All tablets.

SAA 10 123. Full Moon on 14th Day (ABL 0141) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû'a. May Aššur, Šamaš, Bel and Nabû bless the king, my lord, and let the king, my lord, attain his desire! (r 1) We kept the watch; on the 14th day the moon and the sun saw each other.

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 124. Full Moon on 14th Day (ABL 0818) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû'a. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) We kept the watch; on the 14th day the moon and the sun saw each other.

Astronomy & Mathematics·Daily Life

SAA 10 125. Full Moon on 15th Day (ABL 1137) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû'a. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (7) We kept the watch; on the 15th day the moon and the sun saw each other.

SAA 10 126. New Moon on 30th Day (ABL 1156) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the king, my lord: yo]ur [servant Nabû'a]. May Nabû and [Marduk] bless the king, my lord! (6) We kept the watch on the 29th day; we saw the moon.

SAA 10 127. The Fox in the Well (ABL 0142) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû'a. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (7) On the 7th of Kislev (IX) a fox entered the Inner City, and fell into a well in the garden of the god Aššur. It was hauled up and killed.

SAA 10 128. Eclipse of the Moon (ABL 0816) [from astrologers]

(1) To the 'farmer,' my lord: your servant Nabû-šumu-iddina, the foreman of the collegium of ten (scribes) of Nineveh. May Nabû and Marduk bless the 'farmer,' my lord! (8) On the 14th day we were watching the moon; the moon was eclipsed.

SAA 10 129. (no title) (ABL 0073) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-šumu-iddina of Nineveh. [May Nabû] and Mar[duk] (Remainder lost)

SAA 10 130. A Note to the Palace Scribe (ABL 0062) [from astrologers]

(1) To the scribe of the palace, my lord: your servant Nabû-šumu-iddina. [Good health to] my lord! May [Nabû] and Marduk, [Ištar] of Nineveh and [Ištar] of Arbela bless my lord! May they keep you in good health, and may you constantly be happy! (r 4) The palace and the inhabitants of Nineveh are well; may Bel and Nabû also grant health to you!

SAA 10 131. Darkness at Noon (ABL 0908) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the king], my lord: [your servant] Nergal-šumu-iddina. The very best of [health] to the king, my lord! (5) The sun was [eclipsed on the 29]th, [in the m]iddle of the day. (8) [...] here (Remainder lost)

SAA 10 132. The Moon did not Make an Eclipse (ABL 1381) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nergal-šumu-iddina. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) Concerning the watch about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, the moon let the eclipse pass by, [it did not occ]ur. (12) May [Sin an Š]amaš appoint a gu[ardian of he]alth and life for the king, my lord.

Astronomy & Mathematics·Religion & Myth

SAA 10 134. Report on a Lunar Eclipse (ABL 0882) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Babu-šumu-iddina of Calah. Go[od health] to the king, my lord! May [Nabû and] Marduk bless [the king, my lord]! (7) [The moon was e]clipsed [on the ...th day, during] the evening watch; [...] culminated, [the ... wind] was blowing. (11) May [Sin and] Šamaš appoint [a guardian] of health [and] life for the king, my lord!

SAA 10 135. Full Moon on 15th Day, no Eclipse (ABL 0881) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Babu-šumu-iddina. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk very greatly bless the king, my lord! (7) Concerning the watch about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, neither the moon nor the eclipse were seen. May they appoint a guardian of [he]alth and life for the king, my lord! (r 3) On the 15th day the god appeared with the god.

SAA 10 136. (no title) (ABL 0982) [from astrologers]

(1) To the crown prince, my lord: your servant, the foreman of the collegium of ten (scribes) of Arbela. Good health t[o the crown prince, my lord]! [May] Nabû and Marduk [......] (Remainder lost)

SAA 10 137. Eclipse of the Moon in the Morning (ABL 0432) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant, the foreman of the collegium of ten (scribes) of Arbela. Good health to the king, my lord! [May] Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (9) An eclipse (of the moon) occurred [on the 1]4th of [Sivan (III)], during the morning watch.

SAA 10 138. Clouds (ABL 0423) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Iss[ar-nad]in-apli, the foreman of the collegium of ten scribes of Arbela. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (11) We kept watch on the 29th day; [the place of ob]servation [was cloudy], we did not see the moon. (r 3) Month of Adar (XII), 1st day, eponym year of Sagab (651)

SAA 10 139. Clouds, no Moon (ABL 0829) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-nadin-apli, the foreman of the collegium of ten scribes of Arbela. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû], Marduk, and Ištar of Arbela bless the king, my lord! (12) We kept watch on the 29th day; the place of observation was cloudy, we did not see the moon. (r 6) Month of Shebat (XI), 1st day, eponym year of Bel-Harran-šadu'a (650) .

SAA 10 141. No Moon (ABL 0671) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, [my lo]rd: your servant Issar-[nadin-apli], the foreman of the collegium of ten (scribes) of Arbela. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû, Marduk, and Ištar of Arbela bless the king, my lord! (11) We kept watch on the 29th day; we did not see the moon. (r 3) Month of Tammuz (IV), 2nd day, eponym year of Belšunu, governor of Hindanu (648)

SAA 10 142. New Moon on 30th Day (ABL 1438) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Issar-nadin-apli], the forem[an of the collegium of ten] (scribes) of Arbela. Good health to the king, [my] lord! May Nabû, Marduk, and Ištar of Arbela bless the king, my lord! (11) We kept the watch on the 29th day; the moon was seen.

SAA 10 143. We can either Teach Astronomy or do Corvee Work (ABL 0346) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, our lord: your servants, the scribes of Kilizi. Good health to the king, our lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king! (8) We watched the moon; on the 14th day the moon and the sun saw each other. (This means) well-being. (r 1) May Nabû and Marduk bless the king. Because of the ilku-duty and the corvée work we cannot keep the watch of the king, and the pupils do not learn the scribal craft.

SAA 10 144. Report on the Moon (ABL 1037) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the king, our lord]: your servants, the scribes of Kilizi. Good health to the king! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king! (7) [We] watch[ed] the moon [...] (Remainder lost)

SAA 10 145. 30th Day Turned ‘Long’ (CT 53 045) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (1) [May Nabû and Marduk bles]s [the king], my lo[rd]! (3) They watched the moon; the clouds were dense, and the moon was not seen. The 30th day became 'long.'

Astronomy & Mathematics

Astronomy & Mathematics·Religion & Myth

SAA 10 146. New Moon Observed Despite Clouds (CT 53 234) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (1) [May Nabû and Marduk bles]s [the king]! (2) We kept wa[tch on the 29th day]; there were clouds, and we did not see the moon. T[od]ay, on the 30th, there were c[lou]ds again; when they di[spersed], we saw [the mo]on. [It] was [(not) like the] moon of the 29[th day]. Three days [...]. (r 1) Per[haps ...] ... [...] (Remainder lost)

SAA 10 147. Eclipse Observed Despite Clouds (ABL 1392) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (1) Concerning the watch for the eclipse about which the king, our lord, wrote — we kept the watch; the clouds were dense. On the 14th day, during the morning watch, the clouds dispersed, and we were able to see. The eclipse took place. (Rest destroyed)

Astronomy & Mathematics·Religion & Myth

SAA 10 148. Partial Solar Eclipse at Sunrise (ABL 0470) [from astrologers]

(1) May [Nabû and Marduk] bless the k[ing]! (3) A certain Akkullanu has written: "The sun made an eclipse of two fingers at the sunrise. There is no apotropaic ritual against it, it is not like a lunar eclipse. If you say, I'll write down the relevant interpretation and send it to you."

SAA 10 149. Description of a Lunar Eclipse (ABL 1444) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (1) [May] N[abû and Marduk bless] the king, [my lord]! (3) A lunar eclipse took place on the 14th of Sivan (III), [during] the morning watch. It started in the south (of the moon) and cleared up in the south. Its right side was eclipsed. (r 1) It was eclipsed in the area of the constellation Scorpius. The shoulder of the constellation Panther was culminating. An eclipse of two fingers (magnitude) took place.

Astronomy & Mathematics

SAA 10 150. Lunar Observations (CT 53 293) [from astrologers]

(Too fragmentary for translation)

SAA 10 151. Clouds; No Crescent Seen (CT 53 915) [from astrologers]

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [There were] clouds. We did not [see] the moon here, probably because of the cl[ouds]. The king, my lord, should send messeng[ers] to the Inner City and Arbela, find out about the m[atter], and quickly [inform] the king, my lord. (r 3) The report of Calah [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 10 152. Rising of Aries (CT 53 945) [from astrologers]

(Beginning lost) (1) [Concerning ... about which the king wrote]: "What (month) do you h[ave wh]en it became vis[ible]?" — [it appeared] in the month Adar (XII). And as to what was s[aid to the king]: "[It is visible] in the constellation Ar[ies]" — Aries will app[ear] in the east [either] tomorrow or the day af[ter tomorrow]. It is not Mercury. (Mercury) itself is visible [as evening star]. (Remainder lost)

SAA 10 153. Choosing a Day for a Visit (CT 53 768) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant] Nabû-ahhe-šallim. [Good heal]th [to the king], my lord! [May Nabû and Mar]duk [very grea]tly [bless the king], my lord. (Break) (r 2) [The moment] is good [for ent]ering [into the presence of the king], my [lord]. [If the king], my lord, [says, let] him enter, and may he (= the king) see [him prosper]!

SAA 10 154. Messenger of Bel Goes with the King (ABL 0324) [from astrologers]

(1) To the queen mother, my lady: your servant Aplaya. May Bel and Nabû bless the queen mother, my lady! (5) Now then I am daily praying to Nabû and Nanaya for the maintenance of the life and the extension of the days of the king of the lands, my lord, and of the queen mother, my lady. (r 3) The queen mother, my lady, can be of peaceful mind. A gracious angel (lit. messenger) of Bel and Nabû has gone with the king of the lands, my lord.

SAA 10 155. A Tablet from the Time of Hammurapi (ABL 0255) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ašaredu. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king of the lands, my lord! (5) The tablet which the king is using is [defe]ctive and not whole. Now then I have written and fetched from Babylon an ancient tablet made by King Hammurapi and an inscription from before King Hammurapi. (14) [Let] the king [...] the ritual according to [...] (Break) (r 2) From A[šaredu] the Youn[ger]. (r 4) Long [since] I [......]. They should believe me.

SAA 10 156. Appeal to the King (ABL 0743) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Ašaredu. May Nabû and Marduk [bless the king of the lands, my lord]! (Break) (r 2) Having received [...], he stood upon a table and said: "He will die; appeal to the king." (r 5) They eat my bread, and I ...

SAA 10 157. Averting the Evil of an Eclipse (CT 54 221) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the king, my lord: yo]ur [servant] Ašar[edu]. May [Nabû and Marduk for ... many] years establish [......] give [......] to [......]! (6) [......] the lord of kings [...] (7) [......] year [...] (Break) (r 1) [......] sign [...] (r 2) [......] (r 3) [......] heart to your presence [...] (r 4) [......] I about it [...] (r 5) [......] will get scared [...] (r 6) [......] will ave[rt] the [...] of the eclipse. (r 7) [......] very [...] to the king. (r 8) Ma[y the lord of kings] be everlasting! (r 9) [From Ašar]edu.

SAA 10 158. Years of Alulim (ABL 0796) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Aša[redu] the younger. (2) The moon will not make an eclipse; the king of the lands, my lord, can be happy. (4) May Bel and Nabû grant the years of Alu[lim to the king], my lord! (5) To whom [...] can I tell all the things [that the king, my lord], has given us? The king [......]. (8) Let them give me [.......] (9) to the king [......]

SAA 10 159. Eclipse Update (ABL 0765) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the king], my lord: your servant Bel-naṣir. (2) [In Tishri (VII)] there was no watch for the moon. (3) [On] the 28th of [Tishri (VII)] the sun made an eclipse; in Marchesvan (VIII) the moon [let] the eclipse [pass] by. (5) Now then, in Nisan (I), (6) [... pr]evious [...] (7) [... pr]evious [...] (Break) (r 1) [... on the x]th [...] (r 2) [...] I shall not write (r 3) [...] If (r 4) [... ga]thered (r 5) The king should dispel [unfavourable] thoughts from his heart.

SAA 10 160. Twenty Able Scholars, Fit for Royal Service (CT 54 057+) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the ki]ng of the lands, the strong king, the king of the world, his lord: your servant Marduk-šapik-zeri, the dead body, the leprous skull, the constricted breath whom the king, my lord, raised up and appointed from among corpses. May I die as the substitute of the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the lord of kings, my lord! (6) I have now been kept in confinement for two years and, for fear of the king, my lord, though there have been good and bad portents for me to observe in the sky, I have not dared to report them to the king, my lord. (9) Now, however, afraid that it…

SAA 10 161. Petition Concerning a Lawsuit (ABL 0928) [from astrologers]

(1) [To] the king, my lord: your [ser]vant Munnabitu. Good health to the king, my lord! [May] Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) Aššur-eṭir, the son of Ṣillaya, who informed the king claiming that Nabû-apla-iddin has killed his servants, is speaking to the king falsely and untruly. He has devised a cunning plan: "[...] of the king [...] (Break) (r 2) not [......] (r 3) where [......] (r 4) has not [...]. The [...]s who [info]rmed with [him] have got afraid. (r 6) Though the king has decided their case, nobody is giving them anything, and they are worried about their lives. (r 9) Now,…

SAA 10 162. (no title) (CT 54 196) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the king of the world, my lord: your servant Na]bû-iqb[i. May Nabû and Marduk bless] the king of the world, [my lord]! (3) [Concerning] Erešu [..., about whom the king], my lord, [gave me] o[rders, ... he h]as entered [...], saying: "[...] (7) [......] Dari-[šarru] (8) [...... t]o the king, [my] lord (Rest destroyed)

SAA 10 163. Petition Concerning Lost Property (CT 54 463) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king of the world, my lord: your servant Nabû-iqbi. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king of the world, my lord! (5) (While) I am here keeping the king my lord's watch, the commandant of Cutha, Aš[ar]edu, has given my father's house to a nayālu tenant and ousted my brothers from t[heir] home. (11) When my brother was approaching Cutha, at his feet which [......] to Cutha (Break) (r 1) [...] said to my [...]: "I hate the country in which your brother is living, along with you." (r 4) My legal adversary who took 50 minas of silver and a mina of gold from my father's house, has been…

SAA 10 164. The Commandant is Robbing Me (CT 54 510) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the ki]ng of the wo[rld, my lord: your servant Nabû-iqbi. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king of the world, my lord]! (5) [......] (6) While [I am] keeping the king my lord's watch [here in Nineveh], the commandant of Cutha, Ašaredu, is giving my father's house to a nayālu tenant and turning [al]l my assets into his possession. (13) [x mi]nas of silver belonging to y[ou] (14) [......] of mine (15) [......] of the city [...] (Break) (r 1) ... [......] (r 2) He has seized Commagenean [......] in lieu of 15 m[inas ......]. (r 5) I speak t[o ......], but nobody [listens to me]. (r 6) [...]…

SAA 10 165. Petition Concerning Lost Property (ABL 0228) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nergal-eṭir. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) For 6 years I have been guarding Aššur-etel-šamê-erṣeti-muballissu, and Bel and Nabû have provided good health. (Break) (r 2) (By) Bel and Na[bû ...], your gods: the king, my lord, is merciful. Let the king send a bodyguard with me, so I may go and bring out my brother and retrieve my fortune. Let me go and come back quickly! (r 9) Was it not when I was living in his country, in the land of Yašubu, that the son of Ahu-leʾi ...? Why [......] on the servants? (e.…

SAA 10 166. Merciful King (ABL 0499) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king of the lands, my lord: your servant Rašil. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) The king, my lord, has reared me from my childhood until the present day, and ten times has the king, my lord, taken my hand and saved my life from my enemies. (13) You are a merciful king. You have done good to all the four quarters of the earth and [placed] the plant of life in their nostrils. (r 4) Now, [...... are pl]otting (r 5) [......] (r 6) I am [......]. (r 8) May the king, [my lord, n]ot abandon me! May I not drift apart from the king, my lord!…

SAA 10 167. Petition Concerning a Field (ABL 0500) [from astrologers]

(1) [To the c]rown prince, my lord: your servant Rašil. May Nabû [and Marduk] bless the crown prince, my lord! (4) Why is Aššur-na[tkil], the cohort commander of Adin, on his own hook dissolving a contract that the king, [my lord], has made? (8) Two horses (and) tenant farmers cultivated my field; I sent two of my apprentices there, but Aššur-natkil arrested them and threw them into prison. He has destroyed the barley [...], and they have put my apprentices too in [...]. (r 7) [...] a favour for me. If [it is acceptable] to [the king], these [......]. (r.e. 10) There is [...] (r 11) all [...]…

SAA 10 168. Eclipse Predicting the Fall of the Westland (ABL 0137) [from astrologers]

(1) To the king of the lands, my lord: your servant Zakir. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king of the lands, my lord! May Bel and Nabû keep you alive for long days of happiness and physical well-being, and may they deliver your enemy into your hands! (6) The moon made an eclipse on the 15th of Tebet (X), in the middle watch. It began in the east and shifted to the west — a decidedly evil portent concerning the king of the Westland and his country. (11) Its evil is definite; its evil will befall the king of the Westland and his country. If there is an enemy of the king, my lord, in the West,…

SAA 10 169. Ṣillaya Does not Wish the Rebuilding of Babylon (ABL 0702) [from astrologers]

(1) The king appointed [Ṣillaya ...] with the sons of Eṭeru of the Sealand, and they have seized [...], saying: "It is the king's order: Give us [the ... which ...] gave to your fathers as a nishu payment!" (4) The Babylonians and the(ir) commandant Ubaru (said to them): "There is no such order of the king! Last year, in Calah, when you appealed to the king for the collection of old debts (incurred) while Babylon was still intact, the king lost his temper with you, (shouting): 'What is there in Babylon (to collect)? The city was in ruins, and I have resettled it and established its freedom!'…

SAA 10 170. Predicting an Eclipse of the Sun (ABL 0477) [from astrologers]

(1) Concerning the solar eclipse about which the king wrote to me: "Will it or will it not take place? Send a definite word!" (6) An eclipse of the sun, like one of the moon, never escapes me; should it not be clear to me and should I have failed (to observe it), I would not find out about it. (r 5) Now since it is the month to watch the sun and the king is in the open country, for that reason I wrote to the king: "The king should pay attention, whether it occurs or not."

SAA 10 171. Teaching Astrology (ABL 0954) [from astrologers]

(1) [May] Nabû and Marduk [ble]ss the king, [my lord]! (3) Your servant [NN]. (4) [As] the king last year summoned [his scholars, he did not] summon me with [them], (so) I wrote to the palace: "The apprentices whom the king appointed in my charge have learned Enūma Anu Enlil; what is my fault that the king has not summoned me with his scholars?" (13) The king said: "Have no fear, I will summon you." But when I departed from there, up to now the king has not summoned me. (r 1) Now the king has summoned scribes great and small, but the king has not sum[moned] me, not with the [...] nor with [the…

SAA 10 172. Mars Approaching Libra; Mercury in Capricorn (ABL 1113) [from astrologers]

(beginning destroyed) (1) "Mars has become visible; why have you not written?" — (4) Mars was sighted in the month of Ab (V); now it has approached within 2.5 spans (= 3°30') of Libra. As soon as it has come close to it, I shall write its interpretation to the king, my lord. (r 5) What was sighted now is Mercury in Capricorn; (the sighting) of Mars [...] (Rest destroyed)

Astronomy & Mathematics

SAA 10 173. The Governor has Taken my Field (ABL 0421) [from diviners]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šumu-uṣur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) The father of the king, my lord, gave me 10 homers of cultivated land in Halahhu. For 14 years I had the usufruct of the land, and nobody disputed it with me. (But) now the governor of Barhalzi has come and mistreated the farmer, plundered his house and appropriated my land. (17) The king, my lord, knows that I am a poor man, that I keep the watch of the king, my lord, and am guilty of no negligence within the palace. Now I have been deprived of my field.…

SAA 10 174. The Conqueror Goes to Egypt (ABL 0923) [from diviners]

(1) To the king, lord of kings, my lord, and Aššur, the highest [god], [who] by his holy and unchangeable command [... has ordered] a thousand years of life for the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šumu-uṣur. (4) [May] Sin and Šamaš [attend to] the health of the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk [give] name and seed to the king, my lord! May the Lady of Nineveh and Ištar of Arbela guide [you] like a mother and sister! (7) Aššur, in a dream, called the grandfather of the king, my lord, a sage; the king, lord of kings, is an offspring of a sage and Adapa: you have surpassed the wisdom of the…