Chapter 04 · 2112 – 2004 BCE
Ur III · Neo-Sumerian
A bureaucratic golden age, the Code of Ur-Nammu.
~2050 BCE · Anonymous 464286 — private: anonymous, Barcelona, Spain
AuOr 31, 233 06
In plain English
This receipt logs two personal rations — one for a man named Šu-Iškur, one for a man named Ur-Nanna — each consisting of 3 sila of beer, 2 sila of bread, 2 shekels of oil, 2 shekels of alkali plant, a fish, and a bundle of onions. A further, larger issue follows: 5 ban of bread and 3 ban of ordinary beer plus half a sila of sesame oil, set aside as travel provisions for a group of couriers, handled through the official Ur-Nanna. The tablet is dated to the fourth day of the month of Nesag, in the year after the destruction of Šašrum — that is, the eighth year of King Šu-Sin's reign.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 sila3 beer, 2 sila3 bread, 2 shekels oil, 2 shekels alkali(-plant), 1 fish, 1 bundle of onions: for Šu-Iškur. 3 sila3 beer, 2 sila3 bread, 2 shekels oil, 2 shekels alkali(-plant), 1 fish, 1 bundle of onions: for Ur-Nanna. 5 ban2 bread, 3 ban2 beer — regular (quality), 1/2 sila3 sesame oil, provisions for the runners, via Ur-Nanna. Day 4, month: Nesag, year following: 'Šašrum was destroyed.'”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · SCSU — — Special Collections, Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas, USA
AuOr 32, 175-176
In plain English
This tablet logs a small delivery of animals at the Drehem livestock office. Four creatures — a small duck, a goose, a dove, and a small male marsh-raised pig — were designated as food for 'my lady,' probably the queen or another high-ranking woman. Separately, one more small duck and one more goose died and their carcasses were sent to the palace. The entry is dated to the 17th day of the month and formally recorded as an expenditure, under the authority of the official Ur-lugal-edina. The month was 'ki-siki-Ninazu,' and the year is identified as the one following the year in which the city of Urbilum was destroyed — placing this record in the reign of king Šu-Suen of the Third Dynasty of Ur.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 small duck, 1 goose, 1 turtledove/pigeon, 1 small male marsh-pig (reared in the reed-thicket) — food(-consumption) for my lady; 1 small duck, 1 goose, died (were slaughtered), brought into the palace. From (the beginning of) the month, 17 days had passed — (this is a) booked expenditure. (Responsible official:) Ur-lugal-edina. Month: "ki-siki-Ninazu", year following: "Urbilum was destroyed."”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · I-A-120, 1033 — Šiauliai Aušros Museum, Šiauliai, Lithuania
AuOr 33, 215-220
In plain English
One barig of barley, measured by the royal standard, was recorded and sealed under the authority of Lu-gina during the month called "Harvest." The transaction is dated to the year after the one in which Simurrum and Lullubum were crushed for the ninth time — that is, the 33rd year of King Šulgi's reign. The tablet also carries the seal of the scribe himself, Lu-gina, son of Lu-baba, identifying who recorded and authenticated this small grain entry.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 barig barley, royal (measure). Sealed by Lu-gina. Month: "Harvest" (iti sze-sag11-ku5). Year following the year: "Simurrum and Lullubum were destroyed for the 9th time" (i.e., the year after Šulgi's 32nd year — Šulgi year 33). (Seal inscription:) Lu-gina, scribe, son of Lu-baba.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · I-A-120, 1034 — Šiauliai Aušros Museum, Šiauliai, Lithuania
AuOr 33, 215-220
In plain English
A shipment arrived at the royal livestock depot: twelve sheep fed on pasture grass, seven fat-tailed sheep, one goat credited to a man named Nir-idagal, and one goat credited to a man named E'a-bani. The whole delivery was booked to (or for) Šulgi-simtum, one of the king's wives. The tablet is dated to the year the land of Simurrum was destroyed for the third time — Šulgi's twenty-sixth year on the throne.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“12 grass-fed sheep, 7 fat-tailed sheep, 1 goat: Nir-idagal, 1 goat: E'a-bani, delivery (mu-kux(DU)) of Šulgi-simtum. Year: “Simurrum was destroyed for the third time” (i.e., Šulgi year 26).”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · I-A-120, 1035 — Šiauliai Aušros Museum, Šiauliai, Lithuania
AuOr 33, 215-220
In plain English
One sheep — classed as a 'gu4-e-us2-sa' animal — died, and its carcass was brought into the palace for processing. The loss was recorded three days into the month, entered as an expenditure under the official Abi-latum's account. The record is dated to the month of the Šulgi festival, in the year that Šašrum was destroyed.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 sheep, (of the) gu4-e-us2-sa (class), died; (it) was brought into the palace. From the (start of the) month, 3 days having passed — expenditure (booked) of Abi-latum. Month: festival of Šulgi. Year: Šašrum was destroyed.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · BM 012655 — British Museum, London, UK
BAOM 2, 26 24
In plain English
This tablet is a receipt for grain rations. Thirty-three workers each got one barig of barley measured by the royal standard, and five junior workers each got four ban2 — seven gur, one barig, and two ban2 of barley in total. These are workers who don't have their own barley supply; they're attached to the vizier's household. The grain came from Bazi, and Ur-igalim, son of Magurre, signed for receiving it. This happened in the month of the Dumuzi festival, drawn from the granary at Uru'a, and was moved under the supervision of a man named Kudamu. The transaction is dated to the year after Simurrum and Lulubum were destroyed — a standard Ur III year-name formula.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“33 workers (gurusz): 1 barig barley, royal (measure), each. 5 junior workers (erin2-tur-tur): 4 ban2 each. Its barley: 7 gur, 1 barig, 2 ban2. Workers who have no barley (of their own) — they belong to the household of the sukkal (vizier). From Bazi, Ur-igalim, son of Magurre, received (it). Month: festival of Dumuzi. From the granary of Uru'a, via Kudamu. Year following: 'Simurrum and Lulubum were destroyed.'”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · BM 012479 — British Museum, London, UK
BAOM 2, 30 61
In plain English
Four gur, one barig, and three ban of barley — barley from the workhouse account, sourced via the fisherman — were issued as rations to three workers, charged against the temple of Igalim. The grain came from Lu-Ningirsu's account, was certified under the seal of Lu-Ninšubur, and delivered by the courier Ka'amu. Recorded in the month of Amar-a-a-si, in the year that En-amgal, priestess of Inanna, was installed in office. The document was drawn up by the scribe Lu-Ninšubur, son of Ur-Nanše.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“4 gur 1 barig 3 ban2 barley — barley of the workhouse, from the fisherman; fodder-rations for the labor-troops, 3 of them (recipients); (the account of) the temple of Igalim; from Lu-Ningirsu; under seal of Lu-Ninšubur; via Ka'amu; month: Amar-a-a-si; year: En-amgal of Inanna was installed (as en-priestess). Lu-Ninšubur, scribe, son of Ur-Nanše.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · BM 014751 — British Museum, London, UK
BM 014751
In plain English
This receipt logs a fish shipment at the Drehem depot: 4 gur 1 barig of fish entered as returned stock, plus 6 gur 4 barig 4 ban2 of dried fish. Separately, 1,252 fish of good quality and 1,104 fish of ordinary quality were handed out as pay for assigned labor. The fish came from a man named Lu-Ninšubur, under the supervision of foreman Warad-mu, and the whole delivery was formally booked in and received by a man called Ur-mes. The transaction is dated to day 24 of the harvest month, in the year that Simurrum and Lullubu were destroyed for the ninth time.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“4 gur, 1 barig of fish — returned goods (nig2-ki-gur2). 6 gur, 4 barig, 4 ban2 of dried(?) fish (ku6-šeš/šeg6). 1,252 (fish): good-quality allotment. 1,104 (fish): ordinary allotment. — labor/wages for task-work (a2 geš-gar-ra). From Lu-Ninšubur. Foreman: Warad-mu. Booked in as delivery (mu-DU). Ur-mes received (it). Month: "Harvest" (ševa-sag-ku), day 24. Year: "Simurrum (and) Lullubu were destroyed for the 9th time."”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry