Sumerian Addenda · Signs

𒋛

horn

NameSI
Reads[si]
Meanshorn; to fill
Taught in14 · A row of proverbs

Where it comes from

A horn in profile — the ox’s curve straightened into wedges. As a verb, si is “to fill”: doubled, si-si, it is what floods do to fields and harvests do to granaries. A horn is also the oldest cup — the filling and the vessel share a shape.

How to remember it

A horn fills from the point up: tip it and pour. One horn is the thing; say it twice and everything brims — si-si, full to the rim.

In the wild

Gudea's temple hymn. urn:nabu:etcsl:2.1.7:1158 · license: ETCSL · non-commercial.

Piece by piece:

  • a gal-gal-e — the great waters, as doer
  • še — with barley
  • si-si-a-da — so that they might fill and fill: the horn doubled into abundance

High water, full granaries — the blessing the temple was built to secure. The line is read in 102’s chapter 14.