CDLI Literary 000769, ex. 003 (P346235)

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 (ETCSL 5.04.03 Enkimanšum and Girniisag (witness) (CHECK))

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

-

Witness

Text

tablet
obverse
  (surface unclear)
1. dumu e2-dub-ba-a u4-da egir dub-me-ka a-na-am3 ga-ab-sar#-[...]
 en: Son of the scribal school, if (we reach) the end of our tablet (assignment), what should we write?
2. u4-da u-ta KA-inim-ma didli-me nu-sar-en-de3-en
 en: If we do not write our various texts/text sections ten times
3. na-an-ga-ma um-mi-a ba-zu-zu-ma mu-e-da-urin-en-de3-en
 en: It will indeed also be (that when) the master finds out, we will be on guard with you(?)
4. a-na an-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4-en-de3-en
 en: What should we reply to him with there?
5. gen ga2-e nig2 sza3-ga2 ga-ab-sar a2 mu-da-ag2-en
 en: Come! I shall write what I please, I will give you orders
6. tukumbi a2 ba-e-da-an-ag2 szesz-gal-zu nu-me-en
 en: If he(!) has ordered me, (he has to admit?) I am not your “big brother”
7. a-na-ta-am3 nam-szesz-gal-ga2 i-ni-in-ku4-re
 en: What if(?) I enter into my status as “big brother”
8. nam-dub-sar-ra-ta mu-diri-ge-ma nam-szesz-gal# mu-ub-du7-du7
 en: After (I) surpass over the scribal art and an appropriate for status as “big brother”
9. dab gesztu2 dugud a-ga-asz gi4 e2-dub-ba-a-asz
 en: (I will say to you) ..., (possessor of) cumbersome intelligence, backwards facing towards (i.e., inferior one of) the scribal school
10. u2 hub2 nam-dub-sar-ra u2-pilx(PIRIG)? eme-gir15-ra
 en: Deaf one of the scribal art, deaf one(?) of the Sumerian language
11. szu zu-hu-ul szu gi-dub-ba-a szu nu-du7
 en: (Possessor of a) ... hand, a hand that is not suitable for the stylus
 en: Attinger NABU 2018 no. 43, who translates “main déficient.”
12. im-ma nu-tum2-ma szu ka-ta nu#-[...]
 en: One who is not suitable for clay/tablet, with a hand that does not align with the mouth (i.e., dictated content or rate of speech?)
13. ga2-e-gin7 nam dub-sar-me-en
 en: You are (really) a scribe like me?
  double ruling
14. [...] za-e-gin7# dub-sar nu-me-en
 en: Why are you not a scribe like me?
15. [...] x x [...]-gin7#? nu-ub-be2-en
 en: And why(?) do you not say thus:
16. [...] bala#-a-ab# [...] bala#-e-de3 ba-ab-du7-un
 en: Converse, I am suitable for conversation
17. [...] zu2 nu-e-gaz i3#-gub#-gub#-ba ba-an-ku4-re
 en: I did not gnaw at sourdough, I(?) enter as the one standing(?)
18. [...] 5(disz) i3-duh KA-inim-ma 5(disz)-am3 bi2#?-szid#?-da#?-ka dub-sar-me-en bi2-du11-du11
 en: Looking two, 5 times (at a text) and being one of reciting(?) 5 texts/text sections, you say “I am a scribe”
19. dub i3-sar dim2-ma!(LA) nu-mu-da-an-ku4
 en: You write a tablet and then you(!) cannot bring (its contents) into the intellect
20. u3-na-a-du11 i3-sar ki-szer11 a-ra-ab-tuku
 en: You write a letter, and that is the extent of it for you (i.e., no comprehension)
21. e2 ba!-e-de3 gen-na e2 nu-mu-da-ba-e-en
 en: Go to divide up an estate! You cannot divide it
22. a-sza3 si-ge-de3 gen-na esz2-GAN2 gi-disz-ninda nu-mu-da-ha-za
 en: Go to “fill"(? i.e., map out?) a field! You cannot hold the measuring line and rod
23. {gesz}gag-a ki nu-mu-e-da-du3-e dim2-ma mu-e-da-an#?-ku4#
 en: You cannot drive a stake into the ground, you cannot bring it into (your) intellect (i.e., comprehend it?)
24. lu2 du14 mu2-a-bi zi# li-bi2-gi4-gi4-[...]
 en: You do not calm down arguing people
25. szesz szesz-da tesz2-bi bi2-ib2-dab5-be2-[...]
 en: You will make brother seize brother
26. lu2-tu15 nu-ub-tum2 dub-sar-e-ne-[...]
 en: Unsuitable idiot among scribes
27. a-na-sze3 ba-ab-du7-un me-sze3 lu2 he2-en-x-[...]
 en: What are you suitable for? Where should someone bring (employ?) you(?)?
  double ruling
28. a-na-asz nig2-na-me-sze3 la-ba#?-ab-du7-un#?
 en: Why am I not suitable for anything?
29. e2 ba-e-de3 ga-gen e2 mu-da-ba-e-en#?
 en: If I go to divide up an estate, I can divide it
30. a-sza3 si-ge-de3 ga-gen ki si-ge-x [...]
 en: If I go to “fill"(?! i.e., map out?) a field, “filling out” the space ...
31. lu2 du14 mu2-a-bi sza3-bi ab-hun-ge26 zi x-[...]
 en: I(!) pacify the hearts of the arguing people, I can calm them down
32. szesz# szesz-da tesz2-bi bi2-ib2-du10-ge sza3 mu#-[...]
 en: I(!) sweeten brother together with brother, I can cool their hearts
reverse
1. za-e gu2-zal dub#-[...]
 en: You are a scoundrel among scribes, a ground dweller among people
2. a-ra2 he2-bi2-szid#? [...]
 en: If you count up//recite a multiplication table, the calculation(?) is labored
3. igi diri he2-bi2-[...]
 en: If you solve the inverted numbers, you cannot return them to one side (invert them again?)
4. sahar-gar-ra x [...]
 en: Volume calculations, “length to front eating each other” (calculation of the volume of a triangle?)
5. ib2-si8 sag-du3 ka#-[sir3 ...]
 en: Squares, triangles, circles, semi-circles
6. us2 us2 i3-gu7 GAN2 pana [...]
 en: Trapezoids, “field of a bow,” “field of a boat”
7. lu2 a-ra-gar szu ba-e-da-e3#? [...]
 en: (If) someone posits them to you, you cannot(!?) produce them, you are blocked in your mouth
8. KA-inim-ma sza3 dub-ba eme-gir15#-[...]
 en: You do not know the solutions of texts/text sections and the contents of Sumerian tablets
9. na-ru2-a-sze3 u3-ba-te u4 zalag [...]
 en: After approach a stela, shining light darkens for you
10. puzur5-puzur5 bar-ra szu ur3-ru-sze3 x [...]
 en: In order to erase extraneous secrets(?), spit(?) is not ... for you, you are blocked in your mouth
11. eme x eme hul-gal2 in dub2#-[...]
 en: (Possessor of) a ... tongue, (possessor) of an evil tongue, abuser, arguer
12. u3# za#-e sza3 dumu e2-dub-ba-a-[...]
 en: And you are among the students of the scribal school?
  double ruling
13. [...] sza3# dumu e2#-dub-ba-a-ke4-ne nu-me-en
 en: Why am I not among the students of the scribal school?
14. [...]-sar#-ra#-zu dub nam-dub-sar-gu10 za3 ba-ab-tag#
 en: My tablet of the scribal art supplants your tablet of the scribal art
15. [...]-lu7#-zu! nam-lu2-lu7-gu10-da ba-ab-gar
 en: ..., your humanity has been set with my humanity
16. [...]-an-gur ga-ra-ab-du11
 en: I want to roll up/wipe clean ..., I want to speak to you
17. [... nam]-dub#-sar-ra-ka# diri-gu10-usz# x-zu#-a nu#?-me-en#
 en: Among the work of the scribal art, you are not above me in your ...
18. [...] lu2#-ka# [...] lu2# [nu]-me#-en
 en: Among the work of the “son of a man” as a “son of a man” you are not above me
19. [...]-me-en
 en: I want to say, I want to repeat “you are not the son of an established man”
20. [... im]-ri#-a#-me-en
 en: I want to say “peace,” I am the son of a (famous?) family/clan
21. [...] ka#-ta sa2-a-me#-en
 en: The clay/tablet is(?) good ..., my hand compares with the mouth (in dictation speed, content?)
22. [...] x-tum3-de3-en-na-gu10-gin7 ma-an-ni-ib-ku4-ku4-un
 en: When(?) I bring my hand somewhere(?), I bring ... there for myself(?)
23. x-x {gesz#}as4-lum-ma {gesz}dib-dab {gesz}ki-la2-bi
 en: The design(?), the measuring rod, the waterclock and its(?) weight
24. im-la2 gesz szu du7 nu-kar2-kar2-da szu-si ga-pa3-da
 en: Hanging from it(?), fully equipped tools(?) that are not to be checked(?), I shall find with my finger(?)
25. gi-ku5 gi-pa3-da du10-us2-asz
 en: ... on behalf of a friend/companion(?)
26. ku3 dam-gar3-ra siki sa10 na4 4(disz) gin2? a2-ne-ne-sze3 tum3-da#?
 en: In order to bring on behalf of their labor/wage(?) the merchant's silver (for) buying wool, a total of four gin stone weights' worth(?)
27. a2-du3-a geme2 usz-bar zi-zi ga2-ga2-de3
 en: To initiate and conclude/to raise and set (the warp and weft?) the daily labor of the servile female weaver
28. kin2 til-la simug dumu um-mi-a-ke4-ne sza3-bi in-ga-an-zu
 en: The completed task of the metalworker, the member of the experts, I(?) also have known its particulars
29. a ru-a-gu10 eme-gir15-ra-am3 dumu dub-sar-ra-me-en
 en: My engenderer is Sumerian, I am the son of a scribe
30. za-e tur pe-el-la2 na-ga2-ah-me-en
 en: You are a “defiled child,” stupid
31. dub nu-mu-da-dim2-en {im}li-gi4-in szu nu-e-da-ra-ra-an
 en: You cannot form a tablet, you cannot pat out a ligin extract tablet
32. mu ni2-za nu-e-da-sar-re im szu-za nu-du7
 en: You cannot write your own name, the tablet is not suited to your hand
33. al ke3-de3 gub-ba al-szub he2-da-gal2
 en: Get up to do hoeing work, so that the šub hoe is with you
34. lil hu-ru gesztu2 szu2-a-ab szu2-a-ab ga2-e-gin7-nam eme-gir15-ra-me-en
 en: Childish fool, cover your ears(?), cover your ears! Are you Sumeran like me?
  double ruling
36. a-na-asz gesztu2 szu2-a-ab szu2-a-ab-gu10 ma-ra-szid-de3-en
 en: Why do you recite(?) “cover your ears(?), cover your ears"? for me(?)

Text content

Genre(s) Literary (ETCSL 5.04.03 Enkimanšum and Girniisag (witness) (CHECK))
Language(s) Sumerian

Chronology

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

Composites

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

Record

LOD URI https://cdli.network/entity/P346235

Physical information

Artifact type Tablet
Dimensions
Weight
Material(s) Clay
Preservation

Provenance

Provenience Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar)
Written In
Archive
Excavation Number U 17900j
Findspot
Stratigraphic Level
Elevation

Collections

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

External resources

External Resource Identifiers
Ancient Records of Middle Eastern Polities (ARMEP) P346235

References

  • history: UET 6, 0150

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

Revisions and credits

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2023-06-15 at 20:34:30 Rattenborg, Rune Artifact metadata Rattenborg, Rune Geomapping Landscapes of Writing Rattenborg, Rune Approved View
2019-05-29 at 21:01:58 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2006-11-02 at 00:00:00 CDLI Artifact metadata Foxvog, Daniel A.; Guerra, Dylan; Peterson, Jeremiah; Veldhuis, Niek; Wolfe, Jared N. CDLI Approved View

Cite this Artifact

“CDLI Literary 000769, Ex. 003 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). June 15, 2023. https://cdli.earth/P346235.
CDLI Literary 000769, ex. 003 artifact entry (No. P346235). (2023, June 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P346235 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary 000769, ex. 003 artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P346235 (Accessed: May 18, 2026).
@misc{2023CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-05-18]},
	year = {2023},
	month = {jun 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000769, ex. 003 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P346235},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P346235},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2023/6/15/
PY  - 2023
ID  - P346235
LB  - CDLI:P346235
M1  - 2026/5/18/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000769, ex. 003 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P346235
ER  - 

Cite this Artifact

“CDLI Literary 000769, Ex. 003 Artifact Entry.” (2006) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). June 15, 2023. https://cdli.earth/P346235.
CDLI Literary 000769, ex. 003 artifact entry (No. P346235). (2023, June 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P346235 (Original work published 2006)
CDLI Literary 000769, ex. 003 artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P346235 (Accessed: May 18, 2026).
@misc{2023CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-05-18]},
	year = {2023},
	month = {jun 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000769, ex. 003 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P346235},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P346235},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2023/6/15/
PY  - 2023
ID  - P346235
LB  - CDLI:P346235
M1  - 2026/5/18/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000769, ex. 003 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P346235
ER  - 
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