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).

Translation of Column III

[iii.1'] Nergal-ušezib in the district of Nippur on the seventh day of the month Tašrîtu did battle against the army of Assyria.

[iii.2'] He was taken prisoner in the battlefield and transported to Assyria.

[iii.3'] On the twenty-sixth day of the month Tašrîtu, the subjects of Hallušu-Inšušinak,

[iii.4'] king of Elam, rebelled against him. The door in his face they shot

[iii.5'] and they killed him. For six years Hallušu-Inšušinak ruled Elam.

[iii.6'] Kudur-Nahhunte ascended the throne in Elam. 

[iii.7'] Afterwards Sennacherib went down to Elam.

[iii.8'] From Raši to Bit-Burnaki,

[iii.9'] he ravaged and plundered it.

[iii.10'] Mušezib-Marduk ascended the throne in Babylon.

 

[iii.11'] The first year of Mušezib-Marduk:note On the eighth day of the month Âbu, the

[iii.12'] Kudur-Nahhunte, king of Elam, was taken prisoner in a rebellion and killed.

[iii.13'] For ten months Kudur-Nahhunte ruled Elam.

[iii.14'] Humban-nimena in Elam ascended the throne.

[iii.15'] In an unknown year Humban-nimena mustered the troops of Elam and Akkad

[iii.16'] in Halule

[iii.17'] and battle against Assyria he did.

[iii.18'] He effected an Assyrian retreat.

 

[iii.19'] The fourth year of Mušezib-Marduk:note On the fifteenth day of the month Nisannu

[iii.20'] Humban-nimena, king of Elam, was stricken by paralysis and

[iii.21'] his mouth was so affected that he could not speak.

[iii.22'] On the first day of the month Kislîmu the city of Babylon was captured. Mušezib-Marduk

[iii.23'] was taken prisoner and transported to Assyria.

[Lacuna]