Cylinder A: The Dream and Building of Eninnu

Enlil Ordains the Building of Eninnu

1 When on the day for determining destinies in heaven and earth, 2 Lagash lifted its head toward heaven according to the great divine decrees, 3 Enlil looked with true favor upon Lord Ningirsu: 4 “In our city, what is fitting has not yet appeared! 5 The high waters do not return to their banks; 6 the floodwaters of Enlil do not return to their banks; 7 the high waters do not return to their banks! 8 The rising flood does not gleam in its fullness; 9 the floodwaters of Enlil do not bring sweet water like the Tigris.

10 Let the king of the temple proclaim it; 11 let him make the divine decrees of Eninnu shine forth in heaven and earth!” 12 The ruler, a man of vast understanding, applied his mind as well. 13 Great offerings he presented; 14 faultless oxen and faultless kids he caused to be brought directly. 15 The brick of destiny lifted its head toward him; 16 to build the holy temple, it craned its neck toward him.

Ningirsu Appears to Gudea in a Dream

17 Toward his lord by day and in the middle of the night, 18 Gudea looked toward Lord Ningirsu, 19 who commanded him concerning the building of his temple, 20 and upon Eninnu, whose divine decrees are great, 21 he turned his gaze.

22 Gudea, whose heart is profound, 23 pondered these words with a sigh: 24 “Truly, truly I must speak of it; truly, truly I must speak of it! 25 With this command I will go forward. 26 I am the shepherd, and princely rule has been bestowed upon me. 27 What the middle of the night has brought to me—⁠a 28 its meaning I do not understand. 29 To my mother my dream truly I will report;