TEMPLE OF INANNA's video: Akkadian Hymn to Goddess Ishtar

This video presents the spoken lyrics of a hymn in praise of the goddess Ishtar (Inanna-Ishtar), goddess of love, war, and fertility, spoken in the Akkadian language. Lyrics: 1 iltam zumrā rašubti ilātim 2 litta''id bēlet iššī rabīt igigī 3 ištar zumrā rašubti ilātim 4 litta''id bēlet ilī nišī rabīt igigī 1 Sing ye of the goddess, the most fearsome of the gods, 2 Praise be upon the lady ruler of men, the greatest of the Igigi! 3 Sing ye of Ishtar, the most fearsome of the gods, 4 Praise be upon the lady ruler of the people, the greatest of the Igigi! 5 šāt mēleṣim ruāmam labšat 6 za'nat inbī mīkiam u kuzbam 7 šāt mēleṣim ruāmam labšat 8 za'nat inbī mīkiam u kuzbam 5 She who gets excited, clothed in sex appeal, 6 adorned with fruits, charm and allure. 7 She who gets excited, clothed in sex appeal, 8 adorned with fruits, charm and allure. 9 šaptīn duššupat balāṭum pīša 10 simtišša ihannīma ṣīhātum 11 šarhat irīmū ramû rēšušša 12 banâ šimtāša bitrāmā īnāša šitārā 9 She is sweet at the lips, her mouth is life, 10 Delights are lush on her cheeks, 11 She is lovely, beads are strewn on her head, 12 Her cheeks are comely, her eyes twinkle and sparkle. 13 eltum ištāša ibašši milkum 14 šīmat mimmami qatišša tamhat 15 naplasušša bani bu'āru 16 baštum mašrahu lamassum šēdum 13 The pure one, with her rests counsel, 14 She holds in her hand the fate of anything you care to name, 15 Seeing her makes for happiness, 16 Pride, splendour, protective spirit male and female. 17 tartāmī tešmê ritūmī ṭūbī 18 u mitguram tebēl šīma 19 ardat tattadu umma tarašši 20 izakkarši innišī innabbi šumša 17 Of love-making, seduction, making love, pleasure 18 and harmony, she is the lady ruler. 19 The girl who was exposed will get a mother, 20 She will mention her among the people, speak her name. 21 ayyum narbiaš išannan mannum 22 gašrū ṣīrū šūpû parṣūša 23 ištar narbiaš išannan mannum 24 gašrū ṣīrū šūpû parṣūša 21 Who can rival any of her glory? 22 her powers are mighty, exalted and manifest. 23 Ishtar, who can rival her glory? 24 her powers are mighty, exalted and manifest. 25 gaṣṣat inilī atar nazzazzuš 26 kabtat awassa elšunu haptatma 27 ištar inilī atar nazzazzuš 28 kabtat awassa elšunu haptatma 25 Cruelest among the gods, her standing is huge, 26 Her word is mighty, she triumphs over them. 27 Ishtar among the gods, her standing is huge, 28 Her word is mighty, she triumphs over them. 29 šarrassun uštanaddanū siqrīša 30 kullassunu šâš kamsūšim 31 nannarīša illakūši 32 iššû u awīlum palhūšīma 29 They are always getting their queen to impart orders, 30 All of them bow down before her, 31 Her moons go before her, 32 Woman and man hold her in fear. 33 puhriššun etel qabûša šūtur 34 ana anim šarrīšunu malâm ašbassunu 35 uznam nēmeqim hasīsam eršet 36 imtallikū šī u hammuš 33 To all of them together her speech is noble (and) exalted, 34 Among them she sits, equal to Anu their king, 35 She is wise in understanding, shrewdness, and comprehension, 36 She and her husband confer. 37 ramûma ištēniš parakkam 38 iggegunnim šubat rīšātim 39 muttiššun ilū nazzuizzū 40 epšiš pîšunu bašiā uznāšun 37 They have sat down on the dais together, 38 In Gegunnu, (their) delightful dwelling, 39 The gods stand before them, 40 Awaiting her bidding. 41 šarrum migrašun narām libbīšun 42 šarhiš itnaqqišunūt niqi'ašu ellam 43 ammiditāna ellam niqī qātīšu 44 mahrīšun ušebbi li'ī u yâlī namrā'i 41 The king, their favourite, the beloved of their hearts, 42 Makes his pure sacrifice before them in splendour. 43 In their presence, Ammiditana with his own hands 44 Made pure offerings aplenty of bulls and fattened deer. 45 išti anim hāmerīša tēteršaššum 46 dāriam balāṭam arkam 47 madātim šanāt balāṭim ana ammiditāna 48 tušatlim ištar tattadin 45 From Anum, her bridegroom, she has demanded for him 46 a long life forever. 47 Many years of life to Ammiditana 48 she has granted. it was Ishtar who gave them! 49 siqrušša tušaknišaššu 50 kibrat erbe'im ana šēpīšu 51 u naphar kalīšunu dadmī 52 taṣammissunūti ana nīrīšu 49 By her command she has made bow down 50 At his feet the four corners of the earth, 51 And all the orb of the earth 52 She has bound to his yoke. 53 bibil libbīša zamar lalêša 54 naṭumma ana pîšu siqri ea īpuš 55 ešmēma tanittaša irissu 56 libluṭmi šarrašu lirāmšu addāriš 53 Her heart's desire, the song of her praise, 54 is fitting for his mouth, her has obeyed a command of Ea. 55 "I have heard her eulogy" (said Ea), and he was delighted with it. 56 "May her king live" (he said), "may she love him forever!". 57 ištar ana ammiditāna šarri rā'imīki 58 arkam dāriam balāṭam šurqī 57 O Ishtar, upon Ammiditāna, the king who loves you, 58 bestow a long life for ever more!