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Sîn-balāssu-iqbi, a governor of Ur for at least part of the time Ashurbanipal and Šamaš-šuma-ukīn were on the thrones of Assyria and Babylonia respectively, has left several inscriptions which record the construction or restoration of various structures at that city (Babylon Inscriptions 2001–2016). None of these mention Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, but three refer to Ashurbanipal (Babylon Inscriptions 2003–2004 and 2015). Thus the inscriptions of this important Babylonian governor have been placed with those of Ashurbanipal instead of Šamaš-šuma-ukīn. Sîn-balāssu-iqbi was preceded in office by his father Ningal-iddin, who held that position in the time of Esarhaddon and undoubtedly already in the time of Sennacherib. Two Babylonian economic texts composed in 658 and 657 BC refer to Sîn-balāssu-iqbi as governor, but he may have already taken office in the reign of Esarhaddon. He was succeeded by two of his brothers, Sîn-šarra-uṣur and Sîn-tabni-uṣur, the latter of whom is known to have held office in at least 650 and 649 BC. (See Frame, Babylonia pp. 278–79.)
Ashurbanipal 2001 Ashurbanipal 2002 Ashurbanipal 2003 Ashurbanipal 2004 Ashurbanipal 2005 Ashurbanipal 2006 Ashurbanipal 2007 Ashurbanipal 2008 Ashurbanipal 2009 Ashurbanipal 2010 Ashurbanipal 2011 Ashurbanipal 2012 Ashurbanipal 2013 Ashurbanipal 2014 Ashurbanipal 2015 Ashurbanipal 2016
A stone door socket from Ur has a Sumerian inscription of Sîn-balāssu-iqbi which is dedicated to the god Sîn, the patron deity of Ur, and which records the governor's restoration of Etemennigurru ("House, Foundation Clad in Awe-Inspiring Radiance") and in particular the construction of a new door for that structure.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003840] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2001.
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This inscription of Sîn-balāssu-iqbi is written in Sumerian upon a clay nail and describes the restoration of Etemennigurru, the same structure of concern in the previous inscription.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003841] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2002.
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Several bricks from Ur have a Sumerian inscription of Sîn-balāssu-iqbi which mentions Ashurbanipal and which records the renovation of Elugalgalgasisa ("House, King of Righteous Counsel"). The same structure is mentioned in the next inscription.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003842] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2003.
Sources
| (1) BM 114277 (1919-10-11, 4708) | (2) BM 114278 (1919-10-11, 4709) |
| (3) BM 137345 (1935-01-13, 0005; U 01664) | (4) BM 137349 (1935-01-13, 0009; U 03161) |
| (5) BM 137381 (1979-12-18, 0016) | (6) BM 137408 (1979-12-18, 0043) |
| (7) CBS 15337 (=? U 00152) | (8) CBS 16491 |
| (9) CBS 16555a | (10) CBS 16555b |
| (11) IM — |
Possible Sources
| (1) U 03136 | (2) U 07824 |
This Sumerian inscription states that Sîn-balāssu-iqbi had rebuilt the shrine Elugalgalgasisa (the same structure mentioned in the previous inscription) and mentions Ashurbanipal. It is found stamped upon the edge of a fragmentary brick from Ur.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003843] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2004.
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This Sumerian inscription found upon a brick from Ur records the building of Eušumgalana ("House, Dragon of Heaven"), the dwelling of the deity Ninkasi, for the god Nanna (Sîn). It is the first of nine similar inscriptions from Ur which deal with shrines at that city (B.6.32.2005–2013). Two of these inscriptions mention only the god Nanna (B.6.32.2011-2012) and one assigns a shrine to the god Enlil (B.6.32.2013). The remaining six inscriptions for the most part ascribe shrines to relatively minor deities: Ninkasi, Šuzianna, Kusu, Nusku, Ninimma, and Ennugi (Babylonian Inscriptions 2005–2010). Each of these six deities was one of the "sons of Enmešarra," a god who was connected with the netherworld and viewed as an ancestor of Enlil (see Gadd, UET 1 p. 56, and Hibbert, OrAnt 21 [1982] pp. 256–57). Each is also known to have had a shrine at Enlil's city of Nippur (see Bernhardt and Kramer, Orientalia NS 44 [1975] p. 98, and George, House Most High pp. 12–13). All except Ninkasi are known to have been specifically associated with the god Enlil in some way (see An = Anum i 184, 252, 306, 318, and 324). It thus appears that in carrying out his renovations at Ur, Sîn-balāssu-iqbi was modelling his work upon the situation at Nippur. Since several of his inscriptions refer to Nanna/Sîn as "king of the Enlil (circle of) gods" (B.6.32.2001–2002 and 2005–2013) and since one refers to Nanna's Enlilship (nam-den-líl-lá-a-ni, Babylonian Inscription 2012 line 7), it seems that Sîn-balāssu-iqbi was attempting to promote a syncretism between Nanna (Sîn) and Enlil.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003844] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2005.
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An inscribed brick from Ur has a Sumerian inscription of Sîn-balāssu-iqbi recording the fact that he had built Eešbanda (House, Little Chamber"), the abode of the goddess Šuzianna, for the god Nanna (Sîn). According to An = Anum i 184–84a, Šuzianna was a junior wife (dam bàn-da) of the god Enlil and the wet-nurse of the moon god Sîn. The inscription is similar Babylonian Inscriptions 2005 and 2007–2013. The inscription is inscribed, not stamped.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003845] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2006.
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A brick from Ur has a Sumerian text inscribed upon it twice recording the building of the shrine Eankikuga ("House of the Pure Heaven and Netherworld"), the station of the goddess Kusu, by Sîn-balāssu-iqbi for the god Nanna (Sîn). The goddess Kusu was purification priest of the god Enlil and one of the children of Enmešarra. (With regard to this goddess, see Michalowski, Studies Hallo pp. 158–59.) The inscription is similar to Babylonian Inscriptions 2005–2006 and 2008–2013. The inscription is inscribed, not stamped.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003846] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2007.
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An inscribed brick from Ur bears two copies of a Sumerian inscription of Sîn-balāssu-iqbi which states that he had built Eadgigi ("House, Counsellor"), the abode of the god Nusku, for the god Nanna (Sîn). Nusku was a god of light and fire and the vizier of the god Enlil (see Tallqvist, Götterepitheta pp. 432–34). The inscription is similar to Babylonian Inscriptions 2005–2007 and 2009–2013 and is inscribed, not stamped.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003847] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2008.
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This Sumerian inscription is found inscribed twice upon a brick from Ur and states that Sîn-balāssu-iqbi had built Ekišibgalekura (exact reading and interpretation not certain), the abode of the goddess Ninimma, for the god Nanna (Sîn). The inscription is similar to Babylonian Inscriptions 2005–2008 and 2010–13 and is inscribed, not stamped.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003848] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2009.
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A poorly preserved Sumerian inscription of Sîn-balāssu-iqbi from Ur states that he had built the abode or station of the god Ennugi for the god Nanna (Sîn). The inscription is similar to Babylonian Inscriptions 2005–2009 and 2011–2013.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003849] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2010.
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Possible Source
Several bricks from Ur bear a Sumerian inscription which states that Sîn-balāssu-iqbi built the shrine Eanšar ("House, All Heaven") for the god Nanna (Sîn). The inscription is similar to Babylonian Inscriptions 2005–2010 and 2012–2013.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003850] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2011.
Sources
| (1-2) BM 119279 (1927-10-03, 0274; U 03297) | (3-4) CBS 16486 (U 03297a) |
| (5-6) CBS 16556a (U 03297b) | (7-8) CBS 16556b (U 03297c) |
| (9) IM 001101 (U 03297) | (10) IM 001102 (U 03297) |
This Sumerian brick inscription from Ur records the building of the shrine Ešaduga ("House that Pleases the Heart") for the god Nanna (Sîn) by Sîn-balāssu-iqbi. The inscription is similar to Babylonian Inscriptions 2005–2011 and 2013.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003851] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2012.
Sources
| (1-2) BM 119271 (1927-10-03, 0266; U 03298) | (3-4) CBS 16487 (U 03298a) |
| (5-6) CBS 16557 (U 03298b) | (7) IM 001103 (U 03298) |
This inscription, written in Sumerian upon a few bricks from Ur, states that Sîn-balāssu-iqbi had built Eašanamar (exact reading and meaning uncertain), the abode of the god Enlil, for the god Nanna (Sîn). The inscription is similar to Babylonian Inscriptions 2005–2012.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003852] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2013.
Sources
| (1-2) BM 119274 (1927-10-03, 0269; U 03299) | (3-4) CBS 16488 (U 03299) |
| (5) CBS 16558 (U 03299) |
Thirteen clay nails from Ur bear a Sumerian inscription of Sîn-balāssu-iqbi which states that he had rebuilt the Gipāru and constructed a statue of the goddess Ningal.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003853] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2014.
Sources
| (1) BM 119021 (1927-10-03, 0016; U 03249c) | (2) BM 119023 (1927-10-03, 0018; U 03249m) |
| (3) BM 119024 (1927-10-03, 0019; U 03249l) | (4) U 03249i |
| (5) U 03249g? |
Possible Source
Eight clay disks from Ur bear an Akkadian inscription stating that Sîn-balāssu-iqbi, "viceroy of Ur, Eridu, and the Gurasimmu (tribe)," rebuilt a well named Puḫilituma ("Well That Brings Luxuriance") for the goddess Ningal. His action is stated to have been "in order to ensure the good health of Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria."
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003854] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2015.
Sources
| (1) BM 124351 (1933-10-13, 0004; U 18529c) | (2) BM 124350 (1933-10-13, 0003; U 18529g?) |
| (3) IM 016429 (U 18529h) | (4) IM 048412 (U 18529e) |
| (5) IM 048413 (U 18529f) | (6) IM 048414 (U 18529b) |
| (7) UM 33-35-191a (U 18529a) | (8) UM 33-35-191b (U 18529d) |
While carrying out work on the Ekišnugal complex at Ur, Sîn-balāssu-iqbi found a brick with a Sumerian inscription of Amar-Suen (2046–2038 BC) recording the fashioning of a divine statue. A copy of the Sumerian text was made and a colophon written in Akkadian appended to it. The inscription is found on a clay drum-shaped object which, in view of a poorly preserved notation on the top of the object, may be a model for an altar or dais. Only the colophon and inscription on the top of the object are presented here; the inscription of Amar-Suen is edited in Frayne, RIME 3/1.
Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon6/Q003855] of Ashurbanipal Babylonian 2016.
Source
Grant Frame & Jamie Novotny
Grant Frame & Jamie Novotny, 'Inscriptions, Part 3 (Babylonian text nos. 2001-2016)', RIBo, Babylon 6: The Inscriptions of the Period of the Uncertain Dynasties, The RIBo Project, a sub-project of MOCCI, 2025 [http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ribo/babylon6/PeriodofAssyrianDomination/Ashurbanipal/Inscriptions,Part3/]