Chapter 07 · 911 – 609 BCE
Neo-Assyrian
Empire, library, terror, scholarship.
~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 002. Dealings with Arpad (CT 53 502)
“(Beginning destroyed) (3) [As to what you w]rote: "[I will send my] rab-mūgi officer [to you]; speak [kindly] with the (king) of Arpad, and [let] your 'third man' [......]", (6) I adjure you by Aššur and my gods: you are not to send your [rab-mūg]i officer to me [under any circumstances! ...... (Rest destroyed)”
Source: Parpola, S. 1987. The Correspondence of Sargon II, Part I: Letters from Assyria and the West. SAA 1. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa01/P313915/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 003. The Wife of the Treasurer (CT 53 463)
“(Beginning destroyed) (1) ... wrote to] you: "The wife of [the] Treasurer and [her] daughters should go [to] Assyria"; (4) you wrote the sealed royal order and dispatched it to Bel- duri, (but when) I sent my me[ssenger] to Damascus, [he] gave [him the wife] only. (9) I have written to [... abo]ut the daughters whom he he[ld back ... (Rest destroyed)”
Source: Parpola, S. 1987. The Correspondence of Sargon II, Part I: Letters from Assyria and the West. SAA 1. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa01/P313876/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 004. On Shirking the King’s Work (CT 53 834)
“(Beginning destroyed) (1) ...] stay [in ......]. Now he has do[ne the work (incumbent) up]on you plus the work ass[ignment that was ... to] your [...]; [your servants tra]ded [the work ass]ignment with 21 [...] and shirked doing the work. (7) [You wrote me] that in addition to the 500 [logs of ...] and the 500 of [..., another ...] have been piled up on the river bank. [That's exactly] why the governor of Til-Barsip did [...]! I (gave the order): "These [should g]o to [...] Aššur-šarru-uṣur plus the [...] who are with him, and [...] the l[ogs into ...] of 40 (pieces) each." To no avail; [they…”
Source: Parpola, S. 1987. The Correspondence of Sargon II, Part I: Letters from Assyria and the West. SAA 1. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa01/P314243/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 005. These Nabateans are Yours (ABL 0305)
“(1) The king's word to Ašipâ: As to these Nabateans about whom you wrote, they are at your disposal.”
Source: Parpola, S. 1987. The Correspondence of Sargon II, Part I: Letters from Assyria and the West. SAA 1. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa01/P334194/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 006. (no title) (ABL 0298)
“(1) [The ki]ng's word to Ašipâ: I am [we]ll, you can be glad. (2) [The day] you see [thi]s letter, [...] Nabû-šeziban[ni ......] is surrounding [...... (Rest destroyed)”
Source: Parpola, S. 1987. The Correspondence of Sargon II, Part I: Letters from Assyria and the West. SAA 1. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa01/P334190/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 007. The Gods of Muṣaṣir (CT 53 340)
“(Beginning destroyed or too broken for translation) (3) [But shou]ld you say: "Let [the king, my lord] give [my gods] back to me [......!]" (then) quickly [gather and send me] information (and) [I will] soon [gi]ve your gods back to you. (7) [...] the city of Muṣa[ṣir]; stay there! The seiz[ing ...] of your gods [......] this [...] of mine [......]. Why [would] you not [...... (Rest destroyed)”
Source: Parpola, S. 1987. The Correspondence of Sargon II, Part I: Letters from Assyria and the West. SAA 1. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa01/P313755/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 008. Urarṭian Governor Defects to Assyria (CT 53 229)
“(Obverse almost entirely destroyed) (12) As to what you [wrote to me: "[...... (13) def[eat ...... (14) As to what you wr[ote to me: "...... (15) to a ša-šēpi guardsman [...... (16) (Break) (19) [......] why [...... (20) [did] you [lay] hands on Mannaean territory [......? (21) [...] this favor [...... (22) [which ...] have done [...... (23) (Break) (b.e. 25) [As to ... what y]ou said: "I [...... (b.e. 26) [......] of the Mannaeans [...... (r 1) Is [there] a servant who does not [...] about [......? (Three lines erased) (r 5) [As to] this governor of yours about whom you wrote: "[......]" —…”
Source: Parpola, S. 1987. The Correspondence of Sargon II, Part I: Letters from Assyria and the West. SAA 1. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa01/P313644/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 009. Ullusunu on His Guard (CT 53 589)
“(Beginning destroyed) (1) ... the city of A]rpad [......]. (2) Now, [let] Ullusunu [be] on guard for hi[mself ...]; and the letter [......] which I sent to you [......] within [...... (Break) (r 2) I said: "Ull[usunu ...... (Rest destroyed)”
Source: Parpola, S. 1987. The Correspondence of Sargon II, Part I: Letters from Assyria and the West. SAA 1. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa01/P314001/
Read the full tablet entry