LAMENTATION TO THE INVASION OF SUMER BY THE PEOPLE OF GUTIUM

Origin/Historian/Author: Sumerian (ca 2200 BCE)
Source: Sumerian Liturgical Texts, By Stephen Langdon, 1917

Full Text Below

1. ….. the city, which has been seized ….. has been annihilated with calamity.
2. As for ….. mushda, his beloved abode the foot of a stranger inhabits.
3. His spouse ….. wails repeatedly.
4. His spouse Nam ….. sagga wails repeatedly.
5. How long my destroyed habitations, my destroyed temple -shall their misery be?
6. The canal which rejoices the hearts of the cattle waters the fields no more.
7. The “Canal of Enki,” like a malediction by a curse, is brought to nought.
8. In the fields rain is not; the land is watered not.
9. The garden cellars are. become heated like an oven and its stores are scattered.
10. The domestic animals as many as are four-footed of the ….. not.
11. The four-footed animals of the plains repose not.
12. The god, Lugal-7-da-ge, from his city has been taken away.
13. As for Ninzu-anna, her beloved abode the foot of stranger entered.
14. How long of her destroyed habitations and her destroyed temple shall the misery be?
15. In lsin mercy and salvation are not: ….. ?
16. The Lady of Isin, princess of the Land, weeps bitterly.
17. How long of her destroyed habitations and her destroyed temple shall the misery be?
18. [All of Nippur], the binder of heaven and earth, by the death dealing weapon is smitten.
19. [Before Enlil,] in his city Nippur a deluge was sent.
20. Mother Ninlil, mistress of Kiurra, weeps sorrowfully.
21. How long of her destroyed habitations and her destroyed temple shall the misery be.
22. Kesh which is built on the plain he has razed like the winds.
23. In Adab the temple placed by the new canal.. …….. ?
24. Hostile Gutium made there his resting place; the stranger wreaked destruction.
25. Gutium rebelled in his heart and exalted his race.
26. Nintud because of his deeds weeps bitterly.
27. How long of her destroyed habitations and her destroyed temple shall the misery be?
28. ….. in the holy plain he has razed like the wind.
29. ….. of lnnini is plundered and cursed.
30. Eanna, abode of the “Dark Chamber,” the foe beheld.
31. Of the holy “Dark Chamber” the priestly rites are suspended.
32. ….. from the “Dark Chamber” has been plundered.
33. ….. the foe carried away.
34. How long of her destroyed habitations and her destroyed temple shall the misery be?
35. [In Erech?] its ….. is seized light in darkness is overwhelmed.