ABC 1b (From Nabû-Nasir to Esarhaddon)

The Chronicle on the Reigns from Nabû-Nasir to Šamaš-šuma-ukin (ABC 1) is one of the historiographical texts from ancient Assyria and Babylonia. It deals with the resistance of an increasingly stronger Babylon, supported by Elam, against Assyria, beginning with the reign of the Babylonian king Nabû-Nasir (r.747-734) and culminating in the accessions of Aššurbanipal in Assyria and Šamaš-šuma-ukin in Babylonia in 668.

As it happens, there is a variant, which is sometimes referred to as Chronique Mésopotamienne 17 or as tablet B of ABC 1. This chronicle only describes the period from Nabû-Nasir to Šamaš-šuma-ukin. This text is almost identical to the main text, but contains some variants.

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).

Chapter
i
ii
iii
iv
Section
1'
2'-6'
7'
8'
9'
10'
11'
12'-14'

Translation of Column I

[i.1'] Bêl did not come out [for the Akitu festival]

 

[i.2'-6'] The third year of Nabû-nasir,note king of Babylon: Tiglath-Pileser ascended the throne in Assyria. In that same year the king of Assyria went down to Akkad plundered Rabbilu and Hamranu and abducted the gods of Šapazza.

 

[i.7'] The fifth year of Nabû-nasir:note Humban-Nikaš

[i.8'] ascended to the throne in Elam.

 

[i.9'] The [...] year: Tiglath-pileser,

[i.10'] took [...]

 

[i.11'] [...] they went down.

 

[i.12'-14'] [Too fragmented]