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Browse Content (p. 1596)
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Tablet Observation of Halley's Comet
Babylonian astronomical diaries recorded daily observation of the moon and planets from around the 7th century BCE onward. The diaries for 164-163 BCE contain observations of Halley's comet at its 1st and last...
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Tablet Describing Parthian Conquest of Babylonia
This tablet is written in cuneiform inscription and refers to the defeat of the Seleucid king Demetrius II Nicator by the Parthian ruler Mithradates I in 141 BCE. The Parthian ruler is referred to as...
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Egyptian Book of the Dead Fragment
Fragment of a linen mummy shroud with texts from the Book of the Dead, written in ink. From Thebes, Egypt. 18th Dynasty, circa 1500 BCE.
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Proto-Elamite Tablets
The so-called proto-Elamite script is still undeciphered. The influence of contemporary Mesopotamian writing and sealing is clear, however. From Susa, Iran. Circa 3000-2800 BCE. Lent by the Musee de Louvre. It is currently...
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Mesopotamian Beer Rations Tablet
The temples issued workers with daily rations of barley beer, the staple drink of Mesopotamia. The tablet was impressed with five different types of numerical symbol. From Mesopotamia, Iraq. Late Uruk Period, 3100-3000...
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Bread Rations from Mesopotamia
In this food issue list, "rations" is written by combining a human head a bowl (a triangular object in front of the head). This combination, in later Sumerian texts, means "to eat". The triangular object was the regular...
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Mesopotamian Record of Barley
On this clay tablet, barley appears 4 times, depicted as a single stalk with ears at the top. Emmer wheat is different from barley, by writing numbers with extra strokes. Three different types of numerical symbol were...
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List of Place Names from Jemdet Nasr
Apprentice scribes learned the writing system through lists of related signs, like this one dealing with place names. The tablet was partially repaired from fragments; there 3 columns of inscriptions on either...
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Distribution of Barley Rations Tablet from Girsu
Adult workers received standard rations of 30 to 40 pints of barley per month while children received 20; the barley was distributed as rations to about 200 workmen and their children. This scribe was...
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Summary Account of Silver for the Governor
This almost square-shaped clay tablet records a Sumerian account of silver and other commodities. There are 8 columns of inscriptions; by this stage, the reed strokes are fully wedge-shaped and the writing...
