BRITISH MUSEUM



    The account of the astronomic events found in the BM 32312 chronicle, permits its dating in 652 b.C. The king's name an year of reign are erased, but may be attained by an historic incident mentioned in this chronicle, dating the participation of the Babylonian king in the battle of Hiritu, on the 27th day of the 12th month. This battle is also mentioned in the Akitu Chronicle (BM 86739) written by a scribe intended to record the interruptions of Akitu's celebrations. His registration says:

     "On the 16th year (of the kingdom) of Shamash-shuma-ukin, from the month of Ayyar to the month of Tebet, the butler puts up a selection in Akkad. On the 19th day of the month of Tebet, Asiria and Akkad got into a war. Avoiding the enemy, the king turned back to Babylon. On the 27th day of month of Addar, the Assyrian army and the Akkadian army fought a battle in Hiritu. The Akkadian army broke the battle and suffered a smashing defeat. The state of war persisted; the battles came one after another.
Mesopotamian Chronicles; nº 20, J.J.Glassner.

    The combination of the information on these two tablets permits dating the 16th year of Shamash-shuma-ukin, as the year 652 to 651 b.C. Ptolomeos assigns this king 20 a year reign, and calls him Saosdouchinou, then 22 years to his successor Kinilanadanou (Kandalanu) and 21 years to Nabopolassarou (Nabopolassar). The chronicles confirm thus the Ptolomeos' records.