Chapter 08 · 539 – 330 BCE
Achaemenid Persian
Persian rule, the long twilight of cuneiform.
~430 BCE · OIM L— — PFAP, Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 092, 0041
In plain English
Delivery note: 43 marriš of wine (about 400 liters) shipped from Maturban and brought in to Persepolis. Handled by Ziššukka, the wine official on duty. Filed in year 23 of the king's reign — that is, 499/498 BCE under Darius I. A one-line entry in the empire's running accounts, confirming that the wine left its point of origin and arrived at the capital's stores.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“43 marriš (measures) of wine, from Maturban, were carried to Parsa (Persepolis). Ziššukka the kuizza(-official) (handled/received it). 23rd 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, 0042
In plain English
Receipt: 29 marriš of wine (roughly 280 liters). Handled by Appirmarša; Ummišša, drawing on stock from Rašanuizza; Bašširkada took delivery. The clerk adds 'ditto' — the same procedure as in the previous entry — and closes with the crucial designation: this wine is on the king's account. In modern terms, a one-line entry in the royal supply ledger: who released the wine, whose stores it came from, who signed for it, and that the crown was the beneficiary.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“29 marriš of wine. Appirmarša (supplied it?); Ummišša — from Rašanuizza — Bašširkada received(?) (it); he did the same (ditto); (provision) of the king.”
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, 0043
In plain English
Receipt: 925 marriš of wine (roughly 9,000 liters). Supplier: Apzizi. Received on account by Manizza. Mitranka handled the apportionment. The wine was placed in storage at Bairakada. In modern terms, this is a warehouse intake slip — who sent the goods, who signed for them, who processed them, and where they ended up.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“9 hundred (and) 25 marriš of wine, supplied by (kurmin) Apzizi, Manizza received (dušda) on account (ukku). Mitranka (was) the šarara (the one who apportioned/handled it). At Bairakada it was deposited (kutka).”
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, 0044
In plain English
Shipment record: 500 units of wine, drawn from the supplies under Marriyaddana's responsibility. Zirazabbe transported the wine to Pasargadae. Logged in year 19 of the king's reign.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“500 (measures of) wine, the allocation of Marriyaddana. Zirazabbe carried (it) to Batrakataš (Pasargadae). 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, 0047
In plain English
Receipt: 27 marriš of wine (about 260 liters), issued from the stores managed by Muiška. The recipient was a man named Dāukka, apparently identified by his origin or affiliation (a 'Mardamarda' man, connected with the place Nariyapikna). Parnamatiš, the wine officer on duty, handled or countersigned the transaction. In modern terms: a signed-off warehouse withdrawal slip from the imperial supply system at Persepolis.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“27 marriš of wine, supplied by Muiška (kurmin of Muiškana): (a man) named Dāukka, a Mardamarda-ian(?) of Nariyapikna, received (it). Parnamatiš (was the) kuizza (wine official).”
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, 0048
In plain English
Delivery slip: 30 marriš of wine (roughly 290 liters), drawn from the stock managed by Ušaya. Tiššantamma signed for it on receipt, and Parnumatiš transported it on to Ukbeyataš. The shipment is charged to the king's account — royal provisions. A final notation adds a name, apparently identifying the responsible agent as the mardam (servant or courier) of Nariyapik.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“30 marriš of wine, supplied by (kurmin) Ušaya. Tiššantamma received (it). Parnumatiš carried (it) to Ukbeyataš. (It is) on behalf of the king. (Second line:) mardam of Nariyapik.”
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, 0049
In plain English
Receipt for thirty marriš of wine (roughly 290 liters), drawn from the stores managed by Ušaya. The official Battikamaš took delivery of it as rations, and the wine was then transported onward — the destination names are hard to make out, perhaps Parnumati and Ukbeyataš — with the whole transaction booked to the king's account. In short: royal wine, signed out by one supply officer, handed to another, and shipped down the road for the crown.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“30 marriš of wine, supplied by (kurmin) Ušaya. Battikamaš, the iršurra(?)-official, (its) irdaša(?), received (it) at Ansara(?) as rations (galma duiš). He carried (it) to Parnumati(š); at Ukbeyataš, on behalf of the king (šunkina-ma).”
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, 0050
In plain English
Receipt: 36 marriš of wine (about 350 liters), issued from the stock managed by Ušaya. Received by Barrukka, the wine handler. He took delivery of it to serve as rations for the workers. In modern terms: a warehouse transfer slip — one official signs the wine out of inventory, a specialist courier takes charge of it, and the stated purpose is workforce rations.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“36 marriš (measures) of wine, supplied by (kurmin) Ušaya(na): Barrukka, the wine handler, received (it). He carried (it) off (as?) rations of (the) workers (kurtaš).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry