Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · OIM A00778 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 126
In plain English
Just under three litres of lard (three sila minus two-thirds) went out for softening and dressing leather; Išbi-ilī took that lot. One litre went to the ama-maš women, and Ašgi-dalu picked it up. That makes a total of a little under four litres of lard — this fat is booked as an expenditure on Ur-dingira's account.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 sila less 2/3 (sila) of lard, for treating leather, (for) Išbi-ilī; 1 sila (for) the ama-maš (women), Ašgi-dalu received (it). Total: 4 sila less 2/3 (sila) of lard — fat, (the) expenditure 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 A00924 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 127
In plain English
Six fat-tailed sheep, three young goats and thirteen mountain sheep — twenty-two animals in all. Ka-ka handed them over to him. Then a second batch: nine fat-tailed sheep, ten mountain sheep, and a number of young goats whose figure is broken off ('minus one' survives). The text breaks off after this second group, so we do not learn its total or who received it.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 6 fat-tailed sheep, 2. 3 kids, 3. 13 mountain sheep; 4. total: 22 sheep (and goats). 5. Ka-ka 6. gave (them) to him. 7. 9 fat-tailed sheep, 8. 10 mountain sheep, 9. [...] minus 1 kids. (rest of the supplied text ends here)”
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 A00995 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 128
In plain English
Sixteen units of ordinary beer were issued to the work-crew, who took delivery. A couple of further small issues of ordinary beer follow, but the recipients' names are broken away; one of them, whose name ends in -sag, took delivery of his share. Altogether nineteen units of ordinary beer were paid out and booked as expenditure. The last line is too damaged to read.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 16 [(units of) ordinary beer] 2. the work-troop received; 3. [...] ordinary beer 4. [...]-me (?) 5. [...] ordinary beer 6. [...] 7. [...] ... [...] 8. ...-sag-e received; 9. [To]tal: 20 minus 1 (= 19) (units of) ordinary beer, 10. expended. 11. ... [...]”
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 A00928 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 131
In plain English
Ur-teš is down for 5 sila of ghee and 2 ban of cheese. Ur-Mama is down for 2 sila of ghee and 1 ban of cheese. Altogether that makes 7 sila of ghee and 3 ban of cheese. One last line followed, but it is broken away and cannot be read.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. [5] sila of ghee, 2. 2 ban of cheese: 3. Ur-teš. 4. 2 sila of ghee, 5. 1 ban of cheese: 6. Ur-Mama. 7. [To]tal: 7 sila of ghee. 8. [To]tal: 3 ban of cheese. 9. ... [...] (rest broken)”
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 A00935 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 142
In plain English
One kid, from Kuli. One kid, from Ur-Enlil, son of Šuše. One sheep of the bar type, delivered by the provisioner [...]-Enlila, the farmer (part of his name is lost). Total: one bar sheep and two kids, handed over as the customary mašdaria livestock contribution.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 kid — 2. Kuli; 3. 1 kid — Ur-Enlil, 4. son of Šuše; 5. 1 sheep, bar (-category), (for) the provisioner (ua); 6. [...-En]lila, the cultivator. 7. [To]tal: 1 sheep, bar (-category), 2 kids — 8. mašdaria-offering(s).”
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 A00795 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 144
In plain English
One sheep and six minas of wool went to Lugal-itida the courier, through Lugal-entarsu. Another sheep and six minas of wool went to the chief courier, through Gissu. The chief courier also received two minas of wool, and the estate manager four minas. One goat kid, under Iškur's name, was used up by the household as a consumption item, handled by Lu-kalla. In all, that comes to two sheep, one kid and nineteen minas of wool, and the whole amount is booked as a shortfall owed by the governor's shepherds.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 sheep, 6 minas of wool: 2. Lugal-itida, the courier (sukkal), 3. (via/for) Lugal-entarsu. 4. 1 sheep, 6 minas of wool: 5. the chief courier (sukkal-maḫ), 6. (via/for) Gissu. 7. 2 minas (of wool): the chief courier (sukkal-maḫ). 8. 4 minas (of wool): the household administrator (šabra of the estate). 9. 1 kid: Iškur — consumed by the household as a niĝ-ku (consumption item), 10. (via) Lu-kalla. 11. Total: 2 sheep, 1 kid, 20 minus 1 (= 19) minas of wool — 12. the arrears (deficit) of the shepherds of the governor.”
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 A00936 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 147
In plain English
One ban of beer (about ten litres) goes to Ur-nigar the scribe; one ban to the commissioner; two ban to the man from Umma. In total that is one barig-measure of beer, which counts as two ban worth of barley. The issue is charged to the account of the sukkal's household, in the month of the Akiti festival.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. [1 ban] of beer 2. Ur-nigar, 3. the scribe; 4. 1 ban: the maškim (commissioner); 5. 2 ban: the man of Umma. 6. Total: 1 (barig) of beer, 7. its barley (equivalent): 2 ban. 8. Expenditure (booked) 9. of the house of the sukkal. 10. Month: Akiti.”
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 A00996 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 148
In plain English
One ban of beer went to Ur-gigir, the messenger, and one ban to the commissioner. That makes two ban of beer in total, which cost one ban and three and a third sila of barley to brew. The expense was booked to the messengers' office. Dated to the month of Šu-gar.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 ban (of) beer — 2. Ur-gigir, the envoy (sukkal); 3. 1 ban — the lu-maškim (commissioner). 4. Total: [2 ban of beer]; 5. its barley (equivalent): 1 ban 3 1/3 sila. 6. Expended (zi-ga) 7. by the house of the envoy (é-sukkal). 8. Month: Šu-gar.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry