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

~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 018. Military Moves in Babylonia (ABL 1292)
“(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...... is g]ood fo[r ...... ...... has] returned [here]; as for you, s[tand by]. Kunâ has [...] all their [tr]oops. (4) I am writing to Šarru-emuranni right [now]. He is going to mobilize and bring here all the conscripts of Dur-Ladini, Dur-Bilihai and Larak including those of Bit-Awukani. As soon as they have arrived here, Šarru-emuranni too will return here, and you are to set out together with all these king's men [... and ...] to the village [......] your [...], straw [......] including [......] at their disposal [...... (Break) (r 1) ......the] men [of ......…”
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/P334834/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 019. Dealing With the Puqudu (ABL 1328)
“(Beginning destroyed) (1) hi[ther ......] (2) the Puqu[dean ......] (3) and because of [......] (4) Now he is in the city of [......] at your disposal. (6) I am wr[iting to you] right [now: the day you] see this [letter of mine, go and tell] these words [to ...]. He should set out and go [to ...] in accordance with the report, [and tell him]: "I have re[ceived] the following royal order: '[......] have set [......" (Break) (r 2) "[......] which [......] have robbed [......]; now if [......] has been made, [......]; and if t[hese] servants [......], why [should] I [......]? You w[rote that ......] are making [......].'" (r 10) Now then [......] who [......] to his messenger [......] the order in [......] several times [...... (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/P334849/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 020. Cattle for Troops (CT 53 636)
“(Beginning destroyed) (2) oxen, sh[eep and ......] (3) on my side [......] (4) living there [......] (5) in your district [......] (6) "Should it be the wish of [......] (7) to bring [......], (8) let [me send] troops [......], (9) all their days [......]." (10) Th[ese] troops of yours (r 1) which [......] on my side (r 2) oxen, sheep and [......], (r 3) should have collected [......] (r 4) and brought to me [......] (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/P314048/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 021. The Widows of Fallen Soldiers (CT 53 128)
“(Beginning destroyed) (1) ...] your [...], [enqui]re and investigate, [and write down] and dispatch to me [the names] of the [sol]diers killed and their [sons and d]aughters. Perhaps there is a man who has subjugated a widow as his slave girl, or has subjugated a son or a daughter to servitude. Enquire and investigate, and bring (him/them) forth. (11) Perhaps there is a son who has gone into conscription in place of his father; this alone do not write down. But be sure to enquire and find out all the widows, write them down, define (their status) and send them to me. (r 6) [Tomorr]ow or the day after tomorrow, [when] I send [my eunuch, don't say: "]I brought out one widow [......] that she would die [...] she would give [....." (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/P313543/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 022. Summoning the Cavalry (CT 53 136)
“(1) [To ..., to] ..[..., to] ..[..., to] Reman[ni-...] and to [...]: a royal order of [great urgency]. (7) Get together your prefects plus the h[orses] of your cavalry collection points immediately! Whoever is late will be impaled in the middle of his house, (r 1) and who(ever) changes the [... of] the city will also be impaled in the middle of his house, and his sons and daughters will be slaughtered by his (own) order. (r 8) Don't delay; leave your business and come straight away! (SPACER)”
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/P313551/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 023. Catching Runaway Servants (CT 53 185)
“(Beginning destroyed) (2) [...]-naṣir is dead; the [...] of the city of ... have fled [...] and are (now) [li]ving at Balṭi-iqbi's. (7) Let them make it [...] perfectly clear to Balṭi-iqbi that he should immediately bring forth the [slave]s, give them to his son, and come straight away to me! (SPACER)”
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/P313600/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 024. Summoning Holders of Government Property (CT 53 245)
“(Beginning destroyed) (4) "The recipients of iškāru assignments should immediately come up here and enter the city of [...] after Zabbua, quickly! The [...] should likewise ... and come up. Let them make it clear to the mayor and the city overseer that they have to bring forth the ... and the recipients of iškāru assignments [... (Break) (r 6) ...] after [...]; "Come, enter [...] and go straight to [...], (then) come [...]." As to [... (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/P313660/
Read the full tablet entry~715 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
SAA 01 025. Brick Masons and the Bull Colossi of Dur-Šarruken (ABL 1423+)
“(1) [The king's wor]d to the 100 b[rick-masons]: (2) Now t[hat] you have finished [the work] in Dur-Šarruk[en], [...] the bull col[ossi ...] upon you. Just as you have been [...], this [......] the exempts ]......] the king'[s ...]. (16) Come and stand by for the [...] of Assyria, and let the chief [...], the postmen and the workers [take] care of the rest [of the ...]. (r 5) As to [... about whom you wrote to me]: "[They should order ...] to do the rest [...] delayed [...]; the exempts [...] should take up [......]. If 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/P314026/
Read the full tablet entry