All tablets.

UM 29-16-733

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — UM 29-16-733. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

UM 29-16-739

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — UM 29-16-739. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

UM 55-21-082

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — UM 55-21-082. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

UM 55-21-089

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — UM 55-21-089. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

UM 55-21-115

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — UM 55-21-115. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

UM 55-21-117

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — UM 55-21-117. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

UM 55-21-118

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — UM 55-21-118. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

UM 63-17-008

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — UM 63-17-008. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

UT 1599-22

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — UT 1599-22. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

WCMA 20.1.05

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — WCMA 20.1.05. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

YOS 15, 087

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — YOS 15, 087. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

ZA 092, 017

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — ZA 092, 017. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

JCS 28, 238 03

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — JCS 28, 238 03. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Lipit-Eštar y1 — Lipit-Eštar became king based on canonical year-name formula in the transliteration.

JCS 28, 239 04

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — JCS 28, 239 04. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Lipit-Eštar y1 — Lipit-Eštar became king based on canonical year-name formula in the transliteration.

JCS 28, 240 06

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — JCS 28, 240 06. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Lipit-Eštar y1 — Lipit-Eštar became king based on canonical year-name formula in the transliteration.

UET 1, 0222

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — UET 1, 0222. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Lipit-Eštar y1 — Lipit-Eštar became king based on canonical year-name formula in the transliteration.

~1922 BCE·Old BabylonianEditorial

N 0406

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — N 0406. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Ur-Ninurta y2 — Year after: Ur-Ninurta became king based on canonical year-name formula in the transliteration.

~1922 BCE·Old BabylonianEditorial

OB Contracts, pl. A1 no. 1

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — OB Contracts, pl. A1 no. 1. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Ur-Ninurta y2 — Year after: Ur-Ninurta became king based on canonical year-name formula in the transliteration.

~1850 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSRI

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

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

~1850 BCE·Old BabylonianETCSRI

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.

Religion & MythWriting & Literature

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 transliteration.

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 transliteration.

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 transliteration.

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 transliteration.

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 the transliteration.

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.

SAOC 44, 67

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — SAOC 44, 67. 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.

Religion & MythWriting & Literature

~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

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianEditorial

4R 35, 8

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — 4R 35, 8. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

~1800 BCE·Old BabylonianEditorial

A.1678_1982

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)) — A.1678_1982. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

A balbale to Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana A)

The brother speaks gently to his sister, Utu speaks gently to his sister, he speaks tenderly to holy Inana: "Young lady, the flax in the garden beds is full of loveliness, Inana, the flax in the garden beds is full of loveliness, like the barley in the furrows, overflowing with loveliness and delight. Sister (1 ms. has instead: Young lady), you took a fancy to a grand length of linen; Inana, you took a fancy to a grand length of linen. I will dig up the plants for you and give them to you. Young lady (1 ms. has instead: My sister), I will bring you flax from the garden beds. Inana, I will bring you flax from the garden beds."

A balbale to Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana B)

"My dearest, my dearest, my dearest, my darling, my darling, my honey of her own mother, my sappy vine, my honey-sweet, my honey-mouthed of her mother! "The gazing of your eyes is pleasant to me; come my beloved sister. The speaking of your mouth is pleasant to me, my honey-mouthed of her mother. The kissing of your lips is pleasant to me; come my beloved sister. "My sister, the beer of your barley is good, my honey-mouthed of her mother. The ale of your beer-bread is good; come my beloved sister. In the house, your luxuriance ......, my honey-mouthed of her mother. My sister, your luxuriance ......, my beloved ....... Your house ...... a storehouse, my honey-mouthed of her mother. You princess, my ......."

A balbale to Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana D)

As I was strolling, as I was strolling, as I was strolling ...... the house, as I was strolling, he caught sight of my Inana. "What did the brother say to you and speak to you? He of the loving heart and most sweet charms offered you a gift, my holy Inana. As I looked in that direction, my beloved man met you, and he fell in love with you, and he delighted in you alone! The brother brought you into his house and had you lie down on a bed dripping with honey." When my sweet precious, my heart, had lain down too, each of them in turn kissing with the tongue, each in turn, then my brother of the beautiful eyes did it fifty times to her, exhaustedly waiting for her, as she trembled underneath him, dumbly silent for him. My dear precious passed the time with my brother laying his hands on her hips.

A balbale to Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana G)

The burgeoning one, he ...... with his own mother; the one with kindly eyes takes counsel with his father. You are our brother, you are our brother. You are our brother in charge of the palace gate, you are our captain of the barge, you are our commander of the chariot, you are our servant of the hunting chariot; you are our city father and judge, you are the son-in-law of five things, the son-in-law of ten things. Brother, you are the son-in-law of our father, you are our son-in-law supreme; our mother speaks favourably with you. Your coming here is life indeed, your entering the house is abundance; lying at your side is my utmost joy. My sweet, let us delight ourselves on the bed.

A balbale to Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inana O)

1 line fragmentary Your name ....... As I walk, as I walk, as I pass along the banks of the august river, as I roam along the banks of the Euphrates, as I stand ...... the lord, as I pass along the gaudy streets: May you be ...... a bending reed, may you be barley in the furrows, a beautiful ......, may you be Acnan, who beautifies ......, may you be a nursing mother of the womb, may you be your mother's ......, a vine, my (1 ms. has instead:) your beloved, your personal god's ......, acting grandly (1 ms. has instead:) humanely! May "There is enough, there is enough" be your blessing, and…

A balbale to Inana and Dumuzid (Dumuzid-Inanna C)

"My sister, what have you been doing in the house? Little one, what have you been doing in the house?" "I was bathing, I was rubbing myself with soap. I was washing myself with water from the holy kettle, I was rubbing myself with the soap from the white stone bowl. I was anointing myself with good oil from the stone bowl, and dressing myself in the formal dress proper to Inana. That is how I was busying myself in the house. "I have put lots of kohl on my eyes, I have arranged ...... the nape of my neck. I have washed my dangling hair, I have tested my weapons that make his reign propitious.…

A diatribe against Engar-dug (Diatribe B)

Engar-dug, ......, fool, ......, child raised in ......, disgraced man, madman ...... leather, dropping ...... from a wall! Engar-dug, croaker (?) among singers, a man without good judgment, braggart, ......, a man ......! -- open (?) the house, I have a quarrel with you! In appearance a monkey, a rogue, a witness without shame, not accepting a verdict, a slippery place which respected men avoid, despising (?) the leader of the work-force, a man who does not ...... a festival, a pig spattered with mud, ......! Loving crosstalk and deceit, ......, having got stuck into a quarrel he ...... coming out mouthing insults. A warrior on duty but holding back, .......

Daily Life

Religion & MythWriting & Literature

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 shrine, wearing his hair loose for lord Nudimmud!

A hymn to Ninkasi

Given birth by the flowing water ......, tenderly cared for by Ninhursaja! Ninkasi, given birth by the flowing water ......, tenderly cared for by Ninhursaja! Having founded your town upon wax, she completed its great walls for you. Ninkasi, having founded your town upon wax, she completed its great walls for you. Your father is Enki, the lord Nudimmud, and your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu. Ninkasi, your father is Enki, the lord Nudimmud, and your mother is Ninti, the queen of the abzu. It is you who handle the ...... and dough with a big shovel, mixing, in a pit, the beerbread with sweet aromatics. Ninkasi, it is you who handle the ...... and dough with a big shovel, mixing, in a pit, the beerbread with sweet aromatics.

A hymn to Nungal

House, furious storm of heaven and earth, battering its enemies; prison, jail of the gods, august neck-stock of heaven and earth! Its interior is evening light, dusk spreading wide; its awesomeness is frightening. Raging sea which mounts high, no one knows where its rising waves flow. House, a pitfall waiting for the evil one; it makes the wicked tremble! House, a net whose fine meshes are skillfully woven, which gathers up people as its booty! House, which keeps an eye on the just and on evildoers; no one wicked can escape from its grasp. House, river of the ordeal which leaves the just ones…

A love song of Shu-Suen (Shu-Suen A)

It was she who gave birth to the holy one, gave birth to the holy one; the queen gave birth to the holy one, Abi-simti (i.e. Cu-Suen's mother) gave birth to the holy one, the queen gave birth to the holy one -- my cloth beam of the cloth of pleasure, my Abi-simti! My warp beam placed for weaving, my queen Kubatum (i.e. Cu-Suen's concubine)! My one suited to a mane of hair, a wonder to behold, my lord Cu-Suen, my one ...... in words, my son of Culgi -- because I uttered, because I uttered, the lord gave me a gift, because I uttered an exclamation of joy, the lord gave me a gift. The lord gave me as a gift a golden pin, a lapis-lazuli seal. The lord gave me as a gift a golden ring, a silver ring.

A love song of Shu-Suen (Shu-Suen B)

Man of my heart, my beloved man, your allure is a sweet thing, as sweet as honey. Lad of my heart, my beloved man, your allure is a sweet thing, as sweet as honey. You have captivated me (?), of my own free will I will come to you. Man, let me flee with you -- into the bedroom. You have captivated me (?); of my own free will I shall come to you. Lad, let me flee with you -- into the bedroom. Man, let me do the sweetest things to you. My precious sweet, let me bring you honey. In the bedchamber dripping with honey let us enjoy over and over your allure, the sweet thing. Lad, let me do the sweetest things to you. My precious sweet, let me bring you honey.

A love song of Shu-Suen (Shu-Suen C)

My hair is lettuce, well watered. It is the sprout of a lettuce, well watered. Its tangled coils (?) have been tightened. My nursemaid has ...... them high and made my hair stag-like. She has tightened its small combs and brought order to my charms; my charms, my hair, the lettuce, is the fairest of plants. The brother has brought me into his life-giving gaze, Cu-Suen, the ...... handsome man, has chosen me. ...... my allure is without end, 1 line fragmentary 5 lines missing You are our lord, you are our lord, of silver and lapis lazuli, you are our lord. You are our farmer who brings superb grain.

A love song of Shulgi (Shulgi Z)

"The ...... because of you does not ....... My brother, the ...... because of you does not ....... Lad (?), the ...... because of you does not ....... My beloved, the ...... because of you does not ....... My fairest of countenance, the ...... because of you does not ....... Its date clusters because of you are not placed in my hand. Its sheaves are ...... for me. Its ...... are not sweet for me. Grain ...... the silos (?)." "My sister, I would go with you to my fields. My fair sister, I would go with you to my fields. I would go with you to my large fields. I would go with you to my small fields. For my early grain irrigated with its early water, for my late grain irrigated with its late water, ...... its grain ...... sheaves .......

A man and his god

A person should steadfastly proclaim the exaltedness of his god. A young man should devoutly praise the words of his god; the people living in the righteous Land should unravel them like a thread. May the balaj singer assuage the spirit of his neighbour and friend. May it soothe their (?) hearts, bring forth ......, utter ......, and measure out ....... Let his mouth shaping a lament soothe the heart of his god, for a man without a god does not obtain food. There is a young man who does not wickedly put his efforts into evil murder, yet he spends the time in grief, asag illness and bitter…

A praise poem of Anam

Anam, lord, ......, ......, perfect in your broad wisdom, ......, who preserves Nibru, who prevents the city from having ......! Sweet breeze (?) of his city, father of the region of Unug, judge who ...... in his verdicts, reverent ......, who fears An and Inana! Who cherishes E-ana, who is happy there ...... in friendly words! Mighty ......, heart's desire of Inana, who reveres the ...... of the Land, ...... with head high, en priest of Inana, ......, all-knowing! ......, who batters the wrathful, ......, endowed with good looks, ...... who is fearsome; watching ......, richly endowed with…

A praise poem of Enlil-bani (Enlil-bani A)

Enlil-bani, wondrous king among the princes! Created by An, elevated by Enlil, like Utu the light of all lands, born to princedom, girded with all the divine powers, watched over by Enlil and listened to by Ninlil on account of the widespread people living at the boundary of heaven and earth! Fair of ......, lordly of limb! With the shepherd's crook you have settled innumerable people. Enlil-bani, great son of Enki, shepherd (1 ms. has instead: sage) and counsellor who guides living things, who spreads broad shade over all lands, grandiloquent prince whom great An has summoned, great mother Ninlil trusts in you.

A praise poem of Hammu-rabi (Hammu-rabi C)

Enki has esteemed him truly in the shrine, the august place -- the king who loves purification rites and is well-suited to the pure divine powers, the king who is skilled in the precious plans, who is reverent, eloquent and deft (?), the shepherd, favourite of lord Nunamnir and beloved of mother Ninlil, who ...... great food offerings in E-kur, who delights (?) the great prince Enki, ......, who is cherished by holy Damgalnuna: the good shepherd Hammu-rabi. The king has ...... everything in the shrine E-kic-nujal. Hammu-rabi, whose ....... Daily he ...... Nanna and Ningal. The king whose joy is ...... has restored the purification rites, plans and divine powers ....... He will stand there before you ......, o youth Suen, fulfilling ...... all your requirements.

A praise poem of Iddin-Dagan (Iddin-Dagan B)

Iddin-Dagan, in his majestic location An has decided a great fate for you, has made the just crown shine for you, has raised you to shepherdship over the Land, has placed the foreign lands at your feet. Enlil has looked at you truly, Iddin-Dagan, he has spoken truly to you. Enlil has commanded you to keep firm the cosmic bond in Sumer, to keep the people on the track, to let Sumer and Akkad relax under your broad protection, to let the people eat noble food and drink fresh water. Iddin-Dagan, you are the shepherd in his heart, the one whom Enlil has spoken to truly. Enki has brought to you, Iddin-Dagan, broad understanding, knowledge of everything, wise command, a life (?) that comes from the mouth of a lion. May all the foreign lands praise you.