Dumuzi: (Shepherd of Uruk, Wild bull, Amausumgalana, young at heart)
Shepherd is an ancient term for tribal leader.
This is third part of an epic poem.
Follow up to the “courtship of Inanna and Dumuzi”, and ‘Inannan decent to netherworld’.
(See older posts)
Inanna resurrection and the sacrifice of her husband have lead to the netherworld rangers to seek and capture Dumuzi.
the men who went after him
for the shepherd
were a motley crew
they knew not food
knew not drink
ate not flour strewn
drank not water libated
accepted not pleasant greeting gifts
filled not as a sign of affection a spouse’s lap
kissed not that sweet thing a child
set not tooth into the pungent garlic
they were men who ate no fish
men who ate not onions
The expressive ancient text gives us an insight to the first recorded impression of dreams and their interpretations. Dumuzi is troubled by Inanna’s betrayal.
He lay down to doze off
the shepherd lay down to doze off
but instead of lying down to doze off
the shepherd was lying down
to an ominous dream
Dumuzi wakes up from his dream greatly disturbed and consult with his sister Geshtinanna, who happen to have the ability to interpret dreams.
Dumuzi recite his vision.
Wild Bull
Rushes rose for me
rushes grew up for me
and a lone reed was shaking the head in grief
of twin reeds one was taken away from me
in the forest a tall tree was uprooted for me by it’s self
on my pure embers water was poured in presence
the owner’s marks of my pure churns has been removed
my pure cups that hangs on pegs had been taken from the pegs
and I had lost my staff
an owl had caught a lamb in the sheepcote
a falcon had caught a sparrow in the reeds of the fence
my bucks and goats were dragging their lapis lazuli beards in the dust
my rams were raking the ground with their big horns
the churns lay on their sides poured out no milk
the cups lay on their sides
the wind only swept the fold
Geshtinanna respond to Dumuzi
“My dear brother your dream bodes no good, nor may it be propitiated.”
She then goes on to translate his ominous dream.
Rushes rose up for you, rushes grew up for you
Bandits will rise up from ambush at you
A lone reed was shaking the head in grief for you
The mother who bore you will shake the head in grief for you
Of twin reed one was removed for you
You will be taken away from me
In the forest a tall tree was uprooted for you all by itself
An evildoer will seize you within the walls
On your pure embers water was poured in your presence
The fold will quite down for you into a silent house
The owner marks of your pure churns has been removed
An evildoer will take them over into his hands
Your pure cups that hang on pegs had been taken down from the pegs
You are about to fall from the knees of the mother who bore you
You had lost your staff
A little ranger will throw it to the brazier
An owl had caught a lamb on the sheepcote
An evildoer will smite your cheek
A falcon had caught a sparrow in the reeds of the fence
A big ranger will come down upon you from the reeds of the fence
The churns lay on their side poured out no milk, the cups lay on their sides
Dumuzi lived there no more
The winds only swept the fold
A manacler will manacle your hands a pinioner will pinion you
Your bucks and goats were dragging their lapis lazuli beards in the dust
My hair will be flying around in the sky above you like a flood storm
Your rams were raking the ground with their big horns
My fingers like a comb of boxwood will be clawing my cheeks for you
Not only he has being betrayed by his newly wed wife, he is also about to lose his kingdom by an invading force.
The Uruk scriber goes on to indicate the intensity of the betrayal.
Two citizens of Adab
went after him for the shepherd
a camel thorn urine of the corner
and a thorn bush in stinking waters
His hand on the table
His tongue in the palace
Citizen of Akshak
Citizen of Uruk
Citizen of Ur
All conspired to downfall of Dumuzi.
Dumuzi flight and capture, the final piece of this ancient text will be featured in next month post.
