K 00203+ (K 00203+ (Glass Text B)) [glass-making]

(o i 1) When you lay the foundations of a glass-making kiln, [you search repeatedly for a suitable day] during a favorable month, so that [you may lay] the foundations of the kiln. As soon as [you complete (the construction of)] the kiln, in the house of the kiln (...) you set down Kūbu demons in order that an outsider or stranger cannot enter; one who is impure cannot cross their (Kūbu demons’) presence. You will constantly scatter aromatics offerings in their presence.

(o i 9) On the day that you set down “glass” (lit: "stone") within the kiln, you make a sheep sacrifice in the presence of the Kūbu demons, (and) you set down a censer (with) juniper, you pour honey (over it). You (then) ignite a fire at the base of the kiln. You (may now) set down the “glass” within the kiln. The persons that you bring close to the kiln (...) must be purified, (only then) can [you allow them to sit near] (and overlook) the kiln.

(o i 16) You burn various wooden logs at the base of the kiln (including): thick logs of poplar that are stripped, and quru-wood containing no knots, bound up with apu-straps; (these logs are to be) cut during the month of Abu; these are the various logs that should go beneath your kiln.

(o i 21) If you want to make “lapis lazuli” (zagindurû-glass): you grind separately 10 minas of immanakku-stone, 15 mana of salicornia ashes, and 1 2/3 mana of “white plant.” You mix (them) together. You set (the glass) into the cold kiln with four openings and arrange it [between] the openings. You burn a good, smokeless fire. You remove [the "glass"] as soon as it (begins to) turn white.

(o i 27) You cool it off, and grind it down (again). You (then) [collect it] within a clean dabtu-crucible, you place [the "glass" into a cold] kiln [chamber], and burn [a good and smokeless fire] until (...); you pour it onto a [fire] brick; [its name is "lapis lazuli"].

(o i 33) You put 10 minas of "slow copper" into a clean dabtu-crubible. You place it in a hot chamber kiln, and you close the door of the kiln. You burn a strong, smokeless fire until the "(slow) copper" glows red. You crush and grind (finely) 10 minas of zukû-glass. You open the door of the kiln and throw (the fritted zukû-glass) onto the "(slow) copper," until the zukû-glass atop the "(slow) copper" fuses, and the "(slow) copper" settles at the bottom of the "glass" mixture. You stir (the mixture) with a rake once, twice, and thrice (until ...) the "(slow) copper" (...)

(o ii 1) As soon as it glows yellow, you (....) and once it has become yellow (....) and when the "glass" is solid (....), you pour it out [into a new dabtu-crucible ... and that which] comes out (is): [lapis lazuli]

(o ii 6) Copy of an [ancient tablet]

(o ii 7) If you want to make “lapis lazuli” (zagindurû-glass): you grind separately 10 minas of immanakku-stone (and) 12 minas of salicornia. You mix (these ingredients) together, and set down (the mixture) into a cold kiln with four chambers, arranging it between the openings. You burn a good smokeless fire until your mixture [glows red]1. You take it out into the open air and you cool it off.

(o ii 13) You grind (the mixture) once again. You (then) collect it within a clean dabtu-crucible, and you set it into a cold kiln chamber. [You burn] a good smokeless fire, and you [cover it] as soon as the mixture glows yellow. [After (the mixture) has turned yellow, you transfer it] onto the top of a fire brick. [Its name is "lapis lazuli" (zukû-glass).]

(o ii 18) (broken lines)

(o ii 3') the base of [... you burn] a good smokeless fire (...) the fire from (...) once your mixture (...) in the kiln (...) as soon as the glass turns red, [you close the door of the kiln.] After the "glass" has turned red [you close the door of the kiln] (...) once it has turned yellow [you stir it ...] After the "glass" has turned yellow (...) when the glass is solid (....) you pour it out (...) and (that which) emerges is: ["lapis lazuli"]

(o ii 18') To x minas of tersītu (you add) (...) minas of amnakku (....)

(r i 1') If [you want to make "fast bronze," you (first) set down, into a cold] kiln 10 minas of (...) you ignite [a proper fire. You frit (the ingredients; lit: "you cause them to turn white"). You frit them] once again [using an old harāgu-crucible.] You [pour water] onto the mixture (and) [on a favorable day you make] an offering (...) kiln chamber

(r i 10') In the dead of [night, you ignite the kiln chamber ... you (prepare?)] poplar [... At daybreak, you ignite (the wood)] beneath [the kiln. You (then) return (once again) to your] harāgu-crucible. [You set down 1/3 mina of "fast copper"] using a suʾlu-tool. [You set down the harāgu-crucible (... you strengthen] the fire [..., (and) you guard the fire until cracks (begin to)] appear [... this is tērsītu] of reddish "lapis lazuli" (uqnû-glass). [You let it rest within the kiln. After you have continuosly rested] "the fast bronze," [you set it over] a fire brick. You throw water over it. [Procedure for reddish "lapis lazuli" (uqnû-glass).]

(r i 23') If you [want to make] būṣu-glass, [you mix together: 5 minas of ṭikmēnu-ashes] from salicornia "horns", [5 minas of immanakku, shekels of "male" anzahhu-glass], and 5 shekels of shells. [You set it down into a] cold [kiln chamber] and you ignite [a good fire. You frit (the mixture). You set it into an old] harāgu-crucible (...) fine-quality būṣu-glass.

(r i 38') (broken)

(r i 39') If you want to make "quartz" (dušû-glass), you grind together: x minas of salicornia, 2 1/2 minas of [...], x minas of amnakku, together with 1/2 mina of [... You set (the glass)] into the cold kiln with four openings and arrange it between the openings. You burn a [good], smokeless [fire] until [your mixture] glows green. You control2 (the color change) using the fire. After, [the mixture] has turned green, you take it out and cool it off.

(r i 48') You grind [(the mixture) once again]. You [collect it] within a clean dabtu-crucible, [and you set down the mixture] into a cold kiln chamber. You burn a good smokeless fire until (the glass) glows yellow. You stir it once in your direction. You will see "someone" at the opening of the kiln. Once the glass is solid and takes on the appearance (lit: face) of quartz (... you add?) x minas of amnakku, (...) tuskû, (...) minas of shells; (these) ingredients

(r ii 4') If you want [to make] "turquoise" (ašgigû-glass), [you mix] repeatedly: (...). You collect (these ingredients). You place the base of the teššu-mould onto the top of the (...) within the utūnu-kiln. You fire it for seven days, and close the utūnu-kiln. On the tenth day, you open (the kiln) and take out (the mixture).

(r ii 9') (For) your second processing, you once again crush and grind: 1 kisal of anzahhu washed of šiktu-impurities, (unspecified quantity of) tuskû, 1 shekel of shells, 1 kisal of salicornia, (adding these) to 1 mina of molten (lit: "heated) glass. You stir it, and mix it, just as you had done previously. You keep a fire burning. You remove it; this is "fine-quality3 quartz" (lit: green dušû-glass), which has been processed twice.

(r ii 17') (These are) the ingredients, not (missing even a single) "hair of barley"4

(r ii 18') To 20 minas of amnakku (you add) 1 biltu-unit of salicornia "horns," 2 minas of anzahhu, 10 shekels of shells, 1 mina of tuskû, 5 shekels of lulû; (that which) emerges is "quartz" (dušû-glass).

(r ii 23') If you want to make būṣu-glass, tērsītu of "lapis lazuli" (uqnû-glass), or "quartz" (dušû-glass); (these are) the complete (procedures). Palace of Assurbanipal, king of the world, king of Aššur, who was bestowed with the widom of the gods Nabu and Tašmetu (...) inspected (...)