Chapter 08 · 539 – 330 BCE
Achaemenid Persian
Persian rule, the long twilight of cuneiform.
~430 BCE · RMC 067 — Rare Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 15, 067
In plain English
Aradiya, son of Mudû, owes Tatte-Eduru, son of Talīmu, a debt of silver — three shekels minus a quarter. The debt was due in the month of Simānu, and Aradiya promises to pay that same amount, three shekels less a quarter, in the town of Qatibe. Four witnesses stood by the agreement: Tabnēa son of Enlil-bāni, Mašê son of Šamaš-zēr-ibni, Šamaš-šu son of Balāṭu, and the priest Rīmūt-Maš son of Ḫanšâ-Eduru. The document is dated at Qatibe, the 29th day of the month Addaru, in the 7th year of King Cambyses, king of Babylon and king of the lands.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 shekels, less its fourth (part), of silver, belonging to Tatte-Eduru, son of Talīmu, (is a claim) against Aradiya, son of Mudû. In the month Simānu (III) the silver — the silver, 3 shekels less its fourth (part) — in the city Qatibe he shall pay. Witnesses: Tabnēa, son of Enlil-bāni; Mašê, son of Šamaš-zēr-ibni; Šamaš-šu(?), son of Balāṭu; and the priest (šangû) Rīmūt-Maš, son of Ḫanšâ-Eduru. City Qatibe. Month Addaru (XII), day 29, year 7 of Cambyses, king of Babylon, [king] of the lands.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~430 BCE · RMC 184 — Rare Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 15, 184
In plain English
Tattannu is owed 6 gur and 1 PI of barley by Balāṭu, son of Ina-gissu-lugal. Come the month of Addaru, Balāṭu must hand over an extra 5 gur and 1 PI on top of that — the added cost of the loan. Four men witnessed the deal: Tattannu son of Enlil-šum-iddin, Niqūdu son of Mu-gub, Iškur-mu-ki-il son of Iškur-ad-gub, and Kussari. A scribe named Ba, son of A, wrote it up, apparently at a place called Qatibat. The document is dated to the 5th day of the month of Nisannu, in the 7th year of King Cambyses, king of Babylon and king of the lands.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“6 gur, 1 PI of barley, belonging to Tattannu, son of Talīmu, is a debt against Balāṭu, son of Ina-gissu-lugal. In the month of Addaru (itiŠE), he shall pay, in addition, 5 gur, 1 PI. Witnesses: Tattannu, son of Enlil-šum-iddin; Niqūdu, son of Mu-gub; Iškur-mu-ki-il, son of Iškur-ad-gub; Kussari. Scribe: Ba, son of A. Qatibat. Month Nisannu (Bāru), day 5, year 7, (of) Cambyses, king of Babylon, king of the lands.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~430 BCE · OIM L— — PFAP, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 092, 0032
In plain English
Receipt: 104 measures of flour, provided under the responsibility of Bagizzana, have been deposited into the stores at Persepolis. The transaction was processed the same way as the previous entry ('ditto'). Filed in year 24 of the king's reign — that is, about 498 BCE under Darius I. Nothing more is written; this is the complete text of a routine storage docket.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“(obverse) 104 (BAR measures of) flour, supplied by (kurmin) Bagizzana, was deposited (kutka) at Persepolis (Baršan); it was done (as) ditto (hu-ut-KI.MIN-na, i.e. handled the same way as in the preceding record). (reverse/final line) Year 24 (of the king).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~430 BCE · OIM L— — PFAP, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 092, 0036
In plain English
Receipt: 292 measures of emmer wheat. Source of supply: Ḫumuštimana's allocation. Ummanunu took delivery and carried it off. Filed in year 20 of the king's reign. In effect, a warehouse chit — one clerk signing grain out of another official's stock, dated and archived so the accounts would balance at Persepolis.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“292 (units of) tarmu-grain (emmer), allocation (kurmin) of Ḫumuštimana. Ummanunu received (it and) delivered it. Year 20.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~430 BCE · OIM L— — PFAP, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 092, 0037
In plain English
Receipt: 112 measures of tarmu grain, drawn from the stock managed by Umuštimana. Išantu took delivery of the grain; it was received (at or through Kuizza/Kurdušum) by Hupannana. Filed for year 23 of the king's reign. In modern terms, this is a warehouse transfer slip — supplier, quantity, commodity, receiving officer, and fiscal year, all in three short lines.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“112 (BAR measures of) tarmu-grain, supplied by Umuštimana: Išantu received (it) (du-ša); Kuizza (of/at?) Kurdušum — Hupannana received (it). Year 23 (lit. 'of the 23rd year').”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~430 BCE · OIM L— — PFAP, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 092, 0038
In plain English
Receipt: 140 measures of tarmu-grain. Supplier: Babenana. Received and put into storage by Ummanunu at Kurdušum. Filed in year 27 of the king's reign (about 495 BCE). In modern terms, this is a warehouse intake slip — the storekeeper confirming that a specific quantity of grain from a named supplier has been checked in and booked to the depot's account.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“140 (measures of) tarmu-grain, supplied by (kurmin) Babenana: Ummanunu received it (and) deposited/stored it (at) Kurdušum. (In the) 27th year.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~430 BCE · OIM L— — PFAP, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 092, 0039
In plain English
Receipt: 1,000 measures of tarmu grain, transported from Zakzaku (under the responsibility of Šur-sunkiri). Received by Pirriašba. Year 19 of the king's reign. In other words, a warehouse clerk near Persepolis is signing off on a large grain shipment brought in from an outlying settlement, logging who handled it, who took delivery, and the regnal year — nothing more, nothing less.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“(obverse) 1,000 (measures of) tarmu-grain, carried from Zakzaku, (under) Šur-sunkiri(?): Pirriašba received (it). (Year formula) 19th year.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~430 BCE · OIM L— — PFAP, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 092, 0040
In plain English
Warehouse receipt, year 22 of the king. Two lots of grain came in from Zakzaku under the responsibility of the supplier Appumanya: 310 measures of hazati-grain and 390 measures of kurruša-grain, for a combined total of 700 measures of tarmu-grain, which were placed into (royal) storage. Pirriyašba signed for the delivery, and the grain was processed into beer. In today's terms: a stamped intake slip from a government depot, recording who supplied the grain, who received it, what it was used for, and when.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“310 (measures of) hazati-grain, 390 (measures of) kurruša-grain — total: 700 (measures of) tarmu-grain, supplied by Appumanya, from (the place) Zakzaku; (as/at the) royal š... it was deposited. Pirriyašba received (it). He made (it into) beer. 22nd year.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry