CDLI Literary 000794 (Heron and Turtle) composite (P478977)

Literary artifact dated to the Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC) period

Cite

Museum Collection(s)

Museum Number

Period

Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

Provenience

Artifact Type

Material(s)

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Literary (ETCSL 5.09.02 Heron and Turtle (composite))

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

Composite

Text

object composite text
surface a
1. gesz-gi a-na gu3 mu-un-de2 mu2-a-bi du10-ga-am3
2. gesz-gi dagal tu-tu-ub-ba{ki}-a-ka mu2-a-bi du10-ga-am3
3. ambar-ra kiri8-tab-ba{ki}-a-ka mu2-a-bi du10-ga-am3
4. a-dar-ra akszak{ki}-a-ka mu2-a-bi du10-ga-am3
5. sug zu2 kesz2-da {d}en-ki-ka3-ka mu2-a-bi du10-ga-am3
6. sug ban3-da sug {d}en-ki-ka3-ka mu2-a-bi du10-ga-am3
7. {gi}bar-bar {d}en-ki-ka3-ka mu2-a-bi du10-ga-am3
8. uri2{ki}-ma gi-zi di4-di4-la2 mu2-a-bi du10-ga-am3
9. uri2{ki}-ma ab2 lu amar lu-a re mu2-a-bi du10-ga-am3
10. u4-bi-a a x gi-ta nam-ku5 amasz-e pa nam-e3
11. {u2}asz-tal2-tal2 gesz-gi-ta numun-bi sal-sal-e
12. {u2}ku-mul tur-tur ki-ta nam-ta-an-e3 nam-di4-di4-la2 du10-ga-am3
13. {gi}en3-bar tur-re suh10 nam-dub-dub nam-ki-sikil du10-ga-am3
14. {gi}ub-zal iri-bi-da nam-da-DI nam-gurusz du10-ga-am3
15. {gi}pe-el-la2 ur2-ra sag-sze3 nam-ib-dul e2-gi4-a du10-ga-am3
16. {gi}pe-el-la2 ur2-ra sag-sze3 nam-ta-ab-gi4 dumu ban3-da du10-ga-am3
17. {gi}gaszam-e ki am3-buru3-e nam-ab-ba du10-ga-am3
18. gi-zi ni2-bi-a nam-mu-un-szu2 nam-um-ma du10-ga-am3
19. gesz-gi sig7-ga-bi sag nam-il2 gu3-de2-a du10-ga-am3
20. {gesz}ildag2 szita3-na sag nam-il2 nam-lugal-la du10-ga-am3
21. [...]-e pa mul-mul-la dumu lugal-la du10-ga-am3
22. u4-bi-a za3 gesz-gi-e? ki-a tusz?-e u3-gul mu-na-ga2-ga2
23. igira2{muszen} nunuz ga-bur12 ga-de6 ab-e x ba? x x-esz2?
24. muszen-e lu2 kadra-ke4 kadra na-ak-e
25. igira2{muszen} lu2 kadra-ke4 kadra na-ak-e
26. ku6 im-dab5 nunuz im-de5-de5-ge za3 im-ma-ni-in-tag
27. u2-lal3-e suhur{ku6}-e za3 im-ma-ni-in-tag
28. esztub{ku6}-e gi-zi di4-di4-la2 za3 im-ma-ni-in-tag
29. kin-tur-e {u2}li-gi4-li-gi4-a za3 im-ma-ni-in-tag
30. agargara{ku6}-e nig2 zi-ga-ni za3-bar-ra za3 im-ma-ni-in-tag
31. igira2{muszen} nunuz nam-szum ab-ba na-gaz-gaz
32. muszen-e lu2 kadra-ke4 u3-gul mu-un-na-ga2-ga2
33. igira2{muszen} lugal {d}en-ki e2-a ba-szi-in-ku4 gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e
34. [...] ki dagal szum2-ma-ab nunuz ki ha-ba-ni-in-tag
35. [...] mu-na-da-ab-szum2-mu
36. [...] HI mu-na-ga2-ga2
37. [...] HI ab-ba na-nam
38. [...] gi muszen-na-ka
39. [...]-a-ka nunuz ki ba-ni-in-tag
40. gesz-gi dagal tu-tu-ub-ba{ki}-ke4 nunuz ki ba-ni-in-tag
41. ambar-ra kiri8-tab{ki}-a-ke4 nunuz ki ba-ni-in-tag
42. a-dar-ra akszak{ki}-a-ke4 nunuz ki ba-ni-in-tag
43. sug zu2 kesz2-da {d}en-ki-ka3-ke4 nunuz ki ba-ni-in-tag
44. sug ban3-da sug eridu{ki}-ga-ke4 nunuz ki ba-ni-in-tag
45. {gi}bar-bar {d}en-ki-ka3-ke4 nunuz ki ba-ni-in-tag
46. uri2{ki}-ma gi-zi di4-di4-la2 nunuz ki ba-ni-in-tag
47. uri2{ki}-ma ab2 lu amar lu-a re nunuz ki ba-ni-in-tag
48. u4-bi-a nig2-bun2-na lu2 du14 mu2-a-ke4 lu2 har-ra-an gig-ga-ke4
49. igira2{muszen} igira2{muszen}-da du14 ga-nam mu-da-mu2
50. nig2-bun2-na igira2{muszen}-da du14 ga-nam mu-da-mu2
51. lu2 igi-ni-ta igi musz-ke4 du14 ga-nam mu-da-mu2
52. ka-ka-ni ka musz-a-ke4 du14 ga-nam mu-da-mu2
53. eme-ni eme musz-a-ke4 du14 ga-nam mu-da-mu2
54. gug-ni gug ur tur-ra-ke4 du14 ga-nam mu-da-mu2
55. szu sal-sal-e me-ri sal-sal-e du14 ga-nam mu-da-mu2
56. nig2-bun2-na szeg12 udun-na-ke4 du14 ga-nam mu-da-mu2
57. sza3 mu2-sar-ra-ke4 du14 ga-nam mu-da-mu2
58. {gesz}al-gin7 im-ma u4 zal-la re du14 ga-nam mu-da-mu2
59. {gesz}dusu sahar-ra nu-luh-ha-e du14 ga-nam mu-da-mu2
60. nig2-bun2-na lu2-{gesz}har-muszen-na lu2-du10-gar-ra-e
61. igira2 gi du3-a-ni mu-na-an-bu-bu
62. gud3 us2-sa-ni ba-ni-in-suh3-suh3
63. dumu-ni a-e ba-ni-in-ra
64. muszen-e lu2 igi ku10-ku10-ga-ke4
65. nig2-bun2-na sag-ki-ni umbin um-mi-in-la2
66. usz2-bi gaba-na im-mi-in-szu2-szu2
66a. sahar-e a sza3 [...]
67. igira2{muszen} er2 im-ma-an-pa3 szex(SIG7)-szex(SIG7) i3?-ga2-ga2
68. muszen-me-en gud3 sug4-ga-gu10 [...] u3-um-DU ab-[...]
68a. igira2{muszen}-me-en [...]
68b. lugal-gu10 di-gu10 ga-ba-e11 ka [...]
69. lugal-gu10 di-gu10 he2-ku5-de3 ka-asz-gu10 he2-bar-re
70. {d}en-ki-ke4 di-gu10 he2-ku5-de3 ka-asz-gu10 he2-bar-re
71. inim-inim-ma-gu10 en eridu{ki}-ga-ke4 [...]
72. 2(disz)-kam-ma-sze3 muszen lu2 kadra kadra-a na-ak-e
73. igira2{muszen}-e lu2 kadra-ke4 kadra-a na-ak-e
74. ku6 im-dab5 nunuz im-de5-de5-ge za3 im-ma-ni-ib-tag
75. u2-lal3-e suhur{ku6}-e u2-lal3-e za3 im-ma-ni-ib-tag
76. esztub{ku6}-e gi-zi di4-di4-la2 za3 im-ma-ni-ib-tag
77. kin-tur-e {u2}li-gi4-li-gi4 za3 im-ma-ni-ib-tag
78. agargara{ku6}-e nig2 zi-ga-ni za3-bar-ra za3 im-ma-ni-ib-tag
79a. i3-buru3 ki-a [...] sag an-sze3 mu-[...]
79b. igira2{muszen}-e [...]
79c. x x DI? a [...]
80. lugal {d}en-ki-ra gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e
81. lugal-gu10 gesz-gi dagal mu-e-szum2 nunuz ki ha-ba-ni-ib-tag
82. gesz-gi dagal-e tu-tu-ub-ba-ke4 nunuz ki ha-ba-ni-ib-tag
83. ambar-ra kiri8-tab{ki}-a-ke4 nunuz ki ha-ba-ni-ib-tag
84. a-dar-ra akszak{ki}-a-ke4 nunuz ki ha-ba-ni-ib-tag
85. sug zu2 kesz2-da {d}en-ki-ka3-ke4 nunuz ki ha-ba-ni-ib-tag
86. sug ban3-da sug eridu{ki}-ga-ke4 nunuz ki ha-ba-ni-ib-tag
87. {gi}bar-bar-a {d}en-ki-ka3-ke4 nunuz ki ha-ba-ni-ib-tag
88. uri2{ki}-ma gi-zi di4-di4-la2 nunuz ki ha-ba-ni-ib-tag
89. uri2{ki}-ma ab2 lu amar lu-a re nunuz ki ha-ba-ni-ib-tag
90. u4-bi-a nig2-bun2-na lu2 du14 mu2-a-ke4 lu2 har-ra-an gig-ga-ke4
91. lu2 igi-ni-ta igi musz-a-ke4 lu2 har-ra-an gig-ga-ke4
92. ka-ka-ni-ta ka musz-a-ke4 lu2 har-ra-an gig-ga-ke4
93. eme-a-ni-ta eme musz-a-ke4 lu2 har-ra-an gig-ga-ke4
94. gug-a-ni gug ur tur-ra-ke4 lu2 har-ra-an gig-ga-ke4
95. szu sal-sal-la me-ri sal-sal-la lu2 har-ra-an gig-ga-ke4
96. nig2-bun2-na szeg12 udun-na-ke4 lu2 har-ra-an gig-ga-ke4
97. sza3 mu2-sar-ra-ke4 lu2 har-ra-an gig-ga-ke4
98. {gesz}al-gin7 im-ma u4 zal-la re lu2 har-ra-an gig-ga-ke4
99. dusu sahar-ra nu-luh-ha-e lu2 har-ra-an gig-ga-ke4
100. nig2-bun2-na lu2-{gesz}har-muszen-na lu2-du10-gar-ra-e
101. igira2{muszen} gi du3-a-gu10 ba-ni-in-bur12-bur12
102. gud3 us2-sa-a-gu10 ba-ni-in-suh3-suh3
103. dumu-gu10 a-e ba-ni-in-ra-ra
104. muszen-me-en lu2 igi ku10-ku10-ga-ke4
105. nig2-bun2-na sag-ki-gu10 umbin bi2-in-la2
106. usz2-gu10 gaba-ga2 im-mi-in-szu2-szu2
107. nun-e sukkal {d}isimud-ra gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e
108. sukkal {d}isimud-gu10 mu du10 an-na-gu10
109. {d}en-ki-ra i3-gub-be2-en u4-ul a-ra-zu
110. zi-pa-tum a2 gabu2-ba u3-bi2-in-sur-ra
111. pisan zabar-ra u3-bi2-in-dim2
112. gi szu-a ak gu-a am3-szi-szu2
113. [...] x u3-mu-e-szi-la2
114. sag gu-sze3 gu u3-mu-e-szi-la2
115. de5-ga nig2-silag-ga2-ka u3-mu-e-kal
116. uszur bar-ra a u3-mu-e-de6
117. sug zu2 kesz2-da {d}en-ki-ka3-ke4 x u3-mu-e-gar
118. u4-bi-a nig2 [...] NU UN szu-gur-ra ha-ba-tusz-e
119. [...]
120. [...]-ga
121. {d}isimud-de3 [...] gizzal ba-szi-in-ak
122. zi-pa-tum a2 gabu2-ba u3-bi2-in-sur-ra
123. pisan zabar-ra u3-bi2-in-dim2
124. gi szu-a u3-bi2-in-szu2
125. sag gu-sze3 gu um-szi-la2
126. de5-ga nig2-silag-ga2 im-mi-in-kal?
127. uszur bar-ra a um-mi-in-de6
128. sug zu2 kesz2-da {d}en-ki-ka3-ke4 a im-mi-in-ra
129. u4-bi-a nig2 ge26-e nun-e im-ma-gub-gub-be2-en
130. nig2-bun2-na nun-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e
131. nun he2-me-en e-ne ba-e-[...] x
132. izi-ta gur-ra x x [...]
133. dingir nu-me-en [...] MU x IN [...]
134. e?-ta x x x MU [...]
135. lugal? {d}en-ki [...]-zu A na x [...]
136. nun he2-me-en e-ne ba-e-[...]
137. sza3-gu10 A x x im-szi-x
138. nun? he2-me-en inim-zu e-ne ba-[...]
139. tur-ra-gu10 e2-gar8 im-ma-gul x e NE ba-[...]
140. nun he2-me-en bar-zu x x a-na bi2-du11 [...]
141. szu lu2? x-ra i3-me-en nam [...]
142. szeg12 [...]
143. [...]
144. [...]
145. [...]
146. [...]
147. [...]
148. [...]
149. [...]
150. [...]
151. [...]
152. [...]
153. [...]
154. [...]
155. [...]
156. [...]
157. [...]
158. [...]
159. gu?-zu 1(disz)-am3 [...]
160. DUL3 gu4? du7-ra [...]
161. x-zu 1(disz)-am3 szen mah x-bi-im
162. an x x ur-sag an en? x RI a2-sze im-kesz2-e
163. numun-zu 1(disz)-am3 [...]
164. gesz mah [...]
165. uruda nig2 kal-ga-gu10 [...]-esz
166. a du10-ga ad-da [...]-esz
167. u4-bi-a u6-nir-ra igi-ni x mu-un-x
168. lugal {d}en-ki-ke4 u6-nir-ra ga-na mu-un-gal2
169. szeg12 u6-nir gal-e abzu-ke4 igi-ni mu-un-[...]
170. szeg12 abzu an-ta bar-ra ga na? mu-un-x
171. umbin-si-ni mu-dur7 ba-ra-an-de6 dim3-gi4-sze3 ba-an-du3
172. dim3-gi4 ki-a im-ma-ni-in-si?-ir
173. gu-zu AB-a ki ba-ni-in-e3
174. tur-tur-bi a szu-ta bi2-in-de2
175. gal-gal-bi a giri3-ta bi2-in-de2
176. gu ba-bulug3 gu ba-sukux(SUKUD)-ra2-ta
177. x x RA im-mi-in-e-kesz2-da-ta
178. [...] x ME x x x [...]
179. [...]
180. [...]
181. [...]
182. [...]
183. [...]
184. [...]
185. lugal-e [...]
186. [...] mu-na-x-re-ne
187. [...]
188. [...] NI [...]-in-ak
189. [...] x kal?-e
190. [...] x ab-szen-szen-e [...]-gi4-gi4-NE
191. [...] mu-un-na-ab-dab5-ba-ne
192. [...] mu-un-na-ab-KA?-e-ne
193. [...] x-ka edin-na mu-un-szi-ib-ru-gu2-ne
194. [...]-ra-ba gesz mu-un-szi-ib-la2-e-ne
195. [...]-ke4 sa-par4 im-ma-an-sal-e-ne
196. [...] nu-un-dab5 sa-par4 im-ma-da-dab5
197. [...] nu-un-dab5 sa-par4 im-ma-an-bara2
198. [...] x nam-tag dili-dili-bi si mu-na-ab-sa2-a
199. [...] bi2-in-ra
200. [...] bi2-in-ra
201. [...] UD-UD NE e A
202. [...] ki na DAR x x ba
203. [...] {d}en-ki-ka3-ka
204. [...] mu-ni-ib2-tar-re
205. [...]-en A nu-x he2-me-en
206. [...] he2-me-en
207. [...] he2-me-en
208. [...] he2-me-en
rest broken
surface b
1. [...] dab5 [...]
2. [...]-szi-ib-la2 [...]
3. [...]-da {d}en-ki-ka3-ke4
4. [...] nu-um-dab5 sa-par4 [...]
5. nig2-bun2-na nig2 nun?-e nu-[...]
6. {d}en-ki-ke4 nig2 umbin-na nam [...] si mu-na-ab-sa2
7. sza3-ga-ni 5(disz)-am3 [...]
8. bar-ra-ni 1(u)-am3 [...]
9. ki-in-dar [...]
rest broken

Consult previous versions and their differences
Consult sign list of Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
Consult word list of Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

Text content

Genre(s)	Literary (ETCSL 5.09.02 Heron and Turtle (composite))
Composite Number	Q000794
Language(s)	Sumerian

Chronology

Period	Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
Dates Referenced
Accounting Period

Witnesses

This artifact is a composite text. View the score of CDLI Literary 000794 (Heron and Turtle) composite. See below for a list of its witness(es):

Witness	Period	Provenience
CDLI Literary 000794, ex. 001 (P269711)	Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
CDLI Literary 000794, ex. 002 (P257266)	Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)	Nippur (mod. Nuffar)
CDLI Literary 000794, ex. 003 (P276883)	Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)	Nippur (mod. Nuffar)
CDLI Literary 000794, ex. 004 (P278133)	Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)	Nippur (mod. Nuffar)
CDLI Literary 000794, ex. 005 (P342801)	Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)	Nippur (mod. Nuffar)
CDLI Literary 000794, ex. 006 (P277737)	Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)	Nippur (mod. Nuffar)
CDLI Literary 000794, ex. 007 (P357016)	Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)	Nippur (mod. Nuffar)

Record

CDLI number	P478977
LOD URI	https://cdli.network/entity/P478977

Physical information

composite text

Artifact type	composite text
Dimensions
Weight
Material(s)
Preservation

Provenance

Provenience
Written In
Archive
Excavation Number
Findspot
Stratigraphic Level
Elevation

Collections

Collection(s)
Museum Number
Accession Number

External resources

External Resource	Identifiers
The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature transliterations (ETCSL transliterations)	5.9.2
The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature translations (ETCSL translations)	5.9.2
electronic Pennsylvania Sumerian Dictionary, Literary Corpus (ePSD2, Literary)	Q000794

References

history: ETCSL, 5.9.2

[BlackETCSL] Black, Jeremy Allen. 1998-2006. “Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.” https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk. 1998-2006.

Revisions and credits

Created	Creator	Type	Authors	Project	Reviewer	Status
2026-07-15 at 20:56:08	Pagé-Perron, Émilie	Artifact metadata	Pagé-Perron, Émilie	Towards Universal Access to Cuneiform Heritage	Pagé-Perron, Émilie	Approved
2026-07-15 at 19:38:00	Pagé-Perron, Émilie	Artifact metadata	Pagé-Perron, Émilie	Towards Universal Access to Cuneiform Heritage	Pagé-Perron, Émilie	Approved
2024-06-07 at 13:32:34	Firth, Richard	Artifact metadata	Firth, Richard		Firth, Richard	Approved
2024-06-07 at 13:24:18	Firth, Richard	Artifact metadata, Other metadata	Firth, Richard		Firth, Richard	Approved
2016-01-03 at 09:09:12	Dahl, Jacob L.	Transliteration	Dahl, Jacob L.		CDLI, CDLI	Approved
2015-02-07 at 00:00:00	CDLI, CDLI	Artifact metadata	Foxvog, Daniel A.; Wagensonner, Klaus		CDLI, CDLI	Approved

Cite this Artifact

“CDLI Literary 000794 (Heron and Turtle) Composite Artifact Entry.” (2015) 2026. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 15, 2026. https://cdli.earth/P478977.

CDLI Literary 000794 (Heron and Turtle) composite artifact entry (No. P478977). (2026, July 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P478977 (Original work published 2015)

CDLI Literary 000794 (Heron and Turtle) composite artifact entry (2026) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P478977 (Accessed: October 23, 2026).

@misc{2026CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-10-23]},
	year = {2026},
	month = {jul 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000794 ({Heron} and {Turtle}) composite artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P478977},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P478977},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2026/7/15/
PY  - 2026
ID  - P478977
LB  - CDLI:P478977
M1  - 2026/10/23/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000794 (Heron and Turtle) composite artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P478977
ER  -

Cite this Artifact

“CDLI Literary 000794 (Heron and Turtle) Composite Artifact Entry.” (2015) 2026. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 15, 2026. https://cdli.earth/P478977.

CDLI Literary 000794 (Heron and Turtle) composite artifact entry (2026) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P478977 (Accessed: October 23, 2026).

@misc{2026CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-10-23]},
	year = {2026},
	month = {jul 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000794 ({Heron} and {Turtle}) composite artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P478977},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P478977},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2026/7/15/
PY  - 2026
ID  - P478977
LB  - CDLI:P478977
M1  - 2026/10/23/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000794 (Heron and Turtle) composite artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P478977
ER  -