CM 41 (Fragmentary Chronicle on Ancient Kings)

The Chronicle of Early Kings (ABC 20) is a historiographical text from ancient Babylonia. Although it purports to offer information about the oldest period and the Old-Babylonian empire, it was probably written much later. One anachronism is the reference to Babylon during the reign of king Sargon of Akkad. However, in outline, much information is more or less correct. Go here for the text. The second of the two fragments that are known as CM 41, a tablet from the library of the Assyrian king Aššurbanipal, treats more or less the same subject matter.

For a very brief introduction to the literary genre of chronicles, go here. The translation on this webpage was adapted from Jean-Jacques Glassner, Mesopotamian Chronicles (Atlanta, 2004).

Fragment A

[A.i.1'-3'] [...] the temple of Ninurta [...] he [...], lavishly, the arm [...]. He erected [...] to the astonishment of all the people.

[A.i.4'-10'] [...] king of Isin, the sukkalmah, Lipit-Ištar, [...] offered sacrifices to Enlil and himself saying: "May it be so!" He came, bearing his official sacrifices to the Ekur, his heavy tribute. Being in bed, he had a dream. Enlil having received [...] he took [...] not being able to approach.

[A.ii.1'-7'] Enlil [...] did not [...] the king [...] when [...] before [...] territory [...] in front

[A.iii.1'-4'] [...] for [...] his wall [...]

[A.iv.1'-9'] [...] for [...] bearer [...] took fire and [...] he set fire to that house [...] Enlil went and [...] having entered and [....] the fire to the [...] he entered into Babylon and [...]

Fragment B

[B.obv.i.1'-6'] [...] he thus made [...] them [...] was changed [...] and [...] Enlil [...]

[B.obv.ii.1'-8'] [...] Isin [...] Enlil-bani, the gardener, in the [...] of Erra-imitti, in order to seize the throne [...] clever and [...] rose up and [...] according to Enlil's order [...] ^note[This story is also told in ABC 20.]

[B.rev.ii.1'-6'] To obstruct the flow of the Tigris, [...] Iluma-ilu, the enemy [...] on the order of the great lord Enlil [...] for the obstruction of the flow of the Tigris. [...] Iluma-ilu, the enemy [...] ^note[This story is also told in ABC 20.]

[Broken off]