Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · OIM A00664 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 170
In plain English
This is a land survey. The first plot, after a lost beginning, has a frontage of 10 rods (and another figure of 10 minus something) with total long sides of 200 rods; it is tied to Dada the merchant. Then a plot of 1 1/2 iku called the 'BAD3' field, connected with Ur-Ninmada. Another plot has a frontage of 15 rods and 14 rods, long sides totalling 235, and belongs to Ilala the merchant. A 2 1/2 iku field 'BAD3-su' and a 1 1/4 iku field of Nabium follow. The last plot measures 6 rods and 2 1/2 rods on its front, 170 rods along its long sides, and is assigned to a man named Ur-su... and to Lugal-hili. Both ends of the tablet are damaged, so some figures and names are gone.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. [...] 10 (ninda) front (width); 10 less [...] 2. 200 (ninda) — the various lengths; 3. Dada, the merchant. 4. 1 1/2 iku field: BAD3-[...] 5. Ur-Ninmada [...] 6. 15 (ninda) front (width); 14 [...] 7. 240 less 5 (= 235 ninda) — the various lengths; 8. Ilala, the merchant. 9. 2 1/2 iku field: BAD3-su4; 10. 1 1/4 iku field: Nabium. 11. 6 (ninda) front (width); 2 1/2 [...] 12. 180 less 10 (= 170 ninda) — the various [lengths]; 13. Ur-su4-x [...] 14. Lugal-hili.”
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 A00784 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 171
In plain English
Here is the field register. The chief scribe gets 10 bur of land; the chief steward gets 10 bur; the chief cupbearer gets 10 bur; Ur-mes the merchant gets 6 bur; the surveyor gets a plot whose size is lost. Four further entries are too broken to read. One line mentions a man named Izzi who was designated for something. The total comes to 79 bur of field — plots of varying lengths, on irrigated ground, allotted to the workforce in narrow strips.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 bur'u (= 10 bur) of field: the chief scribe; 2.–3. 10 (bur): the chief steward (ensi-gal); 4. 10 (bur): the chief cupbearer; 5. 6 (bur): Ur-mes, the merchant; 6. [...] (bur): the surveyor (rope-measurer); 7. [...] 8. [...] 9. [...] 10. [...] 11. Izzi ... [...] designated (pa3-da); 12. Total: 1 šar (60 bur) + 2 bur'u (20 bur) minus 1 bur (= 79 bur) of field, 13. (plots) of assorted lengths, irrigated land, 14. field for the people/workers (UN), in narrow (strips).”
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 A00864 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 173
In plain English
Twenty carp, for the porter. Ten ubi-fish, for the regular offering. Then a further seven carp, eleven ubi-fish, two ne-carp (perhaps roasted), and two gam-gam fish. All told, fifty-two fish. Lugal-teš received them.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 20 suhur-fish (carp), 2. (for/of) the porter (ug-IL₂); 3. 10 ubi-fish, 4. (for) the regular offering (nig-du); 5. 7 suhur-fish (carp), 6. 11 ubi-fish, 7. 2 ne-suhur (roasted? carp), 8. 2 gam-gam fish; 9. total: 52 fish. 10. Lugal-teš 11. received (them).”
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 A00844 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 174
In plain English
Received from Amar-gir: 28 sheep hides, 25 lamb hides and 32 kid-goat hides. Received from Lugal-e: 8 sheep hides and 13 kid-goat hides. That is the whole document — a short tally of animal skins delivered by two individuals, with no date or official named.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 30 less 2 (= 28) [sheep] hides 2. 25 lamb hides 3. 32 goat-kid hides 4. from Amar-gir 5. 8 sheep hides 6. 13 goat-kid hides 7. from Lugal-e”
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 A00981 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 179
In plain English
Beer issued: 1 ban and 5 sila (about 15 liters) to Lu-Enlila; 1 ban (about 10 liters) to the men of Dingir-sukal; 5 sila to Nene and Dur-lugal. That comes to one measure of beer in all, which took 2 ban (about 20 liters) of barley to brew. Charged as an expense against the sukkal's household, in the month of the barley harvest.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 ban 5 sila of beer: 2. Lu-Enlil[a]. 3. 1 ban: (they are) the men of Dingir-sukal. 4. 5 sila: Nene, 5. Dur-lugal. 6. Total: 1 (unit) of beer; 7. its barley (equivalent): 2 ban. 8. Expenditure 9. of the house of the sukkal. 10. Month: 'Barley-harvest' (še-sag-ku).”
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 A00654 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 180
In plain English
One bala garment to Elulu. One bala garment to KA-ku. One bar-dul coat to Nam-ḫa-se; KA-ku is the supervisor responsible for this group. One woven nig-lam robe to Martu, the man from Subartu. One garment to the supervisor Meme. All of these items were withdrawn from the uzga storehouse.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 bala-garment — 2. Elulu; 3. 1 bala-garment — 4. KA-ku; 5. 1 bar-dul-garment — 6. Nam-ḫa-se; 7. (their) overseer is KA-ku. 8. 1 nig-lam garment, weaver's (work) — 9. Martu, the Subarian; 10. 1 (garment) — the overseer Meme. 11. Taken away from the uzga-storehouse.”
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 A00971 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 181
In plain English
Received: four garments. One šaga-du garment, weighing 55 shekels (one mina less five). One bur garment, weighing 13 shekels. One double bar-dul cloak, weighing 3 minas 15 shekels. One nig-lam garment, used, weighing 3 1/3 minas. These came from Lu-dingira and have been returned and accounted for. Signed off by Me-me.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 šaga-du garment, 2. its weight: 1 mina minus 5 shekels; 3. 1 bur garment, 4. its weight: 13 shekels; 5. 1 double bar-dul cloak, 6. its weight: 3 minas 15 shekels; 7. 1 nig-lam garment, old, 8. its weight: 3 1/3 minas. 9. From Lu-dingira; 10. returned to hand (received). 11. Me-me.”
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 A00714 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
OIP 014, 182
In plain English
This is a delivery note. Ten loaves of large first-fruit bread are booked under the lumaḫ priest. Ten doves and ten of the a-tu items follow, then two baskets of dates under the chief governor. Two baskets of emmer wheat are entered for the administrator of Iškur's temple. Ten baskets of emmer and one basket of large pulses go under the chief cupbearer, and five loaves of porters' bread under the nueš priest. The whole lot is recorded as a consignment, and the scribe notes that this is the first delivery of its kind.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 10 loaves of bread, large first-fruit offering — 2. the lumaḫ priest; 3. 10 doves, 4. 10 a-tu — 5. 2 baskets of dates — 6. the ensi-gal (chief governor); 7. 2 baskets of emmer — 8. the temple administrator of Iškur; 9. 10 baskets of emmer, 10. 1 basket of large pulses — 11. the chief cupbearer; 12. 5 loaves of bread (for) the porters — 13. the nueš priest. 14. Consignment (sent as gift). 15. It is the first time (first delivery).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry