CT 54, 022 (P238052)
Letter, Neo-Assyrian, Nineveh · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE
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| Designation | CT 54, 022 |
|---|---|
| ID | P238052 |
| Museum no. | BM — |
| Collection | British Museum, London, UK |
| Language | Akkadian |
| Period | Neo-Assyrian · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE |
| Genre | Letter |
| Find spot | Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) |
| Coordinates | 36.3582, 43.1621 |
English translation
By ORACC project saao/saa10 · Via Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC)
| Line | English |
|---|---|
| Obverse [0:2] o 1o 1–o 22 | [To the king of the la]nds, my lord: your servant Bel-ušezib. May [Bel, Na]bû and Šamaš bless the king, my lord! |
| Obverse [2:3] o 33–o 33 | I saw the crescent of the moon but the sun was rising; he may have cleansed it, but it was not to be seen. |
| Obverse [3:7] o 44–o 77 | Whether it was a crescent, or whether it appeared on the 15th, or whether it will appear on the 16th day, it is an evil portent, and it concerns the Manneans. Wherever an enemy attacks a country, the country will carry this evil portent. |
| Obverse [7:12] o 88–o 1212 | Now the army of the king, my lord, having attacked the Manneans, has captured forts, plundered towns and pillaged the open country. Should it return, it would heap it up and plunder the rest of the country. But should the army of the king, my lord, not go out against the enemy, that would be dangerous. |
| Obverse [12:17] o 1313–o 1717 | Last year, when the moon was seen with the sun on the 15th day for 5 (consecutive) months, did Sidon not carry it? Did the city not fall, were its people not chased away? Now, in accordance with this, the cities of the Mannean will be plundered, his people taken in captivity, and he himself will be encircled in his palace until he will be delivered into the hands of the king, my lord. |
| Obverse [17:20] o 1818–o 2020 | The king my lord can be very glad indeed. You will defeat your enemy and vanquish your foes, and you will grasp the hand of Bel in Babylon for many years. |
| Obverse [20:21] o 2121–o 2121 | "If the moon is not seen but the crescent is seen, there will be hostilities in the land." |
| Obverse [21:22] o 2222–o 2222 | The people of the Mannean king will turn against him and become the king's servants. |
| Obverse [22:24] o 2323–o 2424 | "(If) the moon and the sun are seen together on the 15th day: a strong enemy will raise his weapons against the land; the enemy will tear down the city gates." |
| Obverse [24:27] o 2525–o 2727 | Now then the army of the king, my lord, has raised its weapons against the Mannean and will tear down his royal city. There is nothing in these signs that would concern the king, my lord, and his country. |
| Obverse [27:36] o 2828– | Now then, four elders of noble descent from Nippur, the nešakku priests of Enlil, are (on a visit) here in Nineveh. The lord of kings should ask them why Šuma-iddin, the governor, has removed the dais of Nippur, an ancient dais built in the distant past, changed its place, and performed an apotropaic ritual on account of it. |
| Reverse [2:5] r 33–r 55 | [NN], the governor's son who is being held (as hostage) here at the feet of [...], has [...] smuggled to him four minas of gold and all kinds of Babylonian luxuries, and he is giving them to Sasiya, [NN] and Ṣillaya. |
| Reverse [5:8] r 66–r 88 | Maybe they are saying nice things about Šuma-iddin. It should be known to the king, my lord, however, that this very day a conspiracy is being made and planned in the king's presence, right before him, and Šuma-iddin has his hands in it. |
| Reverse [8:10] r 99–r 1010 | Your royal father let the governor of Nippur stay in office for ten years; now in a year three governors have left office. |
| Reverse [10:13] r 1111–r 1313 | May the king, my lord, live forever! The Egyptian Šarru-lu-dari, a friend of Bel-eṭir, the governor of HAR, and a friend of Sasiya, may have been induced to join the conspiracy of Šuma-iddin. The king should be wary of all of them. |
| Reverse [13:17] r 1414–r 1717 | As to this man who removed (the dais), changed its place, and performed an apotropaic ritual on account it — he (must have) said (to himself): "Let me avert the evil omens from myself, [......] and let them be diverted to the king's palace instead [...]." |
| Reverse [17:19] r 1818–r 1919 | Now then, whatever has been dropped into the king's ears and [whatever the ...] have bestowed upon him, let the king's palace be happy and the signs [......]. |
| Reverse [19:23] r 2020–r 2323 | Lugalkursarri, a Sumerian king, [...... of] Enlil, has said as follows: "A great king [......] who [......] his mouth, the king in his heart [...]." 'Great [...]' means the king's [face], as it is said. |
| Reverse [23:28] r 2424–r 2828 | [Now then], as long as the insurgents have [not] mobilized [...] and when [...] is performing the apotropaic ritual [...], let (the troops of) one of the king's favourite be thrown against him, and let [......]. Why is this governor plotting against the crown while the king, my lord, is searching for the seed of Bit-Yakin, Bit-Amukani, Bit-Dakuri and HAR, all the dynasties which have put up a hundred horses? |
| Reverse [28:34] r 2929– | The great gods said to Bel: "May it be in your power to exalt and to abase." You are Marduk of the people; Bel destined your glori[ous ...s] (to be) like destinies. [Let the king, my lord], act in a way corresponding to Bel: abase the high and [exalt] the low. |
| Right [0:1] r.e. 34r.e. 34–r.e. 34r.e. 34 | [...] ... and covertly [......]. |
| Right [1:3] r.e. 3535–r.e. 3636 | Now then one of the donors should be brought out and [...]ed, (while) he is not worried. |
| Right [3:6] r.e. 3737– | [Would ... who is ...] of my dynasty reject kingship from his heart and [...] the fear of king? |
| Edge [1:3] e. 22–e. 33 | In the time of your royal father (Nabû)-zer-kitti-lišir laid claim to kingship and [...]. You are able, wise and circumspect. May the king do as he sees best. |
Transliteration (ATF)
From Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618)
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| o | ||
| 1 | [a-na LUGAL] ⸢KUR⸣.KUR be-li₂-ia ARAD-ka {1}{d}EN—u₂-še-zib | |
| 2 | {[d}EN {d]}⸢AG⸣ u {d}UTU a-na LUGAL be-li₂-ia lik-ru-bu | |
| 3 | ⸢us⸣-ka-ru ša₂ {d}30 a-ta-mar u₃ {d}UTU ⸢it-tap⸣-ha | |
| 4 | ⸢lu⸣ u₂-mar-ri-iq-ma ul in-nam-mar ki-i us-ka-ru | |
| 5 | ⸢šu⸣-u₂ ki-i UD 15-KAM₂ in-na-mar u₃ ki-i UD 16-KAM₂ | |
| 6 | in-nam-ma-ru lum-nu-um šu-u₂ ina UGU {kur}man-na-a.a | |
| 7 | šu-u₂ a-šar {lu₂}KUR₂ ina UGU KUR i-te-eb-bu-u₂ | |
| 8 | KUR HUL-nu an-na-a i-zab-bil en-na e-mu-qa | |
| 9 | ša₂ LUGAL be-li₂-ia ina UGU {kur}man-na-a.a ki-i it-bu-u₂ | |
| 10 | bi-ra-na-a-ti iṣ-ṣa-bat URU-ME il-ta-lal hu-bu-ut EDIN | |
| 11 | ih-ta-bat u₂-ta-ru u₂-kam₂-mar-ma šit-ti KUR i-šal-lal | |
| 12 | e-mu-qu ša₂ LUGAL be-li₂-ia a-na {lu₂}KUR₂ la uṣ-ṣi na-kut-ma | |
| 13 | šad-da-qad₃ ša₂ 05 ITI-ME UD 15-KAM₂ 30 KI {d}20 in-na-mar | |
| 14 | {uru}ṣi-da-nu ul iz-bi-lu URU ul na-pi-li | |
| 15 | UN-MEŠ-šu₂ ul KUR-du-ne₂-⸢e₂⸣ en-na {kur}man-na-a.a ki-i pi-i | |
| 16 | an-nim-ma URU-ME-šu iš-šal-la-lu UN-MEŠ-šu₂ ih-hab-ba-tu | |
| 17 | u₃ šu-u₂ ina E₂.GAL-šu₂ u₂-ta-sar a-di a-na ŠU.2 LUGAL be-li₂-ia₂ | |
| 18 | im-man-nu-u₂ ŠA₃ ša₂ LUGAL be-li₂-ia dan-niš dan-niš lu-u₂ ha-di | |
| 19 | {lu₂}KUR₂-ka ta-kam₂-me a.a-bi-ka ta-kaš-šad u₃ MU.AN.NA-ME | |
| 20 | ma-aʾ-da-a-tu ŠU.2 {d}EN ina TIN.TIR{ki} ta-ṣab-bat | |
| 21 | 1 30 NU IGI.LAL-ma us-ka-ru IGI-ir nu-kur₂-ME ina KUR GAL₂-MEŠ | |
| 22 | UN-MEŠ-šu₂ ša₂ LUGAL {kur}man-na-a.a i-nak-kir-u₂-šu₂-ma a-na ARAD-ME | |
| 23 | ša₂ LUGAL i-tur-ru UD 15-KAM₂ 30 u 20 KI a-ha-meš IGI-MEŠ | |
| 24 | KUR₂ dan-nu {giš}TUKUL-ME-šu₂ ana KUR IL₂-a KA₂ URU-ka KUR₂ ina-qar | |
| 25 | a-du-u₂ e-mu-qa ša₂ LUGAL be-li₂-ia {giš}TUKUL-ME-šu₂ a-na {kur}man-na-a.a | |
| 26 | it-ta-šu₂ u₃ URU LUGAL-u₂-ti-šu₂ ina-qar mim-ma ina ŠA₃-bi | |
| 27 | GISKIM-ME a-ga-a ina UGU LUGAL be-li₂-ia₂ u KUR-šu₂ ia-a-nu | |
| 28 | a-du-u₂ 04 {lu₂}ši-i-bu-ti DUMU-MEŠ—DU₃-MEŠ DUMU-MEŠ—DU₃-MEŠ ša₂ EN.LIL₂{ki} | |
| 29 | {⸢lu₂⸣}ne₂-se-ek-ke-e ša₂ {d}EN.LIL₂ a-kan-na ina ni-na-a{ki} šu-⸢nu⸣ | |
| 30 | ⸢EN⸣ LUGAL-ME liš-al-šu-nu-ti ina UGU mi-ni-i | |
| b.e. | ||
| 31 | ⸢BARAG⸣ EN.LIL₂{ki} BARAG la-bi-ru ša₂ ul-tu | |
| 32 | ⸢UD⸣-MEŠ ru-u₂-qu-tu ep-šu | |
| r | ||
| 1 | {1}MU—SUM-na {lu₂}ša₂⸣-an-da-bak-ka is-su-uh-ma a-[šar-šu₂] | |
| 2 | ⸢u₂-še-en-ni⸣ u₃ NAM.BUR₂.BI ina UGU i-pu-⸢uš⸣ {1}x x x x] | |
| 3 | ⸢DUMU {lu₂}GU₂.EN⸣.NA ša₂ a-kan-nu ka-lu-u₂ ina GIR₃.2 ša₂ {[d}x x x] | |
| 4 | 04 MA.NA KUG⸣.GI u mi-nu-u₂ ṣi-bu-ta ša₂ KUR—⸢URI⸣{[ki} x x x x] | |
| 5 | ⸢u₂-še-eg-la⸣-aš₂-šu₂ u₃ šu-u₂ a-na {1}sa-si-⸢ia⸣ {1}{d}x—x]+⸢x⸣—ŠEŠ | |
| 6 | ⸢u₃ {1}ṣil-la-a⸣ i-nam-din min₃-de-e-ma a-mat du-un-⸢qa⸣-a-⸢ta⸣ | |
| 7 | ⸢ša₂ {1}MU—SUM-na i⸣-qab-bu-u₂ a-na LUGAL be-li₂-ia lu-u₂ me-di ina UD-mu | |
| 8 | ⸢a-ga-a si-i-hi⸣ ep-šu₂ ina IGI LUGAL ⸢kap⸣-du a-na pa-na-tu-uš-šu₂ [o] | |
| 9 | ⸢u₃ {1}MU—SUM⸣-na a-hi-šu ul-te-bil LUGAL a-bu-ka 10 MU.AN.NA-ME ina UGU | |
| 10 | {⸢lu₂}GU₂.EN⸣.NA-ME ul-te-ti-iq en-na ina MU.AN.NA 03 {lu₂}GU₂.EN.NA-ME | |
| 11 | ⸢x x x x⸣ LUGAL be-li₂-a lu-u₂ da-a-ru {1}LUGAL—lu—da-ru {lu₂}mi-ṣir-a.a | |
| 12 | ⸢EN—MUN ⸢EN—MUN ša₂ {1}{d}EN—ŠUR-ir⸣ {lu₂}EN.NAM ša₂ {uru}HAR{ki} EN—MUN EN—MUN ša₂ {1}sa-si-ia | |
| 13 | ⸢it-ti {lu₂}EN—si-hi {lu₂}EN—si-hi ša₂⸣ {1}MU—SUM-na u₂-šad-ba-bu-u₂ LUGAL ina UGU gab-bi-šu₂-nu | |
| 14 | ⸢lu-u₂ pu-ut-qu-du u₃ a-ga⸣-a šu-u₂ ša₂ is-su-hu a-šar-šu₂ | |
| 15 | u₂-še-en-⸢nu-u-ma u NAM.BUR₂.BI⸣ ina UGU i-pu-šu ul ak-ka-aʾ-ia | |
| 16 | iq-⸢bi um-ma⸣ GISKIM-ME ša₂ lem-nu la UGU-hi-ia lu-še-ti-iq | |
| 17 | a-na ⸢x x⸣ [x]-⸢li⸣-ka ku-u-⸢mu⸣ [a]-⸢na⸣ E₂.GAL ša₂ LUGAL lil-li-ka | |
| 18 | [x x]+⸢x⸣+[x]-ih a-du-u₂ mim-ma ša₂ ina ŠA₃-bi PI.2 ša₂ LUGAL na-as-ku-ma | |
| 19 | ⸢x⸣+[x x x]+⸢x⸣ u₂-šat-li-mu-uš E₂.GAL ša₂ LUGAL lu-u₂ ha-di u GISKIM-ME | |
| 20 | [x x x]+⸢x⸣ ṭe₃-mu [x x x] ⸢x x x x x⸣ LUGAL—KUR—šar-ri LUGAL šu-me-ru | |
| 21 | ⸢x x x⸣ [x x]+⸢x x x x {d}EN.LIL₂ iq-ta⸣-bi um-ma LUGAL GAL-u₂ | |
| 22 | ⸢x x x⸣ [x x] ⸢x x x ša₂ ina x x⸣ [x] ⸢pi-i⸣-šu₂ LUGAL ina ŠA₃-bi-šu₂ | |
| 23 | ⸢a-na x x x x x GAL-u₂ a-na pa⸣-ni ša₂ ⸢LUGAL⸣ ki-i qa-bu-u₂ | |
| 24 | ⸢x x x x x a-di⸣ ti-be₂-e ⸢x x x⸣ id-ku-u₂-⸢ma NAM.BUR₂⸣.BI | |
| 25 | [x x]+⸢x⸣ [x x] ⸢ki-i⸣ ip-pu-šu 01-en {lu₂}⸢bi-ib⸣-li ša₂ LUGAL lid-du-u₂-šu₂ | |
| 26 | ⸢a⸣-na ⸢x x x-ku-u-ni⸣ {lu₂}GU₂.EN.NA an-nu-u₂ a-na mi-ni-i ki-i LUGAL EN-a | |
| 27 | NUMUN ša₂ E₂—{1}ia-ki-nu ša₂ E₂—{1}a-muk-a-nu ša₂ E₂—{1}da-ku-ru | |
| 28 | ⸢u₃ ša₂ {lu₂}HAR{ki⸣} E₂—a-ba-nu E₂—a-ba-nu gab-bi u₂-ba-a-ʾu-u₂ ša₂ 01-me {anše}KUR.RA-ME | |
| 29 | ul-ta-az-zi-zu ina UGU LUGAL-u₂-tu₂ i-dab-bu-ub DINGIR-ME GAL-ME | |
| 30 | ⸢a⸣-na {d}EN iq-ta-bu-u₂ um-ma šu-uš-qu-u₂ u šu-uš-pu-lu | |
| 31 | [ši-i] ⸢lu⸣ qa-tuk-ka {d}AMAR.UTU ša₂ UN-ME at-ta {d}EN a-ki-i NAM-ME | |
| 32 | [x x x x ta]-ši-la-ti-ka il-te-em a-ki-i ša₂ {d}EN mah-ru | |
| 33 | [LUGAL be-li₂-a li]-pu-uš ša₂-qu-u₂ šu-up-pil u ⸢šap-li⸣ [šu-uš-qi] | |
| r.e. | ||
| 34 | [x x x x]+⸢x x-ru⸣-u₂ ba-a u šap-li ⸢ŠU-ti⸣ [x x x] | |
| 35 | [x x x x]+⸢x⸣ en-na 01-en ina ŠA₃-bi {lu₂}ša₂-ra-⸢ka-a-ti⸣ [li]-⸢še-ṣu⸣-u₂ | |
| 36 | [x x x x x]-u₂-šu₂ it-ti ŠA₃-bi-šu₂ ul i-dab-bu-⸢ub x⸣ | |
| 37 | [x x x x x]-kin E₂—AD-ia E₂—AD-ia šu-u₂ i-ba-⸢aš₂-šu₂-u₂⸣ | |
| e. | ||
| 1 | LUGAL-u₂-tu₂ la ŠA₃-bi u₂-šel-le-e u pu-luh-ti ša₂ LUGAL ⸢x x x x⸣ u₂ bi ⸢bu⸣ [x x] | |
| 2 | LUGAL AD-ka {1}NUMUN—kit-tu₂—SI.SA₂ ina UGU LUGAL-u₂-tu₂ u ⸢mah har⸣ pu-tu₂ iq-bi le-⸢ʾu⸣-[u₂] | |
| 3 | ha-as-si u pu-ut-qu-du at-ta a-ki-i ša₂ LUGAL i-le-ʾu-⸢u₂⸣ | |
| 4 | li-pu-uš | |
Sources & licences
- Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched) · Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI), https://cdli.earth/ ; cite CDLI and the P-number
- Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618) · ORACC project editions, https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ ; cite the individual project (see texts.extra_json.project)
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.