Nebuchadnezzar II 126A
| Obverse | ||
| Column i | ||
| i 1i 1 | (i 1) Nebuchadnezzar (II), king of Babylon, the true [she]pherd who is the favorite of the god Marduk, the exalted ruler who is the beloved of the god [Nabû, the pi]ou[s pr]ince [who] constantly follows the ways of the god Marduk — the great [lord], the god who created him — [and the god Nabû] — his true heir, [the one who] loves [his] royal majesty — the learned (and) competent one who l[oves wor]ship[ing] their [divinity] (and) whose at[tention] is fixe[d] on [the will(s) of] their divine maje[sty], the w[ise (and) capable one], who a[t the mention of the]ir [important name(s)], reve[res] god(s) and [goddess(es)], the wise (and) [p]ious [one] who provides for Esagil and [Ezida], fore[most] heir of Nabopolassa[r], king of Babylon, [a]m [I]. | |
| i 22 | ||
| i 33 | ||
| i 44 | ||
| i 55 | ||
| i 66 | ||
| i 77 | ||
| i 88 | ||
| i 99 | ||
| i 1010 | ||
| i 1111 | ||
| i 1212 | ||
| i 1414 | ||
| i 1515 | ||
| i 1616 | ||
| i 1717 | ||
| i 1818 | ||
| i 1919 | ||
| i 2020 | ||
| i 2121 | ||
| i 2222 | ||
| i 2323 | ||
| i 2424 | (i 24) The great lord, the god Mar[duk, created] me and | |
| i 2525 | ||
| i 2626 | (i 26) (No translation possible) | |
| i 2727 | x (x) ⸢GA?/TA? NI? DA?/IT?⸣ [...] | |
| i 2828 | x x x x x [...] | |
| i 2929 | x x x x x [...] | |
| i 3030 | x x x x x [...] | |
| i 3131 | x x x x x [...] | |
| i 3232 | x x x x x [...]3 | |
| Lacuna | ||
| i 1*1* | (i 1*) I collect and heap up [...], thick (beams of) cedar, substantial tribute, (and) lavish gift(s) — (and) every year I [had] (all of this) broug[ht into their (midst)]. | |
| i 2*2* | ||
| i 3*3* | ||
| i 4*4* | ||
| i 5*5* | (i 5*) (With regard to) Esagil, [the mighty sh]rine, the palace of heaven and earth, the temple of [his lordly majesty], I cl[ad] Eumuša, the cella of the En[lil of the gods, the god Marduk], with reddish gold [and], for the god Marduk, my lord, I made the sheen of the temple radiant (like the sun). (With regard to) Kaḫilisu, [the gate] sprinkled with sexual charm(s), I decorated (it) with ṣāriru-gold and, for the goddess Zarpanītu, my lady, I fill[ed] the temple with splendor. | |
| i 6*6* | ||
| i 7*7* | ||
| i 8*8* | ||
| i 9*9* | ||
| i 10*10* | ||
| i 11*11* | ||
| i 12*12* | ||
| i 13*13* | ||
| i 14*14* | ||
| Column ii | ||
| ii 1ii 1 | (ii 1) (With regard to) the Ezida that (is inside) Esagil, the cella of the god Nabû of the forecourt, in which the god Nabû — the triumphant heir — takes up residence (after) arriving in procession from Borsippa during the New Year’s festival, (at) the beginning of the year, for the festiv(ities) of the akītu-festival, I clad its door-jamb(s), doorbolt(s), crossbeam(s), architrave(s) (and) giškanakku(s) with reddish gold, and, for the god Nabû, the one who loves my royal majesty, I made the sheen of the temple radiant. | |
| ii 22 | ||
| ii 33 | ||
| ii 44 | ||
| ii 55 | ||
| ii 66 | ||
| ii 77 | ||
| ii 88 | ||
| ii 99 | ||
| ii 1010 | ||
| ii 1111 | ||
| ii 1212 | ||
| ii 1313 | (ii 13) (With regard to) Etemenanki, the ziggurat of Babylon, whose foundation(s) Nabopolassar, the king of Babylon, my father who en[gend]ered me, had firmly established and which he had raised thirty cubits, but [whose super]structure he had not rai[se]d up (to its summit), I set myself to [(re)bu]ild it. I insta[lled h]ard (beams of) cedar that (had grown tall) in Leba[no]n, (in) their forest, (and that) I had cut down with [my] pure hands, as its šīpu. (With regard to) [Ka]nunabzu, [Kaetemenanki], | |
| ii 1414 | ||
| ii 1515 | ||
| ii 1616 | ||
| ii 1717 | ||
| ii 1818 | ||
| ii 1919 | ||
| ii 2020 | ||
| ii 2121 | ||
| ii 2222 | ||
| ii 2323 | ||
| ii 2424 | ||
| Lacuna | ||
| ii 1'1' | (ii 1') [raisin(s), the fine]st [beer wort, ghee], con[fectioner]ies, [m]ilk, the best oil, [labku-beer], nāšu-beer, [red]dish [grain, kurunnu-wine, the pure(st)] wine, | |
| ii 2'2' | ||
| ii 3'3' | ||
| ii 4'4' | ||
| ii 5'5' | ||
| ii 6'6' | (ii 6'b) [(and) wine of the lands] I[z]alla, [Tu]ʾimmu, [Ṣi]mminu, Ḫilbūnu, [Arnabānu], Sū[ḫu], Bīt-[Kubāti, (and) Akšak] of the land [Bītāti], more than in the past, I copiously provided (all of this) for [the ta]bl[e of the god] Mar[duk] and the goddess [Zar]pa[nī]tu, my lord[s]. | |
| ii 7'7' | ||
| ii 8'8' | ||
| ii 9'9' | ||
| ii 10'10' | ||
| ii 11'11' | ||
| ii 12'12' | ||
| ii 13'13' | ||
| ii 1*1* | ||
| ii 2*2* | ||
| ii 3*3* | [KU₆ bal-ṭi gi]-né-[e] d[AMAR.UTU] ⸢EN⸣-[ia] ⸢šá⸣ [ib-ṭi-lu-ma]10 | (ii 3*) [(With regard to) the fresh (lit. “live”) fish for the gi]n[û-offering(s) of] the god [Marduk, my] lord, [which had been interrupted] ... [E]sagil, I learned (lit. “saw) [i]n an inscription (written) in the name of a former king of the past, [which was in Es]agil, [that] fish did not enter Esagil (as an) audience gift [for the ginû-offering(s)] and fresh (lit. “live”) fish of the day was not bro[ug]ht near (the temple). |
| ii 4*4* | x x x RI/AR IK x GAR x x x x [é]-⸢sag⸣-íl11 | |
| ii 5*5* | ||
| ii 6*6* | [ša? i-na? é]-⸢sag⸣-íl? [(x)] ⸢a-mu⸣-ur-ma | |
| ii 7*7* | ||
| ii 8*8* | ||
| ii 9*9* | <<x>> KU₆ ⸢UD.1.KAM bal-ṭi ul uṭ-ṭa⸣-[aḫ]-ḫu | |
| ii 10*10* | (ii 10*) The god Marduk, my lord, p[rompted] me (to present) thirty fresh fish for the ginû-offering(s) of the god Marduk, my lord, which had ceased from distant days. | |
| ii 11*11* | ||
| ii 12*12* | ||
| ii 13*13* | (ii 13*) In addition to the (existing) fishermen of [Esagi]l, I commissioned twenty citizens of Bab[ylon], the children of the [foregone] fisherm[en (families)], to rush [fresh] fi[sh of] the day for the ginû-offering(s) of [the god Marduk], my [lord, so that fresh fi]sh are [brought near (Esagil) f]or the ginû-offering(s) of [the god Marduk, my lord], (as) morning and evening meal(s). | |
| ii 14*14* | ||
| ii 15*15* | ||
| ii 16*16* | ||
| ii 17*17* | ||
| ii 18*18* | ||
| ii 19*19* | ||
| ii 20*20* | ||
| ii 21*21* | ||
| Column iii | ||
| iii 1iii 1 | (iii 1) (With regard to) Maumuša, his (Marduk’s) makurru-boat, his pure rukūbu-boat, I clad its sides, [the pr]ow and the stern, its equipment, its karûs, (and) its planks with [ea]gles and musḫuššu-dragons (made) of ṣāriru-gold (and) I decorated (it) with preci[ous] stones. In the current of the pure Euphrates, [I] made its sheen radiant like stars of the firmament and I filled (it) with splendor to be an object of wonder for all of the people. | |
| iii 22 | ||
| iii 33 | ||
| iii 44 | ||
| iii 55 | ||
| iii 66 | ||
| iii 77 | ||
| iii 88 | ||
| iii 99 | ||
| iii 1010 | ||
| iii 1111 | ||
| iii 1212 | (iii 12) During the New Year’s festival, (at) the beginning of the year, I made the god Marduk, the Enlil of the gods, reside inside (it) and made (him) go in pro[ce]ssion for the magnificent festiv(ities) of his exalted akītu-festival. The god Marduk sits in (his) holy Maumuša, [on] the embankment(s) he makes the Araḫtu River rejo[ice], (until) he comes to rest (at) Esiskur. | |
| iii 1313 | ||
| iii 1414 | ||
| iii 1515 | ||
| iii 1616 | ||
| iii 1717 | ||
| iii 1818 | el-le-⸢ti⸣ <<x>> dAMAR.UTU | |
| iii 1919 | ||
| iii 2020 | ||
| iii 2121 | ||
| iii 2222 | (iii 22) For the entry of the lord of the gods (Marduk), [the (most) exalted] one, the lord of lords, from the anchorag[e of] Maumuša to Esiskur, (the endpoint of) the process[ion of the] great [lord], the god Marduk, the lord who increases abundance, I regularly placed [tal]l pine[s on the right and lef]t. [(With regard to) the terr]ace of Esiskur, [(the end-point of) the procession of] the great lord, the god [Marduk, I made] its [scent as pleasing as a forest of holy] cedars. [...] … [...]. | |
| iii 2323 | ||
| iii 2424 | ||
| iii 2525 | ||
| iii 2626 | ||
| iii 2727 | ||
| iii 2828 | ||
| iii 2929 | ||
| iii 3030 | ||
| iii 3131 | ||
| iii 3232 | [...] ⸢NA?⸣ I? [x x] x [x x]15 | |
| iii 3333 | (iii 33) The god Adad (and) [the goddess Ištar, who go in procession with the god] Marduk, [the Enlil of the gods] | |
| iii 3434 | ||
| Lacuna | ||
| iii 1'*1'* | (iii 1'*) [I plated musukkannu-wood, a durable wood, (and) thick] cedars [with bright] gold [and] I installed anything that [can be gazed upon inside its foundation(s)]. | |
| iii 2'*2'* | ||
| iii 3'*3'* | ||
| iii 4'*4'* | ||
| iii 5'*5'* | (iii 5'*) [I cl]ad [hard] (beams of) cedar [that I had cut dow]n [with my pure hands in Lebanon, their forest], with reddi[sh gold, decorated (them) with] precious [stone(s), and had (them) st]retc[hed out as the ro]of of Emaḫ[tila, the cella of the god Nabû, over the thr]ee of them. I decorated the roof cedar(s) [of six room]s (and) dal[bānus of] the cella of the god Nabû with shiny silver. I fashioned fier[ce] wild bulls with [ca]st copper, clad (them) with an overlay of si[lver], decorated (them) with pre[ci]ous stone(s), and stationed (them) at the door-j[am]b(s) of the gate of the cella. I clad the door-jamb(s), door bo[lt(s)], crossbeam(s), architrave(s), giššakanakkus, (and) doors of [the gate of] the cella with reddish gold. | |
| iii 6'*6'* | ||
| iii 7'*7'* | ||
| iii 8'*8'* | ||
| iii 9'*9'* | ||
| iii 10'*10'* | ||
| iii 11'*11'* | ||
| iii 12'*12'* | ||
| iii 13'*13'* | ||
| iii 14'*14'* | ||
| iii 15'*15'* | ||
| iii 16'*16'* | ||
| iii 17'*17'* | ||
| iii 18'*18'* | ZAG.DU₈ ši-⸢ga⸣-[ru] GIŠ.tal-lum GIŠ.⸢GAN⸣.DU₇ giš-[ká]-⸢na-ku⸣ | |
| iii 19'*19'* | ||
| iii 20'*20'* | (iii 20'*) Using bricks of shiny silver, I made the accessway to the cella and the course to the temple shine. I inlaid doors of musukkannu-wood and cedar with an inlay of shiny silver and fixed (them) wherever there were gates. | |
| iii 21'*21'* | ||
| iii 22'*22'* | ||
| iii 23'*23'* | ||
| iii 24'*24'* | ||
| iii 25'*25'* | ||
| iii 26'*26'* | (iii 26'*) I fashioned [the throne plat]form (and) the threshold of the temple with [a casting of] shining silver. I inlaid [the cedar (beams)] of the roofing of the storehouse of the eastern gate with shining [sil]ver and I made (it) shine like daylight [for the] exit and entry of the son of the prince, the god Nabû, [when he] draws near to the interior of Šuanna (Babylon). | |
| iii 27'*27'* | ||
| iii 28'*28'* | ||
| iii 29'*29'* | ||
| iii 30'*30'* | ||
| iii 31'*31'* | ||
| iii 32'*32'* | ||
| iii 33'*33'* | ||
| Column iv | ||
| iv 1iv 1 | (iv 1) I magnificently did something for the god Nabû, my lord, that no king of the past had done: During joyous celebrations, I made the god Nabû and the goddess Nanāya, my lords, reside inside it (Ezida on) a seat of happiness. | |
| iv 22 | ||
| iv 33 | ||
| iv 44 | ||
| iv 55 | ||
| iv 66 | (iv 6) [My] he[art] prompted me to provide their great [s]attukku-offerings more lavishly [than in the pa]st (and) every day: [one] fattened (and) uncastrated [prize bul]l who[se] limbs [are] perfect (and) whose bod(ies) <do not have> (any) white spot(s), sixteen fattened sh[eep], fine [zu]luḫ[ḫ]û-sheep, along with (everything) [that (pertains to)] the god[s] of Borsippa: | |
| iv 77 | ||
| iv 88 | ||
| iv 99 | ||
| iv 1010 | ||
| iv 1111 | ||
| iv 1212 | ||
| iv 1313 | ||
| iv 1414 | ||
| iv 1515 | ⸢2⸣ [UZ.TUR.MUŠEN] ⸢3 TU⸣.[KUR₄].⸢MUŠEN⸣ 20 ŠEŠ.MUŠEN | (iv 15) two [ducks], three do[ve]s, twenty marratu-birds, two [duckl]in[gs, three] ušummu-rodents, string(s) of fi[sh from] the apsû, [the best th]ing(s) from the marshes — [bo]unti[ful] vegetables — [the delights of] gardens — red-go[ld] fruits — [the bounty of or]chards — dates, [Dilmun dates], dried fig(s), [raisin(s)], the [finest] beer wort, [ghe]e, confectioneries, [m]ilk, the fin[est o]il, sweet beer, (and) the pure(st) wine: I provided (all of this) more lav[ishly] than in [the pa]st for [the] table of [the god Nabû and the] goddess Nanāya, my lords. |
| iv 1616 | ||
| iv 1717 | ||
| iv 1818 | ||
| iv 1919 | ||
| iv 2020 | ||
| iv 2121 | ||
| iv 2222 | ||
| iv 2323 | ||
| iv 2424 | ||
| iv 2525 | ||
| iv 2626 | (iv 26) [I was assiduous towards Maidḫedu, his (Nabû’s) holy barge and (therefore) I had it (re)built. I c]la[d the musukkannu-wood zāratu-feature(s) and both of its tall cedar karûs with reddish gold (and) I beautified (it) with] orna[ments]. | |
| iv 2727 | ||
| iv 2828 | ||
| iv 2929 | ||
| iv 3030 | ||
| iv 3131 | ||
| iv 3232 | ||
| iv 3333 | (iv 33) [During the New Year’s festival], (at) the beginn[ing of] the ye[ar], | |
| Lacuna | ||
| iv 1'*1'* | (iv 1'*) [I] filled in Ištar-[lamassi-ummānīša] — the [wide] street (that is) the processional way of [the] great [lord, the god Marduk — from Ištar-sākipat-tēbîšu] to Ka[sikilla], (and) [Nabû-dayyān]-nišī[šu] — the wi[de] street (that is) [the processional way of] the son of the prince, [the god Nabû — from Ik]ki[b]šu-na[kar to the en]trance of [the god Nabû into] Esagil with hi[gh](er) [infill(s), and] improved (their) [ac]ce[ssway(s)] using bitumen and ba[ked brick]. | |
| iv 2'*2'* | ||
| iv 3'*3'* | ||
| iv 4'*4'* | ||
| iv 5'*5'* | ||
| iv 6'*6'* | ||
| iv 7'*7'* | ||
| iv 8'*8'* | ||
| iv 9'*9'* | ||
| iv 10'*10'* | ||
| iv 11'*11'* | ||
| iv 12'*12'* | (iv 12'*) (With regard to) Lībil-[ḫēgalla], the eastern canal of [Babylon], which had a long time [ago turned into ruins], I so[ught out] its (original) site [and] (then) (re)built [its embankments] using bitumen and [baked brick]. On Ay-i[būr-šabû], the street in [Babylon, I constructed] a bridge over the canal for the procession of [the great lord, the god Marduk]. I pl[ated] (the parts that were made of) musukkan[nu-wood, a durable wood, and hard] cedar (and) th[ick] pine with bronze, [and (then)] <I built its roof>, (laying) them three deep, [one] on top of [the other. I beautified (its) accessway using bitumen and baked bricks]. | |
| iv 13'*13'* | ||
| iv 14'*14'* | ||
| iv 15'*15'* | ||
| iv 16'*16'* | ||
| iv 17'*17'* | ||
| iv 18'*18'* | ||
| iv 19'*19'* | ||
| iv 20'*20'* | ||
| iv 21'*21'* | ||
| iv 22'*22'* | ||
| iv 23'*23'* | ||
| iv 24'*24'* | ||
| iv 25'*25'* | ||
| iv 26'*26'* | a-di še-la-a-ši-šu [1-en] ⸢e-la-an⸣ [ša-ni-ma] <ṣú-lu-ul-šu ab-ni-ma>27 | |
| iv 27'*27'* | ||
| Column v | ||
| v 1v 1 | (v 1) Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the one who assiduous towards the sanctuaries of the gods Nabû and Marduk, his lords, am I. | |
| v 22 | ||
| v 33 | ||
| v 44 | (v 4) (With regard to) Babylon, the great cult center of the great lord, the god Marduk, a city worthy of his praise, I completed Imgur-Enlil (and) Nēmetti-Enlil, its great walls. (I did something) that no king of the past had done: [I stationed] pow[erful] wild bulls of copper and raging [muš]ḫuššu-dragons in the door-jambs of [their] gate[s]. | |
| v 55 | ||
| v 66 | ||
| v 77 | ||
| v 88 | ||
| v 99 | ||
| v 1010 | ||
| v 1111 | ||
| v 1212 | (v 12) [(With regard to) the emba]nkment of [their (text “its”) moat], my father who had engend[ered me, twice surrounded the city] using bitu[men and baked brick], (but), as for me, using bitu[men and baked brick, I built a strong embankment] three times, (each) o[ne alongside the other, and I adjoined (them)] to the embank[ments that (my) father had constructed. I secu]red [their (lit. “its”)] foundation(s) [on the su]rfa[ce (lit. “breast”) of] the ne[therworld] and raised [their (lit. “its”)] super[structures as high as mountain(s)]. | |
| v 1313 | ||
| v 1414 | ||
| v 1515 | ||
| v 1616 | ||
| v 1717 | ||
| v 1818 | ||
| v 1919 | ||
| v 2020 | ||
| v 2121 | ||
| v 2222 | (v 22) [On the] western [ba]nk, I surrounded [the wall of] Babylon with [a large embankment, from the other] side of the Nār-Upê [to the Nār]-ḫegalla. | |
| v 2323 | ||
| v 2424 | ||
| v 2525 | ||
| v 2626 | ||
| v 2727 | (v 27) My [fa]ther [who en]gendered me constructed [a] large [embank]ment on the eastern bank [from the Ištar] Gate [to] the Uraš Gate [using] bitumen and [bak]ed brick and constru[cted] pie[r]s of baked brick [on the ot]her side of the Euphrates River, [but he did not] comp[lete the rest]. | |
| v 2828 | ||
| v 2929 | ||
| v 3030 | ||
| v 3131 | ||
| v 3232 | ||
| v 3333 | ||
| v 3434 | ||
| v 3535 | (v 35) [As] for [me, his first-born son], | |
| Lacuna | ||
| v 1'1' | (v 1') I constructed (a wall) [using] bitumen and [baked brick], and (then) I put the appropriate drainage openings (for it) in place. | |
| v 2'2' | ||
| v 3'3' | ||
| v 4'4' | ||
| v 5'5' | (v 5') For the protection of [Esagil] and [Babylon], so that there would not [be dry land] in [the Euphrates River bed, I had] a la[rge] fortified wall built (in the riverbed) [using bitumen] and ba[ked brick]. I secu[red its] fou[nda]tion(s) [on the apsû and raised its] super[structure as high as a mountain]. | |
| v 6'6' | ||
| v 7'7' | ||
| v 8'8' | ||
| v 9'9' | ||
| v 10'10' | ||
| v 11'11' | ||
| v 12'12' | ||
| v 13'13' | ||
| v 14'14' | ||
| Lacuna | ||
| v 1''1'' | (v 1'') [I built inside Babylon Eniggi]drukala[masuma], his temple, [using bitumen and b]aked bri[ck]. | |
| v 2''2'' | ||
| v 3''3'' | ||
| v 4''4'' | (v 4'') [For the goddess Gula, the exalted princess, the lady who loves me, safegu]ards [my] l[ife], (and) preserves the [well-bei]ng of my descendants, I bui[lt] E[ḫursagsikila], her temple that is i[n Babylo]n, [using bitumen] and [baked brick]. | |
| v 5''5'' | ||
| v 6''6'' | ||
| v 7''7'' | ||
| v 8''8'' | ||
| v 9''9'' | ||
| v 10''10'' | (v 10'') (With regard to) E[namḫe, the temple of Adad inside Kumar, I built (it)] in Ba[bylon for the god Adad, the one who pr]ov[ides] abundance [in my land]. | |
| v 11''11'' | ||
| v 12''12'' | ||
| v 13''13'' | ||
| Column vi | ||
| vi 1vi 1 | (vi 1) For the god Šamaš, the exalted judge of heaven and earth who makes sure that a propitious omen is present [in] my extispicy, I built anew Edikukalama, his temple that is in Babylon. | |
| vi 22 | ||
| vi 33 | ||
| vi 44 | ||
| vi 55 | (vi 5) (With regard to) Ekitušgarza, the temple of the goddess Bēlet-Eanna, (which) is in an outer corner of the city wall, I built (it) anew in Babylon for the goddess Bēlet-Eanna, the exalted lady who speaks good things about me. | |
| vi 66 | ||
| vi 77 | ||
| vi 88 | ||
| vi 99 | (vi 9) For the goddess Gula, the exalted princess who dwells in E[sa]bad, the one who keeps me healthy (and) safeguards my life, I clad a baldachin of musukkannu-wood, a durable wood, with reddish gold, and decorated (it) with precious stones and (then) I had (it) stretched over her. I clad a well-adorned table, (one) befitting her meals, with bright gold, and placed (it) firmly before her. | |
| vi 1010 | ||
| vi 1111 | ||
| vi 1212 | ||
| vi 1313 | ||
| vi 1414 | ||
| vi 1515 | ||
| vi 1616 | ||
| vi 1717 | ||
| vi 1818 | ||
| vi 1919 | ||
| vi 2020 | (vi 20) I secured two dogs of gold, two dogs of silver, (and) two dogs of copper, (all) with powerful limbs (and) heavily-made bodies, with heavy bodies, on pedestal(s) in its (Esabad’s) immense gates. | |
| vi 2121 | ||
| vi 2222 | ||
| vi 2323 | ||
| vi 2424 | ||
| vi 2525 | (vi 25) (With regard to) Ṭābi-supūršu, the wall of Borsippa, I built (it) anew. (With regard to) its moat embankment(s), I surrounded the city on the outside using bitumen and baked brick. | |
| vi 2626 | ||
| vi 2727 | ||
| vi 2828 | ||
| vi 2929 | (vi 29) For the god Mār-bīti, the lord who breaks the weapon(s) of my enemies, I built his temple anew in Borsippa. | |
| vi 3030 | ||
| vi 3131 | ||
| vi 3232 | (vi 32) For [the goddess Gula, the la]dy of life [who spares] my [lif]e, the one who resides in [E]tila, [I built Etila, her temple], anew [in Bor]sippa. | |
| vi 3333 | ||
| vi 3434 | ||
| vi 3535 | (vi 35) For the goddess [Gula, the] ex[alted princ]ess [who makes] the mention of [my] royal maje[sty surpassing, the one who resides in Egula, I built] Egu[la, her temple, an]ew i[n Borsippa]. | |
| vi 3636 | ||
| vi 3737 | ||
| vi 3838 | ||
| vi 3939 | (vi 39) For the goddess [Gula, the] gre[at lady] who [preserves my life, the one who resides in Ezibatila, I built Ezibatila, her temple, anew in Borsippa]. | |
| vi 4040 | ||
| vi 4141 | ||
| vi 4242 | ||
| vi 4343 | ||
| vi 4444 | (vi 44) [For the deity ..., ..., in ... in/with ...] the who [...]. | |
| vi 4545 | ⸢mu⸣-[...] | |
| vi 4646 | (vi 46) To st[rengthen] the protection of Babylon, [(I did something) that] no king of the past had [don]e: [In the out]skirts of Babylon, [4,000 cubits] distance, far away, (too far away) to [approach] (lit. “not [to approach]”), from [the bank(s) of] the Euphrates River abo[ve the city] to the bank(s) of the Euphrates (River) below [the city], I sur[rounded] the eastern bank of Babylon with [a fortified wall. I dug ou]t [its moat] and built [its] embankment(s) [using bitumen] and baked brick [and (then), on] its [em]bankment, I built [a fortified wall] like a mountain using bitumen and baked brick. I constructed its broad [gate]s, plated (its) doors of cedar with bronze, and fixed them (in those gates). | |
| vi 4747 | ||
| vi 4848 | ||
| vi 4949 | ||
| vi 5050 | ||
| vi 5151 | ||
| vi 5252 | ||
| vi 5353 | ||
| vi 5454 | ||
| vi 5555 | ||
| vi 5656 | ||
| vi 5757 | [KÁ].<GAL>.MEŠ-šu ša-ad-la-a-ti ú-ra-ak-ki-is-ma40 | |
| vi 5858 | ||
| vi 5959 | ||
| vi 6060 | (vi 60) Along the boundaries of Babylon, I heaped up (large) earthworks from the processional street of the bank(s) of the Euphrates River, to the interior of Kish, [a dist]ance of four and two-thirds leagues, and had the city surrounded with powerful flood wa[ter]. | |
| vi 6161 | ||
| vi 6262 | ⸢a-di qé⸣-re-eb kiš.[KI] ⸢4⸣ 2/3 KASKAL.GÍD qá-qá-ri | |
| vi 6363 | ||
| vi 6464 | ||
| vi 6565 | (vi 65) [In order] to prevent [dike bre]aks arising in them, I constructed their embankment(s) using bi[tum]en and baked brick. | |
| vi 6666 | ||
| vi 6767 | (vi 67) [To] strengthen the protection of [Bab]ylon, for a second time, I heaped up large earthworks (from) above Opis (Upû) to Sippar, from the bank(s) of the Tigris River to the bank(s) of the Euphrates River, a distances of five leagues, and had the city for twenty leagues distance surrounded with far-reaching water, like the expanse of the sea. | |
| vi 6868 | ||
| vi 6969 | ||
| vi 7070 | ||
| vi 7171 | ||
| vi 7272 | ||
| vi 7373 | ||
| vi 7474 | (vi 74) In order that those earthen mounds that I set up not be carried away by the battering of the furious waves, I constructed its embankment(s) using bitumen and baked brick. On its embankment, I built a fortified wall as high as a mountain. | |
| vi 7575 | ||
| vi 7676 | ||
| vi 7777 | ||
| vi 7878 | (vi 78) [I esta]blished [Babylon] as a mountain (to protect) the life of [the people. I did not allow] trouble[maker(s) to prevent the people living] inside it [from pulling the chariot pole of the god] Marduk, my lord. | |
| vi 7979 | ||
| vi 8080 | ⸢i-na li-ib-bi-šu⸣ [ana ša-da-du sè-er-de-e d]⸢AMAR.UTU EN-ia⸣ | |
| vi 8181 | ||
| Column vii | (vii) Nebucha[d]nezzar (II), king of Babylon, the exalted ruler who is assiduous towards the cult centers of the great gods, am I. | |
| vii 1vii 1 | ||
| vii 22 | ||
| vii 33 | ||
| vii 44 | (vii 4) I myself am [co]nstantly present with regard to Esagil and Ezida. I constan[tly] seek out the shrines of the god Marduk, the great lord, the god who created me, and the god Nabû, the triumphant heir, the one who loves my royal majesty. | |
| vii 55 | ||
| vii 66 | ||
| vii 77 | ||
| vii 88 | ||
| vii 99 | ||
| vii 1010 | (vii 10) (With regard to) their beautif[ul] festivals, their great akītu-festival, in [abun]dance and prosperity, I passed in front of th[em] every year with gold, silver, [preci]ous (and) valuable stones, glistening ṣapšus, [the y]ield of the mountains and [s]eas, the best of everything of mine, powerful (and) uncastrated prize bulls, fine zuluḫḫû-sheep, fattened sheep, pasillu-sheep, gukkallu-sheep, string(s) of fish from the apsû, bird(s) of the heavens — geese, ducks, marratu-birds, (and) doves — ušummu-rodents, egg(s) — the best thing(s) from the marshes — bountiful vegetables — the delights of gardens — red-gold fruits — the bounty of orchards — dates, Dilmun dates, dried fig(s), raisin(s), the finest beer wort, white [honey], ghee, confectioneries, milk, the finest oil, red-gold abundance, a cornucopia of produce, the best of all lands, beer libations without [nu]mber, (and) wine as if (it were) water. | |
| vii 1111 | ||
| vii 1212 | ||
| vii 1313 | ||
| vii 1414 | ||
| vii 1515 | ||
| vii 1616 | ||
| vii 1717 | ||
| vii 1818 | ||
| vii 1919 | ||
| vii 2020 | ||
| vii 2121 | ||
| vii 2222 | ||
| vii 2323 | ||
| vii 2424 | ||
| vii 2525 | ||
| vii 2626 | ||
| vii 2727 | ||
| vii 2828 | ||
| vii 2929 | ||
| vii 3030 | ||
| vii 3131 | ||
| vii 3232 | (vii 32) Nebuchadnezzar (II), king of Babylon, the true shepherd who is assiduous towards the cult centers of all [of] the temples, am [I]. | |
| vii 3333 | ||
| vii 3434 | ||
| vii 3535 | (vii 35) [At] the mention of [the]ir important [names, I revere] the gods Nabû [and] Marduk, ... [for] eternity. ... (My) heart [dearly want]ed me [t]o re[novate the cult] centers of the great gods. (With my own) strength, [I will pro]vide for the cult ce[nters] (and) renovate (their) sanctuaries. | |
| vii 3636 | ||
| vii 3737 | [x (x)] x [(x) ana?] da-⸢rí⸣-[a]-⸢ti⸣54 | |
| vii 3838 | ||
| vii 3939 | ||
| vii 4040 | ||
| vii 4141 | (vii 41) [For the god Ner]gal, [my] lord, [the one who binds the arms of] my enemies, I decorated [the doors of the gate(s) of] his temple, Emeslam, [with shiny] silver. I fashioned [the threshold(s), nukuššû-fittings], (and) broad doors with [a casting of shiny silver] and [inst]alled (them) [inside his cella]. | |
| vii 4242 | ||
| vii 4343 | ||
| vii 4444 | ||
| vii 4545 | ||
| vii 4646 | ||
| vii 4747 | (vii 47) [I confir]med [ginû-offering(s) of the god Nergal and] the goddess Laṣ, [(as well as) the (other) gods of Emeslam and Cutha ..., mut]tāqu-cake, [..., guk]kallu-sheep, [..., ...]s, (and) fat[tened] bulls. I provided more lavishly [th]an before for [the sattukku-offering(s) of the god Ne]rgal and the goddess Laṣ, m[y] lords. | |
| vii 4848 | ||
| vii 4949 | [...] x [...] | |
| vii 5050 | [... mu-ut]-ta-⸢qú⸣ | |
| vii 5151 | [... gu-uk]-⸢kà⸣-al-lu | |
| vii 5252 | [...].MEŠ [x x] GU₄.GU₄ ma-[ru-ti] | |
| vii 5353 | ||
| vii 5454 | ||
| vii 5555 | (vii 55) [To] strengthen the protection of Emeslam, I built the walls surrounding Emeslam and its buildings, which are in front of the forecourt, anew as (it had been) in ancient times. | |
| vii 5656 | ||
| vii 5757 | ||
| vii 5858 | ||
| vii 5959 | (vii 59) (With regard to) the moat embankment(s) of Cutha, [I] had the city surrounded on the outside using bitumen and b[aked br]ick. | |
| vii 6060 | ||
| vii 6161 | ||
| vii 6262 | (vii 62) For the god Šamaš, my lord who always ans[wers with] a firm ‘yes’ through divination, (and) the who places a [propitious] omen [in] my [ex]tis[pi]cy, I built Ebabbar, [his] temple, anew [ins]ide Sippar. | |
| vii 6363 | ||
| vii 6464 | ||
| vii 6565 | ||
| vii 6666 | ||
| vii 6767 | (vii 67) For the god Bēl-ṣarbi, the one who resides in B[āṣ], my [lo]rd, I built Edurgina, his [temple], anew inside Bāṣ. | |
| vii 6868 | ||
| vii 6969 | ||
| vii 7070 | ||
| vii 7171 | (vii 71) For the god Uraš, my lord, I b[ui]lt E-[i]bbi-Anum, his temple, anew inside Dilbat. | |
| vii 7272 | ||
| vii 7373 | (vii 73) For the god [Lugal-Mar]da, [my lord, I built anew] Eigikalama, his temple, which is inside [Marad]. | |
| vii 7474 | ||
| vii 7575 | ||
| Column viii | ||
| viii 1viii 1 | (viii 1) For the goddess Ištar of Uruk, [my lady], the one who overthrows [her assailants, I built anew Eanna, her temple], in Uruk. [I returned the šēdu and the lamassu] to Uruk and Eanna. | |
| viii 22 | ||
| viii 33 | ||
| viii 44 | ||
| viii 55 | (viii 5) For the goddess Ištar of Agade, the [exalted] princess who sets [my] en[emies] against one other, the mother who raised me I had [a baldachin] made for the ter[rible ra]diance of her lordship and I had (it) stretched out o[ve]r her. | |
| viii 66 | ||
| viii 77 | ||
| viii 88 | [me]-lam-mu be-lu-ti-šu ag-[gu-ti (x x)] | |
| viii 99 | ||
| viii 1010 | (viii 10) [F]or the god Šamaš, my lord, the one who marches at my side (and) opens [the ...] of the road(s) of my [land], I built Ebabbar, his temple, anew in Larsa. | |
| viii 1111 | ⸢pe⸣-e-tu [x x (x)] ú-ru-⸢uḫ⸣ [MA.DA]-ia | |
| viii 1212 | ||
| viii 1313 | ||
| viii 1414 | (viii 14) For the god Sîn, (my) lord, the one who makes my omens auspicious, I built Egišnugal, his temple, anew in Ur. | |
| viii 1515 | ||
| viii 1616 | ||
| viii 1717 | (viii 17) I built anew the sanctuaries of the great gods who march at my side. [I com]pleted their work and, during joy[ous cele]brations, I made the great gods who [reside insi]de them take up residence inside them, (on) their [et]er[n]al seats. May the great gods l[oo]k with pleasure upon me and constantly bless me being king. | |
| viii 1818 | ||
| viii 1919 | ||
| viii 2020 | ||
| viii 2121 | ||
| viii 2222 | ||
| viii 2323 | ||
| viii 2424 | DINGIR.DINGIR GAL.GAL ⸢ḫa-di-iš li⸣-[ip-pal]-⸢su⸣-in-ni-ma67 | |
| viii 2525 | ||
| viii 2626 | (viii 26) Nebuchadnezzar (II), king of justice, am I. | |
| viii 2727 | (viii 27) (With regard to) the widespread people whom the god Marduk, my lord, had entrusted to me, I constantly shepherd them with good intentions (and) directed them in the proper way of life and good behavior. I saw that justice was provided for the loyal. I killed foes (and) bent their necks down to Babylon. I gladly gathered all of the people under its eternal protection. In my land, I made a reign of ab[un]dance (and) years of prosperity manifest. | |
| viii 2828 | ||
| viii 2929 | ||
| viii 3030 | ||
| viii 3131 | ||
| viii 3232 | ||
| viii 3333 | ||
| viii 3434 | ||
| viii 3535 | ||
| viii 3636 | ||
| viii 3737 | ||
| viii 3838 | (viii 38) Nebucha[d]nezzar (II), king of Babylon, the one who constantly seeks out good things, to whom the god Šamaš gave the truth, am I. | |
| viii 3939 | ||
| viii 4040 | ||
| viii 4141 | (viii 41) My attention was set on the renovation of the cult centers of the gods and goddess(es), to which the great lord, the god Marduk, prompted my heart. I provide for the cult centers (and) renovate the(ir) sanctuaries. | |
| viii 4242 | ||
| viii 4343 | ||
| viii 4444 | ||
| viii 4545 | (viii 45) Together with the renovation of the cult centers of the gods and goddess(es), [I star]ted to build a palace, the residence of my roy[al ma]jesty in Babylon. By the word of the god Marduk, the [great] lord, my [lo]rd, and the great gods, my lo[rds], I built a palace, a building (that is) an object of [wonder for the peo]ple, the bond [of the land, a holy kummu-building, (and) the cella of (my) royal majesty], i[n the] Ka-dingirra [distr]ict, which is in Babylon. | |
| viii 4646 | ||
| viii 4747 | ||
| viii 4848 | ||
| viii 4949 | ||
| viii 5050 | ||
| viii 5151 | ||
| viii 5252 | ||
| viii 5353 | ||
| viii 5454 | (viii 54) (I did something) that no king of the past had done: I secured its foundation on the primordial netherworld, on the surface (lit. “breast”) of the broad netherworld, at the level of the water table, and rai[sed (it)] as high as a mountain using bitumen [and baked brick. I had] (beams of) [hard] cedar [(from Mount Lebanon) stretched (over it)] for [its] ro[of]. | |
| viii 5555 | ||
| viii 5656 | ||
| viii 5757 | ||
| viii 5858 | ||
| viii 5959 | ||
| viii 6060 | ||
| viii 6161 | ||
| viii 6262 | ||
| viii 6363 | ||
| viii 6464 | (viii 64) I [...] a fort[ified] wall [...]. | |
| viii 6565 | ú?-x [...] | |
| viii 6666 | x x x [...] | (viii 66) (No translation possible) |
| viii 6767 | x x x [...] | |
| viii 6868 | AN/BAL? x x [...] | |
| viii 6969 | x DI? x [...] | |
| viii 7070 | MA.DA? x [...] | |
| viii 7171 | x x x [...] | |
| viii 7272 | x x x [...] | |
| viii 7373 | x x x [...] | |
| viii 7474 | x x x [...] | |
| viii 7575 | x x x [...]73 | |
| Lacuna | ||
| Column ix | ||
| ix 1ix 1 | (ix 1) [Nebuchadnezzar (II), king] of Babyl[on, the one who makes] the foundations of the land [firm] (, am I). | |
| ix 22 | ||
| ix 33 | (ix 3) I ma[de] Babylon pre-eminent [from] the Upper Sea [to] the Lower Sea, (in) all of [the la]nds [that the god Mar]duk, my lord, gave me, in the tota[lity of] all lands (and) every single in[habited settlement]. In his (Marduk’s) exa[lted] cult center, I made its name (Babylon) worthy of praise. I constantly seek out the sanctuaries of the gods Nabû and Marduk, my lords, ... | |
| ix 44 | ||
| ix 55 | ||
| ix 66 | ||
| ix 77 | ||
| ix 88 | ||
| ix 99 | ||
| ix 1010 | ||
| ix 1111 | ||
| ix 1212 | ⸢aš-te-né⸣-a-am ka-a-a-na x x x x x | |
| ix 1313 | (ix 13) At that time, (with regard to) Mount Lebanon, the [cedar] mountain, the luxuriantly abundant forest of the god Marduk whose scent is pleasing, whose tall cedars had not been ... [for the san]ctuary of another god (and) not been taken [for the palace of] another king, I cut down (cedars) [with my pu]re [hands] and the god Marduk, the king, called me (to bring cedars) for the palace of the ruler in Babylon befitting the embodiment of king[ship] and (take control of Mount Lebanon) where a foreign enemy had exercised authority [and] taken [its] produce away by force so that its (Mount Lebanon’s) people had fled and had taken refuge far away. | |
| ix 1414 | ||
| ix 1515 | ||
| ix 1616 | ||
| ix 1717 | [a-na eš?]-⸢re-e⸣-ti DINGIR šá-nim-ma ⸢la⸣ x x x x | |
| ix 1818 | ||
| ix 1919 | ||
| ix 2020 | ||
| ix 2121 | ||
| ix 2222 | šu-lu-⸢ku⸣ <<x>> <ana> si-ma-at ⸢LUGAL⸣-[ti] | |
| ix 2323 | ||
| ix 2424 | ||
| ix 2525 | ||
| ix 2626 | (ix 26) With the strength of the gods Nabû and Marduk, my lords, I regularly sent [my troops] to Mount Lebanon to (do) [batt]le. I forcibly removed its (Lebanon’s) enemy everywhere (lit. “above and below”) and increased the welfare of the land. I gathered the scattered people and I brought them back to their (original) place(s). | |
| ix 2727 | ||
| ix 2828 | ||
| ix 2929 | ||
| ix 3030 | ||
| ix 3131 | ||
| ix 3232 | ||
| ix 3333 | (ix 33) (I did something) that no king of the past had done: I cut through the high mountains, crushed the mountain stones into pieces, and opened up passes (to) prepare (the quickest) course for the (transport of) cedars. In the presence of the god Marduk, the king, I bundled together like reeds on a river hard cedars (that are) tall (and) thick, whose choice quality is greatly valued (and) whose appearance is fitting, a numerous yield from Mount Lebanon, (and) I made the Araḫtu smell (like cedar). I set (them) up inside Babylon as if they were poplar(s). | |
| ix 3434 | ||
| ix 3535 | ||
| ix 3636 | ||
| ix 3737 | ||
| ix 3838 | ||
| ix 3939 | ||
| ix 4040 | ||
| ix 4141 | ||
| ix 4242 | ||
| ix 4343 | ||
| ix 4444 | ||
| ix 4545 | ||
| ix 4646 | ||
| ix 4747 | (ix 47) I made the people (living) on Mount Lebanon dwell (as safely) as in a meadow. I did not allow (any) troublemaker(s to harass) t[hem]. So that nobody will oppress [them, I s]et up an image of my enduri[ng] royal majesty. [In ...] ... [...] I built [...] I [...] I established [...] | |
| ix 4848 | ||
| ix 4949 | ||
| ix 5050 | ||
| ix 5151 | ||
| ix 5252 | [ú-ša]-⸢aṣ-bi-it⸣ [i-na ...] | |
| ix 5353 | [(x)] x ⸢ŠI?/AR?⸣ [...] | |
| ix 5454 | ab-ni-ma [...] | |
| ix 5555 | a-na-ku [...] | |
| ix 5656 | áš-ku-⸢un⸣ [...] | |
| ix 5757 | x [...] | |
| ix 5858 | x [...]79 | |
| Lacuna | ||
| Column x | ||
| x 1x 1 | [...] | (x 1) (No translation possible) |
| x 22 | [...] | |
| x 33 | šu?-[...] | |
| x 44 | (x 4) [I gathered] the scat[tered] people [and] I wr[ote do]wn the mention of my name in the totality of all [lands], (including) in the mounta[in] passes with the image of [my] royal majesty, (and) I set (them) up for [ev]er af[ter]. May a future (ruler) rep[eat]edly read (them) [and] always remember the praise of the gods. | |
| x 55 | ||
| x 66 | ||
| x 77 | ||
| x 88 | ||
| x 99 | ||
| x 1010 | ||
| x 1111 | ||
| x 1212 | ||
| x 1313 | (x 13) Whoever praises m[y] deeds again and again and makes the mention of my royal majesty surpass[ing], does not dismantle the network (of paths or) does not change my designs, may [his throne] be firmly established, may [his] li[fe] be long, may his reign be constantly renewing itself, may rain from the heavens (and) high water from the earth, (from) spr[ings], be poured out over him, (and) may he constantly shepherd (his people) in abundance as if on a meadow. | |
| x 1414 | ||
| x 1515 | ||
| x 1616 | ||
| x 1717 | ||
| x 1818 | ||
| x 1919 | ||
| x 2020 | ||
| x 2121 | ⸢mì⸣-li <<x>> i-na KI-tim ⸢nag?⸣-[bi?] | |
| x 2222 | ||
| x 2323 | ||
| x 2424 | ||
| x 2525 | (x 25) [O Marduk], my [lo]rd, do always remember my deeds with [favor] and pleasure (and) may good things about me be firmly set in your presence. May I grow old walking for a long time in Esagil and Ezida, (both of) which I love. | |
| x 2626 | ||
| x 2727 | ||
| x 2828 | ||
| x 2929 | ||
| x 3030 | ||
| x 3131 | ||
| x 3232 | ||
| x 3333 | (x 33) I am indeed your true governor. May I tow your chariot pole until the attainment of very old age. May the mention of my name be mentioned with favor for ever after (and) may my descendants rule over the black-headed (people) forever. | |
| x 3434 | ||
| x 3535 | ||
| x 3636 | ||
| x 3737 | ||
| x 3838 | ||
| x 3939 | ||
| x 4040 |
1For additional comments, see the on-page notes to Nbk. 126B (WBA), 127A (NeKC), and 127B (NeKA). For the orthographic variants between the rock relief inscriptions, see the critical apparatus at the back of the book.
2Because these lines are also badly damaged in Nbk. 126B (WBA) i 27–32, no restoration is possible.
3For the now-missing contents, see Nbk. 126B (WBA) ii 1–iii 28.
4ú-šá-an-⸢biṭ⸣ ša-ru-ru-ú-šu “I made its sheen radiant”: Nbk. 126b (WBA) iii 42 has [ú]-⸢šá-an⸣-[biṭ šá-aš]-ša-niš “[I ma]de (the temple) rad[iant like the] sun.”
5These gates are also mentioned in two lists of Esagil’s gates. See George, BTT pp. 92–93 no. 6 (Gate List of Esagil A) obv. 9–12, pp. 96–97 (Gate List of Esagil B) obv. 12´–13´. Kanunabzu and Kanunḫegal are described as “the gate of the upper bronze door” and “the gate of the lower bronze door,” while Kaunir and Kaetemenanki are referred to as “the gate of the ziggurat temple that opens to the south” and “the gate of the ziggurat temple that opens to the west.” Kaunir and Kaetemenanki appear to be the external gates of the temple that sat atop Etemenanki, while Kanunabzu and Kanunhegal were likely located close to the ziggurat temple, perhaps on the (final) staircase leading up to it. For more details, see George, BTT pp. 89–90 and 298–300.
6For the now-missing contents, see Nbk. 126B (WBA) iv 11–44 and Nbk. 17´´7A (NeKC) frgm. 1 1´–3´a.
7Lists of items given as offerings appear in a handful of other known inscriptions of Nebuchadnezzar II. Those for the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanītu at Babylon are also recorded in Nbk. 19 (C34) i 16–28, 126B (WBA) iv 23–57, and 127A (NeKC) frgm. 1 1´–10´. The list in Nbk. 19 is shorter than the lists found in the rock relief inscriptions. The passage in that text reads: ša u₄-um 1-en GU₄.MAḪ.E ma-ra-a GU₄.ŠU.DU₇ 44 zu-lu-ḫe-e da-am-qù-tim qá-du-um ša DINGIR.DINGIR é-sag-íl ù DINGIR.DINGIR ba-bi-lam.KI nu-ú-num iṣ-ṣu-ru ú-šu-um-mu pe-la-a si-ma-at ap-pa-ri-im di-iš-pa-am ḫi-me-tim ši-iz-bi du-mu-uq ša-am-nim ku-ru-un-num da-aš-pa-am ši-ka-ar SA.TU.UM ka-ra-nam e-el-lu ka-ra-nam KUR.i-za-al-lam KUR.tu-uʾ-im-mu KUR.ṣi-im-mi-ni KUR.ḫi-il-bu-nim KUR.a-ra-na-ba-nim KUR.su-ú-ḫa-am KUR.É-ku-ba-tim ù KUR.bi-ta-a-tim ki-ma me-e na-a-ri la ni-bi-im i-na GIŠ.BANŠUR dAMAR.UTU ù dzar-pa-ni-tum EN.MEŠ-e-a lu ú-da-aš-ša-am “Every day: one fattened prize bull, (one) uncastrated bull, forty-four fine zuluḫḫû-sheep, along with (everything) that (pertains to) the gods of Esagil and the gods of Babylon: fish, bird(s), ušummu-rodent(s), egg(s) — the best thing(s) from the marshes — honey, ghee, milk, the best oil, sweet kurunnu-wine, “mountain beer,” the pure(st) wine, (and) wine of the lands Izalla, Tuʾimmu, Ṣimminu, Ḫilbūnu, Arnabānu, Sūḫu, Bīt-Kubāti, and Bītāti — like the waters of countless rivers — I copiously provided (all of this) for the table of the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanītu, my lords.”
8⸢lab-ku na-šú⸣ aš-na-an ru-uš-šá-a, “labku-beer, nāšu-beer, reddish grain”: Compare 127A (NeKC) frgm. 1 5´, which has [aš-na-an] ru-uš-ša-a la-ab-ku na-a-šu “reddish [grain], labku-beer, nāšu-beer.” Moreover, that does not include kurunnu-wine in the list of offerings to the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanītu.
9Compare 127A (NeKC) frgm. 1 8´, which does not include u (“and”) between the names Akšak and Bītāti.
10Descriptions of the fish offerings for Esagil are attested only in this text and in Nbk. 126B (WBA) iv 58–v 18.
11The traces cannot be easily read, especially since the corresponding lines in Nbk. 126B (WBA), iv 60–61, are completely destroyed.
12EN-ia “my lord”: This word might be omitted in Nbk. 126B (WBC) v 6.
13The refurbishment and decoration of Marduk’s ceremonial boat Maumuša is also recorded in Nbk. 2 (East India House) iii 8–14; 32 (C36) ii 34–36; 36 (C031) i 6´´´–8´´´; 100 (C38) ii 20–26; and 126B (WBA) v 19–30. The most detailed description, apart from what is in the present text and in the following text, is known from Nbk. 100 ii 20–26, which reads: GIŠ.má-u₅-umuš-a e-lep ru-ku-bu be-lí DINGIR.DINGIR dAMAR.UTU i-ta-tu-šu pa-ni u ár-ku bi-na-tu-šu GIŠ.ka-ru-šu šid-da-a-tu-šu e-ri u MUŠ.ḪUŠ 14 GUN 12 MA.NA KÙ.GI ru-uš-šá-a 7 ME 40 di-ig-lu NA₄.NÍR-BABBAR.DILI ù NA₄.ZA.GÌN.DURU₅ eb-bi ú-za-ʾi-in-šu-ma i-na a-ge-e ÍD.BURANUN.KI KÙ-tim ki-ma MUL bu-ru-mu šá-ru-⸢ru⸣-šu ú-še-piš-ma a-na tab-rat kiš-šat UN.MEŠ lu-le-e uš-ma-al-lu, “(With regard to) Maumuša, the barge of lord of the gods, the god Marduk, I clad its rigging, fore and aft, its structure, its karûs, (and) its sides with eagles and mušḫuššu-dragons (made from) 14 talents (and) 12 minas of reddish gold and 740 bright diglu, ḫulālu-pappardilû, and zagiddurû stones. In the current of the pure Euphrates, I had its sheen made like stars in the firmament and I filled (it) with splendor to be an object of wonder for all of the people.”
14[ú]-ša-an-bi-iṭ-ma “I made (it) radiant”: Compare Nbk. 126B (WBA) v 28, which has ⸢ú⸣-še-⸢piš⸣-ma “I had (it) made.”
15This line is not included in Nbk. 126B (WBA); compare v 52–53 of that text.
16For some of the now-missing contents, see Nbk. 126B (WBA) v 56–vi 11. Note that there is a lacuna between v 60 and vi of that text.
17The mention of the rebuilding of the ziggurat Eurmeiminanki is not mentioned in the descriptions of Nebuchadnezzar II’s building activities at Borsippa in the rock relief inscriptions. For further details, see, for example, p. 57 of the present volume.
18Lists of items given as offerings to the god Nabû and the goddess Nanāya at Borsippa are also recorded in Nbk. 11 (Prism) iii 3´b–14´; 19 (C34) ii 26–35; and 126B (WBA) vi 51–vii 20. The list in Nbk. 19 is shorter than the lists found in the rock relief inscriptions. The passage in that text reads: ša u₄-um 1-en GU₄.MAḪ.E ma-ra-a GU₄.ŠU.DU₇ 16 pa-si-il-lum bi-it-ru-tim qá-du-um ša DINGIR.DINGIR ba-ar-sí-pà{KI} i-si-iḫ nu-ú-nim iṣ-ṣu-ru-um ú-šu-um-mu pé-la-a sì-ma-at ap-pa-ri-am da-aš-pa-am sì-ra-aš ku-ru-un-nim ši-ka-ar SA.TU.UM ka-ra-nam e-el-lam di-iš-pa ḫi-me-tim ši-iz-ba-am ú-ul ša-am-nim {GIŠ}BANŠUR {d}na-bi-um ù {d}na-na-a EN.MEŠ-e-a e-li ša pa-nim ú-ṭa-aḫ-ḫi-id, “Every day: one fattened prize bull, (one) uncastrated bull, sixteen prime quality pasillu-sheep, along with (everything) that (pertains to) the gods of Borsippa: string(s) of fish, bird(s), ušummu-rodent(s), egg(s) — the best thing(s) from the marshes — sweet beer, kurunnu-wine, “mountain beer,” the pure(st) wine, honey, ghee, milk, (and) the finest oil — I provided (all of this) more lavishly than in the past for the table of the god Nabû and the goddess Nanāya, my lords.”
19EN.MEŠ-e-a “my lords”: This word might be omitted in Nbk. 126B (WBA) vi 34.
20li-[ib-bi] ú-⸢bi⸣-la-am-ma “my heart prompted me”: Compare Nbk. 126B (WBA) vii 2, which has aš-te-e-ma “I strove.”
21<la i-šu> “does not have”: One expects here these two words. They are restored at the end of Nbk. 126B (WBA) vii 5.
22The refurbishment and decoration of Nabû’s ceremonial boat Maidḫedu is also recorded in Nbk. 2 (East India House) iii 71–iv 6; 32 (C36) ii 37–40; 36 (C031) i 25´´´–26´´´; 100 (C38) ii 27–31; and 126B (WBA) vii 21–28. The most detailed description, apart from what is in the present text and in the following text, is known from Nbk. 100 ii 27–31, which reads: GIŠ.za-ra-at GIŠ.má-íd-ḫé-du₇ e-lep dAG 13 GUN 30 MA.NA KÙ.GI ḫu-uš-šá-a ni-siq-tum NA₄.NA₄ šu-qú-ru u GIŠ.ka-re-e ki-lal-la-an ú-lab-biš-ma a-na a-la-ku u ta-a-ri šá DUMU ru-bé-e dAG ša i-na ZAG.MUK re-eš ša-at-tim i-šad-di-ḫa a-na qé-reb TIN.TIR.KI ú-nam-mir ki-ma u₄-um, “(With regard to) Maidḫedu, the barge of the god Nabû, I decorated the zāratu-feature(s) and both of its karûs with thirteen talents (and) thirty minas of reddish gold (and) precious (and) valuable stones. For the going and returning of the son of the prince, the god Nabû, which goes in procession into Babylon during the New Year’s festival, (at) the beginning of the year, I made (it) shine like daylight.”
23For the now-missing contents, see Nbk. 126B (WBA) vii 30–43.
24The infilling and paving of Babylon’s processional streets Ay-ibūr-šabû (Ištar-lamassi-ummānīša) and Nabû-dayyān-nišīšu are also mentioned in Nbk. 2 (East India House) v 38–53; 5 (LBl 2) lines 3–5; 6 (LBl 1) lines 2b–3; 7 (BP1) 3–4; 33 (C014) i 22–26; 34 (C214) i 8–ii 7; 36 (C031) ii 1´–5´; 40 (B 36) i´ 7´–9´; B13 lines 2–5a; and 126B (WBA) vii 43–53. In Nbk. 34 i 8–ii 7, Nebuchadnezzar II claims to have raised the streets three times: six cubits the first time, eighteen cubits the second time, and seventeen cubits the third time, for a total of forty-one cubits. For some further details on Babylon’s main streets, see Novotny and Weiershäuser, RINBE 1/1 p. 6 (with nn. 28–31), and p. 17 of the present volume.
25Work on Lībil-ḫegalla is also recorded in Nbk. 35 (C22) i 10–ii 4; and 126B (WBA) vii 54–55. According to Tintir = Babylon Tablet IV (George, BTT pp. 63–70), as well as Nebuchadnezzar II’s inscriptions, Lībil-ḫegalla was Babylon’s eastern canal. For further information on this canal, see, for example, p. 10 of the present volume, as well as George, BTT pp. 356–358.
26The construction of the bridge over the Lībil-ḫegalla canal is also recorded in Nbk. 35 (C22) ii 5–12; and 126B (WBA) viii 1–6. Compare the shorter description in Nbk. 35; i-na a-a-i-bu-úr-ša-bu-um su-le-e KÁ.DINGIR.RA.KI a-na ma-aš-da-ḫa be-lí ra-bí-im dAMAR.UTU ti-tu-úr pa-al-ga ak-ṣu-úr-ma ú-ša-an-di-il ta-al-la-ak-ti, “On Ay-ibūr-šabû, the street in Babylon, I constructed a bridge over the canal for the procession of the great lord, the god Marduk, and widened (its) accessway.”
27The expected ṣú-lu-ul-šu ab-ni-ma (“I built its roof”) is omitted here and in Nbk. 126B (WBA) viii 4.
28The expected la (“not”) is omitted in Nbk. 126B (WBA) viii 39.
29For the now-missing contents, see Nbk. 126B (WBA) viii 42–47.
30For the now-missing contents, see Nbk. 126B (WBA) ix 3–10.
31For further information on the temples in Babylon and Borsippa that Nebuchadnezzar II renovated and rebuilt, see the introduction of the present volume (pp. 11–24).
32ša qé-re-eb ba-bi-lam.KI e-eš-ši-iš e-pu-uš “which is inside Babylon, I built (it) anew”: Compare Nbk. 126B (WBA) ix 28, which has ⸢ina⸣ ba-bi-lu.⸢KI e-pu-uš⸣ “I built in Babylon”; and Nbk. 127A (NeKC) frgm. 2 3, which has ša ⸢TIN.TIR.KI e-eš⸣-[ši-iš e-pu-uš] “that (is in) Babylon, [I (it) built] an[ew].”
33ša “in (lit. ‘of’)”: Compare Nbk. 126B (WBA) ix 30, which has ⸢i⸣-na “in.”
34⸢ṣi⸣-ir-ti “exalted”: Compare Nbk. 126B (WBA) ix 31, which has GAL “great.”
35e-eš-ši-iš “anew”: Nbk. 126B (WBA) ix 33 does not include this word.
36⸢na⸣-[ṣi-ra-at na]-⸢piš-ti-ía⸣, “the one who safeguards my life”: Compare 127A (NeKC) frgm. 2 9, where this epithet might be omitted due to lack of space.
37This temple is either Edimana, the temple of the moon-god Sîn, or the unnamed Adad temple. Compare Nbk. 2 (East India House) iv 57–65, which read a-na dIŠKUR mu-ša-az-ni-in zu-un-ni₇ nu-uḫ-šu i-na KUR-ia É-su i-na bar-sí-pa.KI as-mi-iš ab-nim a-na dEN.ZU na-áš ṣa-ad-du da-mi-iq-ti-ia é-dim-an-na É-su i-na i-gar li-mi-ti é-zi-da na-am-ri-iš e-pu-uš, “For the god Adad, the one who pours out abundant rain(s) in my land, I suitably built his temple in Borsippa. For the god Sîn, the one who bears good signs for me, I radiantly built Edimana, his temple, in the enclosure wall of Ezida.”
38This text uses elān and šaplān (“above” and “below”), while Nbk. 127B (NeKA) i´ 3´–4´ uses el and šapal (“above” and “below”).
39[i-na ki]-⸢ša⸣-di-šu ša-da-ni-iš “[on] its [emba]nkment, like a mountain”: Compare Nbk. 127B (NeKA) i´ 11´, which has [ša-da-ni-iš] ina GÚ-šú “[like a mountain] on its embankment.”
40ša-ad-la-a-ti “broad”: Compare Nbk. 127B (NeKA) i´ 12´, which does not include this word.
41[mi-ši]-iḫ-tì A.⸢ŠÀ⸣ “[a dist]ance of”: These two words are not included in Nbk. 127B (NekA) i´ 17´–18´.
42⸢mì⸣-[li] ⸢dan⸣-nu-tim “powerful floor wa[ter]”: Compare Nbk. 127A (NeKA) i´ 19´, which has[mì-li me]-⸢e⸣ “[high w]ater.”
43Nbk. 127B (NeKA) i´ 22´ does not include a-na ma-aṣ-ṣar-ti TIN.TIR.KI du-un-nu-nim “to strengthen the protection of Babylon.”
44e-la-an “above”: Nbk. 127B (NeKA)i´ 23´ has el “above.” Note also that Nbk. 127B (i´ 24´) omits qé-re-eb (“inside”) before ZIMBIR.KI (“Sippar”).
45Lists of items given as offerings during New Year’s festivals are also recorded in Nbk. 11 (Prism) iv 1´–5´; 19 (C34) iii 7–17; 37 (C027) ii´ 1–16; 126B (WBA) xii 1´–5´; and 127B (NeKA) ii´ 1´–24´. Compare, for example, Nbk. 19 iii 7–17, which have i-sì-na-a-ti-šu-nu da-am-qá-a-tim a-ki-su-nu ra-bí-tim in GU₄.MAḪ.E.GU₄.MAḪ.E pa-ag-lu-ti GU₄.ŠU.DU₇.GU₄.ŠU.DU₇ zu-lu-ḫe-e da-am-qú-tim im-mé-er mi-ir gu-uk-ka-al-am ú-šu-um-mu pé-e-la-a nu-ú-num iṣ-ṣu-ru-um sì-ma-at ap-pa-rim ti-bi-ik sì-ra-aš la ni₅-bi ma-mi-iš ka-ra-nam ša-at-ti-ša-am in nu-úḫ-ši ù ḪÉ.GÁL-e in ma-ḫa-ri-šu-nu e-te-et-ti-iq, “(With regard to) their beautiful festivals, their great akītu-festival, in abundance and prosperity, I passed in front of them every year with powerful prize bulls, uncastrated bulls, fine zuluḫḫû-sheep, fattened sheep, gukkallu-sheep, ušummu-rodent(s), egg(s), fish, bird(s) — the best thing(s) from the marshes — beer libations without number, (and) wine as if (it were) water.”
46pa-ag-lu-tim “powerful”: This word is not included in Nbk. 127B (NeKA) ii´ 2´.
47Nbk. 127B (NeKA) ii´ 4´ omits UDU.NÍTA.MEŠ mi-ri, “fattened sheep,” before pa-si-lu, “pasillu-sheep.”
48Compare Nbk. 127B (NeKA) ii´ 17´, which does not include BABBAR (“white”) after [LÀL] (“[honey]”).
49⸢ṭuḫ⸣-du ru-⸢uš⸣-ša-a ⸢ḪÉ.GÁL⸣-la ⸢su⸣-ul-lu-nu, “reddish abundance, luxuriant plenty”: Nbk. 127B (NeKA) ii´ 19´ has ⸢ṭuḫ⸣-di ⸢ḪÉ.GÁL⸣-[la] “an abun[da]nce of pr[o]du[ce].”
50ti-bi-ik se-e-ra-áš, “out pouring of beer”: Nbk. 127B (NeKA) ii´ 21´ has only se-e-ra-⸢aš⸣ “beer.”
51ša-at-ti-ša-am i-⸢na⸣ [ḪE].⸢NUN⸣ ù ḪÉ.GÁL-la i-na ma-aḫ-ri-šu-[nu], “in front of them, in plenty and abundance, every year”: Compare Nbk. 127B (NekA) ii´ 23´, which has šat-ti-šá-am ina IGI-šú-⸢ni⸣ “in front of them every year.”
52Compare Nbk. 127B (NeKA) ii´ 26´, which omits RE.É.UM ki-i-nim, “true shepherd.”
53Compare Nbk. 127B (NeKA) ii´ 28´–32´, which have ana zi-ki-ir-⸢šú-nu⸣ kab-ti ⸢pi⸣-[it-lu-ḫa-ak dAG ù] d⸢AMAR⸣.UTU ⸢ŠEŠ?⸣ [...] ⸢TI? ŠU?⸣ ana te-diš-ti [URU].⸢URU⸣ DINGIR GAL.GAL na-⸢šá-an-ni⸣ [li]-ib-ba (blank?) , “At the mention of their important (names), I re[vere the gods Nabû and] Marduk, [...] ... (My) heart dearly wanted me to renovate [the ci]ties of the great gods.”
54The corresponding line in Nbk. 127B (NeKA) is also badly damaged and, thus, no restoration is possible; ii´ 30´ has ⸢ŠEŠ?⸣ [...] ⸢TI? ŠU?⸣.
55The description of Nebuchadnezzar II’s work on the Emeslam temple and the offerings given to its principal deities (Nergal and Laṣ) are different in Nbk. 127B (NeKA) ii´ 33´–42´. It is very likely that the Nahr el-Kalb inscription does not record the king’s work on Emeslam’s enclosure wall and embankment walls of Cutha since the report of the work at Sippar might start at the end of ii´ 43´, although this is not at all certain. The work on Emeslam is described as follows in Nbk. 127B: ⸢GIŠ.IG⸣.[GIŠ.IG KÁ] ⸢É⸣-šú ⸢é⸣-[mes-lam ...] ⸢KÙ.BABBAR⸣ [eb-bi ...] x x ⸢às⸣-ku-up-[pu ...] x x AŠ? PA? [...] 30 PI Ì [... d]UTU.È x [...] x u₄-me 8.⸢KAM?⸣ [...] RI ŠÁ e? [...], “[I decorated the do[ors of the gate(s)] of his temple, Emeslam, [..., with shiny] silver. [I fashioned] the threshol[d(s), nukuššû-fittings, (and) broad doors with a casting of shiny silver and] thirty pānu [...] east [...] the eighth day [...] ... [...].” For further information about Nebuchadnezzar’s work at Cutha, see the introduction to the present volume (p. 24).
56The presentation of ginû-offerings at Cutha is also recorded in Nbk. 11 (Prism) iii 15´–16´; and 19 (C34) ii 36–37. The corresponding passage in the latter inscription reads: ša u₄-um 8 UDU.UDU gi-né-e dNÈ.ERI₁₁.GAL dla-aṣ DINGIR.DINGIR ša é-mes-lam ù GÚ.DU₈.A.KI ú-ki-in, “ Every day, I confirmed eight sheep as ginû-offering(s) for the god Nergal (and) the goddess Laṣ, (as well as) the (other) gods Emeslam and Cutha.”
57For further information on the temples in Babylonia that Nebuchadnezzar II renovated and rebuilt, see the introduction of the present volume (pp. 20 and 24–30).
58Compare Nbk. 126B (WBA) xiv 1´, which might add EN-ía (“my lord”) directly after the divine name. This follows the position in Nbk. 127B (NeKA) iii´ 1´. Nbk. 127B iii´ 1´–3´ deviate significantly. That text from Nahr el-Kalb has ana dLUGAL-⸢ÁSAL⸣ [EN-ia é-dúr]-gi-⸢na⸣ [i-na ba-aṣ].⸢KI⸣ [e-eš-ši-iš e-pú-uš ...] x x [x x] x [x x] “for the god Bēl-ṣarbi, [my lord, I built anew Edur]gina [in Bāṣ. ...] ... [...].”
59Compare Nbk. 127B (NeKA) iii´ 4´–5´, which has ana d⸢uraš⸣ [EN-ia] ⸢é⸣-[i]-⸢bí⸣-[da-num ina] dil-⸢bat⸣.KI [ab]-ni?-[ma], “For the god Uraš, [my lord, I bui]lt E-[i]bbi-[Anum in] Dilbat.”
60⸢ša qé-re-eb⸣ [MARAD.DA.KI], “which is inside [Marad]”: Compare Nbk. 127B (NeKA) iii´ 8´, which has⸢ina⸣ már-[da.KI] “in Mara[d].”
61Compare the very similar account of the work on Eanna at Uruk in Nbk. 127B (NeKA) iii´ 9´–12´, which read as follows: ana dINANNA [UNUG.KI be-el-ti-ia] ⸢é-an-na⸣ [ina UNUG.KI e-eš-ši-iš e-pú-uš ana UNUG.KI] u é-⸢an⸣-[na É?]-šú [d]⸢ALAD⸣ [u dLAMMA ú-te-er], “For the goddess Ištar of [Uruk, my lady, I built anew] Eanna [in Uruk. I returned] the šēdu [and the lamassu to Uruk] and Ean[na], its [temple].”
62Nbk. 127B (NeKA) iii´ 15´ does not include um-⸢ma⸣ mu-ra-bi-bi-it-⸢ta⸣ (“the mother who raised me”) and [me]-lam-mu be-lu-ti-šu ag-[gu-ti (x x)] /“[the ter[rible ra]diance of her lordship”).
63Compare the longer description of the rebuilding of the Ebabbar temple at Larsa in Nbk. 127B (NeKA) iii´ 17´–18´: [ana {d}UTU é-bab]bar-r[a É-su i-na larsa{KI} ab]-ni?-[ma], “[For the god Šamaš, I bu]ilt [Ebab]bar, [his temple, in Larsa].”
64Nbk. 127B (NeKA) iii´ 19´–21´have [be-lí]-⸢ía⸣ (“my [lord]”) instead of EN mu-dam-mi-⸢iq Á⸣.MEŠ-ia (“(my) lord,the one who makes my omens auspicious”) and have [ina] ⸢úri⸣.KI (“[in] Ur”) in lieu of i-na ⸢qé-re-eb úri.KI⸣ (“inside Ur”).
65ši-pí-ir-ši-in [ú-ša]-ak-⸢li-il-ma⸣, “[I com]pleted their work and”: Nbk. 127B (NeKA) iii´ 24´ does not include this line.
66In lieu of qé-re-eb-ši-⸢na⸣ ú-šar-ma-a šu-ba-at-⸢su-un⸣ [da]-a-⸢rí⸣-[a]-ti (“I made (them) take up residence inside them, (on) their [et]er[n]al seats”), Nbk. 127B (NeKA) iii´ 27´ has šú-bat-⸢su⸣-nu ⸢ab-nim⸣ (“I built their residences”).
67Nbk. 127B (NeKA) iii´ 28´ does not include ⸢ḫa-di-iš⸣ (“with pleasure”).
68Compare Codex Ḫammu-rāpi xlvii (rev. xxiv) 6–8, which has ma-tam ú-sa-am ki-⸢nam⸣ ù ri-dam dam-qá-am ú-ša-aṣ-bi-tu, “which he directed the land in the proper way of life and good behavior.”
70Compare Codex Ḫammu-rāpi xlviii (rev. xxv) 97–98, which has ša dUTU ki-na-tim iš-ru-ku-šum a-na-ku, “to whom the god Šamaš granted the truth, am I.”
71A.R. George (BTT p. 359) and P.-A. Beaulieu (Approaching the Babylonian Economy p. 45) regard bīt tabrâti nišī, “House (That Was) an Object of Wonder,” as the Akkadian ceremonial name of the South Palace.
72Because these lines are also badly damaged and not preserved in the other rock relief inscriptions of Nebuchadnezzar II, no restoration is possible.
73For some of the now-missing contents, see Nbk. 127B (NeKA) iv´ 1´–5´; there is also a lacuna in that inscription. Nbk. 127B iv´ 1´–5´, assuming that text duplicated the present text at this point, might have immediately preceded ix 1 of the Wadi Brisa inscription(s), although that is not at all certain give that the Nahr el-Kalb texts seem to diverge at this point. See the on-line notes immediately below for further details.
74Compare Nbk. 127B (NeKA)iv´ 9´–16´, which have ⸢iš⸣-[tu] ti-amti ⸢ša⸣-[ap-li-ti ...] x [x] x x x [... MA.DA.MA].⸢DA⸣ ka-[la-ši-na] šá dAMAR.[UTU] ⸢be⸣-[lí] x (x) x BE? [...] ina kul-⸢la⸣-[at? ma-ti-ta-an] x RI KA NI [... URU].KI ba-bi-lu.[KI], “Fr[om] the Lo[wer] Sea [...] ... [...], al[l of the land]s that the god Mar[duk, my] lo[rd], ... [...], in al[l of the lands ... [the city of] Baby[lon ...].”
75These lines do not appear to be duplicated in Nbk. 127B (NeKA) iv´ 17´–26´.
76Compare Codex Ḫammu-rāpi xlvii (rev. xxiv) 30–34, which has na-ak-ri e-li-iš ù šá-ap-li-iš as-sú-uḫ qá-ab-la-tim ú-bé-el-li ši-ir ma-tim ú-ṭì-ib, “I forcibly removed the enemy everywhere (lit. ‘above and below’), exercized authority therein, (and) increased the welfare of the land.”
77Compare Codex Ḫammu-rāpi ii) 49–50, which has mu-pa-aḫ-ḫi-ir ni-ši sa₆-ap-ḫa-tim, “the one who gathers the scattered people.”
78Compare Codex Ḫammu-rāpi xlvii (rev. xxiv) 35–39, which has ni-ši da-ad-mi a-bu-úr-ri ú-šar-bi-iṣ mu-gal-li-tam ú-ul ú-šar-ši-ši-na-ti, “I made the people of the inhabited settlements dwell (as safely) as in a meadow. I did not allow (any) troublemaker(s to harass) them.”
79At the present time, there are no parallels in the other rock relief inscriptions of Nebuchadnezzar II, since all of them are not preserved at this point.
80ri-ik-⸢sa⸣-a-ti-ia la i-pa-aṭ-ṭa-⸢ar⸣ “does not dismantle the network (of paths or)”: Compare Grayson and Novotny, RINAP 3/2 p. 317 Senn. 223 (Bavian) line 58, which has rik-sa-te ar-ku-sa i-paṭ-ṭa-ru, “who dismantles the (canal) system that I have constructed.” The translation is based on this parallel.
81Compare Codex Ḫammu-rāpi l (rev. xxvii) 68–70, which has zu-ni i-na ša-me-e mi-lam i-na na-ag-bi-im, “rain from the heavens (and) high water from springs.”
82Compare Codex Ḫammu-rāpi xlvii (rev. xxiv) 93–94, which has i-na é-sag-íl ša a-ra-am-mu-ú šu-mi i-na da-mi-iq-tim a-na da-ar li-iz-za-ki-ir, “ May my name be mentioned with favor for ever in Esagil and Ezida, which I love.”
Created by Rocío Da Riva, Frauke Weiershäuser and Jamie Novotny, 2015-25, for the Munich Open-access Cuneiform Corpus Initiative (MOCCI), a corpus-building initiative funded by LMU Munich, the Henkel Foundation, and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (through the establishment of the Alexander von Humboldt Chair for Ancient History of the Near and Middle East), and and based at the Historisches Seminar - Abteilung Alte Geschichte of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. The annotated edition is released under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license 3.0. At the present time, there is no stable, citable URL for this text and, therefore, the RINBE team kindly requests that this edition be cited as "RIBo Nebuchadnezzar II WBC".