Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · AO 11307 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 068
In plain English
This is a signed IOU. Ilī, the wife of Ilum-andul, owes Ama-e 8 shekels of silver, and on top of that a further charge of 4 shekels has been reckoned against the debt. Three men stood as witnesses to the obligation: a man whose name is partly broken away (A-...), Lugal-ane son of Ur-Suen, and Lugal-KA-gula. The record is dated the way documents were dated then — by who was in office: at that time Enannatum was governor of Umma.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 8 shekels of silver — 2. the deduction (interest) following it: 3. 4 shekels of silver — 4. Ama-[e] 5. against Ilī, 6. the wife of Ilum-andul (Dingir-andul), 7. holds (as a claim). 8. A-[...], 9. Lugal-an[e], 10. son of Ur-Suen, 11. (and) Lugal-KA-gula 12. are the witnesses thereof. 13. At that time Enannatum 14. (was) governor of Umma.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 11318 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 079
In plain English
This is an expenditure ledger for livestock. Two young goats and a mother nanny-goat are charged to the shepherd Ur-Utu. A mother ewe and a ram — belonging to Ur-Šara — were driven off by Dumuzi-andul. Two more kids are charged to Lulu, and one kid, which carried no brand mark, to Abu-ḫadu. The shepherd Utu-mu delivered two hides from mother goats. The bottom line: these are the booked withdrawals from the herd, covering a period of seven years and eight months.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 2 kids (young goats), 2. 1 mother nanny-goat: 3. Ur-Utu, the shepherd. 4. 1 mother ewe, 5. 1 ram: 6. Dumuzi-andul carried (them) off; 7. it is (the property) of Ur-Šara. 8. 2 kids: 9. Lulu. 10. 1 kid, not branded (on the flank): 11. Abu-ḫadu. 12. 2 hides of mother nanny-goats: 13. Utu-mu, the shepherd — delivery. 14. It is (the account of) expenditures. 15. 7 years, 8 months.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 11321 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 082
In plain English
Delivery record: one mother nanny goat, one young kid (zag-šu grade), and one kid earmarked for the regular offering. These animals belong to Ur-Šara. The shepherd Utu-mugi delivered them at the festival of Dumuzi. The final line notes a count of five years — most likely a running tally or the term of the arrangement under which the shepherd accounted for the herd.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 nanny goat, a mother, 1 kid, zag-šu, 1 kid, (for the) regular offering — it is (the property) of Ur-Šara. Utu-mugi, the shepherd, at the festival of Dumuzi delivered (them). 5 years (recorded).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 11322 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 083
In plain English
Receipt: two hides from mother goats. One hide belongs to Ur-Šara's account, the other to Ur-Suen's. Dumuzi-andul made the delivery, and Utu-mu is the shepherd responsible for the animals. Filed in the fifth year, ninth month. It is a complete little record — nothing is broken or missing.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 1 hide of a mother goat — 2 it is (that) of Ur-Šara; 3 1 hide of a mother goat — 4 it is (that) of Ur-Suen. 5 Dumuzi-andul 6 delivered (them). 7 Utu-mu (is) the shepherd. 8 Year 5, month 9 (lit. 10 minus 1).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 11326 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 087
In plain English
Loss report: two young goats under Hurhura and one under Alaya died while in Ur-Suen's charge and have been removed from the account. The animals belonged to Ur-Šara. Dated to the 23rd year, 8th month. In modern terms, this is a write-off slip — three head of livestock struck from the inventory because they died, with the responsible parties and the owner named for the record.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 2 kids (young goats) — Hurhura; 2. 1 kid — Alaya; 3. (animals) that died (in the charge of) Ur-Suen, 4. (they) were expended (booked out). 5. They are the kids of Ur-Šara. 6. 23(rd) year, 8(th) month.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 11328 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 089
In plain English
Receipt: one ram, delivered by Aya-bi-nar from the household of A-mašzu. Also on hand: one young male goat and one ram belonging to Abi-gi. The final line is a numerical notation — twenty-two against 'year' and ten against 'month' — most likely a date or an elapsed-time tally closing the account.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 ram, (from) Aya-<bi>-nar, from the house of A-mašzu: delivery. 1 male kid, 1 ram: sheep of Abi-gi. 22 — year(s); 10 — month(s).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 11333 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 094
In plain English
Three young goats, not yet branded, plus one male lamb — these are charged to Ur-Šara. One more unbranded kid is charged to Ur-Suen. All of these count as goats expended from the flock. The responsible herdsman is Utu-mu, the shepherd. The account covers a span recorded as five years and eight months.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 kids (young goats), not branded; 1 male lamb: (these are) of Ur-Šara. 1 kid, not branded: (this is) of Ur-Suen. Expended goats (goats booked as expenditure). Utu-mu, the shepherd. 5 years, 8 months.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 11336 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 097
In plain English
Harvest record: 40 gur of barley, measured with the official large gur, plus 15 gur of emmer and 7 gur 2 barig of wheat. All of this is threshed grain from a field whose area has been surveyed, and the threshing or processing has been completed. Dated: year 4, month 5 (or a span of four years and five months).
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse/Reverse (no sides marked in the source): 1. 40 gur of barley, (by the) sag-gal₂ (gur measure); 2. 15 <gur> of emmer; 3. 7 gur 2 barig of wheat: 4. threshed grain, 5. (from) the field whose area was measured; 6. the processing (?) was carried out. 7. 4 year(s), 5 month(s).”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry