CDLI Literary 000374 (Sargon and Ur-Zababa) composite (P469678)

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

Info

Museum Collection(s)

-

Museum Number

-

Period

Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

Provenience

-

Artifact Type

-

Material(s)

-

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Literary (ETCSL 2.01.04 Sargon and Ur-Zababa (composite))

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

-

Composite

Text

object composite text
surface a
segment A
1. esz3 ma2-gur8-gin7 [...]
 en: To ...... the sanctuary like a cargo ship;
2. gir4 mah-bi x [...]
 en: to ...... its great furnaces;
3. i7-bi a hul2-la da-ri2 ...
 en: to see that its canals ...... waters of joy for eternity,
4. a-gar3-bi {gesz}al-e ri-e-de3 GAN2 [...]
 en: to see that the hoes till the arable tracts and that ...... the fields;
5. e2 kisz{ki}-a iri lil2-la-gin7 masz-kan2 gi4-gi4-de3
 en: to turn the house of Kiš, which was like a haunted town, into a living settlement again,
6. lugal-bi sipa ur-{d}za-ba4-ba4
 en: its king, shepherd Ur-Zababa,
7. e2 kisz{ki}-a-ka {d}utu-gin7 am3-e3
 en: rose like Utu over the house of Kiš.
8. nam-lugal-la-na bala-bi szu kur2-ru-de3 e2-gal-la LAM-bi su3-ra2-x-x
 en: However, to alter his term of reigning and to remove the prosperity of the palace
9. an {d}en-lil2 inim ku3-ga-ne-ne-a zi-de3-esz x x x
 en: An and Enlil authoritatively (?) decided (?) by their holy command.
10. ki u4-bi szar-ru-um-ki-in iri-ni iri [...]
 en: Then Sargon - his city was the city of ......,
11. ad-da-ni la-i-bu-um ama-ni [...]
 en: his father was La’ibum, his mother ......
12. szar-ru-um-ki-in sza3 du10-ga mu-[...]
 en: Sargon ...... with happy heart.
13. mu im-ta-tu-ud-da-asz x [...]
 en: Since he was born ...
  rest broken
segment B
1. u4 ne u4 te-en-e um-ma-te-a-ta
 en: One day, after the evening had arrived,
2. {disz}szar-ru-um-ki-in sa2-du11 e2-gal-sze3 im-de6-a-ba
 en: and Sargon had brought the regular deliveries to the palace,
3. |GA2xMI| ku3 ki-tusz ku3-ga-ni-a im-ma-da-an-nu2
 en: He Ur-Zababa was sleeping (and dreaming) in the holy bed-chamber, his holy residence.
4. sza3-ga-ni-sze3 mu-un-zu eme-na nu-ga2-ga2 lu2-da nu-mu-un-da-ab-be2
 en: He realised what the dream was about, but did not put into words, did not discuss it with anyone.
5. {disz}szar-ru-um-ki-in sa2-du11 e2-gal-sze3 szu ba-ab-te-a-ta
 en: After Sargon had received the regular deliveries for the palace,
6. |MUSZ3.KA.UL| mu-un-se3-ga {gesz}gu2-ne-sag-ga2 mu-un-dab5-be2
 en: Ur-Zababa appointed him cupbearer, putting him in charge of the drinks cupboard.
7. ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 da-bi-a musz3 nu-tum2-me
 en: Holy inanna did not cease to stand by him.
8. u4 5(disz)-am3 u4 1(u)-am3 ba-zal-la-ta
 en: After five or 10 days had passed,
9. lugal {d}ur-{d}za-ba4-ba4 im-da-la2 ki-tusz-bi-ta mi-ni-ib-hu-luh
 en: King Ur-Zababa ...... and became frightened in his residence.
10. pirig-gin7 sza3 pap-hal-la-na |USZxA| bi-bi sza3-ba usz2 |BAD.U4| si-a-ba
 en: Like a lion he urinated, sprinkling his legs, and the urine contained blood and pus.
11. i3-kusz2 ku6 a mun lu-ga-gin7 zi mu-un-di-ni-ib-ir-ir
 en: He was troubled, he was disturbed like a fish living in brackish water.
12. u4-ba |MUSZ3.KA.UL| e2-din {d}|SZE.TIR|-ka
 en: It was then that the cupbearer of Ezina's wine-house,
13. {disz}szar-ru-um-ki-in u3-sa2-gin7 la-ba-nu2 ma-mu2-de3 ba-nu2
 en: Sargon, lay down not to sleep, but lay down to dream.
14. ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 ma-mu2 i7 mud-sze3 mu-un-gir5-gir5
 en: In the dream, holy inanna drowned Ur-Zababa in a river of blood.
15. {disz}szar-ru-um-ki-in dum-dam-ma-na zu2 ki-sze3 ba-da-ab-ra-ah
 en: The sleeping Sargon groaned and gnawed the ground.
16. dum-dum-bi lugal {d}ur-{d}za-ba4-ba4 gesz tuku-tuku-da-ni
 en: When King Ur-Zababa heard about this groaning,
17. lugal-ra ki ku3-ga-ni-sze3 im-ma-da-an-sun5-ne-esz
 en: he was brought into the king's holy presence,
18. {disz}szar-ru-um-ki-in ki {d}ur-{d}za-ba4-ba4-sze3 im-ma-da-an-sun5-ne
 en: Sargon was brought into the presence of Ur-Zababa (who said:)
19. |MUSZ3.KA.UL| ma-mu2 ge6 u3-na x-na u3-mu-ri-du8
 en: "Cupbearer, was a dream revealed to you in the night?"
20. {disz}szar-ru-um-ki-in lugal-a-ni im-ma-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
 en: Sargon answered his king:
21. lugal-gu10 ma-mu2-gu10 u3-mu-ri-du11-ga
 en: My king, this is my dream, which I will tell you about:
22. {lu2}ki-sikil 1(disz)-am3 an-gin7 sukud-da-ni ki-gin7 dagal-la-ni
 en: There was a young woman who was as high as the heavens and as broad as the earth.
23. suhusz? bad3-da-gin7 gar-gar-ra
 en: She was firmly set as the base of a wall.
24. i7 mah i7 mud-sze3 ga2-ra mu-un-gir5-re-de3-en
 en: For me, she drowned you in a great river, a river of blood."
25. x x {d}ur-{d}za-ba4-ba4 nundum KA bi2-in-gu7 ni2 sza3-sze3 ba-gid2
 en: Ur-Zababa chewed his lips, he became seriously afraid.
26. [...] x NA AN x sukkal-a-ni gu3 mu-na-de2-e
 en: He spoke to ......, his chancellor:
27. [...] nin9 e-gu10 ku3 {d}inanna-ke4
 en: "My royal sister, holy inanna,
28. [...] x x mud-sze3 u-gu10 mu-un-ku4-re
 en: is going to change (?) my finger into a ...... of blood;
29. x x 1(disz) szar-ru-um-ki-in |MUSZ3.KA.UL| i7 mah mu-un-gir5-gir5
 en: she will drown Sargon, the cupbearer, in the great river.
30. {disz}be-li2-isz-ti-kal2 simug gal lu2 sza3-ga de6-a-gu10 im sar-sar
 en: Beliš-tikal, chief smith, man of my choosing, who can write tablets,
31. inim ga-ra-ab-du11 inim-gu10 he2-dab5
 en: I will give you orders, let my orders be carried out!
32. na de5-ga-gu10 |GESZ.TUG2.PI.SZIR@t.SILA3| he2-em-szi-ak
 en: Let my advice be followed!
33. ne-esz2 |MUSZ3.KA.UL| zabar-szu-ga2 a-ra-x-ab-de6
 en: Now then, when the cupbearer has delivered my bronze hand-mirror (?) to you
34. e2-sikil-la e2 nam tar-ra-ka alan-gin7 kusz3-kusz3-a se3-bi2-ib
 en: in the E-sikil, the fated house, throw them (the mirror and Sargon) into the mould like statues."
35. {disz}be-li2-isz-ti-kal2 inim lugal-la-na-sze3 sag kesz2 ba-szi-in-ak
 en: Beliš-tikal heeded his king's words
36. e2-sikil e2 nam tar-ra-ka kusz3-kusz3-a si mu-un-sa2
 en: and prepared the moulds in the E-sikil, the fated house.
37. lugal-e 1(disz) szar-ru-um-ki-in gu3 mu-na-de2-e
 en: The king spoke to Sargon:
38. gen-na zabar-szu-ga2 simug-gal-sze3 tum2-mu-na-ni-ib
 en: "Go and deliver my bronze hand-mirror (?) to the chief smith!"
38A. {disz}szar-ru-um-ki-in e2-gal {d}ur-{d}za-ba4-ba4 im-ma-da-ra-ab-e3
 en: Sargon left the palace of Ur-Zababa.
39. ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 za3 zi-da-ni musz3 nu-tum2-mu
 en: Holy inanna, however, did not cease to stand at his right hand side,
40. e2-sikil-la e2 nam tar-ra-ka 5(disz) ninda 1(u) ninda nu-te-a-na
 en: and before he had come within five or 10 ninda of the E-sikil, the fated house,
41. ku3 {d}inanna-ke4 igi mu-un-na-nigin2-nigin2 giri3-ni im-da-RU
 en: holy inanna turned around toward him and blocked his way, (saying:)
42. e2-sikil-la e2 ku3-ga na-nam lu2 mud nu-mu-un-ku4-re
 en: "The E-sikil is a holy house! No one polluted with blood should enter it!"
43. ka2 e2 nam tar-ra-ka simug-gal lugal-la-ke4 gaba mu-un-da-ri
 en: Thus he met the chief smith of the king only at the gate of the fated house.
44. zabar-szu lugal-la-ke4 simug-gal-sze3 mu-un-de6-a-ta
 en: After he delivered the king's bronze hand-mirror (?) to the chief smith,
45. {disz}be-li2-isz-ti-kal2 simug-gal im-da-la2 alan-gin7 kusz3-kusz3-a ba-da-ab-se3-ga-bi
 en: Beliš-tikal, the chief smith, ...... and threw it into the mould like statues.
46. {disz}szar-ru-um-ki-in u4 5(disz)-am3 u4 1(u)-am3 ba-zal-la-ta
 en: After five or 10 days had passed, Sargon
47. ki {d}ur-{d}za-ba4-ba4 lugal-la-na-sze3 im-ma-da-an-ku4-ku4
 en: came into the presence of Ur-Zababa, his king;
48. sza3 e2-gal kur gal-gin7 ki us2-sa im-ma-da-an-ku4-ku4
 en: he came into the palace, firmly founded like a great mountain.
49. lugal {d}ur-{d}za-ba4-ba4 im-da-la2 ki-tusz-bi-ta mi-ni-ib-hu-luh
 en: King Ur-Zababa ...... and became frightened in his residence.
50. sza3-ga-ni-sze3 mu-un-zu eme-na nu-ga2-ga2 lu2-da nu-mu-un-da-ab-be2
 en: He realised what was it about, but did not put into words, did not discuss it with anyone.
51. |GA2xMI|-ka ki-tusz ku3-ga-ni {d}ur-{d}za-ba4-ba4 mi-ni-ib-hu-luh
 en: Ur-Zababa became frightened in the bed-chamber, his holy residence.
52. sza3-ga-ni-sze3 mu-un-zu eme-na nu-ga2-ga2 lu2-da nu-mu-un-da-ab-be2
 en: He realised what was it about, but did not put into words, did not discuss it with anyone.
53. u4-bi-ta inim im-ma gub-bu he2-gal2 im si-si-ge ba-ra-gal2-la-am3
 en: In those days, although writing words on tablets existed, putting tablets into envelopes did not yet exist.
54. lugal {d}ur-{d}za-ba4-ba4 1(disz) szar-ru-um-ki-in dingir-re-e-ne szu du11-ga-ar
 en: King Ur-Zababa despatched Sargon, the creature of the gods,
55. im-ma gub-bu nig2 ni2 ba-ug7-a-ta
 en: with a message written on clay, which was about murdering Sargon
56. unu{ki}-ga lugal-za3-ge4-e-si szu ba-ni-ib-tag4-tag4
 en: to Lugal-zage-si in Uruk.
  rest broken
segment C
1. dam lugal-za3-ge4-si-da im-[...]
 en: With the wife of Lugal-zage-si ...
2. nam-munus an-dul3-esz2 mu-ni-ba x [...]
 en: She gave(?) her feminity as a shelter ...
3. lugal-za3-ge4-si kin-gi4-a nu-[...]
 en: Lugal-zage-si did not ... the envoy.
4. ga2-nam-ma sig4 e2-an-na-sze3 giri3 mu-un-gub
 en: "Come! He directed his steps to brick-built E-ana!"
5. lugal-za3-ge4-si sza3-ga-ni nu-un-zu ugu kin-gi4-a nu-mu-un-du11-du11
 en: Lugal-zage-si did not grasp it, he did not talk to the envoy.
6. en-na ugu kin-gi4-a na-mu-un-du11-du11 igi dumu nun ba-an-da-bad
 en: But as soon as he did talk to the envoy ...
7. en-e u8 bi2-in-du11 sahar-ra ba-an-da-tusz
 en: "Alas!" and sat in the dust.
8. lugal-za3-ge4-si kin-gi4-a-ar im-szi-in-gi4
 en: Lugal-zage-si replied to the envoy:
9. kin-gi4-a szar-ru-ki-in gu2 nu-mu-un-se3-se3
 en: "Envoy, Sargon does not yield."
10. gam-gam-ma-ni szar-ru-ki-in lugal-za3?-ge4-si ...
 en: After he has submitted,Sargon ... Lugal-zage-si ...
11. szar-ru-ki-in lugal-za3-ge4-si [...]
 en: Sargon ... Lugal-zage-si ...
12. a-na-asz-am3 szar-ru-ki-in [...]
 en: Why .... Sargon ....?

Text content

Genre(s) Literary (ETCSL 2.01.04 Sargon and Ur-Zababa (composite))
Composite Number Q000374
Language(s) Sumerian

Chronology

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

Witnesses

This artifact is a composite text. View the score of CDLI Literary 000374 (Sargon and Ur-Zababa) composite. See below for a list of its witness(es):

Witness Period Provenience
CDLI Literary 000374, ex. 001 (P345417) Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC) uncertain (mod. uncertain)
CDLI Literary 000374, ex. 002 (P356628) Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC) Nippur (mod. Nuffar)

Record

LOD URI https://cdli.network/entity/P469678

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: Attinger, Pascal (s. PDF version at ‟View commentary”)

    [AttingerViewCommentary] Attinger, Pascal. n.d.

  • history: ETCSL, 2.1.4 Sargon and Ur-Zababa

    [BlackETCSL] Black, Jeremy A. 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
2024-07-15 at 13:33:04 Firth, Richard Artifact metadata, Other metadata Firth, Richard Firth, Richard 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
2018-01-16 at 06:27:03 Pagé-Perron, Émilie Transliteration Pagé-Perron, Émilie CDLI Approved View
2017-10-27 at 11:08:51 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2017-10-27 at 09:14:58 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration CDLI CDLI Approved View
2016-04-23 at 16:27:11 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2015-02-05 at 12:16:34 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2014-10-17 at 12:10:34 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2014-09-12 at 08:28:15 Dahl, Jacob L. Transliteration Dahl, Jacob L. CDLI Approved View
2014-09-11 at 00:00:00 CDLI Artifact metadata Wagensonner, Klaus CDLI Approved View

Cite this Artifact

“CDLI Literary 000374 (Sargon and Ur-Zababa) Composite Artifact Entry.” (2014) 2024. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 15, 2024. https://cdli.earth/P469678.
CDLI Literary 000374 (Sargon and Ur-Zababa) composite artifact entry (No. P469678). (2024, July 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P469678 (Original work published 2014)
CDLI Literary 000374 (Sargon and Ur-Zababa) composite artifact entry (2024) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P469678 (Accessed: June 13, 2026).
@misc{2024CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-06-13]},
	year = {2024},
	month = {jul 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000374 ({Sargon} and {Ur}-{Zababa}) composite artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P469678},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P469678},
}


TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2024/7/15/
PY  - 2024
ID  - P469678
LB  - CDLI:P469678
M1  - 2026/6/13/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000374 (Sargon and Ur-Zababa) composite artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P469678
ER  -

Cite this Artifact

“CDLI Literary 000374 (Sargon and Ur-Zababa) Composite Artifact Entry.” (2014) 2024. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 15, 2024. https://cdli.earth/P469678.
CDLI Literary 000374 (Sargon and Ur-Zababa) composite artifact entry (No. P469678). (2024, July 15). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P469678 (Original work published 2014)
CDLI Literary 000374 (Sargon and Ur-Zababa) composite artifact entry (2024) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P469678 (Accessed: June 13, 2026).
@misc{2024CDLI,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-06-13]},
	year = {2024},
	month = {jul 15},
	title = {CDLI {Literary} 000374 ({Sargon} and {Ur}-{Zababa}) composite artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P469678},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P469678},
}


TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2024/7/15/
PY  - 2024
ID  - P469678
LB  - CDLI:P469678
M1  - 2026/6/13/
TI  - CDLI Literary 000374 (Sargon and Ur-Zababa) composite artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P469678
ER  -
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