A praise poem of Šulgi (A)

I, the king, was a hero already in the womb; I, Šulgi, was born to be a mighty man. I am a fierce-
looking lion, begotten by a dragon. I am the king of the four regions; I am the herdsman and
shepherd of the black-headed people. I am a respected one, the god of all the lands.1

I am a child born of Ninsumun. I am the choice of holy An's heart. I am the man whose fate was
decided by Enlil. I am Šulgi, the beloved of Ninlil. I am he who is cherished by Nintur. I am he
who was endowed with wisdom by Enki. I am the powerful king of Nanna. I am the growling lion
of Utu. I am Šulgi, who has been chosen by Inana for his attractiveness.

I am a mule, most suitable for the road. I am a horse, whose tail waves on the highway. {I am a
stallion of Šakkan, eager to run.} {(1 ms.:) I am a donkey of Šakkan, who loves running.}

I am a knowledgeable scribe of Nisaba; I have perfected my wisdom just as my heroism and

{my strength} {(1 ms. has instead:) my distinction}. Reliable words can reach (?) me. I cherish
righteousness but do not tolerate wickedness. I hate anyone who speaks wickedly.

Because I am a powerful man who enjoys using his thighs, I, Šulgi, the mighty king, superior to
all, strengthened (?) the roads, put in order the highways of the Land. I marked out the double-
hour distances, built there lodging houses. {I planted gardens by their side and established
resting-places} {(1 ms. has instead:) I established gardens (?) and resting-places by their side},
and installed in those places experienced men. Whichever direction one comes from, one can
refresh oneself when the time is cool; and travellers and wayfarers who arrive at night can seek
haven there as in a well-built city.

So that my name should be established for distant days and never fall into oblivion, so that my
praise should be {uttered} {(1 ms.:) spread} throughout the Land, and my glory should be
proclaimed in the foreign lands, I, the fast runner, summoned my strength and, to prove my
speed, my heart prompted me to make a return journey from Nibru to brick-built Urim as if it
were only the distance of a double-hour.

I, the lion, never failing in his vigour, standing firm in his strength, fastened the small niĝlam
garment firmly to my hips. Like a pigeon anxiously fleeing from a …… snake, I spread my
wings; like the Anzud bird lifting its gaze to the mountains, I stretched forward my legs. The
inhabitants of the cities which I had founded in the Land lined up for me; the black-headed
people, as numerous as ewes, looked at me with sweet admiration.

I entered the E-kiš-nu-ĝal like a mountain kid hurrying to its habitation, when Utu spreads broad
daylight over the countryside. I filled with abundance the temple of Suen, a cow-pen which
yields plenty of fat. I had oxen slaughtered there; I had sheep {offered there lavishly} {(some
mss.:) butchered there}. I had šem and ala drums resound there {and caused tigi drums play
there sweetly.} {(1 ms. has instead the line:) I …… the balaĝ player (?).} I, Šulgi, who makes
everything abundant, presented food-offerings there and, like a lion, spreading fearsomeness
from (?) the royal offering-place, I bent down (?) and bathed in flowing water; I knelt down and
feasted in the Egal-maḫ of Ninegala.

Then I arose like an owl (?), like a falcon to return to Nibru in my vigour. But a storm shrieked,
and the west wind whirled around. The north wind and the south wind howled at each other.
Lightning together with the seven winds vied with each other in the heavens. Thundering storms
made the earth quake, and Iškur roared in the broad heavens. {The rains of heaven mingled
with the waters of the earth.} {(1 ms. has instead:) The rains of heaven competed with the
waters of the earth.} Small and large hailstones drummed on my back.

I, the king, however, did not fear, nor was I terrified. I rushed forth like a fierce lion. I galloped
like an ass in the desert. With my heart full of joy, I ran (?) onward. Trotting like a solitary wild
ass, I traversed a distance of fifteen double-hours by the time Utu was to set his face toward his
house; {my saĝ-ursaĝ priests looked at me with admiration.} {(1 ms. has instead:) ……
numerous (?) ……; I prayed in the …… of Enlil and Ninlil.} I celebrated the ešeš festival in both
Nibru and Urim on the same day!

I drank beer in the palace founded by An with my brother and companion, the hero Utu. My
singers praised me with songs accompanied by seven tigi drums. My spouse, the maiden Inana,
the lady, the joy of heaven and earth, sat with me at the banquet.

Truly I am not boasting! Wherever I look to, there I go; wherever my heart desires, I reach. {(1
ms. adds at least 10 lines:) By the life of my father holy Lugalbanda, and Nanna the king of
heaven and earth, I swear that the words written on my tablet are …….
at least 4 lines missing or unclear
…… since the days of yore, since ………, no king of Sumer as great as I has existed for the
people.} An placed a {legitimate and lofty} {(some mss. have:) golden} {(1 ms. has:) good silver}
{(1 ms. has:) silver} crown firmly on my head.

In the lustrous E-kur, I seized the holy sceptre and I lifted my head towards heaven on a shining
dais, a throne with firm foundation. I consolidated my kingship, subdued the foreign lands,
fortified the Land. May my name be proclaimed among the well-guarded people of the four
regions! May they praise it in holy hymns about me! May they glorify my majesty, saying:

"The one provided with lofty royal power; the one given heroism, power and happy life by Suen
of the E-kiš-nu-ĝal; the one endowed with superior strength by Nunamnir; Šulgi, the destroyer of
foreign lands, the fortifier of the Land, the purification priest of heaven and earth, who has no
rival; {Šulgi, who is cared for by the respected child of An!}"

{Nisaba be praised!} {(1 ms. has instead:) Šulgi, be praised (?) by An's respected son!}
 A praise poem of Šulgi (B)
To make his name famous for all time until distant days, and to transmit to posterity and the
days to come the praise poems of his power, the songs of his might, and the lasting fame of his
exceptional intelligence, King Šulgi, king of Urim, has brought the songs' latent wisdom before
the mighty son of Ninsumun. He praises his own power in song, and lauds his own superior
native intelligence:

I am a king, offspring begotten by a king and borne by a queen. I, Šulgi the noble, have been
blessed with a favourable destiny right from the womb. When I was small, I was at the academy,
where I learned the scribal art from the tablets of Sumer and Akkad. None of the nobles could
write on clay as I could. There where people regularly went for tutelage in the scribal art, I
qualified fully in subtraction, addition, reckoning and accounting. The fair Nanibgal, Nisaba,
provided me amply with knowledge and comprehension. I am an experienced scribe who does
not neglect a thing.

When I sprang up, muscular as a cheetah, galloping like a thoroughbred ass at full gallop, the
favour of An brought me joy; to my delight Enlil spoke favourably about me, and they gave me
the sceptre because of my righteousness. I place my foot on the neck of the foreign lands; the
fame of my weapons is established as far as the south, and my victory is established in the
highlands. When I set off for battle and strife to a place that Enlil has commanded me, I go
ahead of the main body of my troops and I clear the terrain for my scouts. I have a positive
passion for weapons. Not only do I carry lance and spear, I also know how to handle
slingstones with a sling. The clay bullets, the treacherous pellets that I shoot, fly around like a
violent rainstorm. In my rage I do not let them miss.

I sow fear and confusion in the foreign land. I look to my brother and friend, youthful Utu, as a
source of divine encouragement. I, Šulgi, converse with him whenever he rises over there; he is
the god who keeps a good eye on my battles. The youth Utu, beloved in the mountains, is the
protective deity of my weapons; by his words I am strengthened and made pugnacious (?). In
those battles, where weapon clashes on weapon, Utu shines on me. Thus I broke the weapons
of the highlands over my knees, and in the south placed a yoke on the neck of Elam. I make the
populations of the rebel lands -- how could they still resist my weapons? -- scatter like seed-
grain over Sumer and Akkad.

Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is
full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications?

I stride forward in majesty, trampling endlessly through the esparto grass and thickets, capturing
elephant after elephant, creatures of the plain; and I put an end to the heroic roaring in the
plains of the different liona, the dragons of the plains, wherever it approaches from and
wherever it is going. I do not go after them with a net, nor do I lie in wait for them in a hide; it
comes to a confrontation of strength and weapons. I do not hurl a weapon; when I plunge a
bitter-pointed lance in their throats, I do not flinch at their roar. I am not one to retreat to my
hiding-place but, as when one warrior kills another warrior, I do everything swiftly on the open
plain. In the desert where the paths peter out, I reduce the roar at the lair to silence. In the
sheepfold and the cattle-pen, where heads are laid to rest (?), I put the shepherd tribesmen at
ease. Let no one ever at any time say about me, "Could he really subdue them all on his own?"
The number of lions that I have despatched with my weapons is limitless; their total is unknown.

Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is
full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications?

I am Šulgi, god of manliness, the foremost of the troops. When I stretch the bowstring on the
bow, when I fit a perfect arrow to it, I shoot the bow's arrow with the full strength of my arms.
The great wild bull, the bull of heaven, the wild cow and the bison bellow. As they pass across
the foothills of the mountains, I shoot barbed arrows at them with my powerful strength.
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As they collapse (?) on the plain, I topple them like old towers. I make their heads plunge to the
ground like crushing pestles. For the wild asses I set no snares, dig no pits, shoot no arrows
against them. But I race after them as against my own rivals; I do not try to surround them to kill
their young, as people kill slim ass foals.

When a burly wild boar (?) is running across the plain, I pierce its lungs with an arrow. With only
one shot of mine I bring it to the ground; no single clansman from my regiments can surpass me
in archery. I am a man with sharp eyes. When I lead the …… of the crack troops, I know best of
all how to cast the throw-stick, running as quick as light radiating from heaven. What I hit no
longer rises from its place.
1 line unclear
I can throw a ball (?) as high in the air as if it were a rag. I can bring down quadrupeds lightning-
quick with the sling. I, Šulgi, can catch a goat with a quick pace; nothing checks my power. ……
has been given to me. Wherever I direct my steps, I always achieve something; when I return
from the desert, I always bring something more for her -- for Ninsumun, my own mother, I am
her son of five things, of 10 things (= of everything) .

Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is
full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications?

I, the king, am the Land's most excellent fighter against the enemy. I, Šulgi, am respected for
my immense bodily strength. I am mighty; nothing resists me; I know no setbacks. My barges on
the river do not sink (?) under me (alludes to a proverb (?)) ; my teams of asses do not collapse
under me. Striding forward like my brother and friend, the youth Utu, as if with the legs of a lion,
I am the good groom of my dust-making asses that bray like lions roaring. Like that of a stallion,
my strength is unwavering during the running-race; I come first in the race, and my knees do not
get tired. I am fearless; I dance with joy. My words shall never be forgotten. Praise for me
because of my reliable judgments is on everyone's lips.
I am a ritually pure interpreter of omens. I am the very Nintur (creator deity) of the collections of
omens. These words of the gods are of pre-eminent value for the exact performance of hand-
washing and purification rites, for eulogy of the en priestess or for her enthronement in the
ĝipar, for the choosing of the lumaḫ and nindiĝir priests by sacred extispicy, for attacking the
south or for defeating the uplands, for the opening of the emblem house, for the washing of
lances in the "water of battle" (blood) , for the taking of subtle decisions about the rebel lands.
After I have determined a sound omen through extispicy from a white lamb and a sheep, water
and flour are libated at the place of invocation. Then, as I prepare the sheep with words of
prayer, my diviner watches in amazement like an idiot. The prepared sheep is placed at my
disposal, and I never confuse a favourable sign with an unfavourable one. I myself have a clear
intuition, and I judge by my own eyes. In the insides of just one sheep I, the king, can find the
indications for everything and everywhere.

Let me boast of what I have done. The fame of my power is spread far and wide. My wisdom is
full of subtlety. Do not my achievements surpass all qualifications?

I, Šulgi, king of Urim, have also devoted myself to the art of music. Nothing is too complicated
for me; I know the full extent of the tigi and the adab, the perfection of the art of music. When I
fix the frets on the lute, which enraptures my heart, I never damage its neck; I have devised
rules for raising and lowering its intervals. On the gu-uš lyre I know the melodious tuning. I am
familiar with the sa-eš and with drumming on its musical soundbox. I can take in my hands the
miritum, which ……. I know the finger technique of the alĝar and sabitum, royal creations. In the
same way I can produce sounds from the urzababitum, the ḫarḫar, the zanaru, the ur-gula and
the dim-lu-magura. Even if they bring to me, as one might to a skilled musician, a musical
instrument that I have not heard before, when I strike it up I make its true sound known; I am
able to handle it just like something that has been in my hands before. Tuning, stringing,
unstringing and fastening are not beyond my skills. I do not make the reed pipe sound like a
rustic pipe, and on my own initiative I can wail a šumunša or make a lament as well as anyone
who does it regularly.

I bestow joy and gladness, and I pass my days in pomp and splendour. But people should
consider for themselves -- it is a matter to keep in one's sights -- that at the inescapable end of
life, no one will be spared the bitter gall of the land of oppression. But I am one who is powerful
enough to trust in his own power. He who trusts in his own exalted name may carry out great
things. Why should he do less? Since it was for my true mother Ninsumun that my mother
together with her actually bore me to bestow joy and gladness, lovingly she cherished my
unborn fruit. She did not endure scandal from anyone's mouth. Before she released her little
one, this lady passed her time in my palace in the greatest joy.

Before Utu son of Ningal, I, Šulgi, declare that in my long life in which I have achieved great
things since the day that my kingly destiny was determined, in my life in which everything was
richly provided in contentment, I have never lacked anything. Until the distant future may this
song bless the name of me, the king, with a life of long days. As I am musical, as I am eloquent,
I am a heavenly star of steadfastness. It is an awe-inspiring brow that establishes palaces, just
as a peg and a measuring cord are the builders of cities. With the awesomeness that radiates
from my forehead, which I make the foreign lands wear like a nose-rope, and the fear-inspiring
lustre, my personal weapon, which I impose on the Land like a neck-stock, I am able to root out
and undo crime. I have the ability to reconcile great matters with one word.

When I …… like a torrent with the roar of a great storm, in the capture of a citadel in Elam ……,
I can understand what their spokesman answers. By origin I am a son of Sumer; I am a warrior,
a warrior of Sumer. Thirdly, I can conduct a conversation with a man from the black mountains.
Fourthly, I can do service as a translator with a man of Martu, a man of the mountains ……. I
myself can correct his confused words in his own language. Fifthly, when a man of Subir yells
……, I can even distinguish the words in his language, although I am not a fellow-citizen of his.
When I provide justice in the legal cases of Sumer, I give answers in all five languages. In my
palace no one in conversation switches to another language as quickly as I do.

When I pronounce a completed verdict, it is heartily welcomed, since I am wise and exalted in
kingship. So that my consultative assemblies, sitting together to care for the people, inspire
respect in their hearts when the chief herald sounds the horn, they should deliberate and
debate; and so that the council should decide policy properly, I have taught my governors to
deliberate and to debate. While the words at their dining tables flow like a river, I tackle crime,
so that the foundations are securely established for my wide dominions. I vanquish a city with
words as weapons, and my wisdom keeps it subjected just as violence with burning torches
would. I have taught them the meaning of the words "I have no mother". My words can be words
smooth as the finest quality oil; I know how to cool hearts which are hot as fire, and I know how
to extinguish a mouth set on fire like a reedbed. I weigh my words against those of the braggart.
I am a man of the very highest standards of value. The importance of the humble is of particular
value to me, and they cannot be counter-productive to any of my activities. By command of An
and by command of Enlil, prayers are said for the life of the Land and for the life of the foreign
lands, and I neither neglect them nor allow them to be interrupted.

I also know how to serve the gods, and I can cool the hearts of the Anuna gods. I am Šulgi,
whose thick neck becomes fat (?) in majesty. Grand achievements that I have accomplished
which bring joy to my heart I do not cast negligently aside; therefore I give pride of place to
progress. I give no orders concerning the development of waste ground, but devote my energies
to extensive building plots. I have planted trees in fields and in agricultural land; I devote my
powers to dams, ……, ditches and canals. I try to ensure a surplus of oil and wool. Thanks to
my efforts flax and barley are of the highest quality. The thirst and hunger of the gods are a
cause of the greatest anxiety to me; I, Šulgi, am the life of Sumer.

I have no equal among even the most distant rulers, and I can also state that my deeds are
great deeds. Everything is achievable by me, the king. Since the time when Enlil gave me the
direction of his numerous people in view of my wisdom, my extraordinary power and my justice,
in view of my resolute and unforgettable words, and in view of my expertise, comparable to that
of Ištaran, in verdicts, my heart has never committed violence against even one other king, be
he an Akkadian or a son of Sumer, or even a brute from Gutium.

I am no fool as regards the knowledge acquired since the time that mankind was, from heaven
above, set on its path: when I have discovered tigi and zamzam hymns from past days, old ones
from ancient times, I have never declared them to be false, and have never contradicted their
contents. I have conserved these antiquities, never abandoning them to oblivion. Wherever the
tigi and the zamzam sounded, I have recovered all that knowledge, and I have had those šir-
gida songs brilliantly performed in my own good house. So that they should never fall into
disuse, I have added them to the singers' repertoire, and thereby I have set the heart of the
Land on fire and aflame.

Whatever is acquired is destined to be lost. What mortal has ever reached the heavens? At
some time in the distant future, a man of Enlil may arise, and if he is a just king, like myself, then
let my odes, prayers and learned songs about my heroic courage and expeditions follow that
king in his good palace. He should take to heart the benefit that has been conferred on him; he
should exalt the power of my odes, absorb the exuberance of my songs, and value highly my
great wisdom. Just as a strong person can consider on an equal basis even those things which
he has not brought about by his own efforts, let him applaud and welcome my achievements.
Let him call upon my good name.

But if his heart devises treason against me, and he commits violence against anything of mine,
may Nanna then adjudicate against this rebel, and let Utu the torch catch him. Wherever that
king's path may lead, his word shall be wiped out. Until he has completed the days of his life, he
shall do everything in his power to keep the hymns in their proper form. Through becoming
familiar thereby with me, the king, he will speak of me in awed amazement. Because of my
extraordinary wisdom and my ancient fame as a master, he should choose my hymns as
examples, and himself beget heavenly writings.

In the south, in Urim, I caused a House of the Wisdom of Nisaba to spring up in sacrosanct
ground for the writing of my hymns; up country in Nibru I established another. May the scribe be
on duty there and transcribe with his hand the prayers which I instituted in the E-kur; and may
the singer perform, reciting from the text. The academies are never to be altered; the places of
learning shall never cease to exist. This and this only is now my accumulated knowledge! The
collected words of all the hymns that are in my honour supersede all other formulations. By An,
Enlil, Utu and Inana, it is no lie -- it is true!

Furthermore no one will assert under oath that to this day there is any mention in my
inscriptions of a single city that I have not devastated, or wall that I have not demolished, or land
that I have not made tremble like a reed hut, or praise that I have not completely verified. Why
should a singer put them in hymns? An eminent example deserves eternal fame. What is the
use of writing lies without truth? For me, the king, the singer has recorded my exploits in songs
about the strength of the protective deity of my power; my songs are unforgettable, and my
words shall not fall into oblivion. I am the best king of the Land. From the very first origins until
the full flourishing of mankind, there will never be any king who can measure himself against my
achievements whom An will let wear his crown or wield his sceptre from a royal throne.

I am gifted with power, insight and wisdom. The high point of my great deeds is the culling of
lions before the lance as if they were garden weeds, the snapping of fierce felines like reeds as
if under the carding-comb, and the crushing (?) of their throats under the axe as if they were
dogs. Great powerful wild cows, indomitable bulls, cattle on their way to their mountain
pastures, which were killed in the plain, were …… the mountains. That the hills were
impenetrable and inaccessible …… -- those are pure lies. Where, in important words on tablets,
my wisdom and my power
1 line unclear
He who knows, and does not …… the truth about me as lies, will applaud and praise me.

I am a warrior whose might is enormous might. I am Šulgi, whose shadow lies over the
mountain lands. I am the king, the weapon and the downfall of rebel lands. Thus I have spread
far and wide my everlasting renown.

Now, I swear by Utu on this very day -- and my younger brothers shall be witnesses of it in
foreign lands where the sons of Sumer are not known, where people do not have the use of
paved (?) roads, where they have no access to the written word -- that the firstborn son is a
fashioner of words, a composer of songs, a composer of words, and that they will recite my
songs as heavenly writings, and that they will bow down before my words as a ……
8 lines fragmentary

For that house, I am the right man to step over the threshold. I am the man whose name has
been chosen by Nanna. I am the steward of Enlil's temple, the domestic slave of An. I am Šulgi,
and my house E-ḫursaĝ is the palace of palaces. My royal residence is above all praise; I made
it tower up like a lapis-lazuli mountain. Inana, the queen of the gods, the protective deity of my
power, has perfected the songs of my might -- the foremost among kings -- in respect of
everything in the whole world. It is good to praise me. Praise be to Nisaba.
 A praise poem of Šulgi (C)
I am the king, a wild bull of acknowledged strength, a lion with wide-open jaws! I am Šulgi, a
wild bull of acknowledged strength, a lion with wide-open jaws! I am a great storm let loose from
heaven, sending its splendour far and wide! I am good stock, with brindled body, engendered by
a breed-bull! I am a king born from a cow, resting amid butter and milk! I am the calf of a thick-
necked white cow, reared in the cow-pen! Dressed in a …… royal robe and holding out a
sceptre, I am perfect for ……. I am also the good shepherd who takes joy in justice, the scourge
and stick of all evil! Strength of lions, hero of battle -- I have no rivals! Handsome of limb,
ferocious lion, I am perfection in warfare! Grasping a lapis-lazuli mace and a battle-axe, with
long fingers I sharpen a tin knife to untie knots. In the turbulent affray of battle, in the conflict, I
shoot out my tongue, a mušḫuš darting out its tongue at the foreign lands, a dragon raging (?) at
men.

I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them

repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect
recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!

Since I first arose in human form, a bull-calf born in a year of plenty and announced at a time of
prosperity, nourished on good milk, my head was refulgent with the crown. As I rose over my
city like Utu, suspended in its midst, I filled the E-temen-ni-guru, founded with divine powers,
with princely cornelian. I touched it and made it perfect with royal hand-washing rituals. I
cleansed myself in water of purification from Eridug. Its seven wisdoms attended upon me, and
they were not negligent of me, the radiant heart dressed in a robe.

I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them

repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect
recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!

In the house of wise knowledge of the Land, I, Šulgi, king of Sumer, set a good example. My
hand guides the holy reed stylus correctly.
4 lines unclear
…… the fields in the holy …… and the holy agricultural land with a lapis-lazuli measuring line,
bringing in plentiful harvests, …… top-quality flax, top-quality barley. I am greatly expert in
assigning work with the pickaxe and the brick-mould, in drawing plans, in laying foundations,
and in writing cuneiform inscriptions on pedestals; I can make things absolutely clear on tablets
of lapis lazuli. I also have a solidly based knowledge of the intelligent implementation of the
counting, accounting and planning of the Land.

I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them

repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect
recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!
I am fair of mouth with well-formed lips. My heart …….
1 line fragmentary I also have a solidly based knowledge of ……. In my assembly where grand
deliberation takes place, where the black-headed are gathered together, a minister pays
attention to messages from foreign lands. Eloquent in the assembly and refined, he
2 lines fragmentary He roared like a bull.
12 lines missing or fragmentary

I am a shepherd who, apart from being one who always makes the right decisions on what he
has sworn, is also fully able to re-establish …… in the Land and to …… forcefully the house of
the rebel lands; who grasps hold of the righteous as if they were great bulls, and who darts (?)
out his tongue at the wicked like a snake in a terrifying place. I never frighten the just, and I
never …… the evil.

I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them

repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect
recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!

I am the leader living in Sumer! I am engaged in carrying out the planning! When I stand against
the cities and territories of the hostile rebel lands, my battle is a hurricane that cannot be
overwhelmed. When I surround their contingents from the south and cut the people off,
1 line fragmentary In the great palace, where I take decisions, when I …… a pure lamb, on the
right …… favourable ……, as I …… on my great throne. In my well-established dwelling, I can
tell whether to strike with weapons or not to strike with weapons. Since from birth I am also a
Nintur (creator deity) , wise in all matters, I can recognise the omens of that extispicy in a pure
place. I keep a look-out that ……. I am a lord ……, as I range about in my anger. I also have a
solidly based knowledge of omens from heaped high censers. My vision enables me to be the
dream-interpreter of the Land; my heart enables me to be the Ištaran (god of justice) of the
foreign lands. I am Šulgi, good shepherd of Sumer. Like my brother and friend Gilgameš, I can
recognise the virtuous and I can recognise the wicked. The virtuous gets justice in my presence,
and the wicked and evil person will be carried off by ……. Who like me is able to interpret what
is spoken in the heart or is articulated on the tongue?

I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them

repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect
recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!

Since I am also wise and highly intelligent,

5 lines fragmentary Also I know the Martu language as well as I do Sumerian. …… mountain
people walking in the hills ……, they greet me and I reply to them in the Martu language. Also I
know the Elamite language as well as I do Sumerian. …… in Elam ……, they greet me and I
reply in Elamite.
4 lines missing or fragmentary In wrestling and athletics I am ……. I am the shepherd who with
nimbly gripping fingers ……. Who can resist me, on the exercise ground as well as in battle?
The greatest heroes of the Land, the notable strong men and athletes from the foreign lands,
the swift (?) of Sumer, the totality of combatants, …… at my wrists.
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I am powerful in athletics, and I am strong …… in wrestling. I am Šulgi, the good shepherd of
Sumer, and no one can equal me!

I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them

repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect
recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!

I am a runner who is successful in his aspirations.

unknown no. of lines missing

Lion, feline ……
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May its glory cover the cities, and its battle-cry smother the foreign lands! May the people be
terrified at its roaring, as at a storm in the heavens! I am Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer!
May he bring me the muscles of a lion, the sinews of a lion! May he receive (?) my spear!
3 lines unclear
The black-headed will look on in amazement, and …… in my city.

I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them

repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect
recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!

Where I stand, I destroy foreign lands; where I sit, I plunder cities. At my command, …….
Where my weapons strike, …….
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Their bricks are dug up from the footings ……. The city which I smash shall not be restored; the
houses which I destroy shall be counted as ruin mounds; the walls proudly rising to heaven shall
not open …….
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…… I have been given great strength.
1 line fragmentary …… arrows of my quiver …… a flying bird. As if ……; …… like a wild bull in
a meadow. My spear goes straight. My great emblems are raised at the edge of the mountains.
When day breaks and Utu comes forth and looks upon the hills, I shall marvel at them.
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…… may they be terrified, and may his troops be frightened.
1 line fragmentary Since I am a king who puts the Land on track,
4 lines fragmentary Night falls,
2 lines unclear
The rebel lands ……. They are scattered by force, like sheep that have no shepherd.
7 lines fragmentary or unclear
May concord be promoted in the Land. May my attack cause them to collapse, like a wild bull
going to its resting place.
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May the numerous people in their well-established dwelling be avenged.

I am a hero! Let them appropriately acknowledge my fame! I am a shepherd! Let them

repeatedly bless me in prayer according to the heavenly stars! Let them tell in song a perfect
recital of all my praiseworthy deeds!

Since I am also pleasure-loving and a devotee of singing, I can perform tigi, adab and great
malgatum compositions. When fixing the frets of the great lutes, I know how to raise and lower
them. I am adept enough to play perfectly all the seven instruments……balbale on the flute;
…… their divergent strings; …… the sa-eš instrument ……
4 lines fragmentary or unclear
a performing musician ……
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I also have a solidly based knowledge of ……. …… praying in a melodious voice, capering
joyfully to the sound of the holy balaĝ drum
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…… in song, for my sister Ĝeštin-ana, my own mother Ninsumun …… in wisdom ……
6 lines missing

4 lines fragmentary in the …… of Enlil, Ninlil and Nintur, …… Nanna and Ninurta, in the …… of
holy Inana
2 lines fragmentary
unknown no. of lines missing
Segment C

9 lines fragmentary To my brother and friend Gilgameš

4 lines fragmentary
unknown no. of lines missing
A praise poem of Šulgi (D)
O my king, great bull with splendid limbs, dragon with a lion's eyes! Shepherd Šulgi,
great bull with splendid limbs, dragon with a lion's eyes! Bull-calf born in the cattle-pen of
abundance, thriving there! Mighty one fit for heroism, the ornament of his Land! Righteous man,
invested with justice by Utu! Fierce leopard who feeds on rich milk, rampant bull who was born
to be a great beast! A lapis-lazuli beard, a holy breast -- marvellous to behold! O king, joy of the
royal tiara! Šulgi, ornament of the legitimate crown, wearing the diadem of godhead, named by
An with a good name! Good shepherd, endowed with strength by Enlil, Šulgi, the beloved of
Ninlil's heart!

O, my king, who is as mighty as you, and who rivals you? Indeed, who is there who from birth is
as richly endowed with understanding as you? May your heroism shine forth, and may your
might be respectfully praised!

You destroy the offspring of ……. You are mighty, ……. You are brave, ……. When in the E-kur
……, in the hostile foreign lands you plunder cities; like a panting lion, you ……; like a cheetah,
you ……; a dragon, you ……;
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You hurl angry words against the people of the foreign lands that are hostile to Nanna. You are
adorned with splendid horns, like a virile wild bull born to be a great wild bull. You are a chariot,
a waggon set on the road. Like a noble ass, by your vigorous running you bring joy to Enlil.

You are as strong as an ildag tree planted by the side of a watercourse. You are a sweet sight,
like a fertile meš tree laden with colourful fruit. You are cherished by Ninegala, like a date palm
of holy Dilmun. You have a pleasant shade, like a sappy cedar growing amid the cypresses.

O, my king, who is as mighty as you, and who rivals you? Indeed, who is there who from birth is
as richly endowed with understanding as you? May your heroism shine forth, and may your
might be respectfully praised!

Shepherd Šulgi, when your seed was placed in the holy womb, your mother Ninsumun gave
birth to you; your personal god, holy Lugalbanda, fashioned you; Mother Nintur nurtured you; An
named you with a good name; Enlil lifted your head; Ninlil loved you. The princely son of the E-
kur ……. The king, the holy barge which traverses the sky, Nanna, the lord ……, Suen …….
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Nudimmud …… like small trees. He cherished you like an ildag tree ……, like a meš tree or a
palm-tree. At that time, …… An …… wrote a tablet for you and decreed a fate for you. Ninlil's
heart was soothed with prayers and supplications. The gods of heaven, with their ready
approval, came to heaven, where the fates are decreed. Enlil, the king of all the lands, gave you
shepherdship over the Land, in the south and in the highlands.
O, my king, who is as mighty as you, and who rivals you? Indeed, who is there who from birth is
as richly endowed with understanding as you? May your heroism shine forth, and may your
might be respectfully praised!
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You hero, after stepping on the ……, you roared at the foreign land hostile to Nanna. Hurl your
battle-cry at the …… of Enlil! My king, ……
approx. 10 lines missing
……, great bull …….

"I, the king, …… upon the foreign lands a mighty yoke …… of heroism ……, I subject their
people to destruction. After setting my foot on the neck of the foreign lands, I make …… on the
rebel lands. After knocking down …… like ……, and placing my foot on his head, I make him die
amid dripping blood ……. Against their ……, my battle-axe gnashes and gnashes its teeth like a
sharp-toothed beast. Against their ……, which are well fitted with …… axes of meteoric iron and
…… gold ore, like a …… snake my mouth brings forth venom. I cut off from his strength the
strong one who resorts to his strength. My …… against their warriors as if they were fish. ……
the small net over their runners, I catch them like gazelles in the woods. Having …… like fire (?)
against their tireless runners, I make them fall violently into a trap set with a net like wild asses. I
place …… on their boastful ones in the battle. My fierce weapons pour forth venom into them
like a serpent ready to bite. After tearing out the entrails of its …… who are still alive, I make the
man coiling like an attacking …… snake sink his head in the dust, like an ailing, neglected (?)
bull. I make their little ones who survive eat bitter dust as long as they live, like the locust which
consumes everything."

"I raise my spear against the ……, I set up my emblems at the border of the foreign lands. I fill
my quiver, and my bow is stretched, ready to shoot, like a raging serpent. Barbed arrows flash
before me like lightning. Like scudding bats, …… arrows fly into the mouth of battle. Slingstones
rain down on their people; clay bullets clatter on their backs like hammerstones. With my throw-
stick and sling I catch like swallows the crushed people of the rebel lands. My …… weapon
sharpens its teeth at the head of the Land."

"My …… battle-axe sheds the blood of the people like water. My double-edged axe weapon
…… in their …… blood, which covers the ……, spilled on the hills like the contents of a broken
wine jug. I …… the people in their meadows; the blood …… like water in their wadis; the blood
…… into the cracks of the earth."

"Its ……, in the foreign land ……. The rebel land ……. The foreign land …….
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The heart ……. Having filled the ……, …… his prosperous ……; I give them as a gift to ……."

"I shall kill on the roofs those of the foreign lands who lie on the roofs. I shall smite on the walls
those who lie on the walls. Whoever is able to stand up I shall make stand on his feet; those
who are unable to stand up I shall smite on the spot. I shall let the young ones of the foreign
lands embark on ships, but I shall kill the adults as revenge. Even those whom I have not killed
and those whom I have not dispersed will not live long!"

"I, the king, shall avenge my city. Whatever has been destroyed in Sumer, I shall destroy in the
foreign lands. I shall make the gods of their cities turn away (?) from them; I shall cause their
male and female protective deities, their good eyes, to stand aside. I shall let long grass grow in
their fertile fields of shining barley. I shall uproot their small trees. With the axe I shall destroy
their thick and tall trees, and I shall tear down by the crown their valuable trees. In their irrigated
gardens, where honey and fig trees used to grow, I shall make weeds grow, so that …… plants
and …… herbs break through the soil."

"After I, the king, have destroyed the cities and ruined the city walls, have terrified the ……
foreign lands like a flood, have scattered the seed of Gutium like seed-grain, have established
Enlil's triumph, have crushed the populations as if with a pestle, have …… my heart ……, then I
shall load the pure lapis lazuli of the foreign lands into leather pouches and leather bags."
approx. 5 lines missing

The king ……. On that day, in the foreign land ……. His roar …… the hills ……. The city which
Enlil has ……, which An has ……, which Nintur has ……, which Enki has …… good wisdom.
Nanna has …… the heights of heaven, Utu has …… on the horizon; Inana the lady of battle has
frowned (?) on it. The people of the rebel lands, like old reeds ……. The great and terrible battle
of Šulgi …….

Zagar, the god of dreams, …… as their beneficent protective spirit, …… in a dream,

2 lines fragmentary
approx. 31 lines missing

Like a saĝkal snake, he roars against the …… of hostile foreign lands ……. The king, roaring
like a rising flood against the rebel lands, Šulgi, roaring like a rising flood against the rebel
lands, embraces Gilgameš, his brother and friend, his comrade, as one who was born ……, and
he walks along the road together with Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.

The king of the holy heavens, adorned with a wide crown, the lord, the bright luminary of the
gods, Father Nanna, …… by him on his right side; and he walks along the road together with
Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.

Born to a great wild bull, like a lion standing firm in his strength, mighty heir of youthful Suen,
heroic son of Ašimbabbar, the vigorous bull (Ningublaga) …… by him on his left side; and he
walks along the road together with Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.

The king of…Ninĝišzida…and he walks along the road together with Šulgi, the good shepherd
of Sumer.
When he arrives at Enegir, ……, the fierce serpent, ready to bite ……, the lord of ……, Ninazu
……, and he walks along the road together with Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer.

At the same time, King Enki emerges from the abzu; he has but to raise one eye from the abzu
to destroy for him the foreign lands from where he stands, to destroy for him their cities from
where he sits -- he of the trustworthy command, whose utterances are firmly established,
Nudimmud, the great lord of Eridug; and he walks along the road together with Šulgi, the good
shepherd of Sumer.

When he arrives at the E-babbar, the house of Utu, the king who loves justice, ……, who is clad
in linen,
approx. 10 lines missing

He let the young ones of the foreign lands embark on ships, but killed the adults as revenge.
Even those whom he did not kill and those whom he did not disperse did not live long!

The hero avenged his city. Whatever was destroyed in Sumer, he destroyed in the foreign
lands. He made the gods of their cities turn away (?) from them; he caused their male and
female protective deities, their good eyes, to stand aside. He let long grass grow in their
cultivated fields of shining barley. With the axe he destroyed their thick and tall trees, and he
tore down by the crown their valuable trees. He uprooted their small trees. In their irrigated
gardens, where honey and fig trees used to grow, he made weeds grow, so that …… plants and
…… herbs broke through the soil.

After the king had destroyed the cities and ruined the city walls, had terrified the…foreign lands
like a flood, had scattered the seed of Gutium like seed-grain, had…his heart …then he loaded
the pure lapis lazuli of the foreign lands into leather pouches and leather bags. He heaped up all
their treasures and amassed (?) all the wealth of the foreign lands. He invoked the name of Enlil
and invoked the name of Ninlil on their fattened cattle and fattened sheep.

After carrying out a noble revenge in the foreign lands, the hero had his brilliant royal barge
caulked. Imbued with terrible splendour on the Exalted River, it was adorned with holy horns,
and its golden ram symbol (?) gleamed in the open air. Its bitumen was the …… bitumen of Enki
provided generously by the abzu; its cabin was a palace. It was decorated with stars like the
sky. Its holy ……,
1 line fragmentary

The king…Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer…his feet upon…he took his seat on a throne of
… …The sim and ala drums resounded for him, and the tigi drums played music for him.

"My king, ……, you have destroyed the foreign lands and plundered their cities ……; like a wild
bull …… the hills ……", sang the singers for him in a song. His boatmen, in tireless effort,
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These, citizens of Enegir and citizens of Urim, thrust forth their …… oars at the command of the
lord. He moored the boat at the temple area of Nibru, the temple area Dur-an-ki, at Enlil's Kar-
ĝeština. He entered before Enlil with the silver and lapis lazuli of the foreign lands loaded into
leather pouches and leather bags, all their heaped-up treasures, and with the amassed (?)
wealth of the foreign lands.

……, the king ……. Enlil decrees a destiny for Šulgi: "O king, I will decree a destiny for you, I
will decree a good destiny for you! O Šulgi, I will decree a destiny for you, I will decree a good
destiny for you! I will decree heroism as your destiny! I will decree long-lasting office as ruler
and king as your destiny! May you raise your head in terrifying splendour! May no man stand his
ground before your fierce gaze! May your royal crown shine radiantly! May your sceptre be a
princely sceptre, and may its shining branches provide shade! May there be joy in your heart,
and may you never grow weary! May you be the life-giving king of your assembly! May your life
flourish like herbs, may it flourish like grain! May it flourish like a fertile meš tree in a broad plot!"
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unknown no. of lines missing

A praise poem of Šulgi (E)

Enlil, foundation platform of heaven and earth, who holds the crook that makes the Land firm,
whose beard flows over the mountains, who reveres his own divine powers -- Enlil, the
everlasting shepherd of the Land, has addressed me, Šulgi, king of Urim, favourably, looking at
me with wide-open eyes. In the overflowing of his heart, the lord bestowed the sceptre on me.

Everywhere the word of Enlil has brought benefits to me, who was specially crowned in brick-
built Eridug; to me, who was invested with the lapis-lazuli diadem in Unug; to me, the beloved
shepherd of Nanna, fit for the throne. When I bring firewood (?), he looks at me and speaks
gladly to me.

I, Šulgi, the king whose name is very suitable for songs, intend to be praised in my prayers and
hymns. At the command of my sister Ĝeštin-ana, my scholars and composers of …… have
composed adab, tigi and malgatum hymns about my being the Nintur of all that is, about how
wise I am in attending upon the gods, about how the god of intercession has given me
favourable signs that years of abundance will elapse for me in due course.
They have composed šir-gida songs, royal praise poetry, šumunša, kunĝar and balbale
compositions about how I carried warfare across the sea to the south, how I jerked up the
hostile land of Elam as if it were grass by a gateway, how in the uplands I …… the people like
grain, how I trekked the length of the mountains in battle, how I travel about indefatigably in the
mountain uplands like an old donkey on the road, and about my expeditions …….

They composed for me gigid and zamzam songs about my manual skill, ever reliable for the
finest task of the scribal art; about my ability to unravel the calculating and reckoning of the
waxing of the new moon; about my causing joy and happiness; about how I know exactly at
what point to raise and lower the tigi and zamzam instruments, and how I have complete control
of the plectra of the great stringed instruments; how I cannot be stopped by anything
insurmountable, about my being a runner tireless when emerging from the race.

In the name of An, the pre-eminent king; and of Enlil, who never changes his utterances; and in
the name of Suen, the brickwork of cities cursed by whom shall rise no more, and the people
cursed by whom will get leprosy; and in the name of Utu, the constable of the gods: I swear no
one has ever put anything mendacious about me in my hymns; no one has embellished my
prayers with achievements that I have not matched; I, Šulgi, have never allowed exaggerated
praise of power to be put in a song.

How I glisten like fine silver, how I am musical and eloquent in wisdom; how I, the shepherd, do
everything to absolute perfection: may all this be commended in my kingship. Of all the lines
that there are in my songs, none of them is false -- they are indeed true!

In the cult-places, let no one neglect the songs about me, whether they are adab, whether they
are tigi or malgatum, šir-gida or praise of kingship, whether they are šumunša, kunĝar or
balbale, whether they are gi-gid or zamzam -- so that they shall never pass out of memory and
never lapse from people's mouths. Let them never cease to be sung in the shining E-kur! Let
them be played for Enlil in his Shrine of the New Moon! When at the ešeš festival they serve the
clear beer endlessly like water, may they be offered repeatedly before Enlil as he sits with Ninlil.

In future days, a man like myself whom Enlil shall call to the shepherdship of the Land …… my
songs; let him see ……. Let him call upon my name in the beloved ……. …… that man,
whenever my hymns
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…… my singer (?) ……. May he establish my name in the beloved …… temple. Whether he is a
man …… Enki and Enlil ……, may …… come forth from the house which …… justice and a
favourable destiny.

But if …… removes my name from my hymns, and …… his name, and does not call upon my
name in brick-built E-kur, and if that man commits enmity and violence against the temple, then
whether that man is a king or a governor, Enlil shall curse him ……. May enmity and violence
come forth against him from the house of Enlil. Let him be given enmity as his companion. May
an asag demon, as causer of the plague, deprive his city of contentment. Because of famine in
years of hunger, may he find no favour in the eyes of the Land. May Ezina produce no grain in
sheaves. May fair Nanibgal, Nisaba, make no clay covering for his grain piles. …… the troops
……. His chief merchant …… silver ……. May the hunger and the thirst of the gods …… the city
during his reign …… grain.

…… riches, or bronze and silver vessels. May the creatures of his Land reach out for what is left
over and not distributed. Famine ……. May he have to pay two shekels in his city for one sila of
barley. May the people wield the hoe ……. Let that man be unable to touch the drinks and foods
of his palace. May …… the great sin ……. Nanna, the king of Urim, shall clamp those who look
upon the balaĝ and the sim, and who touch or look at …… bread. Their lives …… death …….
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…… gold ……. May a scoundrel be judge over the population of the city, and be his superior.

The man who …… my hymns

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May he …… outside the city. May he no longer …… within the walls of the city. May the criminal
offspring of his kingship not ……. May he not stand where the king stands, the shining place.
May he …… from the Ubšu-unkena. …… his heart's desire and ambitions.
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When he brings offerings to the E-kur, may Enlil ……. His special presents and benefits ……
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I, Šulgi the noble, who have no opponent ……

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I am Šulgi, the great musician, superintendent of the art of music. If …… favourable ……. My
songs, lapsing from people's mouths and passing out of memory, neglected (?) in all the cult-
places ……. …… his king ……, in the music-rooms of the gods ……
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King of the singer's art, Suen ……, protective goddess of the singer's art, Ĝeštinana ……
3 lines unclear or missing

On the day when the destiny of the lands was determined, the king who in his arrogance ……,
in luxuriance Enlil and Ninlil ……, …… for the life of Sumer and Akkad, …… justice for the
Land, canals which he did not maintain ……, a city which he did not enlarge ……. The Great
Mountain …… at their side …… great places. He did not …… the god of the palace. He …… to
Enlil, and did not offer great gifts in the E-kur, and did not …… the door-sockets of the gods.
…… songs. What he achieves with his praise, what he creatively decoratives with his words, the
singer …… in his songs.

I, Šulgi the king ……, who cares for holy An, …… food offerings, who constantly attends upon
Enlil ……, Nanna, …… the office of en; Ninurta, the ensi appointed by Enlil, has given me a club
and a battle-mace from the E-šu-me-ša. Not since the seed of mankind was germinated, has
Enlil ever before been able to give the sceptre of kingship to a king who could control the troops
single-handed. As a lone donkey stallion, one who resists the weapons -- no king of the Land
has ever turned against the weapons.

I did not lie in ambush, like a fierce cheetah, against the rebel and hostile lands, the aggressive
foreign lands, in order to establish my renown as far as the horizon with the power of my master
Enlil, and to transmit my lasting fame of victories to the distant future. I did not come out of a
hole like a scorpion. Instead I left my main forces at my side, and went ahead of my scouts. As I
repelled the tribal Gutians, the bandits of the hills, like a …… snake I made my fearsomeness
reach afar.

No one can get near my inspired troops. Running quite alone into the foreign lands unknown to
him, like a lion that has seized a wild cow in its claws, I tear its flesh apart. Like a solitary dragon
I spread fear, as I proceed unflaggingly against the civilised towns and make them quiver like
flames (?) at my frightful roaring. Spine-chilling yells and raging flames are cast at the hills.

For the rebel lands, the illiterate (?) ones that carry no emblems, my warfare is a horizon on
which there are clouds, enveloping the twilight in fear. The mountains, where the forests do not
grow as thick as thornbushes, where in the cult places of the rites of Inana (i.e. in battle) throw-
stick and shield do not tumble to the earth in a great storm, where the combatants take no rest
in the insistent bitterness of the fierce battle, where life-fluid and blood from both scoundrel and
honest person ……, where no black ewes trek over the mountains like floating clouds, and
corpses in reedbeds and crannies ……
1 line unclear

The desert scorpion shall no longer behave thus ……. Neither shortly nor in the future shall he
rise again. A villain and rebel …… to the weapons of strength. A path that is confused, a way
that is cut off like a ……. I bent low the land of the Gutians like a mubum tree, and the land
turned its heart in its fear before me, as I put my foot on its neck. I am he who all alone plunders
cities with his own strength. I am the strong one who is praised for his weapons. I am he whose
lasting name and prayerful words are as tremendous as ……. I am the just and the benefactor
in the Land.

May my hymns be in everyone's mouth; let the songs about me not pass from memory. So that
the fame of my praise, the words which Enki composed about me, and which Ĝeštin-ana
joyously speaks from the heart and broadcasts far and wide, shall never be forgotten, I have
had them written down line by line in the House of the Wisdom of Nisaba in holy heavenly
writing, as great works of scholarship. No one shall ever let any of it pass from memory ……. It
shall not be forgotten, since indestructible heavenly writing has a lasting renown. The scribe
should bring it to the singer, and can let him look at it, and with the wisdom and intelligence of
Nisaba, let him read it to him as if from a lapis-lazuli tablet. Let my songs sparkle like silver in
the lode! Let them be performed in all the cult-places, and let no one neglect them in the Shrine
of the New Moon. In the music-rooms of Enlil and Ninlil and at the morning and evening meals
of Nanna, let the sweet praise of me, Šulgi, be never-ending.
 An adab to Enlil for Šulgi (G)

Enlil, the eminent one, the sovereign lord, whose utterance is trustworthy; Nunamnir, the
eternal shepherd of the Land, who hails from the great mountain; the great counsellor, the first
and foremost in heaven and on earth, who is in control of all the divine powers; lord, who is
imbued with great fearsomeness in accordance with his nobility, a perfected heavenly star, who
takes good care of the primeval and choice divine powers, who alone is the lofty god; lord, life-
giving light, who leads the people all over the world along one track; huge net spread over
heaven and earth, rope stretched over all the lands! Who ever instructed Enlil, who ever rivalled
him?

He thought up something of great importance and he made public what his heart, a mighty river,
carried: the hidden secrets (?) of his holy thought. The matter is a holy and pure one, it
concerns the divine powers of the E-kur, the fated good brick embedded (?) in the bottom of the
abzu, it is something most important: a trustworthy man will rebuild the E-kur, thereby acquiring
a lasting name. The son of this trustworthy man will long hold the sceptre, and their throne will
never be overthrown.

To that end, Ašimbabbar appeared shining in the E-kur, pleaded to his father Enlil and made
him bring a childbearing mother (?); in the E-duga, Nanna, the princely son, asked for the thing
to happen. The en priestess gave birth to the trustworthy man from his semen placed in the
womb. Enlil, the powerful shepherd, caused a young man to emerge: a royal child, one who is
perfectly fitted for the throne-dais, Šulgi the king.

Enlil gave him a good name: 'A lion's seed, who provides the E-kur generously, the beloved one
of Ninlil; the one granted authority in the E-kur; the king of Urim, the one with shining heart, the
shepherd, the protective genius of the Land'. Enlil chose Šulgi in his pure heart and entrusted
the Land to him. As the shepherd of all the countries, Enlil leant the crook and the staff against
his arm, and placed the immutable sceptre of Nanna in his hand; he made him raise his head
high, sitting on an unshakeable royal seat.

The day was for prayers, the night was for supplications; the Land rested in peace. The
shepherd of prosperity, Šulgi, he with a lasting name, the king of jubilation, the mighty one, the
semen engendered by the faithful man, praised Enlil.

This is the sa-gida.

Šulgi, the mighty king, ……, who exults in his triumph, the …… king vanquished the rebellious
land with the agakar weapon of Inana.
It is the ĝišgiĝal of the sa-gida.
May Enlil the trustworthy, whose words are lofty -- good fate determined by him takes
precedence -- who makes sturdy flax and barley grow -- may he prolong the life of Šulgi, the
provider of the E-kur -- hence its flax is indeed fine flax, its barley is indeed fine barley -- the
property of Nanna, the houseborn-slave of the E-kur, him whom Ninlil named at his birth Šulgi,
the shepherd of the Land, the man whom Enlil knows, the steward of the temple.

So that its voluminous offering meals would bring joy to the E-kur, Enlil called upon Urim, the
good city founded by the princely one, the inside of which is a holy treasure chest which, like the
abzu, no eye can see -- the city of good purification rites and pure hand-washing rites; and what
he says is trustworthy.

For his setting up the abundant sacrificial tin cups, for his having served evening meals in the
dining-hall of the E-kur, Enlil determined a princely fate for the shepherd, him who is worthy of
the kingship and the lofty throne-dais, Šulgi, who is adorned with the ba garment of the en
priests.

The one beautiful like heaven, ……, Nanna, the king, the ……, gave him good …… in the Ki-ur,
the great place. At the command (?) of Enlil, he ……, he roars for him (?) against the foreign
land that no one dare oppose. He stabilizes the countryside, and the people lie at his feet.

Šulgi, the shepherd is the honey man beloved by Nibru; may the true shepherd, Šulgi, refresh
himself in the pleasant shade of Enlil's brickwork!

It is the sa-ĝara.
O Šulgi, Enlil has brought forth happy days for you in your reign!
It is the ĝišgiĝal of the sa-ĝara.

Heaven's king, earth's great mountain, Father Enlil, heaven's king, earth's great mountain,
thought up something great: he chose Šulgi in his heart for a good reign!

It is its uru.
An adab of Enlil. (lines 69 and 70 are written as one line in source)
 A tigi (?) for Šulgi (L)
unknown no. of lines missing
…in battle and fight……You gave…to your offspring (?)…………shepherd Šulgi, you spread
fearsomeness over the foreign countries. …… shepherd, your offspring (?) will praise you duly.
sa-gida.

You defeat ……. You impose silence on ……. You roar a war-cry at the rebel lands ……. Your
clamour …… even the distant mountains and hills. …… at your roaring devastate (?) ……
completely.
unknown no. of lines missing

3 lines fragmentary …… like a forest set on fire, …… covers all the ……. …… your
fearsomeness makes …… and the enemies tremble.
sa-ĝara.

A lullaby for a son of Šulgi (N)

Ah, ah, may he grow sturdy through my crooning, may he flourish through my crooning!
May he put down strong foundations as roots, may he spread branches wide like a šakir plant!

Lord, from this you know our whereabouts; among those resplendent apple trees overhanging
the river, may someone who passes by (?) reach out his hand, may someone lying there raise
his hand. My son, sleep will overtake you, sleep will settle on you.

Sleep come, sleep come, sleep come to my son, sleep hasten (?) to my son! Put to sleep his
open eyes, settle your hand upon his sparkling eyes -- as for his murmuring tongue, let the
murmuring not spoil his sleep.

May he fill your lap with emmer while I sweeten miniature cheeses for you, those cheeses that
are the healer of mankind, that are the healer of mankind, and of the lord's son, the son of Lord
Šulgi.

In my garden, it is the lettuces that I have watered, and among the lettuces it is the gakkul
lettuce that I have chopped. Let the lord eat this lettuce! Through my crooning let me give him a
wife, let me give him a wife, let me give him a son! May a happy nursemaid chatter with him,
may a happy nursemaid suckle him!
Let me …… a wife for my son, and may she bear him a son so sweet. May his wife lie in his
warm embrace, and may his son lie in his outstretched arms. May his wife be happy with him,
and may his son be happy with him. May his young wife be happy in his embrace, and may his
son grow vigorously on his gentle knees.

You are restless -- I am troubled, I am quite silent (?), gazing at the stars, as the crescent moon
shines on my face. Your bones might be arrayed on the wall! The man of the wall might shed
tears for you! The mongoose might beat the balaĝ drums for you! The gecko might gouge its
cheeks for you! The fly might gash its lips for you! The lizard might tear out (?) its tongue for
you!

May the lullaby (?) make us flourish! May the lullaby (?) make us thrive! When you flourish,
when you thrive, when you …… the shaking of churns, sweet sleep ……, the sweet bed …….
2 lines fragmentary

May a wife be your support, and may a son ……. May a son be your fortune. May winnowed
grain be your lover, and may Ezina-Kusu (the goddess of grain) be your aid. May you have an
eloquent protective goddess. May you be brought up to a reign of favourable days. May you
smile upon festivals.

My son is……; he knows nothing. He does not know the length of his old age (?). He does not
know the dwelling of the …….

May you discover ……. May you eat …….

3 lines fragmentary May you be ……. May you be …….

7 lines fragmentary …… goats, sheep and donkeys ……

1 line fragmentary Ninkasi (the goddess of beer) …… in her vat ……
5 lines fragmentary The shepherd's wife …… He …… the …… of the date palm. He brings date
shoots among the offerings.

As for you, lie in sleep! May your palm tree, extending its fronds, spread joy like a fig tree (?).
Place coals (?) beside Urim! Place charcoal beside Unug! Seize the enemy's mouth like ……!
Bind his arms like reed bundles! Make the enemy cower before you, lest he rip open your back
like a sack,

unknown no. of lines missing

 A praise poem of Šulgi (O)
Segment A

City worthy of the divine powers, according to its name: shrine Urim, raging storm of Sumer,
battleground -- and well established! Origin of human seed, consolidating the foundations of the
Land, abundance -- and well established! Lofty dais of An, pure place, holy place, provider of
first-fruit offerings for An to refresh himself, dripping with syrup and wine -- and well established!
Du-ur, celebrated place of Enlil, in whose interior are the assigned divine powers, place whose
destiny was decreed by Father Enlil, great dais -- and well established! Eridug, shrine expert in
decreeing the fates, with princely divine powers, pure divine powers -- and well established! E-
kiš-nu-ĝal, cattle-pen of Suen, where fecund cows, breed-bulls and holy calves gambol
together, producing fine cream -- and well established! Abzu, holy residence of youthful Suen,
tall crook lifting its head towards heaven, a marvel -- and well established!

Ĝipar, shrine built in exuberance, with the true divine powers of the rank of en priestess -- and
well established! Princely (?) en priestess, your great name is pure; loosener of the headdress
of Nanna who makes the dwelling pleasant, with good words and justice -- and well established!
Id-nun-kug (Holy princely river) with ample flowing waters, your reservoir abounds with fish and
birds -- and well established! Its city, established within the encircling walls, is a battle-mace, a
weapon -- and well established! The convened assembly of its numerous people is a shield --
and well established! Great awe of the occupied settlements of Sumer -- and well established!
Its foreign lands, teeming like herds of fecund cows, fat cows, numerous ewes with their lambs
in the sheepfold -- and well established! Its army, rising to battle, is an irresistible onrush of
water, a fearsome sea, a raging …… -- and well established!

Its prince, the hero of Enlil, a lion rising up in its strength, a furious lion (?) baring its teeth at the
foreign lands, …… inspects great wild bulls, eating ……, extending ……. Shepherd Šulgi, son of
Ninsumun, ornament of ……, …… in their evil words, brought the hero Gilgameš, the lord of
Kulaba into ……. He produced an utterance for him …… from the foreign lands, …… of his
palace. …… of the foreign lands. …… he looked at him as if on split reeds.

On the day when the destiny of the Land was determined, when the seed of all living beings
was originally brought forth, when the king appeared radiantly to his comrade -- on that day,
Gilgameš, the lord of Kulaba, conversed with Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, at his shining
feet. So that their praise would be sung forever, so that it be would handed down to distant
days, so that it should be not forgotten in remote years, they looked (?) at each other favourably
in their mighty heroism.

Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, praised his brother and friend, Lord Gilgameš, in his might,
and declared to him in his heroism:
"Mighty in battle, destroyer of cities, smiting them in combat! Siege-weapon skilled with the
slingstone against the holy wall! You brought forth your weapons against the house of Kiš. You
captured dead its seven heroes. You trampled underfoot the head of the king of Kiš, En-me-
barage-si ……. You brought the kingship from Kiš to Unug."

Thus he eulogised him who was born …… in Kulaba.

1 line unclear
Gilgameš, lord of Kulaba, seed of lordship, righteous hero ……
5 lines fragmentary or unclear
approx. 4 lines missing
(Gilgameš continues speaking:) "Like ……, falsely (?) ……, you trampled underfoot ……, ……
as if in a mighty clamp. You gathered its …… like swallows rising into the air. You entered with
them into the presence of Enlil in the shrine of Nibru. Even those …… who escaped from the
……, wail bitterly ……. …… a copper (?) statue fashioned (?) in Urim, …… the seven gods,
stationed beside, wielding battle-axes. Fearsome (?) hero ……, king of Sumer, you stand firm in
your strength (?)."

Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, praised his brother and friend, Lord Gilgameš, in his might,
and declared to him in his heroism:

1 line fragmentary
In the judgments that you pronounce ……. Who else like you has gone directly on the road to
the mountains and has travelled the way to ……? Valiant one, …… the mountain cedars, ……
the tall forests, …… the boats. …… Huwawa. …… his seven terrors. …… the small ……. ……
from his well-established dwelling. …… to Enlil, in the shrine of Nibru ……. …… your captured
hero. You allowed the mother of the sick man to fetch her son to her embrace. Your battle-
mace, its mouth gaping wide, attacks the foreign lands for you. Gilgameš, noble one of Unug,
violent storm, at whose oppression ……. The inimical rebel land, like ……. You have revealed
your immense majesty! May you extend your protective arms over me!"

Lord Gilgameš …… Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer:

approx. 25 lines missing

The youthful ……, a god among the Anuna gods, …… venerates ……. Fearsome (?) hero ……,
king of Sumer, you stand firm in your strength (?)."

Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, praised his brother and friend, Lord Gilgameš, in his might,
and declared to him in his heroism:

"Ištaran, the judge who dwells in the Land

unknown no. of lines missing

(The sequence of Segments B, C, D and E is uncertain)

Segment B
1 line fragmentary Mighty heir of kingship ……, powerful ……, stallion of Suen ……, wearing a
lapis-lazuli beard ……. their praise ……, their songs (?) ……, their renown ……; son ……
unknown no. of lines missing

(The sequence of Segments B, C, D and E is uncertain; Segments C and D are adjacent)

Segment C only has fragmentary ends of 14 lines.

Segment D
2 lines fragmentary (Gilgameš continues speaking:) "Fearsome (?) hero ……, king of Sumer,
you stand firm in your strength (?)."

Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, praised his brother and friend, Lord Gilgameš, in his might,
and declared to him in his heroism:

"Gilgameš, the thoroughbred donkey ……, divine judge, ……

2 lines fragmentary or unclear
like a butting wild bull ……
1 line fragmentary"
unknown no. of lines missing

Segment E
…… the rebel lands like a horned viper ……, Šulgi, son of Ninsumun …… Enki ……
1 line fragmentary
unknown no. of lines missing
 A praise poem of Šulgi (P)
1 line fragmentary …… shining ……. He (probably Lugalbanda) spoke to her (probably
Ninsumun) tenderly ……: "He will accomplish precisely the fate determined for him. Your father
holy An will make his branches spread as if he were a sappy cedar planted among hašur trees."

Then my lady stepped up (?) to the word of An, Ninsumun made a fateful decision with her
spouse, holy Lugalbanda; she attended to his supplication. She went straight to holy An in the
Ubšu-unkena:

"My father, An, you are the king among the gods! I have looked through the land in all its extent
and among its black-headed people who are as numerous as ewes, and I have elevated Šulgi
for me high above their head. May he be their trustworthy shepherd!"

"He is my meš tree with spreading branches; he sprang up from the soil for me, …… brings
abundant yield for me every year. He is my spikenard herb, growing for me with sturdy stems.
He makes my …… radiant in the brickwork of Sumer.
1 line unclear
May he stand daily in ……!
1 line fragmentary"
unknown no. of lines missing

…… of Urim ……. …… grant him (?) kingship!

unknown no. of lines missing

(An is speaking:) "Its roots sank deep into the earth. I will stand by you in that holy matter. May
he who is worthy of being praised with good words, Šulgi, the king of a propitious reign, perform
the rites established for the kingship perfectly for you, the goddess, at the great and lofty wall-
tower of Urim! May he execute properly for you the statutes of the gods! May he always offer
you food at the time of the new moon and at the new year! May you yourself bring me his
prayers daily! My tree is indeed abundance, sprouting from the earth like green plants!"

Then, rejoicing over the words of An, my lady Ninsumun took Šulgi the king of Urim by his right
hand, led him joyfully into her Egal-maḫ and seated him upon the exalted dais erected by An.
She treated him tenderly with her holy bosom, saying:

"Shepherd Šulgi, I am your great sword (?). My holy heart, a rising flood, rejoices over you. My
father, An.……who is your master, praises you who are surpassing in kingship (?) for (?) the…
……of your kingship."

"Šulgi, you are a pure calf, born to me. You are a good seed of Lugal-banda. I raised you upon
my own holy lap. I have decided your fate with my holy bosom. You are a good fortune which
fell to my share. I requested you from holy An in the ……."
"I, the lady, holy Ninsumun, the royal mother, the good woman with beautiful hair befitting a
lady, Šulgi, I am your faithful guardian (?). May you be dressed in my …… ba garment! Dance
…… on my holy knees! May you, the shepherd, born for justice, trust in my holy words!"

"Your holy name is worthy of being praised; may it please the flesh of the great gods like fine oil!
An has given you a sceptre for rendering judgments; may your head be raised high! Your father
who begot you, holy Lugalbanda, has named you as the 'Valiant one whom An made known
among the gods'. He has made you acquire (?) a ……. He has adorned you with a royal crown;
may he purify (?) your breath of life with an enduring sceptre!"

"May Geštin-ana, the king's sister, the mellifluous mouth of the gods, never stop rejoicing over
you joy in your palace, erected for you as a source of happiness! May she always step forward
to me with friendy entreaties on your behalf! May she never cease praying for you!"

"I, the lady…holy temple of residence…My mother, Uraš, the lady of the gods and my father,
An, the king of the gods …… the woman, the good cow in (?) the great sheepfold. They (?) give
(?) me (?) enduring kingship. They (?) have placed (?) the people in their entirety in my hands."

"At the place where the fates are decided, the Anuna, the great gods, stood by me. They made
Šulgi's shepherdship everlasting for me and made Šulgi, the righteous one of his god, rise over
the land like Utu for me. They set up a throne of firm reign for him. The shepherd will decree just
judgments and will make just decisions upon it (?). They granted (?) Šulgi a royal crown. ……
great …….
1 line fragmentary"

An adab (?) to Utu for Šulgi (Q)

 unknown no. of lines missing

Youthful Utu ……, …… from Uraš; brilliant light, great lion, ……, hero emerging from the
holy interior of heaven, storm whose splendour covers the Land and is laden with great
awesomeness; Utu, king of justice that befits the true offspring, made Šulgi, the trustworthy
shepherd, glorious in the battle. The great wild bull, youthful Utu, who like a torch illuminates the
Land from the holy heavens; the wise one of all the countries, the fearsome radiance of (?)
Uraš, the just god among the Anuna gods, the long (?), holy dragon, the first-born son cherished
by Suen, the lord born to command -- Utu bestowed the kingship of the Land on Šulgi.

Like a mace with three lion-heads, he makes the mountains tremble and then destroys the rebel
lands. …… the enemy of Nanna. …… the great …… of the gods.
2 lines fragmentary Utu …… the shepherd. Šulgi …… justice. …… in famine. …… son of
Ninsumun ……. May …… great fearsomeness for the people for you. …… the creation of ……
no one …….

Sa-gida.
Utu, assign a sweet destiny to the king ……!
Ĝišgiĝal of the sa-gida.

…… is exalted. Like …… very pleasing. …… shepherd Šulgi, the lion …… the rebel lands …….
As long as the cities are not pacified ……. Youthful Utu …… the people numerous as ewes.
May …… of the holy lapis-lazuli shrine, rejoicing. …… very proudly ……. Like a cow ……
proudly.
3 lines fragmentary

Šulgi …… Utu ……. …… a fragrant cedar forest. O king, the lord who covers the heavens with
awesomeness ……. …… the heavenly august dais from the holy place. The lord …… august
radiance on all the lands from the holy heavens. Because of your purity, youthful Utu has made
everything abundant for you; may a sweet life be your lot, son of Ninsumun.

Sa-ĝara.

Youthful Utu chose the shepherd in his heart. Years of plenty are assigned to Šulgi, the
trustworthy shepherd, the king, as his fate. From the shrine in Nibru, Enlil bestowed this on the
trustworthy shepherd, whose fate is determined by Utu.

Ĝišgiĝal of the sa-ĝara.

Lord of all the great divine powers, borne by Ningal! Youthful Utu, lord of all the great divine
powers, borne by Ningal,
unknown no. of lines missing

Šulgi and Ninlil's barge: a tigi (?) to Ninlil (R)

Oh barge, Enki assigned the quay of abundance to you as your fate. Father Enlil looked at you
with approval. Your lady, Ninlil, commanded your construction. She entrusted it to the faithful
provider, King Šulgi; and the shepherd, who is of broad intelligence, will not rest day and night in
thinking deeply about you. He, the wise one, who is proficient in planning, he, the omniscient
one, will fell large cedars in the huge forests for you. He will make you perfect and you will be
breathtaking to look upon.

Your woven …… is ……. Your covering reed-mats are the daylight spreading wide over the holy
settlements. Your timbers are sniffing (?) …… reptiles crouching on their paws. Your punting
poles are dragons sleeping a sweet sleep in their lair. Your strakes (?) are …… snakes, …….
Your floor-planks are flood-currents, sparkling altogether in the pure Euphrates. Your side-
planks, which are fastened into their fixed places (?) with wooden rings (?), are a stairway
leading to a mountain spring (?), a …… filled with ……. Your holy …… are persisting and firmly
founded abundance. Your bench is a lofty dais erected in the midst of the abzu. Your …… is
Aratta, full-laden with treasures. Your door, facing the sunrise, is a …… bird, carrying a …… in
its talons while spreading wide its wings.

Your glittering golden sun-disc, fastened with leather straps, is the brilliant moonlight, shining
brightly upon all the lands. Your banner, adorned with the divine powers of kingship, is a
woodland of cypress trees irrigated with clean water, giving a pleasant shade. Your small reed
mats are the evening sky, illuminated with stars, imbued with terrible awesomeness. In the
midst of your carefully tended small gizi reeds with numerous twigs (?), flocks of little birds
twitter as in a holy swamp. Their chirping, as pleasing to the heart as the sound of the churn's
shaking, makes Enlil and Ninlil extremely happy (?).

Your rudder is a large kiĝ fish in the broad waters at the mouth of the Kisala canal. Your ……
are a bison, inspiring terror on the great earth. Your tow-rope is the gliding Niraḫ extended over
the land. Your mooring pole is the heavenly bond, which ……. Your longside beams are a
warrior striking straight against another warrior. Your prow is Nanna …… fair sky. Your stern is
Utu …… at the horizon. Your canopy (?) is …….

Sa-gida.

The faithful shepherd Šulgi established the holy festival and the great rituals. The great gods
bathe in holy water in Nibru. He assigns the fates to their places in the city and allocates the
right divine powers. The mother of the Land, Ninlil the fair, comes out (?) from the house, and
Enlil embraces her like a pure wild cow. They take their seats on the barge's holy dais, and
provisions are lavishly prepared.

The lofty barge ……, the ornament of the Tigris, enters the rolling river; …… on the shining
water. The ritually washed five-headed mace, mitum mace, lance and standard …… at the bow.
Enlil's warrior, Ninurta, goes at their front, directing the …… of your wide ferry-boat (?) straight.
He …… the holy punting pole of the barge, the holy raft. The ferrymen (?) …… holy songs; they
(?) …… the great exaltedness of the lady. The good woman, Ninlil, …… joyfully with (?) Šulgi.
Sumer and Urim …… joy and happiness. The barge bobs at the quay Mete-aĝi (Ornament of
the waves); it sails off into the reedbeds of Enlil's Tummal. Like a goring (?) ox, it raises, then
lowers its head. It strikes its breast against the rising waves; it stirs up (?) the encircling waters.
When it thrusts within the waters, the fish of the subterranean waters become frightened; as it
glides (?) upon them, it makes the waters sparkle (?) luxuriantly.

…… the holy raft; …… the lady of Tummal …… prayer. Enlil's ancestors and An the king, the
god who determines the fates, greets her. With Ninlil, they take their seats at the banquet, and
Šulgi the shepherd brings along his great food-offerings for them. They pass the day in
abundance, they give praise throughout night. They decree a fate, an allotted fate to be pre-
eminent forever, for the king who fitted out the holy barge.

Then light shines up at the edge of the Land as Utu rises refulgently. As the barge is travelling
upstream, it …… radiates (?) and creaks (?). …… in the Ninmutum, the canal of the year of
abundance ……. As the carp make their bellies (?) sparkle, Enlil rejoices. As the mušu fish play
noisily there, Ninlil rejoices. As the …… fish ……, Enki rejoices. As the suḫurmaš fish dart
about, Nanna rejoices. The Anuna gods rejoice at ……. …… lifts its head in the Euphrates; it
……. In the midst of …… ever-flowing water is carried. In joyous Nibru, he moors the holy barge
at the quay.

With joyful eyes and shining forehead, Ninlil, ……, looks upon King Šulgi: "Shepherd ……,
Šulgi, who has a lasting name, king of jubilation! I will prolong the nights of the crown that was
placed upon your head by holy An, and I will extend the days of the holy sceptre that was given
to you by Enlil. May the foundation of your throne that was bestowed on you by Enki be firm!
Shepherd who brings about perfection, may Nanna, the robust calf, the seed of Enlil, to whom I
gave birth, cover your life with …… which is full of exuberance as if it were my holy ba garment!"

Sa-ĝara.

A tigi to Ninurta for Šulgi (T)

Lord, perfect warrior, beloved by ……. Ninurta, meš tree with a broad shining canopy, …….
Weapon striding into battle, …… foreign countries. A dragon with a terrifying face, venomous
snake who …… its venom against the rebel lands. …… overpowering ……, foremost lion …….
Ninurta, who …… with the great prince Enki. My king, in your city, shrine Nibru, ……. E-šu-me-
ša, where …… for you. Lord, the kingship is perfect with you ……. Adviser, the dragon of the
Land, ……. Ninurta, the great wall of Nibru, ……. My king, whose divine powers cannot be
scattered, warrior ……. Forceful lion, ……. King with the broad wisdom of heaven and earth,
……. Exalted sceptre rising above the Land, ……. Ninurta, who …… the enemy, …….

Sa-gida.

Warrior, powerful lord, overpowering ……. Ninurta, terrible storm, powerful fire, …….
Frightening storm, raging against the rebellious lands, …… lion. Dragon spreading terror, lord
without rival ……. King with broad wisdom, neck-stock of gods. …… given strength ……. ……
trustworthy ……, Šulgi ……
1 line fragmentary You have chosen …… among your own …… in your heart. ……, Ninurta, be
praised.

Sa-ĝara.
……, bestow a long life and prosperous years on Šulgi!
Its ĝišgiĝal.

A tigi (?) of Ninurta.

An adab (?) to Nergal for Šulgi (?) (U)

unknown no. of lines missing
Nergal who ……, …… great awe, who …… the underworld -- its awesome radiance …… the
battle-net, its awesomeness has filled heaven and earth.

2nd šagbatuku.
Hero, wild bull with thick horns…like a cow, your terrifying name lets loose awe and fear. You
fall on the rebel lands like the south wind. You are a bolt on the broad extent of the mountains.
When you sit in E-mešlam, your desires are joyously fulfilled (?). The people assemble at your
feet.

2nd barsud.
Mešlamta-ea, your supremacy in the rebel lands! You have encircled the rebel lands, O youth.
Nergal, your supremacy in the rebel lands!
Your father loves you greatly. He has made your heroism known among the people. Your father
Enlil loves you greatly. He has made your heroism known among the people.
Hero …… for the people, god roaming the mountains! You have……the rebel lands. Nergal……
….for the people, god roaming the mountains!
Wherever you stride, all their troops suffer. …… Anšan and Tidnum, Nergal, wherever you
stride, all their troops suffer.
Sa-gida.
May you prolong the life of the hero Šulgi. …… to his strength, …….
Its ĝišgiĝal.

A dedication of a statue (V)

Enlil, the beaming light, ……, whose utterance is immutable, the most powerful of the Anuna
gods, ……, looked (?) favourably (?) at Šulgi, the fearsome dragon ……, the king, the creation
of his hands. He granted (?) him great strength. His roar fills (?) the whole extent (?) of heaven
and earth.

In the E-kur, the great snake of the deep, ……, in Dur-an-ki, which lavishly …… the eternal
divine powers, ……, Enlil determined a great fate from the womb for the long-enduring sapling
of the brickwork founded by the princely one, Šulgi, who was born for a prosperous reign: "Make
the people obedient, you enduring king of the multitudes!"

The swift runner, a hurricane -- the strength of his loins is never ending, who emerges victorious
from the race among the settlements; the terrifying one, who is furious in his running, the
strongest among those selected from the people, ……. When he stretches his arms out, …… at
his sides. Šulgi, …… from the horizon. Because of his being most powerful, in his vigour …….
He, the tireless one, …… the road. No king ever cared so much for the black-headed people; he
established justice on a grand scale.

On a day that dawned for prosperity, that was destined for rain-clouds, he ran from the Ki-ur of
Nibru to the shrine of Urim, the E-temen-ni-guru; and provided the princely bowls of Nanna, set
up in the morning dining-hall, with a copious ration. On that day, prosperity was decreed for him.
In a violent storm, a whirlwind that broke out, Utu ……; Šulgi returned to the lustrous E-kur.

In order that the heroes for ever praise Šulgi's great exaltedness, he made his …… enduring
statue of everlasting fame brilliant like the heavenly stars, and set it up in majesty before the
good eyes, filled with generosity (?), of the immutably eminent Father Enlil.

A praise poem of Šulgi (W)

unknown no. of lines missing
…… does not release …….
1 line fragmentary …… does not release ……. …… the wise of the Land daily.
1 line fragmentary …… made you pay his heavy tribute in full.
1 line fragmentary …… his flour (?) …….
2 lines fragmentary
…Šulgi, king of Urim. I am……My…….…for my father. …… Lugalbanda ……. I will rejoice …….
unknown no. of lines missing

A praise poem of Šulgi (X)

The king sailed to Unug towards the princely divine powers. Sumer and Akkad marvelled at him
as he moored the boat at the quay of Kulaba. With a large wild bull of the mountains with
uplifted horns, and with a sheep led by the hand of an en priest at his right side, with a dappled
kid and a bearded kid clasped to his breast, he entered before Inana in the shrine of E-ana.

Šulgi, the good shepherd, a heart in love, dressed himself in the ba garment and put a ḫili wig
on his head as a crown. Inana looked at him with admiration and spontaneously struck up a
song, singing the words:

"When I have bathed for the king, for the lord, when I have bathed for the shepherd Dumuzid,
when I have adorned my flanks (?) with ointment (?), when I have anointed my mouth with
balsamic oil (?), when I have painted my eyes with kohl, when he has …… my hips with his fair
hands, when the lord who lies down beside holy Inana, the shepherd Dumuzid, has …… on his
lap, when he has relaxed (?) …… in my pure (?) arms, when he has intercourse (?) with me
…… like choice beer, when he ruffles my pubic hair for me, when he plays with the hair of my
head, when he lays his hands on my holy genitals, when he lies down in the …… of my sweet
womb,
2 lines unclear
when he treats me tenderly on the bed, then I will too treat my lord tenderly."

"I will decree a good fate for him! I will treat Šulgi, the good shepherd, tenderly! I will decree a
good fate for him! I will treat him tenderly in his ……! I will decree the shepherdship of all the
lands as his destiny!"

The lady, the light of heaven, the delight of the black-headed, the youthful woman who excels
her mother, who was granted divine powers by her father, Inana, the daughter of Suen, decreed
a destiny for Šulgi, the son of Ninsumun:

"In battle I will be the one who goes before you. In combat I will carry your weapon like a
personal attendant. In the assembly I will be your advocate. On campaign I will be your
encouragement. You are the shepherd chosen by holy ……. You are the king and generous
provider of E-ana. You are the pure (?) one of An's Iri-gal. You are worthy of ……. You are one
who is entitled to hold high his head on the lofty dais. You are one who is worthy of sitting on the
shining throne. Your head is worthy of the brilliant crown. Your body is worthy of the long fleecy
garment. You are worthy of being dressed in the royal garb. You are suited to hold the mitum
weapon in your arm. You are suited to run fast with the battle-mace. You are suited to hit
accurately with the barbed arrows and the bow. You are suited to fasten the throw-stick and the
sling to your side. Your hand is worthy of the holy sceptre. Your feet are worthy of the holy
shoes. You are a fast runner suited to race on the road. You are worthy to delight yourself on
my holy breast like a pure calf. May your love be lasting! An has determined this for you, and
may he never alter it! May Enlil, the decreer of fates, never change it!" Thus Inana treated him
tenderly.

He who knows the joyful heart of Ninegala sheared a black kid, bathed a white kid, and tied a
wild bull of the mountains by its nose. Then he brought them into the temple E-babbar which
roars like a noble breed-bull, to the hero Utu in the shrine.

The hero Utu received him smiling, and decreed a fate for Šulgi the good shepherd of Sumer:
"King, eloquent and good-looking, mighty hero, born to be a lion, young wild bull standing firm in
its vigour, valiant one, unrestrained in his strength, who tramples great mountains underfoot:
you have subdued the heroes of the foreign lands, you have trampled upon all the foreign
rulers, you have established your name to the ends of the world. Go now in peace to your
master Ašimbabbar." And so he moored the boat at Enegir, the town built in splendour. (Šulgi
speaks:) "Seed placed by the prince in the holy womb, born on the bright mountain, Ninazu,
who like a wild bull which lows in its drinking,
8 lines missing or unclear

(Ninazu speaks:) "…… like syrup …… ghee ……. You, the hero, coming from the rebel land
……. O king, the lord of prayers and supplications has chosen you in his heart; shepherd Šulgi,
the lord of prayers and supplications has chosen you in his heart. Who can rival (?) a king to
whom Enlil has given strength? Who can enter your ……? Who could escape your ……? …….
No one who knows you should desire your strength. If (?) they wished …… battle with you ……,
what could escape your outstretched arms? When you shriek like the Anzud-bird, who could
stand before you? When you howl like the storm, the foreign lands and the hills tremble like a
reed, a split (?) reed ……. The people in the houses of the foreign lands gaze at your deeds (?),
the people of Tidnum joyfully admire them."

"As if you were Utu, your terror radiates in battle. As if you were Nergal, your battle-mace drools
with gore and your spear reaches into the blood of the Land. You are the great door of the city,
you are the great wall of the Land. You are a net piled up (?) over heaven and earth, you are a
cosmic bond laid for Sumer. May …… proclaim your glory in abundance! May the words of Enlil,
which are so enormous, provide a shelter over your head! May the loving heart, Inana, never
abandon you!"
After Ninazu had pronounced …… and (?) blessings, Šulgi provided a lavish choice of ewes
and lambs, he provided a lavish choice of goats and kids, he …… generously white cows and
calves, and then entered with them before Nanna in his E-temen-ni-guru and lifted his head high
in the royal chamber, its most suitable hall, in its royal offering place, the holy place.

His master Ašimbabbar looked at him with joy and decreed a fate for Šulgi, the good shepherd
of Sumer: "Hero, lord, mighty one of the foreign lands, the right arm of the Land, you have
achieved victory for me, have carried out what I have commanded you. You have reduced to
ruins the houses of the rebel land that I have cursed. May you never grow weary of perfecting
the divine powers for me every month at the new moon! May your name be as sweet as that of
Ezina in the mouth of the Land and in the mouths of all the countries! May holy Ningal, the lady
of the shrine, spread out her lap for you, like the wooden frame of a waterskin!" Thus Suen
decreed a good fate for him.

He took his seat on the holy dais in the Egal-maḫ of Ninegala. He, the Ištaran of Sumer,
omniscient from birth, decrees judgments in due order for the Land, and makes decisions in due
order for the Land, so that the strong does not abuse (?) the weak, so that the mother speaks
tenderly with her child and the child answers truthfully to his father. Under him, Sumer is filled
with abundance, Urim is prolonged in splendour, and …… is established.

Because the king exulted in his triumph and let his might radiate, because he implemented (?)
his heroism perfectly, made the rebellious land bow and made our city, Urim, rise in prosperity;
because the king is adorned with a lapis-lazuli crown (?); because the son of Enlil lifts his head
high, wearing a wide crown; because he takes counsel with An in his lofty place and is
enthroned with Uraš on a great dais; because he makes the Land of Sumer and all the foreign
lands dance with joy day and night, may Lord Ašimbabbar be praised.

Nisaba be praised!

A praise poem of Šulgi (Y)

unknown no. of lines missing
2 lines fragmentary To make my kingship longlasting, to make abundance conspicuous in my
reign, Enki, the lord whose utterances cannot be altered, entered it proudly. He assigned Utu,
whose words are pre-eminent, as a constable to me.

Since Ninlil had given me her joyful blessing in the Land, and had caused me to be heard in the
assembly, I, Šulgi, the faithful shepherd of Sumer, praised her in the Ĝa-ĝiš-šua, in her temple
where lawsuits are decided justly, in her august temple befitting her ladyship, in her shrine
imbued with terrible awesomeness, a place admired by all the foreign countries, within …….

2 lines fragmentary …… the Strong Copper (the name of a minor deity) ……. When at her
command I killed in battle the evil people who …… against me with weapons, I …… all the great
warriors slain by me. I placed my foot on their necks, and exalted my own person on their
pedestals.

I lined up my gold statues and lapis-lazuli statues in the main courtyard of her E-niĝara. I filled it
with treasures like those of holy Aratta. I despatched oxen and sheep to her great kitchens. I
brought the abundant harvest into her imposing bakery. I …… beer in her brewery, most suited
to the bronze vessels. I despatched dark beer, kurun beer, and brown beer, all brewed in its
house of the pure strength (a description referring to the brewery) , to her great dining hall for
the evening meals.
1 line fragmentary
unknown no. of lines missing

A love song of Šulgi (Z)

 "The …… because of you does not ……. My brother, the …… because of you does not
……. Lad (?), the …… because of you does not ……. My beloved, the …… because of you
does not ……. My fairest of countenance, the …… because of you does not ……. Its date
clusters because of you are not placed in my hand. Its sheaves are …… for me. Its …… are not
sweet for me. Grain …… the silos (?)."

"My sister, I would go with you to my fields. My fair sister, I would go with you to my fields. I
would go with you to my large fields. I would go with you to my small fields. For my early grain
irrigated with its early water, for my late grain irrigated with its late water, …… its grain ……
sheaves ……."

"My sister, I would go with you to my fields. My fair sister, I would go with you to my fields. ……
the large fields. …… in my small fields."
2 lines fragmentary
unknown no. of lines missing

1 line fragmentary "In the …… of the ……, it has become fallow (?) ……. In the …… of the
sheaves, the date clusters (?) ……. In the …… of the ……, it has become fallow (?) ……. In the
…… of the sheaves, the date clusters (?) ……. Farmer, plough the field, set up the ……. …… of
Lord Šulgi. For …… plough the field, set up the ……. He will bring offerings (?) to the …… for
you."

"My (?) sister, I would go with you to my garden. My fair sister, I would go with you to my
garden. My sister, I would go with you to my garden. My sister, …… my garden, …… the ildag
tree. I would go with you to my ildag tree by the watercourse. My sister, I would go with you to
my apple tree. May …… the apple tree be in my hand. My sister, I would go with you to my
pomegranate tree and then …… there the sweet …… covered (?) in honey."

"My sister, I would go with you to my garden. Fair sister, I would go with you to my garden. ……
like the plants of the watercourse.
1 line fragmentary …… the sprout of a lettuce. I would …… plant there. I would …… plant there.
In your (?) silo …… I would …… for you.
1 line fragmentary Fair sister, luxuriant of heart ……. I would ……of the date-clusters for you
(?)."

A song of Šulgi (B1)

…… pure from birth …….……in the Land…….
2 lines fragmentary

My king went to Eridug. Great prince, Father Enki, rejoice! Šulgi went to Eridug. Great prince,
Father Enki, rejoice!

My king went to Nibru. Great Mountain, Father Enlil, rejoice! Šulgi went to Nibru. Great
Mountain, Father Enlil, rejoice!

My king went to the E-šu-me-ša. Lord Ninurta, rejoice! Šulgi went to the E-šu-me-ša. Lord
Ninurta, rejoice!

My king went to Keš. Ninsumun-zid-gal-ana, rejoice! Šulgi went to Keš. Ninsumun-zid-gal-ana,

rejoice!

My king went to Urim. Lord Ašimbabbar, rejoice! Šulgi went to Urim. Lord Ašimbabbar, rejoice!

My king went to the E-babbar. …… lapis-lazuli beard, rejoice! Šulgi went to the E-babbar. ……
lapis-lazuli beard, rejoice!

My king went to Kulaba. Ninirigal, rejoice! Šulgi went to Kulaba. Ninirigal, rejoice!

My king went to Zabalam. …… Inana, rejoice! Šulgi went to Zabalam. …… Inana, rejoice!

A praise poem of Šulgi (B2)

unknown no. of lines missing
Let praise be sung for me that ……. Through weapons an enduring …… has been established
for me like a tower, as I ……, as I rise in opposition …….

When I am radiant in the holy crown like a brilliance that is renewed daily (?), and the majestic
sceptre that amasses abundance has been entrusted into my hands, on my firmly founded
throne …… granted as a gift …… I lift my head high.

I am Šulgi, the good shepherd of Sumer, and I have always established justice. Like a flood, like
onrushing water, I have torn out wickedness as being unclean (?). As much great praise as I
have had sung about me -- by the name of Enlil, none is false, and all is true.

Like a white wild bull …….

unknown no. of lines missing

Let praise be sung that I have …… the assembly (?).

2 lines fragmentary

Let praise be sung, that I have gone across the …… of the Land. Let deserved praise be sung
for me, that in every mouth I have put prudence (?), an attractive quality like …….

Let praise be sung, that I have shown strength in grappling and wrestling. Let deserved praise
be sung for me, that I have …… in the Land, that I have made a return visit to the shrine Nibru
and back along the road to Urim, and have marched a distance of 30 dana.