Inscriptions, Part 2 (Babylonian text nos. 13-23)

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Ashurbanipal Babylonian 13   Ashurbanipal Babylonian 14   Ashurbanipal Babylonian 15   Ashurbanipal Babylonian 16   Ashurbanipal Babylonian 17   Ashurbanipal Babylonian 18   Ashurbanipal Babylonian 19   Ashurbanipal Babylonian 20   Ashurbanipal Babylonian 21   Ashurbanipal Babylonian 22   Ashurbanipal Babylonian 23

A stone stele bears an Akkadian inscription of Ashurbanipal recording his restoration of Ezida ("True House"), the temple of the god Nabû at Borsippa. On the front of the stele is a relief of the king carrying a basket on his head, thus depicting him aiding in the restoration of the temple personally. The object was found in the same room of the temple as a stele with a similar inscription of Šamaš-šuma-ukīn (Babylonian Inscription 2), which has a relief depicting that ruler with a basket on his head. Another stele of Ashurbanipal with a similar relief is Babylonian Inscription 6. The inscription was composed at some point before 652 BC.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003811] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 13.

Source

Bibliography

• Strong 1891, pp. 457–468 (edition)
• Smith 1901, pp. 127–129 (translation)
• Streck 1916, pp. XLIV–XLV and 240–245 no. 6 (S²) (edition)
• Luckenbill 1927, §§974–977 (translation)
• Ellis 1968, pp. 24–25 (partial edition)
• Frame 1995, pp. 217–219 B.6.32.14 (edition)

• Strong 1891, pp. 458–462 (copy in type)
• Lehmann-Haupt 1892, 2, pls. XIII–XVI no. 6 (S²) (copy)
• Delitzsch 1910, p. 36 fig. 17 (photo [inscription not visible])
• Unger 1926, pl. 267d (photo [inscription not visible])
• Unger 1931, pl. 37 fig. 57 (photo [inscription not visible])
• Potratz 1962, p. 46 and pl. I fig. 2 (photo [inscription not visible])
• Reade 1981, pl. II fig. 3 (photo [inscription not visible])
• Börker-Klähn 1982, no. 225 (photo [inscription not visible])
• Frame 1992, p. 352 fig. 2 (photo [inscription not visible])

• Bezold 1886, pp. 113–114 §64.3.d and 347 (study)
• Evetts 1891, p. 158 (study)
• Lehmann-Haupt 1892, 1 p. 25 and 2 pp. 59–61 (S²) (study)
• BM Guide 1922, p. 74 no. 301 (study)
• Unger 1924-1925, p. 23 no. 11 (study)
• Unger 1931, p. 225 no. 13 (study)
• Ellis 1968, p. 179 no. 24 (study)
• Börker-Klähn 1982, no. 225 (study)
• Reade 1986, p. 109 and pl. XIII (provenance)

This Akkadian inscription is found on several clay cylinders and deals with the restoration of Ebabbar ("Shining House"), the temple of the god Šamaš at Sippar, by Ashurbanipal. The inscription was composed at some point previous to the outbreak of the Šamaš-šuma-ukīn Revolt in 652 BC.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003812] or the score (no link available) of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 14.

Sources

Bibliography

• Craig and Harper 1885-1886, pp. 87–89 (ex. 1, edition)
• Lyon 1886, pp. 23–24 (ex. 1, transliteration)
• Lehmann-Haupt 1892, 2 pp. 18–21 and 61 (L²) (exs. 1–4, edition)
• Smith 1901, pp. 129–130 (ex. 1, translation)
• Jastrow 1905, p. 418 (ex. 1, partial translation)
• Streck 1916, pp. XLI–XLII and 228–33 no. 2 (L²) (exs. 1–6, edition)
• Luckenbill 1927, §§956–959 (ex. 1, translation)
• Frame 1995, pp. 212–214 B.6.32.12 (edition)

• Rawlinson and Pinches 1884, pl. 62 no. 1 (ex. 1, copy in type)
• Abel and Winckler 1890, p. 31 (ex. 1, copy)
• Lehmann-Haupt 1892, 2 pls. XXV–XXVII no. 9 (L²) (exs. 1–4, copy)

• Bezold 1886, pp. 113 §64.3.c and 349 (ex. 1, study)
• Lyon 1886, pp. 74–75 (ex. 1, study)
• Lehmann-Haupt 1892, 1 pp. 25–26 (exs. 1–4, 6, study)
• Winckler 1898, 75 and 77 (exs. 3, 5, study)
• BM Guide 1922, p. 230 no. 36 (ex. 1, study)

A few clay cylinders have been found which bear an Akkadian inscription recording Ashurbanipal's restoration of the Eanna temple ("House of Heaven") at Uruk for the goddess Ištar of Uruk. The inscription comes from the first half of the king's reign (before the outbreak of hostilities with his brother Šamaš-šuma-ukīn in 652 BC).

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003813] or the score (no link available) of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 15.

Sources

Bibliography

• Ungnad 1917-1918, pp. 33–37 (ex. 1, edition)
• Luckenbill 1927, §§968–973 (ex. 1, translation)
• Schott 1930, p. 60 (ex. 3 [W 4444], edition)
• Lutz 1931, pp. 385–390 (ex. 2, edition)
• Oppenheim 1969, p. 297 (ex. 1–2, partial translation)
• Kessler 1982, pp. 14–15 no. 11 (ex. 4, transliteration)
• Frame 1995, pp. 224–227 B.6.32.19 (edition)

• Clay 1915, no. 42 (ex. 1, copy)
• Nies and Keiser 1920, no. 35 (ex. 3 [NBC 2507], copy)
• Schott 1930, pl. 29 no. 25 (ex. 3 [W 4444], copy)
• Lutz 1931, pls. 7–8 (ex. 2, photo, copy)
• Kessler 1982, pp. 14–15 no. 11 (ex. 4, copy)

• Bauer 1932, pp. 254–255 (ex. 2, study)
• Meissner 1932-1933, p. 51 (exs. 1–2, study)
• Bauer 1933, p. 48 (exs. 1–2, study)
• Borger 1957, p. 2 (ex. 3, study)
• Berger 1970, pp. 128–129 (ex. 3, study)
• Foxvog 1978, p. 43 (ex. 2, study)

This inscription, written in Akkadian upon two partially preserved cylinders, describes the restoration of the ziggurat (likely the temple on top of it) at Nippur by Ashurbanipal for the god Enlil. The restoration of the same structure is recorded on a brick inscription of Ashurbanipal (Babylonian Inscription 18).

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003814] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 16.

Sources

Bibliography

• Hilprecht 1903, pp. 461–462 (ex. 1, partial translation)
• Hilprecht 1904, pp. 461–462 (ex. 1, partial translation)
• Streck 1916, pp. LXIV and 352–353 no. 4 (ex. 1, partial translation)
• Luckenbill 1927, §1019 (ex. 1, partial translation)
• Gerardi 1989, pp. 209–211 (exs. 1–2, edition)
• Frame 1995, pp. 219–221 B.6.32.15 (edition)

• Hilprecht 1903, pp. 461 (ex. 1, photo)
• Hilprecht 1904, pp. 461 (ex. 1, photo)
• Gerardi 1989, p. 208 (exs. 1–2, copy)

• Hilprecht 1903, 460 (ex. 1, provenance)
• Hilprecht 1904, pp. 460 (ex. 1, provenance)
• Gerardi 1989, pp. 207, 211-215 (exs. 1–2, study)

Numerous bricks bear a stamped Sumerian inscription which states that Ashurbanipal had (re)built the temple Ekur ("House, Mountain") for the god Enlil. Ekur was the temple of that god at Nippur.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003815] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 17.

Sources

Bibliography

• Pinches 1889-1890, pp. 55–58 (ex. 22, edition)
• Hilprecht 1893, pp. 35–36 (ex. 7, edition)
• Hilprecht 1903, p. 371 (translation)
• Hilprecht 1904, p. 371 (translation)
• Streck 1916, pp. LXIII–LXIV and 352–353 no. 3.b (ex. 7, 22, edition)
• Luckenbill 1927, §1121 (ex. 7, 22, translation)
• Walker 1981, no. 80 (exs. 1–5, transliteration)
• Frame 1995, pp. 221–222 B.6.32.16 (edition)

• Pinches 1889-1890, pp. 55–58 (ex. 22, copy)
• Hilprecht 1893, no. 82 (ex. 7, copy)
• Frame 1989, p. 45 no. 40 (ex. 25, photo)

• Hilprecht 1893, pp. 389–391 (study)
• Hilprecht 1903, pp. 312, 371, 375, and 376 (provenance)
• Hilprecht 1904, pp. 312, 371, 375, and 376 (provenance)
• Langdon 1924, pp. 108–109 (ex. 4, study)
• Behrens 1985, p. 239 no. 53 (exs. 6–14, study)
• Beckman 1988, p. 2 (ex. 21, study)
• Oelsner 1988, p. 19 (ex. 24 study)
• Frame 1989, p. 45 no. 40 (ex. 25, study)
• Zettler 1992, p. 50 n. 42 (ex. 23, study)

A brick from Nippur in the University Museum (CBS 8644) has a Sumerian inscription stating that Ashurbanipal rebuilt the high temple with baked bricks for the god Enlil. (The restoration of the same structure is recorded on a cylinder inscription of Ashurbanipal, Babylonian Inscription 16.) The brick is inscribed on the edge.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003816] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 18.

Source

Bibliography

• Legrain 1926, no. 74 (edition)
• Frame 1995, p. 223 B.6.32.17 (edition)

• Legrain 1926, no. 74 (copy)

• Poebel 1928, 698 (study)
• Behrens 1985, p. 240 no. 54 (study)
• George 1993, p. 240 no. 54 (study)

Two bricks are inscribed with a Sumerian text stating that Ashurbanipal built something within the sanctuary Eḫursaggalama at Nippur for the god Enlil. Both bricks were intended to be used in a well.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003817] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 19.

Sources

Bibliography

• Gerardi 1986, p. 37 (ex. 1, edition)
• Frame 1995, pp. 223–224 B.6.32.18 (edition)

• Gerardi 1986, p. 37 (ex. 1, copy)

• Behrens 1985, p. 240 no. 55 (ex. 1, study)

A cylinder fragment in the British Museum has an Akkadian inscription which refers to the temple of the goddess Ištar and to the goddess Ištar of Akkad. The name of the king is not preserved and the inscription is assigned to Ashurbanipal because the wording is similar to that found in other texts of that king.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003818] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 20.

Source

Bibliography

• Frame 1993, pp. 45–46 (edition)
• Frame 1995, pp. 227–228 B.6.32.20 (edition)

• Frame 1993, p. 46 (copy)

• Bezold 1896, p. 1768 (study)
• Frame 1993, pp. 47–48 (study)

An inscribed brick found in the ziggurat at Dūr-Kurigalzu bears an Akkadian inscription of Ashurbanipal which may mention the god Enlil.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003819] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 21.

Source

Bibliography

• Frame 1992, p. 113 n. 60 (partial transliteration)
• Frame 1995, p. 228 B.6.32.21 (edition)

• Al-Jumaily 1971, pl. 14 fig. 30 following p. 98 [Arabic section] (photo)

• Al-Jumaily 1971, pp. 84 and 89 [Arabic section] (provenance)
• Frame 1992, p. 113 n. 60 (study)

A large number of bricks found in a temple dedicated to the god Nergal, "lord of Sirara," at Tell Ḫaddād (ancient Mê-Turran/Mê-Turnat) bear an Akkadian inscription of Ashurbanipal which describes how the king enlarged the courtyard of the temple Ešaḫula ("House of the Happy Heart").

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003820] or the score (no link available) of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 22.

Source

Bibliography

• Rashid 1981, pp. 73-75 [Arabic section] (exs. 1–2, edition)
• Frame 1995, p. 229 B.6.32.22 (edition)

• Rashid 1981, p. 80 [Arabic section] (exs. 1–2, copy)

• Rashid 1981, pp. 72–80 [Arabic section] (exs. 1–2, study)
• Hannoun 1982, p. 6 (study)

A fragmentary tablet in the University Museum (Philadelphia) preserves copies of two dedicatory texts written in the Akkadian language. The first, much shorter inscription on the tablet only mentions Ashurbanipal in as far as it is preserved; it is edited here. The second, longer one mentions both Šamaš-šuma-ukīn and Ashurbanipal and is edited with the inscriptions of Šamaš-šuma-ukīn (Frame, RIMB 2 B.6.33.5); however, it is not inconceivable that that inscription should also be assigned to Ashurbanipal.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003821] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 23.

Source

Bibliography

• Ungnad 1909, pp. 13–16 (edition of CBS 733)
• Lambert 1957-1958, pp. 385–386 (edition)
• Frame 1995, p. 230 B.6.32.23 (edition)

• Clay 1908, no. 142 (copy of CBS 733)
• Lambert 1957-1958, pl. XXV (copy)

Grant Frame & Jamie Novotny

Grant Frame & Jamie Novotny, 'Inscriptions, Part 2 (Babylonian text nos. 13-23)', RIBo, Babylon 6: The Inscriptions of the Period of the Uncertain Dynasties, The RIBo Project, a sub-project of MOCCI, 2024 [http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ribo/babylon6/PeriodofAssyrianDomination/Ashurbanipal/Inscriptions,Part2/]