G20 C i 13 qer-bu-˹šú˺ OV(l) – The pronominal suffix lacks the final
W j i 13 1 i 13 ]-šu qer-bu-uš vowel in j.^519
(^) G21 C i 13 (^) qer-bu-˹šú˺ OV – The pronominal suffix is written as ŠU
W1 i 13 ]-šu in W.
G22 J 2 i 12 a-bu-b[i OV(l) – W has the wrong case vowel for the
Wj i 14^1 i 13 a-bu-bi a-bu-bu genitive singular abubi, “deluge.”^520
(^) G23 C i 15 (^) d a-nu-um (^) OV – C has CV-VC against CVC in j.
j i 15a d a-num
G24 W 1 i 17a ˹ana ki˺-i[k ] OV – The preposition ana is written logo-
j i 18 a-na ki-ik-ki-šu graphically in W.
G25 J j i 19 2 i 17a [k]i-ik-ki-š[u] ki-ik-kiš OV(l) – The case vowel is lacking in j.^521
G26 J j i 21 2 i 18 [ š]u-lu šu-ru-up-pa-ku-ú ˹ú˺-[ ] in the proper noun OV – J has the long spelling of the first vowel Šuripak.
(^) G27 W
j i 21^1 i 19 [ r]i-ip-pa-ku-ú lu šu-ru-up-pa-ku-ú tion of the proper noun OV(l) – j seems reflect a different pronuncia-Šuripak.
(^) G28 W
j i 22a^1 i 20a bi-ni GIŠ.MÁ bi-nu GIŠ.MÁ imperative of III weak OV(l) – j has the wrong stem vowel for ms √banû, “to build.”^522
(^519) The lack of the final vowel in j is a sign of elevated language and therefore considered a dialectal form.
This reflects an Old Babylonian poetic form that survives as a rare literary affectation in Standard Babylo-
nian (see A.R. George, 520 Gilgamesh, 431-33).
See A.R. George, Gilgamesh, 440, where /u/ for genitive singular is listed as among the unusual Kuyun-
jik orthographies. 521
j lacks the case vowel in this line, but in the same word in the next line j has the case vowel. According
to J. Huehnergard, Grammar, 595, Standard Babylonian orthography has a greater preponderance to use
single signs with CVC values against two signs with the values CV-VC. j, a Neo-Babylonian tablet, ap-
pears to fit this pattern. 522
The form in j could be read as a plural imperative, but against this it should be noted that the subject in
the following address is singular in both sources: “u-qur É,” “demolish the house;” “muš-šìr NIG.TUKU-
ma,” “abandon wealth;” and “še-’-i ZI meš,” “seek survival.”