OBLA 18 (P273745)

Letter tablet excavated in Ešnunna (mod. Tell Asmar), dated to the Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC) period and now kept in Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures West Asia & North Africa Museum, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Cite

Lineart

Museum Collection(s)

Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures West Asia & North Africa Museum, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Museum Number

OIM A—

Period

Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

Provenience

Ešnunna (mod. Tell Asmar)

Artifact Type

Tablet

Material(s)

Clay

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Letter

Language(s)

Akkadian

Measurements

Text

tablet
surface a
obverse
1. [a-na bi]-la-la-ma
2. [qi2]-bi2-ma
3. [...] u3 e-PI-mu a-bi-ka3
4. [...] x a li-tu-lu
5. [...] x s,e2#-er-BI#?-[...]
rest broken
reverse
beginning broken
1'. [...] x [x?] x
2'. [n _tug2-guz]-za sag10_ sza bu-di-ka3
3'. [...]-la#-ma i-na pu-uh2-ri-im
4'. [...] sza#?-pa2-rum i-ti za-ak-pi-el
5'. [...]-ka3# li-li-kam
surface b
obverse
beginning broken
1'. szi2?-[...]
2'. a-na#? x-[...]
3'. ma-da-[...]
4'. sza la [...]
5'. ta-asz-ku#?-[un? ...]
6'. sza-al#?-[...]
7'. tu-TI-[...]
8'. a-tu-x [...]
9'. u2-nu-mi-[...]
10'. x x x [...]
rest broken
reverse
beginning broken
traces of 3 lines
rest broken
left
1. [... _i3]-gesz du10-ga_ sza x [...]
surface c
obverse
beginning broken
1'. [...] a#?-hi#
2'. [...] x
3'. [...] sza#?-ni-im
4'. [...]-x-ka3 mas-li
5'. [...]-ni a-szu-mi
6'. [...] x-li#?-me
rest broken
reverse
beginning broken
1'. [...]-ku#?
2'. [...]-ki#
3'. [...]-x-isz#-ka3
rest broken

Consult previous versions and their differences
Consult sign list of Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
Consult word list of Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)

Text content

Genre(s)	Letter
Language(s)	Akkadian

Chronology

Period	Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC)
Dates Referenced
Accounting Period

Record

CDLI number	P273745
LOD URI	https://cdli.network/entity/P273745

Physical information

Artifact type	Tablet
Dimensions
Weight
Material(s)	Clay
Preservation

Provenance

Provenience	Ešnunna (mod. Tell Asmar)
Written In
Archive
Excavation Number	TA 1931 T0198
Findspot	O31:8 (middle) Palace of the Rulers
Stratigraphic Level	Bilalama
Elevation

Collections

Collection(s)	Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures West Asia & North Africa Museum, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Museum Number	OIM A—
Accession Number

References

primary: OBLA, 18

[Whiting1987OBLA] Whiting, Robert M. 1987. Old Babylonian Letters from Tell Asmar. Assyriological Studies 22. Chicago, Illinois: The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.

Revisions and credits

Created	Creator	Type	Authors	Reviewer	Status
2023-11-01 at 19:40:47	Firth, Richard	Artifact metadata	Firth, Richard	Firth, Richard	Approved
2023-10-20 at 08:29:05	Firth, Richard	Artifact metadata	Firth, Richard	Firth, Richard	Approved
2020-09-17 at 12:25:22	Foxvog, Daniel A.	Transliteration	Foxvog, Daniel A.	CDLI, CDLI	Approved
2005-08-05 at 00:00:00	CDLI, CDLI	Artifact metadata	CDLI, CDLI	CDLI, CDLI	Approved

Cite this Artifact

“OBLA 18 Artifact Entry.” (2005) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). November 1, 2023. https://cdli.earth/P273745.

OBLA 18 artifact entry (No. P273745). (2023, November 1). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P273745 (Original work published 2005)

OBLA 18 artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P273745 (Accessed: October 18, 2026).

@misc{2023OBLA,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-10-18]},
	year = {2023},
	month = {nov 1},
	title = {OBLA 18 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P273745},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P273745},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2023/11/1/
PY  - 2023
ID  - P273745
LB  - CDLI:P273745
M1  - 2026/10/18/
TI  - OBLA 18 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P273745
ER  -

Cite this Artifact

“OBLA 18 Artifact Entry.” (2005) 2023. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). November 1, 2023. https://cdli.earth/P273745.

OBLA 18 artifact entry (No. P273745). (2023, November 1). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P273745 (Original work published 2005)

OBLA 18 artifact entry (2023) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P273745 (Accessed: October 18, 2026).

@misc{2023OBLA,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-10-18]},
	year = {2023},
	month = {nov 1},
	title = {OBLA 18 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P273745},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P273745},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2023/11/1/
PY  - 2023
ID  - P273745
LB  - CDLI:P273745
M1  - 2026/10/18/
TI  - OBLA 18 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P273745
ER  -