ABC 18 (Dynastic Chronicle)

The Dynastic Chronicle, although called a chronicle, is in fact a very long king list. Written on six columns, it starts with the antediluvian rulers and continues until at least the eighth century. The beginning is very fragmentary, but the second half is comprehensible. It has come down to us in three fragments (called A, B, and C) which do not join, but appear to belong to one, large tablet.^note[The match is discussed at some length by Grayson.] Restoration of the missing parts is facilitated by the existence of parallel texts (e.g., the Sumerian King List) and several repetitive formulas.

For a very brief introduction to the literary genre of chronicles, go here. The translation on this webpage was adapted from A.K. Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles (1975). Additions have been published by I. Finkel in the Journal of Cuneiform Studies 32 (1980), 65-80. More information can be found in Jean-Jacques Glassner, Mesopotamian Chronicles (Atlanta, 2004).

Fragment A

Column i

[i.A] [After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridu.

Eridu, Alulim became king; he ruled for N years.

Alaljar ruled for N years.

Two kings of the dynasty of Eridu ruled for N years.

They were called Kings from Heaven.

Bad-tibira, Enmenluana ruled for N years.]^note[These six lines are based on the Sumerian King List.]

[i.A1'] Enmegalanna ruled for N years.

[i.A2'] Dumuzi, the shepherd, ruled for N years.

[i.A3'] Three kings of the dynasty of Bad-tibira ruled for N years.

[i.A4'] The dynasty of Bad-tibira was terminated, its kingship was transferred to Sippar.

[i.A5'] Sippar, Enmeduranna ruled for N years.

[i.A6'] One king of the dynasty of Sippar ruled for N years.

[i.A7'] The dynasty of Sippar was terminated, its kingship transferred to to Larak.

[i.A8'] Larak, Ensipazianna ruled for N years.

[i.A9'] One king of the dynasty of Larak ruled for N years.

[i.A10'] The dynasty of Larak was terminated, its kingship transferred to Šuruppak.

[i.A11'] Šuruppak, Ubartutu ruled for N years.

[i.A12'] Ziusudra, son of Ubartutu, ruled for N years.

[i.A13'] Two kings of the dynasty of Šuruppak ruled for N years.

[i.A14'] Five cities, nine kings ruled for N years.

[i.A15'] Enlil [...]^note[The Sumerian King List adds at this point "The Flood swept thereover". King Ziusudra is the hero of the Sumerian Deluge Story, the Eridu Genesis.]

[i.A16'] Enlil [...]

[i.A17'-18'] The uproar [...]

[i.A19'] [...]

[Lacuna]

Fragment B

[i.B1'] [...]

[i.B2'] [...]

[i.B3'] [...]

[i.A] [lacuna]

Colomn ii

[ii.B] [lacuna]

[ii.B1'] [...]^note[These kings belong to the so-called Dynasty of Kiš.]

[ii.B2'] Balihu, son of ditto, [...]

[ii.B3'] Enmennunna [...]

[ii.B4'] Melamkiššu [...]

[ii.B] [Lacuna]

Column iii

[iii.B] [Completely missing]

Column iv

[iv.B] [Lacuna]

[iv.B1'] Babylon, [Sumuabum^?...]^note[These kings belong to the First Dynasty of Babylon, which ruled Babylonia from 1894 to 1595 (according to the Middle chronology).]

[iv.B2'] Sumulael [...]

[iv.B3'] Sabium [...]

[iv.B4'] Apil-Sin [...]

[iv.B5'] Sin-muballit [...]

[iv.B6'-12'] [Hammurabi,

Samsuiluna,

Abi-ešuh,

Ammiditana,

Ammisaduqa,

Samsuditana

Eleven kings of the dynasty of Babylon ruled for N years.]^note[The names in the lacuna can be restored from other sources. After this, lines 13'-14' may have contained some historical information and the words that "The dynasty of Babylon was terminated, its kingship transferred to the Sea Land"]

[iv.B13'] [...]

[iv.B14'] [...]

[iv.B15'-B16'] [Too broken for translation.]

[Lacuna]

Column v

[v.B] [Lacuna]

[v.B1'] [...] Sealand [...]^note[The following kings belong to the Second Dynasty of the Sealand. After this, the kings of the Bazi Dynasty are mentioned and one king from Elam.]

[v.B2'] The knight, resident of the Sealand, Simbar-šihu, son of Eriba-Sin,

[v.B3'] soldier of the dynasty of Damiq-ilišu, was slain with the sword. He ruled for seventeen years.

[v.B4'] He was buried in the palace of Sargon.

[v.B5'] Ea-mukin-zeri, the usurper, son of Hašmar, ruled for three months.

[v.B6'] He was buried in the swamp of Bit-Hašmar.

[v.B7'] Kaššu-nadin-ahhe, son of SAPpaya, ruled for three years. In the palace of [...] he was buried.

[v.B8'] Three kings of the dynasty of the Sealand ruled for twenty-three years.

[v.B9'] Eulmaš-šakin-šumi, son of Bazi, ruled for fourteen years. he was buried in the palace of Kar-Marduk.

[v.B10'] Ninurta-kudurri-usur, son of Bazi, ruled for two years.

[v.B11'] Širikti-Šuqamuna, ditto [i.e., son of Bazi], ruled for three years. He was buried in the palace of [...].

[v.B12'] Three kings of the dynasty of Bit-Bazi ruled for twenty years and three months.

[v.B13'] Mar-biti-apla-usur, descendant of [...] Elam, ruled for six years.

[v.B14'] He was buried in the palace of Sargon.

[v.B15'] One king of the dynasty of Elam ruled for six years.

[v.B16'] [...]

[v.B] [Lacuna]

Column vi

[vi.C] [Lacuna]

[vi.C1'] [...]

[vi.C2'] the knight [...]

[vi.C3'] Marduk-apla-usur ruled for N years.^note[This man was king in c.800 BCE.]

[vi.C4'] One king of [an unknown^?] dynasty ruled for N years.

[vi.C5'] The dynasty of Chaldea was terminated. Its kingship was transferred to the Sealand.

[vi.C6'] The Sealand, Eriba-Marduk ruled for N years.^note[This man was king before 760 BCE.]

[vi.C7'] One king of the dynasty of the Sealand ruled for N years.

[vi.C8'] The dynasty of the Sealand was terminated, its kingship was transferred to Chaldea.

[vi.C9'] Chaldea, [Nabû-šuma-iškun^?] ruled for N years.

[vi.C10'] One king of the dynasty of Chaldea ruled for N years.

[vi.C11'] The dynasty of Chaldea was terminated. Its kingship was transferred to the [...]

[vi.12'] [...]

[vi.13'] [...]

[vi.C] [Lacuna]