Esarhaddon 106
| Obverse | ||
| Column i | ||
| i 1i 1 | (i 1) Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, pious prince who reveres the gods Nabû and Marduk — | |
| i 22 | ||
| i 33 | ||
| i 44 | ||
| i 55 | ||
| i 66 | ||
| i 77 | ||
| i 88 | ||
| i 99 | ||
| i 1010 | (i 10) Before my time the great lord, the god Marduk, became angry, trembled (with rage), and was furious with Esagil and Babylon; his [he]art was full of rage. Because of the wrath in his heart and his bad temper, Esagil and Babylon became a wasteland and turned into ruins. | |
| i 1111 | ||
| i 1212 | ||
| i 1313 | ||
| i 1414 | ||
| i 1515 | ||
| i 1616 | ||
| i 1717 | ||
| i 1818 | ||
| i 1919 | ||
| i 2020 | ||
| i 2121 | ||
| i 2222 | ||
| i 2323 | ||
| i 2424 | ||
| i 2525 | ||
| i 2626 | ||
| i 2727 | (i 27) Its (Babylon’s) gods and goddesses became frightened, abandoned their cellas, and went up to the heavens. The people living in it (Babylon) were distributed among the (foreign) riffraff (and) became slaves. | |
| i 2828 | ||
| i 2929 | ||
| i 3030 | ||
| i 3131 | ||
| i 3232 | ||
| i 3333 | ||
| i 3434 | ||
| i 3535 | ||
| Column ii | ||
| ii 1ii 1 | ||
| ii 22 | ||
| ii 33 | ||
| ii 44 | (ii 4) At the beginning of my kingship, in my first year, when I sat in greatness on (my) royal throne (and) (when) they (the gods) entrusted me with the lordship of the lands, the heart of the great divine lord, the god Marduk, was appeased, his mood was soothed; he became reconciled with Esagil and Babylon, (both of) which he had punished. | |
| ii 55 | ||
| ii 66 | ||
| ii 77 | ||
| ii 88 | ||
| ii 99 | ||
| ii 1010 | ||
| ii 1111 | ||
| ii 1212 | ||
| ii 1313 | ||
| ii 1414 | ||
| ii 1515 | ||
| ii 1616 | ||
| ii 1717 | ||
| ii 1818 | ||
| ii 1919 | ||
| ii 2020 | ||
| ii 2121 | ||
| ii 2222 | (ii 22) As for me, Esarhaddon, the servant who reveres his great divinity, it occurred to [me] (and) my heart prompted me to (re)build Esagil and Babylon, [re]novate (its) gods and goddesses, [comple]te (its) shrines, (and) (re)con[firm (its) sattukku offerings]. I was encouraged and ordered the (re)building. | |
| ii 2323 | ||
| ii 2424 | ||
| ii 2525 | ||
| ii 2626 | ||
| ii 2727 | ||
| ii 2828 | ||
| ii 2929 | ||
| ii 3030 | ||
| ii 3131 | ||
| ii 3232 | ||
| ii 3333 | ||
| Column iii | ||
| iii 1iii 1 | ||
| iii 22 | ||
| iii 33 | ||
| iii 44 | ||
| iii 55 | ||
| iii 66 | ||
| iii 77 | (iii 7) I gathered the peoples of the lands conquered by me and had them take up hoe (and) basket. I mix[ed] (the mud for) its re[v]etm[ent] with fine oil, honey, ghee, kurunnu-[wine], muttinnu-wine (and) pure mountain beer. In order to show the people his great divinity and to inspire awe (in) his lordship, I raised a basket onto my head and carried (it) myself. | |
| iii 88 | ||
| iii 99 | ||
| iii 1010 | ||
| iii 1111 | ||
| iii 1212 | ||
| iii 1313 | ||
| iii 1414 | ||
| iii 1515 | ||
| iii 1616 | ||
| iii 1717 | ||
| iii 1818 | ||
| iii 1919 | ||
| iii 2020 | ||
| iii 2121 | ||
| iii 2222 | ||
| iii 2323 | ||
| iii 2424 | ||
| iii 2525 | ||
| iii 2626 | ||
| iii 2727 | ||
| iii 2828 | ||
| iii 2929 | (iii 29) I had its bricks made for a whole year in brickmolds of ivory, ebony, boxwood, (and) musukkannu-wood. I built anew (and) [co]mpleted Esagil, the palace of the gods, together with its shrines, from its foundations to its battlements. I made (it) greater than before, raised (it) up, glorified (it), (and) made (it) glisten like the stars (lit. “writing”) of the firmament. I filled (it) with splendor (making it) an object of wonder for all of the people. | |
| iii 3030 | ||
| iii 3131 | ||
| iii 3232 | ||
| iii 3333 | ||
| iii 3434 | ||
| iii 3535 | ||
| iii 3636 | ||
| iii 3737 | ||
| iii 3838 | ||
| iii 3939 | ||
| iii 4040 | ||
| iii 4141 | ||
| iii 4242 | ||
| iii 4343 | ||
| iii 4444 | ||
| iii 4545 | ||
| iii 4646 | ||
| iii 4747 | ||
| iii 4848 | ||
| iii 4949 | ||
| iii 5050 | ||
| iii 5151 | ||
| iii 5252 | ||
| iii 5353 | (iii 53) I refurbished the gods and goddesses who lived in it (and) (iv 1) had (them) dwell on their daises as an eternal dwelling. I (re)confirmed their inter[rup]ted sattukku offerings. I had [whatever] furnishings (iv 10) [were ne]eded for Esagil [and] its [sh]rines made from gold, si[lver], and bronze, and I placed (them) in their midst. | |
| iii 5454 | ||
| iii 5555 | ||
| Column iv | ||
| iv 1iv 1 | ||
| iv 22 | ||
| iv 33 | ||
| iv 44 | ||
| iv 55 | ||
| iv 66 | ||
| iv 77 | ||
| iv 88 | ||
| iv 99 | ||
| iv 1010 | ||
| iv 1111 | ||
| iv 1212 | ||
| iv 1313 | ||
| iv 1414 | ||
| iv 1515 | ||
| iv 1616 | ||
| iv 1717 | ||
| iv 1818 | (iv 18) I had Babylon, (which was measured by) the aslu-cubit checked by the gods, Imgur-Enlil, its wall, (and) Nēmetti-Enlil, its outer wall, built anew with the work of the god Kulla and I raised (them) like mountains. | |
| iv 1919 | ||
| iv 2020 | ||
| iv 2121 | ||
| iv 2222 | ||
| iv 2323 | ||
| iv 2424 | ||
| iv 2525 | ||
| iv 2626 | ||
| iv 2727 | ||
| iv 2828 | ||
| iv 2929 | ||
| iv 3030 | ||
| iv 3131 | ||
| iv 3232 | ||
| iv 3333 | (iv 33) I am the one who (re)built Babylon, (re)constructed Esagil, renewed (it) gods and goddesses, completed (its) shrines, (re)confirmed (its) sattukku offerings, (and) who gathered its (Babylon’s) scattered people. | |
| iv 3434 | ||
| iv 3535 | ||
| iv 3636 | ||
| iv 3737 | ||
| iv 3838 | ||
| iv 3939 | ||
| iv 4040 | ||
| iv 4141 | ||
| iv 4242 | ||
| iv 4343 | ||
| iv 4444 | ||
| iv 4545 | ||
| iv 4646 | ||
| iv 4747 | ||
| iv 4848 | (iv 48) May the Enlil of the gods, the god Marduk, and the goddess Zarpanītu, the queen, look with joy upon the work of my good deeds and order the prolongation of my days, (and) discuss my years to be many; may they decree as my fate the protection of my offspring, the increase of my progeny, the expansion of my family so that they branch out widely; like a father and mother, may they come over to my side in battle and warfare; may they come to my aid; (and) may they make my weapons rise up (and) kill my enemies. | |
| Column v | ||
| v 1v 1 | ||
| v 22 | ||
| v 33 | ||
| v 44 | ||
| v 55 | ||
| v 66 | ||
| v 77 | ||
| v 88 | ||
| v 99 | ||
| v 1010 | ||
| v 1111 | ||
| v 1212 | ||
| v 1313 | ||
| v 1414 | ||
| v 1515 | ||
| v 1616 | ||
| v 1717 | ||
| v 1818 | ||
| v 1919 | ||
| v 2020 | ||
| v 2121 | ||
| v 2222 | ||
| v 2323 | ||
| v 2424 | ||
| v 2525 | ||
| v 2626 | ||
| v 2727 | (v 27) Let me attain whatever my heart desires (and) may they allow me to stand in victory (and) triumph over my enemies; let me squash all of my enemies like ants; let him (the god Marduk) make the foundation of the throne of my priestly office be as secure as a great mountain; (and) let my reign endure as long as the foundations of Esagil and Babylon. May all of the great gods who sit on daises in Babylon bless my kingship until far-off days (and) may they order security for my reign forever. | |
| v 2828 | ||
| v 2929 | ||
| v 3030 | ||
| v 3131 | ||
| v 3232 | ||
| v 3333 | ||
| v 3434 | ||
| v 3535 | ||
| v 3636 | ||
| v 3737 | ||
| v 3838 | ||
| v 3939 | ||
| v 4040 | ||
| v 4141 | ||
| v 4242 | ||
| v 4343 | ||
| v 4444 | ||
| v 4545 | ||
| v 4646 | ||
| v 4747 | ||
| v 4848 | ||
| v 4949 | ||
| v 5050 | ||
| v 5151 | ||
| v 5252 | ||
| Column vi | ||
| vi 1vi 1 | (vi 1) [I had] foundation inscriptions made of silver, gold, lapis lazuli, alabaster, basalt, pendû-stone, elallu-stone, (and) white limestone, (as well as) inscribed objects of baked clay, and (then) I wrote the might of the great hero, the god Marduk, (and) the deeds that I (text: “he”) [had] done, my pious work. [I p]laced (these inscriptions) in the foundations (and) left (them) for far-off days. | |
| vi 22 | ||
| vi 33 | ||
| vi 44 | ||
| vi 55 | ||
| vi 66 | ||
| vi 77 | ||
| vi 88 | ||
| vi 99 | ||
| vi 1010 | ||
| vi 1111 | ||
| vi 1212 | ||
| vi 1313 | ||
| vi 1414 | ||
| vi 1515 | ||
| vi 1616 | ||
| vi 1717 | ||
| vi 1818 | ||
| vi 1919 | ||
| vi 2020 | ||
| vi 2121 | ||
| vi 2222 | (vi 22) In future days, in far-off days, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the king of the gods, the god [Mar]duk, names to rule [the land] and people, [read] an inscription [written in] my name, and anoint (it) with oil, make an offering, (and) [re]turn (it) to its place. The god Marduk, the king of the gods, will (then) hear his prayers. | |
| vi 2323 | ||
| vi 2424 | ||
| vi 2525 | ||
| vi 2626 | ||
| vi 2727 | ||
| vi 2828 | ||
| vi 2929 | ||
| vi 3030 | ||
| vi 3131 | ||
| vi 3232 | ||
| vi 3333 | ||
| vi 3434 | ||
| vi 3535 | ||
| vi 3636 | ||
| vi 3737 | ||
| vi 3838 | ||
| vi 3939 | ||
| vi 4040 | (vi 40) (As for) the one who changes (an inscription) written in my name, defaces my representations, destroys my handiwork, may the great divine lord, the god Marduk, glare at him angrily among all of the rulers, and make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the land. May he have no pity on him forever. | |
| vi 4141 | ||
| vi 4242 | ||
| vi 4343 | ||
| vi 4444 | ||
| vi 4545 | ||
| vi 4646 | ||
| vi 4747 | ||
| vi 4848 | ||
| vi 4949 | ||
| vi 5050 | ||
| vi 5151 | ||
| vi 5252 | ||
| vi 5353 | ||
| vi 5454 | ||
| vi 5555 | ||
| Date exs. 1–2 | Date exs. 1-2 | |
| vi 5656 | (vi 56) Accession year of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria. | |
| vi 5757 | ||
| vi 5858 | ||
| vi 5959 | ||
| vi 6060 | aš-šur.KI | |
1pa-liḫ dAG u dAMAR.UTU “who reveres the gods Nabû and Marduk”: The reference to Nabû in this epithet may have been included in this inscription because Esarhaddon was in the process of rebuilding Eniggidrukalamasuma (“House which Bestows the Scepter of the Land”), the temple of the Nabû of the ḫarû. Construction on that temple at Babylon may have started prior to the composition of text no. 105 (Babylon C) since it is referred to in v 23b–26a and 36–37 of that inscription. Work on Eniggidrukalamasuma was certainly in progress between 672 BC and 669 BC since text no. 113, an inscription recording this temple’s rebuilding, mentions the heir designates of Assyria and Babylon Ashurbanipal and Šamaš-šuma-ukīn.
2EN GAL dAMAR.UTU “the great lord, the god Marduk”: Ex. 5 has [dAMAR.UTU EN GAL]-⸢ú⸣ “[the god Marduk, the grea]t [lord].”
3The “blank” line iii 34 of the 2011 print version of this text has been deleted since none of the known exemplars have a blank line in this part of the inscription. Therefore, iii 34–55 correspond to iii 35–56 of RINAP 4.
4⸢ša⸣ “of”: Based on collation, the beginning of the line should be read as ⸢ša⸣, and not as i-na, as suggested in the 2011 print edition.
5Ex. 1 omits ina šipir Kulla “with the work of the god Kulla.” Note also that the DN is written dkulla, and not kulla (without the divine determinative).
6a-a-bi-ia “my enemies”: Ex. 2 has LÚ.<nak>-ri-ia “my <ene>mies.”
7The assumed omitted line vi 5 of the 2011 print version of this text, which would have contained the word siparru (“bronze”), has been deleted since neither ex. 2 nor ex. 3 appear to have included that proposed scribal error. Therefore, vi 5–60 correspond to vi 6–61 of RINAP 4.
8From context and parallels (for example, text no. 104 [Babylon A] vii 15 and text no. 105 [Babylon C] ix 32), one expects e-tep-pu-šú, a first person form, not i-tap-⸢pu⸣-šú, a third person form.
9Ex. 5 omits i-na ⸢uš-še áš⸣-kun “[I p]laced (these inscriptions) in the foundations.”
10Exs. 2–3 and 5 omit musaḫḫû simātiya “the one who defaces my representations.”
11At present, no positively identified exemplar of this text has lumāše tamšil šiṭir šumīya (“hieroglyphs, representing the writing of my name”) on its top and/or bottom. The reference to the hieroglyphs is omitted in this text; compare vi 1–22 to text no. 104 (Babylon A) vii 4–18 and text no. 105 (Babylon C) ix 21–36. Note also that text no. 105 (Babylon C) includes mention of lumāše, but neither of the identified exemplars have corresponding representations etched or stamped on them.
12Ex. 1 omits ina māti “from the land.”
13a-na u₄-me ṣa-a-ti “forever”: Ex. 1 has ⸢a-na ṣa-at u₄-me⸣ “for all time.”
14Exs. 3 and 5 are not dated. For some details on the accession year (šanat rēš šarrūti) date, see the on-page note to text no. 104 (Babylon A) vii 44–46 and Novotny, JCS 67 (2015) pp. 149–151.
Created by Erle Leichty, Jamie Novotny, and the Royal Inscriptions of the Neo-Assyrian Period (RINAP) Project, 2011, 2015-16. Lemmatized by Jamie Novotny, 2010, and updated by him, 2015-16, for the Munich Open-access Cuneiform Corpus Initiative (MOCCI), a corpus-building initiative funded by LMU Munich 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 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. Please cite this page as http://oracc.org/ribo/Q003335/.