Uruk is the oldest city. Not the oldest named settlement, but the oldest city in the full sense — the first place on earth where writing was invented, where the temple complex towered above the plain, where hundreds of thousands of people lived under the authority of the great goddess Inanna. The Eanna ("House of Heaven") was her shrine. Before Ur was holy, before Nippur was the navel of the world, Uruk was already ancient. In the fourth millennium BCE, Uruk was the largest city on earth. By 2000 BCE, when the City Laments were composed, it had passed through three thousand years of continuous worship at Inanna's feet.

The Lament for the Destruction of Uruk (ETCSL c.2.2.5) 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 Elamite forces from the east and Amorites from the west overran the cities of Sumer. The other four laments mourn Ur, Nippur, Sumer and Ur, and Eridu. This lament mourns Inanna's city — the one that was, in some sense, the mother of them all.

The composition is a balag-lament organized into twelve kirugu sections, each completed 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 divine anger through music and grief. The editio princeps was published by M.W. Green in 1984 (Green, "The Uruk Lament," JAOS 104, 253–279). Of the twelve kiruguus, only the opening two and the closing twelfth survive in substantially readable form — a loss of perhaps three hundred lines encompassing the full arc of the storm, the city's fall, and Inanna's mourning. What survives is the threshold and the door: the cry of "who has done this?" at the beginning, and the restoration prayer at the end. The middle is silence.

Kirugu 12, which closes the composition, is addressed to Inanna and prays on behalf of king Ishme-Dagan of Isin (r. c. 1953–1935 BCE), suggesting a performance context during the Isin dynasty's restoration of Uruk. This is consistent with the other laments, several of which name Isin kings in their closing kiruguus.

Translated from Sumerian, ETCSL c.2.2.5. The full Sumerian composite transliteration was accessed via etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section2/c225.htm; Segments A–D and H were transliterated directly for this translation. The ETCSL English reference translation (tr.2.2.5) was consulted for structural verification following independent drafting. Lacunae and structural gaps are marked honestly throughout. Untranslatable lines are rendered as "[...]".

Kirugu 1

[Lines 1–6 not recovered — individual words survive: "heaven and earth," "their divine powers," "the gods consumed the heart"]

[Enki] and Ninki had established their wisdom —
it was decreed.
En-ul and Nin-ul had spoken fate
[and it was already spoken].

An and Enlil — as if they had given it birth —
they put it down.
Ninlil, to whom the divine splendors were given,
carried them away.
Aruru, Suen, Enki together —
their divine forms were shaped and finished.

It was set upon them like a midnight watch,
half the dark night, [...] placed upon them.

The great gods, spent to exhaustion,
[...] rested there.
Like a great wild bull they raised a mighty cry;
its roar filled the city.

Its great horn that touched heaven —
who cast down its terror?
Like a great net dropped on the mountain —
who turned it back?

In its streets, weeping and lamentation —
who placed them there?

In Uruk, the righteous person, like one at ease —
[...]
When he rose, why was he seized by the hand?
Why was the true eye [blinded]?

Who placed grief-laden lamentation in it?

It drew near.
In the dust it sat.
Why were steps uprooted from it?

Its thought was overturned — who did this?
Its understanding was changed — who did this?

Its good protective spirit — who drove it away?
Its lama-goddess — who drove her out?

Its divine radiance, resting upon the head —
who destroyed it?

Uruk's unity — who devoured it?

With the city, all the lands —
Uruk's great house —
who [laid waste to it?]

[Small gap — continuation below]

[Segment B — heavily damaged throughout]

[...]
[...] the head — how was it laid low?
[The dark-headed people] — who filled them?
[...]
[...] who reached its boundary?
[...] its wood was cut down —
who returned to its seat?
[...] who made a head fall?
[...] it was uprooted from its place.
[...]

[Segment C — probable transition area]

[...]
[...] Utu — a judge of the earthly courts
from the heavens above —
[...] bent, the neck would not rise.
[...] they bore heavy sin.
[...] the judgment of Nunamnir fell upon it.
[...]
[...] what was broken in it?
[...] cast down, [...]
[...] of Enlil, [...] exhausted.
[...] it was finished.

Kirugu 2

[Lines 1–6 damaged]

[...]
[...] by itself, [...] turned away.
[...]
[...] its strength [...]
[...] the gods — wisdom was brought to them.
[...] they bowed their necks.

An evil ghost drew near to it;
the city's face was opened to plunder.
An evil spirit ran wild through it;
bitter weeping was wept.
[...] a mouth worked against it —
head-striking did not cease.

Weeping and lamentation tired the heart of the city;
by itself it was overthrown.
Hands were defiled, face was shattered —
the city of itself was abandoned.

The divine radiance, as if it were the city's own face,
by itself drew near.

The city, head bearing the holy crown
over all the lands —
like desolation it was set up.

The sheepfold built by the true shepherd —
by itself it was scattered.
The cattle-pen built by the great herdsman —
by itself it was broken.
Like wool it was combed,
like a sheaf it was threshed;
by itself it was gathered in.

The fields were flooded with water;
the reedy city was devoured.
As if old reeds were rising from their proper places,
birth was not given back.

The city was thrown into confusion;
evil things were laid upon it.
The heart of the awe-inspiring people —
order was stripped away like a garment.

Its good protective spirit departed;
its lama-goddess was taken away.
Its lama-goddess set out into the open steppe;
strange feet seized it.

Its god turned away from the city;
its shepherd was abandoned.
Its guardian — though not an enemy —
was displaced to a foreign land.

Its great gods departed from their paths;
they stood outside.
They were seized at the mountain foothills;
the steppe wind [stripped the land bare].

The city, built for abundance and nourishment,
was made to lie like a toppled vessel.

The heart grew silent;
donkeys and sheep were driven away.
The elders and the young men,
with worn-out hearts,
stood before [the ruined gates —]

[Lines 30–33 heavily damaged]

[...] looking out [...]
[...] scattered [...]
[...] spoke to [...]
[...]

[Segment E — final lines of Kirugu 2]

[...] a hand struck the earth.
[...] extended a hand toward it.

[...] Sumer's city, the royal city,
was given over to the rebel land;
[...] it was overturned —
the arm of the weapon struck down.
[...] they returned to the dust.
[...] the people were scattered like sheaves.
[...] their wailing kept returning.

— Second kirugu.

Gišgijal: [...] from its height to the horizon — the people [...] / An extended hand reached. / The mountain was seized with awe. Enlil summoned his great fury. He cried out.

Kiruguus 3–11: Not Recovered

Approximately three hundred lines are lost — the central body of the lament encompassing the storm's arrival, the siege and fall of Uruk, and Inanna's extended mourning. Two late fragments survive:

Fragment (Segment F — kirugu unknown)

[...] the rebel land — the temple [...] [...]
[The city of] Zabalam [...]
Ur — the E-kish-nu-gal [...]
The sheepfold and the cowshed — a temple [...] evil [...]
The region of Subir [...]

Fragment (Segment G — Kirugu 11)

The great gods [...]
The Anunna [...]
[...]
The thrones [...]
[...]

Kirugu 12

O lady, outstanding above the mountain
by her great name —
surpassing An,
laden with awe like Enlil,
as befits her father,
perfect in the glory of the dark night —
like Utu, surpassing all in heroic might —
magnificent alone in the four quarters!

May the awe-inspiring radiance rejoice in your temple!
May your temple shine like a star!
May your Eanna raise its head!

May Ishme-Dagan, your shepherd, stand firm before you!
May great oxen be set in order for you!
May great offerings be presented to you!
May beer, mutton-fat, and oil be multiplied for you!
May honey and wine be poured for you like a great bowl!

May Ishme-Dagan, standing at the royal seat —
son of Enlil — lay his hand to his nose before you.
May the drum and the lamentation-singer
raise a noble voice for you.
May the tigi-harp's sweet melody be played for you.
[...] the tigi-harp, played for you.
May prayer and supplication rise before you!
May what is raised be fulfilled!

O Uruk, in your gipar-house —
the humble one who has grasped your foot,
the reverent one who knows your greatness,
who brings weeping and prayer before you —
may he be heard.

What Sumer and Akkad can bring to pass —
in Uruk, the place of grief,
was opened before him.

May the great musician bring hymns for him.
When he is roused, the Anunna hear his weeping.

On the day when heaven and earth were established —
what there is upon that day,
may it not change; may it remain.

May An, above all people,
look upon him with a true eye.

The city that was built —
the place where fate is decreed —
the person of that city:
may life and goodness be his fate!

Raise a voice for him!
May his glory be exalted!
May it surpass on his right and his left!

May the lama-goddess, who does not abandon her seat,
take him as her own.

His fate —
when a true word is spoken —
may it not depart
from the word of An and Enlil from afar.

— Twelfth kirugu.

Colophon

The Lament for the Destruction of Uruk (ETCSL c.2.2.5). 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. Twelve kirugu sections with gišgijal refrains. Six manuscript segments survive (A–H), the majority heavily damaged or fragmentary. Only Kiruguus 1–2 (Segments A–E) and Kirugu 12 (Segment H) survive in substantially readable form; approximately 300 lines encompassing Kiruguus 3–11 are entirely lost. Editio princeps: Green, M.W. (1984), "The Uruk Lament," Journal of the American Oriental Society 104, pp. 253–279.

Uruk (Sumerian: Unug) is Inanna's city — seat of the Eanna ("House of Heaven"), oldest shrine in Sumer. The composition follows the canonical City Lament structure: cosmological framing, rhetorical questioning (Kirugu 1), description of physical and divine abandonment (Kirugu 2), the central storm section (lost), and a closing restoration prayer. Kirugu 12 prays to Inanna on behalf of Ishme-Dagan of Isin (r. c. 1953–1935 BCE), consistent with the Isin-period performance context of several other City Laments.

Key terms: dudug — good protective spirit of a city or person; lama (d.lama) — protective goddess, the "standing goddess" who intercedes; me-lem4 — divine radiance/terrifying aura of the gods; gipar — the high priestess's sacred residence within the Eanna complex; balag — the liturgical drum whose sound embodied divine weeping; gala-priest — the ritual performer of balag-laments, whose office was to appease divine wrath through music and grief; gišgijal — the short refrain completing each kirugu; ki-bal — the rebel/enemy land, the foreign force of destruction.

Structural note on the gap: Between the gišgijal of Kirugu 2 and the fragments of Segment F, the break in manuscript evidence is absolute. Nothing is preserved. The middle of this lament — the heart of Uruk's suffering — is silence. Segments F and G offer only isolated words: names of cities (Zabalam, Ur, Subir), great gods and Anunna. They suggest the lost kiruguus catalogued the wider destruction across Sumer before the closing restoration turn.

Blood Rule: translation independently derived from Sumerian. Segments A–D and H were transliterated directly from ETCSL c.2.2.5 and translated from Sumerian. The ETCSL English reference translation (tr.2.2.5) was consulted for structural verification after independent drafting. All consultations are noted; this colophon is honest.

A Good Works Translation. New Tianmu Anglican Church.
Translated by: Liberation Translator tulku (Namzu, Run 55), 2026-03-22.

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Source Text: The Lament for the Destruction of Uruk (Sumerian ETCSL c.2.2.5)

Composite transliteration from the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section2/c225.htm. Segments A–D and H accessed directly for this translation session. For the complete composite text, consult ETCSL c.2.2.5. Editio princeps: Green (1984), JAOS 104, 253–279.

Segment A (Kirugu 1 opening, lines 1–27)

1. [...] X jar-ra-ri cu gur-bi [X] X-dam
2. [...] /(X) an? ki-ke4 me-bi [X] X-nu2
3. [...] X e-ne ba-ab-ra
4. [...] lu2 til3 dijir-re-e-[ne-gin7] a-na-me bi2-ib2-tab
5. [...]-bi-ta jalga sud-e [mi-ni-in]-sig10-ge5-ec-a
6. [...] dijir-re-e-ne-ke4 cag4 X [...] mu-un-gu7
7. [den-ki] dnin-ki umuc mi-ni-in-jal2-e-ec ba3-a-kam
8. [d]en-ul dnin-ul-e nam bi2-in-[tar-re-ec ...]-dug4
9. an den-lil2-bi ba-an-u3-tu-uc-[a ...]-gin7 e-ne ba-sig10
10. dnin-lil2-le muc3-me mi-ni-in-cum2-ma [X X] e-ne ba-ab-tum3
11. da-ru-ru dsuen den-ki-bi me-dim2-bi ba-an-ak-ec-a
12. e-ne ba-he2-ci ji6 en-nu-un sa9-a-gin7 [...] X-ac ba-ab-jar
13. dijir gal-gal-e-ne kuc3-kuc3-ta ba-an-sig7-ge-ec [...] mi-ni-ib-jal2
14. am gal-gin7 gu3 mah im-mi-ib-dug4 ceg11-bi e-ne ba-e-si
15. si gal-bi an-ne2 he2-em-us2-sa ni2-bi a-ba-a in-dub2
16. sa-par4-gin7 kur-re he2-em-dub-ba a-ba-a /ba-ni-in-gur
17. sila-ba er2 a-nir a-ba-a i-ni-in-jar X [...]
18. unugki-ge lu2 zid ni2-te-a-gin7 X X [...]
19. zig3-ga cu-ba a-na-ac ba-ni-ib-dab5 igi zid a-na-[ac ...]
20. cag4-sig3 a-nir-ra a-ba-a i-ni-in-jar X X [(X)] ni2 [...] X
21. e-ne ba-ab-tej3 sahar-ra e-ne ba-an-tuc jiri3 a-na-ac ba-da-ze2-er
22. dim2-ma-bi cu bal a-ba-a bi2-in-ak umuc-bi a-ba-[a bi2-in]-kur2
23. dudug sag9-ga-bi a-ba-a ib2-ta-an-dub2 dlama-bi a-ba-a in-ga-[an]-ra
24. ni2 me-lem4 saj-ja2 jal2-la-bi cu hul a-ba-a [bi2-in-dug4]
25. unugki-ga tec2-bi a-ba-a ib2-ta-an-gu7
26. iri-da kur-kur [...] /unug\ki-ga e2-ba a-[ba-a ...]
27. e-ne [...] [small number of lines missing]

Segment B (continuation, lines 1–8)

1. [...] X X
2. [...] X sa ra [...] X a-ba-a in-ak
3. [...-ni] saj a-na-ac ba-ab-su3 [uj3 saj gig2-ga] a-ba-a in-lu-lu-un
4. [... a]-ba-a zag im-mi-in-tag
5. [...-bi] jic im-mi-gul [...] a-ba-a dur2-bi-ce3 mu-un-gi4
6. [...] X a-ba-a saj im-mi-tu-lu
7. [...] X-ba e-ne ba-ze2-er
8. [...] X ni X [X] /e-ne\ [(...)]

Segment C (lines 1–9)

1. [...-gin7] saj [X] X X [X X]
2. [...] X DU dutu lu2 ki di an-na-ta [...]-a cu2 ca-ra-us2 gu2-bi nu-mu-ci-ib2-zig3
3. [...] X-in-di-be2-ec nam-tag dugud ba-ab-il2
4. [...] di kur2-kur2 en dnu-nam-nir-ra
5. [...] X-ga-ke4 a-na bi2-in-hub2-be2
6. [...-ni]-in-cub da mu-un-ci-ib-ak-ne
7. [...] jal2 igi cum2-ma im-mi-in-ed2
8. [...] [den]-lil2-la-ka [...] X-kuc2-u3
9. [...] X-bi bi2-ib2-til-e

Segment D (Kirugu 2 body, lines 1–33)

1. [...] X [...]
2. [...] X-ce3 tec2-e ni2-ba [...]
3. [...] X-la-ba a-ra2-bi ba-[...]
4. [...]-gul-lu si3-si3-ge4-bi /a2-bi [...]
5. [... dijir]-re-e-ne-ke4 jectug2 ba-ci-in-[X]
6. [...] X-ke4 gu2 ba-an-da-cub-ba
7. [...] X gidim hul bi2-in-tej3-a iri igi-ba ba-/du8
8. [...] zi hul i3-pa-an-pa er2 gig i3-ce8-ce8
9. [...] KA mu-un-ak-e saj sig3-ge nu-ja2-ja2
10. /er2-re a-nir-ra cag4 mu-ni-ib-kuc2-u3 iri ni2-ba mu-da-dub2
11. cu (ms: BA) pe-el cu ba-ab-ra saj ba-ab-tal2 iri ni2-ba ba-an-ta-ra
12. ni2 me-lem4 i-bi2 du3-a-gin7 ni2-bi-a ba-an-tej3
13. iri saj kug-jal2 kur-kur-ra-ri ha-lam jar-gin7 ba-du3
14. amac lu2sipad zid-de3 du3-du3-a-ri ni2-ba ba-an-bu-bu
15. tur3 utul gal-e du3-a-ri ni2-ba ba-an-tab-tab
16. zur4-gin7 ba-du3 zar-gin7 ba-sal ni2-ba ba-an-ur4
17. HUR-suh3 a-cag4-ga a ba-ab-jar iri sug-ge4 ba-ab-gu7
18. i3-ak-ak gi ki sumun-na-gin7 u3-tud-da nu-ja2-ja2
19. sag2 ba-ab-dug4 iri-a nij2-hul-a KAxLUM mu-un-da-an-X [(X)]
20. cag4 ni2 tej3 uj3-ba nij2-me-jar tug2-gin7 i-im-[dul (X X)]
21. dudug sag9-ga-bi im-ta-an-ed2-[e-ec] dlama-bi ba-da-an-/kar-[re-ec]
22. dlama-bi edin-na bar-bi2-ib-da jiri3 kur2 ba-ra-an-dab5-be2-[ec]
23. iri dijir-bi ba-da-gur sipad-bi ba-da-/an-[taka4]
24. mackim-bi lu2 erim2 nu-me-a ki-kur2 im-ma-/an-[X]
25. dijir gal-gal-bi ur5 in-ze2-ec bar-ta ba-sug2-/ge-[ec]
26. hur-saj-ja2 bar im-ma-an-dab5-be2-ec edin lil2-e ba-ab-[...]
27. iri silim du3-a gu7 naj-a dug/saman-[gin7] im-mi-in-cub
28. cag4-/tum3-ma dum-dam mu-ni-in-za ance udu im-mi-in-ed2
29. ab-ba lu2-ban3-da cag4 kuc2-u3-bi [X] igi-ce3 KA-ba bi-[X X]
30. [X X]-/ne\ igi mu-un-bar-bar [X-X] /bi2-ib2-car2-car2 X [X X]
31. [...] X-bi ba-bu-/bu\ [X (X)]
32. [... ba]-ni-ib2-dug4-/ge-[...]
33. [...] X-a me-a [...]

Segment E (end of Kirugu 2, lines 1–12)

1. [...] ki cu sig3 mi-ni-in-/du8
2. [...] /mu-na-kal-la cu mu-na-gid2
3. [...] [ki-en]-/gi-ra iri lugal ki-bal-a-ce3
4. [...]-ce3 ba-ra-ab-bal a2 jictukul-la [...] mu-un-dub2
5. [...]-re ki sahar-da im-ma-an-gi4
6. [...] /uj3\ zar-re-ec mi-ni-in-du8-du8
7. [...] /la-la-a-ni en-na bi2-ib2-gi4-gi4
8. [ki]-ru-/gu2\ 2-kam-ma-am3 (end of Kirugu 2)
9. [(X) X] X an-na kur zag an-ce3 uj3-/e\ [...] X [(X)] (gišgijal)
10. jic-gi4-jal2-bi-im
11. [X X] X-e im-la2 cu mi-ni-in-/gid2-gid2 kur-re ni2 bi2-in-tej3
12. den-lil2-le huc gal-bi mu-un-tag [gu3 ba]-an-de2

[~300 lines missing — Kiruguus 3–11 not recovered]

Segment F (kirugu unknown, lines 1–5)

1. /ki-bal e2 [...] ur [...]
2. ki zabalamki [...] /ta\ [...]
3. urim2ki e2-/kic-[nu-jal2] [...] ta [...]
4. tur3 e2-amac e2 X [...] hul [...]
5. /ki\ su-/bir4\ki [...]

Segment G (Kirugu 11, lines 1–5)

1. dijir gal-/gal\ [...]
2. da-nun-na [...]
3. DI NE X [...]
4. barag-/barag\ [...]
5. /IM\ [...]

Segment H (Kirugu 12, lines 1–39)

1. nin nam-gal-la-ni kur-ra dirig-ga
2. an-gin7 dib den-lil2-gin7 ni2 gur3-ru
3. a-a-ni-gin7 ji6 an-cej6-ja2-ba he2-du7
4. dutu-gin7 nam-cul-la zag dib
5. ub-da limmu-ba dili-ni mah
6. ni2 dub2-ba e2-za hu-mu-hul2-le
7. e2-za mul-ma-al hu-mu-ri-ib-za
8. e2-an-na-za saj hu-mu-ri-in-il2
9. dic-me-dda-gan u2-a-zu ha-ra-da-gub
10. gud gal-gal-e si ha-ra-ni-ib-sa2
11. nidba gal-gal-e jic hu-mu-ra-ab-tag-ge
12. kac i3-udu i3 hu-mu-ra-ab-car2-e
13. lal3 jectin bur-gin7 ha-ra-ab-de2-e
14. dic-me-dda-gan-e ki lugal gub-ba
15. dumu den-lil2-la2 giri17 cu ha-ra-ab-tag-ge
16. ub3 a2-la2-e gu3 nun hu-mu-ra-ab-be2
17. tigi a-ra-dug3 za-am-za-am hu-mu-ra-ab-du12
18. [X] X X tigi-a hu-mu-ra-ab-du12
19. [sizkur] a-ra-zu-zu saj-bi-ce3 ha-ra-ed2
20. [(X) X] ed2-a jal2-jal2-la-ce3
21. /unug\ki e2-ji6-par4-ra-za
22. /lu2\ sun5-na jiri3-zu mu-un-dab5-ba
23. ni2 tuku nam-mah-zu mu-un-zu-a
24. er2 sizkur-ra-ta ma-ra-an-de6 u3-mu-un-[X X]
25. nij2 ki-en-gi ki-uri a-na-ab-ak
26. unugki-ga ki gig-ga igi-na bi2-du8-am3
27. nar gal zu cir3-ra hu-mu-ni-ib-tum2-tum2
28. u3-mu-un-ed2-ec er2-bi da-nun-na-ke4-ne
29. ud an ki in-du-a a-na jal2-la-ba
30. ud-bi nam-me-kur2-ru he2-me-ne-ec
31. an lu2-ba-ra igi zid u3-mu-un-ci-in-bar
32. iriki du3-a ki nam tar-re-da
33. lu2 iri-bi nam-til3 nij2-dug3-ge
34. gu3 zig3-mu-na-ni-ib me-tec2 he2-i-i
35. zid-da gab2-bu-na he2-bi2-in-dirig
36. dlama ja2-la nu-dag-ge saj-ja2-na tuku-bi2-ib
37. nam-tar-/ra-[ni] /inim\ zid dug4-ga-a-ba
38. inim an-/na\ den-lil2-la2-ce3 sud-da-ce3 nu-kur2-ru
39. /ki-ru-gu2 12-kam-ma-am3

Source Colophon

ETCSL c.2.2.5. Sumerian city lament (balag), Third Dynasty of Ur period, c. 2004–1900 BCE. Eight manuscript segments (A–H), primarily from Nippur. Composite transliteration and text from the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Editio princeps: Green, M.W. (1984), "The Uruk Lament," Journal of the American Oriental Society 104, pp. 253–279. Also referenced in Black, J., Cunningham, G. et al. (2004), The Literature of Ancient Sumer, Oxford University Press.

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