Position in chronology
SAA 04 332. Fragment Similar to No. 323 (PRT 127) [unclassifiable]
Translation · reference
High confidence(Beginning destroyed) (1) The phys[ician shall not touch the patient ...]. (2) The 'path' [...] to the right [......]. (3) If the 'well-being' is destro[yed ......]: the enemy will [go] into exile [......]. (5) The 'bases of the throne' are two and [......]. (6) [If] the top of the 'finger' is atrophied: [the enemy will attack] the vanguard [of my army]. (7) The middle surface of the 'finger' [......]. (8) If the base of top of the 'finger' [is ......]: a [dangerous] attack [......]. (10) [...] the left [......]. (Break) (r 2) [...] A cancerous marking [......] (r 3) [concerning] Aššur-ra'im-ša[rri ......]. (r 4) Month Tammuz (IV), 24th day, [eponym year of NN]. (r 5) Ilu-u[...], re[porter].
Source: Starr, I. 1990. Queries to the Sungod: Divination and Politics in Sargonid Assyria. SAA 4. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa04/P238938/
Why it matters
Transliteration
LÚ.A.[ZU ana GIG ŠU.2-su la ub-bal] / BE GÍR ana 15 [x x x x x x x] / BE SILIM RA-⸢iṣ⸣ [x x x x x x x] / KÚR ṭa-ri-du-[tam DU-ak o] / ⸢BE⸣ ŠUB—AŠ.TE 02-ma u [x x x x x x x] / [BE] SAG U KAR IGI-⸢it⸣ [ERIM-MU KÚR TAG-at] / [BE] EDIN U MURUB₄ TAR? [x x x x x x] / BE ⸢SUḪUŠ⸣ EDIN U [x x x x x x x] / ⸢ZI⸣-ib MÍ.[ḪUL x x x x x x x] / [x x] 150 [x x x x x x x x] / [x x x]+⸢x x⸣+[x x x] / [x x]…
Scholarly note
Extispicy query addressed to Šamaš, the sungod and patron of divination, edited by Ivan Starr (SAA 4, 1990). The king asks the deity to render a yes/no verdict on a political or military question. ORACC text P238938.
Attribution
Image: BM — (British Museum, London, UK) — from Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts, P238938). source
Translation excerpted from Starr, I. 1990. Queries to the Sungod: Divination and Politics in Sargonid Assyria. SAA 4. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa04/P238938/.
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