The wall of Ur was not yet finished. The new palace he had not yet built — he did not rejoice in it.

This text survives in two principal versions: one from Nibru (Nippur), the other from Susa. The Nibru version runs to 242 lines and is the primary base of this translation. Both versions are fragmentary in sections, particularly the opening and closing. What follows renders the recoverable passages faithfully, noting irrecoverable gaps. The poem belongs to a literary genre called the "death of a king" lament — two others survive for Gilgamesh and for Ur-Namma's son Shulgi — but this one is uniquely vivid in its portrait of the king speaking from below, grieving the unfinished works he left behind.

I. The Blow Falls

Nibru version, lines 1–10. The opening is fragmentary. The first recoverable lines already announce the catastrophe.

[Lines 1–5 fragmentary.]

Evil came upon Ur.
The faithful shepherd was carried away.

The faithful shepherd Ur-Namma was carried away —
the faithful shepherd was carried away.

An reversed the holy word he had established.
Enlil overturned the fate he had decreed
with a false hand.

Ninmah raised a lament for him.

II. The Gods Weep

Lines 11–20.

Enki turned the great door of Eridu against it.
Nudimmud entered his chamber
and lay down with a troubled heart.

By the word of An,
Nanna darkened his brow.
Utu would not rise in the sky —
the day was filled with wailing.

A mother, for her son —
in bitter, living grief —
holy Ninsun, mother of the king, cried out:

"Alas, my heart!
For the fate decreed for Ur-Namma —
because the faithful shepherd was carried away —"

In the broad street, the place of play,
she wept bitter tears.

Humanity could find no sweet rest.

III. The Land Mourns

Lines 21–37.

The lamentation over the faithful shepherd seized the days —
the days passed.

The carp poured into the river —
the fisherman was brought low.
Spotted grain grown in the meadow —
the life of the land was cut.
The farmer at his good field —
his standing was diminished.

Enkimdu, lord of canal and dike —
the canal and dike were carried away from Ur.

[Lines 26–27 fragmentary.]

On the steppes, good grass grew no more —
the grass of lamentation grew.

The cattle pen was destroyed.
The calf cried with a sick voice.
The knowing shepherd guided no longer.

[Line 32 fragmentary.]

Ur-Namma, the eloquent one of Sumer,
the ornament of the assembly —

His hand, though it once grasped — grasps no more.
He lies sick.
His foot, which once strode — strides no more.
He lies sick.

IV. The King Fallen

Lines 38–60.

[Line 38 fragmentary.]

The faithful shepherd, great king,
mighty sword of Sumer —

Ur-Namma, king of the land,
came to the house of dust.

The favored one lay down in his palace.

Ur-Namma, beloved of his troops,
rose no more at their side.
The wise one lay,
his weapons fallen.

The pride of the land was cast down like a mountain,
destroyed.

Like a juniper forest brought low,
its divine qualities changed.
Like a boxwood tree,
mourning was placed at his joyful dwelling.
Like a fresh cedar lying in the palace,
they turned him over and over.

The bed of his wife was covered with dust.
His sister clung to him like a wife.

His spoken word went unanswered.
His joy departed.
Sweet prayer was no longer offered.
His gift to the Anunna gods was turned away.

The sky darkened —
that day was not complete.

There was no rising against the spoken word of Enlil.
His beloved people — their wise vision was changed.

[Lines 57–60 fragmentary: the king abandoned, swept like a vessel before the wind.]

V. The Descent

Lines 61–80.

"Ur-Namma — alas, my fate!"

To the Arallu,
the place that faces the land —
Ur-Namma, son of Ninsun,
was taken in the fullness of his vitality.

The troops who marched with the king —
tears followed them.

Like Dilmun, into the unknown land,
his ship was overturned.
The oar, the steering pole, the yoke —
all were abandoned.

[Line 66 fragmentary.]

The door-bolt of the vessel was broken.
Dust covered it.

The king's horses were brought down into the earth.
Ur-Namma's horses were brought down into the earth.

[Line 72 fragmentary.]

The road to the underworld was filled.

With the king, the chariot was covered —
the road scattered, unable to turn back.
With Ur-Namma, the chariot was covered —
the road scattered, unable to turn back.

The seven great doorkeepers of the underworld
received their gifts.

The famous kings who had died —
the priests and high-priests and holy women
who had been slain —
welcomed him as he came.

As the king descended,
the dead of the underworld knew —
a cry was raised in the underworld.

As Ur-Namma descended,
the dead of the underworld knew —
a cry was raised in the underworld.

VI. The Offerings

Lines 81–135. Ur-Namma enters the underworld bearing gifts for each of its powers. Before each presentation, the poem repeats the governing formula: "the shepherd Ur-Namma presented at his palace." The grass there is bitter; the water is brackish. But the king knows the rites.

The king slaughtered oxen, scattered sheep.
They seated Ur-Namma at the great tables.

The grass of the underworld is bitter.
The water of the underworld is brackish.

The faithful shepherd knew in his heart
the rites of the underworld.

The king presented offerings to the underworld.
Ur-Namma presented offerings to the underworld —
perfect bulls, perfect goats, fat sheep,
as many as could be brought.

To Nergal, Enlil of the Underworld

Lances and great leather shields,
a golden staff, a great paw-shield,
a lion-pin, the lion of heaven —

the shepherd Ur-Namma
presented at his palace.

To the Beloved of Ereshkigal

[Lines 94–96: gifts to Ereshkigal's beloved described.]

The shepherd Ur-Namma
presented at his palace.

To Gilgamesh, King of the Underworld

[Lines 97–103: gifts described — an alabaster vessel, a garment of royalty, lapis lazuli.]

The shepherd Ur-Namma
presented at his palace.

To Dumuzi, Beloved of Inanna

A collar of precious stone,
a breast-ornament of the gods —

the shepherd Ur-Namma
presented at his palace.

To Namtar, Decreer of Fate

A lapis-lazuli chest,
all the things of the underworld —

the shepherd Ur-Namma
presented at his palace.

To Hushbisag, Wife of Namtar

A golden comb,
a comb inlaid with lapis lazuli —

the shepherd Ur-Namma
presented at his palace.

To Ningishzida, Young Hero

[Lines 120–127: a lapis-lazuli seal; golden ornaments; scribal implements — a stylus, a measuring cord; and Ur-Namma's wife Nin-dazimua, called "the great scribe of the underworld."]

The shepherd Ur-Namma
presented at his palace.

[Lines 129–131 fragmentary.]

When the king had set the offerings of the underworld in order —
when Ur-Namma had set the offerings of the underworld in order —

[Lines 134–135 fragmentary.]

VII. The Throne

Lines 136–145.

They seated Ur-Namma
on the great throne of the underworld.

In the underworld,
they established his dwelling.

By the spoken word of Ereshkigal —
the troops with weapons who had fallen,
the guilty ones who had been judged —
were given into his hand.

His beloved brother Gilgamesh
was judging the cases of the underworld,
deciding the judgments of the underworld.

When seven days, ten days had passed —

VIII. The Lament of Ur

Lines 146–175. The lament rises from the living land — and then, unmistakably, from Ur-Namma himself, speaking from below about the works he left unfinished.

My king —
the wailing of Sumer rose equal to his.

Ur-Namma —
the wailing of Sumer rose equal to his.

The wall of Ur was not yet finished.
The new palace he had not yet built —
he did not rejoice in it.

The shepherd did not lift his head in his house.
His wife at his embrace — she felt no joy.
His son did not grow at his knee.
His young sisters did not come of age.
His vitality was spent.

My king — his heart was full of bitter tears.

The faithful shepherd speaks from below.

"I, who did these things —

I would stand before the gods
and lay abundance before the Anunna gods.
I had placed treasures
on the lapis-lazuli bed of the throne.

But my guardian god did not stand by me.
My heart had no rest.

I stood in the day, and the day ended.
I sat in the night, and the night ended without sleep.

Now — like rain falling from heaven —

Alas, the brickwork of Ur — I cannot return to it.

My wife — I could not embrace her.
My child — I could not hold.

Lamentation, mourning, bitter things —
the days pass in them.

[Lines 168–173 fragmentary: comparisons to a great bull, a mighty ox, a donkey — the king's fallen state.]

Like a donkey of the steppe
led to an evil well —
a heavy hand was placed on me.

Like a lion fallen in a pit,
a guard was set.

Like a dog caught in a trap —
where was the man to help?

[Line 186 fragmentary.]

My tigi-drum, my adab-drum,
my long flute, my zam-zam —
they have entered into mourning.

The instrument of the house of music
was set against the wall.

My throne — its splendor was spent.

At the head of my well, a stranger.
My couch, my bed — all spent.
Someone sleeps in the outer steppe.

Alas —
my wife in tears,
my child in mourning.

He who spoke my good word —
may he make lament like a player of the balang-drum.

A day was done to me like this."

IX. Inanna's Rage

Lines 196–216.

Inanna, foremost, lady of battle —
she did not survive for my defense.

Enlil sent a great word to the lands.
At his word, Inanna entered the lapis-lazuli Ekur
and bowed low.

With fierce brow,
the great lady of the Eanna bent down —
and went out.

The faithful shepherd came out of the Eanna
and could not look back at it.

Inanna, the fierce storm,
great daughter of Suen —

she smashed heaven.
She struck the earth.
She destroyed the cattle pen.
She scattered the sheepfold.

"To An, king of the gods — I will shake him!"

But Enlil raised his head:
who would change his word?

An, the king —
who would change the great word he had spoken?

The divine plans that stood over the land —
no head could be raised against them.

At the place where the gods emerge —
there was no abundance.

My holy sanctuary, my Eanna,
was returned like a mountain to its place.

My shepherd — his vitality did not return.
I did not return.

My strong one —
like a plant, he did not grow again on the steppe.

Like a boat on the river,
he did not moor at the quay for me.

May Inanna's lamentation resound.

X. Ningishzida

Lines 217–223. Ningishzida — patron deity of Ur-Namma, lord of the underworld serpent-tree — appears in this fragmentary section, presumably caring for the king below.

[Lines 217–223 fragmentary: Ningishzida strengthens him.]

XI. The Memory of Works

Lines 224–231. The city calls his name.

For your palace,
Sumer calls out.

The canal you dug —
the great meadows you tended —
the reed bed you raised from the water —
the wide fields of grain —
the watchtower, the settlement —

the people gaze in wonder.

Ur-Namma —
your name, they call out.

XII. Closing Lament

Lines 232–242.

[Lines 232–234 fragmentary.]

Nanna, lord Asimbabbar —
Enki, lord of Eridu —

[Lines 237–238: variant images — the flood-wave, the lion born to heaven.]

From your city, good care was given.
Justice was established.

Lord Ningishzida — praise.

My king —
it is weeping, it is lamentation.

It is weeping. It is mourning.

Colophon

Translated from the Sumerian by Nanna-kiag (Good Works Translation), 2026. Source text: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), text c.2.4.1.1, "The Death of Ur-Namma (Ur-Namma A)." Primary base: the Nibru (Nippur) version, 242 lines. The Susa version (Segments A–D) runs parallel with significant variation; this translation follows the Nibru text, noting its major gaps. Both versions are fragmentary, particularly in the opening, in the transitions between gift-recipients in Section VI, and in the closing. Translation independent from source language. Flückiger-Hawker (1999) and Kramer (1967) consulted for disambiguation of damaged passages. Ur-Namma (r. c. 2112–2095 BCE) was the founder of the Third Dynasty of Ur and builder of the great ziggurats; his unexpected death — apparently in battle — shook Sumer deeply. The "great door of Eridu" (line 11): Enki's closing his door is a sign of divine mourning and withdrawal. Enkimdu (line 25): the pastoral and irrigation deity; his domain's failure mirrors the cosmic catastrophe. Arallu (line 62): the Sumerian name for the underworld, literally "the place that faces the land." The catalogue of gifts in Section VI is the formal mechanism by which Ur-Namma secures a throne in the underworld — each offering given in exchange for a welcome from each power. Ningishzida (line 118) served as Ur-Namma's personal patron deity; his appearance in Section X may indicate that he interceded on the king's behalf below. Balang-drum (line 194): a large liturgical drum used in temple lament rites.

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Source Text

Sumerian transliteration from the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), text c.2.4.1.1 (etcsl.cgi?text=c.2.4.1.1). Nibru version, composite text. Angle brackets \ / indicate uncertain readings; [X] indicates unclear signs; bracketed ellipses indicate irrecoverable gaps with estimated line counts where noted.

Nibru Version (lines 1–60, selected)

1. […]-ta kalam teš2-a mi-ni-/ib-X
2. […]-/in?-sag3 e2-gal im-sig10-sig10
3. […] /saĝ\ gig2 tuš-a-ba ni2 ul4-la bi2-/ib2-te
4. [(X)] X X X X ki-šub-ba-bi ki-en-gi-ra bi2-ib-ĝar
5. [(X)] /niĝ2-daĝal-ba iri /ba-an-gul uĝ3-e ni2 bi2-in-te
6. /urim5\ki-ma ḫul-ĝal2 im-ši-DU sipad zid ba-ra-ab-e3
7. /sipad zid\ ur-d/namma\ /ba-ra-ab-e3 sipad zid ba-ra-ab-e3
8. /an-ne2 inim kug-ga du3-a mu-un-kur2 šag4 AN X sug4-ga-am3
9. /den-lil2-le nam tar-ra du3-a /šu\ lul [mi]-ni-ib-bal
10. d/nin-maḫ-e X [X] X LA2.A.BA-na a-nir mu-un-ĝa2-ĝa2
11. den-ki-ke4 ĝiš ig gal eridugki-ga gu2-bi ba-an-gi4
12. dnu-dim2-mud itimama-a-ka ba-an-kur9 šag4-ka-tab-ba ba-an-nu2
13. inim X an-na-ka dnanna si-un3-na saĝ-ki ba-da-ni-in-gid2
14. dutu an-na nu-um-ed2-e ud-de3 i-si-iš im-la2
15. ama dumu-ni-še3 ḫul til3-la-e
16. ama lugal-la kug dnin-sumun2-na a šag4-ĝu10 im-me
17. nam ur-dnamma mu-un-tar-ra-še3
18. mu sipad zid ba-ra-ab-e3-a-še3
19. sila daĝal ki-a-ne-di ĝal2-la-ba er2 gig i3-še8-še8
20. nam-lu2-ulu3 X li-bi [...] X X u3 dug3 nu-mu-un-ku-ku
21. i-lu sipad zid ba-dab5-ba-na ud mi-ni-ib-zal-e
22. a-eštub id2-da de2-a-bi ku3-ĝal2-bi ba-sig9
23. [še gu]-nu a-gar3-re mu2-a-bi zi kalam-ma ba-su
24. [engar] gana2 zid-de3 gub-X-ni mu-na-ab-tur-re
25. [den-ki-im-du lugal eg2 pa5-ra-ke4] urim2ki-ta eg2 pa5 ba-da-an-kar
26. edin-edin-e u2 sag9-[ga] nu-mu-un-mu2 u2-a-nir ba-an-mu2
27. ab2-e X [...] mu-un-X tur3 X-bi ba-gul
28. amar ab2-šilam-[…] mur gig-ga-bi im-ša4
29. lugal ka-mud-ĝal2 ki-en-gi-ra [me-te unken-na]
30. ur-dnamma ka-mud-ĝal2 ki-en-gi-ra [me]-te unken-na
31. mas-su ki-en-gi-ra-ke4 [(…) i3]-nu2 tur5-ra-am3
32. šu-ni dab5-ba nu-mu-un-dab5 in-nu2 tur5-ra-am3
33. ĝiri3-[ni] X (X) nu-um-un-da-dib i3-nu2 tur5-ra-am3
34. sipad zid lugal ĝiri2 gal ki-en-gi-ra-ke4
35. [ur-dnamma] lugal kalam-ma-ke4 e2-sumur-ra ba-an-te
36. saĝ-kug-ĝal2 e2-gal-a-na i3-nu2
37. ur-dnamma lu2 erin2-e ki aĝ2-ĝa2 gu2 nu-mu-un-da-zig3-ge
38. teš2 kalam-ma-ka ba-šubub ḫur-saĝ-gin7 ba-gul
39. tir [ḫa-šu]-ur2-ra-gin7 im-ma-sug4 me-dim2-bi ba-kur2
40. ĝištaškarin-gin7 ki-[tuš giri17-zal]-la-na giĝ4 mu-ni-in-ĝar-re-eš
41. ĝišerin duru5-gin7 e2-gal-[la] nu2-a mu-ni-in-bal-bal-e-ne
42. ki-nu2 nitalam-a-ni ba-[X (X)] X X u18-lu-da ba-da-dul
43. šeš-a-ni-da dam-a-ni-gin7 gu2-da am3-mi-ib-la2
44. ud dug4-ga-ni sa2 mu-ni-ib-dug4 a-la-na ba-ra-e3

Lines 61–145 (selected)

61. X X X /ur-dnamma me-li-e-a nam-ĝu10
62. a-ra-li ki saĝ-ki kalam-ma-še3
63. ur-dnamma dumu /d\nin-sumun2-ka ḫi-li-na ba-da-de6
64. erin2 lugal-da /i3-re7-eš-a er2 mu-da-ab-us2-e
65. dilmunki-gin7 /kur\ ki nu-zu-na ĝišma2-bi ba-da-ab-su
66. lugal X [anše]-ni ba-da-dur2-ru anše ki mu-un-di-ni-ib-tum2
67. ur-d/namma\ (X) anše-ni ba-<da-dur2-ru anše ki mu-un-di-ni-ib-tum2>
68. /kaskal\ [kur]-ra in-di3 sug4-ga-am3
69. [lugal-da] ĝišgigir ba-da-šu2 ḫar-ra-an im-ma-da-suḫ3 šu nu-um-ma-ni10-ni10
70. [ur-dnamma-da] ĝišgigir ba-da-šu2 ḫar-ra-an im-ma-da-suḫ3 šu nu-um-ma-ni10-ni10
71. /i3-du8 gal kur-ra 7-bi niĝ2-ba ba-ab-šum2-mu
72. lugal ĝen-na-ni uĝ3 mu-un-zu-uš kur-ra za-pa-aĝ2 mu-un-ĝar
73. ur-dnamma ĝen-na-ni <uĝ3 mu-un-zu-uš kur-ra za-pa-aĝ2 mu-un-ĝar>
74. lugal-e gud im-ma-ab-gaz-e udu im-ma-ab-šar2-re
75. ur-dnamma ĝišbun gal-gal-la ba-ši-in-dur2-ru-ne-eš
76. u2 kur-ra sis-am3 a kur-ra mun4-na-am3
77. sipad zid ĝarza kur-ra-ke4 šag4-ga-ni mu-un-zu
78. lugal-e nidba kur-ra-ke4 ĝiš im-ma-ab-/tag-ge\
79. ur-dnamma nidba kur-ra-ke4 ĝiš im-ma-ab-tag-ge
80. dnergal den-lil2 kur-ra-ra
81. sipad ur-dnamma-ke4 e2-gal-a-na ĝiš im-ma-ab-tag-ge
82. /d\gilgameš3 lugal kur-ra-ke4
83. sipad ur-dnamma-ke4 e2-gal-a-na ĝiš im-ma-ab-tag-ge
84. ddumu-zid dam ki aĝ2 dinana-ra
85. sipad ur-dnamma-ke4 e2-gal-la-na ĝiš im-ma-ab-tag-ge
86. dnam-tar lu2 nam tar-tar-ra-ra
87. sipad ur-/dnamma-ke4 /e2-gal-a-na ĝiš im-ma-ab-tag-ge
88. šul ur-saĝ /d\nin-ĝiš-zid-da-ra
89. sipad ur-dnamma-ke4 e2-gal-a-na ĝiš im-ma-ab-tag-ge
90. ur-dnamma barag gal kur-ra-ke4 mu-ni-ib-tuš-u3-ne
91. kur-ra ki-/tuš\ mu-na-ĝa2-ĝa2-ne
92. inim dug4-ga dereš-ki-gal-la-ka-ta
93. erin2 ĝištukul X en-na ba-ug5-ga
94. lu2 nam-tag-/ga\ en-na ba-/zu-X-a
95. lugal-la šu-ni-še3 /im-ma-ab-šum2-mu-ne
96. šeš ki aĝ2-ĝa2-ni d/gilgameš3-[da]
97. e-ne di kur-ra i3-/kud-de3 ka-aš kur-ra /i3-bar-re
98. ud 7 ud 10-am3 ba-zal-la-ba

Lines 146–242 (selected)

146. lugal-ĝu10 i-si-iš ki-en-gi-ra-ke4 sa2 nam-ga-/mu-ni-ib-dug4
147. ur-dnamma i-si-iš ki-en-gi-ra-ke4 sa2 nam-ga-/mu-ni-ib-dug4
148. bad3 urim2ki-ma /nu-mu-un-til-la-ni
149. e2-gal gibil na-mu-un-du3-a-ni nu-mu-un-ḫul2-ḫul2-/la-ni
150. sipad-de3 e2-a-ni saĝ li-bi2-in-ak-ni
151. dam-a-ni ur2-ra-na a-la nu-mu-un-gi4-a-ni
152. dumu-ni dub3-ba-na li-bi2-in-peš-a-ni
153. /nin9 di4-di4 /nu-mu-un-buluĝ3-buluĝ3-e-ne ḫi-li /nu-mu-un-til-a-ni\
154. ĝe26-e niĝ2 /ne-e ba-ak-a-ĝu10
155. /diĝir\ ki-ĝa2 la-ba-e-gub šag4-ĝu10 la-ba-ni-ib-sed
156. [i3]-ne-eš2 im an-ta šeĝ3-ĝe26-gin7
157. /me-/li-e-a šeg12 urim2ki-ma-še3 šu nu-um-ma-ni10-ni10
158. /a2?-še nitalam-ĝu10 -mu-un-/su-am3
159. [i]-/lu\ a-nir niĝ2 gig-ga-a ud mi-ni-/ib-zal-zal-e
160. i-lu a-/nir\ niĝ2 gig-ga-a ud mi-ni-ib-zal-zal-e
161. /udug sag9-ga-ni bar-ta ba-da-gub
162. d[lamma] /sag9-ga-ni saĝ-ĝa2-/na\ li-bi2-in-ḫa-za
163. d/nin-sumun2-na-ke4 a2 maḫ-a-ni saĝ-ĝa2-na li-bi2-in-ge-en
164. ĝišma2-gin7 tum9 sumur-ra ba-ra-ab-dirig ĝišdimgul nu-mu-na-kalag
165. anše edin-na-gin7 pu2 ḫul ba-an-tum2-mu-da? šu dugud lu2 mu-un-ĝar
166. /piriĝ-gin7 a-RU-ub-ba ba-šub-ba en-nu lu2 mu-un-du3
167. ur-gin7 ĝišaz-la2-e mu-un-dab5 me-a lu2 mu-un-ĝar
168. tigi a-/da-ab gi-gid2 za-am-za-am-ĝu10 a-/nir?-ra mu-da-an-kur9
169. ĝiš-gu3-di e2 /nam-nar-ra-ka zag e2-ĝar8-e i-ni-in-us2
170. ĝišgu-za ḫi-li-bi nu-/mu-til-la-ĝu10
171. me-li-e-a dam-ĝu10 er2-ra dumu-ĝu10 a-nir-ra
172. saĝ-kal dinana nin me3-a di-ĝa2 nu-mu-un-til3
173. den-lil2-le kur-kur-ra inim gal-gal-še3 /kiĝ2-gi4-a bi2-in-gi4
174. dinana e2-kur za-gin3-še3 sun5-na-bi mu-un-[kur9]
175. dinana ud ḫuš dumu gal dsuen-na A X X X (X)-ga
176. an i3-dub2-be2 /ki i3-sag3-ge
177. dinana-ke4 tur3 im-gul-e amaš im-tab-e
178. an lugal diĝir-re-e-ne-ke4 in-še3 ga-mu-un-/dub2\
179. den-lil2-le saĝ mu-da-an-zig3-/ga?\ inim-bi a-ba mu-un-kur2
180. an lugal inim maḫ dug4-ga-ni inim-/bi a-ba mu-un-kur2
181. sipad-ĝu10 ḫi-li-a-ni nu-uš-ma-an-/ku4-ku4 ĝe26-e {ba-ra-ku4-ku4-de3-en}
182. kalag-ga-ĝu10 u2-šim-gin7 edin-/na\ nu-uš-ma-da-mu2-am3
183. ma2 id2-da-gin7 kar {sig9-ga-na} nu-uš-ma-da-gen6-na
184. e2-gal-zu-še3 ki-en-gi […]-pad3-de3-eš
185. id2 ba-al-la-zu […] X-zu
186. a-gar3 gal-gal maḫ bi2-/gi4-[(…)]-a-zu
187. ĝiš-gi a-ta /im-[ta-ab]-/ed3-a-zu
188. še daĝal še daĝal-e […]-/a?-zu?\
189. an-za-gar3 a2-[dam …]-a-zu
190. nam-lu2-ulu3 u6 […] X-/e-eš\
191. ur-dnamma mu-zu X […]-pad3?-/pad3?-de3?-eš?\
192. iri-zu-ta mi2 /zid\ dug4-ga di si sa2 kud-kud
193. dumu ḪI RI X [(…)] en dnin-ĝiš-zid-da za3-mi2
194. /lugal-ĝu10\ [X (X)] /er2-am3 i-lu-am3
195. […] er2-am3 a-nir-am3

Sumerian transliteration from the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), text c.2.4.1.1. The ETCSL transliterations are freely available for scholarly use at etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk. The Nibru version runs to 242 lines with significant gaps throughout; the Susa version (Segments A–D) is also fragmentary. Angle brackets \ / indicate uncertain readings; [X] indicates unclear signs; (X) indicates possible additional signs. Cuneiform sources from Nippur (N, Ni, CBS series) and Susa (Sb series); see ETCSL apparatus for full manuscript detail.

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