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Lugalbanda and the Anzud bird

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 1 - Narrative and mythological compositions · 422 sections

1. 201

   [X] X {kuš}e-sir2-gin7 ni2-ba ḫu-mu-ra-an-dub2-dub2-be-eš

2. 202

   [X] {id2}buranun-na pa5 ubur-gin7 ĝiri3-zu pa4-pa4 mi2 am3-me

3. 203

   [ninda] kaskal-la-ka-ni nu-um-ga14-aš

   He took in his hand such of his provisions as he had not eaten, and his weapons one by one. Anzud flew on high, Lugalbanda walked on the ground. The bird, looking from above, spies the troops. Lugalbanda, looking from below, spies the dust that the troops have stirred up. The bird says to Lugalbanda, Come now, my Lugalbanda. I shall give you some advice: may my advice be heeded. I shall say words to you: bear them in mind. What I have told you, the fate I have fixed for you, do not tell it to your comrades, do not explain it to your brothers. Fair fortune may conceal foul: it is indeed so. Leave me to my nest: you keep to your troops. The bird hurried to his nest. Lugalbanda set out for the place where his brothers were.

4. 204

   {ĝiš}tukul-a-ni 1(DIŠ)-bi šu im-ma-an-ti

5. 205

   anzud{mušen} an-ta i3-ĝen

6. 206

   lugal-ban3-da ki-ta i3-ĝen

7. 207

   [mušen-e an]-ta igi mi-ni-in-il2 erin2-e igi bi2-in-du8-ru

8. 208

   [lugal]-⌈ban3⌉-da ki-ta igi mi-ni-in-il2 saḫar erin2-e du8-a igi bi2-in-du8-ru

9. 209

   mušen-e kug lugal-ban3-da-ar gu3 mu-na-de2-e

10. 210

    ĝa2-nu lugal-ban3-da-ĝu10

11. 211

    na ga-e-de5 na de5-ĝu10 ḫe2-e-dab5

12. 212

    inim ga-ra-ab-dug4 ĝizzal ḫe2-em-ši-ak

13. 213

    gu3 i-ri-de2-a nam i-ri-tar-ra

14. 214

    gu5-li-zu-ne-er nam-mu-ni-ib-be2-en

15. 215

    šeš-zu-ne-er pa nam-bi2-ib-ed2-en

16. 216

    sag9-ga ḫul šag4-ga ĝal2-la ur5 ḫe2-na-nam-ma

17. 217

    ĝe26-e gud3-ĝu10-še3 ḫe2-me-en za-e erin2-zu ḫe2-me-en

18. 218

    mušen-e gud3-bi-še3 šu am3-ma-niĝin2-niĝin2

19. 219

    lugal-ban3-da ki šeš-a-ne-ne-še3 ĝiri3 im-ma-gub-be2

20. 220

    u5{mušen} ĝiš-gi kug-ta e3-a-gin7

    Like a pelican emerging from the sacred reedbed, like laḫama deities going up from the abzu, like one who is stepping from heaven to earth, Lugalbanda stepped into the midst of his brothers' picked troops. His brothers chattered away, the troops chattered away. His brothers, his friends weary him with questions: Come now, my Lugalbanda, here you are again! The troops had abandoned you as one killed in battle. Certainly, you were not eating the good fat of the herd! Certainly, you were not eating the sheepfold's fresh cheese. How is it that you have come back from the great mountains, where no one goes alone, whence no one returns to mankind? Again his brothers, his friends weary him with questions: The banks of the mountain rivers, mothers of plenty, are widely separated. How did you cross their waters? -- as if you were drinking them?

21. 221

    la-ḫa-ma abzu-ta re7-e-gin7

22. 222

    lu2 an-ta ki-a gub-ba-gin7

23. 223

    lugal-ban3-da zu2 keše2 ĝar-ra šeš-a-ne-ne-ka murub4-ba ba-an-?

24. 224

    šeš-a-ne-ne gu3 ba-ab-ra-ra-ra-⌈aš⌉ [X] erin2-e gu3 ab-ra-ra-aš

25. 225

    šeš-a-ne-ne gu5-li-ne-ne

26. 226

    en3 tar-re im-mi-in-kuš2-u3-ne

27. 227

    ĝa2-nu lugal-ban3-da-ĝu10 za-e ĝal2-la-zu-ne

28. 228

    lu2 me3-a ĝiš ra-gin7 erin2-e ḫe2-en-taka4-nam

29. 229

    i3 dug3-a tur3-ra ba-ra-mu-un-gu7

30. 230

    ga luḫ-ḫa amaš-a ba-ra-mu-un-gu7

31. 231

    ḫur-saĝ gal lu2 dili nu-du-u3-da

32. 232

    lu2-bi lu2-ra nu-gi4-gi4-da a-gin7 im-da-du-de3-en

33. 233

    2-kam-ma-še3 šeš-a-ne-ne gu5-li-ne-ne

34. 234

    en3 tar-re im-mi-in-kuš2-u3-ne

35. 235

    id2 kur-ra ama ḫe2-nun-na-ra

36. 236

    peš10-peš10-bi peš10-ta sur-ra-am3

37. 237

    a-bi a-gin7 mu-e-naĝ-a-gin7 mu-e-bal-e

38. 238

    kug lugal-ban3-da mu-un-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4

    Holy Lugalbanda replies to them, The banks of the mountain rivers, mothers of plenty, are widely separated. With my legs I stepped over them, I drank them like water from a waterskin; and then I snarled like a wolf, I grazed the water-meadows, I pecked at the ground like a wild pigeon, I ate the mountain acorns. Lugalbanda's brothers and friends consider the words that he has said to them. Exactly as if they were small birds flocking together all day long they embrace him and kiss him. As if he were a gamgam chick sitting in its nest, they feed him and give him drink. They drive away sickness from holy Lugalbanda.

39. 239

    id2 kur-ra ama ḫe2-nun-na-ra

40. 240

    peš10-peš10-bi peš10-ta sur-ra-am3

41. 241

    zag-še-ĝa2 ki um-ma-ni-us2 a {kuš}ummud-gin7 u3-mu-naĝ

42. 242

    ur-bar-ra-gin7 gum2-ga-am3 mi-ni-za u2-sal i3-gu7-en

43. 243

    tum12-gur4{mušen}-gin7 ki im-de5-de5-ge-en i-li-a-nu-um kur-ra i3-gu7-[en]

44. 244

    lugal-ban3-da šeš-a-ne-ne gu5-li-ne-ne

45. 245

    inim in-ne-en-dug4-ga šag4-ga-ne-ne-a ba-an-šub-bu-uš

46. 246

    i-gi4-in-zu buru5{mušen}-e ud gid2-da teš2-bi keše2-da-gin7

47. 247

    gu2-ni gu2-da im-da-la2-e-ne ne mu-un-su-su-ub

48. 248

    amar gam3-gam3{mušen} gud3-ba tuš-a-gin7

49. 249

    mu-ni-ib-gu7-u3-ne mu-ni-ib-na8-na8-ne

50. 250

    kug lugal-ban3-da tur5-ra-ni mu-un-ta-ab-ed3-ne

51. 251

    ud-ba unug{ki}-ga lu2 dili-gin7 eĝer-bi-ir bi2-ib-us2

    Then the men of Unug followed them as one man; they wound their way through the hills like a snake over a grain-pile. When the city was only a double-hour distant, the armies of Unug and Kulaba encamped by the posts and ditches that surrounded Aratta. From the city it rained down javelins as if from the clouds, slingstones numerous as the raindrops falling in a whole year whizzed down loudly from Aratta's walls. The days passed, the months became long, the year turned full circle. A yellow harvest grew beneath the sky. They looked askance at the fields. Unease came over them. Slingstones numerous as the raindrops falling in a whole year landed on the road. They were hemmed in by the barrier of mountain thornbushes thronged with dragons. No one knew how to go back to the city, no was rushing to go back to Kulaba. In their midst Enmerkar son of Utu was afraid, was troubled, was disturbed by this upset. He sought someone whom he could send back to the city, he sought someone whom he could send back to Kulaba. No one said to him I will go to the city. No one said to him I will go to Kulaba. He went out to the foreign host. No one said to him I will go to the city. No one said to him I will go to Kulaba. He stood before the élite troops. No one said to him I will go to the city. No one said to him I will go to Kulaba. A second time he went out to the foreign host. No one said to him I will go to the city. No one said to him I will go to Kulaba. He stepped out before the élite troops.

52. 252

    muš zar-ra-gin7 ḫur-saĝ-ta im-me-re-bal-bal

53. 253

    iri danna 1-am3 am3-da-ĝal2-la-ba

54. 254

    dim-dim-e aratta{ki}-ka

55. 255

    unug{ki} kul-aba4{ki}-bi ur2 ba-an-dun-dun

56. 256

    iri-ta gi-bar-bar-re im-gin7 im-šeĝ3

57. 257

    im-dug-ge im mu-a ĝen-na-gin7

58. 258

    bad3 aratta{ki}-ka gu3 nun-bi im-me

59. 259

    ud ba-zal-zal itid ba-sud-sud mu ama-bi-ir ba-gi4

60. 260

    buru14 sig7-ga an-na ba-e-a-ed3-de3

61. 261

    a-šag4-ga igi ba-ab-ḫul ni2 su-e bi2-ib-us2

62. 262

    im-dug-ge im mu-a ĝen-na-gin7

63. 263

    kaskal-la ki ba-ni-ib2-u2-us2

64. 264

    {ĝiš}kiši16 kur-ra-ke4 zu2 ba-ni-ib2-keše2

65. 265

    ušumgal teš2-bi mu-un-tag-tag-ge

66. 266

    lu2 iri-še3 du-u3 nu-um-zu

67. 267

    kul-aba4{ki}-še3 du-u3 saĝ nu-mu-da-ab-šum2-mu

68. 268

    šag4-ba en-me-er-kar2 dumu {d}utu-ke4

69. 269

    ni2 ba-ni-in-te zi ba-ni-in-ir za-pa-aĝ2-bi ba-ni-in-BAD

70. 270

    lu2 iri-še3 mu-un-gi4-gi4-a ki mu-ši-kiĝ2-kiĝ2

71. 271

    kul-aba4{ki}-še3 mu-un-gi4-gi4-a ki mu-ši-kiĝ2-kiĝ2

72. 272

    lu2 iri-še3 ĝe26-e ga-ĝen nu-mu-un-na-ab-be2

73. 273

    kul-aba4{ki}-še3 ĝe26-e ga-ĝen nu-⌈mu⌉-[un-na-ab]-⌈be2⌉

74. 274

    ugnim kur-kur-ra-ka ⌈mu⌉-[un-e3]

75. 275

    lu2 iri-še3 ĝe26-e ga-ĝen nu-mu-⌈na⌉-[ab-be2]

76. 276

    kul-aba4{ki}-še3 ĝe26-e ga-ĝen nu-mu-na-⌈ab⌉-[be2]

77. 277

    zu2 keše2 igi bar-ra-ka mu-un-e3

78. 278

    lu2 iri-še3 ĝe26-e ga-ĝen nu-mu-na-ab-be2

79. 279

    kul-aba4{ki}-še3 ĝe26-e ga-ĝen ⌈nu⌉-[mu-na-ab-be2]

80. 280

    2-kam-ma-še3 ugnim kur-kur-ra-ka mu-un-e3

81. 281

    lu2 iri-še3 ĝe26-e ga-ĝen nu-mu-na-ab-be2

82. 282

    kul-aba4{ki}-še3 ĝe26-e ga-ĝen nu-⌈mu⌉-[na-ab-be2]

83. 283

    zu2 keše2 igi bar-ra-ka mu-un-e3

84. 284

    lugal-ban3-da dili-ni uĝ3-ĝa2 mu-na-an-zig3 gu3 mu-na-de2-e

    Lugalbanda alone arose from the people and said to him, My king, I will go to the city, but no one shall go with me. I will go alone to Kulaba. No one shall go with me. -- If you go to the city, no one shall go with you. You shall go alone to Kulaba, no one shall go with you. He swore by heaven and by earth: Swear that you will not let go from your hands the great emblems of Kulaba.

85. 285

    lugal-ĝu10 ĝe26-e iri-še3 ga-ĝen lu2 nam-mu-da-an-du

86. 286

    kul-aba4{ki}-še3 dili-ĝu10-ne ga-ĝen lu2 nam-mu-da-an-du

87. 287

    ud-da iri-še3 i3-du-un lu2 nu-mu-e-da-du-u3

88. 289

    zi an-na zi ki-a i3-pad3 me gal-gal kul-aba4{ki}-a šu-zu ba-ra-ba-ra-e3

89. 290

    unken ĝar-ra si sa2-a-na

    After he had stood before the summoned assembly, within the palace that rests on earth like a great mountain Enmerkar son of Utu berated Inana: Once upon a time my princely sister holy Inana summoned me in her holy heart from the bright mountains, had me enter brick-built Kulaba. Where there was a marsh then in Unug, it was full of water. Where there was any dry land, Euphrates poplars grew there. Where there were reed thickets, old reeds and young reeds grew there. Divine Enki who is king in Eridu tore up for me the old reeds, drained off the water completely. For fifty years I built, for fifty years I was successful. Then the Martu peoples, who know no agriculture, arose in all Sumer and Akkad. But the wall of Unug extended out across the desert like a bird net. Yet now, here in this place, my attractiveness to her has dwindled. My troops are bound to me as a cow is bound to its calf; but like a son who, hating his mother, leaves his city, my princely sister holy Inana has run away from me back to brick-built Kulaba. If she loves her city and hates me, why does she bind the city to me? If she hates the city and yet loves me, why does she bind me to the city? If the mistress removes herself from me to her holy chamber, and abandons me like an Anzud chick, then may she at least bring me home to brick-built Kulaba: on that day my spear shall be laid aside. On that day she may shatter my shield. Speak thus to my princely sister, holy Inana.

90. 291

    šag4 e2-gal-la kur gal-gin7 ki ḫe2-us2-a-ba

91. 292

    en-me-er-kar2 dumu {d}utu-ke4

92. 293

    eme sig {d}inana ba-ni-in-gu7

93. 294

    ki ud-ba nin9 e5-ĝu10 kug {d}inana-ke4

94. 295

    kur ?-ta šag4 kug-ga-ni-a ḫe2-em-ma-ni-pad3-de3-en

95. 296

    šeg12 kul-aba4{ki}-še3 ḫe2-em-[ma-ni]-in-kur9-re-en

96. 297

    unug{ki}-e sug ḫe2-me-am3 a ḫe2-em-de2-a

97. 298

    bar-rim4 ḫe2-me-am3 {ĝiš}asal ḫe2-mu2-a

98. 299

    ĝiš-gi ḫe2-me-am3 gi sumun gi ḫenbur ḫe2-<mu2-a>

99. 300

    {d}en-ki lugal eridug{ki}-ga-ke4

100. 301

     gi sumun-bi ḫa-ma-an-ze2 a-bi ḫa-ma-an-uš2

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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.