Enmerkar

Enmerkar (Sumerian: 𒂗𒈨𒅕𒃸 EN.me.er.kar₂, born circa 27th-century BC) is a legendary king listed as the builder of the Sumerian city of Uruk.

Quotes

• No city was made to be so well-built as the city of Unug.
  • Enmerkar and En-suhgir-ana, Neo-Sumerian period (ca. 21st century BC). [1]

• May the people marvel admiringly, and may Utu witness it in joy.
  • To Inana, in Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta, Neo-Sumerian period (ca. 21st century BC). [2]

• Lest I make the people fly off from that city like a wild dove from its tree, lest I make them fly around like a bird over its well-founded nest.
  • In Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta, Neo-Sumerian period (ca. 21st century BC). [3]

• Chant to him the holy song, the incantation sung in its chambers -- the incantation of Nudimmud: "On that day when there is no snake, when there is no scorpion, when there is no hyena, when there is no lion, when there is neither dog nor wolf, when there is thus neither fear nor trembling, man has no rival! At such a time, may the lands of Šubur and Ḫamazi, the many-tongued, and Sumer, the great mountain of the me of magnificence, and Akkad, the land possessing all that is befitting, and the Martu land, resting in security -- the whole universe, the well-guarded people -- may they all address Enlil together in a single language! For at that time, for the ambitious lords, for the ambitious princes, for the ambitious kings, ... -- Enki, the lord of abundance and of steadfast decisions, the wise and knowing lord of the Land, the expert of the gods, chosen for wisdom, the lord of Eridug, shall change the speech in their mouths, as many as he had placed there, and so the speech of mankind is truly one.
  • In Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta, Neo-Sumerian period (ca. 21st century BC). [4]

• Messenger, by night, drive on like the south wind! By day, be up like the dew!
  • In Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta, Neo-Sumerian period (ca. 21st century BC). [5]

• Once upon a time my princely sister holy Inana summoned me in her holy heart from the bright mountains, had me enter brick-built Kulaba. Where there was a marsh then in Unug, it was full of water. Where there was any dry land, Euphrates poplars grew there. Where there were reed thickets, old reeds and young reeds grew there. Divine Enki who is king in Eridu tore up for me the old reeds, drained off the water completely. For fifty years I built, for fifty years I was successful. Then the Martu people, who know no agriculture, arose in all Sumer and Akkad. But the wall of Unug extended out across the desert like a bird net. Yet now, here in this place, my attractiveness to her has dwindled. My troops are bound to me as a cow is bound to its calf; but like a son who, hating his mother, leaves his city, my princely sister holy Inana has run away from me back to brick-built Kulaba. If she loves her city and hates me, why does she bind the city to me? If she hates the city and yet loves me, why does she bind me to the city? If the mistress removes herself from me to her holy chamber, and abandons me like an Anzud chick, then may she at least bring me home to brick-built Kulaba: on that day my spear shall be laid aside. On that day she may shatter my shield. Speak thus to my princely sister, holy Inana.
  • To Lugalbanda, in Lugalbanda and the Anzud Bird, Ur III Period (21st century BC). [6]

Quotes about Enmerkar

• Come, Enmerkar! I shall offer you advice: let my counsel be heeded. I shall speak words to you; let them be heard.
  • Inana, in Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta, Neo-Sumerian period (ca. 21st century BC). [7]

• Rise like the sun over my holy breast! You are the jewel of my throat! Praise be to you, Enmerkar, the son of Utu!
  • Inana, in Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta, Neo-Sumerian period (ca. 21st century BC). [8]

• His speech was substantial, and its contents extensive. The messenger, whose mouth was heavy, was not able to repeat it. Because the messenger, whose mouth was tired, was not able to repeat it, the lord of Kulaba patted some clay and wrote the message as if on a tablet. Formerly, the writing of messages on clay was not established. Now, under that sun and on that day, it was indeed so. The lord of Kulaba inscribed the message like a tablet. It was just like that.
  • Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta, Neo-Sumerian period (ca. 21st century BC). [9]

• If my city becomes a ruin mound, then I will be a potsherd of it, but I will never submit to the lord of Unug, the lord of Kulaba.
  • Ensuhkeshdanna, in Enmerkar and En-suhgir-ana, Neo-Sumerian period (ca. 21st century BC). [10]

• When the city was only a double-hour distant, the armies of Unug and Kulaba encamped by the posts and ditches that surrounded Aratta. From the city it rained down javelins as if from the clouds, slingstones numerous as the raindrops falling in a whole year whizzed down loudly from Aratta's walls. The days passed, the months became long, the year turned full circle. A yellow harvest grew beneath the sky. They looked askance at the fields. Unease came over them. Slingstones numerous as the raindrops falling in a whole year landed on the road. They were hemmed in by the barrier of mountain thornbushes thronged with dragons. No one knew how to go back to the city, no was rushing to go back to Kulaba. In their midst Enmerkar son of Utu was afraid, was troubled, was disturbed by this upset.
  • Lugalbanda and the Anzud Bird, Ur III Period (21st century BC). [11]

• Enmerkar son of Utu prepared an expedition against Aratta, the mountain of the holy divine powers. He was going to set off to destroy the rebel land; the lord began a mobilization of his city. The herald made the horn signal sound in all the lands. Now levied Unug took the field with the wise king, indeed levied Kulaba followed Enmerkar. Unug's levy was a flood, Kulaba's levy was a clouded sky. As they covered the ground like heavy fog, the dense dust whirled up by them reached up to heaven. As if to rooks on the best seed, rising up, he called to the people. Each one gave his fellow the sign.
  • Lugalbanda in the Mountain Cave, Ur III Period (21st century BC).[12]

External links

• ETCSL - Texts and translations of Enmerkar legends (alternate site)