Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta
City, great fierce bull resplendent in pride and a fearsome aura, Kulaba, bearing sunlight, the place where destinies are determined, Uruk, great mountain and heart of the Land, where meals are served in the great dining hall of An.
In those distant days, before destinies had been determined, after Uruk Kulaba and the E-ana temple had been founded, when the great princes lifted their heads high, plenty were the flood waters, teeming with carp, and the rains, causing barley and flax to grow in abundance in the districts of Uruk Kulaba.
The land of Dilmun did not yet exist when the E-ana temple was skilfully crafted in Uruk Kulaba, and the ĝipar shrine of Inana shone like silver amidst the brickwork of Kulaba. No imports or exports were made, no trade was conducted, and blocks of gold, silver, copper, tin, lapis lazuli and mountain stone were not delivered from the mountains.
The shrine E-ana was made resplendent in many colours. This holy place was bedecked with lapis lazuli, its interior a brilliant white, like a fruit-bearing meš tree. The lord of Aratta presented Inana with a golden crown, but he did not compare to the lord of Kulaba, for he did not build Aratta for her in any way comparable to the shrine E-ana or the brickwork of Kulaba.
On that day, the lord chosen by Inana in her heart, chosen by Inana in her holy heart from the shining mountain, Enmerkar son of Utu, petitioned his sister, the lady who grants desires, holy Inana:
"My sister, may Aratta skilfully fashion gold and silver for Uruk through me! May they cut perfect blocks of lapis lazuli, may they bring me brilliantly clear lapis lazuli, and may a holy mountain be erected in Uruk. May a temple be fashioned from the heavens, and may Aratta skilfully build the shrine E-ana, your seat, your holy ĝipar shrine. May I, a sacred calf of lapis lazuli, submit to you there.
"May Aratta yield before Uruk for me. May the people of Aratta bring stone down from the mountains, may they build a great shrine for me, erect a great hall for me, a great dining hall of all the gods. May my divine powers flourish in Kulaba, may the abzu grow for me like a sacred mountain, may Eridu be pure as the mountains for me, may the shrine in the abzu sparkle like a vein of silver.
"When I sing praises in the abzu, when I carry the me out of Eridu, when I am adorned with the pure crown of sovereignty, when I receive the holy crown in Uruk Kulaba, may the custodian of this great sanctuary bring me to the ĝipar shrine, and may then the custodian of the ĝipar shrine bring me back to the great sanctuary. May all the peoples marvel at the sight, and may Utu watch with joy."
On that day, the joy of holy An, watchful lady over all the lands, lady whose face is made beautiful for Ama-ušumgal-ana [=Dumuzi], Inana, mistress of all the lands, spoke to Enmerkar the child of Utu:
"Come, Enmerkar, I give you counsel, and you are wise to heed it. I speak to you, and you will hear me. Choose a messenger from your troops who is well-spoken and strong. Where, and to whom, shall he take the great message of wise Inana? He shall climb Mount Zubi, and climb back down the other side. Susa and the land of Anšan shall bow before him like tiny mice. The multitudes in the great mountains shall prostrate themselves in the dust for him.
"Aratta will yield before Uruk. The people of Aratta will bring down stone from the mountains, they will build a great shrine for you, erect a great hall for you, a great dining hall of all the gods. Your divine powers will flourish in Kulaba, the abzu will grow for you like a sacred mountain, Eridu will be pure as the mountains for you, the shrine in the abzu will sparkle like a vein of silver.
"When you sing praises in the abzu, when you carry the me out of Eridu, when you are adorned with the pure crown of sovereignty, when you receive the holy crown in Uruk Kulabal, the custodian of that great sanctuary will bring you to the ĝipar shrine, and the custodian of the ĝipar shrine will then bring you back to the great sanctuary. All the peoples will marvel at the sight, and Utu will watch with joy.
"The people of Aratta, from when daylight blankets the land, to the approach of the night, in the place of Dumuzi, teeming with ewes, kids, and lambs, in Dumuzi's fields of pure water, will surely kneel before you like mountain sheep. Rise like daylight upon my chest, O jewel of my throat! Praise to you, Enmerkar child of Utu!"
The lord obeyed the words of holy Inana. He selected a messenger from his troops who is well-spoken and strong. Where, and to whom, shall he take the great message of wise Inana?
[Enmerkar spoke:] "You shall climb Mount Zubi, and climb back down the other side. Susa and the land of Anšan shall bow before you like tiny mice. The multitudes in the great mountains shall prostrate themselves in the dust for you. Messenger! Say and repeat this to the lord of Aratta:
"Lest I scatter the people from his city like a pigeon from a tree or a bird from its nest, lest I make commerce of them, lest Aratta be reduced to dust like one whose fate has been cursed by Enki, lest it be utterly destroyed, like one against whom Inana's voice is turned, then let him stuff bags full of gold, placing it alongside the gleaming silver, and, having bagged these metals and loaded them on the mountain donkeys, it is for me, the junior Enlil of Sumer, chosen by the sacred heart of the lord Nudimud, that he must build a mountain of shining me. It is to be as resplendent as boxwood, its horns are to shimmer like the emergence of Utu from his resting place, all its doorknobs are to gleam for me!
"Chant to him the holy song, the song of fate, the song of Nudimud's fate; in those days, there will be no snake, no scorpion, no hyena, no lion, no dog or wolf, there will be neither fear nor crawling of the flesh, and mankind will have no equal. In those days, the lands of Šubur and Hamazi, in the same tongue, with Sumer, great mountain of the princely me, and Akkad, a most contented land, and Martu, where the people will lie down in the meadows, the whole universe, peoples living in security, will praise Enlil in the same tongue.
"Then, because of the ambition of the lords, princes, and kings, Enki, lord of plenty, righteous and wise lord, leader of all the gods, chosen for his wisdom, the lord of Eridu, will change their tongues, as many as there were different [peoples]; the language of humanity will be truly one."
The lord spoke again to his messenger, who was going to Aratta, giving him further instruction: "Messenger! Even in the depths of the night, let your feet drive like the rain; in the day, be up with the dew."
The messenger obeyed the command of his king. At night, he navigated by the stars of the sky; by day, he walked with Utu in the heavens. Where, and to whom, will he take the great message of wise Inana? He climbed Mount Zubi, and climbed back down the other side. Susa and the land of Anšan bowed before him like tiny mice. The multitudes in the great mountains prostrated themselves in the dust for him. He climbed five, six, seven mountains. He looked up to see Aratta, and then approached. He joyfully stood in the courtyard of Aratta, and spoke with the authority of his king. He released the message in his heart, and spoke to the lord of Aratta:
"Your father, my king, has sent me to you; the lord of Uruk and Kulaba has sent me to you."
[The lord replied:] "Whatever your king has to say, what is it he has to say to me?"
[The messenger spoke:] "This is what my king has to say, my king, who from his birth has been prepared for high office, the lord of Uruk, the great serpent living in Sumer, who grinds heads like flour, the stag of the mighty peaks, the wild goat who paws the holy soapwort with his hoof, born of the pure cow in the heart of the mountains, Enmerkar child of Utu who has sent me to you:
"Lest I scatter the people from that city like a pigeon from a tree or a bird from its nest, lest I make commerce of them, lest Aratta be reduced to dust like one whose fate has been cursed by Enki, lest it be utterly destroyed, like one against whom Inana's voice is turned, then let him stuff bags full of gold, placing it alongside the gleaming silver, and, having bagged these metals and loaded them on the mountain donkeys, it is for me, the junior Enlil of Sumer, chosen by the sacred heart of the lord Nudimud, that he must build a mountain of shining me. It is to be as resplendent as boxwood, its horns are to shimmer like the emergence of Utu from his resting place, all its doorknobs are to gleam for me!
"Whatever you have to say to me on this matter, let me announce the good news in the E-ana sanctuary; good news to the son of he with the beard of lapis lazuli, whom was birthed by the good cow in the mountain of pure me, who was raised on Aratta's soil, who suckled of the good cow, who is well suited for lordship in Kulaba, Enmerkar child of Utu, in his ĝipar shrine which bears fruit like a meš tree; let me take this word to my king, the lord of Kulaba."
When he had spoke, the lord of Aratta replied: "Messenger! Say this to your king, the lord of Kulaba: I am the lord shaped by pure hands. It is I who the queen of heaven and earth, the lady of the innumerable me, holy Inana, has brought to Aratta, mountain of the shining me. It is I who has been made to bar the entrance of the mountains like a door. How can Aratta submit to Uruk? Aratta will never submit to Uruk! Tell him that."
After he had spoken, the messenger replied to the lord of Aratta: "The great lady of heaven, riding on the fearsome me, seated on the peaks of her shining mountains, who adorns the throne dais - the lord, my king, her servant, installed the goddess as mistress of the E-ana shrine. Lord, Aratta shall bow down; it was spoken thus amidst the brickwork of Kulaba."
Thus the lord was greatly afflicted, and plunged into anguish. He had no answer, and he was not able to find one. He stared at his own feet, looking for an answer. Then, he found his voice. He suddenly bellowed an answer, like an ox, to the messenger:
"Messenger! Tell this to your king, the lord of Kulaba, and repeat it: This great mountain grows like a meš tree to the heavens. Its roots are a net, and its branches a snare. A sparrow it may be, but it has the talons of an Anzu bird, or an eagle. Inana's barrier is perfect and impassable. These talons make the blood of the enemy run down the holy mountain. In Aratta, laments are sung, libations are poured, and flour is spread out. In the mountains, prayers and supplications are rightly offered. With not even five or ten men, how can a mobilised Uruk stand against Mount Zubi?
"Your king challenges me with arms, but I will gladly accept a different challenge. He does not know such a challenge, he has never challenged another. The bull does not know the might of the bull at his side. But he who knows the challenge is a bull who knows the might of the other bull - or does he reject my challenge? Does he show that he can surpass me - or does he reject my challenge?
"I have more to say to you, messenger - I will phrase it well, so that it may get through to you. Repeat this to your king, the lord of Kulaba, who is a lion sitting on his paws in the E-ana, an ox bellowing within its chambers, whose ĝipar shrine is fruitful like a meš tree: this mountain is a lofty warrior, steadfast upon the Earth. In the evening, when Utu has returned to his abode, he will have caused blood to flow down the face of this mountain. Nanna stands resplendent in the distance, shining with a brilliant countenance, for the gates of the mountains are blocked off. The good goddess of the pure mountain lands will fashion for Aratta a dazzling crown of the heavens; on that day, I shall proclaim my majesty.
"He need not pour barley into sacks and pile it on wagons, he need not cart it to the mountains, nor place ration counters over the people. But if he fills his nets with barley, and has it loaded onto his donkeys, and pour barley over the courtyard in Aratta, then if she, who illuminates all the lands, who is the adornment of the seven walls, the brave mistress suited for battle, Inana, hero of battle who plays 'Inana's game' upon the sands, were to really push away Aratta like a dog hunting for carrion, on that day, I will bow down to him. I will acknowledge his majesty, and with my city, in my humility, will submit to him. Tell him that."
After the lord of Aratta said this to him, having placed these words in his mouth [like his own], the messenger turned on his thigh like a wild cow. During the day, he crossed through the forest like a desert fly. He stood joyfully amidst the brickwork of Kulaba, and rushed to the great courtyard, to the assembly room of the court. He repeated the words to his king, in the voice of the lord of Aratta, even bellowing like a bull, while his king listened like a patient cow.
The king bade him sit by his right side. On turning his left side to him, he spoke: "Does Aratta really understand the reasoning behind what he says?"
A day passed and Utu rose up. Utu of the Land raised his head high, and the king combined the Tigris with the Euphrates; combined the Euphrates with the Tigris. Great vessels stood in the open air, and tiny vessels beside them like lambs amidst the grass. Bowls were placed in the open air next to them. The king, Enmerkar child of Utu, placed the golden ešda goblets wide apart.
The one who fashions the tablet and wields the stylus, the golden statue birthed on an auspicious day, verdant Nanibgal, growing in luxuriance, the lady of immense wisdom, Nisaba, opened her sacred house of wisdom to him. He entered the palace of the heavens and listened well.
The lord then opened up his mighty storehouse, and placed a colossal measuring vessel on the floor. The king removed the old barley, soaked all of the malt in water, and took his fill of the hirin grass. He tightened the mesh of the carrying nets and measured out barley, giving allowances for losses to the locusts. After loading the nets onto donkeys, the king, rich in wisdom, the lord of Uruk and Kulaba, set them on a direct route to Aratta. The people, like ants in a crevice, were sent to Aratta on their own.
The lord spoke to the messenger who was going to Aratta, saying: "Messenger! Say this to the lord of Aratta and repeat it: the princely me are the base of my scepter, its crown is a protection for Kulaba, and under its branches holy Inana rests in the E-ana shrine. Let him hold a twig of that scepter like a string of cornelian or lapis beads, then let him bring that before me; tell him that."
After he had spoken, the messenger went to Aratta, his feet pounding the dust of the roads. Like a dragon prowling the open country, none would stand in his way. When the messenger reached Aratta, the people of Aratta came out to stand and marvel at the pack donkeys. The messenger stood in the courtyard of Aratta and piled up the barley, making allowances for losses to the locusts. Just as from the rains of heaven and the sunlight, Aratta was filled with plenty; it was as though the gods had returned. Aratta's famine was abated, and the people of Aratta soaked their malt in water and covered their fields with it.
Aratta's people, revealing their words to Aratta, spoke: "Inana has withdrawn her hand from Aratta, and has tipped her hand to the lord of Uruk; as for us, who have had only false and empty words in our famine and hunger, let us bow down before the lord of Kulaba."
The elders, normally so eloquent, wrung their hands and leaned against the wall. They placed their purest treasures in the hands of the lord of Aratta.
Grasping his scepter in the courtyard of Aratta, the messenger spoke to the lord of Aratta: "Your father, my king, has sent me to you; the lord of Uruk and Kulaba has sent me to you."
[The lord replied:] "Whatever your king has to say, what is it he has to say to me?"
[The messenger spoke:] "This is what my king has to say: the princely me are the base of my scepter, its crown is a protection for Kulaba, and under its branches holy Inana rests in the E-ana shrine. Let him hold a twig of that scepter like a string of cornelian or lapis beads, then let him bring that before me."
When this had been said, the lord went into his chambers and lay down in a fast for the whole day. A day passed, and the lord spoke unintelligible words; he stumbled on his words like a donkey stumbling in wheat. Now, when he spoke to [the messenger], he spoke thus:
"Messenger! Say this to your king and repeat it: a scepter, but not made of wood, or being called [by determinative] wood. When I see it in my hand, and inspect it, may it be not of ildag wood, nor šimgig wood; not cedar, nor cypress; not hašur, nor date palm wood; not ebony, nor poplar; not worked reed like whip handles; not gold, nor copper; not kugmea metal, nor silver; not cornelian, nor lapis lazuli; if he may fashion such a scepter, then let him hold a twig of that scepter like a string of cornelian or lapis beads, then let the lord of Kulab bring that before me; tell him that."
After he had spoken, the messenger raced away like a young donkey which brays after it is cut from the chariot's harness. He galloped like a steppe donkey over the dry soil, mouth full of wind; he ran a straight path, like a charging sheep as it butts other sheep.
Joyfully stepping amidst the brickwork of Kulaba, he repeated the message to his king, the lord of Kulaba. Enki now gave his wisdom to Enmerkar, and the lord gave orders to the steward of his house. The king took an animal hide, rolled it up and inspected it; he pounded it with a pestle as if grinding herbs and poured it into a shining reed as if it were oil. He took it from the light into the shade, and from the shade into the light. After 5, 10 years had passed, he split the gleaming reed with an axe, and looked joyfully upon what he saw. He poured upon it the finest oil from the shining mountains, and then placed it into the hands of the messenger, who was to return to the mountains.
The messenger's flight to Aratta was swift like a wild bird, like a fly dashing over the dust. He raced over the mountain lands as fast as a swimming carp to reach Aratta. He stepped joyfully into the courtyard at Aratta, wielding the scepter, which he had cleaned and polished reverently. The lord of Aratta was blinded by the scepter, shining with fearsome radiance in his chamber.
The lord spoke to his administrator: "Aratta is a slaughtered sheep! Her roads already belong to the enemy! Holy Inana has given over mighty Aratta to the lord of Kulaba. Holy Inana now has her favourable gaze turned towards this man, who sent a messenger to make this harsh truth as clear as the light of Utu. Where will the misery of Aratta take us? For how long must we suffer this yoke? Because of this terrible famine, must we prostrate ourselves before the lord of Kulaba in our hunger?"
The lord of Aratta then entrusted the messenger with his word, like an important tablet: "Messenger! Speak to your king, the lord of Kulaba, and tell him: a dog that is not black, nor white; a dog that is not brown, nor red; a dog that is not cream, nor multicoloured; let him give you such a dog! My dog will compete with his dog, and the strongest one will become known! Tell him that."
When this was said, the messenger departed like a flash, that he might bring the news to the brickwork of Kulaba. He lifted his eyes like a goat on the mountains; he raised his head like a great snake. In the courtyard of Kulaba, he raised his head and recited the message of the lord of Aratta.
From his throne, [the lord of Kulaba] addressed him like a furious torrent: "Messenger! Tell this to the lord of Aratta: a cloth that is not black, nor white; a cloth that is not brown, nor red; a cloth that is not cream, nor multicoloured; I shall give him such a cloth! My dog, embraced by Enlil, I shall also send to him. My dog will compete with his dog, and the strongest one will become known! Tell him that.
"Further, tell him this, and repeat it: he must cease this evasiveness immediately. His people will go before him like sheep and, like a shepherd, he will follow them. When he does, the holy mountain of lapis lazuli must submit before him like a crushed reed. They shall pile up shining gold and silver for Inana, mistress of the E-ana shrine, in the courtyard of Aratta.
"Thirdly, tell him this: lest I scatter the people from his city like a pigeon from a tree or a bird from its nest, lest I make commerce of them, lest I cause them to be carried away on the winds, then, when he arrives, bringing stones down from the mountains, he will build for me the shrines of Eridu, the Abzu and the E-nun. He will decorate its structure with clay from the mountains, and its shadow will spread out over all the Land. Let Nudimud's hymn be proclaimed to him; tell him this."
The lord's speech was great, but its meaning lofty; the messenger's mouth was heavy, and he could not repeat it. Because the messenger's mouth was heavy, and he could not repeat it, the lord of Kulaba kneaded some clay and put words on it, like a tablet. Before that day, words had not been put on clay, but when Utu arose on that day, so it was. The lord of Kulaba put words on a tablet, so it was.
The messenger, like a bird flapping its wings; fast, like a wolf chasing a goat, climbed five, six, seven mountains, laid his eyes upon Aratta and approached. He joyfully stood in the courtyard of Aratta, and spoke with the authority of his king. He released the message in his heart, and spoke to the lord of Aratta:
"Your father, my king, has sent me to you; the lord of Uruk and Kulaba has sent me to you."
[The lord replied:] "Whatever your king has to say, what is it he has to say to me?"
[The messenger spoke:] "This is what my king has to say: my king is a mighty meš tree, the child of Enlil. This tree has grown so tall, it links the heavens and the Earth. Its canopy brushes the heavens, and its roots are anchored in the Earth. He who is radiant in lordship and kingship, Enmerkar child of Utu, gave to me this tablet.
"Lord of Aratta, when you have looked upon this tablet, when you have understood this message, then whatever you have to say to me on this matter, let me announce the good news in the E-ana sanctuary; good news to the son of he with the beard of lapis lazuli, whom was birthed by the good cow in the mountain of pure me, who was raised on Aratta's soil, who suckled of the good cow, who is well suited for lordship in Kulaba, Enmerkar child of Utu, in his ĝipar shrine which bears fruit like a meš tree; let me take this word to my king, the lord of Kulaba."
After he had spoken, the lord of Aratta took the baked clay. He looked over the tablet, but the words were but scratches; he frowned. The lord of Aratta looked at the baked clay.
At that moment, the lord fit for the crown of lordship, the child of Enlil, Iškur, thundered around the heavens and the Earth, roaring like a lion, causing a terrible storm. He made the mountains tremble and shook the hillsides; the terrifying radiance of his breast caused the mountains, the parched flanks of Aratta, to sing out in joy. Wheat and chickpeas sprang forth, growing into the granary of Aratta; this was brought before the lord of Aratta and piled up in the courtyard. The lord of Aratta beheld the wheat while the messenger looked on in amazement.
The lord of Aratta called to the messenger: "Her Majesty, Inana, mistress of all the lands, has not abandoned Aratta to the yoke of Uruk! She has not abandoned her E-zagin to steal it away for the E-ana; she has not abandoned the mountain of the radiant me to steal it for the brickwork of Kulaba; has not abandoned her delicate bed for the flowery bed; she has not abandoned the radiance of her lord to give it to the lord of Uruk and Kulaba.
"Inana, mistress of all the nations, has surrounded Aratta on both its flanks with great walls of water. Its people stand apart from all others; they have been chosen by Dumuzi among all the nations, they are steadfast in Inana's holy words. Let now the wise dog and the dog of Dumuzi tear into one another! The ones who stood firmly before the flood; after the rushing over of the Flood, Inana, mistress of all the nations, through her great love for Dumuzi, sprinkled them with the water of life and subjugated the Land to them."
As the wise dog came forth, his head was covered in a royal turban, and a lion's skin was wrapped around his body. After raising his head, he made to strike Dumuzi's dog, but Inana stepped forward, a beautiful song in her heart. Her song was pleasing to her spouse, Ama-ušumgal-ana, and since that day, she has perfected it, singing it in the holy ear, the ear of Dumuzi, and letting the words be known.
The wise lady, approaching the mountain of the shining me, approached [Enmerkar] like a young woman; she had painted her eyes in seduction, adorned a pure white robe, and put on the true crown which sparkled like moonlight. She called her spouse, Enmerkar, to occupy the throne with her; when she stood up, ewes and their lambs were abundant for Aratta, goats and their kids were abundant for Aratta, cows and their calves were abundant for Aratta, donkeys and their foals were abundant for Aratta. In Aratta, the people say: "let it all be gathered and heaped up in the granaries, for the abundance is truly your abundance!"
[The wise lady spoke:] "The people of Aratta chant songs of joy; their anundance is truly your abundance. In this land, granted to you by Enlil, may my luxuriousness be proclaimed. Their father, the lord of Aratta, was not fertile, he produced no issue. Enlil, king of all the lands, has now assigned tasks to all the people of Aratta. Their task is the preparing of gold and lapis lazuli for trade; those who tend the fruit-bearing trees and bushes, they shall heap up this fruit. They shall dig up perfect lapis lazuli, they shall pick the succulent reeds, and they shall heap them up in the courtyard of the E-ana shrine for Inana, mistress of the E-ana.
"Now, my king, I shall offer you advice; may you know it truly. Let the people choose a man from a foreign land; the people of Aratta shall sing out your praises."
In that city, may festivals never cease in honour of the great gods; may libations be poured out every day; may the abundance of the people go on without end.
In those distant days, before destinies had been determined, after Uruk Kulaba and the E-ana temple had been founded, when the great princes lifted their heads high, plenty were the flood waters, teeming with carp, and the rains, causing barley and flax to grow in abundance in the districts of Uruk Kulaba.
The land of Dilmun did not yet exist when the E-ana temple was skilfully crafted in Uruk Kulaba, and the ĝipar shrine of Inana shone like silver amidst the brickwork of Kulaba. No imports or exports were made, no trade was conducted, and blocks of gold, silver, copper, tin, lapis lazuli and mountain stone were not delivered from the mountains.
The shrine E-ana was made resplendent in many colours. This holy place was bedecked with lapis lazuli, its interior a brilliant white, like a fruit-bearing meš tree. The lord of Aratta presented Inana with a golden crown, but he did not compare to the lord of Kulaba, for he did not build Aratta for her in any way comparable to the shrine E-ana or the brickwork of Kulaba.
On that day, the lord chosen by Inana in her heart, chosen by Inana in her holy heart from the shining mountain, Enmerkar son of Utu, petitioned his sister, the lady who grants desires, holy Inana:
"My sister, may Aratta skilfully fashion gold and silver for Uruk through me! May they cut perfect blocks of lapis lazuli, may they bring me brilliantly clear lapis lazuli, and may a holy mountain be erected in Uruk. May a temple be fashioned from the heavens, and may Aratta skilfully build the shrine E-ana, your seat, your holy ĝipar shrine. May I, a sacred calf of lapis lazuli, submit to you there.
"May Aratta yield before Uruk for me. May the people of Aratta bring stone down from the mountains, may they build a great shrine for me, erect a great hall for me, a great dining hall of all the gods. May my divine powers flourish in Kulaba, may the abzu grow for me like a sacred mountain, may Eridu be pure as the mountains for me, may the shrine in the abzu sparkle like a vein of silver.
"When I sing praises in the abzu, when I carry the me out of Eridu, when I am adorned with the pure crown of sovereignty, when I receive the holy crown in Uruk Kulaba, may the custodian of this great sanctuary bring me to the ĝipar shrine, and may then the custodian of the ĝipar shrine bring me back to the great sanctuary. May all the peoples marvel at the sight, and may Utu watch with joy."
On that day, the joy of holy An, watchful lady over all the lands, lady whose face is made beautiful for Ama-ušumgal-ana [=Dumuzi], Inana, mistress of all the lands, spoke to Enmerkar the child of Utu:
"Come, Enmerkar, I give you counsel, and you are wise to heed it. I speak to you, and you will hear me. Choose a messenger from your troops who is well-spoken and strong. Where, and to whom, shall he take the great message of wise Inana? He shall climb Mount Zubi, and climb back down the other side. Susa and the land of Anšan shall bow before him like tiny mice. The multitudes in the great mountains shall prostrate themselves in the dust for him.
"Aratta will yield before Uruk. The people of Aratta will bring down stone from the mountains, they will build a great shrine for you, erect a great hall for you, a great dining hall of all the gods. Your divine powers will flourish in Kulaba, the abzu will grow for you like a sacred mountain, Eridu will be pure as the mountains for you, the shrine in the abzu will sparkle like a vein of silver.
"When you sing praises in the abzu, when you carry the me out of Eridu, when you are adorned with the pure crown of sovereignty, when you receive the holy crown in Uruk Kulabal, the custodian of that great sanctuary will bring you to the ĝipar shrine, and the custodian of the ĝipar shrine will then bring you back to the great sanctuary. All the peoples will marvel at the sight, and Utu will watch with joy.
"The people of Aratta, from when daylight blankets the land, to the approach of the night, in the place of Dumuzi, teeming with ewes, kids, and lambs, in Dumuzi's fields of pure water, will surely kneel before you like mountain sheep. Rise like daylight upon my chest, O jewel of my throat! Praise to you, Enmerkar child of Utu!"
The lord obeyed the words of holy Inana. He selected a messenger from his troops who is well-spoken and strong. Where, and to whom, shall he take the great message of wise Inana?
[Enmerkar spoke:] "You shall climb Mount Zubi, and climb back down the other side. Susa and the land of Anšan shall bow before you like tiny mice. The multitudes in the great mountains shall prostrate themselves in the dust for you. Messenger! Say and repeat this to the lord of Aratta:
"Lest I scatter the people from his city like a pigeon from a tree or a bird from its nest, lest I make commerce of them, lest Aratta be reduced to dust like one whose fate has been cursed by Enki, lest it be utterly destroyed, like one against whom Inana's voice is turned, then let him stuff bags full of gold, placing it alongside the gleaming silver, and, having bagged these metals and loaded them on the mountain donkeys, it is for me, the junior Enlil of Sumer, chosen by the sacred heart of the lord Nudimud, that he must build a mountain of shining me. It is to be as resplendent as boxwood, its horns are to shimmer like the emergence of Utu from his resting place, all its doorknobs are to gleam for me!
"Chant to him the holy song, the song of fate, the song of Nudimud's fate; in those days, there will be no snake, no scorpion, no hyena, no lion, no dog or wolf, there will be neither fear nor crawling of the flesh, and mankind will have no equal. In those days, the lands of Šubur and Hamazi, in the same tongue, with Sumer, great mountain of the princely me, and Akkad, a most contented land, and Martu, where the people will lie down in the meadows, the whole universe, peoples living in security, will praise Enlil in the same tongue.
"Then, because of the ambition of the lords, princes, and kings, Enki, lord of plenty, righteous and wise lord, leader of all the gods, chosen for his wisdom, the lord of Eridu, will change their tongues, as many as there were different [peoples]; the language of humanity will be truly one."
The lord spoke again to his messenger, who was going to Aratta, giving him further instruction: "Messenger! Even in the depths of the night, let your feet drive like the rain; in the day, be up with the dew."
The messenger obeyed the command of his king. At night, he navigated by the stars of the sky; by day, he walked with Utu in the heavens. Where, and to whom, will he take the great message of wise Inana? He climbed Mount Zubi, and climbed back down the other side. Susa and the land of Anšan bowed before him like tiny mice. The multitudes in the great mountains prostrated themselves in the dust for him. He climbed five, six, seven mountains. He looked up to see Aratta, and then approached. He joyfully stood in the courtyard of Aratta, and spoke with the authority of his king. He released the message in his heart, and spoke to the lord of Aratta:
"Your father, my king, has sent me to you; the lord of Uruk and Kulaba has sent me to you."
[The lord replied:] "Whatever your king has to say, what is it he has to say to me?"
[The messenger spoke:] "This is what my king has to say, my king, who from his birth has been prepared for high office, the lord of Uruk, the great serpent living in Sumer, who grinds heads like flour, the stag of the mighty peaks, the wild goat who paws the holy soapwort with his hoof, born of the pure cow in the heart of the mountains, Enmerkar child of Utu who has sent me to you:
"Lest I scatter the people from that city like a pigeon from a tree or a bird from its nest, lest I make commerce of them, lest Aratta be reduced to dust like one whose fate has been cursed by Enki, lest it be utterly destroyed, like one against whom Inana's voice is turned, then let him stuff bags full of gold, placing it alongside the gleaming silver, and, having bagged these metals and loaded them on the mountain donkeys, it is for me, the junior Enlil of Sumer, chosen by the sacred heart of the lord Nudimud, that he must build a mountain of shining me. It is to be as resplendent as boxwood, its horns are to shimmer like the emergence of Utu from his resting place, all its doorknobs are to gleam for me!
"Whatever you have to say to me on this matter, let me announce the good news in the E-ana sanctuary; good news to the son of he with the beard of lapis lazuli, whom was birthed by the good cow in the mountain of pure me, who was raised on Aratta's soil, who suckled of the good cow, who is well suited for lordship in Kulaba, Enmerkar child of Utu, in his ĝipar shrine which bears fruit like a meš tree; let me take this word to my king, the lord of Kulaba."
When he had spoke, the lord of Aratta replied: "Messenger! Say this to your king, the lord of Kulaba: I am the lord shaped by pure hands. It is I who the queen of heaven and earth, the lady of the innumerable me, holy Inana, has brought to Aratta, mountain of the shining me. It is I who has been made to bar the entrance of the mountains like a door. How can Aratta submit to Uruk? Aratta will never submit to Uruk! Tell him that."
After he had spoken, the messenger replied to the lord of Aratta: "The great lady of heaven, riding on the fearsome me, seated on the peaks of her shining mountains, who adorns the throne dais - the lord, my king, her servant, installed the goddess as mistress of the E-ana shrine. Lord, Aratta shall bow down; it was spoken thus amidst the brickwork of Kulaba."
Thus the lord was greatly afflicted, and plunged into anguish. He had no answer, and he was not able to find one. He stared at his own feet, looking for an answer. Then, he found his voice. He suddenly bellowed an answer, like an ox, to the messenger:
"Messenger! Tell this to your king, the lord of Kulaba, and repeat it: This great mountain grows like a meš tree to the heavens. Its roots are a net, and its branches a snare. A sparrow it may be, but it has the talons of an Anzu bird, or an eagle. Inana's barrier is perfect and impassable. These talons make the blood of the enemy run down the holy mountain. In Aratta, laments are sung, libations are poured, and flour is spread out. In the mountains, prayers and supplications are rightly offered. With not even five or ten men, how can a mobilised Uruk stand against Mount Zubi?
"Your king challenges me with arms, but I will gladly accept a different challenge. He does not know such a challenge, he has never challenged another. The bull does not know the might of the bull at his side. But he who knows the challenge is a bull who knows the might of the other bull - or does he reject my challenge? Does he show that he can surpass me - or does he reject my challenge?
"I have more to say to you, messenger - I will phrase it well, so that it may get through to you. Repeat this to your king, the lord of Kulaba, who is a lion sitting on his paws in the E-ana, an ox bellowing within its chambers, whose ĝipar shrine is fruitful like a meš tree: this mountain is a lofty warrior, steadfast upon the Earth. In the evening, when Utu has returned to his abode, he will have caused blood to flow down the face of this mountain. Nanna stands resplendent in the distance, shining with a brilliant countenance, for the gates of the mountains are blocked off. The good goddess of the pure mountain lands will fashion for Aratta a dazzling crown of the heavens; on that day, I shall proclaim my majesty.
"He need not pour barley into sacks and pile it on wagons, he need not cart it to the mountains, nor place ration counters over the people. But if he fills his nets with barley, and has it loaded onto his donkeys, and pour barley over the courtyard in Aratta, then if she, who illuminates all the lands, who is the adornment of the seven walls, the brave mistress suited for battle, Inana, hero of battle who plays 'Inana's game' upon the sands, were to really push away Aratta like a dog hunting for carrion, on that day, I will bow down to him. I will acknowledge his majesty, and with my city, in my humility, will submit to him. Tell him that."
After the lord of Aratta said this to him, having placed these words in his mouth [like his own], the messenger turned on his thigh like a wild cow. During the day, he crossed through the forest like a desert fly. He stood joyfully amidst the brickwork of Kulaba, and rushed to the great courtyard, to the assembly room of the court. He repeated the words to his king, in the voice of the lord of Aratta, even bellowing like a bull, while his king listened like a patient cow.
The king bade him sit by his right side. On turning his left side to him, he spoke: "Does Aratta really understand the reasoning behind what he says?"
A day passed and Utu rose up. Utu of the Land raised his head high, and the king combined the Tigris with the Euphrates; combined the Euphrates with the Tigris. Great vessels stood in the open air, and tiny vessels beside them like lambs amidst the grass. Bowls were placed in the open air next to them. The king, Enmerkar child of Utu, placed the golden ešda goblets wide apart.
The one who fashions the tablet and wields the stylus, the golden statue birthed on an auspicious day, verdant Nanibgal, growing in luxuriance, the lady of immense wisdom, Nisaba, opened her sacred house of wisdom to him. He entered the palace of the heavens and listened well.
The lord then opened up his mighty storehouse, and placed a colossal measuring vessel on the floor. The king removed the old barley, soaked all of the malt in water, and took his fill of the hirin grass. He tightened the mesh of the carrying nets and measured out barley, giving allowances for losses to the locusts. After loading the nets onto donkeys, the king, rich in wisdom, the lord of Uruk and Kulaba, set them on a direct route to Aratta. The people, like ants in a crevice, were sent to Aratta on their own.
The lord spoke to the messenger who was going to Aratta, saying: "Messenger! Say this to the lord of Aratta and repeat it: the princely me are the base of my scepter, its crown is a protection for Kulaba, and under its branches holy Inana rests in the E-ana shrine. Let him hold a twig of that scepter like a string of cornelian or lapis beads, then let him bring that before me; tell him that."
After he had spoken, the messenger went to Aratta, his feet pounding the dust of the roads. Like a dragon prowling the open country, none would stand in his way. When the messenger reached Aratta, the people of Aratta came out to stand and marvel at the pack donkeys. The messenger stood in the courtyard of Aratta and piled up the barley, making allowances for losses to the locusts. Just as from the rains of heaven and the sunlight, Aratta was filled with plenty; it was as though the gods had returned. Aratta's famine was abated, and the people of Aratta soaked their malt in water and covered their fields with it.
Aratta's people, revealing their words to Aratta, spoke: "Inana has withdrawn her hand from Aratta, and has tipped her hand to the lord of Uruk; as for us, who have had only false and empty words in our famine and hunger, let us bow down before the lord of Kulaba."
The elders, normally so eloquent, wrung their hands and leaned against the wall. They placed their purest treasures in the hands of the lord of Aratta.
Grasping his scepter in the courtyard of Aratta, the messenger spoke to the lord of Aratta: "Your father, my king, has sent me to you; the lord of Uruk and Kulaba has sent me to you."
[The lord replied:] "Whatever your king has to say, what is it he has to say to me?"
[The messenger spoke:] "This is what my king has to say: the princely me are the base of my scepter, its crown is a protection for Kulaba, and under its branches holy Inana rests in the E-ana shrine. Let him hold a twig of that scepter like a string of cornelian or lapis beads, then let him bring that before me."
When this had been said, the lord went into his chambers and lay down in a fast for the whole day. A day passed, and the lord spoke unintelligible words; he stumbled on his words like a donkey stumbling in wheat. Now, when he spoke to [the messenger], he spoke thus:
"Messenger! Say this to your king and repeat it: a scepter, but not made of wood, or being called [by determinative] wood. When I see it in my hand, and inspect it, may it be not of ildag wood, nor šimgig wood; not cedar, nor cypress; not hašur, nor date palm wood; not ebony, nor poplar; not worked reed like whip handles; not gold, nor copper; not kugmea metal, nor silver; not cornelian, nor lapis lazuli; if he may fashion such a scepter, then let him hold a twig of that scepter like a string of cornelian or lapis beads, then let the lord of Kulab bring that before me; tell him that."
After he had spoken, the messenger raced away like a young donkey which brays after it is cut from the chariot's harness. He galloped like a steppe donkey over the dry soil, mouth full of wind; he ran a straight path, like a charging sheep as it butts other sheep.
Joyfully stepping amidst the brickwork of Kulaba, he repeated the message to his king, the lord of Kulaba. Enki now gave his wisdom to Enmerkar, and the lord gave orders to the steward of his house. The king took an animal hide, rolled it up and inspected it; he pounded it with a pestle as if grinding herbs and poured it into a shining reed as if it were oil. He took it from the light into the shade, and from the shade into the light. After 5, 10 years had passed, he split the gleaming reed with an axe, and looked joyfully upon what he saw. He poured upon it the finest oil from the shining mountains, and then placed it into the hands of the messenger, who was to return to the mountains.
The messenger's flight to Aratta was swift like a wild bird, like a fly dashing over the dust. He raced over the mountain lands as fast as a swimming carp to reach Aratta. He stepped joyfully into the courtyard at Aratta, wielding the scepter, which he had cleaned and polished reverently. The lord of Aratta was blinded by the scepter, shining with fearsome radiance in his chamber.
The lord spoke to his administrator: "Aratta is a slaughtered sheep! Her roads already belong to the enemy! Holy Inana has given over mighty Aratta to the lord of Kulaba. Holy Inana now has her favourable gaze turned towards this man, who sent a messenger to make this harsh truth as clear as the light of Utu. Where will the misery of Aratta take us? For how long must we suffer this yoke? Because of this terrible famine, must we prostrate ourselves before the lord of Kulaba in our hunger?"
The lord of Aratta then entrusted the messenger with his word, like an important tablet: "Messenger! Speak to your king, the lord of Kulaba, and tell him: a dog that is not black, nor white; a dog that is not brown, nor red; a dog that is not cream, nor multicoloured; let him give you such a dog! My dog will compete with his dog, and the strongest one will become known! Tell him that."
When this was said, the messenger departed like a flash, that he might bring the news to the brickwork of Kulaba. He lifted his eyes like a goat on the mountains; he raised his head like a great snake. In the courtyard of Kulaba, he raised his head and recited the message of the lord of Aratta.
From his throne, [the lord of Kulaba] addressed him like a furious torrent: "Messenger! Tell this to the lord of Aratta: a cloth that is not black, nor white; a cloth that is not brown, nor red; a cloth that is not cream, nor multicoloured; I shall give him such a cloth! My dog, embraced by Enlil, I shall also send to him. My dog will compete with his dog, and the strongest one will become known! Tell him that.
"Further, tell him this, and repeat it: he must cease this evasiveness immediately. His people will go before him like sheep and, like a shepherd, he will follow them. When he does, the holy mountain of lapis lazuli must submit before him like a crushed reed. They shall pile up shining gold and silver for Inana, mistress of the E-ana shrine, in the courtyard of Aratta.
"Thirdly, tell him this: lest I scatter the people from his city like a pigeon from a tree or a bird from its nest, lest I make commerce of them, lest I cause them to be carried away on the winds, then, when he arrives, bringing stones down from the mountains, he will build for me the shrines of Eridu, the Abzu and the E-nun. He will decorate its structure with clay from the mountains, and its shadow will spread out over all the Land. Let Nudimud's hymn be proclaimed to him; tell him this."
The lord's speech was great, but its meaning lofty; the messenger's mouth was heavy, and he could not repeat it. Because the messenger's mouth was heavy, and he could not repeat it, the lord of Kulaba kneaded some clay and put words on it, like a tablet. Before that day, words had not been put on clay, but when Utu arose on that day, so it was. The lord of Kulaba put words on a tablet, so it was.
The messenger, like a bird flapping its wings; fast, like a wolf chasing a goat, climbed five, six, seven mountains, laid his eyes upon Aratta and approached. He joyfully stood in the courtyard of Aratta, and spoke with the authority of his king. He released the message in his heart, and spoke to the lord of Aratta:
"Your father, my king, has sent me to you; the lord of Uruk and Kulaba has sent me to you."
[The lord replied:] "Whatever your king has to say, what is it he has to say to me?"
[The messenger spoke:] "This is what my king has to say: my king is a mighty meš tree, the child of Enlil. This tree has grown so tall, it links the heavens and the Earth. Its canopy brushes the heavens, and its roots are anchored in the Earth. He who is radiant in lordship and kingship, Enmerkar child of Utu, gave to me this tablet.
"Lord of Aratta, when you have looked upon this tablet, when you have understood this message, then whatever you have to say to me on this matter, let me announce the good news in the E-ana sanctuary; good news to the son of he with the beard of lapis lazuli, whom was birthed by the good cow in the mountain of pure me, who was raised on Aratta's soil, who suckled of the good cow, who is well suited for lordship in Kulaba, Enmerkar child of Utu, in his ĝipar shrine which bears fruit like a meš tree; let me take this word to my king, the lord of Kulaba."
After he had spoken, the lord of Aratta took the baked clay. He looked over the tablet, but the words were but scratches; he frowned. The lord of Aratta looked at the baked clay.
At that moment, the lord fit for the crown of lordship, the child of Enlil, Iškur, thundered around the heavens and the Earth, roaring like a lion, causing a terrible storm. He made the mountains tremble and shook the hillsides; the terrifying radiance of his breast caused the mountains, the parched flanks of Aratta, to sing out in joy. Wheat and chickpeas sprang forth, growing into the granary of Aratta; this was brought before the lord of Aratta and piled up in the courtyard. The lord of Aratta beheld the wheat while the messenger looked on in amazement.
The lord of Aratta called to the messenger: "Her Majesty, Inana, mistress of all the lands, has not abandoned Aratta to the yoke of Uruk! She has not abandoned her E-zagin to steal it away for the E-ana; she has not abandoned the mountain of the radiant me to steal it for the brickwork of Kulaba; has not abandoned her delicate bed for the flowery bed; she has not abandoned the radiance of her lord to give it to the lord of Uruk and Kulaba.
"Inana, mistress of all the nations, has surrounded Aratta on both its flanks with great walls of water. Its people stand apart from all others; they have been chosen by Dumuzi among all the nations, they are steadfast in Inana's holy words. Let now the wise dog and the dog of Dumuzi tear into one another! The ones who stood firmly before the flood; after the rushing over of the Flood, Inana, mistress of all the nations, through her great love for Dumuzi, sprinkled them with the water of life and subjugated the Land to them."
As the wise dog came forth, his head was covered in a royal turban, and a lion's skin was wrapped around his body. After raising his head, he made to strike Dumuzi's dog, but Inana stepped forward, a beautiful song in her heart. Her song was pleasing to her spouse, Ama-ušumgal-ana, and since that day, she has perfected it, singing it in the holy ear, the ear of Dumuzi, and letting the words be known.
The wise lady, approaching the mountain of the shining me, approached [Enmerkar] like a young woman; she had painted her eyes in seduction, adorned a pure white robe, and put on the true crown which sparkled like moonlight. She called her spouse, Enmerkar, to occupy the throne with her; when she stood up, ewes and their lambs were abundant for Aratta, goats and their kids were abundant for Aratta, cows and their calves were abundant for Aratta, donkeys and their foals were abundant for Aratta. In Aratta, the people say: "let it all be gathered and heaped up in the granaries, for the abundance is truly your abundance!"
[The wise lady spoke:] "The people of Aratta chant songs of joy; their anundance is truly your abundance. In this land, granted to you by Enlil, may my luxuriousness be proclaimed. Their father, the lord of Aratta, was not fertile, he produced no issue. Enlil, king of all the lands, has now assigned tasks to all the people of Aratta. Their task is the preparing of gold and lapis lazuli for trade; those who tend the fruit-bearing trees and bushes, they shall heap up this fruit. They shall dig up perfect lapis lazuli, they shall pick the succulent reeds, and they shall heap them up in the courtyard of the E-ana shrine for Inana, mistress of the E-ana.
"Now, my king, I shall offer you advice; may you know it truly. Let the people choose a man from a foreign land; the people of Aratta shall sing out your praises."
In that city, may festivals never cease in honour of the great gods; may libations be poured out every day; may the abundance of the people go on without end.