UET 6, 0414 (P274721)

Literary tablet excavated in Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar), dated to the Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC) period and now kept in British Museum, London, UK

Museum Collection(s)

British Museum, London, UK

Museum Number

BM —

Period

Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

Provenience

Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)

Artifact Type

Tablet

Material(s)

Clay

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Literary (humor At the cleaners)

Language(s)

Akkadian

Measurements

-

Witness

Text

tablet
obverse
1. al-kam _{lu2}azlag2_ lu-wa-hi-ir-ka-a-ma# su-ba-ti zu-uk#-ki
 en: “Come now, cleaner, I’ll give you an order—clean my clothes!
2. sza u-wa-hi#-ru#-ka la ta-na-ad-di-i-ma
 en: What I instruct you, do not lay aside,
3. sza-at ra-ma-ni-ka la te-ep-pe-esz
 en: Your own (ideas), you should not do!
4. si2-is-si2-ik-tam qa2-ap-si-da-am ta-na-ad-di
 en: As for the hem of the garment, you will lay down the selvage,
5. pa-nam a-na li-ib-bi-im tu-ta-ak-ka-ap
 en: You will stitch the outer side to the inside,
6. qa2 szi-id-dim ta-la-aq-qa-at
 en: You will pick up the thread of the (shorter) border.
7. me-eh-ha-am qa-at-nam ta-ra-as-sa3-an
 en: You will soak the delicate part (of the cloth) in beer,
8. i-na ma-asz-ha-li-im ta-sza-ah-ha-al
 en: You will strain it through a sieve.
9. si2-si2-ka-at qa2-ap-si-di-im tu-pa-at,-t,a#-ar
 en: You will loosen the hem with the selvage.
10. asz i-na me-e na-am-ru-tim te#-di-ik#?
 en: You will spray it with clear water,
  aš on the left edge, indicating 10th line
11. ki-ma ki-im-di-im-ma ta#-ka#?-pa#-ar u3 te-x-ni#?
 en: You will wipe it like a kimdum cloth, and you will ... :
12. a#-na pi2-it-tim ta-sa3#-x ki-ma# szu-tu-um# x-x-bi?
 en: To the weft yarns you will [brush?] so that the warp yarns ...
13. [a]-na# me-es-ke-er-tim ta#-ta#-x-[x-x]
 en: You will ... in a basin(?),
14. x ku-up?-pa?# x _im-babbar_ tu#-[ba-la]-al#
 en: ... you will mix alkali with gypsum (to prepare fuller’s earth?).
15. [i-na] _na4#_ ta-ma#-[ah-ha]-su2#
 en: You will beat(?) it on/with/under a stone.
16. i#-na# te-er-hi-im ta-ma#-ar-ra#-[as u3 te?-x x x]
 en: ... in a vessel.
17. pi2-qa2 si2-im-tam te-me-su#? ta#-[x-x-x] u3 tu-na-da#-[ad?]
 en: In case you have applied a (laundry) mark, (then) you must ... and you will have to comb (the fabric).
18. i-na# _{gesz#}gidri# ma-nu_ tu-ta-ar#-[ra-ak]
 en: You will tap (the garment) repeatedly with an e’ru-wood stick (to felt or smooth the fabric).
19. it#-qa2#-am na-pa-al-sa3-ah-tam tu-[...]
 en: You will arrange the fleece on the washer’s stool.
20. asz szu-ta-am szi#-ip-ra-am i-na _{gesz}dala#_ x-[x]-ni#?
 en: You will sew/repair the work, the (damaged) warp, with a needle.
  aš on the left edge, indicating 10th line
reverse
1. si2-si2-ik-tam ta-sza-at-ta-aq u3 tu-pa-asz-sza-ah
 en: You will spread and cool the hem.
2. i-na s,i-it li-li-im tu-ub-ba-al
 en: You will dry (the garment) in the break of evening,
3. ki-ma szu-tu-um la usz-ta-ak-ka-su2
 en: so that the fabric will not dry (and wrinkle).
4. i-na sza-ad-di-im i-na pi-it-ni-im ta-sza-ak-ka-an#
 en: (Afterwards) you will place it in a box (and that) in a chest.
5. lu pu-usz-szu-uh-kum bi-lam u2-ha-ad-da-ka ma-di-isz hu-um-t,a-am
 en: No cause for concern! Bring (it) to me; I will make you very happy—promptly!
6. a-na bi-tim tu-ba-lam-ma 1(ban2) sze a-na su2-ni-ka i-sza-ap-pa-[ku]
 en: You will bring (the garment) to the house, (one) will pour a seah of barley into your lap.”
7. _{lu2}azlag2_ i-ip-al-szu asz-szum e2-a be-el ne2-em-si2-im sza u2-ba-la-t,u3#-[ni?]
 en: The fuller answers him: “By Ea, lord of the washbowl, who gives me life!
  ‘The fuller answers’ commonly understood to be stage directions
8. e-zi-ib la ia-ti sza ta-qa-ab-bu-u2 um-me2-ni u3 mu-sza-[di-ni?]
 en: Drop it! Not me! What you are saying—only my creditor and my tax collector
9. sza ki-ma ka-a-ti li-ib-ba-am i-ra-asz-szu-u2-ma#
 en: have the nerve (to talk) like you!
10. szi-ip-ra-am ri#-ta-szu i-ka-asz-sza-da u2-la i-ba-asz-szi
 en: Nobody’s hands could manage this work!
11. asz sza tu-wa-hi#-ru#!-ni szu-un-na-am da-ba-ba-am
 en: What you have instructed me I cannot repeat,
  aš on the left edge, indicating 10th line
12. qa2-ba-am u3 tu-ur-ra-am u2-la e-le-i
 en: utter or reiterate!
13. al-kam e-le-nu-um a-li-im i-na li-it a-li-im
 en: Come upstream of the city, in the environs of the city—
14. ma-ah-tu-tam lu-ka-al-li-im-ka-ma-me
 en: let me show you a washing-place!
15. ma-na-ha-tim ra-be2-tim sza i-na qa-ti-ka i-ba-asz-szi-a i-na ra-ma-ni-ka szu-ku-un-ma
 en: The great work you have in your hands set yourself (to do)!
16. na-ap-ta-nu-um la i-ba-a et-ru-ba-am-ma
 en: The meal time should not pass—go in there, and
  or ‘He does not come to the meal but goes in,’ commonly understood to be stage directions
17. u3# qe2-e _{lu2}azlag2_ ma-du-tim pu-szu-ur
 en: the many threads of the fuller unravel!
18. szum-ma la at-ta li-ib-bi ra-ma-ni-ka tu-na-ap-pa-asz
 en: If you don’t calm yourself down
  literally If not-you the stomach of yourself exhales
19. _{lu2}azlag2_ sza i-na-ah-hi-da-kum u2-la i-ba-asz-szi
 en: a fuller who will bother for you will be none.
20. i-me-esz-szu-ni-ik-kum-ma li-ib-ba-ka-mi
 en: They will mock you. Your heart
21. asz ih-ha-am-ma-at, u3 te-er-szi-tam
 en: will burn, and a rash(?)
  aš on the left edge, indicating 10th line
22. pa-ga-ar-ka te-mi-id
 en: on your body you will impose.”
23. ($ blank space $) _mu-bi szid-bi 4(u) 1(disz)_
 en: The lines, their count: 41.

Text content

Genre(s) Literary (humor At the cleaners)
Language(s) Akkadian

Chronology

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

Composites

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

Composite Composite Number Score
Dummy composite "needed" (P546835) needed View the score

Record

LOD URI https://cdli.network/entity/P274721

Physical information

Artifact type Tablet
Dimensions
Weight
Material(s) Clay
Preservation

Provenance

Provenience Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)
Written In
Archive
Excavation Number U 07793
Findspot
Stratigraphic Level
Elevation

Collections

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

External resources

External Resource Identifiers
Ur Online Project (UrOnline) 7171

References

  • primary: UET 6, 0414

    [Gadd1963UET6] Gadd, Cyril J., and Aaron Shaffer. 1963, 1966, 2005. Ur Excavations Texts Vol. VI.

  • history: Before the Muses, 151-152

    [Foster2005BeforeMuses] Foster, Benjamin R. 2005. Before the Muses : An Anthology of Akkadian Literature (3rd Edition). Bethesda, Md. : CDL Press.

  • history: Iraq 25 (pp. 177-188)

    [Gadd1963Iraq25] Gadd, Cyril J. 1963. “Two Sketches from the Life at Ur.” Iraq 25: 177–88.

  • history: Fs Deller (= AOAT 220; pp. 175-187)

    [Livingstone1988AOAT 220] Livingstone, Alasdair. 1988. “At the Cleaners: Notes on Humorous Literature.” In Ad Bene et Fideliter Seminandum : Festgabe Für Karlheinz Deller Zum 21. Februar 1987, edited by Gerlinde Mauer, 175–87. Alter Orient Und Altes Testament 220.

  • history: Wasserman, Nathan, Iraq 75 (2013) 255-277

    [sec53429] N.d.

  • citation: Charpin Clergé d'Ur, p. 431-432

    [Charpin1986Clergé] Charpin, Dominique. 1986. Le Clergé d’Ur Au Siècle d’Hammurabi (XIXe-XVIIIe Siècles Av. J.-C.). Hautes Études Orientales 22. Genève - Paris: Librairie Droz.

  • collation: Iraq 55 (pp. 63-75), 73-74

    [George1993Iraq55] George, Andrew R. 1993. “Ninurta-Pāqidāt’s Dog Bite, and Notes on Other Comic Tales.” Iraq 55: 63–75.

Revisions and credits

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2024-07-30 at 13:14:38 Firth, Richard Artifact metadata, Other metadata Firth, Richard Firth, Richard Approved View
2024-07-26 at 10:28:33 Firth, Richard Artifact metadata, Other metadata Firth, Richard Firth, Richard Approved View
2023-06-28 at 23:15:35 Rattenborg, Rune Artifact metadata Hafford, William B.; Rattenborg, Rune Geomapping Landscapes of Writing Rattenborg, Rune Approved View
2017-10-27 at 09:15:02 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration CDLI CDLI Approved View
2016-11-28 at 15:41:33 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2016-11-28 at 15:36:33 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2016-11-28 at 15:33:58 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2016-11-28 at 14:40:51 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2016-11-28 at 14:26:02 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2016-11-22 at 13:56:24 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2016-11-22 at 13:49:51 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2016-11-22 at 13:34:57 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2016-11-22 at 11:20:30 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2014-01-11 at 08:42:30 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2012-04-01 at 13:41:16 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2012-03-29 at 21:24:04 Friberg, Jöran Transliteration Friberg, Jöran CDLI Approved View
2012-03-29 at 21:23:50 Friberg, Jöran Transliteration Friberg, Jöran CDLI Approved View
2012-03-29 at 21:20:33 Friberg, Jöran Transliteration Friberg, Jöran CDLI Approved View
2012-03-29 at 21:18:16 Friberg, Jöran Transliteration Friberg, Jöran CDLI Approved View
2012-03-29 at 21:09:33 Friberg, Jöran Transliteration Friberg, Jöran CDLI Approved View
2012-03-29 at 21:00:34 Friberg, Jöran Transliteration Friberg, Jöran CDLI Approved View
2012-03-28 at 11:07:53 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2012-03-21 at 17:37:47 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2005-09-15 at 00:00:00 CDLI Artifact metadata Wasserman, Nathan CDLI Approved View

Cite this Artifact

“UET 6, 0414 Artifact Entry.” (2005) 2024. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 30, 2024. https://cdli.earth/P274721.
UET 6, 0414 artifact entry (No. P274721). (2024, July 30). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P274721 (Original work published 2005)
UET 6, 0414 artifact entry (2024) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P274721 (Accessed: May 13, 2026).
@misc{2024UET,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-05-13]},
	year = {2024},
	month = {jul 30},
	title = {UET 6, 0414 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P274721},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P274721},
}


TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2024/7/30/
PY  - 2024
ID  - P274721
LB  - CDLI:P274721
M1  - 2026/5/13/
TI  - UET 6, 0414 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P274721
ER  -

Cite this Artifact

“UET 6, 0414 Artifact Entry.” (2005) 2024. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 30, 2024. https://cdli.earth/P274721.
UET 6, 0414 artifact entry (No. P274721). (2024, July 30). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P274721 (Original work published 2005)
UET 6, 0414 artifact entry (2024) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P274721 (Accessed: May 13, 2026).
@misc{2024UET,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-05-13]},
	year = {2024},
	month = {jul 30},
	title = {UET 6, 0414 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P274721},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P274721},
}


TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2024/7/30/
PY  - 2024
ID  - P274721
LB  - CDLI:P274721
M1  - 2026/5/13/
TI  - UET 6, 0414 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P274721
ER  -
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