Position in chronology
TMH NF 1-2, 159
Translation · reference
ExperimentalSource: CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P134470.
Why it matters
Transliteration
3(asz) 2(barig) 3(ban2) 6(disz) sila3 zi3 sig15 gur la2-ia3 nig2-ka9-ak ki lugal-me-lam2-ta kiszib3 utu-bar-ra iti ezem-me-ki-gal2 mu i-bi2-suen lugal utu-bar-ra dumu nanna-i3-sa6#? muhaldim lugal
Scholarly note
Catalogue entry from CDLI (Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC)) — TMH NF 1-2, 159. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Ibbi-Suen y1 — Ibbi-Suen became king based on canonical year-name formula in the transliteration.
Attribution
Image: Hilprecht Collection, University of Jena, Germany (P134470) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. source
Translation excerpted from CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P134470..
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Related sources
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Marks the boundary between proto-writing and writing. We can see signs being used systematically — but not yet phonetically. The leap to recording speech itself comes a few centuries later.
The earliest historical document in human history. Before this, we have lists, accounts, and dedications. Here, for the first time, a ruler tells us what happened — with names, places, and consequences.