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ABL 1285 (P334829)

Letter, Neo-Assyrian, Nineveh · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE

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DesignationABL 1285
IDP334829
Museum no.BM —
CollectionBritish Museum, London, UK
LanguageAkkadian
PeriodNeo-Assyrian · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE
GenreLetter
Find spotNineveh (mod. Kuyunjik)
Coordinates36.3582, 43.1621

English translation

By ORACC project saao/saa10 · Via Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC)

LineEnglish
Obverse [0:5] o 1o 1–o 55[To the king, my lord: your servant Urad-Gula]. [The best of health to the king, my lord]! May Marduk and [Zarpanitu, Nabû and Tašmetu, Ištar of Nineveh and Ištar] of Arbe[la, Ninurta and Gula, Nergal and Laṣ] very greatly bless [the king my lord, the jus]t one! May they bestow [long days and everlasting years] upon the king, my lord!
Obverse [5:12] o 66–o 1212[May the great gods of Heaven and Earth] constantly bless your kingship, [may they love the pure] sacrifices you offer and [appreci]ate your priesthood, may they guard your steps [and straighten your path], may they defeat your enemies, slay your foes, dri[ve off your adversaries] and pick up their possessions; may they make your leadership as beneficial as choicest oil to the totality of all nations; may they keep the foundation of your throne firm as a rock forever; may Šamaš, the light of Heaven and Earth, be receptive to a just verdict concerning you.
Obverse [12:18] o 1313–o 1818May the king, my lord, heed the case of his servant, let the king see the whole situation! Initially, in (the days of) the king's father, I was a poor man, son of a poor man, a dead dog, a vile and limited person. He lifted me from the dung heap; I got to receive gifts from him, and my name was mentioned among men of good fortune. I used to enjoy generous 'leftovers'; intermittently, he used to give me a mule [or] an ox, and yearly I earned a mina or two of silver.
Obverse [18:25] o 1919–o 2525[In the days] of my lord's crownprincehood I received 'leftovers' with your exorcists; I stood [at] the window openings, keeping watch; all the days that I spent in his service I guarded his privileges, I did not enter the house of a eunuch or a courtier without his permission. I was looked upon as one who eats lion's morsels, I appeased your god. Now, following his father, the king my lord has added to the good name he had established, but I have not been treated in accordance with my deeds; I have suffered as never before, and given up the ghost.
Obverse [25:30] o 2626–o 3030Improper conduct, whispering about and revealing a secret are detestable things; I guarded the privileges of the king my lord, but I did not find benefactors. I endured [...] words, [I made] (my) office (my) night's resting place, I taught the servants, the non-eunuchs and eunuchs alike, submission, toil and fear of the palace, and what did I get for it?
Obverse [30:33] o 3131–o 3333If it is befitting that first-ranking scholars and (their) assistants receive mules, (surely) I should be granted one donkey; like[wise], (as) oxen are apportioned in Tebet (X), I too should [...] one ox!
Obverse [33:34] o 3434–o 3434Two or three times within a month three to four [... are give]n to [...];
Obverse [34:37] o 3535–o 3737[even ...an ap]prentice [of the] assistant [... ge]ts [... and] enjoys [a sh]eep [......]; but [me], [what (compensation) do I d]raw, or for what pur[pose do I w]ork?
Obverse [37:38] o 3838–o 3838I cannot look at the [......] of the king, no[r ......]
Obverse [38:42] o 3939–[......] Day and night I pray to the king in front of the lion's pit [...... which ...] are not ... with morsels [......] my heart amidst my colleagues [......]
Bottom [0:3] b.e. 42b.e. 42–b.e. 4444(b.e. 42) (Break)
Bottom [3:5] b.e. 4545–[......] and likewise among my brothers [......]
Reverse [0:1] r 1r 1–r 1r 1[......] a medical potion, ointment[s ......]
Reverse [1:2] r 22–r 22[......] aren't ewes [......] in this manner?
Reverse [2:4] r 33–r 44[......]... [I sent] a letter to the king my lord through Šarru-nuri the eunuch; but I (only) heaped up the grief of my heart, writing to the king, my lord.
Reverse [4:7] r 55–r 77The very same evening [...] the king sent a letter to his servant, [saying "I did not k]now that you are having such a hard time; (for) I [......] did send for you." The word of the king my lord is as difficult as a mountain!
Reverse [7:12] r 88–r 1212I placed the letter in safekeeping at the throne of Nabû and guarded it like (my) only son; (but) if my distress has in any way slackened, the king my lord should be very happy indeed. He should have remembered his servant, saying "Let him receive my necklace while [I] am looking on." There is another saying, too: "He who has been stabbed in the back has (still) got a mouth to speak, but he who has been stabbed in the mouth, how can he speak?"
Reverse [12:17] r 1313–r 1717It is two years now since the two be[asts of mine] died; I have walked three times to Arbela and once to the city of Assur, (but) who has showed me any compassion by taking me by the hand or [leading me] into the presence of the king my lord? Why did the king summon an exorcist from Ekallate, while I had to take to the back (lit. desert) roads because of people asking me: "Why do you go on foot?"
Reverse [17:19] r 1818–r 1919People pass my house, the mighty on palanquins, the assistants in carts, (even) the juniors on mules, and I have to walk!
Reverse [19:22] r 2020–r 2222Perhaps the king will say: "He is a citizen." The king can ask (anyone): My father portioned out 6 homers of field with his brother Nabû-zeru-lešir; I and my brother got three homers each, and in addition two souls! By the grace of the king my lord I have purchased 5 or 6 souls.
Reverse [22:29] r 2323–r 2929I have visited the Kidmuru temple and arranged a banquet, (yet) my wife has embarrassed me; for five years (she has been) neither dead nor alive, and I have no son. This year three women have fallen to me; but I have no farmer, no farm equipment, no farm. By Anu, Enlil and Ea who are firmly implanted in the head of the king, my lord, I cannot (even) afford a pair of sandals or the wages of a tailor, I have not got a spare suit of clothes, and I have incurred a debt of almost six minas of silver, plus the interest.
Reverse [29:33] r 3030–r 3333[Also], I am [50?] years (already) and they say: "Once you have reached old age, who will support you?" [The king] is not pleased with me; I go to the palace, I am no good; [I turned to] a prophet (but) did not find [any hop]e, he was adverse and did not see much. [O king] my [lord], seeing you is happiness, your attention is a fortune!
Reverse [33:36] r 3434–r 3636May the kin[g's .... heart] soften, and may he at least send me the two beasts, [......]..., and a spare suit of clothes! Guarding [......]..., for the crownprincehood of the king, my lord [...]
Reverse [36:37] r 3737–r 3737[The king my lord] knows me since the time he was a child; I have (always) said: "No [...]
Reverse [37:39] r 3838–(r 38) (Break)
Edge [0:1] e. 1e. 1–e. 1e. 1[...] robbery [.....]... with whom will the king brighte[n ......]
Edge [1:2] e. 22–e. 22who would see [......] and gra[sp] his [... will] not lif[t ......]

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)

LineATFMachine English (draft)
o
1[a-na LUGAL be-li₂-ia ARAD-ka {1}ARAD—{d}gu-la]
2[lu-u DI-mu a-na LUGAL be-li₂-ia a—dan-niš] {d}AMAR.UTU {⸢d⸣}[zar-pa-ni-tum]
3{[d}AG {d}taš-me-tum {d}15 ša {uru}NINA{ki} {d}15 ša {uru}⸢arba⸣-[il₃ {d}MAŠ {d}gu-la]
4{[d}U.GUR {d}la-aṣ a-na LUGAL be-li₂-ia ke-e]-nu a—dan-niš a—dan-niš ⸢lik-ru⸣-[bu]
5[UD-MEŠ GID₂-MEŠ MU.AN.NA-MEŠ da-ra]-⸢ti⸣ a-⸢na LUGAL⸣ be-li₂-ia a-na ši-rik-ti liš-ru-ku
6[DINGIR-MEŠ GAL-MEŠ ša AN-e KI.TIM] ⸢lik-tar⸣-ra-bu LUGAL-ut-ka na-din zi-bi-i-ka
7[el-lu-ti li-ra-mu li-ih-šu]-⸢hu⸣ {lu₂}SANGA-ut-ka ki-bi-is GIR₃.2-ka ⸢li⸣-iṣ-⸢ṣu⸣-ru
8[liš-te-ši-ru KASKAL.2-ka] {⸢lu₂⸣}KUR₂-MEŠ-ka lis-ki-pu li-šam-qi₂-tu a.a-bi-ka
9[ga-re-e-ka li-ṭa]-⸢ar⸣-ri-du lil-qu-tu bi-⸢iš⸣-ša₂-šu₂-un
10{⸢lu₂}SIPA-ut-ka⸣ ki-ma u₂-lu u₃ I₃.GIŠ UGU nap-har kiš-šat ⸢UN⸣-[MEŠ] ⸢li⸣-iṭ-ṭib-bu
11iš-di {giš}GU.ZA LUGAL-ti-ka ki-ma ši-pik KUR-i li-šar-ši-du a-na UD-me ṣa-a-ti
12{d}UTU ZALAG₂ AN-e u₃ KI.TIM a-na de-en kit-ti-ka lit-taš-ka-na uz-na-a-šu₂
13LUGAL be-li₂ a-na de-ni ša ARAD-šu₂ li-qu-la di-ib-bi gab-bu LUGAL le-e-mur
14TA@v re-e-ši ina ŠA₃ AD-šu₂ ša LUGAL LU₂ la-ap-nu DUMU la-ap-ni kal-bu mi-i-tu
15[sak]-⸢lu⸣ u₃ su-uk-ku-ku a-na-ku TA@v ŠA₃ ki-qil-li-ti in-ta-at-ha-an-ni
16[na-mu]-⸢ra⸣-te-šu₂ a-mah-har-šu₂ TA@v {lu₂}ERIM-MEŠ SIG₅-MEŠ-ti šu-mi ⸢iz⸣-zak-kar
17[re]-⸢e⸣-ha-ti ma-aʾ-da-a-ti ak-kal ina bi-ri-it i-ba-aš₂-ši {anše}GIR₃.NUN.NA
18[o] GUD.NITA₂ it-tan-na u₃ MU.AN.NA-ia KUG.UD 01 MA.NA 02 MA.NA a-kaš-šad
19[UD-MEŠ] ša DUMU—LUGAL DUMU—LUGAL be-li₂-ia TA@v {lu₂}MAŠ.MAŠ-MEŠ-šu₂ re-ha-a-ti a-mah-har
20[ina ŠA₃]-bi ap-ta-⸢te⸣ at-ti-ti-iz ma-aṣ-ṣar-tu₂ ⸢at⸣-ta-aṣ-ṣar UD-mu am—mar ina IGI-šu₂
21⸢az⸣-zi-zu-u-ni ik-ki-be₂-e-šu₂ at-ta-aṣ-ṣar ina E₂ {lu₂}SAG u₃ ša—ziq-ni
22ša la-a pi-i-šu₂ la-a e-ru-ub a-kil u₂-ka-la-a-ti ša UR.MAH at-ta-ad-gil₂
23DINGIR-ka ⸢u₂-sal⸣-li-ma u₂-ma-a LUGAL be-li₂ id—da-at id—da-at AD-šu₂ ur-ta-ad-di šu-mu SIG₅
24⸢uk-ta-in⸣ u₃ a-na-ku la-a ina pi-it-ti ep-še-ti-ia ep-ša₂-ak
25⸢ki-i⸣ [la] ⸢ina pa⸣-ni-it-tim-ma ag-du-uṣ-ṣu-uṣ nap-ša₂-a-ti as-sa-kan
26MU ⸢la SIG₅ li⸣-ih-šu₂ u₃ še-eṣ-ṣu-u₂ ša a-bi-ti iz-zi-ʾa-ar₂
27ik-[ki]-⸢bi ša LUGAL EN⸣-ia at-ta-aṣ-ṣar {lu₂}EN-MEŠ—MUN {lu₂}EN-MEŠ—MUN la-a aṣ-ba-ta
28dib-⸢bi x x x⸣+[x]-u₂-tu as-sa-ad-da-ad ma-az-za-as-su nu-bat-tu
29⸢x⸣+[x] ⸢x x x u₂⸣ ka-na-a-šu₂ ka-da-a-ru u₃ pu-luh-tu ša E₂.GAL
30{⸢lu₂}ARAD⸣-MEŠ ša—⸢ziq-ni⸣ u₃ {lu₂}SAG-MEŠ us-sa-am-mid mi-i-nu ina ⸢ŠA₃-bi⸣
31ah-⸢za⸣-ku šum-⸢mu⸣ il-la-ka {lu₂}um-ma-a-ni dan-nu-ti u₃ {lu₂}02-u⸣-ti
32{⸢anše}GIR₃.NUN.NA-MEŠ⸣ i-na-aš₂-ši-u ia-a-ši 01-en ANŠE.NITA₂ lid-di-[nu]-u-ni
33i-⸢se⸣-[niš ina] {⸢iti⸣}AB GUD-MEŠ uz-za-uz-zu a-na-ku-⸢ma 01-[en] GUD
34lu [x x]+⸢x⸣ ina ŠA₃ ITI 02-šu₂ 03-šu₂ ⸢x x⸣ 03 04 a-na ⸢x⸣+[x x id-du]-nu
35⸢x⸣+[x x x {lu₂]}⸢ša₂⸣-mal-lu-u ⸢ša⸣ {[lu₂}MAŠ].MAŠ 02-i ⸢x⸣+[x x i-ṣab]-⸢bat⸣
36[u₃ x] ⸢UDU.NITA₂⸣ [x x x x x] ek-kal u₃ [a-na-ku]-⸢ma⸣
37[mi-i-nu a-na]-aš₂-ši u₂-la-a dul-lu a-na mi-[i-ni ep-pa]-aš₂
38[x x x x x x x]-⸢ṭu⸣-u₂ ša LUGAL la-a a-dag-gal la-[a x x x]+⸢x⸣-pi
39[x x x x x UD]-mu u₃ MI ina IGI gab-ʾi ša UR.MAH ⸢LUGAL u₂⸣-ṣal-[la]
40[x x x x x x x x x x x]+⸢x⸣-ni ina ŠA₃ u₂-ka-la-a-ti la sa-am-mu-u₂-⸢ni⸣ [x]
41[x x x x x x x x]+⸢x⸣ ŠA₃-bi bir-ti mi-ih-ri-⸢ia⸣ [x]+⸢x⸣ [x x x]
b.e.
42[x x x x x x x x x x x x]+⸢x x⸣+[x x x x]+⸢x⸣+[x x x x x x x]
43[x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x]
44[x x x x x x x x x x x] ⸢kar⸣ [x x x x x]+⸢x⸣ da [x x x x x x]
45[x x x x x x x] ⸢u₃⸣ bir-ti ŠEŠ-MEŠ-ia is-se-niš ⸢x⸣+[x x x x x]
r
1[x x x x] ⸢kal ma-ša₂⸣-qi₂-it {lu₂}a-su-ti ⸢nap-šal-a⸣-[ti x x x x x]
2[x x x x]+⸢x x x⸣ [x x x x] {⸢udu⸣}U₈-MEŠ la ki-i an-ni-e ina ⸢x⸣+[x x x]
3[x x x x]+⸢x⸣-du-u₂-ti e-gir₂-tu ina ŠU.2 {1}LUGAL—ZALAG₂ {lu₂}SAG a-na LUGAL EN-⸢ia⸣
4[a-sap-ra] ⸢u₃⸣ mu-ru-uṣ ŠA₃-bi-ia uk-tam-me-ra a-na LUGAL EN-ia aš₂-pu-⸢ra⸣
5[x x nu-bat]-⸢tu⸣ la-a be₂-⸢e⸣-da-at e-gir₂-tu LUGAL a-na ARAD-šu₂ is-sap-ra
6[ma-a la u₂]-da ki-i a-⸢kan⸣-ni-⸢i⸣ a-⸢kan⸣-ni-⸢i⸣ šam-ru-ṣa-ka-a-ni ma-a a-na-ku
7[x x x x]-ad a-ta-ba-ak-ka a-bu-tu ša LUGAL EN-ia ki-i KUR-e ⸢šap⸣-[šu-qat]
8⸢e⸣-[gir₂-tu] TA@v {giš}GU.ZA ša {d}PA ina ŠA₃ tukul-ti as-sa-kan-ši ki-i DUMU e-⸢di⸣
9⸢at⸣-[ta]-⸢ṣar⸣-ši TA@v ma-aṣ-ṣi si-⸢in⸣-qi₂-ia paṭ-ru-u-ni LUGAL be-li₂ a—dan-[niš]
10⸢ŠA₃-ba-šu₂⸣ lu-u DUG₃.GA-šu₂ ARAD-šu₂ lu-u ih-su-sa ma-a ina da-ga-a-li-[ia]
11⸢li⸣-ih-hu-ra ⸢ki⸣-ša₂-⸢di a-bu⸣-tu ši-i 02-tu ma-a ša TA@v ku-tal-[li-šu₂]
12⸢ma⸣-hi-iṣ-ṣu-⸢ni KA-šu₂⸣ lid-bu-ub u₃ ša ina KA-šu₂ ma-hi-iṣ-⸢ṣu⸣-[ni]
13[ina] ⸢ŠA₃⸣ mi-i-ni lid-bu-ub an-nu-rig 02-ta MU.AN.NA-MEŠ TA@v mar 02 u₂-⸢ma⸣-[me-ia]
14⸢me-tu⸣-ni 03-šu₂ a-na {uru}arba-il₃ ma-la a-na {uru}ŠA₃—URU ina GIR₃.2-ia at-[ta-lak]
15[man]-nu ra-ʾi-i-ma-ni qa-ti iṣ-bat u₃ lu-u ina IGI LUGAL be-li₂-ia ⸢u₂⸣-[še-ri-ban-ni]
16⸢a⸣-ta-a ina ŠA₃ {uru}E₂.GAL-MEŠ SAG {lu₂}MAŠ.MAŠ LUGAL iš-ši u₃ a-na-ku ⸢hu⸣-[lu]
17ša mu-da-bi-ri aṣ-ṣa-bat TA@v IGI ša UN-MEŠ i-ša₂-ʾu-lu-un-ni-ni o
18ma-a a-ta-a ina GIR₃.2-ka ⸢tal⸣-[la]-⸢ka⸣ UN-MEŠ E₂ et-te-qu dan-nu-ti ina {giš}GU.⸢ZA⸣-MEŠ
19{lu₂}02-u₂-ti ina {giš}sa-par-⸢ra⸣-ti {lu₂}ṣe-eh-ru-ti ina ŠA₃ {anše}GIR₃.NUN.NA-MEŠ
20a-na-ku ina GIR₃.2-ia i-SAK-KUL LUGAL i-qab-bi ma-a DUMU ma-a-ti šu-u LUGAL ⸢liš-al⸣
21AD-u-a 06 ANŠE-MEŠ A.ŠA₃ TA@v {1}{d}PA—NUMUN—GIŠ ŠEŠ-šu₂ ib-ta-at-qa ana-ku u₃ ŠEŠ-u-a
22LU₂ 03 ANŠE-MEŠ ni-it-ti-ši u₃ 02 {lu₂}⸢ZI⸣-MEŠ is-se-niš ina GIŠ.MI LUGAL EN-ia
23{lu₂}ZI-MEŠ 05 06 aq-ṭu-nu ina E₂—kid-mur-ri e-ta-rab qa-re-e-tu e-ta-pa-aš₂
24MI₂ ši-i ta-ad-dal-ha-an-ni 05 MU.AN.NA-MEŠ la-a mu-ʾa-a-tu la ba-la-ṭu
25u₃ DUMU-a.a la-aš₂-šu₂ 03 MI₂-MEŠ MU.AN.NA an-ni-tu it-tuq-ta-an-ni u₃ {lu₂}ENGAR
26la-aš₂-šu₂ E₂ {giš}APIN A.ŠA₃ la-aš₂-šu₂ {d}a-num {d}EN.LIL₂ u {d}E₂.A ša ina SAG.DU
27ša LUGAL EN-ia kun-nu-ni šum₂-mu am—mar {kuš}E.SIR₂ am—mar ig-ri
28ša {lu₂}TUG₂.KA.KEŠ₂ ma-aṣ-ṣa-ku-ni te-nu-u₂ ša {tug₂}gu-zip-pi-ia i-ba-aš₂-šu₂-ni
29u₃ ⸢GIN₂⸣-MEŠ LAL-ṭi a-na 06 MA.NA KUG.UD SAG.DU la hab-bu-la-ku-u-ni
30[u₃ ina] ⸢MU⸣.AN.NA-MEŠ-ia ma-a a-na ši-bu-ti tak-šu-da tu-kul-ta-ka lu-u man-nu
31[ina IGI x la]-a mah-rak el-li a-na E₂.GAL la-a tar-ṣa-ak {lu₂}ra-ag-gi-mu
32[as-sa-ʾa-al] ⸢SIG₅⸣ la-a a-mur ma-ah-hur u₃ di-ig-lu un-ta-aṭ-ṭi
33[ša LUGAL be-li₂]-ia₂ a-ma-ar₂-ka SIG₅ na-as-hur-ka maš-ru-u₂
34[ŠA₃-bu x x ša] ⸢LUGAL⸣ le-e-ṭi-ib liš-pur-an-ni am—mar 02 u₂-ma-a-me
35[x x x x x]-ke-e u₃ te-ne₂-e ša {tug₂}gu-zip-pi u₃ na-ṣa-ri
36[x x x x x]-da-ta a-na DUMU—LUGAL-u-ti ša LUGAL be-li₂-[ia₂ x x]
37[LUGAL be-li₂ TA@v ŠA₃ ṣe]-⸢he⸣-ri-šu₂ ud-dan-ni mu-uk la-a ⸢x⸣+[x x x x x]
38[x x x x x x x x]-ni-ba-ša₂ ⸢x⸣ e ⸢x⸣+[x x x x x x]
e.
1[x x x] ⸢hu⸣-ub-tum₃-ma [x x x x x]+⸢x⸣-man-ni TA@v man-ni LUGAL u₂-ša₂-an-⸢mar⸣ [x x x x]
2[x x x]-u₂ man-nu le-e-mur ⸢EN⸣ [x x x x]-MEŠ-šu₂ li-⸢iṣ⸣-[bat x x x]+⸢x⸣ la i-ma-at-[x x x]

Sources & licences

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