All tablets.

SAA 14 400. Purchase of Slaves

(Beginning destroyed) (1) from [......] (2) for [......] (3) The money [is paid] completel[y]. (4) [Those] men are purchased [and acquired]. (Break) (r 1) [Witness ......]. (r 2) [Witness ......]. (r 3) [Witness ......]. (r 4) Witness ...[...]. (Rest destroyed)

~655 BCE·

Neo-Assyrian

SAA 14

SAA 14 401. Purchase of Land and People

(Beginning destroyed) (1) and bought [it for x minas of silver by (the mina) o]f the king [from th]ese [men]. (3) [The money] is paid completely. The house, orchard, [field and the people are purchased and ac]quired. Any revocation, [lawsuit, or litigation is vo]id. (5) Whoever breaks the contract (6) [......] (Break) (r 1) [.......] (r 2) [......] (r 3) [......] (r 4) [......] Ṭirî (r 5) [......] (r 6) [...... the vi]llage of the queen (r 7) [......] (Rest destroyed)

Law·Economy

SAA 14 402. Purchase of a Slave

(Beginning destroyed) (5) [The money] is paid [completely]. Tha[t] man [is purchased and acquired]. Any revocation, lawsuit, [or litigation is void]. (7) [Whoev]er in the future, [at any tim]e, whether [...]i or his sons (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 403. Fragment of a Land Lease

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...]...[...] (2) [...]... field [...] (3) [...]-kumu'a ...[...] (4) [... in its e]ntire[ty ...] (5) [...] fa[llow ...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 404. Purchase of Land

(Beginning destroyed) (1) bought from [...]i. (1) [The money is paid completely]. That [house] and field are pu[rchased and acquired. Any revoca]tion, lawsuit, or liti[gation is void]. (4) [Whoever] in the future, at [any time, lodges a compla]int, whether Ahi-qa[m or his son or] his grandsons [...] (7) [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 405. Fragment of a Conveyance Text

(Beginning destroyed) (r 1) seeks [a lawsui]t or litigation [......, shall tie 2] white [hor]ses a[t the feet of Aššur, shall bring 4 ha]rbakannu horses to the feet [of Nergal, and shall place x minas] of refined silver and 5 minas of [pure gold in the lap of] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 406. Fragment of a Conveyance Text

(Beginning destroyed) (1) shall place [......] mina of p[ure] gold [in the lap of Ninurta residing in] Calah. (Rest destroyed)

Religion & Myth·Astronomy & Mathematics

SAA 14 407. Purchase of a Vacant Lot

(Beginning destroyed) (1) That [...] and va[cant] lot are purc[hased] and acquired. Any re[vocation], lawsuit, or li[tigation is v]oid. (r 1) Whoev[er in the future, at any t]ime, [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 408. (no title)

(Beginning destroyed or too broken for translation) (r 2) [...]-šadû'a (r 3) [...] Nabû-šumu-iškun (r 4) [...]bi' (r 5) [......] (r 6) [...]ayu (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 409. (no title)

(Beginning destroyed) (4) his sons [......] (5) his grandsons [......] (r 1) ...[...] (r 2) from [......] (r 3) from [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 410. Fragment of a Conveyance Text

(Beginning destroyed) (1) from [......] (2) The money [is paid] completely. Those [...] are purch[ased and acquired. Any revocation], lawsuit, or liti[gation is void]. (5) [Whoev]er in the futu[re, at any time, lodges a co]mpla[int ...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 411. Purchase of Land

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [An estate of] 20 hect[ares of land ...] (2) [...] Illil-[...] (3) [...] In[......] (4) [...] Mannu-k[i-......] (5) [An estate of] 16 hect[ares ...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 412. Fragment of a Witness List

(Beginning destroyed) (r 1) [Witness ...]...[...] (r 2) [Witness ...], ...[...] (r 3) [Witness NN, co]hort [commander ...] (r 4) [Witness NN], cohort commander [...] (r 5) [Witness NN], cohort [comma]nder of the royal bod[yguard]. (r 6) [Witness NN, c]ohort [commander] of the royal body[guard]. (r 7) [Witness NN, c]ohort [commander] of the ša šēpi guard. (r 8) [Witness ..., ....]... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 413. Fragment of a Conveyance Text

(1) [Seal of] ... (from) Arrapha, [owner of the ...]s being sold. (Break) (r 2) [Witness NN. Witness] Šarru-isse'a. (r 3) [Witness ...]nu, scribe. (r 4) [Witness NN], cohort commander. (r 5) [Witness ...]-Issar, ... (r 6) [Witness ...]... (r 7) [......] (r 8) [......]

SAA 14 414. Purchase of Slaves

(1) Fingernail of [NN]. (2) Fingernail of [NN]. (fingernail impressions) (3) Eṭir-[... ......] (4) In all five peo[ple of NN] — (5) [NN] has contracted [and bought] (Break) (r 1) M[onth ..., ...th day], (r 2) epon[ym year of ...]

SAA 14 415. Fragment of a Conveyance Text

(Beginning destroyed) (cylinder seal impression) (Break) (r 1) (whover) [se]eks (a lawsuit) [against NN], his sons, [or his grandsons] shall return [the money tenfold] to its owner. (r 4) [He shall contest in his lawsuit] and not succeed. (Break) (r 7) [Witness NN], scribe. (r 8) [Witness NN. Witness] Banitu-ereš. (r 9) [Witness ...]unutu. (r 10) [Witness NN], shepherd of the crown prince. (r 11) [...] Lahiru (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 416. (no title)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...] Gu[la ...] (2) temple [scr]ibe [...] (Break) (r 1) [...] Gi[...] (r 2) [... of Ašš]ur-belu-[...] (r 3) [... of] Kabt-A[ya] (r 4) [... of] Issaran-m[esi] (r 5) [...] of Milk[i-...] (r 6) [...] of [NN] (r 7) [... D]adî [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 417. Fragment of a Conveyance Text

(1) Se[al of ......] (2) owner of the [......] (Break) (r 2) M[onth ..., ...th day], eponym year of [NN], govern[or of ...].

SAA 14 418. (no title)

(1) In[stead of his seal he impressed his fingernail]. (2) Fi[ngernail of ...] (3) o[f ....] (4) [......] (5) owner [of the ... being sold]. (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 419. Purchase of Land

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...] Šaba[......] (2) [...] adjoining the road that [leads] to [...] (3) [......] le[ads to] Bit-Šelebuna (4) [.......]napi to Bit-[......] (5) [...] Bit-Šele[buna] (6) in cu]ltivation [...] (7) [...] Ezbu, [...] (Break) (r 2) [Witness NN], village manager [of ...]. (r 3) [Witness ...]ibrî, 'third man' [...]. (r 4) [Witness ...]hû, mayor o[f ...]. (r 5) [...]...[...] (r 6) [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 420. (no title)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) Laimu[...], [...] of Šep-[... has bought it] for 40 [...]. (4) The money is [paid] completely. (5) No-one [shall litigate] with any[one].

SAA 14 421. Fragment of a Witness List

(Beginning destroyed) (r 1) [Witness Šulm]u-beli, Que[an]. (r 2) [Witness Ṭa]b-šar-Aššur, from Calah. (r 3) [Witness] Ahi-Ya'u, (mounted) archer. (blank space of one line) (r 4) [Witness] Šeššayu. (blank space of one line) (r 5) [Witness ...]tuanu, Itu'ean. (blank space of two lines) (r 6) Month [...], eponym year of [...]

SAA 14 422. Fragment of a Witness List (ZA 73 03)

(Obverse destroyed or too broken for translation) (r 1) [...]... garden of the town Ra[...] (r 2) [... G]adâ, village manager of the [...]. (r 3) [......], commander of (mounted) scouts of the govern[or of ...]. (r 4) [......], gardener of the [...] vineyard. (r 5) [...]... Witness Apladad-il[a'i ...]. (r 6) [..., ...]inu, [...] herdsman. (r 7) [...] Witness Ṭab-ṣil-Adad [...]. (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 462. Purchase of Land (791-XII-25) (ADD 0526)

(1) Fingernail of Kunasî, son of Harmaki, donkey driver. (fingernail impressions) (3) An estate of one he[ctar of land ...]...[...] (Break) (r 1) Witness Aššur-šal[limš]un[u], son of Birtayu. (r 3) Witness Mar-Issar, recruit. (r.e. 4) Month Adar (XII), 25th day, eponym year of Bel-iqišanni.

SAA 14 463. Purchase of Land (ADD 1242)

(1) Instead of their seals they impressed their fingernail. (fingernail impressions) (2) [...] an estate of 4 hect[ares ...] (3) [...] the estate of Šamu[...]-ila'i (4) [...] in cultivation [...] (5) [...] vegetable [garde]n [......]... — (6) [NN] has contr[acted and] bought [...]... for [...] their [...] from [these men]. (9) The money [is pa]id [completely. ...] and field, house, garden, 2 wells [are purchased and] acquired. Any revocation, [lawsuit], or litigati[on is v]oid. (13) [Whoever] in the future, and at any t[i]me, [whether] these [men] or their sons (or) their [grandson]s or any…

SAA 14 464. Šulmu-šarri Buys One Decare of Grazing Land (713) (ADD 1195)

(1) Inste[ad of their seals they impressed their fingernail]. (2) [Fingernail of NN], fingernail of [NN], in all 2 [men, owners of the field being sold]. (fingernail impressions) (5) An estate of 1 decare of grazing land [......] belonging to Išmu[...] — (7) Šu[lmu-šarri, ...] has contracted and bought it for 1/2 mina of silver [...]. (9) The money [is paid] co[mpletely]. That threshing floor is pur[chased] and acquired. Any revoca[tion, lawsuit], or litigation is void. (12) Whoever in the future, at any time, whether these men or their sons, seeks a lawsuit against Šu[l]mu-šarri and his…

SAA 14 465. Bel-duri Buys an Orchard in the Land of the Palace Herald (ADD 0467)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) [...]... in the Land of the [Palace] Herald, adjoining the [or]chard of Parši[du], adjoining the [or]chard of Nuhšay[a], adjoining the [or]chard of Ša[maš-...] and adjoining the [or]chard of Da[..., ...] — (7) Bel-duri, major-domo [...], has contracted, bought and acquired it [for x t]alents of bronze [......]. (10) [The money is] paid [completely]. That orchard [is purchased and acquired. Any re]vocation or litigation is vo[id]. (12) [Whoever in the future, at] any time, (Break) (r 1) Witness [...]. (r 2) Witness Muta[qqin]-Aš[šur, ...]. (r 3) Witness Šelubu, [...].…

SAA 14 466. Fragment of a Bel-duri Document (ADD 0485)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...... or] his labour-duty [superior], seeks [a lawsuit or litiga]tion against Bel-duri, [his sons (and)] his [gran]dsons, (5) shall place 5 [minas of silver (and) x mi]nas of gold before [Ištar resid]ing in Arbela, [shall tie] white horses at the fe[et of Aššur], shall bring four harbakannu horses to the feet of Nergal, and shall return the money tenfold [to] its [owner. He shall contest] in his lawsuit and not succeed. (r 5) [Witness NN], commander of (mounted) scouts. (r 6) [Witness NN, (... of the)] palace herald. (r 7) [Witness NN], son of Gimillu. (r 8) [Witnes…

SAA 14 467. Bel-duri Buys […] (ADD 0495)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...... are purchased and acq]uired. Any revocation, lawsuit, or litigation is void. (3) Whoever in the future, [at any t]ime, lo[d]ges a complaint (or) breaks the contract, [whet]her Bessi-na'dat or his prefect or his go[ver]nor or any relative of his [o]r the m[ayo]r of his city, and seeks a lawsuit or litigation against Bel-duri and [his sons and] his [grandsons, shall place one ta]lent of [refi]ned silver (and) one mina of p[ur]e gold in the lap of [Išt]ar residing in Nineveh, [shall return the mone]y [tenfo]ld [to its owners]. He shall contest [in his lawsuit (an…

SAA 14 469. Purchase of Slaves (ADD 0302)

(1) Fingernail of Erihi, temple steward [of] Nabû, owner of the people being sold. (unused seal space) (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 470. Putayu Buys Land (ADD 1175+)

(1) [Instead of his seal he impressed] his fingernail. (2) [Fingernail of Urdu-Dag]an, [..., owner of the land being s]old. (fingernail impressions) (4) [An estate of ... adjoining] the road to Calah. (5) [......] Ṣuṣi (6) [...] ditto Apaya, (7) [...] ditto Se'-amuti. (8) [...]... Calah. (9) [......] field of Adad-ibni, (10) [...] ditto ditto Nergal-na'di, (11) [...] 3 decares of field in cultivation — (12) Putaya [has contract]ed and bought [from ...]unu [for x minas of silver]. (15) [The money is pa]id [completely]. That field is [purchased and acquired]. Any revocation, [lawsuit, or…

SAA 14 471. Manageress Lends Barley (ADD 0137)

(1) 200 barley, capit[al], belonging to the harem manageress of [...], at the disposal of Il-amara, chie[f of granaries]. (4) In the month of Ab (V), [...] (5) in Dur-Šarruken [...] (stamp seal impressions) (6) he shall give [...] (Break) (stamp seal impressions) (r 1) [[Witness]] (r 2) Witness Terik-[...]. (r 3) Witness Šarru-ila'[i, ...]. (r 4) Witness Qur[di-...]. (blank space of one line) (r 5) Month Tam[muz (IV), ...]th [day, eponym year of ...]. (r 6) Witness Nabû-ašare[d, ...]. (stamp seal impressions)

SAA 14 472. Priest of Bel Buys a Woman (ADD 0216)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [(NN), prie]st of Bel (has contracted and) bought her from Sin-belu-uṣur for one mina of silver. (4) The money is paid completely. That woman is purchased and acquired. Any revocation, lawsuit, or litigation is vo[id]. (7) (Whoever) breaks the contract shall give one mina of silver and one mina of go[ld] to [Ištar] of Nine[veh], and shall retu[rn] the money ten[fold to its owner]. He shall contest in his lawsuit and n[ot succeed]. (r 4) Witness Adad-šumu-uṣur, servant of the chief eunuch. (r 6) Witness Hana-Se', [tan]ner of coloured leather. (Break) (e. 1) 1/2 mina of…

SAA 14 473. Dayan-Kurbail Buys Land (ADD 0386)

(Beginning destroyed) (seal space) (1) [An estate of x hectares of fiel]d according to the seah of 10 ['litres' ...] (2) [...]..., springs and a threshing floor (3) [adjoining the fiel]d of the town Urzunapi (4) [adjoining the fi]eld of Ahi-limmi, (5) [adjoining the fi]eld of Lu-šalim, (6) [...]..., a vacant lot, and an irrigated area — (7) Dayyan-Kurbail has [con]tracted and bought [fo]r 30 shekels by the mina of half (a mina) of silver. (9) The money is paid completely. That field is purchased and acquired. Any revocation, lawsuit, or litigation is void. (12) Whoever in the future, at any…

SAA 14 474. Ahu-la-amašši Buys Land (ADD 0520)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [......] by the copper seah of 1 'litre' (2) [...]... (blank space of one line) (3) [... fi]eld of Aššur-zeru-ibni — (4) Ahu-la-amašši, horse trainer [has contract]ed and [bought from ...-ahhe] for 1 1/2 mina 2 shekels of silver. (6) [The money] is paid [compl]etely. [Those ... are purcha]sed and acquired. [Any revocation, la]wsuit, or litigation [is void]. (9) Whoever breaks the contract, [whether ...]-ahhe or his sons [or his neph]ews, and seeks [a lawsuit or litiga]tion [against Ahu-la-amaš]ši and his sons, (r 3) shall pay [x minas of silver (and) x] mina of gold…

SAA 14 477. Purchase of Land (664) (ADD 0398)

(1) [Seal of NN], owner of the field being sold. (cylinder seal impression) (2) [...]... in the town of Mi[r...], [adjoining DN]-šarru-uṣur, adjoining the city of Lahi[..., ...], adjoining a cave [..., adjoining] Aššur-belu-taqqin, [..., adjoin]ing Didî, [...] (Break) (r 1) [Witness] Sasî. (r 2) [Witness In]urtî. (r 3) [Witness ...]utu, son of Hari[...]. (r 4) [Witness A]dallala, conscript [...]. (r 5) [Witness Na]bû-šallim, conscript (of) [NN]. (r 6) [Witness D]idî. (r 7) [Witness Ba]nî. (r 8) [Witness ...]šušu. (r 9) [Witness ...]labarsu. (one line erased) (r 11) [Witness ...]-eriba, scri[be…

SAA 14 479. Fragment of a Remanni-Adad Document (ADD 1254)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) [.... in] Izalla — (3) [Remanni]-Adad, chief [chariot driver has contracted] (Rest destroyed)

Ashurbanipal 023

(1) [For the goddess Mul]lis[s]u, exalted ruler, the pre-eminent one among the Igīgū and Anunnakū gods, the most splendid of goddesses, the que[en of que]ens, the Ištar worthy of praise, who is endo[w]ed with sexual charm (and) filled with awe-inspiring radiance, the supreme lady whose lordly majesty is the most outstanding (and) whose divinity is the greatest among the gods of [a]ll settlements, the very competent one, the lady of all things that (are found) in the whole (lit. “territory”) of heav[e]n and netherworld, [the one who holds] the bond of the bright firmament, who[se] place is…

Ashurbanipal 024

(1) I conquered, plund[ered, ...] the city Birtu-ša-Adad-rēmanni, of/which [...] the Manneans.

Ashurbanipal 025

(1) Teumman, <who>, during a loss of (all) reason, said to his son: “Shoot the bow!”

Ashurbanipal 026

(1) Teumman, the king of the land Elam who had been struck during a mighty battle (and) whose hand Tammarītu, his eldest son, had grasped — they fled in order to save his (Teumman’s) life (and) slipped into the forest. With the support of (the god) Aššur and goddess Ištar, I killed them. I cut off their head(s) in front of one another.

Religion & Myth

Ashurbanipal 027

(1) The head of Teum[man, the king of the land Elam], which a common soldier in my army [had cut off] in the midst of bat[tle]. They dispatched (it) quickly to As[syria] to (give me) the good ne[ws].

Ashurbanipal 028

(1) Ur[t]aku, an in-law of Teumman who had been struck by an a[rro]w (but) had not (yet) died, called out to an Assyrian to c[ut of]f his (Urtaku’s) own head, saying “Come here (and) cut off (my) head. Carry (it) before the king, your lord, and obtain fame.”

Ashurbanipal 029

(1) Itunî, a eunuch of Teumman, the king of the land Elam, whom he (Teumman) insolently sent again and again before me, saw my mighty battle array and, with his iron belt-dagger, cut with his own hand (his) bow, the emblem of his strength.

Ashurbanipal 031

(1) [Battle line of Ashurbanipal, king of A]ssyria, the one who established the de[feat of the land Elam].

Ashurbanipal 032

(1) The defeat of the troops of Teumman, the king of [the land Elam], which Ashurbanipal, [great king, strong king], king of the world, king of Assyria, [had brought about] (by inflicting) countless (losses) at (the city) Tīl-Tūba, (and during which) he had cast down the corpses of [his (Teumman’s)] w[arriors].

Ashurbanipal 033

(1) The fugitive [U]mmanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš II), a servant who had grasped my feet. When I gave the command (lit. “at the working of my mouth”) in (the midst of) celebration, a eunuch of mine whom [I had] sent (with him) ushered (him) in[to] the land Madaktu and the city Susa and placed him on the throne of Teu[mman, whom] I [had def]eated.

Ashurbanipal 035

(1) I, Ashurbanipal, king of the world, king of Assyria, [who] with the support of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar, my lords, conquered my [enemies] (and) achieved my heart’s desire. (3b) Rusâ, the king of the land Urarṭu, heard about the mi[gh]t of (the god) Ašš[ur], my [lo]rd, and fear of my royal majesty overwhelmed him and he (then) sent his envoys to me in Arbela, to inquire about my well-being. I made Nabû-damiq (and) Umbadarâ, envoys of the land Elam, stand before them with writing boards (inscribed with) insolent m[es]sages.

Ashurbanipal 036

(1) (PN₁ and PN₂) uttered grievous blasphemies against (the god) Aššur, the god who created me. I tore out their tongue(s and) flayed them.

Ashurbanipal 038

(1) I, Ashurbanipal, king of the world, king of Assyria, who by the command of the great gods, achieved his heart’s desires: They paraded before [m]e clothing (and) jewelry, royal appurtenances of Šamaš-šu[ma-u]kīn — (my) unfaithful brother — his palace women, his [eun]uchs, his battle troops, a chariot, a processional carriage, [the ve]hicle of his lordly majesty, every necessity of his palace, as much as there was, (and) people — male and female, young (and) old.