All tablets.

Religion & MythWriting & Literature

Disk of Enheduanna

An object naming and depicting a powerful priestess and royal daughter around 2300 BCE. Enheduanna is also a landmark in named literary authorship, but that literary legacy must be distinguished from this disk’s dedication.

~2300 BCE·Akkadian EmpireETCSRI

Man-ištušu 1

(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on its socle. (colophon 2, 1) The inscription on its socle.

Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth

Naram-Suen 14

(1) ... installed it in the temple of Enlil. (3) At that time Su’āš-takal, the estate administrator of the king was its leader; Irina-badbi was the temple administrator of Enlil.

Naram-Suen 2001

(1) Narām-Suen, king of Agade, king of the four quarters: Irina-badbi, temple administrator of Enlil, is your servant.

Naram-Suen 2018

(1) To Ningublaga of Asug-ĝišdua, Išṭup-ilum, his estate administrator dedicated this (plaque) for the well-being of Naram-Suen, the god of Akkad, and for the well-being of En-men-ana.

Rimuš 03

(colophon 1, 1) The inscription was written at his left side.

Rimuš 18 (Sumerian)

(1) Rimuš, king of the world: Since the dawn of time no one had ever fashioned a tin statue for Enlil, (but now) Rimuš, king of the world fashioned a tin statue of himself and set it up before Enlil. He counted himself among the gods. (20) Whoever obliterates this inscription, may Enlil and Utu uproot him and destroy his lineage! (colophon 1, 1) Inscription of a šahum cauldron. (colophon 2, 1) Inscription ... of Rimuš.

Rimuš 2001

(1') To ..., ..., ... of Šuruppak, chosen by Sud in the heart, whose name was proclaimed by Nin-ĝidru, ... for the well-being of his king, Rimuš, king of the world.

Šar-kali-šarri 4 (Sumerian)

(1) Enlil spoke: He gave all ... to Šar-kali-šarri, the powerful king, cup-bearer of Enlil, king of Akkad, king of Enlil's people. After he had arrived at the source of the Tigris and the Euphrates, he himself dedicated this (object) to Enlil in Nibru. (colophon 1, 1) The number of its (lines) is six.

Sargon 01 (Sumerian)

(1) Šarrukin, king of Agade, commissioner of Inana, king of the world, išib priest of An, king of the Land, chief governor of Enlil, conquered the city of Unug and demolished its city-walls. He fought with the leader of Unug and defeated him. (21) He fought with Lugal-zagesi, king of Unug, captured him, and took him to the gate of Enlil in a neck stock. (30) Šarrukin, king of Agade, fought with the leader of Urim and defeated him. He conquered his city and demolished its city-walls. (42) He conquered the temple of Ninmarki, and demolished its walls. From Lagaš until the sea he conquered all…

Sargon 02

(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on its socle. It was written in front of Lugalzagesi.

Sargon 03

(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on the statue. Its socle is not inscribed.

Sargon 06

(colophon 1, 1) The inscription was written on the socle. (colophon 2, 1) The inscription on the shoulder of Lugalzagesi.

Sargon 07

(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on the statue. ....

Sargon 11 (Akkadian)

(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on the statue. Its socle is not inscribed.

Sargon 11 (Sumerian)

(1) Šarrukin, king of the world, was victorious in 34 battles. He demolished all city walls as far as the shore of the sea. He moored the ships of Meluhha, Magan, and Dilmun at the quay of Agade. (14) In Tuttul, Šarrukin, the king, prostrated himself before Dagan and prayed to him. (Dagan then) gave him the Upper land, (including) Mari, Yarmuti, and Ebla, as far as the cedar forests and the mountains of precious metal. (29) In the presence of Šarrukin, the king whom Enlil made a man without opponent, 13 (units) of troops eat daily. (38) Whoever obliterates this inscription, may An obliterate h…

Sargon 12

(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on the statue.

Sargon 13

(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on its socle.

Sargon 15

(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on the statue.

Sargon 16

(1) Enheduana, the zirru-priestess, Nanna's spouse, child of Šarrukin, king of the world, erected an altar in the temple of Inana-ZAZA in Urim. She named it “The altar is An's table”.

Sargon 2001

(1') ..., the estate adminstrator of Tašlultum, Šarrukin's spouse, ... for the well-being ....

Sargon 2006add

(1) To Šara of the E-mah, Egal-isi, the temple administrator of Zabalam, dedicated this (object) for the well-being of Šarrukin, king of Agade.

Sargon 2007add

(1) To Šara of the Abzu-banda, Egal-isi, the temple administrator of Zabalam, dedicated this (object) for the well-being of Šarrukin, king of Agade.

Amarna letter. Letter from Yapahu (ruler of Gezer) to the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III or son Akhenaten

Tablet image sourced from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). No scholarly translation referenced in source metadata. Source description: Amarna letter. Letter from Yapahu (ruler of Gezer) to the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III or son Akhenaten. Yapahu requests help against Hapiru (Biblical Hebrews), a…

Daily Life

Clay tablet. Old Akkadian account text about fields. 2334-2004 BCE. From Iraq. Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin

Tablet image sourced from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). No scholarly translation referenced in source metadata. Source description: Clay tablet. Old Akkadian account text about fields. 2334-2004 BCE. From Iraq. Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin.

Cuneiform Akkadian clay tablet 1

Tablet image sourced from Wikimedia Commons (Public domain). No scholarly translation referenced in source metadata. Source description: Small clay tablet with cuneiform writing on both sides (in Akkadian language), from Early Old Babylonian period. It displays an account of labor, specifically refe…

Cuneiform tablet- account text concerning bitumen, Quradum archive MET ME86 11 134

Tablet image sourced from Wikimedia Commons (CC0). No scholarly translation referenced in source metadata. Source description: Akkadian; Cuneiform tablet; Clay-Tablets-Inscribed

Cuneiform tablet- house sale contract, Quradum archive MET ME86 11 204

Tablet image sourced from Wikimedia Commons (CC0). No scholarly translation referenced in source metadata. Source description: Akkadian; Cuneiform tablet; Clay-Tablets-Inscribed

Epic of Gilgamesh Flood Tablet in Akkadian Cuneiform - Nate Loper (43494374962)

Tablet image sourced from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0). No scholarly translation referenced in source metadata. Source description: The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia, regarded as the earliest surviving great work of literature and the second oldest religious text, after…

Religion & Myth

Adab 0650

Lu-Enlil[la], Ur-Enlila the mer[chant] — he brought a lawsuit against him concerning 10 shekels of sil[ver]. Lugal-geš, governor of Adab, judged the case of Ur-Enlil[a] and set it right; he pronounced the oath(-prayer). 1 shekel of sil[ver ... ] [ ... ] Ašgi [ ... ] Šu-[i(?)] was the bailiff.

Adab 0695

10 less 1 (= 9) nisqu (choice-quality ones), 30 less 3 (= 27) šadu, foreman: Enlila. 1 mašada-boat, [1] lead boat ... ... (Break) (This is) what [PN] says: to my master speak — let him give (them) to you!

Adab 0815

1 female slave — 15 shekels of silver: An-tum. For 10 shekels of silver, Al-kalla, by the name of the king, … he transferred (it) to him. Ĝissu was the commissioner for it. 1 shekel of silver — bronze — he weighed out to him. 1: Ur-nigar, the merchant; 1: Nin-mashe; 1: Nin-nam — these are its witnesses.

LawEconomy

Adab 0830

To my lord, thus (says) Me-zi: 2 bur'u (= 20 bur) of field — last year Lugal-mu [gave] to him. It was not confirmed. Because he lodged a claim (lit. "set it before the eye"), for the sake of its replacement, if [...] Lugal-mu [...] ... [...] Its barley: 5 gur [...] I shall repay (it).

Adab 0846

Obverse [10] gur of barley, standard (si-sa2) measure: [regular offerings] of the gods, brought to the shrine (esz3-tum2). 2 gur of barley: Sipa-anne, the cook. 1 barig 3 ban 5 sila: the ducks (uz-tur); Ur-zigumma, the scribe; Lugal-magure. 2 ban of dabin flour: Zuzu. Reverse Total: 10 gur 2 (gur) 3 barig 4 ban of barley, 3 ban 5 sila, standard measure, gone out (expended). En-annatum.

EconomyReligion & Myth

Adab 0865

Obverse: [2 gur] 1 barig 2 ban 1/2 sila (sila) of dabin-flour, regular offerings; 3 ban minus 2 sila of zi-dabin-flour — for the festival of the orchard. [1] 1/2 sila of bread [...] zi-dabin-flour — (for the) Ne-Ne-gar (festival/month); Igizi (in charge). Reverse: [Total]: 2 gur 1 barig 4 sila of dabin-flour, regular offerings; [total]: 4 ban 4 sila of zi-dabin-flour. Expended by order. [Month: Du]kug.

EconomyReligion & Myth

Adab 0874

Obverse 1. Igibare 2. said: 3. "The troops of the land, 4. beloved of Dingirmah, 5. beloved of Ašgi — 6. to Šar-kali-šarri Reverse (the start is broken) 7. [...] 8. [...] 9. [...] donkey(?) [...] ... [...] gave(?) 10. (I) have no irrigated land. 11. Let him give me some irrigated land!"

Adab 0885 + 1062

Obverse [What] Lugal-gesz says, [say] to Lugal-maszkim: “My messenger — a man killed (him). That matter [...] let it be [...]; to [Ki-babbar], let him transfer (it/him).” (End of text; the reverse contains the closing lines, partly broken.)

Adab 0965 + 1016-1

Obverse [...] emmer, (by the) large gur; [... to ...]-tu; 2 barig: (to) Atu; [n]: (to) Lalla. Reverse Total: 4 gur 2 barig of emmer, (by the) large gur, [regular] offerings for the gods(?). Enlil, the scribe, received (it). Month: Še-sag-sa-ga.

EconomyReligion & Myth

Adab 1095

Month: "Harvest" (month of the reaping). 5 days having elapsed, work was done at the clod-crushing (of the plot); 10 days having elapsed, the barley was reaped; 15 days — that being the two of them added together — the field is confirmed.

Anonymous 271226

1. 2 female workers: 1 barig (of barley each); 2. 1 girl: 2 ban; 3. overseer: Mama-ummi. 4. 1 ... died; 5. 1 female worker fled; 6. overseer: Dar. 7. 2 female workers; 8. overseer: Nin-girgal. 9. 1 female worker fled; 10. overseer: ... [...] 11. [...] (rest broken)

AuOr 09, 148 4

1. 1/3 (mina) of silver (and) 5 [shekels]; 2. 10 gur of barley; 3. 1 talent of sheep wool — 4. for the purchase price 5. [of 1] kunga-equid. 6. [......] 7. [......] 8. [......] 9. [......]-ne 10. [......]-nim 11. [......]-ilī 12. [......]-takuna 13. 1: Mama. 14. (These are) the elders.

BuB 1, 203-208

(1) Thus (says) Naṣrum (2) to ŠEŠ.ŠEŠ-abi: (3–4) Barley for seed — (5) KI(?) 6 gur of barley — (6) to Puzur-ḫarim (7) let him give. (8) And 1/2 mina of silver (9) Puzur-ḫarim (10) will bring to him. (11) Its price (in) barley (12) let him give him.

CUSAS 20, 037

Obverse(?) 1. 7 minas of flax (fibre), 2. 2 gurdub-baskets of SUMASZ@g garlic — 3. (these) are on hand. 4. 3 ban of small peas(?), 5. 1 ban of cumin: 6. to Ur-Lulu 7. Adda 8. has sent (them). 9. To Ur-Lulu 10. speak: 11. Adda 12. says: 13. "Lu-gid 14. let him send back!"

CUSAS 26, 247

1. [n] (vessel(s)) of drinking beer, 1 jug (for) the road: 2. Enne-ne. 3. 2 ban of bread, 5 sila of pea flour, 4. 1 (vessel) of drinking beer, 1 jug (for) the road: 5. Ur-ganungal.

CUSAS 27, 058

1. Thus (says) 2. Isu-ilum, 3. the chief scribe, 4. to Šu-ilissu: 5. Concerning(?) the field of the ereš-dingir priestess 6. and the seized (persons/property) — 7. their case 8. let it be settled(?); 9. and whatever 10. ...(?) 11. they carried off, 12. let him make (them) hand (it) over.

CUSAS 27, 060

1. Thus (says) 2. Šu-Mama 3. to Šu-ilīsu: 4. To the slave-woman and the slave 5. 2 barig of barley, 1 barig of fish, 6. (and) [2] sila of lard 7. let him give. 8. I myself, 9. when I come, 10. will repay(?) it to him. 11. He must not withhold (it). 12. Who is like (my) brother?

CUSAS 27, 071

1. Thus (says) 2. Ur-Ištaran 3. to Zuzu: 4. 1 gur 3 barig of barley 5. which from 6. Bazizi 7. Sulumsu-saga 8. received — 9. to Buzuzu 10. and Ur-ur 11. let him give (it). 12. He has nothing (even) for the riding-donkey.

CUSAS 27, 072

1. Thus (says) 2. Dagan-[...]-dali-[...]: 3. To Kal-ilē 4. I wrote, but 5. they have not ...ed(?) to me 6. [......] 7. [......] 8. ... [...] let him send here to me; 9. may Ga-[...]-šarrum(?) 10. reach me here. 11. With(?) [...] ... [...] 12. The matter, and whatever (there is) — 13. (even if) there is no tablet(?), send (word) here to me.

Daily Life

CUSAS 35, 268

1. Lugal-amu 2. (is who) speaks: 3. to my brother 4. say (this): 5. 1 — the merchant, 6. 1 — Ur-ešpeš: 7. servants of the king [they are]. 8. In Lagash 9. they are dwelling. 10. May he give them to you.

FAOS 19, pl. 9, Ki 2

1. Thus (says) 2. Eštar-balik 3. to Dabibi: 4. Eštar-tukultī, 5. the fowler — 6. Ḫarim-bēlī, 7. the commissioner, 8. has seized (him). 9. The tablet concerning 10. his sustenance-allotment 11. may the gentleman 12. grant to me; 13. and the tablet — I have given (it) to him(?); 14. and let Ilšu-aḫa 15. come here!