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).
Summary of events
B1'-11'Bagayasha (= the prince?) arrives in Babylon. He came for a punitive action. He asked account of the peliganes (council of elders), the generals are present, mention is made of plundering, politai, “people who live in the palace” (perhaps people had fled into the palace or are captured in the palace). People leave their houses. It must have been a gruesome situation.
Description
Text and translation
General commentary
Philological commentary
Summary of events
Photos
Fragment C
BCHP 18: Bagayasha Chronicle, fragment A(British Museum).**
12'-18'
Much about mourning and supplications. Babylonians, people of the land, women, the šatammu of Esagila, slaves of the king, a few politai, the governor (pāhatu = epistates) wear mourning. The people who are in the palace raise a cry of distress. At seems as though they have acted treacherously, but have changed their intentions and are now set free:
“The doors […] and in the
garrison (EN.NUN) of the king you have to
enter (š]u-ri-ba-a)!”
Perhaps the request is, that the plundering soldiers go back to their garrison. The doors are opened. The šatammu and the Babylonians …. to the prince [provided animals?]
BCHP 18: Bagayasha Chronicle, fragment B(British Museum).**
18' – 25'
PN-xx-nu, possibly the son of Bagayasha, to the prince [intercedes?]. He may be the general of Akkad. Many offerings and valuables are presented. Joy of heart in the land. PN leaves to his camp.
26'
The šatammu with 5 Babylonians, the pahatu with 5 [politai are summoned? PN = general of Akkad] returns (GUR); politai, who are in Babylon, returned or are brought back (GUR-ra).
26'- 27'
He (= the general) makes Parthian troops enter the garrison. 20 brought-in people he deported. … he takes the road to the city of Sha-pi-Adad.
27'-28'
DAY 10: The general (stratēgos) of Babylonia [assembles] the Subarian (=Parthian) troops of the garrison. [At the command of (?)] Bagayasha they went out.
DAY 9 and 10: the people of the land [and the people] who live in the palace went into X?.
BCHP 18: Bagayasha Chronicle, fragment B, edge (British Museum).**
29'-31'
DAY 11: [The prince enters Borsippa]. The šatammu of Ezida provides offering animals for this prince and he makes offerings for Nabū and Nanaia. Some decision is taken as regards the silver of the temple of the gods of Sha-pi-Adad. The prince leaves Borsippa.
33'-end
PN-Nabium (??) arrives. Long report about fighting. Conquest of “that city” (Sha-pi-Adad?).
Babylonian Chronicles