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Cyrus Cylinder Text

Cyrus Takes Babylon: the Cyrus Cylinder

http://www.livius.org/aa-ac/achaemenians/inscriptions.html

(Any writing in Bold Type, in Parenthesis, in Italics, & artifact pictures are added by me, R. Brown, not the author!)

(gods in bluemixed-breed demigods in teal…)

Babylon

In October 539 BCE, the Persian king Cyrus took Babylon, the ancient capital of an oriental empire covering modern Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. In a broader sense, Babylon was the ancient world’s capital of scholarship and science. The subject provinces soon recognized Cyrus as their legitimate ruler. Since he was already lord of peripheral regions in modern Turkey and Iran (and Afghanistan?), it is not exaggerated to say that the conquest of Babylonia meant the birth of a true world empire. The Achaemenid empire was to last for more than two centuries, until it was divided by the successors of the Macedonian king Alexander the Great. A remarkable aspect of the capture of Babylon is the fact that Cyrus allowed the Jews (who were exiled in Babylonia) to return home.

Cyrus' cylinder. British museum, London (Britain). Photo Marco Prins.

Cyrus’ cylinder (British Museum)

Cyrus’ cylinder

In this text, a clay cylinder now in the British Museum, Cyrus describes how he conquers the old city. Nabonidus is considered a tyrant with strange religious ideas, which causes the god Marduk to intervene. That Cyrus thought of himself as chosen by a supreme god, is confirmed by Second Isaiah; his claim that he entered the city without struggle corroborates the same statement in the Chronicle of Nabonidus.


At the end of his story, Cyrus tells that he “returned the images of the sanctuaries to return home”. This means that he gave the statues back to the temples of the subject people; the Babylonians had captured these imagines and kept them as hostages. It was not uncommon that a new king reverted his predecessor’s acts.

The tyranny of Nabonidus

[1-8] When […] of the four quarters. […]

An incompetent person [i.e., Nabonidus]

was installed to exercise lordship over his country. […] he imposed upon them.

An imitation of Esagila he made, and […] for Ur and the rest of the cultic centers,

a ritual which was improper to them,

an unholy display offering without […] fear he daily recited.

Irreverently, he put an end to the regular offerings

and he interfered in the cultic centers; […] he established in the sacred centers.

By his own plan, he did away with the worship of Marduk,

the king of the gods, he continually did evil against Marduk’s city.

Daily, […] without interruption,

he imposed the corvée upon its inhabitants unrelentingly, ruining them all.

Marduk’s anger

[9-11] Upon hearing their cries, the lord of the gods became furiously angry

and […] their borders;

the gods who lived among them forsook their dwellings,

angry that he [sc. Nabonidus] had brought them to Babylon.

Marduk, the exalted, the lord of the gods,

turned towards all the habitations that were abandoned

and all the people of Sumer and Akkad, who had become corpses.

He was reconciled and had mercy upon them.

Marduk finds a new king for Babylon

[11-14]Marduk surveyed and looked throughout the lands,

searching for a righteous king, his favorite.

He called out his name: Cyrus, king of Anšan;

he pronounced his name to be king all over the world.

He made the land of Gutium and all the Umman-manda

[i.e., the Medes] bow in submission at his feet.

And he [i.e., Cyrus] shepherded with justice

and righteousness all the black-headed people,

over whom he [i.e., Marduk] had given him victory.

Marduk, the great lord, guardian of his people,

looked with gladness upon his good deeds and upright heart.


Cyrus takes Babylon

[15-19] He ordered him to go to his city Babylon.

He set him on the road to Babylon and like a companion and a friend,

he went at his side.

His vast army, whose number, like water of the river, cannot be known,

marched at his side fully armed.

He made him enter his city Babylon without fighting or battle;

he saved Babylon from hardship.

He delivered Nabonidus, the king who did not revere him, into his hands.

All the people of Babylon, all the land of Sumer and Akkad,

princes and governors, bowed to him and kissed his feet.

They rejoiced at his kingship and their faces shone.

Lord by whose aid the dead were revived

and who had all been redeemed from hardship and difficulty,

they greeted him with gladness and praised his name.


Cyrus’ titles

[20-22a] I am Cyrus, king of the world, great king, mighty king, king

of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters,

the son of Cambyses, great king, king of Anšan,

grandson of Cyrus, great king, king of Anšan,

descendant of Teispes, great king, king of Anšan,

of an eternal line of kingship, whose rule Bêl(Marduk)and Nabu love,

whose kingship they desire for their hearts’ pleasure.


The prince of peace

[22b-28] When I entered Babylon in a peaceful manner,

I took up my lordly abode in the royal palace amidst rejoicing and happiness.

Marduk, the great lord, established as his fate for me

a magnanimous heart of one who loves Babylon, and I daily attended to his worship.

My vast army marched into Babylon in peace;

I did not permit anyone to frighten the people of Sumer and Akkad.

I sought the welfare of the city of Babylon and all its sacred centers.

As for the citizens of Babylon, […]

upon whom Nabonidus imposed a corvée which was not the gods’ wish

and not befitting them, I relieved their wariness and freed them from their service.

Marduk, the great lord, rejoiced over my good deeds.

He sent gracious blessing upon me, Cyrus, the king who worships him,

and upon Cambyses, the son who is my offspring,

and upon all my army, and in peace, before him, we moved around in friendship.

Assyrian relief from Nimrod, showing the deportation of the statues of the gods of a defeated nation. (British Museum)

Religious measures

[28-33] By his exalted word, all the kings

who sit upon thrones throughout the world, from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea

[i.e., from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf],

who live in the districts far-off, the kings of the West, who dwell in tents,

all of them, brought their heavy tribute before me

and in Babylon they kissed my feet.

From Babylon to Aššur and from Susa, Agade, Ešnunna, Zamban, Me-Turnu, Der,

as far as the region of Gutium, the sacred centers on the other side of the Tigris,

whose sanctuaries had been abandoned for a long time,

I returned the images of the gods, who had resided there [i.e., in Babylon],

to their places and I let them dwell in eternal abodes.

I gathered all their inhabitants and returned to them their dwellings.

In addition, at the command of Marduk, the great lord,

I settled in their habitations, in pleasing abodes, the gods of Sumer and Akkad,

whom Nabonidus, to the anger of the lord of the gods, had brought into Babylon.

Cyrus‘ prayer

[34-36] May all the gods whom I settled in their sacred centers ask daily

of Bêl (Marduk)and Nâbu that my days be long

and may they intercede for my welfare.

May they say to Marduk, my lord:

“As for Cyrus, the king who reveres you, and Cambyses, his son, [lacuna].”

The people of Babylon blessed my kingship,

and I settled all the lands in peaceful abodes.


Building

[37-44] I daily increased the number offerings to […] geese, two ducks,

and ten turledoves above the former offerings of geese, ducks, and turtledoves. […]

Dur-Imgur-Enlil, the great wall of Babylon, its de[fen]se, I sought to strengthen […]

The quay wall of brick, which a former king

had bu[ilt, but had not com]pleted its construction, […]

who had not surrounded the city on the outside, which no former king had made,

who a levy of workmen had led into of Babylon, […] with bitumen and bricks,

I built anew and completed their job. […] magnificent gates I overlaid in copper,

treshholds and pivots of cast bronze I fixed in their doorways. […]

An inscription with the name of Aššurbanipal, a king who had preceded me,

I saw in its midst. […] for eternity.”


Cyrus takes Babylon: Second Isaiah & Ezra

Babylon

In October 539 BCE, the Persian king Cyrus took Babylon, the ancient capital of an oriental empire covering modern Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. In a broader sense, Babylon was the ancient world’s capital of scholarship and science. The subject provinces soon recognized Cyrus as their legitimate ruler. Since he was already lord of peripheral regions in modern Turkey and Iran (and Afghanistan?), it is not exaggerated to say that the conquest of Babylonia meant the birth of a true world empire. The Achaemenid empire was to last for more than two centuries, until it was divided by the successors of the Macedonian king Alexander the Great. A remarkable aspect of the capture of Babylon is the fact that Cyrus allowed the Jews (who were exiled in Babylonia) to return home.

Second Isaiah

‘Second Isaiah’ or ‘Deutero-Isaiah’ is the name of the chapters 40-55 of the Biblical book of Isaiah, which were added to the ‘real’ text of Isaiah. The second prophet predicts the coming of king Cyrus, who will liberate the Jews from their Babylonian Exile and will bring them to the Promised Land. It may be noted that Cyrus was considered by the Jews a monotheist, an opinion that was more or less correct, since many Persians venerated the ‘wise lord’ Ahuramazda who was the eternal enemy of an evil god named Angrya Manyu. Persian religion also stressed that people should be honest and righteous, and it is possible that these ideas about a wise Lord with an ethical message influenced the lines 45.7-8 quoted below.

This Jewish text confirms Cyrus’ own propaganda that he was chosen by the supreme god to liberate Babylon. An interesting detail is that line 45.1 contains an old prediction of the coming of a special anointed one (i.e., the Messiah).

(44.23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, you mountains, o forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and glorified Himself in Israel. (44.24) Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb:

I am the Lord, who makes all things,

Who stretches out the heavens all alone,

Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; (44.25)

Who frustrates the signs of the babblers,

and drives diviners mad, who turns wise men backward,

and makes their knowledge foolishness, (44.26)

Who confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers,

Who says to Jerusalem,

“You shall be inhabited,” to the cities of Judah, “You shall be built,”

and will raise up her waste places, (44.27)

Who says to the deep, “Be dry!” and will dry up your rivers, (44.28)

Who says of Cyrus, “He is My shepherd,

And he shall perform all My pleasure, saying to Jerusalem,

‘You shall be built,’ and to the temple,

‘Your foundation shall be laid.'”‘

(45.1) Thus says the Lord to His anointed [i.e., Messiah], to Cyrus –

whose right hand I have held- to subdue nations before him

and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the double doors,

so that the gates will not be shut:

(45.2) ‘I will go before you and make the crooked places straight;

I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron.

(45.3)I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places,

so that you may know that I, the Lord,

Who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.

  1. For Jacob My servant’s sake, and Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name;

I have named you, though you have not known Me.

  1. I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me,

(45.6) that they may know from the rising of the sun

to its setting that there is none besides Me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other;

(45.7) I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity;

I, the Lord, do all these things.

(45.8) Rain down, you heavens, from above,

and let the skies pour down righteousness;

let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,

and let righteousness spring up together.

I, the Lord, have created it.’

Ezra

The following lines in the book of Ezra refer to a decree by Cyrus. It is unclear whether this is the true wording of the decree, but it may be authentic. We may compare the decree to Cyrus’ own statement that he gathered many people and returned them to their former habitations (above). The prophesy of Jeremiah that is referred to, is Jeremiah 25.11-12, where it is stated that the Jews would return after seventy years. In fact, the Babylonian Exile lasted from 586 -when the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar had captured Jerusalem- until 539.

(1.1) In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,

in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah,

the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia

to make a proclamation throughout his realm and put it in (?)

(1.2) ‘This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:

The Lord, the God of Heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth

and has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.

  1. Anyone of his people among you –
    1. And the people of any place where they may still be living are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock,

    and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’

    Herodotus. Bust in the Agora Museum, Athens (Greece). Photo Marco Prins.

    Herodotus (Agora Museum, Athens)

    Herodotus, Histories 1.189-191

    The Histories by the Greek researcher Herodotus of Halicarnassus (fifth century BCE) are the world’s first historical study. The account of the Fall of Babylon -which is here presented in the translation by George Rawlinson- proves beyond all reasonable doubt that the author never spoke a Babylonian about the event. Only two details he has right: that Cyrus entered Babylonia at Opis, where a battle was fought, and that he finally took the ancient city.

    (1.189) Cyrus on his way to Babylon came to the banks of the Gyndes [i.e., Diyala],

    a stream which, rising in the Matienian mountains,

    runs through the country of the Dardanians, and empties itself into the river Tigris.

    The Tigris, after receiving the Gyndes, flows on by the city of Opis[i.e., Baghdad],

    and discharges its waters into the Erythraean sea [i.e., the Persian Gulf].

    When Cyrus reached this stream, which could only be passed in boats,

    one of the sacred white horses accompanying his march,

    full of spirit and high mettle, walked into the water,

    and tried to cross by himself; but the current seized him,

    swept him along with it, and drowned him in its depths.

    Cyrus, enraged at the insolence of the river,

    threatened so to break its strength that in future

    even women should cross it easily without wetting their knees.

    Accordingly he put off for a time his attack on Babylon,

    and, dividing his army into two parts,

    he marked out by ropes one hundred and eighty trenches

    on each side of the Gyndes, leading off from it in all directions,

    and setting his army to dig, some on one side of the river, some on the other,

    he accomplished his threat by the aid of so great a number of hands,

    but not without losing thereby the whole summer season.

    (1.190) Having, however, thus wreaked his vengeance on the Gyndes,

    by dispersing it through three hundred and sixty channels,

    Cyrus, with the first approach of the ensuing spring,

    marched forward against Babylon.

    The Babylonians, encamped without their walls, awaited his coming.

    A battle was fought at a short distance from the city,

    in which the Babylonians were defeated by the Persian king,

    whereupon they withdrew within their defenses.

    Here they shut themselves up, and made light of his siege,

    having laid in a store of provisions for many years in preparation against this attack;

    for when they saw Cyrus conquering nation after nation,

    they were convinced that he would never stop,

    and that their turn would come at last.

    (1.191) Cyrus was now reduced to great perplexity,

    as time went on and he made no progress against the place.

    In this distress either some one made the suggestion to him,

    or he bethought himself of a plan, which he proceeded to put in execution.

    He placed a portion of his army at the point where the river enters the city,

    and another body at the back of the place where it issues forth,

    with orders to march into the town by the bed of the stream,

    as soon as the water became shallow enough:

    he then himself drew off with the unwarlike portion of his host,

    and made for the place where [legendary former queen]

    Nitocris dug the basin for the river,

    where he did exactly what she had done formerly:

    he turned the Euphrates by a canal into the basin,

    which was then a marsh, on which the river sank to such an extent

    that the natural bed of the stream became fordable.

    Hereupon the Persians who had been left for the purpose at Babylon

    by the river-side, entered the stream, which had now sunk so

    as to reach about midway up a man’s thigh, and thus got into the town.

    Had the Babylonians been apprised of what Cyrus was about,

    or had they noticed their danger,

    they would never have allowed the Persians to enter the city,

    but would have destroyed them utterly;

    for they would have made fast all the street gates which gave access to the river,

    and mounting upon the walls along both sides of the stream,

    would so have caught the enemy, as it were, in a trap.

    But, as it was, the Persians came upon them by surprise and so took the city.

    Owing to the vast size of the place, the inhabitants of the central parts

    (as the residents at Babylon declare)

    long after the outer portions of the town were taken,

    knew nothing of what had chanced, but as they were engaged in a festival,

    continued dancing and reveling until they learnt about the capture.

    Such, then, were the circumstances of the first taking of Babylon.

    Index Of Texts

    A

    Abu Quotes

    Accounting of Goods

    Adab To An For Lipit-ishtar C *

    Adab To An (Anu) For Shu-Suen E

    Adab To An For Ur-Ninurta E ***

    Adab To Bau For Ishme-Dagan B **

    Adab to Bau For Luma (Eannatum) *

    Adab To Dagan For Ishme Dagan U

    Adab to Enki For Ishme-Dagan D *

    Adad To Enlil For Bur-Suen / Amar-Sin B *

    Adab To Enlil For Ishme-Dagan H **

    Adab To Enlil For Shulgi **

    Adab To Inanna For Rim-Sin H

    Adab To Inanna For Ur-Ninurta D *

    Adab To Nanna H

    Adab To Nanna (Nannar) For Gungunum A

    Adab To Nanna (Nannar) For Ishme-Dagan M (Versions A,B)

    Adab To Nergal For Shu-ilishu A

    Adab To Nergal For Shulgi U

    Adab To Ningublaga (Utu) For Iddin-Dagan C

    Adab To Nininsina E

    Adab To Ninlil (A)

    Adab To Ninurta For Amar-Suen A

    Adabs To Ninurta For Ishme-Dagan O,D

    Adab To Ninurta For Lipit-Ishtar D *

    Adab To Ninurta For Ur-Ninurta C *

    Adab to Nuska for Ishme-Dagan Q

    Adab To Suen For Ibbi-Suen C

    Adab To Suen For Shu-Suen F

    Adab To Utu For Shulgi Q *

    Adad Overview ***

    Adad Quotes ***

    Adad Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Adad Temple Hymn

    Adad-apla-iddina Inscriptions **

    Adapa ( Adam) & The Food Of Life

    Advice To A Prince ***

    Advice Of An Akkadian Father To His Son

    Advice of a Supervisor to a Young Scribe

    Agade Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Akitu Chronicle

    Alalu Overview

    Alalu Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Amar-Suena & Enki’s Temple A

    Amar-Suen Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Amar-Suen Tablet From Nippur

    Amasilama Quotes

    Annals Of Assur-natsir-pal I

    Annals Of Ashur-nasir-pal II

    Annals of Sargon & Narram-Sin

    Antakya Stele

    Antiochus Cylinder

    Anu Overview ***

    Anu Quotes From Texts ***

    Anu Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Anzu Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Arakha

    Arik-den-ili Chronicle

    Asarlui’s Temple (Residence In Kuara) Hymn

    Ashur Overview ***

    Ashur Quotes

    Ashurbanipal Inscriptions

    Ashurbanipal Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Assembly of the Gods

    Assyrian Chronicle

    Assyrian Epic of Creation

    Assyrian Eponym List

    Assyrian Interpretation of the Names of Early Babylonian Kings

    Assyrian Kings List

    Azimua Quotes

    B

    Babylonian Creation Story

    Babylonian Dynastic Tablets

    Babylonian Law Suit Relating to a Jew

    Balbale To Bau For Shu-Suen A

    Balbale To Enki For Ishme-Dagan E *

    Balbale To Enlil For Ur-Namma G

    Balbales To Inanna A,?

    Balbale to Inanna & Nanaya H

    Balbales Of Inanna For Shu-Suen B,C *

    Balbales To Inanna & Dumuzid A,B,C,D,E,F,G,O,P,E1 *

    Balbales To Nanna (Nannar) B,C,D

    Balbale to Nanshe B

    Balbales To Ningishzidda A,B *

    Balbale of Ninazu A

    Balbale To Ninurta F

    Balbale to Shara A

    Battles Of Horus ***

    Bau Overview ***

    Bau Quotes ***

    Bau Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Bau’s Temple (residence In Iri-kug) Hymn

    Beer of Heliopolis

    Before All Befores ***

    Black Pig **

    Brick Inscription To Enlil For Ashur-etel-ilani 4

    Building of Ningirsu’s (Ninurta’s) Temple (Ninurta’s Residence In Lagash) ***

    C

    Cakkan Quotes

    Cattle & Grain (Partial)

    Cedar

    Chronicle of Arik-den-ili

    Chronicle of Assur-res-isi

    Chronicle of Early Kings

    Chronicle of the Market Prices

    Chronicle P

    Chronicle of Tiglath-pileser I

    Chronicle of Tukulti-Ninurta I

    Chronographic Document Concerning Nabonidus

    Cir-namgala To Mec-lamta-ea (Nergal) & Lugal-Era For Ibbi-Suen B

    Code of Hammurabi

    Collection of Mesopotamian Laws 2250-550 B.C.

    Complete Mesopotamian Kings List

    Contracts During Reign of Cyrus The Great

    Contracts During Reign of Darius I

    Contracts Under Nebuchadnezzar II

    Contracts During Samsu-iluna’s Reign

    Contract For Loan of Money

    Contract for Marriage

    Contract Sale of a Crop

    Courtship Of Inanna & Dumuzi *

    Creation Account From Assur

    Creation Of The Pickax

    Cul-pa-ed Quotes

    Cursing Of Agade *

    Cuthaean Creation Story

    Cyrus Cylinder Text

    Cyrus Decree for the Return of the Jews

    D

    Damu Quotes

    Death Of Dumuzi

    Death Of Gilgamesh *

    Death of Ur-Namma

    Debate Between Bird & Fish

    Debate Between Sheep & Grain **

    Debate Between Silver & Copper

    Debate Between The Hoe & The Plow **

    Debate Between Winter & Summer *

    Dedication Of An Axe To Nergal

    Dedication of 3 Babylonians to Divine Service

    Dedication To Shamash (Utu) For Nabopolassar 13

    Dedication of a Statue by Ishme-Dagan

    Dedicatory Inscription on the Ishtar Gate

    Descent of Inanna *

    Descent Of Ishtar *

    Descent Of Ishtar Into The Underworld

    Dialogue of Pessimism

    Drinking Song

    Dumuzi Overview ***

    Dumuzi Quotes ***

    Dumuzi Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Dumuzid & Geshtinanna *

    Dumuzid & Enkimdu

    Dumuzid & His Sisters

    Dumuzi’s Temple (Residence In Bad-tibera) Hymn

    Dumuzi’s Wedding

    Dumuzid’s Dream

    Dynastic Tablets From Babylon

    E

    Eannatum the conqueror

    Eannatum Quote From Sitchin Book

    Early Years of Nabopolassar

    Early Years of Nebuchadnezzar II

    E-kur Temple (Enlil’s Residence) Hymn

    Elegy on the Death of Nanaya

    Elixir of the gods Quotes

    Eclectic Chronicle

    Emerald Tablets of Thoth (Ningishzidda)

    Enheduanna’s Evidence

    Enheduanna Hymns To Inanna C,1-16

    Enheduanna Information

    Enki & Ereshkigal *

    Enki & Ninhursag (Version 1) **

    Enki & Ninhursaga (Version 2) *

    Enki & Ninmah (Ninhursag) ***

    Enki & The World Order (Version 1) ***

    Enki & The World Order (Version 2) ***

    Enki’s Journey to Nibru **

    Enki Overview ***

    Enki Qoutes ***

    Enki Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Enki Builds the E-Engurra

    Enki’s Temple (Residence in Eridu) Hymn)

    Enlil & Nam-zid-tara

    Enlil & Ninlil (A, B) **

    Enlil & Ninlil’s Temple (Residence) Hymn 2

    Enlil & Sud (Ninlil) *

    Enlil In E-kur

    Enlil Overview ***

    Enlil Quotes From Texts ***

    Enlil Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Enlil Temple Hymn

    Enlil-nirari Chronicle

    Enmerkar & En-suhgir-ana **

    Enmerkar & The Lord Of Aratta ***

    Enmerkar Quotes

    Enmerkar Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Enshakushanna Quote

    Enshag Quotes

    Enuma Elish (Version 1) *

    Enuma Elish (Version 2) **

    Enuma Elish (When On High, Version 3)

    Epic of Atra-Hasis (Version 1) **

    Epic of Atra-Hasis (Version 2) ***

    Epic of Gilgamesh (Version 1) ***

    Epic Of Gilgamesh ( Version 2) ***

    Epic Of Ishtar & Izdubar

    Erechites Lament

    Ereshkigal’s Choice

    Ereshkigal Overview ***

    Ereshkigal Quotes ***

    Ereshkigal Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Eridu Genesis ***

    Eridu Quotes

    Erra (Nergal) & Ishum (Ninurta) ***

    Esarhaddon & Elam the Enemy

    Esarhaddon & Enlil’s E-kur 131, 132

    Esarhaddon Chronicle

    Esarhaddon Inscriptions

    Esarhaddon Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Etana & The Goddess ***

    Etana Quote

    Exaltation Of Inanna B *

    Excerpt From a Praise Poem of Rim-Sin

    Exerpt Of A Royal Praise Poem (Partial Text)

    Exploits of Ninurta (Lugal-E) **

    Farmers Instruction

    Farmers Almanac

    G

    George Washington’s Vision At Valley Forge

    Geshtinana Quotes

    Geshtinana Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Geshtinana Temple Hymn

    Giants Quotes

    Gibil Overview **

    Gibil Quotes **

    Gibil Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Gilgamesh & Aga *

    Gilgamesh & Hawawa (Version A) **

    Gilgamesh & Huwawa (Version B) *

    Gilgamesh & The Bull Of Heaven

    Gilgamesh, Enkidu, & The Nether World

    Giving Of The Sacred Measures *

    Gold Theft Chronicle

    Gudea Quotes From Sitchin Books

    H

    Haia Quotes

    Hammurabi Builds Inanna’s Temple (Residence In Zabala)

    Hammurabi Law Code

    Hammurabi Quotes

    He Who Saw Everything

    Hendursaga Quotes

    Herds of Nanna (Nannar) F *

    Heron & The Turtle (Enki)

    History Of The Tummal

    Home Of The Fish

    Horus Quotes ***

    Horus Quotes From Sitchin Books

    How Grain Came To Sumer ***

    Huluppa Tree **

    Hymn To Asarluhi (Marduk) A

    Hymn To Bau’s Beneficent Protective Goddess A

    Hymns To Enki For Ishme-Dagan x+1

    Hymns To Enlil For Samsu-iluna F & H

    Hymn to Haia for Rim-Sin *

    Hymn To Hendursaga A **

    Hymns To Inanna C,F,? *

    Hymn To Inanna & Ninegala D *

    Hymn To Inanna For Hammurabi F

    Hymn To Inanna For Ur-Ninurta A ***

    Hymn To Ishkur (Adad) For Ur-Ninurta F *

    Hymn To Ishtar (Inanna) For Ammiditana

    Hymn To Kusu *

    Hymn To Marduk For A King

    Hymn To Marduk For Abi-Eshuh A

    Hymn to Martu

    Hymns To Nanna (Nannar) E,G,M,N, Etc. *

    Hymn To Nanna (Nannar) For Gungunum B

    Hymn To Nanna (Nannar) For Shulgi O

    Hymn to Nanshe A **

    Hymn To Nergal

    Hymn To Nibru & Ishme-Dagan W *

    Hymn To Ningishzidda C

    Hymn To Nininsina (Bau) For Ishbe-Erra D

    Hymn To Nininsina D

    Hymn to Ninkasi

    Hymn to Ninshubur B

    Hymns To Ninurta C+1

    Hymns to Nisaba A

    Hymn To Nungal (Bau) *

    Hymn To Numushda For Sin-iqisham A *

    Hymn to Sadarnuna A

    Hymn To Shul-pa-ed (Cul-pa-ed) A *

    Hymn to Shu-Suen

    Hymn To Suen For Ibbi-Suen E

    Hymn To The Sky-God Enlil *

    Hymn to Ur-Namma I

    Hymn To Utu B *

    I

    Ibbi-Suen Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Ig-alim Quotes

    Inanna & Bililu

    Inanna & Ebih

    Inanna & Enki **

    Inanna & Gudam

    Inanna & Iddin-Dagan A *

    Inanna & Ishme-Dagan K ***

    Inanna & Lipit-Eshtar H ***

    Inanna & Shu-kale-tuda *

    Inanna’s Descent Into The Nether World *

    Inanna Overview ***

    Inanna Quotes ***

    Inanna Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Inanna Seizes The E-ana **

    Inanna’s Spouse Kings Quotes ***

    Inanna’s Temple (Residences In Uruk, Zabala, Ulmas) Hymns

    Incantation of Ningirim

    Inscriptions of Ashurbanipal

    Inscriptions of Dungi (Shulgi) King of Ur

    Inscriptions of Gudea *

    Inscription On The Obelisk Of Shalmaneser III B

    Inscriptions To Ishtar (Inanna) For Esarhaddon 137-139

    Inscriptions Of Nam-maghani

    Inscriptions of Nebuchadnezzar II

    Inscriptions To Ningal For Ashurbanipal 2014, 2015

    Inscription of Shalmaneser III on the Gates of Balawat

    Inscriptions To Sin (Nannar) For Ashurbanipal 2003-2013, 2016

    Inscription of Sin-Gashid

    Inscription Of Tiglath-pileser I ***

    Inscription of Umma & Lagash

    Inscriptions of Ur-Bau *

    Inscription of Ur-Nina

    Inscriptions Of Ur-Ningirsu

    Inscriptions of Urukagina

    Instructions of Shuruppak *

    Invocations To The Goddess Beltis *

    Ishbi-Erra & Kindattu B

    Ishkur (Adad) Temole Residences In Karkara, Agade) Hymns

    Ishme-Dagan & Enlil’s Chariot I *

    Ishtar & Izdubar

    Isimud Quotes

    Isimud Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Istaran’s (NInurta) Temple (Residence In Der) Hymn

    Itti-Marduk-balatu I Inscription

    J

    Journey of Nanna (Nannar) To Nibru (Nippur) **

    K

    Kakka Quotes

    Kings of Persia

    Kish Kings List

    Kish Temples (Residences) Hymn *

    Kish Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Kungars To Inanna & Dumuzid I,T

    Kusu Quotes

    L

    Lagash Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Lagash Rulers Version B

    Lament for Eridu

    Lament For Nippur **

    Lament for Sumer & Urim (Ur)

    Lament Of Urim (Ur) ***

    Lament for Unug (Uruk)

    Lamentation for the Destruction of Ur

    Larsa Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Legend of Sargon ***

    Letter From ? To The God Nannar

    Letter From Gudea to His God

    Letter From Ibbi-Suen to ishbi-Erra

    Letter From Ibbi-Suen to Puzur-Shulgi

    Letter From Iddin-Dagan

    Letter From Ishbi-Erra to Ibbi-Suen

    Letter From Inanaka To The Goddess Nintugana *

    Letter From Kug-Nanna to Ninshubur

    Letters From Lipit-Ishtar

    Letter From Nanna-kiang to Lipit-Ishtar

    Letter From Nana-manshum To Nininsina

    Letter Fom Puzur-Shulgi to Ibbi-Suen

    Letters From Shulgi

    Letters to Shulgi

    Letter From Sin-iddinam For The God Utu

    Letter From Ur-sag to a King

    List of Kings & Cities From Before the Flood

    Literary & Religious Speech

    Love Letters From Shulgi

    Love Lyrics of Nabu & Tashmetum

    Love Song of Shu-Suen

    Love Songs of Shulg Zi

    Lugalbanda & The Anzud Bird

    Lugalbanda In The Mountain Cave

    Lugalbanda Quotes

    Lugalbanda Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Lugalkiginedudu Quotes

    Lullaby for a Son of Shulgi

    M

    Man & His God

    Marduk’s Ordeal (Imprisonment) **

    Marduk Overview ***

    Marduk Quotes ***

    Marduk Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Marduk’s Return By Nebuchadnezzarr I (9) *

    Marduk-apla-iddina II Inscriptions

    Marduk-nadin-ahhe I Dedication Inscriptions To Nannar

    Marduk-nadin-ahhe I Stele Inscriptions

    Marduk-zakir-shumi I Inscriptions

    Marriage of Martu

    Martu Quotes

    Meshkiaggasher Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Monolith Inscription Of Shalmaneser III C **

    Myth Of Anzu

    Myth Of Etana ***

    N

    Nabonidus Chronicle

    Nabonidus Cylinder

    Nabopolassar Inscriptions

    Nabonidus Cylinder **

    Nabu Overview ***

    Nabu Quotes ***

    Nabu Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Nabu-nasir Inscriptions

    Nabu-suma-iskun I Text Version A

    Nabu-suma-iskun I Text Version B

    Nabu-suma-ukin II Text

    Name of Ra (Marduk)

    Namerima (To Bau) For Iddin-Dagan D *

    Namtar Quotes

    Nanaya Quotes

    Nannar & Ningal ***

    Nannar Overview ***

    Nannar Quotes ***

    Nannar Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Nannar Temple (Residences In Ur & Gaes) Hymns

    Nanshe & the Birds C

    Nanshe Quotes

    Nanshe’s Temple Hymn

    Naram-Suen Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Nebuchadnesser II & Marduk

    Nebuchadnezzar I Inscriptions

    Nebuchadnezzar I Kudurru Stone

    Nebuchadnezzar I Message to Babylon From Elam *

    Nebuchadnezzar II’s Dedication Inscription on the Ishtar Gate

    Nebuchadnezzar II to the Babylonians

    Nergal Overview ***

    Nergal Quotes ***

    Nergal Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Nergal & Ereshkigal **

    Nergal’s Temple (Residence In Gudua) Hymn

    Neriglissar Chronicle

    Nibiru Kings List

    Nina Quotes

    Ninazu Quotes

    Ninazu’s Temple Hymn

    Nindara Quotes

    Ningikuga Quotes

    Ningirim Temple Hymn

    Ningishzidda’s Journey To The Nether World

    Ningishzidda Overview ***

    Ningishzidda Quotes ***

    Ningishzidda Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Ningishzidda’s Temple (Residence in Gisbanda) Hymn

    Ninhursag Overview ***

    Ninhursag Quotes ***

    Ninhursag Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Ninhursag’s Temple (House in Kish) Temple Hymn

    Ninhursag Temple (Residences) Hymns

    Ninimma Quotes

    Nininsina & The Gods F *

    Nininsina’s (Bau) Journey to Nibru

    Nininsina’s Temple (Residence In Isin) Hymn

    Ninkasi Quotes

    Ninkurra Quotes

    Ninlil’s Descent (Version 2) ***

    Ninmarki Quotes

    NInmarki’s Temple Hymn

    Nin-me-sara

    Ninsar Quotes

    Ninshubur Quotes

    Ninshubur’s Temple Hymn

    Ninsikila Quotes

    Ninsun Overview ***

    Niinsun Quotes ***

    Ninsutu Quotes

    Ninti Quotes

    Nintinuga’s Dog

    Nintulla Quote

    Ninurta & The Turtle (Enki)

    Ninurta’s Journey To Eridug (Eridu) B *

    Ninurta Overview ***

    Ninurta Quotes ***

    Ninurta Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Ninurta’s Temple (Residence In Lagash) Hymn

    Ninurta’s Temple (Residence In Nippur) Hymn

    Nintinuga’s (Bau’s) Dog *

    Nippur Quotes From Texts & Sitchin Books

    Nisaba Quotes

    Nisaba’s Temple Hymn

    Nuska Quotes

    Nuska’s Temple Hymn

    O

    Offering To Nabu For Nabu-mukin-apli

    P

    Pabilsaj’s (Ninurta) Journey To Nibru (Nippur) A *

    Papsukal Quotes

    Persians Reject Democracy, Darius I Becomes King

    Phoenician Letters

    Poem Of The Righteous Sufferer

    Praise of Ashurbanipal

    Praise To Aya For Nabopolassar 14

    Praise of Enlil For Esarhaddon 130

    Praise of Gudea

    Praise To Marduk For Esarhaddon 104 **

    Praise To Marduk For Esarhaddon 109

    Praise Of Marduk For Nebuchadnezzar I (8) *

    Praise of Marduk for Samas-suma-ukin

    Praise To Nabu For Adad-apla-iddina 5

    Praise To Nabu For Ashurbanipal

    Praise Of Nabu For Neriglissar 8

    Praise Of Nabu For Samas-suma-ukin 5

    Praise Of Utu For Nebuchadnezzar I (10) *

    Praise Of Shamash (Utu) For Neriglissar 7 *

    Praise To Ningirsu (Ninurta)

    Praise of Urukigina

    Praise Poem of Anam

    Praise Poem Of Enlil-bani *

    Praise Poems of Hammurabi *

    Praise Poem of Iddin-Dagan **

    Praise Poems of Lipit-Ishtar

    Praise Poem of Abi-Eshuh

    Praise Poems of Shulgi ***

    Praise Poem of Sin-iddinam A

    Praise Poems of Ur-Namma C & H ***

    Prayer For Rim-Sin Entering The Gate D

    Prayers To An (Anu) For Rim-Sin C+1

    Prayer To Adad For Nebuchadnezzar I (1)

    Prayer To Ea (Enki) For Ashurbanipal

    Prayer To Enlil For Ashurbanipal 16

    Prayer To Enlil For Esarhaddon 129 *

    Prayer To Enlil For Rim-Sin A

    Prayer To Enlil For Simbar-Sipak

    Prayer To Gula For Esarhaddon 127

    Prayer To Innini (Inanna) For Esarhaddon 128 *

    Prayer To Ishtar (Inanna) For Ashurbanipal 15 *

    Prayer To Ishtar For Ashurbanipal 20

    Prayer To Ishtar For Ashurbanipal & Brother Samas-suma-ukin 3

    Prayer To Ishtar For Esarhaddon 133 **

    Prayer To Ishtar ( Inanna) For Esarhaddon 134

    Prayer To Ishtar For Samas-suma-ukin 2001 *

    Prayers To Ishtar (Inanna) For Sargon II (03-06)

    Prayer To Marduk For Ashur-etel Ilani 1

    Prayer To Marduk For Ashur-etel-ilani 2

    Prayer To Marduk (For Tomb Protection) By Ashur-etel Ilani 5

    Prayer To Marduk For Ashurbanipal 01

    Prayer To Marduk For Ashurbanipal 05

    Prayer To Marduk For Bel-ibni *

    Prayer To Marduk For Esarhaddon 106 *

    Prayer To Marduk For Esarhaddon 107

    Prayer To Marduk For Esarhaddon 108

    Prayer To Marduk For Esarhaddon 110

    Prayer To Marduk For Esarhaddon 111

    Prayer To Marduk For Hammurabi B

    Prayer To Marduk For Nabopolassar 4 **

    Prayer To Marduk For Nabopolassar 5 ***

    Prayer To Marduk For Neriglisser 01 *

    Prayer To Marduk For Neriglissar 03

    Prayers To Marduk For Sargon II (01, 02)

    Prayer To Nabu For Ashurbanipal 12 *

    Prayer To Nabu For Ashurbanipal 13

    Prayer To Nabu For Esarhaddon 113 **

    Prayer To Nabu For Samas-suma-ukin 03

    Prayer To Nabu For Samas-suma-ukin 04 *

    Prayer to Nanaya for Esarhaddon 135 **

    Prayer to Nanaya for Esarhaddon 136

    Prayers To Nanna For Rim-Sin G,F

    Prayers of Nebuchadnezzar I

    Prayer To Nergal For Ashurbanipal 22

    Prayer to Ninmah (Ninhursag) For Ashurbanipal 4

    Prayers To Sin For Ashurbanipal 2001, 2002

    Prayer To Shamash (Utu) For Ashurbanipal A **

    Prayer To Shamash For Ashurbanipal 14 *

    Prayer To Shamash For Neriglissar 6 *

    Prayers to Samas (Shamash) for Samas-suma-ukin

    Prayers for Samsu-iluna

    Prayer to Urash for Assur-etel-ilani

    Priestess (Shamhat) & Enkidu

    Proverbs of Nippur

    Proverbs From Urim (Ur)

    Proverbs From Unug (Uruk)

    Q

    Queen Tomyris of the Massagetai and the Defeat of the Persians Under Cyrus

    R

    Rape of Sud (Ninlil) By Enlil (Version 1) **

    Religious Chronicle

    Return Of Inanna *

    Return Of Ninurta To Nibru (Nippur) *

    Rimish Quote

    Royal Annals Of Tiglath-Pileser I

    Royal Chronicle of Lagash

    Royal Inscription of Assur-nasir-pal II

    Royal Inscription of Gishakidu

    Royal Inscription of Naram-Sin

    Royal Inscription of Sargon II

    Royal Inscription of Shar-kali-sharri

    Royal Praise Poem

    Rulers of Lagash

    Sadarnunna Quotes

    Samas-suma-ukin Chronicle of Reigns

    Samsu-iluna & Inanna A *

    Sargon & Ur-Zababa *

    Sargon Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Sargon Royal Inscription, Neo Sumerian & Old Babylonian

    Self Praise of Esarhaddon 114

    Self Praise of Esarhaddon 116

    Self Praises of Ishme-Dagan ***

    Self Praise of Nabopolassar 3 *

    Self Praise of Nabopolassar 6 *

    Self Praise of Neriglissar *

    Self Praise Poems of Lipit-Ishtar

    Sennacherib Quotes

    Seth Overview ***

    Seth Quotes From Sitchin Books ***

    Seven Evil Spirits ***

    Shala Quotes

    Shara Quotes

    Shara’s Temple Hymn

    She Has Never Given Birth

    Shir-gida To Nininsina A ***

    Shir-gida of Ninshubur

    Shir-gida To Ninurta A *

    Shir-gidas to Nuska A & B

    Shir-namgala To Nininsina For Lipit-Ishtar E

    Shir-namshubs To Inanna G,I *

    Shir-namshub To Nannar For Ur-Namma E,F **

    Shir-namshub To Nannar K & Shir-namgala To Nanna L *

    Shir-namshubs To Nininsina B, C

    Shir-namshub To Ninurta G

    Shir-namshub to Nisaba B

    Shir-namshubs To Utu E,F

    Shu-Sin Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Shulgi & Ninlil’s Barge

    Shulgi Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Shumunda Grass

    Shuruppak Quotes

    Sin-iddinam & Ishkur (Adad) E *

    Sir-gag-hula To Damgalnuna (Ninki) A

    Sir-gida to Martu

    Sir-sag-hula to Damgalnuna

    Skyships Quotes

    Song Of Inanna & Dumuzid B1 *

    Songs Of Inanna & Dumuzid J,L,R,V,W,Y,Z, B1, C1, D1, F1, M

    Song of Inanna For Ishme-Dagan J

    Song Of Ningishzidda D

    Song to Ninimma

    Song Of Praise To Nanna (Nannar) As The Shepherd Of The Land *

    Song Of The Hoe **

    Song Of The Plowing Oxen

    Sumerian Great Flood ***

    Sumerian Kings List

    Sun God (Utu) Tablet (King Nabu-apli-iddina) *

    Supplications To The God Marduk For Nebuchadnasser I (5) *

    Suziana Quotes

    Suziana’s Temple Hymn

    Symchronistic Chronicle

    Synchronous History of Assyria & Babylon

    T

    Tablet Of Adapa (Adam) ***

    Tablet Inscriptions of Dungi (Shulgi)

    Temple Hymn For Lugal-Marda(‘s Residence In Marda)

    Third Year of Nerriglissar II

    Thoth Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Tigi To Bau For Gudea A *

    Tigi To Enki For Ur-Ninurta B

    Tigi To Enlil For Ur-Namma B **

    Tigi To Inanna E

    Tigi To Inanna & Dumuzid H

    Tigi To Nanaya For Ishbe-Erra C *

    Tigi To Nergal C

    Tigi To Suen (Nannar) I *

    Tigi To Suen For Ibbi-Suen D

    Tigi To Ninlil / Shulgi & Ninlil’s Barge R **

    Tigi To Nintud (Ninhursag,Kingship Begins) *

    Tigi To Ninurta D

    Tigi To Ninurta For Shulgi T

    Tigi To Ninurta For Shu-Suen D *

    Tiglath-pileser I Chronicle

    Timeline of the Gods by Sitchin

    Tower of Babel Stele

    Tukulti-Ninurta I Chronicle

    Tummal (Ninlil’s Residence) Chronicle

    U

    Ubara-Tutu Quotes

    Ululumama To Nannar J

    Ululumama To Suen For Ibbi-Suen D

    Ur Kings Chronicle

    Ur Quotes

    Ur Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Ur-Bau Quotes

    Ur-Isin Kings List

    Ur-Namma the Canal Digger D

    Ur-Namma Law Code

    Ur-Namma Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Uruk Quotes

    Uruk Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Utu Overview ***

    Utu Quotes

    Utu Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Utu’s Temple (Residences In Larsa, Sippar, Kiabrig, Kazulla) Hymns *

    Utu-hegal Quotes From Sitchin Books

    Uttu Quotes

    V

    Victory of Utu-hegal

    Votive Inscription Of Ashur-nasir-pal II

    W

    Walker Chronicle

    Weidner Chronicle *

    Worm & The Toothache

    X

    Xerxes Invades Greece

    Z

    Zababa Quotes

    Zababa’s Temple Hymn

    Ziusudra Quotes

    8-Pointed Star Quotes