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Page 193 / 224

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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."

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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).…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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].

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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 [...].

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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]?

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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]!

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

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…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 043. The King Must Give up Fasting (ABL 0078) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, our lord: your servants Balasî and Nabû-ahhe-eriba. Good health to the king, our lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, our lord! (7) The king, our lord, will pardon us. Is one day not enough for the king to mope and to eat nothing? For how long (still)? This is already the third day (when) the king does not eat anything. The king, a beggar! (16) (Surely) when, in the beginning of the month, the moon appears, he says: "I will not fast (any more)! It is the beginning of the month! I want bread to eat and wine to drink!" (r 4) Now Jupiter is the moon. The king can ask for foo…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 045. No Portents to Report (ABL 0687) [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! (6) Concerning what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "You must certainly have observed something in the sky" — I keep a close eye on it (but) I must say, I have seen nobody and nothing, (therefore) I have not written to the king. (14) Not(hing) has risen; I have seen not(hing). (r 1) Concerning the watch of the sun about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, it is (indeed) the month for a watch of the sun. We will keep the watch twice, on the 28th of Marchesvan (VIII)…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 046. Watch for a Solar Eclipse (ABL 0351) [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! (6) Concerning the watch of the moon about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, (the eclipse) will pass by, it will not occur. (9) Concerning the watch of the sun about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, does the king, my lord, not know that it is being closely observed? The day of tomor[row] is the only (day left); once the watch is over, (this eclipse), too, will have passed by, it will not occur.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 047. Conjunctions of Mars and Saturn (ABL 0079) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, our lord: your servants Balasî and Nabû-ahhe-eriba. Good health to the king, our lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, our lord! (6) Concerning the planets [Satur]n and [Mars] ... (Break) (r 1) There is (still) (a distance of) about 5 fi[ngers] left; it (= the conjunction) is not y[et] certain. Presently we keep observing and shall write to the king, our lord. It (= Mars) moves about a finger a day.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 048. Can the Crown Prince Come While Mars is Bright? (ABL 0356) [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! (6) Concerning the crown prince about whom the king, my lord, wrote to me: "The planet Mars is bright" — (true), Mars will be clothed with brilliance right into the month Iyyar (II); (so) when is it that he (= the crown prince) can come into the presence of the king? (15) When Mars is bright, have we got no profit from it? He will not return to the area of Subartu; he will not go outside, either. There is nothing (wrong) — he will come into the presence of the king…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 049. Can the Crown Prince [Come]? (ABL 0690) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ba[lasî]. Good health to the king, my lord! May [Nabû] and Marduk [bless the king], my lord! (7) Concerning the crow[n prince] about whom the king, [my lor]d, wr[ote to me] (Remainder lost)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 050. Sightings of Mercury are Unpredictable (ABL 0692) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the k]ing, [our] lord: your [servants] Balasî and [Nabû]-ahhe-eriba. [Good he]alth to the king, our [lord]! [May] Nabû and Marduk bless the king, our lord! (9) [Concer]ning the planet Mercury [about which] the king, our lord, [wr]ote to us: "I have heard it [can be seen in B]abylon" — [he who] wrote (this) to the king, our [lord], may really have observed it. His eye, however, must have fallen on it. (r 7) We ourselves have kept watch (but) we have not observed it. [On]e day it might be too early, [anoth]er day it might lie flat (in the horizon). [To see it], our [e]yes sho[uld] (liter…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 051. Mistaking Mercury for Venus (ABL 0618) [from astrologers]

(1) To the ki[ng, my lord]: your servant [Balasî]. Good health [to the king, my lord]! May Nabû and Marduk bl[ess the king], my lord! (6) Concerning the planet [Venus] about which the king, my lord, [wrote to me: "I am] told that it has [become visible]" — (10) the man who wrote (thus) to the king, [my lord], is in (complete) ignorance. He does not k[now] the [...], the cycle [...], (or) the (synodic) revoluti[ons of Venus]. (17) (Break) (19) Venus is not y[et] vis[ible]. Tonight, as I am sending [this] message to the king, [my] lord, we [see] only Merc[ury]; we do not [see] Venus. Presently…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 052. The Crown Prince may Visit the King (ABL 0354) [from astrologers]

(1) [To] the king, [my lord]: your servant Ba[lasî]. Good health to [the king], my lord! [May] Nabû [and Marduk bless] the king, my lord! (6) Concerning the crown prince [about whom the king, my lord], wrote to me: "[I have been told that he should not go out]doors on the 1st day" — this [applies] (rather) to the 2nd day. (10) Concerning the 1st and the [4th] days about which the king, my lord, w[rote to me]: "Which one is fa[vourable]?" — both are fav[ourable]. We call the 4th day a 'new day.' A new day has the same qualities as the beginning of a month; it is favourable. (18) As to what was…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 053. Assigning Dates for a Visit (ABL 0077) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, our lord: your servants Balasî and Nabû-ahhe-eriba. Good health to the king, our lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, our lord! (10) Concerning Aššur-mukin-paleya about whom the king, our lord, wrote to us, may Aššur, Bel, Nabû, Sin, Šamaš and Adad bless him, and may the king, our lord, see him prosper. It is (a) good (time) for (his) going (to the king): the 2nd is a good day, and the 4th is a very good day.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 054. Timing a Visit (ABL 0929) [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]! (Break) (r 1) Let the man come tom[or]row. May Bel and Nabû bless the king! See his success!

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 055. Earthquake in Sivan (ABL 1080) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (2) [The earth] quaked [again ......]; the relevant interpretation is as follows: (5) If the earth quakes in the month Sivan (III), settlements in abandoned outlying regions will become settled again at the command of Illil. (r 2) Let them find out where the evil (portended by) the eclipse has materialized, and eradicate it. Somebody should g[o] and [perform (the rituals)] in Nine[veh]. (Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 056. The Meaning of an Earthquake (ABL 0355) [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! (6) Concerning the interpretation of the omen about which the king, my lord, wrote to me: "(It is said that) the king will be vilified amongst his magnates — what losses will ensue?" — (13) interpretations of monthly omens are like this: one is never similar to another, their interpretations go separately. (r 2) Now this one: if he will be slighted, its explanation can only be the earthquake. It has quaked: that is bad. They should perform the ritual against the…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 057. The King Should not be Afraid of the Eclipse (ABL 0691) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Balasî. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) The king sho[uld not] be afraid of this eclipse! The planets Jupiter, Venus and [Sa]turn were present [during the eclipse]. (10) [The gre]at [gods ......]... (Break) (r 1) [May ......] give [life of distant days, old age and fullness of life to the kin]g, [my] lo[rd]. (r 3) [Akkull]anu will read and explain [the rep]ort on the lunar [eclipse] [be]fore the king.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 058. Omens from Birds and a Request (ABL 0353) [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) Concerning the raven about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, (here are the relevant omens): (7) If a raven brings something into the house of a man, the said man will obtain something that does not belong to him. (11) If a falcon or a raven drops something it carries into the house of a man, (or) according to a variant, before a man, the said house will have išdihu. Išdihu (means) profit. (17) If a bird carries flesh, a bird, or anything, and drops it into the…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 059. Assigning a Date for a Dream Ritual (ABL 0076) [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! (7) Concerning the ... about which the king, my lord, wrote to me — the dream rituals should be performed on the 13th day, in the morning. On the 13th day the [moon] will be cover[ed] with the crown of splendour. Afterw[ards], [...] on the 14th day, [the moon] will be seen in opposition to the sun, a good oracular utterance will answer you. (r 6) May Aššur, Bel, Nabû and Šamaš bless the king, my lord! May they give life of distant days, old age and fullness of life to t…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 060. Anomaly Omens are Difficult to Read (ABL 0688) [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) Concerning the tab[let] of Šumma izbu [about which] the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Look (at it)! [Who would] write [...] in Šumma izbu?" — there is a particular tablet [in] which the [...]s are written, and I am now sending it to the king. The king should have a look. Maybe the scribe who reads to the king did not understand. (r 1) Šumma izbu is difficult to interpret. The first time that I come before the king, my lord, I shall (personally) show, with this tabl…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 061. One Should not Think on an ‘Evil Day’ (ABL 0352) [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! May Aššur, Bel and Nabû give happiness and joy to the king, my lord! (11) The moon has taken an auspicious aspect: it is the beginning of the month. (r 2) [Con]cerning what the king, my lord, wrote to me — today is an 'evil day,' I shall write (about it) tomorrow. Thinking about these matters today is not good; I shall write tomorrow.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 063. Full Moon on 14th Day and Conjunctions of Mars and Venus [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [our] lo[rd: your servants Bal[asî] and Bamaya. Good he[alth] to the king, our lord! May Nabû and M[arduk] bl[ess] the king, our lord! (6) The moon and sun appeared together on the 14th day. (8) Before we saw the king, our lord's letter, we kept watch, wrote [a report], and gave it to [...]. He did not [......] mouth [.....] we sei[z]ed [...]. (16) Now then we shall watch the appearance (of the moon) in Tebet (X) and write to the king, our lord. (r 3) The bodyguard brought the letter on the 19th of Kislev (IX). (r 5) If the Pleiades flare up and go before Venus, in the…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 064. (no title) (CT 53 603) [from astrologers]

(1) We have observ[ed ...... in] the west. (3) [Per]haps [th]ey will write to the king, [my] lord, (as follows): (5) "The f]ormer (is) Na[bû, the la]tter (is) the god [DN]." (7) [...] with the k[ing, my lord] (Rest destroyed)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 065. (no title) (CT 53 483) [from astrologers]

(Beginning destroyed) (2) [...... the Path of] the Anu stars (3) [......]... (4) [......] touched (5) [......] made it pass by (6) [......] is good (7) [......]... (8) [......] where the king, my lord (9) [...... an]ything (Rest destroyed)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 067. Conjunction of Venus and Mercury (ABL 0647) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [my lord]: your servant Nabû-[ahhe-eriba]. Good health to [the king, my lord]! May Nabû and Marduk bl[ess the king], my lord! (6) If it [suits the king], the apotropaic ritual [against evil] of any kind shou[ld be performed], and [the interpretation] of the observ[ation] of J[upiter] and Me[rcury] which, in the same [day], came forth in succession, should be written in (the text). It is said as follows: (r 1) "If the star of Marduk is black, in that year the as[akku]-disease [will rage (in the country)]." (r 4) They [are at a distance] and will keep away from each other; the…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 068. The King is Back! (ABL 0080) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-ahhe-eriba. 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: "From now on you will stay in my entourage; if there is something you want to say, write me" — how would I not stand in front of the king, my lord? To whom else would we be devoted? (r 3) The king, my lord, went away until the fourth month; how could I not be shaken up (when) I cannot look at the king, my lord; why should I not embrace (the ground) where the tracks of the chariot of the king, my lord, pass by, (lon…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 069. God-Stricken Field (CT 53 146) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-ahhe-er]iba. [Good health to the king], my [lord. My Nabû and] Marduk bless [the king], my [lo]rd! (7) [Concerning] the large field [of the Ass]yrians [about which the king], my lord, wrote to me: "It was a very productive field; who is removing the grain?" — (13) the farmers who seeded the fields do not revere Adad any more; that is why he let a lightning bolt strike down (and devastate the field). (r 3) Since the king, my lord, commanded (so), an exorcist should perform the (ritual called) "Purification of the Field," and he should at the same…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 070. Auspicious Dates for a Banquet (ABL 0406) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-ahhe-eriba. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) Concerning the arrangement of the (divine) 'party' about which the king, my lord, wrote to me — (according to the menologies) "(If) he wants to take the cult ceremonies," it is favourable in this month; it is favourable to arrange the 'party.' Let them arrange it on the 13th, 15th, (or) the 17th day. (15) Concerning the offerings about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, it is favourable to make them this month. Let them make them tomorrow (or) the day…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 071. Predicting Eclipses (ABL 1069) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (1) We will look it up [...], and I shall send the king, my lord, a ta[blet] dealing with the halo of the moon. (6) Concerning the watch for a lunar eclipse about which the king, my lord, wrote to me — its watch will be (kept) [on the deci]ded [night]; (but) [whether] its [wat]ch should be during sunset, [we have not been able to de]cide. (r 1) (Break) (r 4) [Eclipses] cannot occur [dur]ing certain periods. [After] 4 months, there was a watch in Marchesvan (VIII), and now, in the month Kislev (IX), we will (again) keep watch. A[s the]se watche[s] (Remainder lost)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 072. An Ignoramus Sights Venus (ABL 1132+) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-ahhe-eriba. Good health] to the king, my lord! May [Nabû and Marduk] bless the king, my [lord]! (6) [He who] wrote to the king, my lord, "The planet Venus is visible, it is visible [in the month Ad]ar (XII)," is a vile man, an ignoramus, a cheat! [And he who] wrote to the king, my lord, "Venus is [...] rising in the constellation A[ries]," [does] not [speak] the truth (either). Venus is [not] yet visible! (15) Why does one so [deceitf]ully send such (a report) to the ki[ng, my lo]rd? "Venus is stable in the mor[ning]": (this) signifies…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 074. Timing the Visits of Princes (ABL 0082+) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-ahhe-eriba. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) Concerning the crown prince about whom the king, my lord, wrote to me saying that the crown [prince should visit the k]ing, my [lo]rd, (and asking) "Is the 1st of Nisan (I) favourable?" — (12) On the 1st of Nisan (I) he should c[leanse and p]urify [oneself], make his food offering to Marduk, libate water and first-quality beer to the right and to the left; (then) this man will shine like the sun. (18) On the 2nd he should not go into the street. (19) On…

Daily Life·Economy

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