M. Krebernik and J.J.W. Lisman offer the first comprehensive score
edition of and the first attempt at an integral translation of the Early
Dynastic Sumerian hymns, known in the literature as the Zame Hymns
(za-mi), published by R.D. Biggs in 1974 in his 'Inscriptions from Tell
Tell Abū Ṣalabikh (IAS). Most of the deities featuring in the collection
of the short Zame Hymns also occur in the god lists from Abū Ṣalābīḫ and
Fāra. The hymns are embedded in a narrative which relates to the
institution of the cult places for the great gods by the supreme god
Enlil in Nippur. The last hymn is dedicated to Lisin and her cult place
ĜES.GI, which is most probably to be identified with Abū Ṣalābīḫ, where
Lisin is installed as city goddess. If one considers these facts, it
becomes very likely that the Zame Hymns were performed when the temple
of Lisin was inaugurated and/or when the foundation of her temple and
her installation there were re-enacted in the course of a cyclic
(annual?) festival. The score edition and translation are supplemented
by a detailed commentary on various cultural, historical, grammatical
and orthographic aspects. An appendix is devoted to the colophons of
contemporary texts from Tell Abū Ṣalābīḫ, Fāra and Ebla. The additional
'Synopsis of the Cuneiform Manuscripts of the Zame Hymns' will enable an
easy verification of the transcription.
