Ammi-ditāna's hymn to Ištar read by Doris Prechel
Transcription after D. O. Edzard, OBO 160/4 (2004), 509-514.
Translation by Martin Worthington.
| Original Transcription | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 1 [i]ltam zumrā rašubti ilātim 2 litta''id bēlet nišī rabīt igigī 3 ištar zumrā rašubti ilātim 4 litta''id bēlet iššī rabīt igigī |
1 Sing ye of the goddess, the most fearsome of the gods, 2 Praise be upon the lady ruler of men, the greatest of the Igigi! 3 Sing ye of Ishtar, the most fearsome of the gods, 4 Praise be upon the lady ruler of women, the greatest of the Igigi! |
| 5 šāt mēliṣim ru'āmam labšat 6 za'nat inbī mīqiam u kuzbam 7 ištar mēliṣim ru'āmam labšat 8 za'nat inbī mīqiam u kuzbam |
5 She who gets excited, clothed in sex appeal, 6 adorned with fruits, charm and allure. 7 Ishtar, who gets excited, clothed in sex appeal, 8 adorned with fruits, charm and allure. |
| 9 [š]aptīn duššupat balāṭum pīša 10 simtišša ihannīma ṣīhātum 11 šarhat irimmū ramû rēšušša 12 baniwā šimtāša bitrāmā īnāša šit'arā |
9 She is sweet at the lips, her mouth is life, 10 Delights are lush on her cheeks, 11 She is lovely, beads are strewn on her head, 12 Her cheeks are comely, her eyes twinkle and sparkle. |
| 13 eltum ištawša ibašši milkum 14 šīmat mimmami qātišša tamhat 15 napalsušša bani buārum 16 bāštum mašrahu lamassum šēdum |
13 The pure one, with her rests counsel, 14 She holds in her hand the fate of anything you care to name, 15 Seeing her makes for happiness, 16 Pride, splendour, protective spirit male and female. |
| 17 tartāmī tešmê ritūmī ṭūbī 18 u mitguram tebēl šīma 19 ardat tattadû umma tarašši 20 izakkarši in-nišī inabbi šumša |
17 Of love-making, seduction, making love, pleasure 18 and harmony, she is the lady ruler. 19 The girl who was exposed will get a mother, 20 She will mention her among the people, speak her name. |
| 21 ayyûm narbiaš išannan mannum 22 gašrū ṣīrū šūpû parṣūša 23 ištar narbiaš išannan mannum 24 gašrū ṣīrū šūpû parṣūša |
21 Who can rival any of her glory? 22 her powers are mighty, exalted and manifest. 23 Ishtar, who can rival her glory? 24 her powers are mighty, exalted and manifest. |
| 25 qa-a-at in-ilī atar nazzāzuš 26 kabtat a[m]assa elšunu haltatma 27 ištar inilī atar nazzazzuš 28 kabtat amassa elšunu haltatma |
25 .... among the gods, her standing is huge, 26 Her word is mighty, she has power over them. 27 Ishtar among the gods, her standing is huge, 28 Her word is mighty, she has power over them. |
| 29 šarrassun uštanaddanū siqrīša 30 kullassunu šâš kamsūši 31 nannarīša ilaqqûšim 32 iššû u awīlum palhūšīma |
29 They are always getting their queen to impart orders, 30 All of them bow down before her, 31 They take her luminous insignia from her, 32 Woman and man hold her in fear. |
| 33 puhriššun etel qabûša šūtur 34 ana anim šarrišunu ma-la-am ašbassunu 35 uznam nēmeqim hasīsam eršet 36 imtallikū šī u hammuš |
33 To all of them together her speech is noble (and) exalted, 34 Among them she sits, equal to Anu their king, 35 She is wise in understanding, shrewdness and comprehension, 36 She and her husband confer. |
| 37 ramûma ištēniš parakkam 38 iggēgunnim šubat rīšātim 39 muttiššun ilū nazuzzū 40 epšiš pīšunu bašiwā uznāšun |
37 The have sat down on the dais together, 38 In Gēgunnu, (their) delightful dwelling, 39 The gods stand before them, 40 Awaiting her bidding. |
| 41 šarrum migrašun narām libbišun 42 šarhiš itnaqqišunūt niqiašu ellam 43 ammi-ditāna ellam niqī qātīšu 44 mahrīšun ušebbi li'ī u ayyālī na-am-ra-i-i |
41 The king, their favourite, the beloved of their hearts, 42 Makes his pure sacrifice before them in splendour. 43 *In their presence, Ammiditana with his own hands 44 *Made pure offerings aplenty of bulls and fattened deer. |
| 45 išti anim hāmerīša tēteršaššum 46 dāriam balāṭam arkam 47 mādātim šanāt balāṭim ana ammi-ditāna 48 tušatlim ištar tattadin |
45 From Anum, her bridegroom, she has demanded for him 46 a long life forever. 47 Many years of life to Ammiditana 48 Ishtar has granted and given. |
| 49 siqrušša tušaknišaššum 50 kibrāt erbêm ana šēpīšu 51 u naphar kalīšunu dadmī 52 taṣṣammissunūti an-nīrīšu |
49 By her command she has made bow down 50 At his feet the four corners of the earth, 51 And all the orb of the earth 52 She has bound to his yoke. |
| 53 bibel libbīša zamar lalêša 54 naṭûmma ana pîšu siqri ea īpussi 55 ešmēma tanittaša irīssu 56 libluṭmi šarrašu lirāmšu ad-dāriš |
53 Her heart's desire, the song of her praise, 54 is fitting for his mouth, her has obeyed a command of Ea. 55 "I have heard her eulogy" (said Ea), and he was delighted with it. 56 "May her king live" (he said), "may she love him forever!". |
| 57 ištar ana ammi-ditāna šarri rā'imīki 58 arkam dāriam balāṭam šurkī libluṭ |
57 O Ishtar, upon Ammiditāna, the king who loves you, 58 bestow a long life for ever more! May he live! |