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

~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 196. Booty in Mazamua (CTN 5 p. 114)
“(Beginning destroyed) (2) I wen[t d]own, razed the towns and burnt them, lifted the ba[rl]ey and [p]iled it up in the fort. (5) The ‘mule house man' has come, saying: "Let me divide the booty into portions in Mazamua. Kanunayu th[e ...] is departing." I sent word and they are coming down no[w]. (9) Let [the king], my [lo]rd, write me quickly so that he may set out. (11) [...] bread [...] (Break) (r 1) ...[...] (r 2) to [NN ...] (r 3) to [Na]bû-be[lu]-ka''in [...] (r 4) to Mannu-laddi[n ...] (r 5) saying: "This is what [......] (r 6) Wh[y sho]uld they convict me [...]? (r 7) [... ...n]i, [NN] (r 8) [sa]ying: "[...], the [‘mule house] man' [......] (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/P393642/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 197. An Orchard in Kiṣirtu (CTN 5 p. 104)
“(1) To the k[ing, m]y lord: yo[ur] servant Ubru-Libbal[i]. Good he[al]th to the king, my lord! (4) (As to) the fru[it o]f the orchard of Kiṣir[t]u [about which the kin]g, my lo[rd, wro]te to me: "From whom do you buy it?" I buy it from my uncles A[šš]ur-mušallim and Nergal-m[uš]allim. (11) [......] the house of the cupbearer in [...].... (12) Thereafter, thi[s ... ...] was re[cor]ded on a writing-board. (Break) (r 1) [Let the king, my lord], ask Ha[... and] the (family) heads of Kiṣirtu. (r 4) If this is not the truth may the [k]ing not redeem me. I am a dog but the k[i]ng, my lord, has…”
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/P428930/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 198. Building a Fort (CTN 5 p. 237)
“(Beginning destroyed) (2) [Con]cerning the city Issete [and ......], about which the king wrote to me: "[......] (4) according to the same 5 men [......] (5) water for them to drink ...[... ...].... (6) What we are building is all right [......] (7) a palace [......]. We are also building a fort [...] and will pl[ace] guardsmen there. [L]et pack animals for the guards come up here [...]. (10) As to what the king, [my lord, wrote to me]: "The anima[ls ......] (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/P393665/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 199. Messengers from Dur-Ladini (CTN 5 p. 36)
“(1) To the k[i]ng, my lord: your servant Sîn-ašared. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) The messengers have come from Dur-Ladini, saying: "The forces [o]f the son of Zerî are 250 cavalry (mounts); there are no archers of his." (8) [...]... have likewise come to us. Th[ey] stayed 14 days on the ri[ver] bank on the other side (of the river). They [sa]id: "We [......] (Break) (r 2) wine [......] (r 3) [...] the Palace [......] (r 4) [......] (r 5) [they] ca[me to m]e, saying: (r 6) "[......] (r 7) [...] wine [......] (r 8) [...]... [......] (r 9) not [......] (r 10) [......] (r.e. 11) they p[l]aced him/it. (r.e. 12) [L]ater on, [......].”
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/P393676/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 200. Distributing Men and Barley (CTN 5 p. 268)
“(Beginning destroyed) (1) I [went to the town] Rapiša. (2) [I pl]aced [watchtow]ers th[ere] and p[ut them on alert], I transported [barley] and piled it up [th]er[e], and I brought troops into it. (7) From there I am going to [...]li and Menaga, (two) fo[rt]s of Aššur-be[lu-taqq]in. Where they have not been put on alert, I will alert them, and I will transport barley, pile it up there, and bring troops into them. (r 5) [I have e]qui[p]ped the fort[s which] were placed under Bel-aplu-iddina, saying: "[...li] (and) Menag[a ...]" (r 9) [the fo]rts [......] (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/P393634/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 201. Refusing to Return the Booty (CTN 5 p. 55)
“(1) Your [servant] Ahu-ila'i: I would gladly die for my lord! Say to the king, my lord: (3) The guard of Esaggil and Babylon is very strong. (5) (Z)ariqu and Mar-Biti set out (in procession) on the fourth day, saying: "Hail to the Ba[by]l[oni]ans and [Bo]rsippe[ans ...] (Break) (r 1) [...]... wit[h ......] (r 2) [x] Babylonians [..., say]ing: "Hamanu and [NN shou]ld go and (they should return) [what] they have t[a]ken booty. [But they] refu[sed] (to return the booty), saying: "If you plunder ...[...]. T[he Ba]bylonians plunder a man from me (like one), who plunders a shadow in the open…”
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/P224469/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 202. I Shall Complete my Brother’s Mission (CTN 5 p. 75)
“(1) [A tablet of NN to my brother NN. I am well; good health to] m[y broth]er! (5) As to what [my] brother wrote: "The day you se[e] my tablet, go up [...] to meet the king." (7) Is [h]e coming? It is not all due to me but [th]anks to my brother. (9) The whole world knows that I have devoted myself to my brother. Behold that my brother gives credence to my prosperity and my good fortune. (13) Let my brother send Nabû-le'i to me one day so that I can speak to him, and let him take in what I have to report and [s]ay, [a]nd let him tell it to my brother. (r 1) Let me hear my broth[er]'s answer…”
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/P393689/
Read the full tablet entry~730 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 19 203. Cultivating and Harvesting (CTN 5 p. 88)
“(Beginning destroyed) (1) [who ...]ed to cultivate their [fields ...] situated in outlying regions, saying: "Cultivate (them)!" - they are (now) being harvested. (6) [(...) su]stena[nce field(s)] (7) [...] .... (8) Now that Zeru-ibni has g[o]ne [t]o the king, my lord, (r 3) ...[...] one to Zeru-ibni ... who with Ṣalam-šar[ri]-i[qbi] and Ma[...] we said [...] (r 8) to li[v]e [...] (r 9) m[e]n who [...] f[ro]m (Break) (e. 1) The king, my lord, can be gl[ad ...] (e. 2) the captives whom the king, [my lord ......] (e. 3) a strong ox, their harve[st ......].”
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/P393686/
Read the full tablet entry