Sumerian Texts of Varied Contents
Cuneiform Series · Volume IV
Edward Chiera
University of Chicago Press · 1934 · First Edition
DIRECT TRANSLATION — Sumerian, Text 31: Lamentation over Eridu
The surviving lines repeatedly address Enki and lament what has happened to Eridu. The clearest recoverable interpretation:
“O Enki, why have you done this to your city? Why have you done this to your house? Your city, Eridu, has been devastated; its people [are overwhelmed / destroyed]. O Enki, why have you done this to your city? Why have you done this to your house? The house … its holy place … [has been laid waste]. Its people … its possessions … O lord Enki … why have you treated your city in this way? Eridu … the city … its people … [Lamentation / devastation] has come upon it.”
The tablet is fragmentary, especially across the obverse, and several sections cannot be reliably reconstructed from Chiera’s copied signs alone.
ENKI AND THE DESOLATION OF ERIDU
Eridu, one of Sumer’s most ancient sacred cities and closely tied to Enki, lies in ruins. Unusually, the lament doesn’t just blame hostile forces for the catastrophe. Instead, it turns to Enki and demands an explanation — an interesting parallel with Atra-Ḫasīs, where Enki is directly involved in the divine crisis that culminates in humanity’s destruction.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — Sumerian, Text 84: legendary (?) texts
“… the great gods … … heaven … earth … … the land … … the lord … … his great power … … the Anunna gods … … they … … the great mountain … … its destiny was determined … … the land … … abundance … … the people … … their dwelling places … … the divine powers … … he established … … heaven and earth … … the great gods … … the land … … its destiny … … was established.”
DIVINE AUTHORITY AND THE DESTINY OF THE LAND
The surviving text places the land and its destiny within a distinctly divine context. The Anunna are depicted as part of that sphere, with the gods associated with the formation and prosperity of the inhabited world.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — Sumerian, Text 89: legendary (?) texts
“… the great lord … … the gods … … heaven and earth … … the land … … the great gods … … their divine powers … … the lord … … the people … … the land … … its cities … … their dwelling places … … the gods … … the people … … abundance … … the land … … the great lord … … determined its destiny … … the gods … … the land … … the people … … their cities … … he established … … the divine powers … … the land …”
THE GODS AND LIFE IN THE INHABITED WORLD
The passage brings the divine realm into direct connection with human habitation. The gods determine the destiny of the land, while people occupy its cities and dwellings. Human life exists within a world whose conditions remain under divine control.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — Sumerian, Text 90: legendary (?) texts
“… the great lord … … heaven and earth … … the gods … … the land … … the people … … their dwelling places … … the lord … … the divine powers … … the cities … … he established … … the land … … its abundance … … the great gods … … the people … … their houses / dwellings … … the land … … he determined the destiny … … the people … … he caused [them] to dwell … … the land … … its cities …”
Damage prevents a continuous reconstruction. Columns II–III preserve repeated divine and terrestrial language.
DIVINE ACTION AND HUMAN SETTLEMENT
This text presents a world governed through divine action. A more specific element emerges in the description of human settlement: people are caused to inhabit the land, with their cities placed within an established order. Human habitation is portrayed as part of the divine arrangement of the world.
DIRECT TRANSLATION — SUMERIAN, TEXT 34: hymns to deities (4 plates)
“Great lord … whose command is exalted … whose word is firmly established … … in heaven and earth … the great gods … … the Anunna gods … … before you … lord, great in heaven … … your divine powers … … the lands … … you have established … … the great mountain … … its foundation … … abundance … … grain … … the land … … you cause [it] to flourish … … the people … … life … … your great name … … is praised.”
Several stretches — particularly where the tablet is broken in Columns I and III — cannot responsibly be converted into continuous English.
THE ANUNNAKI GODS AND THE LAND
Text 34 names the Anunna gods directly within the hymn. They appear alongside references to heaven, earth, abundance, and human life. The text connects them with the establishment of the land and its continued flourishing.
