Sumerian Debates

Writers are supposed to be avid readers. To perfect their craft, they are supposed to peruse the works of others. Learn from the thoughts, expressions and emotions that have been put to page throughout histories past. Varied in style and prose these books should be. Not always about the most well known authors, not always about the highest selling book. The unknown authors and ancient writers of the past should be explored as well. Within these little treasure troves of writing, you will find many, many skills that you can add to your repertoire.

I personally skip around and read whatever speaks to me. Sometimes it's a mystery, sometimes a news article, sometimes writings from the ATS. A few days ago, I was searching through some of the very first known writings. Sumerian poetry...cuneiform that has been translated for us to read. After 4000 years roughly, we are finally able to read the thoughts of the first known writers of the world. Finally able to look into the minds and hearts of those individuals who decided that what they felt/saw was worthy to take note of.

The fun part I think about writing is the interpretations of the readers. Vary rare is it that someone sees the emotion/thought you were really trying to convey. Usually a piece of their own world gets entangled into your words and they find a way to relate to you on that level. Some worry they have or moment they had comes once again to the forefront of their mind, and they understand your words from their perspective, their point of view. So, with each piece given, with each word read, there is new clarity, and new ideas formulated around it. New thoughts presented to explore and contemplate.

So, for your consideration, I would like to provide some excerpts and links to the Sumerian Debates/ Disputations as well as the first murder mystery and love poem that have been translated.. I hope that you find something of value within the words presented below, some new idea or thought that you'd like to write about, some concept or revelation that you would like to explore.

None of these writings or translations are my own. They are from another time, another world really. But, to me, they show that even though some things change with time, some things will always stay the same.....


Oldest Love Poem:

Bridegroom, dear to my heart, Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet, Lion, dear to my heart, Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet. You have captivated me, let me stand tremblingly before you. Bridegroom, I would be taken by you to the bedchamber, You have captivated me, let me stand tremblingly before you. Lion, I would be taken by you to the bedchamber.

Oldest Murder Mystery:

"I will not bow before the man who seizes everything but wisdom. "He is not a strong man. 2. "Earth and the heavens feel troubled when this man is bellowing for plunder!” 3. Beating ribs, beating back and shoulders, like a storm arose the angry lord! [The lord beats (kills?) the shepherd brother.] [Later, at the victory celebration. . . ] 4. He eats his food like a pig. The Pig divides the fodder into five big bowls, and with his hand, he crams it into his mouth and chokes it down. 5. "My flanks grow fat!" he bellows, while eating all the food his hands can grab. 6. A man, clothed in darkness, climbs in through the window.

And Finally, The Sumerian debates.

Debate Between Winter and Summer

On that day Winter taunted Summer. Summer, the hero whom one does not challenge, searched for rude insults. He was confident in himself, considering the harvest time, and turned aside. Like a great bull eating rich grass, he raised his head. Next, Summer replied to Winter: "Winter, you may have to stay by the side of the oven, …… but you should not launch such serious insults against someone who does not lead a sedentary life. …… for the work of tilling the Land, with its difficulties, you do not raise a cry in the gune cult centre, you do not look after the house. The young scribe is neglectful, which is an abomination, and no rushes are plucked for the beds. The singer does not embellish the banquet, …… at its side." "Winter, don't launch such insults! …… to the desert. I will make the strength of my power come forth in the house so that you recognise it. In my working term of duty, which is seven months of the year, …… does not speak softly.

Debate Between Bird and Fish:

Then Fish laid its eggs in the lagoons, Bird built its nest in a gap in the reedbeds. But Bird frightened the Fish of the lagoons in its ……. Fish took up a stand and cried out. Grandiosely it initiated hostilities. It roused the street by quarrelling in an overbearing manner. Fish addressed Bird murderously: "…… Bird, …… there is no insult ……! Croaking, …… noise in the marshes …… squawking! Forever gobbling away greedily, while your heart is dripping with evil! Standing on the plain, you can keep pecking away until they chase you off! The farmer's sons lay lines and nets for you in the furrows. The gardener sets up nets against you in gardens and orchards. He cannot rest his arm from firing his sling, he cannot sit down because of you. You cause damage in the vegetable plots, you are a nuisance. In the damp parts of fields, there are your unpleasing footprints. Bird, you are shameless: you fill the courtyard with your droppings. The courtyard sweeper-boy who cleans the house chases after you with ropes. By your noise the house is disturbed, your din drives people away."

Debate Betwen Hoe and Plow

Hey! Hoe, Hoe, Hoe, tied up with string; Hoe, made from poplar, with a tooth of ash; Hoe, made from tamarisk, with a tooth of sea-thorn; Hoe, double-toothed, four-toothed; Hoe, child of the poor, bereft even of a loin-cloth; Hoe picked a quarrel with the Plow. Hoe and Plow—this is their dispute.

Debate Between Grain and Sheep

Debate Between Silver and Copper

The Debate Between Date Palm and Tamarisk



Thanks,
blend57

a reply to: blend57

so true what you wrote in your introduction before placing the examples.

although we are all stuck in our own perceptions it did provide an insight that brought me seemingly closer to actual people of sumer and their feelings and behaviour. i think i did a bit of time traveling while reading and absorbing what they wrote and how they might have been writing.

but as you said, how much of the text is tinted if not tainted by the individual translators and their world. but in any case i appreciate my world being more colourful for it.

i too love to read a lot but often wish a day would last twice as long as it does. good for you for finding and posting these gems. great examples and great excerpts.

Great article!