Sat. Mar 7th, 2026

JHU HB/NWS Comps: Akkadian

The PhD comprehensive exams for HB/NWS students consist of four sections: (1) Hebrew and NWS languages; (2) biblical criticism; (3) Syro-Pal history; and (4) a minor language of study (mine is Akkadian). For my Akkadian comps, I’ve curated a reading list of Akkadian texts from various periods and dialects, especially the Amarna Letters. This page includes some text editions and notes from my preparation of the reading list. In addition to translation from the cuneiform, the assigned passages may be accompanied by any relevant grammatical or historical questions.

  • Translations in progress. Last updated: 10/04/2025
  • Total number of texts on comps reading list: 32
  • Total number of text editions completed so far: 29

EA 153 from Abi-Milki of Tyre

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EA153_1
EA153_2

1-3 [a-na] LUGAL EN-lí-ia um-ma mia-bi-LUGAL ÌR-ka 7 u 7 a-na GÌR.MEŠ-ka am-qut

4-5 ša iq-bi LUGAL be-li-ia šu-[ut] e-te-pu-uš

6-8 pal-ḫa-at gáb-bi KUR-ti iš-tu pa-ni ÉRIN.MEŠ LUGAL EN-lí-ia

9-11 su-ḫi-iz-ti LÚ.MEŠ-ia gišMÁ.MEŠ a-na pa-ni ÉRIN.MEŠ LUGAL be–lí-ia

12-14a ù ša la iš-te-mé ia-nu É-šu ia-nu bal-ṭá-šu

14b-18a an-nu-ú a-na-an-[ṣur URU] LUGAL be-[li-ia] [ù šu-ul-mi-ia] mu-ḫi LUGAL

18b-20 li-[de4 LUGAL] a-na ÌR-šu ša it-ti-šu

ana šarri bēliya umma Abi-Milki ardika 7 u 7 ana šēpētika amqut

ša iqbi šarru bēliya šūt ētepuš

palḫat gabbi māti ištu pāni ṣābī šarri bēliya

sūḫizti amīlīya eleppāti ana pāni ṣābī šarri bēliya

u ša lā išteme yānu bītšu yānu balṭašu

annû ananṣur [āl] šarri bēliya [u šulmiya] muḫḫi šarri

līde šarru ana ardišu ša ittišu

To the king, my lord. Thus Abi-Milki, your servant. I fall 7 and 7 times to your feet.

That which the king, my lord, commanded, I have done it.

The entirety of the land is fearful before the troops of the king, my lord.

I caused my people to seize (secure) ships before (for) the troops of the king, my lord.

And whoever has not obeyed, his house is no more, his life is no more.

Look, I am guarding the city of the king, my lord, so my peace is incumbent upon the king.

May the king pay attention to his servant who is with him.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

EA 213 from Zitri-Yarah of Unknown Location

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EA 213

a-na mLUGAL EN-ia dUTU-ia

DINGIR.MEŠ-ia qí-bí-ma

um-ma mzi-it-ri-ya-ra

ÌR-ka ep-ri ša GÌR.MEŠ-ka

ù ṭi₄-iṭ ša ka-bá-ši-ka

a-na GÌR.MEŠ mLUGAL EN-ia

dUTU-ia DINGIR.MEŠ-ia 7-šu

ù 7-ta-an am-qú-ut

ù ka-ba-tu-ma ù ṣe-ru-ma

iš-te-mé ša-pár mLUGAL-ri

EN-ia dUTU-ia DINGIR.MEŠ-ia

a-na ÌR-šu a-nu-ma

šu-še-er-ti ki-ma

ša qa-bi mLUGAL-ru

EN-ia dUTU-ia DINGIR.MEŠ-ia

1 ana šarri bēliya šamšiya ilāniya qibî-ma 3 umma Zitri-Yarah ardika epri ša šēpētika u ṭīṭ ša kabāšika ana šēpēt šarri bēliya šamšiya ilāniya sebîšu u sebettān amqut u kabatumma u ṣērumma 10 ištême šapar šarri bēliya šamšiya ilāniya ana ardišu 12b anumma šūšertī kīma ša qabi šarru bēliya šamšiya ilāniya

1 Speak to the king, my lord, my sun, my god: Thus Zitri-Yarah, your servant, the dust of your feet, and the mud where you walk. I fall to the feet of the king, my lord, my sun, my god, seven and seven times, forward and backward. 10 I have obeyed the message of the king, my lord, my sun, my god, to his servant. Now, I have prepared just as the king, my lord, my sun, my god, has commanded.

  • Moran 1992: “Say to the king, my lord, my Sun, my god: Message of Zitriyara, your servant, the dirt under your feet, and the mire you tread on. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord, my Sun, my god, 7 times and 7 times, both on the stomach and on the back. I have heard the message of the king, my lord, my Sun, my god, to his servant. I herewith [m]ake the preparations in accordance [w]ith the command of the king, my lord , my Sun, my go[d].”
  • Rainey 2015: “Speak to the king, my lord, my sun god, my deity, the message of Zittayara, your servant, the dirt at your feet, the mud on which you tread: At the feet of the king, my lord, my sun god, my deity, seven times and seven times, have I fallen on the belly and on the back. I have heard the message of the king, my lord, my sun god, my deity, to his servant. Now, I have made preparations according to [wh]at the king, my lord, my sun god, [m]y dei[ty] has said.”
  • Lauinger and Yoder 2024 (via ORACC): “Speak to the king, my lord, my Sun god, my god, a message from Zitri-Yarah, your servant, the dust of your feet and the mud upon which you tread. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord, my Sun god, my god, seven times and seven times, both forward and backward. I have obeyed the message of the king, my lord, my Sun god, my god, to his servant. Now, I have prepared just as the king, my lord, my Sun god, my god, commanded.”
  • kabāsu ‘to tread’
  • šūšuru ‘to make in order, correct’ < ešēru ‘to be/go well; be straight, fair; direct’
  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Akhetaten (mod. el-Amarna)
  • Date: Middle Babylonian
  • Genre: Letter
  • Description: Client letter from Zitra-Yarah to the King.
  • Collection: British Museum (BM 29859)
  • Primary Publication: Knudtzon 1915/I: 746-49
  • CDLI: P270961

ORACC:

  • Copies: Bezold and Budge 1892: 76
  • Editions: Winckler 1896: 360-61; Knudtzon 1915/I: 746-49; Mercer 1939: 600-03; Mynářová 2007: 229 (ll.1-9); Rainey 2015: 936-37, 1544
  • Transl: Moran 1992: 283; Liverani 1998c: 254-55 (216); Cochavi-Rainey 2005: 289
  • Sec Lit: Pintore 1972: 121; Mangano 1990: 168; Goren, Finkelstein, and Naʾaman 2004: 307-08; Mandell 2015: 454; Vita 2015a: 45-6

EA 221 from Yiktasu of Unknown Location

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EA 221 Line Drawing
EA 221 Image

a-na LUGAL-ri EN-ia dUTU iš-tu sa-me-[ma] qí-bí-ma um-ma myi-ik-ta-sú ÌR-ka a-na GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL-ri EN-ia 7-šu ši-ba-ta-an uš-ḫé-ḫi-in

iš-te9-me ša-pa-ar LUGAL-ri EN-ia a-na ia-ši

a-nu-ma a-na-ṣa-ru URU LUGAL-ri EN-ia a-di ti-ik-šu-du a-wa-at LUGAL-ri EN a-na ia-ši

ana šarri bēliya Šamaš/Šapšu ištu samēma qibi-ma umma Yiktasu ardika ana šepēt šarri bēliya sebîšu šibatān ušḫeḫḫin išteme šapar šarri bēliya ana yâši anumma anaṣṣaru āl šarri bēliya adi tikšudu awāt šarri bēli ana yâši

To the king, my lord, the Sun from the heavens, speak: Thus Yiktasu, your servant. I prostrate myself to the feet of the king, my lord, seven and seven times. I have obeyed the message of the king, my lord, to me. Now, I am guarding the city of the king, my lord, until word of the king, the lord, arrives to me.

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Akhetaten (mod. el-Amarna)
  • Date: Middle Babylonian (Amarna period)
  • Genre: Letter
  • Collection: Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin (VAT 341)
  • CDLI: P271203

EA 248 from Yašdata of Taanach

Image
EA 248

a-na LUGAL-ri EN-ia u dUTU u DINGIR.MEŠ-ia qì-bì-ma um-ma mya-aš-da-ta ÌR ki-it-ti LUGAL-ri ù ep-ri GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL-ri a-na GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL-ri EN-ia u dUTU u DINGIR.MEŠ-ia 7-šu u 7-ta-a-an am-qut

li-de-mi LUGAL-ru EN-ia i-nu-ma gáb-bi mi-im-mì ša ya-id-din LUGAL-ru? EN-ia a-na ÌR-šu nam-šu-mi LÚ.MEŠ uruta-aḫ-na-ka na-ak-šu-mì GU4.MEŠ-ia ù du-up-pu-ru-ni u a-nu-um-ma it-ti mbi-ri-di-ya i-ba-aš-ša10–ku ù li-de-mi LUGAL-ru EN-ia a-na ÌR-šu

ana šarri bēliya u šamšiya u ilāniya qibî-ma umma Yašdata arad kitti šarri u epri šēpēt šarri ana šēpēt šarri bēliya u šamšiya u ilāniya 7-šu u 7-tān amqut

līdemi šarru bēliya inūma gabbi mimmi ša yiddin šarru bēliya ana ardišu namšūmi amīlū Ta‘naka nakšūmi alpīya u duppurūni u anumma itti Biridiya ibaššāku u līdemi šarru bēliya ana ardišu

Speak to the king, my lord, and my sun and my god. Thus Yašdata, the loyal servant of the king, and the dust of the feet of the king. I fall to the feet of the king, my lord and my sun and my god, 7 and 7 times.

May the king, my lord, know that the entirety of everything which the king, my lord, has given to his servant, has been taken away. The men of Taanach slaughtered my cattle and drove me away. And now, I am with Biridiya. May the king, my lord, care for this servant.

EA 252 from Labaya of Shechem

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EA 252 from Labaya of Shechem

a-na mLUGAL-ma bé-lí-ia

qí-bí-ma

um-ma mla-ab-a-ya ÌR-ka

a-na GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL be-lí-ia am-qú-ut

i-nu-ma šap-ra-ta

a-na ia-a-ši ú-ṣur-mì

LÚ.MEŠ ša ṣa-ab-tu URU

ki-i uṣ-ṣur-ru-na LÚ.MEŠ

i-na nu-kúr-ti7 ṣa-ab-ta-at-mì URU

ki-it-mi ša-li-mì ù ki-it-mì it-ta-mì

m.lúGAL it-ti-ia

ṣa-ab-ta-at-mì URU

ù i-li qa-bi

ka4-ar-ṣí-ia \ ši-ir-ti

i-na pa-ni mLUGAL-ma be-lí-ia

ša-ni-tam ki-i na-am-lu

tu-um-ḫa-ṣú la-a

 

 

ti-ka-pí-lu ù ta-an-šu-ku

qa-ti LÚ-lì ša yi-ma-ḫa-aš-ši

ki-i a-na-ku i-ša-ḫa-tu

ú-ma an-nu-ta5 ù

ṣa-ab-ta-at-mì 2 URU-ia

ša-ni-tam šum-ma ti-qa-bu

ap-pu-na-ma

nu-pu-ul-mì

ta-aḫ-ta-mu ù

ti-ma-ḫa-ṣú-ka

i-pé-šu ú-ṣur-ru-na

LÚ.MEŠ ša ṣa-ab-tu4 URU

i-li šu-ṣú-mì a-bi-ia

ù ú-ṣur-ru-šu-nu

a-na mLUGAL-ma bé-lí-ia qí-bí-ma um-ma mla-ab-a-ya ÌR-ka a-na GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL be-lí-ia am-qú-ut i-nu-ma šap-ra-ta a-na ia-a-ši ú-ṣur-mì LÚ.MEŠ ša ṣa-ab-tu URU ki-i uṣ-ṣur-ru-na LÚ.MEŠ i-na nu-kúr-ti7 ṣa-ab-ta-at-mì URU ki-it-mi ša-li-mì ù ki-it-mì it-ta-mì m.lúGAL it-ti-ia ṣa-ab-ta-at-mì URU ù i-li qa-bi ka4-ar-ṣí-ia \ ši-ir-ti i-na pa-ni mLUGAL-ma be-lí-ia ša-ni-tam ki-i na-am-lu tu-um-ḫa-ṣú la-a ti-ka-pí-lu ù ta-an-šu-ku qa-ti LÚ-lì ša yi-ma-ḫa-aš-ši ki-i a-na-ku i-ša-ḫa-tu ú-ma an-nu-ta5 ù ṣa-ab-ta-at-mì 2 URU-ia ša-ni-tam šum-ma ti-qa-bu ap-pu-na-ma nu-pu-ul-mì ta-aḫ-ta-mu ù ti-ma-ḫa-ṣú-ka i-pé-šu ú-ṣur-ru-na LÚ.MEŠ ša ṣa-ab-tu4 <ù> URU i-li šu-ṣú-mì a-bi-ia ù ú-ṣur-ru-šu-nu

ana šarri-ma bēliya qibî-ma umma Labaya ardika ana šēpī bēliya amqut. inūma šaprāta ana yāši uṣur-mi amīlī ša ṣabtū āla kī uṣṣurruna amīlī ina nukurti ṣabtat-mi ālu kitmi šalimmi u kitmi ittami rabû ittiya ṣabtat-mi ālu u ilī qabi karṣiya \ šīrtī ina pāni šarri-ma bēliya. šanitam kī namlu tumḫaṣu lā tikappilu u tanšuku qāti amīli ša yimaḫḫašši kī anāku išaḫḫatu ūma annūta u ṣabtat-mi 2 āliya. šanitam šumma tiqabbû appūnama nupul-mi taḫtamū u timaḫḫaṣūka ippešu uṣṣurruna amīlī ša ṣabtū āl <u> ilī šūṣû-mi abiya u uṣṣurrušunu

Speak to the king, my lord. Thus Labaya, your servant. I fall at the feet of my lord. Just as you sent a message to me, “Guard the men who have seized the city!” How can I guard the men? The city was seized in war! Truly, completely, and truly. I swear it. An officer was with me. The city and my god(s) was seized. Slander was spoken \ I was maligned before the king, my lord. Another thing: “If a scorpion is struck, it does not role up, but it bites the hand of the man who strikes it.” If I am afraid on this day, then a second of my cities will be seized. Another thing: If you command, moreover, “Fall underneath them, so that they will strike you,” I would do it. I will guard the men who have seized the city and my god(s), plundered things of my father. So I will guard them.

EA 261 from Dašru of Yokneam

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a-na LUGAL EN-ia

dUTU-ia qí-bí-ma

um-ma mda-aš-ru

ÌR ki-it-ti7 LUGAL

a-na GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL EN-ia

u dUTU 7-šu u 7-ta-a-an am-qut

gáb-bi mi-im-mì

ša yi-iq-bu

LUGAL EN-ia

iš-te-nem-mu

ana šarri bēliya šamšiya qibî-ma 3 umma Dašru arad kitti šarri 5 ana šēpēt šarri bēliya u šamšiya 7-šu u 7-tān amqut 7 gabbi mimmi ša yiqbû šarru bēliya ištenemmû

Speak to the king, my lord, my Sun. Thus Dašru, the loyal servant of the king. I fall to the feet of the king, my lord and my Sun, seven and seven times. The entirety of everything which the king, my lord, commanded, I consistently obey.

William Moran 1992: “Say to the king, my lord, my Sun: Message of Dasru, the loyal servant of the king. I f[al]l at the feet of the king, my lord and my Sun, 7 times and 7 times. Whatsoever the king, my lord, orders, I obey.”

Mario Liverani 1998: “Al re mio signore, mio Sole, dì: messaggio di Dashru, servo fedele del re. 5 Ai piedi del re mio signore, mio Sole, sette e sette volte io mi getto. | Tutto ciò che il re mio signore dice, io lo ascolto.

Anson Rainey 2015: “Speak to the king, my lord, my sun god, the message of Dashru, the loyal servant of the king: At the feet of the king, my lord and sun god, seven times and seven times [have] I fal[len]. Everything that the king, my lord, has said, I am continually obeying.”

Jacob Lauinger and Tyler Yoder 2025: “Speak to the king, my lord, my Sun god, a message from Dašru, the king’s loyal servant. I fal[l] at the feet of the king, my lord and the Sun god, seven times and seven times. The entirety of whatever the king, my lord, commands, I regularly obey.”

Line 6 – Rainey’s (2015 dated 02.09.1999) collation reads am-q[ú-ut] instead of Knudtzen’s am[-qut].

Line 9 – The morphology of EN-ia seems odd. One expects the nominative bēlī in apposition to šarru functioning as the subject of the verb. However, the handcopy clearly reads EN-ia, so we suspect this is orthographic interference, wherein the scribe uses the collocation LUGAL EN-ia which is otherwise very common from the prostration formula.

  • Clay tablet made near Tel Shimron in the northern Jezreel Valley
  • Provenience: Akhetaten, Egypt
  • British Museum: BM 29858
  • CDLI: P270960

ORACC: 

  • Copies: Bezold and Budge 1892: 75
  • Editions: Mynářová 2007: 238 (ll.1-6); Rainey 2015: 1048-49, 1575-76
  • Transl: Moran 1992: 312; Liverani 1998b: 127 (85); Cochavi-Rainey 2005: 294
  • Sec Lit: Campbell 1964: 132-33; Rainey 1996a/II: 198; Goren, Finkelstein, and Naʾaman 2004: 305-06; Vita 2015: 64-6

EA 262 from Dašru of Yokneam

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EA262

a-na LUGAL EN-ia

qí-bí-ma

um-ma mda-aš-ru

ÌR ki-it-ti LUGAL

a-na GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL EN-ia

7-šu ù 7-ta-a-an am-qut

gáb-bi mi-im-mì

ša yi-pu-šu

LUGAL EN-ia a-na KUR-šu

gáb-bu SIG5.GA

ma-gal ma-gal

1 ana šarri bēliya qibî-ma umma Dašru arad kitti šarri 7-šu u 7-tān amqut 7 gabbi mimmi ša yīpušu šarru bēlī ana mātišu gabbu damiq magal magal

Speak to the king, my lord. Thus Dašru, the loyal servant of the king. I bow down 7 and 7 times. The entirety of everything which the king, my lord, does for his land, everything is very, very good!

William Moran 1992: “Say to the king, my lord: Message of Dasru, the loyal servant of the king. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord, 7 times and 7 times. Whatsoever the king, my lord, does to his land is very, very good.”

Mario Liverani 1998: “Al re mio signore, dì: messaggio di Dashru, servo fedele del re. Ai piedi del re mio signore, sette e sette volte io mi getto. | Tutto ciò che il re mio signore fa alla sua terra, è tutto molto bello!”

Anson Rainey 2015: “Speak to the king, my lord; the message of Dashru, the loyal servant of the king: At the feet of the king, my lord, seven times and seven times have I fallen. Everything that the king, my lord, does concerning his land is very, very good.”

Jacob Lauinger and Tyler Yoder 2025: “Speak to the king, my lord, a message from Dašru, the king’s loyal servant. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord, seven times and seven times. As for the entirety of whatever the king, my lord, does for his land, the entirety is very, very good.”

  • Provenience: Akhetaten, Egypt (el-Amarna)
  • Currently housed in Cairo (CM 4783)
  • CDLI: P271010

ORACC:

  • Copies: Winckler and Abel 1889-1890: 127
  • Editions: Sayce 1888-1889: 327-28; Winckler 1896: 358-59; Knudtzon 1915/I: 822-23; Mercer 1939: 672-73; Mynářová 2007: 238 (ll.1-6); Rainey 2015: 1050-51, 1576
  • Transl: Moran 1992: 312; Liverani 1998c: 127 (86); Cochavi-Rainey 2005: 295
  • Sec Lit: Campbell 1964: 132-33; Mangano 1990: 183; Rainey 1996a/I: 115; Goren, Finkelstein, and Naʾaman 2004: 250-55; Abrahami and Coulon 2008: 16; Tropper and Vita 2010: 87; Vita 2015a: 64-6

EA 263 from Unknown Person of Rahabu

Line Drawing

[a-na LUGAL be-li-ia]

[qí-bí-ma]

um-ma […]

a-na GÌR.[MEŠ be-li-ia]

am-qú-ut 7 ù 7 [    ]

li-iš-mé be-li-ia

a-[wa]-te.MEŠ ÌR-šu i-nu-ma

i-[ri-ib-ti] a-na É-ti

be-[li]-ia la-qí-i

gáb-bu iš-tu É-ti ÌR-ka

la-qí-i KÙ.BABBAR.MEŠ la-qí-i

LÚ.MEŠ la-qí-i UDU.UDU.MEŠ \ ṣú-ú-nu

\ ḫa-sí-lu URU.MEŠ-nu be-li-ia

ù mi-im-mu š ana-da-an

be-li-ia a-na

ÌR-šu ù šu-ut

la-qí-i ù

li-im-li-ik

be-li-ia a-na

ÌR-šu ù qa-bi-ti

i-na qa-ti mpa-wu-ra

a-wa-ta5 an-ni-ta5 ù

lu-wa-ši-ra-ni be-li-ia

LÚ.MEŠ \ ma-ṣa-ar-ta

ù ANŠE.KUR.MEŠ \ sú-ú-sí-ma

qa-ba be-[li-ia]

a-na ÌR-[šu a-na ANŠE.KUR.MEŠ]

[…]

[…] mta-a-gi

[…] ù i-na mla-ab-\a-ya

[a-na LUGAL be-li-ia qí-bí-ma] um-ma […] a-na GÌR.[MEŠ be-li-ia] am-qú-ut 7 ù 7 [    ] li-iš-mé be-li-ia a-[wa]-te.MEŠ ÌR-šu i-nu-ma i-[ri-ib-ti] a-na É-ti be-[li]-ia la-qí-i gáb-bu iš-tu É-ti ÌR-ka la-qí-i KÙ.BABBAR.MEŠ la-qí-i LÚ.MEŠ la-qí-i UDU.UDU.MEŠ \ ṣú-ú-nu \ ḫa-sí-lu URU.MEŠ-nu be-li-ia ù mi-im-mu ša na-da-an be-li-ia a-na ÌR-šu ù šu-ut la-qí-i ù li-im-li-ik be-li-ia a-na ÌR-šu ù qa-bi-ti i-na qa-ti mpa-wu-ra a-wa-ta5 an-ni-ta5 ù lu-wa-ši-ra-ni be-li-ia LÚ.MEŠ \ ma-ṣa-ar-ta ù ANŠE.KUR.MEŠ \ sú-ú-sí-ma qa-ba be-[li-ia] a-na ÌR-[šu a-na ANŠE.KUR.MEŠ] […] […] mta-a-gi […] ù i-na mla-ab-\a-ya

[ana šarri bēliya qibî-ma] umma [… ardika(?)] ana šēp[ēt bēliya] amqut 7 u 7 […] lišme bēliya awāte ardišu inūma iribtī ana bīti bēliya laqī gabbu ištu bīti ardika laqī kaspū laqī amīlū laqī immerū ṣūnu ḫasilū ālānu bēliya u mimmu ša nadan bēliya ana ardišu u šūt laqī u limlik bēliya ana ardišu u qabītī ina qāti Pawura awāta annīta u luwašširanni bēliya amīlī maṣarta u sisî sūsīma qabā bēliya ana ardišu ana sisî [sūsīma pānānu] […] Tagi […] u ina Labaya

Speak to the king, my lord. Thus [… your servant(?)]. I fall to the feet of my lord 7 and 7 times. May my lord hear the words of his servant. When I entered to the house of my lord, everything was taken from the house of your servant. The silver was taken, the men were taken, the sheep \ small cattle \ were captured. The cities of my lord are brought to an end. And everything which my lord gave to his servant, it was taken. So let my lord show concern (or: give counsel) to his servant. And I have spoken this word by the hand of Pawura, so let my lord dispatch men \ a garrison, and horses \ horses, to me. My lord gave command to his servant about horses […] Tagi […] and from Labaya.

EA 267 from Milki-Ili of Gezer

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EA 267 Line Drawing

a-na LUGAL EN-ia [DINGIR].MEŠ-ia dUTU-ia qí-bí-ma um-ma dmil-ki-li ÌR-ka-ma ep-ri ša GÌR.MEŠ-ka a-na GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL EN-ia DINGIR.MEŠ-ia dUTU-ia 7-šu 7-tá-a-an am-qú-ut a-wa-at ul-te-bi-la LUGAL EN-ia DINGIR.MEŠ-ia dUTU-ia a-na ia-ši a-nu-um-ma i-šu-ši-ru-šu a-na LUGAL EN-ia dUTU iš-tu AN sa-me ù lu-ú yi-i-de9 LUGAL EN-ia DINGIR.MEŠ-ia dUTU-ia i-nu-ma ša-lim a-šar LUGAL EN-ia ša it-ti7-ia

ana šarri bēliya ilāniya šamšiya qibî-ma umma Milki-Ili ardika-ma epri ša šēpētika ana šēpēt šarri bēliya ilāniya šamšiya sebîšu seb’ettān amqut

awāt ultēbila šarru bēliya ilāniya šamšiya ana yâši anumma išūširušu ana šarri bēliya šamaš ištu same u lū yīde šarru bēliya ilāniya šamšiya inūma šalim ašar šarri bēliya ša ittiya

Speak to the king, my lord, my god, my sun. Thus Milki-ili, your servant, the dust of your feet. I fall to the feet of the king, my lord, my god, my sun, seven and seven times.

As for the word which the king, my lord, my god, my sun, has sent to me, now, I am preparing it for the king, my lord, my sun from the heavens. Now may the king, my lord, my god, my sun, know that the place of the king, my lord, which is with me is doing well.

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Akhetaten (mod. el-Amarna)
  • Date: Middle Babylonian (Amarna Period: mid-14th BCE)
  • Genre: Letter
  • Description: Client letter from Zitra-Yarah to the Egyptian king.
  • Collection: Cairo Museum, CM 4771 (12232)
  • CDLI: P270999

EA 282 from Šuwardata of Gath

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EA282_Bab
EA282_Assyrian

a-na LUGAL-ri EN-ia

DINGIR.MEŠ-nu ù dUTU-ia

um-ma mšu-wa-ar-da-ta ÌR-ka

7 ù 7 mi-la ma-aq-ta-ti

a-na GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL-ri EN-ia

ù ka-ba-tu-ma

ù ṣú-uḫ-ru-ma

li-il5-ma-ad mLUGAL-ri

EN-ia a-na-ku 1-en i-ba-ša-ti

yu-uš-ši-ra mLUGAL-ri

EN-ia ERÍN.MEŠ pí-ṭá-ti

ma-a’-da ma-gal

ù yi-ki-im-ni

\ ia-ṣí-ni

ù yi-< il5>-ma-ad mLUGAL-ri

EN-ia

a-na mLUGAL-ri EN-ia DINGIR.MEŠ-nu ù dUTU-ia um-ma mšu-wa-ar-da-ta ÌR-ma 7 ù 7 mi-la ma-aq-ta-ti a-na GÌR.MEŠ mLUGAL-ri EN-ia ù ka-ba-tu-ma ù ṣú-uḫ-ru-ma li-il5-ma-ad mLUGAL-ri EN-ia a-na-ku 1-en i-ba-ša-ti yu-uš-ši-ra mLUGAL-ri EN-ia ERÍN.MEŠ pí-ṭá-ti ma-a’-da ma-gal ù yi-ki-im-ni \ ia-ṣí-ni ù yi-<il5>ma-ad mLUGAL-ri EN-ia

ana šarri bēliya ilānu u šamšiya umma šuwardata ardika-ma 7 u 7 mila maqtātī ana šēpēt šarri bēliya u kabattumma u ṣūḫrumma lilmad šarri bēliya anāku išten ibaššâti yuššira šarri bēliya ṣābī piṭṭāti ma’da magal u yīkimni yāṣinī u yilmad šarri bēliya

To the king, my lord, my god, and my sun. Thus Šuwardata, your servant: I fall 7 and 7 times to the feet of the king, my lord, both forward and backward. May the king, my lord, know that I am alone. The king, my lord, should dispatch a very large army of troops, and he should rescue me, \ he should bring me out. So may the king, my lord, know (pay attention/care).

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Akhetaten (mod. el-Amarna)
  • Date: Middle Babylonian (Amarna period)
  • Genre: Letter
  • Description: A letter from Šuwardata of Gath to the Egyptian king.
  • Collection: British Museum (BM 29851)
  • CDLI: P270953

EA 301 from Šubandi of Aškelon

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EA 301 Line Drawing

1-11 a-na mLUGAL EN-ia d[UTU] ša iš-tu ansa-mì-[i] um-ma mšu-ba-an-di ÌR-ka-ma ep-ri ša 2 GÌR.MEŠ-ka a-na 2 GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL EN-ia DINGIR.MEŠ-ia dUTU-ia dUTU ša iš-tu ansa-mì-i 7-šu ù 7-ta-a-an iš-ti-ḫa-ḫi-in ka-bat-tum-ma ù ṣe-ru-ma

12-23 mḫa-an-ia ša-pár LUGAL-ru EN-ia dUTU iš-tu ansa-me a-na ia-ši ù a-nu-ma iš-te9-me a-wa-at LUGAL EN-ia [ma]-gal ma-gal ù a-nu-ma na-ad-[na]-ti 3 ME GU4.MEŠ ù 20 DUMU.MUNUS.MEŠ ù aš-šum la-ma-ad LUGAL EN-ia dUTU ša iš-tu ansa-me

ana šarri bēliya šamšiya ša ištu samê umma Šubandi ardikama epri ša 2 šēpētika ana 2 šēpēt šarri bēliya ilāniya šamšiya šamaš ša ištu samê 7-šu u 7-tān ištiḫaḫin kabattum-ma u ṣērumma

Ḫanya šapar šarru bēliya šamaš ištu samê ana yâši u anumma išteme awāt šarri bēliya magal magal u anumma nadnāti 3 me’at alpī u 20 mārāti u aššum lamād šarri bēliya šamaš ša ištu samê

To the king, my lord, my sun from the heavens. Thus Šubandi, your servant, the dust of your two feet. I prostrate myself to the two feet of the king, my lord, my god, my sun, the sun from the heavens, seven and seven times, both forward and backward.

The king, my lord, the sun from the heavens, has sent Ḫanya to me. And now, I have obeyed the word of the king, my lord, very carefully. And now (herewith), I have given three hundred cattle and twenty girls. (This letter is) in order to inform the king, my lord, the sun from the heavens.

EA 320 from Yidya of Ashkelon

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EA 320 Line Drawing

a-na LUGAL EN-ia DINGIR.MEŠ-ia dUTU-ia dUTU ša iš-tu AN sa-me-e um-ma myi-id-ia LÚ ša URUaš-qa-lu-naki ÌR-ka4 ep-ri ša uzuGÌR.MEŠ-ka4 lú kàr-tap-pí ša ANŠE.KUR.RA-ka4 a-na uzuGÌR.MEŠ LUGAL be-lí-ia 7-šu u 7-ta-a-an lu-ú iš-ta-ḫa-ḫi-in ka-bat-tum-ma u ṣe-ru-ma

a-nu-ma a-na-ṣa-ru a-šar LUGAL ša it-ti-ia u mi-im-ma ša ša-pár LUGAL EN-ia a-na ia-ši iš-te9-mu-uš-šu ma-gal ma-gal mi-ia-mì lúkal-bu u la-a yi-iš-mu a-na a-wa-te LUGAL EN-šu DUMU dUTU

ana šarri bēliya ilāniya šamšiya šamaš ša samē umma Yidya awīli ša Ašqaluna ardika epri ša šēpētika kartappi ša sisîka ana šēpēt šarri bēliya sebîšu u seb’ettān lū ištaḫaḫḫin kabattumma u ṣērumma

anumma anaṣṣaru ašar šarri ša ittiya u mimma ša šapar šarru bēliya ana yâši ištemûššu magal magal mīyami kalbu u lā yišmu ana awāte šarri bēlišu mār šamši

To the king, my lord, my god, my sun, the sun from the heavens. Thus, Yidya, the ruler of Ašqalon, your servant, the dust of your feet, the groom of your horses. To the feet of the king, my lord, I prostrate myself 7 and 7 times, both forwards and backwards.

Now, I am guarding the place of the king which is with me. And anything which the king, my lord, has sent to me, I regularly obey very very closely. Who is the dog that he does not listen to the words of the king, his lord, the son of the sun?

EA 323 from Yidya of Ashkelon

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EA 323

a-na LUGAL EN-ia DINGIR.MEŠ-ia dUTU-ia dUTU ša iš-tu AN sa-me um-ma myi-id-ia ÌR-ka ep-ri ša 2 GÌR.MEŠ-ka lúkàr-tap-pí ša ANŠE.KUR.RA-ka a-na 2 GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL EN-ia lu-ú iš-ta-ḫa-ḫi-in 7-et-šu u 7-ta-na ṣe-ru-ma u ka-ba-tu-ma

a-nu-ma i-na-ṣa-ru a-šar LUGAL EN-ia u URUki LUGAL ki-ma qa-bi LUGAL EN-ia dUTU ša iš-tu AN sa-me

 i-nu-ma qa-ba LUGAL EN-ia a-na na4.mešeḫ-lu-pa-ak-ku a?–lu-ú uš-ši-ir-ti a-na LUGAL EN-ia [30?] na4.mešeḫ-lu-pa-ak-ku

ša-ni-tam mi-ia-mi lúUR.GU u la-a yi-iš-te-mu a-wa-ta5 LUGAL EN-ia dUTU ša iš-tu AN sa-me DUMU dUTU ša ti-ra-am dUTU

ana šarri bēliya ilāniya šamšiya šamaš ša ištu samê umma Yidya ardika epri ša 2 šēpētika kartappi ša sisīka ana 2 šēpēt šarri bēliya lū ištaḫaḫḫin seb’essu u seb’ettāna ṣērumma u kabattumma

anumma inaṣṣaru ašar šarri bēliya u āl šarri kīma qabî šarru bēliya šamšiya ša ištu same

inūma qabâ šarru bēliya ana eḫlupakkū allû ušširtī ana šarri bēliya 30 eḫlupakkū

šanītam mīyami kalbu u lā yištemû awāta šarri bēliya šamaš ša ištu samê mār šamaš ša tirâm šamšu

To the king, my lord, my god, my sun, the sun from the heavens: Thus Yidya, your servant, the dust of your two feet, the groom of your horses. To the 2 feet of the king, my lord, indeed I fall seven and seven times, backward and forward.

Now, I am guarding the place of the king, my lord, and the city of the king, just as the king, my lord, my sun from the heavens, commanded.

Inasmuch as the king, my lord, commanded about raw glass, look, I have dispatched to the king, my lord, 30 (pieces) of raw glass.

Something else: Who is the dog that does not obey the word of the king, my lord, the sun who is from the heavens, the son of the sun whom the sun loves?

EA 324 from Yidya of Ashkelon

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EA 324_Line Drawing
EA 324_Image

a-na mLUGAL-ri EN-ia

dUTU-ia DINGIR.MEŠ-ia dUTU

ša iš-tu AN sa-mi

um-ma myi-id-ia ÌR-ka

ep-ri ša 2 GÌR.MEŠ-ka

lúkàr-tap-pí ša 2 ANŠE.KUR.RA-ka

a-na 2 GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL EN-ia

lu-ú iš-ta-ḫa-ḫi-in 7-šu ù 7-ta-na

ṣe-ru-ma ù ka-ba-tu-ma

a-nu-ma i-na-ṣa-ru a-wa-ta5

LUGAL EN-ia DUMU dUTU ù

a-nu-ma šu-ši-ir-ti NINDA.MEŠ

KAŠ.MEŠ Ì.MEŠ ŠE.MEŠ GU4.MEŠ

ÙZ.MEŠ a-na pa-ni ERÍN.MEŠ LUGAL EN-ia

⸢be?⸣-it-ti gáb-ba a-na ÉRIN.MEŠ LUGAL EN-ia

mi-ia-mi lúUR.GU

ù la-a yi-iš-te-mu

a-wa-te LUGAL EN-ia

DUMU dUTU

a-na mLUGAL-ri EN-ia dUTU-ia DINGIR.MEŠ-ia dUTU ša iš-tu AN sa-mi um-ma myi-id-ya ÌR-ka ep-ri ša 2 GÌR.MEŠ-ka lúkàr-tap-pí ša 2 ANŠE.KUR.RA-ka a-na 2 GÌR.MEŠ LUGAL EN-ia lu-ú iš-ta-ḫa-ḫi-in 7-šu ù 7-ta-na ṣe-ru-ma ù ka-ba-tu-ma a-nu-ma i-na-ṣa-ru a-wa-ta5 LUGAL EN-ia DUMU dUTU ù a-nu-ma šu-ši-ir-ti NINDA.MEŠ KAŠ.MEŠ Ì.MEŠ ŠE.MEŠ GU4.MEŠ ÙZ.MEŠ a-na pa-ni ÉRIN.MEŠ LUGAL EN-ia ⸢be?⸣-it-ti gáb-ba a-na ÉRIN.MEŠ LUGAL EN-ia mi-ia-mi lúUR.GU ù la-a yi-iš-te-mu a-wa-te LUGAL EN-ia DUMU dUTU

ana šarri bēliya šamšiya ilāniya šamaš ša ištu samî umma Yidya ardika epri ša 2 šēpītika kartappi ša 2 sisîka ana 2 šēpītika šarri bēliya lū ištaḫaḫḫin sebîšu u sebettāna ṣērumma u kabattumma anumma inaṣṣaru awāta šarri bēliya mār šamaš u anumma šūširti akalī šikarī šamnī še’ī alpī enzātī ana pāni ṣābī šarri bēliya be’’itī gabba ana ṣābī šarri bēliya mīyami kalbu u lā yištemû awāte šarri bēliya mār šamaš

To the king, my lord, my Sun, my god, the Sun who is from the heavens. Thus Yidya, your servant, the dust of your two feet, the groom of your two horses. Indeed, I prostrate myself seven and seven times, both forward and indeed backward. Now, I am guarding the word of the king, my lord, the son of the Sun, and now I have prepared bread, beer, oil, barley, oxen, small cattle before the troops of the king, my lord. And I have stored everything for the troops of the king, my lord. Who is the dog that he would not obey the words of the king, my lord, the son of the Sun god?

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Date: Middle Babylonian (Amarna period: mid-14th BCE)
  • Provenience: Akhetaten (mod. El-Amarna)
  • Genre: Client letter
  • Collection: British Museum, London (BM 29837)

EA 369 from Egypt to Miki-ili of Gezer

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EA 369

a-na mmil-ki-li LÚ urugaz-ri

um-ma LUGAL-ma a-nu-um-ma ṭup-pa an-na-am

ul-te-bi-la-ak-ku a-na qa-bé-e

a-na ka-a-ša a-nu-um-ma

um-te-še-ra-ak-ku mḫa-an-ya

lú<UGULA> TÙR ÉRIN.MEŠ pí-ṭa-ti

qa-du mi-im-ma a-na la-qé-e

munusDÉ \ ša-qí-tu4 SIG5

KÙ.BABBAR.ḪI.A KÙ.GI.ḪI.A GADA.MEŠ ma-al-ba-ši

na4GUG ka-li NA4.MEŠ gišGU.ZA gišESI.MEŠ

qa-tam-ma ka-li mi-im-ma SIG5

ŠU.NÍGIN-ma ša 1 ME šu-ši ti-ba-an

ŠU.NÍGIN-ma munusDÉ 40

40 KÙ.BABBAR ŠÁM munusDÉ.MEŠ

ù uš-ši-ra munusDÉ.MEŠ

SIG5 da-an-ni-iš

ša za-pu-ur-ti i-ia-nu

i-na lìb-bi-šu-nu

ù li-iq-ba-ak-ku

LUGAL EN-ka

ši-ia-tu4 ba-an-tu4

KA ši-pir6-ti

iš-pu-ru-ka

ù lu-ú ti-i-de i-nu-ma

ša-lim LUGAL ki-ma dUTU

ÉRIN.MEŠ-šu gišGIGIR.MEŠ-šu

ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ-šu ma-gal šul-mu

a-nu-um-ma yi-ta-din

da-ma-nu KUR i-li-ti

KUR šap-li-ti ṣi-it dUTU

e-re-eb dUTU i-na šu-pa-al

2 GÌR LUGAL

a-na mmil-ki-li LÚ urugaz-ri um-ma LUGAL-ma a-nu-um-ma ṭup-pa an-na-am ul-te-bi-la-ak-ku a-na qa-bé-e a-na ka-a-ša a-nu-um-ma um-te-še-ra-ak-ku mḫa-an-ya lú<UGULA> TÙR ÉRIN.MEŠ pí-ṭa-ti qa-du mi-im-ma a-na la-qé-e munusDÉ \ ša-qí-tu4 SIG5 KÙ.BABBAR.ḪI.A KÙ.GI.ḪI.A GADA.MEŠ ma-al-ba-ši na4GUG ka-li NA4.MEŠ gišGU.ZA gišESI.MEŠ qa-tam-ma ka-li mi-im-ma SIG5 ŠU.NÍGIN-ma ša 1 ME šu-ši ti-ba-an ŠU.NÍGIN-ma munusDÉ 40 40 KÙ.BABBAR ŠÁM munusDÉ.MEŠ ù uš-ši-ra munusDÉ.MEŠ SIG5 da-an-ni-iš ša za-pu-ur-ti i-ia-nu i-na lìb-bi-šu-nu ù li-iq-ba-ak-ku LUGAL EN-ka ši-ia-tu4 ba-an-tu4 KA ši-pir6-ti iš-pu-ru-ka ù lu-ú ti-i-de i-nu-ma ša-lim LUGAL ki-ma dUTU ÉRIN.MEŠ-šu gišGIGIR.MEŠ-šu ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ-šu ma-gal šul-mu a-nu-um-ma yi-ta-din da-ma-nu KUR i-li-ti KUR šap-li-ti ṣi-it dUTU e-re-eb dUTU i-na šu-pa-al 2 GÌR LUGAL

ana Milki-ili amīl Gazri umma šarru-ma anumma ṭuppa annâm ultēbilakku ana qabê ana kâša anumma umteššerakku Ḫanya akil tarbaṣ ṣābī piṭṭāti qadu mimma ana laqe šāqīti šāqītu damiqtu kaspī ḫurāṣī kitâti \ malbaši sāmti kali abnī kussi ušî qātamma kali mimma damiq napḫaru-ma ša 1 me’at šūši tiban napḫaru-ma šāqītu 40 40 kaspu šīm šāqâti u uššira šāqâti damiqti danniš ša zapurti yānu ina libbišunu u liqbâkku šarru bēlika šiātu bantu pî šipirti išpuruka u lū tīde inūma šalim šarru kīma šamši ṣābūšu narkabātušu sisûšu magal šulmu anumma yittadin Amanu māta ilīti māta šaplīti ṣīt šamši ereb šamši ina šupāl 2 šēpī šarri

To Milki-ili, the ruler of Gezer. Thus (says) the king: Now, he has sent to you this tablet in order to command to you. Now he has dispatched to you Ḫanya, the overseer of the stable of the troops of the regular army together with anything (needed) in order to take cupbearers, good cupbearers: silver, gold, linen \ garments, carnelian, all stones, an ebony chair; likewise, everything which is good. A total of 160 deben; total: 40 female-cupbearers. 40 (shekels) of silver is the purchase price per female-cupbearer. So, dispatch good cupbearers, which there is not a bad one among them. And let the king, your lord, say about you, “That was good,” in accordance with the message which he sent to you. And you should know that the king is well like the sun. His troops, his chariots, his horses are very well. Now, Amon has given the Upper Land and Lower Land, from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun, beneath the two feet of the king.

Hazor 5: A Lawsuit from Middle Bronze Hazor

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Hazor 5 transliteration

1 Bin-ḫanuta itti Irpadu 2 u Sum-ḫanuta ṣuḫārū šalšu 3 dīnam itti Sumu-la-ilum 4 igrû ana bīti u kirî 5 ina Ḥaṣora u kirî ina 6 Gilada-ma ana pāni šarri iribū šarru dīna Sumu-la-ilum 8 [idīn u]rram šēram ša dīnam 9 [iger]ru 2 me’at kaspi ippal. [ ] Yaḫzirada […] R [… A]ddu-zi.. mār Abdi-yadu.

1 Bin-Anot with (Y)irpa-Addu 2 and Sum-Anot, three servants, 3 initiated a legal-case with Sumu-la-ilum 4b about a house and a garden/vineyard 5 in the city of Hazor and a garden/vineyard in 6 the city of Gil(e)ada. They came before the king. The king judged the legal-case (in favor of) Sumu-la-ilum. In the future, if one initiates a(nother) legal-case, he will pay 200 (shekels of) silver. [Witness: … the so]n of Yaḫzirada. R Addu-zi.., son of Abdi-yadu.

Hallo and Tadmor 1977: “Mar-Ḫanuta and Irpa-Addu and Sum-Ḫanuta, three(?) servants(?), brought a lawsuit against the woman Sumu-la-ilu, in the matter of the house and orchard in the city Hazor and the orchard in the city Giladima. They came before the king for litigation. The king [judged] the case of the woman Sumu-la-ilu. Henceforth, whoever [shall bring] a lawsuit shall pay 200 (shekels?) of silver.” (Witnesses and date formula largely lost.)

Hallo 2003, “A Lawsuit from Hazor,” COS 3.120, pp. 269-270: “Mar-Hanuta and Irpa-Addu and Sum-Hanuta, three(?) servants(?), brought a lawsuit against the woman Sumu-la-ilu, in the matter of the house and orchard in the city Hazor and the orchard in the city Giladima. They came before the king for litigation. The king [judged] the case of the woman Sumu-la-ilu. Henceforth, whoever [shall bring] a lawsuit shall pay 200 (shekels?) of silver.” (Witnesses and date formula largely lost).

Horowitz and Oshima 2006 (line-by-line): “o1 Bin-Hanuta with Irpadu and Sum-Hanuta, three junior attendants, 3 a lawsuit against Sumulailum 4 initiated in regard to a home and a garden in the city of Hazor, and a garden in the city of Gilead?. Before the king, they came in. The king (in favour of) the case of Sumulailum rend[ered] judgement. Hereafter should anyone (another) lawsuit [initiat]e, he will make a supplementary payment of 200 (shekels) of silver. [Witness: … the so]n of Yahzirad[a, the? .] traces. r1 traces …] PN the son? of Abdiyadu […P]N re […] junior attendants.

Line 1 – No conjunction, either u or itti, is necessary to connect PN1 and PN2 if there are three or more listed. Thus, Oshima and Horowitz suggest a “special relationship” between the first two individuals may be indicated.

Line 2 – Oshima and Horowitz, following Hallo and Tadmor, take Ha-nu-ta in the two names to be for the goddess Anat (cf. Josh 15:59). Hallo and Tadmor read TUR.ḪA šal-šu at the end of line two, refering to three ṣuḫāru ‘junior attendants,’ a “class of people often attested to in the cuneiform west” (p. 72).

Line 3 – According to Hallo and Tadmor, the idiom dīnam itti PN + gerû (“to initiate proceedings against PN”) is well attested in both standard Babylonian and peripheral Akkadian, and it survived into the Aramaic legal formulary at Elephantine.

Line 7 – erēbu takes an e/i theme-vowel in the west, rather than Babylonian u (see Rainey 1999, p. 154).

Reverse – Hallo and Tadmor understand the PN as a phonetic rendering of Abdi-Addu ‘Servant of Addu’ (cf. Taanach 7 ii 12).

  • gerû (ln. 4), G (i/i) “to be hostile to, attack”; leg. “initiate proceedings against”
  • erēbu (ln. 7), G (Bab. u/u, Ass. a/u) “to enter, come in, go in, meet s.o.”
  • urram šēram (ln. 8) – adverbial expression for “(If) in the future”
  • Clay tablet; 4.7×5.2×2.5 cm
  • Reg. No.: Israel Museum 75-240
  • Date: Old Babylonian period; Late-Middle Bronze Age
  • Language: Akkadian
  • Find Information: Found in 1962 by a visitor to Tel Hazor (see Hallo and Tadmor 1977: 2, n. 7)
  • Source: Oshima and Horowitz 2006, p. 69-70

Takayoshi Oshima and Wayne Horowitz, “Hazor 5,” in Cuneiform in Canaan (Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society, 2006), pp. 69-72.

Primary Publication:

Hallo and Tadmor 1977 (photo, pl. 1; copy, p. 3)

Studies (see ORACC):

Edzard 1985: 251; Anbar and Naʾaman 1986: 8–10; Malamat 1989: 56; Horowitz and Shaffer 1992a: 22, n. 4; Demsky 1990: 163; Naʾaman 1994: 176; Zadok 1996: 104; Rainey 1999: 154*; Goren 2000: 36; Rothenbusch 2000: 483–485; van der Toorn 2000: 98; Hallo 2002: 269–270; Naʾaman 2004: 92.

The Goring Ox at Nuzi

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Goring Ox at Nuzi
Goring Ox Transliteration

Tehiptilla, son of Puhišenni, with Taya, son of Warad-ahi, went up in a legal-case before the judges: Taya, the oxherd of Tehiptilla, destroyed one ox. Thus said Taya: “An ox in the field destroyed its fellow(-ox).” So the judges spoke to Taya: “Produce your witnesses that, while in the field, he destroyed his  fellow(-ox).” Thus said Taya: “There are no witnesses.” Thus said the judges: “Like the ox which you (allowed to be) destroyed, he shall give.” In the legal-case, Tehiptilla prevailed, and Taya was fined one ox of the herd for Tehiptilla.

Seal of Saqarakki, son of Artiniwe.

Seal of Ninuari, son of Aripanu.

Seal of Tannimuša, son of Imbi-AN.

Seal of Naišeri, son of Qaputa.

By the hand of Itḫabiḫe, the scribe.

Finkelstein 1981: “(1-6) Tehiptilla son of Puhisenni appeared together with Taya son of Warad-ahi before the judges (on the complaint that) Taya, the oxherd of Tehiptilla, had brought about the destruction of one ox. (6-7) Thus Taya: ‘Another ox had brought about the destruction of that ox out in the field.’ (8-11) The judges declared: ‘Produce your witnesses to the effect that another (ox) had destroyed it in the field.’ (12-13) Thus Taya: ‘I have no witnesses.’ (13-14) Thus the judges: ‘You shall pay one ox like the one you caused to be destroyed.’ (15-19) Thus Tehiptilla prevailed in the lawsuit and Taya was remanded to Tehiptilla for (the payment of) one ox from the herd.” Seals of five witnesses and the ‘hand’ of the scribe.

Hallo 2002 (COS 3.121): “Tehip-tilla son of Puhi-shenni went to court before the judges against Taia son of Warad-ahi, (saying): ‘Taia the oxherd of Tehip-tilla — he injured one ox.’ Said Taia: ‘his fellow(-ox) injured (this) ox out on the range.’ But the judges said to Taia: ‘Bring your witnesses to the effect that his fellow(-ox) injured (him) on the range.’ Taia said: ‘My witnesses are not there.’ The judges said: ‘(It is) you who injured him. Pay the equivalent of the ox.’ Tehip-tilla won the lawsuit and (the judges) ordered Taia (to pay) one ox (out) of (his) own herd (or: funds).”

  • EDIN: edinu or ṣēru ‘steppe, countryside’
  • tappu ‘counterpart, fellow, mate’
  • sugullu ‘herd, cattle’
  • i-ta-du-uš < ?? (TBD)
  • Materiality: Clay tablet. One horizontal line divides the legal case from the seals of the list of witnesses.
  • Provenience: Discovered at Nuzi
  • Date: 15th-14th cent. BCE
  • Text: Chiera 1934 No. 341.
  • Translations and studies: Hallo 1967:63f.; 1991b:140; Finkelstein 1981:21. Hallo 2002, COS 3.121.

RS 8.213 (Land Purchase Text from Ugarit)

Line Drawing
RS 8.213_Line Drawing

iš-tu u4-mi an-ni-i-im!

a-na pa-ni LÚ.MEŠ ŠU.GI-ti

mia-ši-nu DUMU dIM-la-na

ip-ta-ṭar É AN.ZA.GÀR[-tu]

ša i-na A.SÀ.MEŠ ḫu-wa-ti

qa-du A.SÀ.MEŠ Šu-qa-al

gišsí-ir-di-sa

qa-du gišKIRI6 GEŠTIN.MEŠ-[sa]

qa-du gišKIRI6–sa

i-na 4 me-at KÙ.BABBAR.MEŠ

iš-tu ŠU-ti ma-zi-ra-n[u]

ù iš-tu ŠU-ti

mÌR-a-da-ti DUMU mbu-ra-ni

 

ša-ni-tam šum-ma ur-ra-am

še-ra-am ma-zi-ra-nu

ù mÌR-a-da-tum DUMU mbu-ra-na

ù DUMU.MEŠ-šu-nu DUMU.MEŠ DUMU.MEŠ-šu-nu

i-túr<-ru>-nim a-na lìb-bi-šu-nu

1 GUN KÙ.BABBAR.MEŠ ú-ma-lu-nim

a-na LUGAL

 

ù šum-ma mia-ši-nu ù DUMU.MEŠ-šu

i-túr a-na ú-nu-te.MEŠ UD.KIB.NUN[ki]

1 GUN KÙ.BABBAR.MEŠ ú-ma-lu-ú

a-na LUGAL

 

IGI mšub-am-mu DUMU fzi-zi

IGI mia-ri-šu-nu DUMU mSI-da-na

IGI mda-na-nu DUMU mDINGIR-ia-nu

IGI mur-te-nu DUMU ma-mu-wa

IGI mmil-ki-?-ú LÚ.ŠÀ.TAM

IGI mDINGIR-dUTU-šu LÚ.ŠÀ.TAM

IGI ma-na-ni–dLUGAL-ma DUMU mši-bur-dU

IGI mḫa-wa-il LÚ.KAR.GAB

IGI ma-ba-be-nu DUMU mša-te-wa

IGI mla-i-wa DUMU mam-mi-ia-na

mÌR-dsin lúṭup-šar-rum

iš-tu u4-mi an-ni-i-im! a-na pa-ni LÚ.MEŠ ŠU.GI-ti mia-ši-nu DUMU dIM-la-na ip-ta-ṭar É AN.ZA.GÀR[-tu] ša i-na A.SÀ.MEŠ ḫu-wa-ti qa-du A.SÀ.MEŠ Šu-qa-al gišsí-ir-di-sa qa-du gišKIRI6 GEŠTIN.MEŠ-[sa] qa-du gišKIRI6–sa i-na 4 me-at KÙ.BABBAR.MEŠ iš-tu ŠU-ti ma-zi-ra-n[u] ù iš-tu ŠU-ti mÌR-a-da-ti DUMU mbu-ra-ni

ša-ni-tam šum-ma ur-ra-am še-ra-am ma-zi-ra-nu ù mÌR-a-da-tum DUMU mbu-ra-na ù DUMU.MEŠ-šu-nu DUMU.MEŠ DUMU.MEŠ-šu-nu i-túr<-ru>-nim a-na lìb-bi-šu-nu 1 GUN KÙ.BABBAR.MEŠ ú-ma-lu-nim a-na LUGAL

ù šum-ma mia-ši-nu ù DUMU.MEŠ-šu i-túr a-na ú-nu-te.MEŠ UD.KIB.NUN 1 GUN KÙ.BABBAR.MEŠ ú-ma-lu-ú a-na LUGAL

IGI mšub-am-mu DUMU fzi-zi IGI mia-ri-šu-nu DUMU mSI-da-na IGI mda-na-nu DUMU mDINGIR-ia-nu IGI mur-te-nu DUMU ma-mu-wa IGI mmil-ki-?-ú LÚ.ŠÀ.TAM IGI mDINGIR-dUTU-šu LÚ.ŠÀ.TAM IGI ma-na-ni–dLUGAL-ma DUMU mši-bur-dU IGI mḫa-wa-il LÚ.KAR.GAB IGI ma-ba-be-nu DUMU mša-te-wa IGI mla-i-wa DUMU mam-mi-ia-na mÌR-dsin lúṭup-šar-rum

From this day, before the witnesses, Yašinu, son of Haddu-lana, has released the property of the watch-tower which is in the fields of Ḫuwati together with the fields of Šuqal, its olive trees, with the orchard of its vineyards, with its orchards, in exchange for 400 (shekels/pieces) of silver, from the hand of Aziranu and from the hand of Abdi-adati, son of Burani.

Another thing, if in the future, Aziranu or Abdi-adatum, son of Buranu, or their sons, or the sons of their sons, turn on their hearts (i.e., violate their agreement), they will pay one talent of silver to the king.

Or if, Yašinu or his sons return to the bronze utensils (?), they will pay one talent of silver to the king.

(Witnesses:) Before Šubammu, son of Zizi. Before Yarišunu, son of Nur-Ana. Before Dananu, son of Ili-Ianu. Before Urtenu, son of Amuwa. Before Milki-[…], administrator. Before Ili-Šamšu, administrator. Before Anani-Šarruma, son of Šibur-Tešub. Before Ḫawa-Il […]. Before Ababenu, son of Šatewa. Before Laiwa, son of Ammiyana. Scribe: Warad-Sîn.

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Ras Shamra (anc. Ugarit)
  • Date: Late Bronze Age
  • Genre: Legal contract
  • Description: Land Purchase Text

Tiglath-Pileser I 01, col. V, ll. 44-63

Line Drawing (Budge and King 1902)
TPI 01, col v, ll. 44-63

v 44

𒄿𒈾𒄑𒆪𒋾𒀭𒀀𒋩𒂗𒅀𒄑𒇀𒎌

v 45

𒅇𒄣𒊏𒁲𒅀𒎌𒇻𒌑𒀠𒆥𒈬𒌓𒁀𒊏

v 46

𒊍𒁁𒀀𒈾𒊮𒄴𒆷𒈨𒄿

v 47

𒆳𒅈𒈠𒅀𒎌𒉽𒎌𒌓𒀭𒀀𒋩𒂗𒅀

v 48

𒇻𒌑𒀠𒌨𒅖𒌅𒋻𒍢𒆳𒋢𒄭

v 49

𒀀𒁲𒌷𒋼𒀀𒂵𒈩𒊭𒆳𒄩𒀜𒋼

v 50

𒄿𒈾𒁹𒂗𒌓𒈨𒄴𒁍𒌓

v 51

𒁲𒅅𒋫𒋗𒉡𒀀𒂁𒊩𒆷𒋢𒉡

v 52

𒁍𒊭𒀀𒋗𒉡𒈥𒅆𒋢𒉡

v 53

𒀀𒈾𒆷𒀀𒈪𒈾𒌑𒌁𒊏

v 54

𒋛𒋼𒀉𒌝𒈠𒈾𒋼𒋗𒉡

v 55

𒊭𒄿𒈾𒉺𒀭𒄑𒆪𒎌𒊭𒀭𒀀𒋩𒂗𒅀

v 56

𒅁𒁇𒅆𒁺𒀀𒇉𒁍𒋥𒋫𒇻𒂊𒁁𒊒

v 57

𒅈𒆠𒋗𒉡𒄿𒈾𒄑𒈣𒎌𒋢𒂃𒅆𒀀

v 58

𒀀𒇉𒁍𒋥𒋫𒇻𒂊𒁁𒅕

v 59

𒐋𒌷𒎌𒋗𒉡𒊭𒄊𒆳𒁉𒌍𒊑

v 60

𒀝𒋤𒄿𒈾𒉈𒎌𒀾𒊒𒌒

v 61

𒀊𒁔𒀝𒄥𒊩𒆷𒋢𒉡𒁍𒊭𒋗𒉡

v 62

𒈥𒅆𒋢𒉡𒀀𒈾𒌷𒅀𒀭𒀀𒋩

v 63

𒌒𒆷

i-na gištukul-ti da-šur EN-ia gišGIGIR.MEŠ ù qu-ra-di-iameš lu-ú al-qe

mu-ud-ba-ra aṣ-bat

a-na ŠÀ aḫ-la-mì-i kurar-ma-iameš KÚR.MEŠ-ut da-šur EN-ia lu-ú al-lik

iš-tu tar-ṣi kursu-ḫi a-di urukar-ga-miš ša kurḫa-at-te i-na 1-en u4-me aḫ-but

di-ik-ta-šu-nu a-duk

šal-la-su-nu bu-ša-a-šu-nu mar-ši-šu-nu a-na la-a mi-na ú-ter-ra

si-te-et um-ma-na-te-šu-nu ša i-na pa-an gištukulmeš ša da-šur EN-ia ip-pár-ši-du  ídpu-rat-ta lu e-be-ru

ar-ki-šu-nu i-na gišMÁmeš kušDUḪ.ŠI.A ídpu-rat-ta lu e-be-er

6 URUmeš–šu-nu ša GÌR kurbé-eš-ri ak-šud

i-na IZImeš áš-ru-up ap-púl aq-qur

šal-la-su-nu bu-ša-šu-nu mar-ši-su-nu a-na URU-ia da-šur ub-la

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

ina tukulti Aššur bēliya narkabāti u qurādiya lū alqê mudbara aṣbat ana libbi Aḫlamî Armayya nakrūt Aššur bēliya lū allik ištu tarṣi Suḫi adi Kargamiš ša Ḫatte ina ištēn ūmē aḫbut dīktašunu adūk šallassunu būšašunu maršīssunu ana lā mīna uterra sītet ummānātešunu ša ina pān kakkī ša Aššur bēliya ipparšidu Puratta lū ēberū arkišunu ina eleppēti dušî Puratta lū ēber šeš ālānišunu ša šēp Bešri akšud ina išātāti ašrup appul aqqur šallassunu būšašunu maršīssunu ana āliya Aššur ubla

With the support of Aššur, my lord, indeed I took chariots and warriors. I seized the wilderness. Indeed, I went into the heartland of the Aḫlamû of the Arameans, the enemies of Aššur, my lord. In one day, I plundered from the border of Sūḫu to Carchemish of Ḫatti. I massacred them. I carried back their plunder, their booty, (and) their property without number. The remainder of their troops who fled before the weapons of Aššur, my lord, indeed they crossed the Euphrates. Indeed, I crossed the Euphrates after them in boats of goatskin. I conquered 6 of their cities at the base of Mont Bešru. I burned (them) with fire, destroyed, (and) demolished (them). I carried back their plunder, their booty, (and) their property to my city, Aššur.

Tiglath-pileser 1 03, ll. 1-51

Line Drawing (Cuneified)

 

1

𒁹𒄑𒆪𒋾𒌉𒍑𒂍𒊹𒊏𒎙𒆗𒎙𒆧𒎙𒆳𒀸𒋩

2

𒎙𒄢𒆳𒄒𒋥𒐉𒄿𒀉𒇻𒃼𒁺𒊭𒄿𒈾𒄑𒆪𒋾𒀭𒀀𒋩

3

𒅇𒀭𒎏𒅁𒀭𒎌𒃲𒎌𒂗𒎌𒋗𒀉𒊑𒆷𒆪

4

𒌑𒌑𒆥𒌅𒄀𒊑𒋗

5

𒌉𒀭𒀀𒋩𒊕𒄿𒅆𒎙𒆧𒎙𒆳𒀭𒀀𒋩𒌉𒈬𒁖𒆸𒀭𒉺𒌆𒎙𒆧𒎙𒆳𒀭𒀀𒋩𒈠

6

𒄿𒈾𒋝𒊑𒀭𒀀𒋩𒂗𒅀𒅖𒌅𒂊𒄵𒋫𒀭

7

𒀀𒇉𒍝𒁁𒋗𒉺𒇷𒄿𒀀𒁲𒀀𒀊𒁀𒂊𒇷𒉌𒋼

8

𒊭𒁲𒈬𒀭𒌑𒅆𒋡𒀀𒋾𒇻𒅅𒋤

9

𒐈𒋗𒀀𒈾𒆳𒆳𒈾𒄿𒊑𒇻𒀠𒌨𒂼𒎌𒋼

10

𒆳𒆳𒈾𒄿𒊑𒅖𒌅𒆳𒉏𒈨𒀀𒁲𒆳𒁕𒅀𒂊𒉌

11

𒆳𒄭𒈬𒀀𒅇𒀀𒁲𒆳𒉺𒄿𒋼𒊑𒇻𒀝𒋤

12

𒌍𒈗𒎌𒉌𒊭𒆳𒆳𒈾𒄿𒊑𒀀𒈾𒄊𒅀𒎌𒅀

13

𒌑𒋠𒎙𒇷𒎗𒋗𒉡𒊍𒁁𒀲𒆳𒊏𒎌

14

𒍢𒅎𒁕𒀜𒄑𒉌𒄿𒊑𒈠𒁕𒋫𒋗𒉡𒄠𒄯

15

𒄘𒌦𒅇𒋫𒈥𒋫𒌋𒅗𒋗𒉡𒌑𒄯

16

𒀀𒈾𒆳𒆗𒈾𒉌𒇻𒀠𒌨𒄑𒃡𒎌𒊭𒄑𒂊𒊑𒉌

17

𒀀𒈾𒂍𒀭𒀀𒉏𒅇𒀭𒅎𒀭𒎌𒃲𒎌𒂗𒎌𒅀

18

𒀝𒆠𒄑𒀾𒊭𒀀𒀀𒈾𒆳𒀀𒄯𒊑𒂊𒋾𒅅

19

𒆳𒀀𒄯𒊑𒀀𒈾𒋛𒄯𒋾𒊭𒀝𒋤

20

𒈠𒁕𒀜𒋫𒊭𒆳𒄖𒁄𒆳𒍢𒁺𒉌𒆳𒅈𒈠𒁕

21

𒇻𒄠𒄯𒄿𒈾𒄑𒈣𒎌𒋼𒊭𒆳𒅈𒈠𒁕𒅀

22

𒇻𒅈𒆏𒐈𒆜𒁍𒀀𒊮𒅖𒌅𒆳𒅈𒈠𒁕

23

𒊭×𒀀𒀊𒁀𒀀𒁲𒌷𒍝𒈬𒊑𒊭𒆳𒀀𒄯𒊑

24

𒇻𒀝𒋫𒁍𒈾𒄭𒊏𒊭𒀲𒆳𒊏𒊭𒀀𒀊𒁀

25

𒄿𒃮𒁉𒌑𒋗𒉌𒄿𒈾𒋡𒁄𒀀𒀊𒁀𒇻𒀀𒁺𒊌

26

𒅇𒄿𒈾𒋫𒅀𒅈𒋾𒅀𒆳𒄩𒀜𒋼𒀀𒈾𒋛𒄯𒋾𒊭

27

𒇻𒀀𒉋. . .𒇷𒎗𒎌𒄘𒌦𒈠𒁕𒋫𒅇𒄑𒃡𒎌

28

𒊭𒄑𒂊𒊑𒉌𒄿𒈾𒌋𒅗𒁹𒉌𒉌𒀭𒋼𒊒𒎙𒆳𒄩𒀜𒋼𒇻𒀸𒆲

29

. . .𒋗𒀀𒇉𒁍𒋥𒋫𒂕𒄴𒆷𒈨𒄿

30

𒆳𒅈𒈠𒅀𒎌𒀀𒈾𒆳𒄩𒀜𒋼𒊭𒀜𒋫𒈫𒋗

31

𒇻𒂊𒋼𒄵𒅖𒌅𒄊𒆳𒆗𒈾𒉌𒌷𒋫𒀜𒈥

32

𒊭𒆳𒀀𒄯𒊑𒀀𒈾𒀜𒊭𒆳𒋢𒌑𒄭

33

𒅇𒀀𒁲𒌷𒊏𒁉𒆥𒊭𒆳𒋼𒀀𒁺𒉌𒀾

34

𒋰𒁕𒋗𒉡𒀾𒆲𒊩𒆷𒋢𒉡𒈥𒅆𒋢𒉡

35

𒀀𒈾𒌷𒅀𒀭𒀀𒋩𒌒𒆷

36

𒄿𒈾𒌓𒈨𒋗𒈠𒂦𒊭𒌷𒅀𒀭𒀀𒋩𒊭𒌷𒉋

37

𒊭𒄿𒈾𒉺𒈾𒁹𒀭𒀀𒋩𒋧𒋀𒎌𒋃𒀭𒀀𒋩𒎙𒀀𒁉

38

𒀀𒌨𒉺𒉌𒅀𒂊𒁍𒋗𒂦𒋗𒀀𒌅𒅖𒌅𒀀𒊓𒄿𒋼

39

𒃲𒋼𒊭𒆍𒀭𒄘𒃼𒀀𒁲𒅆𒈠𒊏𒀀𒋼

40

𒅇𒀀𒁲𒂦𒊭𒌷𒊮𒌷𒅆𒁉𒅅𒅖𒎌

41

𒆠𒈠𒇯𒄿𒈾𒌋𒅗𒄭𒋗𒀾𒁍𒊌𒌑𒁲𒎏

42

𒂦𒆗𒈾𒀀𒈾𒉋𒌓𒋼𒄿𒈾𒈤𒊑𒋗𒅈𒍦

43

𒅖𒌅𒍑𒊺𒋗𒀀𒁲𒃮𒁳𒁉𒋗𒂊𒁍𒍑

44

𒌑𒋠𒇸𒎎𒈾𒆕𒀀𒎌𒅀𒄿𒈾𒄫𒁉𒋗𒀾𒆲

45

𒀀𒈾𒂕𒌓𒈨𒀀𒈾𒌓𒌝𒍝𒀀𒋼𒂊𒉡𒈠𒂦𒋗𒌑

46

𒌑𒊩𒁀𒊒𒈠𒂊𒈾𒄷𒉣𒂕𒌑

47

𒀭𒄷𒋢𒇻𒌓𒁹𒋗𒈪𒆳𒊏𒀀𒈾𒀾𒊑𒋗

48

𒇻𒋼𒅕𒀭𒀀𒋩𒂗𒃲𒌑𒅅𒊑𒁉𒋗

49

𒄿𒊺𒅎𒈨

50

𒌗𒆪𒉌𒇻𒌓𒌋𒆚𒇷𒈬𒁹𒉌𒉡𒀀𒅀

51

𒌉𒀸𒋩𒌉𒍑𒋛𒁲𒃲𒈠𒆠𒋛𒎌

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

SAA 1 220 (The Corn Tax of the Samarians)

Line Drawing
SAA 1, 220_Corn Tax
o 1𒀀𒈾𒁹𒀭𒉺𒂦𒉽
o 2𒅎𒁹𒀀𒊑𒄭𒇻𒁲𒈬
o 3𒀀𒈾𒌉
o 4𒀸𒌋𒅗𒊺𒉡𒊓𒄭𒊭𒆳𒊓𒂇𒈾𒀀𒀀
o 5𒂗𒉈𒂊𒈬𒇻𒋼𒊑
o 6𒋧𒈬𒄿𒁀𒀾𒅆𒋧𒈬𒆷𒀾𒋙
b.e. 7𒀸𒌋𒅗𒊮𒁉𒉌𒇻𒄭𒂵
r 1𒂗𒉿𒆥𒋫𒋼𒋡𒀀𒇻
r 2𒄿𒍝𒍪𒆷𒅋𒇻𒆪𒌋𒌆𒆷𒋙𒉡
r 3𒂊𒁍𒋙𒆷𒉈𒈬𒉌𒃻𒃶𒋙𒉡
r 4𒆠𒄿𒀭𒉌𒈠𒋬𒈬𒅎𒈠
r 5𒀀𒁺𒈾𒃶𒉌𒀸𒌋𒅗𒂊𒊑𒁉
r 6𒀀𒋫𒈾𒄯𒅗𒂊𒊑𒁍𒈠
r.e. 7𒆷𒉡𒊺𒊑𒅁
r.e. 8𒌑𒈠𒀀𒉈𒈬𒋼𒊑
r.e. 9𒋧𒈬𒄿𒁀𒀾𒅆
e. 1𒋧𒈬𒆷𒀾𒋙

o1 a-na mdPA-BÀD-PAB 2 IM ma-ri-ḫi lu DI-mu 3 a-na DUMU 4 ina UGU šenu-sa-ḫi ša kursa-mir-na-a-a 5 EN ṭè-e-mu lu-te-re 6 šúm-mu i-[ba-áš]-ši šúm-mu la-áš-šú 7 ina UGU ŠÀ-bi-nu lu DÙG.GA r1 EN pi-qi-ta-te qa-a-lu 2 i-za-zu la il-lu-ku dul-la-šú-nu 3 e-pu-šú la ṭè-mu : ni-šá-kan-šú-nu 4 ki-i an-ni-ma TA MU.IM.MA 5 a-du-na-kan-ni ina UGU e-ri-bi 6 a-ta-na-ḫar-ka e-ri-bu-ma re7 la nu-še-ri-ib 8 ú-ma-a ṭè-mu te-re 9 šúm-mu i-ba-áš-ši šúm-mu la-áš-šú

ana Nabû-duri-uṣur ṭuppi Ariḫi lu šulmu ana mar’i ina muḫḫi nusaḫi ša Samirnaya bēlī ṭēmu lutēre šummu ibašši šummu laššu ina muḫḫi libbīni lu ṭāb bēl piqitāte qālu izzazzu lā illukū dullašunu eppušu lā ṭēmu : nišakkanšunu kī annimma issu šaddaqdiš adunakanni ina muḫḫi ēribi attanaḫḫarka ēribū-ma lā nušērib ūmâ ṭēmu tēre šummu ibašši šummu laššu

A letter of Ariḫu to Nabû-duri-uṣur. May good health be to my lord. With regard to the grain tax of the Samarians, may my lord return a decree whether it exists (or) whether it does not exist. Whatever the decision, it will be good. The officials are silent; they stand still; they do not go do their work; we can not give them orders (lit. ‘we can not place a decree on them’). For I have appealed to you about this since last year until now with regard to this income. We have not brought in income. Now return to us a decree whether it exists (or) whether it does not!

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Date: Sargon II (721-705 BCE)
  • Provenience: Nineveh (Kuyunjik)
  • Genre: Administrative letter
  • Collection: British Museum (1881-02-04, 51)
  • Primary Publication: ABL 1201
  • CDLI: P334789

Forthcoming.

SAA 8, 176 (Ahlamu Mentioned in Astrological Report)

Image (obverse)
SAA 8, 176 Obverse
SAA 8, 176 from CDLI

𒁹 𒌍 𒀸 𒌗𒀊 𒌓 𒌍𒆚 𒅆𒅕

𒋢𒂔𒆠 𒄴𒆷𒈬𒌋 𒅥

𒅴 𒁇𒌈 𒆳𒈥𒌅𒆠

𒄿 𒁁 𒂖

𒊭 𒁹𒋗𒈠𒀀𒀀

1 1 30 ina ITI.AB UD 30-KÁM IGI-ir 2 SU.BIR4ki aḫ-la-mu-u KÚ 3 EME BAR-tum KUR MAR.TUki 4 i-be-el

5(rev.) ša mšu-ma-a-a

(šumma) Sîn ina Ṭebet ūm 30 innamir   

Subarta Aḫlamu ekkal

lišānu aḫītum Amurru ibēl

ša Šumaya

If the moon/Sîn, in the month of Ab (Ṭebet), is seen (or: becomes visible): the Aḫlamû will devour the Subartu. A foreigner will rule over the West.

From Šumaya.

Obv. (1) Ana Sin ina arḫu Ṭibiti ûmu XXX kám innamir(ir) (2) Subarti ki Aḫ-la-mu-u ikkal (3) lišânu aḫitum(tum) mâtu Aḫarri ki (4) i-bí-íl Rev. (1) šá m Šú-ma-a-a.

Hunger 1992 (and ORACC): If the moon becomes visible in Tebet (X) on the 30th day: the Ahlamû will devour Subartu; a foreigner will rule the Westland. From Šumaya.

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik)
  • Date: Neo-Assyrian
  • Genre: Divination (scholarly/scientific text)
  • Description: Astrological report from the state archives of Assyria
  • Collection: British Museum (K.713)
  • CDLI: P336408
  • RMA 80, in R. Campbell Thompson, The Reports of the Magicians and Astrologers of Nineveh and Babylon in the British Museum (1900).
  • SAA 8, 176, in Hunger Hermann, Astrological Reports to Assyrian Kings. State Archives of Assyria, Volume 8. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press (1992).
  • CDLI: https://cdli.earth/artifacts/336408
  • ORACC: https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/P336408

SAA 8, 264 (Ahlamu Mentioned in Astrological Report)

Image (obverse)
SAA 8, 264_Obverse
SAA 8, 264_Reverse
SAA 8, 264_CDLI

𒁹 𒌍 𒀸 𒌗𒀊 𒌓 𒌍𒆚 𒅆

𒋢𒂔𒆠 𒄴𒆷𒈬𒌑 𒅥

𒅴 𒀀𒄭𒌈 𒆳𒈥𒌅𒆠

𒂗 𒂖

𒃻 𒁹𒀭𒌋𒄥𒋼𒀀𒅕

1 1 30 ina ITI.AB UD 30-KÁM IGI 2 SU.BIR4ki aḫ-la-mu-u KÚ 3 EME a-ḫi-tum kurMAR.TUki 4 EN-el

5(rev.) šá mdU.GUR-KAR-ir

(šumma) Sîn ina Ṭebet ūm 30 innamir   

Subarta Aḫlamu ekkal

lišānu aḫītum Amurru ibīl

ša Nergal-eṭir

If the moon/Sîn, in the month of Ab (Ṭebet) on the 30th day, is seen (or: becomes visible): the Aḫlamû will devour Subartu. A foreigner will rule over the West. From Nergal-eṭir.

Obv. (1) Ana Sîn ina arḫu Ṭībiti ûmu kām innamir (2) Subarta ki Aḫ-la-mu-ú ikkal (3) lišânu a-ḫi-tum mātu Aḫarrî ki (4) ibíl(íl)  Rev. (1) ša m ilu Nírgal-íṭir(ir).

Hunger 1992 (and ORACC): If the moon becomes visible in Tebet (X) on the 30th day: the Ahlamû will devour Subartu; a foreigner will rule the Westland. From Nergal-eṭir.

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik)
  • Date: Neo-Assyrian
  • Genre: Divination (scholarly/scientific text)
  • Description: Astrological report from the state archives of Assyria
  • Collection: British Museum (K.722)
  • CDLI: P237855
  • RMA 78, in R. Campbell Thompson, The Reports of the Magicians and Astrologers of Nineveh and Babylon in the British Museum (1900).
  • SAA 8, 264, in Hunger Hermann, Astrological Reports to Assyrian Kings. State Archives of Assyria, Volume 8. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press (1992).
  • CDLI: https://cdli.earth/artifacts/237855
  • ORACC: https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/P237855

SAA 8, 292 (Ahlamu Mentioned in Astrological Report)

Image (obverse)
SAA 8, 292_Obverse
SAA 8, 292_CDLI

𒁹 𒌍 𒀸 𒌗𒄞 𒌓 𒌍𒆚 𒅆𒅕

𒃮𒁕 𒈥𒌅𒆠

𒇽𒄴𒆷𒈬𒌑 𒅥

𒃻 𒁹𒀭𒀝𒁀𒃻 𒌉 𒁈𒉺𒇻𒆠

1 30 ina ITI.GUD UD 30-KÁM IGI-ir

ṭuḫ-da MAR.TUki

lúaḫ-la-mu-ú KÚ

šá mdAG-BA-šá DUMU BÁ[R.SIPAki]

(šumma) Sîn ina Ayari ūm 30 innamir   

ṭuḫda Amurri

Aḫlamu ekkal

ša Nabû-iqiša mār Barsippa

If the moon/Sîn, in the month of Iyyar on the 30th day, is seen (or: becomes visible): the Aḫlamû will devour the wealth of the West. From Nabû-iqiša of Borsippa.

Obv. (1) Ana Sîn ina arḫu Âiri ûmu XXX kâm innamir (2) duḫ-da Aḫarrî ki (3) am Aḫ-la-mu-ú [ikkal] (4) ša m ilu Nabû-ikiša(ša) mâr [Bar-sib ki].

  • Hunger 1992 (via ORACC’s adaptation): “If the moon becomes visible in Iyyar (II) on the 30th day: the Ahlamû will dev[our] the wealth of the Westland. From Nabû-iqiša of Bo[rsippa].”
  • Thompson 1900: “When the Moon appears on the thirtieth of lyyar, the abundance of Aḫarrû Aḫlamû will devour. From Nabû-ikiša, of Borsippa.”
  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik)
  • Date: Neo-Assyrian
  • Genre: Divination (scholarly/scientific text)
  • Description: Astrological report from the state archives of Assyria
  • Collection: British Museum (1883-01-18, 299)
  • CDLI: P237338
  • RMA 64, in R. Campbell Thompson, The Reports of the Magicians and Astrologers of Nineveh and Babylon in the British Museum (1900).
  • SAA 8, 292, in Hunger Hermann, Astrological Reports to Assyrian Kings. State Archives of Assyria, Volume 8. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press (1992).
  • CDLI: https://cdli.earth/artifacts/237338
  • ORACC: https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/P237338

SAA 14, 428 (Neo-Assyrian Debt Note)

Line Drawing
SAA 14, 428

na4KIŠIB mDINGIR-la?–SU A ma-ṣil-ia-a-u TA ŠÀ uruza-an-ba-a-a

220 ri?-ta-te ša […] du […] ša mdMAŠ-MAN-PAP ina IGI-šú ina itiŠU ina NINAki SUM-an BE-ma la i-din a-na mit-ḫar GAL-bi

IGI ma-a-ḫi IGI mdMAŠ-QAL3 IGI mGÌR-dMAŠ-aṣ-bat IGI mdPA-DÙ-MAN IGI maš-šur-TI IGI <m>10-A-AŠ

itiBÁRA lim-mu mE-DINGIRme

Seal of Ilā-erīb, son of Aṣil-Yāu, from the village of Zanbayyu.

220 [legs of donkey-mares (?)] belonging to Inurta-šarru-uṣur are before him (=at his disposal). In the month of Tammuz, in Nineveh, he will give them. If he does not give it, it will grow by the same amount.

Witness: Aya-aḫī. Witness: Inurta-sukkī. Witness: Šēpē-Inurta-aṣbat. Witness: Nabû-bāni-apli. Witness: Aššur-uballiṭ. Witness: Adad-aplu-iddina. Month of Nisannu, eponym year of Iqbi-ilāni.

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Date: Neo-Assyrian
  • Provenience: Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik)
  • Genre: Legal (business contract)
  • Collection: National Museum of Iraq, Baghdad (IM 76886)
  • Primary Publication: TIM 11 05
  • CDLI: P224948

Forthcoming.

SAA 16, 99 (Letter to Esarhaddon Mentioning Previous Aramaic Letter)

Line Drawing (ABL 872)
SAA 16, 99_Line Drawing

𒋧𒈠 XXXXXXXX  

𒀀𒋛𒈨 𒊑𒅅𒊓𒋾

𒄠𒈥 𒊭 𒉺𒀜𒊒𒌋𒉌

𒄿𒊓𒄷𒊒 𒄿𒆪𒌋𒉡

𒀭𒉺 𒌋 𒀭𒌨𒈨𒌈 𒀭𒎌 𒊭 𒂍       

𒄩𒀭𒉌𒄿 𒀀𒈾 𒈗 𒀀𒈾 𒆰𒋙

𒀀𒈾 𒆰 𒆰𒋙 𒌨𒊒𒁍 

𒁹𒆏𒋾𒄿 𒇽𒀀𒁀

𒀴 𒊭 𒁹𒀸𒋩𒁕𒅔𒌉𒍑 𒌉 𒁹𒁲𒈠𒉡𒈦

𒊭 𒂊𒄈𒌓 𒅈𒈨𒌓 𒀉𒁷𒀭𒉌

𒀀𒈾 𒈗 𒂗𒅀

𒀜 𒁷 𒌋 𒉌

𒄿 𒃮 𒁉 𒀪 𒀀

𒈠𒀀 𒀸 𒌋𒅗 𒂗𒄭𒀉𒁲 

𒊭 𒀀𒈾 𒈗 𒂗𒅀

𒀝 𒁍 𒌋 𒉌

𒈠𒀀 𒌉𒋗 𒀸 𒊮 𒂍𒃲 𒂊𒊐 𒌑𒍝

𒀀𒈾 𒅀𒀀𒅆 𒄿𒃮𒁉𒀪𒀀

𒈠𒀀 𒋳𒈠 𒁲𒅁𒁉 𒀭𒉡𒋾       

𒄑 𒊓  X X  𒀭 𒉌

𒈠𒀀 𒁹𒆪 𒆷𒀝𒁀𒀝𒅗

𒈠𒀀 𒐍 𒇽XXXX𒎌

𒈠𒀀 𒊭 XXXX𒀀𒈾 𒈗 𒂗𒅀

𒀉𒁷𒌋𒉌 XXXXX

𒈠𒀀 𒂄𒈠𒉡 XXXX𒌒

SAA 16, 99_Image
SAA 16, 99 transliteration

[beginning broken] šúm-ma […] a-se-me ri-[ik-sa-ti] am-mar ša pa-aṭ-ru-u-ni i-sa-ḫu-ru i-ku-u-nu dPA u dtaš-me-tum DINGIR.MEŠ ša É ḫa-an-ni-i a-na LUGAL a-na NUMUN-šú a-na NUMUN NUMUN-šú lik-ru-bu mkab-ti-i LÚ.A.BA ARAD ša maš-šur-da-in-DUMU.UŠ DUMU mDI-ma-nu-MAŠ ša e-gír-tú ar-me-tú id-din-an-ni a-na LUGAL EN-ia ad-din-u-ni i-qab-bi-’a-a ma-a AŠ UGU EN-ḫi-iṭ-ṭi ša a-na LUGAL EN-ia aq-bu-u-ni ma-a DUMU-šu AŠ ŠÀ É.GAL e-rab ú-ṣa a-na ia-a-š[i] i-qab-bi-’a-a ma-a šum-ma [di]-ib-bi an-nu-ti is-sa-[…]-an-ni ma-a […]-ak-ku ma-a 8 […].MEŠ ma-a ša […] LUGAL EN-ia id-din-[u-ni …] [ma]-a šul-ma […] [end broken]

[beginning broken] šumma […] assēme riksāti ammar ša paṭrūni isaḫḫuru ikûnu Nabu u Tašmetum ilāni ša bēti annî ana šarri zarīšu ana zar zarīšu likrubu 8 Kabtī ṭupšarru urdu ša Aššur-da’’in-aplu mār Šalmanu-ašared ša egertu Armetu iddinanni ana šarri bēliya addinūni iqabbi’a mā ina muḫḫi bēl-ḫiṭṭi ša ana šarri bēliya aqbûni mā māršu ina libbi ēkalli erab uṣṣa ana yāši iqabbi’a mā šumma dibbī annūti issa[…]anni mā anāku laqbâkka mā 8 […] mā ša [… ana] šarri bēliya iddin[ūni  …]  mā šulmā[nu … end broken]

[…] If […] I have heard the ordinances which were released have again been established. May Nabu and Tašmetu, the gods of his house, bless the king, his offspring, and the offspring of his offspring. Kabti the scribe, a servant of Aššur-dain-aplu, son of Šalmaneser, who gave an Aramaic letter to me, which I gave to the king my lord, he tells me, saying, “With regard to criminal about whom I spoke to the king, my lord, his son enters and leaves the midst of the palace. He says to me, “If […] these words, then I will certainly tell them to you.” […] Saying, “8 men(?) […] which I gave [to] the king, my lord.” Saying, “A bribe …” [end broken].

Luukko and Van Buylaere 2002 (and ORACC): (Beginning destroyed) ¹ If [……] ² I have heard that all the ordinances which were dissolved have become stable again. May Nabû and Tašmetu, the gods of this house, bless the king, his offspring and his offspring’s offspring. ⁸ The scribe Kabtî, a servant of Aššur-da’’in-aplu son of Shalmaneser (III), who gave me the Aramaic letter which I gave to the king, my lord, is saying to me: “Regarding the offender about whom I spoke to the king, my lord, his son enters and leaves the Palace. He is telling me: ‘If he [ …s] these [wo]rds to me, I [will tell them] to you.’ r. 9 “8 [..]s who gave [… to] the king, my lord, [……] ¹² “a brib[e ……] (Rest destroyed)

  • riksu ‘binding, knot, ordinance’
  • ammar ‘as much/many as’
  • puṭṭuru ‘released’ < paṭāru ‘to loosen, release’
  • saḫāru ‘to go around, turn; search; tarry’
  • dPA = Nabu
  • NUMUN = zēru ‘seed, offspring’
  • LÚ.A.BA = ṭupšarru ‘scribe’ (alphabetic)
  • maš-šur-da-in-DUMU.UŠ = Aššur-da’’in-aplu ‘Aššur-dain-aplu’
  • mDI-ma-nu-MAŠ = Šalmanu-ašared ‘Shalmaneser (III)’
  • egertu ‘letter, (inscribed) tablet’
  • armetu ‘Aramaic’ (adj.)
  • šulmānu ‘greeting-gift, bribe’
  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik)
  • Date: Neo-Assyrian
  • Genre: Letter
  • Description: A letter to Esarhaddon which mentions a previous Aramaic letter.
  • Collection: British Museum
  • CDLI: P334599

SAA 19 17 (Letter about Equipping Aramean Troops)

Line Drawing
SAA 19, 17_Line Drawing

a-na LUGAL EN-ia

ARAD-ka maš-šur-KUR-ta-GUR

lu DI-mu a-na LUGAL

EN-ia

AŠ UGU LÚ.ERIM.MEŠ

KUR ár-ma-a-a

ša LUGAL be-lí

iš-pur-a-ni

ma-a šá-aṣ-bi-su-nu

ma a-na KASKAL

il-lu-ku

e-ṣi-di-šu-nu

túgsa-a-gu

kušḫi-in-tu

kušE.SIR

Ì.MEŠ a-da-na-šú-nu

ANŠE.NÍTA.MEŠ-ia

la-áš-šú

TA ma-ṣi-en

ANŠE.NÍTA.MEŠ-ia

i-ba-šú-u-ni

gišqir-si-ia-ma

a-na KASKAL

la-am-tu-uḫ

a-na LUGAL EN-ia ARAD-ka maš-šur-KUR-ta-GUR lu DI-mu a-na LUGAL EN-ia AŠ UGU LÚ.ERIM.MEŠ KUR ár-ma-a-a ša LUGAL be-lí iš-pur-a-ni ma-a šá-aṣ-bi-su-nu ma a-na KASKAL il-lu-ku e-ṣi-di-šu-nu túgsa-a-gu kušḫi-in-tu kušE.SIR Ì.MEŠ a-da-na-šú-nu ANŠE.NÍTA.MEŠ-ia la-áš-šú TA ma-ṣi-en ANŠE.NÍTA.MEŠ-ia i-ba-šú-u-ni gišqir-si-ia-ma a-na KASKAL la-am-tu-uḫ

1 ana šarri bēliya urdaka Aššur-matka-tera lu šulmu ana šarri bēliya 5 ina muḫḫi ṣābāni Armaya ša šarru bēlī išpurani mā šaṣbissunu mā ana ḫuli illuku eṣidīšunu sāgu ḫintu mešēnu šamnī addanaššunu imāriya laššu issu maṣin imāriya ibaššūni qirsīyāma ana ḫuli lamtuḫ

To the king, my lord, your servant, Aššur-matka-tera: May good health be to the king, my lord. As for the Aramean troops which the king, my lord, wrote to me, saying, “Equip them,” saying, “They will go on campaign.” I will give to them their provisions, clothing?, leather pouch, sandals, and oil. There are no donkeys. If I did have donkeys, I would offer carts for campaign.

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Kalhu (mod. Nimrūd)
  • Date: Neo-Assyrian
  • Genre: Letter
  • Description: A letter to TiglathPileser III from Aššur-matka-tera about equipping Aramean troops.
  • Collection: National Museum of Iraq (IM 64091)
  • CDLI: P224445

SAA 19 18 (Wives for Aramean Troops)

Line Drawing
SAA 19 18_Line Drawing
SAA 19 18 transliteration

1 ana šarri bēliya urdaka Aššur-mātka-tera lu šulmu ana šarri bēliya 4 šuḫ Armaya ša šarru iqbūni mā issāti lušāḫizušunu issāti māda ātamar abbēšina lā imaggurū lā iddunūšina mā adi kaspu iddanūnašini kapsu liddinūnišunu šunūma lēḫuzu

1 To the king, my lord, your servant, Aššur-mātka-tera: May good health be to the king, my lord. 4 As for the Arameans which the king commanded me, saying, “Let them be made to marry wives,” I have seen many women. Their fathers will not consent; they will not give them, saying, “(Not) until they give money to us.” Let them give them money, (so that) they may marry.

  • maš-sur-KUR-ka-GUR-ta = Aššur-mātka-tera
  • DI-mu = šulmu ‘good health’
  • imaggurū < magāru ‘to consent, agree’
  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Kalhu (mod. Nimrūd)
  • Date: Neo-Assyrian
  • Genre: Letter
  • Description: A letter to Tiglath-Pileser III from Aššur-matka-tera about giving money to Arameans so that they can marry.
  • Collection: National Museum of Iraq, Baghdad (IM 64137)
  • CDLI: P224476

SAA 19 23 (Hiram of Tyre's Deportation)

Line Drawing
Hiram Letter (SAA 19, 23)

[a-na L]UGAL EN-ia

AR[AD-ka] mqur-di-aš-šur-IGI

ka-ni-ku an-ni-tú kurár-mi-tú

mdPA-še-zib TA ŠÀ-bi uruṣur-ri

[ú]-se-bi-la ma-a ina É.GAL

[lu-še]-bi-lu-ši ina É.GAL

[ú]-se-bi-la-še

mḫi-ru-mu e-qu

ša É-DINGIR-ni-MEŠ-šú

ša SAG uruṣi-du-u-ni

i-ti-kis ma-a a-na uruṣur-ri

la-an-tú-uḫ a-sa-par

ú-sa-ag-li-ú-šú

e-qu ša i-ki-su-u-ni

ina GÌR KUR-e [šu-tú]

ḫa-ni-qi [   ]

mdPA-še-zib i-[   ]

[    m]ḫi-ru-mu [ina ŠU.2]

lúARAD.MEŠ-šú i-tú-qut

an-[nu-rig   ]-te an-nu-tú

lú[         ] ú-se-ṣi

ḫu-ub-tú ša a-na uruim-mi-i-ḫa

il-la-ka-a-ni lu-[nam-mi-šá]

lil-li-ka ŠE.NUMUN.MEŠ-šú-nu

a-ri-iš ina UGU

in-gal-li-šú-nu

lil-li-ku-ú-ni

ana šarri bēliya

urdaka Qurdi-Aššur-lamur

kanīku annītu Armītu

Nabû-šezib issu libbi Ṣurri

ussēbila mā ina ēkalli

lušēbilūši ina ēkalli

ussēbilašše

Ḫirumu ēqu

ša bēt ilānišu

ša rēš Ṣiduni

ittikis mā ana Ṣurri

lantuḫ assapar

ussagliūšu

ēqu ša ikkisūni

ina šēpi šadê šūtu

ḫanīqi

Nabû-šezib i[  ]

Ḫirumu [ina qātē]

urdānīšu ittuqut

annurig [      ] annūtu

[           ] ussēṣi

ḫubtu ša ana Immiḫa

illakāni lunammiša

lillika zar’ēšunu

ariš ina muḫḫi

ingallīšunu

lillikūni

ana šarri bēliya urdaka Qurdi-Aššur-lamur kanīku annītu Armītu Nabû-šezib issu libbi Ṣurri ussēbila mā ina ēkalli lušēbilūši ina ēkalli ussēbilašše Ḫirumu ēqu ša bēt ilānišu ša rēš Ṣiduni ittikis mā ana Ṣurri lantuḫ assapar ussagliūšu ēqu ša ikkisūni ina šēpi šadê šūtu ḫanīqi Nabû-šezib i[   ] Ḫirumu [ina qātē] urdānīšu ittuqut annurig [   ] annūtu [   ] ussēṣi ḫubtu ša ana Immiḫa illakāni lunammiša lillika zar’ēšunu ariš ina muḫḫi ingallīšunu lillikūni

To the king, my lord. (From) your servant, Qurdi-Aššur-lamur. Nabû-šezib from Tyre sent this sealed Aramaic document, saying: “Let it be sent to the palace.” I have sent it to the palace. Ḫiram cut down the cultic pole which was in the temple of his gods which is on the top (acropolis) of Ṣidon, saying, “Let me transport it to Ṭyre.” I sent and deported him. As for the cultic pole which he cut it, it is at the base of the mountain, constricted. Nabû-šezib […] Ḫiram fell [into the two hands] of his [servants]. Now […] brought this out. Let the captives who will go to Immiḫa set out and go. Their seed is cultivated. Let them come to their sickles.

SAA 19 154 (Letter about Assyrian and Aramean Specialists)

Line Drawing
SAA 19, 154_Line Drawing

[a-bat LUGAL]

[a-na daš-š]ur-EN-L[ÁL?]

lúum-ma-nu ša É.GAL

lu-u lúa[š-šu]r-a-a

lu-u lúar-ma-a-a

ša a-na KUR TI.LA

a-na KUR-ka il-li-ku-ni-ni

lúA.KIN.MEŠ-ni-ka

AŠ na-gi-u gab-bu

ši-tap-par bé-et šá-nu-u-ni

gab-bi-šú-nu paḫ-ḫi-ra

AŠ UGU-ḫi-ía še-bi-la-šú(?)-nu

BAD-ḪAL-lum lúi-tú-’u

i-si-šú-nu pi-qid

[ša URU.BÀD]-mEN-DINGIR-a-a

[ú]-še-ta-qu-ni-šá-nu-u-ni

[at]-ta [t]u-u-da-[a]

[UD.MEŠ] ša ÉŠ.QAR e-ma-du

[e]-tar-ba-a-ni

1 abat šarri ana Aššur-bēlu-taqqin ummânu ša ēkalli lū Aššuraya lū Armaya ša ana māti uballiṭūni ana mātka illikūninni mār šiprānīka ina nagiu gabbu šitappar bēt šanūni gabbišunu paḫḫira ina muḫḫiya šēbilaššunu petḫallu Itu’u issišunu piqid ša Dur-bēl-ila’i ušettaqūnišanūni atta tūdâ ūmāti ša iškāri emādu etarbāni

*Reconstructions and translation after ORACC

The word of the king to Aššur-bēlu-taqqin: the specialists of the palace, whether Assyrian or whether Aramean, who came to your land in order to revive the land, send your messengers in the entire district, assemble all of them, wherever they are. Send them to me. Entrust with them the cavalry and Itu’u, who will make them proceed through Dur-bēl-ila’i to me. Do you know the days of imposing the iškāru-dues arrived?

*Reconstructions and translation after ORACC

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Kalhu (mod. Nimrūd)
  • Date: Neo-Assyrian
  • Genre: Letter
  • Description: A letter from Sargon II to Aššur-belu-taqqin about Assyrian and Aramean specialists returning to the king.
  • Collection: National Museum of Iraq (IM 64007)
  • CDLI: P224386

OECT 10, 152 (Economic Text from House of Egibi Archive)

Line Drawing
OECT 10, 152_Line Drawing
OECT 10 152_Image
OECT 10 152_Transliteration

[1 MA.NA KÙ].BABBAR šá 1/2 GÍN bit-qa nu-uḫ-ḫu-tu [m…]-SUM.NA DUMU mdU.GUR.GI [DUMU m]dé-a-DÙ-eš-DINGIR AŠ muḫ-ḫi mši-ir!–ku! [D]UMU mSUM.NA-a DUMU me-gi-bi AŠ qí-it itiSIG4 AŠ TIN.TIRki AŠ SAG.DU-šú KÙ.BABBAR a-na 1 MA.NA šá 1/2 GÍN bit-qa nu-uḫ-ḫu-tu i-nam-din ul-tu itiŠU 3(2?) ITI AŠ UGU 1 MA.NA 1 GÍN KÙ.BABBAR AŠ UGU-šú i-rab-bi rev. [lú]mu-kin-nu mmu-še-zib–dEN DUMU šá map-la-a DUMU mdé-a-DÙ-eš-DINGIR mdAG-bul-liṭ-su DUMU šá mšá-kin-šu-um DUMU mDÙ-eš-DINGIR mlib-luṭ DUMU šá mdEN-DIN-iṭ DUMU mSAG.DINGIR.MEŠ-a-a mdEN-it-tan-nu DUMU šá mzu-um-ba-a DUMU mDÙ-eš-DINGIR mdia-ḫu-ú-LUGAL-ÙRI DUMU šá mdUTU-MU mdEN-bul-liṭ-su A-šú šá mmu-še-zib–dEN A mlúGAL.DÙ mše-el-líb DUMU šá mGI-dAMAR.UTU A mqaq-qa-da-ni-tu4 mdEN-MU A-šú šá mdAG-SUR A mna-bu-tu [lú]UMBISAG mdEN-DÙ DUMU šá mMU-dAG A! mDA-dAMAR.UTU [… ur]uši-ka-an šá AŠ muḫ-ḫi ídba-ga-ad-du [uru]šu-šá-nu itiBARÁ U4 18.KÁM [MU] 28.KÁM mda-[ri-ia]-a–muš [LUGAL] TIN.TIRki u KUR.KUR

1 mina kaspi ša 1/2 šiqli bitqa nuḫḫutu […]-iddin mār Nergal-ušallim mār Ea-epeš-ili ina muḫḫi Širku mār Iddinaya mār Egibi ina qīt Simāni ina Tintir (Bābili) ina qaqqassu kaspa ana 1 mina ša 1/2 šiqli bitqa nuḫḫutu inamdin ultu Duʾūzu ina 3 arḫī ina muḫḫi 1 mina 1 šiqli kaspi ina muḫḫi irabbi

rev. mukinnu: Mušēzib-Bēl mār ša Aplaya mār Ea-epeš-ili; Nabû-bullissu mār ša Šākin-šum mār Ea-epeš-ili; Libluṭ mār ša Bēl-uballiṭ mār Saggilāya; Bēl-ittannu mār ša Zumbâ mār Ea-ēpeš-ilī; Yāḫû-šarru-uṣur mār ša Šamaš-iddin; Bēl-bullissu maršu ša Mušēzib-Bēl mār Rab-bānê; Šēllib mār ša Ušallim-Marduk mār Qaddadānītu; Bēl-iddin māršu ša Nabû-ēṭir mār Nabutu; ṭupšarru Bēl-ibni mār ša Iddin-Nabû mār Ilēʾʾi-Marduk […] Šikan ša ina muḫḫi Bagaddu.

Šušanu, Nisannu, 18, šattu 28 Dariyamuš, šar Tintir (Bābili) u matāti

One mina of cut-up silver, which half a shekel is one-eighth (alloy, i.e., 1/4th impure): [To …]-iddin son/descendent of Nergal-ušallim son/descendent of Ea-epeš-ili, is incumbent on (owed by) Širku son/descendent of Iddinaya son/descendent of Egibi. By the end of Simān (the third month), in Babylon, he will give its principle in silver to one mina which half a shekel is one-eighth (alloy, i.e., 1/4th impure). From Dumuzu (the fourth month), in three months (from now), it will accrue at the rate of one shekel of silver per one mina.

Witnesses: Mušēzib-Bēl son/descendent of Aplaya son/descendent of Ea-epeš-ili; Nabû-bullissu son/descendent of Šākin-šum son/descendent of Ea-epeš-ili; Libluṭ son/descendent of Bēl-uballiṭ son/descendent of Saggilāya; Bēl-ittannu son/descendent of Zumbâ son/descendent of Ea-ēpeš-ilī; Yāḫû-šarru-uṣur son/descendent of Šamaš-iddin; Bēl-bullissu son/descendent of Mušēzib-Bēl son/descendent of Rab-bānê; Šēllib son/descendent of Ušallim-Marduk son/descendent of Qaddadānītu; Bēl-iddin son/descendent of Nabû-ēṭir son/descendent of Nabutu. Scribe: Bēl-ibni son/descendent of Iddin-Nabû son/descendent of Ilēʾʾi-Marduk […] of (the city of) Šikan, who is over the Bagaddu-canal (district).

(Date:) Susa, (month of) Nisannu, (day) 18, year 28 of Darius, king of Babylon and all the lands.

  • bitqu: 1/8 of a shekel
  • nuḫḫutu ‘cut off’ < naḫātu ‘to become small, diminsihed’
  • To be completed.
  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet.
  • Provenience: Babylon
  • Date: Achaemenid (547-331 BC)
  • Genre: Legal text
  • Description: Late Babylonian administrative text from the House of Egibi Archive.
  • Collection: Ashmolean Museum (Ashm 1878-0005)
  • CDLI: P385165

TCL 13, 210 (Achaemenid-Period Debt Note)

Line Drawing
TCL 13, 210 (Debt Note)
TCL 13, 210 (Image)

1 ú-ìl-tì šá mḫa-šu-du 2 šá a-na UGU-šú ina IGI-šú(PA) 3 šá mma-la-ki-a-ma

4 13 GUR 1 (PI) 4-BÁN ŠE.BAR šá fa-ga-a‘ 5 ina lìb-bi 2 GUR 3 (PI) 2-BÁN re-ḫi-i’ 6 13 [GUR 1 (PI)] 4-BÁN 2 GUR 1 (PI) 4-BÁN ŠE.BAR 7 re-ḫi-it-ti

8 PAP.PAP 4 GUR 1 (PI) ŠE.BAR re-ḫi-it-tu4

9 10 [GUR] ŠE.BAR mNUMUN-ia 5 GUR re-ḫi-i’

10 2 GUR 5 BÁN 1 SÌLA mga-mir-[ia-a-ma]

11 4 GUR 4 (PI) 3-BÁN ŠE.BAR mal-la-[…]

12 1 GUR 2 (PI) ŠE.BAR ina lìb-bi re-ḫi-iʾ

13 [   ] ú-ìl-tì šá mú-ḫa-bi-[…] 14 ina IGI mma-la-ki-a-[ma] 15 ina É mka-bar-DINGIR

1-3 The debt-note of Ḫašūdu, which is incumbent on him (lit. ‘on his head’), at the disposal of (lit. ‘in front of’) Malaki-Yāma.

4-5 13 kors, 1 pānu, 4 seahs of barley belonging to Aga. Among it, 2 kor, 3 pānu, 2 seahs remain.

6-7 13 kors, 1 pānu, 4 seahs – 1 pānu, 4 seas of barley remain.

8 Total: 4 kors, 1 pānu of barley remain.

9 10 kors of barley – Zeria: 5 kors remain.

10 2 kors, 5 seahs, 1 qû – Gamir-Yama.

11 4 kors, 4 pānu, 3 seahs of barley – Alla[…].

12 1 kor, 2 pānu of barley, (and 2 seahs) among it remain.

13-15 The debt-note of Uḫabi-[…] at the disposal of Malaki-Yāma in the house of Kabar-Ilu.

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Date: Achaemenid (547-331 BCE)
  • Genre: Administrative/Legal (debt note)
  • Collection: Louvre Museum, Paris, France (AO 10304)
  • Primary Publication: Contenau, TCL 13 (1929)

Forthcoming.

How do the measurements work? What is the weight measurement of a kor, panu, and seah?

Discussion forthcoming. 

Shalmaneser III 87-91 (Black Obelisk: Five Epigraphs)

Line Drawing (Four Faces)
Black Obelisk Four Faces_Line Drawings
Black Obelisk Epigraph 1_Line Drawing

𒈠𒁕𒌅𒃻𒁹𒋢𒌑𒀀𒆳𒆸𒍝𒈾𒀀𒀀𒆬𒌓𒎌𒆬𒄀𒎌𒀭𒈾𒎌𒄰𒎌𒌓𒅗𒁇𒄑𒄷𒋻𒀀𒋼𒎌𒃻𒋗𒈗𒀲𒆳𒊏𒎌𒀲𒀀𒀊𒁀𒎌𒃻𒋗𒈾𒀀𒀀𒍢𒊑𒅆𒈾𒄠𒄯𒋗

Transliteration:

ma-da-tu šá msu-ú-a kurgíl-za-na-a-a KÙ.BABBAR.MEŠ KÙ.GI.MEŠ AN.NA.MEŠ ÚTUL.MEŠ ZABAR gišḫu-ṭar-a-ṭe.MEŠ šá ŠU LUGAL ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ ANŠE.A.AB.BA.MEŠ šá šu-na-a-a ṣe-ri-ši-na am-ḫur-šu

Morphologically-Segmented Normalization:

maddatt-u ša Sūa Gilzān-aya kasp-ī ḫurāṣ-ī annak-ī diqār-ī siparr-i ḫuṭar-āt-e ša qāt šarr-i sis-ê gammal-ī ša šun-āya ṣēr-ī-šina a-mḫur-šu

Translation:

The tribute of (from) Sua, the Gilzanean: I received silver, gold, tin, bronze vessels, staffs of the hand of the king, horses, and two-humped (i.e., Bactrian) camels.

Black Obelisk Epigraph 2 (Jehu)_Line Drawing

𒈠𒁕𒌅𒃻𒁹𒅀𒌑𒀀𒌉𒁹𒄷𒌝𒊑𒄿𒆬𒌓𒎌𒆬𒄀𒎌𒉺𒅁𒇻𒆬𒄀𒍪𒄣𒌓𒆬𒄀𒋡𒁍𒀀𒋼𒎌𒆬𒄀𒁕𒆷𒉌𒎌𒆬𒄀𒀭𒈾𒎌𒄑𒄷𒋻𒌓𒃻𒋗𒎙𒄑𒁍𒀸𒄩𒋾𒄠𒄯𒋗

Transliteration:

ma-da-tu šá mia-ú-a DUMU mḫu-um-ri-i KÙ.BABBAR.MEŠ KÙ.GI.MEŠ sap-lu KÙ.GI zu-qu-ut KÙ.GI qa-bu-a-te.MEŠ KÙ.GI da-la-ni.MEŠ KÙ.GI AN.NA.MEŠ gišḫu–ṭar-tú šá ŠU MAN gišpu-aš-ḫa-ti am-ḫur-šu

Morphologically-Segmented Normalization:

maddatt-u ša Iaua mār ‘Umrī kasp-ī ḫurāṣ-ī sapl-u ḫurāṣ-i zūqut ḫurāṣ-i qabu-āt-e ḫurāṣ-i dalāni ḫurāṣ-i annak-ī ḫuṭart-u ša qāt šarr-i puašḫ-at-i a-mḫur-šu

Translation:

The tribute which I received from Jehu, son of Omri (i.e., Jehu from the House of Omri = Israel): silver, gold, a gold bowl, a gold dish, gold vessels, gold buckets, tin, the staff of the hand of the king, and weapons (javelins?).

Black Obelisk Epigraph 3 (Egypt)_Line Drawing

𒈠𒁕𒌅𒃻𒆳𒈬𒊻𒊑𒀲𒀀𒀊𒁀𒎌𒃻𒋗𒈾𒀀𒀀𒍢𒊑𒅆𒈾𒀠𒀊𒀀𒇉𒊓𒁲𒂊𒅀𒋢𒌑𒋢𒉿𒊏𒀀𒋾𒎌𒁀𒄀𒀀𒋾𒌑𒁺𒁍𒎌𒄠𒄯𒋗

Transliteration:

ma-da-tu šá kurmu-uṣ-ri ANŠE.A.AB-BA.MEŠ šá šu-na-a-a ṣe-ri-ši-na al-ap ÍD sa-de-e-ia su-ú-su pi-ra-a-ti.MEŠ ba-gi-a-ti ú-qup-pu!.MEŠ am-ḫur-šu

Morphologically-Segmented Normalization:

maddatt-u ša Muṣr-i gammal-ī ša šunā-ya ṣēr-ī-šina alap nār-i sad-ē-ya sūs-u pīr-āt-i bagi-āt-i uqūp-ū a-mḫur-šu

Translation:

The tribute which I received from Egypt: two-humped (i.e., Bactrian) camels, an ox of the river (i.e., buffalo), a horse of the elephants (i.e., a rhinoceros), monkeys, and an ape.

Black Obelisk Epigraph 4 (Marduk-apla-uṣur)_Line Drawing

𒈠𒁕𒌅𒃻𒁹𒀭𒀫𒌓𒀀𒉽𒆳𒋢𒄩𒀀𒀀𒆬𒌓𒎌𒆬𒄀𒎌𒁕𒆷𒉌𒆬𒄀𒅗𒎌𒄠𒋛𒄑𒁍𒀸𒄩𒀀𒋾𒎌𒁍𒌑𒍢𒌆𒇻𒇧𒋾𒄵𒈨𒌋𒃰𒎌𒄠𒄯𒋗

Transliteration:

ma-da-tu šá mdAMAR.UTU-A-PAP kursu-ḫa-a-a KÙ.BABBAR.MEŠ KÙ.GI.MEŠ da-la-ni KÙ.GI ZÚ.MEŠ AM.SI gišpu-aš-ḫa-a-ti.MEŠ bu-ú-ṣi túglu-bul-ti bir-me u GADA.MEŠ am-ḫur-šu

Morphologically-Segmented Normalization:

maddatt-u ša Marduk-apla-uṣur Suḫ-aya kasp-ī ḫurāṣ-ī dalān-i ḫurāṣ-i šinn-ī pīr-i pu’ašḫ-āt-i būṣ-ī lubul-t-i birm-ē u kit-ê a-mḫur-šu

Translation:

The tribute which I received from Marduk-apla-uṣur, the Suḫean: silver, gold, a golden bucket, elephant ivory, weapons, byssus, garments of multicoloured cloth, and linen.

Black Obelisk Epigraph 5 (Qarparunda of Pattinu)_Line Drawing

𒈠𒁕𒌅𒃻𒁹𒃼𒉺𒊒𒌦𒁕𒆳𒉺𒋾𒈾𒀀𒀀𒆬𒌓𒎌𒆬𒄀𒎌𒀭𒈾𒎌𒌓𒅗𒁇𒅈𒄷𒄰𒎌𒌓𒅗𒁇𒅗𒎌𒄠𒋛𒎌𒄑𒆗𒎌𒄠𒄯𒋗

Transliteration:

ma-da-tu šá mqar-pa-ru-un-da kurpa-ti-na-a-a KÙ.BABBAR.MEŠ KÙ.GI.MEŠ AN.NA.MEŠ ZABAR ar-ḫu ÚTUL.MEŠ ZABAR ZÚ.MEŠ AM.SI.MEŠ gišESI.MEŠ am-ḫur-šu

Morphologically-Segmented Normalization:

maddatt-u ša Qarparunda Pattinaya kasp-ī ḫurāṣ-ī annak-ī sippar-i arḫ-u diqār-ī sippar-i šinn-ī pir-ī uš-ê a-mḫur-šu

Translation:

The tribute which I received from Qarparunda of Pattinu: silver, gold, tin, fast bronze (i.e., a bronze compound?), bronze vessels, elephant ivory, and ebony.

  • 𒁹𒋢𒌑𒀀𒆳𒆸𒍝𒈾𒀀𒀀 msu-ú-a kurgíl-za-na-a-a = Sūa Gilzānaya (PN)
  • 𒀭𒈾𒎌NA.MEŠ = annaku (sg.) ‘tin’
  • 𒄰𒎌 ÚTUL.MEŠ = diqāru (sg.) ‘large bowl, vessel; animal trough’
  • 𒌓𒅗𒁇 ZABAR = sipparu ‘bronze’
  • 𒄑𒄷𒋻𒀀𒋼𒎌 gišḫu-ṭar-a-ṭe.MEŠ < ḫuṭartu ‘staff’
  • 𒀲𒆳𒊏𒎌 ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ < sisû ‘horse’
  • 𒀲𒀀𒀊𒁀𒎌 ANŠE.A.AB.BA.MEŠ < gammalu ‘camel’
  • 𒁹𒅀𒌑𒀀𒌉𒁹𒄷𒌝𒊑𒄿 mia-ú-a DUMU mḫu-um-ri-i = Jehu, son of (the House of) Omri
  • 𒉺𒅁𒇻 sap-lu = saplu ‘bowl, dish’
  • 𒍪𒄣𒌓 zu-qu-ut < zūqutu ‘(small metal) dish’
  • 𒋡𒁍𒀀𒋼𒎌 qa-bu-a-te.MEŠ < qabūtu ‘bowl’
  • 𒁕𒆷𒉌𒎌 da-la-ni.MEŠ < dalû ‘bucket’
  • 𒄑𒁍𒀸𒄩𒋾 gišpu-aš-ḫa-ti < pašhu ‘weapon’ (javelin?)
  • 𒀀𒇉𒊓𒁲𒂊𒅀 ÍD sa-de-e-ia = nāri sadēya ‘river ox’ (i.e., a water buffalo)
  • 𒋢𒌑𒋢𒉿𒊏𒀀𒋾𒎌 su-ú-su pi-ra-a-ti.MEŠ = sūsu pīrāti ‘rhinocerus’ (lit., ‘a horse of the elephants’)
  • 𒀭𒀫𒌓𒀀𒉽𒆳𒋢𒄩𒀀𒀀 mdUTU-A-PAP kursu-ḫa-a-a = Marduk-apla-uṣur, the Suḫean (PN)
  • 𒁍𒌑𒍢 bu-ú-ṣi < būṣu ‘fine linen, byssus’
  • 𒌆𒇻𒇧𒋾 túglu-bul-ti < lubuštu ‘clothing, garment’
  • 𒄵𒈨 bir-me < birmu ‘multicoloured cloth’
  • 𒃰𒎌MEŠ < kitû ‘flax; linen’
  • 𒁹𒃼𒉺𒊒𒌦𒁕𒆳𒉺𒋾𒈾𒀀𒀀 mqar-pa-ru-un-da kurpa-ti-na-a-a = Qarparunda Pattinaya (PN)
  • 𒅈𒄷 ar-ḫu = arḫu ‘fast, quick’
  • 𒄑𒆗𒎌 gišMEŠ < ušû ‘ebony’

Shalmaneser III 14 (Black Obelisk: Main Inscription)

Prologue (Lines 1-14): Line Drawing (Börker-Klähn 1982)
Black Obelisk Main_Prologue (Lines 1-14)_Börker-Klähn 1982
Black Obelisk Main_Prologue (Lines 1-14)_Rasmussen 1897
1𒀭𒀸𒋩𒂗𒃲𒌑𒈗𒁶𒋥
2𒀭𒎌𒃲𒎌𒀭𒀀𒉡𒈗𒀭𒄿𒄀𒄀
3𒅇𒀭𒀀𒉣𒈾𒆠𒀭𒂗𒆳𒆳𒀭𒁁
4𒍢𒄿𒊒𒀀𒁍𒀭𒎌𒁀𒉡𒌑
5𒆕𒈠𒀭𒂍𒀀𒈗𒍪𒀊𒈬𒋆𒉆𒎌
6𒀭𒌍𒅕𒋗𒈗𒀀𒄀𒂊𒃻𒄣𒌑𒉆𒊑𒊑
7𒀭𒅎𒄑𒊒𒋗𒌅𒊒𒂗𒃶𒅅𒇷𒀭𒃻𒈦
8𒁲𒋻𒀭𒂊𒅇𒆠𒋾𒈬𒈠𒀪𒅕𒁶𒊑
9𒀭𒀫𒌓𒉣𒈨𒀭𒎌𒂗𒋼𒊑𒂊𒋼𒀭𒈦𒃼𒋥
10𒀭𒉣𒃲𒎌𒅇𒀭𒀀𒉣𒈾𒆠𒀭𒆗𒆗𒉡𒀭𒌋𒄥
11𒁍𒈠𒇻𒈗𒌓𒄩𒊑𒀭𒉺𒌆𒈾𒅆𒄑𒉺𒆬𒋼
12𒀭𒀯𒋫𒇻𒀭𒎏𒆤𒄭𒅕𒋾𒀭𒁁𒂼𒀭𒎌
13𒃲𒎌𒀭𒈹𒊕𒋾𒀭𒂊𒅇𒆠𒋼𒃻𒉺𒀭𒃼𒁺𒋼𒉻𒇻𒆳
14𒀭𒎌𒃲𒎌𒈬𒅆𒈬𒉆𒎌𒈬𒊬𒁍𒌑𒈗𒋾𒅀

daš-šur EN GAL-ú LUGAL gim-rat DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ da-nu LUGAL di-gi-gi ù da-nun-na-ki dEN KUR.KUR dBAD ṣi-i-ru a-bu DINGIR.MEŠ ba-nu-ú [DÙ-ma] [dé]-a LUGAL ZU.AB mu-šim NAM.MEŠ [d30] LUGAL a-ge-e šá-qu-ú nam-ri-ri [dIŠK]UR geš-ru šu-tu-ru EN ḫé-gál-li dšá-maš DI.KU5 AN-e ù KI-ti mu-ma-’e-er gim-ri [dAMAR.UT]U ABGAL DINGIR.MEŠ EN te-re-e-te dMAŠ qar-rad [d]NUN.GAL.MEŠ ù da-nun-na-ki DINGIR dan-dan-nu dU.GUR [gít]-ma-lu LUGAL tam-ḫa-ri dnusku na-ši GIŠ.GIDRU KÙ-te DINGIR mul-ta-lu dNIN.LÍL ḫi-ir-ti dBAD AMA DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ dINANNA SAG-ti AN-e ù KI-te šá GARZA qar-du-te šuk-lu-lat DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ mu-ši-mu NAM.MEŠ mu-šar-bu-ú LUGAL-ti-ia

Aššur bēlu rabû šar gimrat ilāni rabûti Anu šar Igigī u Annunakī bēl mātāti Enlil ṣīru abu ilāni bānû (kalāma) Ea šar apšî mušî šīmāti Sîn (eršu) šar agê šaqû namrīri Adad gešru šūturu bēl ḫegalli Šamaš dayyān šamê u erṣete muma’’er gimri Marduk apkal ilāni bēl têrēte Ninurta qarrād Igigī u Annunakī ili dandannu Nergal gitmālu šar tamḫāri Nusku nāši ḫaṭṭi ellete ili multālu Mullissu (=Ninlil) ḫīrti Enlil ummi ilāni rabûti Ištar (=Inanna) rēštīti šamê u erṣete ša parṣī qardūte šuklulat ilānu rabûtu mušimmu šīmāti mušarbû šarrūtiya

Aššur, the great lord, king of all of the great gods; Anu, king of the Igigi and Anunnaki gods, lord of the lands; Enlil, exalted one, father of the gods, creator (of everything); Ea, king of the apsû-netherworld, the one who determines fates; Sin the wise, king of the lunar-disk (lit., ‘crown’), high in lofty-radiance; Adad, exceptionally strong, the lord of abundance; Šamaš, judge of the heavens and the earth, commander of everything. Marduk, the sage of the gods, lord of omens; Ninurta, warrior of the Igigi and Anunnaki, all-powerful god; Nergal, perfect one, king of battle; Nusku, one who bears the pure/holy scepter, counciling god; Mullissu/Ninlil, wife of Enlil, mother of the great gods; Ištar/Inanna, foremost in the heavens and underworld, who is complete in the ordinances of battle; the great gods who decree destinies, who make great my kingship.

Introduction (Lines 15-26a): Line Drawing (Börker-Klähn 1982)
Black Obelisk Main 2_Introduction (Lines 15-26a)_Börker-Klähn 1982
Black Obelisk Main_Introduction (Lines 15-26a)_Rasmussen 1897
15𒁹𒀭𒁲𒈠𒉡𒈦𒈗𒆧𒆳𒌦𒎌𒉣𒌑𒋃𒀸𒋩𒈗𒆗𒉡
16𒈗𒄢𒆳𒄒𒋥𒇹𒋫𒀭𒌑𒋗𒆧𒆳𒌦𒎌𒄯𒋼𒁺𒌑
17𒅗𒇺𒆳𒆳𒌉𒁹𒀸𒋩𒉽𒀀𒋃𒌑𒍢𒄿𒊒𒃻𒋃𒋢𒌋𒅗𒀭𒎌
18𒄿𒎗𒁍𒈠𒆳𒆳𒀮𒄯𒅆𒈾𒀀𒈾𒄊𒅀𒋗𒌑𒋠𒉌𒋗
19𒀮𒉌𒌅𒆬𒌅𒃻𒁹𒄑𒆪𒋾𒀭𒈦
20𒃻𒄢𒆳𒍝𒄿𒊑𒋗𒄿𒉌𒊒𒈠
21𒅖𒁍𒉡𒀀𒁍𒁀𒉌𒅖
22𒄿𒈾𒋩𒋥𒈗𒋾𒅀𒃻𒀸𒄑𒄖𒍝
23𒈗𒋾𒃲𒅖𒌑𒅆𒁍𒄑𒇀𒎌
24𒂟𒄭𒀀𒅀𒀜𒆠𒀸𒆳𒉌𒊑𒁁𒃻𒆳𒋛𒈨𒋛
25𒆭𒌒𒌷𒀀𒊑𒁺𒌷𒆗𒉡𒋾𒋗
26𒃻𒁹𒉌𒅔𒉌𒆳𒌓

[md]sál-ma-nu-MAŠ LUGAL kiš-šat UN.MEŠ NUN-ú ŠID aš-šur LUGAL dan-nu LUGAL kúl-lat kib-rat LÍMMU-ta dšam-šu kiš-šat UN.MEŠ mur-te-du-ú ka-liš KUR.KUR DUMU maš-šur-PAP-A SANGA-ú ṣi-i-ru šá SANGA-su UGU DINGIR.MEŠ i-ṭí-bu-ma KUR.KUR nap-ḫar-ši-na a-na GÌR.II-šu ú-šék-ni-šu nab-ni-tu KÙ-tu šá mGIŠ.tukul-ti–dMAŠ šá kúl-lat za-i-ri-šu i-né-ru-ma iš-pu-nu a-bu-ba-ni-iš i-na šur-rat LUGAL-ti-ia šá AŠ gišGU.ZA LUGAL-ti GAL-iš ú-ši-bu gišGIGIR.MEŠ ERIM.ḪI.A-ia ad-ke AŠ kurné-re-be šá kursi-me-si KU4–ub urua-ri-du URU dan-nu-ti-šu šá mni-in-ni KUR-ud

Salmanu-ašared šar kiššat nišē rubû iššakku Aššur šarru dannu šar kullat kibrat erbetta Šamšu kiššat nišē murteddû kalîš mātāti mār Aššur-naṣir-aplu šangû ṣīru ša šangûssu eli ilāni iṭību-ma mātāti napḫaršina ana šēpīšu ušeknišu nabnītu ellutu ša Tukulti-Ninurta ša kullat zā’irīšu inēru-ma išpunu abūbāniš ina šurrât šarrūtiya ša ina kussê šarrūti rabîš ūšibu narkabāti ṣābīya adke ina Nērebē ša Simesi ērub Aridu āl dannūtišu ša Ninni akšud

Šalmaneser (III), king of all of the people, the leader, ruler of Aššur, strong king, king of all the four quarters (of the world), the Sun-god of all the people, controller of the totality of the lands, the son of Aššur-naṣir-pal (II), exalted priest, whose priesthood was pleasing to the gods, who subjugated the entirety of the lands to his feet, pure creation (=offspring) of Tukulti-Ninurta (II), who killed the totality of his foes, and overwhelmed (them) like a flood. At the beginning of my reign, when I magnificently sat on the throne of my kingship, I mustered the chariots of my troops. I entered into the pass of the land Simesi; I captured Aridu, the fortified city of Ninni.

Regnal Year 1 (Lines 26b-31): Line Drawing (Börker-Klähn 1982)
Black Obelisk Main 3_Year 1 (Lines 26b-31)_Börker-Klähn 1982
Black Obelisk Main 3_Year 1 (Lines 26b-31)_Rasmussen 1897

26

𒄿𒈾𒁹𒂗𒁄𒅀

27

𒀀𒇉𒀀𒋥𒀸𒈪𒇷𒃻𒂊𒄵𒀀𒈾𒌓𒁲𒃻𒁲𒈨𒀭𒌑𒅆

28

𒀠𒇷𒅅𒄑𒆪𒎌𒅀𒀸𒌓𒁲𒌑𒇸𒇻𒀬𒎌

29

𒀀𒈾𒀭𒎌𒅀𒊍𒁁𒀀𒈾𒆳𒂊𒆳𒄩𒈠𒀀𒉌𒂊𒇷

30

𒄑𒄖𒋩𒎌𒄑𒂊𒊑𒉌𒄑𒋆𒇷𒀀𒆧𒀀𒈾

31

𒆳𒇲𒆷𒅈𒂊𒇷𒍝𒇴𒈗𒋾𒅀𒀸𒊮𒁉𒌑𒊺𒁁

26b i-na 1-en BALA-ia 27 ÍD.A.RAD AŠ mi-li-šá e-bir a-na tam-di šá šùl-me dšam-ši 28 al-li-ik gišTUKUL.MEŠ-ia AŠ tam-di ú-lil UDU.SISKUR.MEŠ 29 a-na DINGIR.MEŠ-ia aṣ-bat a-na KUR-e kurḫa-ma-a-ni e-li 30 gišgu-šur.MEŠ giše-re-ni gišŠIM.LI a-kis a-na 31 kurlal-la-ar e-li ṣa-lam LUGAL-ti-ia AŠ lìb-bi ú-śe-ziz

ina išten palêya Purattu ina mīliša ēbir ana tâmdi ša šulme Šamši allik kakkīya ina tâmdi ullil nīqī ana ilāniya aṣbat ana šadê Ḫamani ēli gušūrī erēni burāši akkis ana Lallar ēli ṣalam šarrūtiya ina libbi ušezziz

In the first of my regnal year, I crossed the Euphrates in high-water. I went to the Sea of the Setting Sun. I washed/purified my weapons in the sea. I carried out offerings (lit. ‘seized sacrificial sheeps’) for my gods. I ascended Mount ‘Amanus. I cut down beams of cedar (and) juniper. I ascended Lallar. I erected the statue of my kingship in its midst.

Regnal Year 2 (Lines 32-35a): Line Drawing (Börker-Klähn 1982)
Black Obelisk Main_Year 2 (Lines 32-35a)_Börker-Klähn 1982
Black Obelisk Main_Year 2 (Lines 32-35a)_Rasmussen 1897

32     𒀸𒈫𒂊𒁄𒅀𒀀𒈾𒌷𒇯𒁇𒊓𒅁𒀝𒎗𒆗𒌷𒎌𒉌

33     𒃻𒁹𒀀𒄷𒉌𒌉𒁹𒀀𒁲𒉌𒆳𒌓𒀸𒌷𒋗𒂊𒋤𒋗𒀀𒇉𒀀𒋥

34     𒀸𒈪𒇷𒃻𒂊𒄵𒌷𒁕𒁉𒄖𒌷𒁉𒅕𒌅𒃻𒆳𒉺𒋾

35     𒀀𒁲𒌷𒎌𒉌𒃻𒇷𒈨𒌅𒋗𒆳𒌓

32 AŠ 2-e BALA-ia a-na uruDU6–bar-sa-ip aq-ṭí-rib URU.MEŠ-ni 33 šá ma-ḫu-ni DUMU ma-di-ni KUR-ud AŠ URU-šu e-sir-šu ÍD.A.RAD 34 AŠ mi-li-šá e-bir uruda-bi-gu urubi-ir-tu šá kurḫat-ti 35 a-di URU.MEŠ-ni šá li-me-tu-šu KUR-ud

32 ina šanê palêya ana Til-Barsip aqṭirib ālāni 33 ša Aḫuni mār (Bīt-)Adini akšud ina ālišu ēsiršu Purattu ina mīliša ēbir Dabigu birtu ša Ḫatti 35 adi ālāni ša limētušu akšud

In the second of my regnal years, I approached to Til-Barsip. I captured the cities of Aḫuni, son of (Bīt-)Adini. I confined him in his city. I crossed the Euprates in its high water. I captured the city of Dabigu, the fortress of Ḫatti, along with the cities in its environs.

Regnal Year 3 (Lines 35b-44): Line Drawing (Börker-Klähn 1982)
Black Obelisk Main_Year 3 (Lines 35b-44)_Börker-Klähn 1982
Black Obelisk Main_Year 3 (Lines 35b-44)_Rasmussen 1897

35     𒀸𒐈𒁄𒎌𒅀𒁹𒀀𒄷𒉌

36     𒌉𒁹𒀀𒁲𒉌𒋫𒉺𒀭𒄑𒆪𒎌𒅀𒆗𒉡𒋼𒅁𒌓𒈠𒌷𒇯𒁇𒊓𒅁

37     𒌷𒌋𒌋𒋾𒋗𒌝𒁕𒋓𒀀𒇉𒀀𒋥𒂊𒄵

38     𒌷𒀀𒈾𒀸𒋩𒌑𒌁𒊍𒁁𒃻𒄊𒅀𒄠𒈠𒋼

39     𒃻𒀀𒇉𒀀𒋥𒃻𒌋𒅗𒀀𒇉𒊓𒃵𒊑𒃻𒇽𒎌𒂊

40     𒆳𒉺𒋫𒀀𒀀𒌷𒉿𒀉𒊒𒄿𒋡𒁍𒋗𒉌

41     𒀀𒈾𒊏𒈠𒉌𒅀𒊍𒁁𒀸𒋫𒅀𒅈𒋾𒅀

42     𒀸𒆳𒉌𒊑𒁁𒃻𒆳𒀠𒍣𒆭𒌒𒆳𒀠𒍣𒆳𒋢𒄴𒈨

43     𒆳𒁕𒅀𒂊𒉌𒆳𒉏𒈨𒌷𒅈𒍝𒀾𒆪𒉡𒌷𒌋𒌋𒋾𒋙

44     𒃻𒁹𒀀𒊏𒈨𒆳𒌑𒊏𒅈𒁕𒀀𒀀𒆳𒆸𒍝𒀀𒉡𒆳𒄽𒍑𒆠𒀀𒆳𒌓

35b ina 3 BALA.MEŠ-ia ma-ḫu-ni 36 DUMU ma-di-ni TA pa-an gišTUKUL.MEŠ-ia dan-nu-te ip-laḫ-ma uruDU6–bar-sa-ip 37 URU MAN-ti-šu um-da-šir ídA.RAD e-bir 38 urua-na-aš-šur-ú-ter-aṣ-bat šá GÍR.II-ia am-ma-te 39 šá ÍD.A.RAD šá UGU ídsa-gúr-ri šá LÚ.MEŠ-e 40 kurḫat-ta-a-a urupi-it-ru i-qa-bu-šu-ni 41 a-na ra-ma-ni-ia aṣ-bat ina ta-ia-ar-ti-[ia] 42 ina kurné-re-be šá kural-zi KU4–ub kural-zi kursu-uḫ-me 43 kurda-ia-e-ni kurtum4–me uruar-ṣa-áš-ku-nu URU MAN-ti-[šú] 44 šá ma-ra-me kurú-ra-ar-ṭa-a-a kurgíl-za-a-nu kurḫub-uš-ki-a KUR-ud

ina 3 palêya Aḫuni 36 mār Adini ultu pān kakkīya dannūte iplaḫ-ma Til-Barsip 37 āl šarrūtišu umdaššir Purattu ēbir 38 Ana-Aššur-utēr-aṣbat 39 ša šēpī ammâte ša Purattu ša muḫḫi Sagurri ša amēlē 40 Ḫattaya Pitru iqabbûšuni 41 ana ramāniya aṣbat ina tayyartiya 42 ina Nerebe ša Alzi ērub Alzi Suḫme 43 Daiaeni Tumme Arṣaškunu āl šarrūtišu 44 ša Arrāmu Urarṭaya Gilzānu Ḫunuškia akšud

35b In the third of my regnal years, Aḫūnu of (Bīt-)Adini became afraid from before my mighty weapons. 36b He abandoned Til-Barsip, his royal city. 37b I crossed the Euphrates River. 38 I seized for myself the city Ana-Aššur-utēr-aṣbat, which is at the feet of the Euphrates River, beside the Sagurri River, which the people of Ḫatti call the city Pitru. 41b When I returned, I entered through Nerebe of Alzi. 42b I conquered (the cities) Alzi, Suḫme, Daiaeni, Tumme, Arṣaškunu, the royal city of Arramu, the Urarṭean, the land Gilzanu, and the city Ḫubuškia.

Regnal Year 4 (Lines 45-52a): Line Drawing (Börker-Klähn 1982)
Black Obelisk Main_Year 4 (Lines 45-52a)_Börker-Klähn 1982
Black Obelisk Main_Year 4 (Lines 45-52a)_Rasmussen 1897

45

𒄿𒈾𒅆𒈬𒁹𒁲𒋻𒀸𒋩𒋫𒌷𒀏𒆠𒀜𒌅𒈲𒀀𒇉𒀀𒋥

46

𒀸𒈪𒇷𒃻𒂊𒄵𒂕𒁹𒀀𒄷𒉌𒌉𒀀𒁲𒉌𒀀𒌨𒅆𒌓𒋥

47

𒋗𒋛𒆳𒂊𒃻𒀀𒉺𒀀𒇉𒀀𒋥𒀀𒈾𒆗𒉡𒋾𒋙𒅖𒆲𒆳𒌑𒁀

𒈾𒀜

48

𒆳𒂊𒀀𒋛𒁉𒀝𒋫𒆳𒁹𒀀𒄷𒉌𒀀𒁲𒀭𒎌𒋙𒄑𒇀𒎌𒋙

49

𒀲𒆳𒊏𒎌𒋙𒌉𒎌𒋙𒌉𒊩𒎌𒋙𒂟𒄭𒀀𒋙𒀀𒋢𒄩𒋙𒁹𒌷𒅀𒀸𒋩

50

𒌒𒆷𒀸𒈬𒈠𒅆𒀀𒋾𒆳𒄢𒆷𒅈𒁄𒀜𒀀𒈾𒆳𒍝𒈬𒀀

51

𒃻𒂍𒀀𒉌𒀜𒋫𒋥𒌷𒎌𒉌𒃻𒁹𒉌𒅅𒁲𒀀𒊏𒌷𒄿𒁕𒀀𒀀

52

𒁹𒉌𒅅𒁲𒈠𒆳𒌓

45 i-na lim-mu mDI.KU5–aš-šur TA uruNINAki at-ta-muš ÍD.A.RAD 46 ina mi-li-šá e-bir EGIR ma-ḫu-ni DUMU a-di-ni a-lik ši-tam-rat 47 ŠU.SI KUR-e šá a-ḫat ÍD.A.RAD a-na dan-nu-ti-šú iš-kun kurú-ba-[na-at] 48 KUR-e a-si-bi ak-ta-šad ma-ḫu-ni a-di DINGIR.MEŠ-šú gišGIGIR.MEŠ-šú 49 ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ-šú DUMU.MEŠ-šú DUMU.MUNUS.MEŠ-šú ERIM.ḪI.A-šú a-su-ḫa-šú ana URU-ia aš-šur 50 ub-la ina MU-ma ši-a-ti kurkúl-la-ar BAL-at a-na kurza-mu-a šá É-a-ni at-ta-rad URU.MEŠ-ni šá mni-ik-di-a-ra urui-da-a-a mni-ik-de-ma KUR-ud

45 ina limmu Dayyān-Aššur ultu Ninua attumuš Purattu ina mīliša ēbir arki Aḫuni mār (Bīt-)Adini allik Šitamrat ubān šadê ša aḫat Purattu ana dannūtišu iškun ubānāt šadê assibi aktašad Aḫuni adi ilānišu narkabātišu sisêšu mārīšu mārātišu ṣābīšu assuḫašu ana āliya aššur ubla ina šattimma šiāti Kullar attabalkat ana Zamua ša bētāni attarad ālāni ša Nikdera Idaya Nikdema akšud

In the eponymy year of Dayyān-Aššur, I set out from Nineveh. I crossed the Euphrates in its high water. I went after (in pursuit of) Aḫuni, son of (Bīt-)Adini. He established Šitamrat, the peak (lit. ‘finger’) of the mountain next to the Euphrates, for his stronghold. I surrounded and captured the peak of the mountain. I uprooted Aḫuni along with his gods, his chariots, his horses, his sons, his daughters, (and) his troops. I brought (them) to my city, Aššur. In that year, I crossed over Kullar. I went down to Zamua, in its interior. I captured the cities of Nikdiara of the land Idu, and Nikdema.

Regnal Year 5 (Lines 52b-54a): Line Drawing (Börker-Klähn 1982)
Black Obelisk Main_Year 5 (Lines 52b-54a)_Börker-Klähn 1982
Black Obelisk Main_Year 5 (Lines 52b-54a)_Rasmussen 1897

52b

𒀸𒐊𒁄𒅀𒀀𒈾𒆳𒁉𒅀𒊑𒂊𒇷𒌷𒎌

53

𒆗𒉡𒋼𒆳𒌓𒁹𒀭𒄭𒀉𒋾𒆳𒊒𒊑𒀀𒀀𒀸𒌷𒋙𒂊𒋤𒋙𒈠𒁕𒌅𒋙

54a

𒈠𒀪𒌅𒄠𒄯𒋙

52b ina 5 BALA-ia a-na kurkaš-ia-ri e-li URU.MEŠ 53 dan-nu-te KUR-ud man-ḫi-it-ti kuršub-ri-a-a ina URU-šú e-sir-šú ma-da-tu-šú ma-a’-tu am-ḫur-šú

ina 5 palêya ana Kāšiāri ēli ālāni dannūte akšud Anḫitti Šubriaya ina ālišu ēsiršu maddattušu ma’attu amḫuršu

In the fifth of my regnal years, I ascended Mount Kāšiāru. I conquered fortified cities. I confined Anḫittu of the land Šubria in his city. I received his tribute, very much so.

Regnal Year 6 (Lines 54b-66): Line Drawing (Börker-Klähn 1982)
Black Obelisk Main_Year 6 (Lines 54b-66)_Börker-Klähn 1982
Black Obelisk Main_Year 6 (Lines 54b-66)_Rasmussen 1897

54

𒀸𒐋𒁄𒅀𒀀𒈾𒌷𒎌𒉌𒃻𒅆𒁲𒀀𒇉𒁀𒇷𒄭

55

𒀝𒎗𒆗𒁹𒄀𒄠𒈬𒂗𒌷𒋙𒉡𒄤𒆪

56

𒀀𒈾𒌷𒇯𒌉𒀀𒄭𒆭𒌒

57

𒀀𒇉𒀀𒋥𒀸𒈪𒇷𒃻𒂊𒄵

58

𒈠𒁕𒌅𒃻

𒌋𒌋𒎌𒉌𒃻𒆳𒉺𒋾

59

𒆕𒋙𒉡𒄠𒄯𒀸𒌓𒈪𒋙𒈠𒁹𒀭𒅎𒀉𒊑

60

𒃻𒆳𒀲𒋙𒁹𒅕𒄷𒇷𒈾𒆳𒀀𒆳𒀀𒀀𒀀𒁲𒌋𒌋𒎌𒉌

61

𒃻𒆳𒉺𒋾𒅇𒀀𒉺𒌓𒋾𒀀𒈾𒀉𒎌𒀀𒄩𒈩

62

𒀉𒍴𒇻𒈠𒀀𒈾𒂊𒄫

×𒌋𒀞

63

𒀀𒈾𒃮𒅀𒀉𒁍𒉌𒀸𒆠𒂍𒀸𒋩𒂗𒃲𒂗𒅀

64

𒀉𒋾𒋙𒉡𒄠𒈭𒄭𒄑𒅆𒅆𒋙𒉡𒀾𒆲

65

𒄑𒇀𒎌𒋙𒉡𒂍𒄬𒆷𒋙𒉡𒌑𒉡𒌓𒀞𒋙𒉡𒂊𒁶𒋙𒉡

66

𒌋𒌋𒅆𒐊𒈨𒂟𒎌𒋾𒁺𒆠𒋙𒉡𒀸𒄑𒆪𒎌𒌑𒌑𒆤

54b ina 6 BALA-ia a-na URU.MEŠ-ni šá ši-di ÍDba-li-ḫi 55 aq-ṭí-rib mge-am-mu EN URU-šú-nu GAZ-ku 56 a-na uruDU6–tur-a-ḫi KU4–ub 57 ídA.RAD ina mi-li-šá e-bir 58 ma-da-tu šá MAN.MEŠ-ni šá kurḫat-ti 59 DÙ-šú-nu am-ḫur ina u4–mi-šú-ma mdIŠKUR-id-ri 60 šá-KUR.ANŠE-šú mir-ḫu-le-na kura-mat-a-a- a-di MAN.MEŠ-ni 61 šá kurḫat-ti ù a-ḫat tam-ti a-na Á.MEŠ a-ḫa-miš 62 it-tàk-lu-ma a-na e-peš MURUB4 u MÈ 63 a-na GABA-ia it-bu-ni ina qí-bit aš-šur EN GAL EN-ia 64 it-ti-šú-nu am-daḫ-ḫi-iṣ BAD5.BAD5–šú-nu áš-kun 65 gišGIGIR.MEŚ-šú-nu pet-ḫal-la-šú-nu ú-nu-ut MÈ-šú-nu e-kim-šú-nu 66 20 LIM 5 ME ERIM.MEŠ ti-du-ki-šú-nu ina gišTUKUL.MEŠ ú-šam-qit

ina 6 palêya ana ālāni ša šiddi Balīḫi aqṭirib Gē-ammu bēl ālišunu idūkū ana Til-turaḫi ērub Purattu ina miliša ēbir maddattu ša šarrāni ša Ḫatti kalîšunu amḫur ina ūmišuma Adda-idri Ša-imerišu Irḫulena (H)amataya adi šarrāni ša Ḫatti u aḫat tamti ana emūqi aḫāmiš ittaklūma ana epēš qabli u tāḫāzi ana irtiya itbûni ina qibīt Aššur bēli rabî bēliya ittišunu amdaḫḫiṣ dabdâšunu aškun narkabātišunu pētḫallašunu unūt tāḫāzišunu ēkimšunu 20 līm 5 mē ṣābī tidūkišunu ina kakkī ušamqit

In the sixth of my regnal years, I approached the cities of the banks of the Balīḫ River. They killed Gē-ammu, the ruler of their city. I entered Tīl-turāḫi. I crossed the Euphrates in its high water. I received the tribute of the kings of Ḫatti, all of them. On that day, Hadad-ezer of Damascus, Irḫulena of Hamath, as far as the kings of Ḫatti (and) the shore of the sea, all trusting in each other, attacked me to do (=wage) battle and war. By the command of Aššur, the great lord, my lord, I fought with them. I established their defeat. I took away from them their chariots, cavalry, and the equipment of their military. I struck down (lit. ‘felled’) 20,500 troops of their military with (my) weapons.

Regnal Year 7 (Lines 67-72): Line Drawing (Börker-Klähn 1982)
Black Obelisk Main_Year 7 (Lines 67-72)_Börker-Klähn 1982
Black Obelisk Main_Year 7 (Lines 67-72)_Rasmussen 1897

67

𒀸𒐌𒁄𒎌𒅀𒀀𒈾𒌷𒎌𒉌𒃻𒁹𒄩𒁉𒉌𒌷𒇯𒎎𒎌𒀀𒀀𒀀

𒌨

68

𒌷𒇯𒎎𒎌𒌷𒆗𒉡𒋾𒋙𒀀𒁲𒌷𒎌𒉌𒃻𒇷𒈨𒌅𒋙𒆳𒌓

69

𒀀𒁲𒊕𒀀𒇉𒂊𒉌𒃻𒀀𒇉𒄬𒄬𒀀𒊬𒈬𒍮𒌋𒃻𒀀𒎌𒊕𒉡𒀀𒌨

70

𒄑𒆪𒀸𒋩𒀸𒊮𒌑𒇸𒇻𒀬𒎌𒀀𒈾𒀭𒎌𒉌𒅀𒊍𒁁𒀮𒆗𒄷𒁺𒌓

71

𒀾𒆲𒍝𒇴𒌋𒌋𒋾𒅀𒋩𒁀𒀀𒂊𒁍𒍑𒋫𒈾𒋾𒀸𒋩𒂗𒀀𒀠𒅗𒆐

72

𒄥𒁲𒅀𒌋𒌋𒈠𒃻𒀸𒆳𒆳𒂊𒋼𒁍𒃻𒀸𒄫𒁉𒃻𒀾𒄙𒀸𒊮𒁉𒌑𒊺𒁁

67 ina 7 BALA.MEŠ-ia a-na URU.MEŠ-ni šá mḫa-bi-ni uruDU6-NA4.MEŠ-a-a a-[lik] 68 uruDU6-NA4.MEŠ URU dan-nu-ti-šú a-di URU.MEŠ-ni šá li-me-tu-šú KUR-ud 69 a-di SAG íde-ni šá ídḪAL.ḪAL a-šar mu-ṣu-u šá A.MEŠ šak-nu a-lik 70 gišTUKUL aš-šur ina ŠÀ ú-lil UDU.SISKUR.MEŠ a-na DINGIR.MEŠ-ni-ia aṣ-bat nap-tan ḫu-du-tú 71 áš-kun ṣa-lam MAN-ti-ia šur-ba-a e-pu-uš ta-na-ti aš-šur EN-a al-ka-kát 72 qur-di-ia mìm-ma šá ina KUR.KUR e-te-pu-šá ina qer-bi-šá áš-ṭur ina lìb-bi ú-še-ziz

ina 7 palêya ana ālāni ša Ḫabīni Tīl-Abnaya allik Tīl-Abnaya dannūtišu adi ālāni ša limētušu akšud adi rēš ēni ša Diglat ašar mūṣû ša mê šaknu allik kakki aššur ina libbi ullil nīqī ana ilāniya aṣbat naptan ḫudûtu aškun ṣalam šarrūtiya šurbâ ēpuš tanatti aššur bēliya alkakāt qurdiya mimma ša ina mātāti ēteppuša ina qerbiša ašṭur ina libbi ušezziz

67 In the seventh of my regnal years, I went to the cities of Ḫabīnu of Tīl-abnē. 68 I conquered Tīl-abnē, his fortified city, as well as the cities of its environs. 69 I went as far as the source (lit. ‘head’) of the spring of the Tigris River, the place where water comes out. 70 I washed the weapons of Aššur in its midst. I seized sheep-offerings for my gods. I established a joyful banquet (lit. ‘a meal-time of rejoicing’). I made a very large statue of my kingship. I inscribed the praise of Aššur, my lord, my heroic deeds, everything which I accomplished in the lands. I erected it in its midst.

Regnal Year 8 (Lines 73-76): Line Drawing (Börker-Klähn 1982)
Black Obelisk Main_Year 8 (Lines 73-76)_Börker-Klähn 1982
Black Obelisk Main_Year 8 (Lines 73-76)_Rasmussen 1897

73

𒀸𒐍𒁄𒎌𒅀𒁹𒀭𒀫𒌓𒈬𒈬𒌋𒌋𒆳𒋼𒀀𒁺𒉌𒀾

74

𒁹𒀭𒀫𒌓𒂗𒌑𒊓𒀀𒋼𒋀𒁺𒁍𒊻𒋢𒌑𒀉𒋾𒋙𒅁𒁄𒆤

75

𒆳𒈠𒀠𒈠𒇷𒅖𒄿𒍪𒍪𒀀𒈾𒌅𒌨𒄀𒅖𒇷

76

𒁹𒀭𒀫𒌓𒈬𒈬𒀀𒌨𒌷𒀀𒎌𒄙𒈾𒀜𒀝𒋗𒌓

73 ina 8 BALA.MEŠ-ia mdAMAR.UTU-MU-MU MAN kurkar-du-ni-áš 74 mdAMAR.UTU-EN-ú-sa-a-te ŠEŠ du-pu-us-su-ú it-ti-šú ib-bal-kit 75 KUR ma-al-ma-li-iš i-zu-zu a-na tu-ur gi-mil-li 76 mdAMAR.UTU-MU-MU a-lik uruA.MEŠ-túr-na-at ak-šu-ud

ina 8 palêya Marduk-zākir-šumi šar Karduniaš Marduk-bēl-usāti aḫu duppussû ittišu ibbalkit mātu malmališ izūzū ana tūr gimilli Marduk-zākir-šumi allik Mê-Turnat akšud

In the eighth of my regnal years, Marduk-zakir-šumi was the king of Karduniaš (Babylon); Marduk-bēl-usāti, his younger brother, rebelled against him. They divided it equally. I went out to return vengeance for Marduk-zakir-šumi. I conquered the city of Mê-Turnat.

Regnal Year 9 (Lines 77-84): Line Drawing (Börker-Klähn 1982)
Black Obelisk Main_Year 9 (Lines 77-84)_Börker-Klähn 1982
Black Obelisk Main_Year 9 (Lines 77-84)_Rasmussen 1897

77

𒀸𒑆𒁄𒎌𒅀𒃻𒉡𒋼𒋙𒀀𒈾𒆳𒀝𒅗𒁲𒂊𒀀𒌨

78

𒌷𒂵𒈾𒈾𒋼𒀠𒈪𒁹𒀭𒀫𒌓𒂗𒌑𒊓𒋼𒁍𒌌𒄭

79

𒈨𒇴𒈨𒃻𒀸𒋩𒀭𒀫𒌓𒄑𒄷𒁍𒋙𒈠𒀀𒈾𒋗𒍪𒌒𒍣𒎌𒋙𒀀𒈾

80

𒆳𒂊𒂊𒇷𒂕𒋙𒅈𒋼𒁲𒁹𒀭𒀫𒌓𒂗𒌑𒊓𒀀𒋼𒂗𒂟𒎌

81

𒂗𒄭𒀉𒁲𒃻𒀉𒋾𒋙𒀸𒄑𒆪𒎌𒌑𒌑𒆤𒀀𒈾𒈠𒄩𒍣

82

𒃲𒎌𒀀𒌨𒇻𒀬𒎌𒀸𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠𒁈𒉺𒇻𒆠𒆪𒋾𒂊𒆠𒆕𒍑

83

𒃻𒁀𒎌𒀀𒈾𒀭𒎌𒃲𒎌𒀝𒆧𒀀𒈾𒆳𒆗𒁲𒌑𒈩𒌷𒎌𒉌𒋙𒉡𒆳𒌓

84

𒈠𒁕𒌓𒃻

𒎙𒎌𒉌𒃻𒆳𒆗𒁲𒄠𒄯𒋗𒊑𒁁𒄑𒆪𒎌𒅀𒀀𒁲𒈥𒊏𒋾𒄑𒄷𒌒

77 ina 9 BALA.MEŠ-ia šá-nu-te-šú a-na KUR ak-ka-de-e a-lik

78a uruga-na-na-te al-mi

78b-79a mdAMAR.UTU-EN-ú-sa-te pu-ul-ḫi me-lam-me šá aš-šur dAMAR.UTU is-ḫu-pu-šú-ma

79b-80a a-na šu-zu-ub ZI.MEŠ-šú a-na KUR-e e-li

80b EGIR-šú ar-te-di

80c-81a mdAMAR.UTU-EN-ú-sa-te EN ERIM.MEŠ EN ḫi-iṭ-ṭi šá it-ti-šú ina gišTUKUL.MEŠ ú-šam-qit

81b-82a a-na ma-ḫa-zi GAL.MEŠ a-lik

82b uduSISKUR.MEŠ ina KÁ.DINGIR.RAki bár-sipaki ku-te9-eki DÙ-eš

83a NÍG.BA.MEŠ a-na DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ aq-qiš

83b a-na kurkal-di ú-rid

83c URU.MEŠ-ni-šú-nu KUR-ud

84a ma-da-tú šá MAN.MEŠ-ni šá kurkal-di am-ḫur

84b šu-ri-bat gišTUKUL.MEŠ-ia a-di mar-ra-ti is-ḫu-up

77 ina 9 palêya šanūtēšu ana māt Akkade allik

78a Gannanāte almi

78b Marduk-bēl-usāti pulḫi melamme ša Aššur Marduk isḫupūšuma

79b ana šūzub napšātišu ana šadê ēli

80b arkišu artedi

80c Marduk-bēl-usāti adi ṣābī bēl ḫiṭṭi ša ittišu ina kakkī ušamqit

81b ana māḫāzi rabûti allik

82b nīqī ina Babili Barsipa Kute ēpuš

83a qīšūte ana ilāni rabûti aqqiš

83b ana Kaldi ūrid ālānišunu akšud

84a maddattu ša šarrāni ša Kaldi amḫur

84b šuribat kakkīya adi Marrati isḫup

In the ninth of my regnal year, I marched (lit. ‘went’) to the land Akkad a second time. I surrounded the city Gannanāte. The fear of the divine-radiance of Aššur and Marduk overwhelmed Marduk-bēl-usāti. To save his life, he ascended a mountain. I pursued after him. I struck down Marduk-bēl-usāti with swords along with his troops, those responsible for crimes who were with him. I marched (went) to great shrines (or, cult-centers). I performed offerings in Babylon, Borsippa, and Cutha. I gave gifts to the great gods. I went down to Chaldea. I captured their cities. I received tribute of the kings of Chaldea. The terror of my weapons overwhelmed them as far as the Bitter Sea.

Regnal Year 10 (Lines 85-86): Line Drawing (Börker-Klähn 1982)
Black Obelisk Main_Year 10 (Lines 85-86)_Börker-Klähn 1982
Black Obelisk Main_Year 10 (Lines 85-86)_Rasmussen 1897

85

𒀸𒌋𒁄𒎌𒅀𒐍𒋙𒀀𒇉𒀀𒋥𒂊𒄵𒌷𒎌𒉌𒃻𒁹𒊓𒀭𒂵𒊏𒌷𒃻𒂵𒈩𒀀𒀀𒆳𒌓

86

𒀀𒈾𒌷𒎌𒉌𒃻𒁹𒀀𒊏𒈨𒀝𒎗𒆗𒌷𒅈𒉌𒂊𒌷𒌋𒌋𒋾𒋙𒂗𒁹𒈨𒌷𒎌𒉌𒋙𒆳𒌓

ina 10 BALA.MEŠ-ia 8-šú ídA.RAD e-bir URU.MEŠ-ni šá msa-an-ga-ra urugar-ga-miš-a-a KUR-ud a-na URU.MEŠ-ni šá ma-ra-me aq-ṭí-rib uruar-né-e URU MAN-ti-šú EN 1 ME URU.MEŠ-ni-šú KUR-ud

ina 10 palêya 8-šu Purattu ēbir ālāni ša Sangara Gargamišaya akšud ana ālāni ša Arame aqṭirib Arnê āl šarrūtišu 1 mē ālānišu akšud

In the tenth of my regnal years, I crossed the Euphrates an eighth time. I conquered the cities of Sangara of Carchemish. I approached the cities of Arame (Abi-rāmu). I captured Arnê, his royal city, along with one-hundred of his cities.

NABU 2015, no. 105: An Aramean in the Service of Amel-Marduk

Images
Nabu 2015, no. 105_Image1
Nabu 2015, no. 105_Image2

54 ½ MA.NA ⸢KÙ.BABBAR⸣ šá mdAG-ŠEŠ.MEŠ-GI ina pa-ni mdba-ti-DINGIR.MEŠ-šu-ru šá É lúDUMU-LUGAL a-na dul-lu ina ŠÀ-bi 11 MA.NA GÍN gam-mar mdAG-ŠEŠ.MEŠ-GI IGI-u’

ITI DU6 UD 25-KAM MU 42-KAM dPA-NÍG.DU-ÙRI LUGAL TIN.TIRki

54 1/2 mina kaspi ša Nabû-aḫḫe-šullim ina pāni Baytil-šūru ša bīt mār šarri ana dullu ina libbi 11 mina 1/3 šiqli gammar Nabû-aḫḫe-šullim imḫuru.

Tašrītu ūmu 25 šattu 42 Nabu-kudduri-uṣur šar Babili.

54 and a half minas of silver belonging to Nabû-aḫḫe-šullim before (=at the disposal of) Baytil-šūr, who is of the house of the son of the king (i.e., the crown prince), for service (e.g., corvée, ritual). From it, Nabû-aḫḫe-šullim received 11 minas and one-third shekel as complete (payment).

Month Tašrītu, day 25, year 42 of Nebuchadnezzar (II), king of Babylon.

  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Uncertain
  • Date: Neo-Babylonian
  • Genre: Administrative
  • Collection: Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA 19.024.23)
  • CDLI: P461521
  • Primary Publication: NABU 2015, no. 105
  • Description: An Aramaen (or Israelite) in the Service of the Crown Prince Amēl-Marduk

SAA 11, 124 (List of Chariot Troops and Scribes)

Line Drawing
SAA 11, 124_Line Drawing

Unable to locate.

𒁹𒀭𒉺𒋢 𒇽𒀴 𒃻 𒁹𒀸𒋩𒉽𒉽

𒇽 𒄑 𒇀 𒂃 𒎌 𒋼

𒁹 𒀭 𒉺 𒋼𒀀 𒍢 𒌑 𒁀 𒀾

𒁹𒀭𒉺𒉽𒀸 𒉽 𒈫 𒇽𒀴𒎌

𒃻 𒁹𒆰𒌋𒋾 𒐈𒄷𒋛 𒇀𒎌

𒁹𒅀𒋫𒀀𒀪 𒑳 𒁹𒀭𒌓𒉽𒅕

𒐈𒄷𒋛 𒇀𒎌 X

𒁹𒇻𒌒𒁍 𒑳 𒁹𒄀𒊓XX

𒁹 XXXX 𒌉 𒁹XXXX

X X X X  X X X  X X X X X

𒁹  X X X X X X X X X

𒁹  X X X X X X X X X

𒁹  X X X X X X X X X

 

𒁹 X  𒆠 𒀉  X X X X X X

𒇽𒀀𒁀 XXXX

𒁹𒀴𒀭𒉺 𒇽𒀀𒁀 XXXX

𒁹𒉽𒁍𒌋 𒇽𒀀𒁀 𒆳𒌒𒈠𒀀𒀀

𒉽 𒀭𒉡𒋼 𒇽𒌝𒈠𒀀𒉌 

𒊭 𒂗𒉣 XXX

𒉽 𒐕  [..85?]

mdPA-SU LÚ.ARAD šá maš-šur-PAB-PAB

LÚ.GIŠ.GIGIR DU8.MEŠ-te

mdPA-kar-ṣi–ú-ba-áš

mdPA-PAB-AŠ PAB 2 LÚ.ARAD.MEŠ

šá mNUMUN-u-ti 3.U5 GIGIR.MEŠ

mia-ta-a-a’ : mdUTU-PAB-ir

3.U5 GIGIR.MEŠ

mlu-up-pu : mgi-sa-XX

m[…] DUMU m[…]

[………]

m[………]

m[………]

m[………]

(rest of obverse and beginning of reverse broken)

m[…]ki-it[…]

LÚ.A.BA […]

mARAD-dPA LÚ.A.BA […]

mPAB-bu-u LÚ.A.BA KUR ár-ma-a-a

PAB an-nu-te LÚ um-ma-a-ni

ša EN.NUN […]

PAB […]

Nabû-eriba urdu ša Aššur-aḫu-uṣur šušānu ša pattūte, Nabû-karṣi-ubaš, Nabû-aḫu-iddina. Gimru: 2 urdāni ša Zaruti, tašliš mugirrī. 6 Yata’a: Šamaš-naṣir, tašliš mugirrī. 8 Luppu: Gisa-[x …] mār […………]. […]kit[…] ṭupšarru, Urda-Nabû ṭupšarru, Aḫ-abû ṭupšarru Armaya. Gimru annūte ummāni ša maṣṣarti. Gimru […]

Nabu-eriba, servant of Aššur-aḫu-uṣur, horse-trainer of the cavalry, Nabû-karṣi-ubaš, and Nabû-aḫu-iddina. Total: 2 slaves of Zaruti, a third man of the chariots. Yata’a, ditto, Šamaš-naṣir, third man of the chariots. […] son of […] (rest of obverse and beginning of reverse broken) […], scribe. Urda-Nabu, scribe […]. Aḫ-abû, Aramean scribe. The total/sum of these are scholars of the watch. Total: [85?].

  • mdPA-SU = Nabû-eriba (PN)
  • maš-šur-PAB-PAB = Aššur-aḫu-uṣur (PN)
  • LÚ.GIŠ.GIGIR DU8.MEŠ-te = šušānu ša pattūte ‘horse-trainer of the cavalry’
  • mdPA-kar-ṣi–ú-ba-áš = Nabû-karṣi-ubaš (PN)
  • mdPA-PAB-AŠ = Nabû-aḫu-iddina (PN)
  • PAB = gimru ‘total’
  • U5 = tašliš ‘third-man’
  • MEŠ = mugerru ‘two-wheeled vehicle, chariot; wheel’
  • mdUTU-PAB-ir = Šamaš-naṣir (PN)
  • LÚ.A.BA = ṭupšarru ‘scribe’ (alphabetic)
  • mARAD-dPA = Urda-Nabû (PN)
  • ummiānu ‘craftsman, specialist’ (OB); ‘scholar, scribal expert’ (NA, NB)
  • NUN = maṣṣartu ‘observation, guard, watch’
  • Materiality (material and type): Clay tablet
  • Provenience: Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik)
  • Date: Neo-Assyrian
  • Genre: Administrative
  • Description: A list of chariot troops and scribes mentioning an Aramean scribe.
  • Collection: British Museum 1883-01-18, 471
  • Primary Publication: ADD 912
  • CDLI: P335749