Omen 38.15
Frank Simons, 2021, "Šumma ālu, Omen 38.15", Nicla De Zorzi et al., Bestiarium Mesopotamicum, 2018-2021; accessed 10/08/2026 12:03 a.m. at tieromina.acdh-dev.oeaw.ac.at/omens/Omen-38-15/tei
↓ 38.15 
K 03726+ii   46  […N]A⸢E₁₁⸣⸢NA⸣BIinau₄-mi-šuŠ[À.BI…]
K 03726+If a City2, p. 283, Ex(1)[…]E₁₁LÚBIinau₄-mi-šu[…]
BM 30427   3  DIŠUR.MEanaUGUNAE₁₁NA[…]
MLC 01867   15  DIŠUR.MEanaUGULÚE₁₁LÚBIinau₄-mi-šuŠÀ.BIDÙG.GAIGI-⸢mar⸣
K 08048+   7  ⸢DIŠ⸣UR.MEanaUGUNAE₁₁NABIinau₄-mi-šuŠÀ.B[I…]
K 08048+If a City2, p. 283, Ex(3)DIŠUR.MEanaUGUNAE₁₁NABIinau₄-mi-šulib₃-b[i…]
K 06315+   4'  […UG]UNA⸢E₁₁⸣[…]
K 06315+If a City2, p. 283, Ex(2)[…N]AE₁₁[…]
Copy Text
  • DIŠUR.MEanaUGUNAE₁₁NABIinau₄-mi-šuŠÀ.BIDÙG.GAIGI-mar
  • šummasāmānuanamuḫḫiamēliīliamēlušūinaūmīšulibbašuiṭâbimmar
  • If a blister beetle climbs onto a man- that man will experience happiness in his time.
Copty Text
      • If a City2, p. 275
        If a moth climbs onto a man, that man will experience happiness in his time.
      PHILOLOGICAL COMMENTARY

      The blister beetle exudes a toxic liquid when disturbed, which causes blistering on contact with the skin (hence the name), and so the positive apodoses in omens 38.15-38.20', 38.26', and 38.28' are notable. It is possible that they are equivalent to the modern saying that it is good luck to be pooed on by a bird.

      After this omen, BM 30427 has 38.20' (line 4) and then 38.16 (line 5).