Inana and Ebiḫ

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 1 - Narrative and mythological compositions · 184 sections

1
in-nin me ḫuš-a ni2 gur3-ru me gal-la u5-a
Goddess of the fearsome divine powers, clad in terror, riding on the great divine powers, Inana, made perfect by the holy a-an-kar weapon, drenched in blood, rushing around in great battles, with shield resting on the ground (?), covered in storm and flood, great lady Inana, knowing well how to plan conflicts, you destroy mighty lands with arrow and strength and overpower lands.
2
{d}inana a2-an-kar2 kug šu du7 mud-bi gu2 e3
3
me3 gal-gal-la ḫub2 dar ak {kuš}gur21ur3-bi ki us2-sa
4
ud mar-uru5-a šu tag dug4-ga
5
nin gal {d}inana šen-šen-na sa2 sig10-sig10-ge5 gal-zu
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kur gul-gul ti a2-ta i-ni-in-ug7 kur-re a2 ba-e-šum2
7
piriĝ-gin7 an ki-a šeg11 i-ni-in-gi4 uĝ3-e su i3-ni-in-sag3
In heaven and on earth you roar like a lion and devastate the people. Like a huge wild bull you triumph over lands which are hostile. Like a fearsome lion you pacify the insubordinate and unsubmissive with your gall.
8
am gal-gin7 kur gu2-erim2-ĝal2-la u3-na ba-gub-be2-en
9
piriĝ ḫuš-gin7 uru16-na nu-še-ga ze2-za bi2-ib2-te-en-te-en
10
nin-ĝu10 an-gin7 buluĝ3-ĝa2-za
My lady, on your acquiring the stature of heaven, maiden Inana, on your becoming as magnificent as the earth, on your coming forth like Utu the king and stretching your arms wide, on your walking in heaven and wearing fearsome terror, on your wearing daylight and brilliance on earth, on your walking in the mountain ranges and bringing forth beaming rays, on your bathing the girin plants of the mountains (in light), on your giving birth to the bright mountain, the mountain, the holy place, on your ……, on your being strong with the mace like a joyful lord, like an enthusiastic (?) lord, on your exulting in such battle like a destructive weapon -- the black-headed people ring out in song and all the lands sing their song sweetly.
11
ki-sikil {d}inana ki-gin7 maḫ-a-za
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{d}utu lugal-gin7 e3-a-za a2 daĝal sud-sud-za
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an-na du-a-za ni2 ḫuš gur3-ru-za
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ki-a ud še-er-zid gur3-ru-za
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ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 ĝen-na sa za-gin3 e3-a-za
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kur gi-rin-na a tu5-a-za
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kur šuba2 kur ki sikil u3-tu-ud-da-za
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za-gin3 ur5-gin7 ni2-ba dur2-dur2-ra-za
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en ul en šar2-gin7 šita2 gur4-gur4-ra-za
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me3-ba {ĝiš}tukul ur3-ra-gin7 saĝ gur4-gur4-re-za
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saĝ gig2-ga šir3-re-eš bi2-ib-ra
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kur-kur-re i-lu-lam-ma-bi dug3-ge-eš im-mi-ib2-be2
23
nin me3 dumu gal {d}suen-na
I shall praise the lady of battle, the great child of Suen, maiden Inana.
24
ki-sikil {d}inana me-teš2-e ga-i-i
25
in-nin-me-en an niĝin2-na-ĝu10-ne ki niĝin2-na-ĝu10-ne
(Inana announced:) When I, the goddess, was walking around in heaven, walking around on earth, when I, Inana, was walking around in heaven, walking around on earth, when I was walking around in Elam and Subir, when I was walking around in the Lulubi mountains, when I turned towards the centre of the mountains, as I, the goddess, approached the mountain it showed me no respect, as I, Inana, approached the mountain it showed me no respect, as I approached the mountain range of Ebiḫ it showed me no respect.
26
{d}inana-me-en an niĝin2-na-ĝu10-ne ki niĝin2-na-ĝu10-ne
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elam{ki} su-bir4{ki}-a niĝin2-na-ĝu10-ne
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kur lu5-lu5-bi-a niĝin2-na-ĝu10-ne
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kur-šag4-ga du7-du7-da-ĝu10-ne
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in-nin9-me-en kur-re te-a-me-en ni2-bi na-ma-ra-ab-ak
31
{d}inana-me-en kur-re te-a-me-en ni2-bi na-ma-ra-ab-ak
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ḫur-saĝ ebiḫ{ki}-ke4 te-a-me-en ni2-bi na-ma-ra-ab-ak
33
ni2-bi-ta na-ma-ra-ab-ak-gin7
Since they did not act appropriately on their own initiative, since they did not put their noses to the ground for me, since they did not rub their lips in the dust for me, I shall fill my hand with the soaring mountain range and let it learn fear of me.
34
giri17-bi ki-še3 na-ma-ra-ab-te-a-gin7
35
nundum saḫar-ra na-ma-ni-ib-ur3-ra-gin7
36
ḫur-saĝ zig3 šu-ĝu10 ga-am3-mi-ib-si ni2-ĝu10 ga-mi-⌈ib⌉-zu
37
a2 maḫ-bi-še3 gud maḫ ga-ba-ši-gub
Against its magnificent sides I shall place magnificent battering-rams, against its small sides I shall place small battering-rams. I shall storm it and start the 'game' of holy Inana. In the mountain range I shall start battles and prepare conflicts.
38
a2 tur-bi-še3 gud tur ga-ba-ši-gub
39
ḫub2 ga-mu-un-šu2 ešemen {d}inana kug ga-mu-ni-in-sar
40
ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 me3 ga-ba-ab-de6 šen-šen si ga-ba-ab-sa2
41
ti mar-uru5-a si ga-ba-ab-sa2
I shall prepare arrows in the quiver. I shall …… slingstones with the rope. I shall begin the polishing of my lance. I shall prepare the throw-stick and the shield.
42
a2-sag3 ebiḫ2-gin7 ga-ba-ab-sur-sur
43
ĝiš-gid2-da niĝ2-su-ub ga-ba-ab-ak
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{ĝiš}ilar {kuš}gur21ur3 si ga-na-ab-sa2-sa2
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{ĝiš}tir us2-sa-bi-še3 izi ga-am3-sag3
I shall set fire to its thick forests. I shall take an axe to its evil-doing. I shall make Gibil, the purifier, do his work at its watercourses. I shall spread this terror through the inaccessible mountain range Aratta.
46
ḫul-du-bi-še3 {urud}ḫa-zi-in ga-ba-ši-gub
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a-niĝin2-ba {d}gibil6 lu2 sikil-la ? ga-ba-an-du3-du3
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ḫur-saĝ aratta{ki} šu nu-teĝ3-ĝe26 ni2-bi ga-ba-ni-ib2-sud
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iri an-ne2 nam ba-an-kud-da-gin7 ki-bi na-an-gi4-gi4
Like a city which An has cursed, may it never be restored. Like a city at which Enlil has frowned, may it never again lift its neck up. May the mountain observe (?) my conduct. May Ebiḫ give me honour and praise me.
50
{d}en-lil2-le saĝ-ki gid2-da-gin7 gu2-bi na-an-zi-zi
51
kur-re in-di3-ĝu10 ḫe2-kur-ku
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ebiḫ{ki}-e ka tar-ĝu10 ḫe2-si-il-le me-teš2 ḫu-mu-i-i
53
{d}inana dumu {d}suen-na-ke4
Inana, the child of Suen, put on the garment of royalty and girded herself in joy. She bedecked her forehead with terror and fearsome radiance. She arranged cornelian rosettes around her holy throat. She brandished the seven-headed šita weapon vigorously to her right and placed straps of lapis lazuli on her feet.
54
{tug2}pala3-a ba-an-mur10 ul gu2 ba-an-e3
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ni2 me-lem4 ḫuš-a saĝ-ki-na še-er-ka-an ba-ni-in-dug4
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zi-pa-aĝ2 kug-ga-na {na4}gug gi-rin-na si ba-ni-in-sa2-sa2
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šita saĝ 7-e zid-da-na nam-šul ba-ni-in-ak
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dur {na4}za-gin3-na ĝiri3-ni bi2-in-de6
59
an-usan-na nir mi-ni-ib-e3
At dusk she came forth regally and stood in the street at the Gate of Wonder. She made an offering to An and addressed a prayer to him.
60
kan4 u6 di sila-ba bi2-in-gub
61
an-ra ne-saĝ mu-un-na-an-gub sizkur mu-na-ab-be2
62
an {d}inana-da ḫul2-la-e
An, in delight at Inana, stepped forward and took his place. He filled the seat of honour of heaven.
63
mu-un-gid2 ki-na ba-e-tuš
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zag gal an-na-ka ba-e-si
65
an a-a-ĝu10 silim ma-ra-ab-be2-en inim-ĝu10-uš ĝeštug2-zu
(Inana announced:) An, my father, I greet you! Lend your ear to my words. An has made me terrifying throughout heaven. Owing to you my word has no rival in heaven or on earth. At the limits of heaven are the silig weapon, the antibal and mansium emblems.
66
an-ne2 an-ba ni2-ĝu10 mi-ni-in-ri
67
za-e-me-en inim-ĝu10 an ki-a gaba-ri la-ba-e-ni-tuku
68
an-bar-ra {ĝiš}silig-ga-am3
69
an-ti-bal ma-an-si-um
70
ki-gal sig10-ge5 {ĝiš}gu-za suḫuš gen6-na
To set the socle in position and make the throne and foundation firm, to carry the might of the šita weapon which bends like a mubum tree, to hold the ground with the sixfold yoke, to extend the thighs with the fourfold yoke, to pursue murderous raids and widespread miltary campaigns, to appear to those kings in the …… of heaven like moonlight, to shoot the arrow from the arm and fall on fields, orchards and forests like the tooth of the locust, to take the harrow to rebel lands, to remove the locks from their city gates so the doors stand open -- King An, you have indeed given me all this, and …….
71
a2 nam-šita4 šu ĝa2-ĝa2 mu-bu-um-gin7 gam
72
6 la2-e ki ḫa-ḫa-ze2
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4 la2-e ḫaš2 gid2-gid2-i
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kaskal gaz-e ḫar-ra-an-na zag-še3 DU
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lugal-bi-ir IŠ-IŠ an-na-ka iti6-gin7 e3-a
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ti a2-ta e3-a a-gar3-e {ĝiš}kiri6 tir zu2 bir5-gin7 zi-zi
77
{ĝiš}gana2-ur3 ki-bal sig10-sig10-ge5
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abul-a-ba {ĝiš}si-ĝar gid2-de3 {ĝiš}ig-bi bi2-ib-gub-be2
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an lugal šu-ĝu10 ḫe2-em-mu-e-šum2 a2 […]
80
lugal-la zid-da-na ḫe2-ni-in-kur9 ki-bal gul-gul-lu-de3
You have placed me at the right hand of the king in order to destroy rebel lands: may he, with my aid, smash heads like a falcon in the foothills of the mountain, King An, and may I …… your name throughout the land like a thread.
81
kur-ur2-ra sur2-du3{mušen}-gin7 saĝ ḫu-mu-da-dub2-be2
82
an lugal mu-zu zag kalam-ma gu-gin7 ga-an-ši-BAD
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kur-kur-ra muš ki-in-dar-ra-gin7 šu ḫu-mu-da-dub2-be2-eš
May he destroy the lands as a snake in a crevice. May he make them slither around like a saĝkal snake coming down from a mountain. May he establish control over the mountain, examine it and know its length. May he go out on the holy campaign of An and know its depth. I want to surpass the other deities, since the Anuna deities have …….
84
muš-saĝ-kal kur-bi-ta ed3-da-gin7 da-ga ḫu-mu-da-an-du
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kur-ra a2 ḫe2-bi2-in-ĝar igi ḫe2-ni-in-bar gid2-da-bi ḫa-ba-zu
86
ḫar-ra-an kug an-na-ka-še3 ḫe2-ni-e3 buru3-da-bi ḫa-ba-zu
87
diĝir-re-e-ne ga-!-ne-⌈dirig⌉-[X-(X)]
88
{d}inana-me-en {d}a-nun-na-ke4-ne u3-ba-DU
89
a-gin7 ĝe26-e kur-re an ki-a ni2-ĝu10 la-ba-ni-ib-⌈ta⌉-a-ta
How can it be that the mountain did not fear me in heaven and on earth, that the mountain did not fear me, Inana, in heaven and on earth, that the mountain range of Ebiḫ, the mountain, did not fear me in heaven and on earth? Because it did not act appropriately on its own initiative, because it did not put its nose to the ground, because it did not rub its lips in the dust, may I fill my hand with the soaring mountain range and make it learn fear of me.
90
{d}inana-me-en kur-re an ki-a ni2-ĝu10 la-ba-ni-ib-[ta]-a-ta
91
ḫur-saĝ ebiḫ{ki}-a-ke4 kur-re an ki-a ni2-ĝu10 la-ba-ni-ib-ta-a-ta
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ni2-bi-ta na-ma-ra-ab-ak-gin7
93
giri17-bi ki-še3 na-ma-ab-te-a-gin7
94
nundum saḫar-ra na-ma-ni-ib-ur3-ra-gin7
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ḫur-saĝ zig3 šu-ĝu10 ga-am3-mi-ib-si ni2-ĝu10 ga-mi-ib-⌈zu⌉
96
a2 maḫ-bi-še3 gud maḫ ga-ba-ši-gub
Against its magnificent sides let me place magnificent battering rams, against its small sides let me place small battering rams. Let me storm it and start the 'game' of holy Inana. In the mountain range let me set up battle and prepare conflicts.
97
a2 tur-bi-še3 gud tur ga-ba-ši-gub
98
UŠ ga-mu-un-šub ?-[šen {d}inana] kug ga-mu-ni-in-sar
99
ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 me3 ga-ba-laḫ5 šen-šen ga-ba-ab-sar-sar
100
ti mar-uru5-am3 si ga-ba-ab-sa2
Let me prepare arrows in the quiver. Let me …… slingstones with the rope. Let me begin the polishing of my lance. Let me prepare the throw-stick and the shield.

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.