All tablets.

Iddin-Dagan 3

(1) For Ninlil, the lady of the gods, Iddin-Dagan, the powerful king, fashioned a composite copper statue, set it up before her, and dedicated it to her for his well-being. (6) Whoever gives order to perform a misdeed against this (statue), ... my handiwork, erases this inscription and writes his own name there, or makes another man raise his hand against it on account of this curse, may Nanna, my master, Ninlil, my lady, and Dagan, my personal god, curse him!

Išbi-Erra 1

(1) For Enlil, king of all land, his master, Išbi-Erra, the powerful king, the king of his land, fashioned a lofty balaĝ-drum, which ... the heart, and dedicated it to him for his well-being. (12) The name of this balaĝ-drum is “Išbi-Erra puts (his) trust in Enlil.”

Išme-Dagan 01

Royal self-presentation of Išme-Dagan I of Isin, accumulating cultic titles across Nippur, Ur, Eridu, and Uruk to legitimise rule over a fragmented post-Ur III landscape.

Išme-Dagan 02

Royal titulary of Išme-Dagan I of Isin, attesting his claim to en-priesthood of Uruk and spousal relationship with Inana — ideological strategies by which Isin kings legitimised succession to the fallen Ur III empire.

Išme-Dagan 03

Names En-ana-tuma as both zirru and en priestess of Nanna at Ur, documenting the rare overlap of two distinct priestly offices in a single woman under Išme-Dagan's reign.

Išme-Dagan 04

Identifies En-ana-tuma as both en priestess of Nanna at Ur and daughter of Išme-Dagan, directly linking royal Isin dynastic authority to the prestigious lunar-cult office at its traditional Ur III heartland.

Išme-Dagan 05

Records Išme-Dagan of Isin's grant of tax exemption and military-service immunity to Nippur — a concrete example of how early second-millennium kings purchased Enlil's divine favor through civic privilege.

Išme-Dagan 07

Records Išme-Dagan of Isin legitimising his reign through Enlil's divine appointment of Ninurta as his patron — a ritual weapon dedication that translates theological sanction into political authority.

Išme-Dagan 11

(1) Išme-Dagan, provider of Nibru, steadfast supporter of Urim, tireless servant of Eridug, en priest of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved spouse of Inana, built the great wall of Dūrum, his city of military governorship as crown prince.

Išme-Dagan 12

(1) To Nanna, the firstborn child of Enlil, his master, Išme-Dagan, provider of Nibru, steadfast supporter of Urim, tireless servant of Eridug, en priest of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved spouse of Inana, dedicated this (vase) for his well-being.

Išme-Dagan 14

(1) A-aba, the child of En-ana-tuma, en priestess of Nanna.

Išme-Dagan 2001

Dedicatory bowl inscription naming Išme-Dagan as king of Ur: one of the surviving attestations anchoring his reign within the Isin dynasty's claim to Sumerian royal legitimacy.

Išme-Dagan 2002add

(1) To Nergal of Aldak, his master, Warad-Erra, gudug priest of Nergal, son of Adalal, the gudug priest, his servant, dedicated this (mace) for the well-being of Išme-Dagan, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad.

Lipit-Eštar 01

Lipit-Eštar's self-presentation as 'humble shepherd' who 'established justice' in Sumer and Akkad — predating Hammurabi by roughly 150 years — anchors the ideological lineage of Mesopotamian law-giving kingship.

Lipit-Eštar 02

Lipit-Eštar frames the building of his palace as an act of justice for Sumer and Akkad — linking royal construction ideology to the legal reforms that precede Hammurabi by roughly 150 years.

Lipit-Eštar 04

Lipit-Eštar names himself 'humble shepherd of Nibru' and 'favourite of Inana' while linking his law-giving directly to temple construction — evidence that Isin kings framed legal reform as a divine mandate, not a civic one.

Lipit-Eštar 05

(1) When I, Lipit-Eštar, the humble shepherd of Nibru, the true farmer of Urim, ceaseless provider of Eridug, the en priest suitable for Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the favourite of Inana, established justice in Sumer and Akkad, then by the command of Enlil and Nanna I restored Urim and dug its moat.

Lipit-Eštar 07

(1) For Inana of Mur, her Inana, Lamassatum, (Lipit-Estar's) mother built the E-maruru, her beloved storehouse in Isin for the well-being of Lipit-Eštar, the shepherd who heeds the gods, king of Sumer and Akkad, spouse of Inana, and also for her (own) well-being.

Lipit-Eštar 08

(1) When I, Lipit-Eštar, the king of Sumer and Akkad, established justice in Sumer and Akkad, then I dedicated this (eye-stone) for Ninlil, lady of the gods, the Inana who created me, my mother who bore me, for my well-being.

Lipit-Eštar 09add

Lipit-Eštar frames canal construction as an act of justice — yoking hydraulic infrastructure to royal ideology a generation before his more famous law code.

Lipit-Eštar 10add

(i 1) When I, Lipit-Eštar, the humble shepherd of Nibru, the true farmer of Urim, ceaseless provider of Eridug, the en priest suitable for Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the favourite of Inana, established justice in Sumer and Akkad, then for Nanaya, the beloved child of Inana, my lady, I built the E-me-urur, her beloved storehouse in Isin.

Lipit-Eštar 2001 / CDLI Seals 012213 (CDLI Seals 012213 (composite))

(1) Lipit-Eštar, the powerful king, king of Urim: Aya-duga, gudug-abzu priest of Nanna, šita-eša priest, child of Duga-zida, is your servant.

Lipit-Eštar 2002

(1) Lipit-Eštar, the powerful king, king of his land: Iddin-Dagan-waqar, the ešabda official, child of Nanna-isag, is your servant.

Lipit-Eštar 2003 / CDLI Seals 012214 (CDLI Seals 012214 (composite))

(1) Lipit-Eštar, the powerful king, king of Urim: ..., the scribe, child of Lu-Inana, is your servant.

Lipit-Eštar 2004 / CDLI Seals 012216 (CDLI Seals 012216 (composite))

(1) Lipit-Eštar, the powerful king, ....

Sin-magir 2001 / CDLI Seals 002462 (CDLI Seals 002462 (physical))

(1) Iddin-damu, the chief builder, child of Iaya, is the servant of Enki and Sin-magir.

Sin-magir 2002 / CDLI Seals 002551 and 009452

(1) Imgur-Sin, the temple administrator, child of Sin-iddinam, is the servant of Sin-magir.

Sin-magir 2003 / CDLI Seals 012218 (CDLI Seals 012218 (composite))

(1) Ana-damu-taklaku, child of Adata, is the servant of Sin-magir.

Šu-ilišu 1

(1) When Šu-ilišu, the powerful man, king of Urim, brought home (the statue of) Nanna from Anšan to Urim, then for Nanna, the most outstanding among the Anuna gods, his master, he built the Dublamah, his place of rendering judgement. He installed for him a decorated two-wing door, and dedicated it to him for his well-being. (19) Whoever gives order to perform a misdeed against this (door), transfers it to a storehouse, or makes another man raise his hand against it on account of this curse, may Nanna, my master, and Ningal, my lady, curse him!

Šu-ilišu 2001 / CDLI Seals 012211 (CDLI Seals 012211 (composite))

(1) Šu-ilišu, the powerful king, king of his land: ..., the scribe, the child of Lu-balasaga.

Šu-ilišu 2002 / CDLI Seals 012212 (CDLI Seals 012212 (composite))

(1) Šu-ilišu, the powerful man, king of his land: Šara-mutum, the scribe, son of Ur-Šulpae.

Šu-ilišu 2003 / CDLI Seals 012026 (CDLI Seals 012026 (composite))

(1) ..., child of ..., servant of Šu-ilišu.

Šu-ilišu 3

(1) Because of his great love for Ninisina, Šu-ilišu, the powerful king, king of Sumer and Akkad, built a great city wall whose fearsome radiance silences everyone in order to make the scattered people of the south and highlands secure in their dwellings around Isin. The name of this city wall is “Šu-ilišu is the beloved of Eštar.”

Šu-ilišu 4 / CDLI Seals 013691 (CDLI Seals 013691 (composite))

(1) Šu-ilišu, the powerful king, king of Urim, the beloved of Enlil and Ninisina.

Ur-Ninurta 1

Royal titulary of Ur-Ninurta of Isin (~1923–1896 BCE) accumulates priestly and pastoral epithets across Nippur, Ur, Eridu, and Uruk, mapping the ideological geography of a dynasty competing to reunify Sumer after Ur III's collapse.

Zambiya 2add

(1) For Ninisina, his lady, Zambiya, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, built the pure E-niĝar for her joyful festival.

~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.

EconomyWriting & Literature

~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.

EconomyWriting & Literature

Aminu 2001

(1) Rībam-ilī, scribe, servant of Aminu.

Aminu 2002

(1) Muqaddimum, servant of Aminu.

Azuzu 2001 / Man-ištušu 2002

(1) Man-ištūšu, the king of the world. Azuzu, his servant, dedicated (this spear) to the god Beʾal-SI.SI.

Erišum I 01

(1) [...] ... Erišum (I), overseer of (the god) Aššur, [son of Ilu-šūma], overseer of (the god) Aššur; Ilu-šūma (was) the son of Šalim-aḫum, [overseer of (the god) Aššur]; (and) Šalim-aḫum (was) the son of Puzur-Aššur (I), [overseer of (the god) Aššur]. (4) Erišum (I), vice-regent of Aššur: I [built] the holy [Step] Gate, (and) the chapel [for] my lord. I built a [high] throne (and) adorned the front of it with a precious stone (ḫušāru). I installed (its) doors. (8b) With (the god) Aššur, my lord, standing by me, I reserved land for (the god) Aššur, my lord, from the Sheep Gate to the…

Erišum I 02

(1) Eriš[um (I)], vice-regent of the god Aššur, son of Ilu-šūma, vice-regent of the god Aššur. (7) He built the temple (and) all of the temple area for the god Aššur, his lord, for his life, and the life of his city. (15) When I started the work, (when) my city was under my command, I made silver, gold, copper, tin, barley, and wool, as well as the payment of bran and straw, exempt from taxes. (26) I mixed ghee and honey into (the mortar of) every wall and (then) laid one layer of bricks. With the god Aššur, my lord, standing by me, I cleared houses from the Sheep Gate to the People’s Gate.…

~1900 BCE·Old AssyrianOur engine

Erišum I 03

Documents Erišum I's temple construction at Aššur and its ritual furnishings — bronze duck weights and beer vats — giving the earliest detailed record of cultic equipment in an Assyrian royal building inscription.

Erišum I 04

(1) Erišum (I), vice-regent of the god Aššur, son of Ilu-šūma, vice-regent of the god Aššur. (7) For the god Aššur, his lord, for his life, and the life of his city, he built the entire temple area of the temple of the god Aššur and the holy Step Gate, (as well as) the chapel of (the god) Aššur.

Erišum I 05

(1) Erišum (I), vice-regent of the god Aššur, son of Ilu-šūma, vice-regent of (the god) Aššur. (7) For his life and the life of his city, he built all of the temple area for (the god) Aššur, his lord. He installed (its) doors.

~1900 BCE·Old AssyrianOur engine

Erišum I 06

Attests Erišum I's construction of Aššur's temple in the god's own city, anchoring the earliest stratum of Assyrian royal piety and the vice-regent (iššiak Aššur) titulature that defined Old Assyrian kingship.

Erišum I 07

(1) Erišum (I), vice-regent of (the god) Aššur, son of Ilu-šūma, vice-regent of the god Aššur. (7) For (the god) Aššur, his lord, for his life, and the life of his city, he built the temple area of (the god) Aššur.

Erišum I 08

(1) Erišum (I), vice-regent of (the god) Aššur, son of Ilu-šūma, vice-regent of (the god) Aššur. (7) It was Erišum (I), vice-regent of the god Aššur, who built [(...)] for [his] life.

Erišum I 09

(1) Erišum (I), vice-regent of the god A[ššur], son of Ilu-[šūma], vice-regent of the god Aššur. (7) For his life, he built all of the temple area for the god Aššur, his lord.