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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 8810S | 52-30-218 | (none) | (none) | [A-H] Tablet. (A) Fragment of the list of year-dates of the dinasty of Larsa similar to the prism published by Thureaudengin; but some differences. The 6th and 7th years of Abisare are transposed. The 10th and 11th year are different and confirm T-D's conjecture, Lachronol---p.18, note 16. Also, fragments of 1st 2 lines and of end of 1st col. - not identified. (B) Fragment of religious text? (C) Frag. tablet containing impression of seal of servant of a king whose name ended in ? (Obvious bottom right corner) (D) Tablet complete case, with unusual inscription? (E) Fragment of large tablet. The rest small business documents, etc. (F) cf. U.8816F? (G andH) Do one of these belong with U.7705? (A) HC.60 (C) HC.61 |
| 16061T | 52-30-219, 52-30-219 | (none) | (none) | [CARD MISSING Typed Transcription from British Museum Card] [A-W... 23 tablets in museum record] 22 Clay tablets. (A) mu us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (B) mu-us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (C) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (D) 90mm x 50mm [no other information]; (E) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; mu us-sa 2-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (G) mu us-sa-a-bi 8-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (H) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (I) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku (K) mu-us-sa-a-bi 7-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (L) mu us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (M) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku. |
| 15675 | 52-30-224, 52-30-224 | (none) | (none) | Tablet. Fragmentary document of about Larsa period. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 7827AA | 52-30-238 | (none) | (none) | (none) |
| 7802O | 52-30-239 | (none) | (none) | [A-V] 22 tablets, complete and incomplete. Mostly accounts. HC.48. (A) List of fields. (B) accounts (with new? date) (C) Accounts (gardener's) (D) Accounts (of wood?) (E) Accounts (Payments of silver) (F) List of 9 semantic Proper Names (G) Account of silas of - payed on successorship (H) Account of Silas pays by various patrons[?] (I) Account of ammts received from 2 person on kelens [?] [J is skipped] (K) Payments of -, and proper names (semetic) (L) Delivery [?] of 68 Mas-Gir Goats. |
| 7804H | 52-30-240, 52-30-240 | (none) | (none) | Tablets [A-R] Tablets. 18 tablets, envelope, and fragments X A and B contain dates: not identified. X B=Rim Sin3 7804C cf. 7832 K.K? But in text In this lot is a text relating to Gilgamesh and Lugal-bande. |
| 16063 | 52-30-241, 52-30-241 | (none) | (none) | Clay tablet, fragment UET/V:720 [CARD MISSING Typed Transcription from British Museum Card] |
| 7795E | 52-30-242 | (none) | (none) | Tablets. A) Long tablet made from 7795A and a fragment marked U.7785D. B) Join made from U.7795B and a fragment marked U.7786C. C) C) 2 fragments of 2 large account tablets. D) 5 other fragments (U.7795 perhaps belongs with one)? E) a date of Sumu(ilum) F) tablet dated under Abisarie. [G-AA] The rest are 21 business documents. Doc. G. belongs with U.7786B? Ur Texts Vol. V 357, 722, 223 882, 721, 442 411, 586, 592, 873 |
| (none) | 52-30-247 | (none) | (none) | [Card Missing] |
| (none) | 52-30-248 | (none) | (none) | [Card Missing] |
| 8811H | 52-30-257 | (none) | (none) | Tablet. Mostly fragments of large account tablets, anciently broken: a few small whole business tablets - a round tablet - part of a 9 times multiplication table - seal impression (in matchbox). |
| 16089B | 52-30-259 | (none) | (none) | [A-C] 3 clay tablets. (a) Semitic Babylonian letter to E-a-na-si-ir from Mu-ha-du-um; UET/V:29 (b) Commercial (?); (c) Commercial; HC.30/VIII, 2.; UET/V:804 UET/V:520 [CARD MISSING Typed Transcription from British Museum Card] |
| 16089C | 52-30-259 | (none) | (none) | [A-C] 3 clay tablets. (a) Semitic Babylonian letter to E-a-na-si-ir from Mu-ha-du-um; UET/V:29 (b) Commercial (?); (c) Commercial; HC.30/VIII, 2.; UET/V:804 UET/V:520 [CARD MISSING Typed Transcription from British Museum Card] |
| 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) |
| 16061P | 52-30-267, 52-30-267 | (none) | (none) | [CARD MISSING Typed Transcription from British Museum Card] [A-W... 23 tablets in museum record] 22 Clay tablets. (A) mu us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (B) mu-us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (C) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (D) 90mm x 50mm [no other information]; (E) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; mu us-sa 2-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (G) mu us-sa-a-bi 8-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (H) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (I) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku (K) mu-us-sa-a-bi 7-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (L) mu us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (M) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku. |
| 16061R | 52-30-268, 52-30-268 | (none) | (none) | [CARD MISSING Typed Transcription from British Museum Card] [A-W... 23 tablets in museum record] 22 Clay tablets. (A) mu us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (B) mu-us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (C) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (D) 90mm x 50mm [no other information]; (E) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; mu us-sa 2-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (G) mu us-sa-a-bi 8-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (H) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (I) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku (K) mu-us-sa-a-bi 7-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (L) mu us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (M) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku. |
| 16061S | 52-30-269, 52-30-269 | (none) | (none) | [CARD MISSING Typed Transcription from British Museum Card] [A-W... 23 tablets in museum record] 22 Clay tablets. (A) mu us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (B) mu-us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (C) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (D) 90mm x 50mm [no other information]; (E) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; mu us-sa 2-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (G) mu us-sa-a-bi 8-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (H) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (I) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku (K) mu-us-sa-a-bi 7-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (L) mu us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (M) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku. |
| 16061U | 52-30-270, 52-30-270 | (none) | (none) | [CARD MISSING Typed Transcription from British Museum Card] [A-W... 23 tablets in museum record] 22 Clay tablets. (A) mu us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (B) mu-us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (C) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (D) 90mm x 50mm [no other information]; (E) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; mu us-sa 2-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (G) mu us-sa-a-bi 8-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (H) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (I) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku (K) mu-us-sa-a-bi 7-kam i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (L) mu us-sa-a-bi i-si-in-na ba-an-ku; (M) mu ki-6 i-si-in-na ba-an-ku. |
| 203A | 52-30-271 | (none) | (none) | (none) |
| 17900W | 52-30-272 | (none) | (none) | Not assigned in field |
| 16833 | 52-30-273, 52-30-273 | (none) | (none) | [Card Missing] |
| 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 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) |
| 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 IV | Excavation designation in area AH mostly covering No. 1 Old Street but likely containing parts of No. 7 Church Lane as well. | (none) |
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Related Terms
Ubaid - Uruk - Jemdat Nasr - Early Dynastic / Sumerian - Akkadian Dynasty - Guti/Post Akkadian - Ur III - Middle Assyrian - Kassite - Neo-Assyrian - Neo-Babylonian - Achaemenid Empire (Persian) - Seleucid - Parthian