SAA 03, 033 (P336604)
Literary Work, Neo-Assyrian, Nineveh · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE
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| Designation | SAA 03, 033 |
|---|---|
| ID | P336604 |
| Museum no. | BM — |
| Collection | British Museum, London, UK |
| Language | Akkadian |
| Period | Neo-Assyrian · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE |
| Genre | Literary Work |
| Find spot | Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) |
| Coordinates | 36.3582, 43.1621 |
English translation
By ORACC project saao/saa03 · Via Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC)
| Line | English |
|---|---|
| Obverse [0:1] o 1'1'–o 1'1' | [...... I am Sennach]erib, the [circumspect] kin[g ......] who revered the gods of heaven and the go[ds of Assyria ......] |
| Obverse [1:6] o 2'2'–o 6'6' | [In] my intense prayers and righteous[ness I daily spoke with my heart], saying: "Who [can comprehend] any of the deeds [of the gods]? Let me introduce into myself reverence for [their godhead], seize the shaft [of their (yoke), .......], frequent [their holy places], and l[et me ......]." |
| Obverse [6:9] o 7'7'–o 9'9' | While thus [reverently] pondering [in my heart] over the deeds of the gods, the death of Sargon, [my father, who was slain in the enemy country] and who was not interred in his house oc[curred] to my mind, [and I said to myself]: |
| Obverse [9:12] o 10'10'–o 12'12' | "[Let me investigate] by means of extispicy the sin of Sargon, my father, let me then find out [the circumstances], le[arn the ......]; [let me make] the sin he committed against the god an abom[ination to myself], and with God's help let me save myself." |
| Obverse [12:16] o 13'13'–o 16'16' | I w[ent and collected the haruspices], the courtiers of my palace guarding the mystery of god and king; I split them [into several groups] so that they could not ap[proach or speak to one another]. I [investigated] the sins of Sargon, my father, by extispicy, [enquiring of Šamaš and Adad] as follows: |
| Obverse [16:20] o 17'17'–o 20'20' | "Was it because [he esteemed] the gods o[f Assyria too much], [placing them] above the gods of Babylonia [......, (and was it) because] he did no[t keep] the treaty of the king of gods, [that Sargon my father] was slain [in the enemy country and] was not b[uried] in his house?" |
| Obverse [20:24] o 21'21'–o 24'24' | [......] The haruspices whom [I had split] into [several groups un]animously [gave me a reliable answer in the affirmative]. [...... I opened my han]ds (in prayer) and lifted [my hands, and in supplication and humility I prayed on account of Sarg]on, [my] fat[her: "...... |
| Obverse [24:25] o 32'32'–o 32'32' | [......] plac[ed .......] |
| Obverse [25:26] o 33'33'–o 33'33' | [...... ch]eckings ...[......] |
| Obverse [26:27] o 34'34'–o 34'34' | [......] of the temple, the shrine of the assem[bly of gods] |
| Obverse [27:29] o 35'35'–o 36'36' | [...... After] I had inqui[red (the will of)] Šamaš and Adad, [I lifted my hands and prayed on acco]unt of the statue of Marduk, saying: "May it be d[one!" |
| Obverse [29:32] o 37'37'–o 39'39' | The gods ........ acce]pted my prayer, and how radiant was [my mood! They/I said: "Let them make pea]ce and [......] to him; let the gods of Babylonia set their minds [......]. |
| Obverse [32:36] o 40'40'– | [By Aššur, the divine king, the god who c]reated me; (by) queen Mullissu, [the divine empress who vanquishes all] enemies; (by) Sin, who glorifies [my exalted priesthood; (by) Šamaš], who stabilizes my royal throne: |
| Reverse [0:2] r 1r 1–r 22 | [Should] anyone, [my son, ...... give you] an ill considered [counsel] and (try to) change your mind without [having performed] an extispicy or [.....], [be on your guard: |
| Reverse [2:5] r 33–r 55 | Perhaps ...... wh]at Šamaš and Adad have revealed in extispicy [......] he has concealed [like] a rejected [......] and has [not] announced to you [.......]. |
| Reverse [5:7] r 66–r 77 | My father, too, [who/after he] had made up his m[ind to ... |
| Reverse [9:10] r 10'10'–r 10'10' | [......] you anything [......] |
| Reverse [10:12] r 11'11'–r 12'12' | [Just as I], when I was to as[k directly (the will of)] Šamaš and Adad, [......] listened to th[eir ......, so you too make] the haruspices [to ......!] |
| Reverse [12:18] r 13'13'–r 18'18' | [Just as I], when I was to make [the statu]e of Aššur the great lord, and the statue of [Marduk, the great lord], and to set aright the rites and ordinances of Assyria and [Babylonia], in performing the extispicy split the ha[ruspices into sev]eral groups, so you too, like me, divide the har[uspices] into several groups, announce your query to [the haruspices] who stand [at the site], and have them [perform] the extispicy [and look at the features]. |
| Reverse [18:20] r 19'19'–r 20'20' | Let (then) the remaining haruspices who were divided as a separate group study the features, [find out] the will of Šamaš and Adad, [and tell it to you!] |
| Reverse [20:23] r 21'21'–r 23'23' | As for me, after I had made the statue of Aššur my lord, Assyrian scribes wrongfully prevented me from working [on the statue of Marduk] and did not let me make [the statue of Marduk, the great lord], and (thus) [shortened my li]fe. [......]. |
| Reverse [23:25] r 24'24'–r 25'25' | (However), the grand scheme of mine which from times immemorial none of my r[oyal predecessors] had brought into realization , I have (now) communicated to you; [......] |
| Reverse [25:29] r 26'26'–r 29'29' | Accept what I have explained to you, and reconcile [the gods of Babylonia] with your gods! Aššur, the king of the god[s], has victoriously marched [from sunrise to sunset]; the gods of Heaven and [Earth will prolong] your reign; the shaft of Šamaš and [Adad ......] |
| Reverse [29:30] r 30'30'–r 30'30' | the creation of gods [......] |
| Reverse [30:31] r 31'31'–r 31'31' | above all the [kings .......] |
| Reverse [31:32] r 32'32'–r 32'32' | will be extolled [......] |
| Reverse [32:33] r 33'33'–r 33'33' | will let you know [......] |
| Reverse [33:34] r 34'34'–r 34'34' | relief [......] |
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' | {1}{d}30—PAB]—⸢MEŠ—SU ma⸣-al-⸢ku⸣ [pit-qu-du x x x x x x x x] | |
| 2' | pa-lih DINGIR-MEŠ ša₂ AN-e u ⸢DINGIR⸣-[MEŠ ša₂ KUR—aš-šur{ki} a-na-ku i-na] | |
| 3' | šu-te-mu-qi₂-ia u ki-nu-[ti-ia u₂-mi-šam it-ti ŠA₃-bi-ia ad-(da-na)-bu-ub] | |
| 4' | um-ma man-nu mim-ma ep-še-e-⸢ti⸣ [DINGIR-MEŠ i-ha-ak-kim DINGIR-ut-su-nu] | |
| 5' | pa-la-hu a-ha-zu si-ir-du-⸢u₂⸣-[šu-nu x x x x x aš₂-ra-a-ti-šu-nu] | |
| 6' | ši-te-ʾu-u₂ lu-še-rib-an-ni-⸢ma lu⸣-[x x x x x x x x x] | |
| 7' | ina šu-ta-bu-lum ša₂ ep-še-e-ti DINGIR-[MEŠ ša₂ it-ti ŠA₃-bi-ia pal-hiš] | |
| 8' | uš-tab-ba-lu mi-tu-tu ša₂ {1}LUGAL—GIN [AD-ia ša₂ ina KUR—na-ki-ri KUR—na-ki-ri de-ku-ma] | |
| 9' | ina E₂-šu₂ la qeb-ru a-na ŠA₃-bi-ia ⸢im⸣-[qut-am-ma ki-a-am aq-bi a-na ra-ma-ni-ia] | |
| 10' | um-ma hi-ṭu ša₂ {1}LUGAL—GIN AD-ia ina bi-⸢ri⸣ [lu-ub-re-e-ma ar-ka-ta] | |
| 11' | lu-up-ru-sa-am-ma a-na-ku lu-⸢ul⸣-[mad x x x x x x x x] | |
| 12' | hi-ṭu a-na DINGIR ih-ṭu-u a-na ik-⸢ki⸣-[bi-ia lu-uš-kun-ma x x x pu-ti] | |
| 13' | u pag-ri it-ti DINGIR lu-še-e-ṣi al-[lik-ma u₂-pah-hir DUMU-MEŠ {lu₂}HAL-MEŠ] | |
| 14' | na-ṣir pi-riš-ti DINGIR u LUGAL man-za-[az E₂.GAL-ia a-na 03-šu₂ a-na 04-u₂] | |
| 15' | a-zu-us-su-nu-ti-ma la iṭ-[hu-u₂-ma la id-bu-bu it-ti a-ha-meš] | |
| 16' | hi-ṭa-a-ti {1}LUGAL—GIN AD-ia ina ⸢bi⸣-[ri ab-re-e-ma {d}UTU u {d}IM aš₂-ʾa-al] | |
| 17' | um-ma a-na UGU ša₂ DINGIR-MEŠ ⸢ša₂⸣ [KUR—aš-šur{ki} ma-aʾ-diš u₂-kab-bi-tu-ma] | |
| 18' | a-na UGU DINGIR-MEŠ ša₂ KUR—URI{⸢ki⸣} [iš-ku-nu x x x x x a-na UGU] | |
| 19' | ša₂ a-de-e LUGAL DINGIR-MEŠ u ⸢la⸣ [iṣ-ṣu-ru {1}LUGAL—GIN AD-u-a ina KUR—na-ki-ri] KUR—na-ki-ri] | |
| 20' | de-ke-e-ma ina E₂-šu₂ la ⸢qe₂⸣-[be-e-re x x x x x x x x x] | |
| 21' | ⸢DUMU⸣-MEŠ {lu₂}HAL-MEŠ ša₂ a-na 03-šu₂ a-na 04-šu₂ a-zu-zu-šu₂-nu-ti] | |
| 22' | [pa-a] ⸢e⸣-da iš-šak-nu-[ma i-pu-lu-in-ni an-na ke-e-nu x x x x] | |
| 23' | [ap-ti up]-⸢na⸣-ia aš₂-⸢ši⸣ [ŠU.2-MEŠ-ia ina ut-nen-ni la-ban ap-pi u₂-ṣal-li] | |
| 24' | [a-na UGU {1}LUGAL]—⸢GIN AD⸣-[ia um-ma x x x x x x x x x x] | |
| 32' | [x x x x x x x x x x x x]-⸢šak-ka⸣-[nu x x x x] | |
| 33' | [x x x x x x x x x x pi]-⸢qit⸣-ta-a-ti ⸢ša₂⸣ du-[x x x] | |
| 34' | [x x x x x x x x x x x] ša₂ E₂—DINGIR E₂—DINGIR BARAG ša₂ pu-⸢hur⸣ [DINGIR-MEŠ] | |
| 35' | [x x x x x x x x x x ul-tu] {d}UTU u {d}IM aš₂-ʾa-[a-lu] | |
| 36' | [aš₂-ši ŠU.2-MEŠ-ia x x u₂-ṣal-li a-na] ⸢UGU⸣ ṣa-lam {d}AMAR.UTU um-ma ⸢lu e⸣-[piš] | |
| 37' | [x x x x x x x x x im-gu]-ru qi₂-bi-ti ki-ki-i-a na-⸢am⸣-rat | |
| 38' | [ka-bat-ti um-ma DINGIR-MEŠ x x lis]-⸢li⸣-mu-ma a-na ša₂-a-šu₂ | |
| 39' | [x x x x x x x DINGIR-MEŠ] ⸢ša₂⸣ KUR—URI{ki} liš-ku-nu pa-ni-šu₂-un | |
| 40' | [ni-iš AN.ŠAR₂ MAN DINGIR-MEŠ DINGIR] ⸢ba⸣-ni-ia šar-rat {d}NIN.LIL₂ | |
| 41' | [ru-bat i-la-a-ti x x x ka-ši-da-at] ia-a-bi {d}30 mu-šar-bu-u | |
| 42' | {[lu₂}ša₂-an-gu-ti-ia x x x x {d}UTU] mu-kin {giš}GU.ZA LUGAL-ti-ia | |
| r | ||
| 1 | [at-ta ma-ri ki-i x x mil-ku] ⸢ša₂⸣ la ma-la-ki mam-ma šum-ma la ina bi-ri | |
| 2 | [šum-ma la ina x x x x i-mal-li]-ku ṭe₃-e-mu ka-a-ta u₂-ša₂-an-nu-ka | |
| 3 | [x x x x x x x x x] ⸢ša₂⸣ ina bi-ri {d}UTU u {d}IM ud-du-u₂-ni | |
| 4 | [x x x x x x x x x] ⸢šum⸣-su-ku u₂-pa-an-zi-ir-⸢ma⸣ | |
| 5 | [x x x x x x x x x x la] u₂-ša₂-aš₂-me-ka u AD-u₂-⸢a⸣ | |
| 6 | [ša₂ a-na x x x x x x pa]-⸢ni⸣-šu₂ iš-ku-⸢nu x x⸣ [x]+⸢x⸣ [x x] | |
| 7 | [x x x x x x x x x x x x] ⸢UGU an⸣ [x x x x x x] | |
| 8' | [x x x x x x x x x x x x x x] ⸢x⸣+[x x x x x x x] | |
| 9' | [x x x x x x x x x x x x]-nu u ⸢šu₂⸣ [x x x x x x] | |
| 10' | [x x x x x x x x x x]-⸢HU⸣-ka mim-ma ⸢ni⸣-[x x x x x] | |
| 11' | [at-ta-ma ki-i ša₂ a-na-ku (ṭe₃-em) {d]}UTU u {d}IM a-na ša₂-[ʾa-a-li-ia x x] | |
| 12' | [x x x x x x-šu]-⸢nu⸣ aš₂-mu-u {lu₂}HAL-MEŠ ṭe₃-[e-mu x x x x] | |
| 13' | [ki-i ša₂ a-na-ku ṣa]-⸢lam⸣ AN.ŠAR₂ EN GAL-i u ṣa-lam {⸢d⸣}[AMAR.UTU EN GAL-i] | |
| 14' | a-⸢na⸣ e-pe-ši-ia ⸢GARZA⸣-MEŠ u ME.TE-MEŠ ša₂ KUR—aš-šur{ki} ⸢u⸣ [KUR—URI{ki]} | |
| 15' | a-na šu-te-šu-ri-ia bi-ri ina ba-re-e-a DUMU-⸢MEŠ⸣ {[lu₂}HAL-MEŠ a-na 03-šu₂] | |
| 16' | a-na 04-šu₂ a-zu-zu at-ta ki-ma ia-a-ši-ma ⸢DUMU-MEŠ⸣ {[lu₂}HAL-MEŠ] | |
| 17' | šum-ma a-na 03-šu₂ šum-ma a-na 04-šu₂ pu-ru-us-⸢ma⸣ [a-na {lu₂}HAL-MEŠ ša₂ ina bi-ri] | |
| 18' | iz-zi-iz-zu ta-mi-it-ka šu-di-ma bi-⸢ri⸣ [lib-ru-u₂-ma te-re-ti li-mu-ru] | |
| 19' | re-eh-ti {lu₂}HAL-MEŠ ša₂ a-he-en-na-a pur-ru-⸢su⸣ [x x x x x x x] | |
| 20' | ⸢te⸣-re-e-ti li-hi-ṭu-ma ṭe₃-em {d}UTU u {d}IM [lil-ma-du liq-bu-u-nik-ka] | |
| 21' | a-na-ku ul-tu ṣa-lam AN.ŠAR₂ EN-ia i-pu-šu dul-⸢lu⸣ [ša₂ ṣa-lam {d}AMAR.UTU] | |
| 22' | {lu₂}DUB.SAR-MEŠ aš-šur-a.a up-tar-ri-ku-in-ni-ma [ṣa-lam {d}AMAR.UTU EN GAL-i] | |
| 23' | a-na e-pe-ši ul id-di-nu-in-ni-ma ba-⸢la⸣-[ṭi u₂-qat-tu-u₂ x x x x x] | |
| 24' | nik-lat ŠA₃-bi-ia ša₂ ul-tu pa-na-a-ma ina ⸢LUGAL⸣-[MEŠ a-li-kut mah-ri-ia] | |
| 25' | a.a-am-ma la i-pu-šu ka-a-ta u₂-še-⸢di⸣-[ka x x x x x x x x] | |
| 26' | šu-ut u₂-šah₂-ki-mu-ka ina ŠU.2-ka ⸢ṣa⸣-[bat-ma DINGIR-MEŠ KUR—URI{ki]} | |
| 27' | it-ti DINGIR-MEŠ-ka sul-lim AN.ŠAR₂ MAN ⸢DINGIR⸣-[MEŠ ul-tu {d}UTU.E₃ {d}UTU.E₃ EN {d}UTU.ŠU₂.A] {d}UTU.ŠU₂.A] | |
| 28' | šal-ṭi-iš i-ta-lak DINGIR-MEŠ AN-e ⸢u⸣ [KI.TIM x x x x li-šal-bi-ru] | |
| 29' | pa-lu-ka si-ir-de-e {d}UTU u {[d}IM x x x x x x x x x x] | |
| 30' | li-pit ŠU.2 ša₂ DINGIR-MEŠ [x x x x x x x x x x x x] | |
| 31' | e-li ka-li-šu₂-⸢nu⸣ [ma-al-ki x x x x x x x x x x x x] | |
| 32' | nu-ʾu-u₂-da-at ⸢x⸣+[x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x] | |
| 33' | u₂-še-du-ka ina ⸢bi⸣-[x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x] | |
| 34' | ⸢tap⸣-šu-⸢uh-ti x⸣+[x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x] | |
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)
- electronic Babylonian Library (eBL), LMU Munich · MIT (eBL Zenodo dataset); platform terms unverified · electronic Babylonian Library (eBL), LMU Munich, https://www.ebl.lmu.de/ ; Zenodo dataset (MIT)
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.