lume, pages 184-187, is given the first song of a similar liturgy
addressed to the mother goddess.

Undoubtedly the most important liturgical tablet which pertains to the
ordinary cults in the Nippur collection is discussed on pages 279-285. The
breviary, which probably belongs to the cult of the moon-god, derives
importance from its great length, its theological ideas, especially the
mention of the messengers which attend the Logos or Word of Enlil, and its
musical principles. Here each song has an antiphon which is unusual in
precanonical prayer books of the ordinary cults.(16) Students of the
history of liturgies will be also particularly interested in the unique
breviary compiled from eight songs of prostration, a lamentation for the
ancient city of Kes with theological references. This song service was
popular at Nippur, for remains of at least two copies have been found in
the collection. A translation is given on pages 311-323.

The oldest public prayer services consisted of only one psalm or song. A
good number of these ancient psalms are known from other collections,
especially from those of the British Museum. In view of the conservative
attitude of the liturgists at Nippur it is indeed surprising that so few
of the old temple songs have survived as they were originally employed;
ancient single song liturgies in this collection are rare. The following
list contains all the notable psalms of this kind. RADAU, _Miscellaneous
Sumerian Texts_ No. 3(17) is a lamentation of the mother goddess and her
appeal to Enlil on behalf of various cities which had been visited by wars
and other afflictions. RADAU, _ibid._, No. 16 has the rubric
_ki-su_(_18_)_ sir-gal __d__Enlil_, "A prayer of prostration, a great song
unto Enlil." A psalm of the weeping mother goddess similar in construction
to RADAU No. 3 is edited on pages 260-264 of this volume.(19) No. 7 of
this part, edited on pages 276-279, is an excellent illustration of the
methods employed in developing the old single song psalms into compiled
liturgies. Here we have a short song service to the moon god constructed
by putting together two ancient psalms. The rubrics designate them as
_sagar_ melodies,(20) or choral songs, and adds that it is sung to the
lyre.(21) An especially fine psalm of a liturgical character was
translated on pages 115-117. It is likewise a lament to the sorrowful
mother goddess.

The student of Sumero-Babylonian religion will not fail to commen