Position in chronology
SAA 04 163. Fragment Similar to No. 156 (AGS 123) [appointment]
Translation · reference
High confidence(1) Šamaš, great lord, [give me a firm positive answer to what I am asking you]! (2) [Should] Esarhaddon, [king of Assyria, appoint] the man whose name [is written i]n [this papyrus and placed before your great divinity, to the position] which [is written] in [this papyrus]? (4) [If he appoints him], as long as [he holds this position, will he instigate] an in[surrection and rebellion against Esarhaddon, king of Assyria]? (Break) (r 2) [Be present] in [this ram, place (in it) a firm positive answer, favorable designs, favorable, propitious] omens [by the oracular command of your great…
Source: Starr, I. 1990. Queries to the Sungod: Divination and Politics in Sargonid Assyria. SAA 4. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa04/P336099/
Why it matters
Transliteration
dUTU EN GAL-[ú šá a-šal-lu-ka an-na GI.NA a-pal-an-ni] / LÚ šá MU-šú i-⸢na⸣ [ni-a-ra an-na-a šaṭ-ru-ma i-na IGI DINGIR-ti-ka GAL-ti GAR-un] / mdaš-šur—ŠEŠ—SUM-⸢na⸣ [LUGAL KUR—aš-šur.KI a-na pi-qit-tu-ú-ti] / šá i-na ŠÀ-[bi ni-a-ra an-na-a šaṭ-ru-ma lip-qid-su GIM ip-taq-du-uš] / a-di [UD-me mál pi-qit-tu-ú-tu šu-a-tu ip-pu-šú] / ⸢si⸣-[ḫu ḪI.GAR ana UGU mdaš-šur—ŠEŠ—SUM-na LUGAL KUR—aš-šur.KI] /…
Scholarly note
Extispicy query addressed to Šamaš, the sungod and patron of divination, edited by Ivan Starr (SAA 4, 1990). The king asks the deity to render a yes/no verdict on a political or military question. ORACC text P336099.
Attribution
Image: BM — (British Museum, London, UK) — from Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts, P336099). source
Translation excerpted from Starr, I. 1990. Queries to the Sungod: Divination and Politics in Sargonid Assyria. SAA 4. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa04/P336099/.
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