All tablets.

Šamši-Adad I 2015

(1) D[agān-...], son of ...[...], servant of Šamšī-Ad[ad (I)].

Šamši-Adad I 2016

(1) Ṣurri-Adad, [son of Z]idriya, [servant of] Šamšī-Adad (I).

Šamši-Adad I 2017 / CDLI Seals 009443

(1) Ibāl-eraḫ, son of Kiabkurānu, servant of Šamšī-Adad (I).

Šamši-Adad I 2018

(1) Laḫar-abī, the scribe, son of Kakisum, servant of Šamšī-Adad (I).

Šamši-Adad I 2019

(1) Sîn-iqīšam, son of Būr-Adad, servant of Šamšī-Adad (I).

Šamši-Adad I 2020 / CDLI Seals 008051

(1) Rīš-ilu, son of Aduanniam, servant of Šamšī-Adad (I).

Šamši-Adad I 2021

(1) Pazaya, son of Aḫi-šakim, servant of Šamšī-Adad (I).

Šamši-Adad I 2022

(1) Kunnat[um], son of Mezi..., servant of Šamšī-Adad (I).

Šamši-Adad I 2023

(1) Samiya, son of Ḫani-m[alik], servant of Šamš[ī-Adad (I)].

Gungunum 1

Attests an en priestess of Nanna — a royal cultic office held by a king's daughter — dedicating a storehouse to Dagan in her own name, linking Gungunum's Ur III dynasty to both lunar and grain-god patronage.

Sumu-El 1

Attests Sumu-El's construction of a sacred storehouse for Inana at Ur, anchoring his reign within the tradition of royal temple-building that legitimised kingship across the Ur III and Isin-Larsa periods.

Sumu-El 2

Attests Sumu-El's construction of Nanaya's temple E-ituda at Ur, anchoring the goddess's early cultic presence in that city within the dynastic building program of an Old Babylonian king.

Sumu-El 2002

Dedicatory inscription naming Sumu-El as king of Ur to the moon-god's consort Ningal: one of the surviving votive texts anchoring the reign of this understudied Isin-Larsa ruler.

Warad-Sin 11

Warad-Sin dedicates a temple to Inana at Zabalam and names Kudur-mabuk as his father, anchoring the Elamite-origin dynasty of Larsa within the traditional Sumerian gesture of piety-for-longevity.

Abi-sare 2005 / CDLI Seals 012800 (CDLI Seals 012800 (composite))

(1) ..., the scribe, child of Lu-Ninšubur, the temple administrator of Ningal, is the slave of Abi-sare.

Abi-sare 2006 / CDLI Seals 012801 (CDLI Seals 012801 (composite))

(1) Lugal-šuba, the scribe, child of Ur-dukuga, the slave of Abi-sare.

Writing & Literature

Abi-sare 3add

(1) For Nanna, his master, Abi-sare, the powerful man, king of Urim, built and restored the city wall of Iškun-Suen.

Gungunum 2

(1) For Utu, the offspring of Nanna, the heir of the E-kišnuĝal, who was born by Ningal, his master, En-ana-tuma, the zirru priestess, the en priestess of Nanna in Urim, child of Išme-Dagan, king of Sumer and Akkad, built his E-hili, built his holy storehouse, and dedicated it to him for the well-being of Gungunum, the powerful man, king of Urim, and for her (own) well-being.

Gungunum 3

(1) Gungunum, king of Larsa, king of Sumer and Akkad, the powerful heir of Samium, fashioned both the bricks and the walls of the great wall of Larsa, its name is “Utu is the vanquisher of the rebellious lands”, in a single year.

Gungunum 4

(1) Gungunum, king of Larsam, king of Sumer and Akkad.

Gungunum 5add

(i 1) When An and Enlil granted the rule over Sumer and Akkad and the leadership of the Amorite lands fully to Utu in Larsam, then Gungunum, powerful man, king of Larsam, farmer of Urim, avenger of the E-babbar, king of Sumer and Akkad, powerful heir of Samium, built the great city wall of Larsa, its name is “Utu is the vanquisher of the rebellious lands”. (ii 2) By my surpassing expertise I did drain the swamps of my city. I did make its bricks and complete the great city wall in a single year. I did make the Euphrates flow right through the middle of my city. (ii 10) In those days, during…

Rim-Sin I 2001

(1) Iltani, daughter of Ilum-bani, presented (this) dish for the well-being of Rim-Sin, king of Larsam (and) for her own well-being to Inana of Zabalam.

Sumu-El 2003 / CDLI Seals 012803 (CDLI Seals 012803 (composite))

(i 1) Sumu-El, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of Sumer and Akkad: Lu-Ninšubur, the scribe, child of Kudanum, is your servant.

Sumu-El 2007 / CDLI Seals 012045 (CDLI Seals 012045 (composite))

(1) Kug-Lugalbanda, šita-eša priest of Ningal, child of Nasilim, servant of Sumu-el.

Warad-Sin 30

(1) To Nanna, his lord, Warad-Sin, governor of Utu, child of Kudur-mabuk, father of the Amorite lands, dedicated this (eye-stone).

Warad-Sin 31

(1) Warad-Sin, king of Larsam, child of Kudur-mabuk.

Warad-Sin 32

(1) En-ane-du, en priestess of Nanna in Urim, child of Kudur-mabuk, sibling of Warad-Sin, king of Larsam.

Warad-Sin 33

(1) Rim-Sin, child of Warad-Sin, king of Larsam.

JCS 24, 093, 03

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — JCS 24, 093, 03. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Rim-Sin I y1 — Rim-Sin became king based on canonical year-name formula in the translit…

JCS 24, 093, 06

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — JCS 24, 093, 06. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Rim-Sin I y1 — Rim-Sin became king based on canonical year-name formula in the translit…

JCS 24, 093, 15

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — JCS 24, 093, 15. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Rim-Sin I y1 — Rim-Sin became king based on canonical year-name formula in the translit…

JCS 24, 093, 21

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — JCS 24, 093, 21. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Rim-Sin I y1 — Rim-Sin became king based on canonical year-name formula in the tr…

JCS 36, 170, UM 29-15-855

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — JCS 36, 170, UM 29-15-855. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Rim-Sin I y1 — Rim-Sin became king based on canonical year-name formula in th…

SA 175

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — SA 175. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Rim-Sin I y1 — Rim-Sin became king based on canonical year-name formula in the transliteration.

~1808 BCE·Old BabylonianEditorial

Sumerian King List (Weld-Blundell Prism)

The single most influential Mesopotamian king list — the model for every later attempt to chronicle the deep history of the region. It transmits the political theology of divinely granted kingship, an idea that would echo through Babylon, Assyria, and into the Hebrew Bible. The Weld-Blundell prism (WB 444) at the Ashmolean is the most complete surviving copy.

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianEditorial

Plimpton 322

Whatever its purpose, this single tablet shows that Babylonian mathematicians, working in base-60, had an arithmetic understanding of right triangles a millennium before Pythagoras was born.

Astronomy & Mathematics

A hymn to Haia for Rim-Sin (Rim-Sin B)

Lord, perfect in august wisdom and recognised for his mighty counsel, Haia, who holds the great tablets, who enriches wisdom with wisdom! Accountant of Hal-an-kug, having the final overview of the arts of Nisaba's house of wisdom; palace archivist of heaven and earth, who keeps count of every single assignment, who holds a holy reed-stylus and covers the great tablets of destiny with writing! Wise one, who prompts holy An with words and attention at the appropriate times; seal-holder of Father Enlil! He who brings forth the holy objects from the treasure-house of E-kur; ornament of the abzu sh…

A shir-namshub to Nisaba (Nisaba B)

...... is destroyed. ...... is destroyed. It is destroyed. ...... of Nisaba is destroyed. The house of Nisaba, her of the tablets, is destroyed. The house of ...... is destroyed. The house of Nunbarcegunu is destroyed. ......, the E-hamun is destroyed. The plants of lamentation have sprouted; the cumunda grass has sprouted. By the walls the long grass has sprouted. Amongst them, the willow trees are everywhere. As for the word of An and the word of Enlil, the angry heart of great An is everywhere, and the malign heart of Enlil is everywhere. (Nisaba speaks:) "In my house, may the moonlight in…

Proverbs: collection 1

(cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 291 ll. 1-2, 6.2.5: YBC 8713 ll. 1-2) Who can compete with righteousness? It creates life. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 291 l. 3, 6.2.5: YBC 8713 l. 3) If wickedness exerts itself, how will Utu succeed? You should not cut the throat of that which has already had its throat cut. You should not say to Ninjiczida: "Let me live!" Do not make me pass through the gate! (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 265 l. 1) What has submitted will exhibit resistance. (cf. 6.2.5: YBC 4677 ll. 6-7) What has been destroyed belongs to a god. No one is able to take it away. "Though I still have bread left over, I will…

Proverbs: collection 10

(cf. 6.1.09.a1, 6.2.5: IM43438 Seg. A l. 1) Whatever the man in authority said, it was not pleasant. (cf. 6.1.09.a2) Whatever the man in authority said, it was not right. (cf. 6.1.09.a3, 6.2.2: MDP 27 216, 6.2.5: IM 43438 Seg. A l. 2) When the authorities are wise, and the poor are loyal, it is the effect of the blessing of Aratta. (cf. 6.1.09.a4, 6.1.22: l. 190, 6.2.3: UET 6/3 80 l. 18) The mighty man is master of the earth. (cf. 6.1.09.a5) It is from a man's mouth that strength comes. (cf. 6.1.09.a6, 6.2.3: UET 6/3 462) Strength cannot keep pace with intelligence. (cf. 6.1.09.a7) The strengt…

Proverbs: collection 11

...... the storehouse ....... (cf. 6.1.03.55, 6.1.07.48) As long as you live you should not increase evil by lying; for if you do, to succumb will be your lot. (cf. 6.1.02.133, 6.1.22: l. 80, 6.1.26.d3) To collect firewood is a job for the strong man. The weak man sits waiting for him on dry land. (cf. 6.1.01.150) 1 line unclear Let an articulate man live in the house with you like a wicked poor man. Like my own affairs, antimony paste (?) is air: let ...... fat be eaten in the mist. (cf. 6.1.02.103) Although the lamentation priest's grain boat was sinking, he would be walking on dry land. (cf…

Proverbs: collection 12

(= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 1) 4 lines fragmentary (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 2) The master ...... does not eat ...... dough ....... (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 3) The master ...... his servant ....... (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 4) The master knows. The steward does not know. (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 5) May the master sleep at your side, and may the mistress slap your face. (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 6) The lord of the house, your ......; ......, a restraint. (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 7) The lord and lady of the house touch the figurine. (= Alster 1997 12 Sec. B 8) The granary collects. (= Alster 1997 12 S…

Proverbs: collection 13

1 line fragmentary 1 line fragmentary A robber was coming out, a liar ....... They are thieves, these men who took the turnips. Why do you not ...... them? The thief, out of fear of facing a lion, becomes a man driven by fear of facing a lion cub. The thief extends winter to the beginning of summer. They saw a thief at noon. They ...... but it blinded them to him. Thus he carried the loot away. When a burglar makes a hole, he makes it narrow. The owner of a house should reinforce the windows against burglars. They caught a burglar breaking into a house: "Let me ......." A hired worker who was…

Proverbs: collection 14

(cf. 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. B l. 1) Let the favour be repaid to him who repays a favour. (cf. 6.2.5: NBC 8072) May Lumma grant prosperity to him {who speaks well of others} {(1 ms. has instead:) who has good things}. (cf. 6.1.16.c1, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. A ll. 7-8) The farmer lifts his gaze to you (i.e. Enlil) : "May Enlil look upon the city that he cursed." (cf. 6.1.15.b1, 6.1.16.c2, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. A ll. 9-10) The herdsman lifts his gaze to you: "May Enlil look upon the city that he cursed." (cf. 6.1.15.b2, 6.1.16.c3, 6.2.5: UM 29-16-519 Seg. A ll. 11-12) The potter lifts his g…

Proverbs: collection 15

(= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 1) 1 line fragmentary (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 2) 1 line fragmentary (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 3A) Then, when you shout like a fool, someone should say: "Your ...... is a captured donkey!" (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 3B) It is an insult to ....... It is the dignity of the palace. (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 4) The well-wisher is the mother of the refugee. (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 5) May the people wish you well. May your god grant what you are in agreement with (?). (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 6) 2 lines unclear (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A 7) 1 line unclear (= Alster 1997 15 Sec. A…

Proverbs: collection 16

6 lines fragmentary 3 lines fragmentary 7 lines fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing 3 lines fragmentary (cf. 6.1.03.10) You should get rid of the shepherd, so his sheep will not come back into his charge. (cf. 6.1.03.11) The wise shepherd has become confused, and his sheep will not come back into his charge. (cf. 6.1.03.9, 6.1.23.7) A shepherd's sex appeal is his penis; a gardener's sex appeal is his hair. (cf. 6.1.01.153, 6.1.03.9, 6.1.22: ll. 26-27, 6.1.23.7) An unjust heir who does not support a wife, who does not support a child, has no cause for celebration. 2 lines fragmentary (cf.…

Proverbs: collection 17

3 lines fragmentary 2 lines fragmentary unknown no. of lines missing 3 lines fragmentary (cf. 6.1.22: ll. 203-206, 1.8.1.5: ll. 28-29, 1.8.1.5.1: ll. 12-13, 6.3.a: ll. 17-18) No one is tall enough to reach up and touch the heavens. No one is broad enough to lift his gaze over the whole earth. No one is strong enough even to stretch himself fully in his bed. But you (?), who roar like a storm -- may you establish yourself like a lion. 1 line unclear No man can bring about your demise. (cf. 6.1.09.a8, 6.1.10.9-12, 6.1.19.a1, 5.6.7: ll. 28-31) I was a youth -- now my personal god, and access to…

Proverbs: collection 18

1 line fragmentary ...... flourish ...... your lord ate. ...... grain all been eaten in the ...... field ....... How did you value the flourishing? The idleness of a low-life causes losses; his shying away (?) from work is perpetual. Employ a low-life -- fire him after half a day! (cf. 6.1.26.c2) He who pays with high-valued silver negotiates a favourable position. Your worthiness is the result of chance. (cf. 6.2.3: UET 6/2 281) The quick one hid, the strong one fled; the talker got into the palace. 2 lines fragmentary 1 line fragmentary Whenever there is excess, an axe remedies it! The pits…

Proverbs: collection 19

(cf. 6.1.10.10-12, 6.1.17.b3: ll. 14-17, 5.6.7: ll. 29-31) My black mountain has sprouted white gypsum. My mother sent to me a man from the forest, who has given me paralysed hands. My mongoose, which used to eat strong-smelling food, can no longer stretch its neck even towards a jar of ghee. unknown no. of lines missing (cf. 6.1.09.a12, 6.1.21.b4, 6.1.24.2, 6.2.5: YBC 4677 ll. 1-2) When a fattened pig is about to be slaughtered, one says: "Let me replace what I eat." (cf. 6.1.09.a13, 6.1.21.b5, 6.1.24.2, 6.2.5: YBC 4677 ll. 3-4) As the piglet snuffles around, it says: "I can no longer take pl…