Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · BdI 1, 103 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 201
In plain English
Reed bundles issued: 40 to Lu-Inanna, the reed-mat maker; 20 to Enlilla; and 15 to Enlilla, the reed man. Ibi, the lament-priest, handed them out. The total number of reed bundles is lost. It is recorded for the weavers and is the account of Enlilla, the reed man. Dated to the month of Ga-udu-ur (the sheep-shearing month), on the 12th day.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“40 bundles of reeds: Lu-Inanna, the reed-mat worker; 20: Enlilla; 15: Enlilla, the reed man. Ibi, the gala, gave (them) to them. Total: [...] bundles of reeds, (for) the weaver(s); Enlilla, the reed man, it is. Month: Ga-udu-ur. Day 12 having passed.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-08/v10-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · BdI 2, 002 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 202
In plain English
The opening lines are lost. The price is half a mina and five shekels of silver, and barley also seems to be part of the payment, though that line breaks off. A man whose name begins with Lugal- appears next, with a quantity that cannot be read. His plot measures 1 sar, and the total comes to 2 sar and two-thirds of a further unit. A second partly broken name beginning with Lugal- follows. Tirku and his son are named, and the last line cannot be read.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“(Beginning destroyed) its price: 1/2 mina 5 shekels of silver; with (?) the silver, barley [...]; n (units), Lugal-...[...]; its field: 1 sar. Total: 2 sar 2/3 [...]; ... Lugal-... ...-kam; Tirku, his son; ......”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-08/v10-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · BdI 2, 015 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 203
In plain English
The opening is lost. The surviving text mentions dates, apparently with a note of what they were called. Gudea, son of Enne, acting as commissioner, took charge of them. One shekel of silver came from RU-RU, son of Ur-Enlil, on Dudu's behalf. The record ends by listing one Ergu and one Ša-DI.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse(?) (Beginning destroyed) [......] dates, its name(?); Gudea, son of Enne, the commissioner, took (it). 1 shekel of silver: RU-RU, son of Ur-Enlil, on behalf of Dudu. 1 Ergu, 1 Ša-DI.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-08/v10-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · BdI 2, 050 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 206
In plain English
Three slave women died. So did two baby boys and two baby girls, all still nursing. In total, seven runaways died at Agade.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 slave women, died; 2 suckling boys, died; 2 suckling girls, died; total: 7 runaway persons in Agade died.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-08/v10-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · BdI 1, 180 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 212
In plain English
Received: 1/3 shekel and 11 1/2 grains of silver as the interest owed on a field, and 1/3 plus 6 1/2 shekels and 18 grains (20 minus 2) of silver as payment for sheep. Both amounts have been paid back and are settled. The person named on the back is Lugal-nam.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1/3 (shekel) 11 1/2 grains of [silver]: it is the interest of the field. 1/3 (and) 6 1/2 shekels, 20 minus 2 grains of silver: it is the silver of the sheep. Returned (to the hand). Reverse Lugal-nam.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-08/v10-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · BdI 2, 014 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 213
In plain English
Fifteen shekels of silver were paid as rent for a field, the field of Nin-isin. The names connected with the payment are Nag-nina and Amar-Gešzida. The next few lines are broken and cannot be read. The record then lists 260 units of an unnamed commodity under Lugal-[...] and Lu-kindu, followed by 4 more units of something now lost. It is dated to the month of Mutir.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“15 shekels of silver, rent of a field, (namely) the field of Nin-isin; Nag-nina, Amar-Gešzida; [...] [...] ...[...] 260 (units): Lugal-[...], Lu-kindu; 4 [...] [Month: Mu]-tir.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-08/v10-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · BdI 1, 083 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 215
In plain English
Sixty-four bronze and copper items, with a combined weight of 36 minas less 10 shekels. A further amount is listed: 2 1/3 minas and 5 shekels. All of this belongs to KU-šen.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“64 (items of) bronze (and) copper; their weight: 36 minas less 10 shekels; 2 1/3 minas 5 shekels. (This is) of KU-šen.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-08/v10-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · BdI 2, 017 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 216
In plain English
This is a list of metal goods. It begins with one or more bronze mirrors, then an entry concerning "its bronze", then some large bronze ḫazabu vessels and one small bronze ḫazabu vessel. Two more bronze items follow, but their names and quantities are lost. Next comes something made of copper, and the last line is too damaged to read.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[... mi]rror(s) of bronze; [...] its bronze; [...] large ḫazabu(-vessel)s of bronze; 1 small ḫazabu(-vessel) of bronze; [...]-x of bronze; [...] of bronze; [...] x of copper; [...] x”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-08/v10-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry