Chapter 05 · 2000 – 1600 BCE

Old Babylonian

Hammurabi, the Epic of Gilgamesh, mathematics.

Illustration: A teacher and apprentice working with clay tablets in a Babylonian courtyard
A Babylonian scribal school, around 1750 BCE.

~1925 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Iddin-Dagan 1

“(1) To Ninisina, his lady, Iddin-Dagan, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, dedicated this (statue) for his well-being. (9) Whoever ... order to perform a misdeed ..., may Ninisina, my lady, and Damu, may master, curse him!”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001941/

Read the full tablet entry

~1925 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Iddin-Dagan 2001

“(1) Iddin-Dagan, the powerful man, ...: ..., child of ..., the scribe, is your servant.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001944/

Read the full tablet entry

~1925 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Iddin-Dagan 3

“(1) For Ninlil, the lady of the gods, Iddin-Dagan, the powerful king, fashioned a composite copper statue, set it up before her, and dedicated it to her for his well-being. (6) Whoever gives order to perform a misdeed against this (statue), ... my handiwork, erases this inscription and writes his own name there, or makes another man raise his hand against it on account of this curse, may Nanna, my master, Ninlil, my lady, and Dagan, my personal god, curse him!”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001943/

Read the full tablet entry

~1925 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Išbi-Erra 1

“(1) For Enlil, king of all land, his master, Išbi-Erra, the powerful king, the king of his land, fashioned a lofty balaĝ-drum, which ... the heart, and dedicated it to him for his well-being. (12) The name of this balaĝ-drum is “Išbi-Erra puts (his) trust in Enlil.””

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001920/

Read the full tablet entry

~1925 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Išme-Dagan 01

Royal self-presentation of Išme-Dagan I of Isin, accumulating cultic titles across Nippur, Ur, Eridu, and Uruk to legitimise rule over a fragmented post-Ur III landscape.

“(1) Išme-Dagan, provider of Nibru, steadfast supporter of Urim, tireless servant of Eridug, en priest of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved spouse of Inana.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001945/

Read the full tablet entry

~1925 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Išme-Dagan 02

Royal titulary of Išme-Dagan I of Isin, attesting his claim to en-priesthood of Uruk and spousal relationship with Inana — ideological strategies by which Isin kings legitimised succession to the fallen Ur III empire.

“(1) Išme-Dagan, provider of Nibru, steadfast supporter of Urim, tireless servant of Eridug, en priest of Unug, powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved spouse of Inana.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001946/

Read the full tablet entry

~1925 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Išme-Dagan 03

Names En-ana-tuma as both zirru and en priestess of Nanna at Ur, documenting the rare overlap of two distinct priestly offices in a single woman under Išme-Dagan's reign.

“(1) En-ana-tuma, zirru priestess, en priestess of Nanna in Urim, child of Išme-Dagan, king of Sumer and Akkad.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001947/

Read the full tablet entry

~1925 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Išme-Dagan 04

Identifies En-ana-tuma as both en priestess of Nanna at Ur and daughter of Išme-Dagan, directly linking royal Isin dynastic authority to the prestigious lunar-cult office at its traditional Ur III heartland.

“(1) En-ana-tuma, the beloved en priestess of Nanna in Urim, en priestess of Nanna in Urim, child of Išme-Dagan, king of Sumer and Akkad.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001948/

Read the full tablet entry