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Quiz about The Instructions of Shuruppag

The Instructions of Shuruppag Trivia Quiz

What advice was worth preserving for more than 4,500 years? See if you can complete these passages from "The Instructions of Shuruppag," one of humanity's oldest collections of wisdom.

by reedy. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
reedy

Time
4 mins

Type

Quiz #
426,077

Updated
Oct 29 26

# Qns
15

Difficulty
New Game

Plays
4

Last 3 plays: Radain (13/15), bernie73 (13/15), briarwoodrose (15/15).

1-13 "Curuppag, the son of Ubara-Tutu, gave instructions to his son Zi-ud-sura. He urged his son to listen carefully, not his instructions, and not transgress his words. He taught that the instructions of an old man are and should be followed."

22-27 "You should not where there is a quarrel. You should not become involved in ."

35-38 "You should not pick a quarrel. You should not boast, and then your words will be ."

42-43 "You should not speak improperly; later it will lay a for you."

50 "You should not curse strongly; it on you."

65-66 "You should not remain in the presence of a ."

97-100 "It is easy to promise to give something that to another person, but the time of giving may never arrive."

105-108 "The sweet mouth gathers sweet herbs. The person fills an empty mouth with boasting."

134-142 "Insults can wound. The liar tears up his garments. Arrogant speech is like an . Prayer brings and cools the heart."

202-203 "A loving heart maintains a family; a hateful heart a family."

255-260 "You should not speak to your mother. You should not question the words of your mother or your personal god. The mother gives birth to the man, and the father is like a god whose words are . The instructions of a father should be obeyed."

Your Options

[loiter] [abscess] [reliable] [precious] [trap] [haughty] [disputes] [belongs] [rebounds] [destroys] [slanderer] [abundance] [neglect] [trusted] [arrogantly]

Click or drag the options above to the spaces in the text.

Most Recent Scores

Today : Radain: 13/15
Today : bernie73: 13/15
Today : briarwoodrose: 15/15
Today : samak: 15/15

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer:

"The Instructions of Shuruppag" is one of the oldest surviving works of wisdom literature in the world. Written in ancient Mesopotamia in the Sumerian language, it is generally dated to around 2500 BC, making it more than 4,500 years old. The work is presented as advice from the legendary king Shuruppag to his son Zi-ud-sura, a figure who later appears in Mesopotamian flood stories.

The instructions survived because they were copied by generations of scribes onto clay tablets as part of their education. Archaeologists eventually uncovered fragments at several ancient cities, including Nippur, Ur, and Adab. Because no single tablet preserved the entire composition, scholars pieced the text together by comparing overlapping copies, much like assembling a giant historical puzzle.

Translating the work has not always been straightforward. Some tablets are damaged, some passages are incomplete, and scribes occasionally copied the text differently. As a result, a few lines remain uncertain. Even so, the overall message is surprisingly clear.

The selections in this quiz focus on how people should treat one another and conduct themselves in society. Again and again, Shuruppag warns against quarrelling, boasting, slander, arrogance, broken promises, and careless speech. Good character, in contrast, is linked to humility, self-control, respect for family, and words that can be trusted.

One of the most striking themes is the power of language. Harsh words create enemies, insults cause harm, and reckless speech can become a trap for the speaker. Kindness, prayer, and wise instruction, on the other hand, are presented as forces that strengthen both families and communities.

These passages represent only a small portion of the work. Much like the Book of Proverbs in the Christian Bible, "The Instructions of Shuruppag" mixes moral teaching with practical advice on work, family life, property, leadership, marriage, travel, and everyday decision-making. Its purpose is not to explore abstract philosophy, but to help people live well and avoid common mistakes.

What makes the text so fascinating is how familiar many of its lessons still feel. Advice about honesty, humility, keeping promises, respecting parents, avoiding gossip, and maintaining strong relationships could easily appear in a modern self-help book. Across more than four millennia, the language has changed, but much of the wisdom remains recognizable.

Source: Author reedy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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