Sumerian Hymn to Ishtar

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Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
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published on 01 September 2017
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This hymn to the goddess Ishtar is written in Sumerian; after every line in Sumerian, the text is translated in Akkadian. Such translations have been invaluable to modern scholars. They reflect how the Sumerian language had become difficult to understand in antiquity. This example also gives a rare idea of how tablets for the Royal Library appeared when just completed in the chancery. The tablet is complete and contains 80 lines of inscriptions. Neo-Assyrian Period, reign of Ashurbanipal II, 7th century BCE. From the Library of Ashurbanipal II at Nineveh (Kouyunjik), Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. (The British Museum, London)

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About the Author

Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.

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APA Style

Amin, O. S. M. (2017, September 01). Sumerian Hymn to Ishtar. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6972/sumerian-hymn-to-ishtar/

Chicago Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Sumerian Hymn to Ishtar." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified September 01, 2017. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/6972/sumerian-hymn-to-ishtar/.

MLA Style

Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "Sumerian Hymn to Ishtar." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 01 Sep 2017. Web. 22 Feb 2025.

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