Information about the Hittites

Plague Prayer of Mursili II, 1st Version Plague Prayer of Muršili II, 1^st Version
CTH 378.1

Ed. Götze, Albrecht, "Die Pestgebete des Muršiliš", Kleinasiatische Forschungen, Band 1 (1930) 161-251

§1
[All (you) god]s and all (you) goddesses [of the land of Ḫatti, . . .], all (you) gods [of the oath], all (you) goddesses of the oath, [. . . ,] all (you) primeval gods and all (you) primeval goddesses, you gods who had been summoned to assembly for bearing witness to the oath in that matter, (you) mountains, rivers, springs, and subterranean ways - I, Muršili, [Great King,] your priest, your servant, will now pray to you. The matter about which I am lifting up a prayer, [may you] gods, my lords, [hear] my words!

§2
Oh gods, [my] lords, a plague has occurred in the midst of the land of Ḫatti. It has oppressed the land of Ḫatti with death. It has greatly injured it! Because for these twenty years and more the land of Ḫatti has been dying, the matter of Mr. Tudḫaliya the Younger, son of Mr. Tudḫaliya, has risen in importance to me. I inquired of a god by means of an oracle, and the matter of Mr. Tudḫaliya the Younger was established by the god (as the cause). Because Mr. Tudḫaliya, their lord, was the (designated) son for the land of Ḫatti, [the city] of Ḫattuša, the princes, the lords, the overseer of clansmen, the lower ranking officers, [the team leaders, and the troops and chario]try all swore an oath to him, and my father also swore an oath to him.

§3
[Subsequently] my [father] wronged Mr. Tudḫaliya. The city of Ḫattuša, [the princes, the lords], the overseer of clansmen, and the lower ranking officers all came over to my father. The oaths [held] Mr. Tudḫaliya, [but they] killed [Mr. Tudḫaliya]. Then, his brothers who [helped him^?], they killed [them, too. They seized . . .] They sent them to the land of Alašiya, and [they remained there^?. . . ] their [. .] was, they [. . .] to him. [. . .] and the lords broke the oath of the god. [. . .]

§4
[Even so^?, oh gods], my [lords], you protected my father. [. . .] Because the city Ḫattuša [had been burned down] by the [enemy, and] the enemy had taken [the borders] of the land of Ḫatti for themselves, [my father set about attack]ing^? the lands [of the enemy.] He struck them, and [took back the borders.^?] He took the borders away from them and re-[settled] them. Then [he conquered] the other surrounding lands for (his) kingship. He sustained the land of Ḫatti, and [he held^?] the borders here and there for himself. He caused all the land of Ḫatti to prosper before him. [People,] cattle, and sheep became numerous before him. The civilian captives which [they had brought^?] from the enemy land, they sustained it. Nothing perished. But now, later, you gods, my lords, came to seek in my father that matter of Mr. Tudḫaliya the Younger. My father [died] on account of the blood of Mr. Tudḫaliya, and the princes, the lords, the overseer of clansmen, and lower officers who went over [to my father, they too] died on account of [that] matter. That same matter came into the land of Ḫatti, and the land of [Ḫatti] began dying on account of [that] matter. Heretofore the land of Ḫatti [. . .], and now, finally, the plague has grown strong. The land of Ḫatti became greatly injured on account of the plague, and it became small. But I, Muršili, [your] servant, will I not overcome worry [from (my) heart]? Will I not [overcome] my own anguish?

§5
[. . .] may each^? [of you gods,] my [lords], hear [my prayers], [and come to my assistance. . . .] because [you were] called to bear witness on the oath [. . .] all became [strong^?]. And [. . .] And they [. . .] And because [they were living] the oath of lordship^? [. .], [you gods], my lords, [do] not [enter into] in that (legal) case. [. . . May you] not in any way s[eek (satisfaction for)] the blood [of Mr. Tudḫaliya. But now you gods,] my lords, [are seeking (satisfaction for)] the blood of [Mr. Tudḫaliya from me.]

[. . . (gap of approx. 6 - 7 lines) . . .]

§6'
[. . . the land of] Ḫatti is dying [. . .] a calamity [. . .] of that, for [. . .] my father [. . .] do [. . .] of my father [. . .] I have turned [the sin of my father for you. My father [. .] this Mr. Tudḫaliya. [. . .] My father afterwards [made] an offering for the blood of that one, but the city of Ḫattuša [made] nothing. I myself came to make [an offering for the blood], but the land treated him as nothing, and they sent up nothing for the land.

§7'
Because the land of Ḫatti has become greatly oppressed by a plague, and the land of Ḫatti has been dying, the matter of Mr. Tudḫaliya has risen in importance for the land. It was established for me (as the cause) by means of a god. I inquired by oracle to him, and it established for the plague as an oath for the land [an offering] for you gods, my lords, (and) for your temples. So they are making the ritual of the oaths before you [gods], my lords, and they are fulfilling (their oaths) [before you]. I myself am giving compensation and a propitiatory gift to you gods, my lords, for the land.

§8'
Because you gods, my lords, are seeking after the blood of Mr. Tudḫaliya, those who killed Mr. Tudḫaliya compensated (his) blood. That blood then finished the land of Ḫatti, too. The land of Ḫatti, too, previously compensated it. Because it has now come upon me, I, too, am making restitution by means of compensation and a propitiatory gift from my house. So may the souls of the gods, my lords, be pacified again! Furthermore, oh gods, my lords, take pity on me, and turn yourselves around! Because I am praying to you, hear me! Because I myself did nothing evil, whoever sinned, they did evil! Further, no one from that day remains. They already died! But because the word of my father reached me, I am about to give a propitiatory gift to you gods, my [lords] for the land on account of the plague. Therefore [have] mercy on me, oh gods, my lords! [. . .] Because he oppresses the land of Ḫatti with a plague, [the bread men (and) the libation pourers^? kept giving] thick bread and libations to the gods, my lords. [Because the land of Ḫatti] was greatly oppressed [by a plague], it [kept dying] from the plague. [If he] will in no way take away [the plague], then it will keep dying. [Whatever bread men] and libation pourers remained were few, and they are dying on me. Therefore no [one offers] bread or libations to you.

§9'
What [I off]er^? up [to you gods, my lords] for thick bread and libations, take [it . . .], and be pacified. [. . . Send] the plague [forth from the land of Ḫatti.] Whatever few bread men (and) libation pourers are making offerings, may they not suppress it, and may they not keep dying! May they offer [thick bread and libations] to you, and [may you] gods, my lords, come! May you send away the plague! Send whatever (is) evil to an enemy land! That of Mr. Tudḫaliya is occurring in the midst of the land of Ḫatti. Oh gods, send [away . . .], and send [it] into the land of an enemy! Therefore have mercy on the land of Ḫatti, and abate [the plague]! Therefore [because] I, your priest, your servant, turn myself to you, have mercy on me, send the agony from my heart, and take anxiety from my soul!

Colophon

[1 tablet,] complete. When Muršili [. . .] made a prayer.

					Why?
	Plague Prayer of Mursili II, 1st Version Plague Prayer of Muršili II, 1^st Version CTH 378.1 Ed. Götze, Albrecht, "Die Pestgebete des Muršiliš", Kleinasiatische Forschungen, Band 1 (1930) 161-251 §1 [All (you) god]s and all (you) goddesses [of the land of Ḫatti, . . .], all (you) gods [of the oath], all (you) goddesses of the oath, [. . . ,] all (you) primeval gods and all (you) primeval goddesses, you gods who had been summoned to assembly for bearing witness to the oath in that matter, (you) mountains, rivers, springs, and subterranean ways - I, Muršili, [Great King,] your priest, your servant, will now pray to you. The matter about which I am lifting up a prayer, [may you] gods, my lords, [hear] my words! §2 Oh gods, [my] lords, a plague has occurred in the midst of the land of Ḫatti. It has oppressed the land of Ḫatti with death. It has greatly injured it! Because for these twenty years and more the land of Ḫatti has been dying, the matter of Mr. Tudḫaliya the Younger, son of Mr. Tudḫaliya, has risen in importance to me. I inquired of a god by means of an oracle, and the matter of Mr. Tudḫaliya the Younger was established by the god (as the cause). Because Mr. Tudḫaliya, their lord, was the (designated) son for the land of Ḫatti, [the city] of Ḫattuša, the princes, the lords, the overseer of clansmen, the lower ranking officers, [the team leaders, and the troops and chario]try all swore an oath to him, and my father also swore an oath to him. §3 [Subsequently] my [father] wronged Mr. Tudḫaliya. The city of Ḫattuša, [the princes, the lords], the overseer of clansmen, and the lower ranking officers all came over to my father. The oaths [held] Mr. Tudḫaliya, [but they] killed [Mr. Tudḫaliya]. Then, his brothers who [helped him^?], they killed [them, too. They seized . . .] They sent them to the land of Alašiya, and [they remained there^?. . . ] their [. .] was, they [. . .] to him. [. . .] and the lords broke the oath of the god. [. . .] §4 [Even so^?, oh gods], my [lords], you protected my father. [. . .] Because the city Ḫattuša [had been burned down] by the [enemy, and] the enemy had taken [the borders] of the land of Ḫatti for themselves, [my father set about attack]ing^? the lands [of the enemy.] He struck them, and [took back the borders.^?] He took the borders away from them and re-[settled] them. Then [he conquered] the other surrounding lands for (his) kingship. He sustained the land of Ḫatti, and [he held^?] the borders here and there for himself. He caused all the land of Ḫatti to prosper before him. [People,] cattle, and sheep became numerous before him. The civilian captives which [they had brought^?] from the enemy land, they sustained it. Nothing perished. But now, later, you gods, my lords, came to seek in my father that matter of Mr. Tudḫaliya the Younger. My father [died] on account of the blood of Mr. Tudḫaliya, and the princes, the lords, the overseer of clansmen, and lower officers who went over [to my father, they too] died on account of [that] matter. That same matter came into the land of Ḫatti, and the land of [Ḫatti] began dying on account of [that] matter. Heretofore the land of Ḫatti [. . .], and now, finally, the plague has grown strong. The land of Ḫatti became greatly injured on account of the plague, and it became small. But I, Muršili, [your] servant, will I not overcome worry [from (my) heart]? Will I not [overcome] my own anguish? §5 [. . .] may each^? [of you gods,] my [lords], hear [my prayers], [and come to my assistance. . . .] because [you were] called to bear witness on the oath [. . .] all became [strong^?]. And [. . .] And they [. . .] And because [they were living] the oath of lordship^? [. .], [you gods], my lords, [do] not [enter into] in that (legal) case. [. . . May you] not in any way s[eek (satisfaction for)] the blood [of Mr. Tudḫaliya. But now you gods,] my lords, [are seeking (satisfaction for)] the blood of [Mr. Tudḫaliya from me.] [. . . (gap of approx. 6 - 7 lines) . . .] §6' [. . . the land of] Ḫatti is dying [. . .] a calamity [. . .] of that, for [. . .] my father [. . .] do [. . .] of my father [. . .] I have turned [the sin of my father for you. My father [. .] this Mr. Tudḫaliya. [. . .] My father afterwards [made] an offering for the blood of that one, but the city of Ḫattuša [made] nothing. I myself came to make [an offering for the blood], but the land treated him as nothing, and they sent up nothing for the land. §7' Because the land of Ḫatti has become greatly oppressed by a plague, and the land of Ḫatti has been dying, the matter of Mr. Tudḫaliya has risen in importance for the land. It was established for me (as the cause) by means of a god. I inquired by oracle to him, and it established for the plague as an oath for the land [an offering] for you gods, my lords, (and) for your temples. So they are making the ritual of the oaths before you [gods], my lords, and they are fulfilling (their oaths) [before you]. I myself am giving compensation and a propitiatory gift to you gods, my lords, for the land. §8' Because you gods, my lords, are seeking after the blood of Mr. Tudḫaliya, those who killed Mr. Tudḫaliya compensated (his) blood. That blood then finished the land of Ḫatti, too. The land of Ḫatti, too, previously compensated it. Because it has now come upon me, I, too, am making restitution by means of compensation and a propitiatory gift from my house. So may the souls of the gods, my lords, be pacified again! Furthermore, oh gods, my lords, take pity on me, and turn yourselves around! Because I am praying to you, hear me! Because I myself did nothing evil, whoever sinned, they did evil! Further, no one from that day remains. They already died! But because the word of my father reached me, I am about to give a propitiatory gift to you gods, my [lords] for the land on account of the plague. Therefore [have] mercy on me, oh gods, my lords! [. . .] Because he oppresses the land of Ḫatti with a plague, [the bread men (and) the libation pourers^? kept giving] thick bread and libations to the gods, my lords. [Because the land of Ḫatti] was greatly oppressed [by a plague], it [kept dying] from the plague. [If he] will in no way take away [the plague], then it will keep dying. [Whatever bread men] and libation pourers remained were few, and they are dying on me. Therefore no [one offers] bread or libations to you. §9' What [I off]er^? up [to you gods, my lords] for thick bread and libations, take [it . . .], and be pacified. [. . . Send] the plague [forth from the land of Ḫatti.] Whatever few bread men (and) libation pourers are making offerings, may they not suppress it, and may they not keep dying! May they offer [thick bread and libations] to you, and [may you] gods, my lords, come! May you send away the plague! Send whatever (is) evil to an enemy land! That of Mr. Tudḫaliya is occurring in the midst of the land of Ḫatti. Oh gods, send [away . . .], and send [it] into the land of an enemy! Therefore have mercy on the land of Ḫatti, and abate [the plague]! Therefore [because] I, your priest, your servant, turn myself to you, have mercy on me, send the agony from my heart, and take anxiety from my soul! Colophon [1 tablet,] complete. When Muršili [. . .] made a prayer.