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CDLI Literary 000396, ex. 012 (P346166)

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

Metadata / catalogue

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Text / annotations

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Chemical Data

Seal Chemistry

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Metadata history Transliteration history

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 (ETCSL 2.04.02.02 Šulgi B (witness) Shulgi B)

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

-

Witness

tablet
obverse
1. szesz# gu5-li-gu10 sul {d}utu-am3
 en: As (i.e., like) my brother and friend Utu
2. za3-sze pirig-gin7 sug2-sug2-ge-ga2
 en: Of my ones standing (with) shoulders like a pirig creature
3. ansze sahar# la2 ug-gin7 szeg10 gi4-a-ga2 szusz3 sa6-ga-bi-me-en
 en: Of my dust covered(?) equids screaming like ug creatures, I am their good groom
4. dur3-gin7 kasz4-a ne-gu10 nu-silig-ge
 en: Like a male donkey, my strength never wavers as a runner
5. kasz4-ta e3-a-me-en dub3 nu-kusz2-u3-me-en
 en: I come out (ahead) from the (other) runners
6. nam-tag nu-gal2-me-en izi-sa gu4-gu4#-u4-me-en
 en: I bear no sin, I jump around continually in mirth(?)
7. inim-gu10 nig2 ka-ta nu-szub-bu-dam
 en: My word is something never to be abandoned by the mouth
8. mi2-gu10 di nig2-gin6-na-ka ka-ga14 mu-e-szi-gal2
 en: My praise(?) is present in the mouth on my behalf (manifested) in legal decisions of truth
9. masz2-szu-gid2-gid2 dadag-ga-me-en
 en: I am a ritually pure diviner
10. giri3-gen-na-ka uzu-ga-ka {d}nin-tur5-bi ga2-me-en
 en: I am the Nintur (mother goddess) of the procedures of omens
11. szu-luh nam-iszib-a szu du7-de3
 en: In order to perfect the lustration rites of the išib priesthood
12. en-ra za3# mi2#-de3# ge6-par4-sze3 hun-e
 en: In order to praise the en priestess and install (her) on behalf of the gipar building
13. lu2-mah eresz-dingir sza3 ku3-ge pa3-da
 en: In order to choose the lumah priest and erešdigir priestess in the holy heart
14. sig-sze3 sag ga2-ga2 nim-sze3 aga-kar2 si-ge
 en: To advance towards the lowland and inflict defeat against the highland
15. e2 szu-nir-ra-ke4 gal2 tak4-tak4
 en: To open the “house of the emblem”
16. {gesz}gid2-da a me3 tu5-tu5
 en: To wash the lance with the “water of battle”
17. ki-bala-a sa2 galam-ma ga2-ga2
 en: To enact clever plans in the rebel land
18. inim dingir-re-e-ne nig2# kal#-kal# x
 en: The words of the gods is(?) a most precious thing (for these matters)
19. sila4 babbar udu kin2-gi4-a-ka i5-gar u3-bi2#?-[...]
 en: After I(?) establish an oracular utterance with/in the white lamb, the sheep suitable for extispicy
20. ki mu pa3#-da-ba a esza u3-ba#-[...]
 en: After I(?) pour water and eša flour in the place where the name is uttered/the oath is taken
21. inim# siskur2-ra-ka udu sa-a mi-ni-ib2-gi4#-[...]
 en: I will prepare the sheep with/according to(?) the words of the siskur ritual
22. masz2-szu-gid2-gid2-gu10 na-ga2-ah-gin7 mu-ni#-[...]
 en: My diviner ... there(?) like a barbarian
23. udu sa gi4-a szu-ga2 ba-an-[...]
 en: The prepared sheep “passes into my hand"(?)
24. sa6-ga hul-da# la-ba-an-ta-ha-[...]
 en: I do not “hold” good (omens) with bad (omens)
25. sza3 zalag ni2-ga2-me-en igi-gu10-ta i3-du-un#
 en: A brilliant mind is mine, I go by my (own) eyes
26. lugal-me-en sza3 udu disz-a-[...]
 en: I am the king, the entrails of a single sheep
27. a2 ag2-ga2 nig2-ki-szar2-ra-ka igi mu-na-ni-[...]
 en: I see the orders of the whole world
28. nig2-ak-ga2 ni2-bi ga-bulug5#-[...]
 en: I shall boast about my deeds
29. kal-ga-ga2 mu-bi a2 bi2-su3-u4
 en: I have made the reputation of my might spread wide
30. gesztux(|GISZ.TUG2|)-gu10 nig2-galam-ma su3-ga-am3
 en: My intellect is full of cleverness
31. a-na-gu10 nig2 ka-ge dab-ba nu
 en: What of mine does not surpass description?
32. {d}szul#-gi# lugal uri2{ki}-ma-me-en
 en: I am Shulgi, the king of Urim
reverse
1. u3 nam-nar-a gu2#?-gu10 ha-ba-szum2
 en: And therefore I am devoted to the art of the musician
2. nig2-na-me-bi# la-ba-an-da-gib-e
 en: Nothing about it is blocked to me(?)
3. tigi a-da-ab nam-nar szu du7-a buru3 dagal-bi mu#?-zu
 en: (I) have learned the depth and width of tigi and adab songs (or instruments?), perfected by/equipped for the musician's craft(?)
4. {gesz}szu-kar2-ke4 sza3-bi dab5-x-[...]
 en: The (playing of) the šukar instrument was grasped in the mind(?)
5. si ke3-de3 [...]-mu-e-szi-ib-gaz-e#-[...]
 en: In order to adjust the frets(?), I did not cause the arm to break(?)
6. zi-zi szu2#-[...]-ba# gesz mu-e-hur-hur#
 en: I made plans for/drew its “raising” and “lowering"(?)
7. gu2 esz {gesz}za3-mi2-a kam-ma sa6-ga mi-ni-[...]
 en: I have known how to tune(?) the three ... gu instrument and the lyre well
8. {gesz}sa-esz u3 sza3 nam-nar-ra-ka sza3-du-gu#?-[...]
 en: I have known the “three stringed” instrument and the “heart of the art of the musician (soundbox?), and the “howling heart”
9. {gesz}al-gar {gesz}sa-bi2#-tum# in#-dim2# lugal-la# [...]
 en: I have known the fingering technique/plectrum(?) of the algar and sabitum instruments, which the king created(?)
10. {gesz}mi-ri2-tum nig2 [...] szu#? mu#?-[...]
 en: (I) accepted(?) the “Mari” instrument, that which silences the temple(?)
11. {gesz}ur-za#-ba-bi#-[tum {gesz}]har#-har# [...]
 en: The “(king) Urzababa” instrument, the harhar instrument, the harhar instrument
12. {gesz#}ur#-gu#-la# {gesz}dim3#-lu2#-ma2-gur8#-[...] NE-gin7 gu3 mi-ni-[...]
 en: The “lion” instrument, the “post of the boatman” instrument, and zanaru instrument, I brought out (their) noises ...
13. dumu nar-ra szu tam-tam-ma#-[...]
 en: Like a pure-handed/skilled(?) member of the musicians
14. {gesz}gu3-di {gesz#}a-ba-ra-ab-tuku-a ki-gu10#-[...]
 en: (If) someone brings(?) a gudi instument never heard before to where I am (my place)
15. u6-ne-en sza3-bi ba#-[...]
 en: When I “make it speak"(?), its essence(?) is made known
16. nig2 u4-bi-sze3 szu gal2-gal2-la-gin7 ba-x-[...]
 en: I can make it like something at its (appropriate) time
17. ad pa3-da gid2-i tu-lu gin6-x [...]
 en: Finding the sound (by?) tightening(?), slackening, and correcting has not escaped my hand
18. gi-di gi sipa-gin7 nu-um#?-[...]
 en: (I) do not play the reed flute like (a mere) reed (pipe) of the shepherd
19. szumun-sza4 murum sza4#-a#? i-si-isz ga2#-[...]
 en: Intoning a šumunša song, wailing in lament
20. sza3-ge sag#-us2#-bi-gin7 mu#-[...]
 en: In the heart(?) (I) have known how to do this, like (one who does it) regular(ly)
21. hul2-hul2-le-me-en du10-du10#-ge [...]
 en: I am one who causes rejoicing, I am one who makes things sweet
22. giri17-zal nam-nun-na# u4# zal-zal-le# [...]
 en: I am one who spends the day in joy and princeliness
23. lu2#-lu7 ni2 te-ni-sze3 gesztu2 he2-[...]
 en: If a man pays attention to his fear
24. [...] nig2 igi nigin2-na-ka#?
 en: The matter(?), that which the eye surveys
25. [...]-ti#-la sag im-gi4-a#
 en: The circumscribed limits of life
26. [...] nam-gu2-ga-ka lu2 la-ba-an-szub-szub#-[...]
 en: The bile/poison of the “land/netherworld of oppression,” a man cannot cast aside(?)
27. kal#-ga ne-ni-ta nir gal2-la am3#?
 en: He is(!?) one who trusts in his own might
28. mu mah-a-ni-ta nir gal2-e
 en: And thus one who trusts his great name
29. nig2 he2-em-gu-ul-gu-ul-e a-na-asz ba-ni-ib-la2-e
 en: Makes (everything) the best, why would he diminish them?
  double ruling
30. 1(gesz2) 1(disz)
 en: (Total) 61 lines,
31. ra#-x-mi
 en: ...
  small, dried characters situated between 1(gesz2) and 1(disz)

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)

  • Artifact type: Tablet
  • Material: Clay
  • Measurements (mm):
  • Weight:
  • Artifact Preservation:
  • Condition Description:
  • Join Information:
  • Seal no.:
  • Seal information:
  • Artifact comments:

  • Genre(s): Literary (ETCSL 2.04.02.02 Šulgi B (witness) Shulgi B)
  • Language(s): Sumerian

  • history: Two Shulgi Hymns, p. 27

    [Castellino1972TwoShulgiHymns] Castellino, Giorgio R. 1972. Two Šulgi Hymns (BC). Vol. 42. Studi Semitici.

  • history: UET 6, 0081

    [Gadd1963] Gadd, Cyril J., and Aaron Shaffer. 1963, 1966.

  • Composite No.:
  • Museum No.: BM —
  • Accession No.:

  • Provenience: Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)
  • Elevation:
  • Stratigraphic Level:
  • Excavation No: U 16848
  • Findspot Square:
  • Findspot Comments:

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2024-07-23 at 18:27:06 Firth, Richard Artifact, Other Entity Firth, Richard Firth, Richard approved View
2023-06-28 at 23:15:35 Rattenborg, Rune Artifact Hafford, William B.; Rattenborg, Rune Geomapping Landscapes of Writing Rattenborg, Rune approved View
2023-06-15 at 20:34:30 Rattenborg, Rune Artifact Rattenborg, Rune Geomapping Landscapes of Writing Rattenborg, Rune approved View
2019-06-11 at 11:14:01 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2019-05-29 at 21:02:01 Englund, Robert K. Atf Peterson, Jeremiah CDLI approved View
2006-11-02 at 00:00:00 CDLI Artifact Foxvog, Daniel A.; Guerra, Dylan; Peterson, Jeremiah; Veldhuis, Niek; Wolfe, Jared N. CDLI approved View

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

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

Composite Score
CDLI Literary 000396 (Shulgi B) composite (P469698) View the score

General Notes: -
CDLI Notes: -
Cite this Artifact
“CDLI Literary 000396, Ex. 012 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2024. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 23, 2024. https://cdli.earth/P346166.
CDLI Literary 000396, ex. 012 artifact entry (No. P346166). (2024, July 23). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P346166 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary 000396, ex. 012 artifact entry (2024) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P346166 (Accessed: April 21, 2025).
@misc{2024CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2025-04-21]},
	year = {2024},
	month = {jul 23},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000396, ex. 012 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P346166},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P346166},
}


TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2024/7/23/
PY  - 2024
ID  - P346166
LB  - CDLI:P346166
M1  - 2025/4/21/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000396, ex. 012 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P346166
ER  -
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