Cuneiform Collection – SMM 5

For transliteration, translations, and discussions on the individual texts, click on the links below.

Transliteration:	Translation:
obv. 1. 5 sì[la kaš sig5 3 sìla ninda] 5 gín sum	1. 5 qu[arts fine beer, 3 quarts porridge,] 5 shekels onion,
2. 3 g[ín ì 2 gín nag]a	2. 3 sh[ekels oil, 2 shekels alka]li(-plant),
3. AB[ ]	3. AB[…];
4. 5 sìla k[aš sig5 3 sìla ninda 5] gín sum	4. 5 quarts [fine beer, 3 quarts porridge, 5] shekels onion,
5. 3 gín ì [2 gín nag]a	5. 3 shekels oil, [2 shekels alka]li(-plant)
6. RI - mu	6. Rimu;
7. 5 sìla kA[š 3] sìla ninda 5 gín sum	7. 5 quarts be[ER, 3] quarts porridge, 5 shekels onion,
8. 3 gín ì [2 gín NA]GA	8. 3 shekels oil, 2 shekels alkali(-plant)
9. Puzur4 - ì - lí	9. Puzur-ili;
10. 5 sìla kaš 3 sìla ninda 5 gín sum	10. 5 quarts [fine beer, 3 quarts porridge, 5] shekels onion,
11. 3 gín ì [2 gín NA]GA	11. 3 shekels oil, [2 shekels alk]ali(-plant)
12. A - u - ni	Auni;
lo.e.13. 3 sìla kaš 2 sìla ninda 5 gín sum	3 quarts beer, 2 quarts porridge, 5 shekels onion,
14. 3 gín ì 2 gín naga	14. 3 quarts beer, 2 quarts porridge, 5 shekels onion,
15. Nam - a - ni	15. Nam - a - ni
rev.16. 3 sìla kaš 2 sìla ninda 5 gín sum	3 quarts beer, 2 quarts porridge, 5 shekels (onion),
17. 3 gín ì 2 gín naga	17. 3 shekels oil, 2 shekels alkali(-plant)
18. Lú - dNanna	18. Lu-Nanna;
19. 3 sìla kaš 2 sìla ninda 5 gín sum	19. 3 quarts beer, 2 quarts porridge, 5 shekels onion,
20. 3 gín ì 2 gín naga	20. 3 shekels oil, 2 shekels alkali(-plant)
21. Ì - lí - ia5	21. Iliya.
22. šu-nígin 1xBÁN kaš sig5 2xBÁN lá dida(!?) gin	22. Total: 10 quarts fine beer, 19 quarts ordinary beer-mix;
23. šu-nígin 1xBÁN 8 sìla ninda ½ sìla 5 gín sum	23. Total: 18 quarts porridge, one pint (and) five shekels onion;
24. šu-nígin 1/3 sìla 1 gín <ì> 14 gín naga	24. Total: 1/3 quart (and) one shekel (oil), 14 shekels alkali(-plant)
25. u4 24.kam iti RI	25. Day 24, month RI, year after Shu-Suen the king built the wall (to keep out the) Amorite.
26. mu ús-sa dŠu-dEN.ZU
27. lugal e bàd mar-
28. tu mu - dù

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Discussion

SMM 5 lists amounts of victuals, drink, and condiments apportioned to seven individuals – AB[…], Rimu, Puzur-ili, Ahuni, Namhani, Lu-Nanna, and Iliya – for one day. Tablets of this type have come to be known as “messenger texts” because the recipients of foodstuffs named therein are often identified as messengers or couriers en route from place to place. State employees were entitled to receive provisions in the course of their travels on the job, and provisions were supplied at the way stations or rest houses of the Ur III state road system. These “messenger texts” apparently served as vouchers for the receipt of food and drink at such rest houses (information courtesy Miguel Civil). At the end of each month the vouchers were collected and put in a sack, which was sealed with a clay tag inscribed with the total quantities of provisions dispensed, summed up on the basis of the vouchers; the sack of tablets was sent back to central administration at the provincial capital, where records were stored. One such clay tag is UM 19, kept in Special Collections and Rare Books in the Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota.