K 7817 (Ass. 5)
eBL: “[O]bv. currently unplaced aside from oi′14′, incipit quoted in BM.40090+ r. iii 9.” A number of shallow surface flakes have fallen off of the surface. In comparison to other parallel texts, K 7817 shows shorter lines. Da Riva and Wasserman 2025, 168–177 order of obverse/reverse follows that of the British Museum photo (as appears in the photo of CDLI P397305), while the eBL takes the opposite order. In any case, the fragment is very flat, so it is difficult to guess the curvature. CDLI no. P397305
Transliteration
Obv.
col. i'
i' 1' [ultu(ta) sa-ár-ri-i te-ba-ku de]-⸢ru⸣-⸢u8⸣-[a]
i' 2' [ul-tu maš-ka-ni] ṣu-la-⸢ka⸣
i' 3' [ul-tu a-a-i te]-ba-a-te
i' 4' [ma-a]-ri ultu?(ta!, Text: IR)
i' 5' [a-a-i āli(uru)]al-kam-ma den ba]-na-tu-u-a
i' 6' [a-ba-la ulūlu(itukin?) bu-bu-lu i]n-na-ak-ka
i' 7' [šu-ú sar-ri u ḫa-rim-tu] esic bēl(en)
i' 8' [šu-ú maš-ka-ni] ⌈a⌉-me-li
i' 9' [šu-ú ra-ḫi-ṣu šá k]i-ba-a-ti
i' 10' [ba-tu-la-tu mar-ti] muškēnu([m]aš.en.kak)
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i' 11' [ia-a-ši ma-a-ri] ⌈ú⌉-pal-la-ḫa-an-ni
i' 12' [ia-a-ši ma-a-ri u]p-⌈ta⌉-⌈na?⌉-[a]l?-làḫ-an-ni
i' 13' [ú-šaq-qé-e-ki] ki-⌈i⌉ dūri(bàd)
i' 14' [ú-šap-pal-k]i? ki-i ḫa-ri-ṣi
i' 15' [a-ḫe-ep-pe-e-ki] ki-i ⌈lu⌉-ri!(Text: ḪU)-in-du
i' 16' [pi-rik gišḫur] ú-⌈ma⌉-al-li-ki
i' 17' [. . lú]šāqû(⸢šu⸣.sìla.du₈) ina eqli(a.šà) a-nam-suk-ki
i' 18' […] e? al? e tú ú-mál!?(Text: MÁ)-⸢li⸣-ki
i' 19' [al-kam-ma bēl(en)] ba-na-tu(Text: ŠU)-u-a
i' 20' [. . .l]u-ši-in-na-ak-ka
i' 21' [. . .] x mi-ia ú-šar-ba-ab
i' 22' [. . .] x mê(ame) ṭābūte(dùg!.game) ma-a-tú a-šaq-qí
i' 23' [. . . m]e-ez-zi-⌈zu⌉ x x x x ⌈u?-a⌉
i' 24' [. . . m]e-ez-zi?-zi?-a tú x x-niš/qu a
i' 25' [. . .] […] ra-an-ga ana su-ni-šú is-si-ban-ni
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i' 26' [ia-a-ši] ú-pal-la?(Text: LU)-ḫa!?-an-ni
i' 27' [. . . u]p!?-ta-na-làḫ-an-ni
i' 28' [. . . ú-ša]q-qan-ni-ki
i' 29' [. . .ú-ša]d-ba-⌈ab?⌉-ki
i' 30' [. . . a]m?-me-ni šu?-ṣa-šá
i' 31' [. . . i]m?/ š]ud?-si-na-ma
i' 32' [. . .l]u?-na-šá-ka
i' 33' [. . .] ⸢lu⸣-⸢qer⸣-rib
col. ii'
ii' 1' ⌈a?⌉ [. . .]
ii' 2' ⌈a?⌉ x [. . .]
ii' 3' x [. . .]
ii' 4' ana du-x [. . .]
ii' 5' šá ma-aš x [. . .]
ii' 6' ana bi-x [. . .]
ii' 7' šá la 1-en x [. . .]
ii' 8' ana là(nu) etēqu(dab5)qu šá x […]
ii' 9' ana a-rib? šá bīt(é)-šú ki? x [. . .]
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ii' 10' ina pa-pa-ḫi ṣa!-l[a-a-tú dbēl(en) ina ūri(ùr)-ma šá dbēl(en) [ṣal?-lu?]
ii' 11' šá! SAL x [. . .]
ii' 12' e-re-t[a-a-tú 6-šú e-te-ti-iq ṣal-la-a-tú bītu(é) te-ti-iq 7-šú]
ii' 13' ki m[iḫṣi(ad.tab) . . .]
ii' 14' ki-i aṣ-b[at . . .]
ii' 15' ⌈na4!?⌉dlamassu(lamma) š[á ti-ik-ki-ka. . .]
ii' 16' siq-qúr-rat-t[u4 šá ziq-ni-ka. . .]
ii' 17' a-⌈šap?⌉-par x […]
ii' 18' ⌈na4!?⌉dlamassu(lamma) šá t[i-ik-ki-ka . . .]
ii' 19' sisic-qúr-rat šá z[iq-ni-ka . . .]
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ii' 20' ina ú-ri-⌈ša⌉ bēl(en) ṣ[al?-lu ḫar-ba-qa-an it-ta-na-al-(lu)]
ii' 21' a-da-ni-ka ḫar-ba-⌈qa?⌉-[nu dbēl(en) šá ṣal-lu la ta-de-ek-ku-ma]
ii' 22' a-na ka-šá šá kaspi(kù.babbar) i-pu-u[š li-da-nu-ka šá ḫurāṣi(kù.sig17)]
ii' 23' a-da-ki-ka a-⌈ša⌉-⌈ka⌉-[a]n
ii' 24' ⌈i-na⌉ ⌈ḫa?⌉-si-si-ia ḫu-uṣ-ṣu-bu-⌈ki⌉
ii' 25' [x x]-nin-ma ú-qat7-tú-⌈ka⌉
ii' 26' [x x] x li-ti-ia šá ru-ʾa-a-⌈nu?⌉
ii' 27' [[x x] x x x KU/LU/KI
ii' 28' [x x x x x x b]i? ud
----
ii' 29' [. . .] x x
ii' 30' [. . .] x EN?
Rev.
col. r. i
r. i 1' dzar?-pa?-n[i!?-tu4 . . .]
r. i 2' šit/rit-ti? ⌈šá a⌉-x [. . .] x [. . .]
r. i 3' dnabû(ag) ana ḫa?-[. . .] ⸢d?⸣⸢na?⸣-bi-ia-a?-⸢nu⸣ [(x)]
r. i 4' bēlētu(ninmeš) šá ⌈d⌉nabû(ag)-⸢já?⸣ ⌈ki⌉-i se-bet-⸢tu?⸣ qí-na-a[t? …]
r. i 5' d⸢na?⸣-⸢bi?⸣-⸢um?⸣ ⸢x x x x⸣ ⸢la?⸣ qab-b[u . . .]
r. i 6' dna[bû(a[g?) . . .] x x x x [. . .]
r. i 7' x [. . .-t]u4? [. . .]
r. i 8' [. . .] x [. . .]
r. i 1''–16'' (traces only)
i 17'' [. . .] x-a-šá
r. i 18'' [. . . t]a?-qab-bi
r. i 19'' [. . .] ⌈tu?⌉-še-el-li
r. i 20'' [. . .] x bu pú x gur-ru?-ú?
r. i 21'' [. . .] x x 3-šú
----
r. i 22'' [. . .] x en? šá šurinna(šu.nirna) ŠID
r. i 23'' [. . .] x x x x KU-ti-e-tú
r. i 24'' [. . .] x x-mu mar-ri-ka?
r. i 25'' [. . .] x na ḫarrānu(kaskal) ⌈i?⌉-ba?-áš-ši
r. i 26'' [. . .] ta? qa? a-ni
r. i 27'' [. . .] x-x-an-ni
r. i 28'' [. . .] x-an-ni
r. i 29'' [. . .] bītu(é)
r. i 30'' [. . .] x
col. r. ii
r. ii 1' [. . .] x šamnu(ì+giš)?
r. ii 2' [. . .]-šá?-ka
r. ii 3' [. . .] ab-nu
r. ii 4' [. . .]-⌈lu?⌉-u-ka
r. ii 5' [. . .] x-⌈ka⌉
r. ii 6' [. . .] x-ta-ni
r. ii 7' [. . .] ⌈me?⌉-⌈ka⌉
r. ii 8' [. . .] a-sur-ra
r. ii 9' [. . . i]na? a-ḫa-ti-im?
r. ii 10' [. . .] na?-me-x-x
r. ii 11' [. . .] x ša? dna[bû](a[g])?
r. ii 12' [. . .] x gišmakurru(ma.⌈gur8?⌉)
r. ii 13' [. . .] ul áš-ši [(x)]
r. ii 14' [. . .] x x […] šu-ut ⌈bi?⌉-bi-in-ni
r. ii 15' [. . .] x ⌈di/ki?⌉ ina ⌈ḫu?⌉ x ⌈da?⌉-ad na aš ki.min? lik? kid [(x)]
r. ii 16' [. . .ina?] karpatu(dug)-ma šá ta-kul?-šú qātu(šu) i-tu-ur-ra? [(x)]
r. ii 17' [. . . karp]atu([d]ug)-ma itti(ki) sebe(imin)-šú-nu-ma [(x)]
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r. ii 18' [bi-iṣ-ṣu-ru-ú šá tap-pat]-ti-ia am-me-ni ki ki-i!(Text: e) te-te-ni-pu-[uš]
r. ii 19' [… a]š/ṣ]u ina muḫḫi(ugu) i?-ba?-áš?-š[i x?]
r. ii 20' [. . .] ⌈ú⌉-li-ma ú-šaq-qa-ma ina qaqqadi(⌈sag.du⌉)-šú a-⌈na⌉ […]
r. ii 21' [. . .-n]ak-kar-ma muḫḫi(ugu?)-šú ki.m[in?]
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r. ii 22' [. . .] x x x x x x [. . .]
r. ii 23' [. . .] x x [. . .]
r. ii 24' [. . .] x-ti x [. . .]
r. ii 25' [. . .] x [. . .]
Translation
Obv.
i' 1' [I came up from the grain heaping, oh E]ru’a,
i' 2' beseeching you [from the threshing floor].
i' 3' [– From which (city) did] you come up,
i' 4' oh my da[rling, from which city?]
i' 5' [Come, Lord] of my beautiful women
i' 6' [to pass the month of Ulūlu! During the night of the disappearance of the moon (they)] will get laid.
i' 7' [He of criminals and prostitutes!] The house(?) of Bēl,
i' 8' [He of the threshing floor] of man,
i' 9' [He of the trampling floor of] wheat,
i' 10' [(by) the maidens, the daughter] of the commoner.
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i' 11' As for me, my darling terrifies me,
i' 12' As for me, my son constantly terrifies me,
i' 13' (Saying) “I will raise you as high as (a city) wall,
i' 14' I will bring you down as a moat,
i' 15' I shall break you like a pomegranate.
i' 16' I will fill (in) you [the area of the drawing plan.]
i' 17' [… oh c]up-bearer, I will assign you to the field (work)!
i' 18' . . . I will fill up for you!”
i' 19' [Come, Lord] of my beautiful (women).
i' 20' [. . .] let me rival you!
i' 21' I will subdue my .[ . . .]!
i' 22' [. . .] I will irrigate the land with sweet water.
i' 23' [. . . the f]ury . . . . . .
i' 24' [. . .] fury (?) . . . my . . .
i' 25' [. . .] evil. He enfolded me into his lap.
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i' 26' [. . .] he constantly terrifies me,
i' 27' [. . . he c]onstantly terrifies me.
i' 28' “[. . .] I shall raise you!”
i' 29' “[. . .] I shall make [. . .] speak with you”.
i' 30' “[. . .] why is her being brought out?”
i' 31' “[. . .] . . .”
i' 32' “[. . .l]et me carry you”
i' 33' “[. . .] let me draw you near”
ii'
ii' 1' . . .
ii' 2' . . .
ii' 3' . . .
ii' 4' To . . . [. . .
ii' 5' He of . . [ . . .
ii' 6' To . . . [. . .
ii' 7' Who not (even) one . . [ . . .
ii' 8' To kiss the li[ps(?) . . .
ii' 9' To enter(?) his temple. . . [ . . .
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ii' 10' (Zarpānītu) is slee[ping] in the cella, [whereas Bēl sleeps on the roof of Bēl].
ii' 11' of woman(?). . .
ii' 12' You are a p[igsty. Six times I have passed by – you are asleep. You have passed the house on the seventh time].
ii' 13' Like a b[low . . .
ii' 14' When I gr[asped . . .
ii' 15' The protective spirit [of your neck . . .
ii' 16' The ziggur[at of your beard . . .
ii' 17' I will send .[. . .
ii' 18' The protective spirit [of your] n[eck . . .
ii' 19' The ziggurat of [your] be[ard . . .
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ii' 20' On the roof where Bēl is sle[eping, where the ḫarbaqqannu-bird keeps lying down,]
ii' 21' Please, Oh ḫarbaqqannu-bi[rd – do not wake up the sleeping Bēl!]
ii' 22' For you Isic will prepare ‘that-of-silver’, [your golden chicks.]
ii' 23' I will wake you up. I will place
ii' 24' your splinters(?) in my memory.
ii' 25' . . . I will bring you to end(?)
ii' 26' . . . my cheek, that of seductiveness(?)
ii' 27' . . .
ii' 28' . . .
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ii' 29' . . .
ii' 30' . . .
Rev.
r. i 1' Zarpanitu . . .
r. i 2' My hand (or: sleep) which . . .
r. i 3' Nabû . . .
r. i 4' The ladies of Nabû . . . as seven concubines. . .
r. i 5' Nabû . . .
r. i 6' Nabû . . .
r. i 7' . . .
r. i 8' . . .
(ca. 7–10 lines missing)
r. i 1''–16'' (traces only)
r. i 17'' . . .
r. i 18'' . . . you speak
r. i 19'' . . . you raise.
r. i 20'' . . .
r. i 21'' . . . three times
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r. i 22'' . . . who ... the divine emblem.
r. i 23'' . . .
r. i 24'' . . . your spade
r. i 25'' . . . there is . . . on the road.
r. i 26'' . . . me
r. i 27'' . . . me
r. i 28'' . . . me
r. i 29'' . . .
r. i 30'' . . .
r. ii 1' . . . oil(?)
r. ii 2' . . .
r. ii 3' Precious stone . . .
r. ii 4' . . . your (m.)(?)
r. ii 5' . . . your(?) . . .
r. ii 6' . . .
r. ii 7' . . . your(?) . . .
r. ii 8' . . . the lower course of the wall.
r. ii 9' . . . in the (river’s) bank.
r. ii 10' . . .
r. ii 11' . . . of Nabû.
r. ii 12' . . . the boat.
r. ii 13' . . . I did not carry.
r. ii 14' . . . those of the head(?)
r. ii 15' . . .
r. ii 16' . . . the] vessel(?) [from] which you ate, the hand will return.
r. ii 17' . . . the] vessel(?), they will … sevenfold.
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r. ii 18' “Vagina of my girlfriend, why do you keep doing so?”
r. ii 19' . . . is present over. . .
r. ii 20' . . . coming up, I will raise over(?) his head . . .
r. ii 21' . . . changes him/it, upon him/it: ditto(?)
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r. ii 22' . . .
r. ii 23' . . .
r. ii 24' . . .
r. ii 25' . . .
Commentary
i' 7': e bēl for bīt(é) bēl?
i' 17': For ŠU.SÌLA.DU8, a variant of sagi, see Borger ABZ, no. 62. – a-nam-suk-ki (with eBL): nasāku is taken to mean “to assign someone to work, to impose a work assignment on someone” (CAD N/2, 18; NB). We understand the line as a threat to change the status of the cub-bearer, from highly respectable official to a simple laborer.
i' 18': Reading after eBL.
i' 20': [. . .l]u-ši-in-na?-ak?-ka: šanānu-D “to fight, to rival” (CAD Š/1, 369; so far attested only in EA).[1]
i' 21': mi-ia? after eBL. – ú-šar-ba-⌈ab?⌉: rabābu “to humble, to force to submission” (CAD R 7).
i' 24': eBL (based on ARG Folio 216): [...] x gišzi-x-e-tú qu? a.
i' 25': ra-an-ga < raggu “evil”. – is-si-ban-ni: issibânni < lawû-G-Pf. (NA form).
ii' 6': eBL (based on ARG Folio 217): ana bi-x [...].
ii' 7': eBL (based on ARG Folio 217): šá la 1-en GIŠ? [...].
ii' 11': eBL (based on ARG Folio 217): šá SAL x [...]. The first sign, perhaps MUQ or KAK.
ii' 16', 19': siq-qúr-rat or sik-kur-rat ša ziqnika? Since sikkūru “bolt, lock” has a m. pl. form (sikkūrū), we opt for the first option, namely that the ziqqurratu, the temple’s tower, is a metaphorical reference to the graded shape of the lover’s beard. )Note, however, that in some languages, tight tufts of hair are called locks, as in English).
ii' 17': Reading after eBL.
ii' 20'ff.: The speaker is a female protagonist. The “bird”, the emphasis on “lying down”, the “that-of-silver”, and the “seductiveness”, all carry sexual insinuations.
ii' 22': ⌈ep⌉-pu-u[š-k]a? (1 sg. pres.) in BM 46293+ r. i 22' is preferable to our i-pu-uš (3 sg. pret.).
ii' 24': eBL (based on ARG Folio 217) reads: ina# UGU# si-si-ia. The meaning of the expression ašakkan ina ḫasīsiya ḫu-uṣ-ṣu-bu-ki is unclear. We take ḫasīsum here to mean memory, similar to “wisdom, comprehension”. – ḫu-uṣ-ṣu-bu-ki, from ḫaṣābu “to break off”, is unattested: perhaps “chips, or splinters”?
ii' 25': The sign in question has different syllabic readings. We follow the notation of Akk. Syl. No. 38, where it is rendered /qat7/.
ii' 26': ru-ʾa-a-⌈mu?⌉ is questionable. Perhaps ru-ʾa-a-⌈bat?⌉ (ruʾubtu “fury”, in Stat. 3 sg. f.), and then “... my cheek which is in fury”.
r. i 3': Following eBL.
r. ii 8': asurrû: The lower course of an outer wall, but, with George 2015, asurrû could denote “lavatory”. ina aḫātim “in the (river’s) bank” in the line that follows, could fit both meanings.
r. ii 14': With caution, we take šu-ut ⌈bi?⌉-bi-in-ni for šūt bibenni (< binēnu “head” or “septum of the nose”, CAD B 219).
r. ii 20': The combination of tenses in ⌈ú⌉-li-ma ušaqqâma is not easy to construe: ulli seems pret. while ušaqqâ, pres.
[1] The penultimate sign might be -an-: [l]u-ši-in-na-an-ka.
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. 33936; view on seal.huji.ac.il.