Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · CL 101 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 302
In plain English
This record tracks small numbers of animals distributed among several named people. Two head of 'gir' livestock and one ox go under one heading (Ugu-du); two gir go to a man named Lugal-zi; two oxen to Ur-Utu; one ox to Azuzu; one gir to Nimgir-abzu; and a further allotment of gir (the exact count is partly broken) to a man identified as the wool-house attendant. Separately, three mature cows are recorded, followed by a name (Ama-ab), and then two more mature cows assigned again to the wool-house attendant. The whole transaction is noted as having been carried out by (or under) an official named Gula, described with the epithet 'great/elder.'
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 2 gir(-animals), 1 ox 2. Ugu-du 3. 2 gir(-animals) — Lugal-zi 4. 2 oxen — Ur-Utu 5. 1 ox — Azuzu 6. 1 gir(-animal) — Nimgir-abzu 7. 1 [+n] gir(-animal[s]) — the man of the wool-house (siki-gi) 8. 3 mature cows 9. Ama-ab 10. 2 mature cows 11. the man of the wool-house (siki-gi) 12. conveyed by Gula, the elder/great”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 183 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 305
In plain English
Three men — one whose name is only partly preserved (ending in '-an'), Mizati, and Uluga — are listed as smiths, one unit each. The governor has given an order: 'Tell Mes-zi the scribe: have the smiths take the king's bronze and get to work on the job — put it in their hands.' In short, this is a brief chain-of-command memo authorizing named craftsmen to receive royal bronze for a specific task.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 (unit): ...-an, 1 (unit): Mizati, 1 (unit): Uluga — (they are) smiths. The governor has ordered (as follows): "(To) Mes-zi, the scribe, speak! The smiths (are to work) the king's bronze for the task — let it be worked; let it be placed in (their) hands."”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 203 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 306
In plain English
This is a note from Lugal-amu, instructing his agent — the field-surveyor, son of Ama-tura — to hand over certain goods: some reed-related items and a claw-marked (or notched) item, plus one unit of 'mud' commodity, are to be given to the bearer. Two units of šumti are to be measured out in gurdub-vessels, three ban2 in quantity. The transaction is recorded before (or witnessed by) a man named Hamunidu. Several of the commodity words are damaged or obscure, so the exact goods being moved can't be pinned down precisely, but the overall shape — a short administrative order authorizing a delivery — is clear.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Lugal-amu — (this is) the message. His name(sake)/identification — to the field-surveyor (lu2-eš2-gan2-gid2), son of Ama-tura, speak! [...] its/his claw(?)-mark (umbin) — [1(?)] gi-muš(-reed?) [...] claw(?)-mark (umbin), and 1 (unit) mud — let him give (it) to you! 2 (units) šumti, (in) gurdub-vessel(s), 3 ban2. Before/witness: Ha-mu-ni-du8.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 234 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 311
In plain English
The record notes that 11 talents and 4 mina of wool were weighed out and handed over to a man named Baddine, in connection with Ga-eše, at (or belonging to) a storehouse called E'urra. A second entry records a further amount of wool along with some silver — the exact quantities are lost — again weighed out, this time involving Baddine together with a second man, Ursu-pasikil. The transaction is dated to the month called Gaudu'ur, the sheep-shearing month, fitting for a wool disbursement.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“11 talents, 4 mina of wool — Baddine, Ga-eše, (at/of) E’urra (the storehouse): it was weighed out to him. [n] talents of wool, [n] shekels of silver — Baddine, Ursu-pasikil: it was weighed out to him. Month: Gaudu’ur.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 080 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 312
In plain English
This tablet is a barley account. Kaku the farmer received 5 gur of barley. Mes-e, Dugani, and Ur-zigumma each also received 5 gur. Ur-a received 1 gur, and a fifth person — whose name is partly broken and unreadable — received what was probably another 1 gur. The scribe added it all up: 22 gur of barley distributed in total, and the math checks out (5+5+5+5+1+1=22).
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“5 gur barley: Kaku, the farmer. 5 (gur): Mes-e. 5 (gur): Dugani. 5 (gur): Ur-zigumma. 1 (gur): Ur-a. [1 (gur)]: ...za...(broken name). Total: 22 gur barley.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 232 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 318
In plain English
A record of sesame deliveries made in three rounds: first 5 gur and 3 ban2, then 1 gur 2 barig minus 1 ban2, and finally 2 barig, 1 ban2, and 5 sila3. A man named Lugal-[...] (the rest of his name is broken) is named at the end, apparently as the one who brought or delivered the sesame — though the verb itself is damaged and its exact reading uncertain.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“5 gur 3 ban2 sesame (sze-gesz-i3) — first time (a-ra2 1-kam). 1 gur 2 barig minus 1 ban2 sesame (sze-gesz-i3) — second time (a-ra2 2-kam). 2 barig 1 ban2 5 sila3 sesame (sze-gesz-i3) — third time (a-ra2 3-kam). Lugal-[...], [he] brought/delivered ([mu-de6?]).”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 285 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 320
In plain English
This tablet is a simple tally of tools or equipment. It records: 4 hoes, 4 axes, 4 of an item called 'nig2-gul' (unclear exactly what), 4 of an item called 'gi-lub' (also unclear), 4 sickles, 4 axes of a type called 'ha-zi' (the end of that word is broken off), 2 blade or tooth-tools, 2 grindstones, and 2 of something else whose sign is too damaged to read. In short, it's an inventory count of workshop or storeroom implements, most items grouped in fours or twos — the kind of routine stock-taking record kept by an ancient administrator.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“4 (units): al (hoe / agricultural implement) 4 (units): gin2 (axe/adze) 4 (units): nig2-gul (object/tool, meaning uncertain) 4 (units): gi-lub (object, meaning uncertain — possibly reed vessel or container) 4 (units): gur10 (sickle) 4 (units): ha-[zi] (axe-type tool, sign partly broken) 2 (units): zu2 (tooth/blade-tool) 2 (units): naga4 (grindstone/millstone) 2 (units): [x] (sign broken/illegible)”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CL 300 — Carl L. Lippmann Collection, Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid, Spain
Lippmann Coll 321
In plain English
This tablet is a running tally of grain deliveries measured out in standard containers. The record lists four separate deliveries: 20 containers, then 25, then 20, then 15, each container holding the same fixed amount (2 ban2). After the fourth delivery the scribe notes the silver value of the goods, but that part of the tablet is broken and unreadable, as is the line after it. At the bottom the scribe totals everything up: 80 containers delivered across the four rounds.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“20 gurdub-containers, 2 ban2 (each) — 1st time (delivery). 25 gurdub-containers, 2 ban2 (each) — 2nd time. 20 gurdub-containers, 2 ban2 (each) — 3rd time. 15 gurdub-containers, 2 ban2 (each) — 4th time. Its silver: [...] x x (broken) [...] ... x (broken) Total: 80 (1(gesz2) 20) gurdub-containers.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry