2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
The world's first empire under Sargon.
Sargon of Akkad unifies the city-states by force, founding what is arguably the world's first empire. Akkadian, a Semitic language, joins Sumerian on the tablets. His granddaughter Enheduanna — high priestess at Ur — composes hymns that survive: the first author in history we can name.
Primary sources
Tablets from this period
3716 tablets dated to Akkadian Empire — showing 24 below; browse all 3716.
Disk of Enheduanna
The literary tradition is no longer anonymous from this point. Authorship — the idea that a specific human voice composes a specific work — enters the historical record with her.
MythologyWriting & LiteratureMan-ištušu 1
(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on its socle. (colophon 2, 1) The inscription on its socle.
LawNaram-Suen 14
(1) ... installed it in the temple of Enlil. (3) At that time Su’āš-takal, the estate administrator of the king was its leader; Irina-badbi was the temple administrator of Enlil.
LawNaram-Suen 2001
(1) Narām-Suen, king of Agade, king of the four quarters: Irina-badbi, temple administrator of Enlil, is your servant.
LawNaram-Suen 2018
(1) To Ningublaga of Asug-ĝišdua, Išṭup-ilum, his estate administrator dedicated this (plaque) for the well-being of Naram-Suen, the god of Akkad, and for the well-being of En-men-ana.
LawNaram-Suen 2019 / CDLI Seals 001417 (CDLI Seals 001417 (physical))
(1) En-men-ana: Ursi, the doorkeeper, is her servant.
LawNaram-Suen 2020 / CDLI Seals 005992 (CDLI Seals 005992 (composite))
(1) Naram-Suen, the god of Akkad, En-men-ana, the en-priestess of Nanna, his child: ..., the scribe, is her slave.
LawRimuš 03
(colophon 1, 1) The inscription was written at his left side.
LawRimuš 18 (Sumerian)
(1) Rimuš, king of the world: Since the dawn of time no one had ever fashioned a tin statue for Enlil, (but now) Rimuš, king of the world fashioned a tin statue of himself and set it up before Enlil. He counted himself among the gods. (20) Whoever obliterates this inscription, may Enlil and Utu uproot him and destroy his lineage! (colophon 1, 1) Inscription of a šahum cauldron. (colophon 2, 1) Inscription ... of Rimuš.
LawRimuš 2001
(1') To ..., ..., ... of Šuruppak, chosen by Sud in the heart, whose name was proclaimed by Nin-ĝidru, ... for the well-being of his king, Rimuš, king of the world.
LawŠar-kali-šarri 4 (Sumerian)
(1) Enlil spoke: He gave all ... to Šar-kali-šarri, the powerful king, cup-bearer of Enlil, king of Akkad, king of Enlil's people. After he had arrived at the source of the Tigris and the Euphrates, he himself dedicated this (object) to Enlil in Nibru. (colophon 1, 1) The number of its (lines) is six.
LawSargon 01 (Sumerian)
(1) Šarrukin, king of Agade, commissioner of Inana, king of the world, išib priest of An, king of the Land, chief governor of Enlil, conquered the city of Unug and demolished its city-walls. He fought with the leader of Unug and defeated him. (21) He fought with Lugal-zagesi, king of Unug, captured him, and took him to the gate of Enlil in a neck stock. (30) Šarrukin, king of Agade, fought with the leader of Urim and defeated him. He conquered his city and demolished its city-walls. (42) He conquered the temple of Ninmarki, and demolished its walls. From Lagaš until the sea he conquered all…
LawSargon 02
(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on its socle. It was written in front of Lugalzagesi.
LawSargon 03
(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on the statue. Its socle is not inscribed.
LawSargon 06
(colophon 1, 1) The inscription was written on the socle. (colophon 2, 1) The inscription on the shoulder of Lugalzagesi.
LawSargon 07
(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on the statue. ....
LawSargon 11 (Akkadian)
(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on the statue. Its socle is not inscribed.
LawSargon 11 (Sumerian)
(1) Šarrukin, king of the world, was victorious in 34 battles. He demolished all city walls as far as the shore of the sea. He moored the ships of Meluhha, Magan, and Dilmun at the quay of Agade. (14) In Tuttul, Šarrukin, the king, prostrated himself before Dagan and prayed to him. (Dagan then) gave him the Upper land, (including) Mari, Yarmuti, and Ebla, as far as the cedar forests and the mountains of precious metal. (29) In the presence of Šarrukin, the king whom Enlil made a man without opponent, 13 (units) of troops eat daily. (38) Whoever obliterates this inscription, may An obliterate his name, may Enlil put an end to his lineage, may Inana cut his ... short! (colophon 1, 1) The inscription on its socle.
LawSargon 12
(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on the statue.
LawSargon 13
(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on its socle.
LawSargon 15
(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on the statue.
LawSargon 16
(1) Enheduana, the zirru-priestess, Nanna's spouse, child of Šarrukin, king of the world, erected an altar in the temple of Inana-ZAZA in Urim. She named it “The altar is An's table”.
LawSargon 2001
(1') ..., the estate adminstrator of Tašlultum, Šarrukin's spouse, ... for the well-being ....
LawSargon 2003 / CDLI Seals 001436 (CDLI Seals 001436 (physical))
(1) En-hedu-ana, child of Šarrukin: Ilum-palil is her hairdresser.
Law