Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · CL 163 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 034
In plain English
Two separate distributions are logged here. Sarru-bani's office issued 1 sila (roughly one liter) of pig fat to Da-si, who worked as a donkey herder. A second entry records that A-ḫu-mu-pi, the temple steward, received both 1 sila of pig fat and 1 unit of bitumen, the latter counted as part of his household ration allocation.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 sila of pig fat — Da-si, donkey herder. Sarru-bani. 1 sila of pig fat, 1 [unit of] bitumen [as] household ration — A-ḫu-mu-pi, temple steward.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-4-6 (2026-05-28/v6-glossary-aware) · claude-sonnet-4-6 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 077 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 035
In plain English
The record distributes cooking fat and bitumen to several officials: the unnamed house administrator receives one measure of lard, and so does Pu-zu-zu, who doubles as both house administrator and inspector of the grain barges. A junior officer — son of A[...]-zi, whose full name is partly broken — receives five measures. A closing entry certifies that one-third of a measure of liquid bitumen has been drawn from stores and officially logged as an expenditure under that category. The whole document is dated to the month of Šu-gar.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 sila3 of lard — the man (who is) the szabra of the house; 1 sila3 (for) Pu-zu-zu, the man (who is) the szabra of the house, (and) commissioner of the grain boats; 5 sila3 (for) the junior officer (lu2-banda3), son of A[...]-zi; 1/3 sila3 of bitumen — (classified as) drawn oil: such is its designation. Month: Šu-gar.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-4-6 (2026-05-28/v6-glossary-aware) · claude-sonnet-4-6 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 246 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 037
In plain English
Three jars of prime lard were issued to Ur-supa-sikil, the royal cupbearer — he received them. One jar of prime lard was returned by [...], apparently for someone whose name is broken, connected to a figure called Ani-ni; the chief royal herald was involved, and Lugal-alsa served as the responsible bailiff for that transaction. A further jar of prime oil and five donkey hides were also processed and recorded. Several lines in the middle of the tablet are too damaged to read with confidence.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 (jars of) prime pig-fat — (for) Ur-supa-sikil, the cupbearer: he gave (it) to him. 1 (jar of) prime pig-fat — [...]-tu returned, [...]-šè, Ani-ni (?), chief herald of the king — Lugal-alsa: its bailiff. 1 (jar of) prime oil, 5 (units of) donkey hide — was processed.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-4-6 (2026-05-28/v6-glossary-aware) · claude-sonnet-4-6 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 335 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 039
In plain English
A quantity of oil — at least eight sila, possibly more — was allocated from the Agade supply. Out of this, one sila went to Adda, the estate steward, acting in his capacity as bailiff (the name of his specific assignment is lost); another sila went to Dadi, bailiff of an institution whose name is only partly preserved. Both disbursements are formally recorded as drawn and expended. The transaction is dated to the sheep-shearing month.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“8 [+ n sila of] oil [from] Agade — thereof: 1 sila of oil: Adda, estate steward, bailiff [x x]; 1 sila of oil: Dadi, bailiff of gesz-ki-[x] — oil disbursed. Month: sheep-shearing [month].”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-4-6 (2026-05-28/v6-glossary-aware) · claude-sonnet-4-6 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 202 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 040
In plain English
Two people each received one sila of sesame oil that had been brought from Agade, the Akkadian capital. The first recipient, I-gaz-bara2, was a man of the king's household or administration. Several lines between the two entries are too damaged to read. The second recipient, Šu-Aštakkal, is described as belonging to some institution whose name is now broken away, and there are one or two further lines that cannot be recovered. The tablet closes with a formal note confirming that this oil has been officially drawn from stores, dated to the orchard month.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 sila of sesame oil from Agade — (for) I-gaz-bara2, [man of the] king; [...] ... [...] [...] Im-ši-gen-na. 1 sila of sesame oil from Agade — Šu-Aštakkal, man of [...]na; mu-da-[...]; oil expended. [Month:] nig2-kiri6.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-4-6 (2026-05-28/v6-glossary-aware) · claude-sonnet-4-6 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 057 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 041
In plain English
Two separate lots of dates, packed in baskets: first, two gurdub-baskets holding 3 ban2 each, handled by Zu-zu, the grain inspector; then five gurdub-baskets of the same measure, the responsibility of Igunum, also an inspector. Lú-dula then carried both shipments to Agade.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“2 gurdub-baskets of dates, 3 ban2 [each]; Zu-zu, inspector, [of] grain — 5 gurdub-baskets of dates, 3 ban2 [each]; Igunum, inspector — Lú-dula to Agade brought.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-4-6 (2026-05-28/v6-glossary-aware) · claude-sonnet-4-6 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 173 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 042
In plain English
Four gur and 3 ban2 of dates were packed into thirty large baskets and handed over to a man named Amur-um, who was responsible for getting them to Agade, the capital — he received them and took delivery. In a separate transaction, a further 3 ban2 of prime-cut dates were brought in and distributed: 3 ban2 went to Uri-Enlil and 3 ban2 to Ur-Dumuzi-da, and both men received their allotted shares.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“4 gur 3 ban2 of dates — 30 gurdub-baskets; was given. To Amur-um, to Agade, he gave to him. 3 ban2 of dates — first-cut [dates]; was brought. 3 ban2 (to) Uri-Enlil, 3 ban2 (to) Ur-Dumuzi-da: he gave to them.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-4-6 (2026-05-28/v6-glossary-aware) · claude-sonnet-4-6 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 270 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 043
In plain English
A large first delivery — twelve gur of dates and 120 wicker baskets — was paid out as an interest installment to the local launderer and sent along to Akkad. The next entry, recording a certain number of dates and baskets for a man named Puzur-Ilaba, is partly broken. Then the record is clearer: the lamentation-singer who worked the tow-boats received two barig and three ban of dates plus five baskets; and one barig of dates with two more baskets went to Zu-zu, the grain commissioner. The final lines are slightly damaged but the name and title survive.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“12 gur of dates, 120 gur-dub baskets — delivered; as interest [given] to the launderer, to Akkad, was given to him. [n] dates, [n gur-dub baskets] — delivered; Puzur-Ilaba. 2 barig 3 ban2 of dates, 5 gur-dub baskets — delivered; the lamentation-singer, boat-puller. 1 barig of dates, 2 gur-dub baskets — deliv[ered]; Zu-zu, the commissioner, [for] barley.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-4-6 (2026-05-28/v6-glossary-aware) · claude-sonnet-4-6 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry