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Nanše and the birds (Nanše C)

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 4 - Hymns and cult songs · 132 sections

1. A.1

   u5{mušen} ĝiš-gi kug-ta nam-⌈ta⌉-[e3]

   The pelican (?) came forth from the holy reedbeds. It came forth from the holy reedbeds. The wise pelican (?) spent the day high in the skies. The pelican (?) cried out in the sky: its singing was sweet and its voice was pleasing. My lady …… her pelican (?) with beauty. The mistress, Mother Nanše, …… her pelican (?) with beauty.

2. A.2

   ĝiš-gi kug-ga-ta nam-⌈ta⌉-[e3]

3. A.3

   u5{mušen} kug-zu ud an-šag4-ge mu-un-?

4. A.4

   u5{mušen}-e an-na KA×X mu-ni-ib2-⌈gi4⌉

5. A.5

   KA×X-KA×X-bi dug3-ga-am3 gu3-bi ab-⌈?⌉-[…]

6. A.6

   nin-ĝu10 u5{mušen}-a-ni ḫi-li [na-an-…]

7. A.7

   in-nin9 ama {d}nanše u5{mušen}-a-ni ḫi-li na-an-[X X]

8. A.8

   in-nin9-me-en u5{mušen}-ĝu10 a-gin7 X […] ĝe26-e a-gin7 ? […]

   I am the mistress! How can my pelican (?) ……? How can I ……? I am Nanše! How can my pelican (?) …… holy? How can ……?

9. A.9

   {d}nanše-me-en u5{mušen}-ĝu10 a-gin7 ? kug-e a-gin7 ? […]

10. A.10

    ni2-te-a-ni u5{mušen} gal-gin7 a-a nam-mi-[X X]

    She herself …… upon the water like a large pelican (?). Stepping onto earth from heaven, she …… in the water like a holy cow. A holy pelican (?), a white cow, she drank by the water's side. With the towering flood ……. Nanše, shining …… of the Anuna, the great gods! Mistress, Mother Nanše, good woman, ……! Nanše, sister praised by the Anuna! Mother, beautiful matriarch of Enlil! Nanše My lady , delighting in her pelican (?), erected a lapis lazuli shrine, and set the holy pelican (?) by her feet.

11. A.11

    e-ne an-ta ki-a gub-ba-[am3]

12. A.12

    šilam kug-gin7 a-a mu-un-[…]

13. A.13

    u5{mušen} kug šilam babbar a bar-ra a bi2-⌈in⌉-[naĝ]

14. A.14

    a-ĝi6 uru16-da zag am3-da-X […]

15. A.15

    {d}nanše su3-ra2-aĝ2-ĝe26-e A […]

16. A.16

    {d}a-nun-na diĝir gal-[gal-e-ne-ke4]

17. A.17

    in-nin9 ama {d}nanše munus ⌈zid⌉ […]

18. A.18

    {d}nanše nin9 za3-mi2 [dug4-ga] {d}a-nun-na-[ke4-ne]

19. A.19

    ama um-ma sag9-ga {d}en-lil2-la2

20. A.20

    {d}nanše nin-ĝu10 u5{mušen}-a-ni ḫul2-la-e

21. A.21

    eš3 za-gin3-na ba-an-ĝar

22. A.22

    u5{mušen} kug-ga ĝiri3-ni ba-an-dur2-ru

23. A.23

    in-nin9-me-en mušen-ĝu10 zar ab-du8-še3 gu2 ḫa-ma-ab-si-si

    I am the mistress, so let my birds assemble for me where the sheaves are gathered! I am Nanše, so let my birds assemble for me where the sheaves are gathered! Let the birds of heaven and earth stand at my service! Let every bird without a name bring offerings! Let every bird not caught in nets ……!

24. A.24

    {d}nanše-me-en mušen-ĝu10 zar ab-du8-še3 gu2 ḫa-ma-ab-si-si

25. A.25

    mušen an [ki]-a ḫe2-em-gub

26. A.26

    mušen mu nu-zu ⌈?⌉ ḫe2-em-tum2

27. A.27

    mušen sa nu-zu X ḫe2-em-DU

28. A.28

    mušen ?-din gu3 ⌈?⌉-e ⌈?⌉ keše2-ra2-[…]

    The voiceless bat ……, a bird that darts by in the heavens. The Anzud bird decides the fates with (?) the Anuna gods.

29. A.29

    mušen-e an-na dub3 mu-un-bad-bad-⌈?⌉

30. A.30

    anzud{mušen}-de3 {d}a-nun-na-ke4-ne-⌈?⌉ nam mu-un-di-ni-ib2-tar-re

31. A.31

    zu2-sis{mušen}-e a ĝeštug-⌈ga⌉ X X im-ta-ra-e3

    The sharp-toothed bird in (?) the water sends forth …… wisdom: My mistress, ……. I am the bird, the sharp-toothed bird! All by myself ……. My Nanše, ……! I am the bird, the sharp-toothed bird! All by myself ……. (3 lines fragmentary) The lammergeier ……. …… the lammergeier ……. It kills wild bulls in the foothills, and it kills the stags in the high mountains.

32. A.32

    in-nin-ĝu10 ur2 […] X

33. A.33

    mušen zu2-sis{mušen}-me-en ni2-ĝa2 X […] DU

34. A.34

    {d}nanše-ĝu10 ⌈ur2⌉ […]

35. A.35

    mušen zu2-sis{mušen}-me-en [ni2]-ĝa2 […]

36. A.36

    […] an-ta ? […] MU […]

37. A.37

    ⌈?⌉ X ⌈?⌉ [X] X […]

38. A.38

    na-[…]

39. A.39

    ḫu-ri2-⌈in⌉[{mušen} …]

40. A.40

    […] ḫu-ri2-[in{mušen}]

41. A.41

    ⌈am-e⌉ kur-ur2-ra ĝiš ba-ni-ib-ra-[am3]

42. A.42

    taraḫ-e kur-bad3-da ĝiš ba-ni-ib-ra-[am3]

43. A.43

    a12-ra2-bu{mušen} a12-ra2-bu{mušen} nunuz-zu dadag-ga-am3

    Raven, raven, your eggs are shining bright! Raven bird, your eggs are shining bright! Where do people carry off your holy eggs, your …… eggs to?

44. A.44

    mušen a12-ra2-bu{mušen} nunuz-zu dadag-ga-am3

45. A.45

    nunuz-zu kug-ga-am3 nunuz-zu [X (X)]-ra-am3 lu2 me-a ba-an-tum3

46. A.46

    ga-nu11{mušen} ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 nunuz nam-ma-ab-X X

    The ostrich …… her eggs on the hillside. She receives those eggs as something to carry: the bird knows how to keep watch at night.

47. A.47

    nunuz-bi niĝ2 il2-la šu nam-ma-an-ti

48. A.48

    mušen-e ĝi6-a en-nu-uĝ3 im-mi-in-zu

49. A.49

    {d}ḫa-ia3{mušen} en-nu-uĝ3-ĝa2 ud mi-ni-ib2-zal-zal-e

    The peacock spends the day keeping watch. The holy bird, the peacock, spends the day calling 'ḫaya'. A bird red from cornelian, blue from lapis lazuli, white (?) from chalcedony (?), with all kinds of gold, and leather inlaid with gold -- may the coppersmith fashion the peacock for you thus.

50. A.50

    mušen kug {d}ḫa-ia3{mušen} {d}ḫa-ia3{mušen} ud mi-ni-ib2-zal-zal-e

51. A.51

    mušen {na4}gug-ta gug {na4}za-gin3-ta za-gin3

52. A.52

    {na4}nir2-ta nir2 kug-sig17 na-me-a kuš kug-sig17 ĝar-ra

53. A.53

    {d}ḫa-ia3{mušen} tibira-e ⌈?⌉-mu-ri-ib-sig10-ge

54. A.54

    ⌈mušen⌉-e an-na te8{mušen} uš-bar te8{mušen} uš-bar

    O bird in the sky! O vulture, weaver, vulture, weaver! O uz vulture in the sky! O vulture, weaver, vulture, weaver! Its wings together, its feet together, (1 line fragmentary) Its call …… to the ear (?) ……. …… its call ……. (4 lines fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing)

55. A.55

    ⌈te8⌉-uz{mušen}-e an-na te8{mušen} uš-bar te8{mušen} uš-bar

56. A.56

    [a2]-bi teš2-am3 ĝiri3-bi teš2-am3

57. A.57

    X X-ĝa2 šu gal [X X]

58. A.58

    akkil-bi ĝeštug-? KA […]

59. A.59

    gambix([MUNUS.US2.SA2].KID){mušen} !-bi pa X […]

60. A.60

    […] luḫ šu gu2-?{mušen} A X […]

61. A.61

    […] dumu nun-na ḪAR […]

62. A.62

    […] ⌈id2⌉-da ĝiš-gi […]

63. A.63

    […] A ḪA […]

64. gap

    (unknown no. of lines missing)

65. gap

    (2 lines fragmentary)

66. B.3

    […] na4 ? X X […] ⌈šu⌉ im-ta-du7-du7

    (3 lines fragmentary) The misaz bird …… cries out ……. (1 line fragmentary) The snake-eater bird is green ……. Its wings …… a barge ……. The …… bird ……. The gubi bird ……. (5 lines fragmentary) (unknown no. of lines missing)

67. B.4

    ⌈mi⌉-[sa]-az{mušen} KA […] X-am3 mur ša4

68. B.5

    ? BAD gig X X X A

69. B.6

    muš-gu7{mušen} sig7-ga-am3 X im-X-an-sig9-⌈?⌉

70. B.7

    a2-bi ma2-gur8 […]

71. B.8

    ?{mušen}-e KU en zid KA ⌈?⌉ X ⌈ib2⌉-ĝal2

72. B.9

    [gu2]-bi2{mušen} [ku]-pu-u2 KIĜ2 X tal2-tal2-le

73. B.10

    [X] te8? […] X-na ?-ši-ku4-ku4

74. B.11

    […] mušen LU KA im-X

75. B.12

    […] X-na X-?-iš mu-na-ĝa2-ĝa2

76. B.13

    […] na-ĝa2-⌈ĝa2⌉ […]

77. B.14

    […] X […]

78. gap

    (unknown no. of lines missing)

79. C.1

    […] gi4-X{mušen} […]

    (1 line fragmentary) …… of Ninḫursaĝa (?) he brings as his property to the mountains. Since it was searching for its property, the bird is called niĝgurmudum ('He brings his property'). The niĝgurmudum bird calls out and laments in the desert of Keš.

80. C.2

    [X] [{d}]⌈nin⌉-ḫur-saĝ-ka niĝ2-gur11-ra-ni-še3 kur-re ba-ab-⌈de6⌉

81. C.3

    [niĝ2]-gur11-ra-ni-še3 ki kiĝ2-kiĝ2-da-ni-še3

82. C.4

    mušen-e niĝ2-gur11-mu-du-um{mušen} mu-še3 ba-an-sa4-[(…)]

83. C.5

    niĝ2-gur11-mu-du-um{mušen} gu3 im-[de2]

84. C.6

    edin keš3{ki}-a-ka i-si-iš mu-un-ĝa2-ĝa2-ĝa2

85. C.7

    mušen KA bal-bal e2-gal-la lug-⌈lug⌉-[ga]

    The twittering birds flocking in the palace ……. The salsal bird cries in lament over itself. The egret (?), seemly in a …… linen garment, is present at the quayside. The heron (?) is brown, and clad in …… in the reedbeds. The …… bird catches azagur fish. The giri-ilu bird, dread of the people, …… its 'giri-ilu'. The stork …… picks up (?) …… like grass. The sa bird names …… its young ……. The dubdubu bird ……. The šegšeg bird sheds tears like a crying baby. The gubiguzaga bird …… like an angry man. (unknown no. of lines missing)

86. C.8

    MUNUS-MUNUS{mušen}-e ni2-bi-še3 er2 im-ši-še8-še8

87. C.9

    kiši6-bar{mušen} gada ḫa-ad-e du7-a kar-ra ĝal2-la-am3

88. C.10

    kiši6-bar{mušen}-gu-ru-ug{mušen} su4-a tug2-gun4-na ĝiš-gi-a la2-a

89. C.11

    UD-ša4{mušen}-e a-zag-gur11{ku6} [mi]-ni-ib-dab5-dab5-be2

90. C.12

    giri16-i-lu{mušen} ni2 uĝ3-ĝa2 giri16-i-lu-bi X X

91. C.13

    li-li-bi-sig{mušen}-e bar ⌈?⌉ […] u2-gin7 im-de5-⌈de5⌉

92. C.14

    sa4{mušen} gud3 amar-bi […] bar-ba nam-mi-ib2-⌈?⌉

93. C.15

    dub2-dub2-bu{mušen}-e IŠ ⌈IM⌉ […] ni2-bi nam-ma-ab-[…]

94. C.16

    šeg5-šeg5{mušen}-e lu2-tur er2 ⌈pad3⌉-[da-gin7] šex(SIG7)!(IG) na-ĝa2-ĝa2 […]

95. C.17

    gu2-bi-gu2-zag-ga{mušen} […] lu2 šag4 dab5-ba-[gin7]

96. gap

    (unknown no. of lines missing)

97. D.1

    […] X […]

    (2 lines fragmentary) …… green ……. …… birds, like ants in crevices ……. …… Bau takes a bath ……. The tigilu bird …… the split roots ……. The dove …… gently in the broad fields. The pigeon …… bitterly in the vacant lot of the king. The ubi bird and the udar bird …… ants ……. The bird ……. …… in the gutter like beasts. (1 line unclear) …… humbly like an orphaned child ……. The ḫamun bird …… in harmony …… is dressed in linen. …… wine, like wine …… (unknown no. of lines missing)

98. D.2

    […] X X […]

99. D.3

    […] ⌈sig7⌉-ga ba-tur […]

100. D.4

     […]{mušen}-e ⌈?⌉-si2-gum kiši6 ki-in-dar-⌈ra⌉-[gin7 …]

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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.