Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · SBen 24 — private: anonymous, Victoria, Australia
SBen 24
In plain English
Survey of a field: the north side measures 48 rods and the opposite side 34; the east side measures 130. One part comes to 2 eše 4 iku, and 4 iku are taken off. The total area of the field is 3 bur 2 eše less 1 iku. This is the subsistence plot of the chief scribe, at SIG7 in the open country of Akšak.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 48 (rods) north, 34 (rods) [south?]; 2. 130 (rods) east, ḪI; 3. 2 eše 4 iku of field; 4. 4 iku deducted; 5. its field (area): 3 bur 2 eše minus 1 iku of field. 6. Subsistence (field) of the chief scribe; 7. SIG7, (in) the steppe of Akšak.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A01167 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Seal Cylinders 026 05
In plain English
In the reign of Šar-kali-šarri, king of Agade, under Queen Tuta-šar-libbiš: this seal belongs to Išar-beli, the scribe who manages the queen's household. He is her servant. The panel ends with the name of the god Enlil.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. Šar-kali-šarri, 2. king 3. of Agade: 4. Tuta-šar-libbiš, 5. queen — 6. Išar-beli, 7. scri[be], 8. steward of her household, 9. her servant. 10. Enlil”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A35260 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
StLouis 051
In plain English
From the orchard of Nam-[...]: nearly 20 gur of dates of the giri3 kind (20 gur less 1 barig and 4 ban), 16 gur of wood, and 3 gur 5 ban of sig15-ga dates. The record names Lugal-nigzu and a second person whose name begins NE-[...], 'son of' someone whose name is lost. The rest of the tablet is broken away.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 20 (gur) less 1 barig 4 ban of dates, giri3 (dates) 2. 16 (gur) of wood 3. 3 (gur) 5 ban of sig15-ga dates 4. orchard of Nam-[...] (Bottom edge / Reverse) 5. Lugal-nigzu 6. NE-[...] 7. son of [...] (rest destroyed)”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A35261 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
StLouis 052
In plain English
Three gur of dates and two shekels of silver, recorded against Urrani. Smaller amounts of dates follow: three ban to Lu-bazi, two ban to Bilu, and one ban to Zabartium. On the back the scribe wrote one name, Lugal-nigzu, most likely the official in charge of the account.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 3 gur of dates, 2. 2 shekels of silver: 3. Urrani. 4. 3 ban: Lu-bazi; 5. 2 ban: Bilu; 6. 1 ban: Zabartium. Reverse 7. Lugal-nigzu.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A35262 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
StLouis 053
In plain English
Dates on account: Zaktum is down for 2 barig of dates. Elala is down for 2 barig of dates and 10 baskets of the a-si type. A further 3 barig of dates come with 16 a-si baskets. Out of that, the breakdown is 10 abba-baskets, 4 nar-items, 2 zabartium-items and 17 gilam-items with a third. The record is under Lugalla, and Lugal-nigzu the gardener is named at the end, though the last word of that line is lost.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“2 barig of dates, [gur-measure], Zaktum; 2 barig of dates, gur-measure, 10 a-si baskets, Elala; 3 barig of dates, gur-measure, 16 a-si baskets, from among it: 10 abba₂ baskets, 4 nar, 2 zabartium, 20 less 3 gilam, one-third; Lugalla; Lugal-nigzu, the gardener, [...].”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A35264 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
StLouis 055
In plain English
Receipt: [...] of an item whose exact nature is uncertain, and one pig's haunch. [Some] gur of dates. [...] one reed item, perhaps for someone named Ama-nam. [...] more of the uncertain item, and a pig's head. Received by [...]. The left-hand side of every line is broken off, so the opening quantities and the recipient's name are lost.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. [...] ḪI×DIŠ, 1 pig's haunch(?), 2. [n] gur of dates, 3. [...] 1(?) reed(s), Ama-nam(?), 4. [...] ḪI×DIŠ, (a) pig's head, 5. [...] received.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A35265 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
StLouis 056
In plain English
Received: one goat from Ilu-dannu, the shepherd who tends the sheep; one goat from Ur-Nana, the temple administrator; one goat from Akal; and one sheep from Išma-Ea, the land registrar. All four animals were delivered in the month of Anunat.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 billy-goat: 2. Ilu-dannu, 3. the shepherd of sheep; 4. 1 billy-goat: 5. Ur-Nana, the temple administrator; 6. 1 billy-goat: 7. Akal; 8. 1 sheep: 9. Išma-Ea, the land registrar. 10. Delivery. 11. Month of Anunat.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · BdI 1, 003 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 011
In plain English
U'u'a the boat-builder is down for 7 gur 2 barig of barley on the standard measure, plus 8 shekels of silver. E-U'u, son of Lugal-kisalsi, apparently a foreman, has a further amount of barley, but the exact figure is lost. Zabala-kidu the boatman receives 2 gur 2 barig, and then another 1 gur 2 barig. There are 3 gur of barley set aside as an extra allotment for the plowman, 5 gur go to Kar-kidu, and 3 gur go to Amar-Šubur.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 7 gur 2 barig ... of barley, (by the) sag-gal₂ gur, 2. 8 shekels of silver: 3. U'u'a, the boat-builder. 4. [n gur of barley], (by the) sag-gal₂ gur: 5. E-U'u, 6. son of Lugal-kisalsi, 7. foreman(?) [...]. 8. 2 gur 2 barig ... of barley: 9. Zabala-kidu, 10. the boatman. 11. 1 gur 2 barig of barley: 12. Zabala-kidu. 13. 3 gur of barley: extra (for the) plowman. 14. 5 gur of barley: Kar-kidu. 15. 3 gur: Amar-Šubur.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry