Nanibgal

I am a king, offspring begotten by a king and borne by a queen. I, Šulgi the noble, have been blessed with a favourable destiny right from the womb. When I was small, I was at the academy, where I learned the scribal art from the tablets of Sumer and Akkad . None of the nobles could write on clay as I could. There where people regularly went for tutelage in the scribal art, I qualified fully in subtraction, addition, reckoning and accounting. The fair Nanibgal , Nisaba , provided me amply with knowledge and comprehension. I am an experienced scribe who does not neglect a thing.

A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi B) (c.2.4.2.02) ·c.2.4.2.02 ·18 ·machine translation (etcsl)

When Nuska , the head of the assembly, had received Enlil's instructions, he wasted no time ……; he directed his steps to Ereš . He entered E-zagin , the residence of Nanibgal ( a name of Nisaba ) and prostrated himself before Nanibgal on her dais. …… of Enlil ……, and she (?) asked him ……: "…… what ……?" 7 lines missing 1 line fragmentary ( Nuska speaks:) "…… Sud ……. What you have told me ……." Then Nanibgal went on speaking flatteringly to the minister: "Adviser, fit for his (?) king, ever observant (?)! Who like you could give counsel daily to the Great Mountain? How could I contest the king's message which his slave has received? If there is truth in what you have told me -- and may there be no falsehood -- who could reject one who bestows such exceedingly great favours? …… makes our mood and hearts happy. Let us consider that amends have been made. By bringing the marriage gifts and the presents in his name the insult is wiped away. Tell him: "You shall become my son-in-law; do as you wish!" Tell Enlil , the Great Mountain: "Do as you wish!" Let his sister come from her side, and she shall accompany Sud from here. Aruru shall become Sud's sister-in-law: let her be shown the household. Inform your lord thus in his august Ki-ur . Repeat this to Enlil in the privacy of his holy bedchamber."

Enlil and Sud (c.1.2.2) ·c.1.2.2 ·46 ·machine translation (etcsl)

When Nuska , the head of the assembly, had received Enlil's instructions, he wasted no time ……; he directed his steps to Ereš . He entered E-zagin , the residence of Nanibgal ( a name of Nisaba ) and prostrated himself before Nanibgal on her dais. …… of Enlil ……, and she (?) asked him ……: "…… what ……?" 7 lines missing 1 line fragmentary ( Nuska speaks:) "…… Sud ……. What you have told me ……." Then Nanibgal went on speaking flatteringly to the minister: "Adviser, fit for his (?) king, ever observant (?)! Who like you could give counsel daily to the Great Mountain? How could I contest the king's message which his slave has received? If there is truth in what you have told me -- and may there be no falsehood -- who could reject one who bestows such exceedingly great favours? …… makes our mood and hearts happy. Let us consider that amends have been made. By bringing the marriage gifts and the presents in his name the insult is wiped away. Tell him: "You shall become my son-in-law; do as you wish!" Tell Enlil , the Great Mountain: "Do as you wish!" Let his sister come from her side, and she shall accompany Sud from here. Aruru shall become Sud's sister-in-law: let her be shown the household. Inform your lord thus in his august Ki-ur . Repeat this to Enlil in the privacy of his holy bedchamber."

Enlil and Sud (c.1.2.2) ·c.1.2.2 ·47 ·machine translation (etcsl)

After …… had instructed ……, …… and Nuska took his seat on it. 1 line missing Nanibgal called …… and gave her advice: "My little one, asleep indoors (?) …… your pure ……, the pleasant private quarters ……. …… leave the House of Nisaba's Wisdom. ……, Nuska is knowing and wise. …… to his presence and pour him beer." According to the instructions of her mother, she washed his hands and placed a tankard in his hands. The minister opened his left hand and gave her the jewellery, …… everything …… and set it before her. She received the gifts ……. He …… directed his steps to Nibru . …… kissed the ground before Enlil . …… the great Lady had said ……, as she had instructed him, he repeated (?) ……: "(She said:) "Adviser, fit for his (?) king, ever observant (?)! Who like you could give counsel daily to the Great Mountain? How could I contest the king's message which his slave has received? If there is truth in what you have told me -- and may there be no falsehood -- who could reject one who bestows such exceedingly great favours? …… makes our mood and hearts happy. Let us consider that amends have been made. By bringing the marriage gifts and the presents in his name the insult is wiped away. Tell him: "You shall become my son-in-law; do as you wish!" Tell Enlil , the Great Mountain: "Do as you wish!" Let his sister come from her side, and she shall accompany Sud from here. Aruru shall become Sud's sister-in-law: let her be shown the household. Inform your lord thus in his august Ki-ur . Repeat this to Enlil in the privacy of his holy bedchamber.""

Enlil and Sud (c.1.2.2) ·c.1.2.2 ·77 ·machine translation (etcsl)

But if …… removes my name from my hymns, and …… his name, and does not call upon my name in brick-built E-kur , and if that man commits enmity and violence against the temple, then whether that man is a king or a governor, Enlil shall curse him ……. May enmity and violence come forth against him from the house of Enlil . Let him be given enmity as his companion. May an asag demon, as causer of the plague, deprive his city of contentment. Because of famine in years of hunger, may he find no favour in the eyes of the Land. May Ezina produce no grain in sheaves. May fair Nanibgal , Nisaba , make no clay covering for his grain piles. …… the troops ……. His chief merchant …… silver ……. May the hunger and the thirst of the gods …… the city during his reign …… grain.

A praise poem of Šulgi (Šulgi E) (c.2.4.2.05) ·c.2.4.2.05 ·86 ·machine translation (etcsl)

{ Nanibgal , the mother-in-law of Enlil , the woman who had been slandered, was treated kindly by Nuska (?)} {( 1 ms. has instead: ) …… the mother-in-law of Enlil , the woman …… Ezina ……} -- but the lady disregarded the flatterer, and spoke to her daughter: "May you be { Enlil's favourite wife} {( 1 ms. has instead: ) the wife of Enlil's heart}, and may he speak to you sweetly. May he embrace you, the most beautiful of all, and tell you: "Beloved, open wide!" {May the two of you never lose the pleasure (?) of excitement; make it last (?) a long time.} {( 1 ms. has instead: ) May it be that the pleasure (?) of excitement will never be lost.} You two …… on the hill, and have children afterwards! When you enter the house to live there, may abundance precede you, and may joy follow you. May the people line up for you wherever you go, and may all the people …… for you. The fate I have determined for you {should be fulfilled} {( 1 ms. has instead: ) cannot be altered}! Go with head held high into the E-maḫ ."

Enlil and Sud (c.1.2.2) ·c.1.2.2 ·137 ·machine translation (etcsl)

After day had broken and Utu had risen, the sun god of the Land lifted his head high. The king combined the Tigris with the Euphrates . He combined the Euphrates with the Tigris . Large vessels were placed in the open air, and he stood small vessels beside them, like lambs lying on the grass. …… vessels were placed in the open air adjacent to them. Then the king, Enmerkar , the son of Utu , placed wide apart the ešda vessels, which were of gold. Thereupon, the …… clay tablet, the pointed stylus of the assembly, the golden statue fashioned on a propitious day, beautiful Nanibgal , grown with a fair luxuriance, Nisaba , the lady of broad wisdom, opened for him her holy house of wisdom. He entered the palace of heaven, and became attentive. Then the lord opened his mighty storehouse, and firmly set his great lidga measure on the ground. The king removed his old barley from the other barley; he soaked the greenmalt all through with water; its lip …… the ḫirin plant. He narrowed the meshes of the carrying nets. He measured out in full (?) the barley for the granary, adding for the teeth of locusts. He had it loaded on the packasses at whose sides reserve donkeys were placed. The king, the lord of broad wisdom, the lord of Unug , the lord of Kulaba , despatched them directly to Aratta . He made the people go on to Aratta on their own, like ants out of crevices. Again the lord added instructions for the messenger going to the mountains, to Aratta :

Enmerkar and the lord of Aratta (c.1.8.2.3) ·c.1.8.2.3 ·319 ·machine translation (etcsl)

O house of stars, bright E-zagin (Lapis lazuli house), reaching into all lands, establishing …… in the shrine, Ereš ! The primeval lords raise their heads to you every month. …… the potash plant, great Nanibgal , Nisaba , has brought divine powers from heaven and added to your divine powers.

The temple hymns (c.4.80.1) ·c.4.80.1 ·533 ·machine translation (etcsl)