Inscriptions of Nabonidus from Ur and Uruk

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Numerous double-column clay cylinders discovered at Ur bear an Akkadian inscription of Nabonidus recording his restoration of the ziggurat of the moon-god Sîn in that city, Elugalgalgasisa ("House of the King who Lets Counsel Flourish"). The text, which on all known copies is written in contemporary Neo-Babylonian script, states that Nabonidus had Ur's ziggurat rebuilt according to its ancient plan, the one established by the founder of the Ur III Dynasty, Ur-Namma (2112–2095), and his son, Šulgi (2094–2047). Although none of the cylinders bear a date, scholars generally date this text after Nabonidus' thirteenth (543) regnal year, perhaps at the very end of his reign, in either his sixteenth (540) or seventeenth (539) year as king; see Beaulieu, Nabonidus p. 42 and Schaudig, Inschriften Nabonids p. 48. In scholarly literature, this text is referred to as "Nabonidus Cylinder II, I," "[Nabonidus] Inscription 17," and the "Elugalgalgasisa Cylinder."

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon7/Q005429/] of Nabonidus 32.

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Commentary

In Schaudig, Inschriften Nabonids (pp. 351–352), ex. 1 (BM 91125) is used as the master text. However, because the line arrangement of ex. 1 diverges significantly from most of the other catalogued exemplars (see below), the authors have decided to base the master text and lineation of the edition presented here on ex. 2 (BM 91126). The arrangement of text varies between the copies of the inscription. The distribution of the text in cols. i and ii in exs. 1, 3–5 and 7–13 is identical to that of ex. 2, but that of ex. 6 (IM 63999) differs from the other known exemplars: col. i of this copy of the Elugalgalgasisa Cylinder Inscription ends with ex. 2 i 24a. A score is presented on Oracc and the minor (orthographic) variants are given in the critical apparatus at the back of the book. Because exs. 7 and 8 were not available for firsthand study in the Iraq Museum (Baghdad) and because no complete copy, photograph, or transliteration of these two exemplars have even been published, the partial transliterations of IM 66417 and IM 66418 given in the score are based on the lines visible in the published photographs (As-Siwani, Sumer 20 [1973] unnumbered plate after p. 76).

Two fingernail marks are impressed in the middle of the left sides of exs. 4 (BM 91128), 12 (IM 73984), and 13 (MS 1846/3); the base is oriented towards the uninscribed space dividing the first and final lines of cols. i and ii. These impressions form a crescent moon, which, as Schaudig (Inschriften Nabonids p. 350) has already suggested, might have served as a visual representation of the inscribed objects' consecration to the moon-god Sîn, the divine owner of Elugalgalgasisa, in whose structure these three cylinders were deposited. These three exemplars are not only nearly identical in size (9.3–9.5 cm long with a diameter of 4.5–4.9 cm), but also distribute text in the exact same manner. In general, the orthographies of exs. 4, 12, and 13 match that of ex. 2; a handful of minor variants are attested. Based on orthography and palaeography, all three cylinders were probably inscribed by one and the same person. It is possible that ex. 8 (IM 66418) was also prepared by this same scribe since its size and orthography are nearly identical to those of exs. 4, 12, and 13. Because the object was not available for firsthand study in the Iraq Museum (Baghdad), the authors cannot prove that IM 66418 was inscribed by the scribe who wrote out the inscription on BM 91128, IM 73984, and MS 1846/3. The orthographies of exs. 5 (Bod AB 239), 9 (IM 65869), and 10 (IM 65870) are nearly identical to those of the aforementioned copies of the Elugalgalgasisa Cylinder Inscription, however, it is clear from their palaeography, size, and oblong shape that they were written by a different scribe; ex. 5 is 12.2 cm long with a diameter of 4.2–4.9 cm and exs. 9 and 10 are 13.6–13.8 cm long with diameters of 6–6.2 cm. It is fairly certain that IM 65869 and IM 65870 were inscribed by the same scribe. Since Bod AB 239 was not available for study during the preparation of RINBE 2, it is not known if it was inscribed by the same scribe as exs. 9 and 10. Thus, it is fairly certain that approximately half of the known exemplars of this inscription were written by two different scribes: 'Scribe A' wrote out exs. 4, 8^?, 12, and 13, and 'Scribe B' inscribed exs. 5^?, 9, and 10.

Exs. 1 (BM 91125), 6 (IM 63999), and 11 (IM 65871) deviate significantly from the other known exemplars. Ex. 1 distributes the inscription in two columns of thirty-one lines each; the other copies generally arrange the text with twenty-six lines per column. Exs. 6 and 11 contain the most orthographic variants; for example, both write Šulgi's name without the divine determinative (^d). It is clear from the palaeography of IM 63999 and IM 65871, despite their orthographic similarities, that the two cylinders were inscribed by different scribes. Thus, at least five different scribes were used to write out copies of this text.

Bibliography

A longer version of the previous inscription is known from a single double-column clay cylinder discovered at Ur. This text, which records the king's restoration of Elugalgalgasisa ("House of the King who Lets Counsel Flourish"), the ziggurat of the moon-god Sîn at Ur, is written in contemporary Neo-Babylonian script. The inscription was probably composed shortly after text no. 32 (Elugalgalgasisa Cylinder), perhaps after Nabonidus' thirteenth (543) regnal year, likely at the very end of his reign, in either his sixteenth (540) or seventeenth (539) year as king.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon7/Q005430/] of Nabonidus 33.

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This Akkadian text is known only from a single clay cylinder, which, based on its contents, is generally believed to have come from Ur. The two-column inscription, which is written in contemporary Neo-Babylonian script, records that Nabonidus consecrated his daughter En-nigaldi-Nanna as the ēntu-priestess of the moon-god Sîn at Ur, completely renovated and decorated Egipar (gipāru-house), his daughter's new residence in the Ekišnugal temple complex at Ur, and exempted the priests and personnel of that holy structure from paying taxes and performing corvée labor. The text narrates in detail the process by which En-nigaldi-Nanna became high-priestess. Nabonidus claims that he had his expert diviners examine the entrails of sheep three times: The first yielded a positive result and confirmed that the lunar eclipse observed on the thirteenth day of the month Ulūlu (VI) was indeed the mon-god's message to the king that he desired a new high-priestess; the second was negative and rejected Nabonidus' request to appoint any female member of his family to the post; and the third was again positive and fully endorsed the king's nomination of his own daughter to be the moon-god's new priestess. To commemorate the occasion, Nabonidus gave his daughter the Sumerian ceremonial name En-nigaldi-Nanna; her (Akkadian) birth name is not recorded in extant cuneiform sources. This inscription is generally thought to have been composed during the second half of Nabonidus' second regnal year (554) since scholars date the lunar eclipse recorded in this text to September 26th, 554; on the date of the eclipse, see H. Lewy, ArOr 17 p. 50. Moreover, a text called the "Royal Chronicle" records that En-nigaldi-Nanna was installed in her post later that same year. In scholarly literature, this text is referred to as "Nabonidus Cylinder II, 7," "[Nabonidus] Inscription 2," and the "En-nigaldi-Nanna Cylinder." The inscription was collated from high-resolution photographs kindly provided by K. Wagensonner.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon7/Q005431/] of Nabonidus 34.

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A fragment of a two-column clay cylinder discovered at Ur preserves part of an Akkadian inscription written in archaizing Neo-Babylonian script. The attribution to Nabonidus is not entirely certain, but very plausible given the prominence of the moon-god Sîn in the extant text; note that C.J. Gadd (UET 1 p. 96) and P.-A. Beaulieu (NABU 1989 p. 45 no. 66) propose that the inscription dates to the reign of Cyrus II, but this seems unlikely, as already pointed out by H. Schaudig (Inschriften Nabonids p. 480). This text is sometimes referred to as the "Ur Cylinder" in scholarly literature.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon7/Q005432/] of Nabonidus 35.

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A diorite door socket unearthed at Ur bears an eight-line Akkadian inscription of Nabonidus written in archaizing Neo-Babylonian script. The text records that the king granted the ramku-priests of the Ekišnugal temple at Ur exemption from taxes and corvée labor. The object was likely commissioned during the second half of Nabonidus' second regnal year (554), when he consecrated his daughter En-nigaldi-Nanna as the ēntu-priestess of the moon-god Sîn at Ur and renovated and decorated her residence Egipar (gipāru-house); see Beaulieu, Nabonidus p. 42 and Schaudig, Inschriften Nabonids p. 48. In previous editions and studies, this text is referred to as "Nabonidus Door Socket 1" and "[Nabonidus] Inscription 3." The present edition is based on the photograph of BM 116417 published by C.J. Gadd in UET 1 (pl. W).

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon7/Q005433/] of Nabonidus 36.

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Numerous bricks discovered at various spots at Ur are inscribed with a five-line Akkadian inscription of Nabonidus stating that he rebuilt Enunmaḫ ("House of the Exalted Prince"), the ḫilṣu-building of the goddess Ningal inside the Ekišnugal temple complex at Ur. The script is archaizing Neo-Babylonian. Although the bricks are not dated, scholars generally think that this inscription was composed after Nabonidus' thirteenth regnal year (543), perhaps during his sixteenth (540) or seventeenth (539) year as king; see Beaulieu, Nabonidus p. 42 and Schaudig, Inschriften Nabonids p. 48. Previous editions and studies refer to this brick inscription as "Nabonidus Brick B I, 2," "Nabonidus [Brick Inscription] 14," and "[Nabonidus] Inscription 19."

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon7/Q005434/] of Nabonidus 37.

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Commentary

The square-shaped bricks vary marginally in size. The largest and smallest bricks measure 34×33.5×7 cm and 32.5×32.5×6 cm respectively. The stamped area in which the inscriptions are written measure between 19 and 20.1 cm in length and 9 and 10 cm in height.

Following the edition of H. Schaudig (Inschriften Nabonids p. 340), the master text and lineation follow ex. 13, the brick(s) still embedded in the ruined mud-brick structures of the ziggurat and Enunmaḫ copied by C.J. Gadd in UET 1 (pl. 47 no. 189). No score of the inscription is given on Oracc since scores are not provided for texts on bricks (following the model of RIM and RINAP). In addition, no minor (orthographic) variants are given in the critical apparatus at the back of the book.

Bibliography

This Akkadian inscription is written on the faces of numerous bricks discovered at Ur; the script of this five-line text is archaizing Neo-Babylonian. The text states that Nabonidus renovated Elugalgalgasisa ("House of the King who Lets Counsel Flourish"), the ziggurat of the god Sîn at Ur. These bricks might have been stamped with this short text after Nabonidus' thirteenth regnal year (543), perhaps during his sixteenth (540) or seventeenth (539) year as king; for this opinion, see Beaulieu, Nabonidus p. 42 and Schaudig, Inschriften Nabonids p. 48. This inscription is referred to as "Nabonidus Brick B I, 1," "Nabonidus [Brick Inscription] 13," and "[Nabonidus] Inscription 18" in scholarly literature.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon7/Q005435/] of Nabonidus 38.

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Commentary

This inscription appears on square bricks and rectangular half-bricks. Bricks of the former type measure between 32×32×6.5 cm and 31.5×29.5×5.5 cm, while the one known exemplar of the latter type (ex. 9 [BM 137346]) measures 32×15×6 cm. The rectangular stamped area in which the inscriptions are written vary marginally in size. The lengths measure between 11.7 and 12.5 cm and the heights measure between 8.8 and 9.3 cm.

As in the edition of H. Schaudig (Inschriften Nabonids p. 340), the master text and lineation follow ex. 1 (BM 90148). No score of the inscription is given on Oracc since scores are not provided for texts on bricks. Moreover, no minor (orthographic) variants are given in the critical apparatus at the back of the book.

Ex. 22 (IMJ 80.36/1) and ex. 23 (YBC 17100) were collated from photographs kindly provided L. Peri and K. Wagensonner respectively. IMJ 80.36/1 is currently on long-term loan in the Israel Museum (Jerusalem); the brick was purchased by Rev. Robert Craig for St. Andrew's Memorial Church, Church of Scotland (Jerusalem).

Bibliography

This Akkadian inscription in archaizing Neo-Babylonian script is presently known from nine stamped bricks found at Ur. This five-line text records that Nabonidus rebuilt Egipar (gipāru-house), the residence of his daughter En-nigaldi-Nanna as the ēntu-priestess of the moon-god Sîn in the Ekišnugal temple complex at Ur. The bricks were probably stamped with this text during the second half of Nabonidus' second regnal year (554), when the king was rebuilding Egipar for his daughter. In previous editions and studies, this text is referred to as "Nabonidus Brick B I, 3," "Nabonidus [Brick Inscription] 15," and "[Nabonidus] Inscription 4."

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon7/Q005436/] of Nabonidus 39.

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Commentary

The square-shaped bricks vary marginally in size. The largest and smallest bricks measure 37.5×37×7 cm and 37×36×6 cm respectively. The stamped area in which the inscriptions are written measure between 20.4 and 20.8 cm in length and 9.8 and 10.3 cm in height.

Following the edition of H. Schaudig (Inschriften Nabonids p. 342), the master text and lineation follow ex. 5, the in situ brick(s) copied by C.J. Gadd in UET 1 (pl. 47 no. 186). No score of the inscription is given on Oracc. In addition, no minor (orthographic) variants are given in the critical apparatus at the back of the book.

Bibliography

A rounded-top stele discovered in the Eanna ("House of Heaven") temple complex at Uruk was once inscribed with an inscription of a Babylonian king, possibly Nabonidus, written in archaizing Neo-Babylonian script. The entire inscription had been obliterated by a later ruler. The assignation to Nabonidus, rather than some other first-millennium ruler (for example, the eighth-century king Marduk-apla-iddina II) is based on the carved image of the king on the upper part of the stele, which is very similar to that of other, better preserved images of this king. Following, U. Moortgat-Correns (SMEA 39 [1997] pp. 111–116) and H. Schaudig (Inschriften Nabonids p. 535), this effaced stele is tentatively edited as an object bearing an inscription of Nabonidus; J. Börker-Klähn (Börker-Klähn, Bildstelen p. 228 no. 258) argues that it dates to the reign of Marduk-apla-iddina II (721–710 and 703). Although its inscription is not preserved, Schaudig (Inschriften Nabonids p. 48) suggests that the stele was engraved between Nabonidus' thirteenth (543) and sixteenth (540) regnal years on the basis of a letter written by the Babylonian king to Kurbanni-Marduk, the administrator of the Eanna temple, ordering that official to erect a stele on his behalf (YOS 3 no. 4). This stele is sometimes referred to as the "Uruk Stele" in scholarly literature. Because traces of only a few signs of this inscription are legible, no edition is provided in this volume.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon7/Q005437/] of Nabonidus 40.

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Bibliography

Frauke Weiershäuser & Jamie Novotny

Frauke Weiershäuser & Jamie Novotny, 'Inscriptions of Nabonidus from Ur and Uruk', RIBo, Babylon 7: The Inscriptions of the Neo-Babylonian Dynasty, The RIBo Project, a sub-project of MOCCI, 2025 [/ribo/babylon7/Rulers/Nabonidus/Texts32-40Ur,Uruk/]