Reading akkadian PRayeRs & Hymns An Introduction

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READING AKKADIAN PRAYERS AND HYMNS: AN INTRODUCTION
dess to intercede with a god she can influence (line 4) on behalf of a supplicant
(see, e.g., the prayer to Gula on page 243).
Interestingly, more than half of the prayer (lines 8–19) consists of the supplicant’s
promise to give thanks to the goddess after she has interceded for him
(notice the inūma, “when, at that time,” in lines 8 and 15). Giving thanks is both
material and verbal: the supplicant will bring a sacrifice for Ishum and a sheep
for Ninmug, but he will also “proclaim the praises” (dalīlī dalālu) of both deities.
The latter phrase is something one sees quite often in various Akkadian prayers.
ESSENTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Ninmug. A. Cavigneaux and M. Krebernik. “Nin-muga, Nin-zed, Ninzadim
? .” RlA 9 (2001), 471–73.
Text. Edition: W. H. van Soldt. Letters in the British Museum, Part 2. AbB 13.
Leiden: Brill, 1994, no. 164 (pp. 138–39). Translation: Foster, 219. Study: Karel
van der Toorn. Family Religion in Babylonia, Syria, and Israel: Continuity and
Change in the Forms of Religious Life. SHCANE 7. Leiden: Brill, 1996, 130–33. i
i Although not a study of the present letter-prayer, van der Toorn presents a brief but helpful
general discussion of private OB letter-prayers.
1. a-n[a] be-el-ti-ia d NI[N].MU[G] 2. qí-bí-ma 3. um-ma d NIN.URTA-qar-ra-ad wa-ra-
ad-ki-ma 4. qá-ba-ki d i-šum i-še-mi 5. a-na an-ni-tim ḫi-ṭi-tim 6. ša ub-l[a]m qá-ta-ti-
ia 7. it-ti d i-šum li-qé-a
Lines 1–3: The first three lines of the text show a typical epistolary opening formula.
Ana, “to.” Bēltum, “lady,” which in this case is a goddess. d NIN.MUG = Ninmug, the goddess
to whom the letter is directed. Qabûm, “to say, to speak.” Umma is a particle that introduces
direct speech. One may translate it “thus says” or “PN says as follows.” The one
speaking is identified after the particle. Ninurta-qarrad is the proper name of the supplicant.
Wardum, “servant.”
ana bēltīya Ninmug qibī-ma umma Ninurta-qarrad waradkī-ma
Lines 4–7: Qabâki is an infinitive with a 2fs pronominal suffix; it is the object of the
verb at the end of line 4. Ishum is the husband of Ninmug and the god with whom she is
requested to intercede. Šemûm, “to hear, to listen to.” Line 4 provides the pre-existing basis
for the petition in lines 5–7. Annītum, “this.” Ḫiṭītum, “shortfall, loss, sin.” Ša introduces a
subordinate clause that modifies ḫiṭītim. Wabālum often means “to carry, to bring” (see line