The Babylonian Chronicle

The Babylonian Chronicle
Author(s): Theo. G. Pinches

Source: The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, urnal of the
Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (Oct., 1894), pp. 807-833
Published by: Cambridge University Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25197230
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807
Art. XXIV.?The Babylonian Chronicle. By Theo. G.

Pinches, M.R.A.S.
In the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society for October,

1887 (p. 655), I gave the text of a tablet of the Babylonian
Chronicle referring to the period immediately following
747 B.C. Since then I have copied and studied the rather
difficult text of an earlier tablet of the series, of which
I now give a rendering, accompanied by the Babylonian
text, a transcription, and notes.
The original is a large tablet of unbaked clay, about
eight inches square when perfect. The upper part has
now, however, disappeared, so that probably less than one
third of the text remains, damaged and very imperfect in
places. The writing, though clear, is not in the best style,
some of the characters having apparently been very care
lessly formed, and portions of the surface preserved have
also suffered severely in the course of the twenty-three
centuries or thereabouts which have passed since the present
copy was written.
If we may form any conclusion from the wording of the
inscription, it is probable that a copy of our text fell, about
650 b.c. or earlier, into the hands of Assyrians, who seem
to have compiled from it, or from another version which
differed somewhat, the series known as the "Synchronous
History of Assyria and Babylonia." If so, they left out
all the references which might be regarded as damaging
808 THE BABYLONIAN CHRONICLE.
to the reputation of the Assyrians as warriors, or too lauda

tory to the Babylonians.
The first column refers to Kadisman-Murus, son of Kar
indas, and grandson of the Assyrian king Assur-uballit
(1400 B.C.). If, however, the Babylonian version here
published be correct, the Assyrian copyist of the " Synchro
nous History " must have gone somewhat astray, for he calls
the Babylonian king Kara-Murdas instead of Kadisman
Murus, and leaves out the name of his father Kara-indas.1
He omits also the fact that Kadisman-Murus transported
the " numerous Suti" from the East (their native place) to
the West (the land of the Amorites), "until there were
no more " (adi 16 base). The Assyrian text also differs in
calling Su-zigas by the name of Nazi-bugas. We learn
from the "Synchronous History" that Assur-uballit, king
of Assyria, avenged his grandson by killing Nazi-bugas
(=Su-zigas), and setting on the throne Kuri-galzu, son of
Burna-burias, whose reign forms the subject of the second
column of our text.
The long account of what seems to have taken place in
the land Tamtim (the land of the sea-coast) does not occur
in the Assyrian version. The Babylonian version, as will
be seen, was not a mere outline of what took place, but
a detailed account, seemingly compiled from trustworthy
sources?probably Kuri-galzu's own records?and seems to
have had a certain amount of literary merit. It is probable
that Babylon and Borsippa had not submitted to Kuri
galzu because of his having been set on the throne by
the King of Assyria, and if this be the case it would account
for his adding those cities to his dominions (line 9). The
account of Hurba-tila's challenge to Kuri-galzu to fight
with him at Dur-Dungi, and the defeat of Hurba-tila there,
1 The name of Kara-indas (=Kar-indas) comes in lower down, where,

however, the name of Kara-Murdas ( = Kadisman-Murus) is omitted, making
the Assyrian text quite incomprehensible.
THE BABYLONIAN CHRONICLE. 809
are likewise absent from the " Synchronous History." The

details of the above are contained in columns two and three,
and probably occupied a great part of those columns when
the text was perfect. The end of this section refers to the
battle at Sugaga, which, however, according to the " Syn
chronous History," was fought with | *-^- >~< *} t$?,
Ea-nirari,1 not Rammanu-nirari (as our text gives). Ram
manu-nirari was the grandson of Ea-nirari, hence, probably,
the Babylonian scribe's mistake.
The fourth and last column treats of a later period?
the reign of Tukulti-Ninip, of Assyria, who conquered
Babylonia, and ruled the country for seven years, when,
a revolt against his rule taking place, he was driven out
of Babylonia, and Rammanu-nadin-ahi (or Addu-nadin-ahi)
sat on the throne. Apparently the Babylonians considered
it as a kind of judgment against him that the great ones
of his country, headed by Assur-nasir-apli, his own son,
also revolted against him, deposed him, and slew him in
Kar-Tukulti-Ninip, the city named after him. This, as
Assur-nasir-apli came to the throne in 885 B.C., must have
taken place in that year. Who Tukulti-Assur-Bel (" my
help is Assur, the lord"), who is mentioned twice in
line 12, was, is unknown ; but as he is not called king,
and has, in fact, no title whatever, it may be conjectured
that he was a common man, or, at most, a nobleman, who
tried by seme means to get influence among the people,
and attained thereby a certain reputation, not only in
Assyria, but also in Babylonia. If the translation of the
beginning of line 12 be correct, Tukulti-Ninip would seem
to have ruled Assyria for twelve years. This portion is
one that does not redound to the credit of Assyria, and
is probably for that reason not touched upon in the
" Synchronous History."
1 Elsewhere called, seemingly, Bel-nirari.
Two interesting paragraphs referring to an invasion of

Babylonia by the Elamite king Kidin-HutrudiS follow,
but are unfortunately rather mutilated. These, too, have
no parallels in the Assyrian record above referred to, so
that we have no means of filling out the wanting parts.
We must be thankful to get them as they are.
W tr*o*J
tei W wH I?I Ow o O bd 00??I?i
^ ^y ^y ^T4 ^Mt^*S ?IT U ^ Otf I * 3TT IT *ST T ?f 4 4 IM
*tt ^ -eh tj 4 - ^ 5*j ^ 4 4 *ee ? ?* "et st st -&- et ^t +? ^t

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Column I.
^l+t 1 ? T Hh4 4 ?T4T s$fc?Stf^ ^TT~V^T4TJ^?f EfcT

4 <T~ -&"+?^ 5??J[fm
-f 4 <f-Hk
s*TT ^1? ^>
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4
9 Tl^f -HHffflF 4^T *=*? ^ y- ^fm -$T <*- -ft TI 1? 5hM ^S I??^ V ^TTJf-?f *j+J??W * ^ft.3=T ?^
ET T IT >M ^ fe^n? TJ
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2^2^<2l^^^^
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co w ww ;>
o 1?1 ow o i?(o
9 ti *4- ^ î ^ "+? ^s ^ &tt ? ^ m ^><y ^y -o> fiinmili tif

- *ff r v î ^- <*=t* ^ <*- +? trgy Jt ^y ^^y îisllittiflll
|ln>< ?ir ^ î 4- ?i h x if g ffi et -et 2Tjfeili i^^SS
4T ^^^^^^^^jlj^-^^-^jn^tv ^ry m -H
Column II,
^s 4S sSlfiy^ TÎ^2^li^^Stf^lR^^Î?2?^li^lSiî
v gyy * ^ -*> <tjr^?' iy^^fi^^^g^
#n 2H j?- syy ^t *+? ^ j^ ^y t?

^= >^r ^ ^li^flTiify yi Yjjx j^l *^yy
?=y* j^- ^f ^ et t ^y m "if- arr ^Pr ^ -^ ^ m isl j^t îlffiltt
Column I I.
W w o i?i oHtdo I?Ia 00I?ICO
9 a is& ^ <%m &? ^ <^t ?^? ?n $( *bs ? ît ^limiiiiiiii ^ vs* &tt v im itt ^ 4 ^ v î+? ?tt ^ <~ îiiiiiiSiîli
T >TiET ST mR ^T &> V *l &TT ^ TI Jfr T ^T >TT<T "gh HT 2^^g|ifÊi
"EUT KK ^ ??. ? ^1 ^ ^ ^ ? -eh VET s=?pHI?^^li)?ii

4fcT <^T - M ^TT IT >R ET ST >4< ^y ?*fe ^ *+| ^TT îftlfgiil
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t ? ^ ^T ~< 4 ^T >TT<T ^ TI *Tffi ~ ?stf ESUPHipplp^^S ^ v î 4~tt ^ - ^h~t ?f j?+m^ j^ ir t $r JW$pi|Wii?iWii
~slm.
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^H "ET -XT ^ "ET T eT <H?T t*M TI * T - *13M HF- ^f -TWi^tggiiii
T m ? TI
say tmi >tti et *i iet ^ ^t syf^ s>- \ ^b >timmmmmmmmmmm0i
i g w ^ tf-R i ^Tiilg^^
" ti ek ^ j^- #- s<t t "st >TTi ?!- ^tt 2tt i- +i ^msmmm^SBSSM
TI .4 <s$y T ?f- 44f *l ?^ t^= ^ ~? ^T T ^ ^f^^9tS0^X^M

is - <MET ~<T* S:TT ^T T l?T flilf- HT <f- <f- l^ ^Tîî^îiSl
6 ieT I? <MTl *E8 H ^T SfTT TI 5*1 ^ *?ff V <~ ^îfiii^^^H
00
h-i HW W W t-?O oW Otzj
1?4O
t"<t=3
|^^TT?^^^MD<^1i^Y^^^^^T^T^^T^l!h^S>>f<^^T
KT3- *?M A 1&3 ^T JUM& A <m ^T

?^?U?T4T^T?T^T-^^TTY^T^->f>f-^TS+TSIlT'ET-^f^T?<2:î
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T4T^^Y^ff^^^^^ffff*^ff^^,EnHf-.^^TV
- ^ ^TU ?f JJ+r W $ 2TT ? v >^ U. T ?T >4< Hf- 4- ^W ?f *t+t W W
Column IV.
T4~4^ sr^Hs^f-jgL yv ?} ^y?^ ^w ?f

I2iT]r^^TY^T^>4<->f4Ûi-^^^TY^T^^nT^T>4<->f4^T^T?
3 i^^^B1 "S^ ?f + fl^ A ^ J& & -SIT m *=T4 ^ ??^^TBTH^^1tf<TY&l<^^^?^^^M*R^TlET
waW wk!
t"<o W O I?IQ tel 00I?*Ox
^^2^4?^^^^ >f >~-V ^YYYY YY î^. >?? >cY >?V VY 7Y7
^fe^:^^ ^y ^y ^ h* W- ^f ^y <r->tt<y
^^^^^^^^^TT?^'ETT^TA.-?f-Tl^^T^B#r-n^HFT?i
^^^^B^^^^MM C: ^T<T ^ <T- <T- ^11 ^1^ ST TI 4 <T- ?
ST^T4^TTÂ->f>T<T4slTf^^-J><T>ET^
IJjgfeT ^T IT ITT TI ^ -lim & -II m. l^ & * ^?T-T HF- ^T < 5tT -S>th- ^11 "ET
18 ^^M^^feil^^T 5TT ^ ^ ?M ? 1^ TI H 4- >?& -mtW ITET
21 ^^^^^^k^^^^^^^^^2^^m^-5 ^ m*^ >^y m ^y Tt hk
# Apparently a mistake of the scribe for ^f.
^^^TÎIRl3TT>TT<Tl?T^4TM^^TT^T^5TT>-44>^^^/^^^^în
gafjpm^TWT^_._
gk^w^^-?
?16 THE BABYLONIAN CHRONICLE.
Col. I.
1.sa a sur (?).
who
2.sar mat Kar- ?->f- Dun-ia-as u
king of Kar-Dunias, and
y >~>f- [Assur-UBALL-it]
[Assur-uballit]
3.u-rak-kis ina bi-ri-su-nu, mi-sir a-ha
covenanted between them, the boundary of
wes u-kin-nu
each other they fixed
4.ik-kil-ma Epus-ma a-na as-ri-su
he prepared and made and to its place
u-tir
restored
5. [y Ka-dis-man-Mur]-us mar y Kar-in-da-as maru sa
Kadisman-Murus son of Kar-indas son of
-?- Mu-bal-lit-at- ?->f- Seru-u-a
Muballitat- -Serua
6. [martu] sa y>~>y- Assur-UBALL-it sar mat Assur Jpf
[daughter] of Assur-uballit king of Assyria
ka-ma-ri Su-ti-i rab-ba-a-tu
troops of the the Sutt numerous
7. ultu si-it >->y- SAM-si adi e-rib >->{- SAM-si
from the rising jg^6 j to the setting |?81^ne|

is-pur-ma Adi la bas-c Ina ALAKE-su-nu
he sent also until there was not. In their goings
8. al Bi-ra-a-tam ina ki-rib mat Sar-sar u-kas-sir
the city of Biratu1 in the midst of Amurri < . , e |

"?<y ku-up-pu ip-te-e-ma
the keep he opened and
1 Or, " the fortresses.''
THE BABYLONIAN CHRONICLE.^ 817
9. a-na MAssAR-tam du-un-nu-nu.
for the watch they were strengthened.
Nise ina LiBBi-si-na a-bur-ris u-se-sib. Ar-ka-nu
The ((midst
m??-. *ej in comfort he set. Afterwards
of them J _ V ,. '
10. nise Kas-si-i ibbalkitu-su iduku-su. y Su-zi-ga-as

menofKasslj e.V ,f.- \ (and) killed him. Suzigas
( against him j v &
mAt Kas-sa-a
of the land of Kassa
11. mAr la-ma-am-nu a-na sARR-u-tu a-na ^Li-su-nu is-iu-u.
son of a nobody to the kingdom over them they raised.
y ?->f- Assur-UBALL-it
Assur-uballit
12. [sar] mAt Assur J^f a-na tu-ru gi-mir sa y Ka-di?-man
king of Assyria to return the benefit of Kadisman
Mur-us mAr mArti-su
Murus, son of his daughter
13. [a-na] mAt Kar-?->|- Dun-ia-as il-lik. y Su-zi-ga-as
[to] the land of Kar-Dunias he went. Suzigas
mAt Kas-sa-a
of the land of Kassa,
14. . . . . [y Ka-]dis-man-Mur-us ina kussi ....

.... Kadisman-Murus upon the throne . . .
Col. II.
1. mu-.
2. zi-it-tu (?).
furniture (?). . . .
3. e-li-su-nu . . . -ma ri-ig-mu i- . . . ... .
over them .... and the cry.
4. ^> nakru i-h[u-u]s-su. a-ha-wes u-tak-kil . . . .
the enemy took it. Each other they trusted . . .
j.b.a.8. 1894. 53
5. u-sam-kit-[su-nu-tu] kul-lat-su-nu NA!Pis-tim

he caused [them] to be slain, all of them?a soul
ul e-zib (?)-ma ak-tu (?)...
he did not leave and ....
6. u- . . -ku (?) NAPis-tim tam-tim gal-la-tim ina
he [destroyed?] life?(as) a great sea with
da-rai-su-nu mAt Tam-tim (?)....
their blood the land of Tamtim [was covered ?]
7. id-du (?) u-se-su-u ^> ummani-su ni-ik-bu-du
an agreement (?) he sent forth. His army we honoured,
ni-iz-ku-ur su-un- ....
we proclaimed.
8. ^> ummanu u-pa-as-si-hu bu-se-e ^> nakri
the army rested, the property of the enemy
sad-lu-tum u-pa-ah-.
extensive they gathered (?)...
9. a-na gu-ru-ni-e u-se-li i-tur-ru-nim-ma
to heaps (?) he | braised. | They returned and

INA TABTI .
with the benefit . . .
10. ul ni-di-e-ma y Ku-ri-'gal-zu ki-i kul-lat nise
we knew not and Kuri-galzu as all the men
ta-.
of ba[ttle ?]....
11. ina nise sa-nin-ni ul ni-si e-nin-na
among the people our rival < | Again
ma-ta-tu.
the countries.
12. ni (?)-is-bat a-sar-ka ni-is-te-e-ma ir-ba-a-ni ni-bil . .

we took, thy place we held (?) and our reward (?) we took away
13. . . -tu nu-sak-si-du ka-tuk-ku i-tu-ur-ma is- . . .
* { WecTpturedr 6 } thy hand rest0red and 8et (?)
14. . . . -sa-nu-ti-ma si- . . -tu ta-.

. . . them and . . . thou (?).
Col. III.
1. . . bi (?)-hu (P)-um (?) . ..
2. . si-gu-u lu-u.
prayer then.
3. y Si-el (?)-tam (?) da-la-.
Seltum (?).
4. estin Km sisfe bar-mu(?)-tam i-dan-su-nu-u-tum . . .
1000 horses many-coloured (?) he gave them . . .
5. sa (?) li-sa-nu is-bat-tam-ma ri-da-a u-bi-li ib- . .
who the language accepted and offspring brought, he . .
6. ma-sa-ar u-se-is-bit, a-dan-na u-gam-mi-ir . .
the watch -j , , , > the time he completed . ,
7. ta-a-a-ri ur-hu-ku-mu. Kaspa, hurasa ni-sik-tum
the return (of) your path. Silver, gold, precious
abnu.
stones ......
8. ub-lam, sam-o hurasi Slluti a-na *~>{- Maruduk
I brought, skies of gold glorious for Merodach
BELi-ia lu- . . . .
my lord then ...
9. BAbili Jpf u Bar-sip ^ ?li s^Ri-ia lu-u-sa-at-tir
Babylon and Borsippa unto my country then I added
10. y Hu-ur-ba-ti-la sar mAt E-lam-mat a-na y Ku-ri-gal-zu
Hurba-tila king of the land of Elam to Kuri-galzu
sar(?) ....
the king (?) [sent]
11. um-ma: Al-kam-ma ana-ku u ka-a-su ina Dur
thus: Come I and thou in Dur
>->y- Dun-gi.
Dungi [battle with]
J2. a-ha-wes pi-pu-us. y Ku-ri-gal-zu is-me-e-ma . .

each other will make. Kuri-galzu heard and,... .
13. a-na mat Elammat j|=f a-na ka-sa-du iLL-ik-ma
to the land of Elam. to conquer he went and
y Hu-[ur-ba-ti-la] . .
Hurba-tila.
14. sar mAt E-lam-mat ina Dur-*-^- Dun-gi ni-tum
king of the land of Eiam at Dur-Dungi battle
analibbi-su (?)-[nu] . . .
between them (?) ... .
15. ina pani-su ib-bal-kit-ma ] Ku-ri-gal-zu abikta
before him revolted and Kuri-galzu their
su-nu is[-kun]. [f Hu-ur-ba-ti-la] . .
overthrow made. [Hurba-tila] ...
16. sar mat E-lam-mat kat-su iKs-ud kul-lat
king of the land of Elam his hand captured. The whole
mat E-lam-mat, mi-na- . . .
of the land of Elam ....
17. ki-mi-is ina kin-si-su | Hu-ur-ba-ti-la
was apportioned (?) among his. portions(?). Hurba-tila
sar mat E-lam-mat .....
king of the land of Elam . . .
V
18. lu-u-i-di. Sarru y Ku-ri-gal-zu ki-i a-ga-a-an-na

then knew. The king, Kuri-galzu, when this
19. it-ti sarrani sa nap-har matati man-da-at-tum . .
with the kings of all the lands, tribute ....
20. a-na eli y >->{- Rammanu-nirari sar mAt Assur 4^f
against Rammanu-nirari, king of the land of Assyria,
ana kasa-du ....
to capture.
21. ina al Sugaga sa eli nAr Zal-zal-lat
in the city Sugaga which is upon the river Zalzallat
ni-tam(?). .
battle (?) [with him he made]
22. ummanati-su i-duk, ^> rabuti-su.

his army he killed his great men.
23. y Na-zi-muru-tas mAr y.
Nazi-Murutas, son of.
24. sar mat Assur ^|=[ ina (?).
the king of Assyria in (?).
Col. IV.
1.sarrani.
.kings. .
2.[ma]-har ?->f- Ninip id-di-ma ....
.[be] fore Ninip he set and ....
3. . . . . [yTuKUL-ti-] >->f- Ninip a-na BAbili ^[
.... [Tukulti]- Ninip to Babylon
i-tu-ra-am-ma
returned and
4.kar (?)-ri-bu dur BAblli ^f

. . . . approached (?), the fortress of Babylon
ik-[sud], mar-BABiLi ina kakki
he captured, the Babylonians with the sword
5. . . . makkur E-sag-gil u BAbili Jpy
[he slew], the property of E-saggil and Babylon
ina suk mati us-te-si
into the street of the land he caused to be brought forth,
Belu rab-u >->f- Maruduk
the great lord Merodach
6. bil-ti-?u id-ki-e-ma a-na mAt Assur jpf
his tribute he gathered and to the land of Assyria
u-sa-as-bit. Har-ra-an ^> sak-nu-ti-su
he caused to be taken. The path of his prefects
7. ina mAt Kar-^>f- Dun-ya-a? is-kun. Sibit sanati
in the land of Kar-Dunias he made. 7 years
y TuKUL-ti-?->f- Ninip Kar?>f- Dun-ya-as
Tukulti-Ninip Kar-Dunias
8. u-ma-'-ir. Arkis ^b> rabute sa mAt AkkadT Jpf

had governed. Afterwards the great men of Akkad
sa mAt Kar-?->^- Dun-ya-as iBBALKiTU-ma
(and) of Kar-Duiiias revolted and
9. y >->f- Rammanu-nadin-Aiji ina kussi abi-su u-se-si-bu.
Rammanu-nadin-ahi on the throne of his father they set.
y TuKUL-ti -Jf- NlNIP Sa BABILI ^f ANA LIMUT-tU
Tukulti-Ninip, who Babylon to evil
10. [lu]-u-bil-la J HP" AssuR-na-sir-APLi mAr-su u
had brought, Assur-nasir-apli, his son, and
^> rabuti sa mAt Assur ^ iBBALKiTU-su-ma
the great men of Assyria revolted against him and
11. [ina] kussi-su id-ku-su-ma ina Al Kar-TuKUL-ti

from his throne they threw him and in Kar-Tukulti
>->f- Ninip ina biti i-si-ru-su-ma ina kakki
Ninip in the house they imprisoned hiin and killed
1DUKU-SU
him with the sword
12. [Ana] sissit sanati, a-di y TuKUL-ti->->^- Assur-B?l

For 6 years, until Tukulti-Assur-Bel
ina mAt Assur J^f a-sib?ana tar-si y TuKUL-ti
in Assyria he dwelt?in the time of Tukulti
>->f- Assur-Bel a-na
Assur-BM to
13. [BAb!]li it-tal-kam.

[Baby] Ion went.
14. .... y B^L-na-din-suMi sarri it-ba-am-ma

[In the time of] Bel-nadin-sumi, the king, came also
y Ki-din->->f- Hu-ut-ru-dis sar mAt Elammat J^f
Kidin-Hutrudis, king of the land of Elam.
15. [u-m]al (?)-la kAt-su a-na Nippur! 4f=f nise-su is-pu-uh.
he filled(?) his hand, at Niffer his people he overthrew.
Dur-ili j|=y u E-tim-gal-kalam-ma
Dur-ili and E-timgal-kalama
16.nise-su is-tal-lu it-ru-ud-ma

[he captured ?], his people he spoiled, drove away, and
y BfeL-na-din-suMi sarru . . -til-but-su
Bel-nadin-sumi the king
17.RAMMANU-sARRA-iDDi-na is-sih-ram-ma
. . . . Rammanu-sarra-iddina returned and
y Ki-din->->y- Hu-ut-ru-dis mAt Akkad Jp[ ina
Kidin-Hutrudis the land of Akkad in his
SAN-i tebe-su
second advance
18.is-sih Al I-sin i-rab
. . . . . he removed, the city Isin J . e , >
nAr Idiglat gi-mir
the river Tigris, the whole,
19.[i-na ?] Marad ^f abikti nMe
.[in] Marad the overthrow of
rab-ba-a-tu lim-nis
the numerous people evilly
20.-du-ui-ma ina alpe pa-ka-ar
.him and upon the oxen a claim
21.-su(?)-ud-ma u-sa-as-si
. took (?)v and /ûsed to
' I removed be)j
alar
hur^ba-a-ti
the weapons (?)
22.-sum-ma
.him also
23.-ma(?K-ir
.governed (?)
24.-su
.him
Free Rendering.
Col. I.
. who.the king of Kar-Dunias
and Assur-uballit made covenants together, and fixed their
common boundary.he prepared and made. and
restored to its place. Kadisman-MuruS, son of Kar-indas,
son of Muballitat-Serua, daughter of Assur-uballit, king of
Assyria, sent bands of the numerous Suti from east to west
until there were no more. As they went, he banded together
the fortresses in the midst of Phoenicia, opened the keeps,
and they were strengthened for the watch (i.e. in the service
of the Babylonian king). The men in their midst (that is,
in the midst of the fortresses) he settled comfortably.
Afterwards, some Kassites revolted against him and killed
him; they raised Su-zigas, a Kassite, the sonuof a nobody,
to the dominion over them. Assur-uballit, [king] of
Assyria, to avenge Kadisman-Murus, his daughter's son,
went [to] Babylonia; [he killed] Su-zigas, the Kassite.
[Ka]disman-Murus [had sat] upon the throne [of Babylon
for . . . years].1
Col. II.
.furniture (?).over them . . . and the
cry.the enemy held it. They trusted each other
.he caused [them] to be slain, all of them?he did
not leave a"soul, and . . . . he [destroyed?] life-1?the land
1 The Assyrian version, as given in the " Synchronous History/' reads as

follows:?"In the time oi Assur-uballit, king of Assyria, Kara-Murdasi (this
should be Kadisman-Murus, son of Kara-indas), king of Kar-Dunias
(Babylonia), son of Muballitat-Seriia, daughter of Assur-uballit, soldiers
of Ka?se revolted, against, him and killed him. , Nazi-bugas, a Kassite, son
of a nobody, they raised to the dominion over them." " [Assur-uballit. king of
Assyria, to av]enge [Kara]-indas (this should^ be Kadisman-Murus) J [his
daughter's] son, went to Kar - Dunias. He killed [Na]zi - bugas, king of
Kar-Dunias. Kuri-galzu, a youth, son of Burna-burias, he appointed [to]
the kingdom; [he seated him?] on the throne of [his] father."
of T&mtim (?) [was covered ?] with blood?a great sea ... .

he sent forth an agreement (?). We honoured his army,
we proclaimed .. . .the Army rested, they gathered (?)
the extensive property of. the enemy . . ... he caused to
be raised to heaps (?). They returned, and with the benefit
.we knew not, and Kuri-galzu as all the men of
ba[ttle ?].... we had not a rival among the people.
Again the countries ...... we took, we held (?) thy
place, we took .away (?) our reward (?) . ... ,c we caused to
be captured, thy hand restored and set (?). .
.them and thou.
Col. III.
. a penitential
psalm then.SSltu (?).
.... 1000 many-coloured horses he gave to them , . . who
accepted the language and brought offspring, he.
he caused the watch to be kept, he completed the time . . .
. . the return of your path. I brought silver, gold, precious
stones .... [I] then [made] glorious ceilings of gold for
Merodach my lord ...... then I caused Babylon and
Borsippa to be added to my country. Hurba-tila, king of
Elam, [sent] to Kuri-galzu the king (?) thus: "Come, I and
thou will [make battle] together at Dur-Dungi." Kuri
galzu heard, and.went to Elam to conquer (it),
and Hu[rba-tila], king of Elam, [made] battle [with him]
in the midst of Dur-Dungi. [His soldiers] revolted against
him, and Kuri-galzu overthrew them; his hand captured
[Hurba-tila], king of Elam. The whole of the land of
Elam.was apportioned (?). Among his portions (?)
Hurba-tila, king of Elam.then knew. The king,
Kuri-galzu, when this [happened, levied ?] tribute with the
kings of all the lands, [and went] against Rammanu-nirari,
king of Assyria, to capture [him]. In the city Sugaga,
which is upon the river Zalzallat, [he fought with him],
he killed his army, he . ,.his great men.1

Nazi-Murutas, son of.the
king of Assyria in (?).
Col. IY.
..kings.
.he set before Ninip and -..
.... [Tukulti]-Ninip returned to Babylon and approached
., he cap[tured] the fortress of Babylon, [he slew]
the Babylonians with the sword, he caused the property
of E-saggil and Babylon to be brought forth into the
highway, he gathered the taxes of the great lord Merodach,
and caused them to be taken to Assyria. He settled
the policy of his prefects4 in Babylonia. Tukulti
Ninip governed Babylonia seven years. Afterwards the
great men of Akkad and Babylonia revolted against him
and set Rammanu-nadin-ahi on his father's throne. As
for Tukulti-Ninip, who had brought Babylon to evil, Assur
nasir-apli, his son, and the great men of Assyria revolted
against him and deposed him, and in Kar-Tukulti-Ninip,
in the palace, they imprisoned him, and slew him with
the sword. For six years, until (the time of) Tukulti
Assur-Bel, he dwelt in Assyria?he went to Babylon in
the time of Tukulti-Assur-Bel.
1 The Assyrian version is as follows:?"In the time of Ea-nirari, king of

Assyria, Kuri-galzu, a youth, [was king of Babylonia]. Ea-nirari, king
of Assyria, fought with him at the city of Sugagi, which is upon the river
[Zalzall]at?he accomplished his overthrow, his soldiers [he sle]w, he captured
his camp. From the road of Subari [to] Kar-Dunias the fields they divided
equally, they fixed the boundary, the frontier-line they fixed." "Rammanu
nirari, king of Assyria, (and) Nazi-Munltas', king of Kar-Dunias, fought with
each other at Kar-lstar of Agarsallu. Rammanu-nirari accomplished the defeat
of Nazi-Murutas?he smote his forces (?), his camp and his standards (?) he took.
With regard to the boundary, the frontier-line, the line (?) of their boundary
from before the land of Pilaski, which was like the windings (?) of the Tigris
(at) Arman of Agarsali, they made and fixed as far as Lulume."
[In the time of] Bel-nadin-sumi, the king, there came

also Kidin-Hutrudis, king of Elam?he filled (?) his hand,
and overthrew his (Bel-nadin-sumi's ?) people at Niffer.
[He captured] Dur-ili and E-timgal-kalama, spoiled its
people, drove away also Bel-nadin-sumi, the king, his
[opponent?].
.... Rammanu-sarra-iddina returned and Kidin-Hutrudis,

in his second advance, [attacked ?] the land of Akkad. He
removed., he entered the city of Isin. The
river Tigris, the whole. . [in] Marad [he] evilly
[accomplished] the overthrow of the numerous people
.him, and upon the oxen he made a claim
.took and caused to be removed to a
distance. The weapons (?).
.... him also.
.governed
.him . .
Col. I.
Lines 6-7. ?Stf %] >R BfT HK B *&> H Tf 4>
kamari Suti rabbdtu. The rest of the phrase, "until
there were no more" (ddi Id base), seems to demand
some such translation as "troops" or "bands" for
kamari. The word is not a frequent one, and its
meaning has given a certain amount of trouble
even to the best-equipped of translators. The root
seems to mean "to set down," then "to set apart,"
" separate." Compare Assurbaniapli, Cyl. Rm. 1,
col. i., line 57: ina palia nuhsu dahdu, ina sandtia
kummuru hegallum, " in my reign fruitfulness overflowed,
in my years fertility (=plenty) was constant" Ku
murru is given in K. 56, iii., line 12, as translating
V V> gargara, which is a synonym of sakunnu, from

sakanu, "to set," "make"; and in W.A.I. ii., pi. 15,
line 43, the word kimri translates V V ?^TT? 9ar~
gar-ra (gargara), in connection} with sinipat suluppe, the
probable meaning of kimri sinipat suluppe being "a
fixed amount of two-thirds of dates" (to be measured
to the lord of the field). This general meaning of "to
set apart" is supported by W.A.I. ii. 22, lines 30-32,
where kamaru follows "net of a fowler" and "of a
fisherman," " sack of corn " (sakku sa seim), also " cage
of a lion" (nabaru or nabartum sa nSsi), and seems to
be a synonym of ?f ^f ^JTT. parru, which is probably
connected with ?Qf, bar a or parakku " sanctuary"
(see Assurb. Rm. 1, col. i., 1. 24, paru naklu, markas
sarruti "an artistic room?the royal chamber"). It
is apparently from the word kamaru that the Akkadian
?f ^fcj ^TT^* kamar, probably meaning "partitioned
room," is borrowed. The meaning of " division " for
kamaru may therefore be regarded, as fairly.well proven,
and " division " in English means also a band or troop,
thus forming a good parallel to the usage of the
Assyrian word in this text.
The word rabbdtu apparently comes from rabdbu,
Heb. Uil, and hot from rabu, Heb. PEH.. The use
of the feminine plural form is probably due to the
word ^J J^L, nise " people" being understood (see
fcol. iv., line 19, where nise rabbdtu "numerous people"
occurs?nise being always construed as feminine, not
withstanding its masculine form). Suti, with its long
final vowel, implies that the preceding t belongs to
the root of the word, and that it could therefore hardly
be regarded as feminine.
In adi la base* we have a series of ideographs?*-J^,
here not belu "lord," but adi "up to," "until"; >f
=zld "not"; and JJ^, basu "to be," in the text
written with the phonetic complement, J^ *^( BAs-e
(basS) indicating the oblique case after the preposition

adi. Ld base* " not being" is, in fact, almost, if not
quite, a compound word in Assyro-Babylonian. The
phrase adi Id basS, lit. " until the not-being," apparently
means " until there were no more."
The words which I have translated "in their goings"
are written >~ Jj^- Jffi. ^V1' The first word is the
common preposition *?, ina " in." The second word is
the character J^, followed by the plural sign J^L. J^.
is not the usual ideograph for dldku "to go," that
being generally expressed by t^], of which, however,
J^ is dialectic representative. Besides dldku "to
go," Jj^- (in Akkadian ir or er) also stands for dbdlu
" to bring," eresu " to plant" (ir or er is, in this case,
a totally different root), habdtu "to plunder," saldlu
"to spoil," kamit and lekit "to take," etc. Perhaps,
therefore, we ought to read ina tabali-sunu " on their
transportation." The other meanings naturally do not
fit the sense of the passage.
Line 8. >^yy ^ ^Hf T? +$> D-P- bi-ra-a-tu, is probably not
the name of a city, but the plural of birtu "fortress"
or "stronghold."
The word Tcf "jgf ??: 4fc-9 D.P. ku-up-pu, I have
translated as " keeps," though the word has really
a singular form. The construct case, kup, occurs in
the expression kup issuri "cage of a bird," in the
syllabary Sb, No. 132, and the word is met with also
in the cylinder of Sennacherib, where he says that he
shut up Hezekiah in Jerusalem, his capital city, " like
a caged bird" (kima issur kuppi). Kuppu therefore
means a place to keep either men or animals?a den
or keep?and that it is, in this passage, an underground
place, is shown by the rare determinative prefix *?<f,
which stands for a well or similar excavated place
(buru, burtu, hubbu; see Briinnow, "Classified List,"
830 THE BABYLONIAN CHRONICLE,
10267-10269). Besides the meanings given by Briinnow,

the tablets 80-11-12, 9 and 81-4-28, 861 give the
following:?
T #eT <H* I ^ < I "I? &M Tu"ul I'BI I tur-tum Well
*T HT *$ft is-su-u hole (?)
<-- "flf 'irE mi-ih-su pond
I if ?3= tam-tum sea
I i?g( <-T* 5^g tu-ul-tum well, etc.
kill i^<T sit-num (?)
4 ^ t<g hi-ri-tum ditch
2?T SDl ^ ka-lak-ki
rgy j^: ^y ku-ub-iu
y t^ kj< J? S? Kb "kJ bur-tum well
| <?? ^ "irg mi-ih-su pond
4f >^Je j tam-tum sea
n< ?*- 1J? hu-up-pu^
HRL "^T* -feb hu-pal-lum
"jgf JÎ "g| ku-ub-lu
. J=y ^[ J^$f t^ su-ut-ta-tum
hft< KT -$-2 ha-ab-bu6
T5<XT IBK fe(?)4-<4Ha-abky di(P)-'-u-tu
HI ^3 I [bi]-i-su7
IK?) 4- ? ^ bu(?)-'-sa-nu
5^gyy JflJ* ^ si-e-nu8
MSL< ^T < Ua-tu-u

i 80-11-12,9: XMy.
? 80-11-12, 9: ?2 "j?f.
8 80-11-12, 9: ^?-.
* 80-11-12, 9: ??.
80-11-12, 9: ^ ^.
6 80-11-12, 9 : ha-ab-bi-lu.
' 80-11-12, 9 : [bi-]-'-su.
8 80-11-12, 9: si-i-nu.
9 80-11-12, 9: ha-ap-pu-pu.
THE BABYLONIAN CHRDXICLE. 831
There are also meanings when the character *j<f has

the value of pu?burtum, sitpu, asirum, kub[lu] (?) or
kup\_pu], kubbulu, etc. With the meaning of kalakka,
it was also pronounced game, as were likewise the
compound characters f^Wj, [!Pf T> an^ I^M*
The above words (the meanings of which, in most
cases, will not be made out with certainty until they
are found with a context at least once) mostly contain
the idea of an excavation or natural depressionl in the
ground (^pf means an enclosure, ^ a depression), and
determine the meaning of "j<| kuppu, with which the
Heb. ftS, "hollow (of the hand)," "hollow vessel (pan,
bowl)," may be compared. Nevertheless, the exact
meaning of the phrase must be regarded as doubtful.
Line 12. ]} ^ igfz] $J >fl^ ^jfc], ana turu gimir. These
words evidently stand for ana tur gimilli, meaning "to
avenge"?lit. "to bring back the benefit" or "re
compense."
Col. II.
Line 9. ]} ^ ?-* $J J^. *?$, ana gurune "to heaps."
Cf. Lotz, Tiglathpileser, p. 123. The root is gardnu
"to heap up," with which the Heb.-Hi, "threshing
floor" may be connected. Compare also the following
from 80-11-12, 9 :?
T 56$ H IM $&$ CH ^-f] Ga-rin[ T^ ga[rinnu?]

T^T-^n V?l 5?^[^n^?]Da-ag-rin TÔ ta[garinnu]
with
T ^* Si *# n #^ ^Gu~nr-un ?J in-bi, fruit
un un
tx tx
T TT *?H TT*^=Tl"SfSl Ditto -?H ditto. Il-lu-ru.
1 I have purposely omitted the more doubtful meanings, as well as those which
do not seem to illustrate the sense required.
From the above, there would seem to be some con

nection with gurunu "heap," and the Akkadian gurun
" fruit," and garin or dagrin " threshing-floor (?)."
The above also indicates that the Assyro-Babylonian
inbu " fruit" and illuru are synonyms.
Col. III.
Line 8. The expression *->f- ^ ^ >$<$ ^ J^, same
hurasi illuti "glorious skies of gold," is interesting.
The word samS " skies " here is probably used similarly
to the French dels.
Line 9. *gy ^gfPff Tf *^\ "5S?> lu-usattir "then I added."
This word, from its form, should be the Aorist Shuphul
or Shaphel of satdru " to write," with the prefix Id;
nevertheless, one cannot help thinking of the word
lu-usdtir, from dtdru, which occurs very often with
the meaning of "to add."
Line 11. sffifgJf ->f- KfJ Hff^> Dur-Dungi "the fortress
of (King) Dungi," is mentioned on the tablet K. 2617,
rev., 1. 11, in connection with Dur-karasi (line 8),
and some interesting names of men.
Line 14. ^'J?f ^Mff ^> mdt Elammat. This is ap
parently the usual way of writing the name of Elam
in this text and others of a similar nature and style.
The form ^ ?jl] >^\ jj^, mat Elamat, occurs elsewhere.
The name of Elam is commonly written ideographically
as in line 13.
Line 17. ^f ^S? ^], kimis, and ^[ S^TT* kinsi, seem to
be connected, by the common change from m to n
which frequently takes place before sibilants, etc.
(sun-su for sum-su, " his name"; hansu for hamsu,
"fifth"; salintu for salimtu, "peace"). I have re
garded both words as being for kimis and kimsi
respectively (the former probably a permansive form),
and have compared the Heb. Pfip and Ytip, " a hand
ful," " bundle," etc.
COL. IV.
Line 4. The word " Babylonians" is expressed by means
of the ideographs *|Jp j^ ^f-? ^Pf> mo^r B&MH
D.S., " the son of Babylon," without the plural sign.
Line 5. The words *- y\ ^, ina suk mati, "into the
street of the land," are apparently equivalent to " into
the highway." To bring the property of the great
temple E-saggil out and place it in the street was,
of course, a great indignity.
Line 6. & ^H ?*- ^ Sfî * xK I - ^ ^W
>~>f- Jf^ ^f ^ ^yy ^fflf, harran D.P. saknuti-su ina
mat Kar-D.P. Dunias iskun " he decided (or " fixed ")
the policy of his prefects in Kar-Dunias." The phrase
sakdnu sa harranu, "to set, of a road," seems to mean
"to map out a course of action," " to decide upon a
policy." It is a frequent phrase in Babylonian letter
tablets, often in combination with sepd " feet," when
it seems to mean " to fix one's route," as in the
following: Nabu-usallim ana pdni-ka ki illiku, harrana
ana sepi-su ill taskunu, " When Nabu-usallim went
to thy presence, thou settest not the road for his
feetl " ; kapdu harrana ana sepi-sunu sukun, " set the
plan of the road for their feet.1" See also the New
York Independent, Aug. 23rd, 1888, p. 15.
Line 18. ?^yf ?? *WJL* M ^n* This may also be read
Tsin, but whether in that case it would indicate the
same place or not is uncertain. Other ways of writing
Isin are J^: ^yy gUsê: ^@f, Tsi-in (D.S.), and (ap
parently) jjfr *Q Jpy, which was pronounced either
Isin or Izin ($? ^ f^, 80-6-17, 1051), the latter
apparently being the Akkadian pronunciation.
i Lit. "foot."
j.b,.a.s. 1894. 54

The Babylonian Chronicle - Theo G. Pinches

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The Babylonian Chronicle - Theo G. Pinches

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Author(s): Theo. G. Pinches

Art. XXIV.?The Babylonian Chronicle. By Theo. G.

In the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society for October,

to the reputation of the Assyrians as warriors, or too lauda

1 The name of Kara-indas (=Kar-indas) comes in lower down, where,

are likewise absent from the " Synchronous History." The

1 Elsewhere called, seemingly, Bel-nirari.

Two interesting paragraphs referring to an invasion of

^ ^y ^y ^T4 ^Mt^*S ?IT U ^ Otf I * 3TT IT *ST T ?f 4 4 IM

*tt ^ -eh tj 4 - ^ 5*j ^ 4 4 *ee ? ?* "et st st -&- et ^t +? ^t

^l+t 1 ? T Hh4 4 ?T4T s$fc?Stf^ ^TT~V^T4TJ^?f EfcT

9 ti *4- ^ ^i ^ "+? ^s ^ &tt ? ^ m ^><y ^y -o> fiinmili tif

#n 2H j?- syy ^t *+? ^ j^ ^y t?

T >TiET ST mR ^T &> V *l &TT ^ TI Jfr T ^T >TT<T "gh HT 2^^g|if^Ei

"EUT KK ^ ??. ? ^1 ^ ^ ^ ? -eh VET s=?pHI?^^li)?ii

TI ,4 ^ -5><T m TI ^f 3=T ? ^T ^T Jl* IeT Mi IH ST m-K ^fftliii

t ? ^ ^T ~< 4 ^T >TT<T ^ TI *Tffi ~ ?stf ESUPHipplp^^S ^ v ^i 4~tt ^ - ^h~t ?f j?+m^ j^ ir t $r JW$pi|Wii?iWii

TI .4 <s$y T ?f- 44f *l ?^ t^= ^ ~? ^T T ^ ^f^^9tS0^X^M

6 ieT I? <MTl *E8 H ^T SfTT TI 5*1 ^ *?ff V <~ ^^ifiii^^^H

KT3- *?M A 1&3 ^T JUM& A <m ^T

T4~4^ sr^Hs^f-jgL yv ?} ^y?^ ^w ?f

3 i^^^B1 "S^ ?f + fl^ A ^ J& & -SIT m *=T4 ^ ??^^TBTH^^1tf<TY&l<^^^?^^^M*R^TlET

^^2^4?^^^^ >f >~-V ^YYYY YY ^i^. >?? >cY >?V VY 7Y7

from the rising jg^6 j to the setting |?81^ne|

the city of Biratu1 in the midst of Amurri < . , e |

1 Or, " the fortresses.''

10. nise Kas-si-i ibbalkitu-su iduku-su. y Su-zi-ga-as

14. . . . . [y Ka-]dis-man-Mur-us ina kussi ....

5. u-sam-kit-[su-nu-tu] kul-lat-su-nu NA!Pis-tim

to heaps (?) he | braised. | They returned and

12. ni (?)-is-bat a-sar-ka ni-is-te-e-ma ir-ba-a-ni ni-bil . .

* { WecTpturedr 6 } thy hand rest0red and 8et (?)

14. . . . -sa-nu-ti-ma si- . . -tu ta-.

J2. a-ha-wes pi-pu-us. y Ku-ri-gal-zu is-me-e-ma . .

18. lu-u-i-di. Sarru y Ku-ri-gal-zu ki-i a-ga-a-an-na

22. ummanati-su i-duk, ^> rabuti-su.

4.kar (?)-ri-bu dur BAblli ^f

8. u-ma-'-ir. Arkis ^b> rabute sa mAt AkkadT Jpf

11. [ina] kussi-su id-ku-su-ma ina Al Kar-TuKUL-ti

12. [Ana] sissit sanati, a-di y TuKUL-ti->->^- Assur-B?l

13. [BAb!]li it-tal-kam.

14. .... y B^L-na-din-suMi sarri it-ba-am-ma

16.nise-su is-tal-lu it-ru-ud-ma

1 The Assyrian version, as given in the " Synchronous History/' reads as

of T&mtim (?) [was covered ?] with blood?a great sea ... .

he killed his army, he . ,.his great men.1

1 The Assyrian version is as follows:?"In the time of Ea-nirari, king of

[In the time of] Bel-nadin-sumi, the king, there came

.... Rammanu-sarra-iddina returned and Kidin-Hutrudis,

V V> gargara, which is a synonym of sakunnu, from

(basS) indicating the oblique case after the preposition

10267-10269). Besides the meanings given by Briinnow,

MSL< ^T < Ua-tu-u

There are also meanings when the character *j<f has

T 56$ H IM $&$ CH ^-f] Ga-rin[ T^ ga[rinnu?]

From the above, there would seem to be some con

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6 ieT I? <MTl E8 H ^T SfTT TI 51 ^ *?ff V <~ ^^ifiii^^^H

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