CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar, ex. 001 (P345482)

Literary tablet excavated in Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik), dated to the Neo-Assyrian (ca. 911-612 BC) period and now kept in British Museum, London, UK

Museum Collection(s)

British Museum, London, UK

Museum Number

BM —

Period

Neo-Assyrian (ca. 911-612 BC)

Provenience

Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik)

Artifact Type

Tablet

Material(s)

Clay

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Literary (Ishtar's descent (witness))

Language(s)

Akkadian

Measurements

168.0 mm × 86.0 mm × 29.0 mm

Witness

Text

tablet
obverse
1. a-na _kur-nu-gi4-a_ qaq-qa-ri {d#}[eresz-ki-gal]
2. {d}inanna _dumu-munus_ {d}sin u2-zu-un-sza2 [isz-kun]
3. isz-kun-ma _dumu-munus_ {d}sin u2-zu-un#-[sza2]
4. a-na _e2_ e-t,e-e szu-bat {d}ir-[kal-la]
5. a-na _e2_ sza e-ri-bu-szu2 la a-s,u#-[u2]
6. a-na har-ra-ni sza a-lak-ta-sza2 la ta-a-a-[rat]
7. a-na _e2_ sza e-ri-bu-szu2 zu-um-mu-u2 nu-[u2-ra]
8. a-szar _sahar-hi-a_ bu-bu-us-su-nu a-kal-szu-nu t,i-it,#-[t,u]
9. nu-u2-ru ul im-ma-ru i-na e-t,u-t,i asz2-[bu]
10. lab-szu-ma _gim_ is,-s,ur-ri s,u-bat kap-pi
11. _ugu {gesz}ig_ u _{gesz}sag-kul_ sza2-bu-uh ep-ru
12. {d}inanna a-na _ka2 kur-nu-gi4-a_ ina ka-sza2-di-sza2
13. a-na _{lu2}i3-du8_ ba-a-bi a-ma-tum iz-zak-kar
14. _{lu2}i3-du8_-me-e pi-ta-a ba-ab-ka
15. pi-ta-a ba-ab-ka-ma lu-ru-ba a-na-ku
16. szum-ma la ta-pat-ta-a ba-a-bu la er-ru-ba a-na-ku
17. a-mah-ha-as, dal-tum sik-ku-ru a-szab-bir
18. a-mah-ha-as, si-ip-pu-ma u3-sza2-bala-kat3 _{gesz}ig-mesz_
19. u2-sze-el-la-a mi-tu-ti _gu7-mesz_ bal-t,u-ti
20. _ugu_ bal-t,u-ti i-ma-i-du mi-tu-ti
21. _{lu2}i3-du8_ pa-a-szu2 i-pu-usz-ma i-qab-bi
22. iz-zak-ka-ra a-na _gal_-ti {d}isz#-tar#
23. i-zi-zi be-el-ti la ta-na-da-asz2-szi
24. lu-ul-lik _mu_-ki lu-sza2-an-ni a-na szar-ra-ti {d}eresz#-ki#-gal
25. e-ru-um-ma _{lu2}i3-du8_ iz-zak-ka#-ra# [a-na {d}eresz-ki-gal]
26. an-ni-tu me-e a-ha-ta-ki {d}isz-tar i-za#-[az i-na ba-bi-ka]
27. mu#-kil-tu sza2 kep-pe-e _gal-mesz_ da-li#-[ha-at ap-si-i ma-har {d}e2-a _lugal_]
28. {d}eresz-ki-gal# an-ni-ta# i-na# [sze-mi-sza2]
29. ki-ma ni-kis# {gesz}bi-ni# e-ru-[qu pa-nu-sza2]
30. ki-ma sza2-bat ku-ni-ni is,-li-[ma sza-ba-tu-sza2]
31. mi-na-a lib3-ba-sza2 ub-la-an-ni mi-na-a kab-ta#-[sa-ma usz-par2-da-an-ni-ma]
32. an-ni-tu-me-e a-na-ku it-ti [{d}a-nun-na-ki _a-mesz_ a-szat-ti]
33. ki-ma _ninda-mesz_ a-kal _im_ ki-ma _kasz-mesz#_ [a-szat-ta-a _a-mesz_ dal-hu-te]
34. lu-ub-ki a-na _gurus_mesz_ sza e-zi-bu {munus}hi-[re-ti]
35. lu-ub-ki a-na _{munus}ki-sikil-mesz_ sza _ta ur2_ {lu}ha-i-ri-szi-na# [szal-lu-pa-ni]
36. a-na _{lu2}tur_ la-ke-e lu-ub-ki sza ina la _u4-mesz_-szu3 t,ar-[du]
37. a-lik _{lu2}i3-du8_ pi-ta-asz2-szi ba-ab-[ka]
38. up-pi-is-si-ma ki-ma _garza_mesz_ la-bi-ru-ti#
39. il-lik _{lu2}i3-du8_ ip-ta-asz2-szi ba-ab-[szu]
40. er-bi be-el-ti gu2-du8-a{ki} li-risz-ki#
41. _e2-gal kur-nu-gi-a_ li-ih-du ina pa-ni-ki
42. 1(disz)-en _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal _aga gal_-a sza _sag-du_-sza2
43. am-mi-ni _i3-du8_ ta-at-bal _aga gal_-a sza _sag-du_-ia
44. er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
45. 2(disz)-a _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal in-s,a-ba-te sza _gesztu-min_-sza2
46. am-mi-ni _i3-du8_ ta-at-bal in-s,a-ba-te sza _gesztu-min_-ia
47. er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
48. 3(disz)-szu _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal _{na4}nunuz-mesz_ sza _gu2_-sza2
49. am-mi-ni _i3-du8_ ta-at-bal _{na4}nunuz-mesz_ sza _gu2_-ia
50. er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
51. 4(disz)-u2 _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal du-di-na-te sza2 _gaba_-sza2
52. am-mi-ni _{lu2}i3-du8_ ta-at-bal du-di-na-te sza2 _gaba_-ia
53. er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
54. 5(disz)-szu2 _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal szib-bu _na4-tu_ sza _murub4-mesz_-sza2
55. am-mi-ni _{lu2}i3-du8_ ta-at-bal szib-bu _na4-tu_ sza _murub4-mesz_-ia
56. er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
57. 6(disz)-szu2 _ka2_ u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal _har-mesz szu_-sza2 u _giri3_-sza2
58. am-mi-ni _{lu2}i3-du8_ ta-at-bal _har-mesz szu_-ia u _giri3_-ia
59. er-bi be-el-ti sza _{d}nin-ki_-ti3 ki-a-am _garza-mesz_-sza2
60. 7(disz)-u2 ka2 u2-sze-rib-szi-ma um-ta-s,i it-ta-bal s,u-bat bal-t,i sza2 zu-um-ri-sza2
  (incomplete)

Text content

Genre(s) Literary (Ishtar's descent (witness))
Language(s) Akkadian

Chronology

Period Neo-Assyrian (ca. 911-612 BC)
Accounting Period

Composites

This artifact is a witness to the following composite(s):

Composite Composite Number Score
CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar (composite) (P497322) QIshtardescent View the score

Record

LOD URI https://cdli.network/entity/P345482

Physical information

Artifact type Tablet
Dimensions 168.0 mm × 86.0 mm × 29.0 mm
Weight
Material(s) Clay
Preservation

Provenance

Provenience Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik)
Written In
Archive
Excavation Number
Findspot
Stratigraphic Level
Elevation

Collections

Collection(s) British Museum, London, UK
Museum Number BM —
Accession Number K 00162

External resources

External Resource Identifiers
Electronic Babylonian Library (eBL) K.162
Ashurbanipal Library Project (AsbP) P345482
British Museum Collection (BM) W_K-162

References

  • history: CT 15, pl. 45-47, K 00162

    [King1902CT15] King, Leonard W. 1902. Cuneiform Texts. Cuneiform Texts From Babylonian Tablets In The British Museum 15.

  • citation: BM Guide (3rd edition), 218

    [BMGuide1922] A Guide to the Babylonian and Assyrian Antiquities. 1922.

  • citation: Rawlinson 4R2, 31

    [Pinches1891_4R2] Pinches, Theophilus G., and Henry C. Rawlinson. 1891. The Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia. Vol. 4, A Selection from the Miscellaneous Inscriptions of Assyria (2nd Edition). London.

  • citation: Lenormant F 1875 no. 030, p.100ff.

    [sec87242] N.d.

  • citation: Delitzsch 1885 p.100

    [sec87243] N.d.

  • citation: Birch 1875 p.141ff.

    [sec87244] N.d.

  • citation: Menant 1880 p.364ff

    [sec87246] N.d.

  • citation: Bezold 1889a pp. 042-043

    [sec87247] N.d.

  • citation: Pritchard 1950a pp.106-109

    [sec87248] N.d.

Revisions and credits

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2026-07-06 at 10:01:29 Firth, Richard Artifact metadata, Other metadata Firth, Richard Firth, Richard Approved View
2024-09-27 at 16:48:10 Firth, Richard Artifact metadata, Other metadata Firth, Richard Firth, Richard Approved View
2023-08-19 at 13:39:11 Rattenborg, Rune Artifact metadata Rattenborg, Rune; Smidt, Gustav Ryberg Geomapping Landscapes of Writing Rattenborg, Rune Approved View
2023-07-05 at 18:51:39 Rattenborg, Rune Artifact metadata Rattenborg, Rune Geomapping Landscapes of Writing Rattenborg, Rune Approved View
2023-01-21 at 07:42:50 Pagé-Perron, Émilie Artifact metadata Földi, Zsombor J.; Jiménez, Enrique; Pagé-Perron, Émilie Electronic Babylonian Library Pagé-Perron, Émilie Approved View
2017-02-27 at 15:39:03 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI, CDLI Approved View
2016-07-13 at 18:41:22 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI, CDLI Approved View
2016-03-02 at 14:35:30 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI, CDLI Approved View
2016-03-02 at 14:31:40 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI, CDLI Approved View
2016-02-26 at 17:15:55 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI, CDLI Approved View
2006-11-10 at 00:00:00 CDLI, CDLI Artifact metadata Tinney, Stephen J. CDLI, CDLI Approved View

Cite this Artifact

“CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar, Ex. 001 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2026. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 6, 2026. https://cdli.earth/P345482.
CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar, ex. 001 artifact entry (No. P345482). (2026, July 6). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P345482 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar, ex. 001 artifact entry (2026) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P345482 (Accessed: November 4, 2026).
@misc{2026CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-11-04]},
	year = {2026},
	month = {jul 6},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} {Descent} of {Ishtar}, ex. 001 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P345482},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P345482},
}


TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2026/7/6/
PY  - 2026
ID  - P345482
LB  - CDLI:P345482
M1  - 2026/11/4/
TI  - CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar, ex. 001 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P345482
ER  -

Cite this Artifact

“CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar, Ex. 001 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2026. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 6, 2026. https://cdli.earth/P345482.
CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar, ex. 001 artifact entry (No. P345482). (2026, July 6). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P345482 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar, ex. 001 artifact entry (2026) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P345482 (Accessed: November 4, 2026).
@misc{2026CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-11-04]},
	year = {2026},
	month = {jul 6},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} {Descent} of {Ishtar}, ex. 001 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P345482},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P345482},
}


TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2026/7/6/
PY  - 2026
ID  - P345482
LB  - CDLI:P345482
M1  - 2026/11/4/
TI  - CDLI Literary Descent of Ishtar, ex. 001 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P345482
ER  -
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