Σ Scriptorium Press · The Plainspoken Classics

Tablet IV (KTU 1.4) — Column VIII

Ilimilku the Scribe · a new plain-English translation from the original language

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'Then indeed set your faces

toward Mount Targhuzizza,

toward Mount Tharumagi,

toward the twin mounds that bar the underworld.

Lift the mountain onto your two hands,

the wooded hill onto your two palms,

and go down into the house of "freedom" —

into the underworld. Be counted among

those who go down into the earth.

Then indeed set

your faces toward his city,

the Miry Place: a pit is the throne

where he sits; filth, the land of

his heritage. But be on guard,

attendants of the gods: do not

draw near the son of the gods,

Mot, lest he make you ready

like a lamb in his mouth —

lest, like a kid in the crushing of

his gullet, the two of you be carried off.

The Lamp of the gods, Shapshu,

glowing hot, the heavens

hanging faint in the hand of the Belov-

ed of the gods — of Mot. Across a thou-

sand fields, ten thousand ac-

res, at the feet of Mot

bow and fall;

prostrate yourselves and ho-

nor him. And say

to the son of the gods, Mot;

repeat to the Beloved of

El, the Hero: "Message of

Mightiest Baal,

[wor]d of the Mightiest of War-

[riors:] My house I have built —

[of silver;] [I have raised]

[my palace] [of gold!] . . .

[. . .] my brothers(?) —

[. . .] my brothers(?) —

[. . .] my [hou]se —

[. . .] [in the mi]dst —

[. . .] I summoned(?) —

[. . .] Mot —

[. . .] [the s]on of the gods —

[. . .] [he fa]ttens(?) . . . the hand(?) —

[. . .] [the He]ro —

[. . .] [Gapn]-and-Ugar —

[. . .] . . .

[Written by] [Ilimilku] [the of]ficiant(?) of Niqmaddu, king of Ugarit.

An original translation made in 2026 by Scriptorium Press, working directly from the original language text (never from another English translation), in one consistent modern voice. Free to read, download, and listen — no accounts, no ads, nothing for sale.

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