All tablets.

SAA 01 038. (no title) (ABL 0199)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Sin-ahhe-riba. Good health to the king, my lord! Assyria is well, the temples are we[ll, all the king]'s fort[s are well. The king], my lo[rd, can be glad indeed.] (Rest destroyed)

~715 BCE·

Neo-Assyrian

SAA 1

SAA 01 039. Gidgidanu and the Building of Dur-Šarruken (ABL 1177)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) ......] the exempts [...... to] the king, my lord. (4) [As to] Gidgidanu [and his brothers about whom the] king my lord wrote to me: "[Let th]em be [br]ought here!" — (6) [When he heard of this, he became sc]ared and [......] the gods, saying: "Let me go and [petition] the king [......] to give me [......] let me [go] to Arbela." He has come [now and is] in Dur-[Šarruken], doing [his work]. His brothers again [... have] not [gone out] of Dur-Šarruken, [they have not set] foot anywhere at all but are present and [do] their work. (16) [As to] Marduk-remanni [and the…

Daily Life·Economy

SAA 01 040. (no title) (CT 53 472)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) ...... I have made] it clear to [them ......; they are] in my presence, they [have not set] foot an[ywhere else]. If I send for [them], they come [promptly], and if I send them [to ......]. (6) [I told] the chief ...s: "Insp[ect] your [tro]ops! Each [of your ......], and the [...] official [...... should c]ome [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 041. The King of Ukku Meets Ariye, King of Kumme (ABL 0101)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) A letter from Aššur-reṣuwa came to me in which it was written that a messenger of the (king) of Ukku has gone to Urarṭu and that he has sent a letter about it to the Palace. (10) Now after this letter, on the evening of the 6th, he sent me the following letter of his: "The Ukkaean has gone to greet Ariye. Over against him, there is a town of the Ukkaeans called Elizki in the pass of Kumme; the Ukkaean met [Ariye] there, and when they were sitting there [together], he spoke to him as follows: (r 4)…

SAA 01 042. A Message from the King of Ukku (ABL 0104)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) [As to what] the king, my lord, wrote [to me]: "The Ukkaean has s[ent] me the following message: 'At this very moment I am goi[ng ...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 043. News of the King of Urarṭu (ABL 0488)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (5) [On the ...th ...] brought me [a letter] from Aššur-reṣuwa in which it was written [as follow]s: "[The king of] Urarṭu is in the city of ...arda; the [...]s of [......" (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 044. A Message from Mitunu (CT 53 082)

(1) [To the king], my lord: yo[ur servant] Ṭab-šar-Aššur. [Good he]alth to the king, my lord! (4) [A messe]nger of Mitunu [whom Aššur]-reṣuwa [had sent] to me says: "[...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 045. In the Land of Habhu (ABL 0173)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) A cohort commander of the Chief Eunuch delivered me the king's sealed message in the city of Anisu on the 27th. (7) The messenger of the commander of the fort came to me in Anisu; I asked him about the news, and he told me this: "The city of Birate and the whole land of Habhu are well; everybody is doing his work." (13) All is well; the king, my lord, can be glad. (r 1) On the 28th I shall be in the city of Ieri. (SPACER)

SAA 01 046. Undesirable Business in Kumme (CT 53 144)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) ...] has sent me [his messenger ...]; (4) he told me [as follows]: (5) "[...] has given orders [......] (6) "the governor of [......] (7) "who set [......] (8) "the town of Saraga [......] (9) "the town of Saraga [......] (10) "the Pa[lace Her]ald ......] (Break) (r 2) [...... from] the city of Arzabia [is residing] in the centre of Kumme and doing business with articles of value to Assyria; if the Treasurer commands, I will arrest him and bring him over." (r 8) I said him as follows: "I'll write to the Palace." Whatever has been told to him [...... (Break) (e. 1) [..…

SAA 01 047. Moving the Army Across a River (ABL 0100)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) As to what I wrote to the Palace: "Let them [...] the rivers, get together and do the crossing at ... the c[am]p," — Arbailai the 'third man' came to me today, reporting: "The river is [floodin]g, I was not able to pass [...] to the [other] side." (14) That is exactly why I wrote to the Palace. Let them now do the crossing at that very place outside the ca[mp]. (r 1) And here — (when) they come [......], half of the [......] ... here; I went by a cart and had a look; it's excellent, and Arbailai showed…

SAA 01 048. Levying Horses (ABL 0630)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) I am [right now] sending Šauška-[..., the ...] of Lilî [...] to the king my lord in the hands of Aššur-nadin-ahhe the [royal bodyguard]. (6) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "[...] to the horses of [...] on the 20th of Adar (XII)!" — (9) The king my lord knows that the day I arrive in the king my lord's presence, I (must) come back here posthaste! Now, should the team-commanders, be it the prefects or the recruitment officers who are leaving for their levy [come] straight [to me]? Or [will the king (rather) say]: "The [prefects] and re[cruitment officers] sh…

SAA 01 050. The Emblem of the Moon God (ABL 0489)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) As to the emblem of the moon god of Harran of which the king, my lord, wrote to me, (7) there are two good ones which [......] for the watch of [...] of the king, my lord [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 051. Gold for a Winged Claw (ABL 0180)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) As to the gold for the winged claw of which the king, my lord, wrote to me, (8) I weighed it out, and it was half a mina according to the standard of Babylon. Part of the gold is extra. I have sealed it and am sending it herewith to the king, my lord. (r 1) Šuzubu told [me]: "They gave it to me according to the half-mina of Babylon."

SAA 01 052. Collecting, Weighing, and Distributing Gold (ABL 1458)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) As to this gold of which the king wrote to me: "Why did you give it? [......] of [......]," (6) this [......] 11 talents [......] alone [......] to the king [...... (Break) (r 1) of the king [......] one shekel from the išk[āru] dues [......]. They have weighed it in my presence but have not yet received it. (r 4) We have not [yet] received the rest of the gold [from PN]. He has returned one mina of the yield of wool (retrieved) from the son of [Kenî], but [... minas] of the gold is still [outstanding].…

SAA 01 053. Providing Jewels (ABL 0105)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) As to the jewels of which the king, my lord, wrote to me, three leather(-bag)s with assorted jewels, just as [the king my lord] wrote to me, have just been given from [...]; (9) and two [...]s of [......] ... stones [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 055. Anchored at Assur (ABL 1360)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) We set out [......], and thanks to the gods [who are well disposed towards the king] and have accepted your gift with pleasure, we passed the Maliasû river like a quiet river bed. (6) I arrived at the Inner City on the 18th. The inhabitants of the Inner City acted in the same way (as before): offering tables were set up and sacrifices were being made. They anchored the boats on the river before the Gate of Aššur. My canopy was set up aboard, and I am staying on the river and keeping watch until the day I depart. The king, my lord, can be pleased indeed. (13) As long…

SAA 01 056. Transporting Stone Thresholds on Boats Made in Assyria (ABL 0103+)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "The new boat which is coming from the Inner City — is there any (other) boat you are bringing in addition to it?" — (9) Six Assyrian boats have been launched on the river. I showed them to the boatmen, but they said: "We won't go near them." (12) Now, I am going to bring two of these boats and, going back and forth, [use them to transport] the stone steps and thresholds [of] the watchtowers, until I can make [the remaining] boats available. (r 5) [I once…

SAA 01 057. (no title) (CT 53 814)

(1) To the king, my lord: [Your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur]. Good health to [the king, my lord!] [As to the ... about which] the king, my lord, [wrote to me (Break) (r 2) [b]oats [......] (r 3) [the gover]nor of Calah [......] (r 4) [the]re are no [......] (r 5) "Launch [....]!" I've la[unched ...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 058. Transporting Basalt Slabs (ABL 1049)

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aš]šur. [Good health] to the king, my lord! (4) They wrote to me from the Palace: "Let them cut out 150 basalt steps, load them up and bring them to Nineveh." (9) I have now cut and loaded them, [and am com]ing to Nineveh; [let the king, my lord, send word] whether I should bring them to the ba[throom] of the god itself [or ...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 059. Transporting Stone Thresholds (ABL 1104)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [As to the ......] about which/whom the king, my lord, wrote to me, I am now sending to the king, my lord, the kallapu commanders, the engraver and the prefects who are transporting the stone thresholds.

SAA 01 060. Engravers

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭ]ab-šar-Aššur. [Good health] to the king, my lord! (4) As to the engravers [about whom the king my lord] wrote to me, [just as the kin]g my lord [commanded ...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 061. Dragging Bull Colossi (CT 53 484)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) As to [the ... of whom the ki]ng, my lord, wr[ote to me]: "Mobilize them! They should come and drag the bull colo[ssi]!" (5) [I spo]ke with them in the presence of [...] of the Palace [..... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 062. Inspecting Timber (CT 53 022)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) On the 17th I and Kiṣir-Aššur went to the Zab river and inspected the timber; the logs were many, [as many] as we could possibly desire. (9) [...] towers [......]. The men [...] who w[ent] with us [...] the king's. (12) Kiṣir-Aššur [...] the timber, (whereas) I went to Dur-Šarruken [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 064. The Work Assignment of the Governor of Calah (ABL 0486)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) As to the work assignment of the governor of Calah about which the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Why has the governor of Arrapha left half of the gate to him?" (9) On the 3rd, when they started on the city wall, they came to me, saying: "Come and settle our work allocation between us!" I went and settled it between them. Perhaps the king, my lord, now says: "Why [......" (Break) (r 1) [Out of the ...] work assignment (units) of the governor of Calah, that of the wall reached as far as the edge of the…

SAA 01 065. Digging a Ditch (ABL 0102)

(1) [To] the king, my lord: [your servant Ṭab]-šar-Aššur. [Good health] to the king, my lord! (4) Paqaha, the master-builder in charge of the ditch came and had an audience with me, saying: "The king has added to the men working on the ditch but there are no (work) leaders. The governor of Talmusa is not able to direct the men, he said to me as follows: (14) '1,000 men [...... (Break) (r 2) ...... we [can]not do the work.'" (r 3) Paqaha told me: "I (must) personally take the lead of 100 men and spend a full month on the work. Let the king my lord call the leaders to account for the fact that I…

SAA 01 066. Casting Column Bases and Lions of Bronze (ABL 0452)

(1) To [the king, my lord]: your servant [Ṭab-šar-Aššur]. Good health to [the king], my lord! (4) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "When are they going to cast the gate column-bases for the portico of the hilānu palaces?" (9) I asked Aššur-šumi-ke'in and the artists, who told me this: "We are going to cast four column-bases of bronze for two hilānu palaces in the month of Marchesvan (VIII); the small lions of the hilānu(s) will be cast together with the big lions in the spring." (18) I asked the son of B[el-...] about the work on the temple doors: "When are you going to finish your…

SAA 01 067. The Bathroom of the Hilanu Palace (ABL 0487)

(1) [To the king, my] lord: [your servant] Ṭab-šar-[Aššur]. [Good health] to the king, [my lord]! (4) [As to the g]ate of the bathroom [of] the big hilānu palace of which the king, [my lord], wrote to me, I have just got hold of the [... and am herewith sending them] to the king, my lord. (8) The old-fashioned razor which stood [...], even if [......], will be removed [from] the gate. (10) As to [the ... of] the tower, with reed [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 068. Making Doors (CT 53 535)

(Beginning destroyed) (r 2) they carry [......] (r 3) here [......] (r 4) of the doors [......] (r 5) we are [doing] our work. (SPACER)

SAA 01 070. Work on Ziggurats (ABL 0107)

(1) [To the king], my lord: [your servant Ṭab]-šar-Aššur: Good health to the king, my lord! (4) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Why are the names of the city lords of the cities not built high?" (6) The king, my lord, knows that our previous campaign which we directed to Mannea (and) Media [... is depicted] o[n the walls of] the Ol[d] Palace. We have in[spected ......] (Break) (r 2) [the na]mes of the kings and [...] officials (r 3) [di]adems in fr[ont of ...] (r 4) their [na]mes [are compl]eted (r 5) we [......] from [...]huha to Dur-Šarruken. This [...] has been made ...... (Rest…

SAA 01 071. The Ziggurat of Anu in Assur (ABL 0106)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) [As to] the work on the ziggurat of Anu concerning which the king, my lord, gave me the following [order]: "Ask the Chief Scribe about it!" — (8) They have [now] asked him, and [he spoke] as follows: "Why should we do [......] the work [......" (Break) (r 4) ......] will go straight away and inspect the work in the Inner City; returning from the Inner City to Calah, he will go to the Chief Scribe, who will send a detailed report to the Palace.

SAA 01 072. Designing Houses in Calah (CT 53 233)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) [......] the new [...]s of the ci[ty ...] (3) [......] the names of the cities (4) [......] of the city-rulers on [...] (5) [......] When the designers [...] my names (6) and removed the bricks, these (7) [.....]...; I did not know. And now (8) [...] houses have been designed for Calah. The palace (9) [...]...: "The pleasure palace (10) [...]... Servants have been ascribed to it twice. (11) I [do not] know where it is; without [...]. (12) [As to what] the king, my lord, wrote to me: "[...] (13) [... in the mon]th Adar (XII)", just as [...... (Rest too broken for trans…

SAA 01 073. On Aššur-bessunu

(1) [To the kin]g, my lord: [your servan]t Ṭab-šar-Aššur. [Good health] to the king, my lord! (4) [As to Ašš]ur-bessunu [the ... of whom] the king, my lord, [wrote to m]e: "I have given him [...] oxen [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 074. (no title) (CT 53 620)

(1) [To the kin]g, my lord: [your servan]t Ṭab-šar-Aššur. [Good health] to the king, my lord! (4) [As to this man ... of whom] the king, my lord, [wrote to m]e: "[......] as follows: '[......" (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 075. Choosing a Priest for the Aššur Temple (ABL 0577)

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. Good health to the king, my lord! May Aššur and] Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (6) As to the deceased household manager of the Aššur temple of whom I said in the presence of the king my lord: "He has a son and a nephew," (12) at this very moment his son, his nephew, and Simanai son of Nabû-balliṭ, cousin of Aššur-na'id the second priest, are on their way to the king, my lord. (r 6) Let the king, my lord, appoint the one who is acceptable to the king, my lord.

SAA 01 076. Treaty With Gurdi (ABL 0090)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. Good health to the king, my lord! May Aššur and Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (6) As to the treaty tablet of Gurdî about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, the adjutant of the Palace Superintendent came and picked it up on the 1st of Ab (V). (13) [As soon as] the emissaries [had ar]rived, they brought the tre[aty tablet to the Inner Cit]y; [the body]guard and the messenger of the Palace Superintendent went with them and introduced it into the courtyard of the temple. (r 8) The messenger of the Palace Superintendent who brought it s…

SAA 01 077. On Bronze Panthers and a Wood Store (ABL 0091)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. Good health to the king, my lord! May Aššur and Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (6) The stands of both bronze panthers are quite attractive; they are working on minor improvements in their finish. (10) As to the wood store for the iron brazier in the palace of the Inner City about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, I consulted the mayors, masons and elders (who told me this): (14) "The chief of public works will do the demolition and the brickwork; the sons of the palace maids will supply the materials needed and plaster its roof;…

SAA 01 078. Work on the Panthers, the Ziggurat and Boats (ABL 0483)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. Good health to the king, my lord! May Aššur and Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (6) [We] overturned the ot[her] panther on the 1[st] and placed it on its face; twenty courses of bricks have been put under it; [its] feet are toward the seat of Lord-of-the-Crown. (12) [x] courses of bricks of the ziggurat have been laid. On the 6th they started building the boat[s], and they are building them (now). (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 079. Building the Ziggurat (CT 53 724)

(Beginning destroyed or too fragmentary for translation) (5) We shall go [... in Te]bet (X). [As to the work] on the ziggurat, [x cour]ses of bricks have been l[aid ...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 080. Constructing Boats (ABL 0330)

(1) [To] the king, [my lord]: your [servant] Ṭab-[ṣill-Ešarra. Good] health to [the king, my lord]! May Aššur and Mullissu bless [the king, my lord]! (5) As to the boats which the king, my lord, wrote me about: "They must be finished by the beginning of the month! Now all these months have been wasted, are there really no boats?" — (11) Did I not write to the king my lord like this: "They will finish three boats by the 1st of Nisan (I), the fourth will be ready by the 1st of Iyyar (II)?" At the moment [x] boats are finished [..... (Break) (r 2) six men [......] (r 3) and female [......] (r 4)…

SAA 01 081. Constructing Boats (CT 53 639)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) ... [......] (3) in the middle of the city [......] (4) now ...[.....] (5) alongs[ide ......] (6) the house which [......] (r 1) Did I not [....] to the king, [my lord]? As to the boats [on which] I wr[ote to the king], my lord [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 082. The Problem of Hungry Arabs (ABL 0547)

(1) [To] the king, [my lo]rd: your servant Ṭab-[ṣill-Ešarra]. Good health to [the king, my lord! May] Aššur and Mullissu [bless the king, my lord!] (5) As to the A[rabs concerning whom the king, my lord] wrote to me: "[Why] do they graze [their sheep and] camel[s in the desert where they must resort to plundering] when hungry?" — (10) [Rains have been sc]arce this [year]; ...[......] have been settling in [......]. (13) (As to) what the king, my lord, [wrote] to me: "Now, go to Hinzanu, and let them go and graze with you! There shall be no restrictions from the banks of the Tharthar river up…

SAA 01 083. Harvest in Hindanu (ABL 0093)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. Good health to the king, my lord! May Aššur and Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (6) They finished the harvest in Hin[zanu] on the 11th. [......] was reaped [...]. As long as [I am] here [...... (Break) (r 2) They will not [agree] to trans[port it ...]; they are transporting it on your expense.

SAA 01 084. Arabs Raid Sippar (ABL 0088)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. Good health to the king, my lord! May Aššur and Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (6) Nabu-bel-šumati, the legate of Birat entered the Inner City on the 7th. I asked him: "Why did you come now?" He said: (11) "I got a royal message: 'Why is it that all (other) city-rulers have come and stood in my presence, but you have not come? Also, why is it that the Arabs plundered Sippar, but you did not go out with your servants but kept [them] away?' (r 9) I was scared by this message and (that is why) I came."

SAA 01 085. A Messenger Returns from Birat (ABL 0396)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. Good health to the king, my lord! May Aššur and Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (6) Haldi-naṣir, the mercenary who took the letter to the Biratean, has come back carrying a letter; [I am sending him] right now [to] the king, my lord. (r 1) [I asked him]: "Why were you delayed?" He said: "He detained me for 12 days; Marduk-šumu-iddina will be coming right after me."

SAA 01 086. Arrival of Marduk-šum-iddin (CT 53 304)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [......] servants (two broken and obscure lines) (4) [......] Marduk-šumu-iddina (5) [...... ha]s come (6) [......] right now (7) [he is on his way] to greet (8) [the king, my lord] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 087. A Messenger from Borsippa (ABL 1433)

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭ]ab-ṣill-E[šarra. Good health] to the ki[ng, my lord!] May [Aššur] and Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (6) Ṣululu, a [messenger] of Sulu[...] the commandant of Borsippa, came to Birat; from Birat, he [was] escorted to Hinzanu by the messenger of the Biratean, and from Hinzanu they came to the Inner City. (16) [......] with my m[esse]nger ...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 088. Visitors from Babylon (ABL 0096)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. [Good health] to the king, my lord! May [Aššur and M]ullissu bless [the ki]ng, my lord! (6) Šarru-emuranni and [Ša]rru-nuri [came from] Babylon on the 10th [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 089. The Canal Inspector in Assur (ABL 0562)

(1) [To the king, my] lord: Your servant [Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra]. Good health [to the king, my lord!] May Aššur and Mullissu bless the [king], my lord! (6) As to Bel-ha[...], the canal inspector of whom the king, my lord, wr[ote to me], (9) he arrived in the Inner City on the [eve] of the 4th, brought out his ... and left for the [king, my lord].

SAA 01 090. A Messenger Kidnapped by a Tribe (ABL 0098)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. Good health to the king, my lord! May Aššur and Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (6) (As to) what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "[Let] this messenger of yours whom you sent to Birat together with his cavalry [...] the Hamranu tribe" — my messenger [...... (Break) (r 2) from [......] of the city of M[unu' ...] on the 21st of [......] at his behest. (r 6) The day they ente[red ..., my] messenger was taken captive. The chief ... o[f ...] who was there [...] with him; (r 10) Haqi[... rel]eased him in Munu' and wro[te]: "Send me silver!" He…

SAA 01 091. Arranging for Reserve Troops (ABL 0094)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. Good health to the king, my lord! May Aššur and Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (6) The king, my lord, wrote to me: "Set out on the 22nd and be in the Inner City on the 29th!" — before I go to the Inner City, let me come and see the king, my lord! (13) And as to the reserves of the king's men of the Ruqahu and Hallatu tribes about which the king my lord wrote to me, I sent (orders about them) on the very day I saw the (king's) letter.