Safe passage
The Sea Venture
At the edge of the sea, a voyage begins with hope.
Your offering
A ram, a silver chalice, and copper.
In this reconstructed scene, the merchant leader pours oil upon the sea and pledges a ram, a silver chalice, and a share of returning copper for a safe voyage.
Follow a non-graphic dedication, or explore the tablet and its words.
04 / Personal dedication
A hope for safe return.
Think of a journey, those who travel, and those waiting at home.
04 / The invocation
Across the Great Sea.
When the ships of the merchants put out to sea,
The Master of the Merchants shall pour out oil upon the deep,
And he shall lift up his voice unto Baal of the Sailors:
"O Baal, who smote Prince Sea!
Restrain Judge River when its surging breakers rage!
Surely send a favorable breeze unto our ships!
An unblemished ram (š tmm), O Baal, we shall consecrate (nšqdš);
And a silver chalice in your temple we shall fulfill (nmlu)!
When the ships return to the harbor of Maʾḫadu in safety,
A tithe of Cypriot copper unto you we shall bring!"
05 / Your tablet
Your tablet.
Preparing the tablet…
The words below the clay
Show cuneiform, transliteration & English
- 𐎋𐎟𐎚𐎕𐎜𐎟𐎀𐎐𐎊𐎚𐎟𐎎𐎋𐎗𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎊𐎎k . tṣu . anyt . mkr . b . ym
When the ships of the merchants put out to sea,
- 𐎗𐎁𐎟𐎎𐎋𐎎𐎟𐎊𐎕𐎖𐎟𐎌𐎎𐎐𐎟𐎍𐎟𐎚𐎅𐎎𐎚rb . mkm . yṣq . šmn . l . thmt
The Master of the Merchants shall pour out oil upon the deep,
- 𐎆𐎟𐎊𐎌𐎜𐎟𐎂𐎅𐎋𐎟𐎍𐎟𐎁𐎓𐎍𐎟𐎎𐎍𐎂w . yšu . ghk . l . bʿl . mlg
And he shall lift up his voice unto Baal of the Sailors:
- 𐎊𐎟𐎁𐎓𐎍𐎟𐎎𐎉𐎓𐎐𐎟𐎊𐎎y . bʿl . mṭʿn . ym
"O Baal, who smote Prince Sea!
- 𐎋𐎍𐎊𐎟𐎐𐎅𐎗𐎟𐎋𐎟𐎊𐎓𐎗𐎟𐎂𐎍𐎍𐎋kly . nhr . k . yʿr . gllk
Restrain Judge River when its surging breakers rage!
- 𐎀𐎍𐎟𐎚𐎌𐎁𐎚𐎟𐎗𐎈𐎟𐎐𐎈𐎚𐎟𐎍𐎟𐎀𐎐𐎊𐎚𐎐al . tšbt . rḥ . nḥt . l . anytn
Surely send a favorable breeze unto our ships!
- 𐎌𐎟𐎚𐎎𐎎𐎟𐎊𐎟𐎁𐎓𐎍𐎟𐎐𐎌𐎖𐎄𐎌š . tmm . y . bʿl . nšqdš
An unblemished ram (š tmm), O Baal, we shall consecrate (nšqdš);
- 𐎆𐎟𐎋𐎒𐎟𐎋𐎒𐎔𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎁𐎚𐎋𐎀𐎟𐎐𐎎𐎍𐎜w . ks . ksp . b . btka . nmlu
And a silver chalice in your temple we shall fulfill (nmlu)!
- 𐎋𐎟𐎚𐎚𐎁𐎟𐎀𐎐𐎊𐎚𐎟𐎎𐎈𐎄𐎟𐎁𐎟𐎌𐎍𐎎k . ttb . anyt . mḥd . b . šlm
When the ships return to the harbor of Maʾḫadu in safety,
- 𐎓𐎌𐎗𐎚𐎟𐎐𐎈𐎌𐎚𐎟𐎀𐎍𐎘𐎊𐎟𐎍𐎋𐎟𐎐𐎁𐎍ʿšrt . nḥšt . alṯy . lk . nbl
A tithe of Cypriot copper unto you we shall bring!"