Position in chronology
SAA 04 279. Will Assyrian Soldiers Capture Šamaš-šumu-ukin? (PRT 102) [military and political]
Translation · reference
High confidence(1) The middle of the 'station' is effaced. The 'path' on the left lies on a 'path.' The 'strength' lies in the left jamb of the 'gate of the palace.' (3) Inside the right side of the gall bladder there is a cross-shaped marking. The 'well-being' is present. (4) In the left side of the gall bladder there is a 'foot'-mark which faces the base of the 'finger.' (5) In the middle surface of the 'finger' some flesh is torn. (6) The 'well-being' of the 'increment' is drawn over the 'increment.' (7) The lower part is elevated The base of the middle 'finger' of the lung is torn. (8) The coils of the…
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/P238824/
Why it matters
Transliteration
BE MURUB₄ NA pa-áš-ṭa GÍR 150 / UGU GÍR GAR-in KALAG ina sip-pí 150 ME.NI GAR / BE ina ŠÀ 15 ZÉ BAR-ti SILIM GAR-in / BE ina 150 ZÉ GÌR SUḪUŠ U IGI / BE ina EDIN U MURUB₄ UZU ZI-iḫ / BE SILIM MÁŠ ina UGU MÁŠ e-ṣir / BE KI.TA DU-ik U—MUR MURUB₄ SUḪUŠ-sà ZI-iḫ / BE ŠÀ.NIGIN 14 GAG.ZAG.GA e-bi / [ŠÀ UDU].⸢NÍTA⸣ šá-lim / [x x ITI].SIG₄ UD 27-KÁM / [x x x x] ⸢x x⸣ ERIM-⸢MEŠ⸣ / [šá m]AN.ŠÁR—DÙ—DUMU.UŠ…
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 P238824.
Attribution
Image: BM — (British Museum, London, UK) — from Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts, P238824). 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/P238824/.
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