A hymn to Inana (Inana C)

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 4 - Hymns and cult songs · 236 sections

1
in-nin šag4 gur4-ra ereš u3-na giri17-zal {d}a-nun-na-[ke4-ne]
The great-hearted mistress, the impetuous lady, proud among the Anuna gods and pre-eminent in all lands, the great daughter of Suen, exalted among , the magnificent lady who gathers up the divine powers of heaven and earth and rivals great An, is mightiest among the great gods -- she makes their verdicts final. The Anuna gods crawl before her august word whose course she does not let An know; he dare not proceed against her command. She changes her own action, and no one knows how it will occur. She makes perfect the great divine powers, she holds a shepherd's crook, and she is their magnificent pre-eminent one. She is a huge shackle clamping down upon the gods of the Land. Her great awesomeness covers the great mountain and levels the roads.
2
zag dib kur-kur-ra dumu gal {d}suen-na maḫ-[di nun-gal-e-ne]
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ereš nam-maḫ me an ki ur4-ur4 an gal-da zag ša4
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diĝir gal-gal-e-ne a2-ĝal2-bi-im e-ne [gi] til-le-be2-ne
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inim maḫ-a-ni-še3 {d}a-nun-na-ke4-ne kušum4 ki mu-un-tag-ge-ne
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in-di3-bi an nu-zu-zu a2 aĝ2-ĝa2-ni-še3 nu-la2
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niĝ2 ak-ak-da-ni ab-ši-kur2-ru ĝar-bi niĝ2 nu-zu
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me gal-gal šu du7 šibir ba-e-dab5-be2 saĝ-kal maḫ-be2-ne
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diĝir kalam-ma-ke4 {ĝiš}rab3 gal-bi šu im-ri-[…]
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ni2 gal-a-ni ḫur-saĝ gal dul-lu kaskal mu-un-sig9-sig9-ge
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za-pa-aĝ2 dugud-da-ni-še3 diĝir kalam-ma-ke4 ni2 am3-ma-ur4-ru-ne
At her loud cries, the gods of the Land become scared. Her roaring makes the Anuna gods tremble like a solitary reed. At her rumbling, they hide all together. Without Inana great An makes no decisions, and Enlil determines no destinies. Who opposes the mistress who raises her head and is supreme over the mountains? Wherever she ……, cities become ruin mounds and haunted places, and shrines become waste land. When her wrath makes people tremble, the burning sensation and the distress she causes are like an ulu demon ensnaring a man.
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mur ša4-a-ni {d}a-nun-na gi dili-gin7 saĝ mu-da-ab-sag3-sag3-ge-ne
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dum-dam za-ni-še3 kilib3-ba-bi a2-ur2 mu-un-dab5-be2-e-ne
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{d}inana e-ne-da nu-me-a an gal ka-aš nu-um-bar {d}en-lil2 nam nu-un-tar
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in-nin saĝ il2 kur-ra ab-dirig a-ba saĝ mu-un-ĝa2-ĝa2
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ki ib2-[…]-ni-še3 iri{ki} du6-du6-da e2 lil2-la2-[še3] uzug e2-ri-a-še3 i3-ĝal2
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urgu2-ni u3-dub2 su tab2-e su-mu-ug-ga-[ni] u18-lu lu2-ra eš2 la2
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suḫ3 igi suḫ3-suḫ3-suḫ3 mu-un-sar-re uĝ3 lu2 nu-še-ga-ni-ir
She stirs confusion and chaos against those who are disobedient to her, speeding carnage and inciting the devastating flood, clothed in terrifying radiance. It is her game to speed conflict and battle, untiring, strapping on her sandals. Clothed (?) in a furious storm, a whirlwind, she …… the garment of ladyship. When she touches …… there is despair, a south wind which has covered ……. Inana sits on harnessed (?) lions, she cuts to pieces him who shows no respect. A leopard of the hills, entering (?) the roads, raging (?), ……, the mistress is a great bull trusting in its strength; no one dare turn against her. ……, the foremost among the Great Princes, a pitfall for the disobedient, a trap for the evil, a …… for the hostile, wherever she casts her venom …….
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ĝiš-ĝiš-la2 sul-sul mar-uru5 ḫub2 sar-sar-re su-lim ḫuš gu2 e3
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e-ne di-bi šen-šen me3 ḫub2 sar ak-de3 nu-kuš2-u3 ĝiri3-ni {kuš}e-sir2 si-ni
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⌈ud⌉ ḫuš da-da-eš UR {tum9}dalḫamun5 {tug2}pala3 i3-dar-dar-⌈re⌉
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⌈?⌉ tag-ga-ni ga-ba-ra-ḫum {tum9}u18-lu X saĝ keše2 NI X ?-sud
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{d}inana piriĝ gi-il-gi-il-la dur2-ru ni2 nu-zu TAR-TAR
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nemurx(PIRIĜ.TUR) ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 ḫar-ra-an ku4-ku4 guruš3 bur2 A X X X
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in-nin am gal ne3 nir-ĝal2-ni na-me gaba nu-[X]-⌈tu⌉-lu
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[X] saĝ-kal nun-gal-e-ne pu2 niĝ2-⌈ḫuš⌉ nu-še-ga
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{ĝiš}es2-ad lu2 erim2-ĝal2 X X lu2-kur2-ra
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ki uš11 šub-ba-ni ud-da-am3 u3 ?-ra-? ki-in-⌈du⌉ bi2-in-UD
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lipiš bal-a-ni niĝ2 LAGAR-e mar-uru5 šu nu-ru-gu2
Her wrath is ……, a devastating flood which no one can withstand. A great watercourse, ……, she abases those whom she despises. The mistress, an eagle that lets no one escape, ……, Inana, a falcon preying on the gods, Inana rips to pieces the spacious cattle-pens. The fields of the city which Inana has looked at in anger ……. The furrows of the field which the mistress …… grass. An opposes her, ……. Setting on fire, in the high plain the mistress ……. Inana ……. The mistress …… speeding …… fighting, …… conflict.
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šita3 maḫ niĝ2 kur2 SI lu2 DI [X] lu2 gu2 du3-a gam-gam
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in-nin ḫu-ri2-in{mušen} lu2 šu nu-bar-re PA BI kur X-dam
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{d}inana sur2-du3{mušen} diĝir-re-e-ne tur3 daĝal {d}inana TAR-TAR
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iri {d}inana saĝ-ki ba-gid2-i a-šag4-bi ⌈in⌉-[…]
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a-šag4 in-nin-e X NE […] ab-sin2-bi u2 […]
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an e-ne-ra saĝ mu-un-ĝa2-[ĝa2 …] niĝ2-na nu-mu-un-[…]
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izi ra an-edin-na in-nin UŠ X […]
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{d}inana X […]
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in-nin AN […] X ? erin2-ḫuš X sul-sul šen-šen X X X
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MURUB2-ta […] X X ? ? šir3 mu-un-ĝa2-ĝa2
…… she performs a song. This song …… its established plan, weeping, the food and milk of death. Whoever eats …… Inana's food and milk of death will not last. Gall will give a burning pain to those she gives it to eat, …… in their mouth ……. In her joyful heart she performs the song of death on the plain. She performs the song of her heart. She washes their weapons with blood and gore, ……. Axes smash heads, spears penetrate and maces are covered in blood. Their evil mouths …… the warriors ……. On their first offerings she pours blood, filling them with death.
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[šir3-bi] ĝiš-ḫur ĝar-bi-a ? A BI A NI er2 u2 ga nam-uš2-a
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{d}inana [IM X] u2 ga nam-uš2-a lu2 gu7-bi nu-til-le
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lu2 niĝ2 gu7-gu7-da-ni ze2 mu-un-tab2-tab2-be2 in ĜAR ka-bi-a mu-un-X X X
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šag4 ḫul2-la-ka-ni šir3 nam-uš2-a edin-na mu-un-ĝa2-ĝa2
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šir3 šag4-ga-ni ĝa2-ĝa2-da-ni
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{ĝiš}tukul-bi uš2 lugud mu-un-tu5-tu5 šag4 ? ? ? X-aš
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{urud}dur10-al-lub saĝ mu-un-da-sag3-ge-⌈ne⌉ {ĝiš}šukur gu7-gu7 {ĝiš}⌈tukul⌉ za-ḫa-da ? im-⌈me-re-dul9-dul9-lu⌉
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ka ḫul-bi NE-NE ur-saĝ X X [X X] X X X
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nesaĝ-bi-a uš2 in-ga-an-de2-de2 nam-uš2-a su3-⌈su3⌉
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edin daĝal sig-ga ud zalag ku10-ku10 an-bar7 mul-sig7-še3 mu-un-du3-X
On the wide and silent plain, darkening the bright daylight, she turns midday into darkness. People look upon each other in anger, they look for combat. Their shouting disturbs the plain, it weighs on the pasture and the waste land. Her howling is like Iškur's and makes the flesh of all the lands tremble. No one can oppose her murderous battle -- who rivals her? No one can look at her fierce fighting, the speeding carnage. Engulfing (?) water, raging, sweeping over the earth, she leaves nothing behind. The mistress, a breaking plough opening hard ground, ……. The braggarts do not lift their necks, ……. Her great heart performs her bidding, the mistress who alone fashions (?) ……. Exalted in the assembly, she occupies the seat of honour, …… to the right and left.
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lu2-u3 lu2-ra igi mu-un-suḫ-re inbir igi bi2-in-du8-ru
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gu3 ri-a-ta edin-ta lu3-lu3 šag4-tum2 šag4-sig-ga ĝa2-ĝa2
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šeg11 gi4-a-ni {d}iškur-gin7 su kur-kur dub2-dub2-bu
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me3 er9 ra-a-ni šu nu-ru-gu2-da a-ba-a mu-na-ab-sig10-ge
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šen-šen er9-a-ni igi nu-bar-re ĝiš-ĝiš-la2 ⌈sul-sul⌉
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a ur4-ra sumur DU ki-a ur4-ur4 niĝ2-nam nu-da13-da13
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in-nin9 {ĝiš}tug2-saga11 KI.KAL ĝal2 da13-da13 bar-re ⌈KA⌉ X TAR
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lu2 ka tar-ra-bi gu2-bi nu-zi-zi ? X X
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šag4 gur4-ra-ni dim2-dim2-ma-ni ab-ak in-nin 1(AŠ)-a-ni [X] ⌈?⌉
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maḫ-di unken-⌈na⌉ zag gal ba-e-dur2-ru zid-da gab2-bu BAD
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ḫur-saĝ gal an-ba-gin7 pe-el-la2 šu X X mu-la2
Humbling huge mountains as if they were piles of litter, she immobilises ……. She brings about the destruction of the mountain lands from east to west. Inana …… wall …… gulgul stones, she obtains victory. She …… the kalaga stone …… as if it were an earthenware bowl, she makes it like sheep's fat. The proud mistress holds a dagger in her hand, a radiance which covers the Land; her suspended net catches fish in the deep, not even leaving the ahan in the subterranean waters. As if she were a clever fowler no bird escapes the mesh of her suspended net. The place ……, …… the divine plans of heaven and earth. The intention of her word does not …… to An. The context of her confusing advice in the great gods' assembly is not known. (2 lines fragmentary)
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bir kur-ra ud e3-ta ud ⌈šu2⌉-uš […] X X tum2-tum2-mu
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{d}inana bad3 {na4}gul-⌈gul⌉ […] X u3-ma sa2 di
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{na4}kalag-ga utul2-gin7 ⌈?⌉ [X] X RA i3-udu-gin7 mu-ni-in-du3-e
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in-nin giri17-zal ĝiri2-ur3-ra šu ĝal2-le su-lim kalam-ma dul-lu
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sa la2-a-ni engur-ra ku6 ab-dab5-dab5-be2 a-sur-ra-kam a-ḫa-an nu-da13-da13
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mušen-du3 kug-zu-gin7 igi-te-en sa la2-a-ni mušen nu-e3
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ki ḪAR-ra-ni sukud nu-X [X] X inim si nu-sa2
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IR IM RI-RI TUG2 ĝiš-ḫur an ki
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sig10-ge5 ⌈ak⌉ inim-ma-ni an nu-mu-na-ḪAR
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ĝalga ⌈suḫ3 pu⌉-uḫ3-ru-um diĝir gal-gal-e-ne ĝar-bi niĝ2 nu-zu
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šu dili ? an-na ⌈šu⌉ […]-a ḫa-za
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MUŠ3 AN ⌈?⌉ X NAM X SUM [X X] X LA AN nu-X [X]
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in-nin nemurx(PIRIĜ.TUR) {d}a-nun-<na>-ke4-ne gaba til nir šum2-ma
The mistress, a leopard among the Anuna gods, full of pride, has been given authority. Not having …… struggle ……, Inana ……. She …… the adolescent girl in her chamber, receiving her, …… heart …… charms. She evilly …… the woman she rejects. In the entire (?) country she ……. She lets her run around in the town square ……. …… of a house the wife sees her child.
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BIL2 TAB inbir X-ĝa2 nu-tuku {d}inana mu-ĝa2-ĝa2 lu2 mu-X
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ki-sikil tur ama5-na ḪA X [X] X X šu teĝ3-ĝe26 šag4 la-la [X X]
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munus zag tag-ga-ni ḫul-bi bi2-in-⌈?⌉ […]
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NIĜIN kalam-ma-ka TUM gal mu-na-?-⌈uš⌉ […]
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tilla2-a šu al-dag-dag-ge X […]
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zi-in-BU e2-a dam dumu-ni igi bi2-in-⌈du8⌉
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šer7-da gu-la-ni su-ni-ta u3-mu-e-ni-in-ĝar
When she had removed the great punishment from her body, she invoked blessings upon it; she caused it to be named the pilipili. She broke the spear and as if she were a man …… gave her a weapon. When she had …… punishment, it is not ……. She …… the door of the house of wisdom, she makes known its interior. Those who do not respect her suspended net do not escape …… when she suspends the meshes of her net. The man she has called by name she does not hold in esteem. Having approached the woman, she breaks the weapon and gives her a spear. The male ĝišgisaĝkeš, the nisub and the female ĝišgi ritual officiants, after having …… punishment, moaning ……. The ecstatic, the transformed pilipili, the kurĝara and the saĝursaĝ ……. Lament and song ……. They exhaust themselves with weeping and grief, they …… laments.
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ugu-ba giri17 šu ĝal2-la mu-ni-in-ak pi-li-pi-li mu-ni-in-sa4
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{ĝiš}šukur i-ni-kud nitaḫ-gin7 šag4-ga-ni {ĝiš}tukul an-na-ab-šum2-mu
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KAL šul-a-lum u3-mu-ni-in-ak teš2-bi NI TE A me-? la-ba-ĝal2-la
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e2 nam-kug-zu {ĝiš}ig-bi TAR mi-ni-in-ak šag4-bi mu-un-zu-zu
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sa la2-ni-ir ni2 nu-zu-ni-ir igi-te-en sa la2-a-ni [X X] X-ba nu-e3
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lu2 mu pad3-da-ni nu-mu-na-kal-la munus-ra u3-mu-na-te {ĝiš}tukul i-ni-in-kud {ĝiš}šukur an-na-ab-šum2-mu
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lu2-ĝiš-gi-saĝ-keše2 ni2-su-ub munus-ĝiš-gi šul-a-lum u3-mu-ni-in-ak še ša4 UD […]
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lu2-al-ed2-de3 pi-li-pi-li bal kur-ĝar-ra ⌈saĝ⌉-ur-saĝ-e-ne […]
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i-lu šir3-ra-am3 ? A ? bar NE […]
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er2 er2-ra bi2-ib2-kuš2-u3-ne a-nir mu-X […]
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er2 ud-da šag4-zu nu-X X X X AN-da nu-DI
Weeping daily your heart does not ……. 'Alas' …… heart …… knows no relaxation. Beloved lady of holy An, your …… in weeping ……. In heaven ……. On your breast ……. You alone are majestic, you have renown, heaven and earth …… not ……. You rival An and Enlil, you occupy their seat of honour. You are pre-eminent in the cult places, you are magnificent in your course.
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muš3-am3 ? šag4 NE bur2 X ⌈ni2⌉ dub2-bu nu-zu
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nin ki aĝ2 an kug-ga ḪAR-zu igi mu-e-ni-X [(X)] X-za er2-ra X E
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an-na me DI X […]
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gaba-za ki mu-[…]-za nu-mu-e-da-sa2
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dili-zu-ne maḫ X mu e-!-tuku an ki niĝ2-za nu-sig9-ge
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an-da {d}en-lil2-da mu-e-!-sa2 zag gal-bi mu-e-dur2-ru-?
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ki-šu ki-šu-peš dirig-ga-me-en in-di-za maḫ-me-⌈en⌉
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{d}ezina2 AN X barag maḫ il2 X […]
Ezina …… august dais ……. Iškur who roars from the sky ……. His thick clouds ……. When …… the great divine powers of heaven and earth, Inana, your victory is terrifying ……. The Anuna gods bow down in prostration, they abase themselves. You ride on seven great beasts as you come forth from heaven. Great An feared your precinct and was frightened of your dwelling-place. He let you take a seat in the dwelling-place of great An and then feared you no more, saying: I will hand over to you the august royal rites and the great divine rites.
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{d}iškur-re lu2 an-ta gu3 X […]

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.