Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · Erm 14386 — State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
BuB 2, 13
In plain English
Items given: one bronze zaḫum-vessel, three bronze mašlum-bowls, two bronze objects of the kind called šu, and four shekels of gold. There is also one barran connected with the cupbearer. All of this is a gift from Il-ibbi, whose title begins with PA-; the rest of that title is broken off.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 bronze zaḫum-vessel; 3 bronze mašlum-bowls; 2 bronze šu-objects; 4 shekels of gold; 1 barran, (of/for the) cupbearer; gift of Il-ibbi (DINGIR-i-bí), PA-[x].”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · Erm 14390 — State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
BuB 2, 15
In plain English
Record of sheep: one each for Karmah, Esagšu, Dingir-ebgal, Nin-ur, Šagepada, Esagkala and Urbartab, plus two or more for the goddess Inanna of Zabalam. These animals are the nig-saga of Inim-manizi, the lamentation priest and livestock manager. The palace used them up. The tablet ends with a period of 3 years and 7 months, which is probably the time span the account covers.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 sheep: Karmah; 2. 1: Esagšu; 3. 1: Dingir-ebgal; 4. 1: Nin-ur; 5. 1: Šagepada; 6. 1: Esagkala; 7. 1: Urbartab; 8. [n+]2: Inanna of Zabala(m). 9. (This is) the nig-saga of Inim-manizi, 10. the lamentation priest (gala) (and) livestock manager (šuš). 11. The palace consumed (them). 12. 3 years (and) 7 months.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · Erm 14392 — State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
BuB 2, 17
In plain English
One man, Ur-emega son of Abba-saga, and E-gissu son of Amar-su, both serve in the team of the foreman Lugal-nig. One man, Lugal-gigire son of Ur-ildu, serves in the team of the foreman Gal-ug. Both teams are under the captain Nig-ul.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 (man): Ur-emega, 2. son of Abba-saga; 3. E-gissu, 4. son of Amar-su; 5. foreman: Lugal-nig. 6. 1 (man): Lugal-gigire, 7. son of Ur-ildu; 8. foreman: Gal-ug. 9. Captain: Nig-ul.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · JRL 0007 — John Rylands Library, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
CST 007
In plain English
Outstanding balance: 33 gur 3 barig of barley, one jar of oil (2 sila short), 5 gur 1 barig 2 ban of dried fish (the type of fish can't be read), and 3 gur 1 barig 5 ban of salt, 1 sila short. These are the rations for a team of 28 men of Zaturtur. The shortfall covers three years and remains outstanding in the city of Umma. They brought it in. Period covered: three years and eleven months.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse / Reverse (lines numbered sequentially; the source gives no side markers) 1. Deficit: 33 gur 3 barig of barley, 2. 1 jar less 2 sila of oil, 3. 5 gur 1 barig 2 ban[?] of ...... dried fish, 4. 3 gur 1 barig 5 ban less 1 sila, gur-measure, of salt: 5. barley rations (for) 28 men, Zaturtur(-people). 6. Deficit[?] ... 7. of[?] 3 years. 8. (In the) city of Umma 9. it is (still) outstanding. 10. They 11. brought (it) in. 12. 3 years, 11 months.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · JRL 0011 — John Rylands Library, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
CST 011
In plain English
Copper account. Adda, son of Lugal-nigbire, weighed out 50 minas (less 7 shekels) of crude copper that belonged to the land registrar, with Amar-gir supervising. Another 18 minas or so of crude copper came in next, along with a partly broken entry of shekels (possibly of silver) involving A-edin the land registrar, with E-edine supervising. Dudu the chief smith weighed out a further 5 minas of the registrar's crude copper. The total came to 33 minas and 13 shekels of crude copper, which Dada the scribe weighed out to Dudu the chief smith. Dated year 5, month 9, day 7.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse / Reverse (the sides are not marked in the transliteration) 1. 50 minas of copper minus 7 shekels, crude (nig2-sahar-ra) copper; 2. it is copper of the land registrar (sa12-du5). 3. Adda, son of Lugal-nigbire, weighed (it) out; 4. Amar-gir (was) its commissioner. 5. 20 minas minus 2(?) minas of crude copper; 6. [...] shekels, silver(?), A-edin, the land registrar [...]; 7. E-edine (was) its commissioner. 8. 5(?) minas of crude [copper(?)]: it is of the land registrar. 9. Dudu, the [chief] smith, weighed (it) out. 10. [Total]: 33 minas 13 shekels of crude copper. 11. Dada, the [scribe], 12. to Dudu, the chief smith, 13. weighed (it) out. 14. Year 5, month 9 (literally "10 minus 1"), day 7.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · JRL 0012 — John Rylands Library, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
CST 012
In plain English
The survey lists three plots. The gala-priest Nisqum's field has 2 iku of barley. Ḫe-saman has 4 iku of barley and 1¼ iku of UD.GUNU land. His son Ur-eš has ½ iku of barley and ¾ iku of UD.GUNU land. Altogether that makes 6½ iku of barley (one eše and half an iku) and 2 iku of the other land. The field has been measured and the barley is ripe. The record comes through Lugal, the tenant, and concerns the Sila-du irrigation district, Zamu, at Gu-sur. It is dated to the 4th month of year 6.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse (no side divisions are marked in the source; lines numbered here in sequence) 1. 2 iku, barley: field of 2. the gala-priest Nis[qum]. 3. 4 iku, barley; 1¼ iku, UD.GUNU (land): 4. Ḫe-saman. 5. ½ iku, barley; ½ + ¼ iku, UD.GUNU (land): 6. Ur-eš, 7. son of Ḫe-saman. 8. Total: 1 eše ½ iku, barley; 2 iku, UD.GUNU (land). 9. Field surveyed; barley dried (ripe). 10. From Lugal, the tenant (plough-holder). 11. Irrigation district of Sila-du, 12. Zamu, Gu-sur. 13. Year 6, month 4.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · JRL 0013 — John Rylands Library, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
CST 013
In plain English
Sowing report: 1½ iku of land was seeded in one day's work, in the meadow-land of the field called Uru. The plow-leader in charge was Sipazi. Mezu delivered it. The tablet is dated to year 7, month 8.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1½ iku of field: 2. seed placed (sown), 3. labour of 1 day, 4. (in) the meadow-land of the field Uru; 5. Sipazi, 6. the plow-leader. 7. Mezu 8. delivered (it). 9. Year 7, month(!) 8.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · JRL 0014 — John Rylands Library, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
CST 014
In plain English
Each day's regular beer supply is three large jars of 70 litres each, one jar of 50 litres and one jar of 30 litres. For a month that comes to 90 of the large jars, 30 of the 50-litre jars and 30 of the 30-litre jars. Brewing this takes 36 gur and 1 barig of barley, measured by the large 'great' gur standard. The last line gives the period covered: a number of years, now lost, and one month.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse/Reverse (no section division in the source) 1. 3 (jars of) beer, (each) jar of 1 barig 1 ban; 2. 1 (jar of) beer, jar of 5 ban; 3. 1 (jar of) beer, jar of 3 ban: 4. regular allotment for 1 day. 5. Total: 90 (jars of) beer, (each) jar of 1 barig 1 ban; 6. 30 (jars of) beer, (each) jar of 5 ban; 7. 30 (jars of) beer, (each) jar of 3 ban: 8. regular allotment for 1 month. 9. 36 gur 1 barig of barley (for) beer, (in) gur of the 'great head' (standard). 10. [n year(s)], 1 month.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry