Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · OIM A00892 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0892
In plain English
Seventeen gur of barley, owed by [...]-enki and Urgal, was delivered by their foreman Uru. Another ten gur was delivered by Lugumuda and Geme-arsar. That makes twenty-seven gur of barley in all. The reverse notes that the grain was handled at the house of Kagula and that Ansi counted it, apparently at a single counting. The last lines are too damaged to read.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. [17 (lit. 20 minus 3) gur of barley]: 2. [...]-enki 3. and Urgal; 4. Uru, the overseer, delivered (it). 5. 10 gur of barley: 6. Lugumuda 7. (and) Geme-arsar delivered (it). 8. Total: 27 (lit. 30 minus 3) gur of barley. Reverse 1. [...] ...... 2. (at/for) the house of Kagula. 3. Ansi 4. counted (it) at 1 (?). 5. [...] ...... [...] (rest broken)”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00901 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0901
In plain English
This tablet records a batch of brewing supplies. There are 3 gur, 2 barig, 1 ban and 5 sila of coarse flour, measured by the Agade standard and counted as 69 units. There is also a quantity of groats, of which only '1 gur 2 barig' survives (the first figure is broken), counted as 48 units. Then come 4 baskets of beer-bread, 7 baskets of malt, and 2 fish in a net, for a purpose that is unclear. The whole lot is marked as returned goods, belonging to a particular delivery or trip whose number or name is broken off.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 3 gur 2 barig 1 ban 5 sila of dabin-flour (in Agade gur): 69 nag (units), 2. [...] 1 gur 2 barig of nig-ara (groats), (in) gur: 48 nag (units), 3. 4 gurdub-baskets of beer-bread, 4. 7 gurdub-baskets of malt, Reverse 5. 2 fish, (in) a net, for the ZI.ZI (?). 6. Returned (goods). 7. (It is) of the [...] trip/time.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00910 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0910
In plain English
Balance outstanding: 71 gur, 2 barig, 4 ban and some further amount (the exact figure is partly lost) plus two-thirds of a sila of barley, measured by the official Akkad standard. This grain is in the keeping of Bizaza and is held in Adab.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse(?) 1. 71 gur, 2 barig, 4 ban, [...] 2/3 sila of barley, [gur] (measured by the standard) of Agade: 2. outstanding balance, 3. with 4. Bizaza 5. it is (on hand) 6. in Adab.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00926 + OIM A01076 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0926 + 1076
In plain English
Delivery receipt: 2 gur of barley and 12 gur, 1 barig and 4 ban of emmer wheat were brought into the storehouse at the granary. This is the second delivery.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 2 gur of barley, 2. 12 gur, 1 barig, 4 ban of emmer: 3. (into) the storehouse (of) the granary 4. were brought in. Reverse 5. The 2nd time.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00932 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0932
In plain English
The tablet records a first allotment under Šegaze. The captain gets a field of 2 eše (the scribe left out the word for 'field'), the foreman gets 1 barig of barley, and the work gang gets 3 ban. A second allotment, again under Šegaze, follows. The captain's figure is lost, the foreman gets 2 ban, and the gang gets 1 ban. The last line names barley, but the rest of the summary is broken off.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 2 eše <of field>: Šegaze, 2. the captain (nu-banda); 3. 1 barig: the foreman (ugula); 4. 3 ban: the troops (erin). 5. Šegaze: 6. [......]: the captain; 7. 2 ban: the foreman; 8. 1 ban: [the troops]. 9. Barley [......] it is.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00933 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0933
In plain English
Two barig of sesame went to A'a'a, and one ban and three sila of flour, probably meant for making a drink, went to Lugal-tešmu. The tablet records the sesame as spent from stock. Ur-Emah is named as the official in charge of the issue.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 2 barig of sesame: 2. A'a'a. 3. 1 ban 3(?) sila of flour for the beverage(?) (nig2-nag-ga2): 4. Lugal-tešmu. 5. Sesame, expended; 6. Ur-Emah.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00938 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0938
In plain English
Withdrawals from the sealed storehouse: Mesag got 3 gur of barley to turn into groats. Zatum got 3 gur of last year's barley as the principal of an exchange deal. Kirbanum the cook got 1 barig. Altogether 6 gur and 1 barig of barley left the sealed store. Enannatum.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 3 gur of barley, 2. barley for groats: 3. Mesag. 4. 3 (gur), the principal(?) of an exchange made, old barley: 5. Zatum. Reverse 6. 1 barig: Kirbanum, the cook. 7. Total: 6 gur 1 barig of barley, 8. barley that went out from the sealed storehouse. 9. Enannatum.”
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 A00941 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0941
In plain English
Ansi's account: 41 gur, 4 ban and 5 sila of barley (the first figure is partly restored) is held at the barber's house, which serves as the workshop's residence. Ansi again. A further quantity of emmer wheat, at least 3 gur but partly lost, is held at the outer barber's house, also the workshop's residence. Ansi once more closes the record.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. [An]si. 2. [4]1 gur, 4 ban, 5 sila of barley: 3. [the house] of the barber, the residence of the workshop. 4. Ansi. Reverse 5. [...] 3(?) gur of emmer: 6. [the house] of the outer barber, the residence of the [work]shop. 7. [An]si.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry