u's harim was the god Shakanshabar, and he was installed near to
Nin-girsu that he might issue his commands, both great and small. The
keeper of the harim was the god Urizu, and it was his duty to purify the
water and sanctify the grain, and he tended Ningirsu's sleeping-chamber
and saw that all was arranged therein as was fitting. The driver of
Ningirsu's chariot was the god Ensignun; it was his duty to keep the
sacred chariot as bright as the stars of heaven, and morning and evening
to tend and feed Ningirsu's sacred ass, called Ug-kash, and the ass
of Eridu. The shepherd of Ningirsu's kids was the god Enlulim, and he
tended the sacred she-goat who suckled the kids, and he guarded her so
that the serpent should not steal her milk. This god also looked
after the oil and the strong drink of E-ninnu, and saw that its store
increased.
Ningirsu's beloved musician was the god Ushum-gabkalama, and he was
installed in E-ninnu that he might take his flute and fill the temple
court with joy. It was his privilege to play to Ningirsu as he listened
in his harim, and to render the life of the god pleasant in E-ninnu.
Ningirsu's singer was the god Lugaligi-khusham, and he had his appointed
place in E-ninnu, for he could appease the heart and soften anger; he
could stop the tears which flowed from weeping eyes, and could lessen
sorrow in the sighing heart. Gudea also installed in E-ninnu the seven
twin-daughters of the goddess Bau, all virgins, whom Ningirsu had
begotten. Their names were Zarzaru, Impae, Urenuntaea, Khegir-nuna,
Kheshaga, Gurmu, and Zarmu. Gudea installed them near their father that
they might offer favourable prayers.
The cultivator of the district of Gu-edin was the god Gishbare, and he
was installed in the temple that he might cause the great fields to be
fertile, and might make the wheat glisten in Gu-edin, the plain assigned
to Ningirsu for his revenues. It was this god's duty also to tend the
machines for irrigation, and to raise the water into the canals and
ditches of Shirpurla, and thus to keep the city's granaries well filled.
The god Kal was the guardian of the fishing in Gu-edin, and his chief
duty was to place fish in the sacred pools. The steward of Gu-edin was
the god Dimgalabzu, whose duty it was to keep the plain in good order,
so that the birds might abound there and the beasts might raise their
young in peace; he also guarded the special privilege, which the plain
enjoyed, of freedom from any t
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