BagM Beih. 02, 005 [Kettledrum rituals][via cams/gkab]

(o 1) When you intend ... the [...] kettledrum,

(o 2) a knowledgeable expert will carefully inspect from its head to the tip of its tail an ungelded black bull whose hooves and horns are in good condition.

(o 4) Then if its body (has only) black hair it will be taken for the rites and rituals.

(o 5) If it is dotted with 7 white hairs like a star, (or) has been hit with a stick, (or) struck with a whip, it will not be taken for the rites and rituals.

(o 7) When you are to bring the bull into the temple-workshop, you step up ... in a favourable month on a propitious day, purify the ground, sprinkle pure water (and) position 12 bricks.

(o 9) You put ... on top. You sit (representations of) 12 gods on top.

(o 10) You stand [...] .... ... 2 gods,

(o 11) you distribute heaps of flour, the ... [...] of Enmešara.

(o 12) [...] ... offering tables. You strew 7 loaves of barley, 7 loaves of emmer (and) a cake (made) of honey, butter, dates (and) fine flour. You set beer and wine in place. You present 12 offerings.

(o 14) You present shoulder, fatty tissue and roast meat. You put barley and emmer-malt in place.

(o 15) You strew red wool, blue wool ... on the bricks. You set water in place before them.

(o 16) You lay a reed mat down. You pile sand underneath the mat. You let the sides of the mat (back) down.

(o 17) You encircle (it) with sand. You stand that bull on top of the mat.

(r 1) Then you sprinkle it with water from a sacred vessel. ... its mouth. You surround it with a magic circle. You set a brick in place.

(r 2) You swing a censer (filled) with juniper. You libate finest beer. You whisper the incantation 'Great bull, magnificent bull, treading holy meadows' into its right ear through a tube (made) of sweet reed. After that you whisper the incantation 'O bull, you (are) the offspring of Anzu' into its left ear through the tube (made) of sweet reed.

(r 5) You sprinkle the bronze kettledrum with cedar resin. You slaughter that bull in front of the kettledrum. Then you scatter its heart in front of the kettledrum with juniper. You libate beer.

(r 7) [...] ....

(r 8) After that (the priest says: 'All the gods have performed) these actions.'1

(r 9) You lift the water and then loosen the curtain.

(r 10) You take that [...] and then soak (the hide) with pure-grain flour in water, beer (and) finest wine.

(r 11) You dye (it) red with butter from a pure cow, alum from Hattu and madder-plant, and then [...] the bronze kettledrum.

(r 12) You fasten its (the drum's) opening with sinew from (the bull's) left thigh. [...] the pegs of the [...] kettledrum in the shape of an acorn.

(r 13) You soak paint (onto the pegs), apply shining oil and then return (them) to the kettledrum.

(r 14) You perform these actions in a favourable month on a propitious day. [...] the meat from that bull in a ... [...] cloth.

(r 15) .... You pour ordinary oil over it. You bury [...].

(r 16) [...] in the direction of sunset. You bury the ... hide with it.

(t.e. 1) [...] ... [...]

(t.e. 2) and that of [...].

(l.e. 1) Tablet of Anu-belšunu, son of Nidintu-Anu, [descendant of Sin-leqi-unnini]. Uruk, (month) Tašritu, day 10.

(l.e. 2) Year 150 of Antiochus. [...] ....