All tablets.

SAA 16 226. (no title) (CT 53 696)

(1) [...... the ki]ng (2) [......] Nabû (Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)

SAA 16 227. (no title) (CT 53 698)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) 5 [......] (2) all this [......] (3) that [......] (Rest destroyed)

Daily Life·Economy

SAA 16 228. (no title) (CT 53 705)

(1) [To the king, my lord]: your servant [PN]. Good health t[o the king, my lord]! (4) Kabtî [...] has said: "[......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 16 229. We Shall Stay Awake (CT 53 713)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) [......] we shall stay awake (Break) (r 2) [......] month (r 3) [......] him (Rest destroyed)

SAA 16 230. (no title) (CT 53 714)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [Concerning what the kin]g, my lord, [pr]eviousl[y wrot]e to me [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 16 245. (no title)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [... the o]ther ones [...] (2) [...] we do [n]ot know. N[ow the]n, the king (4) [... i]mage [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 16 246. (no title)

(1) The very [best of health] to the kin[g, my lord]! (3) [May] Na[bû ......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 16 021. Treacherous Astrologers (Iraq 34 21)

(1) To the king, m[y] lord: your servant Šamaš-šumu-ukin. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord. (5) Šaridu (and) Nabû-ahhe-ereš, citizens of Babylon, (and) Bel-iddina, a citizen of Borsippa, have sent me the (following) letter: (9) "The king concluded a treaty with us concerning you: 'Tell your lord whatever you hear!' Now, Bel-eṭir (and) Šamaš-zeru-iqiša have neglected the order the king gave them (and) are acting on their own. Aplaya, whom the king sent (with the command): 'Go (and) set up sanctuaries in Babylon!', has made common cause with them.…

SAA 16 042. Governor Appropriates a Royal Gift (ABL 0415)

(1) To the king, our lord: your servants Ṣallaya, major domo, (and) Asalluhi-ereš, scribe. Good health to the king, our lord! May Nabû (and) Marduk bless the king, our lord. (8) The governors have squandered the household of our lord, (and) the king does not know. The governor of Arrapha has taken away the gift which the king gave to our lord. May it be known to the king, our lord, that the household of our lord has been squandered. (r 4) The king knows that our lord does not argue with his adversary; and when we litigate, they mistreat us. May the king entrust us to someone of his entourage,…

SAA 16 045. Complaints from Naṣibina (ABL 1371)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) The scribe [...] left [his post and did not do] the king's work, saying: "Why [...] my father?" (4) They ap[pointed] me in his stead, (and) I stood by and [served] your father. I [...ed] in Naṣibina, [GN] (and) Hamedê; I [did] work for the king (and) [gave] booty to the king. (10) Last year in Tebet (X), [when I was] in the presence of the king, my lord, [...] report of the Palace [...]. I exacted silver from the me[rchants] and [gave] it to the king. (15) The [...] of the king, [my] lord, [...] had no[t] yet [...], [...] to Barhalza, (when) the scribe returned to my…

SAA 16 061. Partial Duplicate of No. 60 (CT 53 938)

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-rehtu-uṣur. May Bel and Belet, Nabû and Tašmetu, Ištar of] Nineveh and Ištar of [Arbela, your gods who] called [you by name to kings]hip, [keep you alive]! (4) [Those who sin against] your father's [goodness, your father's and your own] treaty, and who [plot] against your life, shall be placed [in yo]ur [hands], and you will delete th[eir] seed [from Assyria and from] your [pala]ce! (8) [This] is the word [of Mullis]su; the king, my lord, should n[ot] be ne[glectful] about it. (10) [On the 6th o]f Marchesvan (VIII) I had a vi[sion]: "[...] spend…

SAA 16 075. A Crime Committed (CT 53 954)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) [......] is there [...]? [...] months (4) [... W]hen did he sit [...]? (5) [......] ... he committed a crime (6) [...... h]e commits (a crime) (7) [......] which he has done (8) [... the ...] of the king, my lord, (9) [...... go]es down. The king [has ...] to his servant [...] (10) [......] they [s]hould return (11) [...... w]hat [......] (Reverse too broken for translation)

SAA 16 077. Instructions for a Battle (CT 53 958)

(Beginning destroyed) (r 1) [Until ...] se[nds ..., the king, my lord], may rely on it. (r 3) Give [orders to] your magnates and station their [...]! The king, my lord, should not advance [to the b]attle. [Just a]s your royal fathers have done, st[ay] on the hill, and [let] your [ma]gnates [do] the bat[tle]. (r 9) [The king], my lord [......] (r 10) [... o]f [his] servant [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 16 091. Candidates for Courtiers (ABL 0875)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) I have [n]ot seen [...]. As to [......] (3) [...] ... [...] (4) who (are) to be given [...] to tut[orship ...] (or) t[o c]ourtiership [...]. (6) Furthermore, he says: "[PN], the entrance supervisor (and) Man[nu-ki-...], the supervisor of the storehouse, who [...] (9) to him alone good [...] (10) are appointing [...] (r 1) But Nabû-šallim-[..., the ...] in charge of the main buildings, [has laid] his arm in [...]. (r 4) Balassu, the [...], Bel-šarru-uṣur, [the ...], Nabû-remanni, [the ...], Adunu-Mil[kuti, the ...] (and) Pan-Nabû-la[mur, the ...]; all these five (men)…

SAA 16 092. Drink on the Accounts! (ABL 0874)

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant PN. Good health to the king, my lord]! May Bel (and) Nabû bless [the king], my lord. (6) As to what the king, [my] lor[d] told me: "Chec[k] and test the upper part of the aṣūdu-bowl and thereafter dri[nk] on the accounts!" (11) If it is acceptable to the [king], my lord, [let] the [...] vizier and the chief [......] the (royal) del[egate ...] (Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)

SAA 16 110. (no title) (CT 53 960)

(1) [To the king, m]y [lord: your servant] Ubru-Nabû. [Good health t]o the king, my lord! [May Nabû and Mardu]k [bl]ess the king, m[y] lord. (6) [When B]el-iqiša [went] to the cit[y of ...] (Break) (r 2) [...] gods of the king (r 3) [...] ... [...] (r 4) [... whi]ch in [his] mouth [...] (r 5) [...] to the king, [my] lo[rd], (r 6) [I have se]nt

SAA 16 133. Fragment Referring to Damascus (ABL 1421)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...... o]f the crown prince (2) [...... o]f the chief judge (3) [...... the m]agnates (4) [......] Assyrian [...]s (5) [......] to Damascus (6) [...... the ...]s of Damascus (7) [...... which] they give (8) [......] the (city) gates (9) [...... will re]ceive (Rest destroyed)

SAA 16 148. Deserters from Mannea Sent to the Crown Prince (ABL 0434)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Aššur-ušallim. Good health to the king, my lord! May Aššur, Šamaš, Bel, Nabû, Nergal, Laṣ, Išum, Adad and Ber, (and) the great gods of heaven and earth bless the king, my lord, the crown prince of Assyria and the crown prince of Babylon a thousand times very greatly. (9) As to the garrisons appointed to the fortresses of Urarṭu, Mannea, Media (and) Hubuškia, about whom the king, my lord, wrote to me: (13) "Give them orders and make it very clear to them that they must not be negligent in their guard duty. Moreover, let them pay attention to the deserters…

SAA 16 156. Fragment Referring to Akkad (CT 53 972)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) [...... the land of] Akkad [...] (3) [......] there is [...] (4) [......] ... [...] (5) [......] Place (pl.) [...]! (Rest destroyed)

SAA 16 164. Explaining Asakku (CT 53 952)

(1) [To the king, my lord: your] se[rvant PN]. Good hea[lth to the king, my lord! May] Nabû [and Marduk bless the king, my] lo[rd]. (6) Conce[rning the ... about which the king, my lord], wr[ote to me], saying, "May [they] wr[ite] ... [for me] — (10) Asakku [...] (11) power + sceptre [...] (12) Asakku [...]

SAA 16 180. (no title) (ABL 1399)

(1) To the king, [my] lord: your servant Marduk-bani-[...]. Good health to the king, [my] lo[rd]! May Nabû (and) Marduk bless the king m[y lord]. (Rest destroyed)

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 8

SAA 08 112. Gemini and Perseus in Lunar Halo (MelGar 129) [planetary]

(1) When I was sent to the Inner City, I made my observations, came back and report[ed] to the king: "The loin is not being offered to Aššur." (4) The king, my lord, got angry and said: "They should resume offering it." (5) Last year I wrote to the king, [my] lord, and told (them): "The king, my lord, gave me the order (personally)." Afterwards they wrote to the Go[ver]nor: "Write down the words of Akkull[anu] and those (with him); they are lyi[ng]." (9) [The k]ing, my lord, did not decide (the matter). [What is it] that the king says now? (r 1) [To]night the moon was surrounded by a halo,…

Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 8

SAA 08 234. Hemerology for Ab 27-29 (CT 53 916) [calendrical]

(1) The 27th of Ab (V): let him [libate] fine beer, the gods will be favorable. (3) The 29th day: let him erect midribs of the date palm at his gate, he will prevail over his adversary. (r 1) [...] of Šakkan. (r 2) ashar stone for daubing.

SAA 10 001. Enthroning a Substitute King (ABL 0332) [from astrologers]

(1) [To] the 'farmer,' [our] lord: your [servants] Nabû-zeru-leš[ir], [Ad]ad-šumu-uṣur, Nabû-šumu-[iddina], [Urad]-Ea and Issar-šumu-[ereš]. [Good hea]lth to [our lo]rd! (Break) (r 3) We [shall go] to Nineveh.

SAA 10 002. The Substitute King Reveals a Conspiracy (ABL 0223) [from astrologers]

(1) To the 'farmer,' my lord: your servant Nabû-zeru-lešir. Good health to my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless my lord for many years! (6) I wrote down whatever signs there were, be they celestial, terrestrial or of malformed births, and had them recited in front of Šamaš, one after the other. They (the substitute king and queen) were treated with wine, washed with water and anointed with oil; I had those birds cooked and made them eat them. The substitute king of the land of Akkad took the signs on himself. (14) He cried out: "Because of what ominous sign have you enthroned a substitute…

SAA 10 004. Substitute King Ascends Throne in Akkad (CT 53 206) [from astrologers]

(Beginning destroyed) (3) [... entered the city of] Akkad and ascended (the throne). (5) I [...] in the city of Akkad; the foundation stone has been complet[ely] bui[lt in ...]; they are p[roducing] the bricks. (r 3) I have given the ord[ers and they are doing (the work)]. (r 4) If [my] lo[rd commands, ... in] the palace (r 6) [the substitute k]ing [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 10 005. Auspicious Days for Treaty Ceremonies (ABL 0384) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (8) The 20th, the 22nd and the 25th are good days for concluding the treaty. We shall undertake (that) they may conclude it whenever the king, my lord, says.

SAA 10 006. Convening Scribes for Treaty Ceremonies (ABL 0386) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) The scribes of the cities of Nin[eveh], Kilizi and Arbela (could) ent[er] the treaty; they have (already) come. (However), those of Assur [have] not (yet) [come]. The king, my lord, [knows] that they are cler[gymen]; (15) If it suits the king, my lord, let the former who have (already) come, enter the treaty; the citizens of Nineveh and Calah would be free soon and could enter (the treaty) under (the statues of) Bel and Nabû on the 8th day. (r 1)…

SAA 10 007. Scholars to Enter the Treaty (ABL 0033) [from astrologers]

(1) [To] the king, my lord: your [servant] Issar-šumu-ereš. [Good] health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) The scribes, the haruspices, the exorcists, the physicians and the augurs staying in the palace and living in the city will enter the treaty on the 16th of Nisan (I). (r 1) Now, let them conclude the treaty tomorrow.

SAA 10 008. Omens from Retrograding Planets (ABL 0519) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to [the ki]ng, my lord! May Nabû [and Marduk] bless [the king], my lord! (5) Con[cerning what the king, my lo]rd, wrote to me: "[Why] have you never told me [the truth]? [When] will you (actually) tell me [all] that there is to it?" — [Aššur, Sin, Šamaš, B]el, Nabû, [Jupiter, Venus, Sat]urn, [Mercury, Mars], Sirius and [...] be my witnesses [that] I [have never] untruly (14) [......] the word (15) [... to] the king, my lord (16) [...... signs which] have occurred in the sky (17) [......] Jupiter (18) [......] backwards (19)…

SAA 10 009. A Royal Funeral (ABL 0670) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Ask Bel-naṣir, Bel-ipuš and (other) Babylonians whom you know" — I asked them, and they said to me as follows: "An hour after sunrise, the display takes place; an hour and a half after sunrise, [the disp]lay takes place again. [Thereafter] your [bu]rnt-offering [is made]; the display [...] (Break) (r 1) Bel-i[puš] said [as fol]lows: "When the display has been finished, two torches should be moved past the place…

SAA 10 010. Earthquake in Nineveh (ABL 0034) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [my lord]: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, [my lo]rd! [May] Nabû and Marduk [bless] the king, my lord! (5) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "What apotropaic ritual is there?" — there is the apotropaic ritual against earthquake, and it should be performed; [...] should enter the Review Palace. The following (is) [what] is said abo[ut the matter] in the tablet: (11) [If ......, ...] will stay ... (12) [If ......], in that year the prince [......] (Break) (r 2) [... ever]ybody has now [...] (r 3) [...]ed, picked up [...], and ...... (r 5) The king…

SAA 10 011. Transferring Evil Omens to a Substitute (CT 53 593) [from astrologers]

(1) [To] my [lord]: [your servant Issar-šumu-e]reš. [Good health to] my lord! [May Nabû and] Marduk bless [my lord]! (6) [As to what my lord wr]ote to me: "[Let him hear the signs] in front of the [Šam]aš!" — I waited for [...] (10) I saw [...], he saw [...]. (12) [Wh]atever I did not see [but] is known to my lord (14) [...] himself (15) [...] revealed (16) [... a]s follows (Rest destroyed)

SAA 10 012. Enthroning a Substitute King (ABL 0676) [from astrologers]

(1) To my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless my lord! (6) Concerning the substitute king [about whom] my lord wrote to me, [M]a[rs is em]erging [fr]om the Breast [of Scorpius ......] (Break) (r 1) [Concerning the s]igns [about which my lord w]rote to me, [after] we had enthroned him, we had him hear them in front of Šamaš. Furthermore, yesterday I had him hear them again, and I bent down and bound them in his hem. Now I shall again do as my lord wrote to me.

SAA 10 013. Royal Statues for Harran (ABL 0036) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, [my lord]! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) Concerning the royal statues in the city of Harran, about which the king, my lord, wrote [to me]: "Write out for me the favourable month and day on which they should enter (the city), and also the place where they should stand" — [the month ...] is auspicious for the transportation and the [set]ting up (of the statues). [The relevant] interpretation is [as follo]ws: (Break) (r 2) If it [is acceptable] to the king, my lord, the large royal statues should…

SAA 10 014. The Cella of Nusku (ABL 0673) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (8) Concerning the cella of Nusku, about which the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Look up a favourable day, and also write down and send me how it should be erected" — (r 1) Sivan (III) would have been a good month and the 17th a good day. (However) now the month is completely gone, (so) when can they do it? (r 7) Elul (VI) is a good month: it is (really) the month for it. During it they should make it, and also during it they should erect it.

SAA 10 015. Any Curses Written There? (ABL 0031) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (7) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Has any curse been written there?" — (12) I have checked and there is none. A curse has (definitely) not been written.

SAA 10 016. Blessings to the Queen Mother (ABL 0677) [from astrologers]

(1) To the mother of the king, [my lord]: your servant Issar-šumu-[ereš]. Good health to the mother of the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the mother of the king, my lord! (Break) (r 2) May Mullissu best[ow ...] and give long-lasting days, happin[ess] and joy [...] to the king, [the crown prince], and the progeny of [the queen mother]!

SAA 10 017. The Queen Mother’s Curse (CT 53 084) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (r 1) [The verdict of the mother of the king, my lord], is as final as that of the gods. What you bless, is blessed; what you curse, is cursed. (r 6) Concerning what the mother of the k[ing], my lord, wrote to me: "What [...] (Remainder lost)

SAA 10 018. Display Ceremonies in Arbela (ABL 0035) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-eres. Good health to the king, my lord! (5) [Con]cerning what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "The present day, [t]omorrow, and the day after tomorrow, these are (the days) [of] the displays!" — (12) on [the ...]th [day] the king, my lord, said as follows about the old displays: "In Arbela, the display should take place from the 27th till the 29th day."

SAA 10 019. Dates of the Festival of Tammuz (ABL 1097) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (2) are empty [......] (3) are not there [......] (4) On the 26th the god [...], on the 27th the god [...], on the 28th the god Ta[mmuz ...]. (7) On the morning of the 26th they introduce [...] and the dis[play] takes place; on the 2[7th and the 28th they do] likewise. This is for the city of Assur. (r 1) On the 26th: the wailing; on the 27th: the redemption; on the 28th: Tammuz. This is the way the display takes place in Nineveh. (r 4) In Calah, the display (takes place) on the 27th and the 28th in like manner. (r 6) In [Arbe]la, the displays [take place] on the 27th, the 28t…

SAA 10 022. (no title) (ABL 0675) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [my lo]rd: your servant Issar-šumu-[ereš]. Good health to the king, [my lord]! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, [my] lord! (7) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Aššur-mukin-[paleya ...] (Rest destroyed or too fragmentary for translation)

SAA 10 023. Refuting a Sighting of Mercury (ABL 0037) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-šumu-ereš. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "One of your colleagues wrote to me: the planet Mercury will be visible in the month Nisan (I). What do you take the present month to be?" — we take the present month to be Adar (XII) and we take this day to be the 25th. (13) [...]... (14) [The person who] wrote this [... to the king, my lord, ...] (Break) (r 3) "An incompetent one can frustrate [a j]udge, an uneducated one can make the mighty worry" — this is…

SAA 10 024. An Incident During Bel’s Return to Babylon (ABL 0032) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, our lord: your servants Issar-šumu-ereš, Adad-šumu-uṣur and Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, our lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, our lord! (7) On the 18th day the god Bel, together with his divine escort, was in the city of Labbanat. Everything was just fine. (9) Bel-eriba and Nergal-šallim, servants of the household of the crown prince, under the jurisdiction of the governor of the city of Šamaš-naṣir, were attending, in Labbanat, to a strong horse harnessed in trappings of the land of Kush for the (ceremonial) entrance into the city (of Babylon).…

SAA 10 025. Taking Countermeasures after a Solar Eclipse (ABL 0674) [from astrologers]

(1) [To] our [lord: your servants] Issar-šumu-ereš, [Urad]-Ea, and [Marduk]-šakin-šumi. The best [of he]alth [to] our lord! [May Nabû and] Marduk bless our lord! (10) [In accordance with what] our lord [wr]ote to us: "[on the 29]th day, a solar [eclipse took place," — we shall p]erform the pertinent [apotropaic ritual; somebody should s]it (on the throne) [and remo]ve [your evil].

SAA 10 028. (no title) (ABL 0041) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [my lord]: your servant Issar-šu[mu-ereš]. Good health to the king, [my lord]! May Nabû and [Marduk] b[less] the king, my lord! (6) As to what the king, my lord, recen[tly] wr[ote to me]: "As [...] all [......] of the [queen] mother [...] (Break) (r 3) Concer[ning ......], the father [of the king] intr[oduced you] into the Su[ccession] Palace; nothing is s[aid] about the [queen mother] there.

SAA 10 029. Absolving the King (CT 53 155) [from astrologers]

(1) [As to what the king, my lord], wrote to me: "Have I been purified with (the help of) Urad-Ea [and] these [......]?" — [the gods of the king], my lo[rd], know that, verily, [the king, my lord], has been purified 10 times over! May [the god DN, the lord of the] shining [...], give light to the king, my lord, for numerous [years]. (7) [As to what the king, my lord, wrote] to me: "[...] are being bound to [...] speech against me; (9) [the advice ...] that they gave, it (or) anything (10) (Break) (r 2) [The king, my lord], is made [li]ke a sage; he has understood her [c]ounsels, he has spoken…

SAA 10 030. Praising the King’s Rhetoric (ABL 1277) [from astrologers]

(1) Should I praise this word by which the king, my lord, has remembered me? (3) A cross is the emblem of the god Nabû. The king, my lord, knows (that) because of this (association) the cross is the badge of the crown prince. The king, my lord, has now acted as befits his dignity: the emblem has been set up [in] the 'house of Išnunak.' About it they say: "It is the god Nabû (himself)." (8) [Concerning the] new tablets that are being written, [the king] has spoken [as] follows about us: "[...] the talk that is better than this [...]; there is much space, there is much [...]. [As]sign some ten…

SAA 10 031. Worshipping Venus (ABL 1145) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (2) "Since the planet V[enus] is shining [he]re, [the time is oppo]rtune for my reverence." (5) The king, my lord, [kno]ws that the [Venu]s rituals of the "overseer's wife" are performed [...] the said [...]; now then Venus has risen [at] the (very) time of its (computed) [appearance]. [Tod]ay is favourable [to] do [...] (Remainder lost)

SAA 10 032. (no title) (ABL 0672) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the king], my lord: [your servant Issar-šumu]-ereš. [Good health t]o the king, my [lord]! [May Nabû and Mar]duk [bl]ess [the king, my lord]! (7) [As to what the king, my lo]rd, [wrote to m]e: "[......] (Break) (r 2) there is [...] (r 3) they perform [...] (r 4) let them place [...] (r 5) Perhaps [the time of] its sighting is suitable [...].