Author Archives: nibirudb

THE BEER OF HELIOPOLIS

Published: Léfébure, Tombeau de Sety Ie, pt. iii, pls. 15-18 (Annales du Musée Guimet, ix).

Translated: Wiedemann, Religion of the Ancient Egyptians, p. 62. (For a description of the tomb of Sety I see the Notes on Legend xi).

(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)

 

This story is sculptured on the walls of a side-chamber off one of the inner halls of the tomb of Sety I (room xii of the guide-books). On one of the walls is a representation of a cow standing under the star-sprinkled vault of heaven

This is Nut, the sky-goddess; she is raised on the uplifted hands of the god Shu, and each leg is supported by two gods; planets, and Boats of the Sun travel across her body. The connection between this representation and the legend is quite uncertain.

The tale occurs only in this one place, but every excavator hopes that he may one day find a tomb with a complete copy of the story sculptured on the walls.

7 - Egyptian Ra - Babylonian Marduk

Now the Majesty of Ra (Marduk) reigned over the Two Lands.

He was the second king of Egypt, and in his reign peace was on earth,

and harvests were so plentiful that to this day men speak of the good things

which “happened in the time of Ra.”

By his own power he created himself, and he created heaven and earth,

gods and men, and he ruled over them all.

For hundreds and hundreds of years he ruled until he waxed old,

and men no longer feared him, but laughed and said,

“Look at Ra! He is old, his bones are like silver, his flesh like gold,

and his hair like true lapis lazuli (blue-hued gem stone).”

2a - Marduk, Enki's 1st son, god of Babylon

Then Ra was wroth when he heard their jests and their laughter,

and he called to those who were in his train,

“Summon hither my daughter, the apple of my eye,

and summon also the gods Shu and Tefnut, Geb and Nut,

and the great god Nun, whose dwelling is in the waters of the sky.

Do my bidding secretly lest men shouldhear you and see you,

for then would they be afraid and hide themselves.”

In secret went the messengers,

very softly they came to summon the gods and goddesses.

Secretly and softly came the gods and goddesses

to the Mansion of Ra in the Hidden Place.

Naught did men see or hear; and they laughed again at Ra,

not knowing the punishment that should fall upon them.

On each side of the throne came the gods and goddesses,

and they bowed before the Majesty of Ra with their foreheads to the ground,

saying, “Speak that we may hear.”

Then said Ra to Nun, the great god whose dwelling is in the waters of the sky,

“O eldest of the gods and all ye ancestor-gods!

Behold the men whom I have created, how they speak against me.

Tell me what ye would that I should do to them,

for verily I will not slay them till I have heard your words.”

And Nun, the great god whose dwelling is in the waters of the sky, made answer,

“My son Ra, greatest of gods, mightiest of kings, thy throne is set fast,

and thy fear will be upon all the world when thou sendest out thy daughter,

the apple of thine eye, against those who attack thee.”

The Majesty of Ra spoke again,

“Lo, they will flee to the deserts and the mountains and hide themselves,

if fear falls upon their heartson account of their jests and laughter;

and in the deserts and mountains none can find them.”

Then said the gods and goddesses,

bowing before him with their foreheads on the ground,

“Send forth thy daughter, the apple of thine eye, against them.”

And at once there came the daughter of Ra.

Sekhmet is she called, and Hathor (Ninhursag), fiercest of the goddesses;

like a lion she rushes on her prey, slaughter is her delight,

and her pleasure is in blood.

At her father’s bidding she entered the Two Lands to slay those

who had rebelled against the Majesty of Ra,

and had turned their rebellion to jest and laughter.

In the land of Ta-mery she killed them, and on the mountains

which lie to the east and west of the great river.

To and fro she hastened, slaying all who crossed her path,

and before her fled the rebels against Ra.

And Ra looked forth upon the earth and cried to his daughter,

2aa - temple of Hathor - Ninhursag

the apple of his eye, “Come in peace, O Hathor (Ninhursag)!

Hast thou done that which I gave thee to do?”

And Hathor laughed as she answered,

and her laugh was the terrible voice of the lioness as she tears her prey.

“By thy life, O Ra,” she cried, “I work my will upon men, and my heart rejoices.”

For many nights the river ran red, and the goddess waded in the blood of men,

and her feetwere red as she strode through the land of Egypt as far as Henen-seten.

Then Ra looked forth upon the earth again,

and his heart was filled with pity for men, though they had rebelled against him.

But none could stop the ruthless goddess, not even the Majesty of Ra himself;

of herself must she cease to slay, for neither gods nor men could compel her.

By subtlety alone could this be accomplished.

Ra gave command, saying,

“Call hither to me messengers who are swift as the blast of the storm wind.”

And when they were brought, he said,

“Run to Elephantine, hasten, go quickly,

and bring back to me the fruit that causes sleep.

Be swift, be swift, for all this must be accomplished ere the day dawn.”

The messengers hastened,

and their speed was the speed of a blast of the storm-wind.

They came to Elephantine,

where the great river rages among the rocks that bar its passage;

they took the fruit that causes sleep,

and with the fleetness of the wind they brought it to Ra.

Crimson and scarlet was the fruit, and its juice was the color of man’s blood;

and the messengers carried to it Heliopolis, the city of Ra.

Then the women of Heliopolis crushed barley and made beer,

and with the beer they mixed the juice of the fruit that causes sleep,

and the beer became the color of blood.

Seven thousand measures of beer did they make,

and in hastethey brewed it, for the night was drawing to a close

and the day was about to break.

In haste came the Majesty of Ra, and all the gods and goddesses,

who were with him, to Heliopolis to inspect the beer.

Ra saw that it was like human blood, and he said,

“Very good is this beer. By this I can protect mankind.”

At the dawning of the day, he gave command,

“Carry this beer to the place where men and women have been slain,

and pour it out upon the fields before the beauty of the night has passed.”

So they poured it out upon the fields.

Four palms deep it lay upon the ground, and its color was the color of blood.

In the morning came the fierce Sekhmet, ready to slay,

and as she passed by she looked to this side and that, watching for her prey.

But no living thing did she see,

only the fields that lay four palms deep in the beer that was the color of blood.

Then she laughed with the laugh like the roar of a lioness,

for she thought it was the blood she had shed. And she stooped and drank.

Again and again she drank, and she laughed the more,

for the juice of the fruit that causes sleep mounted to her brain,

and no longer could she see to slay by reason of the juice of that fruit.

Then the Majesty of Ra said to her, “Come in peace, O sweet one.”

And to this day the maidens of Amu are called “Sweet Ones ” in remembrance.

And the Majesty of Ra spoke again to the goddess, saying,

“For thee shall be prepared drinks from the fruits that cause sleep;

every year shall these be made at the great Festival of the New Year,

and the number of them shall be according

to the number of the priestesses who serve me.”

6cc - Ninhursag

And to this day, on the festival of Hathor (Ninhursag),

drinks are made of the fruits that cause sleep,

according to the number of the priestesses of Ra,

in remembrance of the protection of mankind from the fury of the goddess.

The Nabonidus Chronicle Cyrus Takes Babylon:

http://fontes.lstc.edu/~rklein/Documents/chronnab.htm

(This translation was made by A. Leo Oppenheim and is copied from James B. Pritchard’s Ancient Near Eastern texts relating to the Old Testament, 1950 Princeton. Some minor changes have been made, based on the new edition by A.K. Grayson.)

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.

 

Chronicle of Nabonidus

The Chronicle of Nabonidus (scholarly edition) tells us the story of the rule of the last king of independent Babylonia. The text is badly damaged and contains many lacunas. However, it makes clear that the rise of Cyrus was not unexpected. We meet him for the first time in Nabonidus‘ sixth year (=550 BCE), when he defeats the Median leader Astyages. A second reference can be found in year nine, when he defeats the king of a country that can not be identified (547 BCE).

In addition, we learn that Nabonidus was not in Babylon for ten years. Instead, he seems to have tried to subject Arabia. In year three he conquered the kingdom Edom, which controls the direct road from Babylon to the Gulf of Aqaba. From year seven until year sixteen, Nabonidus stayed in the oasis of Temâ in the Arabian desert, from where he could easily go as far south as the oasis Iatribu (modern Medina).

The events of year seventeen look rather desperate: although the New Year’s festival (Akitu) can now be celebrated, several divine guests fail to attend, which suggests that their home towns were under siege. We also learn about a short invasion by soldiers from the Sea Land.

Throughout this text, ‘Akkad‘ means Babylonia; the first years show Babylonian military activity in Syria and the southeast of modern Turkey.

(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…)

[First line destroyed]
Accession year (556/555 BCE):

… he lifted.

The king brought their [lacuna] to Babylon.

First year (555/554):

They did [unintelligible] and he did not lift his [lacuna].

All their families [lacuna].

The king called up his army and marched against the country Hume

[i.e., Cilicia].

[lacuna]

Second year (554/553): In the month Tebêtu, in the country of Hamath,

it was cold.

[lacuna]

Third year (553/552): In the month of Âbu, to the Ammananum [in Cilicia], the mountains of [many?] fruit trees.

All kinds of fruits he sent to Babylon.

The king fell sick, but he recovered.

In the month Kislîmu, the king called up his army, [he sent?] to Nabû Bel-Dan of Amurru, and marched to [lacuna].

Against the capital of Edom they pitched camp [lacuna] the gateway of Šintini [lacuna] he killed [lacuna] troops.

Fourth year (552/551): [lacuna]

Fifth year (551/550): [lacuna]

Sixth year (550/549):

King Astyages [litt: Ištumegu] called up his troops and marched against Cyrus [Kuraš], king of Anšan,

in order to meet him in battle.

The army of Astyages revolted against him and in fetters they delivered him to Cyrus.

Cyrus marched against the country Agamtanu [the Median capital Ecbatana]; the royal residence he seized;

silver, gold, other valuables of the country Agamtanu he took as booty and brought to Anšan.

The valuables of the army of [lacuna]

Seventh year (549/548):

The king stayed in Temâ; the crown prince, his officials and his army were in Akkad.

The king did not come to Babylon for the [New Year’s] ceremonies of the month of Nisannu;

2bb - god Nabu & US Army (life-sized statue of giant alien god Nabu, in our image & likeness)

the image of the god Nabû did not come to Babylon,

the image of the god Bêl (Marduk) did not go out of Esagila in procession,

the festival of the New Year was omitted.

But the offerings within the temples Esagila and Ezida were given according to the complete ritual;

the urigallu-priest made the libation and asperged the temple.

Eighth year (548/547): [blank]

Ninth year (547/546):

Nabonidus, the king stayed in Temâ; the crown prince, his officials and his army were in Akkad.

The king did not come to Babylon for the ceremony of the month of Nisannu;

the god Nabû (Marduk‘s son) did not come to Babylon,

2a - Marduk, Enki's 1st son, god of Babylon  (Marduk & animal symbol & spade / rocket symbol)

the god Bêl (Marduk) did not go out of Esagila in procession, the festival of the New Year was omitted.

But the offerings within the temples Esagila and Ezida

for the gods of Babylon and Borsippa were given according to the complete ritual.

In the month of Nisannu the fifth day, the mother of the king died in the Walled Camp,

which is on the banks of the Euphrates, above Sippar.

The crown prince and his army were in deep mourning for three days, an official weeping was performed.

In Akkad, an official weeping on behalf of the mother of the king was performed in the month of Simanu.

In the month of Nisannu, Cyrus, king of Persia, called up his army and crossed the Tigris below the town of Arbela.

In the month of Ajaru he marched against the country U[…], defeated its king,

took its possessions, put there a garrison of his own.

Afterwards, his garrison as well as the king remained there.

Tenth year (546/545):

The king stayed in Temâ; the crown prince, his officials and his army were in Akkad.

The king did not come to Babylon for the ceremonies of the month of Nisannu;

Nabû did not come to Babylon, Bêl did not go out of Esagila in procession, the festival of the New Year was omitted.

08-02-15/67 (Bel / Marduk & son Nabu the scribe)

But the offerings within the temples Esagila and Ezida for the gods of Babylon and Borsippa

were given according to the complete ritual.

In the month Simanu, the twenty-first day [lacuna] of the country of the Elamites in Akkad [lacuna]

The governor of Uruk [lacuna]

Eleventh year (545/544):

The king stayed in Temâ; the crown prince, his officials and his army were in Akkad.

The king did not come to Babylon for the ceremonies of the month of Nisannu;

            

                  (Esagila, Marduks ziggurat residence in Babylon;               Ezida, son Nabu’s ziggurat residence in Borsippa)

Nabû did not come to Babylon, Bêl did not go out of Esagila in procession, the festival of the New Year was omitted.

But the offerings within the temples Esagila and Ezida for the gods of Babylon and Borsippa

were given according to the complete ritual.

[large lacuna, containing years #12, #13, #14, #15]… the river.

              (Inanna; her ziggurat residence in Uruk)

In the month of Addaru the image of Ištar (Inanna) of Uruk [lacuna]

The army of the Persians made an attack.

Seventeenth year (539/538):

             (Marduk with son Nabu leading Babylonian king by the hand)

Nabû went from Borsippa for the procession of Bêl [lacuna]

The king entered the temple of Eturkalamma;in the temple he made a libation of wine.

Bêl went out in procession.

They performed the festival of the New Year according to the complete ritual [4 April].

In the month of [Âbu?] Lugal-Marada (NInurta’s son) and the other gods of the town Marad,

Zabada and the other gods of Kish, the goddess Ninlil and the other gods of Hursagkalama visited Babylon.

Till the end of the month Ulûlu all the gods of Akkadthose from above and those from belowentered Babylon.

               (Borsippa & Sippar ruins)

The gods of Borsippa, Cutha, and Sippar did not enter.

In the month of Tašrîtu, when Cyrus attacked the army of Akkad in Opis on the Tigris,

the inhabitants of Akkad revolted, but he [Cyrus] massacred the inhabitants.

The fifteenth day [12 October], Sippar was seized without battle.

Nabonidus fled.

The sixteenth day, Gobryas [litt: Ugbaru], the governor of Gutium, and the army of Cyrus entered Babylon without battle.

Afterwards, Nabonidus was arrested in Babylon when he returned there.

Till the end of the month, the shield carrying Gutians were staying within Esagila

but nobody carried arms in Esagila and its buildings.

The correct time for a ceremony was not missed.

In the month of Arahsamna, the third day [29 October],

Cyrus entered Babylon, [unidentified objects] were filled before him the state of peace was imposed upon the city.

Cyrus sent greetings to all Babylon.

Gobryas, his governor, installed subgovernors in Babylon.

From the month of Kislîmu to the month of Addaru,

the gods of Akkad which Nabonidus had made come down to Babylon, were returned to their sacred cities.

In the month of Arahsamna, on the night of the eleventh, Gobryas died [6 November].

In the month of Addaru, the [lacuna] day, the wife of the king died.

From the twenty-seventh day of Adarru till the third day of Nisannu

[20-26 March], an official weeping was performed in Akkad.

All the people went around with their hair disheveled.

When, the fourth day [27 March] Cambyses, son of Cyrus, went to the temple of [unintelligible],

the epa-priest of Nabû who [lacuna] the bull [lacuna]

They came and made the weaving by means of the handles

and when he led the image of Nabû [lacuna] spears and leather quivers,

from [lacuna] Nabû returned to Esagila, sheep offerings in front of Bêl and the god Mârbîti (unidentified?).

Akitu Chronicle (ABC 16)

http://www.livius.org

The Akitu Chronicle (ABC 16) is one of the historiographical texts from ancient Babylon. It deals with the war between the Babylonian king Šamaš-šuma-ukin and his brother Aššurbanipal, king of Assyria. Its name is derived from the fact that the author shows a special interest in the celebration of the Akitu festival.

The text of the Akitu Chronicle is preserved on a table, BM 86379 (original registration number unknown), which measures 45 mm wide and 62 mm long. It is well preserved, there being a small piece missing from the upper right-hand corner and a few surface flaws.

(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 kings in teal)

(Marduk & Nabu)


Translation

1 For eight years under Sennacherib,

2 for twelve years under Esarhaddon,

3 twenty years altogether, Bêl stayed in Baltil (Aššur)

4 and the Akitu festival did not take place.

5 The accession year of Šamaš-šuma-ukin [2] (668/667): In the month Ajaru

6 Bêl (Marduk) and the gods of Akkad went out from Baltil (Aššur) and

7 on the twenty-fourth [1] day of the month Ajaru, they entered Babylon.

8 Nabû and the gods of Borsippa went to Babylon.

——————————————

9 The sixteenth year of Šamaš-šuma-ukin (652/651): From the month Ajaru until the month Tebêtu

10 the major-domo conscripted troops in Akkad.

11 On the nineteenth day of the month Tebêtu hostilities began between Assyria and Akkad.

12 The king withdrew before the enemy into Babylon.

13 On the twenty-seventh day of Addaru the armies of Assyria and Akkad

14 did battle in Hiritu. The army of Akkad

15 retreated from the battlefield and a major defeat was inflicted upon it.

16 However, there were still hostilities and warfare continued.

——————————————

17 The seventeenth year (651/650): There were insurrections in Assyria and Akkad.

18 Nabû did not come from Borsippa for the precession of Bêl

19 and Bêl did not come out.

——————————————

20 The eighteenth year (650/649): Nabû did not come from Borsippa for the precession of Bêl

21 and Bêl did not come out.

——————————————

22 The nineteenth year (649/648): Nabû did not come and Bêl did not come out.

——————————————

23 The twentieth year (648/647): Nabû did not come and Bêl did not come out.

——————————————

24 After Kandalanu [2], in the accession year of Nabopolassar (626-625),[3]

25 there were insurrections in Assyria and Akkad.

26 There were hostilities and warfare continued.

27 Nabû did not come and Bêl(Marduk) did not come out. Nabû did not come and Bel did not come out.

Note 1:
Lines 1-8 are identical to ABC 14, lines 34-40, but the date is different.

Note 2:
King of Babylonia (647-627), possibly identical to Aššurbanipal.

Note 3:
In this year, two Assyrian officials named Sin-šumlišir and Sin-šar-iškun ruled Babylon. They were expelled by Nabopolassar.

Chronographic Document Concerning Nabonidus

Extracted from the website http://www.livius.org/cg-cm/chronicles/cm/nabonidus.html

The following chronographic document is a damaged part of what may have been a Babylonian chronicle from the Seleucid or Parthian age. It describes events from the second and third years of the reign of Nabonidus (556-539).

(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…)

Translation

[The second year of Nabonidus (554/553):] (…) “an entu-priestess […] heaven and earth […]

whom he asked me […] among the women of my country?”

“Yes.”

“Is she […], whom a god will beget?”

“Yes/No.”

“Is she […], whom a god will beget?”

“No.”

2a - Utu, Shamash, twin to Inanna (Utu / Shamash, son to Nannar, twin to Inanna)

“[…] Šamaš (Shamash / Utu) and Adad (Ishkur), the great gods?”

“Yes.”

2a - Nannar statue 2,000 B.C. (Nannar / Sin, son to Enlil, grandson to King Anu)

And then he wrote and […] Sin (Sin / Nannar) responded to him […].

(…)

His face became pale. […]

The scribes brought in front of him from Babylon the basket containing

the tablets of the series Enuma Anu Enlil in order to consult them,

but no one whatsoever heeded nor understood their content without his explanation.

             (Bau seated & guard dog on Nebuchadnezzar boundary stone, many symbols of gods)

A stela of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, son of Ninurta-nadin-scaron;umi,

on which appeared the representation of an entu-priestess

and were described the rites, rules, and ceremonies relating to her office,

was brought with other tablets from Ur to Babylon,

in ignorance of what Sin, lord of kings, wished in giving them to him.

He took a good look at the tablets and was afraid.

He was attentive to Sin’s commandment and […].

He dedicated, En-nigaldi-Nanna, his daughter, his child, to (Nannar) Sin, lord of the kings,

whose word is unchangeable, in the office of (Nannar’s mixed-breed) entu-priestess.

In the month of Ululu, […] of this same year,

2a - Sippar, Utu's Temple-Ziggourat  (Sippar ruins)

in the Ebabbar, the temple of Šamaš, which is in Sippar, and in which kings

among his predecessors had searched in vain for ancient foundation –

the ancient dwelling place […] of his kingship that would make his heart glad-

he revealed to him, to his humble servant who worshiped him,

who was constantly in search of his holy places, the sacred enclosure of Naram-Sin, Sargon’s son,

and, in this same year, in a propitious month, on a favorable day,

he laid the foundations of the Ebabbar, the temple of Šamaš,

above the sacred enclosure of Naram-Sin, Sargon’s (The Great) son,

without exceeding or shrinking a finger’s breadth.

He saw Naram-Sin’s inscription and, without changing its place,

restored it and appended his own inscription there.

He saw in this sacred enclosure a statue of Sargon, the father of Naram-Sin:

half of its head was missing, and it had deteriorated so as to make its face hardly recognizable.

Given his reverence for the gods and his respect for kingship,

he summoned expert artisans, restored the head of this statue, and put back its face.

He did not change its place but installed it in the Ebabbar and initiated an oblation for it.

2b - Utu (Utu with royal descendant animal horn crown, long beard, & familiar image)

For Šamaš, the great lord, his lord, he constructed this Ebabbar in joy and gladness.

He caused 6,000 strong cedar beams to be laid out for its ceiling.

He made this temple shine like the day and raised its topmost height like a high mountain.

For the entrance, he brought outstanding cedar doors,

bronze doorsteps, bolts, and sockets, and he finished his work.

In […] to Šamaš, the great lord, […], in the temple […],

in the month of […], on the Nth day, after the offerings,

he initiated an oblation according to the rite of his lord.

They let him dwell in the dwelling place that makes his heart glad.

A messenger arrived from Hatti land and repeated the information: “[…]”

The great gods […] heart’s content […] distant, the road through the mountain […] a road of death,

he donned his weapons against the people of Hatti.

In the month of Ajaru, the third year (553/552), he took the head of his troops at Babylon,

and, having mustered them, in thirteen days he reached […],

and he cut off the heads of the people who lived in Ammananum [i.e., Cilicia]

and their […] and he piled them up in a heap.

He hung the king on a stake and […] he allocated the town […] of a mountain,

Ammananum, which is situated in the middle of the mountains, orchards […],

their shadow […] he let Girra burn all of it […] whose tops were distant […]

he turned into ruins for all time […] entrance ways […] day, he left […].

(…)

[…] his […] he listened and […] and fell upon him […],

he spoke with him […], stretched his hand and […]

his rites […] with him […] battle array […] his troops […] he bore arms and toward […]

double hours, difficult roads, through territory full of difficulty, dwelling places,

the crossing of which is impossible and where no foot is set […] at the mention of his name […]

plants […] the king of Dadanu […] distant […] he wiped off and

Broken off and lost

Third Year of Neriglissar (ABC 6)

from A.K. Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles (1975) and Jean-Jacques Glassner, Mesopotamian Chronicles (Atlanta, 2004).

An Anatolian fort, on an Assyrian relief from Nimrod (Louvre)

The Chronicle Concerning Year Three of Neriglissar (ABC 6) is one of the historiographical texts from ancient Babylonia. It deals with king Neriglissar (= Nergal-šarra-usur) and his war in the far west in 557/556 BCE. Unlike other chronicles, this text is very rich in detail.

This chronicle, like Chronicles 2, 4, 9, and 15, is inscribed on a tablet, BM 25124 (98-2-16, 178), which has the shape of a Neo-Babylonian business tablet. It measures 58 mm wide and 46 mm long. There are only minor lacunae in the tablet.

Translation

1 The third year (557/556): on the Nth day of the month […], Appuašu, the king of Pirindu,

2 mustered a large army and set out[3] to plunder and sack

3 Syria. Neriglissar

4 mustered his army and marched to Hume [Cilicia] to oppose him.

5 Before his arrival Appuašu placed[7]

6 the army and cavalry which he had organized

7 in a mountain valley ambush.

8 When Neriglissar reached them he inflicted a defeat upon them

9 and conquered the large army. The army and numerous horses

10 he captured. He pursued[12] Appuašu

11 for a distance of fifteen double-hours and marched through difficult mountains, where men must walk in single file,

12 as far as Ura, the royal city.

13 He captured him, seized Ura, and sacked it.

14 [Erasure]

15-17 When he had marched for a distance of six double hours through rough mountains and difficult passes, from Ura to Kirši -his forefather’s royal city-

18 he captured Kirši, the mighty city, his royal metropolis.

19 He burnt its wall, its palace, and its people.

20 Pitusu, a land in the midst of the ocean,

21 and six thousand combat troops who were stationed in it

22 he captured by means of boats. He destroyed their city

23 and captured their people. In that same year from the pass

24 of Sallune to the border

25 of Lydia he started fires. Appuašu

26 fled, so he did not capture him. In the month of Addaru the king of Akkad

27 went home.

 

Contract for Marriage, Thirteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar II, 591 B.C.

This contract is dated at Babylon, in the thirteenth year of the Biblical Nebuchadnezzar, and is an example of marriage by purchase—a form of marriage which had practically fallen into disuse at this time.

Dagil-ili, son of Zambubu, spoke to Khamma,

daughter of Nergal-iddin, son of Babutu, saying:

“Give me Latubashinni your daughter; let her be my wife.”

Khamma heard, and gave him Latubashinni, her daughter, as a wife;

and Dagil-ili, of his own free-will,

gave Ana-eli-Bel-amur, a slave,

which he had bought for half a mana of money,

and half a mana therewith to Khamma

instead of Latubashinni, her daughter.

On the day that Dagil-ili another wife shall take,

Dagil-ili shall give one mana of money unto Latubashinni,

and she shall return to her place—her former one.

(Done) at the dwelling of Shum-iddin,

son of Ishi-etir, son of Sin-damaqu.

————————————————————————————————–

Contract for the Sale of a Slave, Eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar II, 597 B.C.

This tablet affords a good example of the sale of a slave. In this case the persons who sell guarantee that the slave will neither become insubordinate, nor prove to be subject to any governmental claims, nor prove to have been emancipated by adoption. The word rendered “emancipation” means literally “adoption,” but adoption by a freeman was an early form of emancipation. This sale is from the reign of the Nebuchadnezzar of Biblical fame, dating from 597 B.C.

SHAMASH-UBALLIT and Ubartum,

children of Zakir, the son of Pashi-ummani,

of their free-will have delivered Nanakirat

and her unsveaned son, their slave,

for nineteen shekels of money,

for the price agreed, unto Kaçir and Nadin-Marduk,

sons of Iqisha-aplu, son of Nur-Sin.

Shamash-uballit and Ubartum guarantee against insubordination,

the claim of the royal service, and emancipation.

Witnesses: Na’id-Marduk, son of Nabu-nacir,

son of Dabibi; Bel-shum-ishkun, son of Marduk-zir-epish, son of Irani;

Nabu-ushallim, son of Bel-akhi-iddin, son of Bel-apal-uçur.

In the dwelling of Damqa, their mother.

And the scribe, Nur-Ea, son of Ina-Isaggil-ziri, son of Nur-Sin.

Babylon, twenty-first of Kisilimu,

eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon.

Contract for a Partnership, Thirty-sixth year of Nebuchadnezzar II, 568 B.C.

Nabu-akhi-iddin was an investor—a member of the great Egibi family. He contributed four manas of capital to this enterprise, while Bel-shunu, who was to carry on the business, contributed one half mana and seven shekels, whatever property he might have, and his time. His expenses in the conduct of the business up to four shekels may be paid from the common funds.

Two manas of money belonging to Nabu-akhi-iddin,

son of Shula, son of Egibi,

and one half mana seven shekels of money

belonging to Bel-shunu, son of Bel-akhi-iddin,

Son of Sin-emuq, they have put into a copartnership with one another.

Whatever remains to Bel-shunu in town or country over and above,

becomes their common property.

Whatever Bel-shunu spends for expenses in excess of four shekels of money

shall be considered extravagant.

(The contract is witnessed by three men and a scribe,

and is dated at) Babylon, first of Ab, in the thirty-sixth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

Contract for a Partnership, Fortieth year of Nebuchadnezzar II, 564 B.C.

From this document we learn that Iddin-Marduk and Nabu-ukin formed a copartnership in the month Tebet, of Nebuchadnezzar’s fortieth year. A year from that date each of the partners drew out twenty shekels. In the month Ulul of the next year a number of small amounts were delivered to Iddin-Marduk for various specific purposes, and a larger amount, perhaps in payment of an obligation of the firm, was paid to two other men.

Memorandum of the shares of Iddin-Marduk and Nabu-ukin,

from the month Tebet, of the fortieth year of Nebuchadnezzar,

King of Babylon, unto the month Markheswan, of the forty-second year.

One third mana of money Iddin-Marduk drew on his account

in the month Tebet, of the forty-first year.

One third mana of money Nabu-ukin drew on his account

in the month Tebet, of the forty-first year.

Fifteen shekels of Nabu-ukin’s money, coined in shekel pieces,

from ______ was given to Iddin-Marduk

for the house of Limniya on the fifteenth of Ulul, of the forty-second year;

a fourth shekel of coined money,

which was for a nutu-skin, given into the same hands.

One half shekel of money was given for palipi naskhapu;

one third of a shekel of money was given into the same hands for beef;

two giri of money was given for meat;

one shekel of money was given for Lisi-nuri;

two shekels of money, which was for Karia, was given into the same hands.

City of _____, Markheswan ______.

One mana fifty shekels are counted into the possession

of Lishiru and Bunini-epish.

Contract for Loan of Money, Sixth year of Nebuchadnezzar II, 598 B.C.

The rate of interest in this case was thirteen and one-third per cent.

One mana of money, a sum belonging to Dan-Marduk,

son of Apla, son of the Dagger-wearer,

(is loaned) unto Kudurru, son of Iqisha-apla, son of Egibi.

Yearly the amount of the mana shall increase its sum by eight shekels of money.

Whatever he has in city or country,

as much as it may be, is pledged to Dan-Marduk.

(The date is) Babylon, Adar fourth, in Nebuchadnezzar’s sixth year.

————————————————————————————————–

(Nebuchadnezzar II) Dedicatory Inscription on the Ishtar Gate, Babylon

(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)

TRANSLATION
(Adapted from Marzahn 1995:29-30)

Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, the faithful prince appointed by the will of Marduk,

 

15b Nebuchadnezzar II Camoe  (Nebuchadnezzar II, mixed-breed giant appointed to kingship by Marduk, patron god of Babylon)

the highest of princely princes, beloved of Nabu (Marduk’s 3rd son), of prudent counsel,

who has learned to embrace wisdom, who fathomed their divine being and reveres their majesty,

2bb - god Nabu & US Army  (Marduk’s son Nabu in museum, now shamefully destroyed by uneducated Radical Islam!)

the untiring governor, who always takes to heart the care of the cult of Esagila and Ezida

1d - Borsippa, Nabu's city (Babylon drawing; Borsippa ruins)

and is constantly concerned with the well-being of Babylon and Borsippa,

Related image3 - Marduk's temple, Babylon ruins (E-sagila drawing; E-zida ruins)

the wise, the humble, the caretaker of Esagila (Marduk’s residence) and Ezida (Nabu’s residence),

the firstborn son of Nabopolassar, the King of Babylon.

Both gate entrances of Imgur-Ellil and Nemetti-Ellil —

following the filling of the street from Babylon—had become increasingly lower.

Therefore, I pulled down these gates and laid their foundations at the water-table with asphalt and bricks

  (Nebuchadnezzar’sIshtar Gate” of lapis-lazuli, a blue-hued gem-stone)

and had them made of bricks with blue stone on which wonderful bulls and dragons were depicted.

I covered their roofs by laying majestic cedars length-wise over them.

I hung doors of cedar adorned with bronze at all the gate openings.

I placed wild bulls and ferocious dragons in the gateways and thus adorned them with luxurious splendor

so that people might gaze on them in wonder I let the temple of Esiskursiskur

(the highest festival house of Markduk, the Lord of the Gods—

a place of joy and celebration for the major and minor gods)

2c - Lagash, largest city of its day2b - Mesopotamia timeline

                         (ancient precinct of Babylon; mud-brick-built ziggurats inside mud-brick-built cities of Mesopotamia)

be built firm like a mountain in the precinct of Babylon of asphalt and fired bricks.

(far stronger bricks than our best bricks today, lasting thousands of years, not hundreds of years!)

  (Nebuchadnezzar II’s inscription of this text on the gate of Babylon, known as “Gate of Ishtar“)

DESCRIPTION

Language: Akkadian
Medium: glazed brick
Size: c. 15 meters high
c. 10 meters wide
Length: 60 lines of writing
Genre: Dedication Inscription
Dedicator: Nebuchadnezzar
King of Babylonia
(reigned 605—562 BCE)
Approximate Date: 600 BCE
Place of Discovery: Babylon
(near modern Baghdad, Iraq)
Date of Excavation: 1899—1914
Current Location:  

Inscription of Nebuchadnezzar II

Text Source:

  • Library collection: “World’s Greatest Literature”

  • Published work: “Babylonian and Assyrian Literature”

  • Translator: Rev. J. M. Rodwell, M.A.

  • Publisher: P. F. Collier & Son, New York

  • Copyright: Colonial Press, 1901

(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)

The reign of Nebuchadnezzar extended from B.C. 604 to 561. In B.C. 598 he laid siege to Jerusalem (2 Kings xxiv.) and made Jehoiachin prisoner, and in 588 again captured the city, and carried Zedekiah, who had rebelled against him, captive to Babylon (2 Kings xxv.). Josephus gives an account of his expeditions against Tyre and Egypt, which are also mentioned with many details in Ezek. xxvii.-xxix.

The name Nebuchadnezzar, or more accurately Nebuchadrezzar (Jer. xxi. 2, 7, etc.), is derived from the Jewish Scriptures. But in the inscriptions it reads Nebo-kudurri-ussur, i.e., “may Nebo protect the crown”; a name analogous to that of his father Nebo(Nabu)-habal-ussur. (“Nebo protect the son”) and to that of Belshazzar, i.e., Bel protect the prince.” The inscriptions of which a translation follows was found at Babylon by Sir Harford Jones Bridges, and now forms part of the India House Collection. It is engraved on a short column of black basalt, and is divided into ten columns, containing 619 lines.

It may be worth while to remark that in the name given to the prophet Daniel, Belteshazzar, i.e., Balat-su-ussur (“preserve thou his life”), and in Abednego (“servant of Nebo“), we have two of the component parts of the name of Nebuchadnezzar himself.

Column 1

[1.1] Nebuchadnezzar

[1.2] King of Babylon,

[1.3] glorious Prince,

3a - Marduk & his reptilian symbol

[1.4] worshipper of Marduk,

[1.5] adorer of the lofty one,

2bb - god Nabu & US Army

[1.6] glorifier of Nabu,

[1.7] the exalted, the possessor of intelligence,

[1.8] who the processions of their divinitie

[1.9] hath increased;

[1.10] a worshipper of their Lordships,

[1.11] firm, not to be destroyed;

[1.12] who for the embellishment

[1.13] of Bit-Saggatu and Bit-Zida
[1.14] appointed days hath set apart, and
[1.15] the shrines of Babylon
[1.16] and of Borsippa
[1.17] hath steadily increased;
[1.18] exalted Chief, Lord of peace,
[1.19] embellisher of Bit-Saggatu and Bit-Zida,
[1.20] the valiant son
[1.21] of Nabopolassar
[1.22] King of Babylon am I.

[1.23] When he, the Lord god my maker made me,
[1.24] the god Merodach (Marduk), he deposited
[1.25] my seed in my mother’s (womb):
[1.26] then being conceived
[1.27] I was made.
[1.28] Under the inspection of Assur (Osiris) my judge
[1.29] the processions of the god I enlarged,
[1.30] (namely) of Merodach great Lord, the god my maker.
[1.31] His skilful works
[1.32] highly have I glorified;
[1.33] and of Nebo (Nabu) his eldest son (3rd son)
[1.34] exalter of My Royalty
[1.35] the processions (in honor of) his exalted deity
[1.36] I firmly established.
[1.37] With all my heart firmly
[1.38] (in) worship of their deities I uprose
[1.39] in reverence for Nebo their Lord.

[1.40] Whereas Merodach, great Lord,
[1.41] the head of My ancient Royalty,

[1.42] hath empowered me over multitudes of men,

[1.43] and (whereas) Nebo bestower of thrones in heaven and earth,

2h - Nabu

[1.44] for the sustentation of men,

[1.45] a scepter of righteousness

[1.46] hath caused my hand to hold;

[1.47] now I, that sacred way

[1.48] for the resting-place of their divinities,

[1.49] for a memorial of all their names,

[1.50] as a worshipper of Nebo (Nabu), Yav (Adad) and Istar (Inanna),

[1.51] for Merodach (Marduk) my Lord I strengthened.

[1.52] Its threshold I firmly laid, and

[1.53] my devotion of heart he accepted, and

[1.54] him did I proclaim

[1.55] . . . Lord of all beings, and

[1.56] as Prince of the lofty house, and

[1.57] thou, (O Nebuchadnezzar) hast proclaimed the name of him

[1.58] who has been beneficent unto thee.

[1.59] His name, (O god,) thou wilt preserve,

[1.60] the path of righteousness thou hast prescribed to him.

[1.61] I, a Prince, and thy worshipper

[1.62] am the work of thy hand;

[1.63] thou hast created me, and

[1.64] the empire over multitudes of men

[1.65] thou hast assigned me,

[1.66] according to thy favor, O Lord,

[1.67] which thou hast accorded

[1.68] to them all.

[1.69] May thy lofty Lordship be exalted!

[1.70] in the worship of thy divinity

[1.71] may it subsist! in my heart

[1.72] may it continue, and my life which to thee is devoted

(Continued on Column 2)

Column 2

[2.1] mayest thou bless!

[2.2] He, the Chief, the honorable,

2a - Nabu, Canaanite god

[2.3] the Prince of the gods, the great Merodach,

[2.4] my gracious Lord, heard

[2.5] and received my prayer;

[2.6] he favored it, and by his exalted power,

[2.7] reverence for his deity

[2.8] placed he in my heart:

[2.9] to bear his tabernacle

[2.10] he hath made my heart firm,

[2.11] with reverence for thy power,

[2.12] for exalted service,

[2.13] greatly and eternally.

[2.14] The foundation of his temple it was

[2.15] which from the upper waters

[2.16] to the lower waters

[2.17] in a remote way,

[2.18] in a spot exposed to winds,

[2.19] in a place whose pavements had been broken,

[2.20] low, dried up,

[2.21] a rugged way,

[2.22] a difficult path,

[2.23] I extended.

[2.24] The disobedient I stirred up,

[2.25] and I collected the poor and

[2.26] gave full directions (for the work) and

[2.27] in numbers I supported them.

[2.28] Wares and ornaments

[2.29] for the women I brought forth,

[2.30] silver, molten gold, precious stones,

[2.31] metal, umritgana and cedar woods,

[2.32] (however their names be written)

[2.33] a splendid abundance,

[2.34] the produce of mountains,

[2.35] sea clay,

[2.36] beautiful things in abundance,

[2.37] riches and sources of joy,

[2.38] for my city Babylon,

[2.39] into his presence have I brought

[2.40] for Bit-Saggatu

[2.41] the temple of his power,

[2.42] ornaments for Dakan (Dagan)

[2.43] Bit-Kua, the shrine

[2.44] of Merodach, Lord of the house of the gods,

[2.45] I have made conspicuous with fine linen

[2.46] and its seats

[2.47] with splendid gold,

[2.48] as for royalty and deity,

[2.49] with lapis lazuli and alabaster blocks

[2.50] I carefully covered them over;

[2.51] a gate of passage, the gate Beautiful,

[2.52] and the gate of Bit-Zida and Bit-Saggatu

[2.53] I caused to be made brilliant as the sun.

[2.54] A fulness of the treasures of countries I accumulated;

[2.55] around the city it was placed as an ornament,

[2.56] when at the festival of Lilmuku at the beginning of the year,

[2.57] on the eighth day (and) eleventh day,

[2.58] the divine Prince, Deity of heaven and earth, the Lord god,

[2.59] they raised within it.

2a - Nannar statue 2,000 B.C.

[2.60] (The statue) of the god El (Nannar / Sin), the beauty of the sphere,

[2.61] reverently they bring;

[2.62] treasure have they displayed before it,

[2.63] a monument to lasting days,

[2.64] a monument of my life.

[2.65] They also placed within it

(Continued on Column 3)

Column 3

[3.1] his altar, an altar of Royalty;

[3.2] an altar of Lordship,

2c - Marduk relief, flowing waters of Babylon

[3.3] (for) the Chief of the gods, the Prince Merodach,

[3.4] whose fashion the former Prince

[3.5] had fashioned in silver,

[3.6] with bright gold accurately weighed out

[3.7] I overlaid.

[3.8] Beautiful things for the temple Bit-Saggatu

[3.9] seen at its very summit,

[3.10] the shrine of Merodach, with statues and marbles

[3.11] I embellished

[3.12] as the stars of heaven.

[3.13] The fanes of Babylon

[3.14] I built, I adorned.

[3.15] Of the house, the foundation of the heaven and earth,

[3.16] I reared the summit

[3.17] with blocks of noble lapis lazuli:

[3.18] to the construction of Bit-Saggatu

[3.19] my heart uplifted me;

[3.20] in abundance I wrought

[3.21] the best of my pine trees

[3.22] which from Lebanon

[3.23] together with tall Babil-wood I brought,

[3.24] for the portico of the temple of Merodach:

[3.25] the shrine of his Lordship

[3.26] I made good, and interior walls

[3.27] with pine and tall cedar woods:

[3.28] the portico of the temple of Merodach,

[3.29] with brilliant gold I caused to cover,

[3.30] the lower thresholds, the cedar awnings,

[3.31] with gold and precious stones

[3.32] I embellished:

[3.33] in the erection of Bit-Saggatu

[3.34] I proceeded: I supplicated

[3.35] the King of gods, the Lord of Lords:

[3.36] in Borsippa, the city of his loftiness,

[3.37, 38] I raised Bit-Zida: a durable house

[3.39] in the midst thereof I caused to be made.

[3.40] With silver, gold, precious stones,

[3.41] bronze, ummakana and pine woods,

[3.42] those thresholds I completed:

[3.43] the pine wood portico

[3.44] of the shrine of Nebo

[3.45] with gold I caused to cover,

[3.46] the pine wood portico of the gate of the temple of Merodach

[3.47] I caused to overlay with bright silver.

[3.48] The bulls and columns of the gate of the shrine

[3.49] the thresholds, the sigari of ri-wood, conduits

[3.50] of Babnaku wood and their statues

[3.51] with cedar wood awnings

[3.52] of lofty building,

[3.53] and silver, I adorned.

[3.54] The avenues of the shrine

[3.55] and the approach to the house,

[3.56] of conspicuous brick

[3.57] sanctuaries in its midst

[3.58] with perforated silver work.

[3.59] Bulls, columns, doorways,

[3.60, 61] in marble beautifully I built;

[3.62, 63] I erected a shrine and with rows

[3.64] of wreathed work I filled it:

[3.65] the fanes of Barsippa

[3.66] I made and embellished:

[3.67] the temple of the seven spheres

[3.68] . . .

[3.69] with bricks of noble lapis lazuli

[3.70] I reared its summit:

[3.71] the tabernacle of Nahr-kanul

[3.72] the chariot of his greatness

(Continued on Column 4)

Column 4

[4.1] the tabernacle, the shrine Lilmuku,

[4.2] the festival of Babylon,

[4.3, 4] his pageant of dignity

[4.5] within it, I caused to decorate

[4.6] with beryls and stones.

[4.7] A temple for sacrifices, the lofty citadel

[4.8] of Bel (Enlil) and Merodach (Marduk), god of gods,

[4.9] a threshold of joy and supremacy

[4.10] among angels and spirits,

[4.11] with the stores of Babylon,

[4.12] with cement and brick,

[4.13] like a mountain I erected.

[4.14] A great temple of Ninharissi (Ninhursag)

[4.15] in the center of Babylon

[4.16] to the great goddess the mother who created me,

[4.17] in Babylon I made.

[4.18] To Nebo (Nabu) of lofty intelligence

[4.19] who hath bestowed (on me) the scepter of justice,

[4.20] to preside over all peoples,

[4.21] a temple of rule over men, and a site for this his temple

[4.22, 23] in Babylon, of cement and brick

[4.24] the fashion I fashioned.

[4.25, 26] To the Moon-god (Nannar / Sin), the strengthener of my hands

[4.27] a large house of alabaster as his temple

[4.28] in Babylon I made.

[4.29] To the sun, the judge supreme

[4.30] who perfects good in my body,

[4.31] a house for that guide of men, even his house,

[4.32, 33] in Babylon, of cement and brick,

[4.34] skilfully did I make.

3 - Adad with divine weapons

[4.35] To the god Yav (Adad), establisher of fertility

[4.36] in my land, Bit-Numkan as his temple

[4.37] in Babylon I built.

[4.38] To the goddess Gula (Bau), the regulator

[4.39] and benefactress of my life,

[4.40] Bit-Samit, and Bit-haris the lofty,

[4.41, 42] as fanes in Babylon, in cement and brick

[4.43] strongly did I build.

[4.44] To the divine Lady of Bit Anna,

[4.45] my gracious mistress,

[4.46] Bit-Kiku in front of her house

[4.47] so as to strengthen the wall of Babylon

[4.48] I skilfully constructed.

[4.49, 50] To Ninip (Ninurta) the breaker of the sword of my foes

[4.51] a temple in Borsippa I made;

[4.52]and to the Lady Gula

[4.53] the beautifier of my person

[4.54] Bit-Gula, Bit-Tila, Bit-Ziba-Tila,

[4.55] her three temples

[4.56] in Borsippa I erected:

[4.57] to the god Yav (Adad) who confers

[4.58] the fertilizing rain upon my land,

[4.59, 60] his house (also) in Borsippa I strongly built:

[4.61] to the Moon-god who upholds

[4.62] the fulness of my prosperity

[4.63] Bit-ti-Anna as his temple,

[4.64] on the mound near Bit-Ziba

[4.65] I beautifully constructed:

[4.66, 67] Imgur-Bel and Nimetti-Belkit

[4.68] the great walls of Babylon,

[4.69] . . . I built,

[4.70] which Nabopolassar

[4.71] King, King of Babylon, the father who begat me,

[4.72] had commenced but not completed their beauty

(Continued on Column 5)

Column 5

[5.1] Its fosse he dug

[5.2] and of two high embankments

[5.3] in cement and brick

[5.4] he finished the mass:

[5.5, 6] an embankment for pathways he made,

[5.7, 8] Buttresses of brick beyond the Euphrates

[5.9, 10] he constructed, but did not complete:

[5.11, 12] the rest from . . .

[5.13] the best of their lands I accumulated:

[5.14] a place for sacrifice, as ornament,

[5.15, 16] as far as Aibur-sabu near Babylon

[5.17] opposite the principal gate

[5.18] with brick and durmina-turda stone

[5.19] as a shrine of the great Lord, the god Merodach

[5.20] I built as a house for processions.

[5.21, 22] I his eldest son, the chosen of his heart,

[5.23, 24] Imgur-Bel and Nimetti-Bel

[5.25, 26] the great walls of Babylon, completed:

[5.27] buttresses for the embankment of its fosse,

[5.28] and two long embankments

[5.29] with cement and brick I built, and

[5.30] with the embankment my father had made

[5.31, 32] I joined them; and to the city for protection

[5.33, 34] I brought near an embankment of enclosure

[5.35] beyond the river, westward.

[5.36] The wall of Babylon

[5.37, 38] I carried round Aibur-sabu

[5.39] in the vicinity of Babylon:

[5.40] for a shrine of the great Lord Merodach

[5.41, 42] the whole enclosure I filled (with buildings)

[5.43] with brick made of kamina-turda stone

[5.44] and brick of stone cut out of mountains.

[5.45, 46] Aibur-sabu from the High gate,

[5.47, 48] as far as Istar-Sakipat I made,

[5.49, 50] for a shrine for his divinity I made good,

[5.51] and with what my father had made

[5.52, 53] I joined, and built it;

[5.54, 55, 56] and the access to Istar-Sakipat I made,

[5.57, 58] which is Imgur-Bel and Nimetti-Bel,

[5.59] the great gates, the whole temple of the gods

[5.60, 61] in completeness near to Babylon

[5.62] I brought down;

6b - Ishtar Gate Babylon Amiet

[5.63, 64] the materials of those great gates

[5.65] I put together and

(Continued on Column 6)

Column 6

[6.1] their foundations opposite to the waters

[6.2, 3] in cement and brick I founded,

[6.4] and of strong stone of zamat-hati,

[6.5] bulls and images,

[6.6] the building of its interior

[6.7] skilfully I constructed:

[6.8, 9, 10] tall cedars for their porticos I arranged,

[6.11] ikki wood, cedar wood,

[6.12] with coverings of copper,

[6.13] on domes and arches:

[6.14, 15] work in bronze I overlaid substantially on its gates,

[6.16, 17] bulls of strong bronze and molten images

[6.18] for their thresholds, strongly.

[6.19] Those large gates

[6.20] for the admiration of multitudes of men

[6.21] with wreathed work I filled:

[6.22] the abode of Imzu-Bel

[6.23] the invincible castle of Babylon,

[6.24] which no previous King had effected,

[6.25] 4,000 cubits complete,

[6.26] the walls of Babylon

[6.27] whose banner is invincible,

[6.28] as a high fortress by the ford of the rising sun,

[6.29] I carried round Babylon.

[6.30] Its fosse I dug and its mass

[6.31] with cement and brick

[6.32, 33] I reared up and a tall tower at its side

[6.34] like a mountain I built.

[6.35, 36] The great gates whose walls I constructed

[6.37] with ikki and pine woods and coverings of copper

[6.38] I overlaid them,

[6.39] to keep off enemies from the front

8c - Tower of Babel, Marduk's Unauthorized Spaceport

[6.40] of the wall of unconquered Babylon.

[6.41, 42] Great waters like the might of the sea

[6.43] I brought near in abundance

[6.44] and their passing by

[6.45] was like the passing by of the great billows

[6.46] of the Western ocean:

[6.47, 48] passages through them were none,

[6.49, 50] but heaps of earth I heaped up,

[6.51] and embankments of brickwork

[6.52] I caused to be constructed.

[6.53, 54] The fortresses I skilfully strengthened

[6.55] and the city of Babylon

[6.56] I fitted to be a treasure-city.

[6.57] The handsome pile

[6.58, 59] the fort of Borsippa I made anew:

[6.60, 61] its fosse I dug out and in cement and brick

[6.62] I reared up its mass

[6.63] Nebuchadnezzar

(Continued on Column 7)

Column 7

[7.1] King of Babylon

[7.2] whom Merodach, the Sun, the great Lord,

[7.3] for the holy places of his city

[7.4] Babylon hath called, am I:

[7.5] and Bit-Saggatu and Bit-Zida

[7.6] like the radiance of the Sun I restored:

[7.7] the fanes of the great gods

[7.8] I completely brightened.

[7.9] At former dates from the days of old

[7.10] to the days . . .

[7.11] of Nabopolassar King of Babylon

[7.12] the exalted father who begat me,

[7.13] many a Prince who preceded me

3aa - Nanna & his symbol

         [7.14, 15] whose names El (Nannar / Sin) had proclaimed for royalty

[7.16] for the city, my city, the festivals of these gods

[7.17] in the perfected places

[7.18] a princely temple, a large temple did they make

[7.19] and erected it as their dwelling-places.

[7.20, 21] Their spoils in the midst they accumulated,

[7.22] they heaped up, and their treasures

[7.23] for the festival Lilmuku

[7.24] of the good Lord, Merodach god of gods

[7.25] they transferred into the midst of Babylon;

08-02-15/67

[7.26, 27] when at length Merodach who made me for royalty

[7.28] and the god Nebo (Nabu) his mighty son,

[7.29] committed his people to me

[7.30] as precious lives.

[7.31] Highly have I exalted their cities;

[7.32] (but) above Babylon and Borsippa

[7.33] I have not added a city

[7.34] in the realm of Babylonia

[7.35] as a city of my lofty foundation.

[7.36] A great temple, a house of admiration for men,

[7.37, 38] a vast construction, a lofty pile,

[7.39, 40] a palace of My Royalty for the land of Babylon,

[7.41] in the midst of the city of Baby1on

[7.42, 43] from Imgur Bel to Libit-higal

[7.44] the ford of the Sun-rise,

[7.45] from the bank of the Euphrates

[7.46] as far as Aibur-sabu

[7.47] which Nabopolassar

[7.48] King of Babylon the father who begat me

[7.49, 50] made in brick and raised up in its midst,

[7.51] but whose foundation was damaged

[7.52] by waters and floods

[7.53, 54] at Bit-Imli near Babylon,

[7.55, 56] and the gates of that palace were thrown down,

[7.57, 58] of this the structure with brickwork I repaired

[7.59] with its foundation and boundary wall,

[7.60] and a depth of waters I collected:

[7.61, 62] then opposite the waters I laid its foundation

[7.63] and with cement and brick

(Continued on Column 8)

Column 8

[8.1, 2] I skilfully surrounded it;

[8.3, 4] tall cedars for its porticos I fitted;

[8.5, 6] ikki and cedar woods with layers of copper,

[8.7] on domes and arches

[8.8, 9] and with bronze work, I strongly overlaid its gates

[8.10] with silver, gold, precious stones,

[8.11, 12] whatsoever they call them, in heaps;

[8.13] I valiantly collected spoils;

[8.14] as an adornment of the house were they arranged,

[8.15] and were collected within it;

[8.16, 17] trophies, abundance, royal treasures,

[8.18] I accumulated and gathered together.

[8.19] As to the moving of My Royalty

[8.20] to any other city,

[8.21] there has not arisen a desire:

[8.22] among any other people

[8.23] no royal palace have I built:

[8.24] the merchandise and treasures of my kingdom

[8.25, 26, 27] I did not deposit within the provinces of Babylon:

[8.28] a pile for my residence

[8.29, 30] to grace My Royalty was not found:

[8.31] Therefore with reverence for Merodach my Lord,

[8.32, 33] the exterior and interior in Babylon

[8.34] as his treasure city

[8.35, 36] and for the elevation of the abode of My Royalty

[8.37] his shrine I neglected not:

[8.38] its weak parts which were not completed,

[8.39] its compartments that were not remembered,

[8.40] as a securely compacted edifice

[8.41, 42] I dedicated and set up as a preparation for war

[8.43, 44] by Imgur-Bel, the fortress of invincible Babylon,

[8.45] 400 cubits in its completeness,

3a - Marduk's House in Babylon

[8.46] a wall of Nimitti-Bel

[8.47] an outwork of Babylon

[8.48, 49] for defense. Two lofty embankments,

[8.50] in cement and brick,

[8.51] a fortress like a mountain I made,

[8.52] and in their sub-structure

[8.53] I built a brickwork;

[8.54] then on its summit a large edifice

[8.55] for the residence of My Royalty

[8.56, 57] with cement and brick I skilfully built

[8.58] and brought it down by the side of the temple:

[8.59] and in the exact middle, on the second day

[8.60] its foundation in a solid depth

[8.61, 62] I made good and its summit I carried round;

[8.63] and on the 15th day its beauty

(Continued on Column 9)

Column 9

[9.1] I skilfully completed

[9.2] and exalted as an abode of Royalty.

[9.3, 4] Tall pines, the produce of lofty mountains,

[9.5] thick asuhu wood

[9.6, 7] and surman wood in choice pillars

[9.8] for its covered porticos I arranged.

[9.9] ikki and musritkanna woods

[9.10] cedar and surman woods

[9.11] I brought forth, and in heaps,

[9.12] with a surface of silver and gold

[9.13] and with coverings of copper,

[9.14, 15] on domes and arches, and with works of metal

[9.16] its gates I strongly overlaid

[9.17] and completely with zamat-stone

[9.18] I finished off its top.

[9.19, 20] A strong wall in cement and brick

[9.21] like a mountain I carried round

[9.22, 23] a wall, a brick fortress, a great fortress

[9.24] with long blocks of stone

[9.25, 26] gatherings from great lands I made

[9.27, 28] and like hills I upraised its head.

[9.29, 30] That house for admiration I caused to build

[9.31] and for a banner to hosts of men:

[9.32] with carved work I fitted it;

[9.33] the strong power of reverence for

[9.34] the presence of Royalty

[9.35] environs its walls;

5a - Marduk & a king   (Ashur & a king)

[9.36, 37] the least thing not upright enters it not,

[9.38] that evil may not make head.

[9.39] The walls of the fortress of Babylon

[9.40, 41] its defense in war I raised

[9.42] and the circuit of the city of Babylon.

[9.43, 44] I have strengthened skilfully.

[9.45] To Merodach my Lord

[9.46] my hand I lifted:

[9.47] 0 Merodach the Lord, Chief of the gods,

[9.48, 49] a surpassing Prince thou hast made me,

[9.50] and empire over multitudes of men,

[9.51, 52] hast intrusted to me as precious lives;

[9.53] thy power have I extended on high,

[9.54, 55] over Babylon thy city, before all mankind.

[9.56] No city of the land have I exalted

[9.57, 58] as was exalted the reverence of thy deity:

[9.59] I caused it to rest: and may thy power

[9.60, 61] bring its treasures abundantly to my land.

[9.62] I, whether as King and embellisher,

[9.63] am the rejoicer of thy heart

[9.64] or whether as High Priest appointed,

[9.65] embellishing all thy fortresses,

(Continued on Column 10)

Column 10

[10.1, 2] For thy glory, O exalted Merodach

[10.3] a house have I made.

[10.4] May its greatness advance!

[10.5] May its fulness increase!

[10.6, 7] in its midst abundance may it acquire!

[10.8] May its memorials be augmented!

[10.9] May it receive within itself

[10.10] the abundant tribute

[10.11, 12] of the Kings of nations and of all peoples!

[10.13, 14] From the West to the East by the rising sun

[10.15] may I have no foemen!

[10.16] May they not be multiplied

[10.17, 18] within, in the midst thereof, forever,

[10.19] Over the black-headed (earthlings, the gods may not be black-headed) may he rule!

End of Translation

Nebuchadnezzar to the Babylonians

Unknown web source

Translation:

(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….giant mixed-breeds in teal)

[To the citizenry of Babylon], of protected status, leaders learned

And wise, [ ], men of business and commerce, great and small,

[thus says Nebuchadnezzar, v] iceroy of Enlil, native of Babylon,

The king, your lord, [ ] on a stele: [ ] you should know [that

2b - Marduk, son & heir to Enki

The great lord Marduk, who] was angry at all the holy places for a

long time, took [pity] on Babylon. He gave me in his majesty the

[sublime] command, [in?] the awe-inspiring sanctuary [Esagila] he

ordered me to take the road of march to [the land of] Elam.

I gave reverent heed [to the command of the great lord] Marduk,

assembled the army of Enlil, Shamash, and Marduk, and set forth

towards [the land of] Elam. On I went, traversing distant [ways],

waterless roads, night and d[ay. At the] Ulaya River, the enemy,

the vile Elamite, [blocked] the water places in the gr[oves ] the

troops [ ] traversed. I could give no water, nor could I relieve their fatigue.

He advanced, hurtling his arrows, weapons [brandished] in

battle. Through the might of Enlil, [Shamash, and Marduk, which]

has no [equ]al, I overwhelmed(?) the king of Elam, defeating him

His army scattered, his forces dispersed, [ ] deathly still, he(?)

ravaged his (own) land, abandoned his strongholds, and disappeared.

2d - Marduk & flying discs
I hastened on [ ] I beheld the [great lord] Marduk, lofty warrior

of the gods, and the gods of the land [of Babylonia whom?] he

commanded to convene with him. I raised [ ] … and set up a

wailing, I brought the great lord [Marduk] in procession and set

out on the road to his homeland.

(Rest fragmentary. The king commands the restoration of Marduk and his treasures to Esagila.)

A fragmentary manuscript from the Late period preserves a letter, evidently addressed by Nebuchadnezzar to the Babylonians, telling them of his victory in Elam and recovery of Marduk’s statue.

Early Years of Nebuchadnezzar (ABC 5)

Cuneiform tablet mentioning the capture of Jerusalem in 597 (text; British Museum)

The Chronicle Concerning the Early Years of Nebuchadnezzar II (“Jerusalem Chronicle”; ABC 5) is one of the historiographical texts from ancient Babylonia. It deals with several subjects, but the reference to the capture of Jerusalem in 597 BCE has received most attention. No less important is the description of Nebuchadnezzar‘s campaigns against the Egyptian king Necho II, who had tried to conquer Syria (‘Hatti’).

The translation was adapted from A.K. Grayson, Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles (1975) and Jean-Jacques Glassner, Mesopotamian Chronicles (Atlanta, 2004).

Translation

Obverse

1. “In the twenty-first year [605/604;note 1] the king of Akkad[Nabopolassar] stayed in his own land, Nebuchadnezzar his eldest son, the crown-prince,

2. mustered the Babylonian army and took command of his troops; he marched to Karchemiš which is on the bank of the Euphrates,

3. and crossed the river to go against the Egyptian army which lay in Karchemiš.

4. They fought with each other and the Egyptian army withdrew before him.

5. He accomplished their defeat and beat them to non-existence. As for the rest of the Egyptian army

6. which had escaped from the defeat so quickly that no weapon had reached them, in the district of Hamath

7. the Babylonian troops overtook and defeated them so that not a single man escaped to his own country.

8. At that time Nebuchadnezzar conquered the whole area of Hamath.

9. For twenty-one years Nabopolassar had been king of Babylon,

10. when on 8 Abu[15 August 605] he went to his destiny; in the month of Ululu Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon

11. and on 1 Ululu [7 September] he sat on the royal throne in Babylon.

12. In the accession year Nebuchadnezzar went back again to the Hatti-land and until the month of Šabatu

13. marched unopposed through the Hatti-land; in the month of Šabatu he took the heavy tribute of the Hatti-territory to Babylon.

14. In the month of Nisannu he took the hands of Bêl (Marduk) and the son of Bêl (Nabu) and celebrated the Akitu festival.

15. In the first year of Nebuchadnezzar [604/603]in the month of Simanu he mustered his army

16. and went to the Hatti-territory, he marched about unopposed in the Hatti-territory until the month of Kislîmu.

17. All the kings of the Hatti-land came before him and he received their heavy tribute.

18. He marched to the city of Aškelon and captured it in the month of Kislîmu.

19. He captured its king and plundered it and carried off spoil from it.

20. He turned the city into a mound and heaps of ruins and then in the month of Šabatu he marched back to Babylon.

21. In the second year [603/602] in the month of Ajaru the king of Akkad gathered together a powerful army and marched to the land of Hatti.

22. …] he threw down, great siege-towers he […

23. …] from the month of Ajaru until the mon[th of …] he marched about unopposed in the land of Hatti.

About four lines missing

Reverse

Several lines missing

1′. In the third year [602/601] the king of Akkad left and

2′. in the month of […] on the thirteenth day, [the king’s brother] Nabû-šuma-lišir […]

3′. The king of Akkad mustered his troops and marched to the Hatti-land.

4′. and brought back much spoils from the Hatti-land into Akkad.

5′. In the fourth year [601/600] the king of Akkad mustered his army and marched to the Hatti-land. In the Hatti-land they marched unopposed.

6′. In the month of Kislîmu he took the lead of his army and marched to Egypt. The king of Egypt heard it and mustered his army.

7′. In open battle they smote the breast of each other and inflicted great havoc on each other. The king of Akkad turned back with his troops and returned to Babylon.

8′. In the fifth year [600/599] the king of Akkad stayed in his own land and gathered together his chariots and horses in great numbers.

9′. In the sixth year [599/598] in the month of Kislîmu the king of Akkad mustered his army and marched to the Hatti-land. From the Hatti-land he sent out his companies,

10′. and scouring the desert they took much plunder from the Arabs, their possessions, animals and gods. In the month of Addaru the king returned to his own land.

11′. In the seventh year [598/597], the month of Kislîmu, the king of Akkad mustered his troops, marched to the Hatti-land,

12′. and besieged the city of Judah and on the second day of the month of Addaru he seized the city and captured the king [Jehoiachin; note 2].

13′. He appointed there a king of his own choice [Zedekiah], received its heavy tribute and sent to Babylon.

14′. In the eight year [597/596], the month of Tebetu the king of Akkad marched to the Hatti-land as far as Karchemiš […

15′. …] in the month of Šabatu the king returned to his own land.

16′. In the ninth year [596/595], the month of […] the king of Akkad and his troops marched along the bank of the Tigris […]

17′. the king of Elam […]

18′. the king of Akkad […]

19′. which is on the bank of the Tigris he pitched his camp. While there was still a distance of one day’s march between them,

20′. the king of Elam was afraid and, panic falling on him, he returned to his own land.

21′. In the tenth year [595/594] the king of Akkad was in his own land; from the month of Kislîmu to the month of Tebetu there was rebellion in Akkad.

22′. With arms he slew many of his own army. His own hand captured his enemy.

23′. In the month of […] he marched to the Hatti-land, where kings and […]-officials

24. came before him and he received their heavy tribute and then returned to Babylon.

25. In the eleventh year [594/593] in the month of Kislîmu, the king of Akkad mustered his troops and marched to the Hatti-land.

Note 1:
The story starts during the wars after the sack of Nineveh in 612 and the fall of the Assyrian empire. The Egyptian king Necho II tried to conquer Assyria’s western provinces, which is sometimes called Hatti in this chronicle. Nabopolassar and Nebuchadnezzar claimed this part for themselves.

Note 2:
Cf. 2 Kings 24.8-17 (tr. American Bible Society):

Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled only three months from Jerusalem. […] King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia sent troops to attack Jerusalem soon after Jehoiachin became king. During the attack, Nebuchadnezzar himself arrived at the city. Jehoiachin immediately surrendered, together with his mother and his servants, as well as his army officers and officials. Then Nebuchadnezzar had Jehoiachin arrested. These things took place in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule in Babylonia.

The Lord had warned that someday the treasures would be taken from the royal palace and from the temple, including the gold objects that Solomon had made for the temple. And that’s exactly what Nebuchadnezzar ordered his soldiers to do. He also led away as prisoners the Jerusalem officials, the military leaders, and the skilled workers, ten thousand in all. Only the very poorest people were left in Judah.

Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin to Babylon, along with his mother, his wives, his officials, and the most important leaders of Judah. He also led away 7,000 soldiers, 1,000 skilled workers, and anyone who would be useful in battle. Then Nebuchadnezzar appointed Jehoiachin’s uncle Mattaniah king of Judah and changed his name to Zedekiah.”

The date in this Biblical story (the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar) is contradicted by this chronicle and the Biblical book of Jeremiah, which both state that it was the seventh year:

Here is a list of the number of the people of Judah that Nebuchadnezzar took to Babylonia as prisoners: in his seventh year as king, he took 3,023 people; in his eighteenth year as king, he took 832 from Jerusalem; in his twenty-third year as king, his officer Nebuzaradan took 745 people. So, Nebuchadnezzar took a total of 4,600 people from Judah to Babylonia.

[Jeremiah 52.28-30
tr. American Bible Society]

The discrepancy has not been explained.