Geştin-ana

"…… beloved sister of Dumuzid , beloved …… of Durtur , …… seed implanted into the womb by a good bull, my lady, born to ladyship! With her aid the cattle-pen was filled with butter and cream, with her aid the sheepfold was long provided with milk. On the high plain, my ……, you are Ĝeštin-ana . O girl, …… indeed! Your little ones …… indeed! Unug …… indeed! Kulaba …… indeed! …… you are ……."

A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana J) (c.4.08.10) ·c.4.08.10 ·7 ·machine translation (etcsl)

"Bring, bring, bring my sister! Bring my Ĝeštin-ana , bring my sister! Bring my scribe proficient in tablets, bring my sister! Bring my singer expert in songs, bring my singer! Bring my perspicacious girl, bring my sister! Bring my wise woman who knows the meanings of dreams, bring my sister! I will relate the dream to her."

Dumuzid's dream (c.1.4.3) ·c.1.4.3 ·20 ·machine translation (etcsl)

I, Šulgi , the king whose name is very suitable for songs, intend to be praised in my prayers and hymns. At the command of my sister Ĝeštin-ana , my scholars and composers of …… have composed adab , tigi and malgatum hymns about my being the Nintur of all that is, about how wise I am in attending upon the gods, about how the god of intercession has given me favourable signs that years of abundance will elapse for me in due course.

A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi E) (c.2.4.2.05) ·c.2.4.2.05 ·21 ·machine translation (etcsl)

The lad raises his hands heavenward to Utu : "O Utu , I am your friend, I am a youth. Do you recognise me? Your sister, whom I married, descended to the underworld. Because she descended to the underworld, it was me that she was to hand over to the underworld as a substitute. O Utu , you are a just judge, don't disappoint me! Change my hands, alter my appearance, so that I may escape the clutches of my demons! Don't let them seize me! Like a saĝkal snake that slithers across the meadows and mountains, let me escape alive to the dwelling of my sister Ĝeštin-ana ."

Dumuzid and Ĝeštin-ana (c.1.4.1.1) ·c.1.4.1.1 ·32 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Utu accepted his tears. He changed his hands, he altered his appearance. Then like a saĝkal snake that slithers across the meadows and mountains, like a soaring falcon that can swoop down on a live (?) bird, Dumuzid escaped alive to the dwelling of his sister Ĝeštin-ana . Ĝeštin-ana looked at her brother. She scratched at her cheek: she scratched at her nose. She looked at her sides: she …… her garment. She recited a lament of misfortune for the unfortunate lad: "O my brother! O my brother, lad who has not fulfilled those days! O my brother, shepherd Ama-ušumgal-ana , lad who has not fulfilled those days and years! O my brother, lad who has no wife, who has no children! O my brother, lad who has no friend, who has no companion! O my brother, the lad who is not a comfort (?) to his mother!"

Dumuzid and Ĝeštin-ana (c.1.4.1.1) ·c.1.4.1.1 ·37 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Utu accepted his tears. He changed his hands, he altered his appearance. Then like a saĝkal snake that slithers across the meadows and mountains, like a soaring falcon that can swoop down on a live (?) bird, Dumuzid escaped alive to the dwelling of his sister Ĝeštin-ana . Ĝeštin-ana looked at her brother. She scratched at her cheek: she scratched at her nose. She looked at her sides: she …… her garment. She recited a lament of misfortune for the unfortunate lad: "O my brother! O my brother, lad who has not fulfilled those days! O my brother, shepherd Ama-ušumgal-ana , lad who has not fulfilled those days and years! O my brother, lad who has no wife, who has no children! O my brother, lad who has no friend, who has no companion! O my brother, the lad who is not a comfort (?) to his mother!"

Dumuzid and Ĝeštin-ana (c.1.4.1.1) ·c.1.4.1.1 ·38 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Ĝeštin-ana answered Dumuzid : "My brother, your dream is not favourable, don't tell me any more of it! Dumuzid , your dream is not favourable, don't tell me any more of it! The rushes rising up for you, which kept growing for you, are bandits rising against you from their ambush. The single reed shaking its head at you is your mother who bore you, shaking her head for you. The twin reeds of which one was being separated from you is you and I -- one will be separated from you. The tall trees in the forest rising up together over you are the evil men catching you within the walls. That water was poured over your holy coals means the sheepfold will become a house of silence. That the cover of your holy churn was removed for you means the evil man will bring it inside in his hands."

Dumuzid's dream (c.1.4.3) ·c.1.4.3 ·41 ·machine translation (etcsl)

The demons go hither and thither searching for Dumuzid . The small demons say to the big demons: "Demons have no mother; they have no father or mother, sister or brother, wife or children. When …… were established on heaven and earth, you demons were there, at a man's side like a reed enclosure. Demons are never kind, they do not know good from evil. Who has ever seen a man, without a family, all alone, escape with his life? We shall go neither to the dwelling of his friend nor to the dwelling of his in-laws. Rather, for the shepherd let us go to the dwelling of Ĝeštin-ana ." The demons clap their hands and begin to seek him out.

Dumuzid and Ĝeštin-ana (c.1.4.1.1) ·c.1.4.1.1 ·55 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Ĝeštin-ana had barely finished that lament when the demons arrived at her dwelling. "Show us where your brother is," they said to her. But she spoke not a word to them. They afflicted her loins with a skin disease, but she spoke not a word to them. They scratched her face with ……, but she spoke not a word to them. They …… the skin of her buttocks, but she spoke not a word to them. They poured tar in her lap, but she spoke not a word to them. So they could not find Dumuzid at the house of Ĝeštin-ana .

Dumuzid and Ĝeštin-ana (c.1.4.1.1) ·c.1.4.1.1 ·58 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Ĝeštin-ana had barely finished that lament when the demons arrived at her dwelling. "Show us where your brother is," they said to her. But she spoke not a word to them. They afflicted her loins with a skin disease, but she spoke not a word to them. They scratched her face with ……, but she spoke not a word to them. They …… the skin of her buttocks, but she spoke not a word to them. They poured tar in her lap, but she spoke not a word to them. So they could not find Dumuzid at the house of Ĝeštin-ana .

Dumuzid and Ĝeštin-ana (c.1.4.1.1) ·c.1.4.1.1 ·64 ·machine translation (etcsl)

"May Geštin-ana , the king's sister, the mellifluous mouth of the gods, never stop rejoicing over you joy in your palace, erected for you as a source of happiness! May she always step forward to me with friendy entreaties on your behalf! May she never cease praying for you!"

A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi P) (c.2.4.2.16) ·c.2.4.2.16 ·43 ·machine translation (etcsl)

She returned to the side of his …… and muddied (?) the water. She, Ĝeštin-ana , poured water into a crevice in the ground for him. The maiden, equipped with ……, agitated (?) the water. She agitated (?) the water, the water for the brother, ……. She agitated (?) the water, and returned it to the river:

Dumuzid and his sisters (c.1.4.1.3) ·c.1.4.1.3 ·82 ·machine translation (etcsl)

The temple of Ĝeštin-ana resembled the drumsticks, the drumsticks of Mother Ĝeštin-ana that make a pleasant sound. The lord ( Enlil ) bellowed at his hoe ( al ) like a bull. As for the grave ( irigal ): the hoe ( al ) buries people, but dead people are also brought up from the ground by the hoe ( al ) ( This may allude to Enkidu's ghost being put in contact with Gilgameš. ) . With the hoe ( al ), the hero honoured by An , the younger brother of Nergal , the warrior Gilgameš is as powerful as a hunting net. The {( 1 ms. adds: ) sage} son of Ninsumun is pre-eminent with oars ( ĝisal ) ( This may allude to Gilgameš rowing across the waters of death. ) . With the hoe ( al ) he is the great barber ( kindagal ) of the watercourses. In the {chamber} {( 1 ms. has instead: ) place} of the shrine, with the hoe ( al ) he is the minister ( sukkal ). The wicked ( ḫulĝal ) …… are sons of the hoe ( al ); they are born in sleep from heaven.

The song of the hoe (c.5.5.4) ·c.5.5.4 ·71 ·machine translation (etcsl)

The temple of Ĝeštin-ana resembled the drumsticks, the drumsticks of Mother Ĝeštin-ana that make a pleasant sound. The lord ( Enlil ) bellowed at his hoe ( al ) like a bull. As for the grave ( irigal ): the hoe ( al ) buries people, but dead people are also brought up from the ground by the hoe ( al ) ( This may allude to Enkidu's ghost being put in contact with Gilgameš. ) . With the hoe ( al ), the hero honoured by An , the younger brother of Nergal , the warrior Gilgameš is as powerful as a hunting net. The {( 1 ms. adds: ) sage} son of Ninsumun is pre-eminent with oars ( ĝisal ) ( This may allude to Gilgameš rowing across the waters of death. ) . With the hoe ( al ) he is the great barber ( kindagal ) of the watercourses. In the {chamber} {( 1 ms. has instead: ) place} of the shrine, with the hoe ( al ) he is the minister ( sukkal ). The wicked ( ḫulĝal ) …… are sons of the hoe ( al ); they are born in sleep from heaven.

The song of the hoe (c.5.5.4) ·c.5.5.4 ·72 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Ama-ĝeštin-ana went up onto the mound and looked around, Ĝeštin-ana craned her neck. Her girl friend Ĝeštin-dudu advised her: "The big men who bind the neck are already coming for him, they are …… coming for him!"

Dumuzid's dream (c.1.4.3) ·c.1.4.3 ·84 ·machine translation (etcsl)

"I will send a messenger to the shepherd: let him treat me to the best butter and the best milk! I will send a messenger to my farmer: let him treat me to …… and wine! I, the lady, will send a messenger to the fowler, whose bird-nets are spread out: let him treat me to fine birds! I, Inana , will send a messenger to the fisherman too whose nets are set up in the reedbeds: let him treat me to fat carp!"

A song of Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana C1) (c.4.08.29) ·c.4.08.29 ·12 ·machine translation (etcsl)

The francolin …… to the …… of its ……. The francolin …… to the birthplace of Dumuzid . Like a pigeon on its window ledge it took counsel with itself; the francolin in its shelter took counsel. Only his mother Durtur can gladden my master! Only his mother Durtur can gladden Dumuzid ! My goddess, born in Kuara , the maiden who is the crown of all ……, the admiration and acclaim of the black-headed people, the playful one who also voices laments and the cries, who intercedes before the king -- Ĝeštin-ana , the lady, did …….

Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana (c.1.4.4) ·c.1.4.4 ·148 ·machine translation (etcsl)

The maiden …… the admiration. Ĝeštin-ana ……. The sacred one, Inana …… in her hand. …… together. …… replied:

Inana and Bilulu: an ulila to Inana (c.1.4.4) ·c.1.4.4 ·151 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Those who come for the king are a motley crew, who know not food, who know not drink, who eat no sprinkled flour, who drink no poured water, who accept no pleasant gifts, who do not enjoy a wife's embraces, who never kiss dear little children, who never chew sharp-tasting garlic, who eat no fish, who eat no leeks. There were two men of Adab who came for the king. They were thistles in dried-up waters, they were thorns in stinking waters -- 'his hand was on the table, his tongue was in the palace' ( Alludes to a proverb ) . Then there were two men of Akšak who came for the king, with …… carried on their shoulders. Then there were two men of Unug who came for the king. With head-smashing clubs tied to their waists, there were two men of Urim who came for the king. With {shining} {( 1 ms. has instead: ) clean} clothes on the quayside, there were two men of Nibru who came for the king. Crying "Man run after man!", they came to the sheepfold and cow-pen. They caught Ĝeštin-ana at the sheepfold and cow-pen. They offered a river of water, but she wouldn't accept it. They offered her a field of grain, but she wouldn't accept it. The little demon spoke to the big demon, the wise demon, the lively demon, and the big demon who was between them, wise like …… destroying a ……, like …… barring a ……, they spoke:

Dumuzid's dream (c.1.4.3) ·c.1.4.3 ·130 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Inana , you are the lady of the great divine powers. Your mother Ningal …… great attributes. Your father Suen …… great holy cows. Your brother, the youth Utu ……. Your spouse Ama-ušumgal-ana , the shepherd, Lord Dumuzid , ……. Your beloved minister (?) Ninšubur ……. Your beloved sister-in-law Ĝeštin-ana ……. 3 lines fragmentary or missing

A hymn to Inana as Ninegala (Inana D) (c.4.07.4) ·c.4.07.4 ·214 ·machine translation (etcsl)

May my hymns be in everyone's mouth; let the songs about me not pass from memory. So that the fame of my praise, the words which Enki composed about me, and which Ĝeštin-ana joyously speaks from the heart and broadcasts far and wide, shall never be forgotten, I have had them written down line by line in the House of the Wisdom of Nisaba in holy heavenly writing, as great works of scholarship. No one shall ever let any of it pass from memory ……. It shall not be forgotten, since indestructible heavenly writing has a lasting renown. The scribe should bring it to the singer, and can let him look at it, and with the wisdom and intelligence of Nisaba , let him read it to him as if from a lapis-lazuli tablet. Let my songs sparkle like silver in the lode! Let them be performed in all the cult-places, and let no one neglect them in the Shrine of the New Moon. In the music-rooms of Enlil and Ninlil and at the morning and evening meals of Nanna , let the sweet praise of me, Šulgi , be never-ending.

A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi E) (c.2.4.2.05) ·c.2.4.2.05 ·244 ·machine translation (etcsl)

I am the leader living in Sumer ! I am engaged in carrying out the planning! When I stand against the cities and territories of the hostile rebel lands, my battle is a hurricane that cannot be overwhelmed. When I surround their contingents from the south and cut the people off, 1 line fragmentary In the great palace, where I take decisions, when I …… a pure lamb, on the right …… favourable ……, as I …… on my great throne. In my well-established dwelling, I can tell whether to strike with weapons or not to strike with weapons. Since from birth I am also a Nintur ( creator deity ) , wise in all matters, I can recognise the omens of that extispicy in a pure place. I keep a look-out that ……. I am a lord ……, as I range about in my anger. I also have a solidly based knowledge of omens from heaped high censers. My vision enables me to be the dream-interpreter of the Land; my heart enables me to be the Ištaran ( god of justice ) of the foreign lands. I am Šulgi , good shepherd of Sumer . Like my brother and friend Gilgameš , I can recognise the virtuous and I can recognise the wicked. The virtuous gets justice in my presence, and the wicked and evil person will be carried off by ……. Who like me is able to interpret what is spoken in the heart or is articulated on the tongue?

A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi C) (c.2.4.2.03) ·c.2.4.2.03 ·93 ·machine translation (etcsl)

Utu accepted his tears. He changed his hands into {gazelle} {( 1 ms. has instead: ) snake} hands, he changed his feet into {gazelle} {( 1 ms. has instead: ) snake} feet, so he evaded the demons, and escaped with his life to the holy sheepfold, his sister's sheepfold. He approached the holy sheepfold, his sister's sheepfold. Ĝeštin-ana cried toward heaven, cried toward earth. Her cries covered the horizon completely like a cloth, they were spread out like linen. She lacerated her eyes, she lacerated her face, she lacerated her ears in public; in private she lacerated her buttocks.

Dumuzid's dream (c.1.4.3) ·c.1.4.3 ·240 ·machine translation (etcsl)

"My brother, I will go round in the streets ……." (The demons said:) "Unless Ĝeštin-ana is aware of Dumuzid's whereabouts, she is indeed looking frightened! She is indeed screaming in a frightened way! Come, let us go to the sheepfold and cow-pen!" When the first demon entered the sheepfold and cow-pen, {he set fire to the bolt} {( 1 ms. has instead: ) he shouted ……}. When the second entered the sheepfold and cow-pen, he set fire to the shepherd's stick. When the third entered the sheepfold and cow-pen, he removed the cover of the holy churn.

Dumuzid's dream (c.1.4.3) ·c.1.4.3 ·246 ·machine translation (etcsl)

I made sure that my praise was spoken, by creating numerous songs to Ĝeštin-ana , the honey-mouthed lady. I installed …… my scholars and chief singers. The skilful singers composed for me adab , tigi , šumunša , malgatum , šir-gida , royal praise poems perfect in content, araḫi , balbale , zamzam and kunĝar compositions. They magnify my name in the places where odes are performed. That I am omniscient and broad in wisdom, that I am knowedgeable (?) about the …… of the troops, that I direct the people as a wise shepherd who is brilliant (?) in the face of weapons, that I am skilful in everything, that An has looked favourably on me, that by the word of Enlil ……, that Ninlil is my protection, that Enki has given me wisdom, that Ninurta is all for me (?), that Nanna loves me greatly, that I am the son-in-law of Ningal , that Inana has made me attractive, 2 lines broken or unclear

A praise poem of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan A + V) (c.2.5.4.01) ·c.2.5.4.01 ·331 ·machine translation (etcsl)

In the temple my songs should be performed splendidly (?), and my odes should be handed down. Their attractiveness should be right in the heart of the Land, and mouths should carry the words as far as its borders. …… the requirements of the banquet; he should put their attractiveness into the heart ……; …… may Ĝeštin-ana be their protective goddess. …… treasures, lasting property of the king's heirs, jewels of lordship which cannot be ……, fixing them forever in the mouth of the singers.

A praise poem of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan A + V) (c.2.5.4.01) ·c.2.5.4.01 ·390 ·machine translation (etcsl)