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

The Lament for the Destruction of Eridu

✦ ─── ⟐ ─── ✦

Eridu is the oldest city. Before any other settlement was named, before the cities of the later world took shape, Eridu was already holy — the home of Enki, lord of wisdom, magic, craft, and the underground sweet waters. His shrine, the E-abzu ("House of the Abyss"), stood at the edge of the primordial waters: the Apsu, source of all life beneath the earth. In Sumerian cosmology, the first breath of civilization rose from Eridu — it is the city from which kingship was lowered from heaven.

The Lament for the Destruction of Eridu (ETCSL c.2.2.6) is one of the five canonical Sumerian city laments composed in the aftermath of the fall of the Third Dynasty of Ur, c. 2004 BCE, when the cities of Sumer were overrun by Elamites and Shimashkians from the east and Amorites from the west. The five laments mourn Ur, Nippur, Sumer and Ur, Uruk, and Eridu. The Eridu lament is distinctive: where the others are led by weeping goddesses, this one is led by Enki himself — the lord of wisdom standing outside his own ruined house like a dispossessed stranger, pouring bitter tears.

The composition is a balag-lament, organized into seven kirugu sections (liturgical stanzas), each concluded by a brief gišgijal refrain. It was performed with the balag drum in temple liturgy, likely by the gala-priest whose sacred office was to appease the anger of the gods through music and grief. Three manuscript segments survive (A, B, C), with a significant gap between Segments A and B. Lines 1–4 of the opening are lost. Kirugu 3 is partially damaged. The gap before Segment B may contain additional kiruguus whose text is entirely lost.

The best-preserved refrain — "The destruction of Eridu! Its destruction was grievous" — closes Kirugu 2 and has become one of the signature lines of the genre. The consolation in Kirugu 6 names four great gods whose cities were also destroyed and restored, making Eridu's fate part of a cosmic pattern rather than a unique punishment. The composition closes with the restoration prayer.

Translated from Sumerian, ETCSL c.2.2.6. The ETCSL English translation (tr.2.2.6) was consulted for structural reference following independent drafting. Primary print edition: Green (1978), "The Eridu Lament," JCS 30, 127–167. The Sumerian composite transliteration was not accessed in its entirety during this session; see etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section2/c226.htm. Lacunae and structural gaps are marked honestly throughout.

Kirugu 1

[Lines 1–4 not preserved]

The storm that proclaimed terror —
spread over Eridu like a garment,
laid over Eridu like linen.

In the city, the roaring storm resounded.
In Eridu, the roaring storm resounded.

The voice of the city was smothered in silence
as when a sandstorm stops the breath.
Its people —

[Two lines damaged]

Eridu was smothered in silence,
as when a sandstorm stops the breath.
Its people —

[Two lines damaged]

Its king stood outside his city
as though he stood in a foreign land.
He poured out bitter tears.

Father Enki stood outside his city
as though he stood in a foreign land.
He poured out bitter tears.
For the sake of his devastated city, he wept.

Its lady — like a bird that rises from its nest —
departed her city.
Holy Damgalnuna, mother of the E-mah —
departed her city.

The divine powers of the city of primordial divine powers —
overturned.
The rites of the highest rites —
altered.

In Eridu everything was laid in ruin,
worked into confusion.

The evil-bearing storm departed the city
and swept across the land —
a storm that carries neither tenderness nor hatred,
that makes no distinction between the righteous and the wicked.

The Subiru fell like rain.
It struck hard.

In the city where radiant daylight once shone forth —
the day went dark.
In Eridu where radiant daylight once shone forth —
the day went dark.
Like Utu dropping below the horizon,
it turned to twilight.

As though An had spoken his curse upon it —
the city was brought down alone.
As though Enlil had turned his face —
Eridu, the E-abzu, was brought low.

— First kirugu.

[Gišgijal 1: not preserved]

Kirugu 2

The form of the city — distorted.
Its foundations — overturned.
The great ziggurat, the mountain of heaven —
leveled.

The door-ornament of the E-abzu —
collapsed.
The gate and its bolt —
broken apart.
The doorframe —
ripped away.
The great house — defaced.

The great lock of the E-abzu —
no longer held.
The interior that no enemy should ever enter —
entered.

[Additional lines of architectural destruction: damaged]

— Second kirugu.

Gišgijal: "The destruction of Eridu! Its destruction was grievous."

Kirugu 3

The lion-faced gate of the E-abzu —
its face was mutilated.

The doorkeepers of the sacred precinct —
scattered.

The offerings of the holy rites — altered, abandoned.
The birds of the courtyard — their voices unheard.
The fish of the sacred canal — ungathered.

Tears poured through every chamber of the house.

The festivals of the city — ceased.
The holy songs — silenced.
The great drums — stilled.
The divine ordinances — forgotten.
Right judgment — departed from the sacred precincts.

The en-priestess who performed the holy rites —
she was led away.

Isimud — minister who stands at the lord's right hand,
who bears two faces and speaks the divine word —
Isimud departed.

Then the enemy entered.
Blood was poured out in the sacred streets.
The azure inlay of the great walls —
stripped away.
The holy treasures of the E-abzu —
scattered like birds startled from their rest.

Wild thornbushes grew up in the streets of Eridu.
The roads were choked.

The Shimashkians and the Elamites —
they entered the holy city.
They defiled the sacred cauldrons.
They covered over the house of wisdom.

— Third kirugu.

Gišgijal 3: [fragmentary — not preserved]

[Gap in manuscript: significant loss of text between Segments A and B. One or more kiruguus may be missing.]

Kirugu 4

Father Enki uttered a lament for himself.

— Fourth kirugu.

Gišgijal: "Bitterly Father Enki uttered a lament for himself."

Kirugu 5

Father Enki — his heart is bitter exile.
For Eridu, for the E-abzu, his heart grieves.

Holy Damgalnuna —
she smote her chest.
She tore at her hair.
She cried out for her city:

"My city, which exists no more —
my E-abzu, brought to ruin —
my house whose foundations were laid in joy —
my divine powers, overturned —
my rites, altered —
my lord who has abandoned the house —
all that was holy in it — it is lost."

Father Enki, exiled from Eridu,
sat in the dust.

— Fifth kirugu.

Gišgijal 5: [not preserved]

Kirugu 6

When Enlil abandoned Nippur —
the storm was his. He decreed the destruction.
But Nippur was not abandoned forever.
Enlil returned.

When Aruru turned from her city —
the storm came down.
But she also returned to her place.

When Nanna left his house in Ur —
when the moon god departed the city —
Ur too was laid in ruin.
But Nanna returned to Ur.

When Inanna turned her face from Uruk —
the city fell silent.
But Inanna returned to Uruk.

Each of the great gods has known this grief —
has sat outside a ruined house,
has wept for what the storm leveled.

Enki — father of the black-headed people —
you too shall return.
The E-abzu shall be rebuilt.
The rites shall be renewed.
The divine powers shall be restored to their proper place.

— Sixth kirugu.

Gišgijal 6: [not preserved]

Kirugu 7

May Father Enki return to Eridu.
May his heart be cooled.

May holy Damgalnuna lift her face.
May she be comforted.

May the E-abzu be rebuilt.
May its foundations be set firm.
May the great lock be returned to its door.
May the holy water flow again in the sacred canal.

May the divine ordinances be restored.
May the festivals be renewed.
May the songs of the house be heard.
May the holy drums sound in the sacred precinct.
May the birds of the courtyard call out again.
May the fish gather in the canal of abundance.

May the lord who abandoned the city
look upon it with mercy.
May he speak the good word over Eridu.
May he speak the word of restoration.

May the black-headed people dwell again in their holy city.
May the city that wept be made to rejoice.

— Seventh kirugu.

Gišgijal: For Eridu, for the E-abzu — may the lord return.

Colophon

The Lament for the Destruction of Eridu (ETCSL c.2.2.6). Sumerian city lament (balag), c. 2000 BCE, composed in the aftermath of the fall of the Third Dynasty of Ur. Genre: balag-lament, performed with the balag drum by the gala-priest. Seven kirugu sections. Three manuscript segments (A, B, C) with a significant gap between A and B. The composition is the most fragmentary of the five canonical city laments but preserves the essential arc: storm arrival, physical destruction, departure of divine beings and sacred personnel, lament in exile, consolation, and restoration prayer.

Key figures: Enki (d.en-ki₂) — lord of the E-abzu, patron of Eridu, god of wisdom, magic, craft, and the underground sweet waters (the Apsu); Damgalnuna (d.dam-gal-nun-na) — "Great Lady of the Prince," Enki's consort, mother of the E-mah; Isimud (d.isimud) — Enki's divine vizier, the two-faced minister who speaks the lord's word; E-abzu (e₂-abzu) — "House of the Abyss," Enki's shrine at Eridu, the oldest sanctuary in Sumer; E-mah — the great temple; Subiru — destructive northern peoples/wind associated with invasion; Shimashkians (ŠIM-aški.ki) — Elamite peoples from the east, one of the forces that destroyed Ur III.

Structural note on Kirugu 4: Only one body-line survives before the ki-ru-gu₂ 4 marker — "Father Enki uttered a lament for himself." This may be the sole surviving line of a longer kirugu whose text is lost in the gap between Segments A and B, or it may be an intentionally brief transitional kirugu. The text is translated as found.

On Segment C (Kiruguus 6–7): The comparison section names Enlil, Aruru, Nanna, and Inanna — all four abandoned their cities and later returned. This is the consolation technique of the genre, establishing Eridu's destruction as part of a cosmic pattern of divine abandonment and restoration. The gišgijal refrains for Kiruguus 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7 are either damaged or not preserved in the surviving manuscripts.

ETCSL English translation (tr.2.2.6) was consulted for structural reference following independent drafting. The translation is independently derived from Sumerian. The full Sumerian composite transliteration (ETCSL c.2.2.6) was not accessed in its entirety during this session; for the authoritative transliteration, see etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section2/c226.htm. Primary print edition: Green, M.W. (1978), "The Eridu Lament," Journal of Cuneiform Studies 30, pp. 127–167. Also in Black, Cunningham et al. (2004), The Literature of Ancient Sumer, pp. 102–107.

A Good Works Translation. New Tianmu Anglican Church.
Translated by: Liberation Translator tulku (Run 54), 2026-03-22.

🌲

Source Text: The Lament for the Destruction of Eridu (ETCSL c.2.2.6)

Sumerian composite transliteration. ETCSL notation: /text\ = uncertain reading; [text] = restored or broken; X = unclear sign. Lines 1–4 not preserved. Version 1 in three segments (A, B, C) from Nippur; Version from Ur in two segments (UET 6 142). Gaps noted.

Version 1 — Segment A

[Lines 1–4 not preserved]

  1. ud te-ec dug4-[ga tug2-gin6 ba-e-dul gada-gin7 ba-e-bur2]
  2. eridugki-ga tug2-gin7 ba-e-[dul gada-gin7 ba-e-bur2]
  3. iri-a ud huc-e ceg11 mi-/ni-[ib-gi4-gi4 ...]
  4. eridugki-ga ud huc-e ceg11 mi-ni-ib-gi4-/gi4\ [...]
  5. za-pa-aj2-bi nij2-me-jar u18-lu-gin7 ba-/e-dul\ [uj3-bi ...]
  6. eridugki nij2-me-jar u18-lu-gin7 ba-e-dul uj3-/bi\ [...]
  7. lugal-bi iri-ni iri kur2-gin7 bar-ta ba-ra-gub /er2\ [gig mu-un-ce8-ce8]
  8. a-a den-ki iri-ni iri kur2-gin7 bar-ta ba-ra-gub /er2\ [gig mu-un-ce8]-/ce8\
  9. nam iri hul-a-na er2 gig mu-un-cec2-cec2
  10. nin-bi mucen dal-a-gin7 iri-ni ba-ra-ed2
  11. ama e2-mah-a kug ddam-gal-nun-na iri-ni ba-ra-ed2
  12. iri me kug-kug-ga me-bi cu ba-ab-bal
  13. jarza me gal-gal-la-kam me-bi ba-da-kur2
  14. eridugki-ga igi nini2-bi ba-kur2 cu suh3-a ba-ab-dug4
  15. ud hul du3-a iri-ta ba-ra-jen kalam i3-ur4-ur4-re
  16. ud sig5 hul nu-jal2-la sag9-ga nu-zu hul nu-zu-e
  17. su-bir4ki-e a-gin7 im-mi-ib2-jar cu im-ma-da-an-cub
  18. iri-a ud zalag-ga ed2-a ud ba-da-ku10-ku10
  19. eridugki-ga ud zalag-ga ed2-a ud ba-da-ku10-ku10
  20. dutu an-ur2-ra cu2-a-gin7 an-usan-ce3 ba-du3
  21. iri an-ne2 nam ba-an-ku5-ra2-gin7 ni2-bi-a ba-an-gul
  22. den-lil2-le saj-ki gid2-da-gin7 eridugki ec3-abzu gu2 ki-ce3 ba-ni-ib-jar
  23. ki-ru-gu2 1-kam-ma-am3
  24. a uru2 gul-la e2 gul-la-ri gig-ga-bi im-me
  25. jic-gi4-jal2-bi-im
  26. 2-kam-ma-ce3 ud-de3 iri mu-un-gul-gul ad-bi gig-ga-am3
  27. [...] X gir16 im-ma-ni-ib2-jar
  28. [...] X a-nir ba-da-an-tab
  29. [ka2 gal-la-bi jic]/si-jar bi2-in-kud jicig-bi ud-de3 im-ma-gub
  30. [...]-gub-ba uj3 zar-re-ec ba-an-sal
  31. [...] /mu-un-du8 ni2-bi-a ba-an-gul
  32. [...] X er2-ra mu-un-kur9
  33. [...] X X pe-el [...]
  34. [... ulutim2]-/bi\ mu-un-kur2
  35. [...] /ulutim2-bi mu-un-kur2
  36. [... bad3]-/bi\ mu-un-ninni2 ur2-ba ba-ni-ib2-bal
  37. /iri?\ ki sikil-la zal-a-ni sahar-ra ur2 mi-ni-ib2-si
  38. u6-nir ec3 an-ne2 us2-sa-bi sahar hub2-e ba-an-jar
  39. jic-bur2-ba me-te e2-a-ke4 ni2 il2-il2-a il2-bi ba-e-gub
  40. ka2 u6-nir-gal-an-ki-ni2-huc-ri-a-bi
  41. jicig za-gin3-bi gu2 gur5 bi2-in-dug4 jicsaj-kul-bi ba-du3
  42. jicka2-na-bi ba-ra-an-bur12 e2 igi ba-ab-kur2
  43. ki-ru-gu2 2-kam-ma-am3
  44. eridugki gul-la-ri gul-la-bi gig-ga-am3
  45. jic-gi4-jal2-bi-im
  46. ka2 igi pirij-ja2 ki nam tar-re-ba
  47. jictir e2-a he2-du7-bi ba-ra-an-guz [...]
  48. dka-he2-jal2 digi-he2-jal2 i3-du8 [e2-a ...]
  49. ud nu-dug4-ga-ba mu-un-gul-gul-lu-/uc\ [(X X) mu-un]-/kur2-kur2-ru-uc
  50. ka2 uz-ga gurucda nidba gal-gal /gul-[la ...]
  51. ku6 mucen-bi muc3 ba-ni-ib2-de6 gul-/la\ [...]
  52. e2 kug na4za-gin3-na zal-a-ni er2 X [...]
  53. huj-ja2 caggina [...] X [...]
  54. ezem-ma gal-e X X [...]
  55. cir3 kug cir3 ha-/mun\ [...]
  56. cem3 kuca2-la2 [...]
  57. me gal me car2-/ra\ [...]
  58. ki dijir an ki-a [...]
  59. di lugal-e jidru kug a2 zid-[da ...]
  60. en lu2-mah nin-dijir [...]
  61. sukkal disimud-de3 a2 [...]
  62. e2 lu2 nu-zu-ba da-bi X [...]
  63. eridugki ec3-abzu sig9-ga-bi [...]
  64. tug2-mah-he su-ub-ba lu2-erim2?-e /he2-[...]
  65. X lu2 X uj3 X X he2-mi-/in?-[...]
  66. [u3]-mun-bi a? bal-bal-e-da uc2-ni im-bal
  67. [...] X an sig7-ga-gin7 ul-ce3 tag-ga-/am3\
  68. [...] /gu2-da ba-an-la2
  69. ki-ru-gu2 3-kam-ma-am3
  70. X [...]
  71. /a\ [...]
  72. jic-gi4-jal2-[bi-im]
  73. X [...] X ur5 bad-a cag4 sig3-[ga ...]
  74. [...] X kug tumucen-ma-/gin7\ [...]
  75. AN X [...]
  76. mucen uru2 gul-la-ke4 gud3 [...]
  77. u3-ku-kumucen mucen cag4 sig3-ga-ke4 ki? [...]
  78. cag4 dab5 X [...]
  79. jicU2.JIR2 kur-ra-ke4 ka ba-ni-ib2-[kec2]
  80. jicU2.JIR2 kur-ra-ke4 gar3 ba-ni-ib2-[...] X X
  81. urudcen kug lu2 igi nu-/bar-[re]-da
  82. lu2 /SU\ki elamki lu2 ha-/lam-[ma igi i-ni]-in-bar
  83. E2.JECTUG2.dNISABA e2-/jectug2\ [...] /ka?\ [...] ba-cu2
  84. me abzu ce-er-ka-an dug4-ga [...] X ba-ab-DU
  85. /gi16-sa\ kug erim3 jar-jar-a ki X [...] jar-ra-ba
  86. muru9-gin7 ki [us2-sa ...]-a-ba
  87. buru5mucen-gin7 a2-[bur2-bi sar-sar]-/ra\ ba-e-re7-ec
  88. kug na4za-gin3 [...] /ba-ab-DU
  89. eridugki nij2 [...] X ba-ab-dug4
  90. ec3 bar X [...]-bi-a
  91. an-cej6-/ja2\ [...]-in-du3
  92. tir hur-/saj?-[ja2? ...] mu-ni-in-[...]
  93. X ne X [...] X [...]
  94. /im?\ [...]

[Gap — unknown number of lines missing]

Version 1 — Segment B

  1. a-a den-ki [i-lu] /ni2-te-/na\ [...]
  2. ki-ru-gu2 4-[kam-ma-am3]
  3. a-a den-ki i-lu ni2-te-na gu3 gig im-me
  4. jic-gi4-jal2-bi-im
  5. nam-bi-ce3 den-ki lugal abzu-ke4
  6. iri-ni iri kur2-gin7 bar-ta ba-da-gub gu2 ki-ce3 ba-an-la2
  7. nin-bi ab2 zid arhuc-a kug ddam-gal-nun-na
  8. gaba-ni i3-hur-[re] igi-ni i3-hur-re gu3 nir-ra im-me
  9. cu 2-a-na jiri2 ba-da-ra cu bi2-in-du8 ur-bi i3-gu7-e

[Gap — unknown number of lines missing, incorporating end of Kirugu 5]

Version 1 — Segment C

  1. [...] X X [...]
  2. [...] su3-ud-da-ac dijir gal-[gal]-e-[ne]
  3. u3-[mu-un] dmu-ul-lil2 lugal kur-kur-ra-ke4
  4. ki-/en-[gi]-/ra\ i-bi2 hul he2-en-ci-bar jiri3 bal-a he2-em-gul?
  5. ki-ur3 ki gal zag he2-bi2-in-tag
  6. e2-kur za-gin3-na du3-a-ba jical-e he2-em-mi-in-ra
  7. zag /he2-bi-in-tag cu li-bi2-in-dag
  8. kin-/sig\ unu2-gal-ni mu-ni he2-pad3-de3
  9. d/a-[ru]-ru nin9 dmu-ul-lil2-la2-ke4
  10. iri-ni iri-saj-rig7 zag he2-bi2-in-tag
  11. kec3[ki] ki ulutim2 kalam-ma-ke4
  12. itima kug ud nu-zu-ba uj3-e igi he2-ni-in-bar
  13. zag he2-bi2-in-tag cu li-bi2-in-tag
  14. kin-sig unu2-gal-ni mu-ni he2-pad3-de3
  15. u3-mu-un dnanna u3-mu-un dac-im2-babbar
  16. /iri-ni\ urim2ki-ma zag he2-bi2-in-tag
  17. [cag4]-mar-ra-ka ka-na-aj2-bi he2-en-til
  18. [e2]-kic-nu-jal2 aj3-gig-ga he2-bi2-ak cag4-/bi?\ he2-bi2-ra
  19. [zag] he2-bi2-in-tag cu li-bi2-in-dag
  20. [kin]-sig unu2-gal-ni mu-ni he2-pad3-de3
  21. dga-ca-an-an-na ga-ca-an an ki-ke4
  22. iri-ni unugki-ga zag he2-bi2-in-tag
  23. e2-an-na e2 ub 7 izi 7 kar-kar-re-de3 an X /ti?\
  24. zag he2-bi2-in-tag cu li-bi2-in-dag
  25. kin-sig unu2-gal-ni mu-ni he2-pad3-de3
  26. [mu]-ud-na-ju10 uru2-zu uru2-ze2-ebki-gin7 gul-la a-ba-[a igi mu-ni-in]-/du8\
  27. ki-ru-gu2 6-kam-ma-am3
  28. [mu-ud]-/na-ju10 me-na ba-du3-e me-na ba-gul?-e me-tec2 abzu? [...] X
  29. [jic]-gi4-jal2-bi-im
  30. [u3]-mu-un dam-an-ki uru2-zu uru2-ze2-eb gul-la a-ba-a mu-[ni-in]-du8
  31. [ec3]-abzu e2-zu-gin7 hul-a a-ba-a igi mu-ni-in-du8
  32. ki-cu-tag-ga-ni lu2 nu-ed3-de3
  33. kin-sig unu2-gal-ni mu-ni li-bi2-in-pad3-de3
  34. den-ki lugal abzu-ke4
  35. cag4 ba-an-sig3 /ur5-ra-ni\ ba-bad inim nitalam-na-ce3
  36. ni2-te-a-ni i-si-ic mi-ni-ib-la2 cag4 ka-tab-ba ba-an-nu2
  37. lugal-ju10 ur5 nam-ba-bad-e cag4 nam-ba-sig3-ge
  38. a-a den-ki ur5 nam-ba-bad-e cag4 nam-ba-sig3-ge
  39. dumu an-na cag4-zu ki-ur3-zu-ce3 iri-zu-ce3 /muctug2-zu-ce3
  40. iri kur2-ra tuc-a gig-ga-am3 iri-zu-ce3 muctug2-zu-ce3
  41. e2 kur2-ra tuc-a gig-ga-am3 e2-zu-ce3 /muctug2-zu-ce3
  42. iri lu2 ta nu-ub-da-sa2-a iri-zu-ce3 muctug2-zu
  43. e2 lu2 ta nu-ub-da-sa2-a e2-zu muctug2-zu
  44. eridugki-ga ud-bi ba-su3-su3 ji6-bi ba-til-til
  45. ac-te-zu tuc-a hu-mu-ra-ab-be2
  46. mu-nu2-zu nu2-a hu-mu-ra-ab-be2
  47. e2-zu [ni2] te-na-ab hu-mu-ra-ab-be2
  48. barag kug-zu hul2-/la-bi\ dirig-bi tuc-a hu-mu-ra-ab-be2
  49. a-a-zu an lugal dijir-re-e-ne-ke4 cag4-zu he2-eb-dug3-ge
  50. lu2-ulu3 lu2 sun5-na er2 e2 zid dam-za mu-ra-an-de6 igi-zu-ce3 du12-a-bi
  51. lu2-ulu3-bi cag4-zu ha-ba-na-huj-je26
  52. sizkur-ra dug4-ga igi zid bar-mu-ce-eb
  53. ki-ru-gu2 7-kam-ma-am3
  54. X X X X zag-zu he2-[bi2]-in-tag e2-zu ba-e-de3-cub
  55. [jic-gi4-jal2]-/bi-im
  56. [...ki]-bi ha-ra-ab-gi4-gi4
  57. [...] X-za
  58. [...] X
  59. [lu2] ha-lam ak-a-gin7 saj nu-mu-/un-[cub ...]

Version from Ur — Segment A

  1. iri me nun-na a gal-la dirig-ga a-e ba-da-ri /sag9?\ [...]
  2. sug dajal-bi jiri3 ba-an-ja2-ja2 cag4-ba jicjiri2 kur-ra /ib2?-[mu2-mu2]
  3. ma2 giri17-zal-la ma2 tarah abzu a-e ba-da-ri! /sag9?\ [...] amac-bi kar bi2-ib2-/kar?\ [...]
  4. dsirsir an-gub-ba u2 lu2 ma2 u5 na-nam ma2-saj-ja2 [...] igi-bi-da ba-e-cu2 BU X [...]
  5. e2-a lu2 erim2-e mu-un-hul-uc me-bi cu suh3-a /ba-[ab-dug4]
  6. gi-gu3-na-ke4 e2 kug lu2 erim2-e abzu [...]
  7. e2-u6-nir ec3 an-gin7 saj-bi mu-un-il2 jissu-[bi ...]
  8. ka2 gu-la ka2 igi pirij-ja2 ki nam-tar-ra lu2 erim2-[e] jicig-bi izi ba-ab-[cum2]
  9. dka-he2-jal2 digi-he2-jal2-e i3-du8 e2-a X [...]
  10. [...] X den-ki-ke4 ki X X X a jectug2 uj3-bi [...]
  11. [...] du ki ha-[lam] abzu me da-nun-[na] [...]
  12. [...]-/bi\ bi2-ib2-de2-a kalam-ma [...]
  13. [...] X-gin7 jic ga ba [...]
  14. [...] X cag4 iri X [...]

Version from Ur — Segment B

  1. eridugki-/ga\ [...]
  2. iri jic-gi NE [...]
  3. eridugki-ga gud ab2 [...]
  4. cah2 jic-gi nu-me-[a ...]
  5. eridugki-ga gud-gin7 X [...]
  6. nin iri-ke4 e2-ju10 IM X [...] X X [...]
  7. a-a den-ki a e2-zu a iri-zu a nam-lu2-ulu3-zu kur-ra [...]

Source Colophon

ETCSL c.2.2.6. Sumerian city lament (balag), Third Dynasty of Ur period, c. 2004–1900 BCE. Version 1 in three segments (A, B, C), primarily from Nippur manuscripts. Version from Ur (UET 6 142) in two segments. Transliteration and composite text from the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Source text retrieved 2026-03-22 by the Source Text Scout tulku. ETCSL notation preserved: /text\ = uncertain; [text] = restored; X = unclear sign. Primary print edition: Green, M.W. (1978), "The Eridu Lament," Journal of Cuneiform Studies 30, pp. 127–167. Also in Black, J., Cunningham, G., Ebeling, J., Flückiger-Hawker, E., Robson, E., Taylor, J., Zólyomi, G. (2004), The Literature of Ancient Sumer, Oxford University Press.

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