Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · OIM A00870 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 105
In plain English
The tablet records a handful of valuables: one shekel of silver, a quantity of egg-shaped beads whose number is lost, an amount of barley also lost, and an item described as Subarian. Then come one silver object weighed by the shekel (its name is damaged), one ring, and two toggle-pins made of bronze and copper. The beginning of several lines is broken, so the exact quantities of the beads and barley cannot be recovered.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. [1] shekel of sil[ver], 2. [...] egg-shaped bead(s), 3. [...] barley, 4. [Su]bari[an] (Subartu-type), 5. 1 ...-NI of silver, (by the) shekel, 6. 1 ring, 7. 2 toggle-pins of bronze (and) copper.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00746 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 106
In plain English
Eight copper ḫar-an rings, weighing 21⅓ minas altogether. One mina less five shekels of copper went into the pegs for those rings. Another third of a mina of copper went into the copper rivets for daggers. The grand total comes to 22½ minas and 5 shekels of copper, received and checked in. Responsible party: Lugal-ku, the smith.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 8 copper ḫar-an (rings), 2. their weight: 21 mina (and) 1/3 (mina); 3. 1 mina minus 5 shekels of copper 4. for pegs (nails) for the ḫar-an (rings); 5. 1/3 (mina) of copper: 6. copper dagger-pegs (rivets). 7. [Total: 22 1/2] mina 5 shekels of copper, 8. returned to hand (received/accounted for). 9. Lugal-ku, the smith(?).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00779 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 107
In plain English
This is an oil account. A quantity of good ghee went to the governor; a quantity of good sesame oil went to a second party whose line is damaged. One sila (about a litre) went to someone called '...-dub', possibly for the 'lady' or a person named Nin-ka-...; another sila and then a third of a sila, less some amount, went to recipients whose names are broken. The totals: one sila of good ghee and six sila of good sesame oil. The oil is booked as expended. The last line names the official responsible, whose name ends in '-kalle'; its beginning is lost.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. [n sila of ghee], good (quality), 2. (for) the governor; 3. [n sila of] sesame [oil], good (quality), 4. [...] ... ... [...]; 5. 1 sila(?) ...-dub, (for) the lady / Nin- 6. ka-[...]; 7. 1 sila [...]; 8. 1/3 sila less [...]. 9. Total: 1 sila of ghee, good (quality); 10. total: 6 sila of sesame oil, good (quality). 11. Oil expended (booked as expenditure). 12. [...]-kalle.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00786 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 116
In plain English
Survey note: the plot measures 70 (and 44 and a half) rods on the short sides and 315 rods on the long sides, the dimensions being irregular. Total area: ten bur. The holder is Šarru-dūrī. The land lies in the Sug-gal-mah field district.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 70 (nindan) is the length (sag), 44 1/2 (nindan); 2. 315 (nindan) is the side (us2), various (hi-a); 3. its field (area): 10 bur; 4. Šarru-dūrī. 5. Field of the Sug-gal-mah.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00697 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 118
In plain English
Four liters of lard went to the messenger, who is also the chief fuller. Half a liter was used on bronze by Ur-Ninazu the smith, with Dugani acting as the supervising official. Another half liter went for the king's weapons, handled by the treasury staff, with Lu-Ašgi supervising. That makes five liters of lard in all, booked as oil expended from Ur-dingira's account.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 4 sila of [lard], 2. the messenger (našparum) used (it); 3. (he is) the chief fuller. 4. ½ sila — (for) bronze (it) was used; 5. Ur-Ninazu, the smith. 6. Dugani 7. (was) commissioner. 8. ½ sila — (for) the royal weapon(s), the uzga-personnel; 9. Lu-Ašgi (was) commissioner. 10. Total: 5 sila of lard. 11. Oil expended, (account of) Ur-dingir[a].”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00672 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 119
In plain English
Three jars of lard went to the household managers of the expedition; the scribe Si-du handled it. Three liters of lard were issued to the Elamite captives, who rubbed themselves with it; the house manager acted as supervising official. Two-thirds of a liter went to Lugal-iri, the barley commissioner. Another two-thirds of a liter went to Meme, with a certain [...]-al, the envoy, supervising. One jar went to Ur-Enlila, the oil-presser. In total: four jars and four and a third liters of lard, booked as oil expended. This is the account of Ur-dingira.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 3 jars of lard — 2. (for) the household managers of the expedition; 3. Si-du, the scribe (was responsible). 4. 3 sila (of lard) — the (captive) booty of Elam 5. anointed (themselves) with it; 6. the manager of the house (was) commissioner. 7. 2/3 (sila) — Lugal-iri, the commissioner of barley. 8. [2/3 (sila)] — Meme; 9. [...]-al, the envoy, 10. (was) commissioner. 11. 1 (jar) — Ur-Enlila, the oil-presser. 12. Total: 4 jars (and) 4 1/3 sila of lard, 13. oil expended; 14. it is (the account) of Ur-dingira.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00954 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 123
In plain English
Ten jars of good beer and ten jars of regular beer went to Subir-a, the gal5-la2 official; Ur-sa was the one who brought them over. One jar of regular beer went to Ur-mer-za. These are booked as outgoing stock from the brewery.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 10 (jars of) fine beer, 2. 10 (jars of) ordinary beer: 3. Subir-a, the gal5-la2 officer, 4. Ur-sa6-e brought (them). 5. 1 (jar of) ordinary beer: 6. Ur-mer-za. 7. Expenditure (zi-ga) 8. (from) the brewery (e2-bappir).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · OIM A00958 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 124
In plain English
Eight sheep from Lugal-keš and seven sheep from A-ni-ta: fifteen sheep altogether. These are the sheep that were sent out from the city. Ur-ME has taken them into his custody. This is the fourth such delivery.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 8 sheep — 2. Lugal-keš; 3. 7 sheep — 4. A-ni-ta. 5. Total: 15 sheep, 6. sheep that went out from the city. 7. Ur-ME took charge (of them). 8. (This is) the 4th time.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry