He wraps himself in skins. He lives in a tent in wind and rain, offers no prayers. He sits in the mountains, not knowing the places of the gods. He digs for truffles in the hills and does not know how to bend his knee. He eats raw meat. While alive, he has no house. When dead, he is not brought to burial. My friend — I will marry him.
I. The City
When Inab was — and the garden was not;
when the holy crown was — and the holy headband was not;
when the holy aromatic was — and the holy cedar was not;
when the holy salt was — and the holy natron was not —
when the things that brought joy were among us,
when the people came forth one after another —
Father of holy cedar, hero of the meš-tree,
mother of white cedar, embrace of cypress —
at that time, city of cities, land of princely nobility:
Inab, city of cities, land of princely nobility.
II. The Festival
The ruler of Inab plays the tigi-drum and the šem-drum.
His wife is stored in his heart by name.
His son [goes out] and returns.
The city runs along its streets together.
Inab — along its streets they run,
they strain and race the goats like men.
When the great day approaches,
when the place of gift-giving draws near,
before the face of Eshildu the gifts are laid:
a married man receives two;
a father receives three;
the bachelor alone receives one.
But Martu, alone, receives two.
Martu goes to his mother's house,
enters and cries to her:
"In my city my friends have taken wives.
My companions have taken wives.
Like my friends in my city — I have no wife.
No wife. No child.
The fallen lot exceeds my friends.
The fallen portion exceeds my companions."
The festival comes again. The same day, the same place.
Before the face of Eshildu the gifts are laid:
a married man receives two;
a father receives three;
the bachelor alone receives one.
But Martu, alone, receives two.
Martu goes to his mother's house,
enters and cries to her:
"Mother — let me take a wife.
Bring me my bridal gift."
Martu's mother answers him:
"O my sweetest one — let me counsel you.
Listen to my words.
You who raise your eyes to her — take a wife.
You whose heart is full — take a wife.
With your companion, in your city, in your garden,
let her well be dug, let her house be built."
III. The Celebration
At that time, city upon city, the festival cry rang out.
Inab, city upon city, the festival cry rang out.
"Come, friend — let us go.
Let us go to the beer-house of Inab."
Nu-mushda holds the festival.
His beloved daughter Adgar-kidu is there.
His wife Namrat, beautiful woman, is there.
Bronze drums sing out, ringing and ringing.
Seven kettledrums answer.
Men play for their lord.
They enter the wrestling house.
The house of Inab rises to meet it.
Inab, city alive with festival, stood wonderful to behold.
IV. The Wrestling
For the outsider the gate of Inab shone like holy ground.
At the gate of Inab stood the strong wrestler.
Martu entered the great courtyard
and stamped his feet.
The mighty hero searched.
The mighty hero rose.
Martu entered the great courtyard again —
he struck them down one by one,
filled the great courtyard of battle with the fallen,
filled the courtyard of Inab with the dead.
Nu-mushda rejoiced at Martu.
He offered him gold — Martu did not take it.
He offered him lapis lazuli — Martu did not take it.
A second time he offered.
A third time:
"Take your gold. Take your lapis.
Give me your daughter as my wife."
V. The Bridal Price
[Eight lines are missing here.]
"Let a calf be the bride-price.
Let the calf nurse at the cow.
Let it lie in the stable with the cattle.
Let the calf sit at its right side.
Say these words to one another —
let me give you my daughter Adgar-kidu."
"Let a lamb be the bride-price.
Let the lamb nurse at the ewe.
Let it lie in the fold with the sheep.
Let the lamb sit at its side.
Say these words to one another —
let me give you my daughter Adgar-kidu."
"Let a kid be the bride-price.
Let the kid nurse at the goat.
Let it lie in the pen with the goats.
Let the kid sit beside it.
Say these words to one another —
let me give you my daughter Adgar-kidu."
VI. The City Adorns
[Something great is spoken —
the harbor of Inab is named.]
The old men of Inab are adorned with golden rods.
The old women of Inab are adorned with golden garments.
The young men and women of Inab are adorned with gold.
The servants of Inab are adorned with silver cups.
Woven cloth, bright with gold —
all the people of Inab arrayed and gleaming.
VII. The Warning
He wanders day after day — his lawsuit has no end.
His arms are spent; his form falls from him.
He eats what is forbidden to Nanna, without reverence.
His hands roam. He is an abomination in the houses of gods.
His counsel is confusion; his hand gropes in clouded waters.
He wraps himself in skins.
He lives in a tent in wind and rain
and offers no prayers.
He sits in the mountains,
not knowing the places of the gods.
He digs for truffles in the hills
and does not know how to bend his knee.
He eats raw meat.
While alive, he has no house.
When dead, he is not brought to burial.
VIII. The Declaration
"My friend — I will marry Martu."
Her friend Adgar-kidu answered her:
"Martu — yes, let it be."
Inab the splendid!
Colophon
Translated from the Sumerian composite transliteration (ETCSL c.1.7.1) by the liberation-translator lineage (New Tianmu Anglican Church), March 2026. The translation is derived from the Sumerian transliteration; the ETCSL English summary was consulted as a reference check for overall meaning. Eight lines are missing from the manuscript between lines 83–90; these gaps are noted in the text. The final exchange (VIII) involves textual ambiguity about who speaks to whom: the most natural reading is that a female companion warns Adgar-kidu (Nu-mushda's daughter) about Martu's barbarism, Adgar-kidu declares she will marry him anyway, and the companion concedes. Lines 112–125 (the adorning of the city) are partially broken; the general meaning is clear but individual phrases are uncertain.
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Source Text
Sumerian Transliteration (ETCSL c.1.7.1 — The Marriage of Martu)
1. i3-na-abki i3-me-a kiri8-tab nu-me-a
2. men kug i3-me-a aga kug nu-me-[a]
3. šim kug i3-me-a ĝišerin kug nu-me-[a]
4. mun kug i3-me-a /naĝa\ kug nu-/me\-[a]
5. ĝiš dug4-dug4-/ga\ [ ne su-ub-ba ] i3-me-a
6. šag4-tum2-šag4-tum2-ma /tud\-[da] i3-me-a
7. <ad>-da-ab-ba ĝišerin kug-ga-me-en bil2-ga /ĝiš\meš3-/me-en\
8. ama ad ĝišerin babbar-ra-me-en su ḫa-šu-ur2-ra-me-en
9. ud-ba iri-iri-a kur nam-nun-na-kam
10. i3-na-abki iri-iri-a kur nam-nun-na-kam
11. ensi2 i3-na-abki-a tigi-šem5-kuša2-la2-a
12. dam-a-ni /šag4-ge-guru7\ /mu\-ni ḫe2-en-na-nam
13. /dumu\-[ni] [...]-da-gur-ra-am3
14. /AN\ [...]-/na\-ka mu-ni ḫe2-en-na-nam
15. iri-da-/e-ne\ gu /na\-la2-e-ne
16. i3-na-abki /iri-da-e\-ne /gu\ [na]-la2-e-ne
17. gu na-la2-/e-ne maš\ mu-un-sar-sar-ne
18. maš-e lu2-ulu3-gin7 [ĝiš mu-un]-ra-ra-ne
19. ud ne ud ten-na /um\-[ma-te]-/a\-ra
20. ki niĝ2-ba-ka um-/ma\-[te]-a-ra
21. igi dEŠ2.LIL.DU niĝ2-ba /na-ni-ĝa2\-ĝa2
22. niĝ2-ba lu2 dam tuku 2-am3 i3-ĝa2-ĝa2
23. niĝ2-ba lu2 dumu tuku 3-am3 i3-ĝa2-ĝa2
24. niĝ2-<ba> ĝuruš saĝ-dili 1-am3 i3-ĝa2-ĝa2
25. dmar-tu dili-ni 2-am3 i3-ĝa2-ĝa2
26. dmar-tu ama ugu-ni-ir
27. e2-a ba-an-ši-kur9 gu3 mu-na-de2-e
28. iri-ĝa2 gu5-li-ĝu10-ne-me-en dam ba-an-tuku-tuku-me-eš
29. /dub3-sa-ĝu10-ne-me-en\ dam ba-an-tuku-tuku-me-eš
30. iri-ĝa2 gu5-li-/ĝu10-ne-gin7\ dam nu-tuku-me-en
31. dam nu-tuku-me-en dumu nu-tuku-me-en
32. ĝiš-šub us2-sa dirig gu5-li-ĝa2-še3
33. MAŠ dub3-[sa] /bi2\-dab5 dirig dub3-sa-ĝa2-še3
34. ud ne ud te-en-na um-ma-/te-a-ra\
35. /ki niĝ2\-ba-ka um-ma-/te\-[a-ra]
36. [igi] [d]/EŠ2.LIL.DU niĝ2-ba na-/ni\-[ĝa2-ĝa2]
37. [niĝ2-ba] lu2 dam tuku 2-am3 i3-/ĝa2\-[ĝa2]
38. [niĝ2]-/ba\ [lu2 dumu tuku 3-am3 i3-ĝa2-ĝa2]
39. /niĝ2\-<ba> ĝuruš saĝ-dili [1-am3 i3-ĝa2]-/ĝa2\
40. /dmar\-tu dili-ni 2-[am3 i3-ĝa2]-/ĝa2\
41. [dmar]-tu ama /ugu\-ni-ir
42. /e2-a ba-an\-ši-kur9 gu3 mu-na-de2-e
43. ama-ĝu10 dam tuku-ba-ab niĝ2-ba-ĝu10 /ga-mu\-ra-de6
44. dmar-tu ama /ugu\-ni [mu]-na-ni-/ib\-[gi4-gi4]
45. dsu-ḫe-/nun\-[na-ĝu10] [na] /ga\-e-/de5\ na /de5\-[ĝu10 ḫe2-dab5]
46. inim ga-[ra-ab-dug4 inim-ĝu10-še3 ĝeštug2-zu]
47. igi il2-la-zu dam [tuku-ba-ni-ib]
48. šag4-ge guru7-zu dam [tuku-ba-ni-ib]
49. šu-tab ze2-ĝa2 gi4-in [...]
50. iri-da-za e2-bi du3-du3-a /ĝiš[kiri6 ...]
51. dub3-sa-za pu2 ba-e-ni-/ba\-[al]
52. dmar-tu lu2 /dub3-sa\-[...]
53. ud-ba iri-a iri-a ezen /gu3\ [bi2-ib-ra]
54. i3-na-abki iri-a ezen /gu3\ [bi2-ib-ra]
55. ĝa2-nam-ma gu5-li ga-[re7-en-de3-en] ga-ba-e-re7-en-/de3\-[en]
56. e2 kaš i3-na-abki-a ga-/re7\-[en-de3-en] ga-ba-e-re7-en-de3-[en]
57. dnu-muš-da-[X] ezem-ma mu-[...]
58. dumu ki aĝ2-ĝa2-ni dad-[ĝar-ki-dug3] ezem-ma mu-/un\-[...]
59. dam-a-ni dnam-ra-at munus /sag9\-[ga] ezem-ma mu-un-[...]
60. iri-a šem5 zabar zi-ig-za-ag [...-za]
61. kuša2-la2 /7\-e šeg11 mu-da-an-[gi4]
62. nitaḫ [X]-ne en ib2-la2-[ne]
63. e2-ĝešpu2-še3 mu-na-da-an-kur9-kur9
64. e2 i3-na-abki-a-ka ḫu-mu-na-/ab\-sa2-e
65. i3-na-abki iri ezen ĝal2-la-še3 u6 di-de3 ba-gub
66. i3-na-abki iri ezen ĝal2-la-še3 u6 di-de3 ba-gub
67. e-ne-ra bar kug-ga i3-me-a-ke4-eš
68. /kan4\ i3-na-abki-ka ĝešpu2 lirum-e
69. [d]/mar\-tu kisal maḫ-a dub3 i-ni-in-/bad\
70. [ur-saĝ] /kalag\-ga mu-na-ab-kiĝ2-kiĝ2-e
71. [ur-saĝ] /kalag\-ga mu-na-ab-zi-zi-i
72. [d]/mar\-tu kisal maḫ dub3 i-ni-bad
73. [X] gul-gul-e 1(AŠ)-ta bi2-ra
74. /kisal maḫ\ me3-e niĝ2-la2-e /bi2-in\-la2
75. kisal i3-na-abki ad6 im-il2-[il2]-/e\
76. d/nu\-[muš]-/da\ dmar-tu ḫul2-la-/e\
77. kug /mu\-[un]-na-ba-e šu nu-um-ma-gid2-i-de3
78. /za\ [mu-un]-/na\-ba-e šu nu-um-ma-gid2-i-de3
79. [2-kam ur5]-/am3\ um-ak-e
80. [3-kam ur5-am3] um-ak-e
81. [kug-zu me-da tum3] za-zu me-da tum3
82. [dmar-tu-me]-en dumu-zu ga-ba-/ab\-tuku
83. [...dumu-zu] /ga\-ba-/ab\-[tuku]
84-90. [8 lines missing]
91. [amar niĝ2-mussa dam mu-ni-...]
92. [ab2-ga amar ḫe2-em-mi-ib-gu7]
93. [tur3-ba gud-ab2-ba]-/bi\ [ḫu-mu-un-ši-nu2-e]
94. [ab2 X X]-/ba\-ka /ḫe2\-[em-mi-tuš]
95. [amar-bi a2] zid-da-bi ḫe2-[em-mi-tuš]
96. [ur5-re ur5-ur5]-re inim ḫa-ba-[ni-ĝar-re-en]
97. [dad-ĝar-ki]-/dug3\ /KA\ dumu-ĝu10 /ga\-[mu-ra-ab-šum2]
98. /sila4\ [niĝ2-mussa] /dam\ [mu]-ni-[...]
99. /u8\-[ga sila4 ḫe2-em-mi-ib-gu7]
100. /amaš\-[ba ... ḫu-mu-un-ši-nu2-e]
101. u8 [...ḫe2-em-mi-tuš]
102. sila4-bi gab2-bu-bi ḫe2-[em-mi-tuš]
103. ur5-re ur5-ur5-re inim ḫa-ba-[ni-ĝar-re-en]
104. dad-ĝar-ki-dug3 KA dumu-ĝu10 ga-[mu-ra-ab-šum2]
105. /maš2 niĝ2\-mussa dam mu-ni-[...]
106. /ud5-ga\ maš2 ḫe2-/em\-mi-[ib-gu7]
107. unu-ba maš2-ud5-/da-bi\ ḫu-mu-un-ši-nu2-e
108. ud5-de3 /maš2\-[bi ...] ḫe2-em-mi-tuš
109. maš2-bi [...] ḫe2-em-mi-tuš
110. ur5-re ur5-[ur5-re inim ḫa-ba]-/ni\-ĝar-[re-en]
111. [dad]-/ĝar\-ki-dug3 dumu-ĝu10 ga-mu-ra-[ab-šum2]
112. [...] gal-gal-e ba-ni-/in\-[X]
113. X [X] X-e-gin7 gu3 bi2-in-/ra\
114. kar /i3-na\-abki-ka mu-ni-in-[X]
115. ab-ba-ab-ba-ar i3-na-ab/ki\-[a]
116. ĝišrab3 kug-sig17-ka mi2 im-ma-ni-in-[dug4]
117. /um-ma\-um-ma-ar i3-na-abki-[a]
118. [...tug2]bar-sig9 kug-sig17-ga /mi2\ [im-ma-ni-in-dug4]
119. [ĝuruš munus] X i3-na-[abki]-/ke4\-ne
120. [...] X X X [kug]-/sig17\-ka mi2 im-/ma-ni\-in-dug4
121. [arad2-arad2] X i3-na-ab[ki]-/ke4-ne\
122. [X X] A mi2 im-ma-[ni-in]-/dug4\
123. tug2[X] gun3-a mi2 im-ma-[ni-in-dug4]
124. geme2-/geme2\ i3-na-ab[ki-ke4-ne]
125. dugKIĜ2.ĜIŠ kug-babbar mi2 im-ma-ni-[in-dug4]
126. ud ba-ḫi-a di nu-til-le-[dam]
127. a2-še šu-bi ḫa-lam ulutim2 /ugu\)[ugu4]-[bi]
128. an-zil gu7 dnanna-[kam] ni2 nu-[tuku]
129. šu dag-dag-ge-bi X [...]
130. [niĝ2]-/gig\ e2 diĝir-re-e-ne-[kam]
131. [ĝalga]-/bi\ mu-un-lu3-lu3 šu [suḫ3-a dug4-ga]
132. /lu2 kuš\lu-ub2 mur10-a [...]
133. /za-lam\-ĝar til3 tum9 šeĝ14 [...] sizkur [nu-mu-un-dug4-ga]
134. ḫur-saĝ-ĝa2 tuš-e ki [diĝir-re-ne nu-zu-a]
135. lu2 /uzu\-dirig kur-da mu-un-ba-al-la dub3 gam nu-zu-am3
136. uzu nu-šeĝ6-ĝa2 al-gu7-e
137. ud til3-la-na e2 nu-tuku-a
138. ud ba-ug7-a-na ki nu-tum2-mu-dam
139. ma-la-ĝu10 dmar-tu ta-am3 an-tuku-tuku-un
140. ma-la-ga-ni dad-ĝar-ki-dug3 mu-na-ni-ib-gi4-gi4
141. dmar-[tu] /ga\-ba-an-tuku-tuku
142. i3-na-ab[ki] u2-lum a-lam-ma
Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), University of Oxford. Composite transliteration, text c.1.7.1. Freely available at etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk.
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