All tablets.

SAA 14 330. Fragment of a Conveyance Text (ADD 0729)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [shall place (x minas of silver in the lap of DN] of Ni[neveh, and shall return] the money [tenfold] to [its] owner. [He shall contest] in his non-law[suit and] not succe[ed]. (6) Witness Ṣi[...], son of Dula[...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 343. (no title) (ADD 1151)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...]...[...] (2) [... Mar]duk-ahu-[...] (3) [...]...[...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 347. Purchase of a Man (ADD 1172)

(1) Seal of [..., owner of] the man being so[ld]. (blank seal space) (3) [NN], his servant, Zakiru — (4) [...]bil, pal[ace] superintendent [has contracted and bo]ught [for] half mina 5 shekels of silver. (6) The money [is paid completely]. That man [(is purchased and acquired)]. (Break) (r 1) [Witness NN], chief [...]. (r 2) [Witness NN], ša šēpi guard. (Break) (e. 1) [...]... (e. 2) [Month ...], 27th day, [epon]ym year of Bel-[...].

SAA 14 350. Fragment of a Conveyance Text (ADD 1182)

(Beginning destroyed) (r 1) [......] (r 2) [whether against his] sons, [or his ...] (r 3) seeks [...] (r 4) shall plac[e x] mina of pure gold [in the lap of] Ninurta residing in Calah, shall eat [plucked wool (and) drink] a full agannu vessel of tanner's pas[te]. He shall return [the money] tenfold to its owner. He shall contest [in his lawsuit] and [not] succeed. (r 10) [Witness NN. Witness] Šibanu. (r 11) [Witness NN], horse tra[iner] of the [crown] prince. (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 351. Fragment of a Conveyance Text (ADD 1184+)

(Beginning destroyed) (3) [The mon]ey [is paid] completely. (4) [...... purchased and ac]quired. Any revocation, law[suit, or litiga]tion is [vo]id. (Break) (r 1) he shall return [the money] tenfold [to] its [owners]. (r 2) [The judge] shall not heed [his case]. (r 3) [Witness ...]-belu-uṣur, c[ohort] comman[der]. (r 4) [Witness] Ikkaru, chie[f ...]. (r 5) [Witne]ss Šagim, chief [...]. (r 6) [Witne]ss Marduk-ter, [cohort] commander. (r 7) [Witne]ss Inurtî, chie[f ...]. (r 8) [Witness] Barru[qu, chief ...]. (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 352. Purchase of Land (ADD 1202+)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...] in [...], [adjoi]ning the field [...] (3) An estate of 2 decares [..., adj]oining Ubru-[......] (5) [...] 2 decares adjoini[ng ...] (6) An estate of 1 hectare 5 decares [...] adjoining the fie[ld ...] (8) An estate of 5 decares [...] adjoining [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 354. Purchase of Land (ADD 1204)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [Seal of Mil]ki-im[mi] (2) [...]...[...] (stamp seal impressions) (3) [......] 20 hectares [...] (4) [......]s Ahu-[......] (5) [.....]...[...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 355. Purchase of Land and People (ADD 1205)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...] Ga[...] (2) [...] therein 1 hectare [...] (3) [adjoining] the orchard of [...], (4) ad[joini]ng the orchard of [...], (5) adjoining the field of Ha[n...], (6) adjoining the field of [...], (7) in all 3 persons, [...] (8) of vines [...] — (9) [NN] has co[ntrac]ted [and bought] [fr]om Ilu-šal[... fo]r one mina of silver [by the mina of] Carche[mish]. (13) [The mon]ey [is paid] completely. (Break) (r 1) [Any revoca]tion, lawsuit, [or litigation is void]. (r 2) [Whoeve]r in the fu[ture, ..., whether NN or his sons] or [..., seeks] a lawsu[it or litigation against ..…

SAA 14 356. Purchase of Land (ADD 1206+)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...]...[...] (2) [fie]ld in the wadi Kurri[...] (3) [adjoi]ning the field by the road [...] (4) [fo]r one mina and a half [...] (5) [...] from [......] (6) [......] (7) [...] field [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 360. (no title) (ADD 1210)

(1) [Instead of their seal] they impressed [their fingernail]. ...[...]. (fingernail impressions) (Break) (r 1) [...]-aplu-uṣur ... (r 2) [...]... 1 shekel (r 3) [...] shekels of silver upon him [...] (r 4) [...]...[...] (rest broken away)

SAA 14 361. Fragment of a Witness List (ADD 1211)

(Beginning destroyed) (r 1) [......] (r 2) [Witne]ss [NN]. (r 3) [Witne]ss Si[sî, ...]. (r 4) [Wi]tness Ba[...]. (r 5) Witness Mannu-[...]. (r 6) [Witne]ss Bel-[...]. (r 7) [Witness ...]. (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 362. Purchase of a Slave (ADD 1219)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [Instead of their seal] they impressed [the]ir [fingernail]. (space for seal impressions) (3) [...]-da''iq, [his] so[n] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 363. (no title) (ADD 1220)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...] Gam[...] (2) [......] (3) [...] of [NN] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 364. Purchase of a Slave (ADD 1221+)

(1) Seal of Paranu[...], gardener from the town of [...], owner of the man being sold. (stamp seal impressions) (4) [NN], his servant, (Break) (r 2) [Witness ..ṣ]u, eunuch [...]. (r 3) Witness Ubru-Issar, [...]. (r 4) Witness [...]ayu, [...]. (r 5) Witness Nabû-ahu-[...]. (r 6) Witness Ahu-[...]. (r 7) Witness Na[...]. (r 8) Month Shebat (XI), [xth d]ay, eponym year of [...].

SAA 14 365. (no title) (ADD 1223)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) [... ...]hi, [...] (3) [... ...]-Aššur, [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 366. (no title) (ADD 1224)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...]... (2) [...]-mar-šarri-uṣur, (Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)

SAA 14 367. (no title) (ADD 1225)

(1) [Instead of] his seal [he impressed his] fi[ngernail]. (2) [Fingernail of] Ilu-ah[u-uṣur] (3) [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 370. (no title) (ADD 1238)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) [Witness NN], co[hort commander]. (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 371. (no title) (ADD 1239)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) [Witness NN], co[hort commander]. (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 375. Lease of Land (ADD 1253)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [......] (2) [NN, ...] — (r 1) [NN] has contracted [and bo]ught an estate of 4 hectares of field in culti[vation for x] years for [......] (r 4) whoever [...] the silver (r 5) [...] field [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 392. Purchase of Land (ADD 1279)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...] of [...] (2) [...]... [...] (blank(?) space of two lines) (3) [...]... [...] (4) [...]..., in all 7 'litres' [...] (5) [...] adjoining Il-abu-[...]... [...]... — (6) [...] has contracted (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 395. Purchase of a Vacant Lot and a Threshing Floor

(1) [Seal of NN, son of] Zabd[i-ili], (2) [seal of NN], [...], (3) [seal of ...]..., (4) [seal of] Aya, son of Na[bû-...], (5) [sea]l of Sin-ahu-uṣur, (6) [owners of the va]cant [lot] (and) threshing floor being sold. (stamp seal impressions) (rest too broken for translation)

SAA 14 423. Purchase of Land

(Beginning destroyed) (2) [adjoining the road lea]ding [to ..., adjoining ..., adjoining] Šamaš-šezib, (4) (Break) (7) [...] has bought. (r 1) [The money is paid completely]. That [fie]ld is [purchased and acquired. Any revocation, law]suit, or litigation [is void]. (r 3) [Whoever in the future, at] any time, (Rest destroyed)

SAA 14 437. Mukin-ahhe Redeems His Nephew (669-VII-21) (TIM 11 18$)

(1) Seal of Nabû-iqbi, (2) seal of Nurtî. (seal impressions) (3) [One min]a of silver by the mi[na of] the king [Kin-a]hhe has [given] to Nabû-iqbi and [t]o Nurtî, and has redeemed Nabû-rehtu-uṣur, [the so]n of his brother, and cleared him (from claim). (8) No-one shall litigate with him. [Wh]oever breaks the contract, shall [gi]ve 10 minas of silver. (r 2) Month Tishri (VII), 21st day, [e]ponym year of Šamaš-kašid-ayabi. (r 4) [Wi]tness Hašanu. (r 5) Witness Labaṭî. (r 6) [Wi]tness Daddî. (r 7) [Witne]ss Ṭab-Daddî, Dur-Adad. (r 8) [Witne]ss Dugul-a(na)-ili. (r 9) [Wi]tness Ululayu. (r 10) [Wi…

SAA 14 468. Urdu-Inurta Buys 11 Hectares of Land in Huli (ADD 1185)

(1) [Instead of] his seal he impressed his fingernail. (2) [Fi]ngernail of Inurta-na'di, owner of the field being sold. (stamp seal impressions) (3) An estate of 2 hectares of land adjoining the field of [...] adjoining the road that le[ads] to Enati. (5) An estate of 1 hectare 6 decares of field adjoining Man[nu-ki-Adad], adjoining the field of Ṭab-bel. (6) An estate of 1 [hectare of field] adjoining Ter-dala, adjoining [NN], adjoining the steppe road. (8) An estate of 1 he[ctare of field] adjoining [...]..., adjoining [...]. (10) An estate of 5 decares of field in the wadi o[f ...]…

SAA 14 475. Urdu Buys People (ADD 0259)

(1) Fingernail of Bel-iqbi, (2) Fingernail of Zeru-ibni, (3) Fingernail of Bel-abu-uṣur, (4) owner(s) of the people being sold. (space for fingernail impressions) (5) [...]-Marduk, his wife, (6) his [x sons], his 2 daughters, (7) [in all x per]sons, servants [of] these [men] — (9) Urdu [has contrac]ted and bought them [from] these men [for 1]80 (shekels of) copper. (12) [The money] is paid completely. The [people] are purchased and acquired. Any [revocat]ion, lawsuit, or litigation is void. (15) [Whoever in] the future lodges a complaint and seeks [a law]suit against Urdu and his sons, (18)…

SAA 14 478. Fragment of a Witness List (ADD 1201)

(Beginning destroyed) (r 3) Witness [NN]. (r 4) Witness Ahu-la-amaš[ši]. (r 5) Witness Agu[...]. (r 6) Witness Nergal-ša[rru-uṣur]. (r 7) [Witness] Nabû-[...]. (Rest destroyed)

~650 BCE·Neo-AssyrianEditorial

Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet XI (the Flood)

The single most important literary discovery of the 19th century. It rewired the understanding of the Bible's literary context and proved that the Mesopotamian flood tradition is older. It is the oldest surviving epic poetry in human history.

Religion & Myth·Writing & Literature

Religion & Myth·Writing & Literature

Aššur-etel-ilāni 01

Aššur-etel-ilāni's dedication of baked bricks for Ezida at Kalḫu — framed as a life-preservation rite — attests royal temple-building ideology persisting into the final turbulent years of the Assyrian Empire.

Aššur-etel-ilāni 02

Addresses Marduk as 'Enlil of the gods' and supreme arbiter of both Igīgū and Anunnakū — attesting the late Assyrian theological strategy of absorbing Babylonian divine supremacy into royal piety.

Aššur-etel-ilāni 03

(1) For the god Marduk, supreme lord, exalted hero, lord of lords, exalted, wh(ose) figure is splendid (and who) is vastly superior to all of the (other) gods, bearer of the awe-inspiring, terrible radiance, clothed in splendor, (5) who drove [off] the god Kingu, defeated the angry sea, (and) overcame the evil ones, who dwells in Eešerke — which is inside Sippar-Aruru — great lord, his lord: (8) Aššur-etel-ilāni, king of the world (and) king of Assyria, son of Ashurbanipal, king of the world (and) king of Assyria, (10) had a scepter of red gold made which was (then) presented for his…

Aššur-etel-ilāni 04

(1a) For the god Uraš, exalted lord, foremost of the great gods of E-ibbi-Anum — the shrine (which is) worthy of honor — great lord, his lord: (2b) Aššur-etel-ilāni, king of Assyria, who renovated the shrine(s) of the great gods, son of Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria, shepherd of the black-headed, renovated E-ibbi-Anum, the holy place which is inside Dilbat, the abode of the god Uraš and the goddess Ninegal. He built (it) anew with baked bricks, the craft of the god Baḫar and, with regard to the foundation of the well, he (re-)established its position just as (it had been) in ancient times.…

Aššur-etel-ilāni 05

(1) For [the god Enlil, lord of the la]nds, his [lord: Aššu]r-etel-ilāni, (5) his obedient [shephe]rd, who provides for Nippur, supporter of Ekur, mighty king, king of the four quarters (of the world), (re)built (10) Ekur, his beloved temple with baked bricks.

Aššur-etel-ilāni 06

(1) The tomb of Šamaš-ibni, the Dakkurian, upon whom Aššur-etel-ilāni, king of Assyria, had pity, brought from Assyria to Bīt-Dakkūri, his (own) country, and laid to rest in a tomb inside his home of Dūru-ša-Ladīni (“Fortress of Ladīnu”). (4) Whoever you are, whether governor or commander or judge or prince, who is appointed in the land, do not harm this tomb or (its) bone(s)! (But rather) look after its position (and) extend (your) good protection over it! For (doing) this, may the god Marduk, the great lord, lengthen your reign, establish his good protection over you, (and) bless your name,…

Sîn-šarru-iškun 01

Royal titulary of Sîn-šarru-iškun invokes ten deities across the Assyrian and Babylonian pantheons, documenting the deliberate theological diplomacy of the last generation of Sargonid kings before Nineveh fell in 612 BCE.

Sîn-šarru-iškun 02

Preserves the legitimating titulary of a late Sargonid king — likely Sîn-šarru-iškun — showing Sîn, Marduk, and Ea each conferring distinct attributes of rule within decades of Assyria's fall.

Sîn-šarru-iškun 03

Attests Sîn-šarru-iškun's full Sargonid titulary — king of Assyria, Sumer, and Akkad — anchoring his legitimacy claim within a dynastic chain stretching back to Sargon II, just years before Assyria's collapse in 612 BCE.

Sîn-šarru-iškun 04

Attests Sîn-šarru-iškun's building activity along the Tigris in the final decade of the Assyrian Empire, adding fragmentary but direct epigraphic evidence to a reign otherwise poorly documented in royal inscriptions.

Sîn-šarru-iškun 05

Attests late Sargonid royal building rhetoric — the formulaic 'foundation to crenellation' restoration topos — applied to an Assyrian cultic or palatial structure in the empire's final decades before Nineveh's fall in 612 BCE.

Sîn-šarru-iškun 07

Royal titulary of Sîn-šarru-iškun, one of Assyria's last kings before Nineveh fell in 612 BCE, attesting the Sargonid court's continued investment in divine-legitimation rhetoric even as the empire was collapsing.

Sîn-šarru-iškun 13

Names four generations of Sargonid kings in a single titulary chain, offering a fixed synchronic anchor for the dynasty's self-legitimating genealogy in the final decade before Assyria's collapse.

Sîn-šarru-iškun 19

Preserves the titulary of Sîn-šarru-iškun — Assyria's penultimate king — attesting the full Sargonid divine-election formula invoked even as Nineveh stood fewer than a decade from its fall in 612 BCE.

Sîn-šarru-iškun 06

(1) [I, Sîn-šar]ra-iškun, great king, strong king, king of the world, k[ing of Assyria, favored by the deities Aššur], Enlil, (and) Mullissu; pious governor, [... of Ešarra, humble ruler; chos]en by the steadfast hearts of the deities Sîn, Ningal, Šamaš, and Aya; beloved of [the deities Marduk, Zarpanītu, Nabû, (and) Tašmētu; the one chosen by the goddess Ištar who res]ides in Nineveh (and) the goddess Ištar who resides in Arbela, favorit[e of the gods Nergal and Nusku; (5) the one whom (the god) Aššur, the goddess Mulliss]u, and the great gods, my lords, steadfastly l[ooked upon] among my…

Sîn-šarru-iškun 08

(i' 1') [conceiv]ed [in] my [heart to (re)buil]d [t]hat [temple] and [want]ed (to carry it out). [According to] its [original pla]n, [on] its [form]er [sit]e, [in a favorable month, (on) an au]spicious [day, according to the craft of the incantation pri]est, [... I fille]d in its [foundat]ion [with limesto]ne and [made (it) as high] as [a mount]ain. [I built (and) complet]ed (it) [from] its [foundation(s) to] its [crenellations. ...] (ii' 1') [I] offered [prime quality prize bulls (and) f]atten[ed fat-t]ai[led sheep] as pu[re] food offe[rings] befo[re] the god Nabû (and) the goddess [Tašmētu,…

Sîn-šarru-iškun 09

(i 1') As[syria]; the one who[m (the god) Aššur], the king [of the gods], with [his] benevol[ent] g[lance], looked [with] ple[asure upon and] selecte[d] for king[ship; to] ma[ke firm] (ii 1) [...] ... [to make the foundation of] the land [f]irm, [to dir]ect [the peo]ple of [As]syria, [...] ... (iii 1) governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sum[er] and Akk[ad]; (5) son of Sennac[herib], grea[t] king, stro[ng] king, king of [the world], (iv 1) they (the gods) [guided me and] ... [...] (vi 1') [May they (the gods) make his name, his seed], (and) his offspring [disa]ppear [from the land]. (vi 3'…

Sîn-šarru-iškun 10

(1) I, [Sîn-šarra-i]škun, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; the one whom the deities Aššur, [Mullissu, M]arduk, Zarpanītu, Nabû, (and) Tašmētu steadfastly looked upon with their benevolent glance and selected for kingship; whom the light of heaven, the god Sîn, crowned with the crown of lordship to make the foundation of the land firm, to direct the people, to put in order what is confused, (5) (and) to repair what is destroyed; whose hand the god Nabû, overseer of the world, made grasp a just scepter (and) a true staff for shepherding a widespread population;…

Sîn-šarru-iškun 11

(1) I, Sîn-šarra-iškun, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; son of Ashurbanipal, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; son of Esarhaddon, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; son of Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, ruler who has no rival; descendant of Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad: (2b)…

Sîn-šarru-iškun 12

(1) I, Sîn-šarra-iškun, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; son of Ashurbanipal, king of the world, king of Assyri[a]; son of Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Ass[yria]; (5) son of Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria; [de]s[cenda]nt of Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, [governor of B]abylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad: (8) At [the beginning of] my [king]ship, when the deities Aššur, Bēl (Marduk), Nabû, (and) [Ištar] gladly placed me (10) on the th[rone of the fa]ther who had engendered me, in place of an empty lot I built…

Sîn-šarru-iškun 14

(1) [Palac]e of Sîn-šarra-iškun, great king, [strong] king, [king of the world, king of Assyria; son of As]hurbanipal, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of [Assyria; son of Es]arhaddon, great king, strong king, k[ing of the world, king of Assyria; son of Senn]acherib, great king, s[trong] king, [king of the world, king of Assyria; (5) descendan]t of Sargon (II), [great] k[ing, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, ...]