SEGMENT A
about 6 lines missing
She ...... of the desert. She put the cu-gura, the desert crown, on
her head. ...... when she went out to the shepherd, to the sheepfold,
...... her genitals were remarkable. ...... her genitals were
remarkable. She praised herself, full of delight at her genitals, she
praised herself, full of delight at her genitals. She looked at
......, she looked at ......, she looked at .......
"When I have gratified the lord ......, when I have made ......
brilliant, when I have made ...... beautiful, when I have made ......
glorious, when I have ......, when I have made ...... perfect, when I
have made ...... luxuriant, when I have made ...... exuberant, when I
have made ...... shining (?), when I have made ...... return, when I
have made ...... brilliant, when I have made ...... shimmering, I
shall direct my steps to the abzu, to Eridug, I shall direct my steps
to Enki, to the abzu, to Eridug, and I myself shall speak coaxingly to
him, in the abzu, in Eridug, I myself shall speak coaxingly to Enki,
in the abzu, in Eridug. ...... had her go out ......."
about 21 lines missing
SEGMENT B
" Inanna, ...... it is I who ....... I, Inanna, personally intend
to go to the abzu (1 ms. has instead: intend to go to Eridug). I shall
utter a plea to the lord Enki. Like the sweet oil of the cedar, who
will ...... for my holy ...... perfume? It shall never escape me that
I have been neglected by him who has had sex."
On that day the maiden Inanna, holy Inanna, directed her steps all by
herself towards Enki's abzu in Eridug. On that day, he of exceptional
knowledge, who knows the divine powers in heaven and earth, who from
his own dwelling already knows the intentions of the gods, Enki, the
king of the abzu, who, even before holy Inanna had approached within
six miles of the abzu (1 ms. has instead: the temple) in Eridug, knew
all about her enterprise -- Enki spoke to his man, gave him
instructions: "Come here, my man, listen to my words."
1 line fragmentary
about 2 lines missing
SEGMENT C
"...... she will drink, ...... she will eat. Come here! ....... I
will ......, ...... do. The maiden ...... the abzu and Eridug, Inanna
...... the abzu and Eridug ....... When the maiden Inanna has entered
the abzu and Eridug, when Inanna has entered the abzu and Eridug,
offer her butter cake to eat. Let her be served cool refreshing water.
Pour beer for her, in front of the Lions Gate, make her feel as if she
is in her girlfriend's house, make her ...... as a colleague. You are
to welcome holy Inanna at the holy table, at the table of An."
After Enki had spoken thus to him, Isimud the minister followed his
master's instructions closely. He let the maiden into the abzu and
Eridug. He let Inanna into the abzu and Eridug. When the maiden had
entered the abzu and Eridug, when Inanna had entered the abzu and
Eridug, she got butter cake to eat. They poured cool refreshing water
for her, and they gave her beer to drink, in front of the Lions Gate.
He made her feel as if she was in her girlfriend's house, and made her
...... as a colleague. He welcomed holy Inanna at the holy table, at
the table of An.
So it came about that Enki and Inanna were drinking beer together in
the abzu, and enjoying the taste of sweet wine. The bronze aga vessels
were filled to the brim, and the two of them started a competition,
drinking from the bronze vessels of Urac.
about 35 lines missing
SEGMENT D
"I will give them to holy Inanna, my daughter; may ...... not
......." Holy Inanna received heroism, power, wickedness,
righteousness, the plundering of cities, making lamentations,
rejoicing. "In the name of my power, in the name of my abzu, I
will give them to holy Inanna, my daughter; may ...... not
......."
Holy Inanna received deceit, the rebel lands, kindness, being on the
move, being sedentary. "In the name of my power, in the name of
my abzu, I will give them to holy Inanna, my daughter; may ...... not
......."
Holy Inanna received the craft of the carpenter, the craft of the
coppersmith, the craft of the scribe, the craft of the smith, the
craft of the leather-worker, the craft of the fuller, the craft of the
builder, the craft of the reed-worker. "In the name of my power,
in the name of my abzu, I will give them to holy Inanna, my daughter;
may ...... not ......."
Holy Inanna received wisdom, attentiveness, holy purification rites,
the shepherd's hut, piling up glowing charcoals, the sheepfold,
respect, awe, reverent silence. "In the name of my power, in the
name of my abzu, I will give them to holy Inanna, my daughter; may
...... not ......."
Holy Inanna received the bitter-toothed (?) ......, the kindling of
fire, the extinguishing of fire, hard work, ......, the assembled
family, descendants. "In the name of my power, in the name of my
abzu, I will give them to holy Inanna, my daughter; may ...... not
......."
Holy Inanna received strife, triumph, counseling, comforting, judging,
decision-making. "In the name of my power, in the name of my
abzu, I will give them to holy Inanna, my daughter; may ...... not
......." Holy Inanna received ......, ......,
about 78 lines missing
SEGMENT E
"He has given me righteousness. He has given me the plundering of
cities. He has given me making lamentations. He has given me
rejoicing.
"He has given me deceit. He has given me the rebel lands. He has
given me kindness. He has given me being on the move. He has given me
being sedentary.
"He has given me the craft of the carpenter. He has given me the
craft of the coppersmith. He has given me the craft of the scribe. He
has given me the craft of the smith. He has given me the craft of the
leather-worker. He has given me the craft of the fuller. He has given
me the craft of the builder. He has given me the craft of the
reed-worker.
"He has given me wisdom. He has given me attentiveness. He has
given me holy purification rites. He has given me the shepherd's hut.
He has given me piling up glowing charcoals. He has given me the
sheepfold. He has given me respect. He has given me awe. He has given
me reverent silence.
"He has given me the bitter-toothed (?) ....... He has given me
the kindling of fire. He has given me the extinguishing of fire. He
has given me hard work. He has given me ....... He has given me the
assembled family. He has given me descendants. He has given me strife.
He has given me triumph. He has given me counseling."
about 34-35 lines missing
SEGMENT F
Enki spoke to the minister Isimud: " Isimud, my minister, my
Sweet Name of Heaven!" " Enki, my master, I am at your
service! What is your wish?" "Since she said that she would
not yet depart from here for Unug Kulaba, that she would not yet
depart from here to the place where Utu ......, can I still reach
her?" But holy Inanna had gathered up the divine powers and
embarked onto the Boat of Heaven. The Boat of Heaven had already left
the quay. As the effects of the beer cleared from him who had drunk
beer, from him who had drunk beer, as the effects of the beer cleared
from father Enki who had drunk beer, the great lord Enki turned his
attention to the ...... building. The lord looked up at the abzu. King
Enki turned his attention to Eridug.
Enki spoke to Isimud the minister: " Isimud, my minister, my
Sweet Name of Heaven!" " Enki, my master, I am at your
service! What is your wish?" "Where are the office of en
priest, the office of lagal priest, divinity, the great and good
crown, the royal throne?" "My master has given them to his
daughter."
"Where are the noble sceptre, the staff and crook, the noble
dress, shepherd ship, kingship?" "My master has given them
to his daughter."
"Where are the office of egi-zi priestess, the office of
nin-dijir priestess, the office of icib priest, the office of lu-mah
priest, the office of gudu priest?" "My master has given
them to his daughter."
"Where are constancy, ......, ......, going down to the
underworld, coming up from the underworld, the kur-jara priest?"
"My master has given them to his daughter."
"Where are the sword and club, the cultic functionary saj-ursaj,
the black garment, the colorful garment, the ...... hair-style, the
...... hair-style?" "My master has given them to his
daughter."
"Where are ......?" "My master has given them to his
daughter."
"Where are the standard, the quiver, sexual intercourse, kissing,
prostitution, ...... running (?)?" "My master has given them
to his daughter."
"Where are forthright speech, deceitful speech, grandiloquent
speech, ......, the cultic prostitute, the holy tavern?" "My
master has given them to his daughter."
"Where are the holy nijin-jar shrine, ......, the hierodule of
heaven, loud musical instruments, the art of song, venerable old
age?" "My master has given them to his daughter."
about 33-36 lines missing
SEGMENT G
...... king ...... in the house of Enki should not forget a word.
...... full of advice, loud voiced, knowing much ....... They said:
"By the bolt of the temple door, a frog spoke." He showed
him to a place. Enki grasped the frog by his right paw. He showed him
into his holy ....... He received ...... the halub tree and his
box-tree. He gave ...... to the bird of heaven. He gave ...... to the
fish of the subterranean waters.
11 lines fragmentary
about 10-15 lines missing
SEGMENT H
The prince spoke to his minister Isimud, Enki addressed the Sweet Name
of Heaven: " Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!"
" Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?"
"Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has
just now reached the ...... Quay." "Go now! The Enkum are to
take the Boat of Heaven away from her!"
The minister Isimud spoke to holy Inanna: "My lady! Your father
has sent me to you. Inanna, your father has sent me to you. What your
father said was very serious. What Enki spoke was very serious. His
important words cannot be countermanded." Holy Inanna replied to
him: "What has my father said to you, what has he spoken? Why
should his important words not be countermanded?" "My master
has spoken to me, Enki has said to me: " Inanna may travel to
Unug, but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for
me"."
Holy Inanna spoke to the minister Isimud: "How could my father
have changed what he said to me? How could he have altered his promise
as far as I am concerned? How could he have discredited his important
words to me? Was it falsehood that my father said to me, did he speak
falsely to me? Has he sworn falsely by the name of his power and by
the name of his abzu? Has he duplicitously sent you to me as a
messenger?" Now as these words were still in her mouth, he got
the Enkum to seize hold of the Boat of Heaven. Holy Inanna addressed
her minister Nincubur: "Come, my good minister of E-ana! My
fair-spoken minister! My envoy of reliable words! Water has never
touched your hand, water has never touched your feet!"
So Inanna got hold again of the divine powers which had been presented
to her, and the Boat of Heaven; and then for the second time the
prince spoke to his minister Isimud, Enki addressed the Sweet Name of
Heaven: " Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!"
" Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?"
"Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has
just now reached the holy ......." "Go now! The fifty giants
of Eridug are to take the Boat of Heaven away from her!"
The minister Isimud spoke to holy Inanna: "My lady! Your father
has sent me to you. Inanna, your father has sent me to you. What your
father said was very serious. What Enki spoke was very serious. His
important words cannot be countermanded." Holy Inanna replied to
him: "What has my father said to you, what has he spoken? Why
should his important words not be countermanded?" "My master
has spoken to me, Enki has said to me: " Inanna may travel to
Unug, but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for
me"."
Holy Inanna spoke to the minister Isimud: "How could my father
have changed what he said to me? How could he have altered his promise
as far as I am concerned? How could he have discredited his important
words to me? Was it falsehood that my father said to me, did he speak
falsely to me? Has he sworn falsely by the name of his power and by
the name of his abzu? Has he duplicitously sent you to me as a
messenger?" Now as these words were still in her mouth, he got
the fifty giants of Eridug to seize hold of the Boat of Heaven. Holy
Inanna addressed her minister Nincubur: "Come, my good minister
of E-ana! My fair-spoken minister! My envoy of reliable words! Water
has never touched your hand, water has never touched your feet!"
So Inanna got hold again of the divine powers which had been presented
to her, and the Boat of Heaven; and then for the third time the prince
spoke to his minister Isimud, Enki addressed the Sweet Name of Heaven:
" Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "
Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?"
"Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has
just now reached the UL.MA hill." "Go now! The fifty lahama
of the subterranean waters are to take the Boat of Heaven away from
her!"
The minister Isimud spoke to holy Inanna: "My lady! Your father
has sent me to you. Inanna, your father has sent me to you. What your
father said was very serious. What Enki spoke was very serious. His
important words cannot be countermanded." Holy Inanna replied to
him: "What has my father said to you, what has he spoken? Why
should his important words not be countermanded?" "My master
has spoken to me, Enki has said to me: " Inanna may travel to
Unug, but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for
me"."
Holy Inanna spoke to the minister Isimud: "How could my father
have changed what he said to me? How could he have altered his promise
as far as I am concerned? How could he have discredited his important
words to me? Was it falsehood that my father said to me, did he speak
falsely to me? Has he sworn falsely by the name of his power and by
the name of his abzu? Has he duplicitously sent you to me as a
messenger?" Now as these words were still in her mouth, he got
the fifty lahama of the subterranean waters to seize hold of the Boat
of Heaven. Holy Inanna addressed her minister Nincubur: "Come, my
good minister of E-ana! My fair-spoken minister! My envoy of reliable
words! Water has never touched your hand, water has never touched your
feet!"
So Inanna got hold again of the divine powers which had been presented
to her, and the Boat of Heaven; and then for the fourth time the
prince spoke to his minister Isimud, Enki addressed the Sweet Name of
Heaven: " Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!"
" Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?"
"Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has
just now reached the Field Hill." "Go now! All the great
fish together ...... are to take the Boat of Heaven away from
her!"
The minister Isimud spoke to holy Inanna: "My lady! Your father
has sent me to you. Inanna, your father has sent me to you. What your
father said was very serious. What Enki spoke was very serious. His
important words cannot be countermanded." Holy Inanna replied to
him: "What has my father said to you, what has he spoken? Why
should his important words not be countermanded?" "My master
has spoken to me, Enki has said to me: " Inanna may travel to
Unug, but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for
me"."
Holy Inanna spoke to the minister Isimud: "How could my father
have changed what he said to me? How could he have altered his promise
as far as I am concerned? How could he have discredited his important
words to me? Was it falsehood that my father said to me, did he speak
falsely to me? Has he sworn falsely by the name of his power and by
the name of his abzu? Has he duplicitously sent you to me as a
messenger?" Now as these words were still in her mouth, he got
all the great fish together ...... to seize hold of the Boat of
Heaven. Holy Inanna addressed her minister Nincubur: "Come, my
good minister of E-ana! My fair-spoken minister! My envoy of reliable
words! Water has never touched your hand, water has never touched your
feet!"
So Inanna got hold again of the divine powers which had been presented
to her, and the Boat of Heaven; and then for the fifth time the prince
spoke to his minister Isimud, Enki addressed the Sweet Name of Heaven:
" Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "
Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?"
"Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has
just now reached ......." "Go now! ......, the guardians of
Unug, are to take the Boat of Heaven away from her!"
The minister Isimud spoke to holy Inanna: "My lady! Your father
has sent me to you. Inanna, your father has sent me to you. What your
father said was very serious. What Enki spoke was very serious. His
important words cannot be countermanded." Holy Inanna replied to
him: "What has my father said to you, what has he spoken? Why
should his important words not be countermanded?" "My master
has spoken to me, Enki has said to me: " Inanna may travel to
Unug, but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for
me"."
Holy Inanna spoke to the minister Isimud: "How could my father
have changed what he said to me? How could he have altered his promise
as far as I am concerned? How could he have discredited his important
words to me? Was it falsehood that my father said to me, did he speak
falsely to me? Has he sworn falsely by the name of his power and by
the name of his abzu? Has he duplicitously sent you to me as a
messenger?" Now as these words were still in her mouth, he got
the ......, the guardians of Unug, to seize hold of the Boat of
Heaven. Holy Inanna addressed her minister Nincubur: "Come, my
good minister of E-ana! My fair-spoken minister! My envoy of reliable
words! Water has never touched your hand, water has never touched your
feet!"
So Inanna got hold again of the divine powers which had been presented
to her, and the Boat of Heaven; and then for the sixth time the prince
spoke to his minister Isimud, Enki addressed the Sweet Name of Heaven:
" Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!" "
Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?"
"Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has
just now reached the Id-surungal ......." "Go now! The
Id-surungal ...... are to take the Boat of Heaven away from her!
...... from holy Inanna."
The minister Isimud spoke to holy Inanna: "My lady! Your father
has sent me to you. Inanna, your father has sent me to you. What your
father said was very serious. What Enki spoke was very serious. His
important words cannot be countermanded." Holy Inanna replied to
him: "What has my father said to you, what has he spoken? Why
should his important words not be countermanded?" "My master
has spoken to me, Enki has said to me: " Inanna may travel to
Unug, but you are to get the Boat of Heaven back to Eridug for
me"."
Holy Inanna spoke to the minister Isimud: "How could my father
have changed what he said to me? How could he have altered his promise
as far as I am concerned? How could he have discredited his important
words to me? Was it falsehood that my father said to me, did he speak
falsely to me? Has he sworn falsely by the name of his power and by
the name of his abzu? Has he duplicitously sent you to me as a
messenger?" Now as these words were still in her mouth, he got
the Id-surungal ...... to seize hold of the Boat of Heaven. ......
from holy Inanna. Holy Inanna addressed her minister Nincubur:
"Come, my good minister of E-ana! My fair-spoken minister! My
envoy of reliable words! Water has never touched your hand, water has
never touched your feet!"
So Inanna got hold again of the divine powers which had been presented
to her, and the Boat of Heaven; and then
1 line fragmentary
...... Unug ......
1 line fragmentary
...... the Boat of Heaven. Nincubur ......, ...... the Boat of Heaven.
A seventh time ......
1 line fragmentary
The great princely scion, holy ....... Holy Inanna ...... the Boat of
Heaven. Holy Inanna at that time .......
Her minister Nincubur spoke to holy Inanna: "My lady, today you
have brought the Boat of Heaven to the Gate of Joy, to Unug Kulaba.
Now there will be rejoicing in our city, now there will be rejoicing
in our city. ...... barges on our river ......."
Holy Inanna replied to her: "Today I have brought the Boat of
Heaven to the Gate of Joy, to Unug Kulaba. It shall pass along the
street magnificently. The people shall stand in the street full of
awe. "
1 line fragmentary
...... in joy. ...... the old men of the city ...... comfort, ......
the old women ...... counsel, ...... the young men ...... strength of
arms, ...... the children ...... joy. ...... Unug.
1 line fragmentary
1 line missing
3 lines fragmentary
"...... festival ...... the Boat of Heaven. He shall recite great
prayers. The king shall slaughter bulls, shall sacrifice sheep. He
shall pour beer from a bowl. He shall have the cem and ala drums
sound, and have the sweet-sounding tigi instruments play. The foreign
lands shall declare my greatness. My people shall utter my
praise."
When she had ...... the Boat of Heaven to the Gate of Joy at Unug
Kulaba, it passed magnificently along the street. It reached the
maiden's house, and she ...... its place. ...... the purified well,
her principal well. Inanna ...... the divine powers which had been
presented to her, and the Boat of Heaven, at the Jipar Gate. At the
Agrun Chamber ....... Holy Inanna ...... the Boat of Heaven .......
The prince addressed his minister Isimud, Enki spoke to the Sweet Name
of Heaven: " Isimud, my minister, my Sweet Name of Heaven!"
" Enki, my master, I am at your service! What is your wish?"
"Where has the Boat of Heaven reached now?" "It has
just now reached the White Quay." "Go now, ......
admiration. ...... admiration ...... the Boat of Heaven. Holy Inanna
....... ...... admiration ....... "
about 3 lines missing
SEGMENT J
" Inanna, you have brought with you the office of en priest, you
have brought with you the office of lagal priest, you have brought
with you divinity, you have brought with you the great and good crown,
you have brought with you the royal throne.
"You have brought with you the noble sceptre, you have brought
with you the staff and crook, you have brought with you the noble
dress, you have brought with you shepherd ship, you have brought with
you kingship.
"You have brought with you the office of egi-zi priestess, you
have brought with you the office of nin-dijir priestess, you have
brought with you the office of icib priest, you have brought with you
the office of lu-mah priest, you have brought with you the office of
gudu priest.
"You have brought with you constancy, you have brought with you
......, you have brought with you ......, you have brought with you
going down to the underworld, you have brought with you coming up from
the underworld, you have brought with you the kur-jara priest.
"You have brought with you sword and club, you have brought with
you the cultic functionary saj-ursaj, you have brought with you the
black garment, you have brought with you the colorful garment, you
have brought with you the ...... hair-style, you have brought with you
the ...... hair-style.
"You have brought with you ......, you have brought with you
......, you have brought with you ......, you have brought with you
......, you have brought with you ......, you have brought with you
......, you have brought with you .......
"You have brought with you the standard, you have brought with
you the quiver, you have brought with you sexual intercourse, you have
brought with you kissing, you have brought with you prostitution, you
have brought with you ...... running (?).
"You have brought with you forthright speech, you have brought
with you deceitful speech, you have brought with you grandiloquent
speech, you have brought with you ......, you have brought with you
the cultic prostitute, you have brought with you the holy tavern.
"You have brought with you the holy nijin-jar shrine, you have
brought with you ......, you have brought with you the hierodule of
heaven, you have brought with you loud musical instruments, you have
brought with you the art of song, you have brought with you venerable
old age.
"You have brought with you heroism, you have brought with you
power, you have brought with you wickedness, you have brought with you
righteousness, you have brought with you the plundering of cities, you
have brought with you making lamentations, you have brought with you
rejoicing.
"You have brought with you deceit, you have brought with you the
rebel lands, you have brought with you kindness, you have brought with
you being on the move, you have brought with you being sedentary.
"You have brought with you the craft of the carpenter, you have
brought with you the craft of the coppersmith, you have brought with
you the craft of the scribe, you have brought with you the craft of
the smith, you have brought with you the craft of the leather-worker,
you have brought with you the craft of the fuller, you have brought
with you the craft of the builder, you have brought with you the craft
of the reed-worker.
"You have brought with you wisdom, you have brought with you
attentiveness, you have brought with you holy purification rites, you
have brought with you the shepherd's hut, you have brought with you
piling up glowing charcoals, you have brought with you the sheepfold,
you have brought with you respect, you have brought with you awe, you
have brought with you reverent silence.
"You have brought with you the bitter-toothed (?) ......, you
have brought with you the kindling of fire, you have brought with you
the extinguishing of fire, you have brought with you hard work, you
have brought with you ......, you have brought with you the assembled
family, you have brought with you descendants.
"You have brought with you strife, you have brought with you
triumph, you have brought with you counseling, you have brought with
you comforting, you have brought with you judging, you have brought
with you decision-making.
"You have brought with you the establishing of plans (?), the
attractiveness of women, you have brought with you ...... to handle
the perfect divine powers, you have brought with you ...... small
......, you have brought with you ...... exalted ......, you have
brought with you the holy tigi, holy lilis, ub, meze and ala drums,
you have brought with you the ...... of holy An, you have brought with
you the ...... of holy An, you have brought with you the ...... of
holy An, you have brought with you the ...... of holy An, you have
brought with you the ...... of holy An, you have brought with you the
...... of holy An, you have brought with you all of the ......, ......
beer."
2 lines fragmentary
6 lines missing
Where the woman ...... joy ......, she named it with the name
"The house Ganzer is rebuilt". Where the trader said
"Fifty shekels" but when he brought (?) it there was less,
she named that place with the name "Potsherds and scrap metal
(?)". Where the boat ......, she named it with the name
"......". Where the boat came to dock at the quay, she named
that place with the name "White Quay". Where ......, she
named that place with the name "Blue Quay".
Enki spoke to holy Inanna: "In the name of my power, in the name
of my abzu, I will establish ...... in my abzu for the woman."
( Inanna speaks:) "Why has this one now entered here? ......
taking the divine powers from me?"
3 lines fragmentary
(A third deity speaks:) "May the ...... in your name!"
4 lines fragmentary
"May there be ...... a festival! May ...... pass their time
...... at the gate of your Jipar! May the citizens of your city,
Inanna, the citizens of Unug, live ......! And as for you, Enki -- may
...... your city, Eridug ......, and has indeed restored ......."
