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| dialogue_between_a_man_and_his_god [2008/04/13 06:06] – cale | dialogue_between_a_man_and_his_god [2016/11/22 19:26] (current) – [Bibliography] englund |
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| === A Dialogue Between a Man and His God === | ==== A Dialogue Between a Man and His God ==== |
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| == Introduction == | === Introduction === |
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| This text comes from Tablet AO 4462 among a collection of Old Babylonian literary texts at the Louvre. Scholars generally date this text to the late Old Babylonian period, no later than the fall of the First Dynasty of Babylon. | This text comes from Tablet AO 4462 among a collection of Old Babylonian literary texts at the Louvre. Scholars generally date this text to the late Old Babylonian period, no later than the fall of the First Dynasty of Babylon. |
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| The structure of "A Dialogue Between a Man and His God" is broken into 10 clear strophes, each of varying length. The purpose and lay-out of the text's structure is still debated among scholars. Due to the broken and fragmented middle section, a significant portion of the text and its intent is lost, making many aspects of this tablet irretrievable. | The structure of "A Dialogue Between a Man and His God" is broken into 10 clear strophes, each of varying length. The purpose and lay-out of the text's structure is still debated among scholars. Due to the broken and fragmented middle section, a significant portion of the text and its intent is lost, making many aspects of this tablet irretrievable. |
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| The text itself moves between narrative and speech throughout. The appeal begins by describing the dismal situation of the man, followed by his specific complaints. In the latter half of the text is the god's speech of hope and assistance. | The text itself moves between narrative and speech throughout. The appeal begins by describing the dismal situation of the man, followed by his specific complaints. In the latter half of the text is the god's speech of hope and assistance. |
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| The credit for this text is attributed to a scribe by the name of Kalbanum, whose name was erased from the end of the document. | The credit for this text is attributed to a scribe by the name of Kalbanum, whose name was erased from the end of the document. |
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| == Transliteration and Translation == | === Transliteration and Translation === |
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| === First Strophe === | == First Strophe == |
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| Obverse | Obverse |
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| 1. et,-lu-um ru-i-isz a-na i-li-szu i-ba-ak-ki u<sub>2</sub>-te-ne-en-ne-en iq-[bi<sup>?</sup> ...] szu\\ :: There was a young man who was weeping to his god like a friend, constantly praying, he [...] his [...] ([[#Notes|Notes]]) | 1. //et,-lu-um ru-i-isz a-na i-li-szu i-ba-ak-ki u<sub>2</sub>-te-ne-en-ne-en iq-[bi<sup>?</sup> ...] szu//\\ :: A young man was weeping to his god like a friend, constantly praying, he [...] his [...] ([[#Notes|Notes]]) |
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| 2. ha-mi-it, li#-ib-bu-usz du-ul-la-szu ma-ru-is,<sup>!?</sup>-ma\\ :: His heart was aflame, his toil grim. ([[#Notes|Notes]]) | 2. //ha-mi-it, li#-ib-bu-usz du-ul-la-szu ma-ru-is,<sup>!?</sup>-ma//\\ :: His heart was aflame, his toil grim. ([[#Notes|Notes]]) |
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| 3. i-ta-a'-da-ar ka-ba-at-ta-szu i-ni-in-hi\\ :: His liver was grieving from its suffering. ([[#Notes|Notes]]) | 3. i-ta-a'-da-ar ka-ba-at-ta-szu i-ni-in-hi\\ :: His liver was grieving from its suffering. ([[#Notes|Notes]]) |
| ===== Notes ===== | ===== Notes ===== |
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| 1. //u<sub>2</sub>-te-ne-en-ne-en//: see AHw under utne:nu(m) II “flehen, beten” = “to plea, to pray” (AHw 1444b). [[#First Strophe|(Return to text)]] | 1. //u<sub>2</sub>-te-ne-en-ne-en//: see AHw under utnēnu(m) II “flehen, beten” = “to plea, to pray” (AHw 1444b). [[#First Strophe|(Return to text)]] |
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| 3. //i-ta-a’-da-ar//: see AHw under ada:ru, “finster sein; (sein) fürchten” = “to be dark; to be afraid,” Ntn-stem (AHw 11b-12a); although the precise derivational meaning of i-ta-a’-da-ar is somewhat unclear, Foster's translation seems to capture the idea of the darkness of the liver as a metaphor for a negative emotional state: “His feelings were somber from misery” (Foster 2005, 148); the libbum “heart” and kabattum “liver” often appear together as the two seats of human emotion; the same pair in more or less the same function also regularly appear in Sumerian literature as ša<sub>3</sub> “heart” and ur<sub>5</sub> “liver” respectively. [[#First Strophe|(Return to text)]] | |
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| 4. //i-ni-iš-ma ik-ta-mi-us//: presumably verbal hendiadys in which the first of the two verbs describes the manner in which the second takes place; this would able reinforce the reading of ik-ta-mi-us as a Gt preterite rather than a G perfect. [[#First Strophe|(Return to text)]] | 3. //i-ta-a’-da-ar//: see AHw under adāru, “finster sein; (sein) fürchten” = “to be dark; to be afraid,” Ntn-stem (AHw 11b-12a); although the precise derivational meaning of i-ta-a’-da-ar is somewhat unclear, Foster's translation seems to capture the idea of the darkness of the liver as a metaphor for a negative emotional state: “His feelings were somber from misery” (Foster 2005, 148); the libbum “heart” and kabattum “liver” often appear together as the two seats of human emotion; the same pair in more or less the same function also regularly appear in Sumerian literature as ša<sub>3</sub> “heart” and ur<sub>5</sub> “liver” respectively. [[#First Strophe|(Return to text)]] |
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| | 4. //i-ni-iš-ma ik-ta-mi-us//: presumably verbal hendiadys in which the first of the two verbs describes the manner in which the second takes place; this would able reinforce the reading of ik-ta-mi-us as a Gt preterite rather than a G perfect. [[#First Strophe|(Return to text)]] |
| ===== Bibliography ===== | ===== Bibliography ===== |
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| * Bottéro, J., <i>Annuaire</i>, ÉPHÉ 4e Section (1964-65), 128-130. | * Bottéro, J., //Annuaire//, //ÉPHÉ 4e Section// (1964-65), 128-130. |
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| * Lambert, W.G., <i>Studies Reiner</i>, 187-202 (edition, with collations) | * Lambert, W.G., //Studies Reiner//, 187-202 (edition, with collations) |
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| * Lambert, W.G., BWL, 10. | * Lambert, W.G., //BWL//, 10. |
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| * Lambert, W.G., OrNS 40 (1971), 96. | * Lambert, W.G., //OrNS// 40 (1971), 96. |
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| * Nougayrol, <i>Revue Biblique</i> 59 (1952), pl. vii and viii (text) | * Nougayrol, //Revue Biblique// 59 (1952), pl. vii and viii (text) |
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| * von Soden, TUAT III/2, 135-149 (translation) | * von Soden, //TUAT// III/2, 135-149 (translation) |
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| * von Soden, MDOG 96 (1965), 46-48. | * von Soden, //MDOG// 96 (1965), 46-48. |
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| * von Soden, OrNS 26 (1957), 315-319 (with collations) | * von Soden, //OrNS// 26 (1957), 315-319 (with collations) |
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| (return to [[Old Babylonian Akkadian Literature ]]) | (return to [[Old Babylonian Akkadian Literature ]]) |
