The Sargon Legend

Sargon's Birth and Adoption

1 I am Sargon, the mighty king, king of Agade.
2 My mother was a high priestess; I did not know my father.
3 My father's brother lives in the mountain.
4 My city is Azupiranu, which lies on the bank of the Euphrates.
5 My mother, the high priestess, conceived me; she gave birth to me in secret.⁠a
6 She placed me in a basket of reeds; she sealed my opening with bitumen.
7 She cast me into the river, from which I could not climb out.
8 The river carried me to Akki, the irrigator.
9 Akki, the irrigator, lifted me out while lowering his bucket.
10 Akki, the irrigator, raised me as his own son.
11 Akki, the irrigator, appointed me as his gardener.

Ishtar's Favor and Sargon's Conquests

12 While I was a gardener, the goddess Ishtar loved me.
13 I ruled the kingdom for [...] years.
14 I ruled and governed the black-headed peoples.
15 I cut through mighty mountains with copper pickaxes.
16 I climbed the upper mountains.
17 I burst through the lower mountains.
18 I besieged the Country of the Sea three times.
19 Dilmun submitted to my rule.
20 I went up to the great Dur-ilu; I [...].
21 I cleared away stones.

A Challenge to Future Kings

22 Whatever king rises after me:
23 Let him reign for [...] years.
24 Let him rule and govern the black-headed peoples.
25 Let him cut through mighty mountains with copper pickaxes.
26 Let him climb the upper mountains.
27 Let him burst through the lower mountains.
28 Let him besiege the Country of the Sea three times.
29 Let Dilmun submit to him.
30 Let him go up to the great Dur-ilu, and let him ....
31 [...]
32 [...] from my city of Agade ...
33 [...] like arrows [...]

Fragmentary Animal Passages

1 [...]
2 The wild bull [...]
3 The ewe ran about in the steppe, why does it not…? [...]
4 And the gazelle driven by the wind, the stag … [...]?
5 The owl that always hoots at night,
6 What does it achieve with its speech?
7 The wind blows there, where is its home?
8 The onager runs about, where does he go?
9 It comes [...]
10 The onager runs about, he spends his nights on the steppe
11 The eagle flies, but to aid one of his own?
12 The swift mule, where are its children?
13 Didn’t the wolf miss … the blood … ?
14 The lion eating bloody flesh.
15 [...] not [...]
16 It lay down in [...]
17 [...] [...]
18 [...]