The Letters II

Letter from Sin-illat to Iddin-Dagan about confronting the Martu

1-3. Speak to my lord: this is what Sin-illat the general, your servant, says: 4-7. When I moved opposite Kakkulatum, the Martu rose up from their ambush with their weapons (?). When I ......, I captured 70 (?) ...... and brought them into Kakkulatum. 8-11. If my lord arranges for the troops to encamp, let him have them take their tied-up leather sacks. If my lord arranges for the troops not to encamp, {then let them stay put} {(2 mss. have instead:) then let them go}. {May my lord know} {(1 ms. has instead:) This is urgent}! Letter from Iddin-Dagan to Sin-illat about the troops 1-2. Speak to Sin-illat the general: this is what Iddin-Dagan, your lord, says: 3-9. My expeditionary force is able to cross to both banks of the river, inspiring awe and creating a blockade. When you moved opposite Kakkulatum, the protective goddess andDagan and ...... and Enlil, king of the Land, ...... the soldiers. My splendour covers the Land. And as for you, your heroism and strength ....... 1 line fragmentary Kingship (?) ....... 10-19. The troops ....... ...... heavy (?) work (?). You (?) should ...... the recruits (?) of the ...... men who are mounting guard. They should check on your behalf ...... all those entering and leaving. My lord, ....... When you ...... by your treacherous ....... {Do not cut back (?) your troops} {(1 ms. has instead:) their troops ......}. Come quickly! It is urgent! Letter from Nanna-ki-aj to Lipit-Ectar about Gungunum's troops 1-3. Speak to my lord: this is what Nanna-ki-aj the general, your servant, says: 4-6. E-danna has turned against my lord. Atta-mannum has made six hundred troops ofGungunum enter into E-danna. 7-11. I would not allow these troops to enter old Iri-saj-ana. They camped instead in Iri-gibil. {These troops} {(1 ms. has instead:) The troops of Gungunum} have come from the banks of the Id-Amar-Suena watercourse, in order to build ......, to make Dunnum ready (?) and to ....... 12-17. If my lord does not ...... crews of highlanders, bows, arrows, small boats, fishermen ......, their tied-up leather sacks, weapons, ...... and implements, the armaments of battle, then the troops will construct brick structures by the bank of the Id-Amar-Suena watercourse, ...... and dig a ...... canal. 18-19. They should not be neglectful, my lord! It is urgent! Letter from Lipit-Ectar to Nanna-ki-aj about driving away the enemy 1-3. Say to Nanna-ki-aj, the general: this is what Lipit-Ectar, your lord, says: 4-7. Because of {enemy troops} {(1 ms. has instead:) the enemy}, {I, the king, have sent you a letter} {(1 ms. has instead:) I have sent a letter}. Atta-mannum, who pleases his lord, is (?) a better {servant to his lord} {(1 ms. has instead:) man} than you! Why is it that {you have not been avenging your lord, and not keeping me informed} {(1 ms. has instead:) while I (?) have kept the soldiers loyal (?), you have not stationed them among those people}? {(1 ms. adds:) So now you are to station the troops there.} 8-10. Now, {I have sent to you in haste} {(1 ms. has instead:) they have pursued (?)} {2000} {(1 ms. has instead:) 4000} {(1 other ms. has instead:) 3000} soldiers {who are spear-throwers} {( 1 ms. has instead:) who are ...... spear-throwers}, {2000} {(1 ms. has instead:) 4000} soldiers {who are archers} {(1 ms. has instead:) who are ...... archers}, and {2000} {(1 ms. has instead:) 1000} soldiers {who are double-axe wielders} {(1 ms. has instead:) who are ...... double-axe wielders}. 11-17. The enemy has camped down in Iri-gibil. Chase them away from those settlements; do not ....... Guard (?) each city ....... Do not let these cities out of your grasp. Station your people -- it is urgent! Letter from Sin-iddinam to the god Utu 1-5. Say to Utu my lord, the exalted judge of heaven and earth, who cares for the Land, who renders verdicts; just god, who loves to keep man alive, who heeds entreaty, who extends mercy, who knows ...... compassion, who loves justice, who selects honesty, ......: 6-11. Repeat to the bearded one, the son of Ningal, ...... a lapis-lazuli beard, {who opens the bolts of heaven and earth} {(1 ms. has instead:) who opens the bolts}, who creates brightness in darkness; foremost lord who alone is resplendent, whose greatness is unequalled; warrior, son given birth by Ningal, who guards and gathers together the divine powers; just god, prince who determines all the fates, my lord, father of the black-headed: this is what Sin-iddinam, king of Larsam, your servant, says: 12-20. Distress has been caused in your city Larsam, which you have chosen in your heart. The broad squares where days have been passed in merriment {have been reduced to} {(1 ms. has instead:) are left (?) in} silence. Your commendable troops who were assembled have been annihilated (?) like reeds from a reed fence splitting apart. Your young men have been harvested like barley at the due time; they have been picked and have been plucked like ripened fruit (?). The people have been smashed like terracotta figurines; they (?) have perished all together. An evil storm took away the little ones from the laps (?) of their mothers. The people ......; their appearance has been (?) changed. Overwhelming troops have been set loose, ...... the Land ...... like flour. O youthful Utu, like an enemy you stand aside from your city Larsam. 21-29. The mountain land of Elam where there are no dead in great numbers (?) like ......, andSubir, a heavy cloud, which knows no reverence even towards the gods -- these districts have not been weakened; their time has not yet come. {The Cimackian does not elect nugig or lukurpriestesses for the places of the gods} {(1 ms. has instead:) The Cimackian knows neither his god nor those elected nugig and lukur priestesses} {(1 other ms. has instead:) The Cimackian...... neither the nugig nor the nubar priestesses for the places of the gods}. His soldiers are numerous like grass; his seed {is widespread} {(1 ms. has instead:) is indeed exalted}. He who lives in tents, who does not know of the places of the gods: like a wild beast which mounts, he knows nothing of {eca flour nor prayers} {(1 ms. has instead:) flour and the offering of prayers}. The evil namtar demon and the distressing asag demon {have not carried him off (?)} {(1 ms. has instead:) do not approach him}. Who ...... a divine oath is committing sacrilege, yet his troops are in good health. 30-33. {For seven years, in my city there has been no battle and combat, and death (?) has not been imminent (?)} {(1 ms. has instead:) For five years, in my city we have not been extinguished (?) by battle, not oppressed by death}. In the open country the lion {does not diminish} {(1 ms. has instead:) ......} devouring men. I am {treated} {(1 ms. has instead:) I have been bound (?)} like one who does not know how to entreat a god fervently. I serve the great gods daily with prayers, and my fervent entreaties are sublime. 34-44. O youthful Utu, for that reason look favourably upon your city Larsam! Say "Alas!" for your city! Say "Alas for the sanctuary!" ......! Extend sympathetic compassion to Larsam! Take heed of the causes of distress, and make ...... leave ...... Larsam! Remove ...... and distress from {its midst (?)} {(1 ms. has instead:) within Larsam}! ...... the frightful (?) ...... in Larsam, so that ...... may escape the clutches of death. ...... may its seed be great! May ...... sing your praise! 45-46. And as for me, for my reverence give me life! Bestow on me long life as a gift!