess) Nintu?

72. It is the fourth (strophe of the song of the) temple

73. Temple that gives birth to a lion, its midst is an ineffable hero 74. Temple of Kesh, which gives birth to a lion, its midst is an ineffable hero 75. Its midst is set in order by heroes 76. Ninhursanga, she is a dragon whose belly meets the ground (poised to strike) 77. Nintur, the great mother, establishes giving birth 78. (Ninhursanga’s spouse, the planet Jupiter personified) Shulpa’e, the governor has brought out the office of high priest 79. Ashgi, the hero, consumes the first fruit offering 80. (The god) Urimash, the chief herald, has brought them near(?) (from?) the wilderness 81. The temple gathers up the fallow deer and red deer (for offerings) 82. What man can produce something as surpassing as Kesh? 83. What mother can give birth to someone as surpassing as its hero (the god) Ashgi? 84. Who has ever seen anything as surpassing as its lady, (the birth goddess) Nintu?

85. It is the fifth (strophe of the song of the) temple

86. Temple positioned like a storm demon on the “great earth” (a term for the netherworld, also a term for pedestal or foundation) 87. Going in the wilderness like a white wild bull 88. Temple established by the ruler, temple incised by ants 89. Temple from whose midst is the innards of the homeland 90. Behind it life fills the heart 91. This temple, (it is) a lion lying on its paws 92. At its gate the ruler gives voice 93. At its door, (it is) an unassailable mountain 94. At its bolt, (it is) a great goring wild bull 95. At its bar, (it is) a dog consuming a carcass 96. Its stockpiled storehouse, (consisting of) the entire heaven and entire earth 97. Its terrace was founded by the lahama (mythical guardians of the subterranean Abzu) 98. Its great walls (erected by) the ruler were arranged (like the ones of) the shrine (of the city of) Ur 99. What man can produce something as surpassing as Kesh? 100. What mother can give birth to someone as surpassing as its hero (the god) Ashgi? 101. Who has ever seen anything as surpassing as its lady, (the birth goddess) Nintu?

102. It is the sixth (strophe of the song of the) temple

103. Temple (into which) the pure pass(?), the inner sanctum 104. Temple of Kesh, (into which) the pure pass, the inner sanctum 105. The temple, its high priests are the Anuna gods (the high gods) 106. Its nu’esh priests are the pillars of the Eana temple (the temple of the sky god An in the city of Uruk) 107. In the temple the king brings(?) the stone vessel 108. The enshar (also the name of a primeval deity, here a priest?) clad in the ba garment 109. The atu priest holds the shepherd’s crook 110. The tu priest brings/pours(?) the skimmed water 111. The lalašaga priest dwells in the pure temple 112. The enkum priests have put the incantation(?) upon the ground(?) 113. The pashesh priests beat their bodies 114. They were saying “uru’uru" (a chant) 115. The wild bull’s horn blared 115a. The shem and ala drums were sounding nobly 116. The alŋarsura instrument rang 117. The temple is good, its joy is good 118. The temple of Kesh is good, its joy is good 119. The lady sits among the liquor (?i.e., in a banquet?) 120. Ninhursanga the lady sits among the liquor(?) 121. What man can produce something as surpassing as Kesh? 122. What mother can give birth to someone as surpassing as its hero (the god) Ashgi? 123. Who has ever seen anything as surpassing as its lady, (the birth goddess) Nintu?

124. It is the seventh (strophe of the song of the) temple

125. Towards the city, towards the city the man who approaches should not approach! 126. The temple of Kesh, towards the city the man who approaches should not approach! 127. Towards its hero Ashgi, the man who approaches should not approach! 128. Towards its lady Nintur, the man who approaches should not approach! 129. Kesh, built by Ashgi, praise! 130. Kesh, cared for by Nintur, praise!

131. It is the eighth (strophe of the song of the) temple

Here is some key bibliography for the text:

Gene Gragg (1969) “The Kesh Temple Hymn,” in: A. W. Sjoberg and E. Bergmann, The Collection of the Sumerian Temple Hymns (pp. 157-188)

Robert Biggs (1971) "An Archaic Sumerian Version of the Kesh Temple Hymn from Tell Abu Salabikh." Zeitschrift fur Assyriologie 61 (pp. 193-207)

Thorkild Jacobsen (1987) The Harps that Once ... Sumerian Poetry in Translation. (pp. 377-385)

Mark Geller (1996) “Jacobsen’s Harps and the Kesh Temple Hymn.” Zeitschrift fur Assyriologie 86 (pp. 68-79)

Claus Wilcke (2006) "Die Hymne auf das Heiligtum Kes: zu Struktur und "Gattung" einer altsumerischen Dichtung und zu ihrer Literaturtheorie," in: Approaches to Sumerian Literature (Festschrift for Herman Vanstiphout) (pp. 201-238)

Paul Delnero (2007) Variation in Sumerian Literary Compositions (PhD Thesis, University of Pennsylvania) (pp. 2173-2238)

Deena Radavan (2010) The Cosmic Imagery of the Temple in Sumerian Literature (PhD Thesis, Harvard University)

#mesopotamia cuneiform ancient literature #Sumerian Sumerian gods

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xrainbowstarx · 6 years

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sag-ki gid2-da {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4 kisz{ki} gu4 an-na-gin7 im-ug5-ga-ta e2 ki unu{ki}-ga gu4 mah-gin7 sahar-ra mi-ni-ib-gaz-a-ta ki u4-ba szar-ru-ge lugal a-ga-de3{ki}-ra sig-ta igi-nim-sze3 {d}en-lil2-le nam-en nam-lugal-la mu-un-na-an-szum2-ma-ta u4-ba esz3 a-ga-de3{ki} ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 ama5 mah-a-ni-sze3 im-ma-an-du3-du3 ul-masz{ki}-a {gesz}gu-za ba-ni-in-gub lu2-tur gibil-bi e2 du3-u3-gin7 dumu banda3{da} ama5 ga2-ga2-gin7 e2 nig2-gur11-ra nig2 sa2 di-de3 iri{ki}-bi dur2 ki gar szum2-mu-de3 ug3-bi u2 nir-gal2 gu7-u3-de3 ug3-bi a nir-gal2 na8-na8-de3 sag a tu5-a kisal hul2-le-de3 ki ezem-ma ug3 sig7-ge-de3 lu2 zu-u3-ne tesz2-bi gu7-u3-de3 lu2 bar-ra muszen nu-zu-gin7 an-na nigin2-nigin2-de3 mar-ha-szi{ki} le-um-ma gur-ru-de3 {ugu}ugu4-bi am-si mah ab2-za-za u2-ma-am ki bad-ra2 sza3 sila dagal-la-ke4 tesz2-bi tag-tag-ge-de3 ur-gi7 ur-nim dara3 kur-ra udu a-lum |SIKI.SU3| si ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 u3 nu-um-szi-ku-ku u4-ba a-ga-de3{ki} e2 ziz2-a-ba ku3-sig17 mi-ni-in-si e2 ziz2 babbar-ra-ba ku3-babbar mi-ni-in-si |E2.USZ.BU.DA| sze-ba uruda nagga {na4}lagab za-gin3-na sa2 im-mi-in-du11-du11 guru7-bi bar-ta im ba-an-ur3 um-ma-bi ad gi4-gi4 ba-an-szum2 ab-ba-bi ka-inim-ma ba-an-szum2 ki-sikil-bi |KI.E.NE.DI| ba-an-szum2 gurusz-bi a2 {gesz}tukul-la ba-an-szum2 di4-di4-la2-bi sza3 hul2-la ba-an-szum2 |UM.ME|-ga-la2 szu gid2 dumu szagina-ke4-ne {gesz}al-gar-|MA2.SIG7|-da e-ne im-di-ne iri{ki} sza3-bi tigi(|BALAG.NAR|)-a bar-bi-ta gi-gid2 za-am-za-am-ma kar {gesz}ma2 us2-bi mud5-me-gar-ra kur-kur u2-sal-la i-im-nu2 ug3-bi ki sa6-ga igi bi2-ib-du8 lugal-bi sipa {d}na-ra-am-{d}suen-e bara2 ku3 a-ga-de3{ki}-sze3 u4-de3-esz2 im-e3 bad3-bi hur-sag-gin7 an-ne2 im-us2 abul-a-ba {i7}idigna a-ab-ba-sze3 du-u3-gin7 ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 ka-bi gal2 bi2-in-tak4 ki-en-gi-ra nig2-gur11 ni2-ba-ta {gesz}ma2 im-da-gid2-de3 mar-tu kur-ra lu2 sze nu-zu gu4 du7 masz2 du7-da mu-un-na-da-an-ku4-ku4 me-luh-ha{ki} lu2 kur ge6-ga-ke4 nig2-szu kur2-kur2-ra mu-un-na-ra-ab-e11-de3 elam{ki} su-bir4{ki} ansze bara2 la2-gin7 nig2 mu-na-ab-la2-la2 ensi2-ensi2 sanga-e-ne sa12-du5 gu2-edin-na-ke4-ne nidba iti-da za3-mu-bi si am3-sa2-e-ne abul a-ga-de3{ki}-ka a-gin7 kusz2 mi-ni-ib-gal2 nidba-bi ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 szu te-ge26 nu-zu dumu-gi7-gin7 e2 ki gar di-da la-la-bi nu-um-gi4 inim e2-kur-ra me-gin7 ba-an-gar en: But the statement coming from the E-kur was disquieting. ul-masz{ki}-a ni2 im-ma-ni-in-te iri{ki}-ta dur2-ra-ni ba-ra-gen ki-sikil ama5-na szub-bu-gin7 ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 esz3 a-ga-de3{ki} mu-un-szub ur-sag {gesz}tukul-a sag ga2-ga2-gin7 iri{ki}-ta me3 szen-szen im-ma-ra-e3 lu2-kur2-ra-ra gaba ba-ni-in-ri u4 nu-5(disz)-am3 u4 nu-1(u)-am3 sa nam-en-na aga nam-lugal-la ma-an-si-um {gesz}gu-za nam-lugal-la szum2-ma {d}nin-urta-ke4 e2-szu-me-sza4-na ba-ni-in-ku4 iri{ki} ka-inim-ma-bi {d}utu ba-an-de6 gesztu2-bi {d}en-ki-ke4 ba-an-de6 me-lam2 an-ne2 im-us2-sa-a-bi an-ne2 an-sza3-ga ba-e-e11 {gesz}|MA2.MUG| ku3 im-du3-du3-a-bi {d}en-ki-ke4 abzu-a mi-ni-in-bu {gesz}tukul-bi {d}inanna-ke4 ba-an-de6 esz3 a-ga-de3{ki} zi-bi suhur{ku6} tur-ra-gin7 engur-ra ba-an-til iri{ki} tesz2-bi igi-bi am3-da-gal2 am-si mah-gin7 gu2 ki-sze3 mi-ni-ib-gar gu4 mah-gin7 si am3-da-il2-il2 uszumgal usz2-a-gin7 sag am3-ma-ze2-re me3-gin7 nam-dugud-ba am3-da-ab-lah4-lah4-e nam-lugal a-ga-de3{ki} ki-tusz ge-na du10 nu-tusz-u3-de3 egir-bi nig2 na-me nu-sa6-ge-de3 e2 tuk4-e |URUxGAR| sag2 di-de3 {d}na-ra-am-{d}suen masz2-ge6-ka igi ba-ni-in-du8-a sza3-ga-ni-sze3 mu-un-zu eme-na nu-um-ga2-ga2 lu2-da nu-mu-un-da-ab-be2 a. e2# tuk4# […] b. e2-ni masz2 […] nam e2-kur-ra-sze3 tug2-mu-dur7-ra ba-an-mu4 {gesz}gigir-ra-ni {gi}kid-ma2-sza3-ga ba-an-szu2 {gesz}ma2-gur8-ra-ni sumur3(|MUN.SUB|) ba-ra-an-si-ig a2-szita4-a nam-lugal-la-ka-ni im-ma-ra-an-ba-ba {d}na-ra-am-{d}suen mu 7(disz)-am3 mu-un-ge-en lugal mu 7(disz)-am3 szu sag-ga2 du11-ga a-ba igi im-mi-in-du8-a sza3-ga-ni-sze3 mu-un-zu eme-na nu-ga2-ga2 lu2-da nu-mu-un-da-[ab-be2] e2-sze3 masz2-am3 szi-gid2-de3 e2 du3-a masz2-a nu-mu-un-de3-gal2 2(disz)-kam-ma-sze3 e2-sze3 masz2-am3 szi-gid2-de3 e2 du3-a masz2-a nu-mu-un-de3-gal2 i3-se3-ga-na szu-a bala-e-de3 {d}en-lil2 nig2-du11-ga-ni ba-en-de3-kur2 gu2 gar-ra-ni sag2 ba-an-da-ab-du11 erin2-na-ni zi-ga ba-ni-in-gar a2-tuku kisal mah-sze3 ku4-ku4-gin7 e2-kur-sze3 szu kesz2 ba-szi-in-ak du10-tuku |SZU.KAL|-sze3 gam-e-gin7 gi-gun4-na-asz 3(u) gin2 ba-szi-in-ak nita lu2 la-ga iri{ki} lah5-gin7 e2-sze3 {gesz}kun5 gal-gal ba-szi-in-ri-ri e2-kur {gesz}ma2 mah-gin7 gul-gul-lu-de3 kur ku3 ba-al-gin7 sahar du8-u3-de3 hur-sag {na4}za-gin3-na-gin7 ku5-re-de3 iri{ki} {d}iszkur-re ba-an-de2-a-gin7 gu2 ki-sze3 ga2-ga2-de3 e2-e kur-{gesz}erin-ku5 nu-me-a {uruda}ha-zi-in gal-gal ba-szi-in-de2-de2 {uruda}aga-silig-ga a2 2(disz)-na-bi-da u4-sar ba-an-ak ur2-bi-a {uruda}ge2-dim ba-an-gar suhusz kalam-ma-ka ki ba-e-la2 pa-bi-a {uruda}ha-zi-in ba-an-gar e2-e gurusz ug5-ga-gin7 gu2 ki-sze3 ba-an-da-ab-la2 gu2 kur-kur-ra ki-sze3 ba-an-da-ab-la2 {gesz}alal-bi im-ma-ra-an-zil(NUN)-zil(NUN) im szeg3-szeg3 an-na ba-e-e11 gesz-ka2-na-ke4 ba-ra-an-si-ig tesz2 kalam-ma ba-kur2 1 ms. has ba-til instead of ba-kur2. ka2 sze nu-ku5-da sze i-ni-in-ku5 szu kalam-ma-ta sze ba-da-an-ku5 ka2 silim-ma-bi {gesz}al-e bi2-in-ra kur-kur-re silim-silim-bi ba-kur2 a-gar3 mah a-esztub{ku6} dagal-la-gin7 e2-kur-ra {uruda}ge2-dim gal-gal-bi kusz3-kusz3-a bi2-in-se3-se3 {uruda}ge2-dim |GA2xMI| e2 u4 nu-zu-ba ug3-e igi i-ni-in-bar dub-szen ku3 dingir-re-e-ne-ke4 uri{ki} igi i-ni-in-bar la-ha-ma dub-la2 gal e2-e su8-ga-bi lu2 an-zil(NUN) gu7-a nu-me-esz-a {d}na-ra-am-{d}suen sza3 izi-ka ba-an-sag3 {gesz}erin {gesz}szu-ur2-2(u) {gesz}za-ba-lum {gesz}taskarin gesz gi-gun4-na-be2-esz KUM ba-an-sur-sur ku3-sig17-bi mi-si-ISZ-ra bi2-in-ak ku3-babbar-bi {kusz}lu-ub2 {kusz}lu-ub2-szir-ra bi2-in-ak uruda-bi sze mah de6-a-gin7 kar-ra bi2-in-si-si ku3-bi ku3-dim2-e im-dim2-e za-bi za-dim2-e im-dim2-e uruda-bi simug im-tu11-be2 nig2-gur11 iri{ki} hul-a nu-me-a e2-e {gesz}ma2 gal-gal kar-ra ba-an-us2 e2 {d}en-lil2-la2-sze3 {gesz}ma2 gal-gal kar-ra ba-an-us2 nig2-gur11 iri{ki}-ta ba-ra-e3 nig2-gur11 iri{ki}-ta e3-da-ni a-ga-de3{ki} dim2-ma-bi ba-ra-e3 {gesz}ma2-e kar ib2-kur2 umusz a-ga-de3{ki} ba-kur2 u4 te-esz du11-ga kalam tesz2-a gar-ra a-ma-ru zi-ga gaba-szu-gar nu-tuku {d}en-lil2-le nam e2-kur ki ag2-ga2-ni ba-hul-a-sze3 a-na-am3 im-gu-lu-a-ba kur gu2-bi2-na-sze3 igi na-an-il2 hur-sag dagal tesz2-bi nam-ta-an-si-ig ug3-ga2 nu-se3-ga kalam-ma nu-szid-da gu-ti-um{ki} ug3 kesz2-da nu-zu dim2-ma lu2-u18-lu |GA2xGAR| ur-ra |SIG7.ALAN| {ugu}ugu4-bi {d}en-lil2-le kur-ta nam-ta-an-e3 SZID-SZID buru5{muszen}-gin7 ki am3-u2-us2 a2-bi gu masz2-ansze-gin7 edin-na mu-un-na-an-la2 nig2 na-me a2-bi la-ba-ra-e3 lu2 na-me a2-bi la-ba-an-tag4-tag4 lu2-kin-gi4-a har-ra-an-na nu-mu-un-gen {gesz}ma2 ra-gaba i7-da nu-mu-un-dib-be2 ud5 ge {d}en-lil2-la2 amasz-ta ba-ra-ra-asz na-gada-bi bi2-in-us2-u2-us2 szilam tur3-bi-ta ba-ra-ra-asz unu3-bi bi2-in-us2-u2-us2 gesz-gu2-ka en-nu-ug3 ba-e-du3 har-ra-an-na lu2-sa-gaz ba-e-tusz abul kalam-ma-ka {gesz}ig im-ma ba-e-gub kur-kur-ra bad3 iri{ki}-ne-ne-ka gu3 gig mi-ni-ib-be2-ne iri{ki} sza3 edin bar dagal nu-me-a mu2-sar mu-un-de3-gal2 u4 iri{ki} ba-dim2-dim2-ma-ba ba-se3-se3-ga-ba a-gar3 gal-gal-e sze nu-um-de6 a-gar3 su3-su3-ge ku6 nu-um-de6 pu2-{gesz}kiri6 lal3 gesztin nu-um-de6 |IM.U4| sir2-da la-ba-szeg3 {gesz}masz-gur2 la-ba-mu2 u4-ba i3 1(disz) gin2-e 1/2(disz) sila3-am3 sze 1(disz) gin2-e 1/2(disz) sila3-am3 siki 1(disz) gin2-e 1/2(disz) ma-na-am3 ku6 1(disz) gin2-e {gesz}ba-an-e ib2-si ganba iri{ki}-ba-ka ur5?-gin7 ib2-sa10-sa10 ur3-ra nu2-a ur3-ra ba-usz2 e2-a nu2-a ki nu-um-tum2 ug3 sza3-gar-bi-ta ni2-bi-a szu im-dub2-dub2-ne ki-ur3 ki gal {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4 ur sila si-ga zu2 ba-ni-ib-kesz2 sza3-ba lu2 2(disz) du tesz2-e ba-ni-ib-gu7 lu2 3(disz) du tesz2-e ba-ni-ib-gu7 giri17 ba-dub-dub sag ba-dab5-dab5 giri17 ba-dub sag numun-e-esz ba-ab-gar sag zi sag lul-la szu bala ba-ni-ib-ak mes mes-e an-ta i-im-nu2 usz2 lu2-lul-e usz2 lu2 zi-da-ke4 an-ta na-mu-un-DU u4-ba {d}en-lil2-le esz3 gal-gal-la-ni-ta esz3 gi tur-tur im-ma-ra-an-du3 u4 e3-ta u4 szu2-usz |URUxGAR|-bi ba-tur um-ma u4-ta ba-ra-ab-tak4-a ab-ba u4-ta ba-ra-ab-tak4-a gala-mah mu-ta ba-ra-ab-tak4-a u4 7(disz) ge6 7(disz)-sze3 balag 7(disz)-e an-ur2 gub-ba-gin7 ki mu-un-szi-ib-us2 ub3 me-ze2 li-li-is3(ESZ3) {d}iszkur-gin7 sza3-ba mu-na-an-du12 um-ma a uru2-gu10 nu-ga2-ga2 ab-ba a lu2-bi nu-ga2-ga2 gala-e a e2-kur nu-ga2-ga2 ki-sikil-bi siki szab-bi nu-ga2-ga2 gurusz-bi gir2 sag11 nu-ga2-ga2 er2-bi er2 ama a-a {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4 du6 ku3 su zi gur3-ru du10 ku3 {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4 i-im-ga2-ga2-ne nam-bi-sze3 {d}en-lil2 |GA2xMI| ku3 ba-an-ku4 sza3-ka-tab-ba ba-an-nu2 u4-ba {d}suen {d}en-ki {d}inanna {d}nin-urta {d}iszkur {d}utu {d}|PA.DUG| {d}nisaba dingir gal-gal-e-ne sza3 {d}en-lil2-la2-ke4 a sze17 im-sze17-e-ne a-ra-zu-ta ba-ab-be2-ne {d}en-lil2 iri iri-zu im-hul-a iri-zu-gin7 he2-du3 gi-gun4-na-zu szu bi2-in-la2-la2 nibru{ki}-gin7 he2-du3 iri-ba sag tul2-ba he2-ni-ib-si-si lu2 lu2-u3 zu-ne na-an-ni-in-pa3-de3 szesz-e szesz-a-ni geszkim na-an-ni-in-e3 ki-sikil-bi ama5-na gesz hul he2-en-da-ab-ra ad-da-bi e2 dam usz2-a-na gu3 gig-bi he2-em-me tu{muszen}-bi ab-lal3-ba sze he2-ni-in-sza4 buru5{muszen}-bi a2-bur2-ba nig2 he2-ni-ib-ra tu{muszen} ni2 te-a-gin7 ur5-da he2-ak-e 2(disz)-kam-ma-sze3 {d}suen {d}en-ki {d}inanna {d}nin-urta {d}iszkur {d}utu {d}|PA.DUG| {d}nisaba dingir he2-em-me-esz iri{ki}-sze3 igi-ne-ne i-im-ga2-ga2-ne a-ga-de3{ki} asz2 hul-a im-ma-ab-bala-e-ne iri{ki} e2-kur-sze3 ba-e-a-ul4-en {d}en-lil2 he2-am3 a-ga-de3{ki} e2-kur-sze3 ba-e-a-ul4-en {d}en-lil2 he2-am3 bad3 ku3-zu en-na sukud-ra2-bi a-nir he2-em-da-sa2 gi-gun4-na-zu sahar-gin7 he2-dub dub-la2 la-ha-ma su8-su8-ga-bi gurusz mah gesztin nag-a-gin7 ki-sze3 he2-em-ta-ga2-ga2 im-zu abzu-ba he2-eb-gi4 im {d}en-ki-ke4 nam ku5-ra2 he2-a sze-zu ab-sin2-ba he2-eb-gi4 sze {d}|SZE.TIR|-e nam ku5-ra2 he2-a gesz-zu tir-bi-a he2-eb-gi4 gesz {d}nin-ildu2-ma-ke4 nam ku5-ra2 he2-a gu4 gaz-gaz-e dam he2-en-gaz-e udu szum-szum-zu dumu he2-en-szum-e uku2-zu dumu ku3-ge-esz pa3-da-na a he2-em-ta-ab-ra-ra kar-ke4-zu ka2 esz2-dam-ma-na-ka ni2 ha-ba-ni-ib-la2-e ama nu-gig-zu ama nu-bar-zu dumu he2-en-gi4-gi4 ku3-sig17-zu ku3-sze3 he2-sa10-sa10 ku3-babbar-zu nig2 za-ha-am-sze3 he2-sa10-sa10 uruda-zu a-gar5-sze3 he2-sa10-sa10 a-ga-de3{ki} a2-tuku-zu a2-ni he2-eb-ta-ku5 {kusz}lu-ub2 dag-si-ni na-an-il2-il2-e ansze-ni-is-kum-zu a2-ni na-an-hul2-e u4 szu2-a he2-nu2 iri{ki}-bi sza3-gar-ra he2-ni-ib-usz2-e dumu-gi7 ninda sa6-ga gu7-gu7-zu u2-szim-e ha-ba-nu2 lu2 sag5-e ba-zi-ga-zu TAG-TAG gesz-ur3-ra-na he2-gu7-e {gesz}ig gal {kusz}gurx(|E.TUM|) e2 ad-da-na-ka {kusz}gurx(|E.TUM|)-bi zu2-ni-ta he2-ur5-re e2-gal sza3 hul2-la du3-a-za sza3 sag3 he2-en-szub du3-a-za lu2 hul edin ki si-ga-ke4 gu3 hu-mu-ra-ra-ra ki uz-ga szu-luh-ha gar-ra-zu ka5 du6 gul-gul-la-ke4 kun he2-ni-ib-ur3-ur3-re (1 ms. has instead:) ka5-zu abul kalam-ma gar-ra-zu u3-ku-ku{muszen} muszen sza3 sag3-ga-ke4 gud3(|U2.KI.SI3.GA|) he2-em-ma-an-us2 iri{ki} tigi-da u3 nu-ku-ku-za sza3 hul2-la-da nu-nu2-za tur3-e si gu4 {d}nanna-ke4 edin ki si-ga-ke4 nigin2-nigin2-na-gin7 szix(|KAxBALAG|) hu-mu-un-gi4-gi4-gi4 gu2 {gesz}ma2 gid2-da i7-da-zu u2 gid2-da he2-em-mu2 har-ra-an {gesz}gigir-ra ba-gar-ra-zu u2-a-nir he2-em-mu2 2(disz)-kam-ma-sze3 gu2 ma2 gid2-da ki a-la2 i7-da-zu szeg9-bar mul musz ul4 kur-ra-ke4 lu2 na-an-ni-ib-dib-be2 edin sza3 u2 sa6-ga mu2-a-zu gi er2-ra he2-em-mu2 a-ga-de3{ki} a du10-ga de2-a-zu a mun-na he2-em-de2 a-ga-de3{ki} iri{ki}-bi-a ga-tusz bi2-in-du11-ga ki-tusz na-an-ni-du10-ge a-ga-de3{ki}-a ga-nu2 bi2-in-du11-ga ki-nu2 na-an-ni-du10-ge i-ne-esz2 {d}utu u4 ne-e-a ur5 he2-en-na-nam-ma-am3 gu2 {gesz}ma2 gid2-da i7-da-ba u2 gid2-da ba-an-mu2 har-ra-an {gesz}gigir-ra ba-gar-ra-ba u2-a-nir ba-an-mu2 2(disz)-kam-ma-sze3 gu2 {gesz}ma2 gid2-da ki a-la2 i7-da-ba szeg9-bar mul musz ul4 kur-ra-ke4 lu2 nu-mu-ni-in-dib-be2 edin sza3 u2 sa6-ga mu2-a-bi gi er2-ra ba-an-mu2 a-ga-de3{ki} a du10-ga de2-a-bi a mun-na ba-an-de2 iri{ki}-bi-a ga-tusz bi2-in-du11-ga ki-tusz nu-um-ma-an-da-du10 a-ga-de3{ki}-a ga-nu2 bi-in-du11-ga ki-nu2 nu-um-ma-an-na-du10 a-ga-de3{ki} hul-a {d}inanna za3-mi2

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