Position in chronology
MVN 13, 042
Translation · reference
ExperimentalSource: CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P116815.
Why it matters
Transliteration
1(disz) x x UD kal gada mah i3-li2 NI unu-ga gada sa-gi4-a mu-kux(DU) lu2-nin-isin2? lu2 azlag2 e2-kiszib3-ba ga2-nun mah-ka ba-an-kux(KWU636) giri3 ur-nin-mug iti ezem-me-ki-gal2 mu i-bi2-suen lugal-e si-mu-ru-um mu-hul
Scholarly note
Catalogue entry from CDLI (Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC)) — MVN 13, 042. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Ibbi-Suen y1 — Ibbi-Suen became king based on canonical year-name formula in the transliteration.
Attribution
Image: Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (P116815) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. source
Translation excerpted from CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P116815..
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Related sources
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Marks the boundary between proto-writing and writing. We can see signs being used systematically — but not yet phonetically. The leap to recording speech itself comes a few centuries later.
The earliest historical document in human history. Before this, we have lists, accounts, and dedications. Here, for the first time, a ruler tells us what happened — with names, places, and consequences.