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 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. 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.

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.

 

(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 is a mortgage on real estate in security for a loan. The interest was at the rate of eleven and one-third per cent.

ONE mana of money, a sum belonging to Iqisha-Marduk,

son of Kalab-Sin, (is loaned) unto Nabu-etir,

son of _____, son of _____.

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

His field near the gate of Bel (Marduk) is Iqisha-Marduk’s pledge.

(This document bears the name of four witnesses, and is dated) at Babylon,

Tammuz twenty-seventh, in the fourteenth year of Nabopolassar,

(the father of Nebuchadnezzar).

The translation on this webpage was adapted from A.K. Grayson,

Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles

(1975) and Jean-Jacques Glassner,

Mesopotamian Chronicles

(Atlanta, 2004)

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

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

 

 

The Chronicle Concerning the Early Years of Nabopolassar (ABC 2) is one of the historiographical texts from ancient Babylonia. It deals with Nabopolassar‘s capture of Babylon, his accession as king and his war against the Assyrians. This chronicle belongs to one large text that continued with the Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3) and the Late Years of Nabopolassar (ABC 4).

Translation

1 In the month of […] Nabopolassar, having sent troops to Babylon, at night

2 entered the city and they did battle within the city all day.

3 They inflicted a defeat on Assyria. The garrison of Sin-šarra-iškun fled to Assyria.

4 The city was entrusted to […]. On the twelfth day of the month Ulûlu the army of Assyria

5 went down to Akkad, entered Šasanaku, set fire to the temple

6 and plunderded it. And in the month Tašrîtu the gods of Kiš (Kish) went to Babylon.

7 The Nthe day, the army of Assyria went to Nippur and Nabopolassar retreated before them.

8 The army of Assyria and the Nippureans followed him to Uruk,

9 they did battle against Nabopolassar in Uruk, and retreated before Nabopolassar.

10 In the month Ajaru the army of Assyria went down to Akkad. On the twelfth day of the month Tašrîtu

11 when the army of Assyria[12] had marched against Babylon and the Babylonians

12 had come out of Babylon; on that day[11] they did battle against the army of Assyria,

13 inflicted a major defeat upon the army of Assyria, and plundered them.

14 For one year there was no king in the land. On the twenty-sixth day of the month Arahsamna [23 November 626] Nabopolassar

15 ascended the throne in Babylon. The accession year of Nabolossar (626/625): in the month Addaru [24 February/23 March]

16-17 Nabopolassar returned to Susa the gods of Susa whom the Assyrians had carried off and settled in Uruk.

——————————————

18 The first year of Nabopolassar (625/624): On the seventeenth of the month Nisannu panic overcame the city.

19 Šamaš (Shamash / Utu) and the gods of Šapazzu went to Babylon.

20 On the twenty-first day of the month Ajaru [14 May 625] the army of Assyria entered Raqmat and carried off the booty.

21 On the twentieth day of the month […] the gods of Sippar went to Babylon.

22 On the ninth day of the month Âbu [30 July 625] Nabopolassar and his army marched to Raqmat.

23 He did battle against Raqmat but did not capture the city. Instead, the army of Assyria arrived so

24 he retreated before them and withdrew.

——————————————

25 The second year of Nabopolassar (624/623): at the beginning of the month Ulûlu [9 August 624] the army of Assyria

26 went down to Akkad and camped by the Banitu canal.

27 They did battle against Nabopolassar but achieved nothing

28 […] and withdrew.

——————————————

29 The third year (623/622): On the eight day of the month […] Der rebelled against Assyria. On the fifteenth day of the month Tašrîtu [11 October]

30 [the Assyrian general] Itti-ili joined battle with Nippur. Afterward the king of Assyria went down to Akkad

31 with his troops and took possession of Der; he took out its treasures and had them sent to Nippur.

32 He pursued Itti-ili, ravaged Uruk?, and set up a garrison at Nippur.

33 He went up from beyond the Euphrates and set out

34 toward Assyria. He ravaged […]nu and set out for Nineveh.

35 […] who had come to do battle against him

36 [..wh]en they saw him they bowed down before him.

37 […]

38 The rebel king […]

39 one hundred days […]

40 […] when […]

41 […] rebel […]

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

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

 

The following, very fragmentary text from Uruk, is a chronographic document dealing with the history of Babylonia in the eighth century BCE, and especially the demise of king Nabû-šuma-iškun, who died in 748, after he had broken all written and unwritten laws of his civilization. The text was already damaged in Antiquity: the scribe notes several breaks in the original he was copying.

Translation

Column i Marduk-apla-usur […] the Chaldaean.

[…] the Tigris […]

[…] a messenger […] he killed and […].

[…]

Forced labor and corvée were imposed and […] slave.

and bread, the food offering for the fifth day that he had seized, he used up and […].

the boat Idhedu […] for the Esagila (Marduk’s ziggurat / temple / residence in Babylon).

Column ii (…) On a propitious day, from Babylon, Nabû-šuma-iškun turned his attention toward his country but

(Marduk & son Nabu, patron gods of Babylon & Borsippa) on the order of the BREAK lords Nabû and (father) Marduk, he went into the […] inside the house and

no longer went into battle nor started into the field.

(Nabu’s spouse Nanaya seated, Babylonian King Meli-shipak II & ill daughter before her, with symbols of gods above) In the third year, again, he brought the statue of Nanaya (Nabu’s spouse), the goddess of the Ezida (residence of Nabu & Nanaya in Borsippa), the beloved of Nabû, into the Bit mummi but

kept Nabû in Babylon and had the ceremonies of the evening before and those of the day if the eššešu-festival celebrated in only one day.

(life-size alien god Nabu; Nabu & mixed-breed king) He covered the fine garment of Nabû with the fine garment of Bêl (Marduk) of the month Šabatu.

Dressed as the latter, he proposed Bêl’s marriage to Tašmetu (Nabu’s spouse).

Unshaven, he mutilated the fingers of his apprentice scribe, and, wearing fine gold, he entered into Bêl’s cella of offering […].

(Nabu’s Ezida & Tower of Babel in his patron city of Borsippa) A leek, a thing forbidden in the Ezida, he brought to the temple of Nabû and gave to eat to the one “entering the temple” (i.e., the priest).

(life-size giant god Enki; Enki’s ziggurat / residence in Eridu) Ea (Enki), the lord of wisdom, whose dwelling place was founded with pure heaven and earth,

he made him get up from the dwelling place, which befitted his great divinity, and made him sit in the exalted gateway of Bêl.

(Babylon; Bel / Marduk, patron god of Babylon, sky-disc) He removed Madanu, “Bêl of Babylon” (Marduk), his favorite god, from his seat and made him leave.

Without the authority of […]  this city, he did as he pleased,

of […]ri, son of […], who

He […] BREAK […]

[…] she who sits on the throne […] seven lions.

[…] he unleashed and […] allowed to roam freely.

He had her grasp […] he had her leashed.

(Inanna, goddess of love, & eager goddess of war) He had […] of Ištar (Inanna) […] disconnected.

[…] to the granary of the verdant countryside he offered […] a dust storm […].

He presented […] Belet-duri […].

[…] Nabû, detained several nights in Babylon and […] seated among […] without destinies.

[..] Babylon […] which he destroyed by fire.

(Marduk, warrior son to Enki, & patron god of Babylonia) […] the great lord Marduk […] he went to Marduk in place of the king and

[…] he spoke […] was placed.

[…] kept in order […].

[…] the kneeling lord […] he made sing.

Column iii […] Nin […]

When the proud lord, the freedom of Babylon, Borsippa, and Cutha

and the sworn agreements of Enlil-ina-mati, the son of KU[…] BREAK, the governor of Larak, in their time had established

(Marduk & rival younger brother Nergal) and when he had offered sacrifices at Babylon, Borsippa, and Cutha before Bêl, Nabû, and Nergal.

Year after year, he made unbearable their burden of slaughter, robbery, murder, corvée, and forced labor.

(Ninurta & others with nuclear missiles attack Marduk & sons) In only one day, he burned alive sixteen Cutheans at Zababa’s (Ninurta) gate in the heart of Babylon.

He delivered inhabitants of Babylon to Hatti and Elam as a token of respect.

He made the inhabitants of Babylon with woman, children, and servants go out and settled them into the countryside.

He heaped up the houses of Babylon’s inhabitants BREAK BREAK into piles of rubble, and he turned them into royal property.

The main street, the avenue of Šarur, his lord’s beloved, who passes through the streets of his city in the month of Ululu,

its passage he blocked off and turned into royal property, making him pass into a cul-de-sac.

He seized Mudammiq-Adad, son of Adad-šuma-ereš, his court opponent, without having committed either a crime or a rebellion, and

his people, as many as there were, he carried off to the Chaldaeans and the Aramaeans, as a sign of respect.

His towns, his fields, his houses, his gardens, and everything that belonged to him, as many as there were, he appropriated for himself.

The man Iltagal-il of the town Dur-ša-Karbi, which is on the bank of the Euphrates, came to his presence and swore agreements and oaths, but

he committed insult and unspeakable slander, that are forbidden of princes, against him and counted his town as booty.

(Marduk’s E-sagila, ziggurat / temple / residence in Babylon, & many temples / houses for other gods) In the sixth year, he turned his attention toward the Esagila, the palace of the Enlil (Earth Colony Commander) of the gods (i.e., Marduk), with a view to restoring it, but

the possessions of the Esagila, as much as was there, what earlier kings had brought there,

he took out, gathered them into his own palace, and made them his own:

silver, gold, choice and priceless stones, and everything that befits a deity, as much as was there.

According to his good pleasure, he made offerings of them to the gods of the Sealand, of the Chaldeans, and of the Aramaeans.

He would adorn the women of his palace with them, and would give them to Hatti and Elam as signs of respect.

At the beginning of the seventh year, he marched on the Bit-Dakkuri for evil.

Afterward, Nabû-šuma-iškun, the Dakkurean, in violation of the sworn agreements and the oath taken by the great gods,

ordered out horses, troops, and chariots and sent them to go on campaign with him.

He distributed bread, beer of the first quality, and flour to all his camp.

(Babylonian king before Utu; Marduk) In the month of Addaru, the twentieth day, the days of games in honor of Šamaš (Shamash / Utu) and Marduk, he felt no fear with regard to the sworn agreements and oaths.

The people, as many as were lying like cattle in a meadow, made merry and celebrated.

Column iv (…) […]

[…] Bêl (Enlil in some texts, Marduk in some texts) […]

(Utu, twin Inanna, father Nannar, & Utu’s damaged brother Papsukal, Nannar’s children) […] Sin (Nannar / Suen) […] he made get up.

[…] in the room […].

[…]

[…] Babylon […] he […] them.

[…] Babylon.

[…] he […] and […] they knelt.

[…] they made go up […]. “I want to send […]”.

[…] the great lord Marduk […] looked angrily at […] Ezida and

[…] they made […] attack him and he plundered its […].

[…] his survivors […] confined and

[…] the fugitives […] he returned and

[…] Akkad […] he burned.

[…] Borsippa, […], Dilbat, and Cutha.

[…] toward those who are in the vanguard, […] he stole their goods.

[…] he marched to Larak and […] the governor of Larak.

[…] sworn agreements and oaths before the great gods, seven times, […] entered into with him.

[…] those people, without having committed any crime […] he seized and

[…] he took them away and […] made them live on the steppe.

[…] toward the Bitter Waters […] them.

[…] he reached […] and Nabû who, before […] kept hold of Babylon.

(E-kur, Enlil’s residence in Nippur) […] he caused to be done […] Ekur not […] he made him do but

Marduk, the great lord, and Nabû, the exalted crown-prince (Marduk’s 3rd son), commanded his scattering […].

[…]

[…]

[…] BREAK […]

——————————————

Upper edge [Remains of a colophon]

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

(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…)

        SEGMENT A

          ^1-6 On a shining day may …… for you!

        On a bright day may your heart ……!

          (giant alien Utu; Utu pulls the strings to his “wheel of justice”)

         The bright day when Utu the judge ……. …… his pleasure, his fulfillment.

        …… the staff of An, in heaven and earth.

         (King Anu; his eldest grandson Marduk) 

        …… Marduk …….

        approx. 4 lines missing

        SEGMENT B

           ^1-14 There …….

        2 lines fragmentary

          (alien giant Utu & Babylonian king; Nanshe, goddess of birds & fishes) 

        Before Utu and Nance …….

        Before Abi-Ecuh …….

        1 line unclear

        …… your divinity ……. …… your lot.

        The door …… to the house ……. …… day and night ……. …… from the mouth, its tongue …….

        Your personal god …… like life.

        Your protective goddess …… life.

        …… life …… prayer.

          ^15-30 In those days, in those far-off years ……

        The holy hand …… his protective goddess …….

        

            (Nisaba, Enlil’s mother-in-law, Master Scribe & grain goddess; earthling, 2 unidentified gods, Haia-barley god, & his spouse Nisaba)

        Nisaba, the lady of Erec (Uruk), ……. …… a jar in which there was barley.

        Walking …… …… on roads and routes ……. …… words which he had uttered, ways …….

        

                  (Uttu, giant goddess weaver & her workers spinning;                                   ancient weaving loom)        

        …… a hired worker, like a midwife, a female weaver …….

        …… who spoke to Utu ……, …… who spoke to Nanna (Nannar / Sin) …….
         

        

           (Nannar / Suen & his ziggurat residence, moon crescent giant god of Ur, 2nd son to Earth Colony Commander Enlil)

        He who enters a house ……. …… small and great ……. …… sitting on his chair, lying on his bed,

        1 line unclear

        …… your ways, your personal god …… …… years of life, months of peace in a place of contentment.

Unknown web source

 

(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…)

 

This marriage took place about 2200 B.C. The bride was a slave, and gained her freedom by marriage, and hence the penalty imposed upon her in case she divorced her husband is greater than that imposed on him in case he divorced her.

RIMUM, son of Shamkhatum, has taken as a wife and spouse Bashtum, the daughter of Belizunu,

 (Shamash / Utu, Nannar’s son, giant patron god of Sippar, symbolized as the Sun god)

the priestess (?) of Shamash (Utu), daughter of Uzibitum.

Her bridal present shall be _____ shekels of money.

When she receives it she shall be free.

If Bashtum to Rimum, her husband shall say,

“You are not my husband,” they shall strangle her and cast her into the river.

If Rimum to Bashtum, his wife, shall say,

“You are not my wife,” he shall pay ten shekels of money as her alimony.

They swore by Shamash, Marduk, their king Shamshu-ilu-na, and Sippar…

 

Contract for Hire of Laborer, Reign of Shamshu-Iluna, c. 2200 B.C.

 

(Texts: All Artefacts, 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…)

 

This is a contract from the reign of Shamshu-iluna of the Akkadian dynasty, c. 2200 B.C. It is of many of like character.

MAR-SIPPAR has hired for one year Marduk-nasir, son of Alabbana, from Munapirtu, his mother.

He will pay as wages for one year two and a half shekels of silver.

She has received one half shekel of silver, one se [1/180th of a shekel], out of a year’s wages…

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

(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…)

             ^1-11 unknown no. of lines missing

         Life ……. Life ……. Life ……. …… of your name ……. …… holy life ……. Enki …….

         Prince Samsu-iluna (giant mixed-breed offspring made king), ……. …… terrifying splendor which spreads far and wide.

          (Enki, King Anu’s eldest & wisest son, Anu’s heir until Enlil’s birth of the “double seed”)

         Enki …… your throne, and …… bestow on you a scepter of long years and days; may he …… your crown …… like Utu.

           ^12-19 May your kingship be as stable as heaven and earth!

        You are king of numerous lands and peoples!

        You are the people’s good shepherd!

        You are the herdsman of the settled people!

          (Utu, son to Nannar, twin to Inanna, Sun god & god of laws)

        When like Utu you impart just verdicts, …… justice, …… you call by name ……, then you, Samsu-iluna,

        shall be the king of the eloquent words of Utu, and you shall be the foremost of kings.

           ^20-32 When like a raging storm you batter the foreign lands that are hostile to you,

        may your head be raised high, o king; may your head be raised high, o Samsu-iluna!

          (Nannar, moon crescent god of Ur)   (son Utu, Sun god)

        In Babylon, the city of the divine powers (alien technologies) of Suen (Sin / Nannar),

        may you let your cleverness shine like the sun!

        May Marduk, the god who created you, lift your head high in the midst of lords and princes!

        On the field of battle, of mêlée and conflict, may he never stray from your side!

       

               (Marduk upon his dragon symbol, & son Nabu, wars against cousins Inanna, Ninurta, & others)

        May he be your helper with weapons (alien high-tech weaponry), may he cause you to excel until distant days!

          (alien Anunnaki King Anu in his winged sky-disc, father in heaven to main gods on Earth)

        May An (Anu), king of the gods, make your life last until distant days!

        (King Anu’s 2nd son, born of the royal “double seed” law of succession, Earth Colony Commander)

        May Enlil, king of the foreign lands, who confirms your words, make your words weighty!

          (Inanna upon her war lion / zodiac symbol Leo, with high-tech weaponry in hands)

        May Inana, the great queen of heaven, grasp you firmly with her holy word!

        May Enki deliver numerous people into your hands!

         (Ashur / Ahuru-Mazda in his winged sky-disc protecting his king below)

        May Asari (Ashur / Osiris, Marduk’s son), the great ruler of the abzu, who provides advice for all the foreign lands,

        the lordly one of Eridug, the god who in his …… calls all the …… with a good name — may he be your great princely strength!
           (Ninhursag / Namma, mother to 1/2 brother Enlil’s heir, & to many of twin Enki’s offspring)

          ^33-39 May Namma (Ninhursag), the mother who …… the house, place water in your mouth at the …… of the Land!

          

           (Eridu ruins, alien 1st settlement, later Enki’s patron city, tens of thousands of years old; Enki’s Eridu ziggurat / residence drawing)

        May Damgalnuna (Enki’s spouse), the great lady of Eridug, when she intercedes joyfully in the good bedchamber,

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        pray on your behalf for days of plenty and days …… from her husband.

        May the …… deity, the protective goddess of the abzu, be your source of good omens …… for ever and ever!

        O Samsu-iluna, my king!

A prayer for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna C): translation

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

 

(Texts: All Artefacts, 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…)

          ^1-10 Lord, may you confirm your royal position by taking your seat on the throne, the lofty dais!

        Samsu-iluna, may you confirm your royal position by taking your seat on the throne, the lofty dais!

        May you strengthen the foundations of your throne by grasping the shepherd’s crook of lordship!

        May you bring to perfect completion the princely divine powers (alien advanced technologies)

        by inspiring awe in the holy place, the pure place!

        When you …… on the holy royal dais, may you lift your head high in a lordly manner!

          ^11-17 When you are embued with the terrifying splendor of royalty, …… shining like the sun!

        When you perfectly wield the august divine powers (alien technologies), the great divine powers,

        may you be cloaked as if with a mantle in the great awesomeness of royalty!

        

               (Apkulla / pilot,     Enki,  father King Anu in his sky-disc, Enlil,  winged eagle-headed minor god / Apkulla, Tree of Life)

        When you come forth in brilliance like the shining day, may An and Enlil determine a great destiny for you!

        When you appear like Nanna (Nannar / Sin, moon crescent god of Ur) over the Land,

        may the great prince Enki pray on your behalf in his overflowing heart!

          ^18-24 May your headdress sparkle over the Land like Utu!

        May your scepter correctly guide the numerous people!

          (Nannar, 2nd son to Enlil, father to major gods Utu & Inanna, moon crescent patron god of Ur)

        May Suen (Nannar / Sin) let you control the living beings!

        With your shepherd’s crook may you lead Sumer and Akkad as if you were their mother and father!

        May the widespread people, the people whom you have united, pray to you as you shine like the Barge of Heaven!

        May you be the god of the foreign lands that are settled together!

          ^25-40 When you come forth like Utu, joy ……, and their gaze is fixed as if on their own parents.

        When you feed them lavishly, may their lives ……!

        When you generously give them drink, ……!

        May the black-headed people (description of all earthlings at that time) …… cool themselves in your shade!

        Your shepherdship …….

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        May …… be praised!

        May your royal …… be forever stable!

        May you be ……!

        May you be ……!

        May you shine ……!

        O Samsu-iluna, my king!

A prayer for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna E): translation

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

 

(Texts: All Artefacts, 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...)

          ^1-12 My …… of eternal fame, head lifted high in princely worth, ……

        who loves righteousness and truth, …… named with an august name,

          (alien giants Enlil & equal spouse Ninlil images carved into ancient city wall, Earth Commanders)

         for whom Enlil …… has determined a great destiny, and Ninlil ……!

         (Enlil, sons Ninurta & Nuska, Bau with her guard dog) 

        The valiant Ninurta is your helper.

        In the E-kur, Nuska the august minister of Enlil, the assembly leader of all lands, is your foremost palace superintendent.

        Throughout your life, may you carry your neck high; in princely manner may you lift your head high!

        “Prolong the days of his life for Samsu-iluna, of princely worth!”

          (Anu in his winged sky-disc; alien Anunnaki King Anu)

          ^13-29 May An, king of the gods, look upon you favorably; the great and august An (Anu), the father of the gods,

        he with the splendid crown, full of great and august radiance, ……

        your royal throne whose branches and sprouts …… as wide as the sky.

        May he bestow upon you, during the days of your long life, the power to make decisions ……,

        to direct ……, to serve as the provider of the black-headed creatures (all current earthlings) in all their multitude!

        May Enlil, ……, the king of all countries, protect you …… command.

        May he …… for you the city of your country.

        May he make firm for you the foundation of your country.

          (Nergal, Ninlil, Enlil, Enki, & unidentified giant mixed-breed)

        May Ninlil, the queen of deities, joyfully …… for you, and may she look upon you with shining face;

        may she who takes counsel …… with Enlil, and who cares for ……, …… her favorable word.

          (warrior god Ninurta, Enlil’s eldest son)

          ^30-46 May Ninurta, the strong warrior of Enlil, the lord of decisions,

        whose august commands are as weighty as those of An and Enlil (alien kingship succession = Anu>Enlil>Ninurta),

        he of lordly character, terrifying splendor and heroism, who resists the forceful,

          (Ninurta with Anzu in grasp, & earthlings captured in his net / alien technologies)

        the strong shepherd (?) who crushes the evil and wicked —

        may he spread out in heaps for you the inhabitants of the cities which you hate, and may he deliver your enemies into your hands!

          (E-kur, Enlil’s mud-brick-built ziggurat / residence in Nippur)

        May Nuska, the august minister of Enlil, let you enter brick-built E-kur joyfully with your offerings,

        and escort you before the shining faces of Enlil and Ninlil;

        in Babylon, the city of heroes, may he make firm for you the foundation of your kingship.

        The august command …… Enlil ……. ……, may …… be their king!

        ……, may he …… a place for you!

        ……, like the light born monthly in the pure sky.

        ……, and may you too grow throughout your life like a fresh fruit,

        o Samsu-iluna, my king!

A prayer for Samsu-iluna (Samsu-iluna G): translation

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

 

(Texts: All Artefacts, 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…)

          (Enki; grandson Ashur with his sky-disc)

          ^1-6 He greeted Enki, Asalim (Ashur / Osiris) and the son of Eridug

        (An Akkadian gloss has: Ea (Enki), Marduk (Enki’s eldest son) and Asalluha (Ashur, Marduk’s eldest son),

        the great gods, while sitting majestically on the golden throne of kingship with head high in heroic strength in its midst

        (An Akkadian gloss has: on your golden throne of kingship, whose head is raised high in the strength of your heroism,

        may you sit majestically, Samsu-iluna, double king),

       

                  (Ur with Nannar’s ziggurat / residence;                                                 Larsa, Nannar’s patron cities)

        the king of Urim (Ur) and king of Larsa, the king of Sumer and Akkad.

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

(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…)

        SEGMENT A

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           ^1-171 line damaged

        …… acting as its lord ……

        7 lines damaged

        …… the black-headed …….

        …… the Euphrates …….

        …… the Tigris …….

        …… on the banks of the Irnina watercourse …….

         (mixed-breed giant Hammurabi, chosen by alien gods to be king of Babylonia)

        King Hammu-rabi …… Gibil (Enki’s son) (the god of fire).

        Enlil ……. Enki …… heroism.

       

          (semi-divine made king standing before giant Suen / Nannar, moon crescent patron god of Ur; Earth’s 1st cities of ancient Sumer)

        Suen (Sin / Nannar) …….

          (giant Sun god Utu, & mixed-breed smaller giant made king Hammurabi, a go-between for the gods)

          ^18-24 Utu the sorcerer ……

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        (Ishkur / Adad, Nannar’s brother, thunder god, & smaller giant mixed-breed made king)

        …… his favorite ……. Ickur (Adad) …… heroism.

        

                  (mixed-breed giant king stands before bigger giant Marduk, patron god of Babylon)

        Marduk …… strength (?).

                    (alien winged sky-disc above, controlling everything on the ground)

          (alien giant Adad, giant mixed-breed made king, & bigger giant goddess Inanna) 

        Inana …… divine powers (alien technologies).

        …… reverent ……

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        SEGMENT B

          ^1-5 5 fragmentary lines

        unknown no. of lines missing

        SEGMENT C

          ^1-171 line damaged

        …… humanity …….

        5 lines damaged

          (Enlil & his “Great Mountain” / residence in Nippur)

         …… the Great Mountain (Enlil) …….

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        …… the divine powers (alien technologies) of kingship …….

        1 line damaged

        …… Enlil …….

        1 line damaged

        …… acting as its lord (?).

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        unknown no. of lines missing

        SEGMENT D

          ^1-17 1 line damaged

          (Enki, elder brother to Enlil, oldest & wisest alien god on Earth, 1st one sent to colonize the planet)

        …… Enki …….

        …… emerging from the Land.

        …… befitting divinity …….

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        …… joyous …….

        …… praising with their songs …….

        …… your statue shall not be brought in ……

        2 lines damaged

        …… formed your heart for Enlil (?).

        …… enter …….

        …… precious destinies …….

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        SEGMENT E

          ^1-4 4 fragmentary lines

        unknown no. of lines missing

        SEGMENT F

          ^1-22 1 line damaged

          (giant Marduk, patron lord over Babylon & Egypt)

        …… its prince (?) Marduk who …….

        …… curse …….

        …… great wrath ……

        Marduk …….

        …… midst of the great gods ……

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        …… weapon …….

        1 line damaged

        …… brickwork (?) …….

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        …… portion …….

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        …… the black-headed (description used by alien Anunnaki for earthlings, all having black hair, while the gods have brown, black, blonde, etc. colored hair, & variety of eye colors as we now have on Earth today) …….

        1 line damaged

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A praise poem of Hammu-rabi (Hammu-rabi C): translation

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

(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…)

          (Enki, god of waters, his zodiac symbol Aquarius)

          ^1-7 Enki has esteemed him truly in the shrine, the august place — the king who loves purification rites

        and is well-suited to the pure divine powers (alien technologies),

        the king who is skilled in the precious plans, who is reverent,

        eloquent and deft (?), the shepherd, favorite of lord Nunamnir (Enlil) and beloved of mother Ninlil, who ……

          (Earth Colony Commander Enlil & equal spouse Ninlil carved into ancient city wall)

        great food offerings in E-kur, who delights (?) the great prince Enki, ……,

          (Ninhursag, sister-lover to Enki, mother to Ninurta, son & heir to her 1/2 brother Enlil)

        who is cherished by holy Damgalnuna (Ninhursag): the good shepherd (King) Hammu-rabi.

            (Hammurabi images placed in many locations of Washington D.C.)

          ^8-14 The king has …… everything in the shrine E-kic-nujal.

        Hammu-rabi, whose …….

           (giant goddess Ningal, giant mixed-breed Ur-Nammu made king, damaged images of his mother-goddess Ninsun, king again, & giant Nannar, the king & patron gods of Ur)

        Daily he …… Nanna (Nannar / Sin) and Ningal (Nannar’s spouse).

        The king whose joy is …… has restored the purification rites, plans and divine powers (alien technologies) …….

        He will stand there before you ……,
           (alien giant Nannar, moon crescent god of Ur)

        o youth Suen (Nannar / Sin), fulfilling …… all your requirements (kings fully directed by alien gods).

A prayer for Hammu-rabi (Hammu-rabi D): translation

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

(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…)

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          ^1-6 1 line damaged

        ….. the reverent one, who takes care ……,

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        (The gods are addressed:)

        “Give him the scepter ……! …… the name of Babylon, the city of lordship!

        Make the king pre-eminent in the world ……!”

        

              (Marduk upon his dragon symbol, giant son Nabu, & giant mixed-breed made king brings dinner from the mountains)

          ⁷ O Asarluhi (Marduk), …… destiny for my Hammu-rabi!

        

           (Apkulla / pilot,   Enki, father King Anu in his winged sky-disc, Anu’s son & heir Enlil, & winged eagle-headed pilot / Apkulla, minor god)

          ^8-13 An (Anu), Enlil and Enki …… with him.

        When they had decided ……, all the great gods together …… joyfully to Marduk.

         (Royal Blooded descendants of King Anu stationed on Earth Colony, the “main gods & goddesses” upon their animal symbols)

        (Marduk speaks to the great gods:)

        “You have …… the shepherd of your hearts to exercise the lordship in the Land.

        Determine his destiny grandly, …… with your holy mouths.

        Appoint …… your word …… for him, the indefatigable shepherd.”

          ^14-25 (The great gods speak:)

        “We name him king in the four quarters of the world …….

          

        (the “Law Code of Hammurabi” is given to him for the earthlings of Babylon to follow, by alien giant god Utu, the Sun god)

        Hammu-rabi, humble prince acceptable to the gods (a mixed-breed who is loyal to them), …… our word,

        we grant you authority over the black-headed (much smaller non-mixed earthlings, only giant mixed-breed offspring allowed as king, queen, high-priest, or high-priestess, go-betweens for the alien giants, positions of authority over all other earthlings);

        may your name …… the limits of heaven ……!

        …… the inhabitants of the Land, keeping in order ……!

        May your reign endure ……, may it …… a shining barge!

        May your shepherding …… be firm, and may the people …… in the pastures!

           (alien giant god & king with spouse on knees; Ishkur / Adad with winged sky-disc)

        Peerless king, your roar of triumph is like Ickur (Ishkur / Adad the thunder god), covering ……!

        Your mouth is the fiery god of fire (Enki’s son Gibil, god who taught mankind use of the kilns), …… below and in the uplands …….

        May youthful Utu be your helper, …….

        May he always go at your right side and favor you.

          (Nergal in his sky-chariot; warrior god Nergal with high-tech alien weaponry)

         …… in your ……, Erra (Nergal)……. Hammu-rabi, you should put your trust in our august commands, …….”

          (the great giant Babylonian King Hammurabi, & his cuneiform inscription) 

          ^26-37 Hammu-rabi …… the command of An and Enlil (follow their orders or face terrible consequences!), …… of heaven and earth,

        …… throughout the world ……. An and Enlil …… to the king.

        Among the great gods, Asarluhi (Marduk, Enki’s eldest son) ……. In Babylon, the city, the precinct, the pure dwelling …….

        …… foundation, the great dais, the beloved and august dwelling, in joy …….

        …… the noble son of the gods, …… royal name, …… they firmly spoke their consent to him.

        

            (goddess, Utu climbing the ziggurat of grandfather Enlil, Enlil on his throne)

        When they ……, they …… the power of Enlil over the numerous people.

        …… they manifested his destiny, …… the life of the Land.

        They magnified Hammu-rabi, their benign shepherd, and …… over all the black-headed (simply, all earthlings).

        …… him whom Enki has …… his favor in the Land,

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A Prayer for Hammu-rabi (Hammu-rabi E): translation

The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

(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…)

          ^1-37 37 lines missing

          ^38-47 1 line fragmentary

        …… raised his head high.

        …… before him …… rejoiced at him.

        …… embraced him.

        Your …… has determined the destiny.

        May you be their ……, exercising lordship over them.

        May …… which has been bestowed on you never cease.

        You are well-suited for ……, and may its time be prolonged for you.

        A destiny has been determined for you and you have been called by name; may you have no rival!