As described on the page Adventures in Cuneiform Writing, Loring C. gave me a Gudean foundation peg for my birthday. It's what started my interest in Sumerian studies. I wrote this tablet as a way of thanking her. Having to learn the Sumerian language well enough to compose this tablet is why I was able to translate the story of The Great Fatted Bull.
The front of the tablet takes the form of a votive tablet dedicated to a goddess. The back of the tablet is a brief note to a distant girlfriend.
The front of the tablet. Shown actual size (approx. 4" x 2.75"). Enlarge.
Transliteration: The
Sumerian words are spelled phonetically. The numeric subscripts of the signs
are not included. I deliberately chose not to use the standard Sumerian conventions of sign spacing. For instance, on a line with only three signs, one sign would be at the beginning, one in the middle, and one at the end. This shows that no signs were accidentally omitted. I chose to group all of the signs together at the beginning of the line, like in English.
(front)
Dingir La-ur-en nin-gu
(1) (2)
Ki-ang ga-a-ra
Gal-an-zu za-e me-en
Nisaba a-gin
Geshtug-ga
U sag-ga
Ku dingir lamma
Hi-li guru munus
Dur za-e me-en
An ki dal-ba-na
(back)
Dingir La-ur-en La-bi tur Shag-gu dug-a-ra Za-e ra ki-ang gu gen Za-e ga haza te Ta sud-am
(1) Diĝir (pronounced dingir) denotes divinity. It usually isn’t said
when read aloud, but it is pronounced on this tablet because it scans better.
(2) I had to convert Loring to Lauren (La-ur-en)
because the there is no “o” in the Sumerian language.
Translation:
To Loring, my lady (1) Beloved to me. You are wise Like Nisaba (2) Intelligent And kind. Bright spirit Beautiful woman You are the bond Between heaven and earth.
(3)
Loring Little darling Dear to my heart. I send you my love. I hold you near From afar.
(1)
Tablets dedicated to a goddess often used this form of address. For
example, “To the goddess Inanna, My Lady.” Nin also means eresh, meaning "queen."
(2) Nisaba
is the goddess who invented writing and the patron deity of the scribes.
(3) Dur-an-ki: A temple named “The Bond of Heaven and Earth.”
