Reverse of Tablet Virolleaud (The titular litany)

[pg 307]Reverse of Tablet Virolleaud (The titular litany)1.é-e sub-da sub-da [mu-un-laģ-en-ne-en]To the temple with prayer, with prayer let us go.3972.balag398é-e dirig sub-da [mu-un-laģ-en-ne-en]To the lyre unto the temple which surpasses all let us go.3.balag nigin-na-e sub-dad.Mu-[ul-lil-ra mu-un]To the lyre unto the merciful one with prayer, [unto Enlil,]4.balag dîm-me-ir mu-lu sub-dad.Mu-ul-[lil-ra mu-un]To the lyre unto god, the lord, with prayer, unto Enlil [let us go].5.dîm-me-ir lu-gă-lu-ne-en sub-da mu-un-laģ-en-[ne-en]Unto him who is god of his people with prayer let us go.6.me-en-ne é-e tùb a-ra-zu-a mu-un-laģ-en-ne-[en]We“Oh temple repose”in prayer come.7.me-en-ne ki-e tùb a-ra-zu-a mu-un-laģ-(en)-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil-ra]We“Oh earth repose”in prayer come, unto Enlil (come).8.ù-mu-un šă-ab tùb-e-da in-gà399-laģ-(en)-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil-ra]To pacify the heart of the lord behold we come unto Enlil.9.šă-ab ģun-gà bar ģun-gà-da in-gà-laģ-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil-ra]To pacify the heart, to pacify the soul, behold we come to Enlil.10.me-en-ne šă-ab ù-mu-un-na mu-un-tùb-(en)-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil]We will pacify the heart of the lord, yea of Enlil.11.šă-ab an-na šă-abd.Mu-ul-lil-lá mu-un-tub-(en)-ne-enThe heart of Anu and the heart of Enlil we will pacify.12.d.Mu-ul-lil-lá dam-a-ni ...d.Nin-lil-lá[The heart of] Enlil and his wife Ninlil [we will pacify.]13.d.En-kid.Nin-kid.En-muld.Nin-mul400The heart of Enki, Ninki, Enmul and Ninmul [we will pacify.]14.i-lu a-di ig-ga-am-ma-ruA god until they are finished.401[pg 308]ki-šub-gú 10-kam-ma402The tenth strophe.(The Recessional)15.ù-mu-un-mu za-e babbar403uru-mà ur-sag-gà me-enMy lord thou art, light of my city, a hero thou art.16.šùb-bi-mu ù-mu-un kalag-a ur-sag-gà me-enMy illumination, oh valiant lord, a hero thou art.17.ù-mu-un kalag-a ur-sag-gà me-en kalag-ga-na me-enOh valiant lord, a hero thou art, its404defender thou art.18.d.Babbar-gim za-e ? en-na an-ni tur-tur-ne-[en]Like Shamash thou art ... into heaven enters.19.d.Nannar-gim ki dumu-zu an-na(?)405na-an-gir-ri-[ne-en]Like Nannar where thy son406in heaven hastens.20.ù-mu-un-mu enem-zu galu-ra407na-an-na-ab-zí-[em]My lord thy word on man has fallen.21.enem-zu galu ki408-kal-ra na-an-na-ab-zí-[em]Thy word on him of the foreign land has fallen.22.enem-zu galu en-na nu-šeg-ra na-an-na-ab-zí-[em]Thy word on men as many as are not obedient has fallen.23.ù-mu-un-mu uru-zu-a è-ni a-sar-sar-ra409My lordbeneficentwaters in thy city cause to spring forth.24.a-ad.Mu-ul-lil ki-bur-ta-bur-ta uru-zu-a è-niFather Enlil ... in thy city cause to come forth.ki-šub-gù11-kam-maThe eleventh strophe.25.sub-bi še-ib è-kur-ra-ta ki-na gí-gí-ra.A prayer for the brick walls of Ekur, that it return to its place.ki-šú-bi-imA song of supplication.26.al-tíl e-lum gud-sunIt is finished, the series“Exalted, bull that overwhelms.”[pg 309]Early Form of the Seriesd.Babbar-gim-è-ta11359 (Myhrman No. 8)Ni. 11359, published byMyhrman, PBS. I. No. 8, is the left upper corner of a large four column tablet. It contained a series ofki-šubmelodies which formed the prototype of the later Enlil series of which three tablets have been edited by the writer, seeSumerian Liturgical Texts167. It stands to the completed series as the similar tablet of thee-lum gud-sunseries, Tablet Virolleaud, is related to its completed canonical form inZimmern, KL. 11. Both Ni. 11359 and Tablet Virolleaud show the evolution of two great Enlil liturgies arrested midway in their evolution. They still consist of unmethodically joined melodies. Both have the same rubric at the end. The first melody ofd.Babbar-gim-è-taafter line four agrees with the first melody of the Enlil serieszi-bu-ù sud-du-áminZimmern, KL. 8 and 9 after line five of that series. A duplicate will be found in BL. pp. 37-39, which see for critical notes on the reconstructed text.Obverse11.d.Babbar-gim è-ta[ ]1. Like the sun-god arise ...2.ù-mu-un gan...2. Oh lord ...3.a-ad.Mu-ul-lil ù-[mu-un kur-kur-ra3. Father Enlil, lord of the lands.4.d.Mu-ul-lil ù-mu-[un dúg-ga-zi-da]4. Enlil lord of faithful word.5.am-ná-a gud-dé sīg-gan-nu-di5. Crouching wild ox, bull that rests not.4106.d.Mu-ul-lil dam-kar-[ra ki-dagar-ra]6. Enlil herdsman of the wide earth.[pg 310]7.ù-mu-un mu erin-na-[ni sag-ma-al ki]7. Lord whosummonshis toilers, recorder of the earth.8.ù-mu-un iá erin-a-[ni ga-eri-ám da-]ma-[la]8. Lord who causes to abound oil for his toilers, milk for the newly born.4119.ù-mu-un ki-dúr-a-ni [uru ir-ir]9. Lord whose abode is the city of weeping.10.ki-ná-a-ni á-ág-[gà-e gal-zu]10. In whose chamber oracles are interpreted.11.a-ad.Mu-ul-lil uru-[ta Nibru-ki]11. Father Enlil in (thy) city Nippur.12.é-kur é-šag-gi-pad-da-ta12. In Ekur temple of (thy) heart's choice.13.gi-gun-na giš-tir-šim [gišerin-na-ta13. In the great dark chamber of odorous forest and cedar.14. [] Šeš-dū-a-ka šeš-mul [... ta]14. In ...,15. []si-ra é-ŭ-[di- ta ]15. In ... the house of vision,16.[ ]lu é babbar nu-[zu-ta]16. In ... house which knows the sunlight not,17.[é]-gi-dim-dim-ma i-dé [nu-bar-ri-ta]17. In the house of the“reed ofsorrow,”which eye beholds not,18.[ ]maģ dug-li duģ-[duģ-ta]18. In the great ... causing prosperity to abound,19.[é(?)]-ku-agišik-[ku-igi-lal-a-ta]19. InEkuagate of the lifting of the eyes,20. []-silim-ma mu-mar [mar-ra-ta]20....ReverseII...21.sub-bi še-ib é-[kur-ra-ta?] ki-na-an-gí-gí-ra41221. Prayer for the brick walls ofEkurthat it be restored to its place.22.ki-šù-bi-im22. It is a service of prostrations.[pg 311]Liturgy of the Cult of Kes (Nippur Fragments and Ashmolean Prism.)Keš and Opis, two closely associated but unlocated southern cities of Sumer, lay apparently somewhere in the region between Erech and Šuruppak. So closely were they united that the same cult of the great mother goddess obtained in both.413According to II Raw. 60a26, Innini of Hallab was the queen of Keš. The Sumerian liturgy, BL. p. 54, names Nintud as the goddess of this city, but the list of mother goddesses in PSBA. 1911 Pl. XII calls her by the name Ninharsag,414where she is associated with Ninmenna, epithet of the earth mother in Adab a city near Šuruppak. A fragment, No. 102 in BL., reads her title at Keš as Aruru. These various epithets all refer to the earth mother whose principal married type is Ninlil. In fact one liturgy actually names Ninlil as the goddess of Keš, SBP. 24, 74. On the other hand, a cult document of the Neo-Babylonian period names Kallat Ekur, the bride of Ekur, as the goddess ofU-pi-iaor Opis, VS. VI. 213, 21.415The bride of Ekur is Ninlil. Thus the twin cities Keš and Opis of Sumer with their cult of the earth mother Ninharsag or Nintud were imitated in later times in Akkad and located on the Tigris where Opis survived into Greek times (ωπις) and Keš seems to have become confused in writing with Kiš a famous city near Babylon. At Opis in Akkad a male satelliteIgi-duwas associated with the mother goddess and we[pg 312]may be safe in assuming that he was borrowed from the original southern cult.416Of the names Ninharsag, Aruru, Nintud, Ninmah, Innini of Hallab, we are not certain which one applied especially to Keš and Opis. In any case the liturgy which we are about to discuss had some special name for the goddess here. In a refrain which recurs at the end of each melody the psalmists say that the god of Keš, that is probably Igidu,417was made like Ašširgi, or Ninurta, and that its goddess was made like Nintud, hence thespecialname of the mother goddess in this liturgy cannot have been Nintud.So far as the text of this important liturgy in eight melodies can be established, it leads to the inference that, like all other Sumerian choral compositions, the subject is the rehearsal of sorrows which befell a city and its temple. Here the glories of Keš, its temple and its gods are recorded in choral song, and the woes of this city are referred to as symbolic of all human misfortunes. The name of the temple has not been preserved in the text. But we know from other liturgies that the temple in Keš bore the name Uršabba.418The queen of the temple Uršabba is called the mother of Negun, also a title of Ninurta in Elam.419The close connection between the goddess of Keš and Ninlil is again revealed, for Negun is the son of Ninlil in the theological lists, CT. 24, 26, 112. Therefore at Keš we have a reflection of the Innini-Tammuz cult or the worship of mother and son, mother goddess Ninlil or Ninharsag, and Igidu or Negun.420[pg 313]Keš and Opis must have been closely associated with both Erech and Šuruppak, and of traditional veneration in Sumer. Keš is mentioned in a list with Ur, Kullab (part of Erech) and Šuruppak,Smith,Miscellaneous Texts26, 5. Gudea speaks of a part of the temple in Lagash which was pure as Keš and Aratta (i. e. Šuruppak).421The various mother goddesses of Eridu, Kullab, Kêši, Lagaš and Šuruppak are invoked in an incantation, CT. 16, 36, 1-9. The first melody of the Ashmolean Prism contains a reference to the horse of Šuruppak.The textual history of this liturgy is interesting. The major text is written upon a four-sided prism now in the Ashmolean Museum of Oxford. The object is eight inches high, four inches wide on each surface and is pierced from top to bottom at the center by a small hole, so that the liturgy could be turned on a spindle. The writer published a copy of this prism or prayer wheel in hisBabylonian Liturgies. The elucidation of this exceedingly difficult text was lightened somewhat by the discovery of a four column tablet in Constantinople, which originally contained the entire text. It was afterwards published as No. 23 of myHistorical and Religious Texts. Since the edition of these two sources, the Nippur Collection in Philadelphia has been found to contain several fragments of the same liturgy. A portion of the redaction on several single column tablets had been already published byRadauin hisMiscellaneous Sumerian Texts, No. 8 (=Ni. 11876), last tablet of the series containing melodies six, seven, and eight. I failed to detect the connection ofRadau's tablet at the time of the first edition but referred to it with a rendering in myEpic of Paradise, p. 19.[pg 314]Another tablet, also from a single column tablet redaction at Nippur, has been recovered in Philadelphia, Ni. 8384.422This text utilized here in transcription contains a section marked number 4 on that tablet but all the other sources omit it. Hence this redaction probably contained nine melodies. The new melody has been inserted between melodies three and four of the standard text. If evidence did not point otherwise the editor would have supposed that Ni. 8384 and 11876 belonged to the same tablet. But Ni. 8384 has melodies four, five and six of its redaction with the catch-line of the next or its seventh melody which partly duplicates the Radau tablet. Moreover, these two tablets have not the same handwriting and differ in color and texture of the clay. Finally a small fragment, Ni. 14031, contains the end of the second melody and the beginning of the third on its obverse. The reverse contains the end of the sixth melody. This small tablet undoubtedly belongs to the four column tablet in Constantinople. The two fragments became separated by chance when the Nippur Collection was divided between Philadelphia and the Musée Imperial of Turkey. Ni. 14031 will be found in mySumerian Liturgical Texts, No. 22.Under ordinary circumstances a text for which so many duplicates exist should have yielded better results than I have been able to produce. But the contents are still obscure owing largely to the bad condition of the prism. My first rendering of the interesting refrain in which I saw a reference to the creation of man and woman was apparently erroneous. The refrain refers rather to the creation of the mother goddess of Keš and to her giving birth to her son Negun.423[pg 315]Col.I (Lines 1-22 defaced)...23.[é ke]š-(ki)-dug-ga dū-a23. [Temple] in holy Keš builded.24.[é(?)] ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-dug-gu dū-a24. [Temple(?)] in holyEN-ḪARbuilded.25.[é ...] nun-gim an-na dirig-ga25. [Temple] like ...nun, like heaven exceeding all.42426.[é ...] azag-gim ? -si ri-a26. [Temple] like the pure ... clothed in27.[é] an-na-gim mūš kur-kur-ra27. [Temple] like heaven the illumination of the lands.28.[é ...] tūr-gim ki-a-ta sur-sur-ra28. [Temple] like ...turin the earthfounded.29.[é ...-]gim mur-du ninda425-gim gù-nun-di42629. [Temple] like ... roaring, like ayoung bullbellowing.30.[é ...] bi-ta lipiš kalam-ma30. [Temple] in whose ... the hearts of the creatures of the Land ...42731.[é ...] bi-ta zid Ki-en-gi-ra31. [Temple] in whose ... the soul of life of Sumer ...32.[é ...] ib-gal an-e-ri428uš-sa32. [Temple], great ...IB, attaining unto heaven.33.[é ...]-da-gal an-e429uš-sa33. [Temple], great ...da, attaining unto heaven.34.[é ...] gal an-e uš-sa34. [Temple], great ..., attaining unto heaven.35.[é ...] -na [an-e] uš-sa35. [Temple ...], attaining unto heaven.Col.II1.... an-ki ...1. ... heaven and earth ...2.... abzu ...2. ... of the nether-sea ...3.é an-ni(?) šu-[ ]3. Temple which Anu ...[pg 316]4.d.En-lil-li zag-šú ...4. Enlil above all ...5.amad.Nin-tud eš-[bar-kin ... ]5. The mother, Nintud oracles ...6.é Keš-ki ... na ...6. Temple in Keš ...7.ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)430-gim rib-ba431galu ši-in-[ga-an-túm-mu]7. LikeEN-ḪARit has been made surpassing; verily man has brought solicitude for it.4328.ur-sag-bid.Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba8. Its hero like Ašširgi has been9.ama ši-in-ga-an433-ù-tud9. made surpassing; the mother434verily has borne him.10.nin-bid.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba435er-mu-ni-in-duģ10. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.11.gú 2 kam-[ma-ám]11. It is the second song.12.é an-šú ģud-da ki-šú ...43612. Temple, in heaven resplendent, in earth ...13.é an-šú ... ki-šú ...13. Temple, in heaven ..., in earth ...14.é an-šú siḳḳa437ki-šú udu-[gim ... ...]14. Temple, in heaven (like) a wild goat, on earth like a sheep ...15.é an-šú ... ki-šú dár-[bar-gim ...]15. Temple, in heaven (like) ..., in earth like a roe ...16.é an-šú ... gim ... ki-šú dár-bar-gim ...16. Temple, in heaven like ..., in earth like a roe ...17.é an-šú muš-gim sîg-ga ki-šu babbar-gim za-e laģ-[laģ?]17. Temple, in heaven like a dragon gleaming, on earth like the sunlight thou shinest.[pg 317]18.é an-šú babbar-gim è-a ki-šud.Nannar-gim ...18. Temple, in heaven like the sun arising, in earth like the new moon ...19.é an-šú kur-ra ki-šu idim-ma19. Temple, in heaven shining,438on earth loud crying.43920.é an-ki 3 gu-ma-bi na-nam20. Of the temple of heaven and earth three are its attendants.21.ÉN-ḪAR-(ki) gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu21. LikeEN-ḪARit has been made surpassing; verily man has brought solicitude for it.22.ur-sag-bid.Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba-[ra]22. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother23.[ama] ši-in-ga-an-ù-tud23. verily has borne him.24.[nin-bi]d.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ24. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.25.[gú] 3-kam-ma-[ám]25. It is the third section.8384.1.[é- ...] ní-gal-ar an-ni mu-maģ sá1. [Temple ...] in splendor blazing, which Anu with a far-famed name has named.2.[è ...]-gald.En-lil-li nam-ma-ni gal tar-ri2. [Temple ...] great, whose fate Enlil has grandly decreed.3.[é]á-nun-gáld.A-nun-ge-ne kalam sigi(?)440lám(?)-mu3. [Temple] ... of the Anunnaki, in the Landstarlike gleaming.4.é ki-dúr im-dúb-bu441dingir gal-gal-e-ne4. Temple, peaceful dwelling place of the great gods.5.é an-ki-bi-da giš-ģar-bi ni-ģar me el šu-ba-e-tag5. Oh temple whose design in heaven and earth has been planned, thou art possessed of pure decrees.6.é kalam ki-gar-ra zag-gar-ra uš-sa6. Temple erected in the Land, where stand the chapels of the gods.[pg 318]7.é-kur ģe-gál ka-zal ud-zal-zal-li7. Mountain house, radiant with abundance and festivity.8.éd.Nin-ģar-sag-gà zi-kalam-ma ki-bi-šú gar8. Temple in whose place Ninharsag has instituted the breath of life of Sumer.9.é-ģar-sag-gal šu-luģ-ģa túm-ma nig-nam-ma-ni ni442-kúr9. Great mountain house, made worthy of the rituals of purification, of its possessions nought changes.10.é ... da-nu ka-áš-bar nu-gà-gà10. Temple ... ceases not to render decision.11.è ... kalam-dagal-šú lá-a11. Temple ... unto the wide Land bearing.12.[é] kalam šár ù-tud numun giš-isimu tuk-tuk12. [Temple] causing the multitudes of the Land to produce offspring, causing the seed to send forth sprouts.13.[é] lugal ù-tud nam kalam-ma tar-ri13. Temple that gives birth to king, decreeing the fate of the Land.14.[é] bár-bár kar su-ḳin-dúr-bi ag-dé14. ...15.ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu15. LikeÉN-ḪARit has been made surpassing; verily man has wrought solicitude for it.16.ur-sag-bid.Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-ám-ù-tud16. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother verily has borne him.17.nin-bid.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ17. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.18. [gú4]-kam-ma-ám18. It is the fourth section.[pg 319]

Reverse of Tablet Virolleaud (The titular litany)1.é-e sub-da sub-da [mu-un-laģ-en-ne-en]To the temple with prayer, with prayer let us go.3972.balag398é-e dirig sub-da [mu-un-laģ-en-ne-en]To the lyre unto the temple which surpasses all let us go.3.balag nigin-na-e sub-dad.Mu-[ul-lil-ra mu-un]To the lyre unto the merciful one with prayer, [unto Enlil,]4.balag dîm-me-ir mu-lu sub-dad.Mu-ul-[lil-ra mu-un]To the lyre unto god, the lord, with prayer, unto Enlil [let us go].5.dîm-me-ir lu-gă-lu-ne-en sub-da mu-un-laģ-en-[ne-en]Unto him who is god of his people with prayer let us go.6.me-en-ne é-e tùb a-ra-zu-a mu-un-laģ-en-ne-[en]We“Oh temple repose”in prayer come.7.me-en-ne ki-e tùb a-ra-zu-a mu-un-laģ-(en)-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil-ra]We“Oh earth repose”in prayer come, unto Enlil (come).8.ù-mu-un šă-ab tùb-e-da in-gà399-laģ-(en)-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil-ra]To pacify the heart of the lord behold we come unto Enlil.9.šă-ab ģun-gà bar ģun-gà-da in-gà-laģ-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil-ra]To pacify the heart, to pacify the soul, behold we come to Enlil.10.me-en-ne šă-ab ù-mu-un-na mu-un-tùb-(en)-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil]We will pacify the heart of the lord, yea of Enlil.11.šă-ab an-na šă-abd.Mu-ul-lil-lá mu-un-tub-(en)-ne-enThe heart of Anu and the heart of Enlil we will pacify.12.d.Mu-ul-lil-lá dam-a-ni ...d.Nin-lil-lá[The heart of] Enlil and his wife Ninlil [we will pacify.]13.d.En-kid.Nin-kid.En-muld.Nin-mul400The heart of Enki, Ninki, Enmul and Ninmul [we will pacify.]14.i-lu a-di ig-ga-am-ma-ruA god until they are finished.401[pg 308]ki-šub-gú 10-kam-ma402The tenth strophe.(The Recessional)15.ù-mu-un-mu za-e babbar403uru-mà ur-sag-gà me-enMy lord thou art, light of my city, a hero thou art.16.šùb-bi-mu ù-mu-un kalag-a ur-sag-gà me-enMy illumination, oh valiant lord, a hero thou art.17.ù-mu-un kalag-a ur-sag-gà me-en kalag-ga-na me-enOh valiant lord, a hero thou art, its404defender thou art.18.d.Babbar-gim za-e ? en-na an-ni tur-tur-ne-[en]Like Shamash thou art ... into heaven enters.19.d.Nannar-gim ki dumu-zu an-na(?)405na-an-gir-ri-[ne-en]Like Nannar where thy son406in heaven hastens.20.ù-mu-un-mu enem-zu galu-ra407na-an-na-ab-zí-[em]My lord thy word on man has fallen.21.enem-zu galu ki408-kal-ra na-an-na-ab-zí-[em]Thy word on him of the foreign land has fallen.22.enem-zu galu en-na nu-šeg-ra na-an-na-ab-zí-[em]Thy word on men as many as are not obedient has fallen.23.ù-mu-un-mu uru-zu-a è-ni a-sar-sar-ra409My lordbeneficentwaters in thy city cause to spring forth.24.a-ad.Mu-ul-lil ki-bur-ta-bur-ta uru-zu-a è-niFather Enlil ... in thy city cause to come forth.ki-šub-gù11-kam-maThe eleventh strophe.25.sub-bi še-ib è-kur-ra-ta ki-na gí-gí-ra.A prayer for the brick walls of Ekur, that it return to its place.ki-šú-bi-imA song of supplication.26.al-tíl e-lum gud-sunIt is finished, the series“Exalted, bull that overwhelms.”

1.é-e sub-da sub-da [mu-un-laģ-en-ne-en]To the temple with prayer, with prayer let us go.397

1.é-e sub-da sub-da [mu-un-laģ-en-ne-en]

To the temple with prayer, with prayer let us go.397

2.balag398é-e dirig sub-da [mu-un-laģ-en-ne-en]To the lyre unto the temple which surpasses all let us go.

2.balag398é-e dirig sub-da [mu-un-laģ-en-ne-en]

To the lyre unto the temple which surpasses all let us go.

3.balag nigin-na-e sub-dad.Mu-[ul-lil-ra mu-un]To the lyre unto the merciful one with prayer, [unto Enlil,]

3.balag nigin-na-e sub-dad.Mu-[ul-lil-ra mu-un]

To the lyre unto the merciful one with prayer, [unto Enlil,]

4.balag dîm-me-ir mu-lu sub-dad.Mu-ul-[lil-ra mu-un]To the lyre unto god, the lord, with prayer, unto Enlil [let us go].

4.balag dîm-me-ir mu-lu sub-dad.Mu-ul-[lil-ra mu-un]

To the lyre unto god, the lord, with prayer, unto Enlil [let us go].

5.dîm-me-ir lu-gă-lu-ne-en sub-da mu-un-laģ-en-[ne-en]Unto him who is god of his people with prayer let us go.

5.dîm-me-ir lu-gă-lu-ne-en sub-da mu-un-laģ-en-[ne-en]

Unto him who is god of his people with prayer let us go.

6.me-en-ne é-e tùb a-ra-zu-a mu-un-laģ-en-ne-[en]We“Oh temple repose”in prayer come.

6.me-en-ne é-e tùb a-ra-zu-a mu-un-laģ-en-ne-[en]

We“Oh temple repose”in prayer come.

7.me-en-ne ki-e tùb a-ra-zu-a mu-un-laģ-(en)-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil-ra]We“Oh earth repose”in prayer come, unto Enlil (come).

7.me-en-ne ki-e tùb a-ra-zu-a mu-un-laģ-(en)-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil-ra]

We“Oh earth repose”in prayer come, unto Enlil (come).

8.ù-mu-un šă-ab tùb-e-da in-gà399-laģ-(en)-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil-ra]To pacify the heart of the lord behold we come unto Enlil.

8.ù-mu-un šă-ab tùb-e-da in-gà399-laģ-(en)-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil-ra]

To pacify the heart of the lord behold we come unto Enlil.

9.šă-ab ģun-gà bar ģun-gà-da in-gà-laģ-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil-ra]To pacify the heart, to pacify the soul, behold we come to Enlil.

9.šă-ab ģun-gà bar ģun-gà-da in-gà-laģ-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil-ra]

To pacify the heart, to pacify the soul, behold we come to Enlil.

10.me-en-ne šă-ab ù-mu-un-na mu-un-tùb-(en)-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil]We will pacify the heart of the lord, yea of Enlil.

10.me-en-ne šă-ab ù-mu-un-na mu-un-tùb-(en)-ne-end.Mu-[ul-lil]

We will pacify the heart of the lord, yea of Enlil.

11.šă-ab an-na šă-abd.Mu-ul-lil-lá mu-un-tub-(en)-ne-enThe heart of Anu and the heart of Enlil we will pacify.

11.šă-ab an-na šă-abd.Mu-ul-lil-lá mu-un-tub-(en)-ne-en

The heart of Anu and the heart of Enlil we will pacify.

12.d.Mu-ul-lil-lá dam-a-ni ...d.Nin-lil-lá[The heart of] Enlil and his wife Ninlil [we will pacify.]

12.d.Mu-ul-lil-lá dam-a-ni ...d.Nin-lil-lá

[The heart of] Enlil and his wife Ninlil [we will pacify.]

13.d.En-kid.Nin-kid.En-muld.Nin-mul400The heart of Enki, Ninki, Enmul and Ninmul [we will pacify.]

13.d.En-kid.Nin-kid.En-muld.Nin-mul400

The heart of Enki, Ninki, Enmul and Ninmul [we will pacify.]

14.i-lu a-di ig-ga-am-ma-ruA god until they are finished.401

14.i-lu a-di ig-ga-am-ma-ru

A god until they are finished.401

ki-šub-gú 10-kam-ma402The tenth strophe.

ki-šub-gú 10-kam-ma402

The tenth strophe.

(The Recessional)

15.ù-mu-un-mu za-e babbar403uru-mà ur-sag-gà me-enMy lord thou art, light of my city, a hero thou art.

15.ù-mu-un-mu za-e babbar403uru-mà ur-sag-gà me-en

My lord thou art, light of my city, a hero thou art.

16.šùb-bi-mu ù-mu-un kalag-a ur-sag-gà me-enMy illumination, oh valiant lord, a hero thou art.

16.šùb-bi-mu ù-mu-un kalag-a ur-sag-gà me-en

My illumination, oh valiant lord, a hero thou art.

17.ù-mu-un kalag-a ur-sag-gà me-en kalag-ga-na me-enOh valiant lord, a hero thou art, its404defender thou art.

17.ù-mu-un kalag-a ur-sag-gà me-en kalag-ga-na me-en

Oh valiant lord, a hero thou art, its404defender thou art.

18.d.Babbar-gim za-e ? en-na an-ni tur-tur-ne-[en]Like Shamash thou art ... into heaven enters.

18.d.Babbar-gim za-e ? en-na an-ni tur-tur-ne-[en]

Like Shamash thou art ... into heaven enters.

19.d.Nannar-gim ki dumu-zu an-na(?)405na-an-gir-ri-[ne-en]Like Nannar where thy son406in heaven hastens.

19.d.Nannar-gim ki dumu-zu an-na(?)405na-an-gir-ri-[ne-en]

Like Nannar where thy son406in heaven hastens.

20.ù-mu-un-mu enem-zu galu-ra407na-an-na-ab-zí-[em]My lord thy word on man has fallen.

20.ù-mu-un-mu enem-zu galu-ra407na-an-na-ab-zí-[em]

My lord thy word on man has fallen.

21.enem-zu galu ki408-kal-ra na-an-na-ab-zí-[em]Thy word on him of the foreign land has fallen.

21.enem-zu galu ki408-kal-ra na-an-na-ab-zí-[em]

Thy word on him of the foreign land has fallen.

22.enem-zu galu en-na nu-šeg-ra na-an-na-ab-zí-[em]Thy word on men as many as are not obedient has fallen.

22.enem-zu galu en-na nu-šeg-ra na-an-na-ab-zí-[em]

Thy word on men as many as are not obedient has fallen.

23.ù-mu-un-mu uru-zu-a è-ni a-sar-sar-ra409My lordbeneficentwaters in thy city cause to spring forth.

23.ù-mu-un-mu uru-zu-a è-ni a-sar-sar-ra409

My lordbeneficentwaters in thy city cause to spring forth.

24.a-ad.Mu-ul-lil ki-bur-ta-bur-ta uru-zu-a è-niFather Enlil ... in thy city cause to come forth.

24.a-ad.Mu-ul-lil ki-bur-ta-bur-ta uru-zu-a è-ni

Father Enlil ... in thy city cause to come forth.

ki-šub-gù11-kam-maThe eleventh strophe.

ki-šub-gù11-kam-ma

The eleventh strophe.

25.sub-bi še-ib è-kur-ra-ta ki-na gí-gí-ra.A prayer for the brick walls of Ekur, that it return to its place.

25.sub-bi še-ib è-kur-ra-ta ki-na gí-gí-ra.

A prayer for the brick walls of Ekur, that it return to its place.

ki-šú-bi-imA song of supplication.

ki-šú-bi-im

A song of supplication.

26.al-tíl e-lum gud-sunIt is finished, the series“Exalted, bull that overwhelms.”

26.al-tíl e-lum gud-sun

It is finished, the series“Exalted, bull that overwhelms.”

Early Form of the Seriesd.Babbar-gim-è-ta11359 (Myhrman No. 8)Ni. 11359, published byMyhrman, PBS. I. No. 8, is the left upper corner of a large four column tablet. It contained a series ofki-šubmelodies which formed the prototype of the later Enlil series of which three tablets have been edited by the writer, seeSumerian Liturgical Texts167. It stands to the completed series as the similar tablet of thee-lum gud-sunseries, Tablet Virolleaud, is related to its completed canonical form inZimmern, KL. 11. Both Ni. 11359 and Tablet Virolleaud show the evolution of two great Enlil liturgies arrested midway in their evolution. They still consist of unmethodically joined melodies. Both have the same rubric at the end. The first melody ofd.Babbar-gim-è-taafter line four agrees with the first melody of the Enlil serieszi-bu-ù sud-du-áminZimmern, KL. 8 and 9 after line five of that series. A duplicate will be found in BL. pp. 37-39, which see for critical notes on the reconstructed text.Obverse11.d.Babbar-gim è-ta[ ]1. Like the sun-god arise ...2.ù-mu-un gan...2. Oh lord ...3.a-ad.Mu-ul-lil ù-[mu-un kur-kur-ra3. Father Enlil, lord of the lands.4.d.Mu-ul-lil ù-mu-[un dúg-ga-zi-da]4. Enlil lord of faithful word.5.am-ná-a gud-dé sīg-gan-nu-di5. Crouching wild ox, bull that rests not.4106.d.Mu-ul-lil dam-kar-[ra ki-dagar-ra]6. Enlil herdsman of the wide earth.[pg 310]7.ù-mu-un mu erin-na-[ni sag-ma-al ki]7. Lord whosummonshis toilers, recorder of the earth.8.ù-mu-un iá erin-a-[ni ga-eri-ám da-]ma-[la]8. Lord who causes to abound oil for his toilers, milk for the newly born.4119.ù-mu-un ki-dúr-a-ni [uru ir-ir]9. Lord whose abode is the city of weeping.10.ki-ná-a-ni á-ág-[gà-e gal-zu]10. In whose chamber oracles are interpreted.11.a-ad.Mu-ul-lil uru-[ta Nibru-ki]11. Father Enlil in (thy) city Nippur.12.é-kur é-šag-gi-pad-da-ta12. In Ekur temple of (thy) heart's choice.13.gi-gun-na giš-tir-šim [gišerin-na-ta13. In the great dark chamber of odorous forest and cedar.14. [] Šeš-dū-a-ka šeš-mul [... ta]14. In ...,15. []si-ra é-ŭ-[di- ta ]15. In ... the house of vision,16.[ ]lu é babbar nu-[zu-ta]16. In ... house which knows the sunlight not,17.[é]-gi-dim-dim-ma i-dé [nu-bar-ri-ta]17. In the house of the“reed ofsorrow,”which eye beholds not,18.[ ]maģ dug-li duģ-[duģ-ta]18. In the great ... causing prosperity to abound,19.[é(?)]-ku-agišik-[ku-igi-lal-a-ta]19. InEkuagate of the lifting of the eyes,20. []-silim-ma mu-mar [mar-ra-ta]20....ReverseII...21.sub-bi še-ib é-[kur-ra-ta?] ki-na-an-gí-gí-ra41221. Prayer for the brick walls ofEkurthat it be restored to its place.22.ki-šù-bi-im22. It is a service of prostrations.

Ni. 11359, published byMyhrman, PBS. I. No. 8, is the left upper corner of a large four column tablet. It contained a series ofki-šubmelodies which formed the prototype of the later Enlil series of which three tablets have been edited by the writer, seeSumerian Liturgical Texts167. It stands to the completed series as the similar tablet of thee-lum gud-sunseries, Tablet Virolleaud, is related to its completed canonical form inZimmern, KL. 11. Both Ni. 11359 and Tablet Virolleaud show the evolution of two great Enlil liturgies arrested midway in their evolution. They still consist of unmethodically joined melodies. Both have the same rubric at the end. The first melody ofd.Babbar-gim-è-taafter line four agrees with the first melody of the Enlil serieszi-bu-ù sud-du-áminZimmern, KL. 8 and 9 after line five of that series. A duplicate will be found in BL. pp. 37-39, which see for critical notes on the reconstructed text.

Obverse1

1.d.Babbar-gim è-ta[ ]1. Like the sun-god arise ...

1.d.Babbar-gim è-ta[ ]

1. Like the sun-god arise ...

2.ù-mu-un gan...2. Oh lord ...

2.ù-mu-un gan...

2. Oh lord ...

3.a-ad.Mu-ul-lil ù-[mu-un kur-kur-ra3. Father Enlil, lord of the lands.

3.a-ad.Mu-ul-lil ù-[mu-un kur-kur-ra

3. Father Enlil, lord of the lands.

4.d.Mu-ul-lil ù-mu-[un dúg-ga-zi-da]4. Enlil lord of faithful word.

4.d.Mu-ul-lil ù-mu-[un dúg-ga-zi-da]

4. Enlil lord of faithful word.

5.am-ná-a gud-dé sīg-gan-nu-di5. Crouching wild ox, bull that rests not.410

5.am-ná-a gud-dé sīg-gan-nu-di

5. Crouching wild ox, bull that rests not.410

6.d.Mu-ul-lil dam-kar-[ra ki-dagar-ra]6. Enlil herdsman of the wide earth.

6.d.Mu-ul-lil dam-kar-[ra ki-dagar-ra]

6. Enlil herdsman of the wide earth.

7.ù-mu-un mu erin-na-[ni sag-ma-al ki]7. Lord whosummonshis toilers, recorder of the earth.

7.ù-mu-un mu erin-na-[ni sag-ma-al ki]

7. Lord whosummonshis toilers, recorder of the earth.

8.ù-mu-un iá erin-a-[ni ga-eri-ám da-]ma-[la]8. Lord who causes to abound oil for his toilers, milk for the newly born.411

8.ù-mu-un iá erin-a-[ni ga-eri-ám da-]ma-[la]

8. Lord who causes to abound oil for his toilers, milk for the newly born.411

9.ù-mu-un ki-dúr-a-ni [uru ir-ir]9. Lord whose abode is the city of weeping.

9.ù-mu-un ki-dúr-a-ni [uru ir-ir]

9. Lord whose abode is the city of weeping.

10.ki-ná-a-ni á-ág-[gà-e gal-zu]10. In whose chamber oracles are interpreted.

10.ki-ná-a-ni á-ág-[gà-e gal-zu]

10. In whose chamber oracles are interpreted.

11.a-ad.Mu-ul-lil uru-[ta Nibru-ki]11. Father Enlil in (thy) city Nippur.

11.a-ad.Mu-ul-lil uru-[ta Nibru-ki]

11. Father Enlil in (thy) city Nippur.

12.é-kur é-šag-gi-pad-da-ta12. In Ekur temple of (thy) heart's choice.

12.é-kur é-šag-gi-pad-da-ta

12. In Ekur temple of (thy) heart's choice.

13.gi-gun-na giš-tir-šim [gišerin-na-ta13. In the great dark chamber of odorous forest and cedar.

13.gi-gun-na giš-tir-šim [gišerin-na-ta

13. In the great dark chamber of odorous forest and cedar.

14. [] Šeš-dū-a-ka šeš-mul [... ta]14. In ...,

14. [] Šeš-dū-a-ka šeš-mul [... ta]

14. In ...,

15. []si-ra é-ŭ-[di- ta ]15. In ... the house of vision,

15. []si-ra é-ŭ-[di- ta ]

15. In ... the house of vision,

16.[ ]lu é babbar nu-[zu-ta]16. In ... house which knows the sunlight not,

16.[ ]lu é babbar nu-[zu-ta]

16. In ... house which knows the sunlight not,

17.[é]-gi-dim-dim-ma i-dé [nu-bar-ri-ta]17. In the house of the“reed ofsorrow,”which eye beholds not,

17.[é]-gi-dim-dim-ma i-dé [nu-bar-ri-ta]

17. In the house of the“reed ofsorrow,”which eye beholds not,

18.[ ]maģ dug-li duģ-[duģ-ta]18. In the great ... causing prosperity to abound,

18.[ ]maģ dug-li duģ-[duģ-ta]

18. In the great ... causing prosperity to abound,

19.[é(?)]-ku-agišik-[ku-igi-lal-a-ta]19. InEkuagate of the lifting of the eyes,

19.[é(?)]-ku-agišik-[ku-igi-lal-a-ta]

19. InEkuagate of the lifting of the eyes,

20. []-silim-ma mu-mar [mar-ra-ta]20.

20. []-silim-ma mu-mar [mar-ra-ta]

20.

...

ReverseII

...

21.sub-bi še-ib é-[kur-ra-ta?] ki-na-an-gí-gí-ra41221. Prayer for the brick walls ofEkurthat it be restored to its place.

21.sub-bi še-ib é-[kur-ra-ta?] ki-na-an-gí-gí-ra412

21. Prayer for the brick walls ofEkurthat it be restored to its place.

22.ki-šù-bi-im22. It is a service of prostrations.

22.ki-šù-bi-im

22. It is a service of prostrations.

Liturgy of the Cult of Kes (Nippur Fragments and Ashmolean Prism.)Keš and Opis, two closely associated but unlocated southern cities of Sumer, lay apparently somewhere in the region between Erech and Šuruppak. So closely were they united that the same cult of the great mother goddess obtained in both.413According to II Raw. 60a26, Innini of Hallab was the queen of Keš. The Sumerian liturgy, BL. p. 54, names Nintud as the goddess of this city, but the list of mother goddesses in PSBA. 1911 Pl. XII calls her by the name Ninharsag,414where she is associated with Ninmenna, epithet of the earth mother in Adab a city near Šuruppak. A fragment, No. 102 in BL., reads her title at Keš as Aruru. These various epithets all refer to the earth mother whose principal married type is Ninlil. In fact one liturgy actually names Ninlil as the goddess of Keš, SBP. 24, 74. On the other hand, a cult document of the Neo-Babylonian period names Kallat Ekur, the bride of Ekur, as the goddess ofU-pi-iaor Opis, VS. VI. 213, 21.415The bride of Ekur is Ninlil. Thus the twin cities Keš and Opis of Sumer with their cult of the earth mother Ninharsag or Nintud were imitated in later times in Akkad and located on the Tigris where Opis survived into Greek times (ωπις) and Keš seems to have become confused in writing with Kiš a famous city near Babylon. At Opis in Akkad a male satelliteIgi-duwas associated with the mother goddess and we[pg 312]may be safe in assuming that he was borrowed from the original southern cult.416Of the names Ninharsag, Aruru, Nintud, Ninmah, Innini of Hallab, we are not certain which one applied especially to Keš and Opis. In any case the liturgy which we are about to discuss had some special name for the goddess here. In a refrain which recurs at the end of each melody the psalmists say that the god of Keš, that is probably Igidu,417was made like Ašširgi, or Ninurta, and that its goddess was made like Nintud, hence thespecialname of the mother goddess in this liturgy cannot have been Nintud.So far as the text of this important liturgy in eight melodies can be established, it leads to the inference that, like all other Sumerian choral compositions, the subject is the rehearsal of sorrows which befell a city and its temple. Here the glories of Keš, its temple and its gods are recorded in choral song, and the woes of this city are referred to as symbolic of all human misfortunes. The name of the temple has not been preserved in the text. But we know from other liturgies that the temple in Keš bore the name Uršabba.418The queen of the temple Uršabba is called the mother of Negun, also a title of Ninurta in Elam.419The close connection between the goddess of Keš and Ninlil is again revealed, for Negun is the son of Ninlil in the theological lists, CT. 24, 26, 112. Therefore at Keš we have a reflection of the Innini-Tammuz cult or the worship of mother and son, mother goddess Ninlil or Ninharsag, and Igidu or Negun.420[pg 313]Keš and Opis must have been closely associated with both Erech and Šuruppak, and of traditional veneration in Sumer. Keš is mentioned in a list with Ur, Kullab (part of Erech) and Šuruppak,Smith,Miscellaneous Texts26, 5. Gudea speaks of a part of the temple in Lagash which was pure as Keš and Aratta (i. e. Šuruppak).421The various mother goddesses of Eridu, Kullab, Kêši, Lagaš and Šuruppak are invoked in an incantation, CT. 16, 36, 1-9. The first melody of the Ashmolean Prism contains a reference to the horse of Šuruppak.The textual history of this liturgy is interesting. The major text is written upon a four-sided prism now in the Ashmolean Museum of Oxford. The object is eight inches high, four inches wide on each surface and is pierced from top to bottom at the center by a small hole, so that the liturgy could be turned on a spindle. The writer published a copy of this prism or prayer wheel in hisBabylonian Liturgies. The elucidation of this exceedingly difficult text was lightened somewhat by the discovery of a four column tablet in Constantinople, which originally contained the entire text. It was afterwards published as No. 23 of myHistorical and Religious Texts. Since the edition of these two sources, the Nippur Collection in Philadelphia has been found to contain several fragments of the same liturgy. A portion of the redaction on several single column tablets had been already published byRadauin hisMiscellaneous Sumerian Texts, No. 8 (=Ni. 11876), last tablet of the series containing melodies six, seven, and eight. I failed to detect the connection ofRadau's tablet at the time of the first edition but referred to it with a rendering in myEpic of Paradise, p. 19.[pg 314]Another tablet, also from a single column tablet redaction at Nippur, has been recovered in Philadelphia, Ni. 8384.422This text utilized here in transcription contains a section marked number 4 on that tablet but all the other sources omit it. Hence this redaction probably contained nine melodies. The new melody has been inserted between melodies three and four of the standard text. If evidence did not point otherwise the editor would have supposed that Ni. 8384 and 11876 belonged to the same tablet. But Ni. 8384 has melodies four, five and six of its redaction with the catch-line of the next or its seventh melody which partly duplicates the Radau tablet. Moreover, these two tablets have not the same handwriting and differ in color and texture of the clay. Finally a small fragment, Ni. 14031, contains the end of the second melody and the beginning of the third on its obverse. The reverse contains the end of the sixth melody. This small tablet undoubtedly belongs to the four column tablet in Constantinople. The two fragments became separated by chance when the Nippur Collection was divided between Philadelphia and the Musée Imperial of Turkey. Ni. 14031 will be found in mySumerian Liturgical Texts, No. 22.Under ordinary circumstances a text for which so many duplicates exist should have yielded better results than I have been able to produce. But the contents are still obscure owing largely to the bad condition of the prism. My first rendering of the interesting refrain in which I saw a reference to the creation of man and woman was apparently erroneous. The refrain refers rather to the creation of the mother goddess of Keš and to her giving birth to her son Negun.423[pg 315]Col.I (Lines 1-22 defaced)...23.[é ke]š-(ki)-dug-ga dū-a23. [Temple] in holy Keš builded.24.[é(?)] ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-dug-gu dū-a24. [Temple(?)] in holyEN-ḪARbuilded.25.[é ...] nun-gim an-na dirig-ga25. [Temple] like ...nun, like heaven exceeding all.42426.[é ...] azag-gim ? -si ri-a26. [Temple] like the pure ... clothed in27.[é] an-na-gim mūš kur-kur-ra27. [Temple] like heaven the illumination of the lands.28.[é ...] tūr-gim ki-a-ta sur-sur-ra28. [Temple] like ...turin the earthfounded.29.[é ...-]gim mur-du ninda425-gim gù-nun-di42629. [Temple] like ... roaring, like ayoung bullbellowing.30.[é ...] bi-ta lipiš kalam-ma30. [Temple] in whose ... the hearts of the creatures of the Land ...42731.[é ...] bi-ta zid Ki-en-gi-ra31. [Temple] in whose ... the soul of life of Sumer ...32.[é ...] ib-gal an-e-ri428uš-sa32. [Temple], great ...IB, attaining unto heaven.33.[é ...]-da-gal an-e429uš-sa33. [Temple], great ...da, attaining unto heaven.34.[é ...] gal an-e uš-sa34. [Temple], great ..., attaining unto heaven.35.[é ...] -na [an-e] uš-sa35. [Temple ...], attaining unto heaven.Col.II1.... an-ki ...1. ... heaven and earth ...2.... abzu ...2. ... of the nether-sea ...3.é an-ni(?) šu-[ ]3. Temple which Anu ...[pg 316]4.d.En-lil-li zag-šú ...4. Enlil above all ...5.amad.Nin-tud eš-[bar-kin ... ]5. The mother, Nintud oracles ...6.é Keš-ki ... na ...6. Temple in Keš ...7.ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)430-gim rib-ba431galu ši-in-[ga-an-túm-mu]7. LikeEN-ḪARit has been made surpassing; verily man has brought solicitude for it.4328.ur-sag-bid.Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba8. Its hero like Ašširgi has been9.ama ši-in-ga-an433-ù-tud9. made surpassing; the mother434verily has borne him.10.nin-bid.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba435er-mu-ni-in-duģ10. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.11.gú 2 kam-[ma-ám]11. It is the second song.12.é an-šú ģud-da ki-šú ...43612. Temple, in heaven resplendent, in earth ...13.é an-šú ... ki-šú ...13. Temple, in heaven ..., in earth ...14.é an-šú siḳḳa437ki-šú udu-[gim ... ...]14. Temple, in heaven (like) a wild goat, on earth like a sheep ...15.é an-šú ... ki-šú dár-[bar-gim ...]15. Temple, in heaven (like) ..., in earth like a roe ...16.é an-šú ... gim ... ki-šú dár-bar-gim ...16. Temple, in heaven like ..., in earth like a roe ...17.é an-šú muš-gim sîg-ga ki-šu babbar-gim za-e laģ-[laģ?]17. Temple, in heaven like a dragon gleaming, on earth like the sunlight thou shinest.[pg 317]18.é an-šú babbar-gim è-a ki-šud.Nannar-gim ...18. Temple, in heaven like the sun arising, in earth like the new moon ...19.é an-šú kur-ra ki-šu idim-ma19. Temple, in heaven shining,438on earth loud crying.43920.é an-ki 3 gu-ma-bi na-nam20. Of the temple of heaven and earth three are its attendants.21.ÉN-ḪAR-(ki) gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu21. LikeEN-ḪARit has been made surpassing; verily man has brought solicitude for it.22.ur-sag-bid.Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba-[ra]22. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother23.[ama] ši-in-ga-an-ù-tud23. verily has borne him.24.[nin-bi]d.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ24. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.25.[gú] 3-kam-ma-[ám]25. It is the third section.8384.1.[é- ...] ní-gal-ar an-ni mu-maģ sá1. [Temple ...] in splendor blazing, which Anu with a far-famed name has named.2.[è ...]-gald.En-lil-li nam-ma-ni gal tar-ri2. [Temple ...] great, whose fate Enlil has grandly decreed.3.[é]á-nun-gáld.A-nun-ge-ne kalam sigi(?)440lám(?)-mu3. [Temple] ... of the Anunnaki, in the Landstarlike gleaming.4.é ki-dúr im-dúb-bu441dingir gal-gal-e-ne4. Temple, peaceful dwelling place of the great gods.5.é an-ki-bi-da giš-ģar-bi ni-ģar me el šu-ba-e-tag5. Oh temple whose design in heaven and earth has been planned, thou art possessed of pure decrees.6.é kalam ki-gar-ra zag-gar-ra uš-sa6. Temple erected in the Land, where stand the chapels of the gods.[pg 318]7.é-kur ģe-gál ka-zal ud-zal-zal-li7. Mountain house, radiant with abundance and festivity.8.éd.Nin-ģar-sag-gà zi-kalam-ma ki-bi-šú gar8. Temple in whose place Ninharsag has instituted the breath of life of Sumer.9.é-ģar-sag-gal šu-luģ-ģa túm-ma nig-nam-ma-ni ni442-kúr9. Great mountain house, made worthy of the rituals of purification, of its possessions nought changes.10.é ... da-nu ka-áš-bar nu-gà-gà10. Temple ... ceases not to render decision.11.è ... kalam-dagal-šú lá-a11. Temple ... unto the wide Land bearing.12.[é] kalam šár ù-tud numun giš-isimu tuk-tuk12. [Temple] causing the multitudes of the Land to produce offspring, causing the seed to send forth sprouts.13.[é] lugal ù-tud nam kalam-ma tar-ri13. Temple that gives birth to king, decreeing the fate of the Land.14.[é] bár-bár kar su-ḳin-dúr-bi ag-dé14. ...15.ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu15. LikeÉN-ḪARit has been made surpassing; verily man has wrought solicitude for it.16.ur-sag-bid.Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-ám-ù-tud16. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother verily has borne him.17.nin-bid.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ17. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.18. [gú4]-kam-ma-ám18. It is the fourth section.

Keš and Opis, two closely associated but unlocated southern cities of Sumer, lay apparently somewhere in the region between Erech and Šuruppak. So closely were they united that the same cult of the great mother goddess obtained in both.413According to II Raw. 60a26, Innini of Hallab was the queen of Keš. The Sumerian liturgy, BL. p. 54, names Nintud as the goddess of this city, but the list of mother goddesses in PSBA. 1911 Pl. XII calls her by the name Ninharsag,414where she is associated with Ninmenna, epithet of the earth mother in Adab a city near Šuruppak. A fragment, No. 102 in BL., reads her title at Keš as Aruru. These various epithets all refer to the earth mother whose principal married type is Ninlil. In fact one liturgy actually names Ninlil as the goddess of Keš, SBP. 24, 74. On the other hand, a cult document of the Neo-Babylonian period names Kallat Ekur, the bride of Ekur, as the goddess ofU-pi-iaor Opis, VS. VI. 213, 21.415The bride of Ekur is Ninlil. Thus the twin cities Keš and Opis of Sumer with their cult of the earth mother Ninharsag or Nintud were imitated in later times in Akkad and located on the Tigris where Opis survived into Greek times (ωπις) and Keš seems to have become confused in writing with Kiš a famous city near Babylon. At Opis in Akkad a male satelliteIgi-duwas associated with the mother goddess and we[pg 312]may be safe in assuming that he was borrowed from the original southern cult.416Of the names Ninharsag, Aruru, Nintud, Ninmah, Innini of Hallab, we are not certain which one applied especially to Keš and Opis. In any case the liturgy which we are about to discuss had some special name for the goddess here. In a refrain which recurs at the end of each melody the psalmists say that the god of Keš, that is probably Igidu,417was made like Ašširgi, or Ninurta, and that its goddess was made like Nintud, hence thespecialname of the mother goddess in this liturgy cannot have been Nintud.

So far as the text of this important liturgy in eight melodies can be established, it leads to the inference that, like all other Sumerian choral compositions, the subject is the rehearsal of sorrows which befell a city and its temple. Here the glories of Keš, its temple and its gods are recorded in choral song, and the woes of this city are referred to as symbolic of all human misfortunes. The name of the temple has not been preserved in the text. But we know from other liturgies that the temple in Keš bore the name Uršabba.418The queen of the temple Uršabba is called the mother of Negun, also a title of Ninurta in Elam.419The close connection between the goddess of Keš and Ninlil is again revealed, for Negun is the son of Ninlil in the theological lists, CT. 24, 26, 112. Therefore at Keš we have a reflection of the Innini-Tammuz cult or the worship of mother and son, mother goddess Ninlil or Ninharsag, and Igidu or Negun.420

Keš and Opis must have been closely associated with both Erech and Šuruppak, and of traditional veneration in Sumer. Keš is mentioned in a list with Ur, Kullab (part of Erech) and Šuruppak,Smith,Miscellaneous Texts26, 5. Gudea speaks of a part of the temple in Lagash which was pure as Keš and Aratta (i. e. Šuruppak).421The various mother goddesses of Eridu, Kullab, Kêši, Lagaš and Šuruppak are invoked in an incantation, CT. 16, 36, 1-9. The first melody of the Ashmolean Prism contains a reference to the horse of Šuruppak.

The textual history of this liturgy is interesting. The major text is written upon a four-sided prism now in the Ashmolean Museum of Oxford. The object is eight inches high, four inches wide on each surface and is pierced from top to bottom at the center by a small hole, so that the liturgy could be turned on a spindle. The writer published a copy of this prism or prayer wheel in hisBabylonian Liturgies. The elucidation of this exceedingly difficult text was lightened somewhat by the discovery of a four column tablet in Constantinople, which originally contained the entire text. It was afterwards published as No. 23 of myHistorical and Religious Texts. Since the edition of these two sources, the Nippur Collection in Philadelphia has been found to contain several fragments of the same liturgy. A portion of the redaction on several single column tablets had been already published byRadauin hisMiscellaneous Sumerian Texts, No. 8 (=Ni. 11876), last tablet of the series containing melodies six, seven, and eight. I failed to detect the connection ofRadau's tablet at the time of the first edition but referred to it with a rendering in myEpic of Paradise, p. 19.[pg 314]Another tablet, also from a single column tablet redaction at Nippur, has been recovered in Philadelphia, Ni. 8384.422This text utilized here in transcription contains a section marked number 4 on that tablet but all the other sources omit it. Hence this redaction probably contained nine melodies. The new melody has been inserted between melodies three and four of the standard text. If evidence did not point otherwise the editor would have supposed that Ni. 8384 and 11876 belonged to the same tablet. But Ni. 8384 has melodies four, five and six of its redaction with the catch-line of the next or its seventh melody which partly duplicates the Radau tablet. Moreover, these two tablets have not the same handwriting and differ in color and texture of the clay. Finally a small fragment, Ni. 14031, contains the end of the second melody and the beginning of the third on its obverse. The reverse contains the end of the sixth melody. This small tablet undoubtedly belongs to the four column tablet in Constantinople. The two fragments became separated by chance when the Nippur Collection was divided between Philadelphia and the Musée Imperial of Turkey. Ni. 14031 will be found in mySumerian Liturgical Texts, No. 22.

Under ordinary circumstances a text for which so many duplicates exist should have yielded better results than I have been able to produce. But the contents are still obscure owing largely to the bad condition of the prism. My first rendering of the interesting refrain in which I saw a reference to the creation of man and woman was apparently erroneous. The refrain refers rather to the creation of the mother goddess of Keš and to her giving birth to her son Negun.423

Col.I (Lines 1-22 defaced)

...

23.[é ke]š-(ki)-dug-ga dū-a23. [Temple] in holy Keš builded.

23.[é ke]š-(ki)-dug-ga dū-a

23. [Temple] in holy Keš builded.

24.[é(?)] ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-dug-gu dū-a24. [Temple(?)] in holyEN-ḪARbuilded.

24.[é(?)] ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-dug-gu dū-a

24. [Temple(?)] in holyEN-ḪARbuilded.

25.[é ...] nun-gim an-na dirig-ga25. [Temple] like ...nun, like heaven exceeding all.424

25.[é ...] nun-gim an-na dirig-ga

25. [Temple] like ...nun, like heaven exceeding all.424

26.[é ...] azag-gim ? -si ri-a26. [Temple] like the pure ... clothed in

26.[é ...] azag-gim ? -si ri-a

26. [Temple] like the pure ... clothed in

27.[é] an-na-gim mūš kur-kur-ra27. [Temple] like heaven the illumination of the lands.

27.[é] an-na-gim mūš kur-kur-ra

27. [Temple] like heaven the illumination of the lands.

28.[é ...] tūr-gim ki-a-ta sur-sur-ra28. [Temple] like ...turin the earthfounded.

28.[é ...] tūr-gim ki-a-ta sur-sur-ra

28. [Temple] like ...turin the earthfounded.

29.[é ...-]gim mur-du ninda425-gim gù-nun-di42629. [Temple] like ... roaring, like ayoung bullbellowing.

29.[é ...-]gim mur-du ninda425-gim gù-nun-di426

29. [Temple] like ... roaring, like ayoung bullbellowing.

30.[é ...] bi-ta lipiš kalam-ma30. [Temple] in whose ... the hearts of the creatures of the Land ...427

30.[é ...] bi-ta lipiš kalam-ma

30. [Temple] in whose ... the hearts of the creatures of the Land ...427

31.[é ...] bi-ta zid Ki-en-gi-ra31. [Temple] in whose ... the soul of life of Sumer ...

31.[é ...] bi-ta zid Ki-en-gi-ra

31. [Temple] in whose ... the soul of life of Sumer ...

32.[é ...] ib-gal an-e-ri428uš-sa32. [Temple], great ...IB, attaining unto heaven.

32.[é ...] ib-gal an-e-ri428uš-sa

32. [Temple], great ...IB, attaining unto heaven.

33.[é ...]-da-gal an-e429uš-sa33. [Temple], great ...da, attaining unto heaven.

33.[é ...]-da-gal an-e429uš-sa

33. [Temple], great ...da, attaining unto heaven.

34.[é ...] gal an-e uš-sa34. [Temple], great ..., attaining unto heaven.

34.[é ...] gal an-e uš-sa

34. [Temple], great ..., attaining unto heaven.

35.[é ...] -na [an-e] uš-sa35. [Temple ...], attaining unto heaven.

35.[é ...] -na [an-e] uš-sa

35. [Temple ...], attaining unto heaven.

Col.II

1.... an-ki ...1. ... heaven and earth ...

1.... an-ki ...

1. ... heaven and earth ...

2.... abzu ...2. ... of the nether-sea ...

2.... abzu ...

2. ... of the nether-sea ...

3.é an-ni(?) šu-[ ]3. Temple which Anu ...

3.é an-ni(?) šu-[ ]

3. Temple which Anu ...

4.d.En-lil-li zag-šú ...4. Enlil above all ...

4.d.En-lil-li zag-šú ...

4. Enlil above all ...

5.amad.Nin-tud eš-[bar-kin ... ]5. The mother, Nintud oracles ...

5.amad.Nin-tud eš-[bar-kin ... ]

5. The mother, Nintud oracles ...

6.é Keš-ki ... na ...6. Temple in Keš ...

6.é Keš-ki ... na ...

6. Temple in Keš ...

7.ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)430-gim rib-ba431galu ši-in-[ga-an-túm-mu]7. LikeEN-ḪARit has been made surpassing; verily man has brought solicitude for it.432

7.ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)430-gim rib-ba431galu ši-in-[ga-an-túm-mu]

7. LikeEN-ḪARit has been made surpassing; verily man has brought solicitude for it.432

8.ur-sag-bid.Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba8. Its hero like Ašširgi has been

8.ur-sag-bid.Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba

8. Its hero like Ašširgi has been

9.ama ši-in-ga-an433-ù-tud9. made surpassing; the mother434verily has borne him.

9.ama ši-in-ga-an433-ù-tud

9. made surpassing; the mother434verily has borne him.

10.nin-bid.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba435er-mu-ni-in-duģ10. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.

10.nin-bid.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba435er-mu-ni-in-duģ

10. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.

11.gú 2 kam-[ma-ám]11. It is the second song.

11.gú 2 kam-[ma-ám]

11. It is the second song.

12.é an-šú ģud-da ki-šú ...43612. Temple, in heaven resplendent, in earth ...

12.é an-šú ģud-da ki-šú ...436

12. Temple, in heaven resplendent, in earth ...

13.é an-šú ... ki-šú ...13. Temple, in heaven ..., in earth ...

13.é an-šú ... ki-šú ...

13. Temple, in heaven ..., in earth ...

14.é an-šú siḳḳa437ki-šú udu-[gim ... ...]14. Temple, in heaven (like) a wild goat, on earth like a sheep ...

14.é an-šú siḳḳa437ki-šú udu-[gim ... ...]

14. Temple, in heaven (like) a wild goat, on earth like a sheep ...

15.é an-šú ... ki-šú dár-[bar-gim ...]15. Temple, in heaven (like) ..., in earth like a roe ...

15.é an-šú ... ki-šú dár-[bar-gim ...]

15. Temple, in heaven (like) ..., in earth like a roe ...

16.é an-šú ... gim ... ki-šú dár-bar-gim ...16. Temple, in heaven like ..., in earth like a roe ...

16.é an-šú ... gim ... ki-šú dár-bar-gim ...

16. Temple, in heaven like ..., in earth like a roe ...

17.é an-šú muš-gim sîg-ga ki-šu babbar-gim za-e laģ-[laģ?]17. Temple, in heaven like a dragon gleaming, on earth like the sunlight thou shinest.

17.é an-šú muš-gim sîg-ga ki-šu babbar-gim za-e laģ-[laģ?]

17. Temple, in heaven like a dragon gleaming, on earth like the sunlight thou shinest.

18.é an-šú babbar-gim è-a ki-šud.Nannar-gim ...18. Temple, in heaven like the sun arising, in earth like the new moon ...

18.é an-šú babbar-gim è-a ki-šud.Nannar-gim ...

18. Temple, in heaven like the sun arising, in earth like the new moon ...

19.é an-šú kur-ra ki-šu idim-ma19. Temple, in heaven shining,438on earth loud crying.439

19.é an-šú kur-ra ki-šu idim-ma

19. Temple, in heaven shining,438on earth loud crying.439

20.é an-ki 3 gu-ma-bi na-nam20. Of the temple of heaven and earth three are its attendants.

20.é an-ki 3 gu-ma-bi na-nam

20. Of the temple of heaven and earth three are its attendants.

21.ÉN-ḪAR-(ki) gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu21. LikeEN-ḪARit has been made surpassing; verily man has brought solicitude for it.

21.ÉN-ḪAR-(ki) gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu

21. LikeEN-ḪARit has been made surpassing; verily man has brought solicitude for it.

22.ur-sag-bid.Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba-[ra]22. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother

22.ur-sag-bid.Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba-[ra]

22. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother

23.[ama] ši-in-ga-an-ù-tud23. verily has borne him.

23.[ama] ši-in-ga-an-ù-tud

23. verily has borne him.

24.[nin-bi]d.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ24. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.

24.[nin-bi]d.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ

24. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.

25.[gú] 3-kam-ma-[ám]25. It is the third section.

25.[gú] 3-kam-ma-[ám]

25. It is the third section.

8384.

1.[é- ...] ní-gal-ar an-ni mu-maģ sá1. [Temple ...] in splendor blazing, which Anu with a far-famed name has named.

1.[é- ...] ní-gal-ar an-ni mu-maģ sá

1. [Temple ...] in splendor blazing, which Anu with a far-famed name has named.

2.[è ...]-gald.En-lil-li nam-ma-ni gal tar-ri2. [Temple ...] great, whose fate Enlil has grandly decreed.

2.[è ...]-gald.En-lil-li nam-ma-ni gal tar-ri

2. [Temple ...] great, whose fate Enlil has grandly decreed.

3.[é]á-nun-gáld.A-nun-ge-ne kalam sigi(?)440lám(?)-mu3. [Temple] ... of the Anunnaki, in the Landstarlike gleaming.

3.[é]á-nun-gáld.A-nun-ge-ne kalam sigi(?)440lám(?)-mu

3. [Temple] ... of the Anunnaki, in the Landstarlike gleaming.

4.é ki-dúr im-dúb-bu441dingir gal-gal-e-ne4. Temple, peaceful dwelling place of the great gods.

4.é ki-dúr im-dúb-bu441dingir gal-gal-e-ne

4. Temple, peaceful dwelling place of the great gods.

5.é an-ki-bi-da giš-ģar-bi ni-ģar me el šu-ba-e-tag5. Oh temple whose design in heaven and earth has been planned, thou art possessed of pure decrees.

5.é an-ki-bi-da giš-ģar-bi ni-ģar me el šu-ba-e-tag

5. Oh temple whose design in heaven and earth has been planned, thou art possessed of pure decrees.

6.é kalam ki-gar-ra zag-gar-ra uš-sa6. Temple erected in the Land, where stand the chapels of the gods.

6.é kalam ki-gar-ra zag-gar-ra uš-sa

6. Temple erected in the Land, where stand the chapels of the gods.

7.é-kur ģe-gál ka-zal ud-zal-zal-li7. Mountain house, radiant with abundance and festivity.

7.é-kur ģe-gál ka-zal ud-zal-zal-li

7. Mountain house, radiant with abundance and festivity.

8.éd.Nin-ģar-sag-gà zi-kalam-ma ki-bi-šú gar8. Temple in whose place Ninharsag has instituted the breath of life of Sumer.

8.éd.Nin-ģar-sag-gà zi-kalam-ma ki-bi-šú gar

8. Temple in whose place Ninharsag has instituted the breath of life of Sumer.

9.é-ģar-sag-gal šu-luģ-ģa túm-ma nig-nam-ma-ni ni442-kúr9. Great mountain house, made worthy of the rituals of purification, of its possessions nought changes.

9.é-ģar-sag-gal šu-luģ-ģa túm-ma nig-nam-ma-ni ni442-kúr

9. Great mountain house, made worthy of the rituals of purification, of its possessions nought changes.

10.é ... da-nu ka-áš-bar nu-gà-gà10. Temple ... ceases not to render decision.

10.é ... da-nu ka-áš-bar nu-gà-gà

10. Temple ... ceases not to render decision.

11.è ... kalam-dagal-šú lá-a11. Temple ... unto the wide Land bearing.

11.è ... kalam-dagal-šú lá-a

11. Temple ... unto the wide Land bearing.

12.[é] kalam šár ù-tud numun giš-isimu tuk-tuk12. [Temple] causing the multitudes of the Land to produce offspring, causing the seed to send forth sprouts.

12.[é] kalam šár ù-tud numun giš-isimu tuk-tuk

12. [Temple] causing the multitudes of the Land to produce offspring, causing the seed to send forth sprouts.

13.[é] lugal ù-tud nam kalam-ma tar-ri13. Temple that gives birth to king, decreeing the fate of the Land.

13.[é] lugal ù-tud nam kalam-ma tar-ri

13. Temple that gives birth to king, decreeing the fate of the Land.

14.[é] bár-bár kar su-ḳin-dúr-bi ag-dé14. ...

14.[é] bár-bár kar su-ḳin-dúr-bi ag-dé

14. ...

15.ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu15. LikeÉN-ḪARit has been made surpassing; verily man has wrought solicitude for it.

15.ÉN-ḪAR-(ki)-gim rib-ba galu ši-in-ga-an-túm-mu

15. LikeÉN-ḪARit has been made surpassing; verily man has wrought solicitude for it.

16.ur-sag-bid.Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-ám-ù-tud16. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother verily has borne him.

16.ur-sag-bid.Áš-šir-gí-gim rib-ba ama ši-in-ga-ám-ù-tud

16. Its hero like Ašširgi has been made surpassing; the mother verily has borne him.

17.nin-bid.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ17. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.

17.nin-bid.Nin-tud-gim rib-ba-ra a-ba er-mu-ni-in-duģ

17. Its lady like Nintud has been made surpassing. And then wailing began.

18. [gú4]-kam-ma-ám18. It is the fourth section.

18. [gú4]-kam-ma-ám

18. It is the fourth section.

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