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!)
(mixed-breed demigods in teal…)
Say to Aradju: this is what Shulgi, your lord, says:
The man to whom I have sent you is not your subordinate — he will not accept orders from your hand!
How can you ignore what he himself has done too, and that it is indeed so?
As I myself ordered, you were to secure the provinces,
and to correctly guide the people and secure the foundations of the provinces.
When you approach the cities of the provinces, inform yourself precisely of their intentions,
and inform yourself of the words of their dignitaries.
Let my roar be emitted over all the lands.
Let my powerful arm, my heroic arm, fall upon all the lands.
Let my storm be released over the Land.
Make the (Amorites?) disappear into the desert, and the robbers into the fields!
Until you reach Apillaca, my ‘Sage of the Assembly’, (missing)
Let (missing).
That was how I had instructed you.
Why have you not acted as I ordered you?
If I do not make my ‘Sage of the Assembly’ feel just as important as I am,
if he does not sit on a throne on a dais, furnished with a high-quality cloth cover,
if his feet do not rest on a golden footstool, if he is not allowed by his own highest authority
both to appoint and then to remove a governor from his function as governor, an official from his charge,
if he does not kill or blind anyone, if he does not elevate his favorite over others —
how else can he secure the provinces?
If you truly love me, you will not bear him a grudge!
You are important, and you even know the soldiers that are at Apillaca’s disposal.
Your eyes have learnt something about Apillaca’s men, and about Apillaca’s heroism.
If you, Aradju and Apillaca, are indeed my servants,
you should both pay attention to my written communications.
Come to an understanding, you two!
Secure the foundations of the provinces! It is urgent!
That very interesting letter, sums up the situation for king Shulgi, pretty well.
Letter from Shulgi to Puzur-Shulgi about work on the fortress Igi-hursanga: translation
The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature
(gods in blue …mixed-breed demigods in teal…)
Version A
SEGMENT A
(shaved Shulgi, bald-headed High-Priest of Nannar, King of Ur)
1-3 Say to Puzur-Culgi, the commander ……: this is what Culgi, your lord, says:
4-8 When I had …… the fortress Igi-hursaja,
(Enki, Anu in his winged sky-disc, Enlil, Apkulla eagles / pilots, insignificant non-royal identities on each end)
and An (Anu) and Enlil had …… supreme rule over all the foreign lands
and the widespread people, the cities and the Land ……,
and the people of the widespread Land lay …….
1 line fragmentary
unknown no. of lines missing
SEGMENT B
1 They should mobilise all these cities.
2-6 When the master-builder (?) has taken up the work concerned,
he is to re-establish securely any place where the fortification has fallen into ruins.
Let him reinforce and also rebuild it.
The neglected work load is to be completed within one month;
I shall be questioning him about this work.
7-11 …… the Tidnum have returned (?) from their mountain land.
I am therefore setting over you Lu-Nanna,
the ruler of the province of Zimudar, together with his troops (?).
There is for you …… together with his …….
There is not for him …….
1 line fragmentary
13-14 May …… be sent when (?) …… is completed.
15-17 Should Lu-Nanna, the ruler of the province of Zimudar, together with his troops, abandon you,
then you and Aradju should not turn aside (1 ms. has instead: should not feel constrained (?)).
18-21 The orders are rigorous: you should not neglect your work load.
They are to proceed with the building work by night and in the heat of noon.
You will not be sleeping during the night or in the heat of noon!
You should know this!
It is urgent!
Version B
1-2 Say to Puzur-Numucda: this is what Culgi, your lord, says:
3-7 When I had built the great fortress Igi-hursaja and An and Enlil had given to me the ……
over all the foreign lands and the widespread people, each of their towns and all their provinces,
and the people of the widespread Land lay in green meadows.
I made them rest (?) in spacious habitations, in peaceful dwelling places.
8-13 As for their men and women: the man among them goes wherever he pleases,
and the woman with (?) spindle and hair clasp goes wherever she pleases.
After they had set up stock-pens in the vastness of the desert, and established their tents and camps,
the workmen and the laborers spend the days in the fields.
14-15 In order that the ruler and the general manager can build everything for you concerning the fortress,
carry out this work on the fortress now.
The reputation of this fortress shall not be diminished.
16-19 By consulting omens and according to my heart’s desire (?)
I have benefitted (?) the life of the troops and the province …….
Now the troops have arrived.
As for the work on this fortress, the men are to proceed with the building work on it.
20-22 Now I have sent Aradju to you.
Let the ruler and the general manager bring these men.
They are to mobilise all the settlements.
23-27 The master builder (?) has taken up his work.
Where substantial work has been neglected, let him return to it.
He is to reinforce and rebuild it.
He is to complete the fortress within one month.
Let him not question this assignment.
28-30 May Lu-Nanna, the ruler of the province of Zimudar, go to join his troops.
He certainly has flour provisions (?) with him.
He should not be deterred by hardship.
31 When the fortress is completed, a letter from the two of you should reach me (?).
32-36 When you have seen for yourselves,
let Lu-Nanna, the ruler of the province of Zimudar, proceed to his troops.
You and Aradju should not delay them!
Let the building work proceed both by night and by the noonday heat.
Your (?) orders are rigorous, and you should not give up this work load.
It is urgent!