The Corpus of Hittite Divinatory Texts (HDivT)

Digital Edition and Cultural Historical Analysis

Andrea Trameri (Hrsg.)

Citatio: Andrea Trameri (Hrsg.), hethiter.net/: CTH 573.83 (transcr. 2025-03-19; TRde 2025-08-12)


CTH 573.83

Bird oracles by Zella and other augurs concerning offences against the goddess of the Night

transcriptio



Abschnitt 1ID=1: (KUB 49.43) §1´. Oracle (fragmentary)

1ID=1 --

[]

[]

2ID=2 --

[ ][ ]

[]

3ID=3 --

[ ][ ]

[]

4ID=4 --

[ ] …‑kan []

[]

5ID=5 --

[ ]

[]

6ID=6 --

šal[w]i[n]in=ma(Orakelvogel):ACC.SG.C=CNJctr tarlian(Orakelterminus):ADV(ABBR) []

[We saw] a šalwini- bird tar(uya)lian.

7ID=7 --

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

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

8ID=8 --

[n]=a[š‑… ]

and [it …]

9ID=9 --

[ E]GIRwieder:ADV UGUoben:ADV SIG₅‑zavon der guten Seite:HITT.ABL [ue]tkommen:3SG.PST

[A … bird came in the b]ack up from the favorable side

10ID=10 --

n=aš=k[anCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM=OBPk ]

and it []

11ID=11 --

[]

[Thus (says) …: “…”]1

Abschnitt 2ID=2: (KUB 49.43) §2´. Oracle by Zella about the deity of the Night

12ID=12 --

[ DINGI]R?Göttlichkeit:NOM.SG(UNM);
Göttlichkeit:ACC.SG(UNM);
Göttlichkeit:D/L.SG(UNM);
Göttlichkeit:GEN.SG(UNM)
GE₆Nacht:GEN.SG(UNM) namma=patnoch:ADV=FOC

[… is it] again only the [deit]y of the Night … []?

13ID=13 --

nuCONNn MUŠ[ENḪI.AVogel:NOM.PL(UNM) ]

Let the bir[ds confirm/exclude (it)].

14ID=14 --

[ SI]G₅?‑zavon der guten Seite:HITT.ABL uetkommen:3SG.PST

[A … bird] came [] from the [fa]vorable side

15ID=15 --

n=a[š=ka]nCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM=OBPk [ ]SIG₅?[zavon der guten Seite:HITT.ABL ]

and i[t came … from] the favorable side.

16ID=16 --

[] peanvor:ADV(ABBR) arḫaweg-:PREV paitgehen:3SG.PST

[… it] flew away in front.

17ID=17 --

[]

[]

18ID=18 --

[ …‑ka]n peanvor:ADV(ABBR) arḫaweg-:PREV p[ai]tgehen:3SG.PST

[… and it] f[le]w away in front.

19ID=19 --

[ ][ ]

[]

20ID=20 --

[] arḫaweg-:PREV paitgehen:3SG.PST

[… it] flew away [].

21ID=21 --

[U]M‑MAfolgendermaßen:ADV m[z]e[ll]aZella:PNm.NOM.SG(UNM)

Thus (says) Zella:

22ID=22 --

[ ]

[“…”]

Abschnitt 3ID=3: (KUB 49.43+KUB 49.5) §3´. Oracle by Zella mentioning the king

23ID=23 --

[ ]‑ešiya memianWort:ACC.SG.C kuinwelcher:REL.ACC.SG.C [ ]

[]… the word which []

24ID=24 --

[ SA]G.KI‑inzur Stirn gehörig:ACC.SG.C kuinwelcher:REL.ACC.SG.C DUTU‑ŠI‘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;
‘Meine Sonne’:VOC.SG(UNM)_PPRO.1SG.GEN
[]

[] His Majesty, [] the front which2 []

25ID=25 --

[ p]arāaus-:PREV aranzaorakeln:PTCP.NOM.SG.C []

[] it (is/was) ascertained (oracularly).

26ID=26 --

[] NI‑MURsehen:1PL.PST

We saw [… birds …].

27ID=27 --

n=at=kanCONNn=PPRO.3PL.C.NOM=OBPk [ ] uērkommen:3PL.PST

They came []

28ID=28 --

[n]=at=kanCONNn=PPRO.3PL.C.NOM=OBPk [pea]nvor:ADV(ABBR) [arḫaweg-:PREV pāer]gehen:3PL.PST

[and] they [flew away in fro]nt.

29ID=29 --

TI₈MUŠEN(?)=maAdler:ACC.SG(UNM)=CNJctr tarlian(Orakelterminus):ADV(ABBR) NI‑MURsehen:1PL.PST

We saw an eagle tar(uya)lian,

30ID=30 --

n=aš=kanCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM=OBPk E[GIRwieder:ADV GAM(?)]unten:ADV kušungünstig:ABL(ABBR) u[e]tkommen:3SG.PST

it came in the b[ack down] from the unfavorable side

31ID=31 --

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

and it [flew a]way in the middle.

32ID=32 --

[EG]IRhinter:POSP KASKAL‑NIWeg:D/L.SG(UNM)

[Beh]ind the road:

33ID=33 --

šalwinin(Orakelvogel):ACC.SG.C tarlian(Orakelterminus):ADV(ABBR) NI‑MURsehen:1PL.PST

we saw a šalwini- bird tar(uya)lian

34ID=34 --

n=[aš=k]anCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM=OBPk EGIRwieder:ADV GAMunten:ADV [k]ungünstig:ABL(ABBR) u[etkommen:3SG.PST ]

an[d i]t ca[me] in the back down from the unfavorable side.

35ID=35 --

UM‑MAfolgendermaßen:ADV mzellaZella:PNm.NOM.SG(UNM)

Thus (says) Zella:

36ID=36 --

arḫa=waweg-:PREV=QUOT [pe]ššerwerfen:3PL.PST

“they excluded (it)”.

Abschnitt 4ID=4: (KUB 49.43+KUB 49.5) §4´. Oracle: concerning the ‘oracular response’

37ID=37 --

[dieser:DEM1.NOM.SG.N;
dieser:DEM1.ACC.SG.N
k]uitweil:CNJ zilašEntscheidung:NOM.SG.C kišatwerden:3SG.PST.MP

Concerning the fact that the oracular sign/response occurred3

38ID=38 --

nuCONNn p[a‑… ] [ ]

and … []

39ID=39 --

[nuCONNn MU]ŠENḪI.A(?)Vogel:NOM.PL(UNM) SI×SÁ‑anduordnen:3PL.IMP

Let the [bi]rds confirm (it).

40ID=40 --

kaltaršin(Orakelvogel):ACC.SG.C tarlia[n(Orakelterminus):ADV(ABBR) ]

[We saw] a kaltarši- bird tar(uya)lia[n]

41ID=41 --

[]

[]

42ID=42 --

[n]=atCONNn=PPRO.3PL.C.NOM 2‑anin der Mitte:PREV arḫaweg-:PREV pāergehen:3PL.PST

[and] they flew away in the middle.

43ID=43 --

2zwei:QUANcar maršanaš[šiuš=ma(?)(Orakelvogel):HITT.ADJG.ACC.PL.C=CNJctr ]

[We saw] two maršanaš[ši- birds …]

44ID=44 --

[n=a]tCONNn=PPRO.3PL.C.NOM 2‑anin der Mitte:PREV arḫaweg-:PREV pāergehen:3PL.PST

[and th]ey flew away in the middle.

45ID=45 --

TI₈MUŠEN=ma=kanAdler:NOM.SG(UNM)=CNJctr=OBPk []

An eagle []

46ID=46 --

[EGI]Rhinter:POSP KASKAL‑NIWeg:D/L.SG(UNM)

[Beh]ind the road:

47ID=47 --

TI₈MUŠEN=kanAdler:NOM.SG(UNM)=OBPk peanvor:ADV(ABBR) SIG₅‑zavon der guten Seite:HITT.ABL uetkommen:3SG.PST

an eagle came in front from the favorable side

48ID=48 --

[]

[].

49ID=49 --

n=aš=kanCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM=OBPk EGIRwieder:ADV UGUoben:ADV SIG₅‑zavon der guten Seite:HITT.ABL uetkommen:3SG.PST

It came in the back up from the favorable side

50ID=50 --

n=aš‑[ ]

and it []

51ID=51 --

[]

[Thus (says) …: “…”]

Abschnitt 5ID=5: (KUB 49.5) §5´. Oracle: someone offended the deity of the Night

52ID=52 --

nuCONNn ēšzi=masein:3SG.PRS=CNJctr kuiškiirgendein:INDFany.NOM.SG.C DINGIRGöttlichkeit:NOM.SG(UNM);
Göttlichkeit:ACC.SG(UNM);
Göttlichkeit:GEN.SG(UNM);
Göttlichkeit:D/L.SG(UNM);
Göttlichkeit:ALL(UNM)
GE₆Nacht:GEN.SG(UNM)

Is (it) someone4 (offending) the deity of the Night

53ID=53 --

n=aš‑[ ]

and it []?5

54ID=54 --

nuCONNn MUŠENḪI.AVogel:NOM.PL(UNM) arḫaweg-:PREV [p]eššiyanduwerfen:3PL.IMP

Let the birds [ex]clude (it).

55ID=55 --

2zwei:QUANcar ma[ršanaššiuš(?)(Orakelvogel):HITT.ADJG.ACC.PL.C ]

[We saw] two ma[ršanašši- birds …]

56ID=56 --

n=atCONNn=PPRO.3PL.C.NOM 2‑anin der Mitte:PREV a[rḫa]weg-:PREV pāergehen:3PL.PST

and they flew a[way] in the middle.

57ID=57 --

kaltarši[n=ma(Orakelvogel):ACC.SG.C=CNJctr ]

[We saw] a kaltarš[i- bird …]

58ID=58 --

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

and it flew away in front.

59ID=59 --

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

Behind the road:

60ID=60 --

[]

[A … bird …]

61ID=61 --

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

and it flew away in front.

62ID=62 --

UM‑MAfolgendermaßen:ADV mp[a‑… ]

Thus (says) m[]:6

63ID=63 --

[]

[“…”].

Abschnitt 6ID=6: (KUB 49.5) §6´. (Confirmation?) oracle: offences against the deity of the Night

64ID=64 --

[ ] wa[š]kuišVerfehlung:HITT.NOM.SG.C DINGIRGöttlichkeit:D/L.SG(UNM) GE₆Nacht:GEN.SG(UNM) zilāEntscheidung:NOM.COLL.C SI×SÁ‑atordnen:3SG.PST

[The(se)] offence(s) (are towards) the deity of the Night: the oracular response determined.7

65ID=65 --

[ ]

[Let the birds confirm/exclude (it)].

66ID=66 --

[]

[We saw a … bird …]

67ID=67 --

n=aš=kanCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM=OBPk peanvor:ADV(ABBR) S[IG₅?‑zavon der guten Seite:HITT.ABL ue]tkommen:3SG.PST

and it came in front [from the favorable side]

68ID=68 --

n=ašCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM zi[anvon dieser Seite:ADV(ABBR) ]

and it [flew] length[ways …]

69ID=69 --

[]

[We saw … birds …]

70ID=70 --

[] EGIRwieder:ADV UGUoben:ADV SIG₅‑zavon der guten Seite:HITT.ABL [uēr]kommen:3PL.PST

[they came] in the back up from the favorable side

71ID=71 --

n=at=kanCONNn=PPRO.3PL.C.NOM=OBPk []

and they [flew …].

72ID=72 --

[]

[Behind the road]:

73ID=73 --

[]

[we saw … birds …]

74ID=74 --

[n]=atCONNn=PPRO.3PL.C.NOM panvon jener Seite:ADV(ABBR) GUN[liuš](Orakelterminus):NOM.PL.C(ABBR) uērkommen:3PL.PST

[and] they came diagonally GUN-l[i-].

75ID=75 --

al[i‑… ]

[We saw] an ali[ya-]/ali[li-] bird []

76ID=76 --

n=aš=kanCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM=OBPk peanvor:ADV(ABBR) arḫ[aweg-:PREV pai]tgehen:3SG.PST

and it fl[ew a]way in front.

77ID=77 --

UM‑MAfolgendermaßen:ADV m[ ]

Thus (says) m[]:

78ID=78 --

[]

[“…”]

Abschnitt 7ID=7: (KUB 49.5) §7´. Oracle question: an offence from the queen?

79ID=79 --

nuCONNn ŠA MUNUS.LUGAL=maKönigin:GEN.SG=CNJctr waškuišVerfehlung:HITT.NOM.SG.C

(Is it) an offence of the Queen?

80ID=80 --

nuCONNn MUŠENḪI.AVogel:NOM.PL(UNM) S[I×SÁ‑anduordnen:3PL.IMP ]

Let the birds con[firm (it)].

Abschnitt 8ID=8: (KUB 49.5) §8´. Oracle: an offence from the king?

81ID=81 --

waškuišVerfehlung:HITT.NOM.SG.C kuišwelcher:REL.NOM.SG.C ŠA DUTU‑ŠI‘Meine Sonne’:GEN.SG SI×SÁ‑atordnen:3SG.PST

The offence which was determined (to be responsibility) of His Majesty

82ID=82 --

[]

[]

83ID=83 --

DUTU‑ŠI=kan‘Meine Sonne’:NOM.SG(UNM)_PPRO.1SG.GEN=OBPk Ú‑ULnicht:NEG šakkiwissen:3SG.PRS

(is) His Majesty not aware (of it)?

84ID=84 --

nuCONNn MUŠENḪI.AVogel:NOM.PL(UNM) a[rḫaweg-:PREV peššiyandu(?)]werfen:3PL.IMP

Let the birds ex[clude (it)].

85ID=85 --

[]

[We saw … birds …]

86ID=86 --

[n]=atCONNn=PPRO.3PL.C.NOM 2‑anin der Mitte:PREV arḫaweg-:PREV pāergehen:3PL.PST

[a]nd they flew away in the middle.

87ID=87 --

ālliyan=[ma](Art Orakelvogel):ACC.SG.C=CNJctr

[We saw] an ālliya- bird [tar(uya)lian]

88ID=88 --

[]

[].8

89ID=89 --

nu=z(a)CONNn=REFL EGIR‑pawieder:PREV dāšnehmen:3SG.PST

It turned back,

90ID=90 --

n=aš=kanCONNn=PPRO.3SG.C.NOM=OBPk EGIRwieder:ADV UGUoben:ADV SIG₅‑zavon der guten Seite:HITT.ABL [uet]kommen:3SG.PST

it [came] in the back up from the favorable side

91ID=91 --

[]

[and it flew …]

92ID=92 --

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

Behind the road:

93ID=93 --

aršintatḫin(Orakelvogel):ACC.SG.C GU[N‑lian(Orakelterminus):ADV ]

[we saw] an aršintatḫi- bird G[UN-lian ]

94ID=94 --

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

and it flew away in front.

95ID=95 --

UM‑MAfolgendermaßen:ADV m[ ]

Thus (says) m[]:

96ID=96 --

[]

[“…”].

Abschnitt 9ID=9: (KUB 49.5) §9´. Oracle: the king ‘before’ the deity of the Night

97ID=97 --

[nu]CONNn DUTU‑ŠI‘Meine Sonne’:NOM.SG(UNM)_PPRO.1SG.GEN PA‑NI DINGIRGott:D/L.SG_vor:POSP GE₆=maNacht:GEN.SG(UNM)=CNJctr kuiškiirgendein:INDFany.NOM.SG.C uni[šjener:DEM3.NOM.SG.C ]

His Majesty, before the deity of the Night, (is) he some(one) [which]?

98ID=98 --

nuCONNn MUŠENḪI.AVogel:NOM.PL(UNM) SI×SÁ?‑anduordnen:3PL.IMP

Let the birds confirm (it).

99ID=99 --

maršanaaššin(Orakelvogel):LUW||HITT.ADJG.ACC.SG.C [ ]

[We saw] a maršanašši- bird []

100ID=100 --

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

[and] it flew away in front.

101ID=101 --

āll[iyan(Art Orakelvogel):ACC.SG.C ]

[We saw] an āll[iya- bird …]

102ID=102 --

[t]amain=maanderer:INDoth.ACC.SG.C=CNJctr ālliyan(Art Orakelvogel):ACC.SG.C tarli[an(Orakelterminus):ADV(ABBR) ]

[We saw] another ālliya- bird tar(uya)lian []

103ID=103 --

[EGI]Rhinter:POSP KASKAL‑NIWeg:D/L.SG(UNM)

Behind the road:

104ID=104 --

ālliyan(Art Orakelvogel):ACC.SG.C tarlian(Orakelterminus):ADV(ABBR) NI‑[MUR]sehen:1PL.PST

We [saw] an ālliya- bird tar(uya)lian.

105ID=105 --

[]

[]

106ID=106 --

[ ]

[Thus (says) …]:

107ID=107 --

arḫa=w[aweg-:PREV=QUOT ]

[“they] ex[cluded (it)”].

ca. eleven lines, unreadable, surface burnt/vitrified from fire

obv. breaks off

The augural response is expected in this line.
Cf. Sakuma Y. 2009b, II 256: “[… das ers]te Holz die Majestät []”, based on his different reading.
Or, perhaps: “the oracular inquiry happened”?
Tentative. Alternatively: “(The offended) someone is the deity of the Night…”. Cotticelli-Kurras P. 1991a, 102 translates “Wer aber auch immer die schwarze Gottheit ist, er []”.
The oracular questions in this and the next paragraphs are not formulated with a protasis (“If …”), but either as statements followed by the clause “let the birds” or as true questions.
The reading of the fragmentary first sign of this augur’s name is uncertain; if it is P[A], no augur’s names are known to be attested with this initial segment.
The syntax of this sentence is quite unclear; if waškuiš is subject (NOM.SG?), the function of zila (stem form?) remains unclear. A more logical structure for the sentence would be “The oracular response determined [the(se)] offence(s) (are/were committed towards) the deity of the Night” (vel sim.), but this would require waškuiš to be direct object, and zila the subject.
Sakuma Y. 2009b, II 259-260, suggests: “[and it came in the back down from the unfavorable side]”, in consideration of the following sentences, with the bird “turning back” and going in the opposite direction.
Editio ultima: Textus 2025-03-19; Traductionis 2025-08-12