All tablets.

Lipit-Eštar 01

Lipit-Eštar's self-presentation as 'humble shepherd' who 'established justice' in Sumer and Akkad — predating Hammurabi by roughly 150 years — anchors the ideological lineage of Mesopotamian law-giving kingship.

~1925 BCE·Old Babylonian

ETCSRI

Lipit-Eštar 02

Lipit-Eštar frames the building of his palace as an act of justice for Sumer and Akkad — linking royal construction ideology to the legal reforms that precede Hammurabi by roughly 150 years.

Writing & Literature·Religion & Myth

Lipit-Eštar 04

Lipit-Eštar names himself 'humble shepherd of Nibru' and 'favourite of Inana' while linking his law-giving directly to temple construction — evidence that Isin kings framed legal reform as a divine mandate, not a civic one.

Lipit-Eštar 09add

Lipit-Eštar frames canal construction as an act of justice — yoking hydraulic infrastructure to royal ideology a generation before his more famous law code.

Ur-Ninurta 1

Royal titulary of Ur-Ninurta of Isin (~1923–1896 BCE) accumulates priestly and pastoral epithets across Nippur, Ur, Eridu, and Uruk, mapping the ideological geography of a dynasty competing to reunify Sumer after Ur III's collapse.

Bur-Sin 1

(1) Bur-Suen, the shepherd who makes Nibru utterly content, the powerful farmer of Urim, the restorer of Eridug’s divine design, the en priest suitable for the divine powers of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the spouse who befits Inana's holy lap.

Bur-Sin 2002 / CDLI Seals 012217 (CDLI Seals 012217 (composite))

(1) Bur-Suen, the powerful king, king of Sumer and Akkad: Abbaĝu, the scribe, child of Lu-Utu, is your servant.

Bur-Sin 2003 / CDLI Seals 001562 (CDLI Seals 001562 (physical))

(1) Warad-Šamaš, child of Ziyatum, is the servant of Bur-Suen.

Bur-Sin 2004 / CDLI Seals 012051 (CDLI Seals 012051 (composite))

(1) ..., child of Damu-rabi, is the servant of Bur-Suen.

Bur-Sin 2005 / CDLI Seals 005549 (CDLI Seals 005549 (physical))

(1) Bur-Suen, the powerful king, king of Sumer and Akkad: Lu-Enlila, the scribe, child of Lugal-ezen, is your servant.

Bur-Sin 2006 / CDLI Seals 002155 (CDLI Seals 002155 (physical))

(1) Ilum-ahu, ..., is the servant of Bur-Suen.

Writing & Literature

Damiq-ilišu 2001

(1) To Nergal of Apiak, the respected lord, the powerful lion, his master, Warad-Nanna, the royal scribe, child of Piqqum, his servant, dedicated this (lion statue) for the well being Damiq-ilišu, king of Sumer and Akkad.

Enlil-bani 01

(1) Enlil-bani, the shepherd, who makes everything abundant for Nibru, the farmer of Urim’s plentiful barley, who purifies all divine powers of Eridug, the favourite en-priest of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the spouse chosen in the heart by Inana.

Enlil-bani 05

(1) For Ninibgal, the compassionate lady, who loves votive offerings, who listens to prayers and supplications, her shining mother, Enlil-bani, the shepherd, who makes everything abundant for Nibru, the farmer of Urim’s plentiful barley, who purifies all divine powers of Eridug, the beloved en-priest of Unug, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the spouse choosen in the heart by Inana, built her beloved temple.

Enlil-bani 06

(1) For Nintinuga, lady of the living and the dead, his lady, Enlil-bani, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved of Enlil and Ninisina, built the E-nidubu, his beloved temple.

Enlil-bani 08

(1) For Enlil, king of all lands, his master, Enlil-bani, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved of Enlil and Ninisina, ....

Enlil-bani 12add

(i 1) For Annunītum of Agade, his lady, Enlil-bani, the shepherd, who makes everything abundant for Nibru, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the spouse chosen in the heart by Inana, built the Ulmaš, her beloved temple in Isin.

Religion & Myth

Erra-imitti 2001 / CDLI Seals 002519 (CDLI Seals 002519 (physical))

(1) Iliška-uṭul, the scribe, child of Suen-ennam, is the servant of Erra-imitti.

Iddin-Dagan 1

(1) To Ninisina, his lady, Iddin-Dagan, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, dedicated this (statue) for his well-being. (9) Whoever ... order to perform a misdeed ..., may Ninisina, my lady, and Damu, may master, curse him!

Iddin-Dagan 2001

(1) Iddin-Dagan, the powerful man, ...: ..., child of ..., the scribe, is your servant.

Iddin-Dagan 3

(1) For Ninlil, the lady of the gods, Iddin-Dagan, the powerful king, fashioned a composite copper statue, set it up before her, and dedicated it to her for his well-being. (6) Whoever gives order to perform a misdeed against this (statue), ... my handiwork, erases this inscription and writes his own name there, or makes another man raise his hand against it on account of this curse, may Nanna, my master, Ninlil, my lady, and Dagan, my personal god, curse him!

Išbi-Erra 1

(1) For Enlil, king of all land, his master, Išbi-Erra, the powerful king, the king of his land, fashioned a lofty balaĝ-drum, which ... the heart, and dedicated it to him for his well-being. (12) The name of this balaĝ-drum is “Išbi-Erra puts (his) trust in Enlil.”

Išme-Dagan 11

(1) Išme-Dagan, provider of Nibru, steadfast supporter of Urim, tireless servant of Eridug, en priest of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved spouse of Inana, built the great wall of Dūrum, his city of military governorship as crown prince.

Išme-Dagan 12

(1) To Nanna, the firstborn child of Enlil, his master, Išme-Dagan, provider of Nibru, steadfast supporter of Urim, tireless servant of Eridug, en priest of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved spouse of Inana, dedicated this (vase) for his well-being.

Išme-Dagan 14

(1) A-aba, the child of En-ana-tuma, en priestess of Nanna.

Išme-Dagan 2002add

(1) To Nergal of Aldak, his master, Warad-Erra, gudug priest of Nergal, son of Adalal, the gudug priest, his servant, dedicated this (mace) for the well-being of Išme-Dagan, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad.

Lipit-Eštar 05

(1) When I, Lipit-Eštar, the humble shepherd of Nibru, the true farmer of Urim, ceaseless provider of Eridug, the en priest suitable for Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the favourite of Inana, established justice in Sumer and Akkad, then by the command of Enlil and Nanna I restored Urim and dug its moat.

Lipit-Eštar 07

(1) For Inana of Mur, her Inana, Lamassatum, (Lipit-Estar's) mother built the E-maruru, her beloved storehouse in Isin for the well-being of Lipit-Eštar, the shepherd who heeds the gods, king of Sumer and Akkad, spouse of Inana, and also for her (own) well-being.

Lipit-Eštar 08

(1) When I, Lipit-Eštar, the king of Sumer and Akkad, established justice in Sumer and Akkad, then I dedicated this (eye-stone) for Ninlil, lady of the gods, the Inana who created me, my mother who bore me, for my well-being.

Lipit-Eštar 10add

(i 1) When I, Lipit-Eštar, the humble shepherd of Nibru, the true farmer of Urim, ceaseless provider of Eridug, the en priest suitable for Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the favourite of Inana, established justice in Sumer and Akkad, then for Nanaya, the beloved child of Inana, my lady, I built the E-me-urur, her beloved storehouse in Isin.

Lipit-Eštar 2001 / CDLI Seals 012213 (CDLI Seals 012213 (composite))

(1) Lipit-Eštar, the powerful king, king of Urim: Aya-duga, gudug-abzu priest of Nanna, šita-eša priest, child of Duga-zida, is your servant.

Lipit-Eštar 2002

(1) Lipit-Eštar, the powerful king, king of his land: Iddin-Dagan-waqar, the ešabda official, child of Nanna-isag, is your servant.

Lipit-Eštar 2003 / CDLI Seals 012214 (CDLI Seals 012214 (composite))

(1) Lipit-Eštar, the powerful king, king of Urim: ..., the scribe, child of Lu-Inana, is your servant.

Lipit-Eštar 2004 / CDLI Seals 012216 (CDLI Seals 012216 (composite))

(1) Lipit-Eštar, the powerful king, ....

Sin-magir 2001 / CDLI Seals 002462 (CDLI Seals 002462 (physical))

(1) Iddin-damu, the chief builder, child of Iaya, is the servant of Enki and Sin-magir.

Sin-magir 2002 / CDLI Seals 002551 and 009452

(1) Imgur-Sin, the temple administrator, child of Sin-iddinam, is the servant of Sin-magir.

Sin-magir 2003 / CDLI Seals 012218 (CDLI Seals 012218 (composite))

(1) Ana-damu-taklaku, child of Adata, is the servant of Sin-magir.

Šu-ilišu 1

(1) When Šu-ilišu, the powerful man, king of Urim, brought home (the statue of) Nanna from Anšan to Urim, then for Nanna, the most outstanding among the Anuna gods, his master, he built the Dublamah, his place of rendering judgement. He installed for him a decorated two-wing door, and dedicated it to him for his well-being. (19) Whoever gives order to perform a misdeed against this (door), transfers it to a storehouse, or makes another man raise his hand against it on account of this curse, may Nanna, my master, and Ningal, my lady, curse him!

Šu-ilišu 2001 / CDLI Seals 012211 (CDLI Seals 012211 (composite))

(1) Šu-ilišu, the powerful king, king of his land: ..., the scribe, the child of Lu-balasaga.

Šu-ilišu 2002 / CDLI Seals 012212 (CDLI Seals 012212 (composite))

(1) Šu-ilišu, the powerful man, king of his land: Šara-mutum, the scribe, son of Ur-Šulpae.

Šu-ilišu 2003 / CDLI Seals 012026 (CDLI Seals 012026 (composite))

(1) ..., child of ..., servant of Šu-ilišu.

Šu-ilišu 3

(1) Because of his great love for Ninisina, Šu-ilišu, the powerful king, king of Sumer and Akkad, built a great city wall whose fearsome radiance silences everyone in order to make the scattered people of the south and highlands secure in their dwellings around Isin. The name of this city wall is “Šu-ilišu is the beloved of Eštar.”

Šu-ilišu 4 / CDLI Seals 013691 (CDLI Seals 013691 (composite))

(1) Šu-ilišu, the powerful king, king of Urim, the beloved of Enlil and Ninisina.

Zambiya 2add

(1) For Ninisina, his lady, Zambiya, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, built the pure E-niĝar for her joyful festival.

~1922 BCE·Old BabylonianEditorial

N 0406

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Early Old Babylonian (ca. 2000-1900 BC)) — N 0406. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Ur-Ninurta y2 — Year after: Ur-Ninurta became king based on canonical year-name formula in…

~1900 BCE·Old AssyrianOur engine

Erišum I 03

Documents Erišum I's temple construction at Aššur and its ritual furnishings — bronze duck weights and beer vats — giving the earliest detailed record of cultic equipment in an Assyrian royal building inscription.

~1900 BCE·Old AssyrianOur engine

Erišum I 06

Attests Erišum I's construction of Aššur's temple in the god's own city, anchoring the earliest stratum of Assyrian royal piety and the vice-regent (iššiak Aššur) titulature that defined Old Assyrian kingship.

~1900 BCE·Old AssyrianOur engine

Erišum I 10

Erišum I consecrates the Aššur temple 'Wild Bull' by mixing ghee and honey into the mortar — one of the earliest Assyrian royal building inscriptions, and evidence that the ritual deposit of clay cones as dynastic markers was already standard practice c. 1900 BCE.

~1900 BCE·Old BabylonianOur engine

Šamši-Adad I 02

Claims the Emašmaš temple in Nineveh as a restoration of a structure built by Maništušu of Agade, asserting Assyrian dynastic continuity across seven generations of post-Akkadian history.

~1900 BCE·Old BabylonianRIAo

Šamši-Adad I 11

Attests Šamši-Adad I's self-presentation as temple-builder of Aššur, anchoring his reign within the city-god's cult at the moment Assyria first emerged as a territorial kingdom.