Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · AO 02696 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 138
In plain English
Work on the city wall: one section is 1 nindan long (about 6 metres), 3 cubits wide and 3 cubits plus one šu-bad high. A second section is 1 1/2 nindan long, 2 cubits wide and the same height of 3 cubits plus one šu-bad. Lu-ab-u delivered this work.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 1 nindan in length, 2. 3 cubits in width, 3. 3 cubits (and) 1 šu-bad in height; 4. 1 1/2 nindan in length, 5. 2 cubits in width, 6. 3 cubits (and) 1 šu-bad in height: 7. the wall of the city (uru11). Reverse 1. Lu-ab-u 2. delivered (it).”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 31250 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 141
In plain English
Tally for the Udukuk field: 17 units; 128 units with 2 gur of grain; then the surveyor's entry. Next come 31 units; 41½ units with 3 gur 2 barig; another entry of 18½ units, whose first part is lost; 28 units with 1 gur 2 barig, partly damaged; 10 units; and 14 units with 3 gur 2 barig. The parties named are the tenant farmer, a person or item recorded as 'gešgu', and the head plowman.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 17 ḫi 2. 128 ḫi, 2 gur (of grain) 3. the surveyor (sa12-du5) 4. 31 ḫi 5. 41½ ḫi, 3 gur 2 barig 6. [...] 18½ ḫi 7. 30 minus 2 (= 28) [...] ḫi, 1 gur 2 barig 8. 10 ḫi 9. 10 (+) 4(aš) ḫi, 3 gur 2 barig 10. the lessee (apin-la2) 11. gešgu (?) 12. the plow-chief (sag-apin-na) 13. Field Udukuk (GAN2 U-duku)”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 03403 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 204
In plain English
The opening of the list is lost. What survives is a count of precious beads and ornaments. There are 16 carnelian pieces, the rest of that entry broken; 5 large lapis lazuli beads; 2 thick lapis beads; 7 gold beads one finger in size; 4 large silver beads; 8 lapis beads one finger in size; and an unknown number of large gold beads. Next come two little gold figurines of a calf lying down and one such calf in lapis. Then 10 thick gold beads, 10 thick carnelian beads, and 2 beads or stones of a type called "dingir-su-LAGAB-me". The rest of the list is lost.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“(Beginning destroyed) 16 carnelian (beads/stones) [......]; 5 large lapis lazuli (beads); 2 thick lapis lazuli (beads); 7 gold (beads), (of) 1 finger; 4 large silver (beads); 8 lapis lazuli (beads), (of) 1 finger; [...] large gold (beads); 2 recumbent calves of gold; 1 recumbent calf of lapis lazuli; 10 thick gold (beads); 10 thick carnelian (beads); 2 dingir-[su]-LAGAB-me stones/beads; (rest destroyed)”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 03409 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 214
In plain English
The temple administrator of the goddess Ninmarki sent the following goods, carried by Lu-igi: one piece of linen, one jar of oil, one jar of ghee, one jar of cheese, and four small ducks. He also sent 60 bundles of zaḫadin onions and 180 bundles of šum-sikil onions, 120 kun-zi fish, 12 baskets of nig-ki fish, and 7 split, dried fish.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 1 linen (cloth), 1 šakkan-jar of oil; 2. 1 gir-jar of ghee; 3. 1 gir-jar of cheese; 4. 4 small ducks; 5. 60 bundles of zaḫadin onions; 6. 180 bundles of šum-sikil onions; 7. 120 kun-zi fish; 8. 12 baskets of nig-ki fish; 9. 7 split (dried) fish: Reverse 10. the temple administrator of Ninmarki 11. via Lu-igi 12. brought (it).”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 03378 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 224
In plain English
The opening lines are lost. What survives lists weapons and gear. For the king: one massatum plated with gold, twenty more massatum, twenty arrows and thirty bows. The son of Ilum-bani receives a large dagger, though the number is broken away. The garadu troops get two arrows and two leather NE-si items. One more arrow and one more leather NE-si go to someone whose name, perhaps ending in '-dari' and possibly identifying him as a shepherd, is too damaged to read with certainty.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“(Beginning destroyed) 1 massatum overlaid with gold, 20 massatum, 20 arrows, 30 bows: the king. [...] large dagger(s): the son of Ilum-bani. 2 arrows, 2 leather NE-si: they are the garadu men. 1 arrow, 1 leather NE-si: [... shepherd?]-dari?”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 03372 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 225
In plain English
Inventory: 20 staffs made of rushes, 50 pairs of sandals, one edin-a-su fitted with bronze, one e2-bar-kas4 (perhaps a travel or courier's item), and one peg. Next come 2 leather bags and then 10 more. What follows these entries is broken away. Then come 4 items whose description is lost, an entry for Ur-Bagara, 5 items described as e2 [...], and 7 further items whose description is also lost.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“(Sides and columns are not marked in the transliteration; lines are numbered here in the order given.) 1. 20 rush staffs (nig2-pa ninni5); 2. 50 pairs of sandals; 3. 1 edin-a-su, set with bronze; 4. 1 e2-bar-kas4; 5. 1 li-im peg; 6. 2 leather bags [......]; 7. 10 leather bags [......]; 8. 4 [......]; 9. Ur-Bagara, [...]; 10. 5 e2 [......]; 11. 7 [......].”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 03374 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 227
In plain English
The list opens with one gold item of a kind that can no longer be identified. Next comes one chair made of ebony and overlaid with gold. Then come a number of beds with legs carved like ox-hooves, which belong to the lady of the house. After that the list becomes fragmentary: one item, another single item, twenty of something and six of something are recorded, but what they were is lost.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 ne-... of gold; 2. 1 ebony chair, overlaid with gold; 3. [n] bed(s) with ox-hoof (legs), of the lady; 4. [...] 5. 1 [...] 6. 1 [...] ... [...] 7. 20 [...] 8. 6 [...]”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 03405 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 228
In plain English
This is an inventory of textiles and leather goods. The opening entries name a cloak or garment type and forty items of an unclear kind, both partly lost. Next come ten felted cloths, described in damaged and obscure terms. A broken line refers to Akkad, and another line is almost entirely gone. The list then counts four leather bags for lead-ropes, an unknown number of leather cases for bows, and an unknown number of leather bags for linen. The last surviving entry concerns oxen, and its number is lost.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse (?) 1. [...] bardul-garment(s)? [...] 2. 40 gešdim? [...] 3. 10 felted cloths, back-[...] [...], its amurum 4. [...] ... Akkad 5. [...] ... 6. 4 leather bags for lead-ropes 7. [...] leather bags for bows 8. [...] leather bags for linen 9. [...] ox(en)”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry