Technical Terms and Their Rendering

Temples and Their Parts, Cultic Loci

abussu storehouse ešertu sanctuary nēmedu abode
apupithiburnua kind of vatpapāhuholy of holies
aiakkushrinekisallucourtparakkudais
(bet) akītiakītu (house)kitturrustoolqirsuenclosure
bēt hilāniporticokummucellasiqqurrutuziggurat
bēt huršepantrykussiuthrone, chairsukkuchapel
bēt ilihouse of godmāhāzuholy placešahūruantechamber
bēt qātisideroommanzāzupost, postamentšubtuseat
daltu nakiltuelaborate doormazzassustandtamliuterrace
ēkurrutemplemēliustepstarbuṣucourtyard
ēnuspringnakkantutreasury

Cult Statues, Images, Icons

aladlammû bull colossuskurībucherubṣalam šarri royal image
anzûAnzû-birdkusarikku bison-manṣalmuimage, statue

Cultic Implements

agûcrown, tiaralubussu garments, clothingrāṭupipe
arzalluarzallu-implementmaiāubedriksuritual arrangement
būzuglass vesselmākassueating bowlsaplubowl
hariuvatmaškittualtarsārubroom
haṣbupotsmudammiqtufansasuppunapkin
itqūruplatemullilupurification conesikkutupeg, key
kannupotstandmušanmirtucandelabrum, menorahšakuttujewellery
kanūnubraziernazītuwashbasinšappujug
kappubowlnēmattucouchšēhtucenser, incense altar
kaqqad nēšilion's head rhytonnidnakkuportable censertaphucauldrons
kāsugoblet, cup, chalicenumūrulightunātuimplements, utensils
kirrupithospagulupagulu-jaruppulock
kukkubulibation vesselpaššūrutableurigallustandard
kulūlu(mural) crownpilaggulyrezīqtutorch
lilissukettledrumqabūtucup

Materials

balussumixed aromaticsmê qātihand-waterriqiāti aromatics
enducyperus, incenseqatārufumigantsšarpucombustibles
gaṣṣātifirewoodqutārufumigantṭabtusalt

Vehicles

narkabtuchariotša-šadādi rickshaw

Rituals

apāl bēt ili providing for the house of god rimku bath
erāb ālitriumphal entryriqdudance
mīs pêwashing of the mouthšākussufeeding ritual
naptunumeal, dinnertākultuceremonial feeding
nāṭunāṭu-ritetallaktuceremonia

Ritual Acts

agû našû to lift up or carry the crown pānē šanmuruto illuminate the face
agû našûto lift up or carry the crownparāṭuto serve (bread)
agû šatbûto raise the crownpašūru rakāsuto set the table
apāluto provide, servicepaššūru paṭāruto clean the table
appu labānuto pray humblypēt pê epāšuto perform the Opening-of-the-Mouth ritual
bakāruto sprinkle (meal)pilaggu ulluluto hang the lyre
bētu apāluto provide for the houseqalûto roast (animals)
bētu dekûto 'arouse' the houseqarābu/qarrubuto offer, produce, bring forth
būzu marruquto break the glass vesselqassu mallûto string the bow
dariu nasāhuto perform a regular sacrificeqātu ṣabātuto take the hand
endu karāruto throw in incenseriksu rakāsuto set up a ritual arrangement
endu tadānuto give incenserimku šakānuto begin the bath
epāšuto performriqdu šakānuto begin the dance
epru karāruto scatter dustriqiāti karāruto throw in aromatics
hariu patûto open the vatsārī šētuquto sweep
hitpu hatāputo perform hitpu-offeringssilqu apāluto provide cooked meat
ilāni uppušuto treat the godsṣarruruto libate by dripping
ina mazassi uzuzzuto step/stand on the standša-tēlissi šētuquto swing purification device
ina tarbaṣi uzuzzuto take up a position in the courtyardšakuttu našûto put on the jewellery
kamanu šarquduto make a kamanu-cake dancešakuttu ullûto remove the jewellery
kaqquru našāquto kiss the groundšamhuruto offer (blood to the spring)
labûto circumambulatešarāputo bum (oil, honey, aromatics)
maqqê turrumake libationsšēhtu šurrûto light the censer
maqqû gammurucomplete / finish / perform a libationšēpu našāquto kiss the foot
maškittu paṭāruto clean the altaršēpu šakānuto place the foot (upon pit
mazzassu ṣabātuto occupy the standšubê apāluto provide roast meat
nammušuto set out/off (in procession)šuillakku qabûto recite a psalm with uplifted hands
nanmuruto appear (to the public)šukaʾʾunuto prostrate oneself
naptunu šakānuto begin the dinner šumu zakāruto invoke the name
naqbītu qabûto recite a litanytabûto rise, stand up; (Š) to make rise
naqûto libate, pourtušaru epāšuto perform battle
nasāhuto extract, offer, perform (sacrifice)ṭābtu karāruto strew salt
niqê epāšuto make a sacrificeṭābtu qarrubuto offer salt
niqiāti epāšuto make sacrificesušābuto be seated, sit
niqiāti naqûto perform sacrificesutazzuzuto remain standing
niqiāti nasāhuto perform sacrificesuzuzzuto step stand, stop, halt, (Š) to position
niqiu nasāhuto perform a sacrificezamāruto sing, intone
pagulu gammuruto pour out a pagulu-jar

Gifts, Offerings, Sacrifices

abnu(precious) stonemidlu salted meat
akluloave of breadmirsudate-cake
akussusoupmīrubull
alpuox,bullmūrucalf
budêbudê-confectionniqiusacrifice
dāmubloodnishucut of meat
dariuregular sacrificenishusacrifice
dišpuhoneynūnu alluttufish and a crab
durāʾuforelegpānâtifront part
hammurtuhammurtu-beersalqu/silqucooked meat
hašlātigroatssaplišhusaplišhu
hinhinīspicy grainssilqu (hanṭu)(hot) cooked meat
hitpua type of sacrificeṣēlurib
huhhurtuhuhhurtu-breadṣīpuṣīpu
hurāpu (male) spring lambṣurārulibation
iābiluramšamnuoil
kamanukamanu-cakešamnu naharmuṭumelted oil
karānu bašlucooked winešēlūtuvotive gift, votary
kimrusheep (offering) šikārubeer (poured out)
kispufunerary offeringšubê/šumêroast meat
kursinnufetlocktakburufattened sheep
kusāpubreadtatidutufrancolin
maqalūtuburnt offeringzamrufruit
maqqûlibationziqpushoot (of a plant)
maṣhutufinest flour

Prayers, Songs, Hymns, Psalms and Lamentations

aiarūrutulamentšuillakkupsalm with uplifted hands
eršahungapenitential psalmtaqribtulamentation
eršemmapsalmzammirūtumusic
ikribublessingzumārusong
naqbītulitany

Simo Parpola

Simo Parpola, 'Technical Terms and Their Rendering', Assyrian Royal Rituals and Cultic Texts, SAA 20. Original publication: Winona Laka, IN, Eisenbrauns, 2017; online contents: SAAo/SAA20 Project, a sub-project of MOCCI, 2020 [http://oracc.org/saao/saa20/technicalterms/]

 
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