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1-6. I, the king, was a hero already in the womb; I, Culgi, was born to be a mighty man. I am a fierce-looking lion, begotten by a dragon. I am the king of the four regions; I am the herdsman and shepherd of the black-headed people. I am a respected one, the god of all the lands.1
7-15. I am a child born of Ninsumun. I am the choice of holy An's heart. I am the man whose fate was decided by Enlil. I am Culgi, the beloved of Ninlil. I am he who is cherished by Nintur. I am he who was endowed with wisdom by Enki. I am the powerful king of Nanna. I am the growling lion of Utu. I am Culgi, who has been chosen by Inana for his attractiveness.
16-18. I am a mule, most suitable for the road. I am a horse, whose tail waves on the highway. {I am a stallion of Cakkan, eager to run.} {( 1 ms.:) I am a donkey of Cakkan, who loves running.}
19-25. I am a knowledgeable scribe of Nisaba; I have perfected my wisdom just as my heroism and {my strength} {( 1 ms. has instead:) my distinction}. Reliable words can reach (?) me. I cherish righteousness but do not tolerate wickedness. I hate anyone who speaks wickedly.
26-35. Because I am a powerful man who enjoys using his thighs, I, Culgi, the mighty king, superior to all, strengthened (?) the roads, put in order the highways of the Land. I marked out the double-hour distances, built there lodging houses. {I planted gardens by their side and established resting-places} {( 1 ms. has instead:) I established gardens (?) and resting-places by their side}, and installed in those places experienced men. Whichever direction one comes from, one can refresh oneself when the time is cool; and travellers and wayfarers who arrive at night can seek haven there as in a well-built city.
36-41. So that my name should be established for distant days and never fall into oblivion, so that my praise should be {uttered} {( 1 ms.:) spread} throughout the Land, and my glory should be proclaimed in the foreign lands, I, the fast runner, summoned my strength and, to prove my speed, my heart prompted me to make a return journey from Nibru to brick-built Urim as if it were only the distance of a double-hour.
42-47. I, the lion, never failing in his vigour, standing firm in his strength, fastened the small nijlam garment firmly to my hips. Like a pigeon anxiously fleeing from a ...... snake, I spread my wings; like the Anzud bird lifting its gaze to the mountains, I stretched forward my legs. The inhabitants of the cities which I had founded in the Land lined up for me; the black-headed people, as numerous as ewes, looked at me with sweet admiration.
48-59. I entered the E-kic-nu-jal like a mountain kid hurrying to its habitation, when Utuspreads broad daylight over the countryside. I filled with abundance the temple of Suen, a cow-pen which yields plenty of fat. I had oxen slaughtered there; I had sheep {offered there lavishly} {( some mss.:) butchered there}. I had cem and ala drums resound there {and caused tigi drums play there sweetly.} {( 1 ms. has instead the line:) I ...... the balaj player (?).} I, Culgi, who makes everything abundant, presented food-offerings there and, like a lion, spreading fearsomeness from (?) the royal offering-place, I bent down (?) and bathed in flowing water; I knelt down and feasted in the Egal-mah of Ninegala.
60-69. Then I arose like an owl (?), like a falcon to return to Nibru in my vigour. But a storm shrieked, and the west wind whirled around. The north wind and the south wind howled at each other. Lightning together with the seven winds vied with each other in the heavens. Thundering storms made the earth quake, and Ickur roared in the broad heavens. {The rains of heaven mingled with the waters of the earth.} {( 1 ms. has instead:) The rains of heaven competed with the waters of the earth.} Small and large hailstones drummed on my back.
70-78. I, the king, however, did not fear, nor was I terrified. I rushed forth like a fierce lion. I galloped like an ass in the desert. With my heart full of joy, I ran (?) onward. Trotting like a solitary wild ass, I traversed a distance of fifteen double-hours by the time Utu was to set his face toward his house; {my saj-ursaj priests looked at me with admiration.} {( 1 ms. has instead:) ...... numerous (?) ......; I prayed in the ...... of Enlil and Ninlil.} I celebrated the ececfestival in both Nibru and Urim on the same day!
79-83. I drank beer in the palace founded by An with my brother and companion, the hero Utu. My singers praised me with songs accompanied by seven tigi drums. My spouse, the maiden Inana, the lady, the joy of heaven and earth, sat with me at the banquet.
84-87. Truly I am not boasting! Wherever I look to, there I go; wherever my heart desires, I reach. {( 1 ms. adds at least 10 lines:) By the life of my father holy Lugalbanda, and Nanna the king of heaven and earth, I swear that the words written on my tablet are ....... at least 4 lines missing or unclear...... since the days of yore, since ........., no king of Sumer as great as I has existed for the people.} An placed a {legitimate and lofty} {( some mss. have:) golden} {( 1 ms. has:) good silver} {( 1 ms. has:) silver} crown firmly on my head.
88-94. In the lustrous E-kur, I seized the holy sceptre and I lifted my head towards heaven on a shining dais, a throne with firm foundation. I consolidated my kingship, subdued the foreign lands, fortified the Land. May my name be proclaimed among the well-guarded people of the four regions! May they praise it in holy hymns about me! May they glorify my majesty, saying:
95-101. "The one provided with lofty royal power; the one given heroism, power and happy life by Suen of the E-kic-nu-jal; the one endowed with superior strength by Nunamnir; Culgi, the destroyer of foreign lands, the fortifier of the Land, the purification priest of heaven and earth, who has no rival; { Culgi, who is cared for by the respected child of An!}"
102. { Nisaba be praised!} {( 1 ms. has instead:) Culgi, be praised (?) by An's respected son!}
A praise poem of Culgi (Culgi B)
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1-10. To make his name famous for all time until distant days, and to transmit to posterity and the days to come the praise poems of his power, the songs of his might, and the lasting fame of his exceptional intelligence, King Culgi, king of Urim, has brought the songs' latent wisdom before the mighty son of Ninsumun. He praises his own power in song, and lauds his own superior native intelligence:
11-20. I am a king, offspring begotten by a king and borne by a queen. I, Culgi the noble, have been blessed with a favourable destiny right from the womb. When I was small, I was at the academy, where I learned the scribal art from the tablets of Sumer and Akkad. None of the nobles could write on clay as I could. There where people regularly went for tutelage in the scribal art, I qualified fully in subtraction, addition, reckoning and accounting. The fair Nanibgal, Nisaba, provided me amply with knowledge and comprehension. I am an experienced scribe who does not neglect a thing.
21-38. When I sprang up, muscular as a cheetah, galloping like a thoroughbred ass at full gallop, the favour of An brought me joy; to my delight Enlil spoke favourably about me, and they gave me the sceptre because of my righteousness. I place my foot on the neck of the foreign lands; the fame of my weapons is established as far as the south, and my victory is established in the highlands. When I set off for battle and strife to a place that Enlil has commanded me, I go ahead of the main body of my troops and I clear the terrain for my scouts. I have a positive passion for weapons. Not only do I carry lance and spear, I also know how to handle slingstones with a sling. The clay bullets, the treacherous pellets that I shoot, fly around like a violent rainstorm. In my rage I do not let them miss.
39-51. I sow fear and confusion in the foreign land. I look to my brother and friend, youthful Utu, as a source of divine encouragement. I, Culgi, converse with him whenever he rises over there; he is the god who keeps a good eye on my battles. The youth Utu, beloved in the mountains, is the protective deity of my weapons; by his words I am strengthened and made pugnacious (?). In those battles, where weapon clashes on weapon, Utu shines on me. Thus I broke the weapons of the highlands over my knees, and in the south placed a yoke on the neck of Elam. I make the populations of the rebel lands -- how could they still resist my weapons? -- scatter like seed-grain over Sumer and Akkad.
52-55. Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications?
56-76. I stride forward in majesty, trampling endlessly through the esparto grass and thickets, capturing elephant after elephant, creatures of the plain; and I put an end to the heroic roaring in the plains of the different liona, the dragons of the plains, wherever it approaches from and wherever it is going. I do not go after them with a net, nor do I lie in wait for them in a hide; it comes to a confrontation of strength and weapons. I do not hurl a weapon; when I plunge a bitter-pointed lance in their throats, I do not flinch at their roar. I am not one to retreat to my hiding-place but, as when one warrior kills another warrior, I do everything swiftly on the open plain. In the desert where the paths peter out, I reduce the roar at the lair to silence. In the sheepfold and the cattle-pen, where heads are laid to rest (?), I put the shepherd tribesmen at ease. Let no one ever at any time say about me, "Could he really subdue them all on his own?" The number of lions that I have despatched with my weapons is limitless; their total is unknown.
77-80. Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications?
81-94. I am Culgi, god of manliness, the foremost of the troops. When I stretch the bowstring on the bow, when I fit a perfect arrow to it, I shoot the bow's arrow with the full strength of my arms. The great wild bull, the bull of heaven, the wild cow and the bison bellow. As they pass across the foothills of the mountains, I shoot barbed arrows at them with my powerful strength. 1 line unclearAs they collapse (?) on the plain, I topple them like old towers. I make their heads plunge to the ground like crushing pestles. For the wild asses I set no snares, dig no pits, shoot no arrows against them. But I race after them as against my own rivals; I do not try to surround them to kill their young, as people kill slim ass foals.
95-113. When a burly wild boar (?) is running across the plain, I pierce its lungs with an arrow. With only one shot of mine I bring it to the ground; no single clansman from my regiments can surpass me in archery. I am a man with sharp eyes. When I lead the ...... of the crack troops, I know best of all how to cast the throw-stick, running as quick as light radiating from heaven. What I hit no longer rises from its place. 1 line unclearI can throw a ball (?) as high in the air as if it were a rag. I can bring down quadrupeds lightning-quick with the sling. I, Culgi, can catch a goat with a quick pace; nothing checks my power. ...... has been given to me. Wherever I direct my steps, I always achieve something; when I return from the desert, I always bring something more for her -- for Ninsumun, my own mother, I am her son of five things, of 10 things ( = of everything) .
114-117. Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications?
118-130. I, the king, am the Land's most excellent fighter against the enemy. I, Culgi, am respected for my immense bodily strength. I am mighty; nothing resists me; I know no setbacks. My barges on the river do not sink (?) under me ( alludes to a proverb (?)) ; my teams of asses do not collapse under me. Striding forward like my brother and friend, the youth Utu, as if with the legs of a lion, I am the good groom of my dust-making asses that bray like lions roaring. Like that of a stallion, my strength is unwavering during the running-race; I come first in the race, and my knees do not get tired. I am fearless; I dance with joy. My words shall never be forgotten. Praise for me because of my reliable judgments is on everyone's lips.
131-149. I am a ritually pure interpreter of omens. I am the very Nintur ( creator deity) of the collections of omens. These words of the gods are of pre-eminent value for the exact performance of hand-washing and purification rites, for eulogy of the en priestess or for her enthronement in the jipar, for the choosing of the lumah and nindijir priests by sacred extispicy, for attacking the south or for defeating the uplands, for the opening of the emblem house, for the washing of lances in the "water of battle" ( blood) , for the taking of subtle decisions about the rebel lands. After I have determined a sound omen through extispicy from a white lamb and a sheep, water and flour are libated at the place of invocation. Then, as I prepare the sheep with words of prayer, my diviner watches in amazement like an idiot. The prepared sheep is placed at my disposal, and I never confuse a favourable sign with an unfavourable one. I myself have a clear intuition, and I judge by my own eyes. In the insides of just one sheep I, the king, can find the indications for everything and everywhere.
150-153. Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications?
154-174. I, Culgi, king of Urim, have also devoted myself to the art of music. Nothing is too complicated for me; I know the full extent of the tigi and the adab, the perfection of the art of music. When I fix the frets on the lute, which enraptures my heart, I never damage its neck; I have devised rules for raising and lowering its intervals. On the gu-uc lyre I know the melodious tuning. I am familiar with the sa-ec and with drumming on its musical soundbox. I can take in my hands the miritum, which ....... I know the finger technique of the aljar and sabitum, royal creations. In the same way I can produce sounds from the urzababitum, the harhar, the zanaru, the ur-gula and the dim-lu-magura. Even if they bring to me, as one might to a skilled musician, a musical instrument that I have not heard before, when I strike it up I make its true sound known; I am able to handle it just like something that has been in my hands before. Tuning, stringing, unstringing and fastening are not beyond my skills. I do not make the reed pipe sound like a rustic pipe, and on my own initiative I can wail a cumunca or make a lament as well as anyone who does it regularly.
175-189. I bestow joy and gladness, and I pass my days in pomp and splendour. But people should consider for themselves -- it is a matter to keep in one's sights -- that at the inescapable end of life, no one will be spared the bitter gall of the land of oppression. But I am one who is powerful enough to trust in his own power. He who trusts in his own exalted name may carry out great things. Why should he do less? Since it was for my true mother Ninsumunthat my mother together with her actually bore me to bestow joy and gladness, lovingly she cherished my unborn fruit. She did not endure scandal from anyone's mouth. Before she released her little one, this lady passed her time in my palace in the greatest joy.
190-205. Before Utu son of Ningal, I, Culgi, declare that in my long life in which I have achieved great things since the day that my kingly destiny was determined, in my life in which everything was richly provided in contentment, I have never lacked anything. Until the distant future may this song bless the name of me, the king, with a life of long days. As I am musical, as I am eloquent, I am a heavenly star of steadfastness. It is an awe-inspiring brow that establishes palaces, just as a peg and a measuring cord are the builders of cities. With the awesomeness that radiates from my forehead, which I make the foreign lands wear like a nose-rope, and the fear-inspiring lustre, my personal weapon, which I impose on the Land like a neck-stock, I am able to root out and undo crime. I have the ability to reconcile great matters with one word.
206-220. When I ...... like a torrent with the roar of a great storm, in the capture of a citadel in Elam ......, I can understand what their spokesman answers. By origin I am a son of Sumer; I am a warrior, a warrior of Sumer. Thirdly, I can conduct a conversation with a man from the black mountains. Fourthly, I can do service as a translator with a man of Martu, a man of the mountains ....... I myself can correct his confused words in his own language. Fifthly, when a man of Subir yells ......, I can even distinguish the words in his language, although I am not a fellow-citizen of his. When I provide justice in the legal cases of Sumer, I give answers in all five languages. In my palace no one in conversation switches to another language as quickly as I do.
221-243. When I pronounce a completed verdict, it is heartily welcomed, since I am wise and exalted in kingship. So that my consultative assemblies, sitting together to care for the people, inspire respect in their hearts when the chief herald sounds the horn, they should deliberate and debate; and so that the council should decide policy properly, I have taught my governors to deliberate and to debate. While the words at their dining tables flow like a river, I tackle crime, so that the foundations are securely established for my wide dominions. I vanquish a city with words as weapons, and my wisdom keeps it subjected just as violence with burning torches would. I have taught them the meaning of the words "I have no mother". My words can be words smooth as the finest quality oil; I know how to cool hearts which are hot as fire, and I know how to extinguish a mouth set on fire like a reedbed. I weigh my words against those of the braggart. I am a man of the very highest standards of value. The importance of the humble is of particular value to me, and they cannot be counter-productive to any of my activities. By command of An and by command of Enlil, prayers are said for the life of the Land and for the life of the foreign lands, and I neither neglect them nor allow them to be interrupted.
244-258. I also know how to serve the gods, and I can cool the hearts of the Anuna gods. I am Culgi, whose thick neck becomes fat (?) in majesty. Grand achievements that I have accomplished which bring joy to my heart I do not cast negligently aside; therefore I give pride of place to progress. I give no orders concerning the development of waste ground, but devote my energies to extensive building plots. I have planted trees in fields and in agricultural land; I devote my powers to dams, ......, ditches and canals. I try to ensure a surplus of oil and wool. Thanks to my efforts flax and barley are of the highest quality. The thirst and hunger of the gods are a cause of the greatest anxiety to me; I, Culgi, am the life of Sumer.
259-269. I have no equal among even the most distant rulers, and I can also state that my deeds are great deeds. Everything is achievable by me, the king. Since the time when Enlilgave me the direction of his numerous people in view of my wisdom, my extraordinary power and my justice, in view of my resolute and unforgettable words, and in view of my expertise, comparable to that of Ictaran, in verdicts, my heart has never committed violence against even one other king, be he an Akkadian or a son of Sumer, or even a brute from Gutium.
270-280. I am no fool as regards the knowledge acquired since the time that mankind was, from heaven above, set on its path: when I have discovered tigi and zamzam hymns from past days, old ones from ancient times, I have never declared them to be false, and have never contradicted their contents. I have conserved these antiquities, never abandoning them to oblivion. Wherever the tigi and the zamzam sounded, I have recovered all that knowledge, and I have had those cir-gida songs brilliantly performed in my own good house. So that they should never fall into disuse, I have added them to the singers' repertoire, and thereby I have set the heart of the Land on fire and aflame.
281-296. Whatever is acquired is destined to be lost. What mortal has ever reached the heavens? At some time in the distant future, a man of Enlil may arise, and if he is a just king, like myself, then let my odes, prayers and learned songs about my heroic courage and expeditions follow that king in his good palace. He should take to heart the benefit that has been conferred on him; he should exalt the power of my odes, absorb the exuberance of my songs, and value highly my great wisdom. Just as a strong person can consider on an equal basis even those things which he has not brought about by his own efforts, let him applaud and welcome my achievements. Let him call upon my good name.
297-307. But if his heart devises treason against me, and he commits violence against anything of mine, may Nanna then adjudicate against this rebel, and let Utu the torch catch him. Wherever that king's path may lead, his word shall be wiped out. Until he has completed the days of his life, he shall do everything in his power to keep the hymns in their proper form. Through becoming familiar thereby with me, the king, he will speak of me in awed amazement. Because of my extraordinary wisdom and my ancient fame as a master, he should choose my hymns as examples, and himself beget heavenly writings.
308-319. In the south, in Urim, I caused a House of the Wisdom of Nisaba to spring up in sacrosanct ground for the writing of my hymns; up country in Nibru I established another. May the scribe be on duty there and transcribe with his hand the prayers which I instituted in the E-kur; and may the singer perform, reciting from the text. The academies are never to be altered; the places of learning shall never cease to exist. This and this only is now my accumulated knowledge! The collected words of all the hymns that are in my honour supersede all other formulations. By An, Enlil, Utu and Inana, it is no lie -- it is true!
320-336. Furthermore no one will assert under oath that to this day there is any mention in my inscriptions of a single city that I have not devastated, or wall that I have not demolished, or land that I have not made tremble like a reed hut, or praise that I have not completely verified. Why should a singer put them in hymns? An eminent example deserves eternal fame. What is the use of writing lies without truth? For me, the king, the singer has recorded my exploits in songs about the strength of the protective deity of my power; my songs are unforgettable, and my words shall not fall into oblivion. I am the best king of the Land. From the very first origins until the full flourishing of mankind, there will never be any king who can measure himself against my achievements whom An will let wear his crown or wield his sceptre from a royal throne.
337-353. I am gifted with power, insight and wisdom. The high point of my great deeds is the culling of lions before the lance as if they were garden weeds, the snapping of fierce felines like reeds as if under the carding-comb, and the crushing (?) of their throats under the axe as if they were dogs. Great powerful wild cows, indomitable bulls, cattle on their way to their mountain pastures, which were killed in the plain, were ...... the mountains. That the hills were impenetrable and inaccessible ...... -- those are pure lies. Where, in important words on tablets, my wisdom and my power 1 line unclearHe who knows, and does not ...... the truth about me as lies, will applaud and praise me.
354-357. I am a warrior whose might is enormous might. I am Culgi, whose shadow lies over the mountain lands. I am the king, the weapon and the downfall of rebel lands. Thus I have spread far and wide my everlasting renown.
358-373. Now, I swear by Utu on this very day -- and my younger brothers shall be witnesses of it in foreign lands where the sons of Sumer are not known, where people do not have the use of paved (?) roads, where they have no access to the written word -- that the firstborn son is a fashioner of words, a composer of songs, a composer of words, and that they will recite my songs as heavenly writings, and that they will bow down before my words as a ...... 8 lines fragmentary
374-385. For that house, I am the right man to step over the threshold. I am the man whose name has been chosen by Nanna. I am the steward of Enlil's temple, the domestic slave of An. I am Culgi, and my house E-hursaj is the palace of palaces. My royal residence is above all praise; I made it tower up like a lapis-lazuli mountain. Inana, the queen of the gods, the protective deity of my power, has perfected the songs of my might -- the foremost among kings -- in respect of everything in the whole world. It is good to praise me. Praise be to Nisaba.
A praise poem of Culgi (Culgi C)
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Segment A
1-17. I am the king, a wild bull of acknowledged strength, a lion with wide-open jaws! I am Culgi, a wild bull of acknowledged strength, a lion with wide-open jaws! I am a great storm let loose from heaven, sending its splendour far and wide! I am good stock, with brindled body, engendered by a breed-bull! I am a king born from a cow, resting amid butter and milk! I am the calf of a thick-necked white cow, reared in the cow-pen! Dressed in a ...... royal robe and holding out a sceptre, I am perfect for ....... I am also the good shepherd who takes joy in justice, the scourge and stick of all evil! Strength of lions, hero of battle -- I have no rivals! Handsome of limb, ferocious lion, I am perfection in warfare! Grasping a lapis-lazuli mace and a battle-axe, with long fingers I sharpen a tin knife to untie knots. In the turbulent affray of battle, in the conflict, I shoot out my tongue, a muchuc darting out its tongue at the foreign lands, a dragon raging (?) at men.
18-20. I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!
21-31. Since I first arose in human form, a bull-calf born in a year of plenty and announced at a time of prosperity, nourished on good milk, my head was refulgent with the crown. As I rose over my city like Utu, suspended in its midst, I filled the E-temen-ni-guru, founded with divine powers, with princely cornelian. I touched it and made it perfect with royal hand-washing rituals. I cleansed myself in water of purification from Eridug. Its seven wisdoms attended upon me, and they were not negligent of me, the radiant heart dressed in a robe.
32-34. I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!
35-49. In the house of wise knowledge of the Land, I, Culgi, king of Sumer, set a good example. My hand guides the holy reed stylus correctly. 4 lines unclear...... the fields in the holy ...... and the holy agricultural land with a lapis-lazuli measuring line, bringing in plentiful harvests, ...... top-quality flax, top-quality barley. I am greatly expert in assigning work with the pickaxe and the brick-mould, in drawing plans, in laying foundations, and in writing cuneiform inscriptions on pedestals; I can make things absolutely clear on tablets of lapis lazuli. I also have a solidly based knowledge of the intelligent implementation of the counting, accounting and planning of the Land.
50-52. I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!
53-75. I am fair of mouth with well-formed lips. My heart ....... 1 line fragmentary I also have a solidly based knowledge of ....... In my assembly where grand deliberation takes place, where the black-headed are gathered together, a minister pays attention to messages from foreign lands. Eloquent in the assembly and refined, he 2 lines fragmentary He roared like a bull. 12 lines missing or fragmentary
76-81. I am a shepherd who, apart from being one who always makes the right decisions on what he has sworn, is also fully able to re-establish ...... in the Land and to ...... forcefully the house of the rebel lands; who grasps hold of the righteous as if they were great bulls, and who darts (?) out his tongue at the wicked like a snake in a terrifying place. I never frighten the just, and I never ...... the evil.
82-84. I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!
85-111. I am the leader living in Sumer! I am engaged in carrying out the planning! When I stand against the cities and territories of the hostile rebel lands, my battle is a hurricane that cannot be overwhelmed. When I surround their contingents from the south and cut the people off, 1 line fragmentary In the great palace, where I take decisions, when I ...... a pure lamb, on the right ...... favourable ......, as I ...... on my great throne. In my well-established dwelling, I can tell whether to strike with weapons or not to strike with weapons. Since from birth I am also a Nintur ( creator deity) , wise in all matters, I can recognise the omens of that extispicy in a pure place. I keep a look-out that ....... I am a lord ......, as I range about in my anger. I also have a solidly based knowledge of omens from heaped high censers. My vision enables me to be the dream-interpreter of the Land; my heart enables me to be the Ictaran ( god of justice) of the foreign lands. I am Culgi, good shepherd of Sumer. Like my brother and friend Gilgamec, I can recognise the virtuous and I can recognise the wicked. The virtuous gets justice in my presence, and the wicked and evil person will be carried off by ....... Who like me is able to interpret what is spoken in the heart or is articulated on the tongue?
112-114. I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!
115-142. Since I am also wise and highly intelligent, 5 lines fragmentary Also I know the Martu language as well as I do Sumerian. ...... mountain people walking in the hills ......, they greet me and I reply to them in the Martu language. Also I know the Elamite language as well as I do Sumerian. ...... in Elam ......, they greet me and I reply in Elamite. 4 lines missing or fragmentary In wrestling and athletics I am ....... I am the shepherd who with nimbly gripping fingers ....... Who can resist me, on the exercise ground as well as in battle? The greatest heroes of the Land, the notable strong men and athletes from the foreign lands, the swift (?) of Sumer, the totality of combatants, ...... at my wrists. 1 line unclearI am powerful in athletics, and I am strong ...... in wrestling. I am Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, and no one can equal me!
143-145. I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!
146. I am a runner who is successful in his aspirations. unknown no. of lines missing
Segment B
1-16. Lion, feline ...... 5 lines fragmentary or unclearMay its glory cover the cities, and its battle-cry smother the foreign lands! May the people be terrified at its roaring, as at a storm in the heavens! I am Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer! May he bring me the muscles of a lion, the sinews of a lion! May he receive (?) my spear! 3 lines unclearThe black-headed will look on in amazement, and ...... in my city.
17-19. I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!
20-71. Where I stand, I destroy foreign lands; where I sit, I plunder cities. At my command, ....... Where my weapons strike, ....... 7 lines fragmentary or unclearTheir bricks are dug up from the footings ....... The city which I smash shall not be restored; the houses which I destroy shall be counted as ruin mounds; the walls proudly rising to heaven shall not open ....... 1 line unclear...... I have been given great strength. 1 line fragmentary ...... arrows of my quiver ...... a flying bird. As if ......; ...... like a wild bull in a meadow. My spear goes straight. My great emblems are raised at the edge of the mountains. When day breaks and Utu comes forth and looks upon the hills, I shall marvel at them. 2 lines unclear...... may they be terrified, and may his troops be frightened. 1 line fragmentary Since I am a king who puts the Land on track, 4 lines fragmentary Night falls, 2 lines unclearThe rebel lands ....... They are scattered by force, like sheep that have no shepherd. 7 lines fragmentary or unclearMay concord be promoted in the Land. May my attack cause them to collapse, like a wild bull going to its resting place. 1 line unclearMay the numerous people in their well-established dwelling be avenged.
72-74. I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!
75-101. Since I am also pleasure-loving and a devotee of singing, I can perform tigi, adab and great malgatum compositions. When fixing the frets of the great lutes, I know how to raise and lower them. I am adept enough to play perfectly all the seven instruments. ...... balbale on the flute; ...... their divergent strings; ...... the sa-ec instrument ...... 4 lines fragmentary or uncleara performing musician ...... 1 line unclearI also have a solidly based knowledge of ....... ...... praying in a melodious voice, capering joyfully to the sound of the holy balaj drum 1 line unclear...... in song, for my sister Jectin-ana, my own mother Ninsumun ...... in wisdom ...... 6 lines missing
102-110.4 lines fragmentary in the ...... of Enlil, Ninlil and Nintur, ...... Nanna and Ninurta, in the ...... of holy Inana2 lines fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
Segment C
1-14.9 lines fragmentary To my brother and friend Gilgamec4 lines fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
A praise poem of Culgi (Culgi D)
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1-13. O my king, great bull with splendid limbs, dragon with a lion's eyes! Shepherd Culgi, great bull with splendid limbs, dragon with a lion's eyes! Bull-calf born in the cattle-pen of abundance, thriving there! Mighty one fit for heroism, the ornament of his Land! Righteous man, invested with justice by Utu! Fierce leopard who feeds on rich milk, rampant bull who was born to be a great beast! A lapis-lazuli beard, a holy breast -- marvellous to behold! O king, joy of the royal tiara! Culgi, ornament of the legitimate crown, wearing the diadem of godhead, named by An with a good name! Good shepherd, endowed with strength by Enlil, Culgi, the beloved of Ninlil's heart!
14-17. O, my king, who is as mighty as you, and who rivals you? Indeed, who is there who from birth is as richly endowed with understanding as you? May your heroism shine forth, and may your might be respectfully praised!
18-31. You destroy the offspring of ....... You are mighty, ....... You are brave, ....... When in the E-kur ......, in the hostile foreign lands you plunder cities; like a panting lion, you ......; like a cheetah, you ......; a dragon, you ......; 2 lines missingYou hurl angry words against the people of the foreign lands that are hostile to Nanna. You are adorned with splendid horns, like a virile wild bull born to be a great wild bull. You are a chariot, a waggon set on the road. Like a noble ass, by your vigorous running you bring joy to Enlil.
32-35. You are as strong as an ildag tree planted by the side of a watercourse. You are a sweet sight, like a fertile mec tree laden with colourful fruit. You are cherished by Ninegala, like a date palm of holy Dilmun. You have a pleasant shade, like a sappy cedar growing amid the cypresses.
36-39. O, my king, who is as mighty as you, and who rivals you? Indeed, who is there who from birth is as richly endowed with understanding as you? May your heroism shine forth, and may your might be respectfully praised!
40-52. Shepherd Culgi, when your seed was placed in the holy womb, your mother Ninsumungave birth to you; your personal god, holy Lugalbanda, fashioned you; Mother Nintur nurtured you; An named you with a good name; Enlil lifted your head; Ninlil loved you. The princely son of the E-kur ....... The king, the holy barge which traverses the sky, Nanna, the lord ......, Suen....... 2 lines fragmentary
53-60. Nudimmud ...... like small trees. He cherished you like an ildag tree ......, like a mec tree or a palm-tree. At that time, ...... An ...... wrote a tablet for you and decreed a fate for you. Ninlil's heart was soothed with prayers and supplications. The gods of heaven, with their ready approval, came to heaven, where the fates are decreed. Enlil, the king of all the lands, gave you shepherdship over the Land, in the south and in the highlands.
61-134. O, my king, who is as mighty as you, and who rivals you? Indeed, who is there who from birth is as richly endowed with understanding as you? May your heroism shine forth, and may your might be respectfully praised! 70 lines missing
135-149. You hero, after stepping on the ......, you roared at the foreign land hostile to Nanna. Hurl your battle-cry at the ...... of Enlil! My king, ...... approx. 10 lines missing......, great bull .......
150-176. "I, the king, ...... upon the foreign lands a mighty yoke ...... of heroism ......, I subject their people to destruction. After setting my foot on the neck of the foreign lands, I make ...... on the rebel lands. After knocking down ...... like ......, and placing my foot on his head, I make him die amid dripping blood ....... Against their ......, my battle-axe gnashes and gnashes its teeth like a sharp-toothed beast. Against their ......, which are well fitted with ...... axes of meteoric iron and ...... gold ore, like a ...... snake my mouth brings forth venom. I cut off from his strength the strong one who resorts to his strength. My ...... against their warriors as if they were fish. ...... the small net over their runners, I catch them like gazelles in the woods. Having ...... like fire (?) against their tireless runners, I make them fall violently into a trap set with a net like wild asses. I place ...... on their boastful ones in the battle. My fierce weapons pour forth venom into them like a serpent ready to bite. After tearing out the entrails of its ...... who are still alive, I make the man coiling like an attacking ...... snake sink his head in the dust, like an ailing, neglected (?) bull. I make their little ones who survive eat bitter dust as long as they live, like the locust which consumes everything."
177-189. "I raise my spear against the ......, I set up my emblems at the border of the foreign lands. I fill my quiver, and my bow is stretched, ready to shoot, like a raging serpent. Barbed arrows flash before me like lightning. Like scudding bats, ...... arrows fly into the mouth of battle. Slingstones rain down on their people; clay bullets clatter on their backs like hammerstones. With my throw-stick and sling I catch like swallows the crushed people of the rebel lands. My ...... weapon sharpens its teeth at the head of the Land."
190-196. "My ...... battle-axe sheds the blood of the people like water. My double-edged axe weapon ...... in their ...... blood, which covers the ......, spilled on the hills like the contents of a broken wine jug. I ...... the people in their meadows; the blood ...... like water in their wadis; the blood ...... into the cracks of the earth."
197-210. "Its ......, in the foreign land ....... The rebel land ....... The foreign land ....... 7 lines missingThe heart ....... Having filled the ......, ...... his prosperous ......; I give them as a gift to ......."
211-217. "I shall kill on the roofs those of the foreign lands who lie on the roofs. I shall smite on the walls those who lie on the walls. Whoever is able to stand up I shall make stand on his feet; those who are unable to stand up I shall smite on the spot. I shall let the young ones of the foreign lands embark on ships, but I shall kill the adults as revenge. Even those whom I have not killed and those whom I have not dispersed will not live long!"
218-227. "I, the king, shall avenge my city. Whatever has been destroyed in Sumer, I shall destroy in the foreign lands. I shall make the gods of their cities turn away (?) from them; I shall cause their male and female protective deities, their good eyes, to stand aside. I shall let long grass grow in their fertile fields of shining barley. I shall uproot their small trees. With the axe I shall destroy their thick and tall trees, and I shall tear down by the crown their valuable trees. In their irrigated gardens, where honey and fig trees used to grow, I shall make weeds grow, so that ...... plants and ...... herbs break through the soil."
228-239. "After I, the king, have destroyed the cities and ruined the city walls, have terrified the ...... foreign lands like a flood, have scattered the seed of Gutium like seed-grain, have established Enlil's triumph, have crushed the populations as if with a pestle, have ...... my heart ......, then I shall load the pure lapis lazuli of the foreign lands into leather pouches and leather bags." approx. 5 lines missing
240-251. The king ....... On that day, in the foreign land ....... His roar ...... the hills ....... The city which Enlil has ......, which An has ......, which Nintur has ......, which Enki has ...... good wisdom. Nanna has ...... the heights of heaven, Utu has ...... on the horizon; Inana the lady of battle has frowned (?) on it. The people of the rebel lands, like old reeds ....... The great and terrible battle of Culgi .......
252-287. Zagar, the god of dreams, ...... as their beneficent protective spirit, ...... in a dream, 2 lines fragmentaryapprox. 31 lines missing
288-294. Like a sajkal snake, he roars against the ...... of hostile foreign lands ....... The king, roaring like a rising flood against the rebel lands, Culgi, roaring like a rising flood against the rebel lands, embraces Gilgamec, his brother and friend, his comrade, as one who was born ......, and he walks along the road together with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.
295-298. The king of the holy heavens, adorned with a wide crown, the lord, the bright luminary of the gods, Father Nanna, ...... by him on his right side; and he walks along the road together with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.
299-303. Born to a great wild bull, like a lion standing firm in his strength, mighty heir of youthful Suen, heroic son of Acimbabbar, the vigorous bull (Ningublaga) ...... by him on his left side; and he walks along the road together with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.
304-306. The king of ......, Ninjiczida ......, and he walks along the road together with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.
307-311. When he arrives at Enegir, ......, the fierce serpent, ready to bite ......, the lord of ......, Ninazu ......, and he walks along the road together with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.
312-318. At the same time, King Enki emerges from the abzu; he has but to raise one eye from the abzu to destroy for him the foreign lands from where he stands, to destroy for him their cities from where he sits -- he of the trustworthy command, whose utterances are firmly established, Nudimmud, the great lord of Eridug; and he walks along the road together with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.
319-330. When he arrives at the E-babbar, the house of Utu, the king who loves justice, ......, who is clad in linen, approx. 10 lines missing
331-333. He let the young ones of the foreign lands embark on ships, but killed the adults as revenge. Even those whom he did not kill and those whom he did not disperse did not live long!
334-343. The hero avenged his city. Whatever was destroyed in Sumer, he destroyed in the foreign lands. He made the gods of their cities turn away (?) from them; he caused their male and female protective deities, their good eyes, to stand aside. He let long grass grow in their cultivated fields of shining barley. With the axe he destroyed their thick and tall trees, and he tore down by the crown their valuable trees. He uprooted their small trees. In their irrigated gardens, where honey and fig trees used to grow, he made weeds grow, so that ...... plants and ...... herbs broke through the soil.
344-353. After the king had destroyed the cities and ruined the city walls, had terrified the ...... foreign lands like a flood, had scattered the seed of Gutium like seed-grain, had ...... his heart ......, then he loaded the pure lapis lazuli of the foreign lands into leather pouches and leather bags. He heaped up all their treasures and amassed (?) all the wealth of the foreign lands. He invoked the name of Enlil and invoked the name of Ninlil on their fattened cattle and fattened sheep.
354-362. After carrying out a noble revenge in the foreign lands, the hero had his brilliant royal barge caulked. Imbued with terrible splendour on the Exalted River, it was adorned with holy horns, and its golden ram symbol (?) gleamed in the open air. Its bitumen was the ...... bitumen of Enki provided generously by the abzu; its cabin was a palace. It was decorated with stars like the sky. Its holy ......, 1 line fragmentary
363-367. The king ......, Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, ...... his feet upon ......; he took his seat on a throne of ....... The sim and ala drums resounded for him, and the tigi drums played music for him.
368-381. "My king, ......, you have destroyed the foreign lands and plundered their cities ......; like a wild bull ...... the hills ......", sang the singers for him in a song. His boatmen, in tireless effort, 1 line unclearThese, citizens of Enegir and citizens of Urim, thrust forth their ...... oars at the command of the lord. He moored the boat at the temple area of Nibru, the temple area Dur-an-ki, at Enlil'sKar-jectina. He entered before Enlil with the silver and lapis lazuli of the foreign lands loaded into leather pouches and leather bags, all their heaped-up treasures, and with the amassed (?) wealth of the foreign lands.
382-397. ......, the king ....... Enlil decrees a destiny for Culgi: "O king, I will decree a destiny for you, I will decree a good destiny for you! O Culgi, I will decree a destiny for you, I will decree a good destiny for you! I will decree heroism as your destiny! I will decree long-lasting office as ruler and king as your destiny! May you raise your head in terrifying splendour! May no man stand his ground before your fierce gaze! May your royal crown shine radiantly! May your sceptre be a princely sceptre, and may its shining branches provide shade! May there be joy in your heart, and may you never grow weary! May you be the life-giving king of your assembly! May your life flourish like herbs, may it flourish like grain! May it flourish like a fertile mec tree in a broad plot!" 1 line fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
A praise poem of Culgi (Culgi E)
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1-8. Enlil, foundation platform of heaven and earth, who holds the crook that makes the Land firm, whose beard flows over the mountains, who reveres his own divine powers -- Enlil, the everlasting shepherd of the Land, has addressed me, Culgi, king of Urim, favourably, looking at me with wide-open eyes. In the overflowing of his heart, the lord bestowed the sceptre on me.
9-13. Everywhere the word of Enlil has brought benefits to me, who was specially crowned in brick-built Eridug; to me, who was invested with the lapis-lazuli diadem in Unug; to me, the beloved shepherd of Nanna, fit for the throne. When I bring firewood (?), he looks at me and speaks gladly to me.
14-22. I, Culgi, the king whose name is very suitable for songs, intend to be praised in my prayers and hymns. At the command of my sister Jectin-ana, my scholars and composers of ...... have composed adab, tigi and malgatum hymns about my being the Nintur of all that is, about how wise I am in attending upon the gods, about how the god of intercession has given me favourable signs that years of abundance will elapse for me in due course.
23-30. They have composed cir-gida songs, royal praise poetry, cumunca, kunjar and balbalecompositions about how I carried warfare across the sea to the south, how I jerked up the hostile land of Elam as if it were grass by a gateway, how in the uplands I ...... the people like grain, how I trekked the length of the mountains in battle, how I travel about indefatigably in the mountain uplands like an old donkey on the road, and about my expeditions .......
31-38. They composed for me gigid and zamzam songs about my manual skill, ever reliable for the finest task of the scribal art; about my ability to unravel the calculating and reckoning of the waxing of the new moon; about my causing joy and happiness; about how I know exactly at what point to raise and lower the tigi and zamzam instruments, and how I have complete control of the plectra of the great stringed instruments; how I cannot be stopped by anything insurmountable, about my being a runner tireless when emerging from the race.
39-46. In the name of An, the pre-eminent king; and of Enlil, who never changes his utterances; and in the name of Suen, the brickwork of cities cursed by whom shall rise no more, and the people cursed by whom will get leprosy; and in the name of Utu, the constable of the gods: I swear no one has ever put anything mendacious about me in my hymns; no one has embellished my prayers with achievements that I have not matched; I, Culgi, have never allowed exaggerated praise of power to be put in a song.
47-52. How I glisten like fine silver, how I am musical and eloquent in wisdom; how I, the shepherd, do everything to absolute perfection: may all this be commended in my kingship. Of all the lines that there are in my songs, none of them is false -- they are indeed true!
53-62. In the cult-places, let no one neglect the songs about me, whether they are adab, whether they are tigi or malgatum, cir-gida or praise of kingship, whether they are cumunca, kunjar or balbale, whether they are gi-gid or zamzam -- so that they shall never pass out of memory and never lapse from people's mouths. Let them never cease to be sung in the shining E-kur! Let them be played for Enlil in his Shrine of the New Moon! When at the ececfestival they serve the clear beer endlessly like water, may they be offered repeatedly before Enlil as he sits with Ninlil.
63-73. In future days, a man like myself whom Enlil shall call to the shepherdship of the Land ...... my songs; let him see ....... Let him call upon my name in the beloved ....... ...... that man, whenever my hymns 1 line missing...... my singer (?) ....... May he establish my name in the beloved ...... temple. Whether he is a man ...... Enki and Enlil ......, may ...... come forth from the house which ...... justice and a favourable destiny.
74-91. But if ...... removes my name from my hymns, and ...... his name, and does not call upon my name in brick-built E-kur, and if that man commits enmity and violence against the temple, then whether that man is a king or a governor, Enlil shall curse him ....... May enmity and violence come forth against him from the house of Enlil. Let him be given enmity as his companion. May an asag demon, as causer of the plague, deprive his city of contentment. Because of famine in years of hunger, may he find no favour in the eyes of the Land. May Ezina produce no grain in sheaves. May fair Nanibgal, Nisaba, make no clay covering for his grain piles. ...... the troops ....... His chief merchant ...... silver ....... May the hunger and the thirst of the gods ...... the city during his reign ...... grain.
92-110. ...... riches, or bronze and silver vessels. May the creatures of his Land reach out for what is left over and not distributed. Famine ....... May he have to pay two shekels in his city for one sila of barley. May the people wield the hoe ....... Let that man be unable to touch the drinks and foods of his palace. May ...... the great sin ....... Nanna, the king of Urim, shall clamp those who look upon the balaj and the sim, and who touch or look at ...... bread. Their lives ...... death ....... 5 lines unclear or missing...... gold ....... May a scoundrel be judge over the population of the city, and be his superior.
111-151. The man who ...... my hymns 2 lines unclearMay he ...... outside the city. May he no longer ...... within the walls of the city. May the criminal offspring of his kingship not ....... May he not stand where the king stands, the shining place. May he ...... from the Ubcu-unkena. ...... his heart's desire and ambitions. 2 lines unclearWhen he brings offerings to the E-kur, may Enlil ....... His special presents and benefits ...... 28 lines missing or unclear
152-154. I, Culgi the noble, who have no opponent ...... 2 lines unclear
155-173. I am Culgi, the great musician, superintendent of the art of music. If ...... favourable ....... My songs, lapsing from people's mouths and passing out of memory, neglected (?) in all the cult-places ....... ...... his king ......, in the music-rooms of the gods ...... 10 lines unclearKing of the singer's art, Suen ......, protective goddess of the singer's art, Jectinana ...... 3 lines unclear or missing
174-190. On the day when the destiny of the lands was determined, the king who in his arrogance ......, in luxuriance Enlil and Ninlil ......, ...... for the life of Sumer and Akkad, ...... justice for the Land, canals which he did not maintain ......, a city which he did not enlarge ....... The Great Mountain ...... at their side ...... great places. He did not ...... the god of the palace. He ...... to Enlil, and did not offer great gifts in the E-kur, and did not ...... the door-sockets of the gods. ...... songs. What he achieves with his praise, what he creatively decoratives with his words, the singer ...... in his songs.
191-201. I, Culgi the king ......, who cares for holy An, ...... food offerings, who constantly attends upon Enlil ......, Nanna, ...... the office of en; Ninurta, the ensi appointed by Enlil, has given me a club and a battle-mace from the E-cu-me-ca. Not since the seed of mankind was germinated, has Enlil ever before been able to give the sceptre of kingship to a king who could control the troops single-handed. As a lone donkey stallion, one who resists the weapons -- no king of the Land has ever turned against the weapons.
202-212. I did not lie in ambush, like a fierce cheetah, against the rebel and hostile lands, the aggressive foreign lands, in order to establish my renown as far as the horizon with the power of my master Enlil, and to transmit my lasting fame of victories to the distant future. I did not come out of a hole like a scorpion. Instead I left my main forces at my side, and went ahead of my scouts. As I repelled the tribal Gutians, the bandits of the hills, like a ...... snake I made my fearsomeness reach afar.
213-219. No one can get near my inspired troops. Running quite alone into the foreign lands unknown to him, like a lion that has seized a wild cow in its claws, I tear its flesh apart. Like a solitary dragon I spread fear, as I proceed unflaggingly against the civilised towns and make them quiver like flames (?) at my frightful roaring. Spine-chilling yells and raging flames are cast at the hills.
220-239. For the rebel lands, the illiterate (?) ones that carry no emblems, my warfare is a horizon on which there are clouds, enveloping the twilight in fear. The mountains, where the forests do not grow as thick as thornbushes, where in the cult places of the rites of Inana ( i.e. in battle) throw-stick and shield do not tumble to the earth in a great storm, where the combatants take no rest in the insistent bitterness of the fierce battle, where life-fluid and blood from both scoundrel and honest person ......, where no black ewes trek over the mountains like floating clouds, and corpses in reedbeds and crannies ...... 1 line unclearThe desert scorpion shall no longer behave thus ....... Neither shortly nor in the future shall he rise again. A villain and rebel ...... to the weapons of strength. A path that is confused, a way that is cut off like a ....... I bent low the land of the Gutians like a mubum tree, and the land turned its heart in its fear before me, as I put my foot on its neck. I am he who all alone plunders cities with his own strength. I am the strong one who is praised for his weapons. I am he whose lasting name and prayerful words are as tremendous as ....... I am the just and the benefactor in the Land.
240-257. May my hymns be in everyone's mouth; let the songs about me not pass from memory. So that the fame of my praise, the words which Enki composed about me, and which Jectin-ana joyously speaks from the heart and broadcasts far and wide, shall never be forgotten, I have had them written down line by line in the House of the Wisdom of Nisaba in holy heavenly writing, as great works of scholarship. No one shall ever let any of it pass from memory ....... It shall not be forgotten, since indestructible heavenly writing has a lasting renown. The scribe should bring it to the singer, and can let him look at it, and with the wisdom and intelligence of Nisaba, let him read it to him as if from a lapis-lazuli tablet. Let my songs sparkle like silver in the lode! Let them be performed in all the cult-places, and let no one neglect them in the Shrine of the New Moon. In the music-rooms of Enlil and Ninlil and at the morning and evening meals of Nanna, let the sweet praise of me, Culgi, be never-ending.
An adab to Enlil for Culgi (Culgi G)
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1-8. Enlil, the eminent one, the sovereign lord, whose utterance is trustworthy; Nunamnir, the eternal shepherd of the Land, who hails from the great mountain; the great counsellor, the first and foremost in heaven and on earth, who is in control of all the divine powers; lord, who is imbued with great fearsomeness in accordance with his nobility, a perfected heavenly star, who takes good care of the primeval and choice divine powers, who alone is the lofty god; lord, life-giving light, who leads the people all over the world along one track; huge net spread over heaven and earth, rope stretched over all the lands! Who ever instructed Enlil, who ever rivalled him?
9-14. He thought up something of great importance and he made public what his heart, a mighty river, carried: the hidden secrets (?) of his holy thought. The matter is a holy and pure one, it concerns the divine powers of the E-kur, the fated good brick embedded (?) in the bottom of the abzu, it is something most important: a trustworthy man will rebuild the E-kur, thereby acquiring a lasting name. The son of this trustworthy man will long hold the sceptre, and their throne will never be overthrown.
15-20. To that end, Acimbabbar appeared shining in the E-kur, pleaded to his father Enlil and made him bring a childbearing mother (?); in the E-duga, Nanna, the princely son, asked for the thing to happen. The en priestess gave birth to the trustworthy man from his semen placed in the womb. Enlil, the powerful shepherd, caused a young man to emerge: a royal child, one who is perfectly fitted for the throne-dais, Culgi the king.
21-27. Enlil gave him a good name: 'A lion's seed, who provides the E-kur generously, the beloved one of Ninlil; the one granted authority in the E-kur; the king of Urim, the one with shining heart, the shepherd, the protective genius of the Land'. Enlil chose Culgi in his pure heart and entrusted the Land to him. As the shepherd of all the countries, Enlil leant the crook and the staff against his arm, and placed the immutable sceptre of Nanna in his hand; he made him raise his head high, sitting on an unshakeable royal seat.
28-30. The day was for prayers, the night was for supplications; the Land rested in peace. The shepherd of prosperity, Culgi, he with a lasting name, the king of jubilation, the mighty one, the semen engendered by the faithful man, praised Enlil.
32-33. Culgi, the mighty king, ......, who exults in his triumph, the ...... king vanquished the rebellious land with the agakar weapon of Inana.
34. It is the jicgijal of the sa-gida.
35-43. May Enlil the trustworthy, whose words are lofty -- good fate determined by him takes precedence -- who makes sturdy flax and barley grow -- may he prolong the life of Culgi, the provider of the E-kur -- hence its flax is indeed fine flax, its barley is indeed fine barley -- the property of Nanna, the houseborn-slave of the E-kur, him whom Ninlil named at his birth Culgi, the shepherd of the Land, the man whom Enlil knows, the steward of the temple.
44-48. So that its voluminous offering meals would bring joy to the E-kur, Enlil called upon Urim, the good city founded by the princely one, the inside of which is a holy treasure chest which, like the abzu, no eye can see -- the city of good purification rites and pure hand-washing rites; and what he says is trustworthy.
49-53. For his setting up the abundant sacrificial tin cups, for his having served evening meals in the dining-hall of the E-kur, Enlil determined a princely fate for the shepherd, him who is worthy of the kingship and the lofty throne-dais, Culgi, who is adorned with the ba garment of the en priests.
54-59. The one beautiful like heaven, ......, Nanna, the king, the ......, gave him good ...... in the Ki-ur, the great place. At the command (?) of Enlil, he ......, he roars for him (?) against the foreign land that no one dare oppose. He stabilizes the countryside, and the people lie at his feet.
60-62. Culgi, the shepherd is the honey man beloved by Nibru; may the true shepherd, Culgi, refresh himself in the pleasant shade of Enlil's brickwork!
64. O Culgi, Enlil has brought forth happy days for you in your reign!
65. It is the jicgijal of the sa-jara.
66-68. Heaven's king, earth's great mountain, Father Enlil, heaven's king, earth's great mountain, thought up something great: he chose Culgi in his heart for a good reign!
70. An adab of Enlil. ( lines 69 and 70 are written as one line in source)
A tigi (?) for Culgi (Culgi L)
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Segment A
unknown no. of lines missing
1-5.1 line fragmentary ...... in battle and fight ....... You gave ...... to your offspring (?) ....... ...... shepherd Culgi, you spread fearsomeness over the foreign countries. ...... shepherd, your offspring (?) will praise you duly.
7-12. You defeat ....... You impose silence on ....... You roar a war-cry at the rebel lands ....... Your clamour ...... even the distant mountains and hills. ...... at your roaring devastate (?) ...... completely. unknown no. of lines missing
Segment B
1-6.3 lines fragmentary ...... like a forest set on fire, ...... covers all the ....... ...... your fearsomeness makes ...... and the enemies tremble.
A lullaby for a son of Culgi (Culgi N)
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1-5. Ah, ah, may he grow sturdy through my crooning, may he flourish through my crooning! May he put down strong foundations as roots, may he spread branches wide like a cakir plant!
6-11. Lord, from this you know our whereabouts; among those resplendent apple trees overhanging the river, may someone who passes by (?) reach out his hand, may someone lying there raise his hand. My son, sleep will overtake you, sleep will settle on you.
12-18. Sleep come, sleep come, sleep come to my son, sleep hasten (?) to my son! Put to sleep his open eyes, settle your hand upon his sparkling eyes -- as for his murmuring tongue, let the murmuring not spoil his sleep.
19-23. May he fill your lap with emmer while I sweeten miniature cheeses for you, those cheeses that are the healer of mankind, that are the healer of mankind, and of the lord's son, the son of Lord Culgi.
24-30. In my garden, it is the lettuces that I have watered, and among the lettuces it is the gakkul lettuce that I have chopped. Let the lord eat this lettuce! Through my crooning let me give him a wife, let me give him a wife, let me give him a son! May a happy nursemaid chatter with him, may a happy nursemaid suckle him!
31-38. Let me ...... a wife for my son, and may she bear him a son so sweet. May his wife lie in his warm embrace, and may his son lie in his outstretched arms. May his wife be happy with him, and may his son be happy with him. May his young wife be happy in his embrace, and may his son grow vigorously on his gentle knees.
39-48. You are restless -- I am troubled, I am quite silent (?), gazing at the stars, as the crescent moon shines on my face. Your bones might be arrayed on the wall! The man of the wall might shed tears for you! The mongoose might beat the balaj drums for you! The gecko might gouge its cheeks for you! The fly might gash its lips for you! The lizard might tear out (?) its tongue for you!
49-56. May the lullaby (?) make us flourish! May the lullaby (?) make us thrive! When you flourish, when you thrive, when you ...... the shaking of churns, sweet sleep ......, the sweet bed ....... 2 lines fragmentary
57-63. May a wife be your support, and may a son ....... May a son be your fortune. May winnowed grain be your lover, and may Ezina-Kusu ( the goddess of grain) be your aid. May you have an eloquent protective goddess. May you be brought up to a reign of favourable days. May you smile upon festivals.
64-66. My son is ......; he knows nothing. He does not know the length of his old age (?). He does not know the dwelling of the .......
67-73. May you discover ....... May you eat ....... 3 lines fragmentary May you be ....... May you be .......
74-91.7 lines fragmentary ...... goats, sheep and donkeys ...... 1 line fragmentary Ninkasi ( the goddess of beer) ...... in her vat ...... 5 lines fragmentary The shepherd's wife ...... He ...... the ...... of the date palm. He brings date shoots among the offerings.
92-114. As for you, lie in sleep! May your palm tree, extending its fronds, spread joy like a fig tree (?). Place coals (?) beside Urim! Place charcoal beside Unug! Seize the enemy's mouth like ......! Bind his arms like reed bundles! Make the enemy cower before you, lest he rip open your back like a sack, 4 lines fragmentaryapprox. 6 lines missing4 lines fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
A praise poem of Culgi (Culgi O)
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Segment A
1-12. City worthy of the divine powers, according to its name: shrine Urim, raging storm of Sumer, battleground -- and well established! Origin of human seed, consolidating the foundations of the Land, abundance -- and well established! Lofty dais of An, pure place, holy place, provider of first-fruit offerings for An to refresh himself, dripping with syrup and wine -- and well established! Du-ur, celebrated place of Enlil, in whose interior are the assigned divine powers, place whose destiny was decreed by Father Enlil, great dais -- and well established! Eridug, shrine expert in decreeing the fates, with princely divine powers, pure divine powers -- and well established! E-kic-nu-jal, cattle-pen of Suen, where fecund cows, breed-bulls and holy calves gambol together, producing fine cream -- and well established! Abzu, holy residence of youthful Suen, tall crook lifting its head towards heaven, a marvel -- and well established!
13-24. Jipar, shrine built in exuberance, with the true divine powers of the rank of en priestess -- and well established! Princely (?) en priestess, your great name is pure; loosener of the headdress of Nanna who makes the dwelling pleasant, with good words and justice -- and well established! Id-nun-kug ( Holy princely river) with ample flowing waters, your reservoir abounds with fish and birds -- and well established! Its city, established within the encircling walls, is a battle-mace, a weapon -- and well established! The convened assembly of its numerous people is a shield -- and well established! Great awe of the occupied settlements of Sumer -- and well established! Its foreign lands, teeming like herds of fecund cows, fat cows, numerous ewes with their lambs in the sheepfold -- and well established! Its army, rising to battle, is an irresistible onrush of water, a fearsome sea, a raging ...... -- and well established!
25-37. Its prince, the hero of Enlil, a lion rising up in its strength, a furious lion (?) baring its teeth at the foreign lands, ...... inspects great wild bulls, eating ......, extending ....... Shepherd Culgi, son of Ninsumun, ornament of ......, ...... in their evil words, brought the hero Gilgamec, the lord of Kulaba into ....... He produced an utterance for him ...... from the foreign lands, ...... of his palace. ...... of the foreign lands. ...... he looked at him as if on split reeds.
38-48. On the day when the destiny of the Land was determined, when the seed of all living beings was originally brought forth, when the king appeared radiantly to his comrade -- on that day, Gilgamec, the lord of Kulaba, conversed with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, at his shining feet. So that their praise would be sung forever, so that it be would handed down to distant days, so that it should be not forgotten in remote years, they looked (?) at each other favourably in their mighty heroism.
49-52. Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, praised his brother and friend, Lord Gilgamec, in his might, and declared to him in his heroism:
53-60. "Mighty in battle, destroyer of cities, smiting them in combat! Siege-weapon skilled with the slingstone against the holy wall! You brought forth your weapons against the house of Kic. You captured dead its seven heroes. You trampled underfoot the head of the king of Kic, En-me-barage-si ....... You brought the kingship from Kic to Unug."
61-84. Thus he eulogised him who was born ...... in Kulaba. 1 line unclearGilgamec, lord of Kulaba, seed of lordship, righteous hero ...... 5 lines fragmentary or unclearapprox. 4 lines missing( Gilgamec continues speaking:) "Like ......, falsely (?) ......, you trampled underfoot ......, ...... as if in a mighty clamp. You gathered its ...... like swallows rising into the air. You entered with them into the presence of Enlil in the shrine of Nibru. Even those ...... who escaped from the ......, wail bitterly ....... ...... a copper (?) statue fashioned (?) in Urim, ...... the seven gods, stationed beside, wielding battle-axes. Fearsome (?) hero ......, king of Sumer, you stand firm in your strength (?)."
85-88. Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, praised his brother and friend, Lord Gilgamec, in his might, and declared to him in his heroism:
89-106. " 1 line fragmentary In the judgments that you pronounce ....... Who else like you has gone directly on the road to the mountains and has travelled the way to ......? Valiant one, ...... the mountain cedars, ...... the tall forests, ...... the boats. ...... Huwawa. ...... his seven terrors. ...... the small ....... ...... from his well-established dwelling. ...... to Enlil, in the shrine of Nibru ....... ...... your captured hero. You allowed the mother of the sick man to fetch her son to her embrace. Your battle-mace, its mouth gaping wide, attacks the foreign lands for you. Gilgamec, noble one of Unug, violent storm, at whose oppression ....... The inimical rebel land, like ....... You have revealed your immense majesty! May you extend your protective arms over me!"
107-108. Lord Gilgamec ...... Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer:
109-137. " 12 lines fragmentaryapprox. 5 lines missing8 lines fragmentary The youthful ......, a god among the Anuna gods, ...... venerates ....... Fearsome (?) hero ......, king of Sumer, you stand firm in your strength (?)."
138-141. Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, praised his brother and friend, Lord Gilgamec, in his might, and declared to him in his heroism:
142. " Ictaran, the judge who dwells in the Land unknown no. of lines missing"
Segment B
(The sequence of Segments B, C, D and E is uncertain)
1-8.1 line fragmentary Mighty heir of kingship ......, powerful ......, stallion of Suen ......, wearing a lapis-lazuli beard ....... their praise ......, their songs (?) ......, their renown ......; son ...... unknown no. of lines missing
Segment C
(The sequence of Segments B, C, D and E is uncertain; Segments C and D are adjacent)
1-14.fragmentary ends of 14 lines
Segment D
(The sequence of Segments B, C, D and E is uncertain; Segments C and D are adjacent)
1-4.2 lines fragmentary ( Gilgamec continues speaking:) "Fearsome (?) hero ......, king of Sumer, you stand firm in your strength (?)."
5-8. Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, praised his brother and friend, Lord Gilgamec, in his might, and declared to him in his heroism:
9-14. " Gilgamec, the thoroughbred donkey ......, divine judge, ...... 2 lines fragmentary or unclearlike a butting wild bull ...... 1 line fragmentary" unknown no. of lines missing
Segment E
(The sequence of Segments B, C, D and E is uncertain)
1-3. ...... the rebel lands like a horned viper ......, Culgi, son of Ninsumun ...... Enki ...... 1 line fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
A praise poem of Culgi (Culgi P)
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Segment A
1-6.1 line fragmentary ...... shining ....... He ( probably Lugalbanda) spoke to her ( probablyNinsumun) tenderly ......: "He will accomplish precisely the fate determined for him. Your father holy An will make his branches spread as if he were a sappy cedar planted among hacurtrees."
7-10. Then my lady stepped up (?) to the word of An, Ninsumun made a fateful decision with her spouse, holy Lugalbanda; she attended to his supplication. She went straight to holy An in the Ubcu-unkena:
11-14. "My father, An, you are the king among the gods! I have looked through the land in all its extent and among its black-headed people who are as numerous as ewes, and I have elevated Culgi for me high above their head. May he be their trustworthy shepherd!"
15-21. "He is my mec tree with spreading branches; he sprang up from the soil for me, ...... brings abundant yield for me every year. He is my spikenard herb, growing for me with sturdy stems. He makes my ...... radiant in the brickwork of Sumer. 1 line unclearMay he stand daily in ......! 1 line fragmentary" unknown no. of lines missing
Segment B
1-2. ...... of Urim ....... ...... grant him (?) kingship! unknown no. of lines missing
Segment C
1-10. ( An is speaking:) "Its roots sank deep into the earth. I will stand by you in that holy matter. May he who is worthy of being praised with good words, Culgi, the king of a propitious reign, perform the rites established for the kingship perfectly for you, the goddess, at the great and lofty wall-tower of Urim! May he execute properly for you the statutes of the gods! May he always offer you food at the time of the new moon and at the new year! May you yourself bring me his prayers daily! My tree is indeed abundance, sprouting from the earth like green plants!"
11-16. Then, rejoicing over the words of An, my lady Ninsumun took Culgi the king of Urim by his right hand, led him joyfully into her Egal-mah and seated him upon the exalted dais erected by An. She treated him tenderly with her holy bosom, saying:
17-21. "Shepherd Culgi, I am your great sword (?). My holy heart, a rising flood, rejoices over you. My father, An ......, who is your master, praises you who are surpassing in kingship (?) for (?) the ...... of your kingship."
22-27. " Culgi, you are a pure calf, born to me. You are a good seed of Lugal-banda. I raised you upon my own holy lap. I have decided your fate with my holy bosom. You are a good fortune which fell to my share. I requested you from holy An in the ......."
28-34. "I, the lady, holy Ninsumun, the royal mother, the good woman with beautiful hair befitting a lady, Culgi, I am your faithful guardian (?). May you be dressed in my ...... bagarment! Dance ...... on my holy knees! May you, the shepherd, born for justice, trust in my holy words!"
35-42. "Your holy name is worthy of being praised; may it please the flesh of the great gods like fine oil! An has given you a sceptre for rendering judgments; may your head be raised high! Your father who begot you, holy Lugalbanda, has named you as the 'Valiant one whom An made known among the gods'. He has made you acquire (?) a ....... He has adorned you with a royal crown; may he purify (?) your breath of life with an enduring sceptre!"
43-48. "May Gectin-ana, the king's sister, the mellifluous mouth of the gods, never stop rejoicing over you joy in your palace, erected for you as a source of happiness! May she always step forward to me with friendy entreaties on your behalf! May she never cease praying for you!"
49-55. "I, the lady ...... holy temple of residence ....... My mother, Urac, the lady of the gods and my father, An, the king of the gods ...... the woman, the good cow in (?) the great sheepfold. They (?) give (?) me (?) enduring kingship. They (?) have placed (?) the people in their entirety in my hands."
56-66. "At the place where the fates are decided, the Anuna, the great gods, stood by me. They made Culgi's shepherdship everlasting for me and made Culgi, the righteous one of his god, rise over the land like Utu for me. They set up a throne of firm reign for him. The shepherd will decree just judgments and will make just decisions upon it (?). They granted (?) Culgi a royal crown. ...... great ....... 1 line fragmentary"
An adab (?) to Utu for Culgi (Culgi Q)
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unknown no. of lines missing
1-11. Youthful Utu ......, ...... from Urac; brilliant light, great lion, ......, hero emerging from the holy interior of heaven, storm whose splendour covers the Land and is laden with great awesomeness; Utu, king of justice that befits the true offspring, made Culgi, the trustworthy shepherd, glorious in the battle. The great wild bull, youthful Utu, who like a torch illuminates the Land from the holy heavens; the wise one of all the countries, the fearsome radiance of (?) Urac, the just god among the Anuna gods, the long (?), holy dragon, the first-born son cherished by Suen, the lord born to command -- Utu bestowed the kingship of the Land on Culgi.
12-22. Like a mace with three lion-heads, he makes the mountains tremble and then destroys the rebel lands. ...... the enemy of Nanna. ...... the great ...... of the gods. 2 lines fragmentary Utu ...... the shepherd. Culgi ...... justice. ...... in famine. ...... son of Ninsumun ....... May ...... great fearsomeness for the people for you. ...... the creation of ...... no one .......
24. Utu, assign a sweet destiny to the king ......!
25. Jicgijal of the sa-gida.
26-36. ...... is exalted. Like ...... very pleasing. ...... shepherd Culgi, the lion ...... the rebel lands ....... As long as the cities are not pacified ....... Youthful Utu ...... the people numerous as ewes. May ...... of the holy lapis-lazuli shrine, rejoicing. ...... very proudly ....... Like a cow ...... proudly. 3 lines fragmentary
37-43. Culgi ...... Utu ....... ...... a fragrant cedar forest. O king, the lord who covers the heavens with awesomeness ....... ...... the heavenly august dais from the holy place. The lord ...... august radiance on all the lands from the holy heavens. Because of your purity, youthful Utu has made everything abundant for you; may a sweet life be your lot, son of Ninsumun.
45-48. Youthful Utu chose the shepherd in his heart. Years of plenty are assigned to Culgi, the trustworthy shepherd, the king, as his fate. From the shrine in Nibru, Enlil bestowed this on the trustworthy shepherd, whose fate is determined by Utu.
49. Jicgijal of the sa-jara.
50-52. Lord of all the great divine powers, borne by Ningal! Youthful Utu, lord of all the great divine powers, borne by Ningal, 1 line fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
Culgi and Ninlil's barge: a tigi (?) to Ninlil (Culgi R)
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1-9. Oh barge, Enki assigned the quay of abundance to you as your fate. Father Enlil looked at you with approval. Your lady, Ninlil, commanded your construction. She entrusted it to the faithful provider, King Culgi; and the shepherd, who is of broad intelligence, will not rest day and night in thinking deeply about you. He, the wise one, who is proficient in planning, he, the omniscient one, will fell large cedars in the huge forests for you. He will make you perfect and you will be breathtaking to look upon.
10-22. Your woven ...... is ....... Your covering reed-mats are the daylight spreading wide over the holy settlements. Your timbers are sniffing (?) ...... reptiles crouching on their paws. Your punting poles are dragons sleeping a sweet sleep in their lair. Your strakes (?) are ...... snakes, ....... Your floor-planks are flood-currents, sparkling altogether in the pure Euphrates. Your side-planks, which are fastened into their fixed places (?) with wooden rings (?), are a stairway leading to a mountain spring (?), a ...... filled with ....... Your holy ...... are persisting and firmly founded abundance. Your bench is a lofty dais erected in the midst of the abzu. Your ...... is Aratta, full-laden with treasures. Your door, facing the sunrise, is a ...... bird, carrying a ...... in its talons while spreading wide its wings.
23-31. Your glittering golden sun-disc, fastened with leather straps, is the brilliant moonlight, shining brightly upon all the lands. Your banner, adorned with the divine powers of kingship, is a woodland of cypress trees irrigated with clean water, giving a pleasant shade. Your small reed mats are the evening sky, illuminated with stars, imbued with terrible awesomeness. In the midst of your carefully tended small gizi reeds with numerous twigs (?), flocks of little birds twitter as in a holy swamp. Their chirping, as pleasing to the heart as the sound of the churn's shaking, makes Enlil and Ninlil extremely happy (?).
32-39. Your rudder is a large kij fish in the broad waters at the mouth of the Kisala canal. Your ...... are a bison, inspiring terror on the great earth. Your tow-rope is the gliding Nirah extended over the land. Your mooring pole is the heavenly bond, which ....... Your longside beams are a warrior striking straight against another warrior. Your prow is Nanna ...... fair sky. Your stern is Utu ...... at the horizon. Your canopy (?) is .......
41-47. The faithful shepherd Culgi established the holy festival and the great rituals. The great gods bathe in holy water in Nibru. He assigns the fates to their places in the city and allocates the right divine powers. The mother of the Land, Ninlil the fair, comes out (?) from the house, and Enlil embraces her like a pure wild cow. They take their seats on the barge's holy dais, and provisions are lavishly prepared.
48-63. The lofty barge ......, the ornament of the Tigris, enters the rolling river; ...... on the shining water. The ritually washed five-headed mace, mitum mace, lance and standard ...... at the bow. Enlil's warrior, Ninurta, goes at their front, directing the ...... of your wide ferry-boat (?) straight. He ...... the holy punting pole of the barge, the holy raft. The ferrymen (?) ...... holy songs; they (?) ...... the great exaltedness of the lady. The good woman, Ninlil, ...... joyfully with (?) Culgi. Sumer and Urim ...... joy and happiness. The barge bobs at the quay Mete-aji (Ornament of the waves); it sails off into the reedbeds of Enlil's Tummal. Like a goring (?) ox, it raises, then lowers its head. It strikes its breast against the rising waves; it stirs up (?) the encircling waters. When it thrusts within the waters, the fish of the subterranean waters become frightened; as it glides (?) upon them, it makes the waters sparkle (?) luxuriantly.
64-70. ...... the holy raft; ...... the lady of Tummal ...... prayer. Enlil's ancestors and An the king, the god who determines the fates, greets her. With Ninlil, they take their seats at the banquet, and Culgi the shepherd brings along his great food-offerings for them. They pass the day in abundance, they give praise throughout night. They decree a fate, an allotted fate to be pre-eminent forever, for the king who fitted out the holy barge.
71-81. Then light shines up at the edge of the Land as Utu rises refulgently. As the barge is travelling upstream, it ...... radiates (?) and creaks (?). ...... in the Ninmutum, the canal of the year of abundance ....... As the carp make their bellies (?) sparkle, Enlil rejoices. As the mucufish play noisily there, Ninlil rejoices. As the ...... fish ......, Enki rejoices. As the suhurmac fish dart about, Nanna rejoices. The Anuna gods rejoice at ....... ...... lifts its head in the Euphrates; it ....... In the midst of ...... ever-flowing water is carried. In joyous Nibru, he moors the holy barge at the quay.
82-90. With joyful eyes and shining forehead, Ninlil, ......, looks upon King Culgi: "Shepherd ......, Culgi, who has a lasting name, king of jubilation! I will prolong the nights of the crown that was placed upon your head by holy An, and I will extend the days of the holy sceptre that was given to you by Enlil. May the foundation of your throne that was bestowed on you by Enki be firm! Shepherd who brings about perfection, may Nanna, the robust calf, the seed of Enlil, to whom I gave birth, cover your life with ...... which is full of exuberance as if it were my holy bagarment!"
A tigi to Ninurta for Culgi (Culgi T)
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1-16. Lord, perfect warrior, beloved by ....... Ninurta, mec tree with a broad shining canopy, ....... Weapon striding into battle, ...... foreign countries. A dragon with a terrifying face, venomous snake who ...... its venom against the rebel lands. ...... overpowering ......, foremost lion ....... Ninurta, who ...... with the great prince Enki. My king, in your city, shrine Nibru, ....... E-cu-me-ca, where ...... for you. Lord, the kingship is perfect with you ....... Adviser, the dragon of the Land, ....... Ninurta, the great wall of Nibru, ....... My king, whose divine powers cannot be scattered, warrior ....... Forceful lion, ....... King with the broad wisdom of heaven and earth, ....... Exalted sceptre rising above the Land, ....... Ninurta, who ...... the enemy, .......
18-27. Warrior, powerful lord, overpowering ....... Ninurta, terrible storm, powerful fire, ....... Frightening storm, raging against the rebellious lands, ...... lion. Dragon spreading terror, lord without rival ....... King with broad wisdom, neck-stock of gods. ...... given strength ....... ...... trustworthy ......, Culgi ...... 1 line fragmentary You have chosen ...... among your own ...... in your heart. ......, Ninurta, be praised.
29. ......, bestow a long life and prosperous years on Culgi!
31. A tigi (?) of Ninurta.
An adab (?) to Nergal for Culgi (?) (Culgi U)
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unknown no. of lines missing
1-4. Nergal who ......, ...... great awe, who ...... the underworld -- its awesome radiance ...... the battle-net, its awesomeness has filled heaven and earth.
6-12. Hero, wild bull with thick horns, ...... like a cow, your terrifying name lets loose awe and fear. You fall on the rebel lands like the south wind. You are a bolt on the broad extent of the mountains. When you sit in E-meclam, your desires are joyously fulfilled (?). The people assemble at your feet.
14-16. Meclamta-ea, your supremacy in the rebel lands! You have encircled the rebel lands, O youth. Nergal, your supremacy in the rebel lands!
17-20. Your father loves you greatly. He has made your heroism known among the people. Your father Enlil loves you greatly. He has made your heroism known among the people.
21-23. Hero ...... for the people, god roaming the mountains! You have ...... the rebel lands. Nergal ...... for the people, god roaming the mountains!
24-26. Wherever you stride, all their troops suffer. ...... Ancan and Tidnum, Nergal, wherever you stride, all their troops suffer.
28-29. May you prolong the life of the hero Culgi. ...... to his strength, .......
x.unknown no. of lines missing
A dedication of a statue (Culgi V)
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1-6. Enlil, the beaming light, ......, whose utterance is immutable, the most powerful of the Anuna gods, ......, looked (?) favourably (?) at Culgi, the fearsome dragon ......, the king, the creation of his hands. He granted (?) him great strength. His roar fills (?) the whole extent (?) of heaven and earth.
7-12. In the E-kur, the great snake of the deep, ......, in Dur-an-ki, which lavishly ...... the eternal divine powers, ......, Enlil determined a great fate from the womb for the long-enduring sapling of the brickwork founded by the princely one, Culgi, who was born for a prosperous reign: "Make the people obedient, you enduring king of the multitudes!"
13-21. The swift runner, a hurricane -- the strength of his loins is never ending, who emerges victorious from the race among the settlements; the terrifying one, who is furious in his running, the strongest among those selected from the people, ....... When he stretches his arms out, ...... at his sides. Culgi, ...... from the horizon. Because of his being most powerful, in his vigour ....... He, the tireless one, ...... the road. No king ever cared so much for the black-headed people; he established justice on a grand scale.
22-29. On a day that dawned for prosperity, that was destined for rain-clouds, he ran from the Ki-ur of Nibru to the shrine of Urim, the E-temen-ni-guru; and provided the princely bowls of Nanna, set up in the morning dining-hall, with a copious ration. On that day, prosperity was decreed for him. In a violent storm, a whirlwind that broke out, Utu ......; Culgi returned to the lustrous E-kur.
30-35. In order that the heroes for ever praise Culgi's great exaltedness, he made his ...... enduring statue of everlasting fame brilliant like the heavenly stars, and set it up in majesty before the good eyes, filled with generosity (?), of the immutably eminent Father Enlil.
A praise poem of Culgi (Culgi W)
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unknown no. of lines missing
1-12.2 lines fragmentary ...... does not release ....... 1 line fragmentary ...... does not release ....... ...... the wise of the Land daily. 1 line fragmentary ...... made you pay his heavy tribute in full. 1 line fragmentary ...... his flour (?) ....... 2 lines fragmentary
13-24. ...... Culgi, king of Urim. I am ....... My ....... ...... for my father. ...... Lugalbanda ....... I will rejoice ....... 6 lines fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
A praise poem of Culgi (Culgi X)
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1-8. The king sailed to Unug towards the princely divine powers. Sumer and Akkad marvelled at him as he moored the boat at the quay of Kulaba. With a large wild bull of the mountains with uplifted horns, and with a sheep led by the hand of an en priest at his right side, with a dappled kid and a bearded kid clasped to his breast, he entered before Inana in the shrine of E-ana.
9-13. Culgi, the good shepherd, a heart in love, dressed himself in the ba garment and put a hili wig on his head as a crown. Inana looked at him with admiration and spontaneously struck up a song, singing the words:
14-35. "When I have bathed for the king, for the lord, when I have bathed for the shepherd Dumuzid, when I have adorned my flanks (?) with ointment (?), when I have anointed my mouth with balsamic oil (?), when I have painted my eyes with kohl, when he has ...... my hips with his fair hands, when the lord who lies down beside holy Inana, the shepherd Dumuzid, has ...... on his lap, when he has relaxed (?) ...... in my pure (?) arms, when he has intercourse (?) with me ...... like choice beer, when he ruffles my pubic hair for me, when he plays with the hair of my head, when he lays his hands on my holy genitals, when he lies down in the ...... of my sweet womb, 2 lines unclearwhen he treats me tenderly on the bed, then I will too treat my lord tenderly."
36-41. "I will decree a good fate for him! I will treat Culgi, the good shepherd, tenderly! I will decree a good fate for him! I will treat him tenderly in his ......! I will decree the shepherdship of all the lands as his destiny!"
42-48. The lady, the light of heaven, the delight of the black-headed, the youthful woman who excels her mother, who was granted divine powers by her father, Inana, the daughter of Suen, decreed a destiny for Culgi, the son of Ninsumun:
49-73. "In battle I will be the one who goes before you. In combat I will carry your weapon like a personal attendant. In the assembly I will be your advocate. On campaign I will be your encouragement. You are the shepherd chosen by holy ....... You are the king and generous provider of E-ana. You are the pure (?) one of An's Iri-gal. You are worthy of ....... You are one who is entitled to hold high his head on the lofty dais. You are one who is worthy of sitting on the shining throne. Your head is worthy of the brilliant crown. Your body is worthy of the long fleecy garment. You are worthy of being dressed in the royal garb. You are suited to hold the mitum weapon in your arm. You are suited to run fast with the battle-mace. You are suited to hit accurately with the barbed arrows and the bow. You are suited to fasten the throw-stick and the sling to your side. Your hand is worthy of the holy sceptre. Your feet are worthy of the holy shoes. You are a fast runner suited to race on the road. You are worthy to delight yourself on my holy breast like a pure calf. May your love be lasting! An has determined this for you, and may he never alter it! May Enlil, the decreer of fates, never change it!" Thus Inana treated him tenderly.
74-79. He who knows the joyful heart of Ninegala sheared a black kid, bathed a white kid, and tied a wild bull of the mountains by its nose. Then he brought them into the temple E-babbarwhich roars like a noble breed-bull, to the hero Utu in the shrine.
80-102. The hero Utu received him smiling, and decreed a fate for Culgi the good shepherd of Sumer: "King, eloquent and good-looking, mighty hero, born to be a lion, young wild bull standing firm in its vigour, valiant one, unrestrained in his strength, who tramples great mountains underfoot: you have subdued the heroes of the foreign lands, you have trampled upon all the foreign rulers, you have established your name to the ends of the world. Go now in peace to your master Acimbabbar." And so he moored the boat at Enegir, the town built in splendour. ( Culgi speaks:) "Seed placed by the prince in the holy womb, born on the bright mountain, Ninazu, who like a wild bull which lows in its drinking, 8 lines missing or unclear"
103-117. ( Ninazu speaks:) "...... like syrup ...... ghee ....... You, the hero, coming from the rebel land ....... O king, the lord of prayers and supplications has chosen you in his heart; shepherd Culgi, the lord of prayers and supplications has chosen you in his heart. Who can rival (?) a king to whom Enlil has given strength? Who can enter your ......? Who could escape your ......? ....... No one who knows you should desire your strength. If (?) they wished ...... battle with you ......, what could escape your outstretched arms? When you shriek like the Anzud-bird, who could stand before you? When you howl like the storm, the foreign lands and the hills tremble like a reed, a split (?) reed ....... The people in the houses of the foreign lands gaze at your deeds (?), the people of Tidnum joyfully admire them."
118-125. "As if you were Utu, your terror radiates in battle. As if you were Nergal, your battle-mace drools with gore and your spear reaches into the blood of the Land. You are the great door of the city, you are the great wall of the Land. You are a net piled up (?) over heaven and earth, you are a cosmic bond laid for Sumer. May ...... proclaim your glory in abundance! May the words of Enlil, which are so enormous, provide a shelter over your head! May the loving heart, Inana, never abandon you!"
126-131. After Ninazu had pronounced ...... and (?) blessings, Culgi provided a lavish choice of ewes and lambs, he provided a lavish choice of goats and kids, he ...... generously white cows and calves, and then entered with them before Nanna in his E-temen-ni-guru and lifted his head high in the royal chamber, its most suitable hall, in its royal offering place, the holy place.
132-140. His master Acimbabbar looked at him with joy and decreed a fate for Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer: "Hero, lord, mighty one of the foreign lands, the right arm of the Land, you have achieved victory for me, have carried out what I have commanded you. You have reduced to ruins the houses of the rebel land that I have cursed. May you never grow weary of perfecting the divine powers for me every month at the new moon! May your name be as sweet as that of Ezina in the mouth of the Land and in the mouths of all the countries! May holy Ningal, the lady of the shrine, spread out her lap for you, like the wooden frame of a waterskin!" Thus Suen decreed a good fate for him.
141-150. He took his seat on the holy dais in the Egal-mah of Ninegala. He, the Ictaran of Sumer, omniscient from birth, decrees judgments in due order for the Land, and makes decisions in due order for the Land, so that the strong does not abuse (?) the weak, so that the mother speaks tenderly with her child and the child answers truthfully to his father. Under him, Sumer is filled with abundance, Urim is prolonged in splendour, and ...... is established.
151-159. Because the king exulted in his triumph and let his might radiate, because he implemented (?) his heroism perfectly, made the rebellious land bow and made our city, Urim, rise in prosperity; because the king is adorned with a lapis-lazuli crown (?); because the son of Enlil lifts his head high, wearing a wide crown; because he takes counsel with An in his lofty place and is enthroned with Urac on a great dais; because he makes the Land of Sumer and all the foreign lands dance with joy day and night, may Lord Acimbabbar be praised.
A praise poem of Culgi (Culgi Y)
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unknown no. of lines missing
1-6.2 lines fragmentary To make my kingship longlasting, to make abundance conspicuous in my reign, Enki, the lord whose utterances cannot be altered, entered it proudly. He assigned Utu, whose words are pre-eminent, as a constable to me.
7-13. Since Ninlil had given me her joyful blessing in the Land, and had caused me to be heard in the assembly, I, Culgi, the faithful shepherd of Sumer, praised her in the Ja-jic-cua, in her temple where lawsuits are decided justly, in her august temple befitting her ladyship, in her shrine imbued with terrible awesomeness, a place admired by all the foreign countries, within .......
14-21.2 lines fragmentary ...... the Strong Copper ( the name of a minor deity) ....... When at her command I killed in battle the evil people who ...... against me with weapons, I ...... all the great warriors slain by me. I placed my foot on their necks, and exalted my own person on their pedestals.
22-31. I lined up my gold statues and lapis-lazuli statues in the main courtyard of her E-nijara. I filled it with treasures like those of holy Aratta. I despatched oxen and sheep to her great kitchens. I brought the abundant harvest into her imposing bakery. I ...... beer in her brewery, most suited to the bronze vessels. I despatched dark beer, kurun beer, and brown beer, all brewed in its house of the pure strength ( a description referring to the brewery) , to her great dining hall for the evening meals. 1 line fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
A love song of Culgi (Culgi Z)
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Segment A
1-9. "The ...... because of you does not ....... My brother, the ...... because of you does not ....... Lad (?), the ...... because of you does not ....... My beloved, the ...... because of you does not ....... My fairest of countenance, the ...... because of you does not ....... Its date clusters because of you are not placed in my hand. Its sheaves are ...... for me. Its ...... are not sweet for me. Grain ...... the silos (?)."
10-17. "My sister, I would go with you to my fields. My fair sister, I would go with you to my fields. I would go with you to my large fields. I would go with you to my small fields. For my early grain irrigated with its early water, for my late grain irrigated with its late water, ...... its grain ...... sheaves ......."
18-23. "My sister, I would go with you to my fields. My fair sister, I would go with you to my fields. ...... the large fields. ...... in my small fields." 2 lines fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
Segment B
1-9.1 line fragmentary "In the ...... of the ......, it has become fallow (?) ....... In the ...... of the sheaves, the date clusters (?) ....... In the ...... of the ......, it has become fallow (?) ....... In the ...... of the sheaves, the date clusters (?) ....... Farmer, plough the field, set up the ....... ...... of Lord Culgi. For ...... plough the field, set up the ....... He will bring offerings (?) to the ...... for you."
10-19. "My (?) sister, I would go with you to my garden. My fair sister, I would go with you to my garden. My sister, I would go with you to my garden. My sister, ...... my garden, ...... the ildag tree. I would go with you to my ildag tree by the watercourse. My sister, I would go with you to my apple tree. May ...... the apple tree be in my hand. My sister, I would go with you to my pomegranate tree and then ...... there the sweet ...... covered (?) in honey."
20-30. "My sister, I would go with you to my garden. Fair sister, I would go with you to my garden. ...... like the plants of the watercourse. 1 line fragmentary ...... the sprout of a lettuce. I would ...... plant there. I would ...... plant there. In your (?) silo ...... I would ...... for you. 1 line fragmentary Fair sister, luxuriant of heart ....... I would ...... of the date-clusters for you (?)."
A song of Culgi
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1-4. ...... pure from birth ....... ...... in the Land ....... 2 lines fragmentary
5-8. My king went to Eridug. Great prince, Father Enki, rejoice! Culgi went to Eridug. Great prince, Father Enki, rejoice!
9-12. My king went to Nibru. Great Mountain, Father Enlil, rejoice! Culgi went to Nibru. Great Mountain, Father Enlil, rejoice!
13-16. My king went to the E-cu-me-ca. Lord Ninurta, rejoice! Culgi went to the E-cu-me-ca. Lord Ninurta, rejoice!
17-20. My king went to Kec. Ninsumun-zid-gal-ana, rejoice! Culgi went to Kec. Ninsumun-zid-gal-ana, rejoice!
21-24. My king went to Urim. Lord Acimbabbar, rejoice! Culgi went to Urim. Lord Acimbabbar, rejoice!
25-28. My king went to the E-babbar. ...... lapis-lazuli beard, rejoice! Culgi went to the E-babbar. ...... lapis-lazuli beard, rejoice!
29-32. My king went to Kulaba. Ninirigal, rejoice! Culgi went to Kulaba. Ninirigal, rejoice!
33-36. My king went to Zabalam. ...... Inana, rejoice! Culgi went to Zabalam. ...... Inana, rejoice!
A praise poem of Culgi
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Segment A
unknown no. of lines missing
1-4. Let praise be sung for me that ....... Through weapons an enduring ...... has been established for me like a tower, as I ......, as I rise in opposition .......
5-8. When I am radiant in the holy crown like a brilliance that is renewed daily (?), and the majestic sceptre that amasses abundance has been entrusted into my hands, on my firmly founded throne ...... granted as a gift ...... I lift my head high.
9-12. I am Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, and I have always established justice. Like a flood, like onrushing water, I have torn out wickedness as being unclean (?). As much great praise as I have had sung about me -- by the name of Enlil, none is false, and all is true.
13-14. Like a white wild bull ....... 1 line fragmentary
Segment B
unknown no. of lines missing
1-5.1 line fragmentary Let praise be sung that I have ...... the assembly (?). 2 lines fragmentary
6-7. Let praise be sung, that I have gone across the ...... of the Land. Let deserved praise be sung for me, that in every mouth I have put prudence (?), an attractive quality like .......
8-11. Let praise be sung, that I have shown strength in grappling and wrestling. Let deserved praise be sung for me, that I have ...... in the Land, that I have made a return visit to the shrine Nibru and back along the road to Urim, and have marched a distance of 30 dana.
Amar-Suena and Enki's temple (Amar-Suena A)
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Segment A
(The sequence of Segment A (UET 8 33 + U 5307) and Segments B-E (UET 8 32, UET 6/3 487) is far from certain; they may well belong to separate compositions. However, C follows B and E follows D.)
1-8. ...... protective deity ....... Amar-Suena ...... his heart. He who ...... the temple with an axe ....... Amar-Suena ...... the abzu shrine. ...... built with gold, and decorated with lapis lazuli. He applied himself to building the temple; King Amar-Suena applied himself to building the temple. The people turned against the king, and the foreign countries .......
9-25. In the first year the temple remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. Amar-Suena ...... the divine powers of kingship. In the second year it remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. Amar-Suena ...... his royal garments for mourning clothes. In the third year it remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. Amar-Suena could not interpret (?) the temple's ominous sign among (?) the birch trees. In the fourth year it remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. Although he had been advised (?) by a sage, he could not realise the plans of the temple. In the fifth year it remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. The abzu shrine has been ...... by force. In the sixth year it remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. He was searching for the divine plan of the temple, but could not find it. In the seventh year it remained in ruins, and he did not restore it. Enki spoke to him about the temple, the temple that did not exist. In the eighth year, he applied himself to building the temple. By the ninth year, King Amar-Suenabuilt the E-uduna of the wise lord (?) like .......
26-32. Then the lord, the great lord Enki, destroyed (?) the site of his own temple. 2 lines fragmentary Father Enki ...... Eridug ....... ...... his minister ...... 1 line fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
Segment B
(= UET 8 32 obverse)
1-4.1 line fragmentary The guardian (?) of the spacious land ....... As Enki lifted his gaze ....... Having left the temple ...... in the abzu.
5-9. At that time mankind was not ....... Far-reaching wisdom, wise words were not ....... 1 line unclearTo grieve and to do evil was good (?). Amar-Suena ...... to build the temple of Enlil. unknown no. of lines missing
Segment C
(= UET 8 32 reverse)
1-6. Lord ....... When he performed extispicy regarding the building of Enki's temple, the omen did not mention anything about the building of the temple, so he did not start it. To establish a lasting fame for himself, the king ......; to establish a lasting fame for himself, Amar-Suena ....... ...... the temple of Enki ....... unknown no. of lines missing
Segment D
(= UET 6/3 487 obverse; this fragment might belong to the same tablet as UET 8 32, in which case it would preserve the beginning and the end of the tablet)
1-2. Lord, wise prince ...... 1 line fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
Segment E
(= UET 6/3 487 reverse)
1-2. He who ....... King Amar-Suena has not been assigned a fate from (?) it.
A balbale to Bau for Cu-Suen (Cu-Suen A)
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1-6. It was she who gave birth to the holy one, gave birth to the holy one; the queen gave birth to the holy one, Abi-simti ( i.e. Cu-Suen's mother) gave birth to the holy one, the queen gave birth to the holy one -- my cloth beam of the cloth of pleasure, my Abi-simti! My warp beam placed for weaving, my queen Kubatum ( i.e. Cu-Suen's concubine) !
7-12. My one suited to a mane of hair, a wonder to behold, my lord Cu-Suen, my one ...... in words, my son of Culgi -- because I uttered, because I uttered, the lord gave me a gift, because I uttered an exclamation of joy, the lord gave me a gift. The lord gave me as a gift a golden pin, a lapis-lazuli seal. The lord gave me as a gift a golden ring, a silver ring.
13-18. O lord, your gifts are ......, may you cast your eyes on me. O Cu-Suen, your gifts are ......, may you cast your eyes on me. ...... lord ...... lord ....... Like pleasant ....... May your city stretch out its hands to you like a crab (?), my lord Cu-Suen. May it lie down at your feet like a lion-cub, my son of Culgi.
19-27. My ......, the barmaid's beer is sweet. Like her beer her genitals are sweet, her beer is sweet. Like her mouth her genitals are sweet, her beer is sweet. Her diluted beer, her beer is sweet -- my Cu-Suen, who pleased me, who pleased me, who delighted me, my Cu-Suen who pleased me, my Cu-Suen, beloved of Enlil, my king, the god of his Land!
28. It is a balbale of Bau.
A balbale to Inana for Cu-Suen (Cu-Suen B)
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1-4. Man of my heart, my beloved man, your allure is a sweet thing, as sweet as honey. Lad of my heart, my beloved man, your allure is a sweet thing, as sweet as honey.
5-8. You have captivated me (?), of my own free will I shall come to you. Man, let me flee with you -- into the bedroom. You have captivated me (?); of my own free will I shall come to you. Lad, let me flee with you -- into the bedroom.
9-14. Man, let me do the sweetest things to you. My precious sweet, let me bring you honey. In the bedchamber dripping with honey let us enjoy over and over your allure, the sweet thing. Lad, let me do the sweetest things to you. My precious sweet, let me bring you honey.
15-21. Man, you have become attracted to me. Speak to my mother and I will give myself to you; speak to my father and he will make a gift of me. I know where to give physical pleasure to your body -- sleep, man, in our house till morning. I know how to bring heart's delight to your heart -- sleep, lad, in our house till morning.
22-23. Since you have fallen in love with me, lad, if only you would do your sweet thing to me.
24-27. My lord and god, my lord and guardian angel, my Cu-Suen who cheers Enlil's heart, if only you would handle your sweet place, if only you would grasp your place that is sweet as honey.
28-29. Touch me like a cover does a measuring cup. Adorn (?) me like the cover on a cup of wood shavings (?).
30. It is a balbale of Inana.
A balbale to Inana for Cu-Suen (Cu-Suen C)
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1-8. My hair is lettuce, well watered. It is the sprout of a lettuce, well watered. Its tangled coils (?) have been tightened. My nursemaid has ...... them high and made my hair stag-like. She has tightened its tiny hairgrips and brought order to my charms; my charms, my hair, the lettuce, is the fairest of plants.
9-12. The brother has brought me into his life-giving gaze, Cu-Suen, the ...... handsome man, has chosen me. ...... my allure is without end, 1 line fragmentary5 lines missing
18-20. You are our lord, you are our lord, of silver and lapis lazuli, you are our lord. You are our farmer who brings superb grain.
21-22. He is honey to my eyes, he is the charm of my heart. May the light of life shine for him, may Cu-Suen .......
23. It is a balbale of Inana.
A tigi (?) to Ninurta for Cu-Suen (Cu-Suen D)
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1-4. Ancient warrior, greatly respected and forceful, with the strength of a full-grown lion! Ninurta, ...... flood, great lion, fierce opponent in battle! Mighty one, who ...... the enemy peoples, destroyer of cities, who turns the settlements into dust! Ninurta, great wild bull, a battering ram who ...... great walls!
6-14. A flood which frightens the rebel lands, without rival! Ninurta, deathly hush, {...... bolt of lightning (?), ......} {( the other ms. has instead:) imbued with fearsomeness, ......, ...... the enemy}. You have made the name of King Cu-Suen known among the widespread people. When he directs big bulls and big sheep to the main courtyard of your E-cu-me-ca, the holy residence, the Igi-cu-galam in which the fates are determined, may he greet (?) you from its holy royal offering place, may Cu-Suen greet (?) you from there. ...... Ninurta ...... long life ....... ...... long life ...... for Cu-Suen.
16-20.2 lines fragmentary Ninurta, firstborn son of Enlil, ...... fearsomeness. 2 lines fragmentary
22-28.2 lines fragmentary ...... raging ...... horizon ....... Ninurta, the strong one, the august provider, born of Ninlil! ...... deathly hush ...... Cu-Suen who is always at Enlil's service. Ninurta, may you be his great wall, may you look on him favourably; may you be Cu-Suen's great wall, may you look on him favourably.
30. Ninurta, may you be the aid of my Cu-Suen's weapons.
32-43. ...... who moves fast into the heart of the mountains! Ninurta, massive stormwind over the rebel lands, devastating the people! Counsellor, who controls perfectly the divine powers of the E-kur, support of his father! Ninurta, ...... who moves fast into the heart of the mountains! Ninurta, massive stormwind over the rebel lands, devastating the people! Counsellor, who controls perfectly the divine powers of the E-kur, support of his father! My king, the great strength of Enlil, from whose grasp no foreign country can escape! For Cu-Suen ......, given great strength by Father Enlil -- you, Ninurta, will destroy myriads in the battle and the fray. Ninurta, the great strength of Enlil, from whose grasp no foreign country can escape! For Cu-Suen ......, given great strength by Father Enlil -- you, Ninurta, will destroy myriads in the battle and the fray.
44-62. My king, you alone perform the ancient rites, a truly immense task. Ninurta, yellow evening light that casts fear over the Land, like holy Urac, a fearsome dragon brandishing a terrible torch! Ninurta, you alone perform the ancient rites, a truly immense task. Ninurta, yellow evening light that casts fear over the Land, like holy Urac, a fearsome dragon raising a terrible torch! My king, grandiloquent great warrior, confident in his strength! And may you, Cu-Suen, put your trust in him, in Lord Ninurta. May Cu-Suen, the king whom Enlil has appointed for you, be your constable. Ninurta, grandiloquent great warrior, confident in his strength! And may you, Cu-Suen, put your trust in him, in Lord Ninurta. May Cu-Suen, the king whom Enlil has appointed for you, be your constable. ...... of nir stone, ...... holy and fearsome ......, a truly immense task. Like ...... your august strength, he has written your name on it. ...... will be the guardian of his life forever. Cu-Suen! Holy and fearsome, a truly immense task. Like ...... your august strength, he has written your name on it. ...... will be the guardian of his life forever. 1 line missing
An adab to An for Cu-Suen (Cu-Suen E)
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Segment A
unknown no. of lines missing
1. Warrior from birth .......
3-6. Wise Cu-Suen ....... 1 line fragmentary ...... dais ....... ...... the beauty and ornament .......
8-11. An ....... Cu-Suen ....... 2 lines fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
Segment B
1-2.1 line fragmentary Cu-Suen ...... rising .......
5. Jicgijal of the sa-gida.
6-8. As An determined the fates ....... Holy An determined the fates, ...... the shrine Urim ....... Like the sunlight An ...... for Cu-Suen.
10. An adab of An. ( lines 9 and 10 are written as one line in source)
An adab (?) to Suen for Cu-Suen (Cu-Suen F)
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1-6. ...... from the distant radiance, ...... in heaven, 1 line fragmentary Suen, ......, ...... Cu-Suen. Nanna has elevated .......
8-12. The beauty of heaven, the prince of earth, youthful Suen, the immense, the light of heaven and earth, who makes years of prosperity and good ...... last permanently, Nanna, the lord who is born each month, sired my Cu-Suen.
14-18. Mighty one, great power among the great gods, Father Nanna, your judgments are ingenious decisions -- deciding great destinies with Nunamnir, his beloved youth Acimbabbardecides destiny for my Cu-Suen.
20-24. The light which sweetens the night and structures the year, Nanna, the crown of the holy heavens, ...... my Cu-Suen, 2 lines fragmentary
26-36. ...... Nanna is the great lord of heaven and earth. ...... has made manifest ....... ...... is spreading ....... 2 lines fragmentaryapprox. 1 line missing2 lines fragmentary ......, the just crown ...... in heaven, ...... on his head, he has given guidance. My Cu-Suen is the prince of the Land.
38-39. ......, lengthen the days (?) for my Cu-Suen, my Cu-Suen who has grown as high as the heavens.
41-50. The lord, the son of An, ......, ...... with shining horns, renowned Nanna, ......, whose commands ......, the light of the firmament, the light of the earth, whose luminosity speeds to the people, Lord Acimbabbar, a viper made visible, the youth Suen whose holy countenance approaches the earth, Nanna -- just as he appears elevated (?) in heaven and above earth, so he has elevated Cu-Suen over the Land.
51-62. ...... imbued with awesomeness, a dragon for the heavens, ...... imbued with awesomeness, ...... in the heavens, ......, the prince who trusts in you, my Cu-Suen, ...... has embraced ....... ...... all the lands in their vastness, ...... the sceptre of distant days. The people of the rebel lands, ...... all of them ......, have entrusted ...... to Cu-Suen for the beneficent princely son of Enlil. My king ......, Cu-Suen ...... in celebration!
64. ...... my Cu-Suen days of life.
66-68. May (?) the lord of heaven, the well-disposed one, ...... the earth, youthful Suen, the lord of heaven, ......, ...... Cu-Suen.
A praise poem of Cu-Suen (Cu-Suen I)
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1. King Cu-Suen, forceful lord, unknown no. of lines missing
A hymn for Cu-Suen
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1-10. God of prosperity born to An and gazed upon by Urac -- Cu-Suen, like Nanna expert in judgment, ...... before Enlil, from your birth you were a man of might whose name was proclaimed by Nanna! Cu-Suen, heroic son of An, beloved of Enlil, head held high in the lapis-lazuli E-kur, given birth by Urac, chosen by the heart of Urac, you have been elevated over all the lands. Ornament and august servant of Enlil -- whose sceptre has reached far, who alone has Enlil's ear! Endowed with majestic strength, creation of lustrous An, favourite of Ninlil -- Cu-Suen, provider who radiates beauty, ......!
12. Cu-Suen ...... a life of distant days.
14-21. ...... of Enlil ......, ...... Cu-Suen ......, head held high ......, wearing a long lustrous beard, ...... like Utu over all the lands, authoritative Cu-Suen, ...... the shrine that brings forth the divine powers, fearsome storm, ...... radiance of the Land ...... for greatness; who bears light, ...... rays of heaven; majestic strength of Enlil, who alone is the lord of abundance -- Cu-Suen, great lion among sovereigns!
23-29. You are the mighty one of Father Enlil, the lord who determines destinies! Like Utu, you are an ornament to Ninlil of the majestic shrine, and to fair Lord Enki who determines destinies, the father of broad understanding! Wise Enlil has justly ...... to the one he has scrutinised. My king, the gods who determine destinies ...... in the place that soothes the spirit. Cu-Suen, ...... to pronounce judgments and render verdicts. My king, ...... outstretched arms.
31. The great lord Cu-Suen ...... years of abundance.
33-42. Head held high, fit for the royal crown, son of Ninsumun, mighty and forceful among the Anuna gods ....... Cu-Suen! Holy Inana made manifest ....... Enlil has given to you as your helper the beloved heart whose beauty is unending, the good woman ...... -- you have embraced her. Strong one given majestic strength by the Great Mountain, ...... from his power; hero excelling all lords and sovereigns, who is their great lion -- Cu-Suen, gracious figure, shining crown, holy breast wondrous to behold, hero born for godhood, ornament of kingship, ...... in heaven and on earth, strong as far as the borders of the Land!
44-48. I shall praise ....... ...... of Ninlil is indeed the ...... mistress! Like Utu, ...... has filled the broad Land ....... ......, Cu-Suen, your provider (?) is distant. 1 line fragmentary
A tigi to Suen for Ibbi-Suen (Ibbi-Suen A)
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1-12. Lord whose divine powers cannot be dispersed, who emits an awe-inspiring radiance, great crown! Youthful Suen, light elevated by Enlil to shine forth in the firmament, wide-spreading majestic light, floating over the deep (?), born of Ninlil, god whose appearance is ......, ...... in the assembly of the lands! The moonlight ......, my Ibbi-Suen, ....... His princely divine powers embrace the heavens; his ...... is splendid, reaching the earth. Acimbabbar ......, my Ibbi-Suen, to be canal inspector in the Land among the widespread people. Nanna has made the righteous crown shine forth radiantly. Acimbabbar has ...... you the sceptre ....... My Ibbi-Suen, among the widespread people .......
13-22. In the corners of heaven and earth, in the beautiful land ...... beneath his feet, Nannahas ...... his divine powers in all lands; he has ...... widely in heaven and earth. An ...... Acimbabbar ....... Nanna has ...... him in his youthfulness; he has ...... the divine powers of his lifetime forever. May he ...... my Ibbi-Suen. Nanna's command is a great ...... which cannot be dispersed. Ibbi-Suen has grasped his august hand; he has acted truthfully for him, and so is named with a good name.
24-36. Urim is the city of youthful Suen's princely divine powers. Let them give praise in a great song to An, to Enlil, to the eldest brother Nudimmud and to Mother Nintur of the Land. The shrine Urim is the city of youthful Suen's princely divine powers. Let them give praise in a great song to An, to Enlil, to the eldest brother Nudimmud and to Mother Nintur of the Land. The Anuna gods ....... Enki ...... 3 lines fragmentary ...... assembly where ....... ...... festival (?) .......
A cir-namgala to Meclamta-ea and Lugal-era for Ibbi-Suen (Ibbi-Suen B)
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Segment A
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1-4.2 lines fragmentary ...... encouragement, your heart ....... Meclamta-ea, faraway .......
6. You of august power, my prince Ibbi-Suen!
8-13. You are superlative, my master, you are superlative! Your power reaches to the outer limits of heaven. Lord Lugal-era, you are superlative, your power reaches to the outer limits of heaven. Your divine powers are artfully fashioned divine powers, incomparable divine powers! Sea with high waves, you are imbued with terrible fearsomeness! Mighty god who dwells in the Land, your great awesomeness covers heaven and earth!
15-16. I will praise your greatness! You are superlative, my master, you are superlative! Your power reaches to the outer limits of heaven.
18-31. Trustworthy warrior, I will praise you! Lord Lugal-era, I will praise you! You are the great and august neck-stock of the gods, you are a great awesomeness resting heavily upon the Land, a heavy flood-wave covering the foreign land. Your river is a mighty river, the river which determines destinies, an august river where the sun rises, which nobody can bear to look upon. Great barge riding on the flood waters, Lord Lugal-era: when you set foot in the place where all mankind is gathered, the princes of the underworld bow down before you; in the abyss you emit a bright light to them. ...... has been placed in your hands. Lord Lugal-era, your greatness extends to the outer limits of heaven.
33. You of august power, my prince Ibbi-Suen!
35-43. My king, let me tell of your greatness! Lord Lugal-era, I will praise your greatness! You are august, you alone are august! Mighty god surpassing all the gods, elevated king reaching up to the heavens, mighty god, trustworthy lord by himself, River of the Ordeal, heart of the gods, decision-making lord who hates evil, who like Suen loves justice.
44-61. They are the lords for whom An and Enlil have determined their destiny. When everything had been brought into existence in heaven and earth, their destiny greatly ....... Enlil granted ....... ...... of the princes, my Ibbi-Suen! ...... is great, a great wall which ...... the foreign lands. Perfecting the great divine powers, he, the son of Enlil, ...... the wicked like Lugal-era. In his august power Meclamta-ea greatly, in his august power he greatly ....... When he opens his mouth ......, eradicating the foreign lands, ...... he heaps up the enemies in piles. In his august power Lord Lugal-era greatly, in his august power he greatly ......, ...... a favourable sign. They are kings ....... They are ...... sparing ...... 1 line fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
Segment B
1-13. They are great warriors: their greatness is like the empty desert wastes. They are both the lords of the River, the River of the Ordeal which clears the just man. They weigh upon the evil man like a neck-stock. In Kisiga, their very anciently founded city, the trustworthy does not get caught, but the evil cannot pass through. They are a source of comfort to the hearts of Anand Enlil, they are a source of relaxation ....... They are ...... the great place ....... The place for which An and Enlil have determined its destiny ......, its divine powers are holy ...... 2 lines fragmentaryunknown no. of lines missing
Segment C
1-6. Its divine powers ....... The seven divine powers, ...... grandly established, adorned with the divine powers by the prince in the abzu, the prince ...... adorned ....... The warrior qualities of Meclamta-ea and Lord Lugal-era ...... in the foreign lands; their greatness shines forth to the outer limits of heaven and earth, to the outer limits of heaven and earth.
8. You of august power, my prince Ibbi-Suen!
10-11. Their power is a storm which could eradicate the Land. Meclamta-ea and Lord Lugal-era, it is sweet to praise you!
13. A cir-namgala of Meclamta-ea and Lugal-era.
An adab to Suen for Ibbi-Suen (Ibbi-Suen C)
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1-15. ...... of heaven and earth, renewing his light, ...... just prince who comes forth, Suen, whom the Great Mountain engendered to be a princely lord, 1 line fragmentary He is forceful, he is the king of heaven and earth! Lord Acimbabbar, renewing his light! Suen, renewing his light! ......, renewing his light! The god of light, renewing his light! He is forceful, he is the king of heaven and earth! He ...... in the pure sky, he shines forth towards the earth. On the basis of the decisions of great An, he gives important advice. He brings forth all the divine powers, to keep ...... in good order. Youth elevated to be prince, my Ibbi-Suen! He calls him to a long and prosperous reign.
16-40. Lord Acimbabbar shines forth towards the earth. On the basis of the decisions of great An, he gives important advice. He brings forth all the divine powers, to keep ...... in good order. Youth elevated to be prince, my Ibbi-Suen, whom he calls to a long prosperous reign! He comes forth majestically as far as the highlands and the outer limits of the mountains; their holy divine powers are pure, and he has perfected the divine plans. He directs his far-seeing gaze over everything in all its complexity. He has a perfect crown and divine powers of eternal days; his command cannot be overthrown. He prolongs the life of my Ibbi-Suen. Lord Acimbabbar comes forth majestically. Their holy divine powers are pure, and he has perfected the divine plans. He directs his far-seeing gaze over everything in all its complexity. He has a perfect crown and divine powers of eternal days; his command cannot be overthrown. He prolongs the life of my Ibbi-Suen. The lord, the light of heaven and earth, ....... He is the ornament of the heights (?) of the firmament. 1 line unclearHe has ...... all its divine powers ....... My Ibbi-Suen ....... Lord Acimbabbar is its crown ....... ...... of the heights (?) of the firmament. 1 line unclear...... all its divine powers ...... My Ibbi-Suen .......
42-61. An ...... favourable day ...... holy ....... He has a righteous crown, long-lasting divine powers and a royal sceptre. Enlil has decreed lordship for his beloved one, as his destiny, and has created with magnificent grandeur the qualities of a warrior. Enki, renewing abundance and days of splendour, ...... the Tigris and Euphrates in their wide flooding. Nintur, who causes human seed to propagate and brings living beings into existence, ...... cities and crowded places, all the numerous people together. Nanna, the ...... light, confirming the divine plans, new moon of eternal fame, light which goes towards the earth, has given authority (?) to my Ibbi-Suen, foremost among princes, over the south and the uplands as far as the outer limits of heaven and earth. Utu has produced justice and propriety for Ibbi-Suen the augustly powerful, strong among warriors, unsurpassed in his youthfulness, overthrowing the enemy lands, finding the right decisions and giving advice to the people. The good lady Ninirigal, mother of Kulaba, ...... prayer and supplication ......, ...... lady with an august name ....... ...... long life.
63-64. ...... youthful Suen, has bestowed ...... on him, the king of heaven.
66-69. ...... is indeed the light of the lofty (?) ......; ...... is indeed the light of the firmament. ...... a long reign and years of abundance ...... and will prolong your life, my Ibbi-Suen.
71. An adab of Suen. ( lines 70 and 71 are written as one line in source)
An ululumama to Suen for Ibbi-Suen (Ibbi-Suen D)
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Segment A
1-8. Great lord, light holding his head high in the vault of the sky, ...... brilliance, Suen, powerful dragon from the high mountains shedding light on the people, light of the remote heavens, crown ......, joy of the father who begot him! Impressive son born of Ninlil, respected in the E-kur, visible even at noontime, youthful Suen, ...... light of heaven, whose majestic radiance is visible even at noontime, light who illuminates the black-headed people, Father Nanna, emerging from the remote (?) ......, understanding well how to make the night pleasant! Respected prince who, when he appears, is the glorious radiance of the heavens!
9-16. At the foundations of heaven and earth, Father Nanna appears in the night time over Urim, the city that is the cosmic bond for Sumer, whose divine powers can never be altered. He has called the name, he has filled the heart with joy, my Ibbi-Suen! At the shrine Nibru, whose interior is a mountain of abundance, the dwelling-place of the Ki-ur, he spreads his majestic light from above over the land in princely style, in the august courtyard, the unceasing ...... of its majestic light determining great destinies. Suen offers a prayer in the Ubcu-unkenato the father who begot him, the great ...... of heaven and earth, Lord Nunamnir:
17-20. "Canal inspector, prince on the dais, prince with life-giving divine powers! There shall be no end to the butter and the milk of the cow in the cattle-pen -- the shrine Urim, which you have chosen in your heart, the august royal dwelling-place, the encouragement of the Land! It shall have an abundance of butter, fish, birds, births, copper and gold!"
21-32. The divine powers of the city which was responsible for the emergence of human seed cannot be altered, my Ibbi-Suen! He has made its kingship shine forth; he prolongs life! He has strengthened for you the foundations of its great dais, and has made you take your seat proudly upon it. He has made the divine powers of its kingship come forth; great power emerges from there. Those august commands cannot ever be changed, my Ibbi-Suen! You, Acimbabbar, have caused respect for the king to shine forth throughout the whole of heaven and earth. For Nanna ...... the just man chosen in the holy heart, my Ibbi-Suen, ...... august ...... shine forth like a god. Suen ...... his command ...... the E-kur; An and Enlil, who determine the destiny of the land, the Great Mountain Enlil ...... 1 line unclearapprox. 7 lines missing
Segment B
1-15. The destiny which has been determined ....... Acimbabbar ....... He has made the divine powers of kingship ...... shine forth ...... with head high ......, Nanna-Suen ......, the noble manifest lord ...... in heaven and earth, source of trust, son of Ninlil, ornament of ......, Nanna, lord with a holy mouth (?) and with an august name, encouragement of the Land! Prince endowed with charm, chosen in my holy heart, my Ibbi-Suen! Among the numerous people his name reaches far abroad, ...... the decision of the Land. You know well how to benefit the reign and to increase abundance; direct your attention to the great storehouses! Father Nanna, ...... is given to the one you have chosen in your heart, you noble lord who ...... the good seed, impressive with your divine powers, making ...... decisions together with Enlil, unique bull, manifest lord! Praise be to Suen!
16. An ululumama of Suen.
A hymn to Suen for Ibbi-Suen (Ibbi-Suen E)
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1-9. Your divine powers ......, Father Nanna, ......, ...... chose from the people ....... Youthful Suen, your holy shrine ....... An, you ...... your good crown and headdress on your head. When you take your seat on the great august dais ....... When you open your holy mouth, ...... the great ...... and the divine powers. ...... the royal crown, the holy headdress and the diadem, gathering together the throne and the divine powers, on the dais with head high .......
10-19. Mighty (?) one of the dais, ...... good seed ......, my Ibbi-Suen, ...... from holy An, lord who sanctifies the divine powers, who purifies the divine powers, who makes brilliant the purification rites, ......, with shining horns, the light of heaven, youthful Suen ......, great ......, ....... Wide-armed Nibru, ...... in his holy heart by Nanna, beneficent prince over the full extent of heaven and earth, ...... moonlight ......, manifest bull, as august as Enlil, ...... 2 lines brokenunknown no. of lines missing
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