Letter from Nanna-manshum to the Goddess Ninisina (Bau) About His Unsuccessful Medical Treatment: translation

 

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue)

1-11 Speak to Ninisina (Bau / Gula), first-born child of holy An (Anu),

eminent among ladies, …… of lord Nunamnir (Enlil);

who perfects the divine powers (alien technology) of E-kur (Enlil’s home),

4b - Enlil & spouse Ninlil (images of Commander Enlil & equal spouse Ninlil on city wall)

…… of great mother Ninlil (Enlil’s spouse),

with notions in her heart which are expressed (?);

wife of the great hero, lord Pabilsaj (Ninurta), youth who has no rival;

1b - Bau, Gula - Ninurta's spouse, Anu's daughter (Princess Bau & her nephew-spouse Crown Prince Ninurta)

holy Ninisina, you reapply (?) a dressing to soothe the dark place of sores

which no one can understand; mother of the Land,

great physician of the black-headed,

(slien Dr. Damu & mother physician Bau administer medical treatment)

incantation priestess of the widespread people — from the namtar demon and ……

which are settled in a man’s body and which no one knows how to expel,

 (bottom panel: Damu & mother Bau with patient)

lady of the E-gal-mah, with the help of …… you will make that person well again.

…… to keep a person alive ……,

…… who knows and listens, to my lady:

12-13 This is what Nanna-mancum, the scribe, son of Ilcu-muballi¡,

your servant, says:

14-20 When (?) …… took care (?), she placed on my (?) …….

The barber ……, the throne-bearer of the gods has given me …….

Nine times she (?) has placed on my head …… and battle-axe.

…… gathered in Nibru and Isin.

They approached me but did not give their …… for my life.

They have applied and created a dressing which does not hold.

She (?) made a fattened (?) dove come (?), for my …….