Letter From Inanaka to the Goddess Nintinuga (Bau)

© Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 The ETCSL project, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue)

             5a - Bau & son Damu, medical treatment (Dr. Damu & mother physician Bau)

1-11. Say to Nintinuga (Bau / Gula), the reliable stewardess of the E-kur, the physician of the Land;

repeat to the lady, whose incantation heals the multitude of people,

whose spells make the people recover, to {my} {(1 ms. has instead:) the} relenting lady,

who loves to revive the people and loves supplications,

the merciful and compassionate one who listens to prayers.

2-bau-gives-medical-attention  (Anunnaki doctor Damu & his mother Bau tend to the ill)

You are the caretaker of the living and the dead; you are the great healer of all the crippled ones.

This is what Inanaka, the daughter of Enlil-a-mah, your maidservant says:

12-18. I have fallen ill {for a second time}{(1 ms. has instead:) twice (?)},

but I do not yet know the divine oracle concerning {my being in agonies}

{(1 ms. has instead:) these agonies}. {(1 ms. adds:) …….}

My lady, a house has been built for me, but I have to sit there with longing eyes.

My valued acquaintances {keep}{(1 ms. has instead:) stay} away from me.

I have no one who would take care of me.

Since this is full, too full for me, I am distressed.

5b - Bau & son administer medical attention (giant alien doctors of medicine Damu & Bau)

19-25. If it pleases my lady, {and the asag demon which is in my body leaves my body, and thus}

{(some mss. have instead:) may the asag demon which is in my body leave my body, so that}

{it (the asag demon) allows me} {(1 ms. has instead:) I can} step again on the {path}

{(1 ms. has instead:) ground} of life with my feet.

{I will then be your maidservant, the courtyard sweeper of your temple, and will serve you.

Furthermore after I have recovered, I will name you, my lady, as “the healer of the crippled”}

{(some mss. have instead:) I will then be her maidservant,

the courtyard sweeper of her temple, and will serve her.

2c-bau-helpers-attend-to-illness  (Damu administers medical treatment)

Furthermore after I have recovered, I will name her, my lady, as “the healer of the crippled”}.