The Elamite Curse

And a nod to Shelley …

Got lost on one of those winding Wiki paths which led me in the end to the Elamites, one of the great forgotten kingdoms of the ancient world. Was astounded by the quality of some of their art, but also a bit depressed by my ignorance about them. They're an elusive people, with not much known about their origins or beliefs. Not much, and yet enough to keep a scholar busy for life.

Anyway, found this stunning (headless) bronze statue of one of their queens, Napir-Asu, from the 14th c BCE. There’s an inscription carved into the base - a curse aimed at grave robbers. Below is my stab at putting it into verse. Wonder if this is the first woman in history we hear speak? It may ring a bell or two...

I, Napir-Asu, through this bronze, speak
To the man who would seize my statue,
Who would smash and grind and break,
Who would destroy these graven words, you
Who would with spite my name smother:
On you let the curse of Napirisha, fall,
Great god of the waters, and lord of all;
Of Kiririsha, of gods and men, the mother;
And of Inshushinak, god of Death and Law:
Listen: for with this curse, your name shall die,
Your sons be eunuchs, the wombs of your daughters, empty;
The armies of the goddess, Beltiya, will claw
And maim you. This, I Napir-Asu swear.
Look in my eyes, slave, and despair.

The literal translation reads, "[...], may he be smitten by the curse of Napirisha, of Kiririsha, and of Inshushinak, that his name shall become extinct, that his offspring be barren, that the forces of Beltiya, the great goddess, shall sweep down on him. This is Napir-Asu's offering."