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Oppenheim Glass K 00203, pl. 4-5 (P393786)

Scholarly or scientific, Neo-Assyrian, Nineveh · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE

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DesignationOppenheim Glass K 00203, pl. 4-5
IDP393786
Museum no.BM —
CollectionBritish Museum, London, UK
LanguageAkkadian
PeriodNeo-Assyrian · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE
GenreScholarly or scientific
Find spotNineveh (mod. Kuyunjik)
Coordinates36.3582, 43.1621

English translation

By Oppenheim, A. Leo · Via Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC)

LineEnglish
Obverse Column i [0:8] o i 1o i 1–o i 88When you lay the foundations of a glass-making kiln, [you search repeatedly for a suitable day] during a favorable month, so that [you may lay] the foundations of the kiln. As soon as [you complete (the construction of)] the kiln, in the house of the kiln (...) you set down Kūbu demons in order that an outsider or stranger cannot enter; one who is impure cannot cross their (Kūbu demons’) presence. You will constantly scatter aromatics offerings in their presence.
Obverse Column i [8:15] o i 99–o i 1515On the day that you set down “glass” (lit: "stone") within the kiln, you make a sheep sacrifice in the presence of the Kūbu demons, (and) you set down a censer (with) juniper, you pour honey (over it). You (then) ignite a fire at the base of the kiln. You (may now) set down the “glass” within the kiln. The persons that you bring close to the kiln (...) must be purified, (only then) can [you allow them to sit near] (and overlook) the kiln.
Obverse Column i [15:20] o i 1616–o i 2020You burn various wooden logs at the base of the kiln (including): thick logs of poplar that are stripped, and quru-wood containing no knots, bound up with apu-straps; (these logs are to be) cut during the month of Abu; these are the various logs that should go beneath your kiln.
Obverse Column i [20:26] o i 2121–o i 2626If you want to make “lapis lazuli” (zagindurû-glass): you grind separately 10 minas of immanakku-stone, 15 mana of salicornia ashes, and 1 2/3 mana of “white plant.” You mix (them) together. You set (the glass) into the cold kiln with four openings and arrange it [between] the openings. You burn a good, smokeless fire. You remove [the "glass"] as soon as it (begins to) turn white.
Obverse Column i [26:32] o i 2727–o i 3232You cool it off, and grind it down (again). You (then) [collect it] within a clean dabtu-crucible, you place [the "glass" into a cold] kiln [chamber], and burn [a good and smokeless fire] until (...); you pour it onto a [fire] brick; [its name is "lapis lazuli"].
Obverse Column i [32:43] o i 3333–o i 4343You put 10 minas of "slow copper" into a clean dabtu-crubible. You place it in a hot chamber kiln, and you close the door of the kiln. You burn a strong, smokeless fire until the "(slow) copper" glows red. You crush and grind (finely) 10 minas of zukû-glass. You open the door of the kiln and throw (the fritted zukû-glass) onto the "(slow) copper," until the zukû-glass atop the "(slow) copper" fuses, and the "(slow) copper" settles at the bottom of the "glass" mixture. You stir (the mixture) with a rake once, twice, and thrice (until ...) the "(slow) copper" (...)
Obverse Column ii [0:5] o ii 1o ii 1–o ii 55As soon as it glows yellow, you (....) and once it has become yellow (....) and when the "glass" is solid (....), you pour it out [into a new dabtu-crucible ... and that which] comes out (is): [lapis lazuli]
Obverse Column ii [5:7] o ii 66–o ii 77Copy of an [ancient tablet]
Obverse Column ii [6:12] o ii 77–o ii 1212If you want to make “lapis lazuli” (zagindurû-glass): you grind separately 10 minas of immanakku-stone (and) 12 minas of salicornia. You mix (these ingredients) together, and set down (the mixture) into a cold kiln with four chambers, arranging it between the openings. You burn a good smokeless fire until your mixture [glows red]1. You take it out into the open air and you cool it off.
Obverse Column ii [12:17] o ii 1313–o ii 1717You grind (the mixture) once again. You (then) collect it within a clean dabtu-crucible, and you set it into a cold kiln chamber. [You burn] a good smokeless fire, and you [cover it] as soon as the mixture glows yellow. [After (the mixture) has turned yellow, you transfer it] onto the top of a fire brick. [Its name is "lapis lazuli" (zukû-glass).]
Obverse Column ii [17:23] o ii 1818–o ii 1'1'(broken lines)
Obverse Column ii [24:39] o ii 3'3'–o ii 17'17'the base of [... you burn] a good smokeless fire (...) the fire from (...) once your mixture (...) in the kiln (...) as soon as the glass turns red, [you close the door of the kiln.] After the "glass" has turned red [you close the door of the kiln] (...) once it has turned yellow [you stir it ...] After the "glass" has turned yellow (...) when the glass is solid (....) you pour it out (...) and (that which) emerges is: ["lapis lazuli"]
Obverse Column ii [39:42] o ii 18'18'–o ii 20'20'To x minas of tersītu (you add) (...) minas of amnakku (....)
Reverse Column i [0:9] r i 1'r i 1'–r i 9'9'If [you want to make "fast bronze," you (first) set down, into a cold] kiln 10 minas of (...) you ignite [a proper fire. You frit (the ingredients; lit: "you cause them to turn white"). You frit them] once again [using an old harāgu-crucible.] You [pour water] onto the mixture (and) [on a favorable day you make] an offering (...) kiln chamber
Reverse Column i [9:22] r i 10'10'–r i 22'22'In the dead of [night, you ignite the kiln chamber ... you (prepare?)] poplar [... At daybreak, you ignite (the wood)] beneath [the kiln. You (then) return (once again) to your] harāgu-crucible. [You set down 1/3 mina of "fast copper"] using a suʾlu-tool. [You set down the harāgu-crucible (... you strengthen] the fire [..., (and) you guard the fire until cracks (begin to)] appear [... this is tērsītu] of reddish "lapis lazuli" (uqnû-glass). [You let it rest within the kiln. After you have continuosly rested] "the fast bronze," [you set it over] a fire brick. You throw water over it. [Procedure for reddish "lapis lazuli" (uqnû-glass).]
Reverse Column i [22:30] r i 23'23'–r i 38'38'If you [want to make] būṣu-glass, [you mix together: 5 minas of ṭikmēnu-ashes] from salicornia "horns", [5 minas of immanakku, shekels of "male" anzahhu-glass], and 5 shekels of shells. [You set it down into a] cold [kiln chamber] and you ignite [a good fire. You frit (the mixture). You set it into an old] harāgu-crucible (...) fine-quality būṣu-glass.
Reverse Column i [29:31] r i 38'38'–r i 39'39'(broken)
Reverse Column i [30:39] r i 39'39'–r i 47'47'If you want to make "quartz" (dušû-glass), you grind together: x minas of salicornia, 2 1/2 minas of [...], x minas of amnakku, together with 1/2 mina of [... You set (the glass)] into the cold kiln with four openings and arrange it between the openings. You burn a [good], smokeless [fire] until [your mixture] glows green. You control2 (the color change) using the fire. After, [the mixture] has turned green, you take it out and cool it off.
Reverse Column i [39:49] r i 48'48'–You grind [(the mixture) once again]. You [collect it] within a clean dabtu-crucible, [and you set down the mixture] into a cold kiln chamber. You burn a good smokeless fire until (the glass) glows yellow. You stir it once in your direction. You will see "someone" at the opening of the kiln. Once the glass is solid and takes on the appearance (lit: face) of quartz (... you add?) x minas of amnakku, (...) tuskû, (...) minas of shells; (these) ingredients
Reverse Column ii [3:8] r ii 4'4'–r ii 8'8'If you want [to make] "turquoise" (ašgigû-glass), [you mix] repeatedly: (...). You collect (these ingredients). You place the base of the teššu-mould onto the top of the (...) within the utūnu-kiln. You fire it for seven days, and close the utūnu-kiln. On the tenth day, you open (the kiln) and take out (the mixture).
Reverse Column ii [8:16] r ii 9'9'–r ii 16'16'(For) your second processing, you once again crush and grind: 1 kisal of anzahhu washed of šiktu-impurities, (unspecified quantity of) tuskû, 1 shekel of shells, 1 kisal of salicornia, (adding these) to 1 mina of molten (lit: "heated) glass. You stir it, and mix it, just as you had done previously. You keep a fire burning. You remove it; this is "fine-quality3 quartz" (lit: green dušû-glass), which has been processed twice.
Reverse Column ii [16:18] r ii 17'17'–r ii 18'18'(These are) the ingredients, not (missing even a single) "hair of barley"4
Reverse Column ii [17:22] r ii 18'18'–r ii 22'22'To 20 minas of amnakku (you add) 1 biltu-unit of salicornia "horns," 2 minas of anzahhu, 10 shekels of shells, 1 mina of tuskû, 5 shekels of lulû; (that which) emerges is "quartz" (dušû-glass).
Reverse Column ii [22:27] r ii 23'23'–r ii 28'28'If you want to make būṣu-glass, tērsītu of "lapis lazuli" (uqnû-glass), or "quartz" (dušû-glass); (these are) the complete (procedures). Palace of Assurbanipal, king of the world, king of Aššur, who was bestowed with the widom of the gods Nabu and Tašmetu (...) inspected (...)

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 i
1[e]-⸢nu⸣-ma uš-ši ⸢ku⸣-[u]-⸢ri ša₂ NA₄⸣ [...]
2[i]-na ITI šal-mi [...] ⸢x⸣ [...]
3⸢uš⸣-ši ku-u₂-ri [...]
4a-di ku-u₂-ra ⸢tu⸣-[...]-ma ⸢te⸣-[... ...]
5i-na E₂ ku-u₂-⸢ri⸣ [...]-ri U₄ [...]
6{d}KU₃.BU-MEŠ tu-⸢šeš-šib-ma⸣ ša₂-nu-u a-⸢hu⸣-[u]
7NU KU₄{ub} NU ⸢KU₃⸣ [... pa]-ni-šu₂-nu la GIB
8gi-na-a si-ir-⸢qa⸣ [... pa]-ni-šu₂-nu ta-sar₂-raq
9u₄-um NA₄ ana ŠA₃ ⸢ku⸣-[u₂]-⸢ri⸣ tu-šer₃-ri-du
10{udu}SISKUR₂ ana IGI {d}[KU₃.BU]-⸢MEŠ⸣ DU₃{uš} NIG₂.NA
11ŠIM.LI GAR{an} ⸢LAL₃⸣ [...] BAL{qi₂}ma
12IZI ina KI.TA ku-u₂-⸢ri MU₂⸣{ah}ma
13NA₄ a-na ŠA₃ ku-u₂-ri [tu]-šer₃-⸢ri-da⸣
14LU₂-MEŠ ša₂ ana UGU ku-u-⸢ri⸣ [...]
15u₂-tab-ba-bu-ma ana UGU ku-u₂-⸢ri⸣ [...]
16GIŠ-HI.A ša₂ ina KI.TA ku-u-ri ta-⸢šar⸣-[ra-pu]
17{giš}ASAL₂ kab-bar-ta qa-li-[ip-tu]
18qu-ru-u ša₂ ki-iṣ-ra la na-⸢du⸣-[u]
19i-na {kuš}a-pi ṣab-tu ina {iti}NE ⸢KU₅⸣{[su]}
20GIŠ-HI.A an-nu-u ina KI.TA ku-u₂-ri-ka lil-⸢lik⸣
21šum-ma {na₄}ZA.GIN₃.DUR₅ ana DU₃-ka 10 MA.NA IM.MA.NA
2215 MA.NA NE {u₂}NAGA 1 2/3 MA.NA U₂ BABBAR a-he-e
23[ta]-⸢mar⸣-raq 1{niš} HI.HI ana ku-u₂-ri ša₂ 4 IGI-MEŠ-ša₂
24[ka]-⸢ṣi-ti⸣ tu-še-rid-[ma] ina bi-rit IGI-MEŠ
25[ta]-red-di ⸢IZI⸣ [ṭa-ab-ta] ⸢la⸣ qa-tir-ta
26[ta]-⸢šar₂⸣-rap a-di [NA₄] ⸢i-pi⸣-iṣ-ṣu-u
27⸢tu⸣-šel-lam-ma tu-⸢kaṣ₃⸣-[ṣi ...]-⸢x-raq⸣
28[a]-na da-ab-ti ⸢za⸣-[ku-ti ...]
29a-na ku-u₂-ri ša₂ [...]
30E₁₁{id} IZI ṭa-⸢ab-ta x⸣ [...]
31ta-šar₂-rap a-di i-⸢har⸣-[ra-ṣu ...]
32ana UGU a-gur-ri ta-⸢na⸣-az-za-lam-ma {na₄}[... ...]
3310 MA.NA URUDU-HI.A ni-ha ana da-ab-ti ⸢za⸣-ku-⸢ti⸣
34ta-šak-kan a-na ku-u₂-ri ša tak₂-kan-ni
35em-me-ti tu-šer₃-rid-ma KA₂ ku-u-ri tu-kat₃-tam
36IZI dan-na-ta la qa-tir-ta ta-šar₂-rap
37a-di URUDU-HI.A i-raš-šu-šu 10 MA.NA za-ke-e
38ta-haš-šal-ma ta-mar-raq KA₂ ku-u₂-ri
39ta-pe-et-ti-ma ana UGU URUDU-HI.A ŠUB{di}
40a-di zu-ku-u₂ UGU URUDU-HI.A i-mah-ha-hu-ma
41URUDU-HI.A ina KI.TA NA₄ i-šak-ku-nu
42i-na mu-⸢ter⸣-ri 1{šu₂} 2{šu₂} 3{šu₂} ta-bi-ih-hiš
43⸢a-di x-x-x⸣ URUDU-HI.A ⸢x-x-ab-x⸣
o ii
1a-di i-har-⸢ra⸣-[ṣu ...]
2ul-tu ih-tar-[ṣu ...]
3šum-ma NA₄ ⸢up⸣-[pu-uq ...]
4ta-na-⸢az⸣-[za-lam ...]
5il-lam-ma [...]
6GABA.RI [DUB LIBIR.RA]
7šum-ma {na₄}ZA.⸢GIN₃⸣.[DUR₅ a-na] DU₃-ka 10 MA.⸢NA⸣ [...]
812 MA.NA a-[hu-us]-su a-he-e ⸢ta⸣-[mar-raq]
91{niš} HI.HI a-⸢na⸣ [ku]-⸢u₂⸣-ri ša₂ 4 IGI-MEŠ-ša₂ ka-⸢ṣi⸣-[te]
10tu-šer₃-rid-ma ina bi-rit IGI-MEŠ ta-⸢red⸣-[di]
11IZI ṭa-ab-ta la qa-tir-ta ta-šar₂-[rap]
12a-di bil-lu-ka U₄-MEŠ tu-šel-lam-ma tu-⸢kaṣ₃⸣-[ṣi]
13GUR-ma ta-mar-raq a-⸢na⸣ da-ab-ti za-⸢ku⸣-[ti ...]
14a-na ku-u-ri ša₂ tak₂-kan-[ni] ⸢ka-ṣi-ti⸣ [...]
15IZI ṭa-ab-ta la ⸢qa⸣-[tir-ta ...]
16a-di i-har-ra-⸢ṣu⸣ [...]
17ana UGU a-gur-⸢ri⸣ [...]
18[x]-⸢x x⸣-[...]
2110 MA.[NA ...]
22KA₂ [...]
23⸢x⸣-[...]
24⸢x⸣-[...]
1'⸢x⸣-[...]
2'⸢ka⸣-[...]
3'ne₂-me-⸢di⸣ [...]
4'IZI ṭa-[ab-ta ...]
5'IZI ul-[tu ...]
6'a-di ⸢bil⸣-[lu-ka ...]
7'ina ku-⸢u₂⸣-[ri ...]
8'a-⸢na⸣ [...]
9'[...]
10'⸢x x x⸣ [...]
11'a-di NA₄ i-raš-⸢šu⸣-[šu ...]
12'ul-tu₂ NA₄ ir-taš-šu [...]
13'a-di i-har-ra-ṣu [...]
14'ul-tu₂ ih-tar-ṣu [...]
15'šum-ma NA₄ up-pu-[uq ...]
16'ta-na-az-za-lam-ma [...]
17'il-lam-ma [...]
18'[...] MA.NA te-er-[si-tu ...]
19'[... MA].⸢NA⸣ {na₄}am-na-⸢ak⸣-[ku ...]
20'[... x]-⸢ul⸣-[...]
r i
1'šum-⸢ma⸣ [...]
2'10 MA.⸢NA⸣ [...]
3'ina ⸢ku-u⸣-[ri ...]
4'ta-⸢šar₂⸣-[rap ...]
5'⸢tu⸣-[tar ...]
6'ina ŠA₃ [...]
7'{udu}⸢SISKUR⸣ [...]
8'an-[... ...]
9'ša ⸢tuk⸣-[kan-ni ...]
10'ina qu₂-[ul-te ...]
11'{giš}⸢ASAL₂⸣ [...]
12'ina ⸢KI⸣.[TA ...]
13'ha-⸢ra⸣-[ga-ti ...]
14'ina ⸢su⸣-[uʾ-li ...]
15'IZI [...]
16'a-di [...]
17'ana ŠA₃ [...]
18'im-mar-[... ...]
19'ta-⸢tu⸣-[...]
20'{na₄}ZA.GIN₃ ⸢SA₅⸣ [...]
21'TA ⸢ZABAR⸣ [...]
22'A-MEŠ ina ⸢UGU⸣ [...]
23'šum-ma {na₄}bu-⸢ṣu⸣ [...]
24'ša {u₂}NAGA [SI ...]
25'5 KISAL nam-⸢ru⸣-[tum ...]
26'ka-ṣi-ti [...]
27'ta-šar-⸢rap⸣ [...]
28'ina ha-⸢ra⸣-[gi ...]
37'[... {na₄]}⸢ZA⸣.GIN₃ ⸢SIG₅⸣ [...]
38'[...] [...]
39'[... {na₄]}⸢DU₈⸣.ŠI.A a-⸢na⸣ [DU₃-ka]
40'[...] {u₂}NAGA 2 1/2 [...]
41'[...]-ku 1{niš} ina 1/2 MA.[NA ...]
42'[...]-⸢e⸣ ta-mar-raq TEŠ₂.BI [...]
43'[ša₂] 4 IGI-MIN-ša₂ ka-ṣi-⸢ti⸣ [...]
44'i-na bi-rit IGI-MIN ta-red-⸢di⸣ [...]
45'la qa-tir-ta ta-šar₂-rap ⸢a⸣-[di ...]
46'ir-ri-qu ina IZI ta-red-di ⸢ul⸣-[tu₂ ...]
47'i-te-er-qu tu-šel-lam-ma tu-⸢kaṣ₃⸣-[ṣi ...]
48'ta-mar-raq a-na da-ab-ti za-ku-⸢ti⸣ [...]
49'a-na ku-u₂-ri ša₂ tak₂-kan-ni ka-ṣi-ti ⸢x⸣-[...]
50'IZI ṭa-ab-ta la qa-tir-ta ta-šar₂-[rap]
51'a-di i-har-ra-ṣu ma-la-ni ana pa-ni-ka ta-bi-ih-[hiš]
52'TA IGI ma-am-ma tam-mar-ma šum-ma NA₄ up-pu-⸢uq⸣
53'u₃ zi-im {na₄}DUH.ŠI.A it-taš-kin
r ii
1'[x MA.NA] {⸢na₄}am-na⸣-[ku ...]
2'[...]-⸢ti⸣ tu-us-ku-u₂ [...]
3'[...] ⸢nam⸣-ru-tum maš-ka-an-[ti ...]
4'[šum]-⸢ma⸣ a-na {na₄}AŠ₂.GI₄.GI₄ ⸢x⸣-[...]
5'ta-sa-hur-ma a-na tam-šil-te ⸢te⸣-[es-sip]
6'iš-di tam-šil-ti-ka te-eš-ši ina ⸢UGU⸣ [...]
7'a-na ŠA₃ UDUN GAR{an}ma U₄ 7-KAM₂ ⸢IZI⸣ [...]
8'UDUN te-pe-hi-ma a-na U₄ 10-KAM₂ te-⸢pe⸣-[et-ti]
9'tu-še-la-šu-ma a-na 1 MA.NA NA₄ ba-aš-⸢li⸣
10'1 KISAL {na₄}AN.ZAH me-sa-⸢at⸣
11'ši-ik-tu tu-us-ku-u₂ 1 GIN₂ nam-ru-tum
12'1 KISAL {u₂}NAGA ta-sa-hur-ma ša₂-nu-te-ka
13'ta-haš-šal ta-mar-raq tul-ta-bal
14'ta-ma-ra-as-ma ki-i qa-at pa-ni-ma
15'IZI ta-šar₂-rap tu-še-lam-ma
16'{na₄}DU₈.ŠI.A SIG₇ ša 2{šu} tu-ur-ru an-ni-tu
17'maš-ši-tu ša la-a ša-rat ŠE{e}
18'a-na 20 MA.NA {na₄}am-na-ku
19'1 GUN {u₂}NAGA SI
20'2 MA.NA AN.ZAH 10 GIN₂ nam-ru-tum
21'1 MA.NA tu-us-ku-u₂ 5 GIN₂ lu-lu-u
22'il-la-ma {na₄}DU₈.ŠI.A
23'šum-ma bu-ṣu a-na DU₃-ka
25'ter-<<ni>>-si-te {na₄}ZA.GIN₃ u {na₄}DU₈.ŠI.A AL.TIL
26'E₂.GAL {m}aš-šur-DU₃-A LUGAL ŠU₂ LUGAL {kur}aš-šur{ki}
27'ša₂ {d}MUATI {d}PAPNUN GEŠTU-MIN DAGAL{tum} iš-ru-ku-uš
28'⸢e-x-x-x IGI-MIN x-x⸣-[...]

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Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.