Priesthood & Temple Office
A god's house needed a staff — high priestess, purifier, lamenter, diviner — each an office mediating heaven and earth.
The god's temple was a household staffed by many kinds of priests and officials, each with a defined office. High priests and priestesses (the en) presided; purification priests kept the cult pure; lamentation singers (gala) performed the liturgies; diviners and exorcists read signs and warded off evil. Some offices were among the most prestigious in the land — the en-priestess of the moon-god at Ur was often a king's daughter, the most famous being Enheduana, a Sargonic princess credited with great hymns. The priesthood mediated the whole transaction between gods and people: feeding, praising, purifying, and consulting the divine.
Key passages(20)
An adab (?) to Nuska for Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan Q)
The Anuna, the great gods, …… the holy palace, the dwelling-place. Lord Nunamnir has appointed you as his chief minister; he has firmly put the holy sceptre in your hand, and made your name glorious.
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Enlil-bani, the shepherd, who makes everything abundant for Nibru, the farmer of Urim’s plentiful barley, who purifies all divine powers of Eridug, the favourite en - priest of Unug, king of Isin, kin
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[... ] waits for the sceptre on the... [... ].... As... [... ], the sceptre and the shoe (for dressing the god) arise, and the gods and goddesses go in front of him and behind him, as before. They go
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Lord, perfect in august wisdom and recognised for his mighty counsel, Ḫaia, who holds the great tablets, who enriches the deep wisdom! Accountant of Ḫal-an-kug, having the final overview of the arts o
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In Karzida, where since the beginning of time there never had been a ĝipar built and no en priestess had dwelt, Amar-Suena, whose name was proclaimed by Enlil in Nibru, the steadfast supporter of Enli
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In Karzida there never had been a ĝipar built and no en priestess had dwelt since the beginning of time, (but now) for Nanna of Karzida, his master, Amar-Suena, nominated by Enlil in Nibru, the steadf
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[... ]... in a gold našappu - bowl [... ] [... ] he passes [... ] to Ellil and as many gods as are in the main courtyard. He passes a gold [... ] from Antu to in front of the goddesses that are in the
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Nineša, en - priestess of Meš-saĝĝa-Unuga, child of Lugal-sila.
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[... ]... in the forecourt [... ] goes down to the main court. [... ] [... ] Adapa [... ] [... ]... the Eulmaš [... ] [... ] the kurgarrû cultic performer [... ] from the Reš temple. Šagepada, Aškaʾit
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[... ] the wall of the temple of a god buckles, for the demolishing and renovating of that temple, the diviner deconsecrates [... ] and in a favourable month on a propitious day during the night you s
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When the wall of the temple of Anu buckles [... ], in a favourable month on a propitious day during the night [... ] 3 offering tables [... ]. You lay out [... ]. [... ] shoulder, fatty tissue and roa
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Ur-Ninĝirsu, (also called?) En-me-zid-ana, the šennu priest, the beloved en priest of Nanše.
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Obverse completely missing Lacuna F [ rom my childhood until I became an adult ], I w [ as assiduous towards the sanctuaries of the great gods. They required my priestly services (and) ] th [ ey (now)
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For Ninisina, his lady, Enlil-bani, the shepherd, who makes everything abundant for Nibru, the farmer of Urim’s plentiful barley, who purifies all divine powers of Eridug, the beloved en - priest of U
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Lacuna I placed [ at their service the former ramku - priests, pašīšu - priests, (and) ecstatics ], those initiated [ in secret rites. I set ] before them [ purification priests ], āšipu - priests, [
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For Dagan, the lord of the great gods, her personal god, En-ana-tuma, the beloved en priestess of Nanna in Urim, child of Išme-Dagan, king of Sumer and Akkad, built the E-eš-medaĝala, her holy storeho
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When it is your intention to cover the copper kettledrum, a knowledgeable expert will carefully inspect from its head to the tip of its tail an ungelded black bull whose horns and hooves are in good c
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Anu [... ] as himself. Ellil is present as Lugaldukuga, (that is) Enmešara, Enmešara (also relating to) Anu. Ea is present as the Apsu, the Apsu (also relating to) the sea (and) the sea (to) Ereškigal
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A praise poem of Lipit-Eštar (Lipit-Eštar B)
Lipit-Eštar, proud king, enthroned prince, most seemly offshoot of kingship, who walks like Utu, brilliant light of the Land, lofty in nobility, riding on the great divine powers; who settles the peop
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For Utu, the offspring of Nanna, the heir of the E-kišnuĝal, who was born by Ningal, his master, En-ana-tuma, the zirru priestess, the en priestess of Nanna in Urim, child of Išme-Dagan, king of Sumer
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