Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · AO 03421 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 237
In plain English
One male slave is assigned to the palace, and the entry also names the governor of Huhunuri. One female slave goes to Ur-mes, the envoy. A messenger from Marhaši and an Elamite soldier have come from Marhaši. The whole group was escorted by Ur-mes.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 [male] slave: 2. the palace; 3. the governor of Huhunuri. 4. 1 female slave: 5. Ur-mes, the envoy. 6. 1 messenger of Marhaši, 7. 1 Elamite soldier, 8. from Marhaši; 9. via Ur-mes.”
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 03535 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 238
In plain English
Five enslaved women arrived as a formal gift from Simhuzi (the end of his name is damaged), the governor of Huhunuri. One enslaved man came as a gift from Gimani, and another man was delivered by Ummanum. These were all incoming deliveries, and an official whose name is lost signed for them and took them into his charge.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse (?) 1. 5 female slaves, 2. a mašdaria-gift 3. of Simhuzi-x (?), governor of Huhunuri; 4. 1 male slave, 5. a mašdaria-gift 6. of Gimani; 7. 1 male slave, 8. delivery of Ummanum. 9. (Total) delivery; 10. [PN] took them in charge.”
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 03399 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 240
In plain English
Feed allocation: one team of kunga-equids gets 5 sila of barley per animal, and another team of two kunga-equids gets 3 sila each. Twelve barley-fattened pigs get 2 sila each, and thirty-three pasture-fed pigs get 1 sila each. One onager is also on the list. All of this is charged as an outgoing to Dada's account.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 1 team of kunga-equids, 5 sila of barley each; 2. 1 team, 2 kunga-equids, 3 sila each; 3. 12 barley-fed pigs, 2 sila each; 4. 33 grass-fed pigs, 1 sila each; 5. 1 onager. 6. Expenditure of Dada.”
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 03420 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 241
In plain English
The opening lines are lost. Animals were issued as follows: one sheep and some goats for the goddess Nanše; one goat for the governor of Ur; one sheep for Abarne; and a number of ewes (the figure is broken) for the man representing Aniad. Gusilala oversaw the transaction as commissioner. All of this is entered as expenditure.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“(Beginning destroyed) 1 sheep, [...] goat(s): Nanše; 1 goat: the governor of Ur; 1 sheep: Abarne; [...] ewe(s): the man of Aniad; Gusilala (was) the commissioner; expended.”
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 03397 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 250
In plain English
The first entry is partly broken: an amount of fine flour went to the overseers of the interpreters. The envoy from Simurrum then received 2 ban and 6 sila of flour, and the man from Tutul received 2 ban. A further 2 sila of fine flour, 2 ban less 2 sila of top-quality flour, and 1 ban 5 sila of porridge flour were also issued. All of this was charged to the table of Lu-[...], whose name is partly lost, and booked as an outgoing by Ur-li.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. [...] fine flour, 2. (they are) overseers of the interpreters. 3. 2 ban 6 sila of flour: the man of Simurrum. 4. 2 ban of flour: the man of Tutul. 5. 2 sila of fine flour. 6. 2 ban less 2 sila of high-quality flour. 7. 1 ban 5 sila of flour for porridge. 8. Table of Lu-[x]. 9. Expended; Ur-li.”
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 03426 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 251
In plain English
This is a short expense list. The first lines are damaged: an amount of a little over 3 ban went to someone, apparently the Gutians. Then 1 ban went to the man from Nippur, 1 ban to the man from the fortress-town BAD₃, 2 sila each to the men from Kimaš and from SAG×NI-sar, and 1 ban to someone whose name ends in -me. A damaged line names something or someone called 'nigar', and another line is too broken to make sense of. The whole is booked as an outlay covering one month less two days. The month name at the end is lost.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. [3 ban 1½ sila ...] 2. [the Gutian(s) ...] 3. 1 ban: the man of Nip[pur] 4. 1 ban: the man of BAD₃ (Dūr?) 5. 2 sila: the man of Kimaš 6. 2 sila: the man of SAG×NI-sar 7. nigar 8. 1 ban: [...]-me 9. mu [...] ru 10. Expended; (for) 1 month less 2 days. 11. [Month ...]”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 03422 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 252
In plain English
Issued: 3 ban, 1 aš and a half sila of something, though the commodity's name is broken off. It is connected with Gutium, but the rest of that line is lost. Then come smaller amounts: one ban each for the man from Nippur and the man from BAD₃, and two sila each for the man from Kimaš and the man from SAG×NI-sar. A note reads 'nigar'. The whole was booked as an expenditure on the fifth day of the month of the Festival of Lisi.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 3 ban 1 aš 1/2 sila [...] 2. Gutium [...] 3. 1 ban: the man of Nippur; 4. 1 ban: the man of BAD₃; 5. 2 sila: the man of Kimaš; 6. 2 sila: the man of [SAG×NI-sar]. 7. nigar. 8. Expended, the 5th day. 9. Month: Festival of Lisi.”
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 03390 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
RTC 258
In plain English
This is a map of farmland beside two waterways, the Tamarisk Ditch and the canal called Pa-mu-silim. Next to them lie the flood-prone lowland and the regular field belonging to the gudu-priests. Further along are the flood land and the field of Lu-Baba, the scribe, and then the field of Lu-kamar-saga.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. The Tamarisk ditch 2. The canal Pa-mu-silim 3. Flood land of the gudu-priests 4. Field of the gudu-priests 5. Flood land of Lu-[B]aba, [the scribe] 6. Field of Lu-Baba, the scribe 7. Field of Lu-kamar-saga”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry