The "Debate between bird and fish" is an essay written in the Sumerian language on clay tablets, dating back to the mid to late 3rd millennium BC. It belongs to the genre of Sumerian disputation.

Genre

Six Sumerian disputations are known from Sumerian literature, falling into the literary genre of disputations. Aside from Bird and Fish, other examples include: These appeared a few centuries after writing was established in Sumerian Mesopotamia. The debates are philosophical and address humanity's place in the world.

Description

The bird and fish debate is a 190-line text of cuneiform script. It begins with a discussion of the gods having given Mesopotamia and dwelling places for humans; for water for the fields, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, and the marshes, marshland, grazing lands for humans, and the birds of the marshes, and fish are all given. The debate then begins starting with Fish addressing Bird.

Summary

Fish speaks first

The initial speech of Fish: The 2nd and 3rd paragraphs continue:

Bird's initial retort

Bird replies: Bird continues:

Šulgi rules in favor of Bird

After the initial speech and retort, Fish attacks Bird's nest. Battle ensues between the two of them, in more words. Near the end Bird requests that Shulgi decide in Bird's favor: Šulgi proclaims: