All tablets.

SAA 01 073. On Aššur-bessunu

(1) [To the kin]g, my lord: [your servan]t Ṭab-šar-Aššur. [Good health] to the king, my lord! (4) [As to Ašš]ur-bessunu [the ... of whom] the king, my lord, [wrote to m]e: "I have given him [...] oxen [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 074. (no title) (CT 53 620)

(1) [To the kin]g, my lord: [your servan]t Ṭab-šar-Aššur. [Good health] to the king, my lord! (4) [As to this man ... of whom] the king, my lord, [wrote to m]e: "[......] as follows: '[......" (Rest destroyed)

Daily Life·Economy

SAA 01 075. Choosing a Priest for the Aššur Temple (ABL 0577)

(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! (6) As to the deceased household manager of the Aššur temple of whom I said in the presence of the king my lord: "He has a son and a nephew," (12) at this very moment his son, his nephew, and Simanai son of Nabû-balliṭ, cousin of Aššur-na'id the second priest, are on their way to the king, my lord. (r 6) Let the king, my lord, appoint the one who is acceptable to the king, my lord.

SAA 01 076. Treaty With Gurdi (ABL 0090)

(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! (6) As to the treaty tablet of Gurdî about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, the adjutant of the Palace Superintendent came and picked it up on the 1st of Ab (V). (13) [As soon as] the emissaries [had ar]rived, they brought the tre[aty tablet to the Inner Cit]y; [the body]guard and the messenger of the Palace Superintendent went with them and introduced it into the courtyard of the temple. (r 8) The messenger of the Palace Superintendent who brought it s…

SAA 01 077. On Bronze Panthers and a Wood Store (ABL 0091)

(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! (6) The stands of both bronze panthers are quite attractive; they are working on minor improvements in their finish. (10) As to the wood store for the iron brazier in the palace of the Inner City about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, I consulted the mayors, masons and elders (who told me this): (14) "The chief of public works will do the demolition and the brickwork; the sons of the palace maids will supply the materials needed and plaster its roof;…

SAA 01 078. Work on the Panthers, the Ziggurat and Boats (ABL 0483)

(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! (6) [We] overturned the ot[her] panther on the 1[st] and placed it on its face; twenty courses of bricks have been put under it; [its] feet are toward the seat of Lord-of-the-Crown. (12) [x] courses of bricks of the ziggurat have been laid. On the 6th they started building the boat[s], and they are building them (now). (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 079. Building the Ziggurat (CT 53 724)

(Beginning destroyed or too fragmentary for translation) (5) We shall go [... in Te]bet (X). [As to the work] on the ziggurat, [x cour]ses of bricks have been l[aid ...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 080. Constructing Boats (ABL 0330)

(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 the boats which the king, my lord, wrote me about: "They must be finished by the beginning of the month! Now all these months have been wasted, are there really no boats?" — (11) Did I not write to the king my lord like this: "They will finish three boats by the 1st of Nisan (I), the fourth will be ready by the 1st of Iyyar (II)?" At the moment [x] boats are finished [..... (Break) (r 2) six men [......] (r 3) and female [......] (r 4)…

SAA 01 081. Constructing Boats (CT 53 639)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) ... [......] (3) in the middle of the city [......] (4) now ...[.....] (5) alongs[ide ......] (6) the house which [......] (r 1) Did I not [....] to the king, [my lord]? As to the boats [on which] I wr[ote to the king], my lord [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 082. The Problem of Hungry Arabs (ABL 0547)

(1) [To] the king, [my lo]rd: your servant Ṭab-[ṣill-Ešarra]. Good health to [the king, my lord! May] Aššur and Mullissu [bless the king, my lord!] (5) As to the A[rabs concerning whom the king, my lord] wrote to me: "[Why] do they graze [their sheep and] camel[s in the desert where they must resort to plundering] when hungry?" — (10) [Rains have been sc]arce this [year]; ...[......] have been settling in [......]. (13) (As to) what the king, my lord, [wrote] to me: "Now, go to Hinzanu, and let them go and graze with you! There shall be no restrictions from the banks of the Tharthar river up…

SAA 01 083. Harvest in Hindanu (ABL 0093)

(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! (6) They finished the harvest in Hin[zanu] on the 11th. [......] was reaped [...]. As long as [I am] here [...... (Break) (r 2) They will not [agree] to trans[port it ...]; they are transporting it on your expense.

SAA 01 084. Arabs Raid Sippar (ABL 0088)

(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! (6) Nabu-bel-šumati, the legate of Birat entered the Inner City on the 7th. I asked him: "Why did you come now?" He said: (11) "I got a royal message: 'Why is it that all (other) city-rulers have come and stood in my presence, but you have not come? Also, why is it that the Arabs plundered Sippar, but you did not go out with your servants but kept [them] away?' (r 9) I was scared by this message and (that is why) I came."

SAA 01 085. A Messenger Returns from Birat (ABL 0396)

(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! (6) Haldi-naṣir, the mercenary who took the letter to the Biratean, has come back carrying a letter; [I am sending him] right now [to] the king, my lord. (r 1) [I asked him]: "Why were you delayed?" He said: "He detained me for 12 days; Marduk-šumu-iddina will be coming right after me."

SAA 01 086. Arrival of Marduk-šum-iddin (CT 53 304)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [......] servants (two broken and obscure lines) (4) [......] Marduk-šumu-iddina (5) [...... ha]s come (6) [......] right now (7) [he is on his way] to greet (8) [the king, my lord] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 087. A Messenger from Borsippa (ABL 1433)

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭ]ab-ṣill-E[šarra. Good health] to the ki[ng, my lord!] May [Aššur] and Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (6) Ṣululu, a [messenger] of Sulu[...] the commandant of Borsippa, came to Birat; from Birat, he [was] escorted to Hinzanu by the messenger of the Biratean, and from Hinzanu they came to the Inner City. (16) [......] with my m[esse]nger ...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 088. Visitors from Babylon (ABL 0096)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. [Good health] to the king, my lord! May [Aššur and M]ullissu bless [the ki]ng, my lord! (6) Šarru-emuranni and [Ša]rru-nuri [came from] Babylon on the 10th [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 089. The Canal Inspector in Assur (ABL 0562)

(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! (6) As to Bel-ha[...], the canal inspector of whom the king, my lord, wr[ote to me], (9) he arrived in the Inner City on the [eve] of the 4th, brought out his ... and left for the [king, my lord].

SAA 01 090. A Messenger Kidnapped by a Tribe (ABL 0098)

(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! (6) (As to) what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "[Let] this messenger of yours whom you sent to Birat together with his cavalry [...] the Hamranu tribe" — my messenger [...... (Break) (r 2) from [......] of the city of M[unu' ...] on the 21st of [......] at his behest. (r 6) The day they ente[red ..., my] messenger was taken captive. The chief ... o[f ...] who was there [...] with him; (r 10) Haqi[... rel]eased him in Munu' and wro[te]: "Send me silver!" He…

SAA 01 091. Arranging for Reserve Troops (ABL 0094)

(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! (6) The king, my lord, wrote to me: "Set out on the 22nd and be in the Inner City on the 29th!" — before I go to the Inner City, let me come and see the king, my lord! (13) And as to the reserves of the king's men of the Ruqahu and Hallatu tribes about which the king my lord wrote to me, I sent (orders about them) on the very day I saw the (king's) letter.

SAA 01 092. Speaking with the Ruqahu Tribe (ABL 1086)

(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!] (6) [As to] the Ruqaheans [concerning whom the king] my lord wrote to me: "You and Zeru-ibni, speak with them!" (10) After the king my lord (had left) they stayed seven days in the Inner City, dining with me; I spoke with them, and they told me this: (15) "Our brothers and families ......" (Break) (r 4) I have sent word, and (as soon as) they come, I and Zeru- ibni will speak with them; when we come to the [revi]ew, [the king my lord can speak] with us. (r…

SAA 01 093. Stationing Troops in Sinnu (ABL 0482)

(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! (6) I have moved my Itu'aeans to the other bank of the river to stand guard in the town of Sinnu. The king, my lord, knows that I have only few equipped men and that the [wor]k here is hard. I cannot cu[t the timber with] the magnates [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 094. Ferrying Straw and Fodder at Opis (ABL 0089)

(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! (6) A boat of mine which the Treasurer used for carrying money downstream is anchored at Bab-bitqi, and a boat of the governor of Arrapha is doing ferry service at Opis. The king, my lord, knows that we have to bring over straw and fodder from the other bank. (r 1) Now, let the governor of Arrapha's boat go and serve as a ferry at Bab-bitqi, and let mine come so we can use it to bring straw and fodder over at Opis. (r 10) The men of the governor of Arrapha a…

SAA 01 095. On Carpenters and Architects (CT 53 510)

(Beginning destroyed) (4) Aššur [......] (5) which [......] (6) five chariots [......] (7) 60 urabi (troops) [......] (8) 300 Itu['aeans ......] (9) As to the carpenters about whom [the king my lord] wrote to me: "30 [......]!" 22 carpenters ...[......]; half of them have not [yet] co[me]. Five architects of the g[overnor] of Calah have come to me [on the ...th] of [...]; none [of them] is w[orking ......]. (r 5) I [......] (r 6) I shall go [......] (r 7) in the city of [......] (r 8) the men [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 096. Putting Carpenters to Work (ABL 0087)

(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! (6) I [asked] the carpenters: "Why [...]? Do the rest of [the work] in Sa[pirrutu]!" They said: "The days [...] here [...]; we are making br[oa]d planks ......" (Break) (r 2) "...... that] I have cut stal[ks] in Ekallate." I am bringing and settling them (= the carpenters) there right now, and they are going to do it. (r 7) One carpenter from their ranks (who was) in the presence of the king, my lord, came (to me) saying: "I am going by the order of the king…

SAA 01 097. The Road to Kar-Šamaš (ABL 0095)

(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: "The chief eunuch is going to Kar-Šamaš", — why is he going to Kar-Šamaš? The [roa]d through the province of Arrapha is very exacting; there are permanent wadis filled with reed and it is getting (worse). Let him come to the Inner City; this [road] along the river is [in good condit]ion. (15) [...... the roa]d is bloc[ked ...... the] troo[ps ......] come [to m]e [...... (Break) (r 1) Who will [be there] for the…

SAA 01 098. Cutting Timber with the Chief Eunuch (ABL 0484)

(1) To the king, our lord: your servants Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra and Na'di- ilu. Good health to the king, our lord! (5) As to what the king, our lord, wrote to us: "While you were here, I gave you this order: 'You will first go to Lurisite and choose strong and good-looking timber; later you will take woodcutters down to do the cutting within (the said area)'" — (13) the king did give us (this) order, but as we [ca]me to the city of Aššur, the Chief Eunuch [with x] men [...... (Break) (r 1) "......] to return [to] Samarra; should the men stay inactive for eight days?" (r 5) We took the men downstream,…

SAA 01 099. Building a Palace in Ekallate (ABL 0099)

(1) [To the king], my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. Ešarra is well, the [temple]s are well, the Inner City is [well, Assyri]a is we[ll, may] the king, my lord, be well! (5) [As to] what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Let these [...]ians of Ekal[late ......] who are being deported build the queen's palace in [the city with the] Pal[ace Manager]", (9) the Palace Manager petiti[oned the Palace] in Shebat (XI), saying: "Let [the ...] build the palace in [......]!" Now the Inner City [... 'son]s of bought (slaves)' [......] (Break) (r 2) In the past days, when the father of [the king my…

SAA 01 101. Inspecting and Counting Logs (ABL 0397)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. Ešarra is well, the temples are well, the Inner City is well, Assyria is well, may the king my lord be well! May Aššur and Mullissu bless the king, my lord! (9) As to the logs which the king wr[ote me about ......] (Break) (r 1) [..... are] very [...], im[possible] to count. There are many logs! The king, my lord, can be glad.

SAA 01 102. Towing Logs (ABL 0398)

(1) [To] the king, m[y] lord: your [servant] Ṭab-ṣill-E[šarra]. Good health to the king, [my] lord! May Aššur and Mullissu bless the king, [my lord]! (5) As to the logs which the king, my lord, wrote me about: "Send (word) that they be towed here," (8) even before the king, my lord, wr[ote to me], I assigned [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 103. Fighting Locusts (ABL 1015)

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Ṭab-ṣill-E]šarra. [Good health to the king], my lord! May [Aššur and M[ullissu bless [the king, my lord]! (6) [As to the lo]custs [concerning which the king, my lord], wrote to me: "Write where the locusts have laid eggs! They shall fumigate (these areas) with juniper powder. They shall knock them out at the moment of their hatching." (14) Already before the letter of the Palace came to me, I had the following order issued in the [cities] and vi[llage]s: (r 4) "Fumigate with juniper powder where the [loc]usts have l[aid eggs]!" [Now], we shall knock them…

SAA 01 105. Barley and Straw Taken from Desert Depots (ABL 0871)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) in the town [...] in the middle of [... ...] has taken 40 homers of b[arley] and 200 bales of straw, (as supplies) for two days, referring the matter to the king, (9) (while) in the village of Diqarate in the desert Aššur-belu-taqqin the prefect has taken 16 homers of barley and a pile of straw and seized farmers of the Palace. (r 8) They have borrowed [... and gi]ven [...... (Break) (e. 1) they open [......] without the go[vernor]'s permission; the king [my lord should know this].

SAA 01 106. A Land Grant to the Nabu Temple of Dur-Šarruken (ABL 0480)

(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! (6) There is an estate of 4,000 hectares of arable land in a village called Qurani in the Halahhu province which the king my lord took and [gave] to the Nabû temple of Dur-Šarruken, and (in doing this) the king my lord [gave] this order to [Kiṣir]-Aššur: "Give the Governor of the Land a village in return for the village [......]!" (15) [...... in] Halzi-atbar [......] there [......] an estate of 320 hectares [......] he has not given, and I have not…

SAA 01 107. How Do You Feed Your Horses? (ABL 0097)

(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! (6) As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Suppose you are staying at home, how do you feed (your horses)?" (9) Half of my horses are fed in the Barhalza province, the other half eat at the [... of the ci]ty of Issete in the domestic quarters of [...]; my cavalry [and ... are sta]tioned in the tax-collection center of the province of [...]. Their [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 108. Straw and Fodder for the Horses (ABL 0995)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) ......] for his eyes; he does not give any [str]aw or fodder [to] the horses. (6) Let a messenger of the king my lord come and have a look at the [...], and (then) go and inform the king, my lord.

SAA 01 109. (no title) (ABL 0481)

(1) [To the ki]ng, my lord: your [servant] Ṭab-ṣill-Ešarra. [Good] health to the king, my lord! May [Aššur and M]ullissu bless the king, [my lord]! (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 111. A Festival (CT 53 591)

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Aššur-bani]. Good [health to the king, my lord! The temples are] well, [the city of Calah is] well, [the queen] is well, [the slaves are] well. (8) On the 17th [the god ...] emerged [from his temple] and saf[ely entered ...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 112. Gods Go to a Festival (ABL 0236+)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Aššur-bani. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) On the 2nd [......] the gods [......]; on the 3rd [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 113. Preparing for a Festival (CT 53 563)

(1) To [the king, my lord]: your servant [Aššur-bani]. Good health [to the king, my lord]! (4) On the 8th [of ... the gods] are going to get up and [take residence in the akitu chapel; they will stay there] until the middle [of the month]. (7) Oil [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 114. Raising Materials for Repair Work on the temples (ABL 0578+)

(1) T[o the king, my lord: your] servant [Aššur-bani]. (Break) (16) But [......] how are we supposed to do the work on [...]? Whence shall we raise the materials needed for the temple of Ištar, the Kidmuri temple, the Sebettu temple and the temple of Adad-of-the-Rain? (r 7) Let them write to Kiṣir-Aššur that he should make available the straw in the Merchant Town and Šitabni, so we can use it for the work.

SAA 01 115. (no title) (ABL 0232)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Aššur-bani. Good health to the king, my lord! The temples are well, the city of Calah is well, the queen is well, the slaves are well. (8) [...] Dur-Šarruken [...... (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 116. Merchants’ Dues (ABL 0233+)

(1) [To the ki]ng, my lord: [your servant] Aššur-bani. [Good health t]o the king, my lord! The temples are [well], the city of Calah is [well], the queen is [well], the slaves [are well]. (8) As for [...] the merchant [of whom the king, my lord, wr]ote to me [..... (Break) (r 2) ..... nor has] Silî entered [Cal]ah; [... and] their iškāru dues [...] have been received.

SAA 01 117. Merchants (ABL 0234)

(1) [To the king], my lord: [your servant Ašš]ur-bani. [Good health to] the king, my lord! (3) [As to ...... the me]rchants [...... (Break) (r 1) Calah [...... in] my hand [...... the king, my lo]rd will kill me.

SAA 01 118. Merchants Petition the Palace (ABL 0231)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Aššur-bani. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) Saili who petitioned the [...] tells me: "A son of Sa[dir] has given 1.5 minas of gold to [...]; he has raised [from h]im 50 [..., and ...] to [......]" (10) A son of Sadir [......] bits and pieces [...... (Break) (r 1) [A son of] Sadir has ra[ised ...] for three years. (r 3) [The son]s of Sadir petitioned the Palace claiming they had weakened (financially), and they say: "We have been authorized by the Palace to raise the iškāru dues from the troops"; (r 7) What Saili is saying is: "In what sense is he we…

SAA 01 119. Boats Carrying Bull Colossi Sink (ABL 0420)

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Aššur-bani. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) Aššur-šumi-ke'in called me to help and loaded the bull colossi on the boats, but the boats could not carry the load (and sank). (11) Now, although it cost me a great trouble, I have now hauled them up again.

SAA 01 120. On Bull Colossi in Tastiate (CT 53 466)

(Beginning destroyed) (r 2) Now, [should] the [...] (official) [fet]ch Aššur-šumi- ke'in from Tasti[ate]? What are [the king my lord's] instructions?

SAA 01 122. (no title) (ABL 0237)

(1) [To] the king, my lord: [your servant] Aššur-bani. [Good heal]th to [the king, my lord]! (Rest destroyed)

SAA 01 123. (no title) (To the Vizier) (ABL 0235)

(1) To the Vizier, my lord: [your servant] Aššur-bani. [Good health] to the Vizier, my lord. (4) They have written to me [from the Palace]: "[......] Ziziru [... have ch]ased him [......] Calah [......] the moat [......] 120 [...... (Break) (r 2) [Perhaps my lo]rd would say: "Why did you not write?" I have now written to the Vizier, my lord.

SAA 01 124. Fending off Accusations (ABL 0190)

(1) [To] the king, my lord: your servant Kiṣir-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) As to the houses of the recruitment officers, about which the king, my lord, wrote to me: "The houses are already built, you are deceiving me in order to give them to your servants!" — (8) as if I did not tell the truth to the king, my lord! Let a royal eunuch who will tell the king my lord the truth come and have a look at these houses of the recruitment officers! If they are already built, let him go and tell it to the king, my lord, and let the king, my lord, hold his report to my discredit and say:…

SAA 01 125. An Earthquake at Dur-Šarruken (ABL 0191)

(1) [To the king], my lord: your servant Kiṣir-Aššur. Good health to the king, my lord! (4) Upon my coming from Milqia to Dur-Šarruken, I was told that there had been an earthquake in Dur-Šarruken on the 9th of Adar (XII). Perhaps the king, my lord, now says: "Any damage within the city wall?" (16) There is [no]ne. The temples, the ziggurat, the palace, the city wall and the buildings of the city are all well; the king, my lord, can be glad. (r 8) The king, my lord, will hear many things tomorrow and the day after, and say: "Why is it that you heard but did not write?" That is [why I am now wr…

SAA 01 126. (no title) (CT 53 610)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) Let me appoint [......] in the service of [...]. (4) [......] the oil that Šep-Aššur (5) [......] let him give them servants (6) [......] upon then (7) [...... on the ...]th we set to work on [......] (9) [......] we are doing it.