Omen 32.S.40
Nicole Lundeen, 2021, "Šumma ālu, Omen 32.S.40", Nicla De Zorzi et al., Bestiarium Mesopotamicum, 2018-2021; accessed 10/08/2026 12:08 a.m. at tieromina.acdh-dev.oeaw.ac.at/omens/Omen-32-S-40/tei
↓ 32.S.40 
SU 1952, 242   40  [DIŠEME.ŠIDanaIM.ŠU.RIN.NAŠUB-ut-m]a⸢È⸣[ZI.G]A{copy: BI}Ì[RùGÉME]
Copy Text
  • [DIŠEME.ŠIDanaIM.ŠU.RIN.NAŠUB-ut-m]aÈ[ZI.G]AÌ[RùGÉME]
  • If a City2, p. 186
    [DIŠEME.ŠIDanaIM.ŠU.RIN.NAŠUB-ut]-maE₃[ZI.G]AAR[ADu₃GEME₃]
  • [šummaṣurāruanatinūriimqutm]aūṣi[ṣī]tar[diuamti]
  • [If a lizard falls into an oven bu]t escapes- [a los]s of the ma[le and female slaves (will occur)].
  • If a City2, p. 187
    [If a lizard falls onto a stove] and gets out- loss of male and female servants.
PHILOLOGICAL COMMENTARY
  • The fragmentary omen above has been reconstructed using 32.A.38. Just as 32.A.38 through 32.A.40 form a thematic triad in which a lizard falls into an oven and the animal at first excapes, then burns up and finally does not burn, 32.S.40 through 32.S.42 do as well.

Nevertheless in a note to the above omen, If a City 2 (186, n. 40) refers the reader to 32.A.40 (If a City 2, 199, *32.101’ in the Assur tradition), instead of 32.A.38 (If a City 2, 199, *32.99'). The omen 32.A.40 is indeed similar to the above omen, being part of the same thematic triad in the Assur recension, however, the above omen’s remnants as drawn on the hand copy better suit a reconstruction from 32.A.38.

Indeed, the above omen’s reconstructed transliteration in If a City 2 (186, 32.40) uses the signs from 32.A.38 (If a City 2, 199, *32.99’) and not 32.A.40.

  • For the manifold translations of the polyvalent sign ZI, see the commentary at 32.N.49’, but also see, in particular as regards the above omen, the commentary at 32.A.38.