Omen 32.A.89'
Nicole Lundeen, 2021, "Šumma ālu, Omen 32.A.89", Nicla De Zorzi et al., Bestiarium Mesopotamicum, 2018-2021; accessed 10/08/2026 12:09 a.m. at tieromina.acdh-dev.oeaw.ac.at/omens/Omen-32-A-89-/tei
↓ 32.A.89' 
VAT 10167   r. 17'  DIŠNAinaSILAinaDU-šúEME.DIRÙ.TUIGI.DU₈NÍG.⸢ŠU⸣KALA.GAEN-el
Copy Text
  • DIŠNAinaSILAinaDU-šúEME.DIRÙ.TUIGI.DU₈NÍG.ŠUKALA.GAEN-el
  • šummaamēluinasūqiinaalākišuṣurāruūlidīmurbūšdanniibêl
  • If a man, while walking in the street, sees a lizard giving birth- he will claim the property of an important person.
  • If a City2, 175, *32.17'
    If, when a man is walking in the street, he sees a lizard give birth, he will own substantial goods.
  • KAL 1 16-17, 73 Rs. 17'
    Wenn ein Mann im (Vorbei)gehen auf der Straße eine Eidechse Eier legen sieht: Ein bedeutende Person wird Besitztümer übernehmen.
PHILOLOGICAL COMMENTARY
  • If a City 2 (174, *32.17’) reconstructs the omen as above, adding a break around part of ŠU, but translates (175, *32.17’) KALA.GA as an adjective modifying NÍG.ŠU ‘property’:

If, when a man is walking in the street, he sees a lizard give birth, he will own substantial goods.

Though If a City 2’s interpretation appears possible, we interpret KALA.GA as an ‘important person’, following KAL 1 (16-17, 73 Rs. 17’)

Wenn ein Mann im (Vorbei)gehen auf der Straße eine Eidechse Eier legen sieht: Ein bedeutende Person wird Besitztümer übernehmen.

and the CAD B (200 s.v. bêlu 1b), which translates “a powerful person will take over (his) possessions”. Nevertheless, the translations in both KAL 1 and the CAD interpret KALA.GA as the subject of the clause, which the word order does not support. Therefore we translate as above with the caveat that ‘he will claim substantial property’ appears to be a further valid translation.

  • The structure of the above omen’s protasis in Akkadian is vaguely anacoluthic. See also the following omen 32.A.90'.