Textual Evidence for Bronze in Babylonia in the Early Iron Age, 1000-539 BC

Abstract

This chapter reviews the textual evidence for bronze in Babylonia during part of the early Iron Age, from 1000 to 539 BC. An advance notice for this colloquium requested that participants address three questions for the region with which they were concerned: whether the area had a flourishing bronze-producing industry, what sort of material the industry was producing, and how much of that material was exported. The chapter discusses the subject under the following headings: a brief survey of available textual sources, past research on and discussions of the Neo-Babylonian use of the word siparru, which is commonly translated “bronze”. Textual references to bronzesmiths in the Neo-Babylonian period are concerned primarily with their compensation, either in foodstuffs or in silver. Zaccagnini’s thought-provoking hypothesis on the various meanings of siparru has forced us to look for clear evidence on the precise identity of the metal involved under that name in international and domestic trade and in domestic metal-working.