Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · CL 065 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 055
In plain English
Eleven units of aromatic u₂-ḫab₂ herb and eleven gurdub-measures of marsh garlic are being sent to Akkad. The transaction involves a man named Ur-E₂-mash, son of Engar-zira. An official named An-na-šum₂ is also on record — most likely the dispatching or authorizing authority. The record was made during the orchard month. The exact roles of the two named individuals are not spelled out, but the overall shape of the document is a routine delivery note from a provincial city to the imperial capital.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“11 u₂-ḫab₂[-plant], gu₂ 11 gurdub [of] ab-šum₂ [marsh garlic] Ur-E₂-mash, son of Engar-zira — to Akkad An-na-šum₂ Month: [orchard] (iti nig₂-kiri₆)”
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 337 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 056
In plain English
One sila (roughly one liter) of lard was disbursed, involving a donkey herdsman named Su-durun and an official called Sipriškal. The fat was sent through the regular administrative channel, via [Sha]-rikam. The transaction was recorded in the month of barley-cutting.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 sila of pig fat (lard); Su-durun, donkey herdsman — Si-ip-ri-is-kal: fat disbursed, [sent] via the established route, [through/to Sha]-ri-kam; month: sze-[šeš]-kin-ku5-a (the barley-cutting 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 016 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 059
In plain English
The wool-workers distributed a total of 54 minas of wool — one full talent short by six minas. The breakdown: 20 minas to Tania, 20 minas of medium-grade wool, 7 minas to Nin-nigu-zu, and 7 minas to Me-nigin-ta. The responsible official was Giri-gena, acting on behalf of the governor. The transaction took place in the month of Še-sag-kal-ga.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“20 minas of wool — Tania; 20 (minas), medium-grade; 7 (minas) — Nin-nigu-zu; 7 (minas) — Me-nigin-ta. Total: 1 talent of wool, lacking 6 minas. The wool-workers gave it to them. Via Giri-gena, the governor's (official). Month: Še-sag-kal-ga.”
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 329 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 060
In plain English
One talent and 36 minas of coarse wool — delivered by Ur-Šupa-sikil. Lugal-itida, the scribe, was involved in the receiving or authorizing of the transfer, but the lines that would spell out exactly what happened next are too damaged to read. The goods passed through Giri-gen-na as the authorized carrier and are credited to the E2-ur2 building. The whole transaction was recorded in the month of Šu-gar.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 talent (and) 36 minas of coarse wool — wool of Ur-Šupa-sikil, he brought (it). Lugal-itida, [the scri]be, [...] to [...], [...] gave to him. Via Giri-gen-na. (It is of/from) the E2-ur2. 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 292 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 062
In plain English
On day 1 of the month of mu-tir, the following food rations were issued. Tibarum received 20 bread portions and one jar of beer; the barley commissioner was responsible for his allotment. The household received 10-plus bread portions under the commissioner Gi-sur. Lugal-ezem received 15 portions, overseen by the commissioner Eš2-[...]-gid2 — whose name is partially broken. Ni-[...] (name damaged) received 15 portions under a commissioner whose name may be Sukkal. Beli-ṭāb received 15 portions under the commissioner Anše-gun3. Finally, the vizier Ur-su received 5 portions.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“20 bread (rations), 1 (vessel of) beer — Tibarum; commissioner (of) barley. 10+[x] bread for the house — commissioner: Gi-sur. 15 — Lugal-ezem; commissioner: Eš2-[GAN2?]-gid2 [...]. 15 — Ni-[...]; commissioner: Sukkal[?]. 15 — Beli-ṭāb; commissioner: Anše-gun3. 5 — Ur-su, vizier. Month: mu-tir, day 1.”
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 273 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 063
In plain English
The tablet opens with a list of grain allocations. Seven units of semolina come first, then sixty units of something labeled gu-la₂, followed by two ban₂ each destined for the Great Temple and for a place called the field-storehouse. Further entries assign rations to the house of a deity named Ašgi and to at least one other location. Seven units apiece are listed under 'dar-gag' and what may be silver. The tablet ends with a single-unit entry whose recipient is broken away — and several lines in the lower half are too damaged to read at all.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“7 [capacity units] of semolina, 60 [units,] gu-la₂, 2 ban₂ [for] the great temple (e₂-mah), 2 ban₂ [for] the e₂-GAN₂-iš, [n units for] the house of Ašgi[?], [n units,] 1 ban₂, ki-[an], [7? units,] the house of x, x-[x], 7 [units,] dar-gag, 7 [units,] silver(?), [x]-x, 1 [unit,] x-[...]”
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 078 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 066
In plain English
The opening line is partially broken, but records a certain number of beer jars — measured by the kab2 unit — destined for the governor's wife's household. Individual allocations follow: Ur-Gurdub received 15 jars of beer; Ur-E'mah received 2 small jars; Da-du, Ba'a, and Ur-sa6 each received 2 jars. One bread ration of imgaga3 flour was also issued. Iškur received 4 jars of dark beer. A much larger lot — possibly 250 portions — of bread went to recipients whose designation is now damaged beyond reading. Two more jars of dark beer followed, and the tablet closes with a single jar received by someone whose name is broken away.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[n] jar(s) of beer, kab2(-measure) — wife of the governor: 15 (jars of) beer — Ur-Gurdub; 2 small jars — Ur-E'mah; 2 (jars) — Da-du; 2 (jars) — Ba'a; 2 (jars) — Ur-sa6; 1 (loaf of) bread of imgaga3-flour; 4 (jars of) dark beer — Iškur; [4×60+]10 (portions of) bread, x x [x]; 2 (jars of) dark beer [...]; 1 jar — in the hand of [x].”
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 015 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 068
In plain English
Da-da's account shows 75 portions of garlic rations, plus a separate entry of 18 portions (20 allocated, 2 short) designated for workers. Ur-Enlil's account records 134 portions of garlic rations. The tablet ends there; nothing further is preserved.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“75 (units of) garlic-rations; 18 (= 20 minus 2) garlic [for] persons — Da-da; 134 (units of) garlic-rations — Ur-[Enlil].”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-4-6 (2026-05-28/v6-glossary-aware) · claude-sonnet-4-6 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry