No. 1.—Translation of the First Dynastic Tablet from Babylon

Records of the Past, 2nd series, Vol. I, ed. by A. H. Sayce, [1888], at sacred-texts.com

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No. I.—TRANSLATION OF THE FIRST DYNASTIC TABLET FROM BABYLON

Obverse

1. ’Sumu-abi, the king: 15 years.

2. ’Sumu-la-ilu, the son of the same: 35 years.

3. Zabû, the son of the same: 14 years.

4. Abil-Sin, the son of the same: 18 years.

5. Sin-muballidh, the son of the same: 30 years.

6. Khammu-ragas, ¹ the son of the same: 55 years.

7. ’Sam’su-iluna, ² the son of the same: 35 years.

8. Ebisum, ³ the son of the same: 25 years.

9. Ammi-satana, the son of the same: 25 years.

10. Ammi-sadugga, ⁴ the son of the same: 21 years.

11. ’Sam’su-satana (?), the son of the same: 31 years.

12. 11 kings of the dynasty of Babylon.

Reverse

1. (The dynasty of) Uru-azagga. ⁵ Anman the king.

2. Ki-[An] Nigas. ⁶

3. Damki-ili-su. ⁷

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4. Is-ki-pal. ¹

5. Sussi. ²

6. Gul-ki-sar. ³

7. Kirgal-dara-mas, the son of the same.

8. A-dara-kalama, the son of the same. ⁴

9. A-kur-du-ana. ⁵

10. Melam-kurkura. ⁶

11. Ea-ga(mil?). ⁷

12. 1[1] kings of the dynasty of Uru-azagga.

Footnotes

13:1 The first five names of the dynasty are Semitic. Khammuragas is Kassite or Kossæan, and is interpreted "of a large family." Sin-muballidh may have married a foreign wife.

13:2 "The Sun-god (is) our god," another Semitic name.

13:3 "The doer," also Semitic.

13:4 Kassite, interpreted "the family is established."

13:5 Uru-azagga is now represented by a part of the mounds of Telloh (the ancient Sirpurla) or its immediate vicinity.

13:6 Nigas was an Elamite word.

13:7 Semitic, signifying "gracious is his god."

14:1 Perhaps to be read in Semitic Sapin-mat-nukurti, "the sweeper away of the land of the foe." The name seems to have been a title.

14:2 Perhaps the Semitic sussu, "sixty."

14:3 In Semitic Muabbid-kissati, "the destroyer of hosts."

14:4 Apparently, therefore, the son of the preceding king.

14:5 Rendered by the Semitic Abil-Bel-u’sum-same, "the son of Bel (the lord) of the treasury of heaven."

14:6 "The glory of the world."

14:7 The last character is partially destroyed. If my restoration is correct, the name would be Semitic and signify "Ea has rewarded."