Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 1 - Narrative and mythological compositions · 643 sections

100
a kalag-ga a-šag4 {d}dumu-zid-da-ka
101
udu kur-ra-gin7 dub3 ḫa-ra-ni-ib-ĝar
102
gaba kug-ĝa2-a ud-gin7 e3-i3
103
zi-pa-aĝ2-ĝa2 niĝ2-suḫ10-bi ḫe2-me-en
104
za-ra en-me-er-kar2 dumu {d}utu za3-mi2
105
en-e inim kug {d}inana-ka-še3 saĝ keše2 ba-ši-in-ak ba-ši-in-ĝar
The lord gave heed to the words of holy Inana, and chose from the troops as a messenger one who was eloquent of speech and endowed with endurance. …… to his messenger ……. Where and to whom will he carry the important message of wise Inana?
106
kiĝ2-gi4-a inim zu zag-še [tuku erin2-ta] ba-ra-an-pad3
106A
[…]-e kiĝ2-gi4-a-ni-ir […]
107
inim gal {d}inana gal-zu inim-ma-ke4 me-a mu-na-ab-tum3
108
ḫur-saĝ zubi-ka ḫe2-bi2-in-ed3-de3-en
You shall bring it up into the Zubi mountains, you shall descend with it from the Zubi mountains. Let Susa and the land of Anšan humbly salute Inana like tiny mice. In the great mountain ranges, let the teeming multitudes grovel in the dust for her. Messenger, speak to the lord of Aratta and say to him: Lest I make the people fly off from that city like a wild dove from its tree, lest I make them fly around like a bird over its well-founded nest, lest I requite (?) them as if at a current market rate, lest I make it gather dust like an utterly destroyed city, lest like a settlement cursed by Enki and utterly destroyed, I too utterly destroy Aratta; lest like the devastation which swept destructively, and in whose wake Inana arose, shrieked and yelled aloud, I too wreak a sweeping devastation there -- let Aratta pack nuggets of gold in leather sacks, placing alongside it the kugmea ore; package up precious metals, and load the packs on the donkeys of the mountains; and then may the Junior Enlil of Sumer have them build for me, the lord whom Nudimmud has chosen in his sacred heart, a mountain of a shining me; have them make it luxuriant for me like a boxwood tree, have them make its shining horns colourful for me as when Utu comes forth from his chamber, have them make its doorposts gleam brightly for me.
109
ḫur-saĝ zubi-ta ḫe2-em-ma-da-ra-an-ed3-de3-en
110
šušin{ki}-e [kur] [an]-ša4-an{ki}-a-ke4
111
peš2 tur-gin7 giri17 šu ḫu-mu-na-ab-ĝal2
112
ḫur-saĝ gal-gal ni2-ba lu-a
113
saḫar-ra ḫu-mu-na-da-gur4-gur4-e
114
kiĝ2-gi4-a en aratta{ki}-ra u3-na-dug4 u3-na-de3-taḫ
115
iri-bi ir7-saĝ{mušen}-gin7 ĝiš-bi-ta na-an-na-ra-ab-dal-en
116
mušen-gin7 gud3 us2-sa-bi-a nam-bi2-ib-dal-en
117
ganba ĝal2-la-gin7 na-an-si-ig-en
118
iri gul-gul-lu-gin7 saḫar nam-bi2-ib-ḫa-za-en
119
aratta{ki} a2-dam {d}en-ki-ke4 nam ba-an-kud
120
⌈ki bi2⌉-in-gul-la-gin7 ki nam-ga-bi2-ib-gul-en
121
eĝer-bi {d}inana ba-ši-in-zig3
122
gu3 im-[mi-in-ra šeg11 im]-mi-in-gi4
123
kuš7 bi2-[in-su-a-gin7] kuš7 nam-ga-bi2-ib-su-su
124
kug-sig17 [u3-tud-da]-ba {kuš}lu-ub2/lu-ub2-šir a-ba-ni-in-ak
125
kug-me-a saḫar-ba zag u3-ba-ni-in-us2
126
kug saĝ-PA-[še3] u3-mu-un-dim2-dim2
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anše kur-kur-ra-ke4 barag um-mi-in-la2-la2
128
ĝe26-e-še3-am3 {d}en-lil2 ban3-da ki-en-gi-ra-ke4
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en {d}nu-dim2-mud šag4 kug-ge pad3-da
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kur me sikil-la-ke4 ḫa-ma-du3-e
131
{ĝiš}taškarin-gin7 ḫi-li ḫa-ma-ab-ak-e
132
{d}utu agrun-ta e3-a-gin7 si-muš2 ḫa-ma-ab-gun3-gun3
133
zag-du8-zag-du8-bi urin ḫa-ma-mul-e
134
e2-nun-e2-nun-ba šir3 kug nam-šub du12-a-ba
Chant to him the holy song, the incantation sung in its chambers -- the incantation of Nudimmud: On that day when there is no snake, when there is no scorpion, when there is no hyena, when there is no lion, when there is neither dog nor wolf, when there is thus neither fear nor trembling, man has no rival! At such a time, may the lands of Šubur and Ḫamazi, the many-tongued, and Sumer, the great mountain of the me of magnificence, and Akkad, the land possessing all that is befitting, and the Martu land, resting in security -- the whole universe, the well-guarded people -- may they all address Enlil together in a single language! For at that time, for the ambitious lords, for the ambitious princes, for the ambitious kings, Enki, for the ambitious lords, for the ambitious princes, for the ambitious kings, for the ambitious lords, for the ambitious princes, for the ambitious kings -- Enki, the lord of abundance and of steadfast decisions, the wise and knowing lord of the Land, the expert of the gods, chosen for wisdom, the lord of Eridug, shall change the speech in their mouths, as many as he had placed there, and so the speech of mankind is truly one.
135
nam-šub {d}nu-dim2-mud-da-ke4 e-ne-ra dug4-mu-na-ab
136
ud-ba muš nu-ĝal2-am3 ĝiri2 nu-ĝal2-am3
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kir4 nu-ĝal2-am3 ur-maḫ nu-ĝal2-am3
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ur-gir15 ur-bar-ra nu-ĝal2-am3
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ni2 teĝ3-ĝe26 su zi-zi-i nu-ĝal2-am3
140
lu2-u18-lu gaba-šu-ĝar nu-tuku
141
ud-ba kur šubur{ki} ḫa-ma-zi{ki}
142
eme ḫa-mun ki-en-gi kur gal me nam-nun-na-ka
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ki-uri kur me-te-ĝal2-la
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kur mar-tu u2-sal-la nu2-a
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an ki niĝin2-na uĝ3 saĝ sig10-ga
146
{d}en-lil2-ra eme 1-am3 ḫe2-en-na-da-ab-dug4
147
ud-ba a-da en a-da nun a-da lugal-la
148
{d}en-ki a-da en a-da nun a-da lugal-la
149
a-da en-e a-da nun-e a-da lugal-la
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{d}en-ki en ḫe2-ĝal2-la en dug4-ga zid-da
151
en ĝeštug2-ga igi-ĝal2 kalam-ma-ke4
152
mas-su diĝir-re-e-ne-ke4
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ĝeštug2-ge pad3-da en eridug{ki}-ga-ke4
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ka-ba eme i3-kur2 en-na mi-ni-in-ĝar-ra
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eme nam-lu2-ulu3 1 i3-me-[a]
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2-kam-ma-še3 en-e kiĝ2-gi4-a kur-še3 du-ur2
The lord added further instructions for the messenger going to the mountains, to Aratta:
157
aratta{ki}-aš inim mu-na-ab-taḫ-e
158
kiĝ2-gi4-a ĝi6 u3-na-ka im 1-gin7 šeĝ3-ĝa2
Messenger, by night, drive on like the south wind! By day, be up like the dew!
159
an-bar7-gana2-ka im-du8-gin7 zig3-ga
160
kiĝ2-gi4-a inim lugal-la-na-ke4 saĝ keše2 ba-ši-in-ak
The messenger gave heed to the words of his king. He journeyed by the starry night, and by day he travelled with Utu of heaven. Where and to whom will he carry the important message of Inana with its stinging tone? He brought it up into the Zubi mountains, he descended with it from the Zubi mountains. Susa and the land of Anšan humbly saluted Inana like tiny mice. In the great mountain ranges, the teeming multitudes grovelled in the dust for her. He traversed five mountains, six mountains, seven mountains. He lifted his eyes as he approached Aratta. He stepped joyfully into the courtyard of Aratta, he made known the authority of his king. Openly he spoke out the words in his heart. The messenger transmitted the message to the lord of Aratta:
161
ĝi6 u3-na-ka mul-am3 im-ĝen
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an-bar7-gana2-ka {d}utu an-na-ta mu-un-de3-ĝen
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inim gal {d}inana gi-zu2-lum-ma DU me-a mu-na-ab-tum3
164
ḫur-saĝ zubi-še3 bi2-in-ed3-de3
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ḫur-saĝ zubi-ta im-ma-da-ra-ab-ed3-de3
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šušin{ki}-e kur an-ša4-an{ki}-a-še3
167
peš2 tur-⌈gin7⌉ giri17 šu mu-na-ab-ĝal2
168
ḫur-saĝ gal-gal ni2-ba lu-a
169
saḫar-ra mu-na-da-gur4-gur4
170
ḫur-saĝ 5 ḫur-saĝ 6 ḫur-saĝ 7-e im-me-re-bal-bal
171
[igi mu-un]-⌈il2⌉ aratta{ki}-aš ba-te
172
[kisal] ⌈aratta⌉{ki}-ka ĝiri3 ḫul2-la mi-ni-in-gub
173
nam-nir-ĝal2 lugal-a-na mu-un-zu
174
bur2-ra-bi inim šag4-ga-na bi2-ib2-be2
175
kiĝ2-gi4-a en aratta{ki}-ra mu-na-ab-bal-e
176
a-a-zu lugal-ĝu10 mu-e-ši-in-gi4-in-nam
Your father, my master, has sent me to you; the lord of Unug, the lord of Kulaba, has sent me to you. What is it to me what your master has spoken? What is it to me what he has said?
177
en unug{ki}-ga en kul-aba4{ki}-a-ke4 mu-e-ši-in-gi4-nam
178
lugal-za dug4-ga-ni nam-ĝu10 taḫ-a-ni nam-ĝu10
179
lugal-ĝu10 a-na bi2-in-dug4 a-na bi2-in-taḫ-am3
This is what my master has spoken, this is what he has said. My king who from his birth has been fitted for lordship for the crown , the lord of Unug, the saĝkal snake living in Sumer, who pulverises mountains heads like flour, the stag of the tall mountains, endowed with princely antlers, wild cow, kid pawing the holy soapwort with its hoof, whom the good cow had given birth to in the heart of the mountains, Enmerkar, the son of Utu, has sent me to you. (the lord of Aratta speaks): What is it to me what your master has spoken? what is it to me what he has said? This is what my master said: Lest I make the people fly off from that city like a wild dove from its tree, lest I make them fly around like a bird over its well-founded nest, lest I requite (?) them as if at a current market rate, lest I make it gather dust like an utterly destroyed city, lest like a settlement cursed by Enki and utterly destroyed, I too utterly destroy Aratta; lest like the devastation which swept destructively, and in whose wake Inana arose, shrieked and yelled aloud, I too wreak a sweeping devastation there -- let Aratta pack nuggets of gold in leather sacks, placing alongside it the kugmea ore; package up precious metals, and load the packs on the donkeys of the mountains; and then may the Junior Enlil of Sumer have them build for me, the lord whom Nudimmud has chosen in his sacred heart, a mountain of a shining me; have them make it luxuriant for me like a boxwood tree, have them make its shining horns colourful for me as when Utu comes forth from his chamber, have them make its doorposts gleam brightly for me. Chant to him for me the holy song, the incantation sung in its chambers -- the Incantation of Nudimmud.
180
lugal-ĝu10 u3-tud-da-ni-ta nam-en-na men-na tum2-ma
181
en unug{ki}-ga muš-saĝ-kal ki-en-gi-ra til3-la kur saĝ zid2-gin7 ma5-ma5
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taraḫ-maš kur-bad3-da a2-nun-ĝal2
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šilam-za maš naĝa kug-ga umbin sud2-sud2-e
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ab2 zid-da kur-šag4-ga tud-da
185
en-me-er-kar2 dumu {d}utu-ke4 mu-e-ši-in-gi4-nam
185A
[lugal]-zu dug4-ga-ni nam-ĝu10 taḫ-a-ni nam-ĝu10
185B
[lugal]-ĝu10 a-na bi2-in-dug4 [a-na] bi2-in-taḫ-am3
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lugal-ĝu10 na-ab-be2-a
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iri-ni ir7-saĝ{mušen}-gin7 ĝiš-bi-ta na-?-⌈ra-ab⌉-dag-e
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mušen-gin7 gud3 us2-sa-bi-a nam-bi2-ib2-ḫu-luḫ-e
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ganba ĝal2-la-gin7 na-an-sig9-ge-en
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iri gul-gul-la-gin7 saḫar na-an-bi2-[ib-ḫa-za]-en
191
aratta{ki} a2-dam {d}en-ki-ke4 nam ba-an-kud
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ki bi2-in-gul-la-gin7 ki nam-ga-bi2-ib-gul-en
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eĝer-bi {d}inana ba-ši-in-zig3
194
gu3 im-mi-in-ra šeg11 im-mi-in-gi4
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kuš7 bi2-in-su-a-gin7 kuš7 na-an-ga-bi2-ib-su-su-un
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kug-sig17 u3-tud-da-ba {kuš}lu-ub2/lu-ub2-šir a-ba-ni-in-ak

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.