Chapter 07 · 911 – 609 BCE
Neo-Assyrian
Empire, library, terror, scholarship.

~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 146. Reinforcements in Bab-bitqi (CTN 5 p. 85)
“(Beginning destroyed) (1) They are [in ... His] f[orces] have [pr]oceeded [against] the king, my lord, (but) the reinforcements from above have not crossed over to them. (6) They have [con]structed reed huts on the other side of Bab-bitqi and live there. They have 2,000 horses and 90 chariots, (but they are) not in fighting spirit. (r 4) As they were staying (there), they were given an order from above: "I don’t see your faces; incite a fight!" (r 8) Now then, they have been writing to him, [sayin]g, "Lead us away! Raise your eyes and [l]ead us away! Why [......].”
Source: Luukko, M. 2012. The Correspondence of Tiglath-pileser III and Sargon II from Calah/Nimrud. SAA 19. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa19/P224428/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 147. Sedition in Dilbat (CTN 5 p. 70 and p. 276)
“(1) [A tablet of NN t]o the king, [his] lord: (2) [The king, my lord], detained [NN and ... Ever since] he was appointed [to] my service, he has been telling [me every]thing that he sees [and hears]. (6) [Now NN] who lives in my neighbourhood, [has told him]: "Make a [re]bellion!" I am [now] telling [everything] to the king, as [do] the eyes [of the king], my [lord]. (10) I kn[o]w on [th]is account that he hates me, (as) he says: "I have heard that you are my [...]." How could I let go of the f[eet of the king] ... which I have seized and seize [the feet of] my [...]? (14) Is it really…”
Source: Luukko, M. 2012. The Correspondence of Tiglath-pileser III and Sargon II from Calah/Nimrud. SAA 19. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa19/P224436/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 148. (no title) (CTN 5 p. 69)
“(Beginning destroyed) (2) [...] t[o] the king, [my] lord [......] (3) [...]... this [......] (4) this ...[......] (5) to the king, m[y] lord [...] (6) now ...[......] (7) in ... Marduk [......] (8) ...... [......] (9) up t[o ...] as far as [......] (10) unt[il] to the house [of ......] (11) amo[ng] the men [......] (12) [...]... the king [......] (Reverse destroyed or too broken for translation)”
Source: Luukko, M. 2012. The Correspondence of Tiglath-pileser III and Sargon II from Calah/Nimrud. SAA 19. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa19/P224387/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 149. Take Over the Kingship! (CTN 5 p. 12)
“(1) [Your servant NN]: I would [gladly] die [for the king, m]y [lord! Say to the king], my [lord]: (4) I am (hereby) writin[g to the king], my [l]ord: "What shall I do?" (6) [What I t]old [the king] (was): "Be[l has said]: 'Take over the [king]ship by m[y] command! [With]out me, [who] can ta[ke over] the kingship, [and who] has (ever) taken over the kingship?'" (9) E[arlier] the king’s [scho]lar had told him: "[Exer]cise [the kingship]!" The king sent h[im to me ...] (Break) (r 2) [...] the king sent to me [...] (r 3) [...]... who from [...] (r 4) [...]...[...] (r 5) [...]... Now [...] (r 6) [...] lap ...[...] (r 7) [...] his [...] in the town of [......] (Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)”
Source: Luukko, M. 2012. The Correspondence of Tiglath-pileser III and Sargon II from Calah/Nimrud. SAA 19. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa19/P224378/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 150. Fragment Referring to Babylonians (CTN 5 p. 67)
“(Beginning destroyed) (3) [Concerning DN-rap]a' the [..., about whom the king, my lord, wro]te to m[e] (5) [... N]N, the servant of [NN] (6) [NN, the wif]e of Bel-iddina (7) [......] ...... (8) [......] (9) [......] the ...[...] (10) [......] (11) [......] ... [...] (12) [...] ...... [...] (13) [...] 12 cam[els], [...]zitu, [PNf] (r 1) [...] ... [PNf] (r 2) [...] Qa[...] (r 3) [...]... [...] to [...] (r 4) [...] ...... (r 5) [L]u-gamil, the ... (r 6) Bel-hutu, the son of Bel-iddina (r 7) ... Babil-Aia-..., the wife of Marduk-šallimanni, (r 9) Yansiatu [...] the maid of Bi[...] (r 10) PN ...... the matter of Kašša[...], the [ma]id of Pî-itarru, the servant of Marduk-šallimanni [from] Dur-ša-Balihaya (r 14) [......] NN (Rest destroyed)”
Source: Luukko, M. 2012. The Correspondence of Tiglath-pileser III and Sargon II from Calah/Nimrud. SAA 19. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa19/P224385/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 151. Marduk has Set out before New Year (CTN 5 p. 60)
“(Beginning destroyed) (1) [x] soldiers have come o[ut from .... Right now I am sending them] to the king, [my lord]. (4) News of the La[rakeans]: I stayed a full month in Bit-[...]. They gave me 200 [..., but] they did not give me their king’s men. (10) News of the [Bab]ylonians: One of their king’s [m]en [whom they se]nt out [to ...] (Break) (r 2) They are continually ignoring him and absolutely not giving up their king’s men. (r 4) I am right now waiting for their rearguard. Whether or not they do give me king's men, I shall clarify whatever news they have, and when I come, I will tell it…”
Source: Luukko, M. 2012. The Correspondence of Tiglath-pileser III and Sargon II from Calah/Nimrud. SAA 19. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa19/P224430/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 152. Midas of Phrygia Seeks Detente (CTN 5 p. 188; SAA 01 001)
“(1) The king's word to Aššur-šarru-u[ṣur]: I am well, Assyria is well: you can be glad. (3) As what you wrote to me: "A messenger [of] Midas the Phrygian has come to me, bringing me 14 men of Que whom Urik had sent to Urarṭu as an embassy" – this is extremely good! My gods Aššur, Šamaš, Bel (and) Nabû have now taken action, and without a battle [or any]thing, the Phrygian has given us his word and become our ally! (10) As to what you wrote: "I shall not send my messenger to the Phrygian without the permission of the king, my lord" – I am now writing to (tell) you that your messenger should…”
Source: Luukko, M. 2012. The Correspondence of Tiglath-pileser III and Sargon II from Calah/Nimrud. SAA 19. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa19/X190152/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 153. Straw and Reeds for Dur-Šarruken (CTN 5 p. 213; SAA 01 026)
“(1) The king's word to the go[vernor] (of Calah): (2) 700 bales of straw and 700 bundles of reeds, each bundle more than a donkey can carry, must be at hand in Dur-Šarruken by the 1st of Kislev (IX). Should (even) one day pass by, you will die.”
Source: Luukko, M. 2012. The Correspondence of Tiglath-pileser III and Sargon II from Calah/Nimrud. SAA 19. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa19/X190153/
Read the full tablet entry