BE 17/1, 003 (P266568)
Letter tablet excavated in Nippur (mod. Nuffar), dated to the Middle Babylonian (ca. 1400-1100 BC) period and now kept in Penn Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAMetadata / catalogue
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Penn Museum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAMuseum Number
CBS 11426Provenience
Nippur (mod. Nuffar)Artifact Type
TabletMaterial(s)
ClayGenre / Subgenre(s)
Letter (Letter; (Obv)29x(Rev)20 lines)Language(s)
-Measurements
-
tablet
obverse
1. [a-na be]-li2#-ia# [qi2-bi2-ma]
en: Speak to my lord:
2. [um-ma] {disz}_lu2-{d}marduk_# [_ARAD2_-ka]
en: The following (says) Amīl-Marduk, [your servant]
3. [a-na] di#-na-an be-li2-ia [lul-lik um-ma-a a-na be-li2-ia-ma]
en: I shall go as my lord's substitute! (Speak) the following to my lord:
4. [mu?]-u2# _i7_ ki-i il-li-ku# [...]
en: After the water had run out of the nāru canal ...,
5. [mu?-u2?] mi-il kisz-sza-ti uh-hu-[ur ...] sza#? 3(disz)? x [...]
en: [the water of] the peak flood was late ... of#? three (?) ...
6. [(ki) it?]-ta#-ah-su nam-kar-si-mat-{d}[en]-lil2# u3 nam-kar-_nibru[{ki}_]
en: As soon as (?) they (pl. of water) are going to have returned, I am going to open the namgāru canal Namkar-Simat-Enlil and the namgāru canal Namkar-Enlil.
7. [e-pe]-et#-te _3(u) gur numun_ sza im-lu#-u2# ki#-i _i7_ ih-hi-su#
en: 30 (gur) seeds (cropland 300 iku = 243 ha), which it/they filled, after (the water in) the nāru canal had returned,
8. [x x x x?] il-ta#-ka-an x-x-x [... i-na] _i7#_ e-tel-pi# [...]
en: [they have placed (there). In ... of the nāru canal of Etel-pû ...
9. [...]-i _i7_ hasz-mar-gal-[du ... me-e?] a-di-na ul isz-sza-ka-nu-ma
en: ... of the nāru canal of Ḫašmar-galdu ... has not yet been placed (in there) until now and
10. [i?]-te#?-ni-lu u3 _pa5_-{d}[x]-ra ul ip-te
en: [it/he repeatedly keeps d]eserting (it). He did not open the atappu/palgu-ditch of ...ra.
11. [...]-ni-ti sza be-li2 isz-[pu?-ra?] um-ma-a hi-sza-ti
en: .... Regarding that, which my lord has written about [to me]: “The following: Open the weirs!”
12. [pe?]-ti mu-u2 a-di-na i-na [hi]-sza#-a-ti
en: Until now water has not been placed in (the upstream side of) the weirs.
13. [ul] isz-sza-ka-nu sza {d}er3#-ra#-ga-[mil] ta#-mi-ir-tu ra#?-bi-tu ma-la-at
en: Regarding Irra-gāmil: the large tamirtu land is filled.
14. [sza] 2(u) gur _numun ki-sza-di i#-[na] pa-an _i7# {d}#nanna#-gu2-gal_
en: (And) [regarding] the 20 (gur) seeds (cropland 200 iku = 162 ha) at the bank of the river in front of the nāru canal of Nanna-gugal:
15. me-e ip-te-te-e-ma il#-la#-ku sza na-at-[ba]-ak-ti
en: as soon as he is going to have opened the water, they are going to run. Regarding the natbaktu-reservoir:
16. me-e ul-tu nam-kar _{disz}du3#_-sza-_{d}marduk_ ki-i ip-tu-u2 mi-s,u2
en: after I had had opened the water out of the namgāru canal of Banâ-ša-Marduk, (it became clear that) they (pl. of water) were too little.
17. _a-sza3_ {d}er3-ra-ga-mil i#-ma-la-a?-ma# na-at-ba-ak-ta
en: As soon as it is going to have filled the fields of Irra-gāmil, I am going to close the natbaktu-reservoir,
18. e-se-ke-er-ma me-e [sza?] _i7_ [nam]-gar-{d}en-lil2{ki}
en: and I am going to open water from the nāru canal Namkar-Enlil
19. a-na na-at-ba-ak-ti e#-[pe]-et#-te# i-na-an-na e-pe-et-te-ma
en: for the natbaktu-reservoir. Now that I have opened (the natbaktu reservoir)
20. mu-u2 ul-tu na-at-ba-ak#-ti# sza {d}er3-ra-ga-mil li-s,u2-ni
en: water out of the natbaktu-reservoir of (for) Irra-gāmil shall go out.
21. sza [ka]-le#-e sza na-at-ba#-ak#-ti qa2-nu-u2 sza 5(disz) har-bu
en: Regarding (that of the) the kalû-dikes of the natbaktu-reservoir: the reed of 5 ḫarbu fields
22. sza _ensi2-mesz_ sza _{disz}{dingir}marduk#-uri3#_ na-di i-na a-sza-ab be-li2-ia
en: of the iššakku farmers of Marduk-nāṣir is thrown (down). I have written to my lord when my lord was residing (in his residence, i.e. here?),
23. a-na be-li2-ia al-tap-ra [u3] i#-na-an-na a-na be-li2-ia al-tap-ra
en: and now I have written to my lord again.
24. ki-i qa2-nu-u2 na-du-u2 _gu4#-mesz#_ sza# er-re-szi u3 _ensi2-mesz_
en: After the reed was thrown down and after they had driven the cows of the erreszu and iššakku here,
25. ki-i u2-qa2-ri-bu i-te-lu#? i#-na# t,u2-bi be-li2
en: (after that) they left. My lord shall kindly
26. li-ik-szu-da-am-ma [...] a#-na# _{disz}{dingir}marduk-uri3_
en: arrive here. And ... regarding Marduk-nāṣir,
27. szum-ma i-na ka-le-e# [u3?] szum-ma i-na# hi-ru-ti
en: when in the kalû-dikes and when in the digging work,
28. [mi-im]-ma# be-li2 i-na-da-asz-szu li-[pu]-usz
en: [what]ever my lord throws down for him, he shall do!
29. [sza be]-li2 isz-pu#-ra um#-ma#-a me#?-e a-na _bad3-{d}en-[lil2-hi-a{ki}_ pe]-te
en: [Regarding what] my [l]ord wrote to me: "The following: [O]pen the water to Dūr-Enlilē!"
reverse
1. i-na-an-na _a_{me-e} a-na na-at-ba-ak-ti e-pe-te-ma#?
en: Now that I have opened the water into the natbaktu-reservoirs,
2. mu-u2 a-na _uru_ {d}er3-ra-ga-mil ul ir-ru-bu#-ma#?
en: the water is not flowing into the town of Irra-gāmil.
3. me-e a-na na-at-ba-ak-ti e-pe-te-ma
en: If I am going to open water into the natbaku-reservoir,
4. a-na _bad3_-{d}en-lil2-_hi-a{ki}_ ki-i ir-ru-bu u3 ka-lu-u2 ul e-pu-usz
en: how shall it flow into Dūr-Enlilē, when the kalû-dike is not done?
5. ta-mi-ir-ta sza _bad3#_-{d#}en#-lil2#-_hi-a_ be-li2 ki i-mu-ru
en: After my lord had inspected the tamirtu land of Dūr-Enlilē,
6. a-ka-an-na iq-ta-[ba um-ma]-a szu-ru da-an
en: he said [to me: “The following:] the reed bundles are strong!
7. ma-am-ma la [...] a-na be-li2-ia#
en: No one shall ...!" To my lord
8. a-ka-an-na aq#-[ta-ba um-ma]-a _a-sza3-mesz_ a-na [...] har-bi
en: thus I said: "The following: the fields for ... ḫarbu ploughs
9. sza _bad3_-{d}en-lil2-_hi-a[{ki}_ ... be?]-li2 a-ka-an-na iq-[ta-ba]-a
en: of Dūr-Enlilē ...." (And) my lord said:
10. um-ma-a u3 szu-nu i#?-[na? _uru_ {d}]er3-ra-ga-mil [...]
en: "The following: they i[n the town of] Irra-gāmil ...
11. u3 _bad3-{d}nusku{ki}_ [... ir]-ri#?-szu [i?]-na#-an#-na# [...]-szi
en: and Dūr-Nusku [... they are s]eeding (with a seeder plough). Now ...
12. sza pi-hat _bad3-{d}en#-[lil2 _hi-a_ ...]
en: of the province of Dūr-Enlilē ..."
13. ka-la-a sza ta-mi#-[ir-ti ...] te#? [...]-szi
en: the kalû-dike of the tamirtu land ...
14. ki-i id-du-ni-szu-nu#-[ti? ...] szu#? [...]
en: when he neglected them ...
15. li-sze-lu-u2 [...]-ma _a-sza3_ [...]
en: They shall take away ... and the field ...
16. la i-ma-as, i-na# [...] sza be-li2 [... i]-pu-usz
en: It is not too small! In# ... of my lord ... (he) produced
17. [...] _sag_ sza [...]
en: ... "head" of ...
18. [...] mi#-ni-[...]
en: ...
19. [...]{ki} um-ma-a a#-na {disz}ib-ni-_{d}kur#_
en: ... The following: to Ibni-Amurru
20. [... be]-li2 i-sza-pa-ra-am#
en: ... my lord will send to me
21. [...] a#-da-ga#-lu i-na sza-at-ti
en: ... I will wait for the year
22. [...]-na-a sza s,a-ab-tu
en: ... which is seized
23. [...] du-ul-la an-na-a
en: ... this dullu work duty
24. [...] e-bu-ri _erin2-mesz_
en: ... harvest time the ṣābu work troops
25. [...]-le-e iz-zi-zu
en: ... they stood
26. [...] na-at-ba-ak-tu#?
en: ... the natbaktu-reservoir?
27. [...]-szar#? a#-na#? 4(u) _numun_
en: ... for 40 (gur) seeds
28. [...]-te#?-ma [...]-i-di ul-tu s,a-ab-tu
en: ... since they were seized
29. [it]-ti-il-tu [...] i-mi-ki-ru
en: at the first time ... they will irrigate
30. [e]-le-nu-usz-szu u3# [...]
en: above him and ...
31. [...] ki-i sza be-li2 i-sza-pa-[ra ...]
en: ... according to that which my lord is going to send to me ...
bottom
1. [...] u3 ha-s,a-ar-ti sza [...]
en: ... and haṣartu wool of ...
2. [... be]-li2 ki-i sza {d}nin-gir2#-[su ...]
en: ... when my lord that of Ningir[su(-)]...
3. [...]-szu 1(u) 2(asz) _u2#-gid2#-da [...]
en: ... his/him ... 12 (units) of tall grass ...
4. [...] be-li2 a-na#? [...]
en: ... my lord to (?) ...
left
1. [...]-ti sza-lim i-ba-asz-szi a-na-ku a-nam-din-ma
en: ... is healthy. He/it is available. I am going to give
2. [... ma?]-am-ma li-qa2-am#?-[ma? ...]
en: ... somebody shall give it to me ...
obverse
1. [a-na be]-li2#-ia# [qi2-bi2-ma]
en: Speak to my lord:
2. [um-ma] {disz}_lu2-{d}marduk_# [_ARAD2_-ka]
en: The following (says) Amīl-Marduk, [your servant]
3. [a-na] di#-na-an be-li2-ia [lul-lik um-ma-a a-na be-li2-ia-ma]
en: I shall go as my lord's substitute! (Speak) the following to my lord:
4. [mu?]-u2# _i7_ ki-i il-li-ku# [...]
en: After the water had run out of the nāru canal ...,
5. [mu?-u2?] mi-il kisz-sza-ti uh-hu-[ur ...] sza#? 3(disz)? x [...]
en: [the water of] the peak flood was late ... of#? three (?) ...
6. [(ki) it?]-ta#-ah-su nam-kar-si-mat-{d}[en]-lil2# u3 nam-kar-_nibru[{ki}_]
en: As soon as (?) they (pl. of water) are going to have returned, I am going to open the namgāru canal Namkar-Simat-Enlil and the namgāru canal Namkar-Enlil.
7. [e-pe]-et#-te _3(u) gur numun_ sza im-lu#-u2# ki#-i _i7_ ih-hi-su#
en: 30 (gur) seeds (cropland 300 iku = 243 ha), which it/they filled, after (the water in) the nāru canal had returned,
8. [x x x x?] il-ta#-ka-an x-x-x [... i-na] _i7#_ e-tel-pi# [...]
en: [they have placed (there). In ... of the nāru canal of Etel-pû ...
9. [...]-i _i7_ hasz-mar-gal-[du ... me-e?] a-di-na ul isz-sza-ka-nu-ma
en: ... of the nāru canal of Ḫašmar-galdu ... has not yet been placed (in there) until now and
10. [i?]-te#?-ni-lu u3 _pa5_-{d}[x]-ra ul ip-te
en: [it/he repeatedly keeps d]eserting (it). He did not open the atappu/palgu-ditch of ...ra.
11. [...]-ni-ti sza be-li2 isz-[pu?-ra?] um-ma-a hi-sza-ti
en: .... Regarding that, which my lord has written about [to me]: “The following: Open the weirs!”
12. [pe?]-ti mu-u2 a-di-na i-na [hi]-sza#-a-ti
en: Until now water has not been placed in (the upstream side of) the weirs.
13. [ul] isz-sza-ka-nu sza {d}er3#-ra#-ga-[mil] ta#-mi-ir-tu ra#?-bi-tu ma-la-at
en: Regarding Irra-gāmil: the large tamirtu land is filled.
14. [sza] 2(u) gur _numun ki-sza-di i#-[na] pa-an _i7# {d}#nanna#-gu2-gal_
en: (And) [regarding] the 20 (gur) seeds (cropland 200 iku = 162 ha) at the bank of the river in front of the nāru canal of Nanna-gugal:
15. me-e ip-te-te-e-ma il#-la#-ku sza na-at-[ba]-ak-ti
en: as soon as he is going to have opened the water, they are going to run. Regarding the natbaktu-reservoir:
16. me-e ul-tu nam-kar _{disz}du3#_-sza-_{d}marduk_ ki-i ip-tu-u2 mi-s,u2
en: after I had had opened the water out of the namgāru canal of Banâ-ša-Marduk, (it became clear that) they (pl. of water) were too little.
17. _a-sza3_ {d}er3-ra-ga-mil i#-ma-la-a?-ma# na-at-ba-ak-ta
en: As soon as it is going to have filled the fields of Irra-gāmil, I am going to close the natbaktu-reservoir,
18. e-se-ke-er-ma me-e [sza?] _i7_ [nam]-gar-{d}en-lil2{ki}
en: and I am going to open water from the nāru canal Namkar-Enlil
19. a-na na-at-ba-ak-ti e#-[pe]-et#-te# i-na-an-na e-pe-et-te-ma
en: for the natbaktu-reservoir. Now that I have opened (the natbaktu reservoir)
20. mu-u2 ul-tu na-at-ba-ak#-ti# sza {d}er3-ra-ga-mil li-s,u2-ni
en: water out of the natbaktu-reservoir of (for) Irra-gāmil shall go out.
21. sza [ka]-le#-e sza na-at-ba#-ak#-ti qa2-nu-u2 sza 5(disz) har-bu
en: Regarding (that of the) the kalû-dikes of the natbaktu-reservoir: the reed of 5 ḫarbu fields
22. sza _ensi2-mesz_ sza _{disz}{dingir}marduk#-uri3#_ na-di i-na a-sza-ab be-li2-ia
en: of the iššakku farmers of Marduk-nāṣir is thrown (down). I have written to my lord when my lord was residing (in his residence, i.e. here?),
23. a-na be-li2-ia al-tap-ra [u3] i#-na-an-na a-na be-li2-ia al-tap-ra
en: and now I have written to my lord again.
24. ki-i qa2-nu-u2 na-du-u2 _gu4#-mesz#_ sza# er-re-szi u3 _ensi2-mesz_
en: After the reed was thrown down and after they had driven the cows of the erreszu and iššakku here,
25. ki-i u2-qa2-ri-bu i-te-lu#? i#-na# t,u2-bi be-li2
en: (after that) they left. My lord shall kindly
26. li-ik-szu-da-am-ma [...] a#-na# _{disz}{dingir}marduk-uri3_
en: arrive here. And ... regarding Marduk-nāṣir,
27. szum-ma i-na ka-le-e# [u3?] szum-ma i-na# hi-ru-ti
en: when in the kalû-dikes and when in the digging work,
28. [mi-im]-ma# be-li2 i-na-da-asz-szu li-[pu]-usz
en: [what]ever my lord throws down for him, he shall do!
29. [sza be]-li2 isz-pu#-ra um#-ma#-a me#?-e a-na _bad3-{d}en-[lil2-hi-a{ki}_ pe]-te
en: [Regarding what] my [l]ord wrote to me: "The following: [O]pen the water to Dūr-Enlilē!"
reverse
1. i-na-an-na _a_{me-e} a-na na-at-ba-ak-ti e-pe-te-ma#?
en: Now that I have opened the water into the natbaktu-reservoirs,
2. mu-u2 a-na _uru_ {d}er3-ra-ga-mil ul ir-ru-bu#-ma#?
en: the water is not flowing into the town of Irra-gāmil.
3. me-e a-na na-at-ba-ak-ti e-pe-te-ma
en: If I am going to open water into the natbaku-reservoir,
4. a-na _bad3_-{d}en-lil2-_hi-a{ki}_ ki-i ir-ru-bu u3 ka-lu-u2 ul e-pu-usz
en: how shall it flow into Dūr-Enlilē, when the kalû-dike is not done?
5. ta-mi-ir-ta sza _bad3#_-{d#}en#-lil2#-_hi-a_ be-li2 ki i-mu-ru
en: After my lord had inspected the tamirtu land of Dūr-Enlilē,
6. a-ka-an-na iq-ta-[ba um-ma]-a szu-ru da-an
en: he said [to me: “The following:] the reed bundles are strong!
7. ma-am-ma la [...] a-na be-li2-ia#
en: No one shall ...!" To my lord
8. a-ka-an-na aq#-[ta-ba um-ma]-a _a-sza3-mesz_ a-na [...] har-bi
en: thus I said: "The following: the fields for ... ḫarbu ploughs
9. sza _bad3_-{d}en-lil2-_hi-a[{ki}_ ... be?]-li2 a-ka-an-na iq-[ta-ba]-a
en: of Dūr-Enlilē ...." (And) my lord said:
10. um-ma-a u3 szu-nu i#?-[na? _uru_ {d}]er3-ra-ga-mil [...]
en: "The following: they i[n the town of] Irra-gāmil ...
11. u3 _bad3-{d}nusku{ki}_ [... ir]-ri#?-szu [i?]-na#-an#-na# [...]-szi
en: and Dūr-Nusku [... they are s]eeding (with a seeder plough). Now ...
12. sza pi-hat _bad3-{d}en#-[lil2 _hi-a_ ...]
en: of the province of Dūr-Enlilē ..."
13. ka-la-a sza ta-mi#-[ir-ti ...] te#? [...]-szi
en: the kalû-dike of the tamirtu land ...
14. ki-i id-du-ni-szu-nu#-[ti? ...] szu#? [...]
en: when he neglected them ...
15. li-sze-lu-u2 [...]-ma _a-sza3_ [...]
en: They shall take away ... and the field ...
16. la i-ma-as, i-na# [...] sza be-li2 [... i]-pu-usz
en: It is not too small! In# ... of my lord ... (he) produced
17. [...] _sag_ sza [...]
en: ... "head" of ...
18. [...] mi#-ni-[...]
en: ...
19. [...]{ki} um-ma-a a#-na {disz}ib-ni-_{d}kur#_
en: ... The following: to Ibni-Amurru
20. [... be]-li2 i-sza-pa-ra-am#
en: ... my lord will send to me
21. [...] a#-da-ga#-lu i-na sza-at-ti
en: ... I will wait for the year
22. [...]-na-a sza s,a-ab-tu
en: ... which is seized
23. [...] du-ul-la an-na-a
en: ... this dullu work duty
24. [...] e-bu-ri _erin2-mesz_
en: ... harvest time the ṣābu work troops
25. [...]-le-e iz-zi-zu
en: ... they stood
26. [...] na-at-ba-ak-tu#?
en: ... the natbaktu-reservoir?
27. [...]-szar#? a#-na#? 4(u) _numun_
en: ... for 40 (gur) seeds
28. [...]-te#?-ma [...]-i-di ul-tu s,a-ab-tu
en: ... since they were seized
29. [it]-ti-il-tu [...] i-mi-ki-ru
en: at the first time ... they will irrigate
30. [e]-le-nu-usz-szu u3# [...]
en: above him and ...
31. [...] ki-i sza be-li2 i-sza-pa-[ra ...]
en: ... according to that which my lord is going to send to me ...
bottom
1. [...] u3 ha-s,a-ar-ti sza [...]
en: ... and haṣartu wool of ...
2. [... be]-li2 ki-i sza {d}nin-gir2#-[su ...]
en: ... when my lord that of Ningir[su(-)]...
3. [...]-szu 1(u) 2(asz) _u2#-gid2#-da [...]
en: ... his/him ... 12 (units) of tall grass ...
4. [...] be-li2 a-na#? [...]
en: ... my lord to (?) ...
left
1. [...]-ti sza-lim i-ba-asz-szi a-na-ku a-nam-din-ma
en: ... is healthy. He/it is available. I am going to give
2. [... ma?]-am-ma li-qa2-am#?-[ma? ...]
en: ... somebody shall give it to me ...
Consult previous versions and their differences
Consult sign list of Middle Babylonian (ca. 1400-1100 BC)
Consult word list of Middle Babylonian (ca. 1400-1100 BC)
- Artifact type: Tablet
- Material: Clay
- Measurements (mm):
- Weight:
- Artifact Preservation: fragment
- Condition Description: frag,obv. cracked,rev. effaced,w/loose frags.
- Join Information:
- Seal no.:
- Seal information:
- Artifact comments:
- Genre(s): Letter (Letter; (Obv)29x(Rev)20 lines)
- Language(s):
-
primary: BE 17/1,, 003
[Radau1908BE17/1] Radau, Hugo. 1908. Letters to the Cassite Kings from the Temple Archives of Nippur. Babylonian Expedition 17/1.
- Composite No.:
- Museum No.: CBS 11426
- Accession No.:
- Provenience: Nippur (mod. Nuffar)
- Elevation:
- Stratigraphic Level:
- Excavation No:
- Findspot Square:
- Findspot Comments:
- Period: Middle Babylonian (ca. 1400-1100 BC)
- Dates Referenced:
- Alternative Years:
- Date Comments:
- Accounting Period: 0
Consult this artifact as presented on the website of collections and projects:
- Penn Museum (585578)
- Electronic Babylonian Library (CBS.11426)
General Notes:
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CDLI Notes:
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