Category Archives: Babylon

Marduk-nadin-ahhe Stele Inscriptions

http://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=369361&partId=1&people=93250&peoA=93250-1-8&page=1

 

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in bluemixed-breed demigods in teal…)

 

(1) The name of this memorial-stone is
(2) “The Establisher of the Boundary
(3) for ever.”

(1) Five ‘gur’ of corn-land, a gan, measured by the great cubit, being reckoned at thirty ‘ka’ of seed,
(2) on the bank of the Bad-dar Canal, in Bit-Khanbi,
(3) the upper length to the north, adjoining Bit-Khanbi;
(4) the lower length to the south,
(5) adjoining Bit-Imbiati;
(6) the upper width to the west,
(7) adjoining Bit-Khanbi;
(8) the lower width to the east,
(9) adjoining the bank of the Bad-dar Canal,
(10) which from the hand of Amel-Enlil,
(11) the son of Khanbi, Marduk-nasir, the king’s officer,
(12) has received by purchase.
(13) Shapiku, the son of Itti-Marduk-balatu,
(14) the son of Arad-Ea, was the surveyor of the land.
(15) One chariot with its furnishings (?), valued at one hundred (shekels of) silver,
(16) six horse-saddles (?), valued at three hundred (shekels of) silver,
(17) one western ass, valued at thirty (shekels of) silver,
(18) two saddles (?) for the western ass, valued at fifty (shekels of) silver
(19) one ass . . . . . , valued at fifteen (shekels of) silver,
(20) one ox . . . . . , valued at thirty (shekels of) silver,
(21) thirty-four ‘gur’ and eighty ‘ka’ of corn, measured by the twelve-‘ka’ measure, valued at one hundred and thirty-seven (shekels of) silver
(22) one hundred and sixty ‘ka’ of oil, measured by the four-‘ka’ measure, valued at sixteen (shekels of) silver,
(23) two upper garments . . . . . , valued at twelve (shekels of) silver,
(24) nine mantles, valued at eighteen (shekels of) silver, one under-garment (?) valued at one (shekel of) silver,
(25) one . . . . . -garment, valued at one (shekel of) silver,
(26) one . . . . . -garment, valued at six (shekels of) silver,
(27) in all seven hundred and sixteen (shekels of) silver,
(28) which Amel-Enlil, the son of Khanbi,
(29) from the hand of Marduk-nasir, the king’s officer,
(30) has received as the price of the five ‘gur’ of corn-land.
(31) Whensoever in later days an agent,
(32) or a governor, or a prefect, or a superintendent,
(33) or an inspector, or any official whatsoever, who shall rise up and
(34) be set over Bit-Khanbi,
(35) shall direct his mind to take away these lands,
(36) or shall lay claim to them, or cause a claim to be made,
(37) or shall take them away or cause them to be taken away,

Side II

(1) or shall side with evil
(2) and shall return those lands to their province,
(3) or shall present them to a god, or to the king, or to the representative of the king,
(4) or to the representative of the governor, or to the representative of his council,
(5) or to any other man,
(6) or shall cause curtailment or diminution,
(7) or shall say, “The lands were not the gift of the king,”
(8) or because of the curse shall cause another to take them,
(9) or shall send a fool, or a man who is deaf, or one who is feeble-minded, or a vagabond, or one who is without intelligence,
(10) and he shall cause him to remove this memorial-stone, or shall cast it into a river,
(11) or put it in a well, or destroy it with a stone, or burn it in the fire,
(12) or hide it in the earth, or hide it in a place where it cannot be seen,
(13) upon that man may Anu, Enlil, Ea, and Nin-makh,
(14) the great gods, look with anger,
(15) and may they curse him with an evil curse that cannot be loosened!
(16) May Sin, the light of the bright heavens, with leprosy that never departs
(17) clothe his whole body, so that he may not be clean till the day of his death,
(18) but must lie down like a wild ass at the outer wall of his city!
(19) May Shamash, the judge of heaven and earth, smite his countenance,
(20) so that his bright day may turn to darkness for him !
(21) May Ishtar, the lady, the princess among the gods, send a curse (?) upon him,
(22) and in misery (?), her message of anger,
(23) may he multiply his words day and night,
(24) and like a dog may he pass the night in the open place of his city!
(25) May Marduk, the king of heaven and earth, with dropsy, the bond of which
(26) cannot be loosened, fill his body!
(27) May Ninib, the lord of the boundary and the boundary-stone, tear out his boundary-stone,
(28) tread down his boundary, and change his holding!
(29) May Gula, the mighty physician, the great lady,
(30) put a grievous sickness in his body,
(31) so that he may pass light and dark blood like water!
(32) May Adad, the ruler of heaven and earth, overwhelm his fields,
(33) so that there may spring up abundantly weeds in place of green herbs and thorns in place of grain!
(34) May Nabu, the exalted minister, appoint him days of scarcity and drought
(35) as his destiny!
(36) May all the great gods, whose names are mentioned on this memorial-stone,
(37) drive him into evil and unhappiness!
(38) His name, his seed, his offspring, (and) his posterity
(39) may they destroy in the mouth of widespread peoples!
(40) The name of this memorial-stone is “The Establisher of the Boundary for ever.”

Nabonidus Cylinder, Text

The Nabonidus Cylinder from Sippar is a long text in which king Nabonidus of Babylonia (556-539 BC) describes how he repaired three temples: the sanctuary of the moon god Sin in Harran, the sanctuary of the warrior goddess Anunitu in Sippar, and the temple of Šamaš in Sippar. But it is almost certainly more significant because it proves the existence of a son named Belshezzar, who is mentioned in the Book of Daniel.

The translation of the Nabonidus Cylinder of Sippar was made by Paul-Alain Beaulieu, author of, “The Reign of Nabonidus, King of Babylon 556-539 B.C.”

 

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in bluemixed-breed demigods in teal…)

 

The cylinder states:

           (cylinder of Nabonidus)

        As for me, Nabonidus, king of Babylon, save me from sinning against your great godhead

        and grant me as a present a life long of days, and as for Belshazzar, the eldest son -my offspring-

        instill reverence for your great godhead in his heart and may he not commit any cultic mistake,

        may he be sated with a life of plenitude.

 

        [i.1-7] I, Nabonidus, the great king, the strong king, the king of the universe,

           (Esagila, Marduk’s residence towering over Babylon)

        the king of Babylon, the king of the four corners, the caretaker of Esagila and Ezida

        for whom Sin  (Nannar) and Ningal in his mother’s womb decreed a royal fate as his destiny,

        the son of Nabû-balâssi-iqbi, the wise prince, the worshiper of the great gods, I:

 

        [i.8-ii.25] Ehulhul, the temple of Sin in Harran, where since days of yore

           (Sin / Nannar, “the great lord”)

        Sin, the great lord, had established his favorite residence –

        his great heart became angry against that city and temple and he aroused the Mede,

        destroyed the temple and turned it into ruin –

        in my legitimate reign Bel (Marduk) and the great lord, for the love of my kingship,

           (Marduk reconciled, his son Nabu, & semi-divine Babylonian king)

        became reconciled with that city and temple and showed compassion.

 

        In the beginning of my everlasting reign they sent me a dream.

        Marduk, the great lord, and Sin (Nannar),

        the luminary of heaven and the netherworld, stood together.

 

           (semi-divine king spoken to by Marduk)

        Marduk spoke with me:

        ‘Nabonidus, king of Babylon, carry bricks on your riding horse,

        rebuild Ehulhul and cause Sin, the great lord, to establish his residence in its midst.’

 

        Reverently, I spoke to the Enlil of the gods, Marduk:

        ‘That temple which you ordered me to build, the Mede surrounds it and his might is excessive.’

 

            (giant god Marduk speaks out orders to his king)

        But Marduk spoke with me: ‘

        The Mede whom you mentioned, he,

        his country and the kings who march at his side will be no more.’

 

        At the beginning of the third year [Summer 553], they aroused him,

        Cyrus, the king of Anšan, his second in rank.

        He scattered the vast Median hordes with his small army.

        He captured Astyages, the king of the Medes, and took him to his country as captive.

           (Marduk & Sin, giant gods of Mesopotamia)

        Such was the word of the great lord Marduk and of Sin (Nannar),

        the luminary of heaven and the netherworld, whose command is not revoked.

        I feared their august command, I became troubled,

        I was worried and my face showed signs of anxiety.

        I was not neglectful, nor remiss, nor careless.

 

           (Nannar’s temple in Ur)

        For rebuilding Ehulhul, the temple of Sin, my lords, who marches at my side, which is in Harran,

            (Ashurbanipal & father Esarhaddon at Marduk’s temple)

        which Aššurbanipal, king of Assyria, son of Esarhaddon, a prince who proceeded me, had rebuilt,

        I mustered my numerous troops, from the country of Gaza on the border of Egypt,

        near the Upper Sea [the Mediterranean] on the other side of the the Euphrates,

        to the Lower Sea [the Persian Gulf],

        the kings, princes, governors and my numerous troops which Sin,

           (Samas, Ishtar, father Sin, & son Papsukal damaged)

        Šamaš (Shamash / Utu) and Ištar (Inanna) – my lords – had entrusted to me.

 

        And in a propitious month, on an auspicious day,

        which Šamaš and Adad revealed to me by means of divination,

        by the wisdom of Ea (Enki) and Asalluhi (Ashur),

            

           (Ningishzidda / Kulla places the foundation pegs, Master Architect of the world’s greatest monuments)

        with the craft of the exorcist, according to the art of Kulla (Ningishzidda),

        the lord of foundations and brickwork, upon beads of silver and gold,

        choice gems, logs of resinous woods, aromatic herbs and cuts of cedar wood,

        in joy and gladness, on the foundation deposit of Aššurbanipal, king of Assyria,

           (Shalmaneser III & Ashurnatsirpal II)

        who had found the foundation of Šalmaneser [III], the son of Aššurnasirpal [II],

        I cleared its foundations and laid its brickwork.

 

        I mixed its mortar with beer, wine, oil and honey and anointed its excavation ramps with it.

        More than the kings -my fathers- had done, I strengthened its building and perfected its work.

        That temple from its foundation to its parapet I built anew and I completed its work.

           (cedar timbers shipped from Enlil’s sacred Cedar Forests of Lebanon)

        Beams of lofty cedar trees, a product of Lebanon, I set above it.

        Doors of cedar wood, whose scent is pleasing, I affixed at its gates.

        With gold and silver glaze I coated its wall and made it shine like the sun.

        I set up in its chapel a ‘wild bull’ of shining silver alloy, fiercely attacking my foes.

        At the Gate of Sunrise I set up two ‘long haired heroes’ coated with silver,

        destroyers of enemies, one to the left, one to the right.

           (Ningal & her spouse Nannar, patron gods of Ur)

        I led Sin, Ningal, Nusku (Enlil’s son), and Sadarnunna (Nusku’s spouse)

        -my lords- in procession from Babylon, my royal city,

        and in joy and gladness I caused them to dwell in its midst, a dwelling of enjoyment.

        I performed in their presence a pure sacrifice of glorification,

        presented my gifts, and filled Ehulhul with the finest products,

        and I made the city of Harran, in its totality, as brilliant as moonlight.

 

        [ii.26-43a] O Sin, king of the gods of heaven and the netherworld,

        without whom no city or country can be founded, nor be restored,

        when you enter Ehulhul, the dwelling of your plentitude,

        may good recommendations for that city and that temple be set on your lips.

        May the gods who dwell in heaven and the netherworld

        constantly praise the temple of Sin, the father, their creator.

 

           (Nabonidus, semi-divine son to Nabu, & named after Nabu)

        As for me, Nabonidus king of Babylon, who completed that temple,

        may Sin, the king of the gods of heaven and the netherworld,

        joyfully cast his favorable look upon me and every month,

        in rising and setting, make my ominous signs favorable.

        May he lengthen my days, extend my years, make my reign firm,

        conquer my enemies, annihilate those hostile to me, destroy my foes.

 

        May Ningal, the mother of the great gods, speak favorably before Sin, her beloved, on my behalf.

        May Šamaš (Ningal’s son Utu) and Ištar (Ningal’s daughter Inanna),

        his shining offspring, recommend me favorably to Sin, the father, their creator.

           (Enki, Enlil, & Nusku)

        May Nusku, the august vizier (of Enlil’s), hear my prayer and intercede for me.

 

        [ii.43b-46] The inscription written in the name of Aššurbanipal, king of Assyria,

        I found and did not alter.

        I anointed it with oil, performed a sacrifice, placed it with my own inscription, and returned it to its place.

 

        [ii.47-iii.7] For Šamaš (Utu), the judge of heaven and the netherworld,

            (Utu; ruins of Utu’s ziggurat residence E-babbar)

        concerning Ebabbar [‘shining house’], his temple which is in Sippar,

        which Nebuchadnezzar, a former king had rebuilt and whose old foundation deposit

        he had looked for but not found -yet he rebuilt that temple and after forty-five years

        the walls of that temple had sagged- I became troubled, I became fearful,

        I was worried and my face showed signs of anxiety.

 

        While I led Šamaš out of its midst and caused him to dwell in another sanctuary,

        I removed the debris of that temple, looked for its old foundation deposit,

        dug to a depth of eighteen cubits into the ground and then Šamaš, the great lord,

        revealed to me the original foundations of Ebabbar, the temple which is his favorite dwelling,

            (giant semi-divine King Naram-Sin looking at a landed craft of the gods on a mountainside)

        by disclosing the foundation deposit of Naram-Sin, son of Sargon,

        which no king among my predecessors had found in three thousand and two hundred years.

 

        In the month Tašrîtu, in a propitious month, on an auspicious day,

           (giant god Adad gives his orders to his semi-divine king)

        which Šamaš and Adad had revealed to me by means of divination,

        upon beds of silver and gold, choice gems, logs of resinous woods,

        aromatic herbs, and cuts of cedar wood, in joy and gladness,

        on the foundation deposit of Naram-Sin, son of Sargon (The Great),

        not a finger’s breadth too wide or too narrow, I laid its brick work.

        Five thousand massive beams of cedar wood I set up for its roofing.

        Lofty doors of cedar wood, thresholds and pivots I affixed at its gates.

        Ebabbar, together with E-kun-ankuga [‘pure stairway to heaven’], its ziggurat,

        I built anew and completed its work.

        I led Šamaš, my lord, in procession and, in joy and gladness,

        I caused him to dwell in the midst of his favorite dwelling.

 

           (Naram-Sin & father Sargon the Great, semi-divine kings of Akkad)

        [iii.8-10] The inscription in the name of Naram-Sin, son of Sargon, I found and did not alter.

        I anointed it with oil, made offerings,

        placed it with my own inscription and returned it to its original place.

 

        [iii.11-21] O Šamaš, great lord of heaven and the netherworld,

         

                  (Ningal, semi-divine king, damaged goddess, king repeated, & Sin)

        light of the gods -your fathers- offspring of Sin and (spouse) Ningal,

        when you enter Ebabbar your beloved temple,

        when you take up residence in your eternal dais, look joyfully upon me, Nabonidus, king of Babylon,

        the prince your caretaker, the one who pleases you and built your august chapel,

        and upon my good deeds, and every day at sunrise and sunset, in the heavens and on the earth,

        make my omens favorable, accept my supplications and receive my prayers.

        With the scepter and the legitimate staff which placed in my hands may I rule forever.

 

        [iii.22-38] For Anunitu (Inanna)the lady of warfare,

           (Inanna, Goddess of Love & War, with bow & quiver)

        who carries the bow and the quiver, who fulfills the command of Enlil her father (grandfather),

        who annihilates the enemy, who destroys the evil one,

        who precedes the gods, who, at sunrise and sunset, causes my ominous signs to be favorable-

        I excavated, surveyed and inspected the old foundations of Eulmaš, her temple which is in Sippar

        Anunitu, which for eight hundred years, since the time of Šagarakti-Šuriaš,

        king of Babylon, son of Kudur-Enlil,

        and on the foundation deposit of Šagarakti-Šuriaš, son of Kudur Enlil,

        I cleared its foundations and laid its brickwork.

        I built that temple anew and completed its work.

        Anunitu, the lady of warfare, who fulfills the command of Enlil her father,

           (giant gods Utu & sister Anunitu / Inanna capture little disloyal earthlings)

        who annihilates the enemy, who destroys the evil one, who precedes the gods,

        I caused her to establish her residence.

        The regular offerings and the other offerings

        I increased over what they were and I established for her.

 

        [iii.38-42] As for you, O Anunitu (Inanna), great lady, when you joyfully enter that temple,

        look joyfully upon my good deeds and every month, at sunrise and sunset,

        petition Sin (Nannar), your father, your begetter, for favors on my behalf.

           (Inanna petitions father Sin for favors for her semi-divine king)

 

        [iii.43-51] Whoever you are whom Sin and Šamaš will call to kingship,

        and in whose reign that temple will fall into disrepair and who build it anew,

        may he find the inscription written in my name and not alter it.

        May he anoint it with oil, perform a sacrifice, place it with the inscription

        written in his own name and return it to its original place.

        May Šamaš (Shamash / Utu) and Anunitu (Inanna) hear his supplication,

           (Inanna & twin brother Utu destroy their kings enemies)

        receive his utterance, march at his side, annihilate his enemy

        and daily speak good recommendations on his behalf to Sin, the father, their creator.

 

        As to Nabonidus:] law and order are not promulgated by him,

        he made perish the common people through want,

        the nobles he killed in war, for the trader he blocked the road.

        For the farmer he made rare the [unintelligible],

        there is no [lacuna], the harvester does not sing the alalu-song any more,

        he does not fence in any more the arable territory. [lacuna]

        He took away their property, scattered their possessions, the [lacuna] he ruined completely,

        their corpses remaining on a dark place, decaying.

        Their faces became hostile, they do not parade along the wide street,

        you do not see happiness anymore, [lacuna] is unpleasant, they decided.

 

           (Nabonidus, semi-divine son to Nabu, named after Nabu)

        As to Nabonidus, his protective deity became hostile to him.

        And he, the former favorite of the gods is now seized by misfortunes.

        Against the will of the gods he performed an unholy action, he thought out something worthless:

        he had made the image of a deity which nobody had ever seen in this country,

        he introduced it into the temple, he placed it on a pedestal; he called it by the name of Moon.

        It is adorned with a necklace of lapis lazuli, crowned with a tiara,

        its appearance is that of the eclipsed moon,

        the gesture of its hand is like that of the god Lugal-[unintelligible],

        its head of hair reaches to the pedestal,

        and in front of it are placed the Storm Dragon and the Wild Bull.

 

        When he worshiped it, its appearance became like that

        of a demon crowned with a tiara, his face turned hostile [lacuna].

        His form not even Eamummu (unidentified?) could have formed,

        not even the learned Adapa (Biblical Adam) knows his name.

        Nabonidus said: ‘I shall build a temple for him,

        I shall construct his holy seat, I shall form its first brick for him, I shall establish firmly its foundation,

            (E-kur, Enlil’s ziggurat residence in Nippur)

        I shall make a replica even of the temple Ekur (Enlil’s ziggurat residence in Nippur).

        I shall call its name Ehulhul for all days to come.

 

        When I will have fully executed what I have planned,

        I shall lead him by the hand and establish him on his seat.

        Yet till I have achieved this, till I have obtained what is my desire,

        I shall omit all festivals, I shall order even the New Year’s festival to cease!’

        And he formed its first brick, did lay out the outlines, he spread out the foundation,

        made high its summit, by means of wall decoration made of gypsum and bitumen

        he made its facing brilliant, as in the temple Esagila           

        he made a ferocious wild bull stand on guard in front of it.

 

        After he had obtained what he desired, a work of utter deceit,

        had built this abomination, a work of unholiness –when the third year was about to begin-

        he entrusted the army [?] to his oldest son, his first born,

        the troops in the country he ordered under his command.

 

        He let everything go, entrusted the kingship to him, and, himself, he started out for a long journey.

        The military forces of Akkad marching with him, he turned to Temâ deep in the west.

        He started out the expedition on a path leading to a distant region.

        When he arrived there, he killed in battle the prince of Temâ,

        slaughtered the flocks of those who dwell in the city as well as in the countryside.

        And he, himself, took residence in Temâ, the forces of Akkad were also stationed there.

        He made the town beautiful, built there a palace like the palace in Babylon.

        He also built walls for the fortification of the town and he surrounded the town with sentinels.

 

        The inhabitants became troubled.

        The brick form and the brick basket he imposed upon them.

        Through the hard work they [lacuna] he killed the inhabitants, women and youngsters included.

        Their prosperity he brought to an end.

        All the barley that he found therein [lacuna]

        His tired army [lacuna] the hazanu-official of Cyrus

        … the praise of the Lord of Lords and the names of the countries

        which Cyrus has not conquered he wrote upon this stele,

        while Cyrus is the king of the world whose triumphs are true

        and whose yoke the kings of all the countries are pulling.

 

          (Nabonidus text on large stone tablet)

        Nabonidus has written upon his stone tablets:

        ‘I have made him bow to my feet, I personally have conquered his countries,

        his possessions I took to my residence.’

        It was he who once stood up in the assembly to praise himself, saying:

        ‘I am wise, I know, I have seen what is hidden.

        Even if I do not know how to write with the stylus, yet I have seen secret things.

        The god Ilte’ri (unidentified?) has made me see a vision, he has shown me everything.

        I am aware of a wisdom which greatly surpasses

        even that of the series of insights which Adapa has composed!’

 

        Yet he continues to mix up the rites, he confuses the hepatoscopic oracles.

        To the most important ritual observances, he orders an end; as to the sacred representations in Esagila

        representations which Eamumma (unidentified?) himself had fashioned-

        he looks at the representations and utters blasphemies.

 

        When he saw the usar-symbol of Esagila, he makes an [insulting?] gesture.

        He assembled the priestly scholars, he expounded to them as follows:

        ‘Is not this the sign of ownership indicating for whom the temple was built?

           (Marduk, Mushhushu animal & spade symbols, or rocket)

        If it belongs really to Bêl (Marduk), it would have been marked with the spade.

        Therefore the Moon (Nannar) himself has marked already his own temple with the usar-symbol!’

 

        And Zeriya, the šatammu who used to crouch as his secretary in front of him,

        and Rimut, the bookkeeper who used to have his court position near to him,

        do confirm the royal dictum, stand by his words, they even bare their heads to pronounce under oath:

        ‘Now only we understand this situation, after the king has explained about it!’

        In the month of Nisannu, the eleventh day, till the god was present on his seat [lacuna]

 

        [lacuna] for the inhabitants of Babylon, Cyrus declared the state of peace.

        His troops he kept away from Ekur.

        Big cattle he slaughtered with the ax, he slaughtered many aslu-sheep,

        incense he put on the censer, the regular offerings for the Lord of Lords he ordered increased,

        he constantly prayed to the gods, prostrated on his face.

        To act righteously is dear to his heart.

 

        To repair the city of Babylon he conceived the idea and he himself took up hoe,

        spade and water basket and began to complete the wall of Babylon.

           (Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon)

        The original plan of Nebuchadnezzar the inhabitants executed with a willing heart.

        He built the fortifications on the Imgur-Enlil-wall.

 

        The images of the gods of Babylon, male and female, he returned to their cellas,

        the gods who had abandoned their chapels he returned to their mansions.

        Their wrath he appeased, their mind he put at rest,

        those whose power was at a low he brought back to life because their food is served to them regularly.

 

        Nabonidus‘ deeds Cyrus effaced and everything Nabonidus constructed,

        all the sanctuaries of his royal rule Cyrus has eradicated,

        the ashes of the burned buildings the wind carried away.

 

          (Nabonidus chronicle, ancient cuneiform written text)

        Nabonidus‘ picture he effaced,

        in all the sanctuaries the inscriptions of that name are erased.

        Whatever Nabonidus had created, Cyrus fed to the flames!

 

        To the inhabitants of Babylon a joyful heart is now given.

        They are like prisoners when the prisons are opened.

        Liberty is restored to those who were surrounded by oppression.

        All rejoice to look upon him as king.

The Antiochus Cylinder

http://www.livius.org

The document is a barrel-shaped clay cylinder, which had been buried in the foundations of the Ezida temple in Borsippa. This form of foundation document is found in considerable quantities since the second millennium. The script of this cylinder is deliberately archaising. It is inscribed in archaic ceremonial Babylonian cuneiform script that was used in the well-known Codex of Hammurabi and adopted in a number of royal inscriptions of Neo-Babylonian kings, esp. Nabopolassar, but also Nebuchadnezzar and Nabonidus (cf. Berger 1973). The script is quite different from the cuneiform script that was used for chronicles, diaries, rituals, scientific and administrative texts.

The Antiochus cylinder is the latest one extant. Another late example is the Cyrus Cylinder, commemorating Cyrus‘ capture of Babylon in 539 BCE (Schaudig 2001: 550-6). This cylinder, however, was written in normal Neo-Babylonian script.

The Antiochus Cylinder was found by Hormuzd Rassam in 1880 in Ezida, the temple of the god Nabû in Borsippa, in what must have been its original position “encased in some kiln-burnt bricks covered over with bitumen,” in the “doorway” of Koldewey’s Room A1: probably this was built into the eastern section of the wall between A1 and Court A, since the men of Daud Thoma, the chief foreman, seem to have destroyed much of the brickwork at this point. Rassam (1897: 270) mistakenly records this as a cylinder of Nebuchadnezzar II (Reade 1986: 109). The cylinder is now in the British Museum in London.

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in bluemixed-breed demigods in teal…)

          Antiochus, the great king, the mighty king, king of the world, king of Babylon, king of (all) countries,

        

                         (Marduk”s residence Esagila in Babylon;                      son Nabu’s residence Ezida in Borsippa)

         caretaker of Esagila and Ezida, foremost son of Seleucus, the king, the Macedonian, king of Babylon, am I.

          When I desired to build Esagila and Ezida, the (first) bricks of Esagila and Ezida

         in the land of Hatti (=Syria) with my pure hand(s) I molded with fine quality oil and 

           

               (Marduk’s brother & amazing architect Ningishzidda, laid the foundation pegs to the world’s great ziggurats pyramids)

         for the laying of the foundation of Esagila and Ezida I transported them.

         In the month of Addaru, on the 20th day, of year 43 (SE, 27 March 268 BCE) ,

          (Borsippa down below Nabu’s ziggurat Ezida)

         I laid the foundation of Ezida, the true temple, the temple of Nabû, which is in Borsippa.

         O Nabû, lofty son (of Marduk), the wise one of the gods, the proud one, who is eminently worthy of praise,

          (Nabu, Marduk, Ashur, & Seth)

         firstborn (3rd after Ashur & Seth) son of Marduk, offspring of Erûa (Sarpanit), the queen, who creates offspring,

         regard me joyfully and, at your lofty command which is unchanging, 

         may the overthrow of the country of my enemy, the achievement of my triumphs,

         the predominance over the enemy through victory, kingship of justice, a reign of prosperity, years of happiness,

         (and) the full enjoyment of very old age be the gift for the kingship of Antiochus and king Seleucus, his son, for ever.

         (Marduk, son Nabu, & Babylonian king)

         O Son of the Prince (Marduk), Nabû, son of Esagila, first-born son of Marduk, offspring of queen Erûa:

           (alien Anunnaki King AnuAnu meets newly fashioned earthlings)

         at your entry into Ezida, the true house, the house of your Anu-ship, the dwelling of your heart’s desire,

         with rejoicing and jubilation, may – at your true command, which cannot be annulled –

         my days be long, my years many, my throne firm, 

          my reign long lasting under your lofty scepter which sets the boundary of heaven and earth.

         May my good (fate) constantly be established in your pure mouth, 

         may my hands conquer the countries from sunrise to sunset 

         that I might inventory their tribute and bring it to make perfect Esagila and Ezida.

         (Nabu; his patron city Borsippa)

         O Nabû, foremost son, when you enter Ezida, the true house,

         may good (fate) for Antiochus, king of (all) countries, king Seleucus, his son, (and) Stratonice, his consort, the queen, 

         may their good (fate), be established by your command (lit: in/by your mouth).

Offering Inscription to Nabu for Nabu-mukin-apli

(Unidentified Isin Ruler (2001))

http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue mixed-breed demigods in teal)

        (Nabu on US Congress door; Nabu statue artifact)

      For the god Nabû, the august lord, his lord:

        Nabû-mukīn-apli, son of Nūr-Sîn, the seal-cutter of the god Marduk, governor of Babylon,

         (Marduk’s Esagil residence with Babylon way below)

         had (this mace head) made and presented (it to him) forever in Babylon

         in order to ensure his good health, to prolong his days,

         to ensure the well-being of his offspring, to ensure his happiness, (and) to confirm his position.

Prayer to Enlil for Simbar-Sipak

http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu

 

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue mixed-breed demigods in teal)

 

          (reverence paid by king to Earth Commander Enlil)

       For the god Enlil, supreme lord, exalted, king of the universe,

         august leader, sovereign of heaven and netherworld, who decides the fates,

         venerable, splendid, whose rulership cannot be equaled among all the gods,

         king of the gods, lord of the whole expanse of the heavens,

         at whose utterance all the Igīgū (Igigi) gods moan in fear and at the giving of whose order(s)

         (Aia & spouse Utu come before Commander Enlil)

         all the Anunnakū (Anunnaki) gods shake like reeds, lord of Ekur and Nippur, who dwells in Ekurigigal, his lord:

 

       Simbar-Šipak, just king, (his) respectful servant,

         who administers correctly the rites of the gods Anu and Dagan (Enki) (and) duly performs their cultic rites,

           (giant mixed-breed Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar I artifact, 1,125 B.C.)

       (With regard to) the throne of the god Enlil in Ekurigigal which Nebuchadnezzar (I), a previous king,

         had made — during the reign of Adad-apla-iddina, king of Babylon,

         hostile Arameans and Sutians, enemies of Ekur and Nippur,

         who desecrated Duranki, upset in Sippar — the ancient city (and) abode of the great judge of the gods —

         their cultic rites, plundered the land of Sumer and Akkad, (and) overthrew all the temples.

 

       The goods (and) property of the god Enlil which the Arameans had carried off

         and (which) the Subartu had (subsequently) taken (from them), at the command of the god Enlil

          exalted ruler of the gods, lord of lords —

           (Marduk, patron god of Babylon)

         the god Marduk — king of the universe,  who has the power to make (a region) desolate and to resettle (it) —

       (and) the god Utulu terror of (his) enemies, slayer of (his) foes — an Assyrian recognized the goods

         (and) property of the god Enlil and brought (them) into Baltil (Aššur).

         It returned from Baltil to i[ts] place in Duranki.

         (blue-eyed Earth Colony Commander Enlil, his commands are final)

       Simbar-Šipak, viceroy for the god Enlil, wise, beloved of the god […], reverent shepherd,

         who is assiduous toward the sanctuaries of the god Enlil, the knowledgeable one,

         was exceedingly concerned about the renovation of Ekur and Nippur.

 

       He had constructed and set [up] a throne (made) of mēsu-wood — the durable wood —

         whose mountings were made of ṣāriru-gold and [whose] form was extra large,

         (in sum, a throne) suitable for his (Enlil’s) august position as supreme god.

          (Marduk, patron god over Babylon, & later Egypt)

       On account of this, when the god Marduk — the great lord, Enlil of the gods, s[up]r[eme] (deity) —

         sits upon this throne, may the fate of Simbar-Šip[ak] — just king, shepherd,

         (and) his (the god Marduk’s) favorite — be esta[blished] favorably.

 

       Colophon on ex. L

       Written and collated according to its original.

       (By) the hand of (mixed-breed descendants) Marduk-šarrani,

         son of Rīmūt-Nabû, son of Lūṣi-ana-nūr-Irra, descendant of Sîn-leqe-unnēnī,

          (IshtarInanna (Nanaya, a mixed-breed king & daughter)

         the lamentation-priest of the goddesses Ištar (Inanna) of Uruk and Nanāia (Nanaya, Nabu’s spouse),

         one privileged to enter the temple of the goddess Kanisurra (unidentified), [scribe] of Eanna.

 

       Tablet of Rīmūt-Nabû, descendant of Sîn-leqe-unnēnī,

         the lamentation-priest of the goddesses Ištar of Uruk and Nanāia,

         one privileged to enter the temple of the goddess Kanisurra.

 

       Written in the month Kislīmu, on the first day.

 

       Colophon on ex. 2

       [That which is (written) upon the thr]one at Nippur [(…)].

            (E-kur, Enlil‘s residence in his patron city-state, Nippur)

Prayer to Ishtar (Inanna) for Samas-suma-ukin (2001)

http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue mixed-breed demigods in teal)

          (Ishtar Inanna, Goddess of Love (King Samas-suma-ukin)

       For the goddess Ištar (Inanna), supreme lady:

       Sîn-šarra-uṣur, viceroy of Ur, in order to ensure the good health of Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, king of Babylon,

          (IshtarInanna (Nanaya & a king with ill daughter)

         gave to the goddesses Ištar and Nanāia (Nanaya) (a plot of land measuring) 660 (cubits along its) upper width,

         bordering (the property of) Atrāia (and) stretching to the estate of the simmagir-official;

         its upper and lower lengths stretch from the Euphrates (River) to the town Sūrānu.

       Whoever you are, whether king or overseer, who appears and changes the border or boundary line,

          (Marduk, giant alien patron god of Babylon)

         may the god Marduk, the great lord, highest-ranking god (and) lord of the lands,

         afflict him with dropsy (as) his punishment which cannot be alleviated!

         May the goddess Ištar of Uruk, the august lady, inflict defeat and rout on his army!

         May she ungird him (lit. “loosen his loins”) in the presence of his enemy!

         May the goddess Nanāia (Nabu’s spouse), beloved of the gods Nabû and Marduk,

          (alien gods Marduk, Inanna, Nabu, & his spouse Nanaya)

         continually speak evil of him in the presence of the god Nabû, the one who loves him (Sîn-šarra-uṣur)!

          (Nergal, warrior god, patron of the Under World)

         May the god Nergal, the mightiest of the gods, most overpowering of the gods (and) valiant male,

         not spare his life in plague or bloody battle!

         May he take away his descendant(s) (and) his name, and decree that his life (last) not one day (more)!

Praise of Marduk for Samas-suma-ukin (06)

http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu

 

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue mixed-breed demigods in teal)

 

       [the one during whose reign, the Enlil of the gods, the god Marduk, relented,

         entered] Babylon [amidst] rejoicing [and took up his residence in] Esagila forever[more;

         the one who (re)confirmed the regular offer]ings for Esagila and the gods of the land of [Sumer and Akkad;

         son of] Esarhaddon, great king, mig[hty] king, [king of the world, king of Assyria,

         vicero]y of Babylon, (and) king of the land of Sume[r and Akkad;

         grandso]n of Sennacherib, great king, [mighty] k[ing, king of the world, (and) king of Assyria;

         descend]ant of Sargon (II), gr[eat] king, [mighty king, king of the world, (and) king of Assyria]

Praise of Nabu for Samas-suma-ukin (05)

http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue mixed-breed demigods in teal)

         

               (Marduk;                                          Marduk & his giant mixed-breed Babylonian king, etc.)

        For the star of the god Marduk, mighty … exalted, [br]ight, the god Šiḫṭu, (unidentified)

        lord of catchwater, spring … (and) wide seas, who produces (both) rain and flood,

            (Nergal, Lord over deceased earthlings;  Nergal, Lord of Netherworld)

        the god Imdudu (Nergal), who roams through heaven and netherworld,

        lord of the wind blast … and storm, who establishes the inundation,

           (Nabu statue, actual size of the giant god)

        the god Nabû, the bright one who holds the lead-rope of earth and netherworld,

        star of East and West …, at whose appearance the Igīgū gods and the Anunnakū gods hap[pily] …

           (Ezida with Borsippa way down below the mud-brick mountain)

        who dwells in Ezida, which is inside Borsippa, [(…) his lord]:

        Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, viceroy of Babylon […] had (this) … made and a boat … it was brought with difficulty …

        procession … for the conveyance of his great lordship, (for his) going and returning […,

        the god Šidd]ukišarra (unidentified), who administers all of heaven and netherworld

        for his descent where water, the life of the land, the well-being of the house …[…]

          (Marduk upon Mushhushu, Inanna & mixed-breed Babylonian king)

        … august, splendid, son of the god Asari (Marduk), who has bro[ad understanding …],

        the god Mudugasâ (Ningishzidda), supreme, ruler … lord of ingenious things, martial,

         

          (semi-divine king Gudea, Ningishzidda, & Dumuzi                   Ningishzidda places the monuments foundation pegs, & Ninsun)

        who in counsel […] expert of all the temp[les] …[…] the one who makes opposing forces agree,

        who administers everything […], who has broad understanding,

          (Nabu the scribe on door of US Congress)  (Esagila over Babylon)

        scribe of Esagila, who wa[tches ov]er the Igīgū gods and [the Anunnakū gods],

        who bears the tablet of the fates of the great gods, who supervises every[thing], capable, wise,

           (Nabu’s Ezida looking over Borsippa)

        god who[se] rule is pre-eminent, lord of Borsippa, who dwells in Ezida, the great lord [his] l[ord],

         Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, viceroy [of Babylon], king of the land of Sumer and Akk[ad]

        had (this object) of 18 1/2 cubits made […].

        [In order] to ensure his good health, to prolong his days […] may he determine as his fate!

           (brother mixed-breeds Ashurbanipal & Samas-suma-ukin)

        […] … […] … […] … Ashurbanipal [… Šama]š-šuma-ukīn, kin[g …]

Prayer to Nabu for Samas-suma-ukin (04)

http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue mixed-breed demigods in teal)

         (Utu, Marduk, giant mixed-breed king, Enki, & scribe Nabu)

       For the god Nabû, po[werful, emine]nt, wisest of the gods, exalted, noble,

         scribe of everything, super[visor of the totality of heaven and netherworld],

         who makes opposing forces agree, who knows everything, splendid, perfect,

         who has gat[hered to himself all] the (divine) offices, who controls the omens,

         lord of skilful works, whose command is pre-eminent [in the assembly of the gods], his fathers,

         (one with) a far-reaching mind, whose heart none among the gods knows,

         supreme lord, who raises up lords (and) the fame of rulers,

          (Marduk, son Nabu, & mixed-breed descendant-king)

         who gives sceptre, throne, and reign, who confirms kingship,

         compassionate one, who bestows for future days power and victory;

         (Marduk, spouse Sarpanit, & son Nabu)

         most important son of the god Asari (Marduk), offspring of the goddess Erua (Marduk‘s spouse Sarpanit)

         (Borsippa, Nabu’s Ezida, “True House” residence, a mud-brick mountain)

         queen (and) goddess of ladies — who dwells in Ezida — the true house, (located) in [Bor]sippa,

        the cult centre which is worthy of honour — great lord, my lord:

         (giant god Marduk & mixed-breed Babylonian king)

       I, Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, [mighty] king, [ki]ng of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad,

         wise viceroy, valiant prince, […], who reveres the lord of lords, wise vice-regent, true shepherd,

         [who is assid]uous toward the sanctuaries (residences) of the great gods,

         who (re)settl[ed Babyl]on, (re)built (Marduk’s) Esagila, (and) provides for (Nabu’s) Ezida;

         the one during whose [reign] the Enlil of the gods, the god Marduk,

          

                               (Ezida in Borsippa;                                                                       Esagila in Babylon)

         relented, entered Babylon amidst rejoicing, and took up his residence in Esagila forevermore;

         the one who (re)confirmed the regular offerings (in) Esagila (for) the gods of the land of Sumer and Akkad;

        

                            (Esarhaddon; Ashurbanipal; Sennicherib; & Sargon II mixed-breed descendant-kings)

         son of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria,

         viceroy of Babylon, (and) king of the land of Sumer and Akkad;  

         favourite (brother) of Ashurbanipal, great king, mighty king, king of the world, (and) king of Assyria;

         grandson of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, (and) king of Assyria;

         descendant of Sargon (II), great king, mighty king, king of the world, (and) king of Assyria;

          (giant alien god Ashur above the king in his winged sky-disc)

         descendant of the enduring royal lineage of Bēl-bāni, son of Adasi, scion (descendants) of Baltil (Aššur(Ashur)

              (mixed-breed brothers Ashurbanipal & Samas-suma-ukin)

       In order to ensure the good health of Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria, my favourite brother,

         to prolong (his) life, to ensure the well-being of (his) descendant(s)‬,

         to confirm (his) reign, and to defeat (his) enemy, and, with regard to me,

         to ensure my good health, to prolong my life, to ensure the well-being of my descendant(s),

         to confirm my reign, (and) to ensure that I might have no illness, […] together,

          (Nabu’s Ezida, mud bricks high as a mountain in Borsippa)

         I had the storehouses of Ezida built anew and made (them) high as a mountain.

       May [any] future [pr]ince, during whose reign this work falls into disrepair

         (and) sustains damage, repair [its dilapidated state]!

         May he write my name with his (own) name, look at my royal inscription,

         [anoint (it) with oil], offer a sacrifice, (and) place (my royal inscription) with his (own) royal inscription!

          (Nabu statue unearthed in Nimrod)

         The god Nabû will (then) listen to his prayers.

       [(But) as for the one who] erases [my inscribed name or the name] of my favourite brother

         by some crafty device, [(or) destroys my royal inscription, or] changes its position

         and does not place (it) with his (own) royal inscription,

          (Nabu with animal horn crown, patron god over Borsippa, a mini Babylon)

         may [the god Nabû, august lord], glare at him [ang]rily

         and make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the lands!

Prayer to Nabu for Samas-suma-ukin (03)

http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu

(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)

(gods in blue mixed-breed demigods in teal)

           (Kings Ashurbanipal of Assyria & brother Samas-suma-ukin of Babylon)

        I, Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, [mighty] king, [king] of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad,

         august [vice]-regent, true shepherd, who reveres the lord of lords;

        (Enlil; Marduk with sky-discs)

         the one during [who]se reign the Enlil of the gods, the god Marduk, had pity,

         entered Babylon amidst rejoicing, and took up his residence in Esagila forevermore;

         [who (re)confirmed] the regular offerings (in) Esagila (for) the gods of the land of Sumer and Akkad;

          (Esarhaddon on his stele)  (Sennacherib)

         son of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria,

         (and) king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; grandson of Sennacherib, king of Assyria;

         descendant of Sargon (II), king of Assyria (and) king of the land of Sumer and Akkad;

          (Sargon IIAshurbanipal

         favourite (brother) of Ashurbanipal, king of the world, king of Assyria, (and) king of the four quarters (of the world) —

       (With regard to) the enclosure wall of (Nabu’s) Ezida (‟True House”) which had become old

           (Nabu’s residence in his patron city of Borsippa)

         during the reign of a previous king and whose foundation had become weak,

         during my reign, I renovated its dilapidated sections and made (them) high as a mountain.

       Whoever among the future kings, my descendants, appears and governs the land,

         may he read my statue, anoint (it) with oil, (and) offer a sacrifice!

         May he write my name with his (own) name and praise my deeds!

          (Nabu, patron god of Borsippa, a mini Babylon)

         (Then), may the god Nabû, scribe of Esagila, inscribe a long life for him upon (his) tablet,

         determine (for him) longevity as his lot, (and) constantly say good things about him

          (Marduk; Marduk, Nabu, & giant mixed-breed king)

         in the presence of the god Marduk, king of the gods!

       (But), as for the one who erases my inscribed name or the name of my favourite brother

         by some crafty device and makes my statue unrecognizable, or changes its position

          (giant god Nabu, in man’s image & likeness)

         and does not put it with his (own) statue, may the god Nabû, august lord, glare at him angrily

         and make [his name], his descendants, his offspring, (and) [his] progeny disappear

         [from the mouths of the multi]tudes [of people, and may he have no] pi[ty] upon him!