Enki's journey to Nibru

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 1 - Narrative and mythological compositions · 133 sections

1
ud re-a nam ba-tar-ra-ba
In those remote days, when the fates were determined; in a year when An brought about abundance, and people broke through the earth like green plants -- then the lord of the abzu, King Enki, Enki, the lord who determines the fates, built up his temple entirely from silver and lapis lazuli. Its silver and lapis lazuli were the shining daylight. Into the shrine of the abzu he brought joy.
2
mu ḫe2-ĝal2 an u3-tud-da
3
uĝ3-e u2-šim-gin7 ki in-dar-ra-ba
4
en abzu lugal {d}en-ki-ke4
5
{d}en-ki en nam tar-tar-re-de3
6
e2-a-ni kug {na4}za-gin3-na teš2-bi ba-ni-in-du3
7
kug {na4}za-gin3-bi ud kar2-kar2-a-ka
8
eš3-e abzu-a ul im-ma-ni-in-de6
9
suḫ10 kug galam dug4-ga abzu-ta e3-a
An artfully made bright crenellation rising out from the abzu was erected for Lord Nudimmud. He built the temple from precious metal, decorated it with lapis lazuli, and covered it abundantly with gold. In Eridug, he built the house on the bank. Its brickwork makes utterances and gives advice. Its eaves roar like a bull; the temple of Enki bellows. During the night the temple praises its lord and offers its best for him.
10
en {d}nu-dim2-mud-ra mu-un-na-sug2-sug2-ge-eš
11
e2 kug-ga i-ni-in-du3 {na4}za-gin3-na i-ni-in-gun3
12
gal-le-eš kug-sig17-ga šu tag ba-ni-in-dug4
13
eridug{ki}-ga e2 gu2-a bi2-in-du3
14
šeg12-bi inim dug4-dug4 ad gi4-gi4
15
gi-sal-la-bi gud-gin7 mur im-ša4
16
e2 {d}en-ki-ke4 gu3 nun di-dam
17
e2-e lugal-bi-ir ĝi6-a ar2 im-ma-ab-de6 dug3-bi mu-un-ĝa2-ĝa2
18
lugal {d}en-ki-ra sukkal {d}isimud-de3 mi2 dug3-ge-eš zid-de3-eš im-me
Before Lord Enki, Isimud the minister praises the temple; he goes to the temple and speaks to it. He goes to the brick building and addresses it: Temple, built from precious metal and lapis lazuli; whose foundation pegs are driven into the abzu; which has been cared for by the prince in the abzu! Like the Tigris and the Euphrates, it is mighty and awe-inspiring (?). Joy has been brought into Enki's abzu.
19
e2-e im-ma-ĝen gu3 im-ma-de2-e
20
šeg12-e im-ma-ĝen gu3 im-ma-ab-šum2-mu
21
e2 kug {na4}za-gin3-na ki ĝar-ra
22
temen-bi abzu-a sig9-ga
23
nun-e abzu-ta mi2 dug4-ga
24
{id2}idigna {id2}buranun-na maḫ ni2 šu ti-a
25
abzu {d}en-ki-ke4 ul-la bi2-in-tum2-mu
26
{ĝiš}saĝ-kul-zu gaba-šu-ĝar nu-tuku
Your lock has no rival. Your bolt is a fearsome lion. Your roof beams are the bull of heaven, an artfully made bright headgear. Your reed-mats are like lapis lazuli, decorating the roof-beams. Your vault is a bull wild bull raising its horns. Your door is a lion who seizes a man is awe-inspiring . Your stairway is a lion coming down on a man.
27
{ĝiš}si-ĝar-zu ur-maḫ ni2 gur3-ru
28
ĝiš-ur3-zu gud an-na suḫ10 kug galam dug4-ga
29
{gi}kid-zu za-gin3-na ĝiš-ur3-še3 gun3-a
30
nir-gam-ma-zu gud am si gur3-ru
31
kan4-zu ur-maḫ lu2 ni2 šu ti-a
32
kun4-zu ug lu2-ra ed3-de3
33
abzu ki sikil me-te-ĝal2
Abzu, pure place which fulfils its purpose! E-engura! Your lord has directed his steps towards you. Enki, lord of the abzu, has embellished your foundation pegs with cornelian. He has adorned you with …… and (?) lapis lazuli. The temple of Enki is provisioned with holy wax (?); it is a bull obedient to its master, roaring by itself and giving advice at the same time. E-engura, which Enki has surrounded with a holy reed fence! In your midst a lofty throne is erected, your door-jamb is the holy locking bar of heaven.
34
e2-engur-ra lugal-zu ĝiri3 im-ma-ri-in-gub
35
{d}en-ki lugal abzu-ke4
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temen-zu {na4}gug im-ma-da-an-sa2
37
KA×LI-KA×LI za-gin3-na mi2 im-ma-ri-in-dug4
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e2 {d}en-ki-ke4 lal3-ḫar-ra kug kurum7 ak
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gud lugal-bi-ir us2-a sig10-ga
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ni2-bi-še3 mur ša4 teš2-bi-še3 ad gi4-gi4
41
e2-engur-ra {d}en-ki-ke4 gi dub-ba-an kug la2-am3
42
šag4-zu-ta barag maḫ ki ĝar-ra
43
zag-du8-zu aškud2 kug an-na
44
abzu ki sikil ki nam tar-ra
Abzu, pure place, place where the fates are determined -- the lord of wisdom, Lord Enki, the lord who determines the fates, Nudimmud, the lord of Eridug, lets nobody look into its midst. Your abgal priests let their hair down their backs.
45
en ĝeštug2-ga lugal {d}en-ki
45A
[{d}en]-⌈ki⌉ en nam tar-tar-re-de3
46
{d}nu-dim2-mud en eridug{ki}-ga-ke4
47
šag4 šeg9-bar-ra lu2 igi nu-bar-re-dam
48
abgal-zu siki bar-ra bi2-in-du8
49
eridug{ki} {d}en-ki-ke4 ki aĝ2-ĝa2-ni
Enki's beloved Eridug, E-engura whose inside is full of abundance! Abzu, life of the Land, beloved of Enki! Temple built on the edge, befitting the artful divine powers! Eridug, your shadow extends over the midst of the sea! Rising sea without a rival; mighty awe-inspiring river which terrifies the Land! E-engura, high citadel (?) standing firm on the earth! Temple at the edge of the engur, a lion in the midst of the abzu; lofty temple of Enki, which bestows wisdom on the Land; your cry, like that of a mighty rising river, reaches (?) King Enki.
50
e2-engur-ra šag4-bi ḫe2-ĝal2 sug4-ga
51
abzu zi kalam-ma ki aĝ2 {d}en-ki-ke4
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e2 zag-ga du3-a me galam-ma tum2-ma
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eridug{ki} ĝissu-zu ab-šag4-ga la2-a
54
a-ab-ba zig3-ga gaba-šu-ĝar nu-tuku
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id2 maḫ ni2-ĝal2-la su kalam-ma zi-zi
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e2-engur-ra uru2 maḫ ki us2-sa
57
e2 da engur-ra piriĝ abzu šag4-ga
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e2 maḫ {d}en-ki-ke4 ĝeštug2 kalam-e šum2-mu
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akkil-zu id2 maḫ zig3-ga-gin7
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lugal {d}en-ki-ra mu-un-na-tuku-am3
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e2 kug-ga-ni-še3 dug3-bi mu-un-ĝa2-ĝa2
62
{ĝiš}za3-mi2 {ĝiš}al-ĝar {ĝiš}balaĝ al-ĝar-sur9-da
He made the lyre, the alĝar instrument, the balaĝ drum with the drumsticks the lyre, the alĝar instrument, the balaĝ drum of your sur priests your lyre and alĝar instrument, the balaĝ drum with the drumsticks the lyre, the alĝar instrument, the balaĝ drum and even the plectrum (?) , the ḫarḫar, the sabitum, and the …… miritum instruments offer their best for his holy temple. The …… resounded by themselves with a sweet sound. The holy alĝar instrument of Enki played for him on his own and seven singers sang tigi drums resounded.
A
{ĝiš}za3-mi2 {ĝiš}al-ĝar balaĝ sur9-za
B
[{ĝiš}za3-mi2] {ĝiš}al-ĝar-zu balaĝ {ĝiš}al-ĝar-sur9-ra-ta
C
{ĝiš}za3-mi2 {ĝiš}al-ĝar balaĝ {ĝiš}sur9-am3
63
{ĝiš}ḫar-ḫar {ĝiš}sa-bi2-tum {ĝiš}mi-ri2-tum e2 sig9-ga
64
ad dug3-ga nundum bur2-re nundum-nundum balaĝ-ĝa2
65
šag4 ni2-ba-ka ad ḫa-ba-ni-ib-ša4
66
{ĝiš}al-ĝar kug {d}en-ki-ke4 ni2-ba mu-un-na-du12
67
nar tigi 7-e ad ḫe2-em-mi-ib-ša4
68
dug4-ga {d}en-ki-ke4 šu nu-bal-e-de3
What Enki says is irrefutable; …… is well established (?). This is what Isimud spoke to the brick building; he praised the E-engura with sweet songs duly.
69
KA X X ki-bi-še3 ĝal2-la-am3
70
⌈sukkal⌉ {d}isimud-de3 šeg12-e gu3 ba-an-šum2
71
e2-engur-ra-ke4 šir3 mi2 dug3-ge-eš im-me
As it has been built, as it has been built; as Enki has raised Eridug up, it is an artfully built mountain which floats on the water. His shrine (?) spreads (?) out into the reedbeds; birds brood at night in its green orchards laden with fruit. The suḫur carp play among the honey-herbs, and the eštub carp dart among the small gizi reeds. When Enki rises, the fish rise before him like waves. He has the abzu stand as a marvel, as he brings joy into the engur.
72
mu-un-du3-a-ba mu-un-du3-a-ba
73
eridug{ki} {d}en-ki-ke4 im-ma-an-il2-la-ba
74
ḫur-saĝ galam kad5-dam a-e ba-dirig
75
zag-ga-a-ni ĝiš-gi-a ba-an-KU
76
{ĝiš}kiri6 sig7-ga gurun il2-la-a-ba
77
mušen-e ĝi6 ḫaš4-bi mu-un-ĝa2-ĝa2
78
suḫur{ku6}-e u2-lal3-e e-ne mu-un-e
79
eštub{ku6}-e gi-zi di4-di4-la2 kun mu-un-na-sud-e
80
{d}en-ki zig3-ga-na ku6 i-zi-eš2 na-zig3
81
abzu-e u6 am3-ma-gub
82
engur-ra ḫul2-la mu-ni-ib-de6
83
a-ab-ba-gin7 ni2 mu-un-da-ĝal2
Like the sea, he is awe-inspiring; like a mighty river, he instils fear. The Euphrates rises before him as it does before the fierce south wind. His punting pole is Nirah Imdudu ; his oars are the small reeds. When Enki embarks, the year will be full of abundance. The ship departs of its own accord, with tow rope held (?) by itself. As he leaves the temple of Eridug, the river gurgles (?) to its lord: its sound is a calf's mooing, the mooing of a good cow.
84
id2 maḫ-gin7 su zig3 mu-un-da-ri
85
{id2}buranun-na u18-lu sumur mu-un-da-an-zig3
86
{ĝiš}gi-muš-a-ni {d}niraḫ-a-ni im-du-du-a-ni
87
{ĝiš}ĝisal-a-ni gi tur-tur-a-ni
88
{d}en-ki u5-a-ni mu ḫe2-ĝal2 sug4-ga
89
{ĝiš}ma2 ni2-bi nam-du8 eš2 ni2-bi nam-dab5
90
e2 eridug{ki}-ga-ke4 im-ma-kar-ra
91
id2-de3 lugal-bi-ir ad im-mi-ib-gi4-gi4
92
gu3-bi gu3 amar-ra gu3 ab2 dug3-ga-ke4
93
{d}en-ki-ke4 gud im-ma-ab-gaz-e udu im-ma-ab-šar2-re
Enki had oxen slaughtered, and had sheep offered there lavishly. Where there were no ala drums, he installed some in their places; where there were no bronze ub drums, he despatched some to their places.
94
{kuš}a2-la2 nu-ĝal2-la ki-bi-še3 sa2 im-dug4
95
ub3 zabar nu-ĝal2-la ki-bi-še3 im-mi-in-e3
96
nibru{ki}-še3 ĝiri3-ni dili mu-un-gub
He directed his steps on his own to Nibru and entered the temple terrace, the shrine of Nibru. Enki reached for (?) the beer, he reached for (?) the liquor. He had liquor poured into big bronze containers, and had emmer-wheat beer pressed out (?). In kukuru containers which make the beer good he mixed beer-mash. By adding date-syrup to its taste (?), he made it strong. He …… its bran-mash.

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Copyright holders: Jeremy Black, Graham Cunningham, Jarle Ebeling, Esther Flückiger-Hawker, Eleanor Robson, Jon Taylor and Gábor Zólyomi. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. Source.