Appendix 5: Omens based on anomalies in the world of animated beings

Marco De Pietri, Stefania Ermidoro – March 2022

Appendix 5: Omens based on anomalies in the world of animated beings

Appendix 5: Omens based on anomalies in the world of animated beings

Sources:
     Autograph: Rawlinson 1861- 1884 C I W A = Rawlinson, Henry Creswicke 1861-1884, The Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia, Vol. 5, London: R.E. Bowler.
     Akkadian text and English translation (columns 1/2, 5/6): Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty, Erle 1970, The Omen Series Šumma Izbu, Texts from Cuneiform Sources 4, Locust Valley, New York: J.J. Augustin.
     Further bibliographical references: Leichty 1986 Catalogue = Leichty, Erle 1986, Catalogue of the Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum: Volume VI: Tablets from Sippar, I, London: British Museum; Leichty 1987 Catalogue = Leichty, Erle and Grayson, A.K. 1987, Catalogue of the Babylonian Tablets in the British Museum: Volume VII: Tablets from Sippar, II, London: British Museum; De Zorzi, Nicla 2011, Divinazione e intertestualità. La serie divinatoria Shumma izbu e il suo orizzonte culturale, PhD Dissertation, Università Ca' Foscari, Venezia (columns 3/4); later published as: De Zorzi 2014 Summa Izbu = De Zorzi, Nicla 2014, La serie teratomantica Šumma izbu: testo, tradizione, orizzonti culturali, History of the Ancient Near East. Monographs 15, Padova: Sargon Editrice Libreria. Cf. also SAA 8 287.

NB₁: Please note that almost all the phonemic transcriptions are by M. De Pietri and S. Ermidoro (the source indicated in the top table refers to the original source of the syllabic transcription).

NB₂: Please note that for an editorial decision and for uniformity to what is stated in Buccellati 1996 Grammar = Buccellati, Giorgio 1996, A Structural Grammar of Babylonian, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, pp. 20-21, in the phonemic transcription the use of the circumflex ( ＾ ) is avoided and instead only the macron ( ¯ ) is used.

Appendix 5.1: Report of an actual event

Report of an actual event e = BM 54038; cf. CDLI, P237866 Leichty 1986 Catalogue = Leichty 1986, p. 125; Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970, p. 11; Rawlinson 1861- 1884 C I W A = Rawlinson 1861-1884, Vol. 1, Pl. 5, no. XX. Cf. also SAA 8 287.
Topic	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	English translation Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	English translation gB
Quote from the reference manual	1-2 BE iz-bu 8 GÌR.MEŠ-šú / 2 KUN.MEŠ-šú	1-2 šumma izbu 8 šēpūšu / 2 zibbātūšu	/	/	1-2 If an anomaly's feet are 8 / (and) its tails 2 --	1-2 "If the anomaly consists of having eight feet / and two tails,
Quote from the reference manual	3-4 NUN šar-ru-ti / kiš-šú-ti i-ṣa-bat (= XV?)	3-4 rub šarrūti / kiššūti iṣabbat (= XV?)	/	/	3-4 a prince will / seize universal kingship	3-4 a prince will / take possession of the universal kingdom.
The fact	5 LÚ ma-ḫi-ṣu šú-ú	5 awīlu(m) māḫiṣu šū	/	/	5 He is a weaver.	5 The person in question is a weaver
	6 ^mUD-da-nu šum-šú^{Note 5.1}	6 UD-danu šumšu	/	/	6 UD-danu is his name.	6 whose name is Shamash-dayyanu.
	7-8 i-qá-ba-a um-ma SAL.ŠAḪ-a (edge: ki-i tu-li-du)	7-8 iqabaā umma šaḫīta (edge: kī tūlidu)	7-8 i-qá-ba-a um-ma ^míŠÁḪ-a	7-8 iqabbā umma šaḫīta (edge: kī tūlidu)	7-8 He says: “When my sow (edge. gave birth),	7-8 He says verbatim, "When my sow gave birth,
	9 8 GÌR.MEŠ u 2 KUN.MEŠ-šú	9 8 šēpē u 2 zibbātūšu	/	/	9 its (the piglet's) feet were 8 (and) its tails 2.	9 (the piglet) had 8 feet and two tails.
	10 um-ma i-na MUN an-di-di-il-šú	10 umma ina ṭābti andidilšu	/	/	10 I pickled it in salt,	10 So I salted it
	11 ù i-na É al-ta-kan	11 u ina bīti altakan	/	/	11 and placed (it) in the house."	11 and stored it in the house."
Responsible party	12 šá ^mdU + GUR-KAR-ir	12 ša Nergal-ēṭir	/	/	12 (report) of Nergal-ēṭir	12 Nergaletir’s report.

Appendix 5.2: Omens concerning human beings

Omens concerning human beings [Tablet I] Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970, pp. 36-39; A = K. 8794.
Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	English translation Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	English translation gB
50 BE SAL IM i-ri-ma IM Ù.TU ḪUL GÁL-ma AMA UGU DUMU.SAL-šá KÁ-šá TAB ŠEŠ-ti NU GÁL KUR.BI ZÁḪ EBUR KUR NU SI.SÁ	50 šumma sinništum šāra īrīma šāra ulid lumnu ibaššī-ma ummu eli mārtiša bābša iddil aḫḫūti ul ibaššī mātu šī iḫalliq ebūr māti ul iššir	/	/	50 If a woman becomes pregnant with wind, and gives birth to wind -- there will be bad times and the mother will bar her door against her daughter; there will be no (sense of) brotherhood; that land will disappear; the harvest of the land will nor prosper.	50 If a woman becomes pregnant with wind and gives birth to the wind: bad times! a mother will close the door in her daughter's face, there will be no (spirit of) brotherhood, your country will disappear, the harvest of the fields will suffer.
54 BE SAL LÚ.BA.AN.ZA Ù.TU ud-da-a-tu É LÚ BIR	54 šumma sinništum kurām ulid uddātu bīt amēli isappaḫ	54 BE SAL LÚ.BA.AN.ZA Ù.TU tam-ṭa-a-tu₄ É NA BIR	54 šumma sinništum pessā ulid tamṭātu bīt amēli isappaḫ	54 If a woman gives birth to a male dwarf -- troubles; the house of the man will be scattered.	54 If a woman gives birth to a dwarf boy, trouble! That man's family will be scattered.
55 BE SAL SAL.BA.AN.ZA Ù.TU GABA.RI	55 šumma sinništum pessāta ulid gabarū	/	/	55 If a woman gives birth to a female dwarf -- correspondingly.	55 54 If a woman gives birth to a dwarf girl: in a parallel manner.
78 BE SAL ši-kin Ḫu-wa-wa Ù.TU LUGAL u DUMU.MEŠ-šú ina URU É.MEŠ	78 šumma sinništum šikin Ḫuwawa ulid šarru u mārūšu ina āli uṣṣū	/	/	78 If a woman gives birth to the image of Ḫumbaba -- the king and his sons will go out from the city (in exile).	78 78 If a woman give birth to the image of Humbaba the king and his children shall go out of the city (in exile).
82 BE SAL Ù.TU-ma ½ KÙŠ la-an-šú SU₆ za-kin i-da-ab-bu-ub GIN.GIN u ZÚ.MEŠ-šú È.MEŠ Ti-ig-ri-AN MU-šú BAL ^dU + GUR ZI dan-nu ka-šú-šú ina KUR GAR-ma DINGIR KÚ SIL SIL KÚR-ir É É KAR-ߴ	82 šumma sinništum ulid-ma ½ ammatum lānšu ziqnu zakin idabbub ittanallak u šinnāšu aṣā Tigrīlu šumšu palē Nergal tību dannu kašušu ina māti šakinma ilu ikkal sūqu sūqa inakkir bītum bītam imaššaߴ	/	/	82 If a woman gives birth, and (the child) is half a cubit tall, he is bearded, he can talk, he can walk, and he has teeth; he is called “tigrilu” -- reign of Nergal; a fierce attack; there will be a mighty person in the land; pestilence; one street will be hostile to the other; one house will plunder the other.	82 If a woman gives birth and it happens that the baby is only about 25 centimeters, with a beard and teeth, able to talk and walk the baby is a "tigrilu" – kingdom of Nergal! There will be a powerful assault; there will be a bully in power; there will be pestilence; (in the city) one street will wage war on the other; one house will attack another.

Omens concerning human beings [Tablet II] Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970, pp. 47, 52. A = K. 2945; CT 27, Pl. 9, Pl. 10; Rawlinson 1861- 1884 C I W A = Rawlinson 1861-1884, Vol. 3, Pl. 65, no. I. f = BM 68608; Leichty 1987 Catalogue = Leichty-Grayson 1987, p. 238.
Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	English translation Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	English translation gB
19 BE SAL Ù.TU-ma ina UGU SAG.DU-šú UZU GIM ku-ub-šú GAR-ma SUḪUŠ-su ḫa-niq u im-ta-na-qut IGI-šú šá 15 ub-bu-ṭa-at ŠU-šú u GÌR-šú šá 15 a-ka-at u ZÚ.MEŠ-šú È.MEŠ KUR URI.KI KÚR UŠ-ši-ma eš-re-ti-šá ú-šal-pat GIŠ.TUKUL LUGAL i-ra-bi-ṣu	19 šumma sinništum ulid-ma ina muḫḫi qaqqadišu šīru kīma kubši šakin-ma išissu ḫaniq u imtanaqqut īnšu ša imitti uppuṭat qāssu u šēpšū ša imitti akāt u šinnāšu aṣā māt Akkadi nakrum ireddišī-ma ešrētiša ušalpat kakkū šarri irabbiṣū	/	/	19 If a woman gives birth, and (the child) has (a knob of) flesh like a turban on top of his head, and the base (of the flesh) is constricted and falls in folds, its right eye is contorted, its right hand and foot are crippled, and it has teeth -- an enemy will confiscate the land of Akkad and desecrate its shrines; the weapons of the king will be idle.	19 If a woman gives birth and the baby happens to have a (protuberance of) flesh similar to a turban on top of the head, but restricted at the base so that it forms wrinkles, with the right eye twisted, with his right hand and his right foot crippled, and with teeth (in mouth) the enemy will take over the country of Akkad, will desecrate his sanctuaries, the king's weapons will be gone.
67' BE SAL Ù.TU-ma ^dLAMMA u bu-nu NAM.LÚ.U_x.LU GAR LUGAL u IM.RI.A-šú ZÁḪ	67' šumma sinništum ulid-ma lamassum u būnu amīlūti šakin šarru u kimtašu iḫalliqū	/	/	67' If a woman gives birth, and (the child) is a female demon with a male face -- the king and his family will disappear.	67' If a woman gives birth and the baby happens to be a female demon with the face of a male, the king and his dynasty will disappear.

Omens concerning human beings [Tablet III] Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970, pp. 59, 62. E = K. 2007; CDLI: P365868; CT 27, Pl. 17, Pl. 18.
Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	English translation Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	English translation gB
48 BE SAL Ù.TU-ma ŠU-su šá 15 NU GÁL KUR.BI kar-mu-tam GIN-ak	48 šumma sinništum ulid-ma qāssu ša imitti lā ibbašši mātu šī karmūtam illak	/	/	48 If a woman gives birth, and (the child) has no right hand -- that land will become waste.	48 48 If a woman gives birth and it happens that the child is without a right hand her country will be ruined.
49 [BE SAL Ù].TU-ma ŠU-su šá 150 NU GÁL KUR KÚR GABA.RI	49 [šumma sinništum ul]id-ma qāssu ša šumēli lā ibbašši māt nakri gabarī	/	/	49 If a woman gives birth, and (the child) has no left hand -- the land of the enemy: correspondingly.	49 If a woman gives birth and it happens that the child is without a left hand the country of the enemy, in a parallel way.
82 BE SAL Ù.TU-ma GÌR.MEŠ-šú NU GÁL.MEŠ tál-la-ka-at KUR TAR-as É.BI BIR-aḫ	82 šumma sinništum ulid-ma šēpāšu lā ibaššā tallakat māti ipparras bītu šū isappaḫ	/	/	82 If a woman gives birth, and (the child) has no feet -- the communications of the land will be cut; that house will be scattered.	82 If a woman gives birth and the baby happens to be footless, the roads in the village will be cut off, his family will scatter.

Appendix 5.3: Omens concerning animals

Omens concerning animals [Tablet VI] Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970, p. 84. C = K. 5921; CDLI: P396262; Bezold 1889- 1899 Catalogue = Bezold 1889-1899, Vol. 2, p. 749.
Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	English translation Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	English translation gB
5 [BE iz-bu 2-ma ... ] i-šú-ú ina MU.l.KAM DUMU.MEŠ LUGAL ana GIŠ.GU.ZA AD-šú-nu S[Á.SÁ ŠEŠ ana] ŠEŠ KÚR-ir a-na LUGAL ti-bu-um DUMU LUGAL AD-šú ḪI.GAR x ina KUR [x]	5 [šumma izbu šinā-ma ...] išū ina šatti ištēn mārū šarri ana kuššī abīšunu ištannanū aḫu ana aḫi inakkir ana šarri tībum mār šarri abāšu ibār zēru ina māti [ibbašši]	/	/	5 If the anomalies are double, and they have [...] -- the sons of the king will fight among themselves for one year over the throne of their father; one brother will be hostile to the other; an attack against the king; the crown prince will rebel against his father; [...] in the land.	5 If an abnormal fetus consists of two animals (joined) in such a way that [...] the king's children will fight among themselves for a year for the father's throne; one brother will fight against the other; an attack against the king; the crown prince will turn against his father; [...] in the country.

Omens concerning animals [Tablet VIII] Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970, pp. 103-105. a = BM 54739; Leichty 1986 Catalogue = Leichty 1986, p. 155. C = K. 3947; CDLI: P365864; Bezold 1889- 1899 Catalogue = Bezold 1889-1899, Vol. 2, p. 579.
Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	English translation Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	English translation gB
31' BE iz-bu 2 SAG.DU.MEŠ-šú MAN ina GÚ-šú GAR-ma 6 GÌR.MEŠ-šú 4 TI.MEŠ-šú NU ŠE.ŠE.GA KUR KUR KI IM-šá i-tak-kal-<<lu>> NUN KUR-su BAL-su	31' šumma izbu 2 qaqqadātušu šanū ina kišādišu šakinma 6 šēpētušu 4 ṣēlūšu lā mitgurtu mātu māta itti ramānišu ītakkal rubū māssu ibbalakkissu	/	/	31' If an anomaly has two heads (and) the second one is on its neck, and (it has) six feet (and) four ribs -- dissension; one land will consume the other land for no apparent reason; the prince's land will revolt against him.	31' If an abnormal fetus has two heads and the second one rests on its neck, and if it has six feet and four ribs, discord! one country will consume the other without a reason; as for the prince: his country will turn against him.
33' BE iz-bu 2 SAG.DU.MEŠ-šú MAN ina GÚ.ḪAŠ-šú išakkāmma IGI.MEŠ-šú a-ḫi-e IGI.MEŠ LUGAL BAL-šú ṭar-ri-du-tam GIN-ak	33' šumma izbu 2 qaqqadātušu šanū ina kutallišu šakin-ma īnāšu aḫē inaṭṭalā šarru palūšu ṭarridūta illak	/	/	33' If an anomaly has two heads, (and) the second one is on its back, and its eyes look in different directions -- the king's reign will end in exile.	33' If an abnormal fetus has only one horn sticking out in the middle (of its head) the prince's country will expand; the enemy's troops will remain in (their) country; the king can rely on allied troops and conquer his enemy's land.
34' BE iz-bu 2 SAG.DU.MEŠ-šú MAN ina GÚ.ḪAŠ-šú GAR-ma KUN-su IGI DUMU LUGAL KI AD-šú KÚR-ir	34' šumma izbu 2 qaqqadātušu šanū ina kutallišu šakin-ma zibbassu inaṭṭal mār šarri itti abīšu inakkir	/	/	34' If an anomaly has two heads, (and) the second one is on its back, and faces its tail -- the crown prince will be in enmity with his father.	34' If an abnormal fetus has two heads and the second is on its back, and the eyes are facing in the opposite direction, regarding the king: his kingdom will result in exile.
41' BE iz-bu 2 SAG.DU.MEŠ-šú MAN ina pa-pan lìb-bi-šú GAR-ma ŠEŠ ŠEŠ-šú IGI.MEŠ NUN É.[GAL-šú ŠUB-ma] ina URU-šú u UN.MEŠ-šú it-ta-ṣi ina KUR-šú NU È ina ki-di É.GAL [...] ga-du aš-bu DÙ-ma DÚR-ab DUMU.NITÁ-šú GIŠ.GU.ZA NU DIB-bat ṭar-du [kuš-šu-du ana URU-šú GUR-ra]	41' šumma izbu 2 qaqqadātušu šanū ina papān libbišu šakin-ma aḫu aḫa inaṭṭalā rubū e[kalšu innaddī-ma] ina ālišu u nišēšu ittaṣṣi ina mātišu ul uṣṣi ina kīdi ekalli [...] gadu ašbu ippuš-ma uššab apilšu kussā ul iṣabbat ṭardu [kuššudu ana ālišu itār]	/	/	41' If an anomaly has two heads, (and) the second one is on its diaphragm, and one faces the other -- the prince's palace will be abandoned and he will go out from his city and his people; he will not leave his land, (but), outside his palace [...] ....; his son will not take the throne; an exile who was driven out will return to his city.	41' If an abnormal fetus has two heads and the second one is on its belly, the prince's palace will be abandoned and he will leave his city and his people; not out of his country but out of his palace [...]; his son will not sit on the throne; an exile who has been driven out will return to his city.

Omens concerning animals [Tablet IX] Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970, pp. 117-118. b = MLC 1875; CDLI: P296526.
Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	English translation Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	English translation gB
32' BE iz-bu SI-šú 1-ma ina SAG.DU-šú È-át GIŠ.TUKUL LUGAL.GI.NA KUR NUN DAGAL-iš GIŠ.TUKUL KALAG.ME-ma LUGAL GABA.RI NU TUK-ši	32' šumma izbu qaranšu ištēt-ma ina qaqqadišu aṣāt kakki Šarru-kīn māt rubē irappiš kakkū idanninū-ma šarru māḫira ul irašši	/	/	32' If an anomaly has only one horn, and it protrudes from its head -- weapon of Sargon; the land of the prince will expand; the weapons will be strong and the king will have no opponent.	32' If an abnormal fetus has only one horn sticking out of its head (but in normal position, i.e., right or left), Sargon's club! The prince's country will expand; the military forces will consolidate and the king will have no one to turn against him.
33' [BE iz-bu] ⸢SI⸣-šú 1-ma ina UGU È-át KUR NUN DAGAL-iš [...] ⸢KÚR⸣-ka ina ŠÁ KUR DÚR-ab ⸢LUGAL⸣ til-la-a-te TUK-ši-ma KUR KÚR-šú ú-šam-qat	33' [šumma izbu] ⸢qaran⸣šu ištēt-ma ina muḫḫi aṣāt māt rubē irappiš [...] nakirka ina libbi māti ušab ⸢šarru⸣ tillāti irašī-ma māt nakrišu ušamqat	/	/	33' If an anomaly has only one horn, and it protrudes from the top (of its head) -- the land of the prince will expand; [...]; your enemy will reside in the land; the king will have auxiliary troops and will overthrow the land of his enemy.	33' If an abnormal fetus has only one horn sticking out in the middle (of its head) the prince's country will expand; the enemy's troops will remain in (their) country; the king can rely on allied troops and conquer his enemy's land.
34' [BE iz-bu SI-šu] 1-ma ina SAG.KI-šú È-át [GIŠ.TUKUL LUGAL].GI.NA	34' [šumma izbu qaranšu] ištēt-ma ina pūtišu aṣāt [kakki Šarru]-kīn	/	/	34' If an anomaly has only one horn, and it protrudes from its forehead -- weapon of Sargon.	34' If an abnormal fetus has only one horn sticking out of its forehead, Sargon's club!
45' [BE iz-bu SI.MEŠ-šú] ina GÚ.ḪAŠ-šú GAR.ME ZI SAL.ḪUL NUN UG₆-ma KÚR ri-eš ERIM.MU ana(!) SAL.ḪUL ú-kal	45' [šumma izbu qarnāšu] ina kutallišu šaknā tīb lemutti rubū imāt-ma nakru rēš ummānija ana lemutti ukāl	/	/	45' If an anomaly's horns are on its back -- an evil attack; the prince will die and an enemy will hold evil in store for my army.	45' If an abnormal fetus has horns sticking out of its back, a terrible assault! The prince will die and as a harmful consequence the enemy will have the elite of my army in its hands.

Omens concerning animals [Tablet XI] Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970, p. 131. A = K. 3998; CDLI: P365882; CT 27, Pl. 37. b = K. 4048; CDLI: P365881; CT 27, Pl. 36.
Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	English translation Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	English translation gB
1 BE iz-bu GEŠTU 15-šú NU GÁL BAL LUGAL TIL É.GAL-šú BIR ŠUB-tim ši-bu-ut URU LUGAL mali-ku NU TUK-ši UŠ₄ KUR NIŠ-ni bu-ul KUR TUR ana KÚR qá-ba-a GAR-an	1 šumma izbu uzun imittišu lā ibbašši palē šarri qati ēkalšu issappaḫ miqitti šībūt āli šarru malikū ul irašši ṭēm māti išanni būl māti iṣeḫḫir ana nakri qabā iššakkan	/	/	1 If an anomaly has no right ear -- the reign of the king will be at an end; his palace will be scattered; overthrow of the elders of the city; the king will have no advisers; the land will go mad; the herds of the land will decrease; he (the king) will be obedient to the enemy.	1 If an abnormal fetus is without the right ear, the king's rule will end: his household will scatter; the city dignitaries will be removed; the king will have no more councilors; the country will go mad; the country's cattle will diminish; the king will have to listen to the enemy.
2 BE iz-bu GEŠTU 150-šú NU GÁL DINGIR te-eṣ-lit LUGAL iš-me LUGAL KUR KÚR-šú TI-qí É.GAL KÚR BIR-aḫ maḫiru ma-li-ku NU TUK bu-ul KUR KÚR tu-ṣa-ḫir-ma qá-ba-a-am GAR-ku	2 šumma izbu uzun šumēlišu lā ibbašši ilu tēṣlit šarri išme šarru māt nakrišu ileqqe ēkal nakri issappaḫ maḫīru mālikū ul irašši būl māt nakri tuṣaḫḫir-ma qabā iššakkanku	/	/	2 If an anomaly has no left ear -- the god has heard the prayer of the king; the king will take the land of his enemy; the palace of the enemy will be scattered; the enemy will have no advisers; you will decrease the herds of the land of the enemy; and (the enemy) will be obedient to you.	2 If an abnormal fetus is without the left ear, God heard the king's prayer: the king will occupy the enemy's country, the house of the (king’s) enemy will be scattered; the enemy (king) will have no more advisors; you will diminish the enemy's cattle; the enemy will have to listen to you.

Appendix 5.4: Strange behaviors

Strange behaviors [Tablet XXII] Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970, p. 191. B = K. 6859 [CDLI: P396850; CT 28, Pl. 35] + K. 9718 [CDLI: P398271] + K. 10723.
Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	English translation Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	English translation gB
15' BE ŠAḪ.MEŠ ina URU-ma u KUN-šú-nu tar-u-u ZI-ut ERIM-ni ERIM KÚR [SAG A.ŠÁ-šá KUR-ád]	15' šumma šaḫū ina āli-ma u zibbātušunu tarū tibūt ummāni ummānu maḫir [rēš eqlišu ikaššad]	15' BE ŠAḪ.MEŠ ina URU-ma u KUN-šú-nu tar-u-u ZI-ut ÉRIN-ni ÉRIN-ni [SAG A.ŠÁ-šá KUR-ád]	15' šumma šaḫū ina āli-ma u zibbātušunu tarū tibūt ummāni ummānu [rēš eqlišu ikaššad]	15' If pigs are in the city and their tails are raised -- attack of the army; the army of the enemy will attain its objective.	15' If pigs enter the city and their tails are straight attack of the army! The enemy's army will reach its goal.
18' BE ŠAḪ.MEŠ SIG₄ É NA i-kàr-ra-du É.BI ŠUB-ma	18' šumma šaḫū libitti bīt amēli iqarradu bītu šu innad-ma	18' BE ŠAḪ.MEŠ SIG₄ É NA i-kàr-ra-du É.BI ÚKU-in	18' šumma šaḫū libitti bīt amēli iqarradu bītu šu ilappin	18' If pigs pinch off a brick from the house of a man -- that house will be abandoned.	18'
19' BE ŠAḪ GIŠ.GI ida URU iq-te-ni-ru-ba URU.BI ŠUB-ma ár-bu-tam GIN-ak	19' šumma šaḫapu ida āli iqtenirrubā ālu šu inaddī-ma arbūtam illak	/	/	19' If a wild pig continually comes near the edge of the city -- that city will be abandoned and will become waste.	19' If the pigs crumble the bricks of someone's house, that house will be abandoned.
20' BE ŠAḪ GIŠ.GI ana ŠÁ URU TU-ub URU.BI Ú.GUG DIB-bat	20' šumma šaḫapu ana libbi āli īrub āla šuātu sunqu iṣabbat	20' BE ŠAḪ GIŠ.GI ana ŠÁ URU KU₄-ub URU.BI Ú.GUG DIB-bat	20' šumma šaḫapu ana libbi āli īrub āla šuātu sunqu iṣabbat	20' If a wild pig enters into the heart of the city -- famine will seize that city.	20' If a wild pig walks into a town, famine will take that city.

Note 5.1: Cf. SAA 8 287, reading: ^mtam-da-nu šum-šú._{Back to text}

Strange behaviors [Tablet XXIII] Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970, p. 193. B = K. 217 [CDLI: P393792] + K. 4046; Boissier 1894 Documents = Boissier 1894, p. 104.
Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	Akkadian text (syllabic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	Akkadian text (phonemic transcription) De Zorzi 2011 [alternative readings]	English translation Leichty 1970 Izbu = Leichty 1970	English translation gB
19' DIŠ UR.GIR_x(KU) ina GIŠ.NÁ-šú ir-bi-iṣ DINGIR-šú KI-šú zi-e-ni	19' šumma kalbum ina eršišu irbiṣ ilšu ittišu zeni	19' DIŠ UR.GI₇ ina ^gišNÁ-šú ir-bi-iṣ DINGIR-šú KI-šú zi-e-ni	19' šumma kalbum ina eršišu irbiṣ ilšu ittišu zeni	19' If a dog lies down in his bed -- his god is angry with him.	19' If a dog lies in his bed, his god is irritated with him.
23' DIŠ UR.GIR_x(KU) BABBAR LÚ iš-tin LÚ.BI KI.KAL DIB-su	23' šumma kalbum peṣūm awīlam ištin awīlu šu dannatu iṣabbassu	23' DIŠ UR.GI₇ BABBAR LÚ iš-tin LÚ.BI KI.KAL DIB-su	23' šumma kalbum peṣūm awīlam ištin awīlu šu dannatu iṣabbassu	23' If a white dog urinates on a man -- hard times will seize that man.	23' If a white dog urinates on a man, bad times will seize that man.
24' DIŠ UR.GIR_x(KU) GE₆ LÚ iš-tin GIG DIB-su	24' šumma kalbum ṣalmum awīla ištin murṣum iṣabbassu	24' DIŠ UR.GI₇ GE₆ LÚ iš-tin GIG DIB-su	24' šumma kalbum ṣalmum awīla ištin murṣum iṣabbassu	24' If a black dog urinates on a man -- sickness will seize him.	24' If a black dog urinates on a man, a disease will seize that man.