State Archives of Assyria 18 — Letters from Northern and Central Babylonia

Between the early 670s and the 620s BCE, governors, temple officials, priests, and private citizens across northern and central Babylonia wrote to the Assyrian crown at Nineveh — almost always to "the king" himself, though a handful of letters survive addressed instead to the crown prince, the king's mother or daughter, a provincial governor, or other relatives and officials. Frances Reynolds edited these 204 tablets and fragments in 2003 as "The Babylonian Correspondence of Esarhaddon and Letters to Assurbanipal and Sin-šarru-iškun from Northern and Central Babylonia," State Archives of Assyria volume 18, completing — together with the companion volumes SAA 10, SAA 13, and SAA 17 — the online edition's coverage of the known Neo-Babylonian letters sent to Assyria's seventh-century kings.

The letters fall into two groups, following the print edition's own arrangement, which this edition keeps as its thirteen chapters. The larger first group (Chapters One through Nine) gathers letters datable to the reign of Esarhaddon (680–669 BC), arranged geographically from the king and crown prince, through Akkad and Cutha, Babylon, Kish, Borsippa, Bit-Dakkuri, and Marad, Nippur and Larak, Uruk, and the Sealand, down to a chapter of miscellaneous and scholarly letters and a further chapter of texts Simo Parpola later added to the volume for their bearing on material already published in SAA 10 and SAA 13. The second group (Chapters Ten through Thirteen) gathers letters mostly from the reign of Esarhaddon's son and successor in Assyria, Assurbanipal (668–ca. 631 BC) — including several written during his brother Šamaš-šumu-ukin's revolt against him in Babylonia (652–648 BC) — plus two letters, SAA 18 163 and SAA 18 187, that reach past Assurbanipal's death into the reign of his own successor Sîn-šarru-iškun (ca. 626–612 BC), each noted where it occurs.

Most of these are working political letters rather than literary compositions — reports on loyalty and disloyalty, conspiracies and troop movements, conflict with Elam, legal disputes, temple affairs, and the whereabouts of fugitives, forming what amounted to an intelligence network reporting from Babylonia to the Assyrian court. The English below is SAAo's own published translation, reproduced complete and verbatim as continuous reading prose; nothing has been added, paraphrased, or supplied by this library. Brackets, ellipses, and parenthetical markers such as "(?)" and "(!)" are SAAo's own, recording restored, damaged, or uncertain cuneiform. These are small, often fragmentary tablets, and many break exactly where a name, a place, or the substance of a report would otherwise stand: 314 lines across 133 of the 204 texts are too damaged for SAAo itself to have published a translation, and each such gap is marked in place — by SAAo's own words where SAAo records one ("beginning broken away," "rest uninscribed"), otherwise disclosed plainly — rather than filled.

Contents

• Chapter One. Letters from the King and the Crown Prince of Babylon — SAA 18 001–007
• Chapter Two. Letters from or Relating to Akkad and Cutha — SAA 18 008–013
• Chapter Three. Letters from or Relating to Babylon — SAA 18 014–053
• Chapter Four. Letters from or Relating to Kish, Borsippa, Bit-Dakkuri, and Marad — SAA 18 054–067
• Chapter Five. Letters from Nippur and Larak — SAA 18 068–078
• Chapter Six. Letters from Uruk — SAA 18 079–084
• Chapter Seven. Letters from the Sealand — SAA 18 085–091
• Chapter Eight. Miscellaneous Letters — SAA 18 092–123
• Chapter Nine. Additions to SAA 10 and SAA 13 — SAA 18 124–142
• Chapter Ten. Letters from or Relating to Birati, Dur-Šarrukku, and Cutha — SAA 18 143–157
• Chapter Eleven. Letters from or Relating to Babylon — SAA 18 158–172
• Chapter Twelve. Letters from Borsippa, Dilbat, and Bit-Dakkuri — SAA 18 173–191
• Chapter Thirteen. Letters from Nippur — SAA 18 192–204

Chapter One. Letters from the King and the Crown Prince of Babylon

SAA 18 001–007. 7 texts.

SAA 18 001 — Dressing down the ‘Non-Babylonians’

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0210; ABL 0403. Sender: the king. To: non-Babylonians. SAA 18 001; SAAo P334274.

Obverse

[The wo]rd of the king to the non-Babylonians. I am [w]ell. It is said in a popular proverb: "The potter's dog, having entered the kiln, will bark at the potter." Now you have godlessly made yourselves into citizens of Babylon, and have raised against my servants all kinds of claims that you and your lord have been making up. In yet another popular proverb it is said: "The words of a sinful woman have more weight at the door of the judge's house than her husband's." I am herewith sending back to you, with its seals intact, your completely pointless letter that you sent to me. Perhaps you will say: "Why did he return it to us?" When the citizens of Babylon, who are my servants and love me, wrote to me, I opened (their letter) and read it. Now, would it be good (that) I should [accept and] read (a letter) from the hand of criminals who [...] the god?

Reverse

[......] there [...... ab]out your lord [......] are cold and (Break) [......] have [pl]aced [...... I will] read (Rest destroyed)

[4 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 002 — Settling the Case of Şillaya

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0002; ABL 1256. Sender: [the king]. SAA 18 002; SAAo P237658.

Obverse

The wor[d of the king] to [NN. I am] wel[l]; y[ou may be happy]. Concerning [NN] [...] and [NN] [......] [...] fifty [...] [...] ... [...] [...] concerning [...] [...] who against [...] took [from] his [han]d [...] ... [...] I

Bottom Edge

[... Sh]ould I have heard (it), [I would have ... ha]nd [in] their [m]idst.

Reverse

[......] [the Sealand ...] [they ......]. And con[cerning] Ṣillaya about whom you wro[te], I myself shall sett[le] yo[ur] case with him.

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 003 — Why Have You Stayed in Nippur?

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00087; ABL 0540. Sender: [the king]. SAA 18 003; SAAo P237777.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) from under [...] when you mobilised, you [...]. Now why have you seized one area (only) and stayed in Nippur? The former šandabakkus (governors of Nippur) who were there before you, whether they were at ease with their lords or not, were, like you, courtiers of their lords, and their lords' favour obliged them, as it obliges you. Each šandabakku duly mobilised his forces and went with Ṣallaya to where(ver) my grandfather sent him in the whole land of Akkad up to the Sealand.

Reverse

Now you, too, mobilise your forces and go and j[o]in Nabû-eṭir, the governor of the northern Sealand! Do your work, ..., (and) make your names good in my eyes! (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 004 — Assyrians Attack Mannea

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01164; ABL 0616. Sender: [the king]. SAA 18 004; SAAo P237992.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [I] wrote to [you ...]. Now the Manneans have heard of the army of Assyria that went to the city of Gumusanu and have gathered a camp. One side of the camp faces Gumusanu, the other side faces towards here. As for you, be cautious until [...] further instructions

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 005 — Returning a Wife

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0284; ABL 1162. Sender: [the king]. SAA 18 005; SAAo P237333.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) As to your wife about whom you wrote, I am now writing to Ilu-pî-uṣur; he will give your wife back to you.

Reverse

(uninscribed)

SAA 18 006 — Runaways from Der

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Rm 0072; ABL 0430. Sender: the crown prince. To: deputy (governor, Nabû-dini-a[mur]. SAA 18 006; SAAo P240132.

Obverse

A tablet of the crown prince to the deputy (governor) and Nabû-dini-a[mur]. Mar-Biti-ibni, a citizen of Der, helped thirteen men run away, and brought them where you are.

Reverse

You (sg.) gave five of them to Šiyu, but eight (remain) in [yo]ur (pl.) presence. No[w], send (pl.) [......]!

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 007 — Treaty Between Elam and Assyria

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1904-10-09, 0049; CT 54 580. Sender: the crown pr[ince]. To: Šulmu-beli-lu[šme]. SAA 18 007; SAAo P237546.

Obverse

A message of the crown pr[ince] to Šulmu-beli-lu[šme]. Having listened to one another, the king of Elam and the king of As[syria] have made peace with one another at Marduk's command and become treaty partners. (Yet) you have detained there all the men of the country that came to the festival. When I read the word of the king, the outpost and the gar[rison] [... h]or[ses] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) they went off [and] came [.... Since] you had detained [them], I sent a messen[ger] to you, but I have not heard an answer to my letter. But now, Iaṣar and his family are the king's servants. They have run away to you. Send them to me quickly, and do not cast a shadow between the king of Elam and the king of Assyria! The king has sent a letter to [me], sayi[ng]: "Th[ey] must co[me]." So send t[hem q]uickly!

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Chapter Two. Letters from or Relating to Akkad and Cutha

SAA 18 008–013. 6 texts.

SAA 18 008 — Cultivating the Fields of the Lady of Akkad

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0087; ABL 1123. SAA 18 008; SAAo P237260.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] the king, my lord, [...] [...], and may she make the kings of al[l] the lands [...] bow down before the king of kings, my lord. [NN, a cit]izen of Bab[y]lon, has quit serving the [king's] magnates [in the c]a[m]p, and has come to Akkad. I am herewith sending him [to the king]. The king, my lord, should question him. [When I br]ought in [Ahi-ya]qar (and) the servants of the Lady of Akkad and [handed them ov]er to the king, my lord, then the king, my lord, [di]d justice to his gods. Šarru-hussanni, the bodyguard [whom the king], my [lord], sent to me, gave back [the field of the go]ds of the king, my lord. I have sown (and) harvested [the field], (and) have received [...], but [Zaba]du has removed the servants [of the Lad]y of Akkad.

Reverse

[The ...s of] Akkad are [...] of the king and the crown prince, my lords. [I ha]ve [ex]hausted myself for the king, my lord. The king, my lord, should [not] blame me! Zabadu is (to stay) at his mandate and I at mine. The king, my lord, will check it out. [If] he (= Zabadu) has not delivered (them) to the king, my lord, he is taking (them) [from] his temple(s), and it will turn [into] my [faul]t. May [the king, m]y [lord], be mindful of his gods and [...] his [g]ods with Zabadu! [May h]e se[n]d a bodyguard [...] to where I [g]ave the nishu-payment of your gods [...]! [I hav]e [gi]ven [every]thing [there was] to your gods [...]. The king, my lord, [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 009 — The Fields of the Lady of Akkad Again

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 07315; CT 54 176. SAA 18 009; SAAo P238646.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [May] all the go[ds of Akka]d [give goo]d health (and) happiness [... to] the king, my lord! [The Lady of Akka]d and the gods [...] have se[t o]ff in procession. [I p]ray [every day to ...] for the li[f]e [of the king, my lord]. [...] ... [...] [...] ... [...] [...] the king [...] a b[odyguard] [... W]hen I [...ed ..., the king, my lord, did justic]e to his gods. [Šarru-huss]anni, the bo[dyguard, ca]me and [gave] back [the field of the gods] of the king, my lord. I [sowed and] harvested [the field of the gods] of the king, my lord [...] [...] the Lady of Akka[d] [...] the harvest of the city [...] [... the king], my [lo]rd, [did] justice to [his] gods.

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Bottom Edge

[...] of your gods and yo[ur] servant [......] righteousness

Reverse

(Break) he does not g[ive ...]. When [the bodygua]rd whom the king, my lord, [sent] to settle my case came t[o ...], they talked absurdities to him, so he did me no justice whatever, and gave no [...] to your gods. [The king, my lord], should a[s]k him what [...] [...] the land [...] [...] did not [...] [...] Akkad to [...] [... D]ur-Šarruk[ku ...] [...] should eat [...]. Many servant[s of the king, m]y [lor]d, [...]. [May] the [k]i[ng], my [lord, d]o justice to his gods and his servant! A basket (with) the leftovers [of ...] and Anunitu [...]. [They] will let [the king, my lord], live [for l]ong [days, and ... the k]ing, my lord [...]. [May I h]ear [the we]ll-being [of the king, my lord, and may I be happy]! [...] to [...]

SAA 18 010 — Report on Cutha to the Mother of the King

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00478; ABL 0254. Sender: Ašaredu. To: the mother of the king. SAA 18 010; SAAo P237817.

Obverse

To the mother of the king, my lord: your servant, Ašaredu. May Nabû and M[a]rduk bless the mother of the king, my lord. I pray every day to Nergal and Laṣ for the life of the king and of the mother of the king, my lords.

Reverse

All is well with the city and the temple(s) of the king, and now I am keeping the watch of the king, my [l]ord. (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 011 — Fragment of a Report on Cutha

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0746; CT 54 538. Sender: [Ašaredu?]. SAA 18 011; SAAo P237401.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, m[y] lord: [your servant ...]. May Nabû and [Marduk] bless [the king, my lord]. [I pray every] day [to Nergal] and L[aṣ for] the long [life, happiness, and good health] of the king of the uni[verse, my lord]. (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) Now [......] the day when [...] yo[ur] gods [...] (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 012 — Fragment from Cutha Concerning Emeslam

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 11924; CT 54 229. SAA 18 012; SAAo P239045.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] live [in Cutha] [...] pray to [Nergal, and L]aṣ for the life [of the king, my lord]. [...] Emeslam [...] the king's [se]al [...] the lord (Break)

[2 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [... al]l the lands [...] the mouth of the king, my lord [...] news [...] and [...] at the feet [...] fell [...] has stolen [... Baby]lon (Rest destroyed)

[3 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 013 — Fragment Referring to Borsippa, Cutha, and Dur-Šarrukku

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 15713 + K 16616; CT 54 341. SAA 18 013; SAAo P239402.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) from [...] "The w[ork ...] they wish [...] I shall p[lace ...] B[o]rsippa [...] and Cutha [...]

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

[...] Dur-Šarruk[ku ...] (Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)

Edge

[3 lines of the Edge are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Chapter Three. Letters from or Relating to Babylon

SAA 18 014–053. 40 texts.

SAA 18 014 — Resettling Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Sm 1028; ABL 0418. Sender: Ubaru, commandant of Babylon. SAA 18 014; SAAo P240331.

Obverse

To the king, my lord: your servant, Ubaru, the commandant of Babylon. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king. Now I pray every day to Marduk and Zarpanitu for the life of the king, my lord. I have entered Babylon. The people of Babylon welcomed me, and they bless the king every day, saying, "(He is) the one who returned Babylon's captives and booty." Also the chiefs of Chaldea from Sippar to the mouth of the sea bless the king, saying, "(he is) the one who resettled Babylon."

Reverse

All the lands are happy before the king, my lord.

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 015 — Šuma-iddin and Ubaru in Trouble

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, DT 192; CT 54 439. SAA 18 015; SAAo P237735.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) I sen[t ......] with [......] are making the land slip from the hands of the king. The two [...] who are going, are important (men) in the region [...] Šuma-iddin and Ubaru [...] ther[e], but they are not competent with horses [...] [...] ... and all the chariot-poles [...] [...] to do away with the servants o[f ...] [...] the chamberlain [...] (Break)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Edge

[......] to Elam [......]

[1 line of the Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 016 — Report on Ubaru

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 13162; CT 54 254. SAA 18 016; SAAo P239188.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [May ...] Ea, his father, [Belet-Nin]â and Madanu, (and) [Marduk and Zarpan]itu let the king, [my lord], live [for a hundred ye]ars! I am [a dea]d [dog]; they tell me [...]. [I d]o the work of the king, [my lord], and bless the king, [because ...] he has remembered me. I am [...]; I am [a servant and gua]rdian of the king, my lord. The king, my lord, [...] [...] Ubaru (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [......] performed [......] he is [......] [...... o]f the king, my lord [......] Ubaru [...] of the king [... should que]stion [...... k]ings [...... Za]r[p]anitu (Rest destroyed)

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 017 — Information for the King

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0056 + 1891-05-09 Bu, 0073; ABL 0738+. Sender: Nergal-naṣir. SAA 18 017; SAAo P237250.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, my lord: yo[ur] servant, Nergal-naṣir. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king of the lands. Kudurru, son of Nabû-naṣir, about whom I spoke to the king, has in his mouth matters relevant to the objectives and the service of the king. He is saying: "The king should hear what I have to say." May he appoint him under Nadinu, a man who reveres the king. Bel-usati, a cowherd of the king, is under arrest here by orders of Ṣillaya. Without the king('s intervention), he will die. They all further their own interests but leave aside the king's. May the king do as he deems best.

Reverse

I and my brothers who [...] and [...] the king [...] (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 018 — The Gods of Der in Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01180; CT 54 013. SAA 18 018; SAAo P237997.

Obverse

T[o the king, my lord: your] ser[vant, NN]. Good [health] t[o the king, my lord]! All is w[ell with the watch] of [the temples] of [the king, my lord]. May the gods [...] bles[s the king, my lord]!

Bottom Edge

The gods of De[r], Nana[ya], Gul[a], Mar-Biti (and) Marat-Biti, who wen[t] from the fo[rt] with [...] to the city [..., are] in Baby[lon]. The king, [my lord], should k[now] (it).

SAA 18 019 — Intelligence about Kurigalzu

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05638 + K 12015 + K 13834; CT 54 164. SAA 18 019; SAAo P238527.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] has sent to Bel-ahhe-eriba the ... [...] two talents (and) twenty minas of [...], six minas of first quality wool, five j[ars], (and) one naṣbatu-garment [......], and [has written him] a letter. Forty minas of iron, one [...]-garment of first quality wool, one hat, [...], ... [..., on]e na[ṣbatu]-garment [...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) and Raši-[il ......] Kurig[al]zu [...] has allied himself with them. He has written to [...]: "[Tell] N[N] that [he] should n[ot return] to his country this year. He should stay (there) and we should make one country enter [before] the king." All this (is relevant to) the objec[tive of the king.] Messag[e]s which Kur[igalzu] dispatc[hed ...]. (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 020 — Sending a Woman to the King

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1881-02-04, 0114; ABL 1208. SAA 18 020; SAAo P236983.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) I pray [every day to Bel and Nab]û [for the life of the king, my lord]. [Co]ncerning Re'indu of the household of the šandabakku about whom the king, my lord, [w]rote to me, I looked for her in Babylon but did not find her (there). Having asked and made enquiries, (I found) she was living in Dilbat. I have (now) brought her in from Dilbat and am herewith [sen]ding her to the king, my lord, in the hands of Na'id-ilu, the eunuch who brought the (king's) seal(ed letter) to me.

Reverse

The four [...] whom/which the king, my lord, [...] (Break) [...] their [...] [...] they eat [... in] their midst [...] my [...] (Rest destroyed)

[7 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 021 — Silver to the Grand Vizier

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0251; CT 54 515. Sender: [Nu]rea. To: the [grand vizi]er?. SAA 18 021; SAAo P237324.

Obverse

[A tablet of Nu]rea to the [grand vizi]er, his lord. Good [health] to my lord! May Bel and Nabû ordain [...], happiness (and) good health to my lord f[o]rever! I pray every day to Bel and Nabû for the life of my lord. As for the silver at my disposal, about which my lord wrote to me, saying: "Dispatch it to me in the hands of the chief tailor," now then I am dispatching it to my lord in the hands of the chief tailor.

Reverse

And concerning the order that he gave me about the Babylonian, sa[ying]: "Bring (him) and [... eve]ryone whom he knows," [...] with him [...] [...] concerning [...] Th[ey enquire af]ter the health [of Ina-te]šî-eṭir, his brother.

SAA 18 022 — Where They are Living is Very Nice

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05557; ABL 1457. Sender: Bel-[...]. SAA 18 022; SAAo P238489.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, [my] l[ord]: your servant, Bel-[...]. May Bel and Nabû b[less the king of the lands], my lord. As to what the king of the lands, [my] lo[rd, wrote to me], saying: "Go and see where the [...] are living, (and) [write to me]!" Under the protection of the king of the lands, [my] lord, [the ...] where they are living is very g[ood]. There i[s] land and water there, (and there is) happiness in the city. On the bo[rder], the people [...] the territory [...] in their presence [...] (Rest destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 023 — Appeal to the King

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 13062; CT 54 245. SAA 18 023; SAAo P239176.

Obverse

To [the king ..., my lord]: yo[ur] servant, [NN. May] Marduk [and ... be concerned with] the health o[f the king, my lord]! The clot[hing ...] to Baby[lon ...] to [......] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) the commandant [......] has giv[en ......], saying: "When [...] c[ame ......], he sett[led in ...] to Ma[rduk-... ...] as the ci[ty ......] from the control of the ki[ng ...]

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Right Edge

her[e ...] in the for[t ...] the inhabitants [...] and [......] I have ea[ten] [veg]etables [......]

Edge

[...... which] I [s]ent, may the king identify [...] [......] came. The governor [(and) ...] hate me; [...] says [...]. They fire off oppression [......]. The king must not [forsake me].

[1 line of the Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 024 — Complaints and Curses

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1889-04-26 Bu, 0310; ABL 1169. SAA 18 024; SAAo P237657.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) to[ld ......]. He told [it to] Nabû-[..., ..., (and) ...]ea, sons of [NN ...], (and) they told it to me in t[his] way. He has stolen from me four minas of silver, one mina (or) half a mina at a time, and squandered it. He persuaded Amat-Bel-ukin, a slave in my service, to take one mina of silver, helped him to escape to Ah[...], (and then) sold the slave for money. I sent (word) and had him returned. Whoever changes these words, may all the gods who are called by a name, Jupiter, Venus, Sirius and Mars, destroy his name!

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

May Anu, Enlil and Bel, the great gods, curse him with an indissoluble, grievous curse! May Marduk, the great lord, the leader of the gods his fathers, make barley rare for him to chew and make him stretch out his hand (for help) to his servant! May Marduk, the king of heaven and earth, the sage of Abyss, whose command is paramount, bestow upon him grief and wailing instead of singing at the (time of) joy of Esaggil and Babylon! [May Nab]û, the admi[nistr]ator of the totality of heaven and earth, [..., the contro]ller of cosmic harmony (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 025 — Making a Crown for Bel

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05524 + K 16120; CT 54 129. SAA 18 025; SAAo P238479.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [of the ki]ng, o[ur] lord, [...]. [N]ow then, just a[s the king], our [lo]rd, wrote to u[s, w]e are working on the [...]s of the crow[n], and are waiting f[or the king], our [lor]d.

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

[The king who] sen[t pre]sents (and) is mak[ing ...] a crown without [equal f]or Bel — [Bel and] Nabû [will give him] lon[g] days, everlast[ing ye]ars (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 026 — Fragment Mentioning the Statue of Marduk

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Sm 0161; CT 54 395. Sender: [Šuma-iddin]. SAA 18 026; SAAo X180026.

(See SAA 13 180 and the Additions and Corrections page on the Knowledge and Power website)

SAA 18 027 — Go to Babylon!

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 15304; CT 54 303. SAA 18 027; SAAo P239347.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] let [him/them ...] [...] here [...] [...] went up [to ...]. [N]ow [...] to Babylon. [From thi]s the king may find out w[hether Bel ... will com]e to Babylon [i]n Nisan (I) and whether he will tell him (= the king): "Go to Babylon [...]!" He has (already) entered [...]. As to the orac[le query, ...] and their brother will enter and [...] [...] the rest of the words [...] [...] the king [...] (Rest destroyed)

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 028 — Fragment Concerning Marduk and Zarpanitu

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 14926; CT 54 280. SAA 18 028; SAAo P239303.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) Aššur-[... ...] to [......] [......]

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

Now the king [......] Nobody should [......] they should go [......] in the city [......] upon the dais [......] they should sit [...] Marduk and Za[rpanitu] to [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 029 — Your Fathers Revered Marduk

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 07427 + K 16125; CT 54 191. SAA 18 029; SAAo P238666.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [May ... bless] the king, [my] lord, [and may they consolidate the foun]dations of the [royal] thr[one of the k]ing, my lord. [On the xth of] Shebat (XI) [...] [...] his [...] [... in]to the presence [...] [...] Ištar-[...] [... Ma]rduk-apla-uṣur [...] [...] my [lo]rd [...] [......]

Reverse

[......] [...] let me come out [...]. [The kings], your fathers [revered] Marduk. [Through] their wide understanding [they ...] [... t]o the watch [...] [Whatever] I see and h[ear], we [... to the king], my l[ord]. (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 030 — Fragment Concerning Esaggil

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05708b; CT 54 167. SAA 18 030; SAAo P238535.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] the palace [...] [...] and before [...] [... Esaggi]l and Ba[bylon ...] [... has] est[ablished ...] for Bel [... f]or Esaggi[l ...] [... B]abylo[n ...] [...] t[o ...] [...] has lit a fire [...] [...] th[ese] ... [...] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 031 — Fragment Concerning the People of Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Sm 1673; CT 54 419. SAA 18 031; SAAo P240408.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [......] he say[s to him] [...... Ba]bylon and [......] the commandant [...] [......] Bel and Nab[û ...] [... ...]-ukin [...] the work [... the B]abylonians [...] [......] and him (and) his skull [...] tore down his [...] an[d ...] [......] my [lo]rd to [...] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 032 — Fragment Concerning Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05522; CT 54 128. SAA 18 032; SAAo P238478.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) I/he will do [...], saying: "I am unable t[o ... Bab]ylon." (I swear) [by] Be[l and Nabû that] it will be agreeable [to the kin]g. [May] the stro[ng] king [...] [... w]ill assume [...] [...] we shall hear [...] of the king's road [...] [... of] the king, we have [...ed] carelessness [...] [...] the commandant has writ[ten] to the king [...] [...] may the king not [...] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 033 — Keeping People under Surveillance

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 07372; ABL 1337. SAA 18 033; SAAo P238655.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [... N]ow th[en] [...] th[ey] have go[ne and] [...] co[me back] [...] agains[t ...] [...] th[ey] wen[t back and] [......]

[5 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

[...] th[eir ...] [... which] he di[d] more than once [...] whatever [matt]ers he asked him [...] Why is he keeping silent? [...] I will [not] delay ... [...] [...] this [...] they are under surveillance a[nd] [...] the[y] should not petition the king. [Let me capt]ure thes[e] men and let [the kin]g, my lord, become happy. [Let him d]o [...] to [his] protég[é]. [...] are [un]der surveillance in Babylon. May he not find out [that ...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 034 — Fragment Concerning Babylonians

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 13022; CT 54 237. SAA 18 034; SAAo P239167.

Obverse

[...] the stron[g] king [...] [......] [...] yo[ur lor]dship [...] [...] to the king, [my] l[ord], [... the k]ing, m[y] lord, [...] [... th]ey [spe]ak. In [...] [... N]ow the king, [my] lo[rd, ...] [...] inside a boa[t ...] [... the Ba]bylonians [...] [... sa]ying: "Whe[n ...] [...] deed[s ...] [...] we shall und[o ...] (Rest destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away)

Right Edge

[1 line of the Right Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 035 — Fragment Concerning Babylonians

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05618; CT 54 154. SAA 18 035; SAAo P238514.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) and [......] the [k]ing sho[uld ......] [w]hy [......] careles[sness ......] the king ha[s ......] I will not [......] he mobili[sed ......] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) fifteen [......] four [......] in [......] Now that [......] the king should sen[d ......] and the Baby[lonians ......] about whom the king wro[te ......] [i]n/[f]rom their hands [......] [be]ing early the k[ing ......] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 036 — Precautions Against Rebellion

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01448; CT 54 024. SAA 18 036; SAAo P238075.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] I have [...] [... is s]aying: "[...]" [When I hea]rd that [...] Babylon for/to [...], I detained [...], say[ing]: "Let me get up [...] and come to [the king's audience]." Afterwa[rds ...] they became frightened [...]

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Bottom Edge

when [...] ... [...] th[ey] have spo[ken w]ords [...] against [...]

Reverse

Bel-šuma-iškun [...] has made an agreement wi[th ...]. has [... ...] to the king [...] a revolt agains[t ...] saying: "The king is not prud[ent ...]." [I]f, after [the ki]ng [has h]eard [this], the [...]s have not been assigne[d] two [...] each, they will [not] (be able to) guard [...]. Nobody will [...] [...] to the open country [...]. I have heard that for one ye[ar ...] [...] the king to [...] [...] I concerning [...] (Break)

Edge

Let me get u[p and] com[e to ......]

[1 line of the Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 037 — Fragment Referring to Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 19517. SAA 18 037; SAAo P239872.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [......] forces [...] [......] ... [......] the king should not [say] [......] When the king [...], [......] saying: "The king [does] not [...] [...... their] faces to Babylon [......] the king['s ...] have gone out [......] you will go [...]." Now [......] they [......] we (Break)

Reverse

(beginning (about six lines) broken away) [...... wat]ch (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 038 — Fragment Mentioning Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Sm 0179; CT 54 396. SAA 18 038; SAAo P240245.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...], saying: "Twice [...] have been saying about us [...] are sending [... to the king], my lord [...] are cut off [...] has eaten bread [...] for one seah of barley [...] has eaten [...]

Reverse

[... unde]r him [...] have given [...] them [...] Babylon [...] he (Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)

SAA 18 039 — Fragment Mentioning Šuma-iddin

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 20917. SAA 18 039; SAAo P336788.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) who from [......] Šuma-iddin [......] Ummi-da[... who (f.)] ran away [......] led him away [......] the chief [......] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(destroyed)

Bottom Edge

[... in]to the presence of the king [...] [...] my mouth [...]

SAA 18 040 — Fragment Referring to Bel-eṭir

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1904-10-09, 0225; ABL 1398. SAA 18 040; SAAo P237560.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [......] his brother [......] has sent us [......] you should not love [Be]l-eṭir [......] them [......] having transported [...], they placed [... in Bab]ylon. [......] ... his word to his mouth [... whom they ea]rlier shave[d] [......] you remember (Rest destroyed)

[2 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 041 — Fragment Concerning the People of Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 14613; CT 54 269. SAA 18 041; SAAo P239284.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) without a shiel[d ...] open [...]

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Bottom Edge

I wro[te ...] reliable [...] with him [...] [......]

Reverse

Nobody shot an arro[w ...]. Bel-kina, [his] son, and man[y] Babylo[nians ...] and the f[r]iend [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 042 — Fragment Concerning Babylon and Nineveh

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 13744; CT 54 259. SAA 18 042; SAAo P239219.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...... th]ey go [...... th]em [......] their [...] [......] their [pro]perty [......] to the king [...... the Bab]ylonians [...... fr]om Nineveh [...... n]ews

[2 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 043 — Fragment Concerning Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 16590; CT 54 378. SAA 18 043; SAAo P239452.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) my lord [......] in Babylo[n ......] they placed [......] and made [...] go out [...] In Babylon [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 044 — Fragment Concerning Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 14627; CT 54 271. SAA 18 044; SAAo P239287.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...... Š]ullumu [...... the m]ajor domo of [......] Šullum[u] [...... Baby]lon (Rest destroyed)

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 045 — Fragment Concerning Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 16604; CT 54 387. SAA 18 045; SAAo P239462.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [... g]ave [......] [...] him. And N[N ......] [from B]abylon to [......] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 046 — Belšunu is Not a Friend

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 07355; CT 54 180. SAA 18 046; SAAo P238652.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) when [......] these [......] Belšunu, who [..., is] not a friend. [He ... aga]inst the king, [my] l[ord].

[2 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

Nabû and M[arduk have said]: "[......]" Bel-u[... ...] who [...] the leader[ship ...] the son of Bu[nanu ......] a member of the Ir'a[nni family ......] are g[oing ......] Let me arrest [......] Who like [......] enters [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 047 — Fragment of a Letter to a Governor

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 16579; CT 54 373. To: the [governor]. SAA 18 047; SAAo P239447.

Obverse

[T]o the [governor, my lord]: your [servant], N[N. May Na]bû and Mar[duk ... bl]ess the gover[nor, my lord]. [...] ... [...] [...] se[nt ...] (Rest destroyed)

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 048 — Marking With an Ownership Mark

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 15286; CT 54 301. SAA 18 048; SAAo P239344.

Obverse

A tablet of [N]N to N[N], my [brothe]r. M[ay] Bel and [Nabû b]le[ss] my [br]other! (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) I will mar[k ...] with the ownership mar[k]. (rest uninscribed)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 049 — Divine Blessings to the King

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05404; CT 54 089. SAA 18 049; SAAo P238425.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] the kin[g, my lord]. Bel [...ed] the king, [my] lo[rd, ...] [... t]o the [s]trong king, [my] lord, [...]. [Bel and] Nabû [be]stowed gre[at] wisdom [and magnanimity] on you. By the order of [..., ...] rev[ered ...] Marduk and han[ded over the dominion of] the land[s] to you. [W]hat[ever] the king, my lord, d[oes] [...] Bel and Na[bû ...] [... e]vil things in [...] [... st]eadfast ... [...] (Rest destroyed)

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 050 — Fragment Concerning a Singer

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0814; CT 54 544. SAA 18 050; SAAo P237421.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [Bel and] Nabû, who [give long] days, [..., happi]ness, (and) good h[ealth to the king, my lord, will ...] what[ev]er the kin[g ...]. [May h]e [re]move the[m ......] [...] blood [......] [......] [...] field [......] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [... p]eop[le ......] [......] [...] to the fath[er ......] [...]anni, son of [NN], the singer whom the king [......], [has] without the king's consent [...] upon his house (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 051

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01969; CT 54 046. SAA 18 051; SAAo P238129.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) May Bel and Nabû [...], who [...] up[on ...] ... [.....] days [......] happines[s, good health, ...] and [......] to [the king ...]

Bottom Edge

grant [...]

Reverse

(Rest destroyed)

Edge

[2 lines of the Edge are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 052 — Fragment Referring to a Treaty

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0796; CT 54 540. SAA 18 052; SAAo P237414.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) whom Bel and N[abû ......] the treaty [......] delivered [.....] into the presence of [the king, my lord] [B]el [...] t[his] word: "Yo[u ......] and into the pre[sence of ...] [the e]nemy [...] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 053

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1881-07-27, 0045; ABL 1424. SAA 18 053; SAAo P237077.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) and the amount [......] they com[e ......] y[ou ...ed] their sons [...] and [withdrew] to the rea[r]. Afterwards, wh[en] they killed [...], just as a crime [...] [be]fore Bel and [Nabû ...]

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

th[ey ...] your [...] and [...] your hands [...] What [......] you [...] to the gods [...]? Aplaya, son of Nabû-[..., ...] of Amurru-upahhi[r ...], who from A[ssyria ...] (Break)

Edge

a message t[o ...] (rest as preserved uninscribed)

Chapter Four. Letters from or Relating to Kish, Borsippa, Bit-Dakkuri, and Marad

SAA 18 054–067. 14 texts.

SAA 18 054 — Accusations Against Şillaya

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1889-04-26 Bu, 0164; ABL 1255. SAA 18 054; SAAo P237652.

Obverse

[To the king of the lands, my lord]: your servant, [NN]. May [Bel and Nabû] ordain a life of [long] days [of] happiness, [... of ki]ngship, and an enduring throne of the k[ing, my lord, for] everlasting days. Conce[rning the matte]rs about which the king, the lord, wrote, say[ing]: "[From wh]om did you hear them?" — Zakir, [the ...] of the brother-in-law of [NN] told them to me. [All the forme]r and later [rumours which] I have written [to the ki]ng, my lord, [I have heard from the comman]dant of Kish and from Zakir. [I wrote] to the king, my lord, what they had to say. [If] the king, the lord, wishes, let me try to hear [about the affairs of] Ṣillaya. [Let me cho]ose [...], and let [Mardu]k-naṣir and Zakir report his [...] to the king. [...] should [n]ot question him [...] should [no]t argue ... [...] should not keep him under guard.

Bottom Edge

Ze[rutiya] broug[ht] in Bel-ipuš and Be[l]-bu[lliṭ] from Dilbat, (but) the king did not listen to what they said, and Ṣill[aya] has cunningly returned th[em] to Dilbat, telling them to mobilise archers. [I]f they have not mobilised archers, shouldn't he mobilise some, if there are none? He sends back men who have com[e] to him, telling himself: "They should not make my affairs known and no witnesses against me should stay here." May the king ask Zerutiya why he brought them in.

Reverse

Zerutiya (also) brought in Bel-ahhe-Marduk, a legal adversary of Bel-iddin, (but) nobody brought him to the court, (and) Ṣillaya has annulled the case. The king should ask him why he came. And as for me, my life is indeed entrusted to the king, my lord! He (= Ṣillaya) is going to destroy and kill us all by oppression. Besides having taken my property [..., he has ...ed] whatever he gave me. I keep telling him [...]

Right Edge

[...] men [... s]ays, "[... t]o him ... [...]

SAA 18 055 — Praying for the Happiness of the King’s Daughter

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00476; ABL 0054. Sender: Nabu-nadin-šumi. To: the daughter of the king. SAA 18 055; SAAo P237816.

Obverse

To the king's daughter, my lady: your servant, Nabû-nadin-šumi. I pray every day to Bel, Zarpanitu, Nabû, Nanaya, and Tašmetu for the life of the king of the universe, my lord, and for the life of the king's daugh[ter], my lady. Zarpan[it]u, the a[u]gust lady, has made you happy. Just as I pray to Bel and Nabû for the happiness of the king of the universe, my lord, and of the king's daughter, my lady, (so) may Bel and Nabû turn the happy faces of the king, my lord, and the king's daughter, my lady, towards me.

Reverse

(rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 056 — Intelligence on Bit-Dakkuri and Bel-iqiša

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00644; ABL 0336. Sender: Ninurta-aha-[...]. SAA 18 056; SAAo P237840.

Obverse

To the king, my lord: your servant, Ninurta-a[ha-...]. Good health to the king, [my] lo[rd]! Ahhešaya, the [ma]jor domo, and Bel-itta[din], the information officer of Nabû-ušallim from Bit-Dakkuri, are carrying a lot of silver on them. They say they are going to buy horses. The king, my lord, should know (this). As for the renegade scholars, eunuchs, and soldiers of Šamaš-ibni, who are with Nabû-ušallim, about whom the king, my lord, wrote to me — when I spoke to him, he refused to give them up to me, saying: "I will not give them up to you without a sealed document from the king and without a bodyguard." Bel-iqiša, son of Bunanu, after visiting Babylon, Borsippa, and Bit-Dakkuri, has secured (many) [fr]iends (and) established in-law-relationship with (many) [noblem]en. [He has married h]is [first daughter] to Bel-aha-iddin, [son of NN ...] in Baby[lon]. He has married his [sec]ond daughter t[o NN], son of Nadinu, a 'temple-enterer' of [Nabû] in Borsippa. He has married his third daughter to the son of Zakiru, the chief shepherd of Nabû.

Reverse

Bit-Hussanni, (a locality) situated on the Pitu watercourse between Cutha and Kish — its (yield of) dates is 100 (kor) and its (yield of) grain 100 (kor) — is a sustenance field of the king. Nabû-dini-amur got it but has given it to Bel-iqiša. It is of the province of Babylon. Neither his father nor his grandfather had the usufruct of it, and it is not in his territory. Now I have written everything that I have observed to the [k]ing, my lord. May the king, my lord, do as he deems best.

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 057 — The Dakkurean has Stolen from the King

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, DT 301 + 1883-01-18, 0276; ABL 1154+. SAA 18 057; SAAo P237451.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, [my lord]: your servant, N[N]. [May Nabû and Marduk bless] the king of the land[s, my lord]. Last year ... [...] until the shedding [...] they go [...] took [...] Aššur-naṣi[r ...] [...] ... [...] [...] before them [...] the gods of the king, my lord, [...] I became cl[ean] with him [...] they placed him [...] Marad [...] who wishes [to remove] Marad from the authority of the kin[g, my lord], will mobilise [...] and go to the en[emy] land. [When] the [...ians] heard (this), they blesse[d] the king, my lord. [...] Nabû-ušallim, the 'son' of Dakkuru, has ignored the king's word concerni[ng] the [...] of Bel-eṭir and [se]t up an affair detrimental to the palace. He has ousted [the ...]eans from Marad, a land under the king's authority, (thus) removing one cohort [from the hands of the ki]ng, my lord, (and) has stolen [a c]hariot of the king, my lord, and a speckled h[or]se from the king, my lord.

Bottom Edge

Now then, [...] ...

Reverse

silver, gol[d, ...] ... she-c[amels, ...], donkeys wit[h ...] the magnates [... he has incor]porated (Break) the ki[ng .....] should try him. The king, yo[ur] father [...] in Der [...] Now [......]

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Right Edge

(Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)

SAA 18 058 — Judgement Concerning Marad and the Dakkurean

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0277; ABL 1155. SAA 18 058; SAAo P237332.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [From] the beginning I have been [a servant of the king, my lord], and a lover of [Assyria]. Bel-eṭir, son [of NN], whom I refused to attack, [...]. The judgement concerning Mara[d ...] which the king, my lord, passed ag[ain]st the 'son' of [Dakkur]u and which the king, my lord, de[clared] as follows: "Mara[d ...]

Reverse

(Break) (edge completely broken away)

Edge

against me [ ......] [The king, my lord], must not ab[andon me]!

SAA 18 059 — The Dakkurean has Appropriated Marad

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00905; ABL 0853. Sender: Aqar-B[el-lumur]. SAA 18 059; SAAo P237932.

Obverse

[To the king of the universe, my lord: yo]ur [servant], Aqar-B[el-lumur]. May [Na]bû and Marduk bles[s] the ki[ng of the universe], my lord. Lugalmarada of Ma[rad] i[s] the brother of Nabû and the brother of Nergal. The king, your father, took away the territory of Marad and, having written it down, placed it (= the relevant document) in Ezida before Nabû. The commandant of M[ara]d used to bring his gift to your father on his own.

Reverse

Now the 'son' of Dakkuru has taken Marad for himself. Before he comes (to the reception), the k[ing sh]ould as[k] [...] all [...] me[n] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 060 — Starving to Death

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00479; ABL 0852. Sender: Aqar-Bel-lumur. SAA 18 060; SAAo P237818.

Obverse

To the king of the universe, my lord: your servant, Aqar-Bel-lumur. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king of the universe, my lord! May Šamaš and Marduk ordain happiness and good health for the king, my lord. The 'son' of Dakkuru has destroyed my property and has starved my mother and my brothers to death. I sent a letter about him to the king, my lord, but have seen no reply, and (so) have become afraid.

Reverse

The king knows that I am not provided for here; I have no house and no slave. And the 'son' of Dakkuru has destroyed my records which I had deposited with my [mo]ther and my brothers in Babylon. (Thus) I am doubly troubled. From your holy mouth which Šamaš and Marduk bless, came (this promise): "Your household will increase." Now let it increase under the protection of the king, my lord.

SAA 18 061 — Appeal to the King

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00566; CT 54 001. SAA 18 061; SAAo P237831.

Obverse

[T]o the king, [my] l[ord]: your [serva]nt, [NN]. May Nabû and Mar[duk] bl[ess] the king, my lord. I h[eard] from your ho[ly] mouth which Marduk and Zar[panitu] love: "Nobody will [...] anything [...]." From the gate of the god [...] in [...], (and) when Bel-naṣir, having given a woman [to] his son, [...]ed for food, [I ...]. Now [NN is saying]: "I have taken his wife in exchange." They are giving my house, my field, and my wife to Nenea, an exorcist who forsook his lord's house and ran away.

Reverse

So, although I have always revered the king, my lord, when I am dead, where shall they bury me? There is no city, no open country, no land, no people, nor a single 'litre' of bread (for me) in my lord's house. May my petition to the king, my lord, be received with sympathy! (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 062 — Keeping Watch in Bit-Dakkuri

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 15138; CT 54 297. SAA 18 062; SAAo P239328.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [......] in his presence [......] our helper — we keep [the king's] watch [w]ith him. [......] of Bit-Dakkur[i] [......] in the city and the open count[ry] [......] us [......] and the watc[h]

[5 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

[......] [......] son of Marduk-[...] [......] the lord of king[s ...] [......] to the king [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 063 — Fragment Concerning an Exorcist from Borsippa

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05400 + K 13157; CT 54 086. SAA 18 063; SAAo P238421.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [when] he ca[me ba]ck, [h]e tol[d] me about their health. They are all well, and all is well with their watch. Kudurru, the exorcist, the son of Nabû-damiq-ilani, a citizen of Borsippa [...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

[...... t]o the palace [......] [... the k]ing, my lord, (Rest destroyed)

[6 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 064 — Greetings from Ezida! Take Good Care of Yourself!

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01239; ABL 0219. Sender: Bel-upaq. To: Kuna, his father. SAA 18 064; SAAo P238012.

Obverse

A tablet of Bel-upaq to Kunâ, his father. Good health to my father! I pray every day to Nabû and Nanaya for the life of my father, and I steadily do (my) duty for Ezida on behalf of my father. When I enquired of Mar-Biti about yo[u], he fixed the date of (your) well-being until the fourth day.

Reverse

Remember to take good care of your[s]elf in absolutely everything you do! (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 065 — When the Cupbearer Came to Kish

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05455b; ABL 1322. SAA 18 065; SAAo P238461.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [May] Zababa (and) Babu [bless the king, my lord]. Three or four times, I and [NN have ...] the men who fled to [...]. [They] are sinners against the ki[n]g, [my] lo[rd]. When the cupbearer c[ame, he said]: "You shall call up the men, so I can do the work [...] in [...]!" The whole city of Kish rejoi[ced ......] [wit]h his servants [......] the forts [......] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 066 — Horses and People of Kish

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01985; CT 54 051. SAA 18 066; SAAo P238135.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) to [......] [......]

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

hors[es ...] and seven citizens of Ki[sh ...] in their midst [...] [...] presence [...] (Break)

Edge

If no[t, .......] (rest broken away)

SAA 18 067 — Fragment Mentioning Road to Kish

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 15691; CT 54 324. SAA 18 067; SAAo P239386.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed or too broken for translation) [ca]me (and) [...] to [...], saying: "The hands of [NN] [...] road to Kish [...] [...] we [do] not [...] (Rest destroyed)

[2 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Chapter Five. Letters from Nippur and Larak

SAA 18 068–078. 11 texts.

SAA 18 068 — Invasion of Bit-Yakin

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0124; ABL 1131. Sender: Ṣill[aya]. SAA 18 068; SAAo P237271.

Obverse

To the king, my lord: (your) servant, Ṣill[aya]. May [Enlil], Ninurta, and Nusku bless the king, [my] lo[rd]. H[aving he]ard the news of Bit-Ya[kin], I am herewith s[ending] (the following report) to the king, my lord. Nabû-ušallim, the son of Merodach-Baladan, and the Elamite forces with him have crossed over [t]o Bit-Yakin. They have [proceeded] from [...] Epadu to Dummuqu, [Targib]atu, Bananu, and Bit-Šulâ. The messenger of the king of Elam spoke [to the elders of] Bit-Yakin, [saying]: "Let [Nabû-ušallim] be your [lea]der." [They answere]d him, saying: "Formerly [......] to kill [......]." It is [...]. The king, [my] lo[rd], (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [... the king], my lord, [...]. I [fe]ared assassination, (and so) did not come to the king's audience. Really foul rumours have been manufactured behind the king's back. (Now,) I must not tarry and die, (but) must come and speak to the king.

[4 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 069 — Şillaya Plots Murder

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0554; CT 54 527. Sender: Ṣillaya. SAA 18 069; SAAo P237368.

Obverse

Ṣillaya says: "For (the sake of) the land of Akkad, I will kill Ihiru the Gambulean. [...] in Ša-pi-B[el], I will write deceitfully to the magnates of Chaldea, [s]aying: 'Come! I will kill Šamaš-ibni [and] Nikkal-iddin! I will thr[ow] Nabû-šuma-ibn[i and] Nabû-na'id into iron shackles.' (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] one [...] [...] sealed document [...] [...] quickly forces [...] [...] about audience gifts [...] [...] the king should not listen [...]."

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 070 — Nippur Cut off from Water

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00517; ABL 0327. Sender: šandabakku (of Nippur). SAA 18 070; SAAo P237821.

Obverse

To the king, [m]y lord: your servant, the šandabakku. May Enlil, Ninurta, and Nusku bless the [k]ing, my lord. The king knows that I am ve[r]y ill indeed. If I were not ill, I would have come the king's audience. Now I have sent my brother Bel-usati and ten noblemen of Nippur to greet the king, my lord. The king knows that all the lands hate us because of Assyria. We do not have safe passage in any of the lands. Wherever we go, we get killed with the words: "Why did you grasp the feet of Assyria?" Now we have blocked off my city gates; we do not go out to the open country.

Reverse

(Yet) we are keeping the king's watch! The vizier and the magnates whom the king sent here, have seen everything. Let them speak to the king! The king must not leave us in anybody's hands. We have no water. May we not die of thirst! The king, your father, granted us water from the Banitu Canal, saying: "Dig an offshoot of the Banitu Canal to Nippur!" (But) Ṣillaya has shut us off. Now, may the king send (word) to Ubaru, the commandant of Babylon, that he grant us an offshoot of the Banitu Canal, so we can use the water together with them and not slip from the king's hands because of thirst, and all the lands cannot [s]ay: "The people of Nippur who [gr]asped the feet of Assyria had their fill of thirst."

SAA 18 071 — Intelligence on Sasiya

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1882-05-22, 0106; CT 54 493. Sender: Naram-Sin. SAA 18 071; SAAo P336157.

Obverse

[T]o the king, the saviour of Assyria, [the ki]ng of the universe, the king of the lands, my lord: your [ser]vant, Naram-Sin. May Ninurta and Nusku bless [the lo]rd of kings, my lord. [...] Sasiya, the governor [...] have neglected [... A]ššur-bahianni, [the gover]nor of Bit-Zamani [...] ... [...] to post a [garr]ison [...-ušal]lim, my father's brother, [...] drunks [...] they [...] and (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [... the Gam]buleans [...] Now then [......] I have built here [a ... w]ith [the Gambu]leans. I am a dog who reveres [the kin]g, my [lo]rd. I have [wr]itten to the king, my lord. May [the king], my [lo]rd, do as he deems best.

[7 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 072 — You have Taken Booty from Our City!

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1880-07-19, 0027; ABL 1090. SAA 18 072; SAAo P236908.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed or too broken for translation) When they came [to] me and dragged away fifty (stone) st[eps], they kept cutting off their foliage until I reached them. They went away, (but) did it again. Now when they came (again), they carried off as booty two 'third-men' of the king. I do know that you ordered the sortie and I do know that the king had appoint[ed] them.

[5 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

The king, our lord, says: "You must not take booty from them." But you are assuredly coming and taking booty from our city! As to what you said: "We have captured Šuma-iddin about whom you wrote" — Šuma-iddin who [...] (Break)

Edge

When [...] led away [...], they deserted. Send to me those who are in your presence, so I [will ...].

SAA 18 073 — Speaking Before the People of Nippur

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05436b; CT 54 104. Sender: [Nippurians?]. SAA 18 073; SAAo P238447.

Obverse

To the king [of the lands, our] lord: you[r] servants, [the Nippurians. May] Enli[l], N[inurta, and Nusku bless] the ki[ng of the lands, our lord! May] Enli[l ......] of the ki[ng, our lord], and ma[y ......] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) We a[re] dead [dogs]. We h[ave] sp[oken to the servants] of the king, our lord, saying: "Let us [see] the face of the king, [so that] we may co[me] to [li]fe." Why [...] in [...]? We shall go in (accordance with) [your] orde[r], and we will spea[k] before the people of o[ur] country.

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 074 — A Fragmentary Letter from Nippur

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0837; CT 54 547. Sender: [...], Ni-.... SAA 18 074; SAAo P237430.

Obverse

[To the king, our lord]: yo[ur servants, NN] (and) N[N, .... May] Enlil and [Mulliltu, Ninurta and Nusku bless] the king, [our] lo[rd! May the gods ......] happines[s, good health, ...], an enduring reig[n, ...]; and [may they] ... [...] an endu[ring ...... the king], our lord. The day that [......] (Rest too broken for translation)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) (two lines broken away)

[7 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Edge

[1 line of the Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 075 — Fragment of a Letter from Nippur

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 07396; ABL 1338. Sender: Dummuqa. SAA 18 075; SAAo P238657.

Obverse

[To the kin]g, my lord: [yo]ur [servant], Dummuqâ. [May Ni]nurta and [N]us[k]u [ble]ss the king, my lord! [I pray] every day [to] the [g]reat [gods] of heaven [and earth fo]r the l[ife of the king, my lord]. (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [......] the day [......] ... [......] the king

Right Edge

(Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)

SAA 18 076 — Barley for the King’s Servants in Nippur

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1882-05-22, 0120; CT 54 495. SAA 18 076; SAAo P237183.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) No provisions are laid in there, and whatever dates they had, the Puqudeans have carried them all off. But when we wrote to the šandabakku, saying: "We will help ourselves from one thousand (kor of) barley," he refused, (although) he has harvested a large crop. The k[i]ng, my lord, should enquire [...] whether during (all) those [ye]ars (when) an official of the king, my lord, was appointed in Nippur, I did not every year bring in one thousand (kor of) barley and deliver them to the servants [of the kin]g in Nippur.

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

[The ...]eans should not be exempt (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 077 — The People of Larak are Loyal: Please Return Our Gods

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1882-05-22, 0153; ABL 1230. SAA 18 077; SAAo P237193.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) May [...] ble[ss the king], my [lord]! I pray [every] da[y] to Ninurta and Gula for the life of the king, my lord. Now then, the city overseer who went to call in the enemy, saying: "I will delive[r him] into your hands" — having [...ed] much [agai]nst the for[t ...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) And now [that] he came, [I have arrested him], and am herewith sending him to the k[ing, my lord], in the hands of Bel-eṭir. May the king do as he finds best. The king, my lord, knows that your servants the Larakians are loyal to the king. Our gods are in Nippur. [May] the king [...] their journey (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 078 — Fragment Possibly from Larak

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0864; CT 54 549. SAA 18 078; SAAo P237436.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [May ...] bless the king [of lands, our lord! We pray every day to Ninurta and] Gula [for the life of the king], our [lo]rd. [...] years [......] [...] our [h]ouses [...] knows [...] [... the lan]d of Ak[kad] (Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) (rest broken away)

[4 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Chapter Six. Letters from Uruk

SAA 18 079–084. 6 texts.

SAA 18 079 — Report on Uruk

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Sm 1186; ABL 1062. Sender: Ahhe[šaya]. SAA 18 079; SAAo P240349.

Obverse

[To the ki]ng of the lands, [my] lo[rd: yo]ur [servant], Ahhe[šaya]. May [Uruk] and Eann[a] bl[es]s [the king] of the lands, my lord! I pray [ev]ery [day] to the Lady of Uruk [and Na]naya for the life [of the king], my [lo]rd. [The gods of] the king, my lord, have opened his [ear]s: [...] scribal [art] (Rest destroyed)

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 080 — Report on Uruk

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00470; ABL 0831. Sender: Itti-Marduk-balaṭu. SAA 18 080; SAAo P237812.

Obverse

To [the king] of the lands, [my] lord: your servant, Itti-Marduk-balaṭu. May the gods of all the lands bless the king, my lord! Although I was a dead dog, the king, my lord, has revived me. The gods of the king have set out in procession (and) celebrated the festival. The guard of the temple is well. In [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) It is written in the treaty: "Write to me (about) whatever you see or hear." The sheikhs who were settled over Harmašu have come here. Some of them have certainly gone to Elam. I h[ave] (now) wri[tten] to the king, my lord. (As to) the horses which the king sent [to] Uruk, I have harnessed [...] and [...]

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Right Edge

(Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 081 — Obliged to Report

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Sm 1430; CT 54 414. SAA 18 081; SAAo P240381.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [May ...] bless the king of the lands, [our lord]. I[t is written in] the treaty: "Write me (about) whate[ver] you se[e] and h[ear]!" [Now then] Nabû-kina-[...], foreman of the ob[lates ...],

Reverse

[has ...ed] to [...] [......] N[N ...] on the 1st day [...] with [...] sp[oke] [......] [......] not [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 082 — Dispute over Prebends in Uruk

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 04670 + 1904-10-09, 0261; CT 54 060. SAA 18 082; SAAo P237528.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [yo]u conquered [...; a pr]iest should not [...] the king! [...] When the king [...] truth [...] [...] ... [...] [...] the hands of the king [...] [They] should not make [...] slip [from the hands of the kin]g, my lord! [...] sons, as many as the king, your father, [...ed] in the land of Akkad, the house of Merodach-Baladan [...] their [...]. H[e] hea[rs] his affairs and his news, but does not write [to the ki]ng, my lord. The kin[g should question him]. [The s]haven (clerics) whom Eriba-Ma[rduk, M]erodach-Baladan and Zer-kitt[i-lišir con]secrated, have been [sh]aven up till [now]. Th[ey] enjo[y] their prebends, (and) bless them [bef]ore the gods. (As for) [mys]elf and my brothers, Sennacheri[b, king of the l]ands, your father, sh[a]ved u[s. We enjoy preb]ends before the Lady of Uruk. (Break)

[3 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) May [the kin]g send [Ma]r-Issar, the [scr]ibe who is in the land of Akkad, [t]o Balaṭ[u], the prelate, and may he [sh]ave u[s] for the [offices th]at we hold. We pra[y] every [da]y to the Lady [o]f Uruk and Nanaya fo[r the l]ife [of the ki]ng, my lord. Earlier, [the king], your father (and) your grandfather [a]sked Ṣillaya about these [mat]ters. Now Bel-eṭir (is) [in the pres]ence of the king. May the king question him, let him make the things known, and let the king (then) do as he deems best. (rest uninscribed)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 083 — Reporting on Crimes in Uruk

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1880-07-19, 0046; ABL 0472. SAA 18 083; SAAo P236914.

Obverse

We entered [into] a treaty with the king, your father, [and] we have entered [in]to a treaty with the king, our lord. Furthermore, the [k]ing has written to us, saying: "Write to me (about) whatever you see or hear." When the people of Uruk saw those men who had committed a crime against the king in Uruk, they wrote to us, and we wrote to the king about what they said. Now then we have brought the crimin[a]ls and the witnesses into the king's presence. If it is agreeable to the king, let the king question them.

Reverse

There are matters relevant to the king which I have heard. A royal messenger should come out to question me. Zera-ukin, Labaši's son, say[s]: "If the king, m[y lor]d, hears [the matt]er which I have heard, he will devastate the lands." Now then he has come with a son of Ina-teši-eṭir. The king should summon him and question him before he is abducted and done away with.

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 084 — Report on Booty and Şillaya

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1882-05-22, 0161; ABL 1233. SAA 18 084; SAAo P237196.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [which in the reign of] the king, [your] father, they looted [...], gol[den] bracelets, silver trappings [...] along the cana[l ...] in Barhalzi [...]. Now they, the people [...] have run awa[y and] en[tered] Uruk. Ṣillaya [...] a wago[n ...] and [...] (Rest destroyed)

Chapter Seven. Letters from the Sealand

SAA 18 085–091. 7 texts.

SAA 18 085 — Elamite Invasion in the Sealand

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01355; ABL 0917. Sender: Na’id-Marduk. To: the mother of the king. SAA 18 085; SAAo P238053.

Obverse

To the mother of the king, my lord: your servant, Na'id-Marduk. Good health to the mother of the king, my lord! May Aššur, Šamaš, and Marduk keep the king, my lord, alive. May they ordain happiness for the mother of the king, my lord. After the Elamites had marched against us and taken control of the bridge, when they came, I wrote to the mother of the king, my lord. Now they have dismantled the bridge, but have retained the floats of the bridge in .... They have not released them. We do not know whether or not they will go on. If they do, I shall write to the mother of the king, my lord. The forces must reach us, my lord! The son of Nikkal-iddin has writt[en] to the king of El[am] and to Huban-nikaš: "[...] the king of Assyria and [his] camp [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) The mother of the king, [my lord, knows] that they are reliable words. Also one of the Chaldeans has written (to me) accordingly. By the gods of the king, my lord, (I swear) that the messenger of the king of Elam did bring letters but did not come into my presence; I did not see him and nobody opened his letter before he went back. On the second day of Ab (V), his messenger came to me on the border. I [t]urned him back and sent my messenger to the palace. My lord should know that my heart is completely devoted to my lord's house.

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 086 — Elamites Invade the Sealand and Bring in Nabu-ušallim

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01009; ABL 0576. Sender: elders [of the Sealand]. SAA 18 086; SAAo P237965.

Obverse

To the kin[g, our lord: your servants], the elders [of the Sealand. Good health] to the king, [our] lor[d]! Ma[y] Aššur, Šamaš, and [Marduk] b[less the king], our lord. May they give [kingship] of the four quarters to [the king, our lord]. More than once messenger[s] of Teumman, the king of Elam's brother, of the herald, and of Zineni have come to us, saying: "Come and embrace Nabû-ušallim, your lord's son, so that he may lead you!" We have not agreed but have responded: "Na'id-Marduk, our lord, is alive and we are the servants of the king of Assyria. If you wish his promotion in the land, send him to the king of Assyria and let the king promote him if he likes. Wherever he may be, you will have sent him. We will not do wrong and he shall not become our superior. We will send him in manacles to the king of Assyria."

Reverse

Now then, they have brought him in, annexed the Targibateans, the Nahaleans, the Duteans, and the Bananu, the border regions of our land, and given them to him. And now his messengers have come to the elders of the Sealand, saying: "Come up to me and lead (my) forces to the Sealand! And if you do not come up to me and do not say what I command, I will come and destroy your land and your houses. But perhaps you will say: 'We are afraid of the king of Assyria.' I will take care of the king of Assyria." Having heard it, we are herewith in[forming] the king, [our lord]. In [......] lor[d ......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 087 — Nabu-ušallim Settled in the Sealand

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0065; ABL 1114. Sender: [elders of the Sealand]. SAA 18 087; SAAo P237253.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [Good] heal[th to the king, our lord!] [...], messengers [...] of the king of Ela[m ca]me [to us], sayi[ng: "...] [...] ... a messe[nger ...] [...] ... [...]." But w[e ... sent them b]ack, so their messenger [would n]ot come t[o us]. When they saw that we were holding his messe[nger]s, they brought in Nabû-ušallim, the son of Merodach-Baladan, settled him among the Targibateans, and gave him the Nahaleans, the [D]uteans, and the Bananu, Na'id-Marduk's frontier region. And again a messenger of the king of Elam has come to us, saying: "The sons [...] their [...] a man their battle ... Nabû-ušallim should be made your lord, let him become your superi[o]r in the land. But perhaps you will say: 'Na'id-Marduk (is it)!' I know the news of Na'id-Marduk better than [...]. Na'id-Marduk is dead. Whether y[o]u like it or not, I am going to bri[n]g in Nabû-ušallim and make him your superior. You are my men. Henceforth, the king of Assyria does not rule over you."

Reverse

As soon as Nabû-ušallim reached the Targibateans, he captured one of our men who g[u]ard the outpost in Nahal and sent him to the king of Elam. The king of Elam has spoken to him and sent him to us, saying: "Go and say to the Sealand(ers): 'You have no case with the king of Assyria. You ar[e] my men.'" [N]ow then [w]e have [s]ent the messenger to the king, o[ur] lord. Let him tell the king, our lord, everything that the king of Elam wrote to us. So perhaps the Elamites will (now) march against us. Let the king give an order to the Chaldeans, so that [they come] to our aid. May he listen to nobody else [...] with regard to us. We are the the king's [servant]s. The king of Elam [s]ent a messenger to us. Now we have sent him to the king, our lord. The king should listen to what he says. Why have we written more than once to the king, our lord, [but n]ot seen an [an]swer to the letter [...]? To/For [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 088 — Na’id-Marduk is a Hundred Thousand Troops!

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01459; ABL 0958. Sender: [men of Na'id-Marduk?]. SAA 18 088; SAAo P238077.

Obverse

To the king, [our] lord: [your servants, the men of Na'id-Marduk], who [......] from Tilmu[n]. Na'id-Marduk [......] and to destroy [......] did not send to u[s ......] and his troops [......] they withheld [......] to Qanâ [......] saying: "Give m[e] troops!" [They refus]ed to giv[e them ......] he became angry [......] [h]e [too]k away our lord's possessions (and) handed them o[ver to ......] [... h]e became angry [... h]e [se]nt back [......] [......] them (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] If [... d]well [...] and do not ..., [...] they will die. When we heard that the king was angry with our lord, we became afraid, saying: "Our lord has committed no crime in the king's eyes," inasmuch as he prays every morning and evening to Šamaš and Bel for the life of the king, his lord; his heart is completely devoted to the king, his lord; they are lying about the king, his lord; and they ... his house because he grasps the feet of the king, his lord. Your father, who was more attentive and circumspe[ct] than all (other) kings, used to speak like this: "I want for nothing in the land of Akkad and all the lands." Whether or not Na'id-Marduk was in [his] mind, the king should not now say: "Na'id-Marduk is (just) one man." He is a hundred thousand troops. May we, his troops, not slip from the hands of the k[ing], our lord, and may we not look for another lord! May the king, [our] l[ord], write to us, and [may] the king, ou[r] lord, [...] t[o Na'id-Marduk], our lord.

Right Edge

[May] Šamaš and Marduk [bless the king], our lord!

[1 line of the Right Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 089 — Guarding the Outposts Until Na’id-Marduk Comes

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01905 + K 02905 + K 05410b; CT 54 034. Sender: [elders of the Sealand]. SAA 18 089; SAAo P238105.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed or too broken for translation) [...... ma]ny [...... the c]hief eunuch [......] you went [......] the word of the king [......] the presence of the king, his lord, [......] into the presence of the king (Break) [......] we do not know [...... yo]u went (Break) [......] his [l]ord [...] I appointed [...... m]ade [...] of Na'id-M[arduk ...... a]m I. The king, our lord, ... [......] has sen[t us a bod]yguard [..., say]ing: "[...] from the presence of Na'i[d-Marduk, he has com]e to greet m[e ...]. Have [no] fear! [I shall] now give [orde]rs to him (and) send him [to yo]u. Guard the [ou]tposts until Na'id-Marduk, your [l]ord, comes."

[11 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

Trusting in the word of the king, our lord, which like the word of the god cannot be changed, we [...]ed the land and reinforced our guard. [...] inva[ded] us [......] and to our home [......] which he saw and [......] food for his land [... h]e [carr]ied off. So [we heard1 and] informed [the king, ou]r [lord]. [... Na'id-Ma]rduk is your man who reveres you, [who ...] would die [for the k]ing, his lord. [......] who does not revere the king [...] but [will make] the land [slip] from the king's hands. [...] the heart of the king, our lord [......] ... Having sent [our letters to the king], our [lord], we have not seen [a reply to] our [letters] and not one of our [messengers] has came back to us, [so we have became afraid]. [Concerning ...] about which the king wrote to us, [w]e [ha]ve [now dis]patched [...] fish-eye stones [......] of bronze [......] therein [......] they [will ha]ul [......] and [...... should ch]eck and [......] to us (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 090 — Waiting for Na’id-Marduk

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01973; CT 54 047. Sender: [elders of the Sealand]. SAA 18 090; SAAo P238131.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [......] ... [......] Qanâ [...] [......] they did not mobi[lise] [......] saying: "I stood a[nd] [......] judgement of the city [...] [......] our [...]s to our presence [......] Nabû-mar-šarri-uṣur [......] has come [to] us [......] saying: "The king by the name of the gods [......] until Na'id-Marduk

Reverse

[......] I will send his [...] [......] our lord [......] we have come [......] to the river [......] the word of the king [......] me. The king knows [......] their lord [......] will survive. (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 091 — Letter to Nikkal-iddin Diverted to Zer-kitti-lišir

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01106; ABL 0589. SAA 18 091; SAAo P237979.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] them. But w[e are ...s] whom Zer-kitti-lišir has captured becaus[e of ...]. And they are destroying [our houses], saying: "W[hy] did you send a letter to Nikkal-i[ddin]? Now Nikka[l-iddin] is plotting every day to mu[rder us]." Now then [our] messenger, to whom we gave the letter, sayi[ng]: "Take it and give it to Nikkal-i[ddin], saying, 'Fear not! Esarhaddon is firmly seated on the throne,'" diverted the letter, and it was given t[o] Zer-kitti-lišir.

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

[.....] the office of city overseer of Uruk. Now he is with Ni[kkal-iddin]. The king should identify his enemy [...] The man from Uruk [...] Nikkal-iddin [...] they are mutable [...] (Rest destroyed)

Chapter Eight. Miscellaneous Letters

SAA 18 092–123. 32 texts.

SAA 18 092 — Report on Sasiya and Bel-eṭir

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1881-02-04, 0070; CT 54 462. Sender: [M]arduk-naṣir. SAA 18 092; SAAo P236962.

Obverse

To the king, my lord: your servant, [M]arduk-naṣir. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord. Sasiya, son of ..., Erišu ... [and NN] (are) [w]ith Remanni-Adad, the chariot dr[i]ver. [Nab]û-uhašu and Bel-eṭir will [g]o up wi[t]h him [in] a swift [c]hariot [...]. May the king, my lord, s[en]d precise [orders]. When I previous[ly reported to] him, on the 4th of Ab (V), S[a]siya and Bel-eṭir [were k]eeping wa[tch on ...]. Now the [...s wh]om they saw, [have] no[t ...]. [During] these four days, they have [b]rought up Na[...] to t[hem ...]

Reverse

(Break) [...] twenty chariot[s ...]. The king should ask [w]hy [......]. [May Be]l and Nabû [b]estow [wisdom upon the king]! May [the king, my lord], guard himself! (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 093 — Letter from Marduk-naṣir

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0835; ABL 0782. Sender: Marduk-naṣir. SAA 18 093; SAAo P237429.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, m[y] lord: your servant, Marduk-naṣir. Good health to the king of the land[s, my lord]! May Nabû and Marduk ble[ss] the king [of the lands], my lord. From the begin[ning ...] and [...] (Break)

Reverse

(completely broken away)

Right Edge

t[o ...] the whole palace [......]

[1 line of the Right Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Edge

May the [k]ing, the lord, [not lea]ve me in his hands!

[1 line of the Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 094 — Dying in Durance Vile

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1880-07-19, 0040; ABL 0530. Sender: Gimillu. SAA 18 094; SAAo P236912.

Obverse

To the king, my lord: your servant, Gimillu. May Nabû and Marduk ordain long days of happiness (and) many years of rejoicing, joy, and celebration for the king, my lord. Even before the king, my lord, had made a ruling on Surmarrati, when I heard their words — the very day that I heard them — I wrote them down in a letter [and ...] to the scout, the chief scout, the city scribe, the city overseer, the mayor, and the cohort commander [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [If] I have committed a crime against the king, my lord, (then) I do not know what my crime is. These seven years I have been held in durance vile. Without the king, they have taken my estate (and) destroyed my property. I am dying of hunger in my imprisonment. There are many who have sinned against the king, my lord, but the king has excused them and spared their lives. Even a deportee is allowed to live. I am neither a sinner nor an evildoer. Do not let me die of hunger in my imprisonment! May the lord of kings allow me to live!

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 095 — Petitioning the King Because of Calumnies in Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 04734 + K 16141; ABL 0780+. Sender: Bel-iddin. SAA 18 095; SAAo P238343.

Obverse

[To the king] of the lands, m[y] lord: [yo]ur [servant], Bel-iddin. May [Nabû and] Marduk bless the king of the lan[d]s, my [lord]. [Hah]huru, Šel[eb]u's son, [the ... of] my fathers, kept telling me: "The king's attention is upon m[e], petition him!" (So) I went and petitioned [the kin]g. For these twelve years I have been in the service of Lubulliṭ, the king's prefect, (while) Hahhuru's [m]en [in] Babylon have been denigrating my father's house, [say]ing: "His son [w]ent into the presence of the king of Aššur." My [fat]her's house [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] Remanni-i[lu ...] [...] whom the king [...] [...] Now, [may] the king pass a judgement [in favour of his servant] for [the ... of Bel] and Nabû. (rest uninscribed)

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 096 — Umman-abba to his Brother, Aplaya

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0112; ABL 0949. Sender: Umman-abba. To: Aplaya. SAA 18 096; SAAo P237268.

Obverse

A tablet of Umman-abba to his brother, Aplaya. Good health to my brother! [May I hea]r news of you [and] your health! [...] Raši-il [...], and (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) send [the ...] of your father!

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 097 — Family Greetings

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01135; ABL 1439. Sender: Bel-aha-iddin. To: Iddin-ahi, his father. SAA 18 097; SAAo P237982.

Obverse

A tablet of Bel-aha-iddin to Iddin-ahi, his father. Good health to my father! May Šamaš ordain for you a life of distant days. I have sent you three or four letters, but have s[e]en n[o] answer. If the enemy [...] from me (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) I am writing to m[y] father out of concern. Bel-aha-iddin inquires after the health of his sister, Šarrâ. Bel-aha-iddin inquires after the health of his brothers, Bel-bulliṭ, Nabû-na'id, and Nergal-eṭir.

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 098 — Letter to the Commandant

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05561; ABL 1327. Sender: Šama[š-...]. To: the commandant, [his] fat[her. SAA 18 098; SAAo P238491.

Obverse

A tablet of Šama[š-...] to the commandant, [his] fat[her: Good] health to my father! (Break)

Reverse

(broken away) May he ask [...] [...] the palace [...] let me do [...] let me give [...]

SAA 18 099 — Letter to the Chief Eunuch

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0716; CT 54 533. To: the chief eunu[ch]. SAA 18 099; SAAo P237391.

Obverse

To [the chief eunuch, my lord]: your servant [NN]. May [Aššur], Šamaš and [Marduk] feel concern over the health of [my lord]! [Concerning the order] which the chief eunu[ch gave to me] [...] as [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) If [it is agreeable] t[o the chief eunuch], my lord, [let the] messenger [of the chief eunuch], my lord, [come], (and) we shall do as [the chief eunuch], my lord, wri[tes us].

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 100 — Your Son Will Kill You!

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1880-07-19, 0028; ABL 1091. SAA 18 100; SAAo P236909.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) our [brothe]rs, [citizens of] Babylo[n ...] [Šulm]u-ahhe in the house [...] When they heard about the [tre]aty of rebellion which [...], one o[f them] ap[pealed] to the king before .... Nabû-šuma-iškun and Ṣi[llaya]1 came and ques[tioned him]: "[What] is your appeal to the king ab[out]?" He (answered): "It is about Arda-[Mullissi]." Th[ey covered] his face with his cloak and made him stand before Arda-Mul[lissi himself], saying: "Look! [Your appeal] is being granted, say it with your own mouth!" He said: "Your son Arda-[Mullissi] will kill you."

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

They uncovered [his] face, and after Arda-Mu[llissi] had interrogated him, th[ey] kil[led] hi[m] and his brothers. When [...] four men — Ṣuhru, Ṭabiya, N[N, and NN] — [told it to] Nabû-aha-ereš, [he did not] believe it. [He sho]uld question the men of the house of Ard[a-Mullissi]. No[w then th]ey [ha]ve [rec]eived [all kinds of] nice [wo]rds about [...] [When th]ey [w]rote to the ki[ng, our lord], the king [our lord] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 101 — Crimes, Plots and Incitement

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0077; ABL 1119. SAA 18 101; SAAo P237257.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...... to the king], my [lo]rd (Break) [t]o the king [...], but he committed no crime there and he did not lie [...]. The king, my lord, knows the story [...]. After they had arre[sted the ...s] in the presence of the king, my lord, [...], Ša-Nabû-šû [......] deported the brothers of Er[išu ...] in accordance with the crime which [they had committed] against the kin[g, my lord], and [...].

[3 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

Their people, which in an ea[rlier] crime (committed) at the court of your grandfather were given to the [..., have banded] together and taken up position at the gate of the king's palace. They [are protes]ting against me in the city [...]. They enter the house of Nabû-eṭir, [son o]f Erišu, and of Ṭab-ṣil-šarri, [ove]rseer of the crown prince's palace, assemble [the]re, and incite each other. [A]ssembly and incitement are matters of my lords' house. I have not punished these [people]. Their [...] is in the hands of their governors. [The king], my [lord, is] the king of kings. [May] the great gods, the able on[es], (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 102 — Removing an Instigator of Rebellion from the Country

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 08433; ABL 1341. SAA 18 102; SAAo P238727.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) to one who blesses [......]. [I put my trust] in the king, [my] lor[d ...]. I am [a ... of the queen mother], my lady; [I have co]me up a hundred, (nay, a) thousand [times], and I have not abandoned the feet of Assyria that I have grasped. I am a guardian and keeper of the king my lord's treaty. The king, my lord, said: "Remove the evil one and instigator of rebellion from the country!" Aplaya son of Nadinu is an insolent cad and a traitor. He and his fathers are held 'father(s) of the Chaldeans.' When his grandfather entered with Mukin-zeri of Bit-Amukani, he took 12 talents (of silver) belonging to Nabû. When his sister entered with (the) Elam(ites), he removed [the country] from the king's hands and delivered the country [fo]r destruction. During [the day]s of Šulâ, [he ...ed] a fight for [...]; [he w]ent and [took] 8 talents ..., [and] went [...]. N[ow ...] [...] his daughter [...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] was negligent ... [...] [...] and I have kept the watch of the house of [my] lord. I had the people settled [...], and have sent them to the right and left (on various errands). Now, when the treasurer released him, he did not forsake his lying ways, but keeps extracting the nishu payment and selling men, thinking, "The news of my doings will not reach the palace." This [.......] his fathers [......] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 103 — Illegal Trade

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 04763 + K 05616 + K 07422 + K 07445 + K 07515 + K 13181; CT 54 068 + ABL 1356. SAA 18 103; SAAo P238351.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [......] to the king, my lord, [did] no[t ... ...] of the king, my lord, and th[ey] do not kn[ow] one [......] as the king, my lord, [......]. Now why [would] I [......]? I arrested the man, [handed him over] to [NN], and told him: "This man should [be locked up]. I have a case with him before the king." (But) they received three minas of silver from him and released him. Perhaps the king, my lord, will say: "Who [re]leased him?" Those who smoothed the way of Immâ son of Paharu (and) Nabû-ahhe-bulliṭ son of Ubaru, (and) let go by twenty-five ja[r]s of wine, one talent and thirty minas of blue-purple wool, (and) half a talent of [...] wool. And again, [they] have sen[t] Nab[û]-u[... and NN] (with) a [l]oad of three camel[s ....... Perhaps the king], my [lord, will sa]y: "Who [......]?" [...] my [......] [...] I will [n]ot get. In [...] [... W]hy [...] [...] a lamb [...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

this [...] and [his] friends take [responsibility for NN], the son of Zeriya [Perhaps the king], my [lo]rd, will say: "[...] the nature of hi[s] denunciation [......] of Nabû-ahhe-šul[lim] [......] and in the palac[e] (Break) and [......] to the house of [his] lord[s ......], be it a citizen of Babylo[n or ...], he should [...] t[o the k]ing, my lord. I said to the king, my lord: "A [servant] of the king, who has connections in the land [...] and ha[s been taught] to treasure the king's word [should co]me and [d]o whatever the king says to him." Also, he s[hould ... s]end a royal eunuch and [put him] in charge of the quay [...]. The king should not neglect it. [The king] will say: "A quay — whatever ... this quay?" It is of Cal[a]h. Inasmuch as a royal eunuch is put in charge of the quay, the king will be happy and I shall have faith i[n] my life. (3 lines blank) [...] of Belšunu, [...] [...] the Ṭabih-k[ari] family (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 104 — Leave the Colony!

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0253; CT 54 516. SAA 18 104; SAAo P237325.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) and the cattle [...] the ownership mark of the king [...] is upon (them). No[w then ...] to the roy[al] cohort [...] who surrounded [...] The king knows that [...] and ...[...] hates [...] against [....] is plotting [...] hear[d ...] As[syria ...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) thr[ew ...] We [...] of the house of [our] lords [...] all that [...] are coming [..., saying], "Leave the colony [...]!" We have not left the colony [...] barley and dates to [...] has not passed. Now then [...] are [...ing] against us, saying: "Because deat[h ...] (Rest destroyed)

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 105 — The King Should Place a Eunuch of his in Elam

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00944; CT 54 005. SAA 18 105; SAAo P237947.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) in [......] N[N], his messenger, (and) Haru[...], his [...], who [...] work in [...] — may the king listen to them concerning it. In the 5 or 6 years that I have been staying in the palace of the king, my lord, has anyone heard from my mouth any matter that the king, my lord, has told me? In the previous allegations that they have put up against me, the gods of the king, my lord, have taken my hand. Now these words are (mere) allegations, put up against me.

[5 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

Concerning the intercession for the šandabakku about which the governor of Babylon wrote to the king, my lord, and about which the king, my lord, is saying: "I have installed two eunuchs of mine in the land of Akkad" — may Bel and Nabû permit the king, my lord, to place a eunuch of his in Elam. I have not said this word nor made it to be said! But, they are greatly hindering him. As for me, what you see (fit), so will I have it done.

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 106 — Fragment Mentioning Mar-Issar

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1881-02-04, 0417; CT 54 474. SAA 18 106; SAAo P237026.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [... Ma]r-Issar, saying: "The lette[r ...] "It is [the word of the ki]ng: 'On a campaign, me[n ...]' Would they kill [... in] my territory? [...] They have sent th[em h]ere [...] [either] a guffa or a kelek [...] [Having f]allen [in ...], he escaped, and is sayi[ng ...] [...] The king knows that a servant [...] (Rest destroyed)

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 107 — Fragment Mentioning the Crown Prince

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 07433; CT 54 193. SAA 18 107; SAAo P238668.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [... for]ces [...] [...] he set o[ff ...] [...] came out [...] [... of] my [f]amily [...] [...] who is devoted [...] [...] the king [...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

[... the kin]g for lo[ng] all [the citi]zens of [...] [...] the crown prince will kill [them]. [...] learn and [...] [...] they know that [...] [...] you returned [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 108 — Fragment Mentioning the Crown Prince

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 14661; CT 54 277. SAA 18 108; SAAo P239293.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed)

Bottom Edge

[which I brou]ght in, [...] to the crown prince [... N]atannu

[1 line of the Bottom Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

[... together w]ith his cohort which the king, [my] lo[rd], (Break) [...] in the cit[y ...] [... m]en [...] (Rest destroyed)

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 109 — Fragment Mentioning the Succession Palace

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1882-05-22, 1773; CT 54 504. SAA 18 109; SAAo P237205.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] Sivan (III) the palace [supervis]or of the Succes[sion] Palace [ref]us[e]s to receive m[e]. My brother [B]el-apla-iddin is harvesting barley [...] [...] I am afraid [...] I will [not] go [...] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 110 — Fragment Mentioning the Succession Palace

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 16583; CT 54 376. SAA 18 110; SAAo P239450.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] the Succession Palace [... th]eir [...] [who ...] took [th]eir [...] (Rest too broken for translation)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) (rest broken away)

[3 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 111 — Report on Kuna and the Gambuleans

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01056; ABL 0862. SAA 18 111; SAAo P237970.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) When Kunâ came [t]o the presence of the king, m[y] lord, I was staying overnight in Kasappa. I had left Kasappa and was on m[y way], (when) messengers came up to m[e] from the cit[y ...] (and) gave me the following r[eport] about the Gambuleans: "The Gambuleans [...] from the presence of Kunâ, son of [...]"

Reverse

(Break)

Edge

I found out [the details] and I am writing (again) [to the king, my lord].

[1 line of the Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 112 — Report on Bell-iqiša, Son of Bunanu

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05590; CT 54 142. SAA 18 112; SAAo P238499.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) to the hou[se ......] pestilence [......] what is the n[ews ......] to the king, m[y] lord, [......] News o[f Bel-iqiša, son of] Bunan[u: ......] two hundred ho[rses ......] (Break)

Reverse

son of [... ......] from the house ... [......] refuses [to ..., saying]: I will not [...] the house [......] (Break)

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Edge

[ May king, my lord, do as he] deems best.

SAA 18 113 — Trouble in Zanaki

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00673; ABL 0846. Sender: Šumaya. SAA 18 113; SAAo P237845.

Obverse

To the king, my lord: your servant, Šumaya. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord. Good health to the king, my lord! Didn't the king, my lord, give me an order as follows: "Go and bring the gods to Zanaki and let the people gather to you"? The gods of the king, my lord, made it succeed, and three thousand people came and gathered to me. When Nabû-šarra-ibni, the prefect, [laid] hands on the city, [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) Also, there is a gua[rd] who has ta[ken a wife] from among the Ruṣapeans. He is a Damunean; thirty years ago he married a Zanakian woman. Now he has claimed her, and I have sent him to the king, my lord. The Zanakians take wives from among the Damuneans and the Gambuleans, (and) they are all making claims. The king, my lord, should not act wrongly in this. By the gods of the king, my lord, I should stay here until Bel sets out in procession. Everyone in this city has become rebellious. A messenger of the king, my lord, should come to give the city confidence and, for myself, to raise my spirits. May the king ask the governor whether or not my heart is completely devoted to the king, my lord, (and) may the governor stand beside the king, my lord.

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 114 — Resettling a Town

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0093; CT 54 508. SAA 18 114; SAAo P237263.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [The king], our [lor]d, knows that the town [...] was destroyed. These 105 men [whom the king], our lord, gathered and settled [there] — he whose house had been demolished, has built [a new house]; he whose son had run away, [has recovered his] son; he whose wife was carried off, [has got] a woman; and when our creditors se[ized us] (and) [we petitioned] the king, our lord, the king, our lord, [established] our exemption (from taxes). Now Ammi-yata', [the ... who] did not give [...] and [who ...ed] to [..., has ...ed] my father from [...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) He is [...]ing his [...] by force, and has not spoken with [...] for (all) these five years. As for me, ever since the da[y that the king], my lord, appointed me, until now, he has said not(hing) to me. But now Zerutu the bodyguard and his messengers are holding us, saying: "I am to receive from you ten talents of silver." This town is a new construction; the king, our lord, undertook it. The king, our lord, [... Am]mi-yata' (Rest destroyed)

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 115 — Smiths Sell Royal Iron to Merchants

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05397; ABL 1317. SAA 18 115; SAAo P238418.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] the king, my lord [...] [The ir]on that the king, [my] lord, gave to the smi[ths] for the work — they have sold it to the merchants of Calah for money, and [re]fuse [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) have sold [...] at five minas each. They have put it in a weapon, and have taken it down. When I heard [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 116 — Among the Women of the Palace

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0258; CT 54 518. SAA 18 116; SAAo P237327.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) May Bel (and) Marduk b[le]ss [the king, my lord]! Regarding w[hat NN] wrote: "I am [...] among the women ... [...] who are in the palace; [everything] that they do, (or) say to the ki[ng ...], (or) w[rite] to the king, and their passing ...[...] from the city [...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) May the king, my lord, question th[em ...]. The words should not [...], and the king's servants should not wee[p]. Perhaps the king will say: "Why would they we[ep]?" Reason and counsel [...] there. From this very fact the king should re[cognise] that I (am) one who does [...] in the king's presence. And if [...] [...] not [...] [...] the mouth of the king [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 117 — The King is Merciful

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01104; ABL 0587. SAA 18 117; SAAo P237977.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [As it is said] in a popular pr[overb], "For this day the mother raised (him), and the daughters, too." Earlier on you (m.) used to say: "I know that you (f.) are alive." But now, the king, my lord, is merciful. He has brought me to you: you have seen me, you know (for sure) that I am alive! Why (then) to eat bread that is not one's own?

[2 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

Still I recognise that I have become a stranger: I gave you up. What do you eat for your (pl.) health? Let me eat one 'litre' of bread with y[ou]! Observe that the king, my lord, i[s] merciful. In old age [...] [...] to [...] (Break)

Edge

May I see your messenger!

SAA 18 118 — Good News to my Lord

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1881-02-04, 0129; CT 54 466. SAA 18 118; SAAo P236985.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed)

Reverse

[...] say [...] [...] oppression [...] I am writing to my lord [... that] I have constantly seen. My lord should not say: "You should not say 'good' [...] after I (myself) have seen (it)." [...] to the gods of the king [...] his [li]fe does not [...] (Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)

SAA 18 119 — Arranging for Intercession with the King

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01156; ABL 1440. SAA 18 119; SAAo P237988.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) my hand t[o ......] I will not lear[n ...] I will not write to anybody else. Nabû-eṭir tells me: "[NN] is better for your intercession than all the [servan]ts of the king." Now then I am sending Nabû-eṭir, my messenger, to my father with a letter to the palace in his care. He must not spend the night (there); you will send him quickly to the palace by your own mule express.

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

[...] in the presence of the king (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 120 — Request for Barley

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, DT 300; CT 54 440. SAA 18 120; SAAo P237748.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) A tablet of [NN] to [..., my lord]. May Nabû [and Marduk] bles[s my lord]! May my lord by the end of Tishri (VII) give three kor (of barley) t[o ...], the ... of N[N] (and) Ina-ṣil-Bel [...], (and) two kor to [...] of Hašdaya [...].

Reverse

(cylinder seal impression)

SAA 18 121 — Appeal on Behalf of Deaf People (Tebet to Nisan)

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Sm 2163; CT 54 433. SAA 18 121; SAAo P240444.

Obverse

Since Tebet (X), when the official in charge of the regular sheep offering ca[me], until Nisan (I): May my [...]s hear that (for) 8 day[s], half a 'litre' of bread was the food allowance for the deaf. Aft[er] I spoke up, they [...ed] the bread. I uttered an appeal to the king concerning the [...]deans and [...], and [brought in] witnesses [... co]ncerning [...], saying: "An appeal to the king concerning the chief eunuch [...] bread ...[... T]iranu the cohort commander [...] ... bread from the temple [......] the de[af ...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] ... [...] [...] you [...] [...] If not, [...] for my hunger." Four times we ope[ned] the sealed storeroom of the chamberlain for my hunger, twice we ... bread. I secretly seized witnesses ... of the gate. Afterwards, when they died of hunger,

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Right Edge

I (said, with) my [fists] open: "Whoever the kin[g ...] the lord knows [......], eats ... I have not seen anything at [all], except ... [...]

Edge

[.....] I have not guarded [..... an]ybody [.....] has [n]ot appointed [.....]

SAA 18 122 — No Bread for Deaf People (Day 3)

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Sm 0265; CT 54 397. SAA 18 122; SAAo P240254.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] bread, half a 'litre' to each person, ... [...] [...] the deaf say: "[...]." The overseer of the household says: "Three [...] [T]owards the 3rd day, 2 'litres' came in. When the bread [...] [...] bread at portions of half a 'litre' ...... [On] the [xth] day, no bread came in. ...... Unt[il] the [xth] d[ay], no bread came in. Afterwards, ... [...] [...] one (loaf of) bread was removed. Daniya (and) Bel-[...] uttered [an appeal to the king] concerning the chief eunuch [...], and [...].

Reverse

The [...] say(s): "[...] "Marduk-[...] "of/who [...] appeal [to the king] that [...] (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 123 — No Bread for Deaf People (Days 17-21)

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1882-03-23, 0002; CT 54 489. SAA 18 123; SAAo P237109.

Obverse

For two days [...], bread (and) shallots were (to be) given to the deaf. Until the 17th day, no bread had come in. On the 17th day, one 'litre' of ... After my (appeal), when they showed him the seal, bread was (to be) given from the prefect to the deaf. Until the 21st day, no bread had come in. On the 21st day, when the overseer of the household made public the appeal to the king, for five minas of gold of (mine) at the disposal of Iqišaya, whose giving out ... I had settled and promised him, he gave half a 'litre' of bread. To each of his deaf ones, he gave one 'litre' of bread (and) plants. He said to them as follows: "Do ...!" A Hamurean deaf man said to him: "Aššur-balassu-iqbi has not been present (but) has reduced my bread (allowance)." Gumāta told me: "In my city, there is much honey, wine, bread (and) ...; open it and take it!" I was unwilling; (and) when I did open it by the king's order and out of hunger, my bread was finished. The overseer of the household [... did not] tell me to open (and) ... it.

Bottom Edge

The deaf (and) [...] (are) my witnesses. The [chief tail]or is running things [w]ithout me. Every day you finish off my breath and ... me!

Reverse

You have [...] deadly silence. One ram (is) hunger. Emuq-Bel-išpura is a [...]; he guarded the king, the crown prince and the gods of the king, (and) this is his meal! And I am dying of hunger and obduracy. They say: "While you put your trust in the king and the chief tailor, intrigues have penetrated to the king. Every day, (among) all the retainers of the crown prince's household, I am telling everybody: "Speak to the chief tailor!"

Right Edge

But whether the chief tailor [has ...ed] the shares of ... onto the king, (and) whether or not they have told (him), I do not know.

[1 line of the Right Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Chapter Nine. Additions to SAA 10 and SAA 13

SAA 18 124–142. 19 texts.

SAA 18 124 — Let Nippur be Rebuilt!

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 08681; CT 54 212. Sender: Bel-ušezib. SAA 18 124; SAAo P238758.

Obverse

[To the king of the lands, my lord]: your [ser]vant Bel-ušezib. [May] Bel, Nabû and Š[amaš bless the king, my lord]! [If] the moon becomes visible on the 1st day: reliable speech, [the land will become happy]. [When I wrote to the king], saying, "Cancer [stands] in the halo of the moon," [...] did not deliver [my letter to the king], but they took it, [erased] the omen without [...], and c[oncealed] from the king the portent that had come. [The great gods] who dwell in heaven and earth have suddenly [repented, and] their mind [with regard to Ni]ppur and Babylon has changed. The lord of kings [knows that I am] more devoted [t]o Babylon than to Nippur. How could I change anything that [the gods have decreed]? Nippur is a dynastic house and a temple of the [great] gods [of heaven and e]arth. It is not summoned for state service and it [does not pay] tribute. They do only the king's [wor]k that the king can legally claim, (and) [do] not [...] corvée therein. It is [...] the eternal [c]ity of Enlil, the lord of all lands, the organiser of heaven and earth. [...], no malicious finger is pointed at it. And the king who [rules over it], should recognise [its privileges], so his days will be long. Now I, your servant, [shall ...] every[thing]. I shall g[o to Nippur]. If the lord of kings rebuilds Babylon, the land of Ak[kad in its entirety (and) the citizens of Bab]ylon should reciprocate, so that the name of the king, my lord, [will be mentioned] graciously [forever].

Reverse

[Nippur], like Babylon, is a destroyed sanctuary, and its repair work has not been ord[ered. Now] let the [servants] of the king rebuild Nippur on their own. [You are] a strong, able and [righteous] king. May the lord of kings attend to [Nippu]r in the same way as to Babylon. The well-known tablet, 'If a king does not h[eed] justice' [... s]ays: "Be it a king, a šandabakku, an overseer, or an [administrator], [who] puts state service [on Si]ppar, Nippur and Babylon, and [imposes] corvée on the houses of the gods, [the]se great gods will become angry and not enter their chapels." It will happe[n. The lord of kings], should inquire (about it) and let them bring the tablet and read it in the king's presence. [The ... who] said [to the ki]ng, my lord, "The Nippurians and the Sippari[ans are ...]; the king should not accept [... b]ecause of (them)" — all the inhabitants of the [land of A]kkad [...] Babylon. [Now], let the house of the great gods in Nippur be [rebuilt] by the command of the king. [Perhaps the king will s]ay: "Have they started a lawsuit against somebody?" By Bel, Nabû, (and) the gods of the kin[g ...], I sent these words to the king, my lord, [only today]. May [the lord of kings] do [as he deems best], and may Enlil, Šamaš and Marduk, the [great] gods, [and the gods of Nippu]r and Babylon length[en] the days of the king, my lord. [I am Bel-ušezib], your [ser]vant and one who reveres you. [May I see light] under the aegis of the king, [my] lor[d]. May the king not forsake Kunâ [...]! As to the dese[rters, let] them [c]ome [...] and [...] about the [...] of Elam. [Nabû-šumu-išk]un and [NN know] all (about it). [......] ... ... [...] [......] them, and afterwards the king [...] [...... s]ent [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 125 — Hinnumu Strives for Power

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 02889; ABL 0965. Sender: [Bel-ušezib]. SAA 18 125; SAAo P238201.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) in [......], and the king [......]. Hin[numu o]f [Uruk] is gaining in everything that we [...] not [...]. It should be known to the king, my lord, (that) his accomplice, Ša-Nabû-šû, is publicly speaking as follows in the presence of Babylonians and [Uruk]ians: "The king has written to Hinnumu, saying: 'F[ear] not! The commandership of Uruk belongs to you. I shall not give it to anybody else in my entourage, and I shall place in [your han]ds all those who plotted against you.'" Also, he has sa[id] to Ahhešaya, the son of Nanaya-uṣalli: "Everything that the king is sp[eaking] to you and the Urukians is but a big lie. The chief eunuch com[es] daily into the presence of Hinnumu. As for you, do not grasp the feet of the king, (as) the king will not do anything [for you], but grasp the feet of Hinnumu and stay alive [...]! The cohort commander Nuriya and the chief eunuch, Aššur-naṣir, [...] have told me: 'You can rely on us.'" When I heard [this talk], I (immediately) wrote to the king, my lord. Ahhešaya [...] (and) the scribe of Hinnumu should together be tried in the king's presence. [I am Bel-ušezib], your servant, your dog, and one who reveres you. [Let ...] to Ahh[ešaya]! This (kind of) talk is not (on behalf) of the king, my lord. Nobody knows anything of what he is thinking up [in his mind]. The lady T[a... and NN] do not know what is in his heart. Whether he will do good or [bad ...] is known (only) to him in his heart. Nobo[dy] says a word [......]. Now, if Hinnumu should give [......] and [...] inter[cede] for him in [the palace], let it be known [to the king], my lord, (that) the crimes of [Hinnumu against the king] are many. [He spoke] disloyally to the king, [your] father, (while) he wrote [......] to the king of Elam. [Did he] not [write him as follows]: "I [will] at my own expense [......]. May your messenger come and [...! If you ...], you will not defeat [...] and not [......]; you will retreat [...], (and) afterwards [......] will destroy my people."

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Bottom Edge

The mes[senger of the king of Elam led him away ......]. He gave [the king of Elam] a chariot and hors[es ......] and 20 minas of gold from the temple [of ...]. And [he wrote] to the king of Elam:

Reverse

"They have given to you [......]. The governo[r ......]. May the king appoint me in his service and [...]!" When [...] we[nt] with him to Elam, he [......] used to move about in Elam as he wished. Afterwards they did not denig[rate him ...] to the king, your father. When he depart[ed, ...]. Afterwards the king, your father, said to him: "You (dare to) give ten chariots [and horses] to the king of Elam!" Hinnumu said: "I was taken prisoner and handed over to the king of Elam." An Urukian, [Bulluṭu], son of Hummuru, [testified against him] in the presence of the king, your father, and they were sentenced to an ordeal. Bulluṭu was saying: "You gave [ten chariots] and horses to the king of Elam. The Ur[ukians] did not hand you over." When they went to the ordeal, Bulluṭu came through cl[ear], but Hinnumu refused it. The king, your father, wr[ote to him] later on and told him: "You yourself [......] Ahhešaya, the son of Nan[aya-uṣalli ......] old [...]s to [......] of Nanaya-uṣal[li ......] when [he grasped] my feet, [......]." And the king, your father, [......] to [...]. And before the later (intervention) of the ki[ng ......], when they got up and w[ent ......], he m[arch]ed against Ur [......] gives him [...] lance(r)s, 300 a[rchers ......] Having lead (him) away [......], he m[ade him accept] the treaty of Zer-kitti-lišir and wrote [to Bel-iqiša] son of Bunanu: "[......! I] be[ar] the responsibility for barley and straw [......]." And Zer-kitti-lišir [...] his letters [...]. And now [he ......] deserters from [GN], (and) is telling the people: "[......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 126 — I Will not Give Anything to the Eunuchs

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 03024; CT 54 056. Sender: Bel-ušezib. SAA 18 126; SAAo P238248.

Obverse

[To the kin]g of the lands, my lord: your servant Bel-ušezib. May [Bel, Nabû and Šama]š bless the king, my lord! May they make [...] pass before the king, my lord. [If a planet rises in Elul (VI): rising of busine]ss, thriving of grain. [If ......]: the harvest will not increase. (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] When [...]ya the cohort commander [......] brought them here, [...... NN] is saying: "[I shall not g]ive them anything [... No]body is giving silver [.....]. I will not give anything in my possession [... to] the eunuchs, and my report [...]. May the lord of kings do as he deems best. [...] I hear [..., I shall wr]ite to the king, my lord. Let the lord of kings do as he deems best.

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 127 — Fragment of a Letter of Bel-ušezib

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0075; CT 54 564. Sender: [Bel-ušezib]. SAA 18 127; SAAo P237679.

Obverse

[To the king of the lan]ds, my lord: your servant [Bel-ušezib. May Bel, Nabû and] Šamaš [bless] the king, my lord! (Rest destroyed)

[2 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(broken away) (illegible traces of three lines on upper edge)

SAA 18 128 — Cow [Gives Birth to] a Lion

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05599 + K 15622; CT 54 147. Sender: [Bel-ušezib]. SAA 18 128; SAAo P238506.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [... Eṭ]eru [...] [Eṭ]eru has written to me a[s follows]: "[...] in Iyyar (II) to [...] "I had them brought into [GN and ...]. "Later on, [NN ...]. "[W]hy on earth did [...] "s[ay in] your presence [...] "[...] ... [...] "I had [them] brought in [... From] "that (moment) unti[l now] "I have not seen [...] "I removed [...] into the presence [of ...] "One of them [...] to [...] "Now, since I [...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) a barber [......] as [......] as he said [...] If a cow [has given birth to] a lion, [...s] have been placed in him. You have got [...]. I have giv[en ...] [...] you came into my presence [...] when I wen[t ...] before [...] you ga[ve ...] in [......]

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Edge

[... are h]ere. Where [should I] appoint them?

SAA 18 129 — Fragment Possibly from Bel-ušezib

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 10743; CT 54 222. Sender: [Bel-ušezib]. SAA 18 129; SAAo P238937.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] king who [...] [...] Bel-[...] "We keep talk[ing ...] Esarhaddon [...] and the cover that [...] I se[e ...] of the king, my lord [...] instead of [...] (Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)

SAA 18 130 — Fragment Referring to Esarhaddon by Name

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 13144; CT 54 252. SAA 18 130; SAAo P239186.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed or too broken for translation)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] letter [...] [...] Esarhaddon [...] many soldiers [...] love [...] [...] his fault [...] [... has] hated [...] [...] I sent [...] (Rest destroyed)

[4 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 131 — Ašaredu, Governor of Cutha, Should be Tried

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01919 + K 07378 + K 10489 + K 12958 + K 13081 + K 15416 + K 16116; CT 54 037. Sender: [Nabu-i]qbi. SAA 18 131; SAAo P238110.

Obverse

[To the k]ing of the universe, my lord: yo[ur] servant, [Nabû-i]qbi. May Aššur, Šamaš, and M[arduk] bles[s the king of the lan]ds, my lord. [Aššur-ere]š and Bel-id[din, servants] of Urda-G[u]l[a, uttered an appeal to the king conc]er[ni]ng Aša[redu, comman]dant of Cutha. When [the ki]ng, my lo[r]d, h[eard it], he brought him in. But nob[o]dy has settled his case wi[th them]. If it is agreeable to the king, my lord, and the king, [my] l[ord], commands that he should be tried, then let him be t[ried i]n the presence of the chariot driver, the governor of the city of HA[R], and the mayor Sasi[ya], men who are loyal t[o] the king, my lord, before [he distributes] bribes and gi[fts c]oncerning them, the men di[e, and the ki]ng's case is hush[ed].

Bottom Edge

(The lord of) kings, my lord, gave the [fo]llowing order to [a]ll the magnates: "Whoever has a scholar in his presence but hides him fro[m the kin]g and [does not s]end him [t]o the palace, the king's [... will ...] him."

Reverse

Now, I [have he]ard [that there is a haru]spex, son of a haruspex, who is useful t[o the king], my [lor]d, in the pre[sence of Ašare]du, commandant of Cu[tha]. [O]n the day when he come[s] for an au[dience with the king, m]y [lord ...] [...] ... gol[d] [... the ki]ng, my lord, [...] (Break) [...] they got scared [...] [... hav]e st[ationed ... in Bo]rsippa. [I]f it is ag[reeable to] the king, my lord, [let a eunu]ch of the kin[g come] and [...] Bel-[i]ddin [and] Aššur-ereš [...] in your presence [...] [...] the death of [...]

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Edge

The king [......].

[1 line of the Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 132 — Whatever Are They Plotting?

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0078; ABL 1120. Sender: [Nabu-iqbi]. SAA 18 132; SAAo P237258.

Obverse

[To the king of the universe, my lord: your servant, Nabû-iqbi. May Nabû and Ma]rduk [ble]ss [the king of the lands, my lord]. (Break) [......] of the land of Akkad [......] until [......] the day [...... Ass]yria (Break)

[2 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Bottom Edge

(one line broken away) [......] and

Reverse

tur[n]s back [...]. Whatever is it that they are plotting in their hearts, having not come for (all) these three years for an audience with the king, their lord? I have heard that they have one resolve and one intention, and they do [n]ot do anything separately. Whatever are they dreaming up? [The lord of ki]ngs should do as he [find]s appropriate.

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 133 — Eating the Leftovers of Marduk

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 04716; ABL 1301. Sender: [Nabu-i]qbi. SAA 18 133; SAAo P238335.

Obverse

[To the king of the un]iverse, my lord: [your servant, Nabû-i]qbi. [May Nabû and Marduk ble]ss the [ki]ng of the lands, [my lord]. [...] Nabû (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] ... in the temple of Marduk. [Who]ever [e]ats his leftovers will live. The [lo]rd of kings should do as he [fi]nds appropriate.

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 134 — Lunar Omens

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 09571; CT 54 218. SAA 18 134; SAAo P238858.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [......]: ther[e will be ...] in the land. [If Venus in Ab (V) descends darkly to the horizon and sets]: there will be a fall of Elam. [.....] Ela[m ......]. [If the moon is red at its appearance] and its left horn is blu[nt, its right horn pointed: you will drive back the enemy land; Adad will devastate]. [In A]b [the moon will be seen together with the sun] on the 14th day. [......] Now [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 135 — Eclipse in Libra

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0228; CT 54 574. SAA 18 135; SAAo P237705.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] to A[ss]y[ria ...] [...] ... [...] [...] The eclipse which [took place] in Libr[a ...] [...] Thereby [a decision was given] to Eridu: [the people of Eridu will be massa]cred, the city [...] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 136 — Fragment Referring to Mars

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05453b; CT 54 117. SAA 18 136; SAAo P238460.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) Did he [not] say: "[...] [...] ... [...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [The min]d of the kin[g, my lord, can be at ease]. [...] Mars [...] [I]t means [... f]or the king and the cr[own prince]. Mars [...] [sa]ying, "The portents [...] [s]trength ... [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 137 — Fragment Reporting an Eclipse

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0797; CT 54 541. SAA 18 137; SAAo P237415.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [about which the king, my lord], wrote, [he said to me] as follows: "The eclipse [... the region] which it touched [...] [...] the decision [...] [the ...]eans; and [...] [......] t[o ......] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [......] looked [...] This [...] Na[bû-...] to the advice [...] ... and in [...] after me [...] will make him overcome [...] to the message [...] and you [...] the word of the tablet [...] to [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 138 — Explaining Omens

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1904-10-09, 0254; CT 54 583. SAA 18 138; SAAo P237562.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] house wit[h ......] as it says, the land of [......] "the ruling city," they ar[e .....] [one ki]ng will [send] hostile messages to another [......] t[o ...] of the land [......] we [......] [...] plotted [......] [...] in [......] [...] to [......] [...] king [...] to [......] [...] set [......] [...] may the king [...]

Bottom Edge

[...] their [......]

Reverse

a good report [......]. [May he write] to [... as] he deems [best]. [...] one good chariot in the country, and nobody will [...] to the king. [NN] son of Zabidu f[rom GN] is in the hands of the king. If [the mood] of the king, my lord, is goo[d, ...] who [...] to the province, who twice ...[...] who fro[m ......] [...] of the ki[ng ......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 139 — Fragment Referring to an Omen

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0033; CT 54 560. SAA 18 139; SAAo P237671.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] a decision to the king, [my] l[ord ...] [...] Nabû t[his] omen [...] [...] their [...]s [May the king, my lord, se]nd it to me, so I can see [it] [...] scribe [...] [...] of his heart [...] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 140 — Fragment Discussing a Ritual

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0133; CT 54 570. SAA 18 140; SAAo P237692.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) I shall enquire about it. [......] has come out; [it is said] as fo[llows]: "The day under [......]

Bottom Edge

is perfor[med ......]

Reverse

These additional rituals [......] said: "Somebody [......] should say [...] and [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 141 — Fragment Referring to Scholars

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 14656; CT 54 275. SAA 18 141; SAAo P239291.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) har[uspex ...] scr[ibe ...] exorci[st ...] and [...] wit[h ...] whatever [...] (Rest destroyed or too broken for translation)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) (rest broken away)

[6 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 142 — Working for the King

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0285; CT 54 521. Sender: [Raši-ili]. SAA 18 142; SAAo P237334.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed or too broken for translation) who seized [......] [...] we have [......] with us [....] In their rear, we are constructing the f[or]t and bringing [garrison troops] into it, so the people will become reverent, turn to other matters, and the broken heart(s) will be put in place.

[12 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

I am waiting for the king, my lord. May the king, my lord, do as he finds best. I am (but) a dead dog. The king, my lord, had mercy on me and revived me. And regarding these words [that] have been said to the king, my lord, [which ...] my heart remembers but [...] has not heard, and (concerning which) the king, my lord, has repeatedly written to me, (thus) placing them in the heart of his servant — now, let me appoint guards in the city, and let me come at once, see the face of the king, my lord, and [...] (Rest destroyed)

Chapter Ten. Letters from or Relating to Birati, Dur-Šarrukku, and Cutha

SAA 18 143–157. 15 texts.

SAA 18 143 — Defeat of the Qedarites

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0029; ABL 0350. Sender: Nabu-šumu-lišir. SAA 18 143; SAAo P237241.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, my lord: your servant, Nabû-šumu-lišir. May Nabû and Marduk give the king of the lands, my lord, long days, everlasting years, a just sceptre, and an everlasting throne. Concerning the Qedarites about whom the king, my lord, gave me orders: after I went to the highland, [I inflicted] a crus[hin]g defeat on them by the destiny of the king, my lord, and my hands [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] the king [...]. Accordingly, since he defeated them, they have became scared. And as the treaty of the king, my lord, has caught up with them, those who escaped the iron sword will die of hunger. (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 144 — Qedarites Defeated Again

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1882-05-22, 0163; CT 54 498. Sender: [Nabu-šumu-lišir]. SAA 18 144; SAAo P237197.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) No[w, when Umitê ...], son of Haza-[il ...], and A'i[m... ...] marched against [...] and fell upon it [on the xth] of Marchesvan (VIII), saying: "[...]," when [... from] among them e[scaped, by the de]stiny of the k[ing, my lord, ...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [Whe]n they cam[e ...], we i[nflicted] a [de]feat on them. And after they revolte[d, f]rom [those] days, [no] Qed[a]rites at [all have attacked] the city of the king, m[y] lord. I will com[e and ...] the king sh[ould ...] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 145 — Report on the Qedarites and Il-kabar

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1889-04-26 Bu, 0063 + 1889-04-26 Bu, 0081; ABL 0811. Sender: Nabu-šumu-lišir. SAA 18 145; SAAo P237645.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, my l[or]d: your servant, Nabû-šumu-lišir. May Nabû and Marduk give the king of the lands, my lord, l[o]ng days, everlast[i]ng years, a just sceptre, and an everlasting throne. [Concerni]ng the Qedarites about whom the king, my lord, [wrote to me, saying]: "[... NN] and Il-kabar [...]" — [...] Il-kabar [...] and I (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] their [...] [... the king], my lord (Break) re[moved] the tablet [...] placed [...]. When they were kept away from [it/him], they [w]ent back to Ud[a...]. (rest uninscribed)

[3 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 146 — Skirmish with Troops of the King of Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00509; ABL 0259. Sender: Nabu-šumu-lišir. SAA 18 146; SAAo P237820.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, my lord: your servant, Nabû-šumu-lišir. May Nabû and Marduk give the king of the lands, my lord, long days and everlasting years. When I sent men of Birati, servants of the king, my lord, for guard duty to the marshy plain of Babylon and the king of Babylon's men attacked them, by the destiny of the king, my lord, the Biratians, the king's servants, killed four of the king of Babylon's men; and I sent to the king, my lord, the nine (men) whom they brought in.

Reverse

After Birati was destroyed and its gods were carried off, I was a dead man, but when I saw the gold signet ring of the king, my lord, I came to life. But now, when I sent my [m]essenger to greet the king, my lord, I did not see the signet ring of the king, my lord, and I stopped living. I am a dead man. The king, my lord, must not abandon me! (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 147 — Emissaries of the Nabayatean King at Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0074; ABL 1117. Sender: [Nabu-šumu-l]išir. SAA 18 147; SAAo P237256.

Obverse

[To the king of the lands], my lord: [your] se[rvant, Nabû-šumu-l]išir. [M]ay Nabû and Marduk give [the king of the l]ands, m[y] lord, [long] day[s], everlasting [ye]ar[s], a [just] sce[ptre], and an [ever]lasting throne. When emissaries of Natnu, the Nabayatean, came to the king of Babylon, the king of Babylon sent to Natnu as an extra gift one hundred Biratians and five Assyrians, who had been taken prisoner in Cutha, servants of the king, my lord. When [on]e Biratian, a servant of the king, my lord, fled [fro]m Babylon, [......] (Break) [When a Biratian], a servant of the ki[ng, m]y [lord, ......] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [... servant]s of the king. [When I c]aptured [...]s of the king of Babylon [..., I wrote] to the king, my lord, [and dis]tributed [...]; [i]f not, [I sen]t [...] to the king, my lord. The captives [and the emis]saries I have sent [t]o Sipp[ar], into the presence to the magnates. [N]ow I pray to the gods for the life of the king, my lord. Ahu-ṭab, the Biratian whom the king, my lord, sent to Bit-Amukani, has delivered the king's letter to Bit-Amukani. Now, [let them br]ing him before the king, my lord. If not, may the king, my lord, do as he deems best.

SAA 18 148 — Clashes with Arabs

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00607; ABL 0262. Sender: Nabu-šumu-lišir. SAA 18 148; SAAo P237837.

Obverse

T[o the king of the lands], my [lo]rd: your servant, Nabû-šumu-lišir. May Nabû and Marduk give the king of the lands, my lord, long days, everlasting years, a just sceptre, and an everlasting throne. The Arabs attacked the Assyrians, the king's servants who c[om]e to Birati to do business, and took away by force fifty Assyrians from Halulê, and with them twenty Biratians, servants of the king. A man from among them escaped [and s]poke to me, and by the destiny [of] the king, my lord, having [......], I inflicted a defeat [o]n them. I impaled [x] of them in the territory whe[r]e the attack took place. There were no casualties among the servants of the king.

Reverse

I attacked (them) again, and having taken prisoner seven of them as informers, I am herewith sending them to the king, my lord. They are friends of Ita'-il, son of Bun-šadadu, priest of Šamaš. The king should question them. (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 149 — Arabs Raid a Caravan

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00562; ABL 0260. Sender: Nabu-šumu-lišir. SAA 18 149; SAAo P237828.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, my lord: your servant, Nabû-šumu-lišir. May Nabû and Marduk give the king of the lands, my lord, long days, everlasting years, a just sceptre, and an everlasting throne. Concerning the matter that the king, my lord, gave me orders about, saying, "Send me any news about the Arabs that you hear" — When that caravan had left (the territory of) the Nabayateans, Aya-kabar, son of Ammi-yata', the Massa'ean, attacked them, killed men and took booty. One of them, having escaped, entered the city of the king.

Reverse

Now then I am sending him to the king, my lord. May the king listen to what he has to say. (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 150 — Sending on a Messenger

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0108; ABL 1128. Sender: [Nabu-šu]mu-lišir. SAA 18 150; SAAo P237266.

Obverse

[To the king of the lands], my [l]ord: [your servant, Nabû-šu]mu-lišir. [May Nabû and Marduk g]ive the king of the lands, [my lord], long [d]ays, [ev]erlasting [years, a jus]t [sceptre], and an [everlasting] throne. A messenger [of the son of] Ya[t]a'-ilu, from [Šap]azzu, has come [to] Birati, the city of the king, my lord. Having prepared him for the journey, I am herewith sending him to the king, my lord.

Reverse

And now I am keeping the watch of the king, my lord. (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 151 — Sending Prisoners to the King

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01218; ABL 1445. Sender: [Nabu-šumu-lišir]. SAA 18 151; SAAo P238005.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) The men of the king, my lord, having seen them, I immediately launched a surprise attack on them and took them prisoner. Now then I am sending them to the king, my lord. The king, my lord, should question them.

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

The king should also ask them, "Who has like [...] ...ed a house for sale [...]?" [Nur]ea has weighed half a mina of silver and given it [to Ka]lbu, [saying]: "Go [and ...] order [...]" (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 152 — The Prelate of Dur-Šarrukku Sides with Šamaš-šumu-ukin

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0125; ABL 1247. Sender: [Nergal-ibni]. SAA 18 152; SAAo P237272.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [NN], the prela[te of Dur-Šarrukku], daily sends his messenger to the king of Babylon. In Nisan (I), the messenger of the king of Babylon came to him. He slaughtered a bull in his presence (and) carried off Humh[u]m, saying: "Safekeeping for the king, my lord!" He opened the seal(ed storehouse) of Humhum, which Kitrušu had sealed1 with the signet ring of Esarhaddon, [and] sent one talent twenty minas of gold (and) one talent of gold alloy to the king of Babylon with the messenger.

Reverse

Nabû-ušabši, the haruspex, daily finds out and sends the news of the palace to Kudurru. He has taken his two sons (and) thirty men under their control and gone to the king of Babylon. May the king search (for them); [they are] men who ... affairs with him [......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 153 — A Merchant from Tema Arrested

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1905-04-09, 0069; ABL 1404. Sender: Nergal-ibni. SAA 18 153; SAAo P237581.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, [my] lo[rd]: your [serva]nt, Nergal-ibni. May [M]arduk and Z[a]rpanitu bless the king of the lands, m[y] lord. Ammini-ilu, a merch[a]nt from Tema, [wa]s going from here to the king of Babylon. [He was arr]ested at the city gate of Sippar, and is in fetters in Dur-Šarrukku. Let them fetch him and [qu]estion him. [No]b[o]dy from here [knows] him, and the king should not say: "[W]hy didn't I hear these things?" [Nabû-ušab]ši, the haruspex, has incited the ..., [the] palace [supervisor], and the magnate[s ag]ainst me. [I ha]ve [s]ent [...] a letter [about i]t to the king, my lord. The king should summon him and [have] him [brought i]n. He must not conceal [...]. [...] ... [...] his [so]ns to

Reverse

[...] and Šamaš-le'i [...] in the presence of the king of Babylon [...] against [...] and Birati [...] The king should ask him, "[W]here did you send [...]?" [H]e should appoint [...] in [...]. [Perhaps the king, my lord], will say: "[...]" (Break) for th[ese] five months [......]. I am a treaty partner of the king. I have come forward for a good cause. Why has an outrider carrying an arrow been standing over me for (all) these seven months?

[8 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Right Edge

[......] against (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 154 — Pitching Camp and Crossing the River at Opis

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 20566. SAA 18 154; SAAo P239969.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] military duty [...]. As soon as I [hear] the news, you will se[e] my messeng[er]. My lord should pitch [ca]mp in two places, a[nd] they [should] cross (the river) [at] Opis and at Dur-[Šarrukku]. Let the Ar[abs] indicate (the places) to h[i]m, and let him appo[int ......]

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(Rest destroyed) (rest broken away)

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 155 — Fragment Concerning Dur-Šarrukku and Camels

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 15393; CT 54 312. SAA 18 155; SAAo P239357.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] arms [...] [...] have stoo[d ...] [...] of your house [...] [...] of Dur-Šarru[kku ...] [...] camel[s ...] [...] silver for [...] [...] all [...] [...] words [...] [... my lord] must not aband[on me]! (Rest destroyed)

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 156 — We Are Like Sheep Without a Shepherd

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1904-10-09, 0184; ABL 1394. SAA 18 156; SAAo P237552.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) May my lord [agree] to present [...] to [Nergal] and La[ṣ] for the preservation of [his] li[fe], and may he be an intercessor and speaker of a good word for Cutha in the presence of the king. When Kudurru of (Bit-)Ibâ a[bandoned] us like sheep without a shepherd [...]

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Bottom Edge

(Break) and h[is] steadfast godhead [...].

[2 lines of the Bottom Edge are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

Kuriga[l]zu, the son of our former commandant, is a man who reveres god and [k]ing. Should there be a document (sealed with) the royal signet ring in our presence, when we have forwarded it, [we pray t]o the gods [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 157 — Report on Cutha

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 07479; CT 54 198. SAA 18 157; SAAo P238676.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [......] concerning oxen and rams [......] Nabû-ahhe-šullim [...] established [oxe]n (and) rams for Nergal. [Since the ki]ng, my lord, has from the beginning maintained his gods, the chief tailor blocked [...] the breached city wall [with bitu]men and sweet-scented oil, (and) the chief tailor spoke [to N]ergal, saying: "You should not bla[me A]ssyria for this crime. Blame Šamaš-šumu-ukin, [who] committed this [crime]!" [The day that] he brought the [se]aled document of the king, my lord, [...] informers and [.....], we, [who were but dea]d [dogs, ...] said to one another: "[F]rom this day we are alive."

[2 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

[.......], when the gods entered [Cutha], the sky [...] at an inappropriate time. [...] shed blood. The blood of our brothers [filled ... and] the cella of Nergal to the brim. [...] he has carried away [......] he has thrown it [...... a body]guard to the Arameans (Rest destroyed)

Chapter Eleven. Letters from or Relating to Babylon

SAA 18 158–172. 15 texts.

SAA 18 158 — Babylon’s Privileged Status

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00233; ABL 0878. Sender: Babylonians. SAA 18 158; SAAo P237800.

Obverse

The words which the people of Babylon spoke before the king: "Ever since the kings, our lords, sat on the throne, you have been intent on securing our privileged status and our happiness. But what of us, who have had our fill of safeguarding those of (our) Elamite, Tabalite and Ahlamite women! When the kings, our lords, did their elementary studies, the gods bestowed great wisdom and magnanimity on you. "Dimkurkurra, Babylon, (is) the Bond of the Lands." Whoever enters inside it, his privileged status is secured. Also, Babylon (is) "the bowl of the Dog of Enlil." Its (very) name is set up for protection. Not even a dog that enters inside it is killed. The kings, our lords, know that Eṭiru and his sons grasped the feet of the king of Assyria, your father. Until Šuzubu son of Gahal came and killed them all, they kept kiss[ing] the feet of Assyria which they had grasped, and kept the watch of their lord's house. Šuzubu received the [heads], arms and feet of Eṭiru (and) his sons together with [...] in the presence of Beliya. But the women [of ...] and Šaddinnu were married in Babylon. [...] with them (f.), saying: "She is [a wom]an who goes out." What is wrong (with that)? [...] [...] all the [women] of Eṭiru's house [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) carries everything. To [......] the foreign women [......]. And in having made our privileged status sur[passing ...] from all lands, the kings, our lords, have [...] more than past kings. So let the privileged status of the women who [...] al[so be established] with us by the name of Babylon, (and) may the favours which the kings, our lords, have do[ne for us], be (thus) brought to a climax. Under your protection, Bel-bulliṭ (and) [...] continue ble[ssing] the kings, our lords, every day before Marduk (and) [Zarpanitu]. (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 159 — Blessing the Kings of Assyria and Babylonia

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0712; CT 54 532. SAA 18 159; SAAo P237390.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) May [...] give [the king of Assyria] and the king of Bab[ylon, my lords], lon[g] days, everlasting [years], h[appiness], and good health! May they rule Assyria and [the land of Akkad through] sta[ble] reigns, and may [they] make [the land] hap[py]!

Reverse

[I am] a servant who reveres the k[ings, my lords. I must not become estran]ged from the ki[ngs, my lords]. (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 160 — I Cannot Manage!

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01237; ABL 0912. Sender: Šuzubu. To: Aqara. SAA 18 160; SAAo P238010.

Obverse

To Aqarâ, his lord: your servant, Šuzubu. May Nabû and Marduk bless my lord. Doesn't my lord know that I am entering a ruined and abandoned house? When Tabnea, my brother, took six hundred (homers of) barley belonging to our paternal estate, he brought all good feeling between him and his brothers to an end. He received fields from it, but I have received nothing from it. And my lord knows that I cannot beg, and there is nobody to take my hand.

Reverse

Now, insofar as my lord sees fit, let my lord assign me to the commandant. I should not make a binding agreement away from my lord. Aplaya, the son of Bel-bulliṭ, a member of the Abunaya family, has filled up (i.e., impregnated?) ..., a young girl of yours. He brought her into the camp as an adult [wo]man, but witne[s]ses convicted him, and they have gone back. And now he has entered under Bel-le'i. Let my lord judge him as he finds best.

SAA 18 161 — Negotiating Marriages with Babylonians

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 08671; ABL 0969. SAA 18 161; SAAo P238753.

Obverse

[The sons and] daughters of Bel-eṭ[ir], whom he sent to houses of the Babylonians: He sent one of his sons to the house of Ibnâ son of Nur-Sin, but he did not marry. He sent another son of his to the house of Zakir son of Damqu, but he did not marry. He sent a third son of his to the house of Kiribtu son of Dabibu, but he did not marry. He sent a daughter of his to the house of Bel-bulliṭ son of Abunaya, but she was not married. He sent a daughter of his to the house of Aplaya son of Bel-ipuš son of Adad-šuma-ereš, but she was not married. He sent a daughter of his to the house of [...]tunu the [...], (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [He sent] a daughter of his [to the house of NN son of NN], of the Butch[er family, ...].

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 162 — Joining the Treaty of Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00083; ABL 0202. Sender: Kabtiya. SAA 18 162; SAAo P237776.

Obverse

To the king, my lord: your servant, Kabtiya. Good health to the king, my lord! Concerning the treaty of Babylon about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, I was not present (because of) the sealed document of the king, my lord, which Aššur-ra'im-šarri brought to me: my brothers and I went and kept watch with him in Raši, (so) I missed the appointed time of the treaty of Babylon.

Bottom Edge

On the way (home), I went to see the palace supervisor. He took me along, and by your gods, I joined the treaty of the king, my lord, in Nippur and in Uruk.

Reverse

And do I not rejoice in the treaty of the king, my lord! I say: "(My) men, their sons, and their wives, together with their gods, should (also) enter into the treaty of the king, my lord!" And (as for) me, in accordance with the order of the king, my lord, when the elders came, they entered into the treaty of the king, my lord, in Babylon.

SAA 18 163 — Delivering the King’s Sealed Messages to Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1848-07-20, 0115; ABL 0412. Sender: [Nab]u-zera-ukin. Later: assigned to the reign of Sîn-šarru-iškun (ca. 626–612 BC), not Ashurbanipal. SAA 18 163; SAAo P236868.

Obverse

[To the king, my] lo[rd]: your servant, [Nab]û-zera-ukin. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! I pray every [day] to Marduk and Zarpanitu [for] the long life, [hap]piness, good health, [and] overthrow of the enemy [of the ki]ng, my lord. (Concerning) the [mes]sage which the king, the lord, [s]ent to me (and) the [gol]den seals which they gave to me, saying: "Send (them) [t]o Babylon!" — I have given one seal to Mušezib-Marduk. The seal of Šuma-iddin, the prelate of Der, is in my custody; I shall not give it to him. Šuma-iddin is ... The king should know (this). We did not dispatch a large force until we heard the good news. When we heard the news, the force was dispersed in the street of Marduk, your god. Many men in Babylon keep the watch of the king, my lord. Marduk and Zarpanitu, your gods, whose feet you have grasped, will make the king, my lord, successful in whatever the king, my lord, does. Thanks to your gods, we received the messenger who was coming. The [ki]ng, my lord, can rely on the delivery of the sealed messages to Babylon.

Reverse

Marduk and Zarpanitu, your gods, have seen to it that [al]l the people of Babylon [are ke]eping the watch of the king, my lord. They have turned their faces towards the king, [m]y [lord]. Ever since wine [... to Ba]bylon for Bel, your god, [...] their faces very much [....] they are [......] (Break)

Right Edge

[N]N and Bel-ibn[i] [...] have been brought in.

[1 line of the Right Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Edge

Up to now nobody [...] has p[ut] their property either at the disposal of Bel or at the disposal of the king [...].

[1 line of the Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 164 — Troops in Babylon Defect to Šamaš-šumu-ukin

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01203 + 1883-01-18, 0753; CT 54 017. SAA 18 164; SAAo P237452.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [The ...s wh]om [the king, my lord, sta]tioned [in Babylon f]or guard duty, [have turned] their [...] against the king, my lord. They are [capt]uring [...] and subjugating the city, and [...] in their midst [have ...] Šamaš- šumu-ukin. The Babylonians have several times performed the ritual on [the city gate, and on the xth day th]ey [have lo]cked it. And [Šam]aš-šumu-ukin has spoken to them as [follows]: "[If the king of Assyria] and your brothers who [are] in [Assyria should march] against you, [the gods...] will make them retreat and throw [......] in manacles." [......] Šamaš-šumu-ukin [...] their [...] against Babylon (Break) [......] Babylon [......] their [...] [......] arms [......] their [...] [......] and the people [......] their [...] (Break)

[2 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

[......] a good cause [......] let them enter [...]and [......] let him do [...... sa]ying: "Just as [......] them and [......] Now [......] are making [...] and [...... Bel-l]e'i, their commandant [......] has placed [......] they are full [......] their intention [... Nobody] has entered or left [B]abylon. [...] are [the ones who] did the [w]ork. Didn't they do it? [...] are saying: "If Šamaš-šumu-ukin captures [...] and [(if) ...] capture [...] [......] their troops who [......] st[oo]d [......] and the rest of Babylon [......] upon our word [......] heaped up and they [......] of conquering [......] And if they are released and [...... the kin]gship and Bel-ibni [......] they are plotting and (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 165 — Fragment Concerning the People of Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01185; CT 54 016. SAA 18 165; SAAo P238000.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) into Babyl[on ......] the Babylonians [......] have sent back [...]. Their king [......] when he fel[l ......] the[ir] tents [......] and their women [......] in a chariot to [......] when they made [......] the people of Babylo[n ......] are speaking [......] they are looking [......] fear are they. ... [......] [...] them [......] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) of the messenger [......] (Break) If ... [......] Babylon [......] the king, my lord, [......] should ask [......] should [......] in [......] with [......] has spoken and [......] [...] not [......] (Rest destroyed)

[3 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 166 — Fragment Concerning the King of Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 19196. SAA 18 166; SAAo P239799.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] the king, my lord, [...] [I]f in the presence of [...] [... the ki]ng of Babylon [......] [... the]re is not [...] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 167 — Fragment Concerning the King of Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 15401; CT 54 314. SAA 18 167; SAAo P239359.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] sen[t ...] [... the k]ing of Babyl[on ...] [...] their [...] [...] to [...] [...] bac[k ...] [...] I s[ent to] the king [...] [...] in [...] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 168 — Fragment Reporting on the King of Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 07410; CT 54 187. SAA 18 168; SAAo P238661.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [......] to [......] my words [......] every day [......] they [d]o [...... The king] should know it. [......] my [...] to the king (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [When the chief t]ailor of the king of Babylon came [..., he ...] against [...]. [...] Abi-yaqî passes by my [...]s, (and) has changed [...]; and the kin[g] of [B]abylon has shed [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 169 — Fragment Concerning the King of Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 16594; CT 54 380. SAA 18 169; SAAo P239455.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] the land [...] [...] the king of Babyl[on ...] [... t]o you. If [...] [...] a judgement [...] [...] the great [god]s [...] (Rest destroyed)

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 170 — Removing and Scaring People

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 04776; ABL 0967. SAA 18 170; SAAo P238353.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] are doing [what] is [not g]ood to the king. [Conce]rning the Tabalean at the city wall, may my [lord] settle his case. He stole things and sold them [t]o Babylon. When your servant heard of it, he impaled the Gurumeans who were with him. He, however, ran away and entered Babylon. Another time, when Aššur-belu-taqqin was invading the region enclosed by the river, as soon as he heard of it, he went and organised a fight before Aššur-belu-taqqin. As soon as Aššur-belu-taqqin heard of it, he sent a warrant about him, but did not catch him.

Reverse

Until the death of Aššur-belu-taqqin, he did not enter the Gurumu (territory). But now, he has destroyed the entire house of your servant. Let [my lord] remove whatever people are there, and let the others hear of it and be scared. M[y lord] knows that they are ...; there is a [c]urse in their house. They have 'eaten' me [...]; who [...] could question him? [...] [H]e and the men [...] ... [...] [Let] them speak [...], and let them not mix [......].

SAA 18 171 — Fragment Referring to Babylon and the Chief Eunuch

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 15038; CT 54 285. SAA 18 171; SAAo P239313.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [......] Babylon [......] into the presence of the chief eunuc[h] [......] Jupiter [... t]hat I sent hi[s] message

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Bottom Edge

[......] I have sent

Reverse

[...... the king], my [l]ord, [......] they go [...... th]ey have [go]ne out and [...... th]ey [s]ay (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 172 — The Chief Eunuch at Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05439a; CT 54 105. SAA 18 172; SAAo P238450.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...... s]ent [...] [......] into the presence [...] [......] is resident [in ...]. And according to [...] [......] by Jupiter [......] to the authority of Assyria [...... h]e [will aban]don. Your life with [......] which he adjure[d] [......] he exclaimed a[s follows]: "[......] will lea[d ...] [......] the scribe of N[N] [......] words [...] [...... ] sa[id to m]e (Break)

[3 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...... the ki]ng, [my] lord [......] on [...] [... I have sent them to] the palac[e] [... The king, my lord], should question the[m]. [When ... s]ent [..., th]ey [pu]t iron shackles [...] on the feet [of the Babylon]ians, my brothers. The chief eunuch [......] Tardiya and [... used to co]me [int]o the presence of the kings, your fathers, [and they used to give him] food and water, and send him [o]n [his way]. [... of the ki]ng, my lord, in the house of the prefect [...] the letter which [...] to the king, my lord, [...] are selected. If [it is agreeable] to [the king], let him go [to the kin]g, my lord, and [......]. I, too, [with ...] men, will [c]ome [......] (Rest destroyed)

[3 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Chapter Twelve. Letters from Borsippa, Dilbat, and Bit-Dakkuri

SAA 18 173–191. 19 texts.

SAA 18 173 — Surprise Attack

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01074; ABL 0834. Sender: Nabu-bel-šumati. SAA 18 173; SAAo P237972.

Obverse

[To the k]ing, my lord: [yo]ur [servant], Nabû-bel-šumati. [Good h]ealth to the king, my lord! May [Nabû and] Marduk bless the king, [m]y [lord]. (Break) (rest broken away)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) If not, they will attack them by [s]urprise. I am writing to [i]nform [the ki]ng, my lord. (rest uninscribed)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 174 — Intelligence on Šamaš-šumu-ukin and Babylon

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0090; ABL 0807. Sender: [M]arduk (of Borsippa). SAA 18 174; SAAo P237685.

Obverse

[To the king] of the lands, [my lord: your servant, M]arduk. May Nabû and Marduk bless [the king], my [lo]rd. Šamaš-šumu-ukin is co[m]mitting a great [crime]. He does [n]ot speak [...] but is [t]elling the Babylonians [...]: "At the god's setting out (in procession) [......] Babylon [......] who between [......] the king

Reverse

(Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 175 — Pitching Camp at Dilbat

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00544; ABL 0804. Sender: Marduk (of Borsippa). SAA 18 175; SAAo P237824.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, my lord: your servant, Marduk. May Nabû and [M]arduk bless the king of the lands, my lord. Thanks to Bel and Nabû, who gave dominance to the king of the lands, my lord, your servants, whom you took in your hands, are achievers and not d[o-nothin]gs. In three months they have done a j[o]b which would not be done in [thr]ee years, and delivered it to the king, my lord. But perhaps the king, my lord, will [say]: "He wrote earlier on that the jo[b] will not be don[e]. I sai[d] in order to further the object[ive] of the king, my lord: "[If] you seized [...], the king may achie[ve his] objective." Now yo[ur] gods have acted, and [the king] has ac[hieved] his objective. Moreover, the me[n] who s[aid], "Sipp[ar] is a door [locked] in front of us," have been led into the hands of the king of the lands, [my] lo[rd].

Reverse

I have heard the magnates say as follows: "We will set up a camp in Dilbat." If they set up a ca[m]p in Dilbat, the people will starve. Also, no caravan will come to them. Rather, their army will go out and plunder a caravan. Let them place the camp within the enclosure of the camp of Babylon of last year, and let boats and water-skins come to them.

Edge

There should be 520 (of them) in Cutha. The h[o]rses of the king of the lands should be in hiding and thwart their exit from Babylon.

[1 line of the Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 176 — Turning in an Enemy

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0113; ABL 0808. Sender: Marduk (of Borsippa). SAA 18 176; SAAo P237687.

Obverse

T[o the kin]g of the lands, my lord: your servant, Marduk. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king of the lands, my lord. May Bel and Nabû let the lord of kings, my lord, attain whatever the lord of kings aspires to. [Nabû]-zera-iddin, [a citizen of Bo]r[s]ippa, [allied himself with] Ṣillaya and they [ma]de [Na]bû-ušezib, the [P]uqudean, into an enemy. Also, he was [a]ctive in the palace of Sippar, saying: "I am a haruspex."

Reverse

Ever since the lord of kings installed me in Borsippa, I have been looking for him but have not found him. N[o] one who sins against the lord of kings [e]scapes. Now, under the aegis of the lord of kings, he has fallen into my hands and I am herewith sen[ding him] to the lord of kin[gs, my lord].

SAA 18 177 — Request for Wine

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0039; ABL 0345. Sender: Marduk (of Borsippa). To: Kurigalzu. SAA 18 177; SAAo P237245.

Obverse

A tablet of Marduk to Kurigalzu, his brother. May Bel and Nabû be concerned with the health of my brother. Why do I not see yo[ur] messenger? If I see your messen[g]er before I enter Borsippa, let my brother send one jar of the same wine [that] you drink.

Reverse

(rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 178 — Fragment of a Letter to the Chief Tailor

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0085; ABL 0806. Sender: Marduk (of Borsippa). To: the chief tailor. SAA 18 178; SAAo P237681.

Obverse

[A tablet] of Marduk to the chief tailor, his lord. Good health to my lord! May Bel and Nabû be concerned with the health of my lord. Just as your name [...] [...] the king of the lands (Rest destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 179 — Gold for a Sun-Disc

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05198; CT 54 075. Sender: [Marduk (of Borsippa)]. SAA 18 179; SAAo P238380.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] house [...]. Because of this word which I said, the gods of the king, my lord, [...] a written report of his words until now [...] I have been living in the presence of the king, my lord [...] I am in [...] [...] Ass[yr]ia [...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...], but I said: "Perhaps the king, my lord, is testing me in [this] way; perha[p]s [...] that I weighed gold and gave it for a sun-disc." He has held me for six days, and refuses to let me go. Since [...] ... donkey ... [...] ... six oxen (Rest destroyed or two broken for translation)

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Edge

[3 lines of the Edge are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 180 — Letter Referring to Bel-eṭir of Bit-Iba

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0087; ABL 0718. Sender: Nabu-balassu-iqbi. SAA 18 180; SAAo P237682.

Obverse

[T]o the king, my lord: your [servant], Nabû-balassu-iqbi. Good health to the king, my lord! May [Nabû and] Marduk bless the king, my lord. [No]w [I pra]y every day to the great gods of [heav]en and earth for the life, [hap]piness and good health of the king, my lord, [and] for the overthrow of the [enemy] of the king, my lord. Concerning the [... whom the king], my lord, wrote [about], [when Ah]hešaya, serva[nt o]f the [..., mob]ilised all the [peopl]e of the land [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] sent bac[k ...] [...] that [let]ter they detained him [...] He wrote a letter and [sen]t it to the cripple, saying: "Ever since [...] until now, [to the point of de]ath, was it not me who revealed [...] things to you? [No]w I am fleeing to Assyria. [Wh]en I have gone away, the king of Assyria [will ...] Bel-eṭir of (Bit-)Ibâ [......]."

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Edge

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 181 — Petitioning the King

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00031; ABL 0716. Sender: Nabu-balassu-iqbi. SAA 18 181; SAAo P237765.

Obverse

To the king, my lord: your servant, Nabû-balassu-iqbi. May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! May Nabû, lord of the stylus, your god, make your reign as long-lasting as heaven and earth. Why is it that I have more than once petitioned the king, my lord, but nobody has questioned me, as if the name of the land of Akkad were not good in the eyes of the king, my lord, and as if I had sinned against the king, my lord? I have committed no crime against the king, my lord. Before the hostilities (began), I came and invoked the right to appeal to the king about Arrabu, saying, "I have a matter relevant to the palace." He did not fear (the king) but took away my property, (and) having arrested me, put me in custody. And now, when before all the people I have come and grasped the feet of the king, my lord, this very day I am humiliating myself unto death. The multitudes who are dead are at peace! Since last year nobody gives me food to eat. Hunger and thirst have befallen me. I go and drink water from a well; I wash my feet (there); and I go up to keep the watch of the king, my lord. Earlier on I wrote on a writing board which I sent king, my lord: "There are men hostile to me here. If they block my access to the king, and if they say evil words about me before the king, the king will kill me."

Reverse

There are two men who have taken gold against my life. They plot every day to kill and destroy me. If they have succeeded in making evil words about me reach the king, my lord, then the king, my lord, should know (this): Šarru-lu-dari has done two things that are untoward to the king, my lord. There is a royal edict, "Nobody may administer booty from the land of Akkad without my permission." He (and) the daughter of Babilayu, a member of the Reʾû family, have sinned more than all the lands against the king, my lord. I wrote (about him), but when he returned a field (of mine), he gave it to him(self). The king appointed a vizier and a chief judge in the land, saying: "Render true and just judgements in my land." One year [befor]e Šarru-lu-dari [was app]ointed as mayor, the chief judge decided my case. He requisitioned the people of my paternal estate as stolen property and gave them to me. When Šarru-lu-dari came, he overturned the judgement concerning me. Now my retainers serve an idle man, and I am dying of thirst. I argue with him, but he hurls against me twenty or thirty misdeeds which I have neither seen, nor heard, nor known from this household, (and) which he then repeats in arguing with me in the assembly of the servants of the [ki]ng, my lord. You, lord of kings, are Marduk1 whose fury is the Deluge (and) whose glance is a merciful father. Let them give (me) my property, as the chief judge decided, and the property of my paternal estate, so that I may serve the king there.

[3 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Right Edge

[1 line of the Right Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 182 — Petitioning the King Again

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0072; ABL 0717. Sender: Nabu-balassu-iqbi. SAA 18 182; SAAo P237664.

Obverse

[To] the king of the lands, my lord: [yo]ur [servant], Nabû-balassu-iqbi. May [Aššur], Šamaš, Marduk, and Nabû, lord of the sty[l]us, ordain [...] of the king, m[y] lord, [... of] your palace, [fe]ar of your lordship, [and the wel]l-being of the seed of the king, my lord, [for] everlasting [day]s. [From] the very beginning I have been a dog who loves [the house of] his [lord]. [...] with the viziers [...] the king [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] the king, my lord [...] May the king, my lord, send me fo[r oa]th and testimony with these men; or may the king do as he finds best. (rest uninscribed)

SAA 18 183 — Deserters from Dilbat

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01249; ABL 0326. Sender: Aplaya (of Dilbat). SAA 18 183; SAAo P238016.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, my lord: your servant, Aplaya. I pray every day to Uraš and Belet-ekalli for the long life, happiness, and goo[d] he[al]th of the strong king of the universe, my lord. The sons of Bel-iddin, the sons of an enemy and troublemaker, whom I arrested on the road to Babylon and sent [t]o the king, my lord, and who told the king, my lord: "We are deserters" — their misdeeds towards the king, my lord, are extremely many. Šulâ, the commandant of Dilbat whom Šamaš-šumu-ukin appointed, [i]s their sister's [s]on. All the Dilbatians who are deserting and [...], are [...]. [......] behin[d them] [......] their [s]ons [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) I am a [f]riend. When Šamaš-šumu-ukin set out for Kar-Nergal against the camp of the king, my lord, at that time I was in the king's camp. When Zababa-eriba set out with Šamaš-šumu-ukin, he killed Remanni-ilu, the recruitment officer, and took his clothes. And after he had departed and deserted from Babylon, he kept saying in the camp: "The headgear which is on my head is that of Remanni-ilu, the recruitment officer." The headgear which was on his head and which was taken to the king, my lord, is (indeed) that of Remanni-ilu, the recruitment officer. These men are not friends; they are enemies. If in these words I have written anything incorrect to the kin[g, m]y [lo]rd, may I die for it.

Right Edge

The king should write to his servants that they should cut off the road between Babylon and Borsippa.

[1 line of the Right Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 184 — Suppressing Information

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0162; ABL 0764. Sender: Aplaya (of Dilbat). SAA 18 184; SAAo P237282.

Obverse

[T]o the king of the lands, [my lord]: your [ser]vant, Aplaya. [I pray] every day to Uraš [and Belet-ekalli] for a life of distant days, ha[ppiness and good health, and the ov]erthrow of the land [of the enemy of the king of the lands, my lord]. (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) When [... r]eleased [the ...s of ...]-ibni [...], one man from among them [...; ...] are fle[eing] to Elam. [Afraid that] it might turn into my fault, [I ......]. Perhaps the king, my lord, will say: "Why [...] did you not tell me?" W[hen I heard that] the king, my lord, was angry, [I became afraid and] did not tell it, thinking, "Now [...] he will kill me."

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 185 — Trouble with People in the Marshes

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00615; ABL 0258. Sender: Nabu-ušallim (of Bit-Dakkuri). SAA 18 185; SAAo P237838.

Obverse

To the king of kings, my lord: your servant, Nabû-ušallim. May Aššur, Šamaš, and Marduk be concerned with the health of the king, my lord. There are people in the marshes called marsh dwellers. In Šamaš-ibni's time, thirty of their families fled and settled in Bit-Amukani. Together with their brothers they refuse to come close to us. They are the ones who four times last year called in the enemy against us.

Reverse

If it is agreeable to the king, my lord, let the king write to Kudurru of Bit-Amukani, so that he may lead them away and settle them where the king, my lord, likes. As long as they live in Bit-Amukani, their brothers will not be subdued and they will not do the work of the king, my lord.

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 186 — Letter Mentioning Arrapheans and Šamaš-šumu-ukin

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0260; ABL 0750. Sender: Nabu-ušallim (of Bit-Dakkuri). SAA 18 186; SAAo P237328.

Obverse

[T]o the king of kings, my lord: your [servan]t, Nabû-ušallim. [May] Ašš[ur, Šamaš, and Mardu]k [be concerned wit]h the health of the king, [my lord]. The Arr[apheans], [...] of Eriba-Ad[ad ...] [Šama]š-šumu-uki[n ...] [...] to [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [in] S[ivan (III) ...] [whe]n he spoke up and [...], he said: "Th[ey] are kil[ling] my women [...] in your houses." We have dispatched [x] o[x]en (and) two sheep to [them], but the magnate[s] do [no]t comply; they are treating us as [i]n the days of Nabû-ušezib (and) [N]adinu.

Right Edge

[The kin]g, my lord, should know (this).

SAA 18 187 — Loyalty to Assyria since Tiglath-pileser

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1848-07-20, 0119; ABL 1365. Sender: [...-šarr]a-ibni. To: [the lord? of ki]ngs. Later: assigned to the reign of Sîn-šarru-iškun (ca. 626–612 BC), not Ashurbanipal. SAA 18 187; SAAo P236871.

Obverse

[To the lord of ki]ngs, my lord: [your servant, ...-šarr]a-ibni. I pray every day to Uraš [and Belet-ekalli for] the lengthening of [the lif]e [of the kin]g, my lord, [by many] days, (and for) the [consolidation of the fou]ndation of (his) royal throne [...]. E[ver since the reign of Tiglath]-pileser (III), king of A[ssyria], my [fathers have kep]t the watch of the kings of [Assyria]. Bel-šuma-iškun, [my grand]father, [whom S]ennacherib (and) your father [appointed, provid]ed the [...]s for the repairs. [He k]ept [the watch of] Sennacherib and E[sarhaddon and se]t up a fine house(hold) i[n ...]. During the revolt of [Šamaš-šumu-ukin, as Assurbani]pal remem[bered] tho[se] favours [which my grandfather] had rendered, [he ...ed] all his [...s], troop[s ...] [...] ... which Assurbanipal [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] the chief eunuc[h ...] [...] the king wrote to m[e, saying]: "I have thrown [...]s to my cities and [... ...]." The king, my lord, s[aid to me: "The god]s have made me successful [...] [...] I have made your sons com[e ...] [Whatever] you do [in] my [na]me, [...] evil [...] [...] is important." He (further) said: "[Should there be] [hun]ger for food [...], I [will ...]." [... the p]refects of Puq[udu ...] [...] houses and fi[elds ...] [...] garments, my colleag[ue ...] [...] ... and [...] [... ca]me, to/for al[l ...] [...] I [...] with hi[m ...] [... kin]g of Assyria, as many as t[o ...] [...] your gods very mu[ch ...] [...] I se[e] the face of the king, my lord, [...] [...] (in) Shebat (XI), when I cam[e and ...] [...] was not lyi[ng] in bed [...]

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Right Edge

I am dying [of hunger] for food and of th[irst for wate]r. [I am waiting] for the guide[s ...]. May [the people] hear [...]! The whole city [...] [...] ... whom Pan-[...] [...] in reverence [...]

SAA 18 188 — Archers in Borsippa

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05442b; CT 54 108. SAA 18 188; SAAo P238452.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) May [Nabû and Marduk] bles[s the king, our lord. ......] with [......] [whom] the king [sent] to Borsi[ppa ......] all the archers [......] when they went out [......] of Borsippa again[st ......] We did not [...] the Borsippeans [......] We did [n]ot speak [......] [...] is telling me: "[......] the Borsippeans should tak[e ......] "A sealed document [......] to the Borsippeans [......] Babylon i[n ......] the forces who [......] mess[enger ......] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...] the cam[p ......] they know; Babylon [......] [Nabû-er]iba, son of Nabû-dam[iq ......] [...] Elam [......] [...] and Nabû [......] [...] the king who [...] to [...] is known [to] anybody [......] [... ha]ve [se]nt and [......] [...] nobody should [......] [...] in the territory [......] [...] you will set u[p a c]amp [......] and happily to [......] [int]o your hands he sh[ould ......] and the remainder [......] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 189 — Fragment Referring to Military Camp at Borsippa

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Sm 2164; CT 54 434. SAA 18 189; SAAo P240445.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [...] will [g]o out and [...] [...] ... dug. The exorcist [...]

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Bottom Edge

[H]ow could they become devoted [t]o the king, my lord?

Reverse

[Sho]uld the king, my lord, say: "The camp which in [...] [...] Borsippa [...] [...] quickly [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 190 — Fragment Concerning Nippur and Borsippa

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Sm 1378; CT 54 412. SAA 18 190; SAAo P240376.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) I have bles[sed the king, m]y [lord, ...]. All the [Larak]ians, Nippurians, [and Bors]ippeans who [...] [...] the territory in [...], have [...] my [...] [...] to the kin[g, my lord]. [May Bel and N]abû, [your] gods, [give long day]s of g[ood health and happines]s to [the king, my lord]. (Break) [......] wit[h ...] [...... te]rritory [...] [......] the brothers [...] [who] wen[t] from Nippur [to the king], my [lor]d, [...] (Rest destroyed)

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 191 — Fragment Referring to Chariots, Borsippa and Marad

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Sm 0620; CT 54 402. SAA 18 191; SAAo P240292.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [... c]hariots [...] [the Borsi]ppea[ns ...] [the Mara]dians [...] [...] ... [...] [...] i[n ...] (Break)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [...]-iddin [...] [...] Na[bû ...] (Rest destroyed)

Chapter Thirteen. Letters from Nippur

SAA 18 192–204. 13 texts.

SAA 18 192 — He Threatened to Cut Off my Head

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01107; ABL 0238. Sender: Illil-bani. SAA 18 192; SAAo P237980.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, my lord: your serv[a]nt, Illil-bani. May Enlil, Ninurta, and Nusku bless the king of the lands, my lord. Concerning the news of Belšunu of Bit-Dakkuri about which the k[i]ng, my lord, wrote to me, he has not treated correctly the messenger whom I sent to him and has not spoken to him. I have heard that he has arrested him. Šuma-iddin, whom the king, my lord, sent as commandant to Marad, is now before me in Nippur. Since last year many letters (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) and ... [......] instead of the[m ......] They do their work (and) [will deliver it to the king]. The king, my lord, should [kno]w (this). I am the king my lord's servant and watchman here. There are many foreign language speakers in Nippur under the aegis of the king, my lord. I implement the king's orders and speak to them. When I spoke to Aššur-belu-taqqin, the prefect appointed in Nippur to pass on sealed documents and royal messengers, about the sealed documents and the royal servants who come and stay for three or four days in Nippur and whom he refuses to pass on —

Right Edge

when I spoke to him about them, [sayin]g: "The people of Nippur and the whole country have [d]is[c]redited me," he [raised] his hand against me [... and sa]id: "I will cut off your head and [hang it] by the neck [of ...]."

SAA 18 193 — Report about Elam

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01196; ABL 0863. Sender: [Illil]-ba[ni]. SAA 18 193; SAAo P238001.

Obverse

To the ki[ng of the lands, my lord]: yo[ur] servant, [Illil]-ba[ni]. May Enlil, [Ninurta, and] Nu[sku] bles[s] the king of the land[s, m]y [lord]. The report on Elam which I sent t[o the king, my lord, is] reliabl[e] information. Tammaritu, [king of Elam], who withdrew from the land of Ar[aši ...] when it revolted [against him] of Ša-N[abû-šû ...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [they] have reac[hed ......] have looked for [...] power (and) domin[ion ...] to the king, m[y] lord, [...] Handiya of [...], the prefect who wen[t down] with [NN] to the Sealand, was held back [there and (later) deported] to Ela[m, has] now [come back] from Elam and [given me] the news of the land of Ha[...]. Now then I am sending h[im] to the king, [my] lo[rd].

[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 194 — The Outlet Canals of Nippur

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05585; ABL 0239. Sender: Illil-ban[i]. SAA 18 194; SAAo P238496.

Obverse

[T]o the king of the lands, m[y] lord: your servant, Illil-ban[i]. May Enlil, Ninurta, and Nusk[u] bless the king of the lands, my lord. Con[ce]rning the men of the king, my lord, [...] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [who bef]or[e ...] c[ame t]o Nippur and was told to [...], has [...] in the outlet canals of Ni[ppur] and [...] your gods. I am now s[ending him] to the king, [my] lo[rd], in the hands of [...]. (Break)

Right Edge

[... who] fle[d ...] [... t]o Bit-Yarî

Edge

[......] there [...]

SAA 18 195 — Fragment of a Letter from Illil-bani

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 14278; ABL 1465. Sender: Illil-bani. SAA 18 195; SAAo P239258.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, m[y] lord: your servant, Illil-bani. [May] Enlil, Ninurta, and [Nusku bless] the king of the lands, my lord! [May] the [g]ods of Ekur and Nipp[ur and] the great [g]ods of he[aven and earth grant the king of the lands, my lord, a life of] l[ong d]a[y]s. (Rest destroyed)

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 196 — Keeping Watch on the Euphrates

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 05588 + K 05619 + K 07475 + K 15718; CT 54 141. Sender: [Illil-bani]. SAA 18 196; SAAo P238498.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) the cit[y ...] the city Kar-[...] th[ey] have sho[wn ...] [Perhaps the king] will ask, "Where are ...?" From the[r]e is half a shekel of territory (ca. 1 km) until the magnates. The second watch is from Dume-il to Šadirtu, a league (and) half a shekel of territory (ca. 11 km), pasture-land of the Euphrates. I keep telling Belšunu, "Give m[e] troops and assi[gn] them to m[y] watch!" [...] words [...] fifty m[en ...] to [...]

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

I sa[i]d: "[...] in [...] Gi[ve m]e [... an]d [...]!" H[e does] not [comply but] says: "These [men] are [...]." H[is] family (and) [broth]ers live in Babylon (and) Borsi[pp]a. They refuse to leave (and) are waiting for his command. The straw and [...] of the prefect of the [...]s [are] in Rahiq[u]. Straw fr[om ...] to the camp [...] his record [...] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 197 — The Territory is too Big for us to Guard

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01167 + 1881-02-04, 0468; ABL 0617+. Sender: Illil-b[ani], Aššur-belu-taqqin, Ni[ppurians?]. SAA 18 197; SAAo P237046.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, o[ur] lord: your servants, Illil-b[ani], Aššur-belu-taqqin, and the people of N[ippur]. May [Enli]l and Mulliltu, Ninurta and [Nusku] bl[ess the king] of the lands, our lord. [As to what the king, o]ur [lord], w[rote to us]: "[...] to [...]!" — The king, ou[r] lord, [knows] whether we have ever left our watch or been negligent in our watch since the king, our lord, appointed u[s] to [our] watc[h]. The territory before us is extensive. Five stages of territory square, forty length units, is the stretch of a watch for cavalry with archers. We have several times written to the house of our lords about the horses. Now we are keeping watch with archers (only) and praying to the gods of the king, our lord.

Reverse

Concerning Nabû-qati-ṣabat and Šamaš-[... about whom the king], our [lo]rd, wrote to u[s]: "[...] Šarragitu in ... [...] "[...]why have th[ey] cros[sed ...]?" [...] o[ur w]atch [...] [...... about whom the king], our [lord], sa[id]: "Has he [no]t co[me] to Nippur?" The gods of the king (are) on our faces:1 up to now h[e] has not been se[en] in o[ur] territory (or) in our watch, and we have not he[ard] anything of him.

Right Edge

Now then we are keeping the watch which the king, o[ur] lord, assigned to u[s], and [we are praying to] the gods [of the king, our lord].

SAA 18 198 — Keeping the King’s Watch

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1880-07-19, 0035; CT 54 454. Sender: [Illil-bani]. SAA 18 198; SAAo P236911.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) the king, my lord, [...] I have not been remiss, up till [now]. Now then I have stationed [...]s upon [...]. We are praying to [the god]s of the king, my lord. [However], this territory [wher]e we are keeping watch, its [...] is very extensive indeed. [The king], my lord, knows it. [Con]cerning the [m]an who [apppealed] to the king, the son of Ina-tešî-eṭir [who f]led, [about whom the king], my [lo]rd, wrote to me, [saying]: "Someone who knows him should identify him [...]," — his name is [...]-Bel.

[3 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(Rest destroyed)

SAA 18 199 — The King’s Troops Should Stay in Nippur

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 01184 + K 07467; CT 54 015. Sender: Illil-bani, Nippurians, nešakku-priests, temple-enterers. SAA 18 199; SAAo P237999.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, our lord: your servant, Illil-bani, and your servants, the Nippurians, nešakku-priests and 'temple-enterers,' young and old. May Enlil, Ninurta, and Nusku bless the king of the lands, our lord. The people of the land, all those in our ..., because the king and [yo]ur gods were angry with them, have lifted their heads from the [... of] the king, our lord, and have said things to the king's servants. Everything that the Arameans and the Chaldeans keep writing to the king, our lord, and everything they are saying to the king's servants — not a word of it is true. They have made peace with the enemy. Half of what they say is directed her[e] and the rest of what they say, their whole heart, is directed to [...]. Before the flooding of the river [......] (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) thi[s ......] our brothers [......] they come out [......] their hearts [......] they know [...], and the king [......] But we are few and are no match for a[ll ...]. [May] the king, o[ur] lord, [...]. The f[orces] should [s]t[ay] with us, [so tha]t we can guard Nippur and deliver it to the kin[g]. But even i[f the fo]rces do [not] stand gu[ard] with us in Nippur, the king must not leave u[s] to the hands of the enemy [...]. May the messenger of the king, o[ur] lord, [...] take [our hand], so that we [together with ...] may serve the king, our lord, in the cities of the land of A[kkad]. [The ... must not] say: "Why did the servant[s of the king of Assyria] send [......]?" Those who in [your] grandfa[ther]'s time [......]

Right Edge

until Aššur, Enl[il and Ninurta ... the king], our lord [......]

SAA 18 200 — Report on Illil-bani and Archers of Nippur

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00672; ABL 0797. Sender: Ninurta-aha-iddin. SAA 18 200; SAAo P237844.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, my lord: your servant, Ninurta-aha-iddin. May Enlil, Mulliltu, Ninurta, and Nusku bless the king of the lands, my lord! May the gods of Ekur and Nippur and the great gods who live in heaven and earth grant the king of the lands, my lord, a life of long days, the satisfaction of a ripe old age, a just sceptre, (and) the shepherding of mankind; and may they give firm positive answers to the king, my lord, and endow the king, my lord, with the direction and care of all lands. All is very well with the watch over Ekur, the temples of the king, and Nippur. Illil-bani, the king's servant, and all the archers of Nippur with him a[re] on watch where the king assigned him. And to his rear I kee[p gu]ard for the king, my lord, in the city and the open country. [As to what the king], my lord, wrote to me: "Wh[y] have you not dispatched [an answer to the seal]ed documents that I have [more than on]ce sent you?"

Reverse

(Break) [...] I have dispat[ch]ed to the k[ing], my [lo]rd. [......] and I am alive [...] and the garrison [...] [...] they have counted and [...] [... ...] the king, my lord. May Aššur, Enlil, and Ninurta [let] your armed forces [se]e your [...]; may they st[rengt]hen your weapons and [mak]e you [vic]torious [over] your enemies, because the king, my lord, has revived the heart of his servant.

[10 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 201 — Report on the Paternal House of Belšunu

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Rm 0060; ABL 1074. Sender: šan[dabakku (of Nippur)]. SAA 18 201; SAAo P240130.

Obverse

To the king, my lord: your servant, the šan[dabakku]. May Enlil, Ninurta, and Nusk[u] bless the king, my lord. (Say) thus to the king, my lord: All is well with the temple(s) of the king, [my] lo[rd]. Ekur and Nippur are under very strong guard. The king, my lord, can be happy. This clan of the paternal house of Belšunu — they, their brothers, their sons (and) their sisters' [son]s — their heart [is ...] and full of rebellion [...] of their hearts [...] in their hearts (Break)

Reverse

(beginning broken away) [......] p[la]ce utensils for [...] in Nippur, [s]aying: "You will send the utensils from Nippur and will go [...] there, so we shall get confident! Give our sun-disc! W[e ...] our tax." Having heard what they had to say, I am herewith writing [to the king], my lord. May the king, m[y] lor[d], d[o] as he finds best. Perhaps the nešak[ku]-priest[s] or the leaders of Ni[ppur will write to the king, my lord] concerning the sh[a]re[s], or the fields or something el[se ......]. The king, my lord, should not divide the land but [......].

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Edge

[I am] an autochthonous servant of the king, [my lord, who is] telling their [...] to the king, my lord.

SAA 18 202 — Elam Prepared to Invade Chaldea

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 00638; ABL 0328. Sender: šandabakku (of Nippur). SAA 18 202; SAAo P237839.

Obverse

To the king of the lands, my lord: your servant, the šandabakku. May Enlil, Ninurta, and Nusku bless the king of the lands, my lord! May Aššur, Enlil, Šamaš, and Marduk grant the king of the universe, my lord, a life of long days, happiness, good health, and an enduring reign and may they ordain a sound foundation of the royal throne of the king, my lord, for far-off days. Last year after the palace supervisor and the magnates went down to Chaldea, the brothers of the king of Elam kept pushing and inciting the king, their brother: "Let's muster a camp and cross over to Chaldea and remove Chaldea from Assyria's control." The king of Elam did not do wrong; he did not listen to them and did not [c]omply, but said, "I will not disregard the treaty." He [r]estrained them, (and) up to now he has not [...] but has stayed awake. They have been wa[iting for] their brother (to yield), however. Now I have heard that [h]e has [re]lented in [their] hands (and) listened to them, (and) has gone (and) given orders to the whole of Elam in a[ccordance with] their command. They have prepared their travel provisions [...]

Bottom Edge

(Break)

Reverse

[...... he see]ks [... Bit]-Imbî [......] his land for flour [... have prep]ared [...] and [...ed] travel provisions. [... and] his younger [broth]er [have go]ne to the people/man of Ham [...] for this Nisan (I). [Having] heard (about it), [I am herewith writing] to the king, my lord. The [k]ing, my lord, should know (this). [...]-Aššur, son of Nabû-ahu-uṣur, [the ...] who came into Nippur, has appropriated [... for] him[s]elf. Having put his hand to it, he is arresting, flogging, and selling free citizens of Nippur. When I spoke to him, he belittled me in the assembly of my country (and) made me look stupid before the people of my country. He keeps behaving wrongfully in the city, (and) is greatly compromising the city. May the king, my lord, send (somebody) to inspect his city and commission him to tell the son of Nabû-ahu-uṣur, [his] arm[s] being full, to keep ... his hands off Nippur.

[2 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

SAA 18 203 — A Governor of Nippur Arrested

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 14130; CT 54 263. SAA 18 203; SAAo P239248.

Obverse

(Beginning destroyed) [If] it is agreeable [t]o him, [......] [... dea]th fro[m ...] [...] are in his presence [...] [Wh]en [Nab]û-šuma-ereš, the ša[ndabakku, ...] (pleadingly) lifted [his hands towards the dele]gate at the gate of D[N], th[ey] arres[ted him]. [...] the palace of the king in [...] (Rest destroyed)

[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Reverse

(completely broken away)

SAA 18 204 — Suitable Rites

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1882-05-22, 0101; ABL 1215. SAA 18 204; SAAo P237177.

Obverse

[To the king of the l]ands, [my lord: your servant, NN]. May En[l]il, Ninur[ta, and Nusku] bless [the king of the lands, my lord! May] the god[s of Ekur and Nippur and the great gods] of heaven and earth [grant] the king of the universe, [my] l[ord, a life of long days, ...], an enduring reign, [......]. [...] years [......] [a]ll to [......] [of] this Nisan (I) [......] When [......] Babylon, they rejoiced and [......] like criminals [......] in the streets of Babylo[n ......] When [......] to Esaggil [...] th[ey] ... ab[o]ut me [......], saying: "Weeping [......] with Esaggil [......] is sprinkled [......] wh[en] help [......] who [......] [...... Bab]ylon (Break)

[5 lines of the Obverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Bottom Edge

you should not [... a]bout them. [W]hen they spoke [t]o the king of Babylon, my lord, [...] bla[sphemy in] their mouths [...]

Reverse

[...] have we been treated [like th]is [...] [...] of Nippur which [...] [NN], a scholar of the Inner Cit[y] (and) of ... is in the presence of the king, my lord. The king should question him. (Only) [rites that] are written down in scripture are our rit[e]s. They have been performed by our forefathers, and they meet the needs of the ki[ng]. (There are) a hundred, (nay,) a thousand (rites) which, as far as I am concerned, would be suitable for the purification of the kings, my lords. But, because they are not our rites, they are not recorded in scripture. Why do these men hatefully misadvise the king, my lord, and (why) do they have this attitude towards us? The king should establish these three [......] an enemy [......] the kings, [your] fathers [......] he laboured. [......] in the hands [...] he did not listen to th[em ......] their hands [......] Now [if] it is agreeable [to the king, my lord, .......] the ki[ng ......] (Rest destroyed)

Colophon

Source and license. This edition reproduces the English translation of the State Archives of Assyria online (SAAo, oracc.org/saao/saa18/), the digital edition of Frances Reynolds, The Babylonian Correspondence of Esarhaddon and Letters to Assurbanipal and Sin-šarru-iškun from Northern and Central Babylonia (State Archives of Assyria 18; Helsinki, 2003; Robert M. Whiting, Managing Editor), lemmatised by Mikko Luukko (2015–16) as part of the research programme of the Alexander von Humboldt Chair in the Ancient History of the Near and Middle East at LMU Munich (Karen Radner, Humboldt Professorship 2015), fetched 2026-08-08. Simo Parpola supplemented Reynolds's original manuscript with 47 further texts and carried out the volume's overall editorial work. SAAo's own per-text credit line states the annotated edition is "released under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license 3.0"; the project's own machine-readable catalogue and metadata files carry the further, separate statement "This data is released under the CC0 license" (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). Both statements are recorded here; this edition credits SAAo, Frances Reynolds, Simo Parpola, and Mikko Luukko regardless of which license term governs a given file, per academic courtesy and the Good Work Library's own attribution practice.

What this edition is. The English text above is SAAo's own published translation of all 204 catalogue entries edited in Reynolds's Babylonian Correspondence, reproduced complete and verbatim from the project's HTML reading editions and reformatted from an interlinear line-by-line display into continuous reading prose. The thirteen-chapter division follows the print edition's own chapters exactly — grouped geographically by findspot and correspondence, in the two reign-groups the print edition itself uses — and each tablet's obverse, reverse, and edges are marked where the source itself marks them. No word has been altered, paraphrased, or supplied by this library. Brackets, ellipses, and parenthetical markers such as "(?)" and "(!)" are SAAo's own, recording damaged, restored, or uncertain cuneiform. 314 lines across 133 of the 204 texts are too damaged for SAAo itself to have published a translation; each such gap is marked in place rather than filled. A number of standalone editorial notes in this volume's pagers — describing a line as broken away, uninscribed, or otherwise physically absent (136 such notes across the corpus) — are recorded by SAAo in a separate descriptive field rather than inside the translation itself; those notes are reproduced here, in parentheses, at the point in the text where SAAo places them, using SAAo's own wording. Two letters, SAA 18 163 and SAA 18 187, are noted in place as later than the rest of their chapter: both are now dated to the reign of Sîn-šarru-iškun rather than Assurbanipal, following SAAo's own catalogue.

Composite identification. Each tablet above is given by its SAA 18 catalogue number, its British Museum registration or accession number, its citation in the earlier Assyriological literature — chiefly Robert Francis Harper's Assyrian and Babylonian Letters (cited by SAAo as "ABL") and volume 54 of Cuneiform Texts from Babylonian Tablets... in the British Museum (cited as "CT 54") — where SAAo notes one, and its SAAo text ID (a CDLI P-number, or an ORACC X-number where no CDLI number was assigned), under which the full transliteration and morphological analysis can be studied further at SAAo's own site. Where a letter's sender or recipient was someone other than the Assyrian king in the ordinary form of address, that name or title is given as SAAo's own catalogue records it.

Prepared for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted research, transcription, and editorial work.

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