Omen 32.S.65
Nicole Lundeen, 2021, "Šumma ālu, Omen 32.S.65", 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-65/tei
↓ 32.S.65 
SU 1952, 242   r. 25  r. 26  r. 27  DIŠEME.ŠIDšá₂KUN.MEŠ-šáinaÉNAIGI[K]UN-saKUD-is-[maina]U₈mu-še-niq-tiKÉŠ(indent)šum₄-ma[U]₈ši-iSILA₄-sai-zi-irGIZKIMši-[i](indent)šum₄-⸢ma⸣⸢U₈⸣ši-iSILA₄-sai-ram[GIZ]KIM[ši⸣-⸢i⸣⸢dam⸣-⸢qat⸣(ruling)
Copy Text
  • DIŠEME.ŠIDšá₂KUN.MEŠ-šáinaÉNAIGI[K]UN-saKUD-is-[maina]U₈mu-še-niq-tiKÉŠšum₄-ma[U]₈ši-iSILA₄-sai-zi-irGIZKIMši-[i]šum₄-maU₈ši-iSILA₄-sai-ram[GIZ]KIM[ši]-idam-qat
  • If a City2, p. 188
    DIŠEME.ŠIDša₂₂KUN.MEŠ-ša₂inaE₂NAIGIKUN-saKUD-is-[ma]U₈mu-še-niq-tiKEŠ₂šum₄-maU₈ši-iSILA₄-sai-zi-irGIZKIMši-išum₄-maU₈ši-iSILA₄-sai-ramGIZKIM[ši]-idam-qat(ruling)
  • šummaṣurīrittuša₂zibbātušainabītamēliinnamir[zi]bbāssatanakkis[maina]laḫrimušēniqtitarakkasšumma[laḫ]rušīpuḫāssaizīrittuš[ī]šummalaḫrušīpuḫāssairām[it]tu[š]īdamqat
  • If a lizard with two tails is seen in a man’s house — you will cut off (one of) its [t]ails [and] will attach (it) to a nursing ewe: — If that [ew]e rejects her lamb — that omen portends evil. — If that ewe loves her lamb — [th]at [om]en portends goodness.
  • If a City2, p. 189
    If a lizard that has two tails is seen in a man's house, cut off (one of) its tail(s) [and] attach (it) to a nursing ewe; if that ewe hates her lamb, that omen is unfavorable; if that ewe loves her lamb th[at] omen is favorable.
PHILOLOGICAL COMMENTARY
  • The omen preserved on VAT 9906 v 8’-11’ (Assur) is a similarly constructed omen.
  • As mentioned by If a City 2 (188, n. 65), the object of KÉŠ ‘to attach’ appears to be the lizard’s cut off tail. The CAD M/2, 266 s.v. mušēniqtu C suggests the object of KÉŠ to be “[a lamb at the udder of] a ewe giving suck”, but as noted by If a City 2, this interpretation ignores the protasis.
  • Just as in lines SU 1952, 242 r. 26 and 27, the second and third lines of manuscript Sm 0710+ (Nineveh) both have the sign combination GIZKIM ši-i. For this reason, If a City 2 (188, n. 65 lines 2’–3’) suggests the beginning lines of Sm 0710+ may be connected to the above omen.

         Sm 0710+ 2'

[If a lizard …] … that omen portends [goodness].
[DIŠ EME.ŠID … -š]u? GIZKIM ši-i [dam-qat]

         Sm 0710+ 3'

[If a lizard …] … that omen portends ev[il].
[DIŠ EME.ŠID …] ˹x˺ ˹ud˺? su GIZKIM ši-i ḫa-[ṭa-at]

Two points, however, speak against such an interpretation. Firstly, the order of favorable and disadvantageous lines are reversed on Sm 0710+ in relation to the above omen. Additionally, the traces of the sign before GIZKIM in line Sm 710+ 2’ do not fit with the reading ­ram as in SU 1952, 242 r. 27 above and have instead been tentatively read as -š]u?.

See also Sm 0710+ 2’ and Sm 0710+ 3’ (Nineveh) and the commentary there.