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AfO 48, 23 (P543069)
Literary letter and letter-prayer, Neo-Babylonian · c. 626 BCE–539 BCE
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| Designation | AfO 48, 23 |
|---|---|
| ID | P543069 |
| Museum no. | BM 055498 + BM 055499 |
| Collection | British Museum, London, UK |
| Language | Akkadian |
| Period | Neo-Babylonian · c. 626 BCE–539 BCE |
| Genre | Literary letter and letter-prayer |
| Find spot | uncertain (mod. uncertain) |
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)
Machine draft. The right-hand column is machine English from ixmon/atf-to-english (atf-en-t5base-F, 2026-10-17), generated line by line from the transliteration. It is unreviewed and is not a scholarly translation.
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| o | ||
| 1' | [...] ⸢ana {d}aš+šur⸣ | ... towards Assur |
| 2' | [... aš₂]-⸢pu⸣-rak-ka | ... I am sending to you |
| 3' | [...]-⸢x⸣-ti | ...-eti |
| 4' | [... i]-⸢tal⸣-la-ku | ... they will go out. |
| 5' | [...] | |
| 6' | [...]-ri-ma | ... and |
| 7' | [...] ⸢x⸣ | |
| 8' | [...]-i | ...-i |
| 9' | [...]-⸢x⸣-mu-ma | ..., and |
| 10' | [...] aš+šur{ki} | ... Assyria |
| 11' | [...]-⸢x⸣-a il-lik-ma | ... went and |
| 12' | [... {d}EN].⸢LIL₂⸣ EN DINGIR-MEŠ | Enlil, lord of the gods |
| 13' | [...] ⸢taš⸣-šak-nu-ma | ... I have sent to you, and |
| 14' | [...] ⸢x x⸣ [... ta]-šap-pa-ra | ... you will write |
| 15' | [...]-a {d}aš+šur ⸢DINGIR⸣ [...] ⸢šum⸣-ma {d}EN GAL{u₂} {d}AMAR.UTU ša₂ at-ta | ... Assur, the ēšu-priestess, ..., the great lord, Marduk, you |
| 16' | [...] ⸢a⸣-na ša₂ i-din-⸢nam⸣ [...] ⸢x⸣ u₃ ia-ši ša₂ a-na mim-ma | ... of Iddin-Ename’e and me for anything |
| 17' | [...]-⸢ma⸣ ša₂ e-nin-na ⸢il⸣-[...]-⸢x⸣ {m}{d}aš+šur-da-a-an AD-ka | ... of Eninna ... Assurdān, your father |
| 18' | [...]-⸢x⸣-{d}gu-la MAŠ.MAŠ{a} i-⸢x⸣-[...]-⸢x⸣-šu₂ u₃ it-ti-qu | ...-Gula the exorcist ... and he fell |
| 19' | [...]-⸢x⸣ re-eh-ti iq-bu-u₂ {d}AMAR.[UTU ...] ⸢x⸣ ul id-kaš-šu | ... the rest they said Marduk ... he did not give him |
| 20' | [...]-x-šu₂-nu uq-ta-at-tu-u₂ u₃ lu [... a]-⸢na⸣ KUR ša₂-ni-tim-⸢ma⸣ | ... their ... they smote, and ... the land of the other |
| 21' | [...] ⸢el⸣-qa-aš₂-šu₂-nu-ti ul-te-šib-šu₂-nu-ti [...]-⸢ri⸣-ma lu-u₂ ti-[de] | ... I have entrusted to them ... so that you may know. |
| 22' | [...] ⸢šul⸣-pu-tu₂ i-nam-din ul-tu {d}EN KUR.KUR ša₂ ⸢tak-x⸣-[...]-⸢x⸣ id-⸢di⸣-[ma] | From the lord of the lands of Etak-... he will add and |
| 23' | [...] {kur}URI{ki} kun-ni u₃ hi-ṭa UGU-ša₂ la ša₂-ka-ni ⸢x⸣ [...]-⸢na ki-x⸣ [x x] | ... Akkad was established, and there was no crime against it. |
| 24 | [...]-⸢x⸣-ku ma-al-di aš+šur{ki} a-na e-te-qi₂-šu₂-nu il-⸢x⸣-[...] ⸢x⸣ [...] | ... the land of Assyria for their exit Il-e-[... ...] |
| 25' | [...] a-na ma-ha-zi šu-šu-ub BE u₃ {d}EN a-na {kur}hat-⸢ti⸣ [...] | ... to the cult centers ... and Bel to the land Ḫatti-e23 |
| 26' | [...] BAL{a} i-na lib₃-bi-ša ki-i u₂-nak-ki-ru a-di kan-⸢x⸣-[...] | ... in its midst, when they destroyed, until Ka-e-[...] |
| 27' | [...]-⸢x⸣-ka-ni DINGIR id-kaš-šum-ma a-na ma-ha-zi ša {kur}⸢URI⸣{[ki} ...] | ... he swore by the god and to the cult centers of Akkad |
| 28' | [...]-⸢x x⸣-ti aš₂-bu {kur}aš+šur ki-i id-dal-hu LUGAL [...] | When the king ... the ... of Assyria |
| r | ||
| 1'' | [... a-na lib₃]-⸢bi⸣ KUR la i-tur-ru-ma ⸢la⸣ mu-⸢x⸣-[...]-⸢ba-x⸣-[...] | he will not return to the interior of the land and will not reopen the case. |
| 2'' | [...] ŠU {d}EN GAL{i} iṣ-ba-tu-⸢ma⸣ a-na {kur}⸢x⸣-[...] NUN ma [...] | ... hand of great lord Išbatu-ema’e to the land ... prince |
| 3'' | [...] ⸢ki⸣ DINGIR {kur}aš+šur ip-per-ri-ku at-tu-nu ⸢x⸣-[...]-⸢ra⸣ ki-i ⸢x⸣ [...] | ... the gods of the land Assyria opened up. You, E-[... ...]-ra’e23 |
| 4'' | [...]-⸢x⸣ šu-ma an-na-a ta-qab-ba-a u₃ [...]-⸢MEŠ⸣ GAL-MEŠ ⸢ša⸣ [...] | ... If you say this, then the great ... |
| 5'' | [... {d]}⸢EN⸣ GAL{u₂} {d}AMAR.UTU iq-ta-bu-u₂ ša₂ UD DA ⸢x⸣ [x x x]-a GUN u₂-⸢ša₂-x⸣-[...] | ... the great ēšû-priestess, Marduk, said: “... next to the e3-house ... a talent of ...-plant |
| 6'' | [...] ta-at-tal-ka 1{en} u₄-mi ina {iri}⸢zaq⸣-[qa lu-u₂] ⸢tu⸣-qi₂-ia-an-ni-ma [...] | ... you came. One day in the city Ezaqeqa may my E-tu-eqiyannu |
| 7'' | [...] ⸢x⸣ in-bu A.ŠA₃ a-di {iri}zaq-qa at-⸢tal⸣-[ka] ⸢ID₂⸣-MEŠ ma-la e-te-eb-bi-⸢ra KUR-MEŠ ma-la⸣ at-⸢tag⸣-[gi-ša₂] | ... a field, as far as Zaqqa I have come up against you, the canals as many as I have crossed, the mountains as many I have conquered |
| 8'' | [...]-⸢x⸣-ma i-du-u₂ ⸢ša₂⸣-aʾ-al-šu₂-nu-ti-ma LU₂ bu-⸢di-i⸣-ka ki-i ina bi-ri-ni nu-kur-tu₄ šak-na-tu-ma | ... they know, and the man of your būdî-priestess is placed as a nukurtu-gift between us |
| 9'' | [...] ⸢x i⸣-na ma-al-di-ia aš₂-ba-ta a-na-ku-[um]-ma KA₂.DINGIR.RA{ki} im-ma-ti ul i-de-ma | ... in my presence, I myself did not know Babylon. |
| 10'' | [...] ⸢ul⸣-tu {⸢iri⸣}zaq-qa e-req-qa a-na-ku-[um]-ma a-na {iri}zaq-qa ak-šu-du 7 u₄-me URU{ki} la-ma-ku | ... the old city Zaqqa I was a slave, and I went to Zaqqu for seven days. I did not live in the city. |
| 11'' | [...]-⸢x⸣-šu₂ aš₂-ba-tu₂ il-tak-nu tu šu nu [x] ⸢EGIR⸣-ka par-ku-ma a-na i-tab-lak-ku-ti la ⸢it⸣-tal-ka | ... his ... they set up. You are not ... of your ... afterwards, you are a parkû-priest, and to make them not come back |
| 12'' | [...] ⸢x⸣ ha-an-tiš la te-bi-ra ⸢id-x⸣-[x] 7 u₄-me ta-ku-uš-ma ki-i a-na-ku e-ri-qa | ... you will not cross the river for seven days and when I enter, |
| 13'' | [...]-⸢x⸣-ma 1{en} u₄-ma lu-u₂ tu-⸢qi₂⸣-ia-⸢an⸣-[ni a]-ha-meš lu-u₂ ni-har-rap-ma ša {d}EN KUR.KUR | “May you be my friend, may we be reconciled, and may the lord of the lands |
| 14'' | [...] ⸢x⸣ i-na muh-hi-šu il-tak-nu ul i-⸢x⸣-[x]-⸢al⸣ um-ma 1{en} u₄-ma lu-u₂ tu-qi₂-ia-an-ni kal(E₂) u₄-⸢ma⸣ | ... they placed on him, but he will not ..., saying: “Let me wait for one day, so that I will be able to serve you all day.’ |
| 15'' | [...] ⸢x⸣ lu-u₂ i-du-u₂ a-na-ku ul ak-ru-bak-kam-ma ša₂ qur-ru-bi-ia uq-tar-ri-bak-kam-ma a-na ṣu-he-e-ti | ... may they know. I did not accept you, but I asked you about my greatness and to the ṣuḫētu-priestess |
| 16'' | [... dib]-bu-ku-nu a-na ša šar-ra-be₂-e maš-lu šu-ma ša at-ta₅ taš-pu-ra um-ma 1{en} u₄-me ina {iri}zaq-qa | ... your words to Šarrabê: It is you who wrote me, saying: “One day in Zaqqa |
| 17'' | [...] šu-ma u₃ qu-un-nu-⸢tu⸣ [ARAD {m}{d}aš]+šur-MU-SI.SA₂ ša it-ti be-li₂-šu iṭ-ru-du-niš-šum-ma a-na KUR an-ni-ti | ... he is and Qunnûtu-e23 servant of Assur-šumu-lišir who was with his lord, and to this land |
| 18'' | [...] ⸢ul⸣-tu at-ta₅ {m}⸢har-bi⸣-ši-⸢hu⸣ [ha-bir-a-a] ⸢ṭe₃⸣-ma ta-šak-ka-nu šu-u₂ ina pa-ni-ka u₂-šu-uz | ... you, Harbi-svi-ḫû, are the Ḫabiraean. You set up the eṭētu. He is in your presence. |
| 19'' | [... {iri]}⸢zaq⸣-qa lu-u₂ tu₂-⸢qi₂-ia⸣-[an-na-ši i]-⸢na⸣ lib₃-bi-ku-nu man-nu ki-i LUGAL-ma ṭe₃-ma i-šak-ka-nu | “May the city of Ezazaqeqa be yours, may your heart be glad. Whoever you are, as the king commands, shall place it. |
| 20'' | [...] maš-lu u₃ ⸢i-na pi⸣-[i a-ha-meš] ⸢dib⸣-bi li-ik-ki-mu {m}{d}aš+šur-MU-SI.SA₂ ba-ni u₃ ina KUR-šu₂ ⸢lu⸣-u₂ a-šib | ... the mašlu-priestess and the ēšib priestess, each of them, may they bind (them). Assurnasirpal was born and in his land elû-priest reside. |
| 21'' | [...] ⸢x x x EN⸣-šu₂ ina KUR an-ni-ti ik-ka-li {d}NIN.URTA-{giš}⸢TUKUL-aš⸣+šur | ... his lord in this land, Ninurta-tukul-ašur |
| 22'' | [... {m}aš]+⸢šur⸣-MU-SI.SA₂ {d}EN KUR.KUR im-ma-ti u₂-nak-kir-šu₂-ma | Assurnasirpal, the lord of all the lands, destroyed him and |
| 23'' | [...] ⸢taš-pu⸣-ra um-ma a-na-ku ki-i a-na {d}aš+šur DINGIR-ia | ... I have written to you, thus (saying): “I, like Assur, my god, |
| 24'' | [...]-⸢bat⸣-tu-u ta-šap-pa-ra 1{en} u₄-ma | ... you will write, one day |
| 25'' | [... ṭa-ab]-⸢ta-ma⸣ ša₂ {kur}URI{ki} u {kur}aš+šur ki-i er-ri-šu₂ an-nu-u₂ da-ba-bu | ... of Akkad and Assyria, as he wishes, this is the speech |
| 26'' | [... {d}NIN.URTA]-{giš}TUKUL-aš+šur ina A.GAR₃ {iri}si-ši-lu-u₂ a-šib-ma lu-bir-ma | Ninurta-tukul-Assur in the meadow of Sisilû I went and crossed, and |
| 27'' | [...] {giš}TUKUL {d}aš+šur ul-tu ne₂-er MU.AN.NA i-na A.ŠA₃ ul-li-i a-šib | ... the weapon of Assur from the beginning of the year from the field I remained |
| 28'' | [... {d}NIN.URTA-{giš]}⸢TUKUL⸣-aš+šur ina 2 DANNA A.ŠA₃ ina ma-al-di-šu₂ aš₂-ba-ta₅ | Ninurta-tukul-ēšû in 2 bēru of field I took in his hand. |
| 29'' | [... {d}NIN].⸢URTA⸣-{giš}TUKUL-{d}aš+šur it-ti-ia a-na KUR i-ri-qa at-ta₅ šu-ma an-na-a ta-qab-bi | ... Ninurta-tukul-Assur with me to the land he will fall. You are the one who says this. |
| 30'' | [...] E₂ gam-ru ša₂ {d}NIN.URTA-{giš}TUKUL-aš+šur ša taq-bu-u₂ | ... the complete house of Ninurta-tukul-aškur, which you said |
| 31'' | [...] ⸢mar⸣-ṣa-tu-nu u₃ ba-na-tu-nu {d}NIN.URTA-{giš}TUKUL-{d}aš+⸢šur⸣ [...] | ... Emar-ešbatunu and Banatunu Ninurta-tukul-Ashur |
| 32'' | [...] ⸢a⸣-na {kur}URI{ki} il-li-ka ki-i a-na ku-lu-uʾ-i i-tu-ru | ... the Eana of Urarṭu came, and when they returned to the cult centers |
| 33 | [...] ⸢URU⸣{ki} ⸢x x x⸣ [x x] ⸢x x x⸣-tu-ka | ... the E’eš temple, your |
| 34'' | [...] ⸢x x⸣ | |
| 35'' | [...] | |
| 36'' | [...]-ma | ... and |
| 37'' | [...]-⸢di⸣ | ...-edî |
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 2026-10-18.