ASJ 16, 043-046 Barton Cylinder (P222183)

Administrative cylinder excavated in Nippur (mod. Nuffar), dated to the ED IIIb (ca. 2500-2340 BC) period and now kept in Penn Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Metadata / catalogue

Flat catalogue

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Expanded catalogue

As JSON

Linked catalogue

As TTL As JSON-LD As RDF/JSON As RDF/XML

Text / annotations

Text data

As ATF As JTF

Linked annotations

As TTL As JSON-LD As RDF/JSON As RDF/XML

Related publications

As CSV As BibTeX

Chemical Data

Seal Chemistry

As CSV

Photo

Lineart

Museum Collection(s)

Penn Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Museum Number

CBS 08383

Period

ED IIIb (ca. 2500-2340 BC) [uncertain]

Provenience

Nippur (mod. Nuffar)

Artifact Type

Cylinder

Material(s)

Clay

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Administrative [identification uncertain]

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

161.0 mm × 127.0 mm × 127.0 mm

Text

object cylinder
surface a
column 1
1. u4#-ri2#-a# u4-ri2-sze3
en: Those days were faraway days,
2. na-nam
en: indeed!
3. ge6-ri2-a ge6-ri2-sze3
en: Those nights were faraway nights,
4. na-nam
en: indeed!
5. mu-ri2-a mu-ri2-sze3
en: Those years were faraway years,
6. na-nam
en: indeed!
7. u4 na-du7-du7
en: The storm was roaring,
8. nim na-gir2-gir2
en: lights flashing.
9. esz3 nibru{ki}
en: The temple of Nippur,
10. u4 na-du7-du7
en: the storm was roaring,
11. nim na-gir2-gir2
en: lights flashing.
12. an-ne2 ki-da
en: Heaven with earth
13. inim an-dab6-e
en: was talking;
14. ki an-da inim an-dab6-e
en: earth with heaven was talking.
rest broken
column 2
1. [igi-zi-gal-an]-na#
en: With Igizigalana,
2. nin-gal {d}en-lil2
en: older sister of Enlil,
3. {d}nin-hur-sag
en: with Ninḫursag,
4. igi-zi-gal-an-na
en: With Igizigalana,
5. nin-gal {d}en-lil2
en: older sister of Enlil,
6. {d}nin-hur-sag-ra
en: with Ninḫursag
7. gesz3 mu-ni-du11
en: he had intercourse.
8. ne mu-ni-sub5
en: He kissed her,
9. a masz imin
en: the semen of seven twins
10. sza3# mu-na#?-ni#?-ru
en: into her womb dropped.
11. ki musz-gir2-da
en: Earth with Scorpion
12. bala-bala an-da-za
en: a conversation held:
13. {d}i7-mah
en: “Big-River,
14. nig2-tur-zu a mu-da-du
en: your little “things” water are carrying.
15. x-ra dingir i7-da-ke4
en: For you(?), the god(?) of the river
16. [x x] mu# [x x]
en: ... .”
rest broken
column 3
1. [...] an# x x
en: ...
2. KA e2? an-ne2 ba-us2
en: ... heaven reached.
3. gesztu {gesz}asal an-gur4-gur4
en: The “ears” of the poplars swelled,
4. igi-gesztin-a sza3-ba mu-gar-gar
en: “grape-eyes” among them were placed.
5. igi-babbar2 nu11-gal-x
en: “White-eyes,” “great lights”
6. an-da-dub-e
en: were piled up with them.
7. gudu4-ge zi# an-|SZU2+SA|-la2
en: The gudu-priest ...
8. nu-zuh-mah ku3-lal3-zu
en: “Mighty ..., your ...,
9. an-da-ra-ta-bar-e
en: is being taken away.”
10. KA-li? GAB nunuz lul sze-a
en: ...,
11. gu2-HAR pu2-ke4
en: the beans ... .
12. gudu4 lu2 arattax(|LAM.KUR.RI|)-gin7
en: The gudu-priest like a man of Aratta
13. si an-sa2-sa2-e
en: was directing it.
14. za3 za3 PIRIG an-DU-DU
en: ...
15. szu-si gesz?-BAD an-x
en: ...
16. x x [...]
en: ...
rest broken
column 4
1. [...]
en: ...
2. [...]
en: ...
3. UM x {d}en-lil2
en: ... of Enlil
4. nibru{ki}-sze3
en: toward Nippur
5. gig-sze3 mu-gar-gar
en: (Enlil) to feel bitterness caused;
6. {d}inanna-ra ki zabala2-sze3
en: Inanna toward Zabala
7. gig-sze3 mu-gar-gar
en: to feel bitterness he caused;
8. {d}en-ki-ra abzu-sze3
en: Enki toward Abzu.
9. gig-sze3 mu-gar#-[gar]
en: to feel bitterness he caused;
10. UM [x]-bi# {d}en-lil2
en: ... of Enlil
11. nibru{ki} u2 nu-sze3-gu7-e
en: Nippur was not feeding,
12. a nu-sze3-na8-na8
en: was not giving to drink,
13. edin ninda kum2-na
en: His oven(?) in which bread was baked
14. ninda kum2 nu-mu-gal2
en: no baked bread contained.
15. edin ninda te-na
en: His oven(?) in which bread cooled down
16. ninda# te# [nu-mu-gal2]
en: bread cooling down [had none].
rest broken
column 5
1. x [...]
en: ...
2. {d#}en-lil2# x-sze3 mu-szi-[x]
en: Enlil to ...
3. a-mun4# a-ne ba-sa2#-sag#
en: The brackish water he ...;
4. a-mun4 a-ne ba-la2-la2
en: the brackish water he was holding back.
5. {d}en-lil2 a-ne ba-sa2#-sag#
en: Enlil, he ...
6. a-mun4 a-ne ba-la2-la2
en: the brackish water he is holding back.
7. edin ninda kum2-za
en: Your oven(?), in which bread was baked,
8. ninda kum2 nu-mu-gal2
en: no baked bread contains.
9. edin# ninda te-za
en: Your oven(?), in which bread cooled down,
10. ninda te nu-mu-gal2
en: bread cooling down has none.
11. gir2-mah GA2? gu4 gu7-gu7 zu?
en: Your(?) supreme ox-devouring oven,
12. esz3 nibru{ki}
en: in(?) the temple of Nippur.
13. |NI+IGI|-bi a-ne ba-nu2
en: its stones(?) he made lie (idle).
14. zabar mah-zu mu#-URU#?
en: Your supreme bronze ...
15. GA2#? nu-mu-gi-ne2#?
en: to(?) ... does not return(?).
rest broken
column 6
1. [{d}inanna-ra zabala2{ki}-sze3]
en: [Inanna toward Zabala,]
2. gig#-sze# mu#-gar#-gar#
en: to feel bitterness he caused;
3. {d#}en#-ki#-ra# abzu-sze3
en: Enki toward Abzu".
4. gig-sze3 mu-gar-gar
en: to feel bitterness he caused;
5. nam-ta#-e3#
en: he came out!
6. nam-ta#-e3#
en: He came out!
7. u4 ge6-ta# e3#-a
en: As the day from the night rose,
8. {d}nin-urta
en: Ninurta
9. nam-ta-e3
en: came out!
10. u4 ge6-ta e3-a
en: As the day from the night rose,
11. kusz pirig# bar nam-mi-mu4
en: in a lion’s skin his body he dressed.
12. kusz# pirig-pirig
en: With lion’s skins
13. za3 mu-ni-kesz2
en: his flanks he bound.
14. si-si ma-ta-za
en: ...
15. la2-la2 ma-[ta]-za#
en: ...
rest broken
column 7
1. [...]
en: ...
2. [...]
en: ...
3. x x um#-gig
en: ...
4. x x na za
en: ...
5. gurusz DU#? ag2
en: ...
6. gurusz x ma hi-a
en: ...
7. dug kurun2#? dug SZID-ra
en: ...
8. umum mu#-na-ni-za#?-x
en: ...
9. ama-mu nu# x me-a
en: My mother ...
10. gurusz-zu x na-dab6-sze3?
en: ...
11. ama-mu nu# x me-a
en: My mother ...
12. um-gig a-ne ba-e?
en: ...
13. tur3 tu nu-me-a-ra#
en: ...
14. a-gig a-ne RU#?
en: ...
15. um x [x] x [x]
en: ...
rest broken
column 8
1. [...] x
en: ...
2. [...]
en: ...
3. na x [...]
en: ...
4. igi mu#? x
en: ...
5. [...]
en: ...
6. im nam# [mu]-ni#?-tar
en: ...
7. ki? x mah
en: ...
8. x na x
en: ...
9. za3# [...]
en: ...
10. dumu x [x]
en: Your young man ...
11. tum mu-dab6#-be2
en: ...
12. ki ku4-ra-bi
en: Those who enter the place
13. a# AB{ki}-a x ib2#?-be6#?
en: ...
14. ki#? ub#? KID2 x a [x]
en: ...
15. x [...]
en: ...
rest broken
column 9
1. dumu [...]
en: Young man ...
2. ki mu-x-x-bad
en: ...
3. [x] bi# x GA2#?
en: ...
4. sza3-bi# gu4 x bar?
en: ...
5. nig2# HI x DU#-DU
en: ...
6. x x [...]
en: ...
7. [{d}]nin-[hur]-sag
en: Ninḫursag,
8. dumu#-ne-ne
en: For their children
9. nam mu-ne-tar
en: the fate was determined.
10. im si-sa2-ra
en: For the north wind
11. nam mu-ni-tar
en: its fate was determined.
12. gen-na a-zu5-lugal
en: Come, let Azulugal
13. zi-zu he2-mi-|NINDA2xHI|#
en: your life be(?)!"
14. sipa x ti HU#?
en: The shepherd ...
rest broken
column 10
1. x x [...]
en: ...
2. lu2 [x] lu2-[ra?] ti [x]
en: ...
3. x [...]
en: ...
4. si [...]
en: ...
5. lu2 x ru-a-zu
en: ...
6. lu2 x ki# [...]
en: ...
7. x x [...]
en: ...
8. x zu5#? GA#? he2#
en: ...
9. im-RU?-LAGAB MUSZ3#?
en: For the ... wind
10. nam mu-ni-tar
en: its fate was determined.
11. gen-na {d}en-ki-du
en: Come! May Enkidu
12. ku-li-zu he2-am6
en: your friend be!
13. ki-su7 {d}en-lil2-DU-[x]
en: The wasteland may Enlildu
14. lu2 lu2-ra
en: for men
15. edin [x x] x
en: ...
rest broken
column 11
broken
column 12
1. [...]
en: ...
2. [...]
en: ...
3. [x] x e3 [x] da
en: ...
4. kesz2-ta ba-ta-e3
en: from Keš left.
5. [x] ninda gu7 [{d}]en-lil2
en: where Enlil bread eats
6. [x x] da [x] ti#
en: ...
7. {d}irhan
en: Irḫan,
8. lu2# sa6#-ga
en: the good one,
9. [x x] x [x x] ti
en: ...
rest broken
column 13
1. [...]
en: ...
2. [...] an#-sze3 [x]
en: ... to heaven ...
3. idigna# ku3# buranun# [ku3]-ge
en: Silver Tigris and [silver] Euphrates
4. gidri ku3# {d}en-lil2
en: pure scepter of Enlil,
5. hur-sag#? mu-DU
en: the mountains(?) ...
6. ur2-bi he2-x
en: its roots let ...
7. pa-bi uri3# [x]
en: its crown let ...
8. bar-ba [x x] zur [x]
en: On its side let ...
9. nunuz ki [he2?]-tag#
en: eggs on the ground let be laid.
10. [x] lu2# [x] za
en: ...
11. [x x] x [x x] GA#?
en: ...
12. [x x x] e2
en: ...
13. [...] x [...] x
en: ...
rest broken
column 14
1. [...]
en: ...
2. [...]
en: ...
3. kur-ra#? al-lu2#
en: ... in the mountains multiplied;
4. am ge6 al-lu2
en: black bulls multiplied,
5. am babbar al-lu2
en: white bulls multiplied,
6. am su4 al-lu2
en: reddish bulls multiplied,
7. am dara4 al-lu2
en: dark-red bulls multiplied.
8. ansze pirig su il2
en: Horrible “horse-lions”
9. an-ga-lu2
en: also multiplied.
10. ansze zi-zi hur-sag
en: Mountain horses
11. an-sze3 al-e11
en: on top climbed.
12. ama-lu5 al-dab5
en: ... dwellt.
13. siki-siki al-il2
en: Wool the ... carried.
14. dar3 gi za [{d}]nin-hur-sag
en: The ... stags of Ninḫursag
15. [al-lu2]
en: [multiplied(?)].
rest broken
column 15
1. [...]
en: ...
2. [...]
en: ...
3. [...] gi#
en: ...
4. ul#?-sze3# mu#-gi4-gi4
en: ...
5. KA lul NE KA lul NE
en: ...
6. iri da-ba-la
en: The city, Dabala,
7. e2-e MUD
en: to the house ...
8. muszen a-ba-szub-be2
en: after the birds left it,
9. {kusz}ga2-la2-a-ke4 zi3 a-ba-ta-si-ge
en: after into its sack flour he has put,
10. {kusz}ummux(|EDIN.LAL.A|)-ke4 a a-ba-ta-de2
en: after water into its water skin he has poured,
11. da-ba-la-e gal i3-ga-mu-zu
en: Dabala, who is equally wise (said):
12. e2-mu# MUD
en: “To my house ...
13. muszen a-ba-szub-be2
en: after the birds have left it,
14. {kusz}ga2-la2-a-ke4 zi3# a-ba-ta-si-ge
en: after into the sack flour has been put,
15. {kusz#}ummux(|EDIN.LAL.A|)-ke4 a a-ba-ta-de2
en: after into its water skin water has been poured,”
rest broken
column 16
1. [x x] x
en: ...
2. [x] {d#}nin-hur-sag-ke4 ab#? da-me
en: Ninḫursag, our “arm”(?),
3. ku3-me szu-na# mu-dab5#
en: of our precious metal took possession.
4. an ba? da ga2#-e mu-na-ni#-gi4-gi4
en: ... returned.
5. pisan ku3-ga-me pisan SZEN-ga-me
en: Our silver container, our ... container,
6. lu2 duh ku3 nigin-me
en: our man of ...
7. nu-zuh gidri# ku3-sig17
en: the ... of gold,
8. NE sub6-me
en: our ...
9. szu-ni nam-ma-dab5-[dab5]
en: took possession.
10. dug 2(asz@c) [x] mu-na-de2#
en: 2 pots ... poured,
11. 2(asz@c) PI [x] PI mu-na#-de2#
en: 2 ... poured.
12. sza3 ki#-ag2 DU-a-bi
en: Their ... beloved heart,
13. kasz mu-da-ni-ru
en: beer dispersed.
14. {d}irhan
en: Irḫan
rest broken
column 17
1. [x] sur3#? BUR? sur3?
en: ...
2. idigna ku3 buranun ku3-ge
en: Silver Tigris and silver Euphrates,
3. gidri-ku3 szesz-mu
en: silver scepter, my brother,
4. {d}en-lil2
en: Enlil,
5. lu2 nam-DU an# [x]
en: the man ...
6. dumu-mu# [...]
en: my son
7. [x x] MI# [x x]
en: ...
8. {d#}nin#-hur-sag-ke4
en: Ninḫursag
9. szembi-zi |SZU2+SZE3| igi-du8 i3-li?
en: fine antimony, eye-paste(?), fine oil(?)
10. igi-na ba-ni-gar
en: onto her eyes put.
11. za3-e3 kesz3 nam-mi-DU
en: a seat of honor in Keš(?) she established.
12. sig-sze3 ba-ni-il2
en: Below they(?) carried.
13. sig-sze3 lu2 nu [x]
en: Below nobody ...
14. gidri# [...]
en: Scepter ...
rest broken
column 18
1. [...]
en: ...
2. x [...]
en: ...
3. e2 mu-na-kusz3
en: The house ...
4. u4-bi a-DU zal-la
en: That day, ... passing,
5. ge6#-bi [a]-DU szu2-am6
en: That night, ... darkening,
6. {d}irhan
en: Irḫan
7. x KU [x] x
en: ...
8. e2 [...]
en: The house ...
9. dumu-mu GA2 x
en: My child, ...
10. a-na# [x] a mu#-[x]
en: ...
11. lul# [x] na#? [x]
en: ...
rest broken
column 19
1. [...]
en: ...
2. [x] PESZ2# {d}esz-pesz
en: ... Ešpeš,
3. gal i3-ga-mu-zu
en: who is equally wise,
4. abul si-gar ba-gar
en: the great gate bolted,
5. ig-x szu-a mu-ni#-kesz2#
en: the door with his/her hand bound,
6. esz3#-ta e x i3-ma-szu2-szu2
en: and down from the sanctuary ...brought.
7. {d}irhan#
en: Irḫan
8. [...]
en: ...
9. [...]
en: ...
10. [x x] mu ta x
en: ...
11. igi an-sze3 i3-il2-da
en: his/her eyes toward heaven raised
12. szah2 gesz-gi-gin7
en: like a wild boar of the canebrake
13. [x x] na# mu# [x x]
en: ...
rest broken
column 20
1. [...]
en: ...
2. [x] nam-sa6#-ga
en: ... pleasure
3. [ba]-ra-ni me#-nam
en: ...
4. [x] GA2 dab5 x ma-da
en: ...
5. mah#-bi sa6-ga
en: greatly(?) pleasant
6. ba-ra-ni me#-nam
en: ...
7. x DIN-gin7
en: ...
8. |SZU2+SA| gi he2-dub-e
en: ...
9. ki nam-nita-ni
en: his place of manhood
10. MUSZ dam te esz2-mu-gin7
en: like ...
11. da dar3 gesz ma NUN
en: ...
12. ki NIG2 ti# NE# KA#
en: ...
13. [x] na [x x] DU#
en: ...
rest broken
surface b1
(possible design)
surface b2
broken

Consult previous versions and their differences
Consult sign list of ED IIIb (ca. 2500-2340 BC)
Consult word list of ED IIIb (ca. 2500-2340 BC)

Collections

Penn Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Physical Information

Artifact type: Cylinder
Material: Clay
Measurements (mm): 161.0 high × 127.0 wide × 127.0 thick
Weight:
Artifact Preservation:
Condition Description:
Join Information:
Seal no.:
Seal information:
Artifact comments:

Text Information

Genre(s): Administrative [identification uncertain]
Language(s): Sumerian

Related publications

primary: ASJ 16, p.15-46, p. 43-46

[Alster1994Barton-cylinder] Alster, Bendt, and Aage Westenholz. 1994. “The Barton Cylinder.” Acta Sumerologica 16: 15–46.
history: MBI, 01

[Barton1918MBI] Barton, George A. 1918. Miscellaneous Babylonian Inscriptions. Yale University & Oxford University.
history: JEOL 46, p.145-178

[Lisman2016-2017Barton-cylinder] Lisman, Jan J. W. 2016-2017. “The Barton Cylinder: A Lament for Keš?” Jaarbericht van Het Vooraziatisch-Egyptisch Genootschap “Ex Oriente Lux” 46: 145–78.

Identifiers

Composite No.:
Museum No.: CBS 08383
Accession No.:

Provenience

Provenience: Nippur (mod. Nuffar) [uncertain] Provenience Comments:
Kesh ?
Elevation:
Stratigraphic Level:
Excavation No:
Findspot Square:
Findspot Comments:

Chronology

Period: ED IIIb (ca. 2500-2340 BC) [uncertain]
Dates Referenced:
Alternative Years:
Date Comments:
Accounting Period: 0

Revisions and credits

Created	Creator	Type	Authors	Project	Reviewer	Status
2024-07-23 at 18:33:57	Firth, Richard	Artifact, Other Entity	Firth, Richard		Firth, Richard	approved
2023-01-19 at 10:11:27	Pagé-Perron, Émilie	Artifact	Földi, Zsombor J.; Jiménez, Enrique; Pagé-Perron, Émilie	Electronic Babylonian Library	Pagé-Perron, Émilie	approved
2021-04-26 at 10:09:30	Lafont, Bertrand	Atf	Ozaki Tohru		CDLI	approved
2018-05-31 at 14:24:18	Englund, Robert K.	Atf	Englund, Robert K.		CDLI	approved
2018-05-16 at 05:41:44	Englund, Robert K.	Atf	Englund, Robert K.		CDLI	approved
2018-01-09 at 16:56:02	Englund, Robert K.	Atf	Englund, Robert K.		CDLI	approved
2014-02-28 at 09:07:25	Englund, Robert K.	Atf	Englund, Robert K.		CDLI	approved
2013-12-23 at 10:03:02	Englund, Robert K.	Atf	Englund, Robert K.		CDLI	approved
2008-10-17 at 09:51:50	Andersson, Jakob	Atf	Andersson, Jakob		CDLI	approved
2008-10-09 at 16:04:56	Foxvog, Daniel A.	Atf	Foxvog, Daniel A.		CDLI	approved
2006-10-12 at 12:35:07	CDLI	Atf	CDLI		CDLI	approved
2003-02-26 at 00:00:00	CDLI	Artifact	Alster, Bendt; Englund, Robert K.; Foxvog, Daniel A.; Guerra, Dylan; Heinle, Michael; Johnson, J. Cale		CDLI	approved

External Resources

Consult this artifact as presented on the website of collections and projects:

Notes

General Notes: -

CDLI Notes: -

Cite this Artifact

Chicago APA Harvard BibTeX RIS

“ASJ 16, 043-046 Barton Cylinder Artifact Entry.” (2003) 2024. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 23, 2024. https://cdli.earth/P222183.

ASJ 16, 043-046 Barton Cylinder artifact entry (No. P222183). (2024, July 23). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P222183 (Original work published 2003)

ASJ 16, 043-046 Barton Cylinder artifact entry (2024) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P222183 (Accessed: May 9, 2025).

@misc{2024ASJ,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2025-05-09]},
	year = {2024},
	month = {jul 23},
	title = {ASJ 16, 043-046 {Barton} {Cylinder} artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P222183},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P222183},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2024/7/23/
PY  - 2024
ID  - P222183
LB  - CDLI:P222183
M1  - 2025/5/9/
TI  - ASJ 16, 043-046 Barton Cylinder artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P222183
ER  -

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ASJ 16, 043-046 Barton Cylinder (P222183)

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Related publications

Chemical Data

Seal Chemistry

Photo

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Text

Collections

Physical Information

Text Information

Related publications

Identifiers

Provenience

Chronology

Revisions and credits

External Resources

Notes

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