CUSAS 18, 016 (P252113)

Divination tablet excavated in Uncertain (mod. uncertain), dated to the Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC) period and now kept in Schøyen Collection, Oslo, Norway

Museum Collection(s)

Schøyen Collection, Oslo, Norway

Museum Number

MS 3104

Period

Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

Provenience

uncertain (mod. uncertain)

Artifact Type

Tablet

Material(s)

Clay

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Scholarly or scientific > Divination (divination)

Language(s)

-

Measurements

-

Text

tablet
obverse
column 1
  beginning broken
1'. [...]
 en: ...
2'. [...]
 en: ...
  single ruling
3'. _DISZ lu2_ a-na# _e2_ i3-li2-szu i-ru-ub-ma
 en: If a man goes into the chapel of his god,
4'. x x x x a-na pa-ni-szu
 en: right in front of him (as he goes in)
5'. in#-ne2-ru-ub
 en: a ... flees:
6'. [u2]-mu#-szu# it#-ti _dingir_ ar-ku
 en: his days with (his) god will be long.
  single ruling
7'. _DISZ dili_ i+na# szi-ir-tim ir-ru-szu
 en: If a man’s intestines in the morning:
8'. i#-ha#-ru-ru# x x x
 en: growl.
9'. x x x x in-na-di
 en: he will become dejected.
  single ruling
10'. _DISZ dili_ i+na qa2-ab-li-ti
 en: If at midnight a man's
11'. uz#-na#-szu i-ha-za-a
 en: two ears are ringing:
12'. [x] x [x] x-us-su2
 en: ... him.
  single ruling
13'. [_DISZ dili]_ x x-szu i+na a-wa?-tim?
 en: If a man’s ...
14'. [x] x bi x szu nu? x x
15'. [i-na _e2]_ u2#-sze#-s,e#-a#-szu#
 en: they (fem.) will drive him from ...
  single ruling
16'. [_DISZ] dili sila_ i+na a-la#-ki#-szu#
 en: If, as a man is walking along
17'. [x] x x x x-ma
18'. [a-na] pa#-ni#-szu# it#-te#-ne2#-ru#-ub
 en: a ... keeps fleeing from in front of him:
19'. _[lu2_ szu-u2] it-ti _dingir_ ha ni? asz?
 en: that man ... with (his) god.
  single ruling
20'. [_DISZ dili_ x x] i+na _ge6_ i-x / x
 en: If a man ... at night ...
21'. [a-na x x x] x i-ru-ub
 en: goes in ...
22'. [...] x x
 en: ...
23'. [_DISZ_ x x x x x x] x
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 2
  beginning broken
1'. x x [...]
 en: ...
2'. [...]
 en: ...
  single ruling
3'. _DISZ dili_ x [...]
 en: If a man ...
4'. si2-x [...]
 en: ...
5'. it-ta#-[x-x-x]
 en: ...
  single ruling
6'. _DISZ dili_ i+na# x [x x] x
 en: If a man ...
7'. me i+na# na#-ri i#-ra#-mu#-uk
 en: bathes in the river:
8'. it?-tum i-la-kam#
 en: it yields a sign ...
9'. za x hi ge-er-gi x
 en: the girgiszszu-pustule ...
10'. mu-ur-s,a le-em-nam
 en: a grave illness
11'. i-im-mar
 en: he will suffer'.
  single ruling
12'. _DISZ dili iti 7(disz) i3-la2-e_
 en: If a man is in a weakened condition for 7 months
13'. i-la#?-ak-ma i-na na-ri
 en: and in the river:
14'. me i-ra-mu-uk zu-mu-ur-szu#?
 en: he bathes: his body
15'. kal-ma-tam u2-ka-al
 en: will have lice'.
  single ruling
16'. _DISZ_ i+na _e2 dili szah2_ i-ka#-al#
 en: If a pig is eating in a man’s house:
17'. _e2 dili_ a-na# _egir ninda_ u2-za#-ma#
 en: afterwards, the man’s household will lack food'.
  single ruling
18'. _DISZ_ i+na _e2 dili udu_ i#-ka#-lu
 en: If sheep are grazing in a man’s house:
19'. _e2 dili_ a-na _egir# ninda#_ i-ra-szi
 en: the man’s household will have food in the future'.
  single ruling
20'. _DISZ dili_ a-na _ansze-edin_ u
 en: If there is a man ... to a wild ass or
21'. a-na _ur-gi gar_
 en: to a dog:
22'. x x x x x x
 en: ...
23'. x [x] x x x
 en: ...
24'. ka#-pi#-id# _hul_-szu#?
 en: someone planning to do him harm
25'. i#-qa2#-ab#-bi#-szum
 en: will speak to him'.
  single ruling
26'. _DISZ dili_ i+na# _{iti}sig4-a e2_
 en: If a man, in the month of Simānu, a house
27'. i-pe-esz i-na _e2 dili_
 en: builds: in the man's house
28'. szu#-ru#-pu ra#-ki#-is#
 en: a chill-demon will be bound'.
  single ruling
29'. _DISZ dili muszen_ i-s,a-bat u2-wa-szar
 en: If a man captures and releases a bird:
30'. ma-mi-it# i#-tam#-mu#-u2
 en: the oath he swears, viz'. the oath-demon,
31'. u2#-ul i-t,e4-he-szum
 en: will not approach him'.
  single ruling
32'. [_DISZ_ i?]-si2? kal-bi i-na
 en: If a dog’s jaw in ...
33'. [x x] x x x ku-u2
 en: ...
34'. [...] x x
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 3
  beginning broken
1'. _DISZ_ x [...]
 en: ...
2'. it-[...]
 en: ...
3'. mu-uh-hi# x [x x]
 en: ...
  single ruling
4'. _DISZ_ i+na _e2 dili_ i+na a-su2-ri
 en: If in the toilet of a man’s house
5'. ha-[bu]-rum wa-s,i
 en: a shoot appears:
6'. _[e2 dili_ a-na] _egir# ninda_ i-ra-szi#
 en: the man’s household will have food in the future.
  single ruling
7'. _DISZ_ i+na _e2 lu2 musz-hi-a_
 en: If a bunch of snakes in a man’s house
8'. it#-ta-asz-szi-qu2
 en: are kissing each other:
9'. _ug3 du3_-i
 en: the people will be built up'.
  single ruling
10'. _DISZ_ i+na _e2 dili {d}nin-kilim_
 en: If mongooses in a man’s house
11'. it-ta-asz-szi-qa2
 en: are kissing each other:
12'. ra-bu-tam i-pe2-esz
 en: he will achieve greatness'.
  single ruling
13'. _DISZ dili tug2_-su2 i+na li-it#-bu#-szi#
 en: If a man, when he is putting on his garment,
14'. pa-ni-szu ik-ta-na-na
 en: the front of the garment gets twisted,
15'. a-szar i-la-ku
 en: wherever he goes,
16'. ri#?-it#-ta-szu# in-ne2-mi-da
 en: his wrists will cling (to each other)'.
  single ruling
17'. i-nu-mi#-szu#-ma _tug2_ sza-ti
 en: Then that garment
18'. i#-[sza-da]-ad-ma
 en: he should stretch,
19'. [x x] x a-na szu-ti-i
 en: into warp
20'. i#-le-te-ma
 en: split it up and
21'. a-na ma-asz-ka-nim i-sza-ka-an
 en: leave it as a pledge:
22'. ki-s,a-IL ta su2? BAD?
 en: ...
23'. a-szar i-la-ku
 en: ... wherever he goes,
24'. _ugu lugal inim gub-ba_
 en: he will prevail against his legal adversay'.
  single ruling
25'. _DISZ dili tug2_ i+na li-it-bu-szi
 en: If a man, when he is putting on a garment,
26'. ki-ri-mu ka#-ap-lu-u2
 en: the folds get rolled up:
27'. ir# x x a-na su2-ni-szu
 en: ... to his lap ...
28'. [...] x ur?
 en: ...
29'. [...] x
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 4
1. [_DISZ dili_ x x] i-na _{gesz}gu-za_
 en: If a man ... on a chair ...:
2. [...] x x x
 en: ...
3. [x x x x x x]
 en: ...
4. [x x x x x x]
 en: ...
5. x x [x x] za x
 en: ...
6. a-szar i#-la#-ku#
 en: wherever he goes
7. qa2#-as#-su2# i#-ka#-sza-ad
 en: he will achieve ... .
  single ruling
8. _DISZ dili_ i+na _{gesz}gu-za_ it-ba-a
 en: If a man gets up from (his) chair and,
9. i+na ka-pa-al _{gesz}gu-za_
 en: on the leg of (his) chair,
10. si2-si2-ik-tam ik-bu-us2
 en: catches the fringe (of his garment),
11. i+na te-be2-szu
 en: and as he rises,
12. it-ta-ki#-is
 en: it tears:
13. wa-szi-ib _e2_-szu
 en: someone who dwells in his house
14. kar-s,i-szu i-ka-al
 en: will slander him.
  single ruling
15. _dili_ szu-u2 _{gesz}gu-za_
 en: That man (his) chair
16. usz-ba-la-ka-at
 en: should turn over
17. ka-ap-lam szu-a-ti
 en: and that leg
18. u2-sze-er?-de
 en: put down at the back:
19. wa-asz-bu# _ka#_-szu i-ma-t,i
 en: the voice of the person who is dwelling (in his house) will be diminished.
  single ruling
20. _DISZ tug2_ i+na pa-gar3 _lu2 szub#?-ba?_
 en: If a cloth keeps falling from a man’s body:
21. _izi_ it-ta#-na#-an-pa-ah
 en: fire will continually break out
22. u3 i+na# szu#-ub#-ti-szu
 en: and in his own home;
23. ig#-da#-na-lu-ut
 en: he will be continually afraid;
24. _lugal tug2_ u2-su2-ur-tum#! i-s,a-bat
 en: confinement will seize the owner of the cloth
25. ri-ig-mu-um szu-u2
 en: (and) this complaint
26. e-li-szu isz-sza#-ka#-an
 en: will be raised against him.
  single ruling
27. _tug2_ sza-ti me i-s,a-pu
 en: He should rinse that cloth in water,
28. _{gesz}nu2_-szu usz-ba-la-ka#-at
 en: turn over his bed,
29. re-szi-szu a-na szi-[pe]-tim#
 en: its head at the feet
30. i#-sza#-[ka-an]
 en: he places,
31. [x x] x usz-te-s,e-ep
 en: twine the ...,
32. i-x [...] x x
 en: ...
33. si2-si2-ik-tam a-na re-szi-szu
 en: the fringe to its head,
34. [...] a i-ra-sa3-an
 en: ... soak it in water
35. [...] x szi-pe-tim#?
 en: and ... foot.
  rest broken
column 5
  beginning broken
1'. x x [...]
  single ruling
2'. x x x [...]
 en: ...
3'. [x] x x x [x x]
 en: ...
4'. szi-mi-x [...]
 en: ...
5'. x x x x [x]
 en: ...
6'. x te [x x] x
 en: ...
7'. x li2 x ka x
 en: ...
8'. x x x x [x]
 en: ...
9'. x x x [...]
 en: ...
  single ruling
10'. _DISZ tug2_ i+na pa-gar3 _lu2_
 en: If a cloth/blanket on the body of a man
11'. _igi nu_ il-ta-pa-at
 en: does not touch his face,
12'. u3 ir-ti ib? usz? szu#?
 en: but his chest ...
13'. i+na# zu#-um-ri#-szu# NU GI
 en: does not stay on him:
14'. a-na _lugal tug2_ i-bi-su2#-u2#?
 en: for the owner of the garment, losses,
15'. _alam_-szu _gi_ usz-qal4-lal?
 en: his solid figure will be made light.
  single ruling
16'. x x usz pa-ti-szu is,-bat
 en: ... he grabbed its edge,
17'. usz-te-s,e-ep-ma
 en: double it up,
18'. si2-si2-ik-tam a-na _sza3_
 en: the fringe into the middle
19'. i-ka-pi-is,-[ma]
 en: he curls,
20'. _ugu_ x [x x] x
 en: and place it for the ...:
21'. _tug2_ x [...] x
 en: ...
22'. i-x x [x] x
 en: ...
23'. a-na x x x x-tim
 en: ...
24'. i-na ru-x x x x
 en: ...
25'. a-na ma-sze-er-tim
 en: ...
26'. i-sza-ka#-an#
 en: ...
27'. _lugal tug2_ x sza x x
 en: ... the owner of the garment
28'. u2-ul# i-mar
 en: will not experience ... .
  single ruling
29'. _DISZ_ i-na _sza3 tug2# mi#-iq#-tum#
 en: If there is a depression in the middle of the blanket
30'. x x x-ma
 en: ... and,
31'. _DISZ an-ta ki-ta_
 en: a wedge above and below
32'. usz-te-eb-ni
 en: it forms,
33'. _lugal tug2_ it-ta-szu
 en: the owner of the blanket his omen
34'. u2-ul u2-ma-la
 en: will not be able to fulfill.
  single ruling
35'. _alam im_ i-pe-esz
 en: He should make a clay figurine,
36'. _mu lugal tug2_ i-za-kar
 en: recite the name of the owner of the blanket ... .
37'. [x] x x a x [x]
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 6
  beginning broken
1'. [...] ad
 en: ...
2'. [...] x a
 en: ...
3'. x x [x] x x
 en: ...
4'. x x pa-nam? a-na pa-nim
 en: ...
5'. szu-te-eb-x
 en: ...
6'. [ki]-ma me-gi4-x [x]
 en: ...
7'. x x x _lu2_ x [x]
 en: ...
8'. x it-ta-na-x x
 en: ...
9'. x x x
 en: ...
  single ruling
10'. _DISZ_ mi-iq-tum#? x x x
 en: ...
11'. ki-ma me-gi4-x
 en: ...
12'. x x x x x
 en: ...
13'. x x x x x
 en: ...
14'. szi-x x x x tir
 en: ...
15'. ta-ba#-al
 en: ...
16'. x x x x x _ba-usz2_
 en: ... he will die.
17'. 1(gesz2) 1(u) 6(disz) _nu-e3_
 en: 76 (lines), not checked
  single ruling
18'. _DISZ_ i+na _e2 lu2 ur?_ i-na _giri3_
 en: If a dog in a man’s house with its paws
19'. i-ga-ra u2-s,a-ar
 en: marks the walls:
20'. _e2 lu2_ a-na _igi_-szu i-ma-at
 en: the household of the man will die in front of it;
21'. _u4_-mu-szu qer-bu
 en: his days are near.
  single ruling
22'. _DISZ_ i+na _{gesz}banszur_
 en: If on the table
23'. _eme-szid_ pe-li-sza
 en: a lizard its eggs
24'. isz-ta-ka-an
 en: lays.
25'. i+na ni-szu#-ti-szu
 en: in his family
26'. x x x ib-ba-asz-szi
 en: ... will come into existence.
  single ruling
27'. _DISZ dili_ i-na bu-di-im
 en: If a man ... at the budum-festival,
28'. i+na# _e2 dingir_ i+na _kurum6_-szu
 en: in the temple or during a food offering,
29'. x x mu-um
30'. ki-a-am sza-ak-na-szu#
 en: is appointed for him in this way,
31'. i-na _murub4#? kaskal kur_-ti-szu
 en: one of the people among his ...
32'. _nam gig_-ma _he2-gar_
 en: will get sick and ... .
  single ruling
33'. _DISZ_ {d}nin-kilim dumu-mesz_-szu
 en: If a mongoose ... its young
34'. a-na hu#-ur-ri
 en: to the hole, ...
35'. x x x
 en: ...
  rest broken
column 7
  beginning broken
1'. x x x x szu
 en: ...
2'. x x x x x
 en: ...
3'. [x] x [x]-asz-szi
 en: ...
4'. [...] x [x]
 en: ...
5'. [...] x [x]
 en: ...
6'. x x x x x
 en: ...
7'. x x x x x
 en: ...
  single ruling
8'. _DISZ_ x x x x x x
 en: ...
9'. [x x]-am i-ra-asz-szi
 en: If he gets ...:
10'. [...] x-ti
 en: ...
11'. i-x x x x il? _usz2_
 en: ... he will die.
  single ruling
12'. _DISZ tu-ra_ na-hi-ra#-szu
 en: If a sick man’s two nostrils
13'. szu-ta-as-nu-qa2 _usz2_
 en: are ...: he will die.
  single ruling
14'. _DISZ_ szi-ir-ha-nu#-szu
 en: If his veins
15'. _sig7 ti-la_
 en: are yellow-green: he will get better.
  single ruling
16'. _DISZ_ szi-ir-ha-an-szu
 en: If his veins
17'. _gid2 ba-usz2_
 en: are stretched out, he will die.
  single ruling
18'. _DISZ_ szi-ir-ha-an _szu_-szu
 en: If the veins of his hands
19'. ku-bu-tu _ba-usz2_
 en: are thickened, he will die.
  single ruling
20'. _DISZ sag_ ma-hi-is,
 en: If he is stricken in the head:
21'. _szu dingir-mah_
 en: it is Hand of Bēlet-ilī.
  single ruling
22'. _DISZ_ i+na _egir_ ma-hi-is,
 en: If he is stricken in the rear:
23'. _szu {d}utu_
 en: it is Hand-of-Šamasz.
  single ruling
24'. _DISZ_ i+na _igi_-szu ma-hi-is,
 en: If he is stricken in the eye:
25'. _szu {d}nanna_
 en: it is Hand of Sîn.
  single ruling
26'. _DISZ_ t,u3#-li-ma ma-hi-is,
 en: If he is stricken in the spleen:
27'. _szu# {d}iszkur_
 en: it is Hand-of-Adad.
  single ruling
28'. _DISZ_ i+na _sza3#_ ma-hi-is,
 en: If he is stricken in the gut:
29'. _szu [{d}]nin-szubur_
 en: it is Hand-of-Ninszubur.
  single ruling
30'. _DISZ_ i+na szu-bur-ri ma-hi-is,
 en: If he is stricken in the anus:
31'. _szu {d}ti-mu2-a_
 en: it is Hand-of-Timua.
  single ruling
32'. _DISZ_ i+na _giri3_ ma-hi-is,
 en: If he is stricken in the foot:
33'. _szu# {d}masz-tab-ba#_
 en: it is Hand-of-Gemini.
  single ruling
34'. [_DISZ_ i+na x ma]-hi#-[is,]
  rest broken
column 8
  beginning broken
1'. [...] x
 en: ...
2'. [x x] x x x
 en: ...
3'. x x _mud_ u2-kal
 en: ... he has ...
  single ruling
4'. [x x] x _igi_ a-na _dingir_
 en: If ... before his god
5'. isz-ku#-un-ma
 en: he sets,
6'. _mu2_ i-pa-ri-ik
 en: and blocks the fumigation:
7'. _u4 7(disz)-kam ninda nu gar_
 en: for seven days there will be no bread.
  single ruling
8'. _DISZ szu-si_-szu isz-tu
 en: If his fingers in:
9'. li#-bi# [ri]-tim
 en: the ...
10'. u2-ka-s,a-a# _szu gidim_
 en: are cold: it is Hand-of-a-Ghost.
  single ruling
11'. _DISZ szu-si_-szu
 en: If is fingers
12'. it-te-ne2-eh-le-a
 en: are constantly roaming:
13'. _u4_-mu-szu qer-bu
 en: his days are near.
  single ruling
14'. _DISZ_ i+na _u4-na2#-[a]_
 en: If during the bibbulu (disappearance of the moon)
15'. _gir2-tab sag#-[du lu2_ iz-qu-ut?]
 en: a scorpion ... the head (of a man)
16'. _gissu#_ sza#-ki#-in#
 en: there will be shade, viz. protection.
  single ruling
17'. _DISZ_ i+na _u4-na2#-a_
 en: If on bibbulu
18'. _eme-szid kun_ 2(disz)-ta
 en: a lizard with 2 tails
19'. i-ta-mar i-szar-ru
 en: is sighted, he will grow rich.
  single ruling
20'. _DISZ_ i+na _{iti}ab-e3_
 en: If in the month of Tebetu
21'. _bil-za-za kun_ i-ta-mar
 en: a frog with a tail is sighted:
22'. i-mar-<ra>-as,
 en: he will get sick.
  single ruling
23'. _DISZ_ i+na _e2_-szu _eme-szid_
 en: If in his house a lizard
24'. sza _kun# nu# gar# igi#!_
 en: without a tail is sighted:
25'. _dam#_-[szu2 _dumu]-mesz_ ma-du-ti
 en: his wife to many sons
26'. ul#-[la-ad]-ma
 en: will give birth and
27'. _[ninda_ a-na pi]-szu _nu gar_
 en: there will not be enough bread for the mouth of each one.
  single ruling
28'. [_DISZ_ x x] x x
 en: ...
  rest broken

Text content

Genre(s) Scholarly or scientific > Divination (divination)
Language(s)

Chronology

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

Record

LOD URI https://cdli.network/entity/P252113

Physical information

Artifact type Tablet
Dimensions
Weight
Material(s) Clay
Preservation

Provenance

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

Collections

Collection(s) Schøyen Collection, Oslo, Norway
Museum Number MS 3104
Accession Number

References

  • primary: CUSAS 18, 16

    [George2013CUSAS18] George, Andrew R. 2013. Babylonian Divinatory Texts, Chiefly in the Schøyen Collection. Cornell University Studies in Assyriology and Sumerology (CUSAS), Volume 18. Bethesda, Maryland: CDL Press.

Revisions and credits

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2017-10-27 at 09:15:01 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration CDLI CDLI Approved View
2015-11-26 at 08:32:48 Johnson, J. Cale Transliteration Johnson, J. Cale CDLI Approved View
2015-11-25 at 09:43:26 Johnson, J. Cale Transliteration Johnson, J. Cale CDLI Approved View
2004-12-15 at 00:00:00 CDLI Artifact metadata Bartash, Vitali; Dahl, Jacob L.; Foxvog, Daniel A.; Guerra, Dylan; Johnson, J. Cale; Stadhouders, Henry CDLI Approved View

Cite this Artifact

“CUSAS 18, 016 Artifact Entry.” 2004. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). December 15, 2004. https://cdli.earth/P252113.
CUSAS 18, 016 artifact entry (No. P252113). (2004, December 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P252113
CUSAS 18, 016 artifact entry (2004) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P252113 (Accessed: May 17, 2026).
@misc{2004CUSAS,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-05-17]},
	year = {2004},
	month = {dec 15},
	title = {CUSAS 18, 016 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P252113},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P252113},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2004/12/15/
PY  - 2004
ID  - P252113
LB  - CDLI:P252113
M1  - 2026/5/17/
TI  - CUSAS 18, 016 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P252113
ER  - 

Cite this Artifact

“CUSAS 18, 016 Artifact Entry.” 2004. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). December 15, 2004. https://cdli.earth/P252113.
CUSAS 18, 016 artifact entry (No. P252113). (2004, December 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P252113
CUSAS 18, 016 artifact entry (2004) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P252113 (Accessed: May 17, 2026).
@misc{2004CUSAS,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-05-17]},
	year = {2004},
	month = {dec 15},
	title = {CUSAS 18, 016 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P252113},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P252113},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2004/12/15/
PY  - 2004
ID  - P252113
LB  - CDLI:P252113
M1  - 2026/5/17/
TI  - CUSAS 18, 016 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P252113
ER  - 
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