CM 7 (Tummal Chronicle)

This chronicle is a Sumerian text on the history of the Tummal sanctuary in Nippur, where the goddess Ninlil was venerated, the divine spouse of Enlil. The last kings mentioned belong to the Third Dynasty of Ur. Ten copies are known, all written in the Old-Babylonian period. Only some beginnings of lines of one column on the obverse of the tablet are legible.

For a very brief introduction to the literary genre of chronicles, go here. More information can be found in Jean-Jacques Glassner, Mesopotamian Chronicles (Atlanta, 2004), in which this is text CM 7.

Translation

[1-4] In his city of Nippur, Enmen-baragesi, the king, built Enlil's temple; Aka, Enmen-baragesi's son, made the Tummal splendid and introduced Ninlil there.

[5-9] For the first time the Tummal fell into ruin. Mes-ane-pada, the king, built the Buršušua of Enlil's temple; Mes-ki'ag-nuna, the son of Mes-ane-pada, made the Tummal splendid and introduced Ninlil there.

[10-14] For the second time, the Tummal fell into ruin. Gilgameš built the Dunumunbura, Enlil's dais; Ur-lugal, the son of Gilgameš, made the Tummal splendid and introduced Ninlil there.

[15-19] For the third time, the Tummal fell into ruin. Nanne designed the ornamental garden of Enlil's temple; Mes-ki'ag-Nanna, the son of Nanne, made the Tummal splendid and introduced Ninlil there.

[20-24] For the fourth time, the Tummal fell into ruin. Ur-Nammu^note[Ruled 2113-2095.] built the Ekur; Šulgi^note[Ruled 2095-2047.] the son of Ur-Nammu, made the Tummal splendid and introduced Ninlil there.

[25-28] For the fifth time, the Tummal fell into ruin. From the year Amar-Sin became king.^note[2047 BCE.] until the year of Ibbi-Sin, the king, during which En-amgal-ana, the en-priest of Inanna of Uruk, was chosen by the oracular lamb,^note[2028 BCE.] Ninlil went several times to the Tummal.

[29] Written according to the word of Lu-Inanna, Enlil's head saddler.

[30] šbi-Erra built the Ešutum of Enlil's Ekura'igigala.