Prayers to Ishtar (Inanna) for Sargon II (03 – 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)

          (Ishtar / Inanna, daughter to Nannar & Ningal)

        [For] the goddess Ištar (Inanna), mistress of the lands, (most) eminent of the gods,

          [(most) valiant] of the goddesses, […] fierce, terrifying flood, [(…)

          who] is endowed with […] […] … majestic, […] awe, […] … the firmament (of the heavens),

          […] … […] humble, [… who give]s judgment and decision, […] purification rites,

          […] which is inside Uruk, [the great lady], his lady:

        [Sargon (II), king of Assy]ria, king of the world, viceroy of Babylon,

          [king of (the land of) Sume]r and Akkad, prince who provides for her,

        [In order to ensure] his [good health], to prolong his days, to lengthen his reign,

          [to …] his […], (and) to overthrow his enemy,

           (E-ana, ziggurat residence of many goddesses)

        [(With regard to) Ean]na, which Íulgi (Shulgi), a previous king, had had built and which had become old,

          (with regard to) this temple, whose walls had buckled, whose bondings had disintegrated,

          whose parapet had become ruined, whose foundation had collapsed,

          (and) whose reconstruction had not occurred to (any of) the kings, (his) predecessors —

           (giant god Marduk & his king)

        At that time, the great lord, the god Marduk, gave excellent judgment to Sargon (II),

          king of Assyria, king of the world, viceroy of Babylon,

          (Adad, Ashur, mixed-breed king, & Ninurta)

          one who was chosen by the god Asari (Ashur), and increased his understanding.

        He (Sargon) directed his attention [to] renovating the abandoned cult centers

          and sanctuaries of all the gods of the land Akkad.

          He was assiduous toward the sanctuaries of Eanna, the abode of the goddess Ištar, mistress of the lands, his lady.

           (E-ana, way above city of Uruk)

          (With regard to) the outer enclosure wall of Eanna in the lower courtyard,

          he tore down its parapet and laid bare its foundation.

          (mixed-breed descendant-king Sargon II)

        With fervent entreaties, prayers, and expressions of humility he (Sargon) laid its foundations (anew)

          and he fixed its foundation on the breast of the netherworld (as secure) as a mountain.

           (monument builder Ningishzidda & mixed-breed king)

          With the work of the god Kulla (Ningishzidda), the chief builder,

          and (with the help of) artisans who know (their) craft,

          he raised its top with (ritually) pure bricks and completed its construction.

          He made (it) superior to what had been there before and carried out the plans correctly.

        On account of this, may the goddess Ištar, mistress of the lands,

          look upon this work with pleasure and may she bestow a (long) life on Sargon,

          king of Assyria, king of the world, viceroy of Babylon, the king who provides for her!

          May she say good things about him before the god Marduk, king of the gods!

        May she go (with him) as his helper in strife and battle!

        May he smash the weapons of his enemies and may he achieve whatever he wants!

         May he subjugate at his feet all rulers who are not submissive to him!

         By the command of the goddess Ištar, beloved of the lord of the gods, may he increase (his) good fortune!

         May long life, happiness, and gladness be bestowed on him and may his reign be long!

         May he make the foundation of his throne secure for future days and may he control (all) regions (of the world)!

        May he exercise the rule over the people who are of privileged status (mixed-breeds)

         (and) freed from taxation by the great gods!

         During his reign may those ones freed from taxation not be in disorder!

         May he decrease their negligence and may he remove their sin!

         Let turmoil be unknown to them (and) may he make their heart(s) rejoice!

         Like the foundations of Uruk and Eanna, may their foundations be firm!

        Colophon

        Copy of the inscription, dispatch to/of the palace of Assyria; copied and collated.

(04):

       Sargon (II), great king, king of the world, king of Babylon,

         king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, commander of Assyria and of all Amurru,

         had the outer enclosure wall, the courtyard of Eanna, the narrow gate, and the regular gate built.

(05):

          (Inanna) (E-ana)

       For the goddess Inanna, lady of Uruk, who dwells in Eanna, the august, supreme lady, his lady:

         Sargon (II), king of the world, viceroy of Babylon, king of Sumer (and) Akkad,

         shepherd of the land of Assyria, had baked bricks made

         (and) made the processional way of Eanna shine like daylight.

(06):

       For the lady, the goddess Inanna, mistress of the lands, his lady:

         Sargon (II), m[ight]y king, king of Babylon, king of the world, king […], king […],

         (re)constructed Eanna, her beloved temple.