Dumuzid's dream

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 1 - Narrative and mythological compositions · 270 sections

1
šag4-ga-ni er2 im-si edin-še3 ba-ra-e3
His heart was full of tears as he went out into the countryside. The lad's heart was full of tears as he went out into the countryside. Dumuzid's heart was full of tears as he went out into the countryside. He carried with him his shepherd's stick on his shoulder, sobbing all the time:
2
ĝuruš šag4-ga-ni er2 im-si edin-še3 ba-ra-e3
3
{d}dumu-zid šag4-ga-ni er2 im-si edin-še3 ba-ra-e3
4
ĝidru nam-sipad-da gu2-na mu-un-di-la2 i-lu mu-un-du-du
5
i-lu ĝar-u3 i-lu ĝar-u3 edin i-lu ĝar-u3
Grieve, grieve, O countryside, grieve! O countryside, grieve! O marshes, cry out! O …… crabs of the river, grieve! O frogs of the river, cry out! My mother will call to me, my mother, my Durtur, will call to me, my mother will call to me for five things, my mother will call to me for 10 things: if she does not know the day when I am dead, you, O countryside, can inform my mother who bore me. Like my little sister may you weep for me.
6
edin i-lu ĝar-u3 ambar inim ĝar-u3
7
al-lub id2-da girid2 i-lu ĝar-u3
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bi2-za-za id2-da inim ĝar-u3 ama-ĝu10 inim ḫe2-em-me
9
ama-ĝu10 {d}dur7-tur-ĝu10 inim ḫe2-em-me
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ama-ĝu10 niĝ2 5-am3 inim ḫe2-em-me
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ama-ĝu10 niĝ2 10-am3 inim ḫe2-em-me
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ud-da ud ug5-ge-ĝu10 nu-un-zu
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edin ama ugu-ĝu10 inim mu-e-de3-zu-un
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nin9 ban3-da-ĝu10-gin7 er2-ĝu10 ḫe2-še8-še8
15
ud ul-e ba-nu2 ud ul-e ba-nu2 sipad ud ul-e ba-nu2
In ancient times he lay down, in ancient times he lay down, in ancient times the shepherd lay down. When in ancient times the shepherd lay down, he lay down to dream. He woke up -- it was a dream! He shivered -- it was sleep! He rubbed his eyes, he was terrified.
16
sipad ud ul-e ba-nu2-gin7 ma-mu2-de3 ba-nu2
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i-im-zig3 ma-mu2-da i-im-bu-lu-uḫ2 u3-sa2-ga-am3
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igi-ni šu bi2-in-kiĝ2 niĝ2-me-ĝar sug4-ga-am3
19
tum2-mu-un-ze2-en tum2-mu-un-ze2-en nin9-ĝu10 tum2-mu-un-ze2-en
Bring, bring, bring my sister! Bring my Ĝeštin-ana, bring my sister! Bring my scribe proficient in tablets, bring my sister! Bring my singer expert in songs, bring my singer! Bring my perspicacious girl, bring my sister! Bring my wise woman who knows the meanings of dreams, bring my sister! I will relate the dream to her.
20
{d}ĝeštin-an-na-ĝu10 tum2-mu-un-ze2-en nin9-ĝu10 tum2-mu-un-ze2-en
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dub-sar im zu-ĝu10 tum2-mu-un-ze2-en nin9-ĝu10 tum2-mu-un-ze2-en
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nar en3-du zu-ĝu10 tum2-mu-un-ze2-en nin9-ĝu10 tum2-mu-un-ze2-en
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lu2-ban3-da šag4 inim-ma zu-ĝu10 tum2-mu-un-ze2-en nin9-ĝu10 tum2-mu-un-ze2-en
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um-ma šag4 ma-mu2-da zu-ĝu10 tum2-mu-un-ze2-en nin9-ĝu10 tum2-mu-un-ze2-en
25
ma-mu2 ga-mu-un-na-bur2
A dream, my sister! A dream! In my dream, rushes were rising up for me, rushes kept growing for me; a single reed was shaking its head at me; twin reeds -- one was being separated from me. Tall trees in the forest were rising up together over me. Water was poured over my holy coals brazier for me, the cover of my holy churn was removed, my holy drinking cup was torn down from the peg where it hung, my shepherd's stick disappeared from me. An owl (?) took a lamb from the sheep house, a falcon caught a sparrow on the reed fence, my male goats were dragging their dark beards in the dust for me, my rams were scratching the earth with their thick legs for me. The churns were lying on their sides, no milk was being poured, the drinking cups were lying on their sides, Dumuzid was dead, the sheepfold was haunted.
26
ma-mu2-da nin9-ĝu10 ma-mu2-da šag4 ma-mu2-da-ĝa2
27
{u2}numun2 ma-ra-zi-zi {u2}numun2 ma-ra-mu2-mu2
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gi dili du3-e saĝ ⌈ma⌉-[ra-an]-sag3-ge
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gi dili-dili du3-e dili ma-ra-an-ba9-re6
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{ĝiš}tir-ra ĝiš an-gin7 ni2-bi ma-ra-an-zig3-[ga]
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ne-mur ki-izi kug-ĝa2 a mu-da-an-de2
32
{dug}šakir3 kug-ĝa2 TUN3-bi ba-ra-an-ba9-re6
33
{ĝiš}an-za-am kug-ĝu10 {ĝiš}gag-ta la2-a {ĝiš}gag-ta ba-ra-an-⌈si⌉-[ig]
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{ĝiš}ma-nu-ĝu10 u2-gu mu-da-an-de2
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{d}nin-ninna2{mušen}-ta-e ĝa2 udu-ka sila4 šu ba-ni-ib-ti
36
sur2-du3{mušen}-e gi dub-ba-na-ka buru5{mušen} šu ba-ni-ib-ti
37
maš2-ud5-da-ĝu10 sun4 za-gin3-bi saḫar-ra ma-ra-an-gid2-e
38
udu-utua2-ĝu10 a2 gur-gur-ra-bi ki ma-ra-ab-ḫur-ḫur-re
39
{dug}šakir3 i3-dur2-dur2 ga nu-un-de2
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an-za-am i3-dur2-dur2 {d}dumu-zid nu-til3 amaš lil2-la2-am3 al-du3
41
{d}ĝeštin-an-na-ke4 {d}dumu-zid mu-un-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
Ĝeštin-ana answered Dumuzid: My brother, your dream is not favourable, don't tell me any more of it! Dumuzid, your dream is not favourable, don't tell me any more of it! The rushes rising up for you, which kept growing for you, are bandits rising against you from their ambush. The single reed shaking its head at you is your mother who bore you, shaking her head for you. The twin reeds of which one was being separated from you is you and I -- one will be separated from you. The tall trees in the forest rising up together over you are the evil men catching you within the walls. That water was poured over your holy coals means the sheepfold will become a house of silence. That the cover of your holy churn was removed for you means the evil man will bring it inside in his hands.
42
šeš-ĝu10 ma-mu2-zu nu-sag9-sag9 nam-ma-an-bur2-e
43
{d}dumu-zid ma-mu2-zu nu-sag9-sag9 nam-ma-an-bur2-e
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{u2}numun2 ma-ra-an-zi-zi {u2}numun2 ma-ra-an-mu2-mu2
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sa-gaz šubtum6-ta ma-ra-an-zig3-ga
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gi dili du3-e saĝ ma-ra-an-sag3-ge
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ama ugu-zu saĝ ma-ra-an-sag3-ge
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gi dili-dili du3-e dili ma-ra-an-ba9-re6
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ĝe26-e u3 za-e dili ma-ra-an-bad-ba9-re6
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{ĝiš}tir-ra ĝiš an ni2-bi ma-ra-an-zi-zi
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lu2 ḫul-ĝal2-e i-zi-a im-mu-e-ni-dab5-be2
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ne-mur kug-zu a mu-da-an-de2
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amaš e2 sig9-ga ba-e-de3-ĝa2-ĝa2
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{dug}šakir3 kug-zu TUN3-bi ma-ra-an-ba9-re6
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lu2 ḫul-ĝal2-e šu-na ba-e-ni-in-ku4-ku4
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an-za-am kug {ĝiš}gag-ta la2-a {ĝiš}gag-ta ba-ra-an-si-ig
Your holy drinking cup torn down from the peg where it hung is you falling off the lap of the mother who bore you. That your shepherd's stick disappeared from you means the demons will set fire to it will smash it . The owl (?) taking a lamb from the sheep house is the evil man who will hit you on the cheek is the evil man who will destroy the sheep house . The falcon catching a sparrow on the reed fence is the big demon coming down out from the sheep house. That the churns were lying on their sides, no milk was being poured, the drinking cups were lying on their sides, that Dumuzid was dead, and the sheepfold haunted, means your hands will be bound in handcuffs, your arms will be bound in fetters. That your male goats were dragging their dark beards in the dust for you means that my hair will whirl around in the air like a hurricane for you. That your rams were scratching the earth with their thick legs for you means that I shall lacerate my cheeks with my fingernails for you as if with a boxwood needle.
57
du10-ub ama ugu-za-ta ba-ra-šub-bu-de3
58
{ĝiš}ma-nu-zu u2-gu mu-un-da-an-de2
59
gal5-la2-e izi niĝ2 ne3 i-ne-er-šu bi2-ra-ra-am3
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{d}nin-ninna2{mušen}-ta-e ĝa2 udu-ka sila4 šu ba-ni-ib-ti
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lu2 ḫul-ĝal2-e te-[zu ma-ra]-an-sag3-ge lu2 ḫul-ĝal2-e ĝa2 udu am3-mu-e-re-šub
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sur2-du3{mušen}-e gi dub-ba-an-ka buru5 šu ba-ni-ib-ti
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gal5-la2 gal-e ĝa2 udu-ta gal5-la2-e amaš tur3-ta am3-mu-e-re-ed3-ed3 ⌈am3⌉-[ma]-⌈ra⌉-e3
64
[{dug}]⌈šakir3⌉ i3-[dur2]-dur2 [ga nu-un-de2] an-za-am i3-dur2-dur2 {d}dumu-zid nu-un-til3 amaš lil2-la2 am3-du3
65
šu-zu šu-du3-[a ba-e-dab5] a2-zu a2-la2-e ba-e-la2
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maš2-ud5-da-zu sun4 za-gin3-bi saḫar-ra ma-ra-an-gid2-e
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siki-ĝu10 mar-uru5-gin7 an-na ma-ra-ni10-ni10-e
68
udu-utua2-zu a2 gur-gur-ra-bi ki ma-ra-ab-ḫur-ḫur-re
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šu-si-ĝu10 {ĝiš}bulug taškarin-gin7 te ma-ra-ab-ḫur-ḫur-re
70
inim-bi ka-ga14-na um-ma-da-ĝa2-ĝa2
Hardly had she spoken these words when he said, Sister, go up onto the mound, sister, go up onto the mound! Sister, when you go up onto the mound, do not go up onto the mound like an ordinary person, but lacerate your heart your hair and your liver, lacerate your clothes and your crotch, sister, and then go up onto the mound! Sister, when you go up onto the mound, look out from the mound! The evil ……, hated by men, …… a river barge! They hold in their hands the wood to bind the hands, they are identified (?) from the wood to bind the neck -- no man knows how to undo it!
71
nin9 du6-da ed3-bi2 nin9 du6-da ed3-[bi2]
72
nin9 du6-da ed3-da-⌈zu⌉-[ne]
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du6-da lu2-ulu3-gin7 nam-ed3-da-[nam]
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šag4-za siki-zu bar-za u3-⌈mu⌉-[ni-ḫur]
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tug2-za ḫaš4-za u3-⌈mu⌉-[ni-ḫur]
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nin9 du6-da ed3-bi2
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nin9 du6-da ed3-⌈da⌉-[zu-ne]
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du6-da igi il2-la-[ab]
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am3-?-an-gig lipiš bal nam-lu2-⌈ulu3⌉-[ke4-ne]
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{ĝiš}ma2-gur8 id2-da AM3 X […]
81
ĝiš šu-ka šu am3-⌈mi⌉-[in-du8]
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ĝiš gu2-ka ba-an-pad3 bur2-[bur2-bi lu2 nu-zu]
83
ama-{d}ĝeštin-an-na-ke4 du6-da ?-[an-ed3 igi] ba-[an]-il2 X […]
Ama-ĝeštin-ana went up onto the mound and looked around, Ĝeštin-ana craned her neck. Her girl friend Ĝeštin-dudu advised her: The big men who bind the neck are already coming for him, they are …… coming for him!
84
{d}ĝeštin-an-na-ke4 gu2 um-ma-da-[gid2]
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ma-la-ga-ni {d}ĝeštin-du3-du3-e ? […]
86
? keše2-da gal-gal mu-un-ši-⌈re7⌉-[eš …] mu-un-ši-[re7-eš]
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ad ĝar-ra ma-la-ĝu10 mu-ši-re7?-[eš]
My adviser and girl friend! Are they coming? Yes, I will point out to you those who bind the neck! My brother, your demons are coming for you! Duck down your head in the grass! Dumuzid, your demons are coming for you! Duck down your head in the grass!
88
gu2 keše2-da ĝe26-e mu-ni-in-⌈pad3⌉-[de3]
89
šeš-ĝu10 gal5-la2-zu im-ši-re7-[eš saĝ u2-a šub-u3]
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[{d}dumu]-zid gal5-la2-zu im-ši-re7-eš saĝ u2-[a šub-u3]
91
nin9-ĝu10 saĝ u2-a ga-an-šub ki-ĝu10 na-ab-⌈pad3⌉-[de3]
My sister, I will duck down my head in the grass! Don't reveal my whereabouts to them! I will duck down my head in the short grass! Don't reveal my whereabouts to them! I will duck down my head in the tall grass! Don't reveal my whereabouts to them! I will drop down into the ditches of Arali! Don't reveal my whereabouts to them!
92
saĝ u2 di4-di4-la2 ga-an-šub ki-ĝu10 na-ab-pad3-de3
93
saĝ u2 gal-gal-la ga-an-šub ki-ĝu10 na-ab-pad3-de3
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eg2 a-ra-li-ka ga-an-šub ki-ĝu10 na-ab-pad3-de3
95
ud ki-zu ab-pad3-de3-en-na-a ur-zu ḫu-mu-gu7-e
If I reveal your whereabouts to them, may your dog devour me! The black dog, your shepherd dog, the noble dog, your lordly dog, may your dog devour me!
96
ur gig2 ur nam-sipad-da-zu
97
ur gir15 ur nam-en-na-zu ur-zu ḫu-mu-gu7-e
98
? mu-un-de5-ge [X] X na-ba gu5-li-zu de5-ga
She remembered (?): …… give your friend instructions about it! O my brother, may you never have a friend or comrade like ……! After the demons (?) have searched for you, ……, if he tells you …….
99
[a šeš-ĝu10] gu5-li dub3-sa
100
[X] X-gin7 na-[an]-tuku-nam

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.