(return to [[Old Babylonian literature (Akkadian)]])
=== To Ishtar ===
Originally published in 1925 by F. Thureau-Dangin, "Un hymne à Ishtar de la Haute Époque Babylonienne" is "one of a small number lyrical texts from the Old Babylonian period" (Thureau-Dangin 1925, 169). Thureau-Dangin goes on to note that the most important (and famous) text in the genre is [[The Agushaya Poem]].
It consists of fourteen strophes of four lines each, of which the last four strophes represent a prayer for the well-being of [[Ammiditana]], the ninth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon, who reigned ca. 1683-1647 BC. These fourteen strophes are then followed by a refrain or chorus, which is described by the Sumerian phrase gisz-gi-gal2-bi, a term that corresponds to Akkadian mehru(m), which is presumably the basis of Foster's translation of the term as "antiphon."
=== Transliteration and translation ===
== Strophe 1 ==
1. il#-ta-am zu-um-ra-a ra-szu-ub-ti i-la-tim\\
:: Of the goddess, the most fearsome of the goddesses, sing! ([[#Notes|Notes]])
2. li-it-ta-i-id be-li-it ni-szi ra-bi-it i-gi-gi\\
:: May the lady of the people, the most important of the Igigi, be praised! ([[#Notes|Notes]])
3. dinanna zu-um-ra ra-szu-ub-ti i-la-tim li-it-ta-i-id\\
:: Sing of Ishtar! May the most fearsome of the goddesses be praised! ([[#Notes|Notes]])
4. be-li-it i-szi-i ra-bi-it i-gi-gi\\
:: The lady of the people, the most important of the Igigi ([[#Notes|Notes]])
=== Strophe 2 ===
5. sza-at me-le-ṣi-im ru-a3-ma-am la-ab-sza-at\\
:: The joyful one, clothed in attractiveness ([[#Notes|Notes]])
6. za-a’-na-at in-bi mi-ki-a-am u3 ku-uz-ba-am\\
:: Decked out in allure, seductive charm and sex appeal ([[#Notes|Notes]])
7. dinanna me-le-ṣi-im ru-a3-ma-am la-ab-sza-at\\
:: Ishtar, the joyful one, clothed in attractiveness ([[#Notes|Notes]])
8. za-a’-na-at in-bi mi-ki-a-am u3 ku-uz-ba-am\\
:: Decked out in allure, seductive charm and sex appeal ([[#Notes|Notes]])
=== Strophe 3 ===
9. [sza]-ap-ti-in du-usz-szu-pa-at ba-la-ṭu2-um pi2-i-sza\\
:: Her lips drip with honey, her mouth is life itself ([[#Notes|Notes]])
10. si-im-ti-isz-sza i-ha-an-ni-i-ma ṣi-ha-tum\\
:: Laughter flourishes in her . . . ([[#Notes|Notes]])
11. szar-ha-at i-ri-mu ra-mu-u2 re-szu-usz-sza\\
:: She is majestic, . . . on her head ([[#Notes|Notes]])
12. ba-ni-a3-a szi-im-ta-a3-sza bi-it-ra-a-ma i-na-sza szi-it-a-ra\\
:: Her . . . are beautiful, her eyes are multicolored and iridescent ([[#Notes|Notes]])
=== Strophe 4 ===
13. el-tu-um isz-ta-a3 sza i-ba-asz-szi mi-il2-ku-um\\
:: The pure one, who possesses counsel ([[#Lines 11-20|Notes]])
14. szi-ma-at mi-im-ma-mi qa2-ti-isz-sza ta-am-ha-at\\
:: The fate of any given thing . . . in her hand ([[#Lines 11-20|Notes]])
15. na-ap-la-su-usz-sza ba-ni bu-a-ru-u2\\
:: At her glance, serenity comes into being ([[#Lines 11-20|Notes]])
16. ba-asz-tum ma-asz-ra-hu la-ma-as-su-um sze-e-du-um\\
:: Vitality, good health, good luck and spiritual protection ([[#Lines 11-20|Notes]])
=== Strophe 5 ===
17. ta-ar-ta-mi te-esz-me-e ri-tu-u2-mi ṭu-u2-bi\\
:: She loves obedience, mutual acts of love, and good will ([[#Lines 11-20|Notes]])
18. u3 mi-it-gu-ra-am te-be-el szi-i-ma\\
:: She is the one who demands complaisance ([[#Lines 11-20|Notes]])
19. ar-da-at ta-at-ta-ab um-ma ta-ra-asz-szi\\
:: The maiden who . . . will come into the possession of a mother ([[#Lines 11-20|Notes]])
20. i-za-ak-ka-ar-szi i-ni-szi i-na-ab-bi szu-um-sza\\
:: He will mention her among the women and call out her name ([[#Lines 11-20|Notes]])
=== Strophe 6 ===
21. ''a-ia-um na-ar-bi-a3-asz i-sza-an-na-an ma-an-nu-um''\\
:: Who can rival such immensity? ([[#Notes|Notes]])
22. ''ga-asz-ru ṣi-i-ru szu-u2-pu-u2 pa-ar-ṣu2-u2-sza''\\
:: Superior strength, loftiness and the ability to make things come forth are her divine attributes ([[#Notes|Notes]])
23. dinanna ''na-ar-bi-a3-asz i-sza-an-na-an ma-an-nu-um''\\
:: Who can rival the immensity of Ishtar? ([[#Notes|Notes]])
24. ''ga-asz-ru ṣi-i-ru szu-u2-pu-u2 pa-ar-ṣu2-u2-sza''\\
:: Superior strength, loftiness and the ability to make things come forth are her divine attributes ([[#Notes|Notes]])
=== Strophe 7 ===
25. bi-a-at i-ni-li a-ta-ar na-az-za-zu-usz\\
:: She is the one who . . . among the gods ([[#Lines 21-30|Notes]])
26. ka-ab-ta-at a-ma-as-sa3 el-szu-nu ha-ab-ta-at-ma\\
:: Her utterance is weighty, it is what hangs over them ([[#Lines 21-30|Notes]])
27. dinanna i-ni-li a-ta-ar na-az-za-zu-usz\\
:: Ishtar is the one who . . . among the gods ([[#Lines 21-30|Notes]])
28. ka-ab-ta-at a-ma-as-sa3 el-szu-nu ha-ab-ta-at-ma\\
:: Her utterance is weighty, it is what hangs over them ([[#Lines 21-30|Notes]])
=== Strophe 8 ===
29. szar-ra-as-su2-un usz-ta-na-ad-da-nu si-iq-ri-i-sza\\
::
:: She is their queen, they discuss her commands (Foster)
30. ku-ul-la-as-su-nu sza-asz ka-am-su-u2-szi\\
::
:: All of them bow down before her (Foster)
31. na-an-na-ri-i-sza i-la-qu2-u2-szi-im\\
::
:: They go to her (in) her radiance, (Foster)
32. isz-szu-u2 u3 a-wi-lum pa-al-hu-szi-i-ma\\
::
:: Women and man fear her too. (Foster)
=== Strophe 9 ===
rev.
1. (= 33) ''pu-uh-ri-isz-szu-un e-te-el qa2-bu-u2-sza szu-tu-ur2''\\
::
:: In their assembly her utterance is noble, surpassing (Foster)
2. (= 34) ''a-na an-nim szar-ri-szu-nu ma-la-am asz-ba-as-su-nu''\\
::
:: She is seated among them as an equal to Anu their king (Foster)
3. (= 35) ''uz-na-am ne-me-qi2-im ha-si-i-sa-am er-sze-et''\\
::
:: She is wise in understanding, reflection, insight. (Foster)
4. (= 36) ''im-ta-al-li-i-ku szi-i u3 ha-mu-usz''
::
:: Together they make their decisions, she and her lord. (Foster)
=== Strophe 10 ===
5. (= 37) ''ra-mu-u2-ma isz-ti-ni-isz pa-ra-ak-ka-am''
::
:: There they sit together on the dias (Foster)
6. (= 38) ''i-ge-e-gu-un-ni-im szu-ba-at re-sza-tim''
::
:: In the temple chamber, delightful abode, (Foster)
7. (= 39) ''mu-ut-ti-isz-szu-un i-lu-u2 na-zu-iz-zu-u2''
::
:: The gods stand in attendance before them (Foster)
8. (= 40) ''ep-szi-isz pi2-szu-nu ba-szi-a3-a uz-na-szu-un''
::
:: Their ears awaiting what those mouths will command. (Foster)
=== Strophe 11 ===
9. (= 41) ''szar-ru-um mi-ig-ra-szu-un na-ra-am li-ib-bi-szu-un''
::
:: Their favorite king, whom their hearst love most, (Foster)
10. (= 42)
::
:: Ever offers in splendor his pure offerings (Foster)
11. (= 43) ''am-mi-di-ta-na el-la-am ni-qi2-i qa-ti-i-szu''
::
:: Ammiditana offers in plenty before them (Foster)
12. (= 44) ''ma-ah-ri-iszu-un u2-sze-eb-bi-li-i u3 ia-li na-am-ra-i-i''
::
:: His personal, pure libation of cattle and fatted stags. (Foster)
=== Strophe 12 ===
13. (= 45) ''isz-ti an-nim ha-me-ri-i-sza te-te-er-sza-asz-szu-um''
::
:: She has asked of Anu her spouse long life hereafter for him (Foster)
14. (= 46) ''da-ri-a-am ba-la-ṭa-am ar-ka-am''
::
:: Many years of life for Ammiditana (Foster)
15. (= 47) ''ma-da-a-tim sza-na-at ba-la-a3-ṭi-im a-na am-mi-di-ta-na''
::
:: Has Ishtar rendered to him as her gift (Foster)
=== Strophe 13 ===
16. (= 48) ''tu-sza-at-li-im'' dinanna ''ta-at-ta-di-in''
::
:: By her command she gave him in submission (Foster)
17. (= 49) ''si-iq-ru-usz-sza tu-sza-ak-ni-sza-asz-szu-um''
::
:: The four world regions at his feet (Foster)
18. (= 50) ''ki-ib-ra-at ir-be2-e-em a-na sze-pi2-i-szu''
::
:: She harnessed the whole of the inhabited world to his yoke (Foster)
=== Strophe 14 ===
19. (= 51) ''u3 na-ap-ha-ar ka-li-szu-nu da-ad-mi''
::
:: What she desires, this song for her pleasure (Foster)
20. (= 52) ''ta-aṣ-ṣa-mi-su-nu-ti a-ni-ri-iszi-u2''
::
:: Is indeed well suited to his mouth (Foster)
21. (= 53) ''bi-be-el li-ib-bi-i-sza za-ma-ar la-le-e-sza''
::
:: he performed for her Ea's own word(s) (Foster)
22. (= 54) ''na-ṭu2-um-ma a-na pi2-i-szu si-iq-ri e2-a i-pu-is-si''
::
:: When he heard this song of her praise, (Foster)
23. (= 55) ''esz-me-e-ma ta-ni-it-ta-a-sza i-re-us-su''
::
:: Saying, "Let him live long," (Foster)
24. (= 56) ''li-ib-lu-uṭ-mi szar-ra-szu li-ra-am-szu ad-da-ri-isz''
::
:: may his (own) king always love him (Foster)
=== Antiphon ===
25. (= 57) dinanna ''a-na am-mi-di-ta-na szar-ri ra-i-mi-i-ki''
::
:: O Ishtar, grant long life enduring to Ammiditana (Foster)
26. (= 58) ''ar-ka-am da-ri-a-am ba-la-ṭa-am szu-ur2-ki li-ib-lu-uṭ''
::
:: the king who loves you, (long) may he live! (Foster)
27. (= 59) gisz-gi4-gal2-bi
::
:: Its antiphon (Foster)
== Notes ==
=== Lines 1-10 ===
1. ra-szu-ub-ti this is probably a form of raszubbatu(m) “Schauder und Ehrfurcht erregendes Aussehen“ = “looks that cause horror and respect” (AHw 962b-963a), although the doubled /b/ would normally prevent a construct form like raszubti. ([[#Strophe 1|Return to text]])
2. li-it-ta-i-id formally either the Gt preterite of na’a:du(m) “aufpassen; sich kümmern” = “to pay attention, to look out; worry about, take care of” (AHw 693a-b) or the Dtn preterite of nâdu “rühmen, preisen” = “to praise” (AHw 705a-b); Foster clearly adopts the latter with his translation of the verb as “let her be praised.” ([[#Strophe 1|Return to text]])
5. sza-at me-le-s,i-im von Soden lists me-le-s,i-im as one of only a handful of examples of me:les,u(m) “schwellende Kraft” = “swelling or increasing power” (AHw 643b); it is presumably the mapras-stem of ele:s,u(m) “schwellen; jubeln, jauchzen” = “swell, increase; rejoice, shout for joy” (AHw 200a). The mapras-stem would actually therefore suggest a translation like “she of the joyful place/instrument.”, an interesting ambiguity to say the least. ru-’a3-ma-am ru’amu(m) “Liebreiz (von Frau)” = “charm, attractiveness” (AHw 991a), derived from râmu(m) “to love”. ([[#Strophe 2|Return to text]])
6. za-a’-na-at za’a:nu(m) “ausgestattet, geschmückt sein” = “to be furnished; to be adorned, decorated” (AHw 1499a). in-bi inbu(m) “Frucht; Geschlechtskraft” = “fruit; sexual power, allure” (AHw 381b). mi-ki-a-am mikûm “verführerischer Reiz (einer Frau)” = “seductive charm (of a woman)” (AHw 652a); apparently a hapax. ([[#Strophe 2|Return to text]])
9. du-usz-szu-pa-at duszszupu(m) “gesüßt, seh süß” = “sweetened, very sweet” (AHw 179a), but as a denominative D-stem derived from diszpu(m) “honey”, it can simply be translated as “honeyed,” or more idiomatically “dripping with honey.” ([[#Strophe 3|Return to text]])
10. si-im-ti-isz-sza Formally either si:mtu(m) (derived from sia:mu(m) “to place, to establish,”) or simtu(m) “(Wesens-)Zugehörigkeit, Zugehöriges,” = “belonging to, appropriate to a particular entity” derived from wasa:mu(m) and often equated with Sumerian me-te (AHw 1045). i-ha-an-ni-i-ma hana:mum “reichlich anwachsen” = “begin to grow, grow together, take root” (AHw 320a); note as well AHw's listing under hanna:mu “sehr füllig” = “very abundant,” which makes reference to two occurrences of ha-an-na-ma-tu-um-ma in the well-known lists of Old Babylonian lyrics: KAR 158 ii 17 (AHw 321a). Thureau-Dangin translates the line as follows: “Sa parure excite l'admiration,” and then offers a more literal rendering in the footnote: “à sa parure (s')excite l'admiration” ([[#Strophe 3|Return to text]])
=== Lines 11-20 ===
12. szar-ha-at szara:hu(m) AHw has two distinct entries for this form: (i) “stolz, prächtig, herrlich sein” = “to be proud, splendid, majestic” and (ii) “herausziehen, auswählen” = “to pull out, to select,” but the former seems to fit the context here. ra-mu-u2 râmu (ass. ria:mu) “(be)schenken” = “to present (a gift), to give.” szi-it-a-ra szit’a:ru(m) / tit’a:ru “buntfarbig schillernd (Augen)” = “multicolored, iridescent (eyes).” ([[#Strophe 3|Return to text]])
16. bu-a-ru-u2 bu’a:ru(m) “Heiterkeit” = “cheerfulness, serenity” (AHw 135a). basztu(m) “Scham; Lebenskraft” = “shame; vitality“ (AHw 112a). maszrahu: (plural tantum) “blühende Gesundheit” = “blossoming good health” (AHw 629a), apparently a hapax legomenon. ([[#Strophe 5|Return to text]])
17. ''ta-ar-ta-mi'' “whispers” as suggested by von Soden 1977), 279; otherwise “mutual loves” according to Foster (2005, 88), but CAD T takes it as a predicate, translating this line: “she (Isztar) loves obedience, mutual love, and good will” (sub ''teszmû''). ''te-esz-me-e'' “compliance (with a god's or ruler's will), acceptance (of prayers) CAD T, p. 374. ''ri-tu-u2-mi'' ''ritu:mu(m)'' “gegenseitige Liebeserweisung” = “mutual or reciprocal display of love” (AHw 991a). ([[#Strophe 5|Return to text]])
18. ''mi-it-gu-ra-am'' ''mitga:ru(m)'' “sehr günstig” = “very favorable,” but written ŠE.GA, which should mean something like “agreeable, complaisant” (AHw 661b). ([[#Strophe 4|Return to text]])
19. ''ta-ra-asz-szi'' ''raszû'' “bekommen, erhalten, erwerben” = “to get, to receive, to win.” ([[#Strophe 5|Return to text]])
20. ''i-ni-szi'' Foster includes a note on the line as follows: “Construing ''i-ni-szi'' as ''in(a) iszszi''. For ''iszszu'' without a doubled consonant, compare ''i-szi-i'' in line 4” (Foster 2005, 88); ''iszszu'' “Frau, Weib” = ”woman, female.” ([[#Strophe 5|Return to text]])
=== Lines 21-30 ===
25. ''bi-a-at'' With respect to this word, Foster has the following note: “I follow here von Soden's emendation to ''sza!-at'', ZA 40 (1931), 195 note 4. Collation shows the copy to be exact. Hecker's proposal, ''Epik'', 79 note 2, ''ga!-sa!-at'', seems to me less likely because of the parallelism of the lines, which resembles that of ii (Foster 2005, 88). ([[#Strophe 7|Return to text]])
26. In a discussion of spirantization of /k/ to /h/, Moshe Held writes in reference to this line: “For other examples [of spirantization of k] see most recently Kraus, Edikt, p. 175. Note the parallelism kabtat / habtat in the OB hymn to Ishtar (RA, 22, p. 170, lines 26, 28) kabtat amassa elszunu habtat “Weighty is her command; she is more important than they.” We assume that the variant habtat (for kabtat) is due to its position in the sentence (‘sandhi’)” (Held 1961, 12). ([[#Strophe 7|Return to text]])
== Bibliography ==
*Held, Moshe. 1961. A Faithful Lover in an Old Babylonian Dialogue. Journal of Cuneiform Studies 15(1): 1-26.
*Thureau-Dangin, F. 1925. Un hymne à Isztar de la haute époque babylonienne. Revue d’Assyriologie et d’Archéologie Orientale 22(4): 169-177.
== Links ==
*[http://www.etana.org/abzu/fulldisplay.pl?SID=20070728745269775&code=etact&RC=5&Row=7&code=etact eTACT translation] (= Foster 2005, 85-88)
(return to [[Old Babylonian literature (Akkadian)]])