DT 15

SEAL no. 38079 · BM 92704 (DT 15) · Rituals · Babylon (mod. Kasr, Amran Ibn Ali, Sahn, Ishin Aswad, Merkes)

Transliteration

Obv.

i 1 [(DIŠ)] ina nisanni(^itibár) ūmi(ud) 2.kam 1 bēr(danna) mūši(ge₆)

i 2 šešgallu([^lú]šeš.gal) itebbī (zi)-ma mê(a^meš) nāri(íd) irammuk(tu₅)

i 3 [ana] pān(igi) bēl(^den) irrub(ku₄)-ma gadalalû(^túggada.lal) ina pān(igi) bēl(^den)

i 4 [i]-de-ek-ku ana bēl(^den) ikribu(šùd) annû(bi) iqabbi(dug₄.ga)

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i 5 umun-ĝu₁₀ nu za-pa-áĝ-bi ĝiš-bu e-ne

i 6 bēl(^den) šá ina uz-zi-šú ma-ḫi-ir úl īšû(tuk-ú)

i 7 umun-ĝu₁₀ bára-sig₅-ga umun-ĝu₁₀ kur-kur-ra

i 8 bēl(^den) šarru(lugal) dam-qa bēl(^den) mātāti(kur.kur^meš)

i 9 kár-kár á-dúru-na ki-a-a nu zu

i 10 mu-tir šulme(silim-me) šá ilāni(diĝir.diĝir) rabûti(gal.gal)

i 11 en-a-ni umun-ĝu₁₀ a-na umun-ĝu₁₀ an ḫuĝ-ĝá

i 12 bēl(^den) šá ina né-kel-mi-šú ú-šam-qit dan-nu-tú

i 13 diĝir bára lú-lú diĝir bára lú-tuk-a

i 14 bēl(^den) šarrāni(lugal^meš) nūr(zálag) amēlūtu(lú-tú) mu-za-ʾ-iz is-qé-e-tú

i 15 umun-ĝu₁₀ tuš-ĝu₁₀ šu ĝiš-ĝál-la ú aga ki-in-nir

i 16 bēl(^den) šub-ta-ku bābili(e^ki) bar-sip a-gu-ku

i 17 [a]n-an-ĝu₁₀ an-an šà-bi peš-e

i 18 šamê(an-e) rap-šu-tú gi-mir ka-bat-ti-ku

i 19 bēl([^d]en) ina īnī(igiⁱⁱ)-ku ta-bar-ri gim-re-e-tú

i 20 [ina] têrēti(ur₅.úš^meš)-ka ta-ḫa-ṭu têrēti(ur₅.úš^meš)

i 21 [ina] né-kel-me-ku ta-nam-din ur-tu₄

i 22 [ina l]a-pa-<ti>-ka ta-qam-mu dan-nu-tú

i 23 [l]a kīnūka(gi-ka) ta-kam-mu ina qātī(šuⁱⁱ)

i 24 [ina] nap-lu-si-ka ta-ra-áš-šá-šú-nu-tú rēmu(arḫuš)

i 25 [t]u-kal-lam-šú-nu-tú nūru(zálag) i-dab-bu-bu qur-di-ku

i 26 bēl(^den) mātāti(kur.kur) nūr(zálag) ^dí-gì-gì qa-bu-u damqāti(sig₅^meš)-<ku>

i 27 man-nu šá ka-a-šú la i-dab-bu-bu qur-di-ku

i 28 la i-qab-bi ta-nit-<ta>-ku la ú-šá-pa-a bēlūt(en-ut)-ku

i 29 bēl(^den) mātāti(kur.kur) a-šib é-u₄-ul ṣa-bit qātī(šuⁱⁱ) na-as-ku

i 30 ana āli(uru)-ku bābili(e^ki) re-še-e rēmu(arḫuš)

i 31 ana é-sag-íl bīti(é)-ku suḫ-ḫir pāniku(igi)-ku

i 32 šá mārī(dumu^meš) bābili(e^ki) ṣābī(^lúérin) ki-din-nu šu-kun šu-bar-ru-šú-nu

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i 33 21 šumātu(mu.šid.bi) niṣirtu(ùri-tú) é-sag-íl

i 34 [pa-li]ḫ bēl(^den) al-la šešgal(^lúšeš.gal) é-umuš-a

i 35 [l]a ú-kal-lam

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i 36 ultu(⌈ta⌉) naq-bit an-na-a iqbû(dug₄.ga-ú)

i 37 [dalāti(^gišig^meš) ipe]tte(bad]-te) ērib(^lúku₄) bītāti(é^meš)

i 38 [itebb]û([zi]-ú) parṣī(me)-šú-<nu> kīma(gim) šá gi-na-a

i 39 [ina pān(igi)] bēl([^d]en) u bēlti(^dgašan)-iá ippušū(dù^meš)

i 40 [kalû(^lúgala^meš) u] nārū([^lú]nar^meš) ki.min

ii 1–4 [. . .]

ii 5 ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

ii 6 GIŠ ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

ii 7 šubtu(ki.tuš) ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

ii 8 ultu(ta) ur-r[a-. . .]

ii 9 išakkan(gar-an) kunukku(^na4kišib) ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

ii 10 ina agê(aga) šá ani(^d60) [. . .]

ii 11 šá ūmi(ud) 2.kam ina muḫ[ḫi(ug[u) . . .]

ii 12 ina pāni(igi)-šú-nu išakkan(gar-an) [. . .]

ii 13 šalušīšu(3-šú) iqabbi(dug₄.ga) [. . .]

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ii 14 za-ma-nu lem-nu-tú [. . .]

ii 15 šá ina dan-nu-ti-⌈šú⌉ [. . .]

ii 16 an-na-a šá ina bāb[ili(e[^ki?) . . .]

ii 17 šá nam-búr-bi [. . .]

ii 18 áš-šú nakru(^lúkúr) u ḫab-⌈bi⌉-[lu . . .]

ii 19 bēl(^den) rabû(gal-ú) marduk(^dšú) [. . .]

ii 20 arratu(áš) là napšuri(búr) i-r[u-ur . . .]

ii 21 šīmtu(nam) là turri(gur) i-[šim . . .]

ii 22 šá bēl(^den) bēliya(en-iá) [. . .]

ii 23 šá bēl(en) mātāti(kur.kur) [. . .]

ii 24 šá bābili(e^ki) ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

ii 25 ina qé-reb erṣeti(ki) ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

ii 26 šá e-u₄-ul [. . .]

ii 27 ub-bu-ub [. . .]

ii 28 kīma(gim) šamê(an-e) u [erṣeti(ki) . . .]

ii 29 uruk(unug^ki) u n[ippur(e[n.líl^ki) qa-ma-a u ka-ma-a]

ii 30 na-si-iḫ t[e-me-en-ši-na na-di ana mê(a^meš)]

ii 31 ekurrātu(é.kur^meš) šá [qer-<bi>-ši-na ú-tu-šu-nu x . . .]

ii 32 ma-áš parṣū(me)-šú-nu [ana u₄-mu<^meš rūqūtu(sud^meš)>]

ii 33 sa-pi-iḫ gi[š-ḫur-šu-(nu) . . .]

ii 34 nišū(un^meš) a-šib ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

ii 35 amāt(géme.géme)-si-[na . . .]

ii 36 šá bābili(e^ki) [. . .]

ii 37 šá é-u₄-u[l . . .]

ii 38 ⌈ik⌉-me-ku-nu-[tú . . .]

ii 39 ra-ma-tu-[nu . . .]

iii (Missing)

Rev.

iv (Missing)

v 1 [26(+x) šumātu(mu.šid.bi) niṣirtu(ùri-tú) é-sag-íl]

v 2 [pa-liḫ bēl(^den)]

v 3 al-[la šešgalli(^lúšeš.gal) la ú-kal-lam]

v 4 DIŠ ina nisanni(^iti⌈bár⌉) ⌈ūmi(ud)⌉ [3.kam 1 1/3 bēr(danna) mūši(ge₆) šešgallu(^lúšeš.gal)]

v 5 itebbī(⌈zi⌉)-[ma] <mê(a^meš) nāri(íd)> iramm[uk(tu[₅) . . .]

v 6 ana [bē]l([^de]n) ikrib[u(šù[d) annû(bi) iqabbi(dug₄.ga)]

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v 7 umun-ĝu₁₀ ^d?lú-lú [. . .]

v 8 ⌈x x x x⌉ [. . .]

v 9 ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

v 10 al [. . .]

v 11 saĝ ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

v 12 ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

v 13 ⌈x⌉ [x x x] ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

v 14 umun-ĝ[u₁₀ x x x] ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

v 15 umun-ĝ[u₁₀] ⌈sipa⌉ id x [. . .]

v 16 [x x x] ⌈kur⌉ […]

v 17 ⌈x⌉ [x x (x)] ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

v 18 ⌈x lu⌉ [x x x] ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

v 19 na-⌈din⌉ [. . .]

v 20 umun-ĝu₁₀ ⌈^den x x x⌉ x [. . .]

v 21 šá nišī(un) ⌈ṣal-mat⌉ qaqqadi(saĝ.du) [. . .]

v 22 ta-ḫa-⌈x⌉ [a]n-na-a ud [. . .]

v 23 ultu(⌈ta⌉) [x x x an]-na-a ud [. . .]

v 24 ⌈x⌉ [x x x (x)] ⌈x ud⌉-d[i . . .]

v 25 [x x (x)] ⌈x⌉ bad [x x] ⌈x⌉ [. . .]

v 26 [x x (x)] šarru(lugal) u šakannakku(gìr.níta) [. . .]

v 27 ina pī(⌈ka⌉) ṣal-mat qaqqadi(⌈saĝ.du⌉) [. . .]

v 28 šá é-sag-íl x [. . .]

v 29 šá bābili(e^ki) āli(uru)-k[u . . .]

v 30 ana qa-bu-u damq[āti(sig₅[^meš)-ku . . .]

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v 31 dalāti(^gišig^meš) ipet[te(⌈bad⌉-[te) ērib(^lúku₄) bītāti(é^meš)]

v 32 irubbū(ku₄^meš)-m[a parṣī(me)-šú-nu kīma(gim) šá gi-na-a]

v 33 ippuš[ū(dù^m[^eš) kalû(^lúgala^meš) u nārū(^lúnar^meš)]

v 34 k[i.min]

vi 1 [e-nu-m]a 1 1/2 bēr(danna) ūmu(me) isqâ(nim-a) qurq[urru](^lúgur.g[ur])

vi 2 [išassī(gù)-ma] abnu(na₄) ni-siq-tú u ḫurāṣu(kù.gi)

vi 3 [ultu(ta)] makkūr(níg.ga) marduk(^damar.utu) ana epēš(dù-eš) šá 2 ṣalmī(nu^meš)

vi 4 ⌈ana⌉ ūmi(ud) 6.kam i-na-an-din-šú nagāru(^lúnagar) išassī(gù)-ma

vi 5 erēnu(^gišeren) u bīnu(šinig) inamdin(sum)-šú

vi 6 kutīmu(kù.dim) išassīma(gù)-ma ḫurāṣu(kù.gi) inamdin(sum)-šú

vi 7 ultu(ta) ūmi(ud) 3.kam adi(en) ūmi(ud) 6.kam ultu(ta) pa-ni bēl(^den)

vi 8 ana qurqurri(^lúgur.gur) zibbatu(kun) ana kutīmi(^lúkù.dim) irtu(gaba)

vi 9 ana nagāri(^lúnagar) imittu(zag) ana išpari(^lúuš.bar) ṣēlu(ti) an-na-a

vi 10 ultu(ta) pān(igi) bēl(^den) ana šešgalli(^lúšeš.gal) é-⌈umuš-a⌉

vi 11 ana mārī(^lúdumu^meš) um-man ú-šeb-b[i-lu?]

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vi 12 ṣalmū(nu^meš) šu-nu-tú 7 ubān(si) la-an-šú-nu

vi 13 ištēn(1-en) šá erēni(^gišeren) u ištēn(1-en) šá bīni(^giššin[ig])

vi 14 ⌈4⌉ šiqil(gín) ḫurāṣi(kù.gi) iḫ-zu-us-su-nu

vi 15 ⌈4⌉ dušû(^na4duḫ.ši.a) ana muḫ-ḫi-šú-nu i-lu

vi 16 [ištēn(1-en)] ina qāti(šuⁱⁱ) šumēlišu(150-šú) ṣerru(muš) šá erēni(^gišeren) ⌈na⌉-[ši]

vi 17 qāti([šuⁱ]ⁱ)-šu šá 15 ana nabû(^dag) na-ši šá-nu-ú [ina qāti(šuⁱⁱ)]

vi 18 [šumēli(150)]-šú zuqaqīpu(gír.tab) na-ši qāti(šuⁱⁱ) [imit]ti([10+]5)-[šú]

vi 19 [ana na]bû(^da]g) na-ši ṣubātu(túg) sāmu(sa₅) lab-šu-u

vi 20 [ina e]-ri gišimmari(^gišgišimmar) qab-li-šú-nu

vi 21 [rak]-su adi(en) ūmi(ud) 6.kam ina bīt(⌈é⌉) mad[ānu](^ddi.[kud])

vi 22 [iššakkan]ū([gar]^meš) piṭir(duḫ) paššūri(^gišbanšur) šá ma[dānu](^dd[i.kud])

vi 23 i-qar-ru-ub-šú-nu-tú ūmi(ud) 6.kam [x (x)]

vi 24 nabû(^dag) é-ḫur-sag-ti-la ina kašādi(kur)-[šú]

vi 25 ṭābiḫ(^lúgír.lá) kar-ri qaqqas(sag.du)-su-nu imaḫḫaṣ (sì[g]-aṣ)-⌈ma⌉

vi 26 ina pān(igi) nabû(^dag) tur-ru inappaḫūniumma(mú^meš-nim)-ma

vi 27 ana libbi(šà) tur-ru innaddû(šub⌈^meš⌉)

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vi 28 ṭuppu(im) 22.kam-ma šumer(eme-gir₁₅) ṣâti(ul-⌈e⌉) úl qati(⌈ti⌉)

vi 29 ṭuppu(im) šá arkī(egir)-šú ina nisanni(^itibár) ūmi(ud) 4.kam

Translation

Obv.

i 1–4 In the month Nisannu, (on) the second day, (at) one double-hour of the night, the Elder Brother will rise and bathe (in) riverwater. He will enter [in] the presence of Bēl and remove the linen curtain in front of Bēl. He will recite the following prayer to Bēl:

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i 5–32 "… Bēl, who in his anger has no rival . . . Bēl, good king, lord of the lands . . . He who returns the favor of the great gods . . . Bēl who fells the mighty with his awe-inspiring glare . . . Lord of kings, light of mankind, who assigns the lots . . . Bēl, your seat is Babylon, Borsippa is your crown . . . The wide heavens (equal) the whole of your spirit. Bēl, with your eyes you observe everything, [With] your omens you explore omens, [with] your awesome glare you give command, [with] your touch you burn the mighty. You capture the [u]nloyal in (your) hands, [with] your glance you grant them mercy. [Y]ou show the light to those who talk of your heroism. Lord of the lands, light of the Igigi, who speak highly of you, who, (when speaking) of you, will not talk of your heroism, will not speak your praise, will not proclaim your lordship? Lord of the lands, who dwells in Euʾul, who seizes the hand of the fallen, to your city, Babylon, grant mercy, to Esagila, your temple, turn your face! Establish the freedom of the inhabitants of Babylon, the privileged citizens!"

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i 33–35 Twenty-one lines, secret of Esagila. [He who rev]eres Bēl, except to the Elder Brother of Eumuša, should [no]t show it (to anyone).

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i 36–40 After he said this prayer, he will op[en the gates]. The temple-enterers [will come up]. They will perform their rites as usual [in front of] Bēl and Bēltīya. [The lamentation-priests and] the singers idem ditto.

ii 1–13 [. . .] seat [. . .] After [. . .] he will place. The seal [. . .] on the crown of/which Anu [. . .] of the second day upon [. . .] he will place before them. [. . .] He will say [. . .] three times:

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ii 14–39 Wicked enemies [. . .] who in his might [. . .] this, which in Bab[ylon . . .] of a namburbû (ritual) [. . .] Because the enemy and the crim[inal . . .] The Great Lord, Marduk [. . .] He ut[tered] an irremovable curse [. . .] He de[creed] an irrevocable fate [. . .] of Bēl, my lord, [. . .] of the lord of the lands [. . .] of Babylon [. . .] on earth [. . .] of Euʾul [. . .] is purified [. . .] like heaven and [earth . . .] Uruk and Nip[pur are burnt and defeated]. [Their foundation] is uprooted, [thrown into water] The temples that [are within them: their gatekeepers . . .] Their rites are forgotten [to distant days . . .] Their regu[lations] are disrupted [. . .] The people who dwell [. . .] The[ir] servant girls [. . .] Of Babylon [. . .] Of Euʾul [. . .] He has bound you [. . .] You are dwelling [. . .]

iii (Missing)

Rev.

iv (Missing)

v 1–3 [N lines, secret of Esagila]. [He who reveres Bēl,] exc[ept to the Elder Brother, should not show (it to anyone)].

v 4–6 In the month Nisannu, (on) the [third] day, [(at) 1 and 1/3 double-hour of the night the Elder Brother] will rise [and he will] bathe (in) <riverwater> [. . .] To [Bē]l [he will recite the following pra]yer:

v 7–29 My lord, Lulu [. . .] My lord, [. . .] My lord, shepherd [. . .] He who gives [. . .] My lord, [. . .] Of the people, the black-headed ones [. . .] [. . . t]his [. . . t]his [. . .] king and governor [. . .] In the mouth of the black-headed people [. . .] Of Esagila, [. . .] Of Babylon, your city [. . .] To the one who speaks in your favor [. . .]

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v 30–33 He will ope[n] the gates. [The temple-enterers] will enter. They will perform [their rites as usual]. [The lamentation-priests and the singers idem ditto]

vi 1–6 [When] 1 1/2 double-hours of daytime have passed, [he will call for] the metalworker [and] he will give him precious stones and gold [from] the treasury of Marduk to fashion two statues for the sixth day. He will call for the carpenter and he will give him cedar and tamarisk. He will call for the goldsmith and give him gold.

vi 7–11 From the third day to the sixth day from before Bēl: the tail to the metalworker, the breast to the goldsmith, the shoulder piece to the carpenter, the ribs to the weaver. This [they] will bring from before Bēl to the Elder Brother of Eumuša for the craftsmen.

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vi 12–27 Those statues: seven fingers is their size. One is of cedar, one of tamarisk. [4] shekels of gold is their mounting. [4] dušû-stones will go up on them. [One] carries a snake of cedar in his left hand. His right [hand] he lifts to Nabû. The second carries a scorpion [in the hand] of his [left side]. His [rig]ht hand he lifts [to Nab]û. They will be robed in red garments. Their loins will be [girded] [with a] palm f[rond]. Until the sixth day they [will be placed] in the temple of Mad[ānu]. The leftovers of the offering table of Mad[ānu] will be served to them. On the sixth day [. . .], when Nabû is arriving at Eḫursagtila, the slaughterer will hit their head. In front of Nabû they will kindle the ashes and they will be thrown into the ashes.

vi 28–29 Twenty-second tablet. Ancient Sumerian. Not finished. Tablet that follows this one: "In the month Nisannu, on the fourth day."

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. 38079; view on seal.huji.ac.il.