Old Babylonian

The term is used to describe the culture of southern Mesopotamia between approximately 2000 BC-1600 BC.

Description:

The Old Babylonian Period describes southern Mesopotamia where a number of important sates dominated the region, including Isin, Larsa, Eshnuna, and Babylon.  The sixth ruler of Babylon, Hamurabi, unified the southern states and expanded his control into north Mesopotamia.  After his death, the empire gradually shrank, but remained an important power until it was sacked by the Hittite king Mursili I.  During the Old Babylonian period, literary activity flourished with scribes composing and recording religious, poetic, and ‘scientific’ works in Sumerian and Akkadian cuneiform.  The state retained the Akkadian language for official use, and the Sumerian language for religious use, but Amorite was the spoken language.  The earlier Akkadian and Sumerian traditions played a major role in Babylonian culture.  

Ultra-Low Chronology: 1798-1499 BCE

Short/Low Chronology: 1830-1531 BCE

Middle Chronology: 1894-1595 BCE

Long/High Chronology: 1950-1651 BCE

Objects: Old Babylonian Export: JSON - XML - CSV

Object U Number Museum Number (UPM Date Reg Number) Museum Number (BM Registration Number) Museum Number (UPM B-number) Description (Catalog Card)
7812 (none) (none) (none) Tablet. Mathematical? Character unknown? HC.57.
7813 (none) (none) (none) Tablet Mathematical Multiplication table of 750
7814A (none) (none) (none) Tablets. Fragments of some larger account-tablets found with the collection of small accounts U.7809 (probably). Some of these go with those from Destruction Dump (cf. 7838B, 8832) 7814 A and A belong together? 7814 B and B belong together?
7827D 52-30-111 (none) (none) [A-X] Tablets. Contracts and accounts of Larsa - Bab I period. (cf. also U.7832). Dates: (A) Sumuilum 1; (B) Sumuilum 1; (C) Rim-Sin 49; (D) Samsuiluna, etc. fc. (M) (N) lists of names. many fragments: p.p.p.) fragments of one large tablet cf. U.7836W (or 8806A); t.t.) seem to belong together; Q) seal impression; S) contract with many fragments of its envelope (with seal impression); W) cf. U.7832L; X) cf. U.7832B.
7827E (none) (none) (none) [A-X] Tablets. Contracts and accounts of Larsa - Bab I period. (cf. also U.7832). Dates: (A) Sumuilum 1; (B) Sumuilum 1; (C) Rim-Sin 49; (D) Samsuiluna, etc. fc. (M) (N) lists of names. many fragments: p.p.p.) fragments of one large tablet cf. U.7836W (or 8806A); t.t.) seem to belong together; Q) seal impression; S) contract with many fragments of its envelope (with seal impression); W) cf. U.7832L; X) cf. U.7832B.
7827F (none) (none) (none) [A-X] Tablets. Contracts and accounts of Larsa - Bab I period. (cf. also U.7832). Dates: (A) Sumuilum 1; (B) Sumuilum 1; (C) Rim-Sin 49; (D) Samsuiluna, etc. fc. (M) (N) lists of names. many fragments: p.p.p.) fragments of one large tablet cf. U.7836W (or 8806A); t.t.) seem to belong together; Q) seal impression; S) contract with many fragments of its envelope (with seal impression); W) cf. U.7832L; X) cf. U.7832B.
7827H 52-30-175 (none) (none) [A-X] Tablets. Contracts and accounts of Larsa - Bab I period. (cf. also U.7832). Dates: (A) Sumuilum 1; (B) Sumuilum 1; (C) Rim-Sin 49; (D) Samsuiluna, etc. fc. (M) (N) lists of names. many fragments: p.p.p.) fragments of one large tablet cf. U.7836W (or 8806A); t.t.) seem to belong together; Q) seal impression; S) contract with many fragments of its envelope (with seal impression); W) cf. U.7832L; X) cf. U.7832B.
7827J (none) (none) (none) [A-X] Tablets. Contracts and accounts of Larsa - Bab I period. (cf. also U.7832). Dates: (A) Sumuilum 1; (B) Sumuilum 1; (C) Rim-Sin 49; (D) Samsuiluna, etc. fc. (M) (N) lists of names. many fragments: p.p.p.) fragments of one large tablet cf. U.7836W (or 8806A); t.t.) seem to belong together; Q) seal impression; S) contract with many fragments of its envelope (with seal impression); W) cf. U.7832L; X) cf. U.7832B.
7827M 52-30-235 (none) (none) Tablets. Contracts and accounts of Larsa - Bab I period. (cf. also U.7832). Dates: (A) Sumuilum 1; (B) Sumuilum 1; (C) Rim-Sin 49; (D) Samsuiluna, etc. (M) (N) lists of names. many fragments: p.p.p.) fragments of one large tablet cf. U.7836W (or 8806A); t.t.) seem to belong together; Q) seal impression; S) contract with many fragments of its envelope (with seal impression); W) cf. U.7832L; X) cf. U.7832B.
7827O (none) (none) (none) [A-X] Tablets. Contracts and accounts of Larsa - Bab I period. (cf. also U.7832). Dates: (A) Sumuilum 1; (B) Sumuilum 1; (C) Rim-Sin 49; (D) Samsuiluna, etc. fc. (M) (N) lists of names. many fragments: p.p.p.) fragments of one large tablet cf. U.7836W (or 8806A); t.t.) seem to belong together; Q) seal impression; S) contract with many fragments of its envelope (with seal impression); W) cf. U.7832L; X) cf. U.7832B.
7827P 52-30-237 (none) (none) [A-X] Tablets. Contracts and accounts of Larsa - Bab I period. (cf. also U.7832). Dates: (A) Sumuilum 1; (B) Sumuilum 1; (C) Rim-Sin 49; (D) Samsuiluna, etc. fc. (M) (N) lists of names. many fragments: p.p.p.) fragments of one large tablet cf. U.7836W (or 8806A); t.t.) seem to belong together; Q) seal impression; S) contract with many fragments of its envelope (with seal impression); W) cf. U.7832L; X) cf. U.7832B.
7827Q 52-30-237 (none) (none) [A-X] Tablets. Contracts and accounts of Larsa - Bab I period. (cf. also U.7832). Dates: (A) Sumuilum 1; (B) Sumuilum 1; (C) Rim-Sin 49; (D) Samsuiluna, etc. fc. (M) (N) lists of names. many fragments: p.p.p.) fragments of one large tablet cf. U.7836W (or 8806A); t.t.) seem to belong together; Q) seal impression; S) contract with many fragments of its envelope (with seal impression); W) cf. U.7832L; X) cf. U.7832B.
7827R 52-30-236 (none) (none) Tablets. Contracts and accounts of Larsa - Bab I period. (cf. also U.7832). Dates: (A) Sumuilum 1; (B) Sumuilum 1; (C) Rim-Sin 49; (D) Samsuiluna, etc. (M) (N) lists of names. many fragments: p.p.p.) fragments of one large tablet cf. U.7836W (or 8806A); t.t.) seem to belong together; Q) seal impression; S) contract with many fragments of its envelope (with seal impression); W) cf. U.7832L; X) cf. U.7832B.
7827T (none) (none) (none) Tablets. Contracts and accounts of Larsa - Bab I period. (cf. also U.7832). Dates: (A) Sumuilum 1; (B) Sumuilum 1; (C) Rim-Sin 49; (D) Samsuiluna, etc. (M) (N) lists of names. many fragments: p.p.p.) fragments of one large tablet cf. U.7836W (or 8806A); t.t.) seem to belong together; Q) seal impression; S) contract with many fragments of its envelope (with seal impression); W) cf. U.7832L; X) cf. U.7832B.
7832B 52-30-64 (none) (none) [A-P] Tablets. Various fragments - (A) Semitic letter to Ur Nannar; (B) Another to same; (C) with b??; [D-F] Account lists of udu-tu(d), gu(d), and -; (G-H) Fragments of dates, h = Rim-Sin 7; (I) Fragments of proper names; [J] [Not assigned] (K-M) Three considerable fragments. cf. with k.k. U.7804C?(mm) fragment, c.f. with l U.7827W; (N) Fragment [DISH] Istar-um-mi (?); (O) Label, with string-hole; (F) Field plan; [Is this a reference to something other than a tablet] (P) (see whether this belongs with one of the half tablets in U.7802) (cf. also U.7827).
7833A (none) (none) (none) [A-T] Fragments and envelopes containing seal impressions. [not all described] (E,-G) mu-nam-? nu-sag-ma AN; (L-M) RI-IM (^d) Si(n; dumu Warad (^d) Si(n; Lugal arar (^ki)-ma; (R-T) NB: figure of Istar with the arrows ^d Se(?)...; dumu ^d...; Warad ^dAdad...
7836A 52-30-89 (none) (none) [A-U] Tablets. Principally contracts. [lettered on card in lower case Greek, transliterated in order written from a-s, skipping j] (A) contract dated to 36th year of Rim-Sin. NB envelope marked alpha goes with this) (B) multiplication table: 4 times. (C) (fragment of envelope in lot U.7837 goes with this?) (D) date: Rim-Sin 55. (E) date apparently (a variety?) of Hammurabi (mu H)a-am-mu-ra-bi; (nu-u)h-ush-ni-shu- mu-un-ba-a(l) (F) _ (G) contract beginning with 18 or more nom. prop. of witnesses. date = ?... (H) Rim-Sin 36. (I) _ [J] [Not assigned] (K) _ (L) _ (M) _ (N) _ (O) _ (P) _ (Q) _ (R) same date as s. (S) same date as r. (T) Rim-Sin 12. (U) others. with omega cf. U.7827p.p.p. HC.59 (seal impressions) (the copies restored from many impressions. When from cover, verification from inner tablet required)
7836U (none) (none) (none) [A-U] Tablets. Principally contracts. [lettered on card in lower case Greek, transliterated in order written from a-s, skipping j] (A) contract dated to 36th year of Rim-Sin. NB envelope marked alpha goes with this) (B) multiplication table: 4 times. (C) (fragment of envelope in lot U.7837 goes with this?) (D) date: Rim-Sin 55. (E) date apparently (a variety?) of Hammurabi (mu H)a-am-mu-ra-bi; (nu-u)h-ush-ni-shu- mu-un-ba-a(l) (F) _ (G) contract beginning with 18 or more nom. prop. of witnesses. date = ?... (H) Rim-Sin 36. (I) _ [J] [Not assigned] (K) _ (L) _ (M) _ (N) _ (O) _ (P) _ (Q) _ (R) same date as s. (S) same date as r. (T) Rim-Sin 12. (U) others. with omega cf. U.7827p.p.p. HC.59 (seal impressions) (the copies restored from many impressions. When from cover, verification from inner tablet required)
7836C 52-30-128 (none) (none) [A-U] Tablets. Principally contracts. [lettered on card in lower case Greek, transliterated in order written from a-s, skipping j] (A) contract dated to 36th year of Rim-Sin. NB envelope marked alpha goes with this) (B) multiplication table: 4 times. (C) (fragment of envelope in lot U.7837 goes with this?) (D) date: Rim-Sin 55. (E) date apparently (a variety?) of Hammurabi (mu H)a-am-mu-ra-bi; (nu-u)h-ush-ni-shu- mu-un-ba-a(l) (F) _ (G) contract beginning with 18 or more nom. prop. of witnesses. date = ?... (H) Rim-Sin 36. (I) _ [J] [Not assigned] (K) _ (L) _ (M) _ (N) _ (O) _ (P) _ (Q) _ (R) same date as s. (S) same date as r. (T) Rim-Sin 12. (U) others. with omega cf. U.7827p.p.p. HC.59 (seal impressions) (the copies restored from many impressions. When from cover, verification from inner tablet required)
7836F (none) (none) (none) [A-U] Tablets. Principally contracts. [lettered on card in lower case Greek, transliterated in order written from a-s, skipping j] (A) contract dated to 36th year of Rim-Sin. NB envelope marked alpha goes with this) (B) multiplication table: 4 times. (C) (fragment of envelope in lot U.7837 goes with this?) (D) date: Rim-Sin 55. (E) date apparently (a variety?) of Hammurabi (mu H)a-am-mu-ra-bi; (nu-u)h-ush-ni-shu- mu-un-ba-a(l) (F) _ (G) contract beginning with 18 or more nom. prop. of witnesses. date = ?... (H) Rim-Sin 36. (I) _ [J] [Not assigned] (K) _ (L) _ (M) _ (N) _ (O) _ (P) _ (Q) _ (R) same date as s. (S) same date as r. (T) Rim-Sin 12. (U) others. with omega cf. U.7827p.p.p. HC.59 (seal impressions) (the copies restored from many impressions. When from cover, verification from inner tablet required)
7836K (none) (none) (none) [A-U] Tablets. Principally contracts. [lettered on card in lower case Greek, transliterated in order written from a-s, skipping j] (A) contract dated to 36th year of Rim-Sin. NB envelope marked alpha goes with this) (B) multiplication table: 4 times. (C) (fragment of envelope in lot U.7837 goes with this?) (D) date: Rim-Sin 55. (E) date apparently (a variety?) of Hammurabi (mu H)a-am-mu-ra-bi; (nu-u)h-ush-ni-shu- mu-un-ba-a(l) (F) _ (G) contract beginning with 18 or more nom. prop. of witnesses. date = ?... (H) Rim-Sin 36. (I) _ [J] [Not assigned] (K) _ (L) _ (M) _ (N) _ (O) _ (P) _ (Q) _ (R) same date as s. (S) same date as r. (T) Rim-Sin 12. (U) others. with omega cf. U.7827p.p.p. HC.59 (seal impressions) (the copies restored from many impressions. When from cover, verification from inner tablet required)
7836M (none) (none) (none) [A-U] Tablets. Principally contracts. [lettered on card in lower case Greek, transliterated in order written from a-s, skipping j] (A) contract dated to 36th year of Rim-Sin. NB envelope marked alpha goes with this) (B) multiplication table: 4 times. (C) (fragment of envelope in lot U.7837 goes with this?) (D) date: Rim-Sin 55. (E) date apparently (a variety?) of Hammurabi (mu H)a-am-mu-ra-bi; (nu-u)h-ush-ni-shu- mu-un-ba-a(l) (F) _ (G) contract beginning with 18 or more nom. prop. of witnesses. date = ?... (H) Rim-Sin 36. (I) _ [J] [Not assigned] (K) _ (L) _ (M) _ (N) _ (O) _ (P) _ (Q) _ (R) same date as s. (S) same date as r. (T) Rim-Sin 12. (U) others. with omega cf. U.7827p.p.p. HC.59 (seal impressions) (the copies restored from many impressions. When from cover, verification from inner tablet required)
7836Q (none) (none) (none) [A-U] Tablets. Principally contracts. [lettered on card in lower case Greek, transliterated in order written from a-s, skipping j] (A) contract dated to 36th year of Rim-Sin. NB envelope marked alpha goes with this) (B) multiplication table: 4 times. (C) (fragment of envelope in lot U.7837 goes with this?) (D) date: Rim-Sin 55. (E) date apparently (a variety?) of Hammurabi (mu H)a-am-mu-ra-bi; (nu-u)h-ush-ni-shu- mu-un-ba-a(l) (F) _ (G) contract beginning with 18 or more nom. prop. of witnesses. date = ?... (H) Rim-Sin 36. (I) _ [J] [Not assigned] (K) _ (L) _ (M) _ (N) _ (O) _ (P) _ (Q) _ (R) same date as s. (S) same date as r. (T) Rim-Sin 12. (U) others. with omega cf. U.7827p.p.p. HC.59 (seal impressions) (the copies restored from many impressions. When from cover, verification from inner tablet required)
7838A (none) (none) (none) Tablets. Fragments of large tablets in a very large writing. (A) Lists. Note 4 fragments (which seem to make the edge of a tablet at least 20 cent. long) containing words beginning with gish: also 5 fragments of a tablet containing 2 or 3 columns of words beginning with Ur. (B) Smaller tablets with some large script. (C) 4 fragments of tablet with the large writing on one side and small on reverse. (D) Various fragments.
7839C (none) (none) (none) Tablets. (A) Round school? tablet. (B) label with seal impression. (C) fragments of envelope with seal impression: a-ab-: ^dNin-. (D) curious tablet with linear pattern. (E) dub ma ^dNanna(r)-Ka. (F) [remarked g?] ? lists of ... (2 fragments). (G) [remarked d?] fragments of large account tablets. cf. U.8822. () [f?] unmarked: numerous small business tablets mostly complete. Of the 5 which have cases and seal impressions. NB. the n. prop. Ur PA-LU-LU (Sib-udu? a new god?) and on another the rare god Lu ^dSukal-an.

Locations: Old Babylonian Export: JSON - XML - CSV

Location Context Title Context Description Description (Modern)
House III Excavation designation for a portion of area AH that was eventually published as No. 1 Church Lane and No. 1 Straight Street. It was also called the Pa-Sag or Hendur-Sag chapel. This space was identified as a neighborhood or wayside chapel at the NW edge of Carfax. (none)
House IV Excavation designation in area AH mostly covering No. 1 Old Street but likely containing parts of No. 7 Church Lane as well. (none)
House II Excavation house designation on the northwest side of Straight Street (originally called Division Street because it divided the initial excavation units of House I, II, and III). This unit may have initially contained some rooms in No. 3 Straight Street. (none)
House I Excavation house designation on the southeast side of Straight Street (originally called Division Street as it divided the first excavation house designations I, II, and III). This unit covered published houses No.2 and No. 4 Straight Street. (none)
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Isin Larsa

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The Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus