LITURGICAL HYMN TO SIN

Origin/Historian/Author: Sumerian (ca. 2000 BCE)
Source: Sumerian Liturgies and Psalms, By Stephen Langdon, 1919

Full Text Below

OBVERSE

5. His city(?) the abode of Ur as a name he named.
6. As lord unto eternal days in his city,
7. The god Sin he[1] caused to abide.
8. In Ur the city which his heart has chosen
9. The temple like a strong bull calls unto the regions(?)
10. Of my king, may his net(?)
11. Be upon tomb and ruins.
12. Of Sin, may his beloved city,
13. The dwelling-place Ur, with holy decrees a city …..
14. Of my king may his chapel …..
15. …..
16. It is a sugar melody.
17. Hail! Nannar, of the flocks(?) thou art ruler, lord Ashimur.
18. …..
19. In my city of the lifting of the eyes, the home of his own abode, which is his fulness of luxury,
20. Whose design is like Suruppak,
21. ….. I have caused him to be a shepherd(?)
22. [Hail! son] of Enlil, in the Land he is ruler, lord Ashimur.
23. …..
24. Into my city of the lifting of the eyes, the home of his own abode, which is his fulness of luxury,
25. Whose design is like Suruppak,

REVERSE

I. [ ….. ] I have caused him to be a shepherd(?)
2. [First son of Enlil, in the Land he is] ruler, lord ASirnur,
3. …..
4. [ “He that institutes battle” ] as a name I name.
5. Ashimur the ….. whom my heart has chosen,
6. In Emudkurramu I caused to be a shepherd(?).
7. First son of Enlil, in the Land he is ruler.
8. “He that institutes battle” as a name l name.
9. Ashimur thou art; where my heart has chosen,
10. In Emudkurramu I have caused thee to be a shepherd(?).
11-12. Lord of the clean sheepfolds, ruler of the flocks is he, the glorious(?) hero, far famed shepherd.
13. In the meadow a sanctuary I have built; in the abode of my city Ur,
14. In the temple Sagnamsarl which is in the mount of Dilmun,
15. In the temple of the holy stylus a shepherd I caused him to be(?)
16. First son of Enlil, in the Land he is ruler, glorious(?) hero, far famed shepherd.
17. …..
18. In the meadow a sanctuary I built: in the abode of mv city Ur,
19. In the temple Sagnarnsar which is in the mount of Dilmun,
20. In the temple of the holy stylus a shepherd I have caused him to be(?)
21. It is a sugar melody.
22. Song on the flute to Sin.

Footnotes

[1] Enlil