Chronographic Documents Concerning Bagayasha (BCHP 18 A/B)
BCHP 18: Bagayasha Chronicle, fragments A and B combined (British Museum).**
On this website, a first reading is
proposed by Bert
van der Spek of the Free University of Amsterdam (Netherlands) and
Irving Finkel of the British Museum.*
Please notice that this is a preliminary
edition. This web publication is intended to invite suggestions for
better
readings, comments and interpretations (go here
to contact Van der Spek).
Text and translation
Description
Text and translation
General commentary
Philological commentary
Summary of events
Photos
Fragment C
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B1'
[.. .. .. .. .. ig]i-šú gin-k[u?
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. (///) |
|
| [.. .. ..
.. befo]re him they went .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. (///) |
|
| B2' i[ti bi mB]a-ga-a-a-šá-a [l]ún[un .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. (///) | |
| /That
month?\ [B]agayasha, the p[rince?, into Babylon arrived .. .. .. .. .. .. (///) |
|
|
B3' ník./kàs??\-šú-nu lúpe-li-ga-na-a-n[u .. ..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. (///) |
|
| their
/accounts(assets)??\ the
peliganes [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. (///) |
|
|
B4' lúgal
erín.meš šú-nu-tú gur.meš-nim-ma
ta
E.k[i .. .. .. .. .. .. .. (///) |
|
| these
generals returned hither and from Babyl[on .. .. .. .. .. .. .. (///) |
|
|
B5' sar-su sar-ma šil-lat-su IR-ma a[l-
.. .. .. ..
..
.. (///) |
|
| he made
captives from him and he plundered from him and .. [.. .. .. .. .. (///) |
|
|
B6' u un.meš šú-nu-tú
šá ina é.gal.meš lugal? á[š-bu-ú
.. .. .. .. .. ..] x [.. .. (///) |
|
| and these
people, who l[ive] in the royal palaces [.. .. .. .. .. ..] x [.. ..
(///) |
|
|
B7' lúpu-li-te-e u lúerín.meš šú-nu-[tú? .. .. .. .. .. .. i]q?-bu-ú a-na [ (///) |
|
| the politai and these troops [.. .. ..
.. .. .. sp]okepl? to [(///) |
|
| B8' mu-a-tim lal-ú lú <un.meš> gal-a u tur BA [.. .. .. .. .. ..]x mè i-dag-g[al (///) | A1' |
| aforementioned
retreatedpl/defeatedpl. <The people>, great
and small, x [.. .. .. .. ..] He stood by watching the battle [(///) |
...
|
| B9' lúnun mu-a-tim i-gu-ug-ma /i?\-[.. .. .. .. .. ..]x ina ukkin erín.šú? x [(/// | A2'
(///)] /x x x g\i-nu-ú[..
.. .. ..] x it?-x-te x ri-ib?
NE? GAL? x bi e ri [.. .. ..] |
| this
prince became angry and x[.. .. .. .. .. ..]x in the totality of his
army [he] s[poke? (///) |
(///)
] x x [.. .. .. ..] x x x x x x x x x x x x x [.. .. .. ..] |
| B10' ana sar hul-tim u šá-la-l[u .. .. .. .. .. ana] /e\-re-eb iq-bi la x [(///) | A3' (///)] x x x iq-bi ana? x [ .. ..] an.bar7 ana a-da-nu i-ki-ma-{eras.?}šú-nu-tú erín-ni gištukul?.m[eš? .. ..] |
| in
order to rob the ruin and to plunder [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] he
ordered to enter.? .. [(///) |
(///) ]x x
x he spoke. To? x[.. .. in ] the afternoon at the appointed
time he took (it) away from them. The troops, the weapons? [.. .. ..] |
| B11' uru? na?-du?-mar?-bi? kur M[a?-da-a (?).. .. ..]x ú-su-ur-su-di i[š- (///) | A4' (///) un.m]eš? kur ga-bi É.meš-šú-n[u u ní]g.šu.meš-šú-nu ú-maš-ši-ru-ú nap-har-šú-nu ud.d[u.meš (.. ..)] |
| the city
of Na?-du?-mar?-bi of the land of M[edia?
.. .. .. .] Usursudi? x[(///) |
all [the
peop]le of the land relinquished their houses and their belongings. All
of them wen[t out (.. ..)] |
| B12' [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] x x [.. .. .. i-še-e]m-mu-ú i-ba-ak-ku-ú x[(///) | A5' (///) me]š a-na šu-zu-ub-bu x [x (x)]hi?.a.meš as-ra-a-tú ù pa-ši-ra-a-tú K[A .. .. .. ..] |
| [..
.. .. .. .. .. .. ..] x x [.. .. they list]ened and they mourned x[(///) |
(///)]x in
order to save the x[.. ..]s, the captive? and the sold? women? x(x)[ ..
.. .. ..] |
| B13' [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. du]mu.meš E.ki u un.meš kur mah?-meš SAL[.meš (///) | A6' (///) lúšà].tam É.sag.íl lúa.meš /e\.[ki l]úìr?.meš lugal un.meš i-şu-tú ta lúpu-l[i-te-e] |
| [.. .. ..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. the] Babylonians and numerous people of the
land, wom[en? (///) |
(///) the ša]tammu
of Esagila,
the Babylonians, the slaves of the king, a few people from among the pol[itai] |
| B14' [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. lúpu-li-te-e (?)] u lúpa-hat E.ki kar-ri-i la-ab-š[ú-ú (///) | A7' (///) u]n.meš šú-nu-tú šá ina é!.gal.meš lugal a[š-b]u-ú AP-har-ri-iš ik-kil-lu na-şir? su?-ri x [.. .. .. ..] |
| [.. .. ..
.. .. .. .. .. the politai?]
and the governor (pahat) of
Babylon, wearing mourning, [(///) |
(///)]
these [pe]ople, who [li]ve in the royal palaces, all of them [raised?]
a cry of distress, a clamor? .. .. .. .. .. [.. .. .. ..] |
| B15' [.. .. .. ..] x bi-ki-[ti ma-a-di-i]š ib-ta-ak-ku-ú ta sar-hu d[Utu (///) | A8' (///)] x x a-na un.meš pab.meš? ina? x[-x-]x-tim uš-te !-mi-iq-qu-ú um-ma gišig.meš x[.. ..] |
| [.. .. ..
..]x in wail[ing heavil]y they have mourned. From the rising of the
[sun (///) |
(///)] to
all the people in .. [.. .. ..] .. they supplicated as follows: “The
doors x [may be opened;] |
| B16' [a-n]a? en.nun šá lugal [ .. .. .. š]u-ri-ba-a uru é dingir.meš u un.meš u x[.. (///) |
A9' (///)-t]im ú-šá-an-nu-ú i-<na?> galga HU[L-u]t?-tim da-ba-ba!? sur-ra-a-tú a-mat kit?-ri? DÙG.G[A (.. ..)] |
| [int]o the garrison of the king [
.. .. ..] you have to enter!” The city, the temples and the people and
x [..(///) |
(///) their mind]s they changed. With?
their former (labirišunuB17’)
bad intention, treacherous talk, words of good? help?
[.. ..] |
| B17' la-bi-ri-šú-nu i[q-bu-ú(?)] lu-ú galga dam-qa umuš dùg.ga da-ba-bu ki-[i-nu .. (///) | A10' (///) i-n]a lìb-bi é.gal iq-bu-ú [giši]g?.meš é.gal.meš ip-ţú-ra-ma lúgar 10 kur.gi .mušen? [ina gišIG?] |
| they
s[poke?], now indeed a good intention, a good speech, a
ri[ghteous] word [..(///) |
(///) the people who are with]in the
palace spoke. The gates? of the palace he unlocked and the
governor (šaknu) providedB18’
10 fat[tened] geese [at the gate?] |
| B18' šá é.gal.meš mu-a-[tim g]ub?.meš-hi ana ba-ki lúšà.tam É.sag.gíl l[úDUMU.meš E.ki (///) | A11' (///) n]un?.{meš} mu-a-tim iq-bi UD B[I. m?x]x-'?-nu šá KI-šú ana lúnun MU-a-tim? 1-en GU4 kab-r[a? ù ] |
| of
this palace for the wailing (ritual) (?). The šatammu of Esagila (and)
the [Babylon]ians? [(///) |
(///) to?]
the prince? aforementioned he spoke. That d[ay PN-]x-’?-nu,
who was with him, to the prince aforementioned one fat[tened] ox
[and] |
| B19' 3 udu.nita sizkur.sizkur [še].meš ù x uz.tur.mušen šu-ku-u[l-ti .. .. (///) | A12' (///) k]ù.babbar ki.lá 2/3 ma.na [.. .. .. G]IL kù.gi ŠÀ-bi 5 x x šá x x x [.. .. ..] |
| 3
[fat] sheep for off[ering]s and x fattened ducks [ .. .. (///) |
(///)] x
silver, weighing 40 pounds, [.. ..]x of gold within? 5?
x x of? x x [.. ..]. |
| B20' ţu-ub lìb-bi ina kur [ù] un.meš GAR as-ra-a-tú u pa-ši-ra-[a-tú .. .. (///) | A13' (///)]x šu-ú u lúgal.erín.meš-šú ki-šú x[.. .. ..] meš? u?? [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ] |
| Joy of
heart was established in the land and among the people. The captured?
and sold? women? [.. .. (///) |
(///)] he
and his generals with him x[.. .. ..].. ..[.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
.. .. ..] |
| B21' dù.meš šá gim ú-[şur-t]ú lúIa-'a-man-nuki šá ana lugal x [.. .. .. .. (///) | A14' (///) 1 gu4 u] 4? udu.nita sizkur.sizkur.meš še.meš x [.. ..] x x [.. .. .. .. ud]u.«nita» sizkur.si[zkur .. .. ..] |
| they
performed? in the Greek fa[shio]n, which for the king
x [.. .. .. .. (///) |
(///) one
ox and] 4? fattened sheep for the sheep offering x [..
..] /x x\[.. .. .. .. x of]fering shee[p .. ..] |
| B22' pad!.dinnin ana dEn [gub.m]eš.niš-šú igi-šú ana ká sikil.la ká.[gal-i šá É.sag.gíl (///) | A15' (///)] x ina igi alam lugal šá x [.. .. .. .. .. .. pa]d.dinnin gim ú-şur-tú lú?[.. ..] |
| as
a food offering for Bēl
they [provid]ed before him at the Sikilla Gate, the [great] Gate [of
Esagila (///) |
(///)]
x before the statue of the king which/of x [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
of]ferings in the [Greek?]
fashion |
| B23' al?- x [ .. .. ..k]á sikil.la ká.gal-i šá É.sag.gíl x [.. .. .. .. .. (///) | A16' (///) .. .. ..] x x [.. .. .. .. udu.nita] /sizkur\.sizkur.meš še.meš šá lúšà.tam é.sag.gíl x x[..] |
| x
x [.. .. ..] the Sikilla [G]ate, the Great Gate of Esagila x [.. .. ..
.. .. (///) |
(///) .. .. ..] x x [.. .. .. .. .. ..] fattened offering
sheep which the šatammu of Esagila /had
pro\[vided?] |
| B24' [.. .. .. ..]x ina ki mu-a-tim pad.dinnin ana dEn dGašan-iá dingir.meš [gal.meš .. .. .. (///) | A17' (///) .. .. .. .. .. ..] /INNIN\ x lú?E.ki aga kù.gi giš?tukul?-meš kù.gi šá dEN !? x[..] |
| [..
.. .. ..]in the aforementioned place a food offering for Bel and
Beltia, the [great] gods [ .. .. .. (///) |
(///)
.. .. .. .. .. ..] x x x, the Babylonian, a golden crown, golden weapons?
of Bel[.. .. .. ..] |
| B25' [.. .. m]a?-'-du ina kin-şi-šú ik-mi-i-šú? ana i-di x[.. .. .. .. .. (///) | A18'
(///) .. .. .. .. .. ..]x-’?-a?-nu DÙ?-uš? UD BI TA E.KI
ana ma-dak-ta-šú UD?.D[U?] |
| [nume]rous?
[.. ..] on his knees he bound him. To the side of [.. .. .. .. .. (///) |
(///)
.. .. .. .. .. .. PN-xx]x’anu, made/performed. That day from Babylon he
went out to his
camp. |
| B26' [lúš]à.tam É.sag.gíl 5 lúa.meš E.ki lúpa-hat E.ki 5-ta l[ú pu-li-te-e (///) | A19'
(///) .. .. .. .. .. ..] GUR lúpu-li-te-e šá ina E.KI
GUR-ra ERÍN-ni Su-bir4ki
[(...)] |
| [The
š]atammu of Esagila, five Babylonians, the epistates of Babylon, five [politai, .. .. (///) |
(///)
.. .. .. .. .. ..] returnedsg. The politai, who are in Babylon, he
brought back (GUR-ra). The
troops of Subartu [(.. ..)] |
| B27' [a?]-na en.nun ú-še-ri-ib ki-šú 20 šu-rib?-tú is-suh [.. .. (///) | A20' (///) .. .. .. .. .. ana URU š]á-inim-dIm iş-bat kaskal ud 10.kam lúgal.erín.meš kur Uri.ki [(.. ..)] |
| [in]to
the garrison he made them enter with him. 20 brought-in people he
deported [.. .. (///) |
(///)
.. .. .. .. .. to the city of Š]a-pi-Adad he took the road. On
the 10th day, the general (stratēgos)
of Babylonia [(.. ..)] |
| B28' [S]u?-bir4.ki-ú-a erín-ni en.nun mah.m[eš .. ..] x x x [.. .. .. (///) | A21' (///) .. .. .. .. .. ..] /m\ Ba-a-a-ga-šá-a ud?.du?.meš ud 9 kam ud 10.kam un.meš [šú-nu-tú] |
| [the
S]ubarian troops of the garrison in great numb[er .. ..] x x x [.. ..
.. (///) |
(///)
.. .. .. .. .. ..] Bagayasha – they went out. The 9th day and the 10th
day, the people of the la[nd and the
people] |
| B29' [šá ina] é.gal lugal šá ina E.ki áš-bu-ú ana [lìb-b]i x gin?.meš ud 11.k[am .. .. (///) | A22' (///) .. .. .. .. lúšà.ta]m? É.zi.da u lúBar.zip.ki.meš 1-en gu4 u [3? ud]u.[níta.siskur.siskur.meš] |
| [who] live in the royal palace, went
into x (?). Day 11t[h, the
prince entered Borsippa … (///) |
(///)
.. .. .. .. the šata]mmu of Ezida
and the Borsippaeans 1 ox and [3? offering]sh[eep] |
| B30' [ana lúnun m]u-a-tim gub.meš-niš-šú ana dAg u dNa-na-a dù-ma [.. .. (///) | A23' (///) .. .. .. .. .. .. k]ù.babbar é.dingir.meš URU šá-ka-di[m .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] |
| [for the prince af]orementioned
established for him. For Nabu and Nanaia he (= the prince) performed them. [.. ..
(///) |
(///) .. .. .. .. .. .. s]ilver of the temples of the city of Ša-pi-Ad[ad .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] |
| B31' [.. .. .. ..]x dÉ.kur-ri-tum dÉ.sur-ri-tum u dingir.meš uru šá-K[A-dIM (///) | A24' (///) .. .. .. .. .. ..] lú?nun? ta Bar.zip /ud.du\? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] |
| [..] /to\ the goddesses Ekurritu, Esurritu and the city gods of the city of Ša-p[i-Adad (///) | (///) .. .. .. .. .. ..] the prince from Borsippa wentsg out(?) [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] |
| B32' [.. .. .. .. .. ..] x d?Na?-bi?-um šá ina muh-hi a-šú ana Bar.zip.ki iš?-šal? [.. (///) | A25' (///) .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] x-ru?
ana muh-hi-šú lu?
[.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] |
| [.. .. ..]PNx-Nabû?, who concerning his son to Borsippa, had been called [.. (///) | (///)
.. .. .. .. .. .. ..] .. .. against him .. [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
.. .. ..] |
| B33' [.. .. .. ..]x šu-ú a-na de-ke-e erín-ni-šú TA a-a- x[?.. (///) | A26'
(///) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] x x ana E.K[I .. .. .. .. .. ..
.. .. .. .. .. ..] |
| [..
.. .. ..] .. he in order to levy his troops from? .. .. ..
[.. (///) |
(///)
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] x x to Babylon [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
.. ..] |
| B34' [.. .. .. .. ..]x x-'-ia šu-bi-i u ú-na-a-tú m[è .. (///) | A27' (///) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] x x [ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] |
| [..
.. .. .. ..]x .. .. .. battering rams and ba[ttle] equipment [.. (///) |
(///)
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] x x [ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
.. .. .. ..] |
| B35' [.. .. ina giš sim-mi]-il-tú uru mu-a-tim gaz-ma erín x [(///) | |
| [..
.. with siege lad]der(s)? he defeated that city and the
troops x[ (///) |
|
| B36' [.. .. .. .. .. .. anše.ku]r.ra.meš gu4.hi.a. u u8.hi?.a mah sar-[tú (///) | |
| [..
.. .. .. .. .. ..ho]rses, cattle and ewes in great number as booty
[(///) |
|
|
B37'[
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
.. ..]x x i bi-re-e-tú bi-ra-[.. (///) |
|
| [..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] x x x fetters? cita[dels?
(///) |
|
| B38' [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] xx tum mu-a-tim [.. .. (///) | |
| [..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] x x .. aforementioned [.. ..
(///) |
|
| LoE: |
|
| B39' [.. .. .. ..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ]x ERÍN-ni LUGAL X[(///) |
|
| [..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ]x troops of the king x[
(///) |
|
|
B40' [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
.. .. .. .. .. .. ..]x x x x x[(///) |
|
| [..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ]x x x x x[ (///) |
|
| B41' [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]x un.meš pap.[meš (///) | |
| [..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] all the people [ (///) |
|
| B42' [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] x ERÍN? x x[ (///) | |
| [..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] x troops? x
x[ (///) |
|
|
B43' [.. .. .. ..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
..
.. ..] DINGIR x x [(///) |
|
| [..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..] god? x x [
(///) |
|
| B44' [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]x x tum x [(///) | |
| [..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]x x .. x
[ (///) |
|
| B Left edge: | |
|
B1. [......]
x x x erín x x x x [..
.. .. ]x xkam? en?
ud 26kam [……] |
|
| [......]
x x x troops x x x x [.. .. .. ]day nth? until?
day 26th [(…)] |
|
| [Regular observations of year x month y
Arsak]es king. |
to part three (general commentary)
Babylonian Chronicles