CCP 3.8.1.E - Iqqur īpuš, série génerale E

Catalogue information
British Museum
BM 50634
1882-3-23,1625+ 1882-3-23,1679
Sippar
joins: 
1882-3-23,1625+ 1882-3-23,1679
CDLI: 
P500448
Publication
Photo: 
CUSAS 25 pp. 100-101
Editions: 

Livingstone, 2013A. Livingstone, Hemerologies of Assyrian and Babylonian Scholars. CDL Press, 2013.: 84-98 [only ix 1-16]

Commentary
DivinationMenologiesSérie générale
Base text: 
Iqqur īpuš, série génerale
Commentary no: 
E
Tablet information
Babylonian
Fragment
Columns: 
2
Size: 
6,66 × 7,3 cm
Chaldean / early Achaemenid (late 7th / 6th cent) (mostly "Sippar Collection")
Colophon
N[abû-… (or B[ēl-…) s. …] d. Iddin-Marduk, šamallû from Babylon
Bibliography

Marti, 2014L. Marti, Chroniques bibliographiques, 16. Les hémérologies mésopotamiennes, Revue d’Assyriologie, vol. 108, pp. 161-199, 2014.: 163

Record
Rutz, 04/2017 (Identification)
Rutz & Jiménez, 05/2017 (Translation)
Jiménez, 05/2017 (Introduction)
By Matthew T. Rutz & Enrique Jiménez | Make a correction or suggestion
How to cite
Rutz, M.T. & Jiménez, E., 2017, “Commentary on Iqqur īpuš, série génerale (CCP 3.8.1.E),” Cuneiform Commentaries Project (E. Frahm, E. Jiménez, M. Frazer, and K. Wagensonner), 2013–2024; accessed March 28, 2024, at https://ccp.yale.edu/P500448. DOI: 10079/44j1028
© Cuneiform Commentaries Project (Citation Guidelines)
Introduction

This “hemerological compilation”1 consists of a series of calendrical divination texts. According to its rubric, the tablet lists “favorable days for the entire year, consisting of 15 mont[hs (…), that is, 12 months] with 3 intercalary months” (ix 22-23). The rubric is followed by a colophon in which the scribe identifies himself as Nab[û/Bē[l-…, a Babylonian apprentice and a member of the Iddin-Marduk family. Although this family was active in both Babylon and Sippar,2 the present tablet ostensibly comes from the latter city, since the colophon mentions that it was deposited in the Ebabbar.

The greatest part of the tablet, which spans columns i-viii, is an excerpt from the menological series Iqqur īpuš, to which some short explanations are appended. These exact same explanations are found in other hemerological compilations that quote from Iqqur īpuš: for instance, in MLC 2627 (CCP 3.8.1.B), from Late Babylonian Uruk, and in K.98+ (CCP 3.8.1.A), written by the Assyrian scholar Nabû-zuqup-kēnu, who lived in the 8th and 7th centuries.

These three tablets are hemerological compilations of the same type: the commented section of the general series of Iqqur īpuš is combined with a list of lucky days. In addition, the present tablet provides some general rules for calendrical divination, such as the list of days that, in any given month, are favorable for carrying out an activity (ix 17-21). These rules are probably inferred from the Iqqur īpuš excerpts that precede them.

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BM 050634 (unpublished unassigned ?) [Commentary on hemerology]

Obverse
Column i
o i 1'o i 1'

itiBÁRA itiGU₄ [itiSIG₄]

Nisannu (I), Ayyaru (II), Simānu (III)

o i 2'2'

itiŠU itiNE itiKIN

Duʾūzu (IV), Abu (V), Ulūlu (VI)

o i 3'3'

itiDU₆ itiAPIN itiGAN

Tašrītu (VII), Araḫsamnu (VIII), Kislīmu (IX)

o i 4'4'

itiAB itiZÍZ itiŠE

Ṭebētu (X), Šabāṭu (XI), Addaru (XII)


o i 5'5'

* UŠ₈ É BAD-ma SIG₄ ŠUBdi

“If he opens the foundations of a house and lays a brick” (Iqqur īpuš §1).

o i 6'6'

* ina itiŠU É BI SUMUNbar1

In (the month) Duʾūzu (IV), that house will grow old.

o i 7'7'

* ina itiNE É BI DUMU-ME TUKUši2

In (the month) Abu (V), that house will have children.

o i 8'8'

* ina itiDU₆ DINGIR-šú ana munusSIG₅

In (the month) Tašrītu (VII), his god will continuously

o i 9'9'

    -MEŠ-šú3

escort him with care.

o i 10'10'

* ina itiAPIN mim-mu-šú ana IGI-šú

In (the month) Araḫsamna (VIII), his possessions

o i 11'11'

    DUak4

will grow larger.

o i 12'12'

* ina itiŠE Á.TUKU TUKUši5

In (the month) Addaru (XII), he will gain profit.


o i 13'13'

* É šá gišIG i-zaq-qa-pu

“If he builds a house” (= Iqqur īpuš §5) (refers to the man) who erects a door.

o i 14'14'

* ina itiSIG₄ ŠÀ.ḪÚL.LA6

In (the month) Simānu (III), (there will be) happiness.

o i 15'15'

* ina itiŠU É BI SUMUNbar7

In (the month) Duʾūzu (IV), that house will grow old.

o i 16'16'

* ina itiNE lìb-bi DÙG.GA8

In (the month) Abu (V), (there will be) gladdening of the heart.

o i 17'17'

* ina itiDU₆ lìb-bi DÙG.GA9

In (the month) Tašrītu (VII), (there will be) gladdening of the heart.

o i 18'18'

* ina itiAPIN mim-mu-šú ana IGI-šú DUak

In (the month) Araḫsamna (VIII), his possessions will grow larger.

o i 19'19'

* ina itiZÍZ É

In (the month) Šabāṭu (XI), building of a house.

o i 20'20'

* ina itiŠE É

In (the month) Addaru (XII), building of a house.


o i 21'21'

* É iq-qur šá SUMUN KÚR-ma GIBIL /

“If he tears down a house” (= Iqqur īpuš §7) (refers to the man) who removes an old (house) and builds a new one.

o i 22'22'

* ina itiGU₄ É BI DAGAL

In (the month) Ayyāru (II), that house will expand.

o i 23'23'

* ina itiŠU DU₈ ḪUL

In (the month) Duʾūzu (IV), evil will be dissolved.

o i 24'24'

* ina itiAB lìb-bi DÙG.[GA]

In (the month) Ṭebētu (X), (there will be) gladdening of the heart.

o i 25'25'

* ina itiZÍZ [É]

In (the month) Šabāṭu (XI), a house will be built.

o i 26'26'

* ina itiŠE DU₈ [ḪUL]

In (the month) Addaru (XII), [evil] will be dissolved.


o i 27'27'

* É i-ṣi šá si-i-ri i-ḫal-[la-šú]

“If he tears down a house” (= Iqqur īpuš §8) (refers to the man) who scrapes off the wall-plaster.

o i 28'28'

* ina itiGU₄ lìb-bi DÙG.GA

In (the month) Ayyāru (II), (there will be) gladdening of the heart.

o i 29'29'

* ina itiKIN É BI SUMUNbar10

In (the month) Elūlu (VI), that house will grow old.

o i 30'30'

* ina itiDU₆ lìb-bi DÙG.[GA]

In (the month) Tašrītu (VII), (there will be) gladdening of the heart.

o i 31'31'

* ina itiZÍZ É

In (the month) Šabāṭu (XI), a house will be built.

o i 32'32'

* ina itiŠE DU₈ ḪUL

In (the month) Addaru (XII), evil will be dissolved.


o i 33'33'

* É is-suḫ šá lìb-bi É

“If he tears out a house” (= Iqqur īpuš §9) (refers to the man) who digs deep

o i 34'34'

    ú-šap-pa-lu₄

the interior of the house.

o i 35'35'

* ina itiGU₄ lìb-bi DÙG.GA

In (the month) Ayyāru (II), (there will be) gladdening of the heart.

end of column 1
Column ii
o iio ii  (3 lines missing)
o ii 1'1'

* ina [itiŠE DU₈ ḪUL]

In (the month) Addaru (XII), evil will be dissolved.


o ii 2'2'

* É tam?-la?-a? [SA₅ šá ŠÀ É-šú šap-lu₄]

“If [he fills out] the platform of a house” (= Iqqur īpuš §10) [(refers to the man) who fills out the interior of his house(, which was) low,]

o ii 3'3'

x x [...]

[]

o ii 4'4'

x x [...]

[]

o ii 5'5'

* [ina itiŠU lìb-bi DÙG.GA]

[In (the month) Duʾūzu (IV), (there will be) gladdening of the heart.]

o ii 6'6'

* [ina itiNE lìb-bi DÙG.GA]

[In (the month) Abu (V), (there will be) gladdening of the heart.]

o ii 7'7'

* [ina itiKIN É BI SUMUNbar]

[In (the month) Elūlu (VI), that house will grow old.]

o ii 8'8'

* [ina itiAPIN DU₈ ḪUL]

[In (the month) Araḫsamna (VIII), evil will be dissolved.]

o ii 9'9'

* [ina itiŠE É BI LIBIR.RA]

[In (the month) Addaru (XII), that house will grow old.]


o ii 10'10'

* É-[su KÚRir šá la-pan GISKIM]

[(If) he] changes [his house] (= Iqqur īpuš §11) (refers to the man) who, fleeing bad omens,

o ii 11'11'

    È-ma ana É-[šú MAN-ma ir-ru-bu]

leaves (his house) and [enters another] house [of his].

o ii 12'12'

* ina itiSIG₄ ZARAḪ ina SU NA [DU₈]

In (the month) Simānu (III), lamentation will leave the man‘s body.

o ii 13'13'

* ina itiAPIN DU₈ ḪUL

In (the month) Araḫsamna (VIII), evil will be dissolved.

o ii 14'14'

* ina itiZÍZ DU₈ ḪUL

In (the month) Šabāṭu (XI), evil will be dissolved.

o ii 15'15'

* ina itiŠE UGU EN INIM-šú GUBza

In (the month) Addaru (XII), that man will prevail over his litigant.


o ii 16'16'

* ana É-šú MAN-ma KÚRir šá la GISKIM

“If he changes into another house of his” (= Iqqur īpuš §12) (refers to the man) who, without any omen

o ii 17'17'

    šá x x x ana É MAN-ma DIBqu

crosses over into another house.

o ii 18'18'

[* ina itiGU₄] lìb-bi DÙG.GA

[In (the month) Ayyāru (II),] (there will be) gladdening of the heart.

o ii 19'19'

[* ina itiSIG₄] ZARAḪ ina SU NA DU₈

[In (the month) Simānu (III), lamen]tation will leave the man‘s body.

o ii 20'20'

[* ina itiKIN/APIN? DU₈] ḪUL

[In (the month) Elūlu (VI) / Araḫsamna (VIII),] evil [will be dissolved.]

o ii 21'21'

[* ina itiZÍZ] DU₈ ḪUL

[In (the month) Šabāṭu (XI),] evil [will be disso]lved.

o ii 22'22'

[* ina itiŠE UGU EN] INIM?-šú? GUB?[za?]

[In (the month) Addaru (XII), that man will] prevail [over] his [lit]igant.

traces only preserved, badly effaced
end of column 2
columns 3-5 of the obverse are not preserved
Reverse
rcolumn 6 is not preserved
Column vii
r viir vii several lines are missing
r vii 1'1'

x [...]

[]


r vii 2'2'

* É? [x x x x (x x)]

If a house [].

r vii 3'3'

itix [x x x x (x x)]

Month [],

r vii 4'4'

itix [x x x x (x x)]

Month [],

r vii 5'5'

U₄.x [x x x x (x x)]

Day [],

r vii 6'6'

U₄.x [x x x x (x x)]

Day [],

r vii 7'7'

x [x x x x (x x)]

[],

r vii 8'8'

NU [x x x x (x x)]

[],

r vii 9'9'

* É? [x x x x (x x)]

If a house [].

r vii 10'10'

itiBÁRA [x x x (x x)]

Nisannu (I), [].

r vii 11'11'

itiKIN itiDU₆? [x x (x x)]

Elūlu (VI), Tašrītu (VII), [],

r vii 12'12'

itiAB itiZÍZ [x x (x x)]

Ṭebētu (X), Šabāṭu (XI), [],


r vii 13'13'

* ÉRINni ana x [x (x x)]11

If the army to the battle [],

r vii 14'14'

itiGU₄ itiKIN [x x (x x)]

Ayyāru (II), Elūlu (VI), [],

r vii 15'15'

itiAPIN iti[x x x (x)]

Araḫsamna (VIII), [],


r vii 16'16'

x x [...]

[].

(missing)
Column viii
r viiir viii  (2 lines missing)
r viii 1'1'

* ina itiSIG₄? [...]

In (the month) Simānu (III) (?), []

r viii 2'2'

* ina itiŠU? [...]

In (the month) Duʾūzu (IV) (?), []

r viii 3'3'

* ina itiKIN [DINGIR-šú ana munusSIG₅]

In (the month) Elūlu (VI), [his god will] continuously escort him

r viii 4'4'

    -ME-šú

[with care].

r viii 5'5'

* ina itiGAN lìb-bi DÙG.GA

In (the month) Kislīmu (IX), (there will be) happiness.

r viii 6'6'

* ina itiZÍZ GURUN SI.12

In (the month) Šabāṭu (XI), the fruit will prosper.

r viii 7'7'

* ina itiŠE ŠU.TAG.GA-BI SI.13

In (the month) Addaru (XII), his action will prosper.


r viii 8'8'

* gišKIRI₆ ud-diš šá i-rap-[pi]-qu

“If he renovates a garden” (= Iqqur īpuš §49) (refers to the man) who hoes (scil., a garden).

r viii 9'9'

* ina itiGU₄ BI UGU [EN]

In (the month) Ayyāru (II), that man will prevail

r viii 10'10'

    INIM-šú GUBaz

over his litigant.

r viii 11'11'

* ina itiSIG₄ Á.TUKU ni-ṣir- IGImar

In (the month) Simānu (III), he will gain the profit of a treasure.

r viii 12'12'

* ina itiKIN DINGIR-šú ana munusSIG₅ -ME-šú

In (the month) Elūlu (VI), his god will continuously escort him with care.

r viii 13'13'

* ina itiAPIN EN INIM-šú KURád

In (the month) Araḫsamna (VIII), he will defeat his litigant.

r viii 14'14'

* ina itiŠE ma-la È IGI-MIN-šú14

In (the month) Addaru (XII), as much as comes out of his eyes.


r viii 15'15'

* SAG.ḪUL.ḪA.ZA IGI

“If he sees the ‘Supporter of Evil’-demon” (= Iqqur īpuš §57).

r viii 16'16'

* ina itiBÁRA GISKIM munusSIG₅ GAR-šú

In (the month) Nisannu (I), a good omen will be placed upon him.

r viii 17'17'

* ina itiSIG₄ x [(x) x x] x GAR-šú

In (the month) Simānu (III), [] will be placed for him,

r viii 18'18'

* ina itiKIN ana [KURád Á.TUKU?] GAR-šú

In (the month) Elūlu (VI), [achievement of profit] will be placed for him,

r viii 19'19'

* ina itiDU₆ ana [SIG₅ IGI? GAR-šú]

In (the month) Tašrītu (VII), [it will be placed to goodness].

r viii 20'20'

* ina itiAPIN Á?.[TUKU GU₇ GAR-šú]

In (the month) Araḫsamna (VIII), pr[ofit and eating will be placed for him.]

end of column 8 is not preserved
Column ix
r ixr ix List of favorable days in vertical columns
r ix 11

BÁRA

1 4.1/2 6.1/2 8 10 11 14 16!(13) 23.1/2

ŠE

(Favorable days in the month) Nisannu (I): 1 8 10 11 14 16!(13) 23½ are favorable.

r ix 22

GU₄

2 6 8 10 12 15 16 18 22 24 26 28 29 30

ŠE

(Favorable days in the month) Ayyāru (II): 2 6 8 10 12 15 16 18 22 24 26 28 29 30 are favorable.

r ix 33

SIG₄

1 2 9 11 12 13 15 16 22 24 26 28

ŠE

(Favorable days in the month) Simānu (III): 1 2 9 11 12 13 15 16 22 24 26 28 are favorable.

r ix 44

ŠU

1 3 7 11 13 17 19 21 22 27 28 29

ŠE

(Favorable days in the month) Duʾūzu (IV): 1 3 7 11 13 17 19 21 22 27 28 29 are favorable.

r ix 55

NE

1 2 5.1/2 9 10 13 16

ŠE

(Favorable days in the month) Abu (V): 1 2 9 10 13 16 are favorable.

r ix 66

KIN

1 2 3 5 7 9 11 14 16 17 19 21 23 29

ŠE

(Favorable days in the month) Elūlu (VI): 1 2 3 5 7 9 11 14 16 17 19 21 23 29 are favorable.

r ix 77

DU₆

1 6 8.1/2 11 13.1/2 14 17 19 21 22 23 26 28 29

ŠE

(Favorable days in the month) Tašrītu (VII): 1 6 11 13½ 14 17 19 21 22 23 26 28 29 are favorable.

r ix 88

APIN

<x x x x> 9 11 13 15 18 19 20 23 24 26 28 30

ŠE15

(Favorable days in the month) Araḫsamna (VIII): <> 9 11 13 15 18 19 20 23 24 26 28 30 are favorable.

r ix 99

GAN

<x x x x x x> 16 18 21 23 25 29 30

ŠE16

(Favorable days in the month) Kislīmu (IX): <> 16 18 21 23 25 29 30 are favorable.

r ix 1010

AB

1 7 11.1/2 13 ḫe-<> 17.1/2 21 22 23 24.1/2 25 26 27.1/2 28 29

ŠE

(Favorable days in the month) Ṭebētu (X): 1 7 11½ 13 broken (14?) 17½ 21 22 23 24½ 25 26 27½ 28 29 are favorable.

r ix 1111

ZÍZ

1 3 11.1/2 19 20 22 23 25 26 28 29

ŠE

(Favorable days in the month) Šabāṭu (XI): 1 3 11½ 19 20 22 23 25 26 28 29 are favorable.

r ix 1212

ŠE

1 2 4 6 8 9 10 12 14 15 20 22 24 25 27 30

ŠE

(Favorable days in the month) Addaru (XII): 1 2 4 6 8 9 10 12 14 15 20 22 24 25 27 30 are favorable.

r ix 1313

BÁRA 2.KAM

1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 16? 17? 22? 26? 30?

[ŠE]

(Favorable days in the month) Second Nisannu (I.2): 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 16 17 22 26 30 (?) [are favorable.]

r ix 1414

KIN? 2.[KAM]

1.1/2 2.[(1/2)] 5 6 7.1/2? 8 9 10? 11? x x x 21?/22? 25 26 29

ŠE

(Favorable days in the month) Second Elūlu (VI.2): 2[(½)] 5 6 (?) 8 9 10 (?) 11 (?) 21/22 (?) 25 26 29 are favorable.

r ix 1515

[ŠE? 2.KAM]

[x x x] 7? 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21

(Favorable days in the month) [Second Addaru (XII.2) (?): ] 7 (?) 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21

r ix 1616

   

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

ŠE

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 are favorable.


r ix 1717

ina ITI U₄.1.KAM U₄.3.KAM U₄.5.KAM U₄.7.KAM U₄.18.KAM U₄.19?.KAM U₄.21.KAM

In (any given) month the 1st, the 3rd, the 5th, the 7th, the 18th, the 1[9th(?)], the 21st,

r ix 1818

U₄.25.KAM U₄.28.KAM ina ITI 10 U₄-MEŠ šá a-na ÁŠ

the 25th, (and) the 28th: in (any given) month there are 10(sic!) days for carrying out an enterprise.

r ix 1919

A.ZU ana GIG ŠU-su NU TÙM U₄.7.KAM U₄.14.KAM

The healer/physician should not treat a sick person: the 7th, the 14th,

r ix 2020

U₄.21.KAM U₄.28.KAM U₄ ḪUL U₄.6?.KAM U₄.9.KAM U₄.20.KAM

the 21st, (and) the 28th are evil days. the 6th, the 9th, the 20th,

r ix 2121

U₄.23.KAM U₄.25.KAM U₄-ME il-ki [(x?)]

the 23rd, (and) the 25th are laborable days.


r ix 2222

U₄-MEŠ DÙG.GA-MEŠ šá kal MU.AN.NA ša 15 ITI-[MEŠ (...) 12 ITI-MEŠ]

Favorable days for the entire year consisting of 15 mont[hs (), that is, 12 months]

r ix 2323

EN 3 ITI-MEŠ DIRI-MEŠ GIM SUMUN-šú mdAG/EN-[...]

with 3 intercalary months. According to its original Nab[û/Bēl-…, son of ],

r ix 2424

A MU-dAMAR.UTU ŠÁMAN. .DINGIR.[RAki ...]

descendant of Iddin-Marduk, an apprentice of Bab[ylon ],

r ix 2525

ina É.BÁBBAR.RA É be-lu x [...]

in the Ebabbar, the house of the lord [].

1Elsewhere the apodosis for Duʾūzu is É BI DINGIR TUKUši. Note that SUMUNbar looks like -ši.

2See Šumma ālu V 8.

3See Šumma ālu V 11.

4See Šumma ālu V 12.

5See Šumma ālu V 16.

6See Šumma ālu V 36.

7See Šumma ālu V 37.

8See Šumma ālu V 38.

9See Šumma ālu V 40 (var.)

10Compare BE 17 23: 15ff (MB letter).

11This section does not appear to be part of Iqqur īpuš.

12Other manuscripts preserve the prognosis šá GISKIM SIG₅ IGI, “he will see a favorable omen”, here (see Labat, Calendrier [1965], p. 114).

13Other manuscripts preserve the prognosis šá GISKIM SIG₅ IGI, “he will see a favorable omen”, here (see Labat, Calendrier [1965], p. 114).

14The present prognosis, otherwise apparently unattested, might be a corruption of (mim-ma) ma-la ut-tu-u GAR-šú, “everything he finds will be his.”

15There is a mark before the 9, which probably indicates a break in the source.

16There is a mark before the 16, which probably indicates a break in the source.

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