A New Parthian Chronographic Document Online

Chronographic document concerning Bagayasha (BCHP 18)

BCHP 18: Bagayasha Chronicle, fragments A and B combined
(British Museum).** The Babylonian Chronographic document concerning Bagayasha ("Bagayasha Chronicle"; BCHP 18) is one of the historiographical texts from ancient Babylonia. It describes a punitive action by a Parthian prince against the city of Babylon, and its consequences. For a very brief introduction to the literary genre of chronicles, go here. The cuneiform tablets are

• A: BM 35229+35518+35621 (Sp. II 792 + Sp. III 24+27)
• B: BM 35189+46018+46216 (Sp. III, 295+81-7-6,464+81-7-6,678)

They can be found in the British Museum. On this website, a first reading is proposed by Bert van der Spek of the Free University of Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Irving Finkel of the British Museum.* Please notice that this is a preliminary edition. This web publication is intended to invite suggestions for better readings, comments and interpretations (go here to contact Van der Spek).