All tablets.

SAA 15 385. (no title) (CT 53 743)

(1) T[o the king, my lord]: your servant [NN]. Good health t[o the king, my lord]! (4) Concerning [......] (Remainder too broken for translation)

~715 BCE·Neo-Assyrian

SAA 15

SAA 15 386. (no title) (CT 53 805)

(1) To [the king, my lord]: your servant [NN]. Good he[alth to the king, my lord]! (4) On the 12t[h] day [......] (5) of the king, my lord [......] (6) as [......] (Rest destroyed)

Daily Life·Economy

SAA 15 387. (no title)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...] the road which [...] (2) [...] her [...] (3) Perha[ps the king, my lord, will say]: "[... the ...]-man [...]" (Remainder too broken for translation)

SAA 15 388. (no title)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) and [......] (2) alongsi[de ......] (3) again[st ......] (4) and [NN ......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 15 390. (no title)

(Beginning destroyed) (r 1) [...] a 'third man' (and) a shield-bearer (r 2) [... x] homers of corn rations the governor (r 3) [of Zab]ban from my threshing floor (r 4) [...] Der ...[...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 001. Midas Of Phrygia Seeks Detente (NL 039)

(1) The king's word to Aššur-šarru-u[ṣur]: I am well, Assyria is well: you can be glad. (3) As to what you wrote to me: "A messenger [of] Midas the Phrygian has come to me, bringing me 14 men of Que whom Urik had sent to Urarṭu as an embassy" — this is extremely good! My gods Aššur, Šamaš, Bel and Nabû have now taken action, and without a battle [or any]thing, the Phrygian has given us his word and become our ally! (10) As to what you wrote: "I shall not send my messenger to the Phrygian without the permission of the king, my lord" — I am now writing to (tell) you that you should not cut off…

SAA 01 032. Urarṭu After the Cimmerian Rout (NL 046)

(1) [To the king, my lord: yo]ur [servant S[in-ahhe-riba. Good health to the king, m]y lord! Assyria [is well], the temples [are well], all the [forts o]f the king [are well; the king, my lord], can be glad indeed. (8) [......] the Itu'ean [......] who [......] from the city of Ištahup has now been brought to me from [...]ratta. I inquired him [about the Urarṭi]ans and he told me: (11) "The Urarṭian [and his magnates were defeated] on their expedition [against] the Cimmerians, and they are very much afraid of the king, my lord. They tremble and keep silent like women, and nobody [...] the…

SAA 01 049. Mustering the Chariotry of the Magnates (CT 53 112)

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-šar-Aššur. Good heal]th to [the king, my lord!] (4) [As I wrote] to the ki[ng, my lord], I am [receiving] the chariots of the magnates on the afternoon of the 16th and they are giving them over to me — the Comm[ander-in-Chief], the Sartinnu, the Vizier, the Palace Herald, the Chief [Cupbearer], the Treasurer, and the governor of [Calah]; in all 1[00] chariots capable of carrying ...[...]. (12) The chariots of the C[hief Eunuch] and the governor of Nineveh [...] are missing; what does the king my lord say? (Rest destroyed or untranslatable)

SAA 01 063. Towing Logs to Nineveh (CT 53 156)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) "We shall go [......]; I have [...] the river [......] heavy logs [......]." (4) I asked him: "Where [are they deposited? Those which] we cannot tow [to ......] not to [......] the Inner City [......]"? (8) His servants said: "From where the distant logs are being stored the river is navigable as far as the Inner City; from the Inner City to Nineveh it is difficult." (13) The Governor of the Land told me: "I'll first (stay) ten days here, [then ......] which during [......] Labdudu [.......]." (17) On the 1st of Tishri (VII), [when] the earlier [...] arrived in the…

SAA 01 104. Killing Locusts (GPA 240)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. Good health to the king, my lord! May Aššur and Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (5) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "In order to kill locusts go to the villages of Mê-ṭabute and Amante, as far as Kasappa," (10) the locusts here in the centre of the land between [...] on the great mountain [......] I have removed [...... (Break) (r 12) [......] the Inner City (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 110. Report on a Festival and on Bull Colossi (NL 016)

(1) [To the king], my lord: [your servant M]arduk-rem[anni. Good health] to the king, [my] lord! (4) [The festi]val has been celebrated; the god [...] came out and returned in peace. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king! (8) As to the bull colossi about which the king my lord wrote to me, I have worked out their positions at the ...s of the palaces and they are hewing them. We shall place the hewn colossi before the ... residence; they will trim the big ones and whe shall place them before the middlemost gate. (16) As to the [sto]ne bulls of which I spoke to the king, my lord, they will modify…

SAA 01 121. Building a Bath (GPA 241)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Aššur-bani. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) As to the double-door house of the courtyard of the bath, of which the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Is the karintu [...]?" (9) The karintu has been completely built, but [the kar]intu [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 167. On Bull Colossi (GPA 245)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) As to what the king [my] lord [wrote to me: "Why [......] the bull co[ossi ...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 171. Reclaiming Runaway Servants (NL 018)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Bel-duri. (3) The king installed Ilu-mušezib, a baker of Bel-emuranni, in Hatarikka. When the king passed on, Ku[baba]-ereš a (member) of his community and the (members) of the community of his relatives [made] him run away. They should make inquiries and return the man to me. (14) When there was an [ep]idemic here, Ilu-bi'di a cohort [commander of the ... under] my jurisdiction killed a horse. I made up for the horse in his stead and he promised: "I'll give you the money." Now this Ilu-bi'di has died; his wife, as the king knows, has married a young boy…

SAA 01 172. Raising Food and Fodder from Desert Towns (NL 088)

(1) To [the king, my lord: yo]ur servant [Bel-duri]. (3) The king, my lord, [gave orders]: "[All] gover[nors] may raise food and fodder from the vi[llages of the dese]rt with you, and Adad-isse'a and Bel-lešir are to support Abi-lešir!" (9) They have not agreed to this though, but are disobedient, saying: "Why should our villages in the desert belong to all the governors? The villages are ... within each other!" (12) The king, my lord, should send word that they are to write down their desert villages. Ever since the king my lord has levied pack animals from Hamath, I have been on my own, and…

SAA 01 175. Arabs Attack a Column of Booty (NL 019)

(1) To the king, my lord: Your servant Adda-hati. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) (Ammili'ti) the son of Amiri readied himself with 300 she-camels, intending to attack the booty being [tran]sferred from Damascus to Assyria. (11) [I heard of this and] sent word to Bel-i[qbi]; he came and we went together to meet the booty. He saw us, ambushed us from behind, and we had a fight. [1],500 [boot]y sheep from the city of Huzaza, [1],500 sheep [......] city of [......], [...]2 men [......] men [...... (Break) (30) We returned and went in pursuit [after] him, getting as far as Il[...]ani, but co…

SAA 01 176. Turning in Taxes and Organizing the Province (NL 020)

(1) To the king, my lord: Your servant Adda-hati. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) The silver dues of the prefects and village managers imposed on the local population have been handed over: two talents and 18 minas of silver according to the standard of Carchemish. In addition I have sent to the king, my lord, half a shekel of gold, two [tog]as and three tunics with my messenger. (10) [When the king my lor]d gave [... to ...], he gave me 2,450 men; now Danâ has given me only 1,950, reducing (it) by 500 men. Those who were killed [...; ...] are in good health, the extra [...... (Break)…

SAA 01 220. The Corn Tax of the Samarians (ABL 1201)

(1) A letter from Arihu to Nabû-duri-uṣur. Good health to my lord! (4) As to the corn tax of the Samarians, my lord should send a notice whether it exists or not, and let us be content with that. The officials are passive, they keep where they are, they don't go to do their work, nor can we give them orders. (r 4) I have been petitioning you since last year until now in this very manner about the income, but we have not brought in any income whatever. Now send a notice whether it exists or not!

SAA 01 228. On the Chief Confectioner (to the Governor of Calah) (GPA 230)

(1) [To] the governor, [my lo]rd: your servant Nabû-dammiq. Good health to my lord! (5) The Chief Confectioner says: "I (and) Šulmu-beli-l[ašme will ret]urn to the city of [......" (Rest too broken for translation)

SAA 01 244. An Ambush on the Hill of Kawkab (ABL 1263)

(1) [To the Vizier, my lord: your servant Taklak-ana-Bel. Good he]alth to [my lord!] (4) [Bahian]u being [the key witness to the cr]imes co]mmitted by Be[l-lu-balaṭ], my lord wro[te to me]: "Let Bahianu come here." He (= Bel-lu-balaṭ) heard (of this) and ambushed 50 men on Mt. Kukab before his arrival. They killed Bahianu along with his attendants and took three minas of gold, two talents of silver, four mules and ten donkeys. (15) [...]si heard (of this), went in pursuit [after them, killed ... men] of them, [and retrieved] the mules and the donkeys. [He captured ...] men from among them and…

SAA 05 055. A Captured Informer (ABL 0741)

(1) [To the ki]ng, [my] lord, [your servant] Aššur-dur-paniya. [Good] health to the king, [my] lord! (4) My [sco]uts in the m[ountain] have captured an informer [who] was g[oing from A]rgistiani t[o Ar]iye, over the mountain. (9) [I as]ked him about [the ne]ws of the Ura[rṭian], and he informed me: (11) "The [...]tinaean(s) [...] (12) ...... (13) [has n]ot [yet] come out [...] (Reverse remains too broken for translation)

Daily Life

SAA 05 074. Mule Express not Available (NL 062)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Mahdê. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) (As to) the mule express that we provide and the royal bodyguard who com[es] citing a royal order that he should go as far as Šabirešu — he has used up the [...] in my possession! (6) The king, my lord, knows that I do not main[tain] a team (to go) as far as Šabirešu; the ones that go do not return. My teams are used up; the king, my lord, should know (this). (r 2) We let the teams from Calah go by; my chariot, my team and [my] [dri]ver went (with) Nabû'a the bodyguard as far as Šabirešu, and those of Šabirešu…

SAA 05 091. Revolt against the King of Urarṭu (ABL 0144)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Aššur-reṣuwa. Good health to the king, my lord! (3) As regards Naragê, the chief tailor about whom I wrote to the king, my lord: "He and 20 of his fellow eunuchs who conspired against the king have been arrested" — (7) the king of Urarṭu has now entered Ṭurušpâ and questioned them. They have dragged forth and killed the rest of the people involved in the plot — 100 men, including the eunuchs and the bearded courtiers. (13) Urṣenê, the deputy commander-in-chief, brother of Abliuqnu, was likewise arrested in Ṭurušpâ. When Abliuqnu came to Ṭurušpâ, he (i.e.…

SAA 05 100. Smugglers on the Assyrian Border (TCL 9 67)

(1) [To the ki]ng, my lord: [yo]ur [servant] Aššur-reṣuwa. [Good] health to the king, my lord! (4) Burê, Eziye, Gamalu and Ehiye, in all four (men) under Ariazâ; Kumayu and Biriaun, in all two (men) under Ariye — these six Kummeans go and stay in Bususu, a town in the domain of the chief cupbearer. (12) The inhabitants of Bususu purchase Assyrian luxury items in Calah and Nineveh and sell them to these Kummeans. These Kummeans enter the town Aira of the house of Kaqqadanu, ruled by Saniye, a city lord subject to the governor of Calah, and bring (the merchandise) from there to Urarṭu. From…

SAA 05 101. Fragment of a List of Valuables

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [... K]umm[e] (2) Perhaps [the king], my [lord], will say: "[W]hat are the [...val]uables? (r 1) [......] of bronze (r 2) [......] of bronze (r 3) [......]... of leather (r 4) [...] hundred bronze quivers (Rest destroyed)

SAA 05 144. Cimmerians and the Urarṭian King (GPA 243)

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant NN]. Go[od health to the king, my lord]! (4) [The land of the king] is well (and) the f[orts] are well. (7) As to the news o[f the Urarṭian] about which the king, my lord, wr[ote me]: "[Send me] a deta[iled] report!" — (9) the Cimme[rian(s) ......] (Break) (r 2) [...] of Ar[a ...] (r 3) [...] were received [...] (r 4) ....... [...] (r 5) The Cimmerian (king) has [...ed] on it and pitched [his camp] in Uṣunali; [I do not have a full] report (yet). [...] with the Hubušk[ian]. (r 10) I have written to Urzana: "Send a detailed repo[rt on ...]" (Break) (e. 1)…

SAA 05 150. Curbing a Slave Trader (CT 53 059)

(1) [To the king], my lord, [your servant At]anha-Šamaš. [Good health t]o the king, my lord! (4) The Palace should hold back the merchant [Atarha]m (who) is [in Habr]uri. (6) Earlier, before my time, he used to go to Hargu and collect his money [...] there. (When) they made [... the]re, I arrested him, saying: (10) ["Did not] the crown prince, our lord, rule [lik]e this: 'Nobody shall put [bought] men up for sale in a trade colony?' [W]hy then have you put bought men up for sale [at one m]ina each?" (15) [Last ye]ar, when the king my lord was not yet enthroned, [he had already put a bo]ught…

SAA 05 191. (no title) (GPA 244)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) is coming [......] (3) in the country [......] (4) the mountains [......] (5) at the beginning of the mo[nth ......] (6) in Muṣa[ṣir ......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 05 213. A Case Concerning a Town (ABL 1407)

(1) A letter (to) Nabû-hamatua: your servant Kuškayu. Good health to my lord! (4) Please present before Aššur-šarru-uṣur the case of the town in my hands which I told you about. (9) Let him qu[ick]ly send a letter to the city overseer or to the prefect, telling him to remove everybody from the orchard. (r 8) I will keep vigil there.

SAA 05 214. Envelope of the Previous Letter (ABL 1407A)

(1) A letter (to) Nabû-hamatua: (2) your servant Kuškayu. (3) The best of health to my lord!

SAA 05 215. The Troops of Mazamua (NL 089)

(1) [To the ki]ng, my lord: [your servant] Adad-issiya. [Good] health to the king, my lord! (4) [As t]o the order that the king, my lord, gave me: "Review the troops of Mazamua and write me!" — (here are the facts): (6) 10 wagons; 20 large-wheeled chariots, 10 (of them) horse-driven, 10 mule-driven; 30 teams; 97 riding horses; 11 chariot drivers; 12 'third men'; [3]0 chariot fighters; 53 grooms of the [t]eams, in all 106 men and [30] chariots. (13) 161 cavalrymen, 130 grooms, 52 ...: in all 343 grooms. (15) [8] lackeys, 12 tailors, 20 cupbearers, 12 confectioners, 7 bakers, 10 cooks: in all…

SAA 05 292. Building the City Wall of Dur-Šarruken (GPA 242)

(1) [T]o the ki[ng], my lord: [yo]ur [servant] Šarru-e[mu]ranni. [Good] health to the king, my lord! (4) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to m[e]: "Šarru-emur[anni] keeps coming and tel[ling me] that the city wall of Du[r-Šarruken ...] (Break) (r 2) Marduk-remanni [...]. (r 3) I shall be there too and keep wa[tch] over Iqiša-Marduk and his associates, until the king inst[ructs me] otherwise. (r 7) I have heard that Šarru-emuranni [has] come; [he is] in [...], and is indeed do[ing] the work.

SAA 15 017. I have no Scribe (ABL 0151)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Sîn-na'di. Good health to the king, my lord! (5) I have no scribe where the king sent me to. (9) Let the king direct either the governor [o]f Arrapha or Aššur-belu-taqqin to send me a scribe.

SAA 15 041. Building Houses for Deportees (CT 53 158)

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant NN. Good health to] the king, my lord! (3) Concern[ing the ... about wh]ich the king, my lord, wrote [to me]: "The houses which are b[eing built] should be coate[d] with [bitumen] as in Ba[qarru]" — the king, my lord, knows that winters (lit. sn[ow] and ice) are very severe her[e]. Burnt bricks do not rem[ain] (whole) but disintegrate. Therefore [we] have built the house[s o]f mud-bricks. (14) The depor[tees wh]o came (16) [...] to the cit[y ...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 15 084. Receiving Tribute Horses; Constructing Kar-Šarrukin (NL 042)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) They will [bring] the h[ors]es and come. (3) As to the news of Daltâ, he is not leaving (his) house and nobody is entering into his presence. I have heard that he is collecting the rest of the tribute. I shall obligate him to deliver it. (6) I have taken the released Medes who are i[n my prese]nce (and) 30 horses. The remaining people are with me. (8) [I have re]ceived the tribute of the land of Zakrutu, 40 horses. They promised to give the rest [of the tribute]. (10) The king, my lord, [should send] (word) to the magnates that they may [proc]eed against Kuluman.…

SAA 15 178. Merodach-Baladan is in Babylon, Bit-Dakkuri is well

(Beginning destroyed) (r 2) [......] wine [...] (r 3) [News of] Merodach-Baladan: [he is] in Ba[bylon]. (r 4) [......] Bit-Dakkuri is we[ll ...] (r 5) [...... are] keep[ing] watch over them

SAA 15 208. Statement Concerning Merodach-Baladan (CT 53 408)

(1) [NN], a citizen of Babylon (2) has said [as fol]lows: (3) ["Merodach-Bal]adan has said: (4) ['...] I will kill you!' (5) [... w]hat work of [NN] (6) [... w]ith him do! (7) [......] to Mer[odach-Baladan] (8) [...... g]o! Merodach-[Baladan] (9) [......] to the [...] (Rest destroyed)

Daily Life

SAA 15 218. Chaldean Informer Captured in Larak; Priest Brings Leftovers (ABL 0763+)

(1) [To the k]ing, my lord: [yo]ur [servant] Šarru-emuranni. [Good hea]lth to the king, my lord! The fort is [wel]l. (5) [...]hayu sent a Chaldean, an informer, to Larak. The [Lara]keans arrested him and took him [before] me. I asked him: "Where are you from?" He said: "A citizen of Babylon [sent me] to Larak." They said: "[He is] a crook, he lie[s]. We know him, (the) Nippurean(s) [...]." (r 2) Now then they are bringing him to the ki[ng, my lord]; let the ki[ng my lord] question him. (r 4) I asked him where the son of Ze[rî] is. He said: "He is encamped in the town Hiuru [of] the Puqudu [lan…

SAA 15 275. Fragment of a Royal Letter Mentioning Nabu-belu-ka’’in (CT 53 975)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [... are e]atin[g ...] (2) [...] whatever [st]raw there is [...] (3) [...] lift your eyes [...] (4) [...] Nabû-belu-ka''in [...] (5) [... y]ou (pl.) and he [...] (6) [...] ... in [...] (7) [... the] scholars [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 15 289. Envelope of no. 288 (ABL 0383)

(1) [To the deputy (governor)], my lord: (seal impression) (2) [your servant Aš]šur-reṣiwa. (seal impression)

Daily Life

SAA 15 389. (no title)

(1) [To the king, my lord]: yo[ur] servant [NN]. Good heal[th to the king, my lord]! (4) Concerning what the king, [my lord, wrote to me]: "Why is [the ......] delay[ed]?" (Rest destroyed)

SAA 15 391. (no title)

(Beginning destroyed) (r 1) "they will g[o ......] (r 2) they will dra[g ......] (Rest destroyed)

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…

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

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…