​APPENDIX T: HYMNS TO Ninlil

​I. The Wind Before the Name

dNIN.LIL₂ lil-la-ke₄ / an-šè lil / ki-šè lil / edin-na lil / giš-gi-a lil / kur-ra lil / bar-ra lil / šà-ba lil / lil-àm / lil-àm / lil-àm / mu-zu-šè me-a-na / nam-mu-zu-a-šè lil ì-gub

Ninlil, Lady of Wind / toward heaven wind / toward earth wind / in the steppe wind / in the reedbed wind / in KUR wind / outside wind / inside wind / it is wind / it is wind / it is wind / before your name what was it? / before your naming wind stood.

dNIN.LIL₂ šag₄ kur-ra-ke₄ ì-gub / an-na šar-ra ù-mu-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄ / ki-a šar-ra ù-mu-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄ / lil-la-ni edin-na im-ma-ab-du₇ / giš-gi-a im-ma-ab-du₇ / šu-bi-šè ì-ni-in-gi₄ / nam-nin-a-ni kur-kur-ra hé-gub

Ninlil stood in the heart of KUR / in heaven she made the totality turn / on earth she made the totality turn / her wind fashioned the steppe / the reedbed she fashioned / to her hand she turned it / her sovereignty stands in all lands.

​II. Hymn of the Steppe

edin-na gig-ga-àm / izi nu-ĝál / iti nu-ĝál / mul an-ta è-a / ki-ta è-a / edin-na-ke₄ lil zi-ga

The steppe is dark / fire is absent / moonlight is absent / the stars rise from above / they rise from below / in the steppe the wind rises.

li-li-tu₄ edin-na ĝen-na / gìr-ni edin-na-ka du-du / igi-ni kur-ra-šè ĝál / šu-ni im-ma šu-tag / á-ni lil-àm / á-ni im-àm / á-ni bar-ra-àm / á-ni šà-ba-àm

Lilitu walks in the steppe / her feet move upon the steppe / her gaze is set toward KUR / her hand touches the clay / her arm is wind / her arm is clay / her arm is the outside / her arm is the inside.

ardat lili mūši-a du-du / nam-gig-ga-ni edin-na-ka ĝál / šag₄-bi al-húl-húl / nam-ki-áĝ nu-tuku-àm / giš-gi-a-ka kiri₃-ni ĝál / a-abzu a šu-ni-šè ì-du

Ardat lili walks at night / her sorrow is upon the steppe / her heart is in anguish / she has no beloved / in the reedbed her breath is present / the water of Abzu comes to her hand.

​III. The Owl Song

ḫu-rí-in mūši-a gù dé-a / ḫu-rí-in gidim-ma gù dé-a / ḫu-rí-in kur-ra gù dé-a / gù-bi lil-àm / gù-bi im-àm / gù-bi nam-lil-la-ke₄-àm

Owl of the night, crying / owl of the ghosts, crying / owl of KUR, crying / its cry is wind / its cry is clay / its cry is of the nature of wind.

li-li-tu₄ ḫu-rí-in-ke₄ igi-ni ĝál / igi hul-ĝál an-na ki-a igi / mūši-a igi igi / igi gig-ga-ke₄ igi-ni kal-kal / utu è-a-ke₄ igi-ni ba-ra-è / mūši-a-ka igi-ni gub

Lilitu possesses the owl’s eye / the evil eye sees in heaven and earth / at night the eye sees / in darkness her eye is precious / at sunrise her eye departs / at night her eye stands.

​IV. The Descent of Ninlil

dNIN.LIL₂ dEN.LIL₂ kur-šè ba-an-šub / dNIN.LIL₂ kur-šè ì-ĝen / ama-ni ù-na-dé dumu-mu kur-šè a-na-me / dNIN.LIL₂ ù-na-ni-ib-gi₄ kur-šè ga-àm-ĝen kur-šè ga-àm-ĝen

Ninlil and Enlil were cast down to KUR / Ninlil went to KUR / her mother said to her "my daughter, why to KUR?" / Ninlil answered her "to KUR I go, to KUR I go."

ká-gal kur-ra-ka ì-gub / ì-du₈ ù-na-dé dNIN.LIL₂-me-en ĝá-e dEN.LIL₂-šè ì-ĝen / ì-du₈ šu bar-ra / ká im-ma-ab-bé

At the great gate of KUR she stood / the gatekeeper said to her "I am Ninlil, I have come for Enlil" / the gatekeeper stretched out his hand / the gate was opened.

kur-ra dumu ì-tu-ud / ká-bi-ta dumu ì-tu-ud / giš-gi-a-ka dumu ì-tu-ud / íd kur-ra-ka dumu ì-tu-ud / dumu-dumu-ni kur-ra ì-gub-bé / kur-ra šà-ba-a dumu-ni ì-gub

In KUR she bore a child / at its gate she bore a child / in the reedbed she bore a child / at the river of KUR she bore a child / her children stand in KUR / in the interior of KUR her children stand.

​V. Invocation at Midnight

mūši-a za-ra gù mu-na-dé / li-li-tu₄ za-ra gù mu-na-dé / edin-na-ta za-ra gù mu-na-dé / giš-gi-a-ta za-ra gù mu-na-dé / kur-ra-ta za-ra gù mu-na-dé / an-ta za-ra gù mu-na-dé / ki-ta za-ra gù mu-na-dé

At midnight I raise my voice to you / Lilitu, I raise my voice to you / from the steppe I raise my voice to you / from the reedbed I raise my voice to you / from KUR I raise my voice to you / from above I raise my voice to you / from below I raise my voice to you.

im šu-ĝá-a ĝál / tit šu-ĝá-a ĝál / lil šà-ĝá-a ĝál / kur igi-ĝá-a ĝál / bar-ra-ĝu10 an-àm / šà-ĝu10 ki-àm / hé-en-da-gub-bu

Clay is in my hand / tit is in my hand / wind is in my heart / KUR is before my eyes / my outside is heaven / my inside is earth / stand with me.

​VI. Kaššāptu

kaššāptu mūši-a du-du / sila-a im ì-sar / kiškan-a im ì-pad / im-du₇ ì-dím / mūši-a im-du₇-bi ì-dím / šu-ni im-àm / gù-ni lil-àm / me-ni mūši-a ĝál

The witch walks at night / in the street she gathers clay / in the refuse heap she finds clay / a figurine she fashions / at night the figurine she fashions / her hand is clay / her voice is wind / her power is present at night.

āšipu ù-na-dé / nu-mu-un-gub / bar-šè è / kaššāptu ù-na-ni-ib-gi₄ / šu-ĝá-a im-àm / gù-ĝá-a lil-àm / edin-na-ka me-ĝá-a ĝál / bar-šè nu-è / kur-šè ga-àm-ĝen

The exorcist spoke to her / you shall no longer stand here / go out / the witch answered him / my hand is clay / my voice is wind / in the steppe my power is present / I do not go outward / toward KUR I go.

girra ì-te-en / im-du₇ ì-te-en / lá-bi ba-gul / kaššāptu ba-zi / girra-ke₄ im-du₇-bi ì-kú / kaššāptu ba-zi / du₈ / du₈ / du₈

Girra approached / he approached the figurine / its binding was broken / the witch rose / Girra consumed the figurine / the witch rose / released / released / released.

​VII. Hymn of the Dragon

kur-ra mušḫuš gál-la / kur-ra ušumgal gál-la / dumu an-ki-bi-ta / an-ta tu-ud-da / ki-ta tu-ud-da / kur šà-ga-bi-a ì-nú / kur ní-bi-a ì-nú

In KUR a mušḫuš-serpent dwells / in KUR a great dragon dwells / child of its Heaven-and-Earth / born from above / born from below / in KUR’s inner heart it lies / in KUR’s own self it lies.

dNIN.URTA mušḫuš-bi ì-gaz / na₄-rú-a-bi ḫur-saĝ ì-dím / a-bi a-šà-ga ì-ĝen / me ì-dím / nam-ti ì-dím / mušḫuš ba-úš / kur-bi ba-gul-àm

Ninurta struck down its serpent / its stone-body he made into mountains / its water went to the fields / he made battle / he made life / the serpent lies dead / its KUR-hollow stands destroyed.

kur-ra ku-ku-àm / mušḫuš ku-ku-àm / ḫur-saĝ-bi-a a du / a-bi-a mušḫuš du / ba-úš / ba-zi / ba-gul / ba-ĝál / kur mušḫuš-àm / mušḫuš kur-àm

In KUR it is warm / the serpent is warm / through its mountains water flows / through its waters the serpent flows / it is dead / it rises / it is broken / it is present / KUR is the serpent / the serpent is KUR.

​VIII. The Night Prayer

mūši-a dNIN.LIL₂-ra a-ra ĝá-e mu-na-dé / tit šu-ĝá-a / lil šà-ĝá-a / an-ta ì-gur / ki-ta ì-gur / tit-e ba-an-lá

At night I set a prayer to Ninlil / clay in my hand / wind in my heart / from above I press / from below I press / the clay thins.

ká-bi hé-eb-bé / ĝá-e hé-eb-è / mu-ĝu10 ì-tuku / níĝ-nam-ĝu10 ì-tuku / ká-ba diri-ĝá-a ba-ab-lá / šà-ga-bi-šè ga-àm-ĝen

May the gate open / may I pass through / I carry my name / I carry my being / at the gate my excess is stripped / toward its interior I go.

dNIN.LIL₂ ká-zu-ta ĝá-e hé-eb-è / kur-zu-šè ĝá-e hé-eb-è / ĝá-e dumu edin-na-me-en / ĝá-e dumu mūši-me-en / ĝá-e dumu lil-la-me-en / tit šu-ĝá-a-ta kur-zu-šè ga-àm-ĝen

Ninlil, from your gate may I pass / toward your KUR may I pass / I am a child of the steppe / I am a child of the night / I am a child of the wind / with clay in my hand toward your KUR I go.

​IX. The Mother of Demons

li-li-tu₄ ama udug-ĝá-ke₄-ne / li-li-tu₄ ama a-lá-ĝá-ke₄-ne / li-li-tu₄ ama gidim-ĝá-ke₄-ne / li-li-tu₄ ama maškim-ĝá-ke₄-ne / li-li-tu₄ ama lil₂-ĝá-ke₄-ne / li-li-tu₄ ama nam-tar-ĝá-ke₄-ne / li-li-tu₄ ama asag-ĝá-ke₄-ne

Lilitu, mother of my udug-demons / Lilitu, mother of my ala-demons / Lilitu, mother of my ghosts / Lilitu, mother of my bailiffs / Lilitu, mother of my wind-demons / Lilitu, mother of my fate-demons /Lilitu, mother of my disease-demons.

šà-zu-ta udug ba-è / šà-zu-ta a-lá ba-è / šà-zu-ta gidim ba-è / šà-zu-ta maškim ba-è / šà-zu-ta lil₂ ba-è / šà-zu-ta nam-tar ba-è / šà-zu-ta asag ba-è / šà-zu-ta kur-kur-ra ba-è

From your womb the udug emerged / from your womb the ala emerged / from your womb the ghost emerged / from your womb the bailiff emerged / from your womb the wind-demon emerged / from your womb the fate-demon emerged / from your womb the disease-demon emerged / from your womb all lands emerged.

dumu-ne-zu an-na du-du / dumu-ne-zu ki-a du-du / dumu-ne-zu edin-na du-du / dumu-ne-zu giš-gi-a du-du / dumu-ne-zu kur-ra du-du / dumu-ne-zu sila-a du-du / dumu-ne-zu é-a du-du / dumu-ne-zu bar-ra šà-a du-du

Your children walk in heaven / your children walk on earth / your children walk in the steppe / your children walk in the reedbed / your children walk in KUR / your children walk in the street / your children walk in the house / your children walk outside and inside.

āšipu dumu-ne-zu bar-šè mu-na-è / ĝá-e dumu-ne-zu šà-ba-šè mu-na-ku₄ / āšipu dumu-ne-zu ì-dib / ĝá-e dumu-ne-zu-da mu-gub / āšipu bar-šè mu-du₁₁ /ĝá-e šà-ba-šè mu-du₁₁

The exorcist drove your children outward / I invite your children inward / the exorcist seized your children / I stand with your children / the exorcist said: outward / I say: inward.

li-li-tu₄ ama hul-ĝál-la / li-li-tu₄ ama me-ĝál-la / li-li-tu₄ ama lil-ĝál-la / li-li-tu₄ ama im-ĝál-la / li-li-tu₄ ama kur-ĝál-la / li-li-tu₄ ama gi₆-ĝál-la / šà-zu gal-àm / dumu-ne-zu nu-til-la / ĝá-e dumu-zu-me-en

Lilitu, mother of evil / Lilitu, mother of power / Lilitu, mother of wind / Lilitu, mother of clay / Lilitu, mother of KUR / Lilitu, mother of night / your womb is great / your children are without end / I am your child.

​X. Invocations, Protection, Patronage

dNIN.LIL₂ igi hé-pa₃ Ninlil, eye, appear.

li-li-tu₄ mūši-a edin-na igi-ĝá-a hé-pa₃ hé-am₃ Lilitu, at night, in the steppe, before my eyes, appear, so be it.

mūši-a za-ra gù mu-na-dé li-li-tu₄ za-ra gù mu-na-dé edin-na-ta kur-ra-ta giš-gi-a-ta an-ta ki-ta gù mu-na-dé

At midnight I raise my voice to you. Lilitu, I raise my voice to you. From the steppe, from KUR, from the reedbed, from above, from below, I raise my voice.

dNIN.LIL₂ lil-la-ke₄ an-šè lil ki-šè lil edin-na lil giš-gi-a lil kur-ra lil bar-ra lil šà-ba lil lil-àm lil-àm lil-àm mu-zu-šè me-a-na nam-mu-zu-a-šè lil ì-gub

Ninlil, Lady of the Phantom: toward heaven phantom, toward earth phantom, in the steppe phantom, in the reedbed phantom, in KUR phantom, outside phantom, inside phantom. It is phantom. It is phantom. It is phantom. Before your name, what was it? Before your naming, phantom stood.

kallatu mūši edin-na-ta giš-gi-a-ta è bar-šè hé-ĝál

Bride of night, from the steppe, from the reedbed, emerge, outward, be present.

dNIN.LIL₂ kur-ra-ta šà-bi-ta lil-la-ni è igi-ĝá-a hé-ĝál

Ninlil, from KUR, from her heart, her phantom emerge, before my eyes, be present.

li-li-tu₄ á-ni lil-àm á-ni im-àm bar-šè è hé-ĝál

Lilitu, her arm is phantom, her arm is clay, outward, emerge, be present.

li-li-tu₄ ḫu-rí-in-ke₄ igi-ni ĝál igi hul-ĝál an-na ki-a igi mūši-a igi igi igi gig-ga-ke₄ igi-ni kal-kal utu è-a-ke₄ igi-ni ba-ra-è mūši-a-ka igi-ni gub

Lilitu possesses the owl's eye. The evil eye sees in heaven and earth. At night the eye sees. In darkness her eye is precious. At sunrise her eye departs. At night her eye stands.

ardat lili mūši-a du-du nam-gig-ga-ni edin-na-ka ĝál šag₄-bi al-húl-húl nam-ki-áĝ nu-tuku-àm giš-gi-a-ka kiri₃-ni ĝál a-abzu a šu-ni-šè ì-du

Phantom maiden walks at night. Her sorrow is upon the steppe. Her heart is in anguish. She has no beloved. In the reedbed her breath is present. The water of Abzu comes to her hand.

dNIN.LIL₂ bar-ra-ĝu₁₀ hé-du₃ šà-ĝu₁₀ hé-gar lil-la-ni an-ta hé-ĝál

Ninlil, build my outside, set my inside, her phantom from above be present.

dNIN.LIL₂ lil-la-ni bar-ra-ĝu₁₀ hé-gar mūši-a igi nu-ĝál šà-ĝu₁₀ kur-ra edin-na hé-ĝál hé-am₃

Ninlil, her phantom, my outside, set. At night, eye not present. My inside, in KUR, in the steppe, be present, so be it.

dNIN.LIL₂ lil-la-ni šà-ĝá-a hé-zi ùš-ĝá-a hé-zi an-ta ki-ta

Ninlil, her phantom in my heart awaken, in my blood awaken, from above, from below.

dNIN.LIL₂ lil-la-ni šà-ĝá-a ùš-ĝá-a mu-da-sikil an-ta ki-ta nam-gig ba-gul edin-na hé-am₃

Ninlil, her phantom, in my heart, in my blood, purify alongside. From above, from below, sickness destroyed, in the steppe, so be it.

dNIN.LIL₂ lú-hul-ĝá-a maškim hul nam-tar-bi bar-šè hé-hul ba-gul

Ninlil, against my enemy, evil maškim, his fate, outward, be charged, destroy.

dNIN.LIL₂ girra im-du₇ lú-hul-ĝá-a ì-kú lá-bi ba-gul hé-am₃

Ninlil, Girra, my enemy's figurine, consumed, its binding destroyed, so be it.

im šu-ĝá-a ĝál tit šu-ĝá-a ĝál lil šà-ĝá-a ĝál kur igi-ĝá-a ĝál bar-ra-ĝu₁₀ an-àm šà-ĝu₁₀ ki-àm hé-en-da-gub-bu

Clay in my hand is present. TIT in my hand is present. Phantom in my heart is present. KUR before my eyes is present. My outside is heaven. My inside is earth. Stand with me.

āšipu ù-na-dé nu-mu-un-gub bar-šè è kaššāptu ù-na-ni-ib-gi₄ šu-ĝá-a im-àm gù-ĝá-a lil-àm edin-na-ka me-ĝá-a ĝál bar-šè nu-è kur-šè ga-àm-ĝen

The exorcist spoke to her: do not stand here, go out. The witch answered: my hand is clay, my voice is phantom. In the steppe my power is present. I do not go outward. Toward KUR I go.

dNIN.LIL₂ šu-ni šu-ĝá-a hé-en-da-gub-bu

Ninlil, her hand in my hand, stand with me.

li-li-tu₄ šà-bi al-húl-húl dNIN.LIL₂ šà-bi hé-en-da-gub-bu šà-ĝá-a šà-bi-da kur-ra hé-am₃

Lilitu, her heart is in anguish. Ninlil, her heart, stand with me. My heart with her heart, in KUR, so be it.

dNIN.LIL₂ šu-ni šu-ĝá-a hé-gar lil-la-ni šà-ĝá-a è ùš-ĝá-a hé-ĝál hé-du₃ hé-am₃

Ninlil, her hand in my hand, set. Her phantom into my heart, enter. In my blood, be present, build, so be it.

dNIN.LIL₂ šà-ĝá-a è lil-la-ni šu-ĝá-a ùš-ĝá-a hé-ĝál hé-am₃

Ninlil, into my heart enter, her phantom in my hand, in my blood, be present, so be it.

dNIN.LIL₂ me-ni šu-ĝá-a hé-gar nam-nin-a-ni ùš-ĝá-a hé-ĝál an-ta ki-ta kur-ra hé-zi hé-am₃

Ninlil, her power in my hand, set. Her sovereignty in my blood, be present. From above, from below, in KUR, awaken, so be it.

ĝá-e tit-me-en lil-me-en im-me-en kur šà-ĝá-a an bar-ra-ĝá-a ga-àm-è hé-am₃

I am clay, I am phantom, I am the membrane. KUR is my interior. Heaven is my exterior. I emerge, so be it.

dNIN.LIL₂ nam-nin-a-ni kur-kur-ra an-na ki-a me-ni hé-ĝál hé-gar

Ninlil, her sovereignty in all lands, in heaven, on earth, her power be present, set.

an-ta ki-ta tit-ĝá-a kur-ra bar-šè lil-àm im-àm ga-àm-è

From above, from below, my clay body, in KUR, outward, it is phantom, it is clay, I emerge.

dNIN.LIL₂ šag₄ kur-ra-ke₄ ì-gub an-na šar-ra ù-mu-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄ ki-a šar-ra ù-mu-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄ lil-la-ni edin-na im-ma-ab-du₇ giš-gi-a im-ma-ab-du₇ šu-bi-šè ì-ni-in-gi₄ nam-nin-a-ni kur-kur-ra hé-gub

Ninlil stood in the heart of KUR. In heaven she made the totality turn. On earth she made the totality turn. Her phantom fashioned the steppe. The reedbed she fashioned. To her hand she turned it. Her sovereignty stands in all lands.

dNIN.LIL₂ li-li-tu₄ kitû ḫid māmītu du₈ kur-ra an-ta ki-ta girra ba ga-àm-è

Ninlil, Lilitu, linen torn, oath released, in KUR, from above, from below, Girra breaks through, I emerge.

girra ì-te-en im-du₇ ì-te-en lá-bi ba-gul kaššāptu ba-zi du₈ du₈ du₈

Girra approached. He approached the figurine. Its binding was broken. The witch rose. Released. Released. Released.

kur-šè ga-àm-ĝen kur-šè ga-àm-ĝen hé-am₃

Toward KUR I go. Toward KUR I go. So be it.

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^[1] daniel.esprit218@gmail.com

^[2] The Abyss produces an infinite loop built entirely from Nightside components: 05, 27, 16, 21, 49: 5 (will), 3³ (Mother cubed), 16 Kalas, 3 × 7, 7². In decimal, the same fraction yields 0.(09). the repeating digit of Gamaliel, Lilith's own Qlipha.