Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · OIM A00944 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0944
In plain English
Receipt for emmer wheat, measured in large gur units. About six gur came through Šu-Eštar, whose title or second name is partly unreadable. Three barig came through Puzur-Mama, brother of Imārum, though part of that line is lost. In total that comes to about six gur and three barig of emmer, set aside as regular offerings for the gods; the rest of that line is broken. The scribe Enlil signed for the delivery.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. [6?] gur (by the) great (gur), emmer: 2. emmer, Šu-Eštar, ga-x; 3. 3 barig emmer: 4. [...] Puzur-Mama, 5. brother of Imārum. Reverse 6. [To]tal: 6? (gur) [3 barig] emmer, (by the) great gur, 7. regular offerings of the gods [...]; 8. En[lil], the scribe, 9. [re]ceived.”
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 A00947 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0947
In plain English
Issued: 12 litres of za-flour by the Agade standard, 13 litres of fine flour, an amount of groats whose figure is lost, and 4 litres of arzana-groats. All of this went to the governor's table. A further 5 litres of za-flour went up to the roof for the man of the nu-eš priest. In total, 17 litres of za-flour and 25 litres of barley products were issued. Expenditure recorded by Sipa-anne.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 ban 2 sila of za-flour (by the measure) of Agade; 2. 1 ban 3 sila of fine flour; 3. [n sila] of groats; 4. 4 sila of arzana-groats: 5. (for) the table of the governor. 6. 5 sila of za-flour, for the roof; 7. his man, the nu-eš priest. 8. Total: 1 ban 7 sila of za-flour; 9. [to]tal: 2 ban 5 sila of barley (products). 10. [Expe]nded, (by) Sipa-anne.”
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 A00948 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0948
In plain English
Barley issued: 2 barig and 3 ban to feed the grain-fattened oxen, and 3 ban to Lugal-gude'a. That is the allotment for one month. A second issue follows: again 2 barig and 3 ban for the fattened oxen and 3 ban for Lugal-gude'a, plus 2 ban for In-u. The grain was paid out, and the closing line names Bizaza, probably the official responsible.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 2 barig 3 ban of barley: 2. grain-fed oxen; 3. 3 ban: Lugal-gude'a. 4. That of 1 month. 5. 2 barig 3 ban: [grain-fed] oxen; 6. 3 ban: Lugal-[gu]de'a; 7. 2 ban: In-u. 8. Issued; Bizaza.”
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 A00951 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0951
In plain English
Sesame account: 2 barig from Gallagal (or from the chief constable), 1 barig from the master smith, and 1 barig from Lugal-ušur, who was probably also a smith. One further entry is lost. The total comes to 1 gur of sesame. Ur-gu delivered it, and the estate's chief administrator signed for it.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“2 barig of sesame: Gallagal (or: the chief constable); 1 barig: the chief smith; 1 barig: Lugal-ušur, [the smith?]; [...] Total: 1 gur of sesame. Ur-gu delivered (it); the administrator of the household received (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 · OIM A00953 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0953
In plain English
The account lists [...] 31 gur and 1 barig of barley, measured by the Agade standard, and 48 gur of emmer wheat. These are entered as an expenditure, connected with someone or something whose name ends in '-gu' (the beginning is lost). The grand total comes to 342 gur, 1 barig, 4 ban and 5 sila of barley, again by the Agade measure.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. [...] 31 gur 1 barig of barley, (by the) Agade (gur); 2. 48 (lit. 50 minus 2) gur of emmer; 3. [...]-gu2, expended (zi-ga). 4. Total: 342 gur (5 sixties, 4 tens, 2) 1 barig 4 ban2 5 sila of barley, (by the) [gur of] Agade.”
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 A00961 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0961
In plain English
Barley account: Ur-e gets 5 gur, 2 barig and 3 ban of barley; Ur-Ištaran gets 2 gur; and E-zida gets 5 gur, short by 1 barig. The total comes to 12 gur, 2 barig and 3 ban of barley.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 5 gur 2 barig 3 ban of barley: 2. Ur-e; 3. 2 (gur): Ur-Ištaran; 4. 5 (gur) less 1 barig: E-zi[da]. 5. Total: 12 gur 2 barig 3 ban of barley.”
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 A00964 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0964
In plain English
Meme receives 3 ban of nu'u-nunuz barley along with 2 ban of emmer and wheat, and Igini receives another 3 ban of the same barley. That makes 1 barig of barley in all, plus 2 ban of emmer and wheat. Both men take the grain as seed for sowing. The tablet is dated to a month whose name is too damaged to read.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 3 ban of nu'u-nunuz barley: 2. Meme. 3. 2 ban of emmer (and) wheat. 4. 3 ban of nu'u-nunuz barley: 5. Igini. Reverse 6. Total: 1 barig of nu'u-nunuz barley; 7. total: 2 ban of emmer (and) wheat. 8. For seed they received (it). 9. Month [...] ... ...”
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 A00965 + OIM A01016/1 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Adab 0965 + 1016-1
In plain English
Receipt: emmer wheat, measured by the large standard bushel. [Someone whose name ends in] -tu delivered a quantity now lost, Atu delivered 2 barig, and Lalla delivered an amount that is broken away. In all, 4 gur and 2 barig of emmer, earmarked for the regular offerings to the gods. Enlil, the scribe, has received it. Dated in the month Še-sag-saga.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. [n gur of] emmer, (by the) large gur, 2. [PN]-tu; 3. 2 barig: Atu; 4. [n]: Lalla. 5. Total: 4 gur 2 barig of emmer, (by the) large gur, 6. [for the regular off]erings of the gods. 7. Enlil, the scribe, 8. received (it). 9. Month: Še-sag-saga.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-11-01/v9-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry