A Sumerian Reader (Studia Pohl) - 2nd edition

STUDIA POHL: SERIES MAIOR DISSERTATIONES SCIENTIFICAE DE REBUS ORIENTIS ANTIQUI

18

KONRAD VOLK,, - -. with the collaboration of

Silvano Votto and Annette Zgoll

Second, revised edition

E PONTIFICIO INSTITUTO BIBLICO ROMAE

EDITRICE PONTIFICIO ISTITUTO BIBLICO ROMA 1999

The Pontifical Biblical Institute dedicates this series to the memory of P. Alfred Pohl, founder of its Faculty of Ancient Near Eastern Studies. Studia Pohl reproduces in offset studies on Ancient Near Eastern history and philology, and is intended particularly to benefit younger scholars who wish to present the results of their doctoral studies to a wider pbblic.

To the memory of

Johannes Jacobus Adrianus van Dijk (28.1.1915

- 14.5.1996)

and

Hermann Behrens SCJ (15.7.1944

ISBN 88-7653-610-8

@ 1999 EDITRICE PONTIFICIO ISTITUTO BIBLICO Piazza della Pilotta 35 - 00187 Roma, Italia

- 2.8.1996)

CONTENTS

............................................... IX Bibliographic Abbreviations ............................. XI List of Texts .......................................... XVI Texts 1-44 ............................................ 1 SignList ............................................. 43 List of Phonetic Values ................................. 75

Preface

Glossary

.............................. 78 Divine Names ................................... 100 Personal Names ................................. 104 Place Names .................................... 107 Sacred Buildings ................................. 110 Year Dates ...................................... 113 Year Names ..................................... 113 Festivals ........................................ 113 General Vocabulary

PREFACE This SUMERIAN READER contains 44 texts of varying contents: royal

I

Neo-Assyrian so that the student can learn the Neo-Assyrian forms which are of basic importance for the use of the sign list in this book and, in general, for most assyriological sign lists. Each inscription is to be studied with the help of the sign list, the list of phonetic values, and the glossaries. In this SUMERIAN READER I have intentionally not dealt with questions of grammar. Instead, the reader is referred to two rather recent publications on the subject: M.-L. Thornsen, The Sumerian Language. An Introduction to its History and Grammatical Structure. Mesopotamia 10. Copenhagen Studies in Assyriology (Copenhagen 1984), and P. Attinger, ~le'mentsde linguistique sume'rienne. La construction de dull/e/di (Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis, Sonderband; Fribourg/Gottingen 1993). For a general introduction to Sumerology, W.H.Ph. Romer,

zusammengestellt, teilweise transkribiert, in neuassyrische Zeichenf ormen iibertragen und mit Glossar und Zeichenliste versehen" (Eschbach 1978) that I wrote when I was a young

student of Assyriology at Freiburg i. Br. It soon proved to be a very useful and requested tool for many beginning students of Sumerian. Over the years a good number of both teachers and students who used my "Sumerische Chrestomathie" gave me their personal notes, corrections and improvements, for which I am very grateful. I want to thank the following persons for such help: J. Keetman, B. Kienast, G.J. Selz and H. Steible,

Lambert, Birmingham; W.R. Mayer, Rome. When I was already about to forget my first 'printed' effort in Assyriology that I issued privately as the demand arose, Fr. W.R. Mayer SJ of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome suggested that I produce an English version of this book and publish it as a volume in the Pontifical Biblical Institute's Series Studia Pohl. Then my friend and colleague from my Roman days, Fr. Silvano Votto SJ, not only translated the whole manuscript into English but also made a considerable number of improvements. To him I owe very special thanks for his invaluable contributions to this book, now called A SUMERIAN READER.' During the final stage of preparing this SUMERIAN READER, Annette Zgoll [Ganter] (Munich) was kind enough to type most of the glossaries on the computer and also to make a number of useful suggestions.

I

St. Peter 1997 / Tiibingen 1999

Konrad Volk

I

I

BIBLIOGRAPHIC ABBREVIATIONS With some exceptions and additions, bibliographic abbreviations follow the standard abbreviations in the Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (Chicago/Gluckstadt, 1956ff.), W. von Soden, Akkadisches Handworterbuch (Wiesbaden 1958-81), and The Sumerian Dictionary of the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania, edited by A.w. Sjoberg (Philadelphia 1984ff.). ABZ

AcOr AEM I/ 1 AfO AnOr AOAT

AoF AoN AS ASJ AulOr AWL BaF BaM BCSMS BFE

BiOr BSA CAD CIRPL

R. Borger, Assyrisch-babylonische Zeichenliste (KevelaerINeukirchen-Vluyn 1978 [AOAT 331; Ergi4nzungsband [AOAT 33Al; 1981) Acta Orientalia (Copenhagen 1922ff.) J.-M. Durand, Archives 6pistolaires de Mari 111 (Paris 1988) Archiv fur Orientforschung, vols. 3ff. [vols. 1-2 = AfK] (Berlin, Graz and Horn 1926ff .) Analecta Orientalia (Rome 193Iff.) Alter Orient und Altes Testament. Veroffentlichungen zur Kultur und Geschichte des Alten Orients und des Alten Testaments (Kevelaer/Neukirchen-Vluyn 1969ff.) Altorientalische Forschungen (Berlin 1974ff.) J. Bauer, Altorientalistische Notizen (Wurzburg 1976ff.) Assyriological Studies (Chicago 193Iff.) Acta Sumerologica Japonica (Hiroshima 1979ff.) Aula Orientalis (Sabadell [Barcelona] 1983ff.) J. Bauer, Altsumerische Wirtschaftstexte aus LagaS (Rome 1972) Baghdader Forschungen (Mainz 1979ff.) Baghdader Mitteilungen (Berlin 1960ff.) Bulletin of the Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies (Toronto 1981ff.) M. Krebemik, Die Beschwomngen aus Fara und Ebla. Untersuchungen zur altesten keilschriftlichen Beschwomngsliteratur (Hildesheim / Ziirich / New York 1984) Bibliotheca Orientalis (Leiden 1943ff.) Bulletin on Sumerian Agriculture (Cambridge [U.K.] 1984ff.) The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (Chicago/Gliickstadt, 1956ff.) E. Sollberger, Corpus des inscriptions 'royales' prdsargoniques de LagaS (Genbve 1956)

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Bibliographic Abbreviations

Bibliographic Abbreviations

clergt? CM CRRA

CT Cultic Calendars DC

ELS ~ ~ i t h b troyales es Familiengriindung

FAOS FI

Fossey FT Gazetteer

D. Charpin, Le clergt?d'Ur au sikle d'Hammurabi (XIXe-XVIIIe sibcles av. J.-C.) (Genbve I Paris 1986) Cuneiform Monographs (Groningen 1992ff.) Compte rendu de la ... Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale. 19: P. Garelli (ed.), Le palais et la royautb (ArchCologie et Civilisation; Paris 1974) Cuneiform Texts from Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum (London 1896ff.) M.E. Cohen, The Cultic Calendars of the Ancient Near East (Bethesda [MD] 1993) Dkouvertes en Chald6e par E. de Sarzec, ouvrage accompagne de planches, publid par les soins de L. Heuzey, avec le concours de A. Amiaud et F. Thureau-Dangin pour la partie Cpigraphique. Premier volume: texte (Paris 1884-1912): Second volume: Partie Bpigraphique et planches (Paris 1884-1912) M.V. Nikolskij, Dokumenty chozjajstvemoj otEetnosti drevnejSej epochi Chaldei iz sobranija N.P. LichaEeva. Drevnosti Vostoc'nyja Trudy VostoEnoj Komissii Imperatorskago Moskovskago ArcheologiEeskago ObSCestva 3/II (St. Petersburg 1908) P. Attinger, ~lkrnentsde linguistique sumbrienne. La construction de dull/e/di 331

16

* J?P

330

gig1

141

FA%

142

urin

gel

143

Gri i

W3a

5

331

nanna

143c

331

zh 322

%iZ ~~~ g#@R* +dl&

rn 144

Sign List

64

Sign List

"

4Q93?sq

babbar bar6

u4 ud

381

utu 381

bebba~

+8

170

a$17oa

dadag I 7ob

lama 381

170c

d 381 381 373

166 mug

374

375 te temen

376 unu6 376

oVV 376*

m

Yr 169 fld 169a

kar

~rn

8k$m@

buranun

r E 170e m

@ 384

+* qw

392

'% 393

Q

394

169b

0 396

q*

%

168

Q%@*

zimbir

170f

383

FHR

4'w170a

381

167 tir

$-@

OQ

ra

171

fl 172

69 &in

nmue

Qvr

173

B

174

(nam-)6rin esag, ( ~ 2 5(qaritum) ~ )

eS (= eS5; SalaS) bS (bitum) el5 (SalaS) ezem/n (isinnum)

e (qabiim [marc])

to say; see dul l(-g) house; temple (see the names in Sacred Buildings); plot of land 6-gal (ekallum) palace 6-mi women's residence (see K. Maekawa, Mesopotamia 819 [1973-1974177ff.) b [hamtu; marc: b(-d)] (wqiim G, 5) to (let) go out; to come out; to lead out; to bring out; to appear (as a witness) (pa--)b see pa--R to bring down; to fetch el l(-d) (waradum 5) d e n (edinu; $drum) steppe; plain (gd-)den-(na) see gd-R-na en 1. (enum) a kind of priest; a partner in the sacred marriage 2. (belum) lord (ki-)en-(gi(-r)) see ki-R-gi(-r) en-nu-ug5 (massarturn) guard; watchpost (the reading en-nu-ug5 (not 1-ug& is confirmed by MSL XII, 101:167; 116: 14 contrary to J. Krecher, Studies MatouH II,37) (sag-)bn-(tar) see sag-R-tar engar (ikkarum) farmer engar-gu4-ra farmer (and) oxherd (see H. Steible, FAOS 912, 54f .) 6nsi (SSiakkum) city ruler Bnsi-gal a kind of priest(?) gis)eren (erenum) cedar(wood)

white cedar(wood) see nam-R see nam-R--la5(-d? see nam-R = alesag, see J. Krecher, storeroom; for E ~ S E Studies MatouS II,36; A. Sjoberg, ZA 83 (1993) 15f. diorite (as in (all?) of Gudea's statues); olivinegabbro (see W. Heimpel, RA 76 [I9821 65ff; ZA 77 [I9871 48f.) three (36:4) sanctuary (see CAD B, 282, lexical section) three festival; feast. The reading ezemln is conventional; for /izim/ or Iizinl in OB and preOB sources, see A. Sjiiberg, ZA 83 (1993) 15; P. Steinkeller, Studies Hallo, 245. For particulars about the festivals that appear in texts 41-44, see the information in Festivals

6 (bitum)

ga (Sizbum) gd-la--dag (naparkiim) *@-~m-dulo(-g) gd-gl%-Sub-ba (nalbanum) (na-)gada gisgag-si-sd (Siltahurn) gal 1. (rabiim) gal-zu (miidiim) (6-)gal (6nsi-)gal gdl--taka4(petcm) (igi-(x-))Ed1 (nir-)gd (zi-)gd-(la)

milk (see M. Stol, R1A 8, 189ff.) to stop working see Divine Names brick making shed (see D.A. Foxvog, N.A.B.U. 199817) see na-R arrow big; mighty; great chief (34 vi 4) wise; intelligent see 6-R see 6nsi-R to open see igi-(x-)R see nir-R see zi-R-la see giri17-Su--R see gd-gig--R see zi-SB-R female sexual organs; vulva (/-la/ in gal4-la /*galla/ is a phonetic complement)

84 gala (kaMm)

galga (milkum) gan (wdlittum) (mA->gan GANA2 (eqlum) ganun (gan~num) gar (Sakanum) (giSdcr-)gar (igi--)gar (NE.NE-)gar (s8-)gar (dam-)ghr gen (aldkum [bmtu, singular]) g6S (S=i) g6S-u (neru) geStin (karanum) g6Stu(-g) / g&Stu(-g) 1. (uznum) 2. (basisurn) gi (apum; qaniim) gi-gii-na (giguniim) gi-gunu4 gi (-n N gi-in) (ktinum G, D) (ki-en-)gi(-r) gi4 (ttirum G, D) (ki-bi--)gi4-(gi4) (Su--)gi4 gi6(-g) (?almum) (kas-)gi6 gi6-par4(gipa(r)ru) (ama-ar-)gi8 gi16-sa (ddriim, ddritum) (SU-)gibil--(AK) gid (Sadadurn) (m8-)gfd gidru (baflum)

General Vocabulary liturgical singer (see J. Krecher, SKLy, 27f., 35f.); the archaic spelling of gala was GIS~.DUR~ 'penis + anus' (see P. Steinkeller / J.N. Postgate, MC 4, 37) advice said about females: "which bore or can bear" see ~ B - R ~ ~ a plot of land; for GANA2(-g) = aHa5(-g) see M. Civil, JCS 25 (1973) 171ff. and M. Powell, ibid., 178ff. storehouse; granary to set; to put see giSd6r-R see igi--R see NE.NE-R see s8-R see dam-R to go sixty six hundred grape juice; bunch of grapes ear understanding; wisdom reed a sacred building ('reed chamber'; see Sacred Buildings) a sacred building ('reed chamber'), see gi-gii-na to be firm; to make firm; to be steadfast; to be stable; to fix; to award; with ka-g.a: to agree with a statement see ki-en-R to return; to bring back; to take a case up again see ki-bi--R-R see Su--R dark see kas-R dwelling of the en-priest or en-priestess see ama-ar-R lasting; of lasting value see Su-R--AK to drag; to tow; to measure; to manage (38:7) see mCR scepter

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General Vocabulary

giSgigir(narkabtum) -gim (kima) gir--DU3 (dnin-)gir-(su1/2)

giri17-Su--gil (appam labdnum)

giS 1. (&urn) 2. gii-dii-a gig--bur (eperum) gig-@-ti (kiSlea/ittii)

0-)giS giSgu-za(kussiim) gu-za-18 (guzaliim) gG-giS--gAl gh--d6 (nabiim) gu4 (-d3 (alpurn) (engar)-gu4-(ra) gu7 (akdlum) (nig-)gu7-(a) -gulo (-i/-ja) gub (izuzzum G, S) (gi-)gh-n(a) (gi-)gunu4 gur (thrum G, D) (m6-)gurg

85

wagon; chariot like to cut off(?) see Divine Names nose; the conventional reading Nril is most likely 101 rev. I), whereas PEa Nippur indicates a reading /giri/ (= giri17),cf. PEa 305; 418 to greet and entreat (lit.: to let the hand be at the nose; see U. Magen, BaF 9 (1986) 60-61; 104108) tree; wood determinative for wooden objects; the reading giS is conventional; lexical (PEa 641) and other sources indicate a reading geS timber (see H. Steible, FAOS 9/2,43f.) to make a drawing; to design cultic rule or ordinance (cf. G. Farber-Fliigge, St. Pohl 10, 181f.; AulOr 9 [I9911 85f.) craftsman bed; see H. Waetzoldt, R1A 8,326f.; for GIS.NU? see gG-R--g81 see 1-R throne; chair (see H. Waetzoldt, RIA 8,327f.) chair-bearer; throne-bearer to provide a delivery of wood to call; to name steer; ox see engar-R-ra to eat; to suck (milk); to enjoy the usufruct of something see nig-R-a my to stand; to set up see gi-R see gi-R to return; to give back see md-R

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General Vocabulary

General Vocabulary

helper; unskilled worker (see G.J. Selz, FAOS

see Se-R--ku5 see nig-R an adult; young man; recruit; worker

igi-zi--bar (kiniS naplusum)

fl (-am) (ne-lba ba-la (zittum) ha-lu-db (bahluppum) be-du, (wusmum) bd-&il (&(n)gallum; tubdum) bul (Sulputum)

(CiS-)hur (@$--)bur bur-sag (hrkinum) hug (buSSlim; ruSSlim)

see ne-R lot; assigned portion oak(?) (see BSA 3, 135; 146; BSA 6, 159; 182) decoration overflow; abundance to destroy; to ruin; for a discussion of the verb l?pl//?julu/see J. Krecher, AOAT 240, 192f., with note 103 see gig-R see gig--R hill country; mountainous region red; terrifying

(sag--)a im Ctidum) imin (sebe) him (awatum) him-ma--s&(-g)

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I I

I

(Id-)him-(ma) (Id-ki-)him-(ma) ir (eri/~Sum) iri 1. (alum) 2. iti (warbum) izi (Saturn) izi--18

i (Samnum) 1-bi-la (aplum) )-dug (atlim) 1-giS (ellum; Sarnnum) i7(-d) 1. (ndrum) 2. ia (hamis> hila (aplum) ig (daltum) igi (inum) igi-...-S& (mabar) igi--bar (amarum; napbum)

to come out; to appear (in the phrase u4-ul-li-a-ta); there seems to be a semantic relation between /i/ and /&I,but it is uncertain whether /i/ and /&Ican be considered as identical verbs vegetable oil; animal fat heir (syllabic writing of ibila) porter; door keeper sesame oil river; canal determinative for rivers and canals five heir (loan from the Akkadian?) (panel of a) door eye; glance in the presence of (said about witnesses at a trial) to look at (see J. Krecher, Kutscher Memorial Vol., 108ff.) a phrase used to express fractions (see J. Friberg, RIA 7,535f. § 3.1); the phrase bar igi-g81-ni (38:5) is difficult to define to appear before someone (37:3); for this use of igi--gar, corresponding to the Akkadian pani Sakanum, see E. Dombradi, FAOS 20/1,§ 402

87

ka-al(-ak) (cf. kalakkurn) ka(-g) (plim) ka-Sakan

1

(dumu-)KA kd (babum) kala(-g) (dannum) kalam (matum) Yam (nakarum D) kar (karum) (Bga-)kQ--(s&(-g)) kas (Sika/arum) kas-gi6(-g) kas-sig15 (dbr-)KAS4 kt%(-d? (*keS(e)dr/*kSed? (rakasum)

to choose; to legitimate (lit.: to look on favorably) to lift; to bring, to convey; to endure see sag--R clay; loam seven ( dsin: 1) The original meaning of this name is uncertain (see M. Krebemik, R1A 8,362f.). According to D.R. Frayne, BCSMS 25 (1993) 40, it might go back to a ProtoIndo-European root; 2) Ur; 3) The Semitic moon-god identified with Nanna, the Sumerian moon-god. d ~ h r a2) : Umma; 3) Inanna's son; her manicurist and hair-dresser.

dnin-a-zu: 1) "Lord Physician"; 2) Enegi; 3) An underworld healing-god; NingiSzida's father. dnin-dar: 2) Ki'eH; 3) NanHe's husband. The reading dar (not g h ) in the second part of the name is discussed by M. Civil, Studies Sjoberg, 50. dnin-gir-su: 1) "Lord of Girsu" (see G.J. Selz, UGASL, 218ff.); 2) Girsu; 3) Ba'U's husband; he became Enlil's hero when he recovered ihe tablet of destiny that Anzu had stolen. dnin-gi~-zi-da:1) "Lord of the True Tree"; 2) GiSbanda; 3) Ninazu's son; an underworld snake-god; Gudea's patron god. The latter seemingly introduced him into the LagaS pantheon to justify his own assumption of power. dnin-hur-sag: 1) "Lady of the Mountain-Range"; 2) KeSi; 3) The mother-goddess. Her name indicates where she appears. She is the creator of gods and men. dnin-lil: 1) "Lady Breeze" (popular etymology analogous to den-lil 'lord breeze"); 2) Nippur; 3) Enlil's wife. d n i n - ~ ~1)~"Lady . ~ of ~ Marg/ki"(?; : see P. Attinger, N.A.B.U. 1995133); 2) Guabba; 3) NanSe's daughter. dnin-~ubur:1) "Lord I Lady of (the land of) Subur/~ubar(?)";2) Akkil; 3) When male, An's sukkal; when female, Inanna's sukkal. dnin-te-ug5-ga: 1) By popular etymology "Lady who Keeps the Dying Alive"; cf. Marduk's epithet muballit miti; 3) A goddess of healing. dnu-mu~-da:2) Kazallu. dnun-gal: 1) "Great Nobility"; 2) Nippur; 3) A goddess connected with justice and judgement, especially the judicial ordeal. d ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ 3) ~ The 4 mdeterminative u S e n : muSen

G. Pettinato, MEE 3, 112:79; 117,l. 79).

shows that the divinity is a bird (see

d~ul-Ha-ga-na1) "The Lad of his (Ningirsu's) Heart" (see G.J. Selz, UGASL, 277ff.); 2) LagaS; 3) Igalim's twin brother; the son of Ba'U and Ningirsu. d~ul-utul12 1) "The Lad who Pastures Sheep" (see G.J. Selz, UGASL, 279ff.); 2) LagaS; 3) Dynastic god of the rulers of LagaS from UmanSe to Enmetena. dutu: 1) "Sun"; 2) Sippar; 3) The sun god.

For further reading see: Black, J. - Green, A., Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia. An Illustrated Dictionary (London 1992). Edzard, D.O., in H.W. Haussig, Worterbuch der Mythologie, Band I (Stuttgart 1965) 19139. Leick, G., A Dictionary of Ancient Near Eastern Mythology (LondonINew York 1991). Selz, G.J., Untersuchungen zur Gotterwelt des altsumerischen Stadtstaates von LagaS (Occasional Publications of the Samuel Noah Kramer Fund 13, Philadelphia 1995). The relevant articles in the Reallexikon der Assyriologie (RIA). For the LagaS pantheon of the Gudea period: the relevant articles in A. Falkenstein, Die Inschriften Gudeas von LagaS. I. Einleitung (AnOr 30, Rome 1966).

PERSONAL NAMES (Parentheses indicate the text in which the name appears)

a-ba-dutu-gim(30:4) a-kur-gal(15 i 4; 16 ii 1). A ruler of Pre-Sargonic LagaS. d-lu5-lu5(38~26) ad-da-Su-sikil(34vi 1) ama-iri (35:8) damar-dsu'en (27:4, 19,25). A ruler of Ur in the Ur I11 period. ba-Si-SB-ra-gi (32:3) bha-nam-tar-ra (34 iv 1). The wife of Lugalanda, a Pre-Sargonic ruler of LagaS. BU-KA (36:9) digir-a-gu10 (33 iv 2) du-du (38:4,6,7, 12, 16, 18,20,22,28,34,40,43) du-du-d (36: 12) 6-an-na-tum (16 i 1; iii 9). A ruler of Pre-sargonic LagaS. 6-me-li9-sh (34 iii 3) en-an-na-~m(I) (14:13; 15 i 1; 20:lO; 21 i 10) en-an-na-tdm (11) (19:3, 16) en-ig-gal(34 v 4; 40 ii 1; 42 iii 2; 44 ii 4) den-lfl-ld-an-zu(36: 10) en-ld (34 vi 6) en-Su (34 v 6) en-te:me-na [= en-me-te-na] (1 1:1; 13:3; 8; 14:3; 19:10; 20:3; 20; 3 1; 21 i 3; iii 8: 11; iv 2,7; vi 2). For the reading of this name see H. Steible, FAOS 512, 106 (1). ddr-ra,ma,lik (39:3) d~tar-um-mi (39: 1) gan-ki (34 ii 5) g6me-dig-alim (37: 15) g6me-dnun-gal(31:4) g6me-ti-ra-dS (38:36) gi-zi (38 ii 13) giggal-si (34 ii 6) gu-NI-DU (12 i 4). The father(?) of ur-dnanSe, a ruler of Pre-Sargonic LagaS. gii-d6-a (2:3; 4:3; 5:3; 6:4; 7:4; 8:4; 9:4; 10:6; 22 r. sh. 1; i 5; iii 7; 23 i 2; ii 4, 14; iii 18; 24 r. sh. 1; i 5; iv 4; v 5; 25 r. sh. 1; i 3; ii 6; 26 i 7; iii 4). A ruler of Lagal whose dating is uncertain. Perhaps he should be placed in the period that goes from the Guteans to the beginning of Ur 111. ha-am-mwra-pc'(28:1,21,33). A ruler of Babylon in the Old-Babylonian period. tli-A.ZU (39:2) L L ~ ' - D I G I(36:7) R~~~

Personal Names S8-Su-nigin (32:2) SeS-16-du10(40 i 2) HeS-sa6-ga (44 vi 5) Su-duran ([DUR!.KIB] 3 1:5) dsu,dsfn(32: 12) ti-ti (38:4) d-S&-h6-DU(32~2) ur-ba-g6ra (38:47) ~ r - ~ b a(37:8) -u~ ur-du, (42 ii 1) ur-ddumu-zi(43 iii 3) ur-6-mCl(33 i 3; 34 vi 3) ur-6-ninnu (38:7) ~ r - ~ e S ~ -(30:2) pel ur-gu-la (38:24) ~ r - ~ i ~ - a(32:7; l i m 37:6) ur-dinarma (35:7) ~ r - ~ i ~(3 k 1u:2,7) r ur-digtaran (32:9; 37: 18,22; 3850) ur-k&Ski(30:6) ur-ki (33 ii 4) ur-dnammu (1:3; 3:3) ~ r - ~ n a 1) n ~Aeruler of Pre-Sargonic LagaS (12 i 1 [written: dnan~e:ur];21 i 14). 2) A party in a wedding contract (32:3). ur-nigin-gar (36: 11) u~-~~~~-MA (41R ii. K 2)I ~r-~mul-da (37:2) U~-~NUNUZ.KAD (38:47) ~~~~~" ~ r - ~ s(3 i n1:8) ur-zu(!) (35:4; 6) drd~-~nanna (38: 19) utu-16-gu lo (34 iii 2)

For further information about these names see R.A. Di Vito, Studies in Third Millennium Sumerian and Akkadian Personal Names. The Designation and Conception of the Personal God. Studia Pohl: Series Maior 16 (Rome 1993).

PLACE NAMES i7buranun (purattu) [28: 161: The Euphrates (UD.KIB.NUN read as bar6-91-nun seems to be syllabic writing). dilmunk: The region between what today is Falaika and Barain. C7)duran [31:5]: The river Diyiila. See D.O. Edzard, RGTC 1, 210. For the reading of d/tur(r)an (DUR.KIB) see MSL X, 26-27; K. Nashef, BaM 13 (1982) 120, note 15; 133f., note 72. 6-GUM.DUR2(-ra) [38:2,35]: Meaning and reading unknown. elam&: The region in south-west Iran with Susa as its center. It and Lagal were hereditary enemies. e r i d ~ ~ ( -A~ )city : in Sumer and the center of Enki's cult. The name seems to mean "Good City". gir-suki: An important settlement that was part of the city-state of LagaS. Its god was Ningirsu. gu-bik(-n): The location of this land, mentioned in 25 iv 9 in the sequence Magan, Meluma, Gubi, and Dilmun, is uncertain. See D.T. Potts, N.A.B.U. 1996165. gu-eden-na: ''The Border of the Steppe"; the boundary between LagaS and Umma, object of constant war between the two states. See H.J. Nissen, AS 20,34f. IM.KA.SU~~(ZI.ZI.SE~): A place mentioned in 21 v 2 whose reading is uncertain. See H. Steible / H. Behrens, FAOS 512, 109-110, note 15; J. Bauer, AoN 1987,6, n. 39. im-sag (18 iii 9): While this may be the name of a place, the location of Enlil's temple 6-ad-da, it could just as likely be the temple's epithet. It is discussed in H. Steible I H. Behrens, FAOS 5/2, 109f., note 15. iri-ku(-g): "Holy City". A section of ~ i r s uwhere the temple of Ba'U was located (see AnOr 30, 121; 141: for other early evidence about this toponym see V. Crawford, Iraq 36 [I9741 29ff.). K A ~ . D I ~ I R . R A"Gate ~ ~ : of God". This sumerogram for the name of Babylon is a popular etymology based on the semitic bab ili. For the likely genuine place-name *babilla see B. Kienast, Sumer 35 (1979) 246-248.

108

Place Names

kl-sur-ra (24 iii 6): "Boundary Gate" where kar-za-gin, ''The Lapis-lazuli Quay" was located. But it is not clear exactly where kA-sur-ra was. kar-nun (24 iii 4): "Princely Quay". Ba'U's magur-boat is connected with this place (24 iii 3).

si-ma-numfi (38:51): A city locted near modem Mardin in south-eastem Turkey; it was ' s year. destroyed during ~ u ~ i nthird

kar-silim-ma (28: 19): "Quay of Well-being"; located at Zimbir. kar-za-gin (24 iii 6): "Lapis-lazuli Quay" or "Pure Quay"; located at kA-sur-ra. kar-zi-da (27: 15): 'The True Quay". At Ur, the location of the dip= where Nanna's enpriestess lived. ki-en-gi(-r) ("kegir): "Native Land". The Sumerian name for their land (see C. Wilcke, CRRA 19 [I9741 202ff.; P. Steinkeller, HANEIS 5, 112, note 9; H. Steible, 1st.Mitt. 43 [I9931 25f .). ki-lagabki (29: 17): The city-state of LagaS, whose chief settlements where LagaS, dirsu and Nina(-Sirara); see M. Yoshikawa, ASJ 7 [I9851 157ff.). ki-uri: The Sumerian name for the land of Akkade. uri is the Sumerian rendering of the Semitic wadi) (see P. Steinkeller,HANEIS 5, 115f., note 18).

~ u r - ~ n a n (21 I e v 1): "Border of Nanle". Its location is unknown; see FAOS 5, 108, n.12. According to J. Cooper, SARI I, 64 n. 5 (ad La 5.17) "it is unclear if this is a personal or a geographical name".

name of the temple 6-SeS-gar-ra or just NanSe's epithet. Iubur: Subartu, the land to the north of Mesopotamia; it seems to appear in the name of the divinity dnin-Subur (see Divine Names). tir-ku(-g) (21 ii 15): "Pure 'Forest"'. The location of Nifiursag's gi-ga-na that Enmetena built. ummaki: A Sumerian city, the hereditary enemy of Lagal.

lagaIfi: The settlement LagaS in the state of the same name (see M. Yoshikawa, ASJ 7 [I9851 157ff.).

unugk" (uruk): The city of An and Inanna.

larsak"(-m): The Sumerian city of the sun-god. It ruled Sumer in Old-Babylonian times between the fall of Isin and the rise of Babylon. m6-ganki: A district corresponding to modem Oman; the source of precious metals, stone, and wood. me-lubbak": In the third and early second millennium this was probably the area of the Mohenjo-Daro civilization.

U ~ U , ( U R U X K A R ~ ) ~A( -settlement ~): in the state of LagaS. In text 20 it is mentioned in connection with offerings to its god Lugaluru(b). For the reading of this place-name see D.O. Edzard, RGTC 1,183; K. Volk, N.A.B.U. 1997160. uRuxAki (= uru'a?): A city conquered by Eannatum (16 ii 6). For a possible reading *urua see RGTC 1, 181; but also note MSL 14,432, C 6'-7'.

nibruki (nippuru): Enlil's city, the religious center of Sumer. zimbirki (sippalir) [(28:17]: The city of the sun-god where Hammurapi built a canal. ninaki: A settlement in the state of LagaS whose goddess was NanSe. pa5-ku(-g) 121 v 41: "Pire canal"; located near Nina .

For particulars about each place see the appropriate entry in RGTC 1 and 2.

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SACRED BUILDINGS

6-dgh-tum-dulo(-g)[21 ii 223: "~atumdu'stemple", located in Iriku in Girsu (Gazetteer, n. 1314).

a-hug (21 i 20): Syllabic writing of 6-huS, "Fearsome House". Ningirsu's sanctuary built by Enmetena (Gazetteer, n. 491).

6-gal-ti-ra-hH (18 i 8): "Palace of TiraS". Ningirsu's sanctuary dating to at least the time of UmanSe (Gazetteer, n. 1097).

abzu: It is normally written ZU.AB, as in 37:24; but in 36:20 it is written ab-zu. It is Enki's underwater dwelling. The word refers to a cultic structure. In 41 i 4 it means Enki's sanctuary at Pasirra (Gazetteer, n. 31). an-ta-sur-ra (18 ii 1; 21 ii 18): "(House) which Twinkles from Heaven". Ningirsu's sanctuary, dating to at least the time of Umanle (Gazetteer, n. 83).

6-g6Htu-Hu-du7 (29:25): "House that Perfects Understanding". Enki's temple in Ur (Gazetteer, n. 364).

ba-ghra (in our texts it appears only in the personal name ur-ba-gAra [38 iv 471): Ningirsu's sanctuary in Lagag (Gazetteer, n. 96). bur-sag (18 iv 2): "Foremost Jar". A kind of building (part of a temple(?), cf. PSD B 187 2.1). There was more than one bur-sag since various gods had one (FAOS 512 124f. ad 'Entemena' 33, note 3). Its epithet is ~-sA-du~~-an-na(-ta!)-~~~-a-ni "His House from which Regular Offerings are delivered to him (Ningirsu)" (Gazetteer, n. 129).

4-engur-ra (21 ii 7): "House of the Abyss". NanSe's temple located at Sulum near Lagag, built by Enmetena (Gazetteer, n. 250).

6-gidru (10 rev. 3; 24 ii 11): "House of the Sceptre", a seven-comered house (6-ubimin). Part of the 6-ninnu (Gazetteer, n. 393).

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6-gisgigir(l3:6; 18 ii 3): "Chariot House". Part of the 6-ninnu where Ningirsu's chariot was kept (see AnOr 30 126, 15). Its epithet was 6 me-li9-bi kur-kur-ra du15 (18 ii 4) "House whose Splendor Covers the Mountains" (Gazetteer, n. 766). 6-iri-ku-ga (10 rev. 5; 26 iii 7): "House of the Pure City". Temple of Ba'U in the sacred quarter of Girsu (Gazetteer, n. 1198).

6-ad-da (18 iii 8; 21 i 2, iv 3, vi 6): "House of the Father". The sanctuary of Enlil, Ningirsu's father. Its exact location is unknown (Gazetteer, n. 40). 6-an-na (23 i 5, iv 3): "House of Heaven", Inanna's temple in Girsu. It probably owed its name to the 6-an-na in Uruk, Inanna's most important cult center (Gazetter n. 77). ~ - ~ a n z u ~ ~ ~ ~ " - b(8:8): h b b"House, ar White Anzu". The name of this temple is attested only on brick inscriptions found at Girsu, Tell I (see AnOr 30, 121; 123, a-ga-erena). ~ - ~ b(18 a iii - 5): ~ "Temple ~ of Ba'U", built by IriKAgina (see AWL, 198f. ad 46 I11 2). 6-bBbbar (17:2): "White House". This is not Utu's famous temple in ZimbirlSippar, but a temple in the state of LagaS. According to G.J.Selz, FAOS 1511, 194, it was dedicated to Ningirsu (Gazetteer, n. 99). 6-bappir (18 ii 6; 19:14): "House of Beer-Bread"; the brewery, part of the 6-ninnu where beer seems to have been brewed. Its epithet was geltin! sila-gal-[gal] kur-ta de6-a "(to which) Grape Juice Has Been Brought in 'Big' Liter-Vessels from the Mountain Regions".

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6-ma!! (22 ii 5): "Sublime House". While this is the name of Nir&ursag's temple in Girsu, it is uncertain whether our passage refers to the temple by name, or whether the phrase simply means "sublime house" (Gazetteer, n. 716). 6-me-bug-gal-an-ki (18 iii 3) "House of the Great Furious Me's of Heaven and Earth/Underworld". Igalim's temple in ~ i r s (Gazetteer, u n. 755). 6-mug (in the PN ur-6-m%, 33 i 3; 34 vi 3): "House, Foundation (of the Land)". Dumuzi's temple in Badtibira (Gazetteer, n. 829).

Anzu". The most important sacred building in the state of LagaH, it was Ningirsu's temple-complex in Girsu (cf. AnOr 30, 116-143). Its name shows that it incarnated the

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112

Sacred Buildings

fifty me. This is clear from Gudea, cylinder A x 6. It dated to the time of UmanSe (12 ii 1: BS-gir-s6) but was substantially rebuilt by Gudea (Gazetteer, n. 897).

YEAR DATES

6-sbdul l-an-na-ta!-~~2-a-ni (18 iv 3): "His House from which Regular Offerings are Delivered to him (Ningirsu)". Epithet of the bur-sag.

YEAR-DATES OF PRE-SARGONIC ADMINISTRATIVE TEXTS

C-TAR-sir-sir (26 ii 1; iii 3): Temple of Ba'U. Originally it was at LagaS but was transferred by Gudea to Girsu (Gazetteer, n. 1086).

Text 33 = (Lugalanda) 6 Text 34 = (Lugalanda) 3 Text 40 = (IriKAgina) 2 Text 41 = (Lugalanda) 2 Text 42 = (IriKAgina) 2

&H-DUG.RU(21 i 18): "Sanctuary (in?) DUG.RU" that belonged to Ningirsu (Gazetteer, n. 1375).

Text 43 = (Lugalanda) 6 Text 44 = (IriKAgina) undated

6-lu-sBga (29:29): "Cella", "Temple Chamber"; Part of Enki's temple 6-g6Htu-Su-du7 in Ur.

For the dating system in these texts see no. 257 in the Sign List.

gi-gh-na (gigunzi): A building ('reed chamber') constructed on a terrace for Ningirsu [11:4 (bS-gi gi-ga-na)] (Gazetteer, n. 1376); for Ninhursag in Tirku(-g) [21 ii 141; for NanSe [21 iii 21 (Gazetteer, n. 1362). gi-gunu4 (24 ii 9): An alternate spelling of gi-ga-na. Here it designates the edifice located in the 6-ninnu. ib (tubuqtu; 44 i 7): 'Temple Niche(?)", see FAOS 6, 167 S.V. ib-gal (37:20, in PN 16-ib-gal): "Big Niche(?)". Inanna's temple complex in the city of LagaS (Gazetteer, n. 505). ki-tug-akkil-16 (18 ii 9): "Abode of Lamentation". $ulSagana's shrine at ~ i r s u(in the Cninnu? - Gazetteer, n. 618). I$-pa-da (21 ii 20): "(House) Called in the Heart", i.e. "Chosen House" NanSe's temple in the city of LagaS (Gazetteer, n. 1022).

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t

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YEAR NAMES

r

For the year names in the Ur I11 administrative texts, see the references in M. Sigrist and T. Gomi, The Comprehensive Catalogue of Published Ur I11 Tablets (Bethesda [MD] 1991). The variant writings of the individual year names are listed in N. Schneider, Die Zeitbestimmungen der Wirtschaftsurkunden von Ur 111 (Rome 1936), 30ff. ('4. Gimilsin' [= Susin]). Text 3 1 = &sin 8 (see M. SigristIT. Gomi, Catalogue, 327)

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Text 32 = &sin 6 (see M. SigristIT. Gomi, Catalogue, 327) Text 36 = &sin 3a (see M. SigristIT. Gomi, Catalogue, 327) Text 37 = usi in 2 (see M. SigristIT. Gomi, Catalogue, 326) Text 38 = &sin 4a (M. SigristIT. Gomi, Catalogue, 327)

FESTIVALS For further information about the buildings mentioned above see A.R. George, House Most High. The Temples of Ancient Mesopotamia. Mesopotamian Civilizations 5 (Winona Lake 1993). 'Gazetteer' in the Glossary refers to p. 63-161 of this book.

Text 41: ezem-amar-a-a-si-ge4-da(see M.E. Cohen, Cultic Calendars, 58-60; G.J. Selz, UGASL, 258f. sub 8; J. Bauer, AfO 36/37 [1989/90] 88f.) Text 42: e ~ e m - ~ b a (see - u ~ M.E. Cohen, Cultic Calendars, 53-54; G.J. Selz, UGASL, 70 sub 149,72 sub 152) Text 43: ezern-~e-gu~-~nanSe (see M.E. Cohen, Cultic Calendars, 44-46) Text 44: ezem-an-ta-sur-ra (see M.E. Cohen, Cultic Calendars, 57; G.J. Selz, UGASL, 240 sub 100; 242f. sub 110)

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