Self-praise of Shulgi (Shulgi D) (CBS 11065)

1-13O my king, great bull with splendid limbs, dragon with a lion's eyes! Shepherd Culgi, great bull with splendid limbs, dragon with a lion's eyes! Bull-calf born in the cattle-pen of abundance, thriving there! Mighty one fit for heroism, the ornament of his Land! Righteous man, invested with justice by Utu! Fierce leopard who feeds on rich milk, rampant bull who was born to be a great beast! A lapis-lazuli beard, a holy breast -- marvellous to behold! O king, joy of the royal tiara! Culgi, ornament of the legitimate crown, wearing the pectoral of godhead, named by An with a good name! Good shepherd, endowed with strength by Enlil, Culgi, the beloved of Ninlil's heart!

14-17O, my king, who is as mighty as you, and who rivals you? Indeed, who is there who from birth is as richly endowed with understanding as you? May your heroism shine forth, and may your might be respectfully praised!

18-31You destroy the offspring of ....... You are mighty, ....... You are brave, ....... When in the E-kur ......, in the hostile foreign lands you plunder cities; like a panting lion, you ......; like a raging lion, you ......; a dragon, you ......;
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You hurl angry words against the people of the foreign lands that are hostile to Nanna. You are adorned with splendid curved horns, like a virile wild bull born to be a great wild bull. You are a chariot, a waggon set on the road. Like a noble ass, by your vigorous running you bring joy to Enlil.

32-35You are as strong as an ildag tree planted by the side of a watercourse. You are a sweet sight, like a fertile mec tree laden with colourful fruit. You are cherished by Ninegala, like a date palm of holy Dilmun. You have a pleasant shade, like a sappy cedar growing amid the cypresses.

36-39O, my king, who is as mighty as you, and who rivals you? Indeed, who is there who from birth is as richly endowed with understanding as you? May your heroism shine forth, and may your might be respectfully praised!

40-52Shepherd Culgi, when your seed was placed in the holy womb, your mother Ninsun gave birth to you; your personal god, holy Lugalbanda, fashioned you; mother Nintud nurtured you; An named you with a good name; Enlil lifted your head; Ninlil loved you. The princely son of the E-kur ....... The king, the holy barge which traverses the sky, Nanna, the lord ......, Suen .......
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53-60Nudimmud ...... like small trees. He cherished you like an ildag tree ......, like a mec tree or a palm-tree. At that time, ...... An ...... wrote a tablet for you and decreed a fate for you. Ninlil's heart was soothed with prayers and supplications. The gods of heaven, with their ready approval, came to heaven, where the fates are decreed. Enlil, the king of all the lands, gave you shepherdship over the Land, in the south and in the highlands.

61-134O, my king, who is as mighty as you, and who rivals you? Indeed, who is there who from birth is as richly endowed with understanding as you? May your heroism shine forth, and may your might be respectfully praised!
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135-149 You hero, after stepping on the ......, you roared at the foreign land hostile to Nanna. Hurl your battle-cry at the ...... that was disobedient to Enlil! My king, ......
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......, great bull .......

150-176"I, the king, ...... upon the foreign lands a mighty yoke ...... of heroism ......, I subject their people to destruction. After setting my foot on the neck of the foreign lands, I make ...... on the rebel lands. After knocking down ...... like ......, and placing my foot on his head, I make him die amid dripping blood ....... Against their ......, my battle-axe gnashes and gnashes its teeth like a sharp-toothed beast. Against their ......, which are well fitted with ...... axes of meteoric iron and ...... gold ore, like a ...... snake my mouth brings forth venom. I cut off from his strength the strong one who resorts to his strength. My ...... against their warriors as if they were fish. ...... the small net over their runners, I catch them like gazelles in the woods. Having ...... like fire (?) against their fearless runners, I make them fall violently into a prepared trap and net like wild asses. I place ...... on their boastful ones in the battle. My fierce weapons pour forth venom into them like a serpent ready to bite. After tearing out the entrails of its ...... who are still alive, I make the man coiling like an attacking ...... snake sink his head in the dust, like an ailing, neglected (?) bull. I make their little ones who survive eat bitter dust as long as they live, like the locust which consumes everything.

177-189"I raise my spear against the ......, I set up my emblems at the border of the foreign lands. I fill my quiver, and my bow is stretched, ready to shoot, like a raging serpent. Barbed arrows flash before me like lightning. Like scudding bats, ...... arrows fly into the mouth of battle. Slingstones rain down on their people; clay bullets clatter on their backs like hammerstones. With my throwstick and sling I cut down like locusts the crushed people of the rebel lands. My ...... weapon sharpens its teeth at the head of the Land.

190-196"My ...... battle-axe sheds the blood of the people like water. My double-edged axe weapon ...... in their ...... blood, which covers the ......, spilled on the hills like the contents of a broken wine jug. I ...... the people in their meadows; the blood ...... like water in their wadis; the blood ...... into the cracks of the earth.

197-210"Its ......, in the foreign land ....... The rebel land ....... The foreign land .......
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The heart ....... Having filled the ......, ...... his prosperous ......; I give them as a gift to .......

211-217"I shall kill on the roofs those of the foreign lands who lie on the roofs. I shall smite on the walls those who lie on the walls. Whoever is able to stand up I shall make stand on his feet; those who are unable to stand up I shall smite on the spot. I shall let the young ones of the foreign lands embark on ships, but I shall kill the adults as revenge. Even those whom I have not killed and those whom I have not dispersed will not live long!

218-227"I, the king, shall avenge my city. Whatever has been destroyed in Sumer, I shall destroy in the foreign lands. I shall make the gods of their cities turn away (?) from them; I shall cause their male and female protective deities, their good eyes, to stand aside. I shall let long grass grow in their fertile fields of shining barley. I shall uproot their small trees. With the axe I shall destroy their thick and tall trees, and I shall tear down by the crown their valuable trees. In their irrigated gardens, where honey and fig trees used to grow, I shall make weeds grow, so that ...... plants and ...... herbs break through the soil.

228-239"After I, the king, have destroyed the cities and ruined the city walls, have terrified the ...... foreign lands like a flood, have scattered the seed of Gutium like seed-grain, have established Enlil's triumph, have crushed the populations as if with a pestle, have ...... my heart ......, then I shall load the pure lapis lazuli of the foreign lands into leather pouches and leather bags."
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240-251The king ....... On that day, in the foreign land ....... His roar ...... the hills ....... The city which Enlil has ......, which An has ......, which Nintud has ......, which Enki has ...... good wisdom. Nanna has ...... the heights of heaven, Utu has ...... on the horizon; Inana the lady of battle has frowned (?) on it. The people of the rebel lands, like dead reed ....... The great and terrible battle of Culgi .......

252-287Zagar, the god of dreams, ...... as their beneficent protective spirit, ...... in a dream,
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288-294Like a sajkal snake, he roars against the ...... of hostile foreign lands ....... The king, roaring like a rising flood against the rebel lands, Culgi, roaring like a rising flood against the rebel lands, embraces Gilgamec, his brother and friend, his comrade, as one who was born ......, and he walks along the road together with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.

295-298The king of the holy heavens, adorned with a wide crown, the lord, the bright luminary of the gods, father Nanna, ...... by him on his right side; and he walks along the road together with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.

299-303Born to a great wild bull, like a lion standing firm in his strength, mighty heir of youthful Suen, heroic son of Acimbabbar, Sun-zid ...... by him on his left side; and he walks along the road together with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.

304-306The king of ......, Ninjiczida ......, and he walks along the road together with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.

307-311When he arrives at Enegir, ......, the fierce serpent, ready to bite ......, the lord of ......, Ninazu ......, and he walks along the road together with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.

312-318At the same time, King Enki emerges from the abzu; he has but to raise one eye from the abzu to destroy for him the foreign lands from where he stands, to destroy for him their cities from where he sits -- he of the trustworthy command, whose utterances are firmly established, Nudimmud the great lord of Eridug; and he walks along the road together with Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.

319-330When he arrives at the E-babbar, the house of Utu, the king who loves justice, ......, who is clad in linen,
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331-333He let the young ones of the foreign lands embark on ships, but killed the adults as revenge. Even those whom he did not kill and those whom he did not disperse did not live long!

334-343The hero avenged his city. Whatever was destroyed in Sumer, he destroyed in the foreign lands. He made the gods of their cities turn away (?) from them; he caused their male and female protective deities, their good eyes, to stand aside. He let long grass grow in their cultivated fields of shining barley. With the axe he destroyed their thick and tall trees, and he tore down by the crown their valuable trees. He uprooted their small trees. In their irrigated gardens, where honey and fig trees used to grow, he made weeds grow, so that ...... plants and ...... herbs broke through the soil.

344-353After the king had destroyed the cities and ruined the city walls, had terrified the ...... foreign lands like a flood, had scattered the seed of Gutium like seed-grain, had ...... his heart ......, then he loaded the pure lapis lazuli of the foreign lands into leather pouches and leather bags. He heaped up all their treasures and amassed (?) all the wealth of the foreign lands. He invoked the name of Enlil and invoked the name of Ninlil on their fattened cattle and fattened sheep.

354-362After carrying out a noble revenge in the foreign lands, the hero had his brilliant royal barge caulked. Imbued with terrible splendour on the Exalted River, it was adorned with holy horns, and its golden ram symbol (?) gleamed in the open air. Its bitumen was the ...... bitumen of Enki provided generously by the abzu; its cabin was a palace. It was decorated with stars like the sky. Its holy ......,
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363-367The king ......, Culgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, ...... his feet upon ......; he took his seat on a throne of ....... The sim and ala drums resounded for him, and the tigi drums played music for him.

368-381"My king, ......, you have destroyed the foreign lands and plundered their cities ......; like a wild bull ...... the hills ......", sang the singers for him in a song. His boatmen, in tireless effort,
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These, citizens of Enegir and citizens of Urim, thrust forth their ...... oars at the command of the lord. He moored the boat at the temple area of Nibru, the temple area Dur-an-ki, at Enlil's Kar-jectina. He entered before Enlil with the silver and lapis lazuli of the foreign lands loaded into leather pouches and leather bags, all their heaped-up treasures, and with the amassed (?) wealth of the foreign lands.

382-397......, the king ....... Enlil decrees a destiny for Culgi: "O King, I will decree a destiny for you, I will decree a good destiny for you! O Culgi, I will decree a destiny for you, I will decree a good destiny for you! I will decree heroism as your destiny! I will decree long-lasting office as ruler and king as your destiny! May you raise your head in terrifying splendour! May no man stand his ground before your fierce gaze! May your royal crown shine radiantly! May your sceptre be a princely sceptre, and may its shining branches provide shade! May there be joy in your heart, and may you never grow weary! May you be the life-giving king of your assembly! May your life flourish like herbs, may it flourish like grain! May it flourish like a fertile mec tree in a broad plot!"
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Copyright © Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Fluckiger-Hawker, E, Robson, E., and Zólyomi, G., The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/), Oxford 1998

CBS 11065

Face A

Colonne 1

1-13. "Oh roi, [grand taureau}, force de la terre, puissant Serpent [aux yeux brillants}. Oh, berger, à l'arme ferme, grand taureau, force de la terre, puissant Serpent aux yeux brillants. Tu avais établi des pâturages pour les brebis enceintes, pour les jeunes animaux de l'enclos du jardin viabilisé. Tu avais créé des foyers dans les demeures. Sage souverain, qui nous protégeait tous, tu apportais la paix dans le pays de l'homme ! Héros ferme, dieu-soleil juste, artisan, tu te tenais debout au sommet de notre monticule et tu possédais le pouvoir du vêtement. Oh, lumière deux fois exaltée, puissant artisan de la vie, source de notre nourriture. Les boeufs et les béliers du jardin étaient parqués (périodiquement) dans des enclos, selon ton secret, afin que les pâturages de la montagne leur soient interdits et qu'ils se répandent".

14-27. "Oh, maître, tu cultivais les enceintes. Oh, arme ferme -fidèle responsable - tu supervisais la couronne, le barrage destiné aux dieux. Notre maître divin, tu procurais la réjouissance ! Berger, tu offrais la force de vie à nos réserves (ainsi) qu'à Enlil et Ninlil, la dame juste. Couronne de la terre, artisan au coeur d 'homme ; maître, ta parole a fait du bruit ! Qui évaluait les rations divines ? Qui nous obtenait l'eau et ensuite les rations divines ? La parole de qui a fait trop de bruit?: (Celle de) l'artisan, la personne de coeur de la fondation en bois et de l'entendement !".

28-33. "La puissante mère (Ninkharsag) cria son indignation (concernant) l'aveu de la métallurgie, (elle nous dit) : [ ... ] l'homme ennemi,  avec ses cris, il se promène. [. .. ] Il apparaÎt, il vient, il apparaÎt, il vient.  [...} l'artisan (lui) a transmis la vision de la hache.  [. .. ] de notre talus. [. .. ] [il possède maintenant?] le secret de notre source (de connaissance), de notre destin et de nos cèdres".

Colonne 2

1-8. "Oh, montagne du destin, don habité par le seigneur Nannar. L'être sombre rampait à l 'embouchure de Kalam (Sumer). II agitait nos destins et nos arbres. Seigneur de vie, grand seigneur, le contrôle du jardin et ses environs, tu l'avais élaboré. Grand Serpent du talus, la région n'était pas sous ta responsabilité. Les chars  emportaient la farine de notre dépôt. Les troupes du ciel avaient agité notre artisan et le (territoire) de cèdres. Leurs courses étaient comme un glaive qui nous entourait et qui nous avait prêté serment et protection, c'était ainsi ! Enlil, tu étais profond (parmi) nos cèdres !".

9-17. "Le maître des arbres et de la colline. Le seigneur divin était debout à notre frontière, (saint) artisan, créateur du canal et constructeur du grand mur en cèdre du domaine. Tu possédais la liste de vie de l'homme (qui vivait) aux abords de la construction. Devant la demeure, tu étais le guide, l'artisan de notre (territoire) de cèdres ; le héros,  le saint constructeur du métal. Ninlil, la grande mère; la femme de la vie avait parlé de l 'artisan de notre (territoire) de cèdres. (Elle avait dit) de créer aux pieds des grands cèdres un canal aux poissons pour notre demeure. Que les arbres sombres de notre (territoire) de cèdres seraient favorables pour notre artisan !".

18-20. "Oh maître du serment, tu étais le constructeur. Qui était le saint et puissant artisan ? Qui était le saint artisan qui nous guidait et qui était à nos côtés ? Qui était le constructeur de la fondation en bois, la personne de coeur ? : l'artisan de l'entendement ! ".

21-26. "Il révéla la hache ferme et l'outrage (qui était) de la nommer et de la fabriquer". "Tu avais la responsabilité de la hache. Tu l'as fait connaître à l'esclave, hélas, (afin) qu'il porte le vêtement en lin ! ". "Le puissant artisan-responsable l'avait enseigné, hélas, il en
parla à la douce femme qui enfante". "Le berger à l'arme ferme qui l'avait enseigné [ ... ] de l'artisan". "Qui des dieux portait [l'arme ou notre Secret?] ? [ .. .]". "La mère connaissait les chars, la dame [connaissait le Secret des dieux?] [ ... ]".

27-29. "Il parla, hélas, il transforma [l'humain?] [. . .]." "Il enseigna le métal du Ciel, la connaissance des dieux, [. .. ]". "Il parla, hélas [. .. ]".

Face B

Colonne 3

14-23. "[. . .] frapper le [. .. ] établit au coeur des nuages, dans le ciel [. . .] Les destins de l'univers [ .. .] La charge de l'humain, le destin de l'homme [ ... } les chars le chassèrent pour le remettre à son poste [. .. ] Des hauteurs, l 'armée bien-aimée observait le peuple du vêtement [. .. ] Enlil, seigneur de la vaste montagne [. .. ] (il) dit au berger du destin d'emporter et de placer [l'homme ?] [. .. ] au nom de notre seigneur, toi le constructeur qui [. .. ] qui favorise {l'homme?] [. .. ]".

Face C

Colonne 5

7-8. "[. .. ] Le compagnon glébeux en colère (nous) assiégeait [jusqu 'aux ? ] flancs de l'embouchure. L'outil l 'avait éveillé [ ... ] il fallait protéger le jardin de sa colère".

9-15. "Au nom de la force victorieusé { ... } pour fuir (vers) les hauteurs. Il entourait la propriété et rugissait{ ... } aux abords [du domaine de notre] seigneur, dans les hauteurs. L'outil et l'arc qu'il avait créés témoignaient de sa colère. Il avait brisé, franchi et disposé des limites de notre territoire secret. En face de l'embouchure de vie, il parlait de son (nouveau) pouvoir et du destin qui l'avait façonné abondant (comme) des sauterelles. Les nombreux étrangers s'agitaient et vagabondaient en liberté (comme) d'innombrables oiseaux { .. .}. Aussi, pratiquaient-ils la parole (divine) ! Hélas, le secret lié au ciel avait été brisé [ ... ]".

16-20. "Une tempête (devait) se lever et s'étendre pour exterminer Kalam. La tempête [ ... ] devait lier les fugitifs. Cette tempête restaurerait le contrôle de l'outil coulé en métal ! (Ainsi), les chars du Salam, appartenant à notre niche, frappèrent le (peuple) de la mère - la femme sage - qui s'était caché [. .. ] et qui avait traversé les eaux de Kalam pour nous estropier et nous égaler [. . .}. Il possédait le [vaste ? ] savoir de notre plate-bande irriguée,  l'outil reçu et révélé[. .. }".

21-25. "Le seigneur, créateur des destins, maudit l'être noir dominant, il entoura [le peuple ? ]. L'esclave de Kalam conspirait, ses hurlements [s 'élevaient ? ] vers notre tanière. Il discutait de l'éclatant Secret du jardin, la protestation s'effectuait (même) dans les champs. La complainte de l'outil s'étendait (jusqu'aux) hauteurs. Elle témoignait de la protestation de l'humanité bétail et de l'offense du potier. Le filet (divin) déferla sur l'ennemi d'argile". 

26-33. "La construction de l'outil secret, il l'avait emporté. L'insulte fut brûlée fermement par les chars dans un hurlement de fureur. L'expédition punitive se réappropria la terre (divine) et la porte ! La révélation [qui avait été transmise ? ], hélas ! La révélation de la Splendeur, hélas, se communiquait et dominait les champs. Le héros ferme de notre demeure produisit le bruit de la guerre. Le Satam à la tête de notre monticule fit feu dans le lointain. Coeur emporté, coeur emporté, les chars se sont déployés pour renverser Kalam [ .. .]. De la sorte, [. .. ] les eaux de notre talus (pourraient) [de nouveau favoriser ? } la culture [. . . ]. La terre du jardin [. . .] protéger notre sanctuaire de l'outrage [. .. ]".

Colonne 6

3-11. "[. .. ] Ce fut ainsi que la révélation (divine) l'avait guidé dans la lumière (de la connaissance). [. .. ] pour briser son attache. {. .. ] La révélation du secret enfonça notre monticule dans le fracas
de la bataille. [. .. notre] demeure frappa l'esclave qui contrôlait la région (à cause) de la révélation qui (lui permit) de voir et d'emporter l'instrument en métal ! [ ... notre] terrasse (divine) le frappa et le fit se coucher, hélas ! [ ... notre] seigneur frappa l'être noir dominant.  Il protégea notre mur, il le fit se coucher. Il protégea notre mur, le seigneur frappa l'être noir dominant. La révélation, hélas, apporta la puissance, hélas, qu'il fallait diminuer!".

12-17. "Porté par la tempête, le seigneur s'était dirigé (vers) l'être noir dominant. La reproduction de la révélation, hélas, apporta la puissance, hélas, qu'il fallait diminuer ! La sentence des chars du seigneur écrasa  l'être noir dominant. Le seigneur, destructeur et agitateur de la montagne, chevauchait son navire au milieu de l'être noir dominant. La puissance majestueuse du seigneur l'entourait. Il assiégea et brisa l'être noir dominant. Le présage de la mort et du fracas de la bataille assiégeait le vêtu". 

18-25. "Un présage de mort et un cri sortaient du torse de la mère, hélas ! Le pouvoir du bénéfice de la lumière des chars puissants avait été apporté à l'unique femme sage (qui avait été) approchée. Maître divin et des cèdres ! Seigneur au pouvoir de la cité et du dépôt, tu faisais des demi-tours dans le ciel. (Pour) affermir notre demeure jusqu'à notre terre de nourriture,  les chars mirent en pièces la révélation ! Le seigneur de l'agitation de la montagne ébranla la révélation et l'insulte de l'être noir dominant ! Oh chars de la cité des dieux ! La route des chars du seigneur [mit en pièce ?j l'être noir dominant".

26-33. "(À cette époque), les messagers observaient et exposaient favorablement dans le ciel, (ils étaient) les grands et magnifiques observateurs du seigneur. La puissance extérieure des seigneurs élevés - sa nature - avait été apportée du ciel! (Mais) des champs de vie au jardin éclatant, l'artisan avait murmuré et parlé,  (alors) que les grands messagers entouraient la mère et coulaient du métal dans le jardin. Le grand outil avait été exalté en héros, celui de l'héritage des chars puissants de notre race très mystérieuse : l'outil abusivement communiqué à la mère !".

34-38. "La mère s'était réjouie de la puissance des dieux (ainsi) révélée; de l'outil [outrageant] qui lui fut murmuré. [L'homme] d'argile fut remis à son poste de travail et attaché. Il fut maudit et changé ! (Parce que) la révélation fut donnée à [la mère] éveillée et murmurée dans le jardin, hélas, la cité [maudit] l'homme du jardin !".