Inscriptions of Neriglissar

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At present, nine Akkadian inscriptions of Neriglissar are known. These officially commissioned texts are preserved on fourteen two-column (barrel) cylinders, seven bricks, and an alabaster vase. Some of the objects were discovered at Babylon during Koldewey's excavations, others originate from other sites, including Sippar and the Elamite city Susa. The inscriptions themselves record several building projects at or near Babylon and at Sippar, including the renovation of parts of Marduk's temple Esagil ("House Whose Top is High"), the restoration of a wing of a royal palace that had fallen into the Euphrates River and the securing of that watercourse's banks, and the repair of Šamaš's ziggurat Ekunankuga ("House, Pure Sanctuary of Heaven"). One fragmentarily preserved text of this king is unusual in that it records a military expedition in detail; that inscription may have recorded Neriglissar's campaign to Cilicia, which took place during his third regnal year (557 BC).

1 [/ribo/babylon7/Q005386/]

Two large, two-column clay cylinders are inscribed with a text of Neriglissar recording that he made restorations to part of Marduk's temple at Babylon, Esagil ("House whose Top Is High"); the script of ex. 1 is archaizing Neo-Babylonian, while that of ex. 2 is contemporary Neo-Babylonian. The king states that he rebuilt one of the temple's enclosure walls since it had fallen into disrepair and was near collapsing; the work took place near to where the ramku- and kiništu-priests of Esagil lived. Neriglissar claims to have laid the new foundations of the wall in the exact same spot as the previous foundations. The inscription is referred to as "Neriglissar Cylinder II, 1," "[Neriglissar] Cylinder C21," or "the Esagil Inscription" in previous studies and editions.

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon7/Q005386/] or the score [/ribo/bab7scores/Q005386/score] of Neriglissar 01.

Sources [/ribo/bab7scores/Q005386/]

(1) BM 113233 [/ribo/sources/P345497/] (1915-12-11, 0001)

(2) BM 032550 [/ribo/sources/P518469/] (1876-11-17, 2293)

Commentary

Ex. 1 (BM 113233) was owned by Emily Ripley when it was studied and copied by E.A.W. Budge in 1888. In 1915, the cylinder was donated to the British Museum by Dr. Laurie A. Lawrence. The master text and lineation are based on ex. 1, the only near-complete witness of this inscription. A score is presented on Oracc and the minor (orthographic) variants are given in the critical apparatus at the back of the book.

Bibliography

1888 Budge, PSBA 10 p. 146 and pls. 1–3 (ex. 1, copy, study)

1889 Teloni, Giorn. della Società As. Ital. 3 pp. 80–93 (ex. 1, edition)

1890 Abel and Winckler, KGV p. 39 (ex. 1 i 1–14, copy)

1890 Bezold in Schrader, KB 3/2 pp. 76–79 (ex. 1, edition)

1912 Langdon, NBK pp. 45–46 and 214–219 no. 2 (ex. 1, edition)

1921 Gadd, CT 36 pls. 17–20 (ex. 1, copy)

1922 BM Guide³ p. 141 no. 63 (study)

1925 Bezold and Delitzsch in Koldewey, WEB⁴ pp. 187–188 (ex. 1 ii 9–28, translation)

1953 von Soden, SAHG pp. 287–288 no. 34 (ex. 1 ii 29–39, translation)

1957 Borger, AfO 18 p. 88 (ex. 1 ii 9, study)

1973 Berger, NbK p. 336 Zyl. II, 1 (ex. 1, study)

2008 Da Riva, GMTR 4 pp. 103–104, 112, 125 and 131 (exs. 1–2, study)

2013 Da Riva, SANER 3 pp. 14–18, 114–120 no. 4.2.1 (C21) and CD-ROM figs. 18–19 (exs. 1–2, photo, edition)

2 [/ribo/babylon7/Q005387/]

An inscription of this Neo-Babylonian king describing the restoration of the Lībil-ḫegalla canal ("May It Bring Abundance"; Babylon's eastern canal) and the strengthening of its banks is preserved on a large, two-column clay cylinder whose surface is badly damaged; the text is written in contemporary Neo-Babylonian script. Neriglissar criticizes the canal's former builder(s) for not reinforcing the banks with bitumen and baked bricks, something which he had his workmen do. The inscription is cited in previous literature as "Neriglissar Cylinder II, 2," "[Neriglissar] Cylinder C22," or "the Lībil-ḫegalla Inscription."

Access Neriglissar 02. [/ribo/babylon7/Q005387/]

Source

BM 090913 [/ribo/sources/P480519/] (BM 012041)

Commentary

As already noted by R. Da Riva (SANER 3 p. 120), the surface of the cylinder is very badly damaged and the inscription written on it is extremely difficult to read. The present edition, although based on collation of the original in the British Museum (London), generally follows the one given in Da Riva, SANER 3, with only a few minor changes.

Bibliography

1968 Hunger, Kolophone p. 3 (left edge, study)

1973 Berger, NbK pp. 48, 69, 100 and 337 Zyl. II, 2 (study)

1990 Koldewey, WEB⁵ p. 65 (i 32–37, translation [Winckler]; study)

2008 Da Riva, GMTR 4 pp. 75, 79, 103–104, 112, 125 and 131 (study)

2013 Da Riva, SANER 3 pp. 14–15, 17–18, 120–124 no. 4.2.2 (C22) and CD-ROM fig. 20 (photo, edition)

3 [/ribo/babylon7/Q005388/]

Nine two-column clay cylinders are inscribed with an Akkadian text of Neriglissar written in contemporary Neo-Babylonian script. The inscription records the details of several projects undertaken by this ruler at Babylon: (1) the manufacture of copper mušḫuššu-dragons for a few prominent gateways of Marduk's temple Esagil ("House whose Top Is High"); (2) the plating and decoration of the Dais of Destinies with gold and elaborate ornaments; (3) the renovation and strengthening of the banks of the Lībil-ḫegalla canal ("May It Bring Abundance"; Babylon's eastern canal); and (4) the repair of a wing of the royal palace that had collapsed into the Euphrates River. With regard to the last accomplishment, Neriglissar states that he had his workmen reinforce the banks of the Euphrates with bitumen and baked bricks in order to prevent similar collapses from happening in the future. This text is cited in previous literature as "Neriglissar Cylinder II, 3," "[Neriglissar] Cylinder C23," or "the Royal Palace Inscription."

Access the composite text [/ribo/babylon7/Q005388/] or the score [/ribo/bab7scores/Q005388/score] of Neriglissar 03.

Sources [/ribo/bab7scores/Q005388/]

(1) Loan Ant-43 [/ribo/sources/P448637/]	(2) BM 040073 [/ribo/sources/P518473/] (1881-02-01, 0037)
(3) VA Bab 00620 [/ribo/sources/P518474/] (BE 29614)	(4) VA Bab 00610 [/ribo/sources/P518475/] (BE 29836)
(5) VA Bab 01974 (BE 46942) [/ribo/sources/P518476/]	(6) BE 47286 [/ribo/sources/P518477/]
(7) Ist B 00017 (BE 47322) [/ribo/sources/P518478/]	(8) Ist B 00002 (BE 30220) [/ribo/sources/P518479/]
(9) VAT 22763 (BE 34065) [/ribo/sources/P519724/]

Commentary

Contrary to Da Riva, SANER 3 p. 125, the collection number of ex. 1 is not ANE 39.1902, but still Loan Ant-43 (information kindly provided by J.H. Stephenson on January 29th, 2020). ANE 39.1902 is a fragment of five-column cylinder with a list of offerings of food and drink. That object appears to have been either a school exercise in which a scribe in training copied an Ur III account onto a cylinder or an ancient or modern fake; for cylinders being used as text carriers of school exercises, see Gesche, Schulunterricht pp. 194–195. According to the original, 1969 slip-book entry of Loan Ant-43 into the Fitzwilliam Museum, this cylinder of Neriglissar was purchased at Babylon around 1811 by Sir John Malcolm, thus, making the cylinder one of the first objects bearing a cuneiform text to have been brought back to Europe and the UK. Ex. 2 (BM 40073) was purchased from Spartali & Co. in 1881.

The master text and lineation follow ex. 1, the only complete witness of this inscription. A score is presented on Oracc and the minor (orthographic) variants are given in the critical apparatus at the back of the book.

Bibliography

1861 Rawlinson, 1 R p. 67 (ex. 1, copy)

1863 Oppert, EM 1 p. 181 (ex. 1, partial translation)

1875 Ménant, Babylone pp. 249–251 (ex. 1, translation)

1875 Rodwell, Records of the Past 5 pp. 139–142 (ex. 1, translation)

1887 Pognon, Wadi Brissa p. 91 n. 1 (ex. 1 i 34, study [Pinches])

1886 Bezold, Literatur §76a (ex. 1, provenance)

1890 Bezold in Schrader, KB 3/2 pp. 70–75 (ex. 1, edition; variants, ex. 2)

1890 Jensen, Kosmologie p. 86 (ex. 1 i 33–36, edition)

1895 Meissner, Chrestomathie p. 41 (ex. 1 ii 15–42, copy)

1912 Langdon, NBK pp. 45 and 208–215 no. 1 (ex. 1, edition)

1913 Jensen, ThLZ 38 col. 356 (ex. 1 i 5, study)

1925 Koldewey, WEB⁴ pp. 51–52 and 208 (ex. 1 i 18–30 and ii 6–11, translation [Bezold and Winckler])

1931 Güterbock, ZA 40 pp. 289–290 (exs. 1–2, 5–6, 8, partial edition)

1931 Koldewey, Königsburgen 1 p. 32 and pl. 2 (ex. 1 ii 15–30, translation [Delitzsch]; exs. 3–8, provenance)

1931 Schott, ZA 40 p. 20 (ex. 1 i 33–ii 5, study)

1938 Weissbach and Wetzel, Hauptheiligtum p. 60 (ex. 1 i 33–40, translation [Weissbach])

1973 Berger, NbK pp. 338–339 Zyl. II, 3 (exs. 1–8, study)

1990 Koldewey, WEB⁵ pp. 65 and 208 (ex. 1 i 18–30 and ii 6–11, translation [Wilcke])

2008 Da Riva, GMTR 4 pp. 75, 79, 103–104, 112, 125 and 131 (study)

2013 Da Riva, SANER 3 pp. 13–15, 17, 19, 31, 124–135 no. 4.2.3 (C23) and CD-ROM figs. 21–29 (exs. 1–4, 6–8, photo; exs. 1–8, edition)

4 [/ribo/babylon7/Q005389/]

Five bricks, including at least two discovered during the German excavations at Babylon, bear a short, proprietary inscription of Neriglissar; the script is archaizing Neo-Babylonian and the Akkadian text is stamped on at least one of them. One of the bricks (ex. 5) is also inscribed with an Aramaic docket. The king calls himself "the one who renovates Esagil and Ezida"; work on Marduk's temple at Babylon is recorded in text nos. 1 ([Esagil Inscription] ii 9–28) and 3 ([Royal Palace Inscription] i 21–40). This inscription is cited in previous literature as "Neriglissar Brick A I, 1" or "[Neriglissar] Brick Inscription B1."

Access Neriglissar 04. [/ribo/babylon7/Q005389/]

Sources

(1) BM 000201a+b and BM 000227 [/ribo/sources/P518481/]	(2) BE 12608 [/ribo/sources/P518482/]
(3) BE — [/ribo/sources/P518483/]	(4) private collection (Berlin) [/ribo/sources/P518484/]
(5) VA Bab 04619 (BE 41298) [/ribo/sources/P518486/]

Commentary

Ex. 1 is now known only from the hand-drawn facsimile in Rawlinson 1 R (pl. 68 no. 5). The (composite) copy of the inscription was prepared from three squeezes (BM 201a–b and BM 227) of brick(s) found (near) the bank of the Euphrates at Babylon. It is uncertain if these squeezes are still in the British Museum (London) or if they were destroyed by S. Smith on the grounds that they had outlived their usefulness. The master text and lineation follow ex. 1. No score of the inscription is given on Oracc (a) since scores are not provided for texts on bricks (following the model of RIM and RINAP) and (b) since the contents of exs. 3–4 have never been published in any form (photograph, copy, or transliteration).

Bibliography

1859 Oppert, EM 2 p. 324 (ex. 1, copy, edition)

1861 1 R pl. 8 no. 5 (ex. 1, copy)

1875 Ménant, Babylone p. 249 (ex. 1, edition [Rawlinson and Oppert])

1886 Bezold, Literatur §76b (ex. 1, provenance)

1889 de Vogüé, CIS 2 pp. 59–60 no. 58 (ex. 1, copy [Oppert])

1899 Bezold, Cat. 5 p. 2235 no. IX E 5 (ex. 1, study)

1912 Langdon, NBK pp. 46 and 218–219 no. 3 (ex. 1, edition)

1913 Koldewey, MDOG 51 pp. 17–18 (ex. 4, study)

1925 Koldewey, WEB⁴ pp. 78–79, with fig. 51g, and p. 124 (ex. 2, copy, translation, provenance)

1931 Koldewey, Königsburgen 1 pp. 32–33 and 115 (ex. 3, translation; ex. 2, provenance)

1938 Wetzel and Weissbach, Hauptheiligtum p. 37 n. 7 (ex. 2, study)

1973 Berger, NbK pp. 113 and 334 Backsteine A I, 1 (ex. 1–4, study)

1990 Koldewey, WEB⁵ pp. 89–90, with fig. 51g, and p. 132 (ex. 2, copy, translation, provenance)

2008 Da Riva, GMTR 4 pp. 103–104, 125 and 131 (study)

2010 Sass and Marzahn, WVDOG 127 p. 30 no. 12 (cat. nos. 46 and 54), p. 36 figs. 118–120, pp. 82 and 87 figs. 509–511, pp. 88 and 93 fig. 569–571 and p. 88 (exs. 1, 5, photo, copy, transliteration)

2013 Da Riva, SANER 3 pp. 13 and 112–113 no. 4.1.1 (B1) (exs. 1–2, edition; exs. 3–4, study)

5 [/ribo/babylon7/Q005390/]

Two bricks apparently bearing a four-line version of the previous inscription were discovered during Koldewey's excavations at Babylon. Like text no. 4, this short, proprietary inscription of Neriglissar is written in archaizing Neo-Babylonian script. Since no photograph, copy, or transliteration of this inscription has ever been published, it is not known how the text was distributed over the four lines and which cuneiform signs were used to write out the inscription. For these reasons, no edition of the inscription is provided here. This text is sometimes referred to as "Neriglissar Brick A I, 2" or "[Neriglissar] Brick Inscription B2."

Sources

(1) BE 41545 [/ribo/sources/P518488/]

(2) BE 41544 [/ribo/sources/P518489/]

Bibliography

1910 Wetzel, MDOG 44 p. 26 (ex. 1, translation, study)

1930 Wetzel, Stadtmauern p. 52 (ex. 1, study)

1931 Koldewey, Königsburgen 1 pp. 32 and 115 (translation)

1938 Wetzel and Weissbach, Hauptheiligtum p. 37 n. 7 (study)

1973 Berger, NbK p. 335 Backsteine A I, 2 (study)

2008 Da Riva, GMTR 4 pp. 103–104, 125 and 131 (study)

2013 Da Riva, SANER 3 pp. 13 and 113–114 no. 4.1.2 (B2) (exs. 1–2, study)

6 [/ribo/babylon7/Q005391/]

An inscription of Neriglissar recording construction on Šamaš ziggurat Ekunankuga ("House, Pure Stairway of Heaven") at Sippar is written on a large, two-column clay cylinder; this Akkadian text is inscribed in contemporary Neo-Babylonian script. Work on the temple tower is reported to have been undertaken because its brick structure had been severely eroded due to heavy rains; the text also states that the previous builder never finished rebuilding it, although he did manage to have it raised to a height of twenty-two cubits. Unfortunately, the passage in which Neriglissar describes his own restorations of the ziggurat is no longer preserved. This inscription is referred to in previous studies and editions as "Neriglissar Cylinder Fragment II, 2" or "[Neriglissar] Cylinder C022." The edition given here is based on the photograph published by R. Da Riva.

Access Neriglissar 06. [/ribo/babylon7/Q005391/]

Source

LB 2124 [/ribo/sources/P345861/]

Bibliography

1957 van Dijk, TLB 2 fig. 25 no. 22 (copy)

1973 Berger, NbK p. 341 Zyl.-Frag II, 2 (study)

2008 Da Riva, GMTR 4 pp. 79, 103–104, 112, 125 and 131 (study)

2013 Da Riva, SANER 3 pp. 13, 17 n. 59, 19, 23–24, 140–143 no. 4.2.6 (C022) and CD-ROM fig. 32 (photo, edition)

7 [/ribo/babylon7/Q005392/]

A fragment of a large, two-column clay cylinder preserves a small portion of an inscription of Neriglissar that records a military expedition in detail, something that is not typical of official Babylonian inscriptions; the script is archaizing Neo-Babylonian. The campaign in question might have been the one against Cilicia (Ḫumê and Pirindu), which took place during his third regnal year (557). The attribution of the text is certain since Neriglissar's father Bēl-šum-iškun is mentioned. This inscription, which might have been composed after the events of 557, is cited in previous literature as "[Neriglissar] Cylinder C011." The edition given here is based on the photograph published by R. Da Riva.

Access Neriglissar 07. [/ribo/babylon7/Q005392/]

Source

SPL W 2/8 [/ribo/sources/P481110/] (Grolier No. 9)

Bibliography

1976 Brinkman, Studies Kramer pp. 48–50 (copy, study)

2008 Da Riva, GMTR 4 pp. 78, 103–104, 125 and 131 (study)

2013 Da Riva, SANER 3 pp. 14–16, 19–20, 135–138 no. 4.2.4 (C011) and CD-ROM figs. 30a–e (photo, edition)

8 [/ribo/babylon7/Q005393/]

A fragment of a vase inscribed with a short text of Neriglissar stating that the vessel once belonged to him was discovered in the ruins of the Elamite capital Susa; the script is contemporary Neo-Babylonian. The inscription records that the stone object had a capacity of two qa and one half akalu, which is slightly over two liters. This text is cited in previous literature as "Neriglissar Vase I" or "[Neriglissar] Vase V1."

Access Neriglissar 08 [/ribo/babylon7/Q005393/]

Source

Sb — [/ribo/sources/P494860/]

Commentary

The present whereabouts of Vase V1 is unknown, so the edition of this short inscription is based on V. Scheil's transliteration (MDP 10 p. 96).

Bibliography

1908 Scheil, MDP 10 p. 96 (edition)

1927 Scheil, RA 24 p. 47 (study)

1973 Berger, NbK p. 333 Gefäß I (study)

2008 Da Riva, GMTR 4 p. 104, 125 and 131 (study)

2013 Da Riva, SANER 3 pp. 13 and 143–144 no. 4.3 (V1) (edition)

Frauke Weiershäuser & Jamie Novotny

Frauke Weiershäuser & Jamie Novotny, 'Inscriptions of Neriglissar', RIBo, Babylon 7: The Inscriptions of the Neo-Babylonian Dynasty, The RIBo Project, a sub-project of MOCCI, 2025 [/ribo/babylon7/Rulers/Neriglissar/Inscriptions/]