Enmerkar and En-suḫgir-ana

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 1 - Narrative and mythological compositions · 295 sections

A.196
ud5 i3-zu si-muš3-zu-še3 ga-zu murgu-zu-še3
A.197
ud5 i3-bi si-muš3-bi-še3 ba-ab-BU ga-bi murgu-bi-še3 ba-ab-e3
A.198
ud-bi-a tur3 amaš-a e2 sig9-ga ba-ab-du7 niĝ2 ḫa-lam-ma ba-ab-ak
On that day the animal pen and the byre were turned into a house of silence; they were dealt a disaster. There was no milk in the udder of the cow, the day darkened for the calf, its young calf was hungry and wept bitterly. There was no milk in the udder of the goat; the day darkened for the kid. The buck-goat lay starving, its life ……. The cow spoke bitterly to its calf. The goat …… to its kid. The holy churn was empty, …… was hungry, …… lay starving.
A.199
ubur ab2-ka ga nu-un-ĝal2 amar-e ud bi2-⌈in⌉-šu2
A.200
amar tur-bi šag4-sug4-ga mu-un-ĝal2 er2 gig i3-še8-⌈še8⌉
A.201
ubur ud5-ka ga nu-un-[ĝal2 maš2-e ud bi2-in-šu2]
A.202
maš2-ud5-da-bi šag4-ka-tab-[ba ba-an-nu2] zi-bi mi-ni-[…]
A.203
ab2-e amar-bi-še3 inim gig [bi-ib2-be2]
A.204
ud5-de3 maš2-bi mu-na-ab-[…]
A.205
{dug}šakir3 kug-ga sig9-si-ig X […] šag4-sug4-ga mu-un-ĝal2 šag4-ka-[tab-ba ba-an-nu2]
A.206
ud-bi-a tur3 amaš-a e2 sig9-ga ba-ab-dug4 niĝ2 ḫa-lam-ma ba-ab-ak
On that day the animal pen and the byre were turned into a house of silence; they were dealt a disaster. The cow-herd dropped his staff from his hand: he was shocked. The shepherd hung the crook at his side and wept bitterly. The shepherd boy did not enter (?) the byre and animal pen, but took another way; the milk carrier did not sing loudly, but took another road. The cow-herd and shepherd of Nisaba, sons born of the same mother, were brought up in the animal pen and byre. The name of the first one was Maš-gula, the name of the second one was Ur-edina. At the great gate, facing sunrise, the place marvelled at by the land, both of them crouched in the debris and appealed to Utu for help: The sorcerer from Aratta entered the animal pen. He made the milk scarce, so the young calves could not get any. In the animal pen and the byre he caused distress; he made the butter and milk scarce …… diminished ……, …… he made the milk of the goat scarce . He threw its ……, …… was dealt a disaster.
A.207
unud(UNU3)-de3 ešgiri2 šu-na bi2-in-taka4 igi-ni i3-sag3-ge
A.208
sipad-de3 šibir zag-ga-na bi2-in-la2 er2 gig i3-še8-še8
A.209
kab-bar tur amaš tur3-še3 la-ba-X ĝiri3 kur2 ba-ra-an-dab5
A.210
ga-il2-bi ad gal-eš2 nu-mu-ed3 sila kur2 ba-ra-an-dab5
A.211
⌈unud(UNU3)⌉ sipad {d}nisaba-ke4-ne
A.212
dumu tud-da ama dili-me-eš
A.213
tur3 amaš-a a2 e3-a-me-eš
A.214
1-kam-ma maš2-gu-la mu-ni ḫe2-en-na-nam
A.215
2-kam-ma ur-edin-na mu-ni ḫe2-en-na-nam
A.216
2-na-ne-ne kan4 maḫ igi {d}utu e3-a ki u6 di kalam-ma
A.217
saḫar-tu11-saḫar-tu11-ba ba-an-dur2-ru-ne-eš {d}utu an-ta i-im-gi4-gi4-ne
A.218
maš-maš-e lu2 aratta{ki}-ka {e2}tur3-ra mu-un-kur9
A.219
{e2}tur3-ra gara2 ba-an-kal amar tur la-ba-an-ri-ri
A.220
tur3 amaš niĝ2-gig-bi bi2-ak i3 ga ba-e-ni-kal bi2-in-la2 […] X-ni im-ši-im-la2 […] ⌈ga⌉ ud5-da ba-an-kal
A.221
[…] X-bi i3-šub-šub niĝ2 ḫa-lam-ma ba-ab-ak
A.222
[…] KA-bi ba-an-na-te
…… approached. …… caused damage (?) ……. …… turned toward Ereš. …… the Euphrates …… the river of the gods. She made her way to the city whose destiny was decreed by An and Enlil ……. Wise Woman Saĝburu …… hand …… for him.
A.223
[…] ĝal2-la-am3 igi mu-un-na-niĝin2
A.224
[…] ereš2{ki} […]-X-an-gur
A.225
[gu2] ⌈{id2}⌉buranun-na id2 ? ? KA ĝal2-la id2 diĝir-re-e-ne
A.226
[iri{ki} nam] tar-ra an {d}en-lil2-la2 […] ĝiri3 bi2-in-gub
A.227
um-ma saĝ-bur-ru šu mu-un-na-⌈an⌉-[…]
A.228
2-na-ne-ne agargara id2-da i-ni-in-⌈šub⌉-[bu-uš]
Both of them threw fish spawn (?) into the river. The sorcerer made a giant carp come out arise from the water. Wise Woman Saĝburu, however, made an eagle come out arise from the water. The eagle seized the giant carp and fled to the mountains The eagle seized the giant carp out of the waves and went up to the sky .
A.229
maš-maš-e suḫur{ku6} gal a-⌈ta⌉ im-ta-an-[e3] im-ta-an-⌈ed3⌉
A.230
um-ma saĝ-bur-ru [ḫu-ri2]-in{mušen} a-ta im-ta-an-[e3] im-ta-an-⌈ed3⌉
A.231
ḫu-ri2-in{mušen}-e suḫur{ku6} gal in-kar ḫur-saĝ-še3 ba-[an-kur9] a-⌈ĝi6-a⌉ in-kar an-na ba-⌈e⌉-ed3
A.232
2-kam-ma-aš agargara id2-da i-ni-in-šub-bu-uš
A second time they threw fish spawn (?) into the river. The sorcerer made a ewe and its lamb come out arise from the water. Wise Woman Saĝburu, however, made a wolf come out arise from the water. The wolf seized the ewe and its lamb and dragged them to the wide desert.
A.233
maš-maš-e u8 sila4-bi a-ta im-ta-an-[e3] im-ta-an-ed3
A.234
um-ma saĝ-bur-ru ur-bar-ra a-ta im-ta-an-[e3] im-ta-an-ed3
A.235
ur-bar-ra u8 !-⌈bi⌉ in-kar edin daĝal-še3 ba-an-ur3
A.236
3-kam-ma-aš agargara id2-da i-ni-in-šub-bu-uš
A third time they threw fish spawn (?) into the river. The sorcerer made a cow and its calf come out arise from the water. Wise Woman Saĝburu, however, made a lion come out arise from the water. The lion seized the cow and its calf and took dragged them to the reedbeds.
A.237
maš-maš-e ab2 amar-bi-ta a-ta im-ta-an-e3 im-ta-an-ed3
A.238
um-ma saĝ-bur-ru ur-maḫ-e a-ta im-ta-an-e3 im-ta-an-ed3
A.239
ur-maḫ-e ab2 amar-bi in-kar ĝiš-gi-še3 ba-an-kur9 ba-an-ur3
A.240
4-kam-ma-aš agargara id2-da i-ni-in-šub-bu-uš
A fourth time they threw fish spawn (?) into the river. The sorcerer made an ibex and a wild sheep come out arise from the water. Wise Woman Saĝburu, however, made a mountain leopard come out arise from the water. The leopard seized the ibex and the wild sheep and took them to the mountains.
A.241
maš-maš-e šeg9 šeg9-bar-e a-ta im-ta-an-e3 im-ta-an-?
A.242
um-ma saĝ-bur-ru nemurx(PIRIĜ.TUR) ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 a-ta im-ta-an-e3 im-ta-an-⌈ed3⌉
A.243
nemurx(PIRIĜ.TUR)-e šeg9 šeg9-bar-e in-kar ḫur-saĝ-še3 ba-an-kur9
A.244
5-kam-ma-aš agargara id2-da i-ni-in-šub-bu-uš
A fifth time they threw fish spawn (?) into the river. The sorcerer made a gazelle kid come out from the water. Wise Woman Saĝburu, however, made a tiger and a …… lion come out from the water. The tiger and the …… lion seized the gazelle kid and took dragged them to the forest. What happened made the face of the sorcerer darken, made his mind confused.
A.245
maš-maš-e amar maš-da3 a-ta im-ta-an-e3
A.246
um-ma saĝ-bur-ru ur-šub5 ur-nim-e a-ta im-ta-an-e3
A.247
ur-šub5 ur-nim-ma amar maš-da3 in-kar {ĝiš}tir-tir-še3 ba-an-kur9 ba-an-ur3
A.248
maš-maš-e igi-ni ba-ku10-ku10 dim2-ma-ni ba-suḫ3
A.249
um-ma saĝ-bur-ru gu3 mu-na-de2-e
Wise Woman Saĝburu said to him: Sorcerer, you do have magical powers, but where is your sense? How on earth could you think of going to do sorcery at Ereš, which is the city of Nisaba, a city whose destiny was decreed by An and Enlil, the primeval city, the beloved city of Ninlil?
A.250
maš-maš nam-maš-maš-zu ḫe2-ĝal2 dim2-ma-zu me-a
A.251
a-na-gin7-nam ereš2{ki} iri {d}nisaba-še3
A.252
iri{ki} nam tar-ra an {d}en-lil2-la2
A.253
iri{ki} ul iri ki aĝ2 {d}nin-lil2-la2
A.254
nam-maš-maš ak-de3 a-gin7 im-da-ĝen-ne-en
A.255
⌈maš⌉-maš-e mu-un-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
The sorcerer answered her: I went there without knowing all about this. I acknowledge your superiority -- please do not be bitter. He pleaded, he prayed to her: Set me free, my sister; set me free. Let me go in peace to my city. Let me return safely to Aratta, the mount of the lustrous me. I will make known declare your greatness in all the lands. I will sing your praise in Aratta, the mount of the lustrous me.
A.256
nu-zu-a-ĝu10-ne i-im-ĝen-ne-en
A.257
nam-gur4-ra-zu i3-zu nam-ba-an-sis-e-de3-en
A.258
šu giri17-na i-ni-in-ĝal2 šudu3 mu-un-na-an-ša4-aš
A.259
šu ba-mu-u8 nin-ĝu10 šu ba-mu-u8
A.260
silim-ma-bi iri{ki}-ĝu10-še3 ga-ĝen
A.261
aratta{ki} kur me sikil-la-še3 zi-ĝu10 ga-ba-ši-de6
A.262
nam-maḫ-zu kur-kur-ra ga-bi2-ib-zu ga-ba-ab-dug4
A.263
aratta{ki} kur me sikil-la-ka ka tar-zu ga-si-il
A.264
um-ma saĝ-bur-ru mu-un-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
Wise Woman Saĝburu answered to him: You have caused distress in the animal pen and the byre; you have made the butter and milk scarce there. You have removed the lunch-table, the morning- and evening-table. You have cut off butter and milk from the evening meal of the great dining hall, ……… distress ……. Your sin that butter and milk …… cannot be forgiven. Nanna the king …… the byre …… milk; …… established that it was a capital offence and I am not pardoning your life. Wise Woman Saĝburu …… her decision about the sorcerer in the assembly (?). She threw her prisoner from the bank of the Euphrates. She seized from him his life-force and then returned to her city, Ereš.
A.265
tur3 amaš-a niĝ2-gig-ga bi2-ak i3 ga ba-e-ni-kal
A.266
{ĝiš}banšur an-bar7 {ĝiš}banšur kiĝ2-[nim kiĝ2]-sig mu-e-sud
A.267
kiĝ2-sig unu6 gal-la i3 ga ba-e-kud niĝ2-gig-bi X DU
A.268
nam-tag-zu i3 ga […] nu-mu-e-tum3
A.269
{d}nanna lugal X amaš-⌈?⌉ MU X GA ba-e-šum2-mu
A.270
šer7-da i3-ĝa2-ĝa2 zi ⌈nu-mu⌉-ra-ab-šum2-mu
A.271
um-ma saĝ-bur-ru maš-maš-e ?-ni inim-ma-ni mu-ni-in-sag3
A.272
šaĝa-a-ni gu2 {id2}buranun-na-[ka] i-ni-in-šub
A.273
zi nam-til3-la ba-da-an-kar iri{ki}-ni ereš2{ki}-še3 ba-e-gur
A.274
en-suḫ-gir11-an-na-ke4 inim-bi ĝiš ba-an-tuku-a-ta
Having heard this matter, En-suḫgir-ana sent a man to Enmerkar: You are the beloved lord of Inana, you alone are exalted. Inana has truly chosen you for her holy lap, you are her beloved. From the south to the highlands, you are the great lord, and I am only second to you; from the moment of conception I was not your equal, you are the older brother. I cannot match you ever.
A.275
en-me-er-kar2-ra lu2 mu-un-ši-in-gi4-gi4
A.276
za-e-me-en en ki aĝ2 {d}inana-me-en dili-zu-ne maḫ-me-en
A.277
{d}inana-ke4 ur2 kug-ga-ni-še3 zid-de3-eš mu-un-pad3-de3-en ki ⌈aĝ2-ĝa2⌉-ni-me-en
A.278
sig-ta igi-nim-še3 en gal-bi za-e-me-en ĝe26-e us2-sa-zu-me-en
A.279
a ru-a-ta gaba-ri-zu nu-me-en šeš-gal za-e-me-en
A.280
ĝe26-e nu-mu-da-sa2-e-en ud da-ri2-še3
A.281
en-me-er-kar2 en-suḫ-gir11-an-na a-da-min3 dug4-ga
In the contest between Enmerkar and En-suḫgir-ana, Enmerkar proved superior to En-suḫgir-ana. Nisaba, be praised!
A.282
en-me-er-kar2 en-suḫ-gir11-an-na dirig-ga-a-ba
A.283
{d}nisaba za3-mi2
B.B1
[…] BI SI
(3 lines unclear) The sorcerer ……. Ur-ĝiri-nuna ……. The sorcerer …… minister Ansiga-ria. (1 line unclear)
B.B2
[…]-ta
B.B3
[…]-an-dug4
B.B4
[maš-maš-e] ki en-na-še3 lu2 mu-un-ni-in-ku4-ku4
B.B5
ur-ĝiri3-nun-na ki en-na-še3 lu2 mu-ni-in-ku4-ku4
B.B6
[maš]-maš-e sukkal ĜA2 an-sig7-ga-ri-a na-mu-un-ne-dug4-ga
B.B7
[X]-bi-še3 nu-uš-[…]

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.