Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE

Akkadian Empire

Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.

Illustration: A temple priestess and scribes working in an Akkadian-period courtyard
A temple courtyard at Ur, around 2300 BCE.

~2300 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Man-ištušu 1

“(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on its socle. (colophon 2, 1) The inscription on its socle.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q000844/

Read the full tablet entry

~2300 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Naram-Suen 14

“(1) ... installed it in the temple of Enlil. (3) At that time Su’āš-takal, the estate administrator of the king was its leader; Irina-badbi was the temple administrator of Enlil.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001423/

Read the full tablet entry

~2300 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Naram-Suen 2001

“(1) Narām-Suen, king of Agade, king of the four quarters: Irina-badbi, temple administrator of Enlil, is your servant.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001426/

Read the full tablet entry

~2300 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Naram-Suen 2018

“(1) To Ningublaga of Asug-ĝišdua, Išṭup-ilum, his estate administrator dedicated this (plaque) for the well-being of Naram-Suen, the god of Akkad, and for the well-being of En-men-ana.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001427/

Read the full tablet entry

~2300 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Naram-Suen 2019 / CDLI Seals 001417 (CDLI Seals 001417 (physical))

“(1) En-men-ana: Ursi, the doorkeeper, is her servant.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001428/

Read the full tablet entry

~2300 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Naram-Suen 2020 / CDLI Seals 005992 (CDLI Seals 005992 (composite))

“(1) Naram-Suen, the god of Akkad, En-men-ana, the en-priestess of Nanna, his child: ..., the scribe, is her slave.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001429/

Read the full tablet entry

~2300 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Rimuš 03

“(colophon 1, 1) The inscription was written at his left side.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001415/

Read the full tablet entry

~2300 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Rimuš 18 (Sumerian)

“(1) Rimuš, king of the world: Since the dawn of time no one had ever fashioned a tin statue for Enlil, (but now) Rimuš, king of the world fashioned a tin statue of himself and set it up before Enlil. He counted himself among the gods. (20) Whoever obliterates this inscription, may Enlil and Utu uproot him and destroy his lineage! (colophon 1, 1) Inscription of a šahum cauldron. (colophon 2, 1) Inscription ... of Rimuš.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q000842/

Read the full tablet entry