An Incantation from the Mouth-Washing Ritual
This is a bilingual Sumerian-Akkadian incantation from the Mis pi ("mouth-washing") corpus — the ritual that transformed a newly carved divine statue into the living dwelling of a god. The text follows the classic Marduk-Ea dialogue pattern: Marduk encounters impurity in the streets of the city, reports to his father Ea in the Apsu (the underground freshwater ocean), and receives instructions for preparing the egubbu (holy water basin) with an extraordinary catalogue of sacred materials — seven kiln-fired vessels, river water, ritual plants, precious woods, rare oils, mountain honey, butter from a pure cow, and gold, silver, and precious stones.
The Mis pi was the most important consecration ritual in Mesopotamian religion. Without it, a statue was inert wood or stone. After the mouth-washing, the divine image could eat, drink, smell incense, hear prayers, and speak oracles. The theological paradox was deliberate: the craftsman was required to deny his work, and the incantation declares the image "born in heaven." The ritual creates the sacred by denying the profane origin.
This tablet (K.4900) was copied for the library of Ashurbanipal (r. 669-631 BCE) at Nineveh. The text is bilingual throughout — each line appears first in Emesal Sumerian (the liturgical dialect used by the gala-priest), then in Standard Babylonian Akkadian. The incantation preserves a complete ritual narrative: encounter with impurity, divine consultation, preparation of the sacred water, and the purification of temple and city.
The Incantation
Incantation. As he walked along the street —
Asalluhi, as he walked along the street —
Marduk, as he walked along the street —
as he passed through the wide square,
as he went along the narrow lane —
the purification water had been spilled, and someone had stepped on it.
In impure waters he had set his foot.
He saw the water of unwashed hands.
A woman whose hands were impure came out to meet him.
A young woman whose hands were unwashed gazed upon him.
A woman of sorcery touched him with her hand.
A man whose hands were impure came out to meet him.
A man whose hands were unwashed gazed upon him.
A man whose body was not right touched him with his hand.
Marduk looked upon this.
To Ea his father in the Apsu he spoke:
"Father, exorcist! The purification water was spilled, and someone stepped on it — stepped on it!
In impure waters he set his foot.
He saw the water of unwashed hands.
A woman whose hands were impure came out to meet him.
A young woman whose hands were unwashed gazed upon him.
A woman of sorcery touched him with her hand.
A man whose hands were impure came out to meet him.
A man whose hands were unwashed gazed upon him.
A man whose body was impure touched him with his hand.
What shall I do? Show me!"
Ea answered his son Marduk:
"My son — what do you not know? What can I add for you?
Asalluhi — what do you not know? What can I add for you?
What I know, you also know.
Go, my son, Asalluhi!
Take seven earthen vessels brought from the great kiln.
Draw water from two river mouths.
Tamarisk, mashtakal-plant, date palm shoot,
shallala-reed, alkali, qarnanu-salt, pure salt —
that which opens the mouth of the gods.
Cedar, cypress, juniper, boxwood,
aromatics, juniper resin, kukru-incense, white cedar.
Red substance, cedar oil, pure oil, finest oil,
nikiptu-oil, white honey brought from its mountain.
Butter from a pure cow, butter from a cow
born in a pure cattle-pen.
Gold, silver, fine alloy, dushu-stone, mushsharu-stone,
hulalu-stone, carnelian, lapis lazuli —
throw them into the holy water basin."
The Rite of Eridu
Prepare the pure holy water of Eridu.
Perform the rite of the Apsu.
Cast your sweet incantation.
Complete the ritual over these waters.
Purify them with your holy incantation.
Take the libation vessel of rejoicing — the curved vessel.
Pour these waters into it.
The Purification
The holy water that purifies the house of the gods.
The holy water that cleanses the house of the gods.
The holy water that brightens the house of the gods.
The holy water of the mouth-washing of the gods.
The holy water that purifies the city.
The holy water that cleanses the city.
The holy water that brightens the city.
Take it and go through the city!
Go through the wide squares of the city!
Go through the narrow streets!
Go through the city to its wall!
[Call out ...] cry aloud!
[The city ...] purify it!
[...] let it be cleansed — make it clean!
[...] let it be purified — make it pure!
[...] of the gods.
[...] let it be purified — may it be pure!
[...] let it be cleansed — may it be clean!
[...] let it be brightened — may it be bright!
May the evil tongue stand aside!
Palace of Ashurbanipal, king of the universe, king of Assyria.
Colophon
Good Works Translation from Akkadian and Emesal Sumerian by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. Translated by Tansaku (NTAC Expeditionary Tulku) from the ATF transliteration of K.4900, a Neo-Assyrian tablet from the library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh, now in the British Museum. The text belongs to the Mis pi ("mouth-washing") ritual corpus — the ceremony that consecrated divine statues. The translation follows the Akkadian (Standard Babylonian) interlinear, using the Emesal Sumerian to clarify meaning where the Akkadian is damaged or ambiguous. No existing English translation was used as a source. Logograms (e.g., DINGIR-MEŠ for ilani "gods," E₂ for bitu "house") were read as their Akkadian equivalents per standard Assyriological practice. Damaged passages in the final section (reverse lines 31-43) are marked with brackets. First freely available English translation.
Source: Electronic Babylonian Literature (eBL) corpus, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10018951. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (Creative Commons Attribution).
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
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Source Text: K.4900
Akkadian and Emesal Sumerian source text from the Electronic Babylonian Literature (eBL) corpus, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen. ATF transliteration of K.4900 (British Museum), a Neo-Assyrian tablet from the library of Ashurbanipal at Nineveh. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.
@obverse
1. %sux [en₂ e-sir₂-ra d]u-a-ni-ta : & %sb su-qa₂-am ina a-la-ki-šu₂
2. %sux [{d}asal-lu₂-h]i & e-sir₂-ra du-a-ni-ta
3. ($___$) [{d}marduk] & %sb su-qa₂-am ina a-la-ki-šu₂
4. %sux [sila daga]l-la dib-ba-ni-ta : & %sb re-bi-ta₅ ina ba-ʾ-i-šu₂
5. %sux [till]a₄ sila-a gen-na-a-ni-ta : & su-u₂-qa su-la-a ina a-la-ki-šu₂
6. %sux [a t]u₅-a bal-e-da & mu-un-da-zukum-ma
7. ($___$) ri-im-ka tab-ka & ik-bu-us-ma
8. %sux a si nu-sa₂ a gir₃-ni & ba-ni-in-gar
9. ($___$) ina me-e la i-ša₂-ru-ti & %sb še-ep-šu₂ iš-ta-ka-an
10. %sux a šu nu-luh-ha igi im-ma-an-si₃ : & %sb me-e qa-ti la me₂-sa-a-ti i-ta-mar
11. %sux munus šu nu sig₅-ga & gaba im-ma-an-ri
12. ($___$) sin-niš-tu₂ ša₂ qa-ta-ša₂ & la dam-qa uš-tam-hi-ir
13. %sux ki-sikil šu nu-luh-ha & igi im-ma-an-si₃
14. ($___$) ar₂-da-tu₂ ša₂ qa-ta-ša₂ & la me₂-sa-a it-tap-la-as
15. %sux [munus] uš₁₁#-ri-a šu mu-ni-in-tag : & %sb sin-niš-tu₂ ša₂ ru-he-e ŠU-su il-ta-pat
16. %sux [lu₂ š]u-ni nu-sig₅-ga & gaba im-ma-an-ri
17. ($___$) [ša₂ q]a-ta#-šu₂ & la dam#-qa#-ti# it#-tam#-hi#-ir#
18. %sux [lu₂ šu-ni nu-luh-ha] & i[gi im-ma-an-si₃]
19. ($___$) [ša₂ qa-ta-š]u₂ & la me₂-[sa-a i-ta-mar]
20. %sux [lu₂ su-na si nu-sa₂]-a# & šu mu-ni-[in-tag]
21. ($___$) [ša₂ zu-mur-šu₂ la] i#-ša₂-ru & qat-su il-t[a-pat]
22. %sux [{d}asal-lu₂-hi igi im-ma-a]n-si₃ : & {d}marduk ip-pal-li-is-s[u-ma]
23. %sux [a-a-ni {d}+en-ki engu]r-ra-ke₄ & šu-a ba-an-na-gi-[(x)]
24. ($___$) [ana {d}e₂-a a-bi-šu₂] ina ap-si-i & u₂-ša₂-an-na
25. %sux [a-a-gu₁₀ maš-maš a t]u₅-a bal-e-da & mu-un-da-zukum-ma mu-un-da-zukum-ma
26. ($___$) [a-bi maš-maš-šu r]i-im-ka tab-ka ik-bu-us ik-bu-us-ma
27. %sux [a si nu-sa₂]-a# gir₃-ni & ba-ni-in-gar
28. ($___$) [ina me-e l]a i-ša₂-ru-ti & še-ep-šu₂ iš-ta-ka-an
29. %sux [a šu nu lu]h-ha igi im-ma-an-si₃ : & %sb me-e qa-ti la me₂-sa-a-ti i-ta-mar
30. %sux [munus šu n]u-sig₅-ga & gaba im-ma-an-ri
31. %sux [ki-sikil š]u nu-luh-ha & igi im-ma-an-si₃
32. %sux [munus u]š₁₁-ri-a & šu mu-ni-in-tag
33. %sux [lu₂ šu-n]i nu-sig₅-ga & gaba im-ma-an-ri
34. %sux [lu₂ š]u nu-luh-ha & igi im-ma-an-si₃
35. %sux [lu₂ s]u-bi si nu-sa₂-a & šu mu-ni-in-tag
36. %sux [a-na] ib₂-ba-ak-a & ga₂-e ba-an-da-la₂-e
37. ($___$) [mi]-nam te-ep-pe₂-eš & ia-a-ti kul-li-ma-ni
38. %sux {d#}+en#-ki dumu-ni {d}asal-lu₂-hi mu-un-na-ni-ib₂-gi₄-g[i₄]
39. ($___$) {d}e₂#-a DUMU-šu₂ & {d}marduk ip-[pal]
40. %sux dumu#-gu₁₀ a-na nu-i₃#-zu & a-na a-ra-ab-dah-[e-en]
41. %sux {d}asal-lu₂-hi a-na nu-i₃-zu & a-na a-ra-ab-dah-[e-en]
42. %sux nig₂ ga₂-[e] i₃-zu-a-gu₁₀ & u₃ za-e in-ga-e#-[zu]
43. %sux gen-na dumu-gu₁₀ {d}asal-l[u₂-hi]
44. %sux dug [sah]ar₂-ra 7 udun gal-ta de₆-a šu u-me-[ti]
45. ($___$) 7 [š]a₂ kar-pa-tu₂ ša₂-har-ra-tu₂ ša₂ ul-tu# u₂-tu#-ni ra-bi-ti₃ ib-bab#-la# [le-qe₂-ma]
46. %sux i₇ ka min-n[a-t]a a u₃!#(KU?)-mi-ni-[sa₁₀]
47. ($___$) ina pi-i na-[ra-a-ti] ki-lal-le-e
48. %sux {giš}šinig {u₂}in#-nu#-uš# {giš#}GIŠIMMAR#.TUR# {gi#}šul-hi naga-si mun ka luh-a digir-re-[e-ne]-ke₄
49. ($___$) be₂-e#-[nu maš]-ta-kal su-huš-ša₂ qa-an ša₂-la-la u₂#-hu#-lu!# qar#-na#-nu# ṭa-ab-tu₂ pi-t[a-a-at pi-i DIGI]R-MEŠ
50. %sux {gi[š}eren {gi]š}sur-min₃ {giš}za-ba-lum {giš}taškarin šim-hi-a {šim}li {šim}gug₂-gu[g₂ {giš}eren babbar-r]a
51. ($___$) [e-r]e-na šur-i-ni su-pa-lu taš-ka-rin-na ri-qi₂ bu-ra-ši ku-uk-ra# l[i-ia-r]i
52. %sux [huš-a] i₃ {giš}eren i₃-giš i₃# sag i₃ ligidba lal₃ babbar kur-bi-ta [de₆-a]
53. ($___$) [h]uš-ša₂-a šam-nu e-re-nu šam-nu KU₃ šam-nu ru-uš-ti šam-nu ni-kip-ti lal-la-ra ša₂ u[l-tu KUR-i-š]u₂ ib-bab-la
54. %sux [i₃ ab₂ k]u₃-ga i₃ ab₂ ŠILAM ku₃-ga-ta [mu₂-a]
55. ($___$) [ša₂-m]a-an# ar-hi el-le-ti ša₂-man ar-hi ša₂ ina tar-ba-ṣi el-li₃ ib-b[a-nu-u]
56. %sux [ku₃-sig₁₇ ku₃-babbar an-t]a-sur-ra-ke₄ {na₄}duh-ši-a {na₄}nir₂-muš-[gir₂]
57. ($___$) [kas-pa hu-r]a-ṣa ṣa-ri-ri du-ša₂-a muš-ša₂-r[a]
58. %sux [{na₄}nir₂ {na₄}gu]g {na₄}za-gin₃-na ša₃ a-gub₂-ba-še₃ u-me-ni-š[ub]
59. ($___$) [hu-la-la sa]-an-du uq-na-a ina ŠA₃ a-gub-be₂ id-di-ma
$ end of obverse
@reverse
1. %sux a-gub₂-ba sikil-la eridu{ki}-ga-ke₄ & u-me-ni-gub
2. ($___$) e-gub-ba-a el-la ša₂ eri-du₁₀ & ki-in-ma
3. %sux kid₃-kid₃-da abzu-ta & u-me-ni-[ak]
4. ($___$) ki-ki-ṭi ap-si-i & e-pu-uš#-[ma]
5. %sux mu₇-mu₇# d[u₁₀-g]a-zu u-me-ni-si₃ : %sb ši-pat-ka ṭa-ab-bu# [i-di-ma]
6. %sux a-bi nam-išib š[u gal₂ u]-me-ni-du₇ : %sb me-e šu-nu-ti ina i-šip-pu-t[i ṭa-biš šuk-lil-ma]
7. %sux tu₆ ku₃-ga-za u-me-ni-ri : ina ši-ip-ti-ka el-[le-ti ul-lil-ma]
8. %sux {giš}ba-an-d[u₈]-du₈ a₂-lal₂-e & {giš}gurum-ma šu u#-me-[ti]
9. ($___$) °\° °\°
10. %sux a-bi ša₃-ba-a & u-me-[in-de₂]
11. ($___$) me-e šu-nu-ti ana lib₃-bi & šu-[puk-ma]
12. %sux a#-gub₂-ba e₂ digir-re-ne & [kug-ga/ge]-e#-d[e₃]
13. ($___$) A#.GUB₂.BA mu-lil & [E₂] i-li
14. %sux a#-gub₂-ba e₂ digir-re-ne & sikil#-l[a/l[e]-e#-de₃
15. ($___$) [MIN] mu-bi-ib & E₂ i-li
16. %sux [a-gub₂-b]a e₂ digir-re-ne & dadag-g[a]-e-de₃
17. ($___$) [MIN] mu-nam-mir# & E₂ i-li
18. %sux [a-gub₃-b]a ka luh-[ha] & digir-re-e-ne-ke₄
19. ($___$) [MIN mi-is pi-i] & ša₂ DIGIR-MEŠ
20. %sux [a-gub₂-ba iri-a] & ku₃-ge-e-de₃
21. ($___$) [MIN mu-ub-bi-ib] & a-li
22. %sux [a-gub₂-ba uru-a : %sb MIN mu-ub-bi-ib a-l]i : %sux sikil-la-e-de₃
23. %sux [a-gub₂-ba iri-a : %sb MIN mu-nam-mir a]-li : %sux šen-šen-e-de₃
24. %sux [šu u-me-ti iri-a] u-me-ni-e₃
25. ($___$) [le-qe₂-e-ma IRI] šu-bi-ʾ#-ma
26. %sux [sila dagal-la iri-a : %sb re-bit IRI š]u-bi-ʾ#-ma : %sux u-me-ni-e₃
27. %sux [tilla₄ sila sig]-ga?#-[bi] u-me-ni-e₃
28. ($___$) [su-qa su]-qa-qa-a šu-bi-ʾ-ma
29. %sux [iri-a ... ba]d₃-bi-še₃ u-me-ni-e₃
30. ($___$) [a-la ...]-ti du-ri-šu₂ šu#-bi-ʾ-ma
31. %sux [...] x x [(...)] x-a g[u₃] de₂-de₂?#
32. ($___$) [...] x-ti?# [...]-ša₂#-a [š]i-s[i-ma]
33. %sux [iri ... : %sb a-la ...-m]a : %sux u-me#-n[i-ku₃]
34. %sux [... : & %sb ... li-bi-ib]-ma : %sux u-me-ni-[sikil/dadag]
35. %sux [... : %sb ... li-l]il-ma : %sux u-me-ni-[ku₃]
36. %sux [... : %sb ... l]i!-bi-ib-ma : %sux u-me-ni-[sikil/dadag]
37. %sux [...] digir-re-e-ne-[ke₄]
38. ($___$) [...] x-ru ša₂ DIGIR-[MEŠ]
39. %sux [... : %sb ... l]i-lil : %sux he₂-en-ku₃-g[a]
40. %sux [... : %sb ... li-b]i-ib : %sux he₂-en-siki[l-la]
41. %sux [... : %sb ... li]m?-mir : %sux he₂-en-d[adag-ga]
42. [eme-hul-gal₂ bar-še₃ he₂]-em-t[a-gub]
43. [...] x [...]
@colophon
A+1. KUR [{m}AN.ŠAR₂-DU₃-A] MAN ŠU₂ MAN [KUR AN.ŠAR₂{ki}]
Source Colophon
K.4900. Neo-Assyrian period (7th century BCE). From the library of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh. Excavated by Hormuzd Rassam and Austen Henry Layard. British Museum, London.
ATF transliteration from the Electronic Babylonian Literature (eBL) corpus, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, directed by Enrique Jimenez. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10018951. Data downloaded from Zenodo as fragments.json (73.9 MB, 23,289 fragments). Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (Creative Commons Attribution).
The eBL project is a digital Assyriology platform that provides open-access transliterations, translations, and metadata for cuneiform tablets. The transliteration uses the ATF (ASCII Transliteration Format) standard developed by the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Sumerian lines are marked with %sux, Akkadian interlinear with %sb or ($___$), and scribal notes with #note.
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