Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · N 0546 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 114
In plain English
Onion disbursements: Ur-Ningirsu gets one lidga of onions; E-saga, the storehouse doorkeeper, gets one barig; Dudu, son of Ur-gula, gets one barig. These cover the period from the month Bara-zagar through the month Ku-šim, at a rate of three ban of onions per month. A further one lidga and one barig are set aside as the regular offering for the god Ninurta.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 lidga of onions — Ur-Ningirsu; 2. (continuation of line 1) 3. 1 barig of onions — E-saga, 4. doorkeeper of the storehouse; 5. 1 barig of onions — Dudu, 6. son of Ur-gu[la]. 7. From the month Bara-zagar 8. [to] the month Ku-šim, 9. monthly, 3 ban of onions each. 10. 1 (lidga) 1 barig: regular offering of Ninurta.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · N 0359 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 115
In plain English
Two ban of barley, measured by the Agade standard, went to Ur-[...]; Duni signed for it. Two barig were set aside as the regular offerings for the god Ninurta. Three ban went to Ur-Damu, the cupbearer. One ban went to someone whose name begins An-[...]; the rest of that line, and whatever followed, is broken off.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obv. 1. 2 ban of (barley) — Ur-[...], 2. (measured by the standard) of Agade; 3. Duni received (it). 4. 2 barig — the regular offerings 5. of Ninurta. 6. 3 ban — Ur-Damu, 7. the cupbearer. 8. 1 ban [...] An-[...] (rest broken)”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · N 0574 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 116
In plain English
In the third month (the 'brick in the mould' month) the kitchen drew 150 liters of sikil-onions for soup, plus another 30 liters of sikil-onions and 30 liters of crushed onions. In the fourth month ('sowing' month) exactly the same amounts went out again. On top of that, 120 liters of onions were the regular offering for the god Ninurta, and a further lot of onions went to the table. All of this is charged to the governor's account.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 2 barig 3 ban of sikil-onions for soup; 2. 3 ban of sikil-onions, 3 ban of crushed onions: 3. month "Brick placed in the mould" (iti sig₄-u₅-šub-ba-gar). 4. 2 barig 3 ban of sikil-onions for soup; 5. 3 ban of sikil-onions, 3 ban <of crushed onions>: 6. month "Sowing" (iti šu-numun). 7. 2 barig, regular offerings 8. (for) Ninurta; 9. onions for the table — 10. (these are) of the governor.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · N 0274 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 117
In plain English
This is a supply record. Four ban of shallot-type onions, two ban of tu-onions and two ban of crushed garlic go to the governor's dining table; E-lu is the person connected with that delivery. Then two standing orders: every month, three ban of onions are set aside for Ninurta — that is, for his temple — and every month another three ban are issued under Sipa-Enlil, the chief steward of the household. In short, a note fixing the monthly onion and garlic rations owed to the governor's kitchen and to the god's temple.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 4 ban of sikil-onions (shallots), 2. 2 ban of tu-onions, 2 ban of crushed onions (garlic), 3. for the table of the governor (ensi): 4. E-lu. 5. Monthly, 3 ban of onions each — 6. it is (for) Ninurta. 7. Monthly, 3 ban of onions each — 8. Sipa-Enlil, the chief household administrator (šabra).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CBS 06249 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 119
In plain English
Thirty strings of garlic, checked and counted, delivered by Lugal-amu and Namzi; also a quantity of sikil-onions, the figure now lost, reckoned at three strings apiece. These supplies cover the period from the month of Du-ku through the month of the barley harvest — that is, the seventh to the twelfth month of the year — and are destined for the governor's table.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 30 (strings of) garlic, [checked (kab₂-ku₅)]; 2. Lugal-amu; 3. Namzi; 4. sikil-onions [...], at 3 (strings) each; 5. from the month Du-ku (VII) 6. to the month Še-sag-ku (XII): 7. (for) the table of the governor (ensi).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · N 0425 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 121
In plain English
One barig of crushed garlic and three ban of šum-sikil onions: this is the second allotment, for the governor, delivered to the king (the middle of this line is broken). Then two barig of crushed garlic and three ban of šum-sikil onions, for the second instalment, again for the governor. Finally, two ban go to the man in charge of the uz-ga store.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 barig of crushed garlic, 2. 3 ban of šum-sikil onions — 3. it is the second (allotment?); 4. (for) the governor (ensi), 5. to the king 6. [...] ... delivered (ru-a). 7. 2 barig of crushed garlic, 8. 3 ban of šum-sikil onions, 9. for the second (time/instalment); 10. (for) the governor (ensi). 11. 2 ban (for) the man of the uz-ga.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · N 0521 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 122
In plain English
Too little survives of this tablet to reconstruct the transaction. What can be read runs: something was given or measured out; a man named Ur-saga is involved; there is a reference to the city and to someone's instruction or declaration. Then two entries: one item or person under Dudu the overseer, and six under the governor. The beginning, the end, and the left side of every line are broken away.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“(Beginning destroyed) 1. [...] given(?); (its) measure(?) [...] 2. [Ur]-saga 3. [...] (of) the city 4. [...] ...-iš 5. [...] his statement/order 6. 1 Dudu, the overseer 7. 6 (units/persons): the governor (ensi) 8. [...] ... [...] (rest destroyed)”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · N 0277 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 125
In plain English
One barig (about 60 liters) of crushed garlic went to Ur-saga, the commissioner of Enlil's temple. One ban (about 10 liters) went to Puzur-ḫalum. Two ban went to Ibkuku, the commissioner handling the lawsuit, drawn from the house, with Su-pium acting as the responsible official. One ban went to Namudab, the cook of Lugal-KA's household, with Ur-Erra as the responsible official. All of it was issued from the stores of Lugal-nig-bedu.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 barig of crushed garlic: 2. Ur-saga, 3. commissioner (maškim) of the house of Enlil. 4. 1 ban: Puzur-ḫa<lu>m. 5. 2 ban: Ibkuku, 6. commissioner for the lawsuit, 7. from the house; 8. [Su]-pium (is) its commissioner. 9. 1 ban: Namudab, the cook, 10. (of) the house of Lugal-KA; 11. Ur-Erra 12. (is) its commissioner. 13. From Lugal-nig-bedu 14. it was withdrawn (expended).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry