Dear Res Gerendae reader. It feels as if we’ve come to know each other well these last few months. We’ve talked about current affairs and zombies and what films and TV we like. If there’s been a downward trend in the scholarliness of my posts, you’ve been gracious enough not to mention it. And if, from time to time, you’re tempted away by the lure of a linguistics-themed cake, I can forgive you that. We’re all only human, after all. I just feel I ought to say how much I’ve enjoyed your company.
So I hope you won’t think me too forward if, this Valentine’s Day, I serenade you with a love-song. It’s not new and I didn’t make it up myself, I’m afraid. On the contrary: it was originally written in Sumerian and hails from ancient Ur, around 2000 BC. I think you’ll agree it’s a work of strange and powerful beauty.
It’s called ‘My Hair is Lettuce’.
My hair is lettuce, planted by the water.
It is gukkal-lettuce, planted by the water.
It… is…
My nurse has… high
Has made my hair into a …
Has piled up its locks,
My attendant arranges it,
The attendant arranges my hair – which is lettuce, the most favoured of plants.
The brother brought me into his life-giving gaze,
Shu-Sin has called me to his refreshing…
…without end.
…
[About five lines missing]
You are our lord, you are our lord,
Silver and lapis lazuli – you are our lord,
Farmer who makes the grain stand high, – you are our lord.
For him who is the honey of my eye, who is the lettuce of my heart,
May the days come forth, may Shu-Sin…
It is a balbale of Inanna.
OK, to be honest, this probably isn’t the most appropriate song for me to be singing. It was in all likelihood originally sung by the lukur-priestess of Ur when she stood in for the love-goddess Inanna in her ritual hierogamy to the king, Shu-Sin. I’m not a priestess (I apologise if this shatters any illusions). I’m not even a priest. I’m going to level with you, dear reader: I only sang this song because I want to talk about the lettuce. Continue reading
Ancient Worlds 