Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · AO 11378 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 139
In plain English
Ur-Šara's share is three goat skins: two with the edges covered and one without. Ur-Suen's share is four goat skins: three with the edges covered and one without. Mutila and Dumuzi-andul delivered the skins for the governor's offerings. Dated year 3, month 10.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 2 goat skins, side(s) covered, 2. 1 goat skin, side not covered: 3. it is (that) of Ur-Šara. 4. 3 goat skins, side(s) covered, 5. 1 goat skin, side not covered: 6. it is (that) of Ur-Suen. 7. (For) the offerings of the governor, 8. Mutila (and) 9. Dumuzi-andul 10. brought (them) in. 11. Year 3, month 10.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 11384 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 145
In plain English
Receipt: Lu-pada has received 127 gur of barley, measured by the standard sag-gál gur. The grain is listed with Ur-id. It is threshed barley from the Bar-DU field. The transaction belongs to Apisal and is dated to the fifth year, fourth month.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse/Reverse (sides not distinguished in the source): 1. 127 [gur of barley] (by the gur) sag-gál-dul, 2. Ur-id; 3. threshed barley 4. of the agar-field Bar-DU: 5. Lu-pada 6. received it. 7. Apisal. 8. Year 5, 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 · AO 11385 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 146
In plain English
Shortfall: 135 rams, 22 breeding ewes, 31 breeding nanny-goats and 13 billy-goats, 201 sheep and goats in all. This deficit has been charged to Enanne the shepherd. He is also 49 minas of wool short, and that debt is likewise on Enanne's account.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. Deficit: 135 rams, 2. 22 mother ewes, 3. 31 mother nanny-goats, 4. 13 billy-goats. 5. Total: 201 sheep and goats of various kinds, 6. the deficit, with Enanne the shepherd 7. has been established (against him). 8. 49 (literally '50 less 1') minas of wool, deficit: 9. it is with Enanne the shepherd.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 11387 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 148
In plain English
Livestock count: 12 breeding ewes, 6 rams, 14 breeding nanny-goats and 6 young female goats from the regular stock. These animals are in the care of the shepherd Kituš-lu. Lugal-KA carried out the count. The flock belongs to Kabru of the potters' palace, at the New Field. Dated year 11, month 1.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse / Reverse (continuous text; no side markers in source) 1. 12 mother ewes, 2. 6 rams, 3. 14 mother nanny-goats, 4. 6 female kids, regular (stock) — 5. with Kituš-lu, the shepherd, 6. they are (kept); 7. Lugal-KA 8. counted (them). 9. Kabru of the palace of the potter(s), 10. the New Field. 11. Year 11, month 1.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 11388 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 149
In plain English
The tablet lists the land held by Ama-e, wife of Ur-Šara. There are 3 bur at the field called A-surdura, 4 bur at Dumuzida's field and 2 bur at the field of A-suhur(?)ra. Another 4 bur are at Ša-gal, 3 bur at Lugal-ramugi, and 2 bur next to the granary. Altogether that comes to 18 bur of farmland, written as 'twenty bur less two', or about 115 hectares.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 3 bur, field area: GAN₂ 2. A-surdura; 3. 4 bur, field of Dumuzida; 4. 2 bur, field of A-suhur(?)ra; 5. 4 bur: Ša-gal; 6. 3 bur: Lugal-ramugi; 7. 2 bur: beside the granary site. 8. Total: 2 bur'u minus 2 bur (= 18 bur), field area 9. of Ama-e, the wife 10. of Ur-Šara.”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · AO 11399 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 159
In plain English
One hide (its description is broken) was taken away by a man whose name begins with Ur-, though the rest of it is lost. One goat hide, marked, connected with Ur-Šara, was brought in by Lugal-kur the shepherd. One goat, not marked, is listed under Abira. All of this falls under Ur-Suen, with Lugal-kur as the shepherd responsible. The tablet ends with the number 8 followed by a break, probably the beginning of a date formula.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse(?) (no side markers in the source; line numbers supplied editorially) 1. 1 [hide ...], 2. Ur-[...]; 3. Ur-x-[...] 4. took (it) away. 5. 1 goat hide, marked(?) — Ur-Šara; 6. Lugal-kur, the shepherd, brought (it) in. 7. 1 goat, not marked(?) — 8. Abira. 9. (This is) of Ur-Suen. 10. Lugal-kur, the shepherd. 11. 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 · AO 11403 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 162
In plain English
Bar-si linens: Lugal-nigdu supplied 3, Ur-dam 3, Ur-saga 3, Ursag 2, E-zi 7 and Ur-ša 3. The tablet gives the total as 20 bar-si linens, although the individual entries add up to 21. The linens were taken to Agade, the capital. The account covers a period of 4 years and 11 months.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse/Reverse (no section markers in source): 1. 3 bar-si linens: 2. Lugal-nigdu; 3. 3: Ur-dam; 4. 3: Ur-saga; 5. 2: Ursag; 6. 7: E-zi; 7. 3: Ur-ša. 8. Total: 20 bar-si linens. 9. To Agade 10. they were brought. 11. 4 years (and) 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 · AO 11404 — Louvre Museum, Paris, France
MAD 4, 163
In plain English
The field measures 115 nindan (about 690 metres) along its lower long side and 70 nindan along its upper long side. Its upper short side is 66 nindan and its lower short side is 56 nindan. The total area of the field is recorded as 2 eše plus 1 eše of land.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse (as given): 1. 115 nindan: the lower length; 2. 70 nindan: the upper length; 3. 66 nindan: the upper width; 4. 56 nindan: the <width>, lower. 5. 2 eše (and) 1 eše: field (area).”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry