The Corpus of Hittite Divinatory Texts (HDivT)

Digital Edition and Cultural Historical Analysis

Andrea Trameri (Hrsg.)

Citatio: Andrea Trameri (Hrsg.), hethiter.net/: CTH 573.76 (transcr. 2025-03-11; TRde 2025-08-11)


CTH 573.76

Bird oracles by the Chief of the augurs, concerning the king’s campaigns

transcriptio



[]

Abschnitt 1ID=1: obv. §1´. Oracle report over three days, concerning military campaigns and troops

1ID=1 --

[ ] andandrinnen:ADV []

[] therein []

2ID=2 --

[ a]rḫaweg-:PREV URUtaruganTaruk(k)a:GN.ACC.SG.C [ pa]izzigehen:3SG.PRS

over to/from Taruga [] he will [g]o [].

3ID=3 --

mān=mawie:CNJ=CNJctr DUTU‑Š[I‘Meine Sonne’:NOM.SG(UNM)_PPRO.1SG.GEN;
‘Meine Sonne’:ACC.SG(UNM)_PPRO.1SG.GEN;
‘Meine Sonne’:GEN.SG(UNM)_PPRO.1SG.GEN;
‘Meine Sonne’:D/L.SG(UNM)_PPRO.1SG.GEN;
‘Meine Sonne’:ABL(UNM)_PPRO.1SG.GEN
] uezzikommen:3SG.PRS

If, however, His Majes[ty …] will come (back) []

4ID=4 --

ÉRINME.EŠTruppe:NOM.PL(UNM) ANŠE.KUR.RAME.EŠPferd:NOM.PL(UNM) []

the troops (and) the chariots []

5ID=5 --

EGIR‑pa=atwieder:PREV=PPRO.3SG.N.ACC;
wieder:PREV=PPRO.3PL.N.ACC
SIG₅‑inwohl:ADV uwate[zzi](her)bringen:3SG.PRS

he will br[ing] that/those back in good order:

6ID=6 --

[] ŠA UDTag:GEN.SG 3KAMdrei:QUANcar SI×SÁ‑anduordnen:3PL.IMP

[Let the birds ‘of conjuration’]1 confirm (it) over three days.

7ID=7 --

TI₈MUŠENAdler:NOM.SG(UNM) [] zianvon dieser Seite:ADV(ABBR) uetkommen:3SG.PST

An eagle came lengthways [].

8ID=8 --

TI₈MUŠEN=kanAdler:NOM.SG(UNM)=OBPk pe[anvor:ADV(ABBR) ]

An eagle [came] in fro[nt from …]

9ID=9 --

pattarpalḫiš(Greifvogel):NOM.SG.C tarliš(Orakelterminus):NOM.SG.C(ABBR) panvon jener Seite:ADV(ABBR) pai[t]gehen:3SG.PST

A ‘wide-wing’ bird fle[w] tar(uya)li- diagonally.

10ID=10 --

[]

[Behind the road]:2

11ID=11 --

[] tarliš(Orakelterminus):NOM.SG.C(ABBR) panvon jener Seite:ADV(ABBR) uetkommen:3SG.PST

[a … bird] came tar(uya)li- diagonally.

12ID=12 --

INA UDTag:D/L.SG 2KAMzwei:QUANcar

On the second day:

13ID=13 --

[]

[a … bird …]

14ID=14 --

aramnanza=ma(Orakelvogel):NOM.SG.C=CNJctr GUN‑liš(Orakelterminus):NOM.SG.C(ABBR) []

An aramnant- bird [came/flew] GUN-li- [].

15ID=15 --

[] peanvor:ADV(ABBR) SIG₅‑zavon der guten Seite:HITT.ABL uetkommen:3SG.PST

[A … bird] came in front from the favorable side

16ID=16 --

n=ašCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM 2‑anin der Mitte:PREV [arḫaweg-:PREV pait]gehen:3SG.PST

and it [flew away] in the middle.

17ID=17 --

EGIRhinter:POSP KASKAL‑NIWeg:D/L.SG(UNM)

Behind the road:

18ID=18 --

KA₅.A‘Fuchsvogel’:NOM.SG(UNM) tarliš(Orakelterminus):NOM.SG.C(ABBR) panvon jener Seite:ADV(ABBR) ue[t]kommen:3SG.PST

a ‘fox-bird’ cam[e] tar(uya)li- diagonally.

19ID=19 --

[]

[On the third day]:3

20ID=20 --

TI₈MUŠEN=maAdler:NOM.SG(UNM)=CNJctr GUN‑liš(Orakelterminus):NOM.SG.C(ABBR) zianvon dieser Seite:ADV(ABBR) uetkommen:3SG.PST

(…)4 An eagle came GUN-li- lengthways

21ID=21 --

[] peanvor:ADV(ABBR) SIG₅‑zavon der guten Seite:HITT.ABL uetkommen:3SG.PST

[A … bird] came in front from the favorable side

22ID=22 --

n=ašCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM 2‑anin der Mitte:PREV ar[ḫaweg-:PREV pait]gehen:3SG.PST

and it [flew aw]ay in the middle.

23ID=23 --

[] paitgehen:3SG.PST

[A … bird] flew [].

24ID=24 --

nuCONNn GIŠlaḫḫurnuziLaubwerk:ACC.SG.N waḫnume[n]wenden:1PL.PST

(Then) we shook the tree branches5 (all around)

25ID=25 --

[] uērkommen:3PL.PST

[and a bird/birds …] came (out) [].

26ID=26 --

UM‑MAfolgendermaßen:ADV UGULAAufseher:NOM.SG(UNM) LÚ.ME.EŠIGI.MUŠENVogelschauer:GEN.PL(UNM)

Thus (says) the Chief of the augurs:

27ID=27 --

[]

[“it was confirmed”]6.

Abschnitt 2ID=2: obv. §2´. Countercheck oracle: the ‘birds of concern’

28ID=28 --

nuCONNn IGI‑andagegenüber:ADV laḫlaḫḫimašErregung:GEN.SG MUŠENḪI.AVogel:ACC.PL(UNM) N[I‑MUR]sehen:1PL.PST

As countercheck, we wa[tched] the birds ‘of concern’.

29ID=29 --

2zwei:QUANcar TI₈MUŠEN.ḪI.A=kanAquila:NOM.PL(UNM)=OBPk EGIRwieder:ADV GAMunten:ADV kušungünstig:ABL(ABBR) [r]kommen:3PL.PST

Two eagles cam[e] in the back down from the unfavorable side

30ID=30 --

[]

[and they flew …].

31ID=31 --

ḫarraniš=ma=kan(Orakelvogel):LUW||HITT.NOM.SG.C=CNJctr=OBPk peanvor:ADV(ABBR) kušungünstig:ABL(ABBR) ue[t]kommen:3SG.PST

A ḫarrani- bird cam[e] in front from the unfavorable side

32ID=32 --

[]

[and it flew …].

33ID=33 --

EGIRhinter:POSP KASKAL‑NIWeg:D/L.SG(UNM)

Behind the road:

34ID=34 --

TI₈MUŠEN=kanAdler:NOM.SG(UNM)=OBPk EGIRwieder:ADV GAMunten:ADV kušungünstig:ABL(ABBR) u[et]kommen:3SG.PST

an eagle ca[me] in the back down from the unfavorable side

35ID=35 --

[]

[and it flew …].

36ID=36 --

iparwaššiš=ma=kanwestlich(?):LUW||HITT.ADJG.NOM.SG.C=CNJctr=OBPk aramnanz[a(Orakelvogel):NOM.SG.C ] uetkommen:3SG.PST

In the west an aramnant- bird came []

37ID=37 --

n=aš=kanCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM=OBPk peanvor:ADV(ABBR) arḫaweg-:PREV p[aitgehen:3SG.PST ]

and it f[lew] away in front.

38ID=38 --

UM‑MAfolgendermaßen:ADV UGULAAufseher:NOM.SG(UNM) LÚ.ME.EŠIGI.MUŠENVogelschauer:GEN.PL(UNM)

Thus (says) the Chief of the augurs:

39ID=39 --

arḫa=[waweg-:PREV=QUOT peššer]werfen:3PL.PST

[they] ex[cluded (it)]”.

Abschnitt 3ID=3: obv. §3´. Lost

40ID=40 --

[ ] [ ]

[]

obv. breaks off

Abschnitt 4ID=4: rev. §4´. Oracle report (fragment)

41ID=41 --

EGIRwieder:ADV []

Behind [the road]:

42ID=42 --

[]

[A … bird …].

43ID=43 --

iparwaššiš=ma=ka[nwestlich(?):LUW||HITT.ADJG.NOM.SG.C=CNJctr=OBPk ]

In the west [a … bird …]

44ID=44 --

n=aš=kanCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM=OBPk peanvor:ADV(ABBR) arḫaweg-:PREV paitgehen:3SG.PST

and it flew away in front.

45ID=45 --

U[M‑MAfolgendermaßen:ADV ]

Th[us (says) the Chief of the augurs]:

46ID=46 --

arḫa=waweg-:PREV=QUOT [peššer]werfen:3PL.PST

[they] ex[cluded (it)]”.

Abschnitt 5ID=5: rev. §5´. Oracle report, concerning military campaigns and troops

47ID=47 --

kuitmanwährend:CNJ DUTU‑ŠI‘Meine Sonne’:NOM.SG(UNM)_PPRO.1SG.GEN kēdanidieser:DEM1.D/L.SG LÍL‑r[iFeld:D/L.SG paizzi]gehen:3SG.PRS

While His Majesty [goes] to this (battle)fiel[d]

48ID=48 --

[] EGIR‑pawieder:PREV uezzikommen:3SG.PRS

[and …] he comes back [].

49ID=49 --

mān=mawie:CNJ=CNJctr ÉRINME.EŠTruppe:NOM.PL(UNM) A[NŠE?.KUR.RAME.EŠPferd:NOM.PL(UNM) ] ninikanziheben:3PL.PRS

If, however, the troops and the c[hariots …], they7 will [not] mobilize:

50ID=50 --

nuCONNn MUŠENḪI.AVogel:NOM.PL(UNM) arḫaweg-:PREV peš[šiandu]werfen:3PL.IMP

[Let] the birds exclu[de (it)].

51ID=51 --

[] SIG₅‑zavon der guten Seite:HITT.ABL uetkommen:3SG.PST

[A … bird] came [] from the favorable side,

52ID=52 --

[n]=aš=kanCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM=OBPk EGIRwieder:ADV UGUhinauf:ADV SI[G₅‑zavon der guten Seite:HITT.ABL uet]kommen:3SG.PST

[and] it [came] in the back up from the fav[orable side]

53ID=53 --

n=aš=kanCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM=OBPk pe[anvor:ADV(ABBR) a]rḫaweg-:PREV paitgehen:3SG.PST

and it flew aw[ay in fr]ont.

54ID=54 --

EGI[Rwieder:ADV KASKAL‑NI]Weg:D/L.SG(UNM)

Beh[ind the road]:

55ID=55 --

[] tarliš(Orakelterminus):NOM.SG.C(ABBR) panvon jener Seite:ADV(ABBR) []

[a … bird came/flew] tar(uya)li- diagonally.

56ID=56 --

[iparwaš]šiš=ma=ka[nwestlich(?):LUW||HITT.ADJG.NOM.SG.C=CNJctr=OBPk ] DUTU‑u[nSonne(ngottheit):DN.HITT.ACC.SG.C ]

[In the we]st [a … bird came … towards] the sun

57ID=57 --

n=a[š‑… ]

and i[t flew …].

58ID=58 --

UM‑MAfolgendermaßen:ADV []

Thus (says) [the Chief of the augurs]:

59ID=59 --

[ ] [ ]

[“…”].

Abschnitt 6ID=6: rev. §6´. Oracle report, unclear content

60ID=60 --

dieser:DEM1.NOM.SG.N;
dieser:DEM1.ACC.SG.N
[]

(Concerning) this []

61ID=61 --

kuišwelcher:REL.NOM.SG.C []

which []

62ID=62 --

TI₈MUŠEN[ ]

An eagle []

63ID=63 --

[t]apa[šši‑… ]

A tapa[šši- bird …]

64ID=64 --

[ a]rḫaweg-:PREV []

[… it flew a]way []

65ID=65 --

iparwaš[šiš=ma=kanwestlich(?):LUW||HITT.ADJG.NOM.SG.C=CNJctr=OBPk ]

In the we[st a … bird …]

66ID=66 --

[n]=ašCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM 2‑a[nin der Mitte:PREV ]

[and] it [flew away] in the middle.

rev. breaks off

Abschnitt 7ID=7: left edge. Colophon(?)

blank

67ID=67 --

[ I]N.SARer schrieb:{a → 3SG.PRS}{b → 3SG.PST};
er schrieb:3SG.PST
[] blank

[] he wrote.

l. e. finished

Possibly, these are the [ḫugannaš MUŠENḪI.A], since in obv. 17´, instead, the birds ‘of concern’ are observed in a control or countercheck oracle; see Introductio.
See obv. 12. (also Sakuma Y. 2009b, II, 203).
Tentative, after Sakuma Y. 2009b, II, 203.
This might be the first bird observed on the “third day”; however, the exact length of the missing text in obv. 12´ cannot be determined.
Lit. “we turned (around) the foliage”. See Introductio.
This response can be assumed based on the probable majority of flights “from the favorable side”. The passage can be also compared to the opposite oracular outcome in the next paragraph, where the birds ‘of concern’ will be observed: these birds “excluded” the countercheck question. Both answers would be favorable, as they align with the desired outcome of each question.
Perhaps the subject of this sentence is “the enemy”? However, it is also possible that “the troops and chariots” are the subject.
Editio ultima: Textus 2025-03-11; Traductionis 2025-08-11