Chapter 05 · 2000 – 1600 BCE
Old Babylonian
Hammurabi, the Epic of Gilgamesh, mathematics.
~1850 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
Warad-Sin 11
Warad-Sin dedicates a temple to Inana at Zabalam and names Kudur-mabuk as his father, anchoring the Elamite-origin dynasty of Larsa within the traditional Sumerian gesture of piety-for-longevity.
“(1) For Inana of Zabalam, my lady, for my well-being, and for the well-being of Kudur-mabuk, the father who begot me, (I), Warad-Sin, king of Larsam, built her holy high temple, a residence of warriors, I raised it as high as a mountain. (14) May she be as delighted with me because of my deeds as to grant me a life of long days as a reward!”
Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q002115/
Read the full tablet entry~1850 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
Warad-Sin 30
“(1) To Nanna, his lord, Warad-Sin, governor of Utu, child of Kudur-mabuk, father of the Amorite lands, dedicated this (eye-stone).”
Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q002134/
Read the full tablet entry~1850 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
Warad-Sin 31
“(1) Warad-Sin, king of Larsam, child of Kudur-mabuk.”
Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q002135/
Read the full tablet entry~1850 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
Warad-Sin 32
“(1) En-ane-du, en priestess of Nanna in Urim, child of Kudur-mabuk, sibling of Warad-Sin, king of Larsam.”
Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q002136/
Read the full tablet entry~1850 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
Warad-Sin 33
“(1) Rim-Sin, child of Warad-Sin, king of Larsam.”
Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q002137/
Read the full tablet entry~1822 BCE · IM 057849 — National Museum of Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq
SAOC 44, 67
In plain English
Anne-babdu has borrowed one shekel of silver from Suen. Interest is set at one-sixth of a shekel plus six grains per shekel — the standard 20 percent. The loan is to be paid back in the month of Bricks (early summer, when brick-making began). Witnessed by Suen-rabi and Ur-dukuga. Dated to the month of Abu, in the year King Rim-Sin built the temple of Enki in Ur.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 shekel of silver — as interest, 1/6 shekel and 6 grains (per shekel) will be added. From Suen, Anne-babdu received it. In the month of Bricks (Simanu) it is to be repaid. Before Suen-rabi; before Ur-dukuga. Month: NE-NE-gar (Abu). Year: Rim-Sin the king built the temple of Enki in Ur.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-fable-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
A balbale of Inana (Inana A)
In plain English
Inana blazes through battle like a great, ferocious storm, radiating terror and brilliance. Where Enlil has commanded it, she raises up the body and muscle of a lion, and across the south and the highlands her force levels everything like a scythe through grass. Like the storm-god Iškur she overwhelms the proud and mighty warriors of enemy lands, pressing their faces to the ground. The great warrior of kings and queens is called on to restore the shrine of Keš to her, and to force her enemies down before her — though several lines are too damaged or variant to read with certainty.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Great fierce storm, ...... radiance! Inana, emitting fearsomeness and radiance in battle! (1 ms. adds: Inana, playing (?) in battle! Inana, emitting fearsomeness and radiance in battle! ) Where Enlil has commanded it, you make a lion's body and lion's muscles rise up. ...... in the south and in the uplands ...... like grass. Like Ickur ....... Like their proud mighty heroes, you ...... (1 ms. has instead: may they ...... for you) their noses (?) to the ground. May the great (1 ms. has instead: proud) warrior of kings and queens restore for you the shrine Kec. May he make them ...... their noses (?) to the ground for you.”
Source: ETCSL c.4.07.1: A balbale of Inana (Inana A). Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Robson, E. & Zólyomi, G. (eds.), The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.4.07.1
Read the full tablet entry~1800 BCE · Multiple manuscripts across collections; see ETCSL bibliography for witnesses
A balbale to Enki for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan E)
In plain English
The opening line is missing, and several phrases throughout are too damaged to read. What survives praises Enki: his words carry power, he stands foremost among the gods, and he knows everything. He is An's counsellor and adviser to Enlil, the Great Mountain, and his rulings cannot be overturned. Patient and commanding, he rides upon all the divine powers and radiates a fearsomeness like Enlil's own. He is Nudimmud, lord of the holy dais, borne aloft by An and Urac — though the lines that follow are lost or broken.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 line missing ...... in the holy heart ......, ......, whose words are powerful, who ...... decisions. ...... foremost of the gods, omniscient ....... ...... Enki, counsellor of holy An, adviser of the Great Mountain ....... ...... foremost of the gods, omniscient ....... ...... Enki, counsellor of holy An, adviser of the Great Mountain ....... Adviser, whose statements cannot be countermanded, whose ways ...... fearsomeness. Patient-hearted, who rides upon all the divine powers, who ...... like Enlil. Nudimmud ...... holy dais ....... Lord imbued with fearsomeness, borne by An and Urac,…”
Source: ETCSL c.2.5.4.05: A balbale to Enki for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan E). Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Robson, E. & Zólyomi, G. (eds.), The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.2.5.4.05
Read the full tablet entry