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Abschnitt 1ID=1: Occasion of the oracle inquiry: king’s and queen’s winter stay in Ḫattuša |
| 1ID=1 | -- | [W]hen His Majesty will come up from campaign |
| 2ID=2 | -- | he will worship the gods. |
| 3ID=3 | -- | And so His Majesty (and) the Queen will spend the winter in Ḫattuša. |
| 4ID=4 | -- | They will celebrate the festival of thunder for the Storm-god of Aleppo there1 |
| 5ID=5 | -- | (and) they will celebrate the festival of the year there. |
| 6ID=6 | -- | The birds of the season2 will gather for him3 there. |
| 7ID=7 | -- | When the time of the AN.DAḪ.ŠUM plant4 will arrive |
| 8ID=8 | -- | they will lay down the AN.DAḪ.ŠUM plant for the gods. |
Abschnitt 2ID=2: Request: the birds should confirm the gods’ approval of the king’s and queen’s winter stay in Ḫattuša and their safety from an epidemic, serious illness and harm |
| 9ID=9 | -- | If you, O gods, have jointly approved Ḫattuša (as) the city (for the worship) of the Storm-god of Aleppo, in all respects for His Majesty (and) the Queen to spend the winter5 |
| 10ID=10 | -- | (and) if we do not have to fear anything for the person of His Majesty (and) the Queen from an epidemic (or) a severe illness |
| 11ID=11 | -- | (and if) some evil does not make them flee |
| 12ID=12 | -- | (and if) you, O gods, have approved Ḫattuša (as) the city (for the worship) of the Storm-god of Aleppo for His Majesty (and) the Queen to spend the winter, |
| 13ID=13 | -- | let the birds of conjuration confirm (it) over three days. |
Abschnitt 3ID=3: Bird observation |
| 14ID=14 | -- | An eagle was perching tar(uya)li-.6 |
| 15ID=15 | -- | Its beak, however, was turned diagonally.7 |
| 16ID=16 | -- | A ḫarrani- bird, however, was perching GU[N]-li-. |
| 17ID=17 | -- | Its beak, however, was turned away from the middle. |
| 18ID=18 | -- | An aliliya- bird, however, came in front from the favorable side |
| 19ID=19 | -- | and it flew away in the middle. |
| 20ID=20 | -- | An aršintatḫi- bird, however, [was] per[ching] tar(uya)li-. |
| 21ID=21 | -- | Behind the road: |
| 22ID=22 | -- | An aramnant- bird came tar(uya)li- diagonally. |
| 23ID=23 | -- | On the second day: |
| 24ID=24 | -- | Four ḫarlitinzi birds: tar(uya)li-. |
| 25ID=25 | -- | An eagle, however, [was perching] GUN-li-. |
| 26ID=26 | -- | An(other) eagle, however, came in front from the favorable side |
| 27ID=27 | -- | and it flew away in the middle. |
| 28ID=28 | -- | A ‘fox-bird’, however, flew tar(uya)li- diagonally. |
| 29ID=29 | -- | Behind [the road]: |
| 30ID=30 | -- | […] came diagonally. |
| 31ID=31 | -- | On the third day: |
| 32ID=32 | -- | An aliliya- bird flew tar(uya)li-diagonally. |
| 33ID=33 | -- | An eagle, however, was perching GUN-li-. |
| 34ID=34 | -- | Its beak, however, was […]. |
| 35ID=35 | -- | We conjured. |
| 36ID=36 | -- | An aliliya- bird came in front from the favorable side. |
| 37ID=37 | -- | And it flew away in the middle. |
| 38ID=38 | -- | A ‘wide-wing’ bird […] |
| 39ID=39 | -- | Behind the road: |
| 40ID=40 | -- | A ḫarrani- bird came tar(uya)li-diagonally. |
Abschnitt 4ID=4: Positive oracle outcome with countercheck (confirmation of the birds) |
| 41ID=41 | -- | Thus (speak) Piḫatarḫunta and Armana[ni]: |
| 42ID=42 | -- | “It was confirmed”.8 |
| 43ID=43 | -- | As a countercheck we observed birds of concern.9 |
Abschnitt 5ID=5: Request: the birds should exclude a danger for the king’s person |
| 44ID=44 | -- | While His Majesty will be in Ḫattuša for (the worship of) the Storm-god of Aleppo,10 |
| 45ID=45 | -- | whi[le he will worship the gods], |
| 46ID=46 | -- | while he will celebrate the festival of thunder, |
| 47ID=47 | -- | while the fe[st]ival of the year (will take place) afterwards |
| 48ID=48 | -- | while the birds [of the] sea[son will gather] for him |
| 49ID=49 | -- | while he will lay down the AN.DAḪ.ŠUM plant for the gods, |
| 50ID=50 | -- | if we have nothing to fear fo[r the pers]on of His Majesty, |
| 51ID=51 | -- | [let the birds exclude it].11 |
Abschnitt 6ID=6: Bird observation |
| 52ID=52 | -- | We saw a ḫarrani- bird tar(uya)lian. |
| 53ID=53 | -- | It was released on the road.12 |
| 54ID=54 | -- | And no[t …]. |
| 55ID=55 | -- | It perched. |
| 56ID=56 | -- | Its beak, however, [was turned] towards the road. |
| 57ID=57 | -- | We saw, however, two alili- birds tar(uya)lian. |
| 58ID=58 | -- | They flew away in front. |
| 59ID=59 | -- | [A … bird], however, came in front from the unfavorable side. |
| 60ID=60 | -- | And it [flew] a[way] in front. |
| 61ID=61 | -- | A šalwini- bird, however, came in the back down from the unfavorable side. |
| 62ID=62 | -- | It flew away in the middle. |
| 63ID=63 | -- | [Behind the road]: |
| 64ID=64 | -- | [Two ea]gles came in the back up from the favorable side. |
| 65ID=65 | -- | One (of them) [flew] lengthways […].13 |
| 66ID=66 | -- | The other one, however, turned back. |
| 67ID=67 | -- | It came in the back down from the unfavorable side. |
| 68ID=68 | -- | And it [fl]ew […]. |
| 69ID=69 | -- | In the west, however, a ‘wide-wing’ bird came in the back up from the favorable side [towards] the sun |
| 70ID=70 | -- | and it flew away in front. |
Abschnitt 7ID=7: Positive oracle outcome (the birds excluded the danger) |
| 71ID=71 | -- | Th[us (speak) Piḫatarḫunta] and Armanani: |
| 72ID=72 | -- | “They excluded (it)”.14 |
Abschnitt 8ID=8: Request: the birds should exclude a certain danger (specification not preserved) |
| 73ID=73 | -- | While His Majesty will be up in Ḫattuša |
| 74ID=74 | -- | while he will worship the gods |
| 75ID=75 | -- | [while] he will celebrate [the festival of th]under |
| 76ID=76 | -- | while the fes[tival of the year] (will take place) afterwards |
| 77ID=77 | -- | while the birds of the season will gather for him |
| 78ID=78 | -- | whi[le] he will lay down the [AN.DAḪ.ŠU]M plant [for the gods], |
| 79ID=79 | -- | if we do not have to fear anything for him [from …], |
| 80ID=80 | -- | let the birds exclude it. |
Abschnitt 9ID=9: Bird observation |
| 81ID=81 | -- | […] |
| 82ID=82 | -- | and they turn[ed] back |
| 83ID=83 | -- | and they came in front from the favorable side |
| 84ID=84 | -- | and they flew away in the middle. |
| 85ID=85 | -- | [A … bird] came [… up] from the [fa]vorable side |
| 86ID=86 | -- | and it flew away in front. |
| 87ID=87 | -- | Behind the road: |
| 88ID=88 | -- | A ḫarrani- bird came in the back u[p] from the [fav]orable side. |
| 89ID=89 | -- | and it flew [aw]ay in front. |
| 90ID=90 | -- | In the west, [however], we saw an alili- bird against the sun tar(uya)lian. |
| 91ID=91 | -- | and it flew lengthways from the unfavorable side. |
Abschnitt 10ID=10: Negative oracle outcome (the birds confirmed the danger) |
| 92ID=92 | -- | T[h]us (speak) the augurs: |
| 93ID=93 | -- | “It was confirmed”. |
Abschnitt 11ID=11: Request: the birds should exclude a danger from revolt |
| 94ID=94 | -- | While His Majesty will be up in Ḫattuša |
| 95ID=95 | -- | while he will worship the gods |
| 96ID=96 | -- | while he will [celebrate] the festival of thunder |
| 97ID=97 | -- | [while] the festival of the year (will take place) afterwards |
| 98ID=98 | -- | while the birds of the season will gather for him |
| 99ID=99 | -- | while he will [lay] down the A[N.DAḪ.ŠUM plant] for the gods – |
| 100ID=100 | -- | if we have nothing to fear from a revolt for him, |
| 101ID=101 | -- | let the birds exclude (it). |
Abschnitt 12ID=12: Bird observation |
| 102ID=102 | -- | An aliliya- bird [came] in the ba[ck …] |
| 103ID=103 | -- | and it met two eagles below GUN-lian. |
| 104ID=104 | -- | The aliliya- bird flew away in the [mid]dle. |
| 105ID=105 | -- | The two eagles, however, [came] in front [from] the unfavorable side. |
| 106ID=106 | -- | and they flew away in front. |
| 107ID=107 | -- | Behind the road: |
| 108ID=108 | -- | A ḫarrani- bird came in the [ba]ck down from the unfavorable side. |
| 109ID=109 | -- | and it flew away in the middle. |
| 110ID=110 | -- | In the west, however, an alili- bird came in the back up [from] the favorable side towards the sun. |
| 111ID=111 | -- | And it flew away in front. |
Abschnitt 13ID=13: Positive oracle outcome (the birds excluded a danger from revolt) |
| 112ID=112 | -- | Thus (speak) the augurs: |
| 113ID=113 | -- | They excluded (it). |
Abschnitt 14ID=14: Request: the birds should exclude a certain danger (specification not preserved, bird observation and outcome not noted) |
| 114ID=114 | -- | While His Majesty will be up in Ḫattuša |
| 115ID=115 | -- | while he will worship the gods |
| 116ID=116 | -- | [while] he will celebrate the festival of thunder |
| 117ID=117 | -- | while [the festival of the year (will take place) afterwards] |
| 118ID=118 | -- | while the birds of the season will gather for him |
| 119ID=119 | -- | while he will lay down the AN.DAḪ.ŠUM plant [for] the gods, |
| 120ID=120 | -- | if we have nothing to fear [from …] for him, |
| 121ID=121 | -- | let the birds exclude (it). |
Abschnitt 15ID=15: Requested: the birds should exclude a danger from a ‘misbehavior of a horse’ (resulting in a road accident) |
| 122ID=122 | -- | While His Majesty will be up in Ḫattuša |
| 123ID=123 | -- | while he will worship the gods |
| 124ID=124 | -- | [while] he will celebrate [the festival of th]under |
| 125ID=125 | -- | whi[le the festival of the year (will take place) afterwards] |
| 126ID=126 | -- | while the birds of the season will gather for him |
| 127ID=127 | -- | [w]hi[le] he will lay down the [AN.DA]Ḫ.ŠUM plant [for the gods,] |
| 128ID=128 | -- | if we have nothing to fear [for him] from misbehavior of a horse,15 |
| 129ID=129 | -- | let [the birds exclude (it)]. |
Abschnitt 16ID=16: Bird observation |
| 130ID=130 | -- | An aliliy[a- bird …] |
| 131ID=131 | -- | and it flew away in the middle. |
| 132ID=132 | -- | An eagle, however, ca[me] in the back up from the favorable side. |
| 133ID=133 | -- | [and it] … […] |
| 134ID=134 | -- | And it flew away in front. |
| 135ID=135 | -- | In the west, however, an ali[li- bird …] |
Abschnitt 17ID=17: Oracle outcome (not preserved) |
| 136ID=136 | -- | Thus (speak) Piḫatarḫunta and Armanani: |
| 137ID=137 | -- | […] |
Abschnitt 18ID=18: Request: the birds should exclude a danger from fire |
| 138ID=138 | -- | While His Majesty (and) the Queen will be up in Ḫattuša |
| 139ID=139 | -- | while [they will worship the gods] |
| 140ID=140 | -- | [while they will celebrate the festival of thunder] |
| 141ID=141 | -- | [while] the festival of the year (will take place) afterwards |
| 142ID=142 | -- | while the birds of the season wi[ll gather] for them |
| 143ID=143 | -- | [while they will lay down the AN.DAḪ.ŠUM plant for the gods], |
| 144ID=144 | -- | [if] w[e] have nothing to fear for His Majesty (and) the Queen from fire, |
| 145ID=145 | -- | let the birds exclude (it). |
Abschnitt 19ID=19: Bird observation |
| 146ID=146 | -- | [A … bird …] |
| 147ID=147 | -- | and it flew away in the middle. |
| 148ID=148 | -- | An eagle, however, [came/flew] diagonally GUN-li-. |
| 149ID=149 | -- | […] |
| 150ID=150 | -- | An aliliya- bird came in the back up from the favorable side |
| 151ID=151 | -- | And [it …] |
Abschnitt 20ID=20: Oracle outcome (not preserved) |
| 152ID=152 | -- | Thus (speak) Piḫatarḫunta and Armana[ni]: |
| 153ID=153 | -- | […]. |
Abschnitt 21ID=21: Request: the birds should exclude a danger from downpour |
| 154ID=154 | -- | While His Majesty (and) the Queen [will be up] in Ḫattuša |
| 155ID=155 | -- | [while he/they will worship the gods] |
| 156ID=156 | -- | [while he/they will celebrate the festival of thunder] |
| 157ID=157 | -- | [while the festival of the year (will take place)] afterwards |
| 158ID=158 | -- | while the birds of the sea[son will gather] for him |
| 159ID=159 | -- | [while he/they will lay down the AN.DAḪ.ŠUM plant for the gods,] |
| 160ID=160 | -- | [if we] have nothing to fear from downpour [for him/them], |
| 161ID=161 | -- | [let the birds exclude (it)]. |
Abschnitt 22ID=22: Bird observation (outcome not preserved) |
| 162ID=162 | -- | […] |
| 163ID=163 | -- | [Its beak, however,] was turned diagonally/to the other side GUN-li-. |
| 164ID=164 | -- | […] |
| 165ID=165 | -- | A ḫarrani- bird [came] in the back down [from] the un[favorable side]. |
| 166ID=166 | -- | In the west, however, … […] |
| 167ID=167 | -- | While […] |
| 168ID=168 | -- | […] … […] |
obv. breaks off |
| 169ID=169 | -- | and it ca[me …] tar(uya)li- diagonally. |
| 170ID=170 | -- | If the Storm-god li[ke] a cedar […] |
| 171ID=171 | -- | [A … bird …] |
| 172ID=172 | -- | it came in front from the unfavorable side |
| 173ID=173 | -- | and it [flew …] |
Abschnitt 23ID=23: Oracle outcome (not preserved) |
| 174ID=174 | -- | Thus (speak) Piḫa<tarḫunta> and Armana[ni:] |
| 175ID=175 | -- | […] |
Abschnitt 24ID=24: Follow-up question |
| 176ID=176 | -- | Because the Storm-god like a cedar […] |
Abschnitt 25ID=25: Bird observation (outcome not preserved) |
| 177ID=177 | -- | [A … bird …] |
| 178ID=178 | -- | and it perched. |
| 179ID=179 | -- | (Its) beak, however, [was] turn[ed] diagonally/to the other side. |
| 180ID=180 | -- | [A … bird] came in front from the favorable side. |
| 181ID=181 | -- | And it [flew] aw[ay] in the middle. |
Abschnitt 26ID=26: Request: the birds should [confirm] that only the Storm-god of Aleppo angry |
| 182ID=182 | -- | If only the Storm-god of Aleppo (is angry) |
| 183ID=183 | -- | but furthermore [not any other] dei[ty], |
| 184ID=184 | -- | [let the birds confirm (it)]. |
Abschnitt 27ID=27: Bird observation (outcome not preserved) |
| 185ID=185 | -- | [A … bird …] |
| 186ID=186 | -- | and it flew away in front. |
| 187ID=187 | -- | An aliliy[a- bird …] |
| 188ID=188 | -- | and it flew away in the middle. |
| 189ID=189 | -- | In the west, however, […] |
Abschnitt 28ID=28: Request: the birds should [confirm/exclude …for the king regarding the fever] |
| 190ID=190 | -- | Is the Storm-god of Aleppo […] with/for His Majesty regarding the fever […], |
| 191ID=191 | -- | [let the birds …]. |
Abschnitt 29ID=29: Bird observation (outcome not preserved) |
| 192ID=192 | -- | [A … bird came …] |
| 193ID=193 | -- | And it flew away in front. |
| 194ID=194 | -- | An eagle, however, [met] a ḫarra[ni- bird …] |
| 195ID=195 | -- | It came in the back up from the favorable side |
| 196ID=196 | -- | and it [flew] aw[ay] in front. |
| 197ID=197 | -- | … the Storm-god of Aleppo … […] |
| 198ID=198 | -- | We stood […] |
Abschnitt 30ID=30: Follow-up request concerning the fever (only partially preserved) |
| 199ID=199 | -- | If the fever … away […] |
| 200ID=200 | -- | […]. |
Abschnitt 31ID=31: Bird observation (outcome not preserved) |
| 201ID=201 | -- | A ḫuwara- bird GUN-li. |
| 202ID=202 | -- | We sa[w] a ‘wide-wing’ bird tar(uya)li-. |
| 203ID=203 | -- | It came lengthways GUN-li-. |
| 204ID=204 | -- | A ḫuwara- bird GU[N-li- …]. |
| 205ID=205 | -- | It came in front from the unfavorable side. |
| 206ID=206 | -- | and it flew away in the middle. |
| 207ID=207 | -- | […] |
| 208ID=208 | -- | In the west, however, a ḫalliya- bird flew diagonally tar(uya)li-. |
| 209ID=209 | -- | […] |
| 210ID=210 | -- | that came from the favorable side. |
| 211ID=211 | -- | … came […] |
| 212ID=212 | -- | “and […]” |
Abschnitt 32ID=32: Follow-up question (only fragmentarily preserved) |
| 213ID=213 | -- | We fear, however, […] |
Abschnitt 33ID=33: Request: the birds should exclude a certain danger (specification not preserved) |
| 214ID=214 | -- | While H[is Majesty (and the Queen) will be] up [in Ḫattu]ša |
| 215ID=215 | -- | while [he/they will worship] the go[ds] |
| 216ID=216 | -- | [while he/they will celebrate the festival of thunder] |
| 217ID=217 | -- | [while the festival of the year (will take) afterwards] |
| 218ID=218 | -- | whi[le the birds of the season] will gather [for him/them] |
| 219ID=219 | -- | whi[le he/they will lay down] the bulbous pl[ant]16 |
| 220ID=220 | -- | [i]f an epidemic [will] not […] |
| 221ID=221 | -- | [if we have] no[thing to fear …], |
Abschnitt 34ID=34: Bird observation |
| 222ID=222 | -- | let [the birds ex]clude (it). |
| 223ID=223 | -- | […] ca[me].17 |
| 224ID=224 | -- | [… they fl]ew. |
| 225ID=225 | -- | Another one, however, […] |
| 226ID=226 | -- | […] ca[me] in the back up from the favorable side. |
| 227ID=227 | -- | […] perch[ed]. |
| 228ID=228 | -- | […] turned [the beak …]. |
Abschnitt 35ID=35: Oracle outcome (not preserved) |
| 229ID=229 | -- | Th[us (speak) Piḫatarḫunta (and) Armanani]:18 |
| 230ID=230 | -- | […]. |
| 231ID=231 | -- | […] |
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Differently, Sakuma Y. 2009b, II, 185: “Es überwintern aber die Majestät (und) die Königin in Hattuša, <der Stadt> des Wettergottes von Ḫalap”, thus adding URU-ri after URUKÙ.BABBAR-ši. Similarly, Haas V. 1996a, 80. However, it is more likely that the genitive ŠA Dḫalap should be understood as a genitive attribute of the phrase EZEN₄ tetḫešnaš=za in the following colon, indicating the purpose or beneficiary of the festival. See also Archi A. 1975e, 123; Schwemer D. 2001b, 496, note 4063; Barsacchi F.G. 2017a, 21. The basic meaning of the word appears to be ‘cycle’ or ‘circle’. When used with the word ‘year’, it apparently refers to the ‘annual cycle’. The meaning of the word in connection with birds remains unclear. In my view, it most likely refers to migratory birds that gather in spring when the king is still in the place where he spent the winter. It might therefore be translated as ‘birds of the season’ ( CHD L–N, 232-233). This idea is also supported by the fact that many migratory birds stop in Anatolia before returning to Europe in spring. Another hint is that in the text it is mentioned alongside other seasonal events like the festival of thunder, the festival of the year, and the laying down of the AN.DAḪ.ŠUM plant (cf. e.g. KUB 18.12+ obv. 1–3; obv. 17 passim). Starke F. 1989b, 662, however, argues that it probably refers to birds of the surrounding area due to the local references ‘in Ḫattuša, in Katapa’, etc. Similarly, Beal R.H. 1997a, 207 note 9. The phrase appears in a similar context also in KUB 5.4+ and KUB 5.3+. Interestingly, according to this clause, the gathering of the birds takes place only for the king, although in the preceding and following clauses, the queen is mentioned as well.
The nature of the AN.DAḪ.ŠUM plant remains uncertain. However, it is clearly an early bloomer like a crocus. See Haas V. 2003a, 346–347 with further literature. The genitive ŠA Dḫalap is likely to be interpreted as a genitive of purpose (for other examples see GHL, 254 § 16.48: IKRIBIḪI.A ŠA DIŠ[TAR] ‘ritual for Ištar’, ŠA DNIN.GÁL SÍSKUR ‘ritual for NIN.GAL’). If so, the clause asks whether the gods have approved of the king’s intention to spend the winter in Ḫattuša for the celebration of the festival(s) dedicated to the Storm-god of Aleppo. Alternatively, Archi A. 1975e, 123; Haas V. 1996a, 80; Barsacchi F.G. 2017a, 21; Schwemer D. 2001b, 496, note 4063; Sakuma Y. 2009b, II, 185, interpret the genitive phrase as a specifying attribute to ⸢URU⸣KÙ.BABBAR-an URU-an ‘Ḫattusa, the city of (i.e., belonging to) the Storm-god of Aleppo’. Although the prayer of Muwattalli to the divine assembly (CTH 381) addresses the Storm-god of Aleppo as the ‘Storm-god of Aleppo of Ḫattuša’, it would be unique for Ḫattuša to be specified by the Storm-god’s name (cf. also Schwemer D. 2001b, 496, who suggests that the specification might be due to the content of the oracle questions). The verbless clauses with the pattern bird name (nom) + =ma/∅ + GUN-li/ tar(uya)li- + TUŠ-za / TUŠ-aš only appear in the present text. Otherwise, the verb TUŠ is attested without a phonetic ending.
Or, obliquely/to the other side. Literally, the phrase translates as ‘regarding the beak it (i.e., the bird) was turned diagonally/ obliquely/to the (other) side’ or sim. The abbreviation pa-an stands for the adverb pariyawan which is found only in bird oracles. Most often, the adverb describes the bird’s flight and is used with verbs like uet (‘it came’) or pait (‘it flew’), as well as the terms GUN-li- or tar(uya)li-, which appear before or after pariyawan or the abbreviated forms pa-an and pa-ri ( Sakuma Y. 2009b, I, 110–111). Less commonly, the term is attested in descriptions of the beak’s orientation. Since pariyawan and pariyan are probably related, a meaning of ‘diagonally, obliquely’ seems likely for pariyawan. For further discussions see CHD P, 154–155 s.v. pariyawan; CHD P, 151–153 s.v. pariyan; Sakuma Y. 2009b, I, 213–218 with previous literature). The implied divine answer to the oracle question is yes since the requested outcome and the actual result match (the birds of conjuration confirmed their approval of the king’s winter stay in Ḫattuša).
Alternatively, if the form laḫlaḫḫimuš is correct, ‘we saw concern, namely birds’. It is, however, more likely that the form is a scribal error for the gen. sg. laḫlaḫḫimaš.
Differently, Sakuma Y. 2009b, part 2, 189, who adds URU-ri after URUKÙ.BABBAR-ši and translates: “Während die Majestät in Ḫattuša, <in der Stadt> des Wettergottes von Ḫalab (ist)”. Cf. also Barsacchi F.G. 2017a, 21: “finché la Maestà (sarà) a Ḫattuša, (la città) del dio della Tempesta di Aleppo”. Since the protasis expresses the wish that the king will not have an undesirable experience, the apodosis is expected to include the phrase ‘let the birds exclude (the negative experience)’.
The meaning of the phrase remains unclear. It could indicate that the bird was first caught, set free, and then observed. However, it is noteworthy that most texts do not mention that the birds were captured before their flight was observed. An exception is the MH oracle letter HKM 48 from Mașat Höyük which explicitely refers to the capture of birds but not to their release (for a detailed discussion see Trameri forthcoming and the edition in the present digital corpus). If the phrase in KUB 18.12+ obv. 18 refers to the release of a previously captured ḫarrani- bird, it is interesting that the release is only mentioned after the statement that it was seen. Given that in KUB 22.33 rev. 9′ the verb tarna- ‘to let go, release’ is used in the phrase TI₈MUŠEN GUN-an šeḫur tarnaš ‘an eagle left droppings GUN-li-’ (cf. also KUB 22.33 obv. 3′ and KBo 24.131 obv. 22′), the phrase in KUB 18.12+ obv. 18 might refer to the release of droppings as well (i.e., ‘it was releasing itself’).
Sakuma Y. 2009b, II, 189 restores [tar-liš pa-it] and translates “der eine [flog ] l [än ]gs [im tar.-(Bereich) ]”.
This outcome indicates that there is nothing to fear for the person of the king (cf. obv. 17).
i.e., likely a horse’s behavior causing an accident on the road.
Reading uncertain. Since the AN.DAḪ.ŠUM plant is likely a bulbous plant, the Sumerogram SUMS[AR ‘onion, bulbous plant’ might not be an error but an alternative writing for AN.DAḪ.ŠUM.
Pl. ‘they came’. Therefore, either two or more different bird names or same bird names should be filled in the gap.
Or: ‘thus (speak) the augurs’, as in obv. 28 and obv. 35.
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