A reading, published with its checks still open. A Vigslist translation.
Shuila 6 — the šuila to Nanna/Suen: “Lord, prince among the gods”. The moon god's prayer nearly whole: the name-litany, the young bull with the lapis beard, and the plea “Look upon your city! Look upon Ur!”
Published as a reading. No first-translation claim is made for this piece. The checks that would settle such a claim are named in the notes below and are still open; the wording on this page claims nothing they have not settled.
Read the doors before the text. This is the fullest šuila witness the hunt recovered — the prayer's main manuscript, nearly complete. It is also the most heavily doored piece of the night, and the claim is withheld, on the record's own references:
Museum number: K.2861 (British Museum, Kuyunjik). Bilingual, Neo-Assyrian script; the record notes sister witnesses K.5343+K.21386 (+) K.8416 (+) K.15167 and K.5162 (ms C, dispositioned in this wave). Photograph on the record. Composition: the šuila u₃-mu-un nir-ĝal₂, "Lord, prince," to Nanna/Suen, the moon god — eISL Shuila 6, Q009538. The tablet's own rubric (reverse, line 41) closes it: "Šuila, 48 lines, of Suen." Source: eBL Fragmentarium's served transliteration of K.2861 (fetched live, Wave C7). The served-English boundary, printed on the face: eBL serves exactly 6 #tr.en lines for this record — the rubric line and the colophon (lines 41–46) — and no translation for any of the prayer's 48 lines. This build therefore renders the prayer and its rubric, and stops where the served English begins: the colophon (the standard "written according to its original… tablet of Ištar-šumu-ēreš, chief scribe of Ashurbanipal, son of Nabû-zēr-līšir" formula) is described, not rendered. Counting rule: a line counts part if a complete verb form or a glossed phrase survives; fragment if only isolated words or traces survive; whole only if a complete clause survives intact. A bilingual pair counts as one unit. The refrain carried in <(angle brackets)> on the tablet counts the unit as part, not whole — the scribe abbreviated it, and the count says so. Counts: 44 units — 2 whole / 31 part / 11 fragment / 0 invented.
The prayer is a litany built on one line — "Lord, prince among the gods, who in heaven and earth is exalted alone" — said first of Nanna himself, then turned name by name: father Nanna as Anšar, as An the great, as Suen, as lord of Ur, as lord of the Egišnugal, as the splendid crown. Then the litany opens out: the young bull with lapis beard; the father who holds the life of the whole land in his hand; the god whose word makes the grass come up and the cattle multiply; and at the end the turn every šuila makes — "Look upon your temple! Look upon your city! Look upon Ur!" — and the intercessors, the wife, Utu, the great gods, are called one by one to say to the angry god: "Be calm."
o 1. %es u₃-mu-un nir-gal₂ dim₃-me-er-e-ne an-ki-a dili-ni mah-am₃ / be-lu₄ e-tel-li DINGIR-MEŠ ša₂ ina AN-e u KI-ti₃ e-diš-ši-šu₂ ṣi-i-ru "Lord, prince among the gods, who in heaven and earth alone is exalted" / gloss: "Lord, prince of the gods, who in heaven and earth alone is august." (whole: the incipit, complete in both languages — the tablet writes nir-gal₂ where the catalogue's incipit has nir-ĝal₂)
o 2. %es a-a {d}nanna umun an-šar₂ nir-gal₂ dim₃-me-er-e-ne <(an-ki-a dili-ni mah-am₃)> / a-bu {d}na-an-nar be-lu₄ AN.ŠAR₂ e-tel-li DINGIR-MEŠ "Father Nanna, lord Anšar, prince among the gods —" / gloss: "Father Nannar, lord Anšar, prince of the gods." (part: the refrain is abbreviated on the tablet)
o 3. %es a-a {d}nanna umun an gal-e nir-gal₂ dim₃-me-er-e-ne <(...)> / a-bu {d}na-an-nar be-lu₄ {d}a-num GAL-u e-tel-li DINGIR-MEŠ "Father Nanna, lord An the great, prince among the gods —" / gloss: "Father Nannar, lord Anu the great, prince of the gods."
o 4. %es a-a {d}nanna umun {d}+suen-na nir-gal₂ dim₃-me-er-e-ne <(...)> / a-bu {d}na-an-nar be-lu₄ {d}30 e-tel-li DINGIR-MEŠ "Father Nanna, lord Suen, prince among the gods —" / gloss: "Father Nannar, lord Sîn, prince of the gods."
o 5. %es a-a {d}nanna umun uri₂{ki}-ma nir-gal₂ dim₃-me-er-e-ne <(...)> / a-bu {d}na-an-nar be-el u₂-ri e-tel-li DINGIR-MEŠ "Father Nanna, lord of Ur, prince among the gods —" / gloss: "Father Nannar, lord of Ur, prince of the gods."
o 6. %es a-a {d}nanna umun e₂-giš-nu₁₁-gal nir-gal₂ dim₃-me-er-e-ne <(...)> / a-bu {d}na-an-nar be-el E₂.MIN e-tel-li DINGIR-MEŠ "Father Nanna, lord of the Egišnugal, prince among the gods —" / gloss: "Father Nannar, lord of the Egišnugal, prince of the gods." (the Egišnugal is Nanna's temple at Ur)
o 7. %es a-a {d}nanna umun# PA₄.NU₂-na nir-gal₂ dim₃-me-er-e-ne <(...)> / a-bu {d}na-an-nar be-lu₄ a-ge-e šu-pu-u₂ e-tel-li DINGIR-MEŠ "Father Nanna, lord of the splendid tiara, prince among the gods —" / gloss: "Father Nannar, lord of the splendid crown, prince of the gods."
o 8. %es a-a {d}nanna na-ag₂-men gal-le-eš šu du₇-a nir-gal₂ dim₃-me-er-e-ne <(...)> / a-bu {d}na-an-nar ša₂ šar-ru-tam ra-biš šuk-lu-lu₄ e-tel-li DINGIR-MEŠ "Father Nanna, who wears kingship greatly and perfectly, prince among the gods —" / gloss: "Father Nannar, who is greatly perfected in kingship, prince of the gods."
o 9. %es a-a {d}nanna tug₂-tug₂ na-ag₂-egi-na su₃-su₃ nir-gal₂ dim₃-me-er-e-ne <(...)> / a-bu {d}na-an-nar ša₂ ina ti-di-iq ru-bu-tu₂ i-šad-di-hu e-tel-li DINGIR-MEŠ "Father Nanna, striding in garment upon garment of princeliness, prince among the gods —" / gloss: "Father Nannar, who walks about in the raiment of princedom, prince of the gods."
o 10. %es amar ban₃-da si gur₄-gur₄-ra a₂-ur₂ šu du₇ su₆# za-gin₃-na su₃-su₃ hi-li la-la ma-al-la-ta / bu-ru ek-du ša₂ qar-ni kab-ba-ru ša₂ meš-re-ti šuk-lu-lu₄ ziq-ni uq-ni zaq-nu ku-uz-bu u la-la-a ma-lu-u₂ "Young bull, whose horns are thick, whose limbs are perfected, whose beard is lapis lazuli, who is full of allure and charm" / gloss: "Sturdy young bull, thick of horn, perfect of limb, bearded with lapis, full of charm and delight."
o 11. %es gi-rin ni₂-ba mu-un-dim₂-ma e₂-mar e₃-a i-bi₂ bar he₂-du₇ la-la-bi nu-gi₄-gi₄ / en-bu ša₂ ina ra-ma-ni-šu₂ ib-ba-nu-u ši-ha gat-ta ša₂ ana nap-lu-si as-mu la-la-šu₂ la iš-še-bu-u "Pure fruit, self-created, who came forth from the Ekur, of splendid form to behold, whose charm none can equal" / gloss: "Fruit, created by itself, splendid of stature, fit to behold, whose charm is insatiable."
o 12. %es ama-gan nigin-na mu-lu ši-da-ma-al-la ki-tuš mah bi₂-in-ri / ri-i-mu a-lid nap-ha-ri ša₂ it-ti šik-na-at na-piš-ti šub-tu₂ KU₃-ti₃ ra-mu-u "The mother who bore the whole, the man who loves all living things, who took his dwelling on the pure dais" / gloss: "The wild bull who begot the totality, who with all living creatures loves the pure dwelling."
o 13. %es a-a ša₃-la₂-su₃ mar-ra-na mu-lu na-ag₂-ti-la gu₂ ka-nag-ga₂ šu-še₃ mu-un-dib-ba / [a]-bu reme₂-nu-u ta-a-a-ru ša₂ ba-laṭ nap-har ma-a-ti qa₂-tuš-šu₂ tam-hu "Merciful, compassionate father, who holds the life of the whole land in his hand" / gloss: "Merciful, compassionate father, who holds the life of all the lands in his hand."
o 14. %es umun n[a-a]g₂-dim₃-me-er-zu an su₃-dam a-ab-ba da-ma-al-la ni₂ mu-un-gur₃-ru-e / be-lu₄ i-lut-ka ki-ma AN-e ru-qu-ti tam-ti₃ ra-pa-aš-tu₂ pu-luh-tam ma-lat "Lord, your godhead is like distant heaven, like the wide sea — it is full of fearsomeness" / gloss: "Lord, your divinity, like far-off heaven and the broad sea, is full of terror."
o 15. %es u₃-tu-ud-da ka-nag-ga₂ zag mu-un-šub-ba mu-un-da-ab-sa₄-e-ne / [ba-nu]-u ma-a-ta mu-šar-ši-du eš-re-e-ti na-bu-u₂ šu-me-šu₂-un "Who begot the land, founded its boundary, named the shrines by name" / gloss: "Creator of the land, founder of the shrines, who called their names."
o 16. %es ad ugu-na dim₃-me-er-e-ne na-ag₂-lu₂-u₁₈-lu bara₂ ri-am₃ nidba mu-un-ge-eš-am₃ / a-bu a-lid DINGIR-MEŠ u a-me-li mu-šar-mu-u šub-tu mu-kin nin-da-be₂-e "Father who begot the gods and mankind, who spread out the dwellings, who set the food-offerings in place" / gloss: "Father, begetter of gods and men, who made the dwellings roomy, who established the offerings."
o 17. %es na-ag₂-bara₂ e-ne mu-sa₄-a gedru ze₂-eg₃-gu₁₀-a u₄ su₃-ud-da-še₃ nam mu-ni-ib₂-tar-e-ne / na-bu-u₂ šar-ru-ti na-din haṭ-ṭi ša₂ šim-ti ana u₄-me ru-qu-ti i-šim-mu "Who named kingship, gave the sceptre, in my … decrees destiny for distant days" / gloss: "Who named kingship, giver of the sceptre, who decrees the fate for far-off days."
o 18. %es i-bi₂-eš-du gir₃-ra ša₃-ab su₃-ud digir na-me nu-mu-un-pa₃-da-e-ne / a-ša₂-re-du ga-aš₂-ru ša₂ lib-ba-šu₂ ru-u₂-qu DINGIR man-man la ut-tu-u "Foremost one, mighty one, whose heart is distant, whom no god can discover" / gloss: "Foremost, mighty, whose heart is far away, whom no god can find."
o 19. %es [mu-l]u-kaš₄-du₁₁-ga-ra ze₂-eb-ba nam-kuš₂-u₃ kaskal mu-un-ri-ri dim₃-me-er šeš-e-ne / [be-lu₄?] la-as-mu ša₂ bir-ka-šu₂ la in-na-ha mu-pat-tu-u ur-ha-at DINGIR-MEŠ at-he-šu₂ "Sweet runner, whose knees do not tire, who opens the roads of his brother gods" / gloss: "Runner, whose knees never rest, who opens the ways of his brother gods."
o 20. %es [an-u]r₂-ta an-pa-še₃ zalag₂-ga mu-un-su₈-su₈ {giš}ig an-na da-ma-al-la | giš-nu₁₁ u[g₃ šar₂-ra m]arra / [nu-ru?] ša₂ iš-tu i-šid AN-e ana e-lat AN-e [x x x x (x)] x pe-tu-u da-lat AN-e | ša₂-kin nu-ri ana kiš-šat UN-MEŠ "From the base of heaven to its zenith he pours out shining light; the gate of heaven stands wide open" / gloss: "Light, which from the foundation of heaven to its top […] opens the gates of heaven, which sets light for all the people." (part: the moon's light, described as a gate flung open at the top of the sky)
o 21. %es [ad ug]u-gu₁₀ nigin-na ši-ma-al igi-du₈ a [...]-[hul₂-la] ki-za an-kin-kin-[ge₂₆?] / a-bu a-lid nap-ha-[ri ...] | [...] "My begetting father […] the totality […] seeking […]" / gloss: broken. (fragment)
o 22. %es umun ka-aš bar-bar-ra an-ki-a mu-lu du₁₁-ga-bi nu-mu-un-kur₂-re / be-lu₄ pa-ri-is EŠ.BAR AN-e u KI-ti₃ ša₂ qi₂-bit-su man-ma-an la u₂-nak-ka-ru "Lord who renders decisions for heaven and earth, whose word no one can alter" / gloss: "Lord, decider of verdicts of heaven and earth, whose command nobody changes."
o 23. %es a {d}mu-bar-ra šu mu-un-da-ab-ha-za tum₂-tum₂ ši-ma-al-la / dim₃-me-er na-me a-ba-zu mu-un-dim₂-ma "O Mubarra, who holds […] …" / gloss: "… which god … who created you …" (fragment: the obverse breaks off)
r 1. %es za-e e-ne-eg₃-zu ki-a i₃-ma-al u₂-šim ba-an-mu₂-mu₂ / ka-a-tu₂ a-mat-ka ina er-ṣe-ti ina ša₂-ka-ni ur-qi₂-tu₄ ib-ba-an-ni "Your word, when it is placed on earth, makes the green plants grow" / gloss: "Your word, when set upon the earth, green things are created." (the word of the moon god makes the earth green — the litany's centre)
r 2. %es za-e e-ne-eg₃-zu tur₃-ra amaš-da peš-e ši-ma-al mu-un-da-ma-al-la / ka-a-tu₂ a-mat-ka tar-ba-ṣu u su-pu-ru u₂-šam-ri šik-na-at na-piš-ti u₂-ra-pa-aš₂ "Your word makes pen and fold swell, makes living creatures multiply, makes them wide" / gloss: "Your word makes cattle-pen and fold teem, makes living beings increase."
r 3. %es za-e e-ne-eg₃-zu ag₂-gi-na ag₂-si-sa₂ mu-un-ma-al na-ag₂-lu₂-u₁₈-lu inim-inim mu-un-gi-na / ka-a-tu₂ a-mat-ka kit-tu₂ u mi-ša₂-ri u₂-šab-ša₂ ni-ši i-ta-mu-u kit-tu₄ "Your word establishes truth and justice, makes mankind speak the truth" / gloss: "Your word creates truth and justice; the people speak truth."
r 4. %es za-e e-ne-eg₃-zu an-na mu-un-su₃-ud-da ki-a mu-un-šu₂-šu₂ ag₂-na-me nu-mu-un-pa₃-da-e-ne / ka-a-tu₂ a-mat-ka ru-qu-ti KI-ti₃ ka-tim-tu₂ ša₂ mam-ma-an la ut-tu-u "Your word is far off in heaven, covered on earth — nothing can discover it" / gloss: "Your word is distant in heaven, hidden in the earth, which nobody can find."
r 5. %es za-e e-ne-eg₃-zu a-ba mu-un-zu-a a-ba mu-un-da-ab-sa₂-a / ka-a-tu₂ a-mat-ka man-nu i-lam-mad man-nu i-ša₂-na-an "Your word — who can learn it? Who can rival it?" / gloss: "Your word — who can master it? Who can match it?" (whole: a complete question in both languages)
r 6. %es umun-e an-na na-ag₂-umun na-ag₂-nir-ra dim₃-me-er šeš-zu-ta gaba-ri nu-tuku-am₃ / be-lu₄ ina AN-e be-lu-tu₂ ina KI-ti₃ e-tel-lu-tu₂ ina DINGIR-MEŠ at-he-ka ma-hi-ri ul ti-i-ši "The lord — in heaven lordship, on earth princedom — among the gods his brothers has no rival" / gloss: "The lord: in heaven, lordship; on earth, supremacy; among his brother gods he has no equal."
r 7. %es idim bara₂ il₂-la me-bi mu-lu al nu-di nam-dim₃-me-er-ni nu-mu-un-da-ab-si₃-si₃-ga / šar šar-ri ša₂-qu-u [... la ir-ri]-šu₂ DINGIR-ti-šu₂ DINGIR la maš-lu "Sublime one, raised on the dais […], whose divinity no god can equal" / gloss: "Most exalted king […], whose godhead no god matches." (fragment)
r 8. %es ki i-bi₂ zi-ga [...] še-ga-eš-am / a-šar en-ka [...] tam-gu-ra "The place […] …" / gloss: broken. (fragment)
r 9. %es ki šu zi-ga [...] a x [x x x] / a-šar ta-[...] x ta mah [...] (fragment: traces only — counted, not rendered)
r 10. %es u₃-mu-un pa e₃-a [...]-a an-ki-a ba-an-e₃ / be-lu₄ šu-pu-u [...]-ti-šir₃ uš-ti-ṣa "Lord, who comes forth in splendour […] in heaven and earth he came forth" / gloss: "Lord, resplendent […], he went forth in order."
r 11. %es e₂-zu u₆-di uru₂-zu u₆-di / E₂-ka nap-liš URU-ka nap-liš "Look upon your temple! Look upon your city!" / gloss: "Behold your temple! Behold your city!" (the šuila's turn — the prayer stops praising and starts pleading)
r 12. %es uri₂{ki} u₆-di e₂-giš-nu₁₁-gal u₆-di / u₂-ru nap-liš E₂.MIN nap-liš "Look upon Ur! Look upon the Egišnugal!" / gloss: "Behold Ur! Behold the Egišnugal!"
r 13. %es mu-ud-na ki-ag₂-zu nu-nus sa₆-ga umun hug-ga₂ hu-mu-ra-ab-be₂ / hi-ir-tu₄ na-ram-ta-ka sin-niš-tu₄ dam-mi₃-iq-tu₂ be-lu₄ nu-uh liq-bi-ka "Your beloved wife, the fair woman — 'Lord, be calm!' may it be said to you" / gloss: "Your beloved wife, the fair woman — 'Lord, be calm!' let her say to you." (the intercession begins: Ningal herself is called to calm him)
r 14. %es sul {d}utu [... umun] hug-ga₂ <(hu-mu-ra-ab)>-be₂ / eṭ-lu₄ {d}[UTU ...] x be-lu₄ nu-uh <(liq-bi-ka)> "The youth Utu […] — 'Lord, be calm!' may it be said" / gloss: broken in part. (fragment)
r 15. %es {d}nun-gal-e-ne [... umun hug-g]a₂ <(hu-mu-ra-ab-be₂)> / {d}i₂-gi₃-gi₃ [... b]e-lu₄ "The Nungal gods […] — 'be calm' —" / gloss: "The Igigi […], lord." (fragment)
r 16. %es {d}a-nun-na-ke₄-e-ne [... hug]-ga₂ <(hu-mu-ra-ab-be₂)> / {d}a-nun-na-ki [... be-l]u₄ "The Anunna gods […] — 'be calm' —" / gloss: broken. (fragment)
r 17. %es {d}x [... umun hug-g]a₂ <(hu-mu-ra-ab-be₂)> / {d}MIN [... be-l]u₄ (fragment: a god whose name is lost is called to intercede — counted, not rendered)
r 18. %es {d}nin-[... hug]-ga₂ <(hu-mu-ra-ab-be₂)> / {d}MIN [... be-l]u₄ (fragment: a goddess likewise — counted, not rendered)
r 19. %es {giš}ŠU.MIN uri₂-ma {giš}si-mar e₂-giš-nu₁₁-gal še-eb e₂-dub-la₂-mah-a | [ki-bi-še₃ gi₄-gi₄-e-d]e₃ / {giš}mi-dil u₂-ri ... ana aš-ri-šu₂ li-tur "The cedar of Ur, the simar-wood of the Egišnugal, the brickwork of the Edublamah — [may they return] to their place!" / gloss: "The midil-tree of Ur […] may it return to its place." (part: the prayer ends by asking that the ruined temple fabric itself be restored)
r 20. %es dim₃-me-er an-ki-a [umun ... hu-mu-ra]-ab-be₂ "O gods of heaven and earth — [lord …] may 'be calm' be said to him." (fragment: the last broken line of the prayer)
rubric (r 41). %sux šu-il₂-la₂ 48-am₃ mu-bi-im {d}suen-na-kam₂ "Šuila — its lines are 48 — of Suen." (the tablet's own colophon-rubric; eBL also serves an English line for this rubric — the rubric is quoted here from the Sumerian, and the served translation boundary is stated in the header)
The colophon proper (lines 43–46) is not rendered: eBL serves it in English. It is the standard Ashurbanipal library formula — written from its original, checked, tablet of the chief scribe Ištar-šumu-ēreš.
Nuvira Technologies conducts this research with AI assistance, cross-verified against the primary sources to scholarly integrity standards. Uncertain readings are marked; broken lines are left broken.
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