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Page 53 / 74

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 168. Eclipse Predicting the Fall of the Westland (ABL 0137) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king of the lands, my lord: your servant Zakir. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king of the lands, my lord! May Bel and Nabû keep you alive for long days of happiness and physical well-being, and may they deliver your enemy into your hands! (6) The moon made an eclipse on the 15th of Tebet (X), in the middle watch. It began in the east and shifted to the west — a decidedly evil portent concerning the king of the Westland and his country. (11) Its evil is definite; its evil will befall the king of the Westland and his country. If there is an enemy of the king, my lord, in the West,…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 169. Ṣillaya Does not Wish the Rebuilding of Babylon (ABL 0702) [from astrologers]

(1) The king appointed [Ṣillaya ...] with the sons of Eṭeru of the Sealand, and they have seized [...], saying: "It is the king's order: Give us [the ... which ...] gave to your fathers as a nishu payment!" (4) The Babylonians and the(ir) commandant Ubaru (said to them): "There is no such order of the king! Last year, in Calah, when you appealed to the king for the collection of old debts (incurred) while Babylon was still intact, the king lost his temper with you, (shouting): 'What is there in Babylon (to collect)? The city was in ruins, and I have resettled it and established its freedom!'…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 171. Teaching Astrology (ABL 0954) [from astrologers]

(1) [May] Nabû and Marduk [ble]ss the king, [my lord]! (3) Your servant [NN]. (4) [As] the king last year summoned [his scholars, he did not] summon me with [them], (so) I wrote to the palace: "The apprentices whom the king appointed in my charge have learned Enūma Anu Enlil; what is my fault that the king has not summoned me with his scholars?" (13) The king said: "Have no fear, I will summon you." But when I departed from there, up to now the king has not summoned me. (r 1) Now the king has summoned scribes great and small, but the king has not sum[moned] me, not with the [...] nor with [the…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 172. Mars Approaching Libra; Mercury in Capricorn (ABL 1113) [from astrologers]

(beginning destroyed) (1) "Mars has become visible; why have you not written?" — (4) Mars was sighted in the month of Ab (V); now it has approached within 2.5 spans (= 3°30') of Libra. As soon as it has come close to it, I shall write its interpretation to the king, my lord. (r 5) What was sighted now is Mercury in Capricorn; (the sighting) of Mars [...] (Rest destroyed)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 173. The Governor has Taken my Field (ABL 0421) [from diviners]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) The father of the king, my lord, gave me 10 homers of cultivated land in Halahhu. For 14 years I had the usufruct of the land, and nobody disputed it with me. (But) now the governor of Barhalzi has come and mistreated the farmer, plundered his house and appropriated my land. (17) The king, my lord, knows that I am a poor man, that I keep the watch of the king, my lord, and am guilty of no negligence within the palace. Now I have been deprived of my field.…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 174. The Conqueror Goes to Egypt (ABL 0923) [from diviners]

(1) To the king, lord of kings, my lord, and Aššur, the highest [god], [who] by his holy and unchangeable command [... has ordered] a thousand years of life for the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šumu-uṣur. (4) [May] Sin and Šamaš [attend to] the health of the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk [give] name and seed to the king, my lord! May the Lady of Nineveh and Ištar of Arbela guide [you] like a mother and sister! (7) Aššur, in a dream, called the grandfather of the king, my lord, a sage; the king, lord of kings, is an offspring of a sage and Adapa: you have surpassed the wisdom of the…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 175. Deciding about an Extispicy Report (ABL 0773) [from diviners]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (7) Concerning the haruspex appointed to the service of Arbayu who last year made a report to the king, [my] lord, and said: "When A[rbayu] comes, [let them question him] and decide about [the re]port [concerning him]," (r 4) Arbayu is now here — let the king question [him] and decide about the report of his servant.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 176. A Moment’s Relief, Please (ABL 0181) [from diviners]

(1) To the king, our lord: your servants Marduk-šumu-uṣur, Naṣiru and Aqaraya. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, our lord! (8) We have rites to perform in the qirsu. Let the king, our lord, give an order to Sasî (that) they should let us go. Nobody will release us, and we cannot go out.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 177. Revising the Curriculum (ABL 0722) [from diviners]

(1) To the king, our lord: your servants Marduk-šumu-uṣur, Naṣiru and Tabnî. Good health to the king, our lord! [May] Aššur, Šamaš, [Bel] and Nabû [bl]ess the king, our lord! (8) (Too broken for translation) (15) The series should be rev[ised]. Let the king command: two 'long' tablets containing explanations of antiquated words should be removed, and two tablets of the haruspices' corpus should be put (instead). (r 6) Two rams should be sacrificed before Nabû and before Šamaš; Šamaš and [Na]bû [...] days [...] (Remainder lost)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 179. Will the Chief Eunuch Take over the Kingship? (ABL 0755+) [from diviners]

(1) [To the king of the lands, my lord]: your [servant] Kudurru. [May Aššur, Šamaš, Bel and Nabû bless] the king of the lands, my lord! (3) [Ever si]nce the day when the king my lord [dep]orted me, I have sat in confinement, praying to the king, my lord, [every day], (until) [Nabû-kill]anni the chief cupbearer sent [a cohort commander] to release me. (8) As I was walking [with him], he says to me: "You are an expert in [scrib]al lore? [NN] tells me [you] are an expert in scribal lore." (11) It was the month of Marchesvan (VIII) when Nabû-killanni fetched me, and I ended up standing in the…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 180. Give me a House! (ABL 1261) [from diviners]

(1) To the crown prince, my lord: your servant Naṣiru. May Nabû and Marduk bless the crown prince, my lord! I pray daily to Nabû, Šamaš and Marduk for the sake of the life of the crown prince, my lord! (8) Why am I dying for lack of means and of cold? Five days ago the king said, "Give Naṣiru a house," but nobody has given a house to me. (17) Let me remind the crown prince my lord about it, and let them give me the house which the king promised so that I may not die of cold. (r 6) May Šamaš and Marduk bless the crown prince, my lord! (r 9) May the crown prince my lord remind them about it, and…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 181. (no title) (ABL 0737) [from diviners]

(1) [To the king], my [lo]rd: [your servant T]abnî. [Good health to] the king, my lord! [May Nabû and Marduk bless] the king, my lord! May [Aššur] and Šamaš make your royal sceptre good [for Assyria]! [May ... subdue your enemies] beneath your feet! (Break) (r 2) The village managers bring [...]; we shall let [the king, my lord], hear [whatever] we have to report. [Now, wh]at is it that the king, my lord, [or]ders?

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 182. Petition to the Crown Prince (CT 53 139) [from diviners]

(1) [To the crown prince], my lord: [your servant Tabn]î. [Good health to the crown prince], my lord! May [Nabû and Marduk] bless the crown prince, my lord! (5) [From] his [chi]ldhood till his maturity, [my father] took [care of] the father of the crown prince. [Steadily] he stood in his presence; he [shared the ...] of his basket with the king, his lord; he e[xperienced] the [da]ys of misfortune with the king, his lord. (10) [The k]ing, our lord, [......] kindness [......]; he dre[ssed him] in purple [...] and ap[pointed him] the chief haruspex. Among the servants [of the king ...] and the…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 183. Extispicy on the Roof of the Temple of Marduk (ABL 1278) [from diviners]

(1) Concerning the hoopoe about which you said: "It has been sent as a message" — and concerning the temple of Marduk, we shall see a good month, and it (the ritual) should be performed; he does not know. (3) Elul (VI) is a good month. (4) Also, concerning the ritual of the haruspex, he does not know about the 2nd day; again, it is good. Let it be performed and let us be confident. (6) Also, if it is feasible, why don't the guards and Perhu keep watch there, on account of a matter like this? (r 1) Alternatively, if it is not good to let the men go to the roof of the temple at dawn, some…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 184. Extispicy Omens (CT 53 411) [from diviners]

(Beginning destroyed) (3) The 'base of the throne' was firm; [......]; (4) the base of the right-hand surface [of the 'finger' ...]; (5) the 'path' is present; ...[......] (6) the wide part of the left side of the 'finger' [......] (7) the wide part of the left side of the 'finger' ...[......] (8) [...] the 'pouch' ...[......] (Break) (r 3) [...] the 'station' [......] (r 4) ... the upper part [......] (r 5) and the lower part is elevated; [......] (r 6) is not twisted; the 'cap' is 'loose'; (r 7) As to what the king, my lord, sa[id]: "Did Nabû-nadin-šumi son of [NN] become clean?" — the pur[i…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 186. Blessings to the Crown Prince (ABL 0010) [from exorcists]

(1) To the crown prince of Assyria, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur, who constantly blesses you. [Good heal]th to the crown prince [of the "Success]ion" [palace], my lord! (7) [May Aššur, Si]n, Šamaš, [Nabû and Marduk, and the great gods of heaven and earth bless the crown prince, my lord. (Break) (r 1) May they gi]ve [happin]ess [and heal]th [to the crown pri]nce [of the Succes]sion [Palace], my lord!

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 188. The Ghost of the Queen (ABL 0614) [from exorcists]

(Beginning destroyed or too fragmentary for translation) (r 1) [The crown prince] explained [it to] my [... as follows]: (r 3) "Aššur and Šamaš ordained me to be the crown prince of Assyria because of her (= the dead queen's) righteousness." (And) her ghost blesses him in the same degree as he has revered the ghost: "May his descendants rule over Assyria!" (r 9) Fear of the gods creates kindness, fear of the infernal gods returns life. Let the [king, my] lord, give the order (Remainder lost)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 189. Royal Insignia for the Substitute King (ABL 0653) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) Concerning the substitute king of Akkad, the order should be given to enthrone (him). (9) Concerning the clothes of the king, my lord, and the garments for the statue of the substitute king, concerning the necklace [of go]ld, the sceptre and the throne, [... ba]th (Break) (r 1) We shall beg[in with ...] and enthrone (him) [...]. Now the order should be given, so we can ... and go. What is it that the king, my lord, commands?

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 191. A Drug for the Crown Prince (ABL 0003) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) Concerning the drug about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, what the king, my lord, said is quite right. (11) Let us make those slaves drink first, and let the crown prince drink only afterwards. What am I to speak, an old man who has got no sense. (By contrast) what the king, my lord, said is as perfect as (the word) of the god.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 192. The Crown Prince Should not Ride a Horse (CT 53 088) [from exorcists]

(Beginning lost) (r 1) The crown prin[ce, my lord], should not ride a horse, nor should he [draw] a bow. (However), let him do as [he] deems best. (Remainder lost)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 193. Curing the Crown Prince (ABL 0439) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord!] (6) [The prince NN] is doing ve[ry, very] well; the fever has l[eft him]. (9) The god has stood in the prayer bowl of the king — the king, my lord, should have himself shaved this (very) day. (13) Šamaš-šumu-ukin is doing well. We shall perform (the ritual entitled) "A substitute to Ereškigal" for the crown prince; we need not perform it for Šamaš-šumu-ukin at the same time. What is it that the king, my lord, orders?

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 194. Medical Tablets for the King (ABL 0012) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) The charge of the 'Lady of Cults' is doing very well; the king, my lord, can be happy. May the great gods of heaven and earth let the king, my lord, see him prosper! (Break) (r 1) for his sons [...]; (r 2) the incantation "Iš[tar, lady of war], who makes man and wom[an] submit in battle." — These 3 tablets I have sealed and dispatched to the king, my lord. (r 8) A maid of the king has written to me from the palace: "Urad-Gula has said: 'Get me the girl Ṣuhru…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 195. At the Crown Prince’s Service (ABL 0654) [from exorcists]

(1) [To] the great crown prince, the son of the king of the whole world, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the son of the king of all lands! [May] Aššur, Sin, Šamaš, Nabû [and] Marduk, [and the great god]s of heaven [and] earth very greatly bless the [son of the k]ing of all lands, my [lord]. (r 3) [Because] I was sent for, [I have come n]ow. [The son] of the king of all lands, my lord, [can] be happy.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 196. A King may not Stay in the Dark! (ABL 0005) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk, and the great gods of heaven and earth bless the king, my lord, and give happiness and physical well-being to the king, my lord! (10) The charge of the 'Lady of Cults' is doing very well; the king, my lord, can be happy. (14) Why, today already for the second day, is the table not brought to the king, my lord? Who (now) stays in the dark much longer than Šamaš, the king of the gods; stays in the dark a whole day and night, and again two days? The king, the lord of the world, is the…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 197. Blessing the King (ABL 0007) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) The charge of the 'Lady of Cults' is doing very well; the king, my lord, can be very happy indeed. (7) May Aššur, Sin, Šamaš, Adad, Nu[sku], Jupiter, Venus, Marduk, [Zarpanitu], Nabû, Tašmetu, Sa[turn], Mercury, Lady [of Nineveh], Lady of Kidmuri, [Lady] of Arbela, Ninurta, [Gula], Nergal and Laṣ, the great gods of heaven and earth, the gods dwelling in Assyria, [the gods] dwelling in Akkad, and all the gods of the world [very greatly bless the ki]ng, [my lord], and may they give [the king], my [lord,…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 198. Continuing the Previous Letter (ABL 0435) [from exorcists]

(1) This is a continuation of the words of the previous letter. (4) May the rule of the king, my lord, be as pleasant as water and oil upon the peoples of all the countries! May the king, my lord, be their shepherd for ever! (10) I, (nothing but) a dog, blessing the king, his lord, have blessed the king, my lord (with) these blessings. May the gods whose names I have invoked, accept and hear them, and grant these blessings to the king, my lord, a thousandfold! (r 1) And may I, blessing the king, my lord, stand before the king, my lord, and revere (him) wholeheartedly with my arms (lifted in…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 199. Revealing a Plot (ABL 0656) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant [Ad]ad-šumu-uṣur. Good [health to the king], my lord! May [Nabû and Marduk] bless [the king], m[y lord]! (5) [......] (6) [...... Sin-per'u]-ukin (Break) (9) [......] "Say [in the presence of the ki]ng (Break) (r 2) [...] will reco[ver]; all the [...] are weep[ing], [...] will recover. (r 5) He said [as] follows: "The god told me, 'If you do not tell, you will die; and if you tell it to somebody belonging to the entourage of the king, and he does not make it known in the palace, he will die.' (r 11) "My mother was charged to go, (but) she did not tell…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 200. Anti-Witchcraft Rituals for the Queen Mother (ABL 0660) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! May the great gods assign the very best of health to the mother of the king, my lord! (10) [When] Bel took away the illness of the king [...] (Break) (r 3) [Concerning t]hat [... who] got ill, [...] rituals [against the loss of f]lesh are being performed. We are performing numerous effective counterspells. The king, my lord, can be at ease.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 201. Curing the Queen Mother (ABL 0549) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, [my lord]: your servant Adad-[šumu-uṣur]. Good health to the ki[ng, my lord]! May Nabû and Marduk, and the [great] gods of heaven and earth very greatly [bless the king, my lord]! (7) The mother of the king is doing ve[ry] we[ll] indeed; the king, [my lord, can be] glad [indeed]. (Break) (r 3) [The ritual] "Sick [...]"; [the incantation "E]a, Šamaš, [Asalluhi]" of (the ritual) "Nullifying the Curse"; the incantation "You, River, [Creator of Everything]" — she has performed (these) 10 tablets together wit[h their rituals], and is very [well]. The ki[ng, my lord], can be glad in…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 202. Excuses for a Late Reply; Earthquake Ritual (ABL 0357) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) Concerning what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Why have you not sent an answer to (my) letter?" — (8) I had to drive to the palace those rams which the chief cook had brought forth for me, and the writing-board was in my house. Now then, I can look at the board and extract the relevant interpretation. (13) Concerning the ritual against the earthquake [...] (Break) (r 1) I will read [...]. (r 2) [To ...] the ritual installations for [Ea] and Asalluhi,…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 203. Never Mind the Earthquake, Let him Come! (CT 53 153) [from exorcists]

(1) To [the king, my lord]: your servant Ad[ad-šumu-uṣur]. [May] Nabû and Marduk bless [the king], my lord! (5) Concerning the crown prince's visiting the king, my lord, is it because of the earthquake that he has said: "The crown prince should not go outdoors"? (12) It is (already) a fortnight today since the earth quaked, the pertinent ritual has been performed twice, and the king, my lord, knows the relevant interpretation. As they say, what has it to do with this? The visit of [the crown] prince would be [perfectly] all right now. (Rest destroyed or uninscribed)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 204. (no title) (ABL 0013) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) Concerning what my lord wrote to me, I listen and obey. Tomorrow I shall go in my se[dan chair ...] (Remainder lost)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 205. Offerings for Šatru (ABL 0650) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the k]ing, our lord: your [servants] Adad-šumu-uṣur, Nabû-mušeṣi and Issar-šumu-ereš. (4) Concerning the offerings [for] the goddess Šatru [about which the ki]ng, our lord, [wrote to] us [...] (Remainder lost)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 207. The Perfect Likeness of the God (ABL 0652) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your [servant] Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! [May] Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Is it good for Aššur-mukin-paleya to come up into my presence, and Sin-per'u-ukin to come up with him? Can the latter join him? They are (now) separated" — (12) let them come up together: Iyyar (II) is a good month, it has numerous good days. The foot of the god has gone to rest; it is (really) very auspicious to go (now) to the king, my lord. (18) The king, my lord, is the chosen one of the great gods; the…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 208. Frightened by the ‘Watch of Asalluhi’ (CT 53 184) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bl]ess the k[ing, my lord]! (6) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Concerning the time of the 'watch of Asalluhi,' about which you wrote to me, I have become afraid [of it]" (Break) (r 2) [... Aššur-mukin-p]aleya (r 3) [... Sin-per'u-u]kin (r 4) [... k]ept (r 5) [......]

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 209. The ‘Farmer’ Meets a Girl (ABL 0015) [from exorcists]

(1) [To] the 'farmer,' our lord: your [servants] Adad-šumu-uṣur and Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to our lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless our lord! (6) Concerning the girl about whom my lord said: "What time should she come in?" — (10) since he is an 'early bird,' let the day (= the sun) rise for an hour and a half, thereupon she may enter. Soon after that my lord should have himself shaved. (r 8) The ritual is on the evening of the 11th day.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 210. Putting the ‘Farmer’s’ Nails in a Bottle (ABL 0004) [from exorcists]

(1) To the 'farmer,' my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the 'farmer,' my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the 'farmer,' my [lord]! (6) On the 13th of [Tam]muz (IV), tomorrow, [the 'far]mer' goes to the qirsu, [ent]ers the reed hut, sits down, (then) [ret]urns [from] the qirsu and goes [...]. A barber enters. The nails [which] he cuts are put into a bottle (which) is sealed and brought [to] the border of the enemy country. (9) Alternatively, they go and do it in the same way on the 15th day.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 211. Shaving the ‘Farmer’s’ Sons (ABL 0183) [from exorcists]

(1) To the 'farmer,' [my lord]: your servant Adad-[šumu-uṣur]. May Nabû and Marduk bless the 'farmer,' my lord. (6) After they have gone to the qirsu and entered the reed hut, they return from there, and the barber enters.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 212. Expiatory Rites for the ‘Farmer’ (ABL 0361) [from exorcists]

(1) To the 'farmer,' our lord: your servant(s) Adad-šumu-uṣur and Urad-Ea. Good health to the 'farmer,' our lord! May Nabû and Marduk b[le]ss the 'farmer,' our lord! (9) We have rites to perform ton[ight]: I shall perform one against "Loss of Flesh," and Urad-Ea another one before Enlil. We shall go to the qirsu. (r 5) Yesterday I performed the ritual of Bīt [r]i[mki]. I made a burnt-offering and we executed a purification ritual. (r 9) I have appointed an exorcist for the chanter who is here, and gave him the following orders: "For six days do likewise, performing the purification ritual afte…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 213. Attending to the Crown Prince’s Baby (ABL 0658) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) Aššur-etel-šame-erṣeti-muballissu is doing well, his fever has gone down; there is nothing to worry about. (9) Concerning the charge [of] the crown prince's rear palace, we are doing [(our) wor]k, [we are not ne]gligent. (Break) (r 1) [The king], my [lo]rd, can be happy.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 214. The Crown Prince’s Baby is Well (CT 53 028) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and [Marduk] bless the king, my lord! (7) The c[har]ge of the rear palace is well. We are doing (our) work and stay awake (with him) unremittingly, and we pray to the gods.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 215. Medical Exertions (ABL 0360) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) Concerning what the king, my lord, wrote to me, we are working sleeplessly and unremittingly. If we did not work sleeplessly (now), what other work would there be for us to do? As far as this is concerned, the king, my lord, can be happy.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 216. Preparing for an Eclipse of the Sun (ABL 1435+) [from exorcists]

(1) An order of the 'farmer' [to] Adad-šumu-uṣur and Marduk-šakin-šumi: I am [we]ll. (5) Speak again with the comman[der-in]-chief (as follows): "Will you assume the responsibility fot the eclipse of the sun? Perhaps ..." (10) Surely there will be an eclipse of the sun? Send me definite word!

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 217. Ejecting Bile (ABL 0363) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) The charge of the rear palace is well. (8) Concerning the bile which the king, my lord, wrote that he has vomited, it is ... (12) He vomited a lump, (with) the bile settling downward; this sort of it does not portend good. (However), having purged upward and downward, he has (now) been sweating for two days, and is well. The king, my lord, can be glad.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 218. The King Blesses his Servant (ABL 0009) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) The charge of the rear palace is doing well; he has lifted his head. May the great gods whom the king, my lord, invoked let the king, my lord, see him prosper! (11) From these words and these blessings which the king, my lord, sent and with which he blessed his dog, his servant, and the old man of his house — (r 1) (blessings) that will bring mighty countries to the king, my lord, and (make them) pray day and night, morning and evening, to the great gods of…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 219. Rituals during the Reign of the Substitute King (CT 53 049) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless] the king, [my] lord! (5) The charge [of the] re[ar palace is well]. (7) [Concerning the s]ubstitute [king] about whom the king, [my lord, wrote] to me: "I was told [that he should sit (on the throne) until the] 8th of Elul (VI); is it ... that we shall perform (the ritual) Bīt salā' mê in the month Tishri (VII)?" — when a substitute king was sitting in the month Marchesvan (VIII), in Sivan (III) [...] (Break) (r 2) We are [n]ow [waiting for] a [solar] eclipse; [if] it passes by,…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 220. The Substitute King Should Go to his Fate (ABL 0359) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, [my lord]: your servant Adad-[šumu-uṣur]. Good health to the k[ing, my lord]! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (7) Concerning the substitute king about whom the king, my lord, wrote to me: "How many days should he sit (on the throne)?" — (10) we waited for a solar eclipse, (but) the eclipse did not take place. Now, if the gods are seen together on the 15th day, he may go to his fate on the 16th. (r 4) Alternatively, (if) it is agreeable to the king, my lord, let him complete the 100 days.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 221. The Substitute King Should Go to his Fate (ABL 0362) [from exorcists]

(1) To [the 'farmer,' our lord]: your servants [Adad-šumu-uṣur] and Marduk-šakin-šumi. [Good] health to our lord! [May Nabû and] Marduk [bles]s our lord! (6) Concerning the 15th day [about which our lord] said: "Let the substitute [kin]g [g]o to his fate and let me perform my ritual on the 16th day as before" — the 16th is a good day to perform (the ritual). (13) As our fathers did for their lords, and (as) the 'farmer' has already done once and twice, (while) Bel and Nabû provided well-being, just so let us also do now. Why should we wait as if it were not auspicious? (r 5) And as even the ap…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 222. Attending to Royal Patients (ABL 0001) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) Concerning the two (patients) in the new palace and concerning Sin-per'u-ukin about whom the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Go and see them" — (10) now, the king knows that a eunuch took me to the house of Danî, and I performed a ritual for the benefit of his son. His affliction is severe, he is very ill. (r 1) Because I have been taking care of him, it is not good to go today. I shall go tomorrow, see them and report their health to the king. I will appoint e…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 224. No Eclipse of the Sun; Petition for Urad-Gula (ABL 0657) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, [my lo]rd: your servant Adad-[šumu-uṣur]. Good health to [the king, my] lord! May Aššur, Sin, Šamaš, [Bel], Nabû and Nergal very gr[eatly] bless the [king], my lord! (8) The sun did not make an eclipse, it passed by; Venus will reach Spica; the observation of Mercury is impending; there will be heavy rain and thunder. The king, my lord, should know (this). (16) Nobody has reminded (the king) about Urad-Gula, the servant of the king, my lord. He is dying of a broken heart, and is shattered (from) falling out of the hands of the king, my lord. The king, my lord, has revived many…

Daily Life·Economy

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