ABC 24 (Eclectic chronicle)

The Eclectic Chronicle (ABC 24) is one of the historiographical texts from ancient Babylonia. It deals with events between 1080 and 822 that were important from a Babylonian point of view, but the exact purpose of this text is unclear. Some lines are duplicates of the Walker 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 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

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


 

[Obv.8'] Adad-apla-iddina,note 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


 

[Obv.15'] The fourteenth year note


 

[Obv.16'] The fourth year of Mar-biti-apla-usurnote


 

[Obv.17'] The first year of Nabû-mukin-apli, the kingnote


 

[Obv.18'] 'The Nth year

[Edge] ...

Translation of reverse

[Rev.1'] The Nth year of Mar-biti-ahhe-iddinanote


 

[Rev.2'] Adad-nirari was the king of Assyria at the time of Šamaš-mudammiq.note


 

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


 

[Rev.4'] At the time of Nabû-apla-iddina, son of Nabû-šuma-ukin, Aššur-nasir-apli was the king of Assyria.note


 

[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


 

[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


 

[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


 

[Rev.18'] ...


 

[Rev.19'] ... Tiglath-pileser III, king of Assyria, ascended the throne.note


 

[Rev.20'] Šalmaneser, king of Assyria, ascended the throne.note


 

[Rev.21] [...]