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)
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)
7836N 52-30-266 1953,0411.54 (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)
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)
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.
7839I (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.
7967 (none) 1928,1009.256 (none) Copper dagger. Straight sided with rectangular end returning to tang wherein 3 rivets. The blade thickened to the centre, but no rib [Type] II
8803B (none) (none) (none) (none)
8806A 52-30-99 (none) (none) [A-Q] Tablets. Business. 17 tablets. [R-AB] 11 fragments. dates on small tablets: (A) Dungi 36, (B) Dungi 37, (C) Dungi 41 (D) Dungi 54, (E) Mu-us-sa-bi. A: cf.U.7827 ppp?, F: cf.U.8810 F?
8806C 47-29-384 (none) (none) [A-Q] Tablets. Business. 17 tablets. [R-AB] 11 fragments. dates on small tablets: (A) Dungi 36, (B) Dungi 37, (C) Dungi 41 (D) Dungi 54, (E) Mu-us-sa-bi. A: cf.U.7827 ppp?, F: cf.U.8810 F?
8806D (none) (none) (none) [A-Q] Tablets. Business. 17 tablets. [R-AB] 11 fragments. dates on small tablets: (A) Dungi 36, (B) Dungi 37, (C) Dungi 41 (D) Dungi 54, (E) Mu-us-sa-bi. A: cf.U.7827 ppp?, F: cf.U.8810 F?
8806E (none) 1948,0423.226 (none) [A-Q] Tablets. Business. 17 tablets. [R-AB] 11 fragments. dates on small tablets: (A) Dungi 36, (B) Dungi 37, (C) Dungi 41 (D) Dungi 54, (E) Mu-us-sa-bi. A: cf.U.7827 ppp?, F: cf.U.8810 F?
8806F 52-30-65 (none) (none) [A-Q] Tablets. Business. 17 tablets. [R-AB] 11 fragments. dates on small tablets: (A) Dungi 36, (B) Dungi 37, (C) Dungi 41 (D) Dungi 54, (E) Mu-us-sa-bi. A: cf.U.7827 ppp?, F: cf.U.8810 F?
8806G 52-30-99 (none) (none) [A-Q] Tablets. Business. 17 tablets. [R-AB] 11 fragments. dates on small tablets: (A) Dungi 36, (B) Dungi 37, (C) Dungi 41 (D) Dungi 54, (E) Mu-us-sa-bi. A: cf.U.7827 ppp?, F: cf.U.8810 F?
8806H (none) (none) (none) [A-Q] Tablets. Business. 17 tablets. [R-AB] 11 fragments. dates on small tablets: (A) Dungi 36, (B) Dungi 37, (C) Dungi 41 (D) Dungi 54, (E) Mu-us-sa-bi. A: cf.U.7827 ppp?, F: cf.U.8810 F?
8806I 52-30-181 (none) (none) [A-Q] Tablets. Business. 17 tablets. [R-AB] 11 fragments. dates on small tablets: (A) Dungi 36, (B) Dungi 37, (C) Dungi 41 (D) Dungi 54, (E) Mu-us-sa-bi. A: cf.U.7827 ppp?, F: cf.U.8810 F?
8806J 52-30-183, 47-29-384 (none) (none) [A-Q] Tablets. Business. 17 tablets. [R-AB] 11 fragments. dates on small tablets: (A) Dungi 36, (B) Dungi 37, (C) Dungi 41 (D) Dungi 54, (E) Mu-us-sa-bi. A: cf.U.7827 ppp?, F: cf.U.8810 F?
8806K 52-30-65 (none) (none) [A-Q] Tablets. Business. 17 tablets. [R-AB] 11 fragments. dates on small tablets: (A) Dungi 36, (B) Dungi 37, (C) Dungi 41 (D) Dungi 54, (E) Mu-us-sa-bi. A: cf.U.7827 ppp?, F: cf.U.8810 F?
8806P (none) (none) (none) [A-Q] Tablets. Business. 17 tablets. [R-AB] 11 fragments. dates on small tablets: (A) Dungi 36, (B) Dungi 37, (C) Dungi 41 (D) Dungi 54, (E) Mu-us-sa-bi. A: cf.U.7827 ppp?, F: cf.U.8810 F?
8806R (none) (none) (none) [A-Q] Tablets. Business. 17 tablets. [R-AB] 11 fragments. dates on small tablets: (A) Dungi 36, (B) Dungi 37, (C) Dungi 41 (D) Dungi 54, (E) Mu-us-sa-bi. A: cf.U.7827 ppp?, F: cf.U.8810 F?
8808A (none) (none) (none) Tablet. (b) and part of envelope of the same with seal impressions of a subject of Rim-Sin. H.C.56 (b)
8808B (none) (none) (none) (none)

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