hist-brewing: Ninkasi text

[Steve Thomas]

A translation of a text on Ninkasi with some details I havn't come 
across before, from The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature 
(the url is 
http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=t.4.23.1#):


    A balbale (?) to Ninkasi (Ninkasi A)

1-4. 
<http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=c.4.23.1&display=Crit&charenc=j&lineid=c4231.1> 
Given birth by the flowing water ......, tenderly cared for by 
Ninhursaja! Ninkasi, given birth by the flowing water ......, tenderly 
cared for by Ninhursaja!

5-8. 
<http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=c.4.23.1&display=Crit&charenc=j&lineid=c4231.5> 
Having founded your town upon wax, she completed its great walls for 
you. Ninkasi, having founded your town upon wax, she completed its great 
walls for you.

9-12. 
<http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=c.4.23.1&display=Crit&charenc=j&lineid=c4231.9> 
Your father is Enki, the lord Nudimmud, and your mother is Ninti, the 
queen of the abzu. Ninkasi, your father is Enki, the lord Nudimmud, and 
your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu.

13-16. 
<http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=c.4.23.1&display=Crit&charenc=j&lineid=c4231.13> 
It is you who handle the ...... and dough with a big shovel, mixing, in 
a pit, the beerbread with sweet aromatics. Ninkasi, it is you who handle 
the ...... and dough with a big shovel, mixing, in a pit, the beerbread 
with sweet aromatics.

17-20. 
<http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=c.4.23.1&display=Crit&charenc=j&lineid=c4231.17> 
It is you who bake the beerbread in the big oven, and put in order the 
piles of hulled grain. Ninkasi, it is you who bake the beerbread in the 
big oven, and put in order the piles of hulled grain.

21-24. 
<http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=c.4.23.1&display=Crit&charenc=j&lineid=c4231.21> 
It is you who water the earth-covered malt; the noble dogs guard it even 
from the potentates (?). Ninkasi, it is you who water the earth-covered 
malt; the noble dogs guard it even from the potentates (?).

25-28. 
<http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=c.4.23.1&display=Crit&charenc=j&lineid=c4231.25> 
It is you who soak the malt in a jar; the waves rise, the waves fall. 
Ninkasi, it is you who soak the malt in a jar; the waves rise, the waves 
fall.

29-32. 
<http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=c.4.23.1&display=Crit&charenc=j&lineid=c4231.29> 
It is you who spread the cooked mash on large reed mats; coolness 
overcomes ....... Ninkasi, it is you who spread the cooked mash on large 
reed mats; coolness overcomes .......

33-36. 
<http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=c.4.23.1&display=Crit&charenc=j&lineid=c4231.33> 
It is you who hold with both hands the great sweetwort, brewing it with 
honey and wine. Ninkasi, it is you who hold with both hands the great 
sweetwort, brewing it with honey and wine.

37-40. 
<http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=c.4.23.1&display=Crit&charenc=j&lineid=c4231.37> 

1 line fragmentary You ...... the sweetwort to the vessel. Ninkasi, 
....... You ...... the sweetwort to the vessel.

41-44. 
<http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=c.4.23.1&display=Crit&charenc=j&lineid=c4231.41> 
You place the fermenting vat, which makes a pleasant sound, 
appropriately on top of a large collector vat. Ninkasi, you place the 
fermenting vat, which makes a pleasant sound, appropriately on top of a 
large collector vat.

45-48. 
<http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcslmac.cgi?text=c.4.23.1&display=Crit&charenc=j&lineid=c4231.45> 
It is you who pour out the filtered beer of the collector vat; it is 
like the onrush of the Tigris and the Euphrates. Ninkasi, it is you who 
pour out the filtered beer of the collector vat; it is like the onrush 
of the Tigris and the Euphrates.

---Steve Thomas