http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu

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

(gods in blue … mixed-breed demigods in teal)

           (Nabu’s Ezida; Marduk’s Esagil residences)

        Neriglissar, king of Babylon, the one who renovates Esagil and Ezida, the one who performs good deeds,

        about whom the great gods made a decision for exercising his everlasting kingship, whose fate the god Marduk —

        the foremost of the gods, the one who decrees fates — determined to exercise authority over the lands,

        in whose hands the god Nabû — the legitimate heir (of father Marduk) —

        let grasp a just scepter to perform the rôle of shepherd of the black-headed (people),

           (Nergal, Lord of the Under World)

        to whom the god Erra (Nergal) — the majestic one of the gods —

        gave his weapon(s) to save the people (and) spare the land, son of Bēl-šum-iškun — king of Babylon — I.

        When the god Marduk, great lord, elevated me (and) gave me the land and people to rule,

        I myself was constantly present (and) incessant towards Marduk.

        I provide for Esagil and Ezida, keep shrines in good order, (and) constantly seek original rites.

          (Marduk on his throne riding his dragon Mushhushu)

        (As for) the copper mušḫuššu-dragon(s), which are always stationed at the bases of the gates of Esagil

        together with the silver wild bull(s) of the door-jambs, a former king did not station (them)

        in (the gates) Ka-Utu-e, Ka-Lamma-arabi, Ka-ḫegal, and Ka-ude-babbar.

        As for me, the humble (and) respectful one who knows how to revere the gods,

        I cast eight fierce mušḫuššu-dragons of copper that rain down deadly venom on evil doer(s) and enem(ies),

        covered (them) with a plating of shining silver, and stationed (them) on pedestal(s)

        in (the gates) Ka-Utu-e, Ka-Lamma-arabi, Ka-ḫegal, and Ka-ude-<babbar>,

        at the bases of those gates, as in the past, together with the silver wild bull(s)

        of the door-jambs, according to its original appearance.

        (As for) the Dais of Destinies, which is inside Ezida, on which the god Nabû —

        the [triumphant] heir — takes up residence at the New Year, at the beginning of the year,

        during the akītu-festival, (during) the setting out of the Enlil of the gods —

          (son & scribe Nabu before father Marduk)

        the god Marduk — the god Nabû — the legitimate heir — goes in procession into Šuanna (Babylon),

        on the fifth (and) eleventh days, when going and returning from Babylon,

        whose structure a former king had cast with silver,

        I covered it with shining gold (and) ornaments of brilliance.

        (As for) the Euphrates River, the river of abundance,

        whose waters since its creation have flowed in full spate directly beside Esagil,

        (but) whose waters had withdrawn from the side of Esagil

        (and) had become too distant to draw (water from it) during the reign of a former king,

        (but as for) me, I sought out its original location and directed the course of its water beside Esagil, as in the past.

        (As for) the eastern canal, which a former king had had dug, but had not constructed its bank,

        I had the canal (re)dug and (properly re)constructed its bank with bitumen and baked bricks.

        I firmly established for the land an abundance of water that does not cease.

        I am constantly incessant towards Esagil and Ezida,

        (and) constantly seek to provision all of the cult-centers of the gods.

        At that time, the palace, the residence of my royal majesty, which is in the Ka-dingirra district —

        which is in Babylon, from Ay-ibūr-šabû, the street of Babylon, to the bank of the Euphrates River —

        which a former king had built and whose door-jamb(s) he had installed inside (it):

        On the outside, the palatial hall over the bank of the Euphrates River collapsed and its brickwork had fallen apart.

        I removed its collapsed walls until I reached the level of the water.

        With bitumen and baked bricks, I firmly secured its base against water,

        and (then) built (it), completed (it), and raised its superstructure.

        I spread out strong cedar(s) to be its šīpu(s), architrave(s), and roof.

        O Marduk, the great lord, the Enlil of the gods, the resplendent one, the light of the gods — his fathers —

           (Marduk gives exalted commands to his mixed-breed king)

        by your exalted command, which cannot be altered, may I be sated with the charms of the palace that I built;

        may I reach extreme old age (and) attain very old age (of a semi-divine mixed-breed) inside it;

        may I receive inside it, from the horizon to the zenith, wherever the sun rises,

        substantial tribute from the kings of the regions of the entire inhabited world;

        (and) inside it may my descendants rule over the black-headed (people) forever.

http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu

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

(gods in blue … mixed-breed demigods in teal)

        (prayer to Marduk for Babylonian mixed-breed king)

       Neriglissar, king of Babylon, pious prince, the favorite of the god Marduk,

         the humble (and) submissive one who reveres the lord of lords, the wise (and) pious one,

         (Nabu;  Nabu’s ziggurat residence Ezida)

         the one who is assiduous towards the shrines of the god Nabû — his lord —

         the ruler who provides, the one who brings large gifts to Esagil and Ezida,

         the one who copiously supplies sattukku-offerings

         (and) ensures that their purification rites are carried out correctly,

         son of Bēl-šum-iškun — wise prince — the perfect young man,

         the one who ensures the protection of Esagil and Babylon,

         the one who protects the approach to the country like a strong wall, I.

         (Marduk acting as if he is Supreme Lord, instead of Enlil the Earth Colony Commander)

       When the god Marduk, the Enlil of the gods, the prince who deliberates,

         the sage who knows the hearts of all of the Igīgū (Igigi, stationed on Mars) gods,

         sought me out among the widespread people and properly provided for me since my youth,

         he gave me an appropriate name (and) constantly guided me in places of well-being and health.

         For my righteousness, with which I always answer him,

         (and) for my submissiveness, through which I constantly seek respect for his divinity,

         I plan daily to perform that which is pleasing to him.

       He looked upon me and declared (my) gracious name to be king in the land.

         In order to shepherd the people for eternity, he gave to me for my kingship a just scepter that widens the land;

         for (my) lordship, he entrusted me with a legitimate rod that protects the people,

         made my hands grasps a staff that subdues enemies, (and) made me wear a legitimate crown,

         and (therefore) I did not tolerate the existence of rivals or intimidators to my kingship.

         I killed foes, slaughtered enemies, (and) suppressed all of the unsubmissive.

         I constantly established justice in the land (and) peacefully shepherded my widespread people.

         (Marduk, son Nabu, & Babylonian king with dinner offering)

       At that time, I gave reverent attention to god Marduk, the god who creates wisdom,

         whose word is supreme among the lgīgū gods,

         whose lordship is the most outstanding among the Anunnakū (Anunnaki) gods.

        (Esagil, Marduk’s ziggurat residence in Babylon)

       (As for) the enclosure wall of Esagil that faces north,

         (an area) in which ramku- (and) kiništu-priests (usually mixed-breeds) of Esagil reside,

         whose foundations a former king had laid but had not raised its superstructure,

         which had become progressively lower due to terracing, its walls became weak,

         its construction was no longer very stable, (and) its door-jamb(s) were not secure.

         To carry out bursaggu-offerings in a pure manner, to arr[ange] purification rites,

         to keep taklīmu-offerings pure for the great lord, the god Marduk,

         and to properly administer sattuk[ku]-offerings, so that no omission or negligence occur[s],

         I examined (and) inspected its original foundation and (then) I secured its (new) foundations on its original foundations.

         I raised its high parts, making (them) as lofty as a mountain.

         I secured its door-jamb(s) and set up doors in its gates.

         I surrounded (it) with a strong base using bitumen and baked bricks.

         (Marduk with rocket atop his launch pad)

       O Marduk, supreme lord, the pre-eminent one, the exalted one, the venerated one, the magnificent one,

         the light of the gods — his fathers — joyfully look upon my precious handiwork

         and give to me as a gift a life of long days, the attainment of very old age,

         a firmly secured throne, and a long-lasting dynasty!

       Through your firm command, which cannot be altered, I am Neriglissar,

         the king who provides (and) the one who is assiduous towards your shrines for eternity.

http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu

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

(gods in blue … mixed-breed demigods in teal)

       Nabopolassar, king of justice, shepherd chosen by the god Marduk,

         creation of the goddess Ninmenna (Ninhursag) — the exalted princess, the queen of queens —

 (Nabu, Nanaya / Tashmetum, & Babylonian king)

         protégé of the god Nabû and the goddess Tašmētum (Nabu’s spouse),

       beloved prince of the god Ninšiku (unidentified, Ninsikila?):

       When, during my childhood, (although) I was a son of a nobody,

         I was constantly assiduous towards the shrines of the gods Nabû and Marduk, my lords;

         (my) mind pondered about making their rites secure and properly administering their kidudû-rites;

         my attention was set on truth and justice.

       The god Šazu (unidentified), the lord who knows the hearts of the gods of heaven and netherworld,

         the one who constantly observes the ingenious behavior of the people,

         for me — the child who could not be found among the people —

         he observed my intention(s) and made me pre-eminent in the land where I was created.

         He called (my) name for dominion over the land and people, made a good lamassu walk beside me,

         (and) allowed (me) to successfully undertake everything that I did.

 (Nergal & disloyal earthling)

         He made the god Nergal, the almighty one of the god, march at my side;

         he killed my enemy (and) cut down my opponent.

       (As for) the Assyrians, who from distant days had ruled over all of the people

         and had made the people of the land suffer under its heavy yoke,

         I, the weak (and) powerless one who is assiduous towards the lord of lords (Marduk),

         with the powerful strength of the gods Nabû and Marduk — my lords —

         I barred them (lit: “their feet”) from the land of Akkad and had (the Babylonians) cast off their yoke.

 (Ninhursag & airborne Ninurta)

       At that time, (as for) E-PA-GÌN-tila, the temple of the god Ninurta that is inside Šuanna (Babylon),

         which a former king before my time had had built, but had not finished its work,

         I set my mind to the renovation of that temple.

         I mustered the workmen of the gods Enlil, Šamaš (Utu), and Marduk

         and (then) I made (them) carry hoe(s and) imposed (on them the carrying of) basket(s).

         I finished the work on th(at) unfinished temple.

         I roofed it with broad beams (and) installed tall doors in its gates.

         I made that temple shine like the sun and made (it) as bright as day for the god Ninurta, my lord.

       Any king in the future, either a son or grandson who comes after me,

         whom the god Marduk names for dominion over the land:

         Do not set your heart on feats of might and power,

         (but rather) be assiduous towards the shrines of the gods Nabû and Marduk

         so that they may kill your opponent(s).

         The god Marduk, my lord, examines the mouth (and) observes the heart

         (so) whoever is true to the god Bēl (Marduk) his foundations will endure

         (and) whoever is true to the god Son-of-Bēl (Nabû) will live for ever.

       When that temple becomes dilapidated and you repair its dilapidated section(s),

         find an inscription (written) in my name (and) place (it) with your inscribed objects.

         By the command of the god Marduk, the great lord whose command cannot be changed,

         may the fame of your name be established for ever.