CDLI Literary 000352 (Ninurta and the Turtle) composite (P469531)

Literary artifact dated to the Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC) period

Museum Collection(s)

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Museum Number

-

Period

Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

Provenience

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Artifact Type

-

Material(s)

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Genre / Subgenre(s)

Literary (ETCSL 1.06.03 Ninurta and Turtle (composite))

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

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Composite

Text

object composite text
surface a
  beginning broken
1'. x [...]
2'. amar anzu{muszen} [...]
3'. {gesz}ilar KA [...]
4'. amar anzu{muszen} [...]
5'. ur-sag {d}nin-urta [...]
6'. {gesz}gag KA [...]
7'. amar anzu{muszen} [...]
8'. x x x [...]
  rest broken
surface b
1. du11-ga-ni-ta {gesz}tukul-zu hul-a mu-ni-in-tag
 en: “At his command your weapon struck me evilly.
2. me szu-ga2 szu ba-ba-gu10-ne me-bi abzu-sze3 ba-an-gi4
 en: As I let the divine powers go out of my hand, these divine powers returned to the abzu.
3. gesz-hur szu-ga2 szu ba-ba-gu10-ne gesz-hur-bi abzu-sze3 ba-an-gi4
 en: As I let the divine plan go out of my hand, this divine plan returned to the abzu.
4. dub nam-tar-ra-bi abzu-sze3 ba-an-gi4 me ab-la2-e-en
 en: This tablet of destinies returned to the abzu. I was stripped of the divine powers.”
5. inim amar anzu{muszen}-sze3 {d}nin-urta lul-asz ba-an-si
 en: Ninurta was stunned at these words of the Anzu-chick.
6. {d}nin-men-na-ke4 a-nir im-ga2-ga2
 en: Ninmena gave out a wail:
7. ge26-e me-bi szu-gu10-usz li-bi2-ku4 nam-en-bi nu-ak-e
 en: “And what about me? These divine powers have not fallen into my hand.
8. ge26-e e-ne-gin7 esz3-e? abzu-a nu-mu-un-til
 en: I shall not exercise their authority. I shall not live (?) like him in the shrine, in the abzu.”
9. a-a {d}en-ki inim mu-un-du11-du11-ga-a abzu-a ba-da-an-zu
 en: Father Enki in the abzu knew what had been said.
10. ur-sag {d}nin-urta amar anzu{muszen}-de3 szu-ni bi2-in-ti
 en: The Anzu-chick took the hero Ninurta by his hand
11. ki {d}en-ki-ka3-sze3 abzu-sze3 im-ma-da-te
 en: and drew near with him to Enki’s place, the abzu.
12. {d}u4-ta-u18-lu amar anzu{muszen}-de3 abzu-sze3 ba-an-gi4
 en: The Anzu-chick returned Uta-ulu to the abzu.
13. en-e ur-sag-ra ba-szi-hul2
 en: The lord was delighted with the hero,
14. a-a {d}en-ki ur-sag {d}nin-urta-ra ba-szi-hul2
 en: Father Enki was delighted with the hero Ninurta.
15. en {d}nu-dim2-mud-e mi2 zi mu-un-i-i-de3?
 en: Lord Nudimmud honored him duly:
16. ur-sag-e dingir szesz-zu-ne-a dingir na-me ur5-gin7 nu-mu-un-ak-e
 en: “Hero, no god among your brother gods could have acted so.
17. muszen {gesz}tukul kal-ga-zu bi2-dab5-ba-sze3
 en: As for the bird which your mighty weapon captured,
18. u4 me-da u4 ul-le2-sze3 gu2-bi giri3-zu ba-gub-be2-en
 en: from now to eternity you will keep your foot placed on its neck.
19. dingir gal-gal-e-ne a2 nam-ur-sag-ga2-zu me-tesz2 he2-i-i-ne
 en: May the great gods give your heroic strength its due.
20. a-a-zu {d}en-lil2-le nig2-du11-zu he2-ak
 en: May your father Enlil do whatever you command.
21. {d}nin-men-na-ke4 kin-se3-ga-zu na-an-dim2-e
 en: May Ninmena not fashion your equal (?).
22. za-e-gin7 ni2 na-ab-tuku dingir na-me igi-zu-sze3 szu si sa2 na-an-sa2-e
 en: May no one be as revered as you and no god extend an upraised hand before you.
23. iti-da esz3-e abzu-a igi-du8-a e2?-zu sag he2-us2
 en: Monthly may your house (?) regularly receive tributes in the shrine, in the abzu.
24. an za3 gal-la mu-zu he2-pa3-de3
 en: May An (?) proclaim your name in the seat of honor.”
25. ur-sag nam-tar-ra-bi sza3-bi nu-hul2
 en: The hero secretly was not happy with these promises.
26. ki-gub-ba-ni a-ge6? i-im-ku10-ku10-ge i-sig7-sig7-ge
 en: Where he stood, he darkened and yellowed like (?) a flood-storm (?).
27. sza3-bi nig2 gal-gal i-im-bala-bala sza3-bi i3-kur2-kur2
 en: He contemplated great deeds and inwardly he was rebellious.
28. inim da-bi nu-ub-tuku-a bar-bi i-im-du11-du11
 en: He uttered a word which has no ...
29. ur-sag {d}nin-urta igi-bi ki-szar2-ra ba-ni-in-gar
 en: The hero Ninurta set his sights on the whole world.
30. lu2 na-me nu-ub-du11 sza3-bi zi nu-x-x
 en: He told no one and inwardly did not ...
31. en gal {d}en-ki ki ni2-te-na-ke4 inim sza3-bi ba-x-zu
 en: The great lord Enki intuitively grasped the substance of the plan.
32. esz3-e abzu-a a-ge6 mud i-im-tuk4-tuk4-e
 en: In the shrine, in the abzu he stirred up a dark flood-storm.
33. sukkal {d}isimudx(|PAB.NUN.ME.EZEN|)-de3 e2-e giri3 mu-un-ru-gu2
 en: By the house the minister Isimud opposed Ninurta.
34. ur-sag {d}nin-urta e3-de3 nu-mu-un-sze-sze
 en: The hero Ninurta refused to come out
35. sukkal {d}isimudx(|PAB.NUN.ME.EZEN|)-de3-esz2 szu-ni ba-an-zi
 en: and raised his hand against the minister Isimud.
36. {d}en-ki-ke4 im abzu-a ba-al-gu7 ba-da-an-dim2
 en: (Against Ninurta,) Enki fashioned a turtle from the clay of the abzu.
37. ki sun5-na ka2 abzu-a ba-al-gu7 ba-da-an-gub
 en: Against him he stationed the turtle at an opening, at the gate of the abzu.
38. {d}en-ki-ke4 ki-lul-la-ke4 mu-un-na-ab-du11-du11
 en: Enki talked to him near the place of the ambush
39. ki-gub-ba ba-al-gi4-sze3 ba-da-an-tum3
 en: and brought him to the place where the turtle was.
40. ba-al-gu7 egir-ra-ni sa-bi ba-da-an-dab5
 en: The turtle was able to grab Ninurta's tendon from behind.
41. ur-sag {d}nin-urta giri3-bi ba-da-an-gi4
 en: The hero Ninurta managed to turn back its feet.
42. {d}en-ki nu-zu-gin7 a-na-am3 ne-e im-me
 en: Enki, as if perplexed, said, “What is this?!”
43. umbin-giri3-bi ki bi2-in-hur habrud hul ba-da-an-dun
 en: He had the turtle scrape the ground with its claws, had it dig an evil pit.
44. ur-sag {d}nin-urta sza3-bi ba-da-an-szub
 en: The hero Ninurta fell into it with the turtle.
45. ur-sag-e ga-x x e11-de3 nu-mu-un-zu-am3
 en: The hero did not know how to get out from ...
46. ba-al-gu7 giri3? umbin-giri3-bi ba-an-sur-sur
 en: The turtle kept on gnawing his feet with its claws (?).
47. en gal {d}en-ki-ke4 gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e
 en: The great lord Enki said to him:
48. me x kur?-ta mu-ni-in-nigin2-nigin2 mu-pa3-de3
 en: “From ..., you who set your mind to kill me,
49. ge26-ra sag gesz? ra-gu10-usz igi-zu mu-e-gar-ra-am3
 en: ... who makes big claims—
50. x-bil2-ga gal-gal di ge26-e bi2-ib2-ga2-ga2 ge26-e bi2-ib2-zi-de3
 en: I cut down, I raise up.
51. za-e ge26-ra a-gin7 igi-zu mu-gar-ra
 en: You who set your sights on me like this—
52. ki-gub-ba-zu a-na-am3 mu-ra-an-dab5 a-ra2?-bi a-na-gin7-nam
 en: what has your position seized for you, how ...?
53. nam-kal-ga-zu me-sze3 ba-an-gen nam-ur-sag-zu me-a
 en: Where has your strength fled? Where is your heroism?
54. hur-sag gal-gal-e mu-ni-in-gul-gul e-ne-esz2 a-na-am3 mu-e11-de3
 en: In the great mountains you caused destruction, but how will you get out now?”
55. {d}nin-men-na-ke4 inim-bi ba-da-an-pa3
 en: Ninmena learned of this situation.
56. tug2 bar-ra-na al-bir7?-re KASZ4 im-sar-sar-re
 en: She was ripping the clothes from her body, she ... .
57. {u2}ug gu7-gu7-gu10-usz za-e a-ba-a mu-ra-ab-tum2
 en: “My ug-plant-eater Enki, whom shall I send to you?
58. lu2 sag-bi mu-un-bul-bul ba-x-x-un-GIL-x za-e a-ba-a mu-ra-ab-tum2
 en: Men will shake their heads in fear ..., whom shall I send to you?
59. dam-an-ki mu-bi nu-me-a u4-gu7-gu7-nu-de2-de2 mu-bi-im
 en: That name is not Enki. That name is Ugugu-that-does-not-pour (?).
60. nam-usz2 szu gar nu-tuku-a za-e a-ba-a mu-ra-ab-tum2
 en: You who are death without mercy, whom shall I send to you?”
  rest broken

Physical information

composite text

Artifact type
composite text
Dimensions
Weight
Material(s)
Preservation

Provenance

Provenience
Written In
Archive
Excavation Number
Findspot
Stratigraphic Level
Elevation

Collections

Collection(s)
Museum Number
Accession Number

References

  • history: ETCSL, 1.6.3

    [BlackETCSL] Black, Jeremy Allen. 1998-2006. “Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.” https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk. 1998-2006.

Revisions and credits

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2026-07-15 at 20:56:08 Pagé-Perron, Émilie Artifact metadata Pagé-Perron, Émilie Towards Universal Access to Cuneiform Heritage Pagé-Perron, Émilie Approved View
2026-07-15 at 19:38:00 Pagé-Perron, Émilie Artifact metadata Pagé-Perron, Émilie Towards Universal Access to Cuneiform Heritage Pagé-Perron, Émilie Approved View
2024-06-07 at 13:32:34 Firth, Richard Artifact metadata Firth, Richard Firth, Richard Approved View
2024-06-07 at 13:24:18 Firth, Richard Artifact metadata, Other metadata Firth, Richard Firth, Richard Approved View
2016-04-23 at 16:27:10 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI, CDLI Approved View
2016-01-05 at 17:31:48 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI, CDLI Approved View
2016-01-03 at 09:09:13 Dahl, Jacob L. Transliteration Dahl, Jacob L. CDLI, CDLI Approved View
2014-09-08 at 00:00:00 CDLI, CDLI Artifact metadata Wagensonner, Klaus CDLI, CDLI Approved View

Cite this Artifact

“CDLI Literary 000352 (Ninurta and the Turtle) Composite Artifact Entry.” (2014) 2026. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 15, 2026. https://cdli.earth/P469531.
CDLI Literary 000352 (Ninurta and the Turtle) composite artifact entry (No. P469531). (2026, July 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P469531 (Original work published 2014)
CDLI Literary 000352 (Ninurta and the Turtle) composite artifact entry (2026) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P469531 (Accessed: October 17, 2026).
@misc{2026CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-10-17]},
	year = {2026},
	month = {jul 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000352 ({Ninurta} and the {Turtle}) composite artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P469531},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P469531},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2026/7/15/
PY  - 2026
ID  - P469531
LB  - CDLI:P469531
M1  - 2026/10/17/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000352 (Ninurta and the Turtle) composite artifact entry

UR  - https://cdli.earth/P469531
ER  - 

Cite this Artifact

“CDLI Literary 000352 (Ninurta and the Turtle) Composite Artifact Entry.” (2014) 2026. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 15, 2026. https://cdli.earth/P469531.
CDLI Literary 000352 (Ninurta and the Turtle) composite artifact entry (No. P469531). (2026, July 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P469531 (Original work published 2014)
CDLI Literary 000352 (Ninurta and the Turtle) composite artifact entry (2026) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P469531 (Accessed: October 17, 2026).
@misc{2026CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-10-17]},
	year = {2026},
	month = {jul 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000352 ({Ninurta} and the {Turtle}) composite artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P469531},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P469531},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2026/7/15/
PY  - 2026
ID  - P469531
LB  - CDLI:P469531
M1  - 2026/10/17/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000352 (Ninurta and the Turtle) composite artifact entry

UR  - https://cdli.earth/P469531
ER  - 
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