← Library

Letter from Šarrum-bāni to Šu-Suen about keeping the Martu at bay

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 3 - Literary letters and letter-prayers · 43 sections

1. 1

   {d}šu-{d}suen lugal-ĝu10-ra u3-na-a-dug4

   Say to Šu-Suen, my lord: this is what Šarrum-bāni, the 'Sage of the Assembly', your servant, says:

2. 2

   šar-ru-um-ba-ni gal-zu unken-na arad-zu na-ab-be2-a

3. 3

   bad3 gal mu-ri-iq-tidnim-e dim2-me-de3 kiĝ2-gi4-a-aš bi2-gi4

   You sent me a message ordering me to work on the construction of the great fortification Murīq-Tidnim. You presented yourself before me A messenger presented himself before me , announcing: The Martu have invaded the land. You instructed me You have imposed on me as a task (?) to build the fortification, so as to cut off their route; also, that no breaches of the Tigris or the Euphrates should cover the fields with water.

4. 4

   igi-zu mu-e-ĝar-ma igi-ni ma-an-ĝar-ma

5. 5

   mar-tu ma-da-aš mu-un-šub-šub-bu-uš

6. 6

   bad3 du3-u3-de3 ĝiri3-bi ku5-ru-de3

7. 7

   {id2}idigna {id2}buranuna-bi-da

8. 8

   gu2-ĝiri3-bi a-šag4-e nam-ba-e-šu2-šu2 a2-še3 ?-še3 mu-e-da-aĝ2

9. 9

   zi-zi-da-ĝu10-ne

   When I was setting out, their …… from the bank of the Ab-gal watercourse to the province of Zimudar.

10. 10

    gu2 {id2}ab2-gal-ta en-na ma-da zi-mu-dar{ki}-ra-še3

11. 11

    […]-bi i3-zig3-NE

12. 12

    bad3-bi 26 danna-am3 dim2-e-da-ĝu10-ne

    When I was constructing this fortification to the length of 26 danna, and had reached the area between the two mountain ranges, I was informed of the Martu camping within the mountain ranges because (?) of my building work. Simurrum had come to their assistance. So I set off to the area between the mountain ranges of Ebiḫ in order to engage in military action.

13. 13

    dal-ba-na ḫur-saĝ 2(MIN)-a-bi-ka sa2 di-da-ĝu10-ne

14. 14

    dim2-me-ĝu10-še3 mar-tu ḫur-saĝ-ga-ka ib2-tuš-a ĝeštug2 mu-ši-in-ak

15. 15

    si-mu-ur4{ki} nam-tab-ba-ni-še3 im-ma-da-⌈ĝen⌉

16. 16

    dal-ba-na ḫur-saĝ ebiḫ{ki}-ke4 {ĝiš}tukul sag3-ge-de3 im-ma-ši-ĝen

17. 17

    u3 ĝe26-e erin2 {gi}dusu i3-il2-il2-eš-am3 ⌈? ?⌉-um-mi-du8

    But as far as I can say, I have not seen (?) troops carrying baskets. In order to engage in military action, I went (?) to their …….

18. 18

    {ĝiš}tukul sag3-ge-de3 X-ri-ni-še3 ba-ĝen-⌈?⌉

19. 19

    tukum-bi lugal-ĝa2 an-na-kam

    If my lord agrees, may he provide me with additional workmen and set the wages (?) for me. …… did not succeed …… tribute of the provinces (?).

20. 20

    lu2 kiĝ2 ak-ne ḫa-ma-ab-taḫ-e a2 ḫa-ma-ĝa2-ĝa2

21. 21

    gun3-a ma-da sa2 nu-ub-da-dug4-ga dug4-?-?-?

22. 22

    ma-da MURUB4{ki}-še3 lu2-kiĝ2-gi4-a mu-ni-gi4

    I sent a messenger to the province of Murub: the attitude (?) of the province has altered. I will not neglect to build the fortification -- in fact I am building and engaging in military action at the same time. After all, as 'Sage of the Assembly' I descend (?) from a great lineage! I have been advised that the attitude (?) of the province has not altered.

23. 23

    ma-da dim2-ma-bi ba-da-kur2

24. 24

    bad3 du3-u3-de3 nu-šub-be2-en i3-du3-en u3 {ĝiš}tukul i3-sag3-ge-en

25. 25

    gal-zu unken-na im-ri-a gu-la-am3 ḫe2-em-ma-da-ri

26. 26

    dim2-ma ma-da nu-ub-da-kur2-ra na de5 mu-un-e

27. 27

    ud lu2-kiĝ2-gi4-a-ĝu10 igi-zu-še3 mu-e-ši-gi4-a-ĝu10

    At the time I sent my messenger to you, I sent another messenger, after him, to Lu-Nanna Lu-Enki , the ruler of the province of Zimudar. He has sent you 7200 workers.

28. 28

    eĝer-ra-ni-ta {m}lu2-{d}nanna lu2-{d}en-ki ensi2 ma-da zi-mu-dar-ra{ki}-še3

29. 29

    lu2-kiĝ2-gi4-a mu-ni-gi4

30. 30

    7200 erin2 mu-e-ši-in-gi4

31. 31

    lu2 {gi}dusu ib2-si lu2 {ĝiš}tukul sag3-ge bi2-ib-tur

    Basket men are available; however, men fit to engage in military action are limited. If my lord should arrange the dismissal of the workers ready to work, let me pursue military action together with them, when I have removed (?) them.

32. 32

    tukum-bi lugal-ĝu10 erin2 kiĝ2 ak-de3 du8-u3-bi ab-be2

33. 33

    u3-šub {ĝiš}tukul ga-an-da-sag3

34. 34

    lu2 gal-gal ma-da-za lu2 in-ne-ši-in-gi4

    The dignitaries of your provinces are sending a man to them. They have presented themselves before me, announcing: As far as we are concerned, we are unable to guard all the cities. But how exactly will any troops be given to you? My messenger has been sent to them (?).

35. 35

    igi-ne-ne ma-an-ĝar-re-eš-ma

36. 36

    me-en-de3 iri-iri en-nu-uĝ3 nu-mu-da-ak-en-de3-en

37. 37

    a-na-gin7-nam ugnim a-ra-ab-šum2-mu

38. 38

    lu2-kiĝ2-gi4-a-ĝu10 mu-na-ni-in-gi4-eš

39. 39

    ud lugal-ĝu10 a2 mu-e-da-aĝ2-ta

    Once my lord has given me instructions, I will repeatedly return to (?) work at nightfall and at midnight, as well as engaging in military action. I stand at the disposal of the fame and word of my lord, and so I (?) will bring weapons to bear. No strength has yet been displayed (?), nor any firmness shown (?) by means of weapons. Let the storm cover (?) all the lands! May my lord know!

40. 40

    ud ten ĝi6-ba kiĝ2 im-mi-ib-gi4-gi4-in u3 {ĝiš}tukul i3-sag3-ge-en

41. 41

    mu inim lugal-ĝa2-ke4 i3-gub-be2-en {ĝiš}tukul ib2-laḫ4-laḫ4-e

42. 42

    usu nu-um-ĝar {ĝiš}tukul-ta nu-um-me-ge-en ud kur-kur ḫe2-en-?

43. 43

    lugal-ĝu10 ḫe2-en-zu

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.