Ashurbanipal 087

~655 BCE·Neo-Assyrian·Q003786

Translation · reference

High confidence

Completely missing (ii 1) Tammarītu, who [was] (even) more [insolent than Ummanigaš, sat on the throne of the land Elam]. (ii 2) Just like him (Ummanigaš), he (Tammarītu) accepted bribes fro[m the hands of Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, did not enquire about the well-being of my royal majesty, (and) went] to the aid of Šamaš-šu[ma-ukīn, (my) unfaithful brother, (ii 5) to figh]t [with my] troops. [As a result of the supplications that I had addressed to (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar], (ii 6) (No translation possible) One column possibly completely missing One column possibly completely missing Blank Completely missing

Source: Novotny, J. & Jeffers, J. 2018–. The Royal Inscriptions of Ashurbanipal (668–631 BC), Aššur-etel-ilāni (630–627 BC) and Sîn-šarra-iškun (626–612 BC), Kings of Assyria. RINAP 5. University Park, PA: Eisenbrauns. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/rinap/rinap5/Q003786/

Why it matters

Charges the Elamite king Tammarītu with accepting bribes from the rebel Šamaš-šuma-ukīn: direct Assyrian royal testimony on the diplomacy that nearly split the empire in the 650s BCE.

Transliteration

mtam-ma-ri-tu ⸢šá⸣ e-⸢li⸣ [mum-man-i-gaš ek-ṣu ú-šib ina GIŠ.GU.ZA KUR.ELAM.MA.KI]1 / ki-ma šá-a-šu-ma ul-⸢tu⸣ [ŠU.II mdGIŠ.NU₁₁-MU-GI.NA] / ṭa-ʾa-a-tu im-ḫur [ul iš-al šu-lum LUGAL-ti-ia] / ⸢a-na⸣ kit-ri mdGIŠ.NU₁₁-⸢MU⸣-[GI.NA ŠEŠ la ke-e-nu il-lik-am-ma] / [a-na mit-ḫu]-⸢ṣi⸣ ERIM.ḪI.A-[ia ina su-up-pe-e ša AN.ŠÁR u d15] / [...] (x) x [...] / [...] (traces) [...] / [...] (traces) [...] / [...] (traces) [...] / [...] (traces) [...] / [...] (traces) [...]

Scholarly note

Royal inscription of Ashurbanipal or a late Sargonid successor, edited by Jamie Novotny & Joshua Jeffers (RINAP 5, 2018–). ORACC text Q003786.

Attribution

Image: BM — (British Museum, London, UK) — from Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts, P398860). source
Translation excerpted from Novotny, J. & Jeffers, J. 2018–. The Royal Inscriptions of Ashurbanipal (668–631 BC), Aššur-etel-ilāni (630–627 BC) and Sîn-šarra-iškun (626–612 BC), Kings of Assyria. RINAP 5. University Park, PA: Eisenbrauns. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/rinap/rinap5/Q003786/.

Related tablets

Related sources

~2450 BCE

Stele of the Vultures

The earliest historical document in human history.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.

~2100 BCE

Code of Ur-Nammu

The oldest surviving law code in human history. The principle that the state — not the wronged family — defines and enforces justice begins here.

~1754 BCE

Code of Hammurabi (stele)

Not the first law code, but the most complete and the most famous. Inscribed on a black diorite stele over two meters tall, displayed in a public place — law made visible, law made monumental.