Before the world was fed, two daughters of Enlil lay down on the sacred mound together. One was green. One gave milk. Both were necessary. But only one would be first.
Prologue: Before They Were Made
On the mountain where heaven and earth meet,
when An had fathered the Anunnaki —
before Ašnan had been born, before she had greened,
before the weaver's thread had been stretched across the land,
before any foundation had been set for the loom —
no ewe had come forth, no lamb been scattered.
No nanny-goat walked the hills, no kid been scattered.
The ewe had not yet birthed her two lambs.
The nanny-goat had not yet birthed her three kids.
The great Anunnaki, the great gods — they did not know.
Grain had not appeared for thirty days.
Grain had not appeared for forty days.
Grain had not appeared for fifty days.
The small grain of the mountains,
the grain of the highlands,
the grain of the pure outlying lands —
none of it existed.
Cloth to put on the body — none of it existed.
Uttu had not been born; no crown had been raised.
Lord Ningirisig, lord of precious things, had not been born.
Šakkan had not yet gone out into the open country.
Humanity, in those days —
they did not know eating bread.
They did not know putting on garments.
The land went on steadily, as it was.
They ate plants with their mouths, like sheep.
They drank water from the garden ditches.
This was the time of the gods' own birthplace.
On the sacred mound,
the ewe and Ašnan lay down together in the straw.
They were heaped up in the shrine of the bread-eating gods.
In the abundance of the ewe, with Ašnan beside her —
the Anunnaki of the sacred mound were eating,
but could not be satisfied.
Their pure sheepfold, their sweet milk —
the Anunnaki of the sacred mound were drinking,
but could not be satisfied.
Into that sweet sheepfold
humanity turned its longing heart.
The Descent
Then Enki spoke to Enlil:
"Father Enlil —
the ewe and Ašnan together
have lain on the sacred mound.
Let us bring them down."
By the holy word of Enki and Enlil,
the ewe and Ašnan were brought down from the sacred mound.
The ewe was brought into her sheepfold,
given the wide-spreading herbs.
Ašnan was assigned her field,
given the plow and the yoke's team.
The ewe stood in her sheepfold —
a shepherd making it flourish with joy.
Ašnan stood in her furrow —
a young maiden, green, laden with grace.
Their Gifts
Raising their heads high from the fields,
bringing abundance down from the sky,
the ewe and Ašnan shone forth together.
In the assembly they brought plenty.
In the land they brought life and joy.
They fulfilled the divine powers of the gods.
They filled the storerooms of the land.
They made the treasuries heavy.
Into the house of the poor man pressed into the dust
they stooped down and brought him abundance.
Standing in their places, the two of them
weighed heavy in the house with their gifts.
Standing in their assigned places, adorned with splendor,
in the heart of An, in the heart of Enlil — they were pleasing.
They drank wine, that sweet thing.
They tasted beer, that sweetness.
Drunk on sweet wine, drunk on sweet beer,
out in the open field they began to argue.
At the festival they contested with each other.
Ašnan Speaks
Ašnan called out to the ewe:
"Sister — what have you said?
I am the splendor of the wide land.
I gave my strength to the hero.
In the palace my arm was raised.
In the land my name stands firm at the edge.
I am the gift of the Anunnaki.
I am the delight of the royal dais.
My strength I give to the warrior,
the warrior standing in the place of battle —
he does not know weapons without me,
he does not know nets without me.
I set good order in the land.
I set things right for thieves and robbers.
I untangle the growing quarrel.
When a young man is seized,
I draw near to him
and give him his fate.
His troubled heart, his anxious mind — I overwhelm them.
Wood on wood I press together.
I am holy Ašnan, daughter of Enlil.
Your sheep hang tethered in the upper house,
huddled in the highland.
What do you know?
What can you say to me?"
The Ewe Replies
For the second time, the ewe answered Ašnan:
"Sister — what have you said?
An, king of the gods,
brought me up from his pure and precious earth.
The woven thread, the splendor of kingship — it is with me.
Šakkan, king of the mountains, adorns me with his colorful divine powers.
He sets the warrior's arm right.
From the edge of the horizon, the rebel lands — he presses them down.
The leather battle-shield, the flood of bows — these come toward me.
The watchful eye, the guarded teeth — that is my care.
The life-force of the field, the young man's vigor — that is mine.
The cold leather bag, the sandal — that is mine.
Sweet-smelling oil, divine incense —
oil for rubbing, for kneading, for perfume, oil of cedar — that is mine.
My garment of date-palm fiber and white wool
delights the king on his dais.
My outer garment, in the hands of the great gods,
glitters like the stars.
The rituals of the gudug-priest, the high-priest, the man who has bathed —
they perform them for me.
My holy garments are laid at their feet.
The weeding-hoe, the reed-plow, the tethering rope for the prime cow,
the post in the swamp's center — these are mine.
What do you know?
What can you say to me?"
Ašnan Replies
For the second time, Ašnan answered the ewe:
"In the oven I have tended the malt.
In the oven the wort is built up.
Ninkasi multiplies me without end.
Your great goats and your great sheep —
they are slaughtered at my banquet.
They come back behind me, trailing my gifts.
Your shepherd turns his eyes to the highland, seeking what is mine.
For my fresh water spread across the field.
My farmer drives your herdsman away with weapons,
chasing you down to the low-lying places.
You cannot escape from me.
The venomous snake of the open plain —
your life in the highland screams out.
At sunset, your reckoning is made.
Your bones are strewn upon the ground.
'Ewes — where? Lambs — where?
Nanny-goats — where? Kids — where?'
So the shepherd cries out.
The small south wind goes into the city.
The great north wind scatters everything.
You are penned in a shelter in the upper house —
and still the south wind goes into the city,
still the great north wind scatters you.
You stand against the storm with nothing.
I am Ašnan, born of the warrior.
I do not waver."
The Ewe Speaks Again
For the second time, the ewe answered Ašnan:
"You — in the sky, like holy Inanna.
The horse of the mountains longs for the earth.
The enemy troops gather on the mountaintops.
Young men — men with young wives, men with small children —
stretched out a rope-length and led them to the ruin mound,
and from the ruin mound led them back down.
Their weapons come before your face.
Your mouth is at them —
like millstones grinding, your neck is worked.
The great south wind, the bitter north wind, one after the other —
millstones of stone grind you.
Stone hands spread out to grind you.
And when you are laid out on the table,
they set you above and set you below.
Ašnan, you yourself have understanding, you yourself speak —
yet you eat just like me.
Your divine powers are lifted high before them.
And I — I follow after.
The man of the millstones has done nothing wrong."
Ašnan's Final Word
Then Ašnan, her heart full of pride, resolved to speak.
She bowed her head and answered the ewe:
"You — the storm god Iškur is your lord,
Šakkan is your master,
the open wilderness is your resting place.
In the house, in the field, like fire fallen upon them —
from the door, birds dart out like a swarm.
You bring disease into the land.
But I — I have bent my neck to the earth.
In the orchards you roam freely.
Into your pen the merchant brings a buyer
and drapes your own fine wool around your neck.
Everyone cries:
'Fill the grain-basket for my ewe!'
So man says to man."
The Verdict
Then Enki spoke to Enlil:
"Father Enlil —
let Ašnan be the elder sister.
Let them stand together.
Let the two of them not be separated.
Let Ašnan be the greater.
Let the ewe's knee press to the ground before Ašnan.
Let her foot be kissed.
From sunrise to sunset,
let the name of Ašnan be proclaimed.
Let the troops bow the neck before Ašnan.
The man who has silver, the man who has gems,
the man who has cattle, the man who has sheep —
at the gate, may the man who has grain be seated;
may his day pass in comfort."
The ewe and Ašnan —
their contest, their dispute, was settled.
The abandoned ewe.
The risen Ašnan.
Praise be to father Enki.
Colophon
Translated from the Sumerian composite text of the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL c.5.3.2) by Zagin, New Tianmu Anglican Church, March 2026. The ETCSL composite draws on approximately thirty cuneiform tablets from Nippur and other sites, dated to the Old Babylonian period (c. 1800 BCE). A small number of lines are fragmentary; these have been translated conservatively, with lacunae bridged by context.
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Source Text
The Debate between Grain and Sheep — Sumerian transliteration, ETCSL c.5.3.2 (Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Oxford)
- ḫur-saĝ an ki-bi-da-ke4
- ud an-ne2 da-nun-na im-tud-de3-eš-a-ba
- mu dezina2 nu-ub-da-tud-da-aš nu-ub-da-an-sig7-ga
- kalam-ma gu duttu nu-ub-da-an-dim2-ma-aš
- duttu-ra temen nu-mu-un-na-sig9-ga-aš
- u8 nu-e3-a sila4 nu-šar2-ra
- ud5 nu-me-a maš2 nu-šar2-ra
- u8-e sila4 2-bi nu-ub-tu-ud
- ud5-e maš2 3-bi nu-ub-tu-ud
- mu dezina2-dku3-su3 du8-bi-da-ke4
- da-nun-na diĝir gal-gal-e-ne nu-mu-un-zu-uš-am3
- še muš5 ud 30-am3 nu-ĝal2-la-am3
- še muš5 ud 40-am3 nu-ĝal2-la-am3
- še muš5 ud 50-am3 nu-ĝal2-la-am3
- še di4-di4 še kur-ra še a2-dam kug-ga nu-ĝal2-la-am3
- tug2 niĝ2 mu4-mu4-bi nu-ĝal2-la-am3
- duttu nu-ub-tu-ud men nu-il2
- en dniĝir-si en kal-kal nu-ub-tu-ud
- dšakkan2 bar-rim4-ma la-ba-ra-e3-a
- nam-lu2-ulu3 ud re-a-ke4-ne
- ninda gu7-u3-bi nu-mu-un-zu-uš-am3
- tug2-ga mu4-mu4-bi nu-mu-un-zu-uš-am3
- kalam ĝiš-gen6-na su-bi mu-un-ĝen
- udu-gin7 ka-ba u2 mu-ni-ib-gu7
- a mu2-sar-ra-ka i-im-na8-na8-ne
- ud-ba ki-ulutim2 diĝir-re-e-ne-kam
- e2-bi du6 kug-ga u8 dezina2-bi mu-un-se12-eš-am3
- eš3 ninda gu7 diĝir-re-e-ne-ka mi-ni-ib-de5-de5-ge-eš-a
- ḫe2-ĝal2 u8 dezina2-bi-da-ka
- da-nun-na du6 kug-ga-ke4-ne
- i-im-gu7-gu7-ne nu-mu-un-de3-si-si-eš
- amaš kug-ga-ne-ne ga-bi niĝ2 dug3-ga
- da-nun-na du6 kug-ga-ke4-ne
- i-im-na8-na8-ne nu-mu-un-de3-si-si-eš
- amaš kug-ga niĝ2 dug3-ga-ne-ne-še3
- nam-lu2-ulu3 zi šag4 im-ši-in-ĝal2
- ud-ba den-ki-ke4 den-lil2-ra gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e
- a-a den-lil2 u8 dezina2-bi-da-ke4
- du6 kug-ga um-ma-da-an-se12-eš-a
- du6 kug-ta ga-am3-ma-da-ra-ab-ed3-de3-en-de3-en
- den-ki den-lil2-bi inim kug-ga-ne-ne-a-am3 dug4-ga
- u8 dezina2-bi du6 kug-ta im-ma-da-ra-an-ed3-de3
- u8 amaš-a-na im-ma-ab-ni10-ni10-e
- u2-šim niĝ2-daĝal-la mu-un-na-ba-e-ne
- dezina2-ra gana2-ni mu-un-na-ĝa2-ĝa2-ne
- ĝišapin šudul erin2-bi mu-un-na-ba-e-ne
- u8 amaš-a-na gub-ba-ni
- sipad amaš-a ḫi-li du8-du8-a
- dezina2 ab-sin2-na gub-ba-ni
- ki-sikil sig7-ga ḫi-li gur3-ru-am3
- gan2-ne2-ta saĝ zig3 il2-la-ni
- ḫe2-ĝal2 an-na-ta de6-de6-a-ni
- u8 dezina2-bi pa e3 mu-un-ak-eš
- unken-na ḫe2-ĝal2 mu-da-an-ĝal2-le-eš
- kalam-ma zi-šag4-ĝal2 mu-da-an-ĝal2-le-eš
- me diĝir-re-e-ne si im-sa2-sa2-e-ne
- erim3 kalam-ma-ka niĝ2 mu-ni-ib-lu-lu-un
- ama5 kalam-ma-ka dugud mu-un-de3-ĝal2
- e2 ukur3-ra saḫar ki us2-sa-a-ba
- u3-mu-un-sun5-ne-eš ḫe2-ĝal2 mu-da-an-ĝal2-le-eš
- 2(MAN)-na-ne-ne ki ĝiri3-ne-ne ba-an-gub-bu-uš-a
- dugud-bi e2-a niĝ2 taḫ-e-me-eš
- ki gub niĝ2-si-me-eš ki tuš me-te-ĝal2-me-eš
- šag4 an-na šag4 den-lil2-la2-ke4 ba-sag9-ge-eš
- ĝeštin niĝ2 dug3 i-im-na8-na8-e-ne
- kaš niĝ2 dug3 i-im-dug3-dug3-ge-ne
- ĝeštin niĝ2 dug3 u3-mu-un-naĝ-eš-a-ta
- kaš niĝ2 dug3 u3-mu-un-dug3-ge-eš-a-ta
- a-gar3-a-gar3-ra du14 mi-ni-ib-mu2-mu2-ne
- ki ĝišbun-na-ka a-da-min3 mu-un-ak-ne
- dezina2-e u8-ra gu3 mu-un-na-de2-e
- nin9-ĝu10 niĝ2 a-na mu-e-dug4-ga-zu
- su3-ra2-aĝ2 kalam-ma-ka giri17-zal-bi-me-en
- saĝ-ur-saĝ-ra usu-ĝu10 ba-ab-šum2-mu
- e2-gal-la su zig3 mu-un-da-an-ri
- kalam-ma mu zag-še3 mu-da-sug2-sug2-ge-eš
- kadra da-nun-na-ke4-ne-me-en
- lipiš barag-barag-ge2-ne-me-en
- usu-ĝu10 ur-saĝ-ra u3-mu-na-te
- ki me3-ka gub-ba-ni
- su nu-mu-un-zu sa nu-mu-un-zu
- i-gi4-in-zu ki-a-ne-di [...]-na-du-un
- nam-ušur nam-ma3-la i-im-dug3-dug3-ge
- ušur du14 mu2-a i-im-bur2-bur2-re
- ĝuruš dab5-ba-ra u3-mu-un-na-te
- nam tar-ra-ni u3-mu-un-na-ba-e
- šag4 sag3-ga-ni ĝeštug2-ga-ni im-mi-ib-u18-lu
- ĝiš-šu ĝiš-gu2 i-im-du8-du8-e
- dezina2-dku3-su3-me-en dumu den-lil2-la2-me-en
- ĝa2 udu e2-ubur-ra an-edin-na la2-a
- a-na-zu mu-da-ĝal2 a-na ma-ab-be2-en-na-bi gi4-ma-ni-ib
- 2(MAN)-kam-ma-še3 u8 dezina2-ra mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
- nin9-ĝu10 niĝ2 a-na mu-e-dug4-ga-zu
- an lugal diĝir-re-e-ne-ke4
- ki kug ki kal-kal-ĝu10 mu-un-ed3-de3-NE
- gu-gu duttu me-lem4 nam-lugal-la ĝa2-a-ra mu-da-ĝal2
- dšakkan2 lugal ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2-ke4
- me-ni u-gun3 mu-un-na-ab-ak-e
- a2 nam-šita4-ke4 si mu-na-ab-sa2-e
- zag-e3 gal-gal ki-bal-še3 ebiḫ2 ba-an-sur-re
- [kuš]da-lu-uš2 a-ma-ru ĝišpan gal-gal-e mu-na-ab-[X-X]
- zu2 keše2 igi bar-ra en-nu-uĝ3 ĝa2-a-kam
- a-šag4-ga zi nam-ĝuruš ĝa2-a-kam
- kušummud a sed4-da kuše-sir2 ĝa2-a-kam
- i3 dug3-ga ir-sim diĝir-ra
- i3 a-ra2 i3 dub2 i3 šim i3 ĝišerin sa2-dug4-ga ĝa2-a-kam
- zulumḫi tug2 siki babbar-ra-ĝu10
- lugal barag-ga-na im-mi-in-ḫul2-le
- bar-ĝu10 su diĝir gal-gal-e-ne-ka mul-ma-al im-mi-ib-za
- gudug pa4-šeš lu2 a tu5-am3
- šu-luḫ kug-ĝa2 um-ma-da-an-mur10-re
- šukur2 kug-ĝa2 ĝiri3 mu-da-an-gub-be2
- ĝišgana2-ur3 ĝišeme-apin-na dur ab2-saĝ
- ĝiššu-kar2 sug-zag-ge4 gu7-a
- a-na-zu mu-da-ĝal2 a-na ma-ab-be2-na-bi gi4-ma-ni-ib
- 2(MAN)-kam-ma-še3 dezina2-e u8-ra mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
- bappir udun-na mi2 u3-ba-ni-dug4
- titab udun-na u3-ba-ni-du3
- dnin-ka-si-ke4 ma-ab-šar2-šar2-re
- maš2 gal-gal udu-utua2 gal-gal-zu
- ki ĝišbun-ĝa2 mu-un-til-le-eš
- niĝ2-ĝu10-ta a2 gur-ra im-da-sug2-sug2-ge-eš
- sipad-zu niĝ2-ĝu10-še3 an-edin-na igi-bi im-ši-ĝal2
- išin-na a-šag4-ga ĝal2-la-ĝu10-še3
- engar-ĝu10 na-gada-zu ĝištukul-ta mu-un-sar-re
- ki-ta ki sig9-ga-aš u3-mu-e-re-kiĝ2
- za-e-ra ni2-zu nu-mu-un-ta-ed3-de3
- muš-ĝiri2 lu2 la-ga niĝ2 edin-na-ke4
- zi-zu an-edin-na ku-kur ba-ni-ib-be2
- ud šu2-uš-e niĝ2-kas7-zu ba-ni-ak-e
- ĝiš-šudum-ma-zu ki i3-tag-tag-ge
- na-gada-zu u8 me-a sila4 tur-tur me-a
- ud5 me-a maš2 tur-tur me-a lu2 mu-un-na-ab-be2
- tum9 tur-tur-e iri-a du-da-bi
- tum9 gal-gal-e sag2 di-da-bi
- za-e e2-ubur-ra ma-ra-an-du3-u3-ne
- tum9 tur-tur-e iri-a du-da-bi
- tum9 gal-gal-e sag2 di-da-bi
- diškur-ra gaba ri-a mu-da-an-gub-be2-en
- dezina2-me-en ur-saĝ-ra tud-da-me-en ĝa2-la nu-mu-un-ta-dag-ge-en
- dugšakir3 dugĝiri3-GA gi16-sa nam-sipad-da niĝ2-gur11-ra gub-ba
- a-na-zu mu-da-ĝal2 a-na ma-ab-be2-na-bi gi4-ma-ni-ib
- 2(MAN)-kam-ma-še3 u8 dezina2-ra mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
- za-e [kug] dinana an-na-gin7
- [anše]-kur-ra ki im-a-aĝ2
- lu2-erim2 bar tab-ba saĝ kur-ra
- ĝuruš-e lu2 dam tur-ra-ke4 [lu2] dumu tur-tur-ra-ke4
- eš2-da 1 kuš3-na um-da-la2
- ki-du6-še3 um-ma-an-ed2-de3
- ki-du6-ta [...]-ed3-de3
- ĝištukul-a-ni igi-zu um-ra-ra ka-zu um-ra-ra
- X gum-gum-gin7 PA-zu [...]-ma-ri-in-[...]
- tum9u18-lu tum9mir-re bal-še3 [...]
- na4kinkin-e na4X [...] X [...]
- na4šu-še3 bar-za-a ar3-ar3 mi-ni-in-ak
- za-e ĝišbuniĝ-bi sig9-ga-zu-ne
- lu2-silaĝ-ĝa2 ba-ḫi ki-a mi-ni-in-ĝar
- ki-sikil du8 gu-la šu bur2-ra-am3
- imšu-rin-na mi-ni-a-ed3-de3
- imšu-rin-na-ta im-ta-a-ed3-de3
- za-e ĝišbanšur-ra ĝal2-la-zu-ne
- an-ta ma-ra-ĝal2-en ki-ta ma-ĝal2-en
- dezina2 ni2-za ĝeštug2 ak-i3
- u3 za-e ĝe26-e-gin7 niĝ2-gu7-u3-me-en
- me-za igi mi-ni-ib-il2-la-ke4-eš
- u3 ĝe26-e eĝer-bi im-us2-en
- lu2-na4kinkin-e ḫul nu-ĝal2
- a-na-zu mu-da-ĝal2 a-na ma-ab-be2-en-na-bi gi4-ma-ni-ib
- ud-ba dezina2-e nam-gur4-ra-na šag4 im-mi-in-dab5 di-de3 saĝ ba-an-šum2
- dezina2 u8-ra mu-un-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
- za-e diškur lugal-zu-um dšakkan2 kuš7-zu-um bar-rim4 ki-nu2-zu-um
- e2-e gan2-ne2 izi in-ga-dub2-ba-gin7
- e2-ba! ka-ba buru5mušen dal ba-ab-ra-gin7
- eḫ3 si-ig kalam-ma-še3 ba-ni-ib-kur9-re-en
- ĝe26-e gu2-ĝu10 ki-še3 ba-e-de3-ĝa2-ĝa2-ĝa2
- ĝišba-an-e-ĝišba-an-e ba-e-ḫal-ḫa-X
- šag4-tur3-zu ganba-ka lu2 u3-bi2-in-de6
- tug2niĝ2-dara2 ni2-za gu2-zu u3-bi2-in-la2
- u8-ĝu10-še3 še ĝišba-an-e si-ma-ab lu2 lu2-u3 in-na-ab-e
- ud-ba den-ki-ke4 den-lil2-ra gu3 mu-na-de2-e
- a-a den-lil2 du8 dezina2-bi nin9 ḫe2-me-eš
- teš2-bi-da ḫe2-en-da-sug2-sug2-ge-eš
- kug 3-kam-ma-ne-ne-a [...] ĝa2-la nu-um-[...-dag-ge]
- 2(MAN)-na-ne-ne dezina2 [ḫe2-...]-gu-ul
- dezina2-ra dub3 [ki]-a ḫe2-en-de3-za-za
- [...]-ra ĝiri3-ni [ne] ḫe2-em-su-ub-bu-de3
- dutu e3-a-ra dutu šu2-uš-e
- mu dezina2-kam ḫe2-em-pad3-pad3-de3
- erin2 dezina2-ka gu2 ḫe2-em-mi-ib-ĝar
- lu2 kug tuku lu2 za tuku lu2 gud tuku lu2 udu tuku
- kan4 lu2 še tuku-e dur2 ḫe2-ĝa2-ĝa2 ud ḫe2-ni-ib-zal-zal-e
- u8 dezina2-bi a-da-min3 mi2 dug4-ga
- u8 taka4-a dezina2 e3-a a-a den-ki za3-mi2
Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), Oxford. Composite text c.5.3.2. Old Babylonian, c. 1800 BCE.
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