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Old Assyrian Sargon legend
Artifact: Clay tablet
Provenience: Kültepe
Period: Old Assyrian (ca. 1950-1850 BC)
Current location:
Text genre, language: Literary; Akkadian
CDLI page
Description: The fame of the Old Akkadian king Sargon even reached the merchants' archives in the Karum Kanesh. This unique composition uses many puns and wordplays, so, e.g., is Sargon's running referred by the time it takes to dissolve an inscription on a clay brick when thrown into water. The king as fast runner is a topic also known from the Ur III-king Shulgi. Upon defeat of the various cities Sargon states that he daily had to slaughter 7000 animals to feed his troops. His warriors take part in a large feast, but the meat does not suffice. So, the ox of the host needed to be slaughtered.
Lineart: Archivum Anatolicum 2, 152-3
Edition(s): Günbattı, C. 1997. "Kültepe'den Akadli Sargon'a âit bir tablet," Archivum Anatolicum 3, 131 - 55; Van de Mieroop, M. 2000. "Sargon of Agade and his successors in Anatolia," Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici Fasc. 42/1, 133 - 59.
