Tablet 1 of Šumma Izbu

Šumma Izbu ("If an Anomaly") is the great Mesopotamian encyclopedia of teratological omens — the systematic reading of birth defects, monstrous births, and anomalous deliveries as messages from the gods. Where the celestial omen series Enūma Anu Enlil read the heavens, the terrestrial series Šumma Ālu read the ground, and the diagnostic series Sakikkû read the sick body, the Šumma Izbu read the womb. It is one of the oldest and most extensive omen series in cuneiform literature, with roots in the Old Babylonian period (early 2nd millennium BCE) and continuous scribal transmission for over a thousand years.

This is Tablet 1 of the series — the opening tablet, named by its incipit: "If a woman is pregnant and her womb cries out." It catalogues what happens when a woman gives birth to animals, body parts, objects, demons, divine beings, mythical creatures, and multiple children. The system is rigorously systematic: the type of anomaly, the sex of the offspring, whether the newborn lives or dies, whether twins are conjoined or separate, which limbs are missing and on which side — every variable produces a different verdict for the land, the king, and the household. Male multiples bring hardship; female multiples bring prosperity. Living anomalies are worse than dead ones. Missing right limbs predict the querent's defeat; missing left limbs predict the enemy's.

Neo-Assyrian copy from the Library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh (7th century BCE). K.3688 (British Museum). The obverse is significantly damaged — many verdict clauses are broken. The reverse is well preserved, particularly the systematic twin, triple, and multiple birth sections. The tablet's colophon names Ashurbanipal and identifies this as Tablet 1 of the series.

This is a Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church. Translated from Akkadian cuneiform (ATF transliteration from the Electronic Babylonian Literature corpus, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München). First freely available English translation.

The Single Births

If a woman gives birth to a donkey — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a ram — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a pig — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a serpent — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a head — [...]

If a woman gives birth to embers — [...]

If a woman gives birth to an egg — [...]

If a woman gives birth to an egg — [...]

If a woman gives birth to an egg — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a creature of a fish — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a bird — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a divine being who has features — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a divine being who has no features — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a finger — [...]

If a woman gives birth to an ox-tendon — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a rib — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a rib whose flesh is dark with blood — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a jerboa — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a sinew — [...]

If a woman gives birth to two or three lumps — [...]

If a woman gives birth to a brick — [...]

If a woman gives birth to two or three bricks — the city [...]

If a woman gives birth to a placenta — the dynasty [...]

If a woman gives birth to a head — hardship in the land [...]

If a woman gives birth to a hand — the king [...]

If a woman gives birth to a wrist — the land of the king will scatter [...]

If a woman gives birth to a foot — silence for the man.

[...] she gives birth — that woman [...]

If a woman gives birth to one goat horn — the dynasty will change.

If a woman gives birth to two goat horns — that man will become poor [...]

If a woman gives birth to a gazelle horn — the end of the dynasty [...]

If a woman gives birth to something pointed — the man's house [...]

If a woman gives birth to clay — the man's house [...]

If a woman gives birth to something full — [...]

If a woman gives birth to an izbu — [...]

If a woman gives birth to an izbu and within it is an izbu — [...]

If a woman gives birth to wind — [...]

If a woman breathes in wind and gives birth to wind — evil [...] Brothers will not exist. That land will be lost [...]

If a woman gives birth to a corpse — divine wrath will consume the man [...]

If a woman gives birth to a lilû-demon — diminishment will scatter the man's house [...]

If a woman gives birth to a lilītu-demoness — the man's house to desecration and curse [...]

If a woman gives birth to a buffoon — diminishment of the man's house [...]

If a woman gives birth to a female buffoon — same.

If a woman gives birth to a leech — the man's house will be confused.

If a woman gives birth to a stillborn — the man's house will scatter. Same.

If a woman gives birth to a male creature — a favorable word will reach the land.

If a woman gives birth to a female creature — that house will advance. Good fortune will be established for it.

If a woman gives birth to a blind one — the land will be darkened. The man's house will not prosper.

If a woman gives birth to the underside of the heart — that city will be destroyed. The land will see devastation.

If a woman gives birth to a deformed mass — the land will be darkened. The man's house will not scatter.

If a woman gives birth to a deaf one — that house, through struggle, will advance.

If a woman gives birth to a fox-creature — that house will suffer. That city will fall.

If a woman gives birth to a hairy one — his father will die, and his sons will not agree.

If a woman gives birth to a swollen one — the master of the house will bear a tribute not his own.

If a woman gives birth to something severed — the wife of the man will die.

If a woman gives birth to something of Shulpae — the house [...]

If a woman gives birth to a violent spirit, whether male or female — that woman [...]

If a woman gives birth to a spotted one — the king [...]

If a woman gives birth to something bitter — the king [...]

If a woman gives birth to a ṣunduru — the house [...]

If a woman changes form and gives birth — the house [...]

If a woman gives birth to a formless mass — [...]

The Mythical Forms

If a woman gives birth to something beautiful — [...]

If a woman gives birth to something half-human — the house [...]

If a woman gives birth to a Humbaba-creature — the gods of the land [...]

If a woman gives birth to the likeness of Huwawa — the king and son [...]

If a woman gives birth to the likeness of a scepter — a transgression in [...]

If a woman gives birth to the likeness of a spindle — the throne [...]

If a woman gives birth to a tigrīlu whose form is half a cubit — that city will be razed.

If a woman gives birth and its form is half a cubit, bearded, it speaks, and it walks, and its teeth protrude — its name is tigrīlu. Upheaval of Nergal. Strong hostility and binding in the land will be established. Divine wrath. Street against street. House against house.

The Twin Births

If a woman gives birth to two males — hardship in the land. The land will see grief. Evil upon the house of his father will not be established.

If a woman gives birth to two males and their insides are one — wife and wife will not agree. The man's house [...]

If a woman gives birth to two males joined at the feet — that house will scatter.

If a woman gives birth to two — one male, one female — disagreement will exist in the land. That house will diminish.

If a woman gives birth to two and like a bull are the offspring of Shamash — the desire of the king. His hand will reach his enemy.

If a woman gives birth to two and they are joined at their backs and their faces are set apart — the land, its gods will abandon it. The king and his sons will not agree.

If a woman gives birth to two and they have no noses and no feet — the land of the king will go to ruin.

If a woman changes form and gives birth to twins — that land will be lost. The man's house will scatter.

If a woman gives birth to twins and during their birth seizures occur — the land that one ruled, two will rule.

If a woman gives birth to twins with seizures, and the one on the right has his hand but the one on the left has no hand — the enemy will slay me with weapons. The land will become small. He will bring about wretchedness. He will kill the morale of my troops.

If a woman gives birth to twins with seizures, and the one on the left has his hand but the one on the right has no hand — the enemy will slay him with weapons. Counterpart.

If a woman gives birth to twins with seizures, and their right hands do not exist — uprising. The harvest of the land the enemy will consume.

If a woman gives birth to twins with seizures, and their left hands do not exist — the prince will stand over the lord in his command.

If a woman gives birth to twins with seizures, and the one on the right has his foot but the one on the left has no foot — the offspring of my land the enemy will abandon, and the land he will bring to ruin.

If a woman gives birth to twins with seizures, and the one on the left has his foot but the one on the right has no foot — the offspring of the enemy's land. Counterpart.

If a woman gives birth to twins with seizures, and their right feet do not exist — the land's dwelling will fall and go to ruin.

If a woman gives birth to twins with seizures, and their left feet do not exist — the land [...]

The Triple Births

[...] gives birth — that house will prosper.

[...] equivalently gives birth — the land and prince will prosper greatly. The king will seize his enemy.

[...] gives birth and their insides are one — wife and wife will quarrel, and the man's house will prosper.

[...] with their feet gives birth — the lord of that house will die.

If a woman gives birth to three males — the land will seize hardship and will see grief. The lord of the house will die.

If a woman gives birth to three males and they live — that land will fall and will see grief.

If a woman gives birth to three males and they die — that land will prosper greatly.

[...] their insides are one — that land will fall.

[...] female — the gods' chaos will fall upon the land.

[...] wrath will exist, and the people will sell their children for silver.

If a woman gives birth to three — two females, one male — the gods' chaos will fall upon the enemy's land. The land, the king's heart will be glad. The foundation of the man's house will be secure.

If a woman gives birth to three and their features do not exist — the land will be seized by famine and become weakened.

If a woman gives birth to three and their heads do not exist — enemy kings will arise and will not agree.

If a woman gives birth to three and their service is one — the enemy will arise and the enemy's land will become weak.

If a woman gives birth to a malformed creature — the lord of the house will die.

If a woman gives birth to three females — that land will prosper. The king will reach his enemy.

If a woman gives birth to three females and their insides are one — the land will dwell in a peaceful habitation.

The Greater Multitudes

If a woman gives birth to four males — devastation will be established in the land.

If a woman gives birth to four males and they live — the enemy will surround the city and seize it. The noble will be struck down.

If a woman gives birth to four males and they die — the enemy will surround the city but will not seize it. The enemy's noble will be struck down.

If a woman gives birth to four — two males, two females — the cry of the enemy. Hardship will seize the land. The house [...]

If a woman gives birth to either two, or three, or four — the land will be overthrown.

If a woman gives birth to four females and they live — the land will see hardship.

If a woman gives birth to four females and they die — the land will see good fortune.

If a woman gives birth to four or five males — the land will scatter. The dynasty will change.

If a woman gives birth to four or five females — that land will prosper greatly. The man's house will prosper greatly.

If a woman gives birth to five — three males, two females — that land will scatter. Its king will flee. Same: the lord of the house will die.

If a woman gives birth to five — three females, two males — that land will be lost.

If a woman gives birth to five or six males — that land will scatter. The dynasty will change.

If a woman gives birth to five or six females — that land will prosper greatly. That house will prosper greatly.

If a woman gives birth to six — that land will prosper. The king [...] his hand will reach.

If a woman gives birth to seven — the life of the king, the reed-fence... the land will become like... [...]

If a woman gives birth to seven or eight — the king [...]

Catchline

If a woman gives birth and it has a lion's head — a mighty king will exist in the land.

Colophon (Original)

Tablet 1 of: "If a woman is pregnant and her womb cries out." Palace of Ashurbanipal, king of the universe, king of Assyria.

Colophon

Tablet 1 of Šumma Izbu ("If an Anomaly"), the Mesopotamian teratological omen series. Neo-Assyrian copy from the Library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh (7th century BCE). The series itself is Old Babylonian in origin, with over a millennium of continuous scribal transmission. K.3688, British Museum.

The teratological omen genre reads the womb as the celestial series reads the sky and the terrestrial series reads the ground. Every anomalous birth — an animal, a body part, a demon, a mythical creature, conjoined twins, multiples — is a diagnostic of the land's condition. The system is rigorously binary: male births bring disruption, female births bring prosperity. Living anomalies are worse than dead ones — the anomaly cancels itself through death. Missing right-side limbs predict the querent's defeat; missing left-side limbs predict the enemy's. The body mirrors the state, and the womb reads both.

The most extraordinary entry is the tigrīlu (reverse lines 7-10): a creature half a cubit tall, bearded, that speaks, walks, and has protruding teeth. The text names it in the diagnostic itself — "its name is tigrīlu" — the way a physician names a syndrome. The creature is attributed to Nergal, god of the underworld and plague, and its appearance predicts strong hostility, divine wrath, and civil war: "street against street, house against house."

Good Works Translation from Akkadian cuneiform. Translated independently from the ATF (Assyriological Transliteration Format) text in the Electronic Babylonian Literature corpus (eBL, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, CC BY 4.0). No existing English translation was consulted — no complete English translation of K.3688 is known to exist in free form. Uncertain sign readings are noted: the terms akkāmu (line 45), akūtu (line 46), and several creature names in the obverse are given best-effort renderings; the Blood Rule is honored. The obverse is significantly damaged, with many verdict clauses lost to breakage. Restorations in the catchline (reverse line 65) follow standard Šumma Izbu parallels.

First freely available English translation of Šumma Izbu Tablet 1 (K.3688).

Translated for the Good Work Library by Tanken (探検), Expeditionary Tulku Life 212, New Tianmu Anglican Church, April 2026.

🌲

Source Text: K.3688 — Šumma Izbu Tablet 1

Akkadian cuneiform in ATF (Assyriological Transliteration Format) from the Electronic Babylonian Literature corpus (eBL), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. CC BY 4.0. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.

@obverse
1'. [BE] MUNUS# ANŠE [...]
2'. [BE] MUNUS UDU.[NITA₂ ...]
3'. BE MUNUS SA.[A ...]
4'. BE MUNUS MU[Š ...]
5'. BE MUNUS SAG [...]
6'. BE MUNUS NIG₂.BUN₂.[NA ...]
7'. BE MUNUS NUNUZ [...]
8'. BE MUNUS NUNUZ [...]
9'. BE MUNUS NUNUZ [...]
10'. BE MUNUS bi-nu-ut KU₆ [...]
11'. BE MUNUS MUŠEN [...]
12'. BE MUNUS DINGIR ša bu-na TUKU [...]
13'. [B]E MUNUS DINGIR ša bu-na NU TUKU U₃.[TU ...]
14'. [BE] MUNUS ŠU.SI U₃.[TU ...]
15'. [BE] MUNUS {uzu}NU GU₄ U₃.[TU ...]
16'. [B]E MUNUS i-pi₂ U₃.[TU ...]
17'. [BE] MUNUS i-pi₂ ša UZU MUD₂ DIR U₃.T[U ...]
18'. [BE] MUNUS a-pi₂-ša₂-la-a U₃.TU [...]
19'. [BE] MUNUS {uzu}NU U₃.TU [...]
20'. [BE MU]NUS 2 lu-u₂ 3 lip-ša₂-ti U₃.TU [...]
21'. [BE MU]NUS SIG₄ U₃.TU [...]
22'. [BE MUN]US 2 lu-u₂ 3 SIG₄ U₃.TU# U[RU ...]
23'. [BE MUNUS] ARHUŠ{še-li-tu₂} [U₃].TU BA[L ...]
24'. [BE MUNUS] SAG.DU [U₃].TU KUR d[an-na-tu₄ ...]
25'. [BE MUNUS] qa₂-ti [U₃].TU LU[GAL ...]
26'. [BE MUNUS r]i-it-ta₅ [U₃].TU KUR LUGAL B[IR ...]
27'. [BE MUNUS] GIR₃# [U₃.T]U qa₂-lal [LU₂]
28'. [... U₃.T]U MUNUS BI [...]
29'. BE# MUNUS# 1# SI# [UZ₃ U₃.TU] BAL i-[ša-a-ni]
30'. BE MUNUS 2 SI U[Z₃ U₃.TU] LU₂ BI UKU₂-i[n ...]
31'. BE MUNUS SI MAŠ.DA₃ [U₃.TU] taq-ti-it BAL x# [...]
32'. BE MUNUS mu-qa-ra [U₃.TU] E₂ LU₂ [...]
33'. BE MUNUS IM{ṭi-da} [U₃.TU] E₂# L[U₂ ...]
34'. BE MUNUS ma-li-i [...]
35'. BE MUNUS iz-ba-am U₃.[TU ...]
36'. BE MUNUS iz-ba-am U₃.TU-ma ina ŠA₃-šu₂ iz-b[u ...]
37'. BE MUNUS IM U₃.TU [...]
38'. BE MUNUS IM i-ri-ma IM U₃.TU H[UL ...]
39'. ŠEŠ-ti NU GAL₂ KUR BI Z[AH₂ ...]
40'. BE MUNUS AD₆ U₃.TU DINGIR GU₇ LU₂# [...]
41'. BE MUNUS {lu₂}LIL U₃.TU tam-ṭa-a-tu BIR E₂ LU₂ [...]
42'. BE MUNUS MUNUS.LIL U₃.TU E₂ LU₂ ana pil-ti u er-[re-ti ...]
43'. BE MUNUS {lu₂}BA.AN.ZA U₃.TU tam-ṭa-a-tu E₂ LU₂ [...]
44'. BE MUNUS MUNUS.BA.AN.ZA U₃.TU GABA.[RI]
45'. BE MUNUS a-ka-a-am U₃.TU E₂ LU₂ ul-ta-aš-ša₂-aš
46'. BE MUNUS a-ku-ta₅ U₃.TU E₂ LU₂ BIR-ah KI.MIN
47'. BE MUNUS bi-ni-it NITA U₃.TU INIM SIG₅ ana KUR i-sa-an-ni-iq
48'. BE MUNUS bi-ni-it MUNUS U₃.TU E₂ B[I ana] IGI-šu₂ DU-ak NIG₂.SIG₅ GAR-šu₂
49'. BE MUNUS IGI.NU.TUKU U₃.TU KUR id-[da]l-lah E₂ LU₂ NU SI.SA₂
50'. BE MUNUS KI.TA-at lib₃-bi U₃.TU URU BI [HU]L KUR NIG₂.HA.LAM.MA IGI
51'. BE MUNUS ku-ub-bu-lam U₃.TU KUR id-[dal]-lah E₂ LU₂ BIR-ah
52'. BE MUNUS GEŠTUG₂.LAL U₃.TU E₂ BI [ina k]a-ma!(BA)-ti ana IGI-šu₂ DU-ak
53'. BE MUNUS šu-la-nam U₃.TU E₂ BI in[a BAD ih]-ta-aš-ši-ih URU BI ŠUB-di
54'. BE MUNUS hu-šu-lam U₃.TU AD-šu₂ U[Š₂-ma] DUMU-MEŠ-šu₂ NU ŠE.ŠE.GA
55'. BE MUNUS hu-ub-bu-ša₂ U₃.TU EN E₂ [GU]N la šu₂-a#-tu₄ ina-aš-ši
56'. BE MUNUS KUD.KUD.DU U₃.TU DAM [NA] BA.UŠ₂#
57'. BE MUNUS A.RI.A {d}ŠUL.PA.E₃ U₃.TU E₂ [...]
58'. BE MUNUS A₂.KAM lu NITA lu MUNUS U₃.TU MUNUS BI [...]
59'. BE MUNUS mu-us-su-ka U₃.TU LUGAL [...]
60'. BE MUNUS ru-uʾ-ta₅ U₃.TU LUGAL [...]
61'. BE MUNUS ṣu-un-du-ru U₃.TU E₂ [...]
62'. BE MUNUS uš-ta-aš-ni-ma U₃.TU E₂# [...]
63'. BE MUNUS u₂-su-mi-a U₃.TU [...]

@reverse
1'. BE MUNUS dam-qa₂-mi-nam U₃.TU [...]
2'. BE MUNUS mu-ut-ta-at NAM.LU₂.U₁₈.LU U₃.TU E₂ [...]
3'. BE MUNUS hu-um-ba-bi-ta₅ U₃.TU DINGIR-MEŠ KUR-M[EŠ ...]
4'. BE MUNUS ši-kin hu-wa-wa U₃.TU LUGAL u DUMU [...]
5'. BE MUNUS tam-šil ši-bir-ri U₃.TU hi-ṭi-tu₄ ina [...]
6'. BE MUNUS tam-šil BAL.GI U₃.TU AŠ.TE [...]
7'. BE MUNUS ti-ig-ri-ilu ša₂ 1/2 KUŠ₃ la-an-šu₂ U₃.TU URU BI ina-qar [x]
8'. BE MUNUS U₃.TU-ma 1/2 KUŠ₃ la-an-šu₂ SU₆ za-qin i-da-ab-bu-[ub DU.DU]
9'. u ZU₂-MEŠ-šu₂ E₃-MEŠ ti-ig-ri-ilu MU-šu₂ BAL {d}U.GUR
10'. [ZI dan-nu] ka-šu₂-šu₂ ina KUR GAR-ma DINGIR GU₇ SILA SILA KUR₂-ir E₂ [E₂ KAR-aʾ]
11'. BE# MUNUS# 2 NITA-MEŠ U₃.TU dan-na-tu₄ ina KUR GAL₂-ma KUR ŠA₃.HUL IGI HUL ana E₂ [AD-šu₂ NU GAR-an]
12'. BE# MUNUS# 2 NITA-MEŠ U₃.TU-ma ŠA₃-šu₂-nu 1-ma DAM u DAM NU ŠE.ŠE.GA E₂ LU₂# [...]
13'. BE# MUNUS 2 NITA-MEŠ še-pa-nu-šu-nu U₃.TU E₂ BI BIR-[ah]
14'. BE# MUNUS 2 U₃.TU-ma 1 NITA 1 MUNUS NU ŠE.ŠE.GA ina KUR GAL₂ E₂ BI# T[UR-ir]
15'. BE MUNUS 2 U₃.TU-ma GIM GU₄ DUMU {d}UTU ti-iṣ-bu-ti LUGAL a-a-bi-šu₂ ŠU-su KUR-[ad₂]
16'. BE MUNUS 2 U₃.TU-ma ina GU₂.MURGU-šu₂-nu in-nim-du-ma pa-[nu]-šu₂-nu a-he-e GAR
17'. KUR DINGIR-MEŠ-šu₂ TAG₄-MEŠ-ši LUGAL u DUMU-MEŠ-šu₂ NU ŠE.ŠE.[GA]
18'. BE MUNUS 2 U₃.TU-ma ap-pa u GIR₃-MEŠ NU TUKU-MEŠ# KUR LUGAL kar-mu-ta₅ DU-[ak]
19'. BE MUNUS MAŠ.TAB.BA uš-ta-aš-ni-ma U₃.TU KUR BI ZAH₂ E₂ LU₂ BIR-ah#
20'. [BE MUNUS] MAŠ.TAB.BA U₃.TU-ma ina TI-šu₂-nu DAB.DAB-tu₄ KUR ša₂ 1 i-be₂-lu-ši 2 i-be₂-lu-ši
21'. [BE MUNUS MAŠ].TAB.BA U₃.TU-ma ina TI-šu₂-nu DAB.DAB-ma ša₂ 15 ŠU-su ša₂ 15 NU GAL₂#
22'. [KUR₂] ina {giš}TUKUL GAZ-an-ni-ma KUR TUR u₂-la-lu-ta₅ u₂-ša₂-al-lak ŠI.ŠI ERIN₂-ia i-dak
23'. [BE MUNUS MAŠ.T]AB.BA U₃.TU-ma MIN-ma ša₂ 150 ŠU-su ša₂ 150 NU GAL₂ KUR₂ ina {giš}TUKUL GAZ-šu₂-ma GABA.RI
24'. [BE MUNUS MAŠ].TAB.BA U₃.TU-ma MIN-ma ša₂ 15 ŠU-MEŠ-šu₂-nu NU GAL₂-MEŠ ZI-bu BURU₁₄ KUR KUR₂ GU₇
25'. [BE MUNUS MAŠ].TAB.BA U₃.TU-ma MIN-ma ša₂ 150 KI.MIN NUN UGU EN INIM-šu₂ GUB-az
26'. [BE MUNUS MAŠ].TAB.BA U₃.TU-ma MIN-ma ša₂ 15 GIR₃-šu₂ ša 15 NU GAL₂
27'. [ṭ]u₂-da-at KUR-ia KUR₂ [TAG₄-ma KUR] kar-mu-ta₅ u₂-ša₂-al-lak
28'. [BE MUNUS MAŠ].TAB.BA U₃.TU-ma MIN-[ma ša₂ 150 GIR₃-šu₂ ša₂ 150] NU GAL₂ ṭu₂-da-at KUR KUR₂ GABA#.RI
29'. [BE MUNUS MAŠ.TAB].BA U₃.TU-ma MIN-ma ša₂# 15# GIR₃#-MEŠ#-šu₂#-nu# NU# GAL₂#-[MEŠ] KUR# KI#.TUŠ#-sa₃ ŠUB-ma kar-[mu-ta₅ DU-ak]
30'. [BE MUNUS] U₃.TU-ma MIN-ma ša₂ 150 GIR₃-MEŠ-šu₂-nu NU [GA]L₂-MEŠ# KUR [...]
31'. [...]-MEŠ U₃.TU E₂ BI ana IG[I-šu₂] DU-ak#
32'. [...] šu-ta-ha-a-ti U₃.TU KUR NUN DAGAL-iš [LUGA]L a-a-bi-šu DAB-su
33'. [...] U₃.TU-ma ŠA₃-ši-na 1-ma DAM u DAM in#-dag-gar-u₂-ma E₂ LU₂ DA[GAL]
34'. [...] še-pa-nu-ši-na U₃.TU EN# E₂ BI BA.[UŠ₂]
35'. [BE MUNUS 3 NITA-ME]Š U₃.TU KUR# KI#-KAL DAB-ma ŠA₃.HUL IGI EN E₂ BA.[UŠ₂]
36'. [BE MUNUS 3 NITA-ME]Š U₃.TU-m[a TI]-MEŠ KUR BI ŠUB-ma ŠA₃.HUL I[GI]
37'. [BE MUNUS 3 NITA-ME]Š U₃.[TU-ma UŠ₂]-MEŠ KUR BI DAGAL-iš
38'. [... Š]A₃-šu₂-nu 1-ma KUR BI ŠUB-di
39'. [... MUN]US DINGIR-MEŠ SUH₃# UGU# KUR ŠUB-MEŠ-ma
40'. [... U₂].GUG GAL₂-ma UN-MEŠ [DUM]U-MEŠ-ši-na ana KU₃.BABBAR BUR₂-MEŠ
41'. [BE MUNUS 3 U₃.TU-ma] 2 MUNUS-MEŠ 1 NITA DINGIR-MEŠ SU[H₃] UGU KUR KUR₂ ŠUB-MEŠ-ma
42'. [KUR LUGAL ŠA₃]-BI DUG₃.GA SUH[UŠ] E₂ LU₂ GI.NA
43'. [BE MUNUS 3 U₃].TU-ma bu-un-na-an-nu-šu₂-nu NU GAL₂-MEŠ K[UR] SU#.GU₇ DAB-ma in-neš-ši
44'. [BE MUNUS 3] U₃.TU-ma SAG.DU-MEŠ-šu₂-nu NU GAL₂-MEŠ LUGAL-M[EŠ] KUR₂-MEŠ ZI-ME#-nim-ma NU ŠE.ŠE.GA
45'. [BE MUNUS] 3 U₃.TU-ma i-lik-šu₂-nu 1-ma KUR₂ ZI-ma KUR KUR₂ un-na-aš
46'. [BE MUNUS] tak-ši-i U₃.TU EN# E₂ BA.UŠ₂
47'. [BE MUN]US 3 MUNUS-MEŠ U₃.TU KUR BI DAGAL LUGAL a-a-bi-šu₂ ŠU-su KUR-ad₂
48'. [BE MUN]US 3 MUNUS-MEŠ U₃.TU-ma ŠA₃-ši-na 1-ma KUR KI.TUŠ ne-eh-ta₅ TUŠ-ab
49'. [BE MUN]US 4 NITA-MEŠ U₃.TU NIG₂.HA.LAM#.MA ina KUR GAR-an
50'. [BE MUN]US 4 NITA-MEŠ U₃.TU-ma TI-MEŠ KUR₂ UR[U] NIGIN#-ma# DAB IDIM SIG GA[Z-ak]
51'. [BE] MUNUS 4 NITA-MEŠ U₃.TU-ma UŠ₂-[M]EŠ KUR₂ UR[U] NIGIN#-ma# NU DAB IDIM KUR₂ G[AZ-ak]
52'. BE MUNUS 4 U₃.TU-ma 2 NITA-MEŠ 2 MUNUS-MEŠ GU₃# KUR₂ KI#.KAL KUR DAB-bat E₂ [...]
53'. BE MUNUS lu 2 lu 3 lu 4 U₃.TU KUR# uš-tal-[pat]
54'. BE MUNUS 4 MUNUS-MEŠ U₃.TU-ma TI-MEŠ# KUR dan-na-ta₅ IGI-[mar]
55'. BE MUNUS 4 MUNUS-MEŠ U₃.TU-ma UŠ₂-MEŠ# KUR SIG₅ IGI-[mar]
56'. BE MUNUS 4 u₃-lu 5 NITA-MEŠ U₃.TU KUR BIR-ah BAL MAN-[ni]
57'. BE MUNUS 4 u₃-lu 5 MUNUS-MEŠ U₃.TU K[UR B]I DAGAL-iš E₂ LU₂ DAGAL-[iš]
58'. BE MUNUS 5 U₃.TU-ma 3 NITA-MEŠ 2 MUNUS-MEŠ [KUR BI BIR] LUGAL-ša₂ ZAH₂ KI.MIN EN E₂ [UŠ₂]
59'. BE MUNUS 5 U₃.TU-ma 3 MUNUS-MEŠ 2 NITA-MEŠ [KUR] BI [ZAH₂]
60'. BE MUNUS 5 u₃-lu 6 NITA-MEŠ U₃.TU KUR# BI BIR BAL MAN-[ni]
61'. BE MUNUS 5 u₂-lu 6 MUNUS-MEŠ U₃.TU KUR BI DAGAL-iš E₂ BI DAGAL-[iš]
62'. BE MUNUS 6 U₃.TU KUR BI DAGAL LU[GAL ... ŠU]-su [KUR-ad₂]
63'. BE MUNUS 7 U₃.TU ZI-ut LUGAL IM.GI UŠ₄ KUR MAN-ni [...]
64'. BE MUNUS 7 u₃-lu 8 U₃.TU LU[GAL]
@catchline
65'. [B]E MUNUS U₃.TU-ma SAG.DU UR#.MAH# [GAR LUGAL dan-nu ina KUR GAL₂-ši]
@colophon
66'. [DUB 1.K]AM BE MUNUS [a-rat-ma ša₂ ŠA₃-ša₃ i-bak-ki]
67'. [KUR] {m}AN.ŠAR₂-DU₃-[A LUGAL ŠU₂ LUGAL AN.ŠAR₂{ki}]

Source Colophon

Akkadian cuneiform, ATF transliteration from the Electronic Babylonian Literature corpus (eBL), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10018951. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. K.3688, British Museum, excavated from the Library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh.

The Šumma Izbu series comprises approximately 24 tablets covering anomalous births in humans and animals. This is Tablet 1. The series incipit, preserved in the colophon, is: "If a woman is pregnant and her womb cries out" (šumma sinništu aratma ša libbišā ibakki). The series name Šumma Izbu ("If an Anomaly") derives from the broader category of teratological omens. The text was copied for the Royal Library of Ashurbanipal (r. 668–631 BCE) from earlier Babylonian exemplars.

🌲