Nebuchadnezzar II 099

(i 1) Nebuchadnezzar (II), king of Babylon, the humble, submissive, (and) pious one who reveres the lord of lords, the one who provides for Esagil and Ezida, legitimate heir of Nabopolassar, king of Babylon, am I:

(i 7) When the god Marduk, the great lord, the wisest of the gods, the proud one, gave me the land and people to shepherd,

(i 11) at that time, (with regard to) Ebabbar, the temple of the god Šamaš, which is in Larsa, which in the distant past had turned into a heap of ruins, in which sand had piled up, and (therefore) its ground plans were not exposed, (it was) during my reign (that) the great lord, the god Marduk, had compassion towards that temple.

(i 20) He raised the four winds, removed the earth inside of it, and (thereby) its ground plans could be seen (again). He greatly commissioned me, Nebuchadnezzar (II), the king of Babylon, the servant who reveres him, to build that temple.

(ii 2) I examined (and) checked the original foundation(s) and (then) spread out ritually pure earth over its original foundation(s) and (thereby) secured its brickwork.

(ii 7) For the god Šamaš, the one who resides in Ebabbar — which is in Larsa — the great lord, my lord, I built Ebabbar, the true house, the residence of the god Šamaš — my lord.

(ii 12) O Šamaš, great lord, when you enter into Ebabbar, the seat of your lordship, during joyous celebrations, look upon my fine handiwork with pleasure so that a life of distant days, a secure throne, and longevity of reign may be set upon your lips.

(ii 22) May the door-jamb(s), door bolt(s), bolt(s), (and) doors of Ebabbar speak without interruption about my good deeds in your presence.