Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · BdI 1, 167 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 259
In plain English
Two baskets of split fish (a2-bala-a), holding 2 barig; one basket of prime fish, 2 barig; one basket of sea fish, 2 ban; one basket of roe from the ab-suhur fish; one basket of split birds; one basket of ge6-par4; one basket of grapes or a similar fruit; and another basket whose contents are lost. The next few lines are too damaged to read. Then come one masab-basket and one kir container of some further kind. All of this was loaded onto the |TAxKASKAL|-boat, and the elder handed it over to him.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 2 baskets of split fish, a2-bala-a, 2 barig; 1 basket of prime fish, 2 barig; 1 basket of sea fish, 2 ban; 1 basket of eggs of the ab-suhur fish; 1 basket of split birds; 1 basket of ge6-par4; 1 basket of grapes(?) ...; [1] basket [...]; [...] [...] [...] Reverse 1 masab-basket; 1 kir NUN-[...]; (this is) what was placed on the |TAxKASKAL|-boat. The elder gave (it) to him.”
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, 038 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 260
In plain English
First delivery: 240 split gir-fish and 180 slit fish. Second delivery: 1,500 split fish. Kuda the fisherman brought them in.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 240 split gir-fish, 2. 180 slit fish: 3. first delivery. Reverse 4. 1,500 split fish: 5. second delivery. 6. Kuda, the fisherman, 7. brought (them).”
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, 123 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 1, 261
In plain English
Urgal: 32½ sila of ge-par, measured by the Agade standard. ME-enki: 50 sila less 2, that is 48 sila of ge-par. Total: 1 barig, 2 ban and ½ sila of ge-par by the Agade standard, which comes to 80½ sila. Igibar, the cupbearer, received it.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 3 ban and 2 1/2 sila of ge-par (commodity), (by the) Agade (measure): Urgal. 5 ban less 2 sila of ge-par: ME-enki. Reverse Total: 1 barig, 2 ban, 1/2 sila of ge-par, (by the) Agade (measure). Igibar, the cupbearer, received (it).”
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, 185 + BdI 1, 213 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 2/1, 51
In plain English
U-ili, Mašum, Dugani, Puzur-Eštar, Beli-gi, Mulušum, Metlik, Sadutu and the diviner Ea-maš-UR each received 3 ban of barley. Šu-ilisu the brewer and Puzuzu the cook are listed together on one 3-ban line. That comes to 1 gur of barley rations, measured by the Agade standard. These men, all servants of the king, took the grain as an interest-free loan.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 ban: U-ili 3 ban: Mašum 3 ban: Dugani 3 ban: Puzur-Eštar 3 ban: Beli-gi 3 ban: Mulušum 3 ban: Šu-[i]lisu, the brewer, (and) Puzuzu, the cook 3 ban: Metlik 3 ban: Sadutu 3 ban: Ea-maš-UR, the diviner Total: 1 gur of barley rations, (by the gur of) Agade. Servants of the king received (it) as an interest-free loan.”
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, 009 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 2/1, 54
In plain English
The record opens with a name that is mostly lost, Im[...]. Lu-dingira, the temple administrator of Isin, settled the case. Next come two entries: Ibila the land registrar, and Nesag, linked to Ur-ME. Someone then handed these over, or the payment connected with them. The witnesses follow: Ur-Nisaba and one more person whose name is broken.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Im[...]; Lu-dingira, the temple administrator of Isin, put its case in order. 1: Ibila, the land registrar; 1: Nesag, (of) Ur-ME: he gave (them). 1: Ur-Nisaba; ...[...]; (they are) the wi[tnesses].”
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, 016 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 2/1, 55
In plain English
Two-thirds of a mina of silver plus some shekels is the price paid for an orchard. A further sum, ten minas of silver and some shekels (the opening figure is partly lost), is the property of Dada, the smith. All of this silver is in Adda's keeping. The persons listed next are: someone whose name is lost, the chief cupbearer; Urrani and Ur-su; an unnamed cowherd; and a man whose name begins Lugal-. The end of the list is broken.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[Two-thirds (mina) of silver, ša]nabi, ... shekels, (is) [the price] of an orchard. [...] 10 mina of silver, [...] shekels, (is) the silver of Dada, the smith. With Adda it is held. [1] ..., chief cupbearer; [1 Urra]ni, Ur-su; [...], cowherd; 1 Lugal-[...].”
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 1, 187 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 2/1, 59
In plain English
Ibibi paid 14 shekels and 1 small mina of silver to buy two old female donkeys. Ur-Ešhara and Atir received the money. The tablet then lists one entry for Dadi, attached to Tudanapšum, and one for Dingir-azu, attached to the household's chief administrator. It closes with the name Abba-abba.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“14 shekels (and) 1 small mina of silver, for the purchase of 2 old she-asses, Ibibi weighed out. Ur-Ešhara and Atir received (it). 1: Dadi, of Tudanapšum; 1: Dingir-azu, of the household administrator of the house. Abba-abba.”
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, 201 — Banca d'Italia, Rome, Italy
TCBI 2/1, 61
In plain English
The list opens with 2½ shekels of silver and a lapis-lazuli disc weighing 2½ shekels. Next comes a bar-dul woollen garment, marked '10'. All of this is for Kubrum. A further half shekel of silver and a lapis-lazuli seal follow. The next few lines are broken, and only the endings of two words ('-ni') survive. The list closes with one kištabum, and a note that the goods are a gift for Kubrum, with a final word, Tamtisu, whose meaning is unclear.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“2 1/2 shekels of silver; 2 1/2 shekels: a disc of lapis lazuli; 1 bar-dul garment, (of) 10; for Kubrum. 1/2 shekel of silver; [1] seal of lapis lazuli; [...] [...] [...]-ni [...]-ni 1 kištabum; gift for Kubrum, Tamtisu.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-08/v10-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry