This is a fragment of a clay cuneiform tablet from the roya…
By Anonymous · published 29 Oct 2026
Interpretation
AI interpretation, unverified
SUMMARY
This is a fragment of a clay cuneiform tablet from the royal Library of Ashurbanipal at ancient Nineveh (modern Kuyunjik, Iraq), marked with museum registration number K.160.
WRITING SYSTEM
Cuneiform (Neo-Assyrian standard ductus)
LANGUAGE
Akkadian (Standard Babylonian)
TEXT
𒁹 ... 𒁲 𒈨 𒌍 ... 𒁹 ...
TRANSLITERATION
[DIŠ ...] / [...] / [...]
TRANSLATION
The tablet records an omen or ritual composition, structured with individual conditional clauses beginning with the sign DIŠ ('If...'). Due to the dense script and fragmentarity, continuous reading requires close collation of the entire surface.
CONTEXT
The tablet originates from the Kuyunjik collection ('K. 160', visible in black ink along the top edge), excavated at Nineveh and preserved in the British Museum. It dates to the Neo-Assyrian period, specifically the reign of King Ashurbanipal (668–c. 631 BC). The circular holes pierced through the clay are characteristic 'firing holes' added by ancient scribes to facilitate uniform drying and baking without cracking. Such scholarly tablets typically preserve astronomical/astrological omens (such as Enūma Anu Enlil), terrestrial omens (Šumma Ālu), or extispicy reports.
CONFIDENCE
High
CAVEATS
• Museum inventory number 'K. 160' (Kouyunjik collection, British Museum) is clearly inked at the upper edge. • The GPS coordinates point to Espoo, Finland, which has no archaeological connection to this ancient Mesopotamian tablet; the coordinates likely reflect the user's current location or image download origin. • The surface displays horizontal dividing lines separating individual omen entries or sections, each interspersed with characteristic round vent holes.
LOCATION
Afaq, Iraq
Exact position: 32.0052078432075, 45.5502075701952
Position placed by hand on the map
Open in OpenStreetMapEARLIER POSITIONS
- 26 Oct 2026 – Espoo, Finland, 60.2354547, 24.6032579 (Source of the position not recorded)