TRANSLATED BY FRANÇOIS LENORMANT

The sun-god, called in the Accadian _Utu_ and _Parra_ (the latter is of less frequent occurrence), and in the Semitic Assyrian _Samas_, held a less important rank in the divine hierarchy of the Chaldaic-Babylonian pantheon, afterward adopted by the Assyrians, than the moon-god (in the Accadian _Aku, Enizuna_, and _Huru-kî;_ in the Assyrian _Sin_), who was even sometimes said to be his father. His principal and most common title was "Judge of Heaven and Earth," in the Accadian _dikud ana kîa_, in the Assyrian _dainu sa same u irtsiti_. The most important sanctuaries of the deity were at Larsam, in southern Chaldsea, and Sippara, in the north of Babylonia.

Some few fragments of liturgical or magical hymns addressed to Shamas have come down to us. These are five in number, and I give a translation of them here. They have all been studied previously by other Assyriologists, but I think the present interpretation of them is superior to any which  has as yet been furnished.

The following are the chief bibliographical data concerning them:

I. The primitive Accadian text, accompanied by an interlinear Assyrian version published in the "Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia," Vol. IV, pl. 20, No. 2. I put forth a first attempt at a translation in my "_Magie chez les Chaldéens"_ (p. 165), and since then M. Friedrich Delitzsch has given a much better explanation of it ("_G. Smith's Chaldäische Genesis,"_ p. 284). Of this hymn we possess only the first five lines.

II. The primitive Accadian text, with an interlinear Assyrian version, is published in the "Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia," Vol. IV, pl. 19, No. 2. M. Delitzsch has given a German translation of it in "_G. Smith's Chaldäische Genesis_" p. 284, and a revised one in English has just appeared in Prof. Sayce's "Lectures upon Babylonian Literature," p. 43.

III. A similar sacred text, published in the "Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia," Vol. IV, pl. 28, No. I, in which the indications as to the obverse and reverse of the tablet are incorrect and ought to be altered. The two fragments left to us, separated by a gap, the extent of which it is at present impossible to estimate, belong to an incantatory hymn destined to effect the cure of the king's disease. Interpretations have been attempted in my "Premières Civilisations" (Vol. II, p. 165 _et seq_.), and in the appendices added by M. Friedrich Delitzsch to his German translation of G. Smith's work, already cited.

IV. The primitive Accadian text with an interlinear Assyrian version, published in the "Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia," Vol. IV, pi. 17, col. I. This hymn, like the preceding one, is intended to be recited by the priest of magic in order to cure the invalid king. I gave a very imperfect translation of it in my "_Magie chez les Chaldéens_" (p. 166).

V. We possess only the Semitic Assyrian version of this text; it was published in the "Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia," Vol. IV, pl. 17, col. 2. As yet, no one has produced a complete translation of this hymn; but a few passages have been quoted by M. Friedrich Delitzsch ("_G. Smith's Chaldäische Genesis_" p. 284) and myself ("_La Magie chez les Chaldéens_" p. 164, and pp. 179, 180, of the English edition, 1877).

I refer the reader to the various publications above mentioned for a convincing proof of the entirely revised character of the translations here submitted to him, and I think he will grant that I have made some progress in this branch of knowledge, since my first attempts many years ago.

CHALDEAN HYMNS TO THE SUN

FIRST HYMN

1  Magical incantation.
2  Sun, from the foundations of heaven thou art risen;
3  thou hast unfastened the bolts of the shining skies;
4  thou hast opened the door of heaven.
5  Sun, above the countries thou hast raised thy head.
6  Sun, thou hast covered the immensity of the heavens and
   the terrestrial countries.

(The fragments of the four following lines are too mutilated to furnish any connected sense; all the rest of the hymn is entirely wanting.)

SECOND HYMN

[Footnote: See also Lenormant, "Chaldean Magic," p. 180.]
1   Lord, illuminator of the darkness, who piercest the face
    of darkness,
2   merciful god, who settest up those that are bowed down,
    who sustainest the weak,
3   toward the light the great gods direct their glances,
4   the archangels of the abyss,[1] every one of them, contemplate
    eagerly thy face.
5   The language of praise,[2] as one word, thou directest it.
6   The host of their heads seeks the light of the Sun in the
    South.[3]
7   Like a bridegroom thou restest joyful and gracious.[4]
8   In thy illumination thou dost reach afar to the boundaries
    of heaven.[5]
9   Thou art the banner of the vast earth.
10  O God! the men who dwell afar off contemplate thee and
    rejoice.
11  The great gods fix ...[6]
12  Nourisher of the luminous heavens, who favorest ...[7]
13  He who has not turned his hands (toward thee ...[7]
14  ....[7]

[Footnote 1: In the Assyrian version, "The archangels of the earth." ]

[Footnote 2: In the Assyrian version, "The eager language."]

[Footnote 3: The Assyrian version has simply, "of the sun." ]

[Footnote 4: "Like a wife thou submittest thyself, cheerful and kindly."-- Sayce.]

[Footnote 5: In the Assyrian version, "Thou art the illuminator of the limits of the distant heavens."]

[Footnote 6: Here occurs a word which I cannot yet make out.]

[Footnote 7: Lacunæ.]

THIRD HYMN

1   Thou who marchest before ...[1]
2   With Anu and Bel ...[1]
3   The support of crowds of men, direct them!
4   He who rules in heaven, he who arranges, is thyself.
5   He who establishes truth in the thoughts of the nations, is
    thyself.
6   Thou knowest the truth, thou knowest what is false.
7   Sun, justice has raised its head;
8   Sun, falsehood, like envy, has spoken calumny.
9   Sun, the servant of Anu and Bel [2] is thyself;
10  Sun, the supreme judge of heaven and earth is thyself.
11  Sun, ...

(In this place occurs the gap between the two fragments on the obverse and on the reverse of the tablet.)

12 Sun, the supreme judge of the countries, is thyself.
13 The Lord of living beings, the one merciful to the countries,
is thyself.
14 Sun, illuminate this day the King, son of his god,[3] make
him shine!
15 Everything that is working evil in his body, may that be
driven elsewhere.
16 Like a cruse of ...[4] purify him!
17 Like a cruse of milk, make him flow!
18 May it flow like molten bronze!
19 Deliver him from his infirmity!
20 Then, when he revives, may thy sublimity direct him!
21 And me, the magician, thy obedient servant, direct me!

[Footnote 1: Lacunæ.]

[Footnote 2: In the Accadian, "Ana and Mulge"]

[Footnote 3: Meaning the pious king.]

[Footnote 4: Here follows an incomprehensible word.]

FOURTH HYMN

1   Great Lord, from the midst of the shining heavens at thy
    rising,
2   valiant hero, Sun, from the midst of the shining heavens,
    at thy rising,
3   in the bolts of the shining heavens, in the entrance which
    opens heaven, at thy rising
4   in the bar of the door of the shining heavens, in ...[1]
    at thy rising,
5   in the great door of the shining heavens, when thou
    openest it.
6   in the highest (summits) of the shining heavens, at the
    time of thy rapid course,
7   the celestial archangels with respect and joy press around
    thee;
8   the servants of the Lady of crowns[2] lead thee in a festive
    manner;
9   the ...[3] for the repose of thy heart fix thy days;
10  the multitudes of the crowds on the earth turn their eyes
    often toward thee;
11  the Spirits of heaven and earth lead thee.
12  The ...[3] thou crushest them with thy strength,
13  ...[3] thou discoverest them,
14  ...[3] thou causest to seize,
15  ...[3] thou directest.

[Footnote 1: Lacuna.]

[Footnote 2: In the Assyrian version, "of the Lady of the gods."]

[Footnote 3: Lacunæ.]

(I am obliged here to pass over five lines which are too mutilated for me to attempt to translate them with any degree of certainty.)

21  The Lord, as to me, has sent me;
22  the great god, Hea, as to me, has sent me.[1]
23  Settle what has reference to him,[2] teach the order which
    concerns him, decide the question relating to him.
24  Thou, in thy course thou directest the human race;
25  cast upon him a ray of peace, and let it cure his suffering.
26  The man, son of his god,[3] has laid before thee his shortcomings
    and his transgressions;
27  his feet and his hands are in pain, grievously defiled by
    disease.
28  Sun, to the lifting up of my hands pay attention;
29  eat his food, receive the victim, give his god (for a support) to
    his hand!
30  By his order let his shortcomings be pardoned! let his
    transgressions be blotted out!
31  May his trouble leave him! may he recover from his disease!
32  Give back life to the King![4]
33  Then, on the day that he revives, may thy sublimity envelop him!
34  Direct the King who is in subjection to thee!
35  And me, the magician, thy humble servant, direct me!

[Footnote 1: There is no Assyrian version of this line; we have only the Accadian.]

[Footnote 2: The invalid on behalf of whom the invocation is recited.]

[Footnote 3: The pious man.]

[Footnote 4: From this verse onward the Assyrian version is wanting.]

FIFTH HYMN

[Footnote: Cf. also "Chaldean Magic," pp. 185, 186.]

1   Magical incantation.
2   I have invoked thee, O Sun, in the midst of the high
    heavens.
3   Thou art in the shadow of the cedar, and
4   thy feet rest on the summits.
5   The countries have called thee eagerly, they have directed
    their looks toward thee, O Friend;
6   thy brilliant light illuminates every land,
7   overthrowing all that impedes thee, assemble the countries,
8   for thou, O Sun, knowest their boundaries.
9   Thou who annihilatest falsehood, who dissipatest the evil
    influence
10  of wonders, omens, sorceries, dreams, evil apparitions,
11  who turnest to a happy issue malicious designs, who annihilatest
    men and countries
12  that devote themselves to fatal sorceries, I have taken
    refuge in thy presence.
13  ...[1]
14  Do not allow those who make spells, and are hardened, to
    arise;
15  Frighten their heart...[2]
16  Settle also, O Sun, light of the great gods.
17  Right into my marrow, O Lords of breath, that I may rejoice, even I.
18  May the gods who have created me take my hands!
19  Direct the breath of my mouth! my hands
20  direct them also, Lord, light of the legions of the heavens,
    Sun, O Judge!
21  The day, the month, the year...[2]
22  ...[2] conjure the spell!
23  ...[2] deliver from the infirmity!

[Footnote 1: Here I am obliged to omit a line, which I cannot yet make out.]

[Footnote 2: Lacunæ.]