| TAMMUZU The Fourth Month |
Previous Month:
Simanu
Next Month:
Abu
Du'uzu or
Tammuzu
(Tammuz)
"Dumuzi"/"Tammuz"
June-July
(1) Sowing
(3) Offerings of Astabi
(4) Carrying
Food and Water to the Sheep for Ningirsu
Feast of
Baba
When the Silo was Heaped Full of Grain
(4a,b,c;
5) Preparation for Sowing
(6) amar-šag-gu-nanna -
Offering of the Amar-Šag Duck of Nanna
(8) Making
of the First Malt
(10a) The Great Wailing
(11d) Figs
(BM) Regents of
the Monthly Decans, Aries Vernal
Equinox: 1. (5) ezen-gišgi, "Festival of
the Cane-Brake"
Kaksisa, "The Javelin" Sirius, Ea
Way
Maštabba, "The Twins," Gemini Minores,
Anu Way
Altar, "The Destroyer," Cancer, Enlil
Way
(a variant has Bulug, "Crab")
(In Taurus period
stars of Simanu)
2. (8) Nisag offerings for sacred
offerings and places, associated with water and throne;
ritual at temple of Šara for Šara of Umma and
Dumuzi of Urua
3. (8) First
Barley
steeped in water
4. (8) Šulgi barged to
Kian
5. (8) Šulgi returns
from
Kian
6.
7.
8.
9.
(BM) Procession of Torches
10.
11.
(15,
PT) Summer Solstice ceremony, procession from Esagila to
Ezida
12. (PT) Incantation
13. (12a)
elum (going to the Netherworld) of Belet-Suhner and
Belet-Terraban
14. (5) Beginning (?) of
akiti-šununum Festival (Preparation for
Seeding) at the Sacred Mound
15. Procession in Uruk (for the Gods?)
16. (PT) Feast of Sacæa
(temporary King for next five days)
17. (15)
Kettledrum performance for Palil (Ištar)
18. (12a) Great Offering Day in
Abum Festival;
19. (14) Oil
for washing statues of Ištar and Dumuzi
20.
(PT) Last day of Feast of
Sacæa
21.
22. (5) Last (?) day of
akiti-šununum
Festival
23.
24.
25. (15)
Day of the Striking(?)
26. (15) In Assyria,
Dumuzi's statue displayed; "Day of the
Screaming"
27. (15) In Assyria, Dumuzi's statue
displayed; the "Day He is Caught""His death is
when they burn the roasted barley, which they were casting
on Tammuz, on the stones. The burned parts which are
produced go up to the upper regions, as it is said: '[The
image of] your brother which they soak in beer lifts up
the body of the brother, as it is said'" (Livingstone,
Court Poetry no. 38 rev. 2-8; quoted in Cohen
Cultic Calendars p. 317; cf. Jacobsen's trans. same
page)
"On the 27th
day Aškayaitu returns to the Ehilšu. A wooden
figurine of Dumuzi is brought out and is cast down by the
main gate. [The figurine(?)] is brought in before The Lady
of Uruk. The kalu-priest whispers (the prayer)
ni-su-il-še into the right ear and into the left ear
of the piece of wood which has been cast down" (Cohen
trans. Cultic Calendars
p.318)
28. (15) "Day of the
Stall"
(where Dumuzi was captured by the Galla) in
Assyria;
Tammuz
(Dumuzi) rises from the Netherworld
29. (15) Couch erected
for Dumuzi to lie in state (Assyria)
30.
