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!