AfO 54, 270ff. (BM 29624 // BM 109164) (Mama)

SEAL no. 1815 · BM 29624 (A); BM 109164 (B) · Lamentations · Malgium (mod. Tell Yassir) · 83 lines · 448 words · 1145 signs · 101 Sumerograms

// BM 109164

Transliteration

Obv.

A1 [aš?-ta?-al?-ki lu-mu-ra-a]m š[a-a-ti bi-tam]

A2 [bi-tam] sú-pu-ḫa-am p[e-re-ka ma-ši-a]

A3 [É-maḫ] sú-pu-ḫa-am p[e-re]-ka m[a-ši-a]

B1' [É-maḫ sú]-⸢pu-ḫa⸣-am p[e-re-ka ma-ši-ia]

A4 [É-gal-kè]š^⸢ki⸣ sú-pu-ḫa-am p[e-re]-ka ma-[ši-a]

B2' [É-gal-kèš^ki s]ú-up-pu-ḫa-am pe-re-⸢e⸣-[ek-ka-am

ma-ši-a]

A5 [ta-ar-ba-ṣ]a° ⸢sú⸣-pu-ḫa-am sú-pu-ra-am m[a-ši-a]

B3' [ta-ar-ba]-ṣa-am sú-up-<pu>-ḫa-am pe-re-[e-ka ma-ši-a]

A6 [Kèš^ki? / Ke?-eš? š]i-[r]i-ik-tu a-bi-ša A-ni!(IR°)-[i]m

B4' [Kèš^ki? / Ke?-eš? ši]-ri-ik-ti a-bi-ša [A-ni-im]

A7 ⸢É°⸣-k[i-tuš-g]è[š]tu° ši-ri-ik-tu [a]-bi-ša A-[n]i-im

B5' [Iri-saĝ-r]ig₇? ši-ri-ik-ti a-bi-ša A-n[im]

A8 [i-nu]-⸢ma⸣ id-di-nu [a]l-[š]a ^dMa-ma

B6' [i-nu-m]a i-id-di-nu-ú a-al-ša ^dMa-ma

A9 [INIM? ba?-l]a-⸢ṭi⸣ iṭ-ru-da-a[m ba-a]b-⸢ša⸣ ^dMa-am-ma {MA}

B7' [INIM? b]a-la-ṭi iṭ-ru-da-am ba-ab-š[a ^dMa-ma]

A10 [uš-ta-ma-(al)-la IN]IM-tim ba-ab-ša i-di-[i]l

B8' [uš-t]a-ma-⸢al-la⸣ INIM-tim ba-ab-ša i-di-[il]

A11 [i-pu-uš-ma] it-ta-⸢di⸣-in a-al-ša ^dMa-ma

B9' ⸢e°⸣-pu-uš-ma it-ta-di-in a-al-ša [^dMa-ma]

A12 [ki-ma sú-um-mi]-⸢im°⸣ it-ta-ṣi a-pa-nu

B10' [k]i-ma sú-um-mi it-ta-ṣí a-pa-nu-u[m]

A13 [x x x x x x x x] [i]t-ta-ṣi ni-gi₅-ṣa-ti-im-ma

B11' [ki]-ma ⸢a⸣-⸢múr⸣-ša-ni-im it-ta-ṣí ni-gi₅-ṣa-nu-um

A14 [il-tum] ⸢i-na bi⸣-ti a-wi-li-im le-em-nim

B12' [i]l-tum i-na pa-ni a-wi-lim le-e-em-ni

A15 [i-zi-i]b bi-ta-am i-ta-ṣi a-yi-ša

B13' ⸢i⸣-zi-ib bi-tam it-ta-ṣí a-yi-ša-am

A16 [i-na A ap-pa-r]i-im ú-⸢lu⸣ A-i i-ša-at-ti

B14' ⸢i⸣-na A ap-pa-ri ù-lu A i-ša-at-ti

A17 [i?-pu?]-⸢uz?°⸣-⸢ru°⸣-⸢ú°⸣ ki-sí-i mu-š[a-a]m-ma it-ti-a-al!(MÙŠ°)

B15' ⸢i⸣-na pu-zu-ú[r] ki-sí-im mu-ša-am it-te-a-al!

A18 [^dNin-kar-r]a-ak ú-tu-k[a]-⸢at⸣ bi-tim

B16' ⸢^d⸣Nin-kar-ra-ak ú-tu-uk-ka-tu bi-tim

A19 [^dNi]n-[ís]in^si°-{BI-TAM}^[n]a° ú-⸢tu⸣-ka-t[u É-tu]š-ši-im

B17' ⸢^d⸣Nin-ísin^si-na ú-tu-uk-ka-tu É-tuš-ši°-[im]

A20 [aš?-ta?-a]l?-⸢ki⸣-im [l]u-mu-⸢ra⸣-am ša-a-ti ⸢bi⸣- tam

B18' [aš?-t]a-al-ki lu-mu-ra-am ša-a-ti bi-tam

B19' [a?-š]a?-al-ki lu-mu-ra-am ša-a-ti É-maḫ

A21 [bi-tam] sú-pu-ḫa-[a]m pa-ra-ka ma-ši-a

B20' ⸢bi⸣-[ta]m sú-up-pu-ḫa-am pe-re-e-ek-ka-am ma-ši-a-am

A22 [É-maḫ?] sú-pu-ḫa-am pa-ra-ka ma-ši-a

B21' É-maḫ sú-up-pu-ḫa-am ⸢pe⸣-re-e-ek-ka-am ma-ši-a-a[m]

A23 [É-gal-kè]š^⸢ki⸣ sú-pu-ḫa-am pa-ra-ka ma-š[i]-a

B22' É-gal-kèš^ki sú-up-pu-ḫa-am pe-re-e-ek-ka-am m[a-ši-a-am]

B23' Iri-saĝ-rig₇ sú-up-pu-ḫa-am pe-re-e-ek-ka-am m[a-ši-a-am]

A24 [ta-ar-ba-ṣa-am s]ú-pu-ḫa-am sú-pu-ra-am ma- ši-a

B24' ta-ar-ba-ṣí-im sú-up-⸢pu⸣-ḫi-im sú-pu-ri-im m[a- ši-i-im]

A25 [i-ru-ub bi?-ti?-(iš?)-š]a ú-ši-ib ib-ki-i

B25' i-ru-ub bi-ti!(TA)-ša ù-ši-ib ib-[ki-i]

A26 [ú-ṣi-am] ⸢ki⸣-sà-al-la-šu-um-ma uš-ta-ni-iḫ

B26' ú-ṣi-am ki-sà-al-la-šu uš-ta-n[i-iḫ]

A27 [x x x x x be-el-tum] ša ša-⸢di⸣ ia-a-ti

B27' [x x x [(x x) be-e]l-tum ša ša-di ia-t[i]

A28 [x x bi?-it? m]a-[k]u-ri ⸢e?⸣-ri-a qá-ta-a-a

B28' [... ] x ^giš⸢má?⸣-ku-ri i-ri-a qá-ta-a-a

(B ends)

A29 [x x x x x x] x ma-[t]a-tum-ma qá-ab-lum^ras.

A30 [... ... ...] x x ub-la-ni-i-ma

Rev.

A31 [...] x x-ti-im

A32 [...]-x šu-ta-am-nu-ú

A33 [...] da-la-a-tum

A34 [x] x x-⸢am⸣ ul-⸢lu⸣-lu-ú bi-it ma-ak-ku-ri-im

A35 É-Šu-⸢im⸣-gú-ur is-sú-ḫu si₂₀-ma-at bi-tim

A36 ^dAd-gi₄-gi₄ ú-pa-ar-ri-ú [p]i-it-ni-[k]i

A37 al-gar-⸢ra⸣-⸢am!^ras.⸣ta-e-ra-am i-nu-ú-ma ^dMa-mi

A38 [i]š-ti-ta-am i-pu-ḫa-am i-ša-ta-am el-šu

A39 ⸢ù-lu⸣ bi-ti ù-lu pe-re-ki

A40 [g]e-er-ra-nu-ú ka-ab-ta-ti-im-ma uš-šar li-ib-bi

A41 [s]í-im-mu da-ri ša!(TA) iš!(AŠ)-ku-nu i-na li-ib-bi°

A42 [it]-ti ba-ki-a a-ba-ki-i-ku-um

A43 [i]t-ti da-mi-ma-ti-im ad-da-am-ma-am-ku

A44 [ú]-ul° am-ši-i-ka li-ib-ba-ka a-a il-mi-in!(IM)

A45 [a?/aḫ?-ḫ]u-ú-a i-ḫu-zu a-la-i ti-gi-i

A46 [a]-na-ku [(-ma?)] ag-mu-ur-ku-um bi-ki-ta-am ù ge-er-ra-na-am

A47 a-ḫa-a[m] a-ḫa-am lu-ši-ba-šu-um
A48 ki-ma [t]a-qí-tim ḪA.LA-i lu-um-ta-ḫi°-ra-šu

A49 is-s[ú-u]ḫ mé-eš ka-an-ka-na-am ša ba-bi-ša

A50 ša-[a]m-ši na-ma-ri i-li ra-bu-tim
A51 is-sú-uḫ mé-eš ka-an-ka-na-am ša ba-bi-ša

A52 ša-am-ši na-ma-ri i-li ma-tim
A53 a-mi-ra-ku-tum

Translation

1-3: [I beseech you (O goddess), may I s]ee [that temple,] the scattered [temple], [the forgotten] divine em[blem]! The scattered [E-maḫ], the fo[gotten divine e[mbl]em!

4-5: The scattered [Egal-Ke]š, the forg[otten] divine e[mbl]em, the scattered [cattl]e-pen, the forg[otten] sheepfold]!

6-7: [Keš? – the g]ift of her father, of Anum, [E-]k[ituš-g]e[š]tu – the gift of her father, of Anum.

8-11: [Whe]n he (Anum) gave her a city, (to) Mamma, he sent off [a word of l]ife to her gate, (of) Mamma. Providing (it) with words (of life), he locked her gate (against evil). Indeed, [h]e built her city, (of) Mamma, and gave (it to her).

12-15: [Li]ke a dove she went out of the window, [li]ke a wild pigeon she went out of the crack. [The go]ddess [l]eft the temple from the presence of the evil man and went elsewhere.

16-19: [F]rom the water of the marsh – O no! – she drinks water. In the shelter of the outer wall, she is sleeping during the night – Ninkarrak, the good spirit of the temple, Ninisina, the good spirit of Etuššum.

20-22: [I bes]eech you (O goddess), may I see that temple, [the] scattered t[empl]e, the forgotten dais, the scattered E-maḫ, the forgotten dais,

23-24: The scattered Egal-Keš, the forgotten dais, the scattered [cattle-pen], the forgotten sheepfold.

25-26: She (Mamma) entered her temple: she sat and cried. She came out to the forecourt, she was doleful (saying):

27-34: “[... the La]dy of the Mountains, am I! [...] O my treasu[re house!] Empty are my hands! [... ...] ... O the l[a]nds! O the battle!” [... ...] ... they carried me away!” [... ... ...] ... those who were entrusted [... ...] the doors [...] ..., the cleansed-ones of the treasure house.

35-38: O E-Šū-imgur – they removed the symbol of the temple! They severed (the strings of) the Adgigi, your lyre! O Mami, they overturned the merciful Algar-drum! Suddenly, he (the evil man?) blew fire over it.

39: (Mamma:) “O no! My temple! O no! My divine emblem!”

40-41: (The wailer(s):) “Just [a la]mentation of the mind will release the hearts, an everlasting [dis]ease that he! (the evil man) has inflicted upon the hearts.

42-44: (The wailer? Mamma?:) [Wi]th my weeper, I am weeping for you (the temple), [wi]th the wailing women, I was persistently wailing for you. I did [not for]get you! May your (the temple’s?) heart not become enraged!

45-46: My fellow(-wailers) were holding Alu-drums and Tigi-instruments, (while) I have completed the weeping and lamenting for you (the temple).

47-48: May I sit here and there (and wail) over it (the temple)! At the time of [off]ering, let me regularly beg him for my share!

49-50: (The wailer(s):) To where did he remove the stand by her gate? (Mamma:) O my shining disk, the mirror of the great gods!

51-52: (The wailer(s):) To where did he remove the stand by her gate? (Mamma:) O my shining disk, the mirror of the gods of the land!

53 53 (lines of) wailing song.

Michael P. Streck and Nathan Wasserman, Sources of Early Akkadian Literature (SEAL), seal.huji.ac.il. No commercial use is allowed. Published under CC BY-NC-ND (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives). Reproduced unmodified. Cite as SEAL no. 1815; view on seal.huji.ac.il.