CDLI Literary 000472, ex. 001 (P346203)
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, UKMetadata / catalogue
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Museum Collection(s)
British Museum, London, UKMuseum Number
BM —Provenience
Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)Artifact Type
TabletMaterial(s)
ClayGenre / Subgenre(s)
Literary (ETCSL 2.05.04.23 Ishme-Dagan W (witness))Language(s)
SumerianMeasurements
-Witness
tablet
obverse
column 1
1. iri{ki} me-lam2-zu
2. an-ki-a dul9
en: City, your aura covers the universe
3. u18-ru-zu mah dab
en: Your might is supreme and surpassing
4. esz3 nibru{ki}
en: Shrine Nibru
5. ki an a-na szu2-a-asz
en: Wherever the heavens cover (i.e., everywhere)
6. ne3-zu za3-bi-sze3 gal2
en: Your strength is there (all the way to) its boundaries
7. szeg12 kilib3-ba
8. kalam-ma ki gar-ra
en: (Among) all of the brick (structures) founded in the land
9. szeg12-zu szeg12 sag-bi-im
en: Your brickwork is the foremost brickwork
10. kur-kur-re
11. iri{ki} <a>-na du3-a-ba
12. me mah szu mi-ni-ti
en: The lands accept the supreme cosmic powers in all their cities
13. me mah-zu-gin7
en: Like your supreme cosmic powers,
14. mu-zu mah-am3
en: your reputation is supreme
15. mu-zu-gin7
en: Like your reputation,
16. sahar-zu sahar du10-ga-am3
en: your soil is good soil
17. iri{ki} an-ki-a
18. mu-zu diri-ga-am3
en: City, your name is surpassing in the universe
19. us2-sag
en: You are the bond
20. sig igi-nim-ma
en: of the lowlands and highlands,
21. dim-gal ug3 szar2-ra-me-en
en: the great pillar of the many people
22. me-zu me galam-ma
en: Your cosmic powers are clever and
23. me nu-sag2-dam
en: that cannot be dispersed
24. gesz-hur-zu-u8?
en: And thus your plans,
25. abzu si-ga-gin7
en: like something that occupies the subterranean waters,
26. ni2 gal szi-im-duh-duh
en: And thus your plans, like something that occupies the subterranean waters, emit a great aura
column 2
1. nam-mah-zu
en: your greatness,
2. {d}urasz sig7-ga-gin7
en: which is verdant like the goddess Uraš (earth personified)
3. na-me nu-zu-zu-dam
en: No one is to ascertain.
4. nam tar-ra
en: Your fate,
5. sag-bi-sze3 e3-a-zu
en: going out at the forefront,
6. nig2 ar2-re-esz dab-ba
en: is something that surpasses (any) praise
7. hur-sag sukud-ra2
en: A high mountain range
8. szu nu-te-ga2-me-en
en: that no hand can approach are you.
9. sag il2 za3 dab-ba
en: Head raised high, surpassing
10. an-ne2 us2-sa-me-en
en: You are touching heaven
11. sza3-zu u18-ru-me-en
en: Your interior is powerful
12. bar-zu
en: Your exterior
13. ni2 gur3-ru-me-en
en: is filled with awe
14. {d}a-nun-na-ke4-ne
15. u2 nam-ti-la-bi-sze3
16. za-e
17. szi-im-ma-ab-du3-en
en: And thus you produce food (for) the Anuna for their lives
18. gu7 nag-bi-sze3
19. szi-im-ma-sig7-ge-en
en: You are verdant for their eating and drinking
20. amasz zi-bi-sze3 gal2-me-en
en: You are the sheepfold that is there for their breath
21. a2-zu-ta
22. gu sa-par4 gid2-gin7
23. nig2-nam# la-ba-ra-e3
en: Nothing can escape from you arm, which is like the extended cords of a net
24. esz3 nibru{ki}
25. a-ra2-zu nig2 mah-am3
en: Shrine Nibru, your way is that of greatness
26. nig2 ka-ge dab-ba
en: Surpassing description
27. me hal-ha-zu
28. gesz-szub zi-da
reverse
column 1
1. nig2 sag2 nu-di-dam
en: When you divide up the cosmic powers (it results in) a true lot that cannot be dispelled
2. iri{ki} sza3-zu
3. ku3-ga-am3
en: City, your inside is pure
4. bar-zu szen-szen-am3
en: Your outside is pure
5. su-bar-ra-zu
6. me-lam2 gur3-ru-am3
en: Your body bears an aura
7. ki-zu ki suh-ha-am3
en: Your site is a chosen(?) place
8. en gesztux(|GISZ.TUG2|)-a
9. kur-gal {d}en-lil2-le
10. sza3-zu-a esz3 bi2-in-du3
en: The lord of wisdom, the Great Mountain Enlil, has built a shrine in your midst
11. esz3-bi
12. esz3 za-gin3
13. esz3 nam tar-re-dam
en: That shrine, the sparkling shrine, it is the shrine that is to determine fate
14. e2-kur
15. e2 za-gin3
16. e2 nam tar-re-dam
en: The Ekur, the sparkling temple, it is the temple that is to determine fate
17. nun-zu
18. {d}nu-nam-nir
19. ninda2 me ru-a
en: Your ruler, Nunamnir, the young bull who inseminates the cosmic powers
20. ama {d}nin-lil2
21. nin gal ki-ur3-ra-a
22. nin me u3-tu-da
en: Mother Ninlil, the great queen of the Ki'ur complex, lady who gave birth to the cosmic powers
23. e-ne e-ne-gin7
24. kalam-ma
25. dingir a-ba
26. mu-un-ti
en: What other god lives in the land like he and she?
27. a-ne-ne
28. umusz galgax(|NUN.LAGARxGAR|) ki u4 te
29. szu bi2-in-gur-ru-usz
en: They have wrapped themselves with intelligence and counsel at the place of dusk
column 2
1. husz-bi
2. bi2-in-dur2-ru-ne-esz
en: They have sat down (in their thrones) with a reddish hue(?)
3. me zi me gal
4. me ar2-re-ka
5. dur2 im-mi-in-gar-re-esz
en: They have sat down (in their thrones) among the true cosmic powers, the great powers, the cosmic powers of praise
6. {d}a-nun-na-ke4-ne
7. ama a-a ugu-bi-gin7
8. igi-bi im-szi-gal2
en: The Anuna gods look to them as their birth parents
9. inim ku3 kal-kal
10. zi-de3-esz di-bi
11. gizzal
12. szi-ma-an-ke4-esz
en: And therefore they listen to their pure and most precious words, uttered faithfully
13. {d}en-lil2
14. {d}nin-lil2-bi
15. an-na
16. igi im-mi-in-gal2-esz
en: Both Enlil and Ninlil looked at the sky
17. ki-a
18. za3 mi-ni-in-gar-re-esz
en: They made a (temporary) sanctuary(?) on the earth (according to the stars they saw)
19. u4-bi-a
20. an gal
21. ki dagal-ba
22. sza3-bi mu-un-e3-a
en: At that time, the intentions for the broad earth that great An had brought forth (for Enlil and Ninlil to see)
23. dingir {d}a-nun-na
24. an-ki-ke4-ne
25. kin2 ib2-gi4-gi4-ne
en: The Anuna gods of heaven and earth set to work (to fulfill them)
26. {gesz}al
27. {gesz}dupsik
28. nig2 uru17 ki ga2-ga2
29. szu-ba x
30. mu-un-gal2
en: The hoe and the earth-moving basket, those (tools) which establish a city, were ... in their hands
31. x [...] {d?}ha?-ia3? {d}nisaba
en: ... Haya(?) and Nisaba
obverse
column 1
1. iri{ki} me-lam2-zu
2. an-ki-a dul9
en: City, your aura covers the universe
3. u18-ru-zu mah dab
en: Your might is supreme and surpassing
4. esz3 nibru{ki}
en: Shrine Nibru
5. ki an a-na szu2-a-asz
en: Wherever the heavens cover (i.e., everywhere)
6. ne3-zu za3-bi-sze3 gal2
en: Your strength is there (all the way to) its boundaries
7. szeg12 kilib3-ba
8. kalam-ma ki gar-ra
en: (Among) all of the brick (structures) founded in the land
9. szeg12-zu szeg12 sag-bi-im
en: Your brickwork is the foremost brickwork
10. kur-kur-re
11. iri{ki} <a>-na du3-a-ba
12. me mah szu mi-ni-ti
en: The lands accept the supreme cosmic powers in all their cities
13. me mah-zu-gin7
en: Like your supreme cosmic powers,
14. mu-zu mah-am3
en: your reputation is supreme
15. mu-zu-gin7
en: Like your reputation,
16. sahar-zu sahar du10-ga-am3
en: your soil is good soil
17. iri{ki} an-ki-a
18. mu-zu diri-ga-am3
en: City, your name is surpassing in the universe
19. us2-sag
en: You are the bond
20. sig igi-nim-ma
en: of the lowlands and highlands,
21. dim-gal ug3 szar2-ra-me-en
en: the great pillar of the many people
22. me-zu me galam-ma
en: Your cosmic powers are clever and
23. me nu-sag2-dam
en: that cannot be dispersed
24. gesz-hur-zu-u8?
en: And thus your plans,
25. abzu si-ga-gin7
en: like something that occupies the subterranean waters,
26. ni2 gal szi-im-duh-duh
en: And thus your plans, like something that occupies the subterranean waters, emit a great aura
column 2
1. nam-mah-zu
en: your greatness,
2. {d}urasz sig7-ga-gin7
en: which is verdant like the goddess Uraš (earth personified)
3. na-me nu-zu-zu-dam
en: No one is to ascertain.
4. nam tar-ra
en: Your fate,
5. sag-bi-sze3 e3-a-zu
en: going out at the forefront,
6. nig2 ar2-re-esz dab-ba
en: is something that surpasses (any) praise
7. hur-sag sukud-ra2
en: A high mountain range
8. szu nu-te-ga2-me-en
en: that no hand can approach are you.
9. sag il2 za3 dab-ba
en: Head raised high, surpassing
10. an-ne2 us2-sa-me-en
en: You are touching heaven
11. sza3-zu u18-ru-me-en
en: Your interior is powerful
12. bar-zu
en: Your exterior
13. ni2 gur3-ru-me-en
en: is filled with awe
14. {d}a-nun-na-ke4-ne
15. u2 nam-ti-la-bi-sze3
16. za-e
17. szi-im-ma-ab-du3-en
en: And thus you produce food (for) the Anuna for their lives
18. gu7 nag-bi-sze3
19. szi-im-ma-sig7-ge-en
en: You are verdant for their eating and drinking
20. amasz zi-bi-sze3 gal2-me-en
en: You are the sheepfold that is there for their breath
21. a2-zu-ta
22. gu sa-par4 gid2-gin7
23. nig2-nam# la-ba-ra-e3
en: Nothing can escape from you arm, which is like the extended cords of a net
24. esz3 nibru{ki}
25. a-ra2-zu nig2 mah-am3
en: Shrine Nibru, your way is that of greatness
26. nig2 ka-ge dab-ba
en: Surpassing description
27. me hal-ha-zu
28. gesz-szub zi-da
reverse
column 1
1. nig2 sag2 nu-di-dam
en: When you divide up the cosmic powers (it results in) a true lot that cannot be dispelled
2. iri{ki} sza3-zu
3. ku3-ga-am3
en: City, your inside is pure
4. bar-zu szen-szen-am3
en: Your outside is pure
5. su-bar-ra-zu
6. me-lam2 gur3-ru-am3
en: Your body bears an aura
7. ki-zu ki suh-ha-am3
en: Your site is a chosen(?) place
8. en gesztux(|GISZ.TUG2|)-a
9. kur-gal {d}en-lil2-le
10. sza3-zu-a esz3 bi2-in-du3
en: The lord of wisdom, the Great Mountain Enlil, has built a shrine in your midst
11. esz3-bi
12. esz3 za-gin3
13. esz3 nam tar-re-dam
en: That shrine, the sparkling shrine, it is the shrine that is to determine fate
14. e2-kur
15. e2 za-gin3
16. e2 nam tar-re-dam
en: The Ekur, the sparkling temple, it is the temple that is to determine fate
17. nun-zu
18. {d}nu-nam-nir
19. ninda2 me ru-a
en: Your ruler, Nunamnir, the young bull who inseminates the cosmic powers
20. ama {d}nin-lil2
21. nin gal ki-ur3-ra-a
22. nin me u3-tu-da
en: Mother Ninlil, the great queen of the Ki'ur complex, lady who gave birth to the cosmic powers
23. e-ne e-ne-gin7
24. kalam-ma
25. dingir a-ba
26. mu-un-ti
en: What other god lives in the land like he and she?
27. a-ne-ne
28. umusz galgax(|NUN.LAGARxGAR|) ki u4 te
29. szu bi2-in-gur-ru-usz
en: They have wrapped themselves with intelligence and counsel at the place of dusk
column 2
1. husz-bi
2. bi2-in-dur2-ru-ne-esz
en: They have sat down (in their thrones) with a reddish hue(?)
3. me zi me gal
4. me ar2-re-ka
5. dur2 im-mi-in-gar-re-esz
en: They have sat down (in their thrones) among the true cosmic powers, the great powers, the cosmic powers of praise
6. {d}a-nun-na-ke4-ne
7. ama a-a ugu-bi-gin7
8. igi-bi im-szi-gal2
en: The Anuna gods look to them as their birth parents
9. inim ku3 kal-kal
10. zi-de3-esz di-bi
11. gizzal
12. szi-ma-an-ke4-esz
en: And therefore they listen to their pure and most precious words, uttered faithfully
13. {d}en-lil2
14. {d}nin-lil2-bi
15. an-na
16. igi im-mi-in-gal2-esz
en: Both Enlil and Ninlil looked at the sky
17. ki-a
18. za3 mi-ni-in-gar-re-esz
en: They made a (temporary) sanctuary(?) on the earth (according to the stars they saw)
19. u4-bi-a
20. an gal
21. ki dagal-ba
22. sza3-bi mu-un-e3-a
en: At that time, the intentions for the broad earth that great An had brought forth (for Enlil and Ninlil to see)
23. dingir {d}a-nun-na
24. an-ki-ke4-ne
25. kin2 ib2-gi4-gi4-ne
en: The Anuna gods of heaven and earth set to work (to fulfill them)
26. {gesz}al
27. {gesz}dupsik
28. nig2 uru17 ki ga2-ga2
29. szu-ba x
30. mu-un-gal2
en: The hoe and the earth-moving basket, those (tools) which establish a city, were ... in their hands
31. x [...] {d?}ha?-ia3? {d}nisaba
en: ... Haya(?) and Nisaba
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:
-
history: UET 6, 0118
[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 07744
- Findspot Square:
- Findspot Comments:
- Period: Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
- Dates Referenced:
- Alternative Years:
- Date Comments:
- Accounting Period:
| Created | Creator | Type | Authors | Project | Reviewer | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-28 at 23:15:35 | Rattenborg, Rune | Artifact | Hafford, William B.; Rattenborg, Rune | Geomapping Landscapes of Writing | Rattenborg, Rune | approved |
 |
| 2023-06-15 at 20:34:30 | Rattenborg, Rune | Artifact | Rattenborg, Rune | Geomapping Landscapes of Writing | Rattenborg, Rune | approved |
|
| 2019-06-01 at 14:34:08 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Englund, Robert K. | CDLI | approved |
|
|
| 2019-05-29 at 21:01:59 | Englund, Robert K. | Atf | Peterson, Jeremiah | CDLI | approved |
|
|
| 2006-11-02 at 00:00:00 | CDLI | Artifact | Foxvog, Daniel A.; Guerra, Dylan; Peterson, Jeremiah; Veldhuis, Niek; Wolfe, Jared N. | CDLI | approved |
|
Consult this artifact as presented on the website of collections and projects:
- The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature transliterations (2.5.4.23) (2.5.4.23)
- The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature translations (2.5.4.23) (2.5.4.23)
- Ancient Records of Middle Eastern Polities (P346203) (P346203)
- Ur Online Project (7039) (7039)
This artifact is a witness to the following composite(s):
| Composite | Score |
|---|---|
| CDLI Literary 000472 (Ishme-Dagan W) composite (P491658) | View the score |
General Notes:
-
CDLI Notes:
-
Cite this Artifact
“CDLI Literary 000472, Ex. 001 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). June 28, 2023. https://cdli.earth/P346203.
CDLI Literary 000472, ex. 001 artifact entry (No. P346203). (2023, June 28). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P346203 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary 000472, ex. 001 artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P346203 (Accessed: November 29, 2025).
@misc{2023CDLI,
note = {[Online; accessed 2025-11-29]},
year = {2023},
month = {jun 28},
title = {CDLI {Literary} 000472, ex. 001 artifact entry},
url = {https://cdli.earth/P346203},
howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P346203},
}
TY - ELEC DA - 2023/6/28/ PY - 2023 ID - P346203 LB - CDLI:P346203 M1 - 2025/11/29/ TI - CDLI Literary 000472, ex. 001 artifact entry UR - https://cdli.earth/P346203 ER -