This fragment of bird oracle contains one of the rare attestations of a ‘snake’-bird (MUŠEN.MUŠ, r. col. 5´). The same (or a similar) bird is attested only in an oracle report from Šapinuwa-Ortaköy, still unpublished (Or 90/355 obv. 12´, in the form MUŠ; information courtesy A. Süel and D. Schwemer).

The text is also of interest for the reference to “the river”, found only in a few other reports, all of early date (for a list of references, see the edition of CTH 573.113). Based both on its content and a palaeographic analysis, a re-dating of the fragment to a pre-Imperial date is likely.

• D. Groddek, DBH 33, 2011: 54f.
• Y. Sakuma, Diss., 2009: II 615f.

Handcopy: H. Otten (KBo 47, Otten H. et al. 2005a).

Edition: Sakuma Y. 2009b, II 615-616; a transliteration in Groddek D. 2011a, 54-55.

MS (mh.). The fragment does not contain any clearly late (NS) diagnostic sign. Early forms of AZ (without subscript), DA/IT, E. Groddek D. 2011a, 54 suggested a dating “jh. (früh)”. For an early date of this fragment (“but only on the basis of E”) see already Weeden M. 2011a, 586.

The content is also compatible with an early date, with the observations at “the river” and the rare bird name ‘snake’-bird.