Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · BdI 1, 149 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 097
In plain English
Two plow oxen were hired out for a full year, and their hire has been collected. Barley worth half a shekel of silver went to the household of Ur-Ninmug. Oil worth one shekel of silver went to the household of Girine. A further third of a shekel of silver was collected for barley, apparently connected with someone called Marka. The lamentation priest handed all of this over to the wife of Ka'a.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“2 plow oxen: their hire for one year was taken. Barley (worth) 1/2 shekel of silver, the house of Ur-Ninmug received (it). Oil (worth) 1 shekel of silver, the house of Girine received (it). 1/3 (shekel) of silver, for the barley of Marka(?), was taken. To the wife of Ka'a the lamentation priest gave (it).”
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 2, 046 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 099
In plain English
Forty-two gir-animals and forty-one oxen were handed back into the herdsmen's keeping on day one. The herdsmen are Nammaḫni, who is also a lamentation singer, and Azuzu, both cowherds. Amar-šuba (the end of his name is unclear) is the official who released the animals to them.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 42 gir[-animals], 2. 41 oxen: 3. returned to the hand (of the herdsmen), day 1. 4. Nammaḫni, Reverse 5. the gala, 6. (and) Azuzu, 7. they are cowherds. 8. Amar-šuba-x 9. gave (them) to them.”
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, 154 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 102
In plain English
Ten measures of lard, measured with the wooden issuing measure, were taken out of the treasury and handed to Muni. Genna carried out the delivery. The lard was for the Meluhha boat, the ship connected with the far-off Indus lands. Recorded in the month of Šesagkud.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 10 (sila) of lard, (by) the wooden 'given' sila-measure, 2. from the treasury, 3. to Muni 4. it was given. 5. Via Genna, 6. for the Meluhha boat. 7. Month: Šesagkud.”
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, 063 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 104
In plain English
Received: one jar of lard, two liters short of full, from the administrator of the temple of Ašgi, and 15 liters of oil from Ur-Erra and Ur-su. These are deliveries of oil for the palace, and they have been logged as brought in. The transfer was handled by Genna, one of the city elders.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 jar minus 2 sila of lard: the temple administrator (sanga) of Ašgi. 15 sila of oil: Ur-Erra, Ur-su. Delivery. Oil of the palace, it is what was brought in. Via Genna, the elder of the city.”
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, 047 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 107
In plain English
Ten shekels of lard, plus some bronze and copper pieces (the first item in this group is lost) and a bronze-and-copper object called a kun-du, along with one copper knife. He worked these materials. Then, as far as we can tell, someone fled or left, and the goods were handed over to him. Recorded in the month of Nig-kiri, the 'orchard' month.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“10 shekels of lard, [...] bronze, copper, bronze, copper, kun-du (item), 1 copper knife, ur-ra (type); he worked (them). The fugitive(?) went out(?); it was given to him. Month: Nig-kiri.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · BdI 1, 121 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 114
In plain English
Delivered as customary dues: one billy-goat from Enlila, the land surveyor; one nanny-goat from Ur-Enki, the chair-bearer; and one sheep from Lugal-engar-du (the end of his name is damaged). The deliveries are booked under Imi-ilum, in the month of Ab-e-zig.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 male goat: Enlila, the surveyor. 1 she-goat: Ur-Enki, the chair-bearer. 1 sheep: Lugal-[engar-du10]. mašdaria-delivery; Imi-ilum. Month: Ab-e-zig-am.”
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 2, 052 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 115
In plain English
One sheep came from Lugal-andul and one sheep from Šeš-ludu, both of them shepherds. The two animals were brought in as a mašdaria, a customary offering-delivery. The entry is booked under Imi-ilum and dated to the month of the harvest.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 sheep: 2. Lugal-andul; 3. 1 sheep: 4. Šeš-ludu; 5. they are shepherds. 6. (Itʾs) a mašdaria-offering. 7. Imi-ilum (received / is responsible). 8. Month: Harvest (še-gur10).”
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, 137 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 116
In plain English
Received as gift-offerings: one sheep each from Mes-e, Ur-Iškur, Lugal-igi, Kuku and Ur-Inanna, and one goat each from Dingir-ennun and Il. In total that comes to five sheep and two goats, all delivered as mašdaria contributions.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 sheep: Mes-e; 1 sheep: Ur-Iškur; 1 sheep: Lugal-igi; 1 sheep: Kuku; 1 goat: Dingir-ennun; 1 goat: Il; 1 sheep: Ur-Inanna. Total: 5 sheep, 2 goats, mašdaria delivery.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry