Read Chronology Themes Tablets Engine About

Menu

Read
Chronology
Themes
Tablets
Engine
About

Sumerian · Book

Reading the tablets…

A curated narrative reconstruction of humanity's first great civilization, sourced from the tablets themselves. Open scholarship, beautifully accessible.

The site

About the project The engine Dossiers FAQ Methodology Sources & licensing Provenance & ethics Contact & support

Legal

Privacy policy Terms of use llms.txt Sitemap

Independent scholarship · No academic affiliation · No institutional funding · Tablet imagery attributed per item via CDLI, ETCSL, ORACC, Wikimedia, and public museum collections.

Home
All tablets

The corpus

All tablets.

Every tablet in the corpus — sortable by date, title or period; filterable by theme and period. Use the controls below or change the URL parameters directly.

Search

Sort

Oldest first Newest first Title (A–Z)By period

Theme

Religion & Myth Law Economy Astronomy & Mathematics Daily Life Writing & Literature

Period

Ubaid Uruk Period Early Dynastic Akkadian Empire Ur III · Neo-Sumerian Old Babylonian Old Assyrian Middle Babylonian Middle Assyrian Neo-Assyrian Neo-Babylonian Achaemenid Persian

Source

Editorial Sumerian literature Sumerian royal Assyrian royal Assyrian archives

1,746 of 102,257 tablets · 4 filters activeClear filters

851–900 of 1746

Page 18 / 35

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 053

Sargon II's own account of founding Dūr-Šarrukīn (modern Khorsabad) anchors the date and royal ideology behind one of antiquity's few purpose-built capital cities, completed c. 706 BCE.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 054

Records Sargon II's founding of Dūr-Šarrukīn and the explicit theological rationale — divine favor securing his reign — behind building temples to Sîn and Šamaš within the new capital.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 076

Attests Sargon II's claim to have restored the šubarrû tax-exemption privileges of Sippar, Nippur, and Babylon — a calculated bid for Babylonian loyalty after his controversial seizure of power.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 082

Heavily fragmented royal inscription invoking Ea the creator alongside Sargon II's epithets: one of the manuscript witnesses preserving the theological vocabulary by which Sargonid kings legitimised their rule.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 083

Records the king of Meluḫḫa (Kush/Egypt) surrendering the fugitive Iāmānī in chains — the sole cuneiform witness to Assyrian diplomatic reach touching the Nile Valley in the 8th century BCE.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 085

Documents Sargon II's founding of Dūr-Šarrukīn and the installation of seven major deities in its temple Eḫursaggalkurkurra, linking imperial city-building directly to divine legitimation.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 086

Sargon II's own account of his campaign against Merodach-Baladan II attests the Assyrian siege of Dūr-Yakīn (~710 BCE) and the Chaldean king's defensive tactic of withdrawing troops behind a second perimeter ten nindanu from the main wall.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 087

Records Sargon II restoring captive Babylonians of Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, and Borsippa to freedom and repossessing their fields from Sutian squatters — a calculated display of Assyrian benevolence toward the ancient Babylonian cult cities.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 089

Addresses Aššur as 'the Assyrian Enlil' whose judgment is absolute and whose oath cannot be broken — anchoring Sargon II's royal authority directly in cosmic law rather than mere military conquest.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 090

Dedicatory inscription to Anunītu, a martial aspect of Ištar, attesting Sargon II's cultivation of this relatively rare goddess as a personal divine patron during his reign.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 091

Attests Sargon II's campaigns against the Chaldean tribes of the southern marshes, situating Assyrian royal ideology — conquest legitimized by divine favor — within a rare coastal-frontier context.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 092

Documents Sargon II renovating a Nabû-and-Marduk temple at a northern gate, citing a 75-year structural failure since Adad-nārārī III's repair — concrete evidence of Assyrian kings invoking building history to legitimise their own piety.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 095

Sargon II dedicates a temple to Nabû and Marduk — Babylonian gods — listing five explicit royal goals, evidence that Assyrian kings cultivated Babylonian divine patronage to legitimize rule over the south.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 096

Attests Sargon II's construction of a Nabû temple at Nineveh, anchoring the scribal god's cult within the city a generation before Nineveh became Assyria's imperial capital.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 1006

Preserves fragmentary benedictions from a Sargon II royal inscription — a temple renovation dedication with curses against future desecrators and prayers for dynastic continuity, attesting the formulaic ideology binding Assyrian kingship to divine favour.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 101

One of Sargon II's royal inscriptions attesting Assyrian military activity near Qarqar — a site already famous as the battlefield of 853 BCE — extending the documentary record of Assyrian westward campaigns in the late eighth century.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 110

Stamps royal ownership in the formulaic idiom of Sargonid self-presentation — 'king of the world, king of Assyria' — one of the titulary witnesses that collectively map how Sargon II projected authority across his empire.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 123

Records Sargon II's restoration of Imgur-Enlil, Babylon's great circuit wall, casting an Assyrian conqueror as pious benefactor of Marduk's city — a calculated legitimation strategy after his seizure of Babylonia in 710 BCE.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 004

Continued from several unpreserved slabs (1') I shattered their very strong walls [wi]th a mighty battering ram, leveling (them) to the gr[ou]nd. I took as booty [the people], [together] with their property. I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned down those cities with fire. (3') The people of the cities Sukkia, Bāla (and) Abitikna conceived (lit.: “deliberated”) an evil plan [that] was to eradicate (lit.: “to tear out the root of”) (their own) land and [g]ave [the]ir word to Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, to do obeisance (to him). Because of the crime that they had committed, I deported them…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 005

Continued from several unpreserved slabs (1') [... I offe]red [before them ... geese (and) ducks. I appealed to them (the gods)] in order to bring about the defeat of Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan), descendant of Yakīn, of Chalde[an] extraction, [the (very) image of an evil gallû-demon;] I prayed t[o the]m [with supplications and entre]aties. After I had carried out in full the festival of the great lord, the god Marduk, [...] Continued on several unpreserved slabs

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 007

(1) Pal[ac]e of Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Ak[k]ad, favorite of the great gods. (3b) The gods Aššur, Nabû (and) Marduk granted me a reign without equal and exalted my good reputation to the heights. (5b) I continually acted as provider for (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, and Borsippa (and) I made restitution for the wrongful damage suffered by the people of privileged status, as many as there were (of them); I abolished corvée duty for (the cities) Dēr, Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kullaba,…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 010

(1) Palace of Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; (5) the king who with the support of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk ruled all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the sea, as far as the border(s) of Egypt (and) the land Musku, the wide land Amurru, the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety, (10) all of (the land) Gutium, the distant Medes (who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the lands Ellipi (and) Rāši on the border of the land Elam, all the Arameans who live…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 011

(1) Palace of Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; (3) the king who with the support of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk ruled all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the Western Sea, (5) as far as the border(s) of Egypt and the land Musku, the wide land Amurru, the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety, all of (the land) Gutium, the distant Medes (who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the lands Ellipi (and) Rāši on the border of the land Elam, (10) all the Arameans who live beside the…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 012

(1) Palace of Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; (4) the king who with the support of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, ruled (lit.: “I ruled”) all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the Western Sea, as far as the border(s) of Egypt and the land Musku, the wide land Amurru, the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety, (10) all of (the land) Gutium, the distant Medes (who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the lands Ellipi (and) Rāši on the border of the land Elam, all the Arameans who live…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 013

(1) Palace of Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, favorite of the great gods; (5) who provides for (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, (and) Babylon; who abolished corvée duty for (the cities) Dēr, Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kullaba, Kissik, (and) Nēmed-Laguda (and) who gave relief to their people; who (re)-established the privileged status (10) of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) that had lapsed; who extended his protection over the city Ḫarrān and recorded their exemption (from obligations) as if (its people…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 014

(1) Palace of Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, favorite of the great gods. (4b) I continually act[ed] as provider for (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, and Borsippa; I [(re)-established] the freedom (from obligations) of (the cities) Dēr, Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kulla[ba], Kissik, (and) Nēmed-La[gu]da. I restored the exemption (from obligations) of (the city) [Bal]til (Aššur) (10) and [the city] Ḫarrā[n], which had fallen into [oblivion] in the distant [pa]st, and [their privile]ged status…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 015

(1') [With ... provincial governors of] my [land], ov[erseers, command]ers, noble[s, eunuch]s, and el[ders of Assyria, I sat down] insi[de my palace and h]eld a fest[ival.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 016

(1) O god Ninurta, the one endowed with (lit.: “lord of”) power, whose strength is supreme, with regard to S[ar]gon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Su[me]r and Akkad, the one who constructed your cella, make him attain old age. May he be fully satisfied with (his) good fortune. (5) Establish his reign firmly [in]side Esagila and Ešarra. Keep his thoroughbred horses in good order (and) his (chariot) teams in good condition. Grant him [un]equaled strength (and) manly might. Mobilize his weapons so that he might strike down his foes.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 017

(1) O god Ninšiku (Ea), the lord of wisdom who fashions absolutely everything, make your springs open up for Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, the one who constructed your cella. (5) Send forth (water from) his wells (and) provide water in great abundance for his meadowland(s). Determine as his fate wide intelligence (and) broad understanding. Bring his undertaking(s) to completion so that he might attain his desire.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 018

(1) O god Sîn, the holy god, who renders decisions (and) reveals (ominous) signs, with regard to Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, the one who constructed your cella, duly look at him with your steadfast heart and (5) direct your just countenance upon him. Grant him a long life (lit.: “distant days”) of physical well-being. Determine as his fate years of happiness. Make his reign last as long as heaven and netherworld. Establish his throne firmly over the four quarters (of the world).

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRIAo

Sargon II 019

(1) O god Adad, the canal inspector of heaven and netherworld, who illuminates the daises, with regard to Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, the one who constructed your cella, bring him at the right times rain from the sky (and) (5) floods from the depths. Pile up grain and oil in his meadowland(s). Have his people dwell (as safely) as in a meadow in great prosperity. Establish the foundation of his throne firmly (and) prolong his reign.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 020

(1) O most honored of ladies, exalted goddess Ningal, with regard to Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, the one who constructed your cella, intercede for him in the presence of the god Sîn, your beloved husband. (5) Say good thing(s) about him for the [firm] establishment of his reign. May he (Sîn) determine as his fate good health (and) a long life (lit.: “distant days”). May his (Sargon’s) descendants rule every inhabited region forever.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 022

(1) O god Nabû, the scribe of all (the universe), who makes opposing forces agree, with regard to Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, (and) king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, the one who constructed your cella, (5) duly look at him with your steadfast heart and direct your just countenance upon him. Grant him a long life (lit.: “distant days”) of physical well-being. Determine as his fate years of happiness. Make his reign last as long (10) as heaven and netherworld. May he continually exercise the shepherdship of all lands. May his foundation be as firm as…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 034

(1) ... of the city Pad[dira] ... of the city [... (and)] Aššur-lēʾi [of the land] Karal[la ...] I put ir[on] fetters on th[eir] hands and feet [...]

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 035

(1) I flayed [the sk]in from Ia<ū>-biʾ[dī (Ilu-biʾdī) of the land Hama]th.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 036

(1) I surrounded (and) conquered the city Muṣaṣir.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 037

(1) The city Pazaši, a fortress of the land Mannea which is (located) in front of the p[a]ss (leading) to the land Zikirtu.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 039

(1) I surrounded (and) conquered the city Kišešlu.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 040

(1) I surrounded (and) conquered ...

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 041

(1) Palace of Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest of (the god) Aššur, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), favorite of the great gods; (2b) who (re)-established the šubarrû-privileges of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, (and) Babylon, (and) protects the weak among them (lit.: “their weak ones”); who provides food for the destitute (and) made restitution for the wrongful damage suffered by them; who (re)established (5) the privileged status of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) that had lapsed, who abolished corvée duty for (the…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 042

(1) Palace of Sargon, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters (of the world), favorite of the great gods; (4b) the king who with the support of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk ruled all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the Western Sea, as far as Egypt and the land Musku, the wide land Amurru, the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety, all of the land Gutium, the distant Medes (who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the lands Ellipi (and) (10) Rāši on the…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 044

(1) Pa[lace of Sa]rgon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest of (the god) Aššur, [great k]in[g], strong [kin]g, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quar[ters] (of the world), favorite of the great gods; (4) [jus]t shephe[rd], (one) to whom the gods Aššur and Marduk granted a [reign] without equal and whose re[putat]ion (these gods) exalted to the heights; (7) [who (re)-established] the šubarrû-privileges of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, (and) [Babyl]on, protects the weak among them (lit.: “their weak ones”), (and) [makes] restitution for the wrongful damage suffered…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 045

(1) Palace of Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest of the god Aššur, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; king who ruled the four quarters (of the world), from east to west, and set governors (over them). (8) At that time, in accordance with my heart’s desire, I built a city on the outskirts of Nineveh, at the foot of Mount Muṣri, and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. (12b) I erected dwelling(s) for the gods Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, (and) Ninurta, the great gods, my lords, (15) inside it. I had images of their great divine majesties skillfully made and installed (them) on…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 046

(1) Palace of Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest of the god Aššur, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; (5) king who ruled the four quarters (of the world), from east to west, and set governors (over them). (9b) In accordance with my heart’s desire, I built a city at the foot of Mount Muṣri and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. (14) I erected dwelling(s) for the gods Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, and Ninurta inside it. The god Ninšiku (Ea), the creator of everything, fashioned images of their great divine majesties and they occupied (their) daises. (22) I built inside it (the…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 047

(1) Palace of Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, vice-regent for (the god) Aššur, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; king who ruled the four quarters (of the world), from east to west, and set governors (over them). (7b) At that time, I built a city on the outskirts of Nineveh, at the foot of Mount Muṣri, (10) and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. (11b) I erected dwelling(s) for the gods Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, (and) Ninurta, the great gods, inside it. (14) I built inside it palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, (15) boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, (and)…

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 048

(1') I named [it Dūr-Šarrukīn. I erected dwelling(s) for the gods Ea], Sîn, Šamaš, A[dad, (and) Ninurta, the great gods], my lords, ins[ide it]. I had images of [their great] divi[ne majesties] skillfully made an[d installed (them) on] (their) etern[al] dais(es). (6'b) [I built inside it (the city) palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory], ebony, boxwood, m[usukkann]u-wood, [cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and terebinth].

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 049

(1) To the Sebetti, warrior(s) without equa[l], Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, set up and presented (this object).

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 051

(1) Palace of Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, builder of the city Dūr-Šarrukīn.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 052

(1) I, Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, built a city in accordance with my heart’s desire and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. I built inside it a palace that was according to my wishes (and) that had no equal in the four quarters (of the world).

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

~715 BCE·Neo-AssyrianRINAP 2

Sargon II 055

(1) Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, built the temple of the gods Sîn (and) Šamaš, his lords, that is inside the city Dūr-Šarrukīn from its foundations to its crenellations (5) for the sake of his life, the firm establishment of his reign, the success of the harvest of Assyria, (and) the well-being of Assyria.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

1…17 18 19…35