The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature
(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!)
(mixed-breed demigods in teal…)
1-3 Say to my lord: this is what Puzur-Culgi (1 ms. has instead: Puzur-Marduk)
(1 other ms. has instead: Puzur-Numucda) ,
the commander of the fortress Igi-hursaja, your servant, says:
4-8 All the gold and silver (1 ms. has instead:gold and lapis lazuli) (1 other ms. has instead:silver and gold)
that my lord has been fashioning for the (1 ms. adds: great) gods — is it not for his own life?
For the life (1 ms. has instead:the well-being) of the troops and his land,
my king has built the great fortress Igi-hursaja for the people of his land, because of the wicked enemy.
9-11 And now the enemy troops have risen up.
One (1 ms. has instead: …… ) man who had fled from me has been brought back.
Having been caught, he has given me evidence of this, and went ahead
(1 ms. has instead: “.….. go!”, and I (?) went).
12-14 I am also well-informed about the oracular signs concerning the enemy:
the enemy has replenished his strength for battle.
However, my strength is limited.
I cannot strengthen the fortress further or guard it (1 ms. has instead: guard the cities (?)) against him.
15-22 As for the sector (?) of Cu-Numucda (1 ms. has instead: Cu-Marduk)
(1 other ms. has instead: Puzur-Numucda), the ruler of Jirilumtura: 5 nindan lengths of it are cut off.
As for the sector (?) of Lugal-melem, the manager of the Sigsig watercourse (1 ms. has instead: city of …… )
(the correct form of this name is not known) : 40 (1 ms. has instead: 25) (1 other ms. has instead: 30)
(1 further ms. has instead: 45 (?)) nindan lengths of …… on top of it are no longer fixed.
As for the sector (?) of Ka-kugani, the ruler of the territory of Murub:
45 nindan lengths were destroyed when the opposite side was captured.
As for the sector (?) of Takil-ilicu, the canal inspector
(1 ms. has instead: ruler) of the Ab-gal and Me-Enlila watercourses:
50 nindan lengths of the edge have been removed, and in the middle of it they collapsed.
23-25 Moreover it is not established (1 ms. has instead: stated)
(1 other ms. has instead: known) when the enemy will pitch camp.
Once the enemy is camped I will replenish my powers
(1 ms. has instead: The enemy will replenish his strength for battle).
(1 ms. adds: I will fortify …… and ……. )
His troops are camped among the hills.
26-29 If my lord agrees, may he send to me speedily (1 ms. has instead: ……, let there be available)
7,200 soldiers as workmen who will carry baskets for me.
May he send to me speedily (1 ms. has instead May there come, at my disposal, )
70 Cimackian attendants …… (1 ms. has instead: ……) (1 other ms. has instead: …… ).
30-31 The enemy has devised their plans concerning this: “I will resettle them”
(1 ms. has instead: The enemy has devised his plans and has resettled the people)
(1 other ms. has instead: Plans concerning me have been devised: “I will resettle them”).
May it be known that, by night or by day the enemy’s sins are forever grave.
(Shulgi, provider for the people of Sumer)
32-34 I am the loyal servant of my lord Culgi. (1 ms. adds: …… which is not negligent.)
Let this not be the death of me!
May my lord know! (1 ms. adds: It is urgent! )
Letter to Shulgi about bandits and brigands: translation
The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature
(mixed-breed demigods in teal…)
unknown no. of lines missing
1-7 The men (?) started irrigation work (?) on the watercourses, ……
the watercourses …… (1 ms. has instead: and dug and cleaned them out thoroughly).
These bandits and brigands applied their hoes to levelling the desert completely.
As for their men and their women (1 ms. adds: …… the road (?) ……):
the man among them goes wherever he pleases, the woman among them
(1 ms. has instead: the woman), holding a spindle and hair clasp in her hand, goes (?)
(1 ms. has instead: ……) (1 other ms. has instead: going) the way of her choice.
In the vastness of the desert they set up (1 ms. has instead: they knock up) animal pens,
and after setting up their tents and camps
(1 ms. has instead: they lie in (?) green meadows in their (?) tents and camps),
their workers and agricultural labourers spend the day together on the fields.
(Shulgi, Ninurta‘s “Storm Bird” symbol, & Enlil, great-great-grandfather to Shulgi)
8-14 I have not neglected the instructions of my lord Culgi:
both at night and in the noonday heat I …… my neck; I …… the workload (?) concerned.
Since his childhood, Apillaca has …… (1 ms. has instead: has not ……).
A man such as he knows my heart, as your eyes know (1 ms. has instead: have seen).
My lord, with the open eye of a god, …… to (?) an evildoer …… (1 ms. has instead: you (?) know the evildoer).
While the great master of cults (?) of all the foreign lands surpasses ……,
my lord, you (?) surpass all great things, …… an equal.
15-20 The report is returned (?) ……; (1 ms. has instead: Whatever statements have been made ……,)
your matter is an important matter, and your affairs are great affairs.
His pleasant words are in your heart, …….
They (?) are the people.
Your eyes …….
How could I bear a grudge?
I am securing the foundations of the province, and making it obedient.
My lord, no king can rival you; let your heart be glad!