TEXT 2-
MUS # [
A.3152 + M.5665+ numerous fragments]
CDLI: -
The Zimrī-Līm Epic
This Akkadian historical epic pertains to
Zimrī-līm, the king of Mari in the 18th century, a contemporary of Hammurabi. During his lifetime, Zimrī-līm was attacked by the Assyrian king Šamšī-Adad, was a one time ally of Babylonian king Hammurabi, and ultimately, was dethroned and possibly killed by Hammurabi. The transliteration and translation presented below was made by Michael Guichard in 2014, in Mémoíres de N.A.B.U 16 — in fact, this was the first time the text was published in full translation. In other words, the text has been quite unknown and underappreciated until very recent times.
For full bibliography and history of scholarship on this text, one can consult the SEAL (Sources of Early Akkadian Literature) project entry, yes that project based at the University of Leipzig:
seal.huji.ac.il/index.php/node/1552?tid=95 We generally do not know details about composition dates for texts like this - when was the text written (precisely), or by who. However, N. Wasserman, in a separate study, suggests that a high official of king Zimrī-līm, namely Ašmad, whose name appears in the text, is the author and that the text was written in the early years of the king's reign (Wasserman 2015:
On the Author of the Epic of Zimrī-Līm and Its Literary Context). Indeed, as you may notice, this Ašmad seems to appear suddenly in the narrative at a point of culminating poetic and rhetorical expression. Oddly, this is despite the fact that Ašmad has the (seemingly unauthoritative) position of chief of pastures/rations.
Several passages in this hidden gem of Akkadian literature strike me as being delightfully imaginative and creative especially when it is bourne in mind that these words were written down some 3,800 years ago. I've especially enjoyed the use of flame and fire similie, used when the author reinforces the consumming violence of Zimrī-līm and his army as being (like) flame. See, for example:
col. i
32. The fire of combat has incised a flame in the forehead.
33. Who is sufficiently superior to you to be able to extinguish it?
col. ii
40 I assure you that (never) the fire of your fight could be deflected!
41 There is an icy coolness in the shade of the trees of the forest,
42 As long as their edges have not been cut by the blade of the ax!
col. iii
17 “Be firm and force the entries!
18 The enemy will see your discipline! "
19 Their flesh caught fire,
20 Their stomachs were burnt.
21 Daggers, swords and spears, these are their garments.
22 The axes (shrouded) by their side raged
***A note about the below translations: I have used google translate to render the original French into English. This is never ideal, however, I have spot checked the text and attempted to remove as many impurities as I was able. For those concerned about the result, and who might be able to read the original translated language, I have also included Guichard's French below.
Col.i 1. I want to glorify [Zimrī-L]îm, the (wild) bull of the fight,
2. I want to repeat the hero's fame everywhere for eternity,
3. [Zimrī-Līm] heir to Yabdun-Lîm, champion of the Bedouins,
4. [the one who demolished the ram]part of the enemy;
5. I want to exalt [(the hero)] ... of (god) Mêr (?)! Listen !
6. [Be attentive to] my words about him who pursued the adversary to the end,
7. [He who subdued] his enemies!
8. [The hero] who deploys the spear ...,
9. [And who seizes country] on country;
10. [Zimrī-Lî]m deploying the spear ...,
11. [Who enters] country upon country;
12. In the precious (maternal) womb, the gods gave him his name
13. May he know how sanctified the design of Anum, the bull of his country!
14. The gods gave him the name of Zimrī-Lîm.
15. May he know how sanctified the design of Anum, the bull of his country!
16. I want to exalt the illustrious king because
17. he made Enlil's adversaries his (own) enemies!
18. Between the Habur and Euphrates,
19. Where Addu gave his verdict (to the enemy),
20. He uttered his cry (and) annihilated that clan
21 .. (And) scattered its [will/reasoning] to the four corners of the world.
22. The land was plundered of the goods which it (the enemy) possessed,
23. in the city of Bisan, (all) shining gold!
24. cut off the enemy like a knot in a rope.
25. The earth was watered with the blood of warriors.
26. Annunītum walked to his right,
27. Addu the thunderous screamed.
28. He uttered his cry and suddenly broke the spear of the enemies.
29. He poured out his poison on the countries.
30. Zimrī-Lîm who breaks the spears of the enemy,
31. Poured out his poison on his enemies.
32. The fire of combat has incised a flame in the forehead.
33. Who is sufficiently superior to you to be able to extinguish it?
34. It was you who opened the narrow passage of the mountain,
35. Whose bolts closed the door with stone panels.
36. Zimrī-Lîm who opened the doors of the 'Fort',
37. Whose bolts closed the stone trellis door.
38. [... of the country] in its entirety,
39. You have restored its vigor [...]
40. [... within] the populous mankind [entire mankind],
41. You have established your [eternal] fame [.,.]
42. [...] preeminent.
43. You have placed [...].
44. (10 lines lost.)
Col. ii1 Zimrī-Lîm [... [.
2 Like a horse [...].
3 In front of the battalions [...].
4 (Him) mounted on a courier [...].
5 In front of him the obstacle does not [hold]
6 So the enemy dissolves completely like [clay in water].
7 At the rear, the fugitive could not escape.
8 By opening the two [mountain leaves],
9 As a young kid, he killed [his] enemies […],
10 The winds of sand swirled against them.
11 He was not afraid of him who came on his right hand, [nor (him who came) on his left].
12 The eldest son of Enlil, Lā-gamal, the prince,
13 And his own allies blocked the course of the warriors (?).
14 He reaped his troop like a reed,
15 The warriors fell en masse like tamarisk trees.
16 The earth was watered with his blood
17 Since Addu had thus manifested himself irrevocably,
18 Zimrī-Lîm, fighting leopard,
19 Mighty who captures the wicked, who destroys enemies,
20 Spoke, he made a declaration;
21 He addressed his young people (warriors):
22 (If) a different matrix has created [me],
23 A mother gave birth to me just like you.
24 The fight being hatched against me, my plan is changed.
25 The four corners (of the world) are at war with you.
26 Now the land is ... Free (it) for me!
27 The enemy has gathered [...].
28 [Me, I want to go and fight without delay (over there)]! "
29 [The bull of the Kings], the righteous, [because he wanted to achieve his goal],
30 Zimrī-Lîm, the righteous, because he [wanted to achieve his] goal,
31 Then gave an order to his minister,
32 (And) commanded the Sheikhs:
33 - Let my warriors, the Bedouins, be brought near!
34 May the priests come before me!
35 With the conscript troops, the inhabitants of the banks of the Euphrates,
36 I will surely act according to your advice!
37 Hearing this word of him,
38 Ašmad, the chief of the [pasture/provisions], spoke to him:
39 "Why do you fear the Šubarene?
40 I assure you that (never) the fire of your fight could be deflected!
41 There is an icy coolness in the shade of the trees of the forest,
42 As long as their edges have not been cut by the blade of the ax!
43 The Šubartum is scattered like sheep in the pasture.
44 (But) right here, the provisions are prepared for the army.
45 O Zimrī-Lîm, let us see your valor!
46 [May mankind (?)] Celebrate your name [(forever)]! "
47 [The king rejoices at the [words/lyrics] of the chief of the pasture, his servant.
48 [... like] the reapers of the plain,
49 [(His army)] covered [(entire countryside)].
50….
Col. iii1 they filled the plain with their allies.
2 When (the king) puts on his breastplate, he no longer knows pity,
3 All those who stood in the way of him were cast down.
4 Slaughtered and scattered there appeared the donkeys,
5 The warriors lay alone here and there,
6 The valley was soaked with their blood.
7 Until the king had achieved his goal
8 And he would have folded the Ida-Maraṣ at his feet,
9 He never drank anything but the water from the skins
10 Assigned with the soldiers, he really endured it all.
11 Grandiose were (also) the hunters in campaign with him:
12 Like an onager [eating?] straw in the steppe,
13 His warriors ate meat;
14 They (only) acquired (more) courage (and) increased (their) strength.
15 Zimrī-Lîm like the standard marched in front!
16 Turning to him who was weak, he gave him courage:
17 “Be firm and force the entries!
18 The enemy will see your discipline! "
19 Their flesh caught fire,
20 Their stomachs were burnt.
21 Daggers, swords and spears, these are their garments.
22 The axes (shrouded) by their side raged.
23 [To] remove the rest of the steppe (to be conquered),
24 Expert Eštar [leading the way].
25 When [...] for him,
26 He placed his lieutenants [at the edge] of the river;
27 [He asked] the gods, those who were not (yet) called, to lead (them) (to the
combat);
28 They hastened to answer the king: Yes!
29 (Then) the heart of the Country was set ablaze (for) the fighting.
30 The young hero did not go on an expedition alone.
31 The king, by order of Dagan, the Prince himself,
32 could count on the warriors of his clan.
33 Zimrī-Lîm, by order of Dagan, the Prince himself,
34 Had the valiant Itūr-Mer for his helper.
35 As soon as he saw his sign, the prophet, the prince of his land,
36 The king's courage was greatly strengthened,
37 (The god of) the Storm [Addu] will go to his left
38 (And) Erra, the impetuous (would be) to his right.
39 He organized his contingents on the bank of Habur,
40 During the night he made the crossing at their head
41 He summoned the diviners and performed a purification sacrifice:
42 “Šamaš, the fighter, has just given me his consent.
43 This very day I will capture the enemies.
44 My young (warriors), use all (your) ardor!
45 Think of your enemies as ... "
46 His warriors listened to the command of his lips;
47 Like a single bird trap they enveloped [their enemies].
48 Whoever wanted to escape [was arrested ...],
49 Whoever tried to pass was turned aside [...].
50 Zimrī-Lîm [... J
51. The center of the e[nemies,.,],
52.…
Col. iv1 He broke [...]
2 He established [...]
3 He fills the land of [...]
4 Those who answered Zimrī-Lîm with hateful words,
5 Could no longer live and they died.
6 Once the king had achieved his goal,
7 He entered before Nunamnir.
8 In the Ekisiqqa he performs his sacrifice,
9 In Terqa, Dagan's beloved,
10. Life, Prosperity and Strength
11 Zimrī-Lîm appealed to Dagan.
Col i.1. Je veux glorifier [Zimrī-L]îm, le taureau (sauvage) du combat,
2. Je veux repétér partout la renommée du héros pour l' éternité,
3. [Zimrī-Lī]m héritier de Yabdun-Lîm, champion des Bédouins,
4.[celui qui a démoli le rem]part de l'ennemi ;
5. Je veux exalter [(le héros)] ... du (dieu) Mér (?) ! Écoutez !
6. [Soyez attentifs à] mes paroles sur celui qui a poursuivi jusqu’au bout l'adversaire,
7. [Celui qui a soumis] ses ennemis !
8. [Le héros] qui deploie la lance ... ,
9. [Et qui saisit pays] sur pays;
10. [Zimrī-Lîm qui dīploie la lance ... ,
11. [Qui saisit] pays sur pays;
12. Dans le precieux ventre (maternel), les dieux lui donnèrent son nom
13. Qu'il sait sanctifié le dessein d' Anum, taureau de son pays!
14. Les dieux lui donnèrent le nom de Zimrī-Lîm.
15. Qu'il sait sanctifié le dessein d' Anum, taureau de son pays !
16. Je veux exalter le roi illustre car
17. il a fait des adversaires d'Enlil ses (propres) ennemis!
18. Entre Habur et Euphrate,
19. Là où Addu rendit son verdict (à l'ennemi),
20. II poussa son cri (et) anéantit son clan
21.. (Et) éparpilla sa volanté aux quatre coins du monde.
22. Le pays pilla les biens qu'il (l'ennemi) possédait,
23. dans la ville de Bisan, (tout) l'or rutilant !
24. trancha l' ennemi tel un noeud de corde.
25. La terre s'abreuva du sang des guerriers.
26. Annunītum marchait à sa droite,
27. Addu le tonnant poussa son cri.
28. Il poussa son cri et brisa du coup la lance des ennemis.
29. Il déversa son poison sur les pays.
30. Zimrī-Lîm qui brise les lances de l'ennemi,
31. Déversa son poison sur ses ennemis.
32. Le feu du combat (t')a incise au front une flamme.
33. Qui t'est assez supérieur pour pouvoir l'éteindre ?
34. C'est toi qui as ouvert l'étroit passage de la montagne,
35. Dont les verroux fennaient la porte a panneaux de pierre.
36. Zimn-Llm qui a ouvert les battants du 'Fort',
37. Dont les verroux fermaient la porte à treillage en pierre.
38. [ ... du pays] dans sa totalité,
39. Tu as rétabli sa vigueur [ ... ]
40. [ ... au sein de] la populeuse hu[manité toute entière],
41. Tu as fait instaurer ta renommée [éternel]lement [.,.]
42. [ ... ] prééminente.
43. Tu as placé [ ... ].
44. (10 lignes perdues.)
Col ii.1 Zimrī-Lîm [ ... [.
2 Comme un cheval [ ... ].
3 Devant les bataillons [ ... ].
4 (Lui) monté sur un coursier [ ... ].
5 Face à lui l'obstac1e ne [tient pas]
6 Si bien que l'ennemi se dissout entierement comme [de l'argile dans l'eau].
7 À l'arriere, le fugitive ne [put s' échappier.
8 En ouvrant les deux [vantaux de la montagne],
9 Jeune cabri, il tua [ses] ennemis […],
10 Les vents de sable se toumèrent contre eux.
11 Il ne craignit ni celui qui venait sur sa droite, [ni (celui qui venait) sur sa gauche].
12 Le fils aîne d'Enlil, Lā-gamal, le prince,
13 Et ses propres alliés bloquerent fa course des guerriers (?).
14 II moissonna sa troupe comme du roseau,
15 Les guerriers tombèrent en masse comme du tamaris.
16 La terre s' abreuva de son sang
17 Des lors qu'Addu se fut ainsi manifesté de manière irrevocable,
18 Zimrī-Lîm, léopard des combats,
19 Puissant qui capture les méchants, qui réduit a néant les ennemis,
20 Prit la parole, il fit une déclaration;
21 II s'adressa à ses jeunes (guerriers) :
22 (Si) une matrice vaus a créés,
23 Tout comme vous, une mère m'a enfanté.
24 La Iutte étant tramée contre moi, mon plan est changé.
25 Les quatre coins (du monde) sont en guerre contre vous.
26 Or le pays est ... Libérez!(-le) pour moi !
27 L'ennemi s'est rassemblé [ ... ].
28 [Moi, je veux aller mener sans délai (la-bas)] le combat! »
29 [Le taureau des ro]is, le juste, [parce qu'il voulait atteindre son but],
30 Zimrī-Lîm, le juste, parce qu'il [voulait atteindre son] but,
31 Passa alors un ordre à son ministre,
32 (Et) commanda aux scheichs :
33 - Qu'on fasse s'approcher mes guemers, les Bédouins!
34 Que les pátres se présentent devant ma personne !
35 Avec la troupe des conserits, les habitants des Bords-de-I'Euphrate,
36 Moi, j'agirai assurement selon vas conseils !
37 Ayant écoute cette parole de lui,
38 Ašmad, le chef de pâture, s' adressa à lui :
39 « Pourquoi crains-tu le Šubaréen ?
40 Je t'assure que (jamais) le feu de ton combat n'a pu être détourné !
41 II y a une fraicheur glaciale à I'ombre des arbres de la forêt,
42 Pour autant que leurs trancs n'ont pas été entam é s par la lame de la hache !
43 Le Šubartum est éparpillé comme des moutons à la pâture.
44 (Mais) ici-même, les provisions sont préparées pour l'armée.
45 O Zimrī-Lîm, qu'on voie ta vaillance !
46 [Que l'humanité (?)] célèbre ton nom [(éternellement)] ! »
47 [Le roi se réjouit des par]oles du chef de pâture, son serviteur.
48 [ ... comme] les moissonneurs de la plaine,
49 [(Son armée)] recouvrit [(entièrement la campagne)].
50 ….
Col iii.1 ils remplirent la plaine de leurs alliés.
2 Quand (Ie roi) a revêtu sa cuirasse, il ne connaît plus la pitié,
3 Tout ceux qui firent obstacle devant lui se trouverènt abattus.
4 Massacrés et éparpillés apparaissaient les ânes,
5 Les guerriers gisaient isolés ici et là,
6 La vallée était imbibée de leur sang.
7 Jusqu'à ce que Ie roi eût atteint son but
8 Et qu'il eût plié I'Ida-Maraṣ à ses pieds,
9 Il ne buvait jarnais que l' eau des outres
10 Assigné avec les soldats, il endurait vraiment tout.
11 Grandioses étaient (aussi) les chasseurs en campagne avec lui:
12 Tel l'onagre de paille dans la steppe,
13 Ses guerriers se nourrirent de viande ;
14 Ils (n'en) acquirent (que plus) de courage (el) accrurent (leurs) forces.
15 Zimrī-Lîm tel l' étendard marchait au devant !
16 En se retournant vers celui qui était sans force, il lui (re)donnait courage:
17 « Soyez fermes et forcez les entrées!
18 L' ennemi verra vatre discipline ! »
19 Leur chair prit feu,
20 Leur ventre connut la brûlure.
21 Poignards, épées et lances, voila leurs habits.
22 Les haches (alguisées) á leur coté fulminaient.
23 [Pour] enlever le reste de la steppe (à conquérir),
24 L'experte Eštar [ouvrait la marche].
25 Lorsque [ ... ] pour lui,
26 Il placa ses lieutenants [au bard] du fleuve ;
27 [II demanda] aux dieux ceux qui n'etaient pas (encore) appelés pour (les) conduire (au
combat) ;
28 Ils s'empressèrent de répondre au roi : Oui !
29 (Alors) le oeuur du Pays s'embrasa (pour) les combats.
30 Le jeune héros ne partait pas en expédition seul.
31 Le roi, sur l'ordre de Dagan, le Prince en personne,
32 pouvait compter sur les guerriers de son clan.
33 Zimrī-Lîm, sur l'ordre de Dagan, le Prince en personne,
34 Avait pour aide ltūr-Mer le vaillant.
35 Dès qu'il vit son signe, (par) un prophète, le Prince de son pays,
36 Le courage du roi s' en trouva grandement renforcé,
37 (Le dieu de) I'Orage ira(it) à sa gauche
38 (Et) Erra l'impétueux (serait) à sa droite.
39 Il organisa ses contingents sur la berge du Habur,
40 Au cours de la nuit il fit la traversée à leur tête
41 Il convoqua les devins et accomplit un sacrifice de purification:
42 « Šamaš, le combattant, vient de me donner son accord.
43 Aujourd 'hui même, je vais capturer les ennemis.
44 Mes jeunes (guerriers), employez toute (votre) ardeur!
45 Considérez vos ennemis camme ... »
46 Ses guerriers écouterent l'ordre de ses lèvres ;
47 Tel un unique piège pour oiseaux, ils enveloppèrent [leurs ennemis].
48 Celui qui voulut s' échapper [fut arrêté ... ],
49 Celui qui tenta de passer fut dévié [ ... ].
50 Zimrī-Lîm [ ... J
51. Le centre des en[nemis ,.,],
52. …
Col iv.1 Il brisa [ ... ]
2 Il fit instaurer [ ... ]
3 Il templit le pays de [ ... ]
4 Ceux qui avaient répondu a Zimrī-Lîm des propos haineux,
5 Ne purent plus vivre et eux moururent.
6 Une fois que le rei eut atteint son but,
7 Il entra devant Nunamnir.
8 Dans l'Ekisiqqa il accomplit son sacrifice,
9 Dans Terqa, la bien-aimée de Dagan,
10. Vie, Prosperité et Force
11 Zimrī-Lîm réclama auprès de Dagan.
