All tablets.

SAA 03 039. Mystical Miscellanea (KAR 307)

(1) [... is his ...] Tamarisk is his topknot. [......]. (2) [...] is his [...]. The palm frond is [his] whiskers. (3) [Cedar] is his [kne]es. The apple is his ankle bones. The snake is his penis. The harp is his hand. (4) [.......] his wings. (5) [...] is his [...]. The cat is the blood of his heart. The partridge is a drop of his heart's blood. (6) [...]... [is his ...]. The pig is his innards. (7) The scorpion is his lip. The whet-stone is his tongue. The leek is the hair of his armpits. (8) The drum is his lower jaw. (9) The lion is his larger intestines. The dog is his smaller intestines.…

SAA 03 040. Commentary to the Assyrian Cultic Calendar (LKA 073)

(1) In Shebat, the 16th day when the king goes to [...], is because they vanquished Anu. (2) The 17th day, which they call the Entry, is when Marduk vanquished his enemies. (3) The 18th day, which they call the Silence: they cast Qingu and his forty sons from the roof. (4) The oil and honey which is cast into the gutter, is cast as a representation of their blood. (5) The 19th day, which they call the Silence, is when he vanquished Anu and the Pleiades, the sons of Enmešarra. (6) The 19th day (of) Wrath is day the King defeated Anu, the day King Marduk defeated Anu. (7) The 21st day he pulled…

SAA 03 041. Letter from Aššur to Šamši-Adad V (KAH 142)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [To sa]ve his life, [he entered the city Nemetti-šarri. You followed behind him] and defeated him. [You took away from him his] chariots, [his stallions and ... of battle.] (3) You [did] battle within his city and [wrought a blood bath at the city gate. You cut down his orchards. Two] hundred and fifty-six cities in [its] vicinity [you razed, destroyed, and burned]. (5) As to what you wrote to me: "[I went] to Der. [Der is a great metropolis] whose foundations are as firm as the mass of a mountain. [......] I surrounded and captured that city. [The gods dwelling in…

SAA 03 049. Fragment Mentioning Gilgameš Epic (NE 50)

(1) [......] of Gilgameš, a roy[al] work of art [......] (2) [......] a scribe of Borsippa, dwelling in the Inner City, dwelling in Arbela. (3) [......] in the Temple, in the House of Emašmaš (4) [...... writing bo]ard and styluses are tied to their waists; (5) [......] have been secured on her lap, writing styluses are tied to her waist. (6) [......] place the crown on your head! (7) [...... the pal]ace of the herald of Assyria! (8) [......]... Belet-šamê, a bolt of lapis lazuli (9) [...... the S]eries of Gilgameš which ...[...] (10) [...... ki]ngship for the herald [...] (11) [......]…

SAA 03 050. Na’id-Šihu Epic (STT 366)

(21) "I have plundered the Ahlamû women, along with all their goods." (22) The king listened carefully, speaking with Na'id-šihu. (23) "Bring the t[roops] back [to] your land, Na'id-šihu! They should not go up into the mountains! How will we feed (them)? They will want to eat! They will drink wine until they are drunk! (25) "Let them bring to me the booty captured by your bow. May the enemy not lure them up into the mountains!" (26) "I will kill the staff bearer, you can rely on it! I will slaughter the team commanders!" (27) The town is captured. They have brought the great šihu down on [thei…

SAA 20 001. Rituals on Shebat 18-22 (OrSP 21, 135)

(1) On the 18th day the king goes down to the House of God. [He ...s] at the Ro[yal] Entrance. A chanter [...s] before the ki[ng .... At the] Anzû [Ga]te, water for the purification cone [is placed in the king’s hands] and the gods are hung around the king’s neck [...]. (5) [The king en]ters and prostrates himself in front of Aššur. [He places] loaves of bread before [Aššur]. He swings the [purific]ation device over the censer, [gives] in[cense] twice, and pours out a [libation] bowl. (7) He ascends (the dais) and sets the table. He places upon it loaves of brea[d, plates with] spi[cy…

SAA 20 003. Rituals on Shebat 23-25 (CA pl. 5)

(1) On the 23rd day the king goes down to the House of God. He illumi[nates] the face. He perfo[rms the reg]ular offering before Aššur and Mullissu. He performs one [bef]ore the gods of heaven. (4) The king fills plates with spicy grains. He performs a sheep offering before them. He provides cooked meat and places the plates before Aššur and Mullissu. He offers salt on them. (6) [He seats] the chanters and retires (to the side room). At the time of making the chanters rise, the king makes the chanters rise. He [provides] for the House of God in the house [of Dagan]. (9) The king [goes…

SAA 20 009. Report on Rituals Performed by Assurbanipal in Shebat-Adar, 650 (CA pl .3-4)

(i 1) [The n]ew [rites] which [Ass]urbanipal, king of Assyria, [perfor]med from the 16th [of Shebat] (XI) until the 10th of Adar (XII), eponym year of Bel-Harran-šadû’a (650) . (i 5) On the [1]6th [day]: the (triumphal) entry into the city. Šerua, [K]ippat-mati and Tašmetu went to the palace and entered the house of Dagan. [He of]fered salt on the t[able] and poured out a libation bowl ...[...]. (i 9) The pries[t]s enter[ed] it from the front side of the city gate and came as far as the front side of the main room. (i 11) [On the 18th day] the king came do[w]n to the House of God. (i 12) He…

SAA 20 010. Report on Rituals Performed on Shebat 17-21 (OrSP 22, 039)

(1) On the 17th day the king [entered] the Inner City. (2) On the 18th day the king went u[p] to the House of God. [He kissed the ground before Aššur. He performed a sheep offering] before Ninurta, Nusku and the gods of the House of God. He performed [one before the Conquerors (and)] the Golden Chariot. [He performed one] before [DN]. He performed one before Bel and Nabû. [He seated] the chanter[s] and retired to the side room. (6) The priest of Aššur circumambula[ted the House]. (7) The king made the chanters rise. He provided for the House of God. He gave presents to [the priest] and to the…

SAA 20 011. Report on Rituals Performed on Adar 8 (OrSP 22, 036)

(1) On the 8th day the king [went up] to the Ho[use of God]. He ki[ssed] the ground before Aššur. [He poured out a libation bowl]. (3) He ascended the dais [and set] the ta[ble before Lord Tiara]. The king [...] from [......]. He f[il]led a golden pithos on [...]. The priest of Aššur placed a napki[n on the] king’s shoulder. He of[fer]ed hand-water, strewed sal[t], and p[erformed] the f[ee]ding ritual. (9) He swung the purification device. He w[en]t (and) swung it over the censers, [... sw]ung it [on the censer]. He po[ur]ed out a libation bowl, tr[eated] the gods, performed the sheep…

SAA 20 013. Lamentations to Aššur on Account of Enemy Attack (Geers J 62)

(1) Lamentations and eršahunga-psalms of Aššur. Enemy attack. Cop[ied] for reference. (2) On the first day, you set up a ritual arrangement for Anu, [Enlil, Ea] (and) Sîn. (3) “Wise lord, planner,” a lamentation. “You should not desert me,” [......], an eršemma-lamentation. “O Lord, may your angry heart relent to me,” an e[ršahung]a to Anu. (5) “For how long, O Lord, how long have you delayed the vengeance?,” an e[ršahunga-psalm] to Enlil. “O Lord, may your heart, though kindled with fire, [spare] your city for my sake,” an e[ršahung]a-psalm to Enlil. “Let me pray to the Lord for the house,”…

SAA 20 015. Rituals in the Akitu House on Nisan 7-8, and Temple Service Rites (KAR 215 + PKT 16)

(beginning (about 2-6 lines) lost) (i 1') [They] en[ter] the Akitu House. The king com[es]; they give the gods around the king’s neck. He goes and lights the censer, and steps upon the stand. (i 6') The man-woman raises the weapons and shouts, opposite Ištar: “Ebirna, ebirna!” (i 8') The king goes to the spring. He performs sheep offerings and offers blood to the spring. He throws a fish and a crab into the spring, pours oil, honey, and wine into the spring. He swings the purification device, and appears (to the public). (i 14') From the spring the king enters the Akitu House. He kisses the…

SAA 20 016. Rituals in the Equ House (AsT 43)

(beginning broken away) (i 1') [...] Ištar [......] (i 2') [He burns] female kids as on the 6t[h day]. (i 3') [Hav]ing finished his ritual, the k[ing retires] to the [side]room (and) removes the jewellery. He comes out and [prostrates himself] before Ištar. They lay down [the ...]... [He kisses] the ground at the right and left of Ištar. Using a lance, he giv[es ...] before Nikkal, [...]. (i 7') The king comes out, [...s] under [..., and sits down] on the couch before the left-hand door. They [place] a table before the king. One cupbearer steps to the right of the king, p[laces an…

SAA 20 017. Rituals in the House of the Assyrian Ištar (PKT 19 + OrSP 23, 115)

(1) At the da[wn] of the [xth] day [o]f Nisan (I), the king rises early in the m[orni]ng and goes to the house of the Assyrian Ištar. He per[for]ms a sheep offering before [Tašmetu], before Belat-šarri, before Ber, before Uraš, and before Kutatati. [The king] (then) goes straight to the palace. He does (all) this in the morning. (7) [At the pa]ssing of the eve[ning] the king puts on the jewellery and goe[s] to the house of the Assyrian Ištar. The king halts in the courtyard. The priest of [Aššur pours out] one libation bowl of wa[ter and another one [of ...] in the courtyard before the…

SAA 20 019. Rituals for Ninitu and Kulittu (KAR 146)

(i 1) When the king performs the nāṭu of [Ninittu], the king g[oe]s and brin[gs in] Ištar. (i 4) He p[erforms] a sheep offering [before Aššur], and go[es to] feed [the ṣīp]u before Ištar. He strews [salt], and swings [the purif]ication device. He go[es] to swing the purification device on the censer, gives incense thrice, pours out a libation bowl. He gives incense [three] times, performs a sheep offering, burns [ho]ney and oil, completes his [liba]tions, and appears (to the public). (i 16) [He goes] to strew [salt] before the Seven Gods, feeds [the ṣīpu], and completes [libations] of beer,…

SAA 20 020. Fragment of a Ritual for Ištar (CA pl. 6)

(beginning broken away) (i 1) [......] ... [......] (i 2) [......] of the bed which in [......] (i 3) [......] He cuts off [......] the bed (i 4) [......] ritual arrangement before the be[d ...] (i 5) [the ...]s of the bed [...] (i 6) [...]. He performs a sheep offering before Aššur. He b[rings in] Ištar. (i 7) He [goes] to fe[ed] the ṣīpus [before I]štar. (i 8) [He places] the head and the feet [up]on huhhurtu-bread [......]. (i 9) He pours [wine and beer] on the head and the feet [...]. (i 10) He performs [a sheep offering before] Ištar. (i 11) He provides [......] (and) goes to the…

SAA 20 021. Ritual for the Lady-of-the-Mountain (PKT 12-13)

(1) [......]...[...] (2) [...] eye [......] (3) [...... the La]dy-of-the-Mountain before the [bed]room (4) [...] the bed [i]nside [...]. (5) [...] se[ts the tab]le of Aššur. (6) He comes out [of] the palace. He pours water and beer and three times [throws] balussu on [...]. (8) The king strews salt before Aššur. He sacrifices a ram [before Aššur], sacrifices a [r]am before the Lady-of-the-Mountain. He s[trew]s salt [o]n the terrace before the Seven Gods, and sp[li]ts [...]. (13) He pours a [lib]ation of beer and wine, provides cooked [me]at before Aššur, provides roast [me]at before the…

SAA 20 030. The Banquet of Gula (PKT 21 + 22b)

(beginning broken away) (1') [......] sweet oil [...] (2') [......] you anoint [the hands] and feet [......]. (3') The master of the banquet and the officiant [k]iss [the ground before DN] and stand up. (4') They [......] Šarrat-eqi. [The officiant] fills a masrahu vessel with wine [....... The officient] offers (it) to [the master of the ban]quet, saying: “It is (wine) of fame and offspring, [......]. May she give you [well-bein]g, life, fame and offspring!” ... [......]. (8') He thus blesses him and gives him to drink. The officiant [and the master of the banquet] kiss [the gr]ound [before…

SAA 20 032. Ritual for the Daughter-of-River (KAR 141)

(1) [Wh]en [you perform the n]āṭu of the Daughter-of-the-River before [...], at the 5/6th double-hour of [the d]ay you go to the river and pitch a [ten]t on the river bank. You place the front of the tent towards the desert. (4) You collect seeds, pulling the sufferer of the punishment, (while) the singer keeps reciting: “I know the sinner” — a second time like this, a third time like this. You throw the things pulled out into the river. He throws the ‘solvents’ before Šamaš. (9) You put up a bed in the tent. [You place] on the be[d] a habannutu-jar of haršu and a habannutu-jar of…

SAA 20 035. Fragment of a Ritual Mentioning the Dais of Destinies (CT 53, 980)

(beginning broken away) (3') [......] the sheep offerings of the palace (4') [... the Da]is of Destinies (5') [... t]he high priest offers (6') [... up]on the lock (7') [......] on the 19th day (8') [......] they say accordingly (9') [...] ... Neberu (10') [......] the stool (11') [......] the priest (12') [......]s, opening the ear (rest broken away) (beginning broken away; then traces at the end of lines) (r 1') [...... ris]es (r 2') [......] is seated (rest broken away)

Daily Life·Economy

SAA 20 037. Temple Service Rites for All Assyria (PKT 10-11)

(1) [When you are to provide for the House of Aššur, (and) to strew salt], you say: “[Aššur and Mullissu, Adad and Mašmaš, accep]t [life]!” (3) [When] you are to swing [the purification device over the table, you say: “The hand is released.” You repeat it] and swing it in the centre of the house, [saying: “The centre of the house is released].” You go and swing it in the area of the censers, [saying: “The centre of the house is seized].” You return and swing it over the censers, [saying: “May Fire purify]!” (7) When you are to put combustibles on the censer, [you giv]e incense [thri]ce and…

SAA 20 038. Takultu for Sennacherib and Temple Service for Nineveh (STT 088)

(i 1) [Aššur-Enlil]; Mašmaš; Aššur-[Adad] in front of Aššur-d[ugul]; Aššur-Adad in front of Aššur-Conqueror; Enlil-Anu; Ea-šarru; Sîn, Adad, Šamaš; Ištar, the Queen of Heaven of Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta, Šerua; the Great Gods; [Taš]metu, [Ninurta, Nu]sku; Kippat-mati, Kippat-mati-image, Kutatati; Enlil, Dagan, Aššur-Tiara, Sun-image, Aššur-Lahmus, Aššur-Judges, Kittu, Sîn, Šamaš, Aššur-Conqueror; Ea, Kittu (and) Mišaru, Dibar; Ninurta and Aššur, [Aššur-Šakkan-Tišpak, Aššur-Judges; Lubelim, Gimagan], Il-pad[a]; (i 30) the Couch, Sun-of-the-Lands, the Rivers (and) Usumû, the Images, Kunuš-kadru; the…

SAA 20 039. Takultu for Esarhaddon(?) (STT 374)

(beginning broken away) (1') [......], Si[...], (2') [...], Hip-rag[gu], (3') [...], the Weapons, the Stand[ard], (4') [...], the Sun-image, [...], (5') [...], Uraš, (6') [..., Be]lat-ekalli, (7') [..., I]štar of Egypt, (8') [..., H]umbaba, (9') [......] image [...] (rest broken away)

SAA 20 041. Duplicate of No. 40 (KAV 057)

(left-hand columns lost) (ii 1) [Ebh, Adad], Šala, Taramuwa, [Nisaba], Adad-Lightning, [Niphu-image], Fire-light[ning], (ii 6) Light-ima[ge, Ningirsu] (rest broken away) (r i 2') [......] light (rest broken away) (completely broken away)

SAA 20 042. Takultu for Aššur-etel-ilani (KAR 214)

(i 1) [Aššur], drink! Enlil, drink! Anu, drink! Ea-šarru, drink! Queen of the [Gods], drink! Sîn, drink! Šamaš, drink! Adad, drink! Ištar, drink! (i 4) May the Great Gods, the Seven Gods (and) the Narudi drink! Ber, drink! Assyrian Ištar, drink! (i 7) May the Igigi (and) the Anunnaki, Ereškigal (and) the gods of earth, Eṭirtu (and) Ugurta; Šerua, Tašmetu, Nusku, Kippat-mati; Enlil (and) Da[gan], the Judges of the Imag[e, Sîn (and) Šamaš], the Lahmus, the Niphu-im[age], Nubalu, [......], Ea, [...], Maliku, [...], ...; (i 17) the House of Aš[šur] (and) its [..., ...], the Upper Lamassu,…

SAA 20 043. Duplicate of No. 42 (KAV 083)

(beginning broken away) (1') [N]eš-ili-mati, N[eš-igigani, the St]eps and the Lahm[us of the Eastern Gate; Nus]ku, the Bull-Son-of-Šamaš [and the Judges behind (the God)]; (4') [the image]s of the tem[ple] and the ima[ges of the House of Aššur], the great holy of holies, [the treasuries], the holy of holies without ex[it, ...], the [Cou]rt of Lead, the A[psû and everything (in it)], the [C]ourt of Mul[lissu and everything (in it)], the Court of Nam[ru and everything (in it)] (rest broken away)

SAA 20 044. Duplicate of No. 42 (KAR 325)

(beginning broken away) (1') [the four gates] and [their] doors, [the gods of the fo]ur [houses] and itself [..., the doorjamb and the lo]ck, Ehursag[kurkurra (and)] its [inhabitants], the divine It[tu, the paveme]nt, the hiburnu (vats) [and the sacred outlet conduits], (6') Anu and Antu, the Great Gods, [Šunipuru, the Narudi], Šalimtu, [Enlil] (and) Mullissu, Ninurta (and) [Nusku, Ea-šarru (and) Dam]kina, Usum[û ...] (rest broken away) (totally destroyed)

SAA 20 045. Takultu for Sin-šarru-iškun(?)

(beginning broken away) (i 1') [Aššur-Adad in front of Aššur-dugu]l, [Aššur]-Adad [in front of Aššur-Conq]ueror, [Enlil]-Anu, [Ea]-šarru, [Sîn, Adad], Šamaš, Ištar, [the Queen of Heaven of] Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta, [Šeru]a, (rest broken away) (beginning broken away) (ii 1') Bel-[šarru], Da[glanu], Siu[sa], Šeru[a, Mullissu], Ištar [...]: the gods of [the House of Aššur]. (ii 7') The divine Sta[g ...]; (ii 8') you [invoke] their names. (ii 9') The [Image], (rest broken away)

SAA 20 048. Fragment of a Takultu(?) Text (STT 088B)

(beginning broken away) (i 1') (Too broken for translation) (beginning broken away) (rest broken away) (rest broken away)

SAA 20 049. The Gods, Shrines and Holy Palaces of Assur (KAV 042 +)

(1) Aššur, Lord Tiara, Aššur of Reading; Šerua, Kippat-mati, the Window of Tašmetu; Sîn, Šamaš; Šulpaamaša, Šulpaguna; three gods of the room; the Conquerors, the Weapon, the Axe, Kunuš-kadru; image of Tiglath-Pileser: total (of gods) in the holy of holies. (14) Ninurta and Kakka in the right side room of the portico. (16) Nusku in the left side room of ditto. (17) Seven Sons-of-Truth of bronze before the window openings of the roof. (19) Mullissu, Mullissu of Reading, Tambaya, Šamšaya, Ulaya: total (of gods) in the house of Mullissu. (22) Enlil, Dagan, Bel-labria, the Judges of the dais,…

SAA 20 050. Duties of Priests of the Aššur Temple (PKT 36-38)

(i 1) [To ... ... the House of A]ššur [and to ... the ... for s]etting [the table and per]forming [the sheep offerings] is the responsibility of [the hig]h [priest and the assistant priest]. (i 8) [To illuminat]e the face, [to ...] ..., [to ...] the golden purification device, to wipe [the kettle], to bind [... and the na]pkin [on the k]ing’s [shoulders] is [the responsib]ility of the [...]. (i 15) To lo[ok after ...], to [he]at [...], and to [bu]rn [...] [is the responsibility] of the [...]. (i 19) To [lo]ok after [the table, the c]ouch, [the bed and the throne is the responsibility of the…

SAA 20 051. Royal Decrees Concerning the Clergy of Ešarra (PKT 39-40)

(i 1) The [...] cup[s] of the House of [Aššur which] Shalmaneser, king of [Assy]ria, established: (i 5) The priest of Aššur. (i 6) The assistant priest, the scribe of the House of God, the steward, the priest of Šerua, the chief gatekeeper, the chief chanter. (i 12) The priest of Bel-tarbaṣi, the warden of the House, the warden of the šahūru anteroom, the chief chanter of the House of Aššur, the cupbearer, the [...] (rest broken away) (beginning broken away) (ii 2') Two [...]s of [......]. (ii 4') Three [...]s (and) two revenue collectors ... the table. (ii 7') A revenue collector ge[t]s 1.5…

SAA 20 052. Cultic Reforms and Religious Practices at Assur (CA pl. 1-2)

(columns i-iii destroyed) (beginning (about 50 lines) broken away) (iv 2) [...... Sennach]erib (iv 3) [......]... (iv 4) [......] of silver (iv 5) [...... he stati]oned (iv 6) [......] the chariot (iv 7) [...... on the x]th (iv 8) [...... Ad]ad (iv 9) [...... is fa]vourable (iv 10) [......]... (iv 11) [......] to him and (iv 12) [...... he recei]ved (rest (about 13 lines) broken away) (beginning (about 50 lines) broken away) (v 1') [Ada]d, [Nisaba, Šala]; Zababa, Babu, [E]a, [Belet]-ili, Damkina, Ninurta. (v 4') The Chariot, the W[eapo]n, Amurru, Haya, Kusu, Ninurta of the Wall, Tišpak,…

SAA 20 054. Fragment of a Text Similar to No. 52 (KAV 049)

(beginning broken away) (i 1') [Sîn, Nikkal; Šamaš], Aya; [Anu, Antu; Kippat-mati], Enlil; [Adad, Šala; Iš]tar of Heaven, [Ištar of Nineveh; Ištar] of Arbela, [Assyri]an [Ištar; Zababa, B]abu; [Belet-ili, Da]mkina; [Ninurta, Kakka], Nabû, [Nergal, Mard]uk (rest broken away) (beginning broken away) (ii 1') Aššur, M[ullissu, Šerua]; Sîn, [Nikkal]; Šamaš, [Aya, Kippat-mati]; Anu, [Antu], Adad, [Šala]; Ištar of [Heaven, Ištar of Nineveh]; Ea, the Be[let-ili, Da]mk[ina, Ninurta: total gods wh]o go afte[r Aššur]. (ii 11') The Golden Chariot, [the Weapon], Amurru, [Haya], Kusu, Tišpak, [Ninurta of…

SAA 20 055. Record of Events at Ešarra on 20-x-714 (CTN 2, 246)

(1) [In the r]eign of Sargon (II), king of Assyria, [in the ep]onym year of Issar-duri, governor of Arrapha (714) , [on the 20th day], the basalt [so]cle underneath the panther of copper was brought into the House of Aššur. [While] the socle was being dragged, they pushed the altar into the socle and delivered a report [bef]ore the king. (6) On the 21st [of Tebet] (X), the royal scribe, Nabû-šallimšunu, came to the Inner City. [...s] were brought [in] big carts from the house of the governor and slain on the altar. (8) [The regular off]ering was performed before Aššur. The House of God was…

~675 BCE·Neo-AssyrianOur engine

SAA 04 085. Fragment Similar to No. 84 [military and political]

[...] ... [I ask] you, Šamaš, great lord: [Whether the king, my lord], this [Esarhaddon, king of Assyria], [from] the beginning of this year until [the month Tammuz of this year], within ... the days and nights, the stipulated term, [will take] the road and go [to Egypt], [and return] safely to Nineveh, and [...], [Be present] in this ram, [and] [place in it a firm positive] answer, favorable, propitious omens by the oracular command of [your great divinity], [and] may I [see it]! [...] ... [...]

Religion & Myth

~675 BCE·Neo-AssyrianOur engine

SAA 04 207. Fragment Referring to Hardships of Travel [miscellaneous]

(traces, too fragmentary to translate) / [......] his/her ...... (blank) [......] / (1) [Disregard that ......] the forces of Esarhaddon, [king of Assyria ......] / (2) [Disregard that ......] turns him back, (that) illness (or) the hardship [of travel is encountered] / (3) [Disregard that ...... a god] of evil (or) the evil of Ištar [......] / (4) [Disregard that a clean or] unclean (person) has touched the sacrificial sheep, / (5) [or] has blocked the way [of the sacrificial sheep]. / (6) [Disregard that an unclean man or wom]an has come near the place of the extispicy [and made it unclean].…

Religion & Myth

~675 BCE·Neo-AssyrianOur engine

SAA 16 081. Jewellery for the King (ABL 0847)

To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-sagib, son of Paruṭu, the goldsmith of the Queen's Household. Good health to the king [my lord]! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! [...] year(s), with/at the house [...] they questioned me [...] of the month [...] [...] silver, one pappardilû-stone, three fingers wide, (and) a bead(?) of ḫulālu-stone ("eye-stone") I gave to Matan-ilu, the doorkeeper. A letter (came) together (with this), saying: 'To the king, my lord, (let there be) a judgment: whether he gave it or whether he did not give it, let the king, my lord, inquire.'

Daily Life·Economy

Esarhaddon 001

Esarhaddon justifies his anomalous succession — youngest son elevated over elder brothers — by attributing the choice directly to Aššur, Šamaš, and both Ištars, revealing how Sargonid kings marshalled divine authority to legitimise politically irregular transfers of power.

Esarhaddon 002

Esarhaddon's own account of razing Sidon — a coastal Phoenician power — ca. 677 BCE, documenting Assyrian westward expansion and the king's claim to rule 'from the rising sun to the setting sun.'

Esarhaddon 005

Esarhaddon justifies his irregular succession — youngest son elevated over older brothers — by citing divination omens from Šamaš and Adad, documenting how Sargonid kings used extispicy to legitimize contested royal transitions.

Esarhaddon 008

Claims Assyrian boots on the soil of Patušarra — a district near Mount Bikni in the Median salt desert — where no predecessor king had walked, pushing the attested eastern horizon of Esarhaddon's campaigns beyond earlier royal records.

Esarhaddon 010

Claims Esarhaddon's simultaneous restoration of Aššur's temple and Babylon's Esagil — the ideological balancing act by which an Assyrian king sought legitimacy in both the north and south after Sennacherib's destruction of Babylon.

Esarhaddon 011

Esarhaddon petitions Sîn and Šamaš jointly for long life, abundant heirs, and victory over enemies — placing the moon- and sun-gods at the centre of his dynastic theology in an era when Esarhaddon was aggressively rebuilding Babylon.

Esarhaddon 012

Records Esarhaddon's restoration of the Aššur temple and manufacture of cult statues for Sîn and Ningal, linking his legitimacy directly to cultic reconstruction after his father Sennacherib's reign.

Esarhaddon 015

Records Esarhaddon's claim to have captured the household of Taharqa — wives, concubines, sons — after his Egyptian campaign, corroborating Assyrian dominance over the 25th Dynasty in the 670s BCE.

Esarhaddon 018

Attests Esarhaddon's restoration of looted divine statues to their sanctuaries and his reinstatement of regular sattukku- and ginû-offerings — cultic amends that legitimised his reign after Sennacherib's destruction of Babylon.

Esarhaddon 030

Records Esarhaddon's military campaign into the Sealand against Nabû-zēr-kitti-līšir, son of the famed Merodach-baladan II — linking dynastic Chaldean resistance to Assyrian rule across two generations.

Esarhaddon 031

Records Nabû-zēr-kitti-līšir's flight and death in Elam — corroborating evidence for Esarhaddon's suppression of the Sealand rebellion and his subsequent reception of the fugitive Naʾid-Marduk.