Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
FROM
BABYLONIAN TABLETS
IN THE
BRITISH MUSEUM
PART XLVI
BY
PUBLISHED BY
LONDON
I965
1965 The Trustees of the British Museum
Except for no. 17, which is by the late Th. G. Pinches, the copies
are the work of Messrs. W. G. Lambert (nos. 4-13, 18-42, 45-50, and
52-55) and A. R. Millard (nos. 1-3, 14-16, 43-44, and 51). The introductory
pages are by Mr. Lambert. All will be grateful to them for their fruitful
labours.
R. D. BARNETT,
Keeper.
October, 1964.
(1)
SUMMARY CATALOGUE
1-15: The Epic of Atrabasis. (Nos. 1-4 from a late Old Babylonian edition; nos. 5-15
from Late Assyrian copies.)
2. Flake from another copy of Tablet I. The lines preserved in the second
column correspond to no. 1 II 47-III 10.
3. Tablet III from the same edition and scribe as no. 1. The piece published by
A. Boissier in RA 28 (1931) 92-95, now in the Musee d'art et d'histoire at Geneva,
is probably part of this tablet, belonging to the upper right-hand side.
4. Part of a copy of Tablet I written in six columns, of which some of II, III and
IV is preserved. A copy was first given by Th. G. Pinches in CT VI 5, and a
second by S. Langdon in PBS X/1 pls. III-IV (=Le Poeme pl. X). The tablet was
baked and cleaned for J. Laessoe, and on the basis of his collations and photo-
graphs W. von Soden gave an improved text and illegible photographs in
Orientalia n.s. 26 (1957) 306-315. The copy given here offers further improvements.
5. Not strictly Atrabasis, but a fragment of a bilingual epic dealing with some,
at least, of the same material. K 11624 only was published by T. Jacobsen, The
Sumerian King List, p. 217, from a copy of F. Geers. A fragment of a Late Assyrian
copy.
6-15. Late Assyrian fragments, not all from the same recension. Nos. 6-8 and
10-13 cover portions of Tablet I in the Old Babylonian recension. Nos. 10 and 11
appear to be parts of the same tablet, and the episode they cover duplicated or
restored by 8 and 12 also. Nos. 9 and 13 correspond to parts of Tablet I in their
obverse portions, and to Tablet II in their reverses. No. 15 covers part of Tablet
III in the Old Babylonian recension. No. 6 was translated by G. Smith in his
Chaldean Account of Genesis (1876), p. 156, but has been lost from sight ever
since. Part only of no. 13 (K 7816) was given in copy by K. D. Macmillanin
BA V 688. No. 14 was previously known from J. Laesspe's copy in JSS 5 (1960)
122, and no. 15 from the copies of P. Haupt (Nimrod-Epos p. 131), F. Delitzsch
(AL3 p. 101), and Th. G. Pinches (IV R 2, Additions, p. 9). A photograph of no. 15
is given in E. Sollberger, The Babylonian Legend of the Flood (London, 1962)
P. 37.
Fuller details of these and other Atrabasis tablets will be given in the two
authors' forthcoming edition of the Epic.
(3)
16-35: The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic
16, Large flake from the reverse of an Old Babylonian tablet. It corresponds to
Tablet X of the late recension, and may well be part of the Meissner Tablet
(VAT 4105 in MVAG VII 1-15).. 4i6)le-ffil'
y c a6 91/
17-35. All these pieces, with the possible exception of nos. 28-29 whose attribu-
tion to this epic is not certain, belong to the late recension, and, apart from
nos. 29 and 33, which are Late Assyrian, all are Late Babylonian. Where prac-
tical, the indications of Tablet (within the series), column, and line are made to
conform with those found in R. Campbell Thompson, The Epic of Gilgamish.
('Wiseman' refers to the article by D. J. Wiseman in P. Garelli (ed.), Gilgames et
sa legende, Paris 1960.)
21-22. The obverse of 21 duplicates LKU 39 and no. 22 obv. The reverse of no. 21
has some lines corresponding with Campbell Thompson's Tablet V column II. The
reverse of no. 22 duplicates LKU 40. See Wiseman for a previous copy of no. 22.
23-26. Pieces of Tablet VII. Lines 2-3 of no. 23 correspond with STT I 14 rev.
10-11. Campbell Thompson's column III sets in at line 10. No. 24 confirms
B. Landsberger's arrangement of column IV as set out in WZKM 57 (1961) 8,
note 38. The left-hand column of no. 26 presumably represents the missing por-
tions of column II; the right-hand column is certainly column III.
27. This fragment of Tablet VIII restores and duplicates STT I 15 obv. 21-rev. 4.
Previously given by Wiseman.
30, 32, 33. Parts of Tablet X. Some pieces of the joins have been published pre-
viously: BM 34193 (from no. 30) by Campbell Thompson, and later by Wiseman,
together with BM 35413 and BM 35174+35628, which are now joined with three
other pieces as no. 30. Wiseman also gave a copy of BM 35546, which is now
joined to Rm 751 as no. 32. No. 33 is a piece joined to one published by
Campbell Thompson.
(4)
31. While almost certainly a piece of the Gilgamesh Epic, its position within the
epic is unknown.
35. Tablet XI, first given by Haupt, Nimrod-Epos pp. 121-123, and cited (in some
cases less accurately) by Campbell Thompson in his apparatus. Laboratory treat-
ment and careful copying has resulted in fuller decipherment in the copy given
here.
36, The opening section of the epic, written on a tablet that contained some
other work in addition. A transliteration only was given by E. Reiner in RA 51
(1957) 107-108. Late Assyrian.
39. A Late Assyrian fragment joined to K 3454+3935 (CT XV 40) III bottom. See
E. Reiner, RA 48 (1954) 145-148, where a transliteration is given.
42. A Late Assyrian fragment describing the final battle of the story, not dupli-
cated elsewhere.
44. An Old Babylonian fragment divided into sections, each addressed by a man to his
friend. The content of the words is not clear.
(5)
50: HistoriographicalTexts
45. Part of a Late Babylonian tablet containing both prophecies and narrative,
of First Millennium origin. The text deals with the outcome of political and
personal events as expressions of divine justice. An edition is being prepared
by the copyist. , -i J- f
cP ,t ta" I
46, A Late Assyrian duplicate of the birth legend of Sargon of Agade. Cf. CT
XIII 42, K 4470 II.
51. A Late Assyrian tablet containing a list of shrines, the deity presiding at
each, and explanations of these. The reverse of K 2107+6086 bears a similar text
(for the obverse see L. W. King, STC II pl. LXI-LXII).
53. A Late Assyrian duplicate of the Archive of Mystical Heptads. Other pieces
belonging to this text are KAR 142 and III R 69 no. 3.
54. A join to CT XXV 50, K 170. The final 'extract tablet' (nisbu) of the series
i.NAM gis.bur.an.ki.a. Late Assyrian, from the library of Nabu-zuqup-kena.
55. A Late Assyrian fragment giving the measurements of the universe. The
reverse has parts of four lines of an Ashurbanipal colophon d in the classification
of M. Streck, VAB VII 358.
(6)
INDEX
34193+ 2994
78943 236
35174+ Sp II 726+
2 BM 17596A - 94-1-15,310A VII
35348+ 922+
3 BM 78942+ = Bu 89-4-26,235+ XIII-XXI
35413+ 998+
78971+ 266+
35628 Sp III 140
80385 Bu 91-5-9,524
31 BM 34314 = Sp 426 XXXIII
4 BM 92608 = Bu 91-5-9,269 XXII-XXIII
32 BM 35546+ = Sp III 52 XXXIV
5 K 11261+11624 XXIII
Rm 751
38 K 3008 XXXVII
12 K 6831 XXV
Rm 785+1017
47 BM 34656 " Sp II 139 XLV
(7)
CT XLVI Museum Number CT XLVI Museum Number CT XLVI
Museum Number
426 31
492 48 Th 1929-10-12,56 41
83 37
K 170 54 I
2599 49 Sp II 139 47
3008 38 380 25 Th 1932-12-10,322 55
3069 49 407 48
3454 39 431 17
3935 39 519 48 Th 1932-12-12,497 51
(8)
PLATE I
ATRAHASIS
I
/ BM 78941
1i
+78Y43
10
2O
's
20
25
30
PLATE I I
Ictd. ATRAHASIS
35
40
45
50.
Lower
edge
J ctd. ATRAHA' SIS PLATe II
00eru
erasure
PLATE. IV
Ictd. ATRAHASIS
ii
35
40
45
504
55
_ L ____
Lower
edAse
(K Yrrr
<WYTY
: -
Ei
f)I
Lower
ede
. . . .
. 1.I
I
1r - ATDA WACIC PLATE VI
v 44
4'
50
55
LoSer
e dse
PLATE VII
(55)
:\\ 6)
PLATE VIII
Ictd. ATRAHASIS
:~
:',t!~.
,'` ~
to: t;...;I
':'' 2 '''.
. X.1
; .-, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
W~~
We'd' s)e '
@A,'.' A''-'.''~~~:''\.
L t ';'~
'.;' 'VI',
20t~) , gi~ by
Loier u
.: .. :.:..;'
... . I
I .
.;;.::~.c:%
.,
.
'... ;
; ".I ,
.i':11
'..::~.
Jctd. ATRAHASISPLATE I
I
vi I I1
10
15
20
25
30L
. I
PLATE X
Jctd. ATRAHASIS
V .. ..
' r r
L
I
t r t
.
.
i r
'
,,
rl,.l
' cii ri
1'1
r , rl P r
.i: ))
. .()
z. ..
....
7i.' r )
... I r
I--=, Ir.. r
;:.'
"'
.( Z .I .' t
?:.)l'r
t,
r
. C 1.. r. r
.
i'.. r '.:=.'"' . \'C'1 '' ..'
s )
r
r rr
rrrt . rJI .....
r ,.
) ..
t
r'
, =;
, '. .
Z
;5-Ir
;1,
(L ,(bl . r- I
.r (' r
'i I
1)' r r ' )
*C:')) r' .tl"'' ..
.':..515*:5
; r
;t L
,r, ,
rZ . ((
3 r 1
( 4
I. ,2' p-- r\,''
.r, I) (
`:.. .' ''' r)(r:.
L1I I r
. i =r)) t rlrt
LIII 5
,)ZI (.. rZ
'..1.. Ir)
r- .
Lower
ecd.e
PLATE XI
J ctd. ATRAHASIS
vii ' 1
10
15
20
25
TPLATE xi#
Jctd. ATRAHASIS
r r ..
r r
r r r r )
`
r
vrii C
. , _ r
r
r
r
- - r
r
r.'
r
, r .r
r
r
r r
i-, r rr r
r r
rrr r
* r
)IAI
t
t;: r
.. r\'
c, ..
i
cr : r
2-, . r
(rt r
. (irI; -
r r r . .. ..
(
'Ir'
+u
'p rE
h
PLATE XIII
ATRAHASIS
j. BM 1(84Z
mi
+78971
+ 80385
30
35
40
45
50
, . r
r ( ` t r I
t r
I r
Ct
r r I
I
r) ( r It
-
r
r
)
rr ,
r r
r I
r r . r r \r
r .
r r )
\
1
r I\I r r
r
iFi
. ... . .
. _
p1 PLATE XlV
Lover
4see
3ctd. ATRAHASIS PLATE XV
r r ,r(
i r r t
r ) r r
r ct
I \(
4 1
.
r rr t , r
r r - ((
.Hr Ir r
r
* r
- I ' ... r ('
.'E r r. r
' Z
;? '.2. ; r.
ji 5
'-5
20
25
30
3 ctd. ATRAHASISPLATh xv
IJ
Lower
e
ed \
PLATE XVII
3 cd. ATRAHASIS
. . ~ '. . r
5 2"
. <
1^^ 0
' I~~~~~~~~~~~ 1
fe
fff^^^^^r ' .r
^w
?^n:~~~~~~~~~~
Add X I f.1 I
. i ;. ' ' 1
Rot tutu 1?
r
( r
C;.t r
.rl r
. r I I
(
'
I ' '- I
r tr
PLATE XVIll
3 ctd, ATRAHASIS
TA
50o
PLAT6 XIX
3ctd. ATRAHASIS
vi
25 I
el PLATE XX
ctd, ATRAHASIS
40?
45
50
5ii
I
t0
3ctd. ATRAHASISPLAE XXI
v7i r
r
r
I .1.
r'
r
II
r
r . r r
4
r . r
II ( 4
r r r
r r I
(
t r r r
L -rr r
r
r
15 I
)
( r
r
r r
. ) \\
--- I I.~~~~~~~~~~~I-
*. . :, 1
'in
2( Jo
2 15
ATRAHAS15 PLLTE xXll
4- BM 92608
4~~~~~~~~,,.
... ...
Obv. II-DI
tS^^^^ .- ^W^~S1.
sr_
'511
(rI10")
/ wr d >
15 ^^<^^
^rn^^r~w -" ^N^T^!-r
itsFF^^wB ^ ^^^<<<0# 1S
.'?^^-~~
'|S"'^<
l0
^^mf~m^^
/m^'^w-ir^^Nu^-~~~~~I~i
)~~~hp^-^N -^Na^^
ft:
~~~~~~.
P
8MfffW3%ff^-<
:.~"
l
1
,.4
:r;~
r
a- >^4^ -^ ^ ^ -~~~~~~~
N~~~~~~~~w
..s?:..;:1?,'.
,. A:.
. ::
-T.I-" ,.;..
/- ^^^^W-^^W is
\
^Iw W)@ w
15
-^ww ~1~
aB~~P;Wl~c~F7~ "^~~~~~~~~
wpa~~~~~~~~~~~~~
^a~~~~~~~~~~~~c~~~~~~
^MRnpt 20
20
^.^-^-^r
-^-^^=^-
V.mw
H^N~~z-t- -<ffi~-rN>+ =
25
bPt"
;s~ ~- Ie
25 i
L~e~dt _
\
30
ATRAHASI5 PLATE XXiii
ATRAHASls PLATE XXIV
6. K
IC
100812
IV
AT RAHA56i
5 it. K 7109+9979
Ohv.
5
10
ev.
15
10
10
13. K 7816+13863
I .--- - I,
Obv.
Rev.
10
igtt r-I
-l I-r -- 11 lr -l 1
15
r1~9-v~ r-~~~
~~~~--~~~~~~~bff~~~~~~~~~~ 1~~I-
~~~g~~~p-4~~~~~g~~~~--~~~~~~~~
lil 1fp~~~~~~~~~~~~~~s~~~~~~
20
dft . . - - - .. . .. .
PLATE XXVII
RAHASIS
0
<N
.N
_ . -
. . -
1)
II
jv
5'
lo'
GIL G.-AE SH I I5 PLATE XXI IX
17. Br1 34916
10 I
Tk^~
j^^r~rf^ ,^$
.... . . -- - -,"'',"-
'-,"ss
20 I
38538
PLJATE Xxx
10
Re~v.
20. BM 371Ti3
IE31 0a1wv.
44 I .
.r- r -^
I 2 2. BM
I AI , .I . I J. tlL-
.d~eC Vbv. 45883
T^hk-y L/DV.^^
C^g~cj -^^IT
91
A I *
uvnP 95
I v IbI I.
Re IN^-
10v.
Pi ATrf VVV
AA!
(ILGAMES H
H3,'ES
\15
5/
(a 1)
20
26.
Bl
Yf-
25. BM
25
27. Bt 37189
\\ILAM ESH PIATF XXXII
. .....
L 15
30. I 25
30-361
BM 34.1 W
+3tI93
+35174
+35346
+35413
HTF-f-i-k~~-~F
+35019 ~Q~f~i~i~. 0
06Y.
35
40'
45'
45
PLATE XXXIII
33o 30.
~ BM 3460
\S +34193
... - +35174-
+3534s
35 +35413
+
3562 8
40 -: 4-0
are
I.,
45
31.
BM 34314
dIL&AMESH PLATE XXXI
eI L6IAMC-T PLAITE XXXV
X
CS*,
IE~i$
b:hl
,~~tr~
~ja~,X ,~
65
20
24-25
75
30
.
\IL&Ar1ES H I
xi 35.
BM 35380
R ,V.
275
280
~~~3~~~~~f~~~-
-~~pt- pP-1 - t- 11
125
%IWWIW-~
Th
;6
wt
PI
Z94.-5
300
/ .. - -
zu PL-ATE XXXVII
I -11
I
Y+Pk
~r~h~i~8;TP
Rev.
38. K 3008
7Z1 PLATE XXXVIt
105
IIC
40. s,18o0
43. B M 7432^ PLATE xxXIX
10
]5
20
A.
30
35
40
PLATE X L
10 5
Re.,
45 ced.
2<
L PLATE XLl
4-. BM 45690 O6v. (O. r on p.xLv)
5 ;
25PIbYj
.1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
I I _
, I I I
PLATE XLII
45. B M 4-5 O Ob93.MI
5 --<, rr 4jt~3~-F
I." ,
10 I. ''.....~ ~ ~ L'r
9""
^aTfflFBf |g 1r-;^ta
I::i:ap: ^^
ffT~fWTW^^r^CCPE^^'N
T^`rKj&^^<^^^^<K-r~M
201-
a0^-'^^U ' ^kiit~w^
A
E'
-
I0
10
15
\yn^^l ~ /,-v>^<1
(4,W~4J~W~
-]3 rEiK t^1i
soo 41f
~-tP /^^-ti^^^r
F4Ft I~~~~~~~~~
%X4~~~~~~~~r 'd;?it r
25~~~~~~~t8~ p ; <I~
45.0 40569
.Bm9
.ev, R.. . ~ . PLATE XLIu
I
_d^./^4^^^^^Ra^^
.. ;
^^^F1fr^^NN^N;r^^K
10
15
2C
25
5
Re,. (?)
BM
34657.
BM 34656
(2)
PLATE XLVI
a o
\9
OC)
+ LO)
* 4-
CO!^
0U
no Aq",,..%....
I
5 5'
10
15
5
PLATE XLVPll
5 . B.M. 134502
20'1
PLATE XLIX
tAo . a
Re-.
5'
1C
t7. :1:.'.
'r
. '.1 '.
''': ''
'
.
' LI
..5)
1`;';
r :
5;; ):
_ . . \ , ;:
I ;' -
'
,; :
..., r
......,., ''
r
rf
2:.
..-.
'
.
s
I1 A-Ir I
r-Ff^-^
r rA t 'l k
m*~~~~~~~~~~~~~1
I7
^^3o ^ ^[ 17
6K*w 10
52. 'R~im18
I ~tr~~e~il~4
FRerv
gr4CrpFFF-~~-$
lv--,
55,
3 123379
Obv.
c,