All tablets.

SAA 08 131. New Moon on 1st Day (ABL 0820) [lunar]

(1) We kept watch on the 29th day; we did not see the moon. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king my lord! (r 1) From Nabû'a of Assur.

~670 BCE·

Neo-Assyrian

SAA 8

SAA 08 132. New Moon on 1st Day (ABL 0825) [lunar]

(1) We kept watch on the 29th day; we did not see the moon. May Na[bû and] Marduk bless [the king] my lord! (r 1) From Nabû'a of Assur.

Daily Life·Economy

SAA 08 134. Full Moon on 13th Day (ABL 0823) [lunar]

(1) We ke[pt] watch on the 12th day; on the 13th day the moon and [sun] saw each other. May Nabû and Marduk bless [the king] my lord! (r 1) [From Na]bû'a of Assur.

SAA 08 135. Full Moon on 14th Day (ABL 0821) [lunar]

(1) We kept [wat]ch on the 13th day; [we did not see the moon] and sun, there were [clou]ds. [...] the moon, there were clouds. (7) On the 14th [day] the moon and sun saw each other. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king my lord! (r 4) [From] Nabû'a [of] Assur.

SAA 08 136. Full Moon on 13th Day (ABL 0822) [lunar]

(1) We kept watch; on the 13th day the moon and sun were seen together. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king my lord! (r 1) From Nabû'a of Assur.

SAA 08 137. Full Moon on 15th Day (ABL 0826) [lunar]

(1) We kept watch on the 13th and the 14th day; on the 15th day the moon and sun saw each other. May Aššur, Šamaš, Bel and Nabû bless the king my lord! (r 1) From Nabû'a of Assur.

SAA 08 138. (no title) (ABL 0824) [unclassifiable]

(1) [We kept watch on the ...th day; on the ...]th [day the moon and sun saw] each other. May Nabû and Marduk bless [the king] my lord! (r 1) [From Nab]û'a [of A]ssur.

SAA 08 140. Equinox on Nisan 6 (ABL 1428) [calendrical]

(1) On the 6th of Nisan (I) the day and the night were in balance: 6 'double-hours' of daylight, 6 'double-hours' of night. (r 1) May Nabû (and) Marduk bless the king, our lord!

SAA 08 141. Equinox on Nisan 15 (ABL 1429) [calendrical]

(1) On the 15th of Nisan (I) the day and the night were in balance: [6] 'double-hours' of daylight, 6 ['double-hou]rs' of night. (6) May Nabû (and) [Marduk] bless the king, our lord!

SAA 08 207. Observations of the Moon (ABL 1408) [lunar]

(1) (Beginning destroyed) (2) [On the 29th day], a possible solar eclipse. (3) [In the month ..., on the 1st day], the moon became visible. (4) [... The night] of the 11th day [was cloudy; in the] morning [watch] the moon came out. (6) [In the daytime of] the 11th day there was much [...], the moon set. (8) [The ni]ght of the 12th day [was cloudy; in] the morning [watch] the moon came out. (r 1) [The daytime of the 1]2th day was cloudy, the setting of the moon was not visible. (r 2) The night of the 13th day [was cloudy, in] the morning [watch] the moon came out. (r 4) [The daytime of the…

SAA 08 234. Hemerology for Ab 27-29 (CT 53 916) [calendrical]

(1) The 27th of Ab (V): let him [libate] fine beer, the gods will be favorable. (3) The 29th day: let him erect midribs of the date palm at his gate, he will prevail over his adversary. (r 1) [...] of Šakkan. (r 2) ashar stone for daubing.

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 9

SAA 09 008. Words Concerning the Elamites (ABL 1280)

(1) Words [concerning the Elam]ites. (2) [God] says as follows: (3) "I have go[ne and I ha]ve come." (4) He s[ai]d (this) five, six times, and then: (5) "I have come from the [m]ace. I have pulled out the snake which was inside it, I have cut it in pieces, and I have broken the mace." (8) And (he said): "I will destroy Elam; its army shall be levelled to the ground. In this manner I will finish Elam."

SAA 10 001. Enthroning a Substitute King (ABL 0332) [from astrologers]

(1) [To] the 'farmer,' [our] lord: your [servants] Nabû-zeru-leš[ir], [Ad]ad-šumu-uṣur, Nabû-šumu-[iddina], [Urad]-Ea and Issar-šumu-[ereš]. [Good hea]lth to [our lo]rd! (Break) (r 3) We [shall go] to Nineveh.

SAA 10 002. The Substitute King Reveals a Conspiracy (ABL 0223) [from astrologers]

(1) To the 'farmer,' my lord: your servant Nabû-zeru-lešir. Good health to my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless my lord for many years! (6) I wrote down whatever signs there were, be they celestial, terrestrial or of malformed births, and had them recited in front of Šamaš, one after the other. They (the substitute king and queen) were treated with wine, washed with water and anointed with oil; I had those birds cooked and made them eat them. The substitute king of the land of Akkad took the signs on himself. (14) He cried out: "Because of what ominous sign have you enthroned a substitute…

SAA 10 004. Substitute King Ascends Throne in Akkad (CT 53 206) [from astrologers]

(Beginning destroyed) (3) [... entered the city of] Akkad and ascended (the throne). (5) I [...] in the city of Akkad; the foundation stone has been complet[ely] bui[lt in ...]; they are p[roducing] the bricks. (r 3) I have given the ord[ers and they are doing (the work)]. (r 4) If [my] lo[rd commands, ... in] the palace (r 6) [the substitute k]ing [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 10 005. Auspicious Days for Treaty Ceremonies (ABL 0384) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (8) The 20th, the 22nd and the 25th are good days for concluding the treaty. We shall undertake (that) they may conclude it whenever the king, my lord, says.

SAA 10 006. Convening Scribes for Treaty Ceremonies (ABL 0386) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) The scribes of the cities of Nin[eveh], Kilizi and Arbela (could) ent[er] the treaty; they have (already) come. (However), those of Assur [have] not (yet) [come]. The king, my lord, [knows] that they are cler[gymen]; (15) If it suits the king, my lord, let the former who have (already) come, enter the treaty; the citizens of Nineveh and Calah would be free soon and could enter (the treaty) under (the statues of) Bel and Nabû on the 8th day. (r 1)…

SAA 10 007. Scholars to Enter the Treaty (ABL 0033) [from astrologers]

(1) [To] the king, my lord: your [servant] Issar-šumu-ereš. [Good] health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) The scribes, the haruspices, the exorcists, the physicians and the augurs staying in the palace and living in the city will enter the treaty on the 16th of Nisan (I). (r 1) Now, let them conclude the treaty tomorrow.

SAA 10 008. Omens from Retrograding Planets (ABL 0519) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to [the ki]ng, my lord! May Nabû [and Marduk] bless [the king], my lord! (5) Con[cerning what the king, my lo]rd, wrote to me: "[Why] have you never told me [the truth]? [When] will you (actually) tell me [all] that there is to it?" — [Aššur, Sin, Šamaš, B]el, Nabû, [Jupiter, Venus, Sat]urn, [Mercury, Mars], Sirius and [...] be my witnesses [that] I [have never] untruly (14) [......] the word (15) [... to] the king, my lord (16) [...... signs which] have occurred in the sky (17) [......] Jupiter (18) [......] backwards (19)…

SAA 10 009. A Royal Funeral (ABL 0670) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Ask Bel-naṣir, Bel-ipuš and (other) Babylonians whom you know" — I asked them, and they said to me as follows: "An hour after sunrise, the display takes place; an hour and a half after sunrise, [the disp]lay takes place again. [Thereafter] your [bu]rnt-offering [is made]; the display [...] (Break) (r 1) Bel-i[puš] said [as fol]lows: "When the display has been finished, two torches should be moved past the place…

SAA 10 010. Earthquake in Nineveh (ABL 0034) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [my lord]: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, [my lo]rd! [May] Nabû and Marduk [bless] the king, my lord! (5) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "What apotropaic ritual is there?" — there is the apotropaic ritual against earthquake, and it should be performed; [...] should enter the Review Palace. The following (is) [what] is said abo[ut the matter] in the tablet: (11) [If ......, ...] will stay ... (12) [If ......], in that year the prince [......] (Break) (r 2) [... ever]ybody has now [...] (r 3) [...]ed, picked up [...], and ...... (r 5) The king…

SAA 10 011. Transferring Evil Omens to a Substitute (CT 53 593) [from astrologers]

(1) [To] my [lord]: [your servant Issar-šumu-e]reš. [Good health to] my lord! [May Nabû and] Marduk bless [my lord]! (6) [As to what my lord wr]ote to me: "[Let him hear the signs] in front of the [Šam]aš!" — I waited for [...] (10) I saw [...], he saw [...]. (12) [Wh]atever I did not see [but] is known to my lord (14) [...] himself (15) [...] revealed (16) [... a]s follows (Rest destroyed)

SAA 10 012. Enthroning a Substitute King (ABL 0676) [from astrologers]

(1) To my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless my lord! (6) Concerning the substitute king [about whom] my lord wrote to me, [M]a[rs is em]erging [fr]om the Breast [of Scorpius ......] (Break) (r 1) [Concerning the s]igns [about which my lord w]rote to me, [after] we had enthroned him, we had him hear them in front of Šamaš. Furthermore, yesterday I had him hear them again, and I bent down and bound them in his hem. Now I shall again do as my lord wrote to me.

SAA 10 013. Royal Statues for Harran (ABL 0036) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, [my lord]! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) Concerning the royal statues in the city of Harran, about which the king, my lord, wrote [to me]: "Write out for me the favourable month and day on which they should enter (the city), and also the place where they should stand" — [the month ...] is auspicious for the transportation and the [set]ting up (of the statues). [The relevant] interpretation is [as follo]ws: (Break) (r 2) If it [is acceptable] to the king, my lord, the large royal statues should…

SAA 10 014. The Cella of Nusku (ABL 0673) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (8) Concerning the cella of Nusku, about which the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Look up a favourable day, and also write down and send me how it should be erected" — (r 1) Sivan (III) would have been a good month and the 17th a good day. (However) now the month is completely gone, (so) when can they do it? (r 7) Elul (VI) is a good month: it is (really) the month for it. During it they should make it, and also during it they should erect it.

SAA 10 015. Any Curses Written There? (ABL 0031) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (7) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Has any curse been written there?" — (12) I have checked and there is none. A curse has (definitely) not been written.

SAA 10 016. Blessings to the Queen Mother (ABL 0677) [from astrologers]

(1) To the mother of the king, [my lord]: your servant Issar-šumu-[ereš]. Good health to the mother of the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the mother of the king, my lord! (Break) (r 2) May Mullissu best[ow ...] and give long-lasting days, happin[ess] and joy [...] to the king, [the crown prince], and the progeny of [the queen mother]!

SAA 10 017. The Queen Mother’s Curse (CT 53 084) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (r 1) [The verdict of the mother of the king, my lord], is as final as that of the gods. What you bless, is blessed; what you curse, is cursed. (r 6) Concerning what the mother of the k[ing], my lord, wrote to me: "What [...] (Remainder lost)

SAA 10 018. Display Ceremonies in Arbela (ABL 0035) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-eres. Good health to the king, my lord! (5) [Con]cerning what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "The present day, [t]omorrow, and the day after tomorrow, these are (the days) [of] the displays!" — (12) on [the ...]th [day] the king, my lord, said as follows about the old displays: "In Arbela, the display should take place from the 27th till the 29th day."

SAA 10 019. Dates of the Festival of Tammuz (ABL 1097) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (2) are empty [......] (3) are not there [......] (4) On the 26th the god [...], on the 27th the god [...], on the 28th the god Ta[mmuz ...]. (7) On the morning of the 26th they introduce [...] and the dis[play] takes place; on the 2[7th and the 28th they do] likewise. This is for the city of Assur. (r 1) On the 26th: the wailing; on the 27th: the redemption; on the 28th: Tammuz. This is the way the display takes place in Nineveh. (r 4) In Calah, the display (takes place) on the 27th and the 28th in like manner. (r 6) In [Arbe]la, the displays [take place] on the 27th, the 28t…

SAA 10 022. (no title) (ABL 0675) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [my lo]rd: your servant Issar-šumu-[ereš]. Good health to the king, [my lord]! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, [my] lord! (7) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Aššur-mukin-[paleya ...] (Rest destroyed or too fragmentary for translation)

SAA 10 023. Refuting a Sighting of Mercury (ABL 0037) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "One of your colleagues wrote to me: the planet Mercury will be visible in the month Nisan (I). What do you take the present month to be?" — we take the present month to be Adar (XII) and we take this day to be the 25th. (13) [...]... (14) [The person who] wrote this [... to the king, my lord, ...] (Break) (r 3) "An incompetent one can frustrate [a j]udge, an uneducated one can make the mighty worry" — this is…

SAA 10 024. An Incident During Bel’s Return to Babylon (ABL 0032) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, our lord: your servants Issar-šumu-ereš, Adad-šumu-uṣur and Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, our lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, our lord! (7) On the 18th day the god Bel, together with his divine escort, was in the city of Labbanat. Everything was just fine. (9) Bel-eriba and Nergal-šallim, servants of the household of the crown prince, under the jurisdiction of the governor of the city of Šamaš-naṣir, were attending, in Labbanat, to a strong horse harnessed in trappings of the land of Kush for the (ceremonial) entrance into the city (of Babylon).…

SAA 10 025. Taking Countermeasures after a Solar Eclipse (ABL 0674) [from astrologers]

(1) [To] our [lord: your servants] Issar-šumu-ereš, [Urad]-Ea, and [Marduk]-šakin-šumi. The best [of he]alth [to] our lord! [May Nabû and] Marduk bless our lord! (10) [In accordance with what] our lord [wr]ote to us: "[on the 29]th day, a solar [eclipse took place," — we shall p]erform the pertinent [apotropaic ritual; somebody should s]it (on the throne) [and remo]ve [your evil].

SAA 10 026. If the Eclipse Takes Place, What Does it Mean? (ABL 0038) [from astrologers]

(1) To the 'farmer,' my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the 'farmer,' my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the 'farmer,' my lord! (6) Concerning the wa[tc]h (for the lunar eclipse) about which the ['farmer'], my [lord], wrot[e to m]e: "[...] (Break) (r 1) "If it should occ[ur], what is the word about it?" — the 14th day (signifies) the Eastland, the month Sivan (III) (signifies) the Westland, and the relevant 'decision' (pertains) to Ur. And if it occurs, the (interpretation concerning the) region it afflicts and the wind blowing will be quoted as well.

SAA 10 028. (no title) (ABL 0041) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [my lord]: your servant Issar-šu[mu-ereš]. Good health to the king, [my lord]! May Nabû and [Marduk] b[less] the king, my lord! (6) As to what the king, my lord, recen[tly] wr[ote to me]: "As [...] all [......] of the [queen] mother [...] (Break) (r 3) Concer[ning ......], the father [of the king] intr[oduced you] into the Su[ccession] Palace; nothing is s[aid] about the [queen mother] there.

SAA 10 029. Absolving the King (CT 53 155) [from astrologers]

(1) [As to what the king, my lord], wrote to me: "Have I been purified with (the help of) Urad-Ea [and] these [......]?" — [the gods of the king], my lo[rd], know that, verily, [the king, my lord], has been purified 10 times over! May [the god DN, the lord of the] shining [...], give light to the king, my lord, for numerous [years]. (7) [As to what the king, my lord, wrote] to me: "[...] are being bound to [...] speech against me; (9) [the advice ...] that they gave, it (or) anything (10) (Break) (r 2) [The king, my lord], is made [li]ke a sage; he has understood her [c]ounsels, he has spoken…

SAA 10 030. Praising the King’s Rhetoric (ABL 1277) [from astrologers]

(1) Should I praise this word by which the king, my lord, has remembered me? (3) A cross is the emblem of the god Nabû. The king, my lord, knows (that) because of this (association) the cross is the badge of the crown prince. The king, my lord, has now acted as befits his dignity: the emblem has been set up [in] the 'house of Išnunak.' About it they say: "It is the god Nabû (himself)." (8) [Concerning the] new tablets that are being written, [the king] has spoken [as] follows about us: "[...] the talk that is better than this [...]; there is much space, there is much [...]. [As]sign some ten…

SAA 10 031. Worshipping Venus (ABL 1145) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (2) "Since the planet V[enus] is shining [he]re, [the time is oppo]rtune for my reverence." (5) The king, my lord, [kno]ws that the [Venu]s rituals of the "overseer's wife" are performed [...] the said [...]; now then Venus has risen [at] the (very) time of its (computed) [appearance]. [Tod]ay is favourable [to] do [...] (Remainder lost)

SAA 10 032. (no title) (ABL 0672) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the king], my lord: [your servant Issar-šumu]-ereš. [Good health t]o the king, my [lord]! [May Nabû and Mar]duk [bl]ess [the king, my lord]! (7) [As to what the king, my lo]rd, [wrote to m]e: "[......] (Break) (r 2) there is [...] (r 3) they perform [...] (r 4) let them place [...] (r 5) Perhaps [the time of] its sighting is suitable [...].

SAA 10 033. A Mongoose Under the King’s Chariot (ABL 0385) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Does (the omen) '(If something) passes between the legs of a man' apply to something that came out from underneath a chariot?" — it does apply. (11) The king, my lord, say[s]: "'The legs of a m[an]' (means) 'legs' (only) when (something literally) emerges between a man's (legs); that [mongoose passed] between [...]" — perhaps [...] (Break) (r 1) We still take it as a portent. The [mongoose] pa[ssed] from the left…

SAA 10 034. (no title) (ABL 0039) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [my lo]rd: your servant Issar-šumu-[ereš]. Good health to the ki[ng, my lord]! May Nabû and [Marduk bl]es[s the ki]ng, [my lo]rd! (Rest destroyed or uninscribed)

SAA 10 035. (no title) (ABL 0040) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [my] lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, [my lo]rd! May Nabû and Ma[rduk bless the] king, [my lo]rd! (6) [As to what the ki]ng, [my lo]rd, [wrote to me]: (Rest destroyed)

SAA 10 036. (no title) (CT 53 477) [from astrologers]

(Beginning destroyed) (r 2) Perhaps the king, [my lor]d [will say]: "[...] what has been accepted" — the king, my (or our) lord [...] to the brothers of [Assurbanipal], [your] lordly sons. (Rest destroyed)

SAA 10 037. (no title) (CT 53 177) [from astrologers]

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [......] divination (2) [......] and because of your truthfulness (3) [......] you believed; also, concerning (4) [......] a proverb [runs a]s follows (5) [......] Sumer believed (6) [......] my heart. In that you believed (7) [......] I said: "He should know!" Wholeheartedly (r 1) [......] Is mangu skin disease an advantage? (r 2) [......] Now, in accordance with (r 3) [the instructions which the] king, my lord, sent to me, (r 4) [......] I am completing (r 5) [...... the king], my [lord], said (r 6) [......]...... (r 7) [......] your mangu skin disease (Rest destroy…

SAA 10 038. Do Not Go Out Tomorrow (CT 53 943) [from astrologers]

(1) [To] the ki[ng, my lord]: you[r servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good hea]th to [the king, my lord]! May [Na]bû and Mard[uk] bless [the king], my lord! (7) It is [not] propitious [to] go out [to]morrow. (10) [...] as long as (11) [...... s]peech (Break) (r 2) [Wha]t is it th[at the king my lo]rd [orders]?

SAA 10 039. Welcoming the King Back (ABL 0604+) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [my lo]rd: your servant Bal[asî]. Good health to the [king, my lord]! May [Nabû] and Marduk [bles]s [the king], my lord! (5) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "From now on you will stay in my entourage; is there something you want to say?" — there is nothing. (11) May the great gods of heaven and earth give long-lasting days of life to the king, my lord! That the king remembered us and that we have not seen the king (I do not know) for how long today, that is (the sole reason) why we stand in front of the k[ing]. T[o whom] else would we be devoted? (r 4) To whom…

SAA 10 040. Precious Stones (ABL 0689) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [our] lord: your servants Ba[lasî] and Nabû-ahhe-[eriba]. Good health [to the king], our lord! May Nabû and Marduk bl[ess the king], our lord! (8) Concerning what the king, [our lord], wrote to [us], about the [eye-stones] and the ša[nduppu]-gem in [...] (Break) (r 1) [If] the aškiqû-stone pleas[es the king], our lord, [they should use it]. (r 4) The king, our lord, [...] (r 5) Adapa [...] (r 6) everything [...] (r 7) How [excellent is] what the ki[ng, our lord], has do[ne]!

SAA 10 041. Fashioning the Crown of Nabu (ABL 0404) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [our lord: your servants] Nabû-ahhe-[eriba and Balasî]. Good health t[o the king, our lord]! May Nabû and Marduk b[less the king], our lord! (6) Concerning the tiara [about which the king], our lord, wrote to us, the eye-stones which were shown to us are very beautiful. May Nabû, the lord of the world, bless the king, our lord, and lengthen the days of the king, our lord! May Nabû let the king, our lord, see the crown prince and his brothers prosper. (16) As to what the king, our lord, wrote to us: "There is more obsidian" — if 'eyes' are lacking, eye-stones should be made of…

SAA 10 042. The King is Scared by Lightning (ABL 0074) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: [your servant] Balasî. Good health to the king, my lord! [May Nabû and Marduk bless] the king, my lord! (5) As to what the king, m[y lord, wr]ote [to me]: "[In] the city of H[ar]ihumba lightning struck and ravaged the fields of the Assyrians" — why does the king look for (trouble), and why does he look (for it) [in the ho]me of a tiller? There is no evil inside the palace, and when has the king ever visited Harihumba? (16) Now, provided that there is (evil) inside the palace, they should go and perform the (ritual) "Evil of Lightning" there. In case the king, my…