Myths, Praises and Hymns to the Gods of Sumer

AN
A hymn to Asarluhi (Asarluhi A)	Asarluhi A	august words. Enki has named you with the name Id-lu-rugu

BAU
A hymn to Bau (Bau A)	Bau A	Let us …… praise (?) you, the beneficent protective goddess of Bau.

DAMGALNUNA
A šir-šag-hula to Damgalnuna		The great prince Enki, …… heaven and earth

DUMUZI
Dumuzid and Geštin-ana		A small demon opened his mouth and said to the big demon, "Come on, let's go to the lap of holy Inana
Dumuzi's dream		His heart was full of tears as he went out into the countryside.
Dumuzid and Enkimdu		Maiden, the cattle-pen ……; maiden Inana, the sheepfold ……. …… bending in the furrows
Dumuzid and his sisters		my ... my lacerated eyes … my lacerated nose ……. …… my beaten ……. …… my hasty
(See INANNA for the Inanna-Dumuzi texts)

General topics
The debate between Bird and Fish		In those ancient days, when the good destinies had been decreed,
The debate between Copper and Silver		(Silver (?) speaks:) "Powerful with huge arms, does he have any rival?
The debate between Date Palm and Tamarisk		The Tamarisk opened his mouth and spoke. He addressed the Date Palm
The farmer's instructions		Ud-ul-uru (Old man cultivator) gave advice to his son:
The home of the fish		My fish, I have built you a home
A Sumerian Flood story		I will ...... the perishing of my mankind; for Nintud, I will stop the annihilation of my creatures, and I will return the people from their dwelling grounds.
How grain came to Sumer		Men used to eat grass with their mouths like sheep.
The heron and the turtle		What do they say in the reed-beds whose growth is good
The song of the hoe		Not only did the lord make the world appear in its correct form
The debate between Sheep and Grain		When, upon the hill of heaven and earth
The šumunda grass		The abba instructed, the abba instructed:
The debate between Winter and Summer		An lifted his head in pride and brought forth a good day.

ENKI
Enki's journey to Nibru		In those days, in the days when heaven and earth were created
Enki and the World Order		Grandiloquent lord of heaven and earth, self-reliant, Father Enki
Enki and Ninhursaga: A Paradise Myth		Pure are the cities -- and you are the ones to whom they are allotted. Pure is Dilmun land
Enki and Ninmah		In those days, in the days when heaven and earth were created; in those nights

ENLIL
Enlil in the E-kur	Enlil A	Enlil's commands are by far the loftiest, his words
Enlil and Nam-zid-tara		Nam-zid-tara walked by Enlil, who said to him: "Where have you come from, Nam-zid-tara
Enlil and Ninlil		There was a city, there was a city -- the one we live in.
Enlil and Sud		she was faithfully sitting (?) on ......, admirable and full of charms.

ERESHKIGAL
Ereshkigal and Nergal		Anu made his voice heard and spoke, he addressed his words to Kakka
A Hymn to the Ekur		The great house is as great as a mountain

EVERYGOD
Prayer to Every God		May the fury of my lord's heart be quieted toward me !
A Sumerian Genesis		Nintur was paying attention:
The Keš temple hymn		The princely lord, the princely lord came forth from the house
Prayer to the Gods of the Night		They are lying down, the Great Ones
The temple hymns		O E-unir (House which is a ziqqurat), grown together with heaven and earth

GILGAMESH
Gilgamesh Cycle		He who has seen everything, I will make known (?) to the lands
Gilgameš and Aga		Envoys of Aga, the son of En-me-barage-si, came from Kiš to Gilgameš
Gilgameš and the bull of heaven		I will sing the song of the man of battle, the man of battle. I will sing the song of Lord Gilgameš
The death of Gilgameš		…… hero …… has lain down and is never to rise again. …… has lain down and is never to rise again.
Gilgameš and Huwawa	Version A	Now the lord once decided to set off for the mountain where the man lives; Lord Gilgameš
Gilgameš and Huwawa	Version B	So come on now, you heroic bearer of a sceptre of wide-ranging power! Noble glory of the gods, angry bull standing ready for a fight! Young Lord Gilgameš
Gilgameš, Enkidu and the nether world		In those days, in those distant days, in those nights, in those remote nights, in those years

HENDERSAGA
A hymn to Hendursaga	Hendursaga A	Hendursaga, you have great divine powers, more than anyone could require.

INANNA
A balbale to Inana	Dumuzid-Inana A	The brother speaks gently to his sister, Utu speaks gently to his sister, he speaks tenderly to holy Inana
A balbale to Inana	Dumuzid-Inana B	"My dearest, my dearest, my dearest, my darling, my darling, my honey of her own mother
A balbale to Inana	Dumuzid-Inana C	My sister, what have you been doing in the house? Little one, what have you been doing in the house
A balbale to Inana	Dumuzid-Inana D	As I was strolling, as I was strolling, as I was strolling …… the house, as I was strolling, he caught sight of my Inana
A balbale to Inana	Dumuzid-Inana E	He has sprouted, he has burgeoned, he is well-watered lettuce, my shaded garden of the desert, richly flourishing
A balbale to Inana	Dumuzid-Inana F	I, the queen, will look with wonder at the foliage. I, Inana, will gaze at the open foliage
A balbale to Inana	Inanna A	Great fierce storm, ...... radiance! Inana, emitting fearsomeness and radiance in battle
The exaltation of Inanna	Inanna B	Queen of all the ME, Radiant Light,
A hymn to Inana	Inanna C	The great-hearted mistress, the impetuous lady, proud among the Anuna gods and pre-eminent in all lands, the great daughter of Suen
A Hymn to Inana as Ninegala	Inanna D	Great light, heavenly lioness, always speaking words of assent!
A tigi to Inana	Inanna E	Lady whom Ningal has joyously made attractive with beauty
A hymn to Inana	Inanna F	My father gave me the heavens and he gave me the earth.
A šir-namšub to Inana	Inanna G	When I go, when I go -- the mighty queen who
A balbale to Inana as Nanaya	Inanna H	Worthy of An, ......, ...... unsurpassed in ladyship
A šir-namšub to Inana	Inanna I	When I ...... as I travel by boat, when I ...... as I travel by boat, when I, the queen, journey to the abzu
Inanna's Descent to the Underworld		From the great heaven she set her mind on the great below.
Inanna and Ebih		I, also, would like to celebrate
Inanna and the Huluppu Tree		In the first days, in the very first days,
A balbale to Inana		Lady, you who wander among sweet-voiced cows and gentle-voiced calves in the cattle-pen; young woman, no sooner will you arrive there, Inana,
Inana and Bilulu		She can make the lament for you, my Dumuzid
Inana and Gudam		They filled the bronze vessels to the brim
Hymns to Inanna		I say, "Hail!" to the Holy One who appears in the heavens!
Inanna's Return to Nibru		Lady ......! Returning heroic youth, Inana ....... At the shrine, in Nibru, in the E-dul-kug
Inanna and Šu-kale-tuda		The mistress who, having all the great divine powers, deserves the throne-dais
Inana and An		E-ana comes forth from heaven
A song of Inana and Dumuzid	Dumuzid-Inana B1	It was in the days of abundance, it was in the nights of plenty; it was in the months of luxuriance, it was in the years of rejoicing.
A song of Inana and Dumuzid	Dumuzid-Inana C1	Ninegala, your wedding ushers are lords
A song of Inana and Dumuzid	Dumuzid-Inana D1	The …… of E-temen-ni-guru, the organisation of the house of Eridug, the radiance of the house of Suen
A song of Inana and Dumuzid	Dumuzid-Inana J	"…… beloved sister of Dumuzid, beloved …… of Durtur, …… seed implanted into the womb
A balbale (?) to Inana	Dumuzid-Inana P	I gazed over all the people, and chose Dumuzid as god of the Land
A song of Inana and Dumuzid	Dumuzid-Inana R	Maiden, glossy mane, lovely beauty, Inana, glossy mane, lovely beauty
A kungar to Inana	Dumuzid-Inana T	…… he who cools, who cools ……. He who uproots the grass for holy Inana,
A song of Inana and Dumuzid	Dumuzid-Inana W	May my sheep eat my …… which is growing in the fields, my plants, my camel-thorn.
A song of Inana and Dumuzid	Dumuzid-Inana Y	(Utu speaks:) "Our brother-in-law, the daytime will pass; our brother-in-law, night will come.
A kungar to Inanna and Dumuzi		If it were not for our mother, he would be chasing me along the dark
Inanna and the God of Wisdom		Inanna placed the shugurra, the crown of the steppe, on her head.

KUSU
A hymn to Kusu	Kusu A	O angry great butting bull! O torch! O great bull of Enki

LUGALBANDA
Lugalbanda and the Anzud bird		Lugalbanda lies idle in the mountains, in the faraway places; he has ventured into the Zabumountains
Lugalbanda in the mountain cave		When in ancient days heaven was separated from earth, when in ancient days that which was fitting ……, when after the ancient harvests …… barley was eaten

MARTU
A šir-gida to Martu	Martu A	Hero, august youth, who completely controls the distant mountains as far as their borders

NANNA
A balbale to Suen	Nanna A	How many there are! How many cows there are!
A balbale to Nanna	Nanna B	(Ningal speaks:) "I …… for the
A balbale to Nanna	Nanna C	O eastern (?) house of Sumer
A balbale to Nanna	Nanna D	They are as numerous, as numerous as the grasses which break through the earth
A hymn to Nanna	Nanna E	Princely son, you are radiant as you come forth from the sacred bathing chamber
The herds of Nanna	Nanna F	The lord has burnished (?) the heavens; he has embellished the night
A hymn to Nanna	Nanna G	Nanna, ……, lord, son of Enlil
An adab to Nanna	Nanna H	Righteous lord who determines destiny!
A tigi to Suen	Nanna I	My king …… in his reed marshes. He …… in the silent
An ululumama to Nanna	Nanna J	Lord, glory of heaven, suited to ……, Nanna
A šir-namšub to Suen	Nanna K	As remote as heaven, …… as the earth
A šir-namgala to Nanna	Nanna L	Princely son, respected one in heaven spreading amply over the high mountains
A hymn to Nanna	Nanna M	Princely lord ……, great lord of heaven
A hymn to Nanna	Nanna N	…… that fills the holy heavens, an adept (?) exuding radiance
A hymn to Nanna	Nanna O	An, Enlil, Enki and Nin?ursa?a treat you with deserved affection in your place of creation.
Hymn to the Moon God		O Lord, hero of the gods,
Nanna-Suen’s Journey to Nibru		The heroic Nanna-Suen fixed his mind on the city of his mother.

NANSHE
A balbale to Nanše	Nanshe B	A fish is held in her hand as a staff
Hymn to Nanshe		There is a city, there is a city whose powers are apparent. Nijin is the city whose powers are apparent
Nanše and the birds		The pelican (?) came forth from the holy reedbeds

NERGAL
A Hymn to Nergal	Nergal B and O	Hero, majestic, awe-inspiring son of Enlil,
A tigi to Nergal	Nergal C	Lord who inspires awe in heaven and on earth, who is resplendent in the Land
The dedication of an axe to Nergal		“Nibruta-lu, the son of the merchant Lugal-šuba, has had this tin ax made for Nergal.”

NINAZU
A balbale to Ninazu	Ninazu A	O king, you are the …… shepherd of the city which thrives like cattle

NINGISHZIDA
A balbale to Ningišzida	Ningishzida A-D	Hero, lord of field and meadow
A balbale to Ningišzida	Ningishzida B-D	Lord with holy dignity, imbued with great savage awesomeness
Ningishzida’s Journey to the Netherworld		Arise and get on board, arise, we are about to sail, arise and get on board

NINIMMA
A hymn to Ninimma	Ninimma A	You are the seal-holder of the treasury of the

NINISINA
A šir-gida to Ninisina	Ninisina A	who has taken her seat on an exalted dais
A šir-namšub to Ninisina	Ninisina B-E	(fragments B thru E)

NINKASI
A Drinking Song		The gakkul vat, the gakkul vat! The gakkul vat
A hymn to Ninkasi	Ninkasi A	Given birth by the flowing water ......, tenderly cared for by Ninhursaja

NINLIL
An adab to Ninlil		Ninlil, comprehensively replete with numerous divine powers

NINSHUBUR
A hymn to Ninšubur	Ninshubur A B	Lady, good seed of the Land, minister of An

NINTINUGA
A dog for Nintinuga		Lugal-nesa?e the son of Zuzu, the master-scribe of Nibru, has fashioned for Nintinuga his messenger (?) dog Tuni-lu-sag

NINTUD-ARURU
A tigi to Nintud-Aruru		“Lady Aruru of the house Keš, born in the mountains, the pure place!”

NINURTA
A shir-gida to Ninurta	Ninurta A	warrior, the lordly son of Enlil, Ninurta, the fierce bull, fit to be a prince
A šir-gida to Ninurta	Ninurta B	The hero …… coming forth from the E-kur
A hymn to Ninurta	Ninurta C	lordly son of Enlil, ....... ......, hero who appears in glory,
A tigi to Ninurta	Ninurta D	I will fell trees, I will strike down forests. Let my mother know it. I, Ninurta, will fell trees
A balbale to Ninurta	Ninurta F	Good semen, good seed, King chosen by Enlil
A šir-namšub to Ninurta	Ninurta G	King, your headdress hangs loose upon your neck
Ninurta's exploits		O King, storm of majestic splendour, peerless Ninurta
The Building of Ningirsu’s Temple		On the day when in heaven and earth the fates had been decided, Lagaš raised its head high
Ninurta's return to Nibru		Created like An, O son of Enlil, Ninurta, created like Enlil,
An ululumama to Ninurta		ellu mallu! Go, oxen, go, put your necks under the yoke
Ninurta and the Turtle		At his command your weapon struck me evilly.
The Myth of Zu		The son of the king of inhabited places

NISABA
A Hymn to Nisaba	Nisaba A	Lady coloured like the stars of heaven,
A šir-namšub to Nisaba	Nisaba B	…… is destroyed. …… is destroyed. It is destroyed. …… of Nisaba is destroyed

NUNGAL
A hymn to Nungal		House, furious storm of heaven and earth, battering its enemies

NUSKA
A šir-gida to Nuska	Nuska A and B	(fragments)

PABILSAG
Pabilsag's journey to Nibru		The wild bull with brindled thighs, whose house is noble

SADARNUNA
A hymn to Sadarnuna		The just woman dwelling among the great divine powers is the lady unsurpassed in ladyship

SHULPAE
A hymn to Šul-pa-e	Shulpae A	Hero, who shines forth like moonlight over the upper city!

UTU
A Hymn to Utu	Utu B	Emerging …… below and gazing upwards, Utu, great physician
A šir-namšub to Utu	Utu E	Whoever has eaten good bread has also drunk good beer
A šir-namšub to Utu	Utu F	Youthful Utu ……, calf of the wild cow, calf of the wild cow