Ninĝišzida's journey to the nether world

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 1 - Narrative and mythological compositions · 97 sections

1
zig3-ga u5-bi2 zig3-ga u5-e-de3-en zig3-ga u5-bi2
Arise and get on board, arise, we are about to sail, arise and get on board! -- Woe, weep for the bright daylight, as the barge is steered away! -- I am a young man! Let me not be covered against my wishes by a cabin, as if with a blanket, as if with a blanket!
2
i-lu er2-ra ?-? dadag-ga ma2-gur8 ri-de3
3
ĝuruš-me-en {ĝiš}u3 tug2-gin7 tug2-gin7 ni2-ĝu10 ba-ra-?-me-en
4
ma2-gur8-re ĝuruš ma2-gur8 ri-da-ni šu gid2-da
Stretching out a hand to the barge, to the young man being steered away on the barge, stretching out a hand to my young man Damu Lord Ninĝišzida being taken away on the barge, stretching out a hand to Ištaran of the bright visage being taken away on the barge, stretching out a hand to Alla, master of the battle-net, being taken away on the barge, stretching out a hand to Lugal-šud-e being taken away on the barge, stretching out a hand to Ninĝišzida being taken away on the barge -- his younger sister was crying in lament to him in the boat's cabin the cabin at the boat's bow .
5
ĝuruš {d}da-mu-ĝu10 en {d}nin-ĝiš-zid-da ma2-gur8 ri-da-ni šu gid2-da
6
{d}ištaran igi šuba-ke4 ma2-gur8 ri-da-ni šu gid2-de3
7
{d}al-la u3-mu-un sa-par3-ra ma2-gur8 ri-da-ni šu gid2-de3
8
{d}lugal-šudx(KA)-de3 ma2-gur8 ri-da-ni šu gid2-de3
9
u3-mu-un-mu-zid-da-ke4 ma2-gur8 ri-da-ni šu gid2-de3
10
nin9 ban3-da-a-ni {ĝiš}u5 ma2-ka ma2-saĝ šir3-re-eš mu-un-na-ab-be2
11
nin9 gal-a-ni u3 ma2-ka ma2-eĝer-ra-ka TUN3 mu-un-na-bad
His older sister removed the cover (?) from the boat's cabin the cabin at the boat's stern : Let me sail away with you, let me sail away with you, brother my brother , let me sail away with you. My brother, let me sail on your barge with you, my brother, let me sail away with you. Let me sail on your splendid barge with you, my brother, let me sail away with you.
12
ga-ba-de3-u5 ga-ba-de3-u5 šeš šeš-ĝu10 ga-ba-de3-u5
12A
šeš-ĝu10 ma2-gur8-zu ga-ba-de3-u5 šeš-ĝu10 ga-ba-⌈de3⌉-u5
12B
[ma2-gur8 giri17-zal]-⌈la⌉-zu ga-[ba-de3-u5 šeš-ĝu10 ga-ba-de3-u5]
13
ma2-saĝ-ta i-lu gu3 mu-un-na-be2 šeš šeš-ĝu10 ga-ba-de3-u5
She was crying a lament to him at the boat's bow: Brother My brother , let me sail away with you. Let me …… for you in your boat's stern, brother my brother , let me sail away with you. The gudug priest sits in the cabin at your boat's stern. She was crying a lament to him: Let me sail away with you, my brother, let me sail away with you.
14
ma2-eĝer-za ga-mu-ra-?-? ga-mu-un-?-? šeš šeš-ĝu10 ga-ba-de3-u5
14A
⌈!⌉u5 ma2-eĝer-ra-zu gudug ba-an-tuš i-lu mu-⌈un⌉-dab5-<be2>
14B
ga-ba-de3-u5 šeš-ĝu10 ga-ba-de3-u5
15
ĝuruš {d}da-mu-ĝu10 ga-ba-de3-u5 šeš šeš-ĝu10 ga-ba-de3-u5
My young man Damu, let me sail away with you, brother my brother , let me sail away with you. Ištaran of the bright visage, let me sail away with you, brother my brother , let me sail away with you. Alla, master of the battle-net, let me sail away with you, brother my brother , let me sail away with you. Lugal-šud-e, let me sail away with you, brother my brother , let me sail away with you. Lugal-ki-bura, let me sail away with you, my brother, let me sail away with you. Ninĝišzida, let me sail away with you, brother my brother , let me sail away with you. My brother, let me sail on your barge with you, my brother, let me sail away with you. Let me sail on your splendid barge with you, my brother, let me sail away with you.
16
{d}ištaran igi šuba-ke4 ga-ba-de3-u5 šeš šeš-ĝu10 ga-ba-de3-u5
17
{d}al-la u3-mu-un sa-par3-ra ga-ba-de3-u5 šeš šeš-ĝu10 ga-ba-de3-u5
18
{d}lugal-šudx(KA)-de3 ga-ba-de3-u5 šeš šeš-ĝu10 ga-ba-de3-⌈u5⌉
18A
{d}lugal-ki-bur2-ra ga-be2-de3-u5 šeš-ĝu10 da2-de3-u5
19
u3-mu-un-mu-zid-da-ke4 ga-ba-de3-u5 šeš šeš-ĝu10 [ga-ba]-de3-u5
19A
[šeš]-⌈ĝu10⌉ ma2-gur8-zu ga-⌈ba⌉-e-⌈de3-u5⌉ [šeš-ĝu10 ga-ba-e-de3-u5]
19B
[ma2]-⌈gur8⌉ giri17-zal-la-zu ga-ba-⌈e⌉-[de3-u5 šeš-ĝu10 ga-ba-e-de3-u5]
20
gal5-la2 ḫul murub4-ba til3-la
The evil demon who was in their midst called out to Lugal-ki-suna Ninĝišzida : Lugal-ki-suna Lugal-ki-bura , look at your sister! Having looked at his sister, Lugal-ki-suna Lugal-ki-bura said to her: He sails with me, he sails with me. Why should you sail to the underworld ? Lady, the demon sails with me. Why should you sail to the underworld ? The thresher sails with me. Why should you sail to the underworld ? The man who has bound my hands sails with me. Why should you sail? The man who has tied my arms sails with me. Why should you sail?
21
{d}lugal-ki-sun5-na [u3]-mu-un-<mu>-zid-da-ra gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e
22
{d}lugal-ki-sun5-na [{d}lugal-ki]-⌈bur2⌉-ra nin9-zu-še3 igi ⌈bar⌉ […]
23
{d}lugal-ki-sun5-na [{d}lugal-ki]-⌈bur2-ra⌉ nin9-še3 igi bar-ra gu3 mu-⌈un⌉-<na>-de2-e
24
mu-de3-u5 mu-de3-u5 za-e ki ta u5-de3
25
nin gal5-la2 mu-de3-u5 za-e ki ta u5-de3
26
lu2 niĝ2 ra-aḫ-ḫa mu-de3-u5 za-e ki ta u5-de3
27
lu2 šu du3-ĝu10 mu-de3-u5 za-e ta u5-de3
28
lu2 a2 la2-ĝu10 mu-de3-u5 za-e ta u5-de3
29
id2-kur-ra-ke4 a nu-de2 a-bi nu-mu-un-na-na8-⌈na8⌉ za-e ta u5-de3
The river of the nether world produces no water, no water is drunk from it. Why should you sail? The fields of the nether world produce no grain, no flour is eaten from it. Why should you sail? The sheep of the nether world produce no wool, no cloth is woven from it. Why should you sail? As for me, even if my mother digs as if for a canal, I shall not be able to drink the water meant for me. The waters of springtime will not be poured for me as they are for the tamarisks; I shall not sit in the shade intended for me. The dates I should bear like a date palm will not reveal (?) their beauty for me. I am a field threshed by my demon -- you would scream at it. He has put manacles on my hands -- you would scream at it. He has put a neck-stock on my neck -- you would scream at it.
30
a-šag4 kur-ra-ke4 še nu-de2 zid2 nu-mu-un-<na>-ab-!-[(X)] za-e ta u5-de3
31
udu kur-ra-ke4 siki nu-de2 tug2 nu-mu-un-na-ab-TUKU5-TUKU5 za-e ta u5-de3
32
ĝe26-e ama-ĝu10 id2-gin7 mu-un-ba-al-la2-aš a-ĝu10 ba-ra-mu-un-⌈naĝ⌉
33
{ĝiš}šinig-⌈gin7⌉ a šu-nim ba-ra-mu-un-⌈de2⌉ ĝissu-ĝu10 ba-ra-an-KU-⌈KU⌉
34
{ĝiš}ĝišnimbar-gin7 zu2-lum il2-la-ĝu10 ḫi-li-⌈bi⌉ nu-!-ra-KA
35
gana2-am3 gal5-la2-ĝu10 mu-?-ra-ḫe za-e gu3 bi-ra-ra
36
⌈ĝiš⌉-šu ⌈šu⌉-ĝu10 im-mi-ĝar za-e gu3 bi-ra-ra
37
⌈ĝiš-gu2⌉ gu2-ĝu10 im-mi-ĝar za-e gu3 bi-ra-ra
38
[{d}ama]-⌈šilam⌉-ma {d}⌈nin⌉-[ĝiš-zid-da-ra] [gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e]
said to Ninĝišzida: The ill-intentioned demon may accept something -- there should be a limit to it for you. My brother, your demon may accept something, there should be a limit to it for you. For him let me …… from my hand the ……, there should be a limit to it for you. For him let me …… from my hand the ……, there should be a limit to it for you. For him let me …… from my hips the dainty lapis lazuli beads, there should be a limit to it for you. For him let me …… from my hips the …… my lapis lazuli beads, there should be a limit to it for you.
39
⌈gal5⌉-[la2 šag4] ⌈gig⌉-ga aĝ2 ḫe2-[gid2-i ki-še-er-ra ab-tuku-e]
40
[X X] gal5-la2-zu aĝ2 ḫe2-[gid2-i ki-še-er-ra ab-tuku-e]
41
[…] ⌈šu⌉-ĝu10 ga-mu-na-⌈ab⌉-[X ki-še-er-ra ab-tuku-e]
42
[…] ⌈šu⌉-ĝu10 ga-mu-na-⌈ab⌉-[X ki-še-er-ra ab-tuku-e]
43
[{na4}za]-⌈gin3⌉ di4-di4-la2 ur2-ĝu10 ga-⌈mu⌉-[na-ab-X] ⌈ki⌉-[še-er-ra ab-tuku-e]
44
[X {na4}za]-⌈gin3⌉-ĝu10-gin7 ur2-ĝu10 ga-⌈mu⌉-[na-ab-X] ki-[še-er-ra ab-tuku-e]
45
[… ki] ⌈aĝ2⌉-ĝa2-me-en ⌈ki⌉-[še-er-ra ab-tuku-e]
You are a beloved ……, there should be a limit to it for you. How they treat you, how they treat you! -- there should be a limit to it for you. My brother, how they treat you, how haughtily they treat you! -- there should be a limit to it for you. I am hungry, but the bread has slipped away from me! -- there should be a limit to it for you. I am thirsty, but the water has slipped away from me! -- there should be a limit to it for you.
46
i3-ak-⌈ke2-eš⌉ i3-ak-ke2-eš ki-še-er-ra ab-tuku-e
47
šeš-ĝu10 i3-ak-ke2-eš maḫ-bi i3-ak-ke2-eš ki-še-er-ra ab-tuku-e
48
šaĝar ba-an-tuku ninda ma-ra-an-ze2-er ki-še-er-ra ab-tuku-⌈e⌉
49
enmen2 ba-an-tuku a ma-<ra>-an-ze2-er ki-še-er-ra ab-tuku-e
50
gal5-la2 ḫul murub4-ba til3-la
The evil demon who was in their midst, the clever demon, that great demon who was in their midst, called out to the man at the boat's bow and to the man at the boat's stern: Don't let the mooring stake be pulled out, don't let the mooring stake be pulled out, so that she may come on board to her brother, that this lady may come on board the barge.
51
gal5-la2 kug-zu gal5-la2 gal-bi murub4-ba til3-la
52
lu2 {ĝiš}ma2-saĝ-ĝa2-! lu2 {ĝiš}ma2-eĝer-ra-ke4 gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e
53
ĝiš na-an-zig3 ĝiš na-an-zig3 šeš-ra !-de3
54
nin-e {ĝiš}ma2-gur8-ra u5-de3
55
{d}ama-šilamx(TUR3) {ĝiš}ma2-gur8-ra u5-da-a-ni
When Ama-šilama had gone on board the barge, a cry approached the heavens, a cry approached the earth, that great demon set up an enveloping cry before him on the river: Urim, at my cry to the heavens lock your houses, lock your houses, city, lock your houses! Shrine Urim, lock your houses, city, lock your houses! Against your lord who has left the ĝipar, city, lock your houses! (1 line fragmentary) (approx. 1 line missing)
56
gu3 an-na ba-te gu3 ki-ta ba-te
57
gu3 ! !-na gal5-la2 gal-bi id2-da mu-da-ĝar
58
urim2{ki}-am3 gu3 de2 an-ta-ĝu10
59
e2-za gi-bi e2-za gi-bi iri e2-za gi-bi
60
eš3 urim2{ki}-ma e2-za gi-bi iri e2-za gi-bi
61
en-zu ĝi6-par3-ta ba-ra-e3-a iri e2-za gi-bi
62
[…] X X X X [X X]
gap
(approx. 1 line missing)
64
X […]
(2 lines fragmentary) …… a holy sceptre. …… a holy robe of office. …… a holy crown. …… a lapis-lazuli sceptre.
65
X […]
66
ĝidru kug […]
67
tug2-ba13 kug […]
68
aga kug ⌈saĝ⌉-[ĝa2 …]
69
ĝidru za-gin3-na […]
70
id2 sug4!(BU) id2 ?-⌈?⌉ […]
He …… to the empty river, the rejoicing (?) river: shall not draw near to this house, ……. …… to the place of Ereškigala. My mother …… out of her love. As for , you may be a great demon ……, …… your hand against the nether world's office of throne-bearer.
71
e2-ba la-ba-te-te […]
72
ki {d}ereš-ki-gal-la-⌈ka⌉ […]
73
ĝe26-e ama-ĝu10 ki aĝ2-ĝa2-[ni-ta …]
74
za-e gal5-la2 gal-bi ḫe2-me-en […]
75
nam-gu-za-la2 kur-ra-še3 šu-[zu …]
76
lugal-⌈?⌉ igi er2-ra nu-še8-⌈še8⌉-[X]
My king will no longer shed tears in his eyes. The drum will …… his joy in tears. Come! May the fowler utter a lament for you in his well-stocked house, lord, may he utter a lament for you. How he has been humiliated! May the young fisherman utter a lament for you in his well-stocked house, lord, may he utter a lament for you. How he has been humiliated! May the mother of the dead gudug priest utter a lament for you in her empty ĝipar , on whom the house of the palace looked with envy (?) , utter a lament for you, lord, may she utter a lament for you. How he has been humiliated! May the mother high priestess utter a lament for you who have left the ĝipar for you, now dead, who used to be in your ĝipar , lord, may she utter a lament for you. How he has been humiliated!
77
balaĝ šag4 ḫul2-la-ka-ni er2 […]
78
ĝen-na mušen-du3 e2 niĝ2 ĝar-ra-na i-lu-zu ḫe-me en i-lu-zu ḫe2-me te ba-ab-pel-e
79
šu-KU6 tur-e e2 niĝ2 ĝar-ra-na i-lu-zu ḫe2-me en i-lu-zu ḫe2-me ta ba-ab-pel-e
80
ama gudug ug5-ga ĝi6-par3-ra sug4-ga-[na] igi-tum3 la2 e2 lugal-la-ke4 bi2-in-du8 i-lu-zu ḫe2-me en i-lu-zu ḫe2-me ta <ba-ab-pel-e>
81
ama nin-diĝir ĝi6-par3-ra ba-ra-⌈e3⌉-[X X] ug5-ga ĝi6-par3-zu til3-la i-lu-zu ḫe2-me en i-lu-zu ḫe2-me ta ba-ab-pel-e
82
lugal-ĝu10 saĝ-zu saḫar-ra niĝin2-na-zu a tu5-a
My king, bathe with water your head that has rolled in the dust. …… in sandals your feet defiled from the defiled place. The king bathed with water his head that had rolled in the dust. …… in sandals his feet defiled from the defiled place. Not drawing near to this house, ……. …… your throne …… to you Sit down. May your bed …… to you Lie down. He ate food in his mouth, he drank choice wine.
83
ĝiri3-zu ki pel-la pel-la-zu e-sir2 […]
84
lugal-e saĝ-du saḫar-⌈ra niĝin2-na⌉-[ni a mu]-⌈un-tu5⌉
85
ĝiri3-bi ki pel-la pel-[la-ni e-sir2 …]
86
e2-bi la-ba-teĝ3-⌈ĝe26⌉ […]
87
{ĝiš}gu-za-zu tuš-a […]
88
ĝiš-nu2 nu2-a ⌈ḫu⌉-[mu-…]
89
niĝ2-gu7 ka-a mi-ni-in-! kurun2 suḫ-bi i3-naĝ
90
kug gal {d}ereš-ki-gal-la za3-mi2-zu dug3-ga-am3
Great holy one, Ereškigala, praising you is sweet.

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.