Among the small minority of literary texts from Ur written in Akkadian probably the most interesting are two presented here, which are of a specially vivid and humorous character. But while the first was meant very seriously, and becomes rather absurd only through the over-earnestness of the composer, the second appears to be ludicrous of set purpose, and as such would once have been thought surprising. But in recent years several glimpses have been caught of a thin vein of humour underlying the massive strata of Babylonian gravity. Without more introduction we proceed to

U.16900 F is a complete tablet, long and narrow (13 × 5 cms.), having the external peculiarity of a hole pierced from edge to edge. This has been carefully located, for if a rod is inserted and held horizontally the tablet rests with its obverse at a slope convenient for reading, but in order to read the reverse the tablet must be held; when released it goes back to its former position with obverse facing the reader. Anticipating the contents, we may suppose that it was set up on a support facing an image of the Moon-god, and was designed, with the usual importunity of Babylonian petitioners, to be there incessantly obtruded upon the divine attention until satisfaction was granted.