ABC 24 (Eclectic chronicle)

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) and Jean-Jacques Glassner, Mesopotamian Chronicles (Atlanta, 2004).

The text of this chronicle is inscribed on a tablet, BM 27859 (98-7-11, 124), the top of which is missing. There is also a large piece missing from the lower left-hand corner. The preserved portion, about two thirds of the text, measures 45 mm wide and 60 mm long.

Translation obverse

[Obv.1'] (...)
...

[Obv.2'] ...

[Obv.3'] he carried off a great booty.

[Obv.4'] Marduk-šapik-zeri,^note[King of Babylonia between 1081 and 1069.] the son of Marduk-nadin-ahhe, rebuilt the wall of Babylon. He conquered the

[Obv.5'] kings of the lands. During his reign, the people of the land enjoyed prosperity.

[Obv.6'] He made an entente cordiale with Aššur-bêl-kala, king of Assyria.^note[Ruled 1073-1056.]

[Obv.7'] At that time, the king went from Assyria to Sippar.

[Obv.8'] Adad-apla-iddina,^note[Adad-apla-iddina was king of Babylonia from 1068 to 1047; Itti-Marduk-balatu from 1139 to 1132. The section is identical to several lines from the Walker Chronicle.] descendant of Itti-Marduk-balatu, the Arameans and an usurper king rebelled against him

[Obv.9'] and desecrated all the sanctuaries centers of the land. Der, Dur-Anki (Nippur).

[Obv.10'] Sippar, Parsa (Dur-Kurigalzu) they demolished. The Suteans attacked and the booty of Sumer and Akkad

[Obv.11'] they took home. He made frequent visits to the shrines of Marduk and appeased his heart. He totally restored his cult

[Obv.12'] Simbar-šihu, son of Eriba-Sin, knight of the Sealand,

[Obv.13'] made the throne of Enlil at Ekur-igigal.

[Obv.14'] In the month of Nisannu of the fifth year of Eulmaš-šakin-šumi, the king.^note[This king ruled from 1004 to 988; his fifth year is 1000 BCE.]

[Obv.15'] The fourteenth year ^note[In this period, only Eulmaš-šakin-šumi had more than thirteen regnal years, so his fourteenth year, 991 BCE) can be meant.]

[Obv.16'] The fourth year of Mar-biti-apla-usur^note[Mar-biti-apla-usur was king of Babylonia from 984 to 979; his fourth year is 981.]

[Obv.17'] The first year of Nabû-mukin-apli, the king^note[This king ruled from 978 to 943.]

[Obv.18'] 'The Nth year

[Edge] ...

Translation of reverse

[Rev.1'] The Nth year of Mar-biti-ahhe-iddina^note[Became king of Babylonia in 942.]

[Rev.2'] Adad-nirari was the king of Assyria at the time of Šamaš-mudammiq.^note[Adad-nirari II ruled from 911 to 891.]

[Rev.3'] At the time of Nabû-šuma-ukin, Tukulti-Ninurta was the king of Assyria.^note[Tukulti-Ninurta II was king of Assyria in 890-884.]

[Rev.4'] At the time of Nabû-apla-iddina, son of Nabû-šuma-ukin, Aššur-nasir-apli was the king of Assyria.^note[Aššur-nasir-apli II of Assyria reigned from 883 to 859.]

[Rev.5'] At the time of Marduk-zakir-šumi, son of Nabû-apla-iddina, and

[Rev.6'] Marduk-bêl-usate, Šalmaneser was the king of Assyria.^note[Šalmaneser III of Assyria was king from 858 to 824. His contemporaries can not be dated more accurately.]

[Rev.7'] At the time of Marduk-balassu-iqbi and Marduk-zakir-šumi

[Rev.8'] For N years there was no king in the land.^note[In fact, an Assyrian king must have ruled over the country The events mentioned in the next section can not be dated exactly.]

[Rev.9'] Eriba-Marduk, descendant of Marduk-šakin-šumi,

[Rev.10'] took the hand of Bêl and the son of Bêl (Nabû) in his second year.

[Rev.11'] The Aramaeans who had taken by murder and insurrection the fields of the inhabitants of Babylon and Borsippa,

[Rev.12'] Eriba-Marduk slew by the sword, and he brought about their defeat.

[Rev.13'] He took the fields and orchards away from the and gave them to the [Arameans?] and Borsippeans.

[Rev.14'] In that same year, he set of the throne of Bêl in Esagila and Ezida ...

[Rev.15'] ... Eriba-Marduk ... to Babylon.

[Rev.16'] ... Eriba-Marduk went out from ...

[Rev.17'] ... Nabû-Nasir.^note[King of Babylonia, 747-734.]

[Rev.18'] ...

[Rev.19'] ... Tiglath-pileser III, king of Assyria, ascended the throne.^note[The first full regnal year of Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria is 744; he must have ascended in 745.]

[Rev.20'] Šalmaneser, king of Assyria, ascended the throne.^note[The first full regnal year of Šalmaneser V of Assyria is 726; he must have ascended in 727.]

[Rev.21] [...]