ABC 24 (Eclectic chronicle)

The Eclectic Chronicle (ABC 24) is one of the historiographical texts from ancient Babylonia. It deals with events between 1080 and 822 that were important from a Babylonian point of view, but the exact purpose of this text is unclear. Some lines are duplicates of the Walker Chronicle.

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).

The text of this chronicle is inscribed on a tablet, BM 27859 (98-7-11, 124), the top of which is missing. There is also a large piece missing from the lower left-hand corner. The preserved portion, about two thirds of the text, measures 45 mm wide and 60 mm long.

Chapter
Obv
Edge
Rev
Section
1'
2'
3'
4'
5'
6'
7'
8'
9'
10'
11'
12'
13'
14'
15'
16'
17'
18'

Translation obverse

[Obv.1'] (...)
...

[Obv.2'] ...

[Obv.3'] he carried off a great booty.

 

[Obv.4'] Marduk-šapik-zeri,note the son of Marduk-nadin-ahhe, rebuilt the wall of Babylon. He conquered the

[Obv.5'] kings of the lands. During his reign, the people of the land enjoyed prosperity.

[Obv.6'] He made an entente cordiale with Aššur-bêl-kala, king of Assyria.note

[Obv.7'] At that time, the king went from Assyria to Sippar.

 

[Obv.8'] Adad-apla-iddina,note descendant of Itti-Marduk-balatu, the Arameans and an usurper king rebelled against him

[Obv.9'] and desecrated all the sanctuaries centers of the land. Der, Dur-Anki (Nippur).

[Obv.10'] Sippar, Parsa (Dur-Kurigalzu) they demolished. The Suteans attacked and the booty of Sumer and Akkad

[Obv.11'] they took home. He made frequent visits to the shrines of Marduk and appeased his heart. He totally restored his cult

 

[Obv.12'] Simbar-šihu, son of Eriba-Sin, knight of the Sealand,

[Obv.13'] made the throne of Enlil at Ekur-igigal.

 

[Obv.14'] In the month of Nisannu of the fifth year of Eulmaš-šakin-šumi, the king.note

 

[Obv.15'] The fourteenth year note

 

[Obv.16'] The fourth year of Mar-biti-apla-usurnote

 

[Obv.17'] The first year of Nabû-mukin-apli, the kingnote

 

[Obv.18'] 'The Nth year