Cuneiform Texts in the Collection of the Jean and Alexander Heard Divinity Library, Vanderbilt University

CDLJ 2022:2

Cuneiform Digital Library Journal (ISSN: 1540-8779)

Published on 2022-10-18

© The Authors

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License except when noted otherwise and in the case of artifact images which follow the CDLI terms of use.

Andrea Seri

aseri@unc.edu.ar

Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

§1. Introduction[1]

§1.1 The Vanderbilt Divinity Library cuneiform texts were originally assembled by James H. Stevenson (1860-1919). In 1989, his family donated the collection to Vanderbilt University along with Stevenson’s old notes, small labels, and the medicine boxes where he had kept the objects.[2] A Biblical scholar and Assyriologist, Stevenson served as a Faculty member at the Vanderbilt Biblical Department/School of Religion, now the Divinity School, beginning in 1893 and in 1898 he was appointed Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Exegesis. He spent several summers in London working on cuneiform tablets in the British Museum and, as a result of that research, he published his Assyrian and Babylonian Contracts with Aramaic Reference Notes (1902). In 1900, Stevenson took a leave of absence in Europe, most likely to work at Near Eastern collections. Although it is possible that he acquired at least part of his cuneiform collection in Europe, it is uncertain exactly where and when the items were obtained.

§1.2. The texts edited here consists of 23 clay tablets and 1 clay cone. The time range spans from Amar-Suen’s 2nd regnal year to the 6th year of Cyrus. In this edition, texts are presented in chronological order. There are 10 Ur III archival administrative documents of various contents (nos. 1-10). Two half-tablets written on similar clay are broken along the vertical axis and kept in the same box. The lower edge of the first half and the upper edge of the second half seem to have been artificially levelled in modern times to give the impression that both halves belonged to the same tablet. They are, however, two different literary texts: the upper half is a copy of Šulgi’s letter to Aradĝu 1 (CKU 2) and the lower half is a copy of A Praise for Šulgi (Šulgi A) (nos. 11-12). The two copies of the same royal inscription of Sîn-kāšid were written on a tablet and a cone (nos. 13-14). Nine of the records are archival administrative tablets from the Old Babylonian period (nos. 15-23), one of those is a letter from Šamaš-ḫāzir to Bēlšunu (no. 17). The last tablet is a legal procedure issued at Uruk and dated to the reign of Cyrus.

§2.0. Catalogue of VDL cuneiform texts

no. VDL no. Provenance Date Period Description
1 VDL 03 Puzriš-Dagān Amar-Suen 2/x/12 Ur III Administrative: goats transferred
2 VDL 23 Umma Amar-Suen 2/diri/Ø Ur III Administrative: labor record
3 VDL 08 Umma Amar-Suen 3/Ø/Ø Ur III Administrative: tablet basket
4 VDL 04 Umma Amar-Suen 5/Ø/Ø Ur III Administrative: pigs for the palace
5 VDL 05 Puzriš-Dagān Amar-Suen 6/xii/15 Ur III Administrative: receipt of dead goats
6 VDL 11 Umma Šū-Sîn 5/ii/20 Ur III Administrative: messenger text
7 VDL 16 Umma? Šū-Sîn 5/Ø/Ø Ur III Administrative: amounts of beer for festival
8 VDL 02 Umma Šū-Sîn 7/vii/Ø Ur III Administrative: barley, the price for sheep
9 VDL 06 Umma Ø/x /Ø Ur III Administrative: messenger text
10 VDL 01 Umma undated Ur III Administrative: record of half bricks
11 VDL 14A unknown undated Old Babylonian Literary letter from Šulgi to Aradĝu (CKU 2)
12 VDL 14B unknown undated Old Babylonian Literary: Šulgi A (a praise for Šulgi)
13 VDL 19 Uruk undated Old Babylonian Royal inscription: King Sîn-kāšid (tablet)
14 VDL 12 Uruk undated Old Babylonian Royal inscription: King Sîn-kāšid (cone)
15 VDL 15 Kingdom of Larsa Rīm-Sîn 56/x/10 Old Babylonian Administrative: exchange of houses
16 VDL 09 Larsa? Ḫammurabi 35a/xi/11 Old Babylonian Administrative: deposition (tablet + envelope)
17 VDL 17 unknown undated Old Babylonian Letter from Šamaš-ḫāzir to Bēlšunu
18 VDL 07 unknown Sumu-abum? 5?/vi/Ø Old Babylonian Administrative: sale of a field
19 VDL 13 unknown undated Old Babylonian Administrative: memorandum
20 VDL 18 unknown not preserved Old Babylonian Administrative: tabular account
21 VDL 20 unknown not preserved Old Babylonian Administrative: tablet is crumbling.
22 VDL 21 unknown undated Old Babylonian Administrative: Sale of a built plot
23 VDL 22 unknown not preserved Old Babylonian Administrative: fodder for oxen
24 VDL 10 Uruk [Cyrus] 6/[…]/2+ Achaemenid Administrative: legal procedure

 

§3.0. Text Editions[3]

§3.1. VDL 03

Measurements (cm): 2.8 x 2.5
Date: AS 2/x/12 (Ur III)
Provenance: Puzriš-Dagān (Drehem)
Type: Administrative (goats transferred)

Lineart of VDL 03 - P530659
Lineart of VDL 03 - P530659
Obverse    
1. 3(diš) maš2 1-r1Šulgi-ayaĝu
2. u4 1(u) 2(diš)-kam took 3 goats
3. ki ab-ba-sa6-ga-/ta from Abba-saga
4. dšul-gi-a-a-/gu10 on the 12th day.
Reverse    
1. i3-dab5  
2. iti ezem-an-na Month: Festival of Heaven.
3. mu damar-dsuen /lugal-e ur-bi2-/lumki mu-ḫul Year: King Amar-Suen destroyed Urbilum.
Left Edge    
1. 3(diš) 3.

§3.1.1. Note

§3.1.1.1. This tablet was originally kept in box 4 together with 5. VDL 05. Flourishy handwriting note states: “No. 4. Temple receipt for / 3 kids. Date 2350 B.C. / Found at Jokha?”

 

§3.2. VDL 23

Measurements (cm): 3.4 x 3.7
Date: AS 2/diri/Ø (Ur III)
Provenance: Umma
Type: Administrative (labor record)

Lineart of VDL 23 - P530660
Lineart of VDL 23 - P530660
Obverse    
1. 2(u) 8(diš) ⌜guruš u4 1-228 workers for one day
2. 1(diš)-še3 šu-sar šu /gurx-a (for) rolling up cords.
3. lu2-dšara2 Lu-Šara,
4. dumu za-an-za-ni son of Zanzani.
5. ugula ur-dsuen Overseer: Ur-Suen,
Reverse    
1. dumu ur-dba-u2 son of Ur-Bau.
2. iti diri Month: extra.
  erasure  
3. mu ⌜damar-dsuen⌝ /lugal-e ur-bi2-/lum mu-ḫul Year: King Amar-Suen destroyed Urbilum.
Left Edge    
1. kišib3 ⌜nig2-ba-e⌝ Seal of Niĝbae.

§3.2.1. Note

§3.2.1.1. ln. 2. The meaning of šu gurx(ŠE.KIN) is uncertain. The translation offered here is only tentative and is based on the following reasoning. For šu-gur M. Civil (1987: 51-54) gives the meanings 1) “to roll up, to wrap around,” used for reed mats, bandages, cloths, hair, and so forth; 2) “to pick grapes;” and 3) “to wipe/clean the body with bread (in a magical rite).” Furthermore, in his discussion of the readings of KIN, he points out that in cases where šu-KIN = sêru “to rub,” the reading šu-sag11/sig18 is likely (Civil 1994: 169), which has, one is to deduce, a different meaning if read šu gur10(KIN). For the ePSD šu gur and šu gur10(KIN) both mean 1) “to wipe clean,” 2) “to erase,” Akk. kapāru “to peel, strip” (http://psd.museum.upenn.edu/nepsd-frame.html, accessed 04-27-2021). The Database of Neo-Sumerian Texts (http://bdts.filol.csic.es, accessed 04-27-2021) shows six attestations of (šu) gurx-a together with šu-sar, “rope.” These tablets are: (1) Nik. 2 151 (P121834), (2) MVN 21 70 (P120307), (3) Nik. 2 123 (P121806), (4) AnOr 7 369 (P101664), (5) BPOA 6 378 (P210178), and (6) Syracuse 156 (P130707), dated to AS 3/Ø/Ø, AS 7/Ø/Ø, ŠS 4/xi/Ø, ŠS 4/xii/Ø, ŠS 5/x/Ø, and ŠS 6/xi/Ø, respectively. All of them come from Umma. Three of these texts (Nik. 2 123, AnOr 7 369, and BPOA 6 378) mention the mar-sa, a facility where boats were built and restored (see Alivernini 2013, with previous bibliography). Ropes figure among the materials listed for the construction of various types of vessels at the mar-sa (TCL 5 5673; P131744), and the use of rope for boats is documented (see, e.g., Landsberger 1967: 21, Finkel 2014: 161-166, Jiménez 2017: 259). Since in Akkadian the verb for making ropes is patālu, “to twist,” from which pitiltu (šu-sar), “rope,” is derived, one would expect that in Sumerian the verb for making ropes has to convey the idea of a similar action. As far as I know, however, lexical lists do not provide the Sumerian equivalent of patālu. But judging from UTI 4 2365:1-2 (P140384)(16 ½ guruš u4 1-še3 2šu-sar sur-ra) and TCS 42: 1-2 (P131827) (130 guruš u4 1-še3 2šu?-sar sur-ra), it is possible that the verb for making ropes was sur, “to spin, to twist” (Akk. ṭawû). If so, then it would be reasonable to argue that šu gurx is a homophone of šu gur, meaning “to roll up, to wrap around.” Whether šu gurx has the more specific nuance of “to coil” or “to tie with a rope” will have to wait for additional evidence. Thanks are due to M. Molina and G. Rubio for sharing their views on šu gurx and for bibliographical references; they are not to be held responsible for the conclusions reached in this note.

 

§3.3. VDL 08

Measurements (cm): 4.0 x 4.0
Date: AS 3/Ø/Ø (Ur III)
Provenance: Umma
Type: Administrative (tablet basket)

Lineart of VDL 08 - P530661
Lineart of VDL 08 - P530661
Obverse    
1. pisan ⌜dub⌝-[ba] Tablet basket
2. nig2-ka9 [ak ...] 2-r3containing balanced accounts
3. u3 ⌜u8⌝ [...] of [...] and ewes [...].
4. lugal-e2-⌜maḫ-e nu-banda3⌝ / gu4 Lugal-Emaḫe, the estate manager,
5. da-a-ga nu-banda3 gu4 Daaga, the estate manager,
Reverse    
1. u3 da-DU-mu and Da-DU-mu.
2. mu 1(diš)-kam First year.
3. ⌜i3⌝-gal2  
4. mu gu-za den-⌜lil2⌝-/la2 ba-dim2 Year: The throne of Enlil was made.

§3.3.1. Note

§3.3.1.1. Illegible traces of seal impressions on the obverse and lower edge.

 

§3.4. VDL 04

Measurements (cm): 5.2 x 4.1
Date: AS 5/Ø/Ø (Ur III)
Provenance: Umma
Type: Administrative (pigs for the palace)

Lineart of VDL 04 - P530662
Lineart of VDL 04 - P530662
Obverse      
  1. 2(diš) šaḫ2 nita2 2(ban2) 2(diš) sila3-/ta 2 male pigs: 2(ban2) 2 sila3 each.
  2. 4(diš) šaḫ2 nita2 ⌜1⌝(ban2) 6(diš) sila3-/ta 4 male pigs: 1(ban2) 6 sila3 each.
  3. ša3-gal-bi 5(aš) 1(barig) gur Its fodder: 5 gur 1(barig).
  4. šaḫ2 e2-gal-še3 Pigs for the palace.
  5. ⌜giri3⌝ […]-⌜bi⌝ Under the authority of PN.
Reverse      
  1. kaš-de2-a lugal-še3 For the royal banquet.
  2. kišib3 ensi2-ka Seal of the governor.
  3. mu en-unu6-gal / dinanna ba-ḫun Year: En-unu-gal was installed (as priest of) Inana.
Seal Impression      
i. 1. [damar-d]⌜suen⌝ Amar-Suen,
  2. ⌜nita⌝ kal-ga mighty man,
  3. lugal uri5/ki-ma king of Ur,
  4. lugal an-ub-/da limmu2-ba king of the four quarters,
ii. 1. ur-[dli9-si4] Ur-Lisi,
  2. ⌜ensi2⌝ umma⌜ki⌝ the governor of Umma,
  3. arad2-zu (is) your servant.

§3.4.1. Notes

§3.4.1.1. Markings: 6 (written with read pencil on the obverse and reverse).

§3.4.1.2. Later handwriting note states “You remember that Abraham came from Ur / of the Chaldees. / Clay tablet # 6, is / a temple record, / on which the seal / of Bur-Sin, king of / Ur, was pressed in / 2300 BC, 4259 / years ago.” The latter date suggests that this type of handwriting is from 1959.

§3.4.1.3. Seal impressions all over the obverse and reverse. Seal inscription copied from the impression on the reverse.

§3.4.1.4. ln 5: perhaps the PN is to be restored [an-na-ḫi]-⌜li⌝-bi, who is attested in texts from Umma dealing with cattle. In Nik. 2 246 (AS 7) (P121929), he appears in a document bearing the seal of Ur-Lisi.

 

§3.5. VDL 05

Measurements (cm): 2.1 x 1.8
Date: AS 6/xii/15 (Ur III)
Provenance: Puzriš-Dagān (Drehem)
Type: Administrative (dead goats)

Lineart of VDL 05 - P530658
Lineart of VDL 05 - P530658
Obverse    
1. 1(diš) maš2 ga šimaški 1 Šimaškian dairy goat,
2. 2(diš) maš2 ga a-dara4 2 wild-hybrid dairy goats,
3. ba-ug7 u4 1(u) 6(diš)-kam dead on the 16th day.
4. ki tu-⌜ra⌝-am-/dda-⌜gan⌝-ta 4-r2Šulgi-iriĝu received
Reverse    
1. dšul⌝-[gi]-⌜iri⌝-/gu10 from Tūram-Dagān.
2. šu ba-ti  
3. iti še-gur10-ku5 Month: Harvest.
4. mu ša-aš-ru⌜ki⌝ / ba-⌜ḫul⌝ Year: Šašru was destroyed.
Left Edge    
1. 3(diš) 3.

§3.5.1. Notes

§3.5.1.1. Markings: x (written with red pencil on the left and right edges).

§3.5.1.2. Flourishy handwriting note states: “Messenger tablet? or receipt for 1 kid.”

 

§3.6. VDL 11

Measurements (cm): 2.9 x 2.7
Date: ŠS 5/ii/20 (Ur III)
Provenance: Umma
Type: Administrative (messenger text)

Lineart of VDL 11 - P530663
Lineart of VDL 11 - P530663
Obverse    
1. 1(ban2) kaš 1(ban2) ninda 1/3 sila3 i3 1(ban2) of beer, 1(ban2) of bread, 1/3 sila3 of oil
2. šu-dutu (for) Šū-Šamaš.
3. 5(diš) sila3 kaš 3(diš) sila3 ninda 3(diš) gin2 šum2! 2(diš) ⌜gin2⌝ i3 / 2(diš) gin2 naga 5 sila3 of beer, 3 sila3 of bread, 3 gin2 of garlic, 2 gin2 of oil, 2 gin2 of salicornia
4. ⌜x⌝-KA (for) x-KA
5. 5(diš) sila3 kaš 3(diš) sila3 ninda 3(diš) gin2 šum2 2(diš) gin2 i3 / 2(diš) gin2 naga 5 sila3 of beer, 3 sila3 of bread, 3 gin2 of garlic, 2 gin2 of oil, 2 gin2 of salicornia
6. ur-dnanše (for) Ur-Nanše.
7. 3(diš) sila3 kaš 2(diš) sila3 ninda 3(diš) gin2 ⌜šum2⌝ 3(diš) gin2 i3 2(diš) gin2 / naga 3 sila3 of beer, 2 sila3 of bread, 3 gin2 of garlic, 3 gin2 of oil, 2 gin2 of salicornia
8. u-bar (for) Ubar
9. 3(diš) sila3 kaš 2(diš) sila3 ninda 3(diš) gin2 šum2 3(diš) gin2 i3 2(diš) gin2 / naga 3 sila3 of beer, 2 sila3 of bread, 3 gin2 of garlic, 3 gin2 of oil, 2 gin2 of salicornia
10. šu-ti (for) Šuti.
11. 3(diš) sila3 kaš 2(diš) sila3 ninda 3(diš) gin2 šum2 2(diš) gin2 i3 / 2(diš) gin2 naga 3 sila3 of beer, 2 sila3 of bread, 3 gin2 of garlic, 2 gin2 of oil, 2 gin2 of salicornia
12. ḫa-ni (for) Hani.
Reverse    
1. šunigin 2(ban2) 9(diš) sila3 kaš gen Total: 2(ban2) 9 sila3 of medium-quality beer.
2. šunigin 2(ban2) 2(diš) sila3 ninda Total: 2(ban2) 2 sila3 of bread.
3. šunigin 1(u) 5(diš) gin2 šum2 šunigin ½ sila3 5(diš) gin2 i3 Total: 15 gin2 of garlic. Total: ½ sila3 5 gin2 of oil.
4. šunigin 1(u) gin2 naga Total: 10 gin2 of salicornia.
5. u4 2(u)-kam Day: 20th.
6. iti sig4-geši3-⌜šub-ba⌝-ga2-ra Month: Brick placed in the mold.
7. mu us2-sa ⌜bad3 mar-tu⌝ / ba-[du3] Year: after the Amorite wall was built.

§3.6.1. Notes

§3.6.1.1. Markings: 11 (written with red pencil on the lower edge and reverse).

§3.6.1.2. Flourishy handwriting note states: “No. 11 / Found at Drehem / Messenger tablet.” Later handwriting note reads: “No 11 – 4000 BC / A beautiful / little messenger / tablet, with tiny / letters, which / must have been / written by a / very good scribe / undated – untransl.”

 

§3.7. VDL 16

Measurements (cm): 5.5 x 4.4
Date: ŠS 5/Ø/Ø (Ur III)
Provenance: Umma?
Type: Administrative (amounts of beer for festival)

Lineart of VDL 16 - P530664
Lineart of VDL 16 - P530664
Obverse    
1. 3(ban2) kaš sag10 nig2-diri / ezem nesag 3(ban2) of high-quality beer (for) the niĝdiri-offering (for) the Festival of the First Fruits.
2. 1(aš) 4(barig) 3(ban2) gur iti nesag / u4 1(u) 5(diš)-kam 1 gur 4(barig) 3(ban2) (for) the month of the First Fruits, on the 15th day.
3. 4(aš) gur iti dal u4 3(u)-⌜kam⌝ 4 gur (for) the month of Flight on the 30th day.
4. 1(ban2) kaš sag10 nig2-diri ezem dal 1(ban2) of high-quality beer (for) the niĝdiri-offering (for) the Festival of Flight.
5. 4(aš) gur iti šu-numun / u4 3(u)-kam 4 gur (for) the month of Sowing, on the 30th day.
6. 2(ban2) kaš sag10 nig2-diri ezem / ⌜šu-numun⌝ 2(ban2) of high-quality beer (for) the niĝdiri-offering (for) the Festival of Sowing.
Reverse    
1. 1(aš) 4(barig) ⌜3(ban2)⌝ g[ur …] / u4 1(u) 5(diš)-kam 1 gur 4(barig) 3(ban2) […] on the 15th day.
2. 1(aš) 4(barig) 3(ban2) gur iti ⌜e2-iti-6(diš)⌝ / u4 1(u) 5(diš)-kam 1 gur 4(barig) 3(ban2) (for) the month of House Month-Six, on the 15th day,
3. ⌜sa2⌝-du11 dšu-d⌜suen⌝ (for) the sadug-offering of Šū-Sîn.
4. ki ka-⌜guru7-ta⌝ From Ka-guru.
5. kišib3 1(aš)-a ur-mes Seal: one of Ur-mes.
6. mu us2-sa dšu-/⌜dsuen lugal⌝-e Year: after King Šū-Sîn
Upper Edge    
1. ⌜bad3 mar⌝-tu / ⌜mu⌝-du3 built the Amorite wall.

§3.7.1. Note

§3.7.1.1. Marking: 7 (written with black pencil on the right edge).

 

§3.8. VDL 02

Measurements (cm): 3.5 x 3.4
Date: ŠS 7/vii/Ø (Ur III)
Provenance: Umma
Type: Administrative (barely, the price of sheep)

Lineart of VDL 02 - P530665
Lineart of VDL 02 - P530665
Obverse    
1. 9(aš) 1(barig) 3(ban2) še ⌜gur⌝ 9 gur 1(barig) 3(ban2) of barley,
2. sa10 udu the price of sheep.
3. ki ur-dur3-bar-⌜tab⌝-ta From Ur-Urbartab.
4. gaba-ri kišib3 dšara2-/i3-zu Copy of the seal of Šara-izu.
Reverse    
1. iti dli9-si4 Month: Lisi.
2. mu ma-da za-/ab-ša-li/ki ba-ḫul Year: The land of Zabšali was destroyed.

 

§3.9. VDL 06

Measurements (cm): 2.6 x 2.1
Date: Ø/x/Ø (Ur III)
Provenance: Umma
Type: Administrative (messenger text)

Lineart of VDL 06 - P530666
Lineart of VDL 06 - P530666
Obverse    
1. 5(diš) sila3 kaš sag10 3(diš) sila3 ninda 5(diš) ⌜gin2⌝ <šum2> 5 sila3 of high-quality beer, 3 sila3 of bread, 5 gin2 of garlic,
2. 3(diš) gin2 i3 2(diš) gin2 ⌜naga⌝ 3 gin2 of oil, 2 gin2 of salicornia
3. ur-ma-ma (for) Ur-Mama.
4. 5(diš) sila3 kaš sag10 3(diš) sila3 ninda 5(diš) gin2 <šum2> 5 sila3 of high-quality beer, 3 sila3 of bread, 5 gin2 of garlic,
5. 3(diš) gin2 i3 2(diš) gin2 naga 3 gin2 of oil, 2 gin2 of salicornia
6. ur-dnin-sun2-⌜ka⌝ (for) Ur-Ninsun.
7. 3(diš) sila3 kaš 2(diš) sila3 ninda 5(diš) gin2 ⌜šum2 3 sila3 of beer, 2 sila3 of bread, 5 gin2 of garlic,
8. 3(diš) gin2 i3 2(diš) gin2 naga 3 gin2 of oil, 2 gin2 of salicornia
9. i3-li2-MU (for) I3-li2-MU.
Lower Edge    
1. 3(diš) sila3 kaš 2(diš) sila3 ninda 5(diš) gin2 ⌜šum2 3 sila3 of beer, 2 sila3 of bread, 5 gin2 of garlic,
2. 3(diš) gin2 i3 2(diš) gin2 naga 3 gin2 of oil, 2 gin2 of salicornia
Reverse    
1. šeš-šeš-gu10 (for) Šeššešĝu.
2. 3(diš) sila3 kaš 2(diš) sila3 ⌜ninda 5(diš)⌝ gin2 <šum2> 3 sila3 of beer, 2 sila3 of bread, 5 gin2 of garlic,
3. 3(diš) gin2 i3 2(diš) gin2 naga 3 gin2 of oil, 2 gin2 of salicornia
4. ur-dnin-su (for) Ur-Ninsu.
5. 3(diš) sila3 kaš 2(diš) sila3 ninda 5(diš) gin2 <šum2> 3 sila3 of beer, 2 sila3 of bread, 5 gin2 of garlic,
6. 3(diš) gin2 i3 2(diš) gin2 naga 3 gin2 of oil, 2 gin2 of salicornia
7. lu2-KA-ni (for) Lu2-KA-ni.
8. ⌜šunigin⌝ 1(ban2) kaš sag10 1(ban2) 2(diš) sila3 ⌜kaš⌝ Total: 1(ban2) of high-quality beer, 1(ban2) 2 sila3 of beer,
Upper Edge    
1. 1(ban2) 4(diš) sila3 ninda ½(diš) sila3 ⌜šum2 1(ban2) 4 sila3 of bread, ½ sila3 of garlic,
2. 1(u) 8(diš) gin2 i3 1(u) 2(diš) gin2 / naga 18 gin2 of oil, 12 gin2 of salicornia.
Left Edge    
1. u4 1(u) 8(diš)-kam iti ezem Day 18th. Month: Festival
2. dšul-gi of Šulgi.

§3.9.1. Note

§3.9.1.1. Markings: 4 (written with red pencil on the obverse and right edge).

 

§3.10. VDL 01

Measurements (cm): 4.2 x 3.7
Date: undated (Ur III)
Provenance: Umma
Type: Administrative (half-bricks)

Lineart of VDL 01 - P530667
Lineart of VDL 01 - P530667
Obverse    
1. 1(u) 3(diš) sar sig4 ar-/ḫa 13 sar of half-bricks
2. giri3 gu-u2 / šagina under the authority of Gu’u, the šakkanak.
3. 7(diš) sar sig4 ⌜ar⌝-/ḫa 7 sar of half-bricks
4. egir5 gu-u2-ta (brought) after (those from) Gu’u.
Reverse    
1. sig4 ar-ḫa al-u3-⌜ra⌝ (Those are) baked half-bricks.
2. 5(diš) sar sig4 ar-ḫa / nu-u3-ra 5 sar of unbaked half-bricks.
3. ⌜šunigin⌝ 2(u) sar sig4 ar-ḫa / al-u3-ra Total: 20 sar of baked half-bricks.
4. šunigin 5(diš) sar sig4 ⌜ar⌝-ḫa / nu-u3-ra Total: 5 sar of unbaked half-bricks.
5. ša3 gu2-⌜eden⌝-na In Gu-edena
6. u3 muš-bi-/an-na and Mušbiana.

§3.10.1. Notes

§3.10.1.1. Marking: B (written with red pencil on the reverse).

§3.10.1.2. ln. 1: For ar-ḫa, “half-brick,” see Heimpel (2004: 2-3).

§3.10.1.3. ln. 4: I wish to acknowledge one of the anonymous reviewers, who suggested the translation “(bricks brought) after Gu’u was dead” and provided me with the reference to Civil 2011: 232-233.

§3.10.1.4. ln. 5: The phonetic writing al-u3-ra seems to be another, thus far unattested, variant for alura. For “to bake bricks,” see M. Powell (1972: 191, n. 61) and W. Sallaberger (1996 n. 3).

 

§3.11. VDL 14A

Measurements (cm): 6.5 x 5.5
Date: undated (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: unknown
Type: Literary letter (Šulgi to Aradĝu 1)

Lineart of VDL 14A - P530668
Lineart of VDL 14A - P530668
Obverse    
1. arad2-gu10-ra °erasure° u3-na-a-du11 Speak to Aradĝu!
2. dšul-gi ⌜lugal⌝-zu na-⌜ab⌝-be2-⌜a⌝ Thus says Šulgi, your king:
3. ⌜lu2⌝ in-ši-⌜in⌝-kin-na-zu lu2-da-zu nu-⌜u3 The man whom I have sent you is not your subordinate.
4. šu-zu-ta-am3 [a2]-⌜ag2-ga2 šu la⌝-ab-⌜te⌝-ga2-⌜e⌝ He does not take orders from your hand!
5. a-na-aš-am3 ⌜bi2-in⌝-ak-⌜a-ni⌝ ur5 ⌜i3⌝-me-a nu-zu Why is it that you do not know what he is doing?
6. ga2-⌜e nig2 ga2-gin7-nam⌝ ma-da ⌜ge-ne2-de3 You were to secure the territory as if you were me,
7. ⌜ug3⌝ si sa2-e-⌜de3⌝ gu3 teš2-a! ⌜se3⌝-ge-⌜de3 to organize the people, to make them obedient, and
8. ⌜suḫuš⌝ ma-⌜da ge-ne2-x⌝-de3 to secure the foundation of the territory.
9. ⌜iriki ma-da⌝ ba-⌜te-ga2⌝-de3-na-⌜zu umuš⌝-bi ⌜zu-zu-am3 (After) you reached a city of the territory, you were to know its intentions;
10. [lu2 gal]-⌜gal-be2-ne inim⌝-bi ḫe2-en-zu its dignitaries know its command.
11. [a2 kal-ga a2] ⌜nam⌝-ur-sag-⌜gu10-ga2 kur-ra ḫe2-en-/šub⌝ Let my mighty strength, my heroic strength fall upon the land.
12. […] ⌜kur-kur⌝-ra ḫe2-⌜en-šub⌝ Let […] fall upon all the lands.
13. [u18-lu-gu10 kalam]-⌜ma⌝ ḫe2-eb-dul5 Let my storm cover the land. […]
  Rest missing  
Reverse    
1'. [ša3]-⌜zu ša3⌝ [zu2-keš2 ba-ra-na-ga2-ga2] You [will not be so set] against [him].
2'. i3-tuku4-⌜re-en⌝ aga3-us2 nu-⌜zu⌝ You have made yourself important, but you do not know (your) soldiers.
3'. nam-lu2-⌜lu8-ne⌝ u3 nam-ur-sag-gu10-ne / ⌜igi⌝-zu bi2-in-zu2 Your eyes know of his men and my heroism.
4'. ⌜tukum⌝-bi ⌜ama⌝-a-⌜tud⌝-gu10 me-en-za-en If you are my servants,
5'. igi min-na-zu-⌜ne2-zu im⌝-sar-re gu3 ⌜ḫe2-em-ta⌝-/de2-de2-⌜ne2 (when) they read out (my) tablet before the two of you,
6'. inim-teš2-a ⌜ḫe2-eb⌝-sig10-ge you must both obey.
7'. ⌜suḫuš⌝ ma-da ⌜ge-ne2⌝-[de3] Secure the foundations of the territory!

§3.11.1. Notes

§3.11.1.1. Only the upper half of the tablet is preserved. It is split in two halves along the vertical axis. The lower part of the tablet was artificially cut clean and glued to the lower part of a different tablet (12.VDL 14B). This was certainly done in modern times. Both tablets are the same color and were perhaps written by the same hand.

§3.11.1.2. The letter is known as Šulgi to Aradĝu 1 = CKU 2, ll. 1-13 and 27-33. This exemplar is an imgida tablet Type III (see Michalowski 2011: 48, with previous bibliography), which originally contained the whole composition. The letter was recently edited and studied by P. Michalowski (2011: 282), who cites 22 other sources.

§3.11.1.3. ln. 3: VDL 14A is the only manuscript with the variant in-ši-in-kin-na-zu instead of in-ši-gi4-in-na-zu. The corrupt writing lu2-da-zu for lu2-dun-a-zu is also attested in ms Ni 9706 (ISET 2 112). For a score of all previous manuscripts see Michalowski (2011: 284-292).

§3.11.1.4. ln. 6: the second ga2 is possibly written over an erasure.

§3.11.1.5. ln. 8: this line, appears as a variant of line 7 in the following manuscripts: U.17900 (UET 6/2 181), YBC 4185, and YBC 4596, see Michalowski (2011: 285).

§3.11.1.6. ln. 10: lu2-noun+gal-adj.+gal-adj.+bi-pron.+ne-pl. This manuscript seems to miss a line between line 10 and 11 (but see the next note), which corresponds to line 10 of Michalowski’s (2011: 275) composite text, namely, za-pa-ag2-gu10 kur-kur ḫe2-eb-si.

§3.11.1.7. ln. 11: ⌜-gu10-ga2⌝ instead of -ga2-gu10. It is not unlikely that this line is the one missing between line 10 and 11, with the verb šub instead of the verb si.

§3.11.1.8. ln. 2’: all extant manuscripts have i3-gur4-re-en; gur4 meaning “to be thick,” “to be/feel big.” In the present tablet, the verb is written with the sign bul/tuku4. I interpret it as tuku4.r.e.en, where /tukur/ = kabtum “important.” For tukur = ka-ab-tum, see MLS 09, 124-137 viii 28a:507; for tu-kur lagab = ka-ab-tu, see Ea I 26; t[u-kur] lagab = kab!-tum A I/2:26, see also MSL 9 133: 507 and MSL 14, 177.

§3.11.1.9. ln. 3’: in this manuscript the last sign is zu2 instead of zu.

§3.11.1.10. ln 5’: other manuscripts have min-na-zu-ne-ne.

 

§3.12. VDL 14B

Measurements (cm): 7.0 x 5.5
Date: undated (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: unknown
Type: Literary (Šulgi A. A praise for Šulgi)

Lineart of VDL 14B - P530669
Lineart of VDL 14B - P530669
Obverse    
1'. ⌜mi2⌝ [zi du11-ga dnin-tur-ra-me-en] Kindly treated (at birth) by Nintu am I!
2'. ⌜geštu2 šum2-ma⌝ [den-ki-kam-me-en] Endowed with wisdom by Enki am I!
3'. ⌜lugal⌝ kal-ga ⌜dnanna⌝-me-en Mighty king of Nanna am I!
4'. ⌜pirig⌝ ka ⌜du8⌝-a dutu-me-en Roaring lion of Utu am I!
5'. dšul-⌜gi ḫi-li pa3-da dinanna-me-en⌝ Šulgi —chosen for his charm by Inana am I!
6'. anše-gir2-⌜nun-na kaskal-e⌝ du7-me-en A mule perfect for the road am I!
7'. ⌜sisi ḫar-ra-an⌝-na kun ⌜su3-su3⌝-me-⌜en⌝ A horse waving its tail on the route am I!
8'. dur3ur3 dšakkan2-e kaš4!(DU)-e kin⌝-ga2-⌜me-en⌝ A foal of Šakkan, eager to run, am I!
9'. dub-sar gal-zu ⌜dnisaba⌝-kam-me-⌜en⌝ Wise scribe of Nisaba am I!
10'. nam-ur-sag-⌜gu10⌝-[gin7] ⌜nam⌝-kal-⌜ga⌝-gu10-gin7 Just like my heroism and my might,
11'. geštu2-⌜ga«-a» šu ḫu-mu⌝-ni-du7-a[m3] I have perfected my wisdom,
12'. ⌜inim gi-na-bi⌝ ḫa-ma-⌜da-sa2⌝-[am3] And so I (always) reach the correct decisions.
13'. [nig2]-⌜si-sa2⌝-[e] ki ḫa-⌜ba⌝-[ag2-ga2-am3] Righteousness I love,
14'. [nig2]-⌜erim2⌝-e ki ⌜la⌝-[ba-ra-ag2-ga2-am3] But wickedness I do not,
Reverse    
1'. [inim] nig2-erim2 du11-ga ⌜ḫul⌝ [ḫa-ba-ra-gig-ga-am3] And I hate anyone who speaks evil words!
2'. dšul⌝-gi-me-en lugal ⌜kal⌝-[ga]/ ⌜sag⌝-bi-še3 ⌜e3-a-me-en⌝ Šulgi am I; mighty king who prevails am I!
3'. a2-nun-⌜gal2 za3-še3⌝-ni-eš ḫul2-⌜la⌝ / [i3]-⌜me⌝-an-na-ke4-eš Because I am a strong (man) who enjoys his strength,
4'. giri3 ḫu-⌜mu⌝-gur! kaskal kalam-ma-ke4 / si ḫa-bi-mi-ib2-si-sa2 I improved the paths and put in order the roads of the land,
5'. dannana ḫu-⌜mu⌝-ge-en e2-⌜gal ḫe2-bi2-du3 I marked off the length of the double-mile and built inns,
6'. za3-ba geš⌜kiri6⌝ ḫe2-bi2-ib-⌜gub⌝ ki ⌜ni2-dub2-bu⌝ / ⌜ḫe2⌝-bi2-ib-gar At their sides I planted gardens and established resting places
7'. sig-ta du ⌜igi⌝-nim-ta du-e So that (those) coming from the north and south
8'. ⌜a2 še17!⌝-bi2-še3 ⌜ni2 ḫe2-eb-ši-«en»⌝-te-en-te-en Can refresh themselves at their cool sides,
9'. ⌜nita ḫar-ra-an⌝ du ⌜kaskal⌝-[e ge6] ⌜ba⌝-an-da-sa2-a And the traveller who spends the night on the road,
10'. ⌜iriki du3-a-ni⌝ ⌜gin7⌝ [zi-ni ḫa]-⌜ba⌝-ši-in-⌜tum3 Can take refuge there as in a well-built city.
11'. [mu-gu10 u4 ul-li2-a-aš ga2-ga2-de3 ka-ta nu-šub-bu]-⌜de3 To establish my name for distant days, that it never falls into oblivion,
  […]  

§3.12.1. Notes

§3.12.1.1. Only the lower half of the tablet is preserved. It is broken in two big pieces along the vertical axis and there are two further fragments from the bottom. See note 1 under §3.11. VDL 14A.

§3.12.1.2. Šulgi A, ll. 11-35. This exemplar is an imgida tablet Type III, which originally contained the first half of the composition. At present, there are other 75 copies of this poem. P. Delnero (2006: 1858-1909) offered a score of the 67 manuscripts available by 2006, and in 2011 L. Vacín published another 8 tablets with Šulgi A from the Schøyen Collection.

§3.12.1.3. For a translation of the entire poem into English verse, see Michalowski (2016: 120-121).

§3.12.1.4. ln. 11’: there is an a-sign following the ga-sign. It is not clear whether there are traces of a sign in the broken space between the a and šu signs.

§3.12.1.5. ln. 12’: only the beginning of the sa2-sign is visible; other manuscripts have ḫa-ma-da-sa2-am3.

§3.12.1.6. ln. 18’: the sign mu seems to be written over the erased beginning of a ne-sign. The gur! is actually an iri-sign.

§3.12.1.7. ln. 22’ rev.: for še17! there is a clear di-sign after the first a2-sign, followed by a partially broken sign, which seems to be a ⌜muš3⌝. Thus, še17 was written DI.MUŠ3 instead of MUŠ3.DI.

 

§3.13. VDL 19

Measurements (cm): 6.0 x 5.2
Date: Sîn-kāšid (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: Uruk
Type: Royal inscription on tablet

Lineart of VDL 19 - P530670
Lineart of VDL 19 - P530670
Obverse    
1. d⌝suen-ka3-ši-⌜id Sîn-kāšid,
2. ⌜nita2 kal⌝-ga mighty man,
3. ⌜lugal unu⌝ki-⌜ga⌝ king of Uruk,
4. lugal ⌜am⌝-na-nu-um king of the Amnānum,
5. u2-a provider
6. e2-an!-na for the Eana,
Reverse    
1. ⌜e2⌝-gal 1-3built the palace of his kingship.
2. ⌜nam-lugal-la⌝-ka-⌜ni⌝  
3. mu-du3  

§3.13.1. Note

§3.13.1.1. Inscriptions 13.VDL 19 and 14.VDL 12 are duplicates written on a clay tablet and a clay cone respectively. For duplicates, see D. Frayne (1990: 448-50, E4.4.1.4).

 

§3.14. VDL 12

Measurements (cm): 6.0 width x 3.4 diameter
Date: Sîn-kāšid (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: Uruk
Type: Royal inscription on clay cone

Lineart of VDL 12 - P530671
Lineart of VDL 12 - P530671
1. dsuen-⌜ka3⌝-ši-⌜id Sîn-kāšid,
2. ⌜nita2⌝ kal-ga mighty man,
3. ⌜lugal⌝ unuki-ga king of Uruk,
4. lugal ⌜am⌝-na-nu-um king of the Amnānum,
5. u2-a ⌜e2⌝-an-na the provider for the Eana,
6. e2-gal 6-8built the palace of his kingship.
7. nam-lugal-la-ka-ni!  
8. mu-du3  

§3.14.1. Note

§3.14.1.1. Duplicate of 13. VDL 19.

 

§3.15. VDL 15

Measurements (cm): 8.4 x 5.0
Date: RS 56/x/10 (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: unknown. Kingdom of Larsa
Type: Exchange of houses

Lineart of VDL 15 - P530672
Lineart of VDL 15 - P530672
Obverse    
1. 2(diš) ⌜sar⌝ igi-6(diš)-gal2 1(u) še ⌜e2-du3⌝-[a] A 2 1/6 sar built property
2. ⌜da⌝ e2 ṣi-li2-dmar-⌜tu⌝ (situated) next to the house of Sillī-Amurru (and)
3. u3 da⌝ e2i⌝-ṣi-da-ri-⌜e next to the house of ’Iṣī-dārê,
4. ½ ⌜ḫa-la⌝ i3-li2-ma šabra ⌜ṣa-bi (it is) half the share of Ilīma, the manager of workers.
5. ki-bi-gar-ra ⌜e2 In lieu of (this) house,
6. 2(diš) sar igi-6(diš)-gal2 1(u) še e2-du3-a a 2 1/6 sar built property (situated)
7. da e2 la-a-⌜lum⌝ muḫaldim next to Lālûm, the cook,
8. da e2 ni2-te-a-ni next to his own (Ilīma’s) house,
9. ⌜da⌝ e2 ig-mil-d⌜suen⌝ nagar gešgigir next to the house of Igmil-Sîn, the carpenter of wagons,
10. u3 da e-⌜sir2 and next to the street,
11. e2 i-ṣi-da-ri-e (which is) the house of ’Iṣī-dārê,
12. e2-e2-še3 in-na-an-⌜di-iš-šu is given to him, house for house.
13. u4-kur2-⌜še3⌝ u4-na-me-ak °erasure° 13-17In the future, he (i.e., ’Iṣī-dārê)
14. e2 i-ṣi-da-ri-e shall not have a cause for complaint
15. ša a-na i3-li2-ma šabra ṣa-bi (pertaining to) the house of ’Iṣī-dārê,
16. id-di-nu which he gave
17. inim-gal2 la i-ra-aš-ši-ma to Ilīma, the manager of workers. Thus,
18. Ii3-li2-ma šabra ṣa-bi 18-19Ilīma, the manager of workers,
19. a-na e2-a-ni i-ta-a-ar can return to his house.
20. šeš-šeš-ra inim nu-ga2-ga2 One will make no claims against the other.
21. mu dri-im-dsuen lugal in-pa3 He swore by the name of king Rīm-Sîn.
Reverse    
1. [igi …]-⌜u2-ṣe2⌝-li gu-za-la2 [Before …]-ušelli, the chair-bearer.
2. [igi a]-⌜ḫu⌝-šu-nu ⌜a2⌝-gal2 [Before Aḫū]šunu, the a2-gal2-official.
3. ⌜igi lu2⌝-na-tum kuš7 Before Lunatum, the groom.
4. ⌜igi⌝ i3-li2-bi-nam kuš7 Before Ilī-bi-nam, the groom.
5. igi ⌜e-te-el-pi4⌝-dutu Before Etel-pī-Šamaš.
6. igi ⌜ṣi⌝-li2-dmar-tu Before Sillī-Amurru.
7. kišib3 ⌜lu2⌝-inim-ma-bi-meš ib2-ra The seals of the witnesses were rolled.
8. iti ziz2-a u4 1(u)-kam ba-zal Month: Šabāṭum, 10 days have passed.
9. mu ki 2(u) 7(diš)-kam i3-si-inki⌝-na 9-10Year: 27th (after) Isin
10. in-dab5-⌜ba⌝ was seized.
Seal Impression    
1. [a-ḫu]-šu-[nu] [Aḫū]šu[nu],
2. dumu u-bar-dutu son of Ubār-Šamaš,
3. arad diškur servant of Adad.

§3.15.1. Notes

§3.15.1.1. Marking: C (written with red pencil on the upper edge).

§3.15.1.2. Three seal impressions on the reverse and traces on the obverse and on the left edge.

§3.15.1.3. ln. 13: ak is written over an erasure.

§3.15.1.4. ll. 23-24: a-ḫu-šu-nu a2-gal2 and lu2-na-tum kuš7 are attested as the first and third witnesses respectively in YOS 5 106: 45, 47, dated to RS 37.

§3.15.1.5. ln. 24: For the transcription Lunatum, see Stol (1982: 187).

§3.15.1.6. ln. 25: The personal name i3-li2-bi-nam is unattested and problematic. A similar PN, i3-li2-bi-na-ia, is attested in Mari (e.g., ARM 32, p. 456 [M.6696]). One possibility is to consider it as a sentence with an elided verb, “My-god-(gave-me)-a-son,” following Knudsen’s (1991: 877) interpretation of i3-li2-bi-na-a-ia as “My god (gave) my sons.” However, when discussing this name, Streck (2000: 308) maintains that the ellipsis of the verb does not have an onomastic parallel. Based on the pattern in names such as i3-li2-ḫa-aṣ-na-a-a (“Mein Gott ist Schutz”) and i3-li2-ši-im-ḫa-ia (“Mein Gott ist Pracht”), he suggests that i3-li2-bi-na-a-ia is to be interpreted as “Mein Gott ist …(?).” Another possibility is that i3-li2-bi-nam in our text is a mistake for Ilī-iddinam, who is attested with the title kuš7 in YOS 5 106: 51, together with a-ḫu-šu-nu a2-gal2 and lu2-na-tum kuš7. An unlikely possibility is to take the second element of the name as the imperative bīn (see AHw Band I, p. 126b; see also Roth 1989: 4, footnote 17, with previous bibliography), “Oh, my god, please give me!”. This verbal form is known from Ištar’s speech requesting the Bull of Heaven from her father Anum in SB Gilgamesh and from archival documents from the first millennium, but is unattested for the OB period.

 

§3.16. VDL 09

Measurements (cm): 6.0 x 4.0 (tablet)
(Tablet + envelope)
Date: Ḫa 35a/xi/11 (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: Larsa?
Type: deposition + oath

Lineart of VDL 09 - P530673
Lineart of VDL 09 - P530673
Obverse    
1. 5(diš) du8 ku3-babbar / ki-la2-bi ½ gin2 5 silver clasps weighting ½ gin2,
2. 2(diš) tug2-ḫi-a 2 garments,
3. 1(diš) tug2 tur-⌜ra⌝ 1 small garment,
4. 2(diš) tug2bar-si-ḫi-a 2 headresses,
5. 1(diš) tug2bar-si sag-⌜ki⌝ 1 forehead band,
6. ⌜nig2-gur11 d⌝inanna-⌜še-me-i-tum property of Ištar-šēmītum,
7. […] ⌜x⌝ šu-⌜ḫa-tum x⌝ […] Šuḫatum […]
8. […] ⌜x⌝ na-bi-i3-li2-šu ⌜x⌝ […] Nabi-ilīšu […].
9. […] ⌜x x⌝ […] […]
Reverse    
1. […] ⌜x ku3⌝-sig17 ku3-babbar […] gold, silver,
2. ⌜zabar⌝ uruda tug2 u3 tug2⌜bar-si⌝ bronze, cooper, garment or headress,
3. mi-im⌝-malae-zi-⌜ba-am-ma I have not put anything aside,
4. ⌜e2⌝-gal la ak-tu-mu nor have I hidden (anything from) the palace.
5. ⌜mu⌝ dmarduk dir3-⌜ra-gal⌝ 5-6He swore by the name of Marduk, Erragal,
6. u3ḫa-⌜am⌝-mu-⌜ra⌝-bi lugal / in-⌜pa3 and king Ḫammurabi.
7. i-na kišib3 a-wi-il-diškur ba-ri-im It is sealed with the seal of Awīl-Adad.
8. iti ziz2-a u4 1(u) 1(diš)-⌜kam⌝ Month Šabāṭum, day 11th.
9. mu ḫa-am-mu-ra-bi lugal-e 9-11Year: King Ḫammurabi
10. inim ⌜den⌝-lil2-la2-ta bad3 ma2-⌜ri2ki destroyed the city wall of Mari and Malgium,
11. u3 ma3-al-gi4-aki / ⌜mu-un⌝-gul-e by the command of Enlil.
Envelope    
1. nig2-gur11 8-⌜tar2⌝-[še-me-i-tum] Property of Ištar-[šēmītum].
2. mi-im⌝-[ma ... ] Anything […]
3. e2-gal ⌜x⌝ the palace […].
4. mu ⌜dmarduk⌝ By the name of Marduk
5. u3ḫa-am-⌜mu⌝-[ra-bi] and Ḫammurabi […].
6. kišib3 u2-ul ša-⌜ki⌝-[im-ma] (His) seal was not available,
7. i-na kišib3a-wi-⌜il⌝-[diškur] [so it was sealed] with the seal of Awīl-[Adad].
8. iti ziz2-a [u4 1(u) 1(diš)-kam] Month Šabāṭum […],
9. ⌜mu ḫa-am-mu⌝-[ra-bi …] Year: [King] Ḫammurabi […].
Seal Impression    
1. [a-wi-il-diškur] [Awīl-Adad],
2. dumu […] son of […],
3. arad diškur servant of Adad.

§3.16.1. Notes

§3.16.1.1. Flourishy handwriting note reads: “No. 18 Senkereh – Larsa / First Dynasty / Envelope unburnt / tablet c. 2400 BC.”

§3.16.1.2. Seal impressions on the left, upper and lower edge of the tablet (the markings on the upper edge were erased in antiquity), and on the envelope.

§3.16.1.3. ln. 1: For the silver objects mentioned in this line, I am ruling out the reading gaba, meaning “pectoral” or “pectoral strap.” This is so because ½ shekel weights 4.15 grams, which divided by the 5 objects will give us 0.83 grams each. These objects are, therefore, not pectorals. Based on the comparison with bad = petû > pītu, “clasp (of a necklace)” (see CAD, sv. pītu, pp. 445-447), I am taking du8 = paṭāru > piṭru, “release” (see CAD sv. piṭru, p. 449, and AHw p. 871), with a similar meaning, but this is only hypothetical.

 

§3.17. VDL 17

Measurements (cm): 7.5 x 4.4
Date: Undated (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: unknown
Type: letter from Šamaš-ḫāzir to Bēlšunu

Lineart of VDL 17 - P530674
Lineart of VDL 17 - P530674
Obverse    
1. a⌝-na be-⌜el ⌝-šu-nu 1-2Say to Bēlšunu!
2. qi2-bi2-ma  
3. um-madutu-ḫa-⌜zi-ir-ma Thus (says) Šamaš-ḫāzir:
4. dutu ⌜li-ba⌝-al-li-iṭ-ka May Šamaš keep you in good health.
5. ki-ma aš-⌜pu-ra-kum-ma 5-11As I have written to you,
6. a-na ⌜nu-geškiri6⌝-meš ⌜ki-la-al-li-šu-nu for the gardeners, (for) both of them,
7. gešḫašḫur-ḫi-a ⌜geštaskarin⌝-ḫi-a ⌜lugal⌝ the apple trees, the royal box trees,
8. geš⌜gešimmar x x⌝-na gešnu-⌜ur2-ma-ḫi-a⌝ the palm trees …, the pomegranate trees,
9. u3 mu-ša-ri kiri6 and the garden beds
10. mi-it-⌜ḫa-ri⌝- distribute among them
11. zu-us-su2-nu-ši-im-ma in equal shares. And
12. mu-⌜dam⌝-mi-qa2-am 12-rev. 4oust Mudammiqum,
Reverse    
1. nu-geškiri6 ša dutu-⌜NI⌝-[…] the gardener of Šamaš-[…],
2. i-na mu-ša-ri-⌜im from the garden-plot
3. ša i-na geškiri6-ia -⌜ku-nu-šu-ma that he has set in my garden.
4. šu-li-šu  
5. ḫašḫur-ḫi-a ar-⌜ma⌝-ni 5-6Send to the temple of Sîn
6. a-na e2dsuen⌝ šu-bi-il-ma the ḫašḫuru-wood and the armannu-wood, and
7. ši-ta-ti–šu-°erasure°-nu 7-11send the rest of them
8. ḫašḫur-ḫi-a ar-ma-ni —the ḫašḫuru-wood and the armannu-wood,
9. ma-lii-ba-aš-⌜šu-u2 «x»⌝ as much as there is,
10. šu-bil-ma ugula mar-tu-meš so that I may provide
11. lu-up-qi2-id the overseer of the Amorites (with them).

§3.17.1. Notes

§3.17.1.1. Other 11 letters from Šamaš-ḫāzir to Bēlšunu were published in AbB 9. 20; 28; 51; 58; 85(?); 99; 103; 137; 142; 274; and 275.

§3.17.1.2. ln. 8: The initial traces after gešgešimmar do not support the reading ⌜dilmun⌝-na.

§3.17.1.3. ln. 11: For the personal name Mudammiqum, see Stamm (1968: 115; 342).

§3.17.1.4. ln. 13: the PN is either Šamaš-ilī(ma) or Šamaš-nīšu.

§3.17.1.5. ln. 17: (geš)ḫašḫur, Akkadian ḫašḫūru, is translated “apple tree” in the dictionaries (CAD Ḫ: 139b, AHw Ḫ:333b), but see Gelb’s (1982: 80) reservations. The meaning of armannum (gešḫašḫur-kur-ra) is debated. Von Soden translates it as “Aprikose(nbaum)” (AHw A: 69b) and CAD (A/II: 291a) renders it as “(a tree and the aromatic substance obtained from it);” see the discussion in Gelb (1982: 81-2). For the compound entry geš ḫašḫur-ar-ma-nu-um in lexical lists, see Veldhuis (1997: 264, 266 and 282). I tentatively take it as two different trees here, the first written logographically with the plural marker ḫi-a, and the second written syllabically in Akkadian in the oblique case.

§3.17.1.6. ln. 19: the signs ti and šu are written over an erasure.

§3.17.1.7. ln. 21: the sign aš is written over an erasure.

 

§3.18. VDL 07

Measurements (cm): 5.5 x 4.0
Date: Sumu-abum 5?/vi/Ø (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: unknown
Type: sale of a field

Lineart of VDL 07 - P530675
Lineart of VDL 07 - P530675
Obverse    
1. 1(u) iku a-ša3 1-5For a 10 iku field
2. i-na ti-la-ti-im in Tillatum,
3. sam2 til-la-ni-še3 5 shekels of silver
4. 5(diš) gin2 ku3-babbar were paid
5. in-na-la2 as its full price.
6. ki sa-ma-ra-aḫ 6-8Tukultī-Yaraḫ,
7. ⌜KU⌝-ia-ra-aḫ! muḫaldim ⌜lugal⌝ the royal cook,
8. in-ši-in-⌜sa10 bought (it) from Śamâraḫ.
Lower Edge    
1. geš-gan-na ib2-/ta-bal The sale has been closed.
Reverse    
1. ⌜u4⌝-kur2-še3 lu2-lu2 1-2In the future,
2. ⌜nu⌝-mu-un-gi4-gi4-dam the parties will not return.
3. ⌜mu⌝ lugal-bi in-pa3-⌜de3 He swore by the name of his king.
4. igi lu2-d⌜kakkala⌝ Before Awīl-Kakkala.
5. igi ku-⌜un-ša⌝-nu-⌜um⌝ / dumu zu-uq-na-ta-nu-⌜um Before Kunšānum, son of Zu-uq-na-ta-nu-um.
6. igi sa-bu-dingir / dumu e-⌜ba⌝-nu-⌜um Before Sābû-ilum, son of Ebānum.
7. igi sa-⌜ma-al⌝ / dumu im-⌜ta-ṣi Before Sam’al, son of Imtaṣi.
8. igi ad-ku-ur-dingir Before Yadkur-’el.
Upper Edge    
1. igi ku-za-nu-⌜um⌝ / dumu °erasure° a-⌜ḫi-šu Before Kuzānum, son of Aḫīšu.
Left Edge    
1. iti kin-dinanna | igi dnanna-zi-/da / ⌜dub⌝-sar Month Elūnum | Before Nanna-zida, the scribe.
2. mu e2-⌜maḫ⌝ dnanna / unu2 mu-bi ba-⌜du3 Year: The lofty temple of Nanna, its name (is the) abode, was built.

§3.18.1. Notes

§3.18.1.1. Marking: 6 (or) 9 (written with black pencil on the upper edge).

§3.18.1.2. Traces of seal impressions on the lower and right edges.

§3.18.1.3. ln. 2: I take the noun tillatu as a Geographic name, although it does not have (a) geographic determinative(s) and it is not attested in the RGTC III or elsewhere, as far as I know.

§3.18.1.4. ln. 7: The reading of this PN is tentative. Tukultī in the OB period is usually written syllabically or KU-ti, but Stamm (1968: 236 fn. 1) gives the example ta3-ab-tukulti(KU)-šu.

§3.18.1.5. ln. 14: For the Amorite name ku-un-ša-nu-um, see Gelb (1980: 139, 409, 511, 616) sv. ku-un-za-nu-um, with za instead of ša, possibly for /śa/ (see, e.g., Streck 2000: 201-203).

§3.18.1.6. ln. 19: The name of the last witness is written after the month, and, for lack of space, the last signs of his name and profession are written over three different lines.

§3.18.1.7. ln. 20: This seems to be an unattested variant of Sumu-abum’s 5th regnal year, with the addition of the phrase unu2 mu-bi.

 

§3.19. VDL 13

Measurements (cm): 8.0 x 5.0
Date: Undated (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: unknown
Type: Memorandum

Lineart of VDL 13 - P530676
Lineart of VDL 13 - P530676
Obverse    
1. 1(diš) eše3 iku a-ša3 e-te-ri-iš I have cultivated a 1 eše3 field.
2. 1(diš) eše3 ⌜iku⌝ ša ziz2-an / u4-ma-am i-ir-ri-iš 2-4Today he will cultivate a 1 eše3 field with emmer,
3. u3 3(diš) iku ša3 bur3-u 2(diš) bur3 iku e and 3 iku within a bur3-u 2 bur3 plot,
4. šaka-ni-ik-šuu2-ša⌝-bi-⌜lu of which I/he sent a sealed document.
5. u4 2(diš)-kam 1(diš) gu4-apin °erasure° 5-7He complained (about) a plow ox
6. pa-ni ma-ia-ri gid2 ra-bi that was abandoned for two days,
7. šana-du-u2 u2-qa2-ab-⌜bi (together with) a long and big plow.
8. i-na-an⌝-na um-ma šu-u2-ma 8-10Now he (has said) as follows:
9. šu-ru⌝-ur šu-ku-⌜uk “Go ahead! Harrow it!”
10. ku-lu-um u3 e-ri-iš It was ordered and it will be cultivated.
11. qi2⌝-bi-am-ma ma-ia-ri 11-l.e. 1Tell me and he will cultivate
Lower Edge    
1. i-⌜ir-ri⌝- the plowed fields.
Reverse    
1. ⌜x x x x⌝ im-ti-⌜da […] have increased.
2. 1(u) 4(diš) gu4-ḫi-⌜a⌝ ša in-⌜na-aš-ru 2-4Let them return the 14 oxen
3. u4 2(diš)-⌜kam⌝ an-ni-a-⌜am that were withdrawn
4. li-te⌝-er-ru on this second day.

§3.19.1. Notes

§3.19.1.1. Marking: 14 (written with black pencil on the reverse).

§3.19.1.2. ll. 9-10: Traces of a vertical and a lower horizontal wedges are what remains of the first sign. The reading ⌜ma-ru⌝-ur, which would semantically fit, is ruled out because of the second vowel. The word šu-ku-uk could be either a G imperative, as taken here, or a D stative 3 m.sg; and e-ri-iš could be G stative 3 m.sg. or G preterite 1 c.sg.

 

§3.20. VDL 18

Measurements (cm): 12.0 x 10.0
Date: Not preserved (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: unknown
Type: Tabular account

Lineart of VDL 18 - P530677
Lineart of VDL 18 - P530677
Obverse          
  i ii iii iv v
1'. […] […] ⌜x x⌝ ⌜x AN⌝ […] ⌜x⌝ […]
2'. […] […] […] ⌜1(u) 6+(diš)⌝ ⌜pap gin2 x⌝ […] […]
3'. […] […] ⌜pap gin2⌝ ⌜7+⌝(diš) ⌜x⌝ […] […]
4'. […] […] ⌜5(u)⌝ […] ⌜pap gin2⌝ […] ⌜x⌝ […] AN […]
5'. […] ⌜pap⌝ […] […] ⌜x eren2-ḫi-a x⌝ ⌜x⌝ […]
6'. […] […] 5(diš) ⌜x⌝ […] ⌜x⌝ […] […]
7'. […] ⌜pap gin2 3(diš)⌝ […] […] ⌜x⌝ […] […] […]
8'. […] ⌜pap gin2⌝ 2(diš) ⌜pap⌝ gin2 5(u) 3(diš) mu [x] dinanna-x⌝-[…]
9'. […] […] […] ⌜6(diš) barig 4(diš) ban2⌝ 2(diš) ⌜u4 ba-zal iti bara2⌝-[za3-gar]
10'. […] ⌜pap⌝ ⌜2(u) 9(diš)⌝ ⌜pap gin2 1(u) 9(diš)⌝ ⌜gu2-un?⌝ […] […]
11'. […] pap 2(u) 5(diš) ⌜pap gin2 gal 5(u)⌝ 9(diš) ⌜x ⌝ ⌜x⌝ nu ⌜x x x⌝
12'. […] ⌜x x x⌝ ⌜5(u) 2(diš) ½ ma-na x x x 1(u) 3(diš) ⌜2/3 ma-na x x x⌝ […]    
13'. […] ⌜x mu ⌝ ⌜x x dingir x x ⌝ […] ⌜x⌝ sar? […] ⌜x x⌝      
14'. […] ⌜ x x dutu-x⌝ […] ⌜x x x x⌝ […]      
Reverse          
Uninscribed          
           
Obverse          
  i ii iii iv v
1'.
2'. … ⌜+16⌝ ⌜total shekels⌝ …
3'. ⌜total shekels⌝ ⌜7+⌝
4'. … ⌜50⌝ … ⌜total shekels⌝ …
5'. ⌜total⌝ … ⌜… workers …⌝
6'. … 5
7'. ⌜total shekels 3⌝ … … …
8'. ⌜total shekels⌝ 2 ⌜total⌝ shekels 5 3 … Inana-[…]
9'. 380 liters ⌜two days have passed, month⌝-Ni[sānum]
10'. ⌜total⌝ ⌜29⌝ total shekels 1⌜9⌝ ⌜talents?⌝ […]
11'. total 25 ⌜total big shekels 50⌝ 9 …
12'. 52 1/2 minas … 13 ⌜2/3 minas⌝ …    
13'.      
14'. Šamaš …      
Reverse          
Uninscribed          

§3.20.1. Note

§3.20.1.1. The tablet is crumbling. Only 14 poorly preserved lines remain. In its current state, 5 columns are distinguishable. Faint vertical traces might indicate two more columns right to the fifth, but this is not certain.

 

§3.21. VDL 20

Measurements (cm): 3.5 x 3.0
Date: Not preserved (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: unknown
Type: Administrative (too fragmentary)

Lineart of VDL 20 - P530678
Lineart of VDL 20 - P530678

§3.21.1. Note

§3.21.1.1. Transliteration and translation are not provided because only a few signs are fully preserved. The tablet is crumbling and flat on both sides, which makes it difficult to distinguish the obverse from the reverse. The distinction between sides is hypothetical, solely based on the date on line 4’ of the “reverse”: ⌜u4⌝ 4(diš)-kam ⌜iti ab?⌝-[e3]. The following line might read [mu] ⌜ba⌝-an-⌜x⌝-[…]. The only year name known to me in which the signs ba-an are written right after mu is Sumu-numḫim “a” (Marad, Kazallu), which reads: mu ba-an-du8-du8 ku3-babbar e2 dnu-muš-da mu-na-dim2.

 

§3.22. VDL 21

Measurements (cm): 6.0 x 4.0
Date: Undated (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: unknown
Type: Administrative (sale of a built plot)

Lineart of VDL 21 - P530679
Lineart of VDL 21 - P530679
Obverse    
1. 2(diš) igi-4(diš)<-gal2> sar e2-⌜du3-a⌝ 1-6For a 2 ¼ sar built property,
2. a2 qu2-ur-di-im next to Qurdum and Ṣīssu-namrat,
3. u3ṣi!-⌜su2-na⌝-am-⌜ra⌝-at and next to Sîn-šeme
4. u3⌝ a2 d⌜suen-še⌝-mi / ⌜u3ša-ka-/⌜na-ku-um and the šakkanakkum-official,
5. sam2 til-la-ni-še3 8 shekels of silver
6. 8(diš) gin2 ku3-babbar in-na-la(sic) were paid as its full price.
7. ⌜ki!ra-ši-tum u3 su-ka⌝-/lum 7-l.e. 1Arnabum bought (it) from Rāšītum,
8. u3 ḫi-⌜il!-lum Sukkallum and Ḫillum.
9. ar-na-bu-um  
Lower Edge    
1. in-ši-sa10  
2. geš-gan-na ib2-ta-⌜bal⌝ 2The sale has been closed.
Reverse    
1. mu ⌜lugal⌝-a-bi in-pa3-de3 He swore by the name of his king.
2. igi puzur4-ia dumu dutu-i-bi-⌜šu Before Puzrīya, son of Šamaš-ibbīšu.
3. igi ṣi-su2-na-⌜am-ra⌝-/⌜at Before Ṣīssu-namrat,
4. dumu ⌜da?-lu⌝-qum son of Dalluqum.
5. igi bur-ri-ia ⌜dumu⌝ bi-ni<-ia> Before Būrīya son of Bīnīya.
6. igi ḫu-ma-mu-⌜um⌝ / ⌜dumu⌝ ma-⌜ru⌝-za-[tu-u2] Before Ḫumamum, son of Maruzatû.
7. erased line 7-8erased.
8. erased line  
9. igi ḫa-li-lum ⌜dumu nu-ri-ia Before Ḫālilum, son of Nūrīya.
Upper Edge    
1. ⌜igi ku⌝-za-⌜nu⌝-um dumu za-na-⌜tum Before Kuzanum, son of Zanatum.
2. igi na-na dumu be-⌜el⌝-[…] Before Na-na, son of Bēl[…].
3. igi a!-⌜ḫi⌝-ma-⌜ra-aṣ Before Aḫī-maraṣ.
Left Edge    
1. igi i-⌜bi-dsuen⌝ dumu bu-za-ru-[um] Before Ibbi-Sîn, son of Buzarum.
2. igi pa-ti-ḫu dumu x x x Before Pateḫu, son of PN.

§3.22.1. Notes

§3.22.1.1. Marking: 13 (written with black pencil on the left edge).

§3.22.1.2. Traces of seal impressions on the lower edge.

§3.22.1.3. ln. 7: Rāšītum is not attested as a PN, but it is attested in OB lexical lists, as rāšû fem. rāšītum.

§3.22.1.4. ln. 14: the last two signs are squeezed under the line, one on top of the other. There is also an inverted vertical wedge from one of the lines of the obverse.

§3.22.1.5. ln. 15: The name Dulluqum/Dalluqum (mng unknown CAD) is attested in texts from Sippar.

§3.22.1.6. ll. 17-19: Salt crystals cover the end of line 17 and about two-thirds of lines 18 and 19.

§3.22.1.7. ln. 22: Na-na is attested in the Elamite Onomasticon (Zadok 1984: 73). There is also a Na-na-a (without the divine determinative) in AbB 12 63: 7.

 

§3.23. VDL 22

Measurements (cm): 4.6 x 4.0
Date: Not preserved (Old Babylonian)
Provenance: unknown
Type: Administrative (fodder for oxen)

Lineart of VDL 22 - P530680
Lineart of VDL 22 - P530680
Obverse    
1. […] ⌜5(ban2)⌝ […] ⌜še⌝ 1-2[…] 5(ban2) of barley.
2. ⌜x še⌝ nu-ur2-d⌜x⌝ […] barley, Nūr-DN.
3. a-na⌝ ša3-gal ⌜gu4-ḫi-a⌝ […] For oxen’s fodder.
4. ⌜šu⌝ ti-a ib-ni-diškur Received by Ibni-Adad.
5. ⌜x⌝ ma-li<-ki>-e-ra-⌜aḫ […] Mālikī-Eraḫ.
Reverse    
  Missing Rest missing.

§3.23.1. Note

§3.23.1.1. Faint traces of seal impressions on the reverse and lower edge.

 

§3.24. VDL 10

Measurements (cm): 7.0 x 5.5
Date: [Cyrus] 6/[…]/2+ (Achaemenid)
Provenance: Uruk
Type: Administrative (legal procedure)

Lineart of VDL 10 - P530681
Lineart of VDL 10 - P530681
Obverse    
1. mi2sik-ku-u2 dumu-mi2-su ša2 Isu-qa-a-a a lu2šu-ku6 1-3Sikkû, the daughter of Sūqāya, descendant of Bā’iru,
2. ša2ina e2 Inumun-gin ⌜a⌝-šu2 ša2 Idag-kad2 a Iar2-rab-tu4 who was in the house of Zēra-ukīn, son of Nabû-kāṣir, descendant of Arrabtu,
3. 1(u) iti-meš nu-ma-ru-tu te-pu-uš (for) 10 months, she was an unmarried woman.
4. ar2-ki Idmarduk-mu-du3 a-šu2 ša2 Iden-su a Idan-ne2-e-⌜a 4-8After Marduk-šuma-ibni, son of Bēl-ēriba, descendant of Dannēa,
5. ina iti bara2 mu 6(diš)-kam2 Ikur-aš2 lugal tin-tir⌜ki took her from the house of Zēra-ukīn, in the month of Nisannu (I) of the 6th year of Cyrus,
6. lugal kur-kur ta e2 Inumun-gin i-bu-ku⌝- «šu2» ana ddiš!-lugal-uru3 lu2qi2-i-pi ša2 e2-an-na king of Babylon, king of the lands, he (i.e., Marduk-šuma-ibni) said to Anu-šarra-uṣur, the qīpu-official of the Eana,
7. u⌝ °erasure° Idag-šeš-mu ša11-sag-lugal lu2en pi-qit-tu4 ⌜e2-an-na⌝ and (to) Nabû-aḫa-iddin, the ša rēš šarri administrator of the Eana, as follows:
8. iq⌝-bi um-ma mi2sik-ku-u2 ab-bak-⌜ma 8-10“I will take Sikkû and will give (her)
9. [ina] ⌜tin⌝-tirki a-na Isu-qa-a-a ad-šu2 to Sūqāya, her father, in Babylon.”
10. [a]-⌜nam⌝-din a-di-i iti sig4 Idmarduk-mu-⌜du3 10-l.e. 1During the month of Simānu (III), Marduk-šuma-ibni
11. [mi2]sik-ku⌝-u2 ib-bak-ma ina tin-tirki will take Sikkû and give (her) to Sūqāya, her father, in Babylon.
Lower Edge    
1. [a-na] ⌜ I ⌝su-qa-a-a ad-šu2 i-nam-din  
Reverse    
1. [mi2sik-ku]-u2 a-na aš2-šu-tu it-ti 1-2Sikkû will not live in matrimony with Marduk-šuma-ibni,
2. [Idmarduk]-mu-du3lu2ki⌝-niš-tu4 ša2 e2-an-na «a-na aš2-šu-tu⌝» the member of the collegium of the Eana.
3. [ul tu]-⌜⌝-šab u Idmarduk-mu-du3 mi2sik-ku-u2 3-4 Marduk-šuma-ibni will not make Sikkû
4. [a-na] ⌜2⌝-šu-tu ul u2-še-eš-šib ki-iIdmarduk-mu-du3 live in matrimony (with him).
5. [mi2sik-ku]-⌜u2 a-na aš2-šu-tu ul-te-ši⌝-bi ḫi-ṭi ša2 Igu-ba-ru 5-6If Marduk-šuma-ibni makes Sikkû live in matrimony (with him),
6. [i]-⌜šad-da⌝-ad ki-i mi2sik-ku-u2it-ti he will bear the guilt of (an offense against) Gobryas.
7. Idmarduk-⌜mu⌝-du3 a-na aš2-šu-tuta-at-ta-šab 7-8If Sikkû lives in matrimony with Marduk-šuma-ibni,
8. ši-mit ša2 an-du-tuta-⌜2-ša2-mu mi2⌝[sik-ku-u2] ⌜ina⌝ ukken she will be marked with the slavery mark.
9. taq-bi um-ma ⌜x mu x x x a?-kul⌝ [...] ⌜x⌝-šak 9-10In the assembly, Sikkû said as follows: “[…].”
10. ⌜lu2mu-kin-⌜ni Iarad⌝-dmarduk a-šu2 ša2 I⌜numun⌝-[ia a Ie-gi]-⌜bi Witnesses: Arad-Marduk, son of Zēr[īya, descendant of Egib]i.
11. Imu-ra-nu a-šu2 ša2Idag-sur a Isag-gil⌝-[la-a-a] 11Mūrānu, son of Nabû-ēṭir, descendant of Sagil[āya].
12. Idutu-tin-iṭ a-šu2 ša2 Ina-din a Ilu2-u2 Idag-⌜numun⌝-[si-sa2 a-šu2 ša2] 12Šamaš-uballiṭ, son of Nādin, descendant of Amēlû. Nabû-zēra-[līšir son of]
Upper Edge    
1. Idag-sur-⌜zi⌝-me a Ie-gi3-bi Ina-din a-šu2 ša2 Im[ušēzib-bēl] Nabû-ēṭir-napšāti, descendant of Egibi. Nādin, son of [Mušēzib-Bēl],
2. a Ina-an-na-a lu2umbisag Idmarduk-sur a-⌜šu2 ša2 descendant of Nannāya. The scribe was Marduk-ētir, son of
3. Iden-tin-iṭ a Ilu2-dbe unu⌜ki⌝ Sîn-uballiṭ, descendant of Amēl-Ea. At Uruk.
Left Edge    
1. [iti … u4 x+] ⌜2(diš)⌝-kam2 mu 6(diš)-kam2 [Month x day] ⌜2+⌝. Year 6th of
2. [Ikur-aš2] ⌜lugal tin⌝-tirki lugal kur-kur [Cyrus], king of Babylon, king of the lands.

§3.24.1. Notes

§3.24.1.1. Markings: 15 (written with black pencil on the lower edge and reverse).

§3.24.1.2. Cornelia Wunsch and I will engage more extensively with this tablet in a forthcoming article. For Neo-Babylonian deposition records see Wunsch (2012: 28-32).

§3.24.1.3. ln. 2: For Nabû-zēra-ukīn, son of Nabû-kāṣir, descendant of Arrabtu, see Holz (2009: 136 ln. 19).

§3.24.1.4. ln. 3: The various writings of nu’artu were collected by Roth (1989: 7). For the translation of nârūtu as “status of unmarried woman” see Wunsch (2003: 2-7), with previous literature. For Wunsch, “Als gemeinsamer Nenner von fNAR/nu’artu und nârūtu in den vorliegenden Kontexten käme daher „ledig“ (d.h. nie verheiratet) in Betracht” (p. 5). The expression nârūtu epēšu is infrequent in NB archival (legal and administrative) documents. However, a parallel use of the verb epēšu plus an abstract noun as the DO, with the sense of “to be X”, appears in AnOr 8 14: 10, a NB adoption contract from Uruk, where it is said: mala ūmē ša PN / ḫarī ’ūtu teppušu, “as long as PN shall be a ḫarīmtu” (according to the translation of the CAD, sv. ḫarīmūtu, p. 102b); or, more literally, one can translate “as long as she practices prostitution.” In VDL 10, nârūtu epēšu seems to convey the idea that, while at Zēra-ukīn’s, Sikkû kept the status of an unmarried woman.

§3.24.1.5. ln. 4 : Marduk-šuma-ibni is known from YOS 6 225 dated to Nabonidus 12/xi/6, where he is accused of delaying a batch of sesame for the Eana (see Dandamayev and Wunsch 2011).

§3.24.1.6. ln 6: The signs after ībukuš are clumsily written. The name of the qīpu is written with the theophoric name Id⌜en⌝, a mistake for Id⌜diš⌝, i.e., Anu-šarra-uṣur, who was the qīpu of the Eana from the 17th year of Nabonidus to the 4th year of Cambyses (Kleber 2008: 31). I wish to thank one of the anonymous reviewers for the suggestions to improve the understanding of lines 6 and 7.

§3.24.1.7. ln. 20: the marking of female slavery, amtūtu (here, andūtu, with dissimilation) is written geme2-u2-tu in Cyr. 307:9 and 312:27. In both documents, the mark of female slavery, is a threat to prevent young women from inappropriate behaviour with men. The signs after andūtu do not support the reading ta-maḫ-ḫar.

§3.24.1.8. ln. 21: the signs after taq-bi um-ma are poorly preserved. Unfortunately, Sikkû’s declaration cannot be reconstructed. The reading ⌜nar-tum a-na-ku⌝ does not seem likely, judging from the extant traces. The reading ⌜a?⌝-kul, in this context seems preferable to ⌜a?⌝-qul. The šak sign at the end of the line may suggest a stative in the 1st person singular.

§3.24.1.9. ln. 55: Nādin = Nabû-nādin-aḫi, son of Mušēzib-Bēl, descendant of Nannāya. He is also attested in Nbn 682. Reference courtesy of C. Wunsch.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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———. 2011. “The Law Collection of Ur-Namma.” Edited by A. W. George. Cuneiform Royal Inscription and Related Texts in the Schøyen Collection. CUSAS. Bethesda: CDL Press.
Dandamayev, M., and C. Wunsch. 2011. “YOS 6 225: A Dispute about a Sesame Delivery.” In Ancient Near Eastern Studies in Memory of Blahoslav Hruška, edited by L. Vacín, 61–72. Dresden: Islet.
Delnero, P. 2006. Variation in Sumerian Literary Compositions. A Case Study Based on the Decad. PhD Dissertation. Department of Near Eastern Languages. University of Pennsylvania.
Finkel, I. 2014. The Ark Before Noah. Decoding the Story of the Flood. London: Hodder.
Frayne, D. 1990. Old Babylonian Period (2003-1595 BC). RIME 4. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Gelb, I. J. 1980. Computerized-Aided Analysis of Amorite. AS 21. Chicago: The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.
———. 1982. “Sumerian and Akkadian Words for `String of Fruit’.” In Zikir Šumim. Assyriological Studies Presented to F. R. Kraus on the Occasion of His Seventieth Birthday, edited by G. Van Driel et al, 67–82. Leiden: Brill.
Heimpel, W. 2004. “AO 7667 and the Meaning of ba-an-gi4.” CDLJ, no. 2004:1.
Holtz, S. E. 2009. Neo-Babylonian Court Procedure. CM 38. Leiden: Brill.
Jiménez, E. 2017. The Babylonian Disputation Poems: With Editions of the Series Poplar, Palm and Vine, the Series of the Spider, and the Story of the Poor, Forlon Wren. Leiden-Boston: Brill.
Kleber, K. 2008. Tempel und Palast: die Beziehungen zwischen dem König und dem Eanna-Tempel im spätbabylonischen Uruk. Book. AOAT 358. Münster: Ugarit-Verlag.
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Landsberger, B. 1967. The Date Palm and Its By-Products According to the Cuneiform Sources. AfO Beiheft 17. Graz: Im Selbstverlage des Herausgebers.
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Footnotes


[1] Faculty, staff, and students from Vanderbilt have been extremely supportive: especial thanks are due to Joe Rife, former Director of the Classical and Mediterranean Studies Program; Emily Townes, Dean of the Divinity School; Valerie Hotchkiss, former University Librarian; Bill Hook, Retired Director of the Divinity Library; Bobby Smiley, Director of the Divinity Library; Charlotte Lew, Collections and Special Projects Coordinator at the Divinity Library; Doug Knight, Leong Seow and Herbert Marbury; and Serena McMillan. Annalisa Azzoni has helped me in more ways than I can possibly acknowledge; her kind disposition to collate signs and discuss problematic terms merits particular mention. Gary Beckman has commented on the Old Babylonian tablets and Piotr Michalowski on the Sumerian texts. Norman Yoffee has encouraged the publication of this collection and read several versions of the manuscript. Cornelia Wunsch has generously helped with the reading of difficult lines and passages from the Achaemenid tablet (no. 24).

[2] In Stevenson’s classification system, some tablets bear a handwritten number or letter either in black or red pencil. In other cases, the number or letter was simply written on the box. Only 5 of the original boxes were preserved and only 11 out of all 24 tablets were identified with numbers or letters written on them with pencil. In two cases, where the original boxes were preserved, the number on the box was different from the tablet number. Because some of the tablets did not have a number, a letter, or a box, it was necessary to unify the system. For that purpose, the tablets were put into new boxes, assigned the signature VDL (Vanderbilt Divinity Library) and given a number, which, occasionally, differs from the number or letter written on the tablet. When the tablet bears a pencil annotation, it is recorded in the first note of the respective tablet edition. Different types of notes were preserved: some were glued to the box’s lid and some were a loose slip of paper; therefore, it is not always possible to match a loose slip of paper with an unnumbered or unlettered tablet. There are two (possibly three) different handwritings: one from the early 20th century, written in black fountain-pen ink (flourishy handwriting), and the other from the second half of the 20th century (later handwriting, possibly from 1959; see 5.VDL 04, note 2). The latter sometimes transcribes an earlier note and sometimes it is the only surviving reference. The possible third handwriting is also written in black fountain-pen ink, but it is less fancy and is used only once. This note reads: “Pieces 1-13 (not all numbers represented) 1, 3, 4, x, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13.” The handwritten notes provide uneven information: on four occasions only, they mention archaeological provenience. None of the tablets had been transliterated or translated, but in five cases, the contents are briefly mentioned. All relevant information will be provided in notes below the respective tablet edition. The Vanderbilt Divinity Library also received pictures of 4 other tablets that did not make it into the collection. Since those 4 tablets are not part of the VDL, they were not included in this article. Although the photographs are of poor quality as to provide full editions, the contents can be summarized as follows: 1) Ur III tablet from Umma dealing with cows and oxen (full readable lines include: a-tu i3-dab5, zi-ga-am3; de5-de5-ga-am3), with some 40+ lines; 2) the obverse image of an Ur III or Early Old Babylonian archival document, carrying some 8+ lines; 3) an Old Babylonian contract pertaining to two plots of land and mentioning a certain Adad-iddinam, with some 16 lines; 4) a Late Babylonian tablet mentioning Nabû-ēṭir, descendant of Nabû-šuma-ibni, and dated to the 9th month of King Nabonidus’ 9th year, amounting to 5 lines.

[3] For the transliterations, I have followed the CDLI preferred sign readings (CDLI Preferred Sign Readings), as suggested by the editors.


Version: 2022-12-09

Cite this Article
Seri, Andrea. 2022. “Cuneiform Texts in the Collection of the Jean and Alexander Heard Divinity Library, Vanderbilt University.” Cuneiform Digital Library Journal 2022 (2). https://cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/articles/cdlj/2022-2.
Seri, Andrea. (2022). Cuneiform Texts in the Collection of the Jean and Alexander Heard Divinity Library, Vanderbilt University. Cuneiform Digital Library Journal, 2022(2). https://cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/articles/cdlj/2022-2
Seri, Andrea (2022) “Cuneiform Texts in the Collection of the Jean and Alexander Heard Divinity Library, Vanderbilt University,” Cuneiform Digital Library Journal, 2022(2). Available at: https://cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/articles/cdlj/2022-2 (Accessed: October 3, 2024).
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	number = {2},
	year = {2022},
	publisher = {Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative},
	title = {Cuneiform {Texts} in the {Collection} of the {Jean} and {Alexander} {Heard} {Divinity} {Library}, {Vanderbilt} {University}},
	url = {https://cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/articles/cdlj/2022-2},
	volume = {2022},
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