An elegy on the death of Nannaya

Sumerian literature (ETCSL) · 5 - Other literature · 112 sections

1
⌈ab⌉-ba ki re-a-še3 dumu-ni-ir kiĝ2 bi2-in-gi4
A father sent a message to his son, to a far-off place; at that time the son, having gone to a distant place, was far away.
2
dumu ki ba9-ra2 ĝen-na re ud-ba ba-ra-an-bad
3
ab-ba uru2{ki}-a tuš-a-ra tur5-ra gaba ba-ri
The city-dwelling father was stricken with illness. He, precious brilliance found in a distant mountain (?), was stricken with illness. He, attractive in ……, a man who made words pleasing, was stricken with illness. He who had a tall figure, and altogether was powerful, was stricken with illness. He, wise in divine plans and an ornament of the assembly, was stricken with illness. He who was a man of truth, god-fearing, was stricken with illness.
4
sud-aĝ2 kal-la kur sud-da pad3-da tur5-ra gaba ba-ri
5
KA DIM3 sag9-sag9 lu2 inim zil2-zil2-le tur5-ra gaba ba-ri
6
alan sud tuku saĝ-du tuku teš2-bi tur5-ra gaba ba-ri
7
gal-zu ĝiš-ḫur-ra me-te unken-na tur5-ra gaba ba-ri
8
lu2 gen6-na ni2 teĝ3-ĝe26 diĝir-bi tur5-ra gaba ba-ri
9
tur5-ra u2 nu-gu7 gaba ba-ri tur5-ra ba-an-dab5
He, not eating, was stricken with illness and was languishing away (?). Having closed his mouth, he ate no food and lay famished. According to a tablet ……. The warrior, a wanderer (?), did not move a foot. From (?) his sick …… he was consumed with wailing for his children. Heart anguished, overcome by wailing, the scholar died a violent death in Nibru.
10
ka u3-ba-e-šu2 ninda nu-mu-un-šu2-šu2 šag4-sug4-ga ba-an-nu2
11
dub-gin7 bar-gin7 ni2-ĝal2-la RI ib2-gurud-da mu-un-la2
12
ur-saĝ gaba ur4-ur4 ĝiri3 nu-mu-⌈un⌉-[da]-bad-de3
13
KA tur5-ra-a-ni-ta nam-dumu-ni i-si-⌈iš⌉ [(X)] i3-gu7
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šag4 sag3-sag3-ge i-si-iš SI A X
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dub zu nibru{ki}-a ki-lul-la ba-an-ug5
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inim-bi kaskal su3-ra2-še3 dumu-ni-ir ba-[an]-na-te
This matter reached his son on the distant journey. Like a son who does not depend closely on his father, he had not returned the message which had been sent (?) to him. Now the son shed tears, threw himself to the dust and performed a musical song for him.
17
dumu ad-da-a-ni-ta nu-ub-da-la2-a-gin7
18
kiĝ2!(tug2) in-ši-gi4-in4-nam nu-ub-da-?-?-am3
19
dumu er2 in-pad3 saḫar-ta ma-ra-da-šub šir3 nam-nar mu-un-na-ab-e
20
{m}lu2-diĝir-ra šag4 NE-NE-a-ni-ta i-lu ab-sar-re
Lu-diĝira out of his inflamed heart wrote a lament: O father who has died a violent death, O Nannaya my Nannaya , who through the evil planned against him has been carried off to the nether world, your wife's husband is a thing of the past, forever she will be a widow -- wheels (?) about you like a whirlwind, ……. She used to treat you as a foster-child -- now her reason is gone. Stupor has fallen upon her as if she were about to give birth. She turns the ……, moans (?) like a cow. She …… a lament, and sheds tears. She has covered up its …… and has taken (?) what is just (?). (1 line fragmentary) The one who gathers (?) ……. …… touches you, the heart …….
21
ab-ba ki-lul-la ba-an-ug5-ga-ta
22
{m}{d}nanna-a {m}{d}nanna-a-ĝu10 šag4 ḫul dim2-ma-ni-ta kur-še3 ba-ab-DU-a
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dam-zu niĝ2 ud-bi-ta nitalam-a-ni na-nam me-da nu-mu-un-su-a
24
{tum9}dal-ḫa-mun-gin7 ud DI ma-ra-ab-kaš4-kaš4-e u18-lu ma-ab-sag3-ge
25
a2-e3-gin7 za-e ma-ra-ab-ak-e dim2-ma-ni in-kur2
26
al-lib mu-na-ĝar i-gi4-in-zu i-im-ši-tud-tud-de3
27
[X X] im-ma-[ab]-⌈gur⌉-re ab2-gin7 gu3 [X X]
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[X X] a-nir ?-? er2 im-ma-še8-še8
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[X X]-bi mu-un-šu2 u3 niĝ2-zid ba-an-dab5
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[…]-a NI […]
31
[…]-a-ur4-ur4 mu-?-[ab]-ZA
32
[…] šu mu-ra-ab-tag-ge šag4 [X] BA [X X] ?
33
[…] zi-zi ud zal-še3 ? X ?
The one who (?) rises (?) …… at dawn (?) from among the …… who dwell in ……, the lukur priestess of Ninurta from the ……, has thrown ……. Like a mourning (?) god (?), she ……. Her shouts (?) …… evil. In the midst of the cloister (?) she (?) ……. (1 line fragmentary) …… has made (?) the widespread people …… grain and …….
34
[…] ⌈ki⌉ dur2-ru-na-ta lukur {d}?-?-ke4 X TA […] ma-ra-?-šub
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? sig7-ga-gin7 [X X] KA mi-ni-in-[X X]-a
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an-gul-a-ni ḫul […]
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šag4 PI-ra-ke4 ga-gi4-i ḪUB2 ? […]
38
X IGI ? [X X] U8 […]
39
⌈uĝ3⌉ daĝal-la še mu-e-ši-ib-[X] A […]
40
suḫ3-suḫ3 šen-šen-na nin-diĝir {d}? […] TE
The confusion of battles …… the nin-diĝir priestess of Nuska. She tears apart (?) …… for you, …… for you her (?) ……. (5 lines fragmentary)
41
[X X]-ra-an-sil2-sil2-e ?-ni ma-ra-an-SU-e
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[X X] GI ma-[…]-nam
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[X X] KI […]-nam
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[X X] ur2-zu-ta […]-de3
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[X X] A GA […]-ra
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[…]-de2-e
47
dumu tur-zu dumu lugal-la-gin7 [mu]-?-?-[a]
Your sons who were treated (?) like king's sons, what do they (?) eat ……, what do they (?) drink ……? They (?) …… honey and ghee. They load the table with (?) oil for you. The tears which they shed for him are tears of compassion. Their mourning (?) for him is that of loving and pure-hearted ones. They are bent over like over-ripe grain. The fledglings return ……, raise …….
48
a-na-am3 i3-gu7 […]
49
a-na-am3 i3-⌈naĝ⌉ […]
50
lal3 i3-nun [X X] ? [X] ?-?-[X]
51
{ĝiš}banšur i3-zu-? ⌈mu⌉-un-[da]-ĝa2-[ĝa2]
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er2 im-ĝa2-ĝa2-a-ni er2 arḫuš [X X]-⌈am3⌉
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i-im-sig7-sig7-ga-a-ni ki aĝ2 šag4 kug-ga-kam
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še ur4-ur4 KUL-gin7 saĝ ba-⌈da⌉-[…]-⌈eš⌉
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amar mušen-? ? [X] SA LA ?-en-gi4-gi4 [X] al-il2-il2
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e2-gi4-a dumu tur-zu me-na me-na-am3 bi2-in-dug4-ga-a
Over the brides of your sons who have said Where, where is he now? your …… has fallen. In their …… has been silenced (?) for you. On the laps of the household …… for you. Your …… sweet sounds …… sleep …… has been …… like ……. The …… lament for you …… does not (?) cease.
57
ugu-ne-ne-a [X] ?-zu bi2-in-?
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[X]-ne-ne-a [X X]-ra ma-ra-an-si-ig
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ur2 e2-ke4 [X] ? ? [X X] ma-ra-[…]
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[X X]-zu [X] ad dug3-dug3-ga-[X] u3-sa2-a [X X]-a
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[…]-gin7 im-ma-ab-[X X]
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i-lu […]-? […] ?-gul-[e]
63
ad-da-ĝu10 šag4-zu [ḫe2-ḫuĝ-ĝe26]
O my father, may your heart be at rest. O Nannaya, may your spirit be pleased. The en and ensi ……. Those who have escaped the hand of death ……. The hand of death has been …… in their ……. Death is the favour of the gods, the place where fate is decreed ……. May your offspring …… your knee.
64
{m}{d}nanna-a ur5-zu [ḫe2-sag9]
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en ensi2 [X] ?-ra-bi ?-ab-[…]
66
šu nam-uš2-ta kar-ra [X] UL […]
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šu nam-uš2 ? X X-ba bi2-ib-si lu2 […]
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nam-uš2 niĝ2 dug3 diĝir-ra-kam ki nam tar-ra […]
69
šag4-bal-bal-zu dug3-zu ḫe2-en-[X X]
70
dumu-munus-zu [X X]-ne-a ma-ra-[X X]
Your daughters have …… for you in their ……. The elders of your city have set up (?) mourning (?) for you. The young women of your city have …… for you. The slave at the grindstone …… has shed (?) tears for you. The house where he is placed (?) ……. He has …… silver, has acquired grain, has …… wide possessions. May the eldest son …… for you your …… firm foundations.
71
ab-ba iri{ki}-za-a-kam kana5 ma-[ra-X-X]
72
ki-sikil iri{ki}-za-a-kam [X X] MU mu-ra-ab-[X X]
73
saĝ {na4}?-?-[X X] er2-zu [X] IN [X]
74
e2 im-ma-ni-ĝa2-ĝa2 […]
75
? in-taka4 še bi2-[in]-tuku niĝ2-gur11 daĝal bi2-in-[…]
76
ibila suḫuš gen6-na [X] MAŠ-zu ḫa-ra-ab-[X X]
77
lu2-ug5-ge-zu šag4 IGI+X-gin7 […]
As for your murderer who …… like one who …… the heart, your …… who plotted malice against you -- true (?) execution belongs to the king, the shepherd, your god; true (?) counsel belongs to Utu. May that man be a man accursed, death ……. …… his bones. May the names of his offspring ……. May their possessions …… like birds flying away.
78
zag-zu a2 ḫul-la za-e ma-ra-kiĝ2-ĝa2
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šu ĝar gen6 lugal sipad diĝir-za-a-kam
80
sa2-ĝar gen6 {d}utu-u3-kam
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lu2-bi lu2 nam kud ⌈?⌉-a nam-uš2 […]
82
ĝiri3-pax(PAD)-ra2-ni lu2 […]
83
{u2}numun li-li-a-ni [X] MA […] tuku mu-bi […]
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niĝ2-gur11-bi ?{mušen} [X] ?-a-gin7 [X] ḫe2-[…]
85
[X X] ? ? [X X]-ib-la2-e KU-KU-? kalam-? […]
May the …… of the Land ……. May he bring you favourable …… words, may they make you content. O Nannaya, may your spirit be pleased, may your heart be at rest.
86
inim niĝ2 sag9-ga X-zu ḫe2-en-tum2 šag4 dug3 ḫe2-ri-ib-ĝa2-ĝa2
87
{m}{d}nanna-a ?-zu ḫe2-sag9 šag4-zu ḫe2-ši-ḫuĝ-ĝe26
88
{d}utu ? gal a-ra-li-ke4
Utu, the great lord of the nether world, after turning the dark places to light, will judge your case. May Nanna decree your fate on the day of sleep. Nergal, the Enlil of the underworld, …… before it, may the …… utter your name, may he cause you to eat fresh food. May you be …… of the underworld, and may she have pity on you. May your household bring fresh water to the libation place. May Lord Ninĝišzida …… the house ……. May the mighty Gilgameš …… health for you. May Neti and Etana be your helpers. May the god of the underworld utter prayers for you.
89
ki ku10-ku10 ud-še3 u3-mu-ni-in-tud di kud-zu i3-kud-de3
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{d}nanna-a ud nu2-a nam-zu ḫe2-tar-re
91
{d}nergal {d}en-lil2 kur-ra-ke4 igi-bi-a sag9-ni
92
ki-TAR gu7 mu-zu ḫe2-pad3-de3 u2 dug3 ḫe2-ri-ib-gu7-e
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ŠE3 bar-ra nin kur-ra ḫe2-me-en arḫuš ḫu-mu-ra-an-tuku-tuku
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ki-naĝ a dug3-ga e2-zu ḫe2-ni-ib-us2-X
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e2-a NIM-ta ḫe2-bi2-in-KU X en {d}nin-ĝiš-zid-⌈da⌉
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kalag-ga {d}gilgameš2 silim ḫa-ra-⌈an⌉-[X X]
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{d}ne-ti u3 {d}e-ta2-na a2-taḫ-zu [X X]
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diĝir kur-ra-ke4 šudu3-zu ḫe2-em-ša4-[X]
99
muš3-am3 diĝir-zu ḫe2-em-me nam-zu […]
May your god say Enough!, may he …… your fate. May the god of your city …… compassion on you. May he release you from wrath and sin. May he erase the reckoning of the guilt of your house. …… the evil planned against you …….
100
diĝir iri{ki}-za-a-kam šag4 šu niĝin2 ḫa-ra-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.