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The Diadochi Chronicle

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Chronicle of the Diadochi,
reverse. **

The Babylonian Diadochi Chronicle (BCHP 3; a.k.a. ABC 10, Chronicle 10) is one of the historiographical texts from ancient Babylonia. It deals with the history of the Diadochi, the successors of Alexander the Great, and the Babylonian war between the generals Seleucus and Antigonus Monophthalmus. For a very brief introduction to the literary genre of chronicles, go here.

This page offers a preliminary new edition by Bert van der Spek, Free University, Amsterdam (Holland), and Irving L. Finkel, British Museum, London, who are currently working on a new edition of all published and unpublished chronicles of the Hellenistic period. This publication on the Livius website is intended to invite suggestions for better readings, comments and interpretations (go here to find the e-mail-address of Van der Spek).

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TEXT: REVERSE	TRANSLATION
@ = tsade; & = tet line numbers with link refer to commentary
Column 3: lost
Column 4
Lacuna : ca. 4 - 8 lines
n’ [MU 7.KAM ^mAn-ti-gu-nu-su ^lúGAL.ERÍN.MEŠ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[Year 7 of Antigonus, the General (311/10) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
1’ [.. .. .. .. .. ..] x x [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[.. .. .. .. .. ..] x x [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
2’ [BAL.RI ^dUTU.U]D./DU\.A u BAL.RI ^dUTU.ŠU /šá\ BAR^? [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[the ea]st [bank] and the west bank [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Month I/II]
3’ [^mSi-lu-uk]-ku iq-bi um-ma MU 7.KAM ^mAn-ti-g[u-nu-su^lú GAL.ERÍN.MEŠ MU 6.KAM ^mA-lik-sa-an-dar A-šú šá]	[Seleu]cus spoke as follows: “Year 7 of Antig[onus the general as year 6 of Alexander, son of]
4’ /KI.MIN u\ ^mSi-lu-uk-ku^lúGAL ^lúERÍN.MEŠ ŠID.MEŠ ITI S[IG₄ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	/idem [i.e. Alexander] and\ Seleucus the general you (pl.) will count.” Month Sim[anu (III = 31 May – 29 June 311) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
5’^mSi-lu-uk-ku ^lúŠÀ.TAM É.MES.LAM it-ta-[.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	Seleucus [.. .. ..]ed the šatammu of Emeslam [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
6’ E₂.GAL ŠU^II-su NU KUR ITI BI 30^?GU₂^?.UN^? KÙ^?.BA[BBAR^?] /šá\ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	He did not capture the palace. That month, 30 talents of silver, which/of [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
7’ ITI NE ^mSi-lu-uk-ku áš-šú ^?@a-bat É.GAL /a-na^?\[.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ina A.MEŠ/kima a-bu-bu]	Month Âbu (V = 29 July – 27 Aug.). Seleucus, in order to capture the palace, to [X went, the defenses with water/like a deluge]
8’ is-pu-<un^?!>-ma ÍD UD.KIB.NUN.KI NU is-kir /ana muh^?-hi^?\ [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. ..]	he levelled (??) and he did not dam the Euphrates. To [x he left. Patrocles as general]
9’ ina lìb-bi ip-qid /ITI KIN\ ^mSi-lu-uk-ku TA E.KI ana [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	within it he entrusted. Month Ulûlu (VI = 28 Aug. – 25 Sep.), Seleucus from Babylon to [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
10’šá ina muh-hi ID₂ MAŠ.GÚ.GÀR NIM.MEŠ ana UD.DU ana Pa-ar-s[a.KI .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	which (is) on the Tigris went up. In order to make a sortie to Pers[is he crossed the river and he .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
11’ ITI APIN &ab-ti ù /TU-tum\^??ana IGI KÚR.MEŠ [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	In the month Arahsamna (VIII = 26 Oct. – 24 Nov. 311) there was goodwill and .. .. in respect to the enemies[.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
12’ ^lúERÍN KUR Gu-ti-i ù ^lúERÍN.MEŠ /LUGAL\ du-u[m-qu] /a-na\ [ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	The troops of the land of Gutium and the troops of the /king\ [showed] gr[atitude to the satrap of Akkad.]
13’ MU BI [SA]HAR.HI.A šá É.S[AG]-Í[L] l[a^! id-de-ku-ú]	That year, debris of Es[ag]i[l] [was] n[ot^!removed]
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14’ MU 7.KAM ^mA-lik-sa-an-dar LUGAL A-šú šá KI.MIN u ^m[Si-lu-uk-ku lú GAL. ^lúERÍN.MEŠ ITI NE ^lúERÍN.MEŠ]	Year 7 of Alexander, the king, son of idem [i.e., Alexander] and [Seleucus, the general, (310/9). Month Âbu (V = 17 Aug. – 15 Sep. 310). The troops of]
15’ ^mAn-ti-gu-nu-su @al-tum KI ^lúERÍN.MEŠ ^mSi-l[u-uk-ku DÙ.MEŠ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	Antigonus [did] battle with the troops of Se[leucus .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
16’ [TA] ITI NE EN ITI AB / x x x\ [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[From] the month Âbu until the month Tebêtu (X = 12 Jan. – 10 Feb. 309) [in the surrounding area of Babylon]
17’ [@al]-tum /KI a-ha-a\-m[eš] /DÙ.MEŠ-ma\ [ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	they did [bat]tle with each other . [In the month Tebêtu, on the 8th day]
18’ [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ] x x [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ] x x [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
19’ [.. .. .. .. ^mAn-t] i-gu-nu-su BAL-ma ana x [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[.. .. .. .. Ant]igonus broke in (sg) and to x [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
20’ [.. .. .. .. in]a bi-rit É.SAG.ÍL u É.T[UR.KALAM.MA .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[.. .. ..] between Esagila and Etur[kalamma .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
21’ [.. .. ^mAn-t]i-gu-nu-su it-ti ^lúERÍN MAH-t[um .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[.. .. An]tigonus with numerous troops [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
22’ [.. .. i]t-ti-šú KU₄-ub TA UD 8.KAM šá ITI A[B? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[wi]th him entered (sg). From the 8th day of the month Te[bêtu? (X = 19 Jan. 309) Antigonus attacked, but]
23’/x\-x É ha-re-e ŠU^II-su NU KUR ITI ZÍZ UD [N.KAM.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	he did not capture the [.. .. of] the bit harê. In the month Šabatu (XI = 30 Jan. – 28 Feb. 309), day [n, he .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. That month]
24’ bi-kit u si-ip-du ina KUR GAR-an IM GÀL.LU [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	there was weeping and mourning in the land. The south wind [blew^? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Antigonus]
25’ TA \| E.KI UD.DU SAR-ut URU u EDIN SAR NÍG.ŠU [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ITI SE]	from Babylon went/took out. He plundered city and countryside. The property [of .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. he took away. Month XII,]
26’ UD 2.KAM ana GÚ.DU₈.A.KI DU₆.DU-ma SAR-ut [SAR .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	day 2 (2 March 309), he went down to Cuthah and he plundered [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
27’ UN.MEŠ BALA.KI IZI ana NÍG.GA šá^dU.GUR [ŠUB .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	the people retreated. [He set] fire to the storehouse of Nergal. [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
28’ [^mA]-ri-is-ki-la-mu a-na^lúGAL.UKKIN-ú-tu [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[A]rchelaos [he appointed] to the office of satrap [of Akkad; .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
29’ [ina li]-met E.KI KI-šú ip-qid MU BI ŠE 1 BÁN ZÚ.L[UM.MA .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ]	[in the surrounding a]rea of Babylon he entrusted him. That same year, barley: 6 litres; dates [n litres …. …. . Barley and dates]
30’ [ina piš-k]i TI.MEŠ MU BI É.MEŠ MAH.MEŠ ina KI-tim x[.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ]	they requisitioned [illeg]ally. That year, numerous houses in the district [of …… were destroyed. The property of .....]
31’ [TA] /E\.KI ana ki-di UD.DU.MEŠ SAHAR.HI.A šá /É\.[SAG.IL (la-a) id-di-ku-ú]	[from B]abylon they took out. Debris of E[sagil was (not?) removed].
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32’ [MU 8.KA]M ^mA-lik-sa-an-dar LUGAL A-šú šá KI.MIN u ^mSi-lu-[uk-ku lú GAL ERÍN.MEŠ ITI .. UD n.KAM]	[Year 8] of Alexander, the king, son of idem, and Seleu[cus the General (309/8). Month ?, day n]
33’ [^lúGAL.UKKIN U]RI.KI ana BÁR.SIPA.KI GIN-ma ŠE 1 BÁN [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[the satrap of A]kkad went to Borsippa and barley: 6 litres, [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
34’ [.. .. .. ..] šá li-met BÁR.SIPA.KI u qé-reb KU[R^?.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[.. .. .. ..] of the neighbourhood of Borsippa and within the la[nd^? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. A certain Babylonian]
35’ [.. .. .. ..] /É\.SAG.GÍL ip-te-qid UD 12 13 1[4^? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[to the office of shatammu] of Esagila he entrusted. Day 12, 13, 1[4 ….. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Babylonians]
36’ [.. .. .. .. NI]GIN.NIGIN-ru^lúDUMU E.KI.A.AN BAR-š[ú-nu^? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[.. .. .. ..] they assembled. The Babylonian(s^?) aforementioned [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
37’ [.. .. .. .. .. K]U₄^?.MEŠ bi-kit u sip-du ina KUR GAR [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[.. .. .. .. .. en]tered (pl.). There was weeping and mourning in the land. [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
38’ [.. .. .. .. .. ..]x-ma SAR-ut URU u EDIN SA[R .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[verb] and he^? plundered city and countryside. [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
39’ [.. .. .. .. .. ..]x ^lúDUMU E.KI BAR-šú-[nu^? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[.. .. .. .. .. ..] the Babylonian(s^?), half of th[em^? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
40’ [.. .. .. .. .. ..]-la šá ina MU 1.KAM ^m/A\-[lik-sa-an-dar LUGAL .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[.. .. .. .. .. ..]-la, who in the first year of A[lexander .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
Lower edge
41’ [.. .. .. .. .. ..]x x LUGAL ana^lúDUMU [E.KI.MEŠ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[.. .. .. .. .. .. ..] the king, to the [Babylon]ian[s^?.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
42’ [destroyed]	[.......]
Left edge
1’ [9 cm, max. 24 signs ^mA-r]i-is-ki-la-mu u lú ERÍN.MEŠ ^mAn-ti-gu-nu-su a-n[a .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]	[(max. 24 signs) A]rchelaus and the troops of Antigonus to [.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..]
2’ [4.5 cm = ca. 12 signs] ITI NE UD /25\.[KAM .. .. ..]x-šú @al-tum ina IGI ^lúERÍN.MEŠ ^mSi-lu-uk-ku [.....]	[ca. 12 signs)] Month Âbu, day 25 (= 10 Aug. 309) [……. did] battle with the troops of Seleucus [(……)]

to part four (commentary)

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