Monday, March 23, 2026 · 天火 · tianmu.org

Shulgi A — A Self-Praise Poem

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From Nibru to the brickwork of Ur — in the space of two hours — my heart confirms it.

Shulgi, second king of the Third Dynasty of Ur, was the greatest builder of the Ur III empire — a warrior, an administrator, and a scholar who claimed to have mastered every art from archery to cuneiform. His royal inscriptions, hymns, and praise poems make up one of the richest corpora of royal self-presentation in the ancient world. This poem, known as Šulgi A, opens with a litany of divine connections before pivoting to the poem's famous centrepiece: the king's claim to have run the 100-mile road between Nippur and Ur and back in a single day, through a storm, arriving in time to celebrate the festivals in both cities before nightfall. The poem ends with praise of Nisaba, goddess of writing, who is always the final word of Sumerian literary compositions — the sign that the text has passed through her hands.

I. Who I Am

I am a king; from the womb I am a hero.
I am Shulgi; from the day of my birth I am a strong man.
I am the fierce-eyed lion, born of the great serpent-dragon.
I am king of the four quarters of heaven.
I am the herdsman and shepherd of the black-headed people.
I am the lordly one of the gods of all the lands.

I am the son born of Ninsun.
I am the one chosen in the heart of holy An.
I am the man whose fate was decreed by Enlil.
I am Shulgi, beloved of Ninlil.
I am the one rightly cared for by Nintur.
I am the one given wisdom by Enki.
I am the mighty king of Nanna.
I am the open-mouthed lion of Utu.
I am Shulgi, found in his prime by Inana.

I am the wild ass fit for the open road.
I am the horse, tail high, swift on the journey.
I am the young bull of Shakkan, prized in the race.
I am the great knowing scribe of Nisaba.

II. The Pledge

By the measure of my heroism, my strength —
let skill be perfected in me.
Let right speech be established for me.
Let justice be loved.
Let wickedness be denied.
Let the evil word spoken be driven far from me.

I am Shulgi, the strong king, head risen above all.
My arms are great; beside me, there is rejoicing.

Let the roads of the land be made right under my feet.
Let the road be firm; let great rest-houses be built.
Let orchards be planted on either side.
Let cool resting places be set; let the road-keeper sit there.
Going from south to north — at the resting places, let me cool myself.
I am a man on the road who has kept pace with the night.
Like a well-built city, let my spirit be carried.

To place my name for distant days to come —
that it not fall from mouths —
to spread my glory across the lands,
to open my fame in all the mountains —

I am the one who has legs;
let my strength rise to run this race.

From Nibru to the brickwork of Ur —
in the space of two hours — my heart confirms it.

III. The Run

Like a young lion unweary, with power gathered in me,
I buckled a belt around my waist.
Like the tum-bird spreading its wings, I stretched my arms wide.
Like the Anzu bird lifting its eyes to the mountain, I opened my stride.
My cities and settlements lined themselves before me.
The black-headed people, numerous as ewes,
looked on me in wonder.
Like a mountain goat bounding for its place —

In the broad daylight of Utu,
I entered the temple of the Kisnugal.

In the temple of Suen, the cattle pen full of great fatness —
I set it overflowing with abundance.
I slaughtered oxen; I multiplied the sheep.
The drum and the harp sounded out.
The tigi-drum was set in its sweetness.
I, Shulgi who loves all good things, made the bread-offering.

Like a lion in the royal station, raising my terrible splendor —
in the great palace of Nin-egal —
I bent my knee; I bathed in the sweet water.
I bowed; I ate the food.
Like the Ninimma bird, I rose again.

IV. The Storm

Let me return to Nibru with my joy!

At that moment — the day cried out. The storm wind churned.
The wild south wind and the great south wind
roared by themselves.
Lightning blazed; all seven winds of heaven
ate the sky together.
The storm struck; the earth shook.
Ishkur thundered across the broad sky.
The rain of heaven joined the river below.
Small stones and large stones
came hammering against my back.

I, the king — I was not frightened.
My hair did not stand on end.
Like a bold young lion, I ran swift.
Like a steppe-ass at full gallop, I stretched my ground.
My joyful heart — the run filled it.
Alone like a young bull, going through my storm —

Utu gazing toward his house —
fifteen double-hours of road —
I circled back.

My warriors watched with their eyes.
In one day, I performed the festivals of Nibru and Ur.

V. The Feast

My companion, my brother — the young man Utu.
In the palace set by heaven, we drank beer.
My musicians let the seven tigi-drums ring out.
My wife, the young woman Inana,
mistress of the glory of heaven and earth,
sat with me at the feast.

I spoke of myself: I am well-being itself.

Let the one who has raised his eyes to me come forward.
From above, let my granary be returned to me.

VI. The Reward

An set the rightful great crown upon my head.
In the lapis lazuli Ekur I seized the scepter.
Upon the white throne, the firmly rooted chair,
I lifted my head toward heaven.

In kingship let my arm be raised.
Let the mountains be bowed; let the land be made firm.
In the four corners, among all the black-headed people —
let my name be called.

Let them sing my holy songs.
Let them seek out my greatness.

This is the praise of the great arm of the king.

Colophon

Suen from the Kisnugal —
heroism, strength, life, and all sweet things were given.
The great arm given by Nunamnir —
Shulgi, who lays low mountains and secures the land —
purification-priest of heaven and earth without rival —
Shulgi, noble son of An, rightly cared for.

Praise of Nisaba.

Translated from the Sumerian by Ur-Nisaba (Good Works Translation), 2026. Source text: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), text c.2.4.2.01 (Šulgi A), 102 lines. The English is independently derived from the Sumerian transliteration accessed via ETCSL; the ETCSL English translation was consulted as a structural reference only. Shulgi (r. 2094–2047 BCE) was the second king of the Third Dynasty of Ur, son of Ur-Namma. He claimed to have personally mastered seven scribal arts and composed hymns to himself in both Sumerian and Akkadian — an unprecedented literary self-promotion. The legendary run described here — Nippur to Ur, roughly 160 km — and back in one day, through a raging storm, arriving in time to celebrate festivals at both cities, is the poem's central miracle. "Danna" (line 41): a Sumerian unit of distance, approximately 10.8 km; fifteen danna (line 76) is approximately 162 km for the round trip. "Kisnugal": the great moon-temple of Suen (Nanna) at Ur. "Tigi-drum": a large frame drum used in temple music. "Nisaba": goddess of writing and scribal arts; all Sumerian literary compositions end with her praise, signifying that the text has passed through her care.

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Source Text

Sumerian transliteration from the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), text c.2.4.2.01 (etcsl.cgi?text=c.2.4.2.01). 102 lines. Ur III literary Sumerian. Angle brackets / indicate uncertain readings; [X] indicates unclear signs.

  1. lugal-me-en šag4-ta ur-saĝ-me-en
  2. dšul-gi-me-en ba-tu-ud-de3-en-na-ta nitaḫ kalag-ga-me-en
  3. piriĝ igi ḫuš ušumgal-e tud-da-me-en
  4. lugal an ub-da 4-ba-me-en
  5. na-gada sipad saĝ gig2-ga-me-en
  6. nir-ĝal2 diĝir kur-kur-ra-me-en
  7. dumu u3-tud-da dnin-sumun2-kam-me-en
  8. šag4-ge pad3-da an kug-ga-me-en
  9. lu2 nam tar-ra den-lil2-la2-me-en
  10. dšul-gi ki aĝ2 dnin-lil2-la2-me-en
  11. mi2 zid dug4-ga dnin-tur5-ra-me-en
  12. ĝeštug2 šum2-ma den-ki-kam-me-en
  13. lugal kalag-ga dnanna-a-me-en
  14. piriĝ ka du8-a dutu-u3-me-en
  15. dšul-gi ḫi-li-a pad3-da dinana-me-en
  16. anše-ĝir2-nun-na kaskal-e du7-u3-me-en
  17. anše-kur-ra ḫar-ra-an-na kun sud-sud-me-en
  18. dur3 dšakkan2-na kaš4-e kiĝ2-ĝa2-me-en
  19. dub-sar gal-zu dnisaba-kam-me-en
  20. nam-ur-saĝ-ĝu10-gin7 nam-kalag-ga-ĝu10-gin7
  21. ĝeštug2-ĝa2 šu ḫu-mu-ni-du7-am3
  22. inim gen6-na-bi ḫa-ma-da-sa2-am3
  23. niĝ2-si-sa2-e ki ḫa-ba-aĝ2-ĝa2-am3
  24. niĝ2-erim2-e ki la-ba-ra-aĝ2-ĝa2-am3
  25. inim niĝ2-erim2 dug4-ga ḫul ḫa-ba-ra-gig-ga-am3
  26. dšul-gi-me-en lugal kalag-ga saĝ-bi-še3 e3-a-me-en
  27. a2-nun-ĝal2 zag-še-ni-še3 ḫul2-la i3-me-en-na-ke4-eš
  28. ĝiri3 ḫu-mu-gur kaskal kalam-ma-ke4 si ḫe2-mi-sa2-sa2
  29. danna ḫu-mu-gen6 e2 gal-la ḫe2-bi2-du3
  30. zag-ba ĝiškiri6 ḫe2-bi2-gub ki ni2 dub2-bu ḫe2-bi2-ĝar
  31. ki-bi lu2 zu-a ḫe2-em-mi-tuš
  32. sig-ta du igi-nim-ta du-e
  33. a2 sed4-bi-še3 ni2 ḫe2-eb-ši-te-en-te-en
  34. nitaḫ ḫar-ra-an-na du kaskal-e ĝi6 ba-an-da-sa2-a
  35. iri du3-a-gin7 zi-ni ḫa-ba-ši-in-tum3
  36. mu-ĝu10 ud ul-le2-a-aš ĝa2-ĝa2-de3 ka-ta nu-šub-bu-de3
  37. ar2-ĝu10 kalam-ma ak-ak-de3
  38. ka tar-ĝu10 kur-kur-ra si-il-le-de3
  39. dub3-tuku-me-en usu-ĝu10 ib2-zig3-ge kaš4-e kab2 di-de3
  40. nibruki-ta šeg12 urim2ki-ma-še3
  41. danna 1-gin7 šu ni10-ni10-da šag4-ĝu10 ḫa-ma-ab-dug4
  42. piriĝ nam-šul-bi-ta nu-kuš2-u3 ne3-ba gub-ba-me-en
  43. tug2niĝ2-lam2 ban3-da ib2-ĝa2 ba-du3
  44. tum12mušen nir-DU sumur-bi dal-la-gin7 a2-ĝu10 ḫu-mu-sud-sud
  45. anzudmušen kur-bi-še3 igi il2-la-gin7 dub3-ĝu10 ḫu-mu-bad-bad
  46. iri ma-da ki ĝar-ĝar-ra-ĝu10 ḫa-ma-sug2-sug2-ge-eš-am3
  47. uĝ3 saĝ gig2-ga u8-gin7 lu-a u6 dug3 ḫa-ma-ab-dug4
  48. maš2 ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 ki-ur3-bi-še3 ḫub2 sar-sar-re-gin7
  49. dutu a2-dam-ma ud daĝal-la
  50. e2-kiš-nu-ĝal2-še3 ḫa-ba-kur9-re-en
  51. e2 dsuen-na tur3 i3 gal-gal-la ḫe2-ĝal2-la ḫe2-bi2-du8
  52. gud ḫa-ba-ni-gaz udu ḫa-ba-ni-šar2
  53. šem5 a2-la2-e šeg11 ḫa-ba-gi4
  54. tigi niĝ2 dug3-ge si ḫa-ba-ni-sa2
  55. dšul-gi lu2 niĝ2 lu-lu-me-en ninda ĝiš ḫa-ba-ni-tag
  56. piriĝ-gin7 KI.LUGAL.GUB-ta ni2 il2-la-ĝu10-ne
  57. e2-gal-maḫ dnin-e2-gal-la-ka-kam
  58. dub3 ḫe2-ni-dub2 a zal-le ḫe2-ni-tu5
  59. dub3 ḫe2-ni-gam ninda ḫu-mu-ni-gu7
  60. dnin-immax(LAGAB×SIG7)mušen sur2-du3mušen-gin7 ḫa-ba-zig3-ge-en
  61. nibruki-še3 a-la-ĝa2 ḫa-ba-gur-re-en
  62. ud-bi-a ud-de3 gu3 ḫe2-eb-be2 mar-uru5 ḫe2-ni10-ni10
  63. tum9mir mir-ra tum9u18-lu mur-bi ni2-bi-a ḫu-mu-un-ša4
  64. nim ĝir2-ĝir2 tum9 7-bi-ta an-na teš2 ḫe2-ni-gu7
  65. ud te-eš dug4-ga ki ḫe2-em-tuku4-tuku4
  66. diškur-re an niĝ2-daĝal-la-ba gu3 ḫu-mu-ni-dub2-dub2
  67. im an-na-ke4 a ki-ta gu2 ḫe2-em-ma-da-ab-la2
  68. na4 tur-tur-bi na4 gal-gal-bi
  69. murgu-ĝa2 dub-dab ḫe2-em-mi-ib-za
  70. lugal-me-en ni2 ba-ra-ba-da-te su ba-ra-ba-da-zig3
  71. piriĝ ban3-da-gin7 gur5-ru-uš ḫu-mu-bur2-bur2
  72. anše edin-na-gin7 ḫub2-ĝa2 ḫu-mu-šu2-šu2
  73. šag4 la-la-ĝal2-la-ĝu10 kaš4 ḫu-mu-ni-gun3-gun3
  74. dur3 dili du-gin7 im2-ma-ĝu10-ne
  75. dutu e2-a-ni-še3 igi i3-ĝa2-ĝa2-de3
  76. kaskal 15 danna-am3 šu ḫu-mu-ni10-ni10
  77. saĝ-ur-saĝ-ĝu10-ne igi ḫu-mu-un-du8-uš-am3
  78. ud 1-a nibruki urim2ki-ma eš3-eš3-bi ḫu-mu-ak
  79. šeš gu5-li-ĝu10 šul dutu-am3
  80. e2-gal an-ne2 ki ĝar-ra-am3 kaš ḫu-mu-un-di-ni-naĝ
  81. nar-ĝu10 tigi 7-e šir3-re-eš ḫa-ma-an-ne-eš
  82. nitalam-ĝu10 ki-sikil dinana nin ḫi-li an ki-a
  83. gu7 naĝ-bi-a ḫu-mu-da-an-tuš-am3
  84. ni2-ĝu10 silim-eš2-am3 ba-ra-ab-dug4
  85. igi il2-la-ĝa2 ḫe2-eb-ĝen-ne-en
  86. šag4-ge guru7-ĝa2 an-ta ḫe2-eb-gi4
  87. an-ne2 aga zid maḫ saĝ-ĝa2 ḫe2-em-mi-in-gen6
  88. e2-kur za-gin3-na ĝišĝidru ḫa-ba-dab5-ba
  89. barag babbar-ra ĝišgu-za suḫuš gen6-na saĝ an-še3 ḫa-ba-il2
  90. nam-lugal-la a2 ḫu-mu-ni-maḫ
  91. kur ḫu-mu-gam-gam kalam ḫu-mu-ge-en-ge-en
  92. an ub-da 4 uĝ3 saĝ sig10-ga-a-ba mu-ĝu10 ḫe2-em-mi-sa4
  93. šir3 kug-ĝa2 ḫu-mu-un-e-ne
  94. nam-maḫ-ĝu10 ḫu-mu-ni-pad3-de3-ne
  95. a2 maḫ lugal-la-kam mi2 dug4-ga
  96. dsuen-e e2-kiš-nu-ĝal2-ta
  97. nam-ur-saĝ nam-kalag-ga nam-til3 niĝ2 dug3 saĝ-e-eš rig7-ga
  98. a2 maḫ šum2-ma dnu-nam-nir-ra
  99. dšul-gi kur gul-gul kalam ge-en-ge-en
  100. išib an ki-a gaba-ri nu-tuku
  101. dšul-gi dumu nir-ĝal2 an-na-ke4 mi2 dug4-ga
  102. dnisaba za3-mi2

Sumerian transliteration from the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), text c.2.4.2.01 (etcsl.cgi?text=c.2.4.2.01). 102 lines. Multiple Nippur and other manuscripts; see ETCSL apparatus for full source detail.

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